Christmas is over! Say what?!!!!!

December 26, 2025December 26, 2025 Shel R.2 Comments

Months of planning. Months of shopping and wrapping. Months of preparing. One night of playing Santa and doing everything he’s supposed to do. Hours of cooking and cleaning up – And you mean to tell me it’s all over now?!

When I was a little girl, we used to go to my grandma Shirley’s / Pap-Pap (grandpa’s) place for Christmas eve.

All of my aunts and uncles were there.

All of my cousins were there.

Life was good.

The adults would be in the kitchen cooking, talking, drinking, laughing, or in the dining room around the table – joking around and having a good time. The men would be outside smoking, and us cousins – we were in the living room – just waiting to open gifts and teasing each other.

The Christmas bells outside of their house played music. They had some awesome Christmas lights lining their front windows, and everything was decorated inside.

Those we good times.

After a while, my Pap-pap passed, and grandma moved somewhere else, so my uncle was hosting Christmas at his place.

The adults would be upstairs, while us cousins were in the basement getting into mischief.

I remember one Christmas when one of my cousins was opening his gift from someone, held it up and yelled, “YYYYEESSS!”. Our grandma asked if he knew what it was, and he said, “No!”. lol. Someone told him it was socks. He had us laughing when he looked at a few of us cousins and whispered (sarcastically), “Just what I’ve always wanted. Now, I just have to wait to open a pair of Chonies!”. (Underwear). 🤣

One of my favorite Christmas memories – is when my Uncle L. went to the store next to my Uncle T’s house, and he told me and one of my cousins not to open the door for ANYONE. Nobody. He said he meant that, too!

So, when he came back and he was knocking to get in, my cousin asked who it was. My Uncle L. yelled my cousins name and told him to stop playing and open the door because it was cold out there. My cousin looked at me and smiled as we sat on the stairs right by the door. He yelled back, “You said not to let ANYONE in. NOBODY! You meant that, too!”. We laughed so much, and as my uncle continued to bang on the door and yell for us to open it, my cousin kept laughing and telling him, “But dad – you said….”.

When he finally got in, my uncle told his son, “Remind me to kick your ass later!”. 😁

I loved hanging out with certain cousins during Christmas at my grandma or uncles house.

Christmas at Grandma Shirley’s / Pap-Pap’s and Uncle Ts was fun because they always had the music blasted with either Christmas music or Mexican music. It alternated, went back and forth, and many times – family would dance and mingle.

People passing by could hear the music from outside and know there was a big party going on.

This is one of the photos I have from one of the many Christmas Eve parties at my grandma Shirley and Pap-pap’s place.

Unfortunately, I don’t have many photos of back then, but this is one I do have that I love.

A few of my cousins and me.

I’m in the white and black dress with the cheesy smile. ❤️As you can tell, they couldn’t get us all to look and smile at the same time, but that’s how pictures usually went. Some of my cousins were always ready, and some of them were always joking around and not taking it seriously. ha.

Christmas was always filled with so much laughter, love and good memories from Christmas Eve at my grandma Shirley and Pap-pap’s house, to the ones we spent at my uncle T’s house, and then rushing home to get to bed before Santa came. On Christmas Day – my other aunt and uncle on my mom’s side – would come over to my Yia-Yia’s place – who lived downstairs from us – and we’d celebrate Christmas day there, opening more gifts, eating more good food, and enjoying more love, laughter, and good memories being made.

As we got older – family traditions of going to anyone’s house kind of faded away little by little, and eventually – it just became about main family. Everyone started doing their own things, and when my parents moved into a new place, we started getting together there. Just my brother, his now ex-wife, his family and me and my kids. That was it. That became our new Christmas / holiday tradition.

We still had fun though.

Eventually, Christmas was at my brother’s place.

So, Christmas had changed a lot over the years, but I still hold on to some great memories of people, places and funny stuff from each and every one of them – no matter how or where we celebrated it.

One tradition I miss – that no longer happens – is the Christmas gift wars between my brother and me.

My mom used to call us “idiots” because we’d be trying to open prank gifts from each other for 20-40 minutes each year. We did our Christmas prank wars every year for many years, and we’d always try to top the last year by making each gift harder and harder to open for the other.

One year – my brother wrapped so much string around my gift and then zip-tied it.

I got through all of the string and the zip-ties – only for it to be this:

It says, “You just wasted all that time for this!”.

The following year, I zip-tied his, bubble wrapped it, and did so many other things to make it hard for him to open, only for him to finally get it open and see this:

“KARMA!”. lol.

He threw it behind him and tried not to laugh.

One year – he got me good though. I won’t lie.

I love trolls! The crazy-wild haired, big eyed 90’s trolls.

I walked into my parent’s house for Christmas one year, and he pointed at a bag and told me, “No jokes this year. No Christmas prank wars. This is your gift right here, but you can’t open it yet!”. I saw a little bit of it when I looked down, and I was so excited when I saw a few parts of TROLL HAIR! I couldn’t wait to open it and thought he got me new ones.

That night after dinner – when we were all opening gifts, he told one of my kids, “Give your mother that gift right there from me”. One of my kids handed it to me, and I opened it. I noticed it was three trolls that I already have, so I asked where he got them from to maybe exchange them, because I said I already had them. He and my mother laughed and he told me, “No, you HAD them! Those are yours!”.

He stole a few trolls from the top of my fridge in my kitchen when he came over a few weeks before, and I didn’t even know they were missing. My mother was laughing so hard at the fact that I was so confused and had no idea how he grabbed them without me noticing. 🙄

I admit – that was a good one.

One year, I purchased a safe at the store, put his REAL gift inside of it, and locked the safe.

It was a combo safe, and I only I had the combination that came with it.

When he unwrapped it, I told him that his real gift was inside if he could crack the code.

It literally took him 5 minutes, and he had the safe open without breaking it or anything.

My jaw dropped and I sat there wondering how the hell he got it open so fast without the combination.

He made me laugh when he said, “I’m in the Military. You’d be surprised what I could do!”.

Then again, it was a cheap safe I purchased as a joke, so maybe they all had the same combos?!

Sadly, my brother is dealing with a lot of stuff these days and other issues, so we don’t talk much and living so far away from each other doesn’t help either. Our yearly Christmas gift wars – have stopped, but those will always be some of my best Christmas memories. 💕

I’ll never forget the Christmas my kids and I went to his house – and I walked in to see him like:

I laughed so much at his outfit.

It lit up, too!

Our dad was in the hospital, and he said he was going to the hospital to see our father – just like this. I asked if he was serious and he made me giggle when he says, “I don’t have anyone to impress!”.

I also remember the Christmas when he was telling everyone, “You get wrapping paper for Christmas! You get wrapping paper for Christmas! You get wrapping paper for Christmas!”, as he pointed at everyone and had us all laughing.

Other favorite Christmas memories I’ll always cherish:

Always taking my kids to BASS PRO SHOP to see Santa and do some of their Christmas activities.

On this day – Santa asked my two older kids if they’ve been good all year.

I laughed so much when they both looked at each other and didn’t know what to say.

Do we lie or do we tell the truth?! 😁

No matter how old my kids have gotten, Bass Pro shop around Christmas time was the place to be.

We don’t have one close by anymore, and I hate that – now that we live off the grid practically.

Family tradition for years now every Christmas – has been going to my aunt and uncles on my mom’s side to celebrate Christmas with them. We love it there, and although they have a new house now, this house (above) held so many good memories as well. If I could buy that house that they had before, I absolutely would!

Every Christmas for years – my mom used to just love to sit down, relax and talk to my kids. This was one of those times – where she sat and had some funny conversations with my two older kids. 💕

Same house my aunt and uncle used to have – during this one Christmas – my little guy and my nephew kept going by the back door and wiggling the door handle, and we caught my nephew pointing outside – as we joked that they were planning their escape.

One Christmas – I had one of my cousins make my Tiffie “Jordan” a mug that said, “There is nowhere you can go that I won’t be with you!”. I never knew heaven would be one of those places. 💔

This photo always makes me laugh!

