by Sarah | May 7, 2019 | All About Denver, All About Erik, All About Family, All About Kennedy, All About Me, All About Molly, All of Us, Redefining Perfect
Growing up the rhetoric was always the same.
“You need to go to college to get a good job.”
“You can’t go into dance, it’s not a career. You need something to fall back on.”
“You don’t have the strength to handle the rejection of Broadway. Go to college. Get a real education.”
“Go to college.”
“Get a degree.”
It was drilled into me over and over and over. I had to go to college. I had to. I couldn’t go for dance, I had to do something that was “worthy” of my intelligence, and my parents approval.
*~*
I went to college.
Twice.
First time I went for Environmental Science.
I flunked out…spectacularly.
Like, have you ever heard of someone having a 0.0 GPA?
Yeah….
Two years later I went back. New school. New state. New dream.
This time I went for Dance Education. I did well. I excelled, actually. 3.83 GPA.
Then I got kicked out of my aunt’s house because her husband is a spectacular ass and ended up out of school for a semester, then when I got back on my feet ready to re-enroll I learned I was pregnant and that was all she wrote.
*~*
College didn’t work for me. I have plans now, as an adult, to further my education again – but it’s taken me a long time to figure out what I’d want to go for to follow through on a promise made.
*~*
My kids?
Well…I’ve always held firm to the belief that the future was theirs.
When he was younger, my son wanted to be an astronaut, then a doctor…and then…he wanted none of it.
Did he have the intelligence for it? Hells to the yes. That boy is smart as a whip. He could probably have completed med school and become any kind of doctor he’d wanted…
But he no longer wanted it.
I knew all too well that being forced to go to school when it’s not what you want only leads to debt for something unfinished, and in some cases, completely unattended.
Do I worry about him?
Well, duh. He’s my kid.
But all I’ve ever wanted for my kids is for them to be happy. To find what they want and go after that dream. Denver did, he found it and took off 2 years ago and is still happy as I’ve ever known him.
Next up is the girls. Molly is about to enter high school – I mean, WHAT? When I started this blog she was a toddler!!
But I digress.
As of right now – neither of my girls have their eyes set on college. They both have a thing for art. They don’t know what they want out of it yet, and for all we know they may choose a different future for themselves.
Will it make it an easy path for them? Maybe not…
Will it make them happy?
Boy, I sure hope so.
Denver has proven that with enough drive and dedication, you can make a pretty good life without it. It’s taking me longer to prove the same to myself, but I’m getting there.
Whatever dream, whatever path, my girls choose – I’m there for them.
I truly believe that they need to live out their dreams, not mine.
I hope those dreams take them far.
No matter what, I will be proud of them for chasing them. I hope they are proud of me for chasing mine, even if those dreams came along later for me than it will for them.
by Sarah | Apr 29, 2019 | All About Denver, All About Erik, All About Family, All About Home, All About Kennedy, All About Me, All About Molly, All About Ripley, All of Us, Blogging Life, Disney, Disney Mom, Florida Dreaming, Oola, Redefining Perfect, Universal, Universal Studios Mom
*disclaimer* I am writing this over a week before publication. All information is subject to change. I’ll try to update if that happens, but I’m packing and moving and all the things…sooo…
It’s been over a month since the last update and a LOT has happened.
I mean, a LOT.
Namely…
WE ARE MOVING!!!
After months of a lot of nothing and nowhere interviews…I had a great interview about two weeks ago that led to a job offer.
My notice has been turned in at work, I’ve worked my last day, Erik has turned in his notice.
I’m on a packing, cleaning, planning, freaking out, ecstatic, so much to do rampage…all while trying to spend time with hubby and kids before I go…
Yeah, before I go. The kids are still in school so Erik & the girls won’t be down for another month after I head down.
That means I get a month to explore, learn the ropes, and FIND A HOUSE.
Yeah, no house yet. No job for hubby yet either.
It’s gonna be a squeeze, but I know it’s going to pan out.
It’s time to move on, out of Indiana.
My target was June, 2019.
My entire family will be in Florida in June, 2019.
I love it when a plan comes together.
by Sarah | Apr 2, 2019 | All About Denver, All About Erik, All About Family, All About Kennedy, All About Me, All About Molly, All of Us, Blogging Life, Redefining Perfect, Top Ten Tuesday
Continuing our countdown of my dream family vacations, we have reached #1…
Florida
Not only is this another WHOLE STATE…you can also tell I started this list before we made our plans to move, right? And with this you can probably picture me dreaming of living there being just one big vacation for me…trust me, I don’t. I’m gonna be working FT, as is hubby, and kids will have school…BUT I totally AM looking forward to all the different things we’ll be able to do when we have time off. Trust me, I’ve been saving up ideas. Ideas that go beyond the obvious of the theme parks (which we will visit with regularity, but oh, there’s so much more I want to see).
Because just like there’s supposedly more than corn in Indiana…
There’s more than theme parks in Florida.
From wildlife preserves and nature parks scattered throughout the state with hiking trails galore, and photo opportunities everywhere. To the Buddhist temple with a farmer’s market every week full of all sorts of foods I can’t wait to try.
To the beaches everywhere – so many I can’t even count, and I want to check them all out (Siesta Key is at the top of the list right now).
To Key West, which I’ve never seen and can’t wait to drive my girls over that bridge to see (Erik won’t join us…he’s got that phobia of bridges).
