Author Tanisha L.Herrin's Weblog

This weekend my mother's foundation will host our 2nd Annual Trick-or-Treat Happy Hour where we pass out treat bags for children in the community.  Last year we passed out over 100 treat bags and this year we could pass out nearly 200 treat bags.  It was fun passing out candy and viewing all the different costumes. As much as my mother loved children she would have been so happy to see the kids have a good time.

Last Halloween my son and his father helped me pass out treat bags and this wasn't easy in the beginning. At the time he was 4 and I was pregnant my daughter.  It was hard looking at so much candy while pregnant because I had morning sickness all the time yet on the other hand my son thought he was in heaven. We gave out over 75 lbs of candy and I didn't want to see anymore for a long time. My son was happy in the end not just because he got a treat bag for his efforts (lol) but because he knew he was doing it for "Grandma Nancy."

This year we have a new set of little hands to help out (well she'll just look at people strange and look cute in her pink leopard costume) from baby Gabi now 7 months. I know my mother would have not been happy to learn of me having a second since she wasn't happy the first time around. She loved her grandson like he was her own and would have loved her granddaughter just as much. 

In a week it will be 4 years since my mom passed away and since I'm an only child who has recently started looking for my "unknown" father sharing my mother's memory has become a full time job. I started the foundation to keep my mother's memory close, to remember her best qualities and carry on what we would have done together.  When she passed away I was afraid that I may forget things about her.  I miss being able to see and talk to her everyday and how happy she was spoiling her grandson. 

Her grandchildren will learn about her most likely through her charity. My mother volunteered in the community at a young age and I look at her award certificates as inspiration. I enjoyed vounteering when I was going up at various events and other organizations in the community.  My little ones have gotten an early start on volunteering thanks to their grandma. 

One of the most important things the kids will learn about their grandmother was how caring she was and had so much love to give.  As they get older they'll learn that this charity to them is much more than just giving. 

Posted by tanlather at 07:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

options

I have never been this sick before in a single year.  I have had a stuffy nose, cough, sore throat, headaches, and fatigue.  I have been this way since my second pregnancy and its been hard to keep from getting sick again thanks to my son.  He caught germs from his little play friends and has mastered the art of passing his germs along to others.  This time little Gabi has gotten congestion and sneezing -just a mild case anyway.

You try and do what you can to stay healthy and you still end up getting sick. I know my immune system isn't what is was before I got pregnant with baby #2.  It's annoying and frustrating to be tired and dealing with a cold when you have so much to get done on a daily basis. I haven't gotten much accomplished which makes me fall behind quick.  I've been cautious on what to take because of breastfeeding.  I have been drinking more water, orange juice, and constantly blowing my nose.  My appetite is still intact and I'm thankful for that. I've been eating more veggies and snacking healthier (when I'm not eating cookies or halloween candy - lol).

In my area the H1N1 virus has been spreading pretty quickly and that's alarming. You feel sick and that's the first thing that comes to mind is do you have it?  My symptoms are more of a cold than a flu.  I'm thankful I haven't had to miss any work either - my symptoms haven't been that bad but I can't wait for them to go away!

Posted by tanlather at 03:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

options

Halloween is okay but I usuallly have a hard time getting into the spirit.  The only reason I have now to celebrate Halloween is for the sake of my 2 rugrats.  I'm still on the sluggish end though while still needing to get costumes and figuring out if they will go trick or treating.

At this time last year I was pregnant with my daughter and planning a Halloween event for my mother's charity.  This year we will probably do the event again and since my son volunteered last year he'll have no problem this year.  We gave out over 100 candy bags to kids in our area and once Halloween was over I didn't want to see any more candy for a long time - I still don't want to see it now (lol).  This was over 70 lbs of candy and since I had plenty of morning sickness all day when I was pregnant this was the last thing I wanted to look at.  My daughter is almost 7 months now and I still have nausea from time to time.

I said "probably" on the event because I've been working on maybe doing some changes because of people getting sick from the flu outbreak.  Our event was outdoors and though it attracted a lot of families I have doubts on the weather conditions and how people will participate this year. 

I'm trying to look at the positives on this: it can be fun for the whole family, Halloween falls on a weekend, and I have seen some good sales on costumes.  And how can you leave out the candy and games.  Its just getting the motivation to do it.  I have been under the weather and somewhat depressed. I know what needs to be done but once you get started there's more to do than you thought in the beginning.

Posted by tanlather at 03:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

options

My little monster man has his first picture day at school this week.  His dad will have the honor of dressing him up in his little vest and tie.  It will be interesting to see how the pictures turn out. He'll be all smiles for awhile since we're due for a family photo and Christmas photos.

I feel bad for not having a family photo do sooner since we've gotten our new addition.  I've been either too tired or too busy.  I have tons of pictures on my ditgial camera but it's good to have a clean professional photo.  Gabi is 6 months now and this year has flown by so fast. I was pregnant earlier this year and she'll be crawling literally tomorrow - she scoots everytime she has a chance. 

Just looking at the pictures I took of my son and daughter from a few weeks ago they don't even look the same in person today.  It really hits you hard when you look at pictures from when you were little and compare them to your kids.  You look the same or you look like you're not related (lol).

Either way it's going to be fun to show off the pictures of the kids when they get older - I get to pass on the humilation that my mother did to me (lol). 

Posted by tanlather at 08:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

options

I enjoy writing but it is a challenge to make time for it. When I have energy it seems temporary between work, family, and other projects. When I have time to myself I'm too tired or I can have something to write about and get writers block.

I recently finished an article that took me a week to write and I wasn't happy that it took me that long to finish it.  I wanted to complete it in less time and since I didn' t reach my goal I wasn't happy.  I think my article came out good but timing was an issue. When you have a full plate time is always an issue-not enough in a day and you just do what you're able to do.

Once I can get rid of the frustration and focus on what needs to be done this helps me schedule time in the future.  I'm looking forward to completing my seventh book and completing other writing assignments.  It seems like every week I have to work harder to get things done but a good end result is worth the effort.

Posted by tanlather at 08:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

options