New Year. New Beginning.

It's a new year. A time for New beginnings. A year of Change.
I hope to do better at blogging this upcoming year.
To be able to use this space as a journal, an online reminder of the goals, committments, and dreams I have... as well as a place to celebrate the triumphs, the achievments, the progress.
Sure there will be struggles,
I know there will be trails
and bumps in the road.
But it's a process.
Taken a step at a time.
One day at a time.

The changes are necessary
It's beyond time
For a new beginning.

A lil bit of Heaven Maryland...

On our recent trip up North over Christmas we made sure that we made a few pit stops before returning home.

First and foremost we miss our families. I wish they were not so far away so we could see them more often. There are also a few other things we miss... so this time we decided to bring them back with us!

Here is our taste of Maryland...

*Safeway select Southwestern Salsa- tuly the Best salsa!

*Cluck-u-chicken Atomic Barbeque Sause-- Jakes FAVORITE!

*Garlic & Wine Seasoning from The Melting Pot-- greatest seasonin for EVERYTHING!

*Martin's potato rolls-- Must have for any cookout! .. wish we coul find them here!

Yummy!! Like a lil bit of Heaven, ... er, a .. Maryland, in SC!!

Transparency... Resolutions, and New Beginnings

As we begin this new year of 2011, I have found myself reflecting on the last year. 2010 was a year of ups and downs. A year of challenges, a year of blessings, and a year of change.
I also have begun to think of the things that I desire to change for this coming year. At this time you hear talk of "Resolutions" and new vows to be made in the new year.

They say that truth sets you free.. and that getting things in the open will help you to get through them or overcome them. So, I have decided to be transparent about some things in my life. I am ready for change. I desire this year to be a year of growth, and of positive improvements spiritually, emotionally, physically and socially.
I have heard this song a few times but never truly listened to it until the other day. It spoke to me, it shook the core of who I am. I felt like the lyrics were speaking the truth of my life. It depicts exactly where I feel I am right now.



So... Here are the things I am challenging myself to do this year... I am ready for change, I need the change, and I am going to make things better.

Most importantly....Re discover God- Re claiming the passion, the hunger for the things of God that I once had. To have a real, intimate, personal and daily relationship with my savior.
1/ Daily devotions-- quiet time with Him. (Mornings- after Bus)
PRAYER- To spend time daily with Jesus... Seeking, Thanking, Listening, and Worshiping.
Reading through the Bible- Studying and digging into the word, through The Message.
Instilling these important things into my children. Reading scripture/Bible stories with them, and encouraging and helping them to memorize scripture.

2/ Fast 21 days with Church
At the start of the new year, our church begins a corporate three week fast. This year, I have made the committment to join in with this fast as a time to grow spiritually, as well as to begin a healthy weightloss journey. I have chosen to follow a modified Daniel Fast eating mostly fruits and vegetables and abstaining from Sodas, Sweets, Red Meat, and most dairy products. I know that this experience will stretch me in new ways, and will be a challenge but I pray that it deepens my dependancy on Christ and gives me a new perspective.

3/ Loose weight-- Excercise -- Get Healthier! It is beyond time for a change. I want to feel better physically, to care for my body and gain energy for the things life brings my way. This will help me to be there for my children and be able to do more with them and for them.

4/ Organize Bills/ paperwork. As part of re claiming my life back in 2011 I will get back on track financially. I desire to sit and create a budget, and learn to stick to it. Things must get more organized so that Bills can be paid, on time and important papers kept and filed away. Debt Snowball updated, and tackled!

5/ Because of B.R.A.Y.D.E.N. This coming year has the potential to be an amazing year for B.O.B. as well as for my personal growth and healing. It is my #1 goal to obtain our 501 (3) (c) status and put together a working board of directors to help, support, and improve all that we hope to do. New opportunities are opening up every day and I pray that God will use me, in the ways He desires to make a difference in this field.

6/ COUPON!! As overwhelming as it feels, I want to make it work for our family. With the help of friends, family, and some helpful websites I will work hard to learn the art of couponing as a way to be more frugile with our finances.

