2013 - Year in Review

As I did last year, this year I am going to do my 2013 year in review.  I didn’t have any many milestones this year as last, but it was still a pretty great 2013!!

-        Turned dirty 30…

-        Got MARRIED!

-        Gained 3 awesome step-kids

-        Started our own Family Traditions

-        Held the same job all year (If you ever heard me complain, you’ll be as surprised as I am :o )

Wow, can that really be it for this year?!!  My life has finally slowed down a bit this year.  Now, Let’s bring on 2014!!!!!

Divergent

I hopped on the wagon to read Divergent.

This book is comparable to the Hunger Games trilogy, so I thought I’d give it a shot. My step-daughter read this book in less than 2 days. She said it was absolutely amazing. It took me a bit longer, but that is because it was the Christmas break, we had lots of family and events going on, among other things in life. I managed to make this my 12th book of the year (which was my GOAL for 2013) by finishing it on December 30. I was really pushing it.

The nation is divided into 5 factions. When children turn 16, they must select which faction they will devote the rest of their lives to; whether staying with their parents in the one they grew up in, or choosing a new one and leaving their family behind. Divergent stars a 16 year old girl, Tris, who decides to leave her home faction of Abnegation to live among the Dauntless. She trained with the Dauntless, learned their way of living and fell in love. However, Tris is keeping a secret from everyone she knows. If her secret is revealed, she will be killed by her new family and friends of Dauntless. Can she keep this a secret while going through rigorous training that is meant to tell the leaders who holds this special secret?

 This was definitely an interesting book. It didn’t hook me until I was about 75% through with it. It was very slow at the beginning, leading up to all the action. I do plan to read the second book of this. I would rate this a 3 out of 5 due to the slowness of more than half of the book.

Catching Fire. Again.

Book Review: Catching Fire.

This has the same review as the 2nd review I did for the Hunger Games. It’s still a great read even the second time around. The movie does NOT do it justice!!!

The Hunger Games. Times 2

Book Review: The Hunger Games.

I already read this book once, but I re-read it the week before the second movie was released. Me and Bo both re-read this book, then we watched the movie. I have to say, don’t read a book and then watch the movie based on the book and not expect to be disappointed. We were pointing out all kinds of flaws. They left out so much that was so important throughout all three of the book series. They didn’t focus on the more important moments that hang throughout the other books, they minimized key points. The book is definitely way better than the movie!!

It's September already

Wow- it’s the middle of September already.  I remember just the other day it was early Spring and I was delaying wedding planning til August, because I didn’t want to get too ahead of myself. August came and went, and I didn’t accomplish all that I needed.  I’ve been busting my butt on the weekends lately, and Hobby Lobby employees know me on a first name basis.

 

There’s so much to do, yet I’ve done so much already.  Most of my projects are half-done which makes it harder to pick up where I left off on so much.

 

I’m so glad that Bo is willing to help me out some as well. So much would not have been completed already if he wasn’t there to help make some decisions, and do some of the grunt work along with me.

 

We decided on our first dance song! YAY!!! I started out with a long list, maybe 30 songs. I listened to them, crossed a few out.  2 weeks later I listened to the ones I didn’t cross out, and then crossed a few more out.  This weekend I took the songs home and Sunday night me and Bo listened to each song on the list that he didn’t already cross out.  We narrowed it down to 3 songs.  How do you decide from there?  Well, we wrote the names on a piece of paper, and tossed the paper into the other room.  Whatever one we picked up would be our song.  Sunshine took joy in selecting the song for us.   So, there we have it. Our first dance song forever will be credited to Sunshine. 

 

 

Wedding Nightmares

I have to keep a record of my crazy dreams.  This isn’t my first one, but I didn’t write the others down and now I have forgotten.

 

WEDDING NIGHTMARES!!!! Oh lordy….

