Currently...

Watching the sunset from my deck

Drinking... a Coors Light. It's been a long weekend. As if I need an excuse

Wishing... it wasn't Sunday night. I'm nowhere near ready to go back to work tomorrow

Obsessing over... baseball [Bucks won their 8th straight game tonight!] .. aloe .. Nike shorts .. Target [this isn't new]

BRAND NEW Party Deck sign on my kegerator

We have a tie game, folks!

...and in the bottom of the 10th, BUCKS WIN their 8th straight

Literally went to Target for bug spray, $50 later...that was some expensive bug spray ;)

Wanting to purchase... this bag. No description needed

Looking forward to... a week off from the Party Deck [off day + road trips] .. a pool day at grandma's .. a wedding

Favorite songs on the [XM] radio... Blurred Lines. Sail. Anything FGL or Hunter Hayes.

Weekending

Why do weekends go by so fast? Last week officially kicked my ass after a long weekend, working two jobs and a lack of sleep.

We celebrated my Grandpa Mike's 70th birthday with a fish fry and lots of family/friends Saturday afternoon. We laughed, a lot, and it served as a great reminder of what life is all about.

Taysen and I took a little walk past the backyard and saw the baseball field across the street. We had to come back home to get a shirt, bat, ball & mom and went back to play. The excitement on his face when I helped him hit the ball was priceless! I have a feeling that place might be our hangout this summer...

We roasted marshmallows on the grill & made smores... I may have eaten a few too many.

I may have enjoyed a few of these on Friday night too. I'd say they were well deserved after a hard first week back at Riverfront. ;)

I'm ready for some warmer weather, grilled burgers on the party deck at home, a high school baseball game in [nearly] my backyard and a Wednesday afternoon 'skip work day' baseball game - the start a 6-day home stand for the Bucks. Happy Monday!

Not Enough Rocks

Lessons I've learned [because there have been several to note] ...

- it's OK to laugh at yourself. Really. Even if it's because a pair of underwear fell out the leg of your pants. At work.

- it's also OK to laugh at your own jokes. My most recent: one of the guys from Alexandria's ball team screamed "OMG what's behind that tree?! That's a BIG bird!!" from the field last night. Naturally, once I heard "OMG" I thought a ball was headed our way... I shot back "was it yellow?" For those of you who are still thinking about it or not laughing...big bird, yellow, Sesame Street... anyone? Ok so maybe it was a 'you had to be there' moment

- it's NOT OK to drive through a current of water running across a closed street. It's closed for a reason.

- "If you build it, they will come." if it rains cats and dogs for too many days straight, the Riverfront parking lot and all streets to it will flood. The game will still play [as long as it's safe] and fans will still come. Even if they have to risk parking streets away [in not the best area of Waterloo] and walk over the dike..or at their Grandma's house across the street for safer parking ;) They might even take a paddle boat or kayak...

- sometimes, all you need is a little patience. Yes, even after a 9-hour work day filled with your problems and everyone else's, a quick drive home to change clothes and then sit through 3 hours of rain delays before a game gets postponed. Patience.

- sometimes, if patience fails, a little sunshine, some time alone & remembering where you came from is all you need. Especially when life catches up with you and leaves you hanging off a cliff [or at least feeling like it]

- let it go. This is a hard one but it keeps coming around so it has to mean something. Quit worrying about what everyone else is doing - it's their life, not yours. Sweep your own front porch, not anyone else's.

- keg beer will give you a hangover. And a rounded top on a garbage can is not a good place for a cup of that keg beer, unless you want to spill not one, but two cups of that keg beer on your date. ;)



Said date not pictured. Instead, two of my best friends.

- sometimes, there just aren't enough rocks. Or middle fingers.

- it could be worse. A friend of mine is currently helping the victims in Moore, OK. After seeing photos, watching videos and hearing what those people went/are going through just breaks my heart. That teacher who laid on her students before getting killed by a car? A true hero. How praying, despite any rules, may have saved some lives that day? Quite possibly a miracle. More people may be believing that teaching is the most underpaid and underappreciated profession out there.

Sorry to end on a sad note - I didn't mean to, but I couldn't save that one for later. Stay safe and help others as you can, no matter where you are.

if you enjoy my baseball pictures, follow me on instagram [@lindseyschuler] because I might have an obsession with posting one from each game. oops!

