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My Dog - 31 days of Joyful Blessings

My dog, Jude.

I have always been a dog lover. I have always had a dog...

But my dog Jude, is the best by far.

We got him in October of 2008 or 2009 ( ack I cant remember!!)

We went to the flea market one day, as it was super nice out and freezing! As we were walking about the outside aisles, we saw this cage with one lone pup. As we got closer we noticed he was shivering to death. Pit bulls are known for their short hair, and get cold easily. As we looked around this mans booth we noticed he had tons and I mean TONS of rabbits, but this was the only dog. When we asked about him being the only one all he repeated was " No english, Spectra 7".  LJ and I had no idea what this meant! LJ took the pup out of the cage to warm him up, I kept walking. When I noticed LJ wasnt by my side I looked back. And there was LJ snuggling the pup. I walked back, and the "No English" Man offered the pup at a very very low price. LJ looked at me and I looked at him. There you have it, thats how we got Jude.

Jude was not very well taken care off prior to us. We assume he was kept with the rabbits, because he had a disease only caught from rabbits, and we found out Spectra 7 was some type of shots that breeders use, that isnt very good. When we took him to the vet, he had everything under the sun - the rabbit funk, worms, a parasite and an allergy to corn! So we got all his shots, got him all fixed up good and gave him tons of love.

I know he wont be with us forever, but I cherish the moments we do have. He is a great family dog, even though he is a pit bull. He is the most loving playful dude I have ever met. He is tolerant of the kids poking and riding him. He gives kisses and takes food from your hand so gently! He never barks or growls at us but he sure does love howling to sirens!!

Thanks Jude, for being our protector and friend!!

Then

Now

Friends - 31 Days of Joyful Blessings

My friends.

The real ones.

See I have several types of friends. I have real friends, I have occasional friends, and I have people who think they are my friends.

This post is for the real friends. The ones who really know me, who have seen me at my best and worst and are still willing to call me a friend.

I am not going to make a list and thank each one. They know who they are. Their names are written in my heart.

But I do want to take a second and acknowledge them.

So thank you my dear friends.
Thank you for letting me call you in the middle of the night if I needed something.
Thank you for putting up with my childish temper tantrums.
Thank you for holding my hand through all my relationship woes.
Thank you for answering the phone, even if you didnt want to.
Thank you for listening to me complain for the umpteenth time about something you could care less about.
Thank you for helping me with advice on how to tend a sick baby.
Thank you for loaning me that dollar when I was so thirsty or hungry.
Thank you for not asking for that dollar back.
Thank you for just sitting with me, when I wept.
Thank you for that hug I needed, even if I didnt ask.
Thank you for knowing when to and when not to say the right thing.
Thank you for telling me my fly was down.
Thank you for not always pointing out my faults or saying I was wrong.
Thank you for taking me on adventures, I would have never dreamed of.
Thank you for allowing me to make bad decisions, so I can learn on my own.
Thank you from stopping me, on many occasions, from doing the wrong thing.
Thank you for supporting me, no questions asked.
Thank you for letting me be me, no matter what any one else thought of me.
Thank you for helping me become the person I am.


You guys are amazing, and I know there is nothing I can possibly do to thank you. Ever.

But I promise you, that I will always be a faithful friend and you will always have a place in my heart.

Even if its been a long time since we spoke. Even if I just talked to you an hour ago.

I will always be here, thinking of you and thanking you.

Much love!

Hold on to that something special...

My grandparents - 31 Days of Joyful Blessings

My grandparents.

I know, I know, more family. But if you havent figured it out yet, I am very family oriented. I was raised in a tight nit family and we are all very very close. Including my grandparents!! They are like second parents to me, and I love them so much! They have so much wisdom and knowledge!

The Listeniks:
I dont know my real grandmother, she passed away when my mom was little. But I see her photos all the time and she was breathtaking! Just like my mom. I wish I had had the chance to meet her, I know she would be so full of love and class. But my grandfather did remarry and I do have a grandmother to love and hug! Grandma and Grandpa Listenik are pretty eclectic  They live in this amazing house, which we all loved to visit! It has a huge green house/porch room where us kids would just sit and play! There was always something to do or explore there. They live on a lake as well, so we always went for a swim or dropped a line in the water. They always had stories for us to hear or home videos for us to watch. Or if was too cold, just snuggle up to the fire place! They live down this huge hill that we used to sled down. Or ice skate on the lake, or row a boat to the local place where bands played just across the cove. Now they come visit us twice a year and stay at their condo on the beach. The condo where I grew up and now my children get to enjoy. They watch my children play in the pool and do all the neat tricks I used to do when I was little. "Watch me, grandma, watch me grandpa, watch this neat trick" Something they have seen a million times, but they put a look on their face as if they have never seen it done so amazing.  I love that and I love them!! I treasure the moments I have with them, and I treasure the moments they share with my kids!!

