Feeling a Little Sentimental...

Last night I went to Target for the first time in I don't know how long. I honestly don't remember the last time I was at Target. These are some strange words coming from such a Target loving girl!

I used to go to Target just about every Monday when my kids were in school. I'd drop them off and eventually make my way to Target, browsing each and every aisle with my Pepsi and popcorn in hand, enjoying every minute! I'd often buy some little treat and have it on their bed for them when they got home from school.

Those days have come and gone...
I miss them...

Browsing the aisles last night brought back a flood of memories as I strolled past the back-to-school items. Precious memories of my back-to-school shopping days as a student myself and of the days not so long ago of shopping with my own two kids. Missing those days but having wonderful memories that made my heart smile.

Last night before I went to Target I stopped at our friend Lynn's restaurant for a minute and was greeted in the parking lot by her twin daughters and their friend Brandon. All 3 of these great kids went off to college a few weeks ago but were home for a quick visit. I told Brandon how much I missed all of them and this sweet boy said "I miss you more!" O.M.G!

On Facebook this morning I noticed photo after photo of today's first day of school pictures that were taken just this morning. They made my heart smile too. It brought me back to the days of my kids posing on the front porch each new year for their first day of school pictures also.

Obviously, I'm feeling sentimental and on the verge of tears and seeing the college kids last night didn't help things either! As they drove away, their mom and I just looked at each other with misty eyes. I know just how she feels.

These past few years I've been in a new chapter of life, the empty nest chapter. The empty nest chapter isn't all bad and it does have it's perks, but moms, enjoy all of these back-to-school days and milestones.

Life happens and our kids grow up in the blink of an eye!

Photo Resolution 2010 and Wordless Wednesday

16/52:

My two loves!

This post is linked to:
Wordless Wednesday at Embrace the Chaos

It's Friday

And I'm nosy...

So here's the question(s):

* Will you be making Easter baskets for your kids this year?

* Do you actually use baskets or do you use something else to put the goodies in?

* If your kids are older like mine, do you still make them Easter baskets?

* How old is too old for getting an Easter basket?

I say you're never too old to get an Easter basket! My kids are 21 and 24 and I still try and make the holidays special for them...and for the AZ college roommates too!

This week I sent off 3 Easter baskets wrapped in cellophane to Courtney and her roommates in Arizona, along with some other treats tucked into the shipping box.

My son isn't big on sweets anymore so I did something different for him this year. I purchased and sent him a new Bible, engraved with his full name on the cover. I'm sure he still only has the Bible from his high school years, if at all. I wrote a personal message inside just for him. I hope he likes it and keeps it for years to come. More than anything else though, I hope he uses it and finds comfort in it.

I'll be making some treats to bring into work on Saturday too. A co-worker of mine who is about 25 years old told me a few years back that she loved it when I brought in holiday treats because it made her feel special and like a kid again.

So here's another question: Don't we all just want to feel special and like a kid again! I say YES!


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I'm checking out something new today...

Happy Sunday And A Surprise!

Happy Sunday everyone! Only 5 more shopping days left until Christmas! Are you guys ready!?! I got lucky this year in that both kids were home so we were able to go out with them and get lots of things picked out. It's not easy buying gifts when your kids don't live close by anymore. You never know what they want or need. Plus, this year with me being on crutches, I just needed it to be hassle free.

For the 3rd time in the last 2 weeks, we're headed down south to Orange County today (3 hours away) to attend a Christmas party. These are camping club friends and it should be alot of fun. We go camping with the same group of friends once a month but we haven't been able to go for the past 3 months. It will be so nice to see everyone today. I'm really looking forward to it...with the exception of the drive to and fro.

I can hardly believe it but I just noticed that this is my 400th post! Incredible! I was so hesitant and scared when I first started blogging and thought I'd never have a thing to say but here I am 400 posts later. It's been a blast, thank you!

I think we need to celebrate with a 400th post GIVEAWAY don't you! I don't have a clue what the gift(s) will be but just leave me a comment and you'll be entered. Nice and easy, that's my motto! Little Sis (Courtney) is home from college so I'll have her draw a name(s) on Wednesday. Sounds like a plan!

Well I guess I'd better go get my party clothes on. It's time to head on out for some Christmas fun!

Well, I Had My Cry...

