All it takes is one

Yesterday I stopped in at work to help my girls for a few hours when I knew they were busy, even though it was my day off. While I was there one of MY regulars (she comes only when she knows I am working lol) showed up after being out of town for almost 2 months! I was excited to see her and when I went to give her her pictures she came to pick up she exclaimed all surprised, "Oh my gosh you have lost ALOT of weight girl! Look at you and how thin you are!" This made my day because I have been getting quite proud of how I look everytime I get ready to go anywhere and look in the morror.... All it takes is one person to say something and it can make a whole day great!!! lol

On a side note but relevant, Jared recently was issued his dress blues uniform and I have been talking about going and getting really nice pictures done together with them- he in his blues and me in a nice formal dress- but this would have to wait bc I had weight to lose. Well, just last week my sister and I went out just to try on some dresses and see how I felt- see how much longer it would be before I would actually THINK about buying and posing in a dress much less feel comfortable trying many on. I am so oober proud to say the first one I tried on, this long tight flowing gown fit so nicely (and it was tight around the waist and backside)! I didnt have rolls or even the love handles I thought I had bulging out the side, it just smoothed straight down and dang my hips looked good! lol! I didnt get it bc it was this weird topped one and it really made me look flat chested as all get out but I was just so pleased that it wasnt a size 15 or something like that and that I looked so good, even my sister was impressed.... so I tried on some more too haha. One was this "pretty pretty princess" dress as Jacky called it. It was like a corset up top and then poofed out in layers all the way down to the ground all silver and sparkly. All I needed was a tiara and look out Cinderella! lol!

Anyway, since "FIT" is my word for this year I thought this post would be relevant and I want to look back on it one day and remember this good feeling!

My big big BOY!!

Today my handsome little boy turned 1! While he is still the same size he was at 9/10 months--because he never grows-- he is still a big boy now and it is actually harder to accept then I expected. Since he was born on my sister's 20th birthday, they both celebrated today- him 1 and her 21! As a gift for them both I brought them to the studio today and had their bday pictures done. I think they turned out super great but you can decide! lol

At first there was only going to be pictures of Chase and Aunt Jacky but when I got to thinking about it I realized I might look back and wish I had taken at least one picture with my son for his birthday... So I got a couple cute ones of us together.

I had these shirts made for the pictures. I thought it would be a cute idea to do a pose from behind and my boss took the photos and they turned out so cute! Chase did so well and it meant alot to Jacky to get pictures done with him!

I am quite proud of how these pictures turned out. I feel bad because I never got pictures done for the girls for their 1st birthdays like this... pictures around their birthdays yes, but not with th 1's and never of just them individually to celebrate. But I never worked for a portrait studio before with great discounts and opportunities either. So, you take each chance you can right? lol :)

Speaking of working at a portrait studio, I have some excellent news that I can finally share!

My district manager called me about a week ago and asked me if I was interested in a management experience they had available in Bowling Green Kentucky. The offer price was lower than what we could live off of, with moving and all, so I told him I needed a better offer but I was willing to move if the price was right. Today he called me and offered me a little more, still not enough for us to live off of... we had already found the most affordable place in Bowling Green and knew we had a certain price we could live with... so once again I had to tell him not unless we could bring the price up. Thankfully he has been very impressed with me and wanted me to have this job. He really went to bat for me with the regional manager and right before Chase's party tonight I got "the call" we had been waiting for. The right price with a guarantee raise within 3-6 months as long as I perform like I should. As excited as I am I also feel a bit nervous. This is a big responsibility and an opportunity for my family I am afraid I could mess up. I absolutely LOVE my job and have been aiming towards management since I started really. I am feeling quite blessed for this amazing chance and I am praying for the many blessings that I really feel will continue to come from this.

We will be moving the first week of February! That's nice and soon. lol. We havent decided whether we are going to move straight to Bowling Green or maybe the half-way point between here and there in Russelville. We dont have forever to decide so we are going to be going through all the apartments and rentals we can find over the next few days and make some phone calls and a drive out that way to view the area. Prayers please that we find the right place for us and the best place for our family to live.

Well there is an update for everyone! Wish us luck and blessings!!!

