Traditions

I do not believe in superstition, but I do believe in tradition, and my whole life, as long as I can remember, no matter where I've lived, I have had black eyed peas on New Year's Day. I grew up in FL, and my mother always made black eyed peas in the slow cooker, and we were required to eat them every year. As I grew up, it became a tradition with me, as well. I also grew to like them. I don't remember liking them as a kid, and as an adult, I have tried different recipes, and tweaked them a little bit every year, and like them very much. There are other traditions that go along with it, that I never knew about. You can read more about them here. I don't remember my mother serving us greens (which is supposed to represent money), but she did serve cornbread. Of course, cornbread is something we always had with any kind of beans.

Today was no different. I got up this morning, and started on my peas. I have found I prefer cooking all of my beans/peas on the stove top, rather than the slow cooker, these days. I used to always use the slow cooker for everything, but once I tried it using a pot on the stove, I fell in love with that method for beans and peas from now on. Anyway, I started on my peas earlier, and they were ready to eat by lunch time. One thing I think that's great is that my seven year old loves them! He couldn't wait for them to be finished. He kept asking if they were done. He has never questioned why we always eat them on New Year's Day, until today. I explained the best I could about the tradition. I'm not sure how much he understood. I am happy that my son is interested in the traditions, and maybe when he grows up and has his own family, he will continue the same tradition.

I served my black eyes peas with rice, and had a roll. I didn't have any of the other traditional foods on hand, so I just went with what I had. I don't think my luck or life will be affected my my decision. The peas came out great, and we still have lots of left overs. Here's a picture of how they turned out: 

What kind of New Year's traditions does your family have?

Good-bye 2011

2011 is drawing to a close, and everyone is looking back on their year, and thinking about what all happened, and what they want to do differently in the next year. Some people are making resolutions, some are planning big things, and some people are just going with the flow. I am doing a little of all of those. I'm not making any real "resolutions," because I see too many people making them, just to mess up and becoming angry or upset at themselves. I have a few goals I would like to achieve, and they aren't unachievable goals, so I believe I can do it. 

One of my goals is to become more organized, with my time, my house, and my life. I have always been one to live by a calendar, but in the last year or so, I have fallen out of that, and I plan to get back to it in 2012. I won't stress, though, if things don't go exactly as my calendar says. I am starting new classes in ten days, so I need to organize my time to fit in school work, Gavin's homework, church activities, Cub Scouts, housework, and any other extra activities that come up. I really hope to stay away from Facebook more, and concentrate on the things I just listed more. 

Another goal is to become closer to more people. I have several people in my life that I talk to sometimes, but I am hoping to become closer to more people, and get to know a few more people better this year. I need a little more social adult time, and I am hoping to get some of that this year.

My final goal, which really should be my first priority, is to grow more in my faith in God. I have grown a ton over the last year, and I really hope to grow even more this next year. I have some more books I plan to read, and a new devotional I plan to start, beginning tomorrow. 

I can't wait to see what God has planned for me and my little man in 2012. Whatever comes at me, I know He will be by my side, no matter what. What are your goals for 2012?

Trying Again!

Well, 2011 is coming to a close, and I wrote absolutely zero posts in 2011. I guess it's time to try again. 2012 begins in less than 24 hours, and I have new goals and dreams, new wants and desires. I am embarking on a new journey heading into 2012 with fresh eyes. My plans for this year include attempting to organize my life and time better than I did in 2011. I have new classes beginning January 9, and I have new endeavors to pursue this coming year, as well. Stay tuned for more posts. I am not going to say I will try to write any certain amounts, like I have in the past, but I will try to post as often as I can. Feel free to come along with me, or not. I don't get much traffic on this page, but that's okay. I write more for me than anyone else.

First Time For Something...

Are you shocked? You should be....two posts in one week. Actually, two days in a row...must be some kind of record. For me, at least. Well, don't get too excited, because this is not going to be much of a post. I just had a couple things I wanted to put down, in anticipation of a post to come, hopefully later in the week.

If you have read anything I have written before, you know that I have a son, and he means the world to me. Well, that son of mine, is turning SIX on Friday! I can't believe it! How can it be? Well, it is really happening. And, this year, for the first time since he turned one, he is actually having a birthday party! I am giving him a party. That is yet another strange concept for me, as I have never, ever, I repeat, EVER, planned a birthday party, for ANYONE, ever before. I have gotten a lot of pointers from on-line resources, and I have been to a few parties for children this summer, so I got some ideas from them. I hope I do okay. I hope Gavin is happy with the results. I look forward to making him happy, because he so deserves it. He is the best!

Family

My child brought this home from school today. This is our family. This is the family he has known most of his life. We have other family members, but he has not known most of them, most of his life. It saddens me, just a little. I have parents, and so they are his grandparents. And he knows them, and has spent time with them. We live far away from them, but that can not be helped. We had to move to become the people we are today.  Even when we lived closed to them, we did not see them often. Schedules just don't always permit that. That is just how life can be sometimes, I guess.





I grew up with a Mom, Dad, and two brothers. That was my family. I had a LOT more family that I hardly ever saw. I have family, including sisters, cousins, aunts, and uncles, that I have only seen once or twice, my whole life. We grew up in our own little world, it seems. We did not do big family dinners on holidays but once or twice my whole life. We had family who lived in the same town that we only saw occasionally. As an adult, I do not quite understand that. I moved away when I was 17, and I met a family that spent lots of time together. They saw each other as often as possible. They had Sunday dinners, they had weekend barbecues. They really knew each other. They loved to spend time together. I did not get to spend much time with them, but I enjoyed the time I did. 



