Happy 1st Birthday, Jackson!

One year ago(yesterday), this beautiful baby boy came into our lives…

 

and now,

he is 1 year old!

Where has this year gone?

To my son:

Jack,

You are a true JOY! You smile all the time(even when you are sick… which you happen to have a cold on your first Birthday!).

You are not walking yet, but you are very close. I am pretty sure that instead of just walking, you will be running before I know it.

You love your big sissy Grace! You love to grab her pretty blonde hair and any time that she is within arm's length of your playpen, you show her that love.

You laugh and smile all the time! Even while teething… we never know when a new tooth comes in because your mood never changes! You are just so precious to us!

We thank God for you every day! Happy Birthday sweet boy!

Love,

Mommy

BULLDOZER?

Do you ever feel like you have bulldozed by a Mack truck going 90 miles an hour? Do you ever feel like life is slipping away from you without you really ever realizing it? So you ever feel like there is just never enough time in the day, and then, when there is… you don’t do anything at all and can’t figure out why you can’t get motivated?

Well, that has been me in a nutshell this summer. I have hardly picked up my camera(which is why I have once again failed in the 365 project) and that is not like me. I have hardly blogged, which… I am very frustrated about, but honestly, if I were blogging, it would probably be me whining like a little baby about things that don’t really matter. 

So, here is the deal. I am letting myself off the hook. Which means, I am not worried about taking a picture each day. I am not going to punish myself over these things that I am not getting done, and am going to celebrate the little things. 

I don’t have to blog every day. 

I don’t have to take a picture… every day. 

I just have to be a good mom and wife. 

I need to be happy.

I need to celebrate life, each and every day. The big, the small and the insignificant.

Thank you for listening… we are taking a vacation soon and I am praying that when we come back, I come back with the Candace that I used to be.

Will you remember?

Alan Jackson
Where Were You

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
Were you in the yard with your wife and children?
Or working on some stage in LA?
Did you stand there in shock at the sight of
That black smoke rising against that blue sky?
Did you shout out in anger
In fear for your neighbor?
Or did you just sit down and cry?

Did you weep for the children
Who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know?
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below?

Did you burst out with pride
For the red white and blue
And the heroes who died just doing what they do?
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself and what really matters

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, Hope and Love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is Love

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
Teaching a class full of innocent children?
Or driving down some cold interstate?
Did you feel guilty cause you're a survivor?
In a crowded room did you feel alone?
Did you call up your mother and tell her you loved her?
Did you dust off that Bible at home?
Did you open your eyes, hope it never happened?
Close your eyes and not go to sleep?
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages?
Speak with some stranger on the street?
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow?
Go out and buy you a gun?
Did you turn off that violent home movie you're watching
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns?
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers?
Stand in line and give your own blood?
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family?
Thank God you had somebody to love

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, Hope and Love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is Love

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, Hope and Love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is Love

And the greatest is Love
And the greatest is Love

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?

A quick update from Grace’s Birthday party…

Well, Miss Grace is 3 years old!!! Where have the 3 years gone? I am planning on writing a better post about this later… but in the meantime, here are a few special picture from Grace’s Dora Birthday party!!!

Please remember this in your prayers....

Most people have heard this story about the group that was killed in Afghanistan while on a humanitarian mission. Well, one of the young ladies was a girl that I went to school with. We were acquaintances and were in Student Senate my last year of high school. She was a year younger than me, but I remember her very well. She was super friendly and kind of quiet.

Please remember her family in your prayers...

Father of murdered humanitarian aid worker talks about her life

Not me, Monday!

Welcome to:

Now, first of all... I am not just writing this "Not Me" Monday post just because I want to win that adorable hat that MckMama is giving to one of her poster's today... for free! Nope... not me!

I also have not been the laziest blogger on the planet... forgetting to write a post about my beautiful baby boy turning 9 months old... or even the fact that we had a momentous occasion with my baby girl turning 3 this week! Nope... I would never forget to do that! NOT ME!

I also would never cut this post short because I was so tired from throwing a big picnic birthday party for said 3 year old, and be so lazy that I haven't even uploaded the pictures yet, or posted a single picture! Nope... not me!

And finally, I did not put in the new Dora DVD, the one about the birthday adventure, for the kids, so that I would have some time to myself while they were watching it, just so I could post this. NOPE... definitely not me!

Ok... your turn... go play along!

M.I.A.

So, I know I have been MIA again... but I promise, I am going to post a few things today. This summer has just flown by!~

Jack turned 9 months old.
Grace is going to be 3 on Saturday(WHERE HAVE THE 3 YEARS GONE????)
I am exhausted(as usual).
Doug has been working his hiney off.
We took a small trip to Gatlinburg, TN(Which was way too short!).
And so much more.

I promise... I will update with a nice meaty post very soon. I am also going to start another blog, that is going to be about me and my issues(so I don't bore you all here) and keep this blog just for my babies and family fun stuff. No more heavy posts here. Promise. But... I do hope you all(or at least some of ya!) come over and follow me at my other blog.

Much love and talk to you soon!
C