 

I had a dream this week that I was at my wedding and my wedding dress fit me like a box. It was too big and I had to actually hold it up with my hands the entire time.  The caterer, photographer, DJ and cake did not show up, even though I have signed contracts and paid them.  Only FIVE guests showed up, and none of them included the groom.  His friend from the Army asked him to go bowling, and so he agreed forgetting that it was the same day as our wedding.  So he was at the bowling alley while I’m standing at the alter crying my eyes out. 

 

I woke up all upset, and even woke Bo up to get on to him about forgetting about our wedding.  Then I started panicking thinking the wedding really IS off, since our honeymoon is (at least temporarily).  So the next day I decided to start doing some hard-core wedding planning so I can feel back in the groove of things. 

 

Have you seen her?

I haven’t read anything in a while – summer got pretty busy with learning how to me a [step]mom and [almost]wife all at the same time!! I had very little downtime to read, but I did some.

 I have finished the book, HAVE YOU SEEN HER by Rich Silvers.

 Everyone keeps secrets from those closest to you. Do you ever REALLY know your spouse? When Susan and her unborn child, Alison, die in a car wreck on the way to a doctor’s appointment, Jack Logan gives up everything he has worked hard for in life and just gives up trying to succeed. 3 months later, he comes across a letter his late wife had written to someone named A. He assumes it is written to her former lover, Allan. As he digs deeper, along with the help of her manipulative sister, he uncovers a world of secrets about his wife he never knew existed. Have You Seen her depicts a missing 15-year old girl that Jack has never met, nor ever heard of, but he insists on finding Alyson because she resembles his late wife. He feels this is doing something good for her, since it is his fault his wife is dead. 

I have to admit, this book was interesting with the twists and the “AH-HA” moments, but in the very end, I was left confused. Is this story real, or was I reading a story within a story? And why does the editor want to find her now? You decide for yourself.

It's baby time!

I love babies.I also love buying baby stuff.  Two of my awesome friends have had babies in May and I went to their baby showers. I always give the same general gifts, and then I have to incorporate some special 'home made' stuff as well. It's more personal I suppose.

One of my friends, Kari and her husband are huge Bearkat fans.  They go to all the Sam Houston State football games as well as baseball games.  They also are huge into comics.  Their baby, Logan, is the Wolverine's real name, so I wanted to go with a Wolverine theme.  I couldn't find Wolverine fabric anywhere locally, so I couldn't stick with it.

I made this awesome blanket for them in Sam Houston colors.  This way, they can take it to games and keep the baby boy warm. I made a blue one for Jeanette. but forgot to get a picture of it.

I took a regular paper box, covered it with fabric that went with their theme, and used that as my gift box. Turned out pretty great.

Lunch with the big dawgs

It’s not a really big deal, but it’s unique for a company and unique for me as well. A week ago my boss told me that he chose me from our department to have “Snacks with Steph”, to be scheduled June 24. Steph is our CEO/President for my company. She tries to be down to earth and relate to the employees. She does a monthly blog (sometimes bi-monthly) to keep us informed if what’s going on. My company employees 680 people currently, in about 15 different cities, some 3 hours away, so it’s nice for her to do this to keep all informed. Anyway- She extends this offer to several departments each month to select 1-2 people to have lunch with her. This was the first time my department got the offer, and I was chosen. I didn’t ask to have lunch with her. It made me feel honored that my boss thought of me first. It was 1-1/2 hour lunch where about 15 of us sat in a conference room and just got to talk with her. It was pretty neat to be a part of that. The culture of my company is really genuine for the most-part, and we stick out. We were even voted one of the top work places in the Houston – area.


 

Independence Day

A serious post here.  This past holiday event, Independence Day, got me to think a different way than I ever have before.  I want to open your eyes as well. Everyone needs to be aware, and considerate, and think about it some. 

July 4 every year our nation celebrates our Independence Day with BBQ and beer and fireworks.  If nothing else, Fireworks is the one thing almost everyone participates in. The cities spend lots of money and put on great fireworks shows.  It's beautiful to watch them light up the sky.

