Tiger Woods’ ex-wife bulldozes $12 million home 01/06/2012

Courtesy of Pacific Coast News

By Shane Bacon | Devil Ball Golf – 15 hours ago

There are times when divorce forces people to do strange things. Burn sheets. Throw out clothes. Toss rings into the ocean. But when you get $100 million in your divorce, you can trump just about anything and that’s what happened with Tiger Woods‘ ex-wife when she bought a $12 million home and bulldozed the whole thing.

[Check the before picture above and the after picture after the jump]

Yes, according to TMZ, Elin Nordegren bought a $12 million home in North Palm Beach, Fla., but didn’t like it, and has plowed the whole thing.

 

The house, which had six bedrooms and eight bathrooms, is now just rubble, with no word yet on what is going to replace the beautiful building you see above, but I guess when you have nine figures in the bank, it doesn’t really matter what you want.

(Want to see the house AFTER she blew it down?  READ MORE……click here)

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/golf-devil-ball-golf/tiger-woods-ex-wife-bulldozes-12-million-home-232405259.html

Divorce Really Does Make Marriage Better! (what do you think?) 10/18/2011

The divorce rate for second marriages may be higher than that of first marriages, but don’t tell that to people on their second marriages. Many feel their second marriages are actually much, much stronger than their first. And while the statistics don’t support this notion, reason really should.

After all, don’t we learn from our mistakes?

Divorce is one of life’s most traumatic events. Anyone who has been through it likely puts a much higher premium on only going through it once. The fact is, many people marry for the wrong reasons. They marry out of fear of being alone or because everyone else is doing it. And when you marry young (under 26), you also do it not knowing how the person will change.

Every day we are married, we learn more about marriage. After nearly nine years of marriage, I can officially say I have a pretty good understanding of what it takes to make a marriage last. And it’s not undying love and passion (though those are important, too).

What really matters in marriage is a strong foundation, AKA the “boring things.” Is he responsible with money? Loving? Do you feel a close friendship? Does he make you laugh? Can he keep a job? Is he volatile or does he have any addictions? These are the kinds of things women should ask themselves when getting married.

From the outside, it’s often easy to predict which marriages will last and which will fail. But that doesn’t mean those predictions come true. Some of it is luck — my husband and I married at 25 and have grown and changed enormously since then — but some of it is also foresight. I was engaged before my husband and my inner voice knew it was wrong.

MORE:
http://thestir.cafemom.com/love_sex/127177/divorce_really_does_makes_marriage

MOM of 7 Dates Her Kids! 03/08/2011

MOM of 7 Dates Her Kids!

When I was divorcing my first husband my kids and I came up with this “date” concept.  Simply, we would take turns having one-on-one time with each other.  For three hours or so, generally on a weekend, one child and I would go somewhere (generally they got to pick) and we’d make it fun.

I loved it.  I used it as a time to tell them what was going on (with the divorce) and figure out where they stood with all the change.  The concept stuck and now several years later, we still do this.

Last weekend, my 10 year old, Ian, was driving me nuts.  The first problem is that he is too much like me so we butt heads quite a bit.  I love him dearly, but he’s one intense child, very strong-willed and very type A personality.  Hmmm, wonder where he got all this—I’ll blame it all on my X husband but we all know that’s a lie!  🙂

The entire weekend I felt like I was having to correct him, redirect him, set him straight.  So by the end of the weekend I was convinced HE HATED ME!  Come on, you know how I feel.  We’ve all been there.  As parents you struggle with correcting/over correcting versus not doing a thing and if  you know me I strongly abhor NOT DOING A THING.  I have to do something.   But after several episodes of confrontation with him I’m worn out emotionally.

So imagine my surprise, in the middle of the rough weekend, he asks ME for “boy time/girl time.”  (that’s what he we call it:  Boy time Girl Time or Girl Time)  Of course, I said YES!  Any opportunity to regroup in a positive way with my kids, I’m all about.   So we agreed upon Monday night (last night).

Honestly, I haven’t seen this all American, sports loving boy be this excited in a long time.  He instant messaged me as soon  he got home yesterday.  He couldn’t contain the excitement in his 10-year-old brain.

By 5:30 yesterday we were on the road to Dick’s Sporting Goods.  He was in Heaven.  And I was in Heaven cuz he was spending his allowance money, not my money.  🙂

But what made this night ultra cool was that once again I was reminded how important it is for us to make one-on-one time for each of our kids.  Honestly, I find out the most and greatest information when I take the time to slow down and spend one-on-one time with them.

Yesterday, Ian was in his typical form asking deep question that HE initiated; questions about Heaven and Hell and sex and drugs, alcohol.  He asked questions most 20 year olds wouldn’t ever ask their parents.  He asked questions that he would NEVER ask if I hadn’t taken the time to be alone with him.

One of the last questions he asked was about hearing the voice of God.  How? He wondered.

We finished our thoughts and questions as we pulled into the driveway nearly three hours after we started our “date”.  I put the car in Park and Ian said “thanks!”  I said…”for what?”  He said, “thanks for everything Mom.”

The way he thanked me was so incredibly sincere sounding it truly touched my heart.  I thought to myself, I didn’t spend any money on him (he used his allowance) but I gave him my time, and my thoughts and together we made great conversation.  And for that, he thanked me from his heart.

