Boy do I ever need a new photo. I hadn't realized how much my hair has grown since this last pic. I'll try to remedy that soon. Long time no hear from. I am back in AR with my boys. They decided MN wasn't all it was cracked up to be and longed for home as soon as school started. And voila -- here we are once again in our little farmhouse in Green Hill.


Tonight Lj and I went to the Monticello Christmas Parade and fireworks display. It was a lot more fun for him than for me since he ditched me 5 minutes after we got there to go hang out with his girlfriend and her family. So I found some friends from Journey Church and watched the parade with them.


Ely elected to stay home in the comfort of a central heated house. I can't say as I blame him since tonight was the coldest we've had so far. But he called me during the fireworks show and upon hearing all the explosions decided it might be cool to come next year.


Christmas is certainly sneaking up on us. The year flew by so fast, who knew? Last summer I was renting a room in a basement, getting to see my kids once a week or so, planning to buy a condo close to their dad's where they were living and then they up and decided they wanted to come back to AR just like that. The rest has been a whirlwind. More of the Cindy saga next time here on cynles.blogspot.com.

I picked up the boys yesterday and they spent the night with me. Lj is going back to his dad's tonight so Andy M. can pick him up in the morning and they can go hang out at Andy S.'s house. Another whole week before school starts. They start after Labor Day up here. Ely is playing Super Smash Mario Bro.s on the giant TV Karin has in the family room here. He's enjoying himself. Lj just went outside to have some alone-time. All in all things are clicking right along. This weekend we'll buy school supplies and get another hair cut before school gets underway. Then they'll be ready. Me? I am pretty bored. The kids didn't want to go to the movies today. They just wanted to hang out here at Karin's. So, I'm just hanging out, too. CL

Well, it has been a few months, but here I am in Chaska, MN - a western suburb of Minneapolis. I've been here since June. I've been doing a lot of work to Karin's house, but that is all over now. She moved in this weekend. I had gotten used to living here by myself, so now I'll have to get used to living here with her. For a little while anyway.

I decided to buy my own place up here and am moving into a condo within the next 6 weeks. Just waiting on the closing date to be decided. Once we close, I'll be only 3 blocks or thereabouts from the boys. They'll be able to walk or ride a bike over to my house any time they want. I really miss them being around all the time, so that will be better.

I got them registered for school a couple of weeks ago. Tomorrow, I take Lj to his High School orientation. It's an all day thing. Somehow I will have to find time to squeeze in a way to make a doctor's appointment for Ely. He needs his ADD medicine refilled for when school starts. I also need to visit his school about his EIP, I'm not sure what that stands for, Educational Individual Program or some such thing. I'll be glad when all is done and they are in school full time. Then I can get more involved in school activities as well and will have something to do besides sleep.

When I get into the Condo, I'll have plenty to do. I need to repaint the whole house. Especially the bedrooms -- they're getting painted first thing. The rest can wait until winter when I'm really bored. Another thing about living in my own Condo, I can have Choco, my long-haired chihuahua come live with me so I won't be so lonesome without the boys there. And he'll give me reason to get out of bed every morning -- to take him for a walk. I may not appreciate it on days that it will be 20 below 0, but I've done it before.

Mike and I are totally over. He is dating Midge now. A friend of mine from our highschool days. I was a bit surprised, but am happy if he's happy, and he says he is. So I am single again.

Sometimes I think I am just meant to be single. Alone. Lonely. Oh well, we'll see what happens as I move into the new condo and start my new life. So far it has just been a long transition.

More as time goes by. CL

Took the kids to see Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian this afternoon. Movie ticket prices have gone up again. But the concession stand, as always the rip off, costs more than the tickets! And I bought 4 tickets!

It rained here today off and on. And yet the frogs are croaking for more rain. This has to be the rainiest May in years. At least for this part of the world.

I am reading Susan Elizabeth Phillips' Natural Born Charmer. It was on sale at Barnes and Noble last time I was there, and I have met and worked with Susan Elizabeth Phillips, so I have to support her! Well, no I don't, but what I've read of hers, I've really liked.

Tomorrow is a family reunion I wasn't planning on attending, but at about 6:30 pm, my mother came over to announce she'd changed her mind since a cousin has come in from AL and she thinks we should go although she is sick and really doesn't feel like it. So I'll have to get up a bit early in the morning to get ready for that.

