eternity

if you know anything about eternity you know that it has no beginning and no end. I've always hated thinking about this. I've never had a problem with the no end thing... but no beginning? ugh. It gives me a head ache.

I was reading a beautiful story about a family on Vintage Revivals. She was talking about how she had a moment upon meeting her husband that she knew she was going to marry him. She said some thing about her soul recognizing him. I've heard of this before.

It made me think about the first time I met Troy. That first night I met him I remember thinking "this guy is cute! I need to stay far far away from him!" {I had only just gotten out of a very serious relationship a few months previous}

Some how I ended up having to hang out with him and some friends that next weekend. That "hang out" turned in to a semi date and it only took that night for me to know that we would get married.

Everything was easy with him. Everything was familiar with him. Even though I was just getting to know him it was like I had known him my whole life. I remember one time specifically we went to Vegas together with some friends about a month after we had met. He and I were brushing our teeth together in the hotel bathroom. I felt like I had brushed my teeth with him at least a thousand times. I kept thinking how weird that was.

I still think about that day when we brush our teeth together. Which has been at least a thousand times by now.

Mandi from Vintage Revivals wrote this, "I believe that Court and I were together before this life, the moments of recognization were real."

And some how that is when Eternity became clear to me {well at least as clear as it ever has been and probably will be}. I recognized these moments because Troy and I have been and will be together for eternity.

It's giving me a head ache again just thinking about it. But I just thought I'd share :)

....i love us....

I'm {blank} because

I was going to do this when I first read it off of Little Miss Momma last week. And then I didn't. Then Mara did it. Now I have to! :)

I'm {weird} because...
I love egg nog
I can only fall asleep in two different positions
I have dermatographia
I like taking scalding hot showers
I hate sausage
Cooking is my stress reliever
I lose everything. No really I do. Especially my phone or my keys. In fact, I have no idea where either of them is at this very moment.

I'm a {bad friend} because...
I forget to text people back. I read them and set my phone down to finish whatever I was doing and then I forget to write back.
It takes me forever to return the things I borrow.
I take things a little too personally sometimes.
I'm a home body and most of the time would prefer to stay home and watch Netflix.
I've been a little too wrapped up in my own life lately.

I'm a {good friend} because...
I try to always call a friend on their birthday (sometimes I forget or I can't do it so I text) but I always prefer to call my friends on their birthday instead of text or FB.
I'm a good listener
I accept different views/opinions/beliefs. Just be you.
If you call and tell me you need me... I'll be there asap.

I'm {sad} because...
We're in a bit of a financial drought.
I still don't fit in to all of my pre-pregnancy jeans.
My baby is almost a one year old!
I really really want to go to grad school but that won't happen for a very long time.

I'm {happy} because...
I have the cutest little girl!
I have the most incredible supportive husband!
We just got a bunch of our dishes out of storage and it's nice to be using our own things again.
I'm actually excited for Christmas for the first time since my dad died.

I'm excited for...
Christmas :)
Izzie's first birthday.
Spending time together as a family.
Izzie opening her birthday and christmas presents
Learning how to cook new things!
Candy cane cookies!

why I love my life

Reason #928...


Troy's making a weird face in his sleep. Ignore that and just observe the perfection of this moment. It made my heart so happy!

under construction

Please excuse my ugly blog for the next..... I have no idea how long. I'm just sick of the way it looks. It needs a face lift. Except I know little about HTML so it will take me awhile to teach myself how to anything. Not to mention figure out what I want. And since I have been so bad at blogging in general lately who knows how long it will take me to get a "blog lift".

I'm obviously toying around with a new title too... the jackson three. I don't know how I feel about it. Thoughts?I had luke warm feelings about Jacksonville as well. Any suggestions for a new title? I prefer something clever as opposed to something like "The Jacksons".

Anyone just want to do it for me?

Isabel: 10 months

Izzie,

My oh my! What a busy little girl you are! It seems you are every where these days. Crawling and climbing all over the place. You climbed up on the couch when me and your dad weren't looking and completely surprised us! We hadn't put you up there! You are constantly getting in to things and love pulling tissues from the tissue box and laundry out of the basket. You also love looking at yourself in our big giant closet mirror. It's really helpful when I'm trying to get ready in the morning. I just plop you down in front of it while I decide on an outfit and you are completely content.

Your taste buds are starting to get more refined and you no longer just gag down food that isn't your favorite. You will spit it out or knock the spoon out of my hands. You love Cheerios and especially yogurt. I can no longer eat a yogurt by myself. You whine and moan and throw a fit until I give you bite after bite.

You are really silly. You love to try and bite peoples noses. You think it's hilarious! With the weather getting really cold we bought you a big purple puffy coat. You aren't too fond it. As soon as you put it on you get really stiff and just stare at us like, "can I be done now?". You had your first Halloween! It was pretty uneventful. We stayed home and gave out candy since we all had been sick. However, you were the cutest little skeleton around!

You finally got your first tooth! And your second one looks as if it will pop through any day! You've been really good with teething. It doesn't seem to bother you too much {thank goodness!}. I also am starting to think you might be a lefty. I had my suspicions when you first started grabbing things but now it's become more apparent how much you use your left hand! I think it will be interesting to see what happens as you get older!

I can't believe you are 10 months already. I remember those first few sleep deprived weeks when I wondered how I would ever make it through this first year and suddenly this first year has almost come and gone. You are growing up much too fast. We love watching you grow and learn new things. I wouldn't be surprised if by next month you've learned to stand up on your own with out holding on to anything. You are already experimenting with letting go of whatever you are holding on to. You are so fun and the perfect addition to our family! We love you!

Love,
Mom

Still here

Hello! I am definitely not dead! Just really bad about updating this blog and my food blog. Between working two jobs (both very part time but... still) being a mom, and constantly being sick I haven't done very much. It seems just as I am getting over one cold, I catch another one. Insert a little food poisoning in to the mix and you can understand how much fun I've had! Izzie has been sick as well. Just with a cold but it's made it hard for her to sleep because she can't breathe. So as many parents know, when your baby isn't sleeping... neither are you. It's been a rough month on my body. I have felt like the walking dead. I have literally spent all of my free time sleeping.

Other than being sick the Jackson crew hasn't been up to much. Just hanging out with some friends I haven't seen in a while. Troy's been busy with school,work and basketball. Izzie is getting bigger and smarter every day. We're still here. We might be a little boring but here nonetheless.