Elf Makeup
Moccasins
Diet Coke
Shuffle
Joewell shears
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Favorite-ish things/events of 2011
Elf Makeup
Moccasins
Diet Coke
Shuffle
Bon Iver
Trip to Ft. Lauderdale with Mark
Trip to VA beach with mah girls
Lila
Quilt from my Grandmother
Family Pictures
The Door
So many things happened this year. Mark picked up Warrant Officer, we moved, left friends, made some new ones, I started working, Ethan lost teeth, Dell cheered, Max cried at school, we racked up our credit card, we grew as a family. Life is a bit of a rollercoaster, but 2011 was good.
Elf Makeup
Moccasins
Diet Coke
Shuffle
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Lately.
My kids have been getting really grown up.
I've really missed my Mom.
I haven't had carbs.
Mark has made delicious black bean and cilantro pork chops.
I've been reading a lot.
My boys have decided to grow their hair out. (Which REALLY bothers my ocd)
My job is inspiring me.
I've been trying to understand my husband more.
I've been packing healthy lunches for my kids.
I've colored my hair red. Bright red.
The bills keep piling up.
I get 'I love you' texts from my best friends that keep me going.
We went to the Marine Corps Ball, and it reminded me not to take a minute with Mark for granted. Seeing the widows and hearing the names of lives lost in a never-ending war. I'm living in the little moments. Or at least trying.
That's all for now.
My kids have been getting really grown up.
I've really missed my Mom.
I haven't had carbs.
Mark has made delicious black bean and cilantro pork chops.
I've been reading a lot.
My boys have decided to grow their hair out. (Which REALLY bothers my ocd)
My job is inspiring me.
I've been trying to understand my husband more.
I've been packing healthy lunches for my kids.
I've colored my hair red. Bright red.
The bills keep piling up.
I get 'I love you' texts from my best friends that keep me going.
We went to the Marine Corps Ball, and it reminded me not to take a minute with Mark for granted. Seeing the widows and hearing the names of lives lost in a never-ending war. I'm living in the little moments. Or at least trying.
That's all for now.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Staff Sergeant Javier Ortiz-Rivera called his boys his little Marines. He loved playing with them and teaching them how to salute and stand tall. The youngsters used those lessons to bid their father farewell. Wearing tiny Marine uniforms made especially for them, they saluted their father as he was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.
THIS WAR needs to be over NOW.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
I can count my never-leave-my-side friends on one hand.
Tonight while I was discussing friendships, I thought back over the past few years and I have been blessed with many, many great relationships. Some have changed the course of my life. Some have grabbed my hand and have never let go.
I don't know why some friends don't stand the test of time. Life changes people, life changes how much we can attach ourselves to someone. I miss those friendships, but I know with no doubt, that they came into my life for a reason. I was thinking what each friend taught me, and it's pretty amazing how important friends are.
I first learned what friendship was with Laura and Lindsay.
I experienced an innocent childhood with Amanda, Stephanie, Marshall, Deric and Lucas.
I learned through Danika to let my hair down.
I learned through Ali an artistic way of thinking..to not see black and white.
I learned through Kara V. to put myself out there, and to just have fun.
I learned through Nikki that friends come back.
I learned through Sam R. how to be honest in life.
I learned through Amy that I'm stronger than I thought I was.
I learned through Kara P. that life is dark sometimes, but we always find light.
I learned through Staci to be a free thinker.
I'm learning through Akin's that friends become family.
I learned through Jessica to not always filter what I say; some people need bluntness.
I learned through Nicole that no matter what life throws at you, to smile.
I learned through Kristen that a friend never EVER judges. They listen.
I learned through Melinda faith and loyalty.
I learned from Mary Jo how to be more easy going.
I learned through Terri how to have to say goodbye, but not forever.
I learned through Alissa that it's okay to be exactly who I am.
"I am a part of all I have met." (Tennyson)
These friends (and more that aren't listed) are with me every single day. They shaped my thinking, my reactions and my heart. The friends who I fell out of contact with, or are Facebook "friends" I keep up with, and even though we don't talk on a daily basis, they don't leave my mind. They are little parts of me.
The friends I can count on one hand that I know will never leave, well, they are different. These friends are my core. These friends will take my 3 a.m. call to let me vent. These friends will tell me when I'm being absolutely stupid. They send random texts, sometimes just one word and I know exactly what it means. They call me out on my mistakes. They lift me higher than the moon for my accomplishments. These friends will take the peaks and valleys of friendship with stride. These friends can go weeks or months without talking and when they call, it's perfect. These girls are my sisters. They are spread out all across the country, but if I really needed them they wouldn't hesitate to be here. I am abundantly blessed with amazing ladies in my life. I pray they never leave.
