Leaving the 20's

Today I am celebrating my last day as a 29 year old. Tomorrow will be a milestone, I will leave my twenties behind and enter the years of the thirties. I am told I am the most relaxed 29 year old on the edge of being 30. Not sure what that means, I guess I never understood what the big deal is about aging. To me a birthday (well at least my birthday) is just another day of the year. I have never felt young nor old, so in all honestly I really don't remember feeling any different turning 9 16 25 or soon to be 30. They have all felt the same. Just another day to celebrate being alive and well. Another year to reflect and remember the blessings this life holds by simply being able to live it. So I say bring on the dirty thirties, why not just another year to find reasons everday to LOVEthisLIFE.

Happy Holidays

Its that time of year people. Christmas is HERE. So from the snowy mountains of Montana I am here to spread my holiday cheer can you hear it echo from the Flathead Range?? MMMMMMMMEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYY CCCCHHHHHHHRRRRRIIIIISSSSSTTTTTTMMMMAAAAAAASSSSSSSS. I hope your day is filled with love and laughter. May the gift of family and friends surround you and fill your day with utter joy. For its the simpliest of blessings that mean the most. So I hope you have a million of them today and always. Happy Holidays.

Welcome Amelia Millie Jean Schei

It must be the year of the babies. I am happy to announce the arrival of Amelia Millie Jean Schei 7 pounds 10 oz and 20 inches. Proud parents are Brian and my childhood best friend Emily (Just) Schei. It took forever it seemed for her to arrive but late Friday Dec. 17th (around 11:30 pm) she made her grand enterance. Amelia - I have known your mom since I was a baby. So I have really known her all my life. So I can say without a doubt that she has been looking forward to being your mother for MANY YEARS. She is one strong caring and kind woman. Who I know will fill your life with love- joy and happiness. You are one blessed little girl to have her as a mom and to be a part of the Just family. A BIG family that is strong in faith and has an endless supply of love to be given and received. Welcome Amelia! I look forward to meeting you soon!!

Welcome Chanceler James Schroder

I am proud to announce the arrival of Chanceler (Chance) James Schroder 7lbs and 2 onces born Monday, December 13th. Proud parents Shannon and Jeremy. And a very happy and proud big brother Hudson. I have been friends with Shannon since grade school. She's always been the kind of friend you are just happy to have in your life. For she's the friend that seems to never be changed - she's always the person you knew her as. As the friend that can pick right up where we parted. She's the friend you can count on in a heartbeat even if you haven't seen her in years. She's the friend with open arms - a positive attitude - a smile on her face and an inner strength like no other. They truly just don't make people like her often. Friends like her are few and far between. With the birth of Chance, I know brought much happiness and joy into her life. Thou his life will never place the life of Simon James the son she and Jeremy loss I know it will turn most of their days into great days in away just like and how the life of a baby seems to do. I am beyond happy for the Schroders, and so grateful that the little man Chance is health. To Chance, you are one blessed little man. You have two parents that I know will raise you to be a kind caring young man. I know your childhood will be fun, joyful and happy years filled with many great memories of love. I have first hand knowledge that your mom is one amazing gal who comes from an amazing- kind- understanding- caring- and loving family. For I know your grandparents and two aunts will spoil you with not just things and their time but most importantly their love. Welcome to the world Chance, I look forward to meeting you. And to you Shannon... maybe its with age as the years go by you realize the friends that well truly matter. The friends you knew you from the start... way back when you didn't even know who you were. Back to the days of pimples, glasses and the dork phases of life. Its those friends that have traveled this journey of life from the start til now you fully know will still be traveling it with you in the years to come. They are the friends you are left with no words to express your graditude of having them in your life all these years. For they are the holders of memories you forgot and the memories of what will be. How do you find words that speak from the heart on how blessed you are that some how you were lucky enought to be in the right place at the right time to grow up with them. Near or far - speaking or not... they are the friends that you hold tightly too. They are forever friends. Thank you for being apart of my life. I am so proud to be a part of yours. Enjoy your family Shannon Sue. May you be flooded with simple moments with your guys. that fill you right up with love and warmth. May they leave you breathless when you think of the blessings they are in your life. I wish you a lifetime of happiness and love with them and those favorite Blacks like know. For Shannon, happy and loved has always looked good on you.

Sometimes we need be reminded...

"AS become more clear about who you really are, you'll be better able to decide what is best for you --- the first time around."

"Be thankful for what you have, you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never ever have enough."

"Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure."

"Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment."

"For everyone of us that succeeds, it's because there's somebody there to show you the way out."

"I believe that every single event in life happens in an opportunity to choose love over fear."

"I have alot of things to prove to myself. One is that I can live my life fearlessly."

"It isn't until you come to a spiritual understanding of who you are - not necessarily a religious feeling, but deep down the spirit within - that you can begin to take control."

"Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down."

"Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher."

"The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams."

"The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude."

"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate."

"The whole point of being alive is to evolve into the into the complete person you were intended to be."

"TURN YOUR WOUNDS INTO WISDOM."

