Some Random Thoughts To End the Year

It's hard to believe 2008 is only days away. I find myself feeling a bit melancholy. I think this is normal. This has been a challenging year and one filled with a myriad of emotions and experiences. I feel good about where I am, and yet I know I could have been so much further along. I only have my behavior and attitude to blame. That is actually good news. That means I can change my behavior and attitude to do better next year. With that thought in mind, I wanted to share this poem with you.


If you think you're beaten you are,
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you like to win, but think you can't,
It is almost certain you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you're lost.
For out of the world we find,
Success begins with a fellow's will
It's all in the state of mind.

If you think you're outclassed, you are,
You've got to think high to rise.
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win that prize.

Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man,
But sooner or late the man who wins
Is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN !

(Rudyard Kipling)

I figured it out -- I need a wife

I know that sounds strange, but after the last few weeks I realized was just what I needed. We just got through the our Christmas play at Church. The kids were amazing and were filled with the meaning of Christmas. We have been rehearsing since August, and I have to admit there have been times when I wanted to quit. It took a lot of prayer and determination to help the boys stick with it (and there were times they did not want to.) It also meant giving up every Sunday afternoon for play practice. That is a big thing for me. My Sundays are precious. I tend to unwind and get ready for my week. It meant hustling to coordinate work, home and kids. The last week was the worst. We had the play practice practically every night and the nights I did not have play practice, I had meetings. Needless to say the house was a bit of a wreck and our schedules were shot. Now add to that the Grandparents where coming in from out of town to see their darling in their first play. Did I mention the house was wreck? That is when it came to me, I needed a wife.

Even after all three performances, one Saturday and two Sunday, I found myself wishing I had a wife planning dinner or at least making lunch for the boys and I. Oh well, I will just have to clone myself.

Juggling is not just for the Circus

Today I was preparing dinner, giving my son a pre-test for spelling, loading a dryer, setting the table and checking email. That was done all within two minutes of each other. I suddenly realized I had become a master juggler. Now honestly I think I am more suited for the clown antics, but in the meantime I might as well hone these skills. You never know when you are going to need them.

When I finally sat down to dinner, I found myself relaxed and ready to enjoy my few minutes with my family. In our house family dinners are sacred times. We try to eat together as often as possible. Right now that is about five nights a week. I think that is pretty good. They are always home cooked meals. When I realized that I was relaxed, I knew that I was in my groove. During the juggling time I don't know that I was feeling much of anything but the pure adrenaline of getting things done. But when I was spending time with my family, I was able to be present and enjoy.

I guess mastering the art of juggling is all right and it's even okay if I drop a ball or two. As long as I take time to enjoy the quite times.

Did you say November?

I had a seminar today that I was putting on. I went to pick up the food for the meeting and the nice lady at Subways said: "It's November 1." I looked up at her in complete confusion. How could it be November already? The boys just started back at school, right?

The older I get the faster time flies. I really try to enjoy my moments with the boys. It really did seem it was only yesterday when I was nursing them, and now there shoes are the same size as mine. When did that happen?

Take time to enjoy because in a flash it will be all a faded memory.

To Trick or To Treat or To Not . . .

We chose not. We happen to be in the minority of those families that chose not to honor this day. So instead of being out trick or treating we took the boys out to dinner. It has been a nice family tradition. It is a bit hard for the boys but they understand and have grown to appreciate it. What is nice is that all the restaurants are slow this night. We tend to eat at restaurants we would not normally eat at because of long waits. They are quiet, and we have a great family night out. I have to say, I like creating our own family traditions. What are yours?

If it's to be, It's up to You!

This was my prayer tonight.

There are days when I just want to hit the button on my recorder to play the words I say over and over again to my boys. I have read lots of books on parenting, even Bring Up Boys, by James Dobson. They all say this is normal. They did not say it would be easy.

Oh, for the Grace to stay calm and the ability to show Mercy. There are days when I just want to give myself a time out. Thank you Lord for these quite moments of reflection.

Working Mother

The phrase "working mother" is redundant. ~Jane Sellman

Why can't they just get along??????

Argh!! I love my boys with all my heart and soul. Yet, there are moments when I feel frustrated. Yes, even angry. Now it is not all the time, but there are times when it seems their whole purpose in life is just to annoy each other. I have seen glimpses of hope where they almost act like friends. But I have to say those are more rare.

