Because of Joy

Because of Joy…

I am artsy and creative. At one point in time Joy could be seen doing all of the following (and rocking at it): pottery, sewing, making stained glass, writing books, embroidering…You name it, and she has done it.  

            I am unbelievably excited to be an aunt.  She is a seriously amazing aunt and makes it look like the absolute BEST thing in the world. 

            I have no shame.  Although she may not be the best singer and dancer, she is the first one to bust a move on the dance floor or belt along to a catchy song on the radio.  If it makes her happy and makes someone laugh, she’s all about it. 

            I have some serious Southern roots.

            I know that if I set my mind to something, no matter how hard it seems, I can achieve it.    

            I have confidence in who I am.

I know that when things get hard, I am strong enough to handle it.  It couldn’t have been easy being a military wife, but she certainly made it look that way.  From mowing the lawn to changing flat tires in the pouring rain, she is the epitome of the mantra, “I am woman, hear me roar!”                     

            I have a mouth that could get me into trouble.  

I know when it is acceptable to use the above mentioned mouth.

I know the importance of family.  She is a superstar aunt, a daughter who goes above and beyond for her parents, the kind of big sister people would kill for, an amazing wife, and a mother that is completely selfless.  She loves her family more than anything in the world and always puts them first.  I am so lucky to be able to call her my mom.

A New Series: Because of You.

            It’s been far, far too long since my last post.  In a nutshell, I now live in a new city, have a new job, and have been house hunting with Wes for the last month.  Change has been in full-force.   But I won’t use that as an excuse for my absence this time.  Actually, I won’t make an excuse at all.  Because today’s post isn’t about that.

            I’ve wanted to get back into the habit of writing for a while.  So often, I identify myself as “a writer”, but in order to be a writer, you actually have to write.  Weird, huh?  So, I finally came up with an idea that would give me lots of ideas.  A series, of sorts, about the people in my life who have made me who I am.  The people who have made me into the weird, nerdy, Southern, over-achieving, monogram-loving, sort-of-athletic, writing woman that I am today.  So, here’s to those amazing people…I am who I am because of you. 

          Because of Wes…

photo by Erin Blinn

 Because of Wes…

I have someone to love and share each and every moment of my life with.

I am motivated and encouraged to be the very best form of myself.

I have a place to warm my freezing cold fingers and toes in this cold, new Kentucky home.

I get off the couch and go on a run (something I never thought I would do) because he has shown me that I can.

I eat buffalo sauce on literally everything and rarely drink Diet Coke anymore.  Instead I drink water and require several refills in one meal. 

I know that I’m not always right…because he always is. (No, really, he is.  It’s scary.)

I am, one tip at a time, learning how to grill. 

I am taken care of every day of my life.

I am now a basketball fan, and I can name all the scholarship players on the UK team (Ask me...I'll prove it).

I am obsessed with 24.

I am 100% comfortable being my true self because he knows every single weird thing about me and loves me anyway. 

I get to marry the man of my dreams.

I believe in my heart that all the dreams I have dreamed over the last 25 years of my life can and will come true.

(And, because of Wes, I am writing this post and remembering how much I love to write.  So, thank you for that, honey.  And thank you for your part in making me the woman I am.)