Day 5- 5 Things That Make Me Most Happy

     Sometimes, the reminder of what makes us truly happy in life, comes from when we almost take those things for granted…lately, I feel like I have taken some of my biggest blessings for granted.  That's a really hard statement for me to make, and one I'm definitely not proud of  having felt that way and it's something I wish I never had to admit to anyone in the world.  I'm a Mom, having an audience when I need to potty is supposed to be hilarious.  It's not, but I know someday you'll be a big stinky junior high boy who won't even let me step foot in your bathroom if you're within a 50 ft radius… so I hate to wish way the days that you're little enough to constantly want to play the flushing game (Jaxon, this is by far your favorite obsession lately…you love to flush the potty over…and over…and over…and over and over again!  Happiness is something that is so hard to explain… there's actually a song that really makes me feel what true happiness feels to me when I listen to it… you can watch the You Tube Video right here! With that being said, tonight as I listen to your tiny snores as you lay wrapped in the arms of you loving Daddy I can say that I have never felt more truly happy than I do now… so here's my list.
 

     One) The quiet of our House late at night. - There's something about laying down at night and hearing the sounds of crickets outside, the faint barking of the dogs in the neighborhood, the snores that play like the sweetest symphony in the world in our room at night (You, Dad, Ranger and Ace make a perfect quartet).   The thought of laying in this big king bed and knowing that when I wake up in the morning I'm going to wake up to wet puppy dog kisses, a very snuggly little guy thats going to want to do the Hot Dog Dance at least 10 times a day makes me realize how truly blessed I am, and that makes me so happy.

     2) Park Days- there is something so magical about taking you (Jaxon) to the park, there is so much joy in your giant belly laugh when you go down the slide or swing with me in the swings.  My favorite is when we're the only ones there and we can walk up and down the river hand in hand and talk about the ducks, and the fish, and the water. Playing, exploring and just being with you makes me happy…and when you're happy doing those things, my heart overflows with joy.

   III) Fishing, Baseball, and Hunting- I honestly believe that when God picked out your Papa to be my Dad, he knew that there was going to be a little girl that would love all the things that were supposed to be "for little boys"  but those things makes me a very happy girl.  I can honestly say I don't think I've ever been unhappy in a boat, a blind or a ball park.  My hands always feel completely full and confident if they're holding a rod and reel, a gun, or cheering on the Texas Rangers.  Being a boy mom means that my life will be filled with these things and luckily they're some of your Dad's favorite too.

  Quartro)   Nature-   There is one place in the world that I can honestly say makes my heart feel so overwhelmingly full that it could burst, and thats on the beaches of Mexico with my toes in the sand and the most gorgeous water you've ever seen splashing at my feet.  Traveling in general makes me happy but Mexico has become a very special place to me.  The sun, the sand, the water, the people, the culture, everything about it makes me happy.  Another part of nature that makes me overwhelmingly is a perfect sunrise.  There's something absolutely breath taking about the serenity of a gorgeous sunrise.  They are always quiet and still and a true breath of fresh air.

F.I.V.E)   Being a part of a family-  There is something so special about being a part of a family (especially being a wife, and mother) that makes me so happy.  Or maybe, its everything about being a part of a family that makes me happy.  I grew up with a relatively small family, but since marrying your Dad my family has grown at an exponential rate. I love the fact that I adore your Jojo and Grandad and having a close relationship with them reminds me of how truly truly blessed we are.  I love being a Mommy and a wife, i love being an aunt, and a sister-in-law and having a huge family full of Moore's and Abbott's and Watkins, and Brown's.  I love being apart of something that is so much stronger than I could have ever imagined being a part of. 

     These are only 5 things that make me most happy right now but I hope that you understand that being happy is a choice.  There are always going to be things in your life that make you feel "unhappy" and situations that are less than desirable but I hope that you can always find 5 things that make you most happy right now….focus on those and you'll never go wrong!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Choices 

Dear 16 Year Old Me….

     So for Day Four of this "'Thirty Things My Kid(s) Should Know About Me" is to write 10 things I would have told my 16 year old self…. This should be pretty interesting because 16 year old me…was pretty silly….(PS If you're lost as to what this 30 Things "thing" is check out the original post HERE!   I hope you are all enjoying this hysterical attempt to teach my kid(s) about the "real" me…the Me that existed prior to them blessing my everyday…so here goes nothing!
   

