Days of Thanks - discontinued!

So my commitment to keep my blog up with my days of thanks on Facebook did NOT pan out. While I do have a LOT to be thankful for right now, lots of spare time is not one of those things. I couldn't keep up with finding pictures and writing a paragraph for everything I listed. I do want to hit a few of the highlights, though.

These girls - what can I even say? Best. Friends. Imaginable. Shannon has been my best friend for something crazy like 23 years - from first grade until today. Kim was right beside me during that God-awful time called junior high. Darien, who I met in my mom's friend's kitchen, and I have been friends since middle school and are still besties today. Cortney was a fellow FCA camper, and we became best friends even though we rarely saw one another - losing her was one of the worst things I've been through, especially since I couldn't be there during her last days or funeral. And Ashley is my newest best friend - a recent but super important addition to my life.

Shannon & I in Vegas!

Kim & me... 8th grade!

D & I ready for some Cards baseball!

Cortney and I at the World's Biggest Ball of Twine

Ashley & I in St Louis

Wrapping this into a big highlight - my family. I think I mentioned my parents, grandparents, cousins, and a general "family time" during the days of thanks. I also happen to have some pretty amazing aunts and uncles. I do not believe that blood determines family - I technically have step and half cousins exclusively, but I don't (and more importantly, they don't) view us as anything but "family." Those ties are unbreakable - even with widely varying beliefs on everything from politics to the environment to sports. 

Last highlight - these people. John-Nathan-Leslie, aka the Perkins crew... my years at MNU were shared with them around the corner round table at Perkins, with pitchers of water constantly needing refilled, the three of us talking about literally everything. And the Soul Sistas - Leslie, Tammi, Tarra, Jessi, and Amber - the first real "group" of girlfriends I ever had - I can't imagine college without them. When I randomly have major regrets about going to MNU (hello, student loans!) I just remember these two groups of friends, along with some others, and can't be anything but blessed that I ended up there. 

(Sorry Jess and Am... I couldn't dig up a pic of all of us. :-/) 

30 Days of Thanks (3&4)

Day 3: for family time!

I do not get to see my "Newton family" enough - and they are some of my very favorites. I got to go there over the weekend and my little (okay - she's almost 22 so not really "little" anymore!) cousin Shelby took pictures of the kids (and some of me) for Christmas and Raegan's birthday. My aunt helped out with those and it was sooo nice to spend the day with the two of them! Then the kiddos and I went to eat at my fave Newton restaurant, Charlie's (which was not so great... breakfast there is only good at breakfast time apparently!), with them and my cousin Janie and her soon-to-be-hubby Danny. AND the day ended with a trip to my grandparents' house to see them before we headed home!
I didn't get to "grow up" with Janie and Shelby, and Janie's brother Brandon, like I did with my cousins who live around Chanute. But somehow, we are just as close - even though we don't get to see each other as much as we'd like.
I can't find a picture with Shelby, except for one where we're all four behind a table at her baby shower. :)

Day 4: for my sister, Joni!

We have alternatively loved and hated each other - but she's the only person who knows almost exactly what my entire life has been like. Through everything growing up, we were always together. Now, we're pretty good friends - we spend a lot of time together, talk almost daily... she knows almost everything about me and doesn't judge or get too pissed at me. We have the type of relationship that a normal "friendship" probably wouldn't survive because we yell, scream, say mean things, ignore each other - then the next day are back to normal. I truly believe the bond between sisters is one of the most powerful in the world - I can say whatever I want to her, but I will hurt you if you try to do the same. :)

30 Days of Thanks (1&2)

Since I couldn't figure out what direction to take this blog - I decided to go along with the 30 Days of Thanks posts that I've been doing on Facebook. I'm going to expand on my short status updates each day. Playing catch up today to be prepared for tomorrow.

Day 1: for the Big Man upstairs, who is the giver of everything else I'm thankful for.

I don't consider myself to be particularly "religious" - but definitely believe that God is the creator of everything and the giver of all good things. It's a struggle sometimes to stay in relationship with Him - but I always try to give Him thanks for the good things, as well as the lessons He teaches.

