Journal entry 195--Miracles

Describe a miracle that has occurred in your life.

One of my miracles is my husband. He is the greatest thing to come into my life. He's my best friend and keeps me smiling still after 17 years of marriage! Growing up, my childhood was less than ideal, however my husband has given me hope and shown me that there are good, loving fathers out in the world and he's one of them. He's gentle, kind and forgiving of all my stupidness!

Journal entry 193--Love Languages

There are several books out called "The 5 Love Languages for..." http://www.fivelovelanguages.com/30sec.html
then you can fill in the rest, either children, men, teenagers, etc. The author states that there are 5 languages in which we respond best to love. They are Physical touch, words of affirmation, quality time, service, and gifts. Which language do you think you respond to?

I am definitely quality time. I love and feel more loved when people spend time with me. That's why I'm always bugging my husband to play scrabble with me! Once he gives me some quality time, I'm a much happier person. My daughter is just like me. She handles life's little hardships much better when I spend some time with her first. My boys are physical touch. They both love when we hug and kiss them. I'm still trying to figure out what my husband is!

Journal entry 188--Valentine's day

What do you like to do for your loved ones on Valentine's Day?

I simply like to spend time with my loved ones. This Valentine's Day, my husband and I took our kids to the store and let them pick out whatever candy they wanted for $7. They loved going down the aisles choosing their favorite candies and knowing that they won't have to share with each other unless they want to. As for my hubby and I, tonight we're going to spend time with some friends and celebrate Valentine's Day together the next weekend. What can I say, we're practical and would rather go to a restaurant on a less busy night when the quality will be higher than the quantity.

Journal entry 174--Like a...

Start your journal today with the sentence "There is nothing like a..."


There is nothing like a hug. I love getting hugs when I'm sad or congratulated or just because the hugger loves me. My children give great hugs, especially my little 6 year old who likes to give bear hugs that sometimes hurts my ribs! Every night when my husband comes home the first thing he does is hug me. Even if I'm in the middle of making dinner, I still enjoy his hugs.

Journal entry 167--Passionate 4

Write about something you are passionate about.


I am passionate about my husband! He's my best friend and makes me laugh constantly. I think that I'm a little bit of a strange person and he puts up with all my quirkiness. We've been married for 17 years and still make it a point to go out on a date once a week. He's a great father and I know and the kids know how much he loves them. I grew up without a father around and also with the thought that he didn't love me. That was extremely difficult. I love seeing my husband's relationship with his children. It's helped me see how father's should treat their children.

Journal entry 163--Love

Describe what love sounds like to you.


Love is the sound of children laughing or a brand new baby cooing and talking to their mother. It's my children and husband asking me if they can help or playing a game together. Love is the sound of beautiful music, especially piano because that's what I play. It's the sound of my son winning his soccer game and feeling so good about how he did. It's my other son's voice when he gets a great idea and is so excited to tell me that he talks too fast to understand. And then there's my daughter and her sweet voice telling me that she thinks I'm beautiful! Lastly the sound of my husband telling me how much he loves me. It may sound sappy, but to me those are the sounds of love.

Journal entry 161--Grandfathers part 2

Describe one or both of your grandfathers. What were they like? Did you know them well? What influence did they have on you?


I only knew one of my grandfathers. He was my mother's father and was the true patriarch of our entire family. My grandfather was an entrepreneur who was always thinking of some way to make money. He was the example I had for handling money and taking risks with it. I loved my grandfather, who whenever he took us out for brunch would tell terrible jokes to the waitresses. I felt sorry for them, having to pretend to enjoy these jokes for a good tip. He was funny and would often say, "Oh for gosh sakes." My grandfather was generous and kind to me and I will never forget the way he treated me.

Journal entry 150--Moms

Is there anything your mother did while you were growing up that you swore you'd never do with your children, but actually do?