Something we need to realize is, the fireworks are loud. They make loud BOOM noises.  The noises sounds like guns and bombs going off if you might be living in another country that you hear that noise often.  For me, it sounds like fireworks.  For the one I love, it gave him flashbacks to the war he has been fighting since he joined the Army in 2002.  I never thought about the affects our fireworks, our normal traditions on American Soil affect our military men and woman.  I looked into it a little, and found this article:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/4th-july-fireworks-nightmare-shell-shocked-war-veterans/story?id=19554318#.UdmXZ9iXuSo


 Once I realized that the noises I was taking for granted, enjoying, made him feel the way it did, it put the fireworks in a whole new perspective.  I was no longer enjoying this beautiful site, yet having my own 'flashbacks' of what it might be like for our men and women who are in the middle of this 10-year war and what they may be dealing with.  As someone who will never go to war, I will never fully understand, but this can put it in some perspective...

 

We did it!

One of the main reasons I moved back into my parents house closer to my parents last year was because I was missing out on a lot of fun events and life of my nephew and nieces.  I've watched Brynnlei learn to walk, and talk. I was one of her first words she'd say, Jujee.  I watched her cut her first tooth, and many more since then. I've gone to school plays for Austynn and Coleton, I've gone to almost all their soccer games and her dance recitals.  We go swimming and to the park and watch tv and hang out together.  It's great to be a part of those moments that I've missed for the past 4 years.

My greatest pride of the most recent is when I taught Austynn to ride a 2 weekends ago, withOUT training wheels.  Truly an amazing experience.  I forgot that riding a bike isn't easy when you first learn. I don't even remember learning to ride a bike.  I have heard the phrase often about getting back up and trying again when you fall, just like riding a bike. I never paid much attention to the saying, until this weekend.  Austynn fell probably more than 100 times.  and each and every time, she got up and tried again.  We spent the entire day Saturday outside from sun up to sun down.  We did take a few hours break to run out to the Sea Center and look at fish and learn how fish are hatched there. It was really informative, maybe more so for me than then, but whatev. lol did YOU KNOWWWWW  a red drum can have over 60 million eggs per day?  Not all turn into fish, but a lot do. When they release the baby fish into the wild, 4% survive.  When a fish in the wild has eggs that turn into fish, they only have a 1% survival rate.  but- anyway- back to the bike story.

I bragged on her all day about how proud I am of her constantly getting up and trying.  She never gave up. well, she sorta did a lot. She'd throw the bike down, cross her arms, sit on the ground and stick out her bottom lip. but that would last less than 10 seconds, and then she'd get up and try again.  Her struggle was taking off on the bike.  And she still needs to learn to stop, but we'll work on that.

Check it out:::::

Time to wash our hands

Kids are pretty funny.  I'm sure you have been around enough to know this. They think funny things, they do funny things, they are just funny.  I love kids - not in a crazy psycho kinda way of course-. 

I spend almost every weekend with my favorite nieces and nephew.  Sometimes during the week as well.  I can't get enough of their funny crazy personalities, but this one tops all other right now.

Austynn (5) and her cousin, Elli (4) play together all the time. they play and fight like sisters.  I fear their relationship when they are teenagers.  a few weekends ago, Austynn was at Elli's playing.  Austynn went home later.  After she left, Elli's mom went to the bathroom, then proceeded to wash her hands.  Only she noticed something funny about the soap she pumped out of the container- it was more liquid than it should be, and had an odd smell to it.  She then realized it was pee.  How did pee get a soap dispenser?  She asked Elli, and she just said that Austynn did it.  so Austynn's mom asked her, and this is the story she said, (and remember, Austynn is very honest and will admit to anything if she did it).  Austynn had to go to the bathroom, and Elli runs in with her and hands her the soap bottle and tells her to pee in it, and Elli held the soap bottle for Austynn to pee in.

I laughed SO HARD when i heard this. I still laugh. Austynn and Elli will one day appreciate me blogging their crazy moments, or at least their boyfriends will. 

