Best friends.

I find this to be a much broader term then some people think. Like I have an all time, for life, always and forever best friend. Then I have my longtime best guy friend. Then I have my newer best guy friend. I have a newer best girl friend. I have my best friend that is a mommy and my best friend and soul mate, my husband. I consider both of my brothers to be some of my best friends because even if I didn't have to I would totally hang out with them if we weren't related. They're cool guys. My mom I talk to nearly everyday and tell her almost everything. She's absolutely one of my best friends. I have an aunt who is not much older then me and totally gets me. She was my maid of honor and totally a best friend. So I think it's great for people who have only one best friend but it's also great having many best friends! I can tell you that if you ask who my true B.F.F. is I'll tell you it's my SaraBear. But her daughter is like a daughter to me and she is no less a best friend then Sara. She's just my best friend who happens to be in elementary school. You never know when you meet someone how important they could end up becoming to you. I think that's one of the great things about life. You can meet someone and think your gonna be friends for years and then then can write you off and end the friendship on down the line. Or you could meet someone and initially think your personalities just don't match up. Then you could slowly grow fonder of them and they can become a lifelong friend. Be open to what and who God sends your way! You never know what joy they can bring to your life! And you can never have too many best friends! Hugs and blessings. -Tuffy

8 simple rules for dating my middle aged mother.

So I am 30 years old and my parents have been separated since I was 5 and divorced since I was 6. My mother is one of my favorite people in the world! I know everyone has to love their mom but mine is particularly wonderful. She's one of my best friends. I call her every single night of my life that I'm not at her house. She is a cancer survivor of a rare aggressive form of cancer. I have taken care of her since her diagnosis which was when I was 13 years old. She has recently begun dating a man who she has known since before I or my brothers ever existed. Therefore I need to lay down some ground rules.

1. I must always remain her #1 priority. My brothers have gotten used to it. I'm the princess deal with it or be on your way

2. Break her heart and I will sick a legion of her adopted children on you. My husband and brothers are strong men but in case they're not enough she has "adopted" many of our friends. Many of whom have military training. All of whom can hunt. Keep that in mind.

3. Respect her. Even jokingly disrespecting her will never be okay in my book. She is to be treasured. Always.

4. We are huge college football fans. You are a fan of our rival team. You cannot convert us. I will always cheer on my team. And we should probably not talk much around civil war time.

5. I don't mind helping her get ready for dates or watching her dog when you guys go somewhere for the weekend. However, I must be able to reach her by phone at all times. She's fragile and I check on her a lot.

6. We haven't met yet so a tip for impressing me. Don't be too quiet. Quiet people freak me out. I need to know that you're not secretly a crazy person. So the more  awkward silences the more I tend to think you're somehow planning my demise.

7.  She completely tortured me for a while when I was dating a guy she didn't like. So even if I do like you (which must happen) I will be getting some payback on her. Don't take it personally I've been waiting years and deserve my revenge :)

8. If she deems you worthy then that's already a point in your favor. Treat her well and we should get along splendidly. Much like most parents with their children, nobody will ever be good enough for her in my eyes. But I'd make it a goal to try anyway.

Momma is precious and amazing and deserves the best. Stick to these rules and all will be well in the kingdom. Don't ever forget I'm the princess and she's the queen!

Operation Honeymoon

I married my husband/best friend on August 22, 2009. Everyday since has been a hectic wonderful whirlwind. I want so badly to give him the honeymoon we never had. I've always had this idea that by our 5th anniversary I would be able to pull together a honeymoon. I'm hoping that with the help of this site and people who can afford to help. I may be able to surprise him with a dream honeymoon. We would love to go to Florida or Ireland. Hawaii would be another great option but I'd even love a vacation to Seattle. One of our favorite places to go together. He would love New York or Boston or Georgia. I'd just love to be able to do this. If you feel inclined to help THANK YOU!!! If you can't afford to then we understand completely. This isn't a need but I would love to get to make this dream come true and make some wonderful memories. Thanks for your support! hugs to all!   Any great ideas for travel deals are appreciated! I'd love to hear your favorite travel memories/destinations! 
Here's a link to help!
http://www.gofundme.com/2ah5hg

Me days

I grew up in the house where everyone gathered. My mom was the cool mom and there was almost always extra people in our house. We have always teased my mom about taking in strays whether that be cats or dogs or lizards or teen moms with no place to go or that friend that annoyed the heck out of me. No matter what they we're always welcome in our home as long as they were respectful. So growing up in that house that always had 4-9 people living there and guests all day, I picked up the habit of serving everyone. I'd make tacos and we'd all have a movie night or stew and then a bonfire. Whatever we did I always made sure everyone was fed and felt at home. So when my husband and I got our first apartment it was so hard for me to adjust. I had to have friends or my brothers or mother over at least twice a week. No matter how tired I was I just wasn't comfortable unless people were in my house with me. What can I say I'm a primate I'm social. But what surprised me came after we moved to our farm. I knew people weren't going to drive all the way out here twice a week for dinner no matter what I cooked them. So I took the time to get to know me. I have always been crazy independent. One of my first sentences was, "No, Mommy, I do it!" I have always been able to do stuff by myself and that's good but I never wanted to be alone. Not relationship wise. I never had the time to worry about that before I met my husband. But actually physically alone I just didn't do. So I decided to have a "Me" day. I drove to the city that I'm from spent time at the mall, window shopped, drove by where I grew up and my grandparents old house. To my surprise I had an amazing day. No plan nobody to give input on where to go. Just did whatever I felt like all day. I came home and was noticeably happier for days. So my advice to those social beings out there. Try a "Me" day spend some time getting to know you. You may surprise yourself. Me myself and I have our me days about once a month now. I'm still little miss hostess but I'm a happier more well adjusted one! Love and hugs, -Steph