Friends

Ever have that friend who knows you at times better than you know yourself? I have that in a couple of friends. And consider myself so lucky for it!

I heard a couple of sayings related to friendships and thought I would pass them on. Season, Reason or Lifetime. I have been blessed with several of each of these. I have had friends for the moment in my life, I have had friends who were there to support me or vice versa for a reason. I have been blessed with several lifetime friends too.

Second is Friendship isn't about loving a perfect person it's about loving an imperfect person perfectly. I can consider myself a lucky girl when I say I have friends now that I have had forever it seems, who love me, all of me. The GOOD side, BAD side and even the UGLY side.

Growing up, i didn't have many"connected" friends. I had alot of acquaintances, that have made who I am so i will never take back, but they never figured out what made me tick or could understand me. Into adult hood God has blessed me with wonderful friends, some have lasted since younger days and some have come into my life recently and each of them are special and provide me with joy, love and sheer happiness.

For the last week I have been in Arizona with my lifetime best friend Donna and her family. I have known Donna since I was 12 and mouthy and hating pretty much everybody in my life. And she was there to provide comfort, safety, security and laughter. Now almost 20 yrs later she still provides me comfort from the storms of my life, love and more laughter than I know how to deal with. She is confidant, a strength, a listener a comedian. I love her for all that she has provided and continues to bring into my life and now my children's life.

I am forever grateful for the day God brought her into my life. I really can say I wouldn't be where I am and who I am without her strength and convictions. I also wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for the strength and laughter my "circle' of friends I have now bring into my life on a daily basis. Just knowing each lady is there, a phone call away, especially at 4pm or the wee hours of the day/night to support me, to laugh with, to complain to. I have wonderful friends. I pray that we will be lifetime friends.

I'm getting old

So this week I am in Northern Arizona for a graduation. My best friend Donna, her son Matthew graduated from highschool last night. I have known Matthew since he was 2. I lived pretty much with his family through most of my teenage yrs and adulthood. It was so surreal and bittersweet. I watched him walk across the stage to get his dipolma and thought that's my Matthew, my buddy. He's seventeen now, no longer plays with his Thomas trains, or legos nor wants me to comb my fingers through his hair and read him a bedtime story. My buddy is growing up. And in reality that means so am I. But we won't talk about that now....

It maks me happy to see that he is an AMAZING boy with a wonderful heart and a great head on his shoulders. I can just pray that the decision and life's choices he has to make from here forward he will use those things to help guide him. I love you Matthew. Chino Valley class of 2009. You'll always be my buddy no matter how big you get and emabrressed you are by the nick name.

My foot..the saga continues

So my final pin was pulled from my operated foot last Thurs, almost a week ago. I have tried everyday since then to go for a walk. Short walks, not hard long ones.
As a RN I have to be able to walk..ALOT. So I'm trying to slowly get into working walking form. Well let's just say that isn't happening and I am very frustrated. I don't know if it's that I don't due slow down and take it easy well, or if this abnormal and I should be able to take small walks without the agony and tightness that I feel. I'm disheartened. I figured pull the pins life would start getting back to normal and it's not. I still feel helpless at times, I hate the constant and chronic limp I have, I hate that I still have to take pain meds at night when life gets unbearable. I know in the sceme of things having a foot problem isn't the end of the world, but when your livelhood rests on your feet and walking makes you cry. It's a scary place.

Death and Dying

So last week my best friend Donna's dad died after a 2 yr battle with a brain tumor. It was such a bittersweet moment. I was the call she made the day they got the diagnosis with "What does this mean?" And I was the call telling me he was gone.

As an Oncology Nurse I deal with medicine, death and dying daily and I wouldn't trade what I do for a living, ever. I look at it as though a Labor and Delivery nurse is there to make a birth happen, to make that moment a celebration, I as an Oncology nurse am there to make the end, not a celebration, but a time of peace, reflection to allow for that transition from this place to a better place easier on you as a patient and your families. Being "that" person I cherish it, but with the death of Jon made me realize I can deal with what I deal with on a daily basis because I have a firm faith that they are in much better place than they ever where here. There is no more suffering only happiness, there are no more tears only joy, there is no more hate only love. They have left here to find their place among angels. And that realization makes me a better person everyday.

