Two Years Tomorrow...

As I sit here this evening, reflecting on my life...  I just have to count my blessings.  So much has changed in the last year with joy upon joy.  Both Molly and Jaxon celebrated their first birthdays in 2012 and then, tomorrow, Steve and I celebrate our second anniversary.

We got off to a little bumpy start to 2013 with Dad having pneumonia, but he's much better now and he's made the move to live with us and share time in New Orleans with Frank and Carolyn.  We are having so much fun spending quality time together.  And... I'm getting to practice my cooking skills again after taking a bit of a break during my single years.  :)

I'm finding it harder to keep up with the blog, but I'm going to make a concerted effort to post occasional notes because it's so fun to look back and see all the special moments that have occurred over the years.

I was just looking back at the July 2012 post where Jonathan was getting ready to start his new job.  The year has brought him so many successes.  He is tackling his dream job head-on and it's a joy to watch from the sidelines.  Jen, too...  She is making her way with a wonderful job and she had an incredible promotion this year.

Steve's kiddos are doing great, too, and we have had many "proud parent moments" this last year.

Next on the horizon are all the beautiful spring and summer bulbs that Steve so diligently planted last year...  hundreds of them... and I cannot wait to see their pretty blooms (just like these that have already poked their little heads above ground!!)

A new quote I love from Albert Einstein: “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” Happy Monday, everyone!

Major Life Changes

Today marks yet another major life change for our family.  Jonathan starts his first job as a new graduate, working for Trek in Wisconsin.  He's spent the last week in relocating to his first solo apartment, buying furniture, cooking his first crock-pot meal and becoming acquainted with his new city.  (It looks beautiful, by the way!)  It's been fun watching him construct his new Ikea furniture and although the apartment is a small 500 sq ft studio, I think he's already feeling "at home" there.  I can't wait to hear how his first day at work went.  It reminds me of how I felt when I dropped him off for his first day of school about 18 years ago.  God has been so good to our family all these years and blessed us in so many ways.  I have a full heart this morning!!

Goals...

The puppies woke up so early to go outside this morning... Max at 3:30 a.m, then Ebony at 4... I just cannot go back to sleep, even though it's Saturday! Ugh!! However, I did just have an interesting revelation while I was laying here listening to the a/c blowing struggling to keep up cool. I have been trying to lose weight all of my life, struggling with will power issues (because, basically, I love comfort food!) My big revelation is, that every food decision I make is either a step toward or a step away from my ultimate goal. Maybe it's because it's now 4:30 in the morning, but I think that if I can keep this in mind, it will really help me... Thank you Lord for this particular early morning meditation with you!

Who would have thought... ?

Gosh... after years of blogging, who would have thought that getting married would make such a change in how I spend my time?  I really regret that I haven't been documenting my first year of married life and the experience of being a new grandmother more.  But, alas, I guess I have to accept the fact that life happens and things change.  It was a wonderful first year and I'm soooo blessed to have a wonderful husband and a fun expansion to our family.  Molly and Jaxon are adorable and growing so fast.  What little miracles they are!!  

Jamie and Jaxon

Miss Molly!

Staying Young

How to Stay Young

1. Throw out non-essential numbers such as your age, weight and height.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. If you really need a grouch, there are probably family members to fill that need.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Just never let the brain idle.

4. Enjoy the simple things. When the children are young, that is all you can afford. When they are in college that is all you can afford. When they are grown, and you are on retirement, that is all you can afford.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. Laugh so much that you can be tracked in the store by your distinctive laughter.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person that is with us our entire life is ourselves.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it is family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies or whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health. If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Go to the mall, the next county, a foreign country - but not guilt.

10. Tell the people you love how much you love them every chance you get. Never assume they know.

11. Don't worry about things you cannot change or do anything about. Accept them and move on.

12. Read more and dust less.

13. Spend more time with your family and friends and less time working.

14. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to savor, not to endure. Recognize these moments now and cherish them.

15. Do not "save" anything. Use your good china and crystal for every special event such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the next blossom of flowers you see.

16. Wear your best outfit to the market.

17. Don't save your good perfume for only special occasions. Use it even if you are going shopping or just to the bank.

18. "Someday" and "one of these days" should vanish from your vocabulary. If it is worth seeing or hearing or doing, go and see or hear or do it now

Eleven Months!

Our one-year anniversary is in a few weeks and I can hardly believe that time has flown by so very fast.  We have had the opportunity to do so many fun things this first year and I cannot wait to see what our second year holds in store...  God has been so good to us and we are feeling so blessed to have a healthy, happy family!

Having fun with Collin Cougar!!

Pure JOY!!