What? Im back!

Where have I been? lol. Lost in this crazy world I guess. I have so much to catch you guys up on and to vent about. So look in the next couple days to be completly caught up on all things Jewell.
For tonight I will not blog much because my heart is hurting and I am trying to be the better person in a not so favorable situation.. all to be explained whan Im calm.
I love you guys and thank you for reading.
I hope the next few posts will enterain and inform you on my crazy life... see you soon!

Addiction and me.

Once again, before I begin, I will add a disclamer. Some of the thing you read might upset you and make you look at me in a different way. This is not my hope. My hope through writing is that I can change, not only myself, but maybe someone else. Some one who knows the feelings I have. So..... that being said....
Addiction is defined as the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.  'Enslaved to a habit', those words say it all. It is the feeling that you have to do it, that you need to do it, that you will not be able to make it without. Many people do not understand the feeling, cause they are not an addict. It is easy for people to judge and condem addicts because of this. My own family does not understand. I have, recently, had several talks with Gran; and while she will never fully understand, she does get it, and she is an encouraging force behind my decision to quit. I have been drinking for years. Add in extracurricular activities and its a wonder why I am still alive. Let me clarify, when I say drink, I dont mean 1 or 2 beers; its more like 6-12-24 a night. Yes, I know that number is outrageous looking at it. I cant have just one and stop. Ive tried. I have wanted to quit for years, just never had the strength to. But I have put my foot down and told myself it is time. I want to cut the strings on the slaveholder..aka...alcohol.. and be me again. I dont want to be, what they have called me at work, 'a functioning alcoholic'. Thats not who I want to be known as and if I ever want to make it in this world I need to change now. So, today marks day13, minus one slip(which I will talk about in a min). The first four days where horrible. My head was pounding, my body was aching, I was shaking, sweating, all the good stuff. But I made it. Cause I knew I had too. My one slip came when I wasnt strong enough to resist going out to my usual Friday night Karaokee with friends. I started good, with a diet coke and monster, but all the alcohol around me, I wasnt ready. I shouldnt have gone, and I regret that I did. However, it did make me realize that I want this more than I ever imagined I did. So here it is Thursday, 13 days after the 1st non drinking day, and I am feeling good. I realize I am tired now, which in reading articles is a way of my body answering to no alcohol. Maybe I was tired for years and just never could get rest. I have about 20 different things planned for this weekend to keep me busy as not to slip again. I know that I will lose friends over my decision, but if you will walk away when I need support the most, then you really wernt a friend to begin with. I fight this every moment of every day, and I ask that you keep me in your prayers. Trying to stay focused on school, family, and God. I have faith that I will beat this addiction and cant wait to look back after 30 days, then 60, then 6 months, then a year... and know I did the right thing.


Well, thats my story and Im sticking to it! haha!
Peace out.. have a great and prosperous day!

1 year dwiversarry!

Ok, so before I get lots of negative feedback about why would I share this, why is it important, ect... let me say, I share my experiences to possible help others and to help myself as I continue on this long journey. I hope this doesnt upset anyone, and that you will keep reading, you may find it interesting.

That being said... Today marks the one year mark of when I got my DWI. This past year has been filled with alot of ups and downs resulting from this. It woke me up. It made me realize I had, and still have(but on a much smaller and controlled scale) ,a problem. It made me realize that I was hurting more than just myself, but the poeple around me. I could have killed someone that day, but the Lord lead some one to call and have me pulled over. Years of driving under the influence had made me believe it was ok and that I could not get caught. Although it has cost me several thousand dollars, a few friendships, and many tears, I can look back and say I am thankful. It made me realize it was time to grow up. I have been changing my life since then, and I will continue to do so. I hope that one day I can quit drinking alltogether, but things come in baby steps sometimes. Im learning lessons about life and myself through this that I would have never stopped to think about before. So I will always remember this day as an awakening. And when I reach my final goal of being sucessful and truely alchohol free, I will look back at this day with an adoration for making me aware that I am worth more. Keep me in your prayers, its not an easy road. I know I put myself here, but I also know that Im digging out.


Have a fab day folks~

Hello friends!

