Project 365 ~ Day 51 (February 20, 2009) Friday

TGIF! I love Fridays. I believe that started when I was working at Honda and would look forward to Friday nights. Our shift at Honda started a half an hour earlier on Friday evenings, meaning we would get out of there by 12:30 a.m. instead of at 1 a.m.! That half an hour seemed to make a world of difference. Now that I have been off work (for approx. six years now), my Friday nights are still my favorites. For me, it is a night of relaxing, enjoying my free time, and watching television late into the night. Sometimes in the past, I would light candles and drink a glass of wine while watching a movie on TV. All by myself. I felt so loved by me. There's nothing wrong with pampering yourself and everyone should do something like that for themselves from time to time. Something that is relaxing and makes you feel happy and warm all over. Something for just you.

Project 365 ~ Day 50 (February 19, 2009) Thursday

Today is the 50th day of the year. Not sure why I mentioned that! LOL On my mind today, however, is something sad. A dear lady that worked in the childcare department at our church passed away unexpectedly. She was only a couple or so years older than me! She had gotten pneumonia and finally ended up in the hospital a couple of weeks later. She died that weekend. Peyton worked with her on Monday nights and at other times at church. We didn't go to the funeral as it was during school hours and I thought it best that she remember Rachael the way she was and not what she looked like at the funeral home. The sad part though is that Peyton didn't get to say her good-byes to her at the viewing. We had wanted to go to that, but things happened that prevented us from doing so. I really regret not getting her there even though I physically couldn't. I will be touching base with Peyton and I will ask her how she feels about Rachael's passing.

Project 365 ~ Day 49 (February 18, 2009)

Today is Wednesday the 18th. I have been concentrating this morning on things that I need to get caught up on: phone calls, bill paying, finishing recipes for a recipe swap (scrapbooking group), etc. I procrastinate way too much! I have asked God to help me be better about getting things done on time and not waiting to the last minute to do so. Be careful for what you ask God to help you with! Be ready for what happens when He begins to teach you a lesson! Because I procrastinated, all kinds of things happened (a chain of events) that would not have happened had I not put things off to the last minute. Wow! I could see God teaching me a lesson in every step of the way! I am very aware now of consequences to our actions, late and otherwise.

Project 365 ~ Day 48 (February 17, 2009) Tuesday

Today is the 17th of the month already. Time sure is flying by. I think that the older I get, the more it seems to evaporate.

Project 365 ~ Day 47 (February 16, 2009) Monday

Peyton's back in her school today although I am not sure she's very happy about it?! Hmm....not sure why but I will be trying to find out. Her high school is very over-crowded and students get lost in the shuffle of things. It can be very overwhelming for a student with ADD.

Project 365 ~ Day 46 (February 15, 2009)

Yesterday was a very busy day. Hunter had a basketball game in the morning, then we went to his baseball practice for two hours, then had basketball team pictures taken and then he had another basketball game! His team won both games. Woo-hoo! They are in second place out of eight (8) teams! His team is the "Rockets". They wear red shirts and black shorts, and their jerseys are either white or black, according to whether they are the home team or visitor at any given game.

Project 365 ~ Day 45 (February 14, 2009) Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! Even though today is Valentine's Day, our busy Saturday schedule goes on as normal. For Valentine's Day, I got Peyton a lunchbox tin full of Hello Kitty pez dispensers (various characters). She is really into "Hello Kitty" stuff right now, as some of her high school friends are again. Cute! Hunter wanted a "chocolate rose" for Valentine's Day and that is what I got him, along with a DS game to help him with his chess playing ("Chessmaster"). He got me a white lip-shaped sucker that he bought at school for me and he got his sister a green one (her favorite color). Sweet! However, he bought them earlier this week and had given them to us right away as he didn't want to wait until today. LOL He gets so excited!! Cute!!

