5 more

Being healthy and Happy

I am a mother, a wife, a friend, a daughter, a sister, a niece, a daughter in law and most importantly, I am me.

Being kind, serving others and for being my real self.

My sisters and Mom

I hope that in a year, I will have grown to become more of the person I want to be. In a year, life will probably be different with new challenges and trials. Surgery for Tanner maybe, finishing our basement, planting trees in our yard.

40 questions

I saw this on Christal's blog and loved the idea. I'm only going to do 5 at a time for now, though.



Having the kind of relationship with my sister that I wanted

Tanner and his future surgeries

A massage

Happiness, Love, Health, Money, Fame.

STRESSED

Family Fun Day

For our Family Fun Day this past weekend, we went and saw this movie. It was a really good movie. Matt and I enjoyed it...Tanner on the other hand kept saying he was bored. I think he thought it was going to be more action packed but I'm glad we saw it. Then after dinner plans fell through, we ate what we had made and headed over to the school to play in the gym. Afterwards, we got a cookie and a movie (for Matt and I). It was a fun day.

Tanner had his first cub car rally last week and he takes that cub car just about everywhere he can. He even has a plastic tub over it when it's in his room like a protective case. He didn't win the race but everyone got a chocolate bar. He didn't seem too upset about not winning. I asked him if he had fun and he said he did and I said that that was more important than winning.

We have Teacher Convention this week and we are looking forward to the down time. It seems to have been a bit busy the last little while so it's nice to have some time to hang out and not be too busy.

How was your weekend? What did you do for family day?

I'm on a roll

I think this is a new record for how much I've written in a while.

I came across a saying and it was really what I needed today.

"Your age doesn't define your maturity, your grades don't define your intellect and rumors don't define who you are."

I know that sometimes I feel like I am still judged for my past and that's not something I want. Rumors are very hurtful and can destroy relationships. A person's past doesn't always define who they are now or who they are trying to become. People change and just because a person made bad choices in the past doesn't mean they are a bad person now. If people choose to believe rumors about someone, then that's on their head. I guess for me, I'm kind of a take or leave it person. If you want to like me and/or get to know me, great. If you don't, whatever...it's not my loss. My past has taught me some pretty important lessons in life. I'm not totally un-affected by people. I do get my feelings hurt sometimes and there are things that upset me but I'm not an overly sensitive person to negative things. For the most part, I just can't be bothered to care too much about what someone who doesn't really know me or what I've been through thinks about me. The people who take the time to get to know me and vice versa, are some of my dearest friends.

I am not defined by my past. Period. I am not the same person as I was back then. I'm not 100% different, but I'm not a selfish, angry, rebellious teenager. The very best advice I've gotten in the last few years is this "You don't need the acceptance of others to feel worthy". I think about that every day and try to live my life accordingly. But that's where I say that I'm not totally un-affected by people. I still get upset when I feel like I'm being treated like I was when I was that teenager. When I was a teenager, I didn't care too much if someone got upset by something I did or said (or didn't do/say) but NOW, I don't like if I've un-intentionally hurt or upset someone. I believe that I am quick to apologize as I've been told on several occasions to stop apologizing for everything. It's a process and I'm still learning. It makes me grateful to know that I have people in my life that love me for me and accept me for who I am no matter what I did in my past. I like where I am and who I am and hope to continue to become. No one's perfect and that's okay.

P.S. the Root Beer Float Cupcakes were divine! I had to give all but 4 away so I wouldn't eat them all tonight. I STRONGLY urge you to go and make some. You will not be disappointed. You can get the Root Beer extract at the craft store here in town. I got Watkins but it was a bit pricey ($7)...but so worth it now that I know what I can use it for.

Such a good post!

I recently came across a blog that had a post that I found very interesting and wanted to share it. You can find it HERE

Life in Pictures

We did do a little Valentines activity this year. We did a love jar. It was really fun this morning whilst having our heart shaped french toast to read what we all said about each other that we loved. I think it will be a yearly tradition.




I have been attempting to start making stuff that I'm pinning on Pinterest. It's re-donk-ulous how many things I have pinned. So tonight I made Root Beer Float cupcakes (which I haven't tried yet. Tomorrow is the day) and....

