Da Boys

As fun as it is to have a little girl, I am so grateful for my 4 boys. I think I don't give them enough credit. It used to drive me crazy when moms of only one girl and multiple boys would have tons of pics of the girl, and very few of the boys. I always felt sorry for the boys. So now that I have a little girl, I try to give equal attention to the boys, be it time, pictures, etc. I'm not always successful, obviously, with the pics. Let's face it, there are more opportunities to take pics of little girls, all dressed up and adorable-looking, than there are of all-boy boys, who, more often than not, are dirty, mismatched, and playing with something creepy like a snake or a frog . :) Having said that, I would never want to give the impression that my girl takes precedence over any of my boys! I would be lost without them. So I thought I would take this post and dedicate it to 4 of the loves of my life.

We spent a very nice, relaxing summer evening at my mom's last week, hanging out on her deck, and just watching the kids play. They were all showing their little tricks- namely handstands. Here are Grey, Garrett, and Gage. Greyson's actually pretty good at it. Thanks to my expert timing with the camera, they all looked pretty good at it! ;)


Tammy, one of our neighbors, and Dylan, her son, went fishing the other day and invited Garrett and Gage to go with them. Here's a picture of Gage with his big catch. He actually caught 3 that morning.

Garrett caught a few, as well. Not sure why Garrett's not in this picture, but here's one of his catches:

And here's a final pic of the 4 musketeers, clockwise from top right: Grey, Gage, Garrett, Grant


I am definitely blessed beyond measure!

Thankful Thursday

I'm gonna cut it short tonight. Not because I'm any less thankful, but because it's way past my bedtime, and this is post #2 for me today! :) I've had a really fun day today, and it's times like that that remind a person how blessed she really is. So I'm thankful:

1) that I got to spend some fun, "girlie" time with my precious gift of a daughter.

2) that I have 4 amazing boys that add so much joy to my life.

3) that my 12 yr. old fixed dinner for us tonight, and did an amazing job! I started the meat for the fajitas, and he finished cooking it, got all the fixings together, and made some fantastic quesadillas for us all! Rob and the other kids were working in the garden, and I had taken Grey to swim practice. When we got back, dinner was on the table! It was a huge help to me!

4) that I got my run/walk in while Grey was at swim practice. I dropped him off and went to the high school track. Week 3 of my Couch to 5K, and going strong (well, going anyway)! Tonight was a huge challenge, but I was proud of myself-- I didn't give up, and I completed the requirements and then some!

5) that I've had about 7 orders come in this week for my business! I had about a 2 day break- Must've been the calm before the storm! ;) Definitely not complaining! I love what I do, and am grateful that God is blessing it!

Goodnight, all! Thanks for reading my blog- It's always nice when I get comments, too (hint, hint)-- It tells me there really are people reading what I write. :)

Jillian's Birthday Party, aka Mac's First "Big Girl" Party

McKenna was invited to a friend's birthday party this week. Jillian is a precious 5 yr. old who attended Mac's preschool (Mother's Day Out). Her mom and I are friends, and first met while volunteering at The Primary School, just after Jillian was born.
So this was to be the first "big girl" party that McKenna has ever attended. It was a precious, princess-themed party, girlie to the max, complete with sashes and crowns and even a mini manicure (After all, what's a princess without sparkly fingernails?)
Anne was sweet to include McKenna, considering she's a little younger than most of the other girls. And Jillian was the perfect host, making sure all the girls were included in all the activities. At one point, she looked down at McKenna, and said, "Do you want to come play in my room with us?" Of course, Mac did, so Jillian took her by the hand, and walked her down the hall. Precious!
It was so sweet to watch my little girl interacting with other little girls. I'm so used to seeing her interacting with 4 older boys!

Here's a pic of her modeling her tutu for her dad the night before:

This girlie thing never gets old.

My Girlie Girl?

