life, lately.

Things are finally feeling like home around here. Mostly. The roads are still unfamiliar, and I haven’t met a  single soul, but I am quite honestly loving the privacy. I may have a very public life online, but there is something about a quiet, peaceful home. Except for the donkeys across the street. They are not quiet, and we all die laughing every time they go at it. But other than that, it’s quiet. Our old house was on a heavily traveled road, and you could actually drive by and see us having dinner (true story, my aunt called the day after valentines and asked how our candle lit dinner was, because she drove by and saw it). Now, we are on a back road atop a hill that sits on five acres. It’s so nice.

Most of the boxes in the house are unpacked. I haven’t touched the guest bedroom or office yet though, and I haven’t hung a single thing on the walls. I feel slightly unsure about doing it, because currently there are NO holes in any of our walls – not even towel racks or toilet paper holders in the bathrooms (unsure how that can be true for a 25 year old home).

We are finding our new normal and getting in a groove. I don’t find myself running up and down the stairs four times at night because I forgot something anymore. Elizabeth hasn’t mentioned “going home” in a couple of days, and is sleeping very well in her new room by herself upstairs (which freaks me out, honestly).

This week, I am hoping to stick to a schedule – get my office set up and begin “working” again. Thank you so much for your patience during this exciting time! I cannot wait to share more with you!

If you follow me on instagram, these may be repeats, but here is a great recap of life lately!

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I would love to know how YOU are. What’s the weather like where you are? How is your life, lately?!?

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Monday

 

Monday Night…

As I was looking back over the month’s cell phone pictures I can’t help but feel blessed. Part of me can’t believe the calendar says the 28th, but then I look back at all we’ve already done this month.

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We’ve cleaned out a ton. Organized a lot of things. Made some fun messes. Celebrated my birthday. Celebrated my uncle’s birthday. Had 3 date nights. Redid my office. Taken a couple of steps towards our future. Started another semester of college. Ran 20 miles. Started a bootcamp class. Lost a couple pounds. Began a new challenge that’s open to all of you. Eaten a lot of fruit. Drank a lot of hot tea and cold water. Watched the entire series of Private Practice.  Surpassed the past 28 months in my business. Began new routines. Completely potty trained our 30 month old. Started making 10 minute meals. Bought plane tickets to Dallas in March and Orlando in April. Found out I’ll also be flying to San Francisco in May. Signed up for The Color Run. Went to the dentist (twice). Gave Elizabeth her first haircut (and gave her bangs after she lost them all with HFMD).

Thoroughly enjoyed every single day so far living with more intentions… 

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Christmas at our house

Christmas may be over, but the memories remain. This was definitely one of the best ones we’ve had in a while. I would normally apologize for being MIA over the past week or more, but truth is, I’m not sorry. Andrew took some time off work for the first time since before Elizabeth was born, and so I decided to do the same. We soaked up every lazy minute the past couple weeks, and today things sort of go back to regular schedules. Most days we stayed in our pajamas, played lots of games, worked puzzles (over and over), watched Christmas movies with hot cocoa, did lots of baking, and thoroughly enjoyed all of our family!

Here’s what our December and Christmas looked like…

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I went to check the mail one night, and couldn’t resist snagging this picture as I started to walk back in the house… It was too perfect. This was on our Christmas card this year!

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Our tree is filled to the brim with special ornaments and memories from generations past, and the lights twinkle just right! It’s hard to see in this picture, but there’s some below of the train around the tree. Christmas ‘10, Elizabeth was only 5 months old and crawled for the first time towards it. This year, every single night she and her Daddy would start it up and watch it for what must have been hours. She would load all of her little animals on it and shout, “all aboard…1, 2, 3, goooo”! And every night after bath time, she got to unwrap a Christmas book beneath the tree and we would read it right there in that bottom right corner of the picture.

These are moments I will never ever forget – and that’s what Christmas is really about.

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In the middle of the month, we had a totally impromptu gingerbread party! I texted the mommy’s of her closest friends and cousins, and ended up with nine 2-3 year olds around our kitchen table one Saturday morning. Andrew & I built the houses Friday night out of graham crackers and gathered different candies and white frosting for them to decorate with. Elizabeth helped me make a batch of gingerbread cookies for the party. Everyone brought a snack to share and we served hot cocoa and apple juice – so easy. Definitely a new tradition we will be keeping for years to come!

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We did a lot of baking and crafts. We did at least one of each every day, and surprisingly, it wasn’t too overwhelming. After Sandy Hook, I looked at the messes very differently, and praised God for the ability to make them!