      Dear 16 Year Old Kayla,
           If I had to guess this is the Valentine's Day you spent sitting on your couch, watching some Chick Flick and eating Chinese take out… Congratulations on loving yourself enough to do it with pride… next Valentine's Day isn't going to be the best…in fact…it'll be the first time that you'll truly have your heart broken and it'll happen the morning of, when you're expecting some sweet call from the boy I wish I could save you from…but since I can't (and lets face it…now that I'm grown up and I know how much I've learned from this situation I know I couldn't let you skip the life lesson, sorry…kinda…) I will tell you that 1) your first love…isn't going to be your lifetime love.  That's not your fairy tale, and there's going to come a time when that boy tells you that you AREN'T a Princess and that you DON'T deserve a fairytale ending.  Before you feel like someone has stabbed you in the heart, when that day comes remember; that you are far more precious than rubies, and the keeper of the stars will bless you with a story that is far better than anything any fairytale could create.
     I guess this situation kind of brings me to number 2) Don't have a boyfriend in High School.  Yes, I know, from homecoming to Tri-Hi-Y to  Prom there's some validation in securing a date…but don't get too serious with anyone.   (Oh and PS… that stupid senior boy you recently broke up with…grows up to be an even bigger dork than he was in high school…congrats).  Spend these three years of high school going to football games, and pep-rallies.  Enjoy student council. and your girlfriends. Go watch the guys at Wall play (spoiler alert…you're going to marry one of them…and it's not the one you think!) Savor the nights spent in Shay's cotton fields…and for Christ's sake Kayla…stop thinking James Varnadore hates you… he's going to become one of you most cherished friends in about 4 years..and sadly enough, he gets called home far far far too early.   Enjoy the company of Cassie, Maddie, Sarah, Christie, and Jamie..but remember…that someday you will all grow up and grow apart be glad that you learned from your friendship with them and hold dear the sweet memories. As for boys, you're exactly in the place you should be, being called everyone's little sister.
     Speaking of little sisters, here's number 3) Hold onto every second with Karlee and Kourtney.  Someday, Kourtney isn't going to need you to take her to school every morning, and she's definitely not going to want you to jam out to Taylor Swift with her.   You're going to bawl your eyes out the first time she goes to Proms (you're also going to be about 8 months pregnant! eek!)  Karlee is going to end up being your very VERY best friend.  I know…crazy huh?!  You're not going to want to strangle her forever  all the time.  When you move off to go to college, you're going to miss them a lot…so have as much fun with them while you can…you'll never get to live with them again.
     4) Speaking of College…you're gonna go to Texas Tech… you're going to love it, but your first year is going to be one of the roughest years of your life.  You're going to lose a couple of people that are very very near and dear to your heart…and you're going to meet a roommate that you might think you'll never get along with…but she'll end up being one of your sweetest friends.  Don't spend every weekend in San Angelo.  Dump your boyfriend before you go off to college (he's going to be a total buzz kill, and it's way too much drama).   I wish I could tell you to not come back from Tech after your first year…but everything happens for a reason.  I just wish you had enjoyed it to the fullest, and actually gave it more of a chance.
     5) That boy I told you about in the first paragraph is going to absolutely rip your heart out your first year of college… DO NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES OVER AND OVER… if there is ANYTHING I wish you had know 16 year old self, its that there are things in this life that you should not attempt twice…one being dating the same person more than once…and another being sushi (you're NEVER going to like it, not from the Tech SUB, not from Nakamura, not from Shogun…you're never going to like it so give it up.
     6) You're going to go to Nursing school…stop wasting your time fiddling around with Physical Therapy School and majoring in Education…you're wasting your time and your money (but it actually works out because you get to get your BSN from ASU, and thats a brand new program!)  Just study and work hard…you're gonna be successful and you're going to be a nurse!  Yay you!  Oh and as for school…revel in all of Mr. Price's biology fun…he's definitely one of the most amazing teachers you'll ever have…and next year when you have Mrs. Sheldon for Chemistry…you're going to feel like a complete nerd because you're going to absolutely LOVE it!
     7)  Don't get out of the habit of working out…and don't quit golf for theater.  Yeah, you're gonna enjoy theater…but Golf is actually something you're going to do for the rest of your life…your future husband really enjoys it…and he's eventually going to convince you to play when you're huge pregnant.  Don't worry…he'll carry your clubs for you! Don't give up a lot of the things you feel like you need to give up…in fact keep doing EVERYTHING you can…until you can't anymore…because you really really spread yourself thin…and you're not going to stop until you're well into your 20's…its a bad habit but you'll actually learn to love it.
     8) speaking of love… please don't forget to love yourself.  Remember to see past the media, people at school, people that try to bring you down, and the desire to impress boys, friends and the outside world.  Your heart is held by the big man up stairs and you're gonna be just fine…don't lose sight of who you are…and definitely don't give up who you are in order to "make" someone love you…they're not going to love you anyways…
     9) Go ahead and start watching Baseball even though you don't have anyone to watch it with yet.  You're to end up LOVING it, your even one of those girls that knows the entire Rangers Roster, stats AND keeps up with big name players from other teams.  Theres gonna come a day when Opening Day is a celebration in your cute little home and your first child will even have to dress up for the occasion while you have a picnic of hot dogs and chips in your living room floor (you're actually gonna be a pretty cute little momma!)
    10) Don't let anything in life bring you down too far.  Enjoy everything you face with the knowledge that if things didn't work out EXACTLY the way they're mean to, you wouldn't be where you are today…or in 10 years.  you're beautiful and you're so so special!  High school isn't going to be the best years of your life, and neither is college but everyday of your life is going to be special in its own way.  Hold tight to every second..you're only going to get so many.

