Livin’ Just Enough

By Lea Mishell

When an unfortunate incident separates her from Aaron Jones, her childhood sweetheart, Rachael “Baby Girl” Wallace finds comfort in the arms of handsome, charming and debonair Alonzo Banks. He’s just what Baby Girl needs to get Aaron out of her system once and for all.

When Aaron returns with one thing on his mind (getting his girlfriend back), he and Baby Girl soon learn that his grandmother is dying. As Baby Girl visits Big Mama on what turns out to be her last day on this earth, she is shocked by the older woman’s dying wish: for Baby Girl and Aaron to marry! Hoping to make Big Mama’s last thought a pleasant one, Baby Girl agrees. In turn, Aaron makes it his mission to do everything in his power to make his grandmother’s (and his) wish come true.

However, Alonzo has a different idea of whose wishes will come true…

Pre-order your copy today at http://www.leamishellauthor.net

 

Bucket List

I saw the blog for Bucket List Publications and started following it immediately.

The places that Lesley has visited are absolutely awesome and she kicks my butt into gear to go out there and make these things happen for myself.

Bucket List Publications’ goal is to “make the bucket list dreams of others come true”. That is absolutely awesome and a great thing to do for others.

I’m checking out their site to see the places visited and see what can be added to my bucket list that I haven’t even thought of that I can truly make a reality.

Actually, that’s exactly what I do – show people how to make their bucket list dreams become their bucket list reality. Whether it’s skydiving, swimming with the dolphins, building a bottle school in a third world country, vacationing in Fiji, or even just being able to throw the alarm clock away and never have to use it again (this is #1 on my bucket list)…all your dreams can actually become a reality. My goal is to share with everyone who is willing to know how simple it is to make this happen for themselves.

I was told that the best thing you can do for yourself is to dream big and then go out there and make it happen. I absolutely love that I can help others make that happen. It brings so much joy to me to see others happy, smiling, enjoying life and having a good time.

 My ever-growing bucket list (most things are places to visit): 
I’ll only list a few.

1. Throw away the alarm clock (more on this in another post)
2. Skydive
3. Swim with dolphins
4. Visit Fiji
5. Visit Tahiti
6. Tour of Italy
7. Tour of China
8. Voluntourism trips
9. Visit Thailand
10. Mediterranean cruise
11. Visit Rome
12. Scuba diving in coral reefs
13. Fantasy Special Ops Adventure
14. Visit Germany
15. Visit Israel
16. Visit Egypt
17. Visit Japan

 Most importantly, take my girls to places that most people only see on TV or read about in books.

 I’ll end with one of my favorite quotes:

 Life is like a book, and those who do not travel only read one page.

 I’m determined to read the WHOLE BOOK. Who wants to join me in the book club of life?

I’d love for you to take the journey with me,
Much love,
Queenie

A New Chapter

So this year for my birthday, I had so much going on that I didn’t get a chance to do a reflection email. After last year when I did my reflection email, I realized that I hadn’t made any real progress. I was doing the same thing the previous year.

But this year, this year was a definite change. This year for my birthday I was practically running our department. We didn’t have any leadership and I was asked to fill in. This was a good thing. This experience prepared me. Made a huge difference in my life. The tiring and exhausting experience made me a stronger and more confident person.

But before I go any further, let me make sure I say that it was all because of God. God made all of this possible. If it weren’t for Him, none of this would have been possible.

This experience made it possible for me to begin a new chapter in my life. I was able to quite my job, without looking back, without any regret, and walk through the door of an awesome opportunity that God opened for me.

I’m actually at an organization where they want to actually follow the rules and do the write thing. There are employees who really want to do their job and do a good job at it and not just do enough to get by. It’s great. It’s only been a week but it’s still great.

I can’t wait to see what I’ll be able to post at next year’s birthday reflection time.

On other notes:
Way behind in school assignments. I’m really going to have to get busy this weekend. I don’t think there’s any way possible to do 2 assignments this weekend but I’m sure going to try.
Pudds got her splint taken off. She was ecstatic about that. I guess I couldn’t have talked about it because the last time I posted it was 9/19 - the big break happened on 9/26. After she had gotten stuck in the tree on the 4th of July, I told her not to get back in it. Well, she did and fell and broke her wrist. Because of that, she missed out on learning to play the guitar and playing with her basketball team. I guess that’s what happens when you don’t follow directions.

Okay, it’s late and I’m getting sleepy so hopefully (I know, I say this every time) I will write sooner next time.

Do I Have To?

It’s that time of year again. HOMEWORK!! And I’m just not feeling it right now. I’m in the car, all the windows are down, there’s a slight breeze and the XM station Spa is playing. I think it has got me too relaxed. I’m supposed to be reading Linear Algebra while Pudds is in basketball practice. But everytime I put me head down to read, my eye lids get heavy and want to close.

