Let me start by saying I have had quite a few tests in my life but this particular one I just happened to do twice.  For all of you that don’t know Chris and I just got divorced.  As a matter of fact it was final as of yesterday.  I am lucky to say that we have only love and respect for each other and I feel very lucky for that.  There comes a point in a relationship where you make a decision on what you need, what you want and what is healthy for you and you hope through your decisions that you can be true to yourself and be strong and confidant in who you are.  With this decision I was clear headed thank God and I know that life is a gift each day and if we don’t do all that we can do to make it feel good it is a wasted gift.

As Chris and I took our divorce papers down to the courthouse last week we enjoyed our ride down together however I had to question him with “Did you make an I am getting divorced today play list?”  He said no but you decide on the song selection!! Yes we both laughed as  Phil Collins belted out “Against All Odds”!!   On the way back after literally a four minute process Chris once again checked out his play list and was trying to decide which song should be the song for the way home.  He was leaning towards Baby Face’s “Whip Appeal”  (yes Chris you still think I am cute!!!!) but then ended up on “Tainted Love”!!  Really??? I mean come on right now!!!!!!!

As he dropped me off at my house we both knew that we would always be there for each other, always have a special love in our hearts for one another and love each others children.  If you recall in a previous blog of mine I wrote that people come into our lives for reasons, seasons and for life.  What I love about this is that I feel lucky that I was blessed with each person and I do my best to learn from them, I do my best to grow from them and no matter if the situation ends up in a way that can make you sad or hurtful I take that experience and make sure that the next time I am faced with a similar exchange I handle it the way that is most healthy to me.  I believe every person that opens and closes the doors into my life has a purpose and I appreciate the growth and the strength that I have been lucky enough to absorb.

When I talked to my daughter Morgan about what I should do with my last name as I had to figure it out pretty quickly when we did the divorce paperwork she sat down next to me and the conversation went like this….

“Mom you can’t go back to Gantman, I mean you haven’t been that for like 100 years and to be quite honest it doesn’t sound so pretty.  I would love for you to go back to Dachis so it’s the same as mine but I don’t think that dad would be cool with it and you definitely need to change Astor. (slight pause…..) I have the perfect last name for you mom….If Quentin and I were to come together as one it would be a female version of Quentin, I got it your new last name is Quinn!! It’s perfect mom, I love it and now you will forever be with me and Q.”

Morgan you are a brilliant, loving rock star.  I love it and it just feels right!  When I married Chris I changed my middle name from Beth to Alexis so that I would share a name with Morgan as her middle name is Alexis and now my new last name is the beautiful combination of the two greatest loves of my life.  So it is official as of today my new name is…NINA ALEXIS QUINN!!!!!!

So for all of you that knew me as:

Nina Beth Gantman

Nina Beth Dachis

Nina Alexis Astor

This is me right after I found out my new name was official, I just wanted to make sure I still looked the same!!! No I didn’t put on makeup for my new name yet!!! Sorry guys!!

You can now know me forever as Nina Alexis Quinn.

Sending all of you tons of LOVE and SPARKLES!! XOXOXOOXOXOXOXOXOXXO