So much is going on!! My sweet Melissa is leaving central Arkansas for the north east (of Arkansas, that is). I know it will be the start of great things for her family, but I will surely miss her. I've realized that even if you don't see someone that often, being geographically close makes a big difference.
The heat is intense! The heat index has been well over 100 degrees for the past several days, and the lake water is beginning to feel like bath water! But it still serves as a relief when you're super hot.
We're starting to get into back-to-school mode. Kaylee has started cheer practice and Makenzie will start gradually going back to school this week (she goes to a Lutheran child-care center. We're not Lutheran, but it's a great school). I must say that I don't actually know what the Lutheran's believe. But Makenzie loves it.
Rob and Ali and their three kids are having a blast with us this summer. We've done so much together, and it's nice to have them right next door. It's going to be a sad day when they go back to Canada. I think the kids will all be sad, too. They play together so well.
On Monday night we took everyone (by everyone I mean everyone who was home...Rob, Ali, their 3 kids and our two dogs) for a boat ride and a swim. After we dropped the Tripp family back at their house, we went inside our place and Jimmy made a picnic for us. We then took the boat down to the dam (at about 9:30pm...it was very dark!) for some alone time together. It's rare to have a night to ourselves without any children, and I really cherish those times. We stayed out on the water for so long...it was beautiful. To see how the fog settles on top of the lake is so pretty. I had never seen that before. We were literally the only boat on the water. It was so peaceful. It was no doubt one of the best moments of my life. I can't describe exactly how I felt. There are some moments I know will never be duplicated, and the atmosphere and conversation that night was unbelievable. He is my true partner, my one and only love. I wish that everyone could feel for someone the way that I do about this man. WOW! And I hate to brag on him even more (actually that's a lie. I love to do it), but when I came back from lunch on Tuesday there was a HUGE flower arrangement waiting for me! It's a solid 3 feet of awesome, beautiful, very sweet smelling love flowers. He's amazing.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Birthday!!
This past Saturday was Makenzie's 4th birthday! She was very excited to be having a party, but she kept telling people that she was turning 2. And that is ok with me, because I would be fine with her staying little forever.
Her party was a lot of fun. We had tons of people over for it on Sunday afternoon from Jimmy's family and from Makenzie's mom's family. She had the best time and got more gifts than I've ever seen at a child's birthday! She is very loved.
Sunday was the first day of the Summer that hit 100 degrees. It was super hot. And the fact that the grill caught on fire didn't make anything easier! Also the fact that there was a new trampoline outside didn't help either! New trampoline=kids pressuring adults to jump on it=sweaty adults. So all together it was a great, hot, sweaty, fun-filled weekend.
Sunday night after everyone left we decided to take the boat out for a little while. We haven't spent all that much time on the water this Summer, so it was nice. We've just been so busy and taking the boat out really ends up being a chore at the end of the day. We love being on the water so much and have resolved to play in it more often.
This week is a wild week at work...we hosted a girl from our new office in Chicago yesterday to train her on some things. Then tomorrow and Thursday is our Quarterly Compliance Meeting with LFG and we're having all of our Broker's from across the country come here to be 'compliant'. Tomorrow is golf and dinner, Thursday is meetings and lunches/dinners and then Friday is my company's Quarterly Meeting. Combine all of that with having friends in from out of town and what do you get? Chaos!! I'm definitely looking forward to the weekend!
This past Saturday was Makenzie's 4th birthday! She was very excited to be having a party, but she kept telling people that she was turning 2. And that is ok with me, because I would be fine with her staying little forever.
Her party was a lot of fun. We had tons of people over for it on Sunday afternoon from Jimmy's family and from Makenzie's mom's family. She had the best time and got more gifts than I've ever seen at a child's birthday! She is very loved.
Sunday was the first day of the Summer that hit 100 degrees. It was super hot. And the fact that the grill caught on fire didn't make anything easier! Also the fact that there was a new trampoline outside didn't help either! New trampoline=kids pressuring adults to jump on it=sweaty adults. So all together it was a great, hot, sweaty, fun-filled weekend.
Sunday night after everyone left we decided to take the boat out for a little while. We haven't spent all that much time on the water this Summer, so it was nice. We've just been so busy and taking the boat out really ends up being a chore at the end of the day. We love being on the water so much and have resolved to play in it more often.
