Huge Curveball

Well, I know it's been over a week since my last post, and I missed out on Motivational Monday in there as well.  I was all set during the day Monday to blog, which I usually do before going to bed.  However, during dinner time I got hit with an INSANELY frustrating, annoying, upsetting, unexpected-yet-not-overly-surprising-in-a-way curveball from my ex.  Here I was seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, coming up in about six months; when WHAMMO...back to the drawing board.  So since then I've been trying to process the information that was thrown my way and trying to figure it out.  Being a control freak in regards to my own life, not having a "Plan B," so to speak, has me truly in a tizzy.  All I know is I'm going to need to calm down A LOT more before the next time the ex comes to get our son.  I'm already dealing with an MS-related relapse that snuck up on me over the weekend, so now the stress and aggravation of these past 48 hours is definitely NOT helping the matter any.  I need to figure out a way to calmly (lol) deal with the ex.  Yeah, we just might need a miracle for this one, if not a whole heckuvalot of prayers for me.

So, without going into any details, I'm just going to have to leave it at this for now for this post.  As I start digging out from this roadblock/setback, I can explain in more detail at a later date if it seems fitting.

But, I wanted to at least post and let y'all know I am alive, albeit a bit more beaten up emotionally, spiritually, and even MS-health wise than last time I was here.  But, as grandma would say to me, "this too shall pass."  Grandma turned 93 in January, so I'd say she knows what she's talking about!!!  :-D

Oh, and next time the ex tries to pull another bu!!sh!t move like this, I'll so be better prepared to hit it out of the park!!!!  HOMERUN KRISTYN!!!!

Wishing you peace, love, and happiness,

Kristyn

Motivational Mondays!!!

OK, technically, by the time this post is up and online, it may be just a wee bit after midnight, making it Tuesday...But, hey, I'm on the East Coast so there are people who could definitely be reading this on Monday. :-D  So that's my story and I'm sticking to it - LOL!!!

I found this quote right as I was getting ready to sign off Facebook tonight...

"Unnecessary possessions are unnecessary burdens. If you have them, you have to take care of them! There is great freedom in simplicity of living. It is those who have enough but not too much who are the happiest." - Peace Pilgrim

I've slowly come to understand this quote this past year while I was "Rediscovering Kristyn" (get it..the title of my blog - LOL!!).  I was buying tons of "stuff" to make me happy while being in a very cold, unhappy, unfulfilling, and unloving marriage for at least the last 5 or so years of it.  There was probably so much more I could have done to fulfill those emotional needs during all those empty years:  taken cake decorating classes, photography classes, blogged more, done more fun things with my son, the list is endless.  But those, unfortunately, didn't happen.  Instead, I just chased after what I thought was happiness...material possessions.  I can admit it now, though...oh, how wrong I was on that front.  It makes me CRINGE to think of all the money I pissed away.  I can't even allow myself to go there in my mind.  It literally makes me want to cry. :*(

But, with mine and my son's impending move in the coming six months, I cannot BEGIN to express how EXCITED I am to be getting a dumpster this Spring and starting the "Big Purge Project."  I'm just itching to start tossing and having a garage sale weekend once the warmer weather sets in.  It's not even about how much money I can/will make.  It's about letting go of the past and what all those "things" represent.  I am so looking forward to it and starting mine and EJ's life anew with less physical clutter and a clearer heart, mind, and soul.

And for those of you who are my friends "IRL" and are local to me, I'll have lots of items you may be interested in.  As the saying goes, "one man's junk is another man's treasure."  Just ask my ex's current girlfriend about that one!!!!!!!!!!!!



The ocean...Maine, in particular....My ultimate relaxation place!!

Wishing you peace, love, and happiness,

Kristyn

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!!!  To say it's been a hectic time around here this past week would be an understatement, and it's not even over yet.  But between my son's preschool schedule, errands, family stuff, doctor's appointment, etc., I was able to get in making some treat bags for my son's Junior Wings preschool class today.  We also wrote out Valentine's Day cards together earlier yesterday, but for some reason his didn't get passed out in class today.  I was definitely a bit disappointed in that :-(  However, the treat bags certainly were, and I'm sure that's what the kids really enjoyed the most anyway - LOL!!!

