NOT BUYING

This chapter. It's real. 

How many of you have ever watched a commercial for some product for women and said "There is no way in H-E-double hockey sticks that SHE is using THAT product."? I mean, seriously. I know that there are a lot of people out there who fall for it and buy the lip gloss or the shampoo or the makeup because someone they have seen and love in a movie is using it. I DOUBT it. That is no reason to make a decision about something you are buying. I am not buying it. I know, some of you are thinking- well you SELL makeup and skincare. Yes, I do. BUT I am not famous and trying to pull the wool over someone's eyes. I am a real wife and mom, trying to find a product that makes my skin feel great and is also not full of chemicals. Guess what? That is more of what I care about these days. Being healthy- not skinny. Being healthy- not wrinkle free. Being healthy- not the girl with microbladed eyebrows and a pound of makeup in the room. 

Society does try and make women panic. Panic about aging and gaining weight and cooking. Panic about it all. We are all in distress and need saving. NO! We are women who are fully capable of handling life. We were meant for this. God was no dummy when he put women on this Earth. He knew husbands and kids would need nurturing. He knew we could take care of them and would. We need to be proud of all the things we do. We need to stop looking at the wrinkles and get disgusted. We should instead view it as a privilege to grow old, which many do not get. We need to stop worrying about the few lbs we put on and how we look and start worrying about heart health, physical activity, and living a balanced life so that we can see our kids grow old. A few gray hairs? Oh well! An easy meal for your family instead of a pinterest worthy recipe- their bellies are full and happy, right? 

The bottom line- stop stressing! This wife and mom life is a GIFT. All of the things that society and commercials and social media want us to believe are important- well, half of them just aren't. Enjoy this life. Enjoy the day. You never know when it might be your last. Do you really want your last moments spent worrying about that line in the middle of your forehead? Move on ladies, life is worth LIVING. 

For the Love: Chapter 4 & 5

Chapter 4- Fashion Concerns:

This chapter seriously made me LOL! I cannot express to you how many of these thoughts about fashion I have had. Leggings and tights.... I could cringe just thinking about it! UGH! Not to say there isn't a place for leggings and tights... but please don't show your butt and lady parts- PLEASE! Cover that stuff up. I totally agree with her on this. She also hates man capris, workout pants, mom jeans, overalls, etc. I agree with some of that for sure! I will tell you some of the things in fashion that drive me crazy:

People who dress their kids like adults. Kids are kids. I love a good outfit, but I don't feel our kids should look like adults when they get dressed. There are some fashion statements that are not meant for children. My style is totally Mudpie.

People who dress their kids to the T, but don't take care of themselves. Come on momma, take some pride and time to look nice. If your kid looks like they just walked out of a GAP commercial, you could at least look Target style. 

Mismatching, wrinkled, frumpy clothes. There is a place for that-it is called "running to the store". Otherwise, again take some pride. If you are going somewhere, try and look nice. Iron those clothes, match. If you are at work, for sure,- please LOOK like you tried.

I know momming is hard and I know as women, we put ourselves on the back burner sometimes. We need to stop. We need to plan ahead, do whatever we need to do to make sure we are walking out feeling and looking good. Stop waiting to lose the weight, fit back into that size, stop sleeping too late to take time for yourself. You feel good when you look good. Our kids aren't the only ones that need that!

Chapter 5- Run Your Race

What are you good at? Stop being ashamed of it. This part of this chapter got me in the feelings: "I don't like it when people minimize their gifts. There is a difference between humility and insecurity, and self-effacement does no one any favors." AMEN! Be proud of what you do. Don't back down when someone praises you for the great things you are doing! Stand tall and be proud. Chances are, you have worked hard for what you have done. Don't belittle it or be shy about it. 

If you haven't found what you are good at yet, maybe it's time. Do you have a dream? Something you want to do but haven't tried yet? Now might be the time to make that happen. You might fail. You might succeed. Do you and run your race. Life is too short to sit around and wait for the perfect moment. Now is the time! I have tried several things over the years. I did some painting and hangers for people. I don't have the time for that now with the littles. I thought about signing up with Ever for a long time and I finally did it and I have been doing it for almost 2 years now. 