Nothing else of interest to report. :-( CL

I am downloading Steve Miller Band's Very Best Of 1991 from MP3Fiesta.com , our favorite Mp3 website. I have most of the songs on CD, but with this new "baby" computer (HP Mini) there's no CD player, only a tiny little disc slot and a USB drive for a flash drive or stick memory or whatever you want to call those stick thingies. I bought a new flash drive that had like 4GB of space on it and moved all my pictures to it. It holds more than several CDs. And doesn't get scratched up. Maybe I'll do the same thing with my music. I have a lot on my desktop that I would like to take with me to Mpls. That'd be easier than taking all my CDs. I have tons of them.

I found this cool site that has a lot of original guitar music and have been enjoying some free mp3s from it. RiffWorld.com. If you check it out, listen to Guitarshredder557. Pretty cool stuff.

More next time...CL

Feeling really tired today. Got a little disappointed that I left my car at the detailer's all day only to pick it up at 5:00pm and find it not detailed! They got the outside washed, but didn't have time to clean the inside, which to me was more important. They had too many cars today. Anyway, I stopped by the carwash and vacuumed it out myself. It only cost me 3 bucks and some advil for my lower back. :-(

Lj has taken to climbing up on top of the storage shed to get a signal on his cell phone so he can text his friends. He originally climbed from a tree that grows behind it. I put a ladder up to make it more accessible. He had just better not fall off that thing.

Ely climbed up there yesterday via ladder, but he doesn't particularly like heights and didn't stay long. I am glad. Having one son risk life and limb at the time is enough. It worries me that they like to climb, but I did too at that age. I just pray they'll be extra careful.

We have one more week and two days before we head to MN. I am so ready to get up there and get this next part of my life started. I am still worrying about how to pack so much stuff into my car. We'll probably use plastic garbage bags instead of suitcases since they are so much more malleable. Well, I have a couple of suitcases I'll use, but other than that -- color-coded garbage bags. The phone is ringing...better go. CL

It's past my bedtime but I'm having trouble falling asleep, so I thought I'd update my blog. There's actually not much to report. I had a nice relaxing day spent mostly out on my front porch swing. When I move to MN, I am going to really miss my front porch swing. MN hardly has any front porches at all. Lots of decks on the back of houses though. The one I'm moving into has a nice sized deck. I guess I'll be hanging out on it during the summer months.

I am a little bit worried about how much work I am going to have to do to the place I am renting. I know I am going to have to paint and probably by a new bedroom set. I mean furniture, bedding and all. That'll set me back a couple of $Ks probably. But it will be worth it to have my nice living space and to be close to my boys. I still can't believe they want to go live with their dad.

Well, I will just have to adjust to a whole new way of life. One without kids 24/7. I won't know how to act. Also a life with a lot less money since I'll be losing child support and spending money on rent. It isn't going to be easy. Budget budget budget. Just when I was getting used to the idea of NOT being in a financial bind. Oh well, we'll just have to get by the best we can. Hmmm, I mean I'll have to get by the best that I can. I will be on my own. I can't get used to the idea. Maybe I'll meet some hunky guy who'll want to spend a lot of time entertaining me and I won't have to feel so alone all the time. That would be nice.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see what this next chapter in my life will hold. As long as it is good stuff. I am sick of bad stuff happening. You hear that God? I only want good stuff to happen to me this time around. :-) Wish me luck on that one. Until next time...g'night. CL

I HATE CANCER!!! My cousin, JD was diagnosed two days ago with lung cancer that has metastasized to her brain. Stage IV and 3 months to live! She is only 52 years old. I am so upset and angry right now. I went to visit her in the hospital this morning. My mom went with me. She had just received a steroid dose and was non-stop talking, but she is very scared. If you are reading this, please send her energy and send God a prayer. This is really freaking me out. She lived with my family as a teenager, so we are pretty close. I was just at her house a week ago. She was feeling dizzy and diagnosed with vertigo two weeks before. Well, it is the brain lesions that is causing her to be dizzy. I don't know what prompted the scan of her lungs, but they found a huge mass in between the two. Life is so unpredictable. I mean, I knew that, but still.

