29 minutes left to be 29

So....29 more minutes to be 29. Ah.. how ironic is that! I just got home from a wonderful after work Happy Hour with the girls. Ah, so great. Really, they have made this work switchover so wonderful. We had a great time at a fancy little place on Brookside. And, the coolest thing..they all got there early, decorated the table, had three fresh cut roses from JuLee's garden, a chocolate birthday cake, and a great card! I never knew they could pull off such a surprise! It was awesome...

And, the kicker of tonight...1. I realized how much I like Woodchuck Amber beer and 2. I learned that JuLee was an Alpha Chi when I joined OCU Alpha Chi my freshman year! Small, small world! It was cool.

Anyhow, it's late..I'm tired...and I want to curl up and get warm before I go to bed...and I'll get to sleep in too! Fun times.

Today's been great...loved it. Tomorrow is full too...so some time I'm going to write down my goals....so you all know what I'm going to work on achieving soon.....

Much love, happy birthday to me in now 26 minutes!

A few things I've learned...

I've learned that the older I get, the more comfortable I become in my own skin.

I've learned that doing the right thing isn't always easy, but important.

I've learned that I don't have to settle. Ever.

I've learned that honesty is the best policy.

I've learned that I am worthy of significant relationships.

I've learned how to compromise, without compromising myself.

I've learned that I don't have to be perfect.

I've learned that I am an independent woman.

I've learned that being a good friend is as important as having a good friend.

I've learned that people you love will hurt you, and to make peace with it and move on.

I've learned to enjoy my famiy, they are invalueable.

I've learned that everyone won't like me, and that's okay.

I've learned that sometimes, even older brothers can be right.

I've learned that politics is a never good discussion for first dates.

I've learned that staying positive is relative to life.

I've learned that God is the most important part of my life.

I've learned that children are the greatest gift.

I've learned that being a supervisor can create challenges..but it's necessary to grow.

I've learned that letting go can be the most difficult thing.....ever.


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2 Days.....I had my first of many birthday dinners tonight. I'm as stuffed as a turkey bird. :) These are just a few thoughts of lessons I've learned...I know there are more, but my brain is tired! Plus, I'm full..so that makes me sleepy!

What have you learned?

I made it....WA HOO!!!!!

Wahoo...go to the Littlest Heroes website....and click on "Our Team" and scroll down to Oklahoma....guess who you see now..... yep, yours truly.

I seriously can't tell you how excited I am...I am thrilled beyond belief. I hope that I can make a difference with photography...I do I do I do!

in my next thirty years....

Tim McGraw has a song about the next thirty years...I was singing it in my head, but I couldn't figure out who it was until my friend Lacey asked me if I had heard of it...so I looked up the lyrics...and I might even add it to my music list. Anyhow, I think it's soooo true. It's something I'm going to work on...living life and enjoying my next thirty years. I don't have anything I've regretted the last thirty years, and I can't wait to share with you my thirty goals for the future! For a moment....here are the lyrics!

"I think I'll take a moment, celebrate my age
The ending of an era and the turning of a page
Now it's time to focus in on where I go from here
Lord have mercy on my next thirty years

Hey my next thirty years I'm gonna have some fun
Try to forget about all the crazy things I've done
Maybe now I've conquered all my adolescent fears
And I'll do it better in my next thirty years

My next thirty years I'm gonna settle all the scores
Cry a little less, laugh a little more
Find a world of happiness without the hate and fear
Figure out just what I'm doing here
In my next thirty years

Oh my next thirty years, I'm gonna watch my weight
Eat a few more salads and not stay up so late
Drink a little lemonade and not so many beers
Maybe I'll remember my next thirty years

My next thirty years will be the best years of my life
Raise a little family and hang out with my wife
Spend precious moments with the ones that I hold dear
Make up for lost time here, in my next thirty years
In my next thirty years"

I'm walking on sunshine.....

A trip down memory lane for tonight.....oh, yes....I brought out the pictures! Good times! I beg your forgiveness now, they are taken with my camera...because I don't have a scanner...but I still thought it would be sooo fun! I had fun looking through pictures...I could do this all day!

Here's one of my brother and I....this was at Christmas time in Joplin at my Aunt Susan's house. What's funny about this picture, is that I remember it was shot with my stepmom's new Canon Rebel (the film version). I think I was in college at the time, maybe my last year (5) and was planning on what I was going to do after May....and my brother really does love me!

I meant for this one to be last, but after three years of blogging, I have yet to figure out this formatting. Blah. Anyhow...here's my church directory picture...it's me...and I think it's the best shot of me in a long time....

Alright...I'm thinking this is either 9th grade or 10th grade...I can't tell...and I didn't see anything written down on the back...so it's stricktly memory here (after all, I'm getting old!)

Ah...senior year at Enid High School. This was after the Awards Assessmbly in our senior year...and my very dear, dear, dear friend Peter. We ended up at OCU for two years together (before I moved to OSU!) Who just happened to stay one of my best friends forever....and is married to a wonderful woman, and just had a sweet baby boy that just makes me smile!
This picture...I have to give credit to Wess Gray....who actually took it. This was taken the year Robert went to college and I started High School...so I was a sophomore. And, it's funny...because Wess' daughter Nicci turned out to be an Alpha Chi sister of mine and is encouraging me in my own adventure of photography...small world!
Oh, those two little munchkins.....Ilze and Taylor. My little brother and sister on my graduation night! They were funnnnnnnnnny kids!
This was one during college....2000, when my brother married Karen, my most awesome SIL. She's become my best friend and I can't imagine life without her!
Awee...there's sweet little Emily as a baby. Probably 3..something like that! I was cute, now wasn't I!

