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A family about 20 miles from me was chosen by Extreme Home Makeover to receive a new home.  I watch the show sometimes, with kleenex in hand because I'm a big wah-wah crybaby with those things and am always amazed by what they do.  But I have to say, watching our communities here come together and how much work they are putting in 24/7 has been really amazing this week.  We have a local news station that has installed a live web cam at the site, and they have been doing around the clock stories on it.  I have watched on FB all week many of my friends go volunteer.  They revealed the family Sunday, demolished the house Monday and today, all the walls are up.  I know when you watch the show, they show them doing this in a week, and I believed them, but it is wild that they really do this.  The house is scheduled to be up and finished Saturday.

And of course, there is Ty mania going on over there!

I wanted to post this because it has been one of those things all week, that reminds me how good and selfless people can be.  And also to let you guys know...they really do this all in a week!

Valentine's day is a day set aside for expressing love and appreciation for each other.

So on this day, I want to say I appreciate all that you guys have given me.  Sometimes it's laughs, sometimes it's tears, sometimes it's advice and sometimes it's an opposite view.  But all these things combined, I am grateful for. Because every day in life, and in here, I grow and I learn.

When we stop growing as a person, that is when we have a problem.

So Happy Valentine's Day my WWU Sisters!  I love and appreciate each one of you!

Help me out here ladies.  I had a Doctor's appointment Friday and didn't get very good news.  I have some new signs and symptoms, that the Doctor is very concerned about.  I have said that my Doctor is 99% I have Lupus, but no official diagnosis until I have the brain scan.  Well, now he is going....It's Lupus and very progressive right now.  My thyroid appears to be enlarged, which is common for Lupus, but normally takes a few years.  I have also developed some major hip and knee pain, which is also common.  I was running a mild fever, but not sick, which is also a major sign.

So he will be calling this week to schedule a full thyroid blood panel and a ultrasound.  He is also referring me on to a Rheumatologist because he feels like it is Lupus and progressing too fast.  Ok, I can handle all that.  I think the biggie is he said if the Rheumatologist does agree that it is Lupus and very progressive right now, they will start me on rounds of medication that will make me very sick.  He said the medicines are the same they use in Chemo, and no fun.  But, they have to attack it before it starts attacking my organs.

So I am asking for good thoughts from you guys that the Rheumatologist says it's something else that can be cured, or that I can tolerate the treatment well as I am not looking forward to it.

Ok, so we have all spoken about how we know we did or do some things wrong with our DILS.  But it's scattered throughout topics and also mixed in with our stories.  So confession time.  I am going to flat out list the things I know I did wrong and hope others will too.  It might help the other MILs, and also be good for the DILs here to see we do recognize our faults.  It doesn't mean what we said or did was untrue, or that we may not have had good intentions, just that we didn't handle it correctly.

1.  I spoke badly about her to my DS while he was a teenager and they were dating about several things she was doing.  I said she had a bad attitude and was very selfish.  He told her but I should have kept it to myself.

2.  I tried talking to her Mother to get some insight on how to get along with future DIL.  She told her, but I should have never involved her Mother.

3.  I was mad at my DS for switching Colleges his Senior year, giving up a full-paid scholarship, to stay home with her and made comments about how he needed to go to a College for the education and opportunities, and not pick a different one because she attended it.  He told her.

4.  After he had attended College two years, he said he wanted to get married.  I told him they should wait until they were both done, because it would be easier to start their life with school behind them and no bills.  He told her and I should have kept my opinions to myself.

5.  I complained to my DH all the time about her and her attitude.  After we divorced, he told her everything I said.

Ok, that's the list of my wrong-doings and things I did wrong.

I have been keeping up with the Arizona legislature regarding the funeral protests that has been going on.  I know we steer away from politics, so I am not going to get into that.

But I ran across this group while I was reading some articles.  The Patriot Guard Riders.  I have seen them on television over the years, but never really looked into them.  As I was browsing their website, I started reading their letters of appreciation section and I made it through about 15 of them before tears were flowing down my face.

As the Mother of a Soldier, I am so very impressed with this group and the dedication to fallen Soldiers and their families during the worst times of their lives.  Every one of the members pays their own way and expenses.  They are non-profit and leave their homes for days to do this.  My DH is a Motorcycle Officer, so this also touches a chord with me.  I ordered him a patch they were selling and he is going to be thrilled when I give it to him.

