The Simple Things in Life

I have been thinking about starting a new blog or at least redesigning this one. Whenever I was thinking about the design on this one, I wanted to go simple and keep the name So Live Your Life. Someone said "You know that's a Rhianna song?" Yes, I am very aware of that. But listen to the lyrics. I still have to make the paper, but I live my life. There are some rough patches along the way, but overall, I enjoy my life. Tyler has saved me from leading such a sheltered life. He has opened my eyes to new things. Things that I might not have been exposed to without him. I am thankful for each and every moment that I have spent with him. Even the not-so-good moments. They have all been learning experiences.

I just wanted to take some time and list things that make me smile on a daily basis. The things that keep me going are the small...simple things in life.

• My kids. The funny things they say. The look on their face and the excitement in their voice when they accomplish something and learn something new.
• Tyler. He is always able to make me laugh with the random and funny things that he does. He has a contagious personality. He doesn't even know how funny he is.
• My cat. Same goes with him. He has a wonderful personality. He entertains himself half of the time. He is also the most photogenic animal I have ever seen.
• Kristen. She been there unconditionally for me I don't know how many times. She is a true friend and a blessing in my life.
• My mom. She is always there for me. My life would be horrible without her. I don't even know if I could live life like this without her.
• My sister. She is one of my best friends and is always there if I need to talk. I can't imagine my life without her either.
• I like reminiscing on funny memories, looking at old videos, looking at old pictures, hearing old stories (involving and not involving me).

30 days of thankfulness- Wrap up

To end this month of thankfulness, I would just like to say that I am thankful for my family. That has been the bulk of what this month was about. I would not be where I am right now without my family. My friends are very important to me, but my family will always be there for me. Friends come and go. I was able to see the full proof in that last March. I am proud of my family. They bring so much warmth to my heart and a big smile to my face. I can't thank God enough for blessing me with such a wonderful group of people in my life. Thank you, infinity.

30 days of thankfulness- Days 25, 26, 27

November 25- I am thankful that there was nothing in the world that I needed or wanted so badly that I would have tried to tackle the crowds of Black Friday. I know that sounds silly, but I am thankful that I am not that materialistic...and crazy!!

November 26- I am thankful for the day that I got to spend with Tyler. We antique shopped all day and spend the day together spending very little money and doing something that was fun for us. I am glad that we share that in common. It is something simple and fun to do for the both of us.

November 27- I am thankful for 2 years with Tyler. We spent our 2 year anniversary together today. I am thankful that I took my boss' advice and gave Tyler a chance. It led me to a wonderful marriage and to meet my best friend. I wouldn't trade what I have with him for the world.

Thankfulness & Emptiness

After settling down from a very long day, I now have time to sit down and get this out of my head. I am so grateful that I was able to spend this day with my husband, two of our best friends, one of their mother's, my mom, my sister and brother-in-law. It was a very long and exhausting day preparing our dinner tonight, but I am thankful that it turned out amazing and delicious.

In the midst of all of this thankfulness, I could not help but to wonder how things would be if Carter were here. We got to see pictures of one of our best friends daughter with whipped cream all over her face from eating her first piece of pumpkin pie. I only wish that we were able to experience something like that with Carter. I with that he were here to have been able to eat his first piece of turkey. There is a sense of emptiness most of the time, and especially around the holidays. Last year was really hard because it was the first set of holidays that we had to be without him. Not to say that we are not always going to be a little sad during the holidays, but I think now that we have gotten over the "first years" that it will get a little easier each time.

We did mention being thankful because Carter is in Heaven celebrating the holidays, but it is still not the same. We are naturally selfish people when it comes to the loss of a loved one. We want it all. We want them here. It is hard to think that God deserves your loved ones more than you do. But it is true.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving. Root on the Hogs tomorrow.