I am obviously upset. I will try to blog again another time. When I am calmer.

Weighed in this morning! Lost 6 pounds! Must tell the world! :-) Went for morning walk before it rained again. But the sun is shining today, maybe the rain will miss us. I hope so; all the creeks are flooded.

My roomie, Karin, closes on her house today. That means we'll actually have a place to room. :-) Another exciting day in the life of ME. TTFN CL

Don't you hate waiting? I mean when you know you have to do something but you can't do it until a certain date. I feel like I'm in limbo or something. I can't really do anything here because I'm moving in two weeks, but I can't do anything there until I get there in two weeks so all I do are humdrum chores and wait! Laundry, check. Feed the dogs, check. Dishes, check. I mean everyday it's the same old same old. I'll be glad to have something different to do. . . in two weeks!

I am so proud of my boys. They both write. Like stories, character guides, the whole nine yards. Lj has always written. I remember when he was a tiny little thing, I'd be working on my laptop and he'd come up beside me and tell me to write (type) what he said and he'd tell me a story. He was so sweet. And today Ely was sitting at the computer when I walked by and I read in big bold letters "Chapter One: How it all Happened." :-) Isn't that the coolest? My two authors.

Of course that's today. Two days ago I was in the back room and I heard Lj and Ely "playing." They were holding court and Lj was a lawyer arguing his case against Ely to some imaginary judge. It was awesome. Lj can debate. He needs to be on a debate team. Maybe he'll do that if they have one at the school he will be attending in MN next year.

Ely says he's going to be an Optometrist. That'll work, too. Pretty steep ambition for an 11-year-old. :-) Uh Oh. Sounds like their playing has turned into yelling today. I think my presence is required. Until next time...hey, maybe next time I'll be in MN. Gosh, now the dog's barking. What next? Don't answer that! TTFN CL

It's been a couple of weeks or so since I posted, but all is still a go to Minnesota. We are counting down the days. It seems like the month of May is taking forever to go by, but that may be in part because it has RAINED EVERYDAY nearly! I am sick of this weather. Today was sunnier, but it is supposed to rain again tomorrow. Anyway, I am half packed to head north. I have packed winter clothes and clothes that I don't wear everyday. Karin, my roomie, closes on the house this Friday! YEA! then the fun starts. I have pictures so I can show some of the before and after shots of some of the rooms. Some are plain hideous. It's like, what were these people thinking? But between my fine taste and Karin's, I am sure we'll have new coats of paint and repairs made in no time. I think one of the priorities is to get a new roof. Then maybe a "heatpump." You know, the important stuff. :-o

Well, I'm making a list and checking it twice. I hope I have enough room to pack everything I want to bring and still have enough room in the trunk for all the boys' clothes and stuff. It's going to be a tight squeeze, I know.

Oh, I am reading McGuire's Wicked. Farily fascinating book. It's also a Broadway Musical. Hmmm, passed my bedtime. I'll check back in soon. ttfn, CL

Hello out there. I must be manic. Here it is 3:00 am and I'm wide awake. No sleep for the weary tonight. I am definitely moving to Minneapolis, MN as soon as the school year is over with for the boys, if I can't convince the powers that be to release them a bit early due to their remarkable grades and conduct. It'd be worth a try.

Mike is freaking out because I am moving so far away, but he'll get over it soon as the next girl comes along his way.

I am excited about starting a new chapter in my life...a chapter which I think will be quite spiritual. Simply cannot wait to get started on it. Well, I haven't any pictures to share with yout this go about. Although I did receive a book in the mail today entitled _Science of Mind_ by Ernest Holmes. A rather New Age founder I think. I've only just started reading it, it is difficult reading...I have to read paragraphs over and over to get the gist of it. Ought to prove enlightening in the very least.

Karin, my roommate, and I are waiting to hear back from her bank as to whether we will win the bid on this particular house we have been looking at. It requires a whole lot of TLC if we get it, but it will be worth it once it is all put back together. A nice house in Chaska. I can't wait to get started with the repairs...but still waiting on bank to do it's inspection. We've already done ours. If everything goes according to plan we should close on the house by 5/15. That's rather soon isn't it?

