Blessings

Lately I've found myself counting my blessings. I'm a blessed person! I encourage you to count the blessings in your own life. If you feel like it, leave a comment listing one of your blessings--so that I can share in your joy!

I'm blessed with an amazing husband who loves me and gives himself to our family. I'm blessed with a precious daughter who brings a smile to my face whenever I think of her. I'm blessed with wonderful friends and family who give support and friendship and allow me to a part of their lives. These are just the beginning of my very long list of things to be thankful for. Thank you God for these and many other blessings.

Conflict Resolution

I really don't like trying to please people, I mean when it's not something you want to do anyway, and then you find yourself compromising even more in order to keep peace or civility or some sense of social decorum--which no one is really feeling in the first place.

I'm definitely not going to meet up to your expectations if I don't know what they are, and even if I do know them, I probably still won't meet them, as I am my own person, and I have my own family, and we know who we are, at least as much as anyone can in a particular moment. So just let me be myself. Leave me to act as I would in a situation, and stop trying to make me feel badly about it.

As if life isn't difficult enough without us causing problems out of nothing. Grow up. Have some respect for me. I have certainly only tried to show you respect, even when I don't agree with you, and even when you are cruel.

I could be cruel. I know exactly the thing I could say to hurt you. A few words from my mouth, and I could sit back and watch you fall to pieces, completely melt on the floor. But alas, I cannot allow myself to act on this impulse--as then I would be just like you. And that's not who I am. I have self-control. I have empathy. I understand you try to control the world around you because you feel inadequate, weak, and empty.

So go ahead. Say your mean-hearted comments. Continue to be manipulative and passive-aggressive. I will continue to be firm in who I am and what I believe, while still doing everything in my power to be kind. Even though I don't always want to.

Silly Groundhog

I suppose I feel just like everyone else. I mean, I think we all have things we love and don't love about the places we live. I remember when Reid and I first started thinking about living in California. I pictured sunshine, beaches, and a life of excitement. Then I visited San Fran...in July...and I had to wear a coat. Now don't get me wrong, SF is a beautiful city, and I'm sure it's full of excitement, but we don't live in SF. And sunshine? Yes, sometimes, but its not warm very often. Beaches? Well, certainly not like I pictured...I was thinking swimsuit and sunbathing, not coats and scarfs. You see it's getting to be that time of year again when i get the itch. The itch for a new season. I'm ready for spring, but here it seems to just keep raining. Now, some of you are thinking that rain means spring, but I'm not in Washington, or Idaho, or Rhode Island anymore. Here, rain means winter. That's right, no snow or frost to make the colder months worth it. Just rain. And don't confuse me with one of those people who doesn't like rain. I love the rain. I like to put on a scarf and walk under one of my beautiful umbrellas. It makes me think of Seattle, and I love Seattle. But rain is different each place you live. It might still be water falling from the sky, but it feels different. So here I am, with another month or two of winter stretching ahead, and all I want is spring. I'm ready for the flowers to bloom. For the sun to shine. For the fresh smell of cut grass. I want to be able to wear cute dresses without freezing, and enjoy the breeze in my hair. Silly groundhog. Couldn't you have just left your shadow inside?

WhooHoo!

I don't typically don't use this blog for writing about my personal life, at least not in a narrative sort of way, but I'm going to break my own habit, as well as the proper rules of English (note this is very much a run-on), and say WE"RE HAVING A BABY!!!! Yep it's true. You've probably already read about it on facebook, but I had to shout it out here as well. God is so good, and we're so excited! I will be ten weeks along, on Friday, and our due date is August 13th. We're planning on finding out the gender, and looking forward to all the different stages along the way. So, now I've shared our fantastic news, and my next post will be back in the normal style of things for me.