Day 2: for two beautiful, healthy children and their hilarious personalities. With them around, life will never be boring
                           

                        

Seriously - these two keep me on my toes. Raegan is saying the craziest stuff - her imagination is in full swing (she just told a Diego toy that she'd find Dora and then kissed him!) and cracks me up every day. Jaxson is just all over the place. He's starting to say a few words - Bubba and Mama mostly. His voice is so cute. Love them so much!

30 Things (30)

List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for.

These are in no particular order. Also, 10 is WAY too many, so I'm going to try for 5 and see if I even get that far.

1- For being kind. Not necessarily "nice" all the time - but for being fair, nonjudgemental, honest, accepting, and loving to ALL people.
2- I want my kids to remember me as a good mom. Maybe not always their favorite person, because I will do whatever it takes to protect them, which will inevitably mean I make them mad. But I want to raise them in a way so they will be all of the things I mentioned in #1...
3- For being a good friend. I don't have a lot of close friends - I trust an extremely limited number of people and that tiny number has gotten even smaller recently - but my best friends are THE BEST. They support me, stand by me, and make me a better person. I want to be a great friend back to them.
4- ... Yep, probably not making it to 5. =)



This is the end of my 30 Things journey... I skipped some days because I didn't like the question or sometimes didn't like/want to talk about my answer to the question. Now the real question is - where is this blog going from here?

30 Things (28)

What is your love language?

First, let me just say that I LOVE the book and the idea of the 5 Love Languages. I read it at MNU in my marriage and family class and it's one of the things I definitely took and applied outside of the classroom. It's definitely not just applicable to romantic relationships - I've found a lot of use in discovering love languages of my friends, coworkers, and basically anyone you spend time with.

If you aren't familiar with the love languages, they are words of affirmation, receiving gifts, quality time, physical touch, and acts of service. I'll just say that it is not hard to make me feel loved. Some people think it's hard to please me... but it's really not. I love love. I love making other people feel loved and it is nice to feel that in return.

I have a little bit of all of the love languages in me - but quality time and physical touch are tied for my primary "love language." (I took a quiz about it a few weeks ago!) Don't get me wrong, I like getting gifts - especially if it's something that someone put a lot of thought into. Words of affirmation are nice, but I've found that words without action are more harmful than love-inspiring. Acts of service... eh. I really do love serving others, but this is just not something that makes me feel loved.

So - quality time. This, for me, means doing just about anything that is engaged and involved with the other person. It could even be watching TV, if it's something we both enjoy and can talk about. Mostly it means talking - lots and lots of talking, asking questions, listening to the other person, laughing, etc. As far as physical touch is concerned - this one was kinda surprising to me. I don't typically enjoy touch - there are really only a few people who I want "in my bubble" - but once I started thinking about it, it made more sense. I want the touch only on my terms. I show love by touching, too - my friends, family - through hugs, putting an arm around them, pats on the back, etc. The physical touch really applies to very few people, in certain situations - you're probably gonna get punched if you just come up and try to hug me. Fair warning.

30 Things (27)

What is your favorite part of your body and why?

I would have to say my favorite part of my body is my arms. I like hugging and arms are pretty necessary for that. (I should clarify and say I like hugging certain people. I do not like random hug attacks, hugging people I don't really know, etc. Gross.) My arms have held and rocked lots of babies/children - kids I've babysat over the years, my cousins, my nieces and nephew, friends' babies, and most importantly, Raegan and Jaxson.

30 Day (26)

What popular notion do you think the world has wrong?

