Thankful

Let us be thankful for the fools. But for them the rest of us could not succeed.

-Mark Twain-

i am thankful for continue to be able to breathe every morning when I wake up

thankful for having a job and people who care about me.

thankful that we can buy food and share it with our friends tommorow on Thanksigiving.

thankful that I am learning more about myself and accepting my faults.

Here are just some more things I have noticed lately ..with me my life and all that boring jazz

1. that i do not have the patience i used to, nor the patience i long to have.


2.I can do anything I set my mind to, like loosing this weight(been lossing steadly), adjust to 3 kids and provide for them the way they deserve(with help from the most spectacular hubby ever).


3. that i am sick of the word awesome. i feel that i use it to much. so trying new ones like spectacular, amazing, stupendous. =)


4. I am truly one blessed person for the people that I have the great luck to have in my life and be able to call them loved ones.


5.i am really missing my photography


6. I have no clue how mom's do it, time for their kids, their work, school, their partner then themselves. I have yet to learn that balance


7.my roots hate me. they really need a serious dye job and my hair needs a trim. oh and i have white hair coming in. eeek.


8. Life is all about choices, That is the simplicty of it all. You can make a choice and stick to it, or choose not to. It is all a choice.


9. my tolerance for the close minded, rude, immature jerks of this word has slowly whittled down to nothing. i wish my lord would give me strength to get it back. that way i might be less annoyed with them all.


10. My husband rocks.


11. a girl always needs her friends.


12. A lot of kids slip through the cracks and I wish I could focus on them all. But when I have 30 kids all needing to be supervised and helped it is hard.


13. i still have the same horrible study habits i had when in hs. i need to quickly get out of that since i am paying for the classes and really focus if i want that deans list


14. That some how, once again I am right back where I was in a certain friendship. Well no longer one. That I am again cut out so efficently, so quickly, did I matter? What did I really do? Why did you search me out, long to re connect? I had gotten over the betrayl, I had gotten over not having you as a friend...you just like to try to get what you do not have?


15.quailty is truly so much better than quainty. i hope to be able to teach these middle schoolers that.and myself


16.Orange and Teal look great together. In a bold, almost hurt you sort of way. I like it. A LOT.

17. I really am annoyed with miltary shipping. yet realize I should be thankful that I have it

18. Halloween with kids is waaay more fun.

19. My little siblings rock. Seriously they are amazing lil people.

19. I think I could pull off short, straight black hair. If my Flapper Girl pictures are anything to go by that is.

20. That i would not truly want to deal with having to straighten my hair every morning for the short hair do

21. That it is much easier to just follow people and read their words then take the time to write your own or comment on theirs..and THAT IT IS RUDE..to do that.

22. I am just a big kid who is so excited for Christmas that I am already humming carols.

Life

How on the sunniest of days can I be so blind?
yet in the darkest of the night i have never seen better?
How can I be sad when I should be happy
or
fine when I should be mad?
One word ties all these emotions together

LIFE

Because that is the rollar coaster we all ride called life. It is the best nightmare, the happiest curse, a ride I am thankful to be having and sharing with those that I am.

I am blessed for this life..even with all the bumps and pit stops.

I hope your ride is such as crazily wonderful.

~Bridgette~

Reminder

Today, may you find happiness by thinking about how "lucky" you are... to simply be WHO you are, WHERE you are, and WHEN you are. Stop trying to make so much sense of things! Stop predicating the present and the future upon what has been, or even what appears "to be". The props of your life are just props; FICTIONAL. You are NOT at the mercy of the past, the present, or the future . . . logic, reason, or rationales . . . YOU, are a Being of Light for whom all things remain possible, and there are no caveats to this truth. There are NO caveats to this truth.Do you have any idea who you really are? Do you have any idea of your affect on others? Do you know what it's like to be touched by you? To be held in your glance? To be smiled upon by you? Do you even know what it's like to brush up along side of you in the streets? To see you from a distance? Up close? Do you know what it's like to see you approaching? Do you know what it's like to watch you walk away? Do you know what it does for someone when they realize that you've been thinking of them? No, you don't. Your insights, beauty, strength, courage and humility change lives everyday, and you don't even know it. It's especially sad, because those you touch think you know, so they might not remind you. Well since you don't know it, and since others may not tell you, let me. YOU are a light in the darkness. A bringer of the dawn. Your touch heals, your gaze inspires, and your smile is like cool water to parched lips. The sight of you stirs confidence, and your shadow even, comfort. Your arrival quickens one's spirit, and your departure is always too soon. Your profoundly unique journey has been one-of-a-kind, and its yielded compassion and insights as rare as yourself - gifts that sparkle like a diamond in the sun. You are a pillar, an icon, and a champion to those who know you, and to those who wish they did. Your affect on the world, TODAY, as you are, when you are you, is AWESOME. Shine your light, because while your significance may sometimes escape you... it changes others forever.

-Author Unknown

~A friend posted this....saying she had to post it. That everyone should read it. I thought I need to remind myself of this. I need to remind other wonderful people of this. We are all wonderful in some way. We all do not realize what we are, constantly searching for it, never quite grasping it. When we are missing out on times right NOW, in the PRESENT...go with the flow. My motto lately has been " I am not the superwoman I thought I was..But I will keep on trying to fly".

So to all of you....head up, and shine your light.

Amazing

My 2 brothers and 1 sister that are coming to live with us will be here in less than 10hrs. It is amazing that we made it through to the end of this road, that we got it all done(well still doing laundry) but the IMPORTANT stuff is done. I have been horrible about commenting and blogging much of anything. I am still trying to read the blogs of all you wonderful peeps I follow. I will get back on track, ehhh someday I hope.=)

I am going to go back to jamming out to Blondie and folding clothes. My thoughts, prayers, smiles and best wishes go out to y'all. Please wish us good luck with getting the kids settled into things. I know they will be tired and this can not be easy for them

Big Hugs
~B~

My Own words...finally

So like I have said I have had lots to say but not sure how to word it. I guess I just read these wonderful blogs were they are able to make their simple thoughts seem like poetry. To give inspiration with flourish and I feel as if my writing glass is half full. I think that I just want to seem awesome, creative and basically "LISTEN TO ME". That is the inner people pleaser in me really, really showing through.=)

I have been so focused on my siblings coming to live with us, school and work that I just have time to think of a quote that fits some stuff that has happened to me that day or a thought I had..and post it. Soooo with the kids getting here in 8 days..... YEP 8 DAYS...OH GAWD....won't think about it...breath in and out...slowly. I really have not thought about the changes to our life, or the negative things that can happen. Will we be able to adjust easily? Will the kids like it here? Will this really be a better place for them? Am I far enough away from making the mistakes of my mother to be good for them? Can we really truly afford to add 3 people to our incomes?? What will happen if the kids have more emotional scarring than I am prepped for?

