Weekend festivities

     It was a nice low key weekend.  I know next weekend is going to be busy as it's the last weekend before the wedding.  Yesterday morning we visited my sister's college and watched her graduate with her Master's Degree.  She graduated from the same University as her fiance and I did.  This was the 4th graduation in 5 years we'd attended and by far it was the best one.  We got there right on time, not 2 hours early to save seats as we had in previous years.  We stood off to the side and bailed after her name had been called.  Because we were able to leave early, we got her entire apartment packed up and got to a restaurant for lunch before graduation had ended.  It was the first year it wasn't 80+ degrees.  The temperature and overcast skies were excellent!  Here's a picture of my sister's and I being goofy.  I'm so proud of her!!!



On another exciting note, I casually asked my sister if she would want me to make cookies for everyone at her reception.  She said she wanted me to but hadn't wanted to ask me thinking it would be too much work.  So we came up with a cute, simple design and I'm so excited to get working on them! Hopefully they'll turn out as cute as I envision.  It's my first big order.  180 to be exact!!!

If I'm not blogging too much over the next 2 weeks I think you'll know why!  I can't wait for all the fun festivities planned throughout the next 2 weeks. 

Irony

     Last night, as I sat on my couch writing my blog post, I wasn't quite sure what had possessed me to write about taking things for granted.  Something drastic or tragic had not happened to me, but yet I felt a profound sense to write it.  More or less I thought that perhaps the motivation had come from the fact that in the past 5 days, 6 of my friends/sorority sisters have given birth to 6 beautiful little boys.  I assumed last night's post was mostly a coping mechanism for me.  Writing down exactly how I felt so I could reread it when the sadness of that statistic started to get to me.

    But then I got into work this morning and was informed that one of our maintenance men, beloved by all, had passed away suddenly last night after suffering a major heart attack.  He was outside working on his trailor, his wife out of town, found by his neighbor, 56 years old.  It might surprise you that in the retirement community I work in, which has over 200 employees, that we are all relatively close.  Each department works hand in hand with the next, all for the common good of our residents.  His death has affected each and everyone of us...Dining, Facilities Management, Housekeeping, Nursing and Recreation Therapy.  He had one of those smiles that touched your heart. 

    It dawned on me that I was probably writing my post the same time he was outside laying there. 

    Don't tell me God doesn't work in mysterious ways.

    I rest my case on not taking anything for granted. 

Taking it for granted

     I ask you to not take it for granted.  Whatever your it may be.  Maybe it's your health, job, friends, family, children, or just life in general. 

     I've had a profound sense of gratitude filling up my soul recently.  One that I'm thankful I can't shake.  I hope I never lose this feeling.  It helps lift me up when I start feeling down about the only thing in my life that's not gone the way I planned. 

     I've talked before about my co-worker who's husband was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in the fall.  One day her husband has what he thinks is a cold from sitting out at a Friday night football game and the next day they're planning chemo appointments and meeting with a team of doctor's; their lives forever changed.  I bet at the football game she wasn't thinking about their good health; just living her day to day life. 

     People get into a routine.  A sense of normalcy.  And then things get taken for granted, even when you don't realize it.  Unfortunately it usually takes something bad to happen in order to pay attention to your good. 

     I try really hard not to complain.  For the simple reason you never know who's got it worse.  I usually only complain to my husband and sister, knowing they understand me and won't really judge me for my thoughts.  But generic complaining, especially on such public spaces as facebook, tend to irk me.  No matter what the complaint is about.  Your job?  Be thankful you have one, especially in this economy.  Politics?  Be thankful this is still a democracy and not a dictatorship.  Your living situation?  Be thankful there's a roof over your head.  Your relationship?  Be happy you're in one.  Your child?  Be thankful you have been given such a miracle.

    Don't let yourself fall into a routine.  Never ever take anything for granted.  Life's too short.

Loving Life

    This weekend ended up being amazing.  Not only did my husband actually have a weekend off with no overtime planned but we had no plans set in stone.  Saturday was a gorgeous day and we decided to hit the road on the Harley.   We got a new seat, taller sissy bar and saddle bags added to it and I was anxious to take the new bike out.  We decided to head out to Charlottesville, VA.  Originally I had hopes on touring Monticello, but we decided we'd rather do that with all of my family.  We were also looking for a quick quiet getaway and a tourist attraction really didn't fit in that plan.  There's a fantastic family owned orchard in Charlottesville called Carter Mountain Orchard.  Many people from where I'm from travel out there to pick apples in the fall.  Paul and I have never been and so we decided we wanted to see what it was like.  We weren't disappointed.  The views were fantastic.  There's a deck with some picnic tables and we did a little wine tasting while we took in the scenery.  Most importantly, there were only about 5 cars up there.  Far different than the chaos that is Carter's Mountain in the fall. 

