Road Trip

It was rainy this weekend so we took a family road trip.

In the rain. We packed up our little men and

headed to a different state. 

One would say we have our hands full.

I would say YES we do. 

Our hands are full

.... of love

.... of joy

.... of cuteness

.... of craziness

... of sugar and spice 

 {can you guess who is the sugar

 and who is the spice}

... I am blessed 

... I want to be a better person because of them

... my cup runneth over

and these times my sweet friends are some of the BEST times of my life.

Happy Monday and be sure to check back tomorrow for a fun 

little challenge I have for you!

Tattoo and YOU.

Happy Friday to ya!

{SOURCE}

a) I have had a TON of new 'followers' lately and I am seriously so excited. If you are new, WELCOME! You wont be disappointed. 

b) If you keep coming back because of my awesomeness, You make my day brighter. 
Thank YOU!
c) I am in the process of switching a few things on the ol' blog because I am adding BlogHer ads to my blog. So please extend me some grace as my blog may look a little different as I try to figure this out. I am so excited though! You have NO idea!
d) I want to get a tattoo. Yes. I know but I REALLY want one. I think I have officially lost it. On that note....
Enjoy your weekend!!! 
xoxo

Things I Love Thursday: Etsy Edition

Happy Thursday Beauties! 

I am enjoying a day of sunshine, flip flops and 

running around in the grass with my favorite little men. 

As you already know, today is when I link up with Jill over at Diaper Diaries 

and let all of you in on some of my favorite Etsy shops. 

I have found a GREAT one for all of you.

Elise Joy is her name and being adorable is her game. 

{so cheesy but so true}

You not only need to check our her shop

but she also has a blog

that I just love. 

  ELISE JOY sells custom guest books & cards, 

posters & prints & mixed paper books. 

Have a look at some of my favorites.

I am pretty sure I need this stamped on my

forehead so I remember this statement daily! 

LIVE VIBRANTLY NOT PERFECTLY.

I think this is my favorite. I LOVE this. Look Inside...

How stinkin adorable is this? I told you... you would LOVE this shop.

Here is what is inside:
+ 25 teal, yellow, orange & green papers
+ 1 hand stamped & embossed chipboard cover
+ handcut pages in a mix of graphic patterns and bold colors
+ pre-punched with bookrings as shown
+ 4x6 inches

The perfect place to preserve your summer season.
Add photos and text to make it yours.
It is all about the details, and this book is full of them.

Plus, you can check out her blog and she will give

you AMAZING ideas on how to fill this fabulous book up. 

Plus, she is just adorable and you will heart her almost

as much as you heart me. {i kid. i kid}

I am off to soak in the sunshine!!! 
Enjoy your day and as Elise would say
"Live Vibrantly NOT Perfectly."

What I Wore Wednesday

Hello, Wednesday! 

Phew, half way through the week and I am so thankful.

This has been a crazy week. You all should be so proud. I 

actually have 4 outfits to show you this week!

First, I have to say... Look at one of my little men behind me.

 He has no clue his momma is posing in front of a mirror. {Thank Goodness}

Green and White Shirt: Forever 21

White Flower Tank: Gap

Skinny Jeans: Forever 21

Boots: Macy's

That sweet half naked little man: In case you were wondering 

he is wearing Pampers {size 4} to be exact!

I know why am I wearing sunglasses. I am not being 'that girl' who

wear sunglasses even in doors because she thinks she cool. Although I'm not gonna lie 

I feel pretty rockstarish with the shades on. I wore this outfit Sunday to go shopping 

with my mom. The dress is one of my favorites. I did purchase my fabulous shades

on my little excursion. I had to show them to YOU! :)

Dress: H&M

Sunglasses: H&M

Boots: Macy's
Camera Strap: Eclectic Whatnot

It's finally starting to warm up and I can finally wear dresses.

One of my favorite things about this dress is the green tie. Plus, I can wear flip 

flops with it and it still looks cute. Someone did say I looked like Minnie Mouse.

{But she's kinda cute, right?}

I know this is the best look. I figured since I show you when I am dressed

up during the week. I should show you when I am not. I was getting ready

to go out ad surprise my hubby and cut the grass. 

Tank: Gap

Sweat Capri's: Forever 21

Shoes {not shown}: My hubs size 13 old nasty clown shoes.

 I don't mind cutting the grass but I am not about to ruin my shoes :)

I am thankful to be linking up with the ever so stylish
 Lindsey over at The Pleated Poppy.
Last week's post I meet SO many 'new friends' and I am so thankful.

I do love this blogging world it allows me to meet YOU and for that I am thankful.

So, this week's question. If you had to choose what would rather wear skirt/dress, shorts, or jeans? I would choose a skirt/dress.
What about you?!?

In the Raw.

This is the story of a man who has given so much to the kids around him and truly wanting nothing in return. It's a story about 'going all in', giving all to try to make a difference because of the difference HE made in us. For as long as Coach W and I have been together we have been involved in kids lives. He coaches. That is just what he does. He goes 100% in. He holds nothing back. He gives all he can. He invests his time. His money. His all. 