The most "wrong" thing I can think of in modern society is that most people think they have to voice their opinions about everything and feel like they have the right to be listened to. Yes, everyone, me included - hell, me especially sometimes - likes to voice their opinions. I have a LOT of opinions on a variety of subjects, but even I, with my loudmouth, think-I'm-right-all-the-time attitude, know that most of the time, nobody gives two shits what I'm saying. And I'm fine with that. It's these people who butt into someone's personal life, inserting their opinions about one's lifestyle choices, friends, actions, thoughts, etc. that drive me completely crazy. Then, as if it's not bad enough that the person is "up in one's business" - they have the audacity to be upset when one does not listen to one word they're saying, doesn't take their advice, or gets mad because the person is nosy/rude/out of line. Here's an idea - stay out of my business. :)

This is more plainly seen in cases like the 9/11 attacks and other acts of violence like that. One person or group gets an idea and when things don't go as planned... bad things happen. I just don't understand how it's so hard to leave people be - to love who they want, live how they want, make their own decisions, quit judging, and just be kind. Have your opinions, thoughts, convictions, beliefs - but share them nicely, be respectful, do it with love.

Rant over. :)

30 Days (25)

Skipping 24, because it's my blog and I'll do what I want!

Day 25: If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?

I would want to eat with Mother Teresa. Growing up Catholic, I obviously heard a lot about her and the endless work she did for people. The more I read about her, read the things she said, I've realized her love is about much more than one religion or one church. She recognized God's love for all people, whether their lives, morals, beliefs, etc. were in line with hers - definitely something everyone could learn from. I don't think it would matter what we eat - I'd just hope it was something that didn't make my stomach hurt. I'd be way more interested in the conversation.

"There is only one God and He is God to all; therefore it is important that everyone is seen as equal before God. I've always said we should help a Hindu become a better Hindu, a Muslim become a better Muslim, a Catholic become a better Catholic. We believe our work should be our example to people."

30 Days (23)

I'm skipping 22, which is about how you see your life in 5, 10, and 15 years. Envisioning the future, especially specifics, is not one of my strengths. Even if I know exactly what I want, there are times I have no idea how to get myself there. So, since I'm running the show here, I'm not gonna do it!

List 5 hobbies and why you love them. I'll just start by saying I definitely don't have five hobbies. =)

1. This shouldn't be a surprise, because I've talked about it in probably half of these posts! But reading is definitely my number one hobby.

2. Spending time with my friends. I have a few friends in/around Chanute that I hang out with sometimes when we are all free and always have a good time. The three people I wish I could spend a lot of time with all live hours away. It takes a lot of planning or luck or random opportunities to get out of town to see them and I think it sucks. =) But it does make our time together more special.

3. Using the computer - mostly I do this because I'm bored or trying to avoid doing something else, like sweeping the floor or folding laundry. I'm not on a real search for information or anything, just passing time, which is really a waste of it. But I'm going for honesty here, so there ya have it.

Told you I didn't have five! While this blog has been fun, it's also been making me realize my life is kinda boring. Next up: changing that! =)

30 Things (21)

If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do first?

This is so easy - I'd be able to snap my fingers and be anywhere I wanted to be instantly. I'd go visit who I'm missing the most right now.

30 Things (20)

Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.

I remember walking to G&W with my grandma when we would stay with her and my grandpa. We'd walk there from their house and get the sugar cookies that are shaped like different things and covered in colored sugar crystals. There's nothing really significant about it, except that it is so normal.

When we were really little, my sister and I had to share a bed. One night I bit her really hard and she started screaming her head off. So I tried to bite myself hard too... then fake cried really loud... trying to make my mom think Joni bit me first. It didn't work. Apparently I'm not a good liar OR a good fake crier. I still am not good at either of those things, so it was a good early learning experience for me.


We would spend our time out of school at my grandparents' house and my best friend lived about 10 blocks away. We had a meeting spot in between the houses and would meet up and then hang out the rest of the day. I would almost always eat a red plum on my way to meet Shannon. This is significant because it's one of millions of memories we have and are still making as BFFs. :)

30 Things (19)

If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?

San Francisco! I've only spent a few hours there but it was one of the coolest places I've ever been. Probably THE coolest place. The ocean and bay are right there. It's cool to slightly warm most of the year, which is just fine with me because jeans are my favorite thing to wear. You can drive for a little bit and get to a warmer, beach-ier California. People-watching in San Francisco is the best - it's so diverse. The Ghirardelli chocolate factory/store is there. The houses and architecture are awesome. I'm sure there is a need for social workers out there, so I think I'd be covered for a job. Plus, some of my very favorite people are not too far away.

