Sunday, August 19, 2012
One Year Down
First of all, I will apologize to blogger for the disappearance and completely neglecting my blog for the past eight months or so. Let's see.... where do I even start? So much has happened this year. I seriously need to start posting more often again so that I am not forced to sum up an excessive amount of time and events into a single post. Sorry, friends!
I guess I will just throw in some of the highlights from this year thus far. I can now check "Go ziplining" off of my bucket list.
Jason and I went with my dad to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee back in March for five days, so we all three got to do a zipline tour. Of course, it was a blast! We also went to Dollywood (my first time there)for a day and did a bit of site-seeing around the Gatlinburg area. I love the Great Smoky Mountains. My dad ended up investing in a time share, so we look forward to many vacations in the future! The one he bought is in Orlando, but he can use points to trade so we can go other places as well.
Jason and I also got another chance to go skiing this year with our friends Kory & Megan. Megan's family owns a cabin close to Snow Shoe, so we got to ski there this time. I ended up with a pretty nice bruise on my shin, but we survived with no broken bones and a whole lot of fun.
I also had my TEN YEAR HIGH SCHOOL CLASS REUNION this summer. Holy Moly.... where does the time go?!?! I can hardly believe I have been out of high school for ten whole years. Time has really flown. I think back to ME then and who I wanted to be, and I have to say that I am beyond pleased with where I am today and the paths I have traveled. I have done a hell of a lot in the past ten years, and I look forward to what is yet to come. Not many people showed up at the reunion which was disappointing, but I did get to see several of my very best friends from high school and reminisce about the old days.
We have done a lot to our house since I have lived here, and I think we are both pleased with the progress. We did some landscaping at the beginning of the summer and planted some pretty flowers in our yard. We recycled the wine barrels I brought back from California to use at our wedding. They are now planters. We finished the other half of our downstairs (which was basically storage until now) except for the laundry room. We painted it a mustard seed yellow and decorated with a vintage car/garage theme. It actually turned out to look very cool. We still have to get a few small pieces of furniture and a street rug that I'm wanting, but other than that (and laundry room), it's finished. We are currently working on refinishing a bar to put downstairs as well. Jason is doing all the work on it himself. He started it before having surgery on his shoulder (he had a cyst removed), and the weather has been crappy... we've had booked up weekends, etc... so he hasn't been able to work on it much. We will eventually get that finished.
I gained a sister-in-law last month. Scott and Whitney got married on July 28th at the University of Charleston. The wedding was beautiful, and we had a lot of fun. At the end of the reception, there happened to be a pretty sweet fireworks show across the river at the capital. It was a surprise ending to a great day for them.
I guess the rest of the year has been filled up with work and play. I got to go to a couple of concerts including Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker as well as Jimmy Buffett.
I missed my family reunion this year because it was the same weekend as Scott and Whitney's wedding. However, I did run into a couple of my cousins at the Buffett tailgate, so I thought that was pretty awesome. We had a great time, and I look forward to going back next year if possible. People there are wild and totally hard core... that's for sure!
Along with all my crazy, fun friends comes crazy, fun parties. Here are a few of the themed parties over the past several months:
Robbie's Murder Mystery birthday party was in February. Everyone was given a character ahead of time, so they had to dress and play the part accordingly. Each character was unique and funny in some way. It was definitely a good time!
Brandy's St. Patrick's Day party was in March. This was the first one I've been able to make it to.
Audra's country western hoe-down birthday party was in April. This was probably the only time I will have ever seen Jason wearing cowboy boots and a hat! :) He makes one sexy cowboy, I must say!
My white trash birthday party was also in April. I'm tellin' ya.... our friends go ALL OUT for parties like these. Great fun was had by all! We had a spitting contest, belching contest, kiddy pool coolers, trash in the yard, Christmas lights on display, and a whole spread of spam, pork-n-beans, & easy cheese laid out on the ironing board! ;) Oh what fun!
Our neighborhood had a fiesta themed block party in June. It was nice to finally get to know a lot more of our neighbors. Our families came over for the event, and we all had a good time.
Speaking of family... Jason went to Indianapolis for a safety conference in June, so I invited the girls in my family over to my house for a sleepover. My niece, Kyra, was in town from NC, so she was able to come.
My sisters Jenn and Mary Ann were here along with Mary's girls Michele and Leann. My bestie Kayla came and brought her daughter Delaney for a bit as well. We ate junk food, played games, got in the hot tub, rented movies (which we ended up not watching), and finally all spent time together for the first time since childhood. What a blessing.
We spent the 4th of July at Pat and Emily's house this year and were able to watch the Barboursville fireworks from their back yard. We went to Brandy's annual 4th of July party a few days before.
Other highlights: I shot a gun (HUGE deal for me and my uber fear of guns)!
I discovered that I now have a brick with my (maiden) name on it outside of the Marshall University football stadium. I got it for cheering four years in college. Yay, GO HERD! :)
And, NOW we are into August. Next week is our ONE YEAR wedding anniversary. I'm telling ya, this has been such an incredible year for me. I have grown to love my husband more and more as time goes on. We have so much fun together and truly understand each other. I can 100% be myself which I don't think I ever was before. Jason makes me feel safe and adored. He gets me when nobody else does. My overall positive attitude in life has improved since meeting him, and not a day goes by that I am not appreciative of all the love and attention he gives me. A year after marriage,
Jason still writes sweet notes on post-its and leaves them on the bathroom mirror for me to find when I wake up in the mornings. He still fills my kitchen vase with fresh flowers to make me smile. He opens my car door for me EVERY SINGLE TIME I get in. He laughs at my corny jokes when they aren't even funny. He doesn't judge my hair twirling habit or the fact that I'm 28 and still have a blanky. He doesn't pout when I show our dog more attention than him. He tolerates my shameful repertoire of television shows I sometimes make him watch with me. He cheers me up and calms me down when I need it. He helps me with cooking, cleaning, and grocery shopping and doesn't judge me when I want to be lazy. Jason and I have grown and learned a lot this year. We have had WAY MORE ups than downs in our first year of marriage. If we go by the theory that the first year is the most difficult, then I'm pretty darn sure we have many great years ahead of us. LOVE conquers ALL! I'm looking forward to next weekend. Since Jason starts class back on our anniversary (it's a Monday), and I have to work... we are celebrating on Saturday. I have some super secret but awesome surprises for him. He's in for quite the treat! Can't wait!
Cheers to happy endings! :)
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
LOVE
What an amazing year 2011 was for me. In the past year, I have: lived in California; went skiing and to Baja, Mexico, San Francisco, and Disneyland -all for the first time; got engaged and planned my dream wedding; moved across the country and into Jason's house (now our home, of course); started 2 new jobs; got married to the absolute love of my life; spent much time with wonderful friends whom I LOVE and who genuinely care about me and my happiness, and went to St. Lucia on an amazing honeymoon. These were just the highlights!!!!
The above events sound so insignificant mentioning them in a single blog, so I hope to go back and finally write about these experiences which I have neglected to document. Thank God, again, for pictures.
Let's start with filling you in on my jobs. Yes, I work two jobs -but they are both part time. I am at King's Daughter's Medical Center in the Outpatient Speech Therapy department 3 days/week and totally LOVE it. I LOVE the people I work with (I get to see my best friend all the time now) and the patients I see. I am getting a broader scope of my practice, getting to stick primarily with kids but seeing some adults as well. I'm getting a lot of experience with pediatric feeding disorders which I'm growing to like a lot. I've even toughened up and do videofleuroscopy swallowing exams 1 day/week (usually 2 per day). That's a huge deal for me. I've actually gotten a lot more comfortable doing them too, believe it or not. All of the SLPs at KDMC rotate in on working Saturdays over in inpatient/rehab, so I work over there every 7th Saturday. I thought I would hate that, but it's really not that bad.
Now for my second job, I work 2 days/week doing home visits for Kentucky First Steps Early Intervention program. This is the age that I love working with the most. I am getting quite a bit of experience and referrals and work with some wonderful people. My job can seem busy or stressful at times, but it is incredibly rewarding. I'm blessed to have found and chosen this career.
Moving on to married life.... Yes, I got married, as you already know because you were there! The wedding was perfect. I know every bride says that, but I truly mean it. The most important people in our lives (minus a few who couldn't make it) were there to share in that special day. We were able to redefine the meaning of LOVE that day -on the same day my mom and dad voweled to LOVE one another until death parted them. There were so many special moments in our wedding including our written vowels to one another:
My Vows to Jason:
Jason's Vows to me:
Other special moments include: Wesley Boggs singing his own version of "Marry Me," Jason's stepfather marrying us, the in-memory-of table for Jason's dad and my mom, the beautiful hand-made details that created such beauty that day, the good weather, the pre-recorded video played for our guests that made everyone laugh, our first dance to "It Feels Like Home" which I played and sang (I prerecorded it), my dance with my dad which created laughing and tears all at the same time, Jason's dance with his mom to "Simple Man" by Lynard Skynard where they jammed out on air guitar and drums, the best-man and maid-of-honor speeches which were classic, the amount of work everyone did to help us that week, the Verde Farm cottage we got to use for the weekend, and let's not forget the incredible rehearsal dinner that my in-laws prepared for us at the MU Hall of Fame Cafe. Then, to top it off, the wedding night ended in a dance party with the bride & groom doing keg-stands, LOL. Epic. Fun. Approximately 200 guests, and every single one of them being an important part of our lives. I've never seen my family having such a good time -EVER. It was definitely..... a night to remember.