We are all here because we have problems.  Different ones, but problems just the same.  I know I have much to be thankful for in my life, but sometimes, I need to remind myself of that.  It is such a good reminder for me to read about people like this and see how perfect strangers can touch someones life with their selfless acts.  And we are like that here.  We are perfect strangers coming together to help each other.  Each one of you has touched me in some way, and I wanted to take this time to say "Thank You".  Not just to Luise and Kirk for giving us this outlet, but to each and every one of you for being here too. 

We may not always agree, and we may upset each other at times...but the bottom line is, everyone here is important.  We need to remind ourselves of that.

Much Love and Hope to each and every one of you, my on-line Sisters, and Thank You!

I wanted to take this time to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.  My YS is due to call me anytime between now and a couple of hours to pick him up, and then I am off work for 5 days, so I will not be on the computer.

I truly cherish this website and all the wonderful women here at WWU.  You are all very much a blessing to me and I appreciate all the help and advice I have received this year.  You have helped me grow as not only a Mother, but a MIL, a daughter, a DIL, a wife and a friend.  I am very grateful for the day I stumbled across this site.  Luise, your grace and wisdom always astounds me and I truly appreciate the hard work you and Kirk put into this site.  Thank you.

And for all my lovely sisters, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas, Season's Greetings, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa, Happy Boxing Day or simply a Wonderful Saturday, whatever you choose to celebrate my Dear Sisters.

Merry Christmas!

Pooh

This is so frustrating.  Ok, my YS has the daughter.  We have been to court and we have his paperwork stating he is the father.  He is also on the birth certificate.  The military requires he have a certified copy of her birth certificate and an original social security card before they will put her down as his dependent.

The Mother has refused to give us either, but gave us copies (we have those too).  The lawyer, recruiter, everyone has explained to her why he needs the originals but she is refusing.  The recruiter even told her if she would bring it to his office, he could make a copy and certify he saw the original, and hand it back.  She will not do it even though it would mean full benefits for his daughter (medical, dental, eyecare, etc.).  They would also give him a stipend to help pay his child support (which would mean even more money for her.)

He is coming in, so I called the Social Security Office (after staying 30 minutes through their automated system) to see if he could just come apply for a card since he has all the paperwork.   Ummm.....NO...only the custodial parent can get it.  Dang it...it's so frustrating!!!!

Ok...thanks for listening.....Lol.

Just wanted to share my excitement.  My YS will be here Wednesday!  Woot Woot!  I am so excited that he is getting to come home for Christmas!

Ok, so some of us have had some stress with holidays looming (raises her hand high!)  So I have decided to start an honesty game to prove life it just too darn short to waste it on sadness.  I will try to provide a weekly honesty question. 

There is only one rule.  You have to tell the truth!!!!!


Today's honesty question:

You must post to this if you have ever.......Stood in front of a door, pushing with all of your might only to look up and see the huge "PULL" sign.

I haven't been here the last three weeks for many reasons.  I have been very busy at work mainly, but also because I have been fighting with myself over my DS and DIL.  I had taken the attitude a couple of months ago, that I wasn't going to worry about them any longer, and psssshhh on them.  I had not cut them off, just wasn't contacting them and leaving them alone. Not that I bothered them, but I had been texting my son at least once a week just asking how things were going.  I finally realized that they never initiated contact and that I had not seen them in almost a year, so I decided I was done being the initiator. 

But, a couple of things happened that has just caused me so much anger at both of them that I needed a cooling off period.  My Mother has always viewed Thanksgiving as her favorite holiday.  She has always cooked Thanksgiving lunch and there is always around 15 of us there.  My sons were raised attending it, and then we would go to my MILs for dinner.  DIL has attended every since she was a girlfriend, and last year as a wife.  I was very disappointed in their behavior last year, as they walked in the door 5 minutes prior to eating, ate and then as all the women in the family were helping clean up, my DIL plopped down on the couch with all the men and didn't even offer to help.  Ok, so although I was disappointed in that behavior, not a requirement...I just found it very rude of them.

So for the first time ever in my 43 years, my Mother let me know 3 weeks ago, that my brother and his family could not attend this year.  Plus his two kids, both had babies about 3 months ago and are not up for the trip (it is about 14 hours for all of them).  I know she was disappointed, but she understood.  So I told her, well Mom, there is no sense in you going to all that work for just you and Dad, me and DH and my DS and DIL.  Don't worry about it.  She then very quietly said, "I still want to cook.  I love Thanksgiving."  So I told her that me and DH would come if she still wanted to do it and that I would verify with DS and DIL.

