Family Vacations

This past week, we bought a boat. 

It wasn't cheap. Daddy and I discussed this over years, but got really serious when he said he wanted an activity to do with the family. Daddy works to provide us with a beautiful house, food, soccer, and other experiences. However, he doesn't have a chance to enjoy it with us.  It was unfair for him to have only one time a year, skiing, where he feels true joy with his family. 

Any given day, I am able to see the best and worse parts of parenting. But I am around you more. Daddy rarely gets those longer times of just fun. He doesn't get to sit in the pool or run around a park with his kids. We are realizing how fast our three boys are growing. We want this family to continue in pursuits that are engaging and will make you want to vacation with us in the future. 

We want more time...and that is something we won't get. 

Lasting Relationships

Over time, some friends will be more significant than others. Some will be more present than others. You have to decide who you want to give your time to, who will respect and appreciate the attention you give them. Yes, there are social interactions that will not amount to any memorable experience, and you will spend time with people who are fun, but those relationships are not substantial. Then, there are friends who you will not talk to for months, and it will be like no time passed. 

Yesterday, I spoke to 2 friends who live out of state and drove to the airport, to pick up one, in town for work. This week, a great friend, who I don't see or talk to much, came to visit. The time spent with those friends grounds me, and gives me an opportunity to enrich my conversations with daddy. They make me happy to engage and learn about their challenges. They are sounding boards for me. Discussions this week went from managing personal insecurities, to parenting, to developing young college graduates, to ridding yourself of selfish people, to having fun in the bedroom, to negotiation tactics. 

You will hear me talk about my "best friends" and I am blessed to have many who I am close with, specifically Uncle L, Uncle Tom, Mrs. Beth Snider, and Mrs./Aunt Michelle, all of which I have known for over 20 years. But there are others, like Ms. Mary in ATL, who I've known for 5 yrs and has become a true and close friend. Your Bac Chi and Bac Huong are my dear sisters. And Daddy, well, he is the one friend closest to my heart. 

So when you are looking at your friends, think about who moves you forward, who helps you in your decisions, who ushers you through challenges, who will let you feel vulnerable, who will make you see your shit and not let you get away with it. Your friends will be smarter than you, more talented than you, more compelling than you. But you are all those things to them too. 

Bac Huong and Bac Chi in town for my birthday, Jan 2014.

Uncle Tom, Senior Year. May 1994

Aunt Michelle, 1998.

Mrs. Beth Snider, 1999. 

Ms. Tammy and Ms. Mary, Mexico 2014. 

August 2012

The 100 Happy Days Challenge

When I broke my ankle in April, my friend Mary suggested I try the 100 Happy Days Challenge. The site asked you to post one picture a day that made you happy. I got to 108 before I realized I had passed the mark. I want to keep going. There are days where I feel totally beat up emotionally, but I want to find that one thing that is light. 

Today, Jaiden (10) crawled into bed for some quick ZZZ before breakfast. Soon, he won't come anymore. Soon, he'll be too cool for affection. Soon, someone will break his heart and I pray he will come to me for a hug or some comfort. Soon, I won't register on his radar. But we will take the snuggles now. 

Octopus

If you know how to make a ball, add 8 legs...

Sheep

Cute little guys flouncing in a field...

Wrapped up and ready for its new owner!

Owls

So one of the things I find that is relaxing and productive is making things, specifically crocheted items. There were infinity scarves galore this holiday. 

But it really started when my 3 yr old and I were surfing Pinterest trying to find something to make for my soon-to-arrive nephew. We saw owls and I found this pattern...

http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2012/06/crochet-owl-family-amigurumi-pattern.html?m=1

I have made over 30 now...

New Direction

I'm finding that looking back has been good for a little while. But I have kids and I really want to focus on my future. Do I realize how my past has influenced who I am, absolutely. Do I want to discuss it in depth, I'm not so sure. 

I have always been a pretty positive person who wears my emotions openly, and sometimes rehashing things that make me mad or sad doesn't movement forward. I don't have time or the luxury to wallow. I want to move in the direction that makes me most happy. 

Cheers!