Little Hunter

Her Daddy is so proud. She's not even 2, and already blowing the duck call "better than most grown men." according to her Dad anyway. Because he's not biased or anything.

Thankful!

 I am so thankful for this sweet girl . . .

and her sassy attitude . . .

and her health, energy, and happiness. I am so blessed!

Warms my Heart

Pumpkin Patch

We went to a new pumpkin patch this year. Trey and I had a blast and Ryanne seemed to enjoy most of it, but she was more interested in riding in her stroller than anything.

 Dad and Ry checking out the petting zoo

 They had this crazy pig wrestling going on so I had to snap a pic

 She looks really interested, huh? 

Biggest Accomplishment

My biggest {material} accomplishment to date would have to be graduating as a Distinguished Honor Graduate from high school (My school's equivalent to Valedictorian. Except there are several.)

It was humbling to know that I was one of the top students of about 400 that graduated from our high school. I thank God for the opportunities and gifts that he has given me. Today, I look back and regret a lot of the decisions I have made since then, but each of them cumulatively have gotten me to where I am today, and overall that is a great, great place.

It doesn't get much better than having a wonderful husband and beautiful daughter who love you more than anything in the world to wake up to every morning. We are blessed with our health. There are some days that I get so frustrated that I could just kick myself in the shins because I feel like I have failed my family, but I'm doing my best and that's all I can do.

Miscellany Monday: School

1. I am so tired of being a career college student. I should be graduating this year. But I'm not. What a sad day. But good news: I got married and had a beautiful baby along the way. Way more meaningful than a silly piece of $50,000 paper. 
2. Trey kept Ryanne today. There are mashed up marshmallows all over my hardwood floors. Pink and green marshmallow slime is a good accent to cowhide, isn't it? 
3. Hubs suggests that we should get pregnant. Why even go there? Shoot me now. Why don't you just poke my heart out with a dull knife. And put salt inside. I want nothing more than to be pregnant right now, but aghhhh! It's just not in the cards today. Or tomorrow, unfortunately. 
4. There is a 83 year old lady in the front row of my anatomy class. I wonder how she got into college. Don't you have to pass the ACT first? Or some sort of intelligence test? Oops, I mean don't you have to know not to ask 9,327 questions that makes class 11 times longer than it should be and doesn't teach anyone anything other than you have a big mouth. (Lord, forgive me but I had to say that) 
5. I am supposed to get up at 6 AM on Saturday to register for classes. Isn't being a junior supposed to provide you with privileges, not punishment? 

Okay, so I shared lots of complaints. The end. But seriously, I am really grateful for opportunities and all that mumbo-jumbo stuff I'm supposed to say. I'm frustrated with life today. Well, just college life. But Holly loves me, so all is well in the world.

Christmas Cards

I have been so anxious for Christmas this year. I don't know if it's the idea of how fun Ry will be this year, or just the anticipation of being done with finals, but I am just pumped for Christmas. I have been Christmas card shopping. I love all the choices that shutterfly has. It's too hard to just choose one. I may send a couple different styles to different people.  I am debating just a flat card, or a write-in card. I think I want to include some sort of family update, but hand writing it all is a little much for me. Well, if people want to get their Christmas cards this year, anyway. What do you think? I love including family pictures on our card, and all the choices there are to pick from. I am pretty sure that I'm leaning toward a 2 or more photo card, but there are some single photo cards that I love. How will I ever choose. You can shop the many choices on Shutterfly. These are a few of my favorites:

Found here

 

Found here

 

Found here

 

Found here

Bloggers, you can go here and get 50 free shutterfly cards of your very own!

Too Bright!

I feel defeated. My future is too bright to give up. I have hope in front of me. I have success behind me. I have love at my side. I have God on my side. I still feel defeated. 

 

I should be so strong. I should be able to do anything, to give anything, to be anything, but I just don't feel capable. I feel exhausted, tired, and like giving up. I feel like I'm getting no where. I feel like I'm not doing what God wants of me. I feel like I'm not teaching anyone anything. I feel like I'm running on a big hamster wheel with no end. 

 

Okay, I'm sure there is an end. But I can't see it.  

 

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ~ Romans 12:12

16 Months!

Ryanne, I can't even express how much you've grown. It is so incredible to see you learn. It is simply unbelievable that you are already almost a year and a half old.

• You say Momma, Daw-was, and DaDa often. You have said Nana, Nonna, and Grampy on occasion, but only on your own terms. (That's how you do everything) 
• You are incredibly independent. You want to do everything on your own. 
• You are so smart (Yes, I'm you're mom and supposed to say that but really you are) You only see things one time, and you've got it down pat. 
• You have learned to throw things in the trash, and will randomly walk through the house picking up TINY pieces of trash and throwing them away. 
• You love to help momma put away laundry. You will push the hangers in between the clothes, even though you can't quite reach the lower bars to actually hang them up. 
• You have learned to scale the climbing wall on your swingset. It takes you no less than 10 seconds to get up it (if you don't get distracted) and you always skip the top step. 
• You are a Momma's girl. Big time! I love you so much, though. 
• You think everything is a cell phone. Bars of soap, daddy's GPS, calculators, whatever you find basically. "Hew-wo?"
 

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. ~ Psalm 127:3

Be Grateful

Even on days like this, I'm thankful. Thankful for our health. Thankful for our blessings. Thankful for our opportunities.

I have been through a lot in my life, but I know people who have been through so much more. I can't imagine suffering the loss of a child. The loss of this sweet light of my life. I find myself getting frustrated with her on occasion, and just sit back and think. Be grateful, Leah. She is healthy. She is learning. She is exploring. She is happy and healthy. Everything else is minimal. EVERYTHING ELSE.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. ~ Psalm 107:1

Everytime

This sweet face can make me smile. Everytime. Anytime. All the time. Even if she stole my can of peanuts and ran away with them. Even if she took her shoes off for the third time when I was trying to get us ready to go. Even if she refuses to give me a kiss with her stubborn self. I thought they weren't supposed to be defiant until the teenage years?

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

Patience is a Virtue

I always knew that I was impatient. Trey has never been the most patient person, either. I guess when you combine the genetics of 2 impatient people, you get a BEYOND impatient little girl. I think some of frustration comes from the fact that she can't communicate everything to us that I know she wants to say, but wow - I think we all need to work on improving our patience level.


I took this video one morning (When it was still dark, and freezing cold, mind you) and I wouldn't let her go outside to play. What I horrible mom I am. She thought so, anyway.




I am so very thankful that I get to share these moments with her, and that I have the opportunity to face these challenges with her.

But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.  ~ James 1:20

Childproof?

Trey took Ryanne to the doctor the other day, and sent me this hilarious video. I guess childproof isn't really childproof for my sweet girl. 






Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ~ 1 Peter 4:8