Thank you Pinterest

I found this on Pinterest and thought it would be perfect for above my bed.

This is my version :)

Love one another

Love is...

28/30

Day 28: What is your love language?

My Score:

6	Words of Affirmation
8	Quality Time
1	Receiving Gifts
6	Acts of Service
9	Physical Touch

Physical Touch

This language isn’t all about the bedroom. A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder, or face–they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, care, and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial, while neglect or abuse can be unforgivable and destructive.

God Knows I'm Tough

Having a long distance relationship is sure rough. When you want nothing more to come home and curl up on the couch, share a kiss, and spend quality time together. Awwww I miss him. I more than enjoyed having my love up here visiting last month, but the more time we spend together the harder it is to go without him. I can say the we are perfecting our communication skills. Though things are not perfect, he is perfect for me. When I try to make things harder than they need to be, he lets me get all emotional and then calms me down by helping me realize things will be ok. Trusting each other is big in a long distance relationship, and he never lets me down. He helps me to work on my being patient skills! Sometimes I just want it (whatever it may be at the moment) and he tells me it will all be worth it if I wait, and it will happen. We both found love when we weren't looking, and he was worth the wait.

My time here in the PNW is quickly coming to an end, with a new chapter in my life starting in SoCal. September will be here before I know it. So many things left do here before I move, so many places and things I want to enjoy. I know that I wont be gone forever, as I will always be back to visit, but it wont be the same once I move. I will admit I am excited and scared of the big move, but I know I am a strong woman and will do just fine. I have a brave and happy little girl that has no problem adjusting. She, just like her my will make friends without a problem. I have come to realize that her and I just have something about ourselves that we draw people to us.

When I first told my mom about dating someone who lived in SoCal she thought I was crazy, and thought it was a bad idea (She still may thing the same thing). She and my brother got to meet my love when we went to Disneyland in December. Good news... They both approved! When I mentioned to my mom maybe she should move back to Cali, she she no way, its too hot. A few months later, my mom has changed her mind. She is giving thought to living in SoCal. Who knows when or if it will ever it happen. But I think it would be a good change of pace for her and I.  My mom, Raegan, and I in SoCal... who would have ever thought!

I will however miss my "family" and friends here in the PNW once I move, but I know I always have a place to stay when I come back up here, and are all welcome to come stay with me and visit SoCal.

I first heard this song this past weekend at my good friends wedding. I came home and listened to it a few times, and the more times I played it the more I felt like this song fits for my love and I. 

I wont give up on us, and I am giving you all my love. 

27/30

Day 27: What is your favorite part of your body and why?

 My Freckles, hands down. They make me a part of who I am. Never once have a wished not to have them. I'm thankful to be blessed with "angel kiss" as my grandma called them.

23/30

Day 23: List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them

1. Cooking- I love to cook, plain and simple

2. Soccer- Not so much out door and more, but I enjoy co-ed indoor soccer

3. Traveling- Going new places, and experiencing new things

4. Photography- A picture lasts a life time, capturing the moments and memories

5. German Cars- I have always enjoyed cars & trucks, but thanks to my love I have a new developing hobby. Best part is this a hobby we can both enjoy together :)

19/30

Day 19: If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?

Growing up in the NW, I thought I always wanted to live here. At 19 I moved away and lived in Phoenix, and then in Denver.  I knew that I wanted to move away, but come back to the NW is raise my children. Well after moving back getting married, have a little girl, and then getting divorced, times have changed. 

I want to live somewhere warm, and that somewhere warm is going to be Southern California.  More sunny warm days, then gray, cold, wet days. In all reality, I will live anywhere with my love <3

 

18/30

Day 18: What has been the most difficult 

thing you have had to forgive?

I think I am gonna have to come back to this question!

 

17/30

Day 17: What is the thing you most wish you were great at

I wish I could draw, plan and simple.