Some exciting news: Our wedding will be featured in the 2012 WV Weddings magazine, out on shelves in February! We get a 2-page feature, telling our story with pictures from our photographer. We are so excited about this! Also, we were chosen to be one of 12 weddings featured on the website... we get the month of May. This will have more details of the wedding and our story will be featured for the entire month. I know everyone LOVES their wedding, so I think it's okay for me to say that I loved every detail and the way it turned out. Like I said... It was perfect!
Married life has been great thus far. We waited four months to go on our honeymoon, but it was totally worth the wait. I will tell about that in a moment. Jason and I have pretty much gotten into a routine, like any other average couple. We go to work, go to the gym, take turns cooking dinner (most of the time we like to cook together), and team up on household chores. We go to bed early on most week nights. Jason gets up at 5:30am, and I just like to sleep a lot, lol. We watch a lot of movies on nights we like to relax and simply enjoy each other's company. I LOVE our simple but exciting lifestyle. We are happy.
The honeymoon was beyond what we had expected. All-inclusive is definitely the way to go. Other than the fact that we lost our luggage and had to wait over a day to get our clothes and stuff, everything else turned out great. There are three Sandals resorts in St. Lucia, so we got to stay at one and play at all three. We stayed at Halcyon which is the most romantic and peacful of the three. La Toc was on a hill which we thought was pretty cool. There was a lot more going on there, which is why we liked it the most. The Grande is exactly that -GRANDE! It was nice but a bit too busy and large. It was luxurious and had the best beach. We spent a day there and rented a jet ski -FUN!!!! We ate at restaurants at all resorts. I ate a lot of seafood, and Jason had a lot of steak that week. We took full advantage of the "all-inclusive" meals and drinks, that's for sure. Jason had upgraded our room before we got there, so we had a fully stocked bar and refrigerator as well. YAY! :) We had a private candlelight dinner in a gazebo by the beach, which was one of the most memorable moments for me. I'm a hopeless romantic! It was a four-course meal with flower petals, champagne, and the company of my handsome, loving husband. We also did the Soufriere Jeep and Waterfall excursion. It was a jeep tour around the island which took us up to the Pitons which are volcanoes. The tour guide told us about the history and culture of the natives and island. We got to take a mud bath in the center of the volcano and then wash off under a big waterfall -another memorable moment. They took us to eat local food for lunch, and we even held a snake -YIKES!!!!!! The other excursion we did was a horseback ride to the beach where the horses took us into the ocean... this was my favorite! I waited all week for this, and it was an awesome way to top off our vacation. Our last dinner was at a Japanese Steakhouse called Kimono's at La Toc. We met some nice couples there, one of whom kept buying rounds of Saki shots for everyone. We hung out with them until we had to catch our shuttle back to Halcyon and pack to go home. We LOVED our honeymoon and will go back to St. Lucia again.
We made it back home just in time for the holidays. My family and Jason's parents all came over to our house for Christmas Eve. This was a nice change for us. My family doesn't really have a tradition and always just goes with the flow, so I was happy to have everyone come to our house this year. We cooked all day, ate dinner together, and then played Apples to Apples and Catch Phrase.... we had a total blast! We went to Jason's parents' house on Christmas day for dinner and ended up playing Catch Phrase with them too. It's always a good time! Jason and I had a New Year's Eve party at our house this year as well.... we believe it was a complete success. We had about 20 of our close friends there, and everyone seemed to have had a great time. I can honestly say that I LOVE our family and friends. I never truly appreciated the friendships I had here at home until I skipped town for a couple of years and never got to see them. They don't insult me, ever. They don't make fun of me for telling my soul mate that I love him. They surround me with positive entergy. They let me know I am appreciated. They ask me about my day and care about the answer. They talk to me. They listen to me. They encourage me and motivate me. They LOVE me and I LOVE them. I don't can't remember why I ever wanted to leave this place.
The above events sound so insignificant mentioning them in a single blog, so I hope to go back and finally write about these experiences which I have neglected to document. Thank God, again, for pictures.
Let's start with filling you in on my jobs. Yes, I work two jobs -but they are both part time. I am at King's Daughter's Medical Center in the Outpatient Speech Therapy department 3 days/week and totally LOVE it. I LOVE the people I work with (I get to see my best friend all the time now) and the patients I see. I am getting a broader scope of my practice, getting to stick primarily with kids but seeing some adults as well. I'm getting a lot of experience with pediatric feeding disorders which I'm growing to like a lot. I've even toughened up and do videofleuroscopy swallowing exams 1 day/week (usually 2 per day). That's a huge deal for me. I've actually gotten a lot more comfortable doing them too, believe it or not. All of the SLPs at KDMC rotate in on working Saturdays over in inpatient/rehab, so I work over there every 7th Saturday. I thought I would hate that, but it's really not that bad.
Now for my second job, I work 2 days/week doing home visits for Kentucky First Steps Early Intervention program. This is the age that I love working with the most. I am getting quite a bit of experience and referrals and work with some wonderful people. My job can seem busy or stressful at times, but it is incredibly rewarding. I'm blessed to have found and chosen this career.
Moving on to married life.... Yes, I got married, as you already know because you were there! The wedding was perfect. I know every bride says that, but I truly mean it. The most important people in our lives (minus a few who couldn't make it) were there to share in that special day. We were able to redefine the meaning of LOVE that day -on the same day my mom and dad voweled to LOVE one another until death parted them. There were so many special moments in our wedding including our written vowels to one another:
My Vows to Jason:
Jason, today I give myself to you… my hand, my heart, and my soul… my love and my divine commitment, loving what I know of you and trusting what I do not know yet.
Promises:
I promise to inspire and encourage you, to respect and appreciate you, to LOVE you unconditionally and to show you that love each and every day, to be patient and fill the only distance to ever come between us with faith and with trust. I will be there for you through the good times and the bad, through the happy times and the sad, through the light and the dark, through the failure and the triumph. I promise to love and cherish you through whatever life may bring us. I eagerly anticipate the chance to grow old together, getting to know the man you will become, and falling in love a little more every day.
Wishes:
I wish for the life we have today for the rest of our lives, for your parents to know how important they are to this day because as my dad stood up here and gave me away to you, they are giving me the most precious gift in this world…. their son. I wish for us to wake up each and EVERY day and remember that our love is unique, it is real, it is present… and because of that, the rest of this day is simply just details.
Jason's Vows to me:
Melissa Rae Stillwell… Today I take you not only as my wife but also as my confidant, my best friend, and my other half, my BETTER half! Life is strange in the way that one moment you can be completely satisfied, content with the way you exist, and then something, someone can open your eyes in an instant to how much richer, fulfilling, exciting, and loving every second of the day can be! Missy, you have enriched my life in all those ways and so many more! What you have shown me with your endless compassion, your strength inside and out, your understanding, your openness, your creativity… I could go on, is something I will NEVER take for granted.
As your husband I pledge to cultivate every desire you may have. Your ambition, your drive, and your talents are too great of gifts not to use to their upmost.
As your husband I pledge to always have an open ear, to listen to whatever you have to say and when you don’t wish to speak, I promise to be attentive and do my best to pick up on the nonverbal things and emotions.
As your husband, Missy, I promise to respect you… Your fears, your emotions, and even your insecurities are things I will never exploit and in the same regard, your views, opinions, and wishes will always take priority and be in the forefront of my mind.
As your husband and more-so as your partner in life, I promise to always be open to new experiences. If careers, curiosity, opportunity or even misfortune have us starting anew this will never be an issue. You are what makes a house a home, and now importantly my family, so location, circumstance, and stature will never matter.
Most importantly though, Missy as your husband I pledge to LOVE you, not just for who you are but for what you make us. Your outer beauty can only be surpassed by your inner beauty and it is that which drew me to you since the night we met. I pledge to love you without reservation, and in times when this union is challenging it will be comforting to know that better times lay ahead. The joy of the thought of our future together, raising our children, and enjoying each other as we grow older is more than should be humanly possible. You have me from here till the end of time.
