Reasons I admire my daughter.....

Autumn turns 10 today...double digits.  YIKES!!!  The older she gets, the more I am impressed by her.  Some of the things that I admire the most about her could also be some of the things that make me or even other crazy....but when you think about the following qualities she has....they are admirable.

1. Autumn is extremely compassionate.  She is definitely a chatterbox, but she talks to everyone...not just the popular kids.  In fact one of my favorite compliments I have ever received about Autumn is how she talks and encourages the kids that don't have friends or that have differences, that others might make fun of them for.  Raising a child who doesn't acknowledge differences.....well, that makes me proud.

My sweet baby....I had expected blonde hair and blue eyes, instead....brown hair and brown eyes...PERFECT!!

2. Autumn is determined.  She does not like others being better at her at things.  Now, I think this can get on people's nerves.  By that I mean, if someone can climb a rock wall in 10 seconds, Autumn will say she can do it faster...sometimes she can, sometimes she can't...but she will continue to work at it until she does it.  To me, that is a sign that she will be successful in life.  She won't give up....she will always (hopefully) believe that she CAN do anything.

Sweet Girl!

3. Autumn is encouraging/complimentary.  I bet Autumn tells me every day how pretty I am or that I am a good mom and the best part is, she says it with sincerity.  Autumn loves to find reasons to make others feel good about themselves.  I love this quality.  I love the fact that Autumn is always looking for a reason to make other people smile and she doesn't do it to get a compliment back (though my child LOVES receiving them).  :)

4. Autumn doesn't have a lot of needs.  She has some wants...but for most of her wants she is okay with knowing she doesn't get everything she wants.  She would LOVE to have a phone (though in our situation I don't see a reason for her to have one).  Though she won't be getting a phone, she knows that when she turns around 16 she MIGHT get one, so she thinks she will start saving money now so that she will have money to pay the fees when she turns 16.  Sometimes her understanding of not receiving does make me want to give her what she wants....but, no to the phone.  :)

5. Autumn is an AMAZING big sister.  There is NOTHING she would not do for her sister.  She plays with her, takes care of her, helps her, encourages her, reads to her, she is just AWESOME.  Though sometimes this can be a negative....she is so willing to do for her sister that her sister doesn't always learn to do it for herself.  :)

6. Autumn is so well-rounded.  She is an absolutely beautiful girl (and no, I'm not bias).  :)  She loves to deer hunt.  She loves to dance.  She loves to wear make-up and she loves to play in the mud.  She loves to watch classic movies, like Bye Bye Birdie, John Wayne movies, and White Christmas, but she can't wait for the Breaking Dawn Part 2 to come out.  She loves all types of music and is willing to try anything.  She loves to dance with my grandmother, play with her cousins, and wear a St. Louis Cardinal hat to make her Papaw smile and the rest of us cringe.  :)  She is a little bit of everything and a whole lot of wonderful.

I am so proud of the beautiful young lady that my daughter is becoming and I love her so much!  :)

Me....the REAL me....

It may sound funny, but sometimes I wonder who I really am.  I mean, I know who I am, but am I the person I want to be or used to be?  A lot has changed in my 35 (yikes!!!) years.  I have moved away from home, gotten married, become a teacher, become a mother, made friends, kept friends, lost friends, made new friends, become a soccer mom, a fitness instructor....the list could go on and on....:)

This past week Mark and I went on a 7 day cruise.  It was our 1st ever to go on and we LOVED it!!  We went with some friends and had a FANTASTIC time.  We made some new friends, we climbed waterfalls, laid on beaches, visited Mayan Ruins (that's a whole other blog), enjoyed food whenever we wanted, watched shows, danced, ate, and ate some more...it was FABULOUS.  If you ever get the chance to go on a cruise, I highly recommend it.  I do think it was super fun going with friends.  We laughed so much and had such a GREAT time with them. I know cruising may not be for everyone....but it was perfect for Mark and I.

Us....just being us....:)

This cruise was possibly the most stress-free vacation I have ever had (since becoming an adult).  :)  It sure was nice when my parents used to take us on vacations as kids and they paid.  :)  I truly felt like me again...me as in, Darci.  Not a mom, or teacher, or house cleaner, or cook, or taxi driver...now all of those things I enjoy....but gosh it was fun being just me.  I enjoyed spending time with Mark...it was our time....we couldn't use cell phones on the ship, we never checked e-mails, it was just us time. It was so nice.  We dressed up for dinner, we slept in, we stayed up late, we laughed with friends, we played, we were just us.. and it was so nice.  I didn't feel any pressure, I felt like me.  

Fun with friends....:)

So often once we get married life consumes us, especially once you have kids.  Time with your spouse is priceless.  Time to be an adult and laugh with your spouse and friends is so good for your soul.  I can honestly say that after this vacation, I feel better.  I feel better about me as a wife, as a mom, and just as a person.  I hope that everyone can have those types of getaways.  I know sometimes we say there isn't time, there isn't money....but the truth is, these experiences can happen anywhere.  Mark and I watched the sun set one night over the water and we commented how we could sit and watch this every night, yet we don't take the time.  It was beautiful...the stillness, the colors, the fact we weren't doing anything, but watching the sun set.  I truly hope everyone can enjoy the same type of peace and relaxation I found.  I hope it can be found in the perfect place and perfect time for you....mine just happen to come at just the right time in the Caribbean.  :)

:)

Have a GREAT night!