tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38500199602252466242023-11-16T10:57:01.141-06:00 Vinyls & VinoStories from a small-town living, wine-drinking, music-loving MamaJessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-84716310901793146782020-07-29T13:28:00.000-05:002020-07-29T13:28:41.995-05:00Are you a pod(cast) person?<div class="separator"><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"> I have to admit, I am usually one of the lasts to accept new technological norms. </div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"> When iPods became a thing, I clutched onto my beloved CD collection with all that I had.</div></div> <br /><br /> <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">When Netflix stopped shipping DVD's and became a streaming-only service, I canceled my account.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I JUST bought a firestick for our living room TV when quarantine began.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Maybe "technology" isn't the problem, but more that I haven't been quick to accept new ways in which to receive entertainment. (Weird sentence?) Same goes for podcasts.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"I like talk radio. Why do I need a podcast? I'd rather just listen to music... "</div><div style="text-align: center;">Until I was introduced to a few podcasts, that is. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now, they are almost all I listen to when given the chance. When I'm cooking or cleaning in the kitchen and my family is in the other room...podcast. When I'm driving.... podcast. When I'm working my side gig (#teacherlife)... podcast. When I'm SHOWERING.... podcast.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's safe to say I am a convert. I'm sharing my top favorites below:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>These are my weekly go-to listens:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="821" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMdEStdRh870YJiMHZQ85Hacbqsa1jjHWc4aoDtQzgx_iMXQX2YFPkqz1EfoGYTUTAdyeWuZP-q1jjGrGSl4PH7DdmxLHhe9IV3OrA8jehXXm3gehRaWUGlsgSUjdT3rRfbBbwDdKIdM/s320/IMG_1350.PNG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was my first venture into the world of podcasts, and I couldn't have picked a better one. Bitch Sesh is all about the Real Housewives franchise, but they also offer commentary and rundowns of other Bravo shows. Bravo is my love language, so this is a no-brainer for me. Language and subject matter is definitely adult-oriented!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqA9la3WBuIteTLnFhZRoICcym00F6ZOk8piWXyNALiy6yWDh3jCM1GVx6qbU9WhALOoh80RofFcqez3bqQqFZE_g5xO7PQdvJ50A3gNs8re_ZhbyeBd2FaHQ0M7w12YqlMfB1KwNfhW0/s320/IMG_1348.PNG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you know me, you know my love for The Office runs deep. I was SO excited when I heard about this podcast, and I haven't missed an episode. It drives my family crazy, but I watch each episode before I listen, then rewatch after to catch all the details they share. I've already seen every episode of The Office at least a handful of times, so what's a couple more? </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapvrvVvBuZU1Csg5tMJxTPScPB9gIiMPB8eIKlmFfWB30P7cj0SI50QB3N3G-Zwe2sGjtW3AuWXnWRvPQZjFrQl7Tn8I0v6JvvaA7ZLxwSTtrjXBz8P6G0dCQkJk38fY0z3wIpUKLqnk/s901/IMG_1349.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapvrvVvBuZU1Csg5tMJxTPScPB9gIiMPB8eIKlmFfWB30P7cj0SI50QB3N3G-Zwe2sGjtW3AuWXnWRvPQZjFrQl7Tn8I0v6JvvaA7ZLxwSTtrjXBz8P6G0dCQkJk38fY0z3wIpUKLqnk/s320/IMG_1349.PNG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">This is another one I was super excited to find. I've watched the entire Glee series a couple of times, and found myself wanting to watch again after the tragic death of Naya Rivera. (Is that weird? Seeing all the clips of the show during the coverage of her accident just made me miss these characters...) So, I got to wondering about a recap podcast and lo and behold, I found it! It seems the premise of their podcast changed between its first and second season, and the show recaps didn't start until season 2- so I started there. They don't share quite as much insider info as the Office Ladies do, but it's still a great podcast for any Gleek. I've got quite a few to go before I'm caught up to "real-time," but I'm listening to a few a week while I clean, drive, work, etc.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The next few are ones that I enjoy, but not ones that I listen to weekly:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="818" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGMMG9I5OxshpUubaxWOW6wIP6C9tU8HBaM-69vhBYFkiALQ-eEG5S2SShXXy7PnHJci0rwtoCYVcMjr02m5CJVyQmjIFfzCdLFAp2uijubyEs-52RjiKlB15AS2UIPiQtPg7SQTgro0/s320/IMG_1351.PNG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, how I love Dax Shepard. I also love good, deep conversations- so this is a perfect match for me. I don't listen to every episode, but I do scroll through often to see who his guests are. I've never been disappointed with any of the episodes, even when his guest is someone I may not be familiar with. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lZjgURtIlsUMJWrpZfy-Zz9qDXdj0p0gv0FnPa5yIfdCpt_8A1yFjXsA26_dXtsv6Z59riOi03v-oczwVDiYwWk8UlSDsNolcsH5Q0Iu3OzVh8YMsR9w07G7t7IE8c9D3IeHo_U_Z0k/s1000/IMG_1347.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lZjgURtIlsUMJWrpZfy-Zz9qDXdj0p0gv0FnPa5yIfdCpt_8A1yFjXsA26_dXtsv6Z59riOi03v-oczwVDiYwWk8UlSDsNolcsH5Q0Iu3OzVh8YMsR9w07G7t7IE8c9D3IeHo_U_Z0k/s320/IMG_1347.PNG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Whitney Cummings has always made me laugh, and her podcast is no different. She is a great conversationalist and is extremely intelligent, while also being funny and ridiculous in all the best ways. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtPWRWGRtp7-DIY7Nd8YYat1JZFRtqNwM8cnb2iz7LkjXok4Gk2ZpUk1NOBfyr3kxM9W4OEuAkdPaMZKMySPm0wPDxqW7y9Rrb0lAg_QSIdAjyr7TiraQzRX7kfXbZP6Lqqy0TmrmV_M/s857/IMG_1352.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtPWRWGRtp7-DIY7Nd8YYat1JZFRtqNwM8cnb2iz7LkjXok4Gk2ZpUk1NOBfyr3kxM9W4OEuAkdPaMZKMySPm0wPDxqW7y9Rrb0lAg_QSIdAjyr7TiraQzRX7kfXbZP6Lqqy0TmrmV_M/s320/IMG_1352.PNG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I haven't listened to this one too much, but I love both Kate and Oliver. The few I've heard were pretty great. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The following are podcasts I've got on my "want to listen" list</b>:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8NsT3eXSInlN-jYdJLoVjUNRv1a89DGyOY0HPM93Q1kzn35PYlqGugj4PTnz_X9lhEx8b4cGgKZZt5EDAdsEXeXGdduzf9RKc8N0n8wjmvjJ1uFfbIK7bsmDuAWJHG57U9CseAVrDrs/s320/IMG_1356.PNG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm a sucker for teaching tips and lessons.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77SY7RA3YG0nhb_un-_tx0X-YdGS7ty5wXrEt44Rr3sCPUftIyNHJDdLdIVafOvQ_JPYWiaGyqrEJWeHc1QCnFMSE14WLv6cB1qs_cFUM6WEbb8rONs_ydHnfIYH8Q6Wol7zDiGu9XRM/s320/IMG_1355.PNG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bob Goff is one of the most inspirational people I know. (And, having met him once, I feel totally comfortable saying I know him,) ;)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisx4kL35WLnjrs59Ld8FdI9XnHgJZnPxdenMikFbYdiEmTJr0UXWs4Tq26JV0sv5dCbjtqMScg2y5I7kR6vx-8UkcADRyJB14P6VxXUGNeOqbDJzVbBBNRNTHlXpqkECn1qz8hrOqpRbA/s320/IMG_1408.PNG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This one just aired its first episode yesterday... and I have a feeling it's getting pushed to the top of the "listen weekly" list.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It seems I tend to lean to show recaps/rundowns the most, followed by shows that feature good conversations. I know the murder/mystery genre is very popular, but I haven't jumped on that wagon yet (see? I told you I was late to trends...).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you listen to podcasts? If so, do you stick to one genre, or are you all over the place like me? </div><div style="text-align: center;">What podcasts do I need to add to my list? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-46252459916576734882020-07-14T15:23:00.004-05:002020-07-14T15:25:45.070-05:00Is It Just My Imagination?As soon as I learned I was pregnant with our first, I began a running list of things for which I prayed. I prayed for her to be healthy. I prayed for her to be kind. I prayed for her to love music. I prayed for her to be smart. I prayed for her to be born with a love for God burning in her heart. I also prayed for her to have a vivid imagination.<div><br /></div><div>I was an only child until I was seven years old. I kept myself entertained quite well, and had a pretty wild imagination. I was always making up games, stories, songs... and friends. I had SEVERAL imaginary friends throughout my first 7 years- and what's strange is how vividly I still remember them.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had Sara and Cara, the twins. One was 10 and one was 12 (I obviously didn't understand how twins worked). Sara had red hair, and Cara had green hair... they didn't stick around long. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then, I had the buffalo. Three, to be exact. They lived in our backyard, and would play with me when I played outside. Again, they were colorful: one blue, one green, and one pink. The blue and green buffalo were nice, but the pink one was mean and once pushed me down the slide, causing me to cut my cheek. I still have the scar to this day. (My mother really doesn't remember how I cut my face, but this is the story I told everyone in our small town.) I was probably 4 at the time... and I REMEMBER telling people about them. I remember playing with them. I can even remember looking into the backyard and seeing them playing on my swing set when I was stuck in the house.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last, but certainly not least, I had "Joey and the Boys." They were a gang of boys that went everywhere with me- my poor mother had to load them in and out of the car, the bed, the bathtub- they were honestly with me everywhere I went for quite some time. Just recently my mom and I were laughing about them, and I referenced how they looked- they were very much from the stereotypical Hollywood 50's film... white t-shirts, leather jackets, rolled jeans and slick hair. Mom told me she never realized they were a 50's greaser gang. How did I never describe them to her? Joey and the Boys were my best friends and protected me from whatever my wild imagination perceived as trouble, until one day, I grew tired of them and told Mom to make them leave. She (happily, I'm sure) kicked them out of the house and they never came back. Bless her. </div><div><br /></div><div>I love that she played along with my ridiculousness, and she encouraged my imagination. The memories of her lugging around my "friends" came back to me yesterday as my daughter insisted that I put "Cheedy the crocodile" in bed with her during naptime... Cheedy also came with us to swim yesterday evening, and went along with us on errands today. </div><div><br /></div><div>Cheedy isn't the first friend Scarlett has created. She has Tiki, some sort of animal that lived with us for a day or two. Tiki had gone unmentioned for weeks, but Scarlett informed me yesterday that Tiki now lives in the "black forest" by my grandmother's house. She also has Ashley, who started as the name of a doll and became an actual "friend." </div><div><br /></div><div>I think it's safe to say that my prayers have been answered with this girl. Now, I pray that I have the patience and peace-of-mind to raise her. Much to my mother's amusement, she's going to give it ALL back to me, ten-fold. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thought's on imaginary friends? I've never done much research on them... I'm a bit afraid to see experts say on the matter! Did you have them? Do your kids? I'd love to hear!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-43971206900625673222020-05-25T21:10:00.001-05:002020-05-25T22:21:53.445-05:00The Quarantine Connection.Man, where have I been?<br />
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When I come back to this place, it's like visiting an old friend. It's nice, it's comforting, but also it's a bit sad. I get sad that I let time, distance, and life get in between this friendship. I always vow I'm going to visit this space more often... and then I get back to life.</div>
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So, what has life looked like since my last post, back in the summer of 2018?</div>
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I'm married.</div>
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I now have a son, who will be one next month.</div>
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I've lived through the worst part of potty-training.</div>
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I've lost a grandparent.</div>
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I've lost some friends.</div>
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I've gained some new friends.</div>
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I've strengthened some dear friendships, thanks largely to technology.</div>
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I'm feeling more and more "settled" as an educator. </div>
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I've continued to work on that life balance of work/family/friends/community/me. (Still working on it.)<br />
I've learned about enneagrams.<br />
I've finally become a podcast listener. </div>
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We are living through a pandemic. <i>So, there's that.</i></div>
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I can say that living largely in self-isolation for weeks and being forced to face life in a whole new way has made me more eager than ever to write again. </div>
