Thankful for 30 days

I am so glad that I decided to do 30 Days of Thankful.
It definitely made me think about how blessed we truly are.
It made me blog more..which I loved.
And it made me appreciate the tiniest littlest daily things!
It also made me get behind on our Anniversary post :/

 Hold on, to me as we go

As we roll down this unfamiliar road

And although this wave is stringing us along

Just know you’re not alone

Cause I’m going to make this place your home

Settle down, it'll all be clear

Don't pay no mind to the demons

They fill you with fear

The trouble it might drag you down

If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you’re not alone

Cause I’m going to make this place your home

This map isn't completely correct. I try and keep it updated as we travel however, I totally missed our route to Oregon. I am not quite sure how..I wasn't pregnant or anything! HA! Daniel also informed me a few others are off...

To little man:  I know that someday when we tell you about your first year of life it may not have been as traditional as all of your friends.  What I do promise is however, you have had a lot of fun! You have traveled a lot, played, experienced so many things, laughed, and have brought more joy to our lives than we ever thought possible. We were happy before you came however, now our our hearts are so full of love and you bring a new joy to simple pleasures. I know you may not have your own room or all the toys in the world because we don't have the space..but I promise you have more love than you could ever need. You bring so much happiness to us and we are beyond thankful for you! (We really are thankful for you each day...if you can't tell!)

As we continue to travel this crazy road, I am thankful for our family and friends. I know no matter where we are, no matter the miles, we are completely surrounded by love. Thank you to everyone that prays for us as we travel and that supports us with love and kind words on this journey.  I am beyond thankful for this blog and the ability to store our travel memories in such a neat way.

Painted Nails..

I painted my FINGER nails other than clear for the first time in forever today! I kinda feel like #KellyRipa #BobbyThomas or #likearockstar

  

Thanks to Andrea for the color! I have used it many times on my toes but decided to get a little wild! :) I also love how the simple pleasure of painted fingernails can make you feel instantly refreshed and well...pretty (there I said it!) :)

The ability to know this rotation isn't permanant..

You are the maker of your own happiness. Daniel and I have realized that the opportunity to travel, at this point in our lives, is certainly something we can't take for granted. No.it.is.not.easy and certainly has challenges that we didn't even think about when we started talking about traveling. When we researched living on the road and there were aspects that didn't arise until we hit the road. All that said, we are grateful for this experience and would not change it. We meet people often that are not able to travel until they retire. Many of them are only able to "travel" because they work as a park host. Of course we meet people that travel for pure joy they however, are completely jealous of our age. We hear "Oh how we wish we could have experienced this at your age." They have aches, pains, medical issues, etc. In fact we have met many an older couple having trouble maneuvering their rig. They get so frustrated that they consider giving up what they dreamed of doing in retirement because they just don't think they could RV.

We know we are very fortunate however, here is the other thing...We made this happen. We decided to go on the road. We decided this was a great opportunity for our family. We were newly married, some thought it was neat, others thought we were crazy, but we had nothing to lose. I am not saying this is for everyone, because I certainly can't see many of my friends doing this. Lol..you know who you are. What I am saying is that we get out of life and happiness what we put into it.

Of course everyone goes through times of frustration. Even now as we travel this rotation isn't the best. Many of the full time people at this facility are NOT happy and they take it out on all the travelers. Over 3/4 of the therapy department are travels and the full timers are (I am guessing jealous) and extremely unhappy. And well it makes for a tough three months for the travelers. Apparently many don't make it for the full rotation.

That said, often it seems as though it takes something major for people to make the change. I am so thankful that Daniel and I really talked about this opportunity and after much thought, we took it! Traveling didn't happen overnight but  we did it. Even when we hit a tough rotation, all the others make it worth it. No each day isn't roses and glitter and gum drops and happy dances (like when I am up on the roof or below the 5th wheel or digging for something else) but, I am so happy we are having this life experience. I know I have said this many times but, we have been places and experienced things we would not have otherwise.

We aren't promised tomorrow and we have no idea what the future holds..so we have to make the best of today!

Lots of love to each of you. Make today a fun one! :)

An easy day

Thankful for a day with not a lot to do.
A boy that is taking lots of naps.
Several phone converstaions with sweet friends over the past few days.
An easy trip to the store for essentials.
Fun with daddy when he came home.
An evening full of TV shows to make me laugh then Parenthood always pulls at my heartstrings to end the night!

Thankful for a day of ease!

More Thanksgiving pics

A random group of pictures from Thanksgiving. We are thankful for our family that love us and the ability to spend time together! I believe it also goes without saying, we have quite the little ham...

