Driver's Permit

Kevin took Megan to the local DMV to take her driver's permit test, and she passed it. YAY!!! We are so proud of her. Hopefully, she will be able to get her driver's license a year from today.

Watch out drivers; here comes Megan!

Training

I had MOSS (Microsoft Office SharePoint Server) training at Fort Gillem today, so I sat in a classroom the entire day, but it wasn’t bad at all. I did learn quite a bit of information that I can utilize at work, and it was a relaxing day for me. I had a 1 ½ hour lunch and got to leave work BEFORE 4:00 p.m., which was really nice. I wonder if there is more training I could sign up for….

Vanpool

I have to drive about 35 miles (one way) to get to work each day and fight traffic in Atlanta. So, when I noticed that a lot of people at my work were vanpooling, I had to ask about it. Come to find out, it’s FREE. Yes, absolutely free!! And, who doesn’t LOVE free? I learned that Uncle Sam provides vouchers for those people who want to partake in vanpooling. All I had to do was find a vanpool that was compatible with my work schedule near my home, sign up for the service, and pick up my free vouchers to ride in the van.

Today was the first day that I rode in the vanpool, and I must say that I enjoyed it. I simply showed up at the meeting point at the appointed time, hopped in the van with five other riders, and was driven to work – stress free. I didn’t even have to fight with traffic and didn’t have to worry about finding a parking place. I completely love the idea of being “green” and saving gas money. What a wonderful concept!

A Day to Relax

Sundays are days for relaxation. I woke up to find Kevin watching cartoons in the living room, and Megan was in the kitchen slurping up the last of her waffle & syrup. I sat on the couch with Kevin and then he said he would make some breakfast. Since I don’t really care for the typical breakfast foods (eggs, pancakes, oatmeal), he made steak & gravy for me. He also made some rice, and it was just delicious. After breakfast, we went to church and later went to Sonic for some drinks. The weather was so nice, so we sat outside and waited for our order. While we were there, I took a few pictures with my phone, and Nicole took one of Kevin bugging me. He likes to make faces when I want to take pictures. That man drives me crazy sometimes. Just look at the picture below.

Saturday

Where did my Saturday go?.... Let's see. I got up around 9:30 a.m. and cooked breakfast for Nicole and me. Kevin took Megan to her cross country meet although Megan wasn't scheduled to run because her leg has been hurting. After breakfast, I went walking (5 miles), came back, showered, and was about to curl up with a book when Nicole asked me to take her to Ashley Park (an outdoor mall). So, I got up, took her to Ashley Park, and then we decided to catch a movie while we were out. We watched Tyler Perry's newest movie, "I Can Do Bad All By Myself" and then came home. By the time we made it home, it was about 8:30 p.m. Once home, Kevin wanted to pick up a few groceries, so out we went to Wallie World. By the time we got back home, I was SO tired and wasn't feeling well. I jumped in the shower and then got comfortable under the blankets, AND THEN....I sunk into a deep sleep. AND that my friends, was the end of my day. (I didn't even have time to take a picture or blog.)

My Baby is 14

It’s hard to believe that by baby, Nicole, is now 14 years old. I still remember the day she was born like it was yesterday. Ahhh, what a special day it was. I remember what I was wearing (a long sleeve sweater with tiny little bears on it) and how excited I was to finally get to meet my precious baby. Kevin held my hand and looked lovingly into my eyes as I brought Nicole into this world. I’ll never forget Nicole’s first kiss because I gave it to her. My heart overflowed with love & joy – a love so sincere that it bought tears to my eyes.

Happy birthday, Nicole. I am so glad that God placed you in my life. I could never image life without you.