So I text my son that evening and this was the exact text, "XXXXX and their family are not going to be able to make Thanksgiving this year, but your MeMaw still wants to cook and do it.  Me and DH are attending and MeMaw wants to make sure you guys are still planning on coming, so she can plan food quantities.  Are you and XXXXX planning on coming this year?"
(And on a sidenote, DILs family does Thanksgiving at 6:00 p.m. so it has never been an issue)

So, I get no answer.  I wait a few days, then I emailed my DIL and asked the same question.  Also, in the meantime, our Christmas plans this year got all changed around.  Long story short, my brother's wife wants to do Christmas at her parents this year and they live about 3 hours from all of us.  So they invited everyone to her Mom's on Christmas.  That shortens the trip for those with little babies too and makes it easier on about 10 people.  So my Mother called and asked me if it would hurt our feelings if they went down there and did Christmas instead of my Mother's (again, something that has never been done in my 43 years...Lol).  I just laughed because I know my Mother wants to see those great-grandbabies!  So I told her no, it would be fine, but we would not be able to attend because we already had commitments for Christmas evening with my DH's family.  But that we would get with her before or after Christmas.  No biggie and that she needed to go!  So she asked me to extend that invitation to DS and DIL as well, even though we know normally they have family plans with her parent's on Christmas night.  So I included that in the email as well, that they were invited too but that I knew that they normally have plans with her family that evening.  But, if they wanted to go, just let me know so we could give my SIL a final count for her parents.  And if they couldn't or didn't want to, let me know if the weekend before or after would be good to plan something with their MeMaw.

It has been three weeks and neither one of them have answered.  No response period on Thanksgiving or Christmas. 

Now, this is why I am so angry.  I have grown used to them being rude to me.  I have come to the point in my life where I have made peace with that and just let it go.  But now...they are being rude to my Mother!  My Son's MeMaw who has always been there for them.  The person that opened her entire home to them last year for their wedding.  The person that has never said or done anything to them.  I am about furious!!!!  I did not raise my Son to be a rude person, and definately not to his own MeMaw! 

So my Mother calls me yesterday and wants to know how many are coming.  I told her I had not heard from them, so just plan on it being the 4 of us.   I am so done with their rudeness.  And that is what it is, plain and simple.  It has been 3 weeks and they can not even send a simple text saying, "Yes, we are coming or no we are not?"   Yes, I am angry.

After seeing a post by Kathleen referencing this, I thought I would share what this actual physically does to your body. 


Coined in the 1930's by Dr. Hans Seyle, it describes the biological process that is caused when we react to some stressor or event that confronts us.  Commonly known as the "fight or flight" response

Consists of three stages:
         Alarm Stage
         Resistance Stage
         Exhaustion Stage

The Alarm Stage goes to work immediately after a stressor is detected as it prepares the body to cope, adapt and adjust.  The following biological reactions take place.
Your Respiration Increases
Your Heart rate increases
Your Blood pressure increases
Your Muscles tense
Blood shifts away from the skin
Your Digestion is slowed
Sugar is released from the liver
Adrenaline is secreted
Your blood gets thicker

Alert Stage – prepares your body to fight the stressor off

Heart rate and respiration increase to provide blood and oxygen to muscles to help them fight
Blood thickens and gains more clotting ability so if you were injured, you are less likely to bleed to death.

Resistance Stage – After a situation is dealt with, your body attempts to return to normal.  If however, there is no adaptation (no immediate end to the situation), your body will begin to go into a stage of resistance.

It is a "call for reinforcements".  Your body sends a signal to your glands to release more hormones to "hold the fort" until you cope with, adapt to, or adjust to the stressor. If multiple issues exist at the same time, prolonged stressors and continuous new stressors, can have you constantly flipping back and forth between Alert Stage and Resistance Stage, never giving you a chance to expend the energy.

Exhaustion Stage – all resistance has ceased because your body becomes depleted of its hormonal reserves
Once the Exhaustion Stage has been reached, you can become sick, chronically tired, mentally unprepared and suffer "burnout"

In case you didn't know...

Women are Angels


 

And when someone breaks our wings....
We simply continue to fly...


 


On a broomstick....




We are flexible like that.

I have let it be known that I work in 911 world.  I am actually a certified trainer, and when I am doing new dispatcher training, one of things I train on is personality types and stress.  Being a dispatcher is extremely stressful (just as all of Emergency Service areas are). I had not thought until today, about applying it here for those that like research.  So I am going to offer up some of the training I do for you guys to read.  Some of you may already know much of it, but for those that don't, it's interesting and might help.

