I'd Rather Be...

Linking up again this week with Mama Kat for writer's workshop. The prompt I chose this week is:  List 9 things you’d rather be doing today.

Since it is a Thursday, I am at work, in my office. Not a terrible place to be, but here are nine things I would rather be doing (in no particular order): 

1. Reading 

2. Watching TV

3. Shopping 

4. Spend time with my dogs

Maverick is the white one, Lola the tan

5. Spend time with my bird

My Jinx 

6. Float the Boise river with my family (it's going to be 102° today!)

not my picture, thank you google 

7. Spend time with my husband

8. Did I say reading yet? 

9. Maybe a nap? 

What about you, what is something you would rather be doing? 

This post inspired by:

I'm Pretty Good

Linking up with mama Kat again this week for writer's workshop. The prompt I choose this week is: tell us about something you are known for being pretty good at. 

The best way I can think to do this is a list! Who doesn't love a list?

1. I've been told I'm pretty good at reading. It is one of my favorite things to do! 
2. I've been told I'm a pretty good writer (which is why this blog still exists)
3. I've been told I'm pretty good at utilizing the electronic medical records we use at work.
4. I've been told I'm pretty good at tripping on clean, flat surfaces. 
5. I've been told I'm pretty good at making pretty babies
6. I've been told I'm pretty good at taking pictures. 
7. I've been told I'm pretty good at driving (that might have been by my young kids or a drunk friend, but the clean record stands!) 
8. I've been told I'm pretty good at diamond paintings
9. I've been told I'm pretty good at planning (I am a planner for everything) 
10. I've been told I'm a pretty good mom (I like to hope so, if nothing else I feel like my girls are growing to be good people and isn't that the goal?) 

What is something your known for being pretty good at? 

This post inspired by: 

Changes...

How long have you been blogging? What has changed since you started?

I started this blog in late August 2007. At the time I was overdue with Natalie. That means I have been blogging for 15 years. Some of those years were very busy on the blog. In the years 2013 through 2015 it looks like I blogged almost daily. 

Other years it went on the wayside:  2012 then 2017 through 2020 were all less then 100 posts for the year.

Things that have changed since starting the blog: 

1. Facebook. This made it so a lot of my posts (at least at the time) felt redundant. People had seen it on my facebook before, so why post twice. 
2. The kids are all older. When I started I was just having kid number two. Now I have three teenage girls!  
3. I have become a lot more outspoken about my opinions and not just fact based stories. 
4. I've become a mental health advocate.  
5. It has become easier to share my pictures! 

 

Things that haven't changed: 

1. I still want to document my life in an authentic way. 
2. I still want to share my struggles with others. 
3. I still complain (often) but I try to outweigh that with my gratitude. 
4. I still read back on old entries and smile. I will always do that. 
5. I still love to share about my kids accomplishments and how they have been doing. 

My hope is that someday, when I've left this planet, my girls will be able to read this blog and know who their mom was. Read some stories about their childhood. See that I struggled too. 

This post inspired by: 

My Birthday Celebration!

Linking up with Mama Kat again this week for writer's workshop. This week, the prompt I choose was Write a blog post inspired by the word: celebrate.

Since yesterday was my birthday, it is easy to write about celebrating. 

My girls were with their dad this week, but all three of them called and sang to me. I wish I could have recorded that! 

I got an instagram post from Natalie: 

My sister sent me some presents, but I had to wait to open them until we could video chat. Patience is not my strong suit! 

Stephen bought me a cake! 

I also got a couple e-cards from people at work: 

Last but not least, I got an amazon gift card from my Auntie Analise that I used to help me pay for my dress for Colleen and Zach's wedding! 

I can't wait to start playing with this and figure out which way I want to wear it (apparently there are hundreds of different ways you can do the straps to make it look different) 

Ended my day with a special dinner made by my love, stuffed bell peppers. 

There you have the recap of my birthday celebration. 

This post inspired by: 

Its my BIRTHDAY!

Today I turn 38. 

Not going to make goals because that sure didn't work last time... 

Instead I will list a few things I'm looking forward to: 

1. Visiting Hawaii for the first time 
2. Attending a real life Luau 
3. Seeing my sister marry the love of her life 
4. Floating the river this summer
5. Another tattoo maybe? (I'm thinking its time for my bookish one, if not that, a couple littles to remind me of our adventures in Kauai and the Keys) 
6. Having more brunches with my work friends 
7. Seeing Tabi's newest little. 

