Just buzzing around like busy little bees...our normal weekend routine

How cute is this?  Couldn't resist getting a picture of my little man!

Five on Friday

Let me just start by saying that I am a LIST maker!  I feel most organized and able to complete projects if I have a list made in my handy little notebook that I carry around everywhere I go.  I started to post yesterday and get back on track with Thursday Thirteen...and I will get back to that next week...but decided that thirteen items in this next list was a little too much to start of with for me.    In the meantime, I wanted to share some thoughts with you about my goals for the near future.  Hear me out....don't go clicking that red X up in the top right corner of your screen and telling me goodbye just yet.  :)

Life is a balancing act.   Wow!   I know that the first statement comes as a real shock to most of you.  However, it has taken me 33 years, 4 months, and 1 day to learn this very important lesson!  I have been doing a lot of thinking lately and I am trying to do some self-renovating (is that a word?)  I have said all summer...as soon as I get both girls settled into the school routine...there are many things I want to focus on for myself.   So now that we have completed our first full week of the school year...I think it is time to begin!  I know most people set goals in January...but I have chosen to start fresh now....a new school year for my girls and a new year for me too!

Yesterday I was going to list 13 goals that I have set for myself to accomplish during the first semester of this new school year.  My goal is to have these things accomplished, active and working, or just plain finished by Christmas time. Do you think I will make it?  :)    After contemplating that for a long time....I decided to break it up into smaller, more attainable lists.  I don't want to feel overwhelmed!  I don't want to bite off more than I can chew (which is usually what I do  :) )  So, for today I thought I would share the first five goals I have set.  As I complete things or begin to see them working well....I will mark them off and list a new 5!

I believe we all have room for improvement in our lives...even in what seem to be the most insignificant areas... I KNOW that I do and this is just really something that I need to do for me to feel like I am improving ....but also for the good of my family.   I have always used this BLOG as sort of my journal....mainly because I find it very easy to sit and type and express my thoughts.  So, I plan to record and update progress on this site to help me stay on track.  Here we go!

Here are the first 5 things:

1. Increase the amount of time I spend in prayer and bible study.
2. Get our family on a schedule and routine that works without us stressing over being somewhere at a specific time.
3. Make and document memories more about all the little things my kids are doing....this translates to scrapbooking for me!  I would like to set aside two hours a week to work on catching up on the kids scrapbooks.
4. Keep a journal of everyday events.
5. Recognize my talents and gifts and not focus on what I CAN'T do...(with that being said...my goal for this is to learn more about photography and improve on my designing abilities and hopefully make a full time hobby/business from it...)

I know these first five are not quite as tangible as "Make the bed everyday."  But it is a starting point for me...and I am happy to say that I have already started making progress.  One last thing is this:  I know I am not perfect and don't think I have set unrealistic goals....these are just starting points and things I am going to try to focus and improve on one item at a time.  I still will have days where I don't feel like I accomplished many if any the goals...but I can wake up the next day ready to start fresh again!

See I can go ahead put a checkmark by #4 and #3...I am back to journaling here on the ole' blog and have scrapbooked a little this week.  Great start....I think!

 

 

Rain, Rain Go Away...

We pulled in the driveway from school....and as soon as we got out of the van...this is what happened.  Guess what?  I just let them go and have fun...because one of the goals I have set for myself (which you will see in a post really soon) is to let go and just have more fun with the kids....stop worrying about laundry, making beds, cleaning the house, and just all together being too caught up in things to enjoy the simple precious moments with them!

As you can see...I definitely need to work on my photography skills...but in my defense...it is hard to hit three moving targets just right every time!

Testing the new design...and a pretty picture!

School is in session!

Here are some pictures from the girl's first day of school.  Kennedy started kindergarten this year and it truly LOVING every minute of school!  Mallory started third grade this year...is that really possible?  Doesn't seem like it to me....but time has a way of flying by us....doesn't it?

And you call this summer vacation?

Edited:  Of course I made a typo....so I found out that I missed a key word in my description of our trip...see below in red to find out the missing link.  Thanks Gram for pointing it out to me....it makes much more sense now when you read it!  :)

Some people call this time of year summer vacation...however, I prefer summer CHAOS!

Don't get me wrong...I am being somewhat sarcastic because we have been so busy without a minute to stop and enjoy summer vacation....but I still love the summertime and all that goes with it!

I am back and will be back to blogging after this evenings events.

For those of you wondering where I have been...

We spent last week in Indiana with family and were there for my brother's wedding.  And yes, we were there amongst all the rain and severe flooding...we were without power for 36 hours at one point.  Humorous at times and very nerve wracking at times....like when your brother is getting married and you have no electricity to get ten people ready for pictures!!!!

If you haven't heard about the severe flooding and disasters in the Midwest....go to this link and take a look at the pictures of the flooding.  There are hundreds of pictures that show southern Indiana and the devastation there.  We are very lucky that it was just the power and re-routing that we had to do for the week we were there.  Many others have had total loss and are really struggling right now.  I will share more stories and pictures of what we saw later on.

We got home very late Sunday night and have had Vacation Bible School every night this week.  I don't think we have been home before 10:30 any night this week. 

So, I said all this to say....

I have tons of awesome pictures and stories to share about the wedding and some other events that are happening with our family!  Stay tuned!

Here is just a preview of what is to come:

 

 

Y'all have a great Thursday and be sure to check back for Thursday Thirteen....of course it may be 11:59 before I type that post!!!  :)

'Cause it's not who you knew and it's not what you did....it's how you lived...

I have been listening to this song most of the day yesterday and even this morning.  I can't seem to hear it enough!  I LOVE an awesome song that really makes you stop and reflect and think about the important things in life.  This song is certainly becoming one of the top songs on my list.  In fact, yesterday Kennedy said...."Mama, please stop singing that song."

If you have been a follower of my blog...or just for those of you who know me well...know that I am a push-over for a great song with awesome lyrics!  I just really like songs that help me to stop, breath, and think.  I know there are some people who find it too hard to listen to tear jerking, emotional, cut you to the core songs...and I am still that way sometimes.  I can cry with the best of you...but most of the time I can listen to favorites and really start to see things more clearly....especially when the storms of life come.

So everyone....enjoy today and thank God for every blessing in your life...and oh yeah.  don't forget to TURN UP THE MUSIC!