The past 14 days I have seen a man who has been torn yet strong. He has prayed and kept his character 100% in tact. Does he walk away from coaching or does he take the next step and take over a program? Anyone who is married to a coach knows the commitment, the time, the exhaustion but they also know the love, encouragement and opportunity to truly invest in kids lives. 


For 10 years this has been our ministry. We have been able to invest in kids and show the raw, the real side of life. We have opened our home. We have sat up until 2 am with the kids. We have spent endless hours talking and investing in these kids. They become an extended part of us. Why you ask? Because it's been our passion. 


Over the last couple of days Coach and I have spent hours on our couch talking. Trying to decide what is best for our family. What is best for our boys. Is it possible to put his dream and love for coaching aside. Can he put the whistle away? To be honest, I have been a wreck. Ultimately it was his decision. I would back him 100%. I was all in either way. I didn't want him to walk away because I know this is his love, his passion.


The phone rang.... Before I could even hear the words from his mouth over the phone tears began to fill my eyes. I knew his answer. He simply said I am done. Not because he wanted to be but because for our family, for our sons he felt like it was the right thing to do. He told me that he prayed harder in the last two weeks then he has in years. He knew it was the right decision. Was it the easiest decision? Absolutely not. Was it the decision he wanted. Nope. Is he torn up about not being around the kids? 100% yes. Is it what he felt the Lord wanted him to do. Yes. 


My husband {Coach} is a man that I admire. I think one of the things that makes me sad about him not being involved with kids is that there are few men that have the integrity of Coach. Few men that truly care about others and that you can take him at his word. No questions asked. A man who cares more about his boys that he is willing to set aside his desires so that he can be 'present'. Be involved. Be an example. Be an amazing Dad.


I am excited to see what doors will be opened for him. HE isn't done using 'Coach'. I truly believe that one of the reasons he is such a great man is because he knows the love he has been given and because of that, he can in return freely give it to others. Who knows what the future hold. Who knows when the whistle will be used again, when the tie and dress pants will be put on, when the hours of scouting and practices will begin.


The beautiful thing about it. HE knows. His plans are so much better than ours and I am thankful for the man that God placed in my life. I am thankful for the kids who have spent hours in our home. I am thankful for the laughter, for the jokes, for the team dinners, for the many basketball games, for the hours of scouting, for the last second shots, and for the joy it has brought our family.


Walking in obedience in not always easy but it's the only way to walk. So that is what we will do. One foot in front of the other. We will walk.

 

A Day To Celebrate.

To My Little Sister,
Why I am showing this adorable picture of your families feet? One, because I LOVE it and two, because with those I have walked with you my entire life and I have seen those feet travel to many different places. I wanted to write you a Birthday letter because I know that dad would have wanted me to write this to you since he can't. Since birth you were always dad's favorite. I think because you are so much like him. Maybe that's why you were always his favorite. I can remember before dad went to heaven we sat on my couch and talked about how proud we were of you and how much you have grown up. I don't know if because I am your older sister but I see you as 16. I think I will always see you as 16 even when we are both walking around with canes in our hands. I can still remember you crawling on the floor and sneaking in my room. We would laugh for hours. Dad and Mom would ALWAYS say they were going to split us up but they never did. This past year I have seen you grow in leaps and bounds. You are such a great mom to Madi! When I think of you as being a mom it's crazy to me, yet you are fabulous at it. You have matured with grace and beaty and I am so proud of the woman you have become. I know Dad would be so proud of you. On this special day 28 years ago I became an older sister. I am so thankful that the Lord saw fit for me to have someone as special as you to be my sister. I love you and am so thankful for you and the beautiful woman you have become!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

 

Extreme Makeover {Teachers Lounge Edition}

Happy Friday Friends!

The past few weeks myself and another gal have been working on a 'surprise' room for the teachers at our boys school. For years, they have never had a 'space' to call home. A place that was just theirs, to sit and talk {even for only a brief second}. After hearing this we decided for Teacher Appreciation week we would give them a special room to call home.

I watch all of the episodes of Extreme Makeover Home Edition and I literally cry EVERY episode. There is just something so powerful about giving to others. It truly blesses my soul to watch. For me I jumped at the opportunity to do an Extreme Makeover Teachers Lounge Edition. I am giddy with joy when it comes to decorating. It makes me happy because I know the end result will be a thing of beauty.

We were given a very small room filled with piles upon piles of junk. We didn't care. It was a room and we were thankful. We cleaned. We painted. We refurbished. I then took a trip with a friend to Ikea. My goal was to create a space that when you opened the door it felt warm and relaxing. As if they were at home or at a friends house. I wanted it to be calming so they could go in, shut the door and take a deep breath. 

So, do you want to see pictures? Of course you do.

Simple. Chic. Cozy. When the teachers saw the room this morning they were in tears. It makes hours of hauling furniture, cleaning and painting 100% worth it. I am so thankful to be a part of this. Oh, Ty Pennington I am waiting for your call. I am totally available to be a guest designer on next season of Extreme Makeover Home Edition!!