2011

Where oh where did 2011 go so quickly?

2009 and 2010 were hard years for us. We had some losses and trials but it only prepared us to be more grateful when things were well. 2011 was a good year for us. Don't get me wrong, we had our share of trials and sadness, but we accepted it and moved forward and had an amazing year. We started off with tea parties and prayers before every tea party! (thank you Ms. Angie!!)

We were abe to spend lots of time with family and meet family we have yet to meet in person! My aunt, my cousin, her boyfriend and their daughter all came to the states and oh my, to be worlds apart, I know 2 little girls who are very much alike!!

This was the first year for Ella to play tball. However, she is a girly girl and thought she should be able to play in a dress and flip flops. Her dad was not impressed and neither was her Poppa! She begrudingly wore shorts, socks and athletic shoes.

Tanner got a taste of being in the audience and cheering for his sister. He was very gracious and always positive for her! (one of many reasons he is so special)

We spent most of our summer swimming and got to get away for a nice relaxing trip to the beach! Tanner LOVED the ocean and Ella LOVED the sand! Hopefully we will be able to plan a trip soon to an amazing beach!!

We got back from vacation and had a few more weeks to relax before starting our year of lasts. This part has been hard for me. Tanner started his last year of elementary and I don't know if I'm ready for him to start Jr. High. I guess I feel like I blinked and his years have passed me by. He is growing and changing and becoming sooooo awesome. Makes my heart proud that he is kind, considerate, respectful, driven and loving as he is. He has also gone through a growth spurt and is almost as tall as I am (eeek!)

Not only is it Tanner's last year in elementary, but it's Ella's last year at Ms. Angie's. I know I will miss her tremendously and have loved that we were fortunate enough to have Ms. Angie as a teacher and amazing person in both of my children's lives. Not that we won't ever see her, but she has taught my children and has helped shape them into the people they will become and I will miss her! And I do have to add, that I was afraid that we wouldn't ever break through Ella's stubborness, but alas we have and I am truly grateful that we had someone patient enough to do just that (because my patience was almost out!)

We also got to have another year of Tanner playing flag football. I love watching him play.

It seems like since school started we have been running here and there and everywhere. We have been busy. It seems like soon after school started Tanner started gearing up for UIL. He stayed late everyday after school and worked hard as well as his teachers and their hard work paid off. He placed first in two events and his team placed first in two events. He was upset because the events he wanted to place in he didn't place. I told him that he still did an awesome job and we (all of his family) were very proud of him.

We are ending the year quietly and that is just fine with me. I have a full and joyful heart for the wonderful year we have had and cannot wait to see what the New Year has in store for us. I have decided not to make resolutions as I usually don't keep them but I did promise myself that we would have another amazing year. We would still have each other, love, happiness and prosper.

From my family to you and yours, We wish you a Prosperous, Blessed and Happy New Year!!

Thankful

Thanksgiving brings up a time of thankfulness. I heard what if God only allowed you to have the things you thanked him for the night before. I heard this several months ago and really took it to heart. So every night in my prayers I thank God for all the many amazing blessings he has given me.

~I am thankful for God's mercies, forgiveness, love, patience, understanding that he so freely gives
~I am thankful for my children
~I am thankful God thought enough of me to be their mom and to try to guide, love and support them daily
~I am thankful for my parents who have been so loving, caring, giving and supportive
~I am thankful for my sister and her family whom I adore and love
~I am thankful for grandmothers and my great grandmother who have taught me how to laugh, especially my great grandmother
~I am thankful for my family
~I am thankful for my friends, my true friends love me as much as I love them and don't judge me
~I am thankful that I am able to work and that I have two jobs to help take care of my kids
~I am thankful that my children are healthy
~I am thankful I am healthy
~I am thankful that I have a roof over my head
~I am thankful that I have a car that can take my children where they need to go
~I am thankful to be able to provide food for my family
~I am thankful for the troops who fight daily for our freedoms and make sacrifices so we can live in the land of the free
~I am thankful for the family of troops who make just as many sacrifices as their loved ones who are fighting for our country
~I am thankful that I can attend church without fear of persecution
~I am thankful there are people who love my children as much as I do
~I am thankful that I can laugh, and talk, and see and hear

These are a few of the things I thank God for every night in my prayers to him. From my family to you and yours, Happy Thanksgiving and many many blessings!!

