That'll Preach...

A couple weeks ago, my husband showed me this video of Denzel Washington speaking to a group of acting students about dreams and goals.  It is too good not to share.  

I wish every single graduating high school student would listen to this and take it to heart.  You must combine discipline and consistency to accomplish your goals.  And my favorite part, by far, is this quote:

If you know someone who needs to hear this, I want to encourage you to pass it along.  Then go out and accomplish your goals!

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Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Do you ever pause for a moment to reflect on the life you get to lead?  I had one of those days recently in which I simply paused, took it all in, and smiled because I am so incredibly blessed.  Life is not perfect, but that's perfectly fine with me.  I am surrounded by blessings and that's enough.

My husband and I purchased our home two years ago, and although we love the home itself, the back yard left a lot to be desired.  I'm talkin'.....weeds up to our heads, a humongous hill that was only walkable in a couple of spots, and just a big ol' fat mess.

I saw it as an eyesore.  My husband saw it as an adventure!

Now here we are, two years later, and our back yard is so gorgeous I can hardly stand it!  And it isn't even finished yet!

I am blessed to have an amazing husband who can see beyond the weeds and dirt, and imagine a lush, green lawn where our family can spend countless hours together.

I am blessed to have a husband who isn't afraid to work hard.  This man of mine has poured himself into this project in so many ways.  He worked hundreds of hours of overtime so we could pay cash for all of this, rather than go into debt.  And he has worked even more hours to make it all happen - laid fifteen pallets of sod, over one hundred bales of pinestraw, hauled dozens of rocks, planted trees, built steps....on and on.

I am blessed to be able to support him as his help mate any way I can.  I pick up grass clippings, I bring him bottles of water, I hold stuff that needs holding or carry things that need carrying, I fetch tools, and cook a big dinner to feed this hungry man of mine.

The other night, a very special package arrived at our home.  Inside this package was a pink camoflauge compound bow - the only thing my daughter has been wanting for almost a year.  My husband, being a bow-man himself, researched and studied and Googled until he found the best junior compound bow for the money.  Then, he spent hours upon hours on Ebay finding that exact bow for the best price.  Finally, the day came when we were able to find that exact bow for just the right price.

I'm not sure who was more excited about the bow's arrival - my daughter or my husband.  By the time Marley and I got home, Mark had already opened the box and was fiddling with the bow and reading the manual.  (Yes, I am gifted to have a husband who actually reads directions!  Be jealous, ladies.)

We originally planned to do yard work, but my husband asked if we could take Marley to Academy Sports to get arrows and a trigger, instead of working in the yard.  Guess which one we did, y'all?  I'll give you a moment to ponder....

I am blessed to have spent our last few hours of daylight in our gorgeous backyard with my two favorite people.

I am blessed to watch my husband, a man who married this single mom and lovingly embraced a daughter not of his own blood, spend quality time ever-so-patiently instructing Marley on the inner workings of her new bow, from how to tighten the string, to how to move the sight, to how to load a bow, to how to shoot, and everything in between.

I am blessed to have had the calm spirit to just be present in the moment, rather than worry about dinner or laundry or anything else I normally do in the evenings after work.  It was all there when we finished up, but we only had so much daylight, and we squeezed every drop we could into our time together.

Just as our daylight hours are stifled by the setting of the sun, so too are the days that I'll have with my little girl. In just six short years, she will be leaving the nest, and nights like this will be forever burned into this momma's heart as one of those life moments when I was able to sit back and fully realize that this is where I want to be. This is exactly how I want my life to feel all the time.

I am blessed.

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Jeepin' and Road Trippin'

Last year my family and I made our first ever Summer Bucket List...and it quickly fell to the wayside due to my daughter's broken foot.  There was so much we wanted to do that either involved a lot of walking, or water, and with her in a cast, we couldn't make any of that work.

So, this year, it's Round 2!  We made a Summer Bucket List again, and the hubs and I have already checked off one item on the list:  Jeepin' and Road Trippin'!

Ever since I was 15 years old (and we won't even go there about how long ago that was), I wanted a Jeep. I briefly dated a guy in high school that had a Jeep, but we dated during the winter, so I didn't even get to enjoy the fun of cruising with the top off.

This past November, when my SUV finally hit it's peak of 204,000 miles and was costing more to repair than it was worth, we traded it in and I got my Jeep!  (If any of you follow me on Instagram already, you know I've been throwing that top back as much as possible!)

Memorial Day weekend, my daughter was visiting her grandparents, so the hubster and I stripped the Jeep of roof and doors and hit the open road!  We cruised for a couple hours north to our little cabin in the woods, where we hung out for just a bit.  The gnats were so bad I thought we might get carried away, but the drive alone was worth the trip.

On the way home, we stopped by to visit one of my husband's friends from work who lives on a huge piece of land and has a little farm.  We spent the afternoon hanging out with he and his family, enjoying the sunshine and playing with the animals.