Mom Moments

16/30

Day 16: What are your 5 greatest accomplishments

1. Having my daughter

2. Getting my Associates Degree 

3. Being able to take care of Raegan and I by myself the last couple of years.

4. Accepting God into my life

5. Accepting who I am

15/30

Day 15: If you were an animal, what would you be and why

 

Owl

The owl is the tranquil face of the bird personalities. A creature of great integrity, its quiet demeanor accords it an air of mystery and diffidence. It is known as the serene, wise observer of human society. Always well groomed, it is a noble individual with elegantly chiseled features that border on the fine edge of beauty and homeliness. Its large eyes are often framed by handsome eyeglasses.

Owls have developed quite a reputation for intelligence, but it's really their calm and insightful nature that gives this impression. Instead of an intellectual approach to life they use their deeper spiritual senses to guide them.

Owls are not without their assertive side however, and they won't hesitate to use their razor-sharp tongue to settle an argument. Never the aggressor in a confrontation, they fight only when their survival or honor is at stake and have no desire for a prolonged or physical struggle. Owls espouse nonviolence, think logically, and argue persuasively.

As an astute observer of human nature, owls are eminently suited to be judges or diplomats. Their trustworthiness and dependability find them in positions of responsibility, perhaps as bank managers, heads of state, or religious leaders. A conscientious worker, an owl takes responsibilities seriously, and when it accepts the burden of public office it does so with the grace and skill typical of the species.

With an enormous capacity for hard work, owls achieve great things in almost any field they choose. This success doesn't always translate into financial rewards, but invariably satisfies their need to impart their wisdom to others.

14/30

 Day14: Describe 5 strengths you have

1. Seeing the good in people: I believe that people are good at heart, whatever their outward actions may be. Some people in the world do very bad things, but I don't think it's because they are bad people. They just have made bad choices. I don't believe that people are born evil, everyone makes a conscious decision to do good or bad things. By seeing the good in people, I find it a lot easier to love the people around me.

2. Lifting others: I personally feel that no act of kindness is ever wasted. Some people raise themselves higher by bringing others down, I don't think that this is a good way to live. I make an effort every day to tell my family and friends that I love them, and to make them feel important and appreciated.

3. Patience: When people are rude or mean to me, I can just sit and take it for a very long time. Even if it is month after month of snippy little comments, I don't lash out. This has been both a blessing and a curse in my life. On one hand, I have kept a lot of close friends for years and years because of patience. On the other hand, I get walked over a lot by people. They feel that because I don't verbally let them know that what they do is hurting me, it is ok to keep doing it. This can make me very unhappy sometimes. But overall I think patience is a good thing.

4.  Empathy: The definition of empathy is "the ability to understand and share the feelings of another". This is what I consider to by my greatest strength. When people around me go through something hard, I really feel for them. Not in the "Oh I'm sorry"way, but with a real understanding.  This can be a little hard for me, because when people are hurt and angry, I also feel bad.  I love people, and it is very hard for me to see them unhappy and in pain. But with empathy also comes great joy. When good things happen to my friends, I get to see them bloom with happiness. When the people I love are happy, so am I.

5. I am socially wise: That's not to say I never stick my foot in my mouth.  However, I know how to include the outcast, forgive quickly and honestly, and help others feel good about themselves. I'm also very introspective and feel like I have very stable and clear self-awareness.

13/30

Day 13: Describe 5 weaknesses you have

1. Tall men. What can I say? Lanky men make me weak in the knees.

2. Clearance. I love going to clearance sales, I am drawn to that special rack in every store I go into.

3. Warm brownie, with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.

4. Trying to do to much, and not having enough time to do it all. I hate telling people no, plain and simple.

5. My Response Time. Whether it's text message, phone call, or email - I just struggle getting back to people. I am one of those people who needs to call, text, or write the minute they receive the message. Otherwise I am forever lost on a pile of replies. So to you who have been offended by a recent lack of contact, may I offer you an apology & a reassurance that it is never intentional. And it's good to keep bugging me until you hear back.

12/30

Day 12: Describe a typical day in your current life.

4:50am- My alarm goes off, and I rollover and hit the snooze

5:00am- My alarm goes off again, and I either turn it off or hit snooze again

5:10-5:15am-  I finally realize I have to get out of bed to be able to make it to work on time.

