♥Gina♥

This month is the one year anniversary of my friend Gina's death.


Rather then a sad, dreadful funeral her family threw a "Celebration of Life" in her honor on the beach. It was everything Gina loved: live Jamaican music, cocktails, BBQ, and lots of friends and family! I asked my cousin J. to go with me because I had never been to anything like that before. I felt almost guilty enjoying the ocean breeze, the cocktails etc. without having Gina there... But it was what she wanted and it...was...her. Towards the end of the evening her brother Jerry and her dad Jerry Sr. had a slide show of Gina's short life... I laughed through tears. Seeing her with the 80's hair do was awesome. And in the Girl Scout uniform..OH! How I laughed. What a wonderful, vibrant but short life she lived.

A week later, her boyfriend had a disco party at his home in Gina's honor. (Such a fun girl she was!!) I met her friends. Her family. Her nurses from the hospital. Everyone willing to boogie in disco garb for her! :D I had never worn 4 inch heel boots before... with a hot pink mini-skirt and fake eyelashes to boot. Oh my, I can only imagine that G was giggling like crazy at my desperate attempt to be a 'girl'. HA HA HA. I miss her husky, infectious laugh.

When people pass away, we tend to remember only the good things about them. In this case though, that's all there is to remember. Gina was genuine with a heart the loved unconditionally and friendship that was to last forever. Even during her hardest times here on earth, at the points when she was barely able to walk, she was still a devoted friend, a devout believer in God and an inspiration to all who met her. About a week before she passed away I sent her a text message that said "I love you, Gina." She called me and said, "Your message made me almost cry, I love you too!" And then we talked about her recent trip to Hawaii. We laughed, even though she wasn't able to talk long because her body was just exhausted. That was the last time I talked to her.

May 29th 2007 will forever hold a special place in my heart. It's the day that we lost a precious soul on earth, but they gained a beautiful angel in Heaven.

I miss you silly Gina Renee McKinish. XXXOOO
11/21/69 - 05/29/07


Happiness Is A Journey

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.
Dance as though no one is watching you.
Love as though your have never been hurt before.
Sing as though no one can hear you.
Live as though Heaven is on earth.

Father Alfred D'Souza

Words Of Womanly Wisdom

Dear *insert ex-boyfriends name here*,

I think that you have just broken the tip off the iceberg with what you actually want to say to her. But, you are on the right track as far as I am concerned. I think that you are doing the right thing by thinking through things first before speaking them to her.

I've been through divorce so I can sympathize with the confusion she is undoubtably feeling right now. With everything that is going on, I can guarantee that she is feeling some of the following. She doesn't want to be married to *Greg anymore, that's obvious. Divorce is by far the most stressful thing that I have ever gone through. It's so easy for someone to say "just get divorced" if they haven't actually had to live through it. I remember thinking about halfway through that I wasn't sure if I'd have any sanity left when it was finished, honestly. It feels as if the walls are closing in on you. There's court, fighting, intrusive questions that she will have to answer, bickering lawyers, an impartial judge etc. They will have to divide their debt, property, dishes even. And as horrid as it is being married to someone you don't love, it almost seems to be a better option at points then to have your life nosed through by attorneys and a judge. It's disarming and invasive, intrusive almost - having to bare your flaws to strangers. *shudder*

I was fortunate enough to have had someone in my life at the time who was able to be my foundation through it all. Although I rushed into that relationship with blinders on, I'm glad I did it. It was well worth the time invested, good and bad. And that's the kind of "friend" that I would like to see you being to *Robin. Rather then having her make the decision as to what she wants regarding love, be her friend. Let her get through the divorce. Then things will be able to blossom from there. While I believe that you need to tell her what's on your mind, don't do it all at once!! Remember? Women freakin' dart like rabid jack rabbits when we feel we're being cornered. Not that you would ever intentionally "corner" her, but I know how impatient you are. Just take a deep breath and step back for a moment. You don't want to smother her, it won't do anything but cause her to panic.

There isn't any rush to profess your love to her, honestly. Time's on your side, you know? That's something I've learned these last few months. I have no reason to be in a rush with life or love anymore. It's literally time to stop and smell the roses, walk on the beach and feel the sand between my toes, appreciate the small stuff. Everything else in life is just icing on the cake... If it's meant to happen, it will. And I know that you aren't spiritual, but I believe that situations like this are out of our hands and in someone biggers. ;) I'm glad to be able to give you my "womanly words of wisdom".

Love,
Sheri

*SQUEALING*

...I hate keeping secrets. Mostly when they are good ones, but secrets nonetheless.
I got a phone call from one of my brothers yesterday with some awesome news and
I don't think I'm allowed to say anything yet. ::biting lip::

Well, I kinda already did. I told my co-workers because they don't know my family. Uhm, and I told my mom... and my new guy friend who we shall call "Harley" for the purpose of this blog.

