tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17641484853301891042024-01-19T13:53:32.006-06:00Vanilla Mama's StuffEveryone has a dream...I have a few! Fortune Cookies, Bible Verses, License Plates and Prayers get me through!Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-83373758473840297842017-03-31T22:06:00.002-05:002017-03-31T22:06:49.859-05:00Hmm...been a whileBeen a while, but I promise I am still around. Random things still occur and you might just see a few here!<br />
Live, Laugh, Love - Always and Forever!<br />
NillaMamaVanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-91638937396840833662015-04-23T23:07:00.001-05:002015-04-23T23:07:39.832-05:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are some days that you know your purpose in life, and
other times you can do nothing but question your true purpose. It’s been so
long since I have posted I wonder if I should start a new blog. I still love
fortune cookies, but I don’t obsess about them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life is always in flux and I am in shock that it has really
been this long since I have posted. I miss writing and hope to return soon. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When this semester of classes is over - I'll try to catch everyone up. So much has happened and so much has changed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life is a journey with no real map, if you think you are following one...check again! There are some places that Siri and Google Maps cannot track. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For now - Live, Laugh, Love!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you Sassy for your inspiration - </span></div>
Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-65359911234410398242013-10-19T23:47:00.000-05:002013-10-19T23:47:01.002-05:00Facing the Test...Returning!
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Lamentations 3:40 - Let us examine our ways and
test them, and let us return to the LORD.</span><o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">My ways have been lacking.
There really is no need to test them and I hate to even bring it to the light
that my ways are lacking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Let me clarify – I have
not lost faith. My God is an awesome God, He holds me up in His warm embrace of
love. He is my strength, my breath, and my hope. I pray everyday, I turn my thoughts
to Him and His will. His Son strengthens me and the Holy Spirit fortifies me.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Okay, I am really not
trying to sound preachy or holier than thou…cause trust me, I am not. I fall
everyday. I struggle everyday. Every. Day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Doesn’t everyone? Every.
Day? I think if you answer no, you are kidding yourself. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">You may not even recognize
your struggles, or if you do – you will not acknowledge them. Perhaps a certain
river comes to mind. (De-Nile…Denial, get it? Haha – really, really old joke!) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Let us examine our ways and test them, and let
us return to the LORD.</span><o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">What kind of test can I
expect? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">I know, I know where I am
falling short. And even in the admission, I am sure that there are more ways
that I am falling short of living the life that our Father has envisioned for
me. Yes, I believe that He has a life planned for me. Through everything that I
have been through, all the good, bad and ugly I have experienced…I know He has
a plan. <em>The God of heaven and earth that has numbered every hair on my head –
He has a plan!</em> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Do I expect to know it in
this mortal body? Can I fully appreciate it with my imperfect heart? Are there
parts of my life that I cannot even begin to imagine the <strong>WHYs</strong> of? YES! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">And, I suppose that is
part of my test. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Let us examine our ways and test them, and let
us return to the LORD.</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">I need to return to the
Lord. I know it with my mind, I know it with my heart, I know it in my soul. I
feel him calling to me. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">How can I say that? How do
I know? When I decided it was time to do a post, I went to my Happiness Mug
<a href="http://vanillamamasstuff.blogspot.com/2011/05/friendly-fortune.html" target="_blank">(don’t know what that is, click here and see!)</a> and pull out a Fortune. I pulled
out, “You will make through the tough times, keep your chin up.” I just couldn’t.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Sometimes a Fortune Cookie
can be incredibly insightful. But, tonight I couldn’t do it. I felt pulled to
just type, “Bible Verse of the Day” into my browser bar…and Google brought me
here. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Feels a little like being “talked
to.” I just got called out. He wants me to return to Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Return to worship, return
to praise, return to His house. He wants me to keep my chin up, to remember He
has the Master Plan. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">It is really hard some
days to keep that simple thing in mind. I will pray for you – please pray for
me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><strong>~Live, Laugh, Love,</strong> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Vanilla Mama<o:p></o:p></span><br />
Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-57496636012492158562013-09-09T22:50:00.000-05:002013-09-09T22:50:49.773-05:00Gold Fish are Dangerous Pets<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will preface this post with - this was an organizational speech given for a class I am taking, it tickled me so much, that I wanted to write it out and post it. It is tongue in cheek for sure - </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Gold Fish are Dangerous Pets!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My name is “Fish-Killer.” I have come by it honestly, it
runs in my family. It’s not that I hate fish, but it seems I have a knack for
killing them. After some research though, it turns out – being a fish killer
may not be a bad thing. I have learned through my many years as an attempted
fish-owner that Gold Fish are dangerous pets to have. They can be emotionally damaging,
dangerous for the environment and even physically dangerous! I know this is a
shocking statement and this may have some reeling, but as a reformed fish
killer, I do find it my responsibility to inform you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FashVDpuYeg/Ui6V_uM8FXI/AAAAAAAAAP8/y6qa1T9hddk/s1600/bellyupfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FashVDpuYeg/Ui6V_uM8FXI/AAAAAAAAAP8/y6qa1T9hddk/s200/bellyupfish.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Imagine a child’s joy of owning their first pet, maybe it
was won at a fair and carried home in a plastic baggie, or maybe it was chosen
after an entire afternoon at the pet store. Either way, the Gold Fish came home
and soon there was a bowl and rocks! It is fed a little, it is fed a lot,
before too long that beloved Gold Fish is found belly-up and it has to be
flushed. Devastating - <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I know that is the cycle of life…but what, just what if a
child has a pet Gold Fish and goes on vacation and the parent says, “Let’s let
Goldie go swimming with the ducks in their duck pool.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What do ducks like to eat? Gold Fish! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This small child gets back from vacation and runs across
the lawn to catch their precious Gold Fish only to come up empty netted – emotionally
damaged for life! (The parent referred to in this scenario has since been
forgiven!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What happens to all these Gold Fish (besides the ones
that are eaten by neighbor’s ducks)? Are they flushed, thrown out? How are they
bad for the environment? Gold Fish excrete massive amounts of ammonia and
changing the water creates toxic waste that needs to be disposed of safely. How
many of these deceased fish end up in the landfill, or thrown out in the back
year – just the ammonia alone has to be processed by the sewage plants or
absorbed into the environment somehow…but, what about the unwanted Gold Fish
that are released into the wild?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-63WkBq9ixVc/Ui6WCTho6aI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/b6Gx7laxOOQ/s1600/GoldFish2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-63WkBq9ixVc/Ui6WCTho6aI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/b6Gx7laxOOQ/s1600/GoldFish2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Monster Gold Fish found in Lake Tahoe have formed a
colonies, some as large as 1.5 feet and weighing in at 5 pounds. These Gold
Fish have proven to be a very invasive species of fish that can take over the ecosystem,
eating everything in their path and growing at accelerated rates. <w:sdt citation="t" id="86965393"><!--[if supportFields]><span style='mso-element:
field-begin'></span><span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>CITATION Rya13 \l
1033 <span style='mso-element:field-separator'></span><![endif]-->(Arciero, 2013)<!--[if supportFields]><span
style='mso-element:field-end'></span><![endif]--></w:sdt> It is not just a
problem here in the United States but, but it is happening in the UK as well
and Anglersnet.co.uk warns reader to make sure to dispose of their pet Gold Fish in
an appropriate way. <w:sdt citation="t" id="5186503"><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>CITATION Elt07 \l 1033 <span
style='mso-element:field-separator'></span><![endif]-->(Elton, 2007)<!--[if supportFields]><span style='mso-element:field-end'></span><![endif]--></w:sdt><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><w:sdt citation="t"><br /></w:sdt></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><w:sdt citation="t"><br /></w:sdt></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6zgQZkwKbXY/Ui6WCdMdfWI/AAAAAAAAAQU/5YeUZtT6lyM/s1600/swallowing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6zgQZkwKbXY/Ui6WCdMdfWI/AAAAAAAAAQU/5YeUZtT6lyM/s1600/swallowing.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So this innocuous little Gold Fish can be damaging
emotionally for a small child, or even an adult like me and even how it can be
bad for the environment, but how is it physically dangerous. Since 1939 at
parties, for jokes and even for frat challenges, live Gold Fish swallowing has
been a popular challenge <w:sdt citation="t" id="-1485543465"><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>CITATION Ame11 \l 1033 <span
style='mso-element:field-separator'></span><![endif]--> (Meyer, 2011)<!--[if supportFields]><span
style='mso-element:field-end'></span><![endif]--></w:sdt>. Today there are
