Love Life.....

I choose life. Love Life....give to others in life....let others know you love them in life. Love Life...This post is a little sorrowful. This week has been very sorrowful for me. I have cried....I have laughed...I have cried.....I have realized how important it is to make a life for me....my family...my girls. Monday morning my principal(whom let me just say is such an amazing woman whom I admire in sooo many ways...this is actually my first year with her as counselor)...anyway....my principal comes to me and tells me that one of the middle school teachers has passed away and Im needed at middle school. For those of you that don't know...middle school has been my professional home for the past fourteen years of my education career....so this news was a shock...this news was straight to the heart, you might say. The class of students this teacher had were mine last year....I knew all of them.....the principal was my principal for the past fourteen years. I know the teachers he worked with well....they were my colleagues.....one of his close colleagues is my babysitter's husband....sad, sad. After being at the middle school for two days this week...I have a mixture of feelings.....but most importantly....I have learned the lesson to love life. I have learned the lesson of don't ever doubt what I am doing is not making a difference for these kids. Listening to the kids showed me that he was an amazing teacher who made learning fun for them. What goes through a person's head to not want to choose life? What allows someone to leave all of these innocent lives in the making? What allows someone to feel that way at that very moment and so alone that they would not choose life? It saddens my heart to no end......my heart is sad for his family.....and for his extended school family.....the students and faculty that knew him and worked with him for those years. I know he is smiling down now and realizes that so many cared for him......but its too late to take it back. We just now add the question to our list for God when we eventually meet the Maker. For me....I choose life. I choose making a life that others will know my passion and how much I love what I do. I am now making a new extended family....and in just a few short months......I have grown attached to a new faculty of colleagues.....students....oh the students....how I love them. They are my life....they are amazing in so many ways. I have a new "high" on what I do after something sooo tragic happened to affect so many people that I care for and still hold a place in my heart. CHOOSE LIFE!!!!!

GRATITUDE....

(excerpt taken from a gratitude blog)...

"To me, gratitude comes in those small spaces of breathing between all the tiny moments that happen throughout our days, when the phone rings, and its the voice of a dear friend you were just thinking about, when a stranger opens a door for you, when an unexpected package arrives in the mail. It's honoring all the small moments, the ones that collect and create a perimeter of goodness around your life. It's paying attention to the way someone looks at you, to the way you feel when you're inspired, to how those cute new shoes put a skip in your step. Gratitude. It's recognizing, even in times of struggle, that you have all you could ever need, that there are moments every single day that ask you to notice, and to celebrate. It's in these moments, for me, especially the small ones, where gratitude lives."

I have all I need right here with my sweet family....a wonderful loving husband and three amazing beautiful, healthy daughters....thank you God! It is the small moments of life we need to celebrate to appreciate the bigger picture. Sometimes all it takes to remind me is some amazing words from a gratitude blog....Happy Sunday to all my blogger friends. Signing off...Tara

More pics from Baby girl's 1st bday party...

LOOK AT ME!!! Im pushing my baby stroller....I am a big girl...now if I could just let go and walk all on my own.....soon, Im sure!

As you can tell from the pic...I really like my sugar!!! And that I was very very tired on my birthday party day.....after this I went to bed! It's hard work being the party girl!

Here you are reaching for your cake....bring on the sugar, Mommy!!!!

The guests' cake....scrumptious!!!!

Nelley's cake after Mommy tried to transfer it to the beautiful cake platter...didn't work really well as you can see via smudge. The theme was "Nelley Kate is a WILD ONE!"......pink cheetah print everywhere.

Fun was had by all and it was a successful birthday party...bittersweet. Our family's last 1st birthday party. Our family is definitely complete.