It's no secret that McKenna is a girlie girl. Of course, I'm pretty happy about that. After having 4 boys, it's fun to see the contrast. She loves to dance and twirl and play with dolls. Her favorite color is pink. She's your typical little princess. She's been invited to the birthday party of a friend of hers tomorrow. It's a princess-themed party, and there will be someone there to do the girls' nails, they will make wands, and bring home a tiara. Needless to say, McKenna is soooo excited! I made the above tutu for her to wear to the party. I'm sure I'll have plenty of pics to post after the party. Stay tuned...

On the other hand, she is the baby sister to 4 boys, who are indeed, all boy! Note the onlooker in the following picture:

Garrett found this in our yard the day I had been working in our much-neglected flower bed. I guess I disturbed his home! Glad he didn't disturb my work! Anyone who knows me, knows I am terrified of snakes! So much so, that I didn't even know this picture existed! I happened upon it on my hubby's site. I think I would've freaked out had I known my little princess was this close to that! So much for my girlie girl! :)

Catching Up

I totally missed Thankful Thursday this week, so I thought I'd just give everyone an update to catch up, and share some thankfulness in the process.

It's been a really good, very easy adjustment to school being out and everyone being home. I have thoroughly enjoyed the week. I even went 2 whole days without leaving my house! Can't remember the last time that happened! I've been doing some thinking, planning as to how our summer is going to play out. You see, this is the first summer in 4 years that at least one of my kids hasn't been involved in rehearsals and swim team practice/meets for the entire summer. No theater for us this summer for a couple of reasons. 1st of all, the theatre group is doing "Godspell", and we just weren't that comfortable with that show in order for our boys to audition. 2nd, we just really needed a break from all the busyness, and didn't wish to be a slave to schedules this time around. Budget cuts forced the Mullins family to downsize the efforts on the swim team, and since Grey was the only one who really wanted to compete this summer, we opted out for Grant and Garrett. So, in planning how the summer would go, not wanting us to drive each other crazy for the next 2+ months, I decided some routines were in order. We've developed a sort of reward/demerit system in order for the boys to gain certain privileges (ie TV, video games, etc.). Other than the obvious chores, or lack of the completion of said chores, I have added character-building issues to the mix. We're trying (sometimes even successfully) to teach the kids to think outside of themselves, and to think of others before they think of themselves. So treatment of their siblings is one of the ways they can earn positive or negative stars. So far, it's worked out great. There has been an overall atmosphere of peace, and my house is staying neat and in order. That makes for one happy mom, and accounts for all 10 items in a Thankful Thursday post! :)

I've been all caught up with my orders for the last few days (first time since February!), so it's been great to be able to spend some time exploring new creative ideas for some upcoming shows. I do love what I do, and am very blessed to have the opportunity to make some money in the process. I have some new hairbow and headband ideas I'm working on, and will post some pics soon to get some feedback (hint, hint). :)

Yesterday, I had some interaction on facebook with an old friend from high school. It started as an interesting debate, but ended what I think will be a very valued friendship. I spent about 2 hours reading her blog, and seeing what she's gone through for the past several years. I literally wept reading her experience. Without divulging too much, in case she should happen to come across this, she was married to a man who struggled with his sexuality. He finally gave up the stuggle, and decided he wanted a divorce- to be free to live as a gay man. The way she handled the entire experience was a testimony not only to her relationship with God, but also to the body of Christ, and how they helped her walk through such a tough transition. I gained a love and respect for her that runs deep, and I know God did that for both of us yesterday.

On a lighter note, a friend of mine participated in her neighborhood yard sale today, and invited me to put some of my things in her sale as well. I took her up on her offer, and spent the better part of last night helping her set up, and pricing my items. This morning, I returned to her house to help her with the sale. Of course, I decided I should check out the other sales in the neighborhood. :) When all was said and done, I ended up with a huge profit of, wait for it... $1! Yep, that's it. Crazy thing is, I sold several items! I guess that tells you how much I bought on Ridgewood Avenue today! I also came home with another unexpected item:


This is Mia. Garrett has been wanting a kitten for a long time. One of my friends came by the yard sale this morning, and informed me that she still had one kitten left- if anyone wanted her. Hmmmm. She is a doll. All 4 of her legs are white, so she's really cute when she's walking around. And I'm really not a cat person. So far, she's adjusting well, and Grizzly seems to be somewhat amused with her. I see that as a good sign.