New Year

For my New Year's Resolution/goal, I am going to be a better blogger.... keep a better journal for my family's sake and so when I am 83 years old and can't remember my own name much less things I did in my 20's- I will have these journals/blogs to read over and remember how I learned, struggled, loved, lost, grew, shrank, wanted, pleaded, received, and all my many blessings from the Lord! I can remember how my kids discovered the world one small new adventure at a time. There is alot going on right now I can't really put on here yet, not until everything is final and set in stone, but the moment everything gets into place I want to put it all here so I can remember the joy and strength I had for my family and how amazing my husband, my kids, and my family were in supporting me.
I can't write much today, got tooooo much else going on, but as part of this new goal, I knew I needed to jot this down.
Also, my friend Laura has asked what everyone's "word" for this NEW year 2011 is... a word that details in a nutshell what your strongest goal is for yourself, what your biggest flaw filled area of your life encompasses and how you plan to change that.... and I got to thinking about it today while I sat in church for the first time in months because of all my crazy work hours. Pastor Tracy, a wonderful minister I feel very strongly was sent here to help me on my path to the Lord and who has influenced my better living by pointing me to the savior who can lead me through anything and everything, was talking about getting "fit" this year. Spiritually fit that is. The bible talks about it quite often and how important it is to get spiritually "fit". Within the idea of spiritual fitness is financial fitness, physical fitness, and relationship fitness. All areas of my life I need very much to work on.... So my word is FITNESS.... and by this time next year I do want to say YES, I have gotten spiritually fit, physcially fit, financially fit, and built stronger relationships with those in my life.
What about you?

So its been a Month and...

Mostly things havent changed.
Jared still hasnt found that job that the Lord has planned for him-- we are working on it. He did a few days of training this past week and completed them and passed so he is officially certified to do military funerals. This is quite a honor for him- he feels that way and I feel that way- because each of the fallen no matter how they passed served for our military and deserve these respectful funerals and to be able to participate in expressing that honor to their family is just an experience you can't get from anything else. He may/will have many a day that he has to fight back tears even though he claims he will never cry because he has no emotion- lol! He may be called to work a funeral on holidays, in the snow, in the rain, and on our anniversary.... but when my dad goes, when my mom goes, or when jared goes-- they deserve the honor of such a ceremony. Anyway- obviously I am very proud of him for doing this and the benefit will be a few days a week of work so that helps the pocket book. lol!
I am ABSOLUTELY loving my job. It has its moments- ups and downs- and there are some times when my love for kids can be tested a bit (smile) but its busy work and delightful work. Last week I had a little baby roll over for the first time ever in my room while we were doing a photo shoot-- her Mommy was so thrilled and LOVED the pictures I did to commemorate the moment! You dont get the opportunity to share in those moments with people in many other jobs! I am very much hoping to stay on after seasonal and one day get my own studio- it is definitely something I can see myself doing for a long time and loving. I just enjoy people and kids and photography and I feel so blessed to be able to get this opportunity to learn from great teachers and have a fun time doing it!
The kids are doing well in school. They have all been cycling through the colds already this season as the temps here have varied from 35 degrees to 70 somedays. I am hoping they get over them soon. We just got pictures done at the studio of them and I will hopefully get them on here soon for everyone to see. Dont worry family members- you will be getting pictures! lol!
Chase is so active these days. He pulls up on everything and tries to take a step and then laughs at himself and falls onhis butt...or face...or straight back on his head! lol! Its so cute to watch him. He eats so well- and loves all kinds of foods. His favorites include bread and honey butter, pancakes, OATMEAL!!!!!, fruits of all kinds, and rice and green beans together. He recognizes certain words like "eat", "drink", and "mama time"--- which means nursing before bed. I cant believe how much he grows everyday. He does the ADORABLE thing where he "stretches"! He holds his hands infront of him and then lifts them up above his head and stretches until we say "streeeetttcccchhhh"! Then he laughs and claps for himself. hahahahahaha. He is so cute!
Jared is gone at WLC for the next few weeks. Once again, I am so proud of him for making the list. Its not very often the guard sends it soldiers to WLC so to be chosen is a big deal around here. He is doing so well and he is hoping to graduate distinguished honor grad like he did from AIT! I know he can do it, he loves the leadership stuff and really enjoys being incharge and such so he will do great.
Thats about that for now. Tried to keep any yucky depressing news out of here because really why do I want to look back at that? lol!
Pics soon!

Kids & the Marshmallow Test

Watch this. It is too cute and goes along with the blog below this. lol. Hope it makes you laugh and think at the same time!!!

