Back to blogging! (again...)

Really, I do, love to blog! If only I could get more time to do it... so I have decided to put it into my calendar! Crazy, you are probably thinking. But if you know me at all, you know that I live by my calendar and I go above and beyond to keep my schedule. Yup, I am a schedule keeper! So, if it's in the calendar, you can bet it's going to happen. It's what I started doing two weeks ago in order to get exercise in. Whether it's yoga in the morning, gym in the afternoon or a run at night, if I put it in the calendar, I tend to get it done! So blogging has it's own place in my calendar :)

Quick family update: Frank is my hero and I love him more and more all the time. God
knew just what he was doing when he created Frank for me and I am a better person because of Frank's unconditional love and dedication to our family. Kendra is getting ready to fly out on her own in the next few months. College is in her vision and we are waiting to see which one she will be attending. Her senior year of softball is starting this week! I can't believe it's here, it feels like just yesterday, we were fitting her for a t-ball glove and cleats that would fit her little feet.... :'( Austin is growing by the day, and I mean that. He is a 6'2" freshman and has a heart just about as big. He is doing well in his first year of public school and is enjoying making new friends. He is settled into basketball being his only sport and loves anytime he can get a basketball into his hands! He lights up whenever he gets on a court and I love to watch him play. Colby is doing so well in his 4th grade year of school and is learning quicker than I can teach. He continues to be a sensitive soul and loves with all that he has. Playing outdoors this winter was a highlight and he was outside more than in most days. Cam continues to be my shadow and loves to be with me whether it is cleaning, watching a movie, cooking or shopping. I enjoy my one on one time with him. He loves to chat with me and I often have to remind myself he is only 10! He is a creative writer and I enjoy reading his work. Both boys played basketball over the winter months and are now looking forward to bike riding and spring soccer.
I am working hard at finishing up our year of homeschooling. I have lots of projects going on at my job and am struggling to juggle both homeschool and the projects due. I set myself some new goals at the beginning of the year and one of them was to make sure I take time for myself once a day. Sometimes that is 10 minutes, other times a full hour at the gym. I am doing pretty good at keeping to that goal and I do notice the difference in my attitude and ability to cope. If you are a mom, wife, or woman reading this, let me encourage you to do the same. It's necessary! All, in all, we are doing well and managing to stay on the course day by day, by the grace of God!

I hope this finds all our friends and family healthy, happy and determined to make the best of 2012. We'll chat more later!

Hugs,

Birthday Day Times Two!!

Ten years???? Where did it go and where was I when it was passing me by? I know "they" say, "Enjoy it, it goes by so fast." But really, I had no idea!!

Here I sit this morning remembering where I was ten years ago today. I was scared out of my mind! My anxiety had the best of me. I had never before had a C-Section to have my baby and here it was happening to me. AND my sweet, steady husband was a wreck! So uncharacteristic of him... always the calm one, was suddenly nervous and worried about his sweetheart and his two sons being in an operating room. We made it to the hospital, covered in prayers and love and we were as ready as we would ever be to welcome these two little guys into our lives.
The delivery went as good as we could have prayed for, one of my little guys didn't breathe on his own right away and the other decided he really didn't want to come out just yet and had to be "forced" out (bet you can't guess which one that was???). When it was all done and I was in recovery I had but one goal in mind and that was to see and hold my boys! Oh, how that day seems like just yesterday... not in a proverbially way, really it feels like yesterday.

In these ten years, as a family, we have experienced so much. But these two boys have always been such a bright spot in our home. They truly did complete our family and officially made us a half-dozen family! Each one of them has strengths and they are so generous with them. Both of them are sweet and kind with soft and tender hearts. They are each other's best friend and their biggest cheerleader! And before you think we live in a perfect world (hahaha), they can also fight with each other better than anyone else too!! But at the end of the day, they love each other and they really are wonderful boys.
My heart is sadened a bit today, as I realize that my days of having babies and little boys in my house is coming to an end. But I am also excited and hopeful to see what God has in store for these boys as they become young men and more importantly, men who follow God. I know my mom would have loved to celebrate this day with us and I know she would be so proud of them, of us all.

Happy 10th Birthday sweet boys! You are so very loved and I am so humbled to have been choosen by God to be your mommy. Thank you for what you add to my life and those who have taken the time and the love to be invested in your lives. You both are truly a gift!

I love you both,

Mommy

Uncluttered

I was spending time with God this morning some while I was sitting still and reading the Word, some while I was hanging laundry outside in the sunshine... But I continually found myself asking Him to quiet my soul and help me to have more time and energy for the things and people in my life that are most important and most of all for more time with Him.

I sat down for my moring coffee and FB check and this song was in my newsfeed....