Part 1:  Type "A" and type "B" personalities.  This requires you to be honest with yourselves about where you fit.

Type A is characterized by: 1. an intense drive to achieve one's goals 2. over-competitiveness in all areas of lives 3. constantly seeking for recognition and improvement 4. involvement in many activities at once which had deadlines to meet 5. tendency to rush things 6. astonishing physical and mental alertness.   Tend to be extroverted and see reality as it is and take responsibility. Dwell on facts and usually can separate emotion from the situation.  They deal with issues and have no problem confronting people.  They usually carry the most stress and health issues because of worrying about getting things done.

Type B people are characterized by a lack of: drive, ambition, sense of urgency, competitiveness and involvements which have deadlines.  These are the more laid-back people.  Tend to be introverted and seek outside forces to blame for their problems. Dwell on the "what ifs" and have difficulty separating emotion to see the reality.  They are more prone to internalizing their problems creating mood swings, depression, anxiety and do not like to confront problems but prefer to replay everything and blame themselves in the end.

Just type in "A" and "B" personalities on the internet, and you will find tons of articles about it.  You can have traits of both and be a mix which is good.  And like anything, there are EXTREME "A" and EXTREME "B" personalities.

Here are my results from the test.  Score 44.  You seem to be in the middle between the Type A and Type B personality. In this case, the middle ground is good. Your attitude to life is more of the "smell the roses" kind and you know how and when to relax. Nonetheless, you realize that picking up a challenge and competing a little bit for your place in the sun can add some spice to your life. The equilibrium is important, so don't let your hostile, aggressive, and competitive alter ego take over too often. Generally, you are easy to be around, and people tend to feel relaxed and comfortable in your presence. Yours is a very healthy attitude towards life.

If you are not sure which one you are, here is a link to the test that will help you figure it out.  But again, unless you are totally honest, it will do you no good.

http://discoveryhealth.queendom.com/type_a_personality_access.html

I wanted to post something positive, since it seems most of the time, I am posting about icky drama junk.  I am very excited about a new project going on in my life.  I have been offered to train on a new thing for our state, but that is going national.  Ok, so you know how when an area experiences a major catastrophe?  Like Hurricane Katrina, or Hurrican Rita, Tornadoes, 9/11?  Well, most every Emergency agency has deployment teams to help other areas.  Fire Departments, Police, Hazmat, etc.?  Well guess who gets left out. 911 Dispatchers.  During events, they have no one to replenish them.  It was discovered during some past events, that this profession gets forgotten in the chaos.  During Katrina, those dispatchers were working 24 hour shifts, with little sleep and for weeks.

So the 911 National Committees have come together and said that our profession also needs deployment teams trained to go in and relieve these agencies.  Our agency has been picked in our State to participate and we are so excited.  There are four of us that are getting ready to go take multiple classes for this opportunity.  There is tons of training involved.  There were two of us that actually went to another county back in May when they had a major issue and helped for four days.  I was lucky enough to go and help these dispatchers and the community that was suffering do to major losses.  It was a test to see if we could do it and apparently, we passed!  Lol. 

I love my job.  Not because I make much money (and never will), but because of the sense of gratification that I get knowing that sometimes, I get to make a difference in people's lives.  I serve my community and this has me very excited to know that I am being offered the opportunity to now help other communities and dispatchers in very bad situations.  It is also humbling to know that if we are deployed to these areas, we will be seeing the worst.  I think seeing others in terrible situations, makes us remember to be thankful for what we have.

Hey guys.  I haven't been on in a few weeks and I wanted to apologize to everyone for not contributing support and not welcoming new people.  I have been having an issue with my left arm for 7 months and it has confused me and 6 doctors for awhile.  I developed a deep ridge in my bicep lengthwise and no one could figure out what it was.  As time has gone on, I have developed a lot of pain in my arm, shoulders and chest.  I have been very fatigued the last couple of months, but we were attributing that to sleepless nights and constant pain.  They did an EKG because of the chest pains, everything was fine and two weeks ago, they did a full blood panel.  After multiple MRIs of my neck, arm and shoulder, they finally found a small tear that has already healed, but I am stuck with the ridge.  It also showed I had nerve entrapment under my collarbone (Thoratic Outlet Syndrome).  The bloodwork came back with my ANA level raised, which is an indicator of Lupus and Fibromyalgia.  So now we know why the fatigue and other pains.

