Groupon

Have you heard of Groupon? If not, then you must look it up! I bought 1/2 price tickets for 2 hours of ziplining...or is it zipping? Either way, I'm looking forward to going. We're going to wait until the Fall when the leaves are changing. I think that will be beautiful. My heart starts racing just thinking about it.

I will continue to watch Groupon for more fabulous deals! :)

Stuck in a Rut

So, as you can tell from many of posts lately, I've been kind of down. I wasn't sure why, but after having a very early morning (thanks, Ashlyn!) chat with Chris this morning, I realized that I've been stuck in a rut. We've been stuck in a rut. We are both now actively talking and making plans. Life is what you make of it, right? Chris and I are both now onboard to make changes & to be happy.

Yay! I'm so glad that we talked!

Enough

This isn't a happy post. I'm still struggling to find the answers.

So often in this world, we're told that we're not good enough, pretty enough, skinny enough, smart enough, rich enough, outgoing enough...you get the point. Well the feeling of not being enough has really hit me this week. I'm not quite sure what brought it on...hormones, stress...you name it. Any of them could have been the main factor(s).

So...somehow, some way, I need to figure out how to be enough.

Stir Crazy

Lately I've been feeling a little stir crazy. I'm not sure why. I think it's just that where we live now doesn't feel like home. It's hard to explain, or maybe it's not. This place just isn't the place where I want to raise Ashlyn, and I definitely don't want to grow old here.

The problem with this is that I really don't know where home is. What makes where you live home? If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Or if where you live is wonderful, what makes it so wonderful?

The only thing I know is that wherever we go, water has to be a big part of life there. So is that water the ocean, river, or lake? I don't know.

So...until we decide where to go, I'll continue to be a bit stir crazy! I'll just have to keep the urge to run away to another place under control!

Texting Vent

Tonight I'm sitting here listening to my husband's phone go off with text messages. He and a friend have been texting back and forth for quite some time. My vent isn't about that. It's about the fact that people don't talk any more. On my birthday, only one person called me. Everyone else texted.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for texting and keeping in touch. I just sometimes miss hearing someone's voice. Texts are so cold. Texts can't show emotion, unless of course you add in a smiley or frowny face. :p

Negativity...An Attitude Adjustment

I have been around a lot of negative people lately. I'm not sure why or how they've come into my life, but I know that their negativity was rubbing off on me. I started to feel less like myself, less happy, and less worthwhile.

Within the last week, I realized that their emotions/attitudes were affecting mine adversely, and I made the decision to look for the positive in life. Essentially, I gave myself an attitude adjustment. I started smiling more. I started thinking good things. I started saying htat no one was going to get me donw.

I also made some changes to block people's actions and/or energy from interfering with my life. I have Ashlyn to think about. I know that my emotions influence how she acts and feels.

So, I choose to be happy. I choose to live life. I choose to love and be loved. I deserve to be happy. And by being happy, maybe...just maybe, I can make someone else happy.

The Friends You Keep

For some reason, the saying: "You are known by the friends you keep" has been in the forefront of my mind. As an adult I've found it difficult to make friends...ones that are true and worthy of my trust. More often than not, I've been disappointed in friends that I've made.

I want a friend who is honest, true, and always has my back. I want a friend who isn't afraid to tell me the truth or drag me out of bed when I just feel like staying there for two days.

I think honesty is the most important. If a friend tells me something, I want to always know that they speak the truth. I don't want to ever question something they say...even if it seems unessential. I don't want a friend who tells me one thing and another person something different. HONESTY is important!

I am grateful for the friends that I do have. I have had the opportunity to reconnect with some great friends from my past, and I am so happy about that.

Now to make some new friends (who are local!). I know that in order to do that, I will have to open myself up to potential hurt again. I know that I need to get over that fear. If I do, then I may allow myself a wonderful friendship experience.

My Opposite, My Love

Chris is my opposite. As much as I am an introvert, he is an extrovert. We went to a party tonight, and he was pretty much the center of attention. I, on the other hand, sat almost unnoticed on the couch. The only reason I was acknowledged was because I was holding Ashlyn. Well...maybe that's not the only reason, but it is the main reason. I am shy. I feel awkward around people I don't know. Chris has never met a stranger.

He makes me get out of my shell and comfort zone. Most days I'd be perfectly content sitting alone at home reading a book. At least with him by my side, I can at least find some comfort and safety. And if I start to stutter or get to nervous, he can take over and tell another crowd-pleasing story.

I am very grateful to have such a wonderful husband. He is my opposite - my love!

Smiles @ 2:30 a.m.

Ashlyn has been sleeping through the night since she was 1 1/2 months old. For some reason, last night, she decided to wake up at 2:30 a.m. and stay awake until 4:00 a.m. At first I was annoyed that she would not go back to sleep, but then I realized what a miracle she truly is.

I held her. Rocked her. Kissed her on her head. And I thanked God for letting her be a part of our family. Her adoption story is a miracle. Maybe one day I will share the story on here. For now I'm still processing everything that has happened - how quickly she came into our lives, and now how I could not imagine my life without her in it.

The smiles that she gave me at 2:30 a.m. were exactly what I needed. It had been an extremely tough day for our family, and she reminded me of the good in the world. She's exactly what I need.

I'm posting a picture of her from the hospital. She was so tiny and fragile, but from the time she was 1 day old, she had our hearts.

Introduction

I am just learning to blog! This is my first post. Not really sure where to start, but I think I should give a brief introduction. My name is Terri. I have been married to my best friend Chris for 13 years! We have a 4 1/2 month old daughter - Ashlyn Rose...more to come about her in future posts, I'm sure!

I've been contemplating blogging for some time. I was trying to find a theme or a subject for my blog. I enjoy cooking, so I thought I might start a blog about that. I scrapbook, too, so I thought I could write about that. But then I realized that there are hundreds of blogs about those same things. What there aren't a hundred blogs about is my life. So I'll write about that.

My life isn't glamorous. I don't associate with the rich and/or famous. My life is ordinary. It is in the ordinary that I find joy. I am far from being perfect, but I do try to be a good person.

So, for those of you who read my blog, what you'll find is an honest view into my life.