Coincidence? Nah, definitely a God Sighting!

Happy Monday friends, hugs to you <3

Fantastic Friday!

Dear Tummy,

Sorry for all the butterflies, its all ^ his fault! <3

Masterpiece

Ephesians 1:4 - " Even as, in his love, He chose us (actually picked us out for Himself as His own) in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even abovereproach, before Him in love."

Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are God's own Masterpiece (His handiwork) recreated in Christ Jesus..."

You have been chosen!

All of us have a desire to be loved and accepted. We work hard on our relationships here on earth and put great stock in what others think of us, at least I do. But this week while reading in Ephesians, I was smacked in the face with the reminder that even though God knows me best and knows all about me, I MEAN ALL ABOUT ME, He still chose me on purpose. He picked ME out to be His!

Not only was I chosen regardless of the mess I am and make of things, I am also told I am a Masterpiece... WHAT???? Looking in the mirror and at my heart, I can't say I have ever used the word Masterpeice to describe myself. But God does. I don't know alot about art, but what I do know is that Masterpieces take thought and time to create just so. It starts as a thought and keeps being played around with in the artists mind as to what it should look like, and the details... the shadings, and shapes, the colors and curves.. each detail needing special attention and time. Very few pieces of art are declaired a "Masterpiece" and yet scripture tells me that I am one.  So are you, my friend! God, the creator of all things, took special time, thought and attention on each detail of you to make you who you are. You are loved that much!

List maker..

I am a list maker. I love to make a list and check things off as I go. The sense of accomplishment that I get when I see those tasks crossed off is an emotional "high" and puts a smile on my face.

I have two lists going on this Monday morning. One is my task list that I have already begun crossing off as I go. The other is my prayer list and this morning, it is quite long. It contains lots of people who are very important to me and while I am a regular prayer person for people with requests, this morning is different.

Today, a sweet boy I know and love, is swearing into the United State Marine Corps with his mom and dad standing by and watching with pride and tears. My heart is hurting for them and full of pride along side them. I pray for his safety and for his well being. I miss him already.

A dear friend is fighting daily with cancer and my heart is heavy for her and her family and friends that are hurting.

A marriage is falling apart because selfishness has entered the scene and a man found "greener pastures" without responsibilites. This newly single mom is struggling while putting one foot in front of another for her child's sake.

My husband is out working hard, long hours while he is tired. I pray for his safety and for his spirit to stay uplifted. I thank God for him and all that he does for us and what he is to me!

My children. This is a big one. My heart is hurting lots these days. A mother's heart is not meant to be trampled on, yet it will take it over and over again and continue to love. I am asking God specifically this morning to guard my heart and my tongue today.

Genuinly hurting people, whether it be personal choices or by no hand of their own. Physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually hurting people.

With all of that being said, I am thankful this morning to have a Heavenly Father to lay these requests before and know that He is hearing me and listening to His child's pain and cries. While I will never understand why these things happen to people, I do know that something good and for the glory of God will come of all of these situations.

In the mean time, this list will remain untouched with my Sharpie marker, for now...

A brand new year...

No your calendar isn't wrong, it isn't January. Its August, one of my favorite months of the year. Since its my birthday this week, I spent some time reflecting and thinking about the past and the future and I am ready to make some changes!

Some of these changes are going to be smooth and easy while others might be more painful both for me and maybe even others around me. I want to be a REAL Jesus girl! Both real in my pains and journey and in my JOY! Making time for the people in my life that WANT to be REAL. I intend to spend more time with my daughter as she starts her journey out of my nest. I want to be at all my son's sporting events and be the loudest cheerleader there so they hear my voice in the stands above everyone else. I want to have time to sit, LISTEN and talk with my freshman son when he gets home and has stuff to share about his day I want to spend more time romancing my boyfriend of almost twenty years. When he reaches for my hand or to wrap me in his arms, I won't pull away to get back to cooking dinner or the kids are asking for me. Instead I will pause and relish the moment and enjoy the tingle and the butterflies he still gives me after all these years! I want to feel more passionately and love more completely. I want to be more spontaneous and "in the moment". I intend to let the over one hundred little ones that God has entrusted to me every Sunday morning to know that I love them and I know they are special because GOD SAYS SO! I will smile more when I am truly happy, looking for the blessings that I receive EVERY day as the gift that they are. I will cry and share when I am sad and hurting with those who truly ask and love me. I will spend time with my Jesus more than just once a day and work on making my time with Him relational and not just to say "there I did it, check".

So, changes are coming and if you my reader would do me a favor? Remind me of this post from time to time and check in and see how my changes are going? I'm sure I'll have lots to share! Happy Birthday to Me!

Hugs!