Challenges with pushing thirty!

Soooo this is my final year to be in the twenties and I'm sure I will love my thirties, but as for my body it knows the difference! I have put on some extra lbs in the past year and now it's time to FIGHT BACK! I FINALLY gave up one of the most glorious things in my life Dr. Pepper. Now if you know me then you know that is quite the addiction in my life, one of the things that I love to over induldge myself in, but definitely a bad thing:( So it's been a little over a week since I have had one of my tasty drinks and so far so good. I did have a moment of weakness, but stood strong. It was after the hike that Connor and I went on...I was dying of thirst and all my taste buds could crave was my dr. pepper. I went to the gas station refused myself my love and picked up a hawaiian punch....then I put that back and got a powerade instead. This may sound silly to you, but trust me it was hard it was as if I needed to call a sponsor at that moment and have someone talk me down!

Since we have moved in our new place it's been an adjustment financially so that means NO EATING OUT. Now being a single mom it's so much easier to just hit up the drive through especially when I work ALL THE TIME. I have been cooking and forcing not only my son, but myself to eat the leftovers. (I'm not much of a left over kinda girl, but I'm learning)I'm even finding myself eating veggies again if you know me this isn't the norm.

Finally I have been back into working out thank you Lord! I have just had two foot surgeries so I was incapable of doing so until now. I'm starting off slow with just a half hour work out a day, but it's better than nothing!

So if any of you out there have any suggestions on how to get my much missed body back. Let me know!

Until the next time....

So Many Changes Happening.....



Wow it's been a while since my last blog. It's time to catch everyone up on where we are at in life!



First off I bought a condo downtown that I'm absolutely in love with! It was definitely a God thing everything worked out perfectly in my favor! Connor has more space to play which is wonderful and finally a place to call home:)



Connor has started FIRST grade which takes me back a bit! He is doing wonderful in school so far:) He has an amazing little fire cracker for a teacher just what my boy needs!



Other exciting news is that I signed him up for cub scouts. This weekend we have our very first adventure in a swamp hike! This should be very interesting especially since this mommy isn't too fond of creepy, crawly, creatures:), but if it puts a smile on my son's face I will take one for the team!

In just a short couple of weeks Connor will be turning 7! We are going to do a pirate themed swim party:) so it should be real cute!

The last thing is work of course! Things are going great as usual. I'm non-stop busy, but it's a great thing that I love what I do and in that I feel so blessed.





That is all the catching up I have to do for now.



Until the next time.....

When did I get old?

There are a few things that have slowly been creeping up on me for the full on attack of the age. Let me give you a quick overview:

1. My nephew graduated HIGH SCHOOL this past Saturday! Now that's just crazy enough, but to top it off when I was visiting with him in our conversation I had to stop him and get him to explain words he was throwing out there. This may not sound so crazy, but I am only ten years older how in the world did I miss the way of conversation??? So in a short matter of time I officially became the old woman who had no idea what he was talking about and trying to be "cool" by getting the meanings.

2. I am attending my first high school reunion in just a few short weeks! Yikes! This last decade really did fly by!

3. So I have had some troubles with both of my feet and for the surgery I need it was just only a matter of time, but the one I need is a surgery that a grandma usually gets. You ready for this? My bunions(I know right?) are so bad to the point that I can no longer wear any shoes that are enclosed in any kind of way! On a side note I have a 3k deductible and that's the amount of the surgery so keep your fingers/toes crossed that I can get approved for a loan. This kind of trouble is PAINFUL!

4. Last but most definitely not least my metabolism SUCKS! That is one that I wish wasn't lacking! These extra lbs are a struggle to come off peeps!

These are just some of the things that are revealing themself to me thus far. As I slowly approach 30 with hesitation my body I think is already there!

The worst thing to do is nothing!

First I must start by saying that 2010 has really been good to me! I have been blessed with Connor as always, with family, work, and with becoming debt free! This year I have set some pretty high goals and I absolutely LOVE to set goals! One of my goals as you know from previous posts is to become a home owner. This is such an exciting thought to me, to be able to have something permanent in my life that represents accompolishment and to be able to give my son a backyard and a room we could paint however he wanted, b/c it would finally be a place called HOME. At the same time I am so nervous about the process. I am not worried about finding a home, but more about so many questions! Just to name a few:

1. Will they think my credit is good enough to qualify for anything?
2. If I qualify for something will it even be enough to get something in a good part of town?
3. Will I have to put money down or be able to 100% finance?


