Morning, my "Blog Family"!  This is what I think of you ... my family!  I wish I knew who you were  ... individuals who frequently check out my blogs and articles!  Of course, I realize the importance of confidentiality on all levels so I respect this.  I just wish I could one-on-one with you more ... share your thoughts ... enjoy your personal input ... be your friend in times of need ... be that person you know you can come to with any issues in life ... someone who will never judge but only love on you!  It is my heart's desire!

Being there for others is exactly why God put me on the Mary Kay path.  It opens up the door for me to (i) share of His story in my life; (ii) encourage others to seek Him; (iii) be a friend to those in need; (iv) to encourage and uplift those who need it, and (v) many more reasons for which I am sure you do not have all day to hear about.  Seriously though ... I needed someone at some point in my life to be all of the above, plus some.  At times I was blessed to have this special someone and during other times I had to walk it alone.  The latter of the two, as you well know, can be both challenging and rewarding.  I am sure you do not have all day to hear my input into those times, but suffice it to say, I just want to be that someone for others who need it and lack it in life.

I have been up for the past hour or so, and I have accomplished much this morning.  It amazes me at times how those things we fight our hardest to reject ... we know that we know it is dumb ... it is a waste of time ... it is stupid ... and the list goes on ... ends up being exactly what we need.  I am referring to 'goal setting'.  I have shared with you previously how I never was good at setting goals.  I simply was not a long-term goal setter.  I thought ... for me ... it was stupid and a total waste of my time and energy.  Well, lo and behold, I have been put into situations over the past six months or so which have focused ... big time ... on goal setting.  Though I have walked this path begrudgingly ... this is putting it mildly ... I am finally beginning to see the bigger picture and the advantages of goal setting!  Ok, calm down ... I can be wrong at times and YES ... you can teach an old dog new tricks.  I will even go a step further to say that I have a list of goals I desire to set in different areas of my life ... spiritually (the most important), personally, professionally, financially ... and I am actually excited about the prospect of working on this.  I have had it on my mind all day, and I hope to get moving on this over the weekend.  Wow, I am actually going to do this ... LOL!

What is on your agenda this weekend?  I have a Mary Kay function mid-day, and then this afternoon my son and I are going out to dinner.  While out, we are going to work on getting a care package together for a family friend in need, and then commence on filling up two backpacks ... one for a girl and one for a boy ... for a missions project my son's senior class is doing.  I have a lot to get accomplished in this short 24-hour period, but at least I am making an attempt not to waste the time that God has so blessed me with.

One thing is for certain ... if I do not get off of here, then I will not achieve anything!  Have a great day!

Afternoon!  I normally do not write this time of the evening, but I miss you guys.  I have been so busy that writing in the mornings lately  has not panned out.  To be honest, I have gotten a bit lazy in getting up in the mornings.  I think I am a bit low on energy, so I finally returned to my regular usage of 7.2 and went to the doctor for a checkup.  Everything looks good ... blood pressure good ... heart rate good ... lungs good ... breathing good!  I have to go for my yearly in June, but for now all is good.  I even lost another 2 pounds ... I so love my 7.2!!!

I went last night to a meeting at my son's school for his senior trip.  Thank God that the fundraising they have done for this exact moment over the past few years has paid off.  His complete trip is paid for with a few dollars left over.  All I have to worry about is his spending money.  They will be gone for a week.  Big difference from our measly senior trip to King's Dominion for the day.  It was the first year they were opened, and at the time, this option for our senior trip was a big deal.  Just another example of how times have changed.

My son got his cap and gown over the weekend.  We tried it on, and ... you got it ... I had to hold back the tears!  It is so unrealistic for me to imagine him graduating and attending college.  He is still my little boy.  Just as it is hard for me to really accept that my daughter is the mother of three boys, two of which are grown and on their own.  Wow!  This all makes me seem so old but I am not!  In numbers maybe, but not in disposition and attitude.   Sometimes I actually fool myself into thinking I can do things I should not be doing ... smile:)!

