And Than He Kissed Me......

The year was 1996. The month was September. I was 14 and he was 16. My freshman year of high school in a new town with new friends. He was one of the first I would meet.

"Shannon, this is my brother Sean." (His sister, my now sister-in-law, is a life long best friend. How awesome is that!!!!)

Friends for years. A short summer romance and birth months in common. There is no way this man would be my sole mate.....

Fast forward in this life 14 years, past his military achievements, my new career, beyond the babies we made (not together) and the growing we did while apart.......

It was May, that birth month we both share. Through myspace of all places we found each other again. The date and time were set, we would see and talk face to face for the first time in 9 long years.

I never stopped thinking about him. He seemed to be the bright spot of my teenage life that I could never forget. I just didn't realize why this was. I figured it was really the loss of innocence and the new found responsibilities that came with being an adult, that I really missed.

We talked all night, right through the sunrise. It was pure magic.

I was not looking for love, for him, for anything other than to find myself. But for once, I let life happen.

He was a ray of sunshine in my so dark life. He gave me air to breath again. Passion to fulfill my dreams again. The courage to try new things. The inner confidence that I was so longing for. The insight on how to be a better mother to my sweet baby girl. He was and is my sole mate. I should have listened to myself, but what did I know, I was too young all those years ago.

While on vacation in Orlando, Florida he proposed.

June 27, 2007

Down on one knee, so nervous even though I knew it was coming

"Will you marry me?"

Of course I said yes. I would have been a fool to say no.

We were in no hurry to be married as we were enjoying just each other. I brought with me my daughter and he brought with him, his daughter. The time had to be right. After all, two very small harts are at the center of it all.




July 1, 2009 at 5:30 in the afternoon



Can you believe we were at this point. Back in Florida, we were married on Coca Beach. It was perfect! Simply, easy, and it felt so right.

His family was there, most of my family was there (though I wish they could have all been there), my best friends were there, and we were there.



As we spoke the vows before God and our family, I could not help the tears from coming. I tried. OH, how I tried.

When I looked into his eyes on that day, the tears started streaming down my face. Tears of joy and happiness for all that had been given to me. His eyes were filled with passion and love.





You could just see that every word he was saying was meant to be said.

I knew that without a doubt this was the person I was to be with till the day I left this Earth.








We spoke our vows, we exchanged the rings and kisses. We were married, my new HUSBAND!!!






We had dinner after. Seafood of course. A private room over looking the Ocean and a perfect calm in the air.

They say you will just know when the right person comes into your life and I had never believed it more than I did in those moments. No doubts in my head, no questions. I just knew, he was the one, my one.

It has been just over 6 months since that perfect day on the beach and I still know, he is the one. That is not to say we don't squabble or disagree, as we do. What couple would not?

But together we have fun, we have a family, and we have love.


So ladies, when you find that one you will know it. Don't question timing. Don't question flaws in either of you. Don't question how fast things might be moving. Surrender it all and go with it. Let life lead the way as it is meant to do. (Yes, I know, easier said than done)

This amazing thing called love will guide you, protect you and take you to were you need to go. It will give you wings and ground you all at the same time. It is kind, patient, understanding, forgiving, encouraging, and hard work. Trust in it and life will be one fun ride.




Happy Late Valentines Day From One Lucky Lady

1, 2, 3..... Let's Go!

My Cheerleader, My Second Grader, My 8 Year Old Daughter, My Kirsten......

Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 11:44 am at the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland my sweet baby girl went onto the floor and cheered her heart out! Making this women a beyond belief proud mama.

She has taken to cheering like a fish to water....



6, 7, 8

are the counts and up she goes. She is what cheerleaders call a flier. (I'm slowly learning the lingo:) That's her, second from the left and yes she is standing on someone's hands.



I never thought in a million years that she would be able to keep the rhythm let alone be on count. But she does.

She has big plans for her self (although, they sometimes change). She will do this through high school and get a scholarship to college to cheer on their team. Once at college she plans to study to be a teacher.

On a recent art museum trip for a college paper I was writing, she stopped to tell me "I can't wait to be in college, it is so much fun and I am going to learn so much. " Although, she has also said that she would like to go to school online so that she can ware her PJs all day. Gotta love the college online commercials!

To have these conversations with a baby still in my eyes is wild. To listen to her plan out her day, set her goals and watch her accomplish them, warms my heart.

As a parent, it is so easy to get caught up in the no's and because I said sos and miss the whole thing. I enjoy every second I have with this child, my child. Even those seconds that seem to be hours as she is telling me why she can't do something.

Watching her grow and enjoy life makes everything worth it. Such a impressionable, fragile creature....

I promise to do my best by you and for you. I will try to keep my anger level down, even if yours is not. And I promise to listen and do my best to understand your view points. I love you my sweet baby girl!!!!

The Rubber Band

So, yesterday I was given a lovely bracelet by my boss, in fact, everyone was. Generous one might say....

It was a rubber band!

What was I going to do with this?!

Wear it for 30 days and anytime I thought a negative thought or called myself a name, I was to snap my wrist with it. "Come on, this is stupid", I thought.

SNAP....

That hurt!!!!!

Through my day yesterday, I found that I was snapping myself fairly often. How negative was I really. I have always thought of myself as a upbeat, positive person. Guess not.

The point of this, to change my thinking and in turn change my life. While my boss intended this to be used to boost office moral (we are new home sales people in a 4 year recession!), I will be taking it to a new level.....

My Level!

I heard a great quote the other night on my drive home

"The light that shines within will always cancel the dark from without."

I get it, as Oprah would say I had my Ahha moment. Thinking negative, even little thoughts, will lead to a negative outlook on life and in turn (at least in my case) will lead to the downward spiral over the fear of what might happen tomorrow. I am not living in the now. I have to start thinking positive and my mood will lighten. I will enjoy more. I will create better relationships around me. I will be able to enjoy all the moments and not worry about tomorrows unknowns. Perhaphs even my daughter will become a positive thinker. After all, parents lead through their actions, not words.

This is not to say bad thoughts shouldn't happen. They do and they will, but make them constructive and learn from them or fix them. Don't always have a negative though when hearing something new for the first time. Have a happy thought about the new adventures you might have. It will make the experience better.

STOP

Think about everything in your life that makes it great....

Me, I am thankful for

1. My Kids (all of them, technically I have given birth once and have a step daughter but I love children, and am an Auntie to many more.)




2. My Husband, what a great man




3. My Family, crazy as they may be sometimes, they are always there for me

4. My Home, squishy, sometimes loud and always full of love and laughter



5. My Health, knock on wood

And so much more.

This is my year and over the next 30 days I am taking control of my life. I have worried about it for too long and now it is time to start living!!!

I will think positive, I am a positive person and I am worth it!

Just Getting Started

Welcome to my life, I hope you enjoy the stay.

I have never had a passion for writing but I have always had a passion for reading...

I have been reading.

Not books, well other than college books.

Blogs!!!

I have always enjoyed reading autobiographies and understanding and learning how other people tik tok. (I had to, love that song:)

Sneaking a peak into other peoples thoughts and words has truly inspired me. I have finally found a passion in writing through blogs. A place to get my thoughts out and to have a record of my day to day life for my kids and grandkids to reflect on. Maybe even to better understand me.

I have found it, now I have ideas and words flooding my brain. I am going to keep going today as this seems to be so therapeutic. Hopefully, I wont run out of ideas in a week:)