nothing special

Well the furniture is in, (never use Mayflower moving - at least the All American Moving franchise)
We have phone, cable and internet - much to Phil's delight. Even Drew is relieved to be connected again. I am still trying to get the little piles of stuff that I don't know what to do with picked up.

We leave for San Francisco in the AM - we are spending the night. Got a great deal thru priceline on the Grand Hyatt. Wish we could stay 2 nights but just not in the cards right now. Phil is really looking forward to this trip So am I if you want to know the truth.

Scott came home last night and told me that one of his collegue's sibling is an exec with the Monterey Aquarium and when we decide to go he will make arrangements for Drew to get to do all the VIP backstage stuff.

We are not near the fires but the smoke is wrecking havoc on all of us. It looks like a Kansas fall day that could rain any minute but it is really smoke and ash from the fires up north. Yesterday on the news they said our air quality was worse than Bejing. GREAT!!!!! Phil is really feeling the effects.

Faith Trust and Pixie Dust

C

I think I am home Toto

We are in Sacramento. I won't go into the details about the nightmare with the move. Let's just suffice it to say we had our own beds last night for the first time in 10 days.

I love Sacramento. The weather is incredible. It is cool in the AM - can sit on patio and drink coffee and read paper. It does get a little hot in the afternoon. - have a pool for that. The evenigns are beautiful. Nice breeze, cool air. I really feel like I am home. The house is coming together. As long as the ground doesn't start moving I am fine.

I didn't realize how much I missed the green until we got here. There are flowers and green grass and blue sky. I know my mom felt at home when she hit Florida. I never thought I would like California but I love it. The B&B will be open in a week. Please book early as Disney is only an hour plane ride or 7 hours by car so you never know when we will take off for a long weekend.

From the land of

Faith Trust and Pixie Dust
C

What a Trip

We are still in Kansas but I know the next couple weeks are going to be crazy and the next time I write I will probably be in Sacramento. I wanted to put a few things down before I forgot them.

This has been an amazing trip. I got closer to Andrea. I felt like we really connected and I can see how much she cares for my dad. I saw how happy he was. To me that is the most important thing. My dad shared stories about my ancestors which helps them live on as my boys get older. Dad took Drew swimming and made sure he had his first riding lesson. Now Drwe thinks he wants to ride when we get to CA - Thanks DAD. Andrea showed me a pattern that I am able to knit. I thought I wouldn't be knitting for a long time but that is't the case. I got her hooked on beading - Sorry DAD.

Drew got to be a little boy and do some awesome little boy things. He rode a horse, held a 4 day old baby goat, ran in the sprinkler, played in the park, caught fire flies, made cookies with meema, ate in the prehistoric era with papa and maymay, spent the day at the zoo with his brother. Oh yea - he also got to witness Kansas thunder storms and enjoy a good old fashion Kansas tornado warning.

I got to see old friends. I spent time with Erin, my college drinnking buddy, who at 18 taught me to shoot a gun and how to restore old cars. I saw Lori. probably one of my oldest friends - we have been friends since 5th grade. That is 30+ years. Spent time with Anna. Spent 3 days with Carolyn. Those days were pretty stressful - because scott and I were trying to agree on a house and I was going crazy. Kim and I spent an afternoon drinking margaritas, eating mexican munchies and chatting away. Allan and Peg spent some time with us. Drew had a ball with Allan. spent 2 evenings with my friend Susan. We drank to new beginnings and new homes.

I had a great time with my MIL. She took such good care of us. I had an ongoing flare while I was in Kansas and she truly would not let me do anything. She got testy when I did the dishes. She and drew had such a great time.

