Life In The Country

These are our little duckies. The little black one is named Shadow and the stripped one is of course named stripes. They are funny little guys. If you pick up one the other one goes to chirping, since they don't quack yet, until you put them back together. They peck on each other, splash each other with water and soak the paper in the bottom of their cage on a minute by minute basis. Both of them get on one end of the cage and sprint (or should I say quickly duck waddle)to the other side.



These are the baby chicks. They are not really my thing but they will be going to my mom's soon. We started out with 18 baby chicks. Within the first hour home, one died. Then the first night, one drowned in the water thing that the feed store recommended and one other died but I don't know why. Then over the weekend we ended up with 6 more that died for God only knows why reasons. So we are down to 9 baby chicks and they are the loudest, rowdiest chicks I can remember. I was disappointed and slightly grossed out with their passing (thank God JT is a fireman and can handle things like that because for me, I was not going to bury them) but this is our first go round with baby anything so I think we are doing alright.

Super Mom or Some Version of It

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I'll admit it, I want to be Super Mom. I want to be the kind of mom that can manage a full-time job, be a full-time student, be a full-time mom and wife and still have time to be a master gardener, worlds greatest cook, a mini version of Martha Stewart all while dressed in heels and pearls like June Clever. However, this is an unrealistic expectation.

My life is a little different than that. Currently it consists of someone else doing my laundry and that of my husband and children. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate it because it's one less thing I have to do but it makes me feel like I'm not taking care of my family. Right now I have someone else cook the meals I eat, again so grateful but I can cook sometimes. Right now I have someone else clean the house, do the dishes and pack my husband and sons lunches. Why? Because we are living with my inlaws while we save money for a house.

It makes me feel inadequate at times but I am grateful. With running an entire department at work, going to school full-time and adjusting to new situations, I am totally grateful but I want to be a good wife and mother in my own eyes and not just in the eyes of my husband or children.

I am envious of those women who can manage to do it all and make it look easy because I'm not one. Maybe one day I can be a Super Mom but it won't be today.

Social Worker

I go to school online at the University of Phoenix. "I am a Phoenix"! I love it 95% of the time. I am getting my degree in social work.

Social Work is not a very glamorous choice in careers but it is one of the most rewarding. The average salary of a social worker with a bachelor's degree is $40-49K, which is only about $10k more than what I make now without a degree. For me it's not about the money nor will it ever be.

I have not always had the life I have right now, part of the reason I embrace the life I have now so much. I made many bad decisions. They say everyone hits rock bottom and for me rock bottom was when I ended up with my 4 year old daughter living at the Salvation Army. Now my husband hates for me to talk about this, not because he is ashamed of me but because I was in that situation and honestly, I use to be ashamed of it too until I realized that the Salvation Army was where I hit rock bottom and God allowed me to come back up.

Why social work? I have been asked this question more than once. For me it's not about changing the world. For me it's about having God use me to impact the life of one person the way he used another person to impact my life.

I will never forget her as long as I live, nor will I ever be able to repay her. Her name is Venette Meacham. She is an average built woman with a heart as big as Texas but she is a no nonsense kind of woman.

When I first started seeing her, I would go in crying and having a pity party. Ms. Venette would fold her arms, lean back in her chair and when I was exhausted she would ask "Are you done now? Fix ya face. Now what are we going to do about it?"

She never gave me the answers or told me what to do but taught me how to think about goals and game plans and how to work my way through issues, how to see myself in a different light and then one day she said the thing that had the most impact on me ever "Joni, I believe in you." and she honestly did.

While I was there, my daughter went to live with her father, I had some legal things go on but I also had some amazing things happen too. I found God who had been calling me for years, I began approaching things in a new way, I began to think about my life further than just tomorrow. I would find information about health fairs,back to school fairs, etc and post it on the bulletin board for others to use and eventually I was able to move out on my own.

The road hasn't always been easy but it's taken me 3 years to correct 10 years worth of junk and I still have some things I'm working on. I still call Ms Venette from time to time and in January I will have my Associates in Social Work and not long after that my Bachelor's Degree.