Speedway No More

Those of you who know me well know that I LOVE to drink….soda (not the Devil’s Juice). When we lived in Kentucky, I would stop by Speedway EVERY morning and grab a 44 ounce fountain drink so that I could sip on it at work. I just LOVED Speedway. Since we’ve moved to Georgia, we hadn’t found a Speedway or a gas station that has good drinks until recently. No, we didn’t find a Speedway, but Kevin did find this one gas station called Flash Foods, and they have really good fountain drinks. Yay…this really brings me joy because I am very particular when it comes to my drinks. Flash Foods here I come!

I Thank God

God has genuinely blessed me. I so feel lucky to have found an amazing man who loves & cares for me unconditionally.

I must praise God & thank Him for my teenager Nicole, seen below, who STILL loves to hug & kiss Mom & Dad; I sincerely hope she never outgrows our love.

And, thank God for my diligent child who strives to do her best in school, even when her work becomes so demanding and she becomes frustrated.

I give thanks to God for all of my blessings!

Look Alike

Isn’t it funny how other people can see how two siblings look alike but as a parent, I don’t really see how my children favor each other?... I think that Megan looks like her father, and Nicole looks more like me. Today, I took this picture of Megan but really didn’t think too much of it. As I downloaded it to the computer, something odd crossed my mind. My children DO look like each other! In this picture, I can see how Megan and Nicole DO look alike. LOL

Time for Bed

Sorry, but I don’t have a picture to share with you today. It’s been one of those crazy Mondays…I came home from work, and everyone was starving. Nobody could wait for dinner, and the girls had a ton of homework. Kevin & I were tired and just wanted to relax. So, we had a quick snack, and then I made broccoli and rice casserole for dinner. We ate, and then I cleaned up the kitchen. The girls continued to work on their homework, and Kevin began to snore on the couch. I logged on to Facebook and relaxed for a moment. Now, it’s time for bed. I can’t wait to place my head on my soft pillow and drift off into a much needed sleep. Good night, everyone.

Kevin's Birthday

Today was Kevin’s 43rd birthday. We started the day by going to Mass, and then we went to Atlanta for some lunch and to grab a cinnamon roll from Cinnabon. Because it was raining, we came back early. Of course, we had to sing Happy Birthday to him, give him his gifts, and have him blow out the candles on his cake. After he devoured half of the ice cream cake we got for him, it was time for his nap. He napped for about an hour, and then Kevin & I went for a five mile walk. I had such a wonderful day with my family, and I sincerely hope that Kevin enjoyed his special day with us.

Happy birthday, Baby! May God bless you with many more.

Kevin is Home

Yay!!! Kevin finally came home after attending the Military Police War-fighter Challenge in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. The girls and I had anxiously been awaiting his arrival. We wanted everything to be perfect when he came home, so we spent the day sweeping, mopping, doing laundry, and a little before he came home, we cooked dinner. The highlight of our day was seeing him walk through the door.

It’s so nice to have Kevin back home with us!

Just the Two of Us

Nicole and I spent the evening together because Megan went to a football game with a friend, and Kevin was in Missouri. So what were Nicole & I to do? Well, we went to the library to drop off a book, and then we went to Wal-Mart to pick up her contacts, but they vision center was closed. Since we were at Wal-Mart, we ate at the McDonald’s in the store. We both had happy meals. After that, we drove by the movie theater to see what was playing, but the movie that we wanted to see was going to start at 9:30, which was kind of late. Instead, we bought a tub of popcorn & some candy and watched TV at home.

Making Pizza

Tonight, the girls and I made pizza with lots of pepperoni, sausage, bell pepper, onions, and lots & lots of cheese. It was an absolute pleasure getting to spend the evening in the kitchen with the girls. We chatted (girl talk, of course), chopped, cooked, and baked until it was time to eat. I had a wonderful evening; the pizza was delicious, and the conversation was delightful. It’s too bad Kevin couldn’t be here with us.

The Walk Home

My children crack me up! Yesterday, they didn’t want to wait for the bus to take them home, so they walked home instead. They walked in the wet grass, at an angel (due to small hills), in the humid weather, and they had heavy book bags to haul. Since the school is 2.4 miles away from our house, they were completely exhausted by the time they got home.

