Snow will = a much needed lazy day at my house!

The Charlotte area is predicted to get ice and snow tomorrow. We are under a winter storm warning currently and I truly hope that they are right and we DO get BLASTED. I know to be very careful what I wish for and that "blasted" could mean no power but being the polar bear that I am; I say bring it on! The thought of a Saturday away from work and the kids being entertained equals heaven in my book. I love that J has the ability to drive in the snow...(for those of you who have experienced his driving I have come to the conclusion that he learned to drive on ice and snow) and that I never feel stuck! We do venture out usually for a late breakfast in the snow and then back home and then we do nothing more than be worthless :) Keeping warm and watching for the kids to come in and change clothes or gloves, get hot chocolate, warm up and head back out!
A break in the regular routine that allows you to slow down and do nothing but admire the view ~ call me boring but that is my idea of a perfect day . I love to see snow falling and then look at everything covered in white and to go outside and breathe in that cold air....if hell is HOT, then Cold is HEAVEN!

Amazing....Talent!

Sorry I do not have time to actually write today but I wanted to share this amazing video....unbelievable talent and so touching too.
Please remember Haiti! Text Haiti to 90999 to donate $10 to The American Red Cross for Haiti!

Kseniya Simonova is a Ukrainian artist who just won Ukraine's version of "America's Got Talent." She uses a giant light box, dramatic music, imagination and "sand painting" skills to interpret Germany's invasion and occupation of Ukraine during WWII.
Sorry you will have to cut and paste this into your browser....well worth it!

The Cupcake Liner

Can you bake a cupcake without a liner? Sure! But the liner protects the foundation of the cake. It keeps it from getting "stuck" to the bottom of the pan and from drying out and burning.
I guess we all need a protective liner. I am so fortunate to have a great one. You know that person; the one who loves you for you. The person that knows you are crazy, lazy, caring, smart, stupid, mean, vulnerable, and whatever else "ails" you! But they somehow love you anyway. They tell you nicely when your wrong, rejoice with you when you are right and they find a spot "to get in where they fit in" and hold on tight for the ride.
Yep, you guessed it! My liner is JJ!
A quote from a movie sums it up pretty well "find someone you would not mind being stuck in a foxhole with."
I cannot tell you how many times JJ has kept me from getting stuck to the bottom of the pan not to mention burning. I just hope he considers me a "top shelf" liner too. Moral of the story...get yourself a good "liner"! If you don't your CUPCAKES won't be as sweet, you'll get "stuck" to the bottom and burnt. Does your liner have to be your significant other: absolutely not, just be sure they do the job.

Continued 1/27/10

Yes sometimes our dreams come true and somehow they spread us thin...kids, jobs, vacations and the list goes on and on! So I thought I would blog about the sweet moments, tips & tricks in my life that I am referring to as "cupcakes" in my blog! Cupcakes because I just realized recently that cupcakes ALWAYS make me smile; no matter my mood they remind me of festive, fun times, not to mention I am a sugar fein and I have proof of this everytime I pass a mirror. WOW TMI back to the BLOG...please post the ways that you lighten your life.
I am sure my closest friends think I am a "know-it-all" but that is not how I intend to be, I just like to share things that "lighten my load"! And when presented with someone else's situation/problem, I like to try to find solutions. But most of the time I now know I just need to listen more.
However, in saying that I feel I must mention that I am working to "LISTEN up" more to others this year :) And I have found in doing so I benefit. We are not all the same; some of you may HATE cupcakes; what seems like a solution to me maybe easier said than done! Things that make you go hmmm...
My few true friends,those who openly share their feelings/lives with me 2 inparticular, have taught me some much lately. From their struggles I have learned that very rarely are we remembered or loved for the solutions we offer; instead, our listening ear and padded shoulders are what we are MOST appreciated for during the storm.
Next up CUPCAKE #1 the cupcake liner...without it the cake sticks and burns!

Life will be simple when...

In the beginning there was an idea, you know the ideas where light bulbs glow and faith runs rampant. The idea that life would be simple "when"...and each phase was started by another "when"moment. The first phase was "when I find Mr. Right". Then it was "when I graduate college", "when I find a job", next "when we get married", and finally "WHEN we have children". That last one took us a little longer to "fill" than the others. It was the time when I realized the most that God is in control and that his plan does not happen on my watch. After suffering through miscarriages, painful heartbreaking miscarriages that made me question God's love for me as well as ask if something I wanted so badly would even be possible: then comes my son and then my daughter. Praise God, that was almost 9 years ago and boy has a lot changed. I look back at the photos of my hubby and I PRE-kids and we looked so relaxed and happy and today we looked aged and exhausted! Boy do our dreams have a way of filling us full of joy and draining us of energy at the same time.
I wanted to start this as paying homage to all families who walk the tight rope daily and ask themselves....what are the sweet moments, high points & smiling times that keep us going.