Project 365 ~ Day 44 (February 13, 2009) Friday

Yikes! Today is Friday the 13th, not that I am superstitious or anything like that! But instead of it being a bad day, it is a good one. We got word from the associate principal today that they made a mistake and that Peyton can return to her high school "at her earliest convenience". Woo-hoo! I can now cancel the appeals with the school superintendant (which would have been the next level up). Happy Valentine's Day early, Peyton!

Project 365 ~ Day 43 (February 12, 2009) Thursday

Today is Thursday, February 12, and still no word from the associate principal. Therefore, I take Peyton to an orientation this evening. Not anything that we wanted to do, for sure! I take my 10 year-old with us and amazingly, he sits as quiet as a mouse behind us for over an hour! I am so proud of him! With his ADHD, that could not have been easy!

Project 365 ~ Day 42 (February 11, 2009)

Still waiting for results of the meeting with the high school's associate principal yesterday. She told me that the longer it takes for her to make a decision, the better the answer will be. Therefore, I should be glad to not know yet. Still, I am not a patient person and the time of not knowing what is going to happen is what wears me down.

Project 365 ~ Day 41 (February 10, 2009)

When Peyton was caught skipping from school last week, she also was "accused" of something else even though they had no real proof. I wish not to go into details, but I truly feel that my daughter was railroaded. Of course, I am fighting it and I have a meeting with the associate principal today. I hope and pray that all goes well so that my daughter is back in her high school this week! (And I hope that my daughter is a better judge of people from here on out).

Project 365 ~ Day 40 (February 9, 2009)

Wow! I had better get busy with my blog so that by the time the new month comes along, I am caught up! This weekend has been a nightmare! Peyton decided to skip classes at school, for the first time ever, and got caught doing so. Her punishment? A three-day suspension. I agree that she should receive discipline for skipping classes. What behooved her to do so? The fact that a close friend of her's was moved to another state without warning due to problems in her friend's home, and the students making fun of the girl and also of Peyton because she's the girl's friend. Peyton feels as though the teachers allow the students in their classrooms to be "rude" as she puts it. Peyton befriends anyone that is an "underdog" because Peyton has compassion for people. She sees their hearts instead of their outward appearances. I can identify with so much of that and I hope that she has learned that from me, although I have oftentimes gotten away from that and I sometimes get caught up in the cliques and the way of thinking that certain people just aren't "good enough" to befriend. I pray that God forgives me for taking my eyes off of him and putting my sights elsewhere from time to time. Thank you, Peyton, for reminding me of compassion!

Project 365 ~ Day 39 (February 8, 2009)

My daughter went on a weekend retreat to Carolina Creek Camp near Huntsville, Texas, with the high schoolers from our church. She had a wonderful time. They not only had devotionals, of course, but they also did zip lining and a rope obstacle course. In addition, they had a late night camaflouge water fight.... now she cannot wait to go on the youth group's next outing: a 4 day "mystery tour" that involves going out of state during spring break. The destination is a total surprise! Cool!

Project 365 ~ Day 38 (February 7, 2009)

This is a Saturday and our Saturdays are very full with sports right now. My little boy has both basketball and baseball today. He has two games of basketball and a two-hour baseball practice in between the two! I don't mean to sound as though I am complaining because I do love staying busy. I truly enjoy taking Hunter to sports events and I enjoy watching him participate. I also truly believe that it is healthy keeping children busy. I am not saying that one should over do it, of course, but the physical exercise and the healthy use of time is important to teach a child. Plus, with my son's level of hyperactivity, it doesn't hurt helping him use his energy in a positive way. Way to go, Hunter!

Project 365 ~ Day 37 (February 6, 2009)

Today I am really upset with my teen daughter. She was caught skipping classes. She has never skipped classes before (proven by attendance records for each class) but got caught the one and only time she does. Don't get me wrong; I am glad that she got caught as she needs to take the consequences, but why in the world did she think she could just skip her classes? She couldn't have had much fun doing so as there was only restrooms to hide out in (where she got caught, by the way). Her school punishment is three days suspension! She says she will never ever skip again and I hope she remembers how she felt when she got caught.

