It is what it is.....

I can’t even believe that it is November already. Halloween has come and gone. Everyday seems to come and go faster than the last. It seems just like yesterday that I was 12 and bringing home a stray cat. Secretly feeding it and nursing it back to health. Plotting on how I was going to convince my parents to keep it.

I still do that. Russ doesn’t allow me to foster animals anymore. They definitely find a permanent home, with us. I did successfully nurse a dog with a broken pelvis back to health, and find a home for her. So I can’t say that I have kept them all!

But 4 cats, 3 dogs, a husband and 2 kids later…..space has become a little tight. Before we had kids I didn’t care about the hair everywhere. I didn’t care about the muddy paws and how someone is always throwing up somewhere it seems like.

I didn’t care how our house always seemed like a mad house. Cats wrestling and dogs rough housing. Dogs sleeping on the couch. And our cats scratching up the wall. I really didn’t care. They were my babies and they could do no wrong.

But then the human babies came. I got so preoccupied with my little humans, that my first born, furry babies got the back burner. I started stressing about the dog hair. “How horrible it would be if the baby got one dog hair on her.” I started stressing about the muddy paw prints. And I was so tired, that I didn’t want to play ball as much anymore.

I lost myself. I couldn’t figure out how to balance it. I started worrying about what people thought. I don’t know why. It is a lot of work, but I do keep up with keeping things somewhat hair free. But when did a little dog hair kill someone? So what if I have to sweep and vacuum multiple times a day. Or so what if I don't sweep and vacuum multiple times a day. It is so worth it.

So now…I am going to take a step back. I am going to let the dogs back on the couch….well they have been back on the couch for a while now actually. If someone doesn’t like animals or animal hair then maybe they shouldn’t come over to my house.

I can’t imagine my life without animals. They don’t judge you. They don’t hold grudges against you. They always greet you with a wagging tail. They love you no matter what. They take it like it is. They don’t expect too much or too little. And most importantly they live life in the moment. They don’t worry about the past or the future. And they are downright hilarious!

Children are kind of like this too. And I think we all need to live like this. Who cares what other people think. So what if my neighbors think that I am the crazy cat and dog lady. Maybe I am….who cares. All I know, is that I couldn’t imagine my life without these human and furry creatures in my life.

This is who I am. This is who I have been since I was a little girl. Everyone has their thing. Everyone has something that they are known for. And this is mine. I need to stop fighting it, and I need to own it. I think that people spend way too much time trying to be someone that they are not. They try so hard to impress other people. They try so hard to be perfect in every way that they lose themselves.

So this is it. A new day. A new thought process. I am going to let it go. Well, not too much. I am going to stop caring what people think so much. This is me. Take it or leave it. I love my humans, dogs, cats and husband. They make me crazy sometimes. But that’s what makes life interesting right?

We all need to let the little things go. But also learn to love the little things. Keep love in your heart. Love all creatures (human and non-human). Be kind to one another. But also at the same time stand up for yourselves when someone isn’t being so kind to you. You can only try so much. Sometimes it is just time to move on. If someone doesn’t except you for you…then be done with it.

It is what it is. And I am what I am. Yes, my children have taken the number one spot, but animals and Russ take a close second. No, really I love my Russ more than my animals….really I do. I love you Russ….: )

Peace and love....

Pumpkins and flip flops.....

Where would you rather be?

We know fall is in full swing when the time comes for our yearly trip to the pumpkin patch. We were so lucky to actually have a really nice sunny day. It was so strange to think that last year at this time, Marshall was in my belly. Now he is here joining in on our little family tradition.

Fall. Fall is so pretty. The leaves changing color. The brisk coldness in the air. Rainy, windy days. Pumpkins and apples. Hay rides and apple cider. I hate apple cider actually….Isn’t that weird? I have never, ever liked the stuff.

Browns, greens, reds and oranges. Jeans and corduroy pants.

Fleece jackets and long sleeve t-shirts.

I do love the fall, don't get me wrong. But my mind and body want to be somewhere else.... Palm trees and sandy beaches. The smell of salt water and sun block. Warm weather and sunny days. Flip flops and shorts. Ocean salt water and boats. Dolphins and sea birds. That’s where I would rather be.

That’s what we get for going to Florida so late in the season. Just when we were prepared that summer was over, we go to Florida. It made us think that summer was just beginning. And now it is getting cold. And windy. I don’t want to give up my flip flops….and I don’t think that they want to give me up either. It will be a hard good bye to put them way back in the closet. I don’t think that I am ready. Maybe I will leave them out where I can see them. A reminder that the warm, hot weather that I have grown to love will be back soon enough…….

Peace and love..