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I struggle with this. I need to write- it's my outlet and it's the only way I know to work through things sometimes. It's a part of me. I often hate posting, because I let fear get the best of me. It isn't so much a fear that people won't like what I have to say... it's more of the fear that people will think that I am narcissistic or too self-important. I fear that people will mutter to themselves "Who does she think she is? Why do I care?" as they scroll past... but I have to post, because part of the writing process is publishing. It's about being vulnerable and reaching out and maybe even connecting with someone else. That desire for connection is just as much a part of me, too. </div>
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The older I get and the deeper we get into this "new normal," way of life, the more I think about what it means to be passionate about something, to be authentic, to throw caution to the wind, to listen to my inner voice, and to just LIVE. I ache for this kind of life. And then I remember that I'm the only one who can make it so.</div>
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So, I will write. I will post. I will try to connect. I will be terrified. I will be authentic.</div>
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What about you?</div>
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How has this quarantine life changed your view about something you do/want to do/miss doing/need to do?</div>
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Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-90761595097499378842018-07-18T10:48:00.001-05:002018-07-18T10:48:41.471-05:00Wine and Views and Pizza... Oh My!<div style="text-align: center;">
This past Saturday, a couple of my best friends (two out of the three that will be standing up with me when I marry Michael) whisked me away for a day of wine, laughs and great food. It was truly a special day... complete with a surprise visit from my mom and granny!</div>
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If you live in the area and have never visited the wineries in North Texas, you're missing out! We visited <a href="https://www.4rwines.com/" target="_blank">4R Ranch Vineyards and Winery</a> (my first time to visit!) and enjoyed the most beautiful views of North Texas Hill Country. </div>
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Wine Flights = Beautiful</div>
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Next, we visited <a href="http://www.blueostrich.net/" target="_blank">Blue Ostrich</a> (a regular stop for me) and my mom and grandmother surprised me and joined us for a glass of wine. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLGgKObaLaBPTTqAjxxhQJN13EHMjRi1NJvVAazcpQ-fS0K6h-eXFv6bqTE_8m3oPMrH5do3eBLZhMW8AxvDhAj5ohmrRYl76bQGhZ0kSZvauA_pN2Kj_qTwwe56GSUcP3rfT2TwbCu0/s1600/IMG_1029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLGgKObaLaBPTTqAjxxhQJN13EHMjRi1NJvVAazcpQ-fS0K6h-eXFv6bqTE_8m3oPMrH5do3eBLZhMW8AxvDhAj5ohmrRYl76bQGhZ0kSZvauA_pN2Kj_qTwwe56GSUcP3rfT2TwbCu0/s400/IMG_1029.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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After the wineries, we loaded up our purchases and headed to <a href="http://www.ancientovens.com/" target="_blank">Ancient Ovens</a>, an amazing BYOB restaurant that serves delicious brick oven pizza. Ancient Ovens is known for the beautiful scenery, and it did not disappoint! We were too busy eating and laughing to take ANY pictures while we were there!</div>
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After dinner, we headed to the hotel but decided to make a stop at <a href="http://www.docsmuenster.com/" target="_blank">Doc's Bar and Grill</a>. We enjoyed a few beers out in the biergarten and then headed to the hotel, where we stayed up way too late talking. It was such a nice little getaway, and so very needed! I'm not used to being out late anymore, so yesterday was a bit of a struggle for me- but it was all so very worth it!</div>
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<br />Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-38058905872109588622018-07-14T11:06:00.000-05:002018-07-14T11:06:51.288-05:00How do YOU relax?<div style="text-align: center;">
Before I shared a bathroom with another adult and before I had a child to supervise 24/7, I took baths to relax. To me, there is nothing more relaxing than a tub of hot water, a bathbomb, some bubbles, some wine and a stack of magazines or a good book with some music (or a binge-worthy tv series)... I took these glorious baths two or three times a week. <i>Oh frivolous, self-indulgent me..</i>.</div>
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These days, I have to wait until Scarlett is in bed (and actually good and asleep...) and Michael is out of the house to enjoy these moments. At his urging, I've taken baths while he is here and/or Scarlett is awake, but it's just not the same. If she is up and I can hear them in the other room, I feel guilty for being so selfish with my time (hello, mom guilt!). Let's be honest, too- it's just not as relaxing if I can hear them in the other room: the sound of the tv, them laughing/crying/babbling, Michael yelling at my cats, etc. Relaxation is the end-goal here, and I'm too cheap to waste my expensive LUSH bath products on a non-relaxing moment.</div>
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Lucky for me, Michael plays in a seasonal recreational softball league a few seasons out of the year, which means that for a majority of the year he is out of the house one night a week for games. I've recently shifted my point-of-view about these nights from "the evenings I single-parent it" to "the nights that I get me time." Once Scarlett goes down, I ignore the laundry and dishes that may still be lingering from the day, turn off the living room TV (which is pretty much ALWAYS on, whether it's being watched or not) and head for the tub. I'm learning that while there may be other things that NEED to be done during this precious alone time, it's important that I make the time for myself. Life's all about balance, and nothing has taught me this more than motherhood.</div>
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Just started <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400201659/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1400201659&linkCode=as2&tag=vinylsandvino-20&linkId=ff5b1a8f5b1936ef6571bdbd100cc18f" target="_blank">this book</a> by Rachel Hollis, and I'm loving it... makes me wish I was a part of a book club so I could discuss with friends! </div>
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My usual bath setup... baby monitor, laptop, wine, magazines.... You may notice the same wine glass in these pictures. It is a large, plastic wine glass which makes it perfect for bath time (or any time, when you are clumsy like me)! I received a set of these as a birthday gift years ago, and they are by far my most-used wine glasses. You can find <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013OWBRD4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B013OWBRD4&linkCode=as2&tag=vinylsandvino-20&linkId=c2aa47a26ca930b017f9bc177bb40412" target="_blank">similar ones here</a>. </div>
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Oh, Lush bathbombs… you make my heart happy!</div>
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What do you do to relax? How do you make time for these things? And if you don't, what's stopping you? </div>
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<br />Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-28143334897732699312018-07-08T15:21:00.000-05:002018-07-08T15:25:45.057-05:00This Week//Next Week <b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>This past week:</i></span></b><br />
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I went hard into wedding planning mode (seeing as how we only have about 4 weeks left, it's about time I did...). We shopped, we worked on details, and I have managed to cross most of my tasks off of my to-do list. Still working on our playlists, so if you have any suggestions for must-play songs, throw them my way!<br />
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I also enjoyed Michael being home a lot this past week. His work-load was pretty light, and it was so great for he and Scarlett to have some extra time together. <a href="http://www.vinylsandvino.com/2018/07/our-fourth-of-july.html" target="_blank">Celebrating the Fourth</a> mid-week made for a fun change of pace! <br />
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I bought <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0711CSPNG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0711CSPNG&linkCode=as2&tag=vinylsandvino-20&linkId=f88145a33216c3fe0431ef091ebedd25" target="_blank">this dress</a> from Amazon in a couple of shades, and after wearing it this week, I want to go back and order every color available.<br />
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It is so comfortable and effortless, but doesn't forfeit style. (Note: Sizing isn't too off, but in order for the dress to hang as it does in the photo I would consider sizing up.) I have a feeling I will be living in mine for the remainder of the summer...<br />
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It seemed like Scarlett grew leaps and bounds- not so much physically but developmentally. She has become so much more expressive, inquisitive and adventurous this week. We have also watched her problem-solving skills unfold, and she is beginning to retain and repeat so much that she is learning. (If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen her blowing kisses yesterday!)<br />
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I had an amazing facial. I've never really treated myself to things like this, but now that we have a licensed esthetician in town, I decided to give it a try. I'm now hooked. I've already booked another.<br />
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<b><i>This next week:</i></b><br />
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The OITNB trailer is coming out tomorrow! I can't wait for Season 6 to come back in July, and seeing the trailer means that we are that much closer! <br />
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I'm looking forward to getting back into my morning exercise routine. It's been almost two years since I've laced up my running shoes, and I'm nowhere near ready to get back to running- but starting Monday morning I'm going to start taking Scarlett on regular walks along the county roads near our house. It will do us both some good to get outside and get some fresh air (before the temperature gets too high!) and it will help me MOVE again. This summer, I feel like I've barely moved- unless crawling around on the floor with a 10 month old counts.<br />
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I'm working in my classroom. I've spent some time here and there getting my room cleaned and organized, but now it's time to rearrange and make room for the computers and file cabinets that I am inheriting since I have taken on the school newspaper and yearbook class.<br />
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I'm continuing the wedding planning. I'll be wrapping up décor buying, finalizing the menu, and putting some more time and thought into the playlist. I love making <a href="http://www.vinylsandvino.com/2017/07/a-labor-soundtrack.html" target="_blank">playlists for all sorts of occasions</a>, but this one has been particularly daunting!<br />
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the Ranch Rodeo will be going on in our small town. This is a Chamber event, and one of my favorites each year. I didn't attend last year (I was too pregnant. It was too hot.) and I don't know if Scarlett will really be up for it this year (lots of dirt and heat for a baby...) but I always love the excitement and fun it brings to town. (and the cowboys!) ;)<br />
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I hope you're wrapping up an amazing week, and gearing up for another great one ahead! <br />
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xo,<br />
-Jessica<br />
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<b></b><b></b>Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-56263158925149581712018-07-06T11:08:00.001-05:002018-07-06T11:08:30.102-05:00Our Fourth of July<div style="text-align: center;">
What a busy few days we've had! (For this mama, the busyness was a welcome change from the monotony of summer break so far!)</div>
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Michael worked like crazy last week shipping cattle, so this week was pretty laid back. Monday off, Tuesday half day, Wednesday off, a partial day Thursday... and he'll be getting off work a little early today, too! With all of this "daddy" time, Scarlett found herself turning in to a Daddy's Girl again. (This made Michael happy. And Mama happy. I got a break! Whew!) We loved having Daddy home with us. They absolutely wore each other out with all the playing!</div>
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We spent the Fourth at my Happy Place- Waurika Lake. I've been so blessed to grow up near a lake. (Although, growing up near a lake in Oklahoma isn't a hard task! They're everywhere!) We spent some time with family at a campsite, then took a boat ride, and Scarlett took her first dip in the water (which really means we held her and let her legs get wet. She tries to drink from any bit of water that gets near her mouth... no WAY we are letting her drink lake water!)</div>
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After the lake, we came home and cooked burgers for Michael's mother, aunt and cousin for her birthday. It's always so nice to have people out for visits. We live so far out that visitors are far and few between! </div>
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Since Scarlett's bedtime is well before dark, we skipped fireworks this year. Luckily, we are able to see several displays from towns all over our area from our house, so Michael and I slipped outside after Scarlett was asleep to watch a few along the horizon. (We LOVE having a video monitor with a long range. Yay, technology!) <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">It was a bit of a bummer to not watch one from a closer range, but was for the best for our girl.</span> I know I shouldn't want to rush things, but I'm already looking forward to getting to watch a fireworks display with our own little firecracker in the future!</div>