"Understand that the right to choose your own path is a sacred privilege. USE IT. Dwell in possibility."

"What God intended for you goes far beyond anything you can imagine."

"What I know is, is that if you do work that you love, and the work fulfills you, the rest will come."

"When I look into the future, it's so bright it burns my eyes."

"Where there is no struggle, there is no strength."

"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time."

"You know you are on the road to success if you would do your job, and not be paid for it."

"I believe that one of life's greatest risks is never daring to risk."

"I believe that everyone is a keeper of a dream - and by turning into one another's secret hopes, we can become better friends, better partners, better parents and better lovers."

"So go ahead fall down, the world looks different from the ground."

Sometimes we need be reminded of the gift of just living is. Sometimes we need be reminded of things we truly know but tend to forget - go un-noticed or we don't even think about it.Sometimes we need Oprah to speak it for us to realize it and know it.

Moments

We all have those moments where we feel our hearts will burst open. where we find ourselves over come with emotions. Where tears form and we fight to hold back. Where we feel just simply grateful and blessed to live the simple everyday life that makes up who we are. I believe everyone has a story. And within that story lessons. And within those lessons a life that matters. To me those moments where we find ourselves in such a state its then that our heart is smiling and above all happy. It is in these moments where we hear oursevles thinking what did I ever do to become so blessed. What did I ever do to have all of this. What did I ever do to have such people in my life. It is in these moments where we say to ourselves thank for this moment. Thank you for this life. Thank you for this journey. It is in these moments to me makes life worth living. It is what makes life worthwilded. Simply Moments. When was the last time you found yourself in one. When was the last time you stopped and paused looked up above and whisper thank you. When was the last time you thanked those special souls in your life that make simple everyday moments special? When was the last time you felt your heart was going to burst? When was the last time you found yourself over come with emotions? When was the last time tears formed and you fought to hold them back.

This life is quite a ride isn't it. But it could be over in a moment. In a flash. In a second. So I wish to you to go out there and live as many simple everyday moments you possibly can with the beings who mean the most to you. I pray that you realize the blessing your life is. I pray that you realize that your being matters. I pray that you realize your story matters, your journey matters, your life matters. And I pray you realize that the simple people in your life matter to your story - your journey - your life. I pray you know the blessings in your life and when to speak thanks to those blessings. Don't wait til the end. Don't wait til its too late. For this holiday season I wish to you a simple life with simple moments with simlpe (important) people that will simply make your life complete.

Christmas Is...

Its that time of the year where we find ourselves thinking Tis' the Season and saying Happy Holidays - Merry Christmas and so on. We all have our own Christmas is and what this holiday means to our own life. So here is mine.

Christmas Is...
My Grandma Koch's butter cut-out cookies with homemade frosting.
Decorating the house and the tree with my Mom.
Shoving the drive way with my Dad and Brothers (ok me watching while they mostly shove.)
The family gathering at my aunt and uncle's farm-ranch west of Mandan.
My aunts and cousins singing Christmas Carols all night long.
Home made Christmas Stocking sewed by Grandma Koch.
The angel fruit cake Granny always baked.
The count down to Christmas my Mom always did and still does from my brothers and I.
Family gathering.
Mass at midnight.
Jumping over a bonfire in cold winter weather.
Driving to Mandan - Bismarck usually in not advised driving conditions for Christmas
A hot cup of friendship tea, apple cidar and hot cocco.
Lighting the Blessing Circle full of candles each holidng a blessing for that year.
Gathering for the holidays at 1003 Lohstreter
The massive Christmas Village that my Grandma started to collect and put up that now is displayed at my aunt's.
Baking cookies with my mom, Grandma, aunt and cousins.
Christmas mornings spent at 1703 Monte Dr with Granny and Gramps
A big family all gathered in a small room to open gift.
A wrapping paper throwing fight (that usually involved everyone throwing at Aunt Karla).
Christmas music playing 24/7.
Putting lights up in weather you swear will freeze your fingers off.
Watching my father try to find where my mother hid the Christmas Cookies.
Playing family board games and cards.
Eating a massive meal including a deep fried turkey (LOVE IT).
Watching Christmas movies... even the cheezzy ones on Lifetime and Hallmark.
Saying quotes from Christmas movies.
Trying to figure out which gifts are who's since my mother refuses to put tags on gifts til we open them.
Helping my mom make gifts using her crafty skills (I usually watch and try to help).

But mostly Christmas is to me Family. Whether it means being with all of those family members, just a few or being away but thinking about them. To me that is what the holidays is all about. Family. Thou I have missed last Christmas and again this Christmas it brings me joy knowing that they will all gather together. That somewhere all those things I listed up above are taking place. They continue on even if I am not there. For its tradition- Christmas and Family. And knowing that it all continues on makes missing it a little less hard. Because I know from 27 Christmases prior of the laughter, the smiles, the happiness, the joy and the love that happens when my family both the Goldmann and the Koch sides gather. And in the end Christmas is and always should be about family to me.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas.