Life isn't about having a perfect one. It's about finding the humor in the mess of it! I'm here to let you know you're not alone, and we're all just trying to figure it out. I love you!
In response to today’s WP writing prompt – NAPS! 🤣❤️
I’m old. I know.
Once you pass 40, a nap becomes a beautiful thing.
When I was younger, I HATED naps.
My (Yia-Yia) grandma and my (Papa) grandpa used to make my brother and I take naps when we came home from school every day. They used to babysit until our parents got home from work, and we had to nap for at least an hour. They had a love seat couch and a regular one, so we’d pick our couches, lay down and proceed to make each other laugh, instead of napping.
If Papa heard us talking and laughing, he’d stand by the little area between the living room and kitchen and bang his cane on the counter.
We tried to shut up and go to sleep when we heard that, but one of us would always start laughing again, causing the other to start laughing. Eventually, we’d fall asleep.
As I got older, I no longer felt like I needed a nap, so my grandparents would tell me just to lay down and wait until my brother fell asleep, and I could get back up. That’s what I did for a year or so – before he pretended to be asleep one day and realized I was getting up and not napping anymore.
He finally told my grandparents he didn’t want to nap, and they no longer made us, but for the time they did – we hated those forced naps.
I remember him confronting them and yelling, “If she doesn’t have to take a nap, neither do I”. They didn’t even fight with him about it. They agreed.
Now that I’m 44, Naps have become a beautiful thing.
If I’ve had a long morning or woke up early – and have the time to nap during the day, I’m doing it!
It’s doesn’t happen often. I’m usually super busy with work, the kids, and just making sure everything gets paid or done, but the moments that I can actually take a time out and nap – it’s lovely. I love naps, now. Especially on a dark, cloudy, stormy day.
…………..
Now that we have that out of the way, today is a Baseball Day.
My little dude has a game not too far away.
We were supposed to have a Double-header last night, but it was storming most of the day, and the other team’s field was under water.
I can’t say I was disappointed because I wasn’t looking forward to that long drive, but they rescheduled for the 2nd week in July, so we still have to make that drive.
When I signed Elijah up for Baseball, I didn’t realize it was traveling Baseball, but I’ve done this before with my older son when he played Basketball. We used to have to travel to Wisconsin – sometimes for all day games. It’s not a big deal. It’s just a lot of time and gas.
I love watching Elijah play, and it gets him away from the video games, so I’m still going to travel to wherever they play, and yes – I’m still going to whine about it, but I know he loves the game, and he loves his coaches and team, so it’s all worth it. ⚾🧢
I have nothing for you today.
I shall go get my day started and maybe take a small nap. lol.
Seriously, love you all and whoever may come across this – I hope you have a fantastic day.
What’s something you used to believe as a kid that seems ridiculous now?
My parents used to tell me if I turned on the lights in the car while they were driving, the police would pull them over. 👀😁
Of course, that sounds ridiculous now and I’ve turned the lights on in my car while driving. Cops don’t care. My own kids have turned the lights on in the car while I’m driving, and the cops don’t care. That is in fact – a MYTH.
I’ve never been pulled over for it, and I don’t even think that’s a thing, but my parents really had me believing that when I was younger. (lol)
…………..
Let’s talk about my youngest daughter, though!
That little spoiled girl.
When she graduated high school a few weeks ago, she had the option to either have a graduation party, or go see two Latin singers she absolutely loves (Romeo Santos and Prince Royce) in concert – out in Chicago.
She picked the concert in Chicago.
When we came back to Minnesota, she saw that all her friends were having graduation parties, so she made a comment about it and I felt like she really did want one. We talked about it, and while I refused to spend hundreds on a big party because she already made her choice, I was more than willing to have a graduation (get-together) for her with just a few of her close friends.
She was more than happy with that idea, so I’ve been running around like a chicken with my head cut off – planning that and getting everything together for it.
That was today.
I got off work, went and grabbed a few pizzas for her and her friends, went to pick up one of her friends because she’s on the route I take home, and the rest of my daughter’s friends had their parents drop them off. One of them drove herself.
We got the cake, the decorations, plates, chips, dip, pop, napkins, etc. yesterday, so that was all ready for today because I refused to rush around after work.
My daughter was excited about it, and even though she had a choice and picked the concert, I didn’t want her to feel left out of a graduation party, or at least something fun with her friends, so I caved!
I told them they could have the entire living room, dining room and kitchen to themselves and do whatever. (Watch movies, play games, play PS5, and so on) – and I wouldn’t bother them.
I promised my little dude we’d take our pizza into his room and watch movies, just him and I. He loved that idea, and that’s what we did. 😊 I invited my older son to join us, but he was on his PS5 in his own room.
Here’s one thing I learned a long time ago. (Years ago actually)…….
When teenage girls get together – they are crazy, wild and loud. They laugh a little too loud. They have no filters and say the craziest things. They scream and joke around a little too loudly. They make a hell of a lot of noise, and they are all hyper and goofy, so I didn’t expect anything other than that today, and that’s exactly what I got. 😂
They blasted the music, and I smiled and giggled a bit as I listened to them all singing different songs together.
Yes, they were so loud, but I didn’t mind.
I know my daughter had the best time and I’m so happy I was able to do this for her.
I wanted to take so many cute photos, but I also just wanted to leave her and her friends alone, so my little dude and I – stayed in his room watching movies and we let the girls have their fun.
My kitchen is a mess from cake and pizza.
The girls are now just relaxing in the living room – as I write this.
I hope and think that they are finally calming down from the hyper day they’ve had, and all the fun.
I’m so grateful she has some great friends in her life.
One of her friends was dropped off by the parents, and they came inside for a bit to chat.
I was more than grateful when the mom suggested I let her husband fix my car because it needs a lot of work, the brakes and rotors done and a few other things, and I haven’t been able to find a mechanic who I actually trust and who actually knows what they’re doing. So, I’ll take my car over there one day and allow him to fix it all if he can.
The little get-together for my daughter was a success.
The girls are still enjoying this.
The night is coming to an end, and I will be driving two of the girls home, probably coming back and enjoying a glass of wine in silence, and getting to bed early – as I work in the morning.
I have nothing else going on tonight, and I hope all of you have a beautiful one.
I’m just sitting here with a bagel and my coffee, and I may go back to bed for an hour, but we’ll see.
Let’s chat.
The day before yesterday, the woman who lives right above me and I – were chatting and she asked if I’ve seen the new Netflix movie:
I told her I have not seen it, but I’d watch it soon and let her know if I liked it or not.
She said she cried within the first 10-15 minutes.
I cried within the first 10-15 minutes.
I watched it last night, and I absolutely loved it!
It was sad. It was funny. It was cute.
It was a movie that shows that even the best things can come out of grief, sadness, anger, etc.
That beautiful things can happen after pain.
The movie focuses on Jill losing her little sister that she’s always been so close to, so she continues to call her sister (Isabelle’s) phone number thinking it’s still connected, and Jill finds comfort in leaving Izzy many voicemails on different days, venting – chatting – and sharing things like she used to when Izzy was alive.
She always feels better after leaving Izzy a message.
She has no idea that the number was disconnected and recycled.
That the number now belongs to some guy’s work phone, (Wes) – and he is listening to all of the messages Jill is leaving Izzy, and hears all of her crazy stories, things that are going on in her life, and things she vents and jokes about – and it makes him smile. It makes him laugh.
