Motivational Monday :)

As promised last week - I'm back - to hopefully brighten your Monday and get your week off to a beautiful start! 
I have decided that MONDAY might just be my new favorite day of the week....WHY you ask?!?!  Because it's a FRESH start... on Monday morning everything from last week is erased and we get to start over.  THIS week - is gonna be GREAT  =)
I'm sharing a lovely little quote, which today is actually a bible verse that I heard on a movie (The Express) last night....and some music too (which was sung at my Sunday morning service at church)!  The lyrics are posted below because the words spoken in this song are so touching and inspiring!  (pay no attention to the pictures in the video - it's the only one I could find...)
Hope everyone has a FABULOUS week!!!!

1 Corinthians 15:10:
"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."

I am who I am because that is who God wants me to be...and HE has a plan  :)   I trust that!

Things change
Plans fail
You look for love on a grander scale
Storms rise
Hopes fade
And you place your bets on another day
When the going gets tough
When the ride's too rough
When you're just not sure enough
 

Chorus
Jesus will still be there
His love will never change
Sure as a steady rain
Jesus will still be there
When no one else is true
He'll still be loving you
When it looks like you've lost it all
And you haven't got a prayer
Jesus will still be there
 

Time flies
Hearts turn
A little bit wiser from lessons learned
But sometimes
Weakness wins
And you lose your foothold once again
When the going gets tough
When the ride's too rough
When you're just not sure enough...
 

Chorus (2X)
When it looks like you've lost it all
And you haven't got a prayer
Jesus will still be there

these are the days....that I dread....that I dream of...

We have had a fantabulous weekend here at the homestead.  I had to take a minute to put this on paper because there are far too many days when I wanna strangle my child - but this weekend, THIS weekend he makes me the proudest momma ever  =)
Z man is a freshman in high school this year, right?!... So this weekend - while I was getting ready, somehow the topic of alcohol/drugs came up. 
First of all - you have to understand that it's been just me and Zack for a loooong long time (well, all of his 14 years).  We do have a very open honest relationship (which I thank God for every day) - I really can't put into words how special the relationship is... but anyway - we are very close and he is always (knock on wood) honest with me.... well, ya know - about the serious stuff.  (maybe not always about his grades, report card, etc  ha ha)
So during the discussion, he proceeds to tell me that alot.... and by alot, I mean MOST.. of his friends (using the word "friends" loosely here, this includes kids he has classes with, not just his best friends...) have already tried drinking, smoking & some have even smoked pot.  Yes that's right.  Did I make it clear that he is a FRESHMAN.. in HIGH SCHOOL!!??  I mean WOW.   I knew the day would come but I guess I just didn't really expect it to be so soon...the peer pressure....WOW.  I'm not that naive - I remember it being in high school - but I just did NOT want to think about it happening to MY child already....
SO - The good news is we had a nice long talk about this subject (not that we have never talked about it before), and I have raised a good kid (knock on wood again.....no seriously.....HARD....KNOCK KNOCK).  He has no desire or curiosity whatsoever for any of the above.  Not to mention he is a HUGE athlete, and this doesn't mix.  So - I can honestly say (I may kick myself for this later) I have raised a good, honest, smart boy!  And I can't tell you how proud that makes me  =)
Today - I can say, that I truly believe he does NOT want to walk down that road AND I honestly believe that if he is tempted - he will talk to me about it.  And that is all I can hope for.... that he keeps his head on straight and is ALWAYS honest and open with me :)

Second proud momma moment from the weekend...  Z man and I are in the car.  We are talking about boys, girls, dating etc.  *In case you HAVEN'T heard me mention this before, I'm single - LOL*  Anyway  - just general discussion and Z looks over at me and says (yes I'm quoting cause it makes me a little teary eyed every time I tell the story)  he says  "Mom, I just don't get it.  All MY friends think you are hot... I think older guys are just stupid"
OK- yes I know - is that not the MOST precious thing ever!!  My 14 year old baby boy, trying to make ME feel better!  He sooooo does that from time to time and every time, it just makes me wanna cry a little.  #1 for raising a good kid, but #2 because he's a KID and isn't supposed to be worrying about me!
It's just too sweet!  and makes me smile and glow a little every time  =)