My brother’s face is priceless!

He was watching T.V. on this Christmas day and heard my oldest kiddo and her girlfriend talking about what they were going to do when they got home (adult conversations) – and my brother overheard them.

He gave them that look above and told them, “Okay, there’s airing out your dirty laundry when you did something you shouldn’t have and I’d be all in for that gossip, and then there’s AIRING OUT DIRTY LAUNDRY NOBODY NEEDS OR WANTS TO HEAR!”. 🤣 I couldn’t stop laughing!

………………..

And every Christmas – my brother ALWAYS made sure there was a YEAR BEAR under the tree for me – no matter where we celebrated. I have a collection of them from different years that he has given me them.

Again, we don’t live close to each other anymore and we barely talk now, so he hasn’t gotten me one of those for a long time, but I miss those Christmas’s when he did. I always cherish those memories, and our gift wars.

My kids know how much I love and miss the YEAR BEARS, so yesterday – when I opened one of their three gifts to me – imagine how happy I was when I saw that they got me one.

Isn’t he cute?! I call him my *“Gingerbread man!”.* 🥰

They said that they tried to get me his wife, but she was all gone and all they had was males left. They wanted to get me the pair, but I was more than okay with him.

So, let’s talk about this Christmas.

I was up at 4 AM yesterday morning preparing the stuff needed for a dirt cake / pudding / cool whip combo my mom always made – that my kids totally miss and love. She made it every Christmas because she knew they loved and wanted it. So, it became tradition.

That woman took the recipe to the grave with her, and while I offered to try to make it like she did, the kids didn’t know if it would turn out quite like hers. It sure did! It’s delish!

I was up early making my coffee first. I then made the cake, made the pudding, and put that – and the cool whip together.

I have no idea which layer went first, but I did pudding on the bottom, cake, then Cool whip, cake, pudding, cool whip – and I just kept layering it. My mom used to put toffee bits in it, but I couldn’t find any in the last few days, so I added Chocolate chips on top. I think it turned out pretty well!

Maybe not EXACTLY like hers, but close to it.

I thawed the Turkey out, and got everything else ready, while my little guy was begging me to let him open gifts.

Let me tell you what he did on Christmas eve!!

One of my biggest joys during Christmas – is him coming into the bedroom and telling me Santa came – and he’s so excited because he wakes up and checks the living room first thing in the morning every Christmas.

On Christmas eve though – the magic was ruined because he fell asleep and I put him in his room, closed the door, and at 8 PM, I took out all of Santa’s gifts from the closet that I wrapped early that day, so I could just have a few glasses of wine and enjoy a movie after I did everything that “SANTA DOES”. Thinking he was asleep for the night, I put all of Santa’s gifts out, threw some carrots outside pretending the reindeer ate them, crumbled up the cookies “SANTA” ate, wrote a few notes from Santa and the elves, and poured myself a glass of wine.

A few minutes later – he comes out of his room, sees all of the Santa gifts under the tree, and said he couldn’t sleep.

In all fairness, I knew I should have waited until the middle of the night when I heard him snoring, but I just wanted to get it all done. SO, there was none of him coming into the room waking me up excited that Santa came – because he saw all the SANTA gifts under the tree that night. 🥺 Ah well.

He’s 9 and this Christmas has been bitter-sweet, because I don’t know if he’ll believe in the magic of the elves next year, or Santa. It’s bitter-sweet because my youngest daughter is 17, so this is her last Christmas as a kid.

Time and life are moving way too fast! My kids are growing up way too fast.

It’s sad to think that on top of all the Christmas memories I’ve had as a kid and over the years as an adult in different places – this will be just memories, too! It’s also bitter-sweet because this is probably our last Christmas in this apartment, and maybe – Minnesota – as we plan to move next summer.

Yesterday – I made Christmas breakfast. Just some pancakes and Tator tots.

We opened gifts.

The daughter got some ducks – because she collects those little things. One was a graduation duck! One was a witch because we joke that she is one 😁and she also got one with a beanie because I know how much she loves Beanies. They came with cute sunglasses she could change on them.

I got her those.

I got her a Sloth nightlight – because she loves Sloths. I got her a Sloth snow globe. I got her a Chicago hoodie, a gingerbread man tumbler, an amazon gift card, Billie Eilish perfume because she’s been bugging me about it (lol), and a bunch of other things. She also got a computer lap desk that comes with charging ports, a place for her phone, a reading light and a fan on it.

My older son just wanted some tapestry stuff and posters for his wall. His walls are covered with different posters and drawings, tapestry, etc. I got him more. He wanted some monkey phone / controller holder, so I got him that. He showed me it on Amazon weeks ago. I got him cologne (2 bottles. Different kinds). I also brought him a computer lap desk, and – he always talks about getting a motorcycle.

Many motorcycle owners believe in the “Guardian bell”. A bell they hang somewhere on the bike or their keychain like a spiritual guardian angel for the rider. I’ve read legend says that it protects from evil spirits that try to attach themselves to the motorcycle or rider, but I don’t know if that’s true or not. Either way – it’s for protection for the rider.

The rule is – you can’t buy it yourself.

It has to come from someone who truly loves you and wants you to be safe, so while I’m against him getting a motorcycle, I feel like if anyone is going to get him a guardian bell – it should be me. So, I did. It says, “Never drive faster than your guardian angels can fly”. ❤️ I got him many other things as well, and both of kids loved their gifts – just as much as my little dude loved his.

I laughed when my son told my daughter, “She got me a guardian bell. Shhhh! Let me see if I hear a motorcycle pulling into the parking lot!”. I told the kid, “Nice try!”.

Little dude got a scooter, a dart board, roller skates, new knee and elbow pads, Legos, some street hockey items, and much more.

You want to hear something funny?

I forgot I brought him a helmet already from Amazon, so when “SANTA” went shopping, she also brought him a new helmet and didn’t realize there was one under the tree already. 🤣 I need to start writing down what I purchase – to avoid double orders. I’m thinking about making him pick which one he wants to keep (the one Santa brought is much cooler and lights up), so I may just give another child the one I purchased from Amazon.

With my Year Bear – my kids also brought me some things I needed, and an “S” for my computer desk.

Christmas was great.

❤️

The rest of the day was filled with blessings, love, laughter, and good memories being made.

After gifts, we cleaned up, and my older son and I started cooking dinner around 4 PM. I poured a glass of wine and sat down to watch the game between the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings last night.

I read somewhere yesterday – that Snoop Dogg came out with a song called, “Spending Christmas in Minnesota”. I listened to it and laughed and wondered what he knew about spending Christmas in Minnesota, but then I read that he was actually in Minnesota yesterday for the game – to do the halftime show. So, I had to watch it! 😶 He did a damn good job, too! Him, Lainey Wilson, and anyone else with him.

Christmas, some late-night chatter, and holiday Kindness.

December 19, 2025December 19, 2025 Shel R.4 Comments

As we all know …. There’s only a few days left until Christmas.

I just started shopping for my son’s teacher and getting her gift bag together, but also – gift bags for his 2nd grade teacher (who we miss dearly since he left 2nd grade) and his Kindergarten teacher (because she was awesome as well). 😚 His 1st grade teacher moved to another state this year.

I keep in touch with his 2nd grade teacher, and she actually made me smile one day when I stopped into her classroom to say hi at the beginning of his 3rd grade year, and she told me she follows me on Tiktok. 😁 She said I make her day whenever I post, and it made me happy knowing I can do that for anyone who follows me on socials.

I just have fun with it, and post random videos.

Anyway, I’ll be getting the teachers gifts together today and then I’ll start to finish up Elijah’s Christmas goody bags for his class. We do it every year, so he can bring in some fun stuff to hand to each kid with cupcakes and juice, etc. Within the next few days, I’ll also be preparing gifts for my boss, and a few people at work, and of course – finishing up gifts from Santa – to my little dude. ❤️

When I tell you that I can’t wait to sit on the couch at midnight – when the house is silent, the kids are in bed on Christmas eve, all is finished and I can enjoy a glass of wine in peace – I MEAN THAT!!!! lol.

