4 days.....Life Changes

Yes, I've been absent. Ugh, I feel exhausted with my life right now. I truly can't keep up. Perhaps it is the euphoria of my youngest graduating high school or maybe even the fact that I have been working the dreaded night audit, graveyard shift in hotelspeak, training our newest Part Time Night Auditor. So far, it  has gone well. He is learning and by the second night he has learned to run the entire night audit himself. It's not rocket science, but if you don't get enough sleep it can be mind numbing. I FINALLY caught up with my sleep and this is the 4th night. I'm almost to the end of it. I'll be training for 6-7 nights in a row and I will be ready for a couple of days off.

In 4 nights my life changes. I've been all about my kids for 20 years, My entire life revolved around school projects, tests, school activities and them to be brutally honest. I was never the best mom, but I loved them so I was the best mom for them. I can see Mrs. Cleaver cringing at some of the choices I've made in parenting. Some made sense...others....not so much. So, now I receive my report card. How are my kids? Did I teach them enough?

Report Card:

BYU Girl- She is a well adjusted young lady who LOVES her life at BYU. She knows what she wants and how she is going to get it. She has decided she is ready to have boyfriend/husband. This is the way this girl works. She decides what she wants, when she wants it and then works to get there. She is strong in the church and has an intense desire to marry in the temple.....I get a B on this kid. Love Her!!!

The Marine- My son, my heart. He has finished his full time active service and has now transitioned to Reservist status. He spent a year way from home and now knows what he wants. He wants to become a high school technical drama teacher. While I was at work he went to the local community college he applied and got everything in order. He is also working full time and is looking to find the girl he will settle down with permanently. He struggles a bit with his desire to go to church, but he attends and does what he needs to do.......I give myself a B+ on this kid. He has a wonderful heart and will get to where he needs to be.

The High School Senior/Graduate- This is the girl who I held in my arms for the first time and the spirit whispered: "This is your trial in life." GULP....I wish I was kidding about that. She has been the one kid who struggled the most, but all in all she just wants to be loved and she is. She is headstrong and intelligent. She is wonderfully witty with a heart to love the world. She has decided not to go to college as she is not ready. Instead, she wants to work full time and start putting money away. She is my heart. I adore this little girl......I give myself an A on this kid just for pure effort. She has no desire right now to go to church, but she believes wholeheartedly in what she was taught growing up. In truth this kid just has a strong desire to make her own choices. I know at some point she WILL choose to go to church, but as always with this kid....it's in her own time.


All three of these kids are at home right now, but by the end of summer they all have plans to be out of the house. One to college and two moving into apartments with their friends to start their lives as adults. I'll miss these kids as I won't be concentrating on them 100% each day. Now there will be time for me to take care of myself. It's going to be odd, but it'll be good.

Changes....It's About Time!!!

So much has happened and I just don't know where to begin. 

My job was eliminated at my hotel. They changed me over to the Front Office Manager. Basically, I've gone from selling the hotel to managing a hotel. I've now had to move from managing myself to managing the entire staff. It's crazy and busy and has caused me to work a bunch of hours.

In fact, I worked one shift 29 hours in a row.......Spring Break near SeaWorld. Almost makes me want to curl up in fetal position and cry.

My son should be coming home in the next couple weeks. He will be home for a few months and then he will move out on his own. He's ready to be living on his own.

My oldest daughter has been working full time in order to put money away for school.

My youngest daughter is a senior in high school and she is all ready for prom and the military ball. She can't wait to graduate and be done.

Walking Away....

I don't know if there is anyone still out there who used to read my blog. If you are still there...I'm sorry. I truly had to walk away. I was becoming too negative and spreading my negativity....at least in my mind so I needed to regroup, rethink my attitude. Yes, I am thick headed and so it truly took some time. I often remarked to my co-workers it would take a two by four to knock some sense into me. In this case it took several months/years.

So, here's where we left off:

My beautiful oldest daughter is back for her second year in college and she is freaking amazing!!!

 My son graduated from high school and consequently left me in tears for several months.  It will make sense soon.

The bonus to working near the Alamo is getting to run off to see Phil Collins, yes from Genesis, donating his collection of Alamo artifacts back to the Alamo. Phil, you'll be in our hearts....    THANK YOU!!!

 I love dressing up like Bob the Builder to get an exclusive tour of one of the newest and most incredibly renovated venues for music, theater and all around incredible performances...         the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

 Oh what to do when your oldest decides to be an illustrator....Yeah...She's incredibly talented.

 Getting to sneak over to Houston to celebrate the wedding of one of my best friend's kids and bringing the girls along.

                I've been picking up with some strange critters while traveling this past fall.

                 AND, now you see why my son left me in tears. He is freaking amazing!!!

 Our first dinner after his graduation from boot camp. I miss this guy, but he is doing what he dreamed of....becoming a US Marine.

 My youngest daughter being her typical crazy self and entertaining me beyond all belief.
                                                           She freaking amazing!!!

 When my artist has to complete a project which takes all weekend and gets labeled "eccentric."
                                                                             Love it!!!

 New Job! New Haircut! New Me!!! Check out that sassy new Sales Manager at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Sea World Westover Hills.....Getting a job that I never applied for? Check that off the bucket list!!!

                                                    Trying to organize my new office!

                             My new neighbors....I love that I get to visit them. So fun!!!

                                What happens when Sea World is closed? I get to go play!!!

          My baby boy is now growing into a terrific young man. My son, my Marine!!!

                It got cold this Halloween....so I ended up being the Pig in the Blanket!!!

Oft times I desire to feel normal, like every other woman in church, then I look down and realize it's never going to happen....and I'm okay with it!

A Wicked Life For Me

It's not often Hubby and I get out.

It's really not often when we get to the theater.

It's truly not often that I hang out with my coworkers after a long day at work.

Last night, we did all three!

Working in a hotel can get you to get to know a wide variety of  characters/guests as they com and go. One of the best parts of my job is getting to know the guests in these groups. This week the cast from Wicked arrived. They are staying with us during their run here in San Antonio. I've met a few most of them now and I have to admit this is now one of my favorite groups I've ever had. I've also become friends with one of the sweetest men I've ever met, also known as the Wizard of Oz. They stop by and chat while they are on their way out.

Part of my job offers me some incredible perks. The company manager offered us 6 free tickets to see the show.

My coworkers and I went and were surprised to find us in the 7th row opening night. Not only is the Majestic theater and truly incredible venue, but to be sitting 7th row and not paying for the tickets are absolutely incredible.

If anyone gets the chance to see this performance....do it!!!!

5K?!?!?!?!? What was I thinking?!?!?!

First and foremost...I've survived. You see that banner behind our heads...It's the finish line and we are still smiling!!!!!

Second, you should also know it was a 5k WALK not run. I wouldn't have survived the 5k if I were running. As it was, Hubby asked me every hundred yards how I was doing. I was fine and I had my fitbit going as well.

I served on Team Wingman, one of the top ten teams. Hubby and my 130 something teammates accompanied me. We were walking for a purpose...to find a cure for MS. More than likely MS is wreaking havoc in the lives of someone you know...even if you don't know they have it.

So, today...earning my 10,000 daily steps was easier knowing I had a purpose and I had two friends in mind as I crossed that finish line. They amaze me. I hope someday I can be like them!