Jennifer's Blog

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are
truly endless.

~Mother Teresa

A few things I'm thankful right now at this moment:

My family!
The health of my family/friends!
Friends!
My dog!
Date night!!
Good cheap wine!
The apple cake I just made!

I find it really hard to find the positive when there is so much negativity around me. Finding the silver lining is tough, but not impossible. I think for all the negative things going on right now, if I can find one positive and focus my energy on that, life will balance out again. Now I just have to do it!

Well here I am world! I was thinking today in the shower. I tell you I think really well in there! I was thinking about what lessons I can learn from all of my current family drama. And then Crystal posted about finding the lessons in all of this on my last blog. Coincidence?? I don't really think so. Someone is watching over us, and He has a plan. So in the shower I was thinking that tomorrow is not a guarantee, and every new day is a surprise. It's a blessed gift to have another new day be presented to you. It's up to US to determine what to do with our gift. The lessons I've learned from all of this drama so far is that this will NOT define our family. The emotion is still really raw, but I won't let this affect innocent kids who have done nothing wrong. Another lesson I've learned is we all have to make an effort in one anothers lives. We all need to give our best, every day! If we all give 100%, I believe this will undoubtedly lead to a happier life.

I have been regrettably absent for a while now. I was on such a good path, and then life got in the way. And then last week it really got in the way. There are some members of our family, my husband's family to be more specific, that are going through a rough patch. Well it's more than that, but I don't really want to get into specifics. I am trying my best to be diplomatic. I'm trying to be Neutral, and helpful to everyone. It's hard to not have an opinion, or at least not verbalize it. My main roll is to be as supportive as I can. My question is, what about my kids? They aren't dumb. They are going to realize something is going on sooner than later. My husband is hurt and very very angry right now, and wants to keep them away from this particular person for a good while. I can understand his point of view, but at the same time, it's going to punish the kids too. I don't know where to find the balance in it all. These people have always been a central part of our lives, and for one of the two people, everything has been cut off. At this point indefinitely. Although I hope after some time has past, they can move forward. I hope some of this rambling makes some sort of sense!

I am working hard every day to try and become just a little better than I was yesterday. I have started the Gratitude Journal...I had forgotten it for a couple of days and had to struggle to remember what those days entailed. I have also started the journaling about the questions "What is it that you value about yourself, about your life, and about who YOU are?" I reached 100, actually I think 110 before I stopped to count. I tried really hard to not repeat things, but some are similar....I need to keep adding to it! This is progress!
~Jennifer

Out with the negativity and in with the POSITIVENESS!!! I need more positivity in my life. Somewhere along my journey I've become a negative Nelly...and that is NOT who I want to be. Whew, it's easier said than done, but I am 100% determined to clean out the negative in my life! Any helpful hints??

I have come to the conclusion that we were meant to be here a while longer. My husbands grandparents are rapidly declining in health, and I have no doubt in my mind that staying here for now was the best decision for us. Life certainly works in mysterious ways, doesn't it? You don't always know the WHY at the time, but eventually, everything works out as it is supposed to. I am so much more at peace today than ever before about this decision!

That being said.....I can't wait for Seattle! I am missing home a lot right now, and am really excited to be going back next month.

Much love and hugs to all of you!
Jennifer

So I know I need to DO and BE better, but I guess my bigger question is where do I start? And how?

I was thinking in the shower this morning...I think, I think there best...it's nice and quiet! Anyway, I was thinking that I need to DO better. I need to BE better. I feel like since I quit working a little over a year ago, I've become too lazy and have began to let things slide. I need to become proactive in my life again. I need to make MYSELF a priority! I think if I do that I will be a MUCH happier person, which will make me a better mommy!

Hello! This is my first official blog here in the BraveHeart community. I am dipping my toe in I guess you could say, and testing the waters.

Recently my husband had an incredible job offer, but fear held us back. Ironically it happened to be near my hometown. It's 3000 miles from where we live now. I've lived here for 8 years now...wow it's SO hard to believe it's been that long. We've both always wanted to move back, but there is this unspoken fear that we have. I think it's fear of the unknown. If only we could have a little peek into the future to show us everything will be ok. But what fun would that be right?

There were a lot of reasons to do it and not to do it. My husbands family is here. My kids have grown up here. When we told my son, he freaked out crying all morning, begging to stay. We just want to do the right thing. But what IS the right thing? IS there a RIGHT thing??

Long story short, he ended up turning the job down. I don't know that they will offer anything to him in the future. This was the second job offer in 6 months. The thing that troubles me is the "What if?"