I have been tagged

I have been tagged and I can actually do this one. Thank you Suz! The rules are simple, state 7 facts about yourself and tag some of your friends.

Here goes nothing!

1. I love to cook and bake.

2. I have never lost my husband or a baby but I have lost my Grandmother (Norma), Grandfather (Vic), and nephews Tommy (1999) and Cooper (2008). I miss them all terribly.

3. Before I was born, my parents could not decide on a name for both a boy and a girl so they decided that I was going to be Kelly whether I was male or female. So no originality here!

4. I have major OCD issues...I must be in control at all times or I can tend to flip out.

5. I am finding as I get older I tend to open my mouth and let my feelings out and this can cause some problems so I am trying to be careful.

6. I like my job...the job that I do every day that is...not necessarily where I do the job.

7. I bite my nails. I can stop and let them grow but end up biting them after a little while then I have to start all over again.

Okay, so now it is my turn to tag someone.

Kristy at http://babybolte.blogspot.com
Ginger at http://thepittsburghhites.blogspot.com
Katie at http://ckbykm.blogspot.com
Jen at http://taleoftwocoins.blogspot.com

Happy Friday...
Have a great weekend!

Snow, Snow, and more Snow!

Yes, that is correct...we officially have more snow than I can stand. I went home after work yesterday and decided to run the snow blower before my husband got home. I opened his garage door (yes, we have two garages...that means, one is his and one is mine) and the snow was deeper than the height of the snow blower. Picture this...I am working to try to push the snow blower through 23 inches of snow that has accumulated and blown into the driveway when I realize that my neighbor is also cleaning out his driveway. Luckily for me the wind was blowing in his direction...I know, I am an awful person. Well here is where it gets funny.

I soon realize that not only am I blowing snow into his yard (which with the wind is making it into his driveway) but I am about to be blasted in the face with all of the snow that I am blowing. I learned that living on a corner lot makes it very difficult to blow snow in any one particular direction. My glasses were fogging up so badly that I had to put them on the workbench in the garage. I was continuing on my adventure without my glasses, I can see without my glasses but in this case would have proved to be a buffer between my eyes and the snow that was hitting me in the face. At one point in time I realized that I had shut my eyes to protect them from the snow...and they were frozen closed. I had to stick my head into my coat collar and breathe until my eyes were thawed out.

I seriously looked like the abominable snowman, my hair, boots, and now my coat were full of snow. Time to call the plow truck!

Here is my new credit card commercial...

Dinner because you were out for an hour and a half "trying" to clear the driveway and now don't have time to cook dinner...$25.00

Plow Truck, because the snow won...$40.00

Having my 12 year old take a picture of me because he thought it was funny to see his mom covered in snow with her eyes frozen shut...PRICELESS!

One a side note...he was made to shovel the porch off...you know what they say about paybacks! :)

Just Monday...

This is it...just Monday. I had a wonderful weekend of doing...well whatever I wanted. We went bowling, I did some scrapbooking, did laundry, and cleaned my bedroom. On Saturday, my brother, neice, Zman, and I went bowling with my Mom. Afterwards we went and had dinner, it was nice to spend some time with them.

Suz is doing well in Texas, she is putting the finishing touches on her "new" house. She has sent me a few pictures and I must say that it is coming along quite well. I must add that I still miss her very much and wish that she was closer but in time she may be. In the meantime I am keeping my fingers crossed.

My hubby treated me to Red Lobster on Friday night...yummy! I am addicted to shrimp and the cheddar biscuits have to be the closest thing to pure bliss. Thank you to my wonderful hubby for giving me the night off. I love you very much!

Well that is it for now...have a great Monday!

Fantastic Friday

Today is a good day (I have not been able to say that I am having a good day in quite some time). I am excited about having two days to spend with Zman and my hubby. I am going to do some scrapbooking, clean up the house, laundry, and just relaxing.

It has been some time since I have had the entire weekend to do what I need to do. I have spent the last 5 months working enormous amounts of over time and wearing myself down to the point of exhaustion. I am now working my normal hours and with the great friends that I have at work I am learning to love my job all over again.

Have a great weekend!

