Two Inspire You

There are two new songs that I have been listening to lately. Maybe not new to you, but new to me. I love the lyrics to them and I wanted to share their inspiration. I've really been in a rut lately. Unable to focus on the things that matter most. Both of these songs have been helpful in helping me get back to where I need to be!

Song #1: Your Love Is a Mystery by Hawk Nelson

God, I messed it up again I seem to do this all the time

Can you forgive me one again or have i finally crossed the line?

They say your grace is always with me and you're near me all the time

If that's the case I pray sincerely that your love is truly blind

The people on the outside watching me follow the crowd find a way out

You know something on the inside's pushing me without a doubt

So I'm letting it go

I'm never always right and it's plain to see

You love me Jesus it's a mystery

You know my faults you know my wrongs

And you still love me

God I know that you exist I've been told a thousand times

But my friends they all insist that the truth is just a lie

You see the lives that they all live seems like a party all the time

The temptations i resist because it's You i glorify

Let everything that I do or say reflect you in every way

Your way

Song #2: Change in the Making by Addison Road

There’s a better version of me

That I can’t quite see

But things are gonna change

Right now I’m a total mess and

Right now I’m completely incomplete

But things are gonna change

‘Cause you’re not through with me yet

This is redemption’s story

With every step that I am taking

Every day, you’re chipping away

What I don’t need

This is me under construction

This is my pride being broken

And every day I’m closer to who I’m meant to be

I am a change in the making

Wish I could live more patiently

Wish I could give a little more of me

Without stopping to think twice

Wish I had faith like a little child

Wish I could walk a single mile

Without tripping on my own feet

But you’re not through with me yet

This is redemption’s story

With every step that I am taking

Every day, you’re chipping away

What I don’t need

This is me under construction

This is my pride being broken

And every day I’m closer to who I’m meant to be

From the dawn of history

You make new and you redeem

From a broken world to a broken heart

You finish what you start in everything

Like a river rolls into the sea

We’re not who we’re going to be

But things are going to change

I am living redemption’s story

With every step that I am taking

Every day, you’re chipping away

What I don’t need

This is me under construction

This is my pride being broken

And every day I’m closer to who I’m meant to be

I am a change in the making

I am a change in the making

I am not who I am gonna be

Moving closer to your glory



Where in the World...

Have I been? Not entirely hiding under a rock! We have been busy since all of our friends are out of school for the summer now!

The weekend of June 10-12, Austin's baseball team played a select tournament here in Houston instead of going to Mesquite to play a metro tournament. In the league that Austin plays, there are 4 levels of baseball teams. The lowest level is the metro level, which is good for players that are just starting out. The metro level is divided into two categories, regular metro teams and friendship teams. Austin was put on a regular metro team when he played in the fall. In order to keep his team together for the spring, they formed a friendship team. Next year if his team wants to stay together, we will have to move up to the next level. Not only is select baseball more expensive, it is also more competitive. They will play more games and their season is longer. It will not only be a more competitive atmosphere, but he will also be playing kid-pitch instead of coach-pitch. That in itself is a HUGE change! We are excited to see how he does though!!!

On our way to the tournament 

Notice those rosy red cheeks? That wasn't because he was blushing!! IT WAS SOOOOOO HOT!!! 

Firepower!!!

As usual we have made countless trips to the swimming pool already this summer. This is from our first trip, they brought along the turtle... 

Ready to swim!!!!

In our downtime, I've been trying to find fun, educational things for the kid-o's to do. I stumbled upon the kids section of the National Geographic website the other night. The kids have fallen in love with it!!! There are tons of games and videos about animals. They can also test their knowledge about certain animals by taking quizzes. It was a big hit for both of them.

coolness!

We met the Benders at Chuck E Cheese for some games and pizza. It's not the crazy, out of control atmosphere in the morning when they first open. So, we usually go around that time and let the kids play for the first couple of hours, and then eat lunch. This is one of their favorite outings! Abi and her best pal, Luke, are also snaggle tooth buddies right now! Don't they look so cute!!!

Abi and Luke

Our swimming pool is closed an extra day this summer and also opens and hour later and closes an hour earlier each day than last year. This is our HOA's attempt to keep costs down. I'm not sure if you noticed or not, but it is HOT outside here in Houston, Texas! Which means I will not be doing any exercise outside and we want to be able to swim A LOT! So, we finally decided it was time to renew our membership at the YMCA. I am determined to get my money's worth also, I have been to workout everyday since we signed up!! We were members back in the day, but I was also a full time mommy of two toddlers, I worked full time, and I was a full time student. Things have slowed down and I will actually get the opportunity to use my membership now. So, I took the kids to swim the other day. They have a winding slide that Austin just couldn't wait to get on. In order to slide on it, the kid has to pass a swim test each visit. A little silly, but those are the rules. They have to swim the length of the pool freestyle. Austin was SO excited when he passed!!!!