This week is a wild week at work...we hosted a girl from our new office in Chicago yesterday to train her on some things. Then tomorrow and Thursday is our Quarterly Compliance Meeting with LFG and we're having all of our Broker's from across the country come here to be 'compliant'. Tomorrow is golf and dinner, Thursday is meetings and lunches/dinners and then Friday is my company's Quarterly Meeting. Combine all of that with having friends in from out of town and what do you get? Chaos!! I'm definitely looking forward to the weekend!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
This has been a busy week so far! It's been good, though. Last night I headed to our house in Hot Springs to stay the night with Jimmy there. We thought we'd have at least one child, but imagine our surprise when we found out we were actually childless all night! It was awesome and strange all at the same time. I love our alone time.
At work I'm focusing on a project that I'll eventually roll out to our offices nationwide, and possibly all Penn Life offices (32,000 agents, so it's not a small thing!). It's taking up a ton of my time but it's actually pretty rewarding. This is the biggest project I've been involved with so far and it has the potential to streamline pretty much everything we're doing right now.
Funny story...last night as I was lying in bed I was facing one of our windows in the bedroom, looking out across the lake. I could not figure out why the house across the way had such a huge bright light on so late at night. I was trying to fall asleep but this light was so bright that it just annoyed me. I finally said something about how those people who live there seem to always be disruptive in some way or another and now their light is on in the middle of the night. I mean who needs to light up such a huge area so late? I was then told by my sweet and adorable partner (who is by this time laughing hysterically) that the light I was angry at was actually the moon. I didn't believe him at first, but it turns out that he was right! I felt very silly. I'm still laughing about it!!
At work I'm focusing on a project that I'll eventually roll out to our offices nationwide, and possibly all Penn Life offices (32,000 agents, so it's not a small thing!). It's taking up a ton of my time but it's actually pretty rewarding. This is the biggest project I've been involved with so far and it has the potential to streamline pretty much everything we're doing right now.
Funny story...last night as I was lying in bed I was facing one of our windows in the bedroom, looking out across the lake. I could not figure out why the house across the way had such a huge bright light on so late at night. I was trying to fall asleep but this light was so bright that it just annoyed me. I finally said something about how those people who live there seem to always be disruptive in some way or another and now their light is on in the middle of the night. I mean who needs to light up such a huge area so late? I was then told by my sweet and adorable partner (who is by this time laughing hysterically) that the light I was angry at was actually the moon. I didn't believe him at first, but it turns out that he was right! I felt very silly. I'm still laughing about it!!
Monday, July 14, 2008
This past weekend I hosted a 'girl's weekend' at my home in Little Rock. My sisters Melissa, Jessica, Amanda and Elizabeth were there as well as Kaylee and Melissa's daughter's. It was fun. It was neat to see how well Kaylee got along with my sisters. I was a little worried that they wouldn't mesh very well. Thankfully it all turned out great and by the end of it I felt like I was hosting a slumber party and not really a part of it! But that is alright. I was happy to give my sisters a little time away from their normal environments and have all of us in one place. That hasn't happened in so long.
Before the weekend Makenzie asked me what a 'girl's weekend' was. I told her it was just when some girls get together and have fun and play and watch movies. She looked up at me and said, 'I'm a girl too!'. So I was ready to have her there as well, but she ended up going to her mom's for the weekend. I told her she could come next time. She is so sweet. I love all of Jimmy's kids very much. I love getting to know them more and spending quality time with them. They are awesome.
And expensive! Kids in general are, I'm learning. This weekend I decided I was going to do pretty much whatever the girls' wanted to do, regardless of the cost (well I would have said no to some things, obviously). I must say, by the end of the weekend I was a little relieved that they were all going back home!!! I had a great time, but was glad when I could shut my wallet! Those girls' are all so fun. Kalyn and Keali were so sweet. Kalyn kept singing us songs and Keali kept getting hit in the head (accidentally) with the Wii. It sounds cruel but it really was very funny.
