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Oh, the guilt...

As I am finishing the last semester of my Tech Writing program, I realize how I have neglected my blog. Me, the "professional writer", has neglected to write anything on my blog. Well, I guess that is because I have fallen deep into the well of normalcy. I say that because I see that there is not much to report on the home front. I started school in late August. I have been diligently attending school and not working. Gary has been working diligently at Lifetime Products and loving it.

So what is there to report? How about Gary cutting his thumb on a backboard and having to get stitches? Thats right folks. He came home and said, "hey, look what I did today." I threw up a little in my mouth. Yuck.

How about Jennie ripping all the wallpaper down in the Dining Room along with removing the popcorn ceiling and paint off the cabinet doors. Its become the bain of my existence. I love designing and remodeling, but when it turns into a month long (or longer) project, then I have to say, UGH!!! I know its going to be worth it in the end though. I am really excited for the end result. By the way, if anyone wants to come help, PLEASE DO!!! ;)

So that pretty much sums up our life for the last six weeks. I can post pics of the dining room soon. WOOT WOO!!! Until then, enjoy!

MIA

Okay, so I know that I have probably lost all my followers. Yes, all three of you, but lets just say that my summer has been more than eventful. To start, my former co-workers and I had created a team to represent our family and friends at the Relay for Life in Logan.

We worked hard all the month of May and June to do fund raising for our team. We raised over $1,000, for which I am very proud. The Relay took place in Logan at USU track. It was HOT, HOT, HOT!!! That was on July 9th and 10th.

The week before that, we (my entire family) celebrated the 4th of July by hosting our large family float in the Perry 4th of July Parade. For the first time, we didn't have my dad there. But, ironically, the theme of the parade was "Honoring our Hero's". There was a bitter-sweet feeling in me as we gather together to decorate the float, line up for the parade, and as we made our way along the parade route. I felt like it may be the last time the Reese's are a part of the Perry Parade.

Our first parade was when I was 8. My dad had built a tractor (which we still have) and a trailer (which we don't have). My sisters made a sign that was attached to the trailer like an arch that read "Grandpa Reese's Little Piece's". The rest was history. We spent every 4th there after dressed in orange and walking, riding, or skateboarding down that parade route. I am proud to have been a part of it.

Now, the week before the 4th, we had our annual Reese Reunion. My family all gathered at Crystal Hot Springs and played and played until we were all red as beets from the sun. Gary and I had Kason, Kaybreigh and Tyson with us. It was a LOT of work but very fun.

Fast forward now to after the Relay for Life. We have since spent the summer enjoying our freetime (what we have of it) and enjoying each other. We try to go on bike rides and enjoy the country side, take care of the garden, and play with Gary's grandkids. Its been an adventure to say the least.

We took a fun trip to the zoo, but by the end of 5 hours, everyone was dog-tired including the adults.

Dings in the wall,
Carpet a little worn,
Dirt in the window sill,
The door so adorn.

What was once my life,
isn't any more.
With so many changes--
a lot for sure.

I look back at life's lessons
With a little sorrow,
And look back and smile
It'll be better tomorrow.

A lesson was taught
A lesson's been learned
A family, yes we are
And forever earned.

Goodbye to the house,
And hello to the free.
For tomorrow is come
For him and for me.

May 26, 2010.

Commitment.

It feels like an eternity since I have blogged and I have been feeling very guilty about it. But I have been thinking a lot lately about commitment. I have talked before about commitment in dealing with weight loss and such, but this time around, I have been thinking of commitment in general. For instance, I have been asking myself "how committed are you in life?" "How committed are you in your relationship?" "How committed are you to your religion?" "How committed are you to your family?"

I have heard it said that it is within the trials of life that your true character appears. As I ponder that saying, I wonder why my true character is such a wuss.

As most of you know, I was married almost 3 years ago (in September). I knew before I got married that my sweetheart had four teenagers that had some problems. Well, for about the first year of our marriage, when people would ask how its going, I would always say, "Marriage is great, but parenthood sucks!" I was consistantly trying to fix Gary's kid's problems, so they would be kid's with no problems (or smaller ones anyway). By the time I realized that I no longer needed to "fix" these kids, but just love them, it was too late. The damage was done. They hate me--and rightfully so. In the effort to fix these kids, I gave them just one more person to distrust. One more person that is not on their side.

I look at my mom who so valiantly raised her own kids and others. In the midst of her adversity, she bloomed and grew by leaps and bounds. She had it hard. Very hard. But she never let her children ever feel like they were not loved.

When I think about my commitment to my family, I think about my mom and her commitment to her family. She was committed and nothing was going to tear her away from her commitment. My mother is a rock, an angel. She suffered greatly in her life. I often ask why she didn't quit? She just replies "quitting is not an option."

Am I committed? I don't really know yet. I want to be. I want to build strong characteristics and become a better person, a person like my mom. Strong, obedient, determined, righteous, and brave. For now, I am working on being committed. I am working on being better.

As for my sweet troubled kids, I love them dearly and I am so sorry for everything that I put them through (even though I still don't approve of their actions). Its not until recently that I realized they had enough on their plate without adding a wicked step-mother into the mix. I am so very sorry. Their father is my sweetheart and will be forever--I am so lucky to have him and I wouldn't change anything about our life together. For me, in this moment, its perfect.