Burgers, Dogs & Beer: Part One

A lot of people have asked why I spend my summers working at the local ballpark...

.. first off, it's not [completely] for the money. Tonight, I made a whopping $2.50 in tips - granted, it was Buck night [$1 hot dogs, $1 beers...] and the Budweiser Party Deck had 5 patrons.

.. it's not [completely] that I need to be busy 24/7 and work 13+ hour days, several days a week.

.. I sacrifice easy nights at home for long nights at Riverfront, weekends away for weekend home-stands, and Sunday Funday for Sunday Funday on the Deck.

.. I put in my sweat, blood & tears into being the Party Deck Assistant. Blood - only from tearing up my hands opening Smirnoff bottles. Tears - from laughing too hard at the things that happen every single day out there.

.. I do it because I truly enjoy being there. Sure, I might wish some days I could stay a little later at the office, make dinner at home, squeeze in a workout, do a Target run, pick up the house, watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs, or just relax and enjoy the weather [when it isn't raining]. But I make every effort to not miss more than a few times because I love the game. I love the relationships I build with people at the Stadium [not drunk creeps, don't worry!] And honestly, I'd probably be there 90% of the time anyways. I grew up sitting on the third base side with my Grandpa and my Dad and I still wear the Bucks shirt I've had since I was 12. It's a tradition and I'm happy to be a part of the Bucks family.

Just don't ask why we don't serve Coors Light on the Budweiser Party Deck or I might get a little snippy with you ;)

 

And the winner is...

Kristin! Congratulations on a Stitch Fix giftcard! Please email me :)

After a long, busy, 4-day work week, I'm excited for a weekend with celebrating My Waterloo Days & a wedding, and hopefully finishing painting my bathroom.

Have a great weekend all! :) See you Monday.

Currently...

Watching game 7 between the LA Kings & San Jose Sharks .. honestly, very rarely is anything but hockey on my tv

Enjoying a pretty quiet night at home [quite possibly the only one this week] .. a freshly-painted [but not yet finished] bathroom & a clean kitchen floor

Thinking about a lot of things I [nor anyone else] has the answer to

Feeling stressed & blessed. It really is amazing how certain things can alter your mood. It's easy to get caught up in life, but that moment when you sit back and really think things through and realize it isn't that bad...well, yes- I had one of THOSE moments today. Life is too short to forget about the things in life that aren't always things. And pity parties? Ain't nobody got time for that

Looking forward to opening day @ Riverfront [tomorrow! Photos will be posted on instagram] .. a wedding [clearly not mine] .. sunshine - after a rainy holiday weekend & a not-so-promising forecast .. getting out on the golf course [hopefully soon]

Don't forget about the Stitch Fix giveaway! Winner will be announced Friday! :)

Obsession [Stitch Fix] + a giveaway!

If you haven’t heard of Stitch Fix yet...consider this post a flashing advertisement to at the very least “Google it”. Seriously. You can thank me later.

To tell you the truth, I do not remember how I came across this site. I can bet it was from a random blog I saw, but I am so glad I found it and decided to check it out.

You see, I have a bit of a problem. It’s called shopping. From clothes for myself to clothes for Taysen (hello, have you seen baby Gap’s toddler boys summer line?!) and I also have a thing for pillows and picture frames. And anything chalkboard or chevron. And anything to help me organize. See, I told you I have a problem!

So...Stitch Fix. I entered in my information to my Style Profile (weight, height, typical sizes, styles I wear, etc.) and a few days later, had a package at my door. I did cancel my scheduled fix because I was a little nervous about the process - then a few days later decided to say what the hell, and I went for it.

[Note: there is a $20 styling fee that goes towards any purchase you make & is charged as soon as your package ships. You also get a 25% discount if you purchase all five items.]

I excitedly opened my package and tried on what my personal stylist picked out for me. Each item had a little styling card attached to the tag to show how to wear it and ideas of what to pair it with. You have 3 days to decide which items you'll keep and which you'll return.

Forgive me for: the high quality photos taken on my laptop [Samsung Galaxy S3] .. mirror pic selfies .. lack of taking photos of the package because I clearly wasn't thinking when I ripped into it.

1. Collective Concepts Ivy Bird Print Tab Sleeve Blouse

Express Ponte Knit Five-Pocket Pant & Express flats - similar here

2. Voxx Sacha Chevron Stripe Shirt Dress

 

3. Skies are Blue Jayda Dot Cuffed Chambray Top

I decided against this chambray top because I didn't like the way it fit. I liked the polka dots, but I recently purchased this denim top a few weeks ago and love the fit.