Before the weekend Makenzie asked me what a 'girl's weekend' was. I told her it was just when some girls get together and have fun and play and watch movies. She looked up at me and said, 'I'm a girl too!'. So I was ready to have her there as well, but she ended up going to her mom's for the weekend. I told her she could come next time. She is so sweet. I love all of Jimmy's kids very much. I love getting to know them more and spending quality time with them. They are awesome.
And expensive! Kids in general are, I'm learning. This weekend I decided I was going to do pretty much whatever the girls' wanted to do, regardless of the cost (well I would have said no to some things, obviously). I must say, by the end of the weekend I was a little relieved that they were all going back home!!! I had a great time, but was glad when I could shut my wallet! Those girls' are all so fun. Kalyn and Keali were so sweet. Kalyn kept singing us songs and Keali kept getting hit in the head (accidentally) with the Wii. It sounds cruel but it really was very funny.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
So this past weekend I got stung by a yellow jacket! I was leaning on a fence and felt a sting in my left arm, lifted it up and the little guy was still in me! I brushed him away and then the pain began. It stayed painful for quite a while, and swelled up quite a bit, to the point that we thought I'd have to go to the hospital. Everything ended up being ok, though, and now all I'm left with is some slight swelling and some serious itchiness at the site of the sting.
That experience got me thinking...I got the sting, brushed it off, and now the bug is dead. Such a waste, really. Hurting another living thing for it's own protection, when I was never even a threat. It reminded me of some situations I've been in with some very small, very poisonous adults. I'm always amazed (I guess I shouldn't be, really) at how people who refer to themselves as 'adults' are actually just older human beings. Not mature, not able to be tolerant or patient, not able to be accepting of things that are different than they are. I don't think that age makes someone an adult. I think that actions, accountability and responsibility do.
I'm not at all saying I'm perfect at any of those things, but I do feel like I'm open minded enough to accept that I will keep evolving throughout my life, regardless of my age. I think that some people get in a rut of being who they were when they were younger..vindictive, nasty, mean, vengeful. I'm sure everyone has felt the urge to be all of those things, and maybe even acted on it. I'm no different. However, I feel like I've grown up quite a bit from when I was a teenager and have been able to see that being kind and tolerant is much easier and beneficial to myself and everyone else than acting on such negative urges. I feel like some people are on this earth to cause and enjoy causing conflict in other people's lives. I learned long ago not to waste my time with such people. To be tolerant, kind, non-judgemental (as much as possible). My dad taught me when I was younger to be nice to everyone, regardless of who they were, what job they had, how much money they had, or what it seemed like they could do for me. That advice has helped me through my life in so many instances. I only wish that all parent's would teach this to their children. I think that it's important to teach kids to be tolerant. I think it's important to teach adults to be tolerant. Not an easy feat, I'm sure! And I'm certainly not going to take on the chore of teaching any adults how to do that. I can only help influence the people I'm around who are mature enough to be open to new ideas, to stop judging (or at least to stop being vocal about it), stop name-calling, begin loving people for who they really are, and begin keeping their mouths shut or 'changing the subject' when there is no need for a fight. I was taught to be the bigger person, which is not always easy to do. However, I have realized that being the bigger person will always be my role with certain people. I have no problem with this. I do not avoid conflict, but at the same time, if there is someone in my life who is that person who thrives on it, I can't let it effect my joy. I can't and won't be a part of that childish nonsense. I will not bring that into my life. I lead a happy, fulfilling, exciting, spontaneous, successful life with a man who loves me for me in spite of and because of my 'flaws'. He has taught me to be even more accepting and encouraging of change. He listens to me always, and is my number one fan. I know that I'm always typing and saying the mushiest, cheesiest things about him and I. I can't help it. I'm in love and I just can't keep my mouth shut about it! It's an unbelievable feeling to be truly unconditionally loved.
So...in closing...I relate the yellow jacket sting to a different, but equally strong (but in the long run, equally meaningless) sting from another person. I brush it off, move on, and while I might be left with a little itch, I'm ultimately not effected.
That experience got me thinking...I got the sting, brushed it off, and now the bug is dead. Such a waste, really. Hurting another living thing for it's own protection, when I was never even a threat. It reminded me of some situations I've been in with some very small, very poisonous adults. I'm always amazed (I guess I shouldn't be, really) at how people who refer to themselves as 'adults' are actually just older human beings. Not mature, not able to be tolerant or patient, not able to be accepting of things that are different than they are. I don't think that age makes someone an adult. I think that actions, accountability and responsibility do.