He plans to tell her she has the wrong number – not knowing the situation and why she’s leaving these messages or who Izzy is, but he’s intrigued by her and her funny, wild, crazy voicemails, so he doesn’t tell her that number is no longer Izzy’s (whoever Izzy is – because again – he has no idea!).
He lets her keep calling and he keeps listening.
Eventually, he finds a way to get just enough information to look her up on social media, and when he sees her photos and who she is, he finds her attractive, and he’s even more interested in listening to new voicemails from her – for Izzy.
My daughter and I laughed and called him a stalker, but I corrected my daughter and joked that there’s a big difference between creepy stalking and cute stalking. He did some cute stalking. lol. (I’m just being funny, but it was cute that he looked her up and checked her out).
I don’t want to give the whole movie away, but it’s something you should totally watch if you have the time, and I laughed a lot in this movie, but I also cried a lot, especially at the end – when this guy (Wes) asks for a sign, and he gets it. ❤️
It’s definitely a MUST WATCH, and one of my new favorite movies!
My daughter was also laughing when one of Wes’s friends asked, “What is it about her, Wes?”, and he starts listing everything he loves, and says her cheeks are always filled with food – like this “Sexy Chipmunk”. I told my daughter, “See? I’m a Sexy Chipmunk, too!”. I made her laugh even more.
If you want to giggle a bit, I went outside in the middle of the movie last night to move my car to the garage because the weather was calling for tornados in our area (or close by) possibly, and the sky looked awful, so if we had hail, I didn’t need my car damaged.
I had cried right before going outside – because of this movie, so when another woman who lives upstairs but diagonal from my place – was out there and started talking to me about a kitten we always see in the garages, I apologized for the way I looked and told her I was “ugly crying to a movie I was watching”. She laughed and said she’s the same way.
The movie was fantastic, and it helped a lot that the guy who played (Wes) – Nick Robinson – is a hottie. 😊
Listen.
If there was a poster with him (from this scene on it) – it would be framed and hanging above my bed.
I’m just saying! 🤣
I loved the movie.
10/10 – I recommend!
……………………………………………
Other than the movie – check this out.
One of the tenants in the facility I work for – came downstairs last week and asked if I wanted this radio.
It’s totally Vintage.
He said he’s had it since he got married many – many – many years ago.
He’s an older guy that I adore so much, and he’s always joking around, making me laugh and he’s goofy.
He’ll tell you he has a history with crazy women – including his now ex-wife, and he did just that – and that’s why he said he doesn’t want it anymore, but it still works.
I wasn’t going to take it. I didn’t think I had any use for it, but ……………after some thinking, I realized I’d love to have this radio, and I’d cherish it because it came from him. It’s now a sentimental radio for me because I’ve grown close to this old guy, and he’s hilarious.
Even when he’s pissed off and running his mouth on certain days – he still looks at me when he’s going off on people, and we both laugh because that’s just who he is, and he knows I’m not going to stop him.
I tell him to be nice, and sometimes – when I already know he’s going to say something he shouldn’t – I’ll look at him and tell him, “DON’T DO IT!”, and he laughs because he knows I already know what he’s thinking, and what he’s going to say or do.
He’s got a lot of health issues, so my son and I both agreed (because my older son works with me on the weekends) – that if this man ever passes, we’re going to miss the heck out of him. We’re going to be so sad when we lose this guy, and hopefully it won’t happen for many more years, but we know he’s old and brittle.
So, after thinking about what an honor it would be for me to have this man’s old radio that he’s had forever now and no longer wants, I did take it. It does work, and it sounds so clear – but the only issue – is that we don’t have many good radio stations in Minnesota, so I won’t use it now.
Still, I know that if and when we move back to IL. or closer to it, I’ll have many more radio stations and choices, and this radio will look so cute on my kitchen counter, and it will give me something to listen to when I’m cooking or baking. 😊I do need to give it a good scrub down, but I love it!
I remember almost losing this guy at the beginning of this year.
He was really sick, and some of the employees at the facility wanted to go say “Goodbye” to him – so, some went to go see him.
My older son and I – went as well. He wasn’t expected to make it.
When my son and I walked into the hospital room that day, this man couldn’t even keep his eyes open, and he struggled to talk. His breathing was shallow and we thought for sure he wouldn’t make it past that weekend. We were talking to him, and I was holding his hand the entire time – while we just watched him doze in and out, and we sat there quietly some moments – just watching T.V. and watching this man rest.
The facility we work in houses the previously homeless, some Criminals, some addicts, recovering addicts, and alcoholics / recovering alcoholics. He’s one of the alcoholics, and we give what they call “Portions” (little bits of alcohol) followed on a plan – to certain alcoholics avoid their withdrawal symptoms and them getting sick from it.
When we were in the hospital that day, this man (that I’ll call Denny) – suddenly woke up, looked over at my older son and I – and tried saying something. We couldn’t understand him, and he finally yelled, “PORTION!”. We laughed because of course Denny is going to ask for his portion, or for us to sneak him one in, and it just made our night seeing him – even if we didn’t expect him to make it that time.
I laughed and told him, “I can’t believe you just said that!”. He smiled and went back to sleep, only to wake up and ask for a cigarette. I playfully – softly hit his arm and told him, “You’re on Oxygen my dude!”.
Eventually, he fell back asleep and woke up – no longer smiling, trying to talk, or anything.
He was coughing. Struggling to breathe. Nodding in and out of sleep.
I decided to let him rest that night, and told my older son we should go, so he could sleep, but every time I thought he was fully asleep and tried to pull my hand out of his, he squeezed my hand tighter – at one point – shaking his head no and refusing to let us leave.
When we told him we had to go, he looked so sad, and when we got out of that hospital that day, the tears started to fall.
I couldn’t help it. He’s become one of the main people at this facility that we have grown so close to and grown to love dearly, and I didn’t know if I’d ever see him again after we walked out of there, but thankfully – by the Grace of God – he was back in our facility a few weeks later – looking healthier, so much better, and so full of life.
He still comes down to try to get his portion an hour earlier, and we still have to distract him and talk about other things, so he forgets about it until it’s time. We still have to try to get him to eat because if he could live off alcohol, milk and Sardines – he totally would, but I’m so grateful he’s still with us, and that he’s still his hilarious, crazy, wild, no filter – self.
I’m glad I have a piece of his history with me, even though it’s just a radio, but to me – it’s not.
It’s HIS radio, and he decided he wanted to give it to me. 😊
I’ll forever love this thing, and I hope that in the long future – far from now hopefully – when God wants me back – my older son will keep this radio and cherish it forever – maybe put it in his kitchen one day – to remember Denny and to remember me and the way I loved it because it was from one of our favorite tenants.
I had to laugh when we got there and two of the other teams’ boys were playing for us – because some of our boys couldn’t make it.
I can’t even imagine how tough that is feeling like you have some kind of obligation to help the opposing team because you’re playing for them to substitute the boys that are missing from that team but also feeling a dedication and loyalty to your own team that you’re playing against for the day.
One of the boys from the other team – that was playing for our team – kept getting home runs, and my older son and I joked that he’s not going to be allowed in their locker room later. His team is going to turn their backs on him, but – in all honesty – they showed so much good sportsmanship, love, respect, and encouragement to each other. 😊
It was the cutest thing when one of our boys hurt his knee, and both teams that were on the field – took a knee to show him respect and love. They stayed that way until they knew he was okay.
