Grand Theft Auto.... Not a Good Look

There are some days, that I just wake up and think, "man... I am just winning at life."  I have a nice manfriend, our children are fun, we have a place to live and there is food on the table.  I have a job, friends, my family is ah-mazing.  I really do not have anything to complain about. Then there are days like today.....

I know... take a good look.

#AintShePretty

Not really, this morning I looked a little homeless.  This is how I left my house this morning.  (Obvi not out looking for a boyfriend)  So, it is morning at la casa de Foresee.  The kids have had a delicious home made breakfast of Fruit Loops (I poured in myself for Brayden... he thinks I'm the best), and Sophia had eggs and fruit (manfriend made her... I think he's the best)!  Well, we were starving by 930 (our personal chef had the morning off), so it looked like I would be doing the cooking today.  #BOO

I saw a great recipe for an egg tortilla burrito and it did not disappoint, I hope manfriend wants it for tomorrow too!  Anyways, bad thing was, I saw this Pinterest recipe, but all we had in the cabinet was stale Lucky Charms, 1 frozen pancake, sour cream, and some string cheese (none of those things can make the egg tortilla burrito).  #DangIt

So, one of us had to go to the Wal-Mart.

I immediately agreed, because I deserved a break already!  Ha!  I win!

So, I prepared my best look (as you can see above) and went to the store.

OOTD (this means outfit of the day)

- Happy Camper t-shirt that is for the parents of my children's school- color of the tee is dark gray, not the best for my skin tone and large enough to fit Andre The Giant (look him up if you do not know him)

- blue jeans that when I lean forward come unzipped... not because they are too tight.... okay, it is because they are too tight and pretty sure the zipper is busted

- flip flops FYI, not safe for me to wear when it has been raining, but I was trying to beat the manfriend to the car so I could win the time out to the store

- make-up (none)

- hair (sad)

Anyways, I get to the store... and all of the up close parks are taken, so I drive and drive until an up close one opens up.  It was starting to rain, and I was just trying to get in the store quickly as to not get soaked!

I shop and am out of the store in about 15 minutes

I got a big ole gully washer drink when I was checking out, so I had my hands full with keys, gully washer, purse, and shopping cart.

Did I mention that it was raining, and as I was walking out some elderly man offered me a tootsie roll

(pretty sure it was just the candy he was talking about... not something else (insert awkward emoji face))

It is raining again and I just start fast walking to the car.  I am pushing my unlock  button, and start to pull on the back to load up my groceries.  As I am speed walking I my super amazing flip flop lost traction on the parking lot, and I lost footing on ye ole broke leg.  I fell only a bit, thankful that I had the cart I was holding onto, drink... not so lucky.  What-ev.. it is raining, and of course a older gent sees me and asks if I need help.  He was putting in his groceries right next to my car.  I said I was fine.

#DangerStranger #HeSeemedSafeSinceHeDroveATownCar #AndHadAConcordiaSticker #AndLookedLikeSanta

ummmmm…. I'm fine.

So, still pressing unlock, and not hearing the click of my doors actually unlocking.  Then I see that manfriend put a Dallas Cowboy license plate holder on my car, which is super weird because I had to clue he even liked them, but whatever, I digress.

So, it is raining, I am standing, clicking clicking, nothing nothing, and Santa is watching.  I told him I think my car might have died, and that is why my clicker is not working.  So I went to manually unlock my car.  I could not get that to even work!

UUUUUGGGGGHHHHH!

Why me??!

So, Santa says, "do you need some help," and just comes on over.  He tries the keys, nothing.  Presses the buttons, and still nothing.

Now another person in front of my car is sitting in her car just watching the show that is my life.

I am already digging in my purse that doubles as a snack bag, receipt holder, and panty holder (because sometimes you just need a back up pair).

Then another helper comes up....

New stranger- "Is everything okay?"

Me- "Yes, my clicker is not working and I cannot get in the car."

New stranger- "hummmm, that's my car."

#WellBustMyButtons

Y'all, it was not even my fa-reeking car!

Santa started laughing and made some weird comment, "someone musta had a really good night last night?"  Then he had some strange hillbilly laugh, and I just thought for certain he would then say I sure did have a pretty mouth.

#SantaTurnedIntoACreeperQuick

I was so embarrassed, and just apologized for trying to get into her car, she just wanted me to move because she was getting wet and did not want to have a convo.  I started doing my fast walk again, remembering in that instant where I parked my car (on the other side of the parking lot)!