I've copied a lot of my mother's sayings and facial expressions. Funny words like "honyak"or "skiwampus" seems to infiltrate my vocabulary often. I'm particular about the way my bed is made and presents need to be wrapped tight and neat just like my mother did. I also have a look I give to both my kids and husband when they've been naughty, which is the same look my mother gave to me. And if my dog is being troublesome, I usually say an exasperated "Awwhh" in a tone of disgust, which again I picked up from mom. However, my mother died when I was 20 years old, so my children have never known her. So I try to say and do things that she did and point out to them that their grandma used to say this or that. I figure it's one way for my kids to know their grandma.

Journal entry 144--Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all my readers! Thank you for supporting me! I appreciate you all! Have a great holiday and eat a lot of junk, candy and food. Do absolutely no work today and enjoy your family and friends!

Journal entry 141--Movies

List your top 5 Christmas movies of all time. They don't necessarily have to be about Christmas.

1. Elf
2. A Christmas Story
3. A Christmas Carol
4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
5. A Charlie Brown Christmas

These movies are fun to watch and of course give a wonderful message of family and togetherness during Christmas. Whatever holiday you celebrate, I hope it's a happy one!

Journal entry 129--Death

Have you ever lost someone close to you? Who was it and how did it affect your life?

My mother died when I was just barely 20 years old. She had been sickly my entire life but I still thought that she would live forever. What kid doesn't think that about their parents? It took me awhile to really believe that she was gone. After she died, I was alone for awhile. My sister and brother were already married and living on their own. My mother's death definitely taught me to be more independent and take care of myself. It also got me out of the house so I was eventually able to meet and marry my husband. Before, I thought it was my future to stay and care for my mother. I loved my mom very much and know I will be able to see her again.

Journal entry 124--Change

If you could change one thing about your appearance what would it be and why?


When I was eight months pregnant with my twin boys, I developed Bell's Palsy which caused the left side of my face to become paralysed. I've since recovered, however, there has been some nerve damage to that side and as I grow older, only the right side of my face is in sync with my age. Now the right side of my face is getting wrinkles and the left side is looking like a 30 year old. I would just like to be even! I do know that I wouldn't change a thing if it meant not having my boys and Bell's Palsy was just a part of my pregnancy.

Journal entry 122--Memorable

Describe an event in your life that was memorable.


One of the most memorable event in my life was when my daughter was born. Aside from the fact that you have a child coming into the world, this event was memorable because of the way she started coming. I was already four days over due and woke up with contractions 10 minutes apart. I took it easy that morning, as easy as any mother of twin 4 year old boys can. That day was also the day the electric company was installing a new electrical pole in our back yard. The front of our house was filled with trucks and huge cranes. My boys loved it! Our entire neighborhood was out of power as well as my cell phone so I had no way to contact my husband to tell him I needed to go to the doctor. I packed up my boys and waited until a contraction stopped, then headed over to my husband's work. I timed it perfectly because as soon as I parked, I had another contraction. We dropped the kids off at a friend's house and headed over to the doctor, who after checking me told me to go home, drink water and rest to make sure it wasn't false labor. I was already 4 days overdue!! My doctor, I found out later, had tickets to a Laker's game and didn't want to miss it. We picked up the kids and my husband had a brilliant idea to get some ice cream, only he ordered a handmade smoothie that took the worker 20 minutes to make. By this time, my contractions are 5 minutes apart. I honestly thought I would give birth on the floor of Cold Stone Creamery. Finally we went home and I waited until 5:00 to call the on call doctor, who thankfully told me to go to the hospital. After dropping the kids off again at a friend's house and listening to my hubby chat with that friend, I got to head over to the hospital where I gave birth 6 hours later to my daughter.

Journal entry 118--Thanksgiving

Describe a memory you have from Thanksgiving past.


Every year for Thanksgiving, my family would go to my grandparent's house for dinner. All my cousins were there and aunts and uncles. The house was filled with children running around in and out of the adult's legs. I loved going to my grandparent's house each year. My grandma was a wonderful cook and made the best lemon meringue pie using her fresh lemons off the tree. Each year, (before there was cable TV) a Christmas movie called, "Santa and the three bears" was shown. To me, it signified the start of the Christmas season. I remember looking forward to that movie each year. Now you can watch it in July!

