Another sweet day

Our little boy is growing up. Dawson turns 2 this weekend. I just can't believe that time goes by so quickly. We celebrated today with some of our friends. Buzz Lightyear (otherwise known as daddy - thanks honey!) from the movie, Toy Story, even attended. He's Dawson's favorite cartoon character.

Despite the 90 plus degree heat, a good time was had by all. We are exhausted tonight but what another sweet day it was.

Getting back on the horse

The whole purpose of this website was to write about my battle with weight and how I amazingly lost the last 25 pounds I wanted to lose. Well, it hasn't exactly worked out that way. But, I have discovered that weight loss, along with everything else in life, is a process. Sometimes you get distracted by things happening in your life and you give up for a little while. Then, you get back on the horse.

It is now my turn to get back on the horse. I haven't been diligent about watching my diet or exercising since mid-May. So last week, I went back to working out. And, this week, I'm trying harder to watch what I eat. That is not the easiest part for me.

So, today I sit with newly exercised, aching muscles and a major chocolate craving. But, I'm not going to give in. I'm back on track - that is, until my next life distraction hits and then I'll have to hitch up another horse!

rediscovering our town

We had some family in town last weekend that have never visited the sate of Tennessee. They were so eager to see ALL the sights that we wore ourselves out. But, we have caught up on the sleep this week and have had fun recapping some of the memories.

You know, we have lived in the Nashville area since 2003 and there are so many places we have not visited or even discovered yet.

Isn't that the way it goes? Once you settle in and get slightly acquainted with your town, you begin to forget of all the cool places to go and the new things to see and do. Dale and I need to make our list but here are a few places we are going to visit soon: Schermerhorn Symphony Center, the Frist Center, Cheekwood Gardens and the Hermitage. Some of these things won't even cost us anything.


If you live in Nashville, I encourage to visit these places too. If you don't live near Nashville, find things in your town that you haven't done or tried before. There are so many things don't cost anything. It also helps you get involved in your community. We are trying to this more as a family too. So during this summer of staycations, get out of the house and rediscover your town.

insomnia

Caiden said the funniest thing last week. It was nap time and I was laying down with him (I know that is so not the right thing to do but I was also so tired that day). He was having trouble going to sleep so I was coaxing him to just "close your eyes." His response was... "But mom, my eyes are tired, but my mouth won't quit talking." I couldn't help but laugh out loud. And, yeah...he never took a nap that day!

duh!

Boy, did I have a "duh" moment today. I have been mentoring an intern all summer long. She's a wonderful, intelligent young lady who's entering her senior year in high school. Our mentoring sessions have been amazing (probably more for me) because I'm actually finding that I know more than I thought I did. However, things turned ugly today (not really, but that sounded so much more dramatic). My intern actually edited a letter that I had written. The edits made sense and the letter read so much better. I walked out of the office today feeling like I'd been bonked on the head, "duh!" I'm obviously not smarter than a 12th grader.

You're Gonna Miss This

Ok, I'll admit it. I listen to country music. I also listen to several other types of music but country is indeed one of my favorites. Country music can be so real and true to life, much like christian music as well. I feel like I've been living a country music song. You know, that happens sometimes.

Trace Adkins has a song out right now called "You're Gonna Miss This." It has unofficially become my motto on those hard days at home with the boys. I remind myself that someday when the boys are both grown, moved away and have families of their own, I'm not going to remember the hard days but I will definitely miss the good times.

Here are the lyrics.

She was staring out the window of their SUV complaining,
saying "I can't wait to turn 18"
She said "I'll make my own money, and I'll make my own rules"
"Mamma put the car in park out there in front of the school."
Then she kissed her head and said "I was just like you."

You're gonna miss this.
You're gonna want this back.
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast.
These are some good times.
So take a good look around.
You may not know it now.
But you're gonna miss this.

Before she knows it, she's a brand new bride
in a one-bedroom apartment, and her daddy stops by.
He tells her "It's a nice place."
She says "It'll do for now."
Starts talking about babies and buying a house.
Daddy shakes his head and says "Baby, just slow down."

Cause you're gonna miss this.
You're gonna want this back.
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast.
These are some good times.
So take a good look around.
You may not know it now.
But you're gonna miss this.

Five years later there's a plumber workin' on the water heater.
Dog's barkin', phone's ringin', one kid's cryin', one kid's screamin
And she keeps apologizin'
He says "They don't bother me.
I've got 2 babies of my own.
One's 36, one's 23. Huh, it's hard to believe, but...

You're gonna miss this.
You're gonna want this back.
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast.
These are some good times.
So take a good look around.
You may not know it now.
But you're gonna miss this"

Sweet Faces

Aren't they the sweetest? They may not always be, but they are mine and I wouldn't change a thing about being a mom. Thank you, Lord for my 2 lil' blessings!

Boots

I have been coveting some of my friends' rubber rain boots. You know what I'm talking about. They make the cutest ones for the kids and finally, they have made some really cute ones for women too. However, I've just been way too cheap to buy any - until now.

We were at Target on Monday and they had some of their more "fasionable" rubber boats on sale for $9.89. What a bargain! And yes, I scooped up a pair. So I finally have a pair of black-and-white polka dotted rain boots to wear letterboxing, Chelle!

I firmly believe that God gives us the desires of our hearts. On Monday, I recieved a "kiss from the King" as He gave me the rain boots that I had been wanting for so long. Now, if God will just hear my prayer for an IPOD shuffle and He already knows that I don't want to pay full price.

Here's Caiden modeling my new boots.

Shirtless Dinner

Around dinner time things can really start to get crazy in our house. The boys have been around me all day and are really ready for some "daddy" time. They are anxious to run wild with him or wrestle on the floor. Caiden is usually jabbering endlessly about something as I'm trying to get Dawson to eat something. On this particular night we were having pizza, one of the things that I don't have to coax Dawson to eat. However, no matter what, he always gets it down the front of him. He had on a nice white shirt so I took it off of him to eat (since I didn't have a bib and hey, I'm a mom who improvises!). Caiden couldn't stand it that his brother got to eat with his shirt off so he took his shirt off and Dale followed suit also. Dale eventually put his shirt back on saying "it just wasn't right" to sit at the dinner table without it. It didn't seem to bother the boys though. They ate their entire meal shirtless. Nothing is boring around here!

A Laundry Room Remodel

I know this is so silly but I thought I'd share some pictures of my new laundry room remodel. During 4th of July weekend, we gutted the room and repainted, installed a new hot water heater, flooring, a new cabinet above the washer and dryer and then all of the original shelving around the room. Of course, when I say "we", I really mean my wonderful husband and incredibly handy father-in-law. My mom-in-law and I kept the kids at bay and prepared the meals. And, I was thankful for her help too.

For those who know me, you know there is nothing that gets my heart racing more than re-doing or re-arranging something in my house. I have been known in these parts to paint just to change the color of a room during my children's nap time. Yes, my friends' think I'm crazy but I'm really just mildly obsessed about home decorating. I love change (most of the time) and the place where I can best inflict change is in my home and that is so satisfying when I get antsy with life. So enjoy the photos. I'm enjoying my new laundry room especially since I'm the only one in the house that spends any time in there!

P.S. I know it looks bare above the cabinet, but I ordered a vinyl "laundry" sign to stick up there. I'm can't wait for that to arrive!

Life

Sometimes life is just hard and even harder to understand. We have had a really tough week. I'll spare you the details but I'm so trying to be in God's Word more than usual and lean totally and completely on Him right now. These words spoke to me and I thought I'd share them with you, just in case you needed some encouragement too.

This excerpt taken from Praying God's Word, Day by Day, A Year of Devotional Prayer, by Beth Moore, copyright 2006, B&H Publishing Group:

Help me, Lord God, to know beyond a shadow of doubt that in all things You work for the good of those who love You, those you have been called according to Your purpose (Rom, 8:28).

Please help me to see the condition in that promise. You are not obligated to work all things together for good for those who neither love You nor are called according to Your purpose. You obligate Yourself to this awesome promise when I offer You my aching heart and commit myself and my suffering to Your good purpose.

If I do, You will do more with my life than I could ever concieve (I Cor. 2:9).

Lord Jesus, use this suffering and heartache in our lives to further Your kingdom and may You be glorified in it. Also, Lord, help me to see You work in this situation to help my unbelief.

Friends, thanks for your prayers. Love you!

Buzz to the Rescue!

My boys are both huge Buzz Lightyear fans, even though Dawson seems a bit more obsessed with this action character sometimes. A friend of ours (thanks Carrie) was cleaning out her girls' toy chest and gave us this costume. The boys didn't take it off for 2 straight days and we literally had to take turns wearing it. It was a tad bit snug on Caiden but he made it work. They've had so fun blasting to infinity and beyond!

P.S. Carrie, don't show the girls this post!

A Reflection of Me?

Carrie at Three Girl Circus did this a few days ago and I enjoyed seeing her photo collage. I thought you might want to see mine. Go and make your own, just follow the directions below. Its so much fun and easy (because you know I'm not at all tech-savy)!

Here's how it works:

Type your answer to each of the questions into Flickr Search.

Pick an image from the first page of hits (don't cheat).

Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker

1. What is your first name?

2. What is your favorite food?

3. What high school did you go to?

4. What is your favorite color?

5. Who is your celebrity crush?

6. Favorite drink?

7. Dream vacation?

8. Favorite dessert?

9. What you want to be when you grow up?

10. What do you love most in life?

11. One Word to describe you.

12. Your flickr name.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday. She is a dynamic woman - one who keeps me smiling/laughing and one who keeps me grounded. She is my biggest supporter and the one who's comments and suggestions often ring in my ears. Now that I'm a mom, I appreciate the sacrifices she made for me and my sister over the years. The only best thing other than she's my mom is that my boys have her as their grammie! I love you Mom! Enjoy your crocs (shhh...that's what she's getting for her birthday!).




















Here's me and my mom with Three Girl Circus' Carrie and her mom as we were getting ready to go to the Deeper Still conference last weekend in Atlanta. It was awesome to share that experience with great friends and my mom too!



















Here's my mom, my sister and me at my step-sister's wedding last summer. This is one of my favorite pictures of us!