2014-First Game of the season..

Labor Day weekend opened up the official first game of the season for Pop Warner Football and Cheer.. Pop Warner is grouped by weight and age for the football players and only age for the cheer leaders.  My daughter cheers for the Mighty Mites while my son plays football for Junior Pee Wee league.  Standing or sitting out in the Florida sunshine was VERY HOT! 

We have a good group of volunteer coaches and parents that ensure the children drink PLENTY of water while they are practicing, or even playing games. 

Meanwhile the parents should have the same acknowledgement when it comes to watching these children and teenagers play sports.  Someone had to call EVAC/Emergency Medical Services because a parent suffered from heat exhaustion.  The Paramedics took vital signs, gave her oxygen and hydrated her with water.  Afterwards, she was alert and did not have to be transported to the hospital.  

For those of you who have children in sports, take advantage of the water supply we are provided and DRINK PLENTY OF WATER while out in the summer heat! 

FINALLY!!

WOW!  It has been overwhelming the last few weeks...Keep in mind, I haven't been employed since August 2013..

On Thursday evening, the week prior to school starting for the children, I received a phone call.  The recruiter from a local staffing agency asked me a series of questions to determine my background, skills, and experience.  She felt as if I was a good fit for the position.  She asked if I was available to come to the office and update my information.  I responded "Absolutely!"  Already nervous, she informed me the decision would be between myself and another candidate.  

Before I arrived, I thought about what answers I would provide on some difficult interview questions.  For example, what are your strengths and weaknesses?  As thoughts came across my mind, I wanted to ensure the recruiter knew I was the one for this position.  So, I did.  I came in with an open-mind, showing passion for the position, and willing to achieve the tasks assigned to me.  The recruiter informed me the employer wanted the candidate to start working on the following Monday morning.  

As time kept ticking and ticking, it felt as if I was not in the eyes of the employer.  I started to feel as if there was no hope that I would return to work when my children returned to school.  Four hours later, I realized the agency had approximately 2-3 hours before the close of business on Friday afternoon.  I took the proactive approach and contacted the agency.  GOOD NEWS!!! I was offered the position...It felt as if God provided me a path to walk down to where I could visualize the light at the end of the tunnel.  

However, I felt like I walked into a cloud of dust after the good news...thinking, and thinking what to do about child care for my children.  I prayed and prayed for things to fall into place.  By Monday morning, I had arrangements for after-school care and the plan was successful!  

Football..

IT is FINALLY FOOTBALL season again..
I am STOKED to watch the NFL and College teams play this season!  Even though I was born and raised in Florida, I am an Indianapolis Colts fan..  My father was a Miami Dolphins fan, my sister is a JAGS fan, and my mother could careless who won NFL but she was a diehard Florida State Seminole fan, as we all were except my father.  My father loved the Miami Hurricanes. 
My sister played women's football last season.  She player cornerback, I believe.  This year she is wondering if she should play or not because she does not want to get injured.  Last season, she played with a broke ankle. 
Now, my children are starting their first year in Youth Football and Cheerleading.  They LOVE IT!  My daughter walks around the house reciting different cheers and she makes fun of my son because he can't get them out of his head, so she calls him a boy cheerleader.. HAHAHA!  Meanwhile, my son is learning different positions and trying to determine what position he wants to play.  He will be on safety but he is wanting to be on offensive team.  He tried out for QB (quarterback) but too many veterans on the team that know a little more than him this year.  Now, he wants to be a receiver of some sort. 
As always, it will be an interesting season for football, whether it is youth, college, or NFL.  I am hoping one or both of my children will make it to competition. 

Rain..

Why do people complain that it is raining?  I understand it may be an inconvenience at times, especially during the summer.  Would you rather have forest fires because it is too dry?
Here are some reasons I like the rain...


1. The precipitation cools the hot summer sun down in Florida and creates blankets of snow up north in the winter.
2. It waters our plants and trees and even more importantly, the farmer's crops, which is life-giving.  3. The rain keeps the lawns looking nice and green or at least the lawns that have grass :)
4. It gives the kids mud puddles to walkthrough or splash in
5. The rain flushes the waste and toxins from the ground
6. I believe the rain can be therapeutic listening to the gentle pitter patter of raindrops or watching it trickle down from the sky.
7. Rain is a grateful thing when we do not have to use the water supply when there is a shortage of water.
8. Although you need the sun and rain, you can enjoy the view of rainbows.
9.  The rain nurtures the animals and plants in the oldest ecosystems on earth, rainforests.
Reasons why I do not like the rain


1.  I do not like the dangers of lightening
2.  My dog freaks out when it pours down or thunders
3.  I do not like when I am drenched because I have to go somewhere and walk into a freezing cold building
4.  When it is cold outside, the only use for rain is to keep the forest fires away!

How I thought someone was feeling...

These are the lyrics to "Let Her Go" by a group known as PASSENGER.  I believe it fits the way someone feels about the relationship we used to have...Not gone forever in my heart..

   

PASSENGER LYRICS

"Let Her Go"

Well you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you’re missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go
And you let her go

Staring at the bottom of your glass
Hoping one day you'll make a dream last
But dreams come slow and they go so fast

You see her when you close your eyes
Maybe one day you'll understand why
Everything you touch surely dies

But you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go

Staring at the ceiling in the dark
Same old empty feeling in your heart
'Cause love comes slow and it goes so fast

Well you see her when you fall asleep
But never to touch and never to keep
'Cause you loved her too much
And you dived too deep

Well you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go

And you let her go (oh, oh, ooh, oh no)
And you let her go (oh, oh, ooh, oh no)
Will you let her go?