I have so many cousins, on so many levels (seconds, thirds, fourths), that I do not know who all of them are. I have met some on Facebook that I have never met in real life. I have learned of others that are no longer on Earth, that I did not even know existed until it was too late. I know some people can't fathom this, but this is my life. I grew up in Florida, and many of my family members grew up in Texas. We did not go to Texas but a few times when I was a child. Schedules and/or finances didn't permit it. That is just how life can be, sometimes.




I now have Gavin, who does not know any of these relatives, the same ones I did not know growing up, and schedules, and finances have not permitted us to meet them. I hope someday we get to meet them, before they are no longer on the Earth, or neither are we. I am so happy we have Facebook, and texting, and phones, and Skype. We are able to keep up, a little, with what is going on in each others lives. I hope someday to be able to meet, and allow Gavin to meet, his family on my side.



Gavin has two sisters, they share a father. Well, they share a father's DNA. They are both AWESOME women, and I am proud to have them as a part of Gavin's life. They accept him, and love him, and accept me, because I am his mother, and that makes me happy. They have a family, on THEIR mother's side, who accepts Gavin as part of their family, although "technically, biologically", he is not. They are awesome people, as well. They have invited us to Atlanta, to spend Thanksgiving with their ENTIRE family (HUGE), which only gets together, all together, for Thanksgiving every few years, because of their size, and distance from each other, and their other sides, with marriages, and what-not. We REALLY want to go to this family gathering.




We are planning to rent a car, and drive to Atlanta the night before Thanksgiving, after I get off work. It is about 7 hours, so it shouldn't be a problem. The only problem, so far, is coming up with all the money to get there. Gavin's sisters' family is raising a lot. And, they are doing a great job. I am also trying to raise some, as much as I can, to cover the trip. The only money I need is for the rental, gas, and maybe a meal on the way, and one on the way back. I have a place to sleep, and food provided, once we get there. I am praying that God permits a way for us to go. I am hoping this great opportunity doesn't pass us by. If anyone knows a way to raise some money, please let me know. My schedule is pretty full, between work, school, and Gavin between now and Thanksgiving. I am trying to come up with ways to raise some of the money on my own. The family is doing a great job, and I want to try and match their efforts. If you can help, in any way, please send me an email at mcd.mel74@ymail.com



Thank you for reading.



Mel

Writing Assignment

This is a writing assignment I did for my Writing I class. I just had to share it.


Prompt 3: Describe someone who is important to you, such as a friend or relative.




My son is the most important thing to me. His name is Gavin, and he is five years old. He brings light to my life when I am encased in darkness. I can honestly say that I would die to save his life. I cannot say that about anyone else on this entire planet.


Gavin is a very bright little boy, with, I am hoping, a wonderful future. He remembers everything he learns, sees, touches, and tastes, and can describe it months later as if it happened the day before. He is in kindergarten this year, and he is taking it all in. He comes home daily with descriptions of his day's activities, making sure to detail everything for me. He can be so descriptive with his words, I feel as if I was in the classroom with him.


Gavin was premature and weighed less than five pounds at birth. He has Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy. His CP is very mild and only affects his leg muscles, for the most part. He is completely ambulatory on his own, but wears orthotic braces. This being said, he is a regular five year old. He gets bumps and bruises, just like any other little guy. He does not realize he is any different from any of his friends, with the exception of the braces.


My little guy is obsessed with super heroes. He likes them all, and does not have a favorite. From day to day, his focus shifts from one superhero to the next, as he “becomes” his superhero of the day. He has several costumes, and most nights, he substitutes his costumes for pajamas, and wears them to bed.


His physical description is simple. He has blonde hair and brown eyes and the biggest smile of any child. He is small statured, and very thin. When he meets someone, they are usually hooked. Most people draw close to him after the first meeting, because he just exudes light and happiness. I am not only saying this because he is my child. Feel free to ask anyone one else that knows him. They will describe him the same way.


I knew when seeing the title of this prompt that I would be writing about my child. I am sure many parents would write about their children as the most important person in their lives. Gavin is important to me, because I was told I would never be able to carry a child to full term, and although he was not full term, he was the closest I had ever become. He is my miracle. He has been my whole world ever since, and everything I work for, I do because of him.

Checking In..

I made it through my first day of being a college student. Haha! I signed in yesterday and my class information was waiting for me. I opened up the syllabus and read through it, looked at the class assignments, and printed out the information. I had to make a calendar to remind me of when everything is due for both classes. I will get my actual assignments for the next class on Monday. I am actually okay right now. I am not too freaked out like I thought I would be. I have a lot to read and a lot to remember before my first quiz on June 8. 

This next couple of weeks are going to be busy. I have some things to take care of at home, and I also have VBS (Vacation Bible School) all next week. I have volunteered to be a teacher's helper, and Gavin will be attending, plus I will have work and school. And Gavin. I ask for prayers that I will make it through next week. I know I can do it, it is just going to be tough. I will try to update, but I might miss a post next week. I am sure I won't be on Facebook or Twitter much, either, unless I am able to sign in while at work.