This year has kicked my ass and I’m so glad 2025 is almost over. When I ring in 2026 with my kids this year – I’ll shed a few tears, and smile because I got through it with my sanity, faith and many prayers.

I pray 2026 is good to me and my kids and that we have many blessings next year, because life has been a bully the last few years. Ha. I’m ready for changes, and new beginnings.

If you want to laugh… I’ve been looking for houses in suburban Illinois near my aunt and uncle (who we are close to), and I found one I absolutely love!!!

My bank does mortgage loans, and has their own home inspection agents, Real estate agents, and so on – so I applied for a mortgage loan a few days ago, and my bank called me yesterday to talk about it.

When the guy said, “Thank you for being such a great customer of ours since 2015”, I was so confused. That’s a long damn time! I’ve been saying I’ve been with my bank for 6 years, but I didn’t even realize it’s been 10! We’ll – hot damn……

No really! I feel old.

🤗

So, I’m approved for the mortgage loan, right?

No! No, that’s not how it works and it’s not that easy, but I wish!

Technically, they like to see that you have a stable job / income in the state you plan to move to, or at least an offer of a job in that state you plan to buy a home in – saying when you’re starting, how much you’ll make, etc. They also like to see that it’s a salary position and they can work with that – as I was told.

If I wanted to buy a house here in Minnesota, it would probably be easier – since I have that income, and I’m in the state I want to buy in, but no. I don’t want to buy here.

I work in Minnesota, so it’s hard for them to get me approved for a mortgage on this house I fell in love with in Illinois – if I’m not working in Illinois and don’t have a job offer out there, yet. I figured as much and I was expecting that, but part of me really wanted to have a house already, so that when we leave where we are now – we’re moving into our own place and not renting.

Can that still happen? Yes! However, I won’t be applying for jobs in Illinois or close to it – for a few months – while I wait for my daughter’s graduation to get closer. Do I expect the home buying process to be easy? Hell no! “Easy” is not how my life goes! 🤣 I’m sure the house I fell in love with – will be sold by then, but it was a nice feeling – finally finding something I truly wanted!

Hey! At least I know when I’m back in Illinois, close to it or at least have a job offer out there next year, my bank is ready to help me get a house! Maybe things won’t go as smoothly as I’d like them to, but – I trust God and if it’s meant to be, it will happen – eventually.

Listen. I’ve never wanted to own a house because I didn’t want the headaches that come with it, but after renting where I am now for almost 6 years and the stuff I’ve dealt with, I’m so ready to never have to deal with a landlord again.

So, wish me luck and pray for me as I work my ass off to get through Christmas and finish shopping, fill the kids’ stockings, and maybe fill my own with some fun things I like – and also – as I try to get through the rest of 2025 without screaming in the middle of a cornfield somewhere. (Although – that may make the end of 2025 a little better!). 🧐

It’s 2 AM and I’m awake.

I went to bed super early yesterday because it was snowing, the roads were icy, and I didn’t feel like driving anywhere. My son’s – made me smile when they used the projector I gave them as an early Christmas gift – to play video games together all day – on the wall – where they set it up, and my daughter did laundry and watched movies because both of my kids had a snow day (a day off school) yesterday.

………. Which is why I was in bed early, and why I’m up at 2 AM.

I’ll eventually go back to sleep, but until I do – here I am – entertaining you! (Are you up right now with me?).

In other news, right after the holidays are over – I’ll be catching up on different things, working on getting my car fixed and paying it off to trade it in, and probably packing up the rest of our things we don’t use or need right now – to be ready to move.

Life is about to go really fast for us, and I’m hoping our new adventures all work out and treat us kindly.

My daughter will be looking at colleges soon and getting into an EMS program. She’ll be working on getting her permit (She was so close but failed a few times) and got discouraged…. but life goes on, we try things again and never give up.

I’ve thought about home-schooling my little dude and that’s something I’m looking into next year (as one of my good friends highly encouraged it) because she used to home school her kids for years and loved it. She made me laugh because she just recently sent her kids to public school after being against it for so long and she’s the one who finally got me into to thinking about home-schooling. I asked her why she put her kids in school and she made me laugh when she said she never gets time alone to herself, and her kids need to socialize and make actual friends besides the ones on the local baseball team.

There’s a lot of changes happening next year, a lot of decisions will be made – from colleges for the daughter, to possibly trying home-schooling the little dude and getting him on a baseball team (as he wants to do so badly), maybe buying a house, a career change as I finally try to get into my dream job – and upgrading the vehicle.

We all know plans don’t work out the way we want them to or plan for them to, and that God is in control, so while all of the planning is great and I have an idea of how I want 2026 to go, God may have other plans and I just have to continue to keep my sanity, faith and prayers going.

I was watching “The War room” on Netflix yesterday and the way Ms. Clara yelled:

I think I’ll be alright in 2026 – as the last few years have been hell.

I hope God fights for me in every area of my life next year.

I trust God to take us into 2026 with all the blessings we deserve, and I just have to trust that if I go him in prayer, he’ll fight for me and he’ll make next year a lot better than the last few. I’m manifesting it!

Baby, we should all have a “WAR ROOM”, and go to God with all our battles, worries, problems, etc. and then get out of the way to let him handle everything.

It’s a cute movie by the way.

May I also say that I think we all need a “Ms. Clara” in our lives?!!!!

Enough about 2026 though – I hope and pray that as Christmas and New Year’s rolls around; you find yourself in good health, happy, ready to make needed changes, make better decisions, and ready to celebrate all the blessings you have in your life.

I hope you get to spend it with family, friends, loved ones – and that you all have a safe and great holiday season. ❤️

Later, I’ll be sitting on the floor going through all the gifts I brought the kids and making sure they each have an equal amount. Usually – I count as I wrap and place them under the tree, but I didn’t do that this year.

I’ll also be shopping for Christmas dinner, and since we didn’t do a Turkey for Thanksgiving because the kids wanted Chicken tacos – we’re doing a Turkey for Christmas. I plan to try my hand at a sweet potato casserole, and my mom used to make this delicious cake / chocolate pudding / cool whip / nuts dessert that my kids absolutely loved and miss, so I plan to try to make it like she did.

I truly wish I knew how to make my grandma (Yia-Yia’s) lumpy chocolate pudding, but I used to ask her for the recipe, and she used to joke that she was taking it with her to the grave. I miss that!!! She DID take it with her to the grave, and I never found out how she made it so good with lumps of Chocolate in it. She made it for me on many holidays when I’d ask her for it.

I miss my mom’s veggie pizza, and I may try to make that as well.

I miss the way holidays used to be when everyone was alive, happy, and always got together for these special occasions. 🥺

Anyway – as I finish up shopping, prepare to shop for Christmas dinner and dessert, put gifts together and wrap, and finally get to celebrate with a glass of wine on Christmas Eve – I pray all of you have a blessed one, and that if life is kicking your ass like it is mine – that you take everything to God in prayer, move out of the way and let him handle it for you.

I hope he does.

I know a lot of people are struggling right now, but if you have your health, a few close people, and you’re still alive – be grateful!

Let me also finish this by saying that if you’re in a position to help those who are struggling or dealing with life right now and you know they’re having a rough time, PLEASE offer to help where and when you can.

Some single parents are stretching their budgets and letting some bills go to make Christmas magical for their kids. Some people are in hospitals and won’t be home for Christmas, or overseas. Some people are going through divorces, losing everything they have, or can’t go home to be with family – so just be kind to everyone because you never know what someone is dealing with, or what they had to go through to make it through the holiday season this year.

Recently, I was talking to a good friend of mine and she mentioned she is always helping others, but nobody helps her. She said she has such a big heart and a weak spot for those who need anything, and when she needs something, nobody jumps in to help or offers their assistance. I told her I know the feeling, because I’ve helped so many and I could be at my lowest and those who I know could have helped – watched me struggle instead.

