Coming Soon..

A NEW blog! I can't wait to start blogging again. Going to start fresh. I will keep you posted:)

Kisses,
Rie

Back to Basics

Every night at dinner we go around the table and say what our pit and peak was.  For those unfamiliar with this, it is citing the best and worst part of our day.  You wouldn't believe the information shared during a simple act while eating; worries over test scores, lunch was yucky, the teacher yelled at me, I helped another child up who fell, etc.

One night Jalyn said he didn't have a peak.  I allowed myself a minute to ponder why he would say such a thing, surely something good happened to this child today.

And so it went:

Me:
"Jalyn? I know it's hard sometimes, and there are days where we all feel as though nothing good happened to us and that's OK.  But on those days this is what we do:  Ask yourself...
1) Do you have a roof over your head right now protecting you from the rain pouring down?
2) Will there be food on this table for you to eat tonight?
3) Are there people in your life that love and support you?

Jalyn:
"Yes, yes and yes"

Me:
"Then something good did happen to you today my love.  You are one blessed child to have those simple, yet essential things in your life because there are too many who don't"

After the children were tucked in and the house was quiet, I realized that I too feel as though nothing good happens in my life once in a great while.  Although I was able to remind my son of our simple blessings, I wasn't able to remind myself of them at the time. 

Even in my worst moments, when the world keeps moving and I just need it to stop, I now look for a blessing.  It is there, one always is, sometimes I just forget to look.

On this Thanksgiving day, amongst the heartache and tears, I remind myself that I am a blessed woman because:
1) Even though the children are not with me, they are with someone who loves them and I'm grateful for that.
2) Lions are playing:)
3) The rooster is crowing outside my room an hour-and-a-half later today which allowed me to sleep in....thank you rooster!
4) I can name several friends/family that I know if I picked up the phone this minute and dialed...they would answer.
5) There is love in my life, my health has been mostly restored and God is good.

Happy Turkey Day,
XO
Rie

Decisions

The most difficult thing in life for me is making a decision.  Once I do, I can say with complete certainty that I have thoroughly weighed out the pros and con's.  In order for me to move through this life in a positive way, I must have inner peace.  It ain't always easy.  I, like so many others, carry the "what-ifs" with me.  What if....this person thinks negatively about me, if I am doing more harm than good, the right decision is being made....and so it goes.  

Most of you know that my marriage has ended.  Hands down this has been, and continues to be, the most difficult experience of my life.  I do not wish to discuss the details, out of respect for everyone involved, nor will I ever write about it here.  I only wish to address it this once and move forward, surrounding myself and my children with love, positivity and perseverance.  

So came the decision.....what do I do with this blog I have kept for so long?  Do I place this little spot of mine in the "let it go" cup or do I continue to fill this cup with new beginnings? Writing has always been therapeutic for me and I thoroughly enjoy writing about the daily gift's God has blessed me with.  This blog, in a cheesy way I know, is like a gift....to myself, my children, and maybe even some people who have been touched by the simple writings contained within. 

I've made a decision...the blog stays. There are still positive thoughts to explore, happy days ahead and memories to be made.

I'll see you there.

XO
Rie

Growing Pains

My boy just brought me a glass of lemonade that he made all by himself.  Gosh he will make a wonderful husband (someday---in like 30 years:)


My girl is growing up so fast, they both are.  People tell you that you turn around and they are grown: "little kids, little problems.  big kids, big problems."  So not ready for the big kid problems.  


Leila kissed a boy at preschool and got caught....She has four "boyfriends" (all of whom I thoroughly love and I happen to adore the parents, but four years old???)

J and his friends talk about all the cute girls at school and who has a crush on who.  It goes something like this:  "who do you like?  you do?  but i like her, can't you find someone else?"
Seriously.  

I'm headed to the firing range to sharpen my skillz............

Kisses,
Rie

Getting Back into the Swing of Things

Gosh.  It has been so long that I am not even sure where to begin.


I took a break, stopped the chemotherapy and every other drug doc's have placed me on over the past ten years.  I'm not gonna lie, a few months in paradise actually felt like an eternity in hell. 


The flip side is---it was all worth it.  My head is clear, I am healthier and I actually feel like a normal human being again.  

I love Hawaii.  It is beautiful and everything one would imagine it would be to live here.  The jacked-up prices no longer bother me and the simpler life has felt far more appealing.  I miss our Arizona home, very much so.  I miss my friends and family.  I miss having a Target within five minutes.  God do I miss Lifetime Fitness! But today, I had the rare luxury of laying on the beach all by myself.  No children to worry about drowning; nothing but the sun, sand and myself.  


J has mono so we had to cancel his big summer plan which was surfing lessons.  The kids, myself and the dogs have all settled in nicely.  I am actually going back to work and school! It's time.  I miss that piece of myself.  

I'm going to leave this post short and sweet as I ease my way back into writing.  


To my blogging friends, I have been absent in writing and reading what you have written.  Never has a day gone by that I did not think about you all and how life was going.  Just like old friends, life has a way of picking up right where it left off.


Kisses,
Rie

Sicky girl hanging out on the terrace.

Yes---it really is chilly.
>

Just the Mr and I

The mr and I got away for the weekend---just the two of us. We participated in the Travelocity surprise package, meaning for cheaper rates you only know the area and star rating of the hotel, nothing more.

Sometimes throwing caution to the wind pays off big time.