49 years together...

Today we celebrated our Grandparents 49th anniversary in our true unique family style: pizza at Round Table! Tee Hee...it was nice to sit around and hang out with everyone. I really do love having a large family. We're close. Its beautiful. Out of 15 or so siblings between the two of them, my grandparents are the only couple to have managed to stay together. Wow. Thats awesome...

This pic of PaPa J is just too cute not to post. He's coming around to the babes, I think. ;o)



Its all because of these two people that my family is the way that it is. 5 children, 11 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren later...who would have thought a family would still see each other on a regular basis and genuinely enjoy each other? During Thanksgiving time its always tear jerking to hear us all relay our gratitude towards Grams & Gramps for keeping it together all these years. No family is perfect...but I'm thankful to say that I belong to this family.

Push it up, baby!

Okay- last night I started the "one hundred push ups" challenge... found at: http://www.hundredpushups.com I did the initial test and I was unable to even do 5 push ups! Apparently my abs have turned to mush because that is the only part of my body that ached when I did my measly 3 push-ups! And guess what? Today my abs were so sore! 3 push ups...really? I need to get back in shape...indeed.

So today I had 5 children in my care. An 8, 4, & 3 year old, and an 8 & 9 month old. Wow is all I can say. I thrive in chaos. I was quite proud of how our day went and how clean my kitchen stayed. Nobody starved...no one went missing...I think thats a great feat! I sure do have respect for all you moms of 5+ kiddos, thats for sure! Here's a pic of my beautiful, hectic day! :oD

I really don't like this plant that is in front of our house- so I decided to take a picture of it to make me see it from a different perspective. I think its very bright and has a very young, vibrant look to it.

Isn't it interesting how looking at something from another angle can change the way you think about something?

9 months in- 9 months out

GG is 9 months old today. She has been out just as long as she was in. As I was nursing her tonight and I just looked at her huge baby body sprawled across my chest and I thought- Dear, Lord...she is not going to be a baby much longer. She woke up a few hours after she went to bed tonight and I just held her close and rocked her back to sleep. She looked so innocent and peaceful there with her cheek smooshed up against the inside of my arm. Then she started screaming. Poor thing is teething, I think.

Do you think its normal?

to miss your precious little baby when she's just asleep in the next room? I consistently miss GG every night after she has been asleep for a few hours. I just want to wake her up and play with her and watch her smile and crack up at the world. She is growing up before my eyes. Its hilarious. She cracks up at the most simple things. She gets this cheesy little smile on her face that just makes my soul giggle.

She is absolutely amazing.

I replay all of the events that brought that little one into existence and I always try to say "I should have done that, or shouldn't have done that.." and then I think....WOW I'm glad it happened the way it did, mistakes and all...because my God I don't know where I'd be if it weren't for her. She adds such substance to my life. Man, being a mom....doesn't get much better than that.

Independence Day

Last night GG saw her first fireworks show last night from Great Grandma and Grandpa's property. She had a wonderful time hanging out with her buddies Little D & Iz. She stayed up later than that little girl has ever stayed up in her life. Poor thing was just loopy by 10 pm. She let momma sleep in until 9 am this morning! Which lead into a wonderful day in the sun at the pool with the cousins. She got in the pool for the first time, and I think I have a swimmer on my hands. That child did not want to get out of that pool. It was so great.

I can't help but think of my cousin today who arrived in Afghanistan for a 15 month deployment on Wednesday. With his own little one on the way it makes it all so much more heartbreaking. Today is a good day to think about all the soldiers out there and the families that miss them. We made this "cookie flag" in honor of him this afternoon.

Back to the heart

This morning I did something I haven't done in some time now. I was alone in my room just simply worshiping Him. Its been a long time where I stood still in the glory of God and soaked it in. I had someone coming over and I was supposed to be getting ready for the day but I just stood there worshiping. My goodness, it was so refreshing.

Every week I go to church...heck, most weeks I'm up on stage leading others in worship...But today...today was pure connection with my God. I had forgotten how much I love being in his presence. I've gotten away from it somehow. Isn't wonderful how great his timing is...I mean, just there in my room...listening to music and being inspired by Him. What a great start to a great day.

Oh, and today He reminded me that there isn't anything that He can't do.