Thankful Thursday 5/31/12

Normally, for my Thankful Thursday posts...if I remember to make them...consist of 4 or 5 things I am thankful for. Today, I'd like to focus on two.

First of all...my husband. What an incredible man! He is loving, kind, sweet, HILARIOUS, sexy (ahem.), forgiving, understanding, slow to anger, patient, empathetic, sympathetic, giving, serving, selfless, courageous, self-evaluating, honest, compassionate, tender, etc. etc. etc. He gives of himself so so much is often taken for granted by those around him. He does his best to provide for our family and hates that I have to work, though really...I don't mind because I'd be super bored if I didn't work! (Plus, my student loans don't pay themselves, ya know!) Vance is an amazing husband. Hands down. My co-workers at Old Navy CONSTANTLY compliment him and talk about what a sweet man he is. I have had several women tell me they hope to marry someone just like him someday. What a compliment to me! What praise for him! What a proud wife I am! Vance is truly my dream come true, and I am exorbitantly grateful that he is in my life! We've been married for almost two years and known each other for three years. These have been three of the best years of my life! I look forward to many many more with him by my side!

Secondly, my job nannying for Max. He is SUCH a cutie pie! I love Love LOVE this kid! He keeps me laughing on a daily basis! I never know what he's going to say next...except that he's in the repeating phase, so he'll pretty much say back to me whatever I say to him...which can be extra fun! For instance, I said, "Thank ya, Bay-bee!" the other day and he said, "Thank you, Bay-bee! Haha....funny!" in reply. Now, it's a game with us. A game which he thoroughly enjoys! He is developing a very funny sense of humor, too! He'll say things sometimes then says, "Hehe....funny!" Even if what he says ISN'T funny, the funny part is when he giggles at himself and says it's funny! I love Max's personality! He is so funny, snuggly, and compassionate! I stubbed my toe the other day and said, "OHHHH OUCH OUCH OUCH!!!" (Seriously. I don't swear, so that's about as strong of language as I use...haha...) Max came over and said, "Ok???" And said, "Kiss it! Kiss it!" He then planted a big ole slobbery kiss on my big toe. It was the sweetest thing he's done in a long time! (It was also kind of gross!) Max is so smart! He knows all of his colors, can recognize his name when it's written out, can find the letter M (and usually the A and X as well) in a sea of magnet letters, knows all of his animal sounds, can count/say the alphabet with a little guidance, knows every type of car that can be a part of a train, knows the name of pretty much every type of vehicle/farm machinery out there (seriously...he's taught me a thing or two!), etc. etc. The kid is smart! The kid is funny! The kid is adorable!

I linked up with my sweet friend Cami's blog, First Day of My Life and Julia at Black Tag Diaries! You should, too! What are you thankful for today?

If you could take 2 seconds and give this a click, it would mean so much to me! Thank you!!

Don't Take It Personally/Taming the Tongue

Don't take it personally.

That phrase rubs me the wrong way. Nine times out of ten when a person says that to another person, the conversation IS personal.

"Don't take it personally, but...

...your breath smells like onions."
...you look extra wide in that skirt."
...your kid's head is shaped like a deflated football."

I mean seriously...how can you NOT take those things personally?? I have pretty thick skin. I kind of have to to grow up in my family! We razz each other. Mess around. Sometimes it goes too far and that's when we have to slow our roll and say "Whoa. Wait a minute. That wasn't meant to sting."

But ya know what? Sometimes it DOES sting. Sometimes the things that leave our mouths affect others in a negative way. Sometimes we have to suck it up and say, "I'm sorry. I screwed up. Please forgive me." The typical American (oftentimes worldly) responses of "Eh, you'll get over it" or "Don't take it personally" just don't cut it, when things go too far!

Source

Proverbs 21:23 (ESV)
Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

Proverbs 15:1 (ESV)
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Taming the tongue is very often an issue in my family. We're all loud, outspoken individuals who often speak first, then think. We are really into talking and not as good at listening. I've worked REALLY hard over the years to become a better listener and to think before I speak, but more often than I'd care to admit, I find myself having to humble myself and apologize for letting my tongue flap loosely without thinking. I've had to apologize for things that I didn't mean to do. I've had to seek forgiveness from people who I've hurt by my carelessness. I've had to right some wrongs in situations that I didn't even understand completely. I had to do all of those things because I let my tongue (or sometimes my fingers in the case of typing) run ramped without much thought.

If I have ever wronged you with my words, especially unintentionally, please know that I am sincerely sorry. I never meant to cause trouble or offend. I never meant to hurt your feelings. I never meant to be so un-Christ-like. I hope you can forgive me.

If you could take 2 seconds and give this a click, it would mean so much to me! Thank you!!

Sorry For My Silence

Ok ok...I know. I KNOW! I've been silent on here for a few weeks. I promise, it is not without reason, though! So much has been going on in my life these days, so unless you follow me on Instagram (angelsingin4jc) or are my friend on My Fitness Pal (angelsingin4jc), then you probably think I've been MIA!

Here's what's been going down...