We talked about Karma and how we’re waiting for our good Karma to come back around to us that we’ve dished out for others, and I told her, “Maybe Karma isn’t here on earth for us! Maybe our good Karma is when we pass, and God opens the gates of heaven for us, no questions asked because he knows what we’ve done for others here on earth, and that will be our good Karma. Making it into heaven, and God not even blinking an eye when he ushers us in”.

We giggled about it, but it’s the truth.

So, never stop being a good person – even if nobody is around to help you when you need it.

HELP SOMEONE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON and if you see them struggling – don’t wait for them to ask. Just be a good person and do something nice for them!

For those grieving this holiday season – I know the feeling, and I’m sending you such big hugs, and lots of love, but can you imagine the huge celebration and laughter that heaven has – with all of our loved ones up there?! They’re not missing earth, and for that – I smile. 💕 You should, too!

Let me get out of here and go back to bed. I have to be up early to get the kids to school, and go get the teacher’s gifts ready, as I rush to finish gifts from Santa as I said, plan dinner – and just making the last weeks of 2025 – bearable.

Again, do something kind for others this holiday season and be nice – even if it’s just paying for someone’s meal, buying them a coffee if you’re in front of them in line at the local Starbucks, or visiting a local shelter and donating some food, gifts, etc.

I love ya!

❤️Shel❤️

Deadlines met, more money spent, Senior assassin plans, and work.

December 17, 2025December 17, 2025 Shel R.2 Comments

You have to have humor in life, right?!

Good morning and let me make you laugh a bit.

I dropped off my little guy at school this morning and as I was driving around the block to drop my daughter off at the high school, she said her friend wanted a ride. I swung around to get her friend and parked in the high school parking lot.

Me: I am absolutely down to look at LIFE 360 and do a drive-by or five on the days that I don’t work.

My daughter started naming her friends, and says, “We can all jump out of the car, do our thing, and jump back in. You’re the get-away driver!”. We laughed about it, and we laughed even more when my daughter’s friend says, “I feel like I’m listening to something I shouldn’t be involved in. I’m out of here!”. Her friend was laughing as she got out of the car, knowing what I was talking about.

We were talking about SENIOR ASSASSIN!

The class of 2026 has been planning it the last few days, taking votes on if they want to do water or gel pellet guns, and my daughter is so excited to be a part of this. 🤣 This is a game played in many states all over the world – where Seniors go around shooting their fellow Senior classmates with either water or gel pellet guns – in order to “assassinate” or eliminate each other.

There are only two rules.

They can’t get each other on school grounds, or – at one of their places of employment.

Anywhere else – is fair game.

They are currently voting on if they should all download LIFE 360, add each other to it, and have fun knowing where certain classmates are – to go get them.

When my daughter went on her Senior class trip a few months ago, she brought herself a very small water gun to have fun with, and I looked at her funny when she said she’s going to use that if they decide on water guns – for Senior assassin. I told her she better let me take her to the store and buy her a couple of huge SUPER SOAKERS! We both laughed and I told her, “Go big or go home!”. 😁

In all seriousness, my daughter hates social situations, and she doesn’t like to be around a lot of people because of her anxiety, so I am so happy she’s excited about this, and plans to participate. I was totally joking about the “getaway driver” thing – (unless other parents are participating as well), and then I’m totally down for it. ha. She’s been talking about it for days now, as all of the Seniors try to figure out what they want to use, when they plan to start it, and how it’s going to go.

We also just turned in all of her Yearbook deadline stuff.

The photo of her when she was little:

This will be in the Yearbook I believe, but also on the screen at graduation as they show the “then and now” photos of the class of 2026.

We turned in her Senior photo she picked for the Yearbook – after taking tons of photos the past few weeks. She and I both loved this one:

She turned in her Senior wills, which says what she’ll leave behind and to whom.

She said she was going to leave her Sassiness to her best friend, Riley – and her Silliness to her good friend, Logan.

She turned in her 10-year prophecy, which is where she sees herself in 10 years, and she said in 10 years, she’ll be saving lives as a Paramedic, living in California – hopefully with a few dogs. 🥰

She also had to turn in a Senior quote that goes under her Senior photo in the yearbook, and as we sat at the kitchen table searching for the perfect quotes or one that she liked, I cried like a baby.

I’m not ready for this! 🥺🤣

We went through many quotes, and each one just made me cry more.

Hers is, “We leave behind a trail of laughter, love, and a little bit of craziness”, and then she added, “Thank you for all the laughs“.

It was cute. It was simple. It works!

With everything turned in and deadlines met finally – I THOUGHT I was finished, but parents of Seniors know – that we are NEVER finished when we think we are. Yearbooks have to be paid for, and class rings have to be picked out and purchased.

Graduation outfits have to be shopped for – be it a tux for the Senior boys, or for us girl parents – dresses.

More money is involved, and it’s never ending – all the way up until graduation day, when we can finally sit back – relax and watch all of our hard work – pay off – as our Seniors walk the final walk – and get their diplomas. ❤️

AND THEN – IT’S MORE MONEY and it doesn’t end there because most of them will go on to college and need all kinds of new things. lol. Are we ready Senior parents?!!!!!!!

So, we’re almost done with Senior year, and all the madness and fun that comes along with it, and I’ve started getting emails for colleges, scholarships, grants, different financial stuff for her when she does go to college. She’s been getting different college packages in the mail as well – with colleges wanting her to come check out their schools.

She has decided on the University of Michigan, but I told her not to limit her choices to just one, and to check out multiple colleges before making any decisions, depending on if she still wants to do Paramedic or not – next year.

*****

My little guy just also had his Christmas concert, and it was only 20 minutes long.

I was surprised because in the recent years, it’s been longer, but it was still cute and fun.

He was one of the dancers, and he danced with a little girl. I wish I could upload videos here, but I would have to upload them to YouTube and grab them from there – and that’s a whole headache. He did a great job, though!

It broke my heart a little because it was his very last Christmas concert at this school, and I believe if all goes well – we’re moving next year, so it’s bitter-sweet to see my daughter almost ready to graduate from this school, and my son do his last concert here.

This school has been wonderful, and it’s sad to leave it, but we’re on to new adventures next year.

*****

As for me, I’ve just been working and enjoying my down time when I can.

I love my job!

Despite working in a facility that houses some of the roughest people and helping them get through some of their toughest times, I enjoy it and anything I can do to put a smile on their faces, or make them feel like someone cares – I’ll do it.

The amazing and popular rapper (Eminem) has a song called “Houdini”, and in the middle of it, he says, “F*** my own kids! They’re brats!”. His daughters are grown now – (one his own and the other two being adopted by him when they were little), and I thought it was the cutest thing when the video shows them on the phone / Facetime – acting shocked when he says that. It was pretty funny.

After that song came out, the internet and TikTok went crazy with his daughter, Hailey Jade – and others doing the sound that says, “I’m like, what’d he say F*** me for?”. It came from 50 cent from what I heard, but everyone used it as a joke to the Houdini song.

So, at work last week – I walked in super early and one of the older guys who live in the facility (Donny) I’ll call him – wanted something he usually gets at 8 AM – earlier. Sometimes, if I’m there early, I don’t see a big deal in giving it to him early because he’s a good guy and he behaves well. Sometimes – if one of our picky lead staff members are there, I just can’t do it. So, on this one day – he was down there, and he was yelling about how he’s tired of being treated like he’s a kid, and he was angry that one lead staff wouldn’t give him what he wanted, so he threw a fit.

He yelled, “F*** ALL OF YOU!”. I was working. My son was working. The one lead staff we try to avoid – was working. Later on, she walked away, and I called him downstairs to get what he was looking for and told him that he knows I always give him what he asks for, as long as I’m there and I can do it. I told him he didn’t need to yell at me when he knows I do what I can for him, and he apologized, so – I made him laugh when I said, “I’m like, what’d he say F*** me for?” – in the same tone TikTok uses for that sound.