YouTube that can be found with individuals swallowing live Gold Fish. Back in
1939 doctors warned of parasites, tape worms and food poison, but the warning
apparently has gone unheeded. These days it is even more dangerous to swallow
live Gold Fish due to the chemicals used to treat them, chemicals like <b><span style="background: white;">Malachite Green, </span></b><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">is used to treat fish for parasite and diseases;
this chemical is a known carcinogen. I repeat, Malachite Green is known to
cause cancer. Gold Fish are not intended for human consumption. </span></span><span style="background: white;"><w:sdt citation="t" id="-127559688"><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'><span style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>CITATION Jam10 \l 1033 <span
style='mso-element:field-separator'></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;">(Boyle, 2010)</span><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'><span style='mso-element:field-end'></span></span><![endif]--></w:sdt></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><w:sdt citation="t"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></w:sdt></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">But, what if
the average person is not intending to swallow the Gold Fish and this said person
is a happy Gold Fish owner. Just imagine what happens if this unsuspecting
owner changes the toxic ammonia water, slips, falls and cracks their head open
in front of their child?! It is a two-fer! The child is emotionally damaged and
the parent is physically hurt – Gold Fish are dangerous pets!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This cold
water, ammonia producing scaled fish can be emotionally damaging, bad for the environment
and physically dangerous. After many years, I have graduated from a fish killer
to a happy tropical fish owner. I have a 30 gallon tank with 25 different
aquatic creatures, but I will NEVER have another Gold Fish. I am truly too emotionally
scarred and I would never want to put my seven year old through the kind of trauma
that I have experienced. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">(and yes, I am OCD enough to do a little research!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoBibliography" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if supportFields]><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><span
style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>BIBLIOGRAPHY<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>\l 1033 <span style='mso-element:field-separator'></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Arciero, R. (2013, Febuary 21). <i>Monster Gold Fish
Found</i>. Retrieved from Examiner.com:
http://www.examiner.com/article/monster-goldfish-found-giant-goldfish-lake-tahoe-invading-a-real-danger<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBibliography" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Boyle, J. (2010, Feb 14). <i>Don't Eat Goldfish, it
can Cause Cancer</i>. Retrieved from Gold Fish Care Information:
http://www.goldfishcareinformation.com/2010/02/dont-eat-goldfish-it-can-cause-cancer-and-make-you-sick.html<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBibliography" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Elton. (2007, May 9). <i>Anglers.co.uk</i>. Retrieved
from Dangerous Goldfish: http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/News/dangerous_goldfish.html<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if supportFields]><span style='font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:
minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:
AR-SA'><span style='mso-element:field-end'></span></span><![endif]--><br />
<div class="MsoBibliography" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Meyer, A. (2011, January 12). <i>National Museum of
American History</i>. Retrieved from The Year of the Gold Fish:
http://blog.americanhistory.si.edu/osaycanyousee/2011/01/1939-the-year-of-goldfish-swallowing.html</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-52733025848441190572013-06-04T23:06:00.003-05:002013-06-04T23:06:38.021-05:00Tomorrow is another day ~<span class="userContent"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good night world...Live it, Laugh it, and Love through it all! There are Hugs for All, Love to be shared and Prayers to offer up. Tomorrow is another day and if He brings you to it, He will bring you through it - even if it is a tight squeeze, trust the one who lifts you up!</span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I have been snowed under with classes, work and family, but I am still collecting fortunes and Bible verses!</span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="font-family: Arial;">More to come....Thank you for checking in with me!</span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Yours ~</span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Vanilla Mama</span></span>Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-71007569845608516632012-12-31T22:22:00.000-06:002012-12-31T22:22:01.672-06:00Live it, Laugh at it, Love it! 2013 - Go Gentle!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-njTJ5a9Pkro/UOJjHBdpyJI/AAAAAAAAAOo/xQ__haBJcbw/s1600/2013_Go_Gentle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-njTJ5a9Pkro/UOJjHBdpyJI/AAAAAAAAAOo/xQ__haBJcbw/s200/2013_Go_Gentle.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>There is no fortune cookie to ring in this New Year…</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As 2012 is finally ending and 2013 is about to come on the
stroke of midnight, I have spent some time reflecting. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In all honesty, this has been one of the worst years of my
life. There have been so many losses and changes (not all bad) that my heart
and mind are having a hard time keeping up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I am lying in bed at night (or in the wee hours of the
morning) I can either pretend that none of it ever happened, or I relive each
moment of it. Last night, I dreamed that my brother was still here…that as part
of a medical experiment they were able to bring him back. They had not told us
he was still alive until they knew for sure that he was going to make it. In my
dream, I went to answer the door and through the peep hole, I saw him. The joy
was overwhelming…simply and utterly overwhelming. Then I woke up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I woke up and wanted only to fall back asleep
into that dream, <em>but reality has a twisted way of creeping back in.</em> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have lost a best friend, my father, my brother, a business
that I loved went under, a ministry I have worked with for almost 10 years is
undergoing many changes (and I am NOT part of them), I got a new job…I got
another new job with in the same college. I work with amazing people all around;
have a supportive husband, an incredible mother and three kiddos that mean the
world to me, a strong sister-in-law and two beautiful talented nieces. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The blessings are there to be counted. I am trying to focus
on the positive, on the happy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is just so hard sometimes to lift myself up and put on
the rose colored glasses.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This coming year I am sure will bring more changes, but I
pray with all my heart no more losses.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am working on
finally getting my degree and at 40 years old…I think I have a direction for my
life. (About time, right?!) My oldest son is thriving at college, enjoying
playing college ball and continues to touch people with his heart, my middle
son blows me away with his personality, brain and sense of humor and my
youngest, I am just watching to see where his smarts will take him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">May your New Year be filled with joy, all your fortune
cookies be silly and your hearts be lifted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks for reading and hopefully growing with me. I can’t
promise to be more regular…but I can promise to…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Live, Laugh, Love!</strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Vanilla Mama</span></div>
Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-89720915061268423072012-11-17T21:02:00.000-06:002012-11-17T21:02:16.224-06:00Mission of Fortune<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EMXluieAMMY/UKhPCBFfvyI/AAAAAAAAAOM/isxZagY9_l0/s1600/white+148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EMXluieAMMY/UKhPCBFfvyI/AAAAAAAAAOM/isxZagY9_l0/s320/white+148.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>“Let your life be a mission, not an intermission!”<o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This year has been the worst year in my memory, as a family
we have lost so much. My father, my brother, my friend (not a death, but now
she is somebody that I used to know)…our hopes, our dreams. Changed, rearranged…the
normal changed to a bizarre and surreal abnormal. Life altered and hopes
destroyed. How, how do we move on? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am right now in an intermission…I want the pause. I want,
I need a break from reality. My breath is held. Waiting for peace. Begging for
peace. Desiring nothing more than to wake up from this cruel dream. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><strong>A mission</strong></em>, how can my life be a mission? How can I pick
myself up and stop this…stop this madness, stop this intermission? I do not
know.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even now, when I see a picture of my father or my brother,
my breath catches in my chest and I am immobilized with grief. A sudden memory
of them will freeze me. Knowing that there is such a vast hole, a deep black
hole where they used to be crushes me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every day is step by step. Each moment is breath by breath.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know that prayers and Christ lift me up, and my unceasing prayer
is that this loving God that I cannot claim to understand – show me what my
mission is. In all honesty, I cannot see it…cannot feel it…cannot begin to
understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Let your life be a mission, not an intermission!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="text">"And we know that in all things God works
for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his
purpose."</span> <strong>Romans 8:28.</strong> I am working toward this, I believe it. Sweet Lord
in Heaven above – take my life, and lead me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Live, laugh, love ~ <strong>like there is no
tomorrow</strong> - </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Vanilla Mama</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="text">PS…I am sure there are lucky numbers on the