Relaxing This Evening

I was able to go for a brisk walk this evening. While I walked, I chatted with three special ladies, my mother and two of my sisters, Delia & Maria Auxilio. I spoke to them & walked at the same time, and before I knew it, I had walked 5 miles! Where did the time go?...

Tonight, I will curl up on the couch, relax, and finish reading a book I stared a week ago. I want to know what happens, but I don’t want my book to end. :( Dang it! I hate it when a good book ends. Oh well, I guess it will be OK because I have another book lined up to read by the same author, J.D. Manson. I have really enjoyed her books lately.

Ahh....What a Day!

My day began at 0815 at the CPAC (Civilian Personnel Advisory Center) for in processing. The place was packed with about twenty new employees, and we were all given packets with forms & papers to fill out, and after we finished, we had to wait for someone from the CPAC office to review our packets to ensure that we had all the required documents. Some folks were sworn in, and some of us weren’t. Later, we all had to make our way to the Security section to have our clearances checked out. To make a long story short, I had the wrong type of clearance, so I had to go through the ENTIRE process of filing out the investigation form (SF 86). Since I don’t have a Secret Clearance right now, I was unable to use any of the computers at work, so I had to the library to work on my SF 86 and worked on the form for about five hours straight. What an ordeal that has been! They ask SO many questions. They wanted to know all about my LARGE family (brothers, sisters, mom, dad, etc) and required that I provide names, addresses, phone numbers, birthdates, and birth places on them all. Also, I had to provide all of my addresses for the past seven year (oh, and we have moved so much), along with people that knew me while I lived at these places and their contact information. Also, I had to list all of my places of employment for the past seven years, etc, etc, etc. Even after spending five hours working on it, I still haven’t finished it and will have to stay up late working on it tonight. Arrrgggg….

When I came home, everyone was hungry, so Nicole suggested that we go out to eat at La Hacienda (DELICIOUS). I just couldn’t refuse. What can I say? Nicole twisted my arm into going. Sitting & having a nice dinner with my wonderful family at La Hacienda & enjoying pleasant conversation was the highlight of my day. (See the picture below.)

Back to Work

I have been on Leave (vacation) since 7 August, and now it’s time to go back to work! God has been so good to me. I interviewed for this position on Wednesday and was offered the job on Thursday. I was asked when I could start working, and I told them I could start on Monday, 14 August, so tomorrow will be my first day at my new job, and I am a bit nervous. I’ll be working at USAG (U.S. Army Garrison) on Ft. McPherson as a Management Assistant in the BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) Implementation Team Plans, Analysis & Integration Office. Wish me good luck & say a prayer for me. I’ll let you all know about my fist day of work tomorrow.

Cross Country Meet

Kevin got up early this morning, went to Starbucks, and then looked for driving directions to Megan’s cross country meet.

We packed up and hit the road to watch Megan run in Carrollton, GA.

She is such a dedicated athlete, and we are so proud of our BEAST!

After Megan ran, it was time to go. I wasn't feeling well at all, so we went home.

Our House is Officially SOLD.

As of today, 11 September 2009, we no longer own a house in Kentucky. Kevin & I sincerely thought that we would be COMPLETELY elated when this day finally arrived, but to our surprise, we had a different emotional reaction; we were actually saddened because so many cherished memories flooded our minds when we finally closed on the house - our home sweet home. We shared so many happy & wonderful moments there - holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, family visits, Christmases, new years, cold day we huddled around the fireplace to keep warm, loving moments, the joy our children brought us, and the delight of watching our children morph from little girls into young ladies. Ahh...it seems like a chapter in our lives has been closed for good. All we have now are the magnificent memories of the time we lived in our loving home. I hope that Alan & Jeanette enjoy the house as much as we did.

Choice A or Choice B...

