Other Plans

When I started spring break I had grand plans and longs lists.

A couple days in I was knocked down by a head cold.

I look at it this way,

that annoying cold was God's way of saying,

"Nope, I don't think so, you need to rest this week."

So that's what I did,

I stopped, I rested, and I became healthy again.

Isn't it funny how our plans

get overruled by the One who has made the grand plan?!?

I know I needed to rest and center myself to finish the school year,

but all those days of not going to school and working

had to be filled by something.

I thought I could get so much done,

but what I did get done was what I really needed.

Do I still want to get things checked off my list?

Of course!

More importantly I want to be healthy to enjoy my family and my home.

Resting felt good and I am trying to not feel guilty about

so much left on the list.

There will be time,

it just wasn't time right now.

Happy Easter!  Blessed be in His name!

Until next time,

{2012}

This year was a time for changes and things finally falling into place for my little family.
 I can safely say 2012 was a good year in my house.

I think I have finally found my voice and my style...

all of a sudden I am not holding back when something is not right. 

It's kind of liberating and terrifying at the same time.  

 Don't get me wrong, I have always spoken my mind (ha),
 but it was much softer
 and usually much more mild than what I was actually thinking! 

My style has become more colorful and full of texture...
in the clothes I am wearing and the little changes that we're making in the house.
I am loving all of it...
thrift stores and Pinterest are so good to me!

This I added another candle to the birthday cake...

rounding up to 40 now {yikes}.

We added a nephew to the ranks...
he is keeping all of us on our toes.

My boys are becoming such amazing men...
when strangers compliment us on our "obvious" parenting and family centered lifestyle...
can you say tears in my eyes and happiness in my heart?!?

Kenny has found his grove with his microcontrollers...
helping to build a brand new company doing something he loves...
it's not just a job for him anymore...
happiness and pride trump a big paycheck any day!!

Amy's Monkeys is becoming more of a business than just a hobby...
getting to make things that other people want to pay for...
really?!?
It's amazing to me that my creations and love can help keep me in fabric and pay a few bills!
This year brought more confidence in what I do...
quality and detail are so important to me and others have complimented both in my products!

Living on what we have and planning for what we need were big milestones for us this year.
Dave Ramsey's common sense approach has finally, really taken hold.
We're not perfect, but we have such a better handle on all things financial.
Having a plan and working the plan has been so empowering!
Hopefully we'll gain some more traction and knock out more debt in 2013.

So 2012 we really liked you!

2013 we're ready and we're expecting another great year!

 Until next time,

 

{thankful}

To say we've had an interesting past three years might be the understatement of the year, but it truly has been interesting. 

 We went from two full time jobs to only one.  

From a dad that hated his work to a dad that has found his passion in his new work. Seeing him thrilled to delve into a brand new venture has been so exciting!

A dad that is willing and able to help out with school projects anytime. 

 From income that barely paid the bills to much less income that has made us so much better stewards of our finances.  

Amazingly we are thriving!  

So am I thankful this year??  

Oh you bet!  

I am thankful for circumstances flinging us into a new life, 

time with each other, 

healthy and growing boys (well maybe not the growing part...I will be the shortest one in the house next year...I bet), 

deeper love for my husband than I had the day I knew I loved him forever, 

and being able to create freely in this house  

(we may have dust bunnies and bits of stuff everywhere, but creating is flourishing!).

We have more than enough and for that I am eternally grateful!  

We are on an amazing journey so carefully scripted...I cannot wait to see where it leads!

I hope you all have an amazing Thanksgiving 

loving, eating, and laughing with all those you hold dear to your hearts!

Until next time,

Linking up with sweet Casey

Time

Holy smokes time is flying by!  This school year is 1/3 of the way over...cannot believe it!

I have been a busy bee, but getting over here to blog about it just hasn't been happening, sorry about that!

I have been sewing, and grading, and teaching, and mama-ing, and trying to bring order back to my crazy house.  Not too much luck on the last one, but next week I am off school so the house will be mine once again!

I cannot wait for parent conferences to be over and time with my family to be here!  

Four days people, four more days!

I have added a bunch of stuff to the shop...maybe that's why my house is crazytown...hmmm.