Wasn't today just beautiful?  I am loving this weather, and it so inspires me to do things I have long overlooked.  I cannot wait to start my flower beds.  Working in the yard is great, but my husband really does most of the outside work.  We are still trying to get our kitchen finished.  I am about as frustrated as I can get with everything being so disorganized, but it will be well worth it when we are finished.

I learned a valuable lesson today.  I had been working with an individual on a certain matter for the past few days.  From the onset, they have proven to be rude, hateful, and just simply uncooperative.  It was taking its toll on me.  I was really struggling to do what was right and not to simply go off on them.  I am so thankful God laid it on my heart to push through and do the right thing.  Today I found out the reason for their disposition in life, and it is not an easy task they are enduring.  Now, do not get me wrong as I do not believe we have any excuse to be cruel, unkind, or disrespectful to anyone.  However, I do not know of one person ... including myself ... who has not been the one dishing out the negative behavior towards others at one time or another.  Finding out what I did today opened up the door for me to witness to this individual, and then show them God's love.  I only hope they take me up on my offers of assistance, and I ask we all hold this person up in prayer.  God is so good!

Need prayer also for another person who I just found out has brain cancer.  Such hard times ... we must join together in prayer!

Have a great evening!

It has been a very interesting week and continues to be so daily.  It amazes me at times the things that occur in your lives which are so out of your control.  During times as these, you can only press ahead ... giving it your best ... praying ... seeking His guidance ... and showing His joy!  I have His joy and it is what keeps me going.

I am starting a new Bible study tomorrow night with a group of ladies I have yet to meet.  I am looking forward to it.  We are studying the Book of Philippians.  I will be a week behind as they began last week, but I will catch up.  Trying to work out a time schedule for everything I have on my plate ... my study time with God ... my prayer time ... my family ... my job ... my Mary Kay business ... and the other day-to-day things which occur ... is getting a bit challenging but I am loving it.  I enjoy being busy.  It stops me from allowing the little things in life to become big things.  It takes the focus off of me and what I consider my problems in life, and it puts my attention where it needs to be ... on Him! 

Tomorrow evening my son and I will sit down to order his cap and gown, his announcements, and his invitations for his senior party.  Just thinking about it makes me all teary-eyed, but I am so excited for him.  He is struggling with some issues which he shared with me this week, so please keep him in prayer.  It is both exhilarating and fearful to embark on this new season in his life.  He wants to mature and become the person God created him to be, but he also wants to remain mommy's boy.  I think for awhile at least he can do a bit of both and get by with it.  What do you think?  He will always be my little boy no matter how old he gets.  Just as my daughter, who is married with grown sons, will always be my little girl.  They simply grow up in reality but never in our hearts.

I have jumped back in the saddle in getting my Mary Kay business off and running.  We have a conference coming up in Virginia Beach soon and I am excited to be a part of it.  I look forward to getting away for a few days to just have fun and laugh with other ladies.  I am staying an extra night just to have some quiet time.  I feel I so need it!

My brother ... the one who suffers with Parkinson's ... will be starting 7.2 this Saturday.  I am excited to watch his health improve.  I am confident 7.2 is going to give him a better quality of life.  I have heard how it helped someone with multiple sclerosis.  They commented 7.2 could be their cure for life.  I am hoping the same for my brother.  I will keep you posted.  I am going over to his house on Friday to get him started and go over everything with him.  I am psyched!

I started back on 7.2 on Monday, and I have already lost 2.5 pounds.  I had gotten off of it for a bit as I struggled with my addiction.  I could not focus on both at the same time.  Foolish, huh?  It is my character.  I work better when I only have to deal with one major crisis at a time.  Of course, as life has it more times than not, this is not the case.  I think we are all dealing with numerous eggs in our baskets these days and doing the best we can.

Ok, I have to run.  It is getting late and I am tired.  If I do not get my sleep, then I will not be worth anything and I will not accomplish much!  Have a blessed evening!