My friends, NEVER UNDER-ESTIMATE THE POWER OF ONE-ON-ONE TIME WITH YOUR KIDS!

Always a MOM of 7. NEVER a MOM of 8! :( 03/04/2011

I know it sounds crazy.  Totally crazy.  Being a MOM of 8 sounds certifiable CRAZY!  Right?

When I was growing up I thought I would only have one child as an adult.  So I laugh often when I think….God, why did you give me 7?

In my first marriage, I had twins at the age of 28.  About 2.5 years later, I had our third child.  We were done; HIS shop was permanently closed.  Well, fast forward a number of years, and a divorce and now a remarriage and I’ll be honest with you, I struggle GREATLY with the thought that Stephen and I will NEVER have our own children.

Stephen’s shop…closed, yet perhaps reversible.  My shop?  Different story.  A few years ago, just PRIOR (ironic) to meeting Stephen, I had to have a pretty drastic surgery (we essentially had to fry my uterus) that complete prevents me from having any more children.

The desire to have another child is HUGE!  I love being pregnant.  I love the baby stage.  I love, love, love 6 months to about 2 years.  I love the smiles, the laughs, the little innocent personality that develops in front of my own eyes.

I look at friends baby pictures on Facebook and I just LONG for a baby.   I see videos like this one and my heart aches to experience this stage once again!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP4abiHdQpc&feature=player_embedded

Stephen says we need to look forward to our kids having kids.  Um, I say…no thanks.  Not ready for that!  🙂  I want MY OWN!  LOL.

So, my reality is this….7 is enough.  I LOVE our 7.  I also know the Lord had a different plan and Stephen and I were never meant to have our own children. Our “plates” are full with 7 and the challenges are huge and days are long. But I’ll be honest with you, I think I will always be a little sad that after finding amazing love and a real partner in life with Stephen, that the two of us will never know what it’s like to have a child of our own.

Cuz shoot…..if we had a child of our own, that would be ONE REALLY TALL child!

Ask MOM of 7: Dating after the divorce! (or in your 30s) 02/15/2011

It’s a big, big question, with an even bigger answer! 

A reader asks MOM of 7: How do I begin dating after

my divorce (or when I’m in my 30s)?

First, my disclaimer:  It’s time to buckle up.  Because no matter how ready you think you are no one is ever ready to be pushed back to your high school or college days when dating was a HUGE priority.  And no matter how ready you think you are, no one is ever ready for rejection and the moment you begin dating be READY FOR REJECTION!

So, if you’re really ready, read on……

 

Step 1:  PICK THE POOL

I’m not talking about the country club pool, the neighborhood pool or your backyard pool.  I’m specifically telling you that you must decide where you’re going to find the pool of men/women that you may be interested in. 

Let’s get real for a moment….if you’re divorced, like I was, you’re likely in your 30s.  You’re working full time and may have a child or 3.  Finding someone to date is NOT going to be like it was when you were in your late teens or 20s. 

So where’s the pool?  Is it your church?  Is it where you work?  Or could it be ONLINE? 

Realize there are problems with ALL 3 choices.  Not one choice is the perfect choice.

Step 2:  DEFINE EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT!  

Make a list of the qualities you want in your next partner.   DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP.  I know it sounds time consuming, but honestly, give yourself 30 minutes and simply make a list.  Don’t over-think the list, just write down whatever comes into your head.  Save the list for future reference…..it WILL come in handy. 

Step 3:  Ready?  Set?  GO!  Let’s START!!!! 

For the purpose of this exercise, let’s just say you pick the ONLINE option.   There’s no right or wrong ONLINE option, although I would personally recommend EHarmony.com or Match.com    Remember, online dating is this generations version of hooking up at a bar. 

You probably know the drill—with online sites you have to make a profile.  DO IT.  And DO NOT LIE.  If you lie about anything on your profile, you’re wasting your time and your money.  It will only set you up for failure.  

If you have three children, make sure you “claim” those kids on your profile.  I remember going out on a first date, and at the end of the date he turned to me and said….”um I’m a little worried about the fact that you have 3 kids.”  I looked at him like he was an idiot….are you serious?  Then WHY did you waste my time…..my profile says I have 3 kids.  I thought….WHERE WAS THE CONFUSION?  He was wasting MY time!

Step 4:  SEARCH, SEARCH AND SEARCH SOME MORE. 

You’re gonna see a lot of profiles.  The key to success is narrowing your search.  Now is the time to be picky and specific.  If your religion is important to you, make sure you’re checking that box.  If a certain income level or eduction level is important to you, check those boxes.  Again, I can’t say this enough….NOW IS THE TIME TO BE PICKY. 

I promise you, you’ll find PLENTY of matches.  The key is to keep your search narrow and specific.  

Step 5:  START DATING! 

This is the fun part.  Enjoy it and remember YOU set the pace. 

 

WARNING:  Just like at work, at church or at the bar, there are TONS of people online who aren’t there for the reason YOU are there—to date.  Let’s just say there are lots of people looking to simply hook-up.  You’ll be able to weed these people out pretty quickly, but be on the look-out and don’t be naive!