My One Little Word: Wisdom

In 2017 I felt led to focus on the one little word, "Lean". I focused on scripture, Proverbs 3:5-6.

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I could not have imagined the circumstances in which the Lord would use these verses in my life. Last year was hard. My anxiety was at an all time high and I have continued to have personal struggles. Through it all though, I have come back to those verses. I embraced, some times hesitantly, but embraced nonetheless, what it means to really lean into the Lord. Some of the things we faced were far beyond my realm of understanding and it was in my darkest moments that God reminded me of His sovereignty and His ability to bring peace to my heart in the chaos.  

I recently reflected on the areas that I would choose to focus on and I feel like I've gained some maturity in a lot of areas. I still have many weaknesses and to say that I learned to lean into God in all areas or in all circumstances would be a false statement. However, I have grown in a lot of ways and I more readily find myself allowing Him to be my safe place.

2018 has brought about a new focus and a new word. This year's one little word is "Wisdom". Through various devotions, comments, and personal reading, I have found the theme of wisdom woven throughout. The message has become clear to me. I need to seek wisdom in this next year. Although I can never be 100% as to what things will look like or how life will go, I do feel certain about some of the areas in which I will be intentionally seeking wisdom, with an overall goal of seeking God's wisdom in all things.

The scripture that I have chosen to focus on is James 1:5. 

You can find this lovely wallpaper here. I am using it as the lock screen on my phone. It will serve as a continuous reminder to seek wisdom as well as help me memorize the scripture. 

I will seek wisdom in...

-My time. I will not overcommit and I will leave white space in my schedule to practice self care. I will make a date night with my husband at least one night each month. I will spend quality time with my children.

-My routines. I will seek direction in developing cleaning and lesson planning routines that will allow me to feel less overwhelmed. 

-My health. I will continue to seek the right doctors for my symptoms and I will continue to work towards their health goals for me. I will take charge of my eating habits and return to low carb eating. I will make time for rest.

-My relationships. I am open and honest in my relationships with others and this can sometimes lead to hurt feelings. I will seek wisdom in my responses and reactions and pray for the right words, if any, for the situations and conversations I encounter. 

-My anxiety. I will seek God's wisdom when it comes to determining what is a "real threat" and what is merely perceived. I used to be such a glass half full person and Satan has attacked my confidence and assurance in ways I never dreamed. I have been struggling with my anxiety and it is my goal to practice self-care and to take my anxieties to the Lord and compare them against His Word.

-Our finances. We will seek His wisdom with our finances. This includes tithing, savings, and where and what to spend our money on. 

I am actually really excited to see how God reveals Himself this year as I seek His wisdom. I have some big, God sized dreams and I look forward to see how the Lord brings them to fruition.

Do you make resolutions? Set goals? Do you pick one little word? I'd love to hear from you!

We've Been Given the Green Light

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We get frustrated when we hit a red light because it stops us in our tracks. We cannot move forward until we are given the go ahead. We try to push through the yellow lights so that we can hopefully avoid the red lights. We often rush through in a hurry, rarely looking around to see if anyone else is in our way.

We welcome the green lights. They mean we can pass through freely without hesitation. These traffic signals are similar to the way we approach life. I’m finding myself likening our journey to this vital piece of transportation safety.

 My husband and I ran into many red lights in our attempts to start a family. We eased our way through some yellow lights in hope that we could get through without incident. Finally, we were given our green lights and the miracles that bless our lives came to be.

 For several years now, we have been dreaming a big dream together. We have had a dream to build our own home that incorporates our wishes, style, and future memories. We’ve dreamed of the home our children would grow up in; it is the same home we hope to grow old in. With that undertaking comes a lot of planning, beginning with where we would build.

 The acreage in our area is pretty pricey. This is attributed to the beautiful mountain views and desirable, quiet lifestyle that can be found in the landscape. We had our eyes on several pieces of property but none of them seemed right. They either wanted more than we could afford or we could not get at least the amount of land we have now. We continually felt like we were sitting at a red light that would never change. Fortunately, we did not have to sit there forever.

 Two years ago come this September, we signed our names to a piece of property. It provides gorgeous mountain views and presents us with enough property to hunt, raise a few farm animals and have plenty of play space for the kids. A dream come true…more accurately, an amazing answer to prayer. We had hoped to get at least 6-7 acres, which is what we currently have. The Lord blessed us with 28 acres at a price that was well within our ability to afford. The result was unheard of to the ears of man, unless those ears have ever heard the amazing, miraculous blessings that are granted by the Lord.