And on..and on and on the questions started coming today. I just have been focused on keeping my husband optimistic, planning, researching, ordering things, giving support to my sister(the wonderful 21yr old who has really stepped up to the plate and had them for the last 2 and half months actually 3 1/2)working and school that no doubts of MY OWN have been able to creep in longer than 2 secs. Well today they started..not good. Just not good.=(

I am telling myself it would be harder for my husband because him and his siblings are close in age, he did not grow up around babies, and does not have the experience I do with handling kids. But truly..I am always worried about me. I have been with just my husband and I, and with him being gone a lot(before here anyways) I had me, myself and I. Do I have the patience I had in me before?? I work with middle schoolers right now and they drive me nuts sometimes.

On a happier note I have lost 10lbs in 4 weeks. I am doing really good with making this life style change, If I can keep up this weight loss I will be where I want, NO need to be sooner than I thought I could get. Maybe once I am there I will post a picture or the OLD me, then the present me, then the NEW OLD ME......nice and healthly again.=)

So because the kids get here next week, we are going to go a little wild and party it up at Oktoberfest this weekend. That might seem bad to others, but it is the 40th anniversary of them having it on Shape and they are going all out and soo...well I want to to. Plus the Germans, boy they are crazier than us Amercians.. FOR SURE.=)

So I will end this post with some pictures from our garden, well mostly my husbands. I did not kill it why he was gone this last month either. Yahoooo, so soon I will post some pics ofLondon.

These are the pumpkin and gords going wild. Hard to walk in there, this is from a couple weeks ago too. We have 3 gords, and about 5 pumpkins ranging from a small basketball to a..well bigger than one. hahaha. Fun times.

This was a recent "mini harvest" I did. That is zuccinis, cucumbers, bell peppers and banna peppers.

it's in your heart

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched--they must be felt in the heart"
-Helen Keller




-- I figure anyone who can overcome not being able to see or hear is someone we should listen to, with a big open mind.=)

Everyone Should Accept Change

" No matter where you live or how old you are, you can decide to change your life. That's amazing."
-Angelina Jolie

Needing more Balance

" If we could learn how to balance rest against effort, calmness against straing, quiet against turmoil, we would assure ourselves of joy in living and pyschological health in life."
-Josephine Rathbone

Appreciate Life

"That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet"
-Emily Dickerson

Honesty is Always the Best

" The naked truth is better than they best dressed lie"
-Ann Landers.

60th

WOw, I have posted 60 entries on here, it seems so little and a whole lot at the same time. I went back and re-read some of my first posts. I am still unsure of what theme this blog is. It is my hodge-podge. I write here, post pictures, others quotes, lil poems...etc.

Lately I have not had the time to edit my pictures, or even go through them to put what I think is blog worthy. Cause like Georgia said recently...sometimes we only put the best out there. Sooo I do not put my bad ones up and not having the time to pick the good ones or make them good...well that just means no pics. I also feel I have had so much to say but when I sit down to write it does not come out right. My friend got a me a lil desk calendar that has quotes for woman by woman for each day. So I have been going through it to find something that fits what has been on my mind that day and post it.

So I hope all you lovely bloggers had a Happy Hump Day, here is what was on my mind today. Just people who HAVE to tell you everything they have, everything they can get or have done....I think this fits for those braggers and one uppers

" Being powerful is like being a lady, if you have to tell people you are, you aren't"
-Margaret Thatcher

Courage

" It is better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life"
-Elizabeth Kenny

It is IN you, not ON you.

" Elegance is innate. It has nothing to do with being well dressed"

-Diana Vreeland

Be Yourself

" The reward for conformity is that everyone likes you but yourself"

-Rita Mae Brown

Learning

" We are not what we know, but what we are willing to learn"
- Mary Catherin Bateson

Today

" Every day is a gift, life is not a given right, live each day as if it were your last"


Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.


Today always makes me think that way, remember back when this day 8 years ago I did think it was my last day, all the things I had left un said, had yet to do.

This day makes me grateful, humble, angry, very angry actually...and always puts me in deep thought. I think of him and that horrible night often, but most especially on today.~I never know what to write sometimes, should I express on this day all the horror, anger, depression, guilt, and horrible never ending sadness I felt? Should I just write a few lines of happy things that remind me of you? Just put a video, with a song playing that makes me think of you?? Do you care? Can you hear me? maybe I should write of the physical pain I went through, all the operations and physica therapy?? I think I will just write a few happy lines..

8 years ago, it seems so much longer, we all had to adapt, learn to live with this thing, this loss, the blackhole that was shoved into our lives. It helped some of us bond and drove others apart. No matter what though we all loved you through it. Just a few things I wanted to tell you..


.~ Thank you for loving me, thank you for wanting me to be the first, because of your love, I was able to accept anothers~

~ You chose me, I will remember that. Always~

~ I actually like that damn song you used to make me listen to, so I hope you laugh when you see me sing a long~

~If you can actually see and hear us, I hope you smile and are proud~

~ Porn Stores, Village Inn, Fireworks and laughter so hard it hurts your belly will make me think of you, our gang and the good times we all miss~

~ YOu really should not have put that costume on, I mean come on it was JJ's~

~ Ford Rules..Dodges Drool..sorry D, BUT I will always, always smile when I see A Dakota Sport~

~ I wonder if you really would have gotten a Polaris tattoo? You were such an Alaskan boy to the core~

~ I have never had as good of sloppy joes as you made that night

~When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. ~Kahlil Gibran


RIP DUSTIN GARD 1982-2001

Survive

" I will not bow, I will not break, I will shut the world away, I will not fall I will not fade and I will survive"

~Breaking Benjerman~

Song: I will not bow 2009

Editors Note: Some of the other posts I have written with out any reference to who they are from is because I was trying to test you..well not test.but was curious if others had heard them. I went and added where I got them from.

