Day 130 - Happy New Year

2010 is about to be history! I just watched the ball drop in New York and we have 39 more minutes in the central time zone, before 2011. Truthfully, I can't wait. Happy New Year All!

Be nTouch in 2011

Day 129 - Friends

This BLOG began because I truly wanted to live each day as if it were my last, and talk about it . . . (I know, I'm borrowing Tim McGraw's line from a great song) now that I am a third of the way through this last year before the BIG 50, I must admit that I have lived some great days since August 23. Yesterday, with the agent signing Max and tonight, with my friends, I am really blessed with a lot of fun experiences. In 24 1/2 hours, we will all embark on this new year. I'm really excited, for the first time. Possibilities o-plenty! Cyberspace, get ready for some serious BLOGGING! I'm just getting warmed up.

Tonight John Cougar was on Dave. Love him . . . I look at him and am reminded, again, we are all getting older. He used to be one of my favorites. A classic from college. Fitting to be on tonight as I'm writing. His song is about saving time to dream . . . an old rocker's mellow tribute with an album called "No Better Than This."
Cool, John Cougar Mellencamp . . . What an epiphany! (Kind of funny when he was popular he was just John Cougar)

It's a good day for me. I promise these posts will be more interesting starting soon!

Be nTouch

Day 128 - Max Picks An Agent

A little grainy, but yes, that is Max signing with his new agent! Wyatt captured the moment on his phone. It seems like this day has been in the making for years. This is the first step for Max to realize his dream. I feel like I got a crash course in how to navigate through the NFL draft and just what it takes to "make it." I truly do believe that ole saying, "if there's a will, there's a way" . . . Max has wanted this opportunity since he was a little boy. He's all grown up and the moment is now. He has the right attitude and he certainly has the heart! I pray he stays healthy and safe. He's a lucky, lucky kid to be in this position, but he isn't taking anything for granted and I believe he will work harder than he has ever worked, to accomplish this goal. Happy New Year!

Be nTouch

Day 124 - White Christmas

Living in Birmingham Alabama doesn't mean you'll see real snow on Christmas morning . . . Just the kind in this snow globe. For the first time in recorded history, we have snow on Christmas . . . In other words a White Christmas. Just wonderful! Merry Merry . . .

Be nTouch

Day 122 - Comments

Okay, yesterday I was discouraged, today I'm nSpired. (Thanks to my two commenters . . . you know who you are) I'm ready to start over with this daily deal . . . maybe my countdown should have started at 365 and backed all the way to 1. Might have been a little more exciting. It may change soon!

I have 243 days left to share all that is me (well, almost all) and to find out if me at 49 and me at 50 is going to be different. Wow, the drama . . .

Changing the subject; my Mom celebrated her 72nd birthday today. Does she look 72 to you? The others in the picture are my crew.

Seventy two . . . and I'm worried about fifty . . . She is a walking, talking example of good genes and taking good care of yourself. She is hardly in the sun, she never smoked and hardly drinks alcohol. She still exercises and eats right. Sounds kind of boring, but she looks and feels 15-20 years younger than she is. That has to count for something!

We had BBQ at her house, thanks to my brother. After dinner, the kids (although I use that term loosely because one is 23 and one is 26) played this card game that they have been playing for 10 years, called ERS. I can't explain it and really don't understand it but it is fun to watch their dynamic. The word joy comes close to describing the emotion they evoke. They become oblivious to everything and everyone around them. I watch from the sidelines, like a coach whose team is winning. I love them very much and I miss these moments because they are fewer and farther apart than they used to be. They become treasures for me to cherish. Note: wine on the table doesn't belong to the 15 year old.

In case you were wondering, my Dad is just as young and healthy as my Mom. He is only 71! He doesn't look it either . . .

Enough for tonight. It's almost Christmas Eve and there is a lot to do tomorrow. Night!

Happy Birthday Mom (aka Nana)

Be nTouch

Day 121 - Figuring it out . . .

