Thanksgiving and Tree Pickin' {2012}

I was far too busy cooking and eating and eating again to chronicle Thanksgiving Day on my phone.
I did however take advantage of the 70 degree weather we were having.
Rounded the kids up in the yard for a long overdue photo shoot with my real camera.
Yes I still own one.

I'm glad I had my phone nearby though...otherwise I may have missed this shot.
Maggie and Bo.
His sweet face.
Her beautiful face.
I melt.



Guesstures with the family {extended included}
A Thanksgiving tradition.
Boys vs. Girls.
Lots of smack talk goes on here.
I'm talkin' someone from each team has to keep score.
No worries.
Girls remain victorious.
Every. Single. Time.
Boom.



The hubby obliged to head out on Black Friday with me.
He's not a sore loser.
We didn't do crazy people hours.
Got out around 8am....got everything we were looking for.
Take that sleep deprived crazy people.



Day after Thanksgiving is Tree Pickin' Day at our house.
We visit the same farm every year.
Tradition.



The kids picked the most beautiful tree I think we've ever had.



Before.



After.
Not one decorative ball on my tree.
Nothing but handmade ornaments from the kiddos and souvenir ornaments from our travels as a family.
Even the star is made from a cone-shaped water cooler cup and a coffee filter.
My sixteen year old made it when he was five.
Wouldn't take a million dollars for it.
Take your magazine cover worthy tree.
I'll keep my tree of memories.



No tree trimming party would be complete without some Holiday tunage.
Possibly my favorite Christmas song.
I dare you not to cry.



And on a less serious more heathen note, if you don't have some JB on your Christmas playlist... you are missing out.
We were jamming to this song tonight on the way home and Aidan said, "Mom, who is Shawty anyway??"
He was dead serious.
I didn't know whether to laugh or repent.



Have I told you lately how much joy this boy brings to my life?
Or how big he is getting?
Or how much I don't like it?
Or that I plan to keep him little forever?



This is my world right now.
Boo hiss.
I'm pretty much miserable and whiny.
But I ain't gonna lie...I get a little too excited when it's time to take those gloriously green horse pills up there.
Nothing like Nyquil sleep.
Nope.



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

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.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

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"

Celebrating beautiful {non - tornadic} weather in Tennessee

Storms, floods, and tornadoes.

Tennessee has seen it's fair share of all three in the past few weeks.

The rain alone has been enough to nearly send a person spiraling into a depression but add the tornadoes and it is almost too much for the nervous system to bear.

On Easter Sunday we left church and were eating lunch at our local Mexican spot. The sky became VERY black and my spirit uneasy. I told my husband that I had a really bad feeling about the clouds moving our way.

I could not take my eyes off the window and could not bring myself to eat.

Someone came in and said there was a tornado 5 miles out, headed straight for us.

I knew it was true. No need to check my phone. The ominous clouds, the rotation I could see, and the sudden desire to vomit said it all.

Tornado.



A local photographer captured these shots. And he gave permission to share. Thanks Murray.

We happened to be on East Main St. so this is as close as it gets to seeing what we actually witnessed that day.

Something snapped and I went into crazy momma bear mode.

Our church was a mile away with a basement.

I went outside to see how far away it was and decided we could make it.

We left our fajitas and all on the table.

My husband is still a little bitter about those I think.

To say I drove like a NASCAR finalist would be the understatement of the year.

As we made it into the church I looked to my left and saw this funnel cloud headed straight for us.



We ran in and got inside a closet in the basement and prayed.

Hard and loud.

Thankfully the funnel cloud never got below treetop level and we were safe.

Physically.

Emotionally not so much.

Tornadoes make for a great diet though.

Fast forward a couple of days and we have the largest tornado outbreak since 1974 across Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia.

Destruction.

Loss.

Death.

Heartbreak.

It is almost too much to take in.

All of this hitting at a time of the year when Satan loves to comes knocking with an armload of "end of the homeschool year fear and doubt" for sale.

Half price.

My nerves have been literally shot.

So yesterday when we woke up to glorious rays of the golden stuff I knew my soul and mind needed to be out in it.

Soakin it up.



I think we covered Math, Writing and maybe Spelling???

Who knows...who cares...some things can't be found in books.

Like sanity.

We loaded Bo in the van with us and headed for the walking trail at the park.



The contrast in these clouds and the ones above are simply stunning.

Just in case you were wondering Lord...I prefer blue skies and white puffy clouds.



I let the kids do whatever they wanted.

No worries of mud or wet clothes.

Ok, so I worried...but I didn't let on at least.



We explored every little flower, spider, bird, bee, etc. that we could find.



First honeysuckles of the summer.

I remember thinking these were the coolest things ever as a kid.



Aidan noticed our shadows so we had to get a cool group picture.

"The shadow proves the sunshine" - Switchfoot



The walking trail passes by the playground so we stopped a little while for some fun.



Words cannot express how good this day was for my soul.

It felt so good to be spontaneous and not care about one single thing for at least a couple of hours.

Not weather. Not school.

Nothing but the sun on my face, sweet laughter in my ears, and a momentary hand holding or two.

Joy.

Too often I let worry and anxiety creep in and steal my joy.

How easily I forget...

He is the God of storms.

The God of tornadoes.

The God of unfinished curriculum.

The God of blue skies and big puffy clouds.






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