Have a great Hump Day.

Friends

"There comes a point in your life when you realize: Who matters, Who never did, Who won't anymore... And who always will. So, don't worry about people from your past,there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future"

I have been wanting to write a lot lately, but I have been doing so in my own personal journal. Because the thoughts have been a bit to personal I think. So I have been getting random quotes or song lyrics and posting them. This is from an email I have got before. It is so true.

I am blessed with the friends I have, I need to stop putting so much effort into the ones that I start to drift from. I feel I have to be best friends with everyone, the one everyone loves, the one that can fix everyones problems, and make them laugh. I need to get over that. To realize the greatness I had with them in the past and just realize we drifted apart and that it is okay to do that. It is not like we broke up or had a fight.

I need to stop holding friends to my expectations, some people just do not communicate the way I do. I just do not understand how you can write a long thing to someone asking about them, telling about yourself. They reply with something totally different, always just about them and that is it. They have phone conversations only about them and then get off the phone. It is okay, to do that, but not ALWAYS. You have to have a two way street. To me that means times it is about you, times it is about them and then the wonderful times you just are laughing, teasing joking and interuptting each other cause you are so happy to talk to them.

But even saying that, even how much it kinda hurts me to see someone update their status 4x a day, comment to other people and yet not respond. Not realize I was there for them, and this is a stressful time for me. Why are they not there for me? I get pissed at myself for acting like this, basically a girl, then I get pissed that I am pissed.=)

It is not fun being all emotional sometimes, anyways I was not there for them to have them come back and re pay the favor, I hope someone will be there for me, but if they are not I need to not get butt hurt, no matter what I am always there, sooo why have the times in between were I just mitch and moan about the way they act. That is just them, I should accept them. Even if I do not not like all the traits. right?

I hope this does not make me seem self centered, I just have been thinking about friends a lot, all the different types out there, really missing my friends and have not been talking to them a lot since "life" is getting in our way. So was feeling down. Here I wanted to just post a meaningful quote and I went and put something personal that seems a bit High Schoolish. If you read this far...sorry about that ramble.

Happy Thursday!!!

~B~

Loyal

" Wars come and go, but my soilders remain eternal"



Editors Note: You gotta love TUPAC....some people do not like him because of his enviorment he grew up in and choose to stay in, the way he choose to express himself. But I tell you what you sit back and listen to his actual lyrics, some are really moving. It is like a post I did once about a song that was so pretty, till I learned what it was about,music is a great thing..sometimes taking the music out of it and just reading the words is the best way to feel what the artist was trying to say though.

Love

Immature love says "I love you because I need you." Mature love says "I need you because I love you."

Editors Note: I got this off of a card I got, so not sure who the author is.

Tonight

" When I bow my head tonight, it's not gonna be me, myself or I"


Editors Note; This is from a Trace Adkins Song. Talking about not praying for himself, just his wife and kids, about learning what is the important things in life.

Backyard Beauty

Just some quick snapshots of an amazing, spectacular sunset from my backyard. I posted one yesterday. So here are the rest, these are raw. Unedited in anyways. This just captures the beauty of nature. Hope you are having a great week, lots of bloggy love sent to y'all

~B~

Simply Suprising

That is something that I think of when I think of women.

Women who work full time, do the gym, do their hobbies and still are amazing mothers.

Women who always have a smile on their face, even through sickness and stress

Women who do what it takes to make sure their loved ones are okay

Then after all that, when a normal person should have no more strength

They do a little bit more.

That is why women are just simply suprising

I am honored to be able to call myself one, errr well kinda.=)

Happy Tuesday

hugs,

Bridgette

Rewind

So remember that lovely 20 some odd things to do this week? Well let's recap and see what I exactly did shall we???



I did try to get my car inspection done, but THEY FAILED ME. Because my battery is a little loose. Yeppers, that is the ONLY reason...:::rolls eyes:::::. Then I hung up one load of laundry, so have a huge pile of clean clothes on my spare bed. I kinda worked out this week but not really, I did not make a weekly meal plan. I did make some awesome food though.=)



I did make the calls to my mom and Shirley. Did not do the gym last week, not even once. Unless you count walking the dogs. But have done the gym this week. So cross my fingers I keep my willpower this week. I got wrapped up in my books, lol. That is just me. I am unashamed of it.

I am registered for Human Biology, Human Biology Lab and then US History 1865-Present,plus got my books ordered. I did not know as well on my grammar final as I had hoped. I did not mail ANY boxes...I am fired. But if you are my friend or family member waiting for a package, you are used to it. I also did not do Rosetta Stone. Maybe I should not make lists anymore. That way..I do not fail.

Anyways off here for now, gotta do some chores, then head off to the gym.



.

This or That...

Procrastination should be my middle name. Why? Well because I should be writing my Compare-Contrast Essay from Grammar class due at Midnight EST. Which for those of you trying to figure the time difference are 6 is my time here in Belgium. “But Bridgette, you knew this was due for weeks, are you not almost done”? You say? Hahahahaha try just an outline, I picked a topic, wrote and outline…then focused on other stuff, and now it is 11pm on Sunday night and I need to write it,

BUT WHAT AM I DOING YOU ASK?

