please don't be offended...

i am the kind of person who doesn't care what people think about me, per se, but i do care if my actions, words or behaviors offend people. i try my hardest to be tolerant and loving to those around me. i hope it's not wrong that i expect the same from others.

this is the time of year when i, a Christian woman, celebrate the birth of my Savior. i celebrate with lights, and trees, gifts and carols; all of which are centered around the celebration of Jesus Christ. i am not asking others to do the same. i am not asking others, or demanding rather, to share in the celebration. in the past, when i have said "Merry Christmas" to others, i have honestly had people yell at me and verbally bash me for "shoving my beliefs down their throats". that's not even what i am trying to do! just trying to spread cheer during such a lovely time of year. man, where is Buddy the elf when i need him!?

if you are Jewish, tell me "Happy Hanakauh". if you are African and celebrate Kwanzaa then by heck tell me "Happy Kwanzaa". if you are agnostic or athiest say "Happy Holidays". i would love it. maybe just don't yell at me if I say "merry Christmas" and not "happy holidays" to you. ok?

~hugs

it's tuesday!

as a mother of two i don't think i am supposed to admit this. i will surely have someone on my case if i do, but i LOVE my job. i am an american sign language interpreter. (no i don't read braille, to answer a question i am often asked. ugh)i digress. as an interpreter i get to be "the fly on the wall" in many situations. some crazy, some amazing, some terrible or sad, some incredibly joyous, but all interesting. it truly makes me grateful everyday to be able to wake up in the morning and be excited to go to work when i have to. don't get me wrong peeps, i love the kids, LOVE them (even more than my job), but i am just grateful that I have a job that i love. not to mention being bilingual is the shiz. honestly. did i mention that i get free 10 minutes massages? every two weeks or so, i do. it.is.glory. in fact, i am headed for one in about 30 minutes and i cannot wait. the yoga sesh i did yesterday was killer on my shoulders.

speaking of exercise. I am finally getting some because at 3 months old my little angel child has decided to sleep 9 hours during the night. this has given me the much needed energy to get my butt in gear and shed the last 20 lbs from my 60 lb(ack!) maternity weight gain. i am SO close to being able to fit back into my pre-preg clothes. i cannot wait! i have started waking up at 5:45 am 4 times a week to work out-by started i mean that i am starting tomorrow- and...i am running a half marathon in january. there. now that i have said it online i have to do it right? hold me to it folks. hold me to it.

i have decided that i need to wear makeup more often. i am honestly a little too comfortable going out in public without makeup. Stacy London and Clinton Kelly would be so ashamed. it's just little bits of laziness and that is something i am going to work on. can we count that as a new year's resolution? is that the most pathetic resolution you have ever heard of? "Hey there, what did you improve this year?" "i wore more blush". actually, i think it has a nice ring to it. well, that's settled then. more makeup for me.

i have a really incredible book suggestion. if you are religiously inclined might i suggest "Broken Things to Mend" by Jeffrey R. Holland. this book is incredible. it has been amazing so far, i am 24 pages in, and i have already cried 3 times. oh that Elder Holland knows how to testify! love it, love him.

is this the most random collection of thoughts ever? i beleive it is.

~hugs

disappointments, who needs 'em

they come in all shapes, sizes and varieties. disappointments. today we heard back from one of the places Mister has applied for work. he didn't get it. it's interesting to recieve information like that the very day after we were counting our blessings. i thought it was perfect timing because it wasn't as crushing as i thought it would be.
i kept telling Mister that i was sad because the job would have taken us on an incredible adventure. but then i got to thinking about that. my life IS an incredible adventure!
I married the man of my dreams, i have two beautiful, healthy children who bring me so much joy and make every day a new exciting time. my son is always so excited about the things that he sees. when i look at the world through his eyes i cannot help but be excited too. i mean, let's be honest, a walking stick is a very exciting thing. it's a bug, that looks like a stick!
i guess today i am looking at disappointments in a different way. i am thankful that Mister will be going back to school full time. i am excited that he will have the chance to focus on his degree and get that done. and what an adventure (yes!) it will be to support our family while he finishes. the day he walks and recieves his degree will be an amazing day. i am so proud of him.
so i guess today my head is in a good place and i am looking at things in a positive way. we are healthy, happy, and blessed. in fact, i am feeling so content that i don't even have one snarky-boo thing to say about "black friday". ;)

~hugs

Time to give thanks

what kind of a crazy person would I be if I didn't give thanks today? Super cray. so here we go. here's a short list of thankfuls -my life -the Savior -my testimony - my Mister, he is my best friend and words cannot even express how deeply i cherish him -2 amazing children who I marvel at everyday, they(along with Mister) are the greatest gifts I have ever been given -parents -siblings, each one of them -nephews and nieces -the rachels in my life. they are two of the most important people I have. i would be incomplete without them -charlotte, always thinks of others first. i adore her -bryton, makes me feel loved exactly when I need it. -becca, who i miss like crazy. -family that is far away. i miss them -pie -indoor plumbing -heat -pumps, of a motherly variety (wink wink) -temples -chocolate -the scriptures -patriarchal blessings -prayer -the knowledge that heaven is real -movies -ryan reynolds ;) -food -clean water -an amazing job -getting paid time and a half (hollar!) -acceptance -self-worth -joy -running -zumba -friends -contentment -trials -my vocabulary. i love learning new words -american sign language -service -cooking -the food network -cuisine at home magazine -love -ricotta cheese -my kindle -learning -the holiday season -shoes -H&M -this could go on for days ...so i will end now happy thanksgiving! ~hugs

Let's try this again

hi guys! how are you? well, i am blogging again. under a new moniker and web address, but indeed blogging again. i had my reasons for switching, the safety of my kids being number one. i felt weird about having their pictures and names online for all to see. needless to say, i will be using nicknames when talking about them and the mister from now on. i wanted a place that was just mine, not a "family blog", but a "me" blog wherein i sometimes talk about my family and how much i LOVE them. cause i do. so much. i am going to try to be more of myself on this blog, a bit more open and honest; but also a bit more positive. i can't wait to get this going again, to share my ideas and my thoughts with you all. ~hugs