Stella is absolutely as precious as she looks- sweet, good, funny, and somewhat lazy (like her momma). I love this little girl to death!

Feeding the ducks

She said "I love this place guys!"

Aunt Megan Love!

Peace, love, pickles!

Lipstick

Fixed her up in the cart at TJ Max

It's Brittney, b*tch...

Katie Perry

not so thrilled about this look

or this lady...

Stell and Mommy

Stell and Katie-Bell

Girl group shot!

she loved her purple lipstick!

Thirty – the promise of a decade of loneliness, a thinning list of single men to know, a thinning briefcase of enthusiasm, thinning hair. – F. Scott Fitzgerald

Love this boy!

At Sushi Cafe

Original PNS

Ugh. Shots...

Stosh, Meg, Chrissy, Ginger, Little Meg, Sarah, Jill= my loves!

Moccasin and Suit kind of night...

Which leads me to the point of this post- change… Change is as scary as it is exciting, and my how I needed a change in my life. I’ve been doing the same thing- dating the same guys, hanging out with the same people, working the same job- for way too long now. I woke up last month and realized nearly 10 years had passed with very little to show for it. Not that I’m unhappy with my life or decisions up to this point, I just haven’t been challenging myself and feel stagnant. This change will take me out of my comfort zone and force me to make something new out of myself- start over and give a 100% to a new place, job, home, life.

Because I love to quote quotes, and it’s already been said better than I could say it myself:

“Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever.”
“There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction”
“Life can either be accepted or changed. If it is not accepted, it must be changed. If it cannot be changed, then it must be accepted.”
“Growth means change and change involves risk, stepping from the known to the unknown.”
“When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.”
“We are not the same persons this year as last; nor are those we love. It is a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person.” (sad face)

“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold:  when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.”  ~Charles Dickens

“I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love.  For me they are the role model for being alive.”  ~Gilda Radner

“We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults.  Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment.”  ~George Eliot

“”Tell me, what’s Love?” said Youth, one day, To drooping Age, who crost his way, “It is a sunny hour of play, For which repentance dear doth pay, Repentance! Repentance! And this is Love, as wise men say” ~Thomas More

“Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day.” ~W. Earl Hall

“One reason a dog can be such a comfort when you’re feeling blue is that he doesn’t try to find out why.”  ~Author Unknown

“Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world.”  ~Virgil A. Kraft

“Man is a dog’s idea of what God should be.”  ~Holbrook Jackson

“If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall.”  ~Nadine Stair

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.”  ~Roger Caras

We were in fact having SUCH a perfect day, a reporter for the Dem Gaz spotted us and asked to take a picture. While I’m ultra picky about my photo and don’t love my angles in this, it does capture a perfect moment of our perfect day…

Yet she’s remained one of the most goodhearted, hard-working, loving, smart, loyal, and kind woman I’ve ever known. She is still self-sufficient, living in a cute little retirement community in Sherwood, and loves to cook and make quilts. She’s adored by her family, friends, church, neighbors, and even those that have never met her but have benefited from her charity and prayers over all these years. Happy birthday to you Grandma! I love you very, very much!

Party at Hanks Country Music Hall- Feb 19, 2012

(my Uncle Billy owns the property, in case the location is a bit confusing…)

My extremely talented 2nd cousins perform all over the state in their musical group REAL Entertaining – (R)ebecca, (E)mily, (A)bigail, and (L)ydia. They are no joke…!! Entertained us all and played some special songs for Grandma’s birthday…

Me with the oldest and youngest Riley kids… You’ll see the 2 middle brothers here…

I’ve loved these boys their whole life!

3rd cousin, 2nd cousin, sister.

These are model children I tell you- absolutely beautiful! Josh & Christina’s kiddos- Adelaide’s their baby sister (from above).

Always had a special place in my heart for the baby boys!

These are my little princesses- Laynie and Lauyrn- Jacob & Trista’s girls. See Trista below…

I’m a little disappointed (but not at all surprised) that I pretty much limited my picture taking to kids… I only had my phone with me though so I’m sure someone with a real camera was able to capture the whole event a little better… Either way, love my grandma and pray for many more years with her on this earth!

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(It also shows my sweet homebody boxer Hilde’ and my embarrassing yard skills. I DO pay a yard man but he’s obviously quite the slacker…)

Just the girls (and David) at Tricia & Beau’s Holiday party…

More pics to come… Waiting on uploads!!!