What other things should I add to this list?

A Collection

Linking up with Mama Kat for another exciting installment of Writer's Workshop. 

Write a blog post about something you collect or used to collect. 

I talked about my smashed penny collection here, but I figured it was another opportunity to talk about something I love!

Another thing I collect is Hatchimals. The collection started when my girls were younger, one of them (I can't remember who) let me open one and I was hooked. 

You see, they look like eggs and you "warm" them in your hands, then they easily crack open. 

Thank you google for this stock photo

This is the most important one in my collection: 

This is from an instagram post I made when I got him on February 3, 2018: "A gift from my mommy today. We were out and about, I picked up a hatch-imal, just because, and when the egg cracked, this little guy was inside. For those who didn't have the joy of knowing my mommy, she loved piggies. The fact that this random animal was an angel pig, just touched a spot on my heart." 

This is my whole collection: 

As you can see, I did get one of the packs with the "egg carton." Like I said, it's a problem.

And this is how they are currently stored: 

If anyone has any ideas for display for this fun collection, I would love to hear them. My google, etsy and amazon searched for "hatchimals display" have come up fruitless. 

This post inspired by:  

Summer Plans and One of my Collections

Linking up this week with Mama Kat for writers workshop. Got to use those writing skills or I will lose them! The first prompt I chose is Summer is here! What are you most looking forward to?

I am so blessed to live in an area that has SO many outdoor activities for us to enjoy. Here is a short list of the things I would love to do this summer: 

1. Kayak at Quinn's Pond
2. Float the Boise River
3. Watch an outdoor movie (my ex sister in law used to do these, *fingers crossed* the tradition continues)
4. Go to the dog park OFTEN
5. Go to the beach next trip to Oregon. 
6. Relax in the back yard and read
7. Visit Boise's Saturday Market 

Next prompt for today: Tell us about something you collect.

One of the things I've been collecting longest is the novelty smashed pennies. This is my collection: 

You cannot get a good picture of these things! I even tried just ONE out of the case, one of my oldest

This one is from Disneyland, the year I graduated, 2002! 

I will describe some of my other pennies: 

• Flower (skunk from Bambi) from Disneyland
• Ariel from Disneyland
• Train from Disneyland
• Tigger from Disneyland
• Cabela's Boise (where I got my Penny Passport book) 
• San Diego with a "picture" of the skyline
• Long Beach California with a Mermaid 
• Timberline, Mt Hood Oregon with a pic of Mt Hood 
• Walla Walla Valley Washington State 
• Fort Walla Walla, Hudson Bay Company
• Whitman Mission 1836
• Queen Mary, Long Beach California
• Whale Watching Newport Oregon, with a picture of a humpback whale
• MK Nature center with their logo 
• MK Nature Center with salmon 
• Support Conservation with a kangaroo 
• Mo's Chowder with a clam The Best Chowder
• Sisters Oregon (baby with I Love You) 
• Multnomah Falls 
• Oregon Coast, Breaching humpback whale
• The Chocolate Frog, Waldport Oregon
• Waldport Oregon with the bridge 
• Waldport Oregon with a breaching whale 
• Shoreline Village with a view of the bay
• La Push Washington First Beach 
• Forks Washington New Moon
• Forks Washington "Dazzled by Twilight" 
• Forks Washington "You compare one small tree to the entire forest" 

I think it is a fun way to remember places I've been and an inexpensive way for friends to buy me souvenirs. 

Did You Know?

Write a Things You Don’t Know About Me post.

After years of blogging and being on social media, there is very little that goes unrevealed in my life. I am basically an "open book" to my readers (as few as there may be!). However, I always love the opportunity to talk about myself, so here is a fun, "did you know" post all about me!

1. Did you know that I was born in Florida but sadly can't remember the sunshine state?

2. Did you know that all three of my girls have two middle names as a tribute to a friend I lost? I later found out it was a Dutch tradition (part of my heritage) and it was a happy coincidence for me. I'm really glad I did it, but I'm a little worried it will bite my girls in the butt later in life.