For those that know me, y'all know I LOVE to bake, decorate, and make many chocolate-coated treats and barks for family, friends, and friends-/co-workers-of-friends.  This holiday was no exception!!!  Granted, I do eat Paleo (usually on an 80/20 basis), and serve my son Paleo when he's with me, but I also allow for a few "exceptions" and certainly don't "force feed" my eating habits/choices on others.  Hence, since so many others like sweet treats on special occasions, I do oblige.  With that, I made white chocolate Rice Krispie bark, topped with pink and red sanding sugars, red hearts (think like Sweet Tarts flavored), and those tiny conversation hearts that we all grew up on.  Me, personally, I'm not a big fan of them and never was, but they seem almost "traditional" to me, if you know what I mean, so I included them on the bark.  For the most part I was happy with how the bark came out, but a good amount of the candies fell off when I started breaking up the bark into pieces.  No problem....I just tossed the candies that fell off right into the treat bags with the broken up bark!!  I certainly hope the kids enjoyed it. :-) 

I hope each and every one of you reading this post had an enjoyable Valentine's Day with the one(s) you love.  I had the best Valentine ever this year...my wonderful son, EJ.  You make every day worth living. :-)  Mommy loves you!!! xoxoxo

Wishing you peace, love, and happiness...

Kristyn

Coincidence or Fate

It's funny how life works some days.  Back in January 2012 I started this blog as a way of documenting what I've started to learn about myself since my marriage ended.  My husband at the time moved out in November 2011, and with the new year I wanted to document all the old and new things I'd be rediscovering and learning about myself along the way.  If you look back, I did pretty good up until February of that year, but then life got in the way.  I'd started to learn exactly how hard it was/is to be s 40-something year old single mom (who just so happens to have Multiple Sclerosis for over a decade now)  to a young son.  For the record, I will be 43 this coming March, my son will be 4 1/2, and July will mark 12 years since my MS diagnosis..  Yes, I admit my age, and am damn proud of it, too!!!!  Doesn't hurt that I've been told many times that I look much younger than my age!!! :-D

So this brings me to the title for this post.  Just so turns out that my last blog post was on February 12, 2012, and today is now February 12, 2013.   This WAS NOT planned AT ALL.  My laptop screen crapped out on me in Novembe 2012, and it was only now that I was able to buy myself a brand spanking-new laptop.  I ordered it at one Best Buy in Jersey yesterday while out with my son and parents, but they didn't have it in stock.  However, the Best Buy closer to me had it, so I was able to pick it up today...February 12th.  I'd been itching like crazy to start blogging again, so I knew I just HAD TO do a reintroduction post tonight.  That's when I realized it'd been exactly one year since that last post.

With that, I ask you, was this just a mere coincidence or was it fate?  I'll let you decide for yourself, but I know in my heart what I believe it is....

I've learned a great deal about myself this past year, and I'm sure you'll be reading about these discoveries in the coming posts in the days, weeks, and months ahead.  One thing I can confidently and whole-heartedly share with you is that I'm FINALLY at a complete, inner peace with myself and my life.  I can't explain it, but it is an indescribably serene feeling within.  By not means is my life perfect; and, yes, there were and are those crazy, stressed-out days/situations, but at the heart of me, I'm still at peace.  When something happens and I get in the WTF kind of mind set; I just step back, look at the situation, and ask myself "Will this really matter 5 years from now?"  I'd say 95% of the time, the answer was and is "No."  When it was "Yes," it had to deal with parenting problems with my son's father, and the repercussions of bad decisions that could potentially affect my son emotionally and last for years in the long run.  Then the "Momma Bear" comes out in me and she shows her claws.  No doubt about that one!!!

With all this, I'd like to say a sincere thank you for reading this post.  As I have no photos downloaded yet onto this system, I don't have much I can add to this post to make it look pretty or to show newer, more up-to-date photos of me and EJ.  Although if you're "Friends" with me on FaceBook, you definitely see our mugs all the time :-).  But, I'll definitely be spending time this weekend getting my system in a more working order.  Doesn't help that I'm also trying to figure out this new Windows 8 system.  Techie I am not, so this may take a while - LOL!!!  So if any of you have suggestions/advice/tips on the new system, please feel free to share!!