I'm not at all saying I'm perfect at any of those things, but I do feel like I'm open minded enough to accept that I will keep evolving throughout my life, regardless of my age. I think that some people get in a rut of being who they were when they were younger..vindictive, nasty, mean, vengeful. I'm sure everyone has felt the urge to be all of those things, and maybe even acted on it. I'm no different. However, I feel like I've grown up quite a bit from when I was a teenager and have been able to see that being kind and tolerant is much easier and beneficial to myself and everyone else than acting on such negative urges. I feel like some people are on this earth to cause and enjoy causing conflict in other people's lives. I learned long ago not to waste my time with such people. To be tolerant, kind, non-judgemental (as much as possible). My dad taught me when I was younger to be nice to everyone, regardless of who they were, what job they had, how much money they had, or what it seemed like they could do for me. That advice has helped me through my life in so many instances. I only wish that all parent's would teach this to their children. I think that it's important to teach kids to be tolerant. I think it's important to teach adults to be tolerant. Not an easy feat, I'm sure! And I'm certainly not going to take on the chore of teaching any adults how to do that. I can only help influence the people I'm around who are mature enough to be open to new ideas, to stop judging (or at least to stop being vocal about it), stop name-calling, begin loving people for who they really are, and begin keeping their mouths shut or 'changing the subject' when there is no need for a fight. I was taught to be the bigger person, which is not always easy to do. However, I have realized that being the bigger person will always be my role with certain people. I have no problem with this. I do not avoid conflict, but at the same time, if there is someone in my life who is that person who thrives on it, I can't let it effect my joy. I can't and won't be a part of that childish nonsense. I will not bring that into my life. I lead a happy, fulfilling, exciting, spontaneous, successful life with a man who loves me for me in spite of and because of my 'flaws'. He has taught me to be even more accepting and encouraging of change. He listens to me always, and is my number one fan. I know that I'm always typing and saying the mushiest, cheesiest things about him and I. I can't help it. I'm in love and I just can't keep my mouth shut about it! It's an unbelievable feeling to be truly unconditionally loved.
So...in closing...I relate the yellow jacket sting to a different, but equally strong (but in the long run, equally meaningless) sting from another person. I brush it off, move on, and while I might be left with a little itch, I'm ultimately not effected.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
MY FIRST TAGGING
3 Joys
1. My sweet boyfriend
2. My family and friends
3. Being tan
3 Fears
1. The loss of someone that I love from circumstances that could be avoided (not wearing seat belts, doing drugs, etc.)
2. Soggy cereal, soggy soap, soggy socks after a long workout...I don't like soggy things.
3. That's it. I'm not really afraid of too many thing.
3 Goals
1. Eating healthier. I've decided that if I don't buy unhealthy things, then they won't be in my house, and I won't eat them.
2. Doing some light cooking. I HATE to cook. But I've decided that I will cook some things sometime. I know this is vague, and it is meant to be!
3. Be as loving, caring and affectionate to my boyfriend as I can be. I never want to look back on a situation and wish I had handled it with more patience. I always want him to feel the way he makes me feel.
3 Current Obsessions
1. Mopping my floors. I love clean floors.
2. Checking the 'blogs' (I hate that word, still) of my friends and family.
3. Simplifying my life. I find that if things are in their place (at my office and at home) I'm a happier person. I don't like having too much stuff.
3 Random Surprising Facts
1. I love love love laundry. I love getting stains out, I love ironing, using bleach, folding/hanging up clothes. Now if only I could figure out how to make the clothes migrate to the bedrooms they belong in...I like doing the laundry, but I don't like putting it away!!
2. I don't have a 5-year plan. I don't think past the nearest weekend, really. I just focus on the here and now; I know my future will be awesome if each day leading up to it is.
3. I can't stand hypochondriacs. I know, most people are annoyed by that behavior as well. I hate it! I just think that if you have enough energy to complain about your situation, then you probably have enough energy to get off your butt and change it!
5 people I tag are:
No one-I'm ending the tag game here and now!
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