Once I am physically in MN, I can get pics and post them here on the site for the world to see. Right now we need prayers for repairs out the wazoo. But it'll all be good. I am sure of it.

More next time...CL

Today, I am not moving to MN. Who knows what I'll be doing tomorrow. I give up trying to make up my mind. I went to the White River Refuge where I own a small camp and cleaned up the front yard. The back yard was too much for me. I had to rake leaves then rest, then rake, then rest. I sure ain't what I used to be. I'm getting way out of shape and overweight. Well, as of today I am starting to eat better and maybe, if I'm lucky, I'll have the energy to go exercise. I do have a membership at Curves for Women here in town. Now all I have to do is show up and do the routine.

I am reading For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway right now. It is deep and not to uplifting. Well, I guess it can be in parts. I guess it is looking at life in the face of death. Talk about the essence of the "now." He is focusing on it way before Eckhart Tolle wrote the book.

Well, wish me luck on the weight-loss experiment as well as the reading. I will check back in soon.

Hello again...and this week ------

Well, now I am totally undecided about moving to Minneapolis. I am back home in AR and look back on the last week of spending and visiting and freezing as a little hypomanic episode with all the stress I have been under with the life-altering changes taking place in my near future.

I am reading Kay Redfield Jamison's Touched with Fire right now, a book subtitled: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artisitc Temperament (I've already read her Unquiet Mind).

Back to not moving. Jim, my ex-hubby; Lj, my oldest son; Mother; and Mike all say I should not move back up there. That nothing good will come of it. So I am planning now to stay in AR and travel to MN maybe once a month to see the boys and spend time with them. I have a huge adjustment to make and we'll see how it goes in the end. It is hard to say definitely what I'll do in a given situation until I am directly faced with said situation. I may find I cannot tolerate living 1000 miles from my children. Then again, I may find the once-a-month visit will suffice. Who knows what will happen 7 weeks from now.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the earthquake victims in Italy and to all the other suffering in the world. More thoughts next time...CL

Well today was a busy day. I went and looked at apartments here in Minneapolis. I am bound and determined to move up here if my boys move up here. It's not going to be easy but it can be done. I am hoping my ex-sister-inlaw will be able to buy a house so that I can rent a room from her. But if she can't, then I'll just rent a one bedroom apartment on my own. It would make money much tighter, but I know I can do it. I just have to save every penny from this summer. But I am hellbent on doing it. I have every right to be in the same zipcode as my kids, or in the same metropolitan area at least. There has to be a way I can do it. God wouldn't be so cruel. I am ready for bed but thought I'd do a quick blog to let you know I am actively beginning the next process of my life -- moving back to Mpls. 'Brrrrrrrr. What we'll do for our kids. Going house hunting with Karin tomorrow. Wish us luck with that. More to come when we figure out what and how we can make the next move.

We're in Minneapolis, MN for Spring Break...so the kids can visit their dad. I am staying at my ex-inlaw's while they visit. It is too far to drive just to turn around and drive back, so I am staying up here too. It is cold and snowing here. I am having a restful stay The kids check in via phone every once in awhile. They are having a blast. I have been reading a lot -- Judith Orloff, MD. The book is titled Emotional Freedom. It is pretty new age psychiatry and interesting. I'm also reading Danielle Steele's One Day At A Time. I've been shopping and bought this cool little "mini" PC..an HP Mini. The screen is only 10". It fits right in my new purse. I think it is cool for traveling back and forth to MN which I will be doing a lot of when the boys move up here. I am still not ready for that.

The kids went to visit some of their friends yesterday, at least Lj did. I suppose Ely stayed at his dad's and played Rock Band on his PS3. They've got the drums, the guitar, the microphone, the whole nine yards. I hope they don't get too addicted to it as it is staying here in Mpls. There's no room to set all that up in our house. They'll just have to play it when they come up here to visit...well, when they move up here in a couple of months. Like I said, I'm still not ready for that.

Stay tuned for more of what's going on in our lives...if you're interested...and I'll post when we return to AR.

The bookcase is finished! It looks gorgeous, too. Mike did a wonderful job. Now all I have to do is get the rest of my books out of storage and put them on the shelves. Oh, and get a window treatment for that window. That's my chihuahua, Choco, perched on the back of the couch there.

