Entering the Next Chapter

So often we label ourselves as certain things and with certain thing. These labels can be good and they can be bad, it all depends what we do with the label once we stamp ourselves with it.  Flash back to eight years ago: "I have Bipolar." The words stung. I had been fearing saying the words out loud with the fear that once I put them out into the air they would become real. Once they I said it I felt the immediate need to try and grab them and pull them back. Take back what was beginning to unravel me. I felt my confidence in my identity begin to be stripped away. I was exposed and no longer was able to hide behind the my walls of humor, false happiness, and confidence. I had been hearing my doctors and my parents saying it for days but I hadn't been able to mutter the very same words. They seemed to be an object that I could not understand or grasp, a hologram in my midst. I would now have to go through the process of finding out what it truly meant to me, to soci...

We have reached a sad time in our society. We live in a place that prefers political correctness over truth. We are taught that we each have personal rights and truths, and that we should not disrespect or push our truths onto others... recently is has gone even further than that... It has gotten to a point where if your truth is not the world's truth you should hide it, in order to hide it and keep the peace. Last week, as I was listening to Bott Radio Network, I heard a news story that grabbed my attention. LSU had photoshopped out the crosses, on some students shoulders, as to not offend non-Christians. What was even more shocking is the fact that LSU used to be a seminary.... So how does a college, previously a seminary, become so fearful of the reactions of some people that they go against freedom of religion and freedom of speech? This is the before and after I know that LSU has issued an apology and that this is old news, but I am more focused on the implications of...

Dear Friday, Thank you for bringing the Fall weather with you. Thank you for bringing pay day with you. Thank you for bringing my hubby with you. Dear Minty Gum, Thank you for keeping me from cramming handfuls of chips and popcorn in my mouth. You have saved me from so many calories and on top of that you make my breath minty fresh. I think I will keep you close by for a while. Dear School Year, I am so glad that we have finished first quarter and I still have my sanity... well at least most of it. Dear Girls, Thank you for being so well behaved and sweet. You are the best daughters in the world... not to mention the cutest... I might be a little biased though. :) Dear Hubby, I have missed you so much when you work nights, but I am glad that we get to have a date tomorrow and next week. Also, thank you for knowing me so well... and for watching the girls for me tonight. Dear Erika, I am so excited to go to see Les Miserables with you tonight. I am super excite...

I have a real passion for baking and cooking, but I have no background skills. I love to expand my horizons and try new recipes and adjust them to what my picky family will like. I recently picked up a Food Network Magazine and noticed something I love. Near the front of their magazine they have a layout of all of the recipes with pictures and page numbers. My daughter, Abbie,  and I went through all the recipes picking several we wanted to try. Almost every day we did a new recipe and they were so delicious. I am hoping that I get a subscription to the Food Network Magazine for Christmas... and maybe a gift card or two to the local store.  I figured I would go through and post the pics and the links to the recipes for everyone. Just click on the name of the recipe to be redirected to the recipe.  Easy Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese Croutons This was so delicious. I did blend it before adding the Orzo, because my family doesn't like chunks of tomato or onion. ...

It isn't very often that my husband becomes concerned about me, but recently he was asking me about my blogging. I told him I haven't written anything in a while and he was concerned. It is not like me to not want to communicate, write, and process things openly. He has been telling me that I need to write a blog post and has even been trying to give me ideas, which slightly annoyed and confused me since he doesn't even read my writings.  I have battled depression and anxiety since I was in high school. One of my first signs of slipping into it is when I become withdrawn... isolated.. and tired. Don't get me wrong, I don't feel depressed, but I do know that these are warning signs. The best way I have controlled my anxiety and depression is by being proactive. When I feel like isolating, I make myself get out. When I feel like sleeping all the time, I make myself wake up on a schedule. Things like this, along with recognizing my warning signs have made a huge diff...

I decided to take Abbie to the bookstore a little over a week ago, on Friday September 21st. I was in hope of finding some book series that I could get her to read that would spark a love of reading. I naturally do not have a love for reading but rather lothe it.  When I was growing up I had several issues with reading and never truly felt sucked into a book like I would hear other describe. The star wars book were a huge solution to my parents struggle to get my oldest brother to read. He founds something he connected with and had a passion for. I want that for Abbie. We picked her up a book about a mermaid. We have yet to start it due to the chapter books she has to read for school. I am hoping to get back into the rhythm of things at home. I also decided that it is important for her to see me reading more, if I want her to read. I love reading the Bible and get so much from it but if faking a passion for reading would help her it is worth it. It might also teach me more discipli...

Laying in bed I had the weight of my guilt, my inadequacies, my frustration, my disappointment, and my sadness sitting on my chest and making it difficult to breathe. The outward expression of my emotions resulted in a physical pain. What I was feeling was the darkness of defeat.  A few weeks ago, the financial strain in our home was overwhelming. Due to being a slow season, my husband's job had cut him down to ten hours a week. We knew that it wouldn't cover the bills and agreed that my husband had to look for another job. He found a full time night position that is located a little further away. I was nervous about him being gone every night and was worried that I wouldn't be able to keep the girls quiet during the day when he was sleeping. Due to his other job only needing him a couple hours a day he said he would keep both jobs. Before he even began his first day his day job became very busy and needs him to work not only full time, but a little overtime. He is...