my ramblings

I am back! Vegas was a blast. Katie and I had TONS of fun. We had our palms read by a nice lady who . . . . has absolutely no insight. She predicted about the same future for Katie and I. It was still fun. And it was super cheap. We went shopping and hung out in the hotel. We walked around both the strip and the old downtown Vegas (which is also where we stayed). But here we are, the last week of July. Can you believe it?? Where did the summer go? We had a late start. Here it is the end of July and at my work, in our pond, we are still getting baby ducks. Which by the way are the CUTEST!! I thoroughly enjoy watching them swim around the pond in their little groups. Also, we have had flowers in bloom for a good chunk of our summer, due to the late spring. My neice Keyara started school today, 5th grade already!! Last year she tried out to be a news reporter for the school news broadcast. She received a letter a few days ago saying they chose her! I haven't had a chance to ask her how it went, but this morning, as she was getting ready in her new school outfit, I told her good luck. She grinned from ear to ear and said thanks. I love that she tries out for different things. One year she won a medal for her art work. I hope she never stops being brave and outgoing. She can be shy, but with a little encouragement, she can be a real go-getter. I love being an aunt. I think my neices and nephew are awesome. Today I heard that my nephew Austin did a pretty cool thing. My cousin Darrell, trains and breeds labradors. A few years ago he gave Austin two hunting guns, and told him "One day I will call on you to pay me back for those." Well the time came. He took Austin for a week of two to help him run the dogs. When the time came to an end Darrell gave Austin some money (a nice chunk of change for an adult, but even better for a young kid!) and Austin turned around and gave it back and said "I am working for the guns you gave me." It moved me. He could have just kept it, and thought, heck I earned this and the guns. Thats my nephew!! He is a good kid with a huge heart! Darrell told him to hold onto the money to see how it feels to have that much. I didn't hear whether or not he got to keep it at the end of the day. Its fun having watched each kid grow and develop their own personalities. When they are little you try to decide what they will be like as they get older, its impossible. Each kid makes their own path and decision on how they will form their future. Another great aspect of being an aunt, is the kids have come to me to tell me things that they may not have told their parents. I am the friend, the cool aunt. I always keep a level-head and try to give good advice, being cool doesn't mean I have to tell them what they want to hear. I like having that relationship with them. They are wonderful and brilliant kids. And I am grateful that I have them. Soon all of them but my oldest will be back in school. Austin goes into Jr High, Curlynn goes into high-school and Aubrey is in her second year of high-school. Amber is a dental assistant, thinking about going to dental school, planning to get married next summer and saving for a place of her own. Last but not least, one of the nice things about being an aunt, when they are brats I can send them home to their parents. haha!! However, they have never been brats, they are perfect just like their Aunt Jen. :) P.S. I have to get permission to put photos of them on the net. If you want pics, for now I will send them to your personal emails.

Going to Vegas!

Next week I and my cousin Katie are heading to Vegas!! We have been planning this little trip for a while now and we ARE SO EXCITED!! I need a vacation, I have been working way too much- nights & weekends!! Pity me PLEASE!! haha!! :)

I haven't been to Viva Las Vegas for quite a few years. The last time I was there, I was on my way to San Diego with my friend Liz. We basically drove through the city, only made one stop. It was around 3:AM, and we were back on the road by 4:AM.

I have never been to the M&M factory nor the Coke-a-Cola factory. Katie and I will definitely be going to those two places.