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I hope you all had a Happy Fourth! </div>
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~XO,</div>
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Jessica</div>
Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-53923332159556964642018-06-01T10:16:00.001-05:002018-06-01T10:58:54.879-05:00Some serious self-reflection...More than I would like to admit, I find myself wondering, "Am I good enough?"<br />
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I'm loud. (I get louder with wine).</div>
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I don't mean to, but I interrupt and talk over people. </div>
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I always try to let people know I relate by telling a similar story. Then I realize I may be coming off as a 'one-upper.'</div>
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I don't mean to harm or offend, but I say things before thinking. </div>
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Ok... sometimes I get sucked in to the gossip circle and I say things that I know may harm others.</div>
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I may come off like I don't care, but I worry about how I'm dressed, how my hair is fixed (or more often, not fixed), and how my makeup looks.</div>
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I get caught up in my day-to-day and lose track of what is happening in others' lives. This is even worse now that I have a daughter.</div>
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I fail every.single.day. </div>
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But...</div>
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I never meet a stranger. (I become friendlier with wine).</div>
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I love conversation and get excited when sharing stories with people.</div>
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I do my best to empathize with others, and always want people to know that I understand.</div>
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I always speak my truth.</div>
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I feel remorse when I let my words cut down others.</div>
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I want to make good impressions.</div>
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I stay busy, because I do my best to be PRESENT in my family, in my church, in my profession and in my community. </div>
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I try every.single.day.</div>
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I want to be a "girl's girl" who gives amazing, thoughtful gifts and has my life together. I want my home to be welcoming, my flowerbeds to be beautiful, my outfits to always be on point and my hair to always be fixed. I want my car to be clean, my words to always be kind and to make people laugh and feel at ease around me. I want to have self-control when it comes to things, like wine and dessert. I want to have time to bake and blog and be involved in my community and have date nights with my fiancé. I want to read scripture every morning before I run, be debt free and feel confident in my skin (while also effortlessly fitting into size 6 jeans). I want to send thoughtful cards and letters in the mail to friends "just because" and I want to be able to laugh off the times I make mistakes. And if I CAN'T do all of these things, I want to at least appear like I do. </div>
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Instead, I'm often socially awkward, which is especially hard since I love being social. I THINK about amazing gifts, but rarely follow through. My life is a hot mess: my house is a dusty, cluttered disaster and my flowerbeds are full of weeds. My wardrobe consists of what is clean, fits and is the least-wrinkled from the pile of laundry that never made it to the closet, while my hair is washed, at best. My car is never clean, my words often hurt (95% of the time, unintentionally), and I think people more often laugh at me rather than with me. Sometimes I have too many glasses of vino, and I never turn down a second (or third) piece of cake. I barely have time to myself to think, much less write or bake or get out of my house, and I feel guilty when I start wishing I had more "me" time because that means less time with my daughter and my fiancé. Oh, the guilt. My community involvement has weaned, and my relationship has felt the inevitable decline in romance, known as parenthood. I often choose TV or social media over scripture (even though I know better) and I haven't laced up my running shoes in so long, I can't even remember. I swim in debt from past life choices, and am constantly aware of every ounce of flab, every scar, every flash of cellulite and every part of me that may be unappealing to others. I don't wear a size 6, and likely never will again. I buy cards to send to friends, which just become a part of the afore-mentioned clutter in my home, as if being filled out and dropped in the mail is too large a task. I stress over every misstep and mistake I make, to the point that I quite frankly annoy the hell out of myself. </div>
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Why do we do this to ourselves? Why, as women, do we feel the need to be MORE than we already are? Why do we feel like we have to pretend? Men may feel this way too, but I have a hard time imagining my fiancé, my brother or my father in a constant state of worry about things which, in truth, are so miniscule and pointless. </div>
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When does it stop? When do we start realizing we are enough, as is? I can sit and talk forever about using the talents God has given me, changing what I can and letting go of the rest- but when will I start practicing what I can preach? How can I expect my daughter to grow up at peace with herself if her mother is in a constant state of unrest? How can I lift up others when I can't even hold myself up?</div>
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Enough is enough. I AM ENOUGH. I'm going to spend the month of June focusing on the act of practicing what I preach. I'm going to work on changing what I can. I'm going to let go of what I can't. I'm going to forgive myself for my shortfalls and do my best to embrace the good, the bad and the ugly within me without feeling the need to hide it from everyone. If you find yourself feeling like you're not enough, like your life is a hot mess, or like you just need to reset, join me in this month of change and self-reflection. I mean, aren't we really all in this together? </div>
Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-8770631272079965532017-09-28T21:48:00.003-05:002017-09-28T22:00:39.227-05:00In the thick of it. Postpartum. What a tricky, tricky time.<br />
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I am in the thick of it.<br />
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My daughter is four weeks old. In just a few days I'll be taking her "1 month" photo, and the thought of it is mind-blowing, heartbreaking and victorious, all at once. I've kept this tiny human alive for an entire month- if that's not worth a victory lap, I don't know what is.<br />
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Being an "older" mom, most of my friends have already done this crazy kid thing. I have had some amazing advice from so many of my mom friends that has truly helped me, but even with all of the advice I don't think I was really prepared for this whole postpartum thing. I don't think anyone truly can be, and I don't think this is a reality that hits until, like me, you are in the thick of it.<br />
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Nothing could have prepared me for the moment she and I locked eyes. From the moment they laid my daughter on my chest, my world changed. I knew I loved her more than anything, but that "heart bursting" kind of love my friends had described seemed to escape me a bit. Again, let me say- I love her more than I have ever loved anything, and I felt that. It just didn't feel like I had <i>expected</i> it to. It didn't feel like fireworks and exploding cartoon hearts and everything I had imagined. It was a love that was wrapped in exhaustion, fear, worry, beauty and prayer. With it there was also an unexplainable darkness- a mourning of a lifestyle I knew I'd never live again. And with that darkness came a fear: Was this postpartum depression? Was I already a terrible mother? Was this feeling at all normal? (For the record, SO many mom friends private messaged/text/called me in the days after Scarlett's birth to let me know they had experienced some sort of "baby blues" moment, should I want or need to talk. I loved them for reaching out... and it reassured me that YES, my feelings were valid and normal. Sadly, these moments of fear and doubt are hushed, taboo, only talked about privately... but they ARE normal.)<br />
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Nothing could have prepared me for the emotions that hit when it became obvious that her father would be her comfort, and I would be her struggle. She and I immediately had issues with breastfeeding, which meant that most of the times she was in my arms we were both frustrated and clueless and running out of patience with each other. I was her food source, and that wasn't going well. Her father was her escape from the frustration- her peace. I have loved watching their bond grow, and it melts my heart to see the love they share. But to be honest, those first few days their bond made me a bit jealous, a bit resentful, and a bit worried that she would never find that kind of solace in my arms. <br />
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Nothing could have prepared me for the guilt and the stress and the decisions and the letdown. After getting home and continuing with feeding struggles, we found out that our girl was losing weight rather than gaining. For days we (I) fed her every two hours from the breast. The feeding issues continued, and the frustration I shared with this tiny human that I carried for 9 months only escalated. I will never forget the night that I broke down and dug out the samples of formula we had been given. I made a bottle with tears in my eyes while she screamed from the other room, handed it to her father, laid on the couch beside them and bawled. I had never felt failure like that in my life. While we work on our issues, Scarlett is getting both formula and breastmilk. With this comes new guilt and worry. Is it the right formula? Am I doing enough to try to up my production? Is it all my fault? Is she getting enough? It's endless, and at the end of the day, it's pointless. My daughter is being fed. How isn't nearly as important as I try to make it be, simply because it wasn't how I planned it.<br />
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Nothing could have prepared me for feeling like I'll never be me again. I still never seem to have the time to brush my teeth, much less shower. Shaving and brushing my hair have become luxuries. Each glance in the mirror is a reminder that my body has done something amazing- but that reflection also shows stretch marks and sagging skin and weight in places it hasn't been before, and if I say this doesn't bother me I'd be lying. I have nothing to wear, stuck oddly between maternity clothes being too big and my old clothes being too small. So when the time comes for us to actually leave the house, I'm thrown into a struggle of finding clothes and trying to muster the energy to fix my hair and put on makeup. Truth is, I generally don't even mess with the hair and makeup. It doesn't seem to matter when I know within minutes I'll be covered in spit up and looking for anything I can tie my hair with to get it out of the way. <br />
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Nothing could have prepared me for the new dimension to my relationship. It's a double-edged sword, this parenthood thing: On one hand, watching him become a father has been the most amazing experience. I love the way he loves her- I love his willingness to change the dirtiest of diapers, to handle late night fits, to let her sleep curled up in his arms, even if it means he gets no sleep himself. Hearing him call her all of the adorable nicknames he has for her melts me. I fell in love with him ten times over when, after a few days home with us, he went back to work with tears in his eyes. It's created a bond within us that did not exist before, and it's beautiful. On the other hand, we haven't gone to bed at the same time in over a month, much less in the same bed. He feels like a stranger at times, someone I share this house with and pass in the hall as we trade off feeding and sleeping shifts. Our time together is no longer about us, and we no longer have the luxury of being a fun, carefree couple. I selfishly worry constantly about how he views me now with my stretched skin, dirty hair, dirty clothes and dark circles under my eyes. This worry is not validated by anything other than my own vanity, yet no amount of reassurance from him (or from my own voice of reason) can make me feel better. Things are different now. I am different. He is different. We are different, and although it's a change I wouldn't trade for the world, it's a difference all the same. And differences -especially those brought into relationships- are scary. <br />
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I've been reassured this all goes away, and I know deep down this is true. I've been told the doubts and fears fade into new ones, the guilt transfers into another handful of issues, the clothes eventually fit again- or they don't and you get new clothes. Time for myself will slowly come back, and until then I'll learn how to manage with what I've got. Sadly, there will be a day when she doesn't need or want to be held 24/7, and eventually he and I will make this our new normal and not even remember a time before our daughter. I'm so lucky to be sharing this parenting gig with an amazing man, and I'm so lucky to have a huge support system of friends and family nearby. Our daughter is so loved and cared for, and I'm forever grateful for it all. I believe that this new world and all of its beautiful messiness will become our new normal. I'm trying to embrace the chaos, and to soak it all in because I know I will miss it when it's gone. I'm doing my best to love every ugly, scary, emotional, amazing, sweet and magnificent moment... but if we're being honest, it's sometimes hard to when you just feel so damn unprepared. <br />
