Life has a peculiar way of reminding us that despite all of our efforts, we can't control everything. Regardless of how hard we try and avoid it, bad times are bound to accompany the good, and I suppose with each trial there is a lesson to be learned. While I consider myself to have an incredibly blessed life, I am only human, and at times, I feel completely defeated.

As I finally sit down at my keyboard tonight and acknowledge that all encompassing exhaustion that is a companion to all bad days, I am hopeful that tomorrow will be better. Sometimes, life gets messy, and I suppose it's really all about how we clean it back up.

Perhaps, I should start here.

Family Matters

This past May was filled with so many incredible moments that it seemed like the month flew by. From the birth of my new baby nephew to reminiscing about years' past, there wasn't one dull moment. One of the greatest things about these past few weeks is the wonderful company I was able to keep. As it turns out, family time is the best of times. I couldn't have handpicked a better group of people that I would rather spend my time with. Here is to all of the happy memories and to all of the best that made them possible.

The first monumental event of the month was the birth of Baby Hendryx. It's remarkable how one little person can change so many lives of those around him. He has definitely changed all of ours for the better.

The newest Fillmore Family

The following weekend, we enjoyed a belated Mother's Day celebration. We saw a lively production of Peter Pan at The Hale Center Theater, enjoyed a delicious dinner and then headed to Barnes & Noble. {All great days end with a trip to Barnes & Noble.}

This picture shows Jerrod's personality just as it really is, completely goofy.

The greatest thing about us is that we aren't two families coming together, but rather one big one.

Jerrod and Mom

Wyet and Pat

I love my {big} little brother so much!

So incredibly lucky to have found such an amazing family to join.

As a close to our amazing month, we all gathered for a Memorial Day celebration. We reminisced about the happiness that Matye always radiated and spent some time relaxing and making new memories together. The month of May will always be home to important dates in our lives, and this May was no exception.

Visiting Miss Matye and making sure this site is just as beautiful as she is.

Cheech and Grandma Pat porch sitting.

We spent many wonderful hours on this little porch!

Cameron being completely unwilling to take a serious photo!

Ash has always been just like family so it only seemed fitting for her to be here with us.

My parents and Bart

All of the best people I know {only missing a few!}

Twenty Five

Another year has come and passed, and I am but one year older. It always feels as though the time flies by, but as I think back on my 24th year, I realize the incredible memories that I made are without number. As I begin this new year, I plan on making it the best one yet.

To commemorate my 25th year, here are 25 facts about my life right now:

• Porch sitting is my favorite way to spend an evening.
• I like tea more than coffee.
• I can’t walk in to a Target without buying something I don't need.
• Over the past few months, I have taken my book worm status to a whole new level.
• If the television is on, I literally can’t keep a conversation going {Wyet’s biggest pet peeve}.
• I am late for work about 90% of the time.
• I love Murphy more than practically any person.
• I prefer red wine to white.
• I have a really bad habit of starting time consuming projects late at night {last weekend, I began a banana bread baking marathon at 11:00 p.m.}, but in my defense, this is heredity from my mama.
• Despite the aforementioned, I like going to bed early.
• I believe in soul mates {because I ended up with mine}.
• I am a major homebody.
• I despise painting my nails but love having them painted.
• My favorite actor is Steve Martin. Or Chevy Chase.
• I’m an aunt! {And I am kind of obsessed with that.}
• When I tell people at work that I love hiking, camping and being outdoors and they act surprised, it really makes me question what kind of vibe I give off.
• My go-to gifts {for people I really love} are reading books or scrapbooks.
• My favorite color is white.
• I have every intention of learning how to crotchet, eventually.
• I cuss way too much.
• I crave carbonation.
• I often buy things just because I like the packaging.
• I am beyond blessed to call my mom my best friend {and mean it}.
• I always thought that at age 25, I would be married with at least two kids. Funny how life turns out.
• I can come up with lists concerning random facts about myself remarkably quick.

Finding the most happiness in the simplest of days.

Halfway

As I look at the calendar, I am in shock that 2014 is halfway over. I know it is cliche to exclaim "Where does the time go," but really, where does it go? I remember New Years Day like it was yesterday. I remember sitting at this same kitchen table that I sit at now and jotting down my goals for the year ahead. I am in awe that an entire six months has passed since that time.

I have kept those handwritten goals on a magnet board hanging in the kitchen so as to always have them in sight. It seems fitting that today should the day that I go over them again and see if I have stayed on track, acknowledge where I need improvement and even add some new. Here is peak at some of the goals I had set in place for myself six months ago:

Be more positive at work
I feel like at the beginning of the year, I was definitely trying to make the best of situations at work. As of late, however, I have been reluctant to push myself and complaining has taken over most of my work-related conversations. It's time to readjust. New goal: Be more appreciative of the job I have. It may not be my dream job, but I work in a field that I am passionate about, and I have a boss who values my efforts.

Be more appreciative of Wyet
I set this goal because I realized how incredibly lucky I am to have Wyet in my life. I come home every night to a home cooked meal, and I wake up every weekend morning to a delicious breakfast. Wyet also takes his fair share of the housework. I have never had to mow the lawn or even do his laundry. He is self sufficient, and all he expects of me is to be there for him and be supportive. I never want to take advantage or come to expect the way that he spoils me as commonplace. It is extraordinary, and I am so grateful to have him.

Be more involved with our family
Even though I only live a few blocks from my parents, I felt like I didn't go see them as often as I would like. While I still don't go over as often as I should, I have made more of an effort to have family gatherings. This past month has been a success, and I need to keep family time as a priority.

Learn how to crotchet
Failure. I have all of the supplies, and there they sit. I am going to reinstate this goal around October {when indoor hobbies come back in to play}.

There are other goals written down on the paper in front of me, and I realize I haven't made a tremendous, active effort to achieve them. By simply having the list hanging in the kitchen isn't enough. I need to be proactive and read the goals which I deemed so important six months ago and make smaller daily goals in order to make sure they are being fulfilled. At this halfway point I also have one more goal I want to add to the list. It is:

Start looking at the big picture. I need to figure out where I want to be in one year, three years and five years from now. What changes do I need to make now to be where I want to be at age 30? {These are a little too personal for the web so I am going to jot these down old school style with my notepad and pen.}

In January of 2015, I don't want to look back at this calendar year and say "Oh where did the time go?" I want to look back at 2014 and remember all of the wonderful experiences I had and to know I made the most of my time. Ferris Bueller said it best when he stated, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." These really are words to live by.

I love this quote and was more than happy to download it as my desktop wallpaper - thanks Thorn + Sparrow