Life

Some of us are born into this world and breathe the air of life without a destination or plan; lost, unhappy, alone or scared.

Some of us are born into this world and create life along the way; day to day, happy, and satisfied.

Then there are those of us who are not just born, but rather come bounding into this world with a life full of determination and purpose; setting goals, spreading love and living each day to the fullest!!

I have experienced my fair share of hardships in my life but I completely and honestly believe that every piece of the puzzle is what makes me who I am today. All of the challenges, all of the heartache, all of the pain and glory...every lesson or chapter of my life is what completes my life story.

Ten years ago my life changed in the blink of an eye. Someone took something that wasn't theirs to take. They forced their way into an innocent life; creating everlasting scars. This selfish act has impacted everyday of my life, but it does not define me. It has no power over me. I am stronger, wiser, and more determined than before. I am a fighter. This is me, my life and I am in control now!

My husband, my kids, my family, my friends, my accomplishments and achievements are things that define my life! I live with purpose and determination! I will shoot for the stars and settle for nothing less!

The life that I live, the people who are a part of it and with all the love my heart has, I would not change a thing! My life is not "perfect", but it's perfect for me!!

Friends, what about you? What is your story? Life is happening, here and now. Don't let it pass you by!!

Unexpected surprises

Woke up at 6:15 a.m. to be to work early. Left the house late, hit every red light, got stuck behind two school buses and ended up arriving to work ON TIME. Boo.

Started my day off with a staff training (didn't go as bad as expected...) and it was go time until 4pm when I couldn't get out of there fast enough. Long day. Enough said. All I wanted to do was go home and relax (as much as I can with 3 young kids!). Stop #1- picking up M&M's and Almond Joy from daycare. Stop #2- picking up Kit Kat from after school care. Stop #3- home!!!! And then it all hit me like a ton of bricks... Oh wait, nothing at home to make for dinner!! Add grocery shopping. Oh man, I forgot it's Tuesday and that means Kit Kat has scouts tonight...add that in. Soccer practice?? YES! Oh boy, I'm going to go crazy...too much to do, so little time and all I want to do is go home and relax!!! *sigh*

As I am arriving to the grocery store , I get a call from the hubby. "Hey babe, no work tonight, I'm on my way home!" YIPEE!!!!!!!!!!! And as I am wandering the store I get a message "scouts cancelled for tonight, see you next week"....and I start silently cheering THANK GOODNESS!!! The next thing I know we are checking out and it's...oops, past soccer time. WHAT!?! Ahhh!! Then I thought, "hmm. I went from crazy busy to forgetful mom and it feels.....AMAZING!!!" It really did feel amazing.

Within minuets I was home, making pasta, enjoying the unexpected company of my hubby. We all sat down together as a family, had a wonderful dinner (prepared by yours truly), and I sat back and enjoyed not one but TWO glasses of vino. As I sipped each wonderful drop from my glass, I thought to myself, "now this is the life!"

CHEERS friends!!

Happiness is...

...a glass of wine after a long day.
...waking up to a little girls smile.
...listening to the imagination of little boys playing.
...a hot cup of coffee after a sleepless night.
...family.

We have had my nephew at our house this weekend for a sleepover and he and M&M's have had such a blast! They are the best of friends and I love watching them and listening to them play. Occasionally, like brothers, they fight and yell but for the most part, they get along great. I am so happy they are so close in age and have each other to entertain!

As I sit here and write, I look around at my house and wonder...WTH happened in here!?! Every Lego, puzzle, book, car, train, and toy is out of it's bucket and strewn from one end of the house to the other. There are Ninja Turtle guys without heads, Mr. Potato heads missing limbs and random pieces of hot wheels throughout the hall. The beds are bare from them trying to build forts and the clothes hampers and completely emptied. Most people would be quick to judge saying "Why aren't you supervising them? How could you let they make such a mess?"  Friends, it's simple...they are 3 yr old boys...and they are as happy as can be! Sure it will be a challenge later making them pick it all up, but as long as they are laughing, having fun and aren't fighting, then who am I to rush in and ruin their fun? Gosh, I love them SO MUCH!!

