First quarter of college under my belt

After being out of school for almost 30 years, I went back to school. I am doing it totally online. Which I love. I do not have to be in class at any certain time. I just log in and do my assignments. It is so accommodating.

I am on break until April 8th. Much needed. My first quarter was 14 credit hours. All I was doing was homework and reading. Next quarter I am only signed up for 12 credit hours. I am hoping those two hours will make a difference. We shall see.

Emma starts Spring break this coming Friday. So we are going to build a 1000 piece puzzle while she is home. Thanks Jody, for letting us borrow it. Emma needs some momma time. She said she doesn't like me going to online college because I do not have any time for her. She is right.

However, in my defense, I am doing it so that her and I can have a better life down the road. I do not want to be dependent of another person. I want to be the independent person that I know that I enjoy being. I want to be my own person.

So now to busy myself until school starts back up. I highly recommend to anyone who is thinking about going back to school to give online schooling a chance. I am so looking forward to my completion even though it is over 3 years away. But I will have a Bachelors degree, something that I never thought possible for me.

Momma and Me Journal...

I started this Momma and Me Journal for Emma and I. I write in it while she is at school. Lay it on her bed. When she gets home from school she writes in it. It is so cute to see what her little mind will write to me. Sometimes the things she says really make me think.

The other day I found Wonderful Wacky Words of Wisdom for My Daughter...

Your future does not lay in front of you...it lies deep inside you. Life is not about finding yourself...it's about creating yourself. When life becomes a roller coaster, climb into the front seat, throw your arms in the air and enjoy the ride. Rise by lifting others. When life gets crazy, do something normal...and if life gets to normal, do something crazy. Always be nice. Life is all about how you handle plan B. Practice the art of listening. Play with wild abandon no matter how old you get. find the joy in all choices you make. Remember, in the end, good girls always win. Never forget...I will love you forever, for always and no matter what.

Emma's reply back...

The Magnificent Magic Letter For My Mother

Dear Momma,
You are kind, you are sweet
You make me move my feet.
You make me write my feelings
You make me write you letters
You make me not so teeling (it's a made up Emma word to rhyme with feelings)
When we're together,
I'm done writing I guess so
But if there's an emergency,
I'll never say NO.

Love, Emma

Is that the cutest poem!

This Momma and Me Journal has become something that I will keep forever and give to her when she is older. When we fill this one up, we will start another.

I gave her teacher the Dr. Suess book, Oh The Places You Will Go, the other day at conference. I have been having her teachers sign it each year. Giving Emma words of wisdom, encouragement, etc. I will give this to her on graduation from high school as a gift.

I know my daughter, and I know that the places she will go will be amazing. She is going to achieve so much in her adult life. Just like her brother. I am very proud of both of my children. I am so blessed to be their momma.

Had to turn my heat back on

Another cold rainy Saturday. Glad I do not have to leave the house for anything. It's a jammie kind of day for Emma and I. Jim is at a swap meet in Fremont. Looking for Quick Changes. Those boys and their toys. My purses and shoes do not cost anywhere close to his hot rod parts.

Well, the leaves were done this week. Thank you Tyler! However, with this wind and rain it does not look like they were done. But on the bright side, most of the trees are almost bare. Even the ole mighty oaks. They hang on forever and ever. Leaves hang on to their branches all through winter.

Has anyone noticed all the acorns, hickory nuts, walnuts, etc. nuts on the ground this year. I Googled it. Expect a HARSH Winter. Not what I wanted to hear. I hate winter. I hate the cold. I hate snow. I want HEAT!!!!!

Ben will be home Friday. Another job interview. Let's hope he gets this one considering the president of the company emailed me wanting to know if he had found work in Ohio yet. Keeping my fingers, toes, and whatever else I can crossed. I want my son home before the holidays. We are cutting it close but I think this is the one. I can feel it in my bones. And I have been praying a lot that he comes home to his family.

Ok, on to this teaching myself to run. Not working out to well. No pain, no gain. Well I was in pain. I got blisters on the back of my heals. Bleeding by the time I got home. I got blood on my new shoes. Now the nice warm weather is over and I didn't get back out. So today I am going to run up and down the basement stairs until I can't do it no more. Wish me luck that I don't fall down them. Or up them. Haha. I can be clumsy at times.

Laundry calls! And so do the basement stairs. So time to get my heart rate up.

Here I sit

Here I sit with my coffee beside me. Amaretto creamer, yum-o! And I look back at my doctors appointment I had last month. When I stepped on the scale I did not like the number I saw. So today I am hoping to change that number.