5:15-6:45am- I get up make sure the coffee is going, put clothes in the dryer if they need to be de-wrinkled,  take a shower, get dressed, do my hair, do my make-up, wake up Raegan try to get her out of bed, make sure she goes potty, and gets dressed, brush my teeth and Raegan's teeth, do Raegans hair, clean both of our classes, grab what I need for the day, and walk out the door. 

6:55am- Drop Raegan off at daycare

7:05am- Drive to work, and hope there is no traffic so I can be on time. 

7:30am-4:00pm- Working, and a typical work day consists of posting payments to patient accounts. A sample of what I do on the computer: -, 8#, tab, 4#, tab, tab, $, tab, code, tab, tab, $, tab, code, tab, tab, $, tab, tab, code, code, tab, enter, tab, tab, tab, enter.  I also get a couple breaks and a lunch.

4:00pm- Start my drive home and hope there isn't much traffic.

4:45-6:00pm- Get home, start dinner if my mom hasn't done so already. Eat dinner spend time with my mom and Raegan.

6:00-7:30pm- Play with Raegan, get the house cleaned up, give Raegan a bath and get her ready for bed.

7:30-7:45pm- Ready Raegan a story, and get her in bed.

7:45-10:30pm, if not later- Finish cleaning up around the house, get my lunch made, and the coffee pot ready for the morning, depending on the day either take care of my own stuff on the computer that needs to be done, or help my boyfriend with his homework.

11/30

Day 11: Describe 10 pet peeves you have

1. I wish everyone would signal when they change lanes on the freeway. I have a mini heart attack every time someone swerves into another lane without signaling. I don't know if they have fainted at the wheel, lost control of the car, or are simply being irresponsible.

2. I hate it when people share super personal things on facebook. It just makes me feel awkward. Some things are better kept to yourself friends.

3. When people do not use the shoulder to make a right hand turn, they slow to an almost complete stop in the middle of the road, causing a huge back up behind them.

4. When people complain about something profusely that they could easily remedy, but instead do nothing but continue to complain. If the dirty dishes bother you, just do them. Don't whine about it for hours, be proactive! Also, I really hate it when people complain about things that they should be grateful for even having in the first place. "The City should really do something about this tap water, it tastes a little off". Don't take that tap water for granted, in some countries people drink out of puddles for lack of clean running water.

5. People who don't respect others. Whether in person, or online, it is not ok to treat others badly simply because you disagree with them.

6. People who like to bring their political views into each and every conversation. Just stop people, Quit trying to start arguments!

7. Having a conversation that is one-sided.  If you are going to ask me questions, please listen to my answers.  Same goes for if you want to have a conversation but all you do is talk the whole time.  Just give me a heads up if I'm just there to listen.  I'm fine with that.  But I get annoyed when I go into it thinking it's a mutual discussion where you care just as much about hearing my thoughts and feelings as I care about yours.

8. While driving, when someone unknowingly has their blinker on for miles upon Miles upon MILES. 

9. Kids with dirty faces. Parents it's not that hard to wash your child's face, don't let them walk around like that. You don't walk around with a dirty face.

10. People who wear white socks with dark color dress pants. Please wear black socks, or no socks at all!
 

Pintrest Failed Me!

Cute idea right? I thought so. I saved a couple soda bottles and wanted to try this idea out. I tired a few different ways and mine did not turn out as cute at this one. So I just painted my own flowers. I hate to say it, but Pintrest, you failed me!

Excited for to make cute flowers

Failed

I think my hand painted flowers turned out alright. Not to bad for a person who can't draw a straight line!

Hand stamped necklace

 I found this hand stamped initial charm necklace over on Etsy.com. I thought it would make a cute mothers day gift. 

 

10/30

Day 10: Describe your most embarrassing moment

.... 

9/30

Day 9:  List 10 people who have influenced you

1. My dad
2. Rick Christal
3. Eric Hjort
4. My Brother
5. My daughter
6. The people I meet in daily life
7. God
8.
9.
10.

Sorrow, Sun, Strength

8/30

Day 8: What are 5 passions you have?

