Happy Birthday...we have a teenager in our midst...

It seems like just the other day we brought our sweet baby angel home and started our Parenthood Journey. We prayed for this sweet baby angel....this little girl was loved and cherished before she was even born. Our first daughter, the first grandchild, the only granddaughter, the first niece.....loved by everyone, loves everyone and loves life.


Today she turned 13, a teenager. Where have the years gone, where are they going. She is growing into a wonderful young lady. I am proud to call her my daughter. She is sweet, kind, loving, selfless, considerate, respectful, responsible, mature, and beautiful - inside and out. She is always willing to help her family and friends. She volunteers as a "buddy" in our local Challenger baseball league, helping a little boy play the American game. He cannot use his hands, she helps him hold his bat with his feet and throw the ball with his feet. He is her assigned buddy, but she will also help out the little girl with Downs Syndrome or the little boy with autism....her heart is huge and her mind is open to all life's possibilities.


She regularly babysits for a family of 4 small children, not for money, because she loves these children....that is her way. She loves all animals, if is was up to her we would have a houseful...wait we do have a houseful!! She also takes care of our pets....the gecko, the snake, the fish, the hamster, the cats, the dog...she is very responsible pet owner.


This past year was a very difficult year for her in school. She struggled with her peers and being in a small school environment did make the situation any easier for her. She persevered though and has grown tremendously through her trials and tribulations. She has gained self confidence which in turn increased her self esteem. She has learned to stand up for herself and is not afraid to speak her mind. WOW...I wish I could have done that at 13...she is an amazing girl and we are so proud of her.


Today we celebrated her, we celebrated her life and her spirit and the wonderful young lady she is becoming.
She received her first cell phone...a total surprise for her!! I love surprising her.

She also received this little guy, or gal....her name is Star and she is a dwarf hamster and is very adorable. She also received clothes, jewelry, and money....what more could a 13 year old girl want - a cell phone, a hamster, clothes, jewelry, and money!!


Happy Birthday sweet angel girl....I am very proud of you and the woman you are becoming.

Tumultuous week, Ups and Downs

Well this past week is definitely one I could have done without!! Remember The Day My Karma Left Me when I had my annual Squish and Flatten? The saga did not end there.

I came home from work last Wednesday and I had a letter from the mammogram people. They found something suspicious and needed me to come in for another picture and if needed an ultrasound of the boob in question. I do believe my heart stopped for an instant as I read the letter. Of course I instantly thought the worst, remember I lost a very dear friend to breast cancer recently. I missed her greatly that day, I wanted to call her. I picked up the phone and then remembered that she was gone.....what a horrible feeling.

I called the mammogram people immediately and scheduled my second photo session for the following day. They did close up shots this time. The technician showed me my first pictures and I must admit, I did not know my boobs were so photogenic!! The radiologist had circled 5 areas of concern.....5 areas!!! I think my heart missed a beat again.

After taking and developing my close up shots, she told me that I needed to make an ultrasound appointment. I could not believe this was happening. I called the ultrasound people immediately and the soonest they could schedule was me was for June 5. That was 2 weeks away...I can imagine a complete disaster in 2 weeks, I could write my will and plan my funeral. Why is it that we always imagine the worst, and plan for it?? I did not think the best and plan a party to celebrate...odd how the human mind works.

When I got home that day, shell shocked to be sure, I had a phone message from my doctor's office. They needed to schedule an appointment to review the mammogram and ultrasound results. Unfortunately my doctor will be on vacation the first 2 weeks of June (of course) and they could not schedule me until June 21. A month away...I might die by then!!! I said to the receptionist - "That is an awful long time to have wait to find out if you have cancer". She was very quiet on phone, but I think I put it in perspective. Sometimes we forget that a human is attached to every appointment slot, not just a name. Of course it wasn't her fault, and she could not do anything about the situation...she is actually quite nice and very accommodating. I was just very frustrated, and scared.

How can I wait this long? I have no choice. I must be patient, but I can also be persistent. I called the ultrasound people every morning and asked if they had any opening for that day...and bingo...today I hit the jackpot....they squeezed me in!!!

The ultrasound technician told me that my close up shots did not show anything abnormal...Huh?? That did not make any sense to me...the only thing I could think of is that they missed the area in question, I am pretty well endowed!! We did the ultrasound and she immediately spotted a suspicious area and took lots of photos of it. She then told me she was going to consult with the Radiologist and that he might come in and look at the screen. She returns in 5 minutes and informs me that he said it "appears to be cystic in nature" and to return in 6 months for another ultrasound. She also told me to do my exams and check for changes. Now, mind you, I cannot feel what she found. It must be very deep, but I guess if I do start feeling it I will start freaking out a bit!!

So that is that!! I had breast cancer (in my mind) and now I don't....if only it was that easy in reality!!! I could have done without this roller coaster ride!!

Memorial Day Tribute

Yesterday we celebrated Memorial Day here in the US. For most of us it is a day off work that involves either shopping or BBQing. Few of us really think about the reason behind the day off work, myself included.





