Twenty Thirteen

                              

Where does the time go?  This year has totally slipped on by.  I looked back at what I said would be some goals for 2013 and yeah...I did well with all but one- eating healthy and exercising.  That carried me about mid year and then I just fell apart.  I don't know why, but it is what it is.  Needless to say I really need to work on it.  No for real! Two reasons: I'm turning the big 4-0 this year and I need to feel fabulous & I have a family history of diabetes so that scares me a bit.  So I really need to get on the will power and determination bandwagon!  Soon!

         

On another note, 2013 brought much reflection within me.  I suppose naturally being a year from turning a milestone birthday may tend to do that to you.  (Enter truth serum here).  One of the things that has been on my mind is having another baby.  I've felt for the longest that I've been missing something in my life (or shall I say a little someone).  I must admit that I adore my two children.  Each of them have been a great blessing to me.  They have brought me much joy and total happiness.  As a matter of fact out of my many hats I wear, the mommy hat sure holds the gold in my books.  So naturally, hoping for another child has been weighing heavy on my heart this year.  You must know that my two children are 22 and 15.  I know people would be saying, wow? Really you want to start all over? Now? You should be happy where you are in life.  You are young.  Your kids are about grown.  You have all this freedom!  Why would you want to start over?  You should be doing things you've always wanted to do!  (Yes, this is what I've been advised by some lately). My mind responds yes, why not.  Then I get a little nervousness and fear deep inside wondering if I'm going through a phase or is it real? Does this sound familiar?  Although I have some supporters saying go for it!  If it happens then it was meant to be and if it doesn't, then at least you will know.  

Then there are all the factors that come up when you think about having another child.  Since I have a very occupied full time job, who will care for the child when we are working?  Will we have the energy?  Are we really too old?  Should we just wait for our grandchildren to enter our future life?  

           

As I enter 2014, I pray that God guides me towards his plan for me.  I know he has a plan for me and if it is his will, it will be done.  I pray that he helps me find the thing I am missing and help me see this season through.  

I'm ready to see what 2014 brings to me and my family.  With God's will, may it be of more beautiful memories to cherish with my family.  Wishing everyone a happy new year 2014!  May it bring you much happiness and treasured memories for you and your family! 

10 Things to Smile About September

Today I bring you 10 Things to Smile About from my blog friend Emmy.  I use to do this before but have not in a while.  So here I am back at it!  These are not in significant order, rather just in the order they happened.  ☺️ Enjoy! 

10.  Back to school lunch at Momo's house.  This was the Sunday before the first day of school, but since I didn't do an August 10 Things, I thought I'd add it in here.  I love all of these children with all my heart.  They are my children, my nieces, nephews and a couple of children belong to really good friends of ours.  I consider them our niece and nephew too-since one of them is also our godchild.

9. My latest caramel highlights.  After a trial and error with red highlights, I was thankful to get my caramel look back! 

8. High heel cupcakes my daughter made for her aunt's birthday.  Too cute!

7. Friday night lights!  High school football games are back again.  Our high school band truly rocks!  Especially the Drumline- where my son plays. ☺️

6. My grandmother's surprise birthday celebration.  One of my cousins had the painting made of her and my grandfather who is in heaven now.  Beautiful day. 

5. My best friend's daughter's quinceanera.  What a beautiful dress!  Gorgeous party! 

4. Our dear friend's BBQ benefit.  Our friend is in the midst of cancer treatments.  With God's will he will come through.  We cooked part of the meat for the plates.  We donated prizes.  All for a good and worthy cause.  

3. Play date with my nieces!  Love them to pieces! 

2. My mom's surprise birthday party!  She is here with all the grandchildren.  Yes, we love surprises! 

1. Grey's Anatomy season premier! Love love love this show! I can't say it enough. I took a whole year to watch from season 1 episode 1 since last summer til this summer.  I'm finally all caught up.  

Life... Lately

Monday, September 23: A "life lately" post. What you're up to, how you're feeling, how you're doing on your goals, etc. Bonus points for great photos!

I have so much on my mind lately where to begin?  What am I up to?  How am I feeling? 

Overwhelmed, preoccupied, celebratory and prayerful...

Overworked! Seriously, there has not been enough time in the day to get my work done.  So, there have been lots of late nights.  Still trying to get my bering to organize myself, but then I'm thrown even more things to cover and before you know it I'm back in a frenzy again.  

My thoughts have been heavy on our next move of buying a new home.  That's in the pre-work stage. Crossing our fingers and saying our prayers that by next summer we'll be in the midst of our plans.  Have lots of ideas on what I want our home to be like.  I can't wait to get there.   