My neighbor called this morning, and informed me that the pool is ready. So, of course that meant we had to go swim this afternoon! Didn't take long for them to realize it's still a bit early- the water was only 77degrees! I think the kids lasted for about 30 minutes tops. :) I guess if I was a better blogger, I would've thought to take some pics of the kids' shivering lips and goosebumps, but...

Rob's been in Claremore for the last couple of days, mixing business with pleasure. He should be getting home soon, and I couldn't be happier. We had a good time while he was gone, but he is definitely missed. Ready to see my man. There's just something to be said for the security I feel when he's home. My hat's off to single parents. While I manage to do okay with things while he's gone, it's definitely more fun to have someone to share it all with. I definitely don't take that for granted.

That should get you caught up since my last posting. I'm looking so forward to more carefree, fulfilling summer days. The garden is growing well, and we are anticipating lots of yummy goodness as a reward of my hubby's hard work. And my 5K training is going well so far. I'm feeling very good about my progress. More to follow...

Finishing Friday, aka Thankful Thursday, Part 2

Okay, here I am, a little more rested, ready to finish my 10 Truths from the Bible for which I am eternally grateful! (If you're just tuning in, be sure to read yesterday's "Thankful Thursday" post first, as this is a continuation of that thought, due to the fact that I couldn't keep my eyes open to finish last night!) :)

4) "Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on until the day of Christ Jesus". Phil. 1:6

5) "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:2

6) "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strenth. They will soar on wings like eagles: they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31

7) "In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade- kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter 1:3-5

8) "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1

9) "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8

And last, and certainly the greatest thing I am thankful for is the birth of our Lord and Saviour, come to save His people from certain death:

10) "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

My hope is that these truths encouraged you today, as they have me. I need to rehearse these and more so much more often in my day to day life. It tends to put things back into proper perspective when I get so busy with all the daily activities that are my life. God has blessed me immensely in so many ways, but I would be nothing without the promises listed in these posts. May we always be mindful not just of who we are in Christ, but more importantly who He is in us!

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday seems to be coming around very quickly each week! One thing that I've grown tired of in my weekly posts is the self-centeredness regarding the things for which I'm thankful. So I thought I'd try something a little different this week, and post truths from God's word that make me eternally grateful. Some of them may still seem to focus on myself, but they are things I'm mindful of nonetheless. Here goes:

1)"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3,4

2) "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9

3) "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-" Ephesians 1:4-6


Okay, hold that thought, because I really want to list 10 truths, but to be perfectly honest, I'm falling asleep as I type! So I'm going to go get some much-needed rest, and I'll follow up on this tomorrow... Until then, chew on these first 3 truths, and see if you can come up with some that are special to you! I'd love to hear some...

Goodnight!

Training

I used to run, long before marriage and kids and all that extra baggage I now carry around with me. I never got to the point in my running where I could run a 5K nonstop, but I could go about 2 miles before having to resort back to a walk. I really enjoyed running. It's very fulfilling, and I always felt better after a good run. Since then, every time I see someone jogging down the street, I secretly wish I could be doing that again. Well since I started walking 2 miles a day (since January), I've been telling myself that when I got the rest of my weight off, I'd get back into running. Then I started watching "The Biggest Loser". I never watched it before this year, probably because it made me feel guilty, not realizing how inspiring it would be! I see these people on that show, bigger than I am, running and working out, and of course I think, "If they can do it, there's no reason why I shouldn't!" But still, I was hesitant to jump into it. Then I met a lady at the track where I walk. She was a little overweight, not really possessing what I would consider the build of a runner. She was running when I got there, and I kept waiting for her to slow to a walk, but she never did! She continued to run the whole time I walked my 2 miles. We finished around the same time, so I engaged in a conversation, letting her know how impressed I was. Come to find out, she's lost 104 lbs. since last August! She did a run/walk clinic back in January, and it built up her endurance. She ran SIX miles that day! I went straight home, and Googled Couch to 5K . Since then, I've enlisted my boys to train with me, and we're on our way! Granted, today was only our 2nd day, but I have to say, it was easier today than it was our 1st day! At times I feel a little overwhelmed when I think about it, but I've been talking myself down, and reminding myself to take baby steps (not literally). :) I mean, honestly, we're talking about 30 minutes, 3 days a week. That's a small price to pay, in my opinion. So when I look at it like that, I consider it very doable. And Gage (my 6 yr. old) loves it so much, that was the first thing he said this morning, "Today's Wednesday! We get to go run tonight!" I'm guessing he'll keep me on track!

