College Entrance Essay

Oh my gosh I did it I took my readiness assessment and I am not sure if I passed, but I am feeling really good about it. Below is the essay I had to write, hopefully they love it!! So excited to be pursuing my passion, what do you think?

“Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity” Oprah Winfrey. Describe if you agree or disagree and what this quote means to you.

I would love to see all the different responses to this question, as a blogger I love link-ups when I can read other peoples thoughts and ideas.  In this quote the speaker, Oprah, is saying that luck and opportunity are one in the same and that if one is prepared they just have to get the opportunity and they will be lucky.  I agree with this thought, I am going back to school so that I will have the opportunity to apply for, interview, and obtain my teaching career. I cannot get the opportunity and become lucky enough to be a teacher without being prepared for the field of study that I want to make my career.  So many people say that there are lucky people and there are unlucky people.  If I sit back and look at it though I believe we can all be lucky, just like Oprah says it is all a matter of preparation.

Yes that man might have just won $2,000 dollars playing the keno machine, but how many hours did he put in sitting on that stool and how much money did he spend before he won.  In a funny way I guess you could say he prepared for that win, he was lucky because he had put in the time and money and the opportunity arose for him to be a big winner. Lawyers, doctors, nurses, judges, maybe even presidents, were all prepared when opportunity came knocking, this made them lucky to get their dream jobs.  Look at President Obama, had he ran for office 20 years ago I do not believe he would have been elected, the country was not ready for his ideas and positions.  He prepared himself for that office and with the opportunity came he was ran and won, how lucky is that?

Every one of us has prepared for something in our lives, and been given the opportunity and achieved it whether it was learning to walk, writing a novel, running a marathon, or landing our dream job. There is preparation in everything we do, and we prepare so that when opportunity comes we can achieve our dreams and be lucky!

The post "College Entrance Essay" first appeared on the blog One Feisty Family.

Commenting or Liking Revisited

This is a re-post but I hope it helps!

 

I have had some inquiries into how you comment on my blog or share it, thanks for giving me the idea for this post all you who were wondering/questioning/asking.

Comment

You can comment by clicking on the link below the post. For example it may say No comments once you click on it it the comment box will open. You can type your comment and if you are not a google member you can pick Name/URL or Anonymous for the profile.  If you pick Anonymous please leave your name in the comment section I love to know what you think, even if I might not agree!!  Once you hit post comment you are done.

Links

Same with the comment feature at the bottom of the post there are different options for creating a link to my post so you can share it on your blog.  

I am always open to comments about my blog please remember that these are my original thoughts and are copyrighted as such. Please do not share as your own.

Thanks and I hope this helps those that asked.

2014 Here We Come!!

As the start of a new year looms within reach of our outstretched hands, I can't believe the last year we have experienced.  Starting another business, breaking a leg (literally), our girls turning another year older, starting a new job, making new friends and leaving some friends behind, and all the ups and downs, bumps and slides of living life.  I have been thinking about getting back to my blog for a couple of weeks now, experiencing a little of a low I think you could say.  Not really sure where life is going or what my goals are makes writing hard.  My Five Minute Fridays are on hiatus for the month as it is a busy month and every writer needs a break a breather a chance to collect their thoughts and gain new perspective. 

Well that is what 2014 is going to be for me, for our family.  We had a rough 2013, but even though everything didn't happen the way we may have hoped it all happened for a reason and the bigger picture is on a clipboard in the sky somewhere.  This coming year is going to see more changes, challenges, highs and lows I am sure because that is all part of the journey but we can choose how to experience those.  We are taking on a couple of new challenges.  There were a couple of posts on Facebook that caught my attention one is the 52 Week Money Challenge, this sounds interesting although I have seen many say that it might be wise to start this challenge going backwards so you are not trying to put $52 dollars in there in December. I am very into this idea and am hoping to start it this year very exciting. The other idea is the Memory Jar for the New Year, this is my favorite.  We always come to the end of the year and remember the hard times or the struggles but we forget all the good times and the great memories we have made.  I am going to stop by the thrift store tomorrow for a jar for our family and the dollar store for a small pad of paper I can't wait to start filling a jar with all the great memories and events in the coming year.

With the coming new year and the things we are doing as a family, I will be starting back to school online strictly this time as driving back and forth is hard on my family and I know they will support me either way so I would rather do it online.  I will be an Elementary Teacher before I know it.  I am also hoping to get some of my workout drive back.  I have definitely struggled with depression a little since I had kids, I think that is because you lose a part of you when you have kids and I have just had ups and downs and it wears on a mama.  However working out is like a drug to me so back to it I go, I decided to not wait for the 1st and I ran today for 30 minutes according to my ipod I did 2.3 miles I am not sure how accurate that thing is but I will take it.  It felt great and exhausting and I needed it. Now to see if I get my butt out of bed tomorrow morning so I can do it again before I go to work, I like that quiet time in the morning it renews my sense of self.  I am also working on letting go of control, I freak out when we are stressed for money, or whenever I don't have control over something and I need to stop that and just take things in small baby steps and we will get through it if we can get through all the challenges of the last year we can get through so much more than I give us credit for.