3.  Did you know before I moved to Idaho I had never lived more then 15 minutes away from my parents?

4. Did you know that I had all four of my grandparents until I was 27.

5. Did you know my favorite color is yellow and that is the color I picked to paint my high school bedroom?

6. Did you know Mavrick is my very first puppy? All the other dogs I have owned came to me already adult aged.

7. Did you know I consider my ex husband's new wife one of my closest friends? Four years ago I didn't even know if I wanted to meet her and now I couldn't even imagine my life without her. She is my girls "other mom" and I can't imagine doing it with anyone else.

8. Did you know none of the bones I have broken have been able to be helped by modern medicine? I fractured my finger and also had a compression fracture of my T7 vertebrae.

9. Did you know I consider sarcasm my second language? I found a waterbottle at walmart once that I still wish I would have bought that said "I'm not always sarcastic, sometimes I'm asleep" Perfect Betsy bottle, don't you think??

10. Did you know that my Bullet Journal is one of the only "creative" things I have really kept up on for more then a couple weeks. I feel like it has allowed me to blend my journaling with a planner with a scrapbook in a way that I didn't think was really possible.

So, there you have it. Ten things you might not have known about me before. Anything new? Let me know in the comments if anything surprised you. 

34

This is late in posting, but I am post-dating it for my birthday. My birthday was so super special, made so by my amazing husband and wonderful coworkers!

I started out my morning with a free Dutch Bros beverage. My choice was an infused rebel with strawberry and watermelon. So YUM! I might have also stopped and got a wallaby mocha. What can I say, I love the birthday freebies.

Here is how my work buddy Mary decorated the break-room for me:

Then she got me this great wall sticker: 

It's totally me and makes me smile every time I look at it. She also made me this totally awesome giant candy card. It also made me smile really big and I am still munching on the candy. =) 

Around lunchtime my awesome husband brought me flowers and his gift to me. I think he likes it when I open my gifts in the presence of others. Really, I don't mind. =) He spoiled me with a "bottomless" wine glass, a couple of hatchimals and a diet Mt. Dew. 

After work I "got" to go to the DMV and renew my license. After that Stephen took me to a lovely dinner at Olive Garden (thank you gift cards!) then we stopped for another free Dutch Bros beverage. This time I opted for a Caramel Apple Smoothie. 

Over all it was a pretty amazing birthday. Hopefully 34 is a great year. =) 

Throwback Thursday

I got the prompt ideas from Mama's Losin' it! For whatever reason, her button isn't showing up... so strange! This week's prompt choice is: Throwback Thursday: Choose a photo from August 10 years ago and write a poem or a blog post.

Before I get into any pictures, it is funny, but ten years ago this month, I started my blog.

I only wrote TWO POSTS in August that weren't great. Plus, I linked to stories that are no longer available. Kinda bums me out, since I can't go and look at what I was reading then...

In this post, I was really, really irritated and done being preggo.

38 weeks 1 day - 19 days later, she was here (only
6 days overdue!)

On September 6 she joined our family. Little did I know how much that punk would change my life. I wouldn't trade her for anything.

Natalie and McKayla on Nat's BIRTH day. 

Ten years ago, I never imagined my life would lead me where it did but I am so very glad it did. 

Being Happy Being Me

So, this last week, I bought myself a dress. It was online from a friends Agnes & Dora party. I loved how they looked on her and thought I could use an update on my wardrobe. What I wasn't expecting was a heart update.

The moment I slipped this beauty over my head, I felt like a princess. It is long and twirls!

That is why I had my husband take a picture of me. When I first looked at the picture, all I could see were my flaws. I could spend hundreds of words telling you things I need to "fix" with myself.

Why was that my first instinct? I almost didn't post it, but I decided that the beauty of the dress outweighed how I felt about myself. I am SO glad that I did post that picture.

While all I saw were my flaws, my friends saw the beautiful woman I am. Here are just a few of the comments I got:

SOOOOOOO beautiful!!!!!! That print is GORGEOUS on you!!! You looked so pretty today friend!!!

You look so much like your mom in this picture... you're beautiful
    I was going to say that
    I was also thinking that. 
    I was just going to say the same thing, Betsy! You look like the absolutely stunning person that you are, inside and out!! Love you!!
   You are a young version of your mother wow.
   I totally agree with my mom. 

Beautiful!!

You're beautiful anyway. 

You look amazing. 

How could a girl not feel good after those comments. I want to make sure that I remember what a pretty woman I am, flaws and all. 