Tonight while I was discussing friendships, I thought back over the past few years and I have been blessed with many, many great relationships. Some have changed the course of my life. Some have grabbed my hand and have never let go.
I don't know why some friends don't stand the test of time. Life changes people, life changes how much we can attach ourselves to someone. I miss those friendships, but I know with no doubt, that they came into my life for a reason. I was thinking what each friend taught me, and it's pretty amazing how important friends are.
I first learned what friendship was with Laura and Lindsay.
I experienced an innocent childhood with Amanda, Stephanie, Marshall, Deric and Lucas.
I learned through Danika to let my hair down.
I learned through Ali an artistic way of thinking..to not see black and white.
I learned through Kara V. to put myself out there, and to just have fun.
I learned through Nikki that friends come back.
I learned through Sam R. how to be honest in life.
I learned through Amy that I'm stronger than I thought I was.
I learned through Kara P. that life is dark sometimes, but we always find light.
I learned through Staci to be a free thinker.
I'm learning through Akin's that friends become family.
I learned through Jessica to not always filter what I say; some people need bluntness.
I learned through Nicole that no matter what life throws at you, to smile.
I learned through Kristen that a friend never EVER judges. They listen.
I learned through Melinda faith and loyalty.
I learned from Mary Jo how to be more easy going.
I learned through Terri how to have to say goodbye, but not forever.
I learned through Alissa that it's okay to be exactly who I am.
"I am a part of all I have met." (Tennyson)
These friends (and more that aren't listed) are with me every single day. They shaped my thinking, my reactions and my heart. The friends who I fell out of contact with, or are Facebook "friends" I keep up with, and even though we don't talk on a daily basis, they don't leave my mind. They are little parts of me.
The friends I can count on one hand that I know will never leave, well, they are different. These friends are my core. These friends will take my 3 a.m. call to let me vent. These friends will tell me when I'm being absolutely stupid. They send random texts, sometimes just one word and I know exactly what it means. They call me out on my mistakes. They lift me higher than the moon for my accomplishments. These friends will take the peaks and valleys of friendship with stride. These friends can go weeks or months without talking and when they call, it's perfect. These girls are my sisters. They are spread out all across the country, but if I really needed them they wouldn't hesitate to be here. I am abundantly blessed with amazing ladies in my life. I pray they never leave.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Listen.Repeat.
And I told you to be patient
And I told you to be fine
And I told you to be balanced
And I told you to be kind
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
TWLOHA
To write love on her arms.
This is a charity I've kept up with for about a year now. It's a charity that works with anyone struggling with depression, anxiety, addiction, mental illness, suicide, and self injury. I think we all know someone who struggles with one or more of those ailments.
I was recently diagnosed with PTSD; not something I like to talk about much, but I'm surrendering to my feelings that it needs to be discussed. I endured a violent robbing at gunpoint about three years ago. For a long time afterwards I felt broken, and then slowly started to push the feelings aside, thinking I could "get over it". Within the past 6 months, the feelings of anxiety have been creeping back so I went to the doctor who did a thorough background evaluation and came to the conclusion that I'm suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. At first I laughed, because I'm a pretty happy person, and that is only something that war vets are struggling with. I function quite well day to day, and I rarely have panic attacks. But as we dug deeper she found my triggers- small black cars (similar to the one I was robbed by) make my heart beat faster, and I can never, ever park next to one. If I'm shopping at night, I always have someone escort me to my car. I have stereotyped black males, and if I pass one on the street, I clutch my bag tighter. I circle my car before getting into it, and have been known to look underneath. My heart races when I think about that day, or even now, my palms are sweaty. My doctor told me that once our system has been so traumatically shocked, it psychologically cannot process anxiety the way it did before. I feel awful that I've stereotyped and she assured me that may never go away. My anxiety is something that I will have to manage from now on.
I'm not telling my story for pity. I'm telling my story because it's just that. My story. When we hear someone is on medication or struggling with depression, attempts suicide, or even commits suicide, there are so many stigmas attached. Maybe we think they are weak. Maybe we think that they had a bad childhood. Maybe we think they cling to addiction to numb the pain. Maybe we don't know their story. My entire purpose of sharing my story is to make people think twice before judging someone. TWLOHA is an organization that helps with recovery and treatment. Next time we hear of someone struggling, maybe you will think of my story and offer compassion instead of judgement.
This is a charity I've kept up with for about a year now. It's a charity that works with anyone struggling with depression, anxiety, addiction, mental illness, suicide, and self injury. I think we all know someone who struggles with one or more of those ailments.