So here is to a fabulous, adventurous and exciting 2014. Farewell to 2013, you weren't great but you taught us a lot and I definitely wouldn't trade the adventure for anything.

Please comment and tell me what your goals, hopes and drivers are for 2014!!

Nativity

Thank you to a dear friend and her kiddos for the wonderful nativity scene!

Merry Christmas!!

November 13 - An epiphany you had this summer

That it is never too late to do something you want to do. Go after your dreams and make what you want a reality. This summer saw me change jobs, while the circumstances were what I may have hoped for a misunderstanding sent me looking for a new job and I am thankful that it all happened. I was in the same position for 8 years an entry level position and I would have been there forever as I was never pushed to go after my dreams. Well my current job is probably not what I want to do for the rest of my life, I am enjoying it and enjoying very much the women I am working with they are all so kind and genuine. The environment is great and I don’t come to work stressed out I come to work get my work done and go home, any stress I have is usually money or schoolwork. I learned this summer that I can go after my dreams of being an elementary teacher, each day is a new day, you can’t convince everyone you are a good person all that matters is that you are, and that it will all work itself out. I will make it to the end of my life whenever that is just like everyone else will and it is all about the adventure I am on now.

November 15th is International 15q Day!

Help raise awareness by wearing blue on November 15th and sharing this page with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter.

Together with the International Prader-Willi Syndrome Organization and the Dup15q Alliance, the Angelman Syndrome Foundation is raising awareness of the similarities between Angelman, Prader-Willi and Chromosome 15q Duplication syndromes. Join us on November 15th to help raise awareness and support for these three related disorders.

Why November 15th? The genetic complications within Angelman, Prader-Willi and Chromosome 15q Duplication syndromes all originate from the q11-q13 region of the 15th chromosome, which is written as: 15q11-q13, and directly correlates to November 15, 2013 written as a numerical date: 15.11.13—which only comes once every hundred years. Therefore, organizations that support individuals with these disorders have joined forces to create International 15q Day on November 15th.  

Same Difference. Angelman, Prader-Willi and Chromosome 15q Duplication syndromes are different disorders and each is caused by different genetic variations within the q11-q13 region of the 15th chromosome. However, our three related disorders share overlapping symptoms, and each disorder is commonly misdiagnosed with another disorder due to lack of awareness.

The following graphics illustrate the genetic variations that cause Angelman, Prader-Willi and Chromosome 15q Duplication syndromes, and the symptoms that each disorder share.

How you can help. On November 15th, help raise awareness by sharing this page with your friends and family, colleagues and other connections—and wear blue!

Click here to learn more about Prader-Willi syndrome and click here to learn more about Chromosome 15q Duplication syndrome. 

Thank you for your support!

Brook
Sent from my HTC One™ X

November 12 - Your first pet

My first adult pet, because we had so many dogs and cats growing up I don’t remember which one was first. Stubs was my first adult pet and he passed away a year ago it was really sad but he was awesome and you can read about him here. http://feistyfam.blogspot.com/2012/10/october-6th-im-thankful-for.html

Happy Veterans Day!!!

To all who have served and are serving we send a great big THANK YOU to you!!!

You make us proud to be Americans!!


Brook
Sent from my HTC One™ X

November 11 - 3 albums you would take to a deserted island

 

 

Easy but I would break the rules.

 

1. I made my girls’ baby books and they are filled with wonderful

memories so those would come for sure.

 

2. My wedding album

 

3. My girls’ scrapbooks they each have 5 so far and

they would all come, again so many wonderful memories.

November 10 - A time when you felt unstoppable

This might sound completely crazy but anytime when my girls were infants to age 3 and I went shopping with them just the three of us. I knew it was crazy to take two 1 year olds shopping but it was always a challenge and I always met it head-on. I loved it the looks I would get from fellow shoppers when I had a grocery cart with two infant seats and it was full of groceries too. I didn’t always enjoy it but I always planned it well in advance so I was never in there when it was time for a feeding it was usually nap time and I had two girls who could and still can sleep through just about anything. For instance they grew up around motorcycles and they could fall asleep in the middle of a motocross track bikes going for broke and fans cheering wildly. They were those kids sound asleep on my back in their carrier without a care in the world. I loved those moments and still love those moments I feel unstoppable as a mom, because I know that no matter what I will always fight for what is best for my girls!

November 1 -9

So I am joining a fellow blogger and blogging every day in the month of November, here goes nothing. I am playing catch up so here is the 1st through the 9th.

November 1 - One of the best lessons life has shown you.