New Year, New Me

As the new year rings in, I can't help but think about resolutions. Everyone seems to make them, but I can never seem to make them stick. I do have some focused goals this year though. Ways that I want to improve myself through the year 2017. Here are a few I am going to share with you all. Feel free to leave me a comment with yours.

I want to eat healthier. I will accomplish this by adding at least a serving of veggies to both my lunch and dinner each day. Also going to try and make the veggie serving bigger then the main portion of the meal.

I want to drink more water. This will be accomplished by filling my water bottle each morning at work and drinking one full bottle before lunch and another before I leave. I will accomplish this on the weekends the same way but with my cup, leaving it within arms reach of me when I am seated in the living room.

I want to be more active. I will accomplish this by starting out small, three ten minute walking sessions each week, and will increase as the weather improves and as I get used to it.

I want to get in the word more regularly. This will be accomplished by getting up early each weekday and reading at least a few verses. I will also start a reading plan on my bible app on my phone. This will make things even easier to do during my down time (like lunch) at work.

I want to make date night a bigger priority. This will be accomplished by scheduling them ahead of time. Planning what we will do and setting aside the money to do so. We will also use tips from online for inexpensive date nights, just to spend time together.

Five seems a good number for me for now. I will try and update on things as I go through the year, but if I don't, you will hold me accountable, right?

Happy New Year all and may the new year bring you and yours many blessings.

You Know You're A Mom When...

Where have I been the last ten days? VACATION!

I decided that I was taking a break from it all, blogging included. There are lots of stories for me to share but that will have to wait for another day because today is Thursday. Thursday is the day for writers workshop.

If you want to learn more about writer's workshop, click the link at the bottom of this post.

The prompt I chose this week is: You know you’re a Mom when…

1. You randomly find little pet shops in your purse. 
2. You always have baby wipes on hand, even if you are way past the diaper stage. 
3. Coffee and caffeinated beverages are their own food group. 
4. There are more fingerprints on windows of your car then anything else. 
5. You go without so they won't have to. 
6. Clothing purchases are based on how easy it will wash. 
7. A handmade gift is more precious than diamond rings. 
8. What you want more than anything is for them to be happy and healthy. 
9. There are warnings like "don't lick your sister" or equally as interesting said on a daily basis. 
10. You finally understand what your mom was saying all those years ago. 

This post inspired by:

Ten Things That Make Betsy Happy

Linking up with Mama Kat again this week for writers workshop. If you want to learn more about it, click the link at the bottom of this post. The prompt I chose this week is: List ten things that make you HAPPY.

1. Sunshine. I was born in Florida (Navy baby!) and honestly think that the sunshine is a part of my DNA. The sunny days I am always happier then the cloudy ones.
   
   
2. Reading. I love that I can escape from reality and jump into someone elses' story for awhile. I love that if I am tired of that one, I can simply pick up another one.
   
   
3. The Big Bang Theory makes me happy. I freaking love that show. Penny's relationship with wine makes me laugh every time. No matter how bad my day has been, I can come home and watch a few episodes and be laughing in no time.
   
   
4. Surprises make me happy. Only good ones though. Like the visit from Dad and sissy. I don't like being scared.
   
   
5. Shopping, even window shopping makes me happy. Does that make me shallow? Don't ask me why, but even browsing in a store (as long as the kids aren't with me) makes me happy. I like to look at all the new stuff.
   
   
6. How I Met your Mother makes me happy. Even the horribly sad episodes (the one where Marshall loses his dad makes me cry every single time). I can watch this show over and over and just like Big Bang, it makes me happier in just a few episodes.
   
   
7. Getting flowers makes me happy and my husband gives them to me quite a bit. That makes me even happier.
   
   
8. I may not love my job every day (who does?!) but generally it makes me happy. Also, I freaking LOVE the people I work with. Having people who make you laugh at work is so important.
   
   
9. Hugs make me happy. And I love this gif because sometimes you need a hug and you don't even know it, but when you get one, it makes things better. Even if nothing has changed.
   
   
10. Singing makes me happy. Even if its just in the shower or during the worship service at church. I love that music can really suit whatever your mood might be.

This post inspired by:

32!?

via GIPHY

I am officially 32 today.

A year ago, I made a list of 32 things I wanted to do before I hit my 32nd birthday. Lets just say that I totally forgot about said list. I completed just three of the items on my list. I was able to complete a walking event with my family, review at least 12 books on my blog and feed the giraffes at the zoo (I didn't post about that here, but it was during this visit).