Something else that I have decided to do this year is a fun project I saw on another blog and also have seen done by a close friend. I look forward to opening my eyes to the things around me, to choose Daily to be thankful for all the things in my life. I will be recording them in a photo album on facebook. I am excited to see all the things we are so blessed with and stretch myself with this challenge.

Project 365: THANKful

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First Grader!!

Today was Nathaniel's first day of First Grade!

He was so excited to be going back to school and starting a new year.

My lil Flowertown Elementary "Busy Bee!"

His very own desk this year... in the second row of Mrs. Horner's class.

Praying for an amazing and successful year!

Motherhood Moments

Someone asked me recently what my favorite moment of Motherhood is. What a tough question to answer! There are so many thngs that I love about being a Mommy... and I do my best to cherish each and every moment I am given with my precious children.

I have thought about this question alot and though there are so many answers Icould give, I have decided my favorite moment of Motherhood, (other than the moment of first holding and looking into the faces of my beautiful babies!!) is bedtime.
Yes, Bedtime.
This may sound odd since bedtime is when our children are sleeping and we are not with them. But many of the moments I enjoy the best with my children are putting them to bed. The calm, peaceful moments of cuddling, sharing moments of the day, praying over them, kissing their little heads, and tucking them in.

As I sat rocking my baby girl tonight (after 30+ minutes of screaming and not going to sleep on her own!) I could only smile. I was reminded once again how much I treasure and love those moments. I can't help but think to myself how blessed I am. To think that this may be the last chance I get to hold, rock, and pray over my baby girl. Wow...
How can I complain?
I don't want to miss a moment of it.

When the day is busy, and kids are hectic.
When they are whinny and fussy, cranky and loud
When they want nothing to do with me...

There's always Bedtime.
There's always hugs.
There's always a kiss and a prayer.

As I lay Nathaniel down, go through our nightly routine, and kiss his forhead. He leans to me, draws me close... and says, "I love you Mommy!" How much, I reply? "Up to the moon and down again, and all around the world... and up to the moon and down again, and all around the world again... and THAT's NOT ALL!!" ..and Jesus loves you more! (Just as my mommy did with me!)
My heart melts.
My arms love the embrace and warmth of holding my precious ones close.

Lord, May I always treasure each and every moment you allow me to share with my children. They are gifts from you and I am blessed and thankful for the time you have bestowed on me to love them, raise them, and care for them.

My Confident Aquatic Problem Solvers!

We did it!! Elliana and Nathaniel have finished their session for Infant Swimming Resource Self-Rescue swimming lessons. I am so proud of them both and how great they have done. The last week was very different and difficult as we tested out their skills while wearing clothing. The week started with them wearing light weight summer clothes, then long pants and long sleeves, then to thicker heavier clothing, and lastly in full winter outfits and shoes.

Elliana's "Starfish!"

Thanie's "Starfish!"

Rotating from his back to his stomach for a swim-float-swim rotation. This way he gets as far as he can, but knows to roll over to float, rest and take a breath whenever needed!

Through this program Nathaniel and Elliana both learned breath control, and swimming face down (which promotes vertical swimming. When your face is not in the water your more likely to sink) Where your head goes, your feet are sure to follow!

Ellie floating independently with heavy fleece winter clothes on!!

The rolling over and going for the wall as she finds her way out.

For more information on Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) visit http://www.infantswim.com/.

These lessons are very different then your traditional swim lessons. The skills they learned are for self-rescue purposes in the unfortunate chance that they find themselves in a situation with water. SUPERVISION is always the best protection! Survival skills are just one more layer of protection we as parents can offer our children.

SOOOO Proud of them both and how hard they worked over the last month and a half. I truly believe that they are now confident aquatic problem solvers. So incredibly thankful for Becky, our awesome ISR instructor. Blessed that God brought her, and this amazing program into our lives, and blown away by the healing it brought, the passion it birthed and the new journey it has started us on! I would have never even dreamt it 2 months ago!