30 days of thankfulness- Day 23 & 24

I know that I am not going to have time to post tomorrow because we will be busy cleaning and cooking for company and visiting with friends and family so I am going to post for today and tomorrow. For both days, and others that I have posted on, I am thankful for my friends and family. I do not have many friends, but what I do have, I am very appreciative of. I love them and my family with every fiber of my being. They have helped me and us through so much. They say that once something bad happens, that is a true test to see who your real friends are. We definetely believe in that now. We have one of the strongest support systems that I have ever seen. I am so grateful to have my mother. She is the kindest person that I know. She has such a big heart for everything. I am thankful for all that she has done for us. I am thankful for my sister who is always there for me. I am thankful for my husband who has shown me a different way of viewing life. He has allowed me to open up and have fun. He has warmed my heart so much over the past two years. I am thankful for Carter, who although only stayed on this Earth for five months, he should and taught Tyler and I more than anyone can understand and realize. I am thankful for Tyler's grandmother who has pulled us out of so many financial ruts. I am thankful for Tyler's family who accepted me very quickly and trusted me to take care of and love Tyler unconditionally. I am thankful that my family accepted Tyler for the same reason. I know that I have repeated a lot of my thanks, but family and friends are everything that makes me what I am today. And for that, I will always treasure my relationships with them.

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!!!

30 days of thankfulness- Day 22

Today I am thankful for Paxil. I have finally found a medication that works well for my anxiety, stress, and depression. It is making me feel a little funny right now because it is just now getting into my system, but I have noticed over just the past two days that my stress has really decreased. Things don't seem to bother me as much. I don't fully understand how these medications work, but I do know that I am starting to feel a difference.

Also to add to this, just because someone is on anti-depressants doesn't make them any less of a person. It is just the way the world is nowadays. Things happen in our everyday lives that contribute to hard times. If you could even imagine putting yourself in mine...or Tyler's... shoes, you tell me if you wouldn't be doing the same thing.

30 days of thankfulness- Day 21

Today I am thankful for weather alerts. Although my phone was blown up all day yesterday with flood warnings and tornado watches, I am thankful that the convenience of knowing those things is available. I love storms, but I also like to know how severe they are going to be so I can be prepared for the worst. I know that this might sound like something silly to be thankful for, but those who have had to deal with the devastation of tornados and other severe weather related tragedies would be thankful for them too.

30 days of thankfulness- Day 19

Today I am thankful for second, third.... hundredth chances. I'm not the one being given another chance on something, but I have a family member who is being given another chance to straighten up her life. At this time, Tyler and his dad are out looking for his little sister. Well, they have found her, but they are waiting on her to call them. I pray right now that she agrees to leave with them. She has chosen a very difficult path. I know that once you taken the hard road that it can be difficult to get back on the right path. I pray that she realizes that living on the street is no way to live. She is 5 weeks away from being 19. That is no way for anyone to live, but especially someone her age. We love you, Peyton. Please make the right decision and come home.

30 days of thankfulness- Day 18

Today, I am thankful for easy days at work. I love my job but let's face it, not everyday is easy breezy. There are days where I want to give up and think that childcare is not my calling. I love working with kids. I love how they can bring light to my life. I love how you can be upset with them one minute, then in the blink of an eye, they can make a face or say something funny and it cancels out all they did. Today, I had a very easy afternoon with them. I like those days where we can have more fun than trouble.

30 days of thankfulness- Day 17

Today, I am thankful for alternatives. I am thankful that we have so many choices about so many things. Sometimes it makes things a little more difficult than we might like, but when you think about how many choices we have compared to other countries, we are priveleged. There is not much explanation to this one. I am just thankful.

30 days of thankfulness- Days 14-16

November 14th- Today would have been my dad's 53rd birthday. I miss him so much. Today, I am thankful for him. I know I mentioned him the other day in a thanfulness post, but I truly am thankful for him. We had our differences and missed time together, but I was a daddy's girl when he was living with us. I still feel him here with me sometimes. I see a lot of my dad in how Tyler is. Tyler is lively and goofy like I think of my dad. I miss him. Happy birthday, daddy!!

November 15th- Today I am thankful for my kids who kept me going while I was feeling HORRIBLE!!!!! They knew that I didn't feel good. They were exceptionally sweet for me. They even sat in my lap and talked to me about Santa Claus and Christmas.