I had not had a chance to read everyone’s lovely blogs this week, soooo caught up on that. I updated pictures to my MySpace and facebook, (very important) as well to our shutterfly website. Got a bit excited because I have tons more lamp post pictures now from this last trip to London, I will get that book of European Lamp Posts made for sure. I jumped for joy when I realized I did not have to paint tomorrow (we have been painting our kitchen, another post for another time), worried about my loved ones by listening to Buddha Bar and going inside my mind with my thoughts…not a safe place sometimes.=) BTW for those who have not heard Buddha Bar…look the cds up, listen to the tracks, then buy them cause I know you will love them.
I also realized that I have 4 pairs of shoe pictures to post on my other blog, which by thinking of that got me really excited because I can shop again. MY ONLINE SHOPPING BAN IS OVER….I can start looking at shoes again, but after paying for the kid’s lawyer...well that is just a dream=)
So after all that I should be able to focus on my essay right? Hmmm nope…so started adding to my “100 Things to do before I die list”, read some of my latest book “Marker”, by Robin Cook, played some Mario Kart WII with Ryon…I won in case you had any doubt.
So now...after all that I am writing a post since been over 2 weeks since I had, and this post is as boring, jumping and pointless as my procrastination from this essay. SO I guess I will sign off with my list of 20 things on my mind for this upcoming week, which will be a busy first week of August.

You all have a lovely, lovely rest of your Sunday Night. If you read through all this jumbled nonsense, you are a kind soul.

1. I have to get my cars CT done tomorrow(emissions, brakes etc)
2. Got lots of laundry to hang up and put away
3. Gym everyday this week…MUST DO IT
4. Need to make my weekly meal plan(helps me eat right)
5. Call my mom and Shirley, let them know the airfare I found out
6. Got to follow my chore list, and not let the house slack
7. Try to not get to wrapped up in my novels, function in the real world.
8. Have that big grammar class final this week, even though the class ends in 2 weeks MUST STUDY
9. Make sure my fall classes books have been ordered
10. Stop everyday and Thank God and my loved ones for my life and my many blessings, no matter the stressful time
11. Work on not getting offended when people CONSTANTLY tease me about my poor sportiness(is that a word) or call me crazy or say I scare them playing games, I know they do not mean it the way I take it..(when I really just want to never play games with them again, since I really do not get crazy, I dislike that word immensely, after everything in my life…I could really be the officially term of crazy..But I am not. At least never been diagnosed, I admit I am a poor sport, but I do nothing to scare people…If I do and you are reading this let me know…quit teasing me.
12. Realized 11 is waaay to long =)
13. Help Ryon with the yard work, since he did not do this weekend , because I asked him not to
14. Try to get a box or two mailed from the GAZILLION we have to mail off.
15. Do Rosetta Stone 3x this week, to keep practicing my French
16. Do something for me everyday, bubble bath, face mask, scented candle and a breathing exercise..etc
17. Talk my boys for a walk 3x this week, they have been neglected due to other stress factors.
18. Try to catch up with friends in the states this week
19. Go pick some blackberries and try to make home-made jam
20. Love life

View through my Lens

I just wanted to post some pictures that I have been taking. I truly love photos, I love to look at things and try to get an angle that will give me an awesome picture, or edit it to where it looks nothing like the orginal, yet still awesome. There has been a HUGE lack of photos in my blog, I mean there has also been a lack of me writting really meaningful things, besides a "I am doing good" or " I am doing bad". People seem to leave comments every now and then, but I am not intrested why would others be. I know blogs are for the person and I feel this blog is for me, yet at same time I really need to be aware of putting myself out there in a manner that can be pleasing or entertaining to readers. Well that is what I want anyways, not that I have too. However I will still always be me.

Anyways....

So usually on a weekly basis I draw inspiration from these photographers I follow, It started with Luminous Lisa, then my first stranger added who was Goregous Georgia, which then led me to the path of the Creative Claire(not there names just adding adjectives to their names to be fun), and then as well onto Jazzy Jamie. There are more I follow but THESE 4 just really.....make me look at their pictures, and try to asorb their amazing talent.

<---- This two handsome devils are my boys. Jax is the Amercian Staff. Terrier and Friday is the Chocolate Lab, they love to cuddle up together soooo sweet. I did not do anything to this, except make it to where people did not have to see Jax's "privates" all spread out.

^

This is part of a brick wall, inside this tunnel. If you click on it to enlarge it, well it does not look that cool, I used a blur tool to play up the hole more, however it only looks cool for a distance.=)

This is also from a trip to Namur, this was a tree stump that caught my eye, I just played around with different angles, got a bunch of it. I made it black and white and added a green tint to the one weed that is growing through the tree stump. It shows that when you really want to be somewhere nothing can stop you-------->

<--------This photo was taken at Auline Abbey, in Belgium. It is a pretty and peacful place. It was built around the 700's.

^
This is going through the town of Cheivres, Belgium on my way home from work. I love the mix of the purple and green trees along the road. Plus most parts of the drive are a max of 50km an hr. Soo you go nice and slow...which I enjoy most of the time.=)

Isn't this boot cute? It is a TRASH CAN in Trier, Germany. It was at a christmas market we went to in Nov of last year, I was just playing around with some photos to edit, came acorss this one and thought you might enjoy. I love all the cute, extra touchs. ---------->

<---- That backview is of my lovely friend Bobbi, back in April we went to a town called Namur. Very quaint, with a HUGE citedelle in it. Citedelle is a fortess, this survied going through a siege with Napolean supposedly. I really played with this photo. So it is not as a peaceful pic as it was before, but I like it.

So I hope you had a FANTASTICAL weekend, that you have a great Monday. This monday over here is almost over, it was a good one though. I got my clearance stuff done for my job with the Goverment, at the Child Delevopment Center. Which is perfect goes with the whole Education/Pyschology degree I am doing. Plus it gives me secuirty, allows us to Carpool and when my siblings get here more money.

BIG internet HUGS

~B~

P.S

I hope everyone is having a wonderful July so far, ours has been and will continue to be busy. We had/have 4th of July, my birthday, London, BBQ's, Bunco, Movies, London trip, Cruise in Antwerp, Birthday party for a friend here, camping, plus numerous friends birthdays.....I love every min of it though

The Pressure on Women

Things are going smoothly over here, just a quick blog post about a blog I read via Already Pretty's blog.

It is about BMI's and the ridiculous labels they put on us women

I was in shock at some of the photos, overweight and normal seem to be to varied, women that look great and curvy are obese?? WTF??

I wish women could all just feel what they are, pretty and one of a kind. Why compare to others. So check out Sally's blog aka Already Pretty and the BMI project at Kate's. Sally writes amazing, uplifting pieces, I think all female bloggers should have her on their reading list.

