Feel the Sunshine

     For many of us its that time of the year where we can finally catch our breath. The long awaited vacation is in the works. We feel the sunshine, and we hear the birds chirping. For others, the get it done list of home projects we hope to accomplish during the summer months seems to grow, and as the summer days go by it may seem very little is getting checked off.
     For others, events of summers past seem to block the sunshine. At times we may find it difficult to enjoy the peace of our surroundings, as our thoughts linger to those who are no longer with us. To someone in the midst of heartache and grief, it may seem that the places that once brought us joy and happiness is dying. As a person who has experienced these emotions, and is on the other side of the storm I can assure you that it does get better. You will notice the beauty around you once again. The person or event that stole your joy will feel less of a weight upon your shoulders as time goes by.
    Our emotions do transfer to those around us. Nothing hurts our spouses, children or members of our family more than seeing us experience sadness and grief. We must deal with our emotions head-on, through counseling, or any means that gives us some relief, even if it seems momentary; for their sake, but especially for our own. As much as we feel the pain, we must also remember to feel the happiness that exists around us. We need it and those around us need it from us. You may feel angry at God or abandoned, and that is perfectly normal. He grieves along with you. As far away as He may seem, He is there, and He is holding you in the palm of his hand. Allow yourself some joy, and He will seem closer than you think.

I'm Almost There...

As many of you know I am in the final stages of publishing my novel.  It has been a very long process from start to finish, but very enjoyable! Writing has been a passion that I have developed during the past few years. I have gotten to know the characters in my novel, as if they were real people.  Right now my novel is in final edits.  I can't give an exact estimate of how long this will take, but hopefully sooner than later than I can share it with all of you.

I am very excited to share this edgy, contemporary work of fiction with all of you! 
Redemption, Forgiveness, Friendship, and Learning How to Love..begin
 at St. Agnes' Place.  I can't wait to welcome you in!

"The Wall"

I just found myself feeling like I was back in highschool, flashbacks raced through my mind from highschool of the loud chatter I heard coming from the of the back of the senior lounge. The banter and laughter filled the air from the exclusive table from only which the "popular people" gathered known as "The Wall".  I never was privy to that table and sat which seemed like miles away with my "nice girlfriends," at a table made for four.

I often found myself making curious glances to that sacred spot, not envious in anyway, most of them I would probably think twice of saving from a burning building.  But, I often wondered if they thought everyone else gathered in the room was less than them.  I think they did.  Seeing the garnet and gold warrior symbol above the wall and feeling that I just wasn't good enough was my first hard lesson in the chain of hierarchy that I thought would banish after highschool.  How wrong I was......As a confident, out-spoken almost 40 year old I realize "The Wall" still exists.  I can still enter a large room, and know matter right or wrong certain people still hold the cards.  There is still the popular and unpopular and sadly this has little to do with character.

I remind myself daily in order to save my sanity, that all that really matters in life is who shares your table at the end of the day whether it be your spouse, children, parents, friend, or a person in need.  I always make it a point that everyone feels welcomed to join me at my table.

"If you were to discover that your closest friend was a heroin dealer, what would you do?"

Hello everyone! Happy Noreaster!  If you are smart enough to call into work today, you are probably sitting around in your cozy jammies looking outside your window at the beautiful, but annoying snow.

Every week I promised to post a thought provoking question from the book, "The Book of Questions."  I love these questions!!  They really make you go, "Uummmmm".......Plus, it gives me a reason to write! And,,,I love to write!  So here goes, and I really hope you post your response on my blog.  It is a lot of fun to see everyone's different point of view.  If you were to discover that your closest friend was a heroin dealer, what would you do?

What Do You Most Strive For In Your Life: Accomplishment, Security, Love, Power, Knowledge, or Something Else?

It's Totally Truthful, Tell It Like It Is Tuesday.  Today I am overwhelmed with laundry, and putting away the last of the Christmas decorations.  Someday, I will definitely be one of those old people who just wants to decorate with a small, fake ceramic Christmas tree.  Heck, I want to do it now, but with the new Charlie Brown tree's that I see in the stores. I think a tree like that is adorable.

~~So for today, while I go about my household chores I will reflect upon this question,
"What do I most strive for in life: accomplishment, security, love, power, excitement, knowledge, or something else?"

Let me know what your thoughts are!  I bet no two answers with be alike with this question.  Ummmm!

Totally Truthful, Tell It Like It is Tuesday.....

Now that the holidays are over and I have finally beaten this horrible stomach virus that ravaged all of my family; I am going to dive headfirst into my writing.  I completed writing the book I started last January.  All twenty-three chapters of it are being sent this week for edits.  While that book is being edited, and after my boys return to school I will be start working on my next book. But for now I am excited just to read other people's work.  I have a coffee table full of books that I can't wait to delve into.  But there is one conversation-coffee table book I truly love that Jamie bought me for Christmas, it's called the, "Book of Questions."  It contains thought provoking questions that have no right or wrong answers.  So to keep my blog going I am going to post a question every Tuesday.  I will answer the question honestly, and it really would be a lot of fun to see how everyone responds.  Some questions will be more difficult than others to answer. So come on and play don't be shy, just truthful and  post your comments at the bottom.  Here is the very first question.
~~~Someone you love deeply is brutally murdered and you know the identity of the murderer, who unfortunately is acquitted of the crime.  Would you seek revenge?

Age is Only A Number....Just a Number You Don't Want to Hear!

Tomorrow my husband the man I met and fell in love with at 16 years of age is turning 40.  OH, MY GOD 40.......It all seems crazy to me, and probably more so to him seeing he is the one turning it, and I'm holding on to 38.95.  I remember how we used to talk about growing old together, well we are actually doing it. 

The thirties they seemed to fly by in the wink of an eye. I still remember on my thirtieth birthday my mom telling me that my thirties would be the best years of my life.  She was right! Those were my boy's toddler years, and although they were probably the hardest years they were probably the most fulfilling. 

To me life seems to get easier with age.   Many may say that they loved their twenties, but I have to admit I would take any time period over that.  At the time I just entered the work force, and had my first "real" job.  I arrived each day at what seemed to be Dante's Inferno and Satan was my boss.  I also bought my first house, which came with a "real mortgage", it was a lot for me being in my early twenties.  The thirties brought me out of the work force, and home with my children, which I was very fortunate to be able to do.  I also returned to school in that time and received another degree much different than business.

With age does come appreciation of the many things of life, especially the times spent with friends and family. Petty things become no longer relevant.  The passage of time sparks new personal interests, and goals. I love seeing my mother, who is in her early seventies, travel to places she could of only dreamed of in her earlier years. 

I have to believe age is just a number.  My mind just cannot grasp the idea of myself, my husband, or any of our close friends as being 40 years of age.  I hope none of us ever feel 40 either. 

I truly believe now (because age just makes you wiser) that each age is a present from God, a gift to be enjoyed!