Year End Reflections

10 Highlights- Accomplishments. Best Memories:

1.         Selling a $3 million deal at work

2.        Walking out of a building and feeling utterly free

3.        Paying off a debt and seeing “zero balance” on the screen

4.     Watching the reaction of my Mom & sisters about the latest addition to the family

5.       Seeing the joy of my nephew when he saw Mickey at his 1^st birthday party

6.      Telling Shrek that he was going to be a father

7.       Being able to provide for my family in a time of need without hesitation

8.      Meeting new friends and growing friendships

9.      Finding a niche at work to make my position irreplaceable!

10.Figuring out who I am and what I want out of life. It took 29 years, but I’m just about there!

8 Disappointments-Failures. Missed Opportunities:

1.         Continuing on a full load of classes and finishing up my degree

2.        Making the best out of my 2 months (total) in Rome & seeing what I wanted to see

3.        Learning as much as I could at work & gaining the workforce knowledge

4.     Taking that promotion with a big management company

5.       Having the chance to teach Sunday school to the kiddos

6.      Valuable lessons on why a “perfect” marriage does not exist

7.       Not listening enough to my inner self about the truth

8.      Wasting my time on those who aren’t worth it

3 Game Changers- Unexpected Events That Shifted My Priorities:

1.         Ending an era of  “Stout” & learning to be independent again

2.        Finding myself again with Shrek and thinking “this is right”

3.        Hearing the doctor say: “You’re pregnant!”

3 Things I Focused On- What I Put Most of My Time Into:

1.         Fixing up my new house

2.        Mapping out paying off ALL debts

3.        Finding a “forever” job

3 Things I Forgot- What I Didn’t Get Around To:

1.         Hitting the gym as much

2.        Finishing my master bathroom (sooooo not my fault)

3.        Scanning in ALL of that paperwork to my cloud

Life has given me such a lesson this year in letting things "waddle waddle" and just roll off my back. Like the Buddhist believe (and the OHM on my back), everything is created, nurtured and destroyed. Therefore, we must strive to keep happiness, rejoice that sadness will dissipate, and recall that a storm will always run out of rain.

Take joy in 2015 and the new adventures that we will encounter. For me, I know that 2015 will be the year that my life completely changes, and my goals in life now shift towards my baby girl, who I get to meet in April. May the roads be peaceful and full of thrills for you all.

Any thoughts and goals for 2015 on your end? 

Thursty (ok so it's not) Thursday

Jingle bells, jingle bells, roudoulph  laid a what?!?!?!?!

Usually those holiday sounds are simply a back tune to the delicious holiday fizzy’s that cloud my brain and accompany all the great food. However, as Baby K approaches, there are no alcoholic drinks entering THIS body.

Thursty Thursday came and went, but hey, being preggos makes you a bit lazy! The awesome ladies Kristen of Hopelessly Ever After & Jess of Livin On Sweet Tea are co-hosting their fav drinks. And since I can't readily partake right now, I'm saving those bad boys for the months ahead when I'll really need them!!

So, still trying to keep it festive and cheerful (and baby friendly), I have found the wonderful world of “mocktails”. Granted, there’s no extra BUZZ floating around when I drink these, but I’m on Cloud 9 anyways these days, and that’s enough to keep my party going for a while.

So, mix, drink and ACTUALLY remember all the funny holiday nonsense & share your drinks! Cheers!!!

You Never Know

Tonight, I share something with a heavy heart.

Through our company’s typical mass emails, we were alerted that a dear co-worker had been diagnosed this past weekend with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Treatment starts with a fierce round of chemotherapy for the next couple of weeks, leaving him out of work. Working off commissions, that’s a bleak outlook for his wallet. 

 With the holidays right around the corner and his insurance only covering 1/3 of the hospital cost, his teenage son started a “GoFund Me” page (without telling his Dad) to help relieve some of the costs.

Ralph is an extraordinary man, full of life and love. He would give the shirt off his back to anyone who needed it, and I firmly believe it is a time to pay it forward to give back to him. If this world took the smallest interest in those around them, kindness would spread and hopefully make it back to those who need it the most.

Dear friends, I am asking you to please reach into your heart and donate (even the smallest amount helps) to this special cause. He’s a young man that has a small family and a BIG heart. He CAN BEAT this! But, to make sure that his family does not take a downward spiral, he needs YOUR HELP.

Please visit this LINK and help a family that just had their lives turned upside down. After all, kindness will always find it’s way back to the loving individual who willingly gave it away in the first place. Remember folks, any bit helps, even if it’s just sharing this post.

Ralph, if you happen to see this, know that we love and support you. You’ve been SUCH an inspiration to me these past two years, and our thoughts, prayers and well wishes are with you every step of the way.

Much love amigo.

2014 Wish List

This year has been one where there has been SO many ups and downs, and I have no idea where to begin. In reality, there's nothing I could really need. However, there are a few goodies that would make me giddy if I spotted them under the tree this year. So, for those family members who happen to spot the blog, check it out! Oh, and update those Amazon Wish Lists! Santa wants to know if what she got you is on there!!!

On the flip side, check out some of these goodies! A lil love for yourself never hurt anyone! Happy Shopping & Wishing!

(yeah, I know I used this one already, but I LOVE it!!)

Doing For Others

Each time I sit in that faithful pew at church, an idea that was once presented to me reawakens and my faith suddenly begins renewed. Padre Puerta is constantly pushing me to reexamine who I am, not only as a Catholic, but also as a human on this earth.

This week, he challenged me to look in the mirror and ask myself:

“What side of the Father do I sit on? And, have I TRULY deserved to sit on that side?”

You see, as the holidays come around, we tend to strive for a perfect gift, that quintessential table setting to impress those around us and set a standard of who we are and what we represent. Trips to the decorating store are made; last minute runs to the food store to make sure that recipe is perfect consume our hours. But, whom are we doing that for?

Did you remember to invite that co-worker who clearly doesn’t have anywhere to go during the holiday or make an extra plate for the homeless man that you pass every day on your way to Starbucks?

Do we give just enough of our time, talent or treasure to make sure that we are in His good graces, or do we go out of our way to make sure that we help those who are truly in need?

‘For I was HUNGRY, and you fed me.

I was THIRSTY, and you gave me a drink.

I was a STRANGER, and you invited me into your home.

I was NAKED, and you gave me clothing.

I was SICK, and you cared for me.

I was in PRISON, and you visited me.'

"Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?  When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?'

And the King will tell them, 'I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'

(Matthew 25:35-45)

During this holiday season (and for the rest of your days), reach into your heart and find that true meaning of love for others. Find the compassion that lives in each of us and do for others, especially those who may not acknowledge your help or kindness. 

 

Personally, I know that I care SO much about having my 14 foot table, not because I can entertain more, but because there are many people in my life that I feel can benefit from a home cooked meal and good company around that table.

We may not all be blood sitting sharing that meal, but that united bond will carry us through tough times and remind us that it is waiting for us whenever we need it. 

So this holiday, please look around for the love and kindness you can share within your life, even the smallest of gestures. Sometimes, those are the ones that truly mean the most.