My trip isn't over yet. Today Phil and Drew are having brother day. They are going to breakfast, the zoo, a picnic then to Lawrence to catch up with me. I am having coffee with Carolyn, hopefully having lunch with Mary. Meeting my dad and Andrea to get somethings that I left at their house, going to the Yarn Barn with Andrea. I want to spend a little time wandering Mass. Kim is to be getting the afternoon off and Phil is coming over with Drew. Brett - Kim's son and an old friend of Phil's will be there. I an hoping my fibro stays at bay today. Tomorrow I plan on a quiet day. Phil is coming over in the afternoon to hang out. We have had some good 12AM talks. We leave Wed. night.

Our time line for the next 2 weeks - Scott gets home Tuesday night, Drew and I arrive Wed night. the 21st is our going away party, 23rd and 24th the packers will be there, 25th the movers load, 26th we clean up the house, 27th head to CA. I anticpate being there by the 29th. They are seeing if we can ship my van. The way my Fibro has been I don't think I can drive that far as fast as we need to be there. I am hoping the movers can unload on the 30th. Scott did find a house and we both really like it. He has sent pictures of it.I will post some once we get settled.

This trip has been magical (thanks to everyone who made it that way) which only proves

Faith Trust and Pixie Dust.

C

Hey Toto we are on the way home

Drew and I leave tomorrow morning for 2 weeks in Kansas. It is going to be a whirlwind of activity and friends. I am looking forward to seeing everyone. I know after this trip - Kansas will no longer really be home because I will see how everything has changed and how life has gone on with out me.

I am looking forward to Tortilla Jacks, J&S Coffee - Cant find a good Freddie anywhere. I have a feeling I will be eating several meals at On the Border so i can see Phil. I have many planned lunches and dinners with friends. Drew is looking forward to seeing Ellie, Miriam, Gracie (the fillie) He is also looking forward to seeing his grandparetns and brother. I hope I also get to see the Dukes of Lawrence. I watch their blog daily to see how they have changed.

I thought ABQ was destined to be our home but now it looks like I will be a California girl within the next month or so. We will know Wed for sure what the plan is. I hate being in limbo and I am glad this vacation is coming so I can see friends, drink some good Cosmos and margaritas and share the company of all those I hold dear.

Not sure when I will check back in. until then

Faith Trust and Pixie Dust.
C

What are we doing

Here it is 3AM and I can't sleep. Nothing new there but tonight I have lots on my mind. We thought Sacarmento was a done deal. Guess not. Even tho the management in Sac offered one salary the higher ups said no. We can't do it on what they offered. I have spent lots of time in prayer the past few days because in my heart something wasn't right. I asked for some guidance. Everything has been shown that we should stay here. The salary, the ABQ office wanting Scott to stay and offering ways to keep us here. We have our church and our friends here. When the salary came back to low that was the answer I was looking for. Scott doesn't want to hear the answer. He keeps looking for ways to go to Sacramento. He asked the Denver office if they would be willing to have him in Sacramento heading up the water resourses division. Keith said it was something to talk about but he was on vacation until June 9. Scott doesn't take vacations and when he does he is constantly on his computer or crackberry working. To me a vacation is turning everything off and being with us.

We got the house issues taken care of yesterday. that was a huge monkey off my back. In my mind and heart we need to stay here continue to repair the credit once again and in a year look for a house.

I can't take much more of this roller coaster. God has revealed his plan. We just need to stop and listen.

can't believe I didn't think of this

OK so we are moving. I am getting excited. I have been on the chamber of commerce website and found all kinds of things for us to do. Polar express at christmas, Wehn Phil comes we can get ghost tours of Old Sacramento. There is a Jazz fest every Memorial Day. And the best part? It is only 100.00 round trip to LA to go to Disney Land. Less than gas. I just priced a 4 day stay for the 3 of us over Halloween and it is less than 2500 !!!!!!!!!!!! I then started researcing and discovered that the Disney land Halloween party is...... Nightmare before Christmas - Drew's fave movie. I can hardly wait. I think we will be going again at Christmas with Phil. So I think I may have to break down and buy annual passes - at least for Drew and I.