Lemon Blueberry Yogurt Loaf. This particular loaf was a fail for me. It tastes REALLY yummy but I did not quite understand the directions as I was following them. Here's the process: It says while cooling the loaf to make the lemon syrup. Check. Then you're supposed to poke holes in the top and sides of the loaf and brush the syrup over the top and sides of the loaf. So I thought "I must have to take it out of the loaf pan to poke holes in the sides and brush the sides with the syrup". So that's exactly what I did...except it had only been out of the oven for 10 minutes. Yeah, you can guess what happened next. It fell apart. Oh well, it's still edible and super yummy!

I added double the blueberries because I'm kinda lovin' the little blue berries right now.

Matt and I went to the Annual Rotary Valentines Dinner and Dance and it was a blast! I totally felt like a princess in my dress and beautiful bow that a friend in our ward made for me and I got lots of compliments from people. 2 minutes before we're about to leave this is the conversation:

Me: Do I look okay?

Matt: Yeah, of course

Me: I don't look like some 2 bit hooker with all this red

Matt: OF COURSE NOT! You look amazing!

What a great husband. I was worried it was too much but after we left, all I wanted to do was sing "I feel pretty, oh so pretty". Don't worry, I didn't ; )

Here's the dress with my jewelry. My Mom got me the necklace and I borrowed the earrings from a friend.

I wore my red shoes (I took my flats to dance in) and it really pulled the outfit all together.

This one's for my Mom. Tanner got his scarf from cubs. He was so proud of himself and we were so proud of him too! How could you not want to kiss that cute little face?! I love that he has such a happy spirit.

Here's his beautiful bed! We are SOOOOO happy with the way it turned out and Tanner says he loves it. He decided we wanted it stained chocolate brown so we got a sample and we'll see how that goes.

Tanner and I ran/walked in the 2nd annual chilly wily race this year. We did the 2k. Tanner was amazing and jogged/ran the whole way while I was lazy and walked (I had a headache for 2 days in a row and was not feeling up to jogging). He even wanted to keep going and doing the 5k but I told him no (I know, I'm such a mean Mom...lol)

I just love his crazy faces. Like he totally can't make a normal face for a picture.

Here we are waiting for the race to start. We were there an hour early and sat inside Town Hall waiting. I think we'll do it again next year. He wants to do the July 1st run AND the Triathlon. We'll see.

So that's life for us this weekend. I'm not shy to say that I'm proud of myself for taking more pictures lately. I'm trying another recipe from Pinterest this weekend so stay tuned for that too.

Out of the ordinary

I met this Chiropractor on the flight to Las Vegas last month and I was really inspired by his story but I didn't get a chance to have a look at his website until tonight. I was even more inspired and deeply touched by what they are doing when I read his blog/website. Feel free to check it out and feel inspired for yourself. What a blessing it is to be able to help other people in such a beneficial way.

Love, Love, Love

As I was pondering the other day about love and kindness, I thought to myself "What is love/kindness, really?" What is the definition of love? So what did I do? I looked it up in the dictionary and this is what I came up with (okay, I didn't come up with it, the dictionary told me):

Love- 1.strong affection
2. Warm attachment
3. unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for others

Then I wondered, what is the definition of affection, unselfish, loyal and benevolent (can you see where I'm going with this?)?

Affection-tender attachment

Unselfish-generous

Loyal-faithful, constant

Benevolent- an act of kindness or charitable nature

I'm not really sure ALL of those word describe me but a lot of them describe what I feel for others or other things. So here's what I love:

my family

my friends

certain traits I have (I know this sounds like I'm blowing my own horn but there are things I really do love about myself)

my house (this falls under the warm attachment category)

living in a country where I am free to choose what I believe

babies

listening to other peoples life stories

my job

cleaning

talking

the moments that are etched in my memory forever
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

While thinking about love, I thought love is a word that a lot of people use in the wrong sense (including me). For example: I would normally say something like "I love rice" or "I love Glee" but I don't have a strong affection, warm attachment or unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for those things. It would be more appropriate to say "I enjoy rice" or "I really enjoy watching Glee"...but let's face it, we all use the word love 'loosely'. I'm sure there are people that would disagree with me and that's fine.

I want to be more loving and love more fully in my life and I hope that by understanding the definition of love, it will help me in my quest.

growing

I turned on my camera and found this random but super cute picture of Tanner. Matt and him tend to take pictures without me knowing about them. He's really into the faux-hawk right now.

I realized I never shared this picture of the gift I gave at Christmas.