Tonight we spent the night being lazy and watched "The Express" together.
 I am a proud happy momma!  :)

BTW *sidenote* - after the "my (14 year old) friends think your hot" comment, I went to WKU homecoming and did a little tailgating... I did not get asked out by actual 14 year olds.... but let me just say, at my age, on college campus, when you DO get hit on, it does feel a little bit LIKE getting hit on by 14 year olds!  ha ha    But kinda flattering at the same time  =)
and they weren't all really THAT young either - just funny after the conversation with the boy!
& just for fun...Here are pics of me and my girl hanging out with the boys ....  LOL

Friday funtimes.....a lil dance dance evolution!

First - let me give you a little background (since I have yet to really divulge any info on the fam).......my family - well - we are all night owls and we are freaking idiots.  Yeah - that's the basics... that's really all you need to know about us.... idiots!!  (*insert picture - me, brothers and their wife & fiance after softball in the rain!)  We love to laugh!  I mean seriously - you get me, my son and my two brothers together and you would think we were all 10 again.  Picking and laughing and teasing and just all around actin a fool - right?!?!  I LOVE them!  (sooooo many family jokes...I could write for days about that....)
Where was I?  ok right - last Thursday night, at 11:30 PM I head out to my parents house to get some stuff together to wear to work on Friday (yeah - the night before...) cause we are dressing up for Halloween ( that's how we roll, I procrastinate; my parents are at the ballpark till all hours of the night watching my brothers play softball)
  geeeeeeeez!
So - 11:30 PM - I arrive at the parents.  Mom and dad are up but dad is REALLY wanting to go to bed.  However, mom and I are rummaging in the closet trying to find something for me to wear (my mom has more clothes than God..wait - God doesn't have clothes...LOL - but you get the idea)  AND I have my friend Denise and my boy with me just to throw in a little more chaos - cause I'm cool like that  :)   Next thing you know, the boy is running around in a dress my mom for some unknown reason thought that I could get into, that I wore for Easter when I was probably 10!  My dad is flipping out cause the boy is in a dress and the boy is now threatening to wear it to school for Halloween!!!!!!!  (seriously papa - calm down....LOL   this just instigates the boy though!  hee hee - don't know WHERE he gets that??!)
During all this - my baby brother (who still lives at home) has a boxer (in the bed with him) who has now heard all the comotion and is barking (it's midnight now at least....)   next thing I know - baby brother comes rolling out with the dog to put her outside, we all have a little laugh while he grumbles something about having to be at work at 6AM.  blah blah blah....he gets no sympathy from us.... cause like I said - that's how we roll  ;-)

Somehow baby brother gets distracted from going back to bed (can you even imagine how THAT would happen, me trying on clothes, boy in a dress, dad doing laundry, Denise and mom yappin....) ANYWAY - the parents just got DVR a few weeks ago and baby brother now thinks its fun to play with the DVR box and show us he knows how to work it (which he didn't!!!) - ending up on some THUG LIFE music channel.  This booty shakin thumpin now has me and the boys doin a little groove around my mom in the living room!  (the "bumping" and dancing drives my mother batty!)  LMAO!  Then I remember not to long ago, the boy and I watched a tutorial on how to "JERK"   This my lovely little friends is a lovely little dance done to the song "Jerk"   - which I'm sure very few of you have even heard of!  it's ok - you don't have to know WHAT it is to find the humor in it.... I proceed to get the boy to show them how to jerk!  (it's now....oh maybe 1:00??  AM!!!)   Ok - well the "jerk" is essentially the "running man" in reverse!!!!!!  NOW are you with me.... I KNOW you guys know what the running man is right?!?!?
WELLL - far be it from me to not demonstrate for my momma who didn't know what that was.  So 1 AM (on a work/school night)  the boy, baby brother and I are at the parents doing a little dance!!!  A little jerkin', a little runnin man, baby brother doin a little rappin........
FRICKIN hilarious!!!!!!!!
I told you ALL THAT - to get to this......
Here is the aftermath from the night of dancing at the parents:
Next day - I send baby brother a text (or facebook msg or something) saying that I could really use a lawn mowing if he might be available for that.  He proceeds to tell me he would - but he would be really afraid he might fall asleep at the wheel since SOMEONE kept him and his dog up till all hours of the night!  (snarl)
Then yesterday - i get the following video - with a note attached that says  "you will appreciate this"!!
It's Hiliarious!!!
it's like 6 minutes long - but take the time to watch it and step back through the years of dance!!!!!!!
When it gets to the running man - give me a little shout out!  LMAO!
and just for fun - if you remember it - get up and give it a whirl!  =-)

Hope everyone has a FANTABULOUS weekend!!!!!!!

when it rains, it pours! WHY is that?!?!