Other special moments include: Wesley Boggs singing his own version of "Marry Me," Jason's stepfather marrying us, the in-memory-of table for Jason's dad and my mom, the beautiful hand-made details that created such beauty that day, the good weather, the pre-recorded video played for our guests that made everyone laugh, our first dance to "It Feels Like Home" which I played and sang (I prerecorded it), my dance with my dad which created laughing and tears all at the same time, Jason's dance with his mom to "Simple Man" by Lynard Skynard where they jammed out on air guitar and drums, the best-man and maid-of-honor speeches which were classic, the amount of work everyone did to help us that week, the Verde Farm cottage we got to use for the weekend, and let's not forget the incredible rehearsal dinner that my in-laws prepared for us at the MU Hall of Fame Cafe. Then, to top it off, the wedding night ended in a dance party with the bride & groom doing keg-stands, LOL. Epic. Fun. Approximately 200 guests, and every single one of them being an important part of our lives. I've never seen my family having such a good time -EVER. It was definitely..... a night to remember.
Some exciting news: Our wedding will be featured in the 2012 WV Weddings magazine, out on shelves in February! We get a 2-page feature, telling our story with pictures from our photographer. We are so excited about this! Also, we were chosen to be one of 12 weddings featured on the website... we get the month of May. This will have more details of the wedding and our story will be featured for the entire month. I know everyone LOVES their wedding, so I think it's okay for me to say that I loved every detail and the way it turned out. Like I said... It was perfect!
Married life has been great thus far. We waited four months to go on our honeymoon, but it was totally worth the wait. I will tell about that in a moment. Jason and I have pretty much gotten into a routine, like any other average couple. We go to work, go to the gym, take turns cooking dinner (most of the time we like to cook together), and team up on household chores. We go to bed early on most week nights. Jason gets up at 5:30am, and I just like to sleep a lot, lol. We watch a lot of movies on nights we like to relax and simply enjoy each other's company. I LOVE our simple but exciting lifestyle. We are happy.
The honeymoon was beyond what we had expected. All-inclusive is definitely the way to go. Other than the fact that we lost our luggage and had to wait over a day to get our clothes and stuff, everything else turned out great. There are three Sandals resorts in St. Lucia, so we got to stay at one and play at all three. We stayed at Halcyon which is the most romantic and peacful of the three. La Toc was on a hill which we thought was pretty cool. There was a lot more going on there, which is why we liked it the most. The Grande is exactly that -GRANDE! It was nice but a bit too busy and large. It was luxurious and had the best beach. We spent a day there and rented a jet ski -FUN!!!! We ate at restaurants at all resorts. I ate a lot of seafood, and Jason had a lot of steak that week. We took full advantage of the "all-inclusive" meals and drinks, that's for sure. Jason had upgraded our room before we got there, so we had a fully stocked bar and refrigerator as well. YAY! :) We had a private candlelight dinner in a gazebo by the beach, which was one of the most memorable moments for me. I'm a hopeless romantic! It was a four-course meal with flower petals, champagne, and the company of my handsome, loving husband. We also did the Soufriere Jeep and Waterfall excursion. It was a jeep tour around the island which took us up to the Pitons which are volcanoes. The tour guide told us about the history and culture of the natives and island. We got to take a mud bath in the center of the volcano and then wash off under a big waterfall -another memorable moment. They took us to eat local food for lunch, and we even held a snake -YIKES!!!!!! The other excursion we did was a horseback ride to the beach where the horses took us into the ocean... this was my favorite! I waited all week for this, and it was an awesome way to top off our vacation. Our last dinner was at a Japanese Steakhouse called Kimono's at La Toc. We met some nice couples there, one of whom kept buying rounds of Saki shots for everyone. We hung out with them until we had to catch our shuttle back to Halcyon and pack to go home. We LOVED our honeymoon and will go back to St. Lucia again.
We made it back home just in time for the holidays. My family and Jason's parents all came over to our house for Christmas Eve. This was a nice change for us. My family doesn't really have a tradition and always just goes with the flow, so I was happy to have everyone come to our house this year. We cooked all day, ate dinner together, and then played Apples to Apples and Catch Phrase.... we had a total blast! We went to Jason's parents' house on Christmas day for dinner and ended up playing Catch Phrase with them too. It's always a good time! Jason and I had a New Year's Eve party at our house this year as well.... we believe it was a complete success. We had about 20 of our close friends there, and everyone seemed to have had a great time. I can honestly say that I LOVE our family and friends. I never truly appreciated the friendships I had here at home until I skipped town for a couple of years and never got to see them. They don't insult me, ever. They don't make fun of me for telling my soul mate that I love him. They surround me with positive entergy. They let me know I am appreciated. They ask me about my day and care about the answer. They talk to me. They listen to me. They encourage me and motivate me. They LOVE me and I LOVE them. I don't can't remember why I ever wanted to leave this place.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Life's Little Successes
I am truly blessed...
The question is.... What does this even mean to me? Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the moments, feelings, and the realization of feeling "truly blessed" that I don't even acknowledge the Source of those blessings. And, I find myself using my faith as a blanket (only a means of comfort) rather than a shield (a means of protection from sin and "bad" decisions) in my life. How does it really feel to be blessed? Is it that feeling of satisfaction or accomplishment? Is it that feeling of knowing I am "okay" when something is going wrong? Or is it that feeling when I look around at my life and realize I wouldn't want to change a thing in it? Honestly, I cannot begin to describe or list the blessings that have built me up into the person I am becoming, but I want to take the time and acknowledge God and all his angels I am surrounded by. I love my life.
Everything Happens for a Reason...
Here are some random thoughts on what I have learned about life, specifically throughout the past couple of years:
Sometimes people come into your world, and you know right away that they were meant to be there... to serve some sort of purpose, to teach you a lesson or to help figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be but from the moment you lock eyes with them, you know that they will affect your life in some profound way. And sometimes things happen to you at the time that may seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would never realize your potential, strength, will power, or heart. Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of luck. Illness, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test limits of your soul. Without these small tests, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless. The people you meet ultimately affect your life in some way. And you affect theirs. Everywhere you go, you leave a mark saying, "I was here." With every person you meet, you have left some impression -whether good or bad. Not all footprints are visible, but they are there. The successes and downfalls that you experience can create whom you are, and the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact they are probably the most poignant and important ones. If someone hurts or betrays you... forgive them because they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart. And, when you do trust again... you will have made the right choice. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but also because they are teaching you to love and open your heart and eyes to little things. They make you a better person than you were before their existence... creating a sense of self-worth and serenity that you never knew could exist. Stand up for what you believe in, but know that you can always sit back down. Make every day count. Appreciate everything that you possibly can, for you may never experience it again. Give what you can give, but always remember that it's okay to take every once in a while. Don't give, always expecting something in return. Figure out what is important to you, and prioritize your life accordingly. A cup of hope will take you far. An ounce of faith will take you even further. Do not settle for average (know that this term has a muddy definition in the measurement of LIFE). Find your passion & your inspiration.... then light a firecracker under your butt & soar. Don't get in your own way of your dreams. Set realistic goals for yourself. Learn to celebrate the little successes in life. Ask for help every once in a while. Talk to people whom you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love (It is, by far, the best thing to ever happen to me.). Tell those you love that you love them on a daily basis (if not more) because you honestly never know when you will miss that "last" opportunity. Nobody likes regrets. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual. Believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you. Strive to be your best simply because that is good enough. Only you determine what your best is. Live your life because nobody can do it better than you. :)
I love you, Mom.
I will never stop telling my angel mother that I love her. To me, it's never too late. Mother's day was tough for me this year... probably because I was alone. Then, seeing everyone's happy, "I have the best mother in the world," facebook status updates made me want to throw my computer across the room, LOL! I cannot believe it has been almost six years since my mom passed away. So much has happened in this time that I wish she could have been here to experience with me. Even more so -I wish she could be here these next few months to plan my wedding. She would be so happy for me to have finally found my prince. I have no doubts she would LOVE Jason. Then again, who doesn't?!? I wish she could be there to dress me up and give me away on that very special day. I appreciate the memories I have with my mom, but I just wish there were more to be made. What really scares me is that I am starting to forget little things. I had to stop and think for hours the other day what the last movie I watched with her was. I was so upset that I could not remember & sulked like a baby. I eventually remembered it was The Notebook -only because I pictured her sobbing beside of me while I laughed hysterically at her and knew it had to have been an uber-sad chic flick, lol. I just worry that I am starting to forget these details because that’s all I have left of my mom. Once those memories are gone, I have nothing. I miss her so much. I wish I could call her and tell her all about my day and how happy I am.
If only I could receive one of her annoying phone calls again at 6am wondering where her back scratcher or glue gun is…… LOL!
