Blessings,Craziness and Tons of FUN!

So, it has been a little while since I last wrote but there has been SO much going on! Where to start.... Well I started a new job, cashiering at Lowe's and I am loving it! The people are nice, pay is great and I have been getting lots of hours, so we have been able to catch up on bills and take care of the things we needed to, however it has been a little strange trying to adjust to working so much and I feel like I am missing out on the kids. I am hoping Nate will be able to move up in his job soon, which I know he is working on, so that I can be home more, especially with Melody starting school soon! I find myself wondering, quite often lately, where has time gone? When did my little babies get so big and smart?? How did I miss what was right in front of me??? I guess that is just a part of being a parent... 

Another big, exciting event in our lives was the reconnection of some long-lost, very missed family. It has been great getting to know them and seeing my sweet golden rose happier than I have ever seen him. My sweet little buds have also been thrilled with having more people to hang around with, show off to and make things for, I am loving how incredibly happy and peaceful my little garden has been, these last few weeks! I am also really excited to have these sweet people in my life, we have really seemed to have hit it off and I love how much we all have in common. They have truly been a blessing!

The last, but certainly not least, thing we had happen this month was a surprise party for my sweet sister, who is expecting her first child in a few weeks. We are all so anxious for the little guy to get here! I enjoyed immensely having everybody gather in my home, eating, playing games, talking and relaxing. The best part was that it was the first time we had the whole Madsen clan together in many, many years! I am looking forward to having them all over so many more times! I really enjoyed putting it all together, only wish I had more time to prepare. I would have loved to have actually cooked and put together some better gifts.

All in all, it has been an incredible month, full of so many wonderful blessings! I am very grateful for my family and friends, I would be lost without them! I am excited for the relationships which are blooming around me and all the blessings that I know will come from them! I couldn't be happier!!!

Rainbows

Well yesterday was my 25th birthday. I am not a fan of my birthday, something bad almost always happens on my birthday. So I decided that this year my birthday was not going to be anything special, just another day, I even went to work. 
Let me tell you how my day went down! Well I woke up to Melody throwing up and complaining that she felt ill, oh joy, just what I need, my family passing around some kind of bug. I then felt guilty leaving her to go to work but knew that Nate would take good care of her. So arrive at work and before I have even clocked in, I find myself getting yelled at about something from the day before that was not even my fault. Needless to say, the rest of my shift stunk. I decided that I was going to stay positive and enjoy my day. Well I arrived home in better spirits and Melody was feeling so much better so I was happy and excited to hang out with my family for the day.

I decided we needed groceries and a birthday cake, so I told Nate I would run out and get them and be back quickly to bunker down, pig out and watch movies with the kids. HAHA. I got too excited I guess. Next thing I know I have hit some stupid guy's car and caused mild damage to his bumper. Totally ruined my mood! Needless to say, Nate decided we would go shopping as a family :)  We grabbbed the food, picked up some Chili's as well and headed home for our great day! Get home and I dropped the 12 pack of rootbeer in the parking lot and dented EVERY single can! I was so flustered to say the least! But, as we are about to walk through the door, Melody spotted a rainbow and was beaming! She said "the rainbow came just for your birthday Mom!" I turned and looked at the rainbow in a whole new way, I saw it the way Melody was seeing it, as something new and beautiful! It was there to remind me that its all about attitude! 
The rest of my day was so relaxing and enjoyable and I decided all in all it was a great birthday! This morning Melody told me "my favorite part of yesterday was seeing your special present, the rainbow!" I told her that was my favorite too! 

Not Sure What to Title This...

My last post was about attitude and making the best out of the situations which may fall into our laps. However, I can't help but feel hurt, anger, bitterness and sadness, especially during the month of May. It is such a hard month for me, I think because it is the month that represents Mothers.
I have so many emotions surrounding my mother, mostly negative ones, that I am trying hard to work through. Sometimes, it is so difficult, especially when speaking to a mutual friend or running into somebody I haven't seen in a long time and having them ask about her. I just want to scream! I want to say "she gave up her mother card(as Dr. Laura would put it) a long time ago!" I know people have the best intentions but it is so frustrating!
I am finally getting to the point where I can just move on with my life and I try to focus on the good parts, past and present. I have also started reading the scriptures and turning to God a bit more, I am taking baby steps because I know it will take time and if I jump in with both feet, as I have done before, I will not get anywhere. I still have anger and frustration directed towards God but I am coming to understand things a little better and those negative feelings are starting to disappear. Again, it all comes down to attitude and choice. :D
I am SO grateful for Nate's wisdom and support in all of this! Maybe time really does heal all wounds, I suppose I will find out.

A Quarter of a Century!

My birthday is tomorrow, I can't believe I am already going to be 25! Looking back through all the years and all the things I have been through in my life, I have realized that I am grateful for today. I need to live more in the present, the past is over and done, I can't do anything about it and I have also come to realize that I can determine what my future will be by my attitude and decisions today. :D
I was also thinking about all the people that have made an impact on my life and the one common factor was their attitude. The people that could laugh, smile and just be altogether happy despite what may be going on in their own lives are the ones that made me realize that I had control over what my life could be. I am so grateful for the people that helped me make it this far, I am excited to continue this crazy, fun, interesting journey.