A Social Worker is really about doing God's business here on Earth by helping his people who are in need.

I would have never chosen any other career field ever. My parents say it's because I'm a bleeding heart Liberal. I say it's because God touched my life and my heart in a way that only certain people could ever begin to understand.

Homework

I was never fond of homework even when I was a kid and had no choice but to go to school. Now I am going to college full-time, I work full-time, I am a full-time mom and a full-time wife. Ugh! Would it be possible for me to do anything part-time, lol?

This semester or block of classes I have Introduction to Psychology (which should help me be able to understand why the ex-wife is crazy) and also Ethics and Laws in Human Services in the Medical Industry. Ok, I understand the Ethics and Laws part but I am not going into the medical field, don't care about HIPPA, etc but to give you an idea. The picture is my reading assignment for my Ethics Class for one assignment. It's 4 different articles, 2 of which are 20 pages, 1 is 12 and the last one is 6. Lord help me because I didn't get to spend much time with my husband last weekend because we were busy entertaining, this is the first weekend we have been kid free for a month and I was looking forward to time with him but guess he's sharing with homework, lol.

We are also going to my mom's for the weekend. She lives on 22 acres and I am so taking advantage of the whole 22 when we are down there with the 4 wheeler. We are also celebrating my grandparent's 40th wedding anniversary. So between my obligations, I am going to enjoy every second with my hubbs.

Herps Device

Our son Bryan will be 10 in just a matter of a week and a few days. He was a brave solider Monday at the dentist. Bryan has a severe over bite, the kind that kids make fun of. He has almost always had it and it doesn't seem to bother him the way my crooked teeth bother me but rather than have him just deal with it forever, we decided to do something about it.

So he was fine at first until he got back to the house. Monday night was suppose to be our night with the boys but his mom wanted to get him. Yep, he didn't eat anything because the pain set in. He spent yesterday at his mamaw's (the ex-wife's mother) where again, he was given what he wanted to eat rather than what he needed. Don't get me wrong I know he is in a ton of pain but the dentist says he has to practice eating, swallowing and talking, which has become a task in itself.

So yesterday he ended up at our house because he wanted to be with us. Now this made me feel amazing that the little guy would rather be at our house. He had the hardest time talking, it's hard for him to close his little mouth, he is constantly sucking his saliva back because he's not use to the extra stuff in his mouth and then came dinner.

I cut him up some pork chops into tiny pieces like you would give a baby who had some teeth, we gave him some rice, jello and he finished off his dad's piece of our wedding cake. He did so well and I am so proud of him.

He has to keep the herps device in his mouth for quite some time so he is going to have to get use to it. It pushes the bottom jaw out while pushing the top jaw back. Trust me it looks painful. Thank God for a brave little boy, the makers of Tylenol and an amazing husband.

So In Love

I am so in love. I know that I should be considering that I got married 2 days ago but I am totally head over heels in love. It's the kind of love where I want to do everything in my power to make sure I show him that I love him because words will never do it justice. I love him to the point it hurts and only if you have ever really been in love will you understand that.

It's amazing to have someone really understand who you are and at times a little irritating when you are use to hiding your true self. He is an amazing man who would do anything for me and I would do the same for him.

Every day when the alarm clock rings it makes me sad because I know for the next 13.5 hours we will be apart and then when we get home there are a million things that have to be done so I still miss him. I can't wait for the weekends but I am really missing my husband now because we spent no time together this weekend with the wedding.

He makes me feel special, beautiful, unique, feminine and fragile and he has always made me feel that way. I love him more than a fat kid loves cake. He says this line quite often so I felt it was appropriate for me to use it here.

I am so in love and I can't wait to get home today and kiss his lips and climb into bed next to him so he can wrap his strong arms around me and hold me until we drift off to sleep. I can't imagine my life without him, nor do I want to.

I GOT MARRIED THIS WEEKEND!

My weekend was wild to say the least. Friday we had to pick up last minute stuff for the little family reception we were going to have and we ended up going to bed after midnight. Saturday morning I attempted to sleep in, yeah, that was a no go because I had to make favor boxes and get myself and my 8 year old daughter out the door and to go buy dresses.

