Blog challenge day 9

Today's topic: 10 people who have influenced me and why. Get your tissues, folks. I have a feeling this one might get emotional.

First and foremost, my Grandma Jo. This woman...I cannot say enough good things about her. She, to me, is love. She has lost so much in her life and has never given up. I am amazed by her strength. If I can be half the woman she is, I still will not be good enough. I admire her to the moon and back. She, without even knowing it, helps me see the light at the end of the tunnel when my stubborn self only sees darkness. If I didn't have her in my life, I would not have as much compassion as I do. I admire her to the moon and back.

Then there is my husband. He puts up with SO MUCH MORE than he needs to. He encouraged me to join the navy, which was an amazingly great career move, he inspires me every day to simply be better. He is love. Our chapter is only beginning and I am so excited to see where it goes. Forever is not long enough to spend with him...almost 6 years later, it still feels like the honeymoon.

Next comes my mother. She didn't have much growing up, but she made the most of it. Obviously I wouldnt be here without her, but she inspires me to have what she never did. I'm not talking about materialistic stuff - I could care less about that. I'm talking about always seeing the good in people...always giving people a second chance...always forgiving...she's stronger than she realizes. I love her so much and wouldn't be here without her, but I am so thankful for the closeness we have!

Let me tell you something about the next one. Every morning, without fail, he kisses my mom and tells her how beautiful she is and says he loves her. That, my friends, is beautiful to me. He may be old fashioned but i have adopted so many of his principals into my life and i really don't care what others think of it, because I have him to thank for it. My step dad is not only the greatest man i know, but he is my hero. Whenever i talk about him i get super emotional because there is so much love in my heart for him. I think the best part about him is how much he can teach a person and not even realize the impact he has. I can't even say enough for him except every single day i hope i am doing him proud by the choices i make. He is an amazing inspiration to me and I have nothing but love for him.

My oldest (biological) brother Josh is one of the smartest, most stubborn people i know. He challenges your beliefs which is both fascinating and frustrating. lol. I love debating with him because he opens my mind to so many new things. He inspires me because he is both street smart and book smart and incredibly resourceful. We are really alike and sometimes we don't realize just how much.

Women who have babies really close in age and can maintain a happy marriage and a career, and their sanity. They may have help that I don't know about but they definitely make it look easier than I'm sure it is.

On that note, dads who step up. Dads in general don't get enough credit. It's all about the mom because she carried and birthed the child, but the dad, in most cases, PUT UP WITH HER THROUGH IT! lol. That takes a lot of patience to tell a woman she is beautiful every day when she is not comfortable with herself. But I really truly admire dads who marry a woman with kids who aren't biologically his and take them under his wing as his own. I tell you, that can save a life.

My "person" Stacy inspires me because I think she's one of the, if not THE only friend I have who has obtained a bachelors degree, got married, and doesn't have kids. I love her because she is not afraid to speak her mind, and doesn't care what other people think. I know her as loyal, trusting, and an all around great person. She is incredibly goal oriented, too. When she wants something, she won't stop until she gets it. She's full of creative ideas, too...which is always fresh in an ever depressing society.

That's eight. I really can't think of two more, unless I get into celebrities which I don't want to do. Who are some of your inspirations?

This i ask of you...

Friends..

If you wrote my eulogy and read it at my funeral, what would it say?

Blog challenge day 8

Today's topic: What are 5 passions you have?

I won't list them in any particular order, because if it's a passion to me, it obviously means a lot.

-Anything that has to do with animal rights and the proper care of animals, which even goes into vegetarianism. I won't go into my typical tangent, but I really enjoy educating people about things in their life they could be doing better, in regards to eating non-meat and little things to make their pets' lives easier.

-Marriage/love, in particular, mine. I come from a divorced family, whereas my husbands parents have been together for a long time. It's an interesting dynamic, because we obviously don't want to get divorced and there are a lot of values we want to pass down to our family. I have always been a hopeless romantic and I'm excited that I have someone to share that with. :)

-The work I do. It may not seem like much when we sit in port for months at a time, but the maintenance and preservation we do, as well as standing watches underway, driving the ship, etc. have the potential to get us out of dangerous situations when we are underway. I know that what I'm doing can inspire people and make a difference, even if I don't notice it while I'm doing it.

-Reading. I've said before that my favorite smell is new book smell, and it's totally true. There's nothing like a quiet Sunday curled up on the couch reading a book.

-Teaching. This ties a lot into my daily life...I teach those junior to me about the work we do in regards to maintenance, or how to drive the ship, or what we do during unrep. It not only refreshes me, but it teaches them, and I love that feeling.

-Crime tv shows. Law and Order: SVU is a favorite of mine. I like shows that teach the realities of what happens on the dark side of life. It sucks, but it happens and there is something that needs to be done about it.

Stay tuned for the next topic, 10 people who have influenced (me) and how. Have a great Sunday & week!