Ok, so I know you are all wondering where the elusive Andrea has disappered to this time!!!! No, not jail..lol. Lets see, school started back last month, and let me just tell you that this semester is a doosie! Im taking 16 hours and Im just overwhelmed. I dont think I would really feel that way if my english professor (who is the dept head..ugh!) would realize that she is not my only class. Im not behind in anything, I just have so much to do that my life literally is passing me by, but it will be worth it. It better be!!! Riley is doing good, basketball season is almost over and he is trying out ( I almost sais auditioning..haha) for baseball. He has not played in years but he wants to. We will see. He still has his romance..ooohhhlala. Scary thing to be a parent of a teenager with a girlfriend. Dakota loves that he is the only one in the house now. I think he thinks he should be an only child forever..nope..sorry! He is just a joy to have around and I see so much of myself in him and his mannerisms. I am uber excited becasue this weekend we will be doing family photos, and good ones. It has been a good 6 years since we had them. I dont know why this excites me cause I hate photos, but I love my boys and not having Riley home, I miss him and us as a family whole. Im hoping the pictures will cover my walls and remind me of our family.
Gran has been in the hospital all week and I have been staying there for all except the last two nights, was getting behind on homework. I just got a call and Summer says that the test they did today shows the medicine is working and that she might get to go home. What an answer to prayer. Surgery was not what we wanted at all, a 20% change she would just make it through the procedure was not odds we liked. But God knows what he is doing, so Im just letting him work. Her birthday is tommorrow, she will be 86! Wow! She has lived a long and good life and its funny that shes ok if its her time to go home. We had that talk a few weeks ago, its an odd, yet comforting conversation.
Well, Im sure there is way more I need to tell you, but unfortunatly my next class is about to begin. I hope you all have a fabulous day and I promise not to be away from you for so long!! lol!

As always I will close with some prayer requests because I do believe prayer works...1. My Gran, we arent totally outta the woods and its going to be a long road, 2. Katrinia Bennett, liver needed to continue her service for the Lord, 3. Me, school, home, I need a better job, 4. and my boys! Being a teenager these days is not something I would want to do.



Have a fantabulous day Jewlers!!! (<---think it will catch on?)

Hello my friends!

I know you probably think that I have forgotten you, but fear not my faithful friends! School began last week and it has just been insane, but I wanted to write a quick little note and let you know that I have lots to tell you and hope that this weekend lends me some time to do so. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers, 1. because my course load is a little insane this semester, and 2. I interviewed for a position Tuesday that I really need. SO, look for my new post this weekend which should catch you up on all things Jewell=).


PS.....Keep praying for Katrinia Bennett, God is definetly working in that situation and the more prayer the better=)! love ya B+!

God is good!

Well I have alot on my mind to share today, but both boys are home so I am sorry blog followers... but it will have to wait till Monday. I love when Riley is home for the weekend. So, Today was a great day, blessed at work and now blessed with my house full of laughter from both my boys! So, have a fabulous weekend and check back Monday for all things Jewell.

Prayer, it works..... I know it.

Aj

My degree intintions!

I would like my bloggers to be the 1st to know that I have decided what I will do concerning my school. I have decided that I will spend the extra 2 years and recieve my Masters in History and Government, then will enter LAW SCHOOL!!!! You read that right folks.. Im taking the plunge and aiming for the moon! Just wanted to share=)
Hope you all are staying warm and safe on this Friday the 13th!


Prayer requests for today...As any other day, my 1st is for Katrinia Bennett, my boys, my friend fighting addiction, my financials, my friend Joe Adrian concerning his move, my friends Stephanie Scianna and Heather Perry both entering back into college this semester, and me. Thanks!

Love to all..AJ

How waiters/waitresses should treat guests.

Following up my previous post on how guests should treat their waiters/waitresses, I think it is just as important that I send a blog out to them on things I think they should do. I hope this helps some of my coworkers in the service industry and possibily just remind some of us older ones who might just need a refresher on the key points. So here is my thoughts, and this comes from 16 years of experience and I even have some trouble doing all of them some time, but it is a work in progress.

1. Remember who your boss is... the GUEST!!
2. Leave your personal life and problems at the door, your guests come to relax, not to hear your drama.
3. Greet your guests in a timely manner, expecially guests dining alone.
4. Dont prejugde your table. You never know what you might miss out on!
5. Always tell your guests about the specials, helping them save money could help you.
6. Even if your busy, dont let your guest feel rushed by you, give them your full attention.
7. Smile, sometimes your smile might be the only1 they have seen all day.
8. Clean your guests table as the meal progresses..no one wants to eat on a dirty table.
9. Be genuine, no one likes fake people.
10. Always thank the guest when they are leaving and invite them back. Them returning insures you have a job!