It scared the plate

Last weekend, one morning Austynn was eating cinnamon toast and was giving the crusts to the dogs. Sadie snatched the food out of Austynn's hand a little too quickly and it scared Austynn, causing her to spill her plate. I laughed and said "did that scare you?" And she quickly came back and said "no. It just scared the plate. It scared the fuck out of the plate."  It took all I had not to laugh at that comment. So I had to leave the room and laugh.  My 5 year old niece being witty, sarcastic, and using swear words in perfect context.

Defending Jacob

Defending Jacob wasn't anything more than you can expect from a book like this.

The small town of Newtown's assistant DA is Andy Barber. When Andy receives a call of a homicide involving a 14-year old boy, he doesn't hesitate to keep the case and investigate it himself. After all, Andy's 14-year old son grew up with the victim since they were babies. Andy was good friends with the victim's father. Until now. Thanks to new social media outlets, someone posted on Facebook that Jacob, Andy's son, was the one who committed the murder.

While standing trial, Jacob's family becomes isolated from the town, as everyone sees him as the murderer, and the parents just as bad for raising a murderer. As the days go on, it appears someone else may have committed the murder, and admitted to it moments before he committed suicide. But that's not the end of this story. You won't believe the twists at the end.

This book is pretty simple to guess and assume what will happen next. Until the end, you will be correct in your thoughts. But, out of nowhere, the author throws some curves into the mix leaving you hanging on every word. I enjoy murder/mystery books and crime-solving books. This was right up my alley. I rated this as a 4 out of 5 on goodreads.com.  http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/12909634-julie

Life as we Knew it

I love the website Pixel of Ink.  I follow them on facebook so I am always reminded of the free books they find through Amazon.  I found another series, and it is pretty interesting.

LIFE AS WE KNEW IT

 

It’s a relatively easy read. The first night when reading it, I remember waking up the next morning and looking out my window, thinking I was experiencing the same thing I was reading in the book. I enjoyed the boo, however the downfall of reading this is it is written in the format of a 16-year old girl’s diary. Which can be funny at times, because I can relate to some of her thinking – one entry ‘I hate my family’ and the next day ‘I have the best family in the world’.

16-year old Miranda’s world changes forever when a meteor hits the moon, knocking it out of obit and closer to the earth. This causes catastrophic events to occur. With a quick-thinking mom, she pulls her kids out of school the day after and they rush to the grocery story to stock-pile on canned food and water, as well as pet food for Horton, their cat. As the days go by, they are left practically starving and freezing, fighting for their lives as tsunamis wipe away a vast majority of land, electricity goes out permanently, and volcanoes erupt all across the world, causing the sun to hide behind the cloud of ash. Miranda learns the value of love and family, as she tries to keep everyone alive when others become helpless.

Like I said earlier, this was a good read. I was anxious to see what was next to happen for their survival, but it seemed to be pretty steady throughout the entire book, once the plot was given out. This is book 1 of 4, and I do intend to give the 2nd book a try as well. I am rating this a book 3 out of 5 because some parts were just boring to me, and not a lot of excitement was happening.

I am planning reading the next book to see how it goes, regardless of my lower rating.  It was still good.

What's happenin?!

A lot of things have been happening, and yet nothing at all has been happening in my world. Not sure if I should post an update or not. I've been spending a lot of time reading, as you can tell by my regular book posts.  I am overly swamped with a lot, but yet I managed to find time to read.  - mainly, I go lay in bed between 9-10 pm every night, and sit up for a few hours reading.  It seems to be very relaxing, who would have thought??

The wedding planning is coming along. I found a place, I'm working on a timeline and entertainment for guests.  A couple of my amazing bridesmaids went with me to try on dresses, and we decided on the dress.  The color is Charcoal.  I don't know why, but whenever I imagined my wedding (well, besides from the imaginary destination wedding that I've always wanted), the color was always silver.  Did you know that silver comes in a wide range of similar colors? some are a shade of pink *YUCK!!!* so, charcoal is the silver I always pictured.  I still have a long way to go, but looks like I am staying close to budget with everything and that is making me happy.