I guess it is back to the books. I must be doing something wrong. This sibling thing is a bit of quandary to me. Being the way I am, I know there has to be an answer out there and I am determined to find it. If someone out there has already conquered this one, please let me know. And if by some off chance I figure it out, I will pass on the information.

Whew, it was a great day!!

As you know, I was a bit concerned about Parent Teacher Conferences. As always any fears and concern where unfounded. Both my boys are doing great. They are having mostly good days. A few issues, but all are manageable and expected for boys their age. One thing I learned is what a difference it makes when your kids go to a great school with great teachers. Both teachers see my boys for the whole person. They do not focus on the negative. They work on channeling energy to help them be the most they can be. I truly feel blessed to be a parent of great boys going to a great school.

Wish me luck!!!

Tomorrow are the Parent Teacher Conferences. Now I am not saying I am dreading them, because I know my boys are great. However, I will admit I have some trepidation. After all, they are not perfect. It is hard to stay objective when you hearing about those areas where they can improve. All in all, it has been a banner year. My biggest concern so far has not materialized. So I think we are going to have a good year. I will let you know tomorrow.

Remember when you go to these lovely events make sure you are prepared as well. Ask questions, make observations and be proactive. Find out what you can do to help at home to work with the teacher as a team. So far that has been working for us.

Ouch!!!

It started out as a great day. I had a great client appointment. I was able to make a great connection at a networking meeting. I even had time to work in my home office before I picked up my boys. It was while I was on my way to pick up my boys from school that I things seemed to take a dramatic turn. It happened in seconds. One minute I was on course to the school. The car knew where to go, it travels that road four times a day. The next minute I was pulled over to the side of the road. It all happened so quickly. I am still not sure how or why the red Caravan that was in the lane to my left decided to turn right. After all I was there. Didn't he see me? Apparently not. As the accident was happening I remember thinking "Oh my, is he doing what I think he's doing?" And sure enough he was.

The dilemma, my boys! I am going to be late. Argh! So I called the school and asked for them to be taken over to the after school program. The awesome receptionist assured me my boys would be well taken care of and she would not let them know what happened. After all the paperwork was exchanged, the nice police officer informed the young man that he unfortunately would be found at fault for the accident. It was clear this was not good news for my new friend. It was good news for my insurance agent. It really was just an accident. One of the crazy moments you wish you could do over, but just differently.

I guess what really struck me out of this whole event was the reaction of my sister. She is so great. She was immediately concerned, just like a good sister. After I told her she called back a bit later and said, "Do you want me to take a bus to you so I can help with the boys?" I assured her I would be fine. A bit sore, but still functional. It was in that moment that I realized that this accident might have had a stronger impact on her. I tend to bounce back quickly. On the other hand, my sister has trouble bouncing back. Just an interesting observation.

So what I am learning is I am stronger than I thought. I have roles and responsibilities and not a lot of time to stay down. I get up, dust myself off and get on with it. I like that.

Out of the mouth of Babes

I just had to share a cute story. I had picked up my boys from school and we were meeting a school mate for a play date at a local park. There was lots of traffic, and we found ourselves sitting through a lot of lights, which rarely happens where we live. So David, my 5 year old said: "Why are there so many cars?" To which my son Thomas (8 years old) replied: "It's rush hour." So David in his most serious voice said, "If it's rush hour, why isn't anyone rushing." I couldn't have said it better my self.

I couldn't have said it better myself!!!

Check out this Mom/Comedian who sang a song that speaks to the hearts of all mothers who ever raised a child and lived to talk about. Enjoy.

The Song

Smelling the Roses and Loving It!

A day in the life of an Entrepreneurial Mom

I took a moment to enjoy the cool pace I was keeping and thinking life is good.

Today was a typical day. I got up and got my kids fed (Cream of Wheat – one their favorites) and delivered to school by 8:00 am. When I got to the school I put on my Parents Association hat and helped decorate one of the bulletin boards. I was back in my home office by 9:00 am where I read emails, made calls to connect with prospects and client’s, ate breakfast and got caught up on the news. I also ordered new business cards because I was completely out and heading to a networking meeting. At 11:20 I was off to my weekly networking meeting where I enjoyed a nice lunch and great entrepreneurial fellowship. After the meeting I decided to stop at the supermarket to get my food shopping done. I was done by 2:00 pm, just in time for my 2:00 phone meeting with a potential business associate. While I drove we discussed the possibilities. I finished my call just as I arrived at the school to pick up my boys and catch up with the moms in the parking lot. Then it was off to home for homework, snacks, dinner preparation and dinner. As you can see no moss grows under my feet.

