Saint Patty's Day is Special To Me

For most people, Saint Patricks Day probably either has no meaning or it represents a drunken good time in Savannah.... For me, it represents one year that Stan and I have been together.  Our relationship was very clear from the start.  Between us, we shared TOTAL honesty and an undeniable level of compatibility.  We both agree that none of us are perfect and there is certainly no such thing as a "perfect marriage".  However, when two people can agree on most everything and are compatible with each other on so many levels, it just becomes a perfect match.  For us, it was this way from the start.  There was no denying what connections were between us, from very early on.  We've both lived a lot of life, experienced a lot of pain, made lots of mistakes.... yet through it all, we found our own version of perfection, in very little time.  One year later, I love him more and more as every day passes. I don't see that changing.  Ever.  We share everything.  We laugh.  We cry.  We help each other through bad times and celebrate together during the good times.  We have chosen to put our focus on each other always, which isn't always easy with all of the "layers" of our complicated lives. Still, we will keep our focus on US, providing lots of love and support for the children we are raising, and never losing sight of what's important.  Happy one year to us!  May there be many more years together.....

Say What You Wanna Say...

So... Stan and I are both HUGE fans of Saturday Night Live.  For as long as I can remember, I have loved it.  There was a bit the other night that absolutely was hilarious to both of us.  Sometimes those things just hit home and are SO REAL.  I feel like I spend most of my time balancing and carefully choosing what I say, what I feel, what I think... and it's mostly to appease other people. People that I didn't even necessarily CHOOSE to have in my life!  It's crazy!  If only I could break free and say what I really want to say.... I'm not sure I would have a job though... or any friends.  But how liberating would that be.... hmmmmm...... If you want to see the video I'm talking about just Google "SNL Say What you Wanna Say"... Guaranteed to make you laugh!

Negativity at Its Finest....

I am blessed.  I am lucky.  I am amazed at life.  I may not be "rich" by the world's standards of dollars in the bank, but I am richer than I ever imagined if you consider the love and joy in my life.  I ran into a lady today at lunch... I don't even know her name.  Story of my life.  She used to always be in spin class with me at the gym but stopped going a long time ago.  I would talk to her routinely yet never really knew exactly who she was.  (I tend to be that person that does that!)  She asked me how things were going for me and stated that she had not seen me in a while.  I told her that I had been doing well, had recently remarried, had 3 awesome children, 2 stepdaughters that are amazing... Before I could even finish, she winced as if she were in pain.  "Oh honey... You've got your hands full.  I wouldn't be in your shoes for anything.  Goodness, that makes me tired!".  Let's just say this... Not only did I lose all respect in a split second for this "acquaintance" who thought she had the right to make commentary about MY life, but I also shut her up pretty quickly.  For those of you that know me well, I'm generally pretty quick witted and if I cannot come up with something quick enough in a moment like that, I get frustrated with myself!  I had my act together today though!  My response took about a second.  (and I did it with a smile on my face)  "Well, thanks for that... but I happen to believe that my shoes are a pretty awesome place to be... so awesome that you probably couldn't handle it.  Nice seeing you."  I walked out of Jimmy Johns as quickly as I had walked in (good thing they are the fastest subs in town on a day like today).  As I got in my car, a guilty conscience wanted to get the best of me... Was I harsh?  Was I snappy?  Did I offend her?  These were all questions that went through my mind.... But guess what? NO.  SHE was the one that was harsh, snappy and offensive. I wish people could think about what they say sometimes before they say it.  It's amazing to me that people that know nothing about you really can be so opinionated.  My motto has become this... If you and I don't share blood or money in the bank, your opinion should be irrelevant to me. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions.  It is, after all, a free country.  However, scattering your worthless opinions all over the place over things that aren't your business anyway just make you look stupid.  So, that incident today was on her.   Why do people jump to see the negativity in everything? Life is hard enough at its best without people purposefully trying to bring you down.  My life is blessed.  Stan and I tell our kids that having a big family is just an extra blessing, that there are more people to love and care for you.  I believe that wholeheartedly.  Is it easy? No.  Is it worth it? Absolutely.  Do sacrifices have to be made?  Every single day.  I just had to purchase a vehicle we could all fit in comfortably.  It wasn't exactly my dream vehicle for whenever I got a new one.  But it's what our family needed to travel comfortably together and we are blessed to be able to make the car payment.  There is positivity in everything.  I'm certainly not perfect and I let negativity get the best of me sometimes too...but at least I do try to keep it to myself.  And when I have the chance, if I run into a friend who has recently remarried and acquired a whole new family, lifestyle and a "bus" to haul them all in... I will be the voice of encouragement and support.  We all need that in life!