(Three Cheers for) Five Years

I'll give the person who can sing me that song $100... just kidding. :)   I graduated High School five whole years ago today.  I can't believe how quickly time has passed.    I learned that some habits will die hard.  Procrastination... studying for a test and then forgetting it all... faking it until you make it... I learned that hard work is still valued and that it doesn't do anyone any good for someone to be the mean girl... Five years flies... I have learned the importance of friendship, and that you can have more than one best friend. One of my best friends is still the gal that hung beside me through all of middle and high school.  One of my best friends became my husband.   

  The last five years has been so good to me.  I attended two different colleges and graduated from the second.  I found me, for me. I learned to be confident in who I am and that those who matter will always always be there for you.  

Little Bit of Learning; Whole Lot of Loving

I'm a Type A... about everything. Trips. Money. Our next five years. You name it, I plan it.  That's my biggest fault, honestly.  I have a hart time going with the flow, having fun, and being spontaneous.  It keeps me from doing a lot.  Friday night, Jackson got together with the kids from church and our new youth minister and had a nerf gun war.  He texted me from Target and asked if he could buy a new nerf gun.  I was typing out a "can't you use the one you have?" and realized that he is always working so hard and deserved it.  So I did some thinking and sent him something I've taken our whole marriage to learn... "Sometimes it's okay to throw caution to the wind and buy a new nerf gun.  Or take a trip.  It's okay to be a little reckless sometimes.  We are managing just fine. " I have learned that life is way too short to make money a priority... and planning financially down to a T leaves little room for fun. He called me and told me how proud he was of me and how much he loves me.  I thanked him for being so patient while I learned that huge lesson.  This brings me to our awesome weekend.  Last week , I was itching to get away.  Monday, I sent Jackson "Holiday World?!" and that was that. We left about 7:30 Saturday morning, hit Indiana about 10 and spent six hours or so in the park.  Lines were short because kids are still in school.  We rode the new Thunderbird three whole times! The commercials don't even get close to doing it justice.   Here's our photo dump of our day. 

I think at this point he said "Say I've been good this year!" and neither of us said anything and he goes "oh, silent night, eh?" 

 

I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend with family and friends celebrating those of our military who have given their all so that we may be free! 

Life Lately

I feel like more often, I'm writing "catch up" posts... what's been going on lately.  Mostly because days dont amount to enough for a post all on their own.  And we've literally been running ragged these last few weeks and weekends.   We recently had a bowling date with our sister in law and friends from church. I'm so terrible, but it is really a lot of fun.

 

Sunday, we woke up, went to church, got lunch, went to Lifegroup, and went to a graduation party.  I was gone from 9am to close to 6pm. 

 

We're back on our summer schedule of four 10-hour days a week and I have Mondays off again.  This Monday, I went to Dad's to hang out with my sister before she leaves for London on Friday.  Lucky duck.

  Nashville summer has been bearable lately.  Like windows up napping in the storm kind of good weather. If the storms wouldn't make life so humid, it'd be even better. 

    We had a milkshake date with my best friend and Jackson's best man. She's going to Wisconsin for the summer. He's going to Mississippi for forever. So we had a "farewell please come home soon we don't do well without you" date.... that lasted until Midnight.... and I had to be up at 5AM the following day.... today.... I'm dying. haha.

 

Jackson and I are taking a trip this weekend to reconnect. Just the two of us.  The Little Hineys are taking on Holiday World this Saturday.... and I am pumped.

Weekending

Our weekend was full and so busy and 95% of it was great.   Friday afternoon I went to Dads to fall in love with a furball.  Jackson agreed to let us keep this one!!

Friday night, Jackson and I went and ate at cracker barrel.  We came home, watched Pitch Perfect, and turned in early.   Saturday morning, we were up with the sun.  We went to the grocery, got gas, and got Taco Bell for breakfast all before 10AM.  Also, we are not breakfast defectors. blehh. We then got ready to go meet my parents and Nana for Mother's Day late lunch at Cheddars. 

Saturday night, we watched Pitch Perfect again, and What to Expect when You're Expecting, and we went to bed. 

 

Sunday, we got up for church, went to his mama's for Mother's Day lunch, caught the grill on fire, had yummy steaks, and went to Lowes to pick out flowers for our balcony.  I've been itching to plant something, and we had a gift card... so what better day!? We bought beautiful Lillies and Impatiens to plant!

After planting the flowers we went to church and then Blue Coast for dinner.. mmm. :)

 

I can't wait to read about your Mother's Day weekends.

Dear 43-year-old Chrissy...

Dear 43-year-old Chrissy First of all, I hope you're happy.  I hope Jackson is doing well and that wherever you are, you've made it a home. I hope you have crystal vases full of faux flowers and places set for the season. I hope your puppies and babies are all that your 23-year-old self is dreaming it will be.  I hope your gray hairs and your wrinkles are minimal and that you laugh and don't care that you're adding laugh lines.  I hope you're taking every day and enjoying it for what it offers... I hope you're taking in the small joys of life and that there are too many joys to count.  I hope you and Jackson have taken more vacations, more pictures, and more time for yourselves.  I hope your marriage is stronger and more God centered than it has ever been and that you never stop encouraging and loving each other more daily.  

Love, your 23-year-old self. 

5 Books I Love

My tip top favorite books are the Harry Potters.  

...followed closely by the Hunger Games

My favorite teacher in High School read us Tuesdays with Morrie every day before we got started with class.  This book broke me and taught me more than I understood at the time. 

Another of my favorite books from High School was To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.  If you haven't read this one, go now. 

The last of my academic favorites is a tie between 1984 and Brave New World.  Again, two that if you haven't read it, you probably should like... yesterday. 

What are your favorite books?!?

Never Have I Ever

I found this great link up and can't wait to jump back on the blogging train.  I fell off and just don't have content to get back on.  Thanks to those of you who stuck around!   Never have I ever....   Ridden in a plane Been to California Run more than one mile Lived more than 50 minutes away from my parents Gotten a tattoo Kissed more than two boys.  Been to either of the Dakota's Written in Calligraphy Been fired from a job Attended a professional basketball game Ridden on a train Liked the color yellow (sorry Kayla!! haha) Had the flu (knock on wood) dived (dove?) from a cliff  

What have you never done?!