I am happy. I am learning about life. I am learning about what I want in life. I am excited to see what God has in store for Jason and I. Although, I know it will be something great. I can't wait to be HOME! :)
The question is.... What does this even mean to me? Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the moments, feelings, and the realization of feeling "truly blessed" that I don't even acknowledge the Source of those blessings. And, I find myself using my faith as a blanket (only a means of comfort) rather than a shield (a means of protection from sin and "bad" decisions) in my life. How does it really feel to be blessed? Is it that feeling of satisfaction or accomplishment? Is it that feeling of knowing I am "okay" when something is going wrong? Or is it that feeling when I look around at my life and realize I wouldn't want to change a thing in it? Honestly, I cannot begin to describe or list the blessings that have built me up into the person I am becoming, but I want to take the time and acknowledge God and all his angels I am surrounded by. I love my life.
Everything Happens for a Reason...
Here are some random thoughts on what I have learned about life, specifically throughout the past couple of years:
Sometimes people come into your world, and you know right away that they were meant to be there... to serve some sort of purpose, to teach you a lesson or to help figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be but from the moment you lock eyes with them, you know that they will affect your life in some profound way. And sometimes things happen to you at the time that may seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would never realize your potential, strength, will power, or heart. Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of luck. Illness, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test limits of your soul. Without these small tests, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless. The people you meet ultimately affect your life in some way. And you affect theirs. Everywhere you go, you leave a mark saying, "I was here." With every person you meet, you have left some impression -whether good or bad. Not all footprints are visible, but they are there. The successes and downfalls that you experience can create whom you are, and the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact they are probably the most poignant and important ones. If someone hurts or betrays you... forgive them because they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart. And, when you do trust again... you will have made the right choice. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but also because they are teaching you to love and open your heart and eyes to little things. They make you a better person than you were before their existence... creating a sense of self-worth and serenity that you never knew could exist. Stand up for what you believe in, but know that you can always sit back down. Make every day count. Appreciate everything that you possibly can, for you may never experience it again. Give what you can give, but always remember that it's okay to take every once in a while. Don't give, always expecting something in return. Figure out what is important to you, and prioritize your life accordingly. A cup of hope will take you far. An ounce of faith will take you even further. Do not settle for average (know that this term has a muddy definition in the measurement of LIFE). Find your passion & your inspiration.... then light a firecracker under your butt & soar. Don't get in your own way of your dreams. Set realistic goals for yourself. Learn to celebrate the little successes in life. Ask for help every once in a while. Talk to people whom you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love (It is, by far, the best thing to ever happen to me.). Tell those you love that you love them on a daily basis (if not more) because you honestly never know when you will miss that "last" opportunity. Nobody likes regrets. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual. Believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you. Strive to be your best simply because that is good enough. Only you determine what your best is. Live your life because nobody can do it better than you. :)
I love you, Mom.
I will never stop telling my angel mother that I love her. To me, it's never too late. Mother's day was tough for me this year... probably because I was alone. Then, seeing everyone's happy, "I have the best mother in the world," facebook status updates made me want to throw my computer across the room, LOL! I cannot believe it has been almost six years since my mom passed away. So much has happened in this time that I wish she could have been here to experience with me. Even more so -I wish she could be here these next few months to plan my wedding. She would be so happy for me to have finally found my prince. I have no doubts she would LOVE Jason. Then again, who doesn't?!? I wish she could be there to dress me up and give me away on that very special day. I appreciate the memories I have with my mom, but I just wish there were more to be made. What really scares me is that I am starting to forget little things. I had to stop and think for hours the other day what the last movie I watched with her was. I was so upset that I could not remember & sulked like a baby. I eventually remembered it was The Notebook -only because I pictured her sobbing beside of me while I laughed hysterically at her and knew it had to have been an uber-sad chic flick, lol. I just worry that I am starting to forget these details because that’s all I have left of my mom. Once those memories are gone, I have nothing. I miss her so much. I wish I could call her and tell her all about my day and how happy I am.
If only I could receive one of her annoying phone calls again at 6am wondering where her back scratcher or glue gun is…… LOL!
I am happy. I am learning about life. I am learning about what I want in life. I am excited to see what God has in store for Jason and I. Although, I know it will be something great. I can't wait to be HOME! :)
Monday, May 2, 2011
PATIENCE. PRAYER. POSITIVITY.
Some of the most incredible things in life are ones you have to wait for.... ones you dream about your whole life.... then they turn out to be way better than anything you could have ever dreamt up.... they are so much more.... and it was so worth the wait.
I've learned a lot about patience in the past couple of years (more specifically, months).
I've always considered myself to be a pretty patient person. My positive attitude in life (overall) helps with that because "waiting" for something when you expect a positive outcome is much easier than waiting for something you expect might go wrong... or even the UNKNOWN. Eeek, there's that word again! (Refer to my earliest posts). What people (I'll admit it, even myself at times) often forget is that waiting coincides with praying.
I'm learning to live by the 3 P's: PATIENCE. PRAYER. POSITIVITY.
The 3 P's are all contingent upon one another and require full investment of the mind and soul. I'm not saying it's easy. I'm not saying I've mastered it. I have, however, taken my ability to put my entire self into something that I believe and trust in to a whole new level -allowing myself to reach a state of ease and happiness. I've learned not to sit back and do nothing while I wait for life to turn out picture perfect. By doing that, we miss out on so many opportunities (which leads to possible regret and the feeling of "what if")... Time is precious, so I choose to use mine wisely.
Trying to teach patience to a child is very difficult. It's quite funny because in the (teaching) process, we often become impatient ourselves -wondering why that child cannot grasp the concept of "WAIT" when we want him/her to. Well, this is because patience is not just something we learn in Kindergarten and carry over (like how to tie your shoe) for the rest of our lives. This lesson is one we continue to learn as we grow... with experiences... this is a lesson that we as adults are all still trying to master.
For me, the result of this is faith. So, what's the equation? It's rather simple (hah!):
PATIENCE + PRAYER + POSITIVITY = FAITH!
There are struggles, of course, but the end result is faith. I'm okay with that result. It has gotten me through the past several months and brought me to a point where I am ready for God to bring me closer to Jason... and for Jason to bring me closer to God. I need them both, and I need them close. I'm almost there.
A long-distance relationship is by no means easy. However, it is possible. It is true. It is beautiful. It has molded me into a woman that, on this day, I am very proud of. The man I am madly in love with lives approximately 2500 miles away... but there is no space at all between our hearts and our minds. The only thing that sits between his heart and mine is FAITH. If faith is the key to a long-distance relationship, then any fully invested couple can make it work. I am lucky to have a man who loves and adores me, everything about me, and allows me to be just that -ME! I am ME and in love!!!! Distance can honestly be a barrier for some couples, but for us it is a bridge. On both sides of this bridge are different roads, and even though we don't know which roads exactly we are taking -we do know that we will take turns crossing to the other side... and eventually we will meet right in the middle and walk together down one of those UNKNOWN paths. Hmmm, that word is not so scary now! :) We will walk by faith.
Faith has given me love. Faith has given me my dreams in reality (ON STEROIDS)! I've never felt more comfortable in my own skin. I'm happy. And it feels GOOD.
I've learned a lot about patience in the past couple of years (more specifically, months).
I've always considered myself to be a pretty patient person. My positive attitude in life (overall) helps with that because "waiting" for something when you expect a positive outcome is much easier than waiting for something you expect might go wrong... or even the UNKNOWN. Eeek, there's that word again! (Refer to my earliest posts). What people (I'll admit it, even myself at times) often forget is that waiting coincides with praying.
I'm learning to live by the 3 P's: PATIENCE. PRAYER. POSITIVITY.
The 3 P's are all contingent upon one another and require full investment of the mind and soul. I'm not saying it's easy. I'm not saying I've mastered it. I have, however, taken my ability to put my entire self into something that I believe and trust in to a whole new level -allowing myself to reach a state of ease and happiness. I've learned not to sit back and do nothing while I wait for life to turn out picture perfect. By doing that, we miss out on so many opportunities (which leads to possible regret and the feeling of "what if")... Time is precious, so I choose to use mine wisely.
Trying to teach patience to a child is very difficult. It's quite funny because in the (teaching) process, we often become impatient ourselves -wondering why that child cannot grasp the concept of "WAIT" when we want him/her to. Well, this is because patience is not just something we learn in Kindergarten and carry over (like how to tie your shoe) for the rest of our lives. This lesson is one we continue to learn as we grow... with experiences... this is a lesson that we as adults are all still trying to master.
For me, the result of this is faith. So, what's the equation? It's rather simple (hah!):
PATIENCE + PRAYER + POSITIVITY = FAITH!
There are struggles, of course, but the end result is faith. I'm okay with that result. It has gotten me through the past several months and brought me to a point where I am ready for God to bring me closer to Jason... and for Jason to bring me closer to God. I need them both, and I need them close. I'm almost there.
