OLW 2013

I noticed this on another blog last year and honestly with the craziness of school, family, and life, I forgot what my word was.  I was reminded of it while reading a blog that I recently stumbled across Proverbs Living.  The idea is to pick one word that encompasses your theme for 2013. My word for 2013 is going to be Love. 

Love for my family and for my husband.  My time has been so focused on school, work, and everything else and unfortunately times with the kiddos and my husband fell in the back burner so now I feel like I need to schedule time with my family. I love them so much and now I have time to spend with them and not feel guilty about not studying so it's a new season in my life. 

Love for myself and my body. I've put my health on the back burner with school and putting everything ahead of myself. Now its time to love myself and take care of myself through exercise, eating right, rest, and spending time investing in myself spiritually.  I want to get to a healthy weight and be proud of myself and take care of myself like I should. 

Love for the Lord above. I want to grow in my relationship with the Lord and develop it through quiet time with the Lord, listening to spiritual teachers, and developing my relationship with my Father, my Abba. 

Love  my life. My crazy, hectic, spontaneous life. The life that the Lord above has given me with my family, my friends, and I want to enjoy every minute of it. I don't want to just survive. I want to live life to the fullest and not just sit in the back seat and look out the window. I want to either be driving or riding shotgun navigating this year to be better than last year. 

If you had one word for your theme in 2013, what would it be?

Love & Blessings,

Harmony

Birthdays and Sick Family...Boo!

It's been a few days since I posted because we've been fighting the flu around here. Bah humbug!!

My dear sweet Emma turned 5 on Thursday. I can't believe she is five years old!!! It seems like only a few months ago she was a little bundle that kept us up all night. Now she is a little munchkin that asks questions 99% of the time about different subjects (Momma and Daddy are running out of answers), sings into her new Hello Kitty Karaoke machine, teases her big brother, calls me her best friend, and wants to know why God picked me to be her Momma. (Because God thought I needed her for my daughter, and she needed me for her Momma)

She definitely keeps things interesting around here for us. I wouldn't trade her for anything because she keeps me on my toes.

Say a quick prayer for us because both Emma and Damon had the flu this week. (Ugggg) Landon and I were given Tamiflu in hopes that we don't get it, and you can bet that I'm scheduling all of us to have a flu shot next year.  Hope the last few days of 2012 are blessed! I've been busy making my goals for next year. If you're not moving forward, you're standing still...

Merry Christmas!!

It was a lovely Christmas with family and good food. We spent Christmas Eve with my family and Candlelight Services at our church. Christmas Day we spent with my husband's family. My poor hubby was sick the whole time.

Many blessings to everyone!

Where is My Contract??

Does any other mothers out there feel like someone is scripting our life for a comedy sitcom and no one pays us anything extra????

    Yesterday morning I thought I was doing good. I got up on time, folded some laundry, had coffee, fixed my hair and got dressed. I was up till 11:30 working on fixing snack baggies and gifts for teachers for the last day of school. I was getting ready when the babysitter called, and she was sick.  Poor dear, she sounded awful, no big deal today. This is our last day before Christmas vacation so we have an early release and I work at the school, so I'll just bring them home with me.

Went to wake up my daughter and she had spilled some chocolate milk all over her bed...and I had just started a load of towels in the washer. Dragged her sheets into the bathroom to rinse the chocolate milk out before it set. Then got her dressed in her PJs because they could go in their PJs for school yesterday. She had got milk on her other ones. Then while trying to put my make-up on and she was brushing her teeth, I noticed she had chocolate milk on her new pajamas. What?!?  She was carrying around a stuffed animal that apparently had been a victim of the great chocolate milk spill of December 21, 2012. Got her changed to another set of pajamas.

Then I remembered that it was show and tell at her school, and the theme was the letter J.  CRUD!!!  I'm digging through toys looking for something that starts with a letter J and I'm drawing a blank. Thank goodness for Google. I googled show and tell and the letter J, and the word jewelry came up. YES!! Put a necklace on her and said "That is jewelry, and starts with J."

My friends started a tradition years ago to help with a local charities food, toys, and clothing donations around Christmas. The community donates food, toys, and clothing and then volunteers take them to families in the community. I started doing it with them a few years ago. I love it, because it makes me appreciate all the blessings that God has given me and allows me to spend some time with my girls. The best part of helping others is it really helps you too put things in perspective.