The weather here was gorgeous today so Mother and I planted some climbing roses, then when Mike got here, he and I worked on the storage shed. We're putting a front porch on it. Don't ask me why, that's just the way he designed it. He's at his apartment now.

The kids are in the other room reading a series by Erin Hunter called Warriors, books about wild cats, as in not pets but strays that live in the woods. They have all these adventures and stuff. I haven't read them but the kids are devouring them and they are school library approved. Maybe I'll read them when they get through.

I am reading William Shatner's autobiography, Up Till Now. It is very funny. Not much else is happening around here.

One of my blog followers wanted a more recent pic of my oldest son, Lj, so here is one of him dressed up, much to his chagrin, for a school field trip. And here's one of both boys for good measure. Enjoy!

These are pictures I've taken with my Kodak digital camera so if you click on them they blow-up to huge pics. So be careful unless you have a really fast internet connection.

I have been one busy lady! Mike is building me a bookcase -- a wall-to-wall bookcase -- and my walls are warped. I live in a really old house with low ceilings and bowed walls. Now mind you I gutted this house...tore it down to the studs and put all new sheetrock walls in, replaced what flooring or other critical wood that needed replacing, but some studs were just jutting out a tiny little bit further than others and were perfectly good, albeit very old, studs so we left them. Figured we'd call it "character" or such. Anyway, now we are having a time making straight, square, perfectly gorgeous shelves fit into a warped, out-of-square, unlevel house. :-( But Mike is a wonderful carpenter and he is making it work. It is just taking more time.

The casing is in and painted. We just have to get the shelves cut to fit and painted. I can't wait to see the end product. I've included a sneak peak for you here. The color is "caramel nut" brown, matching the trim in the room. The walls are a light gold, a color I had blended, there's no name for it, and the furniture is black, all but the sofa which is red. My "real" sofa is being made and should be here by the first of April. I ordered it from Pottery Barn. It is also red and a sectional but of much better quality than the one that is in the room now. I can't wait for it it get here. Nor can I wait for my bookshelves to be completed. Finally, a place for my wonderful books. I used to have about 1500 books, but I have given most of them away. We'll see what is left when I start unboxing the ones I couldn't bear to part with and putting them on the shelves. Maybe I'll have room for some new ones! :-)

Feb 27th was my youngest's (Ely's) birthday. Eleven years old already. He got a new "bigger" bike, some video games (Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm, Sonic Unleashed) and some movies (Madagascar 2, The Penguins of Madagascar). And of course some money (Thanks, Uncle Max!). We took the money he got and I matched it so he could buy a new wireless controller for their PS3 so he and his brother could play it at the same time.

Other than designing, building, painting, and the usual chores, life has been simply going on..."obladee obladah"

P.S. Josh, the new puppy, is doing great. He learns fast and minds pretty well. The only person he barks at so far is my dad, but that is because Daddy was stretching a rattlesnake hide and had the smell of it on him the other day and it really freaked Josh out. At least I know he'll bark and run from rattlesnakes! :-)

It's another Monday and all is well - finally. Both boys are back in school. Ely still has a sore throat, but he hasn't had any fever in several days now. This is first day back since he had strep throat. Lj is healthy and going strong. They both really like the new dog, Josh. He is a very well behaved puppy. I am so pleased about that. He did tear up Choco's bed last night. He went on a chewing binge and ignored all the chew toys available to him. If that's all he chews up, I'll be very happy. The vet gave him a good bill of health and I am so relieved I don't have to worry about heart worms or any other kind of worms. I was concerned about them, him being a pound puppy and all.

The cat still isn't sure about Josh; he is bigger than she is and that makes her nervous. Speaking of cat, I have to go to Wal-Mart and buy cat food. I was just there this morning, but totally forgot to buy it. I remembered the milk, though. :-)

I finished painting the trim in the living room finally. I am finding spots where the paint roller didn't cover the ceiling too well, but I'll have to touch it up later. I've already been to the chiropracter and laid up with ice packs on my back enough to last me for a while. Hopefully, I won't have to do that again any time soon.

