Because Sometimes Real Life Comes Before Blogging

Sometimes life...real life...needs me more.

Sometimes the ever changing needs and seasons of children growing up requires more time...more attention.

Sometimes God opens new doors and brings new opportunities...and they need more time...more attention.

And in the chaos of trying to be everything to everyone...I only manage to feel like I am failing at all of it.

In July I felt God asking me to lay down my blog for a while.

Ouch.

I needed to be reminded.

I blog because moment by moment, memories are being made...and I want to remember...not be remembered.

I blog because I want to capture every moment I am given with my children...not capture an audience. {If I do...I am truly grateful...but not the goal}

I blog because clocks tick without permission, memories scramble in my mind with age, their faces change, their voices change, they grow taller and taller and I cannot stop any of it...only purge every detail here while I still remember.

I blog because every now and again, He gives me something to say...and I am to be obedient in sharing.

I see things like "stats" and "hits" growing...

My inbox fills with offers to write and promote and join...and I am tempted to please the masses...

Maybe I should this...or maybe I should that...I could do this to draw more...or I could start doing that to make my blog more....

Please do not get me wrong or take anything I am saying out of context.
I am so grateful for every momma blogger out there that is able to consistently blog or make a career out of blogging.
I have formed some of the most precious, genuine friendships through the community of bloggers.
My life is all the better because of their willingness to share their wisdom and engage with their readers.
Not to mention my decor.

But so often I have to be reminded...this is not what He has asked of me in this season of my life.

It is not the calling He has placed on me.

It is not to be my focus.

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Tonight...my house is in order...His blessing is on this...it is time.

So forgive me as I break the golden rules of blogging...1) apologizing for being absent so long 2) sharing way too many pictures. 3) writing more than a couple of paragraphs 4) confessing how much I have missed sharing my mindless ramblings with you all. :)

This.....this is why...in this season of my life....I blog.....

Because there are moments I catch a glimpse of my daughter's faith...and it takes my breath away.



Because my youngest child turned double digits...and requests cupcakes and orange juice for breakfast...and I oblige because he is my baby. Poor kid...he doesn't have a clue that I'm never gonna let him leave.



Because even though he's double digits...he still falls asleep in my lap...and I never want to move.



Because my four legged child likes to lay on the air vents...and take them with him. We call this Bo's bling.



Because we make a summer list...and check things off.



Because even at 36 you're not too old to wear braces...again.



Because this exact view has been a yearly tradition for the past 9 years.



Because the kids are older now...and we get to sip our coffee on the beach at sunrise...alone.



Because sometimes...if I'm lucky...a seagull flies into my frame...at just the right time.



Because there is never a dull moment with these three.



Because hot cocoa at The Donut Hole is also tradition.



Because having a teenager means having date night at the beach. ::please refrain from all metal mouth jokes::



Because sometimes they aren't looking...and I catch them...having fun...together.



Because I catch my 12 year old daughter reading Kisses From Katie...for the second time...and I feel terrified/excited/happy/humbled/inspired/terrified...all at the same time.



Because I find a picture of said 12 year old on Instagram and the air is sucked from my chest because I see the stunning young woman she is becoming.



Because she paints things like this...and I think...how on earth did such a talented, passionate, artistic, being ever come from my DNA???



Because we are homeschooling through high school...and Advanced Biology is a beast.



Because my 16 year old gets to do cool things like cadaver labs {yes, real cadavers} at Lipscomb University...followed by lunch dates with mom at Chipotle.



Because at 36 I've not only decided to correct what my 12 year old non-retainer wearing self did to 3 years of orthodontia...but I've also decided to radically change the way we eat in our home.



Because a new way of eating means a new kind of date night. Healthy is sexy.



Because 7th grade leaf collections lead to roaming the lake with my kiddos...at sunset.



Because a spontaneous trip to the flea market leads to super duper cheap vintage finds.



Because summer fades...and gives way to fall...and that means camping on the lake. And pumpkin butter.



Because fall is not complete without our annual LCA {homeschool tutorial} camping trip.



Because some friendships started in the 2nd grade...and are still going strong.



Because every fall we take part in the Junior Docent program at The Hermitage...home of President Andrew Jackson.
Because he is the only kid I have left that does not think he is too cool.



Because every now and then...I get lucky enough to capture a moment like this.
Tyler and his sheepish grin.
Maggie and her infectious smile.
And Aidan...my one of a kind Aidan... being one of a kind Aidan.

Because one day...they will be grown and gone {I will have no choice but to get a lap dog}...and this is all I will have left.

This is why I blog.

Remind me.