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And if I had to give any advice to a soon-to-be mother, you know what I'd tell her?<br />
I'd tell her to breathe, to scream, to laugh, to cry - and to talk openly about it all. And most of all, I'd tell her to quit worrying about being prepared for this new life, because she won't be, until she is in the thick of it. <br />
And that's OK. <br />
<br />Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-37910754877106564232017-07-24T16:08:00.000-05:002017-07-24T16:08:02.757-05:00A Labor Soundtrack...<div style="text-align: center;">
So I'm not putting together a "Birth Plan" for Baby C's arrival... the plan is to get this baby here safely, plain and simple, by whatever means necessary. I do have a few specific requests for after he/she arrives, but I'll save those for another post. The one prep "to-do" on my list that I currently obsessed with is my playlist for the big day.</div>
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Kinda silly, right? I know. But if you know me, you know music is extremely important to me- and if you don't know me, Hello. My name is Jessica and music is extremely important to me.</div>
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When I sat down to start building the playlist, I envisioned lots of fast-paced hip-hop music, much like my running playlists of days past. But as I started thinking about it all, I realized I'd like calming, relaxing music. I don't think I REALLY need Salt N Pepa telling me to "Push It," do I? So, I decided to opt for more soothing tunes...</div>
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I started making a list of artists with whom I associate being "chill." Then I started thinking about motivational songs. Then I started thinking about a few Christian songs I love. Then I started thinking about how I probably need SOME of those fast-paced hip hop and r&b songs... you can see how this got out of hand quickly.</div>
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Now I'm staring at my iTunes account, lost. I need guidance. Or, if we're being truthful, perhaps an intervention...</div>
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Did you make a L&D playlist? Any helpful tips? Any must-have songs? </div>
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<br />Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-76446323290475353112017-07-24T09:28:00.002-05:002017-07-24T09:28:40.628-05:00What a Weekend!<div style="text-align: center;">
What a busy weekend! It was also a fantastic one, so I have no complaints!</div>
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Friday evening, our little town had a big celebration to kick off the traveling Smithsonian exhibit that will be here until early September (random thought: by the time it's over and moves on, I'll have a BABY!)... </div>
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Over 300 people spent the evening together at our historic Rock Island Depot, entertained by music and a fun little melodrama that I was lucky enough to be a part of.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrf7vaMBrzGnPdYD-R9chFVbosZGNElT-pGm3xPXHqqxF2Uq-Bfa8XxvV5FSce8ij_trMl2Bt0iLKJ9suX-DWhjG-noNnrOcjGaBtcDQEdV9zngbeozprUqwBiyGFezYNNYLZxtggTmdM/s1600/20292789_10156439487433852_6943597880034198580_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrf7vaMBrzGnPdYD-R9chFVbosZGNElT-pGm3xPXHqqxF2Uq-Bfa8XxvV5FSce8ij_trMl2Bt0iLKJ9suX-DWhjG-noNnrOcjGaBtcDQEdV9zngbeozprUqwBiyGFezYNNYLZxtggTmdM/s400/20292789_10156439487433852_6943597880034198580_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful Friday evening in Waurika!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WTIF5Z0FkkuRjIDZL9W3rA1BuggeLe0JjCaTCXFLRnAO1n1vkJIVaN2qqaT0jziRF3BCSd3Qpe1yUUoOspD-DrsS9u5MIXr0yBfthmGJ4FD823XhiyXOL4WKcnIA9Oiw8H2FVsMH05g/s1600/20292611_10156439487543852_4030721210465628167_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WTIF5Z0FkkuRjIDZL9W3rA1BuggeLe0JjCaTCXFLRnAO1n1vkJIVaN2qqaT0jziRF3BCSd3Qpe1yUUoOspD-DrsS9u5MIXr0yBfthmGJ4FD823XhiyXOL4WKcnIA9Oiw8H2FVsMH05g/s400/20292611_10156439487543852_4030721210465628167_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eight months pregnant, on stage, outside. Probably not my smartest move... but a blast!</td></tr>
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Saturday was another full day of events in town, but due to the heat I stayed home until it was time to perform again (an afternoon show... it was BRUTALLY hot!). Then, Michael and I hurried home to shower and change and head to a baby shower that some dear friends threw for us! It was such a treat to have so many friends gathered together for an evening. </div>
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I was also grateful to friends who had their cameras with them. I set my phone down once we got there and didn't touch it again for the rest of the night, so I had to steal these photos from social media! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The BEST cookies!</td></tr>
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Most of the friends that came traveled from out of town to be there, and it meant so much for everyone to take time out of their busy schedule to shower Baby C with some love. (And diapers. Oh, so many diapers!!)</div>
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I planned on attending church on Sunday, but a busy weekend and a late night Saturday meant I accidentally slept through my alarm. Michael and I spent the afternoon with family, and I spent yesterday evening washing baby clothes and propping up my swollen feet!</div>
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This past weekend was the last weekend full of plans for us until Baby C arrives, aside from the necessary shopping trip we will make to get any last-minute needed items. My calendar is NEVER this empty, and I must admit... it feels AMAZING. I'm looking forward to getting my house in order (it's a disaster!), getting the nursery organized (another disaster!), soaking up some time with the furbabies before this Little One starts getting all of the attention, and enjoying some peace and quiet. </div>
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On another note: this COMPLETELY made my Monday morning. </div>
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Sometimes it's the little things, folks. </div>
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Have a great week!</div>
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Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-90031601133771465112017-07-21T10:50:00.004-05:002017-07-21T15:44:45.277-05:00Museums, Plays and Showers... A busy weekend ahead!FINALLY FRIDAY! This week has been a long, busy and hectic one... and this weekend is going to be just as crazy!<br />
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Our tiny little town was chosen as a site for the Smithsonian Institute's "Museum On Main Street" program, so starting this weekend and continuing until early September, we get to host a traveling Smithsonian exhibit! So fun! This exhibit is titled <a href="https://museumonmainstreet.org/content/way-we-worked" target="_blank">"The Way We Worked"</a> and focuses on the history of labor in the United States. <br />
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We have a big kickoff weekend planned, including a one-act melodrama that I am lucky enough to be a part of. (8 months pregnant, in a play that will be performed twice, on an outside stage. Am I crazy?!) There has been so much work put into making this weekend a BIG event, and although I'm looking forward to seeing Waurika full of life and activity, I'm also looking forward to the kickoff being over and taking a BIG, guilt-free nap on Sunday. All of the late-night play practices have me completely worn out.<br />
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Also on the weekend agenda? A baby shower! Friends are throwing us a diaper shower on Saturday evening, and I am really looking forward to seeing a lot of faces I haven't seen in awhile. So many of my closest friends live in other cities (and states!) and many of them will be in town to help us celebrate Baby C. I hope to remember to take lots of pictures, but I'm NOT the best at remembering in the moment...<br />
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Sunday will be a day of church, family time, and DEFINITELY a nap or two. I've got some major house cleaning to do as well, but it's yet-to-be determined as to whether that will actually happen. Mama needs some REST!<br />
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Have a wonderful weekend!<br />
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<br />Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-57738979918731375372017-07-20T10:32:00.002-05:002017-07-21T11:44:30.872-05:00I swear, I'm not complaining... Can we just be real for a minute or two? As in, "REAL" real?<br />
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Pregnancy is awful.<br />
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Don't get me wrong- it's beautiful and magical and amazing and all of those other adjectives I'd usually reserve to describe some sort of fairy land. It truly is surreal that the human body can do so much on its own, and the mere act of growing another human being is mind-blowing. As someone who never thought she'd be experiencing this, I'm honored and blessed to have this opportunity. I get that. I can remember hearing others complain about it and thinking to myself "Well, at least YOU get to have this life moment...". So <i>please</i> believe me when I say that I am not complaining. Well, I am- but I'm not. Also- I am acutely aware that I am not the first OR the last woman to be pregnant. I'm not special. This pregnancy isn't something for the record books. I'm not looking for sympathy or praise. I'm just wanting to be brutally honest about this amazing, magical and oddly beautiful thing that I'm blessed to be 8 months into, in hopes that others can relate. Or at the very least, can prepare should they be blessed with their own pregnancy in the future....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93vgCDxzHhjA9trMU8Hi78vhgMdHo_dwoRLV3P_NKg9aue6C3cWkVrxD8J-uzPOpG9SMjIfgpqfpmQF1FKtkUri321_5PRxQWN51t4xcQlOuq0QT2v14-hJHMtgbGVwM30h5hP1l79vY/s1600/19961160_10100411755915220_5255955808888961792_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93vgCDxzHhjA9trMU8Hi78vhgMdHo_dwoRLV3P_NKg9aue6C3cWkVrxD8J-uzPOpG9SMjIfgpqfpmQF1FKtkUri321_5PRxQWN51t4xcQlOuq0QT2v14-hJHMtgbGVwM30h5hP1l79vY/s320/19961160_10100411755915220_5255955808888961792_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This face is worth it all! </td></tr>
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First off: Let me apologize to my body for ALL of the things I've taken for granted over the years. All the bending, stretching, twisting and moving that I could do without a second thought. I'll never take the simple act of movement for granted again. Ever. This ever-growing stomach is proving movement of all sorts nearly impossible, and the simple act of walking like a normal human is even lost on me these days. Once I can move like a normal human again, I may never sit still.<br />
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I also miss wearing makeup, doing my hair and feeling like "me." I didn't get that pregnancy glow. Instead, I got a face that is now marked with random brown spots (yay, "pregnancy mask!") and skin that refuses to let makeup stay in place. Putting on a face of makeup means that within a matter of an hour, all of the makeup (even my beloved Younique brand) will somehow be wiped away as though it never exisited. If I'm lucky, I may get the random streak of mascara left behind underneath an eye. I used to see it as proof that I at least tried... now I've just quit trying. And as for my hair? Even with all of these prenatal vitamins pumping through my veins, I didn't get the thick, lucious locks. My hair decided to somehow become stringier, thinner and even MORE difficult to hold curl. And with the summer heat, blowdrying it (even for the 3 minutes that it takes) has become out of the question. Hello, hair ties and clips! Rings and bracelets begin to feel like small boa constrictors on my fingers and wrists after a few minutes due to constant swelling. The smell of nail polish remover makes me gag, which means I've stopped doing my nails... what I'm taking lots of space to say is I have become an unmanicured, unkept, hot (literally) mess of a swollen human who somewhat resembles a person I used to be. <br />
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I could go into great lengths to share all of the areas of my body that no longer resemble anything that they "used to be" but I'll spare your time and the mental images. I would be remiss if I didn't at least bring up The Girls, though. These growing mounds of flesh attached to my chest now closely resemble the images I grew up seeing in National Geographic magazine. They sure aren't the Ladies I used to know and love. They are a bit... sadder... these days. A bit... darker... these days. They're prepping for their entire purpose in life, and while it's once again magical and beautiful, blah blah- I miss them and their perky old selves. <br />
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Weight gain is my nemesis, and sugary foods are my very best friend, which means I am in a constant battle. I've put on a "little" more weight than my doc would have liked at this point, but I don't need the scale at each doc appt to be my constant reminder. I see it in the mirror each day when I look at my rounding face, my jiggly upper arms and my thickening thighs. I've attempted light exercise, but it is extremely easy for me to "over do" it these days (thanks again, body!) so I've just come to terms with the fact that this weight isn't going anywhere any time soon. <br />