I'm still working at H&R Block in the evenings and some weekends.  The perk of this is the bonus we get at the end of the season (which is April).  We get a set wage, but then we also get commission based on the tax return we have completed and the items we sell to the clients.  my bonus is going to pay for my wedding photographer. :) unless I spend it on something for myself first... no.  think wedding first... ugh.  I can't go any trips because all extra money has to go to a wedding now?? what was I thinking......

The kids are a mess.  Brynnlei walks around saying 'Jujee' when I'm home. It's adorable. Hopefully this week I can videotape her saying my name, before she actually starts talking. It's moments like this that you soon forget when they begin talking 90 to nothing.  I don't want to forget these moments. 

The Perfect Hope

I finished the 3rd book of the Inn Boonsboro Trilogy in record time. I literally could not put it down. I had it open at red lights, while walking in and out of work, I definitely couldn't sleep at night.

This book is very similar to the first two books, only with different characters.  The first book talks about the 3 successful Montgomery brothers, who own their own construction business; their mother who is a widow; and three best girl friends who own/run their own businesses.  The first book talks about one of the brothers and one of the girls having a romantic connection, and ending up getting engaged.  The second book talks about another brother and another friend who also have a romantic connection, and end up getting engaged, while the girls plan their other friend's wedding.  Now we are on the third book.

Hope Beaumont moved to Boonsboro a little less than a year ago.  Her best friend and college roommate convinced her to come look at a job as an innkeeper at the future Inn of Boonsboro.  Hired on the spot, one of the Montgomery brothers did not take a liking to her at all. He was rude, cold, and short with her.  He wouldn't refer her by her name, kept calling her 'the innkeeper'.  She relocated from Washington, DC to this small town with her best friend, Avery.  She met Clare, and all three became instant best friends.  One day, the door on one of the hotels would not open, trapping Hope and Ryder Montgomery.  Hope, remembering how this happened with both Clare and Avery with when they were in the room with their husband and fiance, respectfully, she said the only way the door would open is if they kissed.  fighting it, Ryder agreed.  Sparks started flying.  The door opened.  Through lots of trials and tribulations, Hope and Ryder fought hard, and loved harder.  While uncovering the final pieces of Lizzy, the hotel's ghost (who is also the reason all three of the brothers and the best friends ended up together), dealing with a past she thought was history, learning to adjust to another person and their way of reasoning, this final book has a great love-story and a very happy ending.

I have to admit, I'm a bit sad this trilogy ended.  I felt connected with the girls. The book sucked me right in with them.  I  laughed with them, and sometimes, i cried with them (shhh!!!!) Definitely rating this a 5 out of 5. wonderful book. You should all read them!

The Last Boyfriend

I am still very much enjoying this trilogy.  Will start the final book today. 

Avery grew up in Boonsboro. Her first boyfriend, at age 5, was Owen Montgomery, one of three brothers who own a construction business with their mother and late father.  Avery owns a pizzeria across the street from The Inn Boonsboro, where the Montgomery’s are currently rebuilding.  After numerous encounters with a hopeless romantic ghost at the Inn, Avery and Owen fall into each other, onto each others’ lips.  The ghost, called Lizzy, is drawn to Avery for some reason.  Avery and Owen make it a point to find out who the ghost is, and how to satisfy her so she can finally rest at peace.  With abandonment issues, trying to track down a ghost’s history, your parents’ sexual relations, opening the family dream, and romance, this book has a lot going for it to keep you entertained to the very end.

To me, I am more intrigued about the ghost part of the story than their romantic relationship, only because ghosts fascinate me.  This is definitely a great read and rating a 4.5 on the 5.0 scale. 