Epiphany

Jaylee had her first epiphany today. She stumbled upon a rubber ducky necklace that was from her second birthday party. It sparked a memory. She said “This from my party with all the balloons..” I was impressed that she remembered, that was like, 7 months ago! I thought it was pretty neat that she is not only having long term memories, but she is talking about them. I reminded her that was from her birthday party. That’s when it happened! Her eyes got big….and at that moment she realized at 2 ½ years of age that time slips away never to be recovered. She dropped her head, her arms and hands limp to her sides. “Oh no my birthday is all gone, never gonna get it back now. What we gonna do?” She was nearing panic mode. What is this child going to do when she turns 3o! I tried to explain the concept of the past and future....finally I just said "Yes that birthday has come and gone...but there will be many more birthdays to come" And that made it all better....if only it was that easy for all of us.

It's all good.....

"Some people are so afraid to die that they never begin to live."-Henry Vandyke (1852-1933)

Life is good. That is my new motto. We are so blessed; we get to travel a lot. Even our little ones like the excitement of going somewhere new.

Between my husband and me we have family strewn from New York to Florida. We even have family in California and Germany. That gives us plenty of excuses to travel.
And plenty of places to go someday!

Love and treasure your family............

Why can’t everyday feel like a vacation? I think it could if you learned to look at things in a different light. Why is it so hard for people to find silliness in everyday situations? What is life without silliness? My husband and I are both silly, and so are our kids. Life is no

fun without humor!

It is so easy to take things for granted. What seems simple enough

to me is not for a little one. The morning we were getting ready to leave for Florida I was getting Jaylee dressed, and she was running around like a crazy woman saying, “You can’t catch me…” I stated that we have to hurry; we don’t want to be late and miss our flight. She looked at me in all seriousness and said “No Mommy. We can’t go bye bye. We have to wait for the airoplane to come and get us.” She thought in her little mind that that huge airliner was going to fly and land in our front yard and pick us up. It seems ridiculous, but think about it. Why wouldn’t she think that?

We rush through our lives worrying and hurrying. If we learn to take a deep breath and live in the moment we could learn to see the little things. We could learn to enjoy the moment instead of rushing through it.

H A V E F U N

We all know the person who won’t go on a boat ride because they don’t want to get windblown. I was that person. I stopped those thoughts and now I enjoy the wind in my face on the boat ride. You can’t enjoy the moment when you are so self absorbed. Those moments add up, and before you know it you will regret not living those moments to the fullest.

Sometimes an opportunity comes your way. Your first thought is to jump on that opportunity. But then that naggy little voice starts in your mind. The “what if” voice. Sometimes you need to take a chance. It might not work out, but what if it does? You never know unless you try.

Life is too short. I plan on seeing and doing everything that I possibly can. I plan on moving around a little here and there, until I find my permanent place….wherever that may be. Why not. Why settle for something or someplace that you aren’t 100% happy with? Think about all of the places you could see. And all of the people you could meet. Think of your life as an adventure. I want to teach my children to make the most out of this life, to make the most of their life. I don’t want them to be afraid to try something new. I want them to be comfortable with change.

Life is good. Life is fun. Life is hard. But life is short. You are in charge of your happiness. You are in control of your dreams. Nothing is impossible and everything is possible. Learn to smile. Learn to feel happiness. And take a step away from everything negative. Don’t let anyone step on your dreams. And live your life to the fullest.

What matters is how you live today .

"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience.We are spiritual beings having a human experience."-Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955)

Peace and Love

Crawl Baby Crawl

Life lessons from a baby

The day started like any other. Jaylee again snuck into our bed in the middle of the night. She is so sneaky, she doesn't even wake us up. She wedges herself in between us and that's that. I really don't mind it. It's not every night, a few times a week. And I think it is kind of sweet. It's nice waking up and seeing her there.

After breakfast Jaylee and I played with Marshall on his bedroom floor. Jaylee was crawling around showing him how to crawl....and he assumed the position!

He realized what he just did, and he got so excited. I love that sweet baby squeal that he does.

And then he tried AGAIN. Only this time he brought one knee up, like he was going to take off....but then collapsed flat to the floor again! He sighed.

Time is going by so fast. It seems like yesterday that he was
a newborn baby. And it seems like yesterday that Jaylee was
a tiny little newborn. She is walking and talking. Talking in
sentences. She is so independent. And before I know it, so will
Marshall.

This little boy has been the light at the end of my tunnel
over the past few months. People aren't always as they
seem. And I have learned that you can't depend on others
to give you happiness. It is all up to you.

We all make a conscious decision. When something stressful

is happening in our lives there is a moment where we decide what to do with it. Are we going to handle this in a negative way, or in a positive way?

"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within."~ Elizabeth Kubler-Ross ~

I guess the moral to the story is, life is too short. No matter what is going on in your life good or bad, act in kindness. Put on a smile and happiness will find you.

Look at life the way a child does. Look at everything carefully and notice the beauty in everything, you too will be amazed. You will start to notice things that you didn't notice before. Slow down and take things in. You will notice a spark of happiness deep inside of yourself. A spark of happiness and love that you would have missed if you didn't slow down.

No matter how dark things become, find the good in it. Because everything happens for a reason. Trust that and know that and you will start to live your life in a different light.

Peace and love....