I know this may seem a little trivial to some, but I have NO CLUE about buying a home. I paid my debt off on March 5th and so as we all know it takes thirty days to post to your credit. With that being said I have just stood still in this worry, b/c I do not want to hear the word "NO". I don't know about you, but I am not too fond of rejection. I personally don't want to hear "Sorry all that hard work you have been doing doesn't really matter-NEXT!" I was talking to a friend of mine and they said something that made me move forward FINALLY! "The worst thing you can do is nothing" This sounds pretty common sense, but I need someone to remind me! So today I sent off my application to a lender and we will see what happens. Please keep me in your prayers for pre-approval!

Until the next time.....

A SINGLE MOMMY'S STRUGGLES TO PUSH THROUGH.....

I have been a single mommy to my amazing son Connor for 6.5 years now. I love him more than life itself, but doing it on my own has had it's challenges in so many different ways, but I'm not one who ever quits even when I think I can't push through much more. When Connor was only 3 months old I went back to school and from then on out for the next three years I worked a full time job during the day, went to school full time at night, and took care of Connor. Unfortunately at some point I got burned out on the chaotic schedule and the lack of rest so something had to give at least temporarily. Ultimately I put school on the back burner, b/c you can't quit the job due to the fact that you have someone who depends on you every single second of every single day. *PLEASE NOTE* THIS IS IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY CONNOR! This is just the simple facts of my situation and doing it on my own...trust me this is leading up to some good:) So I worked hard to be the best at my job and learn as much as I could along side with being the very best mom I could be. Eventhough I was working so hard in both departments I still felt this sense of failure, b/c I didn't finish school yet. No matter how much I achieved at work or the praise I may have received it didn't matter the negative thought still lingered. I seriously didn't think that I would get to the point of feeling peace and acceptance with not finishing, but last week that feeling has changed! I am more than happy to announce that all of my hard work has paid off and I got promoted and am getting an assistant:) Now I was promoted in my last job, but this promotion is a bit different. It's really not all about the promotion it's about when I reflect back on where I was 6 years ago to where I am now it truly amazes me. There are points in my life that I have no idea how I pulled it off financially with the pay that I was getting vs. the bills and needs of Connor. I promise you it was only by the grace of God that was pulling me through. I have worked so hard to make something of myself without the degree and sometimes so hard on myself about if I would be there, and moments of wanting to just give up, but I didn't! A part of me just wants to reach out to other single moms like myself and encourage them to keep pushing through to let them know that even in the toughest times you can get through it.


Until the next time.....

I AM FREE.....DEBT FREE!!!!!!







First let me start off by saying that paying off all my debt was an ah-mazing feeling! As of last Friday everything that was pulling me down on the credit score was wiped CLEAN! Phew was that a relief:) The only debt I have is my car and it's good debt so no worries.







So for my list of goals I have met one @ 100% moving onto looking into buying a house for me and my lil man so exciting!



Now it's time to start marking off the next big one on the list: this unnecessary, unwanted, didn't invite you weight gain! The good news is that I have already started working towards this goal and in the process will rule out another goal=no caffeine! Let me give you a back story of my life's diet:



1. Very picky eater whose taste buds do not salivate under any circumstance for fruits or veggies



2. Dr. Pepper daily consumption=5-6 per day yes people you read that right PER DAY!



So far I have completely STOPPED eating out so that will definitely prove to help the situation. Being that I am not one to go gaga over the health stuff there is one vegetable that I do enjoy and that is the oh so yummy cucumber. Well in my obsessive consumption of the cucumber I wondered to myself if it was doing more harm then good...so I looked it up and I discovered that not only was it not fattening, but it is known as a fat burning food among others! I had no clue that there was such a thing. You can stop laughing now, but I wasn't raised with all the healthy foods and home cooked meals. I was raised by my amazing mother who was also a single mommy who worked NON-STOP. So for those of you who are in the dark like I was check it out here on which foods can benefit weight loss:



http://www.webterrace.com/fat/diur.htm





Ya'll can totally thank me later for the enlightenment! Onto the next thing I am down to 3 dr. peppers a day! Now I must be honest it is one of my loves and addiction so I am definitely feeling the withdrawls and it sucks, but I will make it through! I am hoping that by the end of the week we can be down to maybe 1-2 a day.



