If You Are Down.....

If you are ever down, feeling sorry for yourself just remember Helen Keller. She went from a wild child who could not see or hear to inspiring those who thought they need no inspiration. Helen Keller is truly an awesome woman and deserves props for all she has done. One of my all time favorite quotes is from her - "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt within the heart. "

This is what else she had to say......

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it."

"Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all - the apathy of human beings."

"One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar."

"We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world."

"Self-pity is our worst enemy and if we yield to it, we can never do anything good in the world."

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."

"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature.... Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us."

"No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars or sailed an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit."

"There is no king who has not had a slave among his ancestors, and no slave who has not had a king among his."

"I do not want the peace which passeth understanding, I want the understanding which bringeth peace."

"Never bend your head. Hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye."

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow."


Helen Keller (1880 - 1968)



Have An AWESOME Day All :O)

Some Prayers I found

Prayer for Peace, Love, and Happiness

Let me be loved, let me be happy, let me be peaceful.
Let my friends be happy, loved, and peaceful.
Let my perceived enemies be happy, loved, and peaceful.
Let all beings be happy, loved, and peaceful.
Let the whole world experience these things.

- Deepak Chopra


Prayer for Those Who Mourn

Bless those who mourn, eternal God,
with the comfort of your love
that they may face each new day with hope
and the certainty that nothing can destroy
the good that has been given. May their memories become joyful,
their days enriched with friendship,
and their lives encircled by your love.
Amen.

- Vienna Cobb Anderson


Spouses' Prayer

O Lord, omnipotent and eternal God, we give you thanks and we bless your holy name. You created man and woman in your image and blessed their union, so that each would be for the other a help and support. Remember us today. Protect us and grant that our love may be in the image of the devotion and love of Christ for his Church. Grant us a long and fruitful life together, in joy and in peace, so that, through your Son and in the Holy Spirit, our hearts may always rise to you in praise and goods works.

Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith,
Where there is despair, hope,
Where there is darkness, light,
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much
seek to be consoled as to console,
not so much to be understood as to understand,
not so much to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
it is in dying that we awake to eternal life.

- St. Francis of Assisi

Enlighten the Darkness of My Heart Most High, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart, and give me right faith, certain hope, and perfect charity, wisdom and understanding, Lord, that I may carry out your holy and true command. Amen. St. Francis of Assisi

Hail, Holy Queen

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you do we cry poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning, and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, O most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement! O loving! O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.


Save the afflicted

We beseech thee, Master, to be our helper and protector.
Save the afflicted among us; have mercy on the lowly;
raise up the fallen; appear to the needy; heal the ungodly;
restore the wanderers of thy people;
feed the hungry; ransom our prisoners;
raise up the sick; comfort the faint-hearted.

Clement of Rome (1st Century)



Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.
Amen.

St. Augustine



Teach Me to Pray

Lord, I know not what I ought to ask of Thee; Thou only knowest what I need; Thou lovest me better than I know how to love myself. O Father! Give to Thy child that which he himself knows not how to ask. I dare not ask either for crosses or consolations; I simply present myself before Thee, I open my heart to Thee. Behold my needs which I know not myself; see and do according to Thy tender mercy. Smite, or heal; depress me, or raise me up; I adore all Thy purposes without knowing them; I am silent; I offer myself in sacrifice; I yield myself to Thee; I would have no other desire than to accomplish Thy will. Teach me to pray. Pray Thyself in me.

Francois de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon


Grant Us Grace

O Lord our God, grant us grace to desire thee with our whole heart, that so desiring, we may seek and find thee; and so finding thee we may love thee; and loving thee we may hate those sins from which thou hast redeemed us; for the sake of Jesus Christ.

St. Anselm

Funny Things Friday

I am declaring today FUNNY THINGS FRIDAY!!!

Why???
Cuz everything is funny to me toady!!! And I'm in a really good mood :O) ( it maybe due to the 3 cups of coffee I've had this morning in a very short time frame, but who care I'm in a good mood)

The things that have cracked me up today....

