Blog Friends (and real ones, too!)

I just got home from a fun weekend with a great friend! The car ride home, however, was not so fun. There were some unexpected detours and obstacles slowing us down.

Someone .ahem. from our vehicle might have been a little grouchy by the time we got out of the car.

When we got home, I was so excited to see a package in the mailbox.

My blog friend, BP, sent it. Awhile back I had won another book from this series on her blog. This one, the newest one, came out this spring. Our library doesn't have it yet and I hadn't seen it in the stores anywhere. So BP (isn't she sweet!?) sent me her copy.

I was thrilled to find it in our mailbox after a not so fun last 5 hours!

(I'm pretty sure I even said to my husband, "LOOK, I have blog friends!") :)

And it made me think (again) about how great friends are during and after the obstacles and detours. Blog friends, IRL friends, related friends, friends.

Y'all have been soooo sweet to me (always- but especially this week)! I really didn't post that post about being real to make myself look like a basket case. But y'all know me for the basket case I am and are so sweet and kind to me anyway. (And I love ya for it!)

Thanks for the kind words, sweet gifts, and lovely gestures. I'm so blessed!

PS- If you want to read this book, I think BP will be giving it away on her blog soon!

PPS- I CANT WAIT to post about my fun weekend! Let's just say you'll be seeing some different pictures from me in the future! :)

A Sneak Peek

One more day of fun.

But I've had multiple requests for picture posting.

So here's another sneak peek into our long weekend.

Fun.

Love.

And loving that we have another day of fun.

Happy Mothers Day.

Happy Cinco de Mayo

Because it's so much cooler to say than, "May the fourth be with you."

But.

Did you know that most people in Mexico do not celebrate Cinco de Mayo? It's mainly celebrated in the state of Puebla and the United States. It is not Mexico's Independence Day. It is the celebration of an unlikely victory over the French army in the Battle of Puebla.

Or.

Just a really good excuse to have guacamole and cerveza mas fina con buenos amigos.

Get Real Wednesday!

Updated: Someone DID post a "Get Real Wednesday" (and even put inspired by me on it). Their blog is private so I cant link to it, but come over and I'll show you. I was so excited!! ; )

_____________________________________________________

So many of you gave me encouragement after yesterday's post via email, facebook, comments, phone calls, etc. that it got me thinking....

...and from that thinking, comes.....

Get Real Wednesday!

It's kinda like a blog hop. (Only not, because I don't have a clue how to set up a Linky and am not interested in finding out how because then I'd have to go set up another blog with a link on it to put on the linky because I wouldn't want the Hickstionary to be lonesome. But if there were a linky and if there were other people joining in, it would totally be like a blog hop. Only it's not.)

Ahem.

Without further ado.

Get Real Wednesday!

No, we're not showing off our homes, our cutest pictures of the week, or our Christmas decorations. We're (or, you know, I'm) showing off our (or you know, my) realness.

This week, I'm showing you my dusty kitchen cabinets (I know... you're disgusted that you eat food I make. Don't worry, these shelves are a long ways from the cookin').

And next week, if I have myself a little bit together for the day, I'll try to post you another "Real Wednesday" picture. Lord knows I've got plenty! :)

Post your own if you want! In the meantime, I'll be dusting my cabinets.... ick.

PS- Amy, this would be why over a year later, Jeff is STILL waiting on kitchen pictures from us!

I Want You To Know

I like to blog.

I like to remember life.

I try to be real.

I, apparently, suck at that last part.

Let me preface this post by saying, I. Love. Life. and I. Love. My. Husband.

Yup. I do. Both are pretty darn good. And better than I deserve.

But let's be real.

Life is hard.

Let me preface the rest of this post by saying, I am in no way, shape, or form, complaining.

I'm just being real.

A friend sent me an email the other day. She reads my blog. She's a sweetheart.

I love real life friends that blog because it makes me feel like I know them so much better. And I feel like I have less 'explaining' to do of myself.

But.

She said something that hit me.

She said,

"You guys look like the cutest happiest most outgoing couple in your pictures."

Uhhh, whhhhaaaat?

Did she not read my post about Marriage being hard. Really, really, hard.

Or how bout the one where I talk about how ugly I really can be? (I know.. you are thinking, which one? Ha.)

I mean, I'm hesitant to post my "ugly," but in an effort to be 'real,' I do.

The truth is- nobody wants to read it. I actually lose "followers" and "hits" when I post about it.

Most people that read my blog would rather read about DIY projects, recipes, funny kid stories, and adorable kid photos.

They don't stick around for the ugly.

But blogging, to me, is not about that.

Blogging our life is about being able to look back and remember all the crazy good times. And to look back and laugh at all the times I thought were so tough. About feeling awesome about just how far we've come.

About remembering life.

All of it.

The good. The bad. And even the ugly.

So. Truth be told, YES, I have an amazing husband and a great life (thanks to my amazing Father above).

But.

We argue about the thermostat, the ceiling fan in the bedroom, and the never ending 'to do' list.

Our house is never clean. (We don't bother to pick up for guests because, I reason, I would just have to clean when they leave anyway. -Sometimes that works in our favor.... one great friend gave us an air purifier to clean the dust out of our house. Ha)

When unexpected bills come, my stomach flips. (Oh, we argue about money too.)

I am completely afraid about my job for next year (and more afraid of change than I care to admit).

Our dog does not come when called. In fact, all he can do is sit and high-five.

We have family members that don't talk to or like us. We pray about it all the time, but it hurts.

We'd love to be parents, but God has other plans for us right now.

I say stupid stuff all. the. time. And I didn't realize how insecure I was about it until Beth Moore went and told me. :)

And if you don't get the point by now, by all means, come hang out for a week and experience the dysfunction.

But.

My husband is good. My God is great.

And our life is wonderful.

I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Dirty dishes piled up in the sink and all.

PS -I hadn't posted this yet because I wanted my husband to give it the okay. But. I just saw the (in)courage post for today, "Her Life is Better Than Mine." I thought it pretty fitting. I've been guilty of reading other people's blogs and thinking they have it all together. (I mean cloth diapering, really?) ;) But the truth is, everyone faces their own battles. And really, who wants to take on someone else's when we all already have our own?

I think the biggest tool for me in getting over the 'feeling sorry for myself syndrome' has been my prayer journal. When I write down my friends and families hurts, needs, and wants, I stop focusing on my own as much.

And suddenly those 'dirty dishes' don't seem so bad at all.

Sweeeet

Sweet because:

a) You can barely see her big brown eyes peeking over the toe of her shoe.

b) This beauty and her brother were so much fun to hang out at the park with!

c) I did NOT get kicked in the face while photographing her mad swing skills (she's got ups).