Happy Spring!

I can't belive it's been over 3 months since I've posted..I'm a bad girl! LOL

You have not really missed much..The only major change is that I am no longer working at the scrapbook store. It is for the best, gas keeps going up and my paycheck was not, plus all the miles I'm saving on my car :)  It was a bit of a shock that I was let go..fist time in 20 years I was let go from a job!! but  I was not really happy there and I guess it showed in my additude.. I'm now focusing on what's next ! I would love to start my own Itsy shop and sell online but I have alot of research to do before I leap into that!

I've been taking a painting class online and am loving it! Donna Downey rocks!! I can't wait to start playing for this month's canvas! Love getting paint everywhere..this month I got to remember to pull my hair back and wear an apron..seriously..I got paint in my hair and all over my shirt and hands from flicking it!!But it was fun!! LOL
Spring has officially hit WV and it came by way of 80 degree temps for over a week! My allergies went haywire and I spent 3 days on my back in bed. I have since changed my allergy medicine and I'm feeling better. Hoping it lasts when I go to NJ at the end of the week..the trees are not out as they are here and I don't want to end up like I was last week! Not fun but unfortunately it happens every year.
We are set for Easter break here next week and I am looking forward to spending a few days with my family..I thought after 2 years I would be use to it but I'm not..seems every day goes by I'm more homesick :(
I hope you all have a wonderful, blessed Easter! I'll check back with photos after I get back!

Happy New Year!

Hello Friends,

My girls and I ringing in 2012!

Well, another year has gone by and what a year it was...We saw many things come to pass in 2011..Gas prices have stayed over $3.00, After 10 years of looking, Osama Bin Laden was killed by Navy Seals, we honored and mourned like it was yesterday, the 10th Anniversary of 9/11. Our economic health is still faltering and has caused many to loose everything. Our family struggles day to day providing for our girls..thank God for our landlord who has been so generous when we get behind.

As we pass into 2012 I see a hope and a bright future. I can only pray that it will come to be..I know that God will provide in his time, he already has..I made the decision to end my almost 20 year career in EMS due to my health. He found a new job for me that I love, working in a scrapbooking store and while the pay isn't the greatest and it's almost an hour away, I LOVE helping people preserving their memories..When God closes one door, He always opens a new one. I have found my new path and anxiously await what new surprises He has in store for me!

As I ponder what 40 is going to be for me I have realized a few things..
I need to take better care of me!! I have always provided better for everyone else..I need to get myself healthier, not because I want to look better..but because I want to LIVE longer! I want to be around for my kids, I want to be there for them like my Mom has been there for me! My greatest fear in life is dying before my children are grown and on their own! While I can't predict when God is going to call me home, I can improve my odds of a longer life by taking care of myself!!

I need to get our finances in order..I need to take control once and for all!!

I need a better relationship with my husband. I know he loves me but sometimes I would like to be shown that I am appreciated and loved..it seems to me after 10 years of marriage he has forgotten how. Why is it that way??

I need to learn to be a friend...I have never been really great at it. When I find someone that I can let my guard down with and open up to it always ends with dissappointment and hurt. I know God sends us someone for a reason, to learn from but the hurt has made me go farther into a shell like a hermit..I don't want to be this way but it's comfortable!

I need to continue to nuture my relationship with God!! This above anything else is my top priority this year!! I know God can fix everything else if I just give it to Him and have faith!

So there it is...my list..and if you noticed.. I said Need, not want! I need to do these things for Me and for my happiness, not for anyone else! If someone else is blessed by my needs then that is a double blessing!!

So what are your needs for 2012??

Merry Christmas!

It's so good to be home for Christmas! We had a long day filled with lots of love, presents, noise, food and a whole lot of food!

My Mom decided to try and stop the girls from seeing if Santa came...Once she got to the table, Faith ran around the other side and out to the living room!

Emilee is patiently waiting for the go ahead to start opening her gifts!

Faith decided she was going to open her biggest gift first!

Emilee reminded me so much of myself at Christmas when I was younger. She relished opening every gift, making sure to look at it and see what it was and even thank me for each one..

Faith on the other hand takes after her Uncle Ed..She tore into the paper, ripped it open, then tossed it aside to open a new one!

My nephews and niece opening their gifts from Mom Mom and Pop Pop.

The kiddos after opening their gifts! They loved all their presents that Santa and Mom Mom and Pop Pop gave them!

the day after Christmas we went to see Disney On Ice in Philadelphia.

Miss Maggie is patiently waiting for the show to begin.

My nephew Eddie..he didnt want me to take his picture..until I put it in his face from behind!

Trevor eating his pretzel..He was trying to smile :)

My girls :)

My brother and Mom..doesn't my brother look so thrilled ?

and so it starts..first Princess is Tiana..

Mickey

Tiana

And this is the last photo I have...My camera died.. literally. The switch and motor died..I am so upset!! My brother's girlfriend took a lot of pictures so I am waiting for copies..

We still had a good time and it was a great show featuring Tiana, Cinderella and Repunzel!

I'm 40!!