I took Nicole to the eye doctor today so that she could have her eyes examined. The child claimed that she couldn't see very well with the Rx she had. The doctor examined her eyes and confirmed that indeed she needed a new prescription. As usual, there was waiting involved, so I did what any sane parent would do, when bored, and played around a bit.

Which glasses do I look better in? --Choice A at the top or Choice B below?.... Be honest!










I hope I didn't embarrass Nicole too much.

La Hacienda

When we lived in Kentucky, we had our favorite Mexican restaurant, El Camino, and we were so sad to leave it behind. Since we moved to Georgia, we haven’t been out to eat Mexican food, so today we tried La Hacienda in Newnan. To our surprise, the place was FABULOUS!!! As a matter of fact, I think it was even better than El Camino. The environment was alluring, the food was delicious & authentic, and the people were really nice. It was Mexican food at its best – just like Mama used to make!

As we were leaving, Nicole & I stopped for a quick picture. We can’t wait to go back!

God Bless

Today I had to go to the VA Hospital to have my information transferred from Kentucky. Kevin went with me because he knew that I would have to wait for a while, and he wanted to keep me company. As we sat waiting for my name to be called, we saw many veterans coming & going. I tried to read the book I'd tossed in my purse so that it wouldn't appear to others that I was staring, but unfortunately, I was unable to read because I was compelled to look at the veterans that passed in front of me. Both Kevin & I were saddened and taken aback when we saw a young gentleman (about 25 or so) who had no legs. Either his father, or maybe even his grandfather, was pushing him around in a wheelchair through the hospital. My heart just caved in at the sight. When the image started to drift out of my head, I saw a lady (possibly in her early 50's) who seemed somewhat agitated, but at the same time I could tell she was trying to be patient, escorting a young man (probably between the age of 20-23) through the hospital. She must have been his mother trying to get her son to his appointment(s) because he seem to have some "issues" he was dealing with. He seemed uncooperative, and you could tell that his mother was trying her hardest to deal with him in a caring manner. That too almost brought tears to my eyes. How many of us parents imagine that one day, we will have to care for our children when they become incapable of caring for themselves? I have to admit that that's not what I envision for my latter years. I am sure that's not what most of us think about when we think of our golden years. Shouldn't it be the other way around?... Shouldn't our children take care of us & take us to our doctor's appointments when we get older?..... My heart aches at the thought of the sacrifices that many of our veterans continue to experience even after they have separated from the military.

Please say a prayer for all of our active duty service members (and veterans) who have placed themselves in harm's way and made the ultimate sacrifices in order to protect this great nation we live in. May God bless each and every one of them!

Labor Day

Labor Day for us was a day of relaxation & a day to get caught up on school work for Megan. We made a very familiar trip to Wal-Mart to get some groceries and took Nicole to get a hair cut. Megan has had homework coming out of her ears, so she didn't want to go with us. Instead, she stayed home a read her Jackie Robinson book. After we had lunch (quesadillas, chile, and chorizo), Kevin went down for a nap. Oh, how he LOVES his naps. Nicole, sat on the sofa & watched a movie. Later in the evening, Kevin & I went on our 5 mile walk and then came back home and had watermelon to cool off. Even though we didn't do much of anything, I had a great day with the people I love.

**I didn’t include a picture of Megan because she didn’t want me to take a picture of her. She is getting tired of me taking pictures. Maybe she will change her mind later.

My Nicole

My younger daughter, Nicole, is a sweet, loving, and caring creature. Anytime I need help, there she is to offer a helping hand. When I need to run a quick errand or run to the store, she always volunteers to go with me so that I won't have to go alone and because she simply likes being with me. :) She is a teenager who still wants to hang out with her Mommy. I love how she makes me feel so special and she brings such joy to my life.

Yesterday, when we came back from the cross country meet, Nicole & I spent some time in the kitchen baking, talking & hanging out. She pretty much made the cake by herself, except I cracked the eggs. (She is a "girly" girl & didn't want to break a nail or get her hands dirty.)

