Eight.

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Eight years ago you my sweet boy changed my entire world. I never knew my heart could love another person as much as I love you. I also never realized all the responsibility and selflessness it would bring. Scared to tears I sat in the hospital with so many family friends for over 30 hours. Just waiting for you.  Eight years later I can remember laying you down in front of me on the hospital bed. I just sat and stared at you. You were mine. I wanted to watch your every move, your every coo, your every wiggle, your every yawn, your every cry. I didn't want to miss a single second.

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Eight years later, once again you have taught me what it's like to stretch my heart even more. I continue to feel so blessed that Jesus saw fit to have me be your mom. You are so caring and have such a pure heart.  Over the last year I have seen you grow into this little man. It makes me sad but at the same time I am seeing you grow in so many areas of your life. You are such a great big brother. I can't even begin to tell you how thankful I am that you are the example that your little brothers see. You are kind hearted, you are full of character, you have this way about you that makes you stand out. You give 110% in everything you do. It is challenging and humbling to watch. You are crazy athletic. You still don't have a clue of how talented you are. Your brothers adore you and do everything they can to be just like you. I know that it can be hard having two younger brothers- you sweet boy are such a great example to them. The Lord knew just how good you would be at teaching and leading your younger brothers.  

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 I am praying that as you continue to get older that you will continue to love Jesus with all your heart. That you will look to Him before anything or anyone else. That you will continue to be a leader to not only your brothers but to your friends. I am so proud of you and so thankful to call you my son. You bring a joy to our family that is unexplainable. I am holding tight to this short time I have with you before you venture out into this crazy world. For now, I will soak in every second and love on you as much as I can! 

 I love you to the moon and back!

Happy Birthday my sweet boy! 

Happy Halloween

As so many suffer on the east coast today, I am extra thankful that my boys are healthy and that we have a roof over our heads. It's  funny to me how we make such a big deal {me included} about it not being ideal conditions. Yes, its freezing and snowing. Yes, I would like for it to be sunny and 70 like last week. Like I said last night, I am sure there are many families out there who would love to be running around with their kids all dressed up with not a care in the world. It makes complaining about the weather a little silly. Today I am thankful. From our family to yours....

Happy Halloween

A Rite of Passage

One of my greatest memories of my childhood was looking out our big bay window in our family room. I would sit on the couch and look out that window everyday. Our family would all sit on that couch and open up Christmas presents each year. I have a lot of memories there. The anniversary of my dad's death always brings up unexpected emotion. It's one thing to think about him but it's another to know that the anniversary of the day when you said your last good bye is quickly approaching. 

I find myself trying to occupy my mind so it doesn't go there. This weekend I was taken back to when I was sitting on that couch doubled over laughing at my dad. In school my sister and I had some really good girlfriends and some really good (but pranksters) guy friends. If you knew my dad, you pretty much loved him. He didn't know a stranger. The first time we got toilet papered my dad chased the guys down the street in his boxers. Seriously, who does this? I remember going to school and they guys thought it was the best thing ever. My dad would joke with them all the time and tell them he would get them. So, of course, they would do it again. He chased them again {yep, in his boxers}. 

Which brings me to this weekend. I decided to go to bed really early {yes, I was acting like I was 90 years old} I was in mid dream, drooling and all when I hear "get up, quick... get up." Well, let me stop just to say I thought we were being robbed or something terrible had happened. I am blind as a bat so I ran to the bathroom to put in my contacts. I ran downstairs and saw my husband running out of the house and jumping into his car. He goes on a chase. I realize someone had snuck up and smashed our pumpkin. {Side note: Seriously, is it really that fun?} I was SO mad because it was Brady's pumpkin he took to school earlier in the week. He wrote a story about every detail of that pumpkin and there it was, smashed in the road. I am cheering Chris on to catch the 'punks' who did this. As mad as I was I immediately couldn't stop laughing. I felt like a kid again when my dad went chasing the HS boys. I mean lets get real, if you catch them what are you going to do? Plus, the fact that it was my husband {who is the nicest guy EVER} going after the 'punks' makes me laugh even harder. 

That night I talked to my sister and we laughed about old memories of my dad. He would have been so proud to see Chris go after the boys. He would have camped out and hid in the bushes with my sister and I just to see if they would come back.

 I miss him. 

I told Chris that I'm pretty sure this is a rite of passage for every dad. He told me stories of his dad doing the same thing. We laughed a lot that night. I can't wait to hear the stories from my boys of the first time they go chasing after the 'punks'. 

Are You Radiating Beauty? {Day 17&18}

Every woman longs to be feel beautiful.  We spend countless hours every week in the endless pursuit of beauty. We try and cover our freckles, lose weight, tone -up, hide our blemishes and extend our lashes. As woman you and I are created in the image of God, our longing for such approval I believe is natural.  I believe it's actually healthy if it was not for the way human sinful nature has distorted it.