A long-distance relationship is by no means easy. However, it is possible. It is true. It is beautiful. It has molded me into a woman that, on this day, I am very proud of. The man I am madly in love with lives approximately 2500 miles away... but there is no space at all between our hearts and our minds. The only thing that sits between his heart and mine is FAITH. If faith is the key to a long-distance relationship, then any fully invested couple can make it work. I am lucky to have a man who loves and adores me, everything about me, and allows me to be just that -ME! I am ME and in love!!!! Distance can honestly be a barrier for some couples, but for us it is a bridge. On both sides of this bridge are different roads, and even though we don't know which roads exactly we are taking -we do know that we will take turns crossing to the other side... and eventually we will meet right in the middle and walk together down one of those UNKNOWN paths. Hmmm, that word is not so scary now! :) We will walk by faith.
Faith has given me love. Faith has given me my dreams in reality (ON STEROIDS)! I've never felt more comfortable in my own skin. I'm happy. And it feels GOOD.
Friday, April 15, 2011
The Future-Mrs. Jason Rooper!!!!!!!
Seriously? It has really been almost 5 months since my last blog... first of all I apologize for what appears to be laziness. SO much has happened in these past 5 months that I am gonna have to give you guys a run-down and vow to be better at updating this thing more often!!! Lucky for me most of you have facebook and can keep up with what's going on through status updates & pictures I post! Ok, still unacceptable. What appears to be "laziness" is actually quite the opposite. I've been busy planning MY WEDDING!!!!! Ahhh, there, I said it! I am getting married!!!!!! *breathe* -okay, I will come back to that (trust me, I will come back to that often in this post) and back up to update you on other things first.....
I guess I left off with VEGAS: The Dave & Tim show exceeded my expectations... I even cried at one point (they were THAT good). It was just the 2 of them with their guitars, and I couldn't have enjoyed the show more. That was such a fun trip -just what I needed before getting to go HOME at Christmas time. The holidays were so incredible, and I got spoiled being home and spending 3 whole weeks with Jason. I love him more and more every day, and being with him only confirms that feeling (in my heart and my mind). Spending that time together with our friends and families was just the drive I needed to finish out these last few months on the West Coast. Jason and I thoroughly enjoyed our ski trip for New Year's, and I must say I did pretty damn good! Skiing is definitely something that we will be able to enjoy together... especially now that I got all that new ski gear! :) Saying goodbye and having to fly back to CA sucked some major butt! I cried like a baby and was sad to leave, but I got to come back home again a month and a half later for Valentine's weekend!
Speaking of Valentine's weekend: WE GOT ENGAGED!!!!!!!! Jason asked me to marry him, and, of course, I said, "YES!!!!!" :)
How did he do it? Well, I flew into the Huntington airport on Saturday morning (the day of Melissa and Dave's wedding reception) after an overnight flight. Keep in mind that I was wearing sweats, no makeup, had a bad cold, and little sleep. When I got off of the plane & started to walk up the flight pad to the terminal door, out comes Jason with a single red rose and a piece of paper in his hand. I was SO happy to see him that I didn't pay any mind to the fact that normally people picking you up are not allowed to be there (past security much less on the flight pad, haha)... so I hugged & kissed him, ALL SMILES!!! He handed me the rose (I thought for Valentine's Day) and the letter and told me to read it. Contents of the letter:
"I’ve brought you one rose because it represents my one whole heart. For too long pieces of it were missing, pieces I didn’t even realize weren’t there. Since you came into my life on June twenty fifth my life and my heart have become fuller by the moment. You have filled my heart with so much joy and love I feel as if it could burst from my chest at any moment. No one else who has ever lived, or ever will, could experience the feelings I feel for you. As you’re the source of this love will you have my heart?..."
When I told him, "Of course, I already have your heart." He proceeded by saying, "I want you to have it forever." as he got down on one knee, pulled the ring out with the rose and asked me, "Melissa Rae Stillwell, will you marry me?" with a HUGE smile!!!!! I didn't realize at the time, but the security guard (who let Jason outside after he told him he was going to propose to his girlfriend) was taking pictures while all of this was going on! I'm so thankful that he was able to capture this amazing moment. When we walked into the airport, a large crowd of people stood up and cheered -congratulating us! They were waiting for the next flight. That was just the icing on the cake. Ahh, it was absolutely perfect in every way. I couldn't have asked for anything more special, meaningful, or genuinely perfect for us. He is my prince charming, and I love him. I cannot wait to become THE Mrs. Jason Rooper! That whole day (weekend) was great. We drove up to Dayton to the reception and celebrated LOVE that day. Not only our love but the love of another happy couple who have also had to do the long-distance thing. Valentine's Day was great too. Jason surprised me and took the day off of work so that we could spend the entire day together. AWESOME!!!!! He had made us a reservation at Savannah's Restaurant in Huntington (I had never been), so we got all dressed up & had the most romantic dinner. Again, very special. <3 I was sad to leave, again, but this time I actually left him feeling like we just started our FOREVER. I was more focused on that positive and had no room for the negative. We will SOON be together. I love the sounds of that!
I'm happy to announce that we have set a very special wedding date which will take place August 27, 2011 -in about 4 months!!!! This was the same day my parents got married almost 29 years ago. And now that day will not go another year without celebration which makes me happy beyond words. I feel honored. That day happens to fall on a Saturday this year, so Jason and I couldn't think of a better time to unite as one. He knows how much this means to me, and I am blessed to have his love and understanding. Gosh, I can't stop smiling. :)
Before I jump into any more wedding stuff (although I won't spill all of the details on here -as much as I want to, haha), I will update you on some other stuff. I got to take a trip to San Francisco and finally see the Golden Gate Bridge... another item checked off of my bucket list! Okay so maybe I'll talk "wedding" along the way, haha, because I can't help it! I actually went to SF to go shopping and found my wedding dress! I am absolutely in love with my wedding gown and can't wait to wear it! I also took a trip to Long Beach and went to Disneyland in L.A. for Layla's birthday weekend -another item checked off of bucket list! I've done quite a bit of wine tasting and spread my mom's ashes in the vineyards on her birthday. It was a beautiful day. I've been collecting wine from many of the wineries out here in Wine Country! I have 51 bottles of wine for the wedding so far! :P
I am interviewing for a job at KDMC in a few days. I was really banking on that job because it is in Ashland where I will be living, and it is primarily with peds... which we all know is what I do. It is not as promising now because they took the position down to only part-time, and I need a full-time job. However, I am still hoping and trying to make it work. I have been playing email-tag with a lady from WV Birth-to-Three, and she is supposed to call me this week to talk about job possibilities. They supposedly have a need, and that is EXACTLY the job I want to be doing. I am really hoping that I could work part-time at KDMC to get full benefits and part-time through BTT. Gosh, talk about an ideal job for me. I think that might be as close as I could get to satisfactory. Hoping & praying & crossing every part of my body. Please do the same for me.
It is officially Spring Break, and I've gone 2 months without seeing my friends, family, & FIANCE' in person. Skype is wonderful (except when it decides to be poop & get all messy), but there's nothing like being home. I'm on my way there right now! Only a couple more hours in the L.A. airport before my 6 hour flight to Charlotte, then to Charleston, West By God Virginia! :) YAY!!! It's gonna be a full week of wedding planning, cuddling, and simply enjoying time with my honey. We are going to register for gifts, pick out Jason's wedding band (I already have mine -it's gorgeous!), get our engagement pictures taken, pick up invitations which are ready, pick out my veil & jewelry, meet with the florist, view the ceremony & reception sites (haven't seen them yet), and look for some decorations. You'd be surprised (NOT) to know that I pretty much have most of the wedding already planned! HAH! What can I say, I'm a planner! LOL We have everything booked, and I've even got a lot of the little details done. I've been ordering a lot of stuff online & having it shipped directly to our house in Ashland. I even have a carry-on suitcase solely filled with wedding items, HAHAHAHA!!!!!! My checked bag weighed 49.0 lbs (had to be less than 50, lol)! :)
Let me say, though, that I have the most amazing friends and family who are helping me so much. I am incredibly blessed to have these people in my life who are so willing to lend a hand or even a thought... I couldn't do this without them.
Have I said how much I love my life? I do. I always believed that the "unknown" would leave room for possibilities.... but who knew this much happiness was possible? Really. Possibilities are Good. Happiness is Good. Love is Good. Life is good.
I guess I left off with VEGAS: The Dave & Tim show exceeded my expectations... I even cried at one point (they were THAT good). It was just the 2 of them with their guitars, and I couldn't have enjoyed the show more. That was such a fun trip -just what I needed before getting to go HOME at Christmas time. The holidays were so incredible, and I got spoiled being home and spending 3 whole weeks with Jason. I love him more and more every day, and being with him only confirms that feeling (in my heart and my mind). Spending that time together with our friends and families was just the drive I needed to finish out these last few months on the West Coast. Jason and I thoroughly enjoyed our ski trip for New Year's, and I must say I did pretty damn good! Skiing is definitely something that we will be able to enjoy together... especially now that I got all that new ski gear! :) Saying goodbye and having to fly back to CA sucked some major butt! I cried like a baby and was sad to leave, but I got to come back home again a month and a half later for Valentine's weekend!