What fashion makes you cringe? 

What is your race and how can you start working toward that?

Chapter 3: On Calling and Haitian Moms

Point 1 from this chapter: Theology is either true everywhere or anywhere. Many times people get caught up in the "American Dream" mentality and think that is how God thinks. What about the single mom in Haiti? Does the fact that she is poor make all those promises of health and wealth to the faithful false? Just because she isn't married, does that make her not worthy? Try and think outside of your thoughts and stop speaking for what God thinks. God loves. He shows mercy and grace to all. We need to start thinking about loving everyone and not just who we think is worthy. God is the only one who has the right to judge.

Point 2: A calling... the dictionary defines it as: a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence.

Are you waiting on your calling? We all have a desire for a purpose in life. The key is to not pause our lives waiting on it. I can't tell you how many times I have said "When my kids get older"...."When the weather is better". Why do we do this to ourselves? We can live out our purpose in life now. The single, poor mom in Haiti does. She has no choice. She has to work and do her thing. She may not be famous and live a grand life, but she has a purpose, just like you and me. We are all worthy of the calling we have received, including her. Your calling may seem ordinary to you, but it  might make a huge difference for someone else.
What if we actually stopped worrying about a calling and started thinking of our GIFTS? You might be good at praying for others, encouraging others, serving others, teaching others, helping others...whatever it is- do it TODAY. Don't wait for something miraculous. Pray and ask God to show you what your gift is and how you can use it to help others and live out the purpose He has for your life. When you truly surrender to what he wants you to do with your gifts is when great things happen. What is your gift and how can you use it to bless others?

For the Love: Chapter 1- The Worst Beam

I am always looking for a good book. Recently, a friend of mine loaned me a book that she had read. It's called "For The Love" by Jen Hatmaker. The minute I picked it up and started reading, I knew this book was for me. This author gets it. I will be writing a little about some of the things she talks about. So, moms, wives, women.... listen up- this is about to get good.

Chapter 1: Worst Beam Ever

Balance: I laugh at this. People always talk about the perfect work and home balance. Yea, try as I may- I don't have that. Sometimes, some things get put on the back burner. Sometimes, some things don't get done as well as the other things. I have accepted it. What you can do is chose the things you CAN balance and put those on the beam and then chose the things you just CAN'T EVEN and those get put off, for now. For me- cooking a good dinner, playing with my kids, time with my husband, getting a good night's rest, going to church, spending time with family- those all get put on the beam. Those are important to me. Things that get put off the beam for now: Time with friends- I love you guys, but I don't have the time and energy right now. It's not like I don't want a girl's day. I just don't have it in me. Working out every day. Again, I love to do this, but I just can't seem to fit it in consistently so for now it's off the beam and I'll do it when I can.

There is the unattainable, ridiculous standard that we all feel as moms and wives that we have to meet. We think we have to do it all and do it all well. Stop exhausting yourself. It's not worth it. God did not put us here on this Earth to be exhausted, stressed out and at the end of our rope. He wants us to have joy and peace. Stop comparing yourself to others. Don't guilt people for making choices regarding their beam. God's gifts stare you in the face every day- do you see them? Every minute that you waste is a minute you will not get back. What can you do to stop worrying about balancing everything? What can you take off the beam to make life more joyful?

Reading with purpose

I love to read... there is nothing better than a good book-whether it is on the couch with a cup of coffee, on the beach listening to the waves roll in, or just a simple quick read when I have time (this is more the norm these days with two littles at home). I love to read for enjoyment, but I also find myself reading  more with a purpose these days- a purpose to grow in Christ, to be a better wife, and to be a better mom. Here are some things I have been reading lately.

I have said it before and I will say it again- I love first5.org . It is a daily devotional and simple, but helps you to grow closer to God and learn about scripture at the same time. 