Stay tuned: I hear there's a 5K coming up in the fall... Hopefully, it will be the first of many for the Mullins family-

Thankful Thursday

Okay, this is going to be hard for me today, since I've had a really crummy day. Hopefully forcing myself to think of things I'm thankful for will help me out of my funk. So here goes:

I am thankful:

1) that my dinner of taco burgers with homemade hamburger buns turned out great! It was only my 2nd time to try the homemade buns, and they were fantastic! For those of you interested, it's just taco-seasoned meat with all the fixings (cheese, shredded lettuce, cilantro, sour cream, green onions, and jalapenos) on a burger bun. Yummy! I've started making buns, dinner rolls, pizza dough, etc. in my bread machine. Very tasty, very easy, and very economical! Here's a pic of the leftover buns- obviously without all the fixings:


2) there are only 5 days of school left!!!

3) my sweet hubby, knowing I had had a rough day, came home tonight and offered to take me to the coffee shop for a little while. I wasn't really dressed to go out, so I politely turned him down, but the sentiment was very sweet, and I was grateful for his concern for my feelings.

4) Speaking of my sweet hubby, I'm so thankful for all the hard work he's put into the garden for our family! I am not a yardwork/gardening kind of girl, so it's all him! Here are a few pics of his "baby":CabbageTomatoes and something else, can't remember what (Remember, I am not a gardener!).

Wheat that Rob grew/harvested to use as mulch. It's a technique called Biodynamic Intensive Gardening, or something organic like that! :) All I know is it prevents weeds from growing, and attracts tons of worms to work the soil and add nutrients.

Back to Thankful Thursday:

5) I was able to squeeze some time in a couple of days ago to mow our yard. It looks so much better, and I'm sure the neighbors appreciate it! :)

6) I have several orders to complete, which means my business is continuing to thrive! I'm very grateful that God has given me favor and a good name.

7) Kris Allen won American Idol last night! So very proud that a good, Christian Arkansan won! His humble attitude and good nature is an excellent example to people worldwide.

8) that Grey, Grant, & Mac are spending the night with my mom tonight (since I'm working at the scrapbook store tomorrow). That means that after I drop off Garrett and Gage at school tomorrow, I'll have a couple of hours by myself at home before I have to go to work! A very rare treat, I must say!

9) for the long weekend coming up! Gotta love a holiday!

10) for this:

'Nuff said.

Okay, I really do feel better now. Thankful Thursday has been very therapeutic for me! Maybe you should try it, too, next time you've had a bad day. :)

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful:

1) That Grey, Grant & I were able to see the PTC Showcase (Professional Training Company) & Sr. Recital of Robert, Blakely & Hannah. It was fantastic!

2) That I didn't have to cook tonight, because I had doubled a recipe a couple of weeks ago, and frozen half of it- Something I've been wanting to get in the habit of doing, but hadn't done until now. Sure was nice to just take something from the freezer & stick it in the oven! (Note to self: You must do this more often!)

3) for the orders that continue to come in for my business. God is truly blessing it, and I am grateful.

4) that I received a cool t-shirt and had a great time at Gage's school today for Volunteer Appreciation Day!