The cool thing about the above is that I really enjoy these days. It is always different and always rewarding. Yes, sometimes it is challenging, but I am never bored. I cannot imagine sitting at a desk day after day for 8 hours and waiting for the day to end. I cannot imagine only getting a 2 hour window to hang with my boys. I get to enjoy the afternoon with them as well as the evening. And on their days off, I take those days off.
It just doesn’t get any better.

What's wrong with this picture?

Why am I asking this question? Because today I have the opportunity to rest all day without anyone at home to distract me. So why am I not content? Isn't that what I am always asking for?

Well, first I am home alone because I sprained my ankle yesterday. I am home with my leg up. I had to come home early from Bike Night because with each step I took the pain grew worse. I could not go out with my boys today to the concert and mud bog. I really was looking forward to the mud bog. I had never seen one before. The worse part is that I have lots of energy and a house that I want to clean, and I cannot do it.

I am realizing how hard it is for me to just sit and be still. I really want to dig in and get it done. I guess this is a good lesson to learn. The good news is the swelling is going down. I am just so bored and there's only so much TV I can watch. So I guess I will surf with my leg up on my desk.

Ode to a Snuggle

No matter how hard the days are, and how tired I am, it is moments like these that keep me going. When I think about the week, and the roller coaster ride of emotions, I find my self exhausted. Then my son David, who is five, asked if we could have some snuggle time. Who am I to fight snuggle time?

We set up the TV with a cool DVD. We got a blanket, pillow and a bottle of ice cold water. We then settled in for a good long snuggle. Now keep in mind that David is a squirmy boy, so snuggling is not sedentary. He's more like a puppy that keeps spinning around till he finds the right spot. I found myself thinking about the emails I should check and the dishes that needed to be done. And then I said to myself, "Lia, you won't have these moments for long. He won't be snugly for ever. Enjoy tonight, the dishes and the emails will wait." And I did.

He was satiated with snuggling and went off to bed with complete compliance. I still had plenty of time to check emails and even blog a bit. The dishes will wait. I love taking time to snuggle. I recommend it highly.

I'v Joined

Yes, it's official, I am a real blogger and to honor who I am I joined Technorati. Check it out. Technorati Profile

I think I Can, I think I Can, I think I Can . . .

I have to admit I am exhausted. It was not a stellar day. It ended well, however, I had a moment where I just wanted to throw up my hands and just give up. There is nothing that gives me more joy than being a mom. And yet, there are times (like during homework) when I find myself wondering, what can I do different to help this be a more positive experience. Is it me? Or do other people experience the challenges of getting homework done without a battle? If you have experienced this and have conquered it, please share with us your wit and wisdom on doing homework. If not, remember, you are not alone.

On a brighter note, I am convinced this will be all a faded memory and it is part of a character building program. I also know that my boys are bright and energetic and once they get it, they get it. So I just need to be patient along the way. (She says to herself as she remembers her deep breathing exercises.)

Farming = Parenthood

Okay, what do farming and parenthood have to do with each other? Work with me here and follow this train of thought. I am in the process of developing some sales and marketing strategies for my clients and myself. I stumbled across some excellent material which uses the analogy of sales is like farming. I was amazed how easily the metaphors flowed. I was one with the metaphor. Then I said, wait a minute, this works with raising happy, content, confident little boys.

We all know that we :"As ye sow, so shall ye reap!" (Galatians) A big ouch there. How many times have I heard my guys yell at each other and realized they learned that from me. For me my biggest challenge as a parent is to stay present in all our interactions so I can make good choices in how I handle them. Then as I read on in my material I realized that my little guys are clearly my little "seedlings." I need to nurture them and offer them opportunities to grow. I need to give them light and nourishment. I also have to allow them to spread their little pedals to be the best they can be. I also have to help remove weeds, when necessary.

So now as I continue to grow my business, I plan on growing my little guys, using some of the same focus. I am looking forward to a great harvest and enjoying the sowing at the same time. Growing a business and children is a deliberate choice, not something that just happens.

Victory + Homework = Happy Family

Yes, we had a good homework day. What happened? I am glad you asked.

First, I put out the world and my God that homework is easy and we enjoy our homework time together. Then I asked some other parents how they handled homework and got some great advice. So I shared the advice with my son. I positioned it as advice from a parent of a fellow classmate and asked if we should try it. He said sure.

We got home and got right to it. Can you believe Tom got his homework done in record time and no drama. It was great.

Homework, Argh!!!