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I miss my copious amounts of daily coffee. Decaff just doesn't do the trick. <br />
I miss soda. I wasn't even a big soda drinker pre-pregnancy, but these days all I want is a HUGE Coke/Dr Pepper (gag!)/Diet Coke...<br />
I miss lunch meat. Who knew I loved deli meat so much? Now that it is "not allowed" it is all I want to eat. I've already made my request for Arby's to be my first meal after Baby C arrives. I have a serious date planned with a roast beef sandwich, and I'm almost as excited about that as I am meeting this bambino.<br />
I miss going places and not getting 20 questions about my health, my due date, the gender (we REALLY don't know, people), potential names, etc. I know this makes me sound like a bitch- people ask because they care, and I really do appreciate it so much- but I'm swollen, fat, cranky and quite frankly just "over" it.<br />
I miss being able to lay down comfortably.<br />
I miss being able to lay on my stomach. <i>Oh, my goodness how I miss this.</i><br />
I miss the old heartburn issues I used to have. I used to think it was bad at times. Old me had NO idea the kind of hell that was waiting for me. I've been perpetually living with unbearable heartburn for the past 8 months. It's been a vomit-inducing, can't lay down, can't go anywhere without Tums and will NEVER be able to get that chalky taste out of my mouth again kind of hell. People say heartburn means a hairy baby. If so, I'm likely going to be birthing a damn gorilla.<br />
I miss my old clothes. <br />
I miss the way I used to feel about SUMMER. It used to be my favorite season. Now, it's just miserable and sweaty. And hot. And humid. Did I mention miserable?<br />
I miss running.<br />
I miss alcohol. Enough said.<br />
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With all of this complaining (but I'm not complaining), I must throw in some of the luck I've encountered thus far, as well. For one, it's been a normal pregnancy. A mild case of marginal placenta previa cleared itself, my blood pressure has remained stable, I tested negative for Gestational Diabetes, Baby C is looking good and even measuring a little ahead (yay, earlier delivery date!) and with all of the health issues I've had in my past, a normal pregnancy is the BIGGEST blessing I could ask for. It trumps all of the reasons I could ever find to complain (but not complain). I've also been lucky enough to ward off stretch marks thus far, my belly-button JUST NOW became an outie, I've avoided most of the lovely gastrointestinal issues that often accompany pregancy and only have a few new spider veins here and there, rather than the large varicose veins that often come with along with growing a human.<br />
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I know at the end of all of this, all of the things I miss will come back. I know my body, although maybe never the same again, won't forever be this swollen and round. I know my life will forever be rocked by this amazing little human, and all of this change and discomfort will be completely worth every single second. I know I'm blessed. But I also know I'm hormonal, hot, and human... and mustering up all of the polite responses to getting asked constantly "How I'm doing" can wear a person thin. Sometimes just a little venting and honesty goes a long way. <br />
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Ok. I'm done complaining (but I'm not complaining).<br />
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<br />Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-91409567473211330152017-06-23T15:02:00.001-05:002017-06-23T15:02:23.753-05:00Bad Days, Good Music<div style="text-align: center;">
How do you handle your bad days?</div>
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Generally, I go home, to my mom's or to a friend's and drink wine. After a couple of glasses and good company (even if that just means me and my iTunes library), things always seem better.</div>
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Since Baby C entered the picture, wine hasn't been an option, obviously. One nice thing about pregnancy is that my hormones are SO all over the place, that a bad day doesn't seem to last long anymore. When I just can't shake one of "those" days, I tend to curl up at home, eat sweets, and sleep. What can I say- I'm a simple creature.</div>
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One thing that has ALWAYS helped me with those funky days has been music. Before wine, during wine, and while wine hasn't been an option, music has always been there to turn things around, or at the least to see me through. So when I heard <a href="http://www.metrolyrics.com/a-little-dive-bar-in-dahlonega-lyrics-ashley-mcbryde.html" target="_blank">this song</a> by a "new-to-me" musician named Ashley McBryde, I instantly connected. Then, when I heard her tell the story behind the song, I fell even more in love. That turned into a few youtube searches, and well - it's safe to say I have a new girlcrush. <a href="http://an%20arkansas%20red-clay%20badass%2C%20with%20the%20swagger%20of%20hank%20jr.%20and%20the%20songwriting%20of%20miranda%20lambert/" target="_blank">Rolling Stone</a> called her "an Arkansas red-clay badass with the swagger of Hank Jr. and the songwriting of Miranda Lambert." Yep, I'm now a fan. (Also mentioned in this Rolling Stone article is Jo Smith, another new fave. Check her out <a href="http://www.josmithmusic.com/" target="_blank">here</a>!)</div>
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And<a href="spotify:user:121367620:playlist:7fC4kf9Rd1O00qqGdCQ4VA" target="_blank"> here's my go-to playlist</a> for getting out of a funk- although it changes often!</div>
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<br />Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-28465117713880377982017-06-20T12:22:00.001-05:002017-07-20T10:40:20.017-05:00My "Want List" for Baby C... All my life, I've been a planner. A list-maker. Someone who feels it absolutely necessary to prepare for every little detail and/or potential mishap. Despite how badly I want to have a free-spirited soul, I'm Type A, through and through.<br />
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Because of this personality trait, I could have never imagined that I wouldn't want to be as prepared as absolutely possible for the BIGGEST event in my life: having a baby. However, after the "OMG we're going to be parents" shock wore off and Michael and I spoke about the pregnancy, we agreed on one thing right away: we didn't want to have the sex of the baby revealed to us ahead of time. (But I reserved the right to change my mind at any poing, just in case...)<br />
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Here we are, almost into Week 30, and not knowing has been so easy. One of the most fun things about NOT learning the sex of our baby is that it drives everyone absolutely crazy! It's also been fun to hear everyone's opinions on Boy vs. Girl (and generally, others' opinions during pregnancy are NOT so fun...). While I have absolutely no preference as to Boy vs. Girl, as we get closer to the big due date I have started thinking more and more about what I do "want" for Baby C...<br />
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Naturally, health is the most important thing. When I used to hear parents-to-be say "We just want it healthy!" inner-me would roll my eyes and scream "cliche!" I mean, that's an obvious answer, right? Well... inner-me feels bad for all of those eye rolls. I get it now. It isn't cliche. It is EVERYTHING. Even being a worrier and a planner, I could never have imagined all of the crazy things that could go "wrong" during a pregnancy. I never imagined the number of little things that could happen that could cause birth defects, loss of pregnancy, etc. It's overwhelming, Once again, as an act so very out-of-character for me, Michael and I decided not to get the Multiple Marker testing done at week 12. We didn't want to know the sex, and we didn't see the point in paying out-of-pocket for the test. Without it ever being discussed, we both knew that it wouldn't matter what the tests showed. No "potential indication of a problem" was going to change the fact that we were going to have this baby. We believe there is no "going wrong" with this pregnancy. Whatever was going to happen or not happen is God's plan for us, so we pur our Faith in that and forged ahead without testing. I've been as "by the book" as I have been able to be, and Health is the most important thing we want and pray for, daily.<br />
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After that, everything else (especially the sex) seems trivial - but it's still been fun to think about! It's also been a true testiment to how absolutely crazy I am about its father, because with every trait I can think of, I pray it takes after Michael.<br />
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I want it to have his hair. (The GOOD hair of us two, no doubt)...<br />
I want it to have his eyes.<br />
I want it to have his smile (The biggest and best grin I've ever seen).<br />
I want it to have his patience.<br />
I want it to have his laid-back attitude.<br />
I want it to inherit his athletic ability (Rather than my LACK thereof)...<br />
I want it to have his kindness.<br />
I want it to get Michael's ability to be quiet, rather than my constant need and obsession with chatter.<br />
I want it to have his love of learning about anything and everything (even though I sometimes poke fun of Michael for this- I mean, he watches some of the WEIRDEST things on TV...).<br />
I want it to have his level-head.<br />
I want it to have his work ethic.<br />
I want it to get his love for the water.<br />
I want it to get his laugh (My favorite sound in the world).<br />
I want it to have his love of good food (and not just the junk that I love so much).<br />
I want it to be his best friend, and I want it to adore him as much as I do- and I have no doubt this will be the case.<br />
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If I get my way, I really won't give this Baby much of "me," and that's OK. I feel like I'm giving it the best gift I can in Michael as its father, and that is the very best thing of all. <br />
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<br />Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-81246528620031036102017-05-11T11:42:00.004-05:002017-05-11T11:58:28.300-05:00A post I NEVER thought I'd be writing... I am officially 23 weeks and a few days into this pregnancy, and I finally decided to commit to sitting down and talking about it all. From the day I learned I was expecting, I imagined myself blogging about it on a regular basis... then life continued and I never allowed myself the time. Plus, there were the usual thoughts of "Who would care to read it? I don't have anything groundbreaking to share! It's not like being in this situation makes me unique....". Well voices, be damned. This is pretty groundbreaking for me. So, here's to sharing.<br />
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I must start by declaring that this is something I could have NEVER imagined. Due to a few cards that life had dealt me (and I few I had drawn myself) I never really expected to be pregnant. In fact, I was "this.close" to discussing options for a hysterectomy with my doc. That consultation appointment was scheduled... and it became the first ultrasound appointment, instead. <br />
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In true "Michael and Jessica" fashion, I told Michael the news via text message. I KICK myself for this now, but I couldn't wait until I saw him in person again- after I took the test there was NO waiting. I took the test at the urging of coworkers. They had been teasing me for a few days about the possibility of being pregnant. I only took the tests (that a coworker purchased for me) after I had a dream about my teeth crumbling and falling out. WEIRD, I know- but I've had the same dream a couple of times before, and always right on the cusp of a major life change. Also, the smell of coffee one morning made me sick. For me, that's even more strange than the teeth dream... So, the tests were taken (three) and life was forever changed in the craziest and most amazing way imaginable.<br />
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The first few weeks were filled with ABSOLUTE TERROR. I was worried about everything. I was in shock that this was happening, and just could not wrap my head around the fact that I was going to be a mother. It's in my nature to prepare for the worst, and I certainly did when it came to everything pregnancy. I couldn't even let myself celebrate. I couldn't let it all sink in. I couldn't bear to be too happy, only to have something bad happen. So, for weeks and weeks we kept the news pretty private, and I tried to continue on with normal life (Minus the wine. Plus the heightened anxiety.)<br />
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We had our first ultrasound at 7 weeks, and hearing the heartbeat was the most relieving sound I had ever heard. It was also a terrifying sound: I was responsible for that heartbeat. I was in love with that heartbeat. What if I never heard that heartbeat again? I couldn't stop the fear from creeping in to every aspect of this journey. I've laughed before about being cyncical and joked about my anxiety issues all my life. This was no longer a joke for me. The anxiety was heavy, and hard to deal with. Michael, my polar opposite when it comes to all things "worry," did his best to assure me everything was fine. He also knew that those words only carried so much weight with me, so he did his best to just let me feel what I was feeling. He didn't make me feel ridiculous. He didn't make me feel overdramatic. He just let me feel. I can't thank him enough for the way he handled me and this pregnancy in those first fragile months. He really is my rock.<br />