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A little bit of magic in every room. Not too much, just a touch here and there. I scaled way back last year and got rid of a very good portion of my Christmas stuff – it makes it much more tolerable, but just as special! I only want things that truly make me happy and/or have meaning in my home!

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I made Elizabeth a felt tree with buttons and her own ornaments, thinking that it would keep her off the big tree. She loved it, and played with it a lot, but it didn’t work to keep her off. I decided to pick my battles though.

Christmas Eve, our church has an incredible service. Afterwards, we went to Andrew’s moms for eggnog, snacks, and presents. Then we always light Mom and CJ’s trees at the graveyard. Mom use to do it for her Mom and Dad who are buried right beside them. Now, I do it for all 4 of them, and plan to continue doing it as long as we live here. Elizabeth always kisses them goodbye without being told. Blows me away and brings me to tears every time. The simple fact that she knows who they are, though she never met them, is so incredible to me.

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Christmas morning was so special this year. It was the first Christmas I have been excited for in years! Elizabeth got my old bike, which she loved! And Santa totally surprised me this year too! New luggage, a new vacuum I really needed, 4 sets of glass storageware (so happy to get rid of all that mismatched plastic crap), all new bath towels, hand towels, dish towels, and dish rags, a super surprising ticket to Blissdom this March in Dallas (that I didn’t even mention – or planned on going to), and other fun stuff!!! And the best part? This is our first completely debt free Christmas!!!

We had birthday cake for Jesus with a ham I always bake overnight for breakfast! And around noon, we pack up in our pajamas and head to my aunts for the day! Until my grandparents passed away in ‘02, we all went to their house. Then it was my mom’s until she and CJ died, and now this was our 3rd Christmas at my aunts!

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Hope you had a very merry Christmas this year!

And I hope you’re ready for an incredible NEW YEAR!!! We certainly are!

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organizing your ornaments

 

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Believe it or not, Christmas is over. Seemed like it all flew by. It was an INCREDIBLE holiday. Definitely the best we’ve had since the accident. We haven’t taken our tree down yet, I’m trying to savor all that’s left of the magic. I usually have the itch to take it down by now, but we scaled way down on everything all year long, and Christmas was no exception. I wanted to share with you how I organize my ornaments every year though!

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Our tree isn’t fancy with white lights and red and silver ornaments. No, ours holds generations of memories. Ornaments that hung on my grandma’s tree. Ornaments that Andrew and I received growing up. Ornaments we have picked up from our travels. Many of our ornaments were my Mama’s, and I have her twinkling “chasing” lights on our tree as well.

I’ve shared before how I live in fear of something happening to me, especially for Elizabeth’s sake. And our Christmas ornaments are so special to us, that if anything should happen to me, I would want Elizabeth to know their origin and meaning!

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I bought these plastic shoe storage boxes at Walmart for $2.00 each. I didn’t take time to print labels, I just wrote on them. There are boxes for my mom’s ornaments, mine and Andrew’s together (ornaments we have collected together from trips, our first home, marriage, etc), Elizabeth’s, our childhood ornaments, etc. I also have a box not pictured of CJ’s childhood ornaments and a box of Mom’s gingerbread ornaments, that I don’t use on the tree.

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I labeled the really special ones before I put them in the boxes.

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Growing up, we always got to open 1 present on Christmas Eve. It always had new pajamas and an ornament in it, and now we do the same for Elizabeth. All the ornaments are labeled on the back.

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The fragile ones are wrapped in tissue paper, and then they’re all placed in these shoe boxes and placed in the big storage tote.

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So tell me, when do you pack away all of your ornaments and holiday magic?!

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monday, broken hearts, parties, and cookies

 

There’s so much on my heart that I want to share, but just don’t have the right words or willingness to do so just yet. We are all heart broken. Newtown was such a pivotal part of mine and Andrew’s life. To think of the devastation that our family and neighbors are experiencing is just too much. I am trying to think of the best way for you all to help, for us to do something for good, for those sweet sweet babies. For now, just pray. Hold your babies tight. Cherish every single minute with your family. Cut off the television. And pray. Our God is mighty – He’s got this, too. Pray for the families, but don’t forget the first responders (Andrew’s best friend was one of the first six officers in the building), and the teachers and other innocent children who had to witness it first hand. I will share much more when I’m able and know more.

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In other news, can you believe there’s only 7 days ‘til Christmas? December has just flown right by (like all the other months this year, but much faster). I’ll share with you what Christmas in our house is looking like this year, and share with you some of the glimpses of magic from Elizabeth’s eyes later this week.