back of this fortune, the mission I charge you with is to make sure you tell
the ones that you love…that you LOVE them. All our days are numbered and we do
not know how many we have.</span></span></div>
Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-38114330213577447512012-10-04T23:01:00.000-05:002012-10-04T23:06:03.534-05:00Brotherly Love<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Remembering Steven -</strong></span> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vjuiBpdqOPU/UG5Vf0x2YGI/AAAAAAAAAN8/ROntau8O5uQ/s1600/white+302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vjuiBpdqOPU/UG5Vf0x2YGI/AAAAAAAAAN8/ROntau8O5uQ/s320/white+302.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Brother and I in March - I Miss you Steven, I Love you!</span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Steven Earl ****, 6’6”, 362, 38 years old….Born:
November 28, 1973. Died: September 21, 2012 unexpectedly of pulmonary
thrombosis in his sleep. To most people he was Steve, or Steven – but he was
well known to us as Steven Earl, that’s what Mom or Dad would yell when he was
in trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we were little I used
to put bricks on his head to keep him from getting taller than me – It clearly
didn’t work. That may be why he started finding unusual places to sleep. We
would find him sleeping under tables, on the stairs, any quiet place…more than
likely anywhere away from his big sister trying to “play” with him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">He was a son, brother, husband and father. He was a
friend…to all of us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">If you or someone you know currently has or has ever had
the password *************(changed to protect the innocent) to one or more of your electronic devices – I know that
you are a friend or family member of Steven’s and relied on him for help to set
up your computer and internet. He was our techie – he introduced us to MP3’s,
ripping and burning disks, wifi and tried to keep us up to date with
technology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">He had a unique sense of humor – of course many jokes
needed to wait until kiddos were out of the room!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, he could even make the littlest ones
laugh. Steven was to them, a big kid. My boys always wanted to know if they
could stay the night with Uncle Steven, or when he would be coming over again
so they could play.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">He loved to play games – whether it was a video game,
board game or trivia game. If he suggested playing a game, I knew it was a good
one. Fact or Crap, Trivial Pursuit, Apples to Apples, Rayman, Guitar Hero, Mario,
Xbox, Wii, PlayStation…He knew them all and not being a ‘gamer’ I know I am
leaving out many more. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do know that He
could be the most aggravating person in the world, he would annoy you and push
your buttons until you just about lost your temper then could disarm you with a
wicked grin and saying something perfectly silly or incredibly
inappropriate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He really was the king of
inappropriate humor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Mary, his wife, called Steven her “Laughter.” Through thick and thin
– through ups and downs, Steven was her laughter and her rock. And I know that
she and the girls were his greatest joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">When I asked for memories of Steven from friends and
family, so many people referred to him as a gentle giant – and while it is not
in print – a few called him Grizzly Adams. Here he was this big, tough looking
man (did I mention he was 6’6”?), all burly with a curly beard worried about a
baby squirrel not being able to climb a tree. His heart, his spirit through it
all was tender…he was a gentle giant.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Steven did not have an easy life, he struggled with
constant pain and inner demons – but this man through it all left us with an
incredible gift. The gift of his love. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
know he is looking down on us all amazed at how many people are here to
celebrate his life. I do not think he ever realized how much he meant to us
all. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The little booklet (given out at the funeral) is full of memories that friends and
family sent, the theme of all of the memories together is a testament to his
heart. I know we all have special memory of Steven – whether it was calling him
for computer advice, laughing with him over a private joke or watching him with
his girls. He was a big kid and connected with his girls, my boys and so many
other kiddos. They loved to play with him, they trusted him and would sometimes
open up to him when they would let no one else in. He didn’t judge them, he
didn’t judge us. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">I feel blessed by his love, even now. All of us have been
blessed by Steven in one way or another. Smart, funny and giving.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Live, Laugh, Love~</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Vanilla Mama</span></div>
Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-2674677998903708712012-09-07T22:27:00.003-05:002012-09-07T22:27:50.545-05:00Training Fortune
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>“Let us train our minds to desire what the situation
demands.”</strong></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WytGpudEgD0/UEq6NHnCLKI/AAAAAAAAANs/kKD-1OsdEvM/s1600/Alice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WytGpudEgD0/UEq6NHnCLKI/AAAAAAAAANs/kKD-1OsdEvM/s320/Alice.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can I have Alice, PLEASE?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have certainly begun a new chapter in my life…I have taken
a greatly reduced role in the ministry work I have worked in for the last 9
years, I am working a full time job at a community college, and now I am also a
very part time student with a husband who travels 50% of the time and despite
all his hard work, layoffs are coming down the pike. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What I want…I want to be independently wealthy without a
care in the world. I want to sleep until noon, have a housekeeper named Alice
who will take care of me and my family, I want to already have my Master’s
degree instead of working on my Associate’s! I want to wake up tomorrow and be
completely fit and be able to eat whatever on this planet I crave!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>However, that is not my reality.<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My situation demands something completely different than
what my mind wants. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What does my situation demand? It demands frugal living,
time management, dietary discretion, organization and a drive to succeed. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">These are not wants…these are not idle “I wish” things –
these are demands that I must fulfill. But, my mind falls back into its whiny
brat mode and stomps its feet to have its way. Pitches a little hissy fit –
Jeesh, my mind can be such a PAIN!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If I let my bratty brain have its own way….I shudder to
think!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Let us train our minds to desire what the situation
demands.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How on earth do I go about this? Buy (NO – borrow from the library)
a self-help book? Search internet blogs with tips and suggestions? Rejoin
<a href="http://www.flylady.net/" target="_blank">FlyLady</a> (that is actually a REALLY good idea!) and take baby-steps to getting
my brain trained? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know that with each baby-step I take towards training my
bratty brain, my heart will desire the results and that will help train my mind
even more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I really don’t want to make myself out to seem like this
lazy, unmotivated person – because in reality, I’m not. I have a strong work
ethic, a drive and determination to move forward with my life, a hunger to
learn and have a happy family life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So…in essence my mind is already trained to some extent, I
just have bratty brain moments. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes, it is just hard to see the forest for the trees
when I am in the thick of it and simply want to take a break from the world for
a moment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>“Let us train our minds to desire what the situation
demands.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, bratty brain…you’ve had your hissy fit for the night and
it’s time to head to bed!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Live, Laugh, Love ~<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Vanilla Mama</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">PS – I NEED to train my brain to buy lottery tickets, I
think the situation demands it (but, I guess it doesn’t count as being frugal –
sigh!)!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">18, 45, 51, 8, 21, 43</span></div>
Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-62763273364360431392012-06-05T23:09:00.004-05:002012-06-05T23:10:45.243-05:00Blocking Fortune<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>“A closed mind is like a closed book; just like a block of
wood.”</strong></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tSggKyXEtJk/T87X0pKh7RI/AAAAAAAAANY/1lcd5QrnHu4/s1600/Blocking_Fortune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tSggKyXEtJk/T87X0pKh7RI/AAAAAAAAANY/1lcd5QrnHu4/s320/Blocking_Fortune.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For quite some time, I have felt a little closed, a little
stagnant. Neither moving forward nor moving behind (of course just the act of
standing still puts you behind – life moves forward all around you). My life,
my mind felt closed. I had stopped writing, I had been doing the same job for
many years, I was wrapped up in the day to day. Until…my husband got notice he
was being laid off. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That is a shell shocker for anyone to hear, a deadline when you
will no longer have a job. Not having benefits with three kiddos and a host of
health issues, not having an income with three kiddos…all very scary. That’s
when I took a second job. Got out of the house (I worked from home until then),
met new people…my mind started to open. Then I did not like some of what I saw
and found a different second job, LOVED the people there, loved the experience –
I grew some more. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">During this time, my home life suffered – my nights and
weekends were never mine. Such is the nature of a retail job. Even though I
undertook writing this blog, everything creatively fell behind. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband’s job got extended and we felt safe.