I forgot about homework. Until a few nights ago I thought I was the only one experience angst over homework. All the whinning, crying and frustration over four sheets of paper. Two and half hours of torture. Then I started reading "Homework without Tears." You know I am not alone when someone took the time to write and publish a book about it.

Collective Sigh

Can you hear it? It's a collective sigh of relief. Don't get me wrong, I love my boys, and we had a great summer. Many awesome things happened including:

• My boys learned to swim and become passionate about it.
• We took a week in Florida with stops in North Carolina and many stops along the East Coast.
• We went to New York for a week and had a great time there.
• We went camping and fell in love with our tent and the great outdoors.
• We read lots of books.
• David learned to ride on two wheels (bike).
• Tom learned to ride a skate board and roller blades.

All in all it was a great summer. There were a few days when I asked "Is it September yet?" And of course I had to adjust my life. For me it was not business as usual, in fact it was not business at all. That was okay with me, that is why I am an entrepreneur. I need the flexibility to be home with the boys.

And as the days drew closer to the first day of school, the excitement built. Even though I hadn't used an alarm clock all summer, it did not disturb me as it went off. The kids were up, bright and early and raring to go. There were no meltdowns and bed time was a breeze for the boys were wiped out. I was able to quickly fill my calendar with client appointment and take a few minutes to drink a cup of coffee while it is still warm.

As we usher in fall and say goodbye to our summer, I enjoy the memories and look forward to a great year.

Growing Up is Hard to Do

I cannot get this song out of my head. All I keep singing in my head "Growing Up is Hard to Do" to the tune of "Breaking Up is Hard to Do." I have a warped way of looking at things at times.

In the last month, I have had to face some difficult challenges and basically grow up. It has required that I step out of my comfort zone and face some fears which I had allowed to grow monumental in size. The first week or two of this journey, I will admit was extremely painful. I will also admit, I did not handle it gracefully. However, as the weeks have gone on, and I have stayed the course, it is amazing the feeling of freedom I am feeling. Did I mention that I don't do anger well?

So I sit here at 10:34 pm on my computer, still in the mire of this mess. Clearly not out of the woods, yet I have a sense of peace and hope. What have I gotten out of all of this? My mind reels at all the blessings that have come out of this self induced trauma.

• My husband and I are much closer,


• I have learned we can fight and still love each other,


• I am facing a fear and living to write about it,


• Our family became a more solid unit,


• We got back to basics which included Church,


• I found out God is patient and always waiting for us to surrender,


• I also found out that I don't have to handle everything, (unfortunately I learned that before and forgot it somewhere along the way) and


• Mostly I learned to be gentle with myself, ask for what I need and accept my limitations.

I just love it when a plan comes together.

God of Second Chances

I remember going to see Jonah (the VeggieTales Movie) with my family. One of my favorite scenes was when Jonah was in the Belly of the Whale. That is when a Gospel chorus sang a song about God being the God of Second Chances! It was an inspirational moment. I am now feeling like I have been given a new lease on life, a second chance. Things are not better by any stretch of the imagination. However, I am getting through. The cool part is I am learning that even though life can get ugly, I can survive the ugly. I am not so scared of the ugly anymore. I am taking it one day at a time and enjoying it. I know it will be a long haul out of my hole. After all I did not get in this hole overnight. Yet I feel confident I not only will get out, but I will stay out. This time it feels different. I am learning from my mistakes and becoming empowered by my new skills.

Thank you God!

Hanging on by a Thread

It's been a while since I have written. I feel like it's been a roller coaster ride of a Summer. I must say right at this moment I am hanging on by a thread. I hate this feeling. I am on edge and feeling very anxious. There are many factors, but there are two main ones. First I made some major mistakes that are causing yucky consequences. And second, I have not had a moment to myself in close to a month. I have been "on" almost non-stop. The only time I get break is late in the evening when I am too tired to enjoy it. It's been hot, sticky and I am filled with fear. So what does this all mean? It means that I have moved away from God and His promises and tried to take control of my life again. Guess what? It does not work. Everytime I do that, boom, here I am in an all too familiar place. The sad part is that I feel too guilty to turn back to God. I feel ashamed to walk in to Church. As I hold on to the thread, I feel it unraveling and my arms are growing weak. Lord, I call out to you for help. I am tired and can't hold on any longer by myself. Please hold on to me.

Dream a big Dream . . .

