Thankful

There are many things I am thankful for this year. There is one thing I am the most thankful for though. A few years ago, I went through my most trying time in life. I questioned and even was angry with God. I never lost my faith, but my most important question was why me? I am truly, truly, thankful for that time in my life. Out of all of it, I was given a gift. I learned that life doesn't always turn out like you want it to. I learned that time really does heal you. I learned that if you wait and have faith, God will bless you much more than you can ever imagine. From all of this, I was given the gift of thankfulness. Sounds silly, huh? I am truly thankful for the small things. I don't take things for granted. I don't want to sound perfect and high and mighty here because that is not what I mean. I have the gift of knowing the things you love the most can be taken away. From that, I can spend each and every day being thankful. There are times I am more thankful than others, but for the most part, each day that I wake, I know what a wonderful life I have. So, in honor of Thanksgiving and my sappy, sappy self, I'll walk you through just a few of the things that this mommy is thankful for....

Grandmother love...there is something about your children with your parents. I can only imagine the joy it brings to see your daughter with her children. My mom and dad love my children and I love that so much. I love how Kennedy loves the things MeMe loves...like the beach!

Everyday moments....bathed, jammies, and cartoons....the simply things. Who knew I would have TWO children?!!! God is so, so good. :)

Greg.....they love their daddy and so do I. I love the moments he doesn't even know are important like Whit when he runs full force to Greg when he gets home or dancing with Kennedy to CMT. It's those moments that make me love him even more. :)

Our family....Kennedy says and I quote: "We're all together, my family, Mommy, Daddy, Whitty Whit and Kennedy. I love our family together." Me too, Kennedy, me too. :)

Miracles....if you don't believe in them, let me introduce you to two real life miracles. One baby that was prayed for by the world, and another we didn't even know to pray for. God just blessed us when they said it wasn't possible.

Being a Mommy....It is by far my greatest role in life. I didn't know if I would ever get to be one and here I stand with two precious little ones.

Family....cousins, cousins, cousins!!!! They love their cousins! Our first baby was due right when my youngest niece was born. For a long time I wondered what I would feel when I was around her as she grew up. As she and Kennedy prance around MeMe's house calling themselves twins, you know what I feel? Joy. :)

Memories....I love when we are all together. It is the makings of some great childhood memories. Kennedy woke up Thanksgiving morning and the very first thing she says is, "Mommy, I can't wait to see my cousins!" She grinned from the time they got here until they had to leave. She announced as they were walking out the door, " I miss my cousins!" We could still see them at this point. Bless her. :)

In Laws that aren't in laws....I love Greg's family. They threw me in the mix and I never felt like I didn't belong.

My Kennedy.....she lights my world.

This baby....he melts me to pieces.

Childhood wonder....my home is filled with it. Life is magical and I get to see it all over again. What a great thing!

I'm also thankful for so much more. My life is full and happy. It is filled with grace and joy. I could not ask for much more. Thank you God, for the path you have walked me through. Thank you for the gift of thankfulness. It's the best gift I have ever been given.

16 Months!

I just realized about 10 minutes ago that Whit is 16 months old today! I have not missed a day of posting on my children's month birthday's since I started this with Kennedy. So in keeping with tradition I will post the fact that I acknowledge he is older. I am too tired to be witty. I am too tired to be creative. So, my Whit, I love you. I snuggled you tonight and read about trackers until I couldn't anymore. Your daddy went and tucked you in. That is your new thing, the daddy tuck in time. Mommy really likes that. :) I love you, more than any word can say. I promise I will be sweet and post about you soon. Until then, this will have to do. :) Love, Mommy.

All in a picture....