At one point, my little dude was batting, and he got hit in the jaw with the baseball.
I knew he was hurt and as much as I wanted to run out there, make sure he was okay and give him the biggest hug, I just stood up and stayed by the stands because his coach ran over to him and I knew his coach had his back. If he was really hurt, his coach would pull him out, but after standing with him for a few minutes and everyone watching to make sure he was okay, my little dude shook it off and ran to first base.
I did a huge sigh of relief because no parent wants to see another kid get hurt, let alone our own.
He is just fine today, and while it was probably a shock to get hit like that, it’s the Baseball life and he’s not the only one who has ever been hit by a baseball in the game. A few weeks ago, one of the other boys took a hit to the eye. (Thankfully, he was just fine).
The coach was awesome and kept checking on my Elijah.
At another point, I wanted to run onto the field and yell, “HE’S SAFE!”.
I didn’t want to be THAT mom, and I’m usually pretty quiet and chill at games, but this one time yesterday – I almost caved with the pressure. ha.
The coach from the other team tried to say that my son was OUT – when he hit 3rd base, because he swore up and down his player caught the ball and tagged my son out, when this boy didn’t even tap the base or my son if and when he caught the ball. I didn’t see exactly how it all went down, but I know my son was safe, so when this other coach tried to run him off the field, there was no way I was having that.
He tried to argue with one of our volunteer coaches (who is also amazing) and she wasn’t having it! She held it down on that field yesterday, and while my son ran off the field because he thought he was out, she called him back in and told him to take his place back on 3rd – as it should be!
After the game, I walked up to that mom / woman and told her how happy I was that she stood her ground and defended Elijah. She told me what happened, and I was more than happy that he was able to take his spot back where he belonged and made his home run.
I have a good friend named Ashley. Ashley is a Baseball mom as well, and she always jokes about how she’s the loudest mom at games, so if the other coach or someone makes a foul call – she’s screaming and calling them out on it.
I didn’t want to be like Ashley and get crazy and loud, but I almost became Ashley and almost got crazy and loud during that little foul call he tried to play against my kid. 🤔🤣⚾
I was a good girl though and let the other coach handle it.
Besides that……….
Every game we play – someone gets to choose who gets the “Player of the Game” baseball.
I was so happy and proud when my son received one for the 1st game in the double-header.
The coach shared how much he’s improved since he first started, how he really tries, and how proud he is of him, so …. my Elijah was given his very first “Player of the game” baseball, and we will be finding a case for it, and cherishing it forever.
❤️
🙂
As I was driving home last night from the game, I looked back and Elijah had his eyes closed.
He was so tired.
I smiled and wondered if and when we move closer to Illinois like we’ve been wanting to, are we going to miss this? Are we going to miss the no traffic jams going to and from further games? Are we going to miss his entire team that he played with and could continue to play with if we stayed here and just made this home forever? Are we going to miss the quietness of the country life? Are we going to miss the baseball crew he loves and knows? The coaches? The excitement of it all?
Yes, he could play for other teams wherever we move, but I don’t know if it will feel the same.
I think part of us will miss this little town life, but part of us will also be happy to be back to what and who we know in the place we came from.
Home is where the money, better opportunities, better career choices, friends, family and everything close is, but here in Minnesota – where we are now – we’ve gotten to know some amazing people, some amazing kids, and it’s peaceful.
My older son and I were talking about this last night as I drove home.
I’ve thought about trying to buy a house out here, but we also know that our hearts are not happy here.
I was once told that this little town is a place you either move to when you have tons of money and just want to sit back and relax from now on, or a place you retire to – and I don’t disagree.
Still, driving home last night – I wondered if we’d miss all this “boring” and “quiet” stuff when and if we moved back. My son joked that we should move back to Illinois, save a ton of money, and then move right back here, and I laughed and told him that’s not how it works.
Anyway, we had a good game yesterday, and while I’m not sure who won both games yet, the ride to another part of Minnesota was beautiful and peaceful, the games were awesome, and we got home safely, Thank God!
In other news…………
I’m a bit excited right now because I just heard that Ice Cube and Nia Long are reuniting for a new movie (ARE THEY GONE YET?).
If you’ve never heard of the other two movies or have never seen them, you’re going to have to!
I absolutely love – love – love them both.
In the first movie (ARE WE THERE YET?) Nick (played by Ice Cube) owns his own business and when he happens to look outside and sees the beautiful Suzanne standing there, he feels like he’s fallen in love almost immediately.
He quickly finds out she has two young kids, and that stops him in his tracks. Nick doesn’t like or want kids, so he feels like Suzanne is off limits now.
One night, he sees her on the side of the road with a broken-down car – in the rain, and while his mind and his imagination tell him to keep going, his heart won’t let him.
He ends up getting into the middle of Suzanne’s dramas, life, and involved with the kids in ways he never saw coming, but eventually – he realizes he wouldn’t have it any other way. 😊
(Photo taken from the Pinion) site.
In the second movie – (ARE WE DONE YET?) – I don’t want to give away spoilers if you haven’t seen it and may want to, but let’s just say that’s a whole set of other dramas, headaches, and craziness.
Both movies are awesome, so go check them out.
When I heard the new one is happening, I was thrilled because I’m pretty sure now that the kids are older, it’s still going to be great and probably even more hilarious than the first two.
I’m looking forward to it. I’ve read a bit about it, but I can’t wait.
My darlings. I wish I had other things to discuss, but my life is pretty chill right now, (or, shall I say – anything but chill, but I’m not going to get into the headaches of my life right now). ha.
I hate when people say that, and it’s usually the people who have a lot of it – that say that.
I’ve seen a quote online that says:
I 2nd this!
While this quote is supposed to be funny, for those who are just trying to survive in this economy – money can totally buy happiness.
For those struggling with financial issues and not having enough money – money can totally buy happiness.
For those with bills, or big dreams that they want to go pursue and can’t because of the financial part of everything – money can totally buy happiness.
It’s wild because I’ve heard famous people, billionaires, and people with enough money in their accounts to be set for decades – say that more money only brought them more problems, and that they’re depressed.
I’ve heard them say that money doesn’t buy happiness, and they were happier when they didn’t have so much money, but …………………………………………………………………………
I feel like telling them all ………………
“Send it to my account. Problem solved!”. 😁
There are so many things I’d be able to do with a lot more money, and any time I’ve had more – I’ve always been happy, so maybe for some – that saying is true, but for me and many others dealing with this economy right now and the inflation of everything, money can absolutely solve a lot of things and buy happiness!
I can also say that money and mental health definitely play a big part with each other. So, yes, I think if more people had access to more resources or money – mental health struggles would not go away, but the number of people that struggle with mental health may be lowered.
**********
With that being said – let’s talk about my birthday.
It was yesterday.
I woke up emotional.
I’m living in the middle of nowhere in a small town where I don’t know many people, and all of my friends and family are back home in IL.
My parents are gone, so they’re not going to call and wish me a happy birthday, and there’s absolutely nothing to do in this small town or even in the closest bigger city. I would have to drive hours and hours to go find something to do and I didn’t want to do that.
My morning started with tears. With me crying and being this emotional little baby and feeling sorry for myself. I decided I was probably going to go take a ride and get out of the house for a while, maybe grab a free birthday drink from Starbucks, run to a couple of stores, grab my birthday cake I had custom ordered and come right back home to go back to bed.
I planned to watch movies in bed all day. Sounds awful, right?
