Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy 59th Birthday

Mom!!

Happy Birthday to the greatest Mom a girl could ask for! 

Not only the greatest mom but one of the most sacrificial, giving, selfless, loving, energetic 

person that I know. My mom always wants to best for her children and grandchildren. When she says she is going to pray for something, she means it and follows through. Her heart breaks with yours and she rejoices right along side of you. She is always our number one biggest fan in all areas of life. 

I know we never say things as often as we should, so on this day, I hope that my knows just how much I truly love, adore, and appreciate her and all that she is and does!

Love you Mom! 

Things I hate...

- when the rain is too hard that you have to use your wind shield wipers, but at a slow enough pace where they are swishing too frequently.
- on that same note...when the rains stops and I am in the car someone who doesn't turn off their windshield wipers.
- liars.
- shaving my legs in the morning only to get cold, and have my hairs grow by the end of the day.
- On Demand shows that don't allow for fast forward.
- an unmade bed.
- asking someone to do something for me at work to find out later that they either didn't do it at all or did it completely wrong. This ends up taking more time to correct then if I had just made the time the first go around.
- chocolate milk.
- when hubby and I switch cars and his is on empty...or when he has my car and brings it back on E!
- 'Amanda', who is actually Emily in real life on Revenge. She makes my blood boil.
- people who double and triple call my office phone...if I didn't answer the first time I am either screening or not sitting at my desk. Seriously? This shouldn't be confused with double calling for personal reasons because I habitually double call hubs and he habitually answers the second or third call from me.
- poor customer service.
- when people don't respond to text messages, emails, Facebook messages, etc.
- when people return a phone call with a text.
- folding laundry AND putting the dishes away.
- people who act or dress unprofessional in professional settings.

I think that's it for today. Maybe another day we will focus on love...

10 years ago.

10 years ago I realized what true heartbreak really was. 

I experienced the loss of someone so dear to me that to this day my heart still aches. 

 I often replay that day over and over again in my head; sometimes it feels like yesterday that I got the call that forever changed my world. To this day it has been the single most 

devastating news I have ever received.

Chad was an amazing friend, son, and brother who was taken from this life long before his time. He loved life to the fullest and had a smile that was contagious. He was compassionate, hilarious, and loyal. 

Although I miss him, especially when this time of year rolls around, I am so very thankful for all the memories that I have. I am thankful for the laughs and the friendship that we experienced together. 

I will forever cherish those memories in my heart.

 I look forward to the day that I can see his face again.

I will always remember. 

Chad Allen Culver

1982-2002.

Book Worm.

Lately I have been reading more than usual. This might be due to the fact that I have been bored waiting for all of the new fall shows to start, or because I recently joined a book club. Whatever the reason, I love that I have added to my book collection and checked books off of my reading list! Here are my most recent reads: 

 Kate Furnivall is one of my all-time favorite authors. She always writes books set in a significant historical

period of time. She creates characters which are easy to fall in love with. I have read all of her US released books and I would recommend all of them. If you are interested in her other books they are The Russian Concubine, The Red Scarf, The Girl From Junchow, and The Girl From St. Petersburg. 

Jodi Picoult is another of my favorite authors. I love her writing. I love the way that she writes a story

 from the perspective of multiple characters. She never ceases to a surprise to the end of her stories. Although, this wasn't one of my favorite books of hers it was still an enjoyable read that I was eager to pick up at the end of each day. 

 This was the book chosen for our first book club. It was an easy read that didn't require a lot of in depth thought but a book that held my attention and left me coming back for more. Emily Giffin writes books that women just eat up! This one also created room for a lot of good conversation about various topics!

 The Murderer's Daughters was this month chosen book club book. We haven't met yet to discuss this book but I am eager to see where this conversation leads. I really enjoyed the book. It was a little depressing at times not one that you walked away from feeling awesome about life BUT I enjoyed the story line and the characters were constant maze of personalities. I set the book down each time and was left thinking about what I just read. I know it is a good book when I spend my Friday's off spending hours reading just so I can get to the conclusion!

I bought this books years ago at a book sale. I had good intentions of reading this book every time I finished another book but somehow it always got knocked down by another book I bought or borrowed. I was finally able to read this book last month! I enjoyed this book. I typically stick to the same type of book so this was a nice change. It was an easy read but still enjoyable and it was easy to envision the life of Bette, the book's main character. At times I set the book down wishing I had her life and then other times, thankful that I didn't have anything to do with that type of lifestyle! 

Happy Reading!

Thursday Thoughts.

Lately I have...

Been more obsessed with my dogs than usual (this might be hard to believe since I am always over the top in love with them).

Gotten Coy hooked on the Black Donnelly's. This show was on several years ago and I loved it. It got cancelled mid season and I was never able to finish the season. It recently showed up on Netflix, which was more than a little exciting. Luckily, Coy is on board and this has quickly become one of my favorite evening activities!

I got to hang out with this sweet thing! Sometimes I just can't seem to get enough of her!

I have had an extra hard time leaving in the morning. This could be due to many things. Some of which include it is getting darker in the mornings, it has been taking me forever to fall asleep at night which means I'm more tired in the morning, or that I have been habitually going to bed a little later each night. It could also be largely due to the fact that I have to leave this sight every morning...

Hope that your lately has been a little more eventful than mine!

Sometimes.

sometimes...

it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

life doesn't always go as planned and you have plan, re-plan, and plan again. 

pain is just inevitable. 

miracles happen when you least expect it and don't happen when you do. 

you have to display something different on your face then what is in your heart. 

it's okay to question life. 

a good cry is good for the soul. 

things just plain don't make sense and as hard as you seek an answer, this is none to be found. 

patience runs out. 

something amazing happens only to be overshadowed by something not quite so amazing. 

things unravel when you least expect it. 

luckily all the time...

God is faithful. 

Even when I am angry with him, angry at life, and questioning his plan He never leaves me. 

I have hope in the Lord, even when that hope seems so small and almost nonexistent. 

I have a husband that God has truly blessed me with; 

a husband who stands beside me in my most undesirable moments; 

a husband who encourages, supports, and joins me on each and every journey we take in life. 

10 years...

Despite hub's complaining we are headed to my 10 year high school reunion in two weeks! Right after high school my parents moved to Tennessee and I don't often get back to northern Indiana to visit. I always look forward to my trips back though and this trip is no exception! I am going to try and squeeze in seeing as many old friends as possible in the midst of reunion activities. So crazy to believe that highschool was over 10 years ago! Sometimes it feels just like yesterday. Looking back over the past 10 years it's shocking how many things have happened in my life, how many ways I have changed and grown, and all of the ways my life has evolved. Sometimes 10 years ago feels like yesterday, and other times it feels like an eternity ago.

In honor of my upcoming reunion I dug up some old pictures recently. I have albums and albums of high school pictures and while those are all packed away, here are a few that I saved on a cd!