These are just a few things that I think all service industry staff should think about. Happy dining!
AJ

Continuing my changes

So I had today off, and while I had planned on going to pick up my books for classes that start next week, I decided to stay around the house and do some much need spring cleaning, throwing away, and rearranging. Its so much easier to throw things away with Dakota gone cause he is truely a hoarder! lol! I love him, but really! So I threw things away, thats such a good feeling some times. I moved all the furniture into different positions, even moved the washer and dryer and cleaned under them! WOW!! All in all it took me a good 5 hours. But it looks so good. I just wish I had some closet space, that is the only bad thing about this house, I have 2 closets, 1 in my room and 1 in the boys, both smaller than anything! So, sometimes I just have to stack things nicely, but the stuff I threw away cleared out alot of space. Well I am cookin Dakota and I some taco soup, he loves it and then there will be enough for him to eat tommorrow since I have to work all day. Thursday I will get my books, I have too! Classes start next week! I am uber excited! Well, gotta stir the pot and help Dakota study for his test tommorrow. Cant wait till this weekend, Riley will be home! I miss him, but I know that this is the right thing. Hope that tommorrow is a great day and that tonight treats you all well! Love to my peepes!

And I will end with my nightly prayer requests, things I pray for, things I ask you add to your list as well. Prayer is powerful!
Katrina a new liver, My boys, My aunt Tonyas roomate who lost her mother today, and a dear friend of mine fighting addiction. Also, me. Thanks!

How to treat a waitress/waiter

So, as I sit and think about today at work, Id like to remind all you non resturant workers on how to treat your waitress. I hope my 14+ years experience will help you learn to be more considerate. Hope not to offend anyone, but sometimes people need to hear the truth.
1. Although you are awesome and your time is more precious than anyone elses, you are NOT the only person in the resturant. Look around and see that maybe your waitress just got sat 3 tables at the same time, and as long as he/she is at one of the tables, relax, he/she saw you and will be there just as quickly as possible.
2. Never yell at your waitress/waiter when they are at another table. Would you like that if someone was yelling at them at your table?
3. When your drinkn is empty, dont continue to suck the straw. The noise is annoying, and me personally will leave you with an empty glass till you quit.
4. Control your kids. I know you want to enjoy your drink, but we are not babysitters.
5. Dont talk to your waiter/waitress like they are beneath you. They are people too working hard.
6. Remember that waiters/waitresses get paid based on tips. You may think they get a check, but really 40 hours at 2.13 an hour minuse taxes you pay on tips is nothing.
7. If at all possible, tip in cash. You may not know but waiters/waitresses pay a percentage of your tab and each time you use your cc to tip. Personally we pay 4% of our total sales at the end of each shift.
8. Just remember that we are people too. Treat us like you would want to be treated.
9. Relax and enjoy the fact that you can still go out and enjoy a great meal.

So that will be my lesson for the day.
Hope that yall have a great week! Go TEXANS!!!
AJ

Grocery shopping.

Why do I love grocery shopping? I seriously just spent almost 3 hours at walmart in the grocery section. I price match, I wonder around, I look at pretty much every thing. Its so peacful to me for some reason. I saved 75$ price matching today. I needed to use coupons and I could have been over 100, but I didnt have tome to cut them this week. So, that was my exciting day. Oh, I did file my taxes, I do get a decent amount back, but it sucks that 3/4 of fit will go to bills to catch me up. Oh well, at least Ill be out of the hole for a few months. Well, Im tired. Got a long day tommorrow, work, then watching my boys, THE TEXANS kick some booty!!!!!!!!!
Have a safe weekend!
AJ

another day off!!! no way!!!!

So getting back into my school schedule, which starts in a week and a half thank the Lord, I am off on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I am enjoying this day cause I know it is probably my last quiet one till summer break. I took a bubble bath, roamed around the house naked(lol..if I was skinny I would totally be a nudist!, and now am going to have lunch with a great friend. I am thankful for days that are like today, all mine! I pray yours is just as Fabulous!
Peace Peeps!
AJ

Follow...

I would like to invite you to follow a great blog of a fabulous woman I have known all my life in the biggest fight of her life, the fight for her life! Trina and I have known each other since we were very young, both love the Lord, and both understand the importance of friends and family. I love her like a sister and her mother as my own. I pray each day that the Lord heals her, and sends her a new liver as she needs. She is a precious lady and reminds me so much of my own mother, even through the fight of her life, she is witnessing for the Lord! Many would not see his love if not for her. Follow her blog and pray for Gods will! Thanks peeps!
 http://www.kat-emerick-bennett.blogspot.com
B+!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Much Love!

Tuesday, oh Tuesday!

