14 Days of Thanks - Day 2

I am sitting in a Starbucks this morning, enjoying a cup of yummy Peppermint Mocha. I am about to head off to work to complete a bid that I have been working on & to receive an order from a new customer. A few months ago, I made a very difficult decision to quit working at the restaurant. A decision that I probably made a few months too soon, financially speaking. I felt like having two jobs was killing me & I was never seeing my kids. So instead, I chose to live without any extras for a few months, but I am home by 4:30, with every weekend free. That to me, is worth more than a few hundred extra dollars.

This was a new concept for me because I always chose making money in the past. I didn't know how to be okay with less, by choice. I've certainly had my financial struggles & had to adjust to less....but to CHOOSE to make less for the better good of my family was a really cool lesson. There is one thing about being completely broke & not knowing where your next dollar is coming from....you appreciate EVERYTHING! A cup of coffee is a reward, going out to eat is a major event, going out of town (if only for a night) seems like a world class vacation. You really find out what you can live without when you have nothing. While it has been a difficult journey, (that I sometimes thought would completely break me) the Lord used my circumstance to make me better. I am sure that he opened this door of change for me to walk through a 1000 times before I saw it, but He never gave up on me. I am grateful!

So today I am thankful that the Lord is sending me some new business to make things a little bit easier. I am thankful that He led me into the lives of the Blundell Family, who have not only hired me to work for them when I was completely down on my luck but have also become some of my closest friends. They have been amazing to me & to my children. I love them! Thank you Lord for these wonderful blessings! Thank you for never giving up on me!

14 Days of Thanks

I am sitting here tonight thinking of all of the things that I am thankful for. I was about to post on my Facebook page & then I decided that in the spirit of trying to blog more, I would just do it here. :) So, for the next 14 days I am going to post about something that I am thankful for. I would like you to comment with something that you are thankful for in return. I love hearing about the joy in all of your lives. YOUR comments will touch other people & we will all be that more thankful. Some days it will be huge & some days it may be the slightest gesture that someone offered to you to make you smile.

Of course I am thankful for the Lord, my children, my friends, my job, my health, etc. etc. I want to find those little things that become big things & post about those. A little, off the wall comment that one of the kids might make, a sunny day, etc. Those types of things.

Tonight brought a smile to my face that had me & Brandon dancing in the kitchen. I won Bon Jovi tickets on 94.5 The Hawk with Dutch Hawk. (of course I have to give them a plug) The concert is on February 21st in Raleigh which is about two hours away. You might think, "Ugh. Two hours away." I am thinking, "Road trip & amazing experience!" I have no idea about the details, where I'll stay, when I'll go, where my seats are, etc. I just know that I am going! After loving them for what, 23 years or so? I have probably been to 30 concerts....never Bon Jovi! I am stoked & can't wait.

Tonight I am thankful for music. I absolutely love music & it can so often change a mood completely around. It makes you feel good when you don't, allows you to cry when you want to, gets deep into your soul if you let it, & causes you to sing a levels that might make those around you wish they would go deaf. I am also thankful for games like Guitar Hero & Rock Band because they have opened my children up to the music that I love without them thinking that I am "old" & "uncool". Ok, fine. Maybe they still think that. LOL

With that being said....here is my favorite song for tonight from Bon Jovi (the one that I played at least 15 times & am going to play again as soon as I post this & do not have to concentrate any longer) & one of my favorites of all time. One of my best in the car, singing at the top of our lungs, singing experiences was to the this 2nd song. (also found on Rock Band)

I hope that you enjoy the music & I hope that you comment about what you are thankful for! I'd love to hear it.















PS - You bet I am going to take photos, videos, & Twitter while I am at the concert! I HAVE to share the experience with all of you!

BlissDom'11 Conference

I am so excited! I want to go to BlissDom'11! I opened up an email this afternoon that read, "Want to go to BlissDom Conference for Free?" Yes, yes, yes! What is Blissdom'11, you ask? Check out the short video:




BlissDom Conference 2010 from Blissful Media Group on Vimeo.

If you are cheating & didn't watch the video, BlissDom is a conference for empowering women with the momentum & tools necessary to claim your passion & pursue your goals with fiery confidence. They have workshops that are designed around your specific needs & desires. It is the ultimate networking event for blogging mommas.

I actually first found out about this conference last year, but it was too late for me to make arrangements. This year, the only way that I will be going is by winning one of the prizes or by an act of God. But, I am not going to let that get me down.

I absolutely LOVE blogging & to have the opportunity to be away, away from distractions, with other people that love doing the same thing that I do, that "get" why I do it, to learn, to grow, to share, to make new friends, etc. etc. would be incredibly A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I would be so blessed to attend this conference. Hopefully I will see you all there! :)

Now I know that many of you are bloggers as well so:

1. Have you been to BlissDom in the past?
2. Have you attended another blogging conference? (If so, which one?)
3. Will I meet you at BlissDom'11?