Saturday, September 12, 2015

Reflections

I just finished watching 'The Longest Ride' with my husband. Yes, I realize it had been over two years since my last blog 😳! It was probably one of the best movies I have ever seen. It couldn't come at a better time. 

We were married on June 26th this year. Our girls are now almost 18, 14, and 6. They are blooming before our eyes and there is nothing I can do about it. I feel the older ones finding their way in this world and can only hope I have influenced them to make the right choices that lead them to fulfillment and happiness. It terrifies me that I haven't done enough and that I have done the wrong things. They are amazing girls and I pray every day that this world is kind to them.

Happily ever after is a finicky thing. I find us at times in the dark with both hands on the walls trying to find our way. Life deals us interesting hands and at times I can't seem to call its bluff. Luckily Brandon is a rock that steadies me and shows me that what we share is true and deeply rooted. We have made it through quite a bit and times are definitely tough right now. Sometimes when you're world is spinning it is best to stand still and anchor to a rock. There are two things I know to be true...I absolutely need honesty and love in my life and I can never guess what tomorrow will bring.

For now I will stand still and let life unfold. For now I will begin writing a book and let my imagination unfold. For now I will allow my children to make their choices and cling to hope they are the best ones for them. For now....

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Plays and Springtime

I just got home from a play that Alyssa was in for school. I am one proud mama tonight. She did do great and she has truly amazing potential. Acting us a new passion for her and after speaking to her teacher, I think she could really go far. The play was a musical and it was a blast watching her singing and dancing!

Shirsten has been off track and helping me a ton this week. I'm so thankful this is her last time ever off track for year round school!! We have her 12th Birthday at the end of the month...12!!! Where does the time go?? Soon she will be wearing make up and going into middle school. I am do sad yet so excited for the new adventures of these amazing girls coming up.

Bailey is so smart and spunky. Her personality is really starting to shine through. She has the most creative imagination and she loves to talk! I love when she giggles with a little snickering in it; it is so contagious!

Brandon and I are doing great. We have a couple of months to go until the girls are out of school and then we will begin to look for a place of our own. Life has really come together :)!!

Monday, March 25, 2013

One Year...

I can't believe the difference a year can make... A year ago I was a single girl getting over strange medical problems; a lost mother trying to be the best mom for my two angels; a woman who had given up on love and ready to settle into a life of accepting what I was handed...

Today... I am raising the most beautiful two girls and playing a part in another amazing angels life; on the verge of getting a house; in love completely with a man who is my other half.

I'm incredibly blessed! I never knew life could be this good and I lay asleep at night so I can count all my blessings every day. I wake each morning with a renewed purpose and direction.

I can't even wait to see what tomorrow will bring...blessings to all of you :)

Friday, February 1, 2013

Hello 2013!

Have you ever thought...wow thank heavens that is over! I'm talking about 2012...what a crazy, beautiful, stressful, sad, and fulfilling year!

First and foremost Brandon and I are still together and are watching our 3 beautiful girls grow up. I look at all of them and my heart fills with gratitude. He is the most amazing man I have ever met in my life and I can't imagine life without him. I wake up everyday and the first thing I want to do is hear his voice and he is the last thing I think about every night. I am so incredibly in love!

Our girls are truly the most beautiful, smart, sassy, giggly and fun part of our lives. They are growing so fast!!! Alyssa turned 15...yes! 15 in November and just got her braces off-we are in trouble! She has had such a great year in school and us actively pursing a dream of becoming an actress. Bailey will be turning 4 in February and is developing the cutest personality you could ever imagine. She has the most perfect way of reasoning and convincing us on things we need to do and things that make her happy. She is so wise beyond her years. Shirsten has done so fabulous in school this year. She has been so dedicated to her work and is blossoming into an incredible young lady who still has that sassy spark. I love these girls with all my heart and I am so blessed I get to have a hand in raising them.

After 4 surgeries last year I think my amazing mom is finally on the road to recovery. I have never known a stronger woman in my life. I'm so happy I was here to try to help her through it. Little does she know she taught more about perseverance, patience, and love that I could only have learned through her experiences. My dad has been a rock for me and at 34 years old I'm still asking him for advice daily. I love my parents so much and I know the girls and I will be lost when we start our next chapter in life and move in a few months. I don't know how I will ever thank them for what they have done for me and the girls.

In a nutshell that is where I am :)...in love, happy, anxious for the future, scared, reflective, and above all--utterly thankful.





Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Trucking Along...

I am just full of gratitude right now in my life. Things are so amazing and I know I've said it in the last couple of posts, but it just gets better every day. This last week has been hectic. Work has been crazy and I have been go go go. I love my job, I really do. I get to work with the most amazing people who are so committed to their work it leaves me wanting to work even harder and better. I am so lucky to have a boss that is a mentor to me and I truly learn something new from her everyday. The same goes with my direct peers and the people I get the privilege to oversee and guide. I couldn't ask for a better team of people to spend more than half my time with, they make me want to keep doing more. We implemented a big project and I was at work at 1:30 this morning. Watching them all work together, get the job done, and receive recognition, has left me with the biggest smile on my face tonight.

