Wonderful Job

Having a job, in these times especially, is a very good thing. And I'm very grateful for the job I have. As many of you may know, I worked for Big Brothers Big Sisters for 6 years before having Quinn and that was a great job. I worked with great people, I was helping kids, and while the pay sucked, it had great benefits and the time off really couldn't be beat. But awesome non-profit jobs are hard to come by these days, so working as the Office Administrator/Assistant/General Do Girl for Dynavistics, Inc/Trinity USA is working out pretty well. My boss is fabulous, there are great perks, the hours are good, and I'm learning something completely and totally new to me. Can't ask for much more than that! So thank you to Pamela for giving me a chance, I appreciate it mor ethan you know.

Wonderful Friends

I do have some great friends, I must admit. They must be to be friends with me, right? Ha. But it is so important to have friends, especially girlfriends. And its hard to make friends when you're older, especially once you start getting married and having kids. I do treasure the friendships I have so much and am so grateful for all those girls. Some I've known for years, some for maybe a few months, but all are special. Whether we're friends because we share a love of TV or movies or because your kid is the same age as mine or we're somehow related or just because, that doesn't matter. And yes, I do have some guy friends, but eh, who cares about them. So thank you to all my friends who have fun with me, talk to me, and love me. I love you too.

Check out some of my friends blogs!

Joy - Kate - Tasha (I'm sure there are more out there, but that is all I can think of right now)

Wonderful Family Part 3

I know I've mentioned Ross has a big family, which is not something I had growing up. I have 2 cousins total, he has over 30 on his dad's side alone. And while it has definitely been a learning experience, its been a fun one. I'm very thankful for a family that enjoys hanging out, that has fun, that helps out when someone needs it. Ross grew up with his cousins as his friends and I'm thankful that that tradition is continuing. We have had such great times - cooking club, Food and Wine, random football parties, birthdays, my current job, everything. I feel truly blessed to have such wonderful people (especially women) in my life.

A picture from the baby shower these awesome women threw me

PS - And as for my extended family, yay that my cousin Rick and his family recently moved here! Its nice to have people from my side of the family around for a change.

Wonderful Family Part 2

Since I spoke of my immediate family yesterday, I will speak of Ross' today. There are a lot of differences in our two families, mine is small, his isn't. Mine live far away, his doesn't. And on and on from there. But even with the differences, and they, as with most in-law situations, can be very much highlighted at times, they can be pretty great. I'm thankful for their help with Quinn, their support, all they've done for us the past few years, and of course, Ross. Thanks!

Quinn with Aunt Bridget and MeeMaw on Thanksgiving

Wonderful Family

Family can be a big word, especially when you're married to someone with so much of it. But I'm speaking of my immediate family. I don't have a huge family, and that's cool. We have fun, love each other, all the good stuff family should be. I'm thankful that I have them and that they have supported me in all my various and random endeavors over the years. That's always a nice thing! I'm very much looking forward to seeing them again at Christmas and making some more special memories.

Quinn and GiGi (my grandma) during our last visit in September.

Meredith, Papa, and Quinn

Nana and Quinn

Dancing with Aunt Mere

I just realized I now refer to them as Quinn does. I guess that's part of being a mom. I just hope I don't start calling Ross "Dad" soon.

Wonderful Quinn

The most logical choice in my next listing of the wonderfulness in my life would of course be Quinn.

He has made my life in wonderful in some very obvious ways and maybe some not so obvious ways. You definitely learn about the "darker" side of life when you become a parent. I don't mean evilness (although that does cross your mind at 3:30 in the morning with a screaming, inconsolable infant), but things that will test you, and hopefully, make you a better person. But they are the kind of things that at the time, you just want them to stop! I can definitely say that for me, that was 100% true. And now I wouldn't trade those times for anything. 3 hasn't been easy...hmmmm, l hope I'm not looking back at this period of time when he's 6 or 10 or 15 and saying I wish he were 3 again. But I have a strange suspicion I will.

But being a mom has been the greatest thing in the world. Quinn is smart, headstrong, generous, adorable, eager, exuberant, and a million other adjectives, all in a 5 minute period! He keeps my days interesting, and of course, wonderful. This time of year is so fun, especially this year, he really "gets" it. As I've said on other posts, I can't wait to see what the future holds, although maybe I should just hold on to now for now.

Wonderful Ross

Its day 2 and I'm still going strong. Woo-Hoo!

So my "wonderful" for today will have to be my dear husband Ross. I wouldn't have married him if he wasn't wonderful, right? For those that don't know, I met Ross about 2 weeks after I moved to Florida in 2001. We started hanging out right away, started dating a month after we met, and we haven't looked back since. Through good and bad, all the general ups and downs of life, he's been there for me, and hopefully he can say the same for me. Marriage is a challenge, that's for sure, but I'm glad he's my challenge! Thanks Ross for adding to the wonderfulness of the season!

Christmas 2002