Wow, I got this video from Vic Johnson, one of my mentors and I just had to share it with you. Please take a minute and watch it. If you are a mush ball like me, grab a box of tissues and enjoy. Just remember, anything is possible if you just believe. The video - Living your Dream.

A new day is coming!

Okay, so it was not the greatest day. I was feeling a bit manic. I am learning a lot about myself, and the one thing I am learning is that I need my space. I need solitude, and I need it during times when I have energy, not at the end of the day when I am spent like a wet rag. I love my kids, and I love my space.

Summer time is particularly hard to get enough of the me time I require. So I have to rethink my summer and come up with a plan. I know I will find a way. Next week we start camp and that will help a lot. The boys will burn off some needed energy and I will have some time. I have hope in my moments of darkness. I realize this is just a brief blip on the screen and time moves oh so quickly.

As I sit here and write, I enjoy the quiet of the night. The sound of peace and comfort in knowing my boys are enjoying a good nights sleep and dreaming of chasing fire flies at night. Life is good and lessons are hard. Now it's off to bed, a great book and my own slumber.

Siblings -- Argh!!!

If anyone out there is reading, can you tell me how you get two boys to stop fighting. One is almost 7 and the other is 5. One minute they love each other, the next it's fireworks. I just want to lock them in their rooms till they go off to college. Any and all words of wisdom are welcome.

When is school starting?

The kids have only been off a week, and I am already counting the days until the first day of school. What is going on? Two weeks ago, I was so excited about getting my boys home all to myself. Now I feel somewhat frazzled. Okay, Tom has been sick for four days of his first week off. I have been under a lot of stress because of my friend Sameh and his situation. But will they ever stop pushing each other's buttons. I feel more like a referee than a mom. Calgon take me away.

Camp starts on Monday, I know I will feel much better then. So will they. They need more activities and structure and lots of play. Until then, it's going to take a lot of patience, some deep breaths and a visit to Borders to unwind.

Save Sameh

Is it me or is the world gone crazy. My friend who came to this country after fleeing for his life. He got off the plane bleeding and beaten, needing stitches so he was taken to the hospital and then based on our lovely immigration system (yes that was sarcasm) he was immediately put in INS detention which by the way is in a maximum security prison. After 8 long years and he finally he was release under the grounds of CAT. What the means is Convention Against Torture. In short, if he is sent back to Egypt he will definitely be tortured and most certainly be killed. While he has been out he has gotten a very respectable job, takes care of his mother and sends money to his family still suffering in Egypt. He has never taken a dime from the Government in the way of public assistance or subsidies. He has been involved in his community and loved by all the meet him. Then one day, the day after memorial day, he walks in to sign in as has done for the last year and some months, only to find out that he was put back in prison and being deported to Egypt. Why, because Egypt has agreed not to torture him (said tongue in cheek). Please pray for Sameh and his family as we work feverishly to stop this atrocity and the inhumanity of this situation. We know for a fact that a paper signed to not torture will not stop what is short of a death sentence for Sameh.

Have you ever felt completely helpless!!!

I sit here with this overwhelming sense of disbelief and helplessness. I have a friend going through something terrible, we are doing everything we can to help him and his mom and yet, with everything we are doing, it still could go terribly wrong. Why am I sharing this here, because it is so much a part of who I am, I needed to release it to the world. My whole family and all my friends are involved and hoping thing go well. But we are out of our depth. When I am asked, "What can I do?" The only response I have is Pray, Pray life you have never prayed before. So today I am asking, if you read this and you are so inclined, please pray for my friend and his mom. Pray the God will protect them and in his time and wisdom help all to cope with this situation and find some peace and resolution. I thank you for you time and indulgence.

It's the simple things

I am sitting here thinking about what a nice evening I had with my boys. After a fun dinner they asked for dessert. I offered them an orange to which David replied "You mean the sweetest oranges in the world?" And of course I replied, "yes." Then it was the bed time routine which includes teeth brushing, pjs, story time, songs, prayers, kisses and then it's off to bed. The cool part now is that Tom insists on reading to us. He loves to read and asks for more reading time. What a blessing. The final piece is I sing a special song I created for each of them that I call the "I love you song."

As I sit on my computer, I am filled with joy at how wonderful the boys are turning out.

What's a girl to do?

Have you ever felt so powerless you feel like pulling your hair out. That is how I feel today. I have people in my life that are struggling with things, and I cannot fix it for them. I am a fixer by nature, so it is hard for me to just sit back and just be there for them.