All I could do was get in the car and call my momma!  I lit-ter-ally died a thousand deaths out there in that lot, and coulda been arrested and booked for grand theft auto, and I woulda dragged Santa down with me!

Whatta morning.

Needless to say, I got home and made an amazing breakfast for my manfriend, and you should make if for your people tomorrow.

Crack 2 eggs in a bowl, add milk, chives, salt and pepper.  Whisk it up.

Poor into a skillet that has melted butter.  Cook eggs all the way through, never stirring them (about 4-5 minutes), and slide off onto your plate.  It will look like a tortilla (but it is an egg that will be used as a tortilla!

- Add salsa in a strip down the middle (I only like salsa with chips, but today... it worked)

-Add black beans on top of the salsa (not a fan... until today)

-Then 2 pieces of cooked bacon (I heart bacon)

- top with avocado (whaaaaaaa?? so good)

- shredded cheese (I.  DIE.. FOR... CHEESE)

Fold over and eat it up like a taco!

It was so delicious and filling!!  I will be repeating this in the morning!

A little extra:  I was so proud of my new recipe and told my mother all about it, which she informed me that is too much work, especially when Sonic has a great burrito option!  So, if you are like my precious momma and the above seems like a lot of work... head to Sonic and go getcha some!

Please note that Sonic has not sponsored this post (insert eye rolling ridic emoji)

Peace out... it is bedtime!

#SlagleStrong

Evening friends... go ahead and grab a cup of coffee (not my fave, but if it is yours please fill up), pull up a bowl of chips (or celery... seriously, how are we friends), and grab a nice comfy seat on your couch.  Oh yea, and I might need for you to grab a tissue (or five).

Tens.... I would love for you to meet one of my oldest and dearest friends...

Tens.... Lindsey (I know, you cannot see full face, but that hair y'all!  I die for my hair to blow in the wind like that! (Insert eye rollin' emoji, cause it ain't ev-a gonna happen for "big perm")
Okay, here is the genealogy.  We go ways back...so far back that I could ride a bike with no hands, jump rope without peeing, and wear Keds.  As you can tell, none of that is recent.  We have been friends for as long as I can remember:
her running around with our Quail Run kids gang (don't get concerned, it was just a group of kids that played together from sun up to sun down)
crazy days during high school and college
we have worked together
there was even a short stint when she lived with me at la casa Curry
she even sang in my wedding.... 

Point of the story is, I have adored her and our friendship.
Now, you have met my friend, but this story is about so much more.
Years, and years ago, in fact, I can distinctly remember sitting in a gas station parking lot with my friend (we were dealing with some heavy stuff.... that doth not need to be part of this story), but I can remember sitting in a that lot (in Avoca of all places) and we were talking BIG decisions.  Life altering decisions.  After talking stuff out, we sat in silence, and I prayed at that moment for God to please send my friend a good and kind man that would be able to take care of and provide for her.  Someone that would stand by her side when it seemed like others had not been up for the job.  A man that would love her like no other.
It was a few years later, but as I know the Lord's timing and my timing are not always the same.  I like things done speedy quick and he does things at a different pace (sllllllllooooower pace... like, insert turtle emoji here kinda pace)!  His timing is always perfect.
He sent her Nick.
Nick Slagle.

I will be honest... first meeting... I was like.... oh, he's tall, like lanky tall.

(I only thought that to myself and now all 10 of you know my deepest thoughts, sorry Nick, but-ya ain't short!)

Looking back, I knew he was the man that was sent specifically for my friend.

I knew that he would care for her.

He would love her.

He would be a great provider.

He would be her best friend.

He would be an amazing father.

Oh, yeah, I have not even told you about that.....

They have a few children.  Not like Duggar numbers, but still 4!  Four ah-mazing "little women".

The girls are 13 all the way to 18 months (oh, how Lindsey has the energy)?!!?

I guess you can tell they have their hands full (look at that lil nugget Lucy Kate)!!

In June, Nick was suffering from a terrible headache.  So bad that it lasted for over a week.  Lindsey encouraged a quick trip to the er, just to get Nick some much needed relief.  This visit turned into a CT scan, then an MRI, and then a few days later emergency brain surgery to remove a massive brain tumor in his frontal right lobe.....

WHAAAA?

