We are now a Double Digit family!

Yesterday was a bittersweet day...our baby turned 10! We are now officially a double digit family (47, 41, 17, 12, 10). It is exciting see what beautiful people our children are growing into. They are healthy, they love Jesus, they doing incredible academically and have talents beyond what I can comprehend. They even get along...at times. All that being said...OUR BABY IS 10!! Our last one to actually be able to PICK UP and cuddle. I tried picking her up to carry her to bed when she fell asleep on the couch...😳 I nearly killed her and me. I was going through old photos the other day. Notice I said "old" photos. They were from back in the day we actually printed photos. I was hard pressed to find any actual prints of our youngest. Anyway...there were tons of my oldest. As I looked, I smiled, laughed, teared up and cried. I wanted to reach in and grab him. Hold him close. Hear his little voice. How did all this time go by so fast? How did I become a mother of all double digit children? As hard as it may be to accept that our babies aren't actual babies anymore, I am so excited and honored to be a part of this new phase in our life. I get to witness what these "babies" do with their lives. Lives that we helped shape and direct. I love them more than I can express and am blessed to now be a part of an ALL Double Digit Family

Moving!

I think if you looked up the word moving in the dictionary or encyclopedia (yes...those volumes of books we used to have to thumb through to find out information), you would see a woman sitting in the middle of piles and piles of "stuff", boxes and garbage bags, hair all crazy and sobbing! Every time we move, which is more than a few times, I act like the world is coming to an end. I turn from being nice, sweet and mild mannered to Movezilla! I ask myself, was I like this the last time we moved, because in my head I remember a calm and organized woman. My husband doesn't remember it that way, he says it is like this everytime and that it all works out. This time I thought I'd throw in another humdinger...a garage sale. Maybe some find this no big deal, but I tend to just like to throw everything into garbage bags and drive the few miles to the Goodwill. I just hope and pray that someone out there looks at my broken queen sleigh bed and shouts, "YES! I will pay $5 for that!" I will try not to make eye contact with the poor mommy that is forced into buying the 50 cent stuffed animal by their sad eyed little one. Actually, I'm worried no one will come. I've done that...slowly drive by, scan the area and then take off cause it all looks like junk. In a few weeks this will all be passed me and hopefully I'll be somewhat settle in our new place. No it is not my dream house that I posted about earlier, but we are getting there! I'm sorry this is a pictureless post, but I wouldn't dare show you anything associated with it. ;)

My Dream Home Wish List

Some might have a weakness for shoes, purses, good books, Pinterest...I love all those things, but my weakness (besides chocolate) is looking at homes. I probably should have been a realtor or home builder. I love looking at homes. I love watching HGTV home shows like House Hunters (yes I know it's fake, but that isn't the point of watching it) and Property Virgins. My wish list has grown and become more detailed because of these shows. We have moved quite often so I have had the opportunity to "try out" different layouts and see what works for us and what doesn't. Will I ever get this "dream" home...maybe not, but its fun to dream. I do know one day we will have OUR family home to call our own. Ok... Here goes the list in no particular order(this really is for my eyes and won't be interesting to others): Wrap around porch (or at least the whole length of the front) I love rocking chairs 10-12 feet ceilings Big Windows that are easy to clean Character White Trim Staircase with Landing Big welcoming entryway... Kitchen Big! Granite or butcher block counter tops White or a deep brown cabinets Island Stainless Appliances (yes!!! A dishwasher is a must) Gas Stove Farm sink Little breakfast nook (surrounded by windows) Wood floors Big pantry... Family Room Open to the kitchen Fireplace Comfy furniture (maybe sectional...not the poofy kind!) Either wood floors with a huge soft rug OR durable comfy wall to wall carpet (nothing bothers me more than cheap light carpet in high traffic areas) Large Flat Screen that's NOT the focal point Built in book shelves (I love love built ins)... Bathrooms Yes I said bathrooms in the plural. We have lived several times with ONE. The horror of it! Large but not so large there is wasted space Must have a window(s)! Bathrooms need to be aired out. They smell! Claw foot tub in master bath with separate shower Separate vanities in master bath Vanities...I want them to look like bureaus or dressers No carpet!!! Yes, I have to say this because we had a bathroom in NY that had carpet! Gross! And we rented so we couldn't change it. Good storage Half bath downstairs Upstairs either all individual baths or a jack and Jill. I loved the Brady Bunch House!!... Laundry Room Big Hanging area Folding island Comfy reading chair Attached mud room with cubbies for kids... Bedrooms Large!!! We have lived far too long with shoe box rooms Window seats! I so so so want a window seat and my girls would love them too Huge closets!!!! Need I elaborate on this item??? Carpet Big windows... Large yard with a pool. Pools are a lot of upkeep but can be very nice in the summer Outdoor eating and barbecue area ( and a ward off bug system!) Nice easy to keep landscape. I love flowers but am not very knowledgeable about them Area for a vegetable garden Playhouse...my kids are getting older but I am 40 and still want one, so they probably do too Big driveway with bball hoop for Devon, Dakota and his friends Level Lot with mountain views Barn converted into my husbands Photography studio Oh....and no more than 5 minutes from church :)!!! I'll include pictures when my dream comes true ;)