We’ve not done a lot to the property as of yet. My husband and his volunteer fire department did burn down the old house on the property. That was an experience. I’m excited to say that we did spare several pieces of wood from the old home to make a farm style table. It will be such a treat to maintain a piece of the old home that once was there.

However, before we can start the table, we need to have a home to put it in. We have been sitting at this red light for almost 2 years. The list of worries, to-do’s and what ifs has been extremely long. At times, we’ve been very overwhelmed and equally frustrated at the lack of forward movement. Why?

The house has not been ready for sale…I mentioned a long list of to-dos.

Where will we stay in the meantime?

We have four dogs and two cats. Most rentals do not allow pets and/or do not have the space to accommodate our animals. What will we do with them?

How will we afford everything?

And then…green light!

In the midst of all these questions, we have been given the green light to begin moving forward with our dream. We still have things we have to complete in the house before putting it up for sale. However, we have a meeting with our realtor the last week of the month. Our goal is to then have the house up for sale by August 15^th (or sooner). We have prioritized the things we’d like to have done instead and are focusing on what must be done.

Within the last two weeks, my husband’s grandmother’s house has become available. We will be able to rent this until our house is sold and our new home is built.

The pets? My mom is going to keep our two small dogs. Our two cats will be housed by a friend of mine who also fosters and volunteers with one of the local no-kill shelters. We are currently still trying to determine what we’ll be able to do with our two large dogs, but everything else has worked out. I have no doubt that this will too.

We have always had a budget and adjusted prior to the birth of our son. Maternity leave cuts my check a great deal and we altered our budget to accommodate this change. I’ll receive my full check again this fall, which will help a lot. My husband has been working a lot of overtime (mandatory). This serves as a mixed blessing. We miss him dearly when he is gone for several days at a time, but the extra funds will definitely be helpful. We’re selling things that we do not need and cutting corners where we can. I know undoubtedly that we will be fine.

 I think I get so wrapped up in the details because I am a planner. I have to know how things are going to work out and I get stressed and anxious when I do not know or cannot fix them. I also like control. I like to control the outcome. I have a vision and it is hard for me to let go of what I think would be best. However, this part of our journey has reminded me that I do not always know what may be best. I would have had us moved out and building two years ago, but the timing was not right. I see that now

 I have also been reminded that no matter what lies before me or what the future holds, God is already there. He already has the best in place for me. It is merely my job to go as He instructs. At the end of this month we will be making the move into our rental. Prayerfully our old house will sell quickly and the building will begin shortly after. I look forward to sharing more about this new chapter in the days to come.

What have you been given the green light to do?

Linking up with

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First 5 Mini Goals

I've been on my low carb-get healthy journey since February. There has been a lot of trial and error and even more baby steps in the right direction. I have set mini goals that motivate me to lose 5lbs per goal. I'm well on my way to my first big goal of 30lbs. So, I thought I'd go ahead and share my five goal rewards for this week's Five on Friday.

5lbs

This lovely bead for my Pandora bracelet. I chose it as a reminder that I am able to overcome my PCOS diagnosis. I can overcome my issues with infertility and weight loss. God is bigger than my diagnosis.

10lbs

I love CC and their music is always inspiring. One thing I've wanted to do with this life of mine is Thrive instead of merely survive. The tunes on this album continue to give me the encouragement to push on.

15-20lbs

This wallet from Thirty-One was a little more pricey so I opted to combine it for a 10lb weight loss goal. I just got it yesterday and I love it!!!!

25lbs

I have been eyeing these PW Cowgirl Lace dishes for quite some time now. I can't wait to get them on my table!

30lbs

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I am already becoming in need of some smaller clothing but I'm holding out. I'm hoping to meet my goal by the beginning of school and at that point, I'll do some updating to my wardrobe.

Thanks to everyone for their encouragement. I'm definitely getting there!

Linking up for Mommy Moments

Bouncing Back After Baby - Post Baby Goals

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I'm 2 months post birth and I'm still not feeling 100% myself. N's pregnancy was much more difficult and his labor was 2 times longer than that of his sister's. Let's just say my body feels like it has been through a war. I'm still healing and the various issues I've had since his birth have not been as easy to deal with at times. There have been multiple doctor/dentist visits and quite frankly, I'm over it. I want to feel good again.

