Breaks of Life

My dearest readers,
I’m writing to apologize for my 6 month absence.  Something very difficult has happened in my life and I’ve been waiting in hopes I could build up the courage to write about it.  Unfortunately, it still hasn’t come.  And maybe I won’t ever be able to write about it; even though writing is the one thing I’ve used to help myself through situations like this in the past.  This is different.  As the months have passed me by and I’ve timidly stayed off my blog, I have been able to find God’s grace and new blessings that have come out of this time.  I’m still worried and battle every day the fear that things may never be as they once were, but I know my Lord has a plan, so for now I’m sticking to it the best I can!

My husband is back on the road again.  He's getting to spend the summer working in Michigan so it looks like the kids and I get to vacation to Michigan two summers in a row!  Having him home for 5 months was amazing.  I think God worked his work schedule out to accommodate our family through this difficult time and I'm so thankful for that.  Life together (married) so far, 8 months in to be exact, is going wonderfully!  The kids have adjusted so well to living together and all that comes with that.  I try to slow down as much as I can and really take it all in because they are already 5 and almost 8 and before I know it it’s going to be their high school graduation and they won’t be in our home any longer.  So, regardless of the outside world and all that it brings on us, we are going to work hard on building these children into what God has meant them to be.  It’s definitely hard without my husband home on a regular basis but it works for us and the days apart only make us feel closer to one another.  Strange as it sounds it’s so true!  

I want to say thank you to all of you who still get on and read my blog.  I thought with no recent posts the traffic would dwindle away but it has definitely warmed my heart the few times I’ve been on here, just to read the blogs that I follow, and seen a few hits throughout the weeks.  God Bless!

I hope to get back in the habit of posting at least once or twice a month.  Until then, here are a few pics to illustrate how our year has been so far…

We threw a surprise 50th birthday party for my Uncle on Feb. 23rd and this is the photo booth I set up to get funny pictures of all the guests that attended.  My sister and my Lil man. 

My husband and I

My sister and I

My sister and I again

Ok, we definitely had the most fun with it but who wouldn't! :)

My mother, father and Lil Man.

My Lil Man turned 5 the beginning of March.  We had an angry birds party with all our friends and family.

He's definitely growing up so fast.  I don't know why the 5th birthday seems like such a milestone but either way it was a great day and he's now very eagerly awaiting the start of kindergarten.   

One of my best friends and her wonderful fiancé officially tied the knot and I was so honored to help out by taking their pictures.  Congrats! 

For my mother-in-law we decided to surprise her with a picture of her 4 grandchildren all together for Mother's Day.  This afternoon was a lot of fun with my stepdaughter, my Lil Man, and their two cousins.   

This definitely would've been a cute pose but the sun was in their eyes and they thought it was hilarious.  Still very precious!

For the first time we decided to play t-ball this year!

He loves it!

My Lil Man's preschool graduation.  He's in the middle with khakis and a navy shirt on.

He looks so grown up!  I just can't believe it sometimes... he's such a blessing!

Well, that pretty much brings us to now.  2013, so far, has caught me off guard, made me cry, made me laugh, made me miss certain things, allowed me to enjoy new things, and overall been ok.  It's so easy to get down in the negative parts of life but to stay with only the positive may be some work but the rewards are worth it.  Thank you!

Holiday is Over and Another Year of Life

It's always so amazing to me that the year has come to an end.  I try to look back and reflect and take the time to be as prepared as I can for the year to come but I'm just not feeling that way this year.  I feel like 2012 was an enormous hurdle that took me a long time to get to and then took a lot of effort to get over.  I'm so happy with everything that has taken place and at the very same time I'm still exhausted from them.  We are all still working on getting life on track and schedule but it feels so good to be doing all of that and planning and preparing with the person I'm going to spend the rest of my life with... my one true love.  I thank my Lord everyday for the year 2012 and I always will. 

Christmas turned out to be a truly spectacular event for my family but not for hundreds or thousands around us.  Winter storm Euclid gave my family in Arkansas an amazing evening that turned into a snow covered winterland by the next morning.  We all stayed at my parents house that night and waking up the next morning and running out to play in the 10-12 inches of snow was an absolute blast.  My son, just like at the beach this past summer, was literaaly just running and falling in it everywhere.  It looked as if he was trying to swim in the snow.  By 11:00 am or so we all finally went in to eat breakfast and then dressed back up to go right back out.  The storm set records for overall amount that accumulated as well as for coming on Christmas Day.  So many families were not as lucky as we were and I know that some are still without power.  My prayers go out to them as well as all  of our Entergy men and women working around the clock to fix it.

Me and my Lil Man making snowballs.

My sister enjoying her coffee out in the snow.

   

Our snowman in the making.

Papaw and my brother in law getting in on the action!

 

My sister and her husband putting on the finishing touches.

Finally.... Freddy, Frosty's brother, is complete!



Tada!!!!!

Ending this past year like this definitely puts a smile on my face and love in my heart.  Snow is always so special because it reminds me of my childhood up north and I love getting to do all these fun things with my son when it comes along down here in the south.  I couldn't ask for a better family or better people to be in my life at this moment.  All of the support and love that's been showered on us through everything that's happened this past year takes my breath away.  We are truly blessed.

Happy New Year!

Thankful for Life as Predicted

As predicted, life has most certainly slowed down a little bit.  The last 4 weeks of the year are my favorite at work because we go all out and decorate for Christmas.  The office is a beautiful building and a wonderful space regularly but exceptionally so during the holidays.  This is also the time of year that my family spends the most time together.  I love everyone traveling home to all pile into my parent’s 3 bedroom house.  We blow up air mattresses and bunk for a few days and nights together doing nothing but eating, drinking, and playing games or watching movies.  It’s simple but it’s our time and it’s my favorite. 

