Sweetest thing...

My birthday is Friday. I will be 35. For the first time in my 35 years, someone has called me and requested to have a "birthday lunch" with me. I am touched. I feel so loved and honored. 5 days in advance, someone thought of *me*. Someone who has only known me since october. I did not tell her it was my birthday, she saw it coming up on facebook. (It's Stephanie by the way...and we are going to a nice little restaurant here in town.)

Now, Gwen always remembers my birthday and makes it a HUGE deal, if only a sweet note and noisy phone call. A few years ago she sent me flowers. She always sends me a card. She is the only one that ever makes a big deal about it. My husband says "it's just another day, big deal". My mother lives a busy life. My kids, well, they're kids. Tuck is really excited about my birthday this year.

I don't know why it makes me so happy for people to try to make a day special for me. I never would expect anything, so it is all that much sweeter.

I am a blessed woman.

January 31st-365 Pictures

Winter storm was rolling in. It was over 70 degrees today, and is around 35 now. This was taken early in the evening, where it should have been light. The grey in the sky is dirt, from the crazy winds blowing in. I am so excited for snow!

January 30th-365 Pictures

Went and visited Tucker in Austin today. We went and ate, to the park, and bowling. What a great day!

January 29th-365 Pictures

Harley hated riding in the car for so long. He has since changed his mind. Loves the wind in his hair.

January 28th-365 Pictures

PJ's and Cowboys boots. Now THAT'S country!

January 27th-365 Pictures

I have been working with Harley DAILY trying to get him used to wearing a ponytail so his hair is out of his eyes. Right now, he has it out by the end of the day.

January 26th-365 Pictures

I have this darling penguin mug my friend Aja Angel sent me. I drank my coffee out of it this morning. Troy got up and was watching his morning TV, I look over and he is holding it like he is drinking it (it's empty). I ask him why and he replies "It is just so cute I like being close to it!". LOL

January 25th-365 Pictures

I took another picture of the Buckle Michaela won, but this time I did it outside so I could get natural light for more detail.

January 24th-365 Pictures

We took our Christmas tree down, finally. This picture is one an artist sent me after we lost our son Brody. I adore this picture. Now it is all that is in the place where our tree was. Our house is not a warm and inviting place as it is, but having the tree down just makes it seem more cold. This picture fills a void on our wall, just as it fills a place in my heart. Still, it remains empty like the place where my son should be and is not.

January 23rd-365 Pictures

Had a friend over and he brought Troy's "Big Wheel" inside for him. Troy was on cloud nine. LOL

January 22nd-365 Pictures

Studytime for Momma at Starbucks. Good stuff.

January 21st-365 Pictures

Troy LOVES to go to the hotel for breakfast. We stayed in this hotel for 6 weeks when we first got here, and they invited us back for free breakfast anytime. So, once in a while we go back.

January 20th-365 Pictures

Michaela working hard on homework!

January 19th-365 Pictures

Troy loves tractors, all shapes, sizes & colors of them.

January 18th-365 Pictures

This is what I woke up to. Harley had had enough of the Christmas spirit I guess, and he demolished the poinsettia.

January 17th-365 Pictures

Our landlord came over today and brought Troy a box of hotwheels someone had left at another one of his lease-houses when they moved out. Troy was on cloud nine!

January 16th-365 Pictures

Michaela started a new acne program today, we are documenting progress with pictures.

January 15th-365 Pictures

Michaela won "most creative" for her cake. They had already started selling pieces when we got there to take pictures, so it is not as pretty as it was. We are very proud of her.

January 14th-365 Pictures

Michaela is baking her cake for 4-H cake contest at the county show tomorrow. Her friend Lauren is over, and is helping to mess up the kitchen. Case in point. LOL

January 13th-365 Pictures

Today was the county stock show. Michaela won Jr. Showmanship. :) Good job baby girl!

January 12th-365 Pictures

LUNCH!

