Today, I had to weigh consequences for my children who decided to fill and dump water cups all over my kitchen which then dripped down each surface and made huge slippery puddles on my floors. While they were doing this, I had been upstairs less than 10 minutes getting dressed. This is totally unusual behavior for them, as they’re clear on the rules of dispensing water at the refrigerator and they’re usually rule followers. I heard them running and shrieking and didn’t think much of it… because they’re always running, laughing, and shrieking. I stood there amidst all the dripping puddles and had to quickly decide how I was going…

The enemy won a battle yesterday morning. Not in a manner that affected my interactions with others, but in a manner that affected me. The moment I gave in and exchanged his false truth for reality; I gave him the power and took away from myself the freedom that comes from following Christ. It wasn’t any one particular thought, but a culmination of thoughts and false ideas that I let seep into my being. Slowly, I allowed myself to take on his false truths, which affected my demeanor, affected my attitude, and everything else about my morning. There was no outward struggle. There wasn’t even an inner struggle. It’s just…

One thing I’m notorious for is not keeping clutter. I know right… what a thing to be famed and joked for by your friends… those OCD tendencies that you just can’t kick. But seriously…let’s talk clutter. There’s a real reason behind why I just CAN’T do clutter. There’s a mostly unspoken rule in our house that if you don’t touch something for a few months, it goes. I say mostly unspoken, because it’s largely communicated in the fact that I’m ALWAYS purging items. I can’t do clutter. Not physical clutter, and not mental clutter. It affects my being! I began choosing a minimalist and simplified lifestyle before it was “trendy”…

Today, I passed a bright pink cross adorned with lettering on the side of a busy intersection. I was leaving errands with my son, and heading to get my daughter from pre-school. Flowers crowded the ground at the bottom of the cross, and I stopped and prayed for the family members and friends who laid them there. The thing is… this cross was eerily similar to one that rests exactly 196 miles and one right turn away… another pink cross which was laid for my sister. Do you ever stop to think of the gravity that thousands of people pass these crosses? That’s it… that’s all the intended emphasis… that…

I am huge a proponent for eating healthy, moving your body, and staying fit. My definition of staying fit has little to do with your weight and physical appearance and everything to do with how you feel. If you feel good, you’re going to make healthier choices, healthier moves, and have a healthier mindset. If you make healthier choices, you are going to feel better! I truly believe there is a strong correlation between how your mind and body feels and your overall general health and mood. Health and fitness is second nature to me, and has been such a big part of my life for so long that I…

I have learned a few specific things this past week. One of those being that I’m too old to be busting out flips at the trampoline park with my kids (hello lower back pain). Another being that my youngest is becoming super independent, running around on the soccer field, keeping up with the big kids, and being able to do so many things for himself! And lastly, that my daughter is getting more beautiful each day… and that slightly scares me. After all… she’s now FIVE… and this post is kind of about her. I remember all too well the feelings I had in the early morning hours before Addisyn’s…

I don’t even know who I am right now… as I write this… I’m sitting in my gorgeous backyard that my husband has perfected (with a large contribution of my low-skilled labor and effort) enjoying the warm day and cool breeze. I’m sipping my newest favorite concoction of green juice and totally enjoying myself while my children nap after a busy soccer morning. It’s as close to perfection in a day that I could dream up. A slow morning of coffee and relaxing with my family, soccer, ice cream, a workout with my husband (that I forced my way through today), a good book, some peace and quiet… that’s about…

I started writing this post on February 26th, and I typed a random title in the draft bar, with a mental note to come back and change it. I decided to leave it… because it applies even more now. The last few weeks have been chaotic for our family, and the hits just keep on coming. At 32 years old, I’ve admittedly been through a lot of heartache in my life, but I also have a lot of blessings. I was married very young, to my high school sweetheart; blessing! I celebrate 15 years of marriage with that man this year; blessing! That man was a United States Marine for…

It’s official, we now have a 3-year-old and 4-year-old in the house! Josiah turned 3 almost two weeks ago. His birthday celebration was extravagant, as the whole week before we were at Disney and he was getting birthday treats galore. When we returned, he was super excited to get ready for his lumberjack party with some close friends and family. For his birthday, we served flapjacks and bacon for the lumberjack, he played outside with his buddies on a considerably warm day for January complete with a camp fire, S’mores, bean bag hatchet throwing, and of course cupcakes. His favorite part was receiving his big boy room, and his big…

By all accounts, we are a little crazy regarding the Mouse. We just returned from Addisyn and Josiah’s second trip to Disney! It was magical, it was sparkly, it was sunny, it was parties, parades, sprinkles, and ice cream. It was lots of laughing, lots of fun, and lots of happy exhaustion for all. Our trip was truly glorious, filled with lots of favor along the way! On January 4th, we woke the kids up early, to catch our early flight and 3 hours later we were in Orlando, catching the Magical Express. We arrived at our hotel and they were already in heaven, remembering the sounds, sights, and even…