Days of Thanks - 7

Coggin Avenue Baptist Church.

This is where my family and I attend church here in Brownwood.

I really do not have enough good things to say about where we worship.

This blog post could go on for days.

I feel honored and blessed to be a part of such a strong body.

Our Sunday School class is phenomenal.

Lead by a couple that I look up to and have an incredible respect for.

Our Pastor has a heart for God and just wants to love on people (and hunt deer.)

The nursery is top notch. I leave my children in great care,

but I also leave them with people who want to see them

accept Christ for their own one day.

Its funny, now that I think about it.

This post is in fact the 2nd out of 3 that will have to do

with being a part of this great church family.

MOPS being one,

and another that will be posted later.

Needless to say, I have grown in this church.

I have made friends in this church.

I am better because of my tie to this church.

Thank you, Leaders and Members of Coggin Avenue Baptist.

You have made a difference in this womans life for the better!

Days of Thanks - 6

So this is the post were my superficial self is going to come through.

We are getting personal here.

Whatever you do, please don't judge.

I am just a girl fallen victim to

Reality TV.

I am a reality TV junkie and should probably get some professional help.

As much as I hate to admit it,

I am thankful for my favorite TV shows.

Its an escape. 

I can watch drama without having any of my own.

What could be better?

Now, not all Reality TV is trash.

I happen to find one series particularly inspirational.

I think most would agree.

Love the transformations. Love the life changes. Love the accomplishments.

Its such an interesting take on loosing weight.

Giving up everything to focus on health. Health being the #1.

There is nothing better than sitting down with coke and pizza

and watching these people change themselves from the inside out. 

Inspirational is clearly not what I would call my next favorite.

This is just good drama. Just trash at its finest. Is it not just straight up 

silliness as to how we become attached to certain

contestants? Well shame on me. I don't miss a season.

Then there is The Bachelor's not so distant cousin.

Good grief. I told myself I would never watch this.

Saying it took The Bachelor to a whole new level of no good.

Then for some strange reason, I watched. Didn't miss an episode of season 1.

Or season 2.

Sigh. 

So you won't be surprised to know that I spend from 9-10 pm on Tuesday nights

with MTV.

This show has beyond made my jaw drop.

We won't even get into that. So, yes, I watch.

I know the girls. I feel sad for the babies.

Drama.

Well what is 16 and Pregnant without the follow up?

Its impossible for me not to know what happened.

Watched all the seasons. I certainly have my favorites.

I know you all agree that somehow, Caitlyn and Tyler win the prize

for most sensible. There is no telling how that happened though.

Stop acting like you don't know exactly what I am talking about.

I could add a few more to my list here, but I dont want to humiliate myself 

anymore than I just did.

Well. Day 6 and I am thankful for trash TV. What would life look like without it?

More conversations? More reading? A cleaner house? A smaller waist?

Well probably, but we all have our guilty pleasures, right?

Days of Thanks - 5

Please tell me I am not the only one thankful for

ahem...a few bathroom items?

Seriously. What goes on in the bathroom is important business!

I have a couple of things that live in my bathroom

that clearly need a little shout out.

In other words, I am thankful for them!

Ahhh. Rare Minerals. Its part of the Bare Minerals cosmetic line. 

This is blemish therapy. Let me tell you. Not much therapy is needed.

This is a budding pimples worst nightmare.

Not kidding.

One quick dab of this white, powdery, mineral miracle

and zit free you will be. 

I have NEVER seen any treatments that work as well or as fast 

as this. Love it.

It lasts forever and works overnight.

Every hormonal teenager and new momma needs this.

Speaking of Skin Care.

The Clarisonic skin brush. This will wash away your skin

into brand new. Best thing? Its waterproof. It works off of a battery charge

and will seriously make your pores squeaky clean. 

You can use it with any cleanser. It gets your skin so much

cleaner than just using your hands. It only takes 1 minute.

1 minute for beautifully clear skin. Yes.

So raise your hand if you keep your toothbrush in the bathroom?

Thats what I thought. You do, and so do I.

Raise your hand if you keep your toliet in the bathroom as well?

Goodness. 

Does it not gross you out to no lengths that think that every time you flush

the toliet germs {and such} are sent airborne?

Thats why I protect my and Tyler's toothbrush with the Vio Light

toothbrush sanitizer!
Anslee has her own pretty princess one. She even was able to decorate with
stickers. What fun for her!!

You put in your toothbrush bristles downward

turn on a special germ killing light

and a clean toothbrush you have.