I was away for the first week of the month meeting some of my team members for a 5 day conference. Last weekend we had Andrew’s corporate Christmas party and then I had my Cousins’ Christmas party with all of my mom’s girl cousins (there’s a lot of us). I had final exams all last week, and we had FOUR parties this weekend! Wow, no wonder the time is flying; we’re having too much fun!

For the first time since the accident (which will be 3 years on Saturday), I sort of have the Christmas Spirit this year. It’s a nice feeling.

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monday, zoo, loretta lynn, parties, and more!

 

  • Is it just me or have the last few weeks just flew by?!
    Ours have been jam-packed with fun things. A little bit of work and a whole lot of play.
  • Last Sunday, on Veteran’s Day, our zoo was having free admission for vets and their families. Considering we hadn’t been there this year (shockingly) we took advantage of the beautiful day. So thankful we did.
  • We’ve been doing a little Christmas shopping, but I generally make most of our gifts – you’ll see some of them in here (I have to be careful about posting them, because I don’t want to spoil any surprises).
  • Thanksgiving was AMAZING this year. One of the best ones I can recall. I didn’t take any pictures that day because I was too busy soaking up the day. It was a quiet day, with my immediate family. After dinner, the men played with their new toys and the girls watched old home movies and went through the sales papers! That night, the men took the babies home, and I went out with my aunt and cousin. It’s a crazy tradition, but we always have so much fun and create so many memories.
  • Friday was Andrew’s birthday! I don’t care how old you are, you’re never too old for a birthday party in my book. Our family values every one so much more now. And we are all there to celebrate! Of all the meals I could have prepared, Andrew wanted a frozen pizza party (gross, huh?). I guess since we rarely eat already prepared food, or junk food for that matter, he thought he’d make a party of it… haha. I’m thankful for Amy’s organic gluten free pizzas!
  • Saturday, I cleaned out all day and worked on a school project (did you know I not only run a business and blog, but I’m in the midst of finally getting a degree) while Andrew went out with a friend. We rendezvoused for sushi later.
  • Sunday, was an at-home, self-declared family day!! Just the 3 of us. We put on the traditional Loretta Lynn Christmas album I grew up listening to and decorated for Christmas and put up the tree. Sipped hot chocolate (it’s cold here), and had left over Thanksgiving for dinner.
  • I wish you could have seen Elizabeth’s face when we cut the tree lights on. This Christmas is already fun! We could just skip all of the presents, because the magic and wonder in her eyes has already been more than I ever expected. It’s going to be a great season. She keeps walking around smiling and saying, “looooook, Mama!”. Love it.

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And if you actually looked through all of those pictures, here’s my favorite Loretta Lynn Christmas song… Mama always said, “we’ll have a good ol’ country Christmas this year”, and we always have. This year is no exception!

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thankful

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I am thankful for so much. My heart is seriously full.

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Things are definitely not perfect, we have our heartaches and hardships like any other family. Part of my resolutions this year was to rid my life and my home of anything negative. We are choosing to focus on the positives that we have, instead of the things that we don’t. And let me tell you the surreal peace and happiness that has come from that.

I am thankful for my family. I have been so richly blessed. I may not have my mom anymore, but I have aunts and cousins who take such good care of me and Elizabeth.

God gave me an amazing husband. He is the hardest working man I have ever known. He is annoyingly perfect at everything he does, and always goes waaaay beyond whatever the task at hand is. For instance, if he scores a 98 on a test and has a chance to retake it, he will – just to get those 2 extra points, even though he already has an A. He is a master carpenter, an IT guru, a SSG in the US Army, an amazing pianist, a former volunteer fire fighter, an expert marksman, He works full time, does Army on the weekends, takes 4 classes a semester (and maintains a 4.0), and still has time to be the best daddy and husband there is!

I am thankful for my perfect daughter, and God’s timing. She is overflowing in personality. She is healthy, and growing (slowly). She has such a kind heart and never lets us forget to say prayers before meals and bedtime. I am so glad God decided to give me the opportunity to be her Mommy!

I am thankful for Shaklee and my incredible team! I LOVE all of the girls on there so much. It’s hard to believe I didn’t know any of them 16 months ago, and now they’re among my best friends! I am thankful for the opportunity to make a full time income from home working during Elizabeth’s naptime.

I am thankful for this blog – my outlet – and the community that has formed here the past year. Y’all are incredible women. I love hearing your stories and getting to know you. I am thankful for the chance to share my own story and ideas, in hopes of helping even one of you.