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After 12 weeks, we made the announcement to the world, and it's been a whirlwind since. We decided we didn't want to do the Multiple Markers Test. We didn't want to know the gender, and we didn't see the point in spending out-of-pocket cash to have tests done that wouldn't change anything for us. This is SO not in my nature. I like to plan. I like to know what's coming. I like to prepare for the worst. But for some reason, even though I was terrrified of all of the "what ifs" I just knew that God was taking care of it, and that no matter what the tests showed, it was out of our control and I was going to have this baby. Some agreed. Some didn't. It didn't matter- Michael and I agreed that we didn't need to do tests to see if there could possibly be a problem. We were forging ahead in full faith.<br />
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I felt the first "flutters" at around week 17. Since then, I have been impatiently waiting to FEEL movement. I want kicks! I want jabs! Come on, Baby! The last week or so, the movements have definitely become more defined and regular, but I'm still not feeling the strong kicks that so many mothers describe on the 1,000,000 mom/pregger blogs I read (Thanks, Anxiety). Michael was finally able to feel some movement, which has helped to curb my impatience some... but I'm still giving Baby regular morning pep talks to really get moving. Every morning in the shower, this is the conversation: <br />
Me: Ok. Today is the day, I just know it! You're going to KICK today! <br />
Baby: -----<br />
Me: I know you're getting strong enough. I just want you to show me how strong you are! Let's feel a foot, or an elbow! I promise I won't complain about it. Show me what you've got!<br />
Baby: -----<br />
So yeah- pregnancy can make you a little crazy. Or is this normal? Who decides what kind of hormonal-driven, anxiety-filled behavior is normal, anyway?<br />
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Week 20 came the anatomy ultrasound, and Michael and I agreed one last time that we do NOT want to know the gender. We have several reasons for this, but the main one is simple: We just don't want to know. I must admit, I was still carrying a LOT of anxiety about Baby's development, and I could honestly feel the stress lift from my shoulders with every reassuring word from our sonographer. Organs all look good. 4 limbs. 10 fingers, 10 toes. A fiesty little Baby, moving like crazy. Grabbing its toes. Yawning. (That yawn made my heart melt into the biggest puddle that has ever existed. I wish I had it on video so I could replay it over and over and over again...)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby C. (aka, My Heart)...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLORwN6fM_V__aijlmLOkTNGzyNTwIHEfgyinzoAYqqXFF2bwICrB1qvXK03BHeVPLdAOovB7iyrAev0DzoDDoZFGXjrxz7ZCL4WIMk4JkJfhteoVK7QaO6g0bzLXUALRnHvhHcyLMJI/s1600/18033312_10100360980938680_2436610609727495205_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLORwN6fM_V__aijlmLOkTNGzyNTwIHEfgyinzoAYqqXFF2bwICrB1qvXK03BHeVPLdAOovB7iyrAev0DzoDDoZFGXjrxz7ZCL4WIMk4JkJfhteoVK7QaO6g0bzLXUALRnHvhHcyLMJI/s320/18033312_10100360980938680_2436610609727495205_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A blurry Baby C. (aka Monster Hands)...</td></tr>
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The past three weeks have been filled with less anxiety about the wellbeing of Baby, and more anxiety about all of the things we have to do before it gets here. There is an entire house to clean out, to make room for Michael AND Baby. There's furniture to store, furniture to purchase, furniture and walls to paint, showers to be had. I'm starting to wonder about the big "what ifs" that come once the Baby arrives. What if I can't breastfeed? What if Baby never ever sleeps? What if Baby doesn't like me? How can I possibly leave work for __ weeks (this is still yet to be determined). How can I possibly go back to work after Baby arrives? How am I ever going to afford raising a human? It's never ending, and exhausting. And from what I understand, totally normal...<br />
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Things that have plagued me since Day One: <br />
* Heartburn<br />
* Cravings for all things SUGAR<br />
* Exhaustion<br />
* Headaches<br />
* Crying at EVERYTHING<br />
* Extra attention from my cats, who have wanted to lay ON my stomach since before I was showing. They're obsessed, and it's a little freaky.<br />
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Things that have been a blessing since Day One:<br />
* Michael. Hands down, over and over again- the very best part of this duo.<br />
* My friends, for the maternity clothes, baby stuff, advice, alcohol-free wine, etc.<br />
* Fetal Doppler so I can check on Baby C when anxiety gets too high, given to me by one of above-mentioned friends.<br />
* My mom. She's helped me more than she can imagine.<br />
* My coworkers, who have been understanding and patient with those early-on late mornings (thank you, morning sickness!), the doc appointments and having to take unforeseen time off to rest when I "overdo it" (which is annoying)<br />
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I've managed to avoid swelling and stretchmarks so far. Fingers crossed! <br />
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Here's to the next 16 weeks!<br />
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<br />Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-72080820973339213042017-03-31T10:13:00.000-05:002017-03-31T10:13:56.299-05:00My "ex" EquationThis morning, I was catching up on one of my very favorite blogs, Cup of Jo, and the topic at-hand hit close to home for me... it was about <a href="http://cupofjo.com/2017/03/running-into-an-ex/#more-124202" target="_blank">running into an ex</a>.<br />
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For those who know me well, it is no secret that the absolute love of my life and the man that makes me happier than anything in the world is also "an ex." We dated casually for a brief period in high school, and reunited in our early 20s. After a relationship that was riddled with the all-too-common "young love" mistakes, our breakup left us both a little wounded, in different ways. However, we shared some very dear mutual friends, and lived in the same area- so the universe constantly had us at the same place at the same time. He was "that ex" that always rattled me a bit, every time.<br />
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We always managed to be friendly, or at the very least civil. We would run into each other often, and even though I was usually dating someone else, (and even mistakenly married at one point), I left every casual encounter Michael and I shared wondering "what if?" <i>Had I made a mistake all those years ago? What if I/he were single again? Did he have these questions too?</i><br />
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Thankfully, the universe found it fitting that he and I find our way back to each other, and my life finally feels right. Our wounds healed. There are no "what ifs" anymore. No lingering feelings or questions when I may run into an ex these days. Every previous relationship feels as though it was simply a "casual" one compared to my life now. I finally understand the "every relationship is a lesson/stepping stone/step closer to the One" cliches, because I after lots of lessons and stepping stones, I finally ended up where I was supposed to be. <br />
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Now, we're preparing to bring a life into this world together this Fall. Life truly couldn't be sweeter. <br />
<br />Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-48581009421589063742016-10-21T12:28:00.000-05:002016-10-21T12:28:09.072-05:00Just a quick catch-up...<div style="text-align: center;">
...and just like that, a month has passed and I haven't blogged. The best of intentions don't always pan out...</div>
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So, here's a quick look at the last month:<br />
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Work had me traveling a bit over the past few weeks, and I spent a couple days with my best friend and her family during one of my trips. It was great to get some time with the Smith family... especially this little love-bug, Garrett. He's going to be one year old this weekend! I won't get to celebrate his birthday, though....</div>
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...Because these two are getting married! We've had lots of wedding showers over the past few weeks, including this one held by Lucas & Lauren's church family in Lawton. During this photo, their pastor was putting them to the test with a game of "Who knows each other better?" It's going to be surreal to watch my baby brother become someone's HUSBAND this weekend, but I am so excited for them both and am anxious to help celebrate their big day!</div>
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This past week, Michael and I went to Tulsa to see one of my very favorite men in the entire world... Kris Kristofferson. My love for him is probably a little odd for someone my age, but it knows no bounds. (That's worth an entire post of its own...)</div>
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Kristofferson was receiving an award at Cain's Ballroom, so there were other singer/songwriters there to honor him. Above are legends "Ramblin' Jack" Elliot and Rodney Crowell.</div>
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And after the show, Rodney Crowell walked right past me on the sidewalk- so I HAD to get a photo. And, in true Jessica fashion, the pic is fuzzy and my eyes are closed. </div>
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And of course, no month is complete without a few beverages. And beverages just can't be consumed without photographic evidence, right? </div>
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A few things from around the web before I go-</div>
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Are you watching <a href="http://www.nbc.com/this-is-us?nbc=1" target="_blank">this show</a>? It is so, so good.</div>
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I found <a href="http://www.today.com/popculture/anne-hathaway-i-only-pretended-be-happy-after-oscar-win-t104220?cid=sm_fbn" target="_blank">this</a> interesting about Anne Hathaway, about how she felt after she played Fantine in Les Mis...</div>
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I never get tired of <a href="http://www.npr.org/2016/10/09/497306256/blind-pilot-tiny-desk-concert" target="_blank">this band</a>, or this NPR series...</div>
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I just adore <a href="http://cupofjo.com/category/relationships/" target="_blank">this blog</a>. I've been reading for years, and often go back to read posts I may have missed here and there. This morning, I've been catching up on her relationship posts. </div>
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-Have a great weekend!</div>
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Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-83682759457442003412016-09-18T13:29:00.001-05:002016-09-18T13:30:34.624-05:00Lazy, Lacking Motivation, and a little sickly...Thursday night I had wine with family. Then I came home, crawled in bed and awoke Friday to find myself in enough pain to warrant taking a pain pill (something I never do) and curling back into bed (something I do every chance I get). Without going into details, I'll just say this: my life has been pretty gloomy the past 3 days, and I'm SICK of staring at the walls of my home and having to lie down to stay comfortable. (I'm ok- I'll be going to my doc soon, so this isn't a plea for sympathy. All's well!)<br />
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When one lives alone and can only stay comfortable by lying down, one gets bored. Very bored. Housework slips, hygiene gets neglected... needless to say, it's not pretty around my house at the moment. <br />
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I could have spent the last few days working on getting caught up on some writing, but instead I've slept and watched reruns of Cougar Town (seriously, greatest show in syndication right now). I could have caught up on blogs, read through the stack of magazines growing on my end table, or managed to move enough to do some laundry. Instead, I've played hours of Gin Rummy on my phone, browsed Pinterest and slept.<br />
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Point of the story? I'm the LAZIEST person I know, which is hard when deep-down I am a Type-A Virgo who has 1,000 irons in the proverbial fire. I tell myself the lack of productivity is ok, because "my body needs it," but the truth is, I'm just flippin' lazy.<br />
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Today, I'm feeling better than I have in days and am working on getting my house in some sort of presentable order (for all the company I never have); tackling the stack of dishes that have seemed to multiply in my sink (I've been sick and haven't been cooking- where do these dishes come from?!) washing linens, dusting, sweeping... but it's Football Sunday and my Saints are playing, so I keep finding myself perched on my couch, yelling at the TV and checking my Fantasy team scores instead. The struggle, I tell you- it's real. (#thingslazyandspoiledpeoplesay)<br />
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I'd love to be more productive- I LIVE by lists, but find myself neglecting them lately, sickly or not. If anyone has any motivation tips or tricks, I'd love to hear them! ...but you may have to wake me to share them...<br />
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<br />Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-11980480427229016402016-08-29T14:19:00.000-05:002016-08-29T14:19:02.723-05:00A weekend recap...<div style="text-align: center;">
Ready for a super cliche statement?</div>
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The weekends are NEVER long enough... this one was no exception.</div>
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Saturday morning I teamed up with other residents in our little community to repaint some equipment at our local playground... it was fun to jump in and do something nice for a town I love so much. It didn't take long for me to end up covered in paint and primer, but it was well worth the mess!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCHXxIxYldihd-3ZchxyIu4RMC39Sw1i3ER-lYrq6AMSnCkl1CSEyAXRFG6M7BpUOrZGF7ZDF9jo-PclTJEf8o1sh2EqrNvNNMH96HgI-5xao7523983SdcluuwF-gBnNQrYT9bC6GnM/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCHXxIxYldihd-3ZchxyIu4RMC39Sw1i3ER-lYrq6AMSnCkl1CSEyAXRFG6M7BpUOrZGF7ZDF9jo-PclTJEf8o1sh2EqrNvNNMH96HgI-5xao7523983SdcluuwF-gBnNQrYT9bC6GnM/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am the MESSIEST painter of all time, ever. </td></tr>
