Day {Eighteen}

Day 18 A letter to your parents

Dear Mom & Dad,


Thank you for giving me a “normal childhood.” I don’t feel scarred or misdirected in life and judging by some of the parenting I have seen, I think that is a huge accomplishment.


Thank you for getting text messaging. People get all defensive about how texting is ruining our ability to communicate. I think we have probably communicated more in the last couple of months than we have since I moved out and I know you have texted Sean more than you have talked to him on the phone. You may not have done it purposefully but texting is our primary form of communication. Without it, that was a real barrier so thank you for getting it. I don’t always feel like I can call you but I know I can always text you.


Thank you for not disowning me when I quit college.


Thank you for showing me how to love others and how family should be treated. That phrase, you better be nice to me – I’m the one that will pick out your nursing home, will hopefully never apply. You have taught me the importance of treating others the way you want to be treated, and not as an incentive to get others to be nice to you but because it’s just the right thing to do. I cannot imagine the difficulties of taking care of your mother-in-law. My mother-in-law and I get along just fine but I cannot imagine the patience and immense love for another that it takes to bite your tongue so frequently in your own home. That said, Dad, I know it’s fun to antagonize the old lady but let her just be grumpy some days. Think about how much fun I’m going to have with you when you are 90. I will just be that blessed to have you around for that long.


Thank you for showing me a marriage that God has enriched. More of our friends have separated than gotten married since we got married a year and a half ago. My biggest fear is a failed marriage. I am so very proud to call you my parents. It also makes Christmas about a thousand and a half times easier only having one family Christmas to attend than multiples. That said, because we do have to attend so many different family Christmases on Sean's side, you never once have gotten jealous of the time we spend with that side of the family. I get jealous all of the time so your patience makes me feel better. Thank you for showing me the attributes that I don’t want incorporate into my marriage, too. Dad, you’ve told me on more than once, “Now, don’t do what I would’ve done. Have patience.” The good far outweighs the bad though.


Thank you for showing me how to work hard and to appreciate a full day of work as opposed to a day spent idle. I am proud of my work ethic; it could be much worse.


Thank you for never letting good be enough.


Thank you for giving me a Christ-centered childhood. I may not always have a strong foothold but I have a solid foundation.


Love,
Your favorite child

Day {Seventeen}

{Day 17 Something you crave a lot}

Delish!

Day {Sixteen}

{Day 16 A photo of somewhere you want to go}

I really think I may have been born in the wrong region of the United States. No wait, God doesn't make mistakes so that's right... in fact, I was born in the right part of the US, it's my parents that uprooted us and moved me away from the East Coast.

If I had a free ticket to anywhere in the world right this minute, I would visit the Massachusetts/Maine area. I realize that there is a much bigger world to visit, but I am enamored by the stories I've been told and the cuisine I've heard so much about. My grandmother hasn't lived in Dedham for probably 60 years at the very least but she still sounds like she's just left Massachusetts. I would love to go see where she grew up and the sights that she was accustomed to so long ago. I'd love to visit old lighthouses and read the history of where our country was formed.

In reality, I know that much of this area is quite a bit more populated that when she was born in 1921. I know that times and people have changed but it would still be so much fun to me to visit, especially if she were there to supplement the sight seeing with stories.

Most importantly though, it is all about the food. For me, vacation is about 95% about the dining experience. It can rain the entire week but feed me some crab legs and I'll be alright. The lodging could be unfit for a homeless shelter but as long as there is some buttery lobster in front of me, I could care less about the bed bugs.


We went to Mexico in January which was loads better than being in Missouri in January, but I don't know that I would necessarily want to re-visit. It rained about half the time and the ocean was not the most fun even when it wasn't raining because I was scared to death of sting rays and the floor was comprised of sharp rocks and coral. Not fun, but I could overlook that. What I couldn't overlook was that all of the food tasted the same. Don't get me wrong. The selection was good, the service was wonderful and the steak was delish. But I can eat steak at home any day of the week; I cannot, however, eat fresh seafood. The only time I had fish in Mexico was from the buffet and it had definitely been frozen at one point in time, and probably for a while.

When you think about good eats, it's on the east coast. It's caught fresh, cooked up by people who were fed oyster juice in their bottle and know what they're doing in the kitchen. It makes the experience memorable and brings back a craving whenever thoughts wander to that last vacation. The most memorable part of Dauphin Island? Sean & I visited a run down establishment that had the.best.flounder. It was amazing and produced my favorite picture of the entire trip.

So yes, I would love to visit Italy one day and to experience the Eiffel Tower another day and I would be thrilled to explore the Greek islands. But really, you should know that I would only be going to see what real Italian pasta tastes like and to tour authentic French bistros. For now though, I would be satisfied with a hearty plate of seafood, caught just this morning.