January 11th-365 Pictures

I started weight watchers last week. Tonight, I thought I would suffer on points because I wanted to use my chicken breasts (bone in, skin on). I used the "McCormick Recipe Inspirations-Rosemary Chicken and Potatoes", and let me tell you it was delicious! All of it, for only 6 points! WoooHooooo!

January 10th-365 Pictures

Today is my first day back in college classes. I took last semester off when I found out I had to have surgery. I am really excited...

January 9th-365 Pictures

Roasting poblano peppers for my first attempt ever at making "healthy" chili rellenos. By the way, they were most excellent. I used extra lean turkey breast for meat, and very little cheese. No egg or batter of any kind.

January 8th-365 Pictures

Our two "Bountiful Baskets". I love what was included, and that we got them so cheap! It is $15/basket. Organic fresh produce, can't beat it! We will certainly be doing this more often. When we get moved, I plan to switch us to raw milk as well as ordering our meat from a local source.

january 7th-365 Pictures

January 6th-365 Pictures

Michaela got a spider bite somehow, and we are treating it all natural with bentonite clay and tea tree oil. Day two and the necrotized area is already looking better. Thanks Rikki for the guidance!

January 5th-365 Pictures

Today I registered for all of my classes for this semester. Yes, I am crazy. Looks like I will be doing a LOT of un-leisurely reading! I am not going to tell you how many hours I am taking, for fear the men in the white coats may be called in!

January 4th-365 Pictures

Troy started a mother's day out program 2 days a week. Today was his first day and he wore his cowboy hat and boots! He was so excited.

January 3rd-365 Pictures

This picture represents my first day of weight watchers and doing an online weight loss challenge. Yes, those are my feet on my scale. Yes I did edit the picture so that my weight did not show for this post. I do not want to broadcast those things, I do have SOME pride. When I get to goal, I will do a special post where I post the real picture unedited along with a goal picture. Deal?

January 2nd-365 Pictures

Troy perched on the divider wall in the hotel watching TV. I want to remember this, because one day all too soon he will no longer be able to do this.

January 1st-365 Pictures

Watching the sunrise over the west Texas plains on our way to Austin to visit Tucker...

Weekly Book: Week 1

I am going to list the books as I read them and maybe do a review. This week I chose the new version of Linda Lael Miller's book, "Willow". I started the book and finished it within 24 hours. It was a great book set in the old west. Yes, it is a romance. Her characters and plots are really deep and I love being immersed in them. You will likely see a lot of her books on my list this year, as I gobble them up as soon as I see them.

I am also starting another book this evening, which is also by Miller. This one is "McKettrick's Choice". I have read all of the McKettrick series, and I am so excited to read the newest edition.

Starting out my list, here we go:

Week 1- "Willow" by Linda Lael Miller

1.2- "McKettrick's Choice" by Linda Lael Miller

New Year, New Life

I am one of "those" people who thrives on new starts. What better time for a new start than a new year, right? I am also one who never really does the resolution thing. However, I do have one this year. What is that? To get healthier. This means I signed back up for weight watchers, and I will be exercising three days a week. A great start a do believe. My goal is to have 52 weeks where I do not go off of my eating plan at all.

I have also challenged myself to complete some other tasks on a daily or weekly basis. These are listed as follows:

• Do a 365 days of pictures project and post them here on my blog
• Read at least one book a week
• Write a letter or note by hand every day
• Try a new recipe at least once a week (another tool getting to my healthy goal)
• Do one load of laundry a day so I never get behind
• Read some of the Bible daily...now, I almost signed up for the "read the Bible in 90 days" again, but chose to do the "Read the Bible in a Year instead". Much more realistic for me at this point.

This is it. This is all. So far, all I need to do is catch up on my handwritten notes. I am one day behind as I was driving all day yesterday. I will allow myself the chance to do two days in one if I am out of service one day for one reason or another.

I turn 35 in one month. I have vowed that year #35 will be the best yet, a new start to a better me.