Fun Thanksgiving..although we passed around a bug

The last few days are delayed as I was super busy on Thanksgiving cooking, visiting, and cleaning up. Friday I was off all day and by the evening it was apparent I had caught what Ben, Ann, Connor, and Jean had. YUCK! I am feeling better but am off to bed. I hope to update tomorrow all about our fun. My eyes are closing by the second and I am typing a lot of nonsense!

Nite!

Gorgeous weather -Day 24

Thankful for lots of outside playtime in November! Yep we took advantage of it for sure!

Daniel

This guy loves his little family. I think he surprises his sisters, parents, aunts, etc and lifelong friends at how good of a family man and husband he is and wants to be. He spent many years being a care free bachelor and apparently I "changed" him. I don't necessarily think I think changed him, I think he just felt love and it was real! (I am know you all know what I am talking about!)

Over the Thanksgiving holiday if I couldn't find him in the house, I knew where to look....out on the golf course! He was pulling the kids around, sitting on the fairway letting Wyatt run off some energy, chasing Wyatt, or playing fetch with Hershey! I love this man with all my heart!

.

Love you Daniel for everything you do and for all the love you have for our family!

Happy Thanksgiving!

So thankful for my little family!

They are almost here...

I know we all experience moments when certain phrases or events just talk to you...

 "It is a miracle if you can find true friends, and it is a miracle if you have enough food to eat, and it is a miracle if you get to spend your days and evenings doing whatever it is you like to do, and the holiday season-like all the other seasons - is a good time to not only tell stories of miracles, but to think about the miracles in your own life, and to be grateful for them." Lemony Snicket

My week has been full of seeing friends and family. I have loved every second of it! That said, today I am thankful I get to see Daniel and my parents! Thankful for family time!! I have always enjoyed it however, as I have gotten older I really cherish it. I know I am extremely blessed in many ways and doing 30 days of thankful has really made me reflect. It goes beyond these posts and often I just skim the surface of what the thankful means.

I am beyond excited to see everyone and extremely thankful to get in some time with some great friends. I love you J and R! Our simple pleasure of talking and laughing was an amazing recharge. I love that we have been friends for many years and now have babies close in age!  I am mad that I didn't get a picture with J or R this week.We were busy visiting! :) We did go to Coopers baptism on Sunday and I did take some pictures. I am loving so many of them, I had to just randomly pick one...

I can't go on with out saying, you other ladies I hope I get to see you very soon!Yes Andrea, I know..I know..I know..you and everyone else all keep saying it is an easy fix...NWA! :)

Anyway this picture is from this weekend. Daniel took Wyatt on his first golf cart ride. He was quite the fan!

 

I am also looking forward to blogging on the laptop. ;)

Until tomorrow...

He misses us..

I love that Daniel misses us when we are away visiting others. He gets so excited when we reunite that it makes my heart very happy!! I am thankful for a man that show true emotion and love!

Sleepy boy.

Health

Thankful for our health. Though I have horrible migraines and we still do not have a diagnosis for D..I know to count my blessings daily for our health.

Thankful they came back..

Yesturday I was thankful for our four legged babies. Yesturday we also traveled to my grandmothers house to begin Thanksgiving preparations. At some point during the night the dogs open the garage door and went on an adventure. Let me explain this, they love to sleep in the golf cart which has a remote in one of the trays by the steering wheel. I thought I had taken all necessary steps moving anything they could get into and covering the seat of the golf cart. Well, this morning around 7:30 my grandmother noticed the door was open. I immediatelty checked our phones to see if anyone had called finding them. No luck. Daniel took off to look for them. We were very worried however, after about 30 min they both showed up at the patio door. I greeted two very tired babies who were happy to be home. We have no idea how long they were out, but they seemed to have a lot of fun. They have been snoring away all day. We are very thankful to have them back and so greatful for a dogs keen since of "home".

Mama no pictures please..I am resting.

Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry

We love our four legged babies and yes the remote has been removed from the cart. No more night adventures for them!

Chance and Hershey

My first babies. They are still very much loved however, sometimes I think they feel another way. My four legged babies have become extremely needy as Wyatt has gotten older. They beg for food, love, walks, always want to be in our laps! Wyatt pets them and they eat it up.
The following pictures show a common scene.  Wyatt petting Chance (the black one) and Hershey  licking Wyatt. Don't worry, this was followed by us saying Hershey stop licking. She did. :)

They still get plenty of attention and will always be our first kids!

"The love of a pet never fails, it is always true."

Benjamin

Today I am thankful for my brother: Ben, Ben-jam-in, Ben-jama-rama-lama-dingdong (he loves his nicknames). We are 22 months apart and growing up people always mistook us for twins.  He is a really good older brother. Protective, loving, funny, smart, strong, sweet, and kind.