Today it occurred to me that no one is reading my BLOG and there is probably a very good reason for that little bit of reality . . . who cares about the 365 days before one turns 50? I mean, I care and I would have thought that others might have shared this same position, but to date, not an interested party. So, it is up to me to pull the plug or not. I don't want to quit.  I want to make this work. Perhaps I will feel more insprired tomorrow. Only time will tell!

Be nTouch and laugh out loud!

Day 117 - The Big Day

This was a great day from beginning to end! The ceremony was wonderful and the reception was perfect. Everyone had such a geat time. Months of planning and preparation end with the celebration of their union before God, family and friends!

Pictures to follow . . .

Be nTouch

Day 116 - One More Day

One more day until the BIG day . . . Stephen and Judy's wedding. My friend and I have been in Fredricksburg TX since Wednesday night and we are heading to Austin this morning to put the finishing touches on tomorrow. We have had so much fun . . . a much needed get-away for both of us. Stay tuned!

Be nTouch

Day 113 - Busy, Busy, Busy

As you can see, I have gotten behind once again! I'm heading to Austin TX for a dear friend's wedding tomorrow so I'm hoping to be able to get caught up when I return. Lots going on for everyone! Busy, Busy, Busy . . .


Be nTouch

Day 110 - War Cam Eagle

If you love college football, and you have at least one team that you follow, then you will probably appreciate this post . . . Auburn University's, Cam Newton won the Heisman trophy today. As an Auburn fan, you always know that you may be disappointed. Not this year. This team . . . This young man, unbelievable! Next is the BCS National Championship game. Who do you pick.? War Eagle

AUBURN Faithful!

Be nTouch

P.S. Happy Anniversary Johnny

Day 108 - Snowflakes

Never the same, always beautiful, almost magical, snowflakes . . .

Be nTouch . . . Brrrrr

Day 106 - A Soldier's Silent Night (A Soldier's Night Before Christmas) told by Fa...

This morning, I woke up to this poem being read on my favorite morning radio program. Today, December 7, is the yearly anniversary of D Day, so it was very fitting to play this audio file. I found it on YouTube and wanted to share. It speaks for itself. We have a lot to be thankful for. Freedom isn't Free . . . Most of us just don't have to pay the price.

Also, God Bless the Edwards' family after the loss of Elizabeth Edwards. May they find peace soon.

Look for nSpiring words from her in the days to come.

Be nTouch

Day 105 - We Are Going To Be Okay . . .

Thankfully, through tears and honesty, yelling and cursing, unloading months, maybe years of hurt, we are going to be okay . . . Merry Christmas! God is Good! (This is just for me, I want to remember this day, not really BLOG material.)

My favorite picture

Be nTouch

Same day . . . Eat Pray Love

I am absolutely in love with this film! Okay, I know that sounds ridiculous, but I am. It spoke to me from beginning to end. It was truly inspiring. One day, I will look back and hope that I have accomplished as much. Too tired for complete review tonight. It was fabulous!



Thank you, thank you, thank you . . . God is Good . . . Be nTouch

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Day 104 - The morning after . . .

That phrase, all by itself, conjures up all kinds of feelings. This morning, it simply means that I'm exhausted. I flew to Houston yesterday to attend our company "Holiday" party. I guess it's politically incorrect to call it anything else this time of year. Anyway, I digress . . . it was a dress up affair downtown and it was good to see lots of folks I don't typically get to see. But flying to get dressed up, eat and drink too much, hurry to get back to the airport in time to wait on the flight which is delayed by an hour at last count. When I was younger, this would have been a piece of cake, but today, I'm feeling every moment of my 49 and counting years. (That reminds me, Happy Birthday Anne!!!)

Anyway, here I sit, a bit groggy from that last glass of red wine that I really wanted, thought I needed . . . Ha! Waiting. Thinking about the tree that needs decorating at home, the house that needs cleaning and decorating and the sweet boy that I can't wait to hug!

Last year's tree - note to self, move litter box this year!