I am actually thinking about a cruise for Christmas. Have to talk to Scott.

Faith Trust and pixie dust
Cathy

Thank you Dream Factory

Today Phil called with amazing news. Lisa had turned in Trent (my nephew with diabetes) to the Dream Factory to have a wish. Since he is home so much and unable to get out he wanted a big screen TV. Dream Factory called last night and said they were granting Trent's wish. He would be getting a 55" LCD TV with a XBox 360 and games to go with it. While that is awesome news - the news they got next was even better. Some group ( I will post when I know more) had chosen Trent to be the recpient of the proceeds for a golf tournament. The money will be put in a trust to help with medical bills and day to day expenses for the family. since Lisa can't work because Trent is so unstable and insurnace doesn't cover everything that he needs this money is going to come in handy. Once I know more about the tournament I will post so hopefully everyone can at least make a donation in Trent's name.

This proves There is always

Faith hope and pixie dust
C

all I am going to say at this point.....

California here we come.........

when is a mom not a mom

Tonight NBC aird a show naming in their opionion Americas fave mom's. I refused to watch it. Orginally they put adoptive mom's in a category called Non - Mom Mom's. There was an orphanage director (who actually won the category from what I heard) a woman who raised her siblings and a woman according the website had one of her "own" then adopted 6 more children. There are so many myths and un trhuths circulating about adoptive parents that I had a fit. Many in the adopting world sent letters of protest to NBC and the category was changed Friday to Adoptive mom's. Funny thing - Marie Osmond was the host of the show and she herself is an adoptive mom. I bet she thinks she is a real mom. Below is the letter I sent to NBC. As soon as I find an email address for Teleflora they will be getting it as well.


It took me a while to put into words the anger I felt towards your lack of sensitivity to adopted moms. I know the show has aired but I am finally calm enough to put a rational thought together on this subject. First let me say I refused to watch this broadcast. I have children. Some where in the recesses of my mind I seem to remember sitting in front of a judge and him asking my husband and myself if we were aware that by adopting our son we would be responsible for every part of his life, feeding him, clothing him, educating him just like any biological children we had. He asked our other son if he was excited to have a brother (not an adopted brother - a brother) . We all said yes. I have sat up many nights with both my boys thanking God for them. thru every broken bone, asthma attack, nightmare, picture hung on the fridge, excitement of a hot air ballon in the sky, bout of pneumonia, first step, first word, first tooth, first day of school I was there And you know what - my adopted son never called me adopting mommy. He just called me mommy.

which of my kids is adopted - frankly I choose not to say - I am just mom to both of them and always will be. How they came to be does not matter. I bet you would never ask me which of my kids was born by C section or my next door neighbor about the rape that brought her her daughter, or the lady down the sleep if she concieved while on top or bottom during making love with her husband.

The point is how they came to be is not the issue. They are our children and no matter whether they grew in our stomach or our heart they are our children and we are their moms PERIOD.

C

I hurt

My doc thinks I have Fibromyagia. I see a Rheumatolgist tomorrow AM. when I used to see commercials for Fibro I would think how could this be real? Chronic muscle aches - almost flu like. I get it now. My hands go numb, so do my feet. some days I ache from head to toe. Today is one of those days. I had a great week last week, but yesterday the headache and shoulders started hurting. They have taken me off of all meds until tomorrow because of the blackout a couple weeks ago. I thought that getting rid of the meds was the answer(that all the aches and pains were caused by side effects from my meds) and that it was in my head. Nope. I ache today like nothing else. I tried a hot shower but that didn't help. I am so looking forward to maybe getting some answers tomorrow. Or more tests ordered which means more waiting
YIPEEE

I just don't understand

Today is Phil's 19th birthday. He seems to think I have something up my sleeve to embarrass him tonight. Why in the world would I do something like that? I am 800 miles away in a different time zone - how in the world could I pull off any kind of surprise when I am that far away? I am good but am I that good?