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After the painting project, I headed to the local lake to spend some time with family. With the "unofficial" end of summer coming this weekend, I was excited about getting to have a lazy lake afternoon- even if it did end up POURING rain on us toward the end of the evening (and just when we were getting ready to charcoal some steaks!)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My spot. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gfZxxdNW0-g_PwsUJ9e9j4M5xwPxfehlQuh4eI5elmpWdx8zadwYQoJL87DLML_ORXCnmcoTvSfv3B8jo-elA1N8sQXP2_DhXkyROWAIwZo6rthcog086APx41xULcW1HKMu9a7Nxcc/s1600/IMG_6055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gfZxxdNW0-g_PwsUJ9e9j4M5xwPxfehlQuh4eI5elmpWdx8zadwYQoJL87DLML_ORXCnmcoTvSfv3B8jo-elA1N8sQXP2_DhXkyROWAIwZo6rthcog086APx41xULcW1HKMu9a7Nxcc/s200/IMG_6055.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Clay. The color of home.</td></tr>
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Our lake (and every other body of water around here) has a red clay bottom, which means the water is not very clear. And the clay will stain your clothing. Some find it annoying and unappealing. To me, it's a part of what it means to call this place "home." </div>
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My twin cousins came out to spend the afternoon with us, and I was so glad they did. These girls are busy middle-schoolers these days with lives of their own taking shape, so it's always nice to get some quality time with them. We played on snapchat, did some paddle boating and I got all caught up on the middle-school gossip. (They are QUITE the comedians, too...)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paddle boating with the "Captains"<br /></td></tr>
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Of course, no family gathering is complete without pets... </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My grandparents dog (horse), Sam. He's still growing!</td></tr>
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And, in true "Oklahoma weather" fashion, after hours of sunshine the blue skies quickly turned grey and the rain came down.. and kept coming. I'm great with rain- but NOT when it hits as we were getting ready to cook dinner. And NOT when it forces 8 people and two dogs into a camper together...</div>
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It eventually let up and we were able to get dinner finished, just in time for me to eat and run. I spent the rest of the evening with friends, and I did something I NEVER do: I left my phone in my car for the entire night. No checking social media. No photos. No idea of time, even. It was nice to not be distracted by my iPhone- and the group I was with kept things entertaining enough that I didn't even miss it. </div>
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After a full Saturday, I somehow managed to make it to church on Sunday... it was my beloved Pastor's last Sunday with us, as she is retiring and moving to be closer to her family. Pastor Karen has been a lifeline to me for over 5 years now, and the thought of not seeing her weekly is almost more than I can handle. I'm so happy for her and for this next, well-deserved chapter of her life- but I'm also still selfish and cried like a baby during the service and after I hugged her goodbye. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmt1GCxRSEPW2ISy84evFC9-Tc1_GgkfucwlOM54uR22FErCyESAsa9pyPDKsh4UkCUFhha3tfVB1Z0PrlOvnAgXlX3RlsHtl0s-i1pXzQM-DKkuyrLOA-dYFjAtL-qcZt81Fl4Jwjp8Y/s1600/IMG_6072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmt1GCxRSEPW2ISy84evFC9-Tc1_GgkfucwlOM54uR22FErCyESAsa9pyPDKsh4UkCUFhha3tfVB1Z0PrlOvnAgXlX3RlsHtl0s-i1pXzQM-DKkuyrLOA-dYFjAtL-qcZt81Fl4Jwjp8Y/s320/IMG_6072.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pastor Karen, telling the kids "goodbye" during the Children's Message. Cue the tears!</td></tr>
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When I got home from church, the busy weekend caught up with me and I crashed. I spent the rest of the day with my couch, my favorite blanket, my cats and my DVR... which is pretty much the perfect Sunday (until Saints football starts, that is!)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGnQmxqT98Z15Z0m6YpZl1xZphDobLQIz_3fkjTeMjtSQb0ZqlvTnuWEICrtSKJbldvSKAQ5l7aBjvtFEstSUN8t1CFeZ8pRYvhWDiLCTEOY3NJ66dGxg7fbG53cObhLmxZUKo6SWASg/s1600/IMG_6076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGnQmxqT98Z15Z0m6YpZl1xZphDobLQIz_3fkjTeMjtSQb0ZqlvTnuWEICrtSKJbldvSKAQ5l7aBjvtFEstSUN8t1CFeZ8pRYvhWDiLCTEOY3NJ66dGxg7fbG53cObhLmxZUKo6SWASg/s320/IMG_6076.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not the best cuddles from these two, but they try... sometimes.</td></tr>
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Hope your weekend was everything you were wanting it to be! </div>
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Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-16074753402548465962016-08-25T17:34:00.000-05:002016-08-26T14:49:26.121-05:00Peanut Butter Blossoms (aka "this week's favorite cookie")<div style="text-align: center;">
I am many, many things in life. A cook is NOT one of them. </div>
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To be honest, I don't really care for cooking. On the rare occasions that I decide to do it, I either stick to the absolute basics (tacos, spaghetti, anything from a box...) or I get adventurous and try something new (which just means I follow a recipe to the "T." And usually still end up getting something wrong...).</div>
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While the cooking gene completely missed me, baking is one thing I've always loved. I've also always loved EATING baked goods, which can be dangerous when combined with my love of actually doing the baking. For this reason, I generally only bake when I have someone in mind to give the sweets to. I'll bake, take one or two cookies/slices/squares out of whatever I've created, and then pass the rest along.</div>
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(In other words, my fella and his roommate get quite a bit of sweets from me). </div>
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I had a sweet tooth yesterday and decided to pull out a recipe I hadn't made in years: the perfect mix of crunchy cookie, peanut butter and chocolate, in cookie form. <br />
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<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=65c3264190&view=fimg&th=156c2d4b4e39038a&attid=0.1.6&disp=emb&attbid=ANGjdJ-bV_b12F0wlLMg1H9_czdwe_SXDcXCQpXhKwKdFmgpoYWya6Mh9nlnJcSjUG5FnBzLM_dtmHhJvaV9SIXuNs4_c1FHLDU3da_dnPmI4Lb-OqWu70WbPnUqzYU&sz=s0-l75-ft&ats=1472147724820&rm=156c2d4b4e39038a&zw&atsh=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=65c3264190&view=fimg&th=156c2d4b4e39038a&attid=0.1.6&disp=emb&attbid=ANGjdJ-bV_b12F0wlLMg1H9_czdwe_SXDcXCQpXhKwKdFmgpoYWya6Mh9nlnJcSjUG5FnBzLM_dtmHhJvaV9SIXuNs4_c1FHLDU3da_dnPmI4Lb-OqWu70WbPnUqzYU&sz=s0-l75-ft&ats=1472147724820&rm=156c2d4b4e39038a&zw&atsh=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd a6T" height="400" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=65c3264190&view=fimg&th=156c2d4b4e39038a&attid=0.1.6&disp=emb&attbid=ANGjdJ-bV_b12F0wlLMg1H9_czdwe_SXDcXCQpXhKwKdFmgpoYWya6Mh9nlnJcSjUG5FnBzLM_dtmHhJvaV9SIXuNs4_c1FHLDU3da_dnPmI4Lb-OqWu70WbPnUqzYU&sz=s0-l75-ft&ats=1472147724820&rm=156c2d4b4e39038a&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="300" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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<b>Peanut Butter Blossoms </b></div>
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In a bowl, combine 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter, 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup softened butter and 1/2 cup granulated sugar (I've been known to add another 1/4 cup of granulated sugar before... if you like sweet, go for it...).</div>
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<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=65c3264190&view=fimg&th=156c2d4b4e39038a&attid=0.1.2&disp=emb&attbid=ANGjdJ_1iz9O8IJWRkg4mDSzkJWJZRYnMTrvCRVTTBrb0CHMVVGW0IcaoCvUsdYq-JRwlwMoOlfwKt3CLvDNMrjkwFsTIHzjSQZHA49MUFiywTzcLzaGf3Jy3WXWvvE&sz=s0-l75-ft&ats=1472147724819&rm=156c2d4b4e39038a&zw&atsh=1" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" class="CToWUd a6T" height="320" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=65c3264190&view=fimg&th=156c2d4b4e39038a&attid=0.1.2&disp=emb&attbid=ANGjdJ_1iz9O8IJWRkg4mDSzkJWJZRYnMTrvCRVTTBrb0CHMVVGW0IcaoCvUsdYq-JRwlwMoOlfwKt3CLvDNMrjkwFsTIHzjSQZHA49MUFiywTzcLzaGf3Jy3WXWvvE&sz=s0-l75-ft&ats=1472147724819&rm=156c2d4b4e39038a&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="240" /></a></div>
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Beat together until creamy. A mixer makes this easier, but I'm usually too lazy to drag my hand mixer out, so I use a wooden spoon. I like to think it counts as a quick arm workout...</div>
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<img class="CToWUd a6T" height="320" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=65c3264190&view=fimg&th=156c2d4b4e39038a&attid=0.1.3&disp=emb&attbid=ANGjdJ8RZ-K2UPKa4_fAf6yPCgr8QdwjAVOEgFoBvWOQj2Czf5RhiqXBvJ-OMbWkIQkIYvqDzpQ5cuBBcbSw0aC1c2BxHzj6GE7dbx-n2-dRWQOJ4jIwMMKYtR4Ed7w&sz=s0-l75-ft&ats=1472147724819&rm=156c2d4b4e39038a&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="240" /></div>
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Next, add a 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla and 1 egg. Mix together. Once mixed, sift in 1 3/4 c flour. (The recipe calls for all-purpose, but I always use self-rising and eliminate the salt and baking soda from the recipe if it calls for it. Again, lazy).</div>
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<i>If you would rather use all-purpose flour, you can also add 1 teaspoon of baking soda and a dash of salt to the mix.</i></div>
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Once you've mixed together, roll dough into 1 inch balls and coat each in granulated sugar. Then, place them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. (Sometimes the dough is soft- if this is the case you can refrigerate the rolled balls for a bit. Thirty minutes to an hour does the trick).</div>
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<img class="CToWUd a6T" height="320" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=65c3264190&view=fimg&th=156c2d4b4e39038a&attid=0.1.4&disp=emb&attbid=ANGjdJ958Luq6NSNaSYxi6nrHy8WmNuvEz8rCP1OWD7zGZCVfFJPZu96yPVqYaaCGYaOrkdXFCU58IdCw4hoR8wUnRqdjkHdwRx0G6mkkbjI2s3FH5tIfroYs_Hkoxk&sz=s0-l75-ft&ats=1472147724820&rm=156c2d4b4e39038a&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="240" /></div>
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<img class="CToWUd a6T" height="320" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=65c3264190&view=fimg&th=156c2d4b4e39038a&attid=0.1.5&disp=emb&attbid=ANGjdJ-nsIEfynEPUCLXSYjaySqRV283HgnSFEp5YL8aGB76N_Le-ro-chgJ8fwuPNQi6m3EoDCps6oOQgHC2Og0AxSKWhYkIDg1j7mZJi5LNFACrNgbw8GqTnvGKxk&sz=s0-l75-ft&ats=1472147724820&rm=156c2d4b4e39038a&zw&atsh=1" tabindex="0" width="240" /></div>
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The recipe states this will make 4 dozen cookies. I usually get about 3 dozen out of the dough...</div>
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I think I roll my dough too large. ;)</div>
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Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes, until just golden brown. Once removed from the oven, immediately press a chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie and transfer to a cooling rack.</div>
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Enjoy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7o1GEj8TLc3dt8OStxqD_n7jXk4NEjXYs_UeUOSGq0sBijsqcV1CwGze5OAUl5qCMW_GQIk1wgkSY0VQ6u23wQt6DZQsoP5HKjzWVkuCkC78CiFB7Y4L3XXudfzbk4D7gqcPrkT7MyHE/s1600/IMG_6028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7o1GEj8TLc3dt8OStxqD_n7jXk4NEjXYs_UeUOSGq0sBijsqcV1CwGze5OAUl5qCMW_GQIk1wgkSY0VQ6u23wQt6DZQsoP5HKjzWVkuCkC78CiFB7Y4L3XXudfzbk4D7gqcPrkT7MyHE/s320/IMG_6028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Peanut Butter Blossoms:</div>
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Ingredients:</div>
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1/2 c. peanut butter </div>
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1/2 c. butter, softened</div>
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1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar</div>
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1/2 c. - 3/4 c. granulated sugar (plus another 1/4 c. extra, separated to roll dough in before baking)</div>
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1 large egg</div>
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1/4 tsp. vanilla</div>
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1 3/4 c. self-rising flour<br />
48 chocolate candy kisses<br />
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Preheat oven to 375. Combine peanut butter, softened butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar until creamy. Mix in vanilla and egg. Sift flour into mixture and combine. Once dough forms, roll into 1 inch balls and roll each in granulated sugar. Place on parchment lined cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes, until just golden. While baking, unwrap chocolate kisses. Once the cookies are removed from the oven, immediately place candy into the center of each cookie and transfer to cooling rack.<br />
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<br />Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-26995516811953536002016-08-25T07:30:00.000-05:002016-08-25T07:30:26.972-05:00You Know You're from a Small Town If....