Prior to his conception,  I had lost 20lbs. I only gained 17 during his pregnancy and lost that pretty immediately. However, just as before, there were things that made it difficult to breastfeed and after a couple weeks, I was unable to do so any longer. Some of the weight creeped back on. ::sigh::

We've been asked if we're done having kids and to that I don't have a solid answer...but I can say I have goals until then. These goals are meant to carry me over the next couple of years and mini goals will be implemented along the way. I don't want to rush my body but I don't want that to stop me from moving forward.

Goals

1. Lose 30lbs. I am actively using FitnessPal again and I'm eager to see some change. I'll be once again blogging about my progress soon.

2. Put our house up for sale. We have a few projects left prior to officially putting the house on the market but we're well on our way.

3. Get reconnected. The last few months have been difficult in the way of personal relationships and my relationships with friends, family and Christ have suffered. It's time to get more involved again and fix what can be fixed and find closure with what can't.

4. Build our forever home. I desperately long to build our new house. Our land is just begging to be settled upon. We can't begin that venture however until our current home is sold. It's so close and yet so far...

5. Survive financially over the next 12 months. My maternity leave is cutting my pay by several hundred dollars each month for the next year. We've been saving, making cuts and trying to just prepare ourselves all the way around. This next year will be super tight and we are trusting in the Lord's provision. He's never failed us.

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6. Live intentionally. As of late I have known or read about too many people passing away unexpectedly and it really gets you thinking. I want to make memories, live fully, overcome my fears and anxieties and show my children what an amazing life the Lord has blessed us with.

7. Date my husband. I have a really hard time leaving my kids. I admit it. After being gone from them all day, all I want to do is be with them. However,  this doesn't grow my relationship with my phenomenal husband. I need to let go and let others help us more. I need to go on dates with my husband minus both kids and relax. (Can you sense my type A personality?)

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8. Revamp my teaching style. I love what I do as a teacher. Every year I say there are things I want to do or change and rarely do I do them. It's time to fix that.

What goals do you have?

Linking up for Mommy Moments  and Waiting on Wednesday

February: Organization

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I'm not one for making so called resolutions,  but I decided to embrace the term and dedicate February to organizing our home. Jess, over at Sweet Little Ones, joins a monthly link up that specifically focuses on making monthly resolutions. This got me inspired.

We've decided to officially put our house on the market April 1st. We're trusting in God's provision and timing on this big step. It's all a little tricky...I'm due with Baby #2 in July and we'll definitely need a place to live once our house sells. Unfortunately we can't begin building our new house until we sell this house. We have a plan that we're hopeful will work, but once again, there are a lot of factors involved. I know this sounds crazy with a new one on the way but we really feel now is the time to move forward.

With all that being said we still have some things we'd like/need to do before April. My hubby and I sat down and came up with a plan that will serve as my resolution for the month of February. We're resolving to organize/purge one room a week.

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Week 1: Living room
This will include cleaning out the drawers in both the entertainment center and the DVD cabinet. We'll go through the DVDs and donate any that we get rid of. We'll also give the walls and ceiling fan a good wipe down and wash the curtains.

Week 2: Dining room
We have a little coffee cart that desperately needs organized. I need to reduce the number of mugs considering we have quite a bulky, eclectic collection. I need to go through my cook books and the other shelves on the other cabinet. We also have a bookshelf that I need to sort through.  I have plans to get rid of it, much to my husband's dismay...but it makes the space cramped and I'm ready for it to go.

Week 3: Kitchen
This one has me flinching. We need to go through all of the cabinets and the island. The fan needs dusted. I'd like to get the bead board officially painted this week but we'll see.

Week 4: Playroom
This room is still a work in progress but even so it needs some organization.  Our sweet girl has so many toys...too many really. We know that there are more than enough to keep her and future kids busy for years to come even with a decent purging.

I'm really looking forward to making some headway. I'm already working on a resolution for March...maybe it's some early nesting or just feeling the time crunch but we're motivated. Let it begin!

Linking up with Andrea for Monthly Goals.

Opt Out Update

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It's no secret that I adore the fall season. The air is turning a bit more brisk here in Central Virginia. The leaves are beginning to turn and the daylight is slowly becoming shorter.

My heart sings.