How does that even happen?  Nick is 37.  Nick has a wife.  Nick is a dad.  Nick is healthy.  Nick just had a fa-reeking headache.

#ItsNotATumor

#ButItWasATumor

This is where I will let my friend Lindsey discuss.... imagine her in a really sweet southern teacher type voice....

My husband is 37 and he is dying.

(Okay, this is Caryn, and this line just gets me right in the heart.  I cannot imagine even dealing with this thought of my most precious man-friend.)

Back to Lindsey....

Today is three-month anniversary of The Day the World Changed. 

On June 12, after having a headache for about a week, I took Nick, my always healthy husband, to the ER. I really wanted a CT scan, but I didn’t want the resulting mass it showed. The CT turned into an MRI which turned into an emergency transport to Springfield, MO. The neurosurgeon confirmed a nightmare: Nick had a massive brain tumor in his right frontal lobe, and it had to come out. 

We were sent home to spend a few days with our girls, while the hospital got the necessary equipment to remove the whopper of a tumor from my precious husband’s brain. We have four remarkable girls, ranging in age from 18 months to 13 years old. Nick told them that he had a brain tumor and had to have surgery. He handled it beautifully, as did the girls, but it was one of the most heartbreaking moments of my entire life.  The surgery on June 20 was a success. Most of the tumor was removed, and Nick has healed well from surgery. The tumor was sent to Mayo for a biopsy, and he was diagnosed with Anaplastic Astrocytoma, which is a grade III tumor. (I mentioned heartbreaking conversations- telling our children that their Daddy has terminal brain cancer tops the list for me.) This kind of cancer always recurs. There is no cure or remission. He has been treated as Glioblastoma, grade IV, with extended radiation and chemotherapy treatment plans. He has two days left of radiation and his first chemo cycle.

We have adjusted to our New Normal. What I cannot adjust to is the prognosis. At Nick’s two-week post-op appointment, we were told that 60% of patients with this type of cancer are still alive at five years, and 40% of that group are still alive at ten years. After that, there is not data. One of out every four AA3 patients mutate into glioblastoma, which has an 18-month prognosis.

Let me put this in perspective for you. This is what weighs on my heart.

In five years, our oldest will be starting her freshman year of college. In five years, our twins will be 15. In five years, our baby, little Lucy Kate, will be starting first grade. In five years, Nick and I will be 42.

I want my children to have years with him. I have seen the incredible father that he is to our older girls, and I want that for Lucy Kate. I see how the outline of his heart has shaped their daily lives- and I want his imprint on Lucy Kate’s future. I want him in Lucy Kate’s present. These precious, darling, intelligent girls of ours need their Daddy. They need him today and tomorrow and next year and in five years and in ten and beyond that. I want years with him. I desperately want to grow old with him. I want to proudly stand next to him as our daughters grow into the wonderful, Spirit-filled, courageous, young women that I know they will be. I want to hold his hand as we watch our girls walk across the stage at their high school and college graduations. I want to watch him walk his daughters down the aisle at their weddings. I want to see him hold his grandbabies the way he held his own. I know that none of us are guaranteed to have any of these days.  I wake up every day and am thankful for the best day of my life. Today is the best day because I wake up to five other people breathing in my home. Everyone is alive. Everyone is here. It won’t always be this way, so I can’t imagine anything better than it is right now.

I have faith in God’s Plan, and I always have. Our girls know that God is in control and that He holds their sweet Daddy in His hands every second, and we are a strong family because of our faith. As I look back on the last three months, He has cleared the trees from our path before I even knew they were there. You’d think that terminal brain cancer would be a forest in the road, but nope. All the trees were removed, and our path was cleared. God has known that this would be our road to travel long before either of us were even in each other’s lives. Hadley and I were talking yesterday (as she was bummed about a personal ten-year-old girl thing), and she said that God always has a plan. She said that maybe the whole reason God brought Mama and Daddy together to fall in love all those years ago was because Mama knew to listen to God when Daddy’s headache didn’t go away. She knew to listen to God when He said “NORTHWEST” in the car when she was headed to Mercy. One of the cleared trees in our path was the ER doctor at Northwest, Dr. Purcell. He listened to my request for a CT, and he also was able to get Nick to an excellent neurosurgeon at Cox, Dr. Spurgeon. She referred us to an excellent medical team at Highland, and we could not be more thankful. My eyes can’t see past the horizon, but God’s plan is perfect, and I am so thankful for a Mighty God that sees everything.