5) that I have stayed caught up with laundry for 2 whole days now! :)

6) that Kris Allen made it to the American Idol finals, even though I was super sad to see Danny Gokey go home.

7) for the upcoming weekend with absolutely NO plans!!

8) that I got my sewing room cleaned and organized so that I can spend the weekend working on orders! Okay, so I sort of have plans for the weekend.

9) that my husband has several vacation days that he has to use by the end of June.

10) for my 5 crazy kids that keep our lives very
entertained!

Gage, My Man

Getting 7 people out the door to church on Sunday mornings is always an interesting task. In a perfect world, when this mom has all her stuff together, we all pick out our clothes, socks, shoes and all, on Saturday night, as part of our bedtime routine. Some Saturdays, however, this does not get done, which always makes for an interesting (and rushed) Sunday morning. Last Sunday was one such morning. As I was putting on my make-up, I told the boys to get dressed. "Just pick out some church clothes and get ready," I think were my words. So throughout the morning, I had a chance to glance at each child, to either approve or disapprove of his selection. Each child, that is, except for Gage. As we were walking out the door, this occurred to me, so I decided I'd better take a closer look. This is what I saw:

Gage, my 6 yr. old, had on the following:
Dress pants: Size 10
Dress shirt: Size 12
Jacket: Size 10
Hi-top Nikes were actually his, but not really church attire.
This is what happens when you have 4 boys...and don't prepare for church the night before! Bless his heart, he was so proud of himself, and thought he looked so handsome (which he did). Daddy was no help at all, and said, "I think you should let him wear it!" Sure. On Mother's Day. We compromised, and found the same attire in his size. And some dress shoes. But somehow we didn't have time to take the "after" pic.

Thankful Thursday

This week went by so fast, I almost forgot about Thankful Thursday! Here goes:

I am thankful:

1) that my business is going well, and orders continue to come in!
2) that I was able to save money AND add a 2nd DVR to our house by switching to DishNetwork.
3) that I fought the urge to order out for dinner, and cooked a healthy meal for my fam instead.
4) that my hubby mowed the yard today!!!
5) that the weekend is almost here, and I have precious little on my schedule!
6) that God has helped me stick with my exercise/diet, and I've lost, to date, 38 lbs.
7) that I feel better than I have in years (see #6).
8) that I got a lot accomplished today- orders filled, some major cleaning, laundry, dinner.
9) that there are only 15 days of school left!
10) that I was blessed with a wonderful mom, as well as being blessed to BE a mom. Where would we be without our moms? Even though my mom is aging- sometimes not so gracefully- and the role-reversal thing has begun, I know I would not be the person I am today if not for my mom. She has been my strength, my cheerleader, my right hand, my friend. And for that I am eternally grateful.

Rob's Blog

My husband is a big-time blogger. I've lost count as to how many blogs he actually writes. But he wrote one the other day that I wanted to share. Pretty entertaining, as well as telling. Click here to view. And I apologize for the repeat picture of him, but he is the resident photographer, so I have precious few pics of him! :)

Thankful Thursday

Another blogger that I follow does a "Thankful Thursday" post. It's such an encouragement and a great practice, that I thought I'd incorporate it as well. It's really therapeutic to force yourself to think of all the blessings in your life. Some days it's really easy to come up with things, some days not so much! So here's my first edition of Thankful Thursday. Oh, yeah, and the pics posted above are of my major blessings: I am thankful: 1) that my husband fixed my computer, and it is now virus-free! 2) that my brother is coming this weekend. 3) that I've been able to get caught up on orders and housework. 4) that we already have fruit and veggies coming up in our beautiful garden that my hubby has worked so hard in! Since this is my first post, I'll add the following obvious ones: 5) for a husband who loves God, his family, and takes great care of us. 6) for my precious 5 kids, who are healthy, happy, great kids that we genuinely enjoy being around. 7) for our house that is everything we need, in spite of the much-needed cosmetic touches I have yet to do! 8) for a nice van that we can ride comfortably in. I'll never forget how many summers we suffered through without air conditioning in our old, old van. So thankful for the new one! 9) for God's loving provision for all our needs, in spite of our unworthiness. and lastly, 10) that summer is almost here!! So ready for a break from routine, schedules, etc. Ready to spend time by the pool and working in the yard!

