on this earth...

i had a conversation with jass earlier tonight and she shared a thought of hers....it made me very happy, and so i need to share.

she said that we are not put on this earth to make money, or start businesses or anything like that....but that we are on this earth to love. she strongly believes that loving other people, friends or family or significant others, is the very most important thing, and if you were to step back and look at your life, that is what you should be focusing on. no matter what your ambitions are, always remember that its the people that make you who you are, and the people that are going to help you achieve your goals, and help you celebrate once you get there.

i agree with her 100%...whats the point of life if youre not taking the time to LOVE your people?? above all things, we need to pay attention to how we show our love to one another. take in the little things, small gestures of affection. they make all the difference.

im so happy that she talked about it and shared those thoughts of hers. she is one smart girl!!

undeserving

i am a really lucky person. i dont know what i did to deserve the friends i have, but it amazes me every day how incredible they are. and even more amazing is the fact that theyve chosen to keep me around all these years.

to my ladies:
thank you for all the love and support you give me. i know i would be a complete mess without you all. you keep me focused and in line, since as we all know....im a teeny bit scatter-brained. rob-you get major points for all the "EM!"s you give me when i get distracted...thanks. i also want to thank you girls for the comfort you give me. anytime i question my path i know i can count on any of you to encourage me and remind me that im alright. you help me feel confident in myself, because really, how bad can i be if i have friends as wonderful as you?? the most important thing i think...is to thank you for the smiles and laughter....without any one of you, my life would be so incomplete. you each have your own way of making me lose my mind laughing. and i cant imagine life without that feeling. the uncontrollable, all-over-body-shaking, cant-hardly-breathe type laughing. its what keeps me going. i LIVE for the times we all get together cuz i always know i will be 100% entertained. you are all so goofy and silly, by the end of most nights...my face hurts from the constant smile! i really hope you ladies know how important you are to me!!! life would be pretty dull without you.

Country Splash 09!!

Country Splash 09 pretty much rocked my world. heres a list of things that make me happy about it:

our neighbor Tunz, who likes to say 'tons', tons
the guy who complimented my teeth and then asked 'you brush em dont you?'
beersbie - brilliant new game...ask me and ill teach ya
the irish guys...wearing matching shirts
losing the car key...for a really long time...
last minute decision to camp....best spur of the moment decision i'd say
losing the car key...again....
lady antebellum
the guys walking around in speedos
complimenting some girl's dress...then finding out it was Jass
my flip flop tan lines
the saturday night sundae
9am beer
10am captain coke
11am drunk text to the sista
naptime in the truck
bringing our own drinks to the bar
realizing that kenny chesney is AMAZING in concert
sarah still having her rascal flatts pass stuck to her chest sunday morning

uh....some parts are hazy....but overall....legendary weekend!!!!

sounds like life to me

so ive been in a funk the last few days...feeling bummed out and stressed...and then i heard this song...and remembered...we all have our issues...and everyone has their own tough times...but whats the point in wasting time moping around about it...when i can be enjoying the sunshine and music and laughter??? there is just too much GOOD to focus my energy on the BAD.

Sounds Like Life To Me, by Darryl Worley

Got a call last night from an old friend's wife, said I hate to bother you
Johnny Ray fell off the wagon, he's been gone all afternoon
I know my buddy so I drove to Skully's and found him at the bar
I say hey man, whats going on, he said I dont know where to start

Sarahs old car's about to fall apart and the washer quit last week
We had to put momma in the nursing home and the baby's cutting teeth
I didnt get much work this week and i got bills to pay
I said I know this aint what you wanna hear, but its what I'm gonna say

Sounds like life to me, it aint no fantasy
It's just a common case of everyday reality
Man i know its tough but you gotta suck it up
To hear you talk you're caught up in some tragedy
It sounds like life to me

Well his face turned red and he shook his head, he said you dont understand
Three kids and a wife depend on me and I'm just one man
To top it off I just found out that Sarah's two months late
I said hey bartender set us up a round we need to celebrate

Sounds like life to me, plain old destiny
Yeah the only thing certain is uncertainty
You gotta hold on tight just enjoy the ride
Get used to all this unpredictability
Sounds like life.

missing you....

i miss the wallins....

the happy couple....

wild and crazy ryann grace....

and of course..sweet baby elle....

come back soon please!!!!!

feeling...

"i still love you....can't you feel that?"

i recently found a page in an old journal of mine that consisted of only this quote. i cant for the life of my remember where i heard it, but i definitely remember the feeling. it gave me chills. more than just hearing someone say the words "i love you"...imagine the FEELING. deep in your stomache, much more prominent than anything you hold in your mind. i have days where i wonder what true love feels like...since the first thing that pops in my mind when i hear the phrase 'true love' is 'husband'...but then i close my eyes and remember all the different forms of love. love between parents and their children. between sisters. between friends. and i get that feeling. to honestly, unconditionally love those people in my life. its so much more than just a mind-thing. its an all over, from the top of my head to the tips of my toes feeling.

and my joy from that feeling makes me really excited to experience the husband/wife kind of love someday...i see couples like my parents, who have been married forever and still make each other laugh, and my sister and brother in law who continue to act like giddy teenagers together, and larissa and mark, who are so far beyond best-friend status it amazes me. i hope to have the chance to find someone who thrills me the way they all seem to thrill each other. i'd love to experience that sort of love.

i dont know who, if anyone, will even read this...but if someone is...i want you to sit back, close your eyes, and think about someone you love...whoever that is. just sit and FEEL it. dont just KNOW it....focus on the way it affects your stomache....and your smile! the comfort. the joy. the honesty. ahhhh...it amazes me.

New Year's Resolution:

to start the year off...we went ice skating at the depot...

went small town bar-hopping with jen...

another wild and crazy gasthofs night....

my first Wild game....

and a great night out to celebrate sarahs birthday!

more to come soon!!!