Blog #1: All About Me (due Thursday, 5/19 at midnight)   

1.My name is Theresa. I am a 50 year old woman. I am married to an amazing man who just happens to have Parkinson's disease and early onset dementia. I am the mother of 3 sons and 2 daughters and I am Mamaw to 2 amazing little girls. I am a property inspector right now but next  month I start as an at home customer service representative. I am originally from New York and moved to North Carolina 11 years ago. 

When I met my husband 8 years ago he was a heavy equipment operator and hauler. Soon after we were married he started having panic attacks. Soon after we started noticing neurological problems and he was eventually diagnosed with Parkinson's. So as soon as my world was sunshiny a cloud fell over our marriage. But you know what? Everything turned out great. I found we actually became closer because we were forced to spend so much time together. I can honestly say that I am happier than I have ever been.  

My day begins the same way almost every day. I get up between 6:30 and 7:30 am and the first thing I do (after the necessary potty stop) is making the coffee. I make a full pot every day even though there is almost always leftovers. I guess I think maybe today we will drink more. After a few minutes my husband, Terry will get up and as soon as the coffee is done he pours us each a cup. We usually have cookies or another sweet to eat with the coffee. He will turn on the tv and watch that while I am on the computer. We chat and figure out our day.  After a while he will take the dogs outside while I get dressed. If we are going out to inspect houses we map out our route. When we are done with houses we come home and I upload the photos I took. 

We usually eat lunch when we are out. After the houses are done I usually start supper. After supper we sit on the couch and watch tv. 

As happy as I am, i can't help but feel cheated. I was classed as a genius and yet here I am sitting in a single wide mobile home. I could have and should have done so much more.

I have a VERY small circle of friends. Most of them have not kept in touch since we moved but I still occasionally chat with them online. What my friends would say is that I am very loyal. I will always be there for them when they need me. 

   

The first picture is of my 3 dogs. We live in a house where the most used comment is Let the dogs out and/or let the dogs in. It seems like thats all we do. The second picture is my husband and my youngest granddaughter, Ruby. She is the light of my world. She is 18 months old and when she is here with me nothing else matters. Terry and Ruby have a fantastic relationship. One that I feel privileged to be here to witness. Both of these pictures signify the love I have in my life, the dedication I hold in my heart and an unfailing love that flows both out of me and into my heart. 

 One of the people I have really admired over the years was Ronald Reagan. He was a man who stood up for what he believed. He fought both personal and public wars. He was a man who held strong beliefs and when he loved- he loved hard. I have always thought him to be the best president we have had in my lifetime. He had moral conviction and stood his ground. There was no challenge he ran from. He held high values and morals and wasn't afraid to show his love for God. 

This next picture is a picture of my Dad. He married my Mom when I was 12. He taught me how to be a good person. To be a good mother, wife, and citizen. He wasn't perfect but he was the greatest person I ever knew. He died several years ago and I really feel a loss every single day. Jim was the one who walked me down the aisle when I married the first time. He was the first one to hold my daughter after she was born. HE taught me how to change my own oil, how to change a tire, how to save money, how to be an educated person and how to rise above all obstacles. 

Every day I am inspired by my husband. He has had to overcome so much and yet he still puts one foot in front of the other every single day. He hasn't let his disabilities define him. Instead he has risen above his difficulties. As for challenges, every day I am challenged by the limitations of my life. We have to overcome our families being so far away. We are usually broke, we are normally bored and lonely. Because we both suffer from health issues there are days that make it hard for either of us to  get our get up and go to get up and go. 

My values are so very important to me. It is the guide I follow into every situation I find myself in. 1. God loving- that I am. My relationship to God is the most important guideline in my life. Without it I would be lost.In my everyday life I use my love for God to know that he always has my back and I can always rely on his grace. 2. Loving- I have a never ending supply of love. I sometimes get hurt because of it. There are times when I wonder if my heart would ever be too generous. I don't know how to turn off my feelings. My husband can harden his heart if he is hurt but not me.In my everyday life I will let my kids walk all over me, I lend money, time, and always give give give.  3. Loyal- to a fault. I will let the people I care about hurt me over and over and I always stay with them. I have never turned a friend away when I was needed I have stayed friends with people who have walked all over me. . 4. Jealous- yup- it's my worse fault. I am always jealous of what other people have. Material things, relationships, brains and everything else. It's hard to control sometimes but usually only my husband gets to see my green  eyed monster. I sometimes don't go places because I know I will feel so much worse after I am there.  5. Honest- I will always tell the truth, sometimes I have to hold my tongue so I don't hurt someone.
I am always impressed by the Avon corporation. They stand behind their products, they are loyal to their customers and their representatives. I like the fact they donate to charity and they empower women with their message.