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<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Every so often, I see articles posted online stating “You know you’re
from a small town if…” or “Living in a small town means…”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are always good for a laugh, because
they are all so very, very true. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
week, I’ve compiled some of the most common items found on these lists and
added my own comments here and there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m sure some of these are meant to poke fun, but I prefer to see the
charm in them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To me, THIS is what’s
right about small-town living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well,
most of them, anyway… </span></strong><br />
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<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #222222;">*The grocery store was also the place to
rent movies, drop off dry cleaning, rent a carpet shampooer, and to leave your
rolls of film to be developed</span></strong><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #222222;">*You can name every person in your
graduating class, and their GPA’s </span></strong><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">and you
still keep in touch with every one of them </span></strong><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">*It’s not abnormal for you to see
horses, pigs, chickens, cows, etc. in someone’s back yard.</span></b></div>
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #222222;">*When you call the wrong landline
number, the person who answers will politely give you the correct number.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">And you can also
remember not having to dial the prefix when dialing…</span></strong><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">*“Downtown” is where the old
antique/resale shop, abandoned parking lot and one cafe are located.</span></b></div>
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #222222;">*You never carried a key for your house
because it was always unlocked.</span></strong><span style="color: #222222;">
And, just in case, the only key was “hidden” in your mailbox or a flower pot so
your neighbors, relatives and mailman would know where to find it if needed.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">*You have attended a street dance, and
the roadblocks were more a formality than a necessity. </span></b></div>
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #222222;">*People can always find you.</span></strong><span style="color: #222222;"> Flower deliveries make it to you no matter where you are
at the time because the delivery person knows where to look and who to ask.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #222222;">*You are somehow related to nearly
everyone in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This makes
dating tricky…</span></strong><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">And on that same note… </span></strong><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">*It was almost impossible to not date your friend’s ex in
high school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">*There are very few streetlights where
you live, so it’s somewhat impossible for you to sleep in a place that has them
everywhere.</span></b></div>
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #222222;">*A trip to the nearest Walmart or
McDonald’s requires a road trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #222222;">*Everything shut down for high school
football.</span></strong><span style="color: #222222;"> When the team made the
playoffs, the musical was rescheduled because the lead actor was also the
quarterback.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #222222;">*It was cool to hang out with or date
someone from a neighboring school, except during football season when they were
considered enemies. </span></strong><span style="color: #222222;"><br />
<b><br />
<strong>*Driving a tractor to school was an acceptable thing to do, and there
was likely a day designated to doing so each year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></b><strong><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I still have photos of Jeromy Jinks, pulling
into the school parking lot on a tractor during Spirit Week’s “Farmer
Day.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, the memories…</span></strong></span><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">*You give directions based on local
landmarks. “Left at the old tree with two stumps, right at the church, past the
cotton field...”</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
<b><br />
<strong>*A high school girl was crowned the town queen during your annual
festival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></b><strong><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Snake hunts, rodeos,
watermelon festivals… all of them had queens!</span></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">* In high school, a bonfire was your idea
of a good time, and a barn party was reserved for very special occasions. </span></b></div>
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #222222;">*You were encouraged to bring a prom
date from a different school just so there was a crowd at prom. </span></strong><span style="color: #222222;">Oh, and prom likely included a sit-down meal for everyone
before the dance, which probably took place in the high school gym.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #222222;">*You went to school with kids from other
surrounding tiny towns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></strong><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">*You do not only know what FFA stands
for, but were more than likely the president of your chapter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Same goes for 4-H.</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">*You’ve stolen a speed limit or stop
sign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I prefer to say that I FOUND signs… and
all of that was many, many years ago.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">*If your family is going through some
type of crisis, you aren’t surprised to find home cooked meals dropped off at
your doorstep.</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">*The only traffic jam you ever
experience is when farm equipment is traveling along the highway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I generally plan to give myself extra travel time during
harvest.</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">*Your college applications looked
really good because you participated in all of the clubs and won a lot of
scholarships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This was impressive to outsiders who didn’t
understand that this was the way to stay busy and social in your small school…</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">*You had designated senior skip days in
high school. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #222222;">*When people ask you where you are from,
you sort of mumble your tiny town’s name and then automatically tell them what
larger town it is near. </span></strong><strong><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Do you know where Duncan
is?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are 25 miles south…”</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></strong>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some list items compiled from
sources:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emily Counts, blogger/founder
of The Small Stuff Counts and Leslie Cole, thoughtcatalog.com.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-28900760963423862822016-08-24T10:12:00.000-05:002016-08-24T10:12:00.486-05:00My August Spins...<div style="text-align: center;">
A few of the songs I've been obsessed with this month....</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxQz2P6X9Fg">Vice</a> by Miranda Lambert. </div>
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I'm usually 'on-the-fence' about Miranda. I like her well enough. Saw her at a music festival years ago, and she puts on a great show. I own a few of her songs, but she isn't exactly a favorite, and her songs usually wear on me after a few plays. This one, however- AMAZING. I can't stop listening.</div>
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Ophelia by The Lumineers.</div>
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This band can really do NO wrong, in my eyes (ears). </div>
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I'm really wanting to add this album to my vinyl collection.</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpDYfkymaSE">In Bloom</a> (Nirvana Cover) by Sturgill Simpson</div>
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This one took me some time. When I first heard it, I HATED it. But after hearing it a few times, I've grown to love Simpson's rendition of this 90's classic. I love cover songs that really change a well-known song, so I'm not sure why it took awhile for this one to click with me, but I'm glad it finally did!</div>
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Ain't No Man by the Avett Brothers</div>
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Again, the very first time I heard this on SiriusXM I wasn't sure I was a fan of it. I love the Avett Brothers, and this was a sound I wasn't used to hearing from them. I ended up heading over to Spotify to listen to their new album in its entirety, and of course it left me just as smitten as always. </div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FUVdTEQxu8">Love Triangle</a> by RaeLynn </div>
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I don't know much about this artist, but her voice is amazing, and this song is painstakingly beautiful.</div>
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What have you been listening to this month? </div>
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Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-32511295193380575062016-08-23T11:05:00.003-05:002016-08-23T11:17:44.256-05:00Thirty-Four.<div style="text-align: center;">
Three weeks from today, I will turn 34.</div>
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Thirty-four.</div>
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Just typing it, I feel like I need to stop a minute and let it sink in. Age is something that truly has never really bothered me- I've never minded getting older. It's a privilege. It's a right of passage, a sign of strength. It's something too many don't get to do. </div>
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For reasons I really can't explain, this year I'm finding the thought of another birthday a bit daunting. </div>
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Just for the record, I don't think 34 is old. I don't think my youth is gone or that life is over... but 34. There's just something about it that is stinging me a bit. I've decided that I need to shift my focus from whatever it is about that number that is getting to me, and rather focus on what a wild ride this past year has been.</div>
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My 33rd birthday was extremely bittersweet. On the eve of my birthday, I celebrated with a few close friends (all whom I rarely see) around a fire pit at my house, and couldn't think of a better way to ring in a new age. My 33rd birthday is also the day I first asked for a divorce. </div>
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The next two weeks (aka 'my first two weeks of 33') were rough, to say the least. Lots of talks, tears, anger, soul-searching, questions and prayers. By the time I was a month in to 33, the divorce was officially being drawn up and I was living alone again. (The process, emotions and prayers that went into asking for a divorce is enough for an entire post on its own...)</div>
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A few months into 33, I took another BIG leap: I decided to quit a job that I loved. I was finding myself in a rut, needing a change and something unexpected sort of "fell" into my lap... so I jumped. And I fell, flat on my face. </div>
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It didn't work out. I failed. This spring, I found myself without direction, without a job I loved and without a plan. More prayers, more tears, more soul-searching led me back to working for my hometown, a community that I love more than just about anything. I do miss my old job, my colleagues and so much of what I had been doing for the past five years, but I am glad I took a risk and tried something else. I'm even glad that particular "something else" didn't work out... it was scary and new and exciting and I didn't succeed- but I learned SO much about myself in the process, and am a much braver person for the experience. </div>
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I can't even begin to say that my 33rd year has been full of bad, scary things. I've become myself again. I'm in an amazing, healthy, fun relationship. I've seen myself transform from a cynical, often pessimistic person into someone who truly looks for the positive. I've watched family members reach huge milestones. I've seen friends experience true happiness and been able to share some of their fantastic moments. I've made new friends, and reconnected with old friends. For all of the lows, the dark days and the scary parts of the past year, I've enjoyed plenty of views from the mountaintops, too. </div>
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This year has been one for the books. I've learned more about myself this year than ever before: the good, the bad and the ugly. I think these lessons are what has led me back to wanting to write again. To share, because the life I'm living- in all of its good/bad/exciting/boring glory- is worth it.</div>
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So, here's to the last three weeks of 33. I plan to fill it with just as much love and laughter as I possibly can... and probably as much red wine as I can responsibly handle. </div>
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-Cheers!</div>
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Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850019960225246624.post-550723450596092492016-07-11T21:22:00.000-05:002016-07-11T21:24:17.343-05:00Here I Go AgainAfter years of blogging, I fell off out of the blog orbit... and then, I attempted to reenter the atmosphere many, many times. I could never seem to pick up steam. After taking time off and my life changing quite a bit, I couldn't find my niche, my voice, my purpose- but I missed writing and I missed the blogging community, so I kept trying. And failing to stick to it.<br />
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One spring day, I wrote a "note" on Facebook, in response to a negative post about my hometown. From there, I was approached about starting to write for my local paper (a weekly column called "What's Right About Jefferson County," that I do for free. I'm no journalist. Ain't nobody winning a Pulitzer around here anytime soon). I am so grateful for the chance - and the responsibility- to write on a regular basis again. Getting back into the habit of writing has re-lit the fire for writing for me and I've once again been toying with the idea of this blog. Again. (Have I mentioned I've attempted to start blogging again, several times?)<br />
Side Note: I'll be posting the weekly columns under the "What's Right" tab, if you're interested...<br />
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I've decided, once and for all, to give it another try. If it works, wonderful. If it doesn't- I'll put it back to bed until a later time. When I was an active blogger in the past, I had stories to tell. I loved life and I was happy to share my crazy world with anyone who wanted to read about it... then, I fell into a rut. I had less to say. I didn't want to be honest with myself, much less anyone else- at least not in the way that I believe you should be if you are going to expect people to become regular visitors of what is essentially your online diary. I've been a part of this world before. I still have some amazing friendships that were born through blogging, and it's because it was in this place where I could be honest and open. I felt safe enough to do that, I felt confident enough to do that. And thankfully, I've found my way back to that place. <br />
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So, here goes nothing! I'm not sure what's going to take place here. I don't know what shape this is going to take, what I'm going to say or where this is going to lead- but I do promise to always be authentic, honest, and open. I hope to document my life, during a time when I am enjoying each day more than the last. I'm honored if you stop by on occasion to see what's going on, and look forward to what may come!Jessica Coodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035348275182905063noreply@blogger.com0