Growing up...

This month has been quite the roller coaster, and life has basically hit me in the face with "you are now an adult" and I've had to deal with a lot of issues I never really wanted to. Some I may not have dealt with in the most adult ways~a few tears, some pouting, denial, etc. But others I have handled in a way I was not sure I would have been capable of just a few years ago, I've stepped up, made tough decisions, and taken on more responsibilities.

Its funny, when I think of myself, in my head, I still see this college aged girl who has no cares in the world, life is easy, and I have no real worries besides how to or who is paying my bar tab that night. Life has a way of waking you up from that illusion whether you want to or not. Sometimes its your friends getting married, getting divorced, or having kids. Sometimes its your parents asking for your opinions on big life decisions, your older siblings depending on you to tell them the truth or its yourself paying your mortgage, medical bills, and car payments.

I have had a few friends who have had babies recently, and my initial reaction is always, "god I am so not ready for that" or "really? Are we old enough to have a kid" but then when I sit back and think about it, I realize I am a lot more capable than I usually give myself credit for. Now, don't get me wrong I am not going out and having a baby tomorrow. Not even close actually! I still want to go out with my friends on weekends, I still want to go to cougar football games in Pullman on a Saturday, I still want to pick up and travel when the urge sets in. But if this month has taught me anything its that when I/we are ready we'll be able to do it, and I'm not as scared as I once was (still a little scared though). Little by little I am growing up.



PS: Jim if you are reading this go ahead and BREATHE! I'm not on the baby track, yet...maybe just thinking about lining up for it;)

Shhh-don't tell Jim...

With Jim's summer break looming on the horizon (its probably more far off for him to think about than it is for me) I have been starting my yearly mental honey-do list for him to take on. Now don't get me wrong I do try to help him as much as possible and I accomplished everything on my list last summer so its not a one-way street. But the reality is he does have the summer off and there is more time for him to get the big things done that I cant do on just the weekends (and he's got muscles, which usually come in handy for our projects). Also, don't feel too sorry for him as he gets to golf as much as he wants during the summer and, for the most part, I don't say anything about that...so its a fair trade off at least in my opinion, he may think otherwise :)

This summer has a lot of BIG projects looming-some we have been putting off for awhile now and others have crept up in my head in recent weeks. I'm not sure if we will get to or even have the money for all of them but here is the list I have come up with thus far:

*finish the back patio (started the last week of summer last year)
*redo our roof
*build a front porch/or fix the front steps (whichever is cheaper)
*reorganize,paint,decorate master bedroom
*decorate 2nd bedroom
*finish downstairs bedroom
*clean/organize laundry room
*clean/organize/decorate office
*get carpets professionally cleaned
*look into kitchen upgrades

Now like I said not all of these are Jim's jobs. For the most part the ones inside will be mine and the ones outside will be his (with the help of good friends and brothers who also have summers off). Also a lot of it will be a process throughout the summer as we save up money to start and complete each task. Some will inevitably be pushed back to later in the year when there is more money, time, and patience and some will be moved forward as needs for certain things arise. Things like a working roof and an entrance to our house that is not crumbling at our feet are my highest priority but also the priciest so I guess we will just see how everything pans out. My goal now that I have written this all out for everyone to see will be to keep you all up to date on the progress we make along the way. And show how much of this list we actually get thru by the start of football season in August.

Team Magdalene...

Please consider donating to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to help find a cure and so my neice, Magdalene, can live a longer life!
http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/dsp_DonationPage.cfm?walkid=6811&idUser=368149

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