Looking at 2012

Well on this last day of 2011 it has been a wonderful day. Beautiful weather, record highs today here in T-Town. We hit 66 degrees but it quickly dropped this evening. My cousin Anna and her husband Barry welcomed their baby boy to the world today. Corbin Everett joined us at 4:51p.m. weighing 6lbs 9oz and was 20in long. He's a handsome little guy!

 

Well this is the time of year that we all think about setting a resolution for the next 365 days. Some are far fetched and some are reasonable. For me looking at 2012 I will set my resolutions as following:

1. Love More

2. Laugh More

3. Take More Pictures

4. Travel

5. Step Outside of My Bubble

6. Explore the World Around Me

7. Spend More Time Outside

8. Do Something For A Complete Stranger

9. Read More Books

10. Live More

2011 in Review

So we are coming to an end of another year. I truly can't believe that 2011 is over in a matter of days. Overall I think its been a good year for us. Heres a few highlights from the year:

1. Justin started working at Sprint by Wireless Lifestyles in January as a Phone Technician
2. We traveled to Estes Park, Co in April for Brad and Amber's Wedding (Justin's cousin) and survived driving through a blizzard thanks to that wonderful trucker!
3. We traveled to Anna Maria Island, Florida for Matt and Brittney's wedding, our first time to Florida!
4. Chandler and Lyndsay's wedding in June.
5. Adam and Meghan's wedding in July.
6. Justin turned 29 in July and I turned 26 in August.
7. We participated for our 2nd year now at Step Up for Down Syndrome raising money for the Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City. Team Evan raised approximately $1500! I was so appreciative for all of the help!
8. We traveled to Bartlesville, OK for Thanksgiving with Justin's Mom's side of the family.
9. I started taking my photography more seriously and made business cards and a facebook page! Sarah Beth Photography
10. Justin and I celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary and 7 years together!
11. I went to my first Chiefs game!
12. I started researching my ancestry and it has become a huge hobby! Ancestry
13. I started working as an Intensive Individual Support Worker under the Autism Waiver for the State of Kansas.
14. I discovered Pinterest if you have no idea what it is, prepare for your new addiction!
15. We got Molly our Toy Australian Shepherd!

Catching Up

Since the last post I have changed jobs. I no longer work for KCSL, I am now working for the Sate of Kansas as an Intensive Individual Support Worker for a Child with Autism. I started working with my little guy at the end of September and I absolutely love it. He is 6 and keeps me on my toes. In a round about way I get paid to play, and it is beyond awesome. He loves jumping on the trampoline, swinging and playing Mario on the Wii. I have also started further pursuing my love of photography and have decided to put it out there and start doing family photos and events for people. I am known as Sarah Beth Photography and its starting slow but I am ok with that as I figure out what exactly I am doing regarding pricing and the nutshells.

Justin is still working as a Phone Technician at Wireless Lifestyles. He now has a second tech which makes life easier for him. And his boss is now one of his best friends so that is also awesome for him. Caleb (his brother) works for the same company also but in KC. Justin enjoys this because they can compete with one another and is a constant topic when we are together.

We just celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary and 7 years together total. Amazing how time flies by. Its weird to think back that this whole journey started so innocently as complete strangers and now here we are. I can say that the past 7 years have been nothing less than amazing and I look forward to the next 70 (as Justin tells me-yes that makes both of us around 100 years old.)

The Holidays are upon us, again. I really love this time of the year but at the same time I despise it. I love the fall/winter weather and I love the holiday spirit. I dont like the greediness, selfishness, rudeness, and all the cinnamon in the stores. Dont get me wrong, I love cinnamon but the abundant smell of it EVERYWHERE kills me. I dont think people realize that it does affect some people. I recently went to Walmart and the smell was so strong I had an attack where I could not breathe, my eyes were burning and I could not stop coughing. I have always been this way, I have learned that during this time of the year I need to medicate myself before going to the store, and work, and restaurants and friends and families houses. If I dont medicate it gives me a wonderful migraine headache that knocks me out. Anywho enough about cinnamon. Yesterday was "BLACK FRIDAY" and I did venture out but it was unintentional. I did get a few things but again, I did not have an agenda so it was unplanned and mostly for myself. Now I admit I do love receiving gifts but at this time of the year I am more concerned about buying for others. I would rather see the joy on others faces than my own (which is how it should be I believe.)

I will end this post on the note of, remember that the person who is taking "too long" in front of you or just cut you off or disrupted your plan is dealing with their own battle. Instead of judging by what you are seeing on the surface realize that there is so much more than what you see going on. Smile at them, say "Hi" and even offer to help if you see them struggleing. You have no idea what their story is and how they got to this point. Judge yourself before you judge others.

Joyologists

Have you ever met someone and knew immediately that they would change your life?  I have. If I could I would introduce everyone I know to these two ladies. If these two ladies ran for President and Vice President of our country, I have no words for the excitement. I could sit and listen to these ladies talk about anything and everything, all day, everyday. Who am I talking about you may ask? Why of course the most beautiful ladies on the planet; Melinda Kline and Diane McMillen.