 

An American Hero

On President's Day, most businesses were closed.  State, government, and banks all closed.  I work for a bank.  While our actual bank was closed, all 650 employees that work for my bank did not get to have a day off.  Instead, we had an all-day meeting, that  occurs every other year on President's Day.  It's a way for employees to socialize, meet people we wouldn't normally get a chance to meet, and learn some new stuff.  This year's event was titled "Improving Lives". We had 3 guest speakers: One lady from a vendor we contract with to talk about our 401K benefits we might be eligible for, as well as better ways to save/budget our money.  Another guest speaker was another lady who talked to us about managing our time.  Learning how to organize our time on-and off the clock.  How to help prioritize so we can get the maximum time out of enjoying life as possible.  The other guest speaker  is the one that had the most meaning.  He made many people tear up (of course, not me.  I'm tough :P ) His talk was to teach people the beautiful way of looking at life, "Adapt and Overcome".  Most people have plans for their future, their dreams, wants and desires.  Often, our plans are interrupted by the unexpected.  We have to learn to accept what is thrown at us and learn to go with it.  Don't let it bring you down because what you originally thought you wanted is now unachievable. 

Do you watch Dancing with the Stars? Our guest speaker won on Dancing with the Stars recently.  HE also is an actor.  Starred in an episode of Army Wives as a Soldier with PTSD and war wounds.  He also began what was supposed to be a 3-month stint on All My Children as a soldier who came home with war wounds as well.  His 3-month stint turned into a 3 year role.  In 2002, this man joined the US Army. Do you recognize him?

Probably not in this picture.  J. R. Martinez his his name.  He is an American Hero.  An Iraqi War Veteran.  Recipient of the Purple Heart.  just 7 months after joining the Army, he was driving a Hum-vee that ran over an IED.  The 3 people in his vehicle with him were ejected, and walked away with minor scratches.  J.R. became trapped in the car, which had exploded.  Two of his SGTs' pulled him out, and he suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns on nearly 1/2 of his body.  He has an amazing outlook on life, even though his dreams were shattered and his plans were drastically changed.  You may recognize him better from his more recent images:

J.R. is a beautiful person, inside and out.  I was so honored to meet an American Hero. 

Never Smile at Strangers

Haley’s father was killed in an accident almost a year ago.  With her mother is still grieving, Haley was left to be responsible for her younger sister, Becky. One night, her best friend, Tiffany convinces her to go out for a while.  Tiffany’s secret boyfriend, Chris, shows up and starts an argument with her in the parking lot.  Haley walks home.  The next day, Tiffany’s mom calls because she never made it home.  The local authorities and small town gossip is stating that she is just another run-away, so no one does too much investigation into her disappearance. 

Becky befriends a pretty, skinny girl named Seacrest and they begin hanging out every day.  Haley befriends a girl named Erica, and they also start hanging out every day.  Haley is still worried about her missing friend, but she is sure that she is dead, or else Tiffany would have called her by now.  Another woman from town disappears a few months later, and this stirs up the FBI and local authorities to re-think Tiffany’s disappearance, and they began a manhunt for the missing women. 

One night while walking through the woods, Erica notices a man nearby where another body was found earlier that day.   She begins putting the pieces together to figure out who the kidnapper could be.  

This book talks about one of the things I sometimes question myself, how well do you really know the person(s) that you allow yourself to open up to and trust?  Is your best friend really capable of doing something you’d never imagine?  Can your husband really betray your trust when you think he hangs the moon?  No one ever really knows a person’s deepest thoughts, so therefore no one can truly know what someone is capable of, until it’s too late. 

I found this to be a fast read, and enjoyable.  I like trying to solve the crimes before the characters in the book are able to put it together.  

A couple quotes that caught my attention:

“We’re not meant to be happy.  Not really.  It’s just a concept someone made up to make us miserable.”

“I wouldn’t talk to her too much if I were you.  You could catch stupid.”  This made me LOL

“You’re supposed to feel it so you can get past it.” Referring to feeling pain.

