Isn't it amazing how a day that starts out sooooooo bad can turn out SOOOOOOOO GOOD!?!

I have really been struggling for the last 4 or so weeks. I've had some pretty good days, and I've had some really low days. It feels at times the low days outnumber the good days (which reminds me...I need to go back to writing down my moods!)

This morning started out a little rough - mainly because last night was a low night. I've been struggling with some decisions (which I will continue to struggle with for a while...) and I'd mentioned them to my team. No sooner had I hit send when I get a text from one of my beautiful Azuritas making me chuckle. In the morning I was greeted with love and support that kept coming all morning long. I already knew that I had a great team, but they reminded me 100 fold today just how much they love me and how much I love them and why. I am sooooo lucky to be surrounded by a team that fully accepts me and appreciates me. I am so thankful for that remainder all day today. You turned a really dark day into one of my best - so THANK YOU to my Azuritas.

Let me tell you what has happened since my goodie, text and page comment filled morning:

1) Today was the luncheon for my OTHER tennis team. This team ALSO took SECOND because of a ONE POINT difference! (ridiculous! LOL). Because my morning had been so awesome, I was able to go to this luncheon feeling happy and positive - and I had a blast! I saw so many opponents who we've made friends with throughout the course of the season. It's kinda awesome to be like and respected for your game :-)

Many of you know how much I HATE the sparkwheel - the feeling is mutual - the sparkwheel hates me. In fact, Lady Luck in general hates me, and I am not a big winner of "chance" drawing, contests, etc. So, imagine my surprise when door prizes are being distributed and MY NUMBER WAS CALLED!!!! Yes - MINE!!!!! I was joking that it would probably just be a can of tennis balls - and I was RIGHT! Two cans of tennis balls actually :-D But in one of those cans was a $50 gift card to Kohl's!!! I shop at Kohl's all the time, and in fact, usually find tennis clothes there! I was stoked! But I was even MORE stoked when by the end of the event, 3 out of 4 of us ALSO won prizes!!!! (my partner didn't, but she was the only one who won something at the last luncheon...). So, my other friend, she won a $50 gift card to Cheesecake Factory and asked if I wanted to trade :-) I thought about it - I can shop at Kohl's any time...and likely, I'd spend that gift card on the kids or family....but Cheesecake Factory could be a special treat for me and probably get 2-3 visits out of it - so I SWAPPED!!! I'm beyond excited :-D



2) Over the last 6 months, my daughter has had many things stolen from her at school. She'd received a iPhone for graduation last summer and was using it for an iTouch. It was stolen in November/December. In February, she pulled money out of the bank and bought an iTouch off a friend of mine - in less than a week, it was stolen/lost - she either dropped it, or someone stole it - never turned in (church or school....). Right around that same time, she took some money to school for choir pictures, but decided not to purchase the pictures. That very same day, someone went into her wallet during P.E. and stole her cash. She only has one thing left - a little pink nano she'd received for Christmas in 2006 - it's even engraved with her name and year. She uses it every night to go to sleep with - it' plays Mozart, etc. She loves this little iPod and foolishly had been taking it to school each day to listen to music during lunch and P.E. Well, on THIS Friday, she'd forgotten her ear buds, and her team was going for a run. She came back - stolen!!! Now granted, she should have been locking this stuff up during P.E., but her backpack is too big for locker, and seriously - PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE STEALING HER STUFF!!!! She was DEVASTATED!!!!! In fact, it's been almost 2 weeks and she is STILL devastated - tonight I was driving her to an activity, and we were talking about how discouraged I've been, and she said she's been feeling the same way since her iPod got stolen. She just can't get over it, that someone would steal it and not give it back. My heart is broken for her.

This afternoon I was cleaning house and the UPS guy comes a knockin at my door. I didn't see or hear him, and he left it on the floor (the door was open). It's a package from one of my Azure friends. I've got a birthday coming up (I've been VERY quiet about it...) so I thought maybe it was a birthday surprise. Hubby was like, what's this? So, we opened it, and there was a card to my daughter, and one to me - my daughter isn't home, and curiosity killed the Kat, and I sure didn't want to DIE, so I opened it :-D

I just can't tell you how I feel. I feel so blessed, and loved and grateful, and watched over - I feel like, well, just amazing, and beyond loved and appreciated and that the last five years just came back full circle and gave me a giant hug.

This is what was in the package, along with a sweet, sincere, and I just have no words note:



Thank you DEAR, dear friend - she is going to be sooooo happy - ecstatic!!!

3) Can't really top that - but this last PLUS makes me soooo happy, and I know it will make all my Azure sisters stand up and WHOOP for joy....





I finally did it!!!! I called around last week and found a guy that sounded trustworthy and reliable and today he came to my house and took a look at my broken laptop! And for less than $100 he FIXED IT!!!! I'M BACK IN BUSINESS!!!!

I probably won't use it as a laptop ever again, but it's MINE and I can USE it again!!!! Which means that things should start looking up from here :-)



You should be seeing more of THIS happy smiling girl now - this was taken when Terry visited at the beach. It's right after my laptop got broken, and right before I started to slide into my funk.

Seems like this is as good a place as any to start turning this bus around. I've still got a few rough, busy, stressful weeks ahead, but with my Azure friends and my computer, I am confident I can get through it.

LOVE YOU GUYS!