Here's what's happenin'...

I have no pictures for this post.

How boring am I?

Very!

I feel like I've been neglecting my blog.

And it's not that I've really forgotten it.

I think about it everyday.

But I just feel there's nothing important to write about!

LOL!

Well...

I'll try to at least update you on what's going on with us.

I am still plugging along with my studies.

I am more than halfway through with my medical transcription program.

It is "go at your own pace" program.

In some ways, I'm really grateful for this because there are days that I couldn't fit one more thing on my plate...like an assignment or quiz...especially trying to balance this with running a daycare, a baking business, and raising a family.

In other ways, I wish I did have deadlines...because it's easy to put it on the backburner.

My instructor told me that it "COULD" be done in five months...IF you put in 20 hours a week.

That was my goal...ORIGINALLY.

And I FLEW through the first two courses.

Then came course three.

The actual typing of reports.

I have been on course three for...

Oh gosh...I don't know...maybe three months?...maybe four?

Anyway...I will be finishing it up this month and moving on to course four.

There are five courses in the program.

So...even though I didn't hit my goal (to be done by Christmas/first of the year)...I am still pushing myself and making myself work on it every day.

My new goal is to be done by summer...fingers crossed!

I would love to find work by fall.

That is my new goal.

So what else is new...

The boys are also plugging along in school.

It doesn't seem possible the school year is half over.

Nate is in fifth grade and Evan is a sophomore.

How can it be...that Nate will be in middle school next year and Evan a junior?

Let's just move on to another topic.

That makes me feel old.

Nate is doing baseball camp.

It's a two Saturday program put on by the rec department.

The high school coach and varsity team run it.

I was quite impressed by the organization of it all.

He really learned a lot!

He is planning to play on a team again this spring through the rec department.

Evan isn't doing any sports right now, though he's thinking about soccer next year.

He's still in the band and they have a spring concert coming up.

The Disney trip was cancelled due to so many students not being able to afford to go.

Instead, they will be going to Chicago.

They have an amazing itinerary lined up!

I told him I'm jealous and want to go with him!

LOL!

WinterFest Dance is this Saturday and he still hasn't made up his mind whether he'll go or not.

He's still debating on asking a certain someone.

Things are up in the air.

It's always last minute with him.

Drives a mother nuts, LOL!

Jam and I are still running the daycare/preschool.

That keeps us busy.

It has it's ups and downs.

We have dreams for the future...

I am hoping sooner than later!

Winter has been crazy here in Michigan.

We've hardly had any snow this winter.

We've seen more grass than snow!

We've had warmer temperatures and a lot of rain.

It's been really strange.

I kind of miss the snow!

We've all been very healthy this year...knock on wood!

I have a slight sore throat right now but I'm fighting it all the way and refusing to get sick!

My baking business is steady.

I have at least one or two requests a month.

I like it that way.

You can visit my baking blog, website, Facebook page, or Twitter at the links on my sidebar of this blog!

Like I said...not a lot new.

We're pretty boring.

But I like it that way.

No news is good news.

TTFN!

My Mom And My Birthday Celebrations...

Somehow I think I forgot to post about my mom's and my birthday celebration!

We usually always celebrate together because our birthdays are only five days apart.

We went to my sister's house for dinner...so there were all ten of us there!

We had a scrumptious dinner...taco bar!

All the fixin's plus my sister's homemade guacamole, yum!

I made cakes for my mom and me.

One would have been plenty, but I had several new techniques I wanted to try out...plus I had bought a new decorating tip, LOL!

So two it was!

We had a great time visiting and celebrating.

Family get-togethers are so much fun.

I love my teenager!

I love my teenager.

I do.

Lately, all I hear about on Facebook...from friends, acquaintances, and things in the news is how awful teenagers are.

One friend says her teenager hates her.

One friend's teen is failing out of school.

One friend's teen is sneaking out.

One friend's teen is bad-mouthing her and her father.

Another friend comments on how weird and awful teens are out shopping.

People are saying how disrescpectul teens are.

All I hear is negativity about today's teens.

I wanted to start this post with something positive...like a quote or verse about the positive aspects of teens.

Searched all over the internet.

Couldn't find ONE positive thing I liked!

What is wrong with this picture?!?

First of all...let me say...if you think that ALL teenagers today are warped, weird, disrectful, mouthy, filthy-mouthed kids...

YOU ARE WRONG.

There are A LOT of wonderful teenagers out there!

I happen to know a lot of them!

I happen to LIVE WITH one of them!

I may be a little biased...as any mother is...but I am not blind.

I know my kid.