4. Kensie Jeans Lola Ankle Length Skinny Jeans

5. Vine Street Market Skinny Stripe Long Cotton Scarf

Besides the fact that I couldn't get half of my right leg into the black jeans and the scarf was about as tall as I am, I loved everything in my first Stitch Fix and had a great experience. I decided to keep the chevron dress and the bird blouse - plus I can dress both up to wear to work. The items you don't want to keep? Stick them in an enclosed prepaid USPS envelope and drop it off at a mailbox or post office within 3 days! Don't forget to go online to check out - provide feedback so the stylists know what to look for/avoid for your next Fix! You can also tell them which items you're keeping or returning and confirm payment for anything you choose to keep.

 

So...with this recent [obsession] comes a GIVEAWAY! My first one, nonetheless! To win, just leave a comment on this post and schedule a fix! How easy is that? Just make sure to email or Tweet / Instagram a photo [don't forget to tag me - see below!] of your scheduled or arrived fix. I will give one lucky reader a $25 Stitch Fix gift card. Click here to get started!

I will randomly select a winner on May 31st...assuming more than one person will read and/or enter the giveaway! Ready...GO!

follow me on Twitter [@laiki_schuler] and Instagram [lindseyschuler] email: lifeasiknowitschuler@gmail.com

Mother's Day

If you know me, there's a good chance you know that I have a stronger relationship with my dad than my mom.

[My parents were divorced before I was 4 years old.]

Most of my favorite childhood memories were spent with my dad. I couldn't give you a 100% honest reason for it, either. I lived with my mom for the majority of my life until college. Growing up, she was the opposite of strict [or maybe I just refused to cooperate?] I don't have traditions to share or memories to recall from past Mother's days aside from being a moody, teenage girl who ruined a perfectly special day for the person who brought me into this world.

We may not always see eye to eye, but I can count on her to be there for me when I need her. She worries about me far more than she needs to. She's proud of me. She sticks up for me. She has saved special things from throughout my 25 years that I will appreciate and share with my future children. She celebrates just about every holiday [Halloween is her favorite] and she loves to dance. The things she's taught me are endless and the memories I have are forever.

She keeps telling me I'll know what its like when I have kids, and I don't know how many times she's told me that she hopes I have a daughter who is "just like me." [Now that's just scary...]

As I get older, I appreciate her more. I may be a spitting image of my dad, but I owe more to my mom than anyone. After all, I know what her heartbeat sounds like from the inside and I don't know what I'd do without her.

Hockey Guys and Giggles

We all have times where, for possibly no good reason, we're crabby. Upset with anyone and everyone, and just plain irritated. This afternoon was one of those times. The entire day has been a bit of a rollercoaster.

Up: a clear, sunny morning drive to work
Down: my parking spot that caused me to get to my desk two minutes late

Up: a new maxi skirt [& a compliment from a stranger]
Down: something complex thrown at me last minute
Up: a positive and encouraging mid-year review
Down: the drive home. downtown traffic has been absolutely horrendous due to construction. there's no easy way to get around it and it ends up taking me twice as long

Up: the hockey guys I ordered for Taysen came in the mail
Down: shortly after getting home, the rain started
Down: sitting in the Taco John's drive thru for 13 minutes
Up: a two year old. who lights up my world like nobody else [and if you're now singing One Direction, I'm sorry]

It's so easy to forget just how easy life can be...until you spend some time with a two year old. I spent this rainy, Wednesday night with Taysen. We opened up his new hockey guys, learned the words puck, net, goalie and ice, and wore a new shirt [because I have a serious shopping problem.] We shared tacos and potato oles on the living room floor, played in the rain with pajama pants and bare feet, gave kisses through the window, and got ice cream at Four Queens. We went potty on the potty, played baby, wrestled, read a few books, asked a lot of questions, counted to ten, and laughed. A lot. In case you didn't know, a two year old's giggle is contagious.

And now I'm going to bed with the best memories of just what I needed tonight.

 

Currently...

Working from home [not on the couch, for once]

Eating: chocolate chip waffles.

Drinking: iced coffed.

Listening to: the Today show. and the occassional gust of wind throwing sleet on the windows.

Reading: nothing. suggestions welcome!

