Date: 2007-11-29 08:20 Subject: I've been waiting... Security: Public Mood: peaceful

On turning 40 I have some thoughts and ponderings to share...

Life is too short...I say live big, smell the roses and bask.

When you add another person you love to your life...it takes nothing from those you already love...you just grow more.

Never pass up the chance to nuzzle a baby...that smell is a gift from God.

Always say "I love you" to your loved ones upon parting...they may already know, but what if they didn't?

If the two of you always agree on everything, then one of you isn't necessary.

All of my loved ones make me feel necessary.

Men and women ARE different...Thank Goodness!

Being angry is healthy and acceptable...being bitter only hurts you.

Work at a job you enjoy...not the everyday "I LOVE MY JOB" thing...just do something with a feeling of accomplishment and know you are contributing your best to the world...if you don't feel that way...get a new job.

Enjoy your time with your children...they grow up quickly and you will miss them being underfoot and loud and messy...when it's too late you may realize that those years were the short period of time when YOU were the most important thing in their world and they truly believed you had all the answers...is work...buts it's good work if you can get it.

Always tell the people who make a difference in your life...that they make a difference.

My Aunt Gail told me something once. During the year I turned 15, when I was truly experiencing the most traumatic event of my young life, she comforted me and gave me this gift: "You'll be okay sweetheart, just remember...when you turn 40 you can do anything you want." Those words have truly comforted me...then and during some of the more painful times in my life when I was quite sure that life consisted only of pain and sadness. Now on the eve of that momentous occasion, I find my life is very nearly exactly what I wished for myself 25 years ago...and I truly can do anything I want. My life is blessed and I am happy and safe. I will be sitting down this evening with a pen and paper to write Aunt Gail a nice long letter to tell her what her gift has meant to me all these years. I don't know that she even remembers that conversation, but for me it has been a beacon of hope and source of strength for many years. She needs to know that for me, she made a wonderful difference.

Date: 2006-10-18 07:24 Subject: I passed! Security: Public

Im so darn proud of me I could bust! I passed that horrendous painful long grueling CMA exam...whew! Only three more to go! I was so stressed out I made myself sick...then I passed the first try! I looked at the pass rates for this exam...get this 56% pass the first try. yayayaya me!

Date: 2006-09-27 10:27 Subject: The Book - kids say the darndest things Security: Public

My fourteen year old is very tall. Freakishly tall. At 6'3" he towers over most everyone including myself and his Step-Dad Dan. While venturing out the bookstore for an English-German dictionary, Dan was playfully lecturing and informing Dillon that he was planning to take him off at the knees to level the playing field a bit. Dillon promptly retorted..."yeah well, ya better pack a lunch and bring a ladder." Witty witty brave young one he is.