Dear friends:
Today - I need a little support.
My friend's dad who had surgery just last week on his tongue had to go back today for more surgery.  They didn't get it all the first time.  Please oh Please say prayers today for him, my friend and their entire family.
Also - if you don't mind, just throw in a blanket prayer for me, and my other friends too.  And hugs, lots of hugs, AND please send some hugs Allyson's way too....
Anyway - more on life later....way too much going on right now  =(

much love to you all!
Thank you!
Tami G

PS - I had to come back and add this song I just found.
Tristan Prettyman - another recent discovery.
LOVE it!

*applause* Let the ceremony begin.......

 

**Welcome to my Awards Ceremony**

I don't know if there are rules on what day and when you are supposed to DO this - but I guess frankly - I don't care ;-)

I've never been a rule follower anyway  =)

one of the luxuries of being the single mom in the house: I'M ALWAYS the boss.....I guess that carries over into every aspect of my life!  (ha ha)  kinda Kidding!

Anyway.......without further adieu...

*tears.......*

I have only been blogging since September - that's only really 2 full months of blogging - and let me just tell you how pleasantly surprised I have been by

#1 - how addicted I am to reading your blogs every day;

#2 how supportive and friendly and fun and sweet (really...I could go on forever here) all of you have been; and #3 how grateful I am to be able to share my life with you and thankful that you share yours with me!

So - over the past few weeks I have been given a few awards (tears again) that I would like to say THANK YOU again for and pass along to some of my favorite blogs too   =)

So.............let the fun part begin!

**First of all, from Holly I received the Over The Top award.  Thanks Holly!!!  bunches!  I love your blog at 504 Main and also Holly - don't think for one second that I'm not stalking your wedding blog too.  As a single (maybe forever?) girl - I love to look at the pictures and ideas and tips on your HipWeddings blog!!!  Thanks again!  mwahhh

I would like to pass this award on to:

Jenny Mac @ Let's Have a Cocktail

I'm a recent follower and I love love love to read her posts!  Today's (Tuesday) is especially funny!!!  and REAL!  love it!

If you haven't stopped by or don't follow her already - go check it out!  =)

You ROCK Jenny Mac - YOU are Over the Top!!!!

**Next award is: 2009 Friendly Blogger Award

I received this one from Holly & ALSO from MJ  (MJ - I hope you are smiling today)

Thank you two so much for this award....

This one is especially special by virtue of name!  Thank you Holly & MJ.  I really feel I have gained some MUCH needed friendships via blogger and as I said before - I just never expected this much in return when I started blogging!

So I want to lovingly pass this award on to those women (and one man!) who have already touched me (noooooo, not like that!) in ways that they may never fully understand  =)

Scope @ Scope-Tech- one of my FEW male commenters (actually I'm not even sure he's a follower?  yeah - I called you out - hee hee)  Regardless, Scope - you made a comment on one of my blogs about lightening striking that made me smile!  Congrats on your recent engagement - and good luck to you and yours! 

Allyson @ Pink Flip Flops & Wine - WOW girl!  You are fabulous.... you and all your pink sweetness!  You are precious and all your comments and posts are filled with smiles  ;)   I love that!

Life Laugh Latte - you girls are FABULOUS!  Filled with joy and hope and love AND your funny on top of that!  LOVE your blog and your comments  :)

Lee @ HH&H - Girl - where do I even start with you!!!!!! Thanks for all the comments and just for your blog in general.... many days you put a smile on my face that wasn't there otherwise.   mwahhhhhhhh!