Running Behind

I have not been able to post a blog on here lately, I have not even been able to read my blogger roll for the last 3 days. Ahhhhhhhh I miss reading all your lovey words and commenting.

But so much is happening, I am getting custody of my siblings, so busy doing passports, court stuff, getting house ready ie setting up the bedrooms, buying a deep freezer to fill it up since they are 12,10 and 9 and I shall be using way more food than what my husband and I do now. Then getting them put on his orders and in the miltary deers system, then getting them to the east coast, to then get a Space A flight overseas. Now I have not done all of that, so will still be busy, then It is a waiting game for the court to go through. It will be a simpler process due to that my mom said yes...so we are not fighting here.

It is supposed to only be a year, but I will do it until she gets her crap together. I am very proud of her for making this choice for the kids, admitting she is failing as a parent had to be tough.=( But I am so glad she did, It will be hard for Ryon and I, big change in our lifestyle but sooooo worth it, I love them all so deeply I am not sure where the love even begins. To be able to postively affect them is going to be one of the best feelings.

Sooo I will be absent for awhile, not sure how long, I will try to catch up on reading the blogs, but i already fell behind this week on my school work too.

I hope you are all doing great, will miss you while I am gone.


Big Internet Hugs
Bridgette

A picture of a picture

Just wanted to post a picture of a picture I took while in Paris for the day...... well if you can call her a picture=)

As well as 20 things I am thinking today.....

1. I wish the weather would be the way it was yesterday evening all the time here

2. I hope the kids are having fun on their trip

3. I really am un sure how I will handle the no shopping ban in July

4. I can not believe that in 21 days I will be 27

5. I miss days sitting at the Barnes and Noble with my girls

6. I really want to get my nose pierced again

7. I am aching for a live concert to go to

8. I think everyone should follow the blogs I do, cause these ladies are amazing

9.I want to make grilled salmon for dinner

10. I wish my husband could take off everyday with me

11. I wish I could save every stray I find

12. I wish I could win the lottery and pay for all my loved ones to live well

13. I need to get back my mojo for the gym and keep loosing weight

14. With all these plane crashes in Europe these last 12 months, even I am a bit hesitant to fly

15. I want to do a girls trip

16. I am so excited to go camping

17. I am going to be going blondish in less than 2 weeks, I will miss the red

18. On july 4th I will have been with my man for 7 years

19. My random thoughts are quite boring

20. This post is lame but atleast it is a post...=)

Okay so I wanted to post some thoughts and 20 sounded good, then It was like my brain stopped wanting to think towards the end. I wish you fellow bloggers a joyus Tuesday.

Love

~Bridgette~

I agree with Cosmo

The July issue of Cosmo, under the Love and Lust section posted love lyrics that say it all....I loved the ones they choose. I am not posting all 13. Just the ones that I feel apply to my life, things I have been through. I have not written on here lately, so sorry for that. I have been on a shoe craze and paying more attention to my other blog. Which will not be having any new shoes posted for all of July since I am on a shopping ban to save some mula.However I still hope to get a pair since July is my birthday month. I also have found waaaay to many blogs I like to read, you need to check out my blog roll. These people all post things that change your life. That is not an me exaggrating either. Everything from breath taking photos, poems, DIY TIPS, great fashion tips, feel better about your body, shop on a budget....man..I love my fellow bloggers. Hence the 2hrs a day I spend reading them.=)

Okay on with my Lyrics


" I'm a movement by myself, but I am force when we're together"

" You can't just say I love you, You have to LIVE I love you"--my favorite

"Who do you love, me or the thought of me"?

Another Give-A-Way

People are loving the give a way theme this Late Spring. Go check out this lovely blog here. She is giving away a lovely bag, and as you know I love shoes and purses....maybe I should be buried with my collection? No?=) So I hope you are having a happy Sunday and make sure you go check it out. If you comment, blog and tweet about it you get extra entries.

~Bridgette~

Do YOU like free stuff?

Hey y'all quick post before I hit the shower and then go snuggle up to my main squeeze and read a book before bed. This lovely gem of a gal over here at Things a Boutigue Owner Sees is giving away one of her lovely necklaces. So I figured....why not? Plus if you have not already seen her out in the fashion land of this blogspot land then go check her out. She has an adorable place and awesome fashion sense. I have only been following her for about a month but I am hooked.

Thanks, have a great Weds...HUMP DAY!!!!

~Bridgette~

Timeless

i am looking

over and under

all over for you

i am desperate for more of you

i can not get what I need to get done

Not without you

Can i have just a little more?

Why do some waste so much of you

Others never have enough

Why is short for the ones who deserve more?

To long for those who don't?

Just please give me more Time

8 Things

So the lovely, talent Georgia tagged me, well everyone, in her blog. So I figured why not do it. It is where you have to post 8 things, and she added 8 pictures at the end of it. So I shall do that as well.

here's how "8 things" works:
1.mention the person that tagged you.
2.complete the lists of 8's.
3.tag 8 of your wonderful bloggy friends.
4.go tell them you tagged them!

8 Things I wish I could do:

1. I wish I could fluently speak, read, and write 5 lanuages besides my own.

2. I would love to be able to belly dance.

3. I woud also love to be able to ballroom dance.(what can I say I loooove to dance people who know me would agree)

4. I just wish that I could put my thoughts on paper like some people can, so basically write better.

5. I really would love to be able to play an instrument and do it well.( I tried in 6th grade flute was not for me)

6. I wish that I could sing as well as the joy it brings me. ( I sing all the time, the release it gives me)

7. I wish that I could understand my mother

8. I wish that I could be in more than one place at a time, to be with all my loved ones.

8 Things I look forward to:

1. Being done with school and teaching/helping children

2. Being a wonderful mother

3. Having my friends come vist me over here and see all these great places

4. Traveling more, especially our trip to Germany in June, Camping in France in July, London in August and Scotland in October

5. Making that trip back to Utah to see my gram(bad health so need to get there pronto)

6. Loosing this weight, being me again, well physically.

7. Having my house decorated just the way I want it to be

8.A nice sunny couple of days, I hope. Especially after this rain

8 Shows I watch:

1.Friends(I love it over and over again)