I was recently diagnosed with PTSD; not something I like to talk about much, but I'm surrendering to my feelings that it needs to be discussed. I endured a violent robbing at gunpoint about three years ago. For a long time afterwards I felt broken, and then slowly started to push the feelings aside, thinking I could "get over it". Within the past 6 months, the feelings of anxiety have been creeping back so I went to the doctor who did a thorough background evaluation and came to the conclusion that I'm suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. At first I laughed, because I'm a pretty happy person, and that is only something that war vets are struggling with. I function quite well day to day, and I rarely have panic attacks. But as we dug deeper she found my triggers- small black cars (similar to the one I was robbed by) make my heart beat faster, and I can never, ever park next to one. If I'm shopping at night, I always have someone escort me to my car. I have stereotyped black males, and if I pass one on the street, I clutch my bag tighter. I circle my car before getting into it, and have been known to look underneath. My heart races when I think about that day, or even now, my palms are sweaty. My doctor told me that once our system has been so traumatically shocked, it psychologically cannot process anxiety the way it did before. I feel awful that I've stereotyped and she assured me that may never go away. My anxiety is something that I will have to manage from now on.
I'm not telling my story for pity. I'm telling my story because it's just that. My story. When we hear someone is on medication or struggling with depression, attempts suicide, or even commits suicide, there are so many stigmas attached. Maybe we think they are weak. Maybe we think that they had a bad childhood. Maybe we think they cling to addiction to numb the pain. Maybe we don't know their story. My entire purpose of sharing my story is to make people think twice before judging someone. TWLOHA is an organization that helps with recovery and treatment. Next time we hear of someone struggling, maybe you will think of my story and offer compassion instead of judgement.
Monday, October 10, 2011
So it's been awhile since I even logged into Blogger...so much has happened since my last post..I think in April?
Mark went to school, we went on a honeymoon, we moved..yada yada.
Fast forward to now.
Everyone is happy...the kids are in a new school and they are loving it. Max started full day/all day preschool and was weary at first, but is getting the hang of it.
Mark is loving his new-found responsibility as an Officer...it comes with stress, but we are working out those kinks too.
AND! I started working, which I kind of think is a big deal. I have stayed at home for the past 10 (ahem looong) years taking care of my babes, which I wouldn't trade for the world. However, in those 10 years I lost myself. I feel like I lost my "spark" and I lost what drives me, what makes me happy. Taking care of my family is my absolute favorite thing to do...but now it's my time to do me. A new chapter that is really fun to open.
I'm really really excited to have found a salon that lets me do just that. I set my hours for when the kids are in school and I work every other weekend. My passion is hair...My drive is to socialize and to make people feel good. Without taking kids potty, or worrying about filling cups, or washing dishes. I've done that all day every day...I'm done with that. It may be selfish sounding...but my kids know that they are my world.
So now my days consist of taking kids to school, tanning, going for a run and then getting all dolled up and going to my job. My job. I like those words.
Mark went to school, we went on a honeymoon, we moved..yada yada.
Fast forward to now.
Everyone is happy...the kids are in a new school and they are loving it. Max started full day/all day preschool and was weary at first, but is getting the hang of it.
Mark is loving his new-found responsibility as an Officer...it comes with stress, but we are working out those kinks too.
AND! I started working, which I kind of think is a big deal. I have stayed at home for the past 10 (ahem looong) years taking care of my babes, which I wouldn't trade for the world. However, in those 10 years I lost myself. I feel like I lost my "spark" and I lost what drives me, what makes me happy. Taking care of my family is my absolute favorite thing to do...but now it's my time to do me. A new chapter that is really fun to open.
I'm really really excited to have found a salon that lets me do just that. I set my hours for when the kids are in school and I work every other weekend. My passion is hair...My drive is to socialize and to make people feel good. Without taking kids potty, or worrying about filling cups, or washing dishes. I've done that all day every day...I'm done with that. It may be selfish sounding...but my kids know that they are my world.
So now my days consist of taking kids to school, tanning, going for a run and then getting all dolled up and going to my job. My job. I like those words.
Friday, April 8, 2011
My life in pictures lately...
My life consisits of running, defeating Mario, organizing, finding Superheros, makeup, Kindle, sparkly shoes and coffee...
Thursday, February 10, 2011
W.O. =)
Mark was promoted to a Warrant Officer on Feb. 1st.
It seems not long ago we were struggling with his Private salary...I couldnt be more proud of the man he has become.
2004
2004
2006 (preggo with Max)
2007
2008
W.O. promotion 2011
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