Trying out...

 This past weekend, Ryder had one of his tryouts for his extra AYSO FIRE team for the Fall.

It is so fun watching our kids do things that they love!

Taco Tuesday

 Every Tuesday, I get tacos from a little local spot near our house.  I love their fish tacos and they are always cheap on Tuesdays.  Last week, Ryder had early let out every day for Parent/Teacher conferences, so he got to join me.❤︎

We ate our tacos, watched Food Network, and talked about his morning.

It's so fun to be aware that you not only really LOVE your kid, but you also really like them and you love being with them and spending time together.

When I reflect on motherhood, moments like these with my kiddos are the ones that I will cherish the most.

Thrifting with my favorite girl...

 Eden and I love to thrift together.  One of our favorite spots is about 15-20 minutes from our house. It's always a treat to go there... 

...and we always find great stuff!

I love this time with my girl!

Stress Management

 How I am currently coping with any stress:

1. Time with Jesus.

2. Time with family.

3. Time with outside.

4. Time with my bunnies.

5. Time with tacos.

Repeating as necessary...❤︎

Celebrating our big middle schooler

 This kids is really thriving in middle school. Last week, we  got to celebrate that he made the Honor Roll.  This kid is just killing it in this new chapter of school life...

Grandpa would be so proud...

 Our grandpa Pierce was a woodworking teacher. After our Grandpa Pierce passed, the family went through the house and found lots or drawers and boxes that he had made for projects.  I decided to use them in our house, maybe in different ways than he would have planned, but I think that he would have loved that they found new life in our house.

This drawer had writing on it so it needed a good sanding:

I used my favorite stain:

Then I put felt on the "feet" of it and got it set up in our guest bathroom:

Then I put another box he had made on the toilet:

I love these little tokens of Grandpa around our house.  It brings our hearts so much joy!

health

 

I have never been one for New Year's resolutions.  I felt like I never lasted more than a month because I would set unrealistic expectations and goals and plans that were not sustainable.  The first new years goal that I set was back in 2018/2019 where I committed to mental health and healing.  I started therapy and had such joy in that process.  I didn't put a timeline or stop date.  

As I stepped into this year, I wanted to enter another season toward healing.  The pandemic has taken a toll emotionally and physically.  I noticed I was eating to comfort, not to feed my body.  I felt like it was mindless and never really satisfying.  I am so thankful to have tools that allowed me to recognize that I was doing that.  With that, working through ALL that this pandemic has brought, I found that I started this year exhausted, worn out, mentally and emotionally.

So as I start this year, three things that are bringing me such joy: Daily quiet time with Jesus, 30 minute daily walks for prayer and worship music and mental space, and mindful/intentional eating (which sounds ambiguous but it's asking the question "Am I actually hungry?" and if I am hungry,  "Is what I'm choosing to eat right now going fill me in the best way?"). It's funny how asking those two questions has made such a difference in my eating habits.

It's not about weight, though I am the heaviest I have been since I was pregnant with the kids.  Over the last month, I feel like I am moving toward a holistic health and balance that has been missing... I am so grateful that Jesus is meeting me where I am.  He is filling me in places that felt so depleted, and for that I am so thankful... I look forward to a year that moves me toward continued health.