We have an opportunity to possibly keep our family together for longer. To give Nick more years. To allow my children’s father to be here and be present and raise them. To give Nick time to live. We are in the process of getting him qualified for a device called the Optune device. Optune is a device that Nick would wear on his head that will create wave-like electric fields to slow or stop the division of cancer cells. It has even shown to destroy some of them. This means that a tumor recurrence is far less likely for as long as he wears the Optune device. No tumor recurrence means extended quantity of life. This is incredible. There are glioblastoma patients who have lived for five years wearing the Optune device. This is remarkable new technology. The only downside? It rents for $21,000 A MONTH. We are working with insurance to see if they will cover it. We’re learning that generally they only cover GBM (grade IV) patients, but since it has been recommended by the medical team and it goes along with the rest of his treatment, we are praying that insurance will cover it.

When we first told people about Nick’s diagnosis in June, I was asked multiple times per day if we had a GoFundMe. When I said no, I was asked if I wanted one set up on our behalf. I always said that we didn’t need one, but that I was grateful for the concern and I would be sure to let someone know if we ever needed something like that. I have felt so overwhelmed with gratitude for the support and prayers we have received from our friends and our community, and it was really hard to imagine anything more. We honestly didn’t need anything else. I am working hard with our property management company, and Nick is doing everything he can from home. We don’t have outrageous expenses and live a very normal, reasonable life. Regardless of how hard we work, or the sacrifices made, there is no way we could increase our monthly income by an extra $21,000 a month in the next 40 days to cover the cost of this literal life saving device.

While I don’t like being in the position of asking for things, keeping my husband alive, if given the opportunity, is far more important than my pride. I will continue to work hard to provide for our family. I will continue to proudly stand beside my husband every step of the way. I will continue to have faith in our Mighty God. I will continue to ask for prayers from all of you. I will continue to be so proud of my husband, because Nick teaches me what being #SlagleStrong truly means. I will ask that if you feel led, you share and/or donate to our GoFundMe, so we can give Nick the best chance to spend more years showing us all how to be #SlagleStrong

Y'all, can you even imagine?

Nick has been so strong during this situation and so transparent about the journey that he is on.

You can follow him on Facebook or their page Slagle Strong

I would also encourage you to pray for Nick.

Pray for an amazing healing from this cancer

Pray that this cancer that is terminal... would in fact not be terminal AT ALL.  That he does go into remission and that doctors will just sit in shock... wondering how did that guy just do that.

Pray for Nick to have physical and mental strength.

Pray that during his dark days he will be reminded that he has so many people supporting him and praying for him.

Pray for his doctors and all of the care givers that he see regularly.  Pray that they know the best treatments and will know how to care for him BEST.

Pray for my sweet Lindsey as she cares for Nick, but also their 4 daughters, their home, their family business, their dinners, their laundry, their everything.  She will need to be covered in your prayers.

Pray for their babies.

Y'all, please pray for them to have the best medicine to keep Nick with them.

Pray that their financial needs will be met during this time, and that there will not be a moment when they open an envelope and think, how can we handle that!

A Go-Fund Me page has been started to help them during this time... and if you could please consider blessing them with $1.00, $5.00, whatever... I know that this would be so helpful for them at this time.

You can help here....

I wish I would have shared their story earlier than today, but friends, I have been praying that this just magically goes away.

Nick's story has reached sooooooo many people.

They have been able to speak with other families that are currently dealing with this same kind of cancer.  Lindsey has been able to speak with spouses and learn how they are coping with their situation.  Social media is an amazing thing.

Who knows.... maybe you know someone that has this same cancer and they are alive and thriving.  You could get in contact with the Slagle's and you could be such an encouragement to their family.

If anything, Nick's story has changed the way I look at things in my day to day.

I am tryin to not sweat the small stuff, and focus on things that really matter.  The other day, while we were at the camp site, and our children were fighting, it was hot, I was annoyed that I did not have a wine bottle opener, and we were talking about bills (I know, a poop storm of conversation... at the campsite)!  Then I just started laughing.

Man-friend for sure thought I was crazy.

I laughed, thinking, what in the world are we even complaining about.

My sweet Lindsey and her Nick would probably die to be in our shoes right now, arguing about these ridic things, and right now, they are sitting in their home, worrying about staying healthy, keeping germs out of the house, Nick's hair falling out (it had just started on that day), and wondering what their tomorrow might hold.

