Happy Thanksgiving!

So, I started a countdown of seven days of gratefulness. That didn't exactly work out due to my busy life, and hiccups along the way. However, in an effort to make up for that I decided to post seven things I'm grateful for. So, here they are...

7. Health- I'm grateful for my health and the health of my family. Our health is something that we often take for granted. Then something tragic happens to remind us how fragile life is. So after I get done stuffing myself with turkey, potatoes, salad, vegetables and pie, I think I'll make up a new work out plan.

6. Home- Though it will be changing soon, it's a place where I feel free, comfortable. Warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and sometimes vice versa. But it's a place to feel at ease with those that I love. There are so many people who don't have a roof, a floor, a place to feel completely safe and loved.

5. Jobs- More pointedly, the ability to work and provide for our family. Whether the location and type of work changes, we have the physical capability to work and earn a living.

4. Chessa- My sweet, loyal, loving girl. Snuggly in the morning, loves her babies, loves her "Daddy" more. Loves bones, and treats galore. But best of all, she just loves.

3. Friends- I have the greatest mixed bag of friends. They come in all locations, shapes and varieties. Some are still in my life, others are not. Each of them served a wonderful purpose, helped me through something, over something, or perhaps just maybe I did the same for them. I'm thankful for each person that has touched my life.

2. Family- Our families are hard-working, God-fearing, loving, out spoken, reserved, boisterous. They love unconditionally, fully, and passionately. We may not always see eye-to-eye, but under it all is love. We love each and everyone of you.

1. God- For all the many, many blessings He has bestowed on us and our families. Though we may not understand His works and His ways. May we learn patience, and trust in His infinite wisdom.

Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving. May you have much to be thankful for this holiday season and always.

Love, The Kings

Grateful...but slacking...

Well, I failed the gratitude posts this year. Perhaps I'll try it again next year. It's been hectic, and I'm feeling stressed, depressed and blue. We have a lot of pressure on us right now, and I would just like people to be happy for us. Some are, some aren't. And it's hard.

I am grateful, and I am sad. Our Woobie cat found a new home this weekend and I'm taking it slightly harder than I thought I would. But enough about that.

Let's hope the days get better. I'm good, or I will be. I just need to bounce back. :)

7 days...

It's seven days until Thanksgiving. And since I find it so easy to find the things in life that I don't have, or that aren't right, I figured I'd count down these next 7 days by choosing one thing per day to be thankful for. It's so easy to get caught up in the "why me's" and "if only's" that I thought I'd take 7 full days to be positive, and grateful, and thankful.

I am thankful for him. This guy. Sparky. The love of my life. We've had ups, and we've had a lot of downs. But he loves so unconditionally. He acts like a tough guy, but is a softie at heart. He loves me. Unconditionally. Tells me the truth, even when the truth is hard. He shares my hopes. He shares my dreams. He's strong. He's vulnerable. He's imperfect. He's perfect...for me. He's opiniated. He's smart. He's sexy. He loves God. He loves animals. He wants to be the father of my children. He loves his Grandpa. He loves his Grandma. He loves deep. He hurts deep. He loves our families. He is the first person I want to share something wonderful with. He's the shoulder I cry on. He calms me. He is my soul mate. He is...mine.

Please Pray

Our friend's, Tonya and Adam, are going through a rough time in their lives. Tonya had an aneurysm burst a week and a half ago. She's 32. Fortunately we live close to the Mayo Clinic and they were able to rush her there, by helicopter. She's been conscious and stable for about a week now. They did surgery on Monday to repair the damage and she came out better than they thought. Amen. So now they're doing "stroke watch". Apparently if she manages to stay stroke free through today she may be able to come home. This weekend! Can you believe it? So, if you have an extra minute, could you please pray for Tonya's continued recovery.

Thank you!



For other updates you can also check out my other blog. To Alaska and Beyond! This will update you on any of our move stuff. :)
Have a happy day!

Tick...Tock...Tick...Tock...

Depending on the day I can hear my biological clock ticking away. Sometimes it's a very soft tick, other days it's not-so-subtle and I can almost audibly hear it, and other times it's an ear shattering clang at 100 beats per minute. Every year the tick seems quieter. Quieter? Yes, quieter.


Sparky and I talk frequently about becoming parents. For some reason, it's all a dream. Something that I'm never sure will come to fruition. We both desperately want to hold our children, to spend endless Saturday mornings in bed, watching cartoons, with the dog. And maybe a cat, or two.

This time of year is especially hard. It's supposed to be the happiest time of the year. A time for families. It's just us. We don't feel much like a family. Even though, I know the two of us make a very strong, loving family. Us, the dog and the cat. lol. We love. Strongly. Deeply. And we hurt. Deeply.

Each year we have faith that this will be "our" year. That this next holiday season will be shared with our child. So, we continue to have faith, and hope, and wish, and pray, that someday soon, our dreams come true.

