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"

That Time I Lied to My Kids For Months {Disney 2012}

First, a little housekeeping...

::clearing the cobwebs::

Ok, now I can tell you about our trip to Disney...you know, the one we took nearly a month ago.

Yeah, sometimes life just gets overwhelming.

And I have to take a break from this little cyber corner of my world and tend to the real life people in my real life world.

It's just where I am in life right now.

Simplifying.

Trying to be all there.

I may never get this right I'm afraid.

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I told my kids that we were going to be spending Spring Break on a business trip with dad in Florida.

Swimming in the pool by day, out to dinner with dad by night.

Maybe hit an educational spot or two if we could.

After all we are homeschoolers.

But....I lied.

I figured I had one last chance to truly surprise my kiddos with a trip to Disney before one of them or all of them were grown.

Nothing but lies for almost a solid year.

Please pray for my soul.

And that my kids will be able to afford the therapy they are going to need for having me as a mother.



We drove halfway and stopped for the night.

The next morning, I handed them these.

It took a few minutes for them to figure it all out.

I wouldn't take a million bucks for the expressions I saw on their faces when it finally clicked that we were going to Disney...in like 5 hours!

To say they were excited would be the understatement of the year.

Maggie said, "I just screamed!...in a hotel!"

A huge shout out to Pixie Crafts Boutique for the fabulous shirts.

Even Buzz Lightyear was bummed that we didn't bring one for him.




We hit the road and we were Disney bound.



Our first stop is always Magic Kingdom.

Always.





Aidan and Maggie journaled every night about how much fun they had.

Love my little leftie.



Not sure who had more fun...the littles...or the big kids.

Thunder Mountain Railroad was closed for refurbishment.

This sent me spiraling into a 3 day depression.

Finally I had a moment of silence, grieved my loss, and moved on.



Tony's.

Our favorite restaurant in Magic Kingdom hands down.



That's cocoa powder art folks.



Epcot.

So funny...this used to be our least favorite park only because when the kids were smaller they got bored here.

Fast.

This time we spent the entire day there and could have spent a second I think.

They actually enjoyed all of the movies about the different countries this time.

I guess you could say that they are now old enough now to appreciate this park.



Had to get a picture of Mag and Adam in front of The Eiffel Tower.

These two have their bucket lists all marked up with plans to go there one day.

I sure hope they do.



Waiting for dinner outside of Chef De France.

Best filet mignon ever.

Oui Oui.



Two words.

Creme.

Brulee.



Breakfast with Goofy at Cape May Cafe.

It's tradition.



So is this.



Donald has always been Aidan's favorite.

Not that he's just like him or anything.

No...not at all.

#character



MGM...er, Hollywood Studios.

Why must we change the names of the parks people?

I need consistency. 

My gang was stoked about Star Tours being opened this time. {It was closed in 2010}

I soon found out this was a big no-no for me.

I had to add this to my ever growing list of things I can no longer do because my body is just weird now that I'm old.

Swings at the park? nope.

Virtual 3-D rides? nope.

Oh the sickness that ensued this not all that entertaining if you ask me ride.



My boy on the other hand loves....and I mean lurves...him some Star Wars.

Thank you Mr. Lucas for understanding the male brain.



"There aren't anymore! That's the whole barrel!" -Rex



The magic of animation.


A must do in this park.

One of our favorite things to do.

Even the teenager loves it.



Animal Kingdom.

::Cue Elton::

"It's the circle of liiiiife...."



Expedition Safari is my daughter's favorite thing here.

So of course she wants to go over and over...and over.

Honestly it frightens me a bit.

I know Disney has a way of magically hiding and disguising things and all, but I'd sure like a little more  of a visual on how they are controlling these safari animals.

Like a chain link fence...

or shackles...

or shock collars...

I don't know...just something.

We had to wait for these reticulated giraffes to cross our path before we could proceed.



And don't even get me started on this rhino.

I'm telling you, it was about to charge.

Ok, maybe not, but let me point out that this picture was taken with my iphone {cause I am now officially the laziest photographer in all the land}with no zoom.

He was that close.

And he walked right behind our truck, across the road we had just driven on, like he was just free to roam as he pleased.

That's a little too close for comfort Walt.




I prefer to get my adrenaline rush in less horn gouging ways....like this.

Oh Everest how I love thee.

But dang if this didn't make me sick again.


I was really hoping that the only reason I got sick the last time {2010} was because I rode early morning and I had not eaten.

Nope.

This getting old thing really is a killjoy.



My favorite part of Animal Kingdom?

These bad boys.

They were still warm people.

Think melting my ice cream warm.

Great...now I'm hungry and it's 2:30am.



An evening spent relaxing by the pool...watching these two fish swim around.

Always nice after running day and night.

Disney is awesome...but dang if it doesn't wear you out.



All good things must come to an end.

But if they must end, we are going out in style...O'hana style

::sigh::

::cue the steel drums and cheesy Hawaiian lady leading a line of maraca shaking children::

Think 3 foot long skewers of shrimp, chicken, and beef.

Think pineapple bread.

Think all. you. can. eat.



Think limbo lines and leis.



Think plates of steaming hot towels for the glorious mess your hands are about to partake of.



Think Pineapple Bread Pudding with Banana's Foster cream sauce.

Think new jiggle in your thighs.




This was our third trip to Disney.

The first time they were 10, 6, and 4.

Our days were filled with stroller pushing and parking and mile long lines for character greetings.

This time they were less than a month shy of 16, 11, and 9.

No strollers.

No temper tantrums or meltdowns while waiting our turn to ride.

Long gone are the days of standing in mile long lines for Princess autographs.

It was amazing/fun/sad/heartbreaking to see how, as they grow, their interests change and we experience Disney in a whole new way each time.

Actually I experienced about 530 different emotions this time.

They aren't little anymore.

They are growing up.

This makes my heart hurt if I think about it too long.

So I won't.

One day they will be grown and gone and I will be left with these precious memories.

And my iphone snapshots.




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