Haircut Monday!

Today is the day I got my hair cut!  I haven't had short hair in a few years.  I decided that since this year was going to be a positive year for our family, I need a change...I've started exercising and I've decided I needed a haircut, so here it is.......

Just joking!!! That's Kayden doing something crazy, but he also got a much needed hair cut!! :-D

Here I am, I'm not good at taking selfies....no make up AND I got my grey/white infested eyebrows waxed!!! 

I love it!!!  

Have a great day!!! 

 

Joys of Motherhood

I am so blessed to have been chosen to be Kayden and Presley Kaye's mom.  You see....God chose me specifically to be their mommy and carry them in my belly for 9 LONG months, but it was all worth it!!! 

Even moms that have adopted a child....God chose YOU specifically to be that child's mother!  It's a long battle with home studies and paper work, but it was all worth it!!!

Wouldn't you agree Moms? 

This weekend, I was just thinking....this is scary.....what if all of is moms put together a book of some of our funniest, saddest, silliest stories from our kids.  

How could we just pick a few right? 

My crazy kiddos!  Excuse the crazy hair off to the right! ;-) 

So the joys of motherhood for me this weekend week 

1. Spending time with Presley Kaye while Kayden was Margaret & Scott's 

2. Watching Frozen 10 million times!  I love it, but I am getting tired of it.....

3. Trying to regulate PK's bowels....she has tummy issues.  I know some other moms that have this problem.  She has been having tummy issues lately and it has been making her cry....no fun at all, NO don't worry, there is no picture for this one! ;-) 

4. Picking up my lil man from his 5 day adventure with his beloved Nannie and Pops!! 

He was telling me to leave and go home!! 

5. Never ending kisses and hugs from my sweet guy when he gets home!! 

6. My kids love each other, but man do they fight and argue!!!  I've gotten to the point that if you are not dieing, bleeding or stuck in some hole (that you shouldn't have been playing in the first place), then DO NOT TATTLE!  You need to work it out on your own!  Which usually means SHARE!!! 

         You mean I have to share? >(

7.  PK has the opportunity to start back at dance again!!!  She and I am so excited!!!  Another dance mom will also help me out by picking her up every other Friday till recital.  We are so thankful for KDA and for Mrs. Laine!! 

8. Kayden has the privilege to be a part of a tournament team that is being coached by his Tball coach for the past 2yrs.  We are called the LUGNUTS and we will be playing in our first tournament next weekend in Farmington.  We had practice this after noon and it was sooo nice!! 

Please pray for us as we all begin this new journey with our boys!  GO LUGNUTS!!! 

Photo courtesy of Kluane Billings, a baseball mom. I copied from our team fb  page. :-) Thanks girl!!! 

9. Presley Kaye is just wild and crazy all the time!  She is a hoot!!  She will get her picture taken with Mr. Kool-Aid, but will slide under the table at Chick-Fil-A 30min prior because she is scared of the CFA cow (with a bday hat)!!!  I don't get it!!!  Crazy girl, but you just gotta love her!!! :-) 

10. Most importantly, as I said before, I'm thankful that God chose me to be Kayden Christian and Presley Kaye Gunn's mommy!  I will do whatever it takes to raise them in the correct way and manner to be warriors for Christ. 

I know I'm missing some more stories, but my mind is starting to wind down and want to head for bed!  

Have a great week everyone!!  

Our GOOD weekend!

Besides the "7yr Anniversary", we have had a really good weekend with Presley!  FYI....not having my phone with me, means I didn't get very many pictures with Eric's.

Kayden is with his Nannie and Pops in Little Rock.  Here is a little picture and video highlight of the fun he is having down there: 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/r8ns4ubn1a4757s/IMG_0499.mov

I couldn't figure out how to post the actual video, so this will have to do.  Hopefully you can open it and see it.  PK laughed non stop and watched it 5 times!! 

Yesterday, we went out and had brunch at Denny's after dropping of important baseball stuff for Kayden.  

After that we went to Meme and Papaw's house for a visit and a small nap for daddy!  We haven't seen Meme in awhile, so we were glad to catch up with her!  

Eric enjoyed checking out their new furniture (remote recliners).  Presley made a lot of pretty pictures that I believe turned into...humm books?!? 

