My Small Dream

As a kid growing up we regularly had friends of the family over, a holiday, or some birthday or athletic thing to celebrate. I remember hanging with my cousins, friends of the family, and what not to hang with while our parents (without the best of our knowledge) drank and cracked inappropriate jokes while we were in the next room.

My whole life I've dreamed of having a family that had close friends and family to mess around with while our kids played and had their own fun. Tonight, I realized I have slowly come to know that family.

I am a dangerously shy person. I keep to myself making sure I don't make you mad and feel you, and the team, out, before being to out-spoken. Well, 3 months later, I made some good friends.

This post goes out to those I've met on Whidbey Island and Mt. Vernon that have helped me adjust to the life of a military wife. I've always dreamed of a house full of adults AND kids having a blast. Who cares what time it is. I don't care if the time of the shin-dig ends at 5, everyone is welcome and I had a great time.

To those of you I just met, thank you for giving me life out here. Love you seriously. Whatever you need let me know, cause I'm here. Have a great night people. Can't wait for Monday night football!!!!!

Love The Life You Live

Have you ever pondered the meaning of your life? I mean like, YOUR life and how its going. Do you ever put a value on it based on what you have or don't have? Ever have those days where it seems like you have the worst life on the planet and then the next day is one where you want life to just stand still?

I always catch myself thinking, "Man, I have a boring life. I've never left the United States or lived outside of the Seattle area. I don't have any climbing adventures to talk about, a huge car or house to brag about, or even a paycheck that would impress a homeless person. I wish things were different." I think about what life would be like with different decisions that I could have made...but let's be real, who hasn't?

I could sit here and type a lecture on how you should feel but really, that decision is up to you! The worth and meaning of ones life is in the eye of the one who is living it. I personally don't think our lives should be defined by materialistic things or how far we have physically traveled. What's the point? Why do we rate our lives based on what society and glamorous stories of the rich and famous say? I hate when I fall into comparing my life to someone else's. 

I've got a pretty good life. What I love and count towards the worth of my life isn't the same as yours. It isn't the same as anyone's but I'm proud of it. I've got an amazing family. Strong mom and siblings that would do anything for me. My fiance was my teenage love (but he didn't know it at the time. lol) and now we are about to be married! Which I thought would never happen. I could go on and on about what I have but the whole point is that what I think is a successful and worth while life is family, friends, health, and finding a reason to laugh everyday.

One of the things we all need to remember is that we are alive. We are breathing and we are healthy. We can work, play, laugh, poop, eat, run, jump, skip, etc. Sometimes we go-go-go so much we forget how just being alive is amazing! Here's what I suggest. Even if its for 10 minutes, you have to have time for yourself. Take a walk, work out, journal, make something, play with your kids, take a nap, watch a TV show alone, write a letter; whatever you want! Whatever you have to do to just relax, unwind and appreciate things! Sometimes all it takes is some "me" time. 

I hope you don't think this is a RETARDED post...and actually, I don't care if anyone reads it cause I took some "me" time to appreciate me, life and the fact I'm able to write, think and be half lying down while doing it...oh and that Jordan isn't home. lol. Love your life, enjoy it even if all you do is stand out on the back deck for 5 minutes not thinking about a thing. 

Well, philosophy/sappy time is over. I could write forever on this but I have 20 episodes of FRIENDS on the DVR right now. I need to catch up. Lataz!

Celebrate Good Times COME ON!

Holy CRAP! Man have I been busy the last couple weeks! Actually it feels more like the last 3 weeks.

Let's see...it all started Thursday, August 11 when Jordan and I went to see Pat Benatar with a few friends of ours. It was a pretty legit concert. VERY fun. Then that following Sunday we saw the hilarious Daniel Tosh in stand-up. Wow, is he funny. If you don't know him, he's the type that says whatever he wants and feeds off of peoples' reactions to his dark comedy. If that wasn't enough the following weekend I played in a slow pitch tourney in Ellensburg and that was fun. I made a 40 yr old man look like an idiot by faking a throw and having him run into me for the out....what a goober! Then we have last weekend. My fiance's cousin got married!!!! It was a very small and relaxed wedding on the beach of La Push, Wa. I took a lot of pictures! Here are the ones that I have touched up!

Here's a slideshow of the Hopkins Wedding. Congrats Mike and Liz!




Now in the midst of ALL this chaos...I've gotten myself a little job. I am now an employee of Gap Inc. Gap runs Old Navy, Gap, and Banana Republic. I work at an Old Navy store. At first I was hired as part time but I've kicked so much ass there they are giving me all the hours I want. My goal, before I'm 30...or right at 30 is fine ;), is to pay off my student loans. Or at least get damn close. Between Old Navy, Subbing, and Coaching I hope to make this happen. Did I mention I'm planning a wedding in all of this too? AHHHH!!!

As crazy busy as I am, and as stressed out as I get from time to time, I am very happy. Right now might be tough and hectic, but hey! I'm alive! I'm healthy! I have an amazing fiance! I also have the best family ever and am constantly reminded on how I will never have to go through anything alone.

So before you end your day today, or any day, think about what you are most thankful for. Maybe set a few goals for yourself to achieve in the next month or so. Always have a positive look on what's ahead. Instead of just "getting through" things, have fun DOING things. So what if you have a job that requires you to work long hours or a spouse that is always away doing that job. You have to take time EVERY day to really appreciate what is going on around you and who you have with you. Otherwise, you will go insane, become a cat or bag lady, and yell at "those damn kids that keep throwing their balls in your yard!" Before you know it you're on a street corner asking people for cat food and wishing you could take it all back.....

Alright that last part was a little extreme. I kind of let my imagination run with it. Haha. But it was fun! Do yourself a favor and have fun today. I know I will!!!