I have realized...

Throughout these 2 years that I have been blogging I have realized that I love to write, but I prefer to write more serious, thoughtful things than "Hey guess what we did today!" It's funny because the pictures and what we did today is alot easier, but I feel that if people are going to read my blog, they want to read something worth reading. I also have realized that I second-guess every post I write. I have seriously at least 20 posts started, but never finished, or didn't make the cut once I was ready to post it. I laugh at myself for being so silly... Honestly I don't even know who is reading this anyways, so why do I care?? Lol, that being said, I am going to try my hardest to post a blog more often with content that will, hopefully, be worth your while!  :)

Happy Birthday Big Girl!!

Tori,

Where has the time gone? It feels like just yesterday I was holding a tiny newborn in my arms. You have grown from a tiny, helpless, adorable newborn baby, to an independant, spirited, and beautiful 3 year old. You are such a joy to me. Though you are often a challenge, I still love every minute I spend with you. A year ago I would have written all the new words you were saying, or all the milestones you had hit, but this year I have watched your little personality begin to form. This past year has been a year of discovery and wonder as you find out who you are, and how things work.  You have stopped asking "what" questions and started asking "why."

You are an encourager. You tell the people around you what is good about them. You say "good job" and you say things in a way that builds others up.

You have such an amazing imagination. You play make-believe, and dress-up more than anything else.

You love to dance and sing, but you are a little shy to perform for anyone but Mommy and Daddy.

You have finally started to pose for the camera, but only when you want to.

You make conscious decisions between right and wrong, and accept the consequences of your actions.

You are learning to ride your tricycle

You can officially draw a smiley face

You hate it when Mommy or Daddy is sad, and always know how to make us smile

You love your animals: Mya, Sam, and Bella

Your favorite bedtime song is "All the Pretty Little Horses" AKA Hush-a-bye-bye

You love to read books with Mommy

You are almost fully potty trained (minus nighttime which will come with time)

You have pretty good rhythm for a 3 year old, and you love to dance!!

You're cute and you know it!! "I'm a cutie"

We love you big girl!! Happy Birthday!!

Since I'm behind on blogging...

here are some pictures from the last month, 

in no particular order,

until I can get a real post up!

Thanksgiving

Birthday Party, Cinderella and Prince Charming

Cupcakes!!

Sweet Friends

Her new rocking horse, Thunder

Tori and Taylor in Tori's new big girl bed!!

Tori and Taylor at McDonalds

Tori riding her new Tricycle!

Birthday morning with her princess dolls

Her favorite present! A dollhouse

Haha love it

Crazy hair after nap one day lol

I pray that she will be different...

My whole life all I ever wanted was to fit it. My life was a constant battle of pleasing others. What freedom and joy I have experienced letting go of this lie and grabbing onto God's truth that I am not of this world. Choosing to please Him instead of trying to please imperfect people. These verses are some of my core verses for my life as a christian...

First I want to put the message paraphrase of Romans 12:2 because I just LOVE it...

Romans 12:1-2

 "So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, 

develops well-formed maturity in you."

Romans 12:2

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, 

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you, 'declares the Lord,' 

Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, 

Plans to give you a hope and a future."

Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart 

and lean not on your own understand; 

in all your ways acknowledge him, 

and he will make your paths straight."

I am so thankful that God has opened my eyes to 
the importance of NOT fitting in.

I want to be different 

I want to focus my attention on God

I want God to bring the best out in me

I want God to renew my mind

I don't want to fit in without thinking

I want to stick out
I wanna be different, and I want it to be obvious

I want to trust in God and His Plan for me




I also want my daughter to have the joy that I have found!

