Happy 4th Birthday Isaac!

Isaac Preston,

Around this time 4 years ago, Daddy and I swaddled you up and kissed your sweet cheeks for the last time.  We were saying goodbye to your body knowing that your soul had already been in heaven for several hours.  I feel like with each year that passes heaven seems a little closer and even sweeter than before.  Just in the last few months several amazing people that I love very much have joined you.  Somehow it has brought me comfort to know that you were there to greet them.  I continue to tell your story and you continue to find your way into people's hearts.  I am so thankful God chose me to be your mommy.  I often wonder what you would be like if you were still here.  What sport would be your favorite?  Would you like to build with Legos like your Daddy did when he was a little boy?  You would be going into PreK next month.  Goodness I can't believe how quickly time has passed.  Happy 4th Birthday my precious blessing.  We had a wonderful day celebrating your life with your sisters by going to the movies, taking a new baby a gift at the hospital, then eating Chuys.  This evening we ate hotdogs with Nana, Tata, and Aunt Susan.  We sent your balloons to you and ate a cookie cake.  Kadynce and Lydia played on the slip and slide and with water balloons.  You would have had a blast!  I love you and miss you more than words can say! 

Love, 

Mommy 

Kelly's Korner: Meet Susan

Thanks to my amazing sis-in-law for inviting me to post on her blog! I guess this could be considered shameless self -promotion…that, or just putting myself out there.  I’d like to claim the latter but either way, I feel like the last year or so of my life, I’ve been learning how to take more risks, so I’ll just chalk this up to one of them :)

So… basic stats & interests: I’m 33 and I sometimes reach things in tall places for others with my 5’8” stature.  I am… an enjoyer of exploring the outdoors, hiking, and running…. and a lover of all kinds of food, music, movies (who isn’t??)…  and photography.  I rarely turn down a strong cup of coffee, a good convo, or an opportunity to find humor in everyday life (…because we all do some random, funny, quirky stuff…you know it’s true).

 Things I value…  Family… (sidenote here-- I recently moved to the Austin, Texas area last Spring and have loved being close to my bro, sis-in-law & her family and two amazing, silly, crazy, lovable little nieces!)… Friendships/investing time in others…. and most importantly…my relationship with Christ.  I have been given much grace, apart from the Lord I am nothing, and the essence of who I seek to be is a woman who loves & follows Christ with everything.

 Simply put…I am looking for a man who shares the same values… who I can ‘do life’ with—the joys & good, the ugliness & bad, the humor, and the everyday mundane.  A few similar interests are great but totally not a requirement.  The most important thing is that he loves the Lord first and is genuinely pursuing a relationship with Christ.   Oh …and being in/around/near the ATX area is ideal! J 

So… there you have it….  IF I sound like someone you may potentially want to get to know more... feel free to post and/or get more info to contact me! 

These are a Few of my Favorite Things...

A text conversation I just had with Jonathan made me laugh.  I was telling him that I lost a receipt that I need to take some clothes back and I realized halfway through my search that I have already looked high and low for this same receipt with no luck.  I proceeded to tell him that not only was I losing receipts, but I'm pretty sure my mind is gone as well.  Thank goodness I know for certain that I'm in good company in feeling this way.  I've learned to laugh (most of the time) at those "mommy brain" moments, but thinking about this prompted me to write about something else I've been thinking about and working on in my own life.  In today's busy, busy world I feel like it really is so easy to lose yourself.  Whether you are in college, working full time, a stay at home mom, or a retired grandparent, I think some, if not most of us have those moments when we lose touch with who we are as an individual.  What really makes us tick.  What makes us happy and content.  I'm not referring to the deep, dark details of our lives.  Jesus of course is number one to me.  Without him I would be nothing.  Without him I would have no joy.  I'm talking about the small things, though.  The simple things that get pushed to the side because we think they just aren't important.  I've recently done some thinking about what can add a little splash of "me" to my the everyday life of cooking, cleaning, laundry and changing diapers?  What can make my home (or for you your workspace) a little brighter and more cheery?  Here are a few of my favorite things.

