My grannie Elsie is turning 92

I love my Grannie Elsie. She is a very special lady. She was always so encouraging in my life even when it was really tough to be. I remember being like around 7 or 8 and her teaching me to cross stitch. She hung one of the little things I made her in a frame in the bathroom and another at the end of the hall where the telephone was. She helped me make several cross stitch items for my mom, for friends, and other relatives. She and I spent lots of time together growing up. I spent lots of time with all my grandparents. I never knew my mom's dad because he died when my mom was in high school. My grannie was on her own for many many years. She now lives in an assisted living facility and has now for two years. She seems to be doing really well there. My mom has three brothers and all the family is getting together this Saturday in Lakeland to celebrate her birthday. She was born October 29Th 1919. It is going to be so fun seeing all my cousins, aunts, and uncles. I love my grannie so much. She has all these sayings that are so part of who she is. One of my favorite quotes of hers is "I love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around your neck." She would say this often and write it on our birthday cards too. I feel SO blessed to be celebrating 92 years with her this Sat. and even more blessed to be doing so with our huge family.

The GREAT OUTDOORS!

I love fall. I love decorating my house. I love pumpkin lattes. I love Halloween. I love bike rides with Tanner. I love to look at houses that are decorated with fall wreaths and carved pumpkins. I just love everything about it. Today when we got home from the gym Tanner and I went for a bike ride. My dad bought him a CARS helmet complete with bike bell that goes on the bike and he loves waving at the neighbors as we ride by chiming that bell. He is pretty popular especially on our street. Our neighbors across the street are all retired and the ones on our left have no children. They all love Tanner. BUT who wouldn't?? He is an awesome kid. He is very smart, loves books, (I MEAN LOVES THEM), and is picking up words daily. I love that at bedtime I read and pray with him every night and after our prayers I turn out the light and he cuddles with me. He lays his head on my chest. Sometimes I sing to him, sometimes i tickle him in the dark just to hear him laugh, and sometimes i just pray silently. I feel that God has had this plan for me to be a wife and mother all along. It just took me longer to get here than most. I believe that being my age I ENJOY being home with my son. I love hanging out with my family. I also am so grateful that we have me me and grampy who live near by to take him when we need a break. Also my sister who keeps him for our long get away weekends. It is fun for them too cause all my family pretty much live on one street so he gets to hang with his cousins, aunts, uncles, and his PAPA and GRAMMY! He loves all his cousins. Especially his buddie Tristan who is less than 5 months younger than him. I am keeping Tristan the weekend of Halloween. They are going to be BUZZ and WOODY. WE are going to a Halloween party at our friends Shannon's house hosted by her and Suzanne. We went last year and it was fun. I know the kids will have a blast. I am so enjoying this season of my life. I love being a wife. My husband is so sweet. I went to bed before him last night and he was gone before Tanner and I were awake this morning. He took my car and filled it with gas, made the coffee for me, and left me the sweetest note. Now that's an awesome husband! As Tanner and I were riding our bike today I thought a lot about when I was little. We were always outside. We had a tree house, sandbox, motorcycles, go carts, and bicycles. We use to always go bike riding at this park called Aldermans Ford park. We loved it. I will never forget the year I was in third grade and got a bike for Christmas. It was moroon and Very shiny. And complete with a white basket on the front! I LOVED IT! Now that I am a parent and only have one child. I know the sacrifices my parents must of made to take care of 6 of us! YES that is right 6 of us. I love coming from a big family and some of my fondest memories are being outside riding bikes and playing. Tanner loves helping me in the yard. We water plants or pick up sticks. He even mows the yard sitting on Mommy's lap. God has provided for us all along and his ways are better than mine. We are fortunate too that I am now working part time two or three days a week. That is awesome. I still get to be with my son and Also helping out a friend while earning extra income for the family. HE is so faithful! Psalm 36:5 Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.

PUNKIN.... (Almost 2)

In just five short weeks my little boy will be turning two. I can not believe it. I think this age gets a bad RAP.'] I LOVE IT!!
I am exhausted at the end of the day. I do get frustrated and overwhelmed but mostly I am laughing and kissing and holding my son. Today when we got home from the gym he grabbed my hand and pulled me into the house guiding me along. He calls for me in the morning. He says "thank you" when I give him something. It is almost Halloween and whenever we see a pumpkin he says "PUN-KIN". It is so sweet. He constantly wants to be near me. While we are home just relaxing like tonight and last night he lays all over me. I love it. I love when he randomly hugs my leg while I am cooking. Billy is a good daddy. He plays with Tanner and we both are doing our best to discipline him by teaching him and guiding him. We have so much fun as a family. We also know YES we are in the stage of parenting if we go out to eat then he will probably throw things, scream, and get fussy. We still attempt it from time to time. Sometimes it goes well and sometimes not so much!! He loves his new buds Casey and Carlie. They are Ashlee's two kids. I pick them up now a couple times a week from school and watch them in the afternoon. Tanner LOVES them. Especialy his buddy Casey. He loves playing outside, riding in the bike wih me, and playing in his wagon. I SO hope we can get him a swingset soon. It is beautiful weather and it would be so nice to be sitting in the back yard and watching him play!! I love being a mommy. It is a tough GIG!! But an awesome one!!

THANKFUL FOR MOPS!

Today at MOPS was super fun. I am so thrilled to be a part of this group. We all have so much to give to one another and I think God wants us to be this way. It is easy as a mommy and wife to get wrapped up in your own little life. Thinking only of ourselves and our own families is easy. Some days YES that is all we can do physically. I look at my friends that have two, three, and even four kids and I am amazed at how they keep it all together. I am really encouraged by the women in MOPS. We all have a story. We are all free to be ourselves. I run in a few different circles in my life. I have different areas where GOD is using me. The gift I have today is in being myself. I really do not want to be anyone else. God created me to be just who I am. I am the daughter of a MIGHTY KING! He created me. And like Leighton said in her devotion, "God is frolicking in delight at his creation" I try not to let Satan rob me of the joy of being a mom, friend, sister, wife, daughter, and woman. I do not listen to his lies!! I too believe our slogan that better moms make a better world. I want what is best for Tanner. I want him to be who GOD created him to be. I want him to LOVE others and LOVE himself. I do not want him to be ashamed to express himself or apologize for who HE IS!! God wants us to be bold for him and I want Tanner to see his mommy being BOLD for the LORD. I had a great time today laughing and enjoying some fun with other Mommy's. Thank you for today JESUS!! Bless these moms and be with each of them.