Bragging Time

Please allow me to brag a bit on my #1 son. Grey loves acting. It's his passion. He has been fortunate enough to be cast in several productions done by the Clarksville children's theater group, Stages Theatre for Youth (www.kidsonstage.info). But recently, he was invited by the University of the Ozarks theater department to play the part of "Arty" in the play "Lost in Yonkers". This was a pretty big honor. He has worked so hard for the past 2 months, rehearsals almost daily. This weekend was the performance. I don't know who was more excited, Grey or his parents! I have to say, he was amazing. We were so proud. It's always great to hear compliments on your kids, but what's even more fun, is hearing people around you talking about how great that kid on stage is, totally unaware that his parents are in the row in front of them! We even had a gentleman, as we were walking out, look at us and say, "That younger brother was a great actor, wasn't he?" No way could he have known he was talking to "that younger brother's" parents! Needless to say, it was a very proud moment.

Easter, 2009

So this was how my Easter Sunday went this year:

12:20am- Garrett, my asthmatic child, comes to our bedroom, crying, coughing, and wheezing, saying he can't breath very well. We head to the ER to get some relief for him. Kind of a routine thing for us, but still scary, nonetheless.

1:45am- We arrive back home, Garrett's better. I get him settled in bed, and I head off to bed myself. Rob is still in the kitchen, baking sweet breads for our Easter Sunday brunch at church. He's a late-nighter, so it's not uncommon for him to be up late, although this is a bit late for him even.

2:30ish- The last time I remember looking at the clock. Hard to sleep when your child isn't well. Rob comes to bed.

6:00am- alarm goes off. We go through the regular routine, and head to church- very tired. But we all look great in our Easter Sunday best. The boys are all in their suits, Kenna is in an adorable dress, and Rob & I even look pretty snazzy in our church clothes. I'm feeling pretty proud that we made it, and actually look halfway decent, after the night we had. But we didn't have time for pictures. I figure we can get them after church.

9:15ish- We're at church, eating our brunch, I go to check on Mac, who's already finished eating, and is playing in the nursery. As I'm walking in the room, I can tell by her stance that she has had an accident. all over her beautiful dress. I have no extra clothes, since she's not had an accident in weeks. Never even dawned on me to take any! So I go to my friend, Cathy, who has a daughter a little older than McKenna, and see if she has any extra clothes. She does, thankfully, but they are play clothes. Beggers can't be choosers, I guess. I was grateful to have something to put on her, but embarrassed that my adorable daughter, in the midst of all the kids in their Easter pretties, was wearing sweat pants and a shirt that didn't match. Oh, well. So much for pictures this Easter!

11:00- Church is over. The Easter egg hunt we had planned got rained out, so we thought, but a man in our church comes to the rescue, and offers his vacant building for the hunt. So we caravan over there, have a great hunt, and head home.

1:00- Take a much-needed nap.

3:30- Head to my mom's to help her with dinner for the fam. We prepared the kids baskets, hid the clues for them to find their baskets, and got dinner ready.

5:00- Great dinner, hunt for baskets, lots of candy, Easter egg hunt inside Granny Janie's house due to the rain, more candy, clean up, and head home.

8:00- Put away all the Easter stuff, realize we have WAY too much candy, get kids ready for bed, spend some time on the computer.

9:47pm- Blogging about the last 24 hrs. and realizing how full it was. Busy, exhausting, but fun. My 2 oldest kids came in the room a few minutes ago to kiss me goodnight, and said, "Goodnight, Mom. I love you. Thanks for such a fun weekend!"

Okay, so it was worth every minute.