BTW - thanks to Peg, ML, Mike, Billy, and Johnny Carino's for all of their help.

Happy Birthday Phil - I hope it is a great day and that you have fun at formal tonight. We love you and are so very proud of the man you have become.

retail therapy

My "dear" friend Anna turned me on to beading when she was here with her family over Spring break. I don't do alot of tradiional beading but I love to make necklaces and earrings. I love the stone and how my imagination starts running when I walk in to a bead store. I am like a kid in a VERY expensive candy store. I was slightly ticked at my DH today (OK 200.00 ticked) so I went to one of my fave bead stores. I am sitting here looking at my new stash and thinking hmmmmm what do I need to order to complete these focals and what focals to I need to order to finish these beads. My fave bead store was closed so that will have to wait until another day but I do need to hit my 2 fave seed bead shops soon. I had told my self I wasn't going shopping until anna sent my a package after she cleaned out her stash but alas it was not to be. I do need to run to Michaels and pick up a few standard supplies. need crimp tubes and such.

scott is going to be out of town lots in the near future so at least this way I have something to do when school is over and I get back from Kansas. There are a couple things I want to get made before I leave but we will see if I can get them done.

I need to work on my seed beading so I can do some more elaborate work but right now I am just having fun with my jewelry.

fatih trust and pixie dust

thanks to tim

Update on my earlier post. Phil called and told me to call off the dogs. His Uncle Tim being the sensible cool headed one managed to find a phone number for the head of Kansas Youth soccer League and laid the whole scenario out for him. Phil will be getting calls of apology from him, the head of Sunflower Soccer etc. They have revoked Phil's fine. They will also be re amending the rule in the bylaws.

They agree the entire situation was handled wrong. And leave it to my son to be the one who had to test the new rule. The rule went into effect on November 11, 2007. Phil was the first to have it imposed on. (figures) None of the coaches were ever made aware of the rule.

Like Peg Stevens taught me - NEVER MESS WITH A MAMA BEAR AND HER CUB - no matter the age of the cub.

No Good Deed

Phil has been coaching youth soccer this year. He has a passion for the game and wanted to pass it on to younger kids. He preached being respectful to the league and to the refs all year. well it bit him in the ASS this past weekend.

Saturday, he was coaching the 2nd to last game of the year. Now Phil can be dramatic and he can be loud. But that is Phil. He is who he is. I have talked to several witnesses and parents who were at the game just to make sure what Phil was telling me was the whole story. What he said was the truth. so wwhat is a mom to do? go to the media.

It turns out that Phil was coaching a game and there was lots of rough stuff on both sides and the center ref did not have control of the game. Kids were using elbows, tripping etc. Phil turned to talk to a mom who happened to be an asst coach for him to explain what was happening. Everyone says Phil did nothing out of line but the center ref, who was 16, kicked Phil off the field. No warning, no yellow card, jsut said leave. So Phil did. He talked to the exec director after the game and gave his side of the story. She said don't worry about it.

Fast forward to yesterday. Phil shows up to his last game and has his kids warming up. The exec director that he spoke with the day before walks over and in front of Phil's team and parents tells Phil he could not be at the game because he had been ejected the day before. Why had she not told him this when they talked on Saturday. Parents were furious. Phil and Mike go sit on the tail of Marvin's truck so Phil can at least see the game. Nothing else was said to Phil about it. Today he wakes up to find an email saying he is being 75.00 for being ejected. why was this not mentioned on Saturday. We also found out that the same center Ref kicked a parent from the opposing team out yesterday for cussing. Will this parent get fined? Or the other Coach because he did not control his parents?

Where do they get off fining VOLUNTEER coaches. In my book if you can be fined you are an employee and every coach needs to turn in a time sheet to Sunflower Soccer. Volunteers are hard to find. Good reliable positive role model volunteers are even harder. How many 18 year college students do you knwo who would give up 2 night a week for practice as well as at least one day a weekend to mentor 12-14 year olds?