Proud of: a little 2-year old who pooped in the potty this week. myself for bowling a 165 last night with a house ball, 6 years after high school - and let's just say the other two games went downhill.

Thankful for: my family & friends [who really, are my family anyways] .. my job .. my home .. the 'simple' things in life.

Obsessing over: cooking dinner @ home. diy/house projects. Sweet Basil Market. playoff hockey. fighterbody.


Looking forward to: another summer of baseball from the party deck - 26 days until opening day! getting a tan. being able to grill/go on a walk again. i guess i'm extra ready for summer. maybe it has something to do with this week's wacky weather...



[the half bath of the kitchen. frames: hobby lobby. owl canvas: tj maxx]



[first grill session - first experience with a charcoal grill. it was delicious & the weather was perfect]



[proof that this fridge isn't 'too big for me' like everyone said when i first bought it. full. jam packed]



[tanktoptuesday - post workout/pre walk]



[bowling with my dad & a few friends/suppliers. a lot of fun & this should really happen more often]

 

[working from home - at the table. with iced coffee]

  

[what i woke up to today. snow. in MAY]

 

Beauty in the Unseen: Part 1

The weather has been something else this week. Beautiful & 80* after storming like crazy [hail included, my poor car], high winds that could have knocked me over, and cloudy & 35* with rain/snow/ice today. Mother Nature, I just don't understand her! I was able to get a couple photos the last two mornings on my way to work. I don't know what it is about watching a sunrise/sunset that just makes everything a little more beautiful, but it was there. Not to mention, you can't help but be in a good mood when your morning drive to work is accompanied by sunshine. Similar to when your alarm goes off and it's raining, you hit snooze a few times and struggle getting out of bed. Similar to not finding a remotely close parking spot at work. And then you really regret still not having bought an umbrella... maybe that's just me? :)

Happy Thursday .. we're almost there!

 

Good vs Bad

With all of the bad going on in America this week, I'm finding it difficult to spot the good.

Bad: senseless bombings at the Boston Marathon, killing & hurting innocent bystanders
Good: strangers who aren't running away, but running to those who need help. an amazing national anthem at the Bruins game.

Bad: weather. blizzards, flooding & tornadoes throughout the midwest causing mudslides and sinkholes

Bad: explosion at a fertilizer plant in Texas

Good: names and photos of the Boston Marathon attack suspects being released
Bad: more attacks on innocent people. a MIT police officer killed. manhunt for suspect and possible accomplices and Boston on lockdown

Perhaps I'm focusing so much on the bad that I'm blind to all that's good, but watching the news this week has been disheartening, sickening, disturbing..and causing me to simply wonder "why?"

Here are some photos that speak a lot for this week's events:

A Friday Night in April

After having the flu [for the third time this year]/God-knows-what for a week, complete with...

...at least 12 hours of sleep everyday

...eating less than a meal a day

...making it through roughly two and a half days of work

...the weirdest dreams that made absolutely no sense

...getting poked by a [rookie] nurse while being tested for mono, thus resulting in a painful & nasty bruise

...not changing out of my favorite sweats

...watching the opening round of the Masters/too much tv

 

...I'm finally feeling better. I think. I did get out of the house tonight for a much-needed trip to the mall [retail therapy- a new shirt from Von Maur & candles from Bath & Body] and a much-needed trip to Target for 'groceries' ...





... oh and the new Blake Shelton cd.

Thank God for that 70-degree weather that lasted a day, to be followed by days of clouds & rain, the Masters, the Frozen Four, and great family & friends to help a girl get back on her feet.

Happy weekend.

The Best Things...

Warning: this post contains very random thoughts.

They say that the best things in life happen when you least expect it. I'm finally starting to believe it.

If I told you the last few months haven't been a struggle at the very least, I'd be lying like a rug. I've done a lot of thinking and spending time trying to figure things out. Aka, wasting my time. Here's what I've concluded...

...the best things in life happen when you least expect it. But then again, so do the worst things. Example: deaths, unemployment...see, here I go thinking too much again.

...challenges in life make us better people.

...being optimistic isn't easy but it sure can make life a lot happier.

...I've been working almost ten years. Ten years! I'm extremely thankful for this because I've become so independent and proud because everything I have, I earned it on my own. This September will mark ten years of being employed, and four years with my current company. Only +/-40 years until retirement.