He is respectful...to adults and peers.

He is empathetic.

He is kind and generous.

He has strong faith.

He hates foul language.

He hates seeing people mistreated.

He is quiet and reserved.

He's fun to hang out with.

I love being his mom.

His friends are like this too.

He has a great circle of friends.

Guys and girls alike.

They are respectful.

They call myself and my husband Mr. and Mrs. James.
They are well-behaved.

I enjoy their company.

So the next time you find yourself "generalizing" a teenager and saying they're all rebelious, disrespectful, freaks of nature...just remember, there are just as many WONDERFUL teenagers out there (if not more).

I just had to share this because of all the negativity I've been seeing on Facebook about teens.

I think it's a real shame that they get such a bad rap.

I will agree that there are A LOT of foul-mouthed, disrespectful, gossipy, mean, half-clothed, weird ones...

But I will also stick up for the other half who are WONDERFUL young people to hang around!!!

I love the teens in my life!

Fab At 40!

I had a birthday.

Another one.

And not just ANY birthday.

A big one.

A milestone one.

One that many people hide from.

One that many get depressed about.

When I first thought about the actual number, I didn't really like it.

But then, it hit me.

Just like everyone says...

"Age is just a number".

Really...

That's all it is.

So I've been around forty years.

So I've celebrated forty times on February 6.

I quickly decided it was nothing to be upset over.

First they said, "Thirty is the new twenty".

Now they say, "Forty is the new thirty".

Honestly, I don't care what is new.

What I do know...

Is...

That I'm LOVING this stage of my life.

So why fret?

I decided I'd make a list of some of the things that are absolutely awesome about being forty and being in this stage of life.

Here goes:

1.  MY KIDS

-No more night time feedings!  (They can actually make a meal on their own now!)

-No more potty training!  (Hallelujah, doing the happy ECSTATIC dance!  Thank you God we're past that!)

-No more monsters in the closet or under the bed. (They are so busy with homework and activities, they're out the minute their heads hit the pillows!)

-No more waking me up early on the weekends.  (They sleep in too!  And when they do wake up, they make a bowl of cereal and watch tv and I get to keep sleeping!)

-Watching them excel and grow in many ways. (Baseball, basketball, marching band, Royal Rangers, campouts, friends' houses, girlfriends)

2. MY HUSBAND

-After 18+ years of marriage, we're comfortable with each other. (Yes we burp, pass gas, yell, cry, argue, and see each other at our complete worst.)

-We are completely commited to each other.  (We've had "experiences" that have tested each other...but we both realize that we have made a vow before God and to each other that we are "LIFERS" and it just gets better with time.)

3.  MY FRIENDS

-After so many failed friendships, friends who have passed away, friends who have moved away, friends who enjoy a "one-way friendship", and friends of convenience...I have learned that there are VERY FEW TRUE FRIENDS in life.  (I thank God for my husband, my best friend who has always had my back no matter what.  And for a few tried and true relationships that He has brought into my life who are always there for me, at my best and worst!)

4.  MYSELF

-After struggling for so many years growing up with self-esteem and never feeling good enough, pretty enough, or smart enough...God has finally taught me that I am made in HIS image...and who am I to question that?  By questioning how HE made me, it's almost a slap in the face!  HE created me just the way HE wanted me! 

HE gave me the looks I have. (I am not ugly!)

HE gave me the intelligence I have.  (I am not dumb!)
HE gave me the talent I have.  (I am talented!)

I AM GOOD ENOUGH!

He helps me daily with my imperfections and struggles, but He also shows me that I do have purpose!

See!

That's a pretty good list of things I have goin' for me at forty!

At least I think so!

Naturally, I'm not giving in to Mother Nature and will "help" her as much as I can, LOL!

I tend to take after my Grandma M. in denying that I'm "old" and fighting it gracefully every step of the way.  Teehee!

Grandma colored her hair until she was too sick to do it anymore...as will I!

Grandma always had make-up on until she was too sick to do it anymore...as will I!

Grandma always swore by certain soaps and creams...as will I!

Nothing wrong with LOOKING GOOD as we age!

You hear people say, "Oh to be back in high school again!"

NO THANK-YOU!

"Oh to have babies again!"

NO THANK-YOU!

I am very happy where I'm at right now! 
It's a good place.

Each milestone of our life is good.

God has good things in each phase of life for us.

We will go through trials and tests as well.

But in the end, if we're serving Him...we always come out stronger!

And so to this birthday, I say...

You don't scare me!

I'm not depressed!

Because...

I

AM

FAB

AT 40

!!!