Summary

(BTW, can you tell I feel like writing today!?)

So, I've realized that my last few posts haven't been directly linked to the title of my blog, "My Life as a Kilgore".  They have been about the people who made me who I am today and showed me the wife I want to be.  I want to be a wife with all the passion, activity, and generosity of my dad and with the patience, understanding, and camaraderie of my mom.  Not that either one of them don't have ALL of these qualities, but those are the ones that stand out to me in my relationship with them.

Surprisingly, my brother has also shaped the kind of women I am today.  From the very first day I knew I was going to be a big sister, I was ecstatic.  After all, it was going to be like having a real live baby doll!! Right!?  Not exactly.   But, I did take the big sister roll very seriously.  I did, and still do, feel a strong drive to protect and advise him.  Now that he is all grown up, we are still very close and hope to be that way forever.

I also have been shaped by my friends.  I have some of the most amazing childhood friends that I am still close to today.  I think that kind of committed and deep friendship creates a certain stability and empowerment in my life.  I also have amazing friends from college, which is hard to believe was 6 years ago.  Those friendship seem to have given me confidence and passion.  Leaving home was very difficult for me, especially given the aforementioned great childhood friends.  But, continuing to build new great friendships only further expands my horizons and gives me great comfort.

And how can I forget my new family.  That is, after all, the biggest change of my life as a Kilgore.  They have been so accepting of me and I look forward to the additional support I will have in my life from them.

Kinda missed Mother's Day

Now that my last post turned into a Father's Day post, not that I intended it to when I sat down to write it, I think I want to do one about my mom.  I missed Mother's Day because I was in Cabo (and I will also miss Father's Day :( ).  But my mom always says not to worry about it because she knows we love her, which is so like her.  She doesn't sweat the small stuff.  Plus, she doesn't really like getting gifts.  I think she would prefer to get the joy out of finding a really great deal for most of the things she wants/needs.  This makes shopping for her both incredibly difficult and easy because I have know idea what to get her but know whatever it is she will be fine with it. 

She is the most long tempered person I know (if that's even a term, I think I've only heard people use the term short tempered).  She is a great advice giver and will talk through almost any problem with me.  But, even if you don't do what she thinks you should do, she calmly excepts it and moves on.  Therefore, she rarely gets fired up about anything which really lets you know when something is a big deal to her.  She also rarely gets angry at people.  Where I would go on and on about how stupid, rude, or annoying someone is, she just says those attributes will only hinder their happiness and to move on.  I've tried to learn this skill from her but that is a work in progress. 

She is incredibly thoughtful.  She begins her Christmas list in about February, taking notes here and there when you randomly say you like or want something.  Then, magically it is there on Christmas day.  Sometimes it seems like she read your mind because you don't even remember telling her what you wanted.  I have also tried to begin doing this, but once again, that is a work in progress.

I know like it seems like I'm going on and on about my mom, but I don't think she gets credit sometimes.  Most people who know me know that I am a daddy's girl and always will be.  But, I still have a very close amazing relationship with my mom. 

It's been a while...

Wow, can't believe it's been almost a month since I posted....OPPS.  I guess it's because nothing exciting has really been going on.  You know, the usual, yard work, car work, work work. 

This weekend, my dad and I replaced my catalytic converter and then I changed my oil.  Anytime I tell someone that I am doing something like this to my car, they are so amazed that I know how to do something other than put gas in my car.  But I tell, its really not that difficult.  To replace by catalytic converter literally consisted of removing and replacing 7 bolts under the car. And changing oil is even simpler.  I do realize that for most cars you need a jack and jack stands to do this and a few tools.  You also get a little dirty in the process.  But, if you have had a car that requires fully synthetic oil, you know that those $20 oil changes are not your reality.  So, I think it's worth it.

Plus, it means quality time with my dad.  With father's day coming up, I've been trying to think of a good gift. Everytime I ask my dad what he wants for his birthday, Christmas, or Father's Day, he can never come up with anything.  But it never fails that when we work on cars he comes up with something he really wants or could really use.   Plus, God only knows how much money he has saved me helping me with my car.  He may give me a hard time about it sometimes, but he is really one of the most generous people I know.