Make Your M.A.S.H.

Today was a day of introspection. I had a flashback to Junior High school...
Remember the game M.A.S.H???

You know where you sat around in 7th grade and predicted your future and pretended to gag yourself "with a spoon" when you ended up marrying your next door neighbor???

So here's my question.....Does your M.A. S.H Match??

I am pretty glad M.A.S.H didn't match. Well at least the way I expected.

I had VERY clear goals as a child. (some things never change) From the time I was 5 I knew I was going to grow up, get married, be a mom and a Nurse.

When my 12 yr old friends predicted EVERY TIME that I was going to have 12 kids and a mini van...I was secure with that. They also used to tease me that I would be the one with the perfect house and kids all dressed to match. (not true..my kids never match and are often barefoot and running wild)

So today I thought about where my MASH Matches my life NOW??

Boys:
I had every intention of marrying a blonde surfer boy with blue eyes and a tan from California
well..l am married a to boy from California ...with green eyes and dark hair.
He doesn't surf... but loves to snorkel.

He's pretty cool...I think I will keep him.

Job: I graduated from nursing school and took my boards at 19. Worked pediatrics for 11 years. LOVED IT. Worked nights...through 4 pregnancies. Then I QUIT...to be a Beachbody coach. Say WHAAT?? Didn't see that one comin'. Both jobs have fueled my greatest desire...and that is to spread the love smile emoticon

Place: I always felt more MER than MAID. Practically raised at the beach...I also figured I would end up living by one. We ended up in Utah...for 11 years.

Until we followed out hearts to the OREGON COAST....and I was smitten. We have BOTH worked SO HARD...and GOD has worked SO HARD to get us here. Now I get to live in the Trees and drive to the beach whenever I want.

Friends: I always loved having friends..and keeping them means a lot to me.
I STILL am VERY close to my friends from Jr high who I played MASH with. I have also made so many close friends for various reasons. At the hospital, at the park with my kids, at PTA, at Church, and since coaching for Beachbody....weirdly enough...I have a LOT of online friends.
It doesn't matter WHERE they come from...the measure of the friend is HOW they show up in your life everyday...by LIFTING YOU UP.
I am SO GRATEFUL for my AMAZING friends.

Pets: I was a cat person growing up. But after having kids ...and developing a love for running...I have resigned myself to become a dog person.

I need something to run my kids ragged....and run along side me. Also, my love for clean eating has given me the overwhelming desire to have chickens...and a garden. So...I guess its dogs and chickens for me. Didnt see that comin'

Kids: Well....turns out being a MOM is a REALLY hard job. Also turns out ALL my kids are VERY strong willed. MASH said 12...I wanted 8 kids...I have 4. so far. Not sure about that ending number quite yet....but for now...4 is feeling like 12.

So do dogs and chicken count towards the 12??

Vehicle: As predicted ....the Honda Odessy has always been my dream. Yes my dream car is a VAN. I'm totally ok with it.
The last few years through graduate school I drove VERY used cars...one winter without heat ( and a newborn). Jeff wouldn't let THAT happen again so we upgraded to another one.... that was an endless money pit.
FINALLY when we sold our other house we paid off both our cars.
I wanted to just get a new one. I wanted to not worry my car was going to fall apart every time i drove on the freeway. But I'm cheap... and being debt free felt good.

So I set a goal...to pay for it myself. Just before Christmas...I met that goal. I
earned a bonus that would cover both my car payment and the insurance....for all of 2015. So....Jeff went out to "clean the car" and came back with a new one. (cause hes cute like that) Its a HUGE blessing to know we can drive anywhere..and not worry.

And now...my Vehicle MASH is complete.

Color: The last one. SO RANDOM. My favorite color is STILL purple. Interestingly enough its made of RED and BLUE.

Red because as I get older there is a growing FIRE in my heart to GROW and DO GOOD.

BLUE because there is a growing need for depth, stillness, and peace in my life.

Purple....its the extremes of my personality..and my soul. SPOT ON!!!

What about you....Does your MASH MISS or MATCH??

Are you living the life you thought you would live when you were 12??

Mine is definitely a Mix MASH. But its better than I could have predicted...

And the best is yet to come....