• Music playing on the radio!  I'll be honest here, country makes me the happiest, but I don't always like that to be what the little ears hear so my sweetheart made me a "Mixed Tape".  It includes Hanson, Elvis, Mercy Me, Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift, Songs from Wicked, and lots more.  Hey, no judging allowed!  
• Candles being lit and or my Scentsy warmer turned on.  I love any sweet smells like sugar cookies or cupcake.  Right now though I have a coconut lime candle lit and it smells like the beach!  Just heavenly.  It's crazy how a yummy smelling candle can completely change my mood!
  
• Iced Soy Hazelnut Lattes (with only 1 pump of hazelnut).  Sometimes it's just worth stopping at the coffee shop and spending a few extra dollars.  
  
• Wearing my favorite neon pink shorts, a t-shirt, and my hair pulled up off my neck.  Feeling comfortable, yet "put together" makes me feel like I can conquer the world (or at least the day). 
• Having all of the blinds open and letting as much natural light in as possible.  My dream house is just full of windows (take notes Dad ;)) 
• Taking a hot bath in the middle of the day when the girls are napping just because I can.  
• Fresh (ok maybe almost dead) flowers from my love on the kitchen counter.  I love that he spoils me and he knows they make me happy!
  
• Sweet smelling lotion and soap.  As much as I am trying to use more natural products I love Bath and Body Works and I'm ok with that.  It makes me happy.  

I'm sure I could add more to my list, but these are the first things that come to mind.  Each thing is so simple, but can completely change the tone of my day.  Taking time to remember what I like and what I enjoy.  Realizing that each part of me, even the part that loves candles and iced lattes was created perfectly by God.  I would love to hear a few of YOUR favorite things!

Seasons

If there's anything that I've learned in my short 27 years it's that seasons come and go and change is inevitable.  I used to fight it so hard.  Like the time my youth pastor left us for "some band" and the "new guy" was super hero crazy. Yeah, I fought that pretty hard (I love you Joel and Randy ;)).  I even cried the day I turned 16 and received my long awaited drivers license.  I realized that that particular season of my life, the one in which my mom drove me everywhere, was gone.  All of the sudden in a matter of hours I had so much more responsibility.  I wasn't a kid.  It was all just flying by so fast and I couldn't even fathom how quickly it was passing for my parents.  In the past six and a half years that Jonathan and I have been married there have been more changes, more seasons than we could have ever imagined.  Right now in our life we are in a season of transition as our best friends move to the Northeast.  I know you may be thinking "people move all of the time" and yes they do, but I hesitate to even use the word friend for these people because really, they're family.  So while that is making life right now a little tough, a little bittersweet, I also see another season blooming.  Kadynce is starting her last year at the preschool at our church and Lydia her first.  It is such a sweet, sweet time with these precious girls that call me Mommy.  Knowing that this season will also be so fleeting, makes me stare at their sweet faces harder, and watch them sleep a little longer.  It makes me want to savor the small things just that much more.  I want to enjoy and soak up each season of life because, the truth is, I look back even at the hard ones with fond memories and think "if I had only known then."  Well, I do know now.  I know that God has us right where he wants us right at this moment.  I know that I'm going to soak it up for all its worth because we've been put here for a purpose and I want to live it out to the fullest!    

You're the Best Mommy!

 Did you know that you're the best mommy ever?  Yes you!

-You with the bottle of formula feeding your precious newborn.

-You nursing your two year old before she goes down for her nap.

-You rushing around making lunches for your little one to eat at daycare while you're at work.

-You still in your jammies teaching the ABCs and eating breakfast at 9am.

-You picking up dinner on your way home at 6:00 pm.

-You that has had a full, organic meal in the crock pot since 6:00 am.

- You that spends your Saturdays making fresh, from your garden, homemade baby food.

