Saturday, March 17, 2007

Yes, I'm still alive...

I'm certain that nobody really reads this thing...especially since it has been like a year since I've last posted. If anybody cares, yes, I'm still here. Tons has gone on since my last post. It's been cool just to read some of my old posts and see where I was and where I'm at now. Its been a little sad too...

Happy in many ways...Sad, because now its in black & white, I've lost my footing on my journey. Time to get back on track. Perhaps part of it is me being my worst critic and part of it is post-partum depression (let's blame it on that while I still have the chance to...ha ha)

HAPPY HAPPY
I have another beautiful baby girl
I feel very loved and appreciated and much support.

Two quick and short phrases but huge meaning behind each. Yet I'm still longing and a little down.

Sad :(
Mainly, I've been uneasy with my spiritual journey. Yet another small sentence with heavy meaning.

I have not been myself for quite some time. The core of what I was and what I did was ripped out. I feel weak. There have been so many obstacles placed in my path, but I always found a way above or around it and continued. Why is it when it comes to "matters of the heart" I can be so vulnerable and so weak. I was even given the opportunity to "turn back", but I kept going full speed ahead. In no way do I regret the birth of my beautiful daughter, but I wish it was in a different manner. Its as if the blessing of my dearest main squeeze is much like a curse because of how weak I tend to be. I want acceptance so badly that I will not follow what I truely believe sometimes. As I mentioned before, there is absolutely no reason for me to be weak other than the devil is just playing his games in the tremendous spiritual warfare. It is not asked of me to give up what I believe or my values, but I just did because it is the only way that I knew how to express my affection, admiration, etc. What is really sad is that it was my strength & values that first brought about the attraction.

Part of my sadness is me being harsh on myself, part of it is tremendous stress, part of it is uncertainty of what is to come next. I have been really hard on myself because I knew I was doing things that were not right, yet I always found justification, some way some how. I got tremendous support from my old church and they embraced my situation so much more than I expected, especially for a Southern Baptist church. Their take on it all...we stumble then we get up; my take on it - I'm wearing the scarlet letter and I need to remain in hiding. Yet another reason for my sadness, I miss my old church and my church friends.

Re-born Again
I read somewhere that I should list all my sins throughout my life...(wow, that would fill a book) and just take it to God and ask for forgiveness. Guess that's what I'll have to do. I think I now understand what it is to be "re-born again". I need to just start where I did a few years ago and just go back to square one of being saved. Perhaps this chapter in my life is to touch somebody or bodies just as many people have touched my life and helped me in my journey.

Reading my old blog posts made me a little sad becuase I remember how sweet the air was and how bright the sunrise was for me. Despite all the adversity I found hope and joy because I knew that every breath I took and every trial was a blessing. Now I don't think like that so much. Relying to much on man and not my heavenly father.

Try try again...
My upcomming goals...
Go to church - with the "right" heart - not just for the legalistic aspect
Lose the baby weight before June or July
Focus on the family more - Enjoy them, not just endure them
Focus on work more - give 110% while I'm there
Fight fight fight for my little Mark and Mila
Embrace my new city, its not so bad here after all

Well, once again rambling...

Monday, September 05, 2005

Clinton: Government 'failed' people


Monday, September 5, 2005; Posted: 9:49 p.m. EDT (01:49 GMT)

Former President Bill Clinton spoke to CNN on Monday.

Former President Clinton cites initial failure (2:32)

Former presidents create Katrina fund (6:53)

RELATED
Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund

HOUSTON, Texas (CNN) -- Former President Bill Clinton on Monday said the government "failed" the thousands of people who lived in coastal communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina, and said a federal investigation was warranted in due time.
"Our government failed those people in the beginning, and I take it now there is no dispute about it," Clinton told CNN. "One hundred percent of the people recognize that -- that it was a failure." (See interview -- 2:32 )

He and former President George H. W. Bush have launched the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund to help raise money for those left homeless by the storm. (Full story)

Clinton is just the latest in a long line of critics who have blasted the federal government for not moving fast enough to help people in the immediate aftermath of Katrina, which slammed into the Gulf Coast one week ago as a Category 4 hurricane.

He said that the utmost priority was saving people now -- and evaluating the mistakes in the months to come.

"We've got the departments on the ground, we've got the military on the ground, we've got a chance to do it right now, and we should do it right," he said. "And then in an appropriate time we should analyze what went wrong and why and what changes should be made."