Do I have people out here that I do know – who I could have called and know they would have celebrated with me? Yes. Still, I just felt like not doing anything yesterday.
I will say that when I picked up my birthday cake – it was better than I expected.
Oh yeah! I grabbed a bottle of wine on my way home as well. 🍷
I planned to watch one of my favorite movies (Second Act) with Jennifer Lopez and Leah Remini.
Great movie, and in it – it was also Maya’s birthday (played by Lopez), and she was feeling sorry for herself because of the things she wanted to do, the things she was doing that she didn’t want to do, and the way she felt unaccomplished. At 40, she was feeling like she should have done more, or be doing more, and that’s kind of how I felt yesterday – aside from not having my IL. family and friends here with me.
So, I was going to watch that movie when the kids went to bed, and I was going to enjoy a glass of wine – or two.
It’s a great movie if you ever need something cute to watch. ❤️
Anyway, I came home yesterday afternoon and sat on the couch for a bit just watching my little dude play his video games and thinking about life itself.
I decided I was NOT going to keep up with this damn pity party that I was having.
I got up, told my daughter to get ready to ride with me, and we went to the library.
I love a good book! I love reading and my daughter calls me a “book nerd” and a “book worm”.
She laughs about how fast I can get through a good book.
I decided I was going to do something I love to do.
Go pick out a few books!
I ended up getting two books.
My daughter told me I should try more fictions, because there’s some really good ones out there. Anyone who knows me – knows that I’m mostly about non-fiction books, but I’ll dip my nose into a good fiction love story or mystery / crime book from time to time.
One of my favorite authors from the fiction category of books is Raenne Thayne.
So, I always look for something new from her when we go to the library.
I just read her awesome book
Abby is a widowed nurse trying to move out of state to start a new life somewhere else with her young son, but before she moves to the new state she’s going to, her good friend Lucy asks her to spend a few weeks at Holiday House to watch over her elderly grandma who took a bad fall and was injured.
Lucy is out of town and won’t be back for another few weeks to watch over her own grandma, but when she does come back – she loves the idea of Abby and her son spending Christmas at Holiday House. So does the grandma (Winnie), who both Abby and her son have grown to love.
The problem?
Lucy’s brother (Ethan) stops by every so often, and Abby finds him so attractive.
Ethan (who had a fiancé in the past, but realized he didn’t love her and was perfectly fine when she left him), finds himself attracted to Abby as well, and as Abby knows she’s moving and leaving the state, and Ethan finds himself falling harder for Abby and loving her son like his own the more he sees her and spends time with her – now what?
She’s not staying in the small town she’s currently in to help with Holiday House and the grandma, so Ethan is fighting against his feelings and time. Abby is fighting against her feelings and ignoring time.
Meanwhile, Lucy is dealing with her own love emotions as she has a guy who is so in love with her and wants more than a “friends with benefits” thing that they’ve been having, but she saw her parents fighting a lot, and she never wants to go through that, so she tries her hardest not to get into a relationship with the man who is in love with her, and he refuses to continue to be just her “friend with benefits” .
It’s a really good book, and I totally 10/10 recommend it!
I’ve ready many of her books and love them all!
The one I got at the library yesterday is:
So, I’ve read this one before, but it’s one of my favorites, and yes – I’m going to read it again!
Serenity Harbor is about a wealthy businessman (Bowie) who is raising his little brother (Milo) who has autism and is a lot of work. He can be hard to handle, and uncontrollable sometimes. Bowie didn’t even know he existed until he has to become his guardian.
He and Katrina meet at a local grocery store one day, and she walks over to help him with a meltdown his brother is having, and once he sees how good she is with him, he hires her temporarily to help him with his brother.
She ends up moving in with Bowie (short-term) to make things easier on him while he’s working on his business stuff, and whatever he needs to do, while Katrina is also trying to find out about adopting a special-needs girl she met while doing work in another country a while back.
The more Katrina is living with Bowie, and he sees how she is with his brother, and the more Katrina gets to know Bowie – they have to struggle to keep it professional and both fight the fact that there are strong feelings there, but neither one of them want to say anything.
10/10 – I recommend this one as well.
This book made me laugh a bit, and she’s just such a great writer – that many of her stories keep me interested, so when it comes to fiction – she’s my first “go-to” for a good book, but I’ve opened my mind up to checking out other fiction as well.
We’ll see.
I’m more into non-fiction as I said. Mostly autobiographies.
I also picked up the book
If you’ve seen the movie (The Blind side) – this is the real guy who went through everything that movie is based on. It’s a real movie. It’s a real story, and I wanted to read things from his point of view.
The library is one of my happy places. 😁
My daughter knows we can be there for a long time, so she minds her business, lets me pick out books, suggests books to me, and lets me just do my thing.
I love her for her patience! lol.
I had to laugh when we were checking out and she made a comment about how I can get through books in two days, and the librarian smiled and told me, “Well then – you need more than just two books!”.
My daughter was hungry, so as much as I wanted to tell the librarian she was probably right, turn around and go to look for more books, we just checked out and I went to grab Pizza for dinner. It was my birthday and I wasn’t planning to cook for it.
We had Pizza. We had my cake. The kids sang to me and I danced to it. I took some cute photos because again – I wasn’t going to be emotional all day and let it ruin my day, and I relaxed for a bit with the kids – waiting for them to go to bed, so I could pour a glass of wine and watch (Second Act), but I ended up getting so tired – I went to be bed as well.
Isn’t my cake pretty though?
And, of course – I had to grab a few selfies.
❤️
I look totally crazy in this, huh?! haha.
I plan to treat myself to something cute when I get paid in a few days.
Be it some new lotion from Bath N’ Body, or something from Amazon, I will treat myself.
I did see this and had to get it…………………………..
🤣
I had a decent birthday.
It wasn’t fantastic, but it was okay, and I’m okay with that.
If you want to laugh – there’s a trend on TikTok where women change the numbers of their candles around. If someone is 42, she’ll change the 2 to the other side to make it look like she’s 24. If she’s 32, she’ll make it look like she’s 23, and whoever is with her, changes the numbers back around to her real age. The woman who is doing this trend – will say “no”, playfully slap the hand of whoever is changing it back, as she changes it to the way she wants it to be, and giggles.
So many women are doing this trend right now.
I was going to do a video with this trend – until I made myself laugh because I’m 44 now.
No matter how I switch the number candles, they’re going to come out the same way. 🤔
I didn’t think about that when I planned to do this trend.
Ah well. It was a fun thought.
****************
Babies!
I mentioned a few days ago that I heard Bunnie XO and Jelly were getting divorced, and it broke my heart.
They are one of my favorite couples, and I thought they were so happy – forever and ever, Amen.
No.
The internet went crazy trying to figure out why they were suddenly getting divorced once the news broke, and people wondered who cheated on who.
The internet went crazy trying to dog out Jelly and sticking up for Bunnie. The internet went crazy gossiping, spreading rumors and lies, and sharing nonsense. The internet went crazy bringing up old videos of Bunnie and Jelly with other people or trying to decode the meanings of everything in their videos or on their socials.
I did none of that.
I waited because I knew that eventually – the truth was going to come out, and one of them was going to speak on it.
I knew one of them was going to come out with exactly what was going on, and why the divorce was happening, and yesterday – as I drove home from the library and grabbing Pizza, I noticed that Bunnie XO had put out a Podcast called, “The divorce”.
My daughter and I listened to it on the way home and it broke my heart.
