Becoming better....

Moments like the ones above are convincing me that I may be becoming a better Mom. The girls and I were having some fun one night before bed and snapping some pics. I can't remember the last time we laughed like that together. I tend to be the rigid, keep on task as much as possible and get stuff done kind of mom. This moment here...We should have been getting ready for bed....We had been out later than usual at the Rockets banquet....But we started being silly and I was enjoying it. I was taking in the moment and enjoying their laughter and how much they were enjoying me playing along with them. I was realizing how much more important that is than what time we were getting to bed. 

Now....did I do this the rest of the week? Not necessarily. Lol. Of course we had other enjoyable moments but maybe not necessarily at bedtime. Lol. But that's ok. I'm learning that growth is slow but growth at any speed is still growth. 

That means I'm becoming a better Mom in my mind and a better person. It's only a little bit but I don't have much confidence in that arena sometimes so that makes me happy. 

Day to day

I truly don't understand how some days I notice how alive and wonderful I feel and some days I feel like my world is swallowing me up and I'm drowning alive.  I guess that's just life.

Barbells for boobs

Last weekend I participated in a fundraiser workout at Ronin Fitness for breast cancer awareness.

We ended up raising over $1200 and the event went great! Below are some pictures throughout the day. I'm so glad it was such a success.

And with the seasons change

Life may be getting ready to change drastically....  And I'm so excited. God has been preparing me and I'm ready!

I took the girls to Coopers Rock yesterday and it was beautiful! We hit the perfect weekend probably right before it gets too cold and the leaves fall off. The beauty of God's design is amazing standing there in what seems like the side of the earth. The colors of the trees are magical. Those moments are what reminds me of God's splendor.

The changing of seasons reminded me of what is happening in my life. I would normally not embrace this and live in anxiety and fear of what could happen instead of embracing the possibilities and magic that is happening before my eyes. The trick for me is taking my control out of the process as much as possible. Watch and see, God says....

I will post pictures later from or adventure. Stay tuned.

Big girls!

My baby lost her first tooth!! She has been waiting a long time for this. She was a late bloomer on the tooth-losing front as most of her friends starting losing teeth in kindergarten and she is now in third grade. Yes, we have heard it means you have great strong teeth but to a little kid it is a milestone that she has been waiting quite a few years for. I was beginning to think she may start her period before she lost her first tooth! LOL! But really, she was ecstatic to lose her first tooth even at 8.  And I'm sorry, I just have to say it....isn't she beautiful!!

 

 

 
This is a picture from Family Story Night at their school that we went to last week. These are their favorite student teachers and they were helping with the event. Charlotte loved that she had on the same slippers as Ms Sisson. We went to different rooms where they read a story to the kids and then did a craft with them. There are more pictures below. Charlotte enjoyed the company of Poppy Jo and Drea had fun with her friend, Sophia. In these pictures they are making maraccas.
 

Alive!

I often note my bad days more than my good days. I don't want to miss noting great days.....

I feel so incredibly ALIVE today!! I feel like God is opening up the world to me!! I feel like I hear the birds chirping and see the rainbow in the sky. Okay I'm being dramatic. But seriously, I'm amazed with the positivity I feel and how great I feel today. I haven't felt like this in a long time. And I truly believe I'm learning so much right now about me and I'm starting to see opportunities and possibilities. It's exciting to me! And I feel great! I haven't felt this good in a long time!!

That is all. Good night. :)

Chore chart - school days

The girls and I started a chart for school evenings and mornings to run a little smoother. Being a single mom has some disadvantages and getting everything done morning and night for two little people can be exhausting....so this is a way to organize our schedule and allow for the kids to have some independence. At 5 and 8 there were a lot of things they can do on their own that I just still always did for them, so we are exercising their abilities. :)

We've done some refining since we started and it's getting better. Like a rewards system for completing their daily list along with a sticker which if they accumulate 4 out of 5 we get to do something special like movie night. Here's our chart and our little treasure chest of rewards.

"Keep on being brave!" ~Love God

Thursday night I cried myself to sleep. A little overwhelmed with life. A little overwhelmed with being on my own. I cried to God asking how long it was going to be like this...was this how life would be from now on. (Sorry....I know this sounds a little depressing but there's a point, I promise.)

I get a daily "Verse of the Day" from my Bible app on my phone. Friday morning I woke up to this scripture:

"Keep on being brave! It will bring you great rewards. Learn to be patient, so you will please God and be given what he has promised."  - Hebrews 10:35-36

I was amazed at how much God was speaking to me and the comfort he was bringing me.

Then Saturday night at church we listened to a couple (Tim and Heather) who we have been sponsoring for their missions and the words Heather spoke allowed God to finally get it through my head. If I were to get what I want now and it wouldn't be God's time, it wouldn't work. It would be miserable. God revealed to me that being patient and waiting for His perfect timing will allow for Him to prepare everything and everyone so things will be just right.

The clarity and peace God has given me this weekend through his wisdom amazes me. My trust in

I just wanted to share.