We both laughed as he walked away.

We have another guy I’ll call “Bobby”. Bobby can be tough to deal with if he’s not sober, and sometimes he’ll listen, sometimes – he’s just ready to throw insults, punches, whatever he can. When he’s sober, he’s a decent guy to talk to.

At work a few weeks ago, my boss asked me to hand out Christmas wish lists for our tenants to fill out – for things they want for Christmas. Everyone turned theirs in over the last few weeks – except Bobby, so I planned to chase him down a few days ago – to see if he could turn his in. I didn’t have to though, as he came to the front desk and handed me his.

I opened it and it said he didn’t want anything for himself. Just a 1/2 dozen roses for his lady, Mary.

I thought that was the cutest, sweetest thing – but then again, there’s time where one of us staff members have to go break up arguments between him and Mary, and they have this weird, funny Love / hate relationship. Still, they both make me smile when they’re together and they both pick on each other and have their little arguments.

I don’t have favorite tenants, but one of my funniest ones – is a guy I’ll call Tony. He’s hilarious. He’s full of energy and I think I talked about him before. The one who made me my flower vase when I first started at this facility. I forgot what I called him back then, but for this – I’m calling him Tony.

I watch the cameras sometimes, and I’ll see him on one – and then next thing I know – he’s 10 cameras over, and I’m wondering how he got to the other side of the building so fast.

The other day, he had me laughing – as I watched him do laundry for FIVE entire hours. FIVE – because he was taking his sweet time folding his clothes so carefully, hanging them, cleaning the washers and dryers, and doing other things in the laundry room. Trying to fix the sink, picking things up from the floor, cleaning the floor, and things he didn’t go in there to do.

Not to mention that he left his breakfast on the water fountain, and someone else started eating off of his plate, so I had to bring it into the office to hold it for him, while Mr. “Take other people’s food” – walked around looking for where the plate went – that he was stealing off of, and I watched that on the cameras as I giggled to myself.

I love these people.

I’ve grown to know all of them. They’ve grown to know and trust me, and also my son when he’s there on the weekends, and I love working in this facility. Every day brings new laughter, new adventures here, and a lot of times when I’m looking for ways to make their life easier, their days brighter, and joke with them to give them laughter.

They’ve been through a lot!

In a world where society and the town judge them and knows all of the negative things about the people who live in this facility, I like to find the good in all of them, see the positivity they hold, and get to know them on a personal level. My job isn’t just for a paycheck. It’s to show these people that in a world full of hate and judgement, I’m not one of those people who do that. I care.

I will say that I pissed off one of the tenants yesterday and I can cross that off my “to-do” list. lol.

Just kidding. I don’t have a to-do list that states, “Piss of a tenant”, but I thought it was a funny thought.

She was angry that she felt like someone stole her laundry, but upon checking the cameras, I didn’t see anything and asked if she is sure she didn’t grab her laundry on another day and forget. I can honestly say that I was NOT her favorite staff member – as she screamed at me the 4th time she came and told me about her clothes missing, and that someone in the building stole them.

After she screamed at me and walked away, I knew I just had to let it roll off my shoulders, and that it was nothing personal. I knew that I wasn’t the first staff member she had went off on, and I won’t be the last. She’s one of our very much louder tenants, and when I’m at work, I try to be as polite with her as possible, get her whatever she needs, and call it a day.

I’ve learned all of their personalities, their flaws, their likes and dislikes, the ones you can joke with and the ones we kind of just have to say, “What do you need?” – take care of and keep it moving with.

On the plus side, I just found out that one of our other tenants that I’ll call Bryce – knows how to play songs on the Harmonica. That was pretty cool, and while he was a little tipsy yesterday, he knew I had this big project I was working on for my boss, and he stood by the front desk, played songs on the Harmonica, and it was actually nice.

I enjoyed listening to him as I did this project, and it was soothing.

Everyone I deal with there on a daily basis – I have grown to love, care about, and respect because they’re still standing. They still keep going, and they try their best to get through another day – no matter what cards in life they’ve been dealt. ❤️

*****

In other news – my car is an a-hole, and I’ve been trying to see if I can trade it in for a family SUV.

There’s something going on with my throttle, or sensors – whatever I’ve read on it, and I’ll be taking it to the shop next week to see what’s going on. I joked that my car is going to throw me into a brick wall – because it keeps doing this thing where it feels like it wants to accelerate by itself when my foot isn’t even on the gas, and sometimes – it feels like it wants to give up.

I did call a dealer this morning because I used to have a Ford Explorer and I absolutely LOVED IT, so I did tell the guy if one comes in – let me know. He gave me his cell phone number and told me that when I have a down payment ready, to come on in and he’ll take care of me. We ran some numbers, and he asked if I was looking for a Tahoe, Escalade, etc. I did tell him I don’t want anything huge, but I do need something bigger than what I have now, and I am looking to trade in my a-hole car. 😁

Christmas is almost here. I still have to buy gifts from Santa to the little dude, and hopefully early next year, I can trade this car in for something else. Until then – it’s going to keep being an a-hole, and I’m going to keep buying scratch-off tickets and hope I win big on one of them.

haha. Joking.

Love ya!

❤️Shel❤️

When sshhhh goes wrong… and a great Christmas movie.

December 12, 2025December 12, 2025 Shel R.Leave a comment

A few nights ago, I couldn’t sleep.

A friend of mine had told me about a cute movie she watched and wanted me to check out, so – since I couldn’t sleep and she knows I like different Christmas movies around this time of year, I watched the one she suggested.

I’m not sure if it’s streaming anywhere else, but I watched it on YouTube.

It seemed like a Hallmark movie, and I’m not really a Hallmark movie – kind of gal, but I actually like this movie.

You have to pay attention to really know what’s going on, but I recommend it if you’re looking for something cute to watch. ❤️

It has some great actors / actresses, such as Paul Walker and Robin Williams (God rest their souls), Susan Sarandon, Penelope Cruz, Chaz Palminteri, and others.

Paul Walker plays a super jealous and controlling cop, who doesn’t want any man around his fiancé or even looking at her, and she’s ready to leave him if he doesn’t change his crazy ways. She truly does love him and wants everything to work out – especially because it’s Christmas, and she doesn’t want to leave him during Christmas.

Susan Sarandon’s mother is battling Alzheimer’s / Dementia and won’t eat, and while she loves spending time with her mom every year, things are getting worse, and it’s become an awful Christmas for her – watching her mother go through all of this, as she watches the man across the hall from her mother’s room – fight for his life.

There’s an elderly man in this movie who is obsessed with Paul Walker’s character and at first – the movie makes it seem likes he’s gay and wants to be with “Mike” – (Paul’s character), but that’s not the case at all, and it made me cry when I found out why he’s so obsessed with Mike.

What Mike does for this man to heal his heart and soul – teaches him something about himself and his own jealousy and the way he’s acting with his fiancé.

The movie is good. I’d watch it again.

So, when I couldn’t sleep a few nights ago, that’s what I watched, and I enjoyed it.

If you watch it, let me know what you think.

*****

In other news, my son and I had our very first work meeting this week.

I work all week long and on the weekends. My son just works the weekends with me, but this meeting was mandatory for most staff.

We got updates on some of our tenants in the building. We got updates on whatever we needed to know. We talked about different things, the work Christmas party next week, things that need to be done during shifts, and so on.

Staff was able to voice our thoughts, ideas, concerns, etc.

My son and I stayed quiet because again, this was our first meeting since working at this facility and we just wanted to take it all in, see what goes on in these meetings, and who says what.

One thing that did make me want to speak up and go against something – was when one of my older co-workers said something about possibly putting up a sign that says nobody can hang out in the hallways because she’s tired of kicking people out of the halls, and nobody listens. They keep doing it anyway. If there’s a sign saying they can’t – maybe, they’ll finally understand it.