We instantly looked at the dark night sky filled with stars... and turned our focus to things that really matter.

Looking at those stars I prayed for Nick again.

My original prayers were for God to send an amazing man to my friend.

He did.

Now, I am asking Him to heal my friend, so he can enjoy a lifetime of making memories.

39....

10s.... it was my BIG birthday this past week.  I am no longer a young lady but a mature... 39.  39!  One more year closer to 40.  The BIG 4-0!  Eeeps!

This will be the 3rd time I have stated this phrase....

39 is going to be my year.

I have no idea what that even means or what I am going to be doing to make 39 "my year", but I am sure that it will be exciting!

I wanted to do a little post about 39 things that I have learned about life (but hello, I am learning new things erryday), and then I thought maybe I would blog about 39 things I want to do with my year (but then I thought, what if I do not even mark 3 things off of the list.... I will later feel like when the 4-0 comes a knocking that I spent year 3-9 not making it, but wasting it.  Ya dig?

Welp, here goes nothing..... These are my hopes for the year.

Some of you may read this list and be like.....wha????  That is super lame.

My husband may read this list and be like.....  a lil stressed!

Others may read this and laugh about it.... but I wanna make it happen (or at least, try)!  Some of the things might be little, like a simple thing for you, but if it is on my list... it might be a BIG thing for me to just put forth the effort to get it done (so don't be judging)!

1.  I have already tried to put this into play, but I am trying to have a gentler tone with my people.  Trying to hold my tongue, instead of making a smart remark (to my manfriend), and trying to watch my tone instead of addressing my littles with anger.  I am sure none of you do this!  Sometimes, after a long day, I am tired.  I want to come home and relax, but everyone else is needing my attention.  I sometimes (most times) get a bit frazzled and just fa-reek out!  I have noticed day by day that my people sometimes do this too (well hello.... wonder where they have seen that nut-ball behavior??)  I would like to say their father (insert laughing face) but much does come from their mutha!  It is crazy, I try to be so patient, kind, and calm to others... but when it comes to my own people, I can sometimes lose it!  So, first thing on the list.... have a softer heart to those who love me most and best.  The time I am spending with them is small (considering my time at work) and then we are only spending about 4-5 waking hours together.  Be kind

2.  Those 4-5 hours during the week go by quickly.  Not talking weekends, but with school starting back things will be crazy busy.  Getting homework done, extra curriculars, and any other things that pop up in the week.  I am always saying how I want to be more intentional with my time, but here we go..... when we are awake I want to be immersed in my people.  I do not want to be the momma at the table with the phone in her face... looking at what others might be doing with their day or for their dinner (I can do that after all of my people are asleep).

On Saturday morning, Sophia and I went to the grocery store, and on the way home she was saying how she really does like spending time with me.  I smiled, because our conversations are usually interrupted by little brother, the tv, or just a few moments of quiet.  She then asked if when we got home, could she and I take a little walk around the block.  She said that she knew I had to get the groceries out and get the dogs walked before the rain (so she already understood I had stuff to do, but thought she would ask anyways).  I pulled in the garage, opened her door and headed for the sidewalk.  She was confused (since there were ice cream sandwiches in the back of the car)…. but I just told her that those things were not important.... she was most important and my time with her is the most special thing I have.  She held my hand the whole way around the block.

I need more times like this with my people, making sure that they know they are important.

3.  I would like to date my manfriend.

Ha!  Seems silly now that I type that, but it is something that I am really needing to do.

Here we are going on year 12 (wha…….???) and I feel like our time together (alone) is a rarity!  The whole reason I got into this whole marriage deal was because of him... his nice smile.... his kind heart.... his love for talking (just kidding), but we started this whole thing together, and I don't ever want us to get so bogged down with the not fun stuff (chores, finances, taking people to and fro, lack of sleep, work) that we start to lose our spark.  In the past, dating for us has been when we have an extra few bucks or, once every few months, or maybe it is someone's birthday or a BIG event, but we should start making our relationship a priority!!  No pressure... manfriend!!

Pencil me in next week....