As with the 9/11 commission charged with looking at the events leading up to and after the September 11, 2001 attacks, Clinton suggested a bipartisan Katrina commission be formed. It would investigate what went wrong and determine "what is the best structure and what are the best personnel decisions" to make in emergency management, he said.

The elder Bush echoed Clinton's sentiment, telling CNN's Larry King that he is "not satisfied" with the handling of the hurricane's aftermath.

Nonetheless, he defended his son's performance.

"What can he do? He can just go out and do what he's doing today, showing that the federal government's involved, has been involved, will continue to be involved ... He cannot listen to every critic from the editorial page of The New York Times," the elder Bush said.

Analogy

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists." "Why do you say that?" asked the customer. "Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would! be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things." The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist." "How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!" "No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside." "Ah, but barbers DO exist! " answered the barber. "What happen! s, is, people do not come to me." "Exactly!"- affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

Try Try Again...

So that seems to be a recurrent theme in my life....many ways and many times, God has been telling me try harder and try again. Finally, he bluntly put the message forth to me in exactly those words. Just when we think we are doing all that we can or that we are putting forth the best effort, I am reminded...no I'm not!

Trey went to the hospital again for dehydration. I've lost count how many times Trey and I have sat in the emergency room of Cypress-Fairbanks hospital for this issue, just to be patched up and sent back home. This time, the poor baby had a cathater....ouch.... I see this as God's message...try harder to be a better, more persistent mom. Thank goodness for this message. I rolled into the dr's office 1/2 asleep, just getting about 3 hours of sleep. I couldn't even tell you what I told the Dr. that day other than I was at the hospital w/Trey last night. I walked out with more hope this visit. He made a referral for another Neurology visit, a possible psychiatric visit and a session w/a dietician. Finally, somebody is going to listen to me about Trey.

I got hit over the head with trying harder as an individual with my life...my sis had a harsh talk with me about how sloppy my entire life is. Thank goodness...I've got a job with State Farm now. I really need to preserve it considering there are 1/4 million people living in the Astrodome who could take a test just like I did and take my job.

I really need to evaluate where I'm at. As a Christian, I've been told that I'm not doing enough. This is one area, that I know i am working on and I don't know what people expect because I'm just a baby in this area. You have to scoot before you crawl, crawl before you walk, walk before you run. i'm barely sitting up enough to scoot. I may not be able to be quote scripture or explicate books in the bible, but I know that my heart is in it and that I know where I want to go. It was once posted that I should just let myself be guided by teh Lord, and I will never be left floundering. Those words have resonated in my mind. I don't feel bad that I can't go out into the community and witness to others, but what better witness than my life, my own trials.

I've been told that if I would just listen to others that my life would be so much simpler...but I can say, I'm in shoes that not many people walk. People always say they "know" or they "understand" but they really don't. Who do you trust, who do you listen to? Ok, yeah, the obvious...listen to God...but when do you know that God is speaking to you?

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE

a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
one friend who always makes her laugh...and one who lets her cry...
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal that will makeher guests feel honored..
a feeling of control overher destiny...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...how to fall in love without losing herself...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...HOW TO QUIT A JOB,BREAK UP WITH A LOVER,AND CONFRONT A FRIEND WITHOUT RUINING THE FRIENDSHIP...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...that her childhood may not have been perfect...but its over...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...whom she can trust,whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...where to go...be it to her best friend's kitchen table... or a charming inn in thewoods...when her soul needs soothing...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...what she can and can't accomplish in a day...a month...and a year...

Thursday, August 25, 2005

...hmm...

Random Thoughts....free verse so it won't make any sense, just me talking and getting all off my chest.

So work is good. Gotta love it...get pd for over 8 hours and work under 8 hours, work is easy...gotta love it. Work is bad, I'm kind of bored, kind of scared. Divorce does a number on you & your credit. But a good opportunity to grow so we gotta focus on the light. Yeah, Divorce does a number on you, on your soul, on your credit, on your heart, on your spirit. Just when I think I'm up and going, I'm crushed back down. WHy, its all back to the divorce. Took Joshie to the soccer field and saw all the moms lounging in their soccer mom lawn chairs. I arrive, rushing and hair all crazy falling out of a bun, sweating in my hosery and heels from work. Spence would love to be out here too, but I can't do it by myself. There's a dad at the soccer field playing with his little boys. The boys listen to dad when its time to go, they're balanced and happy. My kids don't listen to me or let me sleep. ONce again, divorce crushing my spirit. I'm happy, god works his will in our lives and it is the best plan, even if we don't understand-it is perfect. I'm happy to be single again, just sucks to be so lonely. Sucks not to trust people. People really suck. I want to trust and feel at ease but I know I can't. This is god's plan for me. One day I'll understand. I wnat to smile again and really be happy. If the dad doesn't even want to participate in the little ones' lives then who else will even care. I care but I'm tired. I'm exhausted its too much for me. That saying being alone amongst people is so true. Nobody cares and life goes on. Life goes on.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Insomnia Wins Again!