I disagreed with that because it’s winter. It’s freezing outside, and sometimes the weather is -10, -20, -30 – out here, and kicking people out in the cold, just doesn’t sit right with me. It’s not the kind of person I am and it’s not the way my heart is. Not to mention that while I’m on my shift, or my son and I are both working together – we don’t care if people are hanging out in the hallways because they’re safe, they’re warm, and they live in the building – WE DON’T! So, for us to kick them out of any part of their home – when we just work in this facility – doesn’t sit right with us.

I wanted to say all of that, but I didn’t.

I knew that if my boss agreed to put a sign up saying they can’t hang out in the hallways, and we still let them – (because I was still going to let them), it would be mixed signals because different staff let them do different things, and we wouldn’t all be on the same page.

Here’s the thing.

The facility I work in – as I said before – houses people who are homeless or were once homeless before they were accepted into this facility. It’s a big building and they each have their own little apartments.

This facility houses not only homeless people, but also alcoholics and those with drug addictions, and mental health issues. This facility houses some criminals who committed different minor crimes and have nowhere to go after their release, or those who have no family / friends to go to. We have people from all walks of life in this facility, and they lean on each other. They’re friends with each other. They enjoy hanging out with and seeing each other, because for some of them – the people who live there, are all they have.

The problem is – there’s two sides to this huge building.

There’s the side where the tenants are more independent, can work, go do whatever they please, come and go, etc. as long as they stay out of trouble and follow the rules of their leases, and of the facility. Then, there’s the side where people are more dependent, need alcohol portion control, are dealing with withdrawals, dealing with mental health things, and just need more care, and compassion.

The staff office – is right in the middle of both sides, so both sides can come and talk to the staff, or get what they need, but both sides are locked – and these tenants know that one side can’t go to the other sides lobby. So they call each other from the lobby phones, meet outside, or – in these hallways they have right by the office if it’s cold outside like it has been.

During the meeting, when my older co-worker asked if a sign can be placed, I was so happy when my boss said she’s on the fence about doing that, and she feels different about it.

She said as long as they’re not causing problems, fighting or drinking in the hallways, and as long as they’re not blocking the way to get in and out – it doesn’t bother her. She said she would much rather have them hanging out in the hallways safe and warm – than to be out and about wherever they’ll find to go to be warm and hang out and possibly get into trouble while they’re out and about.

She said she’d rather deal with them in the halls, than having the police calling the building saying, “Hey, you need to come get your guy”, or have one of them out and about drinking, and freeze to death.

I absolutely agreed with my boss, and I loved that she spoke up and said something because I was on the same page as my boss.

I was happy when the Case manager chimed in and said a sign probably wouldn’t matter anyway, because many of the people who live in the facility have had a “F*** You” attitude since they were little, and all they’re going to do – is become combative and give attitude if there’s a sign. They’re doing that now if they get kicked out of the hallways. So, it’s probably not even worth it.

I agreed with that as well.

It’s all about picking and choosing your battles and kicking them out of hallways of somewhere THEY LIVE – as I said – it’s not right.

I also wanted to speak up when one of the lead staff – said something about how people also aren’t allowed to be in the hallways if they don’t live here and just want to come in to warm up because they live on the streets. She said if that’s the case, they have TWO MINUTES to warm up, and get out, or – we can “slowly” help them fill out a housing application, and then – they have to go.

Part of me so badly wanted to kind of joke – but kind of seriously tell her, “You better hope you get into heaven when you die, and God doesn’t just give you TWO MINUTES to look around and tell you that you have to go!”.

I was so mad. I couldn’t believe how heartless she sounded. I wish I would have said something, but again, I didn’t, because I knew I wasn’t going to follow her TWO MINUTE RULLE anyway, and I was so proud of my boss and so happy when she spoke up again and said for her – it would be different.

She said for her being a human – she knows what she would want someone to do for her if she were in that same position, and if someone comes in off the streets to get warm, she will treat them like another human. She said she wouldn’t care if they slept in the hallways if that meant they have a warm place to be – even for one night. She said she’d offer a pair of warm gloves, a hat, whatever we have for whenever they want to leave, and one of my other co-workers mentioned giving them a cup of hot coffee.

YES!!!!!!

That’s how it should be!!!!!

If I’m ever at work and a homeless person comes in and needs to warm up, I’m grabbing that cup of coffee for them, having them sit down by our heaters, pulling up a chair next to them, and letting them keep me company as we chat, because I don’t have the heart for that “TWO MINUTES” crap. My boss said she’d much rather get in trouble by the higher up’s or whoever – for being a good person, than to have to treat another human like they’re below her, and I loved that!

Same.

Last week – I gave some of our “good gloves” at work to a few of the people who live there, and my son said something about how he thinks they’re Christmas gifts for those who ask for it on their wish lists.

First of all – gloves should not be on a WISH LIST. They should automatically be given out because that’s something that’s NEEDED in this weather, so if those gloves sitting in the closet were for the wish list – and I get in trouble for giving them out to people who NEED them, I’ll deal with that and take it with a smile.

My boss said in the meeting – that she’d back us up no matter what we decided to do in any situation, and that we have to use our best judgements and our common human sense. If I get in trouble for letting people hang out in the hallways to stay warm and safe, O-well. If I get in trouble for doing good things for people who live there, O-well. If I get in trouble if some homeless person comes in off the streets and wants to sleep in the halls to stay warm – O-well.

I know my boss will back me up, and that’s what matters. She has the same good heart I do.

I was bothered that this other lead staff literally sat there joking about her little TWO MINUTE rule, and they have to go. She had a smile on her face and said if they don’t live here, they don’t belong there and that’s it.

My face while she was talking – was something like:

My son tried not to laugh because he knew I was mad.

It takes ZERO EFFORT OR DOLLARS to be a good human being, and she doesn’t seem like she’s it.

After the meeting, I shared my concerns with my boss and I let her know – one on one – that I’m not kicking nobody out if they need to get warm, and that I don’t care who hangs out in the hallways if they’re not fighting, drinking or causing issues. She agreed with me, and again – I’m glad she backs me and the idea of being a good person – up.

I can’t promise I’ll stay quiet in future meetings, but I will say that from now on – I plan to stand up for what’s right and what’s wrong.

I love my job, and when it comes to rules and policies, I’ll follow them to an extent. When it comes to being a good person, helping others, showing love – compassion and kindness – I’ll bend the rules and policies if I have to, and I won’t apologize for it. 😶 There’s some circumstances where it’s okay to say, “We’re not supposed to do this, but….”.

So, my son and I survived our first work meeting – despite me having to bite my tongue and stay quiet on certain things I disagreed with or wanted to speak up on.

*****

On my side of this small little town, I’m just working, counting down the months until my daughter graduates’ high school and we can move.

I’m starting to get rid of things we don’t use, need or want – so packing will be faster and a little easier, and trying to STILL get graduation photos done, things turned in on time for her deadlines, etc. We’ve done some graduation photos, and she doesn’t like them, so we’re going to try again this weekend and by Tuesday of next week, everything should be turned in for the yearbooks and deadlines.

That’s a lot, right?! MAMA NEEDS A FEW NAPS. ha.

Today is my little guy’s Christmas concert at school and I’m looking forward to that.

He told me if I cry, he’s just going to “pretend” to sing, and not really sing. lol.

I work this weekend. I work next week. We were supposed to go to Illinois the end of this month for a few days to be with family, but I have things to do, to catch up on, and I just can’t.

Besides all of that….

Let me share how awesome my older son is!

I had to run to the store yesterday for a new pair of jeans and a new pair of shoes.

He offered to pay for my shoes. I told him I have the money, and he replied with, “I know, but I wanted to get you a Christmas gift from Amazon, and it won’t arrive on time, so let me just buy you the shoes you want”. I told him I wasn’t getting anything fancy right now because it’s winter, but he insisted – so, I let him. He called it my early Christmas gift, and I’m okay with that. 😁❤️

He really is a great kid!

After we ran to a few stores and grabbed Starbucks, we were on the way home and I felt my car driving a little bumpy. I pulled over and asked my son to check my tires, and when he did – he shook his head.