November 16th- Today I am thankful for health insurance and antibiotics. My fever broke last night and the Nyquil did wonders, but it didn't do everything. Today I went to the doctor and got the antibiotics that I needed to bring me back to my full self. Yay!!

30 days of thankfulness- Day 13

Today, I am thankful for inspirational music. I used to hate whenever I would log onto Facebook and see songs posted as people's status. But there are so many songs out there that have true meaning to them and are very inspirational. The one song that comes to mind first is Martina McBride's "I'm Gonna Love You Through It." The list could go on and on. I am always listening to the radio. I know just about every country song that is played on a daily basis. To me, hearing a song like that is just like reading a scripture out of the Bible. You get back a little bit of hope that was lost. I think a lot about the words that are put into a song. One day I will have my own song written and people will hopefully admire it and find inspiration in it.

30 days of thankfulness- Day 12

Today, I am thankful for our new house. I know we are currently renting it, but we are treating it like we will eventually buy it. It took some warming up to, but I am really enjoying it. I have something to decorate that I am proud of. I am so anxious for Christmas that I can hardly stand it. I am constantly researching decorating ideas for the house. I am full of energy and excitement. As soon as the landlord fixes the minor (yet major) things, I am ready to show it off to everyone.

30 days of thankfulness- Day 11

Today, I am thankful for our veterans. Without them, we would not have the freedom that we do. There are so many things people, myself included, take for granted. We focus on the things that we are prohibited from doing instead of all of the freedoms we do have. This country is not perfect by any means, but we have so many rights that other countries wouldn't know what to do with. Remember that.

30 days of thankfulness- Days 8-10

We have had a lot going on over the past couple of days so I haven't been able to post, but of course, I was writing my thanks down. We are getting Internet tomorrow, so hopefully I will be able to do this without skipping days.

Day 8- I am thankful for the 8th's. I know that this is going to sound weird at first, but I have my reasons. By no means am I happy that I do not have my dad here anymore with me. I miss him everyday. I was such a daddy's girl whenever I lived with him. We had our difference and missed years, but I know that my dad is where he needs to be. January 8, 2008, he passed away from cancer. He was in pain for so long, and I am thankful that that day, he was released from all pain and taken to a better place. Another 8th I am thankful for, July 8th (my birthday..enough said).

Day 9- I am thankful for a wonderful job. I may have already said this one, but I am truly thankful to be working with such great kids. They try my patience sometimes, but they bring so much light to my life. They are little comedians and they have no idea how funny they are. They have no idea how much love and light they bring into a room.

Day 10- Today, I am thankful for my family. Thanksgiving and Christmas are sneaking up on us, and I am reminded of how much their presence means to me. Without my family, I would not be here. I could not happily live my life without them. My mom is the best mother I have ever known. She does not play sides between her children (Tyler included). She goes with what is fair. She is a very fair person. She has the biggest heart of anyone I know. My little sister is my best friend. Yes, we have our differences, but I know that she is just a phone call away and 30 miles down the road. My husband is the most amazing guy I have ever met. He puts up with so much of my nonsense. He loves me unconditionally, he brings a smile to my face everyday. He warms my heart. These 3 people are the reason that I wake up everyday. They are my best friends in the whole world. And I am thankful everyday that I have them in my life.

30 days of thankfulness- Day 7

Today, I am thankful for knowing where my daddy and Carter are. I am thankful everyday for this, but it has been on my mind almost all day. My daddy had made some mistakes in his life, but he was a good guy. He missed out on some of the most important years with my sister and I, but we got to be there with him for his last 4 months on this Earth. He was an amazing writer and had always wanted to go to school to be a minister. I have one existing friend who knew my dad. She thought as highly of him as my sister and I did. People automatically assume that whenever anyone dies, that they all go to Heaven. I think that it is a wishful thought for some because they do not want to think that their loved one is in Hell. I know that my dad is in Heaven with Carter watching over all of us. Tyler said that one of the most comforting feelings despite all of the discomfort of his loss is that he can honestly say he knows where Carter is. He has explained to many people that not all parents know where their children go whenever they pass before the parents. Some parents have to worry about their children whenever they are out doing drugs and other things that are sinful. Tyler, or anyone for that matter, does not have to worry about whether Carter is safe anymore. He is in God's hands and we know that for 100% fact. It is a very comforting feeling to know that if we ever want to see him again, we know what we have to do to get there. I cannot wait for the day that I get to be with my daddy again and get to see my beautiful stepson and actually get to hear him speak words and see him running around. I am thankful for that.