I am approaching a birthday in December and I am getting closer and closer to 50. Kinda scares me. I have never freaked out about but one birthday in my life. That birthday was my 34th. And why did I freak out on my 34th birthday. Because that is the age my mom was when she passed away. 30 didn't bother me. 40 didn't bother me. But now 50 and I are having some issues. I am at a age where losing weight isn't the easiest thing to do. I am sure there are tons of you out there that struggle with it everyday like I do.

Well, today is the day. I am going to start taking control of my weight. I am going to teach myself to run. Eat better. That one might be the harder challenge of the two. I hate healthy eating. YUCK!!!!!

I have until April to change that number. The weight number that has been haunting me for some time now. I want the doctor to look at my weight and congratulate me on losing weight. Hopefully it will help with my extremely high blood pressure. So today is the day. Please everyone pray for me that I can do this. I want to be around for my daughter as long as I can. I missed out on so much in my life by not having my mother around. I look at my friends who still have their mothers and I am so jealous. I would love for just one more day with my mommy. I miss her so much. I miss her as much today as the day she passed away.

So I am lacing up my new running shoes and hitting the country block. Wish me luck. Any of you runners out there with advice please share.

Fenders or no fenders...

That was the topic of this mornings decussion with Jim. He is building a new hot rod. Can not decide...fenders or no fenders. For what he is building I vote NO FENDERS! It will just look bad ass without fenders. Now...when he gets to building the 1936 Ford Pickup, it will have to have fenders. Just wouldn't look right without them.

This new hot rod it chopped a bit and has a tapered channel. Not going to be much room in the actual cab. But will be neat, none the less.

Any of you that know Jim and know his work. Know that it is going to be one sweet ride. Goal is a cab at the end of the month. Mind you. He started with only two doors, a cawl up to the front corners of the roof and the back of the cab. He has had to make door jams. That including putting a double step into them. Adding a connecting piece from the front corner to the back corner. Both sides. Adding drip rails. Patch panels. And, of course, a chop. The chop is just enough to make it look good.

Emma has put her two cents in. She said that it needs to be painted the same color as the kitchen because the color Jim picked for the kitchen according to her is impressive. Please do not feed his ego. But burgandy would be a nice color. However, Jim is thinking of making it the twin of the roadster. I say NO!!!! They all have their own personalities. Give this truck its own.

It's a rainy Thursday...

Thursday morning. As I sit here at the kitchen table with my big mug of coffee, I watch the leaves fall. Winter is just around the corner. The holiday season is just around the corner. However, Emma will be 8 years old in December. Hard to believe. Seems like yesterday I just had her.

Emma has grown up quicker then I wanted her to. She is doing very well in school. Which, of course, makes momma proud. Oh so tender hearted. Cries at the drop of a hate or a look. My sweet little angel. I can not imagine life without her. I was blessed the day she was born.

Ben! Oh my dear son Ben. He has grown into a young man whom I am very proud of. He finished college a few years ago. Actually working in his field of study. Unlike some college graduates. He is the son every mother hopes for. Kind hearted and willing to do anything for anyone. I say his dad and I did pretty good. Of course, his grandma's stern hand had some doing in there somewhere along the line.

This is a election year. Boy, there sure is some serious politices being dicussed each and every day. I just want what is best for my children. They are the ones who have their lives ahead of them. Do not get me wrong, I still have a few years left in me. I would love for the school levy to pass so that Emma could learn in a new school. But is that what is right for Ashland. I guess I will have to wait and see. I know how I voted.

The whole Presidential campaign! So ready for it to be over. Tired of the commercials, mailings, telephone calls, (thank the telephone company for caller ID) and all the name calling. Tired of people saying he is better because of this. Or he is better because of this. My dad would of made a better President, and he was deaf. At least he wouldn't of had to listen to all the name calling and bull crap. November 6th can not get here soon enough. Pray for the United States as the decision is made and that it's the right one for the future of our children.

Eye doctor appointments for Emma and I. Emma's teacher, Mrs. Harlan, love her! Called and said Emma is having trouble seeing the Smart Board. So here we come eye doctor. Hoping and praying that she does not need glasses at this young age. But, on the other hand, need to know why she can not see the Smart Board.

Well, I am out of here. It's off to look for the dead. Still working on my Genealogy. It is amazing where my family came from. Even in Ohio. Makes you wonder how they met each other. I wish my grandparents were still around so I could question them. My aunts and uncles have been a lot of help. I have one Great-Aunt left, bless her heart, trying to remember what she could about the Whipple/Snyder side of the family. Do not worry Aunt Pat, I am figuring it all out with what information you did provide. I thank you so much for it.

Everyone have a great Thursday. The weekend is almost here. Celebrating my little nephew Kobe's 2nd birthday on Saturday. Just love him to pieces. Oh what noisy toy to buy him.

Parenting over friendship...

Parenting over friendship...I whole heartedly believe in this. What are you views on this issue?