Laundry - It cracks me up how much laundry we have, mostly Ryan has :O) I swear he has more laundry than any two people I know :oP which makes me think maybe I don't have enough?? Is there a laundry law?? How much should you have?? I change my clothes everyday, I don't wear dirty stuff, well maybe pants cuz I see no use in just wearing them once, unless you get something on them, and its not like I wear the clothes I wore all day to bed, mostly I wear very little to bed (too much info??). I'm just saying how can he have soooooo much. I just got it all done and put away and today there is like 4 more loads to do. Yes he did just come back from Florida but how on earth did it go from NO laundry to 4 loads??? I think it the laundry monster, he puts his dirty clothes in with ours, I wash them and put them away then he comes and takes them out of the drawer and leaves his dirty clothes - hey monsters have to have cleans clothes too.
You know what else cracks me up about laundry or maybe I should say clothes - pockets :O)
Pants pockets to be exact. I'm standing there putting a load of laundry in the washer and I'm checking every single pocket I come across. Where did this obsession come from??? I never payed attention to this habit of mine before but its kind of amusing. I always start with the left front pockets, then side pockets, back pockets, then move to the right leg. Am I nuts??? What the heck am I looking for crayons?? We don't have kids and Ryan doesn't color. And you want to know whats worse?? I wear CARGO PANTS!!!!! They have like 50 pockets per leg, and heaven forbid if I miss one I have to start over. So maybe I'm nuts but I find this obsession very funny.

Dancing in the kitchen - I hope to God I'm not being watched!!! I'm so hyper today so while I'm cleaning the kitchen I decided to dance. OMG, the things you do when you think no one is watching. Now I know you know what I am taking about. :OP Its not like I'm the only one who still remembers "the running man" or the "MC Hammer dance", or Vanilla Ice's moves. Good thing Ryan was at work or he probably would have me committed. But what the heck it would have been worth it. :O) And I'll do it again!! :oP

Tinky - she is cracking me up today - she keeps walking around talking about something. I think it must be very important cuz she won't stop and she keeps following me around. I know its not about her food cuz she has a half bowl, and she has water and I just scooped her litter box last night, which are the things she tells me about the most. But today there is something very important going on and I don't think she will stop till I find out whats up. Only problem is I don't speak Kitten. The funny thing is that I am talking back to her. Which makes me think what does she think?? Can she understand me?? Actually I think she is talking about Ryan. She has been upset this week cuz he hasn't been home so I think she's bitching about how he came home last night and had to go to work this morning and he didn't give her any "Tinky Times". Yes my hubby and our kitten have there own special time together. LOL - we are dorks with no kids, what else did you expect?? If was funny last night when he came home she was giving him the "evil eye" she was not a happy kitten. If she could of crossed her arm and taped her foot one the floor I think she would have. She even hissed at him for no reason. She wasn't in a hissing mood and she only did it once - she just turned hissed and walked away. She is a little Cracker Jack.

There's more things that happened to make today FUNNY THINGS FRIDAY but I'm tried of trying for now cuz typing isn't funny and its kind of bring me down. I think I'm going to go dance some more. HAVE A FUN DAY!!!!

For All You Cooks

As most of you know I L-O-V-E to cook and I get asked a lot "what am I making for dinner" or my cutie pie little sis will call and want to know what to make that is cheep and quick that does not require a lot. So I thought it would be fun to share some recipes with you all.

Most things I make are cheep, easy, and don't require a lot. I try to eat healthy so most of these things are high protein and semi low fat and low carbs (most not all).

My Chicken Salad - this is easy and very yummy.