Speaking of Valentine's weekend: WE GOT ENGAGED!!!!!!!! Jason asked me to marry him, and, of course, I said, "YES!!!!!" :)
How did he do it? Well, I flew into the Huntington airport on Saturday morning (the day of Melissa and Dave's wedding reception) after an overnight flight. Keep in mind that I was wearing sweats, no makeup, had a bad cold, and little sleep. When I got off of the plane & started to walk up the flight pad to the terminal door, out comes Jason with a single red rose and a piece of paper in his hand. I was SO happy to see him that I didn't pay any mind to the fact that normally people picking you up are not allowed to be there (past security much less on the flight pad, haha)... so I hugged & kissed him, ALL SMILES!!! He handed me the rose (I thought for Valentine's Day) and the letter and told me to read it. Contents of the letter:
"I’ve brought you one rose because it represents my one whole heart. For too long pieces of it were missing, pieces I didn’t even realize weren’t there. Since you came into my life on June twenty fifth my life and my heart have become fuller by the moment. You have filled my heart with so much joy and love I feel as if it could burst from my chest at any moment. No one else who has ever lived, or ever will, could experience the feelings I feel for you. As you’re the source of this love will you have my heart?..."
When I told him, "Of course, I already have your heart." He proceeded by saying, "I want you to have it forever." as he got down on one knee, pulled the ring out with the rose and asked me, "Melissa Rae Stillwell, will you marry me?" with a HUGE smile!!!!! I didn't realize at the time, but the security guard (who let Jason outside after he told him he was going to propose to his girlfriend) was taking pictures while all of this was going on! I'm so thankful that he was able to capture this amazing moment. When we walked into the airport, a large crowd of people stood up and cheered -congratulating us! They were waiting for the next flight. That was just the icing on the cake. Ahh, it was absolutely perfect in every way. I couldn't have asked for anything more special, meaningful, or genuinely perfect for us. He is my prince charming, and I love him. I cannot wait to become THE Mrs. Jason Rooper! That whole day (weekend) was great. We drove up to Dayton to the reception and celebrated LOVE that day. Not only our love but the love of another happy couple who have also had to do the long-distance thing. Valentine's Day was great too. Jason surprised me and took the day off of work so that we could spend the entire day together. AWESOME!!!!! He had made us a reservation at Savannah's Restaurant in Huntington (I had never been), so we got all dressed up & had the most romantic dinner. Again, very special. <3 I was sad to leave, again, but this time I actually left him feeling like we just started our FOREVER. I was more focused on that positive and had no room for the negative. We will SOON be together. I love the sounds of that!
I'm happy to announce that we have set a very special wedding date which will take place August 27, 2011 -in about 4 months!!!! This was the same day my parents got married almost 29 years ago. And now that day will not go another year without celebration which makes me happy beyond words. I feel honored. That day happens to fall on a Saturday this year, so Jason and I couldn't think of a better time to unite as one. He knows how much this means to me, and I am blessed to have his love and understanding. Gosh, I can't stop smiling. :)
Before I jump into any more wedding stuff (although I won't spill all of the details on here -as much as I want to, haha), I will update you on some other stuff. I got to take a trip to San Francisco and finally see the Golden Gate Bridge... another item checked off of my bucket list! Okay so maybe I'll talk "wedding" along the way, haha, because I can't help it! I actually went to SF to go shopping and found my wedding dress! I am absolutely in love with my wedding gown and can't wait to wear it! I also took a trip to Long Beach and went to Disneyland in L.A. for Layla's birthday weekend -another item checked off of bucket list! I've done quite a bit of wine tasting and spread my mom's ashes in the vineyards on her birthday. It was a beautiful day. I've been collecting wine from many of the wineries out here in Wine Country! I have 51 bottles of wine for the wedding so far! :P
I am interviewing for a job at KDMC in a few days. I was really banking on that job because it is in Ashland where I will be living, and it is primarily with peds... which we all know is what I do. It is not as promising now because they took the position down to only part-time, and I need a full-time job. However, I am still hoping and trying to make it work. I have been playing email-tag with a lady from WV Birth-to-Three, and she is supposed to call me this week to talk about job possibilities. They supposedly have a need, and that is EXACTLY the job I want to be doing. I am really hoping that I could work part-time at KDMC to get full benefits and part-time through BTT. Gosh, talk about an ideal job for me. I think that might be as close as I could get to satisfactory. Hoping & praying & crossing every part of my body. Please do the same for me.
It is officially Spring Break, and I've gone 2 months without seeing my friends, family, & FIANCE' in person. Skype is wonderful (except when it decides to be poop & get all messy), but there's nothing like being home. I'm on my way there right now! Only a couple more hours in the L.A. airport before my 6 hour flight to Charlotte, then to Charleston, West By God Virginia! :) YAY!!! It's gonna be a full week of wedding planning, cuddling, and simply enjoying time with my honey. We are going to register for gifts, pick out Jason's wedding band (I already have mine -it's gorgeous!), get our engagement pictures taken, pick up invitations which are ready, pick out my veil & jewelry, meet with the florist, view the ceremony & reception sites (haven't seen them yet), and look for some decorations. You'd be surprised (NOT) to know that I pretty much have most of the wedding already planned! HAH! What can I say, I'm a planner! LOL We have everything booked, and I've even got a lot of the little details done. I've been ordering a lot of stuff online & having it shipped directly to our house in Ashland. I even have a carry-on suitcase solely filled with wedding items, HAHAHAHA!!!!!! My checked bag weighed 49.0 lbs (had to be less than 50, lol)! :)
Let me say, though, that I have the most amazing friends and family who are helping me so much. I am incredibly blessed to have these people in my life who are so willing to lend a hand or even a thought... I couldn't do this without them.
Have I said how much I love my life? I do. I always believed that the "unknown" would leave room for possibilities.... but who knew this much happiness was possible? Really. Possibilities are Good. Happiness is Good. Love is Good. Life is good.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Thanksgiving in CA
Hey, Y'all! :)
Another amazing week down, and only three more to go before I finally get to go HOME for Christmas! It feels like I've been away forever and ever. In two weeks, I'll be living it up DMB & Tim style in Las Vegas then will be home a week later. It'll fly right by, and I can't wait! I get to spend three whole weeks at home. Then, when I come back I'll be half way through my contract here in CA!!!! Holy cow, time sure does fly. I'm a fan!
So this past week was nothing short of a blessing. My dad, sister, and boyfriend all took the same flight out here Saturday night and stayed til the following Saturday morning. A whole week, yay! We had such an amazing, fun, eventful time together -touring, sightseeing, wine tasting, relaxing, and of course eating. My friend Gabby and her boyfriend M.J. joined us out for dinner one evening and again for Thanksgiving dinner at my apartment. It was such a nice holiday, and I couldn't have asked for anything better being away from home. I cooked a turkey, and it actually turned out great! My first time cooking Thanksgiving dinner was a complete success! The rest of the week was, of course, a success as well. I believe everyone enjoyed themselves and our time together. We toured the Hearst Castle which was GORGEOUS! I had no idea it was such an attraction for this area, but boy was I wrong. I highly recommend it to anyone. We spent a day at the beaches and even went to Splash Cafe' and tried their famous clam chowder (bread bowl) that Rachel Ray always talks about. Now I know why -YUM! A day in Los Angeles was also one of the highlights of our week since we got to see and do lots of fun things there. We drove up to see the Hollywood sign and then Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame. Then we got to tour the wax museum and car museum which I had never done before. We walked around the shops at The Grove and ate dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. Oh, and I tried my first In-and-Out Burger! How could I forget that?!? We didn't make it to the Lakers/Bulls game like we had initially planned, but we thoroughly enjoyed our day anyway. Jason and I got to spend an evening on a DATE! That was the highlight of my week by far. We went to the Sycamore Hot Springs Resort & Spa where we ate dinner, soaked in the natural springs mineral water, & had an hour-long couples massage. It was relaxing and romantic. It was perfect. The whole week was perfect. I was sad to say goodbye, but I know I'll see them all again very soon.
Jason and I are trying to plan a ski trip with a couple of friends for New Years weekend. I'm hoping that it pans out cuz I've never been skiing, and I've always wanted to! My fingers are crossed.
Now I shall begin the transition into another busy work week, but I'll leave you guys with some pics to highlight my wonderful Thanksgiving Break. Enjoy:
Another amazing week down, and only three more to go before I finally get to go HOME for Christmas! It feels like I've been away forever and ever. In two weeks, I'll be living it up DMB & Tim style in Las Vegas then will be home a week later. It'll fly right by, and I can't wait! I get to spend three whole weeks at home. Then, when I come back I'll be half way through my contract here in CA!!!! Holy cow, time sure does fly. I'm a fan!