And I do feel a little better, thank you. I was doing ok until I started reading the beautiful, heart-felt comments you all have left me and well, that did it. The tears started rolling! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment to encourage and lift me up. I appreciate every single one and I certainly appreciate every single one of you. Blogging friendships are real and I treasure this part of my life. I think about my blogging friends constantly and when you hurt, I hurt, and I know you feel the same. That's just one thing that makes blogging and bloggers so unique and special.

I had my ortho appointment yesterday and all went well. I was thrilled when the doctor said I'd do fine without a cast and that I could use the big black boot instead. At least I'm able to shower and not have to hang my leg over the tub like I did yesterday. So much easier!

Brandon is still in the hospital and looks like he may be there for a few more days. They are giving him pain meds for his stomach and back pain but all of his tests have come back negative, thank goodness! They thought he may have ulcers but I think they've ruled that out. It wouldn't surprise me. Brandon keeps all of his worries and stresses inside, just like I did when I was younger. I probably still do to an extent but the difference is that I've learned to give my worries to God. That's exactly what God wants us to do but it's not easily done, especially when you're young and want to be in control. Brandon is very quiet and sensitive and it's like pulling teeth to get information from him. He gets anxious and stresses easily but keeps it bottled up inside. Poor thing needs to realize that it's futile and just not necessary. As much as I tell him to give things to God, to let God carry his burdens, he obviously still carries the load on his shoulders. It's not easy being young but Brandon makes it harder. It breaks my heart.

It's funny how kids from the same family are so different. My daughter is very open and discusses so much with us, often calling and asking for advice or for us to pray about something for her. Brandon on the other hand, completely opposite. I don't know why he feels like he has to go it alone. Again, it breaks my heart and it's something that can reduce me to tears in nothing flat. It sure didn't make me feel any better that I couldn't go be with him in the hospital yesterday but hopefully he'll come home to recuperate for a few days. No matter how old you are or how in control you think you are, you need your mother at certain times (even if she is on crutches!)

I didn't mean to spill my heart out like this, I'm sorry, but our kids can make our feelings so raw sometimes. Thank you for listening and especially thank you for your prayers. They are very much felt and appreciated!

Felling A Tad Bit Emotional...

After being bed bound for 4 days, I'm actually on the mend. I go back to work tomorrow after being on vacation for 2 weeks and although I'm sort of anxious to get back into a routine, work will be different for me from now on. My very close friend and co-worker Cindy moved to Oregon the day after Christmas. Our last day working together was Christmas Eve. I knew it was going to be hard to say goodbye but it was much harder than I had anticipated. It felt like a sister was moving away.

Here is a picture of Cindy, another close friend Kathy, and myself at work on Christmas Eve.


Kathy (the tall one) has been my partner for the last couple of years and now she has decided to make a career change as well. She will continue to still work in the field of nursing but is choosing now to do dialysis in the hospital setting and not at our dialysis unit. I can't even explain how much I'm going to miss these 2 ladies at work. They were on the job years before I arrived and over the past 6 years they've both nurtured me, supported me, and became my best friends. I love and admire them both tremendously. Break time will never be the same.

Speaking of missing people, my beautiful daughter headed back to Arizona today. We didn't do much during her Christmas break but it was enjoyable just the same. Courtney is so easy to please and such a joy to be around. I already miss her presence in the house. The hard part of having a child go to school in another state is that each time they come home or if you go visit them, it breaks your heart to say goodbye. Maybe it's not like that for everyone but for me, this has been one tearful day.

I'm so sorry if this post is a downer...it truly wasn't meant to be. The weather is dreary, I've been sick, and I'm really missing family and friends, especially my kids. When your kids get older, you grieve for the past and although you look forward to the future, you realize your children are grown and have lives of their own. This can be a hard pill to swallow and really takes some adjusting to. On the one hand you're proud that you've raised independent young adults yet you miss them and their younger days something terrible. But life is a progression isn't it?!

There have been tears today but I have a good feeling about this new year...the year 2009. Like many of you, I'm embracing it, I'm welcoming it, and I'm committing to do my part to make it a wonderful year.


Courtney, think smart, be safe, and have a great semester at school! I love and miss you! (Boy do I look washed out in this picture. I need to 1) start taking my vitamins; 2) learn how to apply make-up!)