My mom had an emergent second surgery on Sunday. I'm so thankful for the surgeon that worked on her. She is looking better than she has in the last 3 weeks. Part of her going through this gives me the opportunity to play nurse! She has come home with IV antibiotics so twice a day me and my dad get to take an hour and a half to flush out her pic lines, push in antibiotics manually, and then hook her up to another IV antibiotic, and then flush it all again and give her blood thinners at the very last through the pic line. I don't like that she has to go through this for the next 6 weeks, however I know it is helping her and it is fun for me. So she has to deal with me as a giggly nurse haha.

The girls are still doing great. School is gearing up and they go back the third and fourth week of this month. I'm excited to go and do some shopping and get them all cutesy! They have been so much fun this summer and I am reminded every day of how much they have grown up. I can't even use sarcasm without them totally understanding what I am saying and telling me I'm crazy lol. I love those girls to death!

Lastly...I am still hopelessly in love with an amazing man. He is so supportive, gentle, sweet, and I just don't think there are enough adjectives to describe how incredible he is and how much he means to me. I never thought something like this existed and I thank God every night for bringing him in my life. I'm excited to make some fun plans this fall and winter, including HUNTING with him, hooray! It's been such a great year and it gets better every single day.

I am so thankful for all of the beautiful people in my life. You are all what makes me smile and look forward to so many things. I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!

Friday, July 20, 2012

Great Memory

Last Saturday created one of the most memorable days of my life. Brandon and I decided to take the girls fishing. It was a bit of a cooler day for July and it was on and off thunderstorms. We dressed a little warmer for the day and headed up highway 6 toward Scoefield reservoir. Brandon knew the sweet spot to go. As we got closer to the lake the scenery was beautiful and I just knew we were going to see some wildlife. I had a few $1 on me so I said the first person who spots a deer gets a dollar! Alyssa spotted the first one just seconds later. A few minutes after that Brandon spotted the next one and soon after Shirsten found the third.

We arrived at the lake and packed all our gear down a pretty steep hill, bad idea to wear flip flops. Brandon said "ok girls my pole is getting set up first so we have good luck and you gals catch some fish today". In went his pole, then Shirsten's and while he was setting up Alyssa's the first fish hit on Brandon's line! The girls got so excited! One after another we were all catching fish. They were giggling and smiling and just lit up with excitement. I was standing there holding my pole and looking around at the scene around me. Here I was looking at my two beautiful girls and the man of my dreams doing what we all love. I was completely mesmerized and so incredibly thankful for this wonderful life I am living.

Just then Alyssa started reeling in the biggest fish we caught all day. When it was close to shore, Brandon's line hit with another one... Doubles! Shirsten was feeling a little tug tug on her pole and reeled in the cutest lil fishy ever.

Then the rain came :) at first it was raining just a lil bit so we decided to wait it out in the car. We climbed the muddy hill and got in the car and turned on Despicable Me. After 2 minutes it was a full on downpour. We only had to wait about 20 minutes and ventured back down to the lake. Our trail walking down had become a rushing river. We were laughing so hard. Fishing became a little slower after that, although Brandon caught 2 more tee hee. We were down there about a half hour more when the downpour hit again. We were scrambling trying gather everything up and climb the muddy waterfall back to the car. It was seriously so fun!

After all was said and done we were soaked to the bone, had 4 fish that we kept, and in utter happiness!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Summer Summer Time!

Life is so incredible right now. For the first time in I couldn't even tell you in how many years, I am in love. Yep, that's right, I'm saying it! Is it scary as hell to say? Yep! LOL! But, in the same sense I'm not scared one little bit. I have clarity, I have direction, and I have a future. I'm so excited about everything in my life every minute of every day. I can't believe how much has changed for me in just a few short months. It's completely surreal.

Summer is here and I am SO ready! The girls are out of school and have stayed with their dad this week. I am missing them so much right now, but at the same time so happy they get some quality time with their dad. They both did SO well the last quarter and I just can't believe how smart they are! Alyssa is holding a 2.8 GPA and she worked so hard to get there. I have found that she knows all material she learns but testing for her is stressful and she doesn't do as well, but she KNOWS it! It is one of my goals to work with her next school year on testing and ways to be more confident in her answers. Shirsten also knows all the material she learns, but she sometimes gets too busy talking or playing to finish the actual assignments. Focus will be what I work on with her next school year. I am starting a reading program with them this summer where I will buy them the book series they want and when the report back to me what they read, they will get rewards. I don't want them to get too far out of the swing of how amazing books can be for their imaginations. We have tons of plans that they want to do this summer including boating, fishing, campouts, and just plain fun times with them. I love the stages they are in and they are literally growing right before my eyes. Only one year left with Alyssa in middle school, and Shirsten in elementary...yikes!

I also am so blessed to get to be a part of the life of an adorable 3 year old angel with the most beautiful brown eyes I have ever seen. She has melted my heart and I feel like I have known her her whole life. I love the stories she tells me and she has the most adorable catch phrase of "hey guess what". I can't help but answer with an excited "what" each time she says it just waiting for the cutest story to come out of her mouth. The more time I get to spend with her, the more time I want to be around her, like I said she has melted my heart and I am truly the luckiest girl on earth to be a part of her and her daddy's life. My girls love them both so much and everything has just seemed to fall into place for all of us, as if it was always supposed to be this way.

Well that's the latest in a nutshell! Life is fabulous and I hope yours is going just as well! TTFN!