Blogging in 2012...

I shall return to blogging here after the holidays...

~AN

Pushing Forward...

The leaves are changing colors and my favorite season is finally here. I'm happy for the arrival of fall even more than usual. With summer over, I hope to start to push forward with my life. The changing season reminds me that all of us have to face changes we can't control in our lives. 

I can't help but look at the transition of the trees and think of how my own life has changed since losing my mom. I keep replaying the last conversations, moments, laughs...everything shared between us before she died. I keep wondering if she really, really, REALLY knew how much I loved her, how much she grounded me, encouraged me to be the wife and mother that I am...that I strive to be. 

My mom was my best friend. We talked everyday...sometimes several times a day and that's gone now. I told her I loved her whenever we said goodbye, but it still doesn't seem like I said it enough. Experiencing this kind of loss has reshaped my thinking about what's important. 

I believe living life to the fullest and loving the ones in your life by being present, emotionally engaged is what matters most. Dealing with loss...choosing to change and adapt to life's heartaches takes time and healing. It's a journey I haven't traveled before, but I'm not walking it alone.

~AN

Going On...

Losing my mom came as a shock even though I thought I'd prepared myself for losing her. How foolish to think one could prepare for such a loss. It still doesn't seem real. I wake up in the morning and the realization hits me all over again. 

She'd been battling a life threatening illness for so long...I knew she was getting tired of it all, but I still thought there would be more time. I told her I loved her all the time, but I wished I'd gotten one more time to tell her...to hold her hand...to feel her arms around me.

My mom was also my friend. I talked to her daily and it's so hard not hearing her voice. I know she's gone on to a better place. She's free of pain and free of that body that had become so ravaged by her illness and the medicines she took. I'm selfish. I want her back, even though I know she's finally free...finally whole.

I know she'd want my sister and me to go on with our lives. She'd want us to find joy in the things we love. She'd want us to live life abundantly. Somehow, I have to go on. My mom would demand that...if I listen hard enough I almost hear her soft voice encouraging me to do so.

~Angela Nichelle

In Loving Memory...

In loving memory of my mom...

You were the best mother a daughter could ever hope for 

and I love you so much.

Your strength and your grace will forever guide my footsteps...

Summer Fun!

I can't believe how fast this summer is going! Mother Nature has turned up the heat and been a fun challenge trying to think of ways to beat the heat and keep the kiddos outta my hair!

These are my favorite three summertime-get-'em-outta-your-hair projects:

1) Freeze their toys! My kids love it when I take a random small toy and freeze them in some kid friendly container filled with water. We take the frozen toys outside and they have a blast waiting for the favorite toy to thaw from the ice!

2) Fishing for Ice! Take a pitcher and fill it with water. Add a few drops of food coloring. Pour the water into your ice tray and freeze. Take the ice cubes outside and fill up the kids sand pails with water, then toss in  the colored ice cubes. My kids love to fish them out with their hands or you can buy the little fish wands at the pet store!

3) Body paint! Well, not quite. Let me explain. My kids put on their bathing suits and then I let them take Crayola washable markers and draw on their bodies. Once their body art is finished they get to wash it off through the sprinklers! The marker comes up easily and I finish up the job at bath time.

(I only trust Crayola for this, not all washable markers wash off as promised!)

Do any three of these summertime activities with your kids and I guarantee they'll have some fun and stay cool while their doing it!

Happy Summer!

~AN

Kid Frenzy!

So, I survived the first week with my kids out of school! It wasn't even a full week...well, I guess one hour of class on Monday doesn't really count as a full day of school. We've had a blast keeping busy by heading to the movies, the park and library.

I just need to figure out how to balance my writing with summer because by the end of the day I'm done. Kaput! Nothing creative left in me. I hardly wrote over 500 words this week and that's so not me. *sigh*

Hopefully, I'll work out a balance next week!

Summer + kids = sweet chaos!

~AN

Summer Temps & Summer Colds!

Whew! The long weekend is over and although we had some serious rain, it ended up being a really warm and sunny Memorial Day. It was actually warmer than I like, but after all the cool temps we've been having, I was so happy to see the sun!

There's nothing like relaxing in the shade with the wind ruffling your hair and clothes. I was so thankful for the time spent with my family this weekend and mindful of families who've lost loved ones in the service.

Every day and each moment we get to spend with our loved ones is a gift!

I wonder what it is about this time of year that causes those summer colds. I'm looking forward to a nice long sniffle-free stretch, but for now, I'm keeping the Kleenex handy!

~AN