I've been watching HGTV reruns. They get boring after a while, but there just isn't much else on TV to watch. It is too cold to sit outside today, so I have to be in the house. I've already paid the bills that have come in (something I typically put off until the last minute) and made all the beds. I guess I could go sort laundry and put a load on to wash. What I find myself doing is imagining, or trying to imagine, what it is going to be like when the boys are gone to their dad's. No more daily spills to mop up. The kitchen table may actually stay clean. The beds will remain made and the laundry will be cut by 2/3rds. And still, I tune up to cry when I imagine them gone. This house will be a shell without them in it. I just pray I can handle it.

Didn't mean to turn all sappy...better go for now. More about trim, dogs, cats, and kids next time when you tune into cynles.blogspot.com!

Hello out there! It's been a couple of weeks. I am doing well but have sick kids. One had a sinus infection and missed nearly a week of school (Lj) and the other has strep throat and has been home for a couple of days (Ely). Ely had to get a shot for his illness today. The doctor says he should be all better within 24 hours of the shot, we'll see. He has a hard time swallowing pills, hence the needle pain instead. I felt so sorry for him.

I've been painting my living room. It is the same color except a shade lighter. One shade lighter made a huge difference to me. Lj says no one else can tell the difference. I guess I'm only doing it to please me any how so it doesn't matter if no one else can tell. Mother says she can tell the difference and that it makes it look a lot better (so there Lj :-p). The process has been a slow go. I am still painting the trim. My back hurts after a little bit of the "up and down" part of it and then I have to rest a lot. I had to take stupid pain pills yesterday for it. I am bound and determined to finish it by this weekend whatever it takes.

Because this weekend Mike is building me some built-in bookshelves. They are sorely needed. I had to give away literally hundreds of books for lack of storage space...I had close to 2000 books when I lived in MN, but have dwindled down to a few hundred since I moved here. Mike said the public library should name a wing after me. LOL I also donated a lot to the local college. I'll include some pics of the project once we get it going. He is installing cabinets today.

I adopted a dog from the pound. I am losing all my pets to the kids. We have two dogs and a cat which will all be moving to MN when Lj and Ely head up there. The long-haired chihuahua is mine, but the boys love him so and he is severly allergic to fleas and the bites make him lose his hair. In MN fleas are practically nonexistent, at least we never ever had a problem with them when we lived up there. So it will be good for the chihuahua (Choco) as well as the kids. But the new dog (Josh) will be coming home with me tomorrow after a visit to O'Fallon's Vet Services for a check up. I am anxious to see how he'll get along with the other pets, especially the cat. ;-)

I have to put out a thanks to Mandy and Canine Corrections for helping me with the adoption and getting Josh ready for his new home with me.

I have some people here detailing my car right now. Then I have to go get Lj. Ely is home sick, remember. Anyway, they'll get my car all sparkly and vacuumed out. I am unable to handle that much physical labor. My back simply won't allow it. I'd be in traction if I tried right now. Chad Murphy (of Murphy's Lawn Care 870.723.2117) is opening a detail shop and he is training one of his employees (Craig) on mine and my mother's cars. We'll be paying for it, but getting a discount. $$$ More of this exciting saga next time I think of posting while actually having the time to do it. Until then, ciao.

Sundays are always hard on me. I think I may fair better if I just stay in bed all day on Sundays. I don't know why I get so depressed on Sundays. I didn't go to church. Went to Mike's apartment and watched the X-Men movie with him then came back home. The boys are playing on their Gameboy DSes and I am about to read. I am reading a Janet Evanovich novel, Eleven on Top. She's pretty funny. A female bounty hunter who finds herself in ludicrous situations. There's really nothing going on in my life right now worth blogging about. Then why do it? I want to keep this one updated for my boys. So I'll keep trying. Later, CL.

I have sparkling white teeth now. Yesterday was a North Little Rock dentist appointment at the VA for a cleaning. That took up most of my day. What was left of it was taken up by laundry. Hohum.

I like driving to NLR for my doctor's and dentist's appointments. The drive (about 2 hours one way) gives me time to think and much needed alone time. I am typing this as the kids get ready for school and will be leaving momentarily, but felt guilty for not chiming in yesterday, so here you have it. Will chime in with more hohumness later today.

I get my hair colored at 10am. That will be interesting. Until then...CL

A few hours later...