As I take in the beauty of this season, I have also been hard at work over the last week to maintain my goals for my Opt Out October. I thought I'd give you an update.

Let's begin with the "getting healthier"...

I've really reeled in my snacking and the eating out has become almost obsolete. I've been prepping meals the night before and using my crock-pot a lot more this week to ensure that I have no excuse to eat out or pick up something on the way home. I haven't gotten back on the treadmill yet but I've been parking farther away from my destinations and my little one and I have been staying pretty busy.

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As for my spending this month? I'm doing great! Last month was out of the ordinary for me in regards to some of my typical spending habits so I feel really good about how things are going. I've opted out of multiple coffee runs during the week and I've cut down my eating out to a maximum of one time a week. (We don't typically eat out, but like I said, last month was a doozy.) There was one exception to my "no purchasing clothing" rule. Over the weekend I took G to meet her newest little friend. Our close friends had their baby a week ago and we were finally able to visit. On the way there I had plans to stop at Lowes to grab some paint. Unfamiliar with the area, I relied on my GPS. It took us on a crazy, winding, narrow mountain road...and G got seriously car sick. By the time I could finally safely pull over, she was covered in mess. I had brought an extra outfit but it was one of her "play outfits" and not one I really wanted her to be in should pictures be taken during our visit. Maybe this is shallow or silly to some, but whatever. I stopped at a local clothing discount store and picked up a cute outfit for $8. She was cleaned up, changed and away we went. Needless to say, we never made it to Lowes.

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Overall I'm proud of my progress this past week. I've been getting some things done around the house and the motivation continues thanks to Living Well Spending Less' 31 Days to a Clutter Free Life. I get an email once a day with a different de-cluttering challenge. I've been able to take almost all of them up to this point.

I hope your fall season is going just as well. This month holds a lot of joy and sadness as I reflect on all that October has held for us. We grieve the loss of our friends' little ones that have gone before us as October 15th draws near. I miss my grandfather so much more this month as the 2nd anniversary of his passing approaches. I do however have a lot to lift praises for as well. It was this month, two years ago that we announced our first pregnancy. We'll celebrate our wedding anniversary. We'll meet with friends, enjoy family time and count our blessings often. What will your October hold?

Linking up with Home of Malones

A Little Revamping...

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Okay...this week has been a bit crazy. Over the weekend my daughter came down with a 103 fever. This lasted through Sunday when it broke mid-morning. We took her to the pediatrician and found out that she once again has Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD). She's had this before but not this bad. In the past she had a rash and a high fever that lasted a few days. This time around she didn't have the fever as long but her rash is far worse and she has the blisters in her mouth. It's been a challenge finding things that she wants to eat. At least she has been taking lots of fluids.

On Tuesday she woke up at 4:30am and much to my dismay, did not nap at all! She finally laid down around 8:00pm. I don't know how she did it. Not only was I listening to a super cranky baby going down the road after an evening of parent-teacher conferences, but then my poor hubby called to say that he was leaving work because he was sick. His flu like symptoms made him pretty miserable and because he loves me and wanted me to stay healthy, he slept on the sofa bed. ::sigh:: It was a rough start to the week.

I needed a break from the chaos and thanks to a few posts by Leslyn, I felt inspired to revamp some of my fitness goals and to review my 30 by 30 list (especially since April will be here sooner than later.)

I've been maintaining my 20lb weight loss, give or take a few pounds (and right now it's more on the give side). I've really been trying to rein in my eating habits as of late (goodbye ice cream and cookie dough and cupcakes and...) so I've been opting for more fruits and veggies. Right now the two main things I have been focusing on are eating fruits and/or veggies for my snacks and getting plenty of water. I love water but teaching often distracts me from ensuring I get enough...not to mention I don't really get the opportunity to use the bathroom at will so I have to be conscious of that as well. Overall though I'm feeling better about my choices. I hope to start getting back to an exercise routine as well.

Now for my 30 by 30 list...