**Chicken - cooked and cold (put in fridge) and cut into small pieces (at some point)
(for the chicken I normally use breast or tenders and will either bake it in a cake pan, cool it on the stove, then throw into the fridge or I love to use my George Foreman grill - it take about 7-8 mins to cook (about 4) chicken breast, shorter time for tenders, cool on a plate and throw in fridge till I need them, I cut them when they are cold)

**Apples - cut into small chunks
**Grapes - cut up
**Celery - cut into small pieces
**Raisins - both golden and the "normal" raisins
**Lettuce - cut up
**Walnuts ( if you like them or have them ) - crushed up
**Mayo
**Sugar
**Milk

(if there is something else you like in Chicken Salad - add it, if you don't have all these things use what you got - the key to this is the mayo, sugar and milk, those are a must, it balances out all the flavors)

Here's the thing I DON'T MEASURE - when I make this I make a HUGE BOWL and normally Ryan has it gone that night (he loves it). So just eyeball it - I normally use 3 chicken breasts or about 10 tenders, 2-3 apples, half a bag of grapes, 2-3 hand fulls of both kinds of raisins, about half a head of lettuce or a bag shredded lettuce, Ryan hates walnuts so I only put then in my bowl, 3-4 heaping spoon fulls of mayo, couple tablespoons sugar and just a dash of milk. DO NOT USE THIS MUCH UNLESS YOU WANT A LARGE AMOUNT!!!! Just cut it down to your size.

Cut everything up, put it in a bowl, add the chicken last. Toss it all together. In another (small) bowl put some mayo, a little sugar and a small dash of milk. Mix together - taste, it should taste kind of like mayo with sugar :O) but it should be not as thick. When it tastes like something you might like pour it over the bowl of stuff, mix and you have chicken salad :O)


Easy Apple Dessert

2-3-4 apples (as few or as many as you like) - skinned and cut into slices
Pie pan
Pam spray
Brown sugar
White sugar
Cinnamon
Splash of Orange Juice ( if you don't have any its o.k you can still make this )
Bisquick
Cup Milk
2 Eggs

Pre heat oven to 400 spray Pie Pan with Pam, Place apple slices in a bowl add splash of O.J mix till apples are coated, put apples in pan (use as much as you want/can) don't put too many that there is no room at the top, sprinkle about 2 tables white sugar over apples, about 1/4 cup Brown Sugar over top, about 1 tablespoon of cinnamon, kind of toss apples a bit.

In bowl mix 1/2 cup of Bisquick, 1 cup Milk, and 2 eggs - pour over apples in pan, throw in oven about 25 mins, or till the top is slightly brown or till knife inserted in center comes out fairly clean.

Serve Warm or Cold with or with out Ice Cream.

A Fav. Last Minute Dinner

Grill or Bake Chicken
Make Rice
Can Cream of Mushroom or Cream of Chicken Soup (Cream of Just About Anything Soup)

Pre-heat oven to 350
Throw Cooked Chicken & Cooked Rice in Baking Dish - Mix Soup with half the required milk - Pour over chicken and rice ( kind of mix together )throw in oven, bake 15-20 mins or till soup is warm - it will bubble a bit. Stir and Serve.


***Just a few Tips***

*Always Salt and Pepper your chicken - just a little will do on both sides.
*Always have a box of Minute Rice and a box of Mashed Potato Flakes on hand - I hate using boxed Potato Flakes for mashed potatoes but they do come in handy.
*Get a box of Bisquick - I would suggest the 40oz size - you can do a million things with it - I'll share more later.
*Always have White and Light Brown Sugar on hand, keep both in AIR TIGHT containers
*Always have a can of Pam
*I would really recommend investing in a George Foreman Grill - they cut cooking time by like 75%!!!
I'll share more tips later :O)

Try these recipes if you want, let me know how they come out :O)
If you have any problems let me know

ENJOY!!!!