One year ago today....you came into our lives. You completed our family. Our third baby girl...Nelley Kate! We love you so very much. It's hard to believe that we celebrate your first birthday. You have yet to walk on your own...but for several months now...you have been cruising like no other. You just need to believe in yourself! I am not worried.....in time, you will take that first step like your older two sisters. We can't wait to see what you become. Happy Birthday Miss Thing....our baby girl!!!(PS...I know this post is at 2:41 am the next morning....it's called "Mommy Time" and someday when you are a mother...you will understand.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOFEY ELAINE!!!! This sweet baby girl number two of three turns six today. We had big celebrations this weekend for Sofey. We had family come over and had a spongebob themed party. Loved the cake! You wanted spongebob and this year we purchased it from Wal Mart and I believe that they did a great job!!! So cute! As a surprise we bought you a trampoline and I have never seen you jump so much...to your heart's content!! We felt it was a great gift. Then Sunday night...we went went and watched Toy Story III and it was a big hit....worth seeing...two thumbs up! We love you so much Sofey Elaine and our life is blessed because of you. You are so artistic, creative, unique and have a great sense of humor!

Jessica's "Daily Affirmation"

I am a big believer in positive affirmations. When I first became a teacher, I went to a workshop solely devoted to the power of positive affirmations in your classroom. I used these religiously with my students and the power of the mind is boggling! Have a great positive weekend!

"To watch us dance...is to hear our hearts!"

This weekend was spent in full mode dance recital. If you did not have seats in Woodward High School auditorium today for the awesome, amazing, packed house for Miss Brenda and Miss Shay Shay's Studio of Dance...you were missing a wonderful performance. We are exhausted but had an amazing time. Above are some pics to highlight the talent! We only had one major breakdown on our last dance...because Abbey felt like she was going to miss the performance...when in all actuality...she had plenty of time. Luckily, the beautiful young lady, Miss Jada, pictured above in pink with Abbey...helped calm my first baby girl down...and we just adore her very much! Abbey can not stop talking about her.....I truly believe that she is an amazing role model for my Abbey Sue....and speaking of role models.....both Brenda and Shay have helped my Abbey to make a goal of someday being on the dance team at Woodward and then eventually OSU dance team. She has a lot of hard work and many years to go....so we will see. Until then....this exhausted Mommy is signing off and going to bed. To sum up the love we feel for our children...here is a note Sofey left me last week.....precious, precious...this is why we do it for our children!!!

Realness

I need to vent. It is 6:37 in the evening...one daughter down for bed...two to go. Still too early to put the oldest two down. I am feeling exhausted lately. My husband is entertaining at the turkey hunt this evening. And I am glad he is involved in our community and I am so proud of him. Most evenings, he is at home being an awesome daddy and husband. I have decided tonight that there is no way I could do it by myself. I have a lot of respect for all the single mothers out there. Three children are a lot to handle...and I know some families have more and juggle it all. I am just ready to put Nelley down without her crying. WHY do babies have to cry? I never cry when I go to bed....I am actually excited about it. But Nelley always cries when we put her down....naps, bedtime, whatever. I can't stand this time...I have never been one of those mothers that truly enjoys the stage up to one year....I am ready for her to walk, talk....age 2 is about my favorite. And I know I shouldn't hurry it. But I think my age is showing...I will be 37 shortly...and thinking back to my own mother.....who was 38 when I went to OSU...I am questioning....should we have had our children earlier? What were we thinking wanting three? We had it made with two older girls. I know this sounds selfish...but bear with me people...blogger sisters out there....I love my three girls and wouldn't trade them for the world and realize they are gifts from God...but this Mother is just asking for some "me" time. I can't even take a day off of work for the next weeks because of state wide testing. My house can't even get clean because by the time I get through doing laundry...it's already piled up again in the laundry baskets! And the piles haven't even been put away yet. All I want to do in my free time is sit down and kick my feet up. Not happening. One good thing I have been doing is walking at night...and at night...I mean when the girls are in bed. Hoping to get a chance to drop this baby weight...that's still on me after almost nine months. I know God will get me through this....I am just asking for a little break....maybe that break will be called summer....who knows. K...gotta go...Nelley is still crying and has been through this whole blog. THere...I said it and feel a little better...it felt good typing it......now pulling those big girl Momma panties back up and soothing my sweet baby girl.....thank you god for the blessings in my life!!!! Focus!

Picture to Keep

Well...we made it to Taylor Swift and a good time was had by all. The girls were well by the concert and we went with our Laverty friends....all girls...all six of us...made a day of it and went shopping in OKC....the girls had to go to their favorite store Justice and get the goods! By the time we were finished shopping...it was time to head to the Ford center, get