Farewell to Twenty-Six...You Treated Me Well My Friend

In a few short hours I will be chronogically another year older and these last few days I have been thinking a lot about what all has happened this last year. As I reflected over this last year I have to say I think it has probably been one of the best ones of my life.  And the great thing about that is that I have said that many times now but things just keep getting better and better.  I thank the Lord for these blessings he has put in my life because without Him I may not have so many things to be thankful for over this last year.  It feels like this year has gone by fast and slow all at the same time and SO many things have happened.  I decided tonight while the rest of my house is sound asleep that I would blog about them that way in a few years I can be reminded of how good life is and hopefully how many ways it is even better by then. 

There were certainly some hard times in this last year as well which include my sister leaving to war in Afghanistan and having to leave her two boys behind. One blessing was that I was able to see her just a few days before she left but it was incredibly hard because I didn't know if that was the last time I would ever see her again.  I couldn't even bring myself to say goodbye to her because it made it too real for me.  I had to try my best to put on my brave "big sister face" and hope that I could make it out of her eyesight before breaking down.  I didn't I ended up crying a good part of the way to the airport.  On the plus side I was able to go to California in March when she came home safely.  I had intended on surprising her when she came home but the news got leaked so it wasn't a surprise but it was amazing none the less. 

In August Mya started Kindergarten at Anchor Lutheran.  And thankfully that first day of school wasn't as hard as I anticipated.  I think her going there every day for like a year before really helped take that sting out of "My baby is growing up" not only did she start kindergarten but she became a big sister all in the same week.  And oh what an amazing sister she has been.  She absolutely adores Ava and can't get enough hugs and kisses even if that means she makes Ava scream.  She is the clown of the two so far and she does whatever she can to make Ava laugh.  I think one of my favorite parts of the day is when I pick them both up and all I can hear is laughing coming from the back seat of the car.  I can hardly ever see what is so funny but I guess it's none of a mom's business anyway. 

We took a family vacation over spring break and it was probably one of the most fun times I have ever had.  We went to the Great Wolf Lodge and it was AMAZING!!! I am counting down the days until we can go again.  During our trip Mya got to see a little glimpse into the life of a cowgirl and she is HOOKED.  She asks pretty regularly when she is going to get to go to aunt Carrie's again and ride horses.  She even got pink cowgirl boots for her birthday and she told me right away she is going to wear them when she goes riding at Carries. 

Ava has been such a wonderful addition to our family.  Before she was born it was really hard to imagine diving the love I had for Mya between two babies but thankfully God doesn't make you do that.  He just gives you more love to go around.  Ava is a completely different kid than Mya ever was.  That makes me nervous for when they become teenagers.  Ava has made all of the milestones along the way and is even walking now.  She isn't walking full time but a good portion of the time.  She can walk from one side of the livingroom to the other and she's only 10 months old.  I have a feeling we are really in for it with this little bundle of joy. She's saying quite a few words such as mama, dada, mya, bye, ny night, up, hi and has even put two words together.  Mya bye (she was crawling around looking for Mya one day when she was out) and hi dada. 

Mya has had all sorts of things happen in her little life this year also.  She became a big sister, started school, lost her first tooth, learned how to ride a bike.  She's on a roll... rapid paced even.  Everytime I blink my eyes she's doing something new to make me feel old. 

I have also had the priviledge and blessing of abundant friendships this year.  I was able to stand up next to a very close friend of mine as she married her best friend. That wedding was the most God filled one I have ever been to and certainly been a part of.  You could just feel the Holy Spirit abundantly present that day and I look forward to seeing how their love and marriage grows over the years.  She is so amazing and deserves a man who loves her like he does.  I have also been blessed to grow amazingly close to my friend across the street.  She has been there for me in SO many ways its hard to list them all.  She loves on my babies when I need a moment, and just because she enjoys it.  She cleaned my house while we were on vacation, she's laughed with me, cried with me...just been amazing and I can't imagine what life would be like without her.  It blows my mind how God chooses the people He places in your life.  I think thats certainly one of His ways to show His love for us by giving us unbelievable friends and family.  Today I came home from work to see a gathering of colorful papers sticking out all over our front door.  After we pulled into the garage I went to the front of the house to see what was there and the sweet kids that live in the neighborhood had handmade birthday cards for me.  It was the sweetest most heart warming thing.  I love those kids and I am so thankful for their love for me.  The simple things go a long way. 

