An Update in Pictures :)

These are the new additions to our flock...



Carly Beth playing Dress Up.



Getting ready to spend the day with Granna and Uncle Samuel



Riding on top of the goat feed in Tractor Supply




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Location:12th St Dr NW,Hickory,United States

An Update on my 30 Things...

It's time to figure out my progress...here we go!

And Here's The List, in no particular order...

1. Get a tattoo of a Dove - been meaning to do this for years.
2. Read the works of C.S. Lewis. I completed the Chronicles of Narnia and I'm working on Mere Christianity.
3. Discover a way to serve using my passion for Healthy Family relationships.
4. Move back to Hickory. Accomplished this the second week of January!
5. Lose 20 lbs.
6. "Run" a 5k
7. Start doing Yoga twice a week.
8. Learn the final dance from "Dirty Dancing".
9. Stay at the Grove Park Inn.
10. Have a makeover.
11. Learn to make ravioli.
12. Learn to ride a horse.
13. Bake bread from scratch, starting with grinding my own flour. I'm getting good at baking bread, I'm looking for a grinder :)
14. Read my 1 year Bible from start to finish, not getting distracted by the Christmas story.(I always go back to Luke when December comes.)So far so good.
15. Learn my family heritage.
16. Make something and sell it on Etsy.com.
17. Be chosen to give the Vision or Communion Moment at Kinetic Church.I tried to do this one before we moved but they wouldn't let me. I won't be achieving this one.
18. Write a cookbook.I'm in the process! I'm working one finding recipes and trying them out.
19. Read at least 50 NEW (as in I haven't read them before) books.
20. Learn how and become a pro at making Marshmallows.
21. Cook my way through two cookbooks, not skipping any recipes, and blog about it. (Jaime Oliver's Food Revolution and Ina Garten's Back to Basics) just ordered my
Cookbooks!!
22. Learn my Mamaw's Lifestory.I'm working on this one too.
23. Develop a habit of making all our condiments: ketchup, mustard, vanilla extract, mayonnaise, butter, jelly, sour cream etc...
24. Become 100% organic and local for all our food needs. in the process...Hubby is even getting honeybees!!
25. Adopt a child through Compassion International.
26. Be intentional about our home being less chaotic - there's always clutter. Almost unpacked!
27. Be 100% fast food free except for the occasional Sonic
Strawberry Lime-ade.
28. Be better about our family blog and keeping up with Carly Beth's Milestones.I'm blogging a lot!!
29. Start a book club.I'm reading CS Lewis with a friend of mine and getting ready to start reading "Sun Stand Still" with another...
30. Let my hair grow for one year - only getting the occasional trim every 2-3 months. Doing great here!

Up and Down...

When it's just me and Carly Beth at home, she is awesome. Seriously, we color, sing, and watch PBS Kids all day. But, the moment you add another warm blooded being to the mix, something changes. This includes our dogs. This includes the strangers at Walmart that laughed at us while they were walking into the store and I was trying to fold her body into the buggy seat. (BTW: DON'T LAUGH AT US WHILE YOU'RE WALKING PAST...I may find you in the store later and accidentally knock my buggy into your ankle.)
Every "no" that falls upon her precious ears is a challenge to her independence. I always said "I'll never bribe my child..." but m&ms work wonders. Carly Beth submits to just about anything for a handful of m&ms.
I love CB, but CB loves Daddy...who consequently is the favorite. Hey - he is my favorite guy too, but give me a break! I hate having to correct Daddy, but sometimes it cannot be avoided. Like when CB asks for tea at 8 pm...and he is pouring her a glass even though she's only allowed milk after 7 so I don't have to tie her to the bed while she's on a sugar high.
This isn't complaining, or ranting...just the communication of some factoids :).
I love Carly Beth and her fierce independence. Her vocabulary isn't like kids who go to Preschool, but her imagination is strong. I keep trying to video some of her tea parties, but she catches me!
I love her Daddy too! He is my Knight in shining armor!
I am surely blessed beyond measure.



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Location:11th St NW,Hickory,United States

Without my Scars...

     I hear people say "I wish I could go back to High School" or "go back to college" ... and granted, I was cute about the time I was 21. I must have had a body image problem, I thought I was fat...but seriously...I had issues. Anyways, I'm moving away from the point of this post. 


     I remember who I Was then...7 and 10 years ago, kind of. I remember my mistakes. But I don't really remember who I was without my scars. The things that I have encountered in life that have changed me forever, I think, as hard as they have been, are worth it when I look in the mirror. I am far more compassionate. I make slightly better choices. I know when to ask for help, and I'm not too proud or afraid to ask. 


     I try not to complain too much, God knows I could be going through much harder and difficult times. 


     Above all else, I don't know who I would be without my scars...or my wounds. 

Today, I am Grateful

Today, I am grateful for two very awesome women whom I have just recently come to know quite intimately. Both I have known for years...like since middle school or before. Neither close friends... But God has woven our stories together in a very special way. And although I'm not going to tell our secrets, I'm going to say that I've learned in just a few days how much stress can be relieved by just talking to someone who understands where you are and what you feel. And even if they don't understand they also refrain from looking at you like you have 3 heads.

Thank you, God, for bringing us together, for letting us help each other deal with our struggles that seem so similar. I KNOW you're hearing our prayers and WILL SEND the blessings we desire.
In Jesus' name, Amen.


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Location:Ashmore Ln,Harrisburg,United States

A Healing Process...

Do you have wounds that haven't healed? You may not be aware, but I am a walking open wound. The past year of my life has been filled with joy, loss, anger, blessedness, fury, happiness, faithlessness, and many nights of sleeplessness. So I decided, I'm going to use the Lenten season to change my attitude. I'm going to attempt to make comments of gratefulness instead of complaints. I'm going to pray BOLDLY and EXPECT God to answer instead of praying quiet, faithless prayers already thinking God won't come through.

If I step up to the plate, surely He won't leave me hanging...

"Hope is a desire. Faith is a demonstration. Hope wants it to happen. Faith causes it to happen and acts as if it’s already done." Steven Furtick, "Sun Stand Still"

Location:11th St NW,Hickory,United States