Hayes Elementary...1st Grade..is my guess. This is one of my favorite school pictures...I LOVE it...so cute. so me.

Another one of my brother and I...skiing at Crested Butte..probably on Peach Tree lift. Oh what memories...and I'm glad my stepmom pulled me off that lift chair before I almost went back down!
6th Grade...Pictures with Karen Wilson's dog, Heidi. Fun times....and my dog, Wally, looks just like this, but smaller.
Junior High....with Georgie (the black dog) and Angel (the gray dog).....I was a dog person, always was and always will be!

So....that's my trip down my memory lane with a few snapshots....and it's funny...because I love blogging and I frankly don't think anyone but maybe my sister in law read this blog! :)

So, if you are here and read it.....drop me a line and leave me a note...if nothing else, sing me Happy Birthday...it's 4 days away!

I can see clearly now....

In this age, turning 30 isn't exactly easy....We can call it an end to my 20's meltdown.

The past few years ushered in an some unexpected feelings of panic, doubt and a woe-is-me attitude. Despite all the goals I had accomplished, or thought I was supposed to accomplish, I suddenly began to question prior decisions and worry about those I had yet to make.

After all, my 30th birthday is just around the corner. And the thought of turning 30 doesn't bring with it overwhelming joy, but a slight feeling of dread.

Surely I'm not about to enter one of the best decades of my life. So far, I have basically followed the script to the letter - college, career, marriage, & kids (minus the marriage part, and I only had Violet for a portion of a year). With 30 staring me down (Saturday is all too soon), what road will I take next? At this milestone, am I truly where I want to be and doing what I want to do?

Where is the "30s for Dummies" book when I need it?

What is success? Keep on keeping on...despite setbacks and obstacles.

No one has all of the answers or reaches every goal. I can't expect myself to do that either....the bottom line is that I constantly strive toward one.

Even if I'm not where I thought I'd be at 30....big deal. Everyone's life plan deviates off course at some point. What matters is that we make the most of the journey.

Now that I'm turning 30, I'm no longer afraid of what's in store. Unlike a birthday present, life is not always neatly packaged and tied with a bow.

The start of the birthday week of blogging....

30 Skills Every Woman Should Have Before Turning 30

1. Hard boil an egg: I can totally do this one...I love hard boiled eggs!

2. Diplomatically tell Mom to butt-out: I think I have this power....

3. Ace a job interview: Just did it....landed the job!

4. Ask a man out: yeah, need some work on this one.

5. Send a thoughtful thank you note: got it covered!

6. Listen to a friend in need: I can do this one whenever they need it!

7. Ask for help: Not afraid to ask...

8. Effectively end an unhealthy relationship (romantic or platonic in nature): The best decision of my life!

9. Beautifully wrap a gift: as evidenced by Sarah's wedding present last weekend!

10. Say “no” gracefully: proof of the guy hitting on my this week...

11. Whip up a great dinner with the five items in her fridge: I can do it, most of the time.

12. Forget pleasing him, by 30 a woman should be able to tell her man exactly how to please her: eh, haven't been in a significant relationship in a looooong time.

13. Sew a button: I think I can, but I'd love a sewing machine.

14. Mix a kick-ass cocktail: I might need an instruction book, but I could do it.

15. Take off her bra without removing her shirt: This is getting a little risque!

16. Apply lip gloss in the dark: of course!

17. Balance her checkbook: My mom's a banker, she made me learn how!

18. Create a budget: Yep...that's what I'm trying to get better at now!

19. Find the best deal: That's what I'm working on with finding a car!

20. Negotiate a salary and/or pay raise: Just did it...got the new job..with a huge salary increase!

21. Read a map: I can...but I have directional intelligence too...( I'm confident, aren't I)!

22. Hail a cab: Never had to, but probably could!

23. Say something in French just for the hell of it: Je ne sais pas.

24. Apologize when she’s wrong: I don't want to. But I do.

25. Dress for her body type: I could do better, but I'm working on it.

26. Change a flat (or know whom to call to come change it): who ya gonna call?

27. Spot a fake (handbag, diamond, potential friend…): I've got it down!

28. Feign interest: think so....think so..

29. Know what to tip on a $25 dinner bill: yep....

30. Hold a baby (Hey, someone you know is bound to have one sooner or later): hello, resident expert!

~Taken from www.thefrisky.com~

i believe...

Now, more than ever.....I believe in this!

My three favorite people...

You know....I have a big birthday coming up in less than two weeks.
I'm going to be 30 years old.....and I'm trying to come up with some great ideas for some blog posts....
But, these are seriously my three favorite people and the BEST thing to happen to me!
I am blessed beyond belief to have my Sister-In-Law, Karen, as my best friend.
And, with that...came these three beautiful children.
I'm a little biased, but they are my favorites....and until I have my own.....they are number 1!

fun times at the fair!

Long time no post......I have no real reason other than the fact that I'm EXTREMELY busy these days......

But, here are some snapshots of when the kids came to visit for a week!


This is how excited Kate was to see Aunt Emily!


I was a little nervous after Will's smile turned into a glazed look on the teacup ride.....
This is the picture of pure happiness!


Here we are, the three of us...crummy lighting..but we ssqueezed into the ride together.
I think there's no greater joy than being Aunt Emily.

I just love Kate's new face....her daddy taughter her that!

I'm a Littlest Heroes Photographer

Look at what I was accepted to be a part of....how cool is this? I'm so excited....to be a part of something special for someone special. It's a way to connect with those families I used to be a part of serving and utilizing my talent at the same time...perfect! So excited. I should be listed on the website in the upcoming weeks, and maybe I'll get some phone calls and get some good pictures! Check out their website...it really is an amazing nonprofit organization!