I also had the pleasure to be witness to the donation of clothing, coats, blankets, etc that were collected by the students at our local school. They donated the items to a charity close to my heart, Niki Covers the Cold, which was started by my Aunt Sandi and Uncle Owen in memory of their dear daughter that was taken from us to soon. Please look into any local charities in your area that you could help with.

Many Blessings!!!

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas...

Today I'm thankful for many things...

Pajama day at school and surprise trip on the Polar Express...

A new stocking for Miss E that was made at a local store...too cute!!

My Secret Santa at work made me this cross. That will now be #33 for my "Wall o Crosses"

I'm also thankful for my hubby, my kiddos, my family, my friends, and my work family. They are all so awesome and I'm so blessed to be surrounded in love!

Graduation

I'll be honest, in wake of the horrific events on Friday in Connecticut, graduation seemed rather silly to me. My heart aches for that community & those families affected. I pray that Jesus watches over them and gives them comfort.

But it was graduation day yesterday, life will go on...























Blessings to you all!!! Follow the way, the truth & the life,

Harmony

Wordless Wednesday - My Kiddos

Wordless Wednesday

Christmas music

Marvelous Monday

So far it has been a Marvelous Monday!!!

....Only 5 to 6 more days of classes for my Masters class and then I'm done...finished..terminado...alla fine. I say 5 to 6 because I plan on taking one final tomorrow evening but my other class doesn't have the final available till Friday morning. So I hope to take the final either Friday evening before the hubby's company Christmas party or Saturday morning. 


 .......I  got my nails done  on Friday and I'm loving them!!! Makes me feel pretty...oh so pretty...sorry I digress...


....I am off of my second job this week because of my finals which means a week to breathe easy and finish everything.


...Hubby and I were picked to coach Landon's basketball team for the season. (Prayers please!!!) I'm praying for some good parent helpers because I know very little about basketball. It should be a learning experience, and I believe in the power of positive thinking that fun will be had by all!!
....This weekend is Miss Emma's Christmas program and class party on Sunday and then we have a company Christmas party that evening. Can't wait to have some fun!!


.....Did I mention I only have a week left of school and next weekend is my Graduation...I'm not sure I mentioned that.... 


In this Christmas season, please remember those that need our help. My dear cousin Niki Carlson was taken away from us too soon and her courageous family started Niki Covers the Cold to help clothe and keep the homeless warm. Our elementary school is doing a blanket drive to help with the cause. Please contribute to local charities in your community!!!

Little Drummer Boy

Last night we had the school's annual Christmas program. My son was chosen as the little drummer boy for their classes program. He had a small solo and lines, and did so good. I'm guessing he got that from me, because I loved theater when I was younger. I am so proud of my boy!!

Thankful Thursday

On the last Thursday in November I am thankful for....

Coffee with sweet Italian Cream Creamer...yummmmmm...

A warm home during cold nights and frosty mornings...

Children's choir on Wednesday nights...what a blessing!

Our crazy calico cat who's been with Damon and I since we first started dating, and she sits with me every morning while I do homework...

Laundry to do which means we have clothes to wear..

Dishes in the dishwasher to unload which means we ate last night...

A husband who can fix nearly anything around the house...and he sews too!!

A job to go to where I can see my kids during the day and work with great people...

Two kids who definitely keep me on my toes!

Friends who keep me laughing...

Thank you Lord for all these blessings and more you have given us.

Pulling Hair...Prayers Lord

I am pulling my hair out...

Not literally, but I'm sure others can relate to the days when you feel like you are spinning in circles, and nothing is getting accomplished. If I work on housework, I miss watching a movie and snuggling with my kiddos, if I work on homework to finish my degree, I can't do housework, if I stay late at work, that means I'm missing time at home,  it sometimes feels like I have to be up at 4am just to get everything accomplished in one day. Just when I think I am getting ahead at work, something else comes up sending me further behind.

I know I'm a little stressed with my masters degree being done in two weeks, so I'm trying to finish final projects and finals and I just want to be done. Then it's getting to be the busy season of holiday parties, school functions, Christmas plays, presents, and all the rushing that goes with it.

