A Life of Gratitude

A few months ago I began selling KEEP collective. I just wanted to earn some extra money, to help pay for homeschooling curriculum. Well, I paid for that with the first check! Since then I  have promoted 4 times in 3 months and God has used this company to bless my family more than I could have ever imagined!  We have always wanted to take our kids to Disney World but honestly, we haven't had the money. This year we had been planning to go to Hilton Head Beach for a long weekend but, out of nowhere, I started making all this extra money! We were also given a free week in an Orlando Resort! So, instead of Hilton Head, we ended up planning a vacation for Disney World! But the boys still thought we were going to the beach. We never told them otherwise.  Until today... Once we crossed the Florida line, we stopped at the Welcome Center and had the boys sit at a picnic table. They were very confused but Bryan said, "We wanted to tell you that we aren't really going to...

Homeschooling is little different than public school. Well, actually, its a LOT different. Which is why I love it so much! We still have to complete 180 days and we still use a curriculum and students still have to pass an end of year test. The flexiblity, the time with family, the focus on Christ, the ability to teach in my child's learning style, the ability for him to research and study things that interest him, not having to get up at the crack of dawn, and being able to move at his pace are just a few of the differences that I've come to adore. This year Dylan completed the 2nd grade curriculum. He is reading so well, doing multiplication and division, speaking Spanish, and continues to amaze me with his interest in History. This kid has taught himself more about the civil war than most of us ever care to know. I'm blown away by how much Dylan has learned this year! This week we experienced a first for our little school. For the first time ever, we had to complete...

My little family loves days when we can all just be together. Memorial Day is one of those days! We spent the morning fishing at Oak Hollow Lake. It was Evan's first time fishing and he really enjoyed it, for a few minutes at least. (It's hard for a 3 year old to wait on the fish to bite!) We spent the afternoon shopping at the mall and eating dinner together at burger joint. It was a fun, relaxing day spent with the ones we love.  I've been thinking a lot about Memorial Day today and although we had a "Happy" Memorial Day spent with the ones we love, I've realized that there are many who suffer through this day in an entirely different way. There are many who do not see this day as"happy" at all.  Yesterday at the end of our church service I witnessed a solider make his way to the altar, kneel down, and place his hand on the boots that were set up as a Memorial Day display. He was almost shaking as he prayed. I can only assume that this...

When we moved into this house and had our alarm system installed, the technician put the key pad right in the middle of a wall in our living room. I was busy talking with the painters when he did it and by the time I noticed, the holes had already been drilled into the wall. It was to late to change it! I have spent a year looking at that bare wall because I didn't know how to decorate it with that key pad smack-dab in the middle. I mean, do you just include it as part of your family portraits? Do you hang a curtain over it? Or do you just leave the wall completely blank?? That is what I had done because I just didn't know what else to do. And honestly, I've longed to hang something on that wall every time I've looked it. I love my hubby for a million and one reasons but today, he flexed his "handyman muscles" and made me super duper happy! Just look at what he did!!!!!  Now you see it..... Now you don't!!! I'm so excited!!!!...

 The past couple weeks have been full of baseball practices and baseball games for our little guys.  We've headed to the baseball field four times per week for the past month. The boys have really been enjoying themselves. I absolutely love watching them! They are just so cute! Not only has it been fun to watch them play, I've been surprised at how the teams have improved with practice. These kids are really playing ball! Dylan's first practice! Our big 3 year old!!! He's a natural! My other two fellas. Aren't they handsome in their sunglasses? Dylan scoring his first run!! Look a that face! He was so happy!! Today I am thankful for baseball and warm summer nights. We've been super busy with all these games and practices but it has been a great experience for all of us! It's been incredibly enjoyable to just sit outside on the bleachers and cheer on my little loves. And seeing their faces when they cross home plate, well that i...

Scrapbooking has been one of my favorite hobbies since the summer before Bryan and I got married. My very first scrapbook was one that included all of our wedding showers and parties and rehearsal dinner, etc. Since then I've done all sorts of scrapbooks! Wedding, Honeymoon, Baby's #1, #2, and #3, trips, birthdays, etc. Now that I have all these kiddos, its hard to find time to delve into this hobby.  That's why I was super excited about a Scrapbooking Day with the ladies from my Sunday School class. Today we spend 6 hours scrapbooking! It was heaven!  I've never been able to spread everything out and have everything right where I needed it. It made it so much easier! I got half of Tyson's first year scrapbook done! We're going to need to do this more often! Look how much room I had to spread out all my photos and stickers! It was great! Alicia and Tyson working on a page for her Quilting Cruise Scrapbook!  I was even printing my own pictures w...