Blog challenge day 7

Today's topic is: What is your dream job and why?

There are a lot of things I want to do with my life. A lot of places I could see myself. But the thing I want most - the "job" I would most love to have - is the one where I get called mom.

Motherhood has been a dream of mine for a while...I think the earliest I wanted to start was when I was 19! I know that's young, but I had always wanted to start my own family at a young age so we could all "grow up" together and experience everything.

Here I am, almost 6 years later, and no babies yet. I am at a place in my life where it wouldn't exactly be the best time.

In retrospect, I am glad I waited to get pregnant. I am a different person than I was at 19 with different values and more life experience. I would do better now than I would have then.

I'm thinking in about 2 or 3 more years. But one thing remains the same, I will have them close in age. And I will hopefully be done by the time I'm 30. We will see. :)

So there you have it! Have a wonderful day everyone!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's topic: What are 5 passions you have?

Blog challenge day 6

Today's challenge is, what is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?

Another easy one.

December 27, 2005.

The day my father died.

I was with my ex boyfriend. (Of course he was my boyfriend at the time). My mom called me, said I needed to come home immediately. She wouldn't tell me why. It was frustrating, but I was thinking the worst and would hardly hear her out. I made it to the neighboring town where she met me and drove me home. She didn't say much the entire way home.

It wasn't until we finally made it home that she sat me down and told me the events of that morning. I can relive the moment in my head over and over and nothing changes. He is still gone. I still feel the guilt, the pain, the sadness...I still remember the salty tears running down my face and the scream that came out of my throat. I still remember clutching to my mom as she cradled me. I remember it clear as day, like it just happened.

But it was almost 7 years ago.

What hurts the most? It was two days after Christmas. We were thisclose to having the father/daughter relationship I had always wanted. Knowing that a part of my oldest brother died along with him that day, that hurts too, because even though I experienced pain, I don't know what THAT kind of pain feels like. You would have to understand that he grew up with him and I was with my mom...so of course it was different. They were close. They were close like my step dad and I are now. I cannot imagine that kind of loss. I don't even want to think of it, because I know that someday I will have to experience it and the thought makes my heart drop into my feet and I can hardly bear it.

Everything he has missed and will miss. He never got to see me graduate, never got to meet my husband or see me get married. Will never meet his grandkids. I guess in a way it's a harsh reality, but that doesn't make it any easier.

And my grandma. This woman... I can't say enough good things about her. She has lost so much and still believes in love. If I could be anyone, I would be her. I love her.

So there you have it. The hardest thing I've experienced.

December 27, 2005.

Blog challenge day 5

Today's challenge is five things that make me most happy right now. In no particular order, here they are:

1. My husband. He is so, so good to me. Even though he may play too many video games.:P
2. The friends I have in my division. These girls and I are so close. It's great to know that someone always has your back, especially on the really bad days.
3. Music. Music is so mood altering. There is a song for everything.
4. My job. I hate it some days, but I think we all do. But for the most part, I am in love. And I'm lucky to be employed. It's fun though, having a small group of people that I get to see almost everyday. I can say right now that deployment will be nothing short of interesting.
5. Of course my family. We are separated by miles, but never in heart. Not a day goes by that i don't think of them. It is because of them that I am here today and I am forever indebted to them for the sacrifices they have made.

Blog challenge day 4

Today's challenge, ten things you would tell your sixteen year old self, if you could. This has potential to be something I would tell my sixteen year old daughter, so I won't take it lightly.

-Save yourself for the guy you know you're going to marry. Forget about social pressure, if you have any doubt about him, you, and your future, he's not it. It is not necessary to give a guy your most precious possession just because that's what all your friends are doing.

-Volunteer. Animal shelters, homeless shelters, wherever you can. Few things are more satisfying then putting a smile on someones face or making an animal feel loved and wanted.

-Pay attention in class. If you have the chance to do college courses at any time during your high school tenure, do it. When your teachers tell you that what you do now matters, really listen to that, because they aren't lying.

-Go out to football games and other sporting events. Make the most of your high school career because it's going to be the best or worst four years of your life.

-Think about your future. Live for today, but plan ahead, too.

-Don't start drinking. That will only lead down a life you don't want to be a part of. Don't risk it.

-Save your money. Having the newest technology isn't important.

-Spend time with your girlfriends. They will be lifelong friends, and no one knows what you're going through better than them. Don't take them (or anyone) for granted.

-Get a part time job. Let me emphasize part time. Don't ever let that come between you and your schoolwork. It's great to get a little responsibility and extra cash, but right now school is #1.

-Lastly, listen to your parents. They may have gone through it "a million years ago", but they did go through it. They have more life experience than you, and what they have to say matters. They love you.

Blogger challenge day three: relationship with my parents

I have been blessed with two great parents. I know that everyone says that, but mine are special. They don't come from a lot of money. They don't have an educated background. But what they do have, and what they instilled in me throughout my entire life, is love. That may sound corny, but sometimes love is all you have. They taught me, without realizing it, how important it is to have love and to love. Forgiveness is powerful, and life is too short for grudges.