Dear Lord, please help me to keep my head these next few weeks. Help me to prioritize and manage my time wisely. I don't want to be satisfied with mediocrity. Empower me to do superior work and bring glory to your name. Help me to find fulfillment in the tasks you placed before me. Help me to become a Proverbs 31 woman who is a woman of excellence, integrity, and God inspired ideas.

Happy Birthday!!

Eight years ago today I was already in labor with a little boy. He arrived among much difficulty and during a thunderstorm. That has been the only trouble out of our sweet, loving boy. He is a great big brother and I can't wait to see how God uses him in the future.

Happy Birthday Landon!!!

Busy Weekend

We had a crazy busy weekend. We were invited to a baby shower for our niece by marriage.   It was a great time.

After the baby shower I had dinner with some girls to celebrate the upcoming wedding for a dear friend. We had dinner, gave her gifts, and laughed. It was a fun night!

This is the three amigos. I've known these girls for years, and I love them!

Then Sunday we celebrated Landon turning 8. I can't believe that my munchkin will be turning 8 tomorrow. We had a fun time celebrating with a Nerf gun war. Landon's friends came over and played capture the flag as well shooting nerf bullets everywhere. 

 I believe the bigger boys had just as much fun as the younger ones!! It was a busy weekend, and I'm so glad that I had today off to recuperate! 

Have a blessed week!

Harmony

Wednesday Funny

My daughter asked me this morning if it was getting closer to the "chicken man" day. I was thinking "huh?" I asked her do you mean "turkey day?" She said "yeah, that!!"

It's beginning to look a lot like Fall!!

Yes, I know it is November and for some people it's been Fall for awhile. However, here in Texas, we sometimes have summer running into October. The leaves on our China Berry tree were a gorgeous yellow color early last week and by Sunday when we trimmed some trees, the leaves had all fallen on the ground coating it with a yellow blanket. Leaves are falling everywhere and this morning it has gotten considerably cooler.

And so the countdown continues...four more weeks of school and FIVE more weeks till graduation. If you can't tell I'm a little excited!!! I'm very calm for me. I'm not sure if it's because I'm almost done, or if it's because I've got "senior-itis" and really don't want to do anything!!! I'm still working on projects, and getting things accomplished, but it's a remarkable calm before the storm feeling.

We are looking forward to next week in our home. Next week we get the whole week off from school, so I don't have to go in to work. Which is a blessing because I'll get to stay home with my kiddos!!

Hope everyone has a blessed week!!

Dinosaurs Oh My!!

On Sunday we took the kids to a dinosaur exhibit. We had fun and took lots of pictures!!

Stained Glass

As I was sitting in church this morning I noticed that one of the stained glass windows that line the walls had a crack in it. It wasn't enough to break it, however, it did have several cracks radiating out of the center. 

This got me thinking and I wrote these following notes on my notebook I carry with me in my bible...

I see the ribbon of the cracks radiate out from the center. Who knows how the beautiful mosaic of purple, yellow, and blue were marred. However, it's beauty is not diminished, but rather shows how we need to view ourselves. 

We are different, we are beautiful, made up of a multitude of colors that represent not only the many different people, but the different facets of ourselves. We crack, we bend, however we should always remember WHOSE we are. 

I touch the glass gingerly, feeling the imperfections in the beauty beneath my fingertips. Thank you God for these imperfections, because these are the tattoos you have placed on me. those cracks in me that you have helped to shape as well as repair. 

I am who I am because of these cracks in my life. These beautiful cracks have shown me who the Lord really is. 

What cracks are in your life that you look upon with regret or contempt? But He tells us not to look at those, but to repent, learn and move on. There is no backwards with God, you can only stay stagnant where you are, or bear the burden and joys of moving forward. 

Follow the Way, be the Truth, be the Life,

Harmony

Wordless Wednesday

Weekend Wrap-Up

It's been a whirlwind weekend!

Friday I worked at my second job waiting tables at a local restaurant. It was crazy busy but I was able to cut loose a little early to come home and spend time with my munchkins.

