A Year Of Joy

My sweet boy. You did it.

We prayed for a place, a school where we could call home for you, 

while your away from home.

I am so thankful that when you walked in the doors this year

you learned, you laughed, you were loved on day in and day out.

I have seen you come into your own. You have made me so proud my sweet boy. I always believed that when you left our little castle that you would be great but I never expected you to be such an incredible little man. 

Your character.

The respect you show to others.

The way you always try and do your best.

Your conviction to do the right thing.

Your laugh.

So much has happened this year. 

You made so many great friendships.

Mrs. Miller was your biggest fan. 

You placed first at field day.

Your lost your first tooth.

You read and read and read some more.

You had your first nights of homework and school projects.

You did so much this year for the first time on your own. 

You are growing so fast my sweet boy and changing so quickly. You went from needed my help on so many things to really doing so much on your own. 

I don't want to forget these moments with you. 

As I walked you into school this morning on your last day... you grabbed my hand and just squeezed it. I can't believe after today you are going to be a second grader. I can remember sitting in your nursery, rocking you as a baby and you would squeeze my finger just the way you squeezed my hand this morning. Nana was so right when she said that this time is so short. I am so proud of you. I am so thankful for this school year. Can you believe you were the only First Grader with perfect attendance this year? The look on your face at the awards ceremony when Mrs. Miller announced it was priceless. 

It made my heart smile! You make me smile. 

You bring joy to so many and I am so thankful to be your mom.

What Does Respect Look Like In Your Family?

One of the joys of being a mom to all boys is that I feel loved and needed all of the time. 

If you would have told me that I would be a mom to only boys I would have laughed in your face. I thought for sure I would be the one with a bunch of little ladies with painted nails and tutus running around our castle. Instead I have capes, crowns and swords and you know what? I couldn't imagine my life any other way. C'mon look at these boys. How can you not just want to eat them up?! 

Photo Taken By

My boys bring me joy far beyond anything I could ever have imagined. With that joy comes the pressure of knowing that as their momma I only have a brief time with them. When they leave our little castle I want them to be ready to take on the world, fully prepared and equipped with everything they need to be godly men, husbands and fathers.  I read one of the best posts ever - 10 Ways for Moms to Respect Their Sons. Jen says, "If I want them to look for a wife who respects them one day, I better demonstrate what that looks like now." Is that not so true? I see myself so focused on making sure my boys behave and do the right thing that I often don't step back to make sure I am respecting them. This was a great wake up call for me and such an encouragement. If you little men in your families I challenge you to read it. What does Respect look like in your family?

All You Have To Do Is Take It...

I was looking for a cool down song for my zumba class tonight and found this beauty by Francesca Battistelli. I thought I would share the lyrics with all of you. 

"You Never Are"

Lost your way and you don't know how it happened

So much time you wasted chasing satisfaction

Seems like there's no where else to go please i wish that you would come home

Oh don't be so afraid

you think that you're too far

but you never are- you never are

So scared that you're too late

too hidden in the dark

but you never are you never are

Grace is under estimated all you ever really have to do

is take it God is bigger than the times we fail

So why can we not forgive ourselves

Oh don't be so afraid

you think that you're too far

but you never- are you never are

So scared that you're too late

too hidden in the dark

but you never are you never are

You will never be perfect... oh but you're still worth it. You've gotta just believe...

Oh don't be so afraid

you think that you're too far

but you never are - you never are

So scared that you're too late

too hidden in the dark

but you never are you never are

 My favorite part is "Grace is under estimated-- all you have to do is take it. God is bigger than the times we fail. So why can we not forgive ourselves?" I can so identify with that. What about you? 

Happy Thursday Friends!!

Top Ten Tuesday {Life Happens}

Hello May! Hello Beautiful Friends!

Life has had me going in a million different directions. I am sure you know how that goes. As much as I have wanted to sit and write it seems like there has been no time. 

I thought I would catch you all up on some of the crazy that has been going on here at our castle.

1. Guess who FINALLY lost his first tooth?!

2. Do you remember this post? I am so thankful I stuck it out. That I didn't quit.

I am amazed and thankful for the opportunities that have come my way since that post. I love being able to encourage other woman to exercise and get healthy. I knew I loved it but honestly I didn't know I loved it this much.

3. Guess who got his first haircut?! He didn't move the entire time! So sweet. 

4. I miss my van-- Chalk that one up as something I NEVER thought I would say. It has been in the shop for a week and seriously I find myself missing that darn thing. What has my life come to?! 

5. My little sister is pregnant with a baby boy! YAY! 

We are sooo excited I can't wait to get my hands on him!

6. I feel like Facebook should be called Fakebook. 

Maybe it's just me but lately I feel like people are so fake. I know, probably not the nicest thing I have ever said but seriously I just can't handle it.

7.  I have been wrestling with a decision on whether or not to put my sweet Cole in speech therapy. Oh Mercy-- it has been waying so heavy on my heart. For now, I am waiting but goodness I hope I am making the right decision. 

8. In a little over a month we are headed back to the beach. 

The last time we were there was two years ago. I seriously can't wait. 

9. I have been preparing all week for this man to be leaving on a jet plane for Texas. After all the planning, worrying and stress-- his work trip was cancelled. So thankful to have him home.

  

10. I am really trying to slow down. I feel like I am always in a hurry. As you can see life has me going crazy and honestly it feels so good to just sit down, sip on my coffee and take a deep breath. 

I have so missed all of you I would love to hear what has been going on in your life. So, now it's your turn.... 

This post is linked up to Top Ten Tuesday at Many Little Blessings
 Go check out some other fabulous Top Ten lists!

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?