Live Like A Lightning Bug

It's no secret that I am obsessed with lightning bugs! They are amazing! They are so magical and just so fantastic!! For Halloween I was none other then a lightning bug! I made a shirt that said, "Live like a lightning bug, how could you be glum if you had light shine out your bum". I had a light that blinked all night and I loved every minute of it!!

 

Fall

Living back East*ish  I have discovered a whole new love for the fall! It is absolutely breath taking BEAUTIFUL out here! The leaves change into colors I have never seen: fire orange, crimson red, neon yellow, purple, etc. The trees have so many colors mixed into just that one tree, it is amazing! I think everyone needs to see a fall back east before they die, it just makes you so grateful for the beautiful earth that we are blessed to live on! My pictures do not do it justice but I couldn't stop taking them. I LOVE FALL!!

525,600 minutes

• 525,600 minutes that's what we call a year, 1 year, one year.. So much can happen in just one year and I can honestly say that this past year has probably been the most exhausting, tiring, trying, frustrating, difficult year that I personally have ever encountered. I have never been knocked down and forced to get back up as many times as I have in the past 12 months. I can honestly say I don't think I have cried as much in my life as I have this past year, had as many melt downs, felt like my heart had been shattered, been discouraged and just felt completely broken. 

•  525,600 minutes that's what we call a year, 1 year, one year.. So much can happen in just one year and I can honestly say that I have grown and changed so much in this past 12 months. Changed for what I believe is the better. I have had to stand up for myself and keep pushing when so many others didn't believe in me but in doing this I learned I CAN, I CAN DO WHATEVER I BELIEVE I CAN! I can do whatever I put my mind to and the only person I need standing behind me is myself, I CAN move mountains!

•  In this past year I have had to sit back and watch as two different friends each lost their beautiful daughters, it's so heartbreaking to have to watch another loved one (or two) say goodbye to their child way to soon. That brought up so many emotions and rocked me pretty hard, I know these losses aren't as significant to me as they are to their families but when I can count on more then 2 hands the number of people I have had to watch bury their kids it really starts to effects you.. However from this heartache I was reminded once again how important family is and how important MY family is to me! I cherish every minute of them when I see them, I know life can change so drastically and that NONE of us are guaranteed another moment. This past year my eyes have been opened to the everyday small miracles in life and I try to cherish every moment, I am still not perfect but I try my best and that is all I can do. 

• In the past year I have learned who my REAL friends are, I have learned a self discipline that I never have had before, I have found confidence and love for myself, I have learned patience in a whole new way, I have learned (still learning) what forgiveness really is, I have grown so much spiritually, I have grown in ways that I don't think can be explained.

•  525,600 minutes that's what we call a year, 1 year, one year.. So much can happen in just one year and by getting knocked down so hard so many times has caused me to stand up a little taller each time and over the past year I have GROWN so much.. I don't know if I can fully say that I am grateful for all of the challenges of the past year but I am amazed and the outcome of this year, I am amazed at myself and how I can do this, so here is to looking at every challenge as a growing opportunity ( after I cry, throw a fit, curse, do whatever needs to be done)I will stand up and say, "You can't get me, you may knock me down but I will always stand up a little taller and stronger."