I have a deadline of quitting smoking on April 1st 2010. I have a deadline at work and when I meet that deadline with my project I verbally and hand wrote a committment to quitting. So around that time I suggest little contact with the public:) hahah



Well that is all the updates for now



UNTIL THE NEXT TIME.....

CONNOR CONVERSATION=PURE ENTERTAINMENT

Connor: "Mommy, I'm just too old for all this work at school"

Me: "What kind of work Connor?"

Connor: "You know: door holder, line leader, calendar counter...it's just too much"

SILENT PAUSE FOLLOWED AFTER ME QUIETLY LAUGHING TO MYSELF......

Connor: "Mommy, I'm sorry that I day dreamed at school last year"

Me: "Baby that's ok you just have to remember to pay attention to your teacher"

Connor: Short pause...."Mommy, when I daydream my eyes go crossed and then I get eye boogers!"

Me: UNCONTROLLABLY LAUGHING....BWAHHHAAAA

SO LOVE THAT KID HE MAKES MY WORLD MAKE SENSE:)

Bye Bye 2009 Hello 2010

As always it has been a while since my last entry! First happy new year to everyone out there! My farewell to 2009 was definitely a bittersweet, but most definitely happy to put it all behind me. I rang in the new year with one of my oldest friends very low key and I barely made it past midnight...I know such a grandma! Well I must say that I absolutely LOVE the new year, b/c it gives me a fresh start, to reflect on the past year mistakes and figure out how to do life differently, to look back on the positive things that were a blessing in my life, one of my most favorite parts about it is to set my goals, and I think most people can agree that it gives us hope for self improvement and to challenge ourselves to push to get more out of life! So below are my goals that I have set for the new year :

1. Set aside more time with Connor
2. Workout-lost 15lbs
3. Pay off my debt
4. Buy house
5. Quit Smoking


On another note here is a thought on my past decade:

In the past ten years I have lived in 4 different cities, moved 13 times, fell in love more than once, but found the deepest most overwhelming love in my son Connor, went to three different schools, has had three cars, but finally bought my fourth on my own this past year, has lost friends through the shuffle of life, has found old friends through the wonderful ways of technology, has just started figuring out who I am and not who I think people want me to be, and has been so very blessed with my amazing job and co-workers. The past decade has been one interesting journey with many tears shed of pain and joy, but as I always say it's a life lesson with no regrets!

Now for my final thought:

So I am a single mom as most of you know which means I am CONSTANTLY working either at the office or from my home almost 7 days a week. Well I have just had a revelation on something I have always known, but somehow along the way with trying to just make ends meet forgot. So here it is:

I have so much that is going on with work that during the past few days I actually set aside time just to do things with Connor and it really did make such a difference for him. Eventhough to me it wasn't that much to him it was huge he thought he had the best day ever with me, b/c we played a game and watched a movie together. I hate to admit it, but there are so many times when I put him off, b/c I am literally non-stop working even at home. I am so focused on providing for him and working hard that I forget that I need to actually stop for a minute and just be with him. To some this may sound like a no brainer, but like I said I'm so focused on providing and meeting the bills that I'm either work, work, work, or I'm just exhausted. Over his holiday break though when he got back from visiting with his dad I started pulling out the games and it really has been great for the both of us. So this will definitely be on my priorities for the year!

How are you planning to impact your new year????

It's been a while....

It's almost been a year since my last entry. I'm not even sure if anyone follows me, but I suppose it's time for an overdue update! Where to begin? This past year has held so many changes, ups/downs, and definitely LIFE LESSONS!

First let me say that Connor is now attending the LSU Lab School and is doing wonderful there! I can't imagine a better school for him. There are 3 teachers in his classroom alone. The head teacher has her PHD, the assistant teacher is required to have a masters, and then there's the student teacher. They are very hands on and involve the parents/grandparents all the time. He has spanish class everyday, music, art, and guidance once a week. I feel truly blessed to have him in this school and there are a lot of people that helped make it possible. So to those of you THANK YOU for all the help!

My job is still the best job I have ever had. I have been there a little over a year now and it really is like a family. My boss is definitely one of the best too. I'm constantly working, but what do you expect that's the life of a single mommy? I have no complaints though, b/c not everyone can say they have a job with the economy the way it is let alone an amazing one at that.

