First Day of High School!

(this is the first day of kindergarten)

(this was today- 9th grade!)

how did we get here so fast? high school. wow.

i, like so many other mom's do on this day every year, think back on all of our other "first day's" of school... today was my 10th. and i am overwhelmed by the thought that i only have 3 more after today. just 3 more times to drive up to school, tell him to be GREAT, like God made him to be, try my best to get a hug and a kiss with out embarrassing him too much, tell him i can't wait to see him in a few hours and hear ALL about the day, and send him off into school. just 3 more times. (can you see me wiping away tears and sniffle)

i remember when i first took him to kindergarten- i was a mess. i was so excited for him. i couldn't wait to hear all about his new friends and the play ground, and lunch time. i was thrilled at the thought of "home work", so that i could see all that he was learning (clearly, i am WAY over being excited about homework) i was scared. scared that i would be missing out on something while he was away from me, in someone else's care (thank you mrs. le roy for loving him). and i could only imagine all the things that waited for him inside that school, all the things he would learn, friends he would make, and new opportunities for his future.

(look how little he is...i LOVE this of him walking in to W A Porter elementary for the first time!)

and today, i don't feel much differently. just a bigger kid, a smaller backpack, and a bigger school.

i wept again today, like i do every year (literally) as soon as i drove away. wept. i am certain that will happen the next 3 years too. i have dreamed about him being in high school and all the fun things that he will get to be a part of. homecoming, driving, football games, dances, pep rallies- so so many fun things!

so today, i am praying for God to shine favor on him as he starts this new part of his life. i pray for sweet friends, teachers to care for him, a heart that is kind to others, and a mind that is open to learning all that he can. again...not unlike i did the first day of kindergarten.

(really, was he not the CUTEST thing you have ever laid eyes on?)

here are a few more pictures from this morning. he is not nearly as patient or happy to pose for me anymore. but he endured for me.

have a great year my boy! i love you to bits!!!!

i am baaaaaaack!

it has only been like 12 months or so. that's all. (read with great sarcasm)

the last year has been full. full of lots of things, life changing events, growth, new life, struggles, great joys, devastating heart breaks, glorious answered prayers, tears, a little arguing, lot's of laughing ( 'cause if you don't, you might cry), mountain top highs, and way down in the valley lows. do you want the good news or the bad news first?

let's go with the good- we made it through. we made it. and i might venture to say that we are stronger than before. (i am at least, but so i don't feel so lonely and vulnerable in the blogging world, i will continue to use the words "we, our, and us" eventually i will have to do this on "my own" but for now, i will remain "plural inclusive)....and yes that's a word (at least in my world it is)...i pinkie swear.

we successfully got our biggest through the 8th grade and now he is prepping to start high school. we found out we were having another baby (*SURPRISE!!!!!*****) just before sterling's 1st birthday. then discovered it was another boy! we were thrilled! i also had a really hard pregnancy and it nearly did me in- i was WORE out! the stress of the baby was a whole nutha story. he finally came on may 12th---exactly 14 years after i had his big brother. the timing was perfect and a huge answer to prayer. so many many other details to share in posts to come.

the biggest bad news of the last year (and i am going to be REALLY vulnerable here) is this.....i was COMPLETELY checked out. completely. since that last "Sterling is 9 months post", i haven't written down ONE thing...no journaling no nothing. the truth is, when i found out i was pregnant, i was real real sad. (that is so hard to write) not sad about the baby necessarily, but just sad about how it would change my life. i was so getting used to the peeps that i had and the way our lives were going along just fine. i really and truly went into some weird depression- i think that it kinda freaked my husband out. there were days and days that i wore the same thing, never left the house, cried constantly, and just checked out of life in general. i have NO pictures of the last year (mind you, i am a professional photographer). i have MAYBE a very small handful but really nothing like i should. it's shameful. when there are people out there with real terminal illnesses, and they just want one or two more days with the ones they love. i am moping around, complaining, and whining, and WASTING away the precious gift of time that my sweet loving Jesus gave me. wasting it. shameful.

so, now, on the eve of the biggest brother starting high school, the 21 month old sister getting ready for mother's day out, and the littlest brother cooing and giggling in my lap. i have decided, i don't want to miss it. i don't want to miss another year with my kids or with my amazing husband. i want to be fully here and in the moment and wrap myself up in them and feel how much they love ME - just because of who God made me to be and that's what they love about me. Warts and all- i don't really have warts, but you get the picture.