A year passed. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We got the notice that he is being laid off for sure, there
is no stopping it, it is going to happen. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A friend talked to me about classes at a local college and I
looked into it. Medical Billing and Coding – I was blessed with an incredible
grant and a wonderful advisor who looked at my background of administrating a
non-profit and she recommended I apply to a new position opening up in my area
with the college program that I was taking the class through. I applied in
February, never heard a thing. Figured they had found someone they felt was a
better fit. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I took my class, passed with flying colors made some new
friends – my book, my mind was certainly opened. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>“A closed mind is like a closed book; just like a block of
wood.”</strong></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>No wooden block here! </em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then out of the blue – on the day of my final exam, I got a
phone call! They wanted to interview me!! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">ME?! ME?! </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I interviewed and later that night, they called to offer me
the job! I start June 15!!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now – the pay is not fabulous. The benefits are great! The
people are wonderful! But – but, even better…</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can take any class I want, my sons can take any class they
want, my husband can take any class he wants! I can finally get my degree –
really open my mind, really start to grow again!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are still waiting for the final axe for my husband’s job,
but I feel like we have turned a corner. With my evenings and weekends back, our
family can get back on track – this will give my husband the ability to find
what he needs to move forward with his career. I am excited!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will still be working two jobs – one at the college, the
other still based at home, but it will all be on my terms!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Life, yes, Life is good!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Live, Laugh, Love~</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>Vanilla Mama</em></strong></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">PS – Your lucky numbers, keep your mind open – it could happen! 14, 21,
16, 42, 32, 11</span></div>Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-87499806646288727492012-05-18T00:15:00.001-05:002012-05-18T00:44:55.111-05:00Fortune of Light<b>Fortune of Light - </b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“You should be able
to undertake and complete anything you desire.”</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EwNqnOESW2Q/T7XaFO608rI/AAAAAAAAANI/otqWuH-AY7w/s1600/Lighter_Fortune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EwNqnOESW2Q/T7XaFO608rI/AAAAAAAAANI/otqWuH-AY7w/s200/Lighter_Fortune.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From my fortune cookie to God’s ears…umm, eyes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have undertaken many things in my life – some I have
completed, some I have not. The key word there is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SHOULD</b>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SHOULD </b>be able
to undertake and complete anything I desire. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I SHOULD be able to keep up with posting on my blog,
finishing my novel (that I have been working on for literally YEARS!),
finishing my classes, keeping my house organized and cleaned. I <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SHOULD</b>
be able to do a 2 mile walk every day, get my Yoga in, keep up with two jobs,
three kids and a husband, and my shows on Food Network….I have undertaken all
of this. Should, could, would…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Deep breath, everyone…Haha! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Life gets better, I always does. (Believe me I have learned NOT
to say…”It can’t get any worse!”)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I really do see the light at the end of the tunnel – could
be the train…at least I have a sense of humor still. Really I do, I gotta! Without
a sense of humor, the night falls to fast. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I see the daylight,
not a daylight so bright that I need to wear shades or cause a mind splitting migraine….but
a softly breaking dawn that is embracing me in warmth and love.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“You should be able
to undertake and complete anything you desire.”</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have things I am looking forward to – the Next Food Network
Star, losing my last 20 pounds…okay, maybe 30, the end of my classes, seeing my sons grow into men, the start
of a new chapter of my life, the new Despicable Me movie coming out next year.
Guess what my ring tone is….if you have gone back through and read some of my
blog, you know I love Despicable Me and I love my Minions. I digress... </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And – with that, I am off to bed. It’s been a pretty long
week…my littlest one had his tonsils out and we are medicating around the clock
for a weird headache, my sleep is on the low end of the scale right now and unfortunately
the bright daylight that won’t let me hit snooze on it will come much too soon! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As always – </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Live, Laugh, Love ~</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your Vanilla Mama</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
PS – Lucky numbers could help my Breaking Dawn (and NO, I
don’t think much could help that movie, maybe better basting for Bella? I
digress…) 2, 31, 37, 39, 40, 42.</div>Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-82818819334857731262012-04-23T00:37:00.000-05:002012-04-23T00:37:33.706-05:00Stumbling Fortune<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cIhxfWQbvhA/T5TjO_1bmVI/AAAAAAAAAM0/s0vRpBrVb2Y/s1600/love-book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cIhxfWQbvhA/T5TjO_1bmVI/AAAAAAAAAM0/s0vRpBrVb2Y/s320/love-book.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>“When you stumble your love will be there to catch you.”</strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The last few months have been some of the hardest of my
life. Some days are better than other – some days I stumble. Stumble so hard
that I can barely breath – my heart will literally skip a beat and I feel the
world spinning. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have you had that feeling? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Like you are there, present – fully, but not really. Almost
like what is happening, or has happened really only happened to someone else. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A dream state – a nightmare world, an
alternate reality that I want out of. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A stumble so hard that mentally I have skinned my knees. Scraped
my elbows. Bumped my head. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“When you stumble your love will be there to catch you.”</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Your love” – all your love – from every source, from
friends, from family, from God. All that love, will catch you, catch me…please,
please catch me. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I stumble my love will be there to catch me. All the
love that has been bestowed upon me, it is mine. Mine to cling to when my heart
is hurting, when I stumble. Mine to share with anyone else who may need it.
Because – </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Did you know…Did you know love grows when you share it? </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know that – I believe that. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When a man loves a woman it can grow into a child. That is a
literal interpretation – to be sure. But, seriously creating a child is
supposed to be one of the most expressive and intimate acts of love. (Of course
Human nature being what it is – it gets perverted, but I am not going to even
touch that here, right now!)</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Opening up your heart to a new person – expressing your love
to someone, can and does make your love grow. Your circle of people can grow
and deepen – if you let it. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“When you stumble your love will be there to catch you.” –
if you let it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every day you meet people, you don’t know what these people
are going through. Did they just get a speeding ticket, did a family member
just die – are they just plain stupid, are they going to be a soul mate? Someone
that when you meet them, you know the rest of your life is not complete without
them…It could be a parent, it could be a sibling, it could be a mom you meet during
a little league game, it could be the person behind you in the grocery store
line, or the man who helped edit your book…a soul mate is someone that touches
your soul. If you let them.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the last few months I have an extremely dear friend that
I called my sister walked away, I lost my father – my life is in flux. I have
stumbled…I have fallen, but my love, your love is there to catch me. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I let it…I have left myself open. I am here and present,
even though I want to pretend the last few months never took place…</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Live, laugh, love ~</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Vanilla Mama</span></div>Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com1Highland Village, TX 75077, USA33.0867723 -97.065978333.0335573 -97.1449423 33.1399873 -96.9870143tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-77846579996084919872012-03-23T00:22:00.000-05:002012-03-23T00:22:07.148-05:00Breathing<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How do you measure a loss?</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What constitutes a loss?</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are constantly watching Wall Street and the gas pumps, every nickel, every penny….tracking loss. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Losing your phone, losing your keys, losing your dog….</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have lost all of those. </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And most anyone who is reading this will acknowledge that none of these, <strong>NONE</strong> of these prepare you for the loss of a person. A live, human, breathing, loving person. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A person that you love. </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How do you measure that loss? How do you get past it? There is no financial advisor, no hidden extra keys, no micro chip embedded in a lost pet, no cell phone insurance – they are gone. </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A co-worker, a friend, a family member…an aunt, an uncle, a grandparent, a parent, a sister, a brother, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a spouse, a child…how, do you measure that loss. How do you move on?</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, second by second – breath by breath! </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Please keep my family in your prayers. We have lost so much…we have lost my father to pancreatic cancer. My grandfather’s son, my mother’s husband of 40 years<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(almost 41 years), a sibling to my aunts, an uncle to my cousins, a friend to many more than I could name….he has gone home. </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He was welcomed home by many loved ones, friends, cousins, aunts, uncles, a mother and a grandbaby. </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, second by second – breath by breath. </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fortune Cookies, Bible Verses, and Prayers…many, many prayers!