Suz & Ron Update...

Just wanted to let everyone know that Ron is back safe and sound. I am sure they are enjoying their time together as well as learning to live together again. I wish them the best of luck and want them both to know just how much I love them.

So Welcome Home Ron! We missed you and glad that you are safely back in your wife's arms.

We will talk to you soon!

Back in PA....brr!

Well we are back in Pennsylvania (since Saturday night that is), I was exhausted and blogging was not at the top of my "to do" list. So I jumped head first into cleaning my house, rearranging furniture (we moved everything around when Suz moved in with us), throwing away old stuff that was cluttering up my space, and putting clothes away (thanks to my hubby...he is my laundry God!).

Cleaning and rearranging was very bittersweet for me. I was able to move stuff around and I realized that I moved it around because Suz was gone. I put clothes away in my dresser (that Suz was using and now is back in my room) and right smack dab in the middle of doing this I burst out in tears because she is not there anymore. I know that she is only a phone call away but we have been through so much in the last 15 months that this is killing me. She is my best friend, I can tell her anything, she knows me and knows what I need, we finish each other's sentences, and most of all honestly we read each other's minds. It may sound crazy but she knows what I mean. If I could pack up Zman and the hubby today we would be gone...

So now back to reality, back to work, and back to the crap that I left here in Pennsylvania. I have a couple of great friends here and honestly I missed them very much. As for the rest of the stuff, well I did not miss it. I have made a vow to do a few things the rest of this year and I am not only determined but hell bent if I must say.

1. I am going to lose weight, get back into shape (even though round is a shape...lol), spend more time with Zman and the hubby, and enjoy life to the fullest.
2. I am going to write a cookbook. This has always been a dream of mine and now I am going to do it. No more talking...this is all action baby!
3. I am going to stress less and enjoy friends and family (well most of it anyway) more.
4. I am going to work on not being so OCD...those of you who know me know that I have a problem with this.

Wish me luck. I know that some of you will not let me stray...and I thank you for that.
Hugs!

Texas

We are here and the weather is gorgeous. I am really sorry that all of my friends and family are freezing up there in Pennsylvania...really I feel a little bad for them. :) We have been joking around that the only white thing on the ground down here is the Walmart bag that keeps floating around. This morning my Dad was talking to my Grandma and he told her that it snowed here last night, then he said that there were two Walmart bags instead of one. I know that sounds pretty corny and I am probably just delirious after spending 22 1/2 hours in a car but I thought it was pretty funny.

Suz has already headed to the base so that she can get her car registered and then we are off to experience IHOP. Zman has never been there and it has been a really long time since I was there. I started the SpecialK diet for part of my new year's resolution...I am sure that I will hit the gym here in the hotel at some point today so IHOP is not out of the question.

We are off to see some sights, Zman is so excited. He is becoming such a little man...my baby is getting so big. It won't be long and he will be taller than me and anyone who knows me knows that being taller than me does not take much but he is short like me and that is a big thing for him.

Happy Monday and here is to my first day of a real vacation. *Cheers* More from Texas later today. To all my friends in Pennsylvania...miss you guys (H and K).

Prayers Please...Happy Thursday!

I would like to ask that all of you that are reading this say a prayer for Suz and I. We will be leaving Saturday morning to head to Texas. I am a little nervous about the fact that we have to move furniture and all that crazy stuff that is associated with the moving of military.

Zman is so excited about the trip, we will wait and see how excited he is after he realizes just how far 1450 miles is. He is a trooper though, he will be just fine...he always is. He is not so happy about having to take all of his homework with us. I am sure he will get over it though. I tell him that if he does all of his homework on the way down then he will have the whole way home to relax and spend some quality time with Mom. He was so excited...well not really but I like to think that he was.

Suz, if you are reading this I want you to know that I will make sure that I go up and visit Cooper. I will make sure that his stone is clean, he has flowers whenever possible, and that he will have leaves to play with next fall. :) I will take good care of him while you are gone, just as I would if he were here on earth with us today. I love you and I can not wait to make this trip with you and help you prepare to start a new life with your hubby...and hopefully more nieces and nephews for me.