• Vance burned his hand. He grabbed the handle to a stainless steel pot that had been over a burner that was on. (He turned on the wrong burner.) He had 1st and 2nd degree burns. He was in a lot of pain for a few days, but healed VERY quickly and had no infections! (Praise!) 

• I had a pinched nerve/pulled muscle in my neck that hurt so terrible bad, that I was practically paralyzed for 24 hours. I could NOT move at all one day. It was BAD! I eventually worked through it and now it's 99% better!

• We are 8 (9 on Saturday) weeks into our weight loss journey and doing SWELL! At the 8 week mark, Vance has lost 20.9 lbs and I have lost 26.4 lbs! Woo hoo! We both lost our first 20 lbs WELL before our July 7th goal. I'm hoping to lose another 10-15 by my cousin's wedding on July 14th! Vance is in the wedding as her fiance's groomsman. P.S. This is the 4th summer I've known Vance. This is the 4th summer he's had to wear a tux and be in someone's wedding (including ours in 2010.) 

-26.4 lbs (5-11-12) 

-20.9 lbs (5-11-12)

• We are MOVING! I am so excited to get out of the house we're currently renting. It has one TINY bathroom...that has no outlets!! The house is 110+ years old and has all the charm and the quirks of a home that age. It needs some major renovating, to say the least. It has no dishwasher. NO DISHWASHER! Two years of having Vance as my only dishwasher (and my own two hands when the blue moon occurs) makes me say enough is enough! We've been apartment searching for several months now (Vance is also tired of mowing the lawn) and I finally found one that's in an excellent location, has a fantastic price, and is swanky! Seriously. They're nice apartments. I was scared because of the prices they have online, but when we went in we found the deal of a lifetime for their 2 bedroom, 2 bath floor plan! I am so excited! My own bathroom! A dishwasher! A pantry! A fireplace! A large fenced in patio! A laundry room! Outlets in my bathroom! Walk-in closets! Almost 1000 sq ft! YES! So excited! Oh and it also has a pretty awesome gym, a dog park, a pool, etc. etc. Plus, it's two minutes from the mall and about 7 minutes from Max's house. Pretty exciting stuff! We officially move in June 4th!

• I am working all the freaking time. I get a day or half a day here or there when I don't have to work one or both of my jobs, but let me tell you...I don't get paid enough for all the time I spend working! Haha. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful I have two jobs...some people don't have one!!...but it's exhausting at times!

• Still no luck on the baby front. It's more difficult at some times than it is at others, but I try not to dwell on it. On Mother's Day, I focused on my mom, Grandma, and mother-in-law, so I didn't have time to focus on my babyless self. Oh and we played 2+ hours of volleyball...which I did in a skirt, leggings, and tank top. Hahaha! I was perfectly dressed for sports! (I played volleyball in a dress and leggings at Thanksgiving. I'm beginning to develop a trend....) OH! We were supposed to have a make-up doctor's appointment next week, but I'm watching Max while his grandma is out of town. I don't really want to take a 23 month old with me to the doctor, so we are rescheduling. It's my 6 month follow-up to my initial appointment back in December. I'm really looking forward to being like "So yeah...I've lost 30 lbs since I was last here!" 

Setting up the picnic area! 

Grandma opening her present from Vance and I!

• We redeemed my Christmas present last weekend! Vance's Christmas present to me this year was two tickets to see the traveling Broadway show, WICKED!! I seriously cried during parts of it! It was SPECTACULAR!!! I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas present! We're thinking of doing this every year for our Christmas present to each other, since we both loved it so much. We're thinking of either going to Mary Poppins or Sister Act next year, since we saw posters about them at DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center) while waiting for Wicked. Before seeing the show, we ate at Cuban Revolution. Great food with a fun atmosphere! After the performance, and to gear up for the hour and a half drive home, we got some food/milkshakes from Steak 'n Shake! Seriously! Best. Christmas. Present. EVER!!!

Ticket

Menu 

Outside on DPAC Campus

Waiting to go in!

Curtain/stage before opening!

Aaaaand...I think that's all the major news as of late! What have you been up to these days? I'd love to hear from you! I've missed you all!

If you could take 2 seconds and give this a click, it would mean so much to me! Thank you!!

Post Secret Moment

Thank you to the woman who remembered those of us who have yet to receive the amazing gift of motherhood, but so desperately desire it. I wish I could give you a huge hug. You've been there. You get it. You have your baby now. Yet you still took the time to remember those of us who don't yet. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Source (Front)

Source (Back)

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms and all the would-be moms out there!

EDIT:
Another person I'd like to thank is the person who wrote this comment on this week's Sunday secrets post!

 Anonymous said...

For all of you lovely women who are struggling with infertility: Happy Mother's Day. My heart goes out to each of you. I'm sorry for your struggles, I appreciate the selfless battle to have a baby.
And, to you mommas of four-legged children: keep up the good work, happy animals make neighborhoods more homey!
Each woman has a nuturer inside, there are many outlets for love.

1:59 AM

Thank you!

If you could take 2 seconds and give this a click, it would mean so much to me! Thank you!!