I Hope You Dance-Lee Ann Womack

This is what I hope for you this new year of 2012; a classic by Lee Ann Womack. When things get tough and confusing, when things seem to have no meaning and you feel no one is supporting you, when you don't want to try anymore and you feel misunderstood, when something unexpected happens and you think you're close to the edge, when you have tried your hardest and you think you have no more strength, when your hope is fading and you feel you are just coasting through life-Dance.

Read more...

My Highlights of 2011

Highlights of 2011

1) I was jobless in the beginning of January after moving to Virginia 6 months prior.

2) My husband and I started the year rocky to the point of what felt like Emotional death.

3) My kids were thriving in their new school and kept me having well needed laughs.

4) I was still jobless and decided......I now have time to do what I have always wanted to do and start my own Foundation.

5) I worked out for three consecutive months.

6) I saved up enough money to visit my family in New York with my children.

7) My husband initiated and asked the head of his company if I could go along with him to Myrtle Beach, on his work project for the week. It was a second honeymoon and a MUCH needed vacation for us and I had some alone time on the beach.

8) The children made a plan for how they wanted to spend their summer and my husband and I were able to check off 3/4 ths of their summer plans that were accomplished.

9) I cried almost everyday from not working.

10) My Foundation was approved and registered with the State of Virginia.

11) I fasted and prayed for 30 days of liquids only. It ended on a Saturday.

12) That following Wednesday (three days later) I received a phone call for a job offer in my field for Counseling/Therapy.

13) I had a Blog Party in celebration of my blog (LEA) for its two year anniversary.

14) We all went to New York to visit my family for Thanksgiving.

15) I love my work.

16) I celebrated my 2nd anniversary Blog Party for my humanitarian giving blog/foundation.

17) We celebrated Christmas with my husband's family in Virginia.

18) For Christmas my husband and I made an agreement to buy our kids and family/close friends gifts. Our gifts will come in the new year (when there are greater deals :) Until then, I gave him "Married Coupons" and I requested a "Love Letter", of which I received this week. Long time in coming but it was beautiful and at least I got it, right?

19) I still love my job.

*Lesson's learned last year: Cry when you need to cry; when things do not work out as planned, create another plan; be creative with the things you love to do most; do some humanitarian giving; spend time with you family, no matter what, because you need to be around them; Sometimes when things get rocky in your relationship, one of you has to make a drastic move towards positivity; stay spiritual, it's positive energy; remember in good times and bad to try to be consistent on meeting the needs of your children, they are covertly helping you as well; lastly, don't give up on your spouse.

Read more...

Well wishes for the holidays.

I hope you all have a great holiday filled with love, good health, financial wealth and answered wishes.

We downsized from a three bedroom to a two bedroom apartment to save money. I'm glad we kept the two baths, especially with three "men" in the house. I was in the holiday spirit and decorated the outside of our door. I think I may have over done it, my poor neighbors.



I also decorated our tree with the same decor that has lasted three years now. It makes our new apartment look so warm and beautiful.

Don't worry about the presents. We are in the middle of translating the funds in fun gifts for the kids. Unfortunately, my older son lost his DSI in the movie theater. Of course we will have to replace it. He cried for a long time. I was going to stop him but realized it's the same feeling when we grown ups loose our phone. It was heart wrenching to watch and I could only imagine what he felt, so I let him get it all out.

My husband and I will have to wrap a card that says "Coupon for a DSI redeemable in January 2012". We can't afford it this Christmas but we can when the sales are on. Thank God he is an understanding kid.

I'll have my last blog for the year next week. It will be about the events of 2011, highlights on LEA and behind the scenes of LEA. You won't want to miss that. Until then, "Have a Wonderful Holiday Season!

Read more...

One & Only-Adele

Another great love song by Adele. I am also riding the Adele train to stardom.

Read more...

"Hope"-Twista ft. Faith Evans

My husband and I are putting together a Fundraising Dinner for our scholarship program. Working together can be a challenge because we have such different ideas and ways of doing things. Here we are life partners and we can't even be partners in a momentary task. I'm sure you understand what I am experiencing.

Why did I even decide to do this? My heart is in the right place. But why so much conflict. I expected friction but the other day in the car I said I just can't speak anymore and that's big for me. I love to talk! (Hence my blog as therapy). I'm starting to feel better just having you listen. Plus I didn't mention to you that I have two family members in the hospital and news of another stressful event.

So what drove me to the edge? These stressers and how all along I have been communicating about this event, which is tomorrow. I expected we have been on the same page as there was no disagreement but apparent signs of active listening and participation. So what happens this week? He asked me a question that we discussed earlier last month. Then he made a comment later that told me something wasn't taken care of. It was the perfect scenario to express what I should have communicated a while ago but it came out to the surface.

Now we are at crunch time and I can only Hope it will all turn out excellently and our lives will go back to calmness. Until then I can't stop playing this song. I'll fill you in on how wonderful the Dinner turns out. Until then I am holding on to HOPE.

Read more...

"Easy"-Rascal Flatts ft. N. Bedingfield

Sometimes this is the truth in relationships.

Read more...

When it just doesn't work.

I found out some good friends are getting a divorce. It is shocking to everyone as the husband was so in love with his spouse. After a few years he committed infidelity and the marriage never recovered, even after he initiated and told her. She spoke to me and she made a plan to do the best she could to hold her marriage together. (That way she can say she gave it her all with no regrets).

It just wouldn't work and she refused to live any longer, in a marriage, where she felt unloved. Now she is staying at her parents home and has feelings of shame. I spoke to her yesterday and encouraged her that she did nothing wrong as sometimes victims of abuse and infidelity may feel.

They have no children so it is not as complicated but she is exhausted with the dividing and selling of property and furniture. Another plus is at least they are civil towards each other and maybe the time away will mend the hurts. I came home and told my husband as it is always a sobering time when these things happen. It is difficult to accept but causes you to re-access you marriage.


What are your expectations? Are you happy? Are you doing your part and more? Are you holding a grudge, anger or bitterness? (They are all different). Has you marriage suffered due to your actions and you fail to take responsibility? How much fun do you make it? How often do you use kind words and compliments? How much house work do you do? Do you share the bills or initiate to help? Have you become ungrateful for even the little things or common things? Do you remember special occasions and still give gifts? How's your parenting? How's your cleanliness and organization? How do you greet each other? Are you being honest? How is your forgiveness and grace levels? How's love making? Do you replace the toilet paper roll : ) ?

Are you re-accessing your marriage? I am.

Read more...