Another Year. . .

Where OH, Where has My October gone? This truly makes me sad, that it has disappeared before my eyes, & I cannot tell you much of anything that I have accomplished. No, Really!!! I'm Sad! I had wanted to be raking leaves & cleaning up my yard with the kids. I had wanted to be making lots of yummy soups, stews & breads & yummy pumpkin treats & post them. And yet, here I am just wishing that my favorite month had not escaped me like it has. I have made some yummy food, just not posted them like I wanted. And as of yet, no pumpkin treats, but I will.

We have had quite a crummy week. My poor little Tess, came down with a pretty nasty cough last Saturday, it was not good. ON Monday, the poor little girlie took into throwing up all day & night, then to a fever of 102.7 for 24 hours, with the cough. And now, it's a sore throat, cough, & chills. She has been really sick. Then last night Parker threw up 3 times, but then nothing else from him. So, needless to say, we have had a very sickly week. We had drank a ton of Gatorade, ate lots of chicken noodle soup, cuddled & watched lots of Halloween Disney shows, & read lots of books. I am just waiting for all of this to hit me, and I'm afraid that it will. YUCK!!!

I have laundry that could reach across my house to do. It is not my favorite thing to do, but it has to get done. I was showing Parker earlier how to fold towels. He did it, now granted it took him almost an hour, but he did it & he was so cute & excited when he was done. It really made me smile. I can't believe how big my kids are getting. They are growing up so fast. They are a lot of fun to watch them as they continue to grow & learn. I am very thankful for them & for the many thing s that they continually teach me.

Tomorrow is my 36th birthday & as I am getting older, I am realizing that whether I like it or not, I am an adult. I told my Mom, the other day on the phone, that when I turn 40, then I will really be an adult, but not yet. She informed me that when your in your 20's, you can still play & get away with being a young adult. But when you turn 30, that's when everything changes & you really are a responsible member of society & a full on adult. Well, I'm now in my mid 30's & I like to think of myself as a young adult. Yes, I know that I am a wife & mother, but I still want to be young & play & go to concerts & wear cute clothes & have fun & funky hair. I think that as we grow older , we get better with time. More maturity comes & more confidence, and I can still stay up with entertainment & fashion. I love it, & I know that I always will. I refuse to be one of those mom's that wear elastic waist jeans that are too short with a iron on pumpkin sweatshirt to the school carnival. That will NEVER be me! There are so many cute & fashionable older women, that really there is no excuse for elastic waist jeans. They are BAD!!!!

Here are a few things that I have learned in my 36 years:

• Chocolate really can cure ANYTHING!
• Every grey hair on my head, I have earned; and I will continue to color it!!!
• Every day that we have here is a gift & should be treasured.
• A kiss & hug from a child can make everything all better.
• Life is simple; we are the one's who complicate it.
• Make time to be adventurous in life, you only live once.
• If you stumble just make it part of the dance. (This is my theme in life, for sure)
• Kindness does Matter.
• We are all good at something, find what it is & do it well.
• It's OK to like yourself.
• Laugh at the little things.
• I am not as organized as I would like to be & it's OK!
• Laughter is the Best Medicine, next to Tylenol PM.
• A home cooked meal is LOVE.
• Nothing smells better than a clean baby.
• No matter how old I get, I will always love presents!
• Marriage is the hardest job with the most rewarding results, EVER!
• Friends make life fun!
• Shopping can cure mostly anything.
• Love is Everything!
• Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
• Follow your heart, it will guide you well, most of the time.
• Believe in miracles.
• No matter how bad the situation it will change soon.
• A hot cup of cocoa & a book can be a great friend on a cold night.
• Too Much of a good thing, truly can be WONDERFUL!
• Burn the candle, use the china, wear the outfit. Don't save it for the perfect day, use it today. It's as special as they get.
• Don't take yourself too seriously.
• Clayn is my love, comfort, and friend.
• Being home is my favorite place to be.
• The crows feet around my eyes, I love & would never want to change them. It took me many years to get them.
• God lives, he knows me, he loves me & he wants me to be happy!
• A clean house is the reward of a lot of work, but oh, so worth it!
• Sleeping children are a beautiful & precious sight.
• The smell of homemade bread will always bring me home.
• My Mother is always there for me, no matter what!

Well, there you have it, exactly 36 things that I know for sure. I could add a few more, but I'll wait until I'm a little older, & I'm sure even then my list will change. Why is it that every year on my birthday, I contemplate my life, & what I know & what I am so Thankful for. Maybe it's because, I'm so happy to add another year to my life, & truly what a blessing it is not to take life for granted; because it can truly be taken from you in an instant. So, I am truly happy & thankful for another year that the Lord has blessed me with. Hopefully, it will be a better year & that we can continue to look for the good in life. CHEERS, to another Year!