Enjoying the Journey

Since it is the week of Thanksgiving - I figured I would begin by using a quote that I love hearing and it reminds me of why I have made the choices I've made - to get to a wonderful destination.

~ The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination ~

I have discovered, my new favorite word is "Journey". The Journey I embarked on almost 9 months ago, has brought me a very long way. Made me feel so accomplished, proud of myself - FOR ONCE - and happy in my life. The Journey of my life has been a great one, thus far. Sure, the roads in my life were no where NEAR straight, that's for sure, but I am now starting to see my light at the end of the tunnel and I can finally tell myself (without tears streaming down my face) ...."we're going to be okay".

I have so many things to be thankful for and for those of you that I talk to regularly, when I become so down in the dumps - please REMIND me of these! :)

I am thankful for a beautiful little boy that keeps a smile on my face, I am thankful for his mushy cheeks in which I smother with kisses - DAILY! I am thankful for my family - because they have helped me from (I guess we can say) - one destination to bring me out to see that I have a better Journey ahead. My friends that have taught me that when things get rough, it could be worse :) That are always here for me and have been through all of my turmoil and stress over the years - the ones that are still by my side...I love all of you. I am thankful I have a God that shows me if things don't go my way - there's a reason, and he gives me the strength to help me cope. That he gives me a reason to smile, even when I feel like I haven't earned it. Over the past year - those of you that know me, know that it has been...well, HELL...and at some points - it still is, but I am thankful that God continues to keep me lifted, as well as many other people in my life. Now, I don't have the means to give all of you the "giving" part of Thanks'giving'...but I am giving you my kind words and would like to say THANKS to all of you for helping me this past year. I love all of you!! I am also VERY thankful God has put some amazing people in my life that puts a smile on my face every single time I see them. That make me laugh, that treats me like GOLD and keeps telling me that I deserve it, really!??! :)

Okay - enough of that mushy stuff!! I am so excited - because we FINALLY got Ty's crib together and he LOVES IT!! Seems like I was able to spend more time with Ty this weekend...maybe it's the same, but we were able to sit down and play and bond - and he made me laugh so hard over the weekend I was almost in tears. I am so proud of my little munchkin and he is growing like a weed!!! He is finally feeding himself, using his sippy cup, saying MA MA every second if he doesn't see me, wants to cuddle NON-STOP (my favorite)...and he's back in his big boy car seat :) I just love looking back at him and singing Mickey or Mariah Carey Christmas songs to him...seeing him laugh at mommy...I think he likes it - REALLY!!! Not to mention - last night, my little booger stood up for 2 minutes straight!!! NO HELP! Nothing around....just mommy telling him to come see her...no steps yet...but we're getting there. Video is below!

http://s207.photobucket.com/albums/bb70/aj_dilly514_2007/?action=view&current=Video072.flv

(If this doesn't work - let me know and I'll text it to you!)

Happy Thanksgiving - I hope you remind yourself of the things you have to be thankful for! Enjoy your holiday - oh, and the shopping! WAHOO!!

Thankful

I know, I know...it's not Thanksgiving yet - but I have finally decided to be thankful for what I have instead of dwelling on my misery, which we all know - consists of ONE THING. I am a very firm believer in prayer and knowing it works. Of course, NEVER in the time you want it to...but I think I hit a growth spurt in the past couple of years and have started being more thankful for my patience. It is so hard to be patient about things, but over the past month or so - things are starting to fall into place and I'm beginning to have a peace about everything. I stress out pretty bad, well...about everything. But things are beginning to take a turn :) FOR THE BETTER!! Most of you know what that better is, and I am just thankful for my friends and my family that carry my weight along with me. I'm so thankful for the people that make me laugh and smile admist all of the drama. You guys have no idea how much you truly mean to me!

On a lighter note - I am so excited!!! Tis' the season for carving pumpkins, sweaters, fur jackets, boots (I love my boots!!), Starbucks, cuddling, snuggling, bonfires, hot chocolate - WITH TONS OF MARSHMELLOWS!! Being in the Smokies, Shopping, Game Nights while wrapped up in my momma's quilt, Tennessee Football and Apple Cider. This time of year just makes me so happy and puts me in the best mood!! I can't wait to share my happiness and traditions with the people that mean the most to me :) Let's get it started!!!

Ahh...HEAVEN

Thank You, Starbucks for the best Holiday drink...EVER INVENTED :)

Thanks Ariat - for the best boots ever!!!

And Thank You, God for my little bittie snugglie :)

The Little Things

Well, for all of you blog 'stalkers' out there. I'm back and better as ever! A lot has happened since my last blog site was published! Tyler is JUST ABOUT 10 months old now. That boy keeps me smiling! He just got his first 2 'teefers', and he shows them off like it's a shiny new car! So cute! He is TRYING to crawl more, but we are still at maybe one or two crawls, then he cries for mommy to come pick him up :) ...and I do! Going through a divorce, which -- I couldn't be happier about! HAHA...best decision I have made in the past 5 1/2 years! I realized last week how hard it is going to be. (Yes, just last week...it hit me!) After a very emotional/stressful week, something just hit me like a ton of bricks - I CAN do this, my mom did this, and I am strong enough to deal with this. Then I realized, after many many many tears and sleepless nights, this is just one of those 'little things' that help you reach your goal in the end. I also realized the past 5 1/2 years - has been nothing but a lesson. A lesson about strength, encouragement, faith in friends and family, happiness, LOVE, and most of all will power. Yes, it's true...the things that don't kill us, makes us stronger. LITERALLY. I think there are far worse things in the world going on, than my 'little things'. I mean, really....I am the winner in all of this, I came out on top - with an amazing little boy that brings tears to my eyes every time I see that beautiful smile, with a family that has stuck by me through some pretty horrible days, my friends that kept me 'motivated' and kept me grounded, God - without all of the prayers and strength, who knows where I would be. So, I have a reason to say I'm blessed and to keep on 'truckin'....because it's what I do :)

Also, one of the 'little' things that I absolutely enjoy....FALL/WINTER. Today has been heaven to me...a chill outside with a warm heater at my feet...just waiting for the leaves to change. I have waited 4 1/2 years to be able to watch 'FALL' and it's only THE BEGINNING!!! I love new beginnings....A FRESH START.