It was about 6 years ago I met Diane and she is who started it all. My goal is to one day be able to walk through life the way these two beautiful souls do. Not only have they challenged me to be a better person but just being around them makes me a better person. I do not know how anyone can listen to these two talk and not get something out of it.

I find myself thinking "What Would Diane Do?" in times of stress or turmoil. I find myself saying things like "oh that takes too much energy to feel that way" or "that must be exhausting to treat people that way" I believe that thinking this way I have reduced stress and am able to let things roll off my back and move past things that I shouldn't let bother me.

 

Basically these two ladies have challenged me to be a better person for myself and also how can I make the world around me a better place for others? What one thing can I do today that will make my/your tomorrow better? Do things everyday that make you happy. What makes your heart happy? Do you do whatever that is often? When was the last time? If it wasn't recently, why not? At a training I said I was going to take more pictures, pictures make me happy. Others said things like: being outdoors, traveling, singing, reading, playing with kids/grand kids, dancing, laughing, you name it. I am challenging myself to continue to do things that make me happy on a regular basis if not daily. So I challenge you, what makes you happy? When are you going to do it again?  

Inspiration

First of all,

Happy Mothers Day Mom!

 

Today I took my Mom to the Princess Diana exhibit at KC Union Station. It was great. They did not allow photography so I couldn't take any pictures inside but we did take one of Mom outside the exhibit. Mom at Princess Di Exhibit 

Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.
Princess Diana

 I don't go by the rule book... I lead from the heart, not the head.
Princess Diana

She was a beautiful soul. Lots of compassion for others. She was the peoples princess. Loved by so many.

Well I can say that challenge after challenge is being thrown my way here lately. I believe that if you do good things for the sake of doing good, good things will return to you. This also goes the opposite way, if you do something out of spite or with intention to harm, this too will return to you and not in your favor. Its called karma. 

I believe in Hope. Hope that if you want something bad enough it will happen. Hope that change is coming. With that being said, I believe in change. Change can be scary but if its meant to be its meant to be. Good or Bad. Change happens to the best of us. We can find the good in the change or the bad. It is what we want it to be. 

I have been reading Whoopi Goldberg's book Is It Just Me? Or is it nuts out there? and it is wonderful. Im only 1/3 of the way into it. She is saying things in a real way and I could not agree with her more. She asks where is the respect? what has happened to helping each other out of the sake of kindness. Since when does having a different opinion make you the devil? Why can't we agree to disagree? Why do people think they have no consequences? Who do you think you are to say something like that to someone you aren't close to and think its ok? I am enjoying this book because not only have I been thinking the same things she has stated in her book but because I think everyone should read it. Whether you agree with it or not is irrelevant but to get you thinking about these things. So what it boils down to is that we all need to think before we speak and think before we act. I can do this, why can't you? 

Change is Coming.

A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed. -Henrik Ibsen


Life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. John Maxwell 

Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them.Richard L. Evans 

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm ... As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands. One for helping yourself, the other for helping others. Audrey Hepburn 

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.Ralph Waldo Emerson 

 I thought I would start this post with some inspirational quotes. 

We just got back from Estes Park, Colorado. The drive there was scary with a BAD snow storm but once there it was beautiful. We were there for Justin's cousin Brad's wedding. We had so much fun both of the nights we were able to see everyone. We enjoyed seeing the family, it is always a nice time to get together with the Mitchells. We just wish we could see everyone more. Maybe that can be arranged. 

What is going on with us here in T-town? Nothing terribly major. Justin has been at his new job now for about 3 months and loves it. Still getting used to the schedule of not having two days back to back off but truly no complaints. As for me, whats new. I dont know where to start with whats going on with me here lately. There is a lot going on. A lot I don't want to discuss on a public blog post. I am trying to stay as true to myself as I possibly can and find the positive in everything going on around me. Now that I have you worried and/or worked up, rest assured that what I am referring to is going to be fine and once I figure out exactly what it means to me you will all know. I am not fighting a health battle, my marriage is great, nobody (that I know of) is dying, its just a challenge that I am being faced with and it is how I am going to handle it that will determine what change there is to come. Change is a beautiful thing and I know that whatever is to come will be what is supposed to happen. With that being said,  I believe I am a positive person and accept just about anything that gets thrown my way. I try to find the good in situations and right now I am being challenged with that. My motto lately has been "Today is a challenge and I WILL pass" I have never been so frustrated and stuck. I have been looking for a lot of motivational, inspirational, spiritual meaning to help me through this challenge. And again I will pass. I am very thankful for my supportive husband, family and friends. I can only take one day at a time and soon I will know what I am supposed to do. 

 

Happy Retirement Day Dad!

My Dad retired today from 25+ years at Shawnee County Public Works. So an exciting chapter has opened in my Dad's life. Mom, Justin and I took the crew pizza for lunch.We celebrated tonight at Reeds with some family and friends.