 

PEOPLE: I love people. I am very much a people person and love meeting and getting to know people past the superficial "hi, how are you stage".  I truly believe you can learn something from everyone, and it is a goal in my life to do just that.

ADVENTURE- I have a passion for getting out there and exploring. I enjoy new places and spaces. I am always up for a road trip or a spontaneous day out. I have dreams of where I'd love to travel, but I also love all the little spots that hold secret treasures you have to search out, those usually end up being the best!

FRIENDS & FAMILY- Because they aren't just people, but people that I keep the closest to me. People who know me well know I don't get rid of friends and certainly don't give up on them. Sometimes it may backfire or hurt trying to keep every friend I ever made, but "if I make errors in judging people, I want them to be on the side of mercy."  I love being able to smile and laugh and share inside jokes be able to go through both good and bad times, it just makes you all the stronger. Friends are an important part of my life. 

 I love my family and thank goodness they're stuck with me forevermore. There is nothing that I'd want to go through without them. They mean the absolute world to me.

VOLUNTEERING:  Ever since I was little girl I have always loved to volunteer. Giving my time, and sharing with others is so self gratifying. I have volunteered at nursing homes, schools, the zoo, my church, for the March of Dimes, wherever I am needed I lend a helping hand.

LIFE:  Enjoy it, it wont last forever

 

Happy Easter

Our Lord died on Good Friday, but the cross did not destroy. 

His resurrection on Easter morning, that fills our hearts with joy.

7/30

Day 7: What is your dream job, and why?

A stay at home mom, and a GOOD one--one who has dinner ready every night, who has a clean house, who interacts with her kids compassionately, individually, regularly and playfully, who has healthy snacks waiting for them when they come home from school, who has a spiritual family,  and one who has an amazing relationship with her significant other.

My other dream job is working in healthcare in either the NICU, or pediatric oncology. After having Raegan, and watching my dad die from cancer, I want to work with kids who have a passion for life. Kids who have gone through life changing medical challenges  and appreciate all of life's moments.

Spring bouquet ideas

Here is a quick idea, that wouldn't be much work, a nice lemonade bouquet. I love the purples and pinks contrasting with the yellow - but you know I think a monochrome arrangement in this pitcher would look lovely too. 

Here's a really cute Easter arrangement. I just love the colored eggs in the vase. 

6/30

 Day 6: What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?

I've been through a lot of hard things, one of the hardest was losing my dad to his battle with cancer. In three short years my dad battled cancer not only once, but twice. It was July 5th, 2006 when I found out my dad had cancer. He had been diagnosed with testicular cancer. Seeing my dad be so sick was so hard. My dad never wanted anyone to feel bad or sorry for him. He was always in good spirit. My dad battled through the cancer with a strong will to continue living life as he always had been. He worked hard, enjoyed his vacations, and spending time with the family. In December 2008 I found out that my dad had cancer again. In September 2009 my dad passed away. It was one of the hardest days of my life.

To say that sometimes life likes to throw us curve balls, thing we don't see coming, or even ones we do see coming and dread facing our entire lives. I don't know why some things happen, I don't know why God sees fit to place obstacles in our paths that seem too large to face. As many times as I thought my plate was full, God had another plan and thought otherwise. 

Really I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for the things that have happened in my past.

5/30

Day 5: What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now

1.  My daughter, she is a wonderful gift. Couldn't imagine my life without my little mini me.
2.  My job, may not make top dollar, but at least I have one. It really is a good job, and I work with the nicest people.
3.  My friends & family, it's nice to know I have people who love and care about me and Raegan.
4.  My Faith, because it gives eternal meaning to everything else that makes me happy.
5. My boyfriend!  He’s my best friend! He can always make my heart flutter and even from a few states away he always puts a smile on my face.

4/30

Day 4: List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could

 1. Boys are just as lost and confused as you are at this age, but that dose not mean you should let them treat you badly. Stand up for yourself, your a strong confident girl and if people mouth off to you, you don't need to take it laying down. Someday soon a boy is going to say some very stupid things, and hurt you very badly. When that happens, don't go home and cry about it. Slap that kid in the face. Years later, you will regret not doing it if you don't.