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

“Show them your weaknesses, and you’ll be forced to own them.  That’s all they’ll be able to see in you.”

Revenge of the Homecoming Queen

This was one of my free books I downloaded on Amazon through Pixel of Ink.  I love their website for free books.  I’m cheap, and don’t like to buy books if I don’t have to.  J

(Amazon gift card are GREATLY appreciated so I can buy my books on my kindle app, and book recommendations are also appreciated)

Revenge of the Homecoming Queen
Aspen Brooks has dreamed all her life to become her high school’s homecoming Queen.  She is pretty, popular, and into everything Prada.  She has a great fashion sense and knows what’s in style year-long.  She’s dating the Quarterback, which is a definite requirement for the prettiest, most popular girl to do, especially if you want to win homecoming. She has been planning her entire life’s moves and wardrobe based on the event of becoming homecoming queen.  The time has come, the king is picked- and it is NOT who you expect.  And then, then queen’s name is called- Aspen is slightly happy because she is not satisfied with the king’s choice and her rival is now stuck with him for the week of events, however, her entire life’s dream has now been shattered. 

Aspen quickly realizes that being so shallow and popular isn’t what she wants, and neither is her cheating quarterback of a boyfriend.  With twists and turns, Aspen tries to win the man she loves over, while dealing with a possible murderer lurking in the town kidnapping people.

This book had funny moments and made me think back to my high school day’s as well.  It kept me interested throughout the entire book. (although I must admit, I figured out who the possible-murderer is way before Aspen did, so call me DETECTIVE JULIE :P )

I recommend this book as an easy read for some comedic relief. I’ll rate it a 3.5 out of 4 as well. 
 

The Next Always

So my awesome bff, Heather, gave me a book for Christmas.  My selfish response when I read the cover was “WHAT? This is book 1 of a series? That means I’ll have to read more than one in a row to finish it all!” lol.  I’m such a scatterbrain that I have to read a series back to back to back in order to remember the previous built-up story line.  Lucky for her, I really enjoyed this book and canNOT wait to start the 2^nd, which I plan on getting and starting tomorrow.  

The Next Always

I started this book this Saturday, and finished it on Sunday.  If you know me, that’s insanely fast.  But, I was working my 2^nd job that was not busy, so basically I sat in a chair, with my feet propped up on another chair across from me, and just read for about 6 hours a day, two days in a row.  

Going to try to give my review, without giving away too much.

Clare, a young mother with two boys, and pregnant with her third became a widow by her military husband.  She moved back to her hometown in order to have hers and his family and friends support through the troubling times.  Fast forward, the book begins 6 years after Clare moves to town.  The Montgomery’s have a family construction business and are in the process of remodeling an old Inn in town that hasn’t been used in decades.  One of the three Montgomery Brothers, Beckett, has been pining for Clare for nearly 15 years, since they were 15.  Due to the construction being next to her local book store, he has had the opportunity to talk to her, and even ask her out on a date.  Battling with love, work, kids, and a narcissistic-stalker on the prowl, this is a great love-story book with a very happy ending.

Definitely give me 4.5 stars out of 5. 

On to book 2!

No Easy Day

It took me a while to read the following, because the first 3/4 of the book was quite dull to me.  The last quarter caught my attention and went by fast though. 

One of the members from the Navy SEAL Team 6 that raided the Osama bin Laden compound back in the spring of 2011 tells his story from the first-person narrative.  Although this book leads you to think it’s all about that raid, in fact, the first ¾ of the book talks about other raids and what being a SEAL meant to him.  It was informative, but dull.  The last quarter of the page is when the real action happens.  That is why you bought this book to begin with, to read about that one raid in particular.  It’s amazing to read the training that went into a raid that will make history.  It’s amazing to read his view-point on what actually happened, facts that the public wasn’t really told about.  I think this is a great book, but because of the stories that stray away from the main point of this book, I would only rate it maybe a 3 out of 5. 

Some of my favorite quotes from the book:

“Sometimes something random can save your life.”