2.Smallville(always a superman gal)

3.Senifeild(my hubby and my mom got me hooked)

4. Ghost Whisperer(just got started, now all of these shows are on DVD since do not have regular cable over here yet. We are lookinh into Sky which is through Great Britian)

5.Sex in the City(I just want to live in NYC for 1yr)

6.Tudors(i love history and add a bit of yummy Jonathan Rhys Meyers done deal)

7.Dexter(sick show, goes with that I wanted to be a crimnal pyschologist)

8.All the the others, when I am not reading(which is all the time. We make up our own tv programming watching new shoes on DVD together)

8 Things I did Yesterday

1. Got up

2. Finshed the 3rd book in my new series

3. Started the 4th book in my series

4. PLayed with the dogs

5. Watched a Ryon do some garden work

6. Had dinner

7. Called my mother in law

8 Talked to my girl Lil Bridget in Texas.

8 Random Photos I love

Just soome random photos I pulled out a folder, I do not really ever have anything to post them with. Most of these are from Alaska, my goregous home state.

Now I only have 8 people that follow me on here....soooo ALL 8 of you are tagged! Please do it, it shall be fun!!!

Simple Words

I got a little raw and deep yesterday. I apologize to my fellow bloggers for that DUMP of emotional baggage. I feel much better today though, the sun is shinning, I have a few good talks to clear my head. I am trying to just move foward, be simple do simple things, get my many list accomplished, to not be upset at myself when I do not accomplish everything on my many lists. =) I found a quote, and it fits me today. I want to keep it for the rest of the week.

CHERISH YESTERDAY
DREAM TOMMOROW
LIVE TODAY!!!!!!


That is my goal. Breathe in and breathe out.

I also need to get this psych homework done. Plus my 50 things to do by 50!! I have read the bucket lists, the 100 things to do before you die, 30 before 30. Which I pondered on doing. However with that only 3yrs away I do not want to feel rushed. I am going to take my time in doing my own list. 50 before 50. I challenge you ALL who read this to do that. Let us know that there is always time to achieve stuff. Besides I notice when you think about what you want to do, you remember what you have done and that just makes you realize how much you have lived, loved, enjoyed.

Hugs and Blessings to You ALL

~Bridgette~

Hope

~Though hope is frail~

~It's hard to kill~

I always have hope for you.

that you will do what it takes.

be the way you should be

to earn that title

what title?

Mom.

I know you are more than a mom.

i try to look at your choices from a woman's point

just even a human

I CANT UNDERSTAND

How many times can you go down this path?

How many of your children do you need to tell you with their tears it is hurting them?

how many people need to try to tell you how to fix it before you learn it is broken?

you would think with as many times as you have stood at this point you would know how to prevent it, how to fix it, how to see it coming,

why?

why?

you are killing their childhood, their faith in you, their innocence.

Did my stories of my point of view of the past do nothing?

I just know, we know

you can be so much more, I ALWAYS HOPE that you will see your potential through my eyes

that of a successful woman

an adult

a mother

a sister

your eldest daughter

even though you have let me down, the kids down, I still have that one thing

that thing you can not kill with the insanity of the same actions every year

every decade

every generation you are putting through the current issues you're facing

what is it?

MY HOPE

Crafty?

So I follow this blog by this wonderful lady named Joy, if you want to check out her site go here. I am just one of hundreds of followers that she has. Well seeing how easy she makes it look I figured hey I am going to start doing stuff like that. Sooo I went to the thrift store called Grandma's Attic and found some great things. Add a lil tape, some spray paint. VOILA!!

So what do you think for the first ever spray painting-fixing up project I did?




HAHAHA that was just during the process, here are the before and afters~
First lesson, TAPING IS KEY, I did get some spray on the glass but I can get them off. I sprayed the other one white and did not like it so that is why there is only two here. I am now going to spray them crimson or cherry red. I paid 10 bucks for all 3 of them. I saw the little ones at IKEA a couple of weeks ago for 7 EUROS a piece. Add the black spray paint I got them about 75% cheaper. THAT is something to smile about.


So if you check this post out Joy, thank you for inspiring me. For others I recomend you start looking at things that are a lil rusty, broken and ugly in a new light. I also have done a ladder bookshelf I was going to donate, some picture frames to go with my new "theme" in my dining room. They look fabolous and I feel like I have a new piece of furniture. I am on a roll and am not stopping anytime soon.

Sixth Photo Tag

So I was needing something to post today since I have been neglectful. I have been up to the top of my curly head in reading/homework for school. Now I am very aware of why I put it off to get it finished and get that degree. Maybe I should have stuck with banking??=)

So I happened to be reading a friends blog, Brie, and she tagged me. Well she tagged anyone who reads. You have to go to your sixth photo folder, and pick the sixth photo and then tag six people. Tooo many 6's for my comfort. As long as they are not near each other I will be okay.=)


So my picture is of my 21yr old goregous sister Alexandra. As you can tell she is into the partying.However she is a good girl and this is Halloween. I stole this pic off her myspace and then did some editing. =)

So the 6 people I tag are--Lisa, Georgia,Jen-Jen,and um...that is it cause I am lame. Anyone else who wants too. Write me back and let me know if you did it.

Foggy Today

I know I want to say something
But what?

I can just feel the words on the tip of my tongue
waiting to go out onto this blankness
longing to speak
ears waiting to hear

Foggy
that is how I am today


It has been a week since I posted and I had no clue what to write. It is funny that about 5 of the blogs I like to read are all saying the same thing. I had a great time in Dublin and I shall post some wonderful pictures soon of the Castle. Dulbin is not the green Ireland we all think of. But I will just have to go back again and again to capture that huh?

I hope you all had a great Week.. I will get back on the proper flow again soon.

Luv
B

A tribute

The lyrics from this James Blunt Song really fit what you want to say to friends when they go through diffcult times. It just always make me want to call all my friends let them hear it. I would sing it to them but I do not want to torture them. =) I limit singing to them to Happy Birthday Marilyn Monore style...over quickly. =)

I have a dear friend that is experiencing one of the most painful things a woman can go through. Having your heart broken by betrayal...this is just some of things I want to say to her. But not sure how to get it perfectly. I also give this to my friends that are just going through a rough time.

