A few random thoughts from this weekend:

• One thing I must remember from here on out when we visit the family in Virginia....always take a change of clothing for everyone (especially kids).  I had not anticipated playing in the creek and the kids got wet and dirty BUT we had a great time nonetheless!  Great memories.  I'm glad my kids have all of those cousins to grow up with. 
• When climbing up the muddy bank of a river be more careful not to grab a thorny branch.  My thumb still smarts. 
• I like hotdogs.
• I have one awesome man for a husband.  
• That husband also took me for a ride on a four-wheeler.  I was scared.  I prayed to God for my life.  I reminded him that our three children needed their mother and if he wanted a death by four-wheeler then he needed to do that alone.  It was also deathly thrilling.  I also almost left an eyeball hanging on a branch down by the creek. 
• After I got home I was still laughing about checking the chicken. 
• Two-year olds have no idea about birthdays and I have the sweetest, cuddliest two-year old boy.  No voice could sound sweeter saying "Mama" to get my attention about any and every little thing.  He likes his tricycle we got him.  He learned to ding it's little bell.  I love him to pieces!
• Cody loves to bake with me.  We made more chocolate chip cookies just for him because I had to take the first batch to Virginia. 

 And since today is Beau's 2nd birthday here he was two years ago.  My how time flys...

Blessings and Inchworms

I am overwhelmed.

Yesterday I talked with a friend.  I love her heart.  She has a great heart and when we get together or just talk on the phone I know that she is a kindred spirit.  (Anne of Green Gables fans would understand what I mean by that. )  We talked about our next get together (soon!!) and life and her heart for kids in Africa.  I think about Africa too.  I don't know why yet but I hope there is a reason!  We also talked about how blessed we are.  Generally speaking, many of us are here in America. 

So today I'm overwhelmed.  I'm overwhelmed with the blessings that are mine.  I don't deserve any of them and yet God has seen fit to give me what He has.  I've done nothing that I should have them.  I've done nothing that I should receive salvation. 

Grace.

God's good Grace.  Given to undeserving me. 

So that conversation with my friend yesterday has spilled over into the right here and now, today.  And I'm overwhelmed. 

And I'm thanking God for the blessings great and small.  Thanking Him for the blessing of today in all of it's simplicity. 

Today HAS been very simple.  A quiet morning doing what we do and having nowhere to be except here.  Just letting my kids be kids and enjoying it.  Not rushing but taking time to tickle and build blocks and watch the robin on the fence.  Or look at a picture book.  Or examine an inchworm. 

It's days like today when I think to myself, "I love my life".  I've had periods of sadness in my life.  I've had seasons that were hard.  I have bad days when everything seems to go awry.  They are sure to come again.  In fact I know that they will.  God uses the bad times to teach me.  It makes me appreciate the good days and to be thankful for them knowing that God is still the same God even in the good or bad.  He doesn't change.  And He always has a plan.

Today I'm grateful.  So very grateful. 

Little inchworm.

The keeper of the inchworm.

A fascination with the inchworms kept this boy busy for quite awhile.  A bike and inchworms.  Pretty simple. 

New Blog Title

So, ok....I have a new blog title now.

My Intricately Simple Life. 

My husband thought that one up for me.  Yep.  Actually, I had been mulling the subject of a new title over in my mind for this here blog for a short time and I asked him if he had any suggestions.  I told him that I wanted it to describe me and my life and that I wanted the word SIMPLE in the title, or something similar.  So he gave me a list and this is the one I liked the most. 

I'm a hard one to figure out.

My husband would agree.

Thus the title. 

I love everything to do with simple.  Simple is good.

And yet.

My emotions and thoughts are just so complex. 

So there you are. 

My Intricately Simple Life. 

I like it. 

"In Character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity." Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Really NOT "Born to Shop"

I am a female. 

I do not like to shop.

I am a female who does not like to shop.

Am I the only one or are there more of you out there?  :) 

I took Emma to the Northlake Mall in Charlotte this morning for pictures at Picture People.  They send me these little coupons in the mail so today it was her turn.  She did great because last time I bribed Cody with 25 cent candy from the candy dispenser and she thought it only fair that she should have some too.  No problem. 