My husband and I just started this challenge. While we don't get to it every night, because kids are demanding and we both work and are tired, we do our best. It has scripture to read, prayers to say, and acts to do together. It has been great for us and helps us to really have some in depth conversation about God, life, and so much more. I highly suggest it for anyone who is married and just looking to grow together in your journey and be closer to Him.

Another great book! It really gets you thinking about how you as a mother set the tone for your household. It is easy as a mom and wife to feel overwhelmed and tired. It is easy to let the negativity come over you. This helps you realize you are alone in a lot of those feelings that people just don't talk about enough. I think there is this false sense of what mom life is like. It is not all yoga pants, trips to target and Starbucks. It is HARD work. Today when I was reading, it talked about 10 things you can do to create a home of warmth and grace. Get Rest, Time with God, Simplify Schedules, Clutter Busting, Give Up Perfection, Meal Plan, Schedule Mom Time Out, Play Music, Give Grace for Limitations, and Scripture Memory.

I try to do many of these. The ones that spoke to me most today were Give Up Perfection and Scripture Memory. I am too hard on myself and lately I have had to really take a step back and say "It is ok that the house is a little messy, we live here and it's not for show".... "It's ok if it doesn't get done today"- I am not perfect. The Scripture Memory is something I want to try and do with my family. I am going to be looking for a cute way to display a scripture every week and work on that. 

What are some books that you read for enjoyment on for a purpose? I am always looking for suggestions! 

Landry’s birth story— csection vs vaginal delivery

I wasn’t an active blogger when I was pregnant with Landry. I kinda got busy with life and quit. I’m glad to be back to it, because it’s an outlet for me and I did miss it. I am going to backtrack a little and talk about my pregnancy with him and the birth. I will then compare the two births and give you my honest take on vaginal vs csection birth.

So, with Landry we tried for almost a year to get pregnant. We had actually started seeing a fertility specialist when I ended up getting pregnant naturally. I am still so thankful for that experience. It was during that time I discovered I had hypothyroidism and also low progesterone. If I had not gone there, I wouldn’t have known that soon. I may have miscarried. Never know. I saw Dr. Schnell at Center of Reproductive Medicine or CORM. They are in the Houston area and Beaumont as well. I loved the people in the office, the doctors, all of it. Definitely not an experience I regret. I saw them until week 12 and then went to a regular OBGYN.

With Landry. I didn’t feel pregnant. I wasn’t sick at all. I never threw up I felt totally normal. I worked out until 38 weeks pregnant. I gained abou the same amount of weight both pregnancies. I had totally different cravings. They were just different experiences all the way around.

With that pregnancy, I rolled over in bed at 3 am and my water broke. Literally. We went into L&D. I was only a 1. My doctor started pitocin. I labored for 23 hours before Landry was born. I didn’t feel many contractions because I got an epidural at a 3-4. I had to use the peanut ball to make things move faster. I was about an hour away from having a csection. If I hadn’t had him by 24 hours of labor, they were taking me back, I barely made the cutoff. I pushed for about an hour and 45 minutes. I stayed in the hospital one night after that and I was released to go home, Other than being scared to pee, I was fine. Tired FOR SURE. So exhausted. It was all a blur. I barely remember the nurses and doctors. It was a bit overwhelming. Once home, I recovered pretty quickly.

So, the big question- vaginal or csection? Which is better? Harder?

I would say giving birth, no matter how, is not easy. Moms are superheros in my book.
Vaginal definitely takes longer in most cases.
A csection feels strange. You can tell someone is touching you but can’t feel the pain.
Epidurals work, but I felt the last pushes and it hurt like hell.
I was scared to pee after birth both times. I think that just comes with the territory.
Csection scars are no joke. I have a decent sized cut.
Recovery for a csection is longer. I was working out at 4 weeks postpartum with Landry. I never stopped doing my regular routine. This time, I have to be careful. I can’t pick up heavy things. I definitely took more pain killers for longer with my csection.

