Today I scheduled my appointment for my daughter Emily to get registered for kindergarten this fall.  I was happy and both sad, she is no longer my baby, she is growing up.  And as she reminds me daily, she is 5 and a big girl now.   The little things I use to help her with like putting on her coat, tying her shoes, getting dressed and such she no longer wants my help with, she can do it on her own.

My Mom told me when Emily was born to cherish every moment because they will fly by, and I thought no way….well they did and I now before I realize it I will be buying her a dress for high school graduation.

My home is filled with pictures of Emily over the years and I smile when I see how she has changed from a baby to a young girl.  She is becoming her own little person and I’m so proud of her, even though she can be stubborn and strong willed, I look at her and think she will do just fine.  She is already talking about playing basketball, softball and volleyball when she is a big kid in the big school, meaning high shool.  And with her competitive nature, I have no doubt she will be great in sports.

It’s hard to let go of the little baby that I could hold in my arms whenever I wanted and cuddle close.  Now I only get to hold her when she is sick or hurt, but I let go watching her become someone I’m proud of and I know will still come to Mama when she needs help.  She told me the other day that she wants to live with me forever….boy do I know that will change in about 15 years or so, and I will let go again with a smile and tears and pride.  

And I still go to my Mom for those hugs when life is tough and even when it isn’t, yeah I’m grown up but will always be her baby girl.

My daughter has been asking me that question about every day for the past week.   I tell her it will be here soon and she says I need it here now so I can go swimming and play basketball and ride my bike and scooter.  I just laugh and tell her to hold on that it will be here soon.

I then remember when I was a kid and couldn’t wait for summer to come so I could play outside and be with my friends and do all the fun things of summer.  

I am looking forward to warmer weather.  Because that means nights sitting outside, cookouts, trips to the lake, swimming, and just enjoying family and friends.  And my new guy has never been up to the lake, so I can’t wait to take him up there and show him the sights.  Marblehead, Catawba, Port Clinton and of course Put-In-Bay!!  I keep teasing him that he doesn’t know about that part of the state and he says he is from Springfield so that is what he if familiar with, and I tell him you are from Ohio….you should know about the whole state….LOL!!

So summer, we are all ready for your arrival! 

Sometimes we wonder what the reasons are when something happens in our lives.  And at times we find out, and sometimes we never understand the reason.

Well back after the holidays when my heart was broken by someone who I thought was one of the good ones I kept asking why this was happening?  Looking for reasons and what “ifs” to understand the heartbreak.  I have the answer now, because there was someone out there that was what I was truly looking for in a significant other.  You know you have that ideal of your sweetheart in your mind, and sometimes you think you’ve found your match, but it really wasn’t the right match in the long run.  Then you find the one, the other piece of the puzzle, and you fit.  You’re in tune with one another and respect each other and it finally feels right on all levels. 

And I was at a point when I considered throwing in the towel on dating and just living my life alone.  But family and friends said give it time and the right one will come along when you least expect it, and he did and I feel a sense of happiness in a relationship I haven’t felt in years.  We have our likes and dislikes and we like some of the same things, but we both respect the others likes and dislikes and that is so important in a relationship.  I sometimes wonder why it took me so long to find the right one, but it was meant to happen now, so I’m loving every moment and looking forward to many years of happiness.

Did you see the story of the 17 year old girl from Indiana that is sueing the her high school because they won’t let her wear a tuxedo to her prom?  Yes she is a lesbian, but that should not come into play, she has the right to wear a tuxedo.  That is her choice, and as long as anyone who is attending the prom isn’t wearing something revealing who cares if she wears a tuxedo.  There is a reason she wants to wear one, she feels comfortable in one, so let her enjoy her prom and feel comfortable with who she is on a night that is so important to a teen.   

Barbie is 50 and still doesn’t look a day over 25….LOL!!  Over the years she does have a way of getting people fired up over her look.  Come on, she’s a woman and we change our look quite often, we have that right….LOL!!

