I'm Back!

Trent's first baseball game.

Sorry about that...I know you guys missed me!  Things have been crazy around the Watson household.  Of course, that is normal for us.  I am keeping busy going to boot camp and training for a 5K.  That sounds important, but really, I am just running here and there.  I have lost a total of 11 lbs since January.  I am getting there.

I got my computer fixed, so now you guys will be swamped with pictures. It is nice to have a computer that works, but I can't find anything!  I copied my information onto jump drives.  I had a 4G and 8G and filled them both up.  It was then that I decided that I might better "purge" some files.

This week has been a big week for us.  Will has chosen his science project.  We are going to do something with rusty nails.  Notice I said "WE".  Trent has done better with his reading and has learned to tie his shoes.  He won't let me watch him tie them, but they always end up tied.  Go figure!

I am still going to school and started a new class this week.  Last class was kinda boring so I am hoping this class is much better.  Next semester I hope to start taking my management classes.

I guess the biggest thing that I have learned in the past few weeks is that my kids teach me something new everyday.  Although they drive me crazy most days, I learn that if I keep trying something and don't give up, it will happen.  Also, have fun while I am doing it.

Will is having a conversation with the fish.

These boys are very special to me.  I thank God everyday for my family and the "three" boys that have blessed my life!

Suriname, Boys and Wedding Bells

Sorry - I haven't had a chance to post lately.  Just busy in the Watson household.

Over the past couple of weeks many many things has happened to impact our lives.

First!  IT'S A BOY!  Yep!  It is official!  My sister is going to have another boy.  The boys are SO excited! Chase has named him George Silly.  George (from curious George) and Silly (because all babies are silly!).  The little peanut is healthy and all blood work came back with no problems.  She is due June 19th, but it will probably be around the 12th.

Which leads me to my next thing.  Just right before the baby comes (because he and I have had a heart to heart about coming early), I will be in the wedding of one of my last friends to get married (JC - notice I said ONE of my last).  I am so excited for Ande and Todd!

Which goes into my next event.  My other really good friend, has been accepted into the Peace Corps.  She is SO excited.  It has been over a 2 year process and has been very lengthy.  She was assigned to the country of Suriname in South America.  Will has his concerns (because they have the biggest mosquitoes).

Good luck to you three women!  I am so excited for you and happy that I am apart of your lives!

Let's make a deal!

My sister got me hooked on couponing and finding deals.  I LOVE looking at my deal sites to see what is out there.   C is much better than me in finding them (like 25 books for $4!).  I thought I would share some of the sites we like to check.  Please feel free to comment and add any websites you like to check.  I will try to keep you posted if I see anything you cannot live without!

http://dealnews.com/ - This is one of my favorites!  They do a good job in organizing the deals by topics.

http://www.fatwallet.com/best-deals/ - I really like this one especially looking up on line coupons.  It is always a MUST to search for online codes.  Sometimes you can get free shipping and that will save you bunches!

http://www.woot.com/ - Woot is a must!  You MUST check it everyday, especially when they have a "WOOT" off.  This site features one item a day and sells it until it is all gone.  Shipping is only $5 no matter how many items you buy!  Tuesdays are 2 4 Tuesdays.  You get two of what ever they are selling for the price of one.

http://www.travelzoo.com/ - This is a great site if you are wanting to go somewhere!  This sites tracks all of the travel sites and puts them in one place.

Here is one of the great deals I found today if you want a new PC.  Check it out!

http://www.fatwallet.com/best-deals/panasonic-toughbook-w8-laptop/

Also, AT&T customers, check out this deal!  I am not sure it is still working.  I did it last night and got my free minutes!

http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/46837/att-wireless-1000-rollover-minutes-for-att-wireless-customers

Have fun and let me know if you have any other websites you want me to add!

Friends Are Friends Forever

I am so excited!  One of my childhood friends is getting married.  I think she is the last one.  I am so excited that she has found someone that she wants to spend her life with.

Thinking back over my childhood, I have been so blessed to have so many friends from so many places.  Childhood friends, GA/Acteen Camper friends, work friends, family friends, and relatives I think of as friends.  I thank God for all of them.  They all have contributed to my life in some way.

Several years ago, my mom reunited with friends she knew in the 2nd grade.  They had not spoken in forever, but now they are the best of friends.  Three of the four have ended up living in the same City!  I have seen them lean on each other and rely on each other when no one else was there.  I love to hear their stories and love to catch up on their lives (through Mom).

To all of my friends, and friends of friends...you mean the world to me!

TUESDAY

Woo Hoo!  We made it to Tuesday!

T - TIRED - as usual, the family was running around tonight getting supper, baths, homework, and cleaning rooms (that really didn't happen).  As we all settled down we watched America's Funniest Videos.  My kids love it!  We try to watch it together.  Now, Will has it on DVR just in case we "miss" it.

U - UNIVERSITY - I am still going to school.  I had it set out that I would graduate 12/2012, but I may be one class short due to the fact I only took two classes this semester.  I am taking 2 nine week class.  This one is the History of Career and Technical education.  It is so boring!  But...I am seeing how things have changed especially since this is the profession that my dad was in.

E - EARTHLY - I had to reach for this one.  I am trying to get my kids (and BIG kid J) to eat and drink organic.  It is amazing when they do not know that the milk is different.  BUT, I cannot believe how expensive it is!  No wonder people are over weight and eat too many processed things!  Bad stuff is cheaper!