Where has the time gone?? I can't believe I'm 40!! It's funny my Aunt Charlotte who is almost 80 once told me that she has never felt her age..She still feels like she's 20..One of the many secrets to aging well I suppose!
My kids have been hand scribbling Happy Birthday on coloring pages..They are so sweet.

My girls are so sweet :) Love them so!

I feel in my heart that 40 is going to be fabulous! Here are a few things I have figured out :

I am more comfortable in my skin..I don't care what others think! I wish I had learned this earlier! LOL

Family is the MOST IMPORTANT thing in my life!!

I realized how lucky I am to have a family that actually likes each other and spends the holidays together..it's hard to believe that many families don't!

While I am sad that my career in EMS has come to an end, I am excited for the new things I am doing!

I am a Scrapbook Artist!! And LOVE what I do!

I need to get myself healthy! No more excuses! I need to be here for my kids!

I thank God that I am who I am..I'm so thankful that I am a child of God and for the blessings that He has given me..I want a better, richer relationship with Him. I know that the things I have learned about myself and others is because my walk with Him!
I can't wait to see what this new decade brings me!

Happy Birthday Faith!

9 years ago today God provided my family a miracle...Faith was born at 4:33 pm in the afternoon after a relatively easy labor. I felt over joyed that she was finally here and healthy..All the worries about the pregnancy and the infamous cyst that had taken my joy about being pregnant were gone the second the doctor told me she was out! I didn't get to hold her until an hour later when she got the clean bill of health!

Here is my beautiful girl on her 9th birthday! Time has surely flown by..

This is her latest favorite outfit! She loves that the girl looks like her and it has New York on it..She loves NYC! I'm surprised that she likes it so much since it's not pink!

 So Faith decided that she wanted lasagna for her Birthday dinner since in her words, I have not made it in 2 years! LOL  I have so made it !!

She also decided she wanted Chocolate cake with chocolate icing with pink icing writing on her cake..I did the best I know how..LOL I am not a baker, but it was good!

Birthday fairy blowing her birthday candle out..

Opening presents..

She was soooo excited to get her Figit!

Figit is a BIG hit!!

At the end of her big day with her 2 new best friends!

Happy Birthday Faith!! I love you so very much!!

9/11/01 ~ 9/11/11 10th Anniversary

It's hard to believe it's been 10 years since the Terror Attacks on our nation. I remember like it was yesterday where I was and how my day unfolded the moment I learned that our Country had been attacked. I was actually sleeping during those fateful minutes before the towers fell. My soon to be hubby came in from working night shift to wake me up and to turn on the tv. I was transfixed to the tv and relived those horrific moments of the planes crashing into the first tower, then the second and the eventual falling of both towers. Soon after the chaos began my pager for the Rescue Squad went off telling all members to call the station. In that split second without a hesitation, I called. I was advised to gather some necessaties and come to the squad. It was there I remained for several hours waiting to be deployed to NYC to help my fellow brothers and sisters..A call that wouldn't come till a day later. Our Rescue Squad sent 2 trucks as well as fire trucks from our township to Jets Stadium where they would be dispatched to where they were needed. Once they got there they were told to go home. The hope of finding people alive were fading and the operation turned into a recovery effort. Our Squad did eventally send a crew to Ground Zero but not to do what we hoped to do..to save a life..but to be used as support..bandaging cuts and giving the firemen and iron workers relief supplies. I was scheduled to go, to do my part but was never needed.
If my service was needed today I would do my part and do what I was trained to do! Many people asked me how can you risk you life for a job that can sometimes bring you to the worst times in someone's life! I was called to do this..It's a job where you can have the best triumph and welcome a baby ino the world and on the same day watch someone die before your eyes no matter the care you provide! I was blessed to be a part of those moments. Those moments made me more grateful for the special moments I have with my family.
As we remember those lost that fateful day let's also be thankful and grateful for all of the service men and women who serve our country and all the Police, Fire and EMS who risk their lives every day for our safety and well being! I feel honored to have been a part of this community for the past 19 years and though I can no longer serve my community my heart will always be with them!

A Quick Trip to the Beach

I can't believe that summer is over! It surely does feel like it, it is 59 out and raining with more on the way! This past weekend I took Lindsey back to NJ and stayed for a short weekend. Saturday I took the girls and my Mom to the Strathmere beach. It was beautiful out but a bit windy, especially right along the water. Faith and Emilee LOVED the beach!! Faith loved the water and Emilee loved the beach! The water was warm when you got use to it but the breeze was chilly. Faith did not care! She wanted to spend all her time in the water! LOL Emilee got splashed in the face with a wave and after that she din't want any part of it. She spent the rest of her time on the beach getting sand in every oriface of her body! LOL She had it in her hair, ears..pretty much everywhere!

You can see Ocean City and Atlantic City from where we were.

Emilee is not too sure about the water..

A little more sure of the water..

Playing in the sand..

Loving the sand..

Gathering water..

A head full of sand!!

Emilee, showing off all her sand!

Faith showing off her sandy legs!!