I keep finding all sorts of “hidden gems” that I need to uncover in Florida. It’s good we’re moving there because it would take a lifetime of vacations to uncover all there is in Florida to see and do.
Have you ever been to Florida? What was your favorite part? Do you like the theme parks? Have you gone beyond them?
by Sarah | Mar 26, 2019 | All About Denver, All About Erik, All About Family, All About Kennedy, All About Me, All About Molly, All of Us, Blogging Life, Redefining Perfect, Top Ten Tuesday
Continuing our countdown of my dream family vacations, we hit #2 on the list…
Mackinac Island
No cars. No chain hotels. Transportation by horse & buggy or bike or your own two feet only.
Beautiful scenery.
Simple quiet.
Good restaurants and nightlife.
Honestly, what isn’t there to like about this quiet little island on Lake Huron?
I first heard about it in high school and though I’ve only seen mention here and there since, it stuck with me through moves to other states and back to where Mackinac Island is close enough to drive to (not literally, have to take a boat there, but you know what I mean).
It seems like the idea place to head for a simple, fun-filled vacation.
Have you ever been to Mackinac Island? What was your favorite part?
by Sarah | Mar 21, 2019 | All About Denver, All About Erik, All About Family, All About Kennedy, All About Me, All About Molly, All of Us, Blogging Life, Disney, Disney Mom, Make-A-Wish, Redefining Perfect, Universal, Universal Studios Mom
Our Make A Wish trips to Disney were full of so much spectacular magic, fun, and family bonding.
It brought us our son back from his moody depths.
It kept ME off my computer/phone/internet/everything for a whole week without any signs of withdrawal.
We arrived home with tale upon tale of the amazing things that happened.
Then there was that one night.
See, at Disney we have a habit that isn’t the best.
We forget about food.
Yeah, I know. Weird, right?
We’re just so busy doing all of the things, that we forget to shove food down our gullets.
So on this one night we were at the Magic Kingdom and someone pointed out that they were hungry. Erik and I realized that the last time we’d eaten had probably been at breakfast back at the Village at about, oh, 8AM. We were staring down 6PM at this point.
Oops.
We were basically in the middle of the park at that point, trying to decide where to head. Two kids were staring at maps to see where we should go, when se spotted Casey’s.
Me? I’m not a big hot dog person. I essentially only like one brand of hot dog, and that’s it.
BUT…it was there. It was easy, and I figured a chili dog wouldn’t be horrible. We WERE dining at Disney, after all…
Right?
So, in we all traipsed, making a quick study of the menu and ordering our dogs and some drinks. We find a table in the bustling restaurant and hunker down to eat.
One bite in I realized that just because we’re at Disney doesn’t mean it’s good.
Slowly as we all ate, I realized I was not the only one wearing a “color me disappointed” face. We were all sort of dissatisfied with the hot dogs. They tasted like those pink dogs you’d get at a gas station. Utterly flavorless and dull. The chili didn’t even liven up mine.
We all just kind of stared at each other, and started chuckling.
Then Denver thought he’d salvage his dinner in some way. He asked for some cash to go get one of those brownies on the menu. Because it’s BROWNIES.
Can’t screw that up.
Right?
Plus, Denver LOVES him some brownies.
We continued chatting as he made his way through the line. Sipped our drinks and waited.
When he returned to the table, he had a sort of shell-shocked wide-eyed look about him.
Confused, I asked him what was wrong. Were they out of his brownies?
He held out his hand to reveal the amazing, spectacular brownie he’d gotten…
A Cosmic Brownie…in the wrapper.
I mean…
WHAT?
We all busted out laughing. I mean, seriously.
He ate his brownie, we went about our fun, still laughing about how horrible our dinner was…but at least our bellies had food in them again.
To this day, nearly 5 years later, all you have to say in this house is “The Worst Meal Ever” and we laugh and go on about it. It’s that familiar joke families bond with.
So while the food was NOT great and I never recommend Casey’s to people that ask for Disney suggestions…
The MEMORY is the greatest. It still bonds us in laughter and love.
That is the magic of Disney, folks.
Truly.
by Sarah | Mar 19, 2019 | All About Denver, All About Erik, All About Family, All About Kennedy, All About Me, All About Molly, All of Us, Blogging Life, Redefining Perfect, Top Ten Tuesday
Continuing our countdown of my dream family vacations, we hit #3 on the list…
Albuqurque for the Balloon Fiesta
This is another thing my parents have done numerous times, but I’ve never seen first hand.
Can you imagine being there as hundreds of hot air balloons in all shapes and sizes and colors take off into the air? It fills me with wonder just imagining it.
I mean, sure, I’ve heard wonderful things about Alburqurque in general and it’s a beautiful area and there’s plenty I’d like to see there…
but the BALLOONS!!
Yes, I know…I’m waxing poetic over hot air balloons, but they’ve always fascinated me and captured my imagination. It’s not for nothing that a hot air balloon ride is on my bucket list.
I would just LOVE to see this, and share it with my kids. This happens every year around my wedding anniversary – so maybe one day we’ll get to go for our anniversary. That would be awesome.
Have you ever been to the Balloon Fiesta? What was your favorite part?
Growing up the rhetoric was always the same.
Well…I’ve always held firm to the belief that the future was theirs.
