Yummy!!

A special thank you to Laura for helping me with my craving last night. I was blog stalking last night as I usually do around 11:00 pm and I really wanted some cookies. I didn't want the mess or the time of cookies however. Plus my kids room is right around the corner from the kitchen so I didn't want all the noise of my mixer and all that jazz either. Well it was fate. I was catching up on Laura's blog and saw this recipe. I looked at it for a second and thought for sure she had accidentally left off some ingredients or maybe not accidentally so people she didn't like would try to make them and have them be a flop. After seeing all the comments about how good they were I thought what the heck. They were so easy and SO good! They are a soft peanut butter cookie which as far as I'm concerned should be the only kind. I hate dry, hard cookies, period! So if you have nine minutes to spare make some delicious cookies. FYI it made about 2 dozen. I always wonder that when I look at recipe's and it's the first thing I write on them if it's not there just so I have a reference for next time I want to make them.

Blink of an Eye

It's really scary how fast life can change. Today I went from being stressed about my Anatomy and Physiology exam that I have tomorrow to a much bigger, deeper worry. I hate those phone calls. The ones that make your stomach drop and your heart race. I have received three of them. The first one when my Uncle died. That was the first personal experience I have had with death. My grandfather died when I was very young so I don't remember much about that experience. I remember exactly where I was when my dad called to tell me my uncle had died. I remember the feeling that rushed over me and the ache for my aunt and cousins. The next phone call was when my Grandmother had passed away. That one was harder for me. She was my grandma. She was the nurse that was going to help me through school. I wanted both my grandma's to see and hold my babies. I know they did, just not on this earth. I experienced the same feeling today when my stepmom called to tell me my dad was being rushed into surgery. It's amazing to me how fast all the things in life that really don't matter slip away in that moment and all that matters are the things that REALLY matter.
I'm so thankful for the faith and example of little children. Being so far away from my dad there was nothing I could do but pray. My little boy was so concerned and sat with me and talked with me about Grandpa being sick. Then he prayed with me. After the prayer he said, "Mom, Grandpa will be better now." What faith and love they have. It was shortly after that I received another phone call and this one was much better news. Everything went well and Grandpa is home resting.
I learned some valuable lessons today. Never put off that phone call to loved ones to tell them you love them or just to talk. My dad has been on my mind this past week because I haven't talked to him because I'm never home between school and running around kids and everything else. I also learned family is the most important thing. These things are things I already knew. They are things I think about and am thankful for daily. It's things like this that really put it all into perspective and help us remember to say I love you before leaving or making sure to give your kids a goodnight hug.
I love you daddy. Thank you for all you do and the many things you have taught me in life. Most of all thank you for being my wonderful example and teacher. Get feeling better and I will see you soon.

Thank Goodness

Some of you may or may not know about the computer virus I managed to get on the computer a few weeks ago. I cried. Every day I would remember something else I needed that was on my computer and couldn't get to. All the money and time (downloading music and scrapbooking stuff), all the school papers, all my Modbe stuff, all the pictures of the kids. I was sad. Funny thing it only deleted my things. Yeah all of my dear husbands documents were still there. It was a gender specific virus I guess. Well since his stuff was there he wasn't in a huge rush to call his computer buddy to come fix it. I begged, I reminded, I pleaded, I cried, I threw temper tantrums (not really but I really wanted to), and I nagged. All with the same response. Nadda. So what do I do? I take over his desktop. I made his wallpaper the most girly, bright, floral pattern I could find. I downloaded and flooded his desktop with new scrapbook icons, I reset his home page, I re-organized his favorite list, I pretty much made everything as much of a reminder and point that I was going to take over his space if he didn't help me get back mine. Guess how long it took him to call his buddy after that. Instant! So my computer is back and I was so excited. Everything is still there! He thinks a windows update saved and restored everything. I'm sure my husband was glad to get his desktop back.