*pondering* Oh, yes. And I told my former co-workers... and a cousin... and....

Uh-Oh.

=X

Eating sand.

Yesterday, I took the kids to the local beach. Jay escorted me as she is in much need of some sun... *grin*

It's been about a year since we have been to the beach. I'm not sure why as we live only a few miles from the beautiful shark-infested water.

Bryan had a "sugar hangover" from spending the night at his friend's house the night before, so he laid on the sand face first, fully clothed the entire time.

Madison and Jay were the only two brave enough to actually get into the water. *grimace* It was awesome watching them, Jay jumping over the waves and Maddie getting knocked over and landing face first in the sea foam. The ocean replaced any "punishment" I would have considered for Maddie sassing off, nothing better then a mouth full of sea water. *gagola*

Catherine was hysterical, her little bird legs running through the sand as fast as she could manage to bring me a "perty shell" she had discovered. Only, each time she ran to me she managed to kick a lb. of sand into my Diet Dr. Pepper. *blink blink*...

She begged me for a drink, she got it... ALL yours, honey!! ;)

Boy toys are NOT for girls!!

*scowl*So... Bryan owns a few "swords". Plastic ones, ones that light up and make noise and a wooden one... He's a boy, it's natural I suppose...

Tonight, Catherine strolled over to the couch and questioned , "Hey Mommy, is dis a real s-word?" I was engrossed in matching socks (I'll be damned if I have 50 strays right now!) and said "Mmmhmmm." Catherine blinked... looked at the wooden sword in her hand and asked, "What happen' if I cut you wiff it?" I looked up under the mound of lonely socks and said, "I will spank you with it. And then you will have splinters on your butt." Obviously the fear of splinters in her toosh didn't deter her. She swiped it across my leg which left a red welt.I wailed, "Catherine GRACE!! What was that for?" Her little lip quivered, she dropped the sword to the living room floor and said, " I was diven' you spwintas ferst!"I snagged the sword off the newly shampooed floor (random I know, just had to throw in the fact that I busted my butt cleaning kid stains out of the carpet all day...) and put it inside the kids closet.

A few minutes later, I hear SAWING noises coming from the kids bedroom...Wha' the..?! I dump my mismatched socks on the floor as I leap off the couch and pounce into the bedroom.GOOD GRIEF.There's Madison, sitting on the top bunk watching some over-rated mermaid t.v. show while coloring a masterpiece... And then, there's Catherine. Attempting to saw Maddie's dresser in half with the wooden sword.I don't know how she got it off the top shelf in the closet.There isn't a step stool in their room, there isn't any transportable furniture, and for crimeny sakes!! Madison (AKA - The Informer) is 5 feet away from her!!

For now, I'm locking the wooden sword in the shed. Let her try to get it out of there...

Some Assembly Required

It's hotter then hades this weekend. I don't have A/C, therefore I have a plethera of fans. My favorite box fan bit the dust yesterday, it actually sparked, smoked and then stunk up the house.

This is how I ended up at Lowe's. Mind you, Wal-Mart is in the same parking lot but it's always SO jammed I avoid the place at all costs. The kids and I stand in the fan aisle looking like... Well, like a bunch of girls in a guy store. I find a pretty fan. Mistake #1. Who cares what it looks like as long as it blows air, ya know? Gack.

The fan weighs 110lbs and on the box it says "some assembly required". I don't own a screwdriver, I use butter knives. Mistake #2.

Maddie and I lug the fan to the car. The trunk won't close, so we drive home with it open. We then drag the box up the stairs into the house. Already, I hate the pretty fan.

I open the box. I turn it upside down and dump all of the pieces out. Screws the size of ants, no joke.

The directions are only 4 pages long, no biggie! So I thought... It took me 2 hours to assemble the blasted fan. I actually cried out of frustration! I have a bruise the size of a golfball on my thigh. My hands are tore the *F* up. My butterknife is bent at an odd angle now and guess what? THE FAN DOESN'T FREAKIN' WORK!

So... I am not going to dissasemble the pretty fan, take it back to Lowe's to get my $100 back and go to Wal-Mart.

May the force be with me.

Welcome to the Winder clan Sarah! ♥

http://abclocal. go. com/kabc/story?section=news/business&id=6058960


My little brother Charlie & my to-be sister in law Sarah were supposed to fly to Hawaii for their wedding... They are stranded here until Sunday because ATA filed for BK!!!! OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =*(

Here's one of the local news clips with Sarah's mom talking...

Please hold while I cry.



*insert sobs here*

Love you Charlie & Sarah!! XXXOOO

P.S. Welcome to the Winder family Sarah...♥