It’s really hard for me to say I prefer one over the other. Neither is fun. I just think my experience the second go around was better overall. I bonded with my doctor. I had amazing people on staff that night in L&D from the nurses to the anesthesiologists. My doctor was there and I felt super comfortable with the decisions she helped me make. I think all of that makes me lean more toward the csection. It wasn’t the horror story you hear about. I know so many women will go out of their way and go to extreme measures to avoid a csection but I don’t see any reason to do that. Whatever route you take, whatever you do to get the baby here safely and in good health- it’s worth it.

Just bloggin.....update

So, I still have a couple blog topics that I want to cover in regards to babies, BUT I keep forgetting to take pictures of Lydia's nursery so that one will have to be put on hold. I also want to do one on fav baby items, but I figure I will combine the two so.... to be continued on that. 

I am just going to do an update on life in general today:

Update on my Lent challenge: I have not been on Facebook or Instagram since March 6. I can't describe the feeling it brings. Less drama, less worry, less care.... more time for other important things. I have read so many books, spent more time with my son and family, been happier overall. I have a new outlook on things. While I will not give it up permanently, I do know that my time spent on social media will be MUCH LESS when I do return. Life is so much more important than the social world out there. I truly needed the break and the detox and I am beyond glad I took it.

I have also been reading my Bible passages daily and still keeping up with my First 5 readings as well. I love taking time to reflect on His word and feel good about how close it makes me feel to Him.

Family update:

I am almost 38 weeks pregnant with baby girl, Lydia Jo. Things are going well. I don't feel any closer to labor than I did last time. With my son, my water broke in the middle of the night and that was it. Off to the hospital and 23 hours later, he was here. He came at 39 weeks. I hear so many different things from people about how their second labor was different from the first. It's hard to tell what this baby will do, but I am find waiting and letting her come when she is ready. 

Landry can tell something is going on. We talk about the baby and while I think he somewhat understands, I don't think he gets the whole idea. I don't know that he will until she is here. I do know he is attached to us like no other right now and going through a bit of a 2 year old phase where he thinks he is the boss. He is just pressing the limits and learning how to be a little person and we are trying to be patient and stern at the same time. Toddler life is tough!

Work update: I am still working and will be until this baby pops out! I am very fortunate to have a job I absolutely LOVE and has been much easier on me this pregnancy. 

Business update: Ever has been great lately. They have been having a lot of great monthly specials and just set up another one. Business has been good! The new foundation they put out is AMAZING and my fav! As always, if you'd like to check it out: www.everskin.com/with/melissaanderson

Feel free to email or message me for more info, coupons, etc.

msenseney05@aol.com

Hair: I cut my hair over the weekend! I LOVE IT! Right before I had Landry, I cut my hair off and it was so easy to manage with a baby, because you know you don't have time for yourself much the first few weeks. 

Have a fabulous Tuesday folks! 

All The Little Children book review and movie review of Green Book

Over Spring Break, thanks to my social media detox, I had plenty of time to read and watch movies. Amazing what can happen when you aren't glued to social media all day.

The book I read over the week was "All The Little Children" by Jo Furniss. Here is the summary from Good Reads. I use Good Reads often to find books that I might like to read. 

Struggling with working-mother guilt, Marlene Greene hopes a camping trip in the forest will provide quality time with her three young children—until they see fires in the distance, columns of smoke distorting the sweeping view. Overnight, all communication with the outside world is lost.

Knowing something terrible has happened, Marlene suspects that the isolation of the remote campsite is all that’s protecting her family. But the arrival of a lost boy reveals they are not alone in the woods, and as the unfolding disaster ravages the land, more youngsters seek refuge under her wing. The lives of her own children aren’t the only ones at stake.

When their sanctuary is threatened, Marlene faces the mother of all dilemmas: Should she save her own kids or try to save them all?

Ever since watching "The Walking Dead", I enjoy the post apocalyptic type book every now and then. This book was kinda on that wavelength. I won't spoil it for anyone who might want to read it. It was a quick read. There were parts of it that kept me reading. Overall, I would say it was a 3 out of 5. There were no zombies or anything like that. There were times when it really made you think like a mom and wonder what you do if you were in Marlene's shoes. The best part about it was that it was free with my Prime subscription. Do you have Prime? Do you read the free reads? I am actually already on to my next read- "Say You're Sorry" and that one is one I can't put down! Excited to finish it.

