Reflecting on Life

For some reason coffee shops seem to bring out the "thinker" in me! Be it that I watched to many Sex in the City episodes with Carrie typing her life away, or just, in the quietness of the coffeeshop, feel the need to blog!! Either way, here are the things I have been thinking about thus far in 2011.

1. Friends--- I don't have that many close, close, friends, but I do have what I like to call a "network" of friends that I truly care about. As they struggle through weight issues, infertility, Godlessness, depression, confusion and lack of jobs, I remind myself that we are all living this together, that I too have these same issues at times and that I need to be praying for all of them regularly. Everyone has something that they are struggling with and we can all use the prayers! I want to make more of an effort to be thinking about it more and praying for it more.

2. Job--- I have been bouncing around in jobs now since May when I quit teaching. From subbing to substitute teaching to aiding to nannying.. I have been trying to find myself in all these jobs and have forgotten to look at the blessing behind them. I started out substitute teaching in a rough district with some "rough" kids. Looking back I see now that I was put there for a reason, to be a light to those kids and bring a smile to their day. I then became an aid for a fifth grade boy that had no one, not even his family supporting him as he was working through a court case of a mistake that he made last summer that might cost him his childhood at a detention center in Central Phx. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why I was put with him, but again, looking back, I now see that I was a "mom" to this boy, loved him when no one else did and for that short amount of time before he got kicked out of school, was his positive to a very negative day. Now I am a nanny for a one year old... so cute! I have been told by many that this is preparing me to be a mom, a goal I have had for myself and Tyler for a very long time... hopefully soon! In the meantime, I am learning about patience, tiredness and responsibility through the baby and getting to be a "mom" only if it is for 5 hours a day! I know that these jobs might not be an executive position at a high paying firm, but there is meaning... and for that I am grateful.

3. House--- Tyler and I are so blessed... to have the things we do at the age we are at is truly a blessing. We have a great house... be it small, but a great house that I can't forget how blessed we are as I sometimes complain that it is not a big house or not the size of our friends houses... it is a great house, with enough room for our stuff and a starter family (meaning one kid, maybe not two or three!)... I need to remember this when I get anxious about moving ahead and what the next house will look like! We have exactly what we need for today, and that is enough!

4. Tyler--- where do I start?? He is the man of my dreams and I could have NEVER handpicked a better husband than God picked for me. I look back to where I was 5 years ago and who I was with and cannot express how glad I am that I waited for the right guy. We are different, yes... we have our moments of frustration, yes... but we are so perfect for eachother. We don't need to have extravagent evenings to love being around eachother... we have fun just sitting around watching movies, cooking and being goofballs. Tyler is so positive, he always sees the silver lining and I love that about him. I can get down about life and where I am at (at almost 30), and he always tells me how lucky we are... and he is right. He is so patient and kind, he loves me unconditionally and hardly ever complains. He is amazing and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him, to watch him as an amazing dad and provider for his family, and grow old with him!

5. Turning 30!!!!--- wow, I can't believe it is coming so soon... four months and I will be 30! Yes folks, Alicia is "all growed up"! My mom has always said that her 30's were the best years of her life... I am hoping that it is for me too! I can't wait to see what the 30's have in store for me!

That is about it for today.. I am always thinking about these things, just some days feel more motivated to write them down... guess today was one of those days..