Goals

Last night I had Bunco. It is very low key and just more of a fun ladies night than anything else. It's always very refreshing to get out of the house even just for an hour and be a grown up. I love my children, I love that for the most part I am home with them, but I think for me to give myself to them 100% I need to take care of myself as well. It's nice to get out and visit with everyone but I feel even better when I get home. It's that little boost I need and that little time away so when I come home and see those beautiful smiling faces I truly appreciate them.
I do have classes and get away for school but for me it's not the same. School is stressful and it's my "job" right now. I do enjoy it for the most part. I love learning new things, I love reading, I love the knowledge portion of it. The stress and the tests I could do without. I have been in school for what feels like forever. I am in no way a traditional student. Lately I have been seeing all of the time and money I have put into this and not having an end in sight is just really getting to me. I feel like I will never be done and be able to move on to the next chapter in my life. I know that's not true but that's how I feel about it right now.
Last night being Bunco in itself was good for me but it was also good for me because one of our girls couldn't make it and the substitute was just the person I needed to meet. She is the director of the flight team at the major hospital here. She was a flight nurse for I think she said 8 or 9 years. That is my ultimate dream job! I don't care if I just make one flight as long as I do it once in my lifetime. Just talking with her reminded me that this is just a brief moment in the grand scheme of things. I will have my time to be a nurse and possibly a flight nurse, and most of all I was reminded that all of this stress, time, money, sacrificing, and all of the other fun things that come with being a mom and going to school, is worth it. There is something wonderful at the end. My goal is reachable. I think it's hard for me to remember that because it's so far off (it seems) and all the people I talk to about it are either in my same boat or in the nursing program with all of that additional stress and time and it's really easy to see the negative and get down. It's really easy to think this will last forever and it's too hard and I can't do it.
So today I look forward to the application process, the nursing programs, the time away from my family, the all night study parties because what I want is at the other end and I will be better because of it.

I heart Vitamin D

I have a million things I should be doing today, like studying for an exam I have tomorrow, but the sun is finally shining and it's not totally freezing outside. We got out I's bike and the chalk and the kids and I have spent the past few hours soaking up the sunshine. It is really nice (well nice compared to the weather we've had) and I think the kids were as excited as I was to be out there. I kept feeling guilty and thinking I needed to be doing other things so I would say okay guys it's time to go in and they would both beg for a few more minutes. I was secretly wanting them to because I really didn't want to go in either.
I cleaned out the flower beds that are no longer covered in snow and frozen (I still have a few that are). It felt so good to be outside and working in the yard. It is a chore I completely love to do. There is just something rewarding and fulfilling about it. Now I don't have a beautiful amazing yard (someday) but I love working with what I have.
I love working with my children. I think it's so important to have a common goal to work towards even something like raking leaves in the yard. It brings us together as a family. I got to just enjoy my children and see the world through their little eyes. I love that they are so excited about things I have forgotten about. I love that they remind me to stop and enjoy looking at the funny way the clouds are moving or watch the birds and try to figure out where they are flying to. There are so many amazing beauties in this world and there is something very refreshing and calming to stop and enjoy them with a child. Their wonder and curiosity makes me smile and sparks my inner wonder and curiosity.
I remember planting flowers and gardening with my parents. It was always a family activity and they involved everyone as much as possible. It was time we got to spend as a family, talk and have fun. It's those memories I cherish. Those are the foundations I want to pass on to my children. I want them to know that work can be fun and rewarding.
So today, instead of studying for my all important exam, I was making memories with my children. Probably memories I will remember more than they will but I got to see my children laugh and play and help their mom and that's more rewarding than any A on any test.

My enchanted tales

I have been planning on doing this for some time now. I wanted my own place. My own place to be me and share my ideas, thoughts, feelings and tales. I love my family blog but I want it to be that, a family blog about my family. Because there is so much information about my family on there it is going to be private very soon. There are too many scary things in this world. If you would like to be a part of my family blog email me at enchanted[dot]tales[at]hotmail[dot]com. I look forward to sharing my enchanted tales of my life as a mommy, student, wife and woman with all of you.

Modbe Giveaway

What a great way to start out my new blog. I'm switching over the Modbe gift card to this blog.

I am doing this raffle through my email contacts and I decided to open it up to my blog as well.

Enter the Raffle for a $20 Gift Card...

Now through April 15, 2008...

1. Leave a comment and link this contest on your blog for one entry.
If you link here from a different blog leave their name in your comment for an additional entry for each of you. (If your blog is private be sure to invite me so I can come on over and contact you if you win)