The part that is so frustrating is that when people get in this place, they become paralyzed by the enormity of the situation and their own feelings of powerlessness. So they end up walking in circles, talking to themselves, picking things up and putting them down, moving from one room and forgetting why they went their in the first place and not sleeping, just to name a few. I want to use my magic wand to fix it and then I realize that is only on TV. I don't have a magic wand so all I can do is listen and be supportive, perhaps every now and then offer a voice of reason. It's not easy.

There is one thing I can do, and I do that every night, pray.

Ah . . . This is living!

Today I experienced something wonderful, a pedicure. Seems simple, yet it was almost a spiritual experience. As I sat still for an hour and had someone take care of me for a complete hour, I just sat and stayed present. I felt all the feelings. The warmth of the water, the roughness of the scrub and the stone, the gentleness and tingling of the lotions and then my feet were heated with hot towels. This experience ended with a touch of color. Seems simple yet it was so splendid. I don't often sit still, and I never am quiet. It was nice to be pampered. For me it was like a little vacation and now I have "Happy Feet." I recommend it to everyone.

Is it that time again?

"Summer time and the living is easy." Who ever wrote those words to a song, never ran a business and had children all at the same time. As I sit here with the sun shinning and the temperatures reaching 85, I realized that in three short weeks my boys will be out of school. The good news is that this year I have a plan. I feel somewhat calmer than I usually do. Is that the calm before the storm? (Think positive, don't go there.) I am looking forward to a great summer filled with fun, sun, boys and toys and plenty of work to keep me busy. Catch me in four weeks and we will see how things are going?

Snuggle Time is Special Time

It's funny how the little things in life mean so much. As the boys get older and bigger, life clearly gets more hectic. Not in a bad way, all good stuff. Yet there are moments when you just want to slow down. It is in those moments that I get the nuggets I need to help me keep moving when I don't feel like moving. Like a snuggle with David and his "sweety" bunny on the floor, usually with a blanket and a good story. Or tucking Tom in to bed and he wants a few minutes to talk. It is in those moments that I know life is good. Life is full of hard choices, and great rewards if you take time to see.

Was that me who said yes?

Oops! I did it again. In a weak moment I was asked if I would co-president the Parents Association Board. I said sure, if no one else steps up to the plate. After all, I thought, someone else will surely throw in their hat for the position. Long story short, I am co-president. The good news is the other co-president is a very responsible person who I think will be great to work with. So I look forward to another great year of helping make the school a better place to be. Wish me luck.

When the kitchen gets too hot, put out the fire!

What does that mean? Let me put it this way, I woke up one day and found out that life was getting a little bit crazy, and I was no longer in control. Maybe I have never been in control. So once I realized that my business was taking over my life and my kids were getting left behind, I took a moment to regroup. Today, two weeks away from Mother's Day, I can safely say that I think it's all coming together.

• I had a meeting with my biggest client and gracefully explained that I was not ready to take on so many hours, and I would be happy to help them find a replacement for me,
• I started an new profit center in my business that will allow me to take care of my business and my family - check it out: www.businessmarketinggym.com,
• I started carving out time for myself, yes me.

It is like a fog has lifted and a my burden is lightened. I am sleeping better. My kids are happier. My house is cleaner. And I am happier. What a great feeling. I am glad I listened to myself and my kids and reexamined my priorities. There will be lots of time to make money, but, I only have today to give to my boys.

Romantic Valentines?

Valentine's Day is our wedding anniversary. I have been married 20 years this year -- hard to believe. So what do you do on such a special day when you have a 7 and 4 year old? Share the celebration! After all we are a family now, all of us. So we are going to have fun together by going to a sporting event wtih the boys. They will love it, and I get a night out. Not a bad deal. I guess romance can come later.

Change Your Thoughts to Change Your Life

I am always looking for ways to improve and become a better person. I recently came across a free e-book and downloaded it. It is clearly changing who I am, and how I think. It is so powerful I felt the need to share it with you. It's called As a Man Thinketh by James Allen. Check it out.

As A Man Thinketh Download a FREE eBook of James Allen’s

What happened to the Time?

Oh my goodness!!! I just came to my blog and found it has been more than a month since I posted. Where has all the time gone. It's a new year and a new blog!

Well, I'm back. The holidays got the best of me and something had to give. I was able to manage my business which was pretty hectic, make cookies, get ready for the holidays, help at the school and survive the winter break in one piece. So now it is time to get serious. I am here to say 2007 is going to be the year of action. Last year, 2006 was my year of rebirth and integrity. This year it is all about action! Stay tuned.