I love Donna and her family and wish them memories to bring them smiles, peace to give them comfort and all the LOVE I can send. Jon is no longer here, but forever he will be in the hearts of those you had the honor and privledge of knowing him. I hope your party in heaven is all you wanted.

A weeks worth of Misc things

I really didn't have an exciting week, it really seems to be another week, like all the other weeks I have had since my foot surgery. But I wanted to sit down and write a few things. So here it goes.
Haley has gone a week without sleeping in a Pull-up. I have become so OCD about it though. I wake about 4x's a night checking on her, checking the bed etc. UGH, she maybe sleeping but I'm surely not. I can't believe she's in panties. Soon she'll be in preschool and then school. I can't wait for the new adventures that will come with each new stage in her life. It's exciting.
I went to a Channel 93.3 radio station concert last night with other girlfriends. We had a great time, but being of the age where I could've given birth to half the audience made me sit back realize that if one of my daughters EVER steeped foot outside in what "little" outfits some of these teenage girls had on, there will be hell to pay somewhere.
I was SHOCKED that some mother or father let there teenager out of the house unchaperoned to such a place with their boyfriend/girlfriend in next to no clothes. I'm so the prudish parent and I have just decided I'm OK with that. If being cool means I have to allow my daughter, as a teenager to dress and act like a street walker, well bring on the locks, because home bound is where my kids will be. It was an eye opening night to say the least.
Alyssa is finishing up state testing. She hates it, she's tried twice this week to say she feels like she's going to throw up. So I told her when she starts we'll talk until then off to school.
Eric still doesn't have a job, he's doing better about doing things around the house, which has made my life a little less stressful. If we had more money it would even be better.
Well that's my life in a nutshell this week. Hope you guys had a great week.

A weeks worth of SMILES

In high school, long long ago...I had a very close friend named Andrew. Andrew and I were attached at the hip, we tried the dating thing it never worked out but we were wonderful friends. He knew me, better than I knew myself some days. We lost track of each other after high school. I figured that would be it. I was sad knowing I may never see or hear from him again, but that wasn't how it was to be. I found him, WOOO WHOO about a month ago. We met had lunch talked forever and now are regularly corresponding. :) It makes me SOOOO happy!

Anyways as well as Andrew I hung out with Stina, Laura, Annie and David, pretty much from junior high all the way through high school. Laura found me on FACEBOOK and emailed me. I replied and I got a phone call from her this morning. 2 hrs we talked and talked and talked and caught up. It's been 15 yrs and I felt like I was in high school again. What a wonderful morning of reminiscing and laughing. So this week I got an email from Andrew and a phone call from Laura. AWWW, what a week to smile! So cheesy I know, but I LIVE for moments like this.

Renegades 2009 8u CHAMPS!!

They did it!! The girls at the end of a LONG night beat the Frozen ropes to win the 8 under Championship. we lost the first game, but since the series is double elimination the other team had to beat us 2 times. So at 7:05 pm began the second game. we were down 4-0 at one point, but we had ot play a full 7 innings(LONG considering most of our games during the season only went 4 innings) and this was the #2 game of the night. So we slowly came up is was 4-2 and we were up in the bottom of the 7th (this was it, if we don't bring it here were gone) So no outs, top of our line up. Bases loaded, and the lights shut off. It's 9:15 pm and the girls are done the parents are done and now we have to wait for somebody to find somebody in the city to turn them back one. We eventually find somebody in the city to turn them on but they have to warm up. So we waste 15mins waiting for them to flip back on. The coaches discussed calling the game which meant we would've had to have started all over again, today at 8 am. They decided since there was only 10 mins or so left to finish it out and THANK GOD they did. One batter after another, 3 runs in back to back. We won 5-4. The parents went nuts, the coaches went nuts, it was an AMAZING end to a wonderful season. Thank you to everybody who made it so memorable!!

Alyssa rocked, she hit her first 2 AMAZING hits of the season. She hit a double and a single. I am so proud of the accomplisments and goals she has reached this season! She got a game ball at today's team party for the hits, for the most improved player. Yeah!! My big girl got some reconigtion. It's such an wonderful feeling!! Her and her team were presented with the 8 and under CHAMPIONSHIP trophies today as well as there team trophies. Alyssa was grinning from ear to ear....Yeah!! :) What a great fri and sat this week has given us! We are a lucky family!