I almost had to think about this one, but I think it would be that I am not in control like I think I am. You see 11 years ago God blessed with me TWO instead of ONE, and turned my world upside down. I have learned in 11 years that I need to have a lot more faith and a little less control. That when life hands you lemons to make lemonade but you can enjoy that with a friend, yummy! I am that mom who likes to be in control who wishes I could show my children all my mistakes so that they didn’t have to go through some of the things I did. I wish I could take away the hurt when they get in a fight with a friend, I wish I could beat up the boy who broke one of their hearts already. I wish that life was easier and that they would know already that I am not crazy that I have just learned a couple of lessons the hard way. I can and will guide them as much as they will let me but I realize that I am going to have to sit back a lot more than I would like and let them learn and grow and become the young women that God intended them to be. My best lesson to have faith that I am on the road that was intended for me and only me, and that if I just keep my head held high and make decision that I am willing to stand behind then all will work out and this crazy road I am on will be an adventure that I could only dream of.

November 2 - Favorite Inspiring Quote

I have a couple of favorite quotes.

 

“Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” – Martin Luther King Jr

 

“Our love is a spark that has started a fire.” – Unknown

 

“I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish he didn’t trust me so much.” – Mother Teresa

 

November 3 - 5 Favorite Blogs

 

1. The Dating Divas – www.thedatingdivas.com

2. Engaged Marriage – www.engagedmarriage.com

3. Lisa-Jo Baker – www.lisajobaker.com

4. Henderson – www.randeandstephplustwo.blogspot.com

5. Time Out – Devotions for Moms – www.beckykopitzke.blogspot.com

 

There are a few of my favorites I have many blogs I love to read for multiple reasons, some inspire me, some make me laugh and others well they just keep me coming back.

 

November 4 - Write for 5 minutes on Freedom

 

This is like my 5 minute Friday, only it is Monday. Well here goes nothing. Freedom something we take for granted a lot more than we should. Whether it be freedom to simply be who we are in life, or the freedom we enjoy as American’s, we are a nation that has forgotten all our founding fathers did to give us all we have today. We take everything we have for granted, we are so blessed. There are still people in our country that would like a taste of freedom, women who are trapped in a bad marriage (or men for that matter), prisoners in their cells (even if they did a horrible crime I am sure they would like their freedom back), and I am sure there is a system of slaves somewhere in this country still people who are trapped. We have an amazing military system and we should be so thankful for the freedom they fight for, they do that for our country not for the reward or the paycheck trust me, definitely not the paycheck. Those men and women and the families that support them do it all because they love our country and they want to defend it and keep it free.

 

November 5 - Favorite recipe

 

This is an easy one and I might have already shared it...

 

5 Can Soup – Author unknown

1 can Corn

1 can Vegetable Beef Soup

1 can Chili

1 can Rotel

 

Pour them all in a saucepan and heat up, serve with Fritos chips, shredded cheese and sour cream. Yum

 

November 6 - 5 favorite apps

 

1. Bloglovin’ – to keep up on my favorite reading

2. Gift List – Christmas & Birthday ideas and items already bought

3. Keeper – keeps all my passwords at my fingertips safe and secure

4. MapMyRun – Love this app it lets me know how far I have run

5. Google Sky Map – Thanks to my sister-in-law for this one, great for a simple date night

 

November 7 - A day in your life

 

Oh a day in my life is crazy lately, but not what I would like. Up at 5:15 – on a good day so I can get in my workout, however in the past month this has happened only a handful of times UGH, Shower dressed, make coffee, tea and lunches, Off to work until 4 or 4:30 depending on which day it is. Then for three days a week I am headed to class after work for an hour or two, Home to hang with my family then it is bedtime routine and homework, cleaning up the house and bedtime. It is a crazy busy life and I am definitely going to be making some changes but it isn’t bad, I love my family love the opportunies I have been given in the last few months and love the adventure that is my life.

 

November 8 -5 minutes on time

 

Another 5 Minute Friday and it is Friday, I am not linking up with my usual but I promise it is worth the read. Go! Time is all relative we all have our own internal clocks and then there is the time that our world functions on. Today though I would like to talk about the time that I get to spend with my kids. It is rare time, time well spent, time that will matter more than other time at the end of my time on this Earth. I love spending time with my kids yes there are those times I want to ship them off to military boarding school, and those times when I wonder where they came from but most of the time is time spent learning more about their personalities, hanging out with them making sure they know that no matter what time of day it is or what my mood, I love them so very much. They are my greatest achievement, and my time spent with them is time well spent all the time. I am so thankful for all the memories I have created with them in the last 11 years and it is all mostly time spent not money spent. Time is worth so much more, and no amount of money can buy you more time.

 

November 9 - 5 favorite places to shop online

 

1. Ebay

2. Old Navy

3. Amazon

4. Etsy

5. Google – because it takes me to so many different sites I would have never known about otherwise.

 

 

Halloween Cookies

This is a good end to a fun weekend making Halloween cookies with my girls.


Brook
Sent from my HTC One™ X

Week 19: Your strengths and weaknesses in your marriage

Now that is personal. Let me see I try not to over share but I definitely like this question.

 

Strengths

• We know how to make each other laugh

• We are committed to our relationship, we were a couple before we were parents so we make our relationship a priority

• We talk, not always about serious stuff but we talk we try not to bottle things up

• Being there, we are there for each other, whether it be a hand to hold or a shoulder to cry on, or sometimes even somebody to just vent to we are there for each other.