I've jumped into some giveaways lately for pretties from the shop and one just started today!

Kimmie at Sugar and Dots is celebrating her birthday by hosting a huge giveaway bash!  Seriously, over $800 worth of goodies!  So go enter!  It would be wonderful to have one of my friends win that haul!

I have so much to share...I will try to be back soon!

Until next time,

This is Where I am

It's been way too long since I've done a post, but sometimes life just zooms past at mach speed.  My routine streams from one day to the next, not much changes and it suits me.  I sometimes wonder why I blog. I know I love reading other blogs, but why would folks want to read about the goings on around here?  Then I stop and think that maybe, just maybe my little ramblings will help someone push through a tough time or giggle at something silly that happened with my monkeys.

Whatever the reason I know I need to keep sharing and checking in with my bloggy corner!

Each morning begins the same~ gathering the laundry baskets, sorting, and deciding which basket needs attention first.  I am a laundry fanatic.  I do a load a day at least.  I was FLY-washed and I haven't looked back since.  No crazy marathon laundry days for me.

I savor the quiet of everyone still out cold.  I move back to my room and make the bed then I head to the computer.  Check email, check Facebook, and twitter.  If I'm up to it I'll check my school email too, but I am trying to keep that separate from home time.  I mess around fluttering from blog to blog for a bit and then I head back upstairs to finish my morning routine.

I just added treadmill time back into my day.  Between the frustrations at work and my energy needing a boost it was time to get my backside back in a walking routine.  So far so good!  My attitude is definitely seeing the benefit!

After my walk I get showered and ready for my day.  I prep the boys' lunches and then get them up and ready for breakfast.  I love making sure they have breakfast at the table together each morning.  I'm a bit of a short order chef in the morning, but it's all good.  They love it and my oldest boy thanks me each morning for getting their breakfasts ready.  Those words coming from a teenager makes me feel awesome.

By the time they're done it's time for me to hit the road and get myself to school.  My school days are all about routine and order, but we are still working on the order part.  I teach in a pretty rough town, so a lot of our kids come in with a lot of baggage.  Most days fly by and then I head back home.

Evenings are dinner, signing papers, hanging out a bit, and sometimes getting on my sewing machine for a bit of fabric therapy.  Baths, stories and bedtime come early, but it works for us and my babies perform so well in school I don't think we should change the routine!

So that in a nutshell is my day, nothing exciting, nothing glamorous, but it is mine and it is pretty cool.  I am so blessed to have healthy kids, mostly happy kids, and a hubby that is pretty awesome.

I guess the message in my post is sometimes the most routine and genuine days are the best days.  We don't need fancy things to know that we love each other and are here for each other everyday.

Until next time,
 

 I'm joining in!

What I Learned {week 2}

What I learned this weekend....

the boys are reflecting the attitudes K and I have developed, nothing like looking in a mirror to see something yucky. We are fixing this big time!

I want all of us to do some sort of community service, but I want the boys to be safe. Trying to find a good place for all of us to serve.

I love working side by side with K

I love it when K wakes up early and we get to talk without little people commentary

my boys really love reading

K and Z are good at doing computer projects together

the urge to be able to stay home full time and home school the monkeys is getting stronger

the boys and K have about a trillion Lego pieces

I love having the freezer full of the boys' favorite breakfasts

checking things off my TO DO list makes me smile!

What did you learn this weekend?

Until next time,

What I Learned

What I learned this weekend....

the boys are old enough to play real board games now

said board games induce big belly laughter

these games also taught me to watch L like a hawk when playing Scrabble...nuf said

I really love taking naps with K on a quiet Sunday afternoon

Pillow fights with N and L are so much fun and nothing was broken, woohoo!

I can sew paper garland on my sewing machine, I really didn't think it would work

My boys loved coming home to construction paper hearts and a decorated dinner table

Keeping my house vacuumed and dusted does not take much time at all if I get on it every weekend

My boys are getting better and better at keeping their bathroom clean

I need to finish the aprons that are half-way finished, otherwise I feel like I shouldn't be allowed to move on to another project. I must finish them this week!

What did you learn this weekend?

Until next time,