Pictures From Easter :O)

With every thing that has been going on lately I totally forgot to post our
AWESOME EASTER PICS!!
Easter this year was so fun - we went to Lt. Marys and Erik's
apartment in Muncie to celebrate the holiday and to also celebrate
Erik's Baptism, and Confirmation into the Catholic Church
We are SO SO SO SO SO proud of Erik!!!
Although we couldn't be there for Erik's event we were able to drive down
Sunday morning and spend the day with the Family and have an Awesome Easter dinner that
Lt. Mary and Erik and Mom made for the family.
We had so much fun - here's some of the pics ( in random order )

The Family outside at the complex

Soon to be Sister In Laws

They didn't have a wine bottle opener so Dad used a knife :O)

Me pass out our Easter Gifts - this year we decided to
have every couple plant some flowers together in pots - I thought it
was different and cool- plus we also gave then toys and candy :O)

After everyone left ( mom, dad, Joe and Swiental )
Lt. Mary and I took a nap with the mittens while Ryan and Erik
played video games

HEY NO FIGHTING!!!!
BIG BOYS SHARE!!!!
Ryan and Erik playing with Erik's HUGH remote controlled car.

Everyone got a kite - so while the boys played with the car
the girls flew their princess kites :O)

Lt. Mary and I with our kite

Boost made an appearance

The 3 of us - I can't believe we are the same 3 kids who used to
spend the summers swimming and camping in the back yard together -
those were the day :O)

OK - so I guess we do look alike -
Awww my Little Sister, what a cutie :O)

The Group

The Girls

The Boys

All of us gathered around to eat.
This will be an Easter I will never forget :O)
THANKS TO LT. MARY AND ERIK!!!!

I'VE GOT BIRDS!!!!

HeHeHe..... OK so if you know the Hektors we are tree hugging, camping lovin, bird watching, save the little critters people. At least a good part of us are. And those who know me well know that I love the little critters - except spiders - well I think I can now officially say I am a true offspring of the Hektors - I have 2 bird houses up on our balcony!!! - and I actually watch the birds!!!! I think my Grandma Mary is smiling down on me. She was always all about the birds and thanks to my daddy he has continued to teach me the Hektor way. I only wish I could have a bird feeder - but the apartment complex wont let you have bird feeders cuz we have so many geese. ( OK I hate geese ) - hummm I wonder it I could get a feeder that you put the bricks of bird feed in??? I will have to look in to that. Anyways - I am so excited we have birdies!!!!!!!!! Tinky and Nizzy love them too!!
Its kind of funny we got the bird houses originally for our ( ha, I say our as if we own them - we don't they just like our balcony ) 2 Morning Doves ( THEY ARE NOT PIGEON'S ), so they could build their nest in it and we could watch them and their babies, and we put up a smaller bird house for these other two birdies - sorry I don't know what kind they are :O( so they would have a house too. So we have one small bird house for the small birdies and one bigger bird house for the Morning Doves. But the small birdies have taken over the Morning Doves bigger house and I don't know what to do??? In a way its kind of fun to watch them fight over the bigger house cuz the little bird are much smarter than the Doves - the little birds tag team to keep the Doves out. But I feel sad cuz now where are the Doves going to live?? The even sadder thing is that I am actually worried about this. But what would you do?? I don't want the Doves to be homeless and I love the sound they make, maybe I'll see if I can find an even bigger house for the Doves and maybe by this time the little birds will have moved into the other house and be too tired to move again. Well that is only if birds think like humans. I think I am thinking about this way too much - but I guess that's what you get being my dads offspring - humm maybe I'll enlist him to him me, with 2 over thinkers we are bound to come up with something. ( I Love You Daddy ) Well at least I'm proud of the choice to have bird houses, I just never thought it would cause me to think about them this much. Oh well I LOVE ME SOME BIRDIES :O)

A Parable

I was cleaning today and came across this parable and I wanted to share it.......

The Story of Martin the sheep thief is a parable from long ago and far away. Martin was a young man with a reputation for being wild and undisciplined. When he was caught stealing sheep,the local farmers decided his punishment would be branding.

The letters S - T for "sheep thief" were burned on his forehead. The villagers shunned the branded thief but Martin was determined to make amends for his crime.

If there was a sickness, the sheep thief came to care for the ill with soup and a soft touch. If there was work to be done, he lent a hand.

Many years later, a traveler asked the village innkeeper about the old man with the brand on his forehead and what the letters S - T stood for.

The innkeeper said he didn't know, it happened so long ago. Pausing to reflect on the letters he continued "I think they stand for saint."

