Tag Archives: family

WIWS Vol. 10

Linking back up with All the fine, fine ladies @ Fine Linen and Purple with this Sunday’s outfit. I’ve stopped linking due to outfit repeat, however…..Kendra so sweetly reminded me last week (and others….) that it’s all about sharing, inspiring and having some fun. So, here goes this week’s Mass fashion:

Mama

Skirt: Kohl’s, also seen HERE

Shirt: IDK, Cardigan: Kohl’s

Ring and necklace: Lia Sophia

Barrette: Target (I think)

Shoes: Target (I think)

Girls

I went thrifting yesterday with our oldest son (he loves to thrift!!) and our oldest girl (also a thrifter!!) and scored a ton for all. Here are two dresses we picked up yesterday. And when the heck did my oldest girl get so tall and old????!!! Be still my heart!

Boys

They all looked handsome but don’t really enjoy the photo shoots, so just imagine, khakis, plaids and combed hair. K?

Including the outtake explaining to my girl to include the WHOLE outfit.

Theme Thursday: Dad

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What is the meaning of this, Tracy? Two posts in one day? What in the sam heck is going on with you?!??! Clearly this time off with a rehabbing child who is limited in energy and prohibited from sun has us INDOORS and running short and brief errands which in turn leaves me plenty of “bon-bon time” as my Hubby calls it. Shoot, I’ve got blogs in stand-by, you’ll be sick of me by next week. Or hooked. Either way. When I actually blog, my stats go UP. Who knew??

So today…..I join in with Cari and fellow Themers at:

The Clan

Father’s day is coming. I’ve got a super cutie thingamajig planned for the Hubs by the kids (totally His love language, but I can’t tell you about it b/c he actually reads my blog from time to time…so tell you later!). And so perfect timing on the Father Theme.

Dads are crucial. Period. End.

Case in point: When my Hubs was “away” I knew, KNEW, KNEW….his relationship with our kids and vice versa was the key to our future as a family. We did everything we could to cultivate those relationships during this time apart, from frequent visits, phone calls, letters, date-visits, photos, etc, etc. There came a time close to him coming home during a heated exchange with our oldest at his tweeniest that he said to me “You wait until I tell Dad about this”. It was at that point, I knew all of our joint effort as husband and wife, mother and father that it was ALL. WORTH. IT. Further affirmation came when Hubs was finally home with our dark chapter behind us and re-entry into our FULL family life was essentially smooth as buttah. Life wasn’t and ISN’T perfect, however, our struggles are pretty much in line with any other family life with mucho kiddos. We are imperfect people. What can I say? We acknowledge it and move on.

The fact that Abba, Father has been the cornerstone of our family life may have had a little somethin’ somethin’ to do with it also. Just an observation.

Happy Father’s Day, Hubby! And to all those dads out there….keep workin’ it….it’s worth every second!!!

Birthday. Poor guy never gets a straight shot at the candles!

Father’s Day ’11

Father’s Day with Popop, MY step-dad who is the BOMB-Diggety. This is 2 years old and he is now dwarfed by the boys…

The boys off to mow lawns, a job obtained due to Dad’s teaching, patience and diligence. My wallet is forever grateful!

The house that God bought

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Little Miss Grace is doing a link up on our favorite blog posts…a throwback Thursday…except it’s a Wednesday…she’s crazy like that. I posted a throw back post earlier today on marriage, being all reminiscent with our recent anniversary and all and when Grace threw out the call I immediately remembered the following post and figured I’d share, because we ALL need some God moments in our lives and tangible moments are just that extra icing on the cake–and I DO love cake!! Hope you enjoy…and then you can take yourself over to Grace’s place and read about other favorite and assorted blog post faves! It’s a rainy evening here and I’m all settled in for some blog reading on my end…enjoy yours as well!

TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2009

It is still sinking in and I am quite certain there will be a post or two to follow in regards to THE HOUSE…..here’s the quick version:

6 weeks ago I got a nudge with several affirmations that it might be time to buy our own house. It all seemed completely preposterous to me and far beyond my means, so I gave it up to God. Literally and figuratively. I have told the kids many times, we will go where God wants us to go, when He wants us to go and we will know when.

During our marriage, generally, I have picked out homes, Hubby tagged along and agreed, as a good husband does, and then he took care of everything else, I showed up to sign at closing without a clue of all that took place prior to closing. To do this without him here was a tremendously daunting task. Suffocating and overwhelming. We spoke frequently and he guided me along the way and with the help of good friends, I had outside information and quick access when I had questions. My parents offered unending support and love.

When anxiety hit, I let go and God took over. It was smooth sailing all the way. Ridiculously smooth. Thanks be to God, for I am certain without Him none of this would be possible! Now….that said, I DID wake up at 3 a.m. today in a cold sweat thinking “what the heck did I just do????” and spent the next hour in prayer to release the anxiety. And again all the way to closing. Those prayers sustained me throughout the 3 hour closing while the 7 of us swapped various stories to kill time while waiting on the bank to see how long they could drag it out.

In the end….I have a multitude of keys on my key chain, 2 garage door openers, ecstatic children and a beautiful neighborhood with the promise of our next amazing chapter!

Home Sweet Home!!

Love this sweet center island

Fabulous back yard AND swing set to play on

Back patio

This mural is in the kitchen, I just love it. Reminds me of my favorite movie, “Under the Tuscan Sun”

Jasmine around the mailbox….heavenly!

***4 years later…update: It’s still a great neighborhood. We’ve had friends and family stop by, stay over, come for dinner, birthdays, holidays and just to hang out. There have been countless maintenance/upgrades in closets, bathrooms, and various other thingamabobs inside the house and in regards to the pictures I’ve put up with this blog: we’ve repainted the house and trim, the front island got a makeover with stones replacing the wood “curbing”, the swing set hit the curb about 3 years ago, the magnolia tree next to the swing set was cut down due to disease and replaced with an elm in the front yard, the back porch received a super cute makeover (I really need to Pinterest it at some point….), I still love the mural in the kitchen and the jasmine faithfully blooms every spring. God has been gracious and generous and continues to guide us and protect us every step of the way and this house that we call home….is a daily reminder of the fact that God IS good.

She let go

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NO!!! Stop looking at prom dresses and bridesmaid gowns!!

It’s the end-of-the-year craziness and the other night we had to drop our baby (4th grader) off at her teacher’s house for a class party—-she is THE coolest teacher!! Walking up to the group gathered on the front lawn and to say a “howdy” prior to making a break for the band concert with our 7th grader, I subconsciously put my hand out for our little girl to hold on to…which she did….and then——she let go. She. Let. Go. WHAT?!?!?!? THE?!?!??!! WHAT?!?!!?!? I’m still reeling from this. This girl-child. Our baby. Is my shadow, my velcro-baby, the youngest, the diva, the high-maintenance, quality time, physical touch, child. And sometimes I just don’t want to be touched. Sometimes I need my space. Now. I’m thinking I may have gotten my wish as she crosses over to the too-cool-to-hold-hands-with-my-mom age. I’m dying inside. Dying, I tell you.