A lot of the heavy eye lids may have something to do with the 4 hours of sleep I got last night. I hadn’t even thought about my lack of sleep until just now. I guess when you’re always on the go, there’s no time to think about when I’m going to get any rest. But my body will shut down in a minute and ask “do I have to do that?”
So I’ve mentioned that I’m taking Linear Algebra this semester. Well I’m also taking Calculus 3. I’ve already completed a chapter in that and it was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Definitely a lot easier than this linear algebra crap I’m doing.

I wanna ask: do I have to do linear algebra? But there’s no need – the answer will be yes if you want a degree in math.

Other DO I HAVE TO’s:
* …go to work tomorrow?
* …sit here and wait for this child to finish basketball practice? * …go back out tonight to pick up Pumpkins from volleyball game?
* …get up early (again) on a Saturday to drop a kid off at yet another school activity? * …help my mother with her moving sale? (I’m not doing this one) * …go out late tomorrow night to pick up Pumpkins from volleyball game?
* …think of something to cook for dinner? (Oh yeah, I’m off the hook for this one tonight & tomorrow – hubby will be doing this – LOVE YOU BABE!!!)

Alright, I better get back to reading this algebra so I can try and stay on schedule.

Until the next time – PEACE

Sent on the Now Network from my Sprint® BlackBerry

Day before….

It’s 1:25am and I’m still awake. I can’t believe it. I even took two benedryls and I’m still awake.

You know that feeling you get the DAY BEFORE school?

You know that feeling you get the DAY BEFORE you go on a big vacation that you’ve been waiting months for?

Well I think that’s my problem now. I’m having the DAY BEFORE syndrome.

In about 6 1/2 hours I have a meeting with someone about a possible new opportunity. I’m really excited about it. It’s like just when you’re thinking that there’s no hope, GOD comes along and opens that door for you.

But if I don’t get any sleep, I’m not too sure how well of a meeting this will be. I’ll just grab some caffeine in the morn and go with it and then just about the time I start to crash, I’ll call it a day and go home for a nap.

Well, until further news, praying that its good, I’ve gotta go.

Peace

Sent on the Now Network from my Sprint® BlackBerry

Time Flies

It’s been a really long time since I’ve done any posts. I have been so busy that I haven’t been able to breathe.

Wednesday night was the last of the track season – Thank God! It ended with the CYO Finals and Pumpkins did a great job. Especially with it being her first time ever running track. Although I believe she’s good at it and she makes it look effortless, she has vowed to never run track again. I guess volleyball will always be her passion.

Now we’re gearing up for graduation next week. I can’t believe she’ll be starting high school in the fall. Where in the world does the time go? When I look up again she’ll be graduating high school and getting ready for college.

Another parent and I are taking the 8th grade class on their 8th grade field trip on Monday. Everyone is excited. Especially the kids – they love amusement parks.

Well, I gotta get back to my homework. My semester ends Monday and I still have 4 more assignments to complete.

Peace

Sent on the Now Network from my Sprint® BlackBerry

A Longer Road

I’ve decided to not try and graduate in 2012. To do that, I’d have to go to school full time and take a class next summer. I was already pushing myself to the limit this semester trying to take 3 classes, work full-time and take the girls all over the city with them each playing volleyball in January and February and then with one doing track now and the other doing track and basketball now. There was no way I could turn in an assignment a week in two of my classes. So….I decided not to push myself, drop one of my classes this semester and only take 2 classes a semester until I graduate. I really hated dropping a class but I had to do it. This plan may push my graduation date back to 2014 but that’ll be okay with me. I’ll still be getting my degree and I won’t be more stressed than needed in the process. But if 2014 is the year for graduating, all 4 of us could be graduating: Me (bachelor of science in mathematics), Hubby (associates of science in criminal justice), Pumpkins (high school), and Pudds (8th grade). We’ll just have one huge party.

Well, that’s all I’m going to do right now even though it’s been over a month since my last post. I’m 3 weeks behind on one of my classes and all 3 assignments are due by the end of the week so I’ve gotta get busy.

I’ll have to write later and talk about a tragic incident that happened last week to one of Pudds’ best friend.

Happy Birthday Pudds!

Today my baby turned 10. When I asked her about it she said she didn’t feel like it. Said she felt like she was still 9. We just left having dinner (she wanted to go to Chili’s) and presented her with her cell phone. She’s really excited. Learning how to text and enter phone numbers. She’s in the back seat of the car now texting and giggling with her older sister.

The only downfall about her birthday is that every year she’s sick. But my baby is alive and that’s a true blessing. It’s moments like these that make me so happy to be a mother. I love my kids so much.

I had to explain to her though that during the school week, it’s an emergency only phone – no texting & chit-chatting. But on the weekend she can have free reign. This is just one more thing that can be taken away when she’s punished.