Growing up we played together a lot: basketball, riding bikes, playing in the cellar, "underground railroad", making secret maps and clubs, played in the  upstairs jail part of daddy's office, had races, climbed in trees, pushed each other on the swings, annoyed each other, he played with dolls and I played cars and Castle Grayskull,  made movie theaters, swam like fish all summer, explored the land, etc. I know my memories are full of fun times..though you did put that penny in the fish tank :)

 He was protective in ways I never knew. I lived with him while I was in grad school and one of my favorite things he has said regarding us, was that he was going to always check out the guys I dated... you know as every older brother does. Then he confessed one day that I always dated guys that were way bigger than him. LOL! It made me laugh out loud because Daniel and I had just met and he really did have a point.

I love that we have a good relationship, and of course we have had our disagreements...what siblings haven't. I know I am super lucky to have grown up with and still have such a great brother. I love the daddy he is to his kiddos and the uncle he is to Wyatt. He has always supported me through my school, work, relationships, and adventures.

 "To the outside world, we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other's hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time."

 Clara Ortega 

 

 I feel so blessed to have grown up an older brother! Love you Ben-jam-an! See you soon!

 

I am not quite sure what is going on with Blogger. The words and picture kept moving around on me. It moved the picture so many times I just left it. Then it posted somewhere else! Forget trying to fix my grammar. If I typed it, then it had to say as the words would not stop moving. Hmm.. So please excuse the mistakes in the last post. 

N and G - aka the Parents

I can only hope that I will be as strong, patient, loving, caring, understanding, funny, serious, a teacher, a role model, love the outdoors, and one that knows life lessons are important, offers advice but  am always willing to just listen, an amazing friend and teacher to Wyatt as you have been to me. You have shown me that people and love are not always easy or perfect, but being best friends makes it much easier.                   

Thank you for every lesson, every lecture, and every memory. Though I may not have understood them at the time, I appreciate them now.  

Your friends and students love you and it is obvious why. People always ask how you are doing even if they have only met you but once or twice. You love many and many love you.

I could not have asked for better parents! You are great teachers in the art of marriage! We love you and can’t wait to see you soon!!!

Thankful for my jogging stroller

Yep it may seem silly however, it makes me a better wife, mommy, and friend! :) Love running the trails!

Pinterest..how you sometimes make life easier!

I know many of us use it. I planned Wyatt's entire party this way. Gathering ideas, games, decorations, etc. I loved it and it probably made me do much more than I would have before Pinterest days!   I can't imagine planning a wedding with this social media source. I ripped pages out of magazines and printed pictures off the internet and put them into a binder and become overwhelmed with so many ideas. I can't imagine it now! HA!  I know our relationship is a love hate. I love the creative ideas, yet wonder how in the heck they even came up with them! I also want the messy house or kitchen..let me see those real pictures! HA!

I have always liked collecting recipes and will use them as a guide. I am not one to measure precisely or at all the majority of the time. I think that is because my Mema didn't measure, she taught my dad and the both of them taught my mama. I mainly learned from my mama, but have watched my mama, Mema, Mom (my mama's mom), and Connie cook over the years. I am a master at taking a recipe and making it healthier. Our friends and family know this and some love it..while others prefer the original. :)
That said I get into the rut as everyone else and cook the same things. Due to my tiny kitchen and limited space, I find myself making things with minimal prep and ease. Before Pinterest I would look through my paper copies, cookbooks, and online for recipes weekly but would get frustrated with the organization. I found myself printing or writing them down and they would go into my cookbooks. With the combination of the Kindle and Pinterest I have expanded almost on a weekly basis. Whoo Hoo. I also think having to feed Wyatt has made a difference. I never made lunch before and would go to a quick wrap or veggies. I am not saying I cook for lunch now however, I do get great ideas from Pinterest.

Anyway, here are a few of the ones I have "made" and we have enjoyed. Who can't use a few new ideas for breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner?  In all of these if it called for beef I used turkey or chicken.

Crock-pot Pulled Pork with Caramelized Onions- I made this on the stove and it was a lot faster

Source: eatingwell.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Sloppy Joes II- I used turkey and whole wheat sandwich bread. 

Source: allrecipes.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Breakfast or Lunch Parfait

Source: luxefinds.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Lunch ideas for everyone

Source: easylunchboxes.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Apple sandwich with granola, peanut butter, and chocolate chips. I just put this in a bowl and chopped up the apple.

Source: beccacc.tumblr.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Lunch Ideas - lists with more ideas and details

Source: mrsseamonster.blogspot.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Skillet Pork Chops

Source: quick-and-easy-dinner.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Grilled Pork Chops With Sesame Slaw

Source: realsimple.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Veggie Stuffed Peppers- I added ground turkey and didn't use cheese

Source: allrecipes.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Brown Beans and Cornbread - I used ham and we had ham slices..

Source: thepioneerwoman.com via Melissa on Pinterest

There you go..now off to figure out what is for dinner. Yum-o!