 

A strength and weakness is our stubbornness, we are both too stubborn to leave, and we both have to be right, although if you ask hubby he thinks he is right 99% of the time. Men 

 

Weaknesses

• Different communication styles

• Being guarded, when I first got together with my husband he was very guarded when it came to serious relationship stuff, his parents got divorced and it affected him. He is much better now but it took 13 years.

• Independence, we are both pretty independent and it took time for us to remember that we had another half and it isn’t checking in it is being courteous and letting the other person know that you are ok

 

There are strengths and weaknesses in every relationship they are unique to that couple or that relationship and they are healthy without differences we would be two people who are the exact same and how boring would that be.

 

Week 18: Random facts about your other half

Random facts about my other half, this could be interesting here we go I will try not to embarrass him!

1. He hates mayo but loves homemade ranch dressing

2. He didn’t eat salad until he met me, now he eats it with ranch, bacon and crackers on it, YUMMY

3. He is not ticklish, I mean not at all in fact he gets annoyed at people who insist that if they just keep tickling him he will laugh

4. He wears a youth size in fitted hats

5. He has been the same weight since I met him 13 years ago

6. He can sing, and I mean sing, the man has a great voice and an incredible memory he remembers lyrics and singers like it is nobody’s business

7. He loves old rock and rebel country, and he likes it loud

8. He wanted a little boy when we found out we were having twins, he got two little tomboys who think their daddy is superman and he smiles just mentioning their names.

9. He loves foot rubs, back rubs, oh who am I kidding he likes full body massages.

10. He has a terrible sweet tooth, cookies, fruit snacks, ice cream he loves it all

I will stop there but you get the idea, I have been with him for 13 years I know a lot and funny thing is I still learn some new things here and there I love that about him.



Week 17: The meaning of marriage

The meaning of marriage, oh man, I could answer this in so many ways. I could be funny and say it is two people who have chosen to drive each other crazy for the rest of their lives. Or I could be serious and say it is two souls who have chosen to walk one path together. Instead I think it best said that marriage is a friendship that you have for the rest of your life. And by friendship I mean that yes there will be times when your other half will drive you near insane, moments when you wonder what the heck you got yourself into, trying times like any friendship where you grow in different directions at different times. But the great thing about this friendship is that you have pledged to spend the rest of your life working on it. That your other half is all in with you, no matter if you are growing at different rates or in different directions you both have a common goal. My friendship is always growing, ebbing and flowing, we fight like good friends do, we agree and celebrate little victories, we don’t have a secret handshake but we have secret sayings that only the two of us know what they mean. My husband is my best friend when I am having a bad day, he is the shoulder I want to cry on, he is the hand I want holding mine, and he is most definitely the one I want ot argue with for the rest of my life. We can be stubborn and mad but we go to bed next to each other every night and we always kiss goodbye and goodnight. It is little things that make marriage and it is different for everyone, but my marriage is about me and him, we know each other he can make my face turn six shades of red in a matter of minutes and have a devilish smile on his face and nobody but me knows why my face is red and he has that smile. I can give him a look and he knows that my patience is wearing thin and I might need a joke to bring me out of my funk I am about to enter. I know that making him lunch every day and texting him randomly makes his entire day and can make is stress level drop. Marriage is knowing the other person, putting your whole self out there and taking a risk, it is living and loving. It is spending the rest of my life with a man that I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life without.

 

11 Years

As I sit here writing this I remember 11 years ago, I was a scared 21 year old girl who had been just life-flighted to Great Falls. I was lying in a hospital bed convincing my family it was all a false alarm and I would be headed back home tomorrow and it was fine if they drove back. They did all leave everyone except Shane he was spending the night with me on a roll away bed that I am sure was not promising comfort. We were exhausted, and young and had no clue that our world was about to be turned upside down in every way possible.

 

11 years later I sit here on my bedroom floor typing a letter to the two most precious gifts that God has ever given me. He chose me to raise them, to have the honor of being called their mom, and to cry and smile all at the same time because sometimes parenthood really is insanity. 10 was a hard year, they are starting to become young girls, emotional, and figuring out their place in this world. They have opinions they have wants, needs, and sometimes demands. And lately they have no respect for me as a parent, I have to admit I was expecting this phase and in denial that maybe it wouldn’t happen and if it did it would happen later. But no such luck for me, darn it. We will make it through this too, they will drive me batty, I will drive them batty and together we will smile, argue, like, and dislike but we are family and we will survive teen girls.

 

Kaleigh & Lauryn,

 

I decided to write you a letter together this year. You two are going to drive me crazy sometimes, you are going to probably swear I have no clue what I am talking about, and I am sure I will hear the words I hate you at some point in time. I promise to drive you crazy most of the time and that I will always know what I am talking about. However I also promise that if or when you say you hate me that I will cry a little, and let it roll off my shoulders knowing that you don’t mean it and that you love me and will always love me. I promise to listen to you when you need to talk, I will always be here protecting your best interests and making sure you remember where your roots are.