Be nTouch
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Day 102 - Miracles

God our Father, walk through my house and take away all my worries and illnesses and please watch over and heal my family in Jesus name, Amen.



A dear friend sent this to me today via email. I get several of these "type" forwards, much of the time, I barely skim the message. This one was different. The first part of the image I saw were His eyes. They were looking right at me! Then I noticed the thorny crown wrapped around his heart. Then, I read these powerful words. These 27 words sum it ALL up for me . . . this is the prayer I pray . . . although, not enough, to watch over my family and friends, to keep my children safe and healthy and help them to discover happiness everywhere . . . This is how my day began!


A couple of hours later, our cat, who I haven't introduced y'all to yet, was crying to come back in the house. She can be incredibly annoying by playing this game to come in and go out, come in and go out . . . I can't stand the pitch of her whining, so I generally cave in and let her back in. I look at the french door and realize she has something in her mouth. This is a first for Miss Lil bit! As I approach the door I see the treasure she has is a baby bird. She must have seen my unhappiness because she ran, bird in mouth, as I opened the door. Long story short, it took several minutes of coaxing, but I finally managed to get her to drop the bird. I knew it was still alive but for how long? It was fully developed and tiny! 
I ran back in and through the house, cradling this small creature, out the front door, away from the hunter! I gently opened my hands on the ground and the little bird shook and fluttered quickly and then flew away. A life saved . . . it was amazing. This isn't my little friend, but this is what she looked like, only smaller!

As if I needed any more reminders (which I must have, right?) I watched a TV movie last night while my youngest went out to the movies with some friends. It was called In My Shoes. Basically it was about a very busy woman who had lost touch with what was really meaningful in her life. She worked hard, was driven to succeed and each day was fading into what was becoming the backdrop of her life. This was my third gift . . . although I'm not exactly like this TV character, I did realize that my life is moving way to fast. I get up each day, move through ALL that I have to accomplish, feel further behind than I did the day before, telling myself "if I can just get caught up" . . . I'm sure you get the picture. What I realized is I want more of those gazing moments at my son, like when he was a baby and we were joined at the hip (literally), I want to drink coffee in bed on Saturday morning, I want to spend more time with all my friends and family, I want to celebrate all that is magical and I want to manage my time to create a different lifestyle. After all, wasn't that what this BLOGGING adventure was supposed to help me accomplish? I'll get there, and more importantly, I want my children to learn these lessons too; better by example from me than through my words!  So again I type:


God our Father, walk through my house and take away all my worries and illnesses and please watch over and heal my family in Jesus name, Amen.


Be nTouch and love it!


P.S.  Okay, another first: as I was proofing my words, I realize I left out something really special and painted an unfair picture of our cat. I called her a hunter, which she instinctively is, but she was really a hunter with this tiny creature. I believe she was bringing in a new toy. This little bird could have been physically damaged (if birds have a psychology then I'm sure this trauma will last a lifetime) or killed. Our cat is small and this bird fit in her mouth. But Lil bit didn't bite down on this little plaything, she just brought it to the door as if to say "hey Mom, look what I found, can we keep it, look, it moves and doesn't stay on the ground, can we keep it???"


Meet Lil bit . . .

Day 101 - Beautiful Art

Best Friends

I commissioned the wonderful artist I BLOGGED about yesterday, to paint this picture for me and my two oldest friends . . . Beautiful! She painted three of these masterpieces; one for me, one for Alison and one for Brenda. I can't wait to surprise them with these treasures. I wish I could capture a moment in time on canvas.

Be nTouch

Day 100 - Something remarkable . . .

Something truly remarkable happened tonight. In my busy, busy world, I move from task to task and place to place and hardly ever have the opportunity to make a new friend. But today I met someone that I think I can keep up with! She is an artist and mother of three young children, she is creative and young and inspiring. And she BLOGS! Check out the funkyjunky@blogspot .com. It was a God Thing!

Thank you, thank you thank you!