So this past week was nothing short of a blessing. My dad, sister, and boyfriend all took the same flight out here Saturday night and stayed til the following Saturday morning. A whole week, yay! We had such an amazing, fun, eventful time together -touring, sightseeing, wine tasting, relaxing, and of course eating. My friend Gabby and her boyfriend M.J. joined us out for dinner one evening and again for Thanksgiving dinner at my apartment. It was such a nice holiday, and I couldn't have asked for anything better being away from home. I cooked a turkey, and it actually turned out great! My first time cooking Thanksgiving dinner was a complete success! The rest of the week was, of course, a success as well. I believe everyone enjoyed themselves and our time together. We toured the Hearst Castle which was GORGEOUS! I had no idea it was such an attraction for this area, but boy was I wrong. I highly recommend it to anyone. We spent a day at the beaches and even went to Splash Cafe' and tried their famous clam chowder (bread bowl) that Rachel Ray always talks about. Now I know why -YUM! A day in Los Angeles was also one of the highlights of our week since we got to see and do lots of fun things there. We drove up to see the Hollywood sign and then Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame. Then we got to tour the wax museum and car museum which I had never done before. We walked around the shops at The Grove and ate dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. Oh, and I tried my first In-and-Out Burger! How could I forget that?!? We didn't make it to the Lakers/Bulls game like we had initially planned, but we thoroughly enjoyed our day anyway. Jason and I got to spend an evening on a DATE! That was the highlight of my week by far. We went to the Sycamore Hot Springs Resort & Spa where we ate dinner, soaked in the natural springs mineral water, & had an hour-long couples massage. It was relaxing and romantic. It was perfect. The whole week was perfect. I was sad to say goodbye, but I know I'll see them all again very soon.
Jason and I are trying to plan a ski trip with a couple of friends for New Years weekend. I'm hoping that it pans out cuz I've never been skiing, and I've always wanted to! My fingers are crossed.
Now I shall begin the transition into another busy work week, but I'll leave you guys with some pics to highlight my wonderful Thanksgiving Break. Enjoy:
Sunday, November 7, 2010
~Thanks~
Wow, is it really November already? I thoroughly enjoy the holidays, and this year I have even more to look forward to. I am lucky enough to get an entire week off for Thanksgiving and then three whole weeks off for Christmas & New Year's. That's one of the major benefits of working in the schools. Yay!
Should I even begin to list the things which I am thankful for? I don't think there is enough time or words to truly be able to depict the life I am thankful for and everything that goes with it. It's overwhelming.
Here are a few that come to mind:
(I'm not going to number them but instead use symbols because these cannot be in any particular order.)
* I am thankful for, of course, my family. We have been through a lot and overcome even more together. My family, as dysfunctional as it may seem, is my root, my anchor, my support, and a major source of motivation.
* I am thankful for my dog because he loves me unconditionally. Other than treats, I am the most important thing in his world. It's a good world, I might add. A spoiled world. haha!
* I am thankful for my health. Seeing what my mother had to suffer through makes me appreciate the healthy mind and body God has given to me. Even though I have had my share of issues, I am as healthy as ever.
* I am thankful for my job and the kids who make me smile every day. They give me a whole new appreciation for the little things in life that we sometimes take for granted. A scraped knee wasn't so bad after all.....
* I am thankful for my life-long friends I have made and kept throughout the years. I am also thankful for my ability to make new friends no matter where I go. God has surrounded me with some amazing people, and I'm blessed to have made friends to help me along this journey I have taken.
* I am thankful for opportunity. When I stop to think about where I have been or what all I have done in my 26 years, I actually break down into tears. Joyful tears, of course, but nevertheless tears. I honestly do not know what I have done to deserve the opportunities I have gotten, but I could never be more grateful for this life.
* I am thankful for pictures. I love to look back at the photos I or my friends have taken and reminisce about the wonderful memories we have made. There are so many things I forget about, but when I see a picture and am reminded of these things I get to smile and enjoy it all over again. It's a great feeling.
* I am thankful for confidence. I honestly never felt completely confident about myself until this year. My lack of confidence was not handicapping but was enough to make me realize now how it can change your whole attitude about life. Confidence can either hinder you, drive you, or simply give you a little push. I've gained confidence in many aspects of my life, and I feel that it has given me that little push that I didn't know I needed.
* I am thankful for challenges. I'll admit that I am a competitor, so I'm always up for a good challenge. A good challenge has made me a better person, clinician, daughter, sister, friend, and girlfriend. If life was easy, we'd all be bored. ;)
* I am thankful for my Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ. You all know the obvious reasons, so I'll talk about what he has done for me lately. He has allowed me to figure life out on my own. He has allowed me to sleep in on Sunday mornings yet still prove my faith, to feel his spirit through the ocean breeze or a breath of fresh air, and to take selfish steps while still following his lead. I trust that He will lead me where my life is supposed to go, but I am thankful that I can take detours along the way to learn about myself. It's a lovely journey, I must say.
* I am thankful for Unconditional Love. I have never experienced such a miraculous feeling such as this. I don't know which is better -being in love or being loved in return. I like both. Having someone that adores me and makes me feel like the most special thing in the world -what can be better than that? I'll tell you what: Having that someone be as astonishing, loving, caring, genuine, handsome, inspiring, motivating, supportive, thoughtful, funny, charming, and PERFECT for me. What more could a girl want, honestly? I am more than grateful and blessed.
* I am thankful for who I am. To some of you, this may sound vein; however, I have learned how important it is to love yourself and appreciate who you are as a person. I have done just that.
* I am thankful for rest. I get caught up in the excitement of this busy world, and it is SO good to be able to rest easily at the end of every day.... even the tougher days.
* I am thankful for the ability to see. There is beauty all around me, everywhere I go, so it would be a shame not to be able to see it.
* I am thankful for technology. I'm sure you can all figure out why. ;)
Okay, so maybe that was more than a few. I just couldn't stop because I am thankful for SO very much. My life is beautiful. I can hardly wait until Thanksgiving. My life will be even more beautiful. Awww, yay!
Thanks!
Should I even begin to list the things which I am thankful for? I don't think there is enough time or words to truly be able to depict the life I am thankful for and everything that goes with it. It's overwhelming.
Here are a few that come to mind:
(I'm not going to number them but instead use symbols because these cannot be in any particular order.)
* I am thankful for, of course, my family. We have been through a lot and overcome even more together. My family, as dysfunctional as it may seem, is my root, my anchor, my support, and a major source of motivation.
* I am thankful for my dog because he loves me unconditionally. Other than treats, I am the most important thing in his world. It's a good world, I might add. A spoiled world. haha!
* I am thankful for my health. Seeing what my mother had to suffer through makes me appreciate the healthy mind and body God has given to me. Even though I have had my share of issues, I am as healthy as ever.
* I am thankful for my job and the kids who make me smile every day. They give me a whole new appreciation for the little things in life that we sometimes take for granted. A scraped knee wasn't so bad after all.....
* I am thankful for my life-long friends I have made and kept throughout the years. I am also thankful for my ability to make new friends no matter where I go. God has surrounded me with some amazing people, and I'm blessed to have made friends to help me along this journey I have taken.
* I am thankful for opportunity. When I stop to think about where I have been or what all I have done in my 26 years, I actually break down into tears. Joyful tears, of course, but nevertheless tears. I honestly do not know what I have done to deserve the opportunities I have gotten, but I could never be more grateful for this life.
* I am thankful for pictures. I love to look back at the photos I or my friends have taken and reminisce about the wonderful memories we have made. There are so many things I forget about, but when I see a picture and am reminded of these things I get to smile and enjoy it all over again. It's a great feeling.
* I am thankful for confidence. I honestly never felt completely confident about myself until this year. My lack of confidence was not handicapping but was enough to make me realize now how it can change your whole attitude about life. Confidence can either hinder you, drive you, or simply give you a little push. I've gained confidence in many aspects of my life, and I feel that it has given me that little push that I didn't know I needed.
* I am thankful for challenges. I'll admit that I am a competitor, so I'm always up for a good challenge. A good challenge has made me a better person, clinician, daughter, sister, friend, and girlfriend. If life was easy, we'd all be bored. ;)
* I am thankful for my Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ. You all know the obvious reasons, so I'll talk about what he has done for me lately. He has allowed me to figure life out on my own. He has allowed me to sleep in on Sunday mornings yet still prove my faith, to feel his spirit through the ocean breeze or a breath of fresh air, and to take selfish steps while still following his lead. I trust that He will lead me where my life is supposed to go, but I am thankful that I can take detours along the way to learn about myself. It's a lovely journey, I must say.