Eric and I decided to take Presley to Crystal Bridges.  This would be all of our first time to go.  They have a lot of things going on for kids during spring break! 

Before we could go, we had to stop at...where else, but Walmart!!!  I got to see my wonderful SIL while we were there and my cousin's wife Amy and her mother were there!!!  I'm sure there were a few more people that I think my husband saw and spoke too!!!

Anyway, Crystal Bridges was good....I think it would've been better honestly if PK wouldn't have been there.  We didn't get to look much and just walked fast to the craft/education area for kids.  Presley did like the statues.  She kept laughing at them & one time she whispered "momma, they don't have any clothes on!!"  I had to explain why they didn't and why she needs to keep hers on....isn't that right Ms. Kourtney!?! ;-) 

It's very beautiful and I plan on going back soon!  Here are a couple of pictures we took while at Crystal Bridges.

Presley working on a scratch art.  We finally finished this today!!! 

My rock and I 

Presley in front of one of the art pieces out side, showing off her scratch art! 

Eric took us out to eat that night to Olive Garden.  I finally tried something new!!!  I usually eat the Ravioli de Portabello, but last night had the Light lasagna with zucchini and some other vegetables I think.  Topped with grilled chicken.  It was awesome!!!  

Here is a picture of my crazy husband at the OG

Eric just isn't right!!! Lol!!! He makes me laugh so much!!

Today, Eric woke up sick with allergies and I had a headache and took my medicine late last night, so we slept in this morning. 

So what do we do on a Sunday morning?  Watch Frozen....AGAIN!!! 

I am so thankful that our church has services recorded, so we can watch them if we are not able to attend in person!!  

Hope everyone has a great week!!  

7 YEARS....

Today marked 7 years that my mom was taken from my family. 

I have deleted this post once already, because I realized, I was doing exactly what I said I WASNT going to do....and that is to focus on the past and the negative.   

Today, started out okay, then a little melt down happened and I realized I just had to fall on my knees because I knew today was not going to go as I expected.  

Luckily, my husband decided Presley and I needed to get out for the day and so we did.  Kayden is at his Nannie and Pop's house for 5 days while he has spring break.  (Nannie and Pop's are Margaret and Scott Campbell.  Margaret is momma's BFF and we are so blessed to have them both in our lives!)

In order to focus on my family, I decided to turn my phone off for the day!!!  So thankful I did, but also thankful for my friends that text me or sent FB messages to me letting me know they were thinking of me.  I read them after PK went to bed....I have awesome friends/family!!!  

I got my mom's bible out tonight and found my favorite verse that I lean on so much:

Look at this 👆!!  Is this not awesome!!  I love that she has notes all in her bible and especially for me and my brother.  

You see, when she wrote this, I wasn't trusting in my Lord like I should've been.  My momma knew what I needed and I know she prayed for me every day that I would have a relationship with Jesus, settle down, get married and give her beautiful grandbabies.  

My momma knew that my life at the time she wrote this did not reflect a true witness for God.  I am so thankful for a Godly praying momma who never gave up in me!!!

This is an explanation of Isaiah 43:2, that fits what I had originally posted about, but deleted.  I almost drowned, but thankfully I was saved!  When I moved to NWA, I found an awesome church and really felt the desire or need to be there.  Since moving, I have truly found my relationship with Jesus.  I am on a path now that I can truly say, that even though my Momma's death was tragic, something good did come out of it.  I learned to lean on God and give everything to him.  To have a relationship with him and focus on his word and teachings, as I raise my children and be the best wife God intended on me to be.  

I picture my self as the person in the FootPrints in the Sand poem.  He carried me for many many steps, but thankfully he is always by my side!!  That poem was my Momma's favorite and now it is mine, as it has a personal meaning for me.  

Today, I wanted to be a reflection of what GOOD has happened in the past 7 yrs.  

7yrs ago, my mom was murdered, but TODAY I know I am a sinner that was saved by God's grace and love!!!   

Till we see each other again Momma...Love you to heaven and back!!! 

My Sparky....My smart lil man

My little sparky received his green jewel tonight at Awana's!!  At Awana's you receive awards or jewels after you learn 4 bible verses or sets of verses.  

I am so proud of him!!!  