I love you, I am here for you, always open armed, open mind and listening ears.

Thank you for being someone I call friend.

What do you think?

Hey everyone, I decided to do another blog, one of my passion for shoes and possibly accessories. I started it last week but was not sure If I wanted to actually do it. But I am going to it will probally slack of on post in two weeks when I start school 4 days a week. But till then I will have fun with it. So for now I have a bit of a shoe crisis. So come on over to SHOE ADDICT AND PROUD OF EM"

Help me choose. Not going to post anything else this week or weekend. So y'all have a great weekend!!!


ps. I got the idea of a seperate blog for clothes,shoe whatever from Lisa. She talked about wanting to do a thrift store blog. I then was like hey I would love to shoe case my latest finds on shoes. Why not? So thanks Lisa.

And then there was light......

Because of the wide range of different lamp posts I have seen in the few places I have visted over here in Europe I choose to make a whole album of only them. I wanted to post some pictures on here but could not think of any that really got my heart in them. So I thought why not share a taste of my 4yr project?? So here are a few of my fav's so far in my European Light Journey..

This is one across the street from the Petite' Palace in Paris, France. We were walking to the Louve from the Eifel Tower. NEVER AGAIN. Tooo long in the shoes I wore. Of course I edited it just to mix it up a bit. Would that not be cool if you could make a camera do that? I do not think you can, correct me if you I am wrong.This one is from Amsterdamn, Netherlands. I took it while waiting in line for the Anne Frank house. I was going to make it black and white and just bring out the red. But I felt I should love the brass color and leave it be.

This is the 2nd way I edited the Amsterdamn Lamp. I mirrored the image, eroded the edges , made it sepia tones and added a lil of the red back to it. Which one do you think out of the two edited versions should go in my album??

This is another one from Paris, France. That same trip except this one was taken as we were walking across the main bridge in the dowtown area. I loved all the statues, the larger than life lamp posts(like this one)..even the gold was something I loved.

Any tips? Or any favs?

So I hope you all have had a good week so far. Mine has been Uber busy. I signed up for the biggest looser competition here on base. That way I have accountabilty. It has been an off and on diet, lifestyle change, work out yo-yo struggle for the last two years. I did not grow up big or in a big family. I was not big till I was 23. So this is B.S. I gotta take care of myself. THis current go around time has been around 2 months old. I do not want to talk myself out of it, I do not want to get lazy. This week I stepped it up about 20 notchs or so. =) 1- keeping an eating journal, 2-watching my calories and 3-working out everyday, 4-the competition just to help me stay focused. So wish me luck. As well we have 11 days till Dublin. AHAAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! If you could not tell I am horrible excited about it.

Happy Blogging y'all!

Au Revior

~Bridgette~

Friend, Amigo,Ami,Freund

The death of a friend is equivalent to the loss of a limb."

"Life without a friend is like death without a witness."

" A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away."

(I got those proverbs from this website)


Today is a goregous sunny day and I am loving all of the uv-rays. It is one of those days that stops to make me ponder things, appreciate, just quietly sit and get warm. So what I pondered today was my friends. I am truly, WITH OUT a doubt BLESSED when it comes to the wonderful people I have in my life. I was worried about moving to another country and not having anybody to get away with. To laugh & cry with. I know, I know I always have my hubby and he is the one of the top ones on the list. He knows that or I hope he does. To me though you must have those women in your life that change things, affect you in a postive way, give you that away time from the other half of you. Sometimes you even find that in another guy. But I only have those guy friends from before my marriage. You have to be careful there with the guy friend thing. =)

Well my luck and blessings certaintly did not run out when I moved here. I still have been able to remain in good contact with those back home in the states and made a couple more. Two that really make it easy here, B & K. Those are the two I think of inviting places first, the ones that if I wanted to mitch and moan about something I would call. They have always shown they care about me and want the best for me in the short 8 months of friendship. I also have J & A...but the first two I just clicked with instantly, and one is leaving this fall. Which the thought of for me saddens me. Just the way it is in the miltary..you get to travel meet some awesome folks..but one day they will be taken from your circle and at times it is the best for them.


They say you loose friendships the older you get, that once you have a family it is hard to keep close. There have been those that slip away, you loose that bond with I have noticed. But some of them were not worth the time I was putting into them. Maybe I was not worth the time other ones were putting into me, would like to think I am a good friend. However there has to be times I just did not give them what they deserved. To think I never made mistakes would be waay to cocky of me. To me though you count your good friends as family. You hold on, do what it takes, those lil.. "just calling to say I love ya and hello" calls, the birthday cards(from me that are always late). I have gotten stronger friendships as I got older, to be able to detect the bullcrap from the truth. That is why I am truly blessed when it comes to friends. Alaska, Utah, Texas and now Belgium have introduced me to amazing, spectacular people. Some moved away before I did and now I have great places to go vist them. Wow really starting to feel like the word "I" is being used. Does that look bad? What other word could I use without it being worse proper grammar than I already use. =) hahaha

Anyways off my main reason for the blog....just to say THANK YOU to my girls, the few guys, my sisters, my blessed family. I certaintly did something right in the last life to get these people in this one.

Do not get me wrong there have been negative people that fooled me and I let in and got hurt. Do not want to seem all. " Love my life, all is perfect". I just wanted to be able to put it out there to the friends that read this that I KNOW how lucky I am to have them. That if I have not told them thank you before. THANK YOU!!! For the things you have done yesterday will do today and I know you will do in the future.

I Heart Faces Week --- B&W

So I was doing my normal routine of reading all the lovely posts my fellow bloggers had posted this afternoon. As it normal goes this one blog gave me an idea. Gergoia has a way with finding awesome things to do with photography, as well she mixes poems, pictures, lyrics from music and passages from books in the most splendid way. I have always found several other of the blogs that I like to read via her read list. To me it is no suprise that she found something else that is great to do. A FACE CONTEST. Not an actual face..but a photo.Sooo she is doing this contest on this site called iheartfaces

SO I choose to use this picture of me, bare, fresh....vunerable per say. No mask, just me and my smile. the shadows is something that really makes my face pop I think. I had taken it and sent it to my husband on a TDY, that way he could have a pic of me while thinking of him. He always makes me smile wider than my mouth can actual stretch. I like

I figured why not I will go ahead and do it too. So this is the photo that I am entering. YOu just must must MUST go check out everyone else entires Again at this link.iheartfacesI looked at only about 50 and was loving every entry. So many people have so much talent.
Laters~B~

????