Since we’re almost home, I’m going to end this. When I get home I’ve gotta get more homework done.

Sent on the Now Network from my Sprint® BlackBerry

CHANGE

It’s 2010 and there will be a lot of changes this year. Is change good or bad? That’s all in the eye of the beholder. Take for instance, I’m making changes to the way we go about keeping our house clean. To be honest, in the past, it’s been mostly me doing the cleaning. I’m talking about the real cleaning. The down and dirty cleaning. The kids have mostly just been straightening. But they are about to be 10 and 14 so I think it’s about time that they know how to do the down and dirty cleaning. And there will be a strict punishment if the cleaning is not kept up. If I see anything out of place, that’s it – they are getting it. For me, this change is good. For the kids, not so much. But there comes a point in time when you get tired of the mess and if the old way isn’t working, then it’s time to make a change.

Something else that’s definitely different is that I just ordered Pudds a cell phone. She’ll be 10 in 2 weeks and next school year she will definitely need one because her sister will be in high school. She will be having to walk after school by herself and will need a phone for communication with me and in case of an emergency. Her sister will probably get upset because she didn’t get a phone until she was 12 but things change. Situations change. If she starts having an attitude about it, I’ll take her phone from her. Heck, I didn’t get my first cell phone until I was 20 years old. And I had to get it myself. My mommy and daddy didn’t get me anything. These kids now a days are so spoiled (so blessed) and they just don’t realize it.

There’s also going to be less tv watching, less game playing, less phone texting and less computer time. And yes, that goes for mommy too. This is the first week of their 3^rd quarter and they were both close (2 B’s away) from getting straight A’s. So, if we make some changes, maybe they’ll get straight A’s the next two quarters. We can strive for it at least. Also, I start back to school on 1/29 and I really want to stay on track this semester. Every semester I get better at staying on track and getting everything done but it never fails that by the end, I’m still hustling trying to get a lot of work done and I get stressed. I really want to save myself from that. Semester ends 5/14 and I’ll have a whole 3 months off. I haven’t that since I went back in 4/08. It will be so nice but I won’t know what to do with myself. It’ll be a great time to get a lot of stuff done around the house, spend time with the kids since they’ll be out for summer break and do a lot of reading.

 Another change that is really good is that hubby has started school. I never thought he would but he put that foot on out there and stepped. I’m proud of him though. He got an A+ on his first assignment in History. I’m taking history this semester, he might have to help me. LOL!

Looking forward to my furlough. To help with budget, our company has made everyone take a mandatory week furlough. I’m not complaining about it because I still have a job. But not getting paid that week will really make the budget go crazy. And this is the 2^nd/3^rd year without a raise. That hurts too when the price of everything else around us is continually going up. But like I said before, I have a job. I’m a lot better off than a lot of other people who are also struggling. So thank you God!!!!

Well, time to get ready for bible study. Won’t be able to make a lot of them because this is volleyball season for the girls. So whenever at all possible, I’m going to go. Get some word from the Lord on how to live an impactful life.

It’s a New Year – 2010

It’s a new year and with that comes a re-evaluation of our lives. One of the biggest things people talk about at the beginning of a new year is losing weight. Well, I’ve been on that journey since May 2009. I started out at 209 lbs and am now down to 185 lbs. That’s a loss of 24 lbs. My goal is to be down another 35 lbs. by May 1, 2010.

Wow! Looking at my goal in writing let’s me know that I’ve got to get to work. That’s 8.75 lbs per month that I’ve got to lose to meet my goal. This journey has not been easy and the rest won’t be any easier. If anything, it’s going to be harder but I know that I can do it. I’m only 33 years old and I need to be a lot healthier. Not just for me but for my family as well.

Other changes we’re making is making sure we carve out time everyday and spend it with God. It’s important that we focus on him and keep our focus on him. Everything we do and everything we have is only possible because of God. He’s our everything and it’s important that we remember that. The girls and I will have bible study time together 3 times a week. It’ll be the first thing we do when we walk through the door in the evening before we start on homework and before I start on dinner.

Pastor has been talking about how important it is that we have a vision. So I’m going to be writing out my vision for this year. Praying to God to show me what that vision is. Asking him what it is he’d have for me to accomplish this year.

Hubby will be starting school this month. He’s been nervous about it. He hasn’t attended college since the fall semester of 1995. I’ve been doing my best to encourage him and to let him know that he’s doing the right thing. Even though he’s nervous about it, I think he’s also a little excited about it. But I don’t think he’d admit to it.

Well, it’s time for bed. I’m going to have an extremely BUSY month at work since the end of the calendar year has passed. Gotta get my sleep so I can have strength and power to make it through the day.

May God keep you and bless you until the next time, (you know it’ll be in a couple of months-lol),

Queenie

Sent on the Now Network from my Sprint® BlackBerry