Sunflower Soccer and Kansas Youth Soccer Association needs to get off their power trip and THANK the coaches from the bottom of their hearts. they also need to make sure their referees are not near the same age as the teams playing. Let 16 year olds ref the little guys and let older refs take care of the older kids. This sounds like one power hungry ref who was trying to throw his authority around anyway he could. And thumbs down to Sunflower Soccer for not backing thier coaches. In this economy 75.oo is a lot of money to the parent coaches - it is a fortune to a college kid who was trying to pass on his love of the sport.

nothing going on

Well that is not true. But it is just day to day life here. Scott is traveling every other week to Sacremento. He leaves on Sunday and gets home Friday or Saturday. Makes it very long weeks for Drew and I.

Phil changed his major AGAIN!!! I have real issues with 18/19 year olds being told they have to decide what to do with the rest of their lives. Heck, I am almost 41 and I thought I knew what I wanted finally but due to some health problems I am reevaluating AGAIN!

Drew passed all of his pre K evals so he is ready for kindergarten. Holding him out was the best thing we did. Thank Miriam for the advice.

Drew and I are headed to KAnsas for 2 weeks the beginning of June. I can't wait. My calendar is filling up with seeing people. We are spending the first few days with my dad and Andrea and then off to Lawrence to stay with Carolyn and then to Topeka. I know that I will have plenty of time to see people - my MIL really wants to see Drew I am just there to make sure Drew arrives safely. LOL

I am anxious to see where my sis is working. It sounds like it is really up her alley.
I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and RA a couple weeks ago. I am headed to a Rheumatologist in May for confirmation as well as to start treatment. Some days I can barely move. But I don't have much of a choice. I pop some aleve and predisone and off I go.

I have started doing some beading. I really enjoy making necklace and earring sets. I am going to try today to see if I can do some seed bead work. I am not sure how my fingers will work. It is an expensive hobby but I do have some gorgeous jewelry. Trying to decide if I should give it for Christmas presents or I should buy baskets from my friend Michelle. she makes all natural soaps, skin cleansers, bath bombs, lip balm etc. Check it out at http://www.bonafidesoap.com/
I give her foot scrub and her tangerine lip balm 2 thumbs up.

We have found a church we really like - even tho the pastor is a Missouri Tiger fan. It is a large church but it is a good place. It is what St. Margarets should have been under different circumstances.

That is it. Nothing exciting. Just life.

Faith Trust and Pixie Dust
C

Only my son....

Phil calls this morning and tells me his driving a friends truck to his soccer game. My first thought "please don't say you wrecked your car" He continues that the FAA is currently holding his car as part of a crash scene. WTH!@!!!!! Come to find out a Topeka police copter crash landed in the parking lot of Stauffer hall at Washburn about midnight. Phil had parked his car there because there was no parking left at the fraternity and then walked across the street to the Fraternity house. fortunately (or unfortunately according to Phil) it landed 50 ft from his car. He was hoping for a new car out of the deal.

He has been told he should get it back later today but as of yet we haven't heard anything.

My Christmas shopping is done - is yours?

Phil made it thru surgery. he is up and doing better than ever. there was a cracked bone in his knee that was missed on the Xrays that were done. It healed wrong so when he walked the jagged edge of his knee was pulling on the Cartlidge behind his knee.

Scott scared the heck out of us. Thought he was having a heart attack. come to find out it was something called chondrcarditis. It is an inflamation of the ribs around the heart that mimics a heart attack.