An exciting week so far!

So, it's been a pretty exciting week so far. I started it off in my hometown with my family. A nice visit was had, and we headed South for the winter. lol. We got home to snow and ice.

Tuesday morning I was late to work due to bad roads and bridge closures. The interstate was fine once I got there.

Okay, the exciting part is that I started a blog for my family and friends to track our trek to Alaska. Are you sick of hearing me talk about it yet? I am. You can see it here at To Alaska...and Beyond!

Also, my cousin and his darling wife added a third son to their family. Kellan Joseph was born yesterday afternoon and joins big brothers Eithan and Kaiden. Mommy and Kellan are doing well.

Now, I need a bed. I'm about to keel over.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

This past weekend we traveled the 350 miles home to visit my family and friends. This is an annual trip. You see, in the Northland it's hunting season. Deer opener. And since I come from a long line of hunters, and shoppers, we hunt and shop. More to the point, Sparky hunts and I shop.

As I stated in my previous post I was nervous. So much rigamaroll has been going on in the last year that I was afraid that all of that hoopla would ruin the weekend. Well, it didn't. YAY!

We had a great day. We talked and bonded and laughed and had a good time. A really good time.

Sparky and I bought a new video camera to tape our journey to Alaska. Of course we had to try it out and got some hilarious footage of deer tales. Yes, they are similar to fish tales. lol. Now, if I can just figure out how to get pics and video off my little handycam we'll upload it here for posterity.

So hopefully this little thread we've weaved will grow again into a tapestry. I can be patient. Maybe. I'm just hopeful. Hmmmm. Seems to be the word of the year.

In high school I was the classic overachiever. I was in every extra curricular sport and activity available. I smiled, I cajoled, I was a nice girl. Head cheerleader, peer helper, Miss Hometown. At 18, I had the world by the balls. And then I realized that I was a grown up. And my life as I knew it, was over. Much to my surprise, my family had a huge reaction to me taking control of my own life. At the time I felt it was unfair and outrageous, and now I understand that they were concerned and scared. It was after all, an about face. I left my dreams of college behind and decided I wanted nothing more than to be a wife and mother. It was a great goal. However, God had other plans for me. I learned quickly that I never had control. I never would have control.

We've struggled along the way because of my choices. Our choices. I regret a couple of the choices I made, but I don't regret being the woman that I am. I am so much stronger and smarter than I ever thought I could be, would be. For that I am eternally thankful.

Choices are a part of daily life. You choose to wear black, or brown, to have curly hair, or straight hair, sassy stilettos or those practical flats for running errands. These choices are how people first see us. Some become friends and get to know that you much prefer the sassy stilettos to those practical flats. And some see us sporadically, sometimes at our best, sometimes at our worst, and that is how they choose to view our lives.

My relationship with my family is strained. This weekend we are going "home". I am excited, and I am very,very nervous. My brother isn't speaking to me, for reasons that I don't know. This is the part that frustrates me. I feel that if I knew what it was, really was, that we could talk, that we could communicate. But he won't answer phone calls, or emails. That's his choice. Until he decides to make other choices, we don't have a relationship. I miss him and hope that someday we can patch whatever sprung a leak. But for now, it makes things uncomfortable.

Every time I'm home I struggle to find enough time for everyone. For my friends, for my family. for me. This will be the last time I'm able to make time for all of them. Then we move. So, I hope to let my hair down, relax and find a way to communicate and bond. So, tonight I'll pray to find a way to connect, relax, and make everyone happy, but especially myself.

History Is Made

Ladies and Gentlemen. The next president of the United States of America. Barack Obama.

History is made. For that, I am thankful. My concern, however, is how much it had to do with being the right candidate versus the right race.

I think having an African American president is wonderful. Truly. I also think that having a woman president would be great. I'm happy that America can see beyond the color of someone's skin and gender to determine their worth, their qualifications.

So here we are. A part of history. Will you remember where you were, what you were doing, and the feeling that accompanied this momentous occasion in history? I will. It's very similar to 9/11. I did not vote for our new president. I also have hope, I also seek change. I truly hope that the change that America is seeking brings unity, brings peace, brings hope, and brings change.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Halloween Hauntings

Halloween was great! It was a nice break, a nice relaxing evening. Fun was had by all, including the cutest little monster on the planet. Isn't he cute??? He was drooling on Dr. Anita Plezure. So we had to put a spit block in place. He's so snuggly and soft and sweet and special. Aww man. He's so darn cute. I can say that. He's not mine. But I like to claim him anyway.

Below are some more pictures from the infamous evening.

The monster and his 80's lady mommy.

Caramel Apple Martini's are a great way to celebrate fall!

So, S would KILL me, and I'm sorry, but this pic is sooo us. Totally contrary and yet totally connected. Who knew?

Thanks for a great time Sweets! It was just what the doctor ordered!