     16 year old me and 24 year old me are so much a like and so different but 16 year old me was so so so clueless about life… Kid(s) I hope you realize that at 16 you won't have all the answers, and you won't at 24 either…but trust me when I try to be there for you in High School… life goes on



Until Next Time…

   Peace Love and Lettermans

Day 3- Relationship with my Spouse

     Well, I missed a day because I was a little preoccupied with taking my State Boards for my Registered Nurse Licensing…what a stressful and absolutely exhausting ordeal!
    Anyways, I'm back home and a little less exhausted so I figured I would start on Day 3 which reads,  "Describe your relationship with your spouse. " Which is an interesting one because I've never really had to describe our relationship (well except for once, and since I was pretty surprised by the question I said…well, umm we're married….)  Not really very eloquent, huh?!   So maybe today I will be able to do a little better….I'm never afraid to give it a shot!   

     
     So, I guess I should probably give you some background information about How I Met Your Father, (since HIMYM is about to go off the air, if anyone wants to suggest that I write a new television series, at least I can spin off of one of the greatest shows to hit prime time TV since Friends.  (and on a side note, Jay and I are actually quite similar to Marshal and Lilly, and we even have our very own Ted….We even used to have our very own Robin, and I can't really say we have a Barney….) Regardless, I guess I just started describing my relationship with your Dad, with out even introducing how we met…(and you'll probably never watch HIMYM when you get older so that was pretty pointless)  End Rabbit Trail Here.
     