And on that note, I wish you...

Peace, Love, and Happiness :-)

Kristyn

"Saying AMEN" Sunday - F

Yes, I know I have been remiss about posting the past week or so, and for that I truly apologize.  It's just been an "off schedule" couple of weeks due to some projects getting done at the house as my ex was on vacation for the past two weeks and he was in and out working on stuff around here for a bit of that time, so the whole schedule just got off kilter and out of whack for me.  Not to mention it pissing me off a great deal, but that's a whole other post.  But, I'm back!!!!  So, without further ado, let me make up for missing last week's "Saying AMEN" segment :-)

F  - I’m saying AMEN for FACEBOOK!!! - "F" gave me many options, but the main ones were friends and family.  However, how could I possibly pick between the two?  IMPOSSIBLE!!!  I consider some of my nearest and dearest friends as my family.  I can honestly say they know me, who I really am, and what I'm all about more so than any of my family members do. However, my family is my family through it all, and I love them, too.  I couldn't live without either group of them.

But then I realized that Facebook is what keeps me in touch with ALL of them!!!  It is what helps me stay sane and makes me laugh during the day.  It is where I get the emotional support I need, ideas, suggestions, advice, whatever it is.  My friends and family are always on there to help along this journey I call my life.  Amazing how Facebook has really brought everyone together.  Wild how people can reconnect all these years later; from growing up next door to each other, to grade school, to high school, and so forth.  Blows my mind some times to think about it. And best of all, Facebook is free!!!  Can't beat that :-)  LOL!!!

Yes, Facebook can suck the time out of any given day and can be soooooo addictive, but dang, I'm not about to give it up!!!  Not only do I keep in touch with my friends and family, but I can also get the local weather, news and entertainment, and a whole hell of a lot of laughs from it :-)  What more could I want?  Well, maybe other than hitting it off with a great, single/available guy or winning the lottery?!?!!!

So, on that note, I say AMEN to Facebook!!!  Don't know how I survived and kept in touch with everyone before you came along :-)

Yes, I realize there are no photos tonight.  Well, except for the cartoon posted below :-)  I know a few of you will definitely get a kick out of this one!!!  I just really wanted to catch up here so y'all didn't think I forgot about you.  Then again, not a single person responded to my one post asking who follows/reads my blog who isn't an actual "Follower" so who knows who in the heck is reading my late night ramblings - LOL!!!  I certainly wasn't feeling the love with that post :-(



As for my "Saying AMEN" Sunday - G segment for this week, that I will do either tomorrow or Tuesday.  I need to get a photo of my topic.  Something that has someone specific and some emotions attached to it :-)

Wishing you peace, love, and happiness,

Kristyn

Missing In Action...

Yes, I am aware that I haven't blogged in a few days, but I'm hoping to catch up tomorrow.  Been an off-schedule kind of week and will be like that again this coming week.  But, I'm hoping to at least get my "Saying Amen" Sunday post up tomorrow...I know, I know...a day late; but not only was I out running errands this morning and having dinner with a great friend catching up on what's been going on in both our lives, but I then came home and watched THE GIANTS WIN THE SUPER BOWL!!!!!!  GO BIG BLUE!!!!!  Sorry, but I have to say, that definitely trumped getting some other things getting done; one being my Sunday blog post.  So, I do apologize for missing out on some posting this past week, but hopefully I can catch y'all up in the next few days.

Hope life is treating everyone well.  Oh, and by the way, in case you didn't hear, THE GIANTS WON THE SUPER BOWL!!!!!!  LOL!!!  Hey, I've lived in NJ/NY my entire life...What else would you expect my reaction to be to this great news?!?!!!!

Wishing you peace, love, and happiness,

Kristyn

Wordless Wednesday

What I'd love to be having done right now....

Wishing you peace, love,and happiness,

Kristyn