30 Things (18)

What is the hardest thing you have ever had to forgive?

It's taken me a few days to come up with an answer to this one. I still don't have a specific instance, so my answer is pretty general, but it's honest.

I am harder on myself than I am on anyone else, so it's much more difficult for me to forgive myself and move on from something I did than it is for me to forgive someone else. I say things that hurt people. I do things that aren't nice and people get upset. I remember those things, especially when I can tell or the person says how hurt they are, and then whatever I did eats at me. Even after I apologize, I still beat myself up over a situation. I obsess sometimes. But when someone treats me badly, I almost always forgive quickly and just move on.

Summer Reading List, 1-11

First, don't judge me for the fluff I read. Summer is not the time for heavy reading. Some of these books came from recommendations, some I just thought looked good, one I remembered from a long time ago. I read 23 books from May 1 to August 31. (I actually read three of them twice, but I'm not counting the second time.) Given that I work full-time plus after-hours some nights and have the kids, I was pretty impressed with this. I will tell you upfront that I like books where I can put myself in the main character's shoes and feel what is happening. Here's a quick recap and my thoughts on the first 11 books I read.

1: The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson. This was not his best work. It wasn't even his best non-creeper work. But I was committed to find out what happened at the end and read the whole thing. It wasn't horrible, just not what I expected from ol' Jim.
2-4: Switched, Torn, and Ascend by Amanda Hocking. These were total teen-lit but had an interesting (albeit weird) story-line. The first book was really hard to get into, but once I started, I read all three quickly because I really wanted to know what happened at the end. The story-line is about a girl who was switched at birth and is actually a member of the Trylle tribe and the story follows how she finds out and what happens because of it. If you liked the Twilight series, you'd probably like these books.
5-7: The Fifty Shades trilogy by EL James. Yep, I jumped on the bandwagon and read these. The writing is AWFUL. She's a middle-aged (I'm guessing, I didn't fact check this), British woman trying to write like a 27 year old American man. She says words I doubt anyone uses, let alone a dude, and uses phrases that are definitely not American. But, if you can get past that, the story is actually okay. If you have a soft spot for people who had screwed up childhoods and were adopted, you will probably end up wondering what craziness will come spewing out of Christian Grey next. Also, if you just like really graphic word porn, these are the books for you. If you don't like that, you can skip those parts and still get a decent story.
8: Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns. This was my favorite book in junior Honors English and it has just stuck with me since then. (Seriously it was about the only thing I enjoyed in that class.) The book is set in the early 1900s and follows a few years in the life of a boy, Will Tweedy, and his family after his grandma dies and his grandpa gets remarried right after. It's funny, touching, and just a great read.
9: Bared to You by Sylvia Day. XXX. Think Fifty Shades with more mental health issues and less S&M.
10: Leaving Cold Sassy by Olive Ann Burns. Poor Olive only got a few chapters of this book cranked out before she died. Will Tweedy is all grown up and married himself. The rest of the book is Olive's editor/friend and talks about what Olive's ideas were and how it would have panned out.
11: The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman. This was seriously one of the most intriguing books I've read. The story totally captivated me and I wanted to read the entire thing immediately, while at the same time wanted it to last. I just happened to spot this at the library and brought it home. It's set in 1920ish in Australia, so some of the writing is old-fashioned, but it's easy to read. The story follows a lighthouse keeper and his wife who discover a dead man and baby washed up on the island they live on alone - what they decide to do and the rippling effect it has.

Part 2, coming soon!

30 Things (the full list)

Here's the list of the 30 Things... I need to post this here to keep myself on track without having to go back to the original blog every day! :) Plus, I'll link each topic to the blog, so it will be easy to follow along if you get to this post first! Just a note: I didn't make these up or reword them to sound like how I would talk. I stole them from the blog I randomly found. I swear, I am trying to figure out how to "grab the button" that goes along with this blog, but I'm not really that blog-literate yet.

1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misunderstand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for 

Stationery card

Number One Boy Birthday Invitation

Shutterfly photo cards for birthdays, graduation, and Mother's Day.

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