Hello May!

May welcomed me this morning with the sun shining so bright through my bedroom window that I took that as a sign telling me that this is going to be a great month. There are three important events coming up this month. My 22nd year anniversary of being a member of the LDS church, my eldest daughter's 19th birthday, and of course Mother's Day. Notice I wrote that one last. I love Mother's day, but I always tend to forget myself, and honor other mothers instead! I know...shame on me. 

The rain yesterday brought quite a few ups and downs for the fact that we are down to one vehicle now which means we're having to share a car. That's okay because we've done that many times throughout our marriage. We have one car, now two. One car, now two, etc. We let the other car go because we just couldn't keep it. You know...life happens, and we're okay with that. I'm grateful for Jon having started yet another new job last week because UPS does not know what they're missing. Well...they actually know what they're missing because he's the only one they retained after the holidays, but unfortunately the position was peak season, and only during Christmas. Seasonal bites! That's okay-it was nice having Jon home again to spend the brutal winter with us day after day, and now that the sun is shining he's back to work. Boohoo, and hooray at the same time! 

Mormon prom is this weekend, and I am beginning to feel the busyness of my calling in the stake young women. I love serving with the young women, and getting to know other sisters from different Young Women Presidencies is something that I love. People! I love meeting new people! I can see that the leaders love and care about their youth, and I know I still have a lot to learn, but darn it I am going to do my best to serve my calling like a champ. I'm really excited for these kids to have their Mormon prom. It's a lot of planning and I can see that the youth committee are making huge efforts to get this prom down to perfection. I know they'll do a good job because all the proms in the past have always been spiritually fun, and carefully planned by a faithful youth committee.  

Like I said...it rained cats, dogs, and birds all day long yesterday. The rain doesn't bother me at all. I grew up with more rain and hurricanes than snowstorms so rain is seriously not an issue with me (unless you get caught in a major flood!) On our way home from Chelsea's piano lesson we decided to take a detour and see how much rain was on the roads. Probably not a smart idea, but our area didn't flood as much. She got down, and stood outside taking in all the precipitation she could muster while sucking on a dumdum. I snapped a few photos of her whilst in the car, and the sound of the rain beating on the hood of the car was a nice rhythm.

I'm glad to be living in this part of the world because the colors that the rain brings is absolutely breathtaking. I will always forgive winter and a wet, wet spring because at the end of the day into the next morning we wake up to days looking like this... 

^^^ picture taken by yours truly with no filter. ^^^

And that is beauty!

They don't call it the Garden State for nothing.  

Snippets from the weekend & a little bit of now.

I hope everyone had a great weekend, and that this week is off to a thankful start. 

Nothing all that interesting happened on the home front just catching up on some scrapbooking (yes I still do that on occasion) & a lot of rest because I refuse to get sick. 

Jersey weather this weekend was too good to be true but man was it surreal. I mean 70 degree weather in November! In Jersey? No wonder I started feeling a little under the weather, because weather like this where it's cold for one week & warm for two days can really mess up your immune system & make one sick! (Y'all Texans know what I'm talking about) Well...whatever I had it passed & I'm feeling so much better. 

Nonetheless we've been enjoying what seems to be the end of autumn. And the end of a Stake Presidency in our church that we've had for five years while living in New Jersey. 

It has been so nice to have had such an awesome stake presidency, but eventually...all things must come to an end. Life goes on & change is always good. No matter how much some of us may not like "different" change is good. 

Soon we will have a new stake presidency, winter, & more memories to make. 

And...

Not only am I in a bit of denial that Noah is four, but autumn this year has been so different. 

In a really good way. 

It continues to last just a little bit longer. Long enough for us to have enjoyed bits of autumn in various states. 

The wind is blowing pretty fierce right now that my wind chimes are going berserk. Having just closed my windows because the chilled air is creeping in is a sign that colder temps will soon be permanent...and I don't mind. 

I'm actually looking forward to going sledding with the kids, build a snowman, ice skating, having snowball fights & randomly playing in the snow. It's sooooo fun to do that when they're little. Makes me happy that I have the desire to do the things that I've always wanted to do as a young girl with my kids. 

Waking up to a little bit of snow last week has me itching for winter. Seeing the excitement on Chelsea's face as she walked out the door that morning made me happy to know that she looks forward to it! Plus...she's a hat girl & loves to wear her beanies! I sure hope we get some snow this year. 

Winter in Jersey would just be weird without it! 

So, for those of you who love the snow...pray for it! Even if you don't...still pray! 

Have a wonderful week! 

42 will be special.

"Happy Birthday" were two words that Chelsea and Noah kept uttering for a whole week straight. My dear friend Ceyda came to visit me bearing all kinds of gifts from kitchen towels to bath and body products, making me and my house feeling loved.

For years I used to say that my birthday is just like any other day, but I refuse to feel that way anymore. I refuse to feel like each day is like any other day because each day is different, special and unique. I am the one that makes life my own, and if I want to do something or change something about myself that is going to help me become a lovelier, more "better me" then I'm going to be like Nike, and "Just do it!" 

These days my life seems to be flashing too quickly right before my eyes, and thinking that my birthday is like any other day is like saying you being born in this dispensation means nothing. It's a scary thought sometimes you know...getting older. Having wrinkles slowly creeping into the corners of your eyes knowing that your best friend will be the crows feet that you'll be seeing in the mirror every morning. Noticing the gray hairs that are visible from 5 feet away. Not being able to finish a snickers candy bar, or digest spicy food properly. Tums are always in stock at my house! Using that clarisonic so many times a day that the bristles are begging me to move to a much clearer face, and begging ladies at the makeup counters for samples of "all about eyes". It's a bit freaky, but knowing that I'm eight years away from turning the big "50" is a bit overwhelming to me. Then again...I have a daughter in college so why don't I feel that old.  

It's because I'm not. 

When I turned 40 I wasn't afraid...at all. I was actually looking forward to it, and so far these years have been treating me great. Stress, and living life worrying about every little thing is meaningless. It's not me, and I refuse to allow any of that get in the way of the life I'm living. I'm sorry, but I had enough of that in my earlier years. 

No...so far this year has been a great challenge. Even though Jon lost his job this summer I managed to have my first article  published in the Deseret News, have one of my dear friends from Utah visiting for my birthday, a new calling in the church that'll help me grow spiritually, and kids that are healthy, happy, love school, and are pretty wonderful. 

So in my 42nd year I am blessed more than words can say in making each day wonderful, and celebrating my birthday is not like any other day. 

It is special. 

Happy birthday to me!