We went to see Paul Blart: Mall Cop. It was pretty funny. The boys finally consented to go with me, but they regretted it. They didn't really like the movie. However, they got to see the new Dragonball Evolution preview of the movie coming out this spring and that got them excited. A take off of the Dragonball Anime series.

Afterwards, I went to St. Mary's...barely had time to get there. The procession hymnal had already started. Low and behold, the sermon was along the same lines as the two Baptists sermons I heard this morning. This one was go out and fish for "people" (we must be politically correct). So I got told three times in three different versions of the same sermon to go out and bring people to love Jesus. If only it were that easy. I can try to live right. I'm not even too good at that. I guess all we can do is our best.

Well, right here in my house is a hero just returned from Iraq. Specialist Dustin Lincecum from the National Guard in Batesville. Blessings and safe keeping to all the soldiers serving so me and my children don't have to. This particular soldier is the younger brother of my niece-in-law. I guess that's what she's called. She's married to my nephew. He and my oldest son are discussing the minute details of Dragonball Z...oops, now the conversation has taken a turn to The Twilight Series. Time for me to zone out. Until next time... CL

Today is cold and cloudy and boring. I went to Journey Church this morning. The message was about spreading the Gospel to others...that it's not enough to be saved but you have to spread the word so others can be saved as well. It was the exact same message on the TV's In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley program. This evening I will go to St. Mary's. It'll be interesting to see what the message will be there. Both the other churches are Baptist churches. St. Mary's is an Episcopal Church. I am Episcopalian, but I have so many friends at Journey that I like to go there sometimes too.

Today the kids are just hanging out as usual. Lj is drawing comic books. He uses stick figures but makes them distinctive with colored pencils. Ely is playing with his cat. Music is blaring from the computer speakers as usual. I bought Lj speakers for his MP3 player for Christmas, but he'd rather listen to the music in my room. We are listening to Astronautilis right now. Not on of my favorite groups...oops, now Green Day just came on. I like them better. I couldn't convince them to go to the movies with me. Mall Cop is on, and so is Hotel for Dogs. But the boys weren't interested in going to see either one of them. I may just have to go by myself for a good laugh. Perhaps I'll come back tonight and add to today's blog. Let you know how the movie was. Ely and Shane (my brother) are trying to convince Lj to go to the movies. Ely wants to go, but Lj doesn't. If we go I probably won't have time to make it to St. Mary's 5:00 service. Oh well, I only have 4 more months to go out with my boys. I'll join their efforts and try to convince him with bribes of candy.

Wow, only if life were as easy to delete as my past blog posts were! I am starting anew (how many times have I said that?). Dating a guy named Mike Graves...he's actually been living with me and the boys, BUT he is moving out next week.

The boys (Lj - 13 & Ely - 10) and I are doing well. They are hanging out listening to music and playing video games. However, we have new life changes coming our way. The boys have decided they want to live in Minneapolis, MN with their father beginning this summer. I am in shock due to this life-altering decision. They have been with me, well, since before they were born. It will definitely take some getting used to. I guess there comes a time in life when boys just need to be with their dads. Jim is a great father and they like the woman who lives with him a lot. They'll even be taking their pets (Cali the calico cat and Bryce' the 1/2 springer spaniel 1/2 border collie dog). Add them to the cockatiel (Speck) they already have in MN and they'll have a perfect mini managerie. So I will be going from live-in boyfriend and 2 children to rattling around this house all by myself at the end of this school year. The idea is still surreal at the moment. It won't sink in until it all takes place. I have never had a time in my adult life where I lived totally alone and had only myself to take care of. This will be a very interesting time in my life. I will try to keep posting now to get used to the idea so that the kids can check on me whenever they want while living in MN. I'll have to add some pictures and such of how life is going.

Currently, I belong nowhere and do nothing but tend to people. Like I said, life-altering events taking place here. I did begin going to St. Mary's Episcopal church again. It is the church where me and both of my boys were baptized, back when I was married to Jim and my life was as close to normal as it has ever been. Last Sunday was my first Sunday back. They only meet at 5pm on Sundays. It is a very small church and the priest comes down from Trinity Episcopal in Pine Bluff to do the service. Check out www.trinitychurchpb.org.