Running in Rome

Friday, we picked Nicole up from school and hit the road in route to Rome so that we could link up with Megan & her cross country team. Her school had their first cross country meet, so we all went to support her. SO many high school kids gathered from all over to participate in this event. Megan ran the 5K (3.10 miles) in 23:48. Her usual time is around 21:00, so she was a bit disappointed, but we were very proud of her. After all, out of 450 girls that ran, Megan came in as the 222nd girl. Are you wondering why we had to go all the way to Rome for a cross country meet?.... Well, it's where the Berry College Invitationals were held this year. Oh, did you think I was talking about Rome, Italy? No, I was talking about Rome, Georgia!

Washing the Truck

Kevin is excited today because after all of the rain we have been having, he finally gets a chance to wash his truck. I went outside to hang out with him for a few minutes but had to leave quickly because I happened to look down at my feet and there was an ENTIRE ARMY of ANTS crawling on my feet & they were racing up my legs & warm-up pants. I frightened Kevin when I began to yell at the top of my lungs. He didn't know what was going on, and I was having difficulty trying to get words out of my mouth; all I could do was yell. When he finally realized what was going on, he quickly grabbed the water hose to wash them off of me, but the water hose was not on. In desperation, I submerged my feet into the water Kevin was using to wash the truck, as to get the ants off of me. That worked for the ants on my feet but NOT for the vicious ants on my legs & warm-up pants. Sill, I was hooping & hollering and began to rip off my warm-up pants in our driveway. So that the neighbors wouldn’t see me, Kevin quickly led me inside the house where I was able get the ants completely off of me. Those ants meant business!!

The Power of Prayer

Are you experiencing some type of difficulty in your life today? If so, pray the prayer below. It is very powerful.

Dear Heart of Jesus:

In the past, I have asked for many favors. This time, I ask you this very special one (mention favor). Take it dear Jesus and place it within your own broken heart, where your father sees it. Then, in your merciful eyes, it will become your favor, not mine. Amen.

As you all know, we moved to Georgia and have a house in Kentucky in which we are obligated to make payments on. We prayed the prayer and asked the Sacred Heart of Jesus for help so that we could sell our house. We moved out of our home on August 7th, and would you know that we had TWO offers to buy the house on that same day! Two couples were competing for our home. It was amazing because one couple even offered to give us $2,000.00 more than what we were asking for. So, before we left Kentucky on August 8th, we started the paperwork to sell the house. Since it takes a while to close on a home, the purchasing couple has moved in, and they are paying us rent until the closing date. Isn’t it amazing?..... Coincidence? I think not!!

Say this prayer for 3 days, promise publication and your favor will be granted. Never known to fail.

No Walk Today

I didn't walk this morning not only because I was feeling sluggish but because it was wet and cool outside. Instead, I read a book about a woman who, only after her husband's death, discovers that he has utterly betrayed her. The book title is The Pilot's Wife, by Anita Shreve. It will make you wonder if you REALLY do know those people close to you. I have had this book for barely 24 hours & I only have two more chapters to read. It’s one of those books worth staying up late for....for me anyway, since I don't have to go to work tomorrow morning. :D

By the way, I had to stop reading the V.C. Andrew's book because it was giving me nightmares. Her writing is sinister and morbid, but I have to say that she has written some pretty good books.

Scrumptious

After I took the girls to school, Kevin & I went out for a little drive. I actually drove to Fort McPherson & didn't get lost! (Of course, Kevin was there to quickly inform me if I started taking a wrong turn; he's a backseat driver, you know.) After we took care of some business, we went into Atlanta to get a cinnamon roll from Cinnabon. Oh my gosh! If you have never tried a cinnamon roll from Cinnabon, you have to try one. They are absolutely fantastic and well worth every single calorie! Since Megan & Nicole weren’t with us, we brought several extra cinnamon rolls. They would have been furious with us if we wouldn’t have got one for them.