Well, 2006 & come & gone & we're at the beginning of another year. This is a good time to sit back & reflect on your accomplishments, your not-so-good trials & tribulations, & think of how you can better yourself & your life. Here are a few ideas where you can start:

If you have a bad day at work, be thankful. Appreciate that you HAVE a job. Some people don't.

When you pay your bills, be thankful. You CAN pay them.

If you see a gray hair, be thankful. Think of the cancer patients in chemotherapy who only wishes for any hair.

When you find yourself waiting in line or the recipient of poor service, be thankful. Think about the people who have no food at all.

When you realize how much work it is to take care of a house, be thankful you have a house. Think about those who only wish they had a house to take care of.

When you feel like complaining because you have to walk a long distance from your car, be thankful. Think of what it would be like to not be able to walk!

If you get irritated by other people's anger, apathy, ignorance, bitterness, or insecurities, be thankful. Things could be worse. You could be one of them!

When you think everything in your world is terrible, and you want to give up, think of the people who have been told they only have a certain amount of time to live. They don't want to give up.

Be thankful for what you DO have.... Don't dwell on what you perceive to NOT have. You'd be surprised at how many people out there would love to TRADE PLACES WITH YOU!! Be thankful.

Ease the pounding of my heart by
the quieting of my mind.

Steady my hurried pace with a vision
of the eternal reach of time.

Give me, amid the confusion of the day,
the calmness of the everlasting hills.

Break the tensions of my nerves
and muscles with the soothing music
of the singing streams that live in my
memory. Help me to know the magical,
restoring power of sleep.

Teach me the art of taking minute
vacations - slowing down to look at a
flower, to chat with a friend, to pat a dog,
to read a few lines from a good book.

Slow me down, Lord, and inspire me to
send my roots deep into the soil of life's
enduring values that I may grown toward
the stars of my greater destiny.

AMEN!

This is one of my favorite prayers. I hope you take it to heart & can learn something from the message within.

Secret

39) Which blogger is the best mommy ?

Winners: Ash's Mom, Kelly & Prisoner of Hope

Honorable Mentions: NuttyMomof6, Whispered Promises, Secret, Autismmom, PJ & Blumoon

Wow! I didn't think I'd get a vote for anything, much less get an honorable mention! Thank you too anyone (?) who voted for me!

Congrats to all of the winners!!

Happy New Year Comment Graphics


Happy New Year Comment Graphics

Well, my son turned 15 on Dec 1st. He is right now on his way to take the test to get his permit. His step-mom is taking him as he is at his dad's house....

I really hate to say it, but I'm not thrilled in the least. He's VERY immature for his age & I'm for him to be behind the wheel of a car at this time.

Randy & I had planned on going to Atlanta to "Heliotrope" (Tommy & Marc's store) this morning & coming back this afternoon. I've been wanting to see this new store since I saw the pics on their blogs. Last night, B informed me that I HAVE to be home because dad & step-mom will be bringing he & Tay home around lunch. She is at basketball practice until 10 & he's taking his test.

Um...We'll be home this afternoon. You both stay home after school for an hour or so with no problem. Why is it a problem today? Because I'm doing something I want?? I could hear dad & step-mom in the background making comments to them like "just tell her that you two will just stay over here until next Tuesday night to get ready for school... Um...they're supposed to be with ME since Christmas afternoon, but he came back & got them Tues afternoon! Why the threats?? To keep me from doing anything? They do stuff all the time without the kids. They're left home when they do things, but not me.

My question to him was, you're old enough to get behind the wheel of a car but not to stay home with your sis for an hour or two???

I know it's a ploy of control on their dad's side, & they're being "fed" from them, but

So, we didn't go. They'll be back with him/them next weekend as it's his weekend, so I guess we'll go next Saturday.

Ok...vent is over!