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most important - Prayers!</span></div>Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-54108407462444793262012-03-05T22:52:00.002-06:002012-03-05T22:58:12.832-06:00Fatherly Fortune<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bjr93UVnaxk/T1WXnX_3BoI/AAAAAAAAAMg/pQWnM44DXqI/s1600/Howard+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bjr93UVnaxk/T1WXnX_3BoI/AAAAAAAAAMg/pQWnM44DXqI/s320/Howard+009.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Dad taking care of Little Me!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have not posted much as late, and will be checking in from time to time. But, life as usual has thrown myself and my family a tremendous curveball that I need to be fully present for.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My precious father, my Dad, my Daddy – has been in and out of the hospital since Thanksgiving of last year and recently they finally were able to tell us what he was suffering from. This strong, capable, loving man is suffering from pancreatic cancer. It is advanced and it is incurable. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the fortunes in the world, all the little slips of papers that are stuffed in little bites of cookies – do not prepare anyone for this. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please keep my family in your prayers. Please keep my Father in your prayers, please keep my Mother in your prayers. These two incredible people who have made my life possible, who daily show me an example of love and selflessness, who are facing one of the most difficult things a married couple can face together…with dignity and grace. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even when I am not there with them, my heart is. I want to wrap my Daddy up in love and protect him from pain and from fear. I want to lift my Mom’s heart up and protect it from the hurt and anxiety. I want to shield my brother, my nieces, my children – I cannot, no one can. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is one verse, one Bible verse that I look to – Romans 8:28. There is a reason – there is a reason for all this pain, and I pray that God will make it apparent at some point. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The outpouring of love and support from friends and family for my Dad has been such a blessing – and I encourage anyone who reads this to reach out today and let someone know that you care. Reach out today…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">With love, blessings and best wishes~</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Vanilla Mama</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-42958390979525162132012-01-29T21:24:00.000-06:002012-01-29T21:24:13.771-06:00Strange Fortune<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TQdNzd_97Og/TyYMMZfLGbI/AAAAAAAAAMU/IVw1JsnF6Ok/s1600/cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TQdNzd_97Og/TyYMMZfLGbI/AAAAAAAAAMU/IVw1JsnF6Ok/s320/cookies.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>“An hour with one friend is worth more than ten with strangers.”</strong></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lately I have not had enough time with my friends. Spending a lot of time with strangers – nature of retail, but not enough with friends. We will message back and forth about getting together for a girl’s night, but it hasn’t happened recently. </span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These ladies, these amazing friends that I treasure – I miss them. We connected through our kids at various points in our lives and blessedly, even though our kiddos have grown (mostly) we have been able to maintain the connection. Even if we don’t talk or see each other on a regular basis, we click when we are together. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am blessed to know these women and men. (Yes, I am one of those people who believe you can be friend with a man without ending up sleeping with him.) God puts these people in your life for a reason. We may never know why we connect with the cashier at Albertson’s or the Mom at your son’s first basketball practice – who ends up being like the sister you never had. </span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are people that enter your life everyday – you might meet them through your kids, through work, standing in the line at the grocery store. Maybe they are one of the strangers that you end up spending ten hours with. What matters is that you are open to letting them in. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I write this with a heavy heart, I miss my friends. Desperately, truly miss my friends. There is one incredible woman I miss and think about constantly – she is in my prayers, my thoughts and my heart. If there was anything she asked for, I would be there. </span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am actually going to make this a fairly short post, because I am going to look and my calendar and see when I can get a girl’s night planned. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think we all need to reconnect – couple of margaritas, some sangria and maybe a box…umm..bottle of wine! </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>“An hour with one friend is worth more than ten with strangers.”</strong></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s hoping that I get ten hours with my friends!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With friendly vibes – </span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Vanilla Mama</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">PS- your lucky numbers…11, 13, 19, 21, 25, 28. If you win – take your best friend out!</span></div>Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-68836513132587592972012-01-08T22:33:00.000-06:002012-01-08T22:33:12.966-06:00Intelligent Fortune<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>“You Will Attain the Highest Levels of Intelligence.”</strong></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f0-dGgnBeJs/TwptY5TIrqI/AAAAAAAAAMA/YZ8HDHgCJCg/s1600/Craftberry_Fortune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f0-dGgnBeJs/TwptY5TIrqI/AAAAAAAAAMA/YZ8HDHgCJCg/s320/Craftberry_Fortune.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since I am considering going back to school and taking some classes to try to put myself in a better position for a lifelong career, that would be good news. </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Looking back on my life truly I do not have many regrets…everything I have done, everything I have been through has made me who I am today. Today, I think I am an okay person. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I make mistakes, I’m not perfect – but I am pretty happy with who I am. There are certainly areas of my life that bear improving – but show me a person that is not a work in progress and I will show you a person that is likely six feet under. </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The one true regret that I have, not finishing my college education. At the time it was the right decision for my health, and I kept telling myself I would go back. Then I got pregnant and the family years began. There just never seemed to be enough time with raising kiddos, then going through a divorce, being a single parent, getting remarried, having another baby, working two jobs…well. Somehow it just never has seemed the right time. </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s the bottom line – I ain’t getting younger. The clocks a ticking, I’m pushing 40. Yes, ladies and gentleman Vanilla Mama is going to hit 40 this year. I have the college freshman and the grey hair to prove it. </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>“You Will Attain the Highest Levels of Intelligence.”</strong></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My advice to my kids, to friends of my kids, to random teenagers I meet – Finish school, go to college, get a degree! The job market is so competitive out there, you need that piece of paper. I am a prime example, I have plenty of experience, but without that slip of parchment showing I stuck it out for four years and got my degree – I am looked over. Many careers/job opportunities do not even want you to apply without a degree. </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have learned the hard way, I am not good at online classes and self study. Tried that – once I set down at the computer to do the classes I get distracted by the millions of other tasks I have waiting or the phone rings. It’s kind of the same thing with exercising at home – we’ve all been there! How many of us have a treadmill that has become a catch all for hanging laundry (please chime in and tell me I am not alone!), a stationary bike that doesn’t move at all, or a yoga mat that serves as a rug? I need the structure of a classroom environment. </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>“You Will Attain the Highest Levels of Intelligence.”</strong></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s way past time for this Vanilla Mama to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up! My ultimate dream – I would love to write full time. My reality at this point…I work two jobs, have three kids and barely find time to post a blog (yes, I checked it has been exactly ONE MONTH since my last post!). My wonderful hubby asked, “you are stressed to the max already, doing two jobs, keeping us all on track, how on earth are you going to take classes and go back to school?” My answer was, “I know that at the end it will be worth it. I will be reaching a goal and helping our family!” </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I do believe the sacrifice will be worth it – I need to strive to attain the highest levels of intelligence and further myself, my eventual career and set an example for my kiddos. </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On a completely unrelated topic – I CUT my hair this week! I don’t mean a little – I am talking Jamie Lee Curtis short. I had her cut off EVERYTHING that was dyed, since I have decided as my New Year’s Resolution…of which I only have one…I am not going to color my hair. I was worried that I would end up looking like a man, but I have been told it is very feminine and flattering. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not quite ready to share a picture, if you know me on Facebook, you can find me there. </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So…anyway, I promise not to be a month between posts next time. I may even try to get on a regular schedule…who knows posting regularly may get my on a path to higher intelligence!</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Live, Laugh, Love ~</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Vanilla Mama</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">PS – There are no lucky numbers on Panda Express’ fortune cookies – the turkey butts! Thanks Camille for sharing your fortune with me. BTW – Miss you!</span></div>Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-65688370724685159742011-12-08T23:45:00.000-06:002011-12-08T23:45:23.507-06:00Hard Fortune<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uCn-9u3BysY/TuGf1S7toaI/AAAAAAAAALE/uCrCYD3YduE/s1600/color-fortune-cookie-favors-500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uCn-9u3BysY/TuGf1S7toaI/AAAAAAAAALE/uCrCYD3YduE/s320/color-fortune-cookie-favors-500.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Please, can I have for Christmas?</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Advancement will come with hard work.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Promise?</i> Really, can you promise me that? Cause, I have been working 60, 70 hours…sometimes more…and I seem to be spinning my wheels. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It seems like the harder I work, the more I do, the further behind I fall. How is that possible?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have two jobs right now – one I really enjoy and the other, I have been doing so long…I don’t know what else to do. The stress of both jobs together seem to be part of the fiber of my being, as does the constant clutter on the flat surfaces of my home. I really am an organized person trapped inside a hamster wheel of never ending tasks. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The loves of my life…my family, my friends, my home, my writing – that is where I fall behind. The time that I spend with my family is precious. The time I spend with my friends I cherish. The hours I spend in my home – I crave! The moments I get to write, I long for. (Let’s not even mention crocheting, reading and taking some classes.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have friends that I consider family, God has blessed me with them. I have no blood sisters, but I have women in my life that I am honored to call my sisters. (We need a GIRL’S NIGHT!) When their hearts hurt, I hurt; when they have joy, I am happy. All of us are so busy with “hard work” and we struggle to find the time to dedicate to this amazing gift we have been given! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I miss my family with a passion so great it hurts. I want to be there for my grandpa, or at least be able to call him on a regular basis! This amazing man that has survived so much – I look up to him and I am so proud of him! My aunts, uncles, cousins – too much time has passed since I have been able to be with you. My parents, my brother and his family – we used to have dinner almost every weekend. Recently we had a family game night with my brother and his family and I was struck by how much I MISS them! My Mom and Dad, they are a source of strength and inspiration to me. I appreciate their support and love and I hope they know how much I treasure them. (Lord knows, I have been remiss in telling and showing them!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My husband – I consider us still newlyweds. We’ve been married 5 years and heaven only knows why this precious man puts up with me! He has a wonderful sense of humor, loyal heart and incredible mind, I am so blessed that he loves me! He is my rock and without him, without his love and support I would be lost. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My own kiddos, I am sorry I cannot even begin to describe how much I miss spending time with them. My oldest, in college – I miss him, he is not terribly far, but it feels like a lifetime away. His caring heart, warm personality and infectious smile…I would prefer to have on a daily basis. My middle son, in high school – what a strong, funny and incredible young man. He is intuitive, random and makes me laugh and think all at the same time. His future is so bright! My little guy – what a trip every day. I have been raising these two older boys, ran a home daycare for 10 years and I have never run across a little boy like him. I can’t wait (oh, wait – YES I can) to see the man he will become. Each of my kiddos, each of their beating hearts and working minds are such a blessing to me and I would/will move heaven and earth to experience each moment I can with them. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have truly digressed – </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Advancement will come with hard work.</b> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am not afraid of hard work. What I am afraid of is losing precious moments with the people I love. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Advancement is something I need to be able to support my family, to be able to help them realize their dreams. I will work hard to make sure that I am able to lift them up in any way I can. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To all my online friends that read and follow me…thank you for your patience with me. I know that I am not very consistent with my posts. I do follow back and I do read as much as I can. Thank you! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Plugging Away here ~</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Vanilla Mama</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">BTW – Seriously, I NEED to start playing some of these numbers…maybe my hard work would be a thing of the past. 24, 33, 37, 41, 42, 44. </span></div>Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-39023250465284412232011-11-08T22:46:00.000-06:002011-11-08T22:46:27.604-06:00Interfering Fortune<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</style> <![endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AW18Gt3f8lc/TroE9r3cEsI/AAAAAAAAAK4/F3ByaRg4LNs/s1600/fortune_interfere.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AW18Gt3f8lc/TroE9r3cEsI/AAAAAAAAAK4/F3ByaRg4LNs/s1600/fortune_interfere.png" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Interfering Fortune </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I cannot run a marathon. I cannot lift weights. I cannot manage to sit and work on my book every day. I cannot get my butt in skinny jeans or ever in my life be a size 2. I cannot get to sleep without my mind racing 2 million miles an hour. I cannot do electrical work, plumbing and honestly I suck at gardening. I cannot keep fish alive, stay organized or simplify my life. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I cannot fly.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wow - that is quite a list. My list could honestly go one – and some of these things do interfere with what I can do. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Really, I have no desire to run a marathon. Seems like a lot of beating up on my poor body. I would love to be able to run – But, I can walk. I love to walk. I do it every day (weather and sick kiddos permitting!). </div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I cannot lift weights or be a body builder, but honestly all I really need to pick up is my own butt and my kiddo. Speaking of butts – skinny jeans are just wrong, unless you are a twig or a size two. Neither of which is healthy for someone like me. I do not even think my skeleton would fit in a size two skinny jean. I CAN be the healthiest possible. I can eat real food, whole foods and walk – I am cave woman…hear my nom-nom on my homemade jerky!</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">With a healthy fear of blowing myself up and flooding my house, I know I can call my dad. (Yes, my husband can be handy – but my Dad is a Handy Man’s Handy Man!) He is amazing – perhaps I should pay closer attention when he helps me out, take notes…video…Even though he and my Mom live fairly close, we don’t get to see each other as much as I would like.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">With my Black Thumb (which, by the way – my Dad has a Green Thumb!), I am hesitant to go all in and plant a garden, but I CAN keep my ivy alive and try again in the spring. I have a vision in my head of how I would love for it to look, what I would love to grow. I have day dreams of feeding my family with home grown tomatoes, peppers, etc…I’ll try again!</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am the official “Fish Killer” in my family, the fish at the store jump from their tank as soon as walk in…fishicide is less painful than the thought of coming home with me. It’s like they know…kinda creepy! So, since I cannot keep them alive, I CAN refrain from buying more. I think they are too beautiful to bring home to die…and I DON’T do it on purpose.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Staying organized is a constant battle, I CAN keep trying and that will help simplify my life. I need to simply – then maybe I could write on my book everyday, maybe I could post my fortunes more often. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Flying…seriously, that’s what PLANES are for!</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My racing brain at night is probably the biggest thing that interferes with what I can do. My walking helps, writing help. But, getting my life simple and organized would probably help the most. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am sorry that my posts are so far between. I am sorry that I have a hard time keeping up with some of the wonderful people I have meet through blogging. I cannot promise to get better – but I won’t let that interfere with TRYING!</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Live, Laugh, Love ~</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Vanilla Mama</div>Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-33412085083166995792011-10-18T23:32:00.000-05:002011-10-18T23:32:34.945-05:00Healing Fortune<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</style> <![endif]--> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tn3HibG9UNw/Tp5SOuUwlVI/AAAAAAAAAKU/abL0zM60yf4/s1600/Healing_Fortune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tn3HibG9UNw/Tp5SOuUwlVI/AAAAAAAAAKU/abL0zM60yf4/s200/Healing_Fortune.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>“Time heals all wounds. Keep your chin up.”</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have heard so many variations of this through the years. We all have. It is what everyone says when something goes wrong. Through my years on this earth, I have lost grandparents, a marriage and a child. Yes, time helps…it can help. It can turn the open wound into a scab…it can turn the scab into a scar. Time.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Time can truly heal many wounds. It can heal a broken heart, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">if you let it</b>. It can take your sorrow, pain and devastation and morph it into a new life with promise and hope, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">if you let it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If you let it.</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I am not going to even pretend that I don’t think about my losses. They have made me who I am today, they have molded me. I know not to take a single moment for granted – but there are days when I feel totally overwhelmed. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Days when I open my heart and look at the scars. Days when I look for the dried crusty edges of the scabs and pick at them. Days when I blame myself for the losses. There are those Days.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I would be lying if I denied it. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>“Time heals all wounds. Keep your chin up.”</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">These are the major wounds of my heart and I try to let time heal them. God brought me to them…He will bring me through them. Even if takes my entire life – time will heal me. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are other wounds, wounds that I have inflicted on myself. As if there is not enough pain in everyday life, as if I have not lost enough…I lash out at myself, inflicting wounds. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Small wounds, that over the course of time, because they are so constant and self inflicted, fail to ever scab over and heal right. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Blaming myself for the loss of my child, my marriage – those are major self inflicted wounds on top of the actual loss. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But, what about the little everyday things we say to ourselves? I’m not good enough. I’m not pretty enough. I’m not smart enough. I screw up everything I touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What kind of effect does this have on us?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It has us running to the pharmacy to fill our anti-depressants!! It has us drinking glass after glass of wine! It has us trying to numb ourselves…because time, precious time, has a very hard time healing wounds that we inflict on ourselves every day. It chips away at our soul. It sets us up for many more heart breaks, because…We let it.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Time heals all wounds. Keep your chin up.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How do we, you and I, get through this? How do we heal our hearts? We have to allow the healing. We have to forgive ourselves.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is a step by step process…everyday.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Everyday, there is the choice to accept the hardship and losses that we face and allow it to become part of our backbone. Everyday…and I do mean everyday…we must forgive ourselves and stop beating ourselves up for our imagined or real shortcomings. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our children, our spouses, our family and our friends (yes, even our employers) deserve us at our best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Self flagellation has no part in our everyday life. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Time, God, Love…will heal our hearts. If we allow it. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What happens if we do not allow it? </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Live, Laugh, Love ~</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Vanilla Mama</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">PS – I know this is a serious post, and I have struggled with it. For those of you who know me, you know many of the inner demons that I have struggled with and continue to struggle with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will never make light of someone’s loss or pain. My daughter died before she was born. She was stillborn at 27 weeks. It was not just the death of a child, but the death of a dream. There are times when I blame myself for her death – even now, 17 years later. I know that when my life is done and I can finally see the face of God, I will be able to embrace her and know the plan. If you have experienced a loss, or if you are inflicting your own wounds – I am here. And you are so much MORE – You are MORE! </div>Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-46677289675645317742011-10-09T21:44:00.000-05:002011-10-09T21:44:08.915-05:00Richest Fortune<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</style> <![endif]--> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>“The secret of vast riches begins with a single penny.”</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xo4O3Ow35rM/TpJbX9K738I/AAAAAAAAAKQ/owKYEeOMMWI/s1600/Fortune_cookie_money.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xo4O3Ow35rM/TpJbX9K738I/AAAAAAAAAKQ/owKYEeOMMWI/s320/Fortune_cookie_money.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Seems slightly overstated, but then again aren’t all classic Fortune Cookie Fortunes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have a secret inner coupon diva that is dying to climb out and start getting groceries for free, but for the life of me I can’t seem to wrap my head around it. Have you seen this new show, “Extreme Couponing”? I have 5 episodes on my DVR just waiting for me to watch…why haven’t I? I want to take NOTES!!! Not only that, but after I watch it I know that I will never really want to grocery shop again until I undertake the couponing…and honestly, my family would GO HUNGRY!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How on earth can a reasonable human being save money? One penny at a time?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“The secret of vast riches begins with a single penny.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Saving money is a difficult thing for me, typically I am pressed for time and don’t have time to organize a huge binder full of coupons that are cross-indexed by brand and stores. Realistically how can I save money – I have a loyalty card at the stores I shop at, I use coupons from the Sunday paper only for the items our family uses, if we go out to eat it is a place I have a coupon for. Am I the thriftiest person ever? Of course not, I waste a lot of money on things I don’t really need, or end up not using because I got it for a great price! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Example, in my closet I have 10, yes 10 photo boxes that I bought for $1 each. GREAT DEAL – they were on SALE!! Guess what, they are in MY CLOSET STILL wrapped in PLASTIC NEVER USED! Great deal on sale, NEVER used, in my closet taking up space that I could use for other things! Another example…I found extremely CUTE shadow boxes on SALE 75% off, where are these shadow boxes now? In yet another closet still with their tags on, never used. I think I need to dust off my Ebay account and get busy!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“The secret of vast riches begins with a single penny.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The best way that I have learned to save money is to resist the impulse to buy things on sale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially things that are project related…photo boxes, shadow boxes, fabric for covering a table, YARN to crochet with that is, in yes, another CLOSET! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is a truth that I have learned about myself and I try to embrace…if I undertake the Extreme Couponing show and take notes, I will share with you the details, but you are probably way ahead of me and can share your tips with me! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you have a dirty little secret where you waste money and feel guilty, share it here. Let’s get it out and own it, then we can take control of it. Are you a Starbucks fiend (my hand raises), do you buy things in bulk that end up not being used, do you have a collection that you love and spend money on it? Where does your money go? My confession here is light hearted and a little silly, but it is nonetheless true – I have to be honest with myself and where my money really goes before I can take it buy the horns and wrestle it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Start saving those pennies to build up vast riches!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thanks for letting me guest post on your wonderful blog, I hope you enjoyed! <b><a href="http://makobiscribe.com/2011/07/vanilla-mama.html">(Yes, wow, I was asked to guest post at Makobi Scribe - check it out here!)</a></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Live, Laugh, Love~</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Vanilla Mama</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ooops…almost left off the lucky numbers, because wouldn’t it be sweetness to win the lottery and not have to worry about money anymore?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">19, 23, 27, 29, 35, 38</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(One disclaimer I will make, I do not play the lottery on a regular basis, in fact probably only once a year, I do happen to really believe that it is a waste of my money – but if you play and you win from these numbers, please remember your Vanilla Mama!) </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div>Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-81741771657144374212011-09-06T22:53:00.000-05:002011-09-06T22:53:51.731-05:00Balanced Fortune<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.”</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hJjGkj-YRiM/Tmbpu2yVCVI/AAAAAAAAAKI/8oK8YL8B-KI/s1600/Balanced_Fortune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190px" nba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hJjGkj-YRiM/Tmbpu2yVCVI/AAAAAAAAAKI/8oK8YL8B-KI/s320/Balanced_Fortune.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, this is funny. Remember, I have my <a href="http://vanillamamasstuff.blogspot.com/2011/05/friendly-fortune.html">Happiness cup</a> that I keep all my fortunes in, and I pull them out randomly when I get a chance to write about one. What is funny about this? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Guess what I had for dinner?! Two, yes TWO cookies. One was a lemon frosted sugar cookie and the other was basically a death by three chocolates cookie…it was either that or two mini cupcakes. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If my kiddos ever came to me and told me, “Hey, Mom for dinner I had two cookies.” I would flip out. I mean seriously flip out – Pop and Tart I know you check in occasionally, so please remember…Do as I say, not as I do! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do I really think that “a balanced diet is a cookie in each hand?” NO! I have not worked hard losing 80 pounds to blow it having meals of cookies. It is not something I do on a regular basis; I just failed to plan ahead. It would not have taken much. I could have thrown together a quick meat and cheese plate, a simple salad. I could have, should have, would have – but I got caught up in my day and ran behind. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A friend of mine keeps telling me, “Life is too short.” I don’t know if he ever reads my blog…probably not. But, if he does…I know. Life is too short to get caught up and forget to feed myself. Life is too short to get caught up and lose the little/big things in life that matter. My kiddos, my wonderful hubby, my friends and family…I need them for my balance. But how often do I fill my time with “cookies” and try to balance myself with it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What are my “cookies?” Television (love me some Food Network!), my jobs, my little tasks that just cannot wait another minute, reading all my friends Facebook posts, playing games…What are yours? What do you use to fill your time instead of balancing your life? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s kinda sad…I admit, rather than balancing my life, I fill my time. I need to work hard on finding my balance. I want and need so badly to find it. My heart, my soul, my kiddos, my wonderful hubby, my friends and family need me to be balanced. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Change is hard, choices are hard, and balance is hard. Realistically, we all know “a balanced diet is a cookie in each hand” is not true. A balanced life cannot just be all play, all work or all anything…all cookies.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Live, Laugh, Love ~</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Vanilla Mama</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">PS – there are no lucky numbers on this fortune. Pick your own, and for the love of God and all that’s holy…don’t EVER rely on me for your lucky numbers. For the record…I haven’t played the lottery since Christmas. (Maybe I should!)</span></div>Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-65352948855127284022011-08-28T20:28:00.000-05:002011-08-28T20:28:30.682-05:00Fortune of Good News<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UV0wRzeE958/TlrrF8Oq8gI/AAAAAAAAAKE/4piuQ6d_Rxo/s1600/Gorilla_papo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" qaa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UV0wRzeE958/TlrrF8Oq8gI/AAAAAAAAAKE/4piuQ6d_Rxo/s1600/Gorilla_papo.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>“Good news will be brought to you by mail.”</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Please! Please! I could use a little good news…no more bills, just good news. And, NO I don’t count the <em>Publishers Clearinghouse!</em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I think about it, and it doesn’t take much thought, I don’t get much mail. I get plenty of bills, sales notices, coupons, but not letters. What is even sadder is I don’t send mail. I don’t even get Christmas cards out most of the time, let alone birthday cards, Thank You notes, just everyday thinking of you cards. Ask anyone who has known me for years…I am great at emailing, I respond on facebook, I text like a mad woman possessed. But, a simple letter, well frankly, I suck! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, there is my confession. Ask my pen pal in Germany from the 9<sup>th</sup> grade, oh…wait, you can’t, I wrote ONE letter! Ask a lovely, lovely lifelong friend in New York, ask my family. They will all tell you I suck! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is a strong way to put it, but I am a realist if nothing else (except when I am wearing my rose colored glasses) and I know it, I own it. I wish I could say, I will work hard to change it, but I know it would probably be a lie. I wouldn’t mean it to be. In my heart I see a neat clean organized desk with lovely Marthaesque stationary where I would sit with a LeBlanc pen and write heartfelt notes to my loved ones. As I gaze upon my desk…umm, kitchen table…I have a nice basket with stationary and envelopes, I also have a pile of paperwork and bills to plow through. Where will that stationary end up? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why do I even have it out? Because I sent my son in college a care package. Yes, me the queen of not sending mail, I sent a care package. It had coffee, boxers (sorry Pop!), school supplies, an awesome Papo Mutant Gorilla and a letter on my stationary telling him how proud of him I am. I cannot tell you how excited I was for him to get his package, I know he loved it, he was on the phone when he opened it. I will see him this next weekend, so I probably won’t send him a care package this week – but I look forward to surprising him. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Good news will be brought to you by mail.