Things I'm learning as I go.......

Week 1- I traveled to Chicago for training. All the flight arrangements were made by an awesome administrative assistant who I now find has been laid off, which makes me ever so aware of how amazing this opportunity is. I didn't see much of the city, but I found a really good restraunt I will return to in the future. The evenings were taken up for the most part with conference calls with my group project folks from school, which was weird since we are all in different time zones. Unfortunately, due to one member being very absent and the rest of us having to scurry to get things finished on a project, I got my first B in grad school, but life goes on! The only casualty of the week was a forgotten I Phone cube that was lost. Takeaways from this trip- don't pack so much!

Week 2- Traveling to Seattle is always incredible, rain or no rain. I am in love with this city! The thought of having a completely different way of life...walking or riding the rail around town, lots of awesome bike trails, and it is always GREEN! The Pike Street Market is fantastic, brimming over with fresh food, little coffee houses, nearby pubs, fruit, flowers...what is not to like! The Sound is a welcome sight since I have been limited to Texas weather and oceanfront. There are so many cool places to go...the Experience Music Project was awesome when the hubby and I went this summer. There is a cupcake place that gets over 60% of their ingredients locally and I have never tasted one better! We had to make a trip to Tacoma to fix my computer, and had lunch with a coleauge on the waterfront. Very pretty. I ventured out on my own after work to a vinyl shop and found a new Stevie Ray Vaughn vinyl for my hunny and had the best Pho' ever. The cherry blossoms were beautiful! Takeaways from this trip- bring an umbrella!

Week 3-I spent the week at home. I caught up on housework, took a tour of a gas distribution plant, and purchased awesome office furniture. As soon as I finish painting, pictures of my office/ hubby's man cave will follow. What's a home office without Rock n' Roll memorabilia and music instruments, right?! I love that he plays guitar.

Week 4-I flew to San Diego for a two hour meeting with hospital folks. I spent the evening walking along the beach and picked up seafood before heading back to the hotel. I needed to set up office near the ocean! I met a colleague for lunch in La Jolla, then found a coffee bar/ hookah lounge, thinking that since it was 1p.m. surely no one would feel the desire to toke on a hookah. I settled at a table near the windows overlooking the ocean. Three hours later when I was done with work, I walked along the cliff  to see the surfers. I drove up to Torrey Pines to the seashore there and gathered stones on the beach while talking to a good friend. Mid-week was spent in Sacramento. Two in-services a day for three days, with lots of time in between to relax. I learned not to eat the entire appetizer of hummus all by myself. It didn't end well. I met cousins I hadn't seen since 2008 at a neat restaurant called the Tower Cafe, which was incredible. Kara's kiddos were so cute and well behaved! It was so nice seeing them all! I had time to kill before my flight and went to Old Town Sacramento, which is similar to the Stockyards in Fort Worth. A few neat shops, then a bunch of junk, but something to do. The casualty this trip was a digital camera I left in the rental car. I guess pictures will be from my phone for a while! Takeaways from this trip- be careful where you park in La Jolla, it is costly, $87 to be exact.

Week 5- Home for a few days, then traveled to Toronto to have an internal meeting. It was rainy and cold, and snowed a foot the day we left, but the hotel was a ski resort, which was very nice. The power went out for about an hour and a half due to ice bringing down power lines. The way back tested my patience. 11 hours in airports or planes was not fun. I started reading The Shack. I have had a copy for about three years, but just read it. Wow! Two quotes struck me deeply. One because I applied it to my own situation, "Growth means change and change involves risk, stepping from the known to the unknown." The other was,  "Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods."-Albert Einstein

So often as a Christian, I find myself wondering, does this person truly know God? How can they act the way they do and still profess Him as their Savior? Good grief, I know the mirror should be pulled out then. We really do need to live in love with those around us to be an example of Him to others, and let God sort them out in the end. I got so jaded caring for sick kiddos. I found myself wishing God would take some of the parents you had to care for while caring for their kids. I have cared for parents by serving them and their kid, only to find out they raped their baby or beat them to death. The world is so broken..... Takeaway from this week, asthmatics don't use oil based primer!


Week 6- Got a lot done at home, finishing painting in the office and setting appointments. Started the week getting a root canal redo. Thank God I didn't still have a pulp in that tooth, because I had to speak to a group of physicians the next day, and it hurt! It would have been so much worse if I had a complete root canal. If I had to do that after a whole root canal, I would have rescheduled. I worked in Los Angeles, but only one meeting and lunch with a colleague. I headed up to Bakersfield afterward and had dinner and visited with cousins and my aunt and uncle. It had been too long since last time! Takeaway from this trip- always look to see if you have everything before you head back to the hotel, or your husband will have to drive to Love Field to bring you extra house and car keys!

