JDRF Walk

Today, April 25th 2010, the kids and I and a couple of friends walked in the juvenile diabetes walk held at Coolidge Park. We try to do this every year, have since Korina was diagnosed. We have a team name ~ Korina's Krew ~ and we keep talking about having t-shirts made, but always forget until it is too late. Also every year we try to raise money for JDRF~Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, in hopes of finding a cure. This year we set our goal at $200 because we knew everyone's pockets are tight, but we managed to raise $300! Thanks to our loving family and friends.

The walk this year was pretty grueling for me, I am too out of shape :P We ended up climbing some steep hills and walking across the bridges four times along with the rest of the route. I am sore! But we enjoyed it :) And the kids really liked playing in the fountain there too.

Look how windy it was this day! We had an especially hard time walking straight while crossing the bridges. This is on the Walnut Street Bridge, a walking bridge in Chattanooga, TN.

Our young Krew members: Debbie, Trista, Korina, Kerstin, and Konrad

Kerstin showing off her new shirt

Debbie is looking for Korina in the hedges :)

Ah, Debbie found her and Korina is on the run!

Kerstin is freezing after being in the fountain!

Korina on a statue at Coolidge Park

Konrad on a statue at Coolidge Park

Some of our Krew members riding the Coolidge Park Carousel

Konrad on an inflatable

Korina in front of an inflatable

Life

Life has been crazy lately. We have had lots of changes going on, lots of things to get used to, and lots of stuff to do. The kids and I have moved, and in so doing have downsized. So one thing we have to do is figure out what to part with and where to put what we didn't part with. Another thing to get used to I am divorced now. It has been very emotional for me. More so than I thought it would be after knowing it was coming for so very long, practically since the day we were married. I am not sure that he ever really wanted to be married to me to begin with, guess I should have left well enough alone back then... My granny says it is very similar to going through having someone die. I think she is right. I often feel like a part of me has died now. He and I are trying to have a good relationship though, not just for the kids, but because we are friends. That doesn't seem to lessen the pain though. Everyday it hurts and I am very sad.

Almost Final Christmas Party

Well Friday night the kids and I went to my mom's Christmas party. Yes, I do realize it is the middle of January, but due to various custody things we generally have ours late so that more people can be there :) While we were there the kids and I decided to pose in front of her blue snowman curtains and take pictures. You will also notice that the girls and I decided to be festive and spray our hair red (well it turns up various shades of pink on the girls, but bright red on mine). My son would not let us color his.
The kids pictures came out great, but my color is a little off :P We had a pretty good time. Got to have dinner with my mom, brothers, cousins, and various nieces and nephews. We did miss having one niece there though; my youngest brother's daughter lives in south GA so she wasn't here for this one, but we did get to celebrate with her on Christmas day (so thanks to her mom for letting us have her Christmas!). And after dinner and a lot of talking we exchanged presents. So now I only have to get with one more family and we will have given out all our presents for this year. I hope we get to see them soon!

Random Prose

In an effort to hone my writing skills I have been trying to write down just about anything I think of. I didn't even know I wanted to write until recently so these are just baby steps, but here are two of my bits that I have published on Associated Content and a link to my page there. Also, if you get a chance to read some of the other writers' materials, they are pretty good and just by clicking on the links you could help someone out :)

Smart Start
You start the day off like any other,
except it isn't...

It is a new day, a breaking dawn, a second chance
to live your life the way that is best for you.

Do you take advantage of this new day
or do you treat it as any other...?

Days of Our Lives
"Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives."

Ha! I wish my life was that orderly!

More like sand from a sandcastle
being blown away by gusts of wind;
I grab handfuls of sand to put back in place,
But the grains just slip through my fingers
and refuse to take shape.

Now; THAT is a day of my life.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/448333/deann_wilson.html

Hello World

This is my first true experience with blogging. As I was trying, very unsuccessfully, to take a nap today I kept thinking about a blog and what I would call it. Well my niece always say Peace, Love, and Chicken Grease to me when we are leaving and I was thinking about that, but that chicken grease is probably not really good for you... Then started thinking well what kind of grease IS good for you and elbow grease popped in my head. My momma and grandma were always saying use your elbow grease, or a little elbow grease won't hurt you, or something to that effect. So peace, love, and elbow grease started going through my head; but I though love, peace, and elbow grease sounded better and that is how I came to call the blog that if anyone cared :).
Also this post tells you why I have a hard time sleeping, my mind likes to go on these trips of thinking about any and every thing. Maybe starting this blog and adding to it as I think og things will help to empty my mind so I can sleep... or it will just empty it so I can refill it, oh well I guess either would be good.