Happiness is a messy house and happy kids :)

CHEERS!

Drink up

I recently found out that a family member, very close to my heart but who lives several hundred miles away, has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. It really hit close to home for me. This beautiful woman, a wife and a mother of two, has had her life change right before her eyes. Having faced a similar battle, I wish I was there for her...I mean physically there. I think about her everyday. I wish I could hold her hand, tell her I love her and be a sounding board for when she just needs to vent. I wish I could hug her, lend her a shoulder to cry on and just bring her flowers to brighten her day. Even though I can't be there, I know she is surrounded by wonderful people, a huge support system, and so much love and I know she will be OK!

Most of us know someone whose life has been changed by cancer. I have a close friend who lost two family members from this awful disease but I also know a handful of survivors. Today, I am dedicating my glass of lemonade to all the ones who have fought. I am remembering those who have fought but didn't make it. I am cherishing those who have fought and won. I am also toasting to those who are battling, because there is no greater gift than the present.

Friends, family, co-workers, strangers....please join me and have a glass of lemonade. Drink up to those whom you remember and cherish and toast with me to those who are fighting. Drink today, tomorrow and anytime you get the chance. While you drink, just take a moment to think what someone, somewhere has given to take their lemons and make lemonade.

"To the world, you are one...but to one, you are the world!"

Bonding time

As a busy mom of three kids and working a full time job, I am always on the go. Half the time I never know where I am going or where I've been! There is always something going on whether it be cub scouts, sports, school function or appointments. Sometimes I feel like life gets so busy that I constantly have my running shoes on. This past month has forced me to put away those running shoes and focus on other aspects of life. With the free time, I devoted it to kids. It made me realize just how important spending time with my kids means to me.

The past couple of days we have had beautiful sunshine! I've taken M&M's outside each day to ride his bike, play basketball and have play dates with our neighbor friend of his. We have taken walks up to meet Kit Kat at the afternoon bus stop, drawn with side walk chalk, and just enjoyed being outside in the fresh air. It makes my heart so happy playing with my little boy! Since Almond Joy has been born, we haven't had many times when it's just been the two of us. I know it means so much to both us to have that time to make memories and I'll take it ever chance I get!

Saturday, Kit Kat and I also got to spend time together, just the two of us, hanging out. His cub scout den fulfilled one of their Bear Cub achievements by participating in the local Home Depot Kids Workshop building activity. Each scout got to build their own keepsake box. So the two of us spent the next two hours making his box. We sanded, glued, nailed and painted it (and ourselves) until it was just the way he wanted! It was so much fun spending time with him doing something only big boys gets to do. He's growing up so fast and becoming such an intelligent kid. I've got to get as much "mom time" in as I can before he gets to the age of not wanting to spend any time with me. Again, I'll take every chance I get to make memories and I know that right now in his life, it means so much to him! I am so proud of the young man he's becoming!

No matter how busy life can be, I will never let it get in the way of spending quality time with my kids. The most important things are the simplest things in life. So when you feel like you've got your running shoes on, don't forget to stop and take a break and realize what's most important in life. Take the time to build Lincoln logs with your child, play catch with your dog, have a movie night with your spouse or go to happy hour with the girls. Don't be so busy that you miss making memories. Today is the tomorrow we talked about yesterday...there are no re-dos and you don't get it back.

How do you manage your time for the important people in your life?

Rewind

lets rewind to before blogging started...

I am 26 yrs old, I live in the greatest place on earth, I have an awesome family and the bestest friends anyone could ever ask for! I am wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a cousin, an auntie, and most importantly, I am a mom. I have three beautiful children ages 8yrs, 3yrs and 4 months old.  They are my whole world and I could not imagine my life without them. I have been married to my best friend for 3.5 years and I can't wait to spend many more years together, growing old. I am so thankful for everything I have but the road along the way was a bumpy one for sure. God definitely blessed the broken road that led me to where I am today. Enjoy ~

I am the oldest of 4 kids - 2 girls and 2 boys. There is 11 years between me and my youngest brother. I was born and raised in Oregon and while I no longer live in the town I grew up in, I'm not too far away.  Growing up I played t-ball and then softball until I reached high school where I joined the dance team.  I lived and breathed dance...and I was good at it. I did good in school; I liked school. Life was pretty normal, I was your typical teenage girl, I had lots of friends and I enjoyed life. Little did I know at that time, but life had something else in store for me. In 2003 at the young age of 17, my life changed and I had to grow up fast. During my senior year of high school on 2/23, I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy (we'll call him "Kit Kat"). While the circumstances remain untold, I chose to keep the baby. There is so much that I missed out on, but looking back, I wouldn't trade my son for anything in the world.