Now, on to the movie I watched. Green Book.

AMAZING. I loved this movie! If you have not had a chance to watch this, do it! It is based on the true story of Don Shirley, a classical and jazz pianist. It tells the story of the journey he took to play down south during the 60s and his relationship with his driver and bodyguard, Tony. It really evokes emotion about that time and what he had to go through. I truly enjoyed it and both actors in it- Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen were amazing! I love Ali anyways from True Detective, but he really did a great job in this movie and Viggo- he was so funny and so raw. 

Have you seen any good movies lately? Read any good books?

Motivation Monday

The dreaded day.... Monday....sigh! Why do people dread Mondays so much? Here is an article I found recently that has a little insight into why we don't look forward to Monday.

https://www.inc.com/nicolas-cole/8-very-real-reasons-people-hate-mondays-and-why-you-should-be-concerned-if-you-f.html

Here are the main reasons and my commentary below!

1. You got a full night's sleep and yet you still feel tired. This is a very clear indicator that sleep is not the problem. The problem is you're not emotionally invested in what you're doing. Have you ever gone on a vacation or a trip where you're doing stuff all day, going to bed late, and still waking up early with tons of energy because you're excited to do more exploring? That's how you should feel every day, in some way, shape, or form. Do you love what you do? I think this is one of the main reasons that people do not get excited about Mondays. It means heading back to work for most. When you have a job that you don't love to do, it makes it so much harder. Now, I am not saying that you have to love working- who wouldn't rather be at home, somehow collecting a paycheck and not doing much for it? That is just not the way things work for most. We have to work to earn a living. I would suggest really looking at your job. Is it something you like to do? do you like the people you work with? Look at your commute, your workload and commitment. If the job is truly why you dread work days, try looking into something new to do, something you can feel good about doing and be at least a little passionate about. Change is hard, but sometimes change is necessary. 

2. You did not prepare yesterday for today. People despise feeling overwhelmed, and yet so many fail to realize they do it to themselves. Failure to prepare means you are preparing to fail. Mondays are only overwhelming if you did not take Sunday to get all your ducks in a row. And the reason why most people choose not to do this is because whatever it is they're doing isn't enjoyable to them. Routine! Routine! Routine! I have posted about this before. Make your life easier. Get organized and have a routine in place. We do all kinds of things to make life easier for us: Amazon Prime, Clicklist, certain days to get laundry done, cleaning schedule, iron clothes for the week. Prepare yourself for the week and it takes so much of the stress off.

Here is my post on this:

https://msenseneysjourney.blogspot.com/2019/02/lets-talk-routine.html

3. Everyone else hates Mondays too. It's easy to hate things other people hate too. "Misery loves company." It's impossible (or very, very difficult) to stay positive when your company culture is, "Hey Bob, how was your weekend?" / "Too short. Can't believe it's Monday. I hate Mondays." Next time someone asks about your weekend, try to think of something great that happened and share that versus saying "too short". Be positive and maybe others will follow! 

4. You aren't doing something you love. Obviously. You are not going to wake up feeling excited to go to a job you don't genuinely enjoy. It's astounding how many people choose things out of comfort, or fear of the unknown, and bite the bullet on years upon years of dissatisfaction. See #1! So true!

5. Social media either hates Mondays or crushes Mondays. Browse through Instagram on a Monday morning and you'll see half a dozen coffee cup quote graphics either sharing the pains of waking up on a Monday, or the relentless ambition one must possess in order to crush Mondays goals. What's more important is, what do YOU want? How do YOU want to be spending your Monday? And then what can you do in order to bring that to fruition? This is so dang true. I bet people post more about Monday and working that any other day (except maybe Friday!). Try to put a positive post out there in the world on Monday and give someone something good to focus on! 

6. You don't enjoy the people you work with. Most of the time, it's the people around you that define how long you stay in any given situation. Regardless of how you feel about the work, it can be very difficult to take satisfaction in doing something with people who don't bring you positive energy--and vice versa. See #1 again. I love my co-workers and the ones that don't bring that positive vibe, I try to be extra positive around them or avoid them if I can. Sad, but sometimes you just can't surround yourself with that if you are going to stay in the mindset to make Mondays better, make work better, be more positive!

