DON'T BOX ME IN!!!!

So, I'm in this new stage in life. It's called "don't box me in!"I've actually been in this stage for awhile now, but I'm just now willing to come out and share it with y'all!! Not that any of you who've watched me on Facebook, read my blog or lived life with me over the past year haven't noticed some of my new life changes. No, it's not like I was keeping some big secret...well maybe I have some secrets up my sleeve that I won't be sharing. Maybe they are really big and would make headline news and I might even be kicked out of the PTO and women's group at church if they were ever leaked. Maybe. But those aren't the ones I am talking about or sharing.

No, over the last year I've adopted this new philosophy that I will NOT be living my life according to someone else's plan. I will not do something because I am "supposed" to do it! I will not stop myself from doing something because it doesn't fit the mold that I am being squeezed (even suffocated) into. Nope. Can't make me! (this is what a 34 year old tantrum looks like). I'm just seriously over feeling like what I am doing with my life is either "right" or "wrong". Why can't what I am doing, just be what I am doing?

Now, I am well aware that I've never completely gone with the tide. No, I usually do tend to dance to my own beat, laugh a little bit longer and louder (usually at myself), stay out just a little to late, drive a little to fast (or fly low, whichever you'd prefer to call it), drink a little to much, get a little to confrontational and try just a little to many new things. So, you're thinking "what's different?" Give me a second, I'm getting to it!!!

I'm now reassessing my life. What exactly have I done that I didn't want to do? What am I not doing that I want to? Many things are popping into my head. Great things, fun things, exciting things. Y'all may not agree with me or the things I decide I will do or wont do. Many of you will never care to know. Most of you will not know. You'd be sorry you're missing out though! Hopefully some of you will want to join in my new fun life theory. Yes, I am a mom a wife and a friend. I will forever be those things; tattoos and all, fun and all. I just may not fit into the box you'd like me to be in. Hopefully you'll still love me! Maybe this is my mid-life crisis (hopefully I live longer than 70). I promise not to box you in either. Do what you want to do and be safe doing it!!!

AHHH...I feel better getting that off my chest, now I won't feel so bad when I see you shaking your head at me and I yell "what? STOP boxing me in!!" ...just sayin'

I WASN'T MURDERED

This past weekend was my big Orlando getaway. The last time I blogged was from the Denver airport on my way out of dodge. Any of you who know me personally, know that I have been sharing this excitement for months now. Most people who are not bloggers have just been skeptical that somehow, someway I was going to be murdered. Better yet, some of you have even thought that I'd be taken to some far off land where my kidneys would be extracted and sold at market value. I'm here to tell you that I survived Orlando 2011 and I am already marking my calendar for Orlando 2012.

I can not even begin to tell you how great it is to be in a room full of other women who really "get" it. With women who do not say dumb things like "she's really great for me" or better yet "we are SO bonded, he really opens up and talks to me"..... WHATEVER!! The insight and camaraderie of the 68 women bonded us instantly. No one cared if you were short or tall, thin or fat, gay or straight, single parenting or co-parenting, rich or poor, had adopted locally or internationally, had 1 or 14 children, home schooled or public or private schooled, are vegan or vegetarian or a carnivore, are a working mom or stay at home mom, blog or not, are atheist or a pastors wife, old or young, or any other combination you can think of. NO. ONE. CARED! It was enough to know that we are all fighting for the same outcome; to raise happy healthy humans. That alone was enough to bring us together like soul sisters.

We ended up with 7 different villas with an average of 10 women in each house. In my villa alone we had close to 50 kids from all over the world. China, Haiti, Ethiopia, United States and Russia to name a few. With 6 kids I looked like child's play compared to the women who are raising 10 or more children. I am now aware that I am not the only women who drives a giant pimped out van for her everyday ride. We laughed so hard we cried and cried so hard we laughed. We shared our innermost thoughts (none of which you'd really like to know) and our everyday struggles. We let down our guards, kicked off our shoes (and suits), ate until our bellies were full, and let each other into our private worlds. It was amazing, it was refreshing, it was a welcomed unforgettable time. I am not speaking for everyone, but for me, this is one of the things that I will forever remember as a "game changer", another item checked off my bucket list. No, I don't have "Travel across the country and meet up with 67 women you don't know" on my list, but I did have "Let my guard down, open up and meet people who don't fit in the worldly box", and I did just that. I will forever be bonded to these women who are fighting my same fight, who will tell me to "get up" when I fall down.

Here's a peek at how much fun I had:

Now, obviously, this is NOT real. This is henna. But......................................

This one, on the other hand, is real. It was my first tattoo and I am loving it. I am planning on adding a different little item to her representing each run I run from now on. It is on my lower back.

So, I'm back. A little more colorful and a lot more fueled for these six kids who wear me out!!

The Day Has Come!!

Well, today is the day. As I write I am sitting in the Denver airport, ready for my flight to leave in just one short hour. It seems like I have talked about this. Thought about this. Dreamed about this. Worried about this. Facebooked about this. Even blogged about this for months, and now the day has arrived. I am headed to Orlando until Tuesday to spend time with 67 other RAD moms from around the country and even Canada. I am a little bit nervous and yet, uncharacteristically, excited about this adventure. I have bought in, backed out, and bought back in countless times during the many months I have waited for this day to arrive. To say this is perfect timing for me to be doing this, would be a stretch....a downright lie even. After moving across the country twice in one short year, living in my parents basement for the past two weeks and taking possession of our home just one day after my return; this is definitely NOT the most convenient time. Guess what? I really don't care! This is for me.

So, I'm off on my adventure. I'm expecting lots of booze, much laughter, ugly crying, and many good friends made.....oh, and Josh.....no plans for tattoos this trip!