Married | Mother | Millennial
Hello everyone! It’s been two weeks since I’ve posted on the blog because it’s been a BUSY month. Between event planning, holiday duties, everyday responsibilities and self care, time has been flying. I decided to do an old school blog post. You know the throwback blog posts we loved to read where the author was simply sharing their everyday thoughts in long or short form. So I decided to make this November 2021 catch up post to, well, catch everyone up on my end.
Read MoreToday is my Grandmother’s 70th birthday, and oh man, what a blessing she is to this family. Not only has she been blessed to see another day, but she’s here to see the start of a new decade.
If you know me, you know I am for sure a “grandma’s girl” and it’s a title I wear with pride. I have always been extremely close to my grandmother. We have an unexplainable bond that I thank God for every time I get the chance. I had the privilege of growing up either living in the same house or down the street from my Grandma, and for that I am thankful.
In conjunction with a post on the Humans of New York Facebook page (click here to read it) last month, and FLOTUS, Michelle Obama’s, Let Girls Learn initiative, I began to think of my Grandma and how much she has influenced me, but particularly my education. I don’t know if I ever told anyone before, but a huge part of getting my degree was for my Grandmother. Although I always knew I wanted to go to college and receive a degree in a subject I love; my love grew out of my love for my Grandma. When my Grandma got married and had children it was a much different time for women and the life options they were presented to chose from. I remember the first time my Grandma said if she was given the opportunity back then she would have gone to law school to become a lawyer. It never really hit me until I was in high school how privileged I was, as a young Black woman, to be able to go to college and pursue my own dreams. I still remember how proud she was of me at my college graduation, and how she was wiping tears away when I walking up to them after the ceremony to take pictures. In all of the hard work and personal pride I felt in receiving my degree, I was even more happy to have made my Grandmother proud. For me, walking across the stage was my personal way of saying I have listened to everything you have taught me in life and this is my way of saying thank you.
As my grandmother celebrates her 70th birthday, the beginning of a new decade, I want her to go into it knowing how loved she is and how thankful I am for God blessing her to see another year, and how much she has already taught me and continues to teach me about life. On her birthday I want to say a million thank yous and they still wouldn’t be enough.
Happy birthday Grandma/GG! We love you so much and pray you have a wonderful day. You make 70 look GOOD! 🙂
Brie <3
[11.18.15]
This past Thursday evening to Saturday afternoon was the annual Special Olympics Montana state games. I haven’t been to the games since November of 2014 when I was still pregnant with Jordyn, and oh man did it feel great to be back with the kiddos in that crazy, fun atmosphere. I took last year off to adjust to new mommyhood a.k.a. I was a walking zombie who still learning how to walk around and not fall asleep in the process.
This year my team, the Great Falls Lions (team B) took 4th place in our bracket level and I couldn’t be more proud. Three of my only seven players played every single minute of all FIVE games played on Friday and Saturday. Talk about determination and toughness!
They were so tired and worn out by the end of the tournament on Saturday afternoon, but there were so happy to receive their 4th place green ribbons. My kiddos were the definition of the Special Olympics athletes oath:
In addition to the opening ceremonies for the games the kids got to have multiple team and family dinners, a carnival and dance to keep them going and having fun when they weren’t playing basketball games. They even made some awesome posters during their downtime to cheer each other on. If that’s not teamwork I don’t know what is!
Jordyn even did some “cheering” and made many attempts to run out on the court and “help” the team play basketball LOL. She was also a huge fan of Billy the mascot at the opening ceremonies. She wanted him to pick her up and she followed him everywhere she could. haha. It was adorable. My husband was a major help by taking care of her while I was crazy busy “Coach Brie” for 3 days.
I can’t wait to see their faces again for the spring practices and games next year. Until then, go lions go! #LionPride
Brie <3
[11.15.15]
I made the mistake of watching the video posted below before typing this post, so sorry in advance for any misspelled words and incoherent sentences while attempting to type through my tears. Today is the day we are grateful and thankful to all of the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country. I personally know many people who have served and continue to serve the United States of America. Out of all of them, my favorite military man in the whole wide world is my selfless husband, Kris. He serves in the United States Air Force and I couldn’t be more proud of him if I tried.
In addition to my husband I am thankful for all of our military family and friends and want to wish all of you a very special Happy Veterans Day as well. There are way too many of you to name, but you know who you are, and if you didn’t already know, you now know how much I appreciate and love you all.
This is my favorite military surprise homecoming video and I share it every year on my Facebook page. This year I’m sharing it on the blog so more people can see it and cry with me 😉
Thank you again Veterans! You are very appreciated!
Brie <3
[11.11.15]
In the spirit of the season, I have decided to make my Sunday blog posts for the month of November about giving and gratefulness. I know this tends to be the cliché trend of everything in the month of November, but what is wrong with doing something for others and sharing positivity? In a world where hatred and sadness seems to be more popular than love and happiness, I think a month of thankfulness is needed.