 

You are such strong little girls, and you will always be my little girls. You are already independent, think you know it all and you already make time to help those that really need it. Please keep those traits. This last week you witnessed, for the first time I think realizing what it was, one of your friends being bullied. You handled it like pros, you made your friend smile again and let her talk to you and she even said she was so happy to have friends like you. You don’t share many friends and this is a new friendship for one of you but I am so proud of you. I am also very thankful that you knew you could talk to me about it, that you knew I would listen and that you listened when I gave you a little advice so that an adult at your school knows about it also. I lost a sweet dear friend in high school, because of bullying. He was a bright star and although he had terrific friends like I told you sometimes friends can get you more help when you are afraid to ask. I sit here crying wishing that we could skip middle school, that we could skip the girls that are mean, the emotions of your first breakup, or second or third, the growing years, only to realize we can’t. You will go through some rough times, but I promise you two that you will be ok. You two are so caring, compassionate, curious, adventurous adrenaline junkies, sweethearts, rough and tumble wears your heart on your sleeve girls.

 

You will have an amazing last year at elementary school and I am sure I will cry when I pick you up from your last day, because you are just growing up so fast, too fast. I miss rocking you to sleep at night, and to all those people that say you shouldn’t do that I say forget you, because there is nothing like the feeling of your babies asleep in your arms their peaceful faces, and gentle breathing. I miss the midnight feedings it was me and you time, hanging out watching QVC, just the three of us; or four of us because you two hit the lottery on your daddy, he really is the best. I still get the running jumping hugs, the goodnight kisses and I hope those don’t end for a while because I cherish each and every one of them still. You two make my heart smile, my soul smile you are a reminder that I am truly greatly blessed.

 

God chose me, although sometimes I think He might have been crazy because he forgot to give me the owners’ manual for twins, He chose me and He knew what he was doing. He made the last 10 years a ride, and I can’t wait for the next year’s adventures.

 

I love you baby girls and I am so proud of you!

 

Always and Forever,

 

Mom

 

Nature Box Review

So there is a company out there called Nature Box, they advertise healthy delicious snacks and they have a good variety. You can choose from I believe 4 different size boxes with different price points, and you can customize your box in the case of allergies. I chose their basic box and this is what it contained.

Blueberry Almonds - never tried these sorry they didn’t sound that appealing to me however the hubby tried them and said they were great. I wish I had a food processor they came with a recipe for Blueberry Almond Butter, now that sounded good.

Teriyaki Twists – These are rice twists, they had a pretty good flavor and an even better crunch. Yep most of the time when I am looking for a snack I want crunch unless I am looking for sweet but when it comes to savory I want crunch and a lot of it. Yummy

Cocoa Waffle Wafers – Chocolate colored pieces of cardboard. Sorry but these are terrible. Hubby didn’t’ mind them so much but the girls and I thought they were terrible. Yucky

Berry Good Blend – This was one of the first things to go in our box, it was blend of blueberries and cherries I do believe and it was delicious. Super yummy I only wished I would have received more.

Fiesta Corn Strips – These were item number two to disappear. They were crunchy corn chips that were healthy and they were so good. Great flavor not too spicy I could have loved them even more on a salad.

I was not paid for this review, and I forgot to take pictures although all the packages look the exact same. The items were delicious and I would totally order again, next time I promise pictures.

FMF - True

Linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday. Have been missing this lately read on to learn why.

So here we go writing for five minutes with no corrections, pre-planning, oh yikes.

GO...

It is true, I have gone and lost my mind. I decided that at the age of 32, with 11 year old twins, a full time job and a hubby that I would go back to school.  Yep I am pretty sure that constitutes madness.  So I took on 9 credits, by the way for me that seems like 100 credits, it is three classes, two in classroom and one online. I do homework here and there and everywhere, like for instance when I take my youngest to volleyball practice I go upstairs and sit in the family room and do my homework for Sociology class oh yeah what a joy.  I do love school I love that after being graduated from high school for so long and being out of the school world I can still pull some good grades, this mama still has it.  I am happy because I am pursuing my passion, I have wanted to be a teacher since the 3rd grade, when my teacher inspired fun and a love of learning into me. Thank you Mrs. Hanson (Ms. Burke), I can't thank her enough. So it is true that I might not be as organized as I once was, that my house is definitely not as clean as it used to be, and that there are days plenty of days that I run around like a chicken with its head cut off (I almost mean that literally you should see me). But I am enjoying the ride I am on and it is also true that my husband is a saint for putting up with all the craziness that is this semester of my life, he owns two businesses and so keeps odd hours so being home by 5 so I can go to school is sometimes a little extra stress on him, and he sits in bed and watches TV while I do homework and waits. So it is all true, I have lost my mind, my husband and girls are amazing, and it is also totally true that this too shall pass.

STOP!

So what is true in your life right now?

