The Baby Bucket List...

If you've visited my blog in the last few days, you may have already noticed the "Baby Bucket List" on the right side. What is this you ask? Well, after the extremely depressing week I had last week, I decided to focus on some positives. I still have the ability to do things, you know? Just because I haven't been blessed with a child yet doesn't mean that I haven't been blessed with talents that should be put to good use, or a beautiful world to go out and explore. So I started my baby bucket list in the hopes of accomplishing these things either before pregnancy or before we actually have a child in our life. Each time I complete one of the items on the list, I'll mark it off! Sounds like fun, right??

So I'm wondering, what's on YOUR bucket list? What is something that you would like to do either before starting a family or before the thing that's inevitable? Share with me! :o)

Check out this new blog!

My friend and former co-worker (supervisor!), Tara, has started a blog called Dance in the Rain. Her husband is in the process of being deployed to Afghanistan, and she thought that a blog would be a great way to keep friends and family updated, as well as it would be a good outlet for her! I totally agree...that's how mine began...as an outlet. We all need that from time to time. It's also nice to blog and be able to go back and see what was going on in your life a year or two ago. A journal for the world to see :o)

So, if you will, please go and check out her blog HERE and give her some "bloggers' love"!

Love you Tara, and I am definitely keeping you and Kevin in my prayers daily!!!

New Giveaway Blog!

So I'm copying Jenny and Kristen...I thought their idea was awesome! I've started a separate Giveaway blog called "Giveaway! Who has a GIVEAWAY??" to let you know what I've entered so that YOU can enter too!!! Also, my "personal" blog won't be so tied up with this and that. Enjoy!!!

So happy that yesterday is over...

Literally, yesterday was absolutely horrible! H-O-R-R-I-B-L-E!! Let me start by telling you that we (Josh and I) have been on "vacation" this week. No, we didn't go anywhere, but we both decided this was a good time to take off and just do little things around the house. We have been somewhat successful and somewhat lazy. You know how that goes.

Well, you know about our baby situation, or the lack thereof. Before I go further, I'm just going to warn you, there may be TMI! Anyway, I am as regular as the sun coming up in the morning and setting in the evening. I know exactly when my visitor will make her entrance and usually when she'll leave. Knowing this, she should have arrived Sunday. Well, I was stood up Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Anyone who has gone through infertility knows all too well what I was feeling...

"Oh my gosh, this is real...it's finally happened!! How am I going to tell everyone, how am I going to tell JOSH?? We've got to get that room cleared out for the baby...We've got to get furniture for the baby...Let me check online and see if this is normal...Am I for sure? Could I have taken something to delay my period?? No way, this is it!! I can already feel the "symptoms"...Ok, I need to just go ahead and let Josh know this is it! Josh, I still haven't started and I have all these symptoms. We have to get a test! Will you run and get one??? PLEASE??? And get a 2 pack so we can take it again just to be sure. Let me do a little more research online..."

For those of you who have never been through this, are you feeling me now? Well, on Wednesday, Josh heads to CVS, buys an EPT 2 pack, like I asked, takes a coupon of course (they are soo expensive!) and comes back home.

I take the test...we barely make it the 2 minutes before going back. No plus sign...Two single lines in different windows. 2 broken hearts...again.

At this point, I had siked up both up sooo much, you can't even imagine! Josh was already seeing himself playing with Josh Jr. (no, we haven't picked that as a name, just an example). I was already seeing that room all decorated for a baby girl. But there was no need to so soon. I was literally devastated! I have got myself so excited in the past and convinced myself that I had the pregnancy "symptoms", but then my period would start. Never, ever, have I been as convinced as I was this week. To top it off, we were off work which meant, I can just be online constantly looking things up about early pregnancy symptoms and if spotting is normal 2 to 3 days after a missed period. I could go to the bathroom every 5 minutes because my uterus was pressing on my bladder and I just couldn't help it. I could have my husband go out and purchase a pregnancy test (for which, we really didn't need to spend the money on), and only to have it show that we are indeed NOT pregnant yet again. The tears flowed, and still continue now and then.

How did I let it take a hold of me like that?? I prayed soo hard...I begged God to let me be pregnant this time. I literally BEGGED! I told him that I would be sick every second just to bring a healthy child into the world in 9 months. I just knew he was blessing us with this precious gift. I just knew it!

Then I found out...it's not in his plan for us at this time. I have got to stop thinking that it's in my time and not HIS! I have to! All on my own, I ruined what should have been a relaxing week for the two of us. I did that and I'm so ashamed and embarrassed by it. I got my husband's hopes up so much that he even thought this was it. I broke his heart...that kills me. I've been telling myself that I will never let this happen again...that I'll just stop thinking about it.

You know how hard that is though, right? I have and will continue to pray to God for patience and peace, and for a child. I still trust in him and will continue to do so. I have to have faith and trust in his plan for me...for us. If I don't put this in his hands and just go on living life, I will never be alright.

Show Us Your LIfe - Thanksgiving Recipes and Traditions

Over at Kelly's Korner, this weeks Show Us Your Life topic is Thanksgiving Recipes and Traditions.

I love Thanksgiving and the atmosphere that surrounds it! Plus, you're just that much closer to Christmas :o) I don't really have a special recipe for Thanksgiving, but I do have a special woman who makes a special dish at Thanksgiving!

Her name is Ma...My dad's mom. She has always made, what I happen to think is, the BEST Chicken-n-Dressin'...It's wonderful!!! I have yet to attempt it. Maybe one day I'll tackle that one.

As far as a tradition, well, we definitely have one! My husband's favorite movie, of all time, is "It's a Wonderful Life"...

He absolutely loves this movie and I have grown to love it just as much. Every Thanksgiving, after lunch or dinner, doesn't matter which as long as it's ON THANKSGIVING", we cuddle up and watch it together. It is a very touching movie and usually brings tears to the eyes.

"Dear George, Remember no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks for the wings! Love Clarence."

Go HERE to check out some other bloggers traditions and recipes!

Friday's in November Giveaway...

Be sure to head over to the Chicks site and enter the first giveaway of November.

Good Luck!!

~~Thankful Thursday~~

So I've decided that I talk way too much about what I want personally and in my life with Josh and not nearly enough about what I'm thankful for. I've decided to put my thanks out there and hope that you will join me in sharing what you're thankful for! Here's what I'm thankful for this week...

- I'm thankful that I have one more day until vacation!!
- I'm thankful that Josh is off of work with me next week!!
- I'm thankful that we have received soo many donations for the
Backpack Buddies...truly overjoyed!!
- I'm thankful for the beautiful weather that we've had this week!!
- I'm thankful for my blogging buddies!!

So what are you thankful for?