After high school, I moved out and went to community college and earned my AAS degree while working full time and being a single mom. It wasn't easy, but I am proud to say that I did it and I did mostly by myself. While going to college, I worked many different jobs - retail, food service, hospitality and then back to retail. I wanted to use my degree and find something that I loved. I landed a job as a Bridal Consultant at a local bridal shop and fell in love with the industry. I thought for sure that I'd found my career there but at the time, I didn't know how wrong I'd be. I went to school to become a Wedding Planner, and that's all I ever wanted to do. But what I wanted and what I was doing, were two totally different things. It eventually became so bad that I bailed. I seriously had no other choice.  Strangely enough, my next job was back doing something I've done before...food service.

Going back into food service was one of the best decisions I made. I started working at a local steakhouse, first as a hostess and then slowly moved my way up.  That is where I met my now husband :). We hit it off right away, became friends, hung out and soon we started dating. Well, we never stopped dating and as you know, the rest is history! Ok, before I bore you to death, lets speed up  a couple years to just before my second son was born.

September 2007 was another life changing moment for me. I got a job working for a near by school district as an office secretary.  Never in a million years did I see myself working in a school office, but there were so many benefits, that as a mom, I couldn't pass up the opportunity.  After a year at my job, my now hubby and I decided that we were finally at a point in our lives that we were ready for another baby. On July 23, 2008, on one of the hottest days that summer, we welcomed baby boy #2 into the world. For the sake of blogging, I am going to call him "M&M's".  M&M's was the glue that held the four of us together.  We were now a family. Everything was falling into place even though there were those who questioned us. House, baby, then marriage...whats the big deal?

My wedding day is a day I will never forget.  Actually, my wedding DAYS. Yes, days. I am so lucky that I got to marry my best friend twice!  On August 8, 2008, a date very special to my husband for other reasons, we were married in his dads backyard with just our immediate family members close by. It was intimate, meaningful and cheap. It was perfect for us...at least for now. One year later, on August 1, 2009, I got the wedding of my dreams and got to marry my best friend all over again, this time in front of 150 friends and family members. Well, it's been just over three years since we were first married and our family has grown by one more.

With two big brothers at home, we welcomed our first girl, our precious princess into the world on September 23, 2011.  Now if you have been paying attention, you'll notice that all of my children have the same birth date...the 23rd.  No this was not purposely planned, but yes I think it's pretty cool! ;)    During my pregnancy when we found out we were having a girl, lets call her "Almond Joy," my husband and I decided that our family was complete.  Three was a good number...our perfect family of 5!

However, soon after Almond Joy was born, my health took a turn for the worst. It was discovered by my doctors that I would never be able to carry another baby. They were absolutely sure, tested and proved, and at that point, we no longer had the choice...it was a reality. That was the darkest day of my life, the day that changed me forever. That was the day the lemons got to me...and it was the day I vowed to never let it happen again.

So here we are, living in the present. Everyday gets better than the day before and it feels so good!  I still have my good days and bad days but sometimes you just gotta roll with the punches. When lemons come my direction, this time I'll be ready.  I'll be waiting with a spoon full of sugar and be sipping on sweet lemonade.  Cheers!

Words to live by :)

Surround yourself with people who make you happy. People who make you laugh, who help you when you're in need. People who would never take advantage of you. People who genuinely care. They are the ones worth keeping in your life. Everyone else is just passing through.

- Author Unknown

Lemonade

Sometimes we take the little things in life for granted. My life has given me lemons...lots and lots of lemons and I intend on taking those lemons and making some kick ass lemonade!! Ready, set, go!!!