I am thankful for this free country. Regardless of who is in office, I am thankful for the freedoms we still have, the rights we are guaranteed, and all of the men and women who have fought and continue to fight to ensure we are protected.

I am thankful for my health, my talents, my abilities, and all of the little things we so often take for granted such as our warm home we complain is too little, and the fridge we complain is too empty. I’m thankful for the vehicles we complain are too expensive to fill up, and for the clean roads we complain are too bumpy.

So what about you? What are you thankful for this holiday?

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monday

It’s been a full few weeks! Full of fun and new things!

Elizabeth is 1 day shy of being 28 months old, which is CRAZY to me. How did those months go by so fast? She is not a baby anymore, but a little girl. A little girl who is almost officially potty trained and sleeping in a “big girl bed” as of this past week. The transition to the big girl bed happened because she figured out how to escape her crib. She is a MONKEY! The other day I found her on top of her play house! The switch has been both challenging and comical. I usually find her passed out in the floor when I go to check on her. I keep telling myself she is just exploring her new freedom and that she will eventually stay in her bed. She has done great potty training, too! So proud of her! I am way overdue for a “dear elizabeth” post…

Anyway, besides the potty training and crib change, our days have been full of painting pumpkins, running and playing at the park, trick or treating, and savoring the few sunny days we have left before winter.

I have also been very busy behind the scenes here planning 2 Christmas series for you! And planning out 2013! Be sure that you are subscribed to my newsletter to get all the latest updates, weekly tips for creating balance, and exciting upcoming events!

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    Here’s to a new week! And savoring every minute of the time we have. Making big plans and dreaming big dreams for 2013!
    ps. any potty training for nap and bedtime would be appreciated!
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sunday

 

Apologies for being a little MIA last week. You know the sayin’ your mama probably taught you about “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all”… well let’s just say the past two weeks have been tough.

I have such a love/hate relationship for fall. It is beautiful and full of festivities, but September through January are just rough for me. Sept = CJ’s birthday, Oct = Mom’s birthday, Nov = Thanksgiving, Dec = the anniversary of the accident and Christmas, Jan = my birthday… It’s all grouped together…

This week, we laid the 9th (of 10) of my grandmother’s siblings to rest. I know she was ready, she’s had a rough couple of years, and even though it was expected, and we know she is so much better off, it was still hard. Hard to believe her generation is almost completely gone. Hard to walk back in the same parlor at the funeral home where I last kissed Mom & CJ. But even out of all the pain, I am so very thankful for our family and the many many great memories. We are definitely one of a kind. Huge, but veryvery close. We may not see each other every weekend anymore, but we all we have each other’s back!

Here’s a look through the past week for you!

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Lots of snuggles and errands. Freezer cooking and crafting. Bonfires with friends and packing boxes for operation Christmas child. Working and playing.

Here’s to a brand new week.

BESTILL

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fall weekend fun

 

We slept ‘til 10:00 today. All three of us (and the dog)! TEN O’CLOCK! I’m pretty sure that’s a record. But clearly we all needed it.

I made bacon and biscuits that I spread with cream cheese and pumpkin butter. Maybe not the healthiest meal we ate all day, but probably the tastiest! Everything in moderation, right?

We surprisingly had no plans for today. There were lots of things I wanted to cross off our list to do at home, but those will still be here this week, but the moments we took to create memories won’t be. So, we packed up and headed to the pumpkin patch. We are lucky enough to have a really nice family farm close by. They have hayrides, pumpkin picking, a petting zoo, and lots of other activities!

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Needless to say, Elizabeth loved it! She has been obsessed with pumpkins this year. She gets so excited seeing them in stores, and loves the ones we’ve brought home so far. Kind of excited to see her response to Christmas this year.

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It was the coolest day we’ve had so far and a little windy. Elizabeth was saying, “brrr, it’s cold” and doing her hilarious shiver thing in the picture above!

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Not only were there pumpkins, but there were also “moo cows”, her other biggest obsession of the moment! She stalks them out while we’re driving down the road!

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Even though Elizabeth has 9 other Halloween shirts, I decided to make one very last minute this morning for her to wear to the pumpkin patch! I know, I’m insane, but I had all of the materials, and it only took 10 minutes! Plus, I love it way more than all of the other “bootiful” and “scaredy cat” shirts… Whatever happened to simple, cute, non-cartoonish clothes for kids?

I love days like today! Perfect weather! Making memories!

Are you making memories this weekend?

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