My thoughts have also been weighing on whether to have another baby.  Yes....I know I should be glad my kids are quite grown and I have all this "freedom."  But I also know time is darn near closing in on me and it's now or never.  I miss having a younger child in my life.  I've always loved children.  It's no wonder I didn't have more children.  I did have my first born quite young.  I went through college and graduate school while my children were growing up.  So, I do know it never seemed like there was a right time to have anymore children.  Now that I am settled in my career and living comfortably, it seems something is missing.  Only God knows.  My prayers for finding the answer to my quest come daily.

We just celebrated my mom's 65th birthday.  It was a surprise dinner party at the house.  It turned out wonderful!  She was pleasantly surprised.  

My goals to exercise more and be healthy has fallen.  I need a pick me up!  Fast!

Enjoying this challenge! 

Autumn!

Autumn Fall...whichever name you use...it's here! I love it!  Football, campfires, jeans, festivals, warm drinks, fuzzy socks, and definitely much cooler weather.  One of my favorite times of the year.  It's the beginning of the seasonal "season."  

Kick up your feet and enjoy! 

Comfort

Friday, September 20: React to this term: comfort. 

Comfort is...

family

home on a Friday night

a home cooked meal

sleeping in on a Saturday morning

a hug from a loved one

being surrounded by positive people

a candle burning

all day Sunday movie marathon on the couch

a campfire on the beach 

a warm cup of coffee

warm chocolate cake and ice cream

children's laughter

rainy nights at home

home

My Silly Children

Wednesday, September 18: Only photos

My beautiful adorable silly children in pictures...They are my heart and soul. ~Made with love 😘

A memory to relive

Tuesday, September 17: A memory you would love to relive

Back in the day, my husband and I kept debating back and forth whether to have another child.  We only had my daughter who was 6 years old at this time.  We were married by now-in which we weren't when we got pregnant with my daughter.  I remember being so in love with being pregnant this second time around.  I was excited.  I read so many books and magazines about having a baby.  Even when he was born, I remember thinking- oh gosh! What did we do? But then that feeling went away quickly.  I enjoyed being a new mom so much.  I never minded the late night feedings or having to get up in the middle of the night to change him.  I enjoyed playing with him and learning with him.  I enjoyed everything there was to enjoy about having a child. 

I was very young when I had my daughter.  I enjoyed her and loved on her so much.  I had my family around to help me raise her.  My daughter and I had a very special bond.  She was my little partner.  When I cried for being upset about those young love things, she'd come over and hug me to make me feel better.  I've always felt like I didn't get to enjoy her the way I could have.  I miss all that.

My memory I'd love to relive is raising my children again.  I miss it so much!  I contemplate these days on having a third child, but then I start to think-oh silly me! I've past my time.  However, if I could have time back I'd definitely would not have procrastinated having one more child.  I would definitely savor each moment as they grew.  The tears, the craziness, and all that comes with raising children are the little daily blessings I miss so much. 

Love Letter

Monday, September 16: Write a public love letter to someone in your life. (It doesn't necessarily need to be romantic.)

But mine will be! 

Jenni did say we can join when we can!  So, here is my "love letter."

My dearest love,

Since the beginning, you have always fascinated me.  You have always been that one to inspire me, to challenge me, to make me take risks.  Risks I wouldn't have normally taken.  You have held my hand when I needed you to.  You have let go and stood back as well.  We have grown together since we were young adults.   Since then, you have always made life fun and adventurous.

I love the kid person you are when you want to be silly.  I love the way you take control of a situation when there is a demand for it. I love how you take care of every little thing around our home.  I love how you care for me and our kids and you how great you protect us.

I love how you stand up for us and beside us.

I thank you today for all that you do for us.

You are my heart and my soul.  I thank God every day for you.  You are truly a blessing to me.

I love the way you love me.

Where I came from...

Came across Jenni at Story of My Life and since I do struggle here and there with topics to write about I thought I'd take advantage of this simple and fun September challenge.   Go here --> to find the rules for the challenge. 

Sept. 3: Describe where or what you come from. The people, the places, and/or the factors that make up who you are.

I come from a very close knit southern traditional family.  Ever since I was little, I do not remember a holiday that I wasn't around my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc... As children we hung out, and played, ran around.  We did the same things year after year.  Until we got older and families grew bigger-the only change then came were all the more family gatherings.

We loved rodeos, trailrides, bbq cook offs, campfires-just loved the outdoors hanging out kind of things.  I'm not necessarily a rider of horses, but I enjoy the festivities that come with a rodeo.  I grew up going to the church bazaars and listening to live music.  There was always a party or so it seemed.

One thing that was consistent was the family bond I shared and how I grew up knowing how important family was in life.  No matter what the circumstances were, you stuck around and you dealt with it.  There were good times and bad times, but the good always outweighed the bad.

Both my parents were the oldest in their family, so they grew up with the toughest rules and restrictions which later carried onto us.  My dad worked 2-3 jobs to make sure we had everything we needed and every once in a while for special occasions we also got things we wanted.  My mom would take us 4 kids with her everywhere-shopping, pay bills, to work and even when her and my dad would go out-we'd be there with them.  We were 4-1 boy 3 girls and we drove my mom crazy!  My mom stayed home until I was in middle school then worked part time.  Eventually, she worked her way to having a full time job.  She would always make sure we enjoyed kid things too.  She would take us to the movies, the amusement park, and then we would end up at Pizza Inn with some of my cousins.

I had a great loving childhood.

My parents always preached about education and how important it was to have one.  Needless to say, I always knew in my mind that college was not an option, but a definite path I would take.

I am a simple traditional woman with strong family values.  Education is a priority in my life too.
These are the things I carry on into my little family of 4.  Life wasn't perfect for me.  There were many obstacles and roadblocks that would make life difficult.  However, it is my belief that my strong upbringing and prayer helped me see it through standing on my own two feet.

That is me.......in a nutshell.

School Clothes

 We took our son school clothes shopping yesterday.  First trip.  He mentioned going to Rue 21 earlier this summer so this was our first stop.  My son is quite particular with his style.  Pretty simple.  I think he is still searching for his style.  He has something about plaid shirts though? I don't know what it is? There was a nice yellow plaid shirt my husband picked out for him.  I told my son I use to put that light yellow on you all the time when you were little because you looked so good in it.  He tried it on and he liked it.  

Boys are so hard to shop for or at least my son is difficult since he is pretty particular.  He'll begin his sophomore year in high school.  He is moving over to the senior high school this year.  It's like countdown to senior year.  Yikes! Please slow down the clock! 

A few more weeks left til school starts for him.  He's got Drumline camp next week and its non stop camp until school starts.   

Here's to mid summer blues! Winding down the time until the school/work year starts up again! 

Chores

I know as a child growing up there was always a chore to be done.  And I hated it!  I was always stuck washing dishes and it was my least favorite thing to do.  Even as an adult, it still is.  I started my own children young with washing dishes.  Now, they hate it too!  I think its their worst chore to do.  I have to practically trick them into doing it!  Or make it a game where they take turns.  It's ridiculously funny!  However, no one in my family feel that laundry is a chore.  It just gets done.  Hmm...I wonder what that says about them?  Perhaps they like to look good and wear clean clothes?  LOL!  My kids both do their own laundry.  I can't really remember when that started, but I just stopped and noticed one day that I didn't have to worry about their laundry.  They just took care of it!  Something even more ridiculously funny?  I enjoy doing laundry!  I really do!  Always have!  My most favorite is doing the towels.  They are so easy to fold and who doesn't love fresh clean towels?! My least favorite are the socks.  Everyone has the sock eating dryer right?  I can never find a pair!  So, why is it that my kids take care of their own laundry when I really wouldn't mind doing it?  Go figure?


In all honesty, when I am home for the summer, I never mind any of the chores to do at home.  I love having the time to be home and take care of my home.  It's like a breath of fresh air compared to the busy hectic days of the work year.  During the work year I am so busily working then coming home and making do with dinner, cleaning, laundry, etc... It's like being on survival mode all the time.  It starts probably about mid to end of September.  It slows down around the holidays (of course because I am home!) then it starts up again and doesn't slow down again until the summer.  So while most people loath the daily grind of chores, I enjoy when I have the time to do it.  During the work year, I wished I had more time...let me take that back...I really wished I had more energy!  There is always time, but the energy lacks.
I'm trying to make a promise to keep myself as organized as I can to keep up with what I can during the work year.  I know if I put enough heart into it I can.
 

Summer Date

I promised my nieces before school was out that I would take them on a summer date.  The day finally came.  They chose the Children's Museum.  One of my sisters is a stay at home mom and went for support.  Boy was I glad she did!  I know I couldn't have went with all five of them alone!  So off my sister and I went on our summer date with all the girls!  

We had a great time!  They played on and on non stop.  I got to enjoy the day with my beautiful nieces.  I watched them play and be so fascinated with all they discovered.  I pray for more times to enjoy moments like this with them.  Love you my baby girls!