Leigh @ Leigh vs. Laundry - YOU my friend are precious!  I love your blog and all the real life YOU that you instill into it  :)   Thanks for making me feel normal - ha ha  ;-)

THANKS to all of you for being my little friendly bloggers!!  =)

**And for my last award... I received this one from Leigh.  I just raved about Leigh but I can't go on and on enough about how much I LOVE to read her!!  SHE is the epitome of "Honest Scrap"

I would like to pass this final award along to....

Candice @ Life According to Candice.

If you have not visited her blog - and you want to laugh your butt off about REAL LIFE - just stop by!  I love the topics (you really never KNOW what might be discussed there) and pictures and comments that happen over there.  Hilarious!!!!  And if you want blatant honesty - you will read it there!  ha ha

According to the rules (blah...rules...I'm playing along....), I should tell y'all 10 things about me.

1.)  I had very few "girl" friends growing up; ...always been a "guy's girl"... never got along with the girls!  Today I have very close girlfriends and I don't know what I would do without them!


2.) My mom and I did NOT get along when I was growing up.  Today - she is the first person I go to for advice!  She is the strongest person that I know..besides me!  ha   (Although I AM still a daddy's girl!!)


3.) My biggest fear is losing my boy... not physically, but more so his respect.  He is a great kid and I hope that never changes.


4.) I was REALLY mean to both my baby brothers growing up...I once put a booger on a banana and made my middle brother eat it - ouch!  I love them both so much and we are closer now than ever!  (my baby brother just got engaged!)  *proud big sister*
 

5.) I am probably the most loyal person you will ever meet...I always put others before myself, it's just who I am.  I get it from my mama!  Oh and I can't do ANYTHING half way; always above and beyond - ALSO thank my mama for that one!


6.) I am more bark than bite!!  People get the impression that I'm mean - but I am the MOST tenderhearted person ever!  (well - unless you betray me  ..snarl....)  Seriously...more bark!!



7.) I did graduate high school - but I did not walk the line.  Biggest regret...it broke my daddy's heart  :(   I did however walk the line at WKU last December.... my daddy's proudest day  ;)   Now if he could just find a good man to take care of me - HA HA!!!!!!!!!!


8.) I have a very hard time admitting that I'm wrong or saying I'm sorry.  Seriously... serious issues with both...


9.) I am very independent and can take care of myself; however I hope that I don't have to forever.  It's the simple things in a relationship that I most look forward to... my best friend and a partnership...someone to share a life with  =)


10.) I love music!!  It's so powerful and my favorite thing to do is drive around with the windows down listening to music!  It's what I do when I'm mad, or sad, or lonely, or happy, or just in the mood to sing!!!  :)

MAN - that was hard.
This award ceremony has worn me out!!!
Congrats to everyone and I hope you all have a Fabulous rest of the week!!!!!  (it's Wednesday - my favorite day!!!!)  YAY!

Post It Note Tuesday - oh how fun!

Trying something new.....
I have seen this woman everywhere I go - so I went over to check out her place!
Awesome - I'm a new fan!  (and stalker!!!)
AND a copy cat!
Today - I wanna participate in Post-It Note Tuesday... bear with me, I'm a newbie!

So AFTER you read my post-its (snarl...) go over and check out Supah Mommy if you don't already follow her (which most of you probably do cause she's ROCKIN' awesome!)

Anyway - let the fun begin.......

Motivational Monday :)

OK - If I can remember to do this (because I'm old and suffer from STML - ha ha) I would like to try to make Mondays a little brighter!
Every Monday - I am going to try to post some sort of inspirational quote to start the week.  (AND hopefully a song - today's is GREAT!  more Lady Antebellum)
This week's quote I received in an email from a very good friend and I couldn't wait to pass it on...
Wishing everyone a beautiful Monday and a great week  :)
mwahhhhhhhhh

God doesn't give you the people you want;

He gives you the people you NEED...

to help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you

and to make you into the person you were meant to be.

I have said it before and I will say it again - everyone that crosses through your life is there for a purpose - we never know at the time, but there is something you will gain from each relationship that you form.  Even the bad ones you will grow from!
You are who you are thanks to all the little foot prints through your life's journey!
 
SMILE and be happy for who you have become and the journey that got you here!
Enjoy the song and listen to the words!