Anyway, they have put me on a drug for the Lupus and Fibromyalgia, and I start physical therapy next week to see if we can widen out the space under my collarbone to untrap the nerves and arteries.  The medicine is throwing me for a loop (as they knew it would) and causing me to not be able to focus very well.  It's kind of ironic that the side effects on the medicines is as bad as the symptoms, but we are experimenting.  The pain is much better, so at least that is working.  I have always been a multi-tasker, so it is a struggle for me to have to only focus on one thing at a time.

When I explained to my DS how I could only do one thing at a time or I was losing track and couldn't concentrate, he said, "Welcome to Man World!"  Lol....God bless him.

Ok, so you all know from my numerous posts that my DH is absolutely incredible....Lol.  So last night, he just looks at me, out of the blue and says, "That's it.  I am tired of being responsible all the time.  Life will always get in the way.  Neither one of us has ever been on a cruise, so we are going.  Start looking for late September or October.  Since the kids are acting ungrateful, we are going to start spending their inheritance!"

So I am all excited.  We both sooooo need this right now.  Between his daughter causing him heartache and my apparant "medical anomaly", we are so needing some stress relief.

We have never been on a cruise, so looking for cruise line suggestions (We want to do the Bahamas or Mexico area)?  Advice? Tips?

There wasn't really a category to put this in because she is just 16 (not an adult daughter).  I just wanted to share this as it amazes me how sometimes men grasp things quicker than we do.

I have a stepdaughter who is 16.  My hubby has been having a really rough time out of her the last 6 or so months.  She lives with her Mom, and we have her every other weekend.  Although she is acting somewhat like a normal teenager, she has been extremely disrespectful to him for the last 6 months to a year.  She smarts off, will not tell you anything going on until the last minute and then go, oh, I need to be at so-and-so in thirty minutes.  She started wearing all black (Yes, we started researching EMO culture, Goth, etc.) to try to keep in tune with what might be going on.  She started out listening to music from bands that were linked to the EMO culture, but shows no other signs of that personality.  Now, she has been hanging out with some Korean girls at school (she is in the marching band and they are too) and all she does is watch videos and listen to music of Korean bands now.

Ok, that's a little background.  My hubby has tried to remain on top of things with her.  He refuses to buy her anything black, any of that music, disciplines her when she smarts off, refused to take her to events unless she started giving us some notice, etc.  I have been very proud of him even though I see the hurt it causes him because she will refuse to answer his texts, or calls when she is mad at him because he put his foot down.  The Mother offers no support at all and lets her do as she pleases.  So its very hard on him to undo in a weekend what her Mother lets her get away with in two weeks.

Anyway, I wanted to share what he did this weekend.  I went out of town to take my son to his military base, so he called her Friday night thinking he would invite her to a movie and dinner, just the two of them.  When she answered the phone, she answered it with this.  "IS THIS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY?"  She screamed it not even knowing why he was calling.  He could have been having a heart attack for all she knew.  So what does he do?  Hangs up the phone on her!  Doesn't say a word, just hangs up.  She tried to call him back 3 times within a couple of hours and he kept hitting ignore.  Then she has tried a few more times throughout the last week and he just keeps hitting ignore.  His words were, "I refuse to let her treat me disrespectfully any longer.  I hate not talking to her, but it is better than ending up in a yelling match every time because of her smart aleck mouth.  When she learns to be respectful, I will talk to her again."

Ok, now I know he is hurting, but how quickly he grasped the concept of "I don't deserve this."  I sure can learn alot from him!

Ok, when I read this....I couldn't help but laugh.  Luise please don't kick me off the site 
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

A woman stopped by unannounced at her recently married son's house.  She rang the doorbell and walked in.  She was shocked to see her daughter-in-law lying on the couch, totally naked.  Soft music was playing; and the aroma of perfume filled the room. 

"What are you doing?" she asked. 

"I'm waiting for my husband to come home from work," the daughter-in-law answered, perturbed she dropped by unnannounced again.

"But you're naked!" the mother-in-law exclaimed. 

"This is my love dress," the daughter-in-law explained. 

"Love dress?  But you're naked!" 

"My husband loves me to wear this dress," she explained.  "It excites him to no end.  Every time he sees me in this dress, he instantly becomes romantic.  He can't get enough of me." 

The mother-in-law left.  When she got home, she undressed, showered, put on her best perfume, dimmed the lights, put on a romantic CD, and laid on the couch waiting for her husband to arrive.  Finally, her husband came home.  He walked in and saw her laying there so provocatively. 

"What are you doing?" he asked. 