After we were done I thought we might walk around and see who was having Summer clearance sales.  We went in one store and didn't see anything I wanted so we walked out and I thought "You know what?  This is no fun.  Let's leave."  And so we did. 

But I LOVE catalogs or checking things out online!  I would much rather shop from home (even though I usually don't actually buy anything) than go to the mall.  Go figure.

Keeping my cool

I get my optimistic perspective in life from my mom.  I can't remember many (if any) times while growing up that my mother ever imagined the worst of anyone or any situation.  She is still like that and I guess some of it has rubbed off on me.  I say "some" because I'm not completely like that.  I'm usually optimistic about situations and circumstances but not often about people.  You know what I mean?  Well if you don't then we'll just move on. 

So in light of my present trials and tribulations I have kept a mostly positive attitude.  Life goes on and as I've mentioned before, God is in control anyways and always brings good out of the seemingly bad.  I can't reiterate that enough.  So I press on.  My job is to trust.  The only thing I can control is my attitude.  So............

On a positive note....:)  I have the beginnings of a bruised toe.  That would be my middle toe on my right foot.  As it progresses into awesome blackness and blueness I'll take a picture and post it for all of you runners out there.  For those who get lightheaded at the sight of things like that, just bear with me and skip that lovely post.  I noticed it after my run on Sunday.  I did 6 miles.  Some of you do more than that every time you run but I'm thinking that's pretty good for running in the 95 degree weather, give or take a degree.  I was a soaked mess by the time I was done so I came home and showered and went swimming with the family.  :)  Cory thinks I'm insane.  Actually in all reality?  It helps me KEEP my sanity. 

On a different subject, I still haven't ordered Emma's curriculum for this coming year.  I'm considering something completely different than what I had decided on before.  Yes, I can change my mind if I want to.  I'm a woman.  It's what we do! 
I'm considering a classical type of education.  It's more expensive though.  Have any of you gone that route? Just curious.

Well it's supposed to be over 100 degrees here in North Carolina.  The pool has become like a bathtub.  We went swimming yesterday but not today.  Today I'm meeting a dear friend for lunch and keeping my cool inside in the AC..............until tonight when I go for another run!  Can't wait!  Yes, I'm serious.

Happy 31st to me!



Me and my Love




I could do this every day, all day!




I think he had just as much fun as I....if not more!







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 Thank you to my husband for the jet ski adventure, the flowers and cake, and the itunes for my running (he knows I like my tunes when I run).  =)

Thank you to my mother for coming to watch the kids so that I could GO on this fun jet ski adventure and for the extra time to go shopping and go to the pool (alone). Goodness knows I sure do need that every once in awhile. 

And another thanks to my family for the cards and money. =)=) Makes it so special and fun to turn another year older!  

Love,
Tara

To my friends

Here's a shout out to my followers and those who have read this blog and have said kind things and spoken encouraging words.

I REALLY appreciate it.

Yes, I really do, because sometimes it's the unspoken words of criticism that often speak the loudest and I have felt them. Maybe that makes sense and maybe it doesn't.

But at any rate, I offer a big fat THANKYOU to those (you know who you are, including my very sweet husband) who have taken the time to just recently (or in the past) send me a kind message or comment or simply become a follower. It's humbling. It really is.

Even if nobody ever read or cared about what I had to say I would still write because I DO love to write.

Alright it's half way through January already but better late than never. My new year resolution(s)?

LAUGH more.

DON'T take myself so seriously.

ENJOY my kids more than ever.

Spend more time at the BEACH.

SIMPLIFY.

That's about it! That picture is of me not taking myself seriously by the way. Because I look downright silly that's why!

The countdown

Our home is ready and all set for our new arrival! Only 3 weeks to go now! I'm excited but also wondering how it will be to have 3 children! It will be an interesting summer to be sure trying to adjust to a new baby in the house. I'm also curious about how our school year will go as well. Hopefully the baby will be on a good schedule by then though and I'll be able to plan our days better.