Scott and I decided to go to take Drew to Disney for Christmas next year. I told Phil we were going and he was welcome to come with us. He said no, he would come for Christmas but leave on December 31 when we left for WDW. SoI made our reservations. Then yesterday,

RING RING RING

"hi mom did you get my text?'
"no, what did you need"
"is it too late to change my mind and go to Disney?"
"decided you wanted to spend time with your dad, brother and me?"
" No. A free trip to disney IS a free trip to Disney. you guys are a bonus."
"Gee thanks"

So he is going to spend Christmas in Topeka with family and meet us in Orlando on December 31. (praying no snow delays for any of us) I did have to "sacrifice" my savannah view room at Animal Kingdom Lodge and to a standard view room at Wilderness Lodge to keep us within budget but I guess he is worth it. I have told him it is his Christmas present and that anything extra he wants to do i.e. parasailing is on him.

Santa is bringing Drew a disney suitcase filled with a certificate for the trip. I will be getting everyone the mandatory goofy family matching Tshirts - the guys humor me on this. Those will be wrapped and under the tree for Drew from us.

Well my christmas shopping is done - is yours?

Faith Trust and Pixie dust
C

Back to school and forgiveness

I go back to school today. I am up doing homework for my corresponse classes. I am only on campus 2 days a week this sememster. It has been a rough 24 hours. Well let me back up to Sunday. We have finally found a church we like. It is very modern and upbeat. the pastor is great. It is not a Mega church but it is well attended. Pastor Todd has been doing a great series on "resigning" a few weeks ago it was about resigning your fiances and taking control, 2 weeks about resiging guilt. Sunday it was resigning forgiveness and letting it go. Who have you locked in a prison because you have felt they have done you wrong. I can say I have, and if you are honest with yourself you would say the same thing.

Drew had to have a medical procedure yesterday and tomorrow has to see another specialist. Scott and i got thru it but it was rough on all involved. I walk out of the hospital when it is over with my cell phone ringing. It is Phil saying "Hi mom, I have surgery Friday AM." This was not unexpected. This is on his knee from his wreck this summer. It has gotten progressively worse. My former MIL who is one who has forgiven me and I forgave her years ago who is taken charge of this. She will be with Phil and he will stay with her when the surgery is over.

I called her yesterday afternoon and was getting the scoop on the surgery. Phil didn't understand about how to give all the insurnace paperwork. So Peg was telling me to call and get it straitened out so we didn't have a mess later. the Billing person at the single day surgery said that they have lots of kids from Washburn who go thru this and if someone doesn't step in and deal with the insurnace it causes trouble later on. They were very grateful I was on top of this one.

Anyway I regress. During our talk I was telling her about our new church and how wonderful it is and how we enjoy it. I was telling her about the sermon from this past week and she made a comment that has had me thinking all night. "just because you forgive someone and set them free from the prison you have them locked in - doesn't mean you were wrong. In other words forgive everyone whether you feel you were right or wrong. Life is to short to lock those who have hurt you in a prison. Once you release them you release your self to live your life.

Faith trust pixie dust
Cathy

Philosophy

Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so..

Love the people who treat you right.

Forget about the ones who don't.

Believe that everything happens for a reason.

If you get a chance, TAKE IT!

If it changes your life, LET IT!

Nobody said it would be easy...

New Year

All I see on TV right now is ways to improve my health, my home, my relationships. Why is the new year always about a new you? I mean everyday is the first day of the rest of your life - why do people only feel they can start over at the beginning of the year?

When we moved to NM It was a new chapter. I lost a few pounds, organized parts of my house, extended teh olive branch to some people. Yea I could stand to lose a few more pounds, organize my house better, and work on repairing a few more relationships.

I guess my question is why is this only done at the beginning of the year? Instead of waking up on January 1 saying "it is a brand new year, what can I do to improve my life in this year?" Why can't we wake up every morning and say "it is a brand new day, what can I do to improve my life on this day?" Or better yet - "this is a brand new hour how can I improve my world in the next 60 minutes?

It all starts with baby steps. Not giant leaps. Look around what can you do in the next 5 minutes to improve your office space or your relationship with someone?

Faith Trust and Pixie Dust
C