I think one of the major things that I learned is that sometimes the people you think will accept and love you no matter what turns out the total opposite. It's really heartbreaking, but I guess that's life. I know that I'm not a perfect person I have never claimed to be one. I know that I am a person who will stick up for herself when she feels under attack on my own life. I can't apologize for speaking up and not letting someone constantly push their opinions on me if I'm not fitting into their "perfect mold". I am a very straight forward, to the point, not going to sugar coat, can't hide my emotions for the life of me kind of woman. Maybe somethings I should keep to myself I'm not entirely sure, but what's done is done unfortunately. I miss these people terribly, but at the same time what if things would go back to normal and they disagreed with my choices? Then I would have to go through the same thing all over again and putting conditional love on me when blood is supposed to be unconditional is too hard to handle. Some may think I'm being stubborn, but really I can't go through it all again. It's just not for me.

Ok so with all that out of the way let's move onto a happier note shall we?
Thanksgiving is slowly creeping up and I am really excited, b/c I am hosting my first thanksgiving feasts for some friends:) I have only cooked a thanksgiving meal one time and that was when I was married.....it turned out good if I do say so myself:) So if anyone out there wants to add a receipe that I should try out please do! Tonight I cooked for my BF Angela, her son, and of course my Connorbug. It was yummy and it reminded me of how much I enjoy to cook! The only thing is I run out of ideas so again if you have some please let me know I would love to try it out!Another exciting thing I FINALLY ordered cable! Now for many this is no big deal, but for me it's HUGE! You can only watch the same stuff so many times you know? I will definitely be looking forward to next Saturday when my non-exsistant cable comes to life! Yay:)

Well I suppose this will be enough for my catch up entry.

Until the next time......

Season 4: some of my favs:)

This is from season three, but it is one of my favorite pieces and I think Lacey is an amazing dancer! Hope you enjoy:)

ONE OF MY LOVES=SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE!

I just had a birthday last month and got the BEST present anyone has ever given me! Tickets to see my favorite t.v. show : SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE!

It is this Friday in Pensacola, Fl. and I am so excited:) I can taste it! If you know me then you understand that I live, breathe, eat, and sleep dance for as long as I can remember. This tour never passes through Louisiana so I never thought I would get the chance to see it anytime soon, but I am so glad I was wrong!

Above are some of my favorite dancers from the show:) I will definitely be posting pictures when I return!

ICE BREAKERS

If you could be invisible where would you go?
Probably on a reality show to see how real it really is:)

What was your favorite book growing up?
I don't know if it was my favorite, but it's the only that sticks out: Aleaxander and the terrible horrible no good very bad day

Where was the worst place you had to wait?
Food stamp line for the hurricane...although I met a nice lady:)

Name a food that nauseates you.
Avocados and limes ....let's just say I wouldn't make it in Mexico!

Worst grade you ever received. What subject?
"C" in math...I just stink at math..now money I can do, but algebra? Uh-Uh the thought makes me queasy!

If you were a teacher what grade would you teach?
Sophmores...1.b/c i loved high school 2. I can't teach freshmen b/c they are too excited/immature 3.can't teach juniors b/c they are too above everyone else or so they think 4. seniors are filled with senioritis! So that leaves me with a good medium with the sophmores

Now it's your turn to break the ice! If you do it let me know so I can read:)

TAKE A PEEK AT CONNORBUG ON HIS VERY FIRST FISHING EXPERIENCE WITH HIS GIGI: HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY LUCK CATCHING ANYTHING, BUT LOOK AT THAT FACE!


HE HAS SINCE THEN GONE FISHING WITH HIS POPPA AND HE CAUGHT FOUR FISH THAT HE WAS VERY PUMPED ABOUT!

CHECK OUT THE PICTURES ME AND MY BROTHERS/SISTER TOOK FOR OUR MOM'S BIRTHDAY!