Lexi found a really cute dress at Ross, which was the 2nd store we went in and she was done shopping but I had to inform her that shopping was going to be an all day ordeal so she better get comfortable. After what felt like a bajillion stores, I had my dress, actually two, and we were headed home, of course this was after she got something new at almost every store we went to plus got lunch at Olive Garden.

Saturday when we got back, I helped JT as much as I could and then had our redneck bachelor/bachelorette party with some of JT's cousins and my brother-in-law Bobby and about 10 kids. This is how you party after you become a parent...lol.

Sunday morning was hectic and the church service seemed to take forever and then it was time. Twice I had to stop myself from crying and I knew if JT started, I was done for. No one ever prepares you for how many butterflies your tummy gets when you are getting married.

Back at the house we had about 40 people I think between family members, friends and kids. Almost all the food we got was gone, most of the drinks and since it was rainy and muddy it made for an interesting time.

My mother-in-law bought me a cake, which I wasn't thrilled about at first but man it was good and pretty in pink too, lol.

After taking Alexis to her dad's, we finally made it to our hotel room for the night about 1130pm and the only thing I wanted to do was shower and go to sleep. I never understood why people wanted to sleep on their wedding nights but now I know. Both of us are back at work this morning but I am officially Mrs. Jermey Taylor.

Flutterbies in my tummy...I mean butterflies

I can't believe this day is drawing close to an end. I am so excited about Sunday I don't know what to do but also wondering what the phone call from my Daddy will bring. I am so anxious, nervous and excited all at the same time I don't know what to do. I have butterflies in my stomach like when a girl goes on her first date because I know in my heart and in my soul that what God puts together, man can't tear it apart.

I can't wait to marry you Jermey Scott.

3 days until we get married

We decided against the big wedding ceremony and just use the money for a house and furniture. Good move I thought since we had both been married before, yeah ok.

So we go last night and talk to the pastor of the church we go to, the Cowboy Church in Ennis and he agrees to marry us on Sunday in his office after church. My future father-in-law went with and it was news to him. I honestly did not know he didn't know. By the time we went to bed last night, the family decides we are having wedding cake, a bbq and the invites started.

I just wanted to get married and be done but it will be ok. Right now I have a laundry list of things to get done before Sunday morning and did I mention I have finals this week?

My stomach is in knots, I have butterflies from the excitement and I can't wait for sunday to get here, not because our friends are coming, not because our families are going to be there but because on Sunday I become his wife.

I love him so very much and I just want to start forever with him.

Wish me luck as I have to manage to get so much done in the next 3 days and thank you JT for all of your help with the making things happen so quickly.

Finally Getting Married

So this morning we both woke up before the alarm clock! Blame it on excitement. So we both showered, got dressed and headed to downtown Dallas to the records building. We didn't have to wait in line but JT did have to wait for me to get out of the bathroom, lol. So you fill out this online application that asks "if you are related", Uh, no that is gross. You pay the $71 for the marriage license and you then have to swear you are not related. I'm finding that very humorous but hey, no, we are not related, although my brother said we use to look like twins when JT had longer hair, lol.

So the person I wanted to marry me is not going to be able to do it because his weekend is slammed. This is upsetting but not his fault because I'm the one who changed everything up. So now I have a matter of days to get with the pastor where we go to church, work out where and what time on Sunday we are doing it because 3+7=10 and then I get to marry the love of my life.

I love you JT and I can't wait. Think I will look up some back up plans to our back up plans, lol.


XOXO

Joni Lively Taylor

Quit Smoking

Everyone in my immediate family smokes: My mom, my stepdad, my brother and sister-in-law, even my baby sister, well she's about to be 21 so I guess she's not a baby anymore. The whole time I was growing up I swore I would never smoke. It was a nasty habit that smelled and killed you young. Hit the fast forward button, age 26, and I too picked up this nasty habit.

Normally I don't smoke a lot. It will take me 2.5 days to get through a pack of cigarettes unless we are having a Saturday night and then we go through them quickly. Recently I've been thinking a lot about health and the future and sticking around for as long as possible. Not that I want the kids to hurry and grow up but I do want to be around to see my grandchildren and great grandchildren would be nice too.