Week 16: How my childhood impacted who I am today

My childhood made me who I am today. I grew up with both of my parents, I am an odd man out in today's statistics, because my parents are still married. Not only married but married for over 30 years. I knew what they expected of me, not my mom wasn’t on the PTA, and my dad didn’t coach little league anything. But they were involved with me, they helped me with my homework, let me cry on their shoulders over pets that had died, boyfriend troubles, or just teenage drama. And they trusted me, I knew that I didn’t give them any reason to not trust me and I knew that that trust was a gift and that if I broke it it would be a hard road earning it back. My childhood was full of my mom taking me to school, making my lunch even through high school and being there when I got off the bus to ask me how school was today, even if my answer was OK for days upon days. My mom would go to work for the night and my dad would be there, to cook dinner, help with homework, referee fights between my sister and I and he even washed dishes. My parents are the best examples of what I wanted to be when I grew up, I wanted to have a home of my own, a partner in life that I could just hang out with and that would still give me kisses each and every time I left the house (yes my parents still do that they kiss goodbye all the time). I wanted kids of my own to share my heritage with, to share my family with, kids to pass on the traditions of my family to. My childhood made me want the basics, dream of the future, live in the present and respect the past. I am thankful for the fights my mom and I had growing up, because now she is one of my best friends, I love that my dad is still really pretty quiet he might not say much but he is a great listener and when he does talk you better listen. I am thankful for all the lessons I have learned the most memorable ones were a hard but they stuck. I don’t know if it is correct saying my childhood impacted me, so much as saying my parents impacted me. So Thanks Mom and Dad, I would say you did a pretty damn good job. You have two daughters with families of their own, who love spending time with you and are proud to call you our parents.

Week 15: A letter to my 16 year old self

Dear Brook,

Don’t take yourself so seriously and remember others make mistakes too. Don’t be so shy and worried about what others think, because their opinions will not matter in the end. You are a beautiful, friendly, outgoing, caring person and you have wonderful friends who know the true you.

Boyfriends are great, they are fun, they help you figure out what you are looking for in a life partner, don’t be so set on one, and when he leaves realize that it is for the best, although you wouldn’t change the relationship you had it isn’t the end of the world and he taught you a lot about yourself. The breakup will teach you how strong you really are and how childish your relationship was. Live and learn from it don’t wish you could go back and change anything. There is a great country song that is so true, Bless the Broken Road, it will ring true to your life partner.

Friends will come and go but best friends will always be in your life. Remember those seven ladies from elementary school, cherish their friendship because they don’t judge you and they will always have your best interests in mind when giving advice. They will be there through thick and through thin, lean on them, share stories, tell them secrets and know that they always have your back. Remember that one friend you met in middle school, she is a confidant and although your lives will go in different directions you will always be able to sit and talk with her no questions are off limits and she will listen with an open ear, so do the same for her because when she needs you the most she might not say anything at all.

Listen to your parents yes they grew up in a different generation but they have lots of knowledge and the always want what is best for you. They will help you through your struggles, they will always be waiting in the background. Remember to thank them randomly, mom likes cards, yes they collect dust but she likes them and it is a little something that makes her smile. Dad likes hugs, although he won’t willingly just give you one, that car accident really scared him, he doesn’t want to lose you and he just keeps it all bottled up inside. Love them they love you.

College you really should get to applying, but I know you won’t you will stay back and work and think you will do it later. Ultimately putting off your dreams of teaching for a boy, it not something to change because your whole future will be different if you go but remember that you have it in you to finish college and although it may be stressful later in life you can do it and it will be much more rewarding.

Smile because the future is so blessed, you will have kids someday sooner than you had planned I am sure, twins non the less they will keep you busy, stress you out, and worry you beyond what you thought was possible. They will be a perfect blend of you and your husband, oh yeah you have one of those too. He is not perfect, but he is a perfect match for you. He keeps you from becoming a hermit, keeps you active and trying new things, and challenges your ways of thinking. He has a smile that melts your heart and even though he can make you grit your teeth at the end of the day he is the one that keeps you sane.

And just keep smiling, your smile is one of your best features, and you will meet and be friends with some amazing people. Life is truly blessed, with love.

Sincerely, Your 32 year old self

4 years - 13 years

Yesterday was my 4 year wedding anniversary. I couldn't have asked for a better husband. We have had an exciting year this last year, not always exciting in a good way. The broken leg was just a broken leg it didn't break us it made us more responsible and more aware of our communication. We have two fifth graders this year and that is an adventure. We have been doing some work around our house trying to get the inside of the garage finished before hunting season starts and winter snow flies. And I had a job change and started school and hubby started another business. It is crazy but we are making it work.  This adventure is our adventure it might not work for anyone else but that is ok because it just needs to work for us.

Dear hubby thank you for joining me on this adventure for being my shoulder when I need to cry or just need a hug. Thank you for holding my hand when I am a little leary of the way. And thank you for giving me a smile and a wink when I am ready to go off the deep end you rescue me without even trying. You will tell me it will be ok even when you aren't always sure yourself, as much as I want the truth sometimes I need to hear that. Because in the end it will all be ok I just sometimes lose sight of that truth. You are my partner my friend and my confidant. I love you more every year we spend together so here is to another 4 years or let's say another 13 years. Love you.

Brook
Sent from my HTC One™ X

Week 14: High school back then

Was high school really so far back then?

