A quick get away!

We had a nice weekend and I am thankful to my husband who works so hard so that I can stay home with Tanner. (and Holden too soon) This past weekend was one of those times as a mom you will always remember. I don't know if its the pregnancy hormones or I am just getting more sentimental as I get older but I really treasure this time. I loved loved loved watching Tanner on the beach this weekend. He was having so much fun. I hope we are able to go more next year. There is nothing like the beach sand. He is a beach boy for sure!! We played in the ocean waves and built sandcastles and chased seagulls. My little boy is growing fast. On Saturday we took a drive up the coast and Billy took us to a little Italian Restaurant and we enjoyed some good cooking. Being a parent is really tough. Its an ongoing never ending full time job. This weekend was a nice break. We had beautiful weather on Friday and Saturday before Isaac poked his head out at us on Sunday. We still got a little beach time on Sunday but it was overcast and gloomy. All in all we had fun. We have another couple things on the horizon before my sweet baby arrives.The biggest one is a trip to Miami for my husbands half marthon he will be doing in late October. It will be another quick get away and we will be able to enjoy some time with our friends Scott and Sheila. Scott will be running his first half. Amazing! :) I can not wait to start training in Jan or Feb for my next race. I am going to run the autumn race for autism in couple weeks. It will be a fun 5K! Super proud to see Billy race his 3rd half. I am posting some sweet pictures of my family.

Grace

I have been trying to get on to blog for days. Life is busy. What's it going to be like when Holden is born in three months. WEll busy for sure. BUT We will find our new groove then. Exciting news in our family. My neice Lorelei was born yesterday. My baby brother Seth is a proud new daddy. We took a quick trip down to Lakeland to see her. I got to hold and kiss that precious girl. Jamie and Seth are tired but doing great!! I am so happy for my little brother and his sweet sweet wife. As for the Spive Tribe, me and my boys are doing wonderful. Billy is enjoying his new position at work and staying busy. He really thrives on helping homeless veterans and God is really using him in his field. I am super proud of how hard he is working lately and still comes home so I can get to my meetings and is such a hands on daddy with Tanner. I love how excited Tanner gets when he looks out the front window and sees daddy pull up. I am really enjoying Tanner these days. He holds full conversations with me. Today he helped me work in the yard. I love working outside. I mowed, blew off the drive way, pulled weeds, and watered plants. Tanner pushed a rake around and explored his surroundings. I love days like today. Just hanging out with my boy. I am excited to be raising two boys. I wanted another boy. Its just so fun. I am reading an amazing book titled Grace Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel. I read it before when I was pregnant with Tanner but something told me I needed to read it again. God is such a forgiving and loving God. He is a God full of GRACE and MERCY! Do I parent like this? Not hardly. Do I behave like this in my marriage? Nope not like I should. I want to. I am striving for it. I want to have this in my friendships and all relationships with family and everyone in my life. God is revealing so much to me through this book and the scripture in this book. We get so caught up in rules and keeping things a certain way or maybe trying to keep up with the Jones that we fail to see what God may be calling our specific family to do. He talks about the biggest warfare going on is inside our kids. It is important to protect our small children from society and the harms and dangers. It is also importnat to send them out into the world as strong kids secure in God's LOVE! A light for those who may need it. I am asking God everyday to use me and Billy the way he sees fit. Thank goodness God never gave up on me. Thank goodness my family did not either. God's way has been so much better than mine. It is not about religion or following rules. It is about loving my boys the way God loves me. Completely and deeply. Touching their hearts and not smothering their spirits. I hope I can be that kind of mommy. I will never forget a sermon I heard on the comparison trap. Our culture is BIG on that. I am going to ask God to guide me on what works for our family. And encourage others on what works for theirs. In recovery we know that resentments and un met expectations can be our biggest downfall. In the last 8 years I have really learned and continuing to learn to embrace diversity. Not just accept others for who they are but praise them for it!! Tanner is loud, he is smart, he is funny, he is a joy, he loves people, and he loves out doors and books. As his mommy I pray I can be encouraging, guiding, and full of grace. I also pray for wisdom in discipling him and Holden too. In his book he says that when we accept our children as they are, we reflect the kind of love that God has for them. It's the kind of love that will carry them through the good times and the bad times for the rest of their lives. Grace-based families are homes where children are given: 1)freedom to be different 2) freedom to be vulnerable 3)freedom to be candid 4) freedom to make mistakes. This is how God is with me. With all of us. This is how I desperately want to parent my boys. Will I fall short? YES!! Will God forgive me and help me move on. YES! I will close with this. God made us all so different. In our culture we criticize those differences. But thats what makes life wonderful. He has designed us that way. This passage in Peter is my prayer for my own life this week and how I treat others. Especially my husband and two sons. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:8-10)

Busy week

On Monday my mom and aunt came up. We had a good time. My nephew came too. My mom keeps him during the day as my sister is in school. It always gives me encouragement when I am having a hard day with Tanner (like yesterday) to think about my mom raising 6. She was a very hands on mommy. I remember her washing my doll clothes and having snacks ready for us the minute we came in from school. My aunt was a constant in our lives as well. We were always going to her house to swim and play and stay the night. She did a lot for us and I am sure my mom appreciated the help. My aunt would do things for us like make us pancakes for breakfast and help us make lemonade stands. I am so grateful to my mom and my aunt. Being a mommy now myself I see how much they both sacrificed for us kids. I am ALWAYS grateful for Tanner's meme and grampy and anyone else who helps us. It is a full time job. This has been one of those weeks I love!! Everyday we did something fun. Tuesday we Had a playdate with Kristy, Van, Danielle, Benjamin, and Vincent.What little blessings Van, Benjamin, and Vincent are. I love hanging with my mommy friends and their babies. Also my friend Kristy is pregnant too. It is so nice sharing the highs and lows of pregnancy with someone.

Wednesday I had Casey and Carlie for the day and we headed to the dollar movie and then picnic lunch at the pool. Today we had a nice surprise from my sister in law and nephew who were passing through Ocala and we got to meet them for lunch. Aimee, Asher, and Aleena are on their way over soon so kids can play together and have some outside fun. God has really blessed me with a good friend in Aimee. She is one busy girl and always calls to see how I am doing. God has put some amazing people in my life and this has been one of those weeks I appreciate each one. Tanner is at stage where he likes to test his parents. He wants to see what you will do if he dileberately dis obeys. Usually time out works well with him BUT not always. He is smart and will be 3 in a few months so he is just naturally testing his boundaries. Billy and I are a good team. We have decided besides just praying together we really need to step it up and have short Bible studie with Tanner too at night. We stay in prayer. Mostly just asking God to guide us in the right way to discipline and teach. He is doing so awesome in so many ways. Sometimes it is just getting sleep and re grouping. The biggest thing that helps me is knowing all parents have those days. ALL!! Kids are blessings. Tanner sure is. He is so fun, so sweet, so cuddly, and loves people. He is smart! I am almost 24 weeks pregnant. I can not believe it! Holden is so active and I am so excited to see what he will look like and what his little personality will be like. I love feeling him move. I am thankful for friends and my husband that help me through the day to day! Life is good and God has helped me stay out of any negative spots this year and for that I am oh so thankful!! Posting a few pictures of our week. :)