“Train like you fight”  - as in, don’t go into battle (of any sorts) with something you haven’t used for before and expect to know what to do.

“It takes only one time to screw things up.”  - one mistake, one time can ruin a whole lifetime of happiness, and a lifetime of someone else’s happiness.  Think of consequences before you proceed with your impulses.

“Don’t just live, but live for a purpose bigger than yourself.”

“There’s no honor in sending people to die for something you won’t even fight for yourself.” 

 

I like surprises

12/23/12:

It’s happened. Something that my parents have given up hope on has finally happened. I am getting MARRIED. It’s obvious my parents weren’t expecting this from me - My mom even thanked Bo for this hahaha. We went to the movies on 12/23/12 and watched “The Reacher” with Tom Cruise. It was a pretty good movie too. When we left the movies Bo looked over at me and whispered in my ear “I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” And then he pulled out the ring and asked if I would marry him. Of course I said yes. He didn’t get down on his knee, which I’m actually glad. I’m not a fan of drawing attention to me, and it’s too traditional that way. I like things different. We then walked around the mall and went to a furniture store and picked out our furniture and appliances for our future house lol. We spent a lot of money (in my plans). When I got home, mom and Candis were in the kitchen cooking, preparing our Christmas dinner (yes, it’s 2 days before Christmas, but due to schedules this was our Christmas night). I just waved my hand in Candis’s face asking if she needed help. She then grabbed my hand, smiled and said ‘Susan. Look at this!’ mom saw it, hugged me, cried a little and whispered ‘good. I like Bo.’ Haha. Then Bo walked in and mom hugged him and told him ‘thank you’. She’s such a sap. Gotta love her! James didn’t say anything about it. He just stood there. I’m not sure what his take is on it really. He did just meet Bo the day before for a quick minute. To him, Bo’s a new guy. And my brother was really quite fond of my ex and he was disappointed that we ended things. Dad just shook his hand and said “you’d do anything to get your hands on that AR I showed you!” (AR=nice huge gun that my dad and Bo were playing with). It was funny. I’m happy. And excited. And I think they are too. Now I have to tell other family…

2012 review

I ended 2012 with a lot of first time experiences. And new adventures. Saving the best for last, here's a brief flashback:
-Went skiing in another state (snow and mountains in Texas?? yea...) on my first date with Bo
-learned how to do taxes- professionally
-got pregnant
-got a new job (worked for my previous employer for 6 years)
-graduated college
-had a miscarriage
-moved cities (that city felt like home) causing me to leave behind wonderful awesome friends
-watched my baby niece Brynnlei learn to talk, and say my name "Jujee" (even before she could say momma) -GOT ENGAGED to Bo. :)
-spent New Years weekend with Bo and my future step-kids

Wow. Ok check it out. I know you want to. Notice the cute butterfly on either side?! Adorable!! And he says no one helped him pick it out either. Way to go, Bo. Now who wants to plan my wedding (mind you I'm always broke). JK. Maybe.

New Years Eve, 2012

Ending the year 2012 and starting 2013 I spend the evening with Candis, and a few of her friends. I met up with her at her house where Austynn begged me to stay and play. I told her when I get home, which would be way late, I'd stay the night so she would see me in the morning. She assured me shed be awake when I got home. Lol. Later, my brother sent a picture and a message that said "I put Austynn in her room and later couldn't find her. I went outside and saw her sitting on the porch staring at your car. Waiting. "Too funny. She was asleep when I got to her house. But I carried her from the couch to her bed and crawled in bed and slept with her like I promised still.

 

Happy Birthday, handsome man

This week (on 1/2/13) my handsome nephew turned the big 0-9. For his ninth birthday I bought him a water hose. Not your every day hose though. This one is "magical". It fits in your pocket until you use it. Then it expands to 50 feet. When you are done it shrinks back. Mom got him 2 big packs of batteries. What sounds like a lame gift is exactly what he gets excited for. I love that goofy boy.