I pray that I will be an example for Tori
I pray she will feel God's presence always and desire to do His will

I pray that she will come to know Jesus young

I pray she will see her worth through God's eyes and not the worlds

I pray she will hold onto His promises

I pray she will always know how beautiful she is to HIM

I pray that she will know early on that what the world thinks is unimportant
I pray that she will embrace her purpose
that she will know that she was made to glorify God
I pray she will choose to be different
I pray to the God who gave her to me that He will guide me as I guide her
I pray that He will give me the wisdom, patience, and knowledge in my parenting
I pray that my purpose in life shines clearly through to her
My purpose is to glorify God and God alone


I will remain on my knees for her forever until the day I die
One of the most influential and important things that we can do for our children is to
PRAY FOR THEM
There will come a day when I have no control of what goes on in her life
When that day comes I will not be afraid because no matter what I can always pray
Even when I am no longer in control of my baby, God will be
I am working my way out of a job, I am training her up in the way she should go
and then I will give her back to God...
I pray that God will help me to prepare her for this world 
So that when that day comes 
I can smile as I watch her wave goodbye knowing
God is in control... She is ready... And I am still praying

O sweet Tori, why won't you sleep?

Dear Tori,

 Lately you are driving me crazy! I love you very much and as much as I would like to spend my entire day playing with you, I can't! Can you imagine what our house would look like if I just played with you all day and never cleaned the house, or did laundry?? Do you know how grumpy you are when you don't get a nap? I wish that your little almost 3 year old mind could understand how important it is for you to take a nap. I know the world is so intriguing and you don't want to miss a thing, but I promise little one you aren't going to miss anything by taking a nap!! You have so much time to discover the world and to experience new things. You will feel so much happier if your body gets the rest it needs. I do my very best to be a good mommy. We always read a book, then I put you in your bed with your bunny, and cover you up with your favorite blankets, and rub your back while I sing your favorite song. Why will you not lay down and go to sleep? Don't you know that you are so very tired?? Don't you realize that you can't possibly go to sleep while standing on your head, or throwing your bunny in the air, or balancing him on your feet, or singing/talking/squeeling at the top of your lungs? Haven't you figured out that you wake up so much happier when you get the sleep you need? Don't you know that I will ALWAYS do what is best for you and that if Mommy says you need to take a nap, then I must have a good reason? I know that the past 2 months have been tough for us both. You just want to play, play, play, and I just want you to sleep, sleep. sleep! We are stuck in a battle of wills, and I am sorry sweet baby, but Mommy always wins... not because I want to win, but because I know what is best for you, and that is a nap. I'm sorry that you are having such a hard time with this! I wish I could make this easier for you, but that wouldn't teach you anything. I wish I could explain to you in words that you understand that all of this is for your own good. I wish I could help you understand that one day you will wish so bad that someone would force you to have a 3 hour nap every day. I love you little stinker, you know that!! Please, Please!! Lay down, be still, close your eyes, hug your bunny, and GO TO SLEEP!!! I am begging you to surrender, throw up your white flag, and give in!! You need it, I need it, The pile of laundry on the couch needs it. I love you so much!! Until next time...

Your Mommy

The Pumpkin Patch

Just some pictures from our trip to the pumpkin patch!

Halloween...

Please know I am not judging those of you who do celebrate this day, I am only expressing my own thoughts and opinions because this is really on my heart tonight. I know that there are some out there who don't have a strong conviction about this and that's okay. This is just me...

I have been researching all night because, although I am not torn in my beliefs of this holiday, I am torn as to how and why it has become such a huge thing in our culture. It almost breaks my heart as I read the origin on Halloween. As a Christian I realize I could never support this holiday. I am feeling strongly convicted that this is not just innocent fun. Though many may be disagree, I feel that, for our family, it is impossible to separate the innocence of trick-or-treat with the origin, and the evil surrounding Halloween. (I am posting a link with the origin and history of Halloween, and the Christian view of this at the bottom of this post.) I understand that these days there is "no harm" in allowing children to go door to door dressed as scary or even not-so-scary characters and going door to door to get candy. I just cannot support this tradition and have a clear conscience in doing so.(I also just never know when there is going to be someone who gets a kick out of scaring my kid by jumping out as an awful scary looking zombie or something, and I have known people who do this) As I looked through the history of Halloween, and Christian views of it I found verse after verse telling me this is NOT okay. I almost dread this time of year. I would like to lock myself inside my house with Tori and not have to face all of the Halloween stuff everywhere, but I realize that is unreasonable. I have to take my little girl out of the house. I have to go into the grocery store  at least once a week and I don't know how to explain to her why there are scary faces, blood, skeletons, spiders, ghosts, witches, and so much more all around her. Why does our culture say this is ok?? Why do they put these things everywhere larger than life for my baby to ask me about, and be worried over, or maybe even have nightmares over? I know that ultimately it is mine and Adam's responsibility to teach Tori that these things are pretend and that there is nothing to be afraid of, but how hard of a concept that is to grasp for a 2 year old. I wish I could run away from it, but I know I can't. I do realize I have taken the more "bold" approach to this day, but when I am tempted to just relax about it, or let her be a kid and go trick-or-treating, or walk through the Halloween stuff with her in the cart I am reminded of these verses:

