Sunshine Award!!!

Everyone has those awful days when life just SUCKS. Friday was one of those days for me. By the time I got home I was more than ready to have a nice relaxing weekend. Then Friday night I didn't sleep well at all. I woke up extra early on Saturday morning and was cleaning the house when I got a little message on my phone from my Lora aka my Witch Sister (inside joke). She had nominated me for a Sunshine Award!!!

The Sunshine Award is given to those who have "positively and creatively inspired others in the blogosphere." I feel so honored to be nominated for such an uplifting award!!! Part of the award includes me answering ten questions, so here they are:

1. What picks you back up when you're feeling down?

     Lots of things! Babies, animals, chocolate, a good book, music, being outside on a lovely day, etc. My biggest ray of sunshine on a cloudy day is my husband. It doesn't matter how bad my day has been, coming home at the end of it and seeing him makes everything seem a little less awful.

2. How has infertility changed you?

    The biggest way infertility has changed me is by making me much more aware of time and how quickly it passes. This can be both good and bad. It has made me extra grateful for those moments spent with my parents or the fifteen extra minutes from the snooze button. Infertility has also made me more cynical and less hopeful. I have had a fairly easy life, and aside from one or two major traumas this has really shaken me to the core. 

3. Has infertility effected the ways in which you are choosing to parent?

 Definitely! I feel as though I will be more patient with my children because of how much effort it took to get them here. I think I will appreciate it more, and perhaps be more willing to compromise on certain things (perfect carseat, only organic food, etc) because in the long run the most precious thing we have is time. That is the one thing we have to give others, and I believe that children and spouses should take priority over anything. Spiritually speaking, it has drawn me much closer to my Heavenly Father and my Savior. I want so much to be able to convey the love They have for us to our babies.

4. Where is your favorite place in the world?

That's a toss up. I love Italy, and I love the beach. As long as my family is with me I am happy though. So maybe a beach in Italy with my family?

5. What is your favorite past time?

Reading. I could read allllllll dayyyyyy looooong and never be bored. As an only child I grew to love the companionship of book playmates and to this day I love to escape from the world into a book. I love to write too. 

6. Do you have a dream job?

I've always wanted to be a mom. I went to school for three years to be a veterinary technician and loved it, but I knew that it wasn't something I wanted to do forever. After a really bad experience I don't have much desire to go back to it. I'd rather own a no-kill shelter. 

7. What song has brought you either peace, joy or strength in this journey?

There are SO many songs! Music speaks to my soul, and I love to listen to music. If you are near me and I have music on you can tell what mood I'm in by the songs I play. One song in particular is called "Unanswered Yet" by Rob Gardner. 

"Unanswered yet? The prayer your lips have pleaded
In agony of heart these many years?
Does faith begin to fail, is hope departing,
And think you all in vain those falling tears?
Say not the Father hath not heard your prayer;
You shall have your desire, sometime, somewhere.

Unanswered yet? Nay, do not say ungranted;
Perhaps your part is not yet wholly done;
The work began when first your prayer was uttered,
And God will finish what He has begun.
If you will keep the spirit burning there,
His glory you shall see, sometime, somewhere."

8. What could you eat forever?

Steak, veggies and ranch, fruit, fried potatoes. I just love to eat.

9. If you could host a world wide ttcsisters meet up where would we do it and what would we do?

We would go to the beach and listen to the waves and just hang out. Pedicures, massages, movie nights. I imagine there would be lots of tears and hugs and that we would have so much fun. 

10. Finally, what do you admire most about your husband?

There is so much I admire about him, there isn't one thing that I admire the most. He is so devoted to me. He loves God and he tries so hard to follow His teachings. He is his own person and doesn't care what anyone thinks. He loves his family. He loves to make me happy. He eats anything I cook even if it is gross! (I once put salt on a soy sauce-based stir fry. He ate it and didn't even complain! I'm pretty sure I dehydrated us both!) I love his commitment to our marriage and how he tries to make us both better people. I love that he lets me be me. 

Ok, wiping away tears now. Gosh I love that man. I am nominating my friend Tiffany over at Baby Someday! She is so sweet and I aspire to be more like her- she does yoga and I would LOVE to get into it!!

Here are your 10 Questions:

1. How has infertility changed you?

2. If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be?

3. What is your dream vacation?

4. How many children do you want?

5. What are your favorite books?

6. What is your dream job?

7. What is your favorite ttc memory?

8. What is your least favorite thing about infertility?

9. How long do you plan to ttc?

10. What is your favorite song to listen to?