7. Mondays mark the end of one life and the beginning  of the next. When you "live for the weekend," a Monday is the door shutting on your 48 hours of freedom--and that's a pretty strong indicator you are living double lives. One life is how you "pay the bills," and the other life is what you do for personal enjoyment. In some capacity, you want to find a way to merge the two. Otherwise, you will never find your work all that fulfilling. I am not going to lie, I LOVE the weekends. I always say I work to live, not live to work. I think it is super important to have priorities in life. I also think it is important to find that balance as well. People always want to separate work and life. Honestly, that's almost impossible. There will be times you have to take care of personal stuff while working or work while at home on your weekend time. Try to find joy, no matter what you are doing.

8. Because Monday means doing it "all over again." This speaks directly to our culture of chasing rewards as "means to an end." If you see every week as a sprint, and you endure it with the hopes that one day you'll be "done" and you can finally "enjoy it and relax," you're doing it wrong. You're missing the entire journey. You are aiming for something that doesn't actually exist. Fulfillment is found along the way, not in a treasure chest at the end of the rainbow. Every single day is a gift. God did not intend for us to view the days as something to "get done". Stop looking at it that way and try to enjoy the moments, days, weeks you are given. I would say also try to aim for productivity and relaxation in the same day. When you balance things out a little more and have time each day where you do something productive and then also have some relaxing time, you are likely not to view certain days as better than others. 

Semi personal questions about me!

What question can you ask to find out the most about a person? What are your thoughts on life? See which direction they go. A lot can be learned about a person and how they view life. 

When was the last time you changed your opinion / belief about something major?

In this day, I am always developing new opinions and beliefs as our world is constantly changing and getting away from the way that I prefer it to be. 

What was the best compliment you’ve received? Anytime someone tells me that they notice I am good at being a wife or a mom, that is the best. 

As the only human left on Earth, what would you do? Probably freak out- I don't see myself being resourceful and doing well in that situation.

Who inspires you to be better? My husband constantly challenges me to think outside of what I would normally think. I would say it makes me a better person. 

What do you want your epitaph to be? I would hope that people remember me as a Christian, as a good person, as a friend

What did you think you would grow out of but haven’t? I really thought I wouldn't have time for fitness once I became a mom. Although I have had to make some adjustments, I still have time so I am happy to have not grown out of that. 

In what situation or place would you feel the most out of place in? I try not to put myself into awkward situations, but I would say big parties, places that are toooooo fancy, a comicon convention lol....those seem strange to me. 

What’s the dumbest thing you’ve done that actually turned out pretty well? I am not a big risk taker, but I would say most people viewed my decision to marry my husband so quickly as dumb and it has turned out more than pretty well. 

They say that everyone has a book in them. What would your book be about? Changing your life. How you can't let the past define who you are today. I didn't always make the best decisions, but I am a happy, successful person today and I truly think I had to go through all of that to get here. 

What is something you will NEVER do again? scuba dive or snorkel. I do not like it! I feel claustrophobic under the water. It's just not for me. 

What do you spend the most time thinking about? I try to focus on the positive side of things.... church, my family, the future and all the exciting things I am looking forward to doing. 

What are some of the events in your life that made you who you are? Working at a young age, heartbreak, my grandpa's passing....just to name a few. 

What do you wish your brain was better at doing? Remembering stuff! 

There are two types of people in this world. What are the two types? Old school and Politically Correct

What is the strangest thing you have come across? I can't remember something super strange. 

What is something you are certain you’ll never experience? Sky diving...no way...never ever

What dumb accomplishment are you most proud of? 

If you could make one rule that everyone had to follow, what rule would you make?

What are you addicted to? Peanut Butter (seriously- every day) 

What stereotype do you completely live up to? Basic white girl- I am a little gaudy, totally normal, love starbucks, dress the part...all of it. 