Romans 12:2
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

"2 Corinthians 6:14, 15"
"For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?" 

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
"Test everything. Hold onto the good. Avoid every kind of evil."

I also wanted to include Romans 12:1-2 in the Message because I just love this paraphrase so much...


Romans 12:1-2
 "So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."


This is the link for alot of the info I have been ranting about.
Halloween Origins and Customs


All this to say,
Yall I so dislike Halloween... 
Just walking into Walgreens this week to get one little thing I was bombarded with huge awful creatures hanging from the ceiling with black robes hanging off of them and arms reaching out to grab you. There were skeletons, zombies, and some of the famous horror film characters all hanging by rope from the ceiling. It freaked me out a little and I'm an adult... No matter where I went in the store we could see them and Tori spent the whole 3 minutes in there with her eyes buried in a stuff animal I grabbed off an end-cap... I was pretty upset and asked to speak with a manager. Yall may think I'm nuts, but seriously I feel like I should at least have a choice in the matter... It was almost impossible to find a spot in the store that we couldn't see the scary stuff. I mean it was hanging from the ceiling I felt almost forced to look at it. I just told nicely asked the manager that I just wanted him to know how upset I was over this, and that my only request was that it be kept contained in the aisle so that I could make the choice to avoid it. I also told him I would not be back in Walgreens until this season was over. He was very apologetic and said he would see what he could do, of course nothing was changed... It was absolutely horrible.


It makes me sad that this beautiful time of year has to be tainted by Halloween

After tonight I am determined to have a positive attitude about the Fall
This year it snuck up on me, and I wasn't ready for my little girl to have to deal with it
Next year I will be better prepared.
I am getting excited for all the fun that will come within the next few weeks.
We will go to the pumpkin patch
We will go to the fall festival at a nearby church
Tori will turn 3 and we will celebrate her precious life.
She will get to have a dress-up party, and all her friends can come wear their costumes to celebrate her with us.
I love the leaves changing, and the crisp air, and the beauty of God's creation as the season changes.
I love pumpkins, and scarecrows, and Thanksgiving.
I love to sit outside by a fire with the ones I love and roast hot dogs and marshmallows
I love pumpkin pie, and candy corn
I love jumping in a pile of leaves :)
I love this time of year!!

On a lighter note, we will be taking Tori to the pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin and for her first time ever we are going to carve it!!! We have been reading the pumpkin patch parable book a lot and she can't wait until her pumpkin will have a "new face." I will definately post some pictures of that!!

Happy FALL to all of you!!

Kimono Love...

Aunt Say-Say sent us a precious Kimono from Japan... Doesn't she just look perfect in it??

Did I mention...

We have hair!!! And we love it :)

My mind drives me crazy

For those of you that do not know I have ADD, not the bouncing in my chair, can't sit still kind of ADD, but the can't focus, can't remember, can't do more than one thing at a time, daydream all day long kind of ADD. My brain will not slow down tonight. I'm laying in bed trying to sleep, can't sleep decide to call someone and chat for a minute, no one answers cause it's 10:30 at night, then I lay back down and this is how my mind goes:

I have got to get my coupons together so I can go to the grocery store

I need dog food TOMORROW

Did I feed the cats?

I need a haircut

I wonder what time Westin will be here in the morning?

Dang didn't brush my teeth... I don't want to get up...

Gross...

