Thankful Thursday

With almost two weeks of summer vacation already behind me (YIKES!), I feel like I have been on the go, go, go almost constantly. I am certainly having a blast, and I am loving being at home with my sweet little man! Here are some things I have been doing that I am very thankful for.


A Weekend Away
Last Friday around lunch, Brent and I packed up the truck and headed to Pigeon Forge. It was nice to have some time together without Chandler. We love him very dearly, but we have also learned that it's important to have time away together away from him occasionally. It makes us better parents.  We got half price tickets to Dollywood thanks to the Stone Mountain membership passes that were issued to us for FREE from Brent's work this past year, and we took advantage of the "arrive after 3:00 p.m. and get the next day free" offer at the Dollywood park, so we saved tons of money and had a lot of fun at the same time. You just can't beat that!

 Jazzercise 
I tried walking and jogging (too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter, plus the jogging stroller and I didn't always get along), I tried the gym (I didn't like working out with men- no offense!), and I tried DVDs at home (it was hard to get motivated at 5:00 a.m. or 9:00 a.m. - the only times I could complete the routines without interruption), so I went back to Jazzercise about 6 months ago. I got an offer I couldn't refuse, and I am so glad that I went back. I need the accountability, and I love the encouragement and energy that the instructors and customers share with each other. I go 3-5 times per week, and I feel better than I have in a long time. I also appreciate that Chandler can go with me. He loves to stand at the childcare window and watch, and his impressions of my exercises later at home are quite entertaining! 

Swim Camp
My little man may be a dare devil on land, but the pool certainly isn't part of his comfort zone yet. As one of the youngest in his swim camp class this week, I hope he is learning from the other kids that it's okay (and even fun) to play in the water. I love how Coach John pushes him to do more than he thinks he can. I know he'll get it one day, and if he's anything like his Daddy, it will probably be coming very soon and I'll wish these sweet, innocent days were back. 

        

                                                        Linking up this week with...

 

Facing My Fears

It seems that everywhere I turn lately, 

God is reminding me that I must stand up and face my fears. 

It was part of my morning devotion one day last week, 

and it was the focus of Sunday morning's message at church.

What do I have to fear, you ask?

Well, there are all of the normal things that lots of others fear, like roller coasters and mice, 

and I don't care too much for Atlanta traffic, either,

but there is one big thing in my life that scares me the most-

Babies.

Now, before you think I am crazy, no I do not have a fear of babies themselves. 

In fact, I think babies are wonderful. 

Honestly, I can't believe that my little man is no longer

a baby, and I certainly adore 

holding other people's babies. 

They are so cuddly and adorable.

I still get very excited when I find out

that someone I am close to is having a baby. 

Babies are a gift from God. I know that as a fact. 

His Word not only tells us that,

but it is evident to anyone who has the blessing of being around

one or raising one. 

So, what scares me about babies, you ask? 

It scares me that Chandler might be the only baby I ever have.

Yes, I am very thankful to have him in my life.

He is a precious gift from God, 

and I enjoy being with him. 

It's a blessing to be his mama,

but it honestly scares me that he might be an only child.

It's not that I have anything against only children,

I know several- both children and adults, 

and most of them have turned out fine.

It's not that I am not thankful for the little one I have,

because I truly am. 

It's not that I won't be okay if I don't have another child, 

because I know I will be.

Life will go on, 

and God will continue to bless me

if I allow Him to.

 

I am very happy with the family God has given me. 

It's just that it breaks my heart

that it may have to be this way,

and that is not what I wanted.

It's not how my "ever after" was supposed to be.

If there is one thing that having multiple miscarriages

has taught me, 

it's that my plans are only that- plans.

 

God is the one who is ultimately in control,

and more and more each day I must learn to lean on Him.

His will and way is perfect, and mine is not.

I must remember to praise Him no matter

what His plans are for me and my family,

even if that means that my family is already complete.

 

 

 

Playing With My Son

This afternoon, I put everything down and played with my son. Yes, I had lots of other things that I could have been doing. It is the last week of school and things are very hectic. I had paperwork to do, award certificates to sign, and grades to post, but I decided those things could wait until after his bedtime. My little boy is only little once.

We went to his favorite place...outside. We threw the football, we ran in the grass, and we used our imaginations as we laughed and played together. I loved every minute of it!

