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"

2012 Summer List {44 Things We Hope to Do This Summer}

It is that time of year again.
Summer Break!
Whoo Hoo!!!
I'm a Homeschool mom of 3.
I get all kinds of excited about summer break.

My family has discovered that the best way to make the most of our time off is to make a Summer List.
A list of all the things we want to accomplish during this glorious time of sleeping in and no homework.

Sooooo.....

Call a family meeting and get to writing.
Nothing is off limits.
Dream big.
Be creative.
There are no bad ideas. (Notice "Say hi to a stranger" courtesy of the 9 year old)
The cheaper the better.
Making memories does not have to mean going broke.
In fact it is usually the little things that kids love and remember the most.
Notice "Tickle Monster" made the cut again this year.

1.Sonic Happy Hour
2.Dad cooks fancy meal. {He's a Culinary Institute of America graduate}
3.Kayak
4.Beach
5.Watch Sunset
6.Treat Tuesdays {Baskin Robins has $1 scoops on Tuesday nights}
7.Farmer's Market
8.Pool
9.Play in the Rain
10.Take the Train Downtown
11.Drive-In
12.Fishing
13.Walk to Movies
14.Picnic
15.Unplugged Day {yep, no phones, no tv, no internet...all.day.long}
16.Visit Amish
17.Go to Creek
18.Make a Fort in Living Room
19.Dessert for Dinner
20.Bowling
21.Sounds Game {Minor League Baseball}
22.Yard Sale for Mission Trips
23.Lemonade Stand
24.Las Paletas {Gourmet Mexican Popsicles Downtown}
25.Play Hide & Seek in the House
26.Family Mailbox {a mailbox in the house that we can write letters and messages to each other and place inside}
27.Eat at Earl G. Dumplings {the name says it all I think...country cooking like your grandma's kitchen}
28.Paint on Canvases
29.Make Chalkboard in Kitchen
30.Library
31.Hoola Hoop Contest
32.Water Balloon Fight
33.Stay Up All Night
34.Camping
35.Just Dance Party
36.Tickle Monster {all you need is dad, the kids, and a lot of screaming and running through the house and you have tickle monster}
37.Donut Saturdays
38.Play in Mud
39.Eat at The Biscuit House
40.Visit Puckett's Grocery
41.Say "hi" to a stranger
42.Mom/Dad Dates {one on one dates with mom and dad}
43.Read Aloud
44.Make Popsicles

Here is a link to our 2011 Summer List.
We pulled it out this year and it felt so good to look back and see all the things that we accomplished last year simply because we made a point to be intentional with our time.

**I want to be sure to give credit where credit is due.
Meg is the Summer List queen.
Seriously...check out her list from 2011.

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

Last week....

I realize that it's officially now "this week"..but "last week" got away from me.

The perfectionist within was tempted to just move on to this weeks events.

But in keeping with the promise I made to myself to never again worry about approval, blogging etiquette, or "do's and don'ts"...more than the reasons I started this blog...here we go.



We celebrated the 4th of July here at home.



With lots of yummy food, fireworks, and a cooler full of water balloons.



They were so much fun.

But such a mess.



Kinda like these bad boys.



I finally found this Ikea Ektorp sofa on Craigslist for $300 like new! Only took 8 months of waiting. The matching ottoman came with it. Perfect for my Ektorp chair (also a Craigslist steal) in my living room.

Remember the coffee table I found last month?

My formal dining room turned sitting room {you know, a place you can actually just sit in front of the fire with NO TELEVISION} is finally coming together.

Craigslist=love.



It has been hot as Hades here so the kids decided to kill two birds with one stone by breaking out the sprinkler.

Put another "X" on our Summer List...and get cooled off.

Last time I checked you didn't need goggles to play in a sprinkler but hey...what do I know?



Then their mean momma makes them sit outside till they dry off.



I hitched a ride to Wal-Mart with this handsome fella.

Don't let the toboggan fool you. It's hot here. It's just that this is what teenage boys do when they are having a bad hair day.

I have no desire whatsoever to talk about how crazy it is that my baby boy is driving his momma around.

Nope, let's just move right along now shall we?



Oh Lord. It's every where I turn these days.

My kids growing up at the speed of light.

Look at her! Where did my little girl go?!



Frappuccino with mom. A rite of passage.



Mocho Coconut please.

Train them up in the way they should go...right?!



I've been drinking my fair share of these this summer.

They are so dang good and I've got the thighs to prove it.



This is a cookie jar.

In my living room.

Empty.

Don't judge.





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

2011 Summer List

Every year Meg and her family make a Summer List.

And every year I say we are going to do the same...and we never do.

This year we did.

In fact we were so inspired by Meg's Summer List that we stole a couple of her ideas.

I pray she takes my obvious lack of integrity as the great compliment it was meant to be.

SO.....

Call a family meeting.

Get out pen and paper.

Get creative.

The cheaper the better.

Fun does not have to break the bank.

In fact it does not have to cost one red cent!

I love that one of the things my kids wanted on their list was for their dad to play "tickle monster" with them. A game he used to play quite frequently with them as younger kiddos but they seemed to have outgrown. Guess not. ;-)

Personalize it for your family.

Dream big.

Such a fun way to be intentional with the 8 short weeks we are given to enjoy.

A way to look back at your summer and know you accomplished at least some of the things you really wanted to do as a family.

We were able to mark two of our items off just this weekend.

So...what are you waiting for?!?!

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**Unplugged Day- an entire day without any type of electronic or hand held device. Tv included. (Our kids requested this..."and a little child shall lead them")

**Shipley Saturdays- Fresh donuts...every Saturday morning. :-)

**Treat Tuesday- The kids and I will try a new dessert recipe together every Tuesday. {Between this and Shipley Saturday I may need to add "attend a Weight Watchers meeting" to my list}

**Craft Thursday- Get messy and creative with an Art project each Tuesday.

**Write letters- Pick one person each week and all three kids write to that person. An actual pen on paper...honest to goodness...old fashioned...lick it...stamp it... LETTER! Imagine that.



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Linking up with:

Tatertots and Jello




Mingle Monday

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