When Bryan and I were looking for houses (over a year ago now, I can't believe that!) we paid close attention to the back yard. We didn't have much of yard in our old house so this time, it was important to us. It was so hot when we moved in last year, we didn't spend much time outside and we weren't able to get it looking the way wanted. So, this spring Bryan has been working very hard on our backyard! It looks so good. We have new furniture under our Pergola, new stools at our bar, and and new table and chairs with umbrella (thanks to a friend who bascially gave it to us!) Bryan has planted all sorts of pretty flowers and we even have a garden box. I'm so proud of the work he has done.  Tonight we spent all evening outside in our "Little Oasis." The weather was beautiful, our dinner was yummy, and all our boys were happy because they really enjoy being outside! (especially Evan and Tyson!) The boys were so excited to eat dinner at the bar and start ...

For the past few weeks we've been doing something a little different during our family devotion time. I can't always find what I want when searching for materials to use with family devotions so, sometimes I make it up! Ha! This is one of those times. I wanted to truly teach my children what LOVE is. I mean, we definitely love each other in this house, but we don't always act like it. I wanted to them to have a picture of what love really looks, acts, and sounds like. So, naturally I went straight to 1 Corinithians 13: 4-7.We use the NIRV because it's the "readers version" which helps young readers feel confident reading God's Word. As a family, we have read and reread this verse. We have analyzed it and defined it so that we all really understand it. We've talked about specific examples and even watched a few videos to helps visualize what love is. And my favorite part, we applied it ourselves.... It means a lot more when you s...

As I woke up this morning I felt a sadness that I've never felt on Mother's Day before. For the first time ever, I truly understand why Mother's Day can be so painful. There are so many people that are hurting today. A family that we go to church with lost their son last night. Another young couple gave birth to a son early this morning who had already gone home to be with his Heavenly Father. I know of another family with 4 young children who recently lost their mother to breast cancer. And, I've realized over the past year that some relationships end without death. Sometimes, relationships have to end because they are abusive. In all of those cases, Mother's Day can be very painful.  I've  been thinking a lot today about how life is so different for everyone. Its easy for us to become complacent in our own little worlds and we start to assume that everyone's life is basically like ours. We assume everyone enjoys celebrating Mother's Day and Father...

"You've got Jesus and He's got you" Earlier I read a portion of a daily devotional when I came across these sweet words.... "You've got Jesus and He's got you." Honestly, I don't remember anything else from that devotional. I'm not even sure what it was about. But those words, those words stuck. It really doesn't matter what other words accompany that sentence because that truth stands firm regardless of anything and everything else.  My favorite thing about that phrase is that it reminds me that "He's got me!"  Life is exhausting at times. It can feel like we're holding on for dear life, like we're just surviving. It's not like that with Jesus. He stands firm. He holds us tightly. He is not shaken. He is not weary. He is steadfast.  It's not about me desperately clinging to Jesus, hoping I don't lose my grip. It's about Jesus holding onto me. I don't have to do a thing. And, I have to sa...

Dylan's Civil War party was an absolute hit! He couldn't have been more excited! As his friends arrived they had to pick a popsicle stick which determined whether they were a part of the Union or the Confederacy. We played several games (or battles) to see who would win the war. After "Pinning the Mustache on General Custard," shooting toy soldiers with a rubber band gun, and completing an 1800's scavenger hunt, the North defeated the South. It  didn't matter though because everyone had a blast! Dylan was so excited!!!! Yes, that is a photo shopped portrait of Dylan as a Union General! Friends wear mustaches together! Look at that face!!! My sweet Evan! Tyson was enjoying that Pizza crust! One of our "battles!" Shooting the soldiers with a rubber band gun! So many nice gifts! "Happy Birthday to you" My fellas and me! We all look like Daddy now =) We had such a fun time at Dylan's Civil War par...