What is something you can never seem to finish? Books! It takes me a while when I am working to be able to stay up late and finish reading a book. 

As you get older, what are you becoming more and more afraid of? Something happening to me or someone I love suddenly and leaving my kids without family members.

What is one of your favorite smells? Pumpkin Spice- fav time of year

What would be the scariest monster you could imagine? Monsters, whatever! lol

What song or artist do you like but rarely admit to liking? I don't hide what I like- mostly country, Christian music and some oldies.

What would you do if you knew you were going to die in one hour? Be with my family!

What book impacted you the most? I would say reading the Bible all the way through several times has made an impact on my life. I try to use stories from the Bible and apply it to my everyday life. 

If you had to change your name, what would you change it to? I am happy with Melissa

If life is a game, like some people say, what are some of the rules? Have common sense would be my number 1! 

Who is / was your most interesting friend? I have had many friends over the years, for different reasons and seasons of life. I have met a lot of really interesting people. I don't think one in particular stands out to me. 

Have you ever given to any charities? Yes, my husband and I try to donate frequently to charities, especially those that are local and associated with our church.

What is something that your friends would consider “so you”? Anything fleur de lis or Boston terrier-ish :) 

What risks are worth taking? LOVE- definitely worth it!

What can you not get right, no matter how many times you try? Can't think of anything.

If you could convince everyone in the world to do one thing at one point in time, what would that thing be? Many times I would convince people to let it go! Sometimes people stress and worry over things that they have no control over and that will not matter at the end of this life. 

What do you take for granted? I try to be conscious of this and not take things for granted. Being grateful and thankful daily, even in the midst of things you feel aren't worth being grateful for is key to not letting this crazy life eat you up! 

What would be some of the most annoying things about having yourself as a roommate? I am overly picky about being clean and organized. I was so much better living alone than living with roommates! 

What’s something you are self-conscious about? My weight- always! It's a struggle. 

What personality trait do you value most and which do you dislike the most? someone who can enjoy life and laugh- someone who is funny! Don't take life too serious! Dislike- someone who is full of themselves. Can't stand it!

What small gesture from a stranger made a big impact on you? Most recently someone paid for part of my family's meal at a restaurant. It's the little things. 

What gets you fired up? Working out, being productive, Ever

What challenging thing are you working through these days? Just learning my new job! It has been so different this year, but I love it!

What irrational fear do you have? Roaches- so silly but I hate them! UGH!

What’s the best and worst piece of advice you’ve ever received? Lots of things related to mom life. Sleep training and so much more. Every kid and family is different. I would say do not stress over things and do not google stuff! Do not compare yourself or your child to others!

If you had a clock that would countdown to any one event of your choosing, what event would you want it to countdown to? Right now- Lydia's arrival- when will she come? 

What makes a good life? Faith, having people to love

What do you strongly suspect but have no proof of? The NFL is rigged! My Saints were robbed! LOL!

What’s the last adventure you went on? We haven't been anywhere in a while, but last summer we went on a fun vacation to the hill country. 

When do you feel truly “alive”? When I am in good shape, feeling healthy and strong!

What was the most memorable gift you’ve received? Again, I am not into material things.... don't have one in particular.

What chapters would you separate your autobiography into? Kid life, teenage life, single life, married life?

What do you like most about your family? We all get along and have fun when we are together. No drama! 

What do you hope your last words will be? Don't want to think about this

What stat for your life would you most like to see? Weight loss and gain- it's all over the place! 

What are three of the most significant numbers in your life? 3-16-15 my anniversary date... the day this whole new life began for me and it's been the BEST! 

What could you do with two million dollars to impact the most amount of people? I would have to think on this one- that's a lot of money!

If you were put into solitary confinement for six months, what would you do to stay sane? Read, write

What’s something horrible that everyone should try at least once? I would say there are some foods that are pretty horrible to some people, but I would say don't knock it until you try it! 

What fact are your resigned to? This country is going crazy

Have you ever saved someone’s life? No

What were some of the turning points in your life? Getting a teaching job, getting married, being baptized again as an adult.