The latest in the Barbie scandal is the new tattoo Barbie with stick on tats and a gun to put them on.  Is this a bit much?  Not really….would I buy one for my 5 year old daughter….no, but only because she is too young, if she was 11 or 12 I might.    It seems that people are now calling Barbie ”trailer trash” with a “tramp stamp” tattoo that goes on her lower back that says Ken in a heart.  It’s amazing we label people because of something like a tattoo, but to label a doll a tramp….LOL!! 

I personally have a tat on my ankle and I like it and I plan on getting another one.   Does that make me a bad person?  No, it did not change who I am or how I live my life.   And sure there are some bad tats on people and they maybe got them for the wrong reason….for your sweetie, never let some talk you into getting a tat for them, no way!

Ok back to Barbie, so she is pushing the envelope a bit, let her….after all she is 50, she wants to live life.  Ken did have such a hold on her in the early years.  She deserves to be her own woman and get a little wild.

And as for the lawmaker in West Virginia who wants to ban the sale of Barbie there, please….get a life!  He says she portrays an unhealthy image for girls, I for one as a young girl never desired to have plastic boobs or all my fingers and toes glues together.  He also said that Barbie is not smart??  Has he not seen school teacher Barbie, or WNBA Barbie, or Wonder Woman Barbie, Astronaut Barbie, NASCAR Barbie, or Doctor Barbie????   

Barbie enjoy being  50 and live life to the fullest girl!!  You’ve earned it!!

That seems to be on everyones mind in todays world.  With the economy in the dumpster so to speak.  I guess we do take money for granted at times and then when things change, as they have this past  year we wish we had saved more and spent less.   But you can’t play the “what if” game.

Does money truly bring happiness?  Sure we like being able to pay our bills and have something left over to enjoy life, but if you were to have won the lottery would you be truly happy?  Think of all the people bugging you now that you are a millionaire!  Would working 50 to 60 or more hours a week so you have money make you truly happy?  Think of how tired you would be and when would you have time for yourself and loved ones??  I’ve had times in my life where I didn’t worry about money and times when I did, like now and even though there are weeks when I  wonder if I will have a little something extra to spend I look at my daughter and my family and friends and realize that time with them is more important than having a great deal of money.  I’m lucky that I was raised to understand that material things don’t bring you happiness, they may make you feel good, but they can’t fill your heart with love.   Which is what family and friends can do, especially in difficult times.  

We all need to do what we can to provide for our families and with unemployment at an all time high, that gets harder with each passing day for many in our community.  So if you know someone who is struggling, reach out to them, let them know you care.  And you don’t need to write them a check to help out, offer to cook a dinner, babysit their kids, have them over and rent some movies and make popcorn.  If they don’t have a computer offer to help them look for work and send resumes in for them, just let them know you are there to help. 

We all have the word “money” at the forefront of our minds right now, but don’t let the stress take you over or someone you care about who is struggling.  As my Dad use to say if you have your family, your friends, and your health you are ahead in the game of life.

There never seems to be enough in one day, a week, or a month anymore….LOL!!  March is here, and came in like a Lion so it better go out like a Lamb!! 

I really don’t mind when time goes by fast in the dead of winter.  I’m  not a cold weather person, and when it’s below zero I’d rather stay in curled up with a blanket and just relax and wish for warm weather.

My little girl has been sick since last Thursday.  Bad cold virus going around and she was pretty much running a temp close to 102 until Monday.  She went back to school today.  She missed her friends and it was movie day….she took High School Musical 3 for the second time….LOL!!  She was quite the cranky girl when she was sick, I felt so bad for her, nothing would make her happy and she hated feeling so sick.  My new guy was here for the weekend and he was a big help with taking care of her, and that was nice.  He is a really sweetheart and I feel very fortunate to have someone so caring in my life.   He was very understanding of Emily being sick and that she needed my attention and he helped with anything that he could, which was great.  Taking care of a sick child can make you tired and I was so worried about my little angel.

My new guy is a NASCAR fan, and I mean fan….LOL!!  I’ve tried watching some of the races, but I don’t have the patients, they go too slow with all the delays and such, I’m more of a dragway racing fan.  I like fast cars and fast races, not ones that last for hours on end.

So the clocks get turned ahead this weekend….once again time flying by!!