Friends, Marshmallows, and Opportunities

Well, some days are hard and others are harder... and then there are days (well in this case a whole week) where things really seem to be quite wonderful!
It all started Friday of last week when I finally got off my butt and went to Military Wives Bible Study-- a growth group I have been meaning to go to for like a year now! lol! It was just such an overwhelmingly wonderful experience. I was able to fellowship with some wonderful women who just touched my heart in so many ways. Women who could relate to what we are going through and women who might not be able to but offered wonderful advice and comfort. I was able to get out of the house and just take it easy for awhile without all the kiddos. it got my mind off of the unemployment we are dealing with and the insanity of everyday struggles we are beginning to face. For a day, life didnt feel like it just sucked!
Then, Saturday, I woke up well rested and made a big breakfast for everyone and started the day off much happier and calmer than other mornings. I felt rejuvenated and all in all like a different person.
That evening I was totally blessed to be given the opportunity to attend a baby shower of a woman who I am hoping will become a dear friend, but who I had only met once and hadnt seen in almost a year. We are mostly blog friends (see isnt blogging great) and our husbands have been friends for almost 15 years! I REALLY enjoyed myself and once again I was surrounded by some pretty wonderful women all of whom were very kind and fun to be around. I even made a new friend with whom I plan to have many fun play dates :)!
Sunday I had church and it was a great service. Pastor Tracy talked about temptation and how we all have a marshmallow (I cant figure out how to add the video to this blog so I will post it in the next one in just a second) in our lives that tempts us. He asked us to think about what our marshmallow is (again, watching the video will make this make more sense). I thought about it alot and I determined that my marshmallow is my faith right now in the sense that I can give up. My problem, my worry and fear, are right infront of me and I can explode and crash and burn and take them how they are right now--- with a weak faith, or I can wait and see what the Lord has planned for me and my family and not only end up with a better deal but also help strengthen my faith and build on my relationship with my Heavenly Father. While the first one seems much easier some days, just fall and bury myself in bitterness and defeat, obviously the second option, waiting for a bigger reward, is the better option. So, what is your marshmallow?

This weekend I also just found out that my sister and bestest best friend in the whole world is coming home for good by the end of the month! Words can not describe how amazing this is and how much it means to me. With everything going the way it has lately we both really need each other in a closer proximity and need good friends to help us through. Please pray that everything goes well and she gets back safely.

I suppose the second most exciting thing that happened was today's accomplishment... I got a job!!! YAY!! And not just any job, but one that I have been wanting for years. I start tomorrow at the Sears Portrait Studio in the mall as a photographer in training. It is a seasonal job right now- and I have been informed to expect to have no life starting now because after this weekend I will not have another weekend off until January! Photo studios are crazy during the holiday season so I should get plenty of experience and ALOT of hours. With Jared not knowing when or even if he is going to get a job, we have been so scared that we wont be able to meet out bill requirements after this month just off of his unemployment (we set aside as much as possible this last month of paychecks so starting this month when we werent making anymore we could still cover our bills and necessities but starting November we were gonna be REALLY struggling). This is such an awesome opportunity and a blessing for us and especially for me because it has long been a passion of mine to learn more about photography. My sister in law and brother in law are All Star photographers and I have admireed their work for awhile, but have never had the money to take any classes. Now I will get them for free and get tons of hands on everyday experience. Please pray that I handle the stress of the job well and that the Lord help me reach my full potential and then some in this environment. My biggest fear now is being away from my son. He is in that learning phase where he learns to talk and walk and eat big boy foods and I am so scared to miss it. But, I know that this is what is best for us all right now and I am VERY blessed to have my parents and soon my sister here to watchthe kids so I dont have to worry about my kids being safe with strangers.
Well, that is a heck of alot of stuff for just one week but what a great week it was. Please continue to pray that Jared find a job soon. He has applied for a position on post here that he is actually qualified for with experience and such and it would mean that we dont have to leave our family here and I can keep my job too.... fingers crossed and prayers a flyin.
Until next time...

..... different

My mother-in-law had little competitions for color challenges and Iwas going to try my hand at it but realized that, for challenges 10 and 11 I did not have all of any set of the colors.... so, I kinda combined them and made my own little card with the following colors.
-Garden Green
-Sahara Sand
-Daffodil Delight
-Chocolate Chip
-Very Vanilla
And, this was my final project.

Calendar Pages

I made a few other digital pages to put on a calendar I am working on for my Grandmother for Christmas. I want to do one for my Pampaw in Ohio too, especially since Mom has been working on genealogy and we have TONS of pictures of all my extended family on that side. Anyhoo, these pages dont have much in common with the month they represent, just fun pages to look at really.

Thanks Juanita!

My Mother-in-law recommended to me a way to do my scrapbooking without making a giant mess all over the room and worrying about my kids eating random scrap pieces! She has been asking me and Andrea to try this digital scrapbooking program called My Digital Studio for awhile now and for my anniversary last month my husband went ahead and bought me the program and a few extras to play with it. Of course, right after that my computer went down for awhile so it has taken me a bit to get around to doing some pages. I was very excited about this program because recently, in May,we had quite a bit of horrible rain here and some flooding. We had a box downstairs full of some books we had packed away and one of them was Ciara's baby calendar that I wrote EVERY little detail down in. Practically every day had something written on it. Well, we got quite a bit of damage in the basement and along with about 6 boxes of clothes, the box of books was ruined. Molded and destroyed. I could deal with all the other books not making it, but my heart broke when I saw Ciara's book. I copied down what I could from the pages saved, but pretty much everything was lost. With My Digital Studio, I can make all my pages, keep all my pictures and memories up to date and protcted from ruin, and make them fun too! So, here are my first few projects. I am learning so dont judge me too hard. lol.