And lastly my sweet loving husband.  I don't even know where to begin with him.  He starts every single day with making me a cup of coffee just because he knows how much it brightens my day. The other night my back was hurting really bad and so I got in the shower for a while to soak it.  When I got out he was already in bed and as I climbed into bed my side was scorching hot.  I thought maybe he had laid on my side until I got out of the shower but to my surprise he had gotten the heating pad and plugged it in so that it would be nice and hot for my sore back when I climbed into bed.  Today I got a mysterious flower delivery today at work and my boss and I speculated who could have sent flowers.  I said well I know it wasn't Dustin because as long as I have known and loved him he said that having flowers delivered is a waste of money.  I decided to call the flower shop to see if they could tell me who sent them and....IT WAS HIM. I couldn't believe it!!! He's always finding new ways to sweep me off my feet.  I don't know what I have ever done to deserve him and all of his love but I am so thankful that I did it.  Just when I think he couldn't be more incredible I wake up, its a new day...and he does something all over again to make me have butterflies.
Thank you Lord for the best year of my life so far.  I can't wait to see what 27 has in store for me.
~Rozi Drue

Another Bittersweet Mommy Moment

Well tonight is the eve of my number 1 baby girl's birthday and it is always such a bittersweet thing for me.  I feel like the time with those I love is just so precious yet goes by faster than I can comprehend.  I know I should not hold tightly to the things of this world but when it comes to those I love I simply can't help it.

Tonight a dear friend and neighbor of mine came over to help me decorate for tomorrows taco birthday dinner and I heard my friend say "good night Mya" and sure enough my sweet little girl was soundly sleeping while wrapped in her fuzzy princess blanket.  I continued to busy my mind with decorating but my heart strings were being tugged with every streamer.  How did life already pass by so fast? I remember wishing colic away like it was just yesterday but now I have a little girl who is currently growing her first permanent tooth.  What a year it has been for my sweet Mya Jean.  She became a kindergartener and a big sister in the same week, she learned how to tie her shoes, she lost her first tooth its all flown by so fast.  This year has been so different for our family because I have seen a side of my daughter I wouldn't have been able to see if we hadn't decided to change her life by adding to our family. She is so incredibly thoughtful and caring.  She loves with a passion that makes my heart melt.  And she finds such joy in the smiles and laughter of her baby sister that she will do whatever it takes to get them both to the hiccupps.  One day Mya was playing outside and someone had hurt her feelings so she came inside crying (I wasn't home to witness this) and when Mya cries...Ava cries.  So Mya told her dad all about what broke her heart and as Mya continued to cry... so did Ava and Mya said "I love you Ava, you are my best friend!" and I just can't get over how sweet it is for her to love her sister like that even from the beginning.  She is such a sweet, amazing blessing in our lives, and although I don't necessarily like that she's growing up so quickly I do love the person that she is becoming. 

Thank you Lord for blessing my life with Mya.  I will never be the same, and for that I am grateful.

This is just the beginning

With the encouragement of a great friend I have decided to start a blog.  Who knows how it will turn out or if there will even be anything worth reading but I have decided it's worth at least trying just as a place to air out whatever happens to be on my mind.  I'm sure my posts will be all over the place, anywhere from funny to deep to crazy and/or off the wall but thats pretty much who I am in a nutshell. 

As I sit here awake writing even though I should be in bed I am lost in thought about so many things I'm not really even sure which topic to tackle first.  I guess my first one will have to be the heartache I feel watching so many people I love and care about struggle in life for so many different reasons.  Each struggle is personal and I will not reveal too much detail so that way I don't end up "outting" those who I am concerned about but I do have a heart full of burdens for so many.  There is just something in my nature that wishes I could take away the struggles or hurt from those I love.  I wish I could just fix their situations and make things right because its always easier to know what to do when its not your situation you are looking at.  But the obvious truth is that I can't just fix every situation, I actually can't fix any of them.  Another hard thing is to know that some of these situations are things that have been caused by the choices of the people they directly effect. And although I certainly don't enjoy to see the outcome of these choices, the truth is that things are the way they are because of things these people could have prevented with a few "easy" choices but like people always say hindsight is 20/20.  I don't mean for any of this to come across high and mighty my point is just that I hate the helpless feeling of watching those I care about feel heartache and struggles when I know there is nothing I am able to do to fix it.