"you can't have it!"

i wish everyone would stop trying to steal my Christmas spirit.

i am in my new house, Christmas decorations have been up since right before Thanksgiving.  we had some snow flurries last week.  went to some fun parties.  kids are great and i've finished all of my shopping for them.  i've been listening to Christmas music like nobody's business.  it just seems like a perfect Christmas season this year.

but, little things just keep trying to get me down.  had a bad few days at work, one of my old highschool teachers passed away yesterday, and i can already feel Christmas passing by.

i'm going to push through and get out of this mood that work has put me into and look forward to the rest of the week.

Merry Christmas one and all!

"beach bum"

We are leaving for the beach in the morning. 6 o'clock AM if my dad has anything to do with it, but we'll see about that.  All he has to do is jump out of bed and throw on some clothes.  I gotta get me and my two dressed, loaded, and all of our stuff packed tight in the 12 passenger van.  I'll just leave it to Tiff and Mikey to push that time back...let's see, there are 5 of them to get up and going...6AM will come early for them too! 

My aspirations for this beach trip are pure and simple.  I want it to be relaxing.  I know that may be a tall order with a preschooler and a toddler, but thats it. I just want to feel rested when we come back home. 

I'm going to need all of my rest because when we get home it should be time to move into our new house!  I can't wait to move in and get the rest of my furniture out of storage and start decorating! 

Here's to the last hoorah of this summer...lets make it count!

"yearnings"

This is just a post about "how I'm feeling, not something I"m going to act on!"

Why does God give me the urge to want more babies?  I mean seriously, I already pushed the envelope with Archer, isn't that enough?  Why, if He isn't going to give me a man to have a family with, won't he take away the desire of my heart to have more babies?

Talk amongst yourselves...

"falling"

Summer has almost come and gone...
With Labor Day Weekend right around the corner!
I am so ready for the heat to simmer down, but where has the time gone?

"moves..."

You know how sometimes you think you have everything figured and planned out? You know how you want things to play out, and you can even envision it. Well, I am at one of those times in my life, when things are going good and my plans are falling into place, and I'm scared.

The last time I remember things going this easy for me was my life before my divorce. You know, the way you felt before that big, huge thing happened and changed everything. The way you view yourself, your life, and your future. Back when everybody kept their promises and bad things didn't happen to good people.

Well, things are going good with me and the kids. I had a plan a long time ago to move into my county of choice before Ava started kindergarten, and ITS HAPPENING. Not only that, but my sister and her family are moving too. They got the realty blessing of a lifetime, and sold their current home and bought their new home within the same week! You just don't see that happening these days. So, just like we said when we were pregnant together back in 2005, we are making that move.

Remember, with being a single mom to two small children, location is key! I am exactly 8 minutes from my parents house, 10 minutes from both of my grandparents, and wait for it....

2 minutes from my sister and brother-in-law's new place!

I think I may be more excited than Mikey is, but my sister and I wouldn't have it any other way. I mean, with 5 kids between us we need each other. We are planning on taking full advantage of her fenced in back yard and my 3 acres.

But all this just makes me nervous, like whats around the corner? I know I shouldn't be thinking this way, but I just don't want to be caught off guard again and have the rug pulled out from under me! I'm gonna keep praying , and I know God will give me peace about it. This is a great time in our lives, and I don't want to spend it being a "Debbie Downer"!

So, we are busy, busy, busy updating and repairing my new place. My brother has really been awesome with everything. He has been a blessing during this whole process, because without him I wouldn't have even considered buying this home. It is really becoming a home I can be proud of. I am taking some pictures soon, and we are planning on moving in during September. I am just so very blessed right now...it just takes my breath away sometimes.

"alone..."

Who knew buying a house could make you feel so alone. I had been feeling bummed out for a week before I even realized what it was that was bothering me. Maybe because last time I was buying a house I was happily married, and I had somebody to share all the excitement, anticipation, and work with.

It has been such a blessing to get this house that is more than big enough for me and the kids, and it's somewhere I can see us growing up for years and years to come. This might sound silly, but it kind of feels like a homestead to me. We've got over 3 and a half acres of land full of huge oak trees with shade to die for.

I know realistically, I'm not alone. I've got children, family, and friends but still sometimes you just can't help but want more. I don't let myself go there often, the what ifs and just maybes. But sometimes, when you least expect it, you do. Oh well, I've been saying it for a while now..."If God wants to me to find that person to spend the rest of my life with, he better just sit him in my lap, 'cause I'm not looking for him."

We will see what happens. For now, I am trying to get excited about the work I have ahead of me. Painting, renovations, and moving. The moving part is going to be fun if we can ever get there.

I will never leave you or forsake you. I'm just going to hold onto that promise and pray for peace and endurance for the task at hand.

"30 minutes of summer"

Our summer fun is in full swing.

Ava is growing into a beauty with an attitude. Her vocabulary isn't as sophistocated as some of the things she tries to get across, which turns into some funny stories.

Archer is into everything, but he is leary of strangers right now. He isn't scared to try anything, he just likes mommy to hold his hand while he does it.

So far this summer: We've taken a vacation to St. Louis and Branson, Missouri. We have been on a camping trip to Tannehill State Park. We went rafting on the Hiwassee River in Tennessee. We took a day-trip to Alabama Adventure. Ava and Archer attended Vacation Bible School at our church. We've also been going to the local library for their weekly shows. And countless other things to keep us busy...not to mention working full-time!

I love doing things for the kids and with my family, but sometimes...just sometimes, it seems like I'm doing all this work for maybe 30 minutes of actual enjoyment. Does that make any sense? Like, I'm the one who can't just sit around and let things not get done. Its my own fault that I miss some of those enjoyable moments, because I'm the one packing the picnic, lathering somebody with sunblock, hanging the wet beach towels up to dry, gathering the garbage out of the van, etc. You get my drift?

But, those 30 minutes...

make it all worth it!