I knew I had a flat. I was so irritated because I’m a single mom. It’s almost Christmas. I have other things to buy or pay, and now I have to get a new tire on top of it???!!!

I couldn’t help it, and I was so stressed, drained and irritated – that I cried.

I didn’t just cry. I sat in the car and sobbed. Big tears. I was a wreck.

I saw this a few weeks back and didn’t think much of it until yesterday when I needed a new tire – on top of everything else going on, and I thought about this again.

I just laid my head back on my headrest, looked up and wondered what the hell God is doing up there, and why I just can’t feel like I’m getting ahead of anything.

My son was calm.

He changed my tire to the spare, and I was able to make it to the tire shop I always go to whenever I need tire work done.

I’m pretty sure I need an alignment, but they couldn’t do it yesterday, so I have to go back and that’s even more money.

$167 I didn’t plan to spend on the tire, and just like that – more money gone.

You know what I want for Christmas? A F***IN’ DAY WHERE EVERYTHING IS PAID, I DON’T HAVE TO GO ANYWHERE, I HAVE A BOTTLE OF GOOD WINE, I’M BORED OUT OF MY MIND BECAUSE I HAVE NOTHING TO DO AND NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT, AND LIFE IS GOOD!

I’m sure that’s the wish of every single mama out there though.

Hell, I’m sure that’s the wish of every person dealing with anything right now.

Listen. I’m blessed that God still has me on this earth with my kids, and my other three kids here on this earth with me, so I can’t really complain.

Other than that, I don’t have much else going on right now.

I just dyed my hair.

I know I said I wasn’t going to do that.

My silver / gray was showing through my dark brown / black hair, and I wanted to see how it would look if I finally fully went silver / gray. My daughter said it looked pretty cool, but with my son’s Christmas concert in a bit, I decided to go in with cut hair and a new color. 😊

Have a beautiful day loves!

❤️Shel❤️

Because – Snow.

December 9, 2025December 9, 2025 Shel R.1 Comment

I’m beginning to think God has a timer up there, and at 4 PM exactly – every day – it goes off and releases SNOW!

I swear – the last week or so, every day like clockwork, same time – it’s snowing.

Last night was no different. It started snowing as soon as I headed to Target at 4 PM.

It got bad really fast, and the drive home – 30 minutes back to my little itty-bitty town – was awful.

This is the time of year where Minnesota people get to play, “Hey, where’d the lines go?”, or “Am I on the right side of the road?” – depending on what you want to call it. ha.

Today, was a little better – since crews cleared the roads pretty quickly for the AM drivers, and I got to work with no issues.

What I didn’t know – was that more heavy and nasty snow was expected today, but this time – it started around 1 PM or so. We had a meeting at work, and after the meeting, I sat at the front desk – looking out at the snow as it started.

Around 1:20 PM, my boss sat next to me and we were chatting, as I told her my kids are getting out of school early due to the predicted snowstorm getting worse, and my older son was picking them up. She asked if I knew anything about the other schools up by my job closing early, and I told her I just knew the school in our town was letting the kids out early, but that I didn’t have to get them because my son was.

I got the email, the call, and the text for it.

She suddenly said, “Let me go make some calls”. I thought she was going to call and see if schools up that way where I work – were closing early because maybe she knew kids who go there or adults who work in those schools, but 10 minutes later, as I stood in the middle of the office – she came and stood next to me and said, “I called Jayla. She’s coming in early, so you can get out of here. I know you’ve got a long drive back and the roads are getting nasty. I want you to get home safe”. Jayla is one of my younger co-workers, and she came in for me.

I didn’t even ask my boss if I could leave early, but the fact that she thought about me driving all the way back to my little town in this weather and released me early – shows what kind of boss she is and I’m so grateful for her. 😊Another one of my co-workers took off as well, and I believe my boss did some of her work and was planning to leave early herself – since she has a pretty long drive home.

I will say that the ride home wasn’t too bad, and the plows were out doing their jobs, but the fact that I feel “snowed in” – sort of sucks. I wanted to be out and about doing Christmas shopping, and getting some errands done, but it is nice being home relaxing at the same time.

The school is starting two hours late tomorrow if nothing changes, but of course – the kids are praying it just closes.

I’m off the next few days, so I don’t have to worry about traveling.

I thought the snow was going to miss us this year or that we’d have a mild, chill winter because as of late November – we didn’t have much snow, but I guess that’s changing. 🙄

So, I plan to maybe get my little dude off his video games the next few days – for once and go use the sled I got him a while back – that he hasn’t touched. Snow angels? Yes. Snowman? Yes. I want to do it all. Heck – maybe a hot chocolate run and photos by the lake where the beautiful Christmas lights are all up and the area near the lake is all decorated. Why not?!

*****

My daughter and I were there yesterday – where we planned to take some of her Senior photos because the deadline is fast approaching and we have to get these done, and one turned in for the yearbook. We took some really cute ones, but she didn’t like them, so we have to go do them again.

I absolutely love this one:

She does, too! Unfortunately, we need a photo for the yearbook – where she’s looking up, and she didn’t like the ones we took.

It started snowing bad last night, so we just came home and decided to try again this week.

Plus, this was inside one of the decorations, and I’d like to get the outside during dusk – where we could make it a little “nicer”.

Just when I thought we were about to get these Senior photos done, Senior quote, Senior wills, etc. – turn those in and be done with everything, I got an email about the Senior class rings. Those are $400+ depending on designs, etc.

When they say Senior year is expensive – they’re not lying!!!!

******

If you want to giggle though – my daughter has liked this boy that I’ll call “Kyle” – for the longest.

She decided to take Psychology this year just for fun. Maybe not just for fun – because she plans to become an EMT / Paramedic in the future, and sometimes they deal with mental health and things Psych related, so she will probably use what she learns one day.

This boy Kyle joined Psychology recently, and she doesn’t know why because she says all he does is play around, sleep, and doesn’t pay attention.

My daughter actually likes this class, and when she found out a few days ago that this boy Kyle is now dating a girl she used to be friends with, she dropped Psychology. She felt like if this girl joined Psychology to be in class with this Kyle kid – my daughter didn’t want to deal with that.

I thought it was goofy that she was dropping a class because of a boy or some girl he was dating that may or may not join the class, but she said she was going to join the Yearbook committee instead. She gets a free yearbook if she’s on the committee, so I was all for that. One less cost I have to pay. So, I supported her decision to drop Psychology and go be on the yearbook committee if it made her happy, less stressed out over this young man and worrying about his girlfriend joining that class.

I supported her wanting to make the change of classes.

I told her do what she felt she needed to do – even if I thought letting some girl run her out of that class – was insane. The girl hadn’t even joined the class yet, nor did we know if she was going to.

Last night, my daughter was upset that she dropped that class without thinking. She said when she found out Kyle and her old friend were dating, she just felt sick, and didn’t want to see them together if this girl did join the class, but now – she could care less and she feels like she’ll miss Psychology. She said she’s not going to let Kyle or her old friend dating – run her out of a class she loves, and she’s just going to deal with it if this girl joins that class.

After her going back and forth about if she should just stay in Psychology or not – especially after her main teacher switched her to the yearbook committee when she asked the other day – I looked at her last night like:

“You need to make up your mind, kid!”.

She decided to stay in Psych, and I was so proud of her for not letting this boy she likes or the girl now dating him – keep her from a class she truly does love and enjoys learning in.

Today, she told her main teacher she’ll just stay in Psych, and I’m sure she’s driving him crazy, too! Still – he’s amazing with her and he switched her back to Psychology.

I giggled about the whole thing.

I did tell her that when she graduates – she may look back on these few years and wonder what the hell she was thinking when it comes to this kid, Kyle. I told her about some of my crushes back in high school and how I look back now and wonder the same.

People change. Feelings change, and years from now – this boy Kyle and this girl he’s dating now – may not even remember each other’s last names and they may go their own ways after graduation, so I’m truly happy my daughter didn’t let this class go – because of them.