Made it through the week

Ok - I made it through the week and what a week it was. I haven't posted all week so I will catch up real quick.
So Monday I got the news about Cody. Thank you to all of those who prayed for Ian and the Hektors. So as if Monday didn't start out bad enough, when I went to the shop that the Hektors own to see if I could help out they got a phone call that another one of our relatives pasted away Sunday night. Bill Stalker - now I didn't know him that well, I could pick him out in a crowd and make small talk with him but I don't know how I am related to him. He pasted away in his sleep. He was part of the Camp Millhouse group, those of you who don't know about Camp Millhouse, Camp Millhouse is a retreat for children and young adults with mental and physical disabilities. Its a really awesome place. Anyways so the week just started out bad - and all week has just been bad. Cody was cremated - which was his wish - so the funeral was ummm different to say the least. Not the traditional Hektor way which was odd. But we went to the "viewing" on Thursday night and the "funeral" Friday morning and then Thanks to Michelle - and I'm proud to say I'm her understudy - she always knows what to do - had an awesome polish buffet Lunch/Dinner for all the Hektors at Honkers. It was really nice to spend sometime with the Family and its funny to say but I'm not scared of them any more - well maybe a little but not like I used to be. :O) Ryan even had a good time talking to Aunt Tela and Uncle Dan. I must say the Hektors are really awesome people, considering what happened in December, they don't hold a grudge or anything they are happy to see that Ryan and I have worked things out and have stayed together and the really awesome thing that - and once again A BIG THANKS TO MICHELLE and AUNT TELA and UNCLE DAN - they let Ryan know that everybody is human and who are they to judge anybody or their actions. They don't make us feel out of place for our decisions, or make Ryan feel unwanted. Its kind of sad how much grief we have gotten for working things out- I must say I am proud to be a Hektor, they are all real people.

So with all that said the week ended better than it started. I'm just cleaning house today. Trying to get things done. But I still can't help but to ask to still keep Ian in your prayers. He's having a tough time, along with the rest of the Hektors.

Waking up to a Tragedy - Pray for Ian

I got a call this morning at 7:30am from my cousin Michelle - calls this early are never good. She informed me that my cousin Ian, ( her brother ) son was killed in a car accident last night. He was only 19. I am asking that you would please pray for Ian this is the second son he has lost. His other son was hit by a car and passed away on April 1st about 3 years ago, his name was Shawn, he was very young - 7 years old I think, maybe younger, and now 3yrs and 7 days later Ian has lost his other son, Cody. I have not spoken to Ian yet but from what Michelle has said he is not doing well at all. As you can imagine. I just ask that you would please pray for Ian and the rest of the Hektor family through this trying time. Ian is an awesome person - please pray that God will help him through this, give him strength and hopefully some sort of understanding.

Thank you all and God Bless

Feeling Very Greatful

Last night while I was laying in bed I started thinking about how good life is, and how many little things there are that I think some times I take for granted. Like last night my poor husband was soooo tired - he's been working a ton of hour cuz 2 of his guys were fired, and only gets 1 day off a week which was Sunday and here it was Friday night and he is still being a sweetheart, a sleepy sweetheart but still he being sweet. Anyways he comes home after another what 12 hour day and he walks in the door and the first thing he does is gives me a hug and kiss. His hands full- he doesn't put his stuff down first and then come back nope, I get the first thing. Something about that I just really love. But the funny thing is as I'm laying in bed thinking - He does that just about every day when he comes home - why am I now just realizing it?? Which made me think more - just what else am I not paying attention to. We have been though ALOT - but no matter how bad it has gotten we have always pulled though - we've learned from our mistakes and have come out better in the end. But to have what I have with him - I'd do it all again!!! Just to be able to have the little moments together. Like how we eat dinner on the sofa every night in front of the t.v. - and some might not think that is that special but to me it is cuz we always will watch either the food network or CSI and he will always ask me questions about whats going on - I love that about him, or how when we are done eating I'll always try and collect the plates and such to bring to the kitchen and he always says " I can get it " or " let me help" and I always say " its ok, I got it " then he tries to argue with but by this time I'm already headed to the kitchen and he does his brow wrinkle thing. It might not mean much to some but to me it means a lot - he doesn't expect me to always do everything - he wants to help. Or like when he comes home after his long day and if I'm still making dinner he will always ask to help, and even if there is nothing for him to do he will lean against the wall and talk to me about his day or about the mittens. There are just so many fun things he does, and it makes my life just that much better. Oh and how he lets me snuggle up against him at night when its cold. How many people would let you put your ice cold feet and body next to their warm body?? And the newest thing my hubby does is every morning at 7:30 or a few minutes before he always pulls me close to him and holds me for the first few minutes of his day - we both know he has to get up but even if its just for 3 minutes he will hold me. So I guess Sweetie - THIS BLOGS FOR YOU - Thank you for all the little things you do - even if I don't notice them all the time Thank you - keep up the Good Work - You are an Awesome Hubby, and I'm sooooooo Happy to be your wife - my life is soooo much more better with you in it. And hang in there baby - 2 weeks till you go to Florida and then 2 days after you get back we go an VACATION - a much needed and deserved one :O)