Who are you?
You stare at me as If I should know you
I think I know you,
are you me?
Are you what I used to be?
Or maybe what I long to be?

I long for us to know each other again
To be able to talk,
not the silent pleading.
Really talk
Can we?
How?
You
and
Me


Take my hand
Off we go

to become
not
you
or
me
but we.




I was just sitting listening to this lovely artist I found called Neko Case, she is like a mix between Alsion Krausse and Mazzy Star,and a lil of Janice Joplin to me. I added her to my playlist. For all I know you could be listening to her now. Well I started to look at pics, then the a.d.d in me kicked in and started to read old journals. WOW...what a trip. So that is where that lil poem or blurb comes from. It comes from me poking around in my head..my head of the past, now and then looking towards the future. i hope I can stay on this path I am currently on. I long to get away from the large girl, the accept it gal. I want to be the healthly, fit, take charge I deserve the best girl. I think I am getting there. Stayed tuned maybe you can open the curtains with me.

~B~

What Others think...

The Pastor's Ass
The pastor entered his donkey in a race and it won.
The pastor was so pleased with the donkey that he entered it in the raceagain, and it won again.

The local paper read:
PASTOR'S ASS OUT FRONT.

The Bishop was so upset with this kind of publicity that he ordered the pastor not to enter the donkey in another race.

The next day, the local paper headlineread:
BISHOP SCRATCHES PASTOR'S ASS.

This was too much for the bishop, so he ordered the pastor to get rid of the donkey.
The pastor decided to give it to a nun in a nearby convent.

The local paper, hearing of the news, posted the following headline thenext day:
NUN HAS BEST ASS IN TOWN.

The bishop fainted.
He informed the nun that she would have to get rid of the donkey,

so she sold it to a farmer for $10.

The next day the paper read:
NUN SELLS ASS FOR $10.

This was too much for the bishop, so he ordered the nun to buy back the donkey and lead it to the plains where it could run wild.

The next day the headlines read:
NUN ANNOUNCES HER ASS IS WILD AND FREE.

The bishop was buried the next day.

I had to post that story, I care to much what my loved ones think at times, I have friends who are even worse than I am. But reading that just made me realize...you have to please yourself and your god. Only person who can judge me is my savior. No one else. So why should I care. I am not saying go out and be a brat, and do rude things. But when It is something you are okay with do not get so focused on trying to please others.

Basically

The moral of the story is being concerned about public opinion can bring you much grief and misery .even shorten your life.
So be yourself and enjoy life.
Stop worrying about everyone else's ass and you'll be a lot happier and live longer!
Have a nice day

Hugs

~Bridgette~

Heart.You.Always.

Hey even though we are not big Valentines Day people. I wanted to give you a little something to say Happy Valentines Day, I love you and Thank you..so here are so words I never say enough...I think anways

Ryon Ray,

Thank you. For being a strong man that I can lean on.
Thank you. For being able to calm me down like no one else can
Thank you. For loving me
Thank you. For showing me that it is okay to say "I need you..."
Thank you. For always being able to know when I am hiding my true feelings.
Thank you..For making me want to be a better person
Thank you. For making me feel beauitful
Thank you. For some how knowing when I need that hug
Thank you. For accepting my family
Thank you. For giving me your family
Thank you. For one day being the father of our children
Thank you. For just laughing gently when I get all nerdy and clap my hands at the lil things.
Thank you. For you

I never feel that I tell you enough, I never show you enough. You mean the world to me. I would not want to be experience these times with anyone else but you. We have been through so, so , so much. We never do anything half ass it is always full throttle using all of our hearts, souls..and sometimes tempers. I am proud to look at you in your uniform....to know what a good, NO great soilder you are. How your peers and superiors look up to you. You never settle and I might call you greedy at times. But secretly I love that you always get something and then reach for more. Life is never boring with you.


Thank you

You are mine

As I am yours,

B

Forget.Don't You

Hey Y'all!! I just wanted to write a quick blog to remind you not to forget about my photo blog I am doing with a friend check it out here please. If that does not work it is called Two Friends.Two Pictures on my read list. We are having alot of fun with it to just see how we take the pictures so diffrently. Now as well with another photo goal of mine..the one picture a day. I was getting to were if I did not go anywhere that day that I was finding it hard to be able to take a pic of something around the house and yard that was not Ryon or my pets. I went to the ShutterSisters site and they said not to force yourself with goals like that, you end up with bad pictures it is okay. Well they said it lot more uplifting and used better words.=) I have a link to their page to the left. Anyways so this week I only took one pic, because I do not want to take bad pictures. But I wanted to share with you some of the "photo a day" pictures I have taken. Now my friend Lisa over at her blog has been posting hers every week. For you photo lovers you have got to check her blog out, on my read list it is LISA she is really got an eye for catching things in neat ways. But anyways here are a few of mine that I have taken. 1. flowers ryon got me 2. my favorite cross in my new red bookshelves 3. the antique chair i bought.i am on a red kick

and a weird angle one.
4. first snow fall.i love snow

Oh this week has been absolutely wonderful and full filling. I registered for classes, ordered books. I am not taking that Collge Algerbra 3 class. I thought it was just a basic math but it is not. So I am doing French, Pysch and Western Civilization.Just cross your fingers for me that I get a student loan. My mom and the kids are not going to loose the house(If you do not know I will write a blog about it later but they were one of the ones hit by the nationwide epidemic of foreclourses, well my gram was) oh and we are 80% sure we are going to Switzerland in June. I will tell you more about that laters. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Have a great weekend, do something sweet on Friday the 13th, something with your lover on Saturday and Rest on Sunday like the Lord wants us too. I know I always do.
~HUGS~

Bridgette