The Simpsons:
Oh man, where do I begin here. I am so close with my Nana and Papa Simpson. My nana is one of my best friends. I talk to her all the time. She is one of my go to gals when I am having a bad day or having an amazing day! She always has the best advice and has a way of putting my in my place gently if I am wrong. She speaks her mind, but is so loving about it, that sometimes I dont even realize she is telling me my faults! My nana and papa come down every winter to spend with us and we enjoy them so much! One year, we surprised them for their 50th Anniversary and flew up to Massachusetts. I had just talked to her on the phone an hour before the party, pretending we were still in Florida. Imagine their surprise to walk into the party and see us standing there. It was a great day! I am so blessed to have them in my life! And I cant imagine my life with out them!! Papa and Dakota are best buds! They snuggle and hug the whole time they are together, and have long conversations about kittys. I love those moments and treasure them!

These amazing people have molded me into the woman I am. I watch them with each other, loving and tender. I want to have the love they have not only for my spouse but for my children and my grandchildren and my great grandchildren. I can only hope to be at least half the person they are some day!

You cant catch it...

My Siblings - 31 Days of Joyful Blessings

My brothers and sisters.

I know a lot of what I am thankful for is family. But I am honestly so blessed to have them! I know they were chosen just for me, by God. And I am so grateful for everything each member brings into my life!!

Did you know I have 3 brothers and 2 sisters? Well I do. They arent from the same set of parents, which technically makes them, half siblings, but we never thought of ourselves that way. We were just always, brother or sister to each other. In my family "step" or "half" didnt exist.

My dad remarried and had 2 girls. My mom remarried and had 3 boys.

So I will just go with my brothers first, since I know them the best...

My oldest brother is Zach. He is truly an amazing person. Cool factoid... he DIED when he was little. I mean seriously died. But he came back to us, so he is destined for great things. Zach had something called missed SIDS. Or Sudden Infant Death syndrome. Its common and there is no rhyme or reason for it. But he wanted to live so bad he fought back. And he is here to tell the tale! He has had some rough patches in his life. But his ever so gentle heart will lead him where he needs to be. All in Gods timing. He is one of my best friends and I love him to death. He was born when I was 13 years old. I dressed and fed him like he was my little baby. He is such an amazing person! I am so thankful for him!

My middle brother is Josh. He has the most amazing blue eyes. He just headed to FSU on a scholarship. I am so proud of him! When he was little I would change his outfit like 10 times a day, because he was so docile and didnt mind all the pampering. He used to love to go into my room and tear things up. This one time he got into my room and let my pet parakeet out, and it had its wings clipped. So it was fluttering around and Zach thought my bird was attacking Josh, so he killed it with a shoe. I came home from school and my step dad sat me down and explained. I was so sad. But I allowed Zach and Josh to pick out another bird and name him to make them feel better. I had a parakeet named Spike. Josh has always been a very hard worker. He is going to make something of himself and I will sit back and be so proud.

My youngest brother is Jesse. I could write a book about him and his story. He was born a few months early and was only 2 or 3 pounds at birth. He was the tiniest baby I have ever seen. When he was finally allowed home to us he was on an apnea machine and a feeding tube. It was so scary! They gave us a blurb about him not being able to learn properly and etc, but my mom never accepted that. And now he is one of the smartest people I know! He loves to read and is a wealth of knowledge! Every time we stop by he always has his nose in a book! Him and my oldest daughter are only 5 years apart, so he was an uncle at age 5! But he is very close with my kids and I appreciate that!!  Dakota loves to beat him up! LOL!!  He is an amazing man and I am proud of who he is becoming.

My brothers are my friends and I appreciate everything they say and do for me. I know if I ever need anything, they will be there - no questions asked. I love knowing they are always on my side, even if we dont see eye to eye sometimes. My door is always open to them.

Me and my brothers at my wedding

My oldest sister is Jessica. My step mom allowed me to name her, to try and give us a bond since I live 3000 miles away. The joke was on us, because she is my twin... ok well not totally because she is far more beautiful then I, but she resembles me, A LOT! When she is not wrapped all up in her "juggalo" lifestyle, she is an amazing woman, who loves her pets and changing her hair style. She is an amazing make up artist. I miss her so much and I wish I could be more part of her life then I am. I know I would be an amazing big sister and mentor if given the chance. So I do what I can from where I am. Thank God for facebook, where I can see her pictures and talk to her almost daily via post or comment :) Hopefully someday we will have that chance to be the "sisters" we are supposed to be.

My youngest sister is Jennifer. I dont really know what to say here. Honestly. She has a hardened heart towards me, and I am not even sure why. I know she resents me living here, but it is beyond my control. We have never really gotten along and its a shame. She is a pretty girl with a large ego. She was a cheerleader in high school, but graduated and I dont even know what she is up to now. Other then tormenting my older sister... LOL.  I wish her well in her life and on her journey to becoming her. And thats all I have to say about that.

Jen and I at Busch Gardens ( I was prego) and Jessica... ( Wish I had a photo of us together)