...I've watched someone die. I've been close to seeing someone be born. These are two very unexplainable experiences. To watch my great grandma take her last breath was so hard, but so good at the same time. She knew I was there, and I know she's in Heaven with her boys, not suffering anymore.

...life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it. Okay, so maybe Ferris helped me on that one, but it's true. You want proof? I graduated high school almost seven years ago, and college almost two years ago. I've lived in my house for a year and four months. Taysen James turned TWO last week. I'll have two years in my current position in June. And, I'll be 26 in October [golden birthday even!]

...I can no longer eat what I want, when I want, and not gain a pound. I will be going back to Fighterbody to get my ass kicked next week because of this.

...you need to put yourself first in many situations. You can't feel guilty or sacrifice your own happiness. Don't get me wrong, I love to do things for others, but there sometimes comes a point where you just need to say "no" and follow your heart.

...the sun will come out tomorrow and the grass isn't always greener on the other side. 

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Growing up isn't easy. In high school, I couldn't wait to graduate and leave the drama and problems behind. Little did I know, drama exists everywhere. It's all how you react to situations and circumstances. And your attitude towards it.

Lately, I've had my patience tested. My attitude. My strength. To be honest, it feels like curveballs are being thrown at my face. I could sit here and feel sorry for myself. Ask "why?" a million times. Or, I could finally start to listen to that smart boyfriend of mine. He once told me, "Challenges in life make us better people." And you know what? He's right. The first boss I had when I started at JD told me something similar a few years ago: "You'll never grow if you don't challenge yourself."

I'm a creature of habit. We all are. Instead of taking risks and trying new things, I stick to what I know and what I'm comfortable with. I refrain from taking on new tasks because I'm afraid to fail. There is honestly no worse feeling than that of disappointment. It's not easy when it comes to making a decision for yourself, especially when it's you and only you who will either suffer or benefit from the consequences.

March has been a long month. I can't wait to end it with a day off from work, of course some hockey, my favorite almost-2-year-old's birthday party, and 50-degree weather this weekend. Bring on April! I'm more than ready.

Currently...

Relaxing on a half day of vacation.

Recovering from lunch at the Screamin Eagle. [i had the buffalo chicken wrap minus onions, like always.]

Thinking:
.. where is spring?! why is it like 15º and so freakin' windy on the first day of spring?!
.. of ways to draw crowds to the party deck this summer [after having the first-ever deck operations meeting today]

Listening to the NHL Network. & the washing machine. & the dryer. & the wind.

Obsessing over: my adorable nephew who turns 2 in eleven days.

Looking forward to: more blog posts, a fun party for my favorite almost-2-year-old, spring [wherever it's hiding], summer [which automatically includes baseball and no, its not too soon], and another half day of work on Friday.

Side note: I don't think most of you know what I do for work and I'm too lazy to go see if I've mentioned it in a post so, for those who may have or are wondering... I am a payroll analyst and am very fortunate to have the opportunity to work four 9-hour days in the office and have a half day (approx 4 hours) I can work from home each week. Generally our half days are on Thursday or Friday and we alternate based on department needs.

For more pictures of my cute nephew, hockey, iowa & other random things, follow me on instagram @lindseyschuler

Obession [caffeine]

As said in my last post, I'm currently obsessing over caffeine. This is not new, however, the form of it is.

I'm not exactly sure when I started drinking coffee, but lately, I've found it difficult to go a day without Starbucks. Or a Mountain Dew or Coke. [Mountain Dew is likely to be a lifesaver during grueling payroll days].

While strolling down the baking aisle at Target one day, I came across this:

Starbucks. Caramel. Iced. Coffee. Just add water and milk. Wait, what? I was lured. And now, I'm addicted. I can't afford to go to Starbucks every day, but I think I can handle having Starbucks a little different every day. You can find these at Target: $7.29 for 6 packets. [I have yet to find them elsewhere. Let's be honest, I hardly shop elsewhere]. I think that beats spending roughly $4 for ONE drink in the drive-thru...

Currently...

Working from home [on the couch + in sweats. until 10am, then my weekend begins. and yes, that means I will be going to boardwalk deli for lunch. if you live in the Cedar Valley and haven't experienced bd, go. you can will thank me later.]

Watching: the Today show.

Drinking: Starbucks.

Reading: The Happiness Project. again. & 10-10-10.

