Finally a new blog post!!

 

 Man it has been ages since my last blog post! What’s new you ask! Well I turned 40! It’s not so bad!  Really, I feel exactly the same as I did when I was in my 20′s. The only difference is I work two jobs and have a 9 year old son. I celebrated the milestone by a celebrating all week long! I capped of the weekend by having a HUGE party at my favorite local Bar and Grill.

  The night was AMAZING!! So many people showed up. The place was filled almost to capacity and it was great to feel the love from people I call family and friends. We laughed,cried,sang,and had a few cocktails. So much love was in the room! I am truly blessed.

 So when I looked back at the 40 years that passed I saw so much to be thankful for. I celebrated every moment. Yes even the bad stuff. If you stop and think about it where would we be if we didn’t experience good,bad,and ugly? We’d be  living in an unrealistic fantasy! So I’ve embraced 40 and I’m ready to run with it!

 So as I get along on my journey I’ll share it all with you on this blog and if our paths happen to cross dont forget to say hello!

 

Did You Keep Your resolutions??

 

 Ok we’re almost a week into the New Year.Here’s the big question…. DID YOU KEEP YOUR RESOLUTIONS???  Was that a yes, no, or maybey? Ok I’ll start first. I have managed to keep all of my resolutions SO FAR. Then again this year I made them less stressful. How have I done let’s take it from the top.

 #1 Trust that God is in charge of all my problems. That one was already a little challenging. There’s actually a situation that isn’t really mine it’s Gabe’s and I can get REALLY worked up about it. Yet there’s not much I can do. It can’t be worked out by me. No matter how much the Mama in me wants to attack the issue it wouldn’t make a difference. The reality is it’s his issue to deal with. I’ve made it mine by worrying. So I handed it to God and I pray several times a day that he work on it. I know he will in his own time and in his own way.

#2 Smile more! Well there are always a million reasons around me to smile. My son makes me smile all the time. The kids at my job in between their crazy antics help me smile all the time. Listening to Salsa music while on the wretched treadmill makes me smile. I went out this weekend with my good friend Chyrisse! I smiled the whole time. We went to our friend Christine’s baby shower and initiated her into our awesome new club  ”The Baby Mama Club” That was a blast!  On that day we also spent time with another friend who has the most beautiful soul I’ve ever encountered Marlena.  Her positive energy and outlook on life is incredible! So Sunday was the big day for smiles!

 #3 Move more. Yep If I’m not at the gym, I’m on my treadmill. (again thank God for good music) So I went from barely moving to moving every day. Yes even on Sunday! Even if I don’t lose weight the cardio excercise is good for me.

#4 Bloom where I am planted.  This is my work in progress. I’ve begun to journal and really right down my thoughts, hopes, and goals. I’ve used that for prayer so when I do pray I can talk to God and ask him to make my path clear.

 Now I don’t want to lead people to believe that I think I’m perfect because I am far from it . Trust me in the past couple of  weeks I can recall a couple of times I fell short of grace. The thing I cling to is that I can fall but I can also dust myself off and keep trying. I know God doesn’t want me to fail. He wants me to keep trying and make better choices and to really listen to him. Even when I’m straining to listen that’s when it’s most important!

 As the year goes on so will I working hard everyday to stick to my resolutions! Have a great week everyone!

While on the treadmill!

Today while on the treadmill a thought ran through my head! “Hey I’m on the treadmill!” I was surprised I stuck to the whim I got. I could have easily sat on the couch and caught up on Soap Operas.  I reconsidered and thought let me do something different. I guess there’s been “stuff on my mind lately about turning the big 40!

 I cranked up my Salsa music and before I knew it between random thoughts and the sound of Jerry Rivera’s voice I had gone 2 miles. Yes I was shocked too!  Now before I get too off topic let’s get back to “stuff” that’s been on my mind. 40! I’m going to be 40! When did that happen?? I feel like it was yesterday that my sis and I were in our Cheerleader uniforms at East Aurora cheering on the Tomcats! Then I napped and now it’s my niece Darien who is in her Tomcat uniform cheering on my Alma Mater! ( she is sooo like Teresa and I)

 I suppose I should stop napping! ANYWHO!! 40 isn’t scary for me because I don’t feel 40. If I’m being honest I feel like I did in my 20′s! Well except I’m 40 lbs. heavier, I need to dye my hair to cover the grey, and I am a Single Mom to a 9 year old son. Yet in spite of all my changes I still feel 20! There’s a plus in my column!

  While on the treadmill I also pondered what have I accomplished in 40 years?? Hmm.. that was a bittersweet one. When I was younger I dreamed of marrying my High School sweetheart, and being a stay at home Mom who wrote award winning children’s books in her spare time.  As we all know none of that came true. (Thanks Juan for crushing my dream jerk!) No I’m just kidding. Though those were the plans I had for myself God knew better.

 So while on the treadmill I thought what have I accomplished? Well after High School I became an Early Childhood Educator!

(That is actually fancy talk for a teacher at a day care, oh wait! I’m also part of the Management team)

I have helped to teach,care for, love, and nurture the growth of hundreds of children in over 20 years. I actually got a message from a Mom who said her daughter went to College to study Early Childhood because I was a great example. I was completely humbled.  Someone wanted to be like me. What is that child thinking!?

  During the past 40 years I also was given the privilege of becoming a Mom. In the beginning I didn’t know what God was thinking.  Yet once again as we all know, God knows better than us.  So thank you God for setting that gift in my path. Becoming a Mom is my greatest accomplishment! Becoming a Mom gave me purpose. It was also where I really feel I began to live life. Before Gabe, life was living me. I was actually pretty worn out from it. So again ,Thank you God for my child!

  While on the treadmill I thought … is there anything else? Then different visions ran through my head. I’m a daughter,Sister,Cousin,Aunt and friend. There are so many people who make my life the very eventful caper it is! Where would I be without them. Those who love me unconditionally and I love them back!

So while on the treadmill as I finished up my jog. I came to the conclusion. I have accomplished great things the past 40 years. Now I’ll have to pray about the things that are ahead in the next 40 . It’s a good thing I have that treadmill. Looks like I’ll be doing lots more thinking while on it!