I miss my grandmother. I know just how much it would have brought her joy to see me as a mother. Her heart was broken when we lost our first baby. I could tell it in her voice. And when we called to tell her we were having Kennedy I have never heard such joy in her voice. She and my sister in law helped throw me a mail shower because she couldn't be here. Her gift was a tiny little feltman brother's gown. It still hangs in Kennedy's room. I know she had visions of holding my baby in that gown. She passed away the month Kennedy was born. I miss her. I wish she had held my sweet baby....then my next baby. She would have hated what I named my children. Ohhh....how she would have talked about me. But she would have loved them. This picture speaks wonders to me. I still grieve the loss of a great strong woman in my life, but I can give my children two great grandmothers that are just as great and strong. They aren't my childhood memories but they are Greg's. This picture speaks so many words.....standing between them are two entire generations. 4 generations these women still stand, with so many memories of the ones they raised, then watched their children raise children, and now watch those children raise their children....I hope one day my children look back and see what strong women they came from. From these women, to their MaMa and NaNa they never got to meet.....they come from a long line of truly great people. All in a picture...

I love how a child loves....with their whole soul.....

My children melt my heart. They bring me smiles when I am sad. They are my constant reminder of God's unshakeable love for us....all in just a picture.

COTTON!!

Well, after rescheduling 2 times due to weather we FINALLY made it to the cotton fields for our family pictures with my new favorite photographer, Erin. I was worried we weren't going to get to go! With a few mishaps such as my car stuck in a ditch, Kennedy covered in stickers from a bush, and Whit and an ENTIRE cup of water on the only outfit I brought, the pictures turned out GREAT! Click on Erin's link below to see the previews. More pics are to come....:)

http://erinrenephotography.blogspot.com/

A Christmas Birthday

I always worried about how Kennedy would feel about when her birthday is. She was born 3 days after Christmas. When I have kids in my class that have similar birthdays I am always grilling them about how they feel about when they were born. I get the same response every time, "I love my birthday!" I remember being worried she would be born on Christmas and I was SO grumpy that Christmas day I was yelling at her to get out....NOW...I didn't care that it was Christmas!! A lot of her friends have fall birthdays. She is waiting patiently for that magical day of hers to arrive. Tonight we were talking about what Santa was going to bring her for Christmas. She told me she really wants a hopscotch. Then she described to me in great detail how to play the game. :) I said to her, "You get lots of presents in December, Kennedy. First we have Christmas and then a few days later it's your birthday and you get more presents!" This child of mine looks and me, with joy in her eyes, reaches her arms up and gives me the BIGGEST hug and says, "Oh, thank you mommy, that's so nice of you!"

I guess a Christmas birthday is not so bad after all.

A little Attic Sale Joy

What's better than new stuff? Somebody else's stuff for cheap...that's what! The kids hit the jackpot at the attic sale this year and got themselves NEW CARS!! They have been so cute playing in them. I love the one of Kennedy. She was laughing so hard flying down the driveway. *note to Sarah here: She was only allowed halfway down the driveway and was totally supervised the whole time. :)

Here are some cute pics of the kids and their cars. :)

Talking on the phone and driving...they learn from the best.

The Princess

I love her. Those words don't really do how I feel justice. She lights my world, this little girl. She is full of spunk and life. She is everything girly there is. I didn't make her that way, it's just her. She loves pink and bows. She loves dresses and frills. She loves Cinderella and princesses. She loves anything that sparkles and twinkles. She loves to have her hair curled and play with makeup. She loves having her toes painted pink. She loves to dance and sing. She loves babies and dolls. I love everything about her......from the spunk and fits down to this precious smile...I love everything about her. I couldn't have picked out a more perfect daughter for me. God really, really knows what He is doing. She was prayed for this child. She was prayed for by so many people that didn't even know me. And here she is....my little miracle. I told her the other night she was my miracle and she says, "What's a miracle, Mommy?" I told her it is when God gives you something you never thought you could have. Her reply, "Oh." Oh....she has no clue right now, but I'll keep telling her. I'll keep thanking God for her too. She makes me so happy. She's growing and changing so much these days. She knows more than I even knew that she knew. I just soak the days in and enjoy my precious miracle. As the holidays approach I am always more thankful. This is the time of year that once made me so sad, then was the time of year that I waited to meet my child, and now I get to celebrate family, our Saviour, and my own miracle all at the same time. I love this time of year......sweet miracles to celebrate. :) I love you, my Kennedy.....more than you'll ever know.