thismomrocks

To Salt Lake City and Back!

I recently went to Salt Lake for a business trip and I have to say it was an experience to say the least!

First of all I entered a weight loss contest with my company and had to lose 10% of my weight, and this convention was to determine the results!  Then a week before I had to take a decongestant because my ears hurt so bad when I fly, so I was a wreck the day we took off!   I was so nervous!  I had to take 4 motion sickness pills, and a migraine pill!  Yes it was a trip to say the least! LOL   I plugged my headset in and zoned out!!  Thanks to a friend of mine I had some amazing music to listen to!

We arrived and I was totally out of it!   Keep in mind I haven't had a bit to eat and I was a so worrying about the darn scale because I had to weigh in that day!  Oh and I was very medicated from flying!  We had to wait 2 hours at the airport for the shuttle that kept passing us by, then they messed up our reservations, oh the hotel story could be a blog all in itself!  Just crazy!

Ok so if I made my weight that means I was in the running for the Grand Prize.. a Ford Mustang, 1st Prize $3,000, or 2nd $500 prize! So big prizes!  

So we get to the convention center and it's time to weigh!  I got on the scale and OMG the scale was 7lbs heavier than mine!  Thank God I lost an additional 12lbs or it would have been close!  I was so excited that I made the 10% club!  I was already a winner I lost 48lbs total!  Whoo Hoo!!

Friday came and it was the big day!  The winners were to be announced and called on stage!  They called the $500 winners and I (thought) they called my  name!  So I'm up there on stage thinking I won the $500 and when they called the $3,000 winner they called MY NAME!~  I was like OMG!  That's ME!  The lady before me had a name very close to mine and I so well I went up!  It's a funny story, but the best part of it all was that I won $3,000!!

Come on in and I will fill you in on the rest of the weekend!

It was lots of fun, but crazy at the same time!

The past two weeks I have been living in the great

"Shawnee National Forest"

at Camp Ondessonk!

Last year I went for one week and it just wasn't long enough!  So this year I decided to go for two!  My oldest daughter is a counselor there and my youngest went as a camper!  The Elbe women enjoyed time in nature and totally in our element!  It was by far the best experience I have ever had at camp! 

I worked in the trading post where the kids go to get drinks, food, and fun Camp O goodies!  I walked 3 to 4 miles everyday and saw "God's country" at its best!  I hiked everyday and enjoyed the peace and quiet of nature!  I can't wait to go back!   Those of you that have visited this place with me know what I'm talking about!   I thought about the fun times we had while we were there and the great memories we made!  Looking forward to more! 

Have you ever been to a place where it literally changes your life? How you think and feel about who you are?  Well, it's hard to put into words, but I feel so blessed to have found this place and I encourage everyone to get out and connect with nature!  

I put together a slide show of my two weeks and some of my favorite places at camp!  I know it's hard to grasp if you have never been there, but we are going back in September and again in October so let me know if you are interested. 

I missed you guys!

Peace, Love, & HEEPWAH!

Jana

Friendship is a gift......

 is a true blessing!

Today was such a wonderful day!  Spending time with family and friends is what it's all about!  Today we showed that perfect strangers that meet online can become the best of friends!

The blessing in all of this is that we are a group of friends that can get together anywhere, anytime,  and have fun NO matter what!  

We step outside of our stressful lives and leave our worries behind!  We can laugh at the smallest things, cry when our friends are hurting, and pick each other up when times are sad.  We can look at each other and see family!   Omg we can get nuts!

As hot and humid as it was today, it was so nice to spend time with friends.  I loved playing washers with Jaybird, (even though I said it wrong) if only I had the Whossseyyy Whattsitttt~ I think I could have scored bigger points~ LOL 

I got a million dollars stuck to my chest and spent a million wishes in hopes it was the real deal!  No luck there!  I finally got the jersey that I have wanted since Pep Rally last year!  The topper of the evening was when Patrick and Lindsey stopped by to say hi!  (or Goodbye!)  I love you guys and just want you to know I will miss you soooooo much!!!  Good luck!

