Sitting here pondering my challenge.. recently I was challenged to start a blog to get my message out there.. a blog for women who are struggling in their relationships, women who have experienced abuse, women who find themselves in unhealthy relationships, women who want more... I am up for the challenge, although I will have to learn to manage my time between all the blogs here.. ;) Okay so I am working on a title for my blog.. so stay tuned...

It's been a while since I have been here, so much has gone on the last few months and there is a lot I get to catch up on.. now lets get caught up on some of the highlights.. First off it was the beginning of a new school year and Carly is in the 5th Grade and Kelsey is in 11th grade, he even drives now.. It's hard to imagine my younger children driving!! EEK!! At least I have a few more years before my youngest gets behind the wheel of a car.. ;)  I would have to say though that Kelsey is a good kid and I rarely worry about his choices and his commitment to be responsible.. Way to go Kelsey..My grandson Kyson also started preschool and is enjoying being one of the "big kids" now.   Carly chose to participate in the PTA reflections contest this year and took "Best in show" with her art work and was also chosen to represent her school in the district competition.. Woo hoo!! way to go Carly.   ( Proud mommy moment ) :)

   The past few months have kept me pretty busy with handling some struggles that have come our way as well.  It's great to experience the transformations when life hands us challenges to overcome or experience. The last few months I have been walking beside Clayton as he was working to overcome an addiction.  I can honestly say I have learned more than I have ever wanted to about drugs and addictive behaviors and coming to terms with allowing others to experience their choices.  It has been a pretty profound lesson in unconditional Love and just allowing those I Love to experience their choices and consequences of those choices. There were many sleepless nights and a ton of worry associated that until I found the freedom in just Loving him and seeing the divinity in his own journey.  Don't get me wrong it's not like it would have been easy or it wouldn't of torn me apart had he died from an overdose, but I was able to find peace in just allowing him to experience his own choices and learn from them, letting him know that I Loved him, but also had my own boundaries as well.
We are learning a lot on this journey individually and as a family, I can see all of us coming out stronger and more connected than ever before. We have taken many avenues to assist him in getting clean, with little success, I finally just "let go" and told him that if being "high" was what he wanted then just go live that lifestyle but keep it from me and the rest of the family.  Perhaps that was when he realized it was bigger than he imagined or he finally knew it was time to do something different, but it was that moment he chose to do something different.  He found himself a residential treatment center and did what was required to get put on the waiting list, after a LONG week and a half he was finally in.  He has been there just over 2 weeks now and I can honestly say it is going great, first and foremost the rest of the family is getting back to "normalcy" and Clayton is getting what he deserves in treatment.  (big sigh)  I know we have a long journey ahead of us, but with the tools were gaining and the healing and releasing he is doing I know this time its going to be a success.  Thank you God!!
Colten is still working at Fed ex and is starting enrollment for college too, I'm pretty pleased with the reports that come in on how good of a worker he is and how they want him to stick around and pursue management positions.. ahhh 

  I love how I can now find such joy, peace and happiness in the smallest of things, even amongst the challenges there is so much to be grateful for. 
As for me, it has been an amazing journey of self growth, self reflection and triumphs. I have had relationships come and go, and some come back again, things are going great and I am enjoying the day to day, no expectations and no living in the past.  It's a new and exciting journey this time with Steve and who knows what the future holds, so it's great not worrying about it and just enjoying each new day. That is something to be thankful for. 
  Business seems to be picking up a bit more the last few weeks as planets shift and "stuff" happens and folks are looking for answers and guidance, it's great that they turn to me and that I can assist them.   I think that about covers the highlights or the 'stuff' worth writing about for now.. I am truly blessed for all that I have and for everything and everyone in my life..

