My little Pay Pie

That's my Payton. He's wearing a clip on tie. He's classy like that. Seriously. I asked him one day if he wanted to watch a movie. He agreed. I asked him which one, he replied, "I don't know just pick something classy."

See that button down shirt he's wearing? He calls those his work shirts. Daddy wears button down shirts to work. He's pretty fond of him.

What you don't see is the Union Soldiers hat is wearing along with that rugged bandanna around his neck. Cute as a button.

That pen in his pocket? He got that from church. It's his very own pen. That's a big deal to a 5yr old. I think it makes him feel big. ;)

And well how can you miss that big bottle of hand gel in his pocket. Mid-photo he was packing his Transformers backpack in hopes of going camping in our backyard tonight. Payton had his momma on his mind. He knew he could talk me into anything as long as the hand gel was coming along too.

Sweet boy, if it wasn't 35degrees outside...we would definitely be pitching a tent right now.

Matters of the heart

So I planned on writing up a post about my nook and how I always hated e readers until I had one. Yada Yada Yada. That was until I read Meg's post this morning. And well it just seemed so unimportant.
Every morning after I send Todd off to work I run upstairs coffee in hand to catch up on the latest bloggy news. For the most part the glimpses captured are homes neat, tidy, and decorated to the nines. That is not my house. I'm a stay at home, homeschool mom and I can't keep up. There are days I want to cry. Then there are days I've had enough. I just want to throw everything on the floor in black trash bags and put them at the curb. Right now as I'm sitting here typing there are 3floors in need of straightening and 4bathrooms that need a good scrubbing. If I turn my head to left, which I'm avoiding, there is a massive overfilled basket of dirty clothes I need to take to the basement. Our dinning room looks like the colored paper factory exploded. Dinner dishes are still in the sink. We couldn't afford the dishwasher that loaded itself. Don't judge! Everything will sit (except the dirty dishes, that would just be gross) until school is finished. It trumps the list. So don't you dare go ringing my doorbell before 2pm! ;)
Amid a lengthy list of struggles and hang ups blog world feeds the lie that I'm never good enough. My house will never look like a Pottery Barn ad and will never pass the white glove test. I am not a brilliant photographer with the latest and greatest camera. This is okay, I have to remind myself that everyday. I've always cared what people thought of me, craving acceptance. Whether it was in school, church, even blog world.
I read 1 Samuel 16:7 this week. It says, "But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
So you know what? It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if I don't have a perfect house, an old southern charmer we overhauled. It doesn't matter that I don't have Country Living knocking on my door to do a photo shoot. It doesn't matter that I don't have any original craft ideas. It doesn't matter that I only have 13followers on my blog. God does not care about these things. He cares that I give Him my all. That I do what I can do with a joyful, thankful heart. That I be the wife, the help meet He has called me to be. He has graciously blessed me with 2boys. He cares that I raise them with tender love, showing them the way to Christ. He wants me to spend my time wisely, working towards the eternal things. Reaching out to the poor, the widows, the orphans, the hurting and the sick. Those are the things that matter the most, things of the heart.
Don't get me wrong. The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful home and many wonderful things. He wants to enjoy them and be a good steward. But I cannot make them my god, my world.

Bake It Pretty

With Christmas quickly approaching I've got baking on my mind. One of my very favorite online shops is Bake It Pretty. I ADORE this site, everything you could need or want to make your baking, well... PRETTY!

Here's a few things on my list ;)

I definitely need more of these!

And some of these!

Don't forget these!

Edible Star Glitter! A must!

Self Portraits

"A great photograph is a full expression of what one feels about what is being photographed in the deepest sense, and is, thereby, a true expression of what one feels about life in its entirety." ~Ansel Adams

Chasing Rabbits

28yrs I have yet to try one, until today! I butchered the sucker.

I should have Googled before hand. Life without Google?? Can you remember it? It's just one of those things that just seems to have been there forever.

Encyclopedias baby! That is what we did before Google! The good old days. No need for worry of carpal tunnel, paper cuts were the real threat! Boy, I felt like we really arrived the day our set was delivered! What? A report on Rockets? No problem, I've got encyclopedias. Research report on our President at the time, Ronald Reagan, easy peasy let me just pull out my "R" Encyclopedia. Oh big, bulky Britannica you make me feel so out of date.

Do people still buy encyclopedias?

I had a good laugh the other night with my mom. We joked about how we thought we were really keeping up with times when our family took the big leap to purchasing a WORD PROCESSOR! HA!

And for the creme de la creme. You new you were super cool if you had a beeper. I love how parents felt more secure sending their kids out into the world armed with one of these. Sure you can beep me, but you're going to have to wait till I find a phone to call ya back!

143 that's all I got to say 143.

Back to the Pomegranate. I found this clip where Martha shows an easy way to "beat the pomegranate". Her words not mine ;)

Old School Fisher-Price meets Christmas!

A few weeks ago I grabbed my old fisher-price toys from parent's storage. And I am soo glad I did. The boys played with it for days but then I saw this! You see I have this pesky cabinet top that was not cooperating with any of my Christmas decorations, so I borrowed Serena's idea. :)

Skinny Jeans...

By the title betcha' thought you were going to see a photo of me donning a sweet pair of skinny jeans...well it ain't so. You're looking in the wrong closet. Long skinny legs was just never in the cards. They have been skinny at times, but never long. I've partially come to terms with this.

Three guesses who won't be "ruling the denim scene" this year. Cracks me up. It's like middle school all over again.

As one who has always loved fashion AND staying in it. It's hard not to beat myself up. Why have I not lost my "baby weight" 5 yrs later?? Why did I just eat those darn Hershey Kisses?? It's easy to stay content where I'm at. My husband thinks I'm hot. My opinion differs, but hey I'll take it!



I don't want to be content. I don't want to be a size 14 or a size 4. I just want to be healthy. So it's time! Time to be healthy. Time to think of others besides myself. It's not about me losing 40 pounds to fit in those lovely skinny jeans (total bonus). It's about being the healthiest me for my loves.


I'm always amazed how snippets of doubt creep in, failures return to the forefront. In the words of a man with some experience, "Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." Thanks Thomas Edison I think I will try just one more time.







*photo mytruefit.com via google images :)

Like Riding a Bicycle

Do you think blogging is like riding a bicycle? It's been forever, but you just got to get back on and start peddling. I miss it.





*photo thedailygreen.com via google images :)

Easter Blessings

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

(google images)

Happy Unbirthday to You!

Is today your birthday? Well if not here's a cupcake for you! Today we celebrated our unbirthdays.

A very merry unbirthday
To me?
To you
A very merry unbirthday
For me?
For you

Now blow the candle out, my dear
And make your wish come true
A very merry unbirthday to you!