Don't Sweat The Small Stuff

#3 in the book "101 Journal Questions for Women" by Tony Robinson
What is the greatest lesson you have ever learnt?

Something my mother has been saying to me as long as I can remember "Don't sweat the small stuff" and in the phrase made famous by the movie Frozen...LET IT GO.

I know this was something that I wasn't very good at for much of my life prior to around age 35 maybe...so it gets easier with getting some maturity under your belt..or it did for me.  
My ex would tell me "It will all shake out" and 9 times out of 10 whatever I was working myself up about would "shake out" and be nothing after all.

The serenity prayer comes into play here too...it's all about learning to accept what you can and can not change.

Question # 1
Question # 2

Achievements

a·chieve·ment

noun

1. 1.

   a thing done successfully, typically by effort, courage, or skill.

   "to reach this stage is a great achievement"

   
   
2. 2.

   the process or fact of achieving something.

   "the achievement of professional recognition"

Todays prompt in the "101 journal questions for women" book is to list your top 10 achievements. 

This one is very hard for me. For each thing I came up with, a negative thought followed with "but I didn't follow through, or it wasn't because of any great effort on my part" type of thing.  I feel like I have not had to work too terribly hard at things that I have really wanted , I have put them out in the universe and they've happened for me and I have an amazing family that has helped me and given me tons of things/support/love/opportunities to make things happen over the years. 

1. Fostered dozens of children for two years after becoming a foster parent. By far some of the  most difficult and rewarding days for me. 

2. Traveled to Europe while in high school as a High School Student Ambassador with the People to People program. 

3. Coming out as a gay women at age 39 and changing up my entire world as I knew it. 

4. Spending a year being there for my dad as he was dying of cancer. Skyping everyday, making multiple visits to stay with him during his treatments and being there to send him off. Not sure it's what you'd think of as an achievement but it fits in courage and effort and something I'm proud of doing and would do again.   

5. Purchasing a brand new  car all by myself.

6. Growing up.Not just getting older but growing up mentally and emotionally. With the wonderful world of Facebook I see that not all of my school friends have mastered this and seem to be stuck back in high school. Life is so much better when you open your mind, let go of negativity  and stop allowing drama into your space. 

7. Getting the lap band surgery. I had the surgery almost 3 years ago. I am not where I want to be yet as far as weight but I know that I never would have gotten there without it. My health issues were just getting worse and after having both hips replaced my mobility was not at a state to just add exercise and expect to get where I needed to be. 

8. Starting this blog. It's been 5 years now. I don't keep up with it everyday but as much as I love journals, diary's, calendars it's fantastic to look back and see where I was and what I was doing back then. 

August 3 2010   It's amazing when I looked back to that Aug. 3 2010 blog and it was so similar to these 10 achievements..WOW! 

9. On the courage part..I went parasailing. I am afraid of heights and will never go again..but I went. 

10.  An achievement that I'm still working on..is trying  new foods and expanding my pallet. As a child I  was a very picky eater and even into adulthood had very limited "likes" in food. Vegetables were out of the question and now I will eat most or at least try them.  

101 Journal Questions for Women #1

While looking around on facebook the other day I saw a post on a friends timeline for a book that sounded like something that would be very helpful for my blog ideas. 101 Journal Questions For Women. Plus bonus, it was on sale at Amazon for only $5.53 ! 

Well today it arrived! Before I even got dressed or put on make up I found it in my mailbox and jumped right online to post in my blog. See, the book is already working on making me motivated to blog more lol 

#1 Question was "What Makes You Happy?

I think overall I am a happy person naturally. Here is my list just thinking about it for half a second; Sunny days , full moons, bright star lit nights, the way my dogs greet me when I get home no matter if I'm gone for two weeks or two hours, the smell of fresh cut grass, the feeling of clean sheets, unexpected texts from Vic saying "my heart is full of love for you" , hearing my mom laugh, getting mail, times spent with friends or family, milk duds, having a clean house, a full tank of gas that I didn't have to pump, hugs, messages from beyond, fire flys, pink anything, youtube, facebook, lifelong friendships, good hair days, random acts of kindness, puppy breath, baby toes, glitter, trees,music...there just isn't enough space for what makes me happy. Life makes me happy! 

August 2013

August 2013



August past...

1977 my first eye doctor appointment that I remember..had to get glasses. Dr. Mueller in Moberly

1995 My car wreck (thunderbird) got a new Mitsubishi Eclipse

1996 said goodbye to Tuggles

2000 Got a new Daewoo (no one had heard of them but it served me well, loved that little green car)

2011 Victor and his friend Hillary came to visit us for the first time. We went parasailing

2010 Weight 218


2011 Weight 226

2011 Went to TN with Vic to see Dad and Cyndi

2012 My dad and Cyndi visited Fl for the last time, he would pass six months later
(as much as I hate this picture of myself it's a great "before" picture for my weight loss journey)

2013   Weight 199

Top 10 Songs - Week Of June 1, 2013

MAY 2013

"The world's favorite season is the spring. 