Just an Update

I'm back at the scrapbook store on Fridays- finally! This past month has been so busy, it's just a blur. 3 Rhea Lana Consignment sales within a month's time! I have no idea how many bows I actually made before, during and after the sales- don't think I want to! And I've been working on filling the clothing orders taken at the sales for weeks now. Last count, I received something like 45 clothing orders to fill and ship. To date I have ONE order left to fill, and I'm waiting on the customer to get measurements to me for that one. I am breathing much easier now, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel! It was very fun, and profitable, but it's nice to finally slow back down into my normal (if there is such a thing) routine of taking care of my family. A year ago, I would have never thought I'd have a fulltime business out of doing what I love! I gotta say, I would never be able to do this if not for my very supportive family. My mom has helped out tremendously with babysitting, Rob has been extremely patient with the meals I've thrown together so I could get back to sewing- not to mention the MANY nights he cooked and took care of kids while I was gone to the sales. Grey & Grant have helped out a ton around the house with various chores, laundry, etc., and haven't really griped too badly considering. :) People always ask me, "How do you find the time to do all this?" Truth is, I have a great family, taking care of the things I may not have time for on any given day. That, and I don't sleep much anymore! :) God has definitely blessed me beyond measure, and I don't take that for granted.

I gotta say it: I have the best kids in the world. Trust me, there have been days when I've had my doubts- especially in the very early years. Several years ago, when Grey (my oldest- now 13) was about 4 or 5 years old, I walked into our bedroom, only to find a family heirloom Christmas decoration in pieces on the floor. It's just stuff, it wasn't a big deal. But the fact that Grey had broken it, left it there, and not bothered to tell me about it, really bothered me. He knew how special that decoration was to me, because I'd told him the story behind it when we decorated that year. And I don't think he failed to tell me about it out of the fear that he'd be in trouble. I think he just genuinely didn't care. I remember thinking, praying, "How do you teach compassion to your children? How do you make them feel something?" I remember specifically making that a matter of prayer. I don't really remember any "magic" answer coming to me. But I was thinking of that incedent today, as I was watching Grey with his little sister (2 1/2). Of all my kids, Grey is the most sensitive, caring, loving. Not a day goes by that he doesn't tell me he loves me, and he's so glad we're his parents. But back to Kenna- We were getting in the van, which we do oh, so very often. Grey was helping McKenna get in and buckled up, and he said, "You're my special, little sweetheart, aren't you?" To which she replied, "Yep!" I love the relationship that he has with her. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it was one of those mental snapshot moments for me. I had several of those today. My second favorite was watching McKenna, in my sewing room while I worked, wrapping fabric around her, and twirling to the music in her "new dress". I don't take enough mental snapshots. I get too busy, and time goes by so fast. I'm very glad that I took the time to appreciate the blessings under my feet.

Okay. Here it is. My attempt at blogging. My husband does it. My friends do it. So the natural progression is for me to start. So here I go.

For those of you who don't know me, I'll give you a quick rundown. I am a 44-yr.-old wife and mother of 5 precious kids, aging from 2-13. They are my life. I love crafty things, and have, as a result, started my own business making hairbows, and personalized clothing/gift items with my embroidery machine, which seems to be an extention of my body these days. I'm not complaining. I'm thrilled that my business is taking off. It's just another ball to juggle in my already full life. Again, not complaining. Of all the hats I wear, there's not a single one that I dread putting on at any given time.

As I'm writing this, I'm wondering why I've decided to do this at all. You see, I've always been the type person that wants everyone to think the best of me. Therefore, I'm not one to reveal my faults or insecurities. But if I've learned anything in my 44 years, it's that I am a child of God, nowhere near perfection, but a pretty good person, striving to be better. And I don't know of a single person that is perfect, so I will write my thoughts, passions, beliefs, desires, frustrations, weaknesses, blessings, and so on because they are what make me, me. Plus, sometimes I just need an avenue to vent, or brag on my kids, or just to ramble, much like I'm doing right now...

So read. enjoy. comment. agree. disagree. This is the documentation of my life... as I see it.