Moms

I'm pulling for you and praying for you, Marti. I sat with Marti in her living where she shared with me her Uganda trip plans. Her passion and drive was palpable and I believed her when she said she truly feels God calling her to do this. If the big man is calling the shots, He will see her through. I'm proud of you and glad you will be sharing your experiences with us via blog. Thanks!Still doing my Weight Watchers thing, although I admit I haven't been tracking points or journaling every thing I eat. But I'm still losing! 28 pounds. I need to lose 8 more to reach my goal — becoming a free member who doesn't have to pay $12 per week. That money is a good motivator for me, but I feel really good right now, back in a size 12. Getting that olive oil in every day seems to be a key thing. If I don't have a salad to pour it on, then I pour some on a plate, sprinkle on some Mrs. Dash Italian seasoning and mop it up with a 1-point Alternative Bagel or wheat toast. I was surprised I lost a couple pounds, especially after going to three graduation parties. But the good thing about parties is there is usually a veggie and/or fruit tray. I'm lazy about cutting up fresh stuff so when its ready made, that's cake. I just made sure I filled up at those trays first. I'm also still parking about 200 steps from the office. Onward, soldiers.

The following article was written less than one year after my mom died. Now, six years later, I still find myself gravitating toward mom. This time, I spent time with my high school / college friends and their kids in Tampa.  Alba and Kristen will always be my best friends. And Jaymie. They were in my wedding, I was in theirs. There is something surreal about having friends for 25 years. First of all you realize they have often known you longer than your spouse. Which at times is quite beneficial. Especially when life-changing decisions must be made. And that is what happens on a daily basis. You see, you get to a point in your life when you realize your best friends will fit on the sofa in your living room. It's really that simple. And it really was a great Spring Break.

Hey, I'm doing a story on how parents feed children, who are picky eaters. Anyone out there got any tips, suggestions, success stories, horror stories. I'd love to hear them. 

I took my 3 year old, Drew, to visit his ‘Nina’ this weekend in Port St. Joe, FL which is always a treat for them both.  We had a great time relaxing, putting our toes in the sand while eating great gumbo at the Mexico Beach Gumbo Cookoff, and more.  But undoubtedly, one of my son’s favorite activities was fishing with his second cousin, Hunter.  Did they fish at the beach?  No!  At the river, or at one of the other many bodies of water nearby?  No! <

People are sometimes surprised by my passion for sports, because as a woman I'm often expected to be more interested in the color of the uniforms, or know more about the cheerleaders than about what's going on on the field or the court.  But, I truly love sports. 

I love the weekend little league games and can't wait until this fall when my son will be old enough to play organized sport, I love sports talk radio in small doses, I love traveling to Gainesville for lesser watched sporting events, and bowl games, and March Madness, and the College World Series.... I even watch an occassional Nascar race, have been known to watch the preakness (although I know nothing about it), and am excited for weeks prior to the opening of the Olympic Games (though I must admit my partiality to the summer games). 

My Clay Sun.  It's a fresh start for our favorite local paper, a fresh name, new things for the readers, the staff... and it got me thinking.  We all need a fresh start sometimes, and I'm going through a fresh start of my own right now in many ways.  I'm less than 3 weeks into a new job I really enjoy, I'm 3 years into being a Mom, and recently I've made changes that I knew would be best for my family and me.  I've joined the YMCA near my new office and am working out at lunch three times a week (is 3 a pattern this week?), I'm taking my lunch to make sure I eat healthier and save money, and I've taken a new job that requires less hours and hopefully will have me bringing less stress home to my husband and son.  I'm reevaluating some things I'm involved in to see how much of my energy and spirit they take that should be going to take care of me so I can also take care of my family.  I'm also reading more and trying to get work done in our house!