2. Enjoy your clear skin while you can.

3. Don't fret so much about your weight. No matter how much you exercise or how much better you eat, you're going to stay pretty much the same size. Don't exercise because you feel like you need to loose weight, exercise because it makes you feel good, healthy and beautiful.

4.You can do hard things. Cultivate a confidence in your own ability to be successful. You are the person in charge of your life, you need to trust in your own ability to do the right thing and make the right decisions.

5. It's ok to admit when you have too much on your shoulders. There is no need to go around crushing yourself under a huge amount of responsibilities and commitments. When the stress gets to be too much, it's ok to let some things go.

6. Babysit even more than you already do. You're awesome with kids, you'll make a difference in their lives.

7. You will go through a terrible heart break, but it is important that you don't avoid it.  You'll learn invaluable lessons because of it and it will lead you to the love of your life and the life you love.  You must be brave through this experience and allow Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to help you through it.  Do not shut them out or blame them for your trial.  It'll just make it harder.

8. Learn to not expect too much from others.  This will prevent a lot of disappointment and feelings of under-appreciation.

9. You need to figure out a way to detach your self esteem from what other people think of you.  If you don't do this now, you'll be 25 years old and still working on this one...  Learn to be okay disappointing some people sometime.  But never your Father in Heaven.

10. Life will be tough, but it turns out great.

3/30

Day 3: Describe your relationship with your parents

My viewpoint on the reference of "parent" is probably a bit skewed. I define "parent" as someone active in my life, always there when I'm questioning decisions and need advice, that will happily drop what they are doing to have a relationship with me; whether that be over the phone, visiting, traveling, emailing, or writing letters. A parent is someone I trust and confide in, that I value and feel valuable in return.  A parent brings out the best in me and never judges my worst. Well, maybe judges, but still loves me anyway.

I have several people in my life that I consider parents, or at least parental figures that have been important individuals.  They may have not biologically made me, but they have made me into who I am today, which is just as important.

We'll start with the assumable parent; my Mom. I'm lucky that I have such a supportive mother. She's always the first to be my biggest cheerleader, always there for big events, always wanting to be involved in my and Raegan's life. She's so reliable and dedicated and loves me unconditionally as I love her unconditionally.

I'm a very lucky woman to have the parents in my life that I do. I try to show them appreciation as often as possible.

Love you;

Dad, Rick, Chuck, Derek, Carl, Julie, Debbie, Kerry, Jonie, Dianne, and everyone else I am forgetting at the moment. 
 

Faith, Hope, Love

Three things will last forever–faith, hope, and love–and the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor. 13:13

It’s easy to lose faith in people. Not one of us is perfect and all of us are sinners. We do and say things we regret, and others hurt us by doing the same. Apologies given or not, those wounds don’t always heal and with each cut we begin to devalue our loved ones more and more. I’ve personally had a lot of opportunity to give grace lately, but deep down I’m starting to wonder what ever happened to a thing called reliability. Responsibility. Courtesy. Self-control. Consideration.

I’ll be the first person to admit that I’ve said and done things that have hurt others, but I’d like to think all of it was unintentional. I do have a conscience and the thought of someone being in pain because of me is hard to swallow. I’ve offered apologies for things I’ve never done just to ease the hurt of the people I care about, and I’d do it again if needed.

But what I really want to talk about here is the type of behavior that is reckless, intentional, damaging -- done without a conscious regard for the feelings of others or the consequences of their actions. Maybe I misread or misunderstand people, but lately I’ve noticed that so many of us have just begun to stop caring. I think technology has made it worse. Hide behind a computer screen and you can rip a person to shreds without regard for their feelings because you can’t see the hurt on their face or the tears in their eyes. Hide behind a cell phone and you can tell a straight-faced lie because a text is a text.