You guessed it, today is Tuesday. Dakota went back to school today so we were up bright and early to get him on the bus. I hate that it was too cold for us to walk to the bus stop, but it will warm up soon enough. I had a day of stuff planned to do, but sleep took over. One thing about having insomnia is when your body decides it needs sleep, it sleeps. I can go months on a couple hours of sleep, and then sleep for 3 days straight. It is wierd. So, I went back to sleep and slept till noon.  Crazy! I had to get up or I would have laid there all day. Had to run to town and pay some bills so I decided to pick Dakota up from school, He likes that suprise sometimes. We stopped at the grocery store and picked us up some chicken to cook for dinner, we are trying to eat healthier. So while the chicken was cooking we walked our mile, buddy came along but I ended up carrying him half ways..lol. Now to relax with a nice glass of wine and some tv. I am so ready for school to start, 2 more weeks! But until then, I guess it is back to work tommorrow.

Please keep my Ry in your thoughts and prayers. He is struggling because he is not close to his girlfriend. We are standing our ground on his move bacause it is the best thing for him. I hope he sees that one day. But for now your prayers will be the best any of us can do for him. Teenage years are hard.

Have a fantabulous night with your loved ones, I will be with mine!
AJ

30 things to stop doing to yourself

When you stop chasing the wrong things you give
the right things a chance to catch you.

As Maria Robinson once said, “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” Nothing could be closer to the truth. But before you can begin this process of transformation you have to stop doing the things that have been holding you back.
Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you. You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot. Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth. And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends.
2. Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on. No, it won’t be easy. There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them. We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems. That’s not how we’re made. In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall. Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time. This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.
3. Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself. Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves. Read The Road Less Traveled.
4. Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too. Yes, help others; but help yourself too. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.
5. Stop trying to be someone you’re not. – One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else. Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you. Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.
6. Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.
7. Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing. Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success. You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.
8. Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us. We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future. Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.
9. Stop trying to buy happiness. – Many of the things we desire are expensive. But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.
10. Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. – If you’re not happy with who you are on the inside, you won’t be happy in a long-term relationship with anyone else either. You have to create stability in your own life first before you can share it with someone else. Read Stumbling on Happiness.
11. Stop being idle. – Don’t think too much or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place. Evaluate situations and take decisive action. You cannot change what you refuse to confront. Making progress involves risk. Period! You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.
12. Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.
13. Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons. – Relationships must be chosen wisely. It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company. There’s no need to rush. If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason. Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.
14. Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work. – In life you’ll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you and some will teach you. But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.
15. Stop trying to compete against everyone else. – Don’t worry about what others doing better than you. Concentrate on beating your own records every day. Success is a battle between YOU and YOURSELF only.
16. Stop being jealous of others. – Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own. Ask yourself this: “What’s something I have that everyone wants?”
17. Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you. You may not see or understand everything the moment it happens, and it may be tough. But reflect back on those negative curveballs thrown at you in the past. You’ll often see that eventually they led you to a better place, person, state of mind, or situation. So smile! Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.
18. Stop holding grudges. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate. Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.” It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.” Forgiveness is the answer… let go, find peace, liberate yourself! And remember, forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too. If you must, forgive yourself, move on and try to do better next time.
19. Stop letting others bring you down to their level. – Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.
20. Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway. Just do what you know in your heart is right.
21. Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break. – The time to take a deep breath is when you don’t have time for it. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.
22. Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things. The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.
23. Stop trying to make things perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done. Read Getting Things Done.
24. Stop following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile. Don’t take the easy way out. Do something extraordinary.
25. Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – It’s okay to fall apart for a little while. You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well. You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears. The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.
26. Stop blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life. When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.
27. Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out. But making one person smile CAN change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world. So narrow your focus.
28. Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy. One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time? Three years? Five years?” If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.
29. Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen. Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.
30. Stop being ungrateful. – No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs. Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing.

This was too good not to share on my blog. Hope you find helpful hints in here as I did.
AJ

What a beginning!?!?!?!?!

So today is only the 2nd day of Jan and I have been tested! lol! My tolerance for stupid people is getting smaller with each passing day.. But thats ok, I needed the day off anyways..lol. So, I took a nap and walked a mile with Dakota, at least one good thing today! I will wake up and try again tommorrow.


On another subject, Riley is reallly having some issues. He wants to move back to Alvin, not because he misses me or Dakota, but because he misses his girlfriend. He is so wrapped up on her and he is only 14. I know your 1st love is always special, but I hope he realizes that its not the only thing in the world. He is letting great open doors pass him by. Needless to say, I have stood my ground and told him he cannot move back, because I know that is not what is best for him. It was very hard to tell him no, but I did. I hope that he will look back and not hate me, but sometimes a parent has to make decisions that doesnt make them happy. I do love my son, and all of this is for him. Please keep him in your prayers. Ok, now to cook some soup for Dakota and I.
Hope tonight treats you well.
AJ