Saturday was filled with soccer games and a night out with some friends. It was just what Damon and I needed. I also insisted we take a break from me working on homework, and the kids playing video games and we went out and got ice cream and sat and ate it at DQ. It was a lot of fun.

Today was church, some light cleaning, and more homework. Only 9 more weeks till I graduate, and I am SOOOOOOOOO ready. I can't wait to have my free time back permanently.

Have a great week!!

Wordless Wednesday

Oh how I love my wacky little munchkins!!

Go see it

Yesterday Landon went on a "Go see it" expedition with the older scouts to our newly renovated courthouse in our town square. He got to be Judge Thompson in the picture below. 

This picture is of all the boys listening to one of the Courthouse employees talk about the jury selection and trial process. 

Our Wolf and Tiger scouts on the steps of the courthouse. 

Such a fun group of kids!!

Weekend WrapUp

We had a great weekend. A cold front blew threw on Saturday morning and brought the feel of fall in. We had a great game of soccer cuddling together for warmth. I love having family close to us because I was running late and she lovingly picked up coffee for us for the game.

We then went to a nearby town to pick up new glasses for myself and Landon. We went to eat  and shopping. We got back in time to change clothes and head out to reception for some friends of ours who got married yesterday. The bride was gorgeous and her and her new husband looked so happy. The band was great and I danced with my hubby and friends. It was so wonderful to get out and have some fun without worrying about work or my masters class.

Today was a lazy cold Sunday. We had corn casserole, grilled cheese, and green beans for lunch, I had my devotional time this morning, Netflix movies while being warmed by a fire, and a nap. Yes I could have been more productive today, but I decided against it.

Have a great week!

Thankful Thursday

On this Thursday I'm thankful for...

...laughter from my two kids playing together, even if it is video games

....a hubby that takes two kids to soccer practice so I can work on homework

....a second job that understands when I need to get someone to fill in for me at work because I have so much schoolwork to do

.....prayers answered for a little girl who was injured on Sunday in a ATV accident, she's getting to come home from the hospital and everything is going good. Thank you Lord!!

.....a somewhat messy home, because that means I am surrounded by those that I love

.....fall flowers everywhere! And this weekend I'm going to go buy me some to decorate my front porch.

....a job that sometimes stretches me, but I'm so grateful for it, especially when I can be up there with my kids

....getting dark earlier so the kids can't say "But it's still light outside!" when I put them to bed :)

....the good Lord for providing us with what we need, which may not always be what we want, but He knows what's best

Follow the way, the truth, the light

Harmony 

Oh the crazy!!

It's been absolute madness at our house with soccer, dance, scouts, school & work. We had an honorary "Niece" born to hubby's best friend & his wife.





Isn't she precious!!

Blessings to all!!


Follow the way, the truth & the life,

Harmony

Life as I know it....

Well the craziness has started at our house. BOTH kids are doing soccer right now, and Emma is taking dance and Landon has his scouts. So Damon and I are working on syncing schedules to get kids where they need to be. And so it begins!!

Landon is enjoying second grade. I asked him about fact families the other night for his math homework. He thought for a moment and said "I can explain it with legos." He took 3 red legos and 1 yellow lego, "that makes four". He switched it to be 1 yellow lego, and 3 red legos, "it still makes four." Landon then surprised me by saying "If you take 4 minus the 3 red legos, you have 1 yellow lego. Then if you take 4 minus the 1 yellow lego, you have 3 red legos." And that is a lesson in math by my second grader. I was so proud of him.

Emma is learning all kinds of songs and new things at her pre-k. She comes home singing all kinds of cute songs and starts talking about what they learned. It's absolutely amazing to watch her develop into a articulate little girl instead of the toddler I'm used to. *Sigh* where does the time go...

I have a small problem...I graduate on December 15, and being so close to the end of my masters program, I have a case of the I'm tired's and you can't make me do it!! LOL I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I'm so ready to get there, I'm trying to sprint past all the little minor details, like putting in the work! Say a prayer or two so I can keep my focus.

Gotta go, time to type notes and put my "focus" hat back on.

Weekend wrap up

This weekend we visited the bro & sis in law. We went to see the old missions and forts in Goliad, tx. They were awesome. We went & saw paranorman, pretty cute movie, and played at the park. Glad we come !!