It's Christmas Time

I love this time of year. I cannot get enough of it. The music, the lights, hanging out with family, food... It's amazing. I cannot be grateful enough for the things I have in my life. I have a steady job. I do the things I love. I am able to go to school. I have a wonderful, dedicated husband. I have a roof over my head. And I love my family with more emotion than I could ever explain. I wish a very merry Chrsitmas to all of you. I hope for you all that you dream of. Much love...

Happy Halloween

I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween. I sure did! Brian and I cooked the best lasagna in the whole wide world and garlic bread. We ate dinner with my dad, Cody and Nikki. It was SO good. Then we watched "Invisible." I liked it -- Yep I did. We had tons of trick-or-treaters. We went through about 100 candy bars. I had my neice Taylor with me all night and then my two neices Allee and Tyler stopped by a little later. They are all so precious. I am the luckiest aunt in the whole wide world.

A New Addition

I have a new addition to my family. I cannot be more excited about this. My little brother is now the proud father of a baby girl named Taylor. She was born on October 28th and is loved more than ever.

Another Day

I was just thinking today how grateful I am to have my family. I am truly blessed. Sometimes I listen to people talk about their families and I realize how lucky I am. My family is not perfect, as I am not perfect, but I love them so much. Every one of them has a special place in my heart -- from my parents to my in-laws and everyone in between.

The top picture is of Conner, a nephew from the Wood side. This little boy is so darling. He is a happy little boy and can always make you smile. He has such a personality and I am always willing to babysit him or hold him. He is so tender.

The second picure is Brooklyn, Conner's sister. What a sweetheart. Lately she is a bundle of questions. The other night we were reading Hercules and she kept asking over and over why he had to drink the potion and why the bad guys wanted to hurt him. I would anwser her questions and then she would nod her head and start asking again. She was making me laugh.

The third picture down is my sisters daughters: Allee and Tyler. What joys they are! Allee is 6 and in first grade. She is so much fun. She loves playing games in the car and is infatuated with High School Musical. Tyler is 4, turning 5 in January. She says the darnedest things and always makes me laugh. She also tells me she loves me every time she sees me and I cannot describe how that makes me feel inside.

I will have to go through everyone at one point in time. But needless to say, I love them. And I am luckier than EVER!

With Every Step...

After awhile you learn the difference
Between a true friend and an acquaintance
And you learn that support doesn’t mean taking the fall
And being a part of a team doesn’t mean security
And you begin to remember that you have to do your part
Because one person’s love is not a promise of success
And you begin to accept that the world, including you, is not perfect
But with a strong heart and an open mind
With poise and confidence
You learn to build on all of your goals each day
Because you never know what the next day might bring
And sometimes our plans have a way of changing…
After awhile you learn
The even the perfect rose will wilt
So you make your own happiness and create your own dream
Instead of waiting to be guided along
And you learn that you really are okay
That you really are important
And you really do have worth
And you learn and you learn
With every turn
With every leap
With every 1st place
With every disappointment
You learn
With every step you learn…

-Stephanie Wood
(My version of “Comes the Dawn: by Dottie)

First Posting

Wow! A real blog! I never thought I'd get into this stuff, but I've loved looking at all my friends and reading their thoughts and reading about what they have been up to. So I work full time as a real estate agent assisant - quite interesting. I am learning a lot. I teach 3 competition dance classes every week. I attend Western Governors University and will someday finish a degree. My goal is to do one extra class every semester from now on to finish. (Cross your fingers) I am also a part-time photographer. This is one of my favorite things right now. I have such passion for it and it makes me smile every time I take pictures. I have a website www.woodphotography.info. I have been married for 5 years (Can you believe that?) to one of the most wonderful men out there. Brian was my high school sweetheart and I am so blessed to have him in my life. He is currently doing his pre-requisites to go to pharmacy school. He applies in December -- so wish us luck! I hope to post every week at least. This is awesome...