What I would tell my 14 year old self....

1. You don't know everything...nor will you ever.
2. Things change, people change, the Lord does not. Get to know Him better.
3. Sunscreen. Wear it. You'll have scars all over if you don't and scars have yet to be a fashion statement.
4. That boy you're obsessing over will be a LOT heavier, with less hair and not as cute as you remember in 10 years.... I promise. Stop staring, and for goodness sake, throw away that notebook that you have scribbled your names together in...he totally knows! Get with it, girlfriend!
5. School is important. Just do the stinkin' homework. If you just do the homework, you'll pass-- even if you don't pass a single test...show your teachers that you are putting forth effort. It will go a LONG way. You're not doing anything better anyway, turn off Boy Meets World and DO IT!
6. Don't let your dad cut you hair...ever again. Even if he did work for Paul Mitchell, he's not so good.
7. That guy you'll start dating next year? Biggest regret of your life! Just skip it. All of it.
8. The guy you date AFTER him, will be your husband. Funny, huh?
9. Don't be so dramatic. It's not the end of the world when your parents don't let you do something. See #1 again.

10.  Never stop loving life! Keep on smiling, even though you are missing a very important tooth, it's still your best asset. 

What would you tell your 14 year old self?

Let the Good Times Roll....

I'm a girl who likes calendars. I love having one up on my refrigerator and I love to be able to look ahead and anticipate those really fun and full weeks coming up! And that's just the sort of week that we just came out of.

It was full of Easter eggs, dinner with friends, a much enjoyed iced coffee with a good book, rousing games of badminton, a couple of exciting road trips, and a 27th birthday. Yes, it was good.

As I enter my 27th year, I'm really faced with the fact that life just keeps going... never mind that I feel like I'm still about 14 (my husband would say that's about how old I act most of the time). Time just keeps on ticking and as it does, I feel a sense of urgency to make the most of it. I feel so blessed by the time I have been given that I really don't want to squander it, which is also an area where my husband and I differ. He see's time management as cleaning and other responsibilities, and I see it as playing. He keeps me grounded.

 And along with making the most of my time, the bigger burden is in redeeming my son's time. I've been given the responsibility for making the most of his time too! I get the joy and privilege to help write on the pages of his life story. What an honor. How will he remember his childhood? In front of the tube with a bag of chips? Gosh, I hope not! 

 I hope I can fill those early life chapters with picnics, walks, fun holiday traditions, random trips to the pet store, living room forts, family games and most of all---talks. Lot's of talks about everything! Love, life and most importantly, the Lord. And my prayer is that I can fill each of my children's life story's with the very same pages. I pray I never grow weary of such joys in life. This is, after all what life is all about, right? Living it. Living it to the fullest and unto the Lord.

And that's what this past week was all about! Living life and living it big! And remembering James 1:17--"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father." And, man, He poured the good gifts last week.

Kidd-O was dragged all over the place and while he likely won't remember all the fun he had , I know I will. I will never forget his first trip to the aquarium, 

  or his first time fishin',

 or his first horseback ride,

  or the really fun Easter present he got.

 While he is a stubborn fella who can turn into a crank-pot faster than anyone I've ever seen, he can turn it right back around just as quickly and is happier than a pig in mud...a quality he got from yours truly. And nothing gives me greater joy than seeing that boy smile. 

And while we may be faced with trials at times, I pray that we can always see and cherish the good things that we are blessed with. Let the good times roll, baby!

Unforgettable.

This past weekend was wonderful! Kidd-O participated in his very first Easter egg hunt, and do you believe that I didn't get a single picture!? I'm gonna try to not become depressed about it, because...well...I totally made up for it on Saturday when he did his first 5k....via a baby jogger.

I've been waiting for this past Saturday for MONTHS! I tried hard to get a lot of people to join me because I knew it was going to be an epic day, but I wasn't so successful. It was just me, Kidd-O, my aunt.... and 10 thousand others. Which was actually pretty awesome, because I have the coolest Aunt on the planet...no really! I do. I promise. She's really fantastic.... and is also 6 months younger than me...which is actually kinda strange. 

  But anyway....

We did The Color Run 5k on Saturday and to those of you I tried to get to do it, I bet you will next year when you see these uh.ma.zing pictures (thanks in part to my sweet and talented sister-in-law)! 

 It was 3 miles of fun and can I just say, I was waaay over trained.

  We were like one of 5 people actually running, but that's OK! It was more of an experience than a cardiovascular workout for sure.

 And it was a day I'll never forget! The positive energy and pure happiness was everywhere.

