When Life Gets Ya Down....

Isn't it interesting how life works? How you go through one struggle after another? How you just start feeling better about things and then something else happens?

I often wonder why this is. I suffer from so many things that would take too much time to mention. As soon as I figure one thing out and think all is well, another thing just brings me down. It's not just me, though. I know this is a normal part of life. I KNOW that you have to have the bad times to appreciate the good ones. I know that if everything in life is handed to you, there's a good chance you wont appreciate the things you have as much and/or you will not learn to work hard.

I just have to keep in mind that I'm doing the best that I can, that I have AMAZING people in my life, and that life goes on, despite your faults and all the negative things that happen.



On a bright note, I got a new camera last week and am excited to share my work once I get it figured out.

Have a lovely day!

Dealing with Life, Infertility, and Loss

I have promised this post for awhile and am now getting to it.... it's such a deep issue that I wasn't sure how to approach it.  There really is no perfect way.... So let me take the leap.

I know so many people who have dealt with and are currently dealing with loss, infertility, and things alike. I struggle to think there is nothing I can do to help them but to just be a shoulder to cry on. Sometimes that works, but sometimes it's just not enough. Sometimes people need an extra boost, an extra push, extra reassurance, or to speak with others dealing with similar events.

I have spoken to a few individuals to see what people said to them that DIDN'T help.... and it goes along the lines of this:

-Everything happens for a reason
-It's preparing you for something worse to happen (What????)
-Just stop trying and it will happen (in regards to infertility)
-God needed another angel (loss)
-I know exactly how you feel.
-Are you better yet? Is it better yet??
-you're young, you have time.

And many, many more.

It was suggested to me that resolve.org has an etiquettes article which is amazing.

Often, we don't know what to say, and that's ok!

I know that sometimes, while speaking to someone going through such a hard time, we just long for the right thing to say.... and unhelpful things come out instead. Instead, why not just check in with the person, ask them how they are doing, offer them your support, and ask if there's anything you can do for them. Sometimes just a simple card, flowers, note, message, etc. is what they need.  

This video was shared with me to kind of describe those who are going through a loss (miscarriage, still birth, etc.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg7fp5-aPzk&feature=youtu.be

I have spoken to a few people about infertility specifically and they described the process as often lonely. They said that seeking out others that were going through situations similar helped them. A site they used is called "twoweekwait.com". They described it as women struggling with fertility and how you can find people there to talk to.

Another fertility resource suggested was a book called: Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

Educating yourself is a great way to help out. Just knowing how often infertility and loss happens, helps. Also, you could always look for ways to support others suffering and dealing with things like this. One way I help is just by being there. I offer my support and make myself available to listen. I have also donated money to the cause, purchased a shirt, sent out some cards, and now, I have blogged about it.

Please show your support to those who have suffered and are suffering today.  And when you do have children, never take them for granted.

Happy National infertility Awareness week!


I know this isn't even the slightest portion of what it's all about, but I am leaving it up to you to look more into it and reach out to those who need you.

DIY Spring Wreath

The craft mood has definitely hit me lately.  I decided since I made my own wreath for Christmas, I would also make one for my absolute FAVORITE season of the year.

I went to wal mart and purchased a plain, brown wreath made of sticks for $2 on sale..... then picked out my favorite flowers (fake daffodil stem, carnation, and a pink gerber  daisy.) I also picked up some pink ribbon and a foam "H" which was 50 cents. I clipped the flowers from the stem, arranged them on the wreath to see what they would look like before I glued them, and did the same with the H and ribbon.

I took a hot glue gun and glued a large dot onto the end of the flower and pushed it into the wreath. I continued to do this until all the flowers were glued.  I then wrapped the ribbon around the top of the wreath to hang it. The H went on last and was super easy to glue.  Once I hung it up, I realized I could definitely add more to it if I wanted. I later found a few pink butterflies at the dollar store that I added on in the same way as the others. I may make a fall wreath as well and glue on our street numbers.

The entire project cost around: $10. I thought that was pretty good considering how much most wreaths cost that you would purchase.

Pictured,  is the finished product. I had a toddler running around while I made it so I don't have any photos of the process. My apologies!

Spring

SPRING!

My husband always asks me why spring is my favorite season when it rains half the time. It has ALWAYS been my favorite... and not just because my birthday is in March. There are a LOT of reasons I love spring the most.

Not only is the temperature very pleasing to me, but I love the first signs of blooming flowers and brown grass turning green. I love that spring brings "new" promises and "new" ideas. New hope, new wonder, spring cleaning...

Spring kind of reminds me of life..... there IS a lot of rain sometimes, things flood, dreams become clouded and foggy at times.... there are deep water puddles everywhere. You have to learn to jump over  them, walk through them, or find a way around them. However, beyond all that... there are such beautiful things to embrace such as those amazingly wonderful daffodils blooming and holding their own through the cold and storms.

Planting gardens with the hope of healthy food for the family, the first sign of life after all the cold and death, THAT is why I love it.

Not to mention, wearing rain boots that my grandpa was so fond of!