On this one I actually took a few pieces (different sized and shaped stamps) and put them together to make the little hummer type truck. Very intermediate at best, but I thought it turned out quite cute.




I made the syringe on this one with the same concept as the truck.














My first few pages were all Chase pages because those were my most recent photos. More everybody-else pages to come. lol

I plan on doing a page like this for all the girls. I am starting a baby-book/calendar type scrapbook for each kid as a timeline type thing.






Well, that's what I got for my regular pages. I will post some from the calendar I am working on for my Grandmother soon too.

Still No Pictures

Wow. I am officially blog-grounded I think. I have posted sparingly and insufficiently these past few months and added like 3 pictures total! To quote the typical teenager these days "OMG!"
Sorry!!!! lol

And still, I post without ANY pictures to post. Well, not that I dont have any to post, just that I havent gotten them on the computer yet.... mostly bc I am lazy, but also bc I cant find the darn memory card reader to transfer all 4000 of my pictures onto the computer. Lame.

Well, Cadince just turned 4 last week. FOUR!!! How did that happen?! It hit me hard too. One day I turned around and my tiny little bug was 4! In case you are wondering though, she is still tiny. LOL! She has grown so much in this past year and is such an amazing big sister. It is nice to have the days while the big girls are gone at school to hang out with Cadie and Chase and watch them together. She and I do some school stuff every week for our "at-home" daycare and she is SO SMART. She catches on so fast and she really loves to learn. Chase absolutely adores her and when they play together he laughs so hard. She gets down on the ground and they crawl around together across the livingroom. Lovin it.

Ciara is loving Kindergarten and making tons of friends. She has had one minor incident (stepped on a girls foot when she cut in line at the slide) and we had a talk but other than that she has integrated quite well. Her teacher is quite lovely and I feel very blessed she feels comfortable in school and isnt scared without me.... but it kinda hurts sometimes. She doesnt even look back anymore when she gets on the bus or worry about what I am doing while she is gone. She had to stay home today because she was sick and she cried so hard because she loves Kindergarten and didnt want to miss her teacher anymore. lol. I guess I should just be glad she likes it while it lasts... pretty soon she will be faking illnesses just to stay away from school.

Cecilia has been off to a rough start in 3rd grade. Somedays she does excellent and enjoys it and other days she is so absent-minded about what she is suppose to remember to do and bring home and such. I fear she may have some ADD because she can not stay focused on anything... except art and reading. She can zone out on anything when she is reading and drawing. She had saved up money from her good grades last year and she finally bought herself a really nice art set and sketch pad. She is pretty good and Jared (my own personal artist who hides his talent but is really really good) has been teaching her some concepts and having her sketch different things different ways. I love watching her mind open up and her imaginaiton come out on paper.

Chase is 8 months old now and getting too big lol. He just moved into a big boy carseat, no longer in the infant carrier. He is a super picky eater, not with food but with WHEN he wants to eat and how much at a time. Fristrating but at least he eats... he gets like that with breastfeeding too. That one can be more painful than frustrating sometimes. lol. He is crawling (still more army crawl then hands and knees crawl) all over the place and it has become a necessity to baby proof the livingroom and surrounding areas now... and he still manages to find cords and shoe laces to chew on. He is adorable when he sits up and plays but he just doesnt like to sit up lately. He locks his knees so they stay straight and helays or crawls bu hates to sit. Boys will be stubborn boys.

Jared and I are still waiting.... waiting for a new job (his orders are up in 2 weeks), waiting to move into our own place again, and waiting for the other ball to drop so it seems. Everyday is a challenge with little to no friends around, no one to talk to, and with the thought of unemployment being our only income scaring the living daylights out of us. So, everyday I wake up I find a new blessing to dwell on. Something special the Lord has given me to help me smile that day and to keep the walls from falling down on me. Somedays all it will be is finding out that the toe I stubbed earlier that hurts like hades isnt actually broken-just painful. Thats nice. lol. But its a blessing.

I encourage any of you that actually read my ramblings to find a blessing, something besides the obvious fact that you are alive and you have a family bc thats cheating. lol. Its a challenge... and make a list of them for one week.... your list might surprise you. I am challenging my kids to do the same thing too.... a good habit I think :)
May God Bless you all and continue to bless me in all the insane and simple ways he does so everyday.