As far as Thanksgiving goes, we do not get together unless everyone just so happens to be home because it’s too much to take off from work for that holiday and then turn around and do the same thing for Christmas just a few weeks later.  I did, however, go over to my new in-laws house for lunch and get to visit and celebrate with them.  This year, the one thing that I’m the most thankful for is my happiness.  That may not sound like very much, but considering what life was like for me at one point in time I’m ever so thankful that I’ve been able to move on and recover from that part of myself.  I didn’t even realize that that was what I had lost but it was and having it back now is such a joy.  I’m a completely different mother, a different worker, a different significant other, and a different family member.  Life has its ups and downs and being a happy person gives me the ability to deal with both in a positive way.  My Lord promises never to let His will take me where His grace will not protect me and I’m thankful to have a testimony of that.       

Married life two months in couldn’t be any better.  Since my husband had to go back to work immediately after our wedding weekend we have waited and planned a little honeymoon for the week right before Christmas.  He will be home by then and we are going to take off to Puerto Rico for a week and lay on the beach.   I wanted to vacation somewhere warm and believe it or not Puerto Rico is one of the most beautiful islands and most reasonably priced in the Caribbean.  I’ve already started on my packing list I’m that anxious to get away with him! J  Our lives are a constant trip to here or there because he’s a pipeliner and always gone.  Unless it’s a time when he’s in between jobs we only get to see each other if I make a road trip to wherever he’s at.  Over so much time, with no break, that gets very hard, but for now I’m proud of how we’ve both handled it.  It’s never easy but we just reach a point where you accept it because it is what it is and spending time upset or angry about it does the situation no good.  I’m proud of the work he does and always look so forward to the time he’s at home. 

I feel like I’m never able to get on here and really write like I used to because of work and kids and pictures and now husband but in all honesty I don’t have anything else to write about.  Life is so good and that’s a good thing for us.  Holidays and being newly married is all for now…. I’m looking at that as a blessing that there’s nothing more to report on in life.

Until next time enjoy the holidays and all that comes with it.          

Nuptials in Life

Long time no talk!  Life has been so crazy.  I expected that after the wedding everything would calm down a bit but noooooo, I’ve been asked to do 3 different picture sessions in my free time so that has really taken up all that I was hoping to get done… posting to my blog being one of them. 

My sister’s wedding couldn’t have been more perfect.  Everything went completely as planned and even though the weather took a chilly turn on us the outside ceremony was still perfect.  Guests brought jackets and everyone was comfortable.  The entire weekend was a whirlwind because of how many organized things we had going on and the whole family was together.  That was my favorite part.  I’m upset that I don’t have many pictures but we are still waiting on everything from the photographer.  She has however posted a few as a little tease to us so I’ll show you those…

Timeless Treasures Photography

Timeless Treasures Photography

Hunting for the garter! 

A little scared ring bearer who needed some Auntie love before walking down the aisle.

First dance.

The most handsome little boy in the world! :)

Timeless Treasures Photography

Bride and bridesmaid

Timeless Treasures Photography

Here's a few pictures from their honeymoon!  The most beautiful couple ever and two of the most precious people in my life.  I love you both and couldn't be more happy and proud for both of you!
Truly a fairytale love that will most definitely last a lifetime!

 

Now, for the surprise…. Me and my wonderful man eloped three weeks ago!  Surprise, surprise, surprise!  We are so happy to be announcing this and are excited as ever to be officially husband and wife.  It does feel a little strange calling each other that and especially for me to be signing a different name, but it comes with a much anticipated happiness.  Here are a few pics that my sister was able to snap during our little ceremony.  We got everyone together at the condo we were all staying for a few hours and so we went ahead and said our vows with our children and all our family there to witness it.  Nothing fancy, nothing overly planned.  Just to the point and as meaningful and precious as my sister’s wedding was the very next day!  It all came down to eloping then when everyone was there with us and we had a preacher available so we could sort of customize what we wanted said… or… wait until his job finishes which could be Christmas and just go down to the court house to be married.  The first was what we truly wanted and so we rushed down to the court house to get a marriage license and grabbed some ‘substitute ring’ and away we went.  I couldn’t have asked for anything better or more suited for us. 
 

One of my favorite pics!  My most precious Lil Man watching over us say our vows... front and center!

Putting the rings on.

You may kiss the bride!

 

Pheeeew!  It's official!

 

 

Even though it was a little chilly outside we had to have everyone line up to blow bubbles on us as we "left".  We stayed there for the food everyone was enjoying but the kids thought this was the funnest part!  :)

Our little family... happily ever after!

Life will be slowing down soon… I’ve just got to get through the next two weeks which is more pictures and then a friend’s wedding.  This fall has just been wedding season for us and the people closest to us!  But I couldn’t be more thankful for the precious memories and blessings that we’ve all received these last few weeks. 

Funny words of wisdom from children:

“No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.”  Kirsten, age 10

"I think you're supposed to get shot with an arrow or something, but the rest of it isn't supposed to be so painful."  Manuel, age 8

"No one is sure why it happens, but I heard it has something to do with how you smell. That's why perfume and deodorant are so popular."  Mae, age 9

"The rules goes like this: if you kiss someone, then you should marry her and have kids with her. It's the right thing to do." Howard, age 8