This year, I'm not doing a list, I am just going to say cheers to 31 and pray for another healthy, happy year.

Five Things

Linking up with Mama Kat again this week for writers workshop. If you want to learn more about it, click the link at the bottom of this post.

The prompt I chose this week is: Five things. List five things we don't know about you, five things you are knowledgeable about, five things you know nothing about and five things you believe.

Five things you don't know about me:

1. I was almost 19 before I got my driver's license. 
2. I have only attended one church my whole life: The Salvation Army, though I have been in two different locations. The church I was dedicated in is the same church where I was married and where all three of my girls were dedicated.
3. I can't watch a horror movie, or anything scary. They always give me nightmares. 
4. My girls all have two middle names in honor of a close friend I lost when I was in high school. I only learned after McKayla was born that it is also Dutch tradition. 
5. I once cut my sister's finger with a pair of scissors and she had to have stitches. It was purely an accident but she will never let me live it down. 

Five things I am knowledgeable about: 

1. Computers. I have become the "go to" person in my office for computer help. I don't know so much that I am a tech support person, but I know enough of the applications to get by and help others. 
2. I am knowledgeable about reading and reviewing books. Not an expert by any means, but knowledgeable enough to get things done. 
3. I am knowledgeable about jamberrys. I know how to apply em, how to remove em and am constantly learning more that I love about them! 
4. I am knowledgeable about babies. I have successfully helped raise three of them from infancy to toddler to kid. 
5. I am knowledgeable about the journey between my house and my dad's house. We have traveled there two very different ways and I know them both by heart now. 

Five things I know nothing about:

1. Raising children in a split family. I never imagined that I would be remarried less then a year after my divorce and so would Jimmy. I never imagined that our girls would have two houses, two families who love them and want what's best for them. 
2. I know nothing about direct sales. I have been with Jamberry for a year now and still get frustrated a lot. But it's worth it to keep on learning and figuring out what works and what doesn't. 
3. I know nothing about car repairs. I hate how helpless I feel when I have car trouble. Thank goodness Stephen knows some, he is able to make sure I am not getting screwed over by some shady mechanic. 
4. I know nothing about common core math, but I'm learning a bit more each year. It sucks not being able to help your kid with her homework. 
5. I know nothing about the learning problems we are having with Natalie. It's such a foreign thing to me, I am reaching out for all the help I can. FYI, this is a great website with lots of information. 

Five things I believe: 

1. I believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believes has the witness in himself. This is actually one of the doctrines of the Salvation Army but one that really resonates for me. 
2. I believe that every single person has a purpose and that we need to spend our time building each other up so that we can all find our purpose. 
3. I believe that laughter is the best medicine. It can't cure everything, but it can make anything tolerable. I remember when mom was on life support, we would go out of the ICU and just spend time together. I'm sure the staff thought we were crazy but we laughed together and I will never forget that. 
4. I believe if you love someone, you need to tell them as often as you can. One of the things mom taught me was to always say you love someone before you leave their home and before you end their phone conversation. You never know if it might be the last time you talk to them and you want them to know it's true. 
5. I believe that this world is not our home. We all belong to God and will one day go back to Him. I can't wait to spend eternity in heaven with Jesus and my loved ones. 

This post inspired by:

Betsy's Favorite Things

I am linking up again with Mama Kat for writer's workshop. She posts a few choices for prompts, you write on one and link up. It's a great way to stretch those writing muscles. Somehow last week, I wrote about one of this week's prompts, so you can read that one here.

This week, I am going to write on another of this week's prompts: Share a list of some of your most recent favorite things. What list is complete without pictures, so here it is, my favorite things. If I were Oprah, I would give things away but sadly I don't have her budget :( You will have to just check them out yourself.

1. This game:

2. Adult coloring books, this one is the current fav:

3. How have I never played the Sims before? Free version for my tablet

4. Love my current jams, Sweet Whimsy

5. Teavana mulled apple cider

6. The delicious home-made, from scratch chili that my husband made. Ate it three days for lunch!
I was going to take a picture before I ate, but I was too hungry. Sorry.

7. The view of the foothills covered in the beginnings of a beautiful white blanket

8. my kitty socks. Not these exact ones, but close

This post inspired by: