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.