Waiting his turn to slide

This isn't meant to be a side note, but since the big celebration hasn't yet come...it kind of ends up that way. This year on June  9th, Mark and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. We will be setting sail for the Caribbean in 9 days!!!! I can't wait!!!!!!!!

He brought me flowers and my favorite chocolate

This week the kids have been attending VBS at our church. They have been having a blast and anxiously await what the next day brings! Each day there is a new theme. I happened to catch Abi breaking in a new pair of my heels while still in her 80's garb!!! Apparently they went well with her outfit!!!

 LOVE the leg warmers!!!

Copperfield Church also had a family night, FX Live: Family Experience is like a game show that involve the kids' and parents' participation. Abi kept crawling on Mark's shoulders to try to get picked!! 

The highest point in the room above the rest of the crowd

We started out on one side of the room, but Abi insisted that we move to be by Luke!

Best buds!

Mommy has had some time off in between all this crazy fun!

Me, Lizzie, and Naomi

Naomi= best friend ever! Holding my hand again while I got another tattoo!!!

Grow

This was my garden back when I first planted it. My plants were so tiny.

This is my garden as of yesterday. It is abundant and overflowing...literally! I actually had to pull the pumpkin vine out of the garden because it was taking over the backyard and the bottom of the plant was starting to rot due to moisture.

My first watermelon...doesn't it look YUMMY! 

My first cantaloupe. 

Some cucumbers...Austin and Abi love these cold, sliced, and in a little vinegar/water mixture 

This is a bloom on my okra plant. Isn't it pretty? 

This is an okra that I picked this week! IT'S HUGE!!!

Some of my yellow squash. I've picked a LOT of this so far!!! 

 On the left, green onions. On the right, carrots.

 My jalapeno plant, there are currently 3 peppers on it.

So, all in all, my garden is growing nicely! We're enjoying the veggies and fruits we've picked so far.

Which brings me to my next topic. My hair. I have been trying to let it grow out...which is hard for me! Since I was a sophomore in high school, I have kept my hair short, as in above my shoulders! It's so much healthier and easier to take care of that way. In fact, here are some throw back pics from back in the day!

Senior pic

Mom and me at graduation

Me and Mark after basic training graduation

Clay, Ali, Aaron, Brandon, Mark and me on our wedding day

Shortly after we were married...yup, that's my $30 wedding dress, the total cost of our wedding!!!!

My pic from my pharmacy tech school training days

When I was preggers with Austin, his Houston baby shower

Mark has never seen me with long hair before, so I told him that I would try to grow it out. However, the longer it gets, the more I am reminded of why I like it short!!! The longer it gets, the more difficult it is to control the frizz...in Houston humidity, that's not fun! It also is starting to get curly...not in a cute way! My friend, Jenni, shared a website with me that I have taken some tips from: naturally curly.com (Thanks Jenni!) So far, I am loving it! My new hair regiment looks like this: Day 1 wash with conditioner (Herbal Essence featherlight) then wash with a mixture of olive oil, coconut milk, coconut water, and aloe vera juice. Always rinse with cold water. Day 2 same. Day 3 wash with regular shampoo and conditioner. I can already tell a difference in how soft my hair is, and the frizz is almost non existent!!!! I'm undecided if the new wash schedule will stick, but I am happy that it is going well so far.

Recovery

I had an order through my etsy shop last week. Not a small one mind you, I had to make 2 dresses, a child's apron, and a doll apron. That's a lot of sewing to do in three days. Not to mention, my machine was throwing a HUGE fit! I couldn't get the tension to adjust where I needed it to. Me and my old machine, a hand-me-down from my mom, pushed through and completed the order. It took longer to ship than I would have liked, but nevertheless it did ship! I sat down on Friday and practically spent the entire day adjusting the tension. No luck. So, I see a new sewing machine in my future! (Maybe a sewing machine that also does embroidery?? Wink, wink!!)

Before I knew my machine was going to have a melt down I purchased some cute fabric to make Abi a summer top. I found a cute pair of denim shorts at a resale shop. Not only were they cute, but they were also Gap brand and only $2.00!!! I always LOVE a great deal!!!!

 Front

Back 

Cute little embroidered butterfly on the front 

 The cute fabric I found to go with the shorts

 The finished product!!!

This year as a homeschooling mom has been a lot of fun. However, there are days when all the AJB's do is fight. ALL. DAY. LONG!!! So, when I catch them getting along, I try to complement them on their behavior and tell them how much I appreciate their kindness to each other. When they are sweet to each other it makes me feel warm and giddy inside. So, you can imagine how Mark and I felt when we went to check on the kids before we went to bed the other night, and found them like this:

A picture is worth a thousand words!