sometimes...

...we all need a little reminding.

I have this sitting on our night stand, and I have to remind myself to read it every day.
For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope...when you pray I will listen. If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me, I will be found by you." says the Lord..."I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."

Jeremiah 29:11-13
and psalm 32:8

Thanks for the reminder Jamie :)

ME

Since today is my 28th birthday, this blog is all about me! :)

I was born on January 10, 1983. Victoria LeeAnn Jurgens, youngest child to Tom and Carol baby sister to Jaci, Cami, and Tadd. My mom claims I was 3 year old teenager and have always been as my husband lovingly describes, sweet but sassy. I have always loved babies and known I wanted nothing more from life then to be a mother. I am chatty but shy until I am comfortable and know you. I can have a lengthy convo with anyone if they are up for it. As a teenager, I was typical, but my mom was my best friend. (not many girls will say that!!) I loved to go out A LOT, but also loved to stay in and watch The Golden Girls and Designing Women with my mom. She was my best shopping partner and boy do I love to shop!!! I have been and Aunt since I was 11 years old and I love my nieces and nephews to pieces! I have the best sisters and brother in the entire world and and so thankful that God gave us to one another. They are the best friends I could ever ask for! I met my dream man just before I turned 20, and married him one year later. I spent my 21st birthday pregnant with my first baby, Jack Joseph, who was born that spring. I was lucky enough to be able to stay home with him and my 3 nephews Gage, Gavin, and Trevor. I baby sat those 4 sweet boys for 2 years, right after my 24th birthday, I added my sweet baby girl, Emma Elaine. One year later, I prepared for my 3rd baby, Elizabeth Elle. But she went to heaven instead of staying with us. I spent the next couple years trying to wrap my head around the fact that bad things happen to everyone, even girls who think they are princesses. I rediscovered my love for my husband and worked on strengthening my marriage, faith and me. Worked on being a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, and friend. Got pregnant for the 4th time and had a miscarriage. Worked harder on life and faith got pregnant with my 5th baby, Thomas Edward, who like his sister Elizabeth, left us way to soon. Now I am at a point in my life of acceptance. I am so in love with my husband, my son and my daughter. I feel so blessed every time Jack tells me I love you mom, I love you infinity times one! Or Emma says I love you mom, your my bestie! I simply could not ask for more! I love my life! I love to spend time with my family and friends. I love to shop!! With anyone and anywhere, but Emma and Target are my all time favorite. We even call super Target the mother ship, because we are sure that we are a special spices that come from there! I love to decorate, and redecorate! I love all things PINK and sparkly, black and red. I love to get dressed up, but I would wear nothing but sweat pants everyday for the rest of my life if I could get away with it. I hate to clean, but love having a clean house, and know that some day all too soon, it will stay clean with little work and I will be sad I have no one to clean up after. I cry when I part with my baby things, and get gloriously happy to pull out little baby clothes and remember my kids wearing them. I love to drink wine, but it sneaks up on me quick and then I'm trouble. I love fountain pop and if I am ever a millionaire I will have a soda fountain in my house. I love to play rock band and the old super mario brothers. I love to buy the perfect gift for someone, especially my kids and see their eyes light up when they open it. I don't do athletics and never have. I like to get together with friends to watch "the game" but never watch it, and even if I did, would have no idea whats going on. I love to have my nails painted and almost always do. I never have unpainted toes, honestly it has probable been 25 years since I have had them unpainted, no joke. I love things to smell good and am picky about laundry detergent and fabric softener combination so our clothes smell just right. My babies were always slathered in baby magic and when I thought they weren't going to make it anymore, I bought all I could find, about 60 bottles. I am way more laid back and less picky then used to be.

I couldn't have asked for a better 28th birthday, waking up to both kids crawling in bed with me, cake for breakfast, hot coffee, and a beautiful snow storm to watch from my nice warm house. Thank you God.

Sheets

Lets discuss the importance of sheets. If you are not sleeping on good sheets, then you are really missing out. I discovered high thread count sheets after I was married and can only sleep on them now. But the thread count is not the most important part about sheets. They must contain SATEEN. It makes them silky smooth and cool to the touch. In my re-decorating phase, I am working on our bedroom. Getting all new bedding is the first thing I did. I got new sheets from Target, the exact set I thought I already had. Man was I wrong. I couldn't even sleep last night they were so scratchy. They went back first thing this morning and I replaced them with a set that clearly said SATEEN on the package. Lets hope for a better nights sleep tonight! :)

The blue plate

When Emma and I were shopping for some new decorations, a muted blue and green plate caught my eye. I liked it but it really didn't go anywhere in my house. My sister has always said you should have one thing in each room that doesn't go. Since I liked this plate so much I got it and tried it in several different places in my house before it found a home on top of the t.v. stand. It was really growing on me sitting up there and I had decided I would keep it. Then Jack ran through the living room, shaking the floor and the t.v. stand, thus knocking the plate over and shattering it beyond repair. So much for the one piece that doesn't go.

Product Review

As a mom, I appreciate knowing about good kids stuff. Things that wash and wear well. Let me tell you, the Circo brand quilts from Target are nothing short of amazing. Emma has this one on her bed with these sheets. And I would guess that I have washed them about 60-80 times. (she is a bed wetter) and honestly, it still looks as good as it did the first day I put it on. No fading of the colors, no holes or thin spots. It is the best brand of quilts. We also have a PBK quilt for Jack and the quality is comparable, and the Circo one was 1/3 of the cost. Next time anyone is in the market for cute, affordable, well made childrens bedding, Circo is the only way to go. (In my opinion! :))

To know me

To really know me you must know my family. My parents, sisters and brother are a huge part of my daily life. I would not be the person I am today without these people. When ever there is a decision to be made big or small, they are all consulted. We talk on the phone at least once a day and get together to be crazy every chance we get. They are all the most wonderful people I know and I feel so blessed to have them in my life and to call them my own!

The Burts: Marc, Jaci, (sister) Tanner, Walker, Gage and Gavin


The Berglunds: Martin, Cami, (sister) Sophia and Julia

The Jurgens: Tadd, (brother) Jen, Riley and Trevor

The BEST Parents: Tom and Carol

I don't care what you say, I love you crazy bastards!

Bah humbug?

I absolutely love the Christmas season. I love decorating and shopping for the perfect gift for everyone. However, I find after Christmas, when all the decorations must come down and the new gifts must find a home in my already exploding home quite depressing. There is absolutely nothing fun about taking down the tree and all the pretty festive decorations that I have enjoyed for the last month. It is a lot of work and, well, depressing! BUT, I had forgotten about the silver lining to taking down all the Christmas decor. RE-DECORATING!!! Some new pillows for the couch and a rearrangement of current decor and I have a whole new living room! It is still a work in progress and Emma and I need to make a trip to Gordmans today to complete the living room make over. But it totally took me out of the bah humbug ;) Its the simple things in life that make a girl happy!

This is the ladder shelf I got from my Grandmas house when she passed away last winter I am so happy to have it in my living room now. It is still a work in progress and what Emma and I will be doing today! :)

This is the saying I am going to paint on the plate at the bottom of the shelf.

I have had this poster for 8 years and never gotten it framed and hung up. So finally my darling husband cut it to size and I hung it in the living room.

Took the covers off the cushions and threw them in the washing machine and they came out looking brand new!! Some new pillows to complete the look!

Finally got pictures hung in the bathroom! The sticks in the vase came from my dead flowers out front. Love them!!