My parents have helped me realize what I do and don't want to have in my life...the kind of parent I want to be to my children, what I want them to learn, and the kind of wife I want to be to my husband.

They taught me that education is important...to never settle, to go for what I want and to never give up.

We have always been close. I never fought with them when I was a teen, never went behind their backs. I was a good kid. We didn't have secrets.

They also taught me how important communication is. To just say what you feel instead of trying to sugar coat. Honesty is the easiest and hardest thing to do, but it is the best.

For those who don't know, my dad wasn't really in my life until about a year before he decided to take his. My step dad is my dad, he raised me since I was 6. Ultimately, he saved my life. Although I don't believe in divorce for myself, he taught me that it is possible to be loved again and what an amazing feeling that is.

I love my parents...and it hurts being so far away from them, knowing that as each day passes they get a day older and we never know when they won't be here anymore. But I treasure the talks we have, the moments we share, and the memories we've made.

This is probably my favorite recent picture of my wonderful parents, Jerry and Carol. <3 p="">

Blog challenge day 2

Today's challenge is to pick three legitimate fears and describe how they they became fears. For me, this one isn't really a challenge. I know three right off the top of my head. They are as follows: ants, pregnancy, and swimming. I will go into detail with each one below.

Firstly, ants. I never used to be afraid of them, I might not even say that I'm afraid of them now, technically. I don't think it's a fear, per se. It started when I lived at home, and I'd be doing my homework late at night and ants would crawl out of nowhere onto my papers, and then I would go to sleep and wake up because i felt them on my face/body. i hate that feeling. There are ants in my home now, and I really hate it, but lately I've realized no matter how clean i keep my house they will keep coming in.

Secondly, pregnancy. I never used to have this fear, I actually would embrace the fact that one day I'm going to get "fat" and I was okay with it. That was until one day, I was reading a facebook post from a friend about how she could not get out of bed because of the 'basketball' attached to her stomach. Then I realized, wow, I'm going to have back pain, hip pain, and I will explode. This is not good. It gives me anxiety now to think about it, because I've always been pretty small...but somehow I'll work through it.

Lastly, swimming. Yes, I know, I joined the navy and I hate swimming. Thanks. It's about having to jump off the diving board into cold water (cold to me, not to anyone else, apparently). It's about having to come all the way up, swim to the side, not get out, and then continue on doing 'strokes' that I really have no idea how to do. I can tread water. I can float. I can swim underwater. But apparently that's not good enough. I can't relax when I hit the water, either. i don't know how. Mad anxiety.

What are your fears? Can you relate to mine?

Thirty day blog challenge: Day 1

Today is the first day of the thirty day challenge! Today's topic is 20 random facts about myself... let's see if I can come up with something(s) you didn't know about me!

1. I'm almost 25. Every day I think about this, and I cannot believe how quickly time has gone by, and I also can't help but feel dissatisfied with some things I haven't done with my life.
2. I'm a year into my 5 year contract with the US Navy. I like what I do, and I hope to continue for as long as they will let me!
3. My dogs, Leo and Ruby, are my world! I obviously don't have kids yet, so the love I have for them is so deep and unconditional, sometimes I can't handle it!
4. I am a romantic at heart.
5. Marrying my husband was the best thing I have ever done, and definitely my proudest moment.
6. Every day I strive to be a better wife.
7. I love country music. I always have.
8. I hate swimming. I can count on both hands how many times I have done it. (would be less without boot camp)
9. I am super excited to go on a deployment, but obviously sad to leave my husband and dogs - that will be the hardest thing I'll ever do.
10. My favorite smell is new book smell.
11. Having kids is something I want to do more than anything else in the world, but at the same time it gives me anxiety!
12. I love that my husband calls his parents once a week, it is something I strive to do as well.
13. I think you're never too old to learn something new.
14. I can't wait to go back to school!
15. I hate ants. Especially little ones.
16. My Grandma Jo is my biggest inspiration. I can only hope to be half the woman she is. I don't think she will ever know how much I admire her. I will name my first name daughter after her, but she doesn't know that. Yet. :)
17. I get way too emotionally invested in TV shows.
18. My three favorite authors are Nicholas Sparks, Jodi Picoult, and Dan Brown.
19. I am a Washingtonian. Born, raised, and bred. Now I live in California, and I love the heat but can't wait to get back to WA!
20. I have one tattoo, and I CANNOT wait to get more! 

Thirty day blog challenge

I saw this idea on Pinterest, I can't resist. It's simple...a 30 day blog challenge. Each day I post will be about a different topic, seen below. I hope to learn something about myself and maybe teach others...or just have new conversation starters. Please comment if you can relate, have questions, whatever!

(thank you cherishinghopesanddreams.blogspot.com for this great idea!)

THE LIST:

1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrasing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misundertand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for.