     Ok, ANYWAYS.  I was 13. Your Dad was 15 and we both so happened to be at the San Angelo Relays (I hope you get to compete in them in High School).  The San Angelo Relays are one of the bigger track meets hosted in the area and it was no surprise that your Dad was there (he was almost as good in Track as he was in football in my opinion).  I was there with my friend who was "dating" a guy on your Dad's track team.  Well like all West Texas Springs, the temperature went from a nice 70's day to about a 50 degree evening and I was freezing cold and had borrowed a letterman jacket from the boy my friend and I had gone to watch compete.  Well, after a while we were walking around when your Dad, (mind you, he was already almost 6 ft tall and pretty intimidating  good looking) comes and taps me on the shoulder and all but accuses me of stealing the letterman jacket I was wearing.  I was pretty mortified…and kinda sorta  freaked out and excited that this cute older boy was talking to me.   But, I never really talked to him again until a couple of years later…fast forward about 2 years…. Your Dad and I both went to Youth at Glen Meadows Baptist Church.  He was much cooler than he had been at 15, and had a girlfriend that was always super super sweet to me.  After church we would all go to Rosa's and hang out…and eventually that lead to our group of friends growing over the years.   
      When I got to High School, your dad was a senior, at Wall and I was a Sophomore at Central. Just about every weekend of the next three years of my life, were spent in Wall hanging out with your Uncle Cory, Shay, and your Dad.  Over those three years your Dad and I became really really good friends. He always jokes that he realized I was the girl he wanted to marry when my friend Mark brought him to my house and asked me to make some sandwiches and I sweetly obliged.  During those 3 years your Dad and I both dated other people, but always seemed to be each other's shoulder to cry on. It wasn't always easy being friends with each other, but no matter what we were always there for each other.  About the time I moved off to College your Dad and I had kind of lost touch… over the next few years we seemed to be rare acquaintances rather than best friends. 
     Fast forward to July of 2010.  I was living in Lubbock, working as a Nanny and preparing to go back to Tech to finish school.  I had gone to San Angelo and had hoped to meet up with your Dad, but unfortunately we didn't get to see each other. He "facebook" messaged me a couple of days later and then decided he needed to have a serious conversation with me.  He told me that he had always been in love with me and was hoping to see if I might take a chance on him….greatest decision I ever made.  I moved back to San Angelo that summer, and started school at ASU.  By September, I knew your Dad and I would be getting married soon.  By March he had Proposed, and we were married in October of 2011.    
      While you're probably thinking that was a long story and had nothing to do with what this post was supposed to be about, I can tell you, you're wrong.   In order for you to understand the relationship I have with your Dad you have to realize where we started.  Kid(s), your dad, is my VERY best friend in the whole entire world.  He has taught me so much over the past 11 years!  He has never excluded me from the things he loves, we hunt, fish, and watch sports together.  He has supported me and helped me grow and evolve into a wife and a mother.  He is the leader of this household.  He has ALWAYS reminded me to lean on God and my faith when times get hard, and in return, he has taught me to lean on him.  Before I dated your Dad, I was a stubborn, independent, self sufficient gal.  I had been hurt a lot in the past and I had a really hard time trusting people, but your Dad took his time and proved to me that I could depend on him.  He always tries to protect me, encourage me, and be there for me.  He's quite the guy kid(s), but I'm sure y'all already know that.  He's kind, hardworking, and always laughs at my silliness.  I think thats my favorite part of my relationship with your Dad… he makes me laugh and laughs with me when I'm just being really REALLY silly.   He always goes along with my random escapades.  Whether its dancing in the kitchen when I'm cooking, or making a pallet of pillows and blankets and the air mattress for movie night in the living room…  
       Your Dad does a lot of the stuff that the media tells you is part of being a good husband; holding my hand in the car, opening car doors for me, carrying in the groceries, and bringing me soup when I'm sick…sometimes when he knows I'm really upset with him, he even brings me flowers!  But, he's also a real man that has flaws.  He sometimes forgets to get me a birthday card, or lets Valentine's Day slip by…but thats life.  Sometimes I'm too tired to have a hot meal waiting for him to eat when he comes home, or I forget to make his breakfast before work… but we forgive each other and love each other everyday! 
     Truth is, we've always had a lot of fu together…ever since we became friends.  But, in the past few years we've done a lot of growing up (I've kind of had to kick his butt in gear, but your Dad is WAY more laid back then me.)  We've gotten married, had Jaxon, bought a house, started working on making that house our home, had a career change (Dad) and a career beginning (Mom, after I graduated College, which I couldn't have done without your Dad).  We've learned a lot about life, ourselves, each other, being parents, and about how priceless our family is.  Your Dad and I's relationship is probably something I can't really put into words…sometimes, I don't know how to explain it myself.  We had a close family friend come up to us weeks before our wedding just gushing about how much she could tell we were in love and how "meant to be" we are.  I still think your Dad is my soul mate (even though when you grow up I'm hoping you realize that even marrying your soul mate means having to work a marriage).  I love that he and I got to give a part of us to you… that's why I love you (all) so much!  You have a good mix of all of your Dads great qualities, a lot of mine, and a few of our favorite bad habits.  We probably won't ever be perfect role models for how marriage, and life are "supposed" to be but I hope we can guide you to see what marriage and life can be when you nurture and invest in your relationship.

Until Next Time, 

Peace, Love and Holding Hands