*Stop by and let me know your favorite part of the day!   

*Add any photos from today, or times when we have hung out that bring back fun memories! 

*Thanks again!

Peace~ Jana

Happy Birthday Hannah!

Today my youngest turns 13 and is now officially a "Teenager!"  Now I have three of them in one house!

This girl is amazing, and I want to wish her the best day ever!  She loves hanging out with her friends and is almost as addicted to her cell as Iam!  Well, she is her mother's daughter!  LOL 

So Sweety, have fun, enjoy your day, and know that I am your biggest fan!!  Hugs Mom!

Help me out in wishing her a Happy Birthday! 

Oh check out the slide show inside!

Peace baby I love you!

Happy Mother's Day!

Yes, that is me with my Mom when I was 6 years old!              Mom and I were as tight as two people could get, she was my best friend even at age 6!  Our life was a whirlwind at times, but we always pulled through the toughest times side by side.  Mom taught me so much about life and as I sit here today, I cherish every story she told me, every time we put on the 45's and danced in the living room to Aretha Franklin, or just sitting enjoying each other's company!  She was amazing!

Mother's Day is here again, but I don't miss her more today than any other.... I miss her everyday!

So Listen up.......Enjoy Mother's day with your Mom, but don't just focus on Sunday!  Enjoy everyday she is with you, because one day she will be gone!  My Mom is always close to my heart, but what I wouldn't give to hug her again!

Today I not only want to honor my own Mother, but the many "MOM" that have touched my life!  I want to thank those that have been there for me when I needed a shoulder, a laugh, or just those that take the time to really get to know me.  We sure know how to have fun don't we!

Come on in a see the slide shows, and please share what you will be doing for Mother's day weekend!  Add pictures, videos, and most of all what you received from your kids!

Wishing you all a "Happy Mother's Day!"

Peace<3

Jana

Jimmy Buffett on Tour 2008

"The Year of Still Here"

He is "Still Here" and looking good! 

This was my first "Buffett" concert, and I have to say it was an amazing experience!  The people are definately a unique bunch, and I have to say after about 10 minutes of walking the parking lot meeting some of them Drew and I fit right in!  People came from all over to see Jimmy and the place was packed!

We were worried about the weather, and when we got there the sun came out and everyone took their rain gear off and put their flip flops on!! 

The stage was decorated in a tropical theme, and the music was crazy!  I could sit and listen to that for hours! Give me a cold Margarita or a Landshark beer, sit me on a beach and I'm done!  Oh and crank up the "cheese burger in paradise!!"  OMG the crowd went wild when he played that song!! LOL

Well, I left my camera at home because of the possible rain, but I had my phone (of course!) so I put a little slide show up to give you an idea of the crazy madness!

So if there are any "Buffett Fans" out there, tell me your experience, or show me some fun buffett graphics!!

Oh and Thanks Rob & Deb for hooking us up with the tickets, have fun in Vegas!! 

Peace, Jana

Well I can tell you this......

I'm so ready for the weather to change.....Oh wait it does that every day!!  How about Spring.....What's that?  Im sitting here with my hubby home from work, all three kids home from school and wishing I was on some tropical island laying on a beach sipping on a wonderful drink with one of those little umbrellas in it!  

Yes sitting on a beach and listening to the waves sounds like a dream come true!  How about walking barefoot in the sand and feeling the warm wind blow your hair!  OMG that sounds amazing right now!!  I look out my window and all I see in snow and ice!  AGAIN!! 

Isn't there a condition for this, where you get all down and blue because you miss the sunshine?  Well if we took a poll right now I bet most of us would have it!! 

Let's go on an adventure.........Show me where you would rather be............I know right now it's not here!  Time to pack up and go on a vacation.......Where we going???

Happy Birthday

Katie!

Wishing you a wonderful birthday, I hope you have a wonderful day!!

 Hugs!!!