i am going to spend the next few months "journaling" about last year and trying to fill in the holes that i left out. some posts may be full of joy and happy thoughts, some might be me recalling the bad days, some may be pure nonsense and silliness, and there will for sure be some about all the fabulous things that God will be doing in our family this year. and for a laugh, i can almost guarantee that more than one or two posts will be composed while on "ambien" and those will be pure ridiculousness. i am certain that if you follow this blog for very long, you will hear somethings that my shock you and blow your mind, you may think "hey, i don't like this girl all that much anymore" but please stick with me on those days, i hope to show how God pulled me through and growed me up a little (yes, that also is a real word). He is changing my heart even now as i type. and more......now.

so, if you pick to read this, thank you. your encouragement and honesty will be a huge gift to my journey in becoming the girl, wife, mom, daughter, friend, aunt, neighbor, sister-in-law, yada yada yada that HE wants me to be. i need your accountability and maybe even a gentle kick in the butt. if you don't pick to keep up with it....i totally understand. just know that i am trying, and i am trusting that God has a plan for me.

so......check back soon. this may be my new daily obsession. and if you spread the word and sign up to follow, and make comments, we just might be able to reach a mom that is where i was and help encourage her a little too. after all, isn't that what God calls us to do. help those who are hurting?

until next time.............

from my gypsy heart to yours!

~t

ps a few words that GOD has on my heart to ponder today.

*ephisians 3:16 i pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources, he will empower me with his inner strength through his Spirit

*philippians 4:7 then i will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything i can understand. His peace will guard my heart and mind as i live in Christ Jesus.

*1 thessalonians 5:13 so encourage each other and build each other up.....

*psalms 139:16b every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

Sterling @ 9 months old!

This baby is something else! She is the busiest little thing-into EVERYTHING!!! We have had to move things, child proof, block off doors. I never had to do that with her brother. It is a whole new world around here. She is also the happiest of babies-smiling and giggling all the time. She thinks her brother is the greatest thing ever! She is crawling fast and furious, and has zero fear. 

She has this past month, out grown more than just her clothes! We have had to put away her bouncy seat, her car seat, the bath tub, and the swing. We took pictures of her in them just so we could compare to when she was first in them all and it is crazy how much bigger she is now. She thought getting in each of these was great fun-she hadn't been in them in a while so they seemed like "new" toys to her.  She was sad when we took her out and threw a minor fit, then she was off crawling to get into something else!

First Day of 8th Grade

I know that I start so many posts with this question in some form, "Where has the time gone?" but I truly ask myself that nearly everyday. Chandler just started the 8th grade-his last year of Middle School. Only one year left till High School. 4 and half till college. Where has the time gone? 

He is LOVING school. He started playing football, is in all pre-AP classes, and is in select art, he also is playing soccer outside of school. He is a busy little bee. He is a typical 13 year old kid, but funny, kind, and he is in love for the first time (however, it is with his baby sister- more on that later:) 

I just wanted to share his "First Day Look" (it looks thrown together, but trust me- LOTS of thought went into this).  We are so proud of the kid that he is and know that we are really lucky that he is ours!

Family Photo Fun!

It NEVER fails. We can be together for 10 days, but the last night at the very last moment possible, we panic because we don't have a "family picture" This usually results with

all the guys complaining and LOTS of crying from the kids. Oh if you could just be a fly on the wall when we are trying to take this pictures. It is quite hilarious.

In the end, we always get something fairly good with our ever growing family 

(21 and still counting). We are so so blessed.

All the Grandkids with Maw Maw and Paw Paw-

from the left: Ella (3) Julia (1.5)  Caden (4) the twins, Emmory and Amelia (4 weeks)

Brandon (6) Chandler(13) Ainsley (1.5) and our sweet Sterling (8 months)

Just the girls- only 4 out of the 6 are crying-no too bad.

 cracks me up

Chandler wants to live with Melinda & Travis.

My sister and brother in law bought a house this past spring. IT IS FANTASTIC!

The best part is the property. It's gorgeous!!! This is their front yard 

(view from the front porch). Isn't it great? You can't even see the road- it is country livin'

with out being out in the boon docks! Chandler ran and rode four wheelers, shot

fire works, climbed trees, explored, played with the dog...every night he was filthy dirty and

completely exhausted from playing so dang hard. The other reason that he would love to move in with Travis and Melinda (besides that they are so fun and all the kids favorite aunt and uncle despite my trying to beat them) Travis is a vet and they got to borrow a horse for a few days.

Chandler love love loved it! 

He's a natural.

Family Day on the lake!

We rented a "party barge" one day while we were in TN. We were on the lake literally  all day! We had a great time and the kids thought it was so fun. We cooked out, rode tubes and jet ski's, then we found this teenie little island right in the middle of the lake. It was so cool. Everyone hopped out of the boat and swam for a bit, laid out, some of us even fit in a quick nap. Our family is so fun! I love being a part of it!

