My Reader.

My sweet Mason is a rough and tumble kind of guy. 

He says things that make me want to throw myself on the ground in a fit of laughter. 

He always seems to gravitate toward dirt and more dirt ...it's one of his finer qualities if I do say so myself. But something new has sneaked in along with his dirty little fingers and dirty little orange shoes...my sweet little man has become a reader. It's true. He's a reader. I can't even believe it myself. It's as if a whole new world has opened up to him...he sees words and sentences to read everywhere he goes. He takes his time...he sounds out all of the letters...he's patient and so eager. He can't get enough. If he sees anything with words you better believe he is reading it. It's the best thing in the world to watch him sit and read. 

One minute he's outside playing basketball or running around shooting bubbles...

the next he's in his room and 

I can here his sweet little voice reading his favorite books. 

He tells me that while Brady is at school he likes to practice so at night when it's time for bed he can read our Bible story for Brady and not need his help with any words.

These kinds of things are the best parts of growing up. Watching his confidence and excitement fills my heart to overflowing. 

Oh this boy. My boy. My reader.

I want to surprise him with some fun new books. 

So, any suggestions on what to get my sporty, rough and tumble 5 year old little man?

 

{Egg} Hunt of A Lifetime

Three little boys ready to run

50,000 Eggs dropping from the sky

Three Helicopters

 One Snake Basket

Loads of Candy

Giggles

Laughter 

And 

Joy

Our family had such a fun weekend celebrating and remembering that... 

"One day the grave could conceal Him no longer

One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now He's ascended, my Lord evermore"

How did you celebrate this weekend?

The Weight Of It All

One of the many things that scares me most is allowing others to see my weakness, my insecurities. So, all my life I have had a tendency to hide the things I struggle with. I fight it internally, by myself. Last week,  I shared with a small group of woman my issues with weight. I thought it would be fitting to share with all of you. I am convinced its a battle of the mind. It's believing a lot of lies.

Exercise has always been an outlet for me. I have always exercised for as long as I can remember. I have always struggled with my weight and body image issues. In High School my friends would be eating Taco Bell and McDonald's everyday after school and I would not only not eat lunch {so not healthy} I would then go home and count my Weight Watchers points. I would go to meetings and feel so embarrassed because I was the youngest one there. 

The reason I say it's a battle of the mind is because even when I was in good shape I would always worry that I would start to gain weight. Fear. I hate that feeling. I thought the older that I got the feeling of being consumed about my weight would go way. I was wrong. I honestly believe that many woman who are 'in shape' are consumed by it just as much as those who are visibly overweight. So, here I am telling all of you that I am trying to lose my winter covering that I have put on. Is it a major amount? No. However, you know the feeling when you put your clothes on and they are tight. It's terrible. You try on 10 different outfits until you feel good in one of them. 

Please tell me you have done this? 

For some reason when I am a little lighter I can put on any outfit and feel good. 

So, here is what I am doing. I am trying to not eat past 7pm. This has always worked really well for me. My happy place is around 8:00 when my sweet boys are in bed. I have a large Diet Coke in hand, I sit on the couch and watch my reality shows with a bag of chips, cereal... you get my point.

I am telling all of you because when I tell you I tend to keep my word.

It's called accountability and friends, I need it.

I need  to remember that I was made to consume food but, food was never made to consume me. I would love to walk with you on your journey. I truly believe that God wants us to encourage one another in our struggles. This for me is for sure one of them. Hebrews 13:3 says that we must "encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of us may be hardened by sins deceitfulness." 

So, please tell me how I can encourage YOU! As women body image and weight loss is a huge issue. Are you trying to eat healthy? Exercise more? Lose weight? 

What are you doing to reach your goal?