Mediocrity?

Two posts in two days :). This morning I had the pleasure of sitting on our deck with my husband. It was glorious, both our conversation and the weather. We admired the very clear pool before us and marveled at how well the automatic pool vacuum was working (it doesn't take much). At that moment life all worked...no snags. As we sat there and talked about our dreams, where we think our mountains are and how we think we can get over them, my husband made a, we think, profound statement. He said "We all wake up the same, mediocre..." That's where we separate into groups. Those who are satisfied with mediocrity, those who aren't but lack the drive to push out of mediocrity, and those who have a PLAN and take the steps to overcome mediocrity We definitely have not been part of that third group. We WANT to be part of that group, but sadly are not. For instance, I have a boat load of projects I'd like to do, from organization to actual home decor. I think about it, but fail to actually put it down on a to do list so I can take the steps to complete it. I think partly because of accountability. If its down on my list then I have to do it. Sure I make all kinds of excuses...I don't have supplies, I don't have money to get the supplies, I'm busy, I'm tired...blah blah blah. C'mon...I've seen those documentaries on teachers who create classes with next to nothing. We are not happy with mediocrity. Mediocrity doesn't bring joy to us. I want my life to make a difference in other people's. I want to be pleasing to God and do His will. I could be wrong, but I can't think of any mediocre people in the Bible that made a difference. There was drive. So...great conversation, provoking great thoughts, establishing great plans to create a great life.

Apparently I am making this a one post a year blog 😕... I do have good intentions though. I will be entering into my 4th year of teaching the First Grade! I love it. I think it's such a great age. You can be silly and they love it...you can discipline them and they still love you...you can get hugs and homemade pictures daily...what's not to love?! 😊 Just yesterday I received a call from a parent of one of my last year students. She said that her daughter was having a sleepover with another of my students and they wouldn't leave her alone until she called me so they could say hi! Melt my heart!! Each year I try to come up with better ways to do things (as I'm sure we all do) to make these kiddos excited. It is always so exciting to actually implement some of the ideas. This year I really want to have a classroom blog...I'm just afraid I won't follow through with it, kinda like this one. I see so many out there and it looks fun. 😳So...maybe I will and maybe I won't, but its exciting to think about it anyhow.

Come sit on the porch!

I am so excited about this post because it is my first post with a picture! YES!! I have to admit that I sometimes over react and blind myself when I feel overwhelmed. It really wasn't that hard to attach a picture. I plan on getting better too, so please don't laugh at my baby steps. :)

I have always loved front porches with rocking chairs. I think they look so inviting. Wrap around porches are my favorite, but all porches can work. We moved to our house last year and the owner left two wooden rocking chairs that had seen better days. Much better days. I loved their look so we decided to try and "refurb" them. Well, if you read my last post you will know how that panned out. BUT...last week I was on spring break and with the help of my handy father-in-law I COMPLETED the project! I must admit I was extremely proud. So now I have a front porch and two beautiful chairs to sit and rock on. Come sit on the porch and visit!



The Collie in background is a whole other story that you can read about on devonblogs.com

I am trying AGAIN

Yes, I am trying again...no not for another baby! I am going to try to Blog again. I felt I started off pretty well, but then quickly, very quickly it fizzled out. Devon and I were just talking about this very thing today. So many times in our life we have good intentions. We talk about things and even make lists, but those good intentions, talks and lists do not accomplish the goal...the great idea. I can always come up with excuses (some good and some questionable), as to why the end result was a bust. Sure, I got frustrated because I didn't know how to post pictures on the blog, I got busy, this happened, that happened. It really is a vicious cycle I do not wish to continue. Someone has to break it, why not us?

So, here is try two. I,again, will do my best.