Week 7- off to Seattle again this week, can't wait! See you all throughout the journey......

Ok, so I have to rant for a moment. I had my first son at 16 years old and got married to his father 6 weeks before he was born. He had a decent job because he was 5 years older, and we paid for delivery up front. We paid the remainder on a payment plan over the next 18 months, even with a complicated delivery. My baby was healthy and happy and had both parents. I graduated high school early when my son was 17 months old. The only help we had was my mother let us live with her for 5 months until we could save for an apartment.

After graduating high school, I had my second son at 19. We had our own insurance and paid for everything in monthly payments. I had my daughter when I was twenty. She was covered by insurance, and we paid the rest in monthly payments, never going on government aid except getting WIC for 4 months when my husband got laid off from work. Stereotypes suck! ALL 3 of my kids graduated high school. All 3 of my kids have gone to college, one graduated, and the other two will be done soon. My oldest is an engineer and my middle one will work for Edward Jones as a financial advisor. My daughter has a dual degree in PR and Advertising she is wrapping up. I finish my Master's degree next May in Education, but have been a pediatric ICU Respiratory Therapist for 15 years. My husband is starting his third year of college to earn a Mechanical Engineering degree since he has done that work for twenty years, but would like the degree. Last year our combined income was over $150,000. 

All teenaged moms don't fail! These kids are a gift from God at any age and not mistakes! If you are a teenaged mom that isn't making it work, shame on you! You can have whatever you dream, you just have to get off of your butt! No one owes anyone anything!! 

10 Important Things I Want My Son To Know

1. Absolutely nothing or noone will ever love you the same way or pray for you as hard as your Mama~ EVER.

2. Regardless of what anyone says, if you have worked hard or it has been more than a day, YES, you STINK, take a bath!

3. You are, and always will be AMAZING, even when you fail or stumble, or act like an idiot.

4. You cannot fly if you wear a pillowcase around your neck and step off the roof, so don"t try! I will always be here to kiss the boo-boos without you taking that step!

4. Always put God first and He will direct your path, even if you have to wait to see where to go next for a minute.

5. Boys do cry, so do Men! It works out the kinks and impurities and everyone need to cry once in a while.

6. Keep your pants on, for GOD's sake! So many mistakes happen without pants on!!

6. When you truly LOVE someone, they should never have to wonder if you do. Show them, hug them, squeeze them, kiss them, shout it from the rooftops and put them first, even before SPORTS or GUITAR!

7. That being said.... NEVER change so much that you aren't YOU anymore. Take time to do the things you love too.

8. You MUST have someone to keep you accountable and love you like only a friend can.

9. When your wife tells you something you know is a Biblical truth and they are right and things would get better if you listened, LISTEN! God gave her to you to be your help mate! She can't be that unless you let her.

10. No matter where you are in life, or what time it is, I will ALWAYS be here to listen! I love you to the end of time! 

Fun times

My 41st Birthday was in February. I don't really feel older, just kindof in limbo, like what's next for my life. My oldest son graduated from college and got married in May and is doing well. We went to see him and his wife for my birthday and had a good time hanging out. It was so awesome to go to his work and see his name on a major project in the middle of a shop floor in a huge company! My middle son just got an internship at a company that sells life insurance and inuities, but is 15 hours away. My husband is taking a guy trip to see him so he can watch a few of his baseball games. He is one of the co-captains for a college club team. I worry about how liberal it is there and how his views and morals have changed since he left home. My daughter is in college about 9 hours away and is doing well, living near my husband's family and now has a group of friends and a church home. I am so proud of all of them! I just wonder why life can't just be more spontaneous. I would love to travel and live in different cities and learn different languages, but my husband is a homebody and likes to travel once or twice a year and still has several years until he has full pension from his comany, so no relocating until then. We are possibly going to Ireland for our 25th Anniversary in the summer! I am searching for employment to use the new degree I earned and not be exposed to so much death at work. Twelve years is quite enough. I have some hopeful prospects, but nothing for sure. Later gators!

Against the grain

First off, let me introduce myself. I am the mother of three awesome college kids, one who is graduating in May. I am in college and will finally get my Bachelor's degree in May. My husband is in college and working on his degree. Our house is usually a mess, as is our diet since eating on the go isn't the best for someone in their 40's and sleep is a commodity around here with deadlines and full time work. I work in the medical field and hope to be a Physician's Assistant someday. I had all three of my kids by the age of 20 and am still married to their dad 24 years later. It was a hard life at first, but it can be done. It makes me sick that people are entertained by watching teen moms on reality television self implode. Kids that age aren't prepared for making their family famous, and we just watch to see them fail. What a great disservice to these kids. How about someone helping that has been there and has answers to questtions they have or a shoulder when they need someone to just listen? I don't understand the need for programming that thrives on failure. How about life-saving encouragement and help??!