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In this day and age of the fast and faster gratification, tweeting and posting, I don’t hold out much hope of good news in the mail. What is truly sad - most of the good news I get in my email inbox is just a chance to order Viagra at 20% off with free shipping or I have won the Lottery in Sweden based on my email address. I know you have the same emails, sitting in your junk box…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THAT’s WHAT I NEED!! A Junk Box for my MAIL box!! If only the mail man could filter it as he puts it in my box – Bed, Bath and Beyond mail – Ok! To Current Resident – JUNK! I could even set it up for him, a separate slot and everything. But, since it is probably the Junk Mail we receive that actually keeps our tried and true Mail Men/Women in service, I shouldn’t complain too much. I just need to send more MAIL!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maybe if I would send more mail, I wouldn’t rely on my Ebay or Amazon purchases to make my mail nirvana happen….</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Live, Laugh, Love~</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Vanilla Mama</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">PS…Your lucky numbers: 11, 13, 15, 26, 35, 40 – Oh 40, I am going to face you down next year! I am finally starting to feel the age I am in my heart.</span></div>Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-17921614330315720432011-08-23T09:25:00.000-05:002011-08-23T09:25:13.823-05:00Meanest Fortune <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vcDuAaNun_c/TlO37QOritI/AAAAAAAAAKA/1MODSdc2f_g/s1600/CrochetCookie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150px" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vcDuAaNun_c/TlO37QOritI/AAAAAAAAAKA/1MODSdc2f_g/s200/CrochetCookie.jpg" width="200px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This pic has nothing to do with the post, but I WANT ONE!!!</span></strong> </td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>“Never corner anything meaner than you.”</em></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am going to start off by apologizing for how long it has been in-between posts (and Book Blurbs – which I know I will never catch up on, I may just have to hop around), life has been moving all around me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since my last post, I have gotten my oldest son to college – a whirlwind trip to be sure and my wallet is still reeling! My middle Tart has started his sophomore year of high school and little Frosting has begun Pre-K with a new teacher. I lost part of a tooth and got a crown (temp right now)…paid a king’s ransom for it! Honestly I could probably go on and on…can’t we all.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, with all this I pull out this fortune, “Never corner anything meaner than you.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I could complain all day long, but there are some really wonderful things that I am grateful for! I have a son in college, another in high school and one in Pre-K. I was able to get a tooth fixed. I have two good jobs and co-workers that I truly enjoy working with. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What exactly do I need to corner? What is meaner than me? I need to corner the dirty rotten scoundrel that stole my old checkbook information and is cramping my style…I don’t like having all this hanging over my head. Might consider taking on the cable company to figure out why my bill is so high when I don’t have any premium channels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Probably the meanest thing I need to corner is MY HOUSE! The clutter monster continues to try to take over…I have read tons of tips on how to tame it, but that critter just won’t quit. It is MEAN! If I turn my back for a minute (or two or a couple of days), it just seems to spread like mad. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So basically…I may have to ignore this fortune and corner it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks for checking in – I’ll be making my rounds and trying to catch up!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Live, Laugh, Love ~</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Vanilla Mama</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">PS…there are no lucky numbers on the back of this fortune. Now, really…that’s just MEAN!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-84011976845958819582011-08-07T01:55:00.000-05:002011-08-07T01:55:08.253-05:00Frugal Fortune<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I7b3TnN8HDE/Tj42gBAiwYI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/4wS1fZNhgHA/s1600/Frugal_Fortune.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I7b3TnN8HDE/Tj42gBAiwYI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/4wS1fZNhgHA/s200/Frugal_Fortune.png" t$="true" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Frugal Fortune</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">“You shouldn’t overspend at the moment. Frugality is important.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">As our country dives deep, deep, deep into debt with numbers that if my 5-year old would ask if possible, I would say – of course not…that will never happen to you! But, it is. It is happening to all of us. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">We are raising the debt ceiling, our credit rating is falling…does any of this sound familiar? Is this happening to you?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Is the United States government finally facing the reality that most Americans face every day? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Too many finical obligations….too little cash.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Where do you make cuts? Where do you choose not to spend your money? (as I sit here with acrylic nails that are desperately in need of a fill, unpainted toe nails and gray roots showing…store brand staples in my cabinet and Groupon pinging off the roof…) Small changes are happening here. A coupon diva I am not – post about that later.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The government choices are much harder. But, I think that if some of the trust fund babies that can afford to get elected would give up some of their benefits…it might make a difference, a small one. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">We live in an entitled society. From the Congress Man who is entitled to a lifetime of benefits and retirement for his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">service</i>, to the poor who are entitled to health care (– and as a member of the uninsured for a couple of years – I DO NOT say this lightly!), to the 16 year old who is entitled to a new car, to the 4 year old wanting a cool toy with his Happy Meal. (and Apples Fries!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">“You shouldn’t overspend at the moment. Frugality is important.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">On a more personal level…I have a son going into college. Thank God for Pell Grants, for scholarships, for parents working together to put him through college, for grandparents offering an amazing amount of support. But – all the same, it is an expense. He is moving…moving…(getting into emotional territory with no tissue available) to another state. There are expenses. Being frugal is very important, overspending must be avoided, we need to try to set an example.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">I want my son to grow up without debt, without unnecessary financial obligations. I want my children to not rely on our government for their welfare, I want them to be financially independent.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The same with everything…I have to try to set the example, and I will admit, I am not always the best, our government is not the best, but I pray that they learn from example. In some cases, we all must learn for the example of what NOT to do! I always stress the importance of education to my kiddos…I never finished college, did not finish medical transcription training…at this point, I am where I am. I am entering a new phase in my life, I want to write…but have little time raising 3 kiddos, being a wife, having 2 jobs – I feel like my house will never come together, I am not spending enough time with my family, my parents, my spouse, my friends, on my jobs, on my writing, on myself…I am overspent. Overspent finically, emotionally and physically…I need to learn to be more frugal. Smarter about my time, smarter about my money, pay more attention to politics and turn my air up to 80 to avoid the rolling blackouts that may happen here in Texas. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">“You shouldn’t overspend at the moment. Frugality is important.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">How do you try to live this fortune? How are you frugal and avoid overspending? Tell me, I want desperately to find the balance I need. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Live, Laugh, Love ~</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Vanilla Mama</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Cannot forget the lucky number…is it the path to financial independence or just another unnecessary expense? I promise to let you know, if you do!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">16, 17, 20, 26, 29, 30</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">(as a side note…all of these are AGES I have passed…SIGH!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Coming up will be a money saving post, and hopefully a couple of book blurb posts…</span></div>Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1764148485330189104.post-63880419859154092152011-07-23T23:57:00.000-05:002011-07-23T23:57:02.702-05:00Close Fortune<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L-8j1shfnCM/TiulrokwEbI/AAAAAAAAAJc/aQjs_NAbE3w/s1600/Closer_Fortune.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L-8j1shfnCM/TiulrokwEbI/AAAAAAAAAJc/aQjs_NAbE3w/s200/Closer_Fortune.bmp" t$="true" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The one you love is closer than you think.”</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am pretty sure that the one I love is pretty darn close…I have three kiddos that are my world, a wonderful hubby that supports me (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and all my craziness</i>) and a devoted dog. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How much closer can the one(s) I love get?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I always tell me kiddos, “I am always with you, no matter where you are I am there – in your heart, in your mind.” I tell them that they are always with me, that I am always thinking about them and they are in my heart. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The ones you love are always closer than you think. Even if you are across the country (I keep telling myself that as I prepare to send my son to college), even if the person you love has left this life – they are closer than you think. I don’t just say that to comfort myself or to comfort anyone else, I trust that God’s here with me and that my loved ones are, too.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you have faith (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and really even if you don’t</i>), they are there. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is going to be a short post, it’s been a long week dealing with work issues, some health issues (I have fibromyalgia and have been in a flare up), and my <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">BABY</b> turning FIVE. I will be spending tomorrow catching up on my reading and hopefully get a couple of book blurbs in, possibly mixed with Fortunes – that is SO much fun to do. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hope that you all have had a good week – anything special you want to share, anything you would like to see from me? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next week will prove to be a crazy week as well…but, hopefully I can get my Yoga in as I need to and work on taking better care of myself!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Live, Laugh, Love~</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Vanilla Mama</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Feeling Lucky? 16, 19, 25, 29, 30, 40…if you feel lucky, share!</span></div>Vanilla Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08857752710040192834noreply@blogger.com6