12 Steps

The other night I was watching a show that was dealing with drug addicts and alcoholics. I love watching these shows because in my every day job I typically spend a lot of time trying to help them and I like watching other people's stories with whom I am not connected. That night they were revisiting some of the addicts 150 days out of rehab. One guy said that he had a hard time in the past remaining sober, but this time he realized he never admitted he was powerless. For what ever reason that stuck with me. The next morning I woke up and while I was taking a shower I remembered him saying that and realized that it applies to life in general. Then I started thinking about the 12 steps of AA. I kind of knew the steps because let's face it, I deal with people in treatment and I deal with their treatment process. But as I was standing in the shower, I was slowly realizing how the 12 steps of AA can be applied to life.

1. Admit we are powerless over alcohol-that our lives have become unmanageable. 2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. 3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. 4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. 5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. 6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. 7. Humbly ask Him to remove our shortcomings. 8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. 9. Made direct amends to such people where ever possible except when to do so would injure them or others. 10. Continue to take personal inventory and when we are wrong promptly admit it. 11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. 12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, try to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

If you take out alcohol or addiction, to me these are steps for daily life as well. I am powerless and I know there is a Power greater than myself who can restore my sanity. I am making a decision to turn my will and my life over to the care of God. I may not like to make a moral inventory of myself, but in order to become who I need to be I know this is a must. I know I have been wrong and have stumbled through life and am ready to have God remove all these defects of my character. I humbly ask him daily to remove my shortcomings. As a Christian I need to look to make amends with those I have hurt and be willing to be Christ like every day. I know I need to take personal inventory daily and be willing to admit when I am wrong and be willing to pray daily and talk with God daily. After learning and continuing to learn I realize there are many more lost souls who need to hear God's word and I know I need to apply the principles I have learned into my daily life.

I by no means am perfect or want to be. I just want to be the best person, mother, daughter, sister I can. I really have no explanation for why they clicked with me when they did. But it's kind of like a light turned on. There was a reason why I was watching what I was watching. Please understand that this is just my way of seeing things I needed to be seeing. That this is kind of my "AHA" moment. I have been studying and reading and learning and talking about my faith and my religion and I am sure I will have many more of those moments and I welcome them with open arms. I have had several of those moments already and each one prepares me for the next. I must say, I feel more at peace every day with my daily struggles.

It's Just Ella!

Yes, I know this is a little late and yes I know I should have gotten this done sooner, and there is no excuse....so this is about my Ella and her birthday!

I should have known when she was born that she would do things in her own time. After all, I labored for 18 hours before a c-section had to be done, hoping for an answer for why she wouldn't come....she wasn't ready. Should have known then that my precious baby would do things her way and not a moment before she is ready.



And when she got here, she let everyone know she what she thought and her ever faithful brother there to console her. Much like today, he is the first to her when she cries, the first to hug her and ask what is wrong. And she will be the one who will always voice her opinion whether you like what she says or not....It's just Ella.

She is a talker when she is ready to talk. She will follow me through the house as I'm cleaning or doing laundry always telling me stories and what I wouldn't give sometimes for 5 seconds of peace, but .....it's just Ella.



She loves to be silly and dress up. She loves to always climb in my lap and give me a hug, rough sometimes, but a hug just the same. And I will gladly take them any day or time.....


I love that she has a sense of adventure and that she isn't afraid of too many new things. She is willing to take on challenges, on her terms of course. However, if she doesn't, well don't even try to persuade her, because, well, it's just Ella and there is nothing that will change her mind....