Memorial Day is dedicated to all of our men and women who have given up their lives for our country. They have fought in wars throughout the world, all in the name of freedom. Freedom that we take for granted. Freedom to worship the God of our choosing, freedom to disagree with our government, freedom to dress as we wish, freedom to live our lives in anyway we choose.





What would our lives be like if these Freedoms were not a part of daily lives? How would we worship? How would we dress? How would we express ourselves? Freedom costs. We are very fortunate for the men and women in our Armed Services who are willing to pay for our Freedoms.





I don't believe in wars or ego driven politicians or religious genocide....but I do believe in supporting the people who are protecting our freedom...and thanking them for their bravery. I hope you do too.

Fun Monday

Welcome to the Vacation edition of Fun Monday. We are all virtual travelers this week and I am sure our trip will take us around the world!!! I hope everyone has their passport up to date and is ready to go!!!

My favorite vacation is our annual camping trip to Big Basin State Park in the Santa Cruz mountains of California. We go every year in June. I Love It!!! The air is fresh, the beauty is breathtaking, I feel a sense of peace in a redwood forest....I get rejuvenated.





This is our humble abode for the 4 nights we are there. Nothing better than a tent under a canopy of redwood trees....ahh....the bliss.





We celebrate my birthday in the forest every year..and every year it gets better!!


The trees are magical and awe inspiring.
They are like old friends that we visit year after year.
We also meet some new friends each year.
We go on many hikes throughout the week. We become Trail Blazers!!
We have so much fun together without any electronic distractions...no phones, TV's, computers, music....just good old fashioned human companionship.This is most definitely my favorite vacation spot. I always come home rejuvenated and our family gets a bit closer every year.



Now, we need to pack our bags and head on over to the next vacation spot......Here is the list of our virtual travelers this week....Have fun!!!!



(does anyone want to host next week??)

EDIT** Karisma offered to host next week!!! Thanks Karisma!!!


1. Melanie
2. ChrisB
3. Mamalang
4. Jen
5. AOJ and the Lurchers
6. Laura
7. Jan
8. Cruise Mom
9. Mariposa
10. Lisa
11. Hootin' Anni
12. Swampangel
13. Gattina
14. Olive
15. Janet from her own Planet
16. Grace
17. Grand Life
18. Min
19. Robin
20. Karisma - yes, you can break the rules!!!...Yes, bring the wine, we need to toast Nikki's anniversary!!! ***Our host for next week!!!***
21. Tink
22. Sauntering Soul
23. Karina
24. Peter
25. Faye
26. Pamela
27. Joy T
28. Nikki - Happy Anniversay!!
29. BS
30. Sayre
31. Cynthia
32. Jientje
33. Jo
34. Kitten
35. Jenn
36. Tiggerlane
37. Lisa
38. Ellen B
39. Rachel
40. Ari
41. Tammy
42. Meg
43. Chantelle
44. Storyteller
45. Betty
46. Molly

The Party is Here!!

SIGN UP HERE FOR MAY 26th!!!!

I am hosting Fun Monday next week, May 26th....Memorial Day for all of us Americans!!! Here is your assignment:

Vacations...this is the time of year when most of us go on vacations. Show us and/or tell us about your favorite vacation - where you went, what you did, etc. Pictures would be great. Let's all take a trip around a the world via our FM friends!!

Sign up in the comments section.....

Here is the list of our virtual travelers for this week (thanks for the Mr. Linky help Robin and Mariposa, I will have to play with it for next time!!):

1. Melanie

2. ChrisB

3. Mamalang

4. Jen

5. AOJ and the Lurchers

6. Laura

7. Jan

8. Cruise Mom

9. Mariposa

10. Lisa

11. Hootin' Anni

12. Swampangel

13. Gattina

14. Olive

15. Janet from her own Planet

16. Grace

17. Grand Life

18. Min

19. Robin

20. Karisma - yes, you can break the rules!!!...Yes, bring the wine, we need to toast Nikki's anniversary!!!

21. Tink

22. Sauntering Soul

23. Karina

24. Peter

25. Faye

26. Pamela

27. Joy T

28. Nikki - Happy Anniversay!!

29. BS

30. Sayre

31. Cynthia

32. Jientje

33. Jo

34. Kitten

35. Jenn

36. Tiggerlane

37. Lisa

38. Ellen B

39. Rachel

Fun Monday

Our hostess extraordinaire this week is Mariposa and here is her assignment:

We all have them...and if you don't, you do....you just may not realize it. For some reason or another we all collect something and we collect it for reasons that will definitely make for good reading. So on Monday, I want to see your collection. If you don't have or don't want or CAN'T (wink) show us a picture, then tell us what the collection is in 10 words or less. Then tell us why you started collecting it.

Collections....let's see here....

In my previous life, before I became a Mom, I collected anything and everything that had to do with wolves. Wolves are definitely my favorite animal and I have many books, figurines, etc. with wolves on them. I still love wolves today.

Then I became a Mom!!! I just did not have the time and/or energy for collections....so nowadays I collect....

....to-do lists, grocery lists, errand lists, appointment lists......

....and bills, and more bills.....

....but most important....I'm collecting Memories and I cannot think of a more important or valuable collection than that!!!