30 days of thankfulness- Day 6

Today, Tyler and I are celebrating our first year of marriage. We have not slid through it effortlessly. We have had our challenges- mainly outside challenges; nevertheless, it's been challenging. Anyone who knows our story understands that means. But this has been the most amazing year of my life. I wouldn't change a thing we have been through because they are all lessons to be learned from. There is a positive spin on everything that has happened. So on day 6, I am without a doubt, VERY THANKFUL for my husband. Without him, I wouldn't have been married obviously, but I probably wouldn't still be living on my own, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet Carter, I wouldn't be as goal oriented as I am now, and I wouldn't have a best friend like him. Tyler has brought so much light into my life. He doesn't know how much he has really done for me. I am so proud of his accomplishments, so proud of his outlook on life, so proud to be his wife. I could go on and on and talk in circles about how much I love Tyler and the things that have made me an extremely happy woman. But I won't. Some things are better left in my heart to keep all to myself :) I can't wait to have many more years of happiness!!

30 days of thankfulness- Days 1- 5

I have a late start on posting this, but I have been writing it down.

November 1- I'm thankful for the opportunity to work with wonderful kids & teach them.

November 2- I'm thankful for friends who can be honest with me & not judge me for what I've been through.

November 3- I'm thankful for my JJ. He always makes me happy.

November 4- I'm thankful for all who can make me laugh.

November 5- I'm thankful for the opportunity to spend quality time with my husband.

Each day until the 30th, I'll post & explain more in detail what I'm thankful for.

The End of the Tunnel

Bills, bills, bills. Story of our lives. We do ok though. We've never gone without. We're just ready to get Tyler's debt paid off, and my credit cards paid off. Today, we got a solid feeling of relief. By April 30th, we will have paid off almost $5,000 worth of bills and debt. Finally got Tyler's bank accounts paid off and closed. Ready to open a new one, and for me to get the heck away from US, and onto a bank that has sensible policies. 

Oh yes, we're freaking excited!! A fresh start.. No more past.. All GONE!! All forward for us!! 

We'll be saving almost $150 a month once we pay these off. Finally, the financial storm is coming to an end. For now. Hopefully for a while. 

All smiles :))

Thanks To Those Who Serve Us.. & Their Families

My dad has been really heavy on my heart today.  I miss him everyday, but some days, his absense hits me hard.  I know that sounds weird to those who know me, because only 2 of my friends knew my dad.  Which obviously meant he wasn't around... ever!! But he is my dad, nevertheless, and I miss him.

My dad was a wonderful poet.  He was always writing.  It was his special talent.  I only have a few poems that he wrote, though.  One was personalized to me.  And the other one, we had published in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette for his final Christmas present.  He didn't really know what we had done at this point, but we thought it would be a nice thing to do. 

My dad wasn't in the armed forces, but he was a soldier.  He fought his battle of cancer for several years.  Fought until he couldn't fit anymore.  I have a few friends who have family in the military, all branches, and I thought they might like to read this.  He wrote this poem for the ones who fight for us and help us keep our freedom.

"They Gave Their Lives"

Some of our Veterans,

Fought hard and died.

Just to show,

They had some pride.

They fought for us,

High in demand.

To protect us,

And our land.

Some come home,

Others were lost.

Many bad feelings,

Many tossed.

God be with their families,

Kids and wives.

It was for us,

They gave their lives.

-David P. Long

Picture courtesy of Google Images

Thanks to all that serve our country and to the families who support them.

We truly ARE the "Home of the Brave."

GOD BLESS