8 days and counting....

Frankie & I enjoyed the lights together

Christmas lights in St. Augustine with my sweetheart, Melanie, Savanna & T.J. last Saturday night.. it was beautiful!!

Its 8 days till Christmas and I am not as ready as I would like to be but better off than some I am sure ~ This year I have gotten creative again, more out of necessity than anything and its almost like it was 18 years ago for Garrett's first Christmas, I made gifts for the first few years that he was around then ran out of time because life got busy... now that I am not working all my crazy jobs, I have had the time to still be able to produce gifts from the heart and worth giving as well and that is what its all about..
Garrett right before he left me for 2 weeks ~ his trip to Denver was fun and I am glad he came home... he said he almost stayed...

December has been a whirlwind, Garrett had his first plane trip away from me for 2 weeks in Denver ~ Frankie took an extra week vacation and came here to Jax where we had 5 blissful days together! We picked out a tree with Savanna, attended her winter concert at school and even went out to the beach for a bit, ending the week with the beautiful Chirstmas lights in St. Augustine ~ amazing to see the city lit up for Christmas and I cannot believe I have not been there before now since I live close by!!

5th Grade chorus was entertaining for the winter concert! ~ Savanna is on the far left, 2nd row up...its hard to take good photos in this room :( no matter what camera I use!
I told Frankie this morning that I am so happy it has felt so natural with us from the moment we saw each other again, We have been "playing house" according to our friends ~ it has just felt natural to be together day after day doing the mundane things around the house, etc... we are just happy to be together regardless of what we are doing and I have not had one awkward moment since we have been together which is amazing in itself!!.
This was the night we decorated the tree! listening to Christmas carols~ baking rum cake ~drinking bubbly... what a night! :)
I had many 'one date wonders' in the 8 years I was single and I would always have the 'breakfast test' in my own mind on the very first date I would wonder... Could I see myself waking up in his arms and making him breakfast?? obviously no one passed the test until Frankie came along... "You didn't look good for Breakfast" (what he said) catchy name for a title to my book huh?? I am always looking for something that will catch the eye to draw the reader in to my literary world... crazy thoughts... mine just the same :)
I am so very grateful for all the wonderful people in my life and I have more than usual to be reflect on as this year comes to a close... I never imagined I would be so very happy with someone and it has already made me a better person, happiness is contagious!! My kids get to see a kinder gentler Mom ~ I have someone to share my days with even though we don't come home to each other every night ~ it makes a real difference.. I didn't know what I was missing out on ~ Maybe the 'asshole magnet' that was on my forehead finally came off for good!! I am looking forward to the most awesome Christmas with both my children by my side & a wonderful man to share it all with!

Life couldn't be better and I am grateful for all the many blessings in my life!!
Merry CHRISTmas...

Friday Ramblings

Attended Savanna's concert last night honoring Veterans who serve our country ~ I got a ride with her Dad & it went pretty smoothly. Took alot of photos but the lighting in the room was dim with florescents and they didn't turn out too good even with a kick ass camera! The song the kids were singing about living in the heart of America brought tears to my eyes as I am patriotic to the the core of my soul. Having lived overseas as a child I can appreciate the freedoms we have here in this country and Thank God for the Veterans who daily give their time away from family to protect our freedoms.

I was also emotional about being there to see Savanna perform... I realize every day how lucky I am to still be here and to be able to watch my children grow and flourish into the prosperous adults they will become is such a blessing :) Its AMAZING how very fast they grow up!! It seems like just yesterday she was nursing at my breast and sleeping all the time... had not even learned the word "NO" yet... now she tries to argue with me!! I am apprehensive about the teen years to come ~ they say payback from our childhood comes thru with our own children and if that is the case then I am in for it! Being a Preachers Kid I lived up to the name to a certain degree....soooo at least I can say there is hardly anything she can do that I have not already done, at least I will be wiser than my parents were in that respect =)

This is the end of my first full week back to work and it has been long and tiring at times but I am glad to feel productive again. My house is trying to stay in order and I have alot of work to do this weekend to keep it that way... something else that is NEVER done!! WHY? WHY can't someone answer that for me? In my next life I will have a full staff ~ a promise I am making to myself. Getting back on my feet is great but learning my limitations is a completely other thing as limitations was NOT in my vocabulary prior to the accident...its hard to walk slower than a 96 year old grandma and to see the old folks passing me by in their walkers at the hospital is not something I will ever get used to and I wont b/c I know this is only temporary! Every day I seem to get a little stronger and my foot feels a little less pain unless I am on it too long that is... I am wondering when I will be able to wear my cute shoes again... I know it will be awhile....I miss my shoes!

So, blogging is kind of addictive ~ I have so much down time right now...so many thoughts I cannot gather them fast enough or my fingers cannot type fast enough... not sure which it is. I went to have a cocktail with Savanna's dad last night before the concert and we took her to Japanese Steakhouse dinner afterwards...the most time I have been around him in quite awhile. We have been living separate lives and its been difficult to even communicate about Savanna so I tried to make the conversation all about her and how we can work as a team to be the best parents we can be for her ~ that's what she really needs from us and we cannot give her anything else at this point except 2 parents that get along and have her best interests at heart. I feel we made alot of progress last night ~ I hope we can move forward and continue what we started. I truly wish him only the best and in time hopefully he will want that for me as well.