I stand with Bunnie XO, and so does the entire world of women.
She spoke on how her and Jelly stopped communicating a long time ago, and she has always felt like she loved him – more than he loved her. She said they had a bad argument on Mother’s Day, and she screamed for him to file the divorce papers, and – he did.
She said she screamed it out of anger, but when he really went and filed, that was a rude awakening for her. She didn’t want the divorce. She doesn’t want the divorce. She wanted to try to work it out in marriage counseling, but Jelly doesn’t want to. He’s ready for the divorce and he’s ready to see other people now. He’s not happy in this marriage and she still stuck up for him and said he’s doing what he has to do, and she respects that.
She said everything beautifully in her Podcast and talked about being happy for him wanting to be happy, and finding his way now, and she even went as far as to tell women listening – that his DM’s are open and that if he finds a woman who is sweet, genuine and isn’t on some sneaky shit – she’ll welcome that woman with open arms.
She spoke highly of Jelly and talked about the years they’ve spent together. She spoke of building their empire together, and their struggles trying to have a baby, and even mentioned that they plan to keep trying to have a baby together / co-parent together if it happens – despite the divorce. (Which confused the hell out of me, but everyone does things differently).
She killed any rumors or gossip going around the internet and said she is NOT and never will be dating Chad Kroeger despite videos or rumors out there. She said Jelly is dating already, and she’s happy for him. She said he was kind enough to give her the compound they were building together and talked about how they will always be friends.
She shared her true feelings on everything, and despite her not wanting the divorce, she is okay being there for him during this time and being happy for his next chapter in life – whatever that may be and whoever he may end up with.
Bunnie XO is a beautiful person with a beautiful soul, and she’s not going to cause him problems or make his life hell just because he wants this divorce, and he’s ready to move on, and I respect her so much for that. ❤️
If you’ve seen his video from his concert (I believe last night) – now that the news of the divorce is out because TMZ got ahold of it and broke the news, and because now Bunnie XO spoke about it on her Podcast, he went on to say at his concert – that Bunnie Xo is his best friend and always will be – and I thought that was beautiful.
So, if you’ve been waiting on one of them to break their silence, or if you’re wondering what’s really going on – go listen to Bunnie’s Podcast, and if you don’t want to go find it, I also posted it below for you to watch.
My heart broke every time she wanted to cry, and I’m sure this is killing her, but still – she stays peaceful, respectful, and honors his wishes.
THE WORLD LOVES BUNNIE XO, and she’s going to be alright.
She’s already landing on her feet and working on herself.
I giggle every time I hear someone say Jelly is an idiot, or that he fumbled Bunnie, and I have to agree, but we’re not going to disrespect, or talk down on him. We’re not going to make him feel bad, right?
People fall out of love all the time. He did the right thing by filing the divorce, not cheating on her, and not leading her on to believe that all was still good when it wasn’t / isn’t.
I think if a married couple can work things out and love each other, by all means – I cheer that on, but if one falls out of love, or one knows that it’s not working and he or she chooses to file divorce before cheating, so they can go see other people or see who else is out there that may be more for them – I’m all for that as well.
He never talks down on her or bad about her, and I know that despite all of this – them being one of my favorite couples – and now – no longer together – they will always love and be there for one another and that’s all we need to know.
Bunnie said she’s “Getting her sparkle back”…. but baby never lost it!
She’s always had that sparkle!
Loves.
Have a beautiful day my loves.
I’m going to go enjoy my Coffee and the Michael Oher book, and tonight – best believe me and that wine have a date. ha. I plan to watch that movie I planned to watch last night.
I no longer try to control things that are out of my control.
I have learned that life is going to test us sometimes. Life is going to challenge us sometimes. Life is going to throw curveballs and kick our asses sometimes, and sometimes – some of that stuff is going to be out of our control.
I used to stress over many things. I used to worry. I used to stay awake at night if there was an issue.
I used to try to figure out what I can do to change outcomes, or people’s minds, or to try to make a situation better.
I don’t do that anymore.
These days, I have grown by just allowing whatever is going to be – to be.
If I know I have the power to change something – be it a situation or someone’s mind, or whatever life is throwing at me, I will do everything in my power to do so, but if I know there is probably nothing that I can do to change something – I’m not even going to try to do it anymore, and I’m just going to go with the flow.
I no longer allow myself to stress over things I can’t control.
I no longer try to change things I can’t control.
I no longer allow myself lose sleep over things I can’t control, or to let those things upset me.
It is what it is and it’s going to be what it’s going to be.
I trust God and sometimes – we just have to grow with him and let him handle the things that are out of our control and power.
Sometimes, we just have to trust him to know who and what we need, who and what we don’t need, and to do what only God can do.
I was watching a movie one time (The War Room) and in this movie – a woman was trying to change her husband and his ways to keep her family together, and she finally broke down and cried over the husband not changing. Not wanting to make it work. Not thinking about his family.
She met an elderly woman who told her the reason things are not working out the way she wants to – is because she’s trying to control the situation without God. She’s not praying about it. This elderly woman tells her she has to pray, give all these problems to God, and then “Get out of the way and let him do what only he can do!”.
I took that advice to allow myself to grow in that, and that’s what I follow these days.
With situations at my job. With relationships and friendships. With life itself. With anything that happens these days.
I don’t get upset. I don’t get angry. I don’t get stressed or bothered or try to control a situation or curveball life throws at me.
I simply “Let go and Let God”.
I pray about whatever it is on my mind or in my heart, or anything that comes my way that I can’t control or handle, and then – I get out of the way and let God do what only he can do. Only he can control the situation, the curveball, the stress, the worry, the problems – whatever they may be.
That’s one way I’ve grown this year.
I don’t try to control or change the things I can’t control or change.
I pray about them and wait for God to guide me or put it in my heart to do what only I can do.
I’ve had to walk by faith and in faith many times, and I’ve grown to allow myself to trust God to make things happen, or make things right, or even to make things better. To let a situation or problem work itself out, or for me to be okay at the end of a problem or situation. To walk me through it and be there with me as I do, and I always just pray for him to let things work out the way they’re supposed to.
I no longer worry.
Someone also once said that worrying is like a rocking chair – it gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere.
I follow that now.
It took a lot for me to grow not only emotionally, but spiritually and to trust God to take control of the things I can’t and to work them out for good.
I fully believe in the Serenity prayer, and I learned it when I was a little girl going to church often, and still follow that today.
I no longer try to do everything that pleases everyone.
I no longer care what others thing about what I do that makes me and my kids happy.
I no longer worry about nonsense and who does what.
I no longer care or stress about a lot of things, because it feels amazing when you let all that go, trust God and allow yourself to just breathe. Just live. Just be.
“Baby, go to college and start a career now. If you wait, life is going to kick your ass!”.
Today’s WP writing prompt asked. I’m answering.
I know they say that no matter how old you are, it’s never too late to go back to school, but I will also add to that – that it’s a lot harder if you’re older.
If you’re in your 20’s – Do it while you’re young! Go to college NOW!
I was raising a kid when I was 20, and I was still partying and living my best life, so I wasn’t thinking about college.
I wanted to go.
I knew I should go to college right then and there.
Well, I did go for a little bit, but not the way I should have been.