I won’t lie it seems like just yesterday except that I am more tired. High school graduation was 1999 if that helps date myself, it was fun and I would I believe go back and do it again. I am not sure I would change anything although there are a few things I would do a little differently I wouldn’t change them completely. I had a boyfriend on and off for pretty much my entire high school existence, I had a great group of friends and why they stuck with me through my boy crazy years is beyond me, and overall I did pretty well in school. I remember parties on the weekends where I was drinking water or pop and everybody else was drinking. I remember sleepovers and walking over to our elementary school, not to be rebellious but because we had such good memories over there and we could safely walk to it. Note: I wouldn’t even consider my kids walking over there in the middle of the night these days. I guess high school back then was a little more calm, more forgiving, more innocent. High school these days scares me a little more, not because of teenage pregnancies either, that was happening when I was in school and those girls looking back were the strongest of all of us. I don’t remember a lot of teasing but I remember watching people tease others and I wish I would have said something back then because really popularity was nothing, it means nothing now that we are adults, we are all going to die someday and whether or not we were popular in high school won’t change that. High school back then was rebellion, it was growing up, live and learn, and it was an experience that worth every minute. Funny how high school reunions are really becoming something of the past because of Facebook I would say. Before you would go to your high school reunion to see how people were doing, see their kids, catch up and try to relive old times. Now you can just click on their timeline on Facebook and catch up no high school reunion needed. Wonder if our kids will have high school reunions or if by then it really will be a faded memory.

Week 13: A room within my childhood home

A room within my childhood home, this topic is like a guessing game. Picking just one room would be hard because my parents had the open concept living room, dining room, kitchen before it had a name. So that is the space I am picking. The living area I will call it. We had tons of dinners there, watched and helped my mom bake, and celebrated many birthdays. You see my family is big on celebrating, and I love that I love that I had the kind of a childhood where my family got together and I love that my kids get that kind of childhood. I was required to attend family functions until I was out of high school, it was not optional and although there may have been times I complained and moaned and groaned I would go and by the time it was time to go home or have family leave I was sad it was over. My kids are being raised the same way family is important you can go and hang out with your friends later, spending time with the older generations of your family can teach you a lot. So the one room in my house and all the houses of my relatives that I loved the most is the living area, the kitchen where the guys usually congregate around the table not to eat but to bullsh*t and the living room where all the kids were usually found rough housing. I love family gatherings so I love living areas. Where ever you make your living area your gathering spot I hope it brings good memories like mine does and I hope my kids will look back and say their favorite room was the living area too because of all the good memories made there.

 

 

Nope these aren't pictures of my parents' house however the living room one is pretty close right down to the animals on the wall.

Don't those stools look amazing I am in LOVE

Yes my dad has a mountain lion fur on the wall and my mom's deer is that size if not bigger. Love Hunting!!

 

Grandparents Day 2013

Happy Grandparent's Day 2013!!!!

These are the thumbprint magnets the girls made their grandparents we shall do a quick delivery today hopefully. Hope all the grandparents enjoy their day.

Brook
Sent from my HTC One™ X

Week 12: What Being A Mom Looks Like

Messy, beautiful, glamorous, ugly, sweet, glowing, dirty!

 

Motherhood looks good on the woman wearing it. It is for sure the best gift any woman could ever receive and the look on a new mothers face is the most perfect look ever. From being sleep deprived to being overwhelmed, feeling lost and maybe even in over one’s head, motherhood looks beautiful. A glow comes from a mom and a fierce sense of protection. I laugh when people say oh you don’t want to see him mad, an angry mom can rival any guy getting mad any day. Mess with my kids and I will make your nightmares seem like fairy tales. I am a momma grizzly and am fiercely protective of my babies. Being a mom looks like love, if you needed a picture of love take a picture of a new mom and you will see what love looks like. Being a mom looks like whatever you make it out to be, but at the end of the day when you are watching your babies sleep, it looks peaceful and perfect.

 

First Day 5th Grade

Here it is the long awaited picture. Can't believe it is their last year in elementary school. So sad and so excited for them.

Brook
Sent from my HTC One™ X

Week 11: I said I would never...

Bottle feed

Yep that idea went out the window when I had two preemies and I had to pump and I was stressed out and all I could think about was those two little beings and how they got food didn’t matter it just mattered that they got food and that I got to hold them and take them home.

 

Let my kids eat in my car

So I am sure some parent somewhere has accomplished sticking with this but I was not one of them. It was not a battle I was interested in having there are much more important things I would rather battle over, brushing teeth, wearing a helmet on their dirt bikes, saying please and thank you.

 

Wipe a booger nose and then wipe it on my pants

Oh yes I have so done this and no I didn’t gag when I did.

 

Let my kids sleep with me in my bed

Sometimes you have to choose sleep over rules, I choose sleep, my kids climbed into bed with us almost nightly for a couple of years they would start off in their beds but sometime in the middle of the night they would come into our bedroom and crawl into bed with us. Looking back I miss it as much as it might have been uncomfortable and I might have been a little grouchy in the morning from the kink in my neck I miss them crawling into bed with us and just snuggling.