 Everyone was wearing a smile and that is what I'm talking about, baby!

  If you have the opportunity to do a Color Run...Do it! It truly is "The Happiest 5k on the Planet." And who can't use a little happiness? 

In the Weeds....

Kidd-O has turned a new leaf over the past few weeks. He's becoming more independent and extremely strong willed. To put it bluntly--this child is giving me a run for my money! While he is full-o-life, just as I'd hoped, he's also full of curiosity. The "fun" 2's are hitting us about 5 months early. He has played in toilets, fed the turtle LOTS of household items...socks being the main food group, he has found my make-up and has an interest in any type of marker. Yes, the Mr. Clean household has been very busy lately! 

 While Kidd-O is taking after his momma in the mess department, he is also developing his own sense of style. This child loves his rain boots and is insistent that they be on...all.the.time. I don't mind so much. Best 4 bucks I ever spent! 

And as much as I've tried to get him to listen to The Beatles and his little Bible tunes, the kid is all about the POP music. He loves to Party Rock! My boy is crazy, but gosh is he funny. And Kid can blow a mean dandelion....he takes it very seriously. 

Like spit-slinging-serious.....

 Actually, it doesn't even have to be a dandelion. It's all serious business.

Happy Friday! I hope your weekend is AWESOME! Lord willing, mine is gonna be! GO. Pick some weeds and release that inner child!

A Die Hard Fan....

The middle school years were NOT my finest. This one might just be the best...unfortunately.

When it comes to bandwagons, I'm usually the driver, and as a teen I was the ULTIMATE fan. When I liked something, I was all in.....and I can still tend to be that way. And I was also pretty boy crazy. It started with New Kids on the Block at the age of 5 and morphed into an interest for Jonathan Taylor Thomas around the 5th grade, and let's not forget about my still undying love for Rod Stewart and Paul McCartney. And if I were around in the 60's, I'm pretty sure I would have spearheaded the Beatlemania movement.... I'm still pretty bummed that I missed out! You get my drift, right?

Well it was Christmas break, 1997 and I was in the 7th grade. I wasn't really allowed to see PG-13 movies as a rule, but my parents made an exception because the movie I REALLY wanted to see was a historic event. That movie? Titanic. My life was forever changed when I saw that movie. I had never encountered such cinematic genius in all my 13 years, and I never laid eyes on a more stud-muffin-y person than that of Leonardo DiCaprio. I was sold. I went to see that stupid movie 9 1/2 times in the theater! Why my parents let me do that, I don't really know, but I was on the quest to be the ULTIMATE fan. I bought every Teen Beat that had so much as a thumbnail picture of my love--every book, every poster, every t-shirt....the list goes on. I cringe as I type this. I really don't know why I was so infatuated (yes, that would be the correct word). I really can't stand the guy today, but at 13 no one was greater. My obsession grew so great, that if they had TV shows about people's crazy obsessions in 1997, I KNOW I would have been on it. I even went so far as to print out the entire screenplay. It was around 500 pages and used an entire ink cartridge. It was at that point that my parents were ready to kill me! Really, they were. I was grounded for a while due to my insanity. Those who had the pleasure of knowing me during that time, still don't let me live it down--as much as I wish they would.

I tell you all of that because they are re-releasing that life changing movie in 3D next week, and if I didn't know better I would think that the "movie people" did it just for me since it's the week of my birthday. Isn't that sweet? But I've got news for them: I plan on only seeing it once...if that.  And maybe, just maybe NSYNC will have a comeback tour soon and I can tell you all about my love for them and Justin Timberlake...if you're lucky. But, that's enough self depreciation for one day, I think!

Who was your heartthrob? Surely I wasn't the only crazy teen!

Dropping in!

Hello Dear Friends!!!

I just wanted to drop in and say "hello!" Things are starting to look up on the home-front, so I'm planning on being back on the ol' blogaroo more frequently again very soon! I'm not really able to share the details of what's been going on, but I can say that everyone is safe and to answer the #1 question I've been receiving: no one is getting divorced.

During my hiatus, it's been business as usual for Kidd-O!

First ball game of the season? Check!  Complete with fries, sweet tea and ketchup....lots of ketchup, much to my chagrin. Blech.

Kidd-O and his Uncle Vinny. Everyone should have an Uncle Vinny...It's so....Italian!

My super fly sister! She's so cool...we love her!

Sister's got major girl power. Only girl out there!

First Spring hike up "the mountain" with his best bud? Check!

And first Popsicle of the season? Check!

 

 Thanks for all the love, prayers and support! It truly means the world!

In the words of Arnold "I'll be back!"