Head on over to Mariposa's for more collections. I am sure we will learn of some wacky and wonderful collections this week.

The Day My Karma Left Me...

Normally I am a very easy going person. I tend to adapt the "whatever comes my way" attitude and I usually show a great deal of patience and tolerance to the public, especially store employees and people in service positions. And then we have today. I have no idea what went wrong, maybe my moons were overlapping, or were too far apart, or my sign was rising or falling....whatever....my karma was completely off today and now I am afraid to leave my house....Let me explain.

It is that time of year when I have my annual physical with my doctor. I do this because I am a responsible adult and I want to be around to enjoy my grandchildren, after all, isn't that why you have children?? I digress....part of my annual physical is to have my bodily fluids drained and analysed for any obscure or silent ailments. Of course I have to fast before having said bodily fluids drained. For me, this is very difficult. I find it extremely hard to leave the house without my cuppa tea and some food in my belly. Today my husband was home so I thought it would be a good morning for this torture since he could take the children to school. I make my breakfast to go, and put my tea in a travel mug and off I go to the lab. The lab opens at 7:30 and I arrive there at 7:20. I thought I was brilliant getting there early, but I immediately spied a group of people who were as brilliant as me. I was #4 in line. Not so bad I thought so I sat down to wait and read my book. At 7:30 exactly the doors opened and we filed in and signed in on the handy sign in sheet. The first person began the check in process. At 7:50 the first person was still in the check in process. WTF???? At this rate my breakfast to go waiting in the car for me will become lunch, if I don't pass out first from my fast and my blood pressure rising. I calmly go to the desk and ask, ever so sweetly, "Can't you just draw our blood and do all this computer crap later?" Both employees, yes I said both (2 heads better than one?? Naw), looked at me and said, in unison, "No". At that moment there was a neon sign flashing in my mind that said "MORON" and it was directed at me - What am I thinking....I can't be rude to them....they are going to be poking a needle in my arm soon....so I turned around and went back to my seat, quietly and read my book. I eventually had my turn, had my bodily fluids drained, she only shoved the needle around for a few seconds, I am sure that was payback and I left. I had a 9:00 appointment for a mammogram.

I arrive at my next appointment, check in and notice that there is only one lady ahead of me. This shouldn't take too long. The lady is an elderly Italian lady, and she was a hoot. I had the best time conversing with her, and laughing. She gets called in and by 9:20 she is out the door. Shouldn't be too long now, right? wrong... At 9:50 I calmly walk up to the desk and inquire, ever so sweetly, how much longer my wait will be. She informs me that I am next. No shit!! I already know that, how much longer is "next"?? She just looks at me...I could have swore I was speaking English...oh well, back to my seat. Finally I get called back and ready myself for the Big Squish and Flatten. She wanted me to tape a piece of metal to each nipple and I told her that if I wanted my nipples pierced I would have that done elsewhere, thank you very much. She just looked at me too. Did I become bilingual and not know it?? I am sure I am speaking English. I get my TaTa's squished and flattened and photoed sanes nipple rings.

Now, if I was smart, I would have gone home.....but NOOO...I pushed my luck and went to Trader Joe's. Have you ever gone to Trader Joe's? It is my favorite grocery store and I go weekly, but only during the week in the morning. Any other time it is pure torture. The aisles are narrow and it is always crowded. My timing is not perfect today, but it is not bad either. I should be in and out in 20 minutes....should is the operative word here. I begin my shopping and much to my dismay I find myself behind an elderly gentlemen who is talking on a cell phone. First strike against him...Trader Joe's is not conducive to cell phone gabbing...the store is too damn small and you are bound to get in some one's way. He is in my way and I can't get around him....and then...I overhear his conversation....

"Okay honey I am in front of the cheese, what kind do you want? how about blue cheese, or cheddar..what?.. you want swiss? do you want organic....yes...what...no...oh you do want organic.."

Oh for the love of God...I can't believe it....I am stuck behind an old geezer, talking with his wife on the cell phone. What ever happened to the grocery lists Man....give me a break. I spy my escape route, as we round the corner he heads to the yogurt section..."low fat?, non fat? organic? what flavor?" and I slip past him and head down the pasta section. Whew...I am free and back on track...but wait...there is toilet paper where there should be pasta...WTF?? Half the aisle is toilet paper and half is pasta. They are rearranging the store and quit half way through.....are you kidding me?? Now I have to think and try to remember everything when I normally just breeze through mindlessly plucking the usuals off the shelves. I think the Gods are definitely against me today. I make it through the store, but my basket isn't as full as it usually is...hmm..oh well....I get in the wrong checkout line, of course!! What did you expect? I start to bag my own groceries like I usually do, see I am nice like that...when a nice young gentleman employee comes over and says "I will do that"..."thank you", I reply. My order is rung up and I pay and I notice that he is still bagging. I watch him for awhile and think...."what is taking so long?" I am sure he had a mild or raging case of OCD... it looked like my bags were color coded and sorted by shapes and sizes!!! OMG...just throw the blasted items in any old bag...I have got to get home already!!! Ten minutes later I am driving home....

Now I am afraid to leave my house....can someone please pick up my kids from school at 3??