No way out!!

Why does it take losing something to appreciate what we've got? We take for granted each day our ability to come and go as we please. To have access to whatever our heart desires and to see as many people in a day as we want or can fit in. But all that changed here recently. I always try to remember to take time to be grateful for all that I have been blessed with but a recent drastic change in our daily life got me to thinking that I should really stop and appreciate each moment of each day. I realized that I often see the days as very monotonous but the recent snow storm reminded me just how everything can change in the blink of an eye.

Here in small town Georgia we just spent the past 4 days trapped in our homes by the winter storm. This is something that doesn't happen often to us southerners so needless to say it was a really big deal...in more ways than one. The entire state of Georgia practically shut down! When the weatherman started predicting what was to come our way days ahead some of us thought it would never be quite as big as they were saying... but eventually we all (at least most of us) slowly but surely made our way to the grocery store for the necessary milk and bread...or if you were like me...an entire grocery list of things that I know we always use and want and then some. I have 3 rapidly gorwing children and they can eat me out of house and home within hours so I figured being shut in, even for a couple of days called for some planning. As it turned out it was a really good thing I did go over board because we cooked like mad and ate and ate and cooked some more and ate some more. What I thought might be a couple of days turned into 4 full days of playing computer games (thankfully we never lost power or internet service), cooking and eating and listening to music by my children via various instruments, and of course playing in the cold I mean snow ( I am a wimp when it comes to cold) before we could finally get out and their dad came and got them and took them to his house.

We really enjoyed the first couple of days a lot. I loved having my children all to myself with no other appointments or activites to interfere and they LOVED not having to go to school. However, by day 3 it was getting a little old and by day 4, well let's just say people were getting somewhat grumpy! Even I wanted to get back to my Chemistry class for goodness sake!! Now who in their right mind would prefer doing Chemistry equations to being wrapped up in an electric blanket (how I spent most of my time) and snuggling with a sweet little kittie?! But this was desperation people and I needed to get out!!


Me and my BEACH snow lady!



My daughter Leslie and her snow-woman Little Leslie.



My oldest son-Jake.




On thursday evening, after we all spent about an hour (ex husband included) carving a path through the ice on my driveway, the kids went home with their dad leaving me all alone. I dislike being alone but have come to adjust after 4 years with no husband and the kids coming and going every week but this time it was hard. I had been here for 4 days straight with the children playing, laughing and yes arguing and just keeping me company and now they were gone suddenly. I went to bed early. On friday afternoon I decided it was time to try to get down my steep driveway and street and if I could make it to the bottom in one peice I was going out...I didn't care where, just out. So I went to the bank and made a deposit and then on to the grocery store to restock. I have never been so happy to go to the grocery store in all my life! I even saw a friend that I had also seen at the same grocery store when I went in to stock up just before the snow! That was weird because before that we hadn't seen each other for a long time...years! My intention was to pick up a few items that I knew we had used up and would need for next week when life returned to normal but I found myself having so much fun (and I hadn't eaten yet either-bad plan) that I ended up with lots more than necessary.  I was just so happy to see that yes, there was a whole other world out there...it was not just my imagination!

So after a week of the cold white stuff I have learned a valuable lesson. Always, always be thankful for what each day brings. Always look for the good and never see it as "the same old thing" or boring. It is my life and it holds many blessings, even on the most monotonous days, if I just take the time to stop and notice. There's a reason for everything and a purpose in God's plan for each day...looking at it this way makes me realize that there really aren't any dull or repetitive days. Every day is special and new.



My youngest-Ben.



Jumping in head first.



Tabatha and I with our algebra instructor.

 So this is my very first blog. I have no idea what I am doing at this point but after much procrastination I decided to jump right in...head first. I have wanted to do a blog (if that is correct terminology) for quite some time but have made excuses as to why NOT to do it. I thought it would just be something else to take up my time...time that I have not to spare already. Also I enjoy writing but am not necessarily all that good at it, and I thought maybe nobody would care to read what I have to write. One excuse after another came up each time I contemplated the "doing". That is until I met Tabatha.

Most of us have had those times when you first meet someone and you just click with them right away. Well, that's how it was when I first met Tabatha. There are some people that are just exhausting to be around and make you feel like you have put in a full days work after just having one conversation with them. Then there are those people that immediately make you feel at ease with just being yourself and just happy to be around. That is how Tabatha made me feel. Fate brought us togther when we both signed up for the same anatomy and physiology class at a local technical college.She and I are both raising a family and going to school and when we met  I knew right away that she was the kind of person I enjoyed being around. Over the next three months we studied togther some and just helped each other out via mutual encouragement and support. It was a very rigorous course and we both considered dropping it more than once during the gruesome process. However, we both made it out in one peice and the following quarter we signed up to take algebra together (my least favorite thing). Once again we worked well togther and helped each other through. I don't believe that I would have done so well without her help.

Aside from raising a family and going to school I have found that we have so much more in common. For example, our faith in God and our determination not to give up no matter how hard it gets...although we have both had our moments of doubt and disgust with the whole thing. Another thing that we seem to have in common is that we both enjoy writing. Writing to relieve stress, to have our say or just to share something we have learned with others. I realized this fact when I first saw Tabatha's blog. Reading her blogs often have inspired me in so many different ways, from coupon clipping to remembering to be thankful for what we have. I have enjoyed reading them all.  They are funny (neither one of us can jump on the trampoline since giving birth =/), insightful, entertaining and full of heart and real life; exactly how I want to write. I believe that each person we meet is meant to come into our lives for a reason. Every situation we encounter and every person we come to know changes us forever in some way. I am glad that I met Tabatha and am thankful for the changes that I have gone through because of knowing her. If I had not met her I might have never started this blog and who knows where it is going to take me or whom I will meet because of it. Will knowing her make me better at doing a blog blogging? I doubt it but at least I am finally giving it a shot and I have begun a new chapter in my life that will be written down for all to see... so here goes...eyes closed...jumping in head first!