Here are a few of the little critters I got to meet:

Jethro the Bassett Hound stole my heart!  He's so stinkin' handsome.  I think next time we come, I need to bring my sweet Daisy Mae and they can be boyfriend-girlfriend.  :)

Melvin the goat is a lover.  He just wants his face and ears rubbed constantly, and if you stop rubbing, you'll get a horn in the hip.

There were a bunch of chickens.  The three hens all had babies around the same time, so there were about 15 baby chickens running around.  The grass was so tall, though, it was tough to snap a picture.

Orion and his sister Artemus are both Great Pyrenese who live with the farm animals and protect them from coyotes.

Our little Jeep road trip was so much fun, and I am so thankful it's finally warm enough to leave the top and doors off the Jeep more often!  There's something therapeutic about driving around in a wide-open Jeep down long country roads with good music cranking through the speakers.  It does the heart good.  Especially when you have the love of your life riding shotgun!

What's on your Summer Bucket List?

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Sweetwater Creek State Park

Located only minutes from the hustle and bustle of the city of Atlanta, yet situated among towering pines, Sweetwater Creek State Park feels a world apart.  Mark and I love this gorgeous state park, and we're fortunate that it's only twenty minutes from our house!

The creek itself is huge and gorgeous, but what makes this state park different from most is the walking trail that takes you past the ruins of the New Manchester Manufacturing Company, a textile mill that was burned down during the Civil War.

The initial part of the trail is a combination of steps and a dirt walking trail that takes you past the ruins to the creek itself.  It's an easy trail to walk, and you're in the shade, which is a bonus during the hot summer days here in Georgia.

With nine miles of trails, there's a lot to explore.  We made sure to bring a backpack with a few snacks and some bottles of water.  We also wore good walking shoes, but did take them off a couple times to get our feet wet in the cool creek.

Once you get past the dirt walking trail, you have to weave in and out of more dense vegetation and do a little climbing on the rocks if you want to stay near the water's edge.

Sweetwater Creek State Park is a gorgeous park that is the perfect backdrop for a family picnic, or a lazy spot to curl up with a good book and relax to the sounds of the rushing water.

Although Mark and I stayed on the trails by the creek, there is also a lake to enjoy.  You can rent canoes or kayaks and enjoy some time on the water.  There is a $5 parking fee to get into the park, and they only accept cash.

Also be sure to check out the website for Sweetwater Creek State Park before you visit to see what events may be happening.  Especially in the spring and summer, there's always something going on that you're sure to find entertaining.

What To Know Before You Go:

• Suitable for all ages healthy enough to walk trails.  More strenuous trails are available for more fit hikers.  Not suitable for wheelchairs, walkers, or people unable to walk long distances.
• Plan to spend 2 hours or more hiking and enjoying the creek.  Additional time needed if you plan to rent a boat on the lake nearby.
• Cost: $5 for parking - CASH ONLY
• Wear comfortable shoes and bring water and snacks.
• Other activities in the state park:  kayak and canoe rentals, fishing, paddle board rental, peddle boat rental.  All available for an additional cost.
• Visit Sweetwater Creek State Park online for further information.

*I am not affiliated with or paid by Sweetwater Creek State Park.  This review is simply my own opinion of Sweetwater Creek State Park and all information reflects my own experiences.  I simply love where I live and wish for others to enjoy their visit to Georgia!

See all posts about awesome places in Georgia on one page!

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100 Day Family Challenge - Day 25 Check-In

On Saturday, May 10, 2014, my family and I began a 100 Day Challenge to limit our screen time. The idea to live simpler didn't spring up overnight, nor did our plan for 100 days. For quite some time now, both myself and my husband have become increasingly more aware of the distractions caused by technology, specifically social media. Our 12-year old daughter received an iPhone as a Christmas gift from her dad, and with the new technology comes great responsibility. However, it isn't the simplest task pulling a 12-year old girl away from her phone.

After a lot of discussion, my husband and I decided we needed to do something about all of the screen time that distracts us from what's really important. I sat down and scribbled out some thoughts that had been running around in my head, then together with my husband, we came up with our plan:

{This was posted on my Facebook page and Instagram feed}

Here's the details:

• NO social media: This is more for me than anyone else. I will stay off of Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter for 100 days.
• LIMITED internet: Pretty self-explanatory, but we are allowed to check emails, do our banking, etc. And of course, I'm allowed to write my little blog posts. :)
• NO video games: We actually tweaked this just a bit to allow for rainy days when there's nothing to do outside. One hour limit on those days.
• LIMITED cell phone usage: This one was aimed very directly at my daughter. No little chat apps like Kik, Facetime, Snapchat, or any of the other dozen or so apps. If she wants to talk to someone, she'll call. But NO phone usage during family activities, at meals, or after 7pm every night
• LIMITED TV time: This should be the last thing we do each night, not the first thing we do each day. After family time, meals, and chores, and if there's nothing else going on, we can watch a movie or TV show together before bed.

