What a week!

I know it has been a while since I've posted, but what a crazy week! I have been officially offered the position I'd been working on getting for quite a while now. YEAH. That meant, Monday I had to give my notice. After three days of discussions with various members of management I reaffirmed my decision to leave. This was a very difficult decision, because I am comfortable where I am, but truly need to make this change.

Home ... well we are still under reconstruction from the tree. This is the beginning of construction...last year...

Now the inside looks like this...

The end is nowhere in site!

Ben while helping said to me..."Mom, if you're good, I'll buy you a jewel." I, of course, thanked him, but then he said..."Mom, can you buy me a brother?" Whoa there! Slow down! It took us 10 years to have him and now he wants me to go to the store to buy a brother! If only! Our electrician/friend who heard this said "Ben, be careful, because when you go to the store they don't tell you if you purchased a brother or a sister. You find out when you get home. You might get stuck with a sister." Ben was horrified! Off the hook! (at least for now).

Here is a cute picture of Ben working construction here on the house tonight. Please notice his safety glasses and hard hat. We want him safe in the construction site we call home.

Peace to all who read this blog today and everyday!

Joan

Never enough sleep

Why is it that no matter what time I go to bed, I'm still tired? Is it the bed? Is it my thyroid condition? Could it be the stress?

Ben last night was so tired, yet wouldn't fall asleep until about 8:30. He did not have a nap so he should have been able to crash about 7. Which would have meant I could have crashed by 7:05. No such luck. I did finally go to sleep after 9 which is still early, but I'm yawning away.

Ben is just a doll though. Poor kid had an accident, because I forgot to remind him to go to the bathroom before bed. He's so grown up already because, he changed his clothes...put the dirty ones in the laundry room...then told me the bed was wet. I said to him (not really thinking it was wet due to past experience) to just use his blankets and we'd fix it in the morning. Well, this morning I checked on him, he covered the wet spot with the other sheet and was curled up in his blanket sound asleep. Yes, the bed was wet. That's what I get for not listening, buy hey it was 2 in the morning!

Tonight we are meeting regarding the 2009 Camp Show. We are not on the committee (I am grateful for that), but we are advisors to the chairmen so we are off to do our duty. Besides, I really enjoy Frank & Diane and miss seeing them each week. They are making us dinner besides. What is also great is they are totally in love with Ben so that makes it easy for us to be there with him. They GET what it is like to be so involved and have a little one.

Sheila's wedding is just a few weeks away now. I'm very excited for her. I still have not found THE outfit. Not sure why my outfit matters, but want to look good. The sitter emailed that she could stay overnight if we want to get a hotel room. That might be fun for Phil & I. Need to look into that.

Well everyone, have a wonderful day today.

Peace to all who read this blog!
Love Ya
Joan

Be the one who cares the most!

From a recent email that I thought it was worthwile to post. Be the best person you can be by caring about others.

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the 'Peanuts' comic strip. You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just read the e-mail straight through, and you'll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do? The point is , none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies...Awards tarnish...Achievements are forgotten...Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special!!
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials..the most money...or the most awards. They simply are the ones who care the most.

Peace to all who read this blog today.

Joan

Let the games begin!

So, as summer approaches you may be thinking about vacation and relaxation. Well for me, I enter into the games of summer at work. This is the time of the year that all the directors want me doing their projects at the same time. When I take the time to take a step back and see what they want me to accomplish, it's pretty amazing. They all vie for time from me and really all I want to do is be able to do a great day's work and be able to leave it there so I can go home to my family. I don't like how I become when I get stressed, and June/July/August are pretty stressful months here. Oh well.

Last night my DH was supposed to stay at the campground overnight because he had been scheduled to work in Greenfield two days in a row. Lucky for Ben and I, he got rescheduled so he came home and put in the air conditioners. YEAH!

Ben was so hot I had him walking around in his boxer shorts. So cute.

Well, everyone, have a blessed day today. Pray for the firefighters fighting the large fire in Holyoke.

Peace to all who read this today.
Joan

Camping Season is Here!

Well, I am off for my first weekend in our camper and I cannot wait. Phil and Ben have been up for Memorial Day and then Phil's gone to work on the deck. We are all glad to be having this weekend together as a family.

Ben is calling today a "special" day. Special days are days that he does not have to take a nap. So, odds are that he'll fall asleep on the ride and not want to go to bed. Doesn't matter to me as long as I am with my family. Plus, I have a new book to read so odds are I won't mind staying up.

Sunday is my niece Melissa's graduation from Holyoke High. Congratulations Lissa! We are so proud of you. Looking forward to the party.

Peace to all who read this post.
Love ya.
Joan

Weekend...

What an odd weekend I had. First I caught up on lots of sleep. I truly needed it. Saturday began with my sisters at breakfast. Was thrilled to see Sheila, Peg and Mary and have quality time. We reminised about a dear friend Marge who had passed away. Then, the four of us headed to Holy Cross Church for the funeral mass. What a tribute to a life lived to the fullest!

After mass I gathered up my boys and headed to a graduation party. What a fun time. Ben had a playmate which made the party so much more enjoyable as we did not have to entertain him. Plus with the fenced in yard there was no place for him to go. It was great to catch up with our friends! Thanks Brian and Michelle. Once again a great time!

Yesterday was construction day. Phil has begun the work again on our front room. He was building the closet. Ben of course was out there with his tools doing his best to help. During one of Phil's trips to the H.D. Ben decided that we needed caution tape put up for the construction site. So now my front door in side has "caution tape"...really it says police line but that doesn't seem to matter since Ben can't really read yet. So, no...no crime has been committed at the house, just a "dangerous" construction site. Hard hats are required by the crew chief Ben.

As I left today all I could do was laugh. Ben also had loads of fun playing with Phil's caution cones in the back yard. I'll try to post some pictures soon.

Have a wonderful day. Peace to all who read this blog.
Joan