Notes to Self...and whoever's listening

Last February I spent the month stressed and worried about what I was supposed to be doing with my life.  I was working full-time as an assistant to an attorney, working part-time as a Thirty-One Consultant and part-time as a Chaplain at a retirement home.  Plus, my life as an aunt, sister and daughter were pretty amazingly full and chaotic. Add trying to be a good friend and running a bible study and you could see where the stress was overwhelming. I prayed and prayed and the answer that finally came was not what I expected nor what I hoped.  The clear decision was to resign chaplaincy.  For 7 1/2 years, I got to know the most amazing bunch of seniors and the staff that cared for them. I laughed with them so hard, held their hands as they were dying, had long discussions about life, family and the past with them and prepared countless sermons to deliver for their Sunday services.  It was a job I loved dearly. I couldn’t understand why THIS was the best opti...

We like having choices.  Ice cream comes in just about every flavor imaginable, then you have to decide what type of cone or bowl!  Burgers have become gourmet dishes these days.  Even picking out a bottle water can take a while!  Then we have the Coke machines that have EVERY flavor available.  Ever get stuck behind someone trying to decide which flavor to choose all the while missing your movie???  Yeah, me either! We do NOT like having our choices limited, either.  Insurance companies seem to decide whether people get medications or procedures anymore, not the doctors and the patients themselves.  We do NOT like when costs go up leaving us no choice but to pay the higher fees.  Here in Illinois, we do NOT like being forced to pay tolls all throughout our state! You are given one specific choice daily.  That choice often decides the course of your day.  That choice can even change the course of someone else's day. We get to ...

Recently I took a day off and took the boys to Dave & Buster's near Schaumburg for some time away at the tail end of their Spring Break.  We left that morning, grabbed Dunkin Donuts and my very important large iced tea, picked up some new sandals for Lucas (that boy sure can wear through a pair of shoes!) and set off!  We had a ball playing games for a while, then had a great meal in the restaurant.  The boys enjoyed some special drinks they love to get when we go and I got more iced tea! It was a great day!  I LOVE spending time with these two and that day was perfect!  Even the highway wasn't too busy!  Once we got back to town, we made a quick stop at Target and, at the check out, I asked the boys if they were thirsty.  They chose a drink and I started looking for another tea.  Yeah, I love iced tea!  Since I gave up soda 2 years ago, iced tea is my go-to.  As I looked for the tea, though, I was drawn to a bottle of wat...