Unfortunately, I’m one of the few people who can sense those lies, who picks up on the selfish disregard for others. Most of the time I’m good about letting it slide like water off a duck’s back, but lately it really has been bothering me. Partly because I know I deserve the respect and courtesy and consideration from others, but also because I see humanity failing one another. We wonder why there is a great divide in the country and then we turn around and act two-faced to people we love the most. Forget change in politics, what we need is a change within ourselves.

The Bible tells us that faith will remain forever… and out of faith springs hope and out of hope, love.

I’ve been trying to offer grace and mercy when others let me down, but maybe I should be proclaiming my faith in them instead. We should not have faith just in our God, but in each other. Faith that people can change, can turn from evil things, cease their hurtful actions, feel conviction over their thoughtless words. This will not just create peace within society, but also within our own homes.

Put this faith in your significant other (and, or your kids!) when you feel you have been let down. Lean on the hope that the good always outweighs the bad and forget not that every negative moment is such a small part of an overall loving relationship and in the end means nothing. When you begin acting from the place that faith and hope reside, you will find that you act out of love. You will create love, emanate love, spread love. The greatest of all things is love and God’s word tells us exactly how to find it. Once you do, those little nuances about others that make you want to lose faith in them… they melt away as grace appears and hope blooms. Love. It’s really the answer to everything.

Begin having faith, begin hoping, begin loving.

2/30

Day 2: Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears

1. Falling. Plain and simple I am afraid to fall. Doesn't matter its out the curb, or from 100ft up. Funny thing is I don't fear heights. I like being up high and seeing everything.

2. Spiders, snakes, bugs, things the crawl. This is self explanatory, they are all gross and creepy.

3. Dying young. I want to grow old and be able to fully live life. Seeing my dad die at 56 I realized I need to live life now and enjoy everyday. I want to being to see Raegan grow up, get married, have her own kids. Though whenever my time may be I will be able to go with no regrets and saying that I have truly enjoyed my life.

30 Day Challenge- Day 1

Day 1: A List of 20 Useless Things You Will Never Need To Know About Me

1. I finally followed my heart instead of my head and I believe it to be the best decision I've made in my life so far. Loving my man will be the death of me.



2.When I get nervous, my hands sweat.
 
3. Few things make me happier than a beautiful sunny day. I love sitting outside and feeling the heat from the sun heat that top layer of skin. It is thee most glorious feeling in all the world. Can't wait to move south where the weather is warm! Thought the summers here in Washington are pretty nice.

4. I have the tip of a pencil stuck in my left hand from one time I got jabbed when I was in the 4th grade. You can still see it clearly and I hope I won't end up with lead poisoning.

5. There is nothing more important to me than my friends and family :)

6. I appreciate that I can accurately determine a persons character in the first few moments of meeting them. Still haven't been proven wrong with this one, even when I've given the benefit of the doubt.

7. One of my greatest pet peeves is when I'm driving down the highway and someone has their turn-signal on in front of you and doesn't realize it is on. I attempt to pass them, but then I find myself checking in my rear view mirror to see if they still have it on or not.

8. I want to travel to Australia; I promise that I will make it there one day.

9. I served a mission for my Church in Joplin, MO. It was an incredible experience. Planning on going on a mission trip to Haiti in August.

10. I have always loved my red hair and freckles.

11. I drive a red 2003 Mazda Protege 5. It is a cute little sport wagon and I love it. It's a fun car to drive and I have never had any major problems with it since I got it in 2005.

12. I hate sharing a towel with other people. I also don't use the same towel on my face and head as I use for my body. I know strange, the BF thinks the same thing. Call me crazy if you must!

13. I love a good BLT sandwich, no mayo, but add deli style mustard.

14. I have been to every state except Florida and Alaska. My goal is to get to both places in the next 7 years.

15. I think feet are ugly, and to help with that I always get pedicures and keep my toe nails painted.

16. I love coffee

17. I don't have a fear of heights, but I have a fear of falling. I will never walk next to the edge and you can't make me!

18. My favorite color is purple, but I really love PINK.

19. I love being a mom, I love my child, I love kids. Being a mom makes me happy :)

20. I'm not a big fan of chocolate. I eat chocolate chip cookies, and brownies, but never will I eat just chocolate.