CHALLENGES WITH A BLESSING IN DISGUISE

Earlier in the week I was just a driving along on my long journey home from work and my a/c started smelling fumy so I turned it out. Well I didn't make it far until I had to pull over on the side of the road due to a car running hot. Luckily I was on the phone with a good friend who was walking me through what to do and eventually a guy stopped over and helped for the rest of the process. So I had my anti-freeze all up to date or so I thought. Yesterday I was in the bank line waiting to make my deposit for my work when my car started to smoke so I pulled over in the parking lot and called Ryan. (He not only works with me, but he is married to my cousin Becki). So Ryan came to the rescue this time and filled her up for me. So after work I was on my way to p/u Connor and it started to over heat AGAIN! I am thinking ok what is the deal here? So I went to a friend's house the same friend that I was on the phone with (to make this easier I will tell you the name it's Tee). Anyway so we go over to Tee's house and stay there for a few hours and my other friend from work followed me home to make sure I made it ok. (B/c remember I live in another country!). So today I was stressin big time about what to do b/c obviously I can't go on like this! So I bring my car over to Firestone and Becki brings me to her house to wait. I get the call and here's the breakdown: a busted radiator, hoses, and temperature gage! I am just thinking oh wow what to do. So they tell me the cost and I about fall out of the chair....So I tell them not to work on it, b/c let's face it I am a single mommy with barely enough money to pay the bills let alone fix my car. Let me just say that God ALWAYS amazes me when He just steps in and makes a way through the storm. Becki came in the house and said that Ryan offered to put the charge on his credit card and I can pay them back when we all get those lovely refunds from the IRS in May. I am so thankful for the awesome family that I have. I do have to say that I am blessed with a family that knows how to reach out and help each other in time of need whether it's a financial bind or an emotional crisis. I am not the type of person to ask for help and I have a hard time accepting it, but I am learning that sometimes you have to swallow your pride and just welcome the help. So THANK YOU RYAN AND BECKI for the help and for the love and support!

KNOCK*KNOCK* WHO IS IT? OPPORTUNITY!

It's me reporting from good ole Ville Platte! I am visiting with my dad until tomorrow. And along with the visit came a proposal....the opportunity to move to Ville Platte have minimum bills to worry about and the greatest possibility handed to me: to finish getting my degree. I started back in school when Connor was a baby and at this point I was living with my mom. She gave me the chance of staying with her and just focusing on Connor and school. Being the stubborn person I am I decided that the rough route was much more appealing. So to prove that I could handle Connor on my own and make my own way with my family I moved out. I continued to go to night school while working a full time job with little time to spend with my son. Eventually the situation became much more difficult to keep up. So I have sat out two semesters...and with the location of where we are living once Connor starts school I won't have anyone to help me with him. One of my biggest goals is for me to finish school. I am still unsure of what I want to major in, but I do know that I want to provide for Connor in the way that he deserves and not just by living from paycheck to paycheck. Phew* that was a lot said.....so with a smudge of the background story now you can see how this is a great opportunity for me. Nothing is set in stone yet, but if it's God's plan things will fall into place for this to happen. Yes I would be living in the one place that I said I never would, but a few years of sacrifice isn't all that bad to get to the end result! So please keep me in your prayers!

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO CONNOR:

So my baby boy is growing up I should know I registered him for kindergarten last Friday! Ahhhh....ok I am calm I promise:) Anyway Connor has really been into this place we call earth and all of the things that are here. We always have a REALLY long ride home from school so we have plenty of mommy/Connor time. He must be learning about how God created everything, b/c anytime he sees something whether it's a bug or a building he always says"Mommy who put that building there" and then before I can answer he answers himself by saying "God put that there". It is really cute actually. Our daily conversations are filled with talk about God. And I love it when he asks me something and after I give him the answer he decides he wants to tell God about it. For instance we passed a storage building and this is how the conversation went:

Connor: Mommy what's that?

Me: That's a storage building.

Connor: Oh like the one we use to keep my toys in?

Me: Yes that's right.

Connor: What happened to my mail box?

Me: Well honey you stopped playing with it so I got rid of it.

Connor: God doesn't like it when you get rid of my toys.

Connor in prayer: God can you let me keep my toys and not get rid of them?

Connor to me: Mommy God said yes!

The other conversation we had a few weeks ago was pertaining to Connor wanting a sibling. First off you must know that I thought my dryer was broken so I had to find things to hang our clothes to dry on. One of the things I used was a part of his baby bed. The next day we had a conversation regarding it:

Connor: Mommy that's my baby bed we need to throw it.

Me: No I want to keep it b/c one day we will have another baby.

Connor: When?

Me: Well it will be a while first God has to send mommy a husband.

Connor: Mommy I want two brothers and a sister.

Me: *Gulp big Gulp*

Connor: Mommy I think your husband will be "Jake"

Connor talking to God: God please send mommy Jake.

Connor to me: Mommy God said he will send you Jake.

So as everyone can see Connor has been doing a lot of thinking and praying! Oh which reminds me I had him pray with me one night and I had a lot of things on the prayer list that particular night ...so I would say something and he would repeat what I said as his prayer...when it was all over with he looked at me and said "mommy that was a lonnnngggg prayer". It was funny. I am just so grateful that he is asking so many questions and seeking out God in his own way.