Day {Fifteen}

{Day 15 A picture of somewhere you’ve been}

I love winter.
I love the cold. I love the snow. I love the crisp, clean feeling of winter.
But I .LOVE. the beach. I realize now that I had a very blessed childhood; my parents took us to the beach nearly every summer. When I got into high school, my parents also let me invite my best friend. How many people (from the midwest) can say that they got to visit the beach with their bestie FOR 4 YEARS IN A ROW!?  Those are some pretty sweet memories. 

I can't remember if it was 3 or 4 years ago now, but my parents were in need of a vacation and asked me to go with them, but also asked Sean if he would come as well. Sean knew my parents but wasn't quite at the point that he felt comfortable in a room alone with them. My parents knew Sean but really didn't know much about him other than what I had told them. Essentially, this was an important trip in our relationship. 

We went to Dauphin Island in Alabama. Sean had been to the beach but he had been so young he could hardly remember it. We spent the entire time in the water or on the beach drinking an icy margarita. It was a blast!

We did nearly everything as a family. Sean had a good opportunity to really get to know Will, which was supremely important to me. My family left the beach with a much better idea of who this guy I had been seeing was and were satisfied. I knew this boy would fit in just fine and I was proud. It was a good trip.

Day {Fourteen}

{Day 14 Something you could never get tired of doing}
Ok, in the literal sense, I could get tired of doing anything. I just don't have that long of an attention span. But these two things instantly popped into my mind when I read this question:

1. Gift wrapping. Because I could do it tirelessly, though, does not mean that I am a wrapping paper mastermind. In fact, I could research bow-tying a little more and improve the look of my gifts about 150%. Yesterday I got all of Sean's Christmas shopping done minus one gift I need to order online and one edible stocking stuffer I need to purchase closer to Christmas. All of my hidey-holes are filled with things I have no place else to store at the moment, so I had to come home and wrap all of his presents before he got home last night. It's a rough life. I love a beautifully wrapped gift with a handsome bow on top. It makes the gift that much more special - even if it is just socks. :)
2. Baking. And none of that gluten, sugar, fat free crap. The kind of baking that requires Crisco and (real) butter and lots of brown & granulated sugar. There is just no other way to bake. And if it weren't for all of the cleaning up, I would do it more often. I was trying to remember back to the last pie or cobbler I baked and I can't even remember. There have been lots of times that I have come home determined to make a batch of cookies, and then get distracted thinking of all those dishes I will have to wash afterwards. December 23rd I have dedicated the entire day to baking and making goodies with the niece and nephew. They have a blast and I have a blast being their favorite for a few hours. Afterwards comes the best part: distributing our goodies to our neighbors and family members. That will be most delightful. 

Day {Thirteen}

{Day 13  What you would find in my bag }


Ha! After today’s shopping excursion, you won’t be finding any money in there, that’s for sure!

In my purse (because that’s the only bag I carry):

Wallet with about 28 cents in pennies
Chapstick
Phone
Keys
Sunglasses
Rainkissed leaves hand lotion
iPad -most of the time – I have my calendar and some work stuff on it so I can look at it anywhere. Also, I usually have my book on it so I always have something to do even when I am not connected to the internet.
A smaller make-up bag with whatever nail polish I’m wearing that month and assorted lip glosses.
A smaller make-up bag with pens and pencils and a flash drive for when I’m not working in my office
Family video card
Family video cheat card of daily deals
Tums (for Sean)
Pepto (for me)
About 50,000 receipts that I always take to put into our register later and then never do.

Day {Twelve}

{Day 12 Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play}

1. Revelation, Third Day
2. Have You Ever Been in Love, Celine Dion
3. Learning to Breath, Switchfoot from the A Walk to Remember soundtrack
4. Slide, Goo Goo Dolls (sigh... <3)
5. Pastures New, Nickel Creek
6. Sin Wagon, Dixie Chicks
7. You, Breaking Benjamin
8. Tent in the Center of Town, Sara Groves
9. Until the Whole World Hears, Casting Crowns
10. Just the Way You Are, Bruno Mars

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! My momma and I are going shopping tomorrow. We are doing a little bit of Christmas Shopping and a lot of Sam's shopping. Dad gave me a budget to get a few staples. #1 in the Sekscinski house: ketchup. This family puts ketchup on e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. #2? Country Bob's. If you can't put ketchup on it, then you'd better be able to put country bob's on it. Sean bought himself a new toy a while back because there has been some theft in the area recently and just for an added sense of security. He is taking it to the shooting range on Saturday with some buddies. It makes me nervous so I don't want to go to the range with him. He said that was fine, he'd just tell me we were going to Cheddar's sometime and take me there instead. I told him, way to go genius, now I'll never agree to go eat at Cheddar's again and we love Cheddar's.
Sunday I have to work. The after school job has been going better lately. They are only working me 5-10 hours a week, which is perfection. That way, even though I work on Sunday I still have the better part of the day to spend with family.
Monday I am way excited for, though. My sister-in-law & I are playing hookie from work and going outlet shopping in Branson. It's all the holiday deals without all of the people!