Hola Blogaroos

Long time, no write. I've been terribly busy and sick! Walking pneumonia + Tia = Pitiful! Anyways, I am much better now and I am here to share with each and every one of you, Holiday Angst/Anxiety. We ALL experience this EVERY year, and it never seems to get any easier, between bills, presents, outtings, and let us not forget families and shared times. I completely understand why suicide rates go up this time of year. Bills you're supposed to pay, but you don't know how. People becoming greedier by the day. Demanding families wanting more and more of your time, so between families and work and friend's holiday parties, please tell me when you will have time to sleep!? I hate spending money, so this time of the year I am sickened by how much I spend and how much everybody else spends. I want to tell parents, "No, you're already spoiled child who has a separate room for all of his/her toys, doesn't need ALL 25 toys on their list!" What happened  to worshipping the birth of Baby Jesus? He only got 3 presents (gold, frankincense, and myrhh) and HE is the savior of us sinners. Granted, his presents were expensive, but still, some parents spend way too much money. They're building unrealistic expectations for their children. Plus, when kids go back to school in January and are compaing what Santa brought all of them, some kids are going to feel that Santa plays favorites because they didn't get as much as other kids. Parents, please tell me if yall are competing with one another to buy your kids the most presents?? Oh, sure Dalton's mommy and daddy got him a 10 day vacation to Disney World, but Sophia's mommy and daddy could only afford to get her a new dolly. However, both presents come from "Santa," so will the other children think sweet little Sophia was on the naughty list because she only got one new present or was the annoying Dalton exceptionally good this year? It just doesn't make sense to spend all that money and causing yourselves so much stress. I understand wanting your child happy, but spending so much every time a holiday/birthday rolls around doesn't set them up for real life expectations. If you truly want your child to do well in life and receive meaningful presents, set them up savings accounts/cds. These gifts keep on giving and the child won't understand how meaningful of a present it is until they are older.
I am a Christian, but I hate organized religion. I don't do churches, I prefer to worship God in my own way. However, on Christmas, I feel it's appropiate to pay even more attention and yes, money, to a churches to keep on teaching the Word. I feel like children should receive 3-4 meaningful presents for Christmas instead of a hallway of presents that they're bound to foget. The fewer presents you give, the more the toys will be remembered and the more the toys will be played with. Don't get me wrong, I had a very blessed childhood, and I never wanted for much, but looking back, I don't remember many specific presents.

One more thing on my Christmas tyriade and it'll be over for the season, hopefully.

What is the craze with this stuffed, magical Elf on a Shelf?? Why are you making messes, that you'll have to clean up, and blaming it on a stuffed figure? How does it keep your children on their best behavior?? I just don't get it. I don't particularly want to becuase I don't want to imply that I care. I want to my kids to behave all year long, not just for a month, and I want them to know why we're buying them their presents, and that they're coming from us AND Santa.

Okay, I really feel that a weight has been lifted off my chest. Thanks for reading!

XoXo,
Tia

Wedding OVERLOAD

Chris and I just became officially engaged this past Sunday, November 10, 2013, and I am already in wedding overload! I no longer wonder what causes a bridezilla! There's too much to plan! Engagement pictures, engagement party, wedding anouncement, invitiations x4 (party, 2 showers, and wedding.) Then there's flowers, venues, food, wedding party, registering, dresses, tuxes, shoes, dates, and so much more! I have been working on the guest list for the actual wedding and I am already at 68 people and that is only family, and not even including my side, apart from my immediate family.What I once thought would be a quiet, intimate wedding, will be bigger than I anticipated. I mean, I understand everyone wanting to be there to celebrate with us, but that's a lot  of mouths to feed. Especially at $15 per person. At the 68 people who I've already written down and at $15 a person that's already $1,020 just for the food! I don't want to pay that!  I'm thinking that naybe I want to have an afternoon wedding instead of an evening one because you can give them snacks and be happy. Although, if I have my wedding at this one beautiful venue that's only $300 to rent, I could enlist my family and Chris's to cook for it. That is an appealing idea. See, even though no one reads these amazing blogs, it gives me an outlet for my thoughts.

Okay, crisis is adverted.