My dentist would be so proud. If I went and paid him a visit that is.

*Disclaimer*

Thanks to my sweet mama for seriously buying me all of the above items 

that I clearly could not go a day without now.

Days of Thanks - 4 - MOPS

Today is Friday, and every other Friday, our MOPS group meets.

Every Friday there is a MOPS meeting in Brownwood, and once a month on Thursday,
a working Mom's MOPS group meets.

Myself and a close friend Co-Coordinate MOPS at Coggin Avenue Baptist.

Oh how the city of Brownwood is blessed to have groups of this nature meeting.

MOPS is an national and even international group intended for Mothers of PreSchoolers.

We are so lucky to have 3 chapters here in Brownwood.

This group has been not only a life saver in terms of knowing the 

silly things we encounter everyday are normal,

but also in just making friends who have a mutual respect for what you

are dealing with.

Motherhood is not always easy. Or fun.

In fact, its quite messy a lot of the time.

Within the walls of our church, where we meet, each of us find a sense of encouragement

and like mindedness with other women.

We minister to each other. We share stories. We eat food. We listen to guest speakers. We craft. We lift each other up.

Its an outreach program . Its so many things to so many moms.

Thank you, to all my MOPS mommy friends, who help me survive the journey with a smile on my face. You mean more to me and you know!

Days of Thanks 3

Today I am especially thankful for the parenting books

in my life. Goodness me, where would I be without

these little self help miracle books?

I think it is kind of funny, really, that I am really thankful for these books.

I have never really ever been much of a reader. 

There was the occasional novel that I would read, but besides that,

I did not read often. Yes. It is something 

I wish I did more, but when Anslee was 6 weeks old

I got hooked. I was amazed at how parenting made more sense after reading them.

I was so happy to take bits and pieces from each book

to aide me in planning out our days, and just knowing what life with 

a baby looked like.

I am also thankful that Tyler and I have the freedom to parent how

we see fit for our family. 

I am thankful that with the help of these books and our own parenting 

instincts We can feel confident in our decision making regarding 

the most precious baby girls that ever graced planet earth.

Here are just a few of my favorites!

 

Most of these books have toddler editions that I love equally!

Needless to say, one way I deal with frustrations or anxiousness

is by gathering information. I guess it eases my mind to know what

the experts say.

I feel like even though I love these books, I need to say that I take what works for us

from each book and what I agree with and make it my own.

It would be absurd to follow every "book" down to its last word

when kiddos are as individual as a fingerprint.

I am thankful for the help they have brought me though!

Days of Thanks -2

Today I am thankful for this very blog.

Not that I have a huge audience (or really think that is at all important)

but because I can make it exactly what I want.

I started this blog to document my life as a newlywed

and Tyler's journey through the State of Texas Trooper Academy.

It has evolved into my own little place on the internet

to record how we live our life.

I know that many years from now I will be so thankful I kept up with the 

daily delights of our life. 

I hope that when my little girls can read, they can go back and look on 

mommys blog to see what life was like

when they were my little tiny stinkers.

I like that I write about the big changes that our life takes

and the small things

that make each day unique and special. 

So today, I am thankful for my corner of the world wide web.

Even if I am the only one who knows its here!

Days of Thanks.

When time of year rolls around, I try to really stop and be extra mindful of the good in my life.

Its just good for the soul to reflect on what we are blessed with.

This year I am taking the time 

to document the things I love about my life.

What I am blessed with.

The little things I find simply joyful.

There are things I give thanks for each and everyday.

My Salvation.

My family.

My home and shelter. Dependable transportation.

So during these days of thanks,

please don't think I am not giving thanks about these most precious

parts of my life. I am beyond thankful for them.

Daily. 

Oh I would not be able to enjoy the little things in my life

without each of the above.

Today is Day 1.

Today I am thankful for my running shoes.

I am certain I have never loved a pair of running shoes like I do these ones. 

They fit my foot like like a glove.

Usually I have to have a "get to know you" period of time 

with a new pair of running shoes. 

Not these.

This pair of shoes knew me the minute they arrived on my doorstep.

Via UPS.

I was comfortable in them from the first lace up.

It will be a hard pair of shoes to retire.

 Forrest Gump had a special relationship with his shoes.

Now I know why! :)

For someone who enjoys exercise and running, a good pair of shoes is hard to come by.

So I am especially thankful (and was quite surprised) when these shoes

were the total package from day 1.

What is something simple that you can be thankful for today?

Hope you take the time to find something as simple as a pair of shoes to be thankful for!