I have found that Life has managed to keep me pretty busy to journal here, but it's all good.. I will get here as I can and it will have to do for now. I have been working my ar$ off getting some remodeling projects done on the house, de~cluttering the place ( which seems to be an endless task ) I don't know how I can toss so much stuff out and still have more to toss out.. ;) It's been a great summer, school starts in less than a week, Carly and I spent a week in California and did the Disneyland's and California adventure thing, her and I had a great time and it was super to have a mother daughter trip. It was her first visit to California and a first for the plane ride as well. It was special for the both of us. Upon arriving home I had decided the downstairs bathroom needed 'updating'. ;) DIdn't figure it would be too much work, replace the sheetrock, new fixtures and a tile floor, oh and a tile tub surround, something I had never done before.. but hey, I'm game.. so we set out for demolition.. All was going pretty well, until we discovered that the 'old' toilet was not set correctly in the first place so it had to be moved, or sheetrock would have to be 'custom' around the toilet.. I hated it that way since we first moved in, so I wasn't going to do it that way again.. Jackhammer to the rescue.. needless to say, all went fairly well considering, we only had to move the toilet, the plumbing to the tub and rewire the electrical.. lol.. but all in all IT LOOKS GREAT!! Clayton and Kelsey and I did the demolition, Kelsey and Clayton hung the sheetrock, and the backerboard. I taped and mudded, painted and laid the tile. Kelsey did the trim, Clayton was my tile cutter, and I did the tile surround.. and if I don't say so myself, we did a damn fine job..

Aug 15, Well interesting day as it was.. would have been my 24th anniversary had I stayed married.. Perhaps it was perfect in the timing of all the remodeling around the house, the new decor I had just purchased and making the home a little more of mine in the scheme of things, I had done that before, but there were just a last final touches and voila` it's done.. Every room in the house has had a facelift so to speak.. Kitchen cabinets and new carpet are the only things I wish to replace.. In due time.. I am progressing forward with my spiritaul learnings and teachings, I know this is a portion of my purpose here.. It's great, I have been given or found lots of resources.. Looking forward to seeing where this new journey takes me. I am still considering taking up painting or photography or both..

The dating scene has been interesting the last few months and for the past month I have taken a much deserved break.. had an interesting talk with a friend tonight and was given some different perspectives on the whole thing.. so we will see what comes of the new perspectives.. :) Life is still pretty damn great, had some life experience things come my way, but all in all, it's all handled or running it's perfect course. As for me, I am just happy to be here and LOVING life!! Til next time.. In gratitude always..

Time seriously flies....

WOW.. I had no idea that it has been as long as it has been since I posted here.. Where has the time gone.. Well not sure I can recap everything that has gone on in the last 5 months.. So I will hit the highlights that I can recall.. Yesterday, the kids and I went to the festival of Colors at the Krishna Temple.. it was an interesting and fun experience. Clayton just completed and graduated from Impact's Lift Off March 19, 2011. It was an awesome experience, I was so proud for him to get up and share of his experiences and how it had literally saved his life.. On a more somber note, we lost our beloved Titan on March 3rd.. We miss him so much, even though he was only a part of our family a short time, it was like he had been a part of our family for much much longer. He was an integral part in our family learning some many huge lessons in trusting our intuition and following it. Sadly at the cost of his life. :(

Kasey has had his first bull riding adventure..and several more since.. I still think that's CRAZY!!

We were then blessed with a new addition to our family, Chloe a beautiful German Shepherd.. she is still adjusting but doing very well.. She hasn't yet warmed up to Kasey, as he is "someone new" every day he returns from work.. She eats EVERYTHING in site, from socks, to erasers, crayons, her toys, hot wheels cars.. she is just like a toddler, can find ANYTHING anywhere.. if Kyson leaves something on the floor, it's only moments before she has it and runs off with it..

Carly was given student of the week award at school.. for being respectful and for being biggest student "helper"

Kasey got his new job, he seems to like it there.. at least it pays the bills..right Kasey? ;)

Kelsey has been MIA most days around here, he has a "girlfriend" so you know what that means.. yep, he's never home.. But I have to say, when he is he does so much to assist me around here.. I so appreciate him..

Colten finally has his drivers license.. he says he couldn't let Kelsey get his first.. ha ha the things that motivate these kids these days.. ;) But he did it...Kelsey will be getting his in a few months..

We had a great Christmas, even though this year it was different than any Christmas we had ever had.. I feel it was a great change.. maybe something we get to do for future Christmas's

We decorated the yard with our usual Halloween decor and had a great time scaring the kids away, Colten and Kelsey and their friends did all the set up and of course excitedly wanted to be the one's to scare the kids that came to trick or treat.. it's always such a hit.. :)

I recommitted to another year of Life Mastery III.. I have enjoyed the experiences and the tools I receive being involved with Impact.

Well I "think" I hit the highlights here.. who knows I may have to add more later.. who knows.. :) Ok.. New goal.. keep this blog updated better.. ugh!!