FMF - Last

Joining Lisa Jo over at www.lisajobaker.com here it goes writing for five minutes this time on my phone.

Start...

The last xc race of the season. Big Sky here we come. Definitely one of my favorites in the past it is a good weekend away with friends and meeting new people. This weekend no kids and we have Shane's brother Wes with us. Camping in the pits, up early to help with registration and just hanging out. I love the mountain it is a beautiful place many people visit in the winter but experiencing it in the summer is amazing. Can't wait for our weekend of fun.

STOP



Brook
Sent from my HTC One™ X

Week 10: 10 Survival Tips To the Expecting Mom

One month old and so tiny

 

1. Breathe – This is something to enjoy

 

2. Listen but don’t take notes – Every mom within a 100 mile radius will have some piece of advice for you, most of it will be good advice but every baby is different so don't take hardcore notes

because the best is advice is to listen to your heart.

 

3. Ask for Help – No shame you are new to the journey and so many other moms including yours have done it before learn from their experiences and take what has worked and try it.

 

4. Enjoy it – It sounds cliche but I mean it when I say it goes by too quickly.

 

5. Admit when you are wrong – Yep you are a mom but even moms make mistakes.

 

6. Plans Change Oh Well – From the moment you go into labor your plans may go right out the window that is OK, the path is still there and the journey will still be the greatest adventure ever.

 

7. Rules What Rules– Whether you are co sleeping, breastfeeding, formula feeding, attachment parenting. Do what makes you feel comfortable what makes you happy and not what anyone else said you should do. This is all about you and your family not anyone else.

 

8. Love – Love your new addition with all your heart, you are the first love they are going to know make sure you teach them what true love is.

 

9. Know that you are doing a great job – No matter how out of control you feel, how out of your element you are you are loving your baby and you are doing the best you can do and that is all they ask.

 

10. Journal, blog, Take Pictures - Record the moments, don't spend all your time recording but definitely preserve some of your memories for when you are older looking back they make you smile and wonder and fall in love all over again.

 

5 years ago, look how little they were :(

Week 9: My goals for motherhood

Goals for motherhood? I am supposed to have goals? Ha!!

 

Just kidding I am not sure if I am the normal or not but I never set goals for myself for motherhood, that might be because I was young when I had my girls I didn’t plan on having kids right after I turned 21, I always thought I would be married when I had kids and I guess like most women I always thought I would have one at a time. God had other plans for all that there was a different path to follow I broke the rules a little. I had twins and was not married, but it is my path and not everyone else’s path.

 

My goal from the beginning was to survive, motherhood is not for the weak at heart. This is a tough job and it seems to be getting harder as they are getting older. When they are babies you still have some control over the situation but then you raise them to be independent to think for themselves to have thoughts and opinions and well all sense of control goes flying out the window.

 

My second goal is to raise daughters that have good self esteem. I want them to be happy with who they are, to enjoy their friends and to make sure they are always following their hearts.

 

I guess my goals for motherhood might be just instincts, there is no manual and I want to make sure that when I leave this earth I leave behind two girls who know that I loved them with all my heart and would move mountains for them.

 

They are already so independent, so caring, and so open minded. They are unique in their own ways and I can’t wait to see the things they will accomplish.  My goals for motherhood have already been met I have raised some really amazing girls!!

FMF - Lonely

It is Friday again know how I can tell? It is time for Five Minute Friday with Lisa-Jo over at http://lisajobaker.com oh I have told you once and I will tell you again I love it!

So today's prompt is: LONELY

START...

Divorce is such a lonely sounding word. I have not experienced this and I am not experiencing it but I have been witnessing it with friends. And watching them struggle, and question and just plain look defeated is not something I would wish on my worst enemy.  Divorce is a terrible thing, unfortunately I think there are some scenarios that make it impossible to avoid. If you are going through divorce please remember you are not alone, you are cared about. Remember when the situation makes you question your decisions, your faith, your sanity. You are strong, fierce, and you have friends and family that are here for you. Stand tall stand proud and know that you are doing is right for you. I haven't meant anybody that got divorced frivolously.

STOP

So what does LONELY make you think of.

Week 8: If I could have one superpower...

Superpower? Like fighting crime, flying becoming invisible...

Hmmmm, I am not sure I would want any of those superpowers,  but if I could make it so my niece could talk I would say  What Do I Have To Do? 

She is the sweetest little girl, I love her smile, the spark in her eyes, the mischievousness that is her. She has a smile that lights up a room and I know there are a million words going through her head that just can't get out.  I would love to see the look on my sister's face when she says MAMA, the look on her daddy's face when she says LOVE YOU, and the grin my nephew would get from a simple BROTHER.  She is an angel for sure she reminds us all to enjoy each moment, live in the present and if we always have a smile on our faces life really isn't that bad.  Yes her parents had to rework the plan they had for her but it was their plan not her plan or God's plan and I know she will make amazing strides and she will live a life the rest of us could only dream of.

What superpower do you wish you had?