My mom retired and became a floozy.

Yep I said it. My mom is a floozy.

My mom and dad were married for 34 years. My mom told my dad on the 35th anniversary of their meeting that she loved him, but wasn't in love with him, and gave him a "Dear John" letter to end their marriage.

I knew all along that this was coming, it was never a matter of "if" but more of "when". As much as I had hoped and prayed that they would find a way to stick together, and that my mom would realize that the grass isn't always greener on the other side, October 13, 2009 she sealed the deal with that fateful letter.

A mere three months later, she told me that she has someone special in her life now, and would like for me to meet him. Me being the good daughter, and having a polyanna view of life, I said sure. I prayed about it, and took the kids 4 hours away to meet "moms new boyfriend". Even though my brother, and even my husband thought I was crazy.

In 2006 my family, and my parents spent Christmas break in Sunriver. To get to sunriver, you have to go through a small western like town. At that time my mom mentioned to all of us that "one day she'd love to live in the western town". Fast forward to current year of 2010, and she must have sought out a man that was widowed, doing pretty well for himself and living in the western town.

Boyfriend #1 is a GREAT guy. He has a great sense of humor, but also treats my mom like his housewife. Until my mom sells her house, my dad and her are "co-habitating" in it, however mom is there 2 weeks at a time, and usually in Central Oregon for the other 2 weeks out of the month.

The begining of January, my Dad had surgery. While he was doped up on some pretty heavy narcotics, he mentioned to me that mom has been seeing at least 1, and possibly up to three other men while she is at "home" from Boyfriend #1's house. He told me about the jewlery, the trips, etc. This is AFTER boyfriend #1 has bought my mom the following:

1. A motorhome
2. a Saint Bernard (to breed)
3. A havenese dog (to breed)
4. and misc. other items

I have ways of knowing what communications happen with my mom and her suitors. It didn't take a rocket scientist. Tonight, I called to talk to my mom and dad asnwered the phone. He told me "she's at the beach, with Kathy" Interesting, she also went to Central Oregon with this same "Kathy" when she was stepping out on her marriage with boyfriend #1. So it is pretty obvious that my mom is on some romantic getaway with boyfriend #2, 3, or 4, and she's having her cake and eating it too. All while taking my Dad, (and Boyfriend #1) to the cleaners along the way.

So yes, she "retired" from Real Estate, and is now a floozy. Looking for a man with deep pockets, and a bigger Dick.

Living Joyfully with wonderful friends.

Today I will head out to get a massage, and then meet up with some of my favorite scrapbooking peeps. Last year I read an amazing book called "Grown up Friendships" It truly changed the way I look at my friends.

In December, Donnna Lyn had mentioned to me that I have a great circle of friends. It made me step back and think for a minute. Yes, she's right, I have built an amazing network of amazingly different women in my life. I have put in the time required to nurture each of those friendships, as well as being the type of friend that I would like to have.

My friends run in very different circles. There are stay at home moms, work from home moms, preschool teachers, engineers, retail workers, friends from school, friends with kids, and without kids, a politicians wife, our old babysitter and even a Doctor in there too. However, I know that when they all come together, they will likely get along, and find someone in common with their interests. It's a big melting pot.

I value friendship in my life. It makes it JOYFUL, SWEET, and at times a bit chaotic. I know that if I ever needed a friend to stand in the gap for me, they would. I know I have friends who will tell me like it is, and be gentle with me. I have friends who will LOVE me for who I am and hear my HEART when it's my turn to do the same for them.

It's important to me, that I model what true friendship looks like to my kids. They need to know that they have to WORK at being a friend, and maintaining friendships.

Here's a few photos of my amazing girlfriends! If you aren't here, sorry! Lets take a picture together soon!

Why? That Pretty Little Head of Hers?

My mother and I have a unique relationship. She has always said we're best friends, but in the next sentence will tell me that she should have married the Dr. Instead of my plumber father, because the Dr. could have afforded her a better lifestyle. The grass is always greener on the the other side. Having said that, where there's alot of craziness there's also alot of love.

In the fall, my friend Cheryl and I took a trip to visit my mom in Sisters, where moms new boyfriend lives. (she and my dad divorced after 35 years of marriage last year). Cheryl got to experience some of my moms crazy antics first hand. From her baking a cake while we put away the warehouse garage sale (a post for another day) or wanting to take a photo of Samantha (my daughter) right after she had been stung by a bee on the face.

On the way home Cheryl told me that I should write a book about my mom. A memoir, if you will, and that I should call it "That pretty little head of hers" The more I thought about it, the more I thought I really should write the book. I plan to use this blog to tell some of those stories, as well as life lessons that I have learned from my mother.

The one thing I have learned to be true, is that while I have a ton of craziness to share with you all, she always taught me to love deeply, forgive quickly, show Grace to those around, and never leave the house without Mascara and lipstick.

Living Joyfully in 2011

Happy New Year!

Yes, I know it's been a while since I've blogged, but I am committed to it in 2011. I plan on blogging about all the ways that I'm living Joyfully in the new year.

Every year I choose a word to focus on for the year, and 2011's word is JOY. We all have a lot of Joy in our lives, and alot of the time it goes un-noticed. As cliche' as it sounds, we need to stop and smell the roses!

I pray that you will find a word to focus on this year and have a fantastic 2011, filled with an abundance of JOY!