"Our" island

Sterling in her float- she loved it, can you tell?

Paw Paw let Chandler drive the boat. He did great!

My guys- love them!

Ok, not super attractive, but Chandler loves these kinds of pics!

Ryman, Tootsies, & Hatch

One of my favorite days in Nashville, was the day we walked around downtown. It is such a cool town, lots of historic old places, cool people, and TONS of music. What could be better?

We started out at the Ryman Auditorium. I really am embarrassed to say that I had no idea what this place was. It is the original  "Grand ole Opry" and it is SO great! The history that is in that place (especially if you are into music) oozes out of the walls and it is really beautiful. It is where Johnny met June and you can almost here Minnie Pearl holler, " HOW-DEEE!!!!!" It just makes me smile to even think about it. They still do concerts there with people from the Jonas Brothers to Willie Nelson. I am really hoping that we can go back to concert this fall.  

Next stop, was "Tootsies" I had heard of it before, but didn't realize what a cool place it was. It's a teenie tiny little bar, that is just across the alley from the Ryman. Tons of artist have

snuck out of the back door of the Ryman and into "Tootsie's" for a little fun. It is also where loads of musicians have started out on the 12 x 12 foot stage. I know those walls could tell some really great stories! Tanya Tucker was actually there in the upper room, we just missed her (she scooted out the back door before we saw her). 

The last place we went was "Hatch Show Print" It is one of and probably the most famous press printers in the country. They have done show posters for the "Ryman" for years. They still use the wooden blocks that they lay out in a tray and crank it through the machine. ( i know it is much more complicated, but you will have to just trust me) It is a really cool art form. I would love love love to have one of their prints someday!

This was so fun! I am fascinated with all three places and how they are all in a way a part of each other and also such a big part of some of the music that I love! If your ever in Nashville, you should check it out!

The Outside of the Ryman.

This is what the musicians see just before going out on stage. 

Johnny and June, Minnie Pearl, Dolly Parton, Hank Williams....so cool!

Us back stage.

Garrett and I in Tootsie's

Yes, have taken our 13 year old and our 7 month old baby to a bar. 

'cause we are good parents! :)

This is the upper room. See all the hand writing on the walls?

And in the picture, that is Tootsie herself!

This is inside the printing place. It is so cool. See all the wood "print blocks"? 

This is one of the blocks that they were working on- I wonder what it turned out like?

These are some of the posters. They are so retro and cool!

Loveless Cafe

{Nashville, TN}

When I knew we were going to Nashville, I started asking around for some great restaurants. My friend Kate @ Juxtapose Photography (check out her pics) said that we HAD to go to Loveless Cafe. So, I obediently looked it up and dragged our whole clan there for lunch! I was worried that it wouldn't hold up to the greatness that i heard that it was. Let me just say,  it SO totally did!!!! AHHH-MAY-ZING!!!

The atmosphere is so fun! There are lots of little shops to look in, the art is really retro and cool, there is lots of history in that little restaurant. And the best part...the FOOD. Good ole, down home, country, fry everything cooking. YUM!!!

Chicken fried steak, fried okra, mash taters, gravy, cobbler, iced tea!

SO GOOD!!!! 

If your ever find yourself in Nashville, hop in the car and take a scenic drive to Loveless. You will not be disappointed!

Here we are waiting for our food to get here.

Just out side of the cafe, there are several good photo ops. 

I love this- look at Sterlings tiny little face-so cute!

Old antique tractor. We thought we might put the kids to work to pay for our meal.

This is me and the famous Carol Faye, aka the Biscuit Lady.

She and the cafe have been featured on the Food Network. 

She is the only one who knows the magic recipe for those dang good bisicuits! 

Doesn't she just look like a "biscuit lady"?

The 4th of July!

we were in Nashville for the 4th too. i LOVE the 4th. i LOVE a cookout. i LOVE fireworks.

we went to church saturday morning, had a cookout to celebrate both the 4th and my sisters in-law birthday. then set out to see some fireworks. it flipping POURED DOWN RAIN. HARD. we still tried to go and see them from the car-which is not near as fun as sitting out in the grass with a picnic, but we made a memory anyway. we scrunched up and mashed our faces up to the windows, but all we saw was lightning. we gave up and went home. 

chandler got a pic of randy and i huddled up in the car.

and here they are in the front seat-waiting for the light show.

.....and sterling. she wasn't interested at all! she slept through the whole adventure.

we are so blessed to live in a country where we can worship the God that we love. 

we can love who we choose to love.

we can be who and what we want to be.

happy 4th, and thank you to those (and their famillies) who have sacrificed

 so much for us to enjoy our freedom!