I enrolled for Psychology because at the time – that’s what I thought I wanted to do, but I dropped those classes because then I thought I wanted to be a nurse, so I took up CNA classes at first, and planned to get my LPN license. I left those classes because Massage therapy sounded nice, but I wasn’t interested in the fact that we had to get completely naked in class, and work on each other (because that’s part of Massage therapy) in real life. Of course, we were all covered by thin sheets, but still.
I left those classes, and when I finally figured out what I really wanted to do – I should have just gone to college, stuck with it, finished and got into my career young.
I always knew what I wanted to be or do from the time I was 15, (Probation officer) so it wasn’t like I was still “trying to figure it out”. Or was I? Maybe I was just trying to make sure before I enrolled in classes again.
When I finally knew for sure……………….
I just didn’t feel like I had time for that because when was I going to spend time with my kid, or have time to party? I was making the wrong choices and felt like I had all the time in the world for college, and “I’ll go one day”. That was my mind-set and I wish it wasn’t back then, but the reality is – even though I am now 43, and graduated college with two Criminal Justice degrees, it was so much harder to balance work, kids, bills, and life in general when I did finally go to college at the age of 39.
I graduated with my associate degree in 2023, and my BA degree in 2025, and I am so proud of that.
It is proof that no matter how old you are, you can still go back to school and do something with yourself, but – it is so much harder as you get older and have to balance different things, meet school papers and projects deadlines, and so on.
If I had a chance to tell my 20-year-old self – something – it would be not to wait. To go to college while you’re 20 and only have one kid. While you’re not working crazy hours and overtime and paying all these bills, and losing your damn mind trying to survive in your 40’s.
I am still so proud of all the men and women who do the same thing.
Raise kids, pay bills, work their asses off and are my age – just now going to college to better their lives.
I will also say that as we get older – even if we graduate college and have the best GPA’s and degrees, it’s not enough to get the career you want because now you’re a lot older, and people our ages are looking forward to only working the next 20-something years and living the rest of our lives having fun, retired and happy – not just trying to start the career you wanted to start many years ago while you were younger, and didn’t get your ass into college right away.
It is hard going to college when you’re older.
It is hard finding a position in a career you want when you’re older.
I do suggest if you’re in your teens or 20’s and you’re reading this – you plan to go to college right after high school and get the career you want while you’re still young enough to do so.
As for me, I sadly live in an area / small town – where there isn’t many or any opportunities to be in the career I want, so, I will be moving somewhere bigger and better in the next few months to a year and making sure I make this happen for myself, but don’t wait to go to college and think you can be what you want to be later, because sometimes – that doesn’t happen, it may be too late, and you just need to motivate yourself to do it now.
Hell, even if you’re in your 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and still thinking about college and wish you could – you SHOULD!
It’s never too late. It just becomes a little harder, but if I did it, why not you?
SO, I’d just tell my 20-year-old self to enroll, finish now, and become what you’ve always wanted to become.
Don’t wait.
Besides that……………..
I think by now – we all went to bed last night or woke up this morning to the shocking and sad news that:
(Image taken from TMZ)
I was scrolling Facebook last night, and I scrolled past a TMZ post reporting it, and we all know that TMZ doesn’t report it – if it’s not facts, right? They are my “go-to” when I want to check sources and make sure the news I hear is real.
I was so heartbroken to hear this because what the hell?
Jelly and Bunnie seemed like they were so happy.
They seemed like the perfect couple.
I just read Bunnie’s new book about how they were healing together after everything that happened in their past with each other and as individuals.
I heard a few months ago, Bunnie was doing treatments to try to get pregnant and have their baby.
So, this came out of nowhere for everyone, and I think the entire world is feeling this.
I’m not a huge Jelly roll fan, but him as a person and all the good things that he has done for others – makes him an amazing person, and we all know I absolutely adore and love Bunnie XO. She’s real, raw and doesn’t care what people think. She inspires others to not care what people think, and she has done so much good for others as well.
So, to hear that he filed for this divorce, but also hearing that it was a mutual agreement, it’s sad, but it is what it is.
It just proves that when others see another couple looking all cuddled up and happy, all cute and think that they are “the perfect couple”, we never know what goes on behind closed doors, or what struggles their marriage is having.
A married couple could look so happy and perfect outdoors around people, go home together, and be miserable. The wife is unhappy and truly wants a divorce, but they have kids, assets, a business, or whatever else they own together, so it will be tough and expensive to get out of the marriage, or the husband feels that way. Maybe both – but not all “happy and perfect” marriages, are the way they seem and Jelly and Bunnie proved that.
Someone in our family – or our friend groups can seem like they have the healthiest, best marriage and in reality, when the couple is home alone – they’re doing nothing but fighting, or not speaking to each other and not sleeping in the same bed anymore.
We never know the reality of what couples DON’T want us to see, so – we think and see what they portray, and that’s how it is now with Bunnie and Jelly. He filed in May, and nobody knew anything until they just announced it and news channels reported it.
Bunnie was with Jelly when he had nothing. She helped him financially, emotionally and mentally when he was going through some of his darkest times, and she helped raised his daughter, and he did a lot of things for her as well, so I’m hoping they remain good friends, continue to be there for each other, and get to live their individual happy lives now – apart. 💔
NOBODY SAW THIS ONE COMING, but that’s life.
******
Baseball:
We drove an hour 1/2 away to another part of Minnesota last night for the double-header our team was supposed to play, but while GPS showed at first it was 2-hours, it was about an hour and some minutes or so.
We got their and my kids were speechless at how beautiful and huge this other school was.
They have their own ICE arena, and my kids joked that if those kids ever came to our little town, they’d want to turn around go back to their little town.
Anyway, it was cold.
The weather called for storms, and it was lightening with rumbles of thunder way off in the distance, but we all knew it was going to eventually get us.
The coaches kept an eye on the weather, and there were talks about either waiting it out for the 2nd game, or rescheduling. As we sat on the bleachers, the clouds got lower, darker, and weather apps were saying, “Take shelter now”. That part of Minnesota has seen a few tornados, and I just told my kids to be ready to run to the car, open it and start it up, and I’d grab Elijah (my little dude), and I’d run to the car as well.
I wanted to make sure they were safe, while I made sure my little dude was safe – if anything major happened, but – thankfully, it just started pouring right after we won our first game against this school, and the boys all ran into the dugout to eat hotdogs, and whatever else the moms and dads brought.
We brought the chips, and I felt like I should have gotten something healthy, but I was so happy to hear that almost every kid on the team dug into the chips, and they were good with it. 😁
My little dude came running over to me and told me the coach said he could leave because they probably weren’t playing the 2nd game. I walked over to the coach to make sure – because sometimes, my little dude likes to play around too much, but he was right.
Our Coach and the coach from the other team were talking about how it wasn’t supposed to stop raining until later, and they were talking about rescheduling. The other coach mentioned how if the boys went back onto the field, they’d be cold, wet and miserable and I was glad he made that call.
So, we were able to leave and get home earlier than we expected, and it was nice to not have to drive late on dark, country roads. We drove while it was still light outside and got home safely by the grace of God!
The boys have an hour-long practice today.
I had to laugh when we were leaving the field yesterday, walking to the car and my daughter ran past me.
She yelled, “Go! Go! Run! I stole a box of the chips we brought!”.
She was running, so I thought she was serious. I yelled her name and told her to get back by me, but she stopped running, laughed and said she was just joking. She smiled and said, “If I were to steal anything – it wouldn’t be a box of chips!”. She was raised right, and she knows better, so I’m not worried about her stealing anything, but I did think she took the box of chips – maybe thinking they were done with it.