I didn't take Mya to get her heartworm shot I have got to remember to do that tomorrow...Heartworm shot for Mya.... Heartworm shot for Mya

I am going to jerk these covers off of my husband if he does stop moving

Where is my favorite pillow... gasp he has it under his head... pull it out (sweetly) That's better

God I could really use some patience tomorrow, and maybe a little guidance for my disobediant 2 year old.... Sorry I started that prayer wrong, Thank you for today!! Even if my baby is driving me crazy, it was really sweet and adorable when she sang "A dream is a wish your heart makes" even if it was off tune. It really was a good day.

I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow

I want to have a picnic with Tori and Westin out back

I hope it doesn't get too cold to go camping one more time

I love camping

I want a new flashlight

Did I get Sam inside??

Wet clothes in the washer... I'll just rewash them tomorrow

O man sorry God I was praying, I didn't mean to get off track... (did my best to focus and prayed some specific prayer request I won't share)... thank you for such wonderful friends, and my precious family I love you Jesus! Night

Gotta set my alarm...It's 11:10!?... I've been laying here thinking for almost an hour...

I just went to the bathroom there is no way I have to go again...

ugh... might as well brush my teeth...change the clothes to the dryer... check my facebook...let Sam in... there was something else... o what was it...O yea! Feed the cats...

and then write a crazy random blog about how my mind is driving me crazy!!!!! I have got to get this under control. You would think by now I would be used to it, but really the older I get it seems to get worse... Maybe this rant will help me be tired... here's hopin!

Not a Fan

Around here we are not fans of Halloween. I honestly HATE it. I hate covering my baby's eyes in every store. I hate worrying about what she might see and the nightmares that could follow. Why our culture would devote a day to scaring children is beyond me and absolutely no fun in my opinion... That being said I still LOVE fall, and I love that Tori still gets to dress up to go to a Fall Festival and then again for her birthday since it is so close!! I am planning on making her costume, but I haven't put much thought into it yet... I should probably do that soon! lol I have been seeing pumpkins outside of all the stores and I got all excited at the thought of going to the pumpkin patch soon!! And then I thought hmm... how could I decorate a pumpkin that would be fun and different?? So I googled a bit and found this cute picture!! I am going to see what I can do with this example and create a few of my own fun pumpkins! Stay Tuned for pictures of mine!!

My Hobby...

Some people knit, some people read a good book, some people fish, some people widdle, some people build things, but me... I take pictures! It IS my hobby. Pictures tell a story for me, they remind me of that moment. I enjoy it and I do it because I absolutely love to do it!! It may be a picture of the Buffalo River, or my sweet little girl, or my husband, or a sweet moment, or my animals, or my best friends kid, or a hippo at the zoo, or the way the blocks all over the floor look... whatever it may be, I look for those opportunities and I try to catch them... Maybe one day I will purchase an awesome camera and photoshop and really do it up big... but for now my little Nikon photoshoot digital camera and the built in editor of my iphoto does the trick... I am going to TRY to make a day each week that I post 3 pictures that I have taken, old or new. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!!!

Just a taste... These are all from the past month... more to come!! Hope ya like them :)

Introducing...

The newest member of our family, Bella!! This pretty kitty wandered in to our carport one night in July to get out of a downpour and never left!! She was extremely malnourished and so sad looking, but she was sweet and loving from the moment she walked up. I gave the best effort I could to get her a good home, and not get attached, but after 2 weeks of trying, and no luck at all, I didn't have the heart to drop her off at a shelter and not know what happened to her. So, after a check-up 2 weeks ago from the vet, we got the ok to bring her inside and introduce her to Sam and Mya. She fits in perfectly with all of us!! She's still getting used to Mya, but she loves Adam, Tori, me, and Sam!! So happy that my Sam has a playmate, and that Adam finally has a cat that likes him! haha. She is such a sweet, playful, pretty little thing!! Thanks for adopting us Bella!!

She is always playing!

Best friends...

I'll clean your ears if you'll clean mine!

We're still here!!

Hello all! Sorry it has been so long since I have posted anything!! I'm lacking time and creativity these days!! Hopefully very soon I will be back to writing about what we're up to!! Until then... here are some pictures from our photo shoot with Kristen Dunn... They turned out AMAZING!!! I love them so much, I don't know how I am going to pick which ones to put on the wall haha... enjoy!!