30 By 30

1. Host a Brunch Party

2. Begin (and finish?) building our “forever” home

3. Hike to a waterfall

4. Lose 30 pounds

5. Make G a big sister

6. Take a family trip to Washington D.C.

7. Make a pair of shoes

8. Visit a lighthouse

9. Go to the South Carolina Aquarium

10. Take a family trip to the North Carolina Zoo

11. Make a pecan pie

12. Send a card to a stranger

13. Make a photo book of G’s first year

14. Take a cooking class

15. Make homemade truffles

16. Plant a tree

17. Serve at a soup kitchen

18. Make a holiday wreath

19. Teach a kids’ cooking class

20. Take a girls’ trip with my mom, daughter and sisters

21. Learn to crochet

22. Take a carriage ride

23. Make real homemade alfredo sauce

24. Make homemade ravioli

26. Pay for a stranger’s meal

27. Learn to French Braid

28. Be in a parade

29. Read 100 books with/to my daughter

30. Buy new living room furniture

Linking up with Home of Malones

Monthly Weight Loss and Pictures

I won't even pretend that I've given a praiseworthy attempt at losing weight or accomplishing my goals this month. In fact, since I'm being completely honest, this month I hit a wall. I've been facing a weight loss plateau and I let it get the best of me. Curse this back and forth sway of 1-2lbs. I lost focus. I got caught up in the traveling, and while wonderful, I didn't eat like I should, nor exercise, during those times. I allowed being away from home to be my excuse for extra snacking and high calorie food options. I was on vacation!

We've also been facing some personal matters and I've found myself settling into old habits. More than once I caught myself turning to food for comfort. Remnants of my Emotional Eating surfaced but I refused to let them stick around.


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I've tried not to be too hard on myself...that would only crush what motivation I have left. While this last week has held many wonderful things, it has also held it's share of stress, anxiety and disappointment, but I did my best to not allow these feelings overrule my better judgment. I've gotten in a little more exercise this past week and I'm feeling better about greeting July (if you don't count the fact that half of my summer will be over ::tears::)

So while I wish I had amazing results to share with you this month...I do not. I know in order to move forward that I can't focus on "what I should have done."

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I did, however, have a memorable moment...my hubby and I took our first "real" date since the birth of our daughter over a year ago...and I wore "the dress". This dress has not been worn in almost 3 years. It fit better now than it ever has...I consider that a major accomplishment.

With all that being said, I've decided to take a step back from social media for a while. I feel that I need to be devoting myself more to some of my relationships and health and I need to get myself going forward in full motion again. I'll still be blogging, but maybe not as often and as for Facebook...don't be offended when I look clueless if you tell me about something you posted. More than likely I will have missed it. As much as I love reading updates, I have some updating that I need to do outside of the technological realm. God bless and I hope all of you are enjoying your summer!

 

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Monthly Weight Loss with Pictures

I cannot believe the month of May is almost gone! I've entered into my last week of school and with that comes even longer days, less family time, mounds of paper work and overly rambunctious children. We'll have the student Field Day, First Grade Fun Day, the Spring Awards program, Fifth Grade Graduation parade...and I know I'm forgetting something(s). Now is also the time of year when people begin making comments about how teachers get the summer off, it must be nice not to work, etc. Trust me. It only looks that way on our contracts and, while I can only speak for myself and fellow co-workers, the summer is filled with prep work for the upcoming school year. Our work is never done and it always manages to come home with us to some degree. I'll stop there and save this soapbox for another time.

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For now, I'd like to share with you this month's progress. We've been dealing with a few things personally and in the midst of trying to find ways to make our dreams reality and finish up half started projects around the house, I've been trying to make some weight loss progress. Stress levels have been a little higher this month (which good things can be stressful too) and our mornings, days and nights have been filled with things that keep us busy. I've not been able to work out like I'd hoped but I've tried to maintain at least some type of activity almost every day.

I had also gotten down on myself over not meeting my 20lb goal. I was really struggling with the plateau that I had hit. I had to do something. I wanted to reach that goal!

I had gotten out of the habit of "honestly" tracking my food. I might put in a few things each day but I had stopped entering in everything I was eating. I am still amazed at how quickly I lost sight of healthy eating. My snacking had also become an issue. Instead of keeping healthy options on hand I went for quick, high calorie grabs. I refocused my attention to healthy choices. Here are some examples:

It all boils down to poor eating choices this month. These past two weeks I've really tried to get back on track.

To build some momentum, I've decided to throw in some mini goals for June. This could be a little tricky with some traveling that we have in our plans, but I'm determined.

In June I will...

1. Make SMART snacking choices

Satisfying-it fulfills the craving and tames the hints of hunger
Managable-it can easily go with me and/or doesn't require a lot of preparation
Appetizing-it tastes good (duh!)
Right size-caloric intake is worth the serving size/portion control
Thrifty-on sale or inexpensive

2.At least 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week

3. Create a motivation collage. I had one of these in college and it really helped my motivation to see some of my goals and words of encouragement each day. I had mine hanging on the refrigerator.

