How do you know you have a true friend? This was tested recently. I find with my closest friends, male or female, we're able to cut through the defensiveness, cut through the bullshit, and open our deepest souls to each other without worry about inflaming or hurting each other. We agree to disagree. Openness, complete openness ...is the key to a solid long-lasting friendship.

Each year Byron and I sit down and write out our goals out. Then we get together on the phone with our good friends in Georgia each New Years Eve to share our lists. It forces an element of much needed accountability to stay on track. Yeah, it's anal...but it works like a charm! As I look back over the past 8 years of lists it's pretty damn impressive what we've been able to accomplish just because we consciously made a plan, wrote it down, and committed to it.

Stuff for self improvement, stuff for "us" improvement, stuff for the home, stuff for the family. Not too many things, but enough to give us some sort of direction for each new year. I print it out with some fancy graphics and post in in our Master bathroom so we are forced to give it a glance every day.

There was something I read on a daily inspirational calendar awhile back that I loved and have made it my "theme" for the this and last year. I struggled with it BIG time last year...it's not an easy theme to live by. And I more than likely will fall ridiculously short this year too. But I figure if I keep it in the conscious fore front ....slowly, I'll keep chipping away at all the closed doors, and self-imposed impediments until eventually...I'll get to the point of living out my theme with complete satisfaction.

My theme: Be a real person who lives fully, loves deeply, gives totally, and enjoys life immensely.

Seems simple enough on the surface....but it's a REALLY tough goal to achieve!

Tough goals are good even if you don't achieve them...roll 'em to the next year. I find eventually...even a few years later, they get achieved. And heck...it provides a spicy challenge to make life more interesting. :)

My babies are grown up. Hate to admit it, but I have two wonderful, responsible, charming young men now.

I was so fortunate last year. My oldest, Jonathan, wanted to take ballroom dance lessons and he was young enough not to mind taking lessons with me, his ol' Mom. (No way will hubby Byron go...haven't been able to talk him into it for anything!) After 8 months of weekly lessons J and I were pretty good together! My very best "mom" moment was when we went to the "Night in Vienna" ballroom event last spring. An evening of Viennese Waltz and Polka set to music performed by a huge live orchestra. It was an incredibly special night I'll never forget.

I'd love to continue the lessons, but he's now 15 and there's no chance he wants to be caught alive dancing with his Mom. Wayyyy not cool, lol! So, tomorrow evening he's starting up lessons again - teen ballroom with salsa, tango, waltz, and Charleston...but without his Mom as his partner.

Nope, I'll just sit there during the hour lesson and watch while my baby continues growing into the amazing man I know he'll become...

I spent this morning in the local courthouse. Called in as a witness for a divorce proceeding. I kicked and fought the whole way.... Killed me to see this family being torn apart by selfishness and greed.
Our kids have grown up together but my girlfriend and I have grown apart....friends no longer, by my choosing. I lost complete respect for her. Unethical handling of family finances and property, belittling her husband in front of the kids, and blaming the kids for her own shitty problems.
Life isn't perfect. Love isn't perfect. But damnit!!! Why do women have kids if they won't commit to raising them in a home where both parents can contribute and nurture them?
So I spent 5 hours this morning and lunch with their 15 yr old daughter. She needed me as her only trusted adult friend. All the adults in her world are acting like spoiled immature brats. I listened to her, I cried with her, I comforted her, and I shared words to lift her up and give her strength. Tore my heart out to hear all the emotional crap her parents have burdened her with the past year. A child shouldn't have to deal with shit like this...
I hate to say it, but women can sometimes be such selfish bitches...

Another quote I stumbled across and just fell in love with:

What if you gave someone a gift,
and they neglected to thank you for it -
would you likely to give them another?
Life is the same way.
In order to attract more of the blessings
that life has to offer,
you must truly appreciate
what you already have. ~Ralph Marston

Such a "take time to smell the flowers" sentiment, isn't it? Love it! Really puts things in perspective...