Happy New Year - 01/03/14

"Only he is successful in his business who makes that pursuit which affords him the highest pleasure sustain him."

Henry David Thoreau

Happy New Year! Writing is one of my goals for this year -- to write at least once a month, but hopefully more. Updates on our life, happenings, goals, whatever.

Behind the name of this blog:
I am part of The Leon Clan (or I will be some time in the near future, probably this year, more about that later). The reason I choose this name for my blog is because it has taken a lot of TLC (Tender, Love, & Care) to get to this point in our relationship. With it we made a beautiful daughter whom I will describe in all her glory (or if you are too curious, scroll down to the section: OLIVIA). My little family is my world, and I can't imagine my life without them.

My Little Family - The Leon Clan:
MARK- my fiance. Mark and I met in June 2005 and have been "together" since September 2, 2005. Holy moly, EIGHT YEARS! Every obstacle has made us stronger and we are at such a great place in our relationship.
<- I asked him to marry me on January 23, 2013. We both agree that we do not want anything big or expensive, if we do anything at all. Personally, I would love to just get married at City Hall, have a nice (but small) reception to celebrate our union (FINALLY) and then rent an RV and travel down the East Coast and back with Olivia in the summer, stopping at beaches and other memorable places. Corny maybe, but our marriage to me is simply us recognizing that we do not want to be with anyone else for the rest of our lives!

OLIVIA- my daughter. Born November 18, 2012. The most amazing day of my life. After more than 24 hours in labor, threatened with a c-section, and overloaded with Pitocin, Olivia Bryanne Leon was born at 11:17 am, sans c-section. I stuck to my guns and wouldn't give in, I wasn't about to have an unnecessary c-section in order to please my doctor by speeding along a process that beautifully progresses on it's own in it's own amazing and perfect way. The way God intended.

ANTHONY- my stepson (or soon to be). Anthony was a very outgoing little 12 year old boy when I first met him. The most memorable moment of 2006 was him asking me to give him a sister, I told him a sibling is up to his dad, but I can't guarantee it would be a girl. He innocently told me all of Mark's secrets - that he knew, he was loving and compassionate, and so very, very imaginative. I helped him with homework and papers and poems and Mark played video games with him and gave him lessons on who knows what. He has made us proud and not so proud at times but we love him nonetheless. He has matured into a responsible young man, who pays bills by working two jobs. Now to get him to college.... :o)

OTHER THE LEON'S- brother and sisters in laws, nieces and nephews in laws, mother in law. I am pleased to soon be able to "really" call these people family, although after 8 years, I already do. In my dreams, I had the perfect family planned out... rotating homes for holidays, meet up every once in a while, have family reunions, all live in the same area... you get it. Well turns out, none of those things are my reality and I am 1000% happier this way. Too standard and too normal is boring and ironically not the norm!

Family get to get togethers are fun and entertaining this way. Whether it's a baptism or wedding or just a visit, we always are able to enjoy each other's company! It doesn't happen often, like clockwork, and that's why it's so great! 
It will be interesting how get togethers and visits will go if, or should I say when, we move to Atlanta (which will be another post altogether). It'll just be another journey of our life together. I'm grateful that everyone in this family has accepted me, even without me officially being a part of the family!    

THE JACOB'S - Bryan. April 2, 2014 will mark the 5th year without my brother. Not a day goes by that I do not think of him and wish that he was here to meet his niece. He always did love kids and I am heartbroken that he never got to meet her. He left us too soon, but God had better, more important, plans for him. God knows best and he made me an angel. Bryan would not let anything happen to his niece, I know he's looking down on her in awe, wishing, too, that he had the opportunity to meet her. They say kids know... she does... every time she sees his picture she squeals and it melts my heart. I will always miss him, but I am happy he has found peace.

Zada. My grandfather, father really, passed away on March 21st, 2013. He, along with my grandmother, raised me and Bryan. He was not the best, but for us he was perfect. He taught us how to fix things and be responsible and do things for ourselves. He made us laugh, cry, scream, and love. He was a brilliant man, who seemed unhappy and grumpy, but he wasn't. He was loving and happy. Nothing made him happier than his children, then his grandchildren, and his great grandchild.

I am so grateful that Olivia was born before he passed. He was a family man, but very old school. He believed he had to work and provide for us, and he did, well too. He was a simple man. He could attract a crowd from 10 miles away, but he wanted nothing to do with them until they rooted him on. He was/is my grandfather and I will forever love and miss him. I thank God for giving me another angel to watch over my little girl. 

Dad, grandma, stepmom, sister, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I used to think I was so unlucky having to have such a dysfunctional family. I was so wrong. Our family has made me into the strong, independent, woman I am today. Without any of you I would have been a completely different person. If I grew up with what I believed was the ideal family I wouldn't recognize myself and I would hate that. I have the best family in the world. A family that has allowed me to learn from my own mistakes and only being there on the sidelines to cheer me on has built my independence and courage. Sometimes, I'd be disappointed by not having anyone on my side but it's built my strength. I can't complain.

I am one lucky girl to have such an amazing family! 

I still have lots to talk about in regards to family. The Walks, the Arakas', and the Van Cleaves are still among those who have truly impacted my life and I will forever be grateful for having the opportunity to call you family. I have not forgotten and will definitely get to your special parts in my life on my next post. 

That's all for now, I will be back in a month, or maybe sooner!