It's not that it's JUST Ella, it is just who she is plain and simple. I wouldn't trade my sassy, strong-willed, opinionated, adventurous, silly loving girl for the entire world...No words can fully describe her except....ELLA!!!


Happy Birthday sweet sweet girl! I love you to the moon and back!

Fast and Furious July

Well, June went lazily by and I couldn't wait for July to get here. Mostly because we had a few things going on and I was really looking forward to them. We are slowly adjusting to my parents not being here. It has been a little tough for the kids, because they enjoy sleeping late and with them not here they have to get up when I go to work and I take them to where they need to go.



Most of our June was spent at the pool and pretty much July has been too. I have been trying to teach Ella to swim to not much avail. I think next year are going to be swimming lessons (ahem Casey? haha).



July we had a family reunion at Lake Kickapoo. We have so much fun and the kids always have a blast. It is so good to see family and visit with those who we only get to see once a year.





Then of course was Ms. Ella's birthday! She turned 5 this year and is growing up way too fast. She is becoming her own beautiful person who is opinionated, stubborn, sassy and unpredictable. I love everything about her. Her and all of her PINK flair!







Then we go on vacation!!! I was in such a need to get away. It didn't matter where we went or what we did as long as we got out of Childress and away from all the stress of daily life. So we went to Galveston. The kids enjoyed the beach, the hotel pool, Moody Gardens and doing nothing in general with me and my mom. Since my parents have helped us out so much, we thought it would be a good idea to have them go. My dad, of course worked, so my mom did get to go and get away for a while herself.We started our trip with a short stay at my sister's where the kids got to play and have lots of fun.



Of course we have to swim with them and my sister will probably kill me, but I love and miss laughing with her. She was trying to put some goggles on and we started laughing so hard when she got them on and I just had to take this picture....


After spending a few nights with them we went on our way!! We played on the beach a few days and spent some time in the pool at the hotel.








I do have to say that I love gerber daisies, but after seeing the beautiful orchids at Moody Gardens, I may be changing my mind...they were absolutely beautiful.



One of the pyraminds there is the discovery pyramid and is very hands on. It has a big life size operation game you can play and the kids loved that.


On our way home we stopped and played again with my sister and her boys at Chuck E Cheese's...


Loved nothing better than being with my family this past month and being able to laugh and relax. Much needed rejuvination before school starts.

Busy Busy

Since I last posted a lot has been going on....

Tanner's room has stripes and is now put together



Tanner had a birthday party with his friends at Pizza Hut


He wanted a cookie cake for his birthday and asked if he could draw it himself



Ella started t-ball and has enjoyed batting...she would rather play in a dress and flip flops, and really doesn't like catching or throwing...


Then she had her recital at Ms. Kim's....She loves tumbling and actually has more grace and balance than her brother!


We cannot forget her star attraction!! She wants to do it and loves to talk about herself, but when she gets in front of her class, she doesn't say a word, she just gets embarrased.




Our family from Australia came in and we got to meet another cousin, Chloe. She and Ella are about 5 months apart. They are A LOT alike and even look alike too. She LOVES dress up and tea parties as much as Ella!



Easter was soon after they got here and Easter on my dad's side is big. Mostly because of so many people, but the food is always good and we ALWAYS eat WAY too much! I love though getting to spend time with them, talking and enjoying everything about family


Ella wanted to hunt eggs again after we got back home, so I hid them and Tanner decided he could do it one more time, after all, there was chocolate involved!!


Mother's Day Tea at Ms. Angie's is my most favorite by far. She makes some of the best cucumber sandwiches and cookies!



Then more family get together's....more laughing and sweet little kids faces...






Playday for the elementary...



And Ella's graduation from Ms. Angie's (this will not be her last)


Whew! All of this fun and going has us being lazy and wore out




We are ready for things to slow a bit and enjoy the sweeter things of life!! We wish everyone a safe and happy summer!