Sunday Funday...Familial Challenges

Easter Sunday. The day where you get together with your family, eat good food and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I haven't seen a lot of my family in awhile so I was pretty excited that most of us could get together and catch up. We all have that family member who tries to "one-up" you and brag about how well they are doing in life and how much better they are than you...maybe that's just my family. Anyway, one of my family members tried doing this today and I just couldn't understand it. Today is a holy day, a day where all differences should be set aside and we should be focusing on Jesus and all that He went through for us. The good news is that no one took the bait and engaged in her silly antics.

Getting together with family for the holidays can be a good thing or something that ends up presenting many challenges. You have family members who like to brag, those who don't really get along with each other, those who always have unwarranted advice to give, those who don't approve of what you're doing. You have to deal with all of that, but you do it because it's family and no matter what, they are the people who make you who you are. You can't deny it and you can't run away from it, you take it all with a smile and when you leave, you either look forward to the next time you all meet...or you don't.

What challenges do you deal with when it comes to your family?

Until next time....Happy Easter!

Wide Awake...Good Friday Edition

I made some realizations last night.

1. I'm stronger than I ever thought I was.

2. My feelings matter. 

3. My independence is worth more than anything. 

4. I won't be pushed, pulled or swayed in your direction. 

5. I need to learn how to be less forgiving. 

6. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just in love with the thought of love. 

7. I have amazing parents.

8. My friends mean the world to me. 

9. I need to learn when to give up the fight. 

10. I don't like arguing about things not worth arguing about.
11. I'm blessed to have gotten to know some pretty amazing people online.

12. I'm still maturing.....
13. I'm still growing....and that's okay

Are You...Saying "Happy New Year"?

First blog post of 2012! Woot! I hope whoever is reading this has a Happy New Year and I hope 2012 brings light, love and joy into your life! That is what i'm claiming for myself! This year MUST be better than last year. If you throw out positive, you'll get positive in return!  I'm grateful for my family and friends for pulling me through this year and not allowing me to give up...no matter how much I wanted too. I don't live my life for me, I live my life for the people that I love, because in a sense, I value them more than I value myself. Thank you for making me believe that I deserve to be happy and that i'm loved!

Mommy #1: Thanks for being the coolest mom around. We share so much of the same things in common and I'm truly blessed that I was brought into this world as your daughter! Thanks for only wanting the best for me and helping me in my search for happiness!

Mommy #2: Although I was not born as your daughter, you are so very important to me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving birth to the one friend who gets me like no one else does. The one friend that I know would never leave me. Yuta is a lucky guy...lucky that he has such a strong mother! I love you! Thanks for always telling me how it is...even when I don't want to hear it.

Daddy #1: I love you! There is  no one else like you! Thank you for being so supportive in everything that I do. You have never once told me my dreams were too big or too small. Anything I wanted to do you were always right behind me and ready to catch me if i fell. Thank you so much for that. There is no amount of money in the world to repay you for being such a strong backbone and support to me. Remember...I'll always make you proud!

Daddy #2: The funniest man I know. The most caring human being there is....that is how I would describe you. I know that you are always just one phone call away when I need to talk to you. I miss how it used to be when you were here all the time, but I know that you do what you can and I love you for it. Thank you for taking the time, money and energy to care for me like you do, because I know that you don't have too. You mean so very much to me, and I hope you never forget that.

Brother #1: There isn't much to say other than...thanks for being my brother. Although we might not always get along, I know that you are just doing what little brothers do....getting on my nerves! I love you and I know that if I ever needed anything you'd never hesitate to help! Love you!

Brother #2: My baby bro! We get along just fine right now, and I hope that it can always stay that way. I love you and you know that I'll always be here for you no matter what happens!

Yuta...my bestest! : Yuta..Yuta..Yuta..what can I say that I haven't already told you. You know just what you mean to me so i'm not going to lay it out on here. Just know that the decision that I made recently is turning out to be the best thing i've ever done in my whole life. Thank you and I love you MORE THAN ALL THE WORDS IN ALL THE BOOKS! (LOL)

Miya, Kat, Emi: You girls are my strength! Each of you bring a different kind of strength into my life, and if one of you were missing, I surely would not survive. I wish we lived closer! I didn't know that I could have friends that completed me as much as you girls do. 2012 means new things for us and I'm excited to see what Japan has to offer! I'll see you girls soon. Thanks for coming and making my house feel like a home! Love you!

That is all for now....I still need to make another post with the pictures from the last 2 weekends, but since this is dedicated to friends, family and the new year, I'll save that post for next time!  I love you all, and here's to an amazing New Year for ALL of us!

Sierra~