If Home Is Where Your Heart Is. . . .

I have so much to be thankful for today (and every day).  I am fearful to write this post because I am going to forget so many things and I'm going to not mention so many people that I'm afraid of hurting someone's feelings, but I'm going to overcome those fears and say what I woke up thankful for this morning. My family.  For sure!  I'm thankful for Andy and that he is willing to stick it out with me day after day. I'm thankful that he knows I need encouragement and support and he gives it to me.  I'm thankful for my first born, Hays.  He has been a great and easy child and now teen and I'm thankful that we can laugh together and dream together.  I'm thankful for Maggie and her friendship.  I'm thankful that she trusts me and I'm thankful for her childlike spirit even though she is growing up so fast.  I'm thankful for Tiki.  I know that God has him in our family for a reason--for many reasons and I am thankful that he is stretching m

First things first, today is my Gran'ma's birthday.  I miss her.  But not in a depressing way like I've been writing about.  Just in general.  I miss her.  Happy birthday, Gran'ma. Anyway, yesterday was beautiful!!!  I took the kids and two of their friends up to Cascade for some sledding/snowboarding and we had a blast!!!

Today is my Little Nugget's Birthday.  He's nine.  I just love him so much.  He is so good to me.  He knows me so well--he knows when I'm down, he knows when I need a snuggle, he knows when I change the hand soap.  He's my little Sweat Muffin.  He's my little Thumb Sucker.  I love my boy!

Today I received a letter.  The front of the envelope said: To An Important Person In My Life.  I opened up the letter and this is what I read: "We must find time to stop and thank people who make a difference in our lives." -John F. Kennedy Dear Mom, Everyday I start out seeing you.  My whole life started out with you.  Where would or even could I be without you?  You are such a blessing in my life.  Every time I think "mom," there is a smile on my face.  I'm able to tell you anything.  Without you I wouldn't believe.  Without you, I couldn't survive.  Thank you so much for being my mom.  You are unique, and I love you for that.  Dear mom, I will love you forever, no matter what.   Love, Your Daughter Maggie This is what life is all about.  This is why I get up each morning.  This is why I love so big.  I am blown away and humbled by this letter and at the same time I want to shout from a mountain top.  I love her so much and she loves me so

I haven't posted in like three weeks until yesterday.  It's been busy.  Let me do some photo catch up! Hays in his CAP uniform . . . my boy is so grown up!  When did that happen!??!? Tiki at the park. Gabby got to walk in the Veteran's Day parade with her Girl Scout Daisy troop. Tiki and Gabby and I went sledding this past weekend!  We had so much fun!!!  (With Baylor, too) School Thanksgiving lunch with the twins! School Thanksgiving lunch with Gabby.  My phone is cracked, so selfies are a mess! Sushi date with Maggie.  She's great company!

There is an appointed time for everything.   And there is a time for every event under heaven-- A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.                                                    -Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 Be miserable and morn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.                                                    -James 4:9 (The Message version says: hit rock bottom and cry your

I haven't bragged on Maggie lately.  I love her so much!  She is the most amazing daughter a mom could ask for. . .especially considering she is in the seventh grade and I am able to type this and mean it.  She's a dream and I love being around her.  She is easy and lovable.  She is open and honest.  She is hysterical.  She's a doll!  I love her maturity.  I love her childlikeness.  I love her goofiness.  I love her sensitivity and compassion.  She's down to earth.  She keeps things in perspective.  She texts me at all hours when I'm away.  She doesn't think I'm too weird (for a mom).  She's great and I'm so blessed to have her in my life.  I'm thankful to be her mom and I'm blown away that I can call her friend (one of my best). I love you, Mags!

Last night was our neighborhood Halloween party.  We had fun with friends, but I think we may have outgrown the party.  Nevertheless, last night was chalked up to fun!!! That is Hays with a friend.

Andy's receiving love language and I try really hard to be a great encourager, but I fail often.  I just want to take this time to brag on him right now.  He has been blowing me away! Recently we have had SO MUCH going on!  We've restructured the full time staff at Kivu and he and I have taken on many more jobs and we are swamped.  I've taken on a new venture (on top of camp and school) in this health and wellness program that I am so excited about.  The kids are still here and still keeping us busy.  I've been out of town twice in a month because of my Gran'ma and because of my surprise trip to Ohio.  All of that to say, we're busy and I've gotten exponentially more busy than I was before.  How am I doing it?  ANDY!!!! It has been so honoring and so humbling to see the way he has stepped in to help me and to encourage me and to support me.  He makes our bed every morning.  He has been doing the dishes, he has been helping around the house, he has bee