The World According to Leslie

Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try . Author Unknown It doesn't matter what I have tried to do in my life, I had at some point to make a decision to try it. I'm sitting here today thinking of all the things I've tried and some I've accomplished. When I was younger, I wanted to be a writer. I guess that since I'm posting here, I have (somewhat) accomplished that. I am writing on a (somewhat) regular basis. One day, I still hope to write a book, I just haven't made the decision for the correct topic yet. When I was in high school, I decided to become a teacher. I accomplished that. I taught in high schools for four years. I still teach, at a daycare. I made that decision and accomplished it. Everyone who has ever done anything, has decided to do it. I'm not saying that the decision was conscious. It could have been that they just decided NOT to do something else and the accomplishment was from that decision.  For example, I h...

"Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the present." Bil Keane Over the past couple of weeks, I have still been on autopilot . I have just been going through the motions. Mother's Day is bittersweet for me. On May 9, 2002, Tony's mom passed away. That was on Thursday before Mother's Day. We buried her on Saturday, May 11. Now, every year, it's hard to face Mother's Day. Don't get me wrong, I love my Princess! This year, she got me an awesome card.  It said to relax and have time for myself. Then on the inside it said, "for about 10 minutes because I need a sandwich!"  Loved it!  We got together with my parents on Friday night for Dad's birthday!  Then on Saturday, the whole family was together for Mother's Day.  All of us, including my brother's kids were there!  Papaw Paul even got to come hang out with us! The quote I chose for today is one we h...

"What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?" Robert Schuller Wow!  Just wow! I have a list, a mile long, of things I want to do. Things I want to try. Things I'm afraid to try. What if I knew I couldn't fail, what would I do? First, I would audition for The Voice.  I love that show. I love singing. If I knew I couldn't fail, sign me up!!  Second, I'd get my dream job. I have a lot of dreams, but my dream teaching job has always been at my alma mater! I'd love to be able to walk into the doors of my old high school every day and teach the kids that come from the same place (background, neighborhoods) as me. I'd be able to relate to kids that understand the history of the school and who understand where you are coming from more than teaching kids that are totally different (socio-economically, location, background) than yourself. It wouldn't be easy, because today's kids are totally different than the kids when I wa...

"There are more important things in life than winning or losing a game."--Lionel Messi Lionel Messi is a pretty famous soccer player. He probably knows a little something about winning and losing. He's probably experienced both in his lifetime, quite often. Last night, I had the privilege of watching a local high school baseball game. One of my favorite teams, with one of my favorite players, was playing a cross-town rival. At the beginning of the game, the rivals took a 4 to 0 lead over the home team. It wasn't looking good until the pitcher walked a couple batters, one batter got a base hit, and then another (with bases loaded) hit an over the fence grand slam!  The game was tied. A couple of innings later, the home team pulled ahead by a couple of runs. The pitcher was doing a great job. He had walked a couple of batters, but who hasn't? Then, the batter from the rival team leaned into a pitch and the umpired said the pitcher hit the batter. The b...

Philippians 4:13--"I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." (KJV) We all know that verse. We all quote that verse. What does it really mean to you? Today, it means that I can do the things I need to do because Christ is giving me the strength. It means that, although Facebook reminded me that 7 years ago today we held my Grandmother's funeral, I can remember the good things about her and know that I will see her again one day. It means that even when times are tough, I am tougher. Today, that verse tells me that no matter what, I have the strength of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I can do anything... even when my body, my mind tells me I can't. It could be the simple things like dealing with the pain in my left shoulder. It could be the more aggravating things like dealing with a teenager! (WOW! Enough said!) It could be big things like dealing with financial situations, jobs, family, and faith. For me today, that verse ...

Yesterday, I ended up getting up WAY TOO EARLY.  However, I did go back to bed for a little bit.  My Princess woke up at 11am yesterday!     Today, I slept until 7am!  I was hoping for 8 or 8:30 every day!  But, 7 is an extra 3 hours.  This summer, I will get more sleep.  I just have to get used to sleeping through Tony’s alarm.  (I can’t do that in a week because I will sleep through my alarm on Monday, if I do!)   The Princess is still asleep this morning.  When she gets up, we are going to eat breakfast (or lunch-fast, if it’s 11am again!)!!  Then we are going to work on her room.  Since we moved, we have not finished organizing stuff.  Plus, she has lots of clothes that are getting too small that I need to get out of the drawers.    Added motivation: If she cleans her room, her cousin can come stay over either tonight or tomorrow night!   (She might actually get some work done with that ...