-You that fills your buggy up with Gerber at Walmart.

-You wearing your sweet baby around the mall while shopping.

-You pushing that stroller around the neighborhood for an evening walk.

-You searching Pinterest for hours for the perfect DIY birthday party.

-You that finds the best deals for party decor online and has it shipped straight to your door.

-You that spends hours washing, drying, and folding your baby's diapers.

-You who are looking for the best Huggies coupons as we speak.

-You whose child has never watched TV.

-You that doesn't know what you would do without Mickey Mouse.

-You that rocks your baby for hours every day.

-You that lets your baby "cry it out"

The list could go on and on, sweet Mommy.  The point is that YOU are the best for your child.  God entrusted him and /or her to you.  If you are doing what you believe is best for them and you are loving them the best you know how that, my friend is enough.  No more hiding your bottle in public because you feel embarrassed or ashamed.  No more justifying what you are or aren't feeding your baby.  No more putting yourself in an "all or none" box.  It's ok to wear your baby one day and use a stroller the next.  It's ok to feed them homemade food at home and jarred when out.  Be confident in the decisions that you and your husband make for your family.  Be confident in the abilities and instincts that  The Lord has given you. Be confident that you are the Best Mommy Ever!

Happy 3rd Birthday Isaac!

Isaac Preston,

Happy 3rd Birthday, perfect angel!  It just doesn't seem possible that 3 years have already passed.  Daddy and I celebrated your day yesterday by going to Disneyland, somewhere I have wanted to visit for as long as I can remember.  It truly is one of the happiest places on earth and I can't think of a better way to celebrate you.  I have no doubt in my mind that you would have loved it there.  We bought dolls for your sisters and I sure would have liked to buy a Mickey Mouse baseball or a goofy hat for you.  Although, like I tell your sister I know heaven is way better than Disneyland could ever be.  It was a beautiful day so we headed to the beach to see the sunset.  It was one of the most gorgeous things I have ever seen.  Our God is so creative and his blessings constantly take my breath away and leave me speechless.  I can only imagine the beauty and majesty of heaven.  Isaac, your life was and continues to be such a gift to me.  I am such a different and better person because of the lessons the Lord taught me through you.  You gave me a whole new perspective on life and I will forever be grateful for that.  I feel so blessed that I was chosen to be your Mommy and that the Lord trusted me with such a special little boy.  What an honor it is to call you my son.  

I love you so much!

Mommy

       

Topsie Turvy

I know I've been behind in my blogging the past few weeks, but I have a good excuse, I promise.  Those of you that know Jonathan and I know that we love to create fun and unique things.  Jonathan does a lot of photography and graphic design.  I love to sew, make bows, and pretty much try to replicate anything I see at craft shows.  We are those people that never buy anything because we want to make it ourselves.  Jonathan is always coming up with ideas for different businesses.  He talks about how, as a little boy, he set up a table in their driveway trying to sell rocks.  I'm sure he was the most adorable little entrepreneur ever.  Many of you know that my friend Heather and I have a little boutique, Simply Royalty, but Jonathan and I really wanted to do something together.  Something that would combine both of our talents.  After some very long brainstorming our new venture was born.  Topsie Turvy Coasters and Lids (thanks to my Dad for helping come up with the lid idea).  We have created a line of custom made, personalized coasters and jar lids made from mason jar lids. Either a photo sent to us by the customer or a high quality digital design is placed into the inside or the top of the lid.  It is then covered with resin to give it a beautiful glass-like and waterproof finish.

The possibilities for these products are really endless.  We have come up with some different templates, but are always open to working with the customer to design something special just for them.  We will be adding new designs very frequently so be sure to "like" our Facebook Page to stay up to date.

We are really excited to get this business up and running.  If you love our products as much as we do please share our Etsy Store or Facebook Page with your friends.  Topsie Turvy Coasters and Lids are wonderful gifts for people of all ages!!!!