Project 365 ~ Day 36 (February 5, 2009)

Working on catching up on my blog: My blog for today is about my friend Christie. She's become a dear friend from church. We haven't known each other for very long but she's one of those people that when you meet them you feel as though they are already a friend. Each month, we meet some place different for coffee. So far, that's been the Coffee Express, Starbuck's, and Dunkin' Donuts. Christie has two children that are each one year younger than each of my two youngest children, and both are boys and girls. Christie is a prayer warrior and is planning an upcoming wedding to Sam. Congrats to Christie and Sam; and Happy Birthday, Christie!

Project 365 ~ Day 35 (February 4, 2009)

Wow! I haven't blogged in over two weeks, so I am going to try to catch up! My mind hasn't been blank all those days (LOL) and I still have plenty of things to blog (aka "talk") about and pictures to take! This is going to be counted as "Day 35" as though I didn't take a 16 day break! I realize that it will automatically post as though this is February 19, but instead please read the date in my title line. I guess what I should talk about today is the fact that I sometimes become overwhelmed with stress and even the ordinary daily events seem to be too much at times. That's the main reason for having missed so many days on my blog. That, plus unexpected family events that definately took a toll. I am going to try to do better and not get so far behind ever again, although that's going to be a tough promise to keep knowing how I am (:: rolling eyes at self ::)!

Project 365 ~ Day 34 (Tuesday, February 3, 2009)

Today I am blogging about my dear friend, Trinidad. He turned a whopping "65" today but you would never know it to look at him! Younger men should be so lucky! He has been a dear and dependable friend since I met him about 4 years ago in a church outing (not long after the kids and I moved to Texas). He is a strong Christian and knows what he's talking about. In other words, he "walks the talk". This is a man that anyone would be lucky to call "friend". Happy Birthday early, Mr. T!!!

Project 365 ~ Day 33 (Monday, February 2, 2009)

I treated my sweet daughter of 15 years to dinner at the following restaurant:
http://www.samuraisteakandsushi.com/hibachi.html
Peyton and I ordered the chicken hibachi and fried rice. It was fun watching the chef prepare the food right in front of our eyes. Peyton had been here once before with her Girl Scout troop for their Christmas dinner just last December. She loved it and was so intrigued by it all. She says that this is where she wants to come for her birthday dinner this year (not until August). When a diner celebrates a birthday at Samurai, they are given a sword and a crown to wear! How fun! I can just imagine the scrapbook pages from those pictures!

Project 365 ~ Day 32 (Sunday, February 1, 2009)

February already? It seems like a week or two ago we just had Christmas! Hunter has decided that one of his favorite foods is baby back ribs. Not long ago, we ate dinner at Chili's and Hunter ordered the kid's meal rib dinner and was in love! LOL Today, we prepared baby back ribs for our Super Bowl dinner. He asked if he could have ribs for his bedtime snack! LOL (Needless to say, he had ice cream for his bedtime snack instead).

Project 365 ~ Day 31 (Saturday, January 31, 2009)

What a busy day today was! Hunter, my 10 yo son, had two basketball games and a baseball meeting! Baseball practice (for Spring season) starts on Monday with the first game being the first weekend in March. Basketball is only one-third of the way through the winter season. We are looking at a couple of very busy months with both basketball and baseball practices and basketball and baseball games!!! Basketball did get a late start this season due to the number of gymnasiums damaged at schools caused by Hurricane Ike in September. Basketball practices started in the outdoors this winter season! I am sure that there are many states that cannot say that! :)

Project 365 ~ Day 30 (Friday, January 30, 2009)

Today was a very bad day for my 15 yo daughter (therefore, for all of us)! She made a poor choice with her classes today and because of the poor choice she made, I have alot of "fighting" to do this week on her behalf. Monday will be another bad day as that is the day that I will have to try to keep my emotions in check as I fight for her! This poor girl has been through so much already. I believe that poor choices have consequences, and I am not arguing that, but I feel as though she is being railroaded and this is far worse than an expected consequence. This changes everything!