Eric and I received a copy of his STAR literacy results and I am so excited to say that Kayden improved 62 POINTS from August!!!  That is awesome!!  

He started out at 472 which is a low emergent reader and now he is in the mid emergent reader area at 534.  

He has made so much progress when we were doing tutoring.  I hate we had to stop it.  I know to some 62 pts may not be much, but to this momma....it is a major accomplishment!! :-) 

Frustrates me that he loves to read and write and those are the two things he struggles with most.

I'm so proud of all of the hard work Kayden has put forth at school.  He is such a smart little boy!!!  We have an awesome Kindergarten teacher who has been such a blessing to us!  I truly believe God placed us in Mrs. Marts room for a reason.  We sure do love her!! 

Kayden & Mrs. Marts on the 1st day of kindergarten

Hello...I'm finally awake!!! :-)

Okay guys, so while I was FINALLY starting my bible study on Learning Spiritual Discipline on my Bible app (I was suppose to start over 6mo ago), this was the first verse that came up....

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1, 2 NIV)

Is that not awesome!!!  I mean, with everything that I felt and wrote last night and then this morning!  

Yes Lord, I am awake now and listening!!!  

Work In Progress......

What a crazy few months it has been!  We have had TONS of snow around NWA & I am not afraid to say that I am ready for SPRING to arrive and stay, pushing old man winter out the door till next year!! :-).  FYI....this is a long post!  

The past few months I have been struggling.  I wasn't sure with what, till a friend of mine posted her husband's amazing story of "His journey to 26.2" on her blog.  He ran in the Little Rock Marathon on March 2nd.  You can read about his testimony here: http://nebraskamanthes.blogspot.com/2014/03/my-journey-to-262.html 

With Eric's real estate photography business starting up, this winter has been rough.  I'm not going to lie, there were days when we didn't know how we were gonna pay some bills.  When it snows, the  real estate market pretty much stops till it starts thawing out & I have the only job at this time that is continuous and we know that we will get a paycheck every 2 weeks.  I always had my faith that God would provide for us (and he did) but it is so hard not to worry and stress over things of this world and hand everything over to him.  In Matthew 21:22 "Whatever you ask in prayer, trusting, you shall receive".  God has ALWAYS provided for us.  

With all the stress, I have been feeling blah.  Kind of depressed in a way.  Sleeping a lot.  My family has been sick a lot, so when they would sleep, I would sleep.  I could sleep all day and all night, if my kids would let me.I have let my house go to chaos with laundry pilling up.  My job performance was just so so.  My patience with my kiddos was very little.  On top of that, March isn't the best month for me.  It will be 7 years on March 22nd that my mother was taken away from my family.  

With ALL of that being said, TODAY IS A NEW DAY!!!!!  I AM A WORK IN PROGRESS!!!!!  

In SS, we are going through the book of Ephesians.  I'm going to be honest, I ran out of the house without my bible and No, I hadn't even read our lesson.  To be honest....I can't remember the last time I had an actual quite time to read my bible.  I pray daily and talk to the Lord on a daily basis.  But to actually sit down and read his word.....nope, can't remember.  How sad is that!  

Anyway, back to this morning.....in SS, we learned that in Ephesians 4:17-32, the Ephesians had to decided to on how to live their lives; Their old ways, or their new way after seeing what God had done for them & transformed their lives.  We as Christians should stand strong and stand out amongst the crowd.  We should not turn to this crazy world and submit to the "norm" just because that's what everyone else does.  We should stand apart from everyone else. In Ephesians 4:31-32, it says "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."  

I am not the same person I once was 7 yrs ago.  I'm not even the same person I once was 4 yrs ago.  I do still make mistakes, I am only human.  

With Joe's testimony and our SS lesson today, I have really found the encouragement that I have needed.  I believe God has been trying to help me for awhile, I just haven't been listening till now.  If you do not try and keep yourself focused in Gods word, it is so easy to fall into this world that is dark and lonely.  I can't help but to think of the song "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine."  We can only keep it shining, as long as we stay in Gods word and teachings.

I help teach Mission Friends on Sunday nights at our church & even tonight went so well and I am so excited about what is in store for this month and what we are going to do!  We are learning about Annie Armstrong!  

Let Gods light shine around you as you walk this week doing what ever it is that you do!!!!