Since I started smoking I noticed a change in my energy levels, my eating habits, what I drink during the day and how much, that I can't smell as good as I once did, that I am sicker more often (not that my immune system is just awesome or anyting), and that my skin is nasty and my hair is different, so I decided last night to quit smoking.

We headed to Walmart to buy things we needed for lunches and for breakfast for the next 2 weeks and headed over to the section maked "Stop Smoking". There are about 8 different things to choose from so I decide I'll go with gum. It might help with the oral fixation, it might actually taste good and I can control how much of it I use.

There are 2 strengths of gum. One is 4MG for those who smoke more than 25 cigarettes a day-I almost died when I read this. Who smokes that many cigarettes in a day and how? or you have the 2MG for those of us who smoke less than 25 cigarettes a day. So I choose the one I think I want, get in the truck and light up. I mean I do have to finish the ones I already have.

So this morning I put the pack of gum in my purse after reading the instructions last night and head to work. It's all great until I reach the 2 o'clock hour. This is usually when I sneak outside to smoke when no one is looking, so I pop a piece of gum.

At first the gum is ok and I follow the instructions on how to chew the gum to a tee, mind you the instructions said 9 pieces a day for the first 6 weeks of the 12 week program.

Yeah, here I am 30 minutes before time to go home and I think I can just do this cold turkey. The gum leaves a strange taste in your mouth not to mention it's just weird and left my tummy feeling a little weird. This is from a single piece of gum.

So I will continue to carry the gum with me for the next 30 days, they say that's how long it takes to break a habit but honestly, I don't see me using it and if this nasty gum is the alternative to smoking, I think I can just quit that too.

My goal is to be smoke free in our household. I have fears about going to family functions with all the smokers because will it make me want one?

The good thing is I have a hubbs who supports me and loves me and even if I did slip up, he will forgive me.

My Husband

I don't think me get enough credit these days, at least the ones that are great husbands and great fathers, so I am going to give some props to my husband Jermey.

Jermey and I went to the same high school, go gophers, we were both in marching band, yeah band nerds, and we grew up in very similar households. At times I regret not meeting him my freshman year in high school, would have saved us all a WHOLE lot of headaches but God works in ways that we don't always understand. JT and I didn't start even being friends until my junior year, his senior year and we were serious very quickly. When we were together, it was the only time neither of us were getting in trouble.


As kids, things happen and well here we are 14 years later and we are just now back together and just now getting married, something that should have happened many years ago.

I said all that to give you background on why I think I have the most amazing hubby ever. My hubbs gets up every day and takes himself to the job he has had for 9 years. When he is at work, not only does he do his job, he supervises his employees and in addition, also does the jobs of other people, the bus drivers at the district and transports precious cargo from home to school and from school to home.

When he's not a work, he volunteers as a fireman for the small town that we live in. When there are no fires or car accidents or emergencies going on he is busy helping his friends and family do various things, like pulling engines (I'm telling ya ladies, it pays to be married to a mechanic).



As a father is the greatest. He isn't one of those dads who is too busy to do anything with his children or to sit back and watch them play. He gets out there with them, has fun and most importantly, makes memories with them. Now for me watching him be a good dad to his sons is one thing but I have 4 children of my own, so watching him treat my children just like they are his is amazing.



Now as a husband (I know we haven't gone to the JOP yet but he is my hubbs) he is just as amazing. I am spoiled, at least by most people's standards. Now I don't care about the things that he gets for me, it's how he treats me. Never once has he complained when I've vented about my day, which being the head of the Sales Department at my job, this can be a 2 hour venting session at times. He takes care of me when I'm sick, he brings me water or Dr Pepper when I am studying, he does little small things like take my glasses to get fixed when they broke without me asking him to or when I had an allergic reaction to the new laundry soap, he washed all my clothes.

He is good to my children, he is good to my friends, my family loves him and his love me.

I have the most amazing hubby ever and I am so glad I found him again and this time I'm never letting him go.