October 27, 2014

My hubby and I have been on the receiving end of some judgmental people over the last few weeks.

My hubby is an appliance service technician with 30 years experience but when he has been in a few homes over the last few weeks to repair appliances and the customers are polled about their customer service experience it is not the level of experience they received from him for repairing their appliance that they comment on, but the fact that he smells like smoke.  Yes, my hubby is a smoker. Yes, he is trying very hard to quit. He doesn't smoke in their home or in his company van but he does smoke.

Because of some of the personal issues and trials that I have had over the last month it was brought to my attention that it might be because of my choice of reading material or my likes and comments on Facebook. 

Now this started me thinking....why are people like this? Hubby was told it was because we live in an area that is intolerant of his habit. Really?!  I was raised in this area and I was taught to be tolerant, kind, loving and accepting of others.  It was something that I taught my three children. It doesn't matter what someone believes or how they choose to live we need to be kind, tolerant and accepting. It doesn't mean we have to agree with them or like their choices. Not everyone has to believe in or live the way we do. What good comes to anyone when you are judgmental and unkind? 

I think this world would be a much better place if we could all be tolerant of people and just love and accept them for who they are. It is the differences in each other  that makes us special and adds color and variety to this world. How boring and bland it would be if we were all the same. 

October 20, 2014

It was 3 years ago today that I bought a book that literally changed my life. It was 2011 and I was still grieving the loss of my mom who passed away suddenly in February of 2010 and when I say suddenly, I mean suddenly. I had called her because she hadn't been feeling well that day but she said she was feeling better, that she loved me and would talk with me the next day, a hour later she was gone. She was my best friend and I was devastated.

It was my mom who taught me to love reading and books.  I remember many nights, when I was growing up sitting by her side while she read to me and my siblings. It was my mom who gave me my first Harlequinn romance to read in the 5th grade. I was hooked!

My children bought me a Nook for Mother's Day in 2011 because of my love for reading and I must confess at the time I thought it was a waste of money, boy was I wrong!!

I started looking for something different to read in October 2011, still romance, just different and I believe that it was divine intervention that I came across Heather Rainier's book "Divine Grace" and bought it, my first erotic romance. It was the theme of her book, "Seize the day and live your life with no regrets," that spoke volumes to my grieving heart and I realized then that life was too short and I was going to live my life so I didn't have any regrets. Heather's book was the catalyst for that life changing moment and a lot of the others that came over the next few years. 

So what book has influenced your life?

October 13, 2014

I posted this on my Facebook timeline the other day because it is something that I need to be reminded of on a daily basis. 

I will let you in on a little secret about me...I am a control freak! I am the oldest of five children and growing up I was the boss. When my parents left me to babysit at the age of 12, I was in charge, it was my way or the highway. You towed the line or else. When I said it was time to clean, you cleaned. My bedroom had to be neat and clean all the time and I just didn't abide with clutter, dirty laundry or dirty dishes left around. This caused many arguments between my sister and I since we shared a room and drove my mom crazy. I am sure my siblings were thrilled when I finally married and moved out. I am not proud of my controlling ways but it is who I am. 

Being married was an entirely new experience for me and I went into it thinking that I could control everything about it. It made for a rough start and it took me years to finally realize that I can't control everything and best of all, I don't need to. There are times that I just need to let go. There are days that I still struggle with letting go but I am working on it. I have realized that not having to be in control all the time makes me happier.  Yes, my house is still VERY organized but if the laundry doesn't get done or the dirty dishes are left in the dishwasher it is not the end of the world. I am just going to let it go and not stress about it. 

October 5, 2014

I was blessed with three wonderful sons, two of them live close to me and one lives out of state. All of them are married and their wives are expecting babies. I had the chance to have them all together this weekend. It was a great weekend but I found it entertaining that when they all get together it is like having teenagers all over again. Let me explain...they eat me out of house and home, they tease and roughhouse with each other, they gang up to tease and torment their dad and I, they are loud and obnoxious at times but what a joy it is to have them all together once in a while. Last night I was shaking my head at their antics and one of their wives said, "you raised them" and my reply was, " you all married them and there is no return policy on them."