Perfection

I have been hearing so much negativity lately, and I no longer wonder why people have such low self esteems. In today's society, we are expected to be perfect. We make ALL the right choices in life, we do everything in a certain order, we pay all our bills on time, every single time... we do not accept help from anyone else.... we are the perfect parents who spend 100% of our day being interactive and teaching our children such amazing things... we're never tired, we never get sick, the house is always clean... we all have PhD's and drive earth-friendly hybrids. We never tell our kids to "wait" or "hold on a second" or "no". We encourage them 24/7, never watch them fail because they never make mistakes... and they learn all the good things in life and none of the bad.  Society preaches that none of us are perfect and that we all make mistakes but is that how people actually allow you to feel? Probably not.

We all have things to work on. There will always be things we wish we could change or make better. There's always MORE you can fit into a day and MORE you could be doing instead of relaxing. You can always read more, do more, and play more with your children.  You can always yell less, be more patient, be more creative, and the list goes on.

Our children are perfect and never throw tantrums. Never pick their noses. Never drag dirt into the house, whine at the grocery store, or throw their food on the floor. Why? Because we are perfect parents.  All our children are bottle-broken by one, never used a pacifier, breastfed until 4 years old, never drink juice, eat cookies, or have some chocolate.... They are all patient, kind, understanding, and proper.

Does that describe you or your children? Probably not.  I am certainly not like that and my child isn't either. My parenting isn't perfect... there are things I would change in my past. Mistakes I would erase. Patience I would have loved to have. I wouldn't ever raise my voice, or feel guilty for wanting to eat a single meal without interruptions... I should love Every single second of life because once that second is over, it's gone forever.

Is that really what we want? To be perfect? Why? I am fine with my imperfections and try to learn from them.... the only reason I would want to be perfect is to not be judged by others. But why? Why does it matter so much what others think? Can we just be happy with ourselves and the fact that we are doing the best we can? And sometimes... I don't do my best. I do things fast just to get them done at times. I'm human, and so are you.  It's OK to make mistakes and to do things you said you'd never do. It's OK to not be the perfect parent/friend/spouse/sibling. But it's also ok to strive to be a better person.  As long as it's done in a healthy way and you can forgive yourself for making mistakes. Those who strive for perfection, in my opinion, will never truly be happy because perfection in all areas of life, is impossible. I like to say, I am a perfectly imperfect person. I make mistakes. I'm not always the mom, wife, child, sibling, friend I would like to be but I try.

Our focus on the thoughts of others is so alarming these days. We ARE our own worst critic. Give yourself some credit. You are an AMAZING person! YOU are an amazing brother/sister/mom/dad/aunt/uncle/wife/husband. All those things. There are SO many people who love you and some who even love your flaws. Those are the people worth keeping in your life. For those people who refuse to make time for you, refuse to treat you with respect, and refuse to love you for who you are.... maybe it's better if you distance yourself from them. If you surround yourself with negativity, there's a good chance you will live a negative life as well. Why? Why would you want to live with so much negativity when we have ONE life, ONE shot, ONE day at a time?

That's my thought for the day. Maybe today is your last day? So why not make a difference? Even if the difference, is only in yourself. That's the most important.

Endless Thoughts

Lately, my mind has been everywhere so it has been really difficult to begin a blog. I can't narrow my mind down to one subject to talk about! So today's entry, will be all over the place.

As most know, I work at home. While at home, I am constantly thinking of new ideas of things to do with the house, things to do with Vera, things to do with the classroom, the yard, gardening, and our future.  I don't know how Brett isn't exhausted with my ideas by  now... or my friends, for that matter..... But I appreciate all the listening they do and how they humor me.  I have endless dreams, endless goals, so many ideas of what I do in life.... and I like it that way. I love the idea that the possibilities are endless. I know that right now, my possibilities are limited due to Brett's schooling, but it will all be worth it some day. I have had quite the nasty attitude this week and it has taken awhile to get out of the funk, but I am feeling hopeful again. One thing that helps me most is to dream.  Not only can children dream, but adults can too! It keeps life interesting and exciting. I am just incredibly thankful that my husband is so willing to go along with it. Not many would be willing to do what he does.

Anyways... 

As stated above, my mind is everywhere. I feel like it's unfair to write about a single serious topic at the moment because I wouldn't be able to fully dive into it. So, patience is very much appreciated at this point!

This photo was taken by one of my very best friends..... and I have a caption of my own to add to it:


(Alison Evans took this photo... you should probably contact her for YOUR photo needs because she's AMAZING!) Go to my facebook page and find evans photography.





I just feel that lately, things seem the same every day. I have been focusing on the negative. My attitude has really been something. I felt like I was in a rut.  I started thinking about all the things I should be thankful for. My beautiful healthy family, our beautiful home, a reliable vehicle that saves us a ton in gas, the freedom of this country, the people who fight for those freedoms, the ability to speak my mind, my education, my own business, the promising future that my husband and I are working so hard for... I'm not sure why I ever have the right to complain, really? But hopefully, these nasty moods wont last long when I can think of all the things I have to be thankful for. So this picture to me, represents my little family moving forward. Leaving the negative behind. Growing old together. Building ourselves a promising future and an enjoyable life for our child and any future children. I just LOVE life and need to constantly remind myself of that before it's too late.