Lucky... very lucky...

I am very lucky... I know I am! Here are some reasons why!

1. I have amazing parents
2. My parents gave me a fantastic childhood
3. I have a wonderful husband who cooks
4. My dogs are amazing!!
5. My parents paid for me to have a great education
6. My husband brought me to a town I can't wait to raise a family in
7. I was able to get my Master's Degree and learn so much more than I ever imagined.
8. I have a job I love and am getting better at :)
9. I drive a car that I love!
10. I got to grow up with both sets of grandparents.
11. I was able to play any sport I wanted
12. I have been to 43 states and 4 different countries
13. I have dependable loyal friends
14. I have a place to live that enables us to entertain when we choose
15. I get to do math and play with kids every day
16. I had the best wedding a girl could ever ask for
17. I was able to work next to Shamu for many years & develop a skill
18. My furniture is awesome :)
19. My inlaws are kind caring people that do love me
20. I get to work with my best friend every day


I could go on forever - I am very blessed... but today I am just remorseful of some people that I have lost, and I wanted to make sure to spend the time thinking about how lucky I am as to not fall into mopey-land because of life. I miss my grandpa most. He loved me more than any person deserves, and gave me so much. He taught me to travel and to go off the paved path, that the fastest way wasn't always the most rewarding. My grandma made me laugh and always encouraged me to be me. The sillier I was, the more she laughed - I can hear her now coughing and wheezing saying 'stop making me laugh, it hurts' all to encourage me to do it again - ha ha. She was the first in the family to accept Javier and make a connection with him. They had a fun bond that made it very clear that he was the one for me. Joanie always made me want to do better for me and for others. She taught me to be honest at all times, even if others might not like it and that it isn't what they want to hear because it is usually what they need to hear. She taught me to appreciate honesty in others and to have high expectations in myself. Elisa taught me that I can accomplish anything in life by breaking it down into small attainable goals. She taught me to keep going and that my head is stronger than any external factors. She also taught me that a smile can change the world around you - and sometimes your smile might really be the only smiling face another person sees that day - and it is worth the effort. Buck taught me that no matter how much my insides ache and want to cry, those around me will remember me by how happy I can make them. She taught me that no matter how bad it seems, how lonely I might feel on a given day that there are people that would be devastated if I no longer existed. She also taught me that the small things don't matter and that once you let go of your inhibitions and enjoy yourself, things just turn out better for everyone.

I am so lucky for everything I have and for everything I had. I honesty expected this blog to be sad as I thought about everyone, but the more I think about them, the more I realize how much impact those individuals had on me. I'm lucky because Grandma and Grandpa got to see me graduate from TLU, they were at my last game, they saw me hit my last homerun (and that was the light of my grandpa's life). They met Javier and knew he was staying - and that gets me through the moments when I am sad they weren't at our wedding. I'm lucky because I was able to get Elisa to go to TLU and run track in college. I was able to see her overcome all the odds and speed past the competition and become an all conference runner. Joanie sent me to Hawaii where I got to spend some great times with great friends. I'm lucky to have even had a lady like her in my life. I'm lucky to have played ball with Buck, and learned that nothing beats a lefty catcher :) As a former coach, that helped :)

I am lucky... very very lucky - you should be jealous :-D I am now going to go to bed next to my wonderful husband with my perfect puppies so I can get up and go to my great job :) Thanks for listening!