XoXo,
Tia

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

People grow and change, some together, some apart; some at the same rate, others faster or slower. You can't let people changing keep you from loving and experiencing life. Love who you want to love. Feel how you want to feel. Never give up on what's important to you. Don't be ashamed because of how you feel or what you do. Be proud of yourself in any situation you're in. Don't let other people's opinions dictate your life. You are your own ruler and no one can rule your life for you or without your consent.You are in charge and don't let someone else take control out of your hands! You cannot please everyone, so don't try. Make yourself happy and the rest will fall into place. Only you can decide how your life will change. Only you can decide how fast or slow your life changes, but whatever you do, don't fight change because it's going to happen. Change is inevitable.

News is here!

Hello my lovlies! I haven't written lately, and it's because I haven't had words rolling around my head begging me to write (or in this case type) them down. I guess I will begin with we got the new engagement ring and wedding band on Saturday and we sent his off to be cut down to size!!! Super stoked to get my engagement ring back, it's being especially made me for me! We were able to bring the wedding band home with us Saturday, and they are BEAUTIFUL!!! Also, I have written my vows as of last night, they're sweet, but not too mushy. I wrote them on graph paper with a sharpie, so today I am going to re-write them on actual notebook paper and pen.

I normally don't say things like they're blessed or I am blessed, but today as I sit and think about all I have received and been able to do in my life, I realize that I am blessed. And God blessed me even more by bringing Christopher and I together. I am not a sentimental, mushy woman, but when  I think of everything Chris and I have been through, I am amazed more and more that he loves me and wants to marry me. He really is my dream come true.

XoXo,
Tia

Registering

Today I began registering for the wedding! Only at Bed, Bath, and Beyond so far, but it's progress! I am beyond excited! Toasters, blenders, hampers, vacuums, lap desks, irons, waffle makers! You can register for anything! I even registered for bedding! :) I think Target will be my next registry place, most stuff should be cheaper than Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Speaking of that, what is the "beyond?" Electronics? Seasons? Music? Candy? I even registered for new bedding! And I am stoked about registering for the robotic vacuum cleaner, my little doggy Lacey will hate it!!!

More good news, we're going ring shopping Saturday!!! Hilight of my year! I already have his, but it needs to be sized about half a size smaller. He's got skinny little fingers. :)

I think that is my bragging for now.

XoXo,
Tia

Baby Names

I have previously written names I don't like. Well, when Christopher and I produce an offspring in a few years from now we've narrowed down the names. Now I know you nay-sayers are going to say, "You'll change your mind" but nope, we love these!

Emmett Benjamin Parson (Obviously for a boy)

and

Charoltte Lucille Parson (Obviously for a girl)

We've thrown around a lot of other names, but these are the best. Other names we once liked

Timothy Russell
Russell Timothy
Jacob Edward
Jacob Emmett
Emmett Jacob
Christopher David Jr
Jep Parson

Lilly Madison
Lilly Maude (Chris's idea :< )
Annabelle
Isabelle Marie
Anna Belle
Anna Grace (our niece is now named this)
Isabelle Madison
Madison Isabelle
Charlie Mae
Lillie Mae
Rachel Elizabeth
Danielle "Dani" Rae

There were more, but we love the names we chose. We know that God willing we won't have children for a few years, but we like to think of how they will be, what they will look like, etc..

I know when we have a kid we'll be good parents because we've had great examples.

XoXo,
Tia

Male Nurse

He works and works
And the job's never done.
Someone always needs him more.
He gives all he has,
and he still finds time for me.
He is there for anyone when needed,
and he goes beyond the expected.
He's a natural born leader,
and when he talks people stop to listen.
He doesn't get off days or breaks,
and he'll work 48 hours straight.
He doesn't give up or take no as the answer.
He'll worry about you and get no sleep.
When he is "off the clock" he is still on it,
thinking about new ways to relieve someone's pain.
He'll stay all night if he needs to,
Because his work is never done.
He's a male nurse, one of the few,
the one with the big heart,
the one who loved it from the start.
The one who will never part.

Some of you may not know that the love of my life is a male hospice nurse. He loves what he does, and I love that about him. He'll come home at night and still not rest because he has paper work to do. Or, he'll stay up all night by the phone because a patient isn't doing well. He is the hardest worker I have ever seen, and I just wanted to share his passion with everyone.

XoXo,
Tia