Its 4:02 am in Houston, TX....Insomnia wins again. I can't sleep, Trey has to be on the school bus in about 3 1/2 hours and I have to go to work later in the day. I'm a little anxious for the boys starting school tomorrow. I didn't have enough $$ to finish their back to school shopping. Once again, I will be reminded of how poor of a job I am doing by raising the kids on my own, juggling a career and home life all by myself.

I will now try sleeping...

Thursday, August 04, 2005

Just what I needed to hear...

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably coiffed and shaved perfectly applied, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window. "I love it," he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

"Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait." "That doesn't have anything to do with it," he replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already have decided to love it. "It's a decision I make every morning when I wakeup. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty Ihave with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and bethankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I'll focus on the newday and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life.

Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in. So, my advice to you would be, to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories. Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

Pass this message to 7 people, EXCEPT ME. You will receive a miracletomorrow.Now, STOP! Did you hear what I just said. You WILL receive a miracletomorrow. So send it right now!

Just as I finished editing this post my 3 yr old son came running up to me with a huge smile and my bible. He plopped it on my lap and ran away laughing. Ok, I get it....

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Food for Thought...

Love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction.--Antoine de St. Exupery

Masochist

Ok, I probably spelled it all wrong, but whatever. So, I like to inflict pain to myself I've realized. I am posting to my blog when quite obviously I should be on the internet looking for a job. Hello, Mere, priorities. I checked out some blogs today that I tend to frequent (belladonna...where are you?) and posted happy thoughts I'm radiating right now. Then, the masochist in me decided to check out dear you know who's blog. I don't know why I do that...he hadn't posted since February when he dropped the bomb..."oh yeah, by the way, I have MD" but I just check every so often to see how he's doing...why, he never posts, but I do it anyhow. He posted late last month, nothing major, just a short blurb. Makes me sad. But I did pray that if he wasn't meant to be then he shouldn't be in my life. Sure enough, prayer answered! Don't know why I miss him, probably because it was somebody to go out with occassionally that didn't care about my situation(s).

once, again, focus...priorities....Robert doesn't matter any more. I don't matter to him so why should I care. I don't understand the ways of the world and this whole Christianity thing. I'm supposed to care, but in this case I'm not supposed to because it will harm me (according to family and those who appear concerned about me). I care too much but trying not to. Oh well.

I hate that almost 2 months later I'm still pining over that man! The whole relationship lasted a total of 11 months, is it going to take me that long to get over it?

Just like my pen pal from High School. I was over it, moved along, and then when the chapter is closed there is continuation. closed again, somebody wants to re-open, in one way or another. Why does that dude keep popping up in my life again and again and again. There is nothing at all that we can gain from one another, but he is still popping up, be it a month later, a year later, even like 5 years later. Why?

I have a job interview today. We shall see what comes of this! Wish me luck.

Monday, July 18, 2005

Yeah me!

Ok I lost my job...YEAH!

I have no students in class...YEAH!

I have little income....Yeah!

I have a workshop comming up...YEAH YEAH!!

why YEAH to all this....job, I hated it, time to pass the crown on to some other deserving schmuck. I miss my dearest Marci but besides that...pooh on everything else.

No students in class, now I just need to focus on practice, practice, practice...I'll be the BEST teacher when people start comming back to class after summer vacation

I have little income...I'll enjoy that lemonade that much more.

I have a workshop comming up....YEAH YEAH!! This will ROCK. I am so happy, gettin my name out there and dancin etc....whoa...ok, writing can't compare to the singing & dancing I'm doing right now.

Organizing CAN has been fun! For once people have to ask my approval and I'm getting some respect. I can look back and say, "Baby Trey, you were my inspiration and look at what I did!"

Point in case ~God gives us what we need, not what we want~