Speaking of homeschooling, we've been a little bit bored since finishing up with kindergarten! I became so used to sitting down with Emma every afternoon during Cody's nap to teach her. Now it's over and we don't have as much to do but I guess it's been good for me to have some extra rest time because I have no doubt that once the baby arrives I will be exhausted! I'm also getting ready to order Emma's curriculum and books for 1st grade. I've gone back and forth with what to order her but I think I've finally made up my mind and I feel pretty confident I've chosen some really good stuff. I have even ordered and already received Cody's book. I ordered from Five in a Row for him and I'm excited to start teaching him as well although I know he is a different learner than Emma is.

On a different note I'm getting ready to celebrate my 30th birthday this weekend! Cory and I will be going to Charlotte with some of our good friends for dinner and having a weekend to ourselves since Emma and Cody will be with their grandparents. A little bit of alone time before the baby comes!

I'm still trying to finish up a couple of books too and I'm almost done with both of them. Girls gone Wise by Mary Kassian and Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges. I hope to be done with them both this week or the next and will blog about them the next time.

Little flutters and kicks

My favorite part of pregnancy is and always has been feeling my baby move! It's the sweetest feeling and of course it's always a reassurance that everything is well and good. I had an ultrasound last week and we were all there including Emma and Cody. They too are excited to have a new baby in the house. We didn't find out this time if it was a boy or girl. I think it will make the waiting and delivery all that more exciting! Plus I just like to be different like that. :0

We are trying hard to survive the doldrums of this winter weather! January proved to be a frigid and snow filled month for us here in the southeast. We are impatiently awaiting the start of Spring and the warmer weather it brings. Ok, I am impatiently waiting! In the meantime we continue on with homeschooling and potty training which by the way is coming along. Slowly but surely. : ) We have all enjoyed having daddy home with us so much this winter. He is still searching for another job but for some reason God has him on hold. For whatever reason that may be all I know is that having my husband at home this winter has been somewhat of a lifesaver for me. Being pregnant for the third time and during this unusually cold winter at that, I have relished having him here to help and be my company. His unemployment has been a blessing in disguise! He will be sorely missed when he does get another job. He knows it too. ;)

Finally!

So I have given this new year some thought. In the past I have always made a resolution for the new year and by the end of that year I have forgotten what I was so resolute to do or change! So this time I've decided to set a few goals for each month. I have written my goals down already for January and have already completed a couple as small as they may be! One of my goals for this month is to start potty training my 2 year old son. I said "start". I have "heard" that potty training boys is more difficult. We shall see. :) I'm a bit apprehensive of course because one can never be sure how a child will take to it and I assure you that this boy of mine is the complete opposite of his sister (who was a peach to train!).

Speaking of my daughter, she started ballet for the first time last week. She makes me smile. :) She is quite the girly girl and has been wanting to take lessons for some time now so finally we have been able to give that to her. The studio she goes to has a parents lounge with a large screened tv hanging on the wall so that we can watch our precious ballerinas during their classes. I think I watched her the entire hour that she was there. I am so proud of my girl and she is a treasure to be sure.

Baby number 3 is doing well as far as I know. My next appointment is in 10 days. I do know this. I am definitely looking pregnant these days! Oh, I could still hide it if I wanted to but I'm proud of my little bump! It's true that the more pregnancies you have the sooner you show and that is certainly true of me. Due date is currently set for July 2nd. We'll see if we can't make it a little sooner than that. ;)

Feeling good!

Finally I have reached the second trimester! This makes number 3 for me! My first pregnancy was easy, no nausea or tiredness. Emma is now 6. My second pregnancy plagued me with extreme exhaustion for the first couple of months but yet no nausea. Cody is now 2 1/2. Now onto number 3. The first two months I just wanted to crawl into bed and sleep all day and eat everything in sight because if I didn't eat I would feel sick. I'm so glad to be done with that part of the pregnancy! Baby number 3 due to arrive the beginning of July.

What fun!

What??!! I've started a blog? I never thought I would do this but I was thinking the other day about how I feel like I have so much to say. My mind is always working on something and my thoughts come and go and so why not document them in a blog? Why did I start thinking about about starting a blog? Well it started a couple of weeks ago when I began reading the blog of a very special person who's life was violently taken from her by someone who was supposed to love her. Actually, I must say I didn't know her personally but she had a personality and love for life and for God that was contagious and even reached me. So here I am. A blogger. That makes me smile. It also excites me because now I can speak my mind respectively.

My goals in life? To live my life with no regrets.