"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

Camping, My Garden, and a Toilet Shaped Cake {InstaFriday}

Aidan was recently honored for the badges he earned through the Royal Ranger program at church.
Thanks to this program he has read multiple books of the Bible and knows how to tie a bajillion different knots.
Boy is set.



He also had his first encounter with a batting cage.
Loved it.



I am such a sucker for freshly rolled hay bales.
And ginormous skies filled with big puffy clouds.



I planted this garden on May 6th.
It is now a BEAST!
In fact this isn't the most up to date picture.
That watermelon up there in the top right?
It is the size of a softball now.
Fresh cucumbers in my pasta salad last night.
I am loving this gardening thing.



Holiday World was on our 2011 Summer List.
We did not get there last year.
However, we did this year.
It was amazing.
I highly recommend this park.
Anything located in a town called Santa Claus has to be fun right?

That's the beauty of Summer Lists.
Putting a goal on the radar and finding a way to make it happen.
You can find our 2012 Summer List here.



Last week we headed to a friend's 50th surprise birthday dinner.
For the life of me I could not get this picture to focus.



This was the cake.
Yes, for real.
I did not eat it.
Guess what?
I have found the secret to weight loss ya'll.
Make food look like crap.
Literally.
Can't you just see the infomercials for this?
Watch out P90X...the crap diet is moving in.



This is the real reason I go to dinner with friends.
They have babies that I get to hold.
This is Miss Micah.
Yes, her head smelled amazing.



The past 4 days of my life have been spent sitting right here...with this view.
Kayaking.
Reading.
Smores.
No make-up.
It is glorious.



Friends of ours happened to be there at the same time.
The kids had a blast in the lake.



My favorite part of camping?
Sunset.
No filter on this photo.

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1








"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

InstaFriday {Weight Watchers is Gonna Revoke My Lifetime Status}

I've been confined to my couch with a stomach virus this entire week so no picture taking for me...



Unless you count this picture I took of my blanket.
My grandma made it and I was admiring it this morning.
I love the color and "vintagey" feel it adds to my living room.
And it makes me think of her...so it's a win win.

Since I have no pictures from this week, I'll go back and share last week's events.



This beautiful gal of mine completed Phase I of her Orthodontia plan.
And the dreaded Herbst is gone!
She will have to go back into braces for just a bit longer, once her 12 year molars come in, but the hard part is over for sure.
The results are astonishing.



Tyler and I met up with his World History II class to take in the Egyptian exhibit at The Frist.
To be so talented musically, this kid loathes any art of the drawing/painting/creating sort.

This was his sarcastic {notice the evil grin} attempt to tap into his inner Picasso...said it was abstract.



I think we hit Rita's twice last week.

I can't remember.

I received an email that they will be closing soon for the winter and became a bit distraught...so it's all a blur now.



Adam and I took the youngest two to Honeysuckle Farms thanks to Groupon.
It's the only way I would go again.
Last year we paid $50 to get a free pumpkin that would have cost $3 in Kroger.
As nice as it is, I was just as annoyed this year with their "extra" cost for things once you have paid admission.

Note to pumpkin farms: If you want a family of five to visit more often, don't charge us a ridiculous amount of money just to enter, and then nickel and dime us for every little thing the kids are gonna want to do once inside.





We had a good time but it was a strange trip for me emotionally. My oldest had no interest in going so we didn't make him.

I pick my battles. Ok, so the Groupon was for 4 people and I wasn't too bummed when he didn't want to go. There, I said it.

Still it was strange to be there without him. And I noticed that my middle was probably on her last year of enjoying it as well. Just made me sad as a mom. The family dynamics are shifting and I'm just not sure how to process this new phase of life I'm headed towards.

That's a whole 'nother post though really.



I love to find my kids engrossed in a good book.
Makes my heart happy.



Love to find my freakishly large poodle making himself at home on my chair too.

Yes, that's his chin resting on the ottoman.

Oh this dog...he has no idea that he is big.

Cracks us up.



Last weekend was our last camping trip of the season.
It was cold but gorgeous.
I took this photo while on a run/walk {trying really hard to be good to my knee} one evening.



I also jammed out to this. Oh how I miss these gals. They made Country music almost bearable.



Since it was so cold, I sat by the fire all day and drank copious amounts of coffee...thanks to this stuff.

Sinful. Don't do it.



Speaking of don't do it, I am convinced these are some sort of gateway drug for food addicts.

You start out with a handful and before you know it you've eaten the whole bag...



and an entire slice of this Pumpkin Cheesecake from Olive Garden.



And you think, "Well, I've already sunk so low, I may as well eat these Zepolis as well. What can it hurt?"

It's a slippery slope people.


Please go check out the hostess of InstaFriday...you'll just love her.



"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"