Photo Challenge Day 2

Day 2 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest

Well, no surprise here really. Cody and I have been together for ten years now. Wow. Just writing that sounds so strange. How many people found the person they were going to marry in high school? Although, I do tell Cody all the time if he had come to our high school any earlier there was no way he would have married me! :) I cannot imagine a life without Cody now. He is always there for me when I am sad or if have good news to share. He lets me vent, lets me be crazy, and loves me through it all. Above everything else, he makes me laugh every single day and I love him so very much for that! I cannot wait to spend the rest of our lives together!

30 Day Photo Challenge

One of my friends on facebook posted a 30 day photo challenge that she is doing for the new year. It seems fun, so I thought I would do it. Let's hope I'm better at this than I am with my days of thankfulness! Ha! :)

So Day 1: Post a picture of yourself and list 10 facts about you.

1. I love being a mother. Kaitlyn has brought me more joy than I knew I could ever have in my life. Each day is a new adventure and it just keeps getting better.

2. My husband is amazing. Nobody else in this world could make me as happy or frustrated than he can. He's my best friend and continues to make me laugh even when I don't want him to. :)

3. I'm doing exactly what I know I'm called to do. I love teaching and love knowing I'm making a difference in kids' lives.

4. I do not think my daughter will resent me for not being a stay at home mom. More power to the moms who do that - no judgment here, but I expect the same in return.

5. I don't let lots of people close to me. I have trust issues and this is why I don't. I have a few close friends who I adore, but they live way too far away from me. :( My sister-in-law lives in the same city as me and she's awesome. She's my saving grace!

6. I am not patient with most things in my life. I know, you're thinking, "And you're a teacher?" But rest assured I am VERY patient when it comes to my job. You have to be or you won't last! But I want instant gratification in other parts of my life. If I decide I want a new car or a new appliance I want it that day. I hate waiting for days for something.

7. I love montages. Seriously, I can not know a single person in them, but if the music and pictures are good I will still tear up.

8. My favorite color is blue. That's not very deep, but it's a fact. So there. :)

9. Shopping really is my therapy for a stressful day. I. love. it.

10. I love pictures. Always have and pretty sure I always will. I love taking pictures, editing pictures, looking at other people's pictures. I just love pictures - they tell so much. Hence my doing this challenge. :)

Christmas Time

Being a teacher is the best job ever. I cannot even go into all the benefits it has to my heart, but one of the things I love most about it is that it's perfect for moms. I get to have summers off, spring break, and two weeks at Christmas time. Of course I've enjoyed the last two Christmas breaks with Kaitlyn, but this year it's so very different. She's beginning to know more of what is going on now. I'm not quite sure she understands the whole Santa thing, but she can recognize him and we keep telling her he's bringing her presents on Christmas. I love how when we drive by houses at night she'll scream for joy and say, "Oh! Look Mama! Lights!" Or how she'll point out a snowman or reindeer in someone's yard. She loves the song "Jingle Bells" and will sing it to you over and over. She's still a bit mixed up with parts of Christmas though. In nativity scenes she can name baby Jesus and Mary, but as of now Jonah is with Mary - not Joseph. And she doesn't call Christmas trees, Christmas trees - instead they are "trick or trees." :)
Christmas is always such a fun and exciting time, but there is nothing like experiencing it as a parent. I am always counting my blessings, and this year more so than ever. I can only imagine the joy that will come next year as K is even more aware of what Christmas means, and then one day the joy of knowing she has learned the true meaning of what God did for us all and why we celebrate Christmas each year.