All things seem possible in May."

-  Edwin Way Teale

My ever precious D.J.

Dexter with his little tongue sticking out 

Can't forget Honey BooBoos mama June getting married

Cute Find at Target

We discovered a new place Tomatillos 

Love

My girl Dakota

Vic at a doctor visit after the knee surgery..such a face! lol

beautiful May flowers

Color Fail..did not like

Happiness is a pink bike..saw outside of Walgreens

Me and my baby DJ 

This month's Ipsy Bag 

Vic getting the staples out

Before and After Vics new knee

My Love

Staples coming out

More "May" events in my life:

1968: I was 7 months old.Started walking according to my baby book

1986: Graduated from High School

1995: Moved into an apartment  by myself in Sarasota (Beneva Garden Apartments)

1996: saw the movie Twister 

1998: went into business with my mom and Frank , J's Home Furnishings. A new and used furniture store..LOVED that job and experience. 

1999: went out drinking with my friends Twyla and Chris. Something that doesn't happen very often obviously for me to have it written down lol

2001: weighed in at 159 (oh to be there again!..soon I hope)

2009: Volunteered at Sarasota Pride 

         Had my second hip replacement.

         Dad, Darrell, and Vic put up the fence in our yard so the dogs would stay put while I was                    recovering from surgery.

2011: Deb and Lori visited from Oregon.

         Saw the movie Bridesmaids for the first time (have since seen it several more times, one of my favorite movies now!)

Let's bring on June now!! May has been a time of recovery for Vic  with many trips to the doctor and Physical Therapist. We've watched a ton of TV with so many of the shows ending for summer we've  had to find new ones. Tyler Perrys shows on OWN (The Haves and the Have Nots) and a comedy that I can't think of the name have been good. Of course there are always the housewives of Atlanta, OC, Beverly Hills, Etc.  I hope to get some beach time in soon and maybe a bike ride or two..What does your summer hold?

March Then and Now

1995
My Nephew Brandon was born
Dad and Cyndi got married in Las Vegas


2000
Got PonyBoy (my cat)

2001
Went and saw hanibal with a group of friends

2009
Planted Roses in the back yard
Britt got sick and was in the hospital


2010
Saw RENT at Venice Little Theatre
Got Dexter Fixed


2011
Earthquake struck Japan
Did a photo shoot at Asolo for Sarasota Magazine
Signed lease for our new office


2012
Dad started Chemo, Went and spent two weeks with him
Victor moved to Florida and started working with Vic and I

February Then and Now

1995
Started selling Mary Kay




1996

Married Mark

Got Roller Blades

Started working at the Last Straw Furniture Store

went boating with Sue and Corey

Got a new cat (A.C. short for Action Cat)

2000

Went to a Party in Lutz,FL with Lisa

Flew to St Simons Island to see Stephen

2001

Dale Earnhardt killed in a car crash during Daytona 500

2002

New England Patriots beat the St Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI

2003
Lost Jabez


2004
Scout was born


2005
Scout went thru obedience training


2006
Steelers beat the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL


2007
Colts beat the Bears in Super Bowl XLI
Anna Nicole Smith Dies


2008
NY Giants defeat New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII

2009

Vic moved to Florida

Watched Patti B with Vic, Marcia, Jackie, DeeDee at Woodys in Ellenton

Saw halcyon play at Big Z's in Venice

Saw the Reader at the movies with Vic and Mom

Saw Australia at the cheap theater in North Sarasota during the day

2011 

Ate at Red Lobster with Deb and Linda

Got a new Ford Escape!

Saw Black Swan at the movies with Vic

2012

Giants vs Patriots in the Super Bowl (Giants Won)

Scout turns 8

Vic has been here 3 years now

Saw "CATS" with Vic,Mom and Greg
Whiney Houston Died
Best February yet at work!
new listing in Siesta Harbor
Found out dad has lung cancer

December 11-18

This week was a  pretty full week for me. Since it is the week before Christmas it is surprising how little holiday activities played a role in my time.

This week I ...

• Went to the doctor and got back on my meds for my asthma.
• Had my hair done..love it! Thanks Heidi..Venice Day Spa is the BEST!
• Ate at Peach's and had the yummiest four cheese quiche..twice!
• Had Friday Night Date night with Vic and went to Ivy's Steakhouse and then out looking at Christmas lights around town.
• Got my first order for my new business venture..www.suncoastgrocerygirls.webs.com!
• Talked to my BFF Steph and realized how much I miss her!
• Felt like I lost my bubbawoo.
• Filled up my jeep, gas is now $2.94 a gallon...yikes!
• Celebrated as DADT (Don't Ask Don't Tell) was repealed today.
• Caught up on All My Children from last week and this week.
• Found some new great blogs to follow after this weekends Lady Blogger Society Tea Party.
• Actually made a youtube video after slacking for so many months.