Now, wouldn't you know, when I presented Marley with the 100 Day Challenge, she was so overjoyed and anxious to get started that she handed me her phone right then and there!  She even did a happy dance!

Yea right.

She cried folks.  Like real tears!  Which did nothing but make me realize exactly how important and necessary this challenge is for our family.  Marley and I had an awesome heart-to-heart talk and by the end of it, she was on board, although hesitantly.  She did understand my reasons behind wanting to limit our screen time, and she wants more family time, too.

There is so much more to life than what goes on behind a screen, and we are spending our summer enjoying every last drop of that sweet nectar of life.  My little girl won't be little much longer, and in six short years, she'll be heading off to college or a job.  I want to enjoy this time with her now, while I can still get her attention.  And my hubby?  He and I won't be this young ever again, either, so we want to enjoy being active for as long as we're able.

Today is Day 25 of our 100 Day Challenge, and I'll pop in every 25 days with an update.  So far, so good.

• Social media:  I don't miss Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter.  Not even a little.  Actually, I was thinking that I might delete my Facebook account altogether at the end of this 100 days.  We'll see.
• Internet:  We hardly ever get on the computer at home anymore.  When we do, it's for a specific purpose, not just a time suck or brain drain.
• Video games:  So far, none.  Little win!
• Cell phone usage:  We have all been so good about putting our phones away during family time, meals and at night.  We're so much better, in fact, that Mark and I left the house this weekend without either of our phones and we didn't notice until much later.  Marley struggles a bit with the 7pm cut-off, but we're working on it.  She's been great about staying off of chat apps, though.
• TV time:  It's hard to limit a man's TV time when there is NHL Stanley Cup playoffs going on, and it's baseball season (Go Tigers!) but we're doing really well!  No more dinners on the couch, and no more Saturdays with the TV on as soon as we wake up.  It's wonderful!

Got questions?  Do you want to, or have you already, implemented a similar challenge within your family?  How's it going?

Linking up here.

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When Awards Are Bigger Than Pieces of Paper

I sat there in that middle school gymnasium, surrounded by other proud parents, anxiously waiting and listening for my daughter's name to be called.  One award after another was announced, as children proceeded to line up along the front of the stage to be recognized for their efforts.  One by one, those parents beamed with pride at what their child had accomplished.

With each name that was called, I listened more intently.

But her name wasn't called.

No awards would be given to my daughter this year.  This was the first year since she was in Kindergarten that she has not received some kind of award.

Truthfully, at first, I was disappointed.  We all want our children to be successful, and to do well, but it was more than that.  I was disappointed and disheartened because I was worried about how my daughter would feel.

I watched her, one little body in a sea of sixth graders.  So far, so good.  No tears, no lowered head, no signs that I could see that showed she was even remotely bothered by the lack of papers in her own hand.

Instead, as I sat there watching my daughter from the rafters, I saw her gorgeous character shine brighter than any award ever could.  She clapped and high-fived every single friend of hers who received awards. She smiled a huge smile at her teachers.  She laughed and joked with her classmates sitting around her.

Then, she turned to find me in the crowd.  Would my expression show disappointment?  I prayed not. She found me.  Our eyes met.  She waved and gave me that big, beautiful grin full of pink and blue braces, then blew me a kiss.  I immediately melted, right there in my seat, and blew back a big kiss for my sweet girl.  I was a proud momma and she knew it.

The truth is, those little pieces of paper really don't matter in the grand scheme of things.  Some parents will take them home and put them in a folder or scrapbook that will get filed away on a shelf.  Others might even toss them in the trash after they sit on the counter for a while.

Award or not, it doesn't change the fact that my daughter worked hard during sixth grade.  She took advanced classes, played a lead character in the middle school musical, and, for the first time in her academic career, struggled - both with the work load and the new routine - and learned a valuable lesson about the correlation between study time and grades.

Awards are passed out for merit and academic excellence, and I completely believe that they are a wonderful way to recognize those students who truly put in the extra effort.  But awards aren't given for character, grace, encouragement, or friendship.  I don't need Marley to get a piece of paper with her name on it to remind me that she is an amazing child of God who isn't afraid to share her faith, love her friends and family, hug her teachers, or support her peers.

{Marley in the middle with her friends at school.}

{Marley with her chorus teacher. She played the Chesire Cat in the school's musical "Alice in Wonderland"}

I made sure to tell her exactly that, too.  But she already knew.  She's surrounded by friends who genuinely love her - that's her award.  She's respected and loved by her teachers - that's her award.  And, when her time on this earth is through, she will receive the greatest award anyone could ever receive, and that is a place in heaven with our Savior.  I can't think of any piece of paper better than that.

