Blogtember: Life Takes a Turn

This Blogtember thing is pretty fun. I'm not participating in ALL of the days; just the ones that really interest me. I hope you are enjoying them too...I like to think it gives you a little more insight into the girl behind the blog.


Tuesday, September 10: Describe a distinct moment when your life took a turn.

It was actually pretty easy to pick this moment in my life. This moment was on February 28th, 2005.

Jake {my Hubby} and I had broken up after about 4 months of a long-distance relationship. He was funny because even though he had claimed he didn't feel we were "right" for each other, he called me every day...often on my breaks at work and almost always before I went to bed at night. By this date, we had been broken up almost a month...and he had called earlier that day, to let me know he had received his transfer orders. He was being relocated to Charleston, SC for the USCG.

I remember mumbling something to him such as, "Well, I guess I'll never see you again." And he said, "Don't say that." However, I didn't tell him at the moment on the phone, but I had had a funny intuitive feeling that I was pregnant for the last couple of weeks. He said for me to call him after work and we both hung up.

I hadn't missed a period yet or anything, but the intuitive feeling was really nagging at me ever since that phone call. I knew I had to take a test before I called him again. Not because I actually thought I was pregnant, but more just to get it off my mind and confirm I was just being ridiculous. So I bought the mother of all tests at the time...the EPT Digital. Because it's digital, it took a few minutes to pop up with a "Pregnant" or "Not Pregnant". I had my phone open sitting on the bathroom counter with Jake's number ready to call as I waited for the test to beep. It finally did after what seemed like an hour...I looked down at it and...

"Pregnant"

I immediately pressed "Call" on my phone.

After that phone call, Jake and I had a lot to work out. He had to move. He had no choice. He begged me to come with him. Remember though, we still were broken up...and he had no intentions of getting back together "just because I was pregnant". We even tried to get his orders changed to somewhere in southern California so I wouldn't even have to worry about the choosing whether to move, but that request was denied. He was in a rock and a hard place; and I had a crazy-difficult choice to make. After all, I had only known the guy a little over 4 months. Could I really trust that he would be the father he was promising to be?

I ended up moving back to Idaho in April of that year while Jake was out on a three-month USCG tour. My dad came down to help me pack and we drove 14 straight hours back to my hometown. I wasn't settled with it, but one of my choices was to live with him until I got on my feet after I had the baby.

Over many emails, and very few phone calls while Jake was out at sea, we tried to work out this situation. He kept begging me not to keep him from being a father to his child. Eventually, I gave in, and told him I'd give him a chance. I let him know that if he messed up, I'd leave in a heartbeat. So in late May after he was back, we packed up and moved to Charleston.

We welcomed our first baby boy, Tanner on November 6th, 2005. Our lives were forever changed. But I will never forget that moment that started it all...taking that pregnancy test and being thrust into a whirlwind of hard decisions to make. But obviously, you can see it all ended up working out for the best. It didn't come without trials and tribulations in those first years, but we ended up getting back together and we got married in November 2007. We welcomed a 2nd baby boy on August 8th, 2010. We are now a happy, Christian family...and though that moment gave my life quite the turn, it was a turn for the absolute better.

I guess sometimes you have to take a leap of faith to gain a reward.

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Blogtember: Be The Person You Would Want to Meet

I'm here with another Blogtember post:

Thursday, September 5: Pass on some useful advice or information you learned and always remembered.

For this one, I'm actually going to regurgitate a post I created around this time last year. I have found it to be some pretty crucial advice for anyone...especially myself. I hope you enjoy.

Here goes:

Simple enough, right? I mean, it should be. I know that there are times when I've not put my best foot forward in my circle of friends, or even with complete strangers. I was younger then, and I'm human...and we all know that young + human = mistakes. I know there have been times I could have given off a better impression.

Now that I'm older {oh, and so much wiser}, I find myself really contemplating my actions and my words before I release them. It's a matter of stepping outside of myself and seeing it from someone else's perspective. Like, what would I think of a person if they did or said this in this or that situation? Would I respect them, understand them, admire them? If my answer to any of those questions is no...well, then, I take a step back and reconsider.

I find that as a woman, I face a lot of adversity...the Nosy Nancys, Chatty Cathys and Judgy {read: jealous} Janes can take a toll on you. Women are natural competitors and have a bad rap for tearing each other down without mercy...or being nice to your face while holding a knife to your back. It can be hard not to fall into that game yourself. I know I have a time or two {or twenty maybe}. I'm sure that I've lost friends along the way because of this kind of senseless and cruel stuff {sometimes it was me; sometimes it was them}...in fact I know it. I don't know of many girls that can't say they've lost a friend or two because of stupid girl stuff.