      The motorcycle ride was good for my soul, too.  My husband said he has to focus too much on the road and driving to do much thinking but my mind was left to wander.  And wander it did.  It's amazing how riding a motorcycle will bring so much peace.  (It could be the new helmet I got with an actual face shield so I didn't have wind and bugs blowing in my face like the last ride we took).   I could feel the wind breezing through my jacket, smell every tiny little smell, the sunshine warmed me up, and I got to spend the entire trip hugging my husband. 

      I needed a longer drive to count all of my blessings. 


      We ended our day by having dinner at my parent's house, with all 4 of my sisters and my sister's fiance.  The older we get the more amazing that is.  Especially since my sister is getting married and moving to West Virginia in a 19 days.  Celebrating Mother's Day is always fun with my sisters.  We try really hard to do something nice for my mom.  This year we suprised her with dessert at The Melting Pot.  I've got my sisters to thank for planning this treat. 

       The best part about the weekend was the surprise motorcycle ride we took on Sunday.  There had been a chance of rain and we hadn't planned on taking the motorcycle out.  But the rain never came and we took the Harley out for a 67 mile ride. 

       Don't worry...cookies are still my addiction, but the Harley is coming in a close second. 

Here's the hubby  before hitting the road on Saturday. 

And here I am totally cheesin' in my new jacket and helmet.

I couldn't find a helmet I like anywhere. Seriously. Looked at every store, every online discount place....just everywhere. So I decided to buy a basic black helmet...riding on a Harley I thought I should stick with black...and then I decided to make it girly. I knew I wanted a vinyl decal on it and thinking about the decal I used on my mixer.....I knew it would be perfect.  So I bought one in pink and one in white from House of Smith's and I love it. 

I love having a totally personalized and unique helmet :)

Hope everyone had as fantastic of a weekend as I did!

Mother's Day

     Despite all the feelings that this weekend conjurs up, I am so, so blessed.  My husband posted a sweet message on facebook to remember all the women who cannot be moms for whatever the reason may be.  I'm so happy God led me to my soul mate and I do not take that for granted. 

     Happy Mother's Day to my fabulous Mama, all my friends who have been blessed with a sweet baby, and all the women out there who do some form of mothering....to their siblings, nieces and nephews or furbabies. 

Infertile's worst nightmare

      Let me preface this video by saying it really doesn't bother me that much.  In fact, it's kind of cute and catchy.  A group of women who have one thing in common coming together and having some fun.  But I will say, thank God I wasn't walking around Kings Island on that day.  My heart goes out to any woman who may have just undergone a miscarriage or who may have been trying to have kids for years because this is not what I would have wanted to see on a carefree day at an amusement park.  Just sayin'. 

And yes, I do realize it's for a good cause which is why it doesn't really bother me.  Just feeling for those infertiles strolling around the park at the same time. 

Bad Blogger

     Has it really been over a week since I last posted.  Man, I'm a bad blogger.  Work is seriously draining me.  My new position is very rewarding and very demanding.  I miss the days where a lunch break was a an actual hour long break and I could clock out at 5.  Now I work through lunch and have to make myself leave at 5.  Needless to say, I'm exhausted when I get home and blogging is the last thing on my mind.

    On an exciting note, we've managed to pay off one of our credit cards.  This means we have one more card to pay off and are half way through our goal of paying off our debt.  This in turn means we will probably be able to go ahead with our plan of the next phase of operation parenthood in the beginning of the year.  And honestly that terrifies me.  For the past 4 months (actually since last July) it's been a relief to know that we CAN'T take the next step in becoming parents because we couldn't afford anything.  Obviously simple changes like eating healthy, working out and taking vitamins we're able to do, but I'm talking anything major.  It's been so nice.  To live our lives.  To forget that we're infertile.  To pretend like I don't care when I get my period because it's been 40 months and I know I won't randomly get knocked up.  But what will happen at the beginning of next year when we start down the road of fertility treatments or adoption.  Can our hearts hold more of that heartbreak?  Sometimes I think it's easier to fill our lives with puppies, motorcycles, adventures and vacations and pretend like we never even wanted children than it will be to delve head first into the world of appointments and doctors. 

       But I know we will.  Because when we can finally afford to try, we can't afford not to.


       On a brighter note, my sister gets married in 25 days.  AHHHH.  I'm so excited for her wedding.  It takes me back to planning my own wedding.  Which was 4 1/2 years ago already.   I've tried really hard to keep my opinions to myself.  Partly because I realize we're two totally different people and normally have different ideas about things...but also partly because I remember being a bride and not giving a darn what others thought. 

       It dawned on me this past weekend how close her big day actually is.  One of the few tasks she gave her bridesmaids was to find silver shoes and I realized I didn't have any.  So I went on the hunt.  I didn't want anything really strappy.  I love having a reason to buy a pair of shoes that make a statement.  Here's what I bought.  Amazingly Fun Silver Shoes

    I'm excited to help her work on the details of her big day.   I have a feeling there won't be much blogging in the month of May.  Too busy livin' life!


And riding the Harley!!!