Psalms 34:4:5
I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.

What I love about this verse is that NOTHING {no hair highlights, working out, plastic surgery, make-up, fake eye lashes, work outs, tanning,} can change that. Because of the cross--We are radiant.  What makes us radiant is simply looking to Him. Fixing our eyes on the cross. I am thankful that the work is done, not by me, but by my Jesus. 

When you and I look to the cross, we radiate because we reflect Him. We radiate peace, love, kindness, truth and gentleness. What are you radiating today? Are you radiating beauty? It can be easy to look to so many other things to make you feel beautiful. I challenge you to look to the cross!

I’m sharing A Journey of Health each day during October as a part of the “31 Days” challenge

 

More Than Words: Day 16

I knew throughout this 31 Day process I would learn some new things about myself. I knew it would stretch me. I just didn't think it would have this much. Who would of thought that learning how to eat better, starting a new business venture could create such growing pains? What I do know is that growing pains are never fun but inevitably a part of life. It's part of being healthy and having healthy relationships with not only food but people.

 I have always been a words person. In fact, one of my main love languages has always been words of affirmation but what I am learning about myself is that-- words are not enough. Words to me are like markers, they mark specific moments, life events, memories and lessons I have learned in my life. Words are so powerful. They can change the course of your day/week/year. Our words have the power to lift others up or tear them down.

 They have the ability to spread love and hope.

As I have learned over the past 16 days, words are not enough. I always knew that but it is every so clear to me, the phrase that I have heard my entire 32 years, but only now am I truly starting to grasp it. "Actions speak louder than words!"

This is ringing true in every area of my life. It's not good enough for me to say I want to my family to eat healthier and go to the store and buy tons of junk food. It's not okay for me to say I want to grow in my walk with the Lord but not be willing to get up early and spend time in His word. It's not okay for me to say I want to not raise my voice at my boys but the second an opportunity comes to show self control and hold my tongue I don't. It's not okay for me to say I want relationships to grow but not be willing to put the time in making them watering them. You get what I am saying don't you ?

I  want to leave you with one of my favorite verses...  

                                                       Source: underthecarolinamoon.tumblr.com via Maria Woodall on Pinterest

I’m sharing A Journey of Health each day during October as a part of the “31 Days” challenge

Yes. Yes. Yes. Day 15

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Yes to teaching some serious zumba dance moves. 

Yes to not giving into my fear of failing. 

I say yes to laughter and enjoying my family.

I say yes to enjoying the beautiful colors of Fall!

I say yes to God.  Yes to prayer.

I say yes to playing Super Mario Brothers with my boys.   

I say yes to getting down and dirty at the pumpkin patch with my boys! 

I say yes to helping my sweet Mason be 'Scientist of the Week'.  

I say YES to tall boot socks and hooded sweatshirts.

I say yes to soccer tournaments. Yes to loud cheering from the stands.  

I say yes yes yes to a heart of gratitude. YES to saying THANKS to you!

I say yes to encouraging others and helping others around me get healthy.

I say yes to believing in myself. Yes to believing what is true. 

Yes to encouraging my man as he continues his 24 Day Challenge.

What do YOU say yes to this week?!

As a special thank you to all of you for continuing to read my 31 Day Health Journey I wanted to offer all of you FREE shipping on any order over $200. {that is pretty much a challenge and a bottle of catalyst}. Before you place your order on my website. {this will expire at midnight tomorrow 10/16} Email me at maria.woodall3@gmail.com. I will also be sending you a free gift as a special thank you for believing in me and most importantly yourself!!  I appreciate you all so much! xoxox

I’m sharing A Journey of Health each day during October as a part of the “31 Days” challenge

Photography & Food: Day 14

Happy Sunday, Friends!

 This weekend I was preparing for another fun family photo shoot with the lovely Nikki James Photography that was scheduled for tonight. I have this love/hate relationship with family pictures. I love them once they are done but hate the crazy that surrounds it. Guess what? It rained today so our family shoot got postponed.  I thought it would be fun to look at a few from last year. My sweet babies look so little. 

These pictures fill my soul with joy. As I look back on these them I realize why I do take the time to go through all the crazy. Why I run around and try to get everything prepared before hand. Why I bribe my boys to smile and be good. {Please tell me I am not the only mom who does that.} This is similar to how life is with eating healthy {yep, I just went there} It takes time and it takes a lot of effort. It takes preparing ahead of time. It takes doing things like exercise, preparing meals, when we would rather grab a cheeseburger and fries and call it a night. If you could get a little snap shot of your life a year from now if you start taking the steps to become healthy TODAY I would bet your pictures would fill your soul with joy like mine have!

 Why are you doing today that will change the way your life looks in a year?

I’m sharing A Journey of Health each day during October as a part of the “31 Days” challenge