I watched him later as he played in the bathtub, and again as we cuddled on the couch, his chin resting on both of his little hands, and I thanked God again for this precious gift that He has given me. I don't ever want to take him for granted, not even when the times are tough.

Not Knowing

I am the kind of person who likes to have a plan.
Give me lots of details and information, and I am happy.
I like to have things organized in my life. 
I like to know what's going on.
It's how I roll.
Throw in some uncertainty and chaos, and I have a hard time.

Sometimes when I pray, I don't even know what to say.
To be honest, not knowing the outcome scares me.
I know that God knows the desires of my heart.
I must  ask Him for those things specifically.
I have been struggling with this lately.
I am having to learn to give things over to Him.

Last night at Bible study I heard this quote more than once,
And I felt like God was trying to tell me something.
I think I need to listen.
Hopefully it will bless you, too.

"I don't have to know how or when, as long as I know WHO."

I think I am going to write this down and post it in my house.
It's something I need to remember on a daily basis.
I am not the one in control of things.
HE IS.

Fingernails on Your Toes

What? You don't know what I'm talking about? 

Welcome to the world of a sweet, although sometimes mischievous, toddler!

The other day, Chandler was playing with his feet at my parents' house

when he looked up with a serious face and said, "Grandmommy, I need to cut

the fingernails on my toes!"

She said she had to hide her face to keep 

him from seeing her laugh.

This evening after his bath when I was helping him get

dressed for bed, he laid down in the floor and pulled his foot up to his chest.

When I asked him what he was doing he replied,

"I'm gettin' the fuzz out of my toes!"

That boy cracks me up!

      I guess he has a thing for feet right now.

 

                                                                                                                               Easter Sunday

Spring Break Review

Alas, Spring Break has come and gone again. It was nice while it lasted, 

but now it's back to the real world. 

It was nice to sleep a little later (yes, 7:00 a.m. is late!), get in a little retail shopping,

take Chandler for his first dental visit, 

play with bubbles and sidewalk chalk,

read lots of books and sing lots of songs,

 eat some yummy yogurt from Race Trac with my little man, 

and get a few things done around the house

like cleaning out the garage

in preparation for a future yard sale. 

We were also able to squeeze in a short and fun trip to Greenville.

Thursday was rainy and cold, but that didn't keep us from exploring the

awesome interactive Children's Museum downtown.

We all had fun climbing walls, pretending to be astronauts, construction workers, and farmers,

lifting ourselves with pulleys, and generally being silly together.

We even got to see real firemen and firetrucks 

when we had to evacuate the building due

to the emergency door being opened!

Drury Inn saved us from having to get back out in the cold 

as we enjoyed hotdogs in the lobby for supper

and a swim in the nice pool.

After we warmed back up,

we even had popcorn for a

bedtime snack!

Thankfully, Friday's weather dawned much fairer than Thursday's,

and we were able to venture out to the zoo and playground.

We all had a blast together, 

and we had time to see most of the animals

twice in the two hours we were there. 

The zoo and the park were both fabulous!

Not only is is a little smaller than Zoo Atlanta (which is great for little ones),

but it's also less expensive,

and the park is mostly covered, which would be perfect

for those hot summer days outside. 

We will definitely

be going back!

After playing hard,

we fed our tummies at Sticky Fingers

and headed home, glad to have had the chance to spend some time together

as a little family.

Chandler and I were so tired that we both slept most of the way home.

I'm sure Brent enjoyed the peace and quiet!

I am so thankful that I had the chance to spend 

Spring Break with the ones I love.
It was definitely refreshing!

These little breaks are what keep me going!

 

 

Together

Today, Brent and I spent almost 3 hours together cleaning out and organizing the garage. It seems like such a simple and mundane task, but I loved every minute of it. Why? Because I got to be with the man that God made just for me.

He has been with me in the good times and in the bad.
He has laughed with me and cried with me.
He has kept the promise that he made to me
before God, family, and friends
almost eight years ago.
I have learned not to take these simple moments together for granted.

Yes, he's got his quirky little ways, and so do I.

That's why we work together so well.
I think we compliment each other nicely.
Opposites really do attract.

My newest purchase from Etsy pretty much sums up 

our relationship, and it's now in its rightful place

over our headboard,
and I love it!