I received an email tonight from a friend and fellow blogger "Wilkey!"

He is in California taking some extra training classes, and found out some sad news regarding his son, Thomas, was involved in an accident.  He was cleaning up the back yard and was burning some yard waste.  The gas can he was holding shot fire up the nozzle and blew the bottom of the can off with the flaming gas getting on him. 

Tammy, his mom, doused him with her robe putting out the fire and literally saved his life.  He suffered third degree burns on his stomach, right arm, and his leg.

He is in St John's Mercy Medical Center's Burn Unit.

God was truely with him on that day!

Please keep them in your prayers!  Give Thomas something to look at during his long stay in the hospital.  He has several surgeries to go through and I'm sure all the prayers and well wishes will cheer the family up.

We love you guys, and you are in our prayers!

Happy BirthdayKK_Mom!

Happy Birthday Sweety!

May your birthday be filled with love and happiness, family and wonderful friends!

Krista is spending her Birthday in the hosptial with her son Zack, so if everyone could send her some love and prayer that would be amazing! 

Krista you know we love you girl!

I have a little present inside for you!!  Enjoy!

Peace baby, Jana

Happy Birthday Lauren!

01-29-08

Do you know how much you mean to me?
As you grow into what you will be.
You came from within, from just beneath my heart
it's there you'll always be though your own life will now start.
You're growing so fast it sends me awhirl, With misty eyes I ask, Where's my little girl?
I know sometimes to you I seem harsh and so unfair, But one day you will see, I taught you well because I care.
The next few years will so quickly fly, With laughter and joy, mixed with a few tears to cry.
As you begin your growth to womanhood, this fact you must know, You'll always be my source of pride, no matter where you go.
You must stand up tall and proud, within you feel no fear, For all you dreams and goals, sit before you very near.
With god's love in your heart and the world by its tail, You'll always be my winner, and victory will prevail.
For you this poem was written, with help from above, To tell you in a rhythm of your Mother's heartfelt Love!         

 ~Tammy

I love you with all my heart! 

Love Mom!

Happy Birthday

Redbird's Drive-by!!

Please join me in wishing a very special person a wonderful birthday! 

Thank you for all you do at the station, for bringing the blogs to life and giving us all the opportunity to get to know one another!

Check out my photo albums, and it will definately give you an idea of the friendships that have been made, and the fun we have!  Thank you for making that happen! 

May 2008 bring you much Joy and Happiness! 

Good luck to you and your family on your new endevor!

Let's all wish Redbird a Happy Birthday & a message of much success in his new position.  Thanks again for all you do for us!

Peace, Jana<3 

Thank you 2007.......

This year started out the worst year of my life..... In January I lost my best friend in my entire world....My "Mom"......My heart shattered into a million pieces!

I spent the months that followed trying to gather as many of those pieces that I could, and try to fill my heart with some sort of "hope" for a happier tomorrow......My life has been a roller coaster ride at times, but I have to say there have been so many blessing in disguise!

As the months passed I made some amazing friendships that I knew in my heart would last forever!  These friends you see, are now family to me! 

As December ends & we say goodbye to 2007, I know that my Mom is with Jesus in Heaven!  So what started out to be the worst year ever, has turned into a year filled with many blessings!  New friends, A New beginning, &     A New Year!

I want to say Thank you to everyone that has touched my life this past year!  You all mean the world to me!  Here is a thought........Life is short.....Live each day to its fullest......If you have something to say...."Say it"...don't wait for tomorrow may be to late.  If you love someone...Tell them!

Take a stroll down 2007 memory lane with me as I share some of my favorite moments here on myfoxstl.com land!

Please share your favorite memory of 2007.....

May the New Year bring much Joy and Happiness!

Peace, Jana

Happy Birthday

To a very special lady!

Happy Birthday Lil' Sis!

Wishing you a wonderful birthday Stacy!

Thanks for being a wonderful friend!

Let's all give Stacy a great birthday present and send her lots of messages today!