4.  Sunday!  Yesterday, my family gathered at my Moss' (that is a great-grandmother) home for dinner.  My sister had just gotten home from her 9 weeks away at KALEO and we have recently moved my Moss into a new place (in a lil retirement community).  It has already been a BIG summer.  Anyways, dinner was good and it was a nice time just to come together for a bit and catch up.  One thing I remember growing up was going to my grandparents house for Sunday lunch.  We would go out after church, have a lunch (that looking back, I am wondering if my MamMaw started prepping it on Thursday), and my whole family was there.  Aunts.  Uncles.  Cousins. Grands. Sometimes even friends of theirs.  Their dining table was always full, the kitchen table would hold the spread and I would sit at the kid table (because, hello.... I was a child)!  Memories.  I loved it growing up, and after Sunday dinner yesterday... I have made a firm decision that I am bringing back family lunch/ dinner!!  Whose coming over for dinner???

5.  Speaking of Sunday dinner.... let's talk about my Sunday mornings, that have been lazily spent not taking my family to church.  Sunday is coming.... and it is time for us to be back at church.  Sometimes after the loooooong week, I am anxious for just a day to be lazy, but my choice to be lazy is time that I need to have my children and myself in the church.  I grew up in the church.  If the doors were open, we were in the building.  My mother volunteered, we were in Sunday school, did choir, ect…. and I cannot believe that I have been so lax about this the past months!  I can def tell that something has been missing in our days... and it is a whole lotta Jesus.

A few months ago, the kids went forward at a church event and asked Jesus to come into their heart and be the Lord and Savior of their lives.  It was such an amazing moment, and one that we had discussed with them for awhile.  I do not want them to forget that moment but build on that relationship with God and learning the word and keeping that in their hearts.  This is the most important thing that I can do for my children.

6.  With all of the above... me trying to be so present with all of my people, Sunday dinners, and more time at church, and dating my manfriend, I know the 10s of you are thinking... hello, I will have no free time!  Ha!  I guess I will just have to be really particular about my time!

For the past few years, I have really wanted to focus on being healthier, try to work out, get my super model bod started!  Well, life gets in the way and I sometimes have to take a back seat because of everyone else's needs!  When I turn 40.... I want to look a bit different!  Physically!  What if I shoot to lose 30... 25... 20 pounds.  It is possible.  It is a toddler, but it is possible!  Ever since ye ole broke leg thing, and let's be honest the whole year of 2015/2016, I just kinda have pulled an Elsa and "Let It Go"!  Letting myself go.

I take my supplements that I love, but I am not always putting the best stuff in my body!  So, maybe what I am putting in is working against the good I am trying to do!

Not today!

Time for a change.  I am going to try to shed 20 pounds by July 27th 2019!!

It is out there.... in the universe!

7.  Talk about letting myself go.... I just got my hair done a few weeks ago, and it had not been done in over a year!  My hair was brown and gray... not a good combo!  I was looking a bit sad with my weird dirty blonde hombre look.  That little bit of self care made me feel good.  It put a bit of a pep in my step, and made me feel like my old self.  I would like to start doing a little bit more of taking care of me!  Get my hair done.  Go on a walk.  Take a nap.  Get my nails done

Make mommy a priority.

8.  Get my nails done!  Ha, how about stop biting my nails!  It is not a good look.

9.  Manfriend... ignore this.... I wanna re-paint my kitchen cabinets, and the ones in the laundry room.  There, I said it.  It might take me a month of late late nights, but I am ready for a new look in the kitchen!

10.  What is happening in my front and backyard friends?  I have been doing a lot of "talking" about landscaping, but let's be clear.... we ain't sittin' in the lap of luxury over here!  If I could start small, pulling up the weeds, then pulling up the plants that have gotten so large (that are really weeds), dig up the overgrown stuff, trim up some bushes, maybe I could even make some of the flowerbeds larger.... I don't know, but they need help!  It is time for the talking to be put into action!  

11.  This one is big y'all!  I really want to work to pay off debt.  How amazing would it be to be debt free!?  It is a hard pill to swallow, we are working for a paycheck to pay all of these bills, and we don't get to enjoy the things we work so hard to have!  Ughhhh, debt!!  I would love to hear how you are paying off yours!  Any tips for someone getting started??

12.  I would like to get more recent photos printed of our family!  It seems like we had family pictures taken a few years ago, and I have never gotten anything more recently printed!  Ha!  All of our photos are from when the kids were pre-k and a few kinder school pics!  

13.  Also, I would like to organize the kids baby books and photo albums from the years!

14.  Hello, also, have our wedding photo album printed.  During my 6 week stint of bedrest, I uploaded all of our wedding pictures and wanted to do a Shutterfly photo album!  I guess I got tired and never got the book made!  Looks like my nights are going to be busy!!

