Relationships

 I have been thinking a lot about relationships lately. They are quite the mystery to me. I know that everyone goes through changes in relationships, a lot of them are just seasons in our lives. Sometimes I am baffled at how close I am to someone, or how much I look up to them, only to discover we weren't close at all or they weren't who I thought they were. Also it amazes me when I have known someone for years and years and just kind of maintained an acquaintance with them until one day it blossoms into a deeper friendship and love. Then there are the people I have  never liked and never will like; the people I have always been close to and will always fight to be close to.

 I can think of several people who fit into each category. Sometimes it is hard....after a while I start to feel as though I don't want to get close to anyone else, or I don't have room in my heart for another friend who just evaporates after time. BUT when I stop and think about it, I really do think that God allows certain people into my life. While I am only close to some of them for a while, I can see where I learned something from them or from the relationship I had with them. Sometimes it just sucks though...I think I know someone and then BAM I am just hit upside the head with who they are or where their heart really is. It's in those moments that I have to remember that God is the one I always lean on and focus on...then when people leave my life it just doesn't hurt as much.

If you would have asked me years ago I would have told you that some people would never abandon me....But God also brought lots of unexpected and amazing people into my life AND allowed me to maintain some really important relationships. I guess it is just how life works.

It kind of sucks to think that people are just interchangeable and can be cycled in and out of your life....but sometimes that's the only way I can get through it. I am thankful for the people who have been there in the past and I am super thankful for the people who choose to be there in the future.

My Oldest Friend

Last night I was at one of my best friends house and I was just venting to her about silly stupid things in life and found myself just really thankful for her. After 15 years of friendship, Marianna is still one of those girls I could just cuddle up on the couch with on a friday night, paint our nails, talk about silly stuff and laugh till we cry. Marianna and I have known each other since we were 11 and 12. After living in different states several times, swearing never to talk to each other again, vowing to be best friends forever, watching each other grow in family and in love, seeing the worst and the best....we are a solid pair. DRAMA is how we were in highschool..but I would like to say we are a little better now : ) We worked at a day care together, went to the same church and youth group, graduated the same class, sang together in church and in school.We encouraged each other to pursue our hopes and dreams, picked each other up when our hearts were broken ....I cant even begin to tell you about all of our memories and adventures.

Marianna and I last fall when we found out we were moving back to Indiana : )

Marianna and my 8 month pregnant self, at her wedding

Marianna and myself right before graduation

Our youth group at the airport going to Word of Life in NY....Marianna and I close as usual

A group of our friends from high school, Christmas after we graduated

Walking to school together sophomore year

Two falls ago....still as gooofy as ever :)

Jubilees second birthday party

Keepin' busy!

Sorry that I have no posted in a bit! I have been busy lately! The last couple of days were awesome because Dave and Stac cam to see us before they move out to Seattle...super duper happy for them! : )

We had a really great visit! Staying up way too late talking, eating some late night snacks, playing settlers, checking out local stores and mainly just laughin. :)

I'm gonna miss them..but I am SO happy for them!

What's Goin' On?

Justice is super sick, she got the cold from her older sister and now her eyes and nose wont stop watering/running. Today, after her nap, I had to take a warm wash cloth to them in order for them to open...they were matted shut. So not cool. My little, happy, cute monster is so sad and helpless : (

Jubilee is recovering from her cold, but is making up for her good health with crazy behavior. Not necessarily bad, just ornery. I will tell her not to do something that she already knows not to do and she will just smile at me...yea...brat : )

Jamie is super, duper busy with work. If it hadn't been for our mini blizzard than he would have been on his 8th day straight today. Fortunately he has about a 36 hour break in there. On Wednesday, he and I are going on an overnight date! WOO HOO! AND since I have amazing friends, it looks like we may go to a movie as well. I am so excited about it, but am hoping Jusi is out of the worse of it by then. It will be pretty tempting to cancel if she is still this bad. Jubilee was done with hers in like two days...and the last day was just like today. Here's hopin'.

 I have been playing Mass Effect in the meantime, you know, when I am not cleaning or taking care of sickos (did I mention Jamie was sick too? haha) I have taken a short break with text broker, but want to get back into that soon.

Angel is due with her baby today, Marianna is coming over tomorrow, date with Jamie Wednesday/Thursday, Friday is unknown at this point, and Jamie's birthday is on Sat! Woooot! :)

I talk to my family like everyday...if not my parents or brother than Jamie's : ) Guy is good...I miss him. I know he is probably enjoying Korea and I am glad for that. I miss our "Chicago" crew as of lately. It's sinking in more and more that they are further than convenient. Blah.