* I am thankful for Unconditional Love. I have never experienced such a miraculous feeling such as this. I don't know which is better -being in love or being loved in return. I like both. Having someone that adores me and makes me feel like the most special thing in the world -what can be better than that? I'll tell you what: Having that someone be as astonishing, loving, caring, genuine, handsome, inspiring, motivating, supportive, thoughtful, funny, charming, and PERFECT for me. What more could a girl want, honestly? I am more than grateful and blessed.
* I am thankful for who I am. To some of you, this may sound vein; however, I have learned how important it is to love yourself and appreciate who you are as a person. I have done just that.
* I am thankful for rest. I get caught up in the excitement of this busy world, and it is SO good to be able to rest easily at the end of every day.... even the tougher days.
* I am thankful for the ability to see. There is beauty all around me, everywhere I go, so it would be a shame not to be able to see it.
* I am thankful for technology. I'm sure you can all figure out why. ;)
Okay, so maybe that was more than a few. I just couldn't stop because I am thankful for SO very much. My life is beautiful. I can hardly wait until Thanksgiving. My life will be even more beautiful. Awww, yay!
Thanks!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Borderline Insomnia
I'm having trouble sleeping at night which is quite unusual. I think I've thrown off my sleep schedule by staying up too late and sleeping in on the weekends. This makes for some tiring week days, that's for sure. Thank you, caffeine.
I hate it when I can't sleep because my mind wonders in a thousand circles per minute. It's exhausting. I'm starting to become dizzy. You would think that, because so, after 5 minutes I would be able to fall asleep, lol. Nope. It just doesn't work that way. As I lie here awake in bed, I am thinking of a rather large to-do list I have subconsciously developed outside of my already established weekly to-do lists. Didn't I just recently blog about not trying to plan out anything... lol... who was I kidding!?!? I am a planner! :) My innateness comes and bites me in the butt when I least expect it to, I guess.
I'm still trying to find my fast-forward button............
Thoughts to ponder:
1. The city limit signs here in Santa Maria say "An All-American City" -bahaha I find this to be quite contradicting. I want to add "or Lack Thereof" to the end!
2. Why does "caregiver" and "caretaker" mean the same thing????
3. Why do we sing "Rock a bye baby" to lull a baby to sleep when the song is about putting your baby in a tree and letting the wind crash the cradle onto the ground? OUCH!
4. Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead of just turning around and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk.
Well, the Jack Johnson concert was phenomenal. He sounded exactly like his album -very talented. Layla and I both wore boots with heels which looked fabulous but was not such a great idea once our feet had to endure the many blocks, hills, and stairs between my car and our seats, LOL. Ya win some, ya lose some. :) Our seats were at the very top, but I don't think there was a bad seat there. The outside venue was beautiful. I'd love to attend another concert there someday, only next time I will wear flats! The Damian Marley & Nas concert at Avila Beach was also a lot of fun. Layla's cousin, Suzanne, went with us. The three of us danced the night away in the rain and loved every minute of it. Music makes me happy. Oh, and we saw a double rainbow in the sky which made me think of my mom! :)
Memories are good.
I miss my boyfriend and my family. Is it Thanksgiving yet???????
I hate it when I can't sleep because my mind wonders in a thousand circles per minute. It's exhausting. I'm starting to become dizzy. You would think that, because so, after 5 minutes I would be able to fall asleep, lol. Nope. It just doesn't work that way. As I lie here awake in bed, I am thinking of a rather large to-do list I have subconsciously developed outside of my already established weekly to-do lists. Didn't I just recently blog about not trying to plan out anything... lol... who was I kidding!?!? I am a planner! :) My innateness comes and bites me in the butt when I least expect it to, I guess.
I'm still trying to find my fast-forward button............
Thoughts to ponder:
1. The city limit signs here in Santa Maria say "An All-American City" -bahaha I find this to be quite contradicting. I want to add "or Lack Thereof" to the end!
2. Why does "caregiver" and "caretaker" mean the same thing????
3. Why do we sing "Rock a bye baby" to lull a baby to sleep when the song is about putting your baby in a tree and letting the wind crash the cradle onto the ground? OUCH!
4. Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead of just turning around and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk.
Well, the Jack Johnson concert was phenomenal. He sounded exactly like his album -very talented. Layla and I both wore boots with heels which looked fabulous but was not such a great idea once our feet had to endure the many blocks, hills, and stairs between my car and our seats, LOL. Ya win some, ya lose some. :) Our seats were at the very top, but I don't think there was a bad seat there. The outside venue was beautiful. I'd love to attend another concert there someday, only next time I will wear flats! The Damian Marley & Nas concert at Avila Beach was also a lot of fun. Layla's cousin, Suzanne, went with us. The three of us danced the night away in the rain and loved every minute of it. Music makes me happy. Oh, and we saw a double rainbow in the sky which made me think of my mom! :) Memories are good.
I miss my boyfriend and my family. Is it Thanksgiving yet???????
Monday, October 11, 2010
It Only Gets Better....
Need an update on my wonderful and exciting life in California?!?! Of course you do! Here we go:
I'm enjoying my job and the kids I work with more and more each day. I'm challenged. I'm learning. I'm making a difference. I'm smiling. I'm remembering why it is that I do what I do and why I love doing it. The kids remind me why it's important not to take the little things in life for granted. I thank God every day for leading me down this path to the career I chose. Yes, even though 7 years of college was pretty much Hell at times! :) All worth it.
I've stopped being a hermit crab & been out enjoying my weekends.
Layla and I have made a CA Bucket List which we are currently beginning to explore. This should be a fun and exciting year to say the least! It's a rather large list (DUH), so we gotta pretty much make plans every single weekend from this point on if we want to even come close to giving it a high five in June, lol. 
I am taking advantage of every opportunity possible.
A few of our upcoming plans: This Thursday, Layla and I are going to see Jack Johnson in concert at the Santa Barbara Bowl. This Sunday, we are going to Avila Beach to see Damian Marley and Nas in concert. We're also going to go back to the apple orchard to pick apples and make caramel apples. We're also going to pick pumpkins from the patch & carve them -something I have not done since I was a kid (discounting the fact that I am still a big kid). We're both going on The Price is Right next week. Hopefully, one of us will win something! Woooo, fun times! Oh, and speaking of concerts.... we are going to see The Dave Matthews Band & Tim Reynolds in Las Vegas on December 10th and 11th!!!! My world doesn't get any better than that! :)
Or does it???
Prince Jason and I are doing fabulous. HAHA! This long-distance thing isn't as bad as I anticipated. Number one: Time is flying by. Number two: Skype is awesome. Number three: He is awesome. Number four: I get to see him in less than a month and a half! I can't wait for Thanksgiving break, seriously. I have planned a date night for the two of us (Dad and Jenn will spend the evening together doing something fun too -I'll make sure of it). I've got extra special plans for the two of us, and I know we're gonna love it. <3 His birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks, and I'm pretty sure he's gonna love his gifts too. At least I hope so. We're happy. I'm happy. It only gets better from here. :)
MY LIFE IS GOOD.
I'm enjoying my job and the kids I work with more and more each day. I'm challenged. I'm learning. I'm making a difference. I'm smiling. I'm remembering why it is that I do what I do and why I love doing it. The kids remind me why it's important not to take the little things in life for granted. I thank God every day for leading me down this path to the career I chose. Yes, even though 7 years of college was pretty much Hell at times! :) All worth it. I've stopped being a hermit crab & been out enjoying my weekends.
Layla and I have made a CA Bucket List which we are currently beginning to explore. This should be a fun and exciting year to say the least! It's a rather large list (DUH), so we gotta pretty much make plans every single weekend from this point on if we want to even come close to giving it a high five in June, lol. 
I am taking advantage of every opportunity possible. A few of our upcoming plans: This Thursday, Layla and I are going to see Jack Johnson in concert at the Santa Barbara Bowl. This Sunday, we are going to Avila Beach to see Damian Marley and Nas in concert. We're also going to go back to the apple orchard to pick apples and make caramel apples. We're also going to pick pumpkins from the patch & carve them -something I have not done since I was a kid (discounting the fact that I am still a big kid). We're both going on The Price is Right next week. Hopefully, one of us will win something! Woooo, fun times! Oh, and speaking of concerts.... we are going to see The Dave Matthews Band & Tim Reynolds in Las Vegas on December 10th and 11th!!!! My world doesn't get any better than that! :)
Or does it???
Prince Jason and I are doing fabulous. HAHA! This long-distance thing isn't as bad as I anticipated. Number one: Time is flying by. Number two: Skype is awesome. Number three: He is awesome. Number four: I get to see him in less than a month and a half! I can't wait for Thanksgiving break, seriously. I have planned a date night for the two of us (Dad and Jenn will spend the evening together doing something fun too -I'll make sure of it). I've got extra special plans for the two of us, and I know we're gonna love it. <3 His birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks, and I'm pretty sure he's gonna love his gifts too. At least I hope so. We're happy. I'm happy. It only gets better from here. :)
MY LIFE IS GOOD.
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