WWJD? Or, What Would Jennifer Do??

I have a friend, Jennifer. She is amazing! She is such a happy, lovely person that you can't help but smile when you think of her. I love her philosophy of life-if it doesn't make her happy, she doesn't do it! She will not shop at certain stores because it causes stress for her. She seems so at peace with her life and that spreads to the rest of us.
With her as my inspiration, I have decided to start following her lead. I am no longer going to worry about things that cause irritations in my life-especially people! I give some people WAY to much power to affect my feelings when there is no way they deserve to have any time in my life. Some people are just miserable. They have unhappy lives and have a need to have everyone else be as unhappy as they are. I am too old and too happy to let them affect me anymore!
I hope you all take some inspiration from Jennifer-you will be so glad you did! And if you have the wonderful fortune to have her in your life-consider yourself blessed!! She's a keeper!!!

My Friends

I have recently joined the rest of the world and found facebook. I LOVE it! I can see my friends, anytime I want to, provideing that they have posted pictures on their pages. I have found pages of my current friends and pages for friends in my past. My friends are beautiful. I smile everytime I look at thier pages. Isn't technology incredible? That we can connect over miles, countries, years, like we haven't ever been apart. I suppose that many people my age are interested in finding old school friends. Many pages I see are of slightly "older" people! There are plenty of young ones too. Perhaps we are just trying to remember the fun of our youth, or just plain remember! I am looking forward to finding more friends and keeping in contact with new ones.

Diva in Training

My youngest daughter is 3. She is our bling girl! Anything that sparkles, shines, twinkles...she's the one to notice! Today she changed her boots. The pair she had on was not good enough. They only lighted up, and she needed more! She has a pair from last year that are just a bit too small, but that doesn't matter. She is a girl who knows how to sacrifice for beauty! These boots are iridescent pink with sparkly hearts and silver trim! AND THEY ARE TAPPY! She has several pair of "tappy" shoes.
Sigh....of all three of my girls, I relate to her the best. I can remember walking through J C Penny's when I was little, when they still had those hard, linoleum tiles. The sound was hypnotic! I loved hearing the ladies high heels clicking on them. I also like a little sparkle! And I am definitely an accessory girl. She doesn't leave the house without a piece of jewelry or lip gloss. My addiction is a nice handbag, or two, or three...I like shoes too, but really am more into purses.
I hope she chooses well in life. She will need to get a great job or marry someone who does! Bling ain't cheap!!

My NEW view of my small world

Since it has been a VERY long time since I have added anything to this blog, I have noticed it needed a little updating.

For example, after re-reading my post about the town I live in, many things have happened. Oh, I am still not happy about the shopping, or lack of it here. BUT, I have found people that like change! Some are born and bred here, others are newer than me. All of them would like to change many things about the town. And, they actually are! These moms are changing not only their small corner of the world, but are trying to make a positive impact on the community. They have reached out to find friendships and to help total strangers in need. In helping themselves, they are making a positive impact on the world.
You go girls!!! LincolnCountyMommies rock!

Status Quo

I live in a town that is perfectly happy to stay just as it is. The problem with that is I don't like it. Now, the town is nice, and relatively safe in terms of crime (the population is only around 21,000) but don't plan on shopping for anything other than ordinary. The only stores around are WalMart, J C Penny's and another department store named Herbergers. There is one local shop downtown and two western wear places, but that's about it. Unless of course, you are under 25, which I am not. There is also no place to buy home decor items, except the for mentioned stores. So, everyone dresses like everyone else, every one's homes look like everyone else's-if you bother to decorate at all.
The lack of shopping was the first thing I noticed. After that, I began to see that it didn't really bother anyone but me. People here seem to have an attitude of "good enough". They don't go above and beyond, the extra mile. They don't see the need. I guess they figure that since they are literally out in the middle of nowhere, it doesn't matter. These thoughts are pervasive throughout everything. Our church and Pastor have this attitude, so does our school for the most part. We have kept it this way for 80 years, so why change it now? Why do we need to improve ourselves? Our church? Our school?
I am sure that they are all thinking that we are the new people, what do we know? We won't be here forever and they will. We are just a mild irritation, trying to change things and will be gone soon.
But, if no one expects more, no one will achieve more.
I want more. More for my family and more for my children. I want them to expect more for themselves and to be the best they can possibly be. So, I will continue to push for change and continue to question why. Don't settle! Live the fullest life that God has given you and you may just see possibilities that are attainable-if you just try.

Welcome to my life!

Greetings!
Grab a coke (I don't "do" coffee) and sit down-watch the yogurt on the sofa. My name is Tracey and I am a stay at home mom to three divas in training, ages 8, 3, and nearly 2. We currently live in Nebraska, but have lived in Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois and Nebraska (another time) as a family. My husband is on the "fast track" up that corporate ladder.
Anyway-I just discovered that there are apparently people out there that want to read other peoples opinions-and it has a name-blogging. I figured this would be a great outlet for me, as I like to write and I have loads of opinons! Who knew someone actually would solicit them?
My current thoughts on motherhood are not all that positive. Two of my children are sick today and have been really naughty. Extreamly naughty. Let an "old" pro give you some advice. Have your kids while you are young-I will be 38 tomorrow! You have much more energy and tolerance for whining. Also-DO NOT have your kids close together! They do not need a playmate, you don't want to "get it over with", they may not be best friends when they get older...any other reasons you can think of, I can probably counter! The truth is that it is very hard to deal with two babies and have any kind of life outside of that. Then add in a kid in grade school (oh, and did I mention being president of the pto?) and other activities and you have total chaos most of the time. Ten years ago I could remeber dates, appointments and even my own name. Today I can remember all of my children's names-I just call them by the wrong ones!
I understand my own mother so much better now.
Well, I hope you have enjoyed my very first blog. I will be adding more when I have the time, between diapers, snacks, potty breaks, emails and breaking up fights.
If you would like to read something else I have written and actually published, then please go to http://www.christianitytoday.com/momsense/2005/006/12.17.html . I wrote a piece for MOPS International's Momsense magazine a year ago. So see, I do have moments of sanity.
Tracey