Overall we are really blessed and feeling good in spirit...if only we could get our health there too.  COME ON SPRING!

For Christmas...

WELL my hubby was so awesome this year and bought me some smelly good stuff and cute knit brown boots and a lil stuffed Bobba Fett (who sits near my bed...for those of you who don't know I am a HUGE Fett fan) His dad got me some colts attire and socks and a cute little sign to hang in my home. I received a knit hat and scarf, a messenger bag made of burlap, beauty and the beast,and some awesome pj's from some of my friends. An amazing meal with friends, some time with family, catching up with persons that we just had not seen in forever. It was a great day. But I realized something very important. Life has so many seasons (as I talked about in a previous post) and you just never know when one season will start and end. Friendships, homes, jobs, pets, they all have seasons. I found myself missing a very hard season in our life that turned into a major blessing. When we lived in Illinois I thought it was going to be horrible and I remember being so sad when the holidays were approaching. We were so poor and felt so alone. People took us in though, and loved us. People made us part of their families and circle of friends without hesitation. Now when I look around I am surrounded by people I have known for most of my life and by family and familiarity, but there is this piece of me that aches for the people who took us in and loved us regardless of us being practically strangers. They, in a sense, are as much family as our real family...because they had no obligation to be there for us. I appreciate them now as much as I ever did...and just really wish they knew my gratitude. (I don't think I can even put it in words) I hope that if the situation is ever presented to me, that I will take people in as well and be there for them unconditionally...just like Christ has done for all of us. Takes us in, doesn't ask questions, and loves us. Those people during those hard times, they were Christ to us. The real meaning of Christmas. I guess I am just saying that you should always embrace the season you are in, even if it seems tough or weird or awkward or endless...because you will look back on it one day and see how strong it made you and how far you have come...and you may even find yourself missing it.

6 day breakdown

Friday- WAS CRAZY! We started packing way early but the girls, kitties, and myself had to leave Ricky and Jamie behind to continue packing. We came here...went over to Aaron and Retta's (our neighbors and GREAT friends) and I took a shower and relaxed on the couch till Jamie came home...and he also took one and instead of unloading we CRASHED on thier air matress. : )

Saturday- UNPACK! We all unloaded the truck and then Jamie and Ricky went to go goof off and run errands while Ray and myself watched the girls and organized. Saturday evening we had pizza and went over to Aaron and Retta's and just chiiiiillllled

Sunday- I felt like CRAP! so we didn't do much. Hung out...I ran some errands...and then we went over to guess who's...Aaron and Retta's and watched the game with Ricky and them! (WOO HOO FOR COLTS COUNTRY!) Came home...unpacked a box or two and crashed

Monday- WAS NUTS! Jamie felt terrible and had strained his neck/shoulder and had to call in on his first day. (Fortunately he knew his boss and has worked for her before and she totally understood) SO I ran a key over to Aaron and Retta and left Jubilee asleep in her crib and drove up to O'hare to get my brother from his flight home from KOREA! : ) We had a good time on the way back....joking and laughing...all together it was a 9 hour trip. When we got back we brought food to Jamie and Ricky (who had kept him company for a while). ALSO while I was gone Caleb's parents stopped by and gave us groceries and goodies and giftcards! AND Aaron and Retta brought us groceries too...talk about feeling blessed.

Tuesday- Was filled with unpacking and orgnazing. Guy watched the girls while I went into town and got utilities set up (yes...you must go into town to get them turned on) when I came back I started a pot of chili which ended up feeding a bunch of people. Aaron, Retta, Ricky, Jamie, Guy, Jubilee, and Rylan oh and myself...and the babies just had their baby stuff. BUT STILL! I entertained 10 people. And we were all sitting in the livingroom and having community and I just felt so happy.

Wednesday- er...today....unpacked more, things are starting to feel at home for sure! Retta and Aaron hung out with us all day as I was making things comfy and cozy. Gabe is here to hang out with us and guy (a kid we homeschooled with) and we are expecting Ricky and Glover over later. WOW! I didnt even realize how many people we have had in and out of here till now! It's going to be like 13 people!

AND (I know lots of caps in this blog) we are going to have my parents here tomorrow and have an early Christmas this weekend. Gotta get the tree up tomorrow! more soon...perhaps a fail blog????? : )