Obessing Over: 'The Streak' [Chicago Blackhawks]. Nike sweats with pockets & comfy sweatshirts. caffeine. home DIY projects. [more on all this later!]

Looking forward to: spring cleaning, warm weather & seeing Luke.

I was intending to write a 'deep' post today, but nothing makes sense and who wants to read scrambled thoughts? Here's hoping this much-needed weekend brings some clarity...

Happy Friday all!

DIY Love: Chipboard

Ashley over at Our Life...'Better Together', is blogging 14 Days of DIY Love in honor of next Thursday [love day]. Yesterday's post was about Chipboard. I played around over Christmas break and used Chipboard letters to make personalized stockings. It was a fun and very cheap project! I used Chipboard letters from Hobby Lobby, $2 stockings from Target, and some craft paint I already had at home.

After seeing Ashley's post on the Chipboard banner, I decided it was the perfect thing to hang from my shelf above my tv. During Christmas, I had clothespinned holiday cards to ribbon and was planning on making different sized hearts to hang. Well, I decided I liked Chipboard better and it would let me be a little more crafty. The letters are different than what I originally wanted, and some are a little small, but I like it. What do you think?

Vomit

I'm going to warn you - this post might get a [little] out of hand. I mean well. Really, I do. But sometimes when I see things happen over and over and over again, I vomit. With words.

If you don't want to read any further, I'll leave you with this. My cousin said it best with her Facebook post the other day: Shitty parents disgust me.

If anyone reading this doesn't know me, I'm not married and I don't have any children of my own [but a nephew I spoil the crap out of]. So for this topic, some may say I don't have any room to talk. And for those who disagree with what I'm about to say, er, write...well, to each their own.

Last Sunday we had an ice storm. During this ice storm, two parents of an 8 month old and 2 year old, left their children at home [ALONE] to 'run to the store'. Well, as it turns out, the 2 year old was found outside. Outside! In a diaper. Alone. In an ice storm! Did it really take both parents to go to the store, or wherever they went, and did they really think it was perfectly okay to leave their two young children behind at home? Apparently.

Why do people who try and try and try [and deserve] to get pregnant have trouble, yet people who are nowhere near capable, ready, willing, excited [but disappointed and unhappy] get pregnant [once or multiple times]? It not only makes me sick, but breaks my heart into pieces when I hear stories on the news of abuse and neglect. When I see first-hand, some parents leaving their children for hours when they're off work, or when they get babysitters every single weekend. Don't get me wrong, mamas need their alone time whether it's a night on the town or 20 minutes to go tanning.

I realize that I will never know what it's like until I have children of my own, and I can only pray that [if one day I do become a parent] I do not fall under the category of these parents I've 'vomited about' above. A child is truly a blessing and they should be treated with love and affection, not disgust and neglect. Especially when they are so young and have their whole life in front of them. Nobody is perfect, but I know too many parents out there who like to portray themselves as 'mother of the year' by posting pictures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. My word vomit wants to continue, but I think it's best if I stop here. It isn't exactly fair for me to do this, but I couldn't help it.

Oh, and I don't mean for this post to look like I'm singling out mothers. Because I'm not, I know there are many dead-beat-dads out there who I hope will one day realize what they're missing out on.

Death

What a blunt title, right?

A couple weeks ago, the father of a very close family friend passed away after a short illness. I was beyond shocked and deeply saddened when I heard the news. [I found out via a Facebook post. However received an email earlier that day about him having another infection & not doing so well]. Dave didn't have any grandchildren, but I always called him 'Grandpa Dave' [and Grandma Mave].

It's never easy to lose someone you care about. And for some reason, my brain goes overboard and a million things run in and out of it. I think I had such a hard time with this because Cindy was her daddy's little girl. And, at the wake, she cried so hard when she hugged my dad. [His dad passed away when my dad was just 9 years old].

But, Dave was ready. He didn't want to hurt or suffer any longer. Nor did he want his family to. At what point do you decide to trust in God when it's a life and death situation? No matter if it's yourself or a loved one, it's hard to not be selfish. Hold on to the photos, items, stories and memories of those close to you and never let go, for they will be with you forever.

"Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy."

Obviously

Happy New Year!

It's quite obvious that I suck at blogging. Seriously. BUT, one of my '2013 goals' is to write [blog] more. The funny thing is, the majority of my goals have either the word 'less' or 'more' .. I suppose that's why they're a goal, huh?