15.  Get my kids off the pizza, chicken nugget, ketchup diet!  It is time for me to stop making so many meals in the evening and get them eating what manfriend and I eat!!  Tonight we will dine on spaghetti and meatballs!!  That is right... we will all dine on the same meal.  Pray for us, it could be a long night (spent at the kitchen table)!

16.  Dear Chick-fila.... since # 6 is happening, me stopping at your establishment 3 times a week to eat a bacon egg biscuit will have to stop!  We are over, and hopefully the money I will save I can put towards number 11.  Sincerely, Caryn

17.  For that matter.... Dear Sonic and my sweet friend who greets me so chipperly every morning.... I will no longer be stopping by for my Route 44 sweet teas.  I will be saving my $2.64 and be bringing my drinks from home!!  I will forever miss our mornings together, Caryn

18.  Become a little bit more focused on cleanliness.  I am not saying that we are rolling around in filth, but I am saying that I could pay a lil bit more attention to the toilets and kitchen floors!  Maybe if I did just a little bit a day.  Make sure the dishes are washing at the end of the night and not sitting in the sink.  Try keeping up with the laundry and folding it when it comes out of the dryer (do not throw it onto the floor)!  Clean the bathrooms 1 time a week, the next time I get a stomach bug I will forever be thankful for this new attention to cleanliness.

19.  In the spring, I really do want to run in the Gold Rush marathon in our town.  I know that will consist of practice... running.  I have the fall and winter to try to get there so I can do this with the kids and the manfriend in the spring.  It could happen!

19.  Take a road trip.  I had been planning on taking a road trip with the kids to go and visit cousins.  I have been wanting to do this for soooooo long, but taking 2 children in the car, alone!  Shheesh!  I would like to do more fun memory making things with them, and let them make memories with my cousins children!  I loved my time growing up with my cousins.  We had meals together, went to school together, played, vacationed together... and I want my babies to do this stuff too!!

20.  How hard and expensive would it be for me to put hardwood floors in my house (this will not help me get close to number 11, but man.... it will really look nice!  Just saying number 20 may not happen... but if it did, I would not be upset about it.

21.  The blog.... I used to blog more consistently about the days and nights... but it has taken a back seat.  I loved to document the things that were going on with our fam, but there just are not enough minutes in the night!  However, I really want to bring it back!  I do love to look back on posts from a year or years ago, it makes my heart so happy.

22.  Am I done having babies?

I am just going to leave that right there.  It would really cause a hiccup in number 11, number 6, 20, 19, well... a lot of things.  Maybe I am too old, but maybe I am not done.  Manfriend... ignore this.

23.  I want to start reading with the kids at nighttime.  My kids are not big fans of books, however, they are big fans of the ipad.  We need a little less IPAD and a whole lotta reading in our house.

24.  Try connecting with my friends again.  Ugh.... I miss my girlfriends.  I am not bragging, but I kinda had the best friends.  They are the kinds that would do anything for you and just make you better.  We have gotten older, married, have had children... you know had to have grown up lives... but I think it is time that I can have friends and do things with them again.  Maybe a dinner here, drinks, there, maybe start a bunco group that meets 1 time every month.  Sometimes, momma just needs a little bit of girl time.

25.  I need to plan Sophia's birthday party.  This should not really be on the list, but it is something I need to get on!  She will be 9 on the 2nd, and we will be having a birthday party for her in a few weeks.  This is also something I know will get done and will be easy for me to mark off the 39 list!  Boom!!

26.  Try to do more home-cooked meals.  I do enjoy cooking, sometimes I do not always love it, but it is always appreciated by my guy.  If I could at least have the ingredients to make something, so we are not sitting around at 6 trying to figure out what to eat!

27.  Frame my children's artwork.  When I got married, we would go to my SIL's house and she would frame my niece and nephews artwork.  I loved the way they looked and it made the kids so proud that their momma loved it so much that it earned a forever spot on the wall!  I really do like that idea, and it will help clean up the clutter on their dressers and in my cabinets.

28.  I want to master my left and right splits again.  That is right, I have a year to stretch and get my splits back!  FYI, it has been 1998 since I did a split (I was 19) but today I am throwing down the challenge... I will have my splits (hopefully my uterus will not fall out... or if number 22 comes to fruition, it will not fall out)!  It will be filmed!  Get ready!  IT... IS... HAPPENING!!