S - SUNSHINE - I have really enjoyed these past few days.  It is like Spring.  The birds are out and my flip flops are out.  I know that we still have some cold weather coming, but it sure is a sign of hope!

D - DOUBT - It seems that I have TOO much doubt in myself.  I made a comment the other day that I didn't want to make anymore decisions.  I was tired of people depending on me.  What I didn't realize is I depend on me. Not only to other, but my LIFE depends on me and the decisions that I make.  I am going to try to put more faith in myself and think about how important things are before acting.

A - APPLES - (I am stretching on this one).  I am so excited!  I made some of my grandmother's famous chicken salad.  It has grapes and APPLES and can't wait to have some!  It is only 2 points per service. YUMMY!

Y - YESTERDAY - Thank goodness yesterday is gone and we made it through another day.  Take things one day at a time and cherish everything you have day today.  Always tell the ones you love that you love them and they make you proud!

So that is just about as much as my brain can do tonight.  Tomorrow is my WW meeting.  I lost 6lbs last week, so I am hoping to be a "loser" tomorrow.  We shall see - Until then!  MINI

Pure Country and Baby Steps

I was SO excited!  I got to see George Straight last night in concert!  If you know me very well, you know that he is my all time favorite singer.  He also brought Reba McEntire and LeeAnne Womack.  LOVED IT!  Also, we had AWESOME seats.  Jamie was not too thrilled with sitting on the floor, but I loved it.  I have seen George a few times before, but it was before they had the "big screen" and it could have been Elvis and I would not have known it.  I will post a picture later.  At the end, I was able to get right by the stage and get a great shot.  (My computer seems to not want to work today!)

The (work) week has finally come to an end.  It was a rough week with the OCD, but as the week moved on, I was able to see my perspective changing and see that everything was going to be ok.  I thought I would look back at this week and start making baby step goals to achieve to see if we can work on little things that may be stressing me out.  

1) Keep balancing my checkbook - now my CPA sister would be highly disappointed with me.  I was not ever really good at keeping the checkbook balanced.  I would check the bank account think about what I thought was out there, and say "Hm, I think we are ok".  I know dangerous.  Also, I know you are saying "I would think a person with OCD would be checking her bank balance every 5 minutes!" Well, I did, I just didn't and that made my OCD worse and I would check it again, then again, and again...(can you believe the money still wasn't there each time I checked it! Not sure what I was looking for).  So, baby step number one this week is to keep the checkbook up to date.

2) Get back on track with my Weight Watcher program - A couple of years ago I lost about 40lbs while doing Weight Watchers.  LOVED IT!  I had changed my eating habits and kept it up for about 2 years.  I stopped tracking what I ate and didn't really keep up eating healthy.  I am not happy with my weight and I think I need to exercise more. So I am going to start tracking my food again.  I know you are saying again - I would think a person with OCD would track every little thing"  Nope!  Then it becomes a realistic!  Right!?!  I told you in the beginning my OCD is not the typical type (however, I do repeat to myself several times yes the garage door is down! That is another blog in itself).   So, baby step number two this week is to keep track!

3) Spend more time with my boys - I know that this should be number one.  It really is since the others I can do throughout the day.  However, I cannot spend time with my boys all day.  You see, I must work and the law states they must go to school.  So there is 9 hours gone.  We are always rushed at night.  Math, spelling, dinner, baths, chores, reading and somethings that I am sure I left out.  All of this before bedtime between 8:00 and 8:30.  I am going to do something different this week to find time to do something FUN with them.  I feel like I am missing them grow up!  It is happening so fast! So, baby step number three this week is to play with my boys!

My OCD seems to be increased when the stress had increased in my life.  Some stress will always be there, so I am going to try to find a way to eliminate unnecessary stress to be able to function a little easier!

Let's Go...

I have OCD.  I am learning everyday how to cope and manage with this "mini" problem.  I do not have the kind of OCD where I must have everything perfect and clean (just ask J!).  I tend to worry more about others and what they do, think, wish and don't do.  I worry about things I cannot complete.  It makes me feel I lose control and I must finish (again, not with house work!).  This week has been a rough week and I have been thinking and thinking.  That is what I tend to do over and over again...THINK! SO, I decided, that there just may be someone out there that might want to read a little about what I am going through and how I am handling it.  I have a couple of people in my life that give me guidance and most of the time, they are right.  I am glad that they are there to help me along the way.  Both of them use God's guidance and wisdom to help me.  I am so thankful for these two women.  I am not sure that I would have made it through this week without them.   I am sure both of them probably would tell me not to do this, but they also will tell you I am a little hard headed!

This blog isn't going to be JUST about my OCD.  It is going to also be a way for me to journal and show MYSELF my days and what decisions I make and my journey along the way.  I was reading another blog tonight of a friend of mine and her struggle to lose weight.  She is struggling and documenting her days, even though she does not feel she is accomplishing anything.  I believe she is accomplishing something by showing everyone she can do it and that it may be hard, but she is sticking to it.  She is showing her journey and maybe someone else is going through the same thing and can relate. It is always good to know that you are not alone.  I think blogging is very important, especially for those people that need to go back and "review" how they got to a certain point and what was done beyond that point.

I will blog about my family, my job, my pets, my house, my BFFs, my hometown, my current city and many more topics.  Who knows, I might even make a comment or two about Politics (don't really like to get into much of that stuff)!

So let's "Saddle Up Our Horses" {I am a big Steven Curtis Chapman fan!} and blaze this trail together!

Until Then!

~Mini~