For the last 2 weeks I've been struggling with some personal things and it finally reared it's ugly head in the last day or two and now I am feeling that feeling when you know a situation is supposed to help you to grow. Sometimes I hate growing. Whoever said ignorance is bliss is a big fat liar. Anyways, the situation allowed me to have some things confirmed to me that I was seriously doubting (all good things in the end) but I am actually grateful that it will help me to grow. So in the spirit of being grateful I would like to share what I'm most grateful right now in my life

-my Mom. I have called her more in the last 2 weeks sobbing almost uncontrollably than I have in almost my entire life.

-Megan. For always making me see the light at the end of the tunnel and allowing me to be me. If I need a dose of reality, I can count on her to give it to me.

-Matt. He lets me vent and never tries to fix what I'm going through. He lets me be who I want to be and never judges me. Plus, he's just awesome overall

-my Scriptures. I have been trying to just focus on a chapter or 2 each week so that I can really understand what is being taught in each chapter. It's been really helpful in keeping my cool.

-my health. Although today I was in extreme pain (thank you un-welcome monthly visitor), I am glad that I have a body that allows me to walk/jog, smell, taste, feel, hear, touch, and see all the things around me.

-my night guard. I have not had any night headaches since getting it. I also barely breathe (according to Matt). He tells me almost every day that he can barley hear me breathe at night anymore. He use to hear me grind my teeth or sleep mumble but not anymore.

-a patient at the office brought me in a pair of earrings she made and it totally brightened up my day.

-Tanner getting his cub handkerchief and woggle. I am so glad that he enjoys cubs and I am so excited for him next week. It's his first Cub Car rally and although I won't be there, Matt is going to go and take some pictures and possibly a video.

-Tanner's bed is here. We originally were going to stain it but he wants it to be red so we're going to look at red paint. I will take a picture of it and put it up soon but it's beautiful and you're all going to be jealous that you don't have bed as beautiful as his...haa haa I told Matt that I wanted a bed like Tanner's and he said "do you know how expensive that would be?". One day I will have a real bed.

-Matt and I are celebrating our birthday ALL month long (in April). We just want to spend time with each other and with the people we love and adore and so that's exactly what we are going to do. So get ready for lots of get together (or in other words P-A-R-T-A-Y)

-The weather we are having is really helpful in keeping me motivated to stay active and walk/jog as much as I can.

-Raisins. Although I do not like raisins in cookies, I am really enjoying my new nightly snack with a little celery and P.B.

-Life. Life is a great teacher and I am grateful for trials as well as blessings.

Let it go

I have a personality that is not even tempered. If I'm happy, you'll know it. If I'm frustrated, irritated or annoyed, you'll know it. How? It's written all over my face. I do know that when I'm feeling negatively that I have to be really conscious about how I act because although I never intend to upset or be unkind to people intentionally, I can UN intentionally say something that is unkind. I know how to 'bite my tongue' so to speak. What I have a hard time with is when a person asks me why I'm feeling a certain way and then does not listen. Matt ALWAYS tell me not to worry and for so long, I just couldn't NOT worry about certain things. It would be like saying "Mandy, just be happy 100% of the time". Easier said than done. Anyways, I was explaining my predicament to a close family friend he gave me advice that I can actually wrap my brain around. He said "you have to learn to let it go". I don't know why that seems easier than "don't worry about it" but anytime I have found myself consumed with worry, all I have to say to myself is "let it go, Mandy" and I can stop worrying about whatever is was I was worrying about. I tend to over-analyze and it is a habit that I am trying to let go of.

I was sad last week to learn that 2 of Tanner's surgeons are semi-retiring and won't be his surgeons in his next surgeries. I was filled with gratitude for the great doctors they are and the choice they made to be doctors. I know the next surgeons will be good as well but change can be hard when you've built up a rapport and trust with certain doctors.

Tanner has a lot of spunk lately. He called up my Mom and asked her to send him a Valentines package and to please send his baby (which he forgot last week when we were there) with it. He's has also been really kind and sensitive lately. We started this love jar for Valentines day and we write something we love about each person in our family every day BUT we also include something about our self that we love. Tanner told me he wrote that he loved his spikey hair on Sunday. Oh man! I love that kid!

Life, overall, is good. We're looking forward to spending some time in Calgary with my family at Easter and meet our new little nephew (due in 3 weeks).