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The First Step...

I pulled up to the front of the school and whipped into a parking spot right up front.  I had gotten there early enough that I didn't have to fight for a space, but I ended up with some time to kill before my daughter finished her rehearsals for the school musical.

On any other day, I would have rolled down the windows, turned off the engine, and spent my time scrolling page after page on Facebook or Pinterest.

On any other day, I would have sat there in the car until my daughter opened the car door and announced she was ready to go home.

But things had changed.  Today was the first day of making a conscious effort to living simpler.  I was making an attempt to live free of distractions, and limit my screen time.  It was time to take the first step...

I turned off the car, got out, and walked to the front steps of the school where a group of students were waiting for their own mom-taxis to pick them up.

I stood there for a little while, just listening to the silly conversations and smiling inside, remembering when I was in middle school, and how much simpler life was back then.  After several minutes, a teacher stepped out of the building to wait with the kids.  Eventually, he noticed me and smiled a friendly smile before asking me who I was waiting for.

"Marley," I said.

"Oh, Marley!" he said, with a smile.  "I love her.  If I could clone her and have a classroom full of Marleys, I would.  She's such a great kid."

Ok, hello!?  Any momma's out there?  Is that not the most awesome compliment a teacher can give you about your own flesh and blood???  Seriously?  My heart was so full!  I smiled a huge smile and genuinely thanked him, as we introduced ourselves and continued a brief conversation.

And you know what?  The old me would have missed it.

The old me would have stayed in that car, browsing the latest pins or posting a useless Facebook status update to let everyone know, "Hey, I'm in carpool and it's HOT out here today!"  Thank you Captain Obvious...you live in Georgia.  And it's May!

But instead, I made the conscious decision to leave my phone in the car and wait for Marley outside the front doors of the school.  This little gem of a compliment made it's way from her teacher's mouth straight into this proud momma's heart.  This first step in my effort to live my life simpler was the perfect reassurance that I needed to know that I made the right decision.*

From that day on, it became so much easier to put the phone down and take that first step into the unknown. There are blessings that abound when we look away from a screen and look up instead.  Not five minutes after this little blessing from her teacher, my daughter gave me another little blessing that I would have missed had I stayed in the car - a big, fat hug from my preteen.  Right there in front of God and everybody - friends and all.  She wasn't ashamed of her momma, she was happy to see me!

Challenge for today: Leave your phone in the car or at home today.  Look around, instead, at your surroundings or at your loved ones.  What blessings come from being free from distractions?

*In May 2014, I challenged myself to live simpler by limiting screen time and staying off social media for 100 days.  My goal is to be more in tune to my life as it happens, and enjoy the little moments, rather than missing them while my eyes are glued to digital distractions.

{Linking up here.}

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The (Re)Birth of a Blogger...

It's been roughly six months since I last blogged regulary.  In some ways, I have missed blogging so much that I was tempted to just start back up again doing exactly what I was doing before.  But when I would pause, I realized that's not at all what I wanted.

So I waited.  And I prayed.  And I waited some more.

I had to reevaluate what I really enjoyed about blogging in the first place, then assess the time I would be able to give to a blog.  I didn't want to end up where I was when I stepped away six months ago - overwhelmed, overcommitted, undersatisfied, and seriously lacking a grasp on what matters most.

Here's the truth:
- I work full-time, spending 12 hours a day away from home.
- I have a husband that I adore.  He's my most favorite person in the world.
- I have a daughter that I adore, too.  She's my second favorite person in the world.
- We love to do things together, whether it's working in the yard, watching a movie, running errands, or taking a vacation.  As long as we're together, we're happy.

Six months ago, I was at a point in my life where none of those things mattered.  I blogged because I felt that I had built it up to a point where I just couldn't walk away.  I couldn't say "no" to a sponsored post.  I couldn't go to bed at a decent time because I just had to finish editing photos, making a craft, writing a post, scheduling social media posts, or any of the other bazillion and a half things on my never-ending to-do list.

But I did.  I walked away.  And, for a while, I didn't miss it at all.  It was such a relief to not have those committments anymore.

Time has passed, and I have felt the yearning to write again.  I feel the urging of my heart to just write, regardless of what it's about, or if anyone will even read it.

But this will be different.  This blogger is reborn.  I don't feel the need to follow the rules of blogging that state you should post 3-5 times per week, and share on all social media platforms, and stick to your niche, and put up sidebar ads, and write sponsored posts, and have a Pinterest-worthy photo, and on and on....

This time is different.  Vastly different.  And so much simpler.

It took six months for me to realize that it doesn't have to be so complicated to be enjoyable.  I just needed to get my head on straight, reevaluate my priorities, and figure out what I really want to share.

So let's get started, shall we?  Life happens here.

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