Oh and to everyone else - thanks for "listening" to me rant and rave about my husband :O)

Ok - I Know I'm a dork but at least those of you who know my mom really well will understand why I have to have Pete and Bud - and not bud as the drug but bud as in Buddy. Oh and PLEASE Feel Free to play with them - Pete likes his fish - if you click in the bottom right corner were it says more you can feed him and Bud likes his straw-babies, but with Bud you actually have to bring it to his mouth to feed him. Thanks :O)

Easter Baskets for some old People

So for a long time now I have had something pulling at my heart saying "give the old people some happiness" so a few weeks ago I quit ignoring it and decided to make 100 little Easter baskets for the nursing home my Grandma ( my dad's mom ) was in. So I made my plan - the baskets would include an Easter egg , the plastic kind, with some jelly beans and 2 small chocolate eggs in it, a toy, and a cute little bunny - not a chocolate bunny or a toy bunny but one that I made out of a little puff ball, googly eyes, a little pink nose and pink ears. I called the place to make sure it was o.k to do this , and set to work. With the help of my cousin Michelle and her daughter Melissa, we were able to get all the bunnies made and about half of the baskets done in about 5hrs on Sunday afternoon. I did the rest myself here at home. Not a big deal. So today I was all excited, I was going to cheer up some old people. But..... when I got to the nursing home the lady at the desk was soooooooo rude. It was like it was almost an inconvenience that I made all these baskets. I must say I was a little hurt but the way she acted. I would think they would be excited that someone would donate to their nursing home but instead it was more like she wish I hadn't. Oh well.... I just hope she actually gives the baskets to the people.

Me and My Hubby - A Really Good Choice

This is me and my Hubby on our wedding day :O)
He's my BESTEST BUDDY!!
We've been through A LOT together but we've made it!!
The best advise I can give:
To have a good marriage you must be a good forgiver.
No one is perfect, not you or your spouse.
Enjoy everyday you have together, forgive all the bumps, and learn
as much as you can from each other.
Always remember to say "I Love You"
and pray for each other.

This is Ryan on our Honeymoon -
We went to Mexico, and WE WANT TO GO BACK!!!!

This is the BIG SWING!!!
I LOVE THE BIG SWING!!!

He's so cute ;o)
Now I don't know if he's going to blow in the shell or eat it :O)

Footsies on the beach :O)

The Hello Post

Hello All and Welcome to my blog.

I thought it would be cool to have some where to "talk" to people and update people about what is going on.

Oh if anyone is wondering about the title here's the 411-

I believe everything is a choice and every thing has a consequence. Some are good some are bad but its all cause and effect. The awesome thing I learned about choices is that they are YOUR choices to make no one else. No one walks in your shoes or knows things like you do so why do other people criticize your choices?? They don't live your life. Not to say that advise from someone is not good but that it is just advise and in the end it is your choice to make.