29.  Hold a plank for longer that 1 minute.  I have been working on this for a week or so, and I can do 2 totaling 40 ish seconds (my counting, not an actual stopwatch counting).

30.  I really want to try yoga.  Where might one start.... is there a good video to try or do you suggest going to do yoga in front of others.... where I look sad (and possibly pee my pants).

31.  Get more organized!  I have a planner.... I just need to use it, you know write important things in there!

32.  Since I am getting organized, it is time to get rid of the junk in my house.  My children do not wear size 5T anymore... so let it go.  I am not going to wear my wedding lingerie.... so let it go.  I am not every going to use that 1/4 of a bottle of detergent in the cabinet.... I do not like the smell of it, so I should let it go.... in fact, it is probably no longer a liquid but has become a hardened substance in the bottle.... let it go!  Our garage needs some attention as well.  Manfriend has been on this for years, but I am a hoarder (I come by this naturally... it is genetic) and I can not let him throw things out... but this year... we will let things go!!

33.  If the phone rings... answer it.  Heck, at least call people back within 24 hours!  It is a struggle and probably why I do not have so many friends!!  If I want time with my friends... I need to be a friend to others.

34.  Invest in others... make sure that they know how much I care for and love them.  Over the past few years, I have witnessed friends (old and new) go through hard times, and if I can be there for them in a small way, just to ease something they are going through, or let them know I care, them I think that is great. I love when people do this for me.

35.  Try not to be so concerned about what others think.

36.  Ride a bike again... to the square.  I will obvi need a cushy seat and a pillow for my parts to sit on!  My town has become a bike riding mecca, and I am 39... and it is time that I take part.  Maybe I could get a lil bike with a basket, to carry my phone in case I fall or almost die.  Some people are riding from our town to another one 30 minutes down the road... I will not be a follower like these people, or join one of their biking gangs, but I do think that I would like to be able to ride a bike... to the square.... from my house.... with my family.

37.  Put something into our savings account.  Anything.  $50.00.  Just something...

38.  Read 10  okay that seems like a lot... maybe 5 books in a year.  I used to be a reader.  At the beach, I even read 2 books (in a week), surely I can read 5 in a year!  Maybe if my children see me less on the FB and more in a real book, then they will be more excited about reading!!  #JustAThought

39.  Be happy.  I know I am posting all of these things that I want to do this year.. this 39th year, but what I really want most is to enjoy this life that I am creating.

39... it is going to be a great year!!

41 Years of Livin' and Lovin'

Today was BIG y'all!

 My parents celebrated their 41st anniversary!

Just to think... this is where it all started.  Just a couple a kids attending dances in what seems to be matching denim dance attire.

#TheyWereTheOldSchoolJustinAndBritney

#MyParentsWereSoAheadOfTheirTime #WithFashion

Too bad JT and Britney did not survive the matching denim stage like Mike and Amy!

Lets see, 41 years... let us take a stroll down memory lane

These two, they have been together since high school (whhhhhaaaa, high school).  Think about it, if you woulda married your high school love.....  Hummmmmmm.  Okay, that is over!

 Yes, tens... those are cut off jorts (jorts= jean shorts into one word, I love that on this blog we can learn new lingo together), and that hair!

After years together, many dates, late nights sitting on my MamMaw and PapPaw's couch, they decided to marry.  Talk about livin' on love... my dad worked at a grocery store while momma taught piano out of their house.  Then the children....

I came along.....

 shortly after..... Jason

Then they thought... what is one more... sweet baby Richard

It is safe to say that these three learned much about family from our parents.  We love each other fiercely and are each others best friends.  Our parents are amazing role models who showed love, kindness, patience (sooooo much patience, those Curry 3 were tough in the teen years), and commitment to each other (no matter what)!

You would think that with those 2 kids... having these 3 kids..... that we woulda worn them down!

(Insert ha ha emoji face and super uncomfortable emoji face when they told us they could still have babies..... #IKnow)

Then comes Katie.... the 4th.  Possibly the favorite #JustSayin

#SheIsAllOfOurFavorites

After all of these years, our family has grown by a manfriend.... my Aron (yes, tens.... he has a name)

and then the babies....

Who knew that so much love would come from these two.  I am blessed to have a front row seat, and I am glad to be a part of the years to come.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!