This won’t be a long blog post, because this post is simple. I challenge everyone (myself included) to be less selfish and more selfless this month. It is quite an easy task if we truly find the compassion in our hearts to put others before self. Becoming a wife and mother has taught me this lesson more than I could have ever imagined, but I can still be and do better. It doesn’t have to be some grand gesture to prove selflessness either. Maybe instead of buying that new shirt or pants for yourself, you buy a few pairs of sweatpants and sweatshirts at Walmart for the homeless. An alternative for those who may not be in the financial place to buy such items can go through your closet of clothes and give away anything you don’t wear or need anymore to the less fortunate.
Another example of a small, but large impact gesture, could be buying some cheap canned goods on sale at your local grocery stores and donating some to your local food bank or church. The alternative, you may be shocked at what you have in your own pantry and don’t eat/need that can be donated to someone else.
A few other examples of selflessness is donating your time to a cause to help others. Find a local church or shelter who may be looking for volunteers to bless someone in need this holiday season. You would be amazed how appreciative people are to those who share their time and love with complete strangers. Another idea is making sure your coworkers or neighbors have somewhere to go on Thanksgiving. As hard as it is for some people to understand, there are many people who do not have family and/or close friends to share Thanksgiving dinner with. So ask your friends, coworkers, and neighbors if they have plans for the holiday. Not only will you be given the opportunity to bless someone else who will always be grateful for your hospitality, but you have the opportunity to strengthen a relationship or make a new friend.
I hope we all have the opportunity to show multiple acts of selflessness this holiday season. I pray all of us are able to be a blessing to someone else, and in turn be blessed by them as well. What other ideas would you like to share of selflessness with others? Please comment below. Also, as the month goes on, please share your acts of selflessness with me and other readers by commenting below, and/or tweeting and Instagraming me @JamiesonDiaries.
Here is to a wonderful season of spreading love and happiness to those around us!
Happy and blessed Sunday everyone!
Brie <3
[11.08.15]
Today is my Grandma’s (a.k.a. Abuelita but better known as Jordyn’s GG) birthday. We were supposed to say “see you later” to GG yesterday morning, but a last minute, unexpected trip to the ER for GG ended up rescheduling that plan for Thursday morning. Don’t worry, GG is doing just fine, and had endured a wonderful case of “vertigo”. Although I am upset she had to go through this, I am extremely happy this unfortunate event took place BEFORE she boarded her train, what should have been the following morning. It also doesn’t hurt that Jordyn and I get to keep GG here with us for a few extra days ;-). GG has been here in Montana with us since September 16th, and man do we enjoy having her here. It is always nice to have a “piece of home” near you when you’re so far away from everyone. Anyone who knows me knows I’m a Grandma’s girl in general- so Thursday will be a tough day for both Grandma and I. As much as it saddens me, and makes me cry, when my family members have to leave me, I find comfort in the blessing of having so many people to love and so many people to love me back. GG hasn’t even left us yet and we already anticipating the post-GG effects in the Jamieson household. As always, we will bounce back from the sadness, and look forward to the happiness of getting to see each other again in the near future. But in the meantime, I hope my Grandma is having the greatest birthday, ever. It is truly a blessing to be able to call her Grandma. She is one of the most caring and genuinely beautiful people I have ever met in my life. I pray God blesses her to see MANY more. If you would like to send her a birthday shout out, I will be sure to relay the message to her. Happy birthday Grandma/GG! We love you so much!
Jordyn has the pleasure of turning 5 months old on her GG’s birthday. Since her 4 month check in, Jordyn has improved her coordination so much. She is able to reach and grab her toys when they are hanging in front of her. She has even figured out how to slowly move her opposite hand over to the object and grab it with both hands. She has been sleeping through the night since her last week of being 3 months old. (Thanks rice cereal!) I know, I know, we are extremely lucky she sleeps through the night at such a young age. She usually wakes up talking to herself/playing with her fingers and trying to reach her toes for about half an hour before she gives us the warning yell that she is ready to be entertained by her personal court jesters (Mom and Dad). Neither Kris nor I take our new lovely sleep schedule for granted. When doing tummy time, she is still trying to figure out how to prop herself up on her arms, but she has definitely figured out how to get her knees in the crawling position. Tummy time doesn’t last more than 15 minutes, because someone gets pretty impatient at not being able to move, and starts hollering to be put on her back. She also told me to let everyone know she’s working on her attitude problem LOL. Today, we will attempt to try her first spoon fed meal. It’ll only be rice cereal and nursery water so we’ll see how she feels about it. I’ll have pictures to follow within the next few days.
This is about sums up everything that is “new” in Jojo’s world. Oh, I forgot to mention she LOVES to smile and giggle even more now. I just love everything about this feisty, sweet, giggly little Princess J!
-Brie <3
[11.18.14]