What would a mirror opposite of yourself be like? Impatient, non-believer just to name a few things

What are you really good at, but kind of embarrassed that you are good at it? Not embarrassed to be good at anything!

What are three interesting facts about you?  I am horrible at these kinda questions- there's one! LOL!

Which of your scars has the best story behind it? I have been very fortunate not to hurt myself and have many scars so there is no interesting, jumping over something, super cool story to tell. 

What’s the title of the current chapter of your life? Wife/Mom Life

What’s the hardest lesson you’ve learned? You can't live this life without God. Period.

What mistake do you keep making again and again? Can't think of one! I try to learn from my mistakes the first time. 

What do people think is weird about you? Not sure- maybe someone will tell me?

When people look at you, what do you think they see / think? I have often been told I look like I am mean. LOL but I really am not!

What have you created that you are most proud of? 2 babies!

If you could make a 20 second phone call to yourself at any point in your life present or future, when would you call and what would you say? I would call my single self and say- stop worrying, the guy will come. ENJOY life! 

What annoys you most about the in-groups you are a part of? in-groups? ummmmmm no

What do you have doubts about? Where my family and I will live in the future? Where will we work? We always keep our options open and are ready to go where God leads us. 

What do you want to be remembered for? Being ME :) 

What are some of your personal “rules” that you never break? I try to commit only to things I will do. I rarely ever don't do something I said I would do.

What do you regret not doing or starting when you were younger? Being into health and fitness. Being more active.

If you could have a never-ending candle that smelled like anything you wanted, what fragrance would you want it to be? Pumpkin spice! duh!

What’s the best thing about you? I am reliable- you can count on me. 

What bends your mind every time you think about it? Some of the current issues in our country- I won't make it political, but some things make me crazy. 

What’s the best thing you got from your parents?

I would say my personality- I am am mix of my mom and dad. Hard working and stubborn like dad. Organized and a natural homemaker like my mom.

What’s one responsibility you really wish you didn’t have? Some of the stuff at work isn't too fun.

What is the “holy grail” of your life? Can't think of something

If your childhood had a smell, what would it be? Outdoors! We spent a lot of time playing outside.

What are the top three things you want to accomplish before you die? How close are you to accomplishing them? Travel. ( Do this as often as we can) Be financially secure and debt free (we are getting there quickly) Be in the best shape of my life (after this baby).

What do you wish you could tell yourself 10 years ago? What do you think you’ll want to tell your current self 10 years from now? 10 years ago- Don't worry, God has a plan! 10 years from now- Enjoy every moment with your kids- good and bad, one day you will miss it!

In your group of friends, what role do you play? The one who always tell you like it is, no matter what. 

Among your friends or family, what are you famous for? nada

What is the biggest lesson you never learned? Life does go on, no matter what happens.

What’s the most immature thing that you do? Watch reality TV- kinda dumb, but a guilty pleasure! 

If your life was a book, what would its title be? Can't think of a good one

What’s the best and worst thing about getting older? Living another day....worst thing: gray hairs! 

What’s something that happened or something that someone said that changed how you view the world? I think the way I found my husband, the way things worked out was a pivitol moment in my life. It really solidified for me that God has a plan. I view the world much more differently now.

What are you most likely very wrong about? Me? Wrong? Never! HA! JK! I am wrong in fights with the hubby SOMETIMES.

If you had a personal flag, what would be on it? Fleur de lis, of course! 

What lifestyle change have you been meaning to make for a while now? Using beachbody on demand for workouts- LOVE it! 

What would be your spirit animal? Tiger----- like LSU

What incredibly strong opinion or belief do you have that is completely unimportant in the grand scheme of things? My opinions about what a mom and wife should and should not do are probably unimportant to most- I view things very differently that most people, but to each their own!

What chance encounter changed your life forever? Meeting the hubby!

If you could have a video of any one event in your life, what event would you choose? Wedding day- to show my kids :) 

If you were forced to relive one 10-minute block of your life again and again for all eternity, what 10 minutes of your life would you choose? A quiet morning at home with my family, coffee and a fire going