I like Vegas, I like the craziness of it, I also like knowing I don't live there and I have a nice clean safe place to call home. I am looking forward to hanging out in the hotel and NOT thinking about work. I love the feeling of being on vacation. The stress of everyday life just rolls right off of my back. Its amazing how stressful life is, these are a few of mine, I am sure you an relate:

My job
bills
gasoline (price)
money (never enough)
weight
hair
maintenance of the car
making enough time for family and friends and myself
try to pleasing too many people
living situation
being single
currently stressed that I will never know what its like to have a sweet baby call me mom
chores
finding God and maintaining a relationship with Him
staying positive for myself and the people around me
upholding standards and values
being a good role model
showing compassion
community service (when will I fit that in, and where to start?)
saving up for retirement
my health
my friends health
my familys health
my friends happiness
my family's happiness
accomplishing my dreams
writing a book

I am getting a headache from thinking about it all. Its amazing what we have to accomplish on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. We are resilient people and things always work out, it may not be how we pictured it, but it does or will, give it time.
This is how I cope, by telling myself things work out. I have tried unsuccessfully at dating, weight loss, pleasing everyone, community service, and maintaining a relationship with God. Each of these I will re-try again and again until I get it right. Or at least feel that I have done all that I can.
Sometimes not succeeding doesn't mean failure, it means find a different path. I have signed off on the internet dating sites, I will find a new way to find a man. I believe God helps those who help themselves. I didn't fail, I am just not trying the right way.

I love the quote, life isn't the party we had hoped for, but we might as well dance while we're here. I try to take a moment every day and be thankful for something. When things are getting me down, I find a reason to be happy not miserable. Misery likes company, but company doesn't like misery.

Things that I am grateful for:
God loves me even if I am not a good bible student
I have a place to call home
my kitten greets me when I walk in the door, she in her own way calls me mom (no I am not crazy cat lady)
I have a fun filled loving family
my friends are awesome
I have my health
my family has their health (excluding sanity)
my friends have their health
I am an educated woman living in a country that allows me all the same rights as a man
my car is running and cute!
I can walk to any faucet around me and clean water will come out
tomorrow is a new day and a new start
the sun is shining, the birds are singing its a beautiful day

Well I hope you are all inspired to find the wonderful things in your life. Take a moment to appreciate them before the stress of life comes back and smacks you in the face. :)

Well my lunch hour is over and I must get back to work.

Happy 4th of July!

I love the 4th of July!! I love America! And I love my freedom. What a great country we live in. I can write about whatever I want, and I don't fear political persecution. In this great country of ours, we can worship how we please, dress how we want, say what we want and live how we please (within reason, do no harm).
I love the history of our country, and thrive to learn more. I bought a book about four months ago about the building of the railroads. Its not a pretty part of our history, but its our history and I should know about it. I also bought a book about pioneer women about a year ago that I need to read.
We live in a beautiful country, with beautiful people. I love the diversity of the people, from the hoity toity to the rednecks. The intellectuals to the fluff heads from sea to shining sea.
God Bless America!!
Do any of you have traditions for the holiday? My family gets together and has a bbq then we sit around talking about silly things, laughing, having a good time until its time to light fireworks, then we go to the front yard, grab a chair and watch the show.
This doesn't have much to do with the holiday, but its fun news, so I thought I would share. I got a tattoo!! I have wanted one since I was about 4 or 5 years old.
My Uncle Terry passed away about 25 years ago or so, and when I was little we would go and visit him. He was a skinny guy with tattoo's, he looked intimidating, but he was the sweetest guy. I loved to sit on his lap, he always treated me like I was the most important person in the room. I remember telling myself, when I get older I want a tattoo. Well I am older, and after all of these years I finally forked out the money and got my tattoo. I got three flowers, one is my dad's birth month flower, the second is my mom's birth month flower, and the third is my Uncle Terry's birth month flower. I had decided to get flowers, and thought I may as well get flowers that mean something. I planned on getting my parents birth month flowers, but I liked the idea of 3 flowers in lieu of 2. So to pay homage to my uncle, I used his birth flower, which happens to be the same as my mom's. I am VERY happy with my decision. It hurt, but it was totally worth it. :) On my 30th birthday I made a list of things that I wanted to accomplish, NYC was one (have I mentioned I have been to NYC? haha!) and a tattoo was another. I need to find the list and start working on it again. I know write a book was on there, so maybe I should stop playing on the computer and go write one. :)