"This is my love dress," she whispered, sensually. 

"Needs ironing," he said.

As I wrote a response in another thread to Luise about Val, it brought back a memory.  A lesson learned that came about because of my Mother.  I like to call these moments, my AHA moments and I am sure we have all had them.  It is that moment in life that something happens, something goes wrong, something goes right or a realization just sinks in and you go, AHA!

This was one about burning my candle at both ends.....

I got married at 19 the first time.  Had my first child at 20, my second at 21.  I was married the first time to a very selfish person.  He wasn't a bad guy, just very self absorbed and only did things that he wanted to do.  In 22 years, he never held a job more than 2 years at a time until he would move onto something else.  He went to bowling tournaments, golf tournaments or fishing almost every weekend no matter what needed to be done.  So I was used to pretty much doing everything myself.  I was raised that you work for what you get in life, so I had held a job since I was 16.  I had taken my six weeks of maternity leave off with both boys, but that was it.  Right back to work.  When the boys were old enough, they wanted to play baseball during the spring and summer, and football during the fall.  I would get them up for school and take them, go to work all day, leave work, pick them up from daycare and either go through McDonald's or fix a sandwich at home real quick, put on their uniforms, take them to the ballpark, get them both to their respective fields for practice or a game, then run back and forth between them.  When we left, it was homework, bath time, read a book and then fall exhausted into bed to start again the next day.  Saturdays were spent with either ball tournaments, cleaning house, laundry and commitments.  Sundays were spent mowing the lawn, doing house repairs, grocery shopping, paying bills and whatever else had come up.  But no, I couldn't stop there.  I was asked to volunteer in concession stand, youth boards, local charity events and anything else that they needed help with.  I squeezed all those in somehow too.  This was my routine for years.  The sports changed and then it became hauling their friends around too for games and practices.  More boards, more volunteer stuff, oh yes "I can keep the score book for you", etc.  I knew I was exhausted but this was just how it was supposed to be.  That's what good parents and people do.

Finally, I had went to my Mother's one Saturday and sat down exhausted in a chair.  She looked at me with my baggy eyes, stressed forehead and just shook her head.  Now my Mother never gave advice unless asked and would keep her opinions to herself unless you asked her.  (A much better person than me who gives my opinion if the wind blows right).

I was rubbing my sleepy eyes when she said, "You know, you don't have to do it."  I looked at her and said, "Do what?"  She just smiled and said, "Everything."  I still wasn't understanding and told her so.  She just smiled again and said, "There are important things, and then there is the word NO.  The important things are things we do for ourselves and the people we love because we want to and it enriches our lives.   The NO things are the things that we do to please someone else.  You are doing way to many NO things.  You never enjoy the moment but are always living an hour or day ahead."

I just sat there looking at her and thinking about what she said and all of a sudden, "AHA!"  I finished out my commitments for the year and starting saying NO to more things that I truly didn't have time to do and spent more time enjoying what my kids were doing.  The charities and boards I chose to remain on, were ones I really felt compassionate about. I realized that I had been taking the boys to games but had not actually been enjoying them.  I was too busy doing a mental inventory of what I had to accomplish in the next hour or tomorrow.  I was never living in the moment.  My Mother was right. I was always living an hour or day ahead.  My mind was always on the next thing I needed to do and I wasn't just enjoying what I was doing right then. 

Did I still have to do laundry, go to work and do yard work?  Of course, but by giving up a lot of the NO things, I was able to slow down and enjoy the things that were important. It was a very eyeopening AHA that stayed with me.

I would love to hear from you ladies about some of your AHA moments.

Ladies, I need some help sending up some G-mails.  Got a call from my youngest son last night (the one I told you about in my precious granddaughter story).  He is currently in training in the Army and called last night to let me know he had been injured during training 3 weeks ago.  They were practicing walking in bomb suits and coming down some stairs (apparently those bomb suits are very heavy and awkward).  The guy behind him stumbled and landed into my son.  He grabbed the rail and dug in to keep them both from falling.  They didn't fall and he said his legs were hurting afterward but he figured he just strained them.

He called last night to tell me that after 3 weeks of still hurting, the doctor wanted to take a look at his legs.  He has 7 stress fractures in his left leg and hip and 4 in his right leg!!!!  Now he is finishing this last week of classroom work and then they are going to put him on several months of medical rest to try and heal them.

Please send up some prayers for him to heal quickly and completely, and to have patience while he is healing.  He is very depressed about having to just lay around for months and in quite a bit of pain.


Thank you!