So as I said in the first paragraph, say a few prayers for us so that our journey to Texas is a safe one and that all goes well with the move. We appreciate any extra prayers that may come our way.

Happy Thursday!
Kelly

Happy Birthday Cooper!!

Happy Birthday Cooper!
Oh how everyone misses you. It is amazing the impression that you left on so many people. Your Mommy and Daddy wanted to have you so badly and now that you are not here on earth with them they miss you terribly. We all know that you are up in Heaven with God, Grandma T, Tommy, and Grandpa D. We know that you are watching over us and you are keeping your Daddy safe.

Please continue to watch over all of us as you will always be our Little Angel. We are praying for your Mommy and Daddy so that they will continue to be strong. We love you and miss you so much.

I will be up to visit you today, enjoy your birthday and know that we all will celebrate your life today.

Love,
Aunt Kelly

Tagged

I have been tagged. I must be totally clueless because I did not understand what I was supposed to do. So I did not take care of the tagging nor did I tag anyone else. I am sorry...maybe next time! :)

The countdown continues...

Well it has come to the time where I must accept the fact that in four short days I will be headed to Texas with my sister. I will be helping her get moved into a new home and set everything up so that when her hubby returns from the sand box that all they will need to worry about is being the happy couple that they are.

I have had my sister her with me for the last 14 months or so. She is my best friend (besides our husbands, we say that we are each other's best friend). We can finish each other's thoughts and sentences. We have been through a lot in our lives and especially within this last year. I will miss her terribly but I know that her and her hubby need time together. They need their time to grieve for their precious son. They need time to be a couple and hopefully by this time next year I will be an Aunt again. No pressure Suz!!!

Well not only am I going to be off of work and away from my normal life but I get the opportunity to spend the drive to and from Texas with the Zman. I am looking forward to it, even though he may talk a lot (he takes after his Mom!). He is going to be 13 soon and there are times when I feel like I am lucky that he has not got to the "I can not speak to my parents" stage. I also pray that I have raised him well enough to know that he will never feel that way. I want him to know that he can talk to me about anything and without much :) judgement. I am his mother after all, I am allowed to judge a little.

It is hard to believe that my baby is going to be 13. I don't really feel old, I feel more like an adult. I have been an adult for many years but never felt like I was an actual adult. In the last 10 years I have lost many friends, two nephews, relatives, and matured beyond my wildest dreams. I love my family dearly and would do anything to help anyone. One thing that I do not like is the games that people play. I have far too much going on in my world to play any games. I am choosing to focus my energy on Zman, hubby, true family, and close friends.

I know this is a lot of rambling but isn't that what this site is about? I can ramble and you can stop reading whenever you choose.

Happy Monday!
Kelly

Welcome Back...Goodbye 2008!

I am back! Things have finally settled down at work and there is some sort of normalcy that one should be privileged to every now and then. I am no longer working the crazy hours that I have been in the past. I never realized how much I was stressed out or what path I was headed on until some good friends of mine suggested that I need to talk to someone. Well, after talking more to these friends (and family...thanks Suzie) I decided to go to the doctor and explain what I was experiencing. I have been diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression. I honestly would never have reached out to my doctor without the help of my friends. Without them I am not so sure that I would be able to sit here at type out my feelings the way I am today.

I never realized until today that I would miss expressing my feelings or sharing a recipe that I love. I like being able to express myself without judgement. Those of you who know me know that I have a bit of a obsessive/compulsive disorder along with control issues. I know that those who do know me are laughing right now. My life has taken so many twists and turns throughout the years that I find myself needing to sort out those feelings and express them so that I can make room for the positive thoughts and energy that I have resolved to find.

My New Years Resolutions are quite different this year. Yes I want to get back into shape and be more active but most of all I would like to renew my faith in the Lord, continue to build my relationship with my loving husband, raise my son (Zman) to be the best that he can be, and of course the most obvious of all...lose the weight (both physically and emotionally) that I have been carrying all these years.

I invite you to read through this journey with me and feel free to share any words of encouragement that you have to offer as well as any stories of similar situations that you may have.

Thank you,
Kelly