What have I done to change? I don't know that I've necessarily changed as far as how I ultimately feel in those adverse situations, but I've definitely changed how I react to those feelings...because how I react is what people see; what they remember about me. They don't see the feelings...nor do they probably care. I don't want the first, or last, impression I leave on someone to be a negative one. I want people to see a girl that takes the high road...a girl that bites her tongue and smiles instead...a girl that kills adversity with kindness...a girl worthy of respect and admiration. I don't try or want any girl to be jealous of me. I don't even believe there's a lot of reason to be. Does that mean I don't have a lot going for me? No...it just means that I know I'm not the cat's meow and there is always something someone else has to offer that I can't. I don't want anyone to be jealous...there's a difference between admiration and jealousy. I want people to just think I'm a worthwhile person...and if I have strengths that maybe they don't, then I would rather they feel inspired by those strengths or even ask me for advice. Just as I want to be able to do with them because we are all different, we are all talented...and we all have strengths and weaknesses...we all have something to offer. I've given up the game of gossip...I don't want to hurt others. I want others to see a friend in me when they need one...or even when they don't think they need one. I want people to see the genuine person that would bend over backward for a friend or loved one...the person that remembers birthdays without the help of Facebook {if I knew you well enough in grade school, yes, I remember your birthday. Don't ask me why.} I want them to see the person that lives and works hard for her husband and sons...that is appreciative of all of God's great gifts. That person is me; the real me, but if I show them anyone other than that person, why would they want to give me a second thought? Why would they even go as far as to shake my hand?

You will always face some sort of adversity in life...what matters...and what really burns a memory in others' heads about you...is the manner in which you face that adversity.

Coco said it best, didn't she?

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Blogtember: 3 Months of Freedom

Wednesday, September 4: If you could take three months off from your current life and do anything in the world, what would you do? (bonus points for fun photos from Pinterest, but don't forget to cite the source!)

This is an interesting one - mostly because having three months of freedom without worrying about this life, the bills, etc...would be an absolute dream!

I'm a dreamer. I often catch myself envisioning what I would do if I could just take off for a while, if money were no issue. I imagine frolicking on tropical beaches, traveling to beautiful countries, taking in other cultures and trying new things.

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As I'm a woman who became a mom at 22, you can imagine I haven't traveled very much. I barely got my passport at age 25 when my husband and I went to St. Maarten on our honeymoon. Other than that, I've just been in the States...and really not that many of them. My husband often talks {read: brags} of his USCG travels and all of the amazing places he's seen.

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I would love to spend three months going to places I've always wanted to see and just renewing my mind and spirit. {And I'd probably fly in my husband and boys for a week or so here and there too.}

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Blogtember

Starting next month on 9/3, I'll be taking part in a blog series called Blogtember. If you want to join, go read the deets on the Story of My Life blog. Here are the topics for each day!

Tuesday, Sept. 3: Describe where or what you come from. The people, the places, and/or the factors that make up who you are.

Wednesday, September 4: If you could take three months off from your current life and do anything in the world, what would you do? (bonus points for fun photos from Pinterest, but don't forget to cite the source!)

Thursday, September 5: Pass on some useful advice or information you learned and always remembered. 

Friday, September 6: A story about a time you were very afraid.

Monday, September 9: Take this short personality test and respond to your results. (at the end, find the detailed profile of your personality account - click "click to view" under "You" and "self awareness and personal growth." You can even google your type and find more info on it!)

Tuesday, September 10: Describe a distinct moment when your life took a turn.

Wednesday, September 11: Share links to your favorite online shops, preferably with a few photos of your favorite items in each shop.

Thursday, September 12: Discuss ways that blogging or social media has changed you.

Friday, September 13: A self portrait

Monday, September 16: Write a public love letter to someone in your life. (It doesn't necessarily need to be romantic.)

Tuesday, September 17: A memory you would love to relive.

Wednesday, September 18: Only photos

Thursday, September 19: Creative writing day: write a (very short) fictional story that starts with this sentence: "To say I was dreading the dinner party would be the understatement of the century."

The story does not necessarily need to have a conclusion - you can leave your readers wishing for more!

Friday, September 20: React to this term: comfort. 

Monday, September 23: A "life lately" post. What you're up to, how you're feeling, how you're doing on your goals, etc. Bonus points for great photos!

Tuesday, September 24: Review a book, place, or product.

Wednesday, September 25: Write about a time you screwed up - a mistake you made. 

Thursday, September 26: Go to a coffee shop. Order a favorite drink. Write about what makes you happy and what makes you sad. Or write about anything you'd like! Bonus points for including a photo from the coffee shop. (I recommend downloading Ommwriter and bringing headphones along!) *if you can't make it to a coffee shop, at least leave your usual space and write someplace new.

Friday, September 27: An anonymous letter to your Facebook friends. Be as snarky as you'd like. (but don't include people's real names.) 

Monday, September 30: Share a photo of something old. Maybe something that has personal history for you, that was passed down to you, and that has special meaning to you. Tell us about it and why it's special.

I'll definitely try to include my regular posts in the mix!

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