I think it’s good for her and her future career.

Teenagers make me laugh with their little puppy love relationships.

I remember those days back in high school.

Matter of fact – one of my really good friends from high school and I – we were talking the other day about guys we had crushes on in high school, and when she heard I had a crush on this boy Anthony back in high school, she laughed at me and did the whole, “Ewwww. What was wrong with you?” (Shame game). lol. I look back now, and I laugh about it myself.

I found out she had a crush on this one guy we went to high school with, and I did the same. We totally had different taste in our guys, but we laughed about the guys we once crushed on in high school, and I hope my daughter can look back and do the same – with laughter and humor about it.

There is one really good young man at the school that I wouldn’t mind my daughter dating.

I’ll call him “Brandon”.

Brandon has really liked my daughter since she started there in 8th grade, and every time school let out, he’d be outside yelling, “BYE, KAILANI!” – so loud – that everyone heard him and looked at him. Daily. It was the cutest thing and I’d tell her, “Say bye to that boy!”. She never wanted to. 🤣

He still likes her. He still talks to her. I still wish she’d give him a chance.

A few days ago, when she was telling me about this boy she likes – dating her old good friend now, she looked up at the sky and said, “God, if you have another guy up there who is good and will treat me right, please send him my way!”. I laughed and told her, “HE DID!!! YOU KEEP FRIEND ZONING HIM!”.

(I was talking about Brandon).

She’s 17. She’s allowed to date now, as long as it’s the right kind of boy and he treats her right, but I’m also not in a hurry for her to date, and I told her to make sure that her graduation is her main focus. She’s a great kid, and she has all her credits so far, and she’s so close to finishing the last ones she needs – so, I’m not worried. Still, I want her to make dating a last priority.

In other news –

We’re almost through the holidays and Christmas will be here soon.

I’ve been finishing up Christmas shopping for the kids. I’ve been trying to figure out what I’m doing for dinner Christmas day. I’ve been trying to get cute little goody bags together for Elijah’s class and putting together gifts for his teacher. I’ve been trying to save for and plan a trip back home to Illinois for Christmas to see my aunt and uncle, and possibly one of my cousins, his wife and son – at the end of this month.

I can’t wait until Christmas is over and I can sit down with a glass or two of wine – relax and wait until New Years eve to get this year over with.

I’m counting down the days until we can pack up the moving truck, turn over the keys to the apartment we’re in now, and leave this small town.

Will we miss it? Sure. It’s been home for the last 5 years, but it’s not really “home”. Illinois is.

While we don’t want to move back to Chicago, we’ve been looking at some places at lease closer to it.

Closer to civilization, more varieties of stores and food places. Closer to friends and family we left behind when we moved to Minnesota years ago.

I’ve been looking for houses in Wisconsin – close to the Illinois border, and some houses in the suburbs of Illinois.

I think when we move, I’ll most miss the very little traffic we have here. I’ll miss the amazing people I’ve met here in Minnesota. I’ll miss going to have coffee with one of my good friends who I’ve become close to here. I’ll miss the school for sure and everyone in it.

I’ll miss the residents I have gotten close to in the facility I work in.

I’ll miss the beautiful night sky that shows the stars so brightly because there’s no tall buildings and no streetlights to stop them from shining brightly.

I’ll miss all the beautiful lakes.

I’ll miss all the good times we had in this apartment and around Minnesota.

So, yes – I’ll miss this place, but I’m also okay if I never see it again. ha.

I won’t miss how gossip spreads so fast here and how everyone is in each other’s business.

I won’t miss the lack of food spots, or stores. The dead mall where nobody goes anymore.

I won’t miss the 30-minute drives to the nearest bigger city and home, or how everything is miles or hours away.

I won’t miss struggling to not hit the deer on super dark roads with no lights at night.

I won’t miss the snow that falls in October sometimes.

I won’t miss the -30, -45-degree weather.

I won’t miss this building I live in, and all the craziness that comes with it.

I will miss the fact that this is the last place I saw my oldest child alive and well, but other than the things I will miss here – I’m ready to get the hell out of here once my youngest daughter graduates.

ESPECIALLY – for a better chance at my dream career.

I’ve been looking and I’ve found some amazing houses – but who knows if they’ll be available when I’m ready? Part of me wants to try to buy a house in early February / March, so when we’re ready to move, we have somewhere set already, but part of me can’t afford rent and a mortgage.

This economy has me walking around like:

haha.

Seriously though – part of me feels like I need to start investing in something, and part of me feels like this economy is NOT “single mama friendly”.

I trust God, and his plan and that’s all I can do.

Ah. I just felt like writing tonight, and I’m about to head to bed because it’s only 8:30, but this mama is tired.

Maybe I’ll go finish reading CAUGHT UP.

If you haven’t read that book yet, it’s great, but you have to read – (LIGHTS OUT) – first, so you can understand (CAUGHT UP) and the relationships between the characters. Both books are by the amazing author “NAVESSA ALLEN”. ❤️ I’ll write about them as soon as I finish Caught up. I’m in the middle of it, and just haven’t had the time to finish because I’m always at work, or running errands, etc.

I just found out from a friend that Navessa now has a 3rd book, “GAME ON!”. Hold on girl. Let me get through the 2nd book. 😁

I like to buy and read books off of Kindle. It’s just easier.

So, let me sign off for the night, open my phone and try to finish this book.

I love you all. Stay warm if it’s cold where you are. Be safe. Behave, and Goodnight.

❤️Shel❤️

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 27, 2025November 27, 2025 Shel R.21 Comments

I am finally back!

I took a break from writing for a little bit and decided to delete all of my posts here – because a few friends of mine use Blogger and absolutely love it. I checked it out and I THOUGHT I absolutely loved it, too!

Turns out there’s a lot more that goes into it – than WP, and it’s a whole headache. A lot more than it’s worth. I will say I love the way other people who are used to Blogger – set up their blogs there, but I now see that I’m more of WP gal, and I regret leaving for a while.

Don’t worry! WP gave me hell logging back in because when I finally did – I was locked out and it took me days to finally figure out how to get back in, since my password and login link weren’t working.

I tried a different site after that, but that was a mess.

I decided to maybe try “XANGA” – which is where I blogged back in high school. Did you know that’s no longer up and running? As far as I saw. Those were some good times.

With that being said – I came back to WP, and I’m so grateful I left my site up, and didn’t delete this – despite deleting the posts I had here. I shall never leave WP again. 🙄

I want to also say:

I know sometimes I don’t feel like it or think it – but I am truly blessed.

I’m grateful for still being here at 43 to watch my kids grow, and I hope the good Lord gives me many – many – more years for that.

I am grateful for all we have and for our health.

I am grateful for so many things – I would be here all day.

I am definitely grateful the kids wanted a quick and easy dinner tonight.

They didn’t want the Turkey we have every year because it takes too long to cook, and they had such a taste for tacos, so we did something different, went against tradition, and had Chicken tacos for our Thanksgiving dinner.

I still made stuffing, potatoes, and so on. We still had cornbread, and so many other things.

I made cake and we had the Pumpkin pie my younger daughter loves so much.

It was nice. It was a fast and easy clean up, we watched Home alone together and enjoyed some video games.

There weren’t many photos. We decided to leave the selfies and the phones alone. We just enjoyed time together. 💕 I think many times during the holidays; I’m so caught up in taking all these photos and making memories – that I forget to just make the memories and leave my phone alone. Today, I took some photos, but I didn’t force my kids to smile for the camera – or to get in front of the tree for Thanksgiving pictures like I do every year.

I just enjoyed my time with them and focused on the memories and those moments we had today.

As today comes to an end, I just popped open a bottle of wine, poured a glass, and struggled with getting back into this account (and did!).

The older kids are in their rooms winding down now. My little guy is on the couch watching a movie. The leftovers have been put away, and I work tomorrow – so it’s going to be early bedtime for me.

I just wanted to say hello again, and Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.

I hope yours went as smoothly as mine did!

Love you!

💕Shel💕