Now that I've got my goals before me, it's time to take a look at the numbers from this past month. I've lost another inch in my waist (that's a total of 2 inches since I began tracking March)...and since December 2013...drum roll please...

 

I feel like I'm finally starting to see a difference, not just feel it.

 

While the numbers are always exciting, it is also important to identify some of the non-scale victories that I've also accomplished.

-I completed a 5k with my daughter (you can catch all of the fun here!)

-My bra size is smaller (don't tell my hubby)
-I need a belt for almost every pair of pants I wear
-A couple pairs of my pants literally fall off as I walk or climb the stairs. I've put those to rest, hoping to never go back to them.
-I'm fitting into clothes that I couldn't even wear pre-baby...some of which are now almost too big!

With this month's weight loss, I've reached my 20lbs goal...and this means I get to splurge on a goody! When I began this journey, I created a Weight Loss Goals board on Pinterest to keep me encouraged. I'm so excited about purchasing this water bottle. I would not typically spend this type of money on a water bottle, but that's what makes it special right? I really want to dive into a dozen donut holes, but a water bottle will be much more beneficial. Here is the water bottle I'll be enjoying in the very near future!

Tervis Whimsical Owl Water Bottle

If you struggle with your weight, you are not alone. I had to change a lot of my weight loss perceptions and set realistic goals. I've had to rely on my own inner strength, the encouragement of others and the power of my God to push through. I am almost to my 30lb weight loss goal. It can be done. I've had to look at it this way...I'm losing weight to get healthy, not skinny. As I become healthier I add quality to my life and that is more important than the size of pants I wear. Every pound counts. Every exercise minute matters. I am worth it!

 

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Run Baby Run!

I thought I'd go ahead and share the results of this weekend's 5k. This coming week is slammed and it is unlikely that I'll have time to fit it in otherwise.

My day began at 5:30 4:00a.m. when G decided she was ready to greet the morning. We eventually made our way downstairs and began collecting everything we'd need for the day. Today was a big day. It was an important day. G was participating in her first 5k ever and I was participating for a very special cause.

I made this onesie for G

It was not just the important purpose behind The Baby Run 5k (that you can revisit here) but I was participating in honor of a very special family, the Dennis Family. Please read their story. Their lives are living testaments of God's goodness even in the most bitter and pain drenched moments of life.

G and I headed out about 7:00a.m. We drove about an hour to the registration site. Upon arriving, we made our way to the registration table where we were greeted by some very enthusiastic volunteers.

Side note: This race was dreamed up and facilitated by a local high school group as their end of year service project. This service project also included a couple of car washes and some other events to raise money for the BRPC. I was so impressed by their organization and attention to detail. The course was mapped out perfectly and their enthusiasm was contagious.

As I sifted through my packet, I found some great information, a handmade prayer bracelet, and...a voucher for a free t-shirt!!! I had planned on purchasing a t-shirt at the event, but I ended up being one of a lucky few who won a free one.

After hanging out with some of the participants, the race began. This was the first time I have ever pushed G in a race...and it may quite possibly be my last. The course was SO HILLY! It was quite a struggle to make it up some of those hills pushing my one year old...fortunately, around the 1.5 mile marker, one of the teens caught up with me and we chatted for the remainder of the race. She definitely helped me keep my momentum.

We finally made it across the finish line, grabbed a banana and rested in the grass as they presented the awards. This was definitely my worst time (about 51 minutes) on any given course, but considering the constant elevation increases and pushing a toddler, I haven't been too down on myself. I at least finished. I had hoped to stay within the 30ish minute range but pushing the stroller definitely added a good 5-6 minutes per mile to my time.

After leaving the race, G and I headed to town to grab some breakfast. She entertained guests nearby as she insisted on using her fork to eat. After breakfast, we dropped by the Strawberry Festival at a local elementary school. We were both so tired that we didn't stay long.

We came home...and napped.

We then headed out to the elementary school closest to our home for their Backyard BBQ event. We grabbed dinner, talked it up with some friends, and then returned home to call it a night. We were both exhausted...in a good way. I cherished every moment of the Mom and Me kind of day.

Watching the big kids play

Soaking up what was left of the evening...