Oh - the Big 4-0! YIKES

so today is the day, today I can no longer say Thirty, I have to say Forty - Yikes! It really isn't so bad - yet. Driving in this morning, I reflected on my life, as sometimes I do. I thought how my 20's was nothing but partying, going to school and working, little faith, no really big huge worries, my thirties I was getting settled into a career, trying to figure out motherhood, still stressing about looks and not comfortable with myself, made mistakes as we all have, dealing with dad's sickness and death, refinding my faith again and just thirties, just seemed a crazy time in life. I can honestly say I am looking forward to my 40's.

I am settled once again into a new career, although there are days that I HATE my job, this is where God has me now, so I am happy. I have a home, food, clothing, a wonderful husband who loves me, still not sure why :), two beautiful boys that keeps my life full of laughter and mishaps, a stronger faith, a wonderful family, both immediate, and extended, wonderful friends - I am happy with who I am and how far I have come since my 20's. It was a bumpy road, but if it were smooth we wouldn't learn anything and by far, we wouldn't appreciate what we really have.

I am blessed - very blessed. I embrace my 40's - I am happy on my 1st day of "gulp" 40 :)

Now, if I can just convince my sisters to go sky diving with me LOL

I hope everyone has a great day and is enjoying this BEAUTIFUL weather!!! Thank you dad for that gift LOL

Miss and love you dad ~ so much.

Much love and happiness to all,

Pros vs Cons

so we all know I hate my job, well, if you don't you do now :)... I love the administration side of things and I love the people I work with, well most of them. But dealing with the day to day drama of people is just tolling - everyone has a sad story, everyone has problems and some people just have bad luck - you know... Oh, it's been a long draining week. This job definitely makes me blessed for the life I have been given - definitely.

I stay here, definitely not for the money, because if you are a woman at this company you aren't making squat, it definitely is a "man's" company - kind of unfair huh. But the major pro is, I can be flexible with my hours in that if Brayden has an academic meet or if Logan has a parent thing at school, I can go to it. Of course the work ethic I have, I am always working at home to get things caught up. Right now, I will take that pro - they are just getting involved in so much as they get older so I need that flexibility. At my old job, the pro was definitely the money - everyone there was paid what they were worth because everyone definitely put the hours in all year long, especially the summer, but the con was not really having the flexibility of doing things with the boys, or no one really had the flexibility to be with their families.

So in every job, you have to outweigh the pros vs the cons - right now for me it is having that flexibility because if it was for the money I would say "See You".... I still just may just because of the emotional drain it is taking on me... we will see what God has planned.

I hope everyone is doing well, it is January 17th - Yikes! Getting closer day by day to the big 40! Still trying to process that I am moving into that number - I think I will be okay, maybe :)

Happy Thursday - it is almost Friday - hang in there.

Miss and love you dad ~ so much

Much love and happiness to all!

Winter - Please Leave!

awe Winter, you stink! Since New Year's Day one of the 5 of our families have been sick, whether it is the flu, a bad cold or what have you, we have passed it around to EVERYONE! I am so ready for winter to be over - enough is enough already. Brayden has it today and is so upset that he has to miss school. Yep you heard me. He loves going to school, I have never had a problem with him as far as going. But today was also his first academic meet and he is so mad at me for making him stay home. But with a 100+ temperature, the shakes and a bad cough, um... you aren't going to school. WINTER, YOU CAN LEAVE NOW!

I have been dealing with something but it isn't the flu. I didn't feel bad until this week, last week, I had lost my voice which happens once or twice a year. But this week is when I started coughing a lot more and having headaches, but no fever - Steve on the other hand is on his death bed - he has the flu and you would think.......... well never mind, you know how men are when they are sick!

Logan, my sweet little Logan slept with me last night in our bed and he says to me, "Mommy, I really love cuddling with you and I hope I can do it all of the time" That my friends, is exactly what I needed to hear after having a horrible day at work. He seems to say the sweetest things at the right time - gosh, I love that boy!!

Jen and Bill were able to go to Miami for the ND Bowl Game, we are know the ugly outcome of the game - gosh it was ugly! But what an experience for them and for Casey to have. They were able to meet up with Uncle Tom (Mom's brother) and his son Tim - which I am so happy that they were able to because we don't see nearly enough of them. But they had the time of their life. I keep saying it, but what a hell of a senior year for Case!!!!

Here is a picture of them at the game, they were able to see Case on the field and some one was nice enough to take their picture.








What an exciting time for them!!!!

I hope everyone is doing well and if you are battling the flu or a sickness, hang in there :(

Miss and love you dad ~ so much.

Much love and happiness to all,

New Year, New Me, New Us - 2013

WOW! That is all I can say. I can not believe another year has gone by. Every year we say we are going to enjoy the moments, we are going to enjoy life and before you know it you are celebrating the end of the year and the possibilites of the new year!

I don't make resolutions in that they never seem to be kept. Sure I do good at the beginning of the year but then, you know, life gets in the way. Instead I have set goals for myself and to renew my faith and love in God. I need to learn to give him everything, to trust that he is always there for me and that I am right now where I need to be in my life. Although I pray every day for another path to take me down, especially career wise. I think a year in Huamn Resource is a year too much :)... Not that I don't like people, but oh the drama LOL. I just have to put my faith and trust in him and if another path is chosen then it is chosen.

This is a big birthday year too - the big, ugh, 40! I just can't believe I will be that old. It doesn't seem possible. I know 40 isn't that old, but... it may be a hard birthday. This is a year that I will reconnect with old friends, I will continue on my journey of a healthier lifestyle, if I could only give up the Miller Lite :)., it will be a year that the boys and I will grow stronger as a family and we will continue to make wonderful memories, it is a year that we will be celebrating three big graduations in our family, Case from ND, Cary from HC and Olivia will be graduating from 8th grade - what a BIG year for them!

We will continue to cherish and flourish the friendships that we are making through the boys sports and schools, through out our neighborhood and through church. And we will reconnect with old friends. Work, it just shouldn't get in the way. We as a society work way too much. And we worry too much about finances and materialistic items. Not everyone can keep up with the Jones, and who really wants too, sometimes the Jones may have all of the materialistic and coolest items, but they do not have what is really important in life.

Be yourself, be who you are to be - I look forward to the new year, to the new beginnings, to the journey ahead. It will be a heck of a year I am sure, but we are in it together, and as long as we have each other - it will be a FANTASTIC year!

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For the few that read this I am sure you are wondering about our Christmas. We had a fantastic Christmas, I have been unplugged for about a week except for the post on Logan's birthday. Even on Christmas morning, I took no pictures, I took a video, but was just really in the moment with the boys, knowing this was Brayden's last year of believing. We still haven't talked to him yet... don't want to :) So hence, that is why I didn't post any pictures on here yet. I know there are some floating around from mom's and when I get them I will post them on here.

I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL holiday season and was blessed to make many memories and to be with family and friends. Cheers to 2013 and I wish you nothing but the BEST.

Miss and love you dad ~ so much.

Much love and happiness to all,