'Cause you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go

'Cause you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go

And you let her go

 

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A New Addition...A Dog named Pepper!

Right around Memorial Day, my niece spotted a dog running up and down her street.  She told her mom about the dog that she saw three times out the window.  Her mother walked out the front door and the dog approached her. 
My sister decided to call the phone number on the tag attached to the collar.  There was no answer.  She left a message to inform the owner on the dog tag that she found their dog. 
The next day, we went to Jacksonville for a Memorial Day weekend party.  The owner contacted my sister back and said they do not want the dog anymore.  If she wanted to take ownership, she could come get the dog's food and water bowl, kennel, and anything else they had for the dog.  After returning from Jacksonville, my sister contacted the owner and told them she would take the dog.  When my sister went to the dog owner's house, she asked the breed of the dog.  We learned it was a German Pointer.  My sister spent the weekend with the dog named Pepper.  At this time, my sister was on a contract position for a job in Tampa.  Hence, she did not have the time to spend with the dog. 
I decided to keep "Pepper" the dog over at my house until my sister returned from Tampa.  After three weeks, I told my sister I loved the dog and I insisted I had the backyard, as well as the time for the dog.  She decided to give her to me since I already bonded with her for the past three weeks. 
However, Pepper is a RUNNER!  The first time she got out of the house, she ran about 3-4 blocks in approximately 2-3 minutes.  We couldn't find her!
The next time she got out, she was in the backyard and I accidentally left the garage door opened.  She was like a CHEETAH!  She sprinted so fast, I barely got a glimpse of her.  It took us approximately a half-hour to get her back.  She ran up and down main roads.  We finally caught her at the local Winn-Dixie near our house. 
The last time she got out, she ran to the end of our street and stood at someone's front door.  Once we saw her at the neighbor's doorstep, we called her name and she came running to the car. 


I believe she is finally learning not to go far and hopefully we will not have to chase her anymore. 
The picture below is a good resemblance of my new addition, Pepper.

College

In 2012, I started attending an online college program.  After eight months, I decided to take a leave of absence and never returned to the college because I landed a FULL-TIME job!  When I say full-time, I mean it was working from day to sometimes almost midnight. 
Even though it was difficult to study at home before and after work, I still maintained a "B" grade point average.  In October 2012, I decided to take a leave of absence from the school because of family situations. 
I have attended City College since October 2013 and planning to graduate in 2015.  It has been difficult to study, maintain and provide for my children, as well as look for employment.  Now, I will experience what it is to be a single mother for the third time.  I am hoping I will be able to continue to attend school for another year and graduate with a Paralegal degree. 
I believe faith, GOD, and my children will allow me to complete school and get a degree to move forward in life with or without him.  I will prove to myself and others, I will not be a disgrace.

Fourth of July weekend

Hope everyone's Fourth of July weekend went well! 
My sister has been out of town for almost a month on a contract position in Tampa.  My children and I had a GREAT time at her home in Ormond Beach with the pool and fireworks!  We decided to leave on Friday to Ormond Beach, took the children and dogs with us.  After reuniting with my sister, we went to Sky King in Daytona Beach and split the cost for a GOOD time with some fireworks and food! 
We bought mortars, repeaters, and fireworks for the children including my niece.  While snacking on sushi and seafood salad, we fired up the grill cooking steaks.  I made pasta salad with pesto, half-cut grape tomatoes, olives, mozzarella cheese, and dices of ham for a side dish.  After dinner, FIREWORKS were on the mind.  Therefore, the kids had snap pops, sparklers, and a few other things.
I love celebrating the Fourth of July with family and friends.  It is a time to celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by declaring the Independence from Great Britain.  My family would rather celebrate in the comfort of our own home or someone close to us rather than fighting the crowds and traffic in our community to observe fireworks.  Furthermore, we as a family had a GREAT time over the holiday weekend.

Wet N' Wild FUN!

Have you ever been to Wet N' Wild?  If you haven't, I would advise you to check out this Water Park in Orlando!  It is AMAZING for adults and children!  Although the height requirement for most rides is 48 inches, the smaller children will love the 6-story castle in Blastaway Beach featuring water slides, buckets tipping over when least expected while the pool depth is approximately 1-2 feet. 
Wet N' Wild has a wave pool with four-foot high waves rolling across a 17,000 square foot pool.  You can take a leisure float through the lazy river.  Children under 48 inches may need to wear a U.S. Coast Guard floatation device, which Wet N' Wild provides for their patrons. 
My son will be 11-years-old in July and he always asks if he can go on the Bomb's Bay.  It is a water slide that is nearly vertical, six-story slide!!  They have one that is similar called Der Stuka but it is not quite an adventure as the Bomb's Bay because it is your own initiative to get on the slide and go down rather than another person releasing you from the drop of the slide. 
On the other hand, my daughter is seven and she likes the Storm which is a slide that drops, then twirls you around like a toilet bowl and drops you in a pool. 
Check this AWESOME water park out located off International Drive for a fun, thrilled Summer!!