Parenting

First off, to all the single parents out there, big up yourselves.  This parenting experience is a tough one.  I know too because I'm living it.  I'm struggling but I'm not alone.  I see many others like myself when I look around me.

Many have gone before and many more will come after me.  My experience is only unique in that it's my own.  I feel very fortunate to have family who love and support me and my kids in every way. 

 Today, I was glad that my mom helped me by letting me use her card so that I could buy my daughter a pair of winter boots.  Phew, one less thing to worry about although I will be paying her back a little at a time.

Cooking and nutrition, there's another constant worry.  I want to make sure that we're eating right but sometimes I fall short.  Let's face it groceries are expensive.  I stretch my money as much as possible by using coupons and shopping the sale items. 

I like to make easy meals that are inexpensive and take the least amount of time to prepare.  Today with little in my cupboard I came up with this vegetarian meal.  Thanks Angels.

Ingredients:
Elbow macaroni
Tin carrots and peas
2 tsp. olive oil or margarine/butter/vegetable oil
Onion thinly sliced
Seasonings: use what you like

Cook macaroni until soft or to taste-boil in water about 10 minutes

drain, in same pan, add tin carrots and peas(drain before adding to macaroni)

add 2 tsp olive oil and combine,  this will stop it from sticking to pan and gives a nice flavour too

season with your favourite seasonings; I added salt, black pepper, paprika and an onion thinly sliced

Stir fry for 5 min on med heat and then turn off heat

Quick and easy and at a cost of about $5 depending on how many people will share it with you.

Change

Have you ever noticed that the people around you seem to be dealing with some of the same issues that you are?  And what is it with being 40 ish?  Why does it seem to be the time for separating if you've been with someone for awhile? 

What I've noticed is that the forties is a time of awakening to ones worth and true self.  It's a time when you start to ask yourself what you want out of life and who you want to do it with.  That's probably why you end up separating because the old partner is not the one.  You try to hold on out of fear but it's no use.  Suddenly you look around and you don't like the one you're with.  You realize that he's changed or maybe you have and you have nothing in common anymore.

It's not a coincidence but something that is happening on purpose, to help you, and for you to help in return.  It's the loving guidance of the UNIVERSE to nurture you and to guide you to your soul's purpose.  Choose to see the goodness even when you're struggling with the breakup and heartache.  We let go of something or someone but there will always be something or someone to take its place.

Jamaican Vacation

                                             caribbean by oscar_tramor
                                

It's fall and the weather is getting colder and colder.  Some morning when I look outside I can see the frost on the grass still.   That's when I start to think about going somewhere warm.

                                            7-mile-beach by jikamajoja flickr


My mind flashes forward to Jamaica.  See those beaches above, I wish that I was on one of them right now.  I need a little Jamaican vacation.  It's the sunshine that I'm missing right about now.

Whenever fall comes the sunshine starts to dwindle and we see more grey skies.  We know that winter brings Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).  That means that we feel grumpy and down most of the time.

Well if I can't be there I can imagine it.  Looking at these pictures is a good place to start.

Successful

I was successful!!  I successfully passed all of my tests that I talked about recently.  Yay!  Yay me.  I feel really good about that.  My studying payed off.

Now if I can just find a way to hold on to these feelings.  I'm the kind of person to dismiss things after having done something well.  I let go of the feelings of elation too quickly.  It's good to let that energy, that goodness, surround me for awhile.  Positive energy is what you want to surround yourself with and to have it grow in your life.

Positive energy includes people, thoughts and emotions.  Have you ever paid attention to your thoughts?  I've done that often.  It's called minding your thoughts.  I listen in on what I'm saying to myself.  It's amazing what's going on.  I sing a lot in my mind.  There's always a song for whatever situation I'm thinking about.  I know it sounds crazy but there it is in my mind.

Anyways, feeling good and having good thoughts is all positive energy.  Positive energy expand and brings more of itself.  The more positive you feel, the more things flow for you.  The better the flow is, the more successful you'll feel about yourself and your life.

Tests

Several weeks ago I had to study for tests that I was taking for a potential job.  One of the tests involved me doing math which hasn't always been my favourite subject.  As a matter of fact, precalculus sucks in my books er....some of it anyways. 

I studied and stressed and stressed some more.  On the actual day, I had strong support with me in the name of my sister.  She's been my rock.  She hung out with me between tests and gave me lots of chocolate to help too.  I think it's suppose to help with providing something to the brain during times such as that.  I don't pretend to understand it but it helped.

Anyways, I thought that the worse part was the actual tests but turns out it's waiting for the results.  Did I pass?  I still have 3-4 more weeks to wait. 

I've come to the realization that it's not the results that matter, although I want to get the job but how I handle each and every day.  See, I'll be overjoyed with finally being financially able to take care of my business again.  Who I am through this trying time is what's important.  Who I am is one tough, strong and amazing woman no matter what obstacles I face.