I had brought two boxes, and she said she grabbed a bag, and one of the coaches told her all the boys already had chips, and they were done, so she was able to take that box home.
All-in-all, the boys had fun yesterday before the wind picked up and it started raining.
There were no tornados.
We got home safe.
I was up early this morning, and this mama hasn’t had coffee yet, so I love you all and hope you have a blessed day if you run across this!
I poured a cup of Coffee this morning and finished watching the new documentary (Maternal Instinct) on Netflix.
All I have to say is – WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT????????????
First of all, this woman (Taylor) sees this man (Wade) at the Rodeo in 2019 – and started communicating on social media and then quickly dating because she thought he was so adorable and had to be with him? Okay. That’s understandable! That’s a cute story, right?
Then – she comes up with this story about how evil her mother is, how her mother is trying to cut her out of a bunch of money she’s supposed to inherit, she doesn’t know the lengths her mother will go to – to make her life hell, so she suggests to (Wade) that she moves in with him to get further away from her mother?
Um – what?!
And – after only a little time of dating – not even really knowing each other much – he’s okay with letting her move in?
She’s buying him all this stuff. New car. New place, and he’s letting her.
You can’t convince me that he wasn’t in it for the money!
You can’t convince me he didn’t like her spoiling him, buying him things and doing whatever she could to keep him with her, including – um excuse me – faking a pregnancy?!!!!!!!!!!!
This woman (Taylor) literally went as far as to faking a pregnancy to keep this man, and she probably knew and felt like he didn’t really love her the way she thought he was going to or wanted him to, but a baby – that would fix everything, right?
I mean – I guess ……………
Enter Reagan.
This woman (Taylor) became friends with the beautiful (Reagan) when she was the photographer at Reagan’s wedding.
They became close friends, and Reagan trusted Taylor.
Reagan gets pregnant, has a great husband and a great life, and this woman (Taylor) is jealous of that. She wants that. She wants that life, but her boyfriend (Wade) acts like he doesn’t want to be with her and hasn’t once told her that he loves her – despite them being together for a while at that point. Despite them living together at that point because she technically forced her way into his home by making him feel like she was in danger from her own mother. (Who did nothing wrong by the way!)
So, Taylor goes on to to tell Wade she’s pregnant.
She does research and prints out fake ultrasound photos, orders a fake pregnancy belly to wear, goes on to stop allowing Wade to see her naked, sleeping in other places away from him, and spending hours in the bathroom, so he doesn’t see that she’s lying.
Months go by and she doesn’t look pregnant, but she has a fake gender reveal, has doctor appointments for baby checks, but doesn’t allow Wade to go in with her or has excuses why he can’t be there, and continues to lie and try to fool people.
Everyone is starting to suspect and tells Wade she’s crazy. She’s lying. She’s not pregnant. People are starting to do their own research and talk to people who know Taylor – including her own mother who confirms Taylor had a full Hysterectomy and can’t get pregnant but is too scared to say anything to Wade because she is afraid Taylor will keep her daughter away from her mother.
Taylor has excuses and reasons for everything when she’s confronted, and Wade’s mother and best friend try to talk reasoning to him and convince him Taylor is lying – but he doesn’t want to hear it.
Nothing in this documentary made sense, especially – him not confronting her himself and trying to find out if she’s really pregnant or not. You don’t love this girl. You only “care about her” from what he eventually admitted to his mother, but you’re going to continue to allow her to live in your house, lie to you, and not try to find out if she’s pregnant or not – because if she’s not and she’s been lying to you – it makes too much sense to use that as an excuse to break up with her and ask her to leave, right?
I do feel like hearing that her family has a lot of money, and she may be inheriting a lot of it soon – that man was putting up with her and her possible lies – because as he said in the beginning of this documentary – if that’s true – “he’d be set”. I think we all heard that part.
I’ve seen so many people talking about how he was just in it for the money, and I can’t say I disagree.
She lied and said her family was wealthy and she was getting some of that money.
I mean, she did buy him a ridiculously expensive truck, and all. So, why wouldn’t he want more where that came from? Someone else said he grew up poor, and it’s hard to say no to money when you grew up with none of it, so that makes sense as well.
I don’t think he’s just this innocent country boy who was caught in the middle of her lies.
I think he knew damn good and well that she wasn’t pregnant, (or at least suspected it) – and he just went with it and didn’t check – because at the end of the day – he could play victim. Maybe he was – just a little bit, but at the same time – I just find it wild that he didn’t ask more questions, find out for sure if there was a baby or not, check her search history, or demand to be in that doctor’s office with her during the “pre-natal” visits.
I watched this whole thing, and my heart broke for Reagan and that baby.
They’re the real innocent victims in this whole thing, and it shows you can’t trust everybody.
Reagan trusted Taylor. Reagan at one point – was the only one who seemed to give her the benefit of doubt and was there for her when everyone else was against her, and Reagan unfortunately – lost her life because of it. 💔
(Photo taken from Bates-Rolf Funeral home site)
I do NOT own this photo, and just had to share where it came from to avoid any legal stuff, but isn’t she beautiful?
My daughter and I both watched this documentary and we both agreed this (Taylor) chick – was insane.
So, if you’ve seen it, you’ll know that after she searched all kinds of crazy things – including videos on C-sections because she was getting desperate after being pregnant for 10 months (eye roll), and needed a baby to present to Wade, she went to Reagan’s house, killed her and cut the baby out.
You know that she tried driving to the hospital and had the baby in the front with her – not breathing, as she was pulled over and tried to play the baby off as hers, and claim she just had it.
You should have seen my face while watching this damn documentary.
I felt like screaming at the T.V:
“THEY CAN TELL YOU DIDN’T HAVE THAT CHILD, YOU IDIOT!!!!!”.
I mean – medical professionals are smart enough to know when you did and didn’t give birth, right? 🤣🤔 I couldn’t believe she really thought that trying to pass it off as her just having this baby in the car – was really going to work.
On top of that – she calls Wade to tell him she just had the baby and they were headed to the hospital – after using a fake number with another phone – to send him four hours away to sell hogs to someone who wasn’t even interested – that she had talked to about these hogs – weeks before that.
This chick is wild.
I know Mental health is a serious thing, but this chick took it to the next level!
This is why you have to be so careful who you associate with and trust.
People like her make it hard to trust anyone these days.
This whole story blew my mind and had me wanting to knock Wade upside the head myself and ask him what his real deal was! Did you stay for the money? Did you not suspect – at all – even for a moment of sanity – that she wasn’t pregnant? Come on now!!!!
Reagan’s mother – 0h my goodness!
I can’t even imagine what Reagan’s mother is going through after walking into that murder scene that day and having to SEE her daughter that way.
For this mother to have that image of walking into her daughter’s house and finding her – in her head the rest of her life – my heart is so broken for her.
She didn’t only lose a daughter, but also a grandchild, and she is one of the real victims in this whole thing as well.
People keep asking if I’ve seen it because those who know me – know I love a good movie and documentary – and these are my thoughts on the whole thing. Yes, I’ve seen it. No, I don’t believe Wade had no idea she wasn’t pregnant – even the slightest hint at least – and Taylor is now on death row.
My youngest daughter and I watched the documentary – (The Crash) – not too long ago, and we thought MacKenzie was insane, but I think Taylor has her beat in that department.