Journal entry 114--Embarrassment

Describe a time when you were embarrassed. What happened?


I was just thinking today about a time when I was in second grade and a boy in class liked me. It was always difficult for me to not be embarrassed about boys when I was little because I had an older brother who painfully teased me about everything. In class, I was the classmate of the week and each child had to fill out a form telling why they thought I should be the classmate of the week. A boy named Mike had a crush on me and wrote on the back of his paper, "I love you." I wanted to crawl under a rock! That booklet was supposed to be displayed on my desk for back to school night. Everyone would see it! I had a plan. I scribbled on the back of all the papers so it would not look out of the ordinary. Looking back, you can still see Mike's words of adornment. Apparently my scribble plan didn't work.

Journal entry 108--Thankfulness

List 10 things for which you are thankful.


1. Indoor plumbing. I can't even handle the bathrooms at campsites.
2. Ice. I love cold, icy water to drink.
3. Freedom to worship as I please.
4. Fresh fruits and vegetables. I don't like canned fruits and veggies much.
5. The ability to read and learn.
6. My bed. I'm glad I don't sleep on the floor.
7. Past teachers who have inspired me to live my full potential.
8. My life.
9. Ruthie, my silly puppy and the challenges she brings me.
10. Lastly, my family, of course and all their love and encouragement.

Journal entry 107--Grandparent's house

What are reminded of when you think of your grandparent's house.


I think the color blue because they had light blue carpet everywhere. Even the kitchen had carpet only it was the kind especially made for kitchens. I wanted carpet in my kitchen when I grew up because of grandma's house. Their bathroom had a sunken shower. You had to walk down 3 steps to get to the shower. One of my childhood wishes was to fill it up with water and swim in it. My grandmother also had an oil lamp in her bathroom. The kind of lamp that looks like it's raining but it's oil drops sliding down wires. My grandparent's house was such a fun place to play as a child. She had a rose garden with probably 50 bushes that smelled like heaven along with two lemon trees. Those lemons were in her wonderful lemon meringue pie, which we ate at every family get together. My grandma was an organists so she had two beautiful organs and a baby grand piano. She would teach me some organ techniques and I loved to play on the organs. When I think of my grandparent's house, I think of togetherness, love and security.

Journal entry 101--Talents

If you could have one talent that you do not have now, what would it be and how would it change your life?

I've always said that in my next life, I want to be able to dance. Not just the kind of dancing for weddings or proms but like the contestants on "So You Think You Can Dance?" I love the fact that they can dance any style and usually make it look presentable. That's what I want to do. I want to be able to dance all the ballroom styles, hip-hop, jazz, even tap! Of course, my husband would also need the ability to dance so I'll have a partner. I guess we had better start taking some lessons.

Journal entry 97--Collection

Write about something you collected as a child or that you collect now. If it was something collected as a child, do you still collect it?

I use to collect anything that had to do with cows. I had cow Christmas ornaments, garland, shirts, stuffed cows, mugs, stickers, books, and slippers. For Halloween one year, I even dressed up as a cow. For years, friends and family would give me anything connected to cows for my birthday and holidays. After a while, I stopped wanting to collect cows. However, my friends and family did not receive that memo! For another couple of years, I continued to receive cows related items as gifts. I don't collect cow things anymore. I now collect Christopher Radko Christmas ornaments!

Journal entry 96--Childhood

Write about something you did as I child that you would never think of letting your child do now.

There were several things I could do as a child that my children now can't. For example, I use to walk to school and I lived a good distance from my school. Now I don't let my kids walk to school because of safety issues. The biggest thing I did as a child was go to the mall with just my friend. We were only 9 years-old! I can' t even imagine letting my kids do that in today's world. It's sad that our children have lost so much potential for freedom because of predators.