It's lake time again...

This year I plan to take advantage of the relaxing get away from it all feel of the lake.   I especially want to embrace those moments when I have my family all there to share those sunny, warm days on the lake. 

I only have one I picture from Easter this year. My day started with unrealistic expectations that didn't hold up and I ended up spending most of the day saddened instead of just going with the flow and letting God take the day where he knew it needed to be. By the way, those expectations were set by me...

Grayson and my entire family looked beautiful and we did spend an amazing morning in Church worshiping our sweet savior, which is all that truly matters. 

Kanon is getting ready to go to his senior prom in a few weeks.  I can't believe that little mischevious, smiling little boy has turned into a sweet kind hearted serious young adult now. Proms are different from when I was young. They now go all out to ask someone. Even though Kanon has a girlfriend, he still needed and wanted to ask her in a special, rememberable way....

Notice all the Hershey kisses all over the floor... Cute!

She is first again

Grayson placed first at district project achievement in 4-H. We are always so pleased in the way she handles herself. She also ran for junior board with an incredibly cute theme, but fell short in that one. None the less she was so fortunate to be invited to run for the board. 

In between this and celebrating my wonderful husbands birthday, I have had to have another back surgery. Praying this time I will be pain free. This has definitely been awake up call to me physically. I am planning to take better care of myself from now on, but I won't share this disclaimer with the family just yet. They would only laugh as I have said this a hundred times, but for some reason this time seems different. I will just show them rather than tell my sweet family. And.... Back to the husbands birthday. He is so special and I hope he enjoys the football hall of fame tickets we got him for the big day. 

The kids were in charge of the candles and thought he would get a chuckle out of the 87. 

Snow 2015

So much fun in the snow with my sweet family. We all need these days sometimes to just recharge and a bonus is the snow is so beautiful!!

New car....new surgery!

So Don finally got a new car... We were so excited to find something that gives him great gas mileage, great functionality and looks great! He got a 2015 Honda Accord, yep brand spanking new. We haven't bought a new car in so long I had forgotten what that new car smell was. I love it. 

And of course just when life seems to be running to smooth, we have a roadblock. This time the roadblock is not bad just a little more nerve racking than anything. I am having another surgery and for once it's not my foot. I am having back surgery to fix a herniated disc with nerve impingement. Just praying for God's protection for me on that operating table and pray for a speedy recovery for more my family than anything.

 I must say my sweet family is a bunch of troopers. They know just how to roll with unexpected things and continue to make me proud. Our children continue to make good choices even when I may be distracted with my own health things. I realize my husband is an angel who I know was sent to me to provide unconditional love, acceptance and protection for me. Losing my mom was one of hardest things I have ever had to face and dealing with my dad being so sick lately is no doubt very scary for us. I pray for my dad and the rest of my wonderful family and I know how blessed I truly am.

And we keep on keepin on.....

Spending wonderful times with friends, manicures and pedicures, fun at the lake, messy games at Church, ice cream after dinner, senior pictures and my 25th high school reunion are just a few of the things we have been up to. Each day, week and month always brings special moments I love capturing. Moments make special memories and give us experiences that mold us and make us into the people we are each day. Love my sweet family more than words can express. 

A Blessed Life

I am so thankful for this life. Sometimes we get caught up in all the things we need or want, but when it comes down to it...I have everything I could possibly ever ask for, want or need. I have my faith, my amazing husband, 4 smart and healthy kids, a beautiful home, an awesome job and Christian friends to surround me. It's a pretty great life! At church these past few weeks, Pastor Andy has been doing a sermon series about simplifying your life. Each week I leave church with a renewed commitment to do just that. I am well aware of the areas where my struggles are and where I need to make changes. I pray that over these next few weeks I will make some changes that will have a positive impact in who I am and who God created me to be. 

My sweet family is always on the move and I love capturing each of our celebrations, accomplishments and just plain fun.

First day of school this year. Kanon is a senior, Parker is in 8th and Grayson is a 7th grader.

Falcons game with awesome friends.

Grayson and I shopping for her birthday. I love that she wants to spend time with me.

Lifelong friends...Mötley Crüe concert. I must say I'm not a big fan of Mötley Crüe, but always love spending time with this crew. The fact that we went to his concert definitely shows our age. 

Birthdays, swim parties and much more...

Parker turned 13 this year. He is growing up so fast. I am so proud of the young man he is becoming. His heart is huge and his faith is unshakeable. Love this sweet boy more than words can express.

He and Grayson have a great group of friends and they love to get together on occasion.

This summer flew by so fast. We have enjoyed some sweet family time on a few of those summer days. We enjoyed dinner out at the station house one evening and Grayson and Parker got their feet wet for just a bit in the fountains in Chattanooga.

I have to grab pictures of the two older boys when I can. My picture taking drives them crazy. I did however, get this amazing picture of Tyler on the train. Trains were a big part of his childhood. They were his love and obsession until about the age of 10.