The other victims in this whole thing – Taylor’s mother – who had no idea she was making her look like the bad guy and anyone else involved that slowly drifted away from Taylor because they knew she was crazy. Wade’s family and friends who tried to warn him and had Wade cut them off because of it – those are the real victims.
I can say that even Wade deserves real love despite everything, and I hope he finds someone he does really love – with or without money, and that he can trust someone after all of this.
I hope Taylor’s mother and everyone who fell victim to her lies and deception – and especially the family and friends / husband of Reagan – find some kind of peace in all of this, and that this never happens to anyone else.
WATCH WHO YOU ASSOCIATE WITH. Not everyone has your best interest at heart, and some people can destroy your life in just a few short months. Do your own research and if people are trying to warn you about someone – believe them!
Most of the time – they’re right. Trust your instincts and do your own research.
That’s my point of view and opinions on this whole crazy case.
To Reagan and baby B. – sending big hugs and lots of love to Heaven and may you both – forever be remembered. 😔
To everyone else……
I have a two-hour drive later for a doubleheader baseball game for my little dude in a few hours.
Some of the moms were wondering how the boys would find time to eat, or what they would eat during the games, and I loved that the coach and his wife said they’d be bringing hotdogs, buns and some other things for the boys to eat while they’re playing both games, and other moms decided to chip in.
One said she was bringing fruit.
One said she was bringing a cooler full of Gatorade.
I said I’d bring chips. (Because they go perfectly with hotdogs). 😁I ended up getting two boxes of chips to bring.
Other moms and dads are bringing other things, and I love that we’re all chipping in for our boys who are going to have a long day.
I’m pretty sure Elijah will knock out on the way home tonight.
When I signed him up for Baseball, I didn’t know there was traveling involved, but – it is what it is and he’s having so much fun, so I don’t really mind.
My little dude had his second game last night for the team he plays on.
They played against another school.
Last week, they won their first game and last night – they won their second. ❤️
We traveled almost an hour away to get to that school, and it was a good game.
The coach from the other team drove me crazy because he wouldn’t just let the kids have fun. He had to keep screaming at his team and he sounded like he was getting aggravated because our team kept scoring. These poor kids couldn’t concentrate on the game because they were hearing him all up in their ears.
I couldn’t concentrate on the game because he kept screaming plays at his team while they were on the field.
I felt like walking up to him and telling him:
I’m just being funny, but I seriously wanted to go tell him to let his team play and that nobody wants to hear him screaming every second.
He was calling his teams names so much, they didn’t know if they should look at the ball or look at him.
I love our coaches!
Our coaches were peaceful and quietly give our boys advice and then backed off and let them do their thing – while encouraging them and cheering them on.
Our coaches know the boys have to concentrate and to leave them be when they’re on the field.
The boys know what they’re doing and if they don’t, the coaches will jump in and simply let them know what to do. Other than that, our coaches are calm, respectful, and know it’s just a game – win or lose.
I think after we were able to get many homeruns, he finally gave up and finally stopped screaming onto the field.
Still, our boys won. They did a great job. They worked so well together, and I was proud of my son because while he is still learning to bat a little better, the coaches did an amazing job at getting him to at least know when and how to bat. He was able to hit the ball and get to 1st base, and beyond.
I saw him smile on 1st base and it made me smile as a mother. He was proud of himself, and he had every right to be! 😊
I love that the boys on our team cheer each other on. I love that the other parents cheer each other’s kids on.
I will say that I feel so bad because I don’t know all of their kid’s names. I know a few of the kids on the team from being in classes with my son over the years, but I don’t know them all, so when other parents are cheering for the boys at bat – or out in the field – I just go with the flow and listen for who they’re cheering for.
I still feel a little out of place.
I’m not from here, and I don’t know all of the parents.
I’ve gotten to know a few great ones, and I’m so grateful that they’ve been so friendly and welcoming, so supportive and kind, but it still feels a little awkward to be around a bunch of people who grew up knowing each other, or who have been friends forever since they’ve all lived in this little town forever, and I just came here years ago.
Either way, Elijah is loving this and I’m going to keep driving him wherever he needs to go for games, and keep showing up to all of his games, rain or shine. Knowing everyone or not.
Feeling out of place or not.
I miss home.
I miss my people.
I miss my friends.
I miss my family.
I miss familiar places.
It’s been hard adjusting to life in this little town, and I’m always so blessed when someone I meet out here – acts like I’ve been here forever, and treats me like I’m one of them, so I thank them for that.
I think getting out and being around other moms and dads has been good for me because ever since my oldest passed, I haven’t wanted to be around anyone. I admit – I’ve isolated myself and have thrown myself into work and have avoided making new friends, meeting new people or going out – as much as possible, and I need to get back to living life.
I’ve had a few good laughs with the other baseball moms and dads and having great conversations while watching our kids play – has done something good for my soul. ❤️
I’m happy I got Elijah involved with baseball and on the team, and that he’s loved it and has thrived on it.
Remember when I said I volunteered to clean bathrooms and take out the garbage after two games because parents were asked to sign up to volunteer for something? I got out of that 2nd bathroom cleaning sign up because it stormed yesterday, and most teams were cancelling their games, so the main coaches’ wife messaged me – saying I didn’t have to do the 2nd clean up yesterday like I was supposed to. Like I signed up for.
Yay for that – because if you also remember if you read my last post – I had to scoop out (with many napkins) – Sunflower seeds from a urinal the 1st clean up I did.
Our next game is a long drive away, but that’s not until next Monday, so I have time to relax a bit.
I remember doing traveling Basketball and Football with my older son, so the traveling thing is nothing new to me when it comes to sports.
I think this Baseball thing is good for both my little dude and me.
In other news………………
I’m a little jealous right now that Illinois is getting storms, and it’s sunny and clear here.
I love a good storm!
Did I mention I miss home?
Part of my goals for the next two months involve taking on a 2nd job, getting my daughter’s bunny the surgery it needs, paying off some bills and a good chuck of my car, and saving to move closer to home.
Part of me thought of making our little town home, and just buying a house here.
I’d love for my son to continue to play on this great team and grow up playing with the same boys he’s playing ball with now, but I know my other kids and myself – could never fully be happy here.
It’s a tough situation and tough choices need to be made, but I believe wherever we move – my son will thrive in baseball, and I want that “happily ever after” wherever we are. Just my kids and I. I want us all to be happy.
I hate decisions when it comes to knowing what’s best and what our hearts really want.
The song that can always put me in a better / good mood when I’m having a bad day, feel overwhelmed or just going through something – is LILO & STITCHES’ (Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride).
I remember one time – having the most stressful day at work, coming home and pouring a glass of wine, putting this song on and dancing around my kitchen like nobody was watching (because I thought the kids were asleep) lol.
My daughter came out of her room watching me and laughing. I tried to get her to dance with me, but she just laughed and looked at me like I was insane.
I loved that moment and still remember it clearly.
That was the moment I realized that – this song makes everything better – no matter what I’m dealing with or going through.
I love the LILO & STITCH movies, and I loved this song the moment I heard it and still do.
It’s just a whole beautiful and fun vibe!!!
I blast it when I’m driving sometimes and dance in my seat as people next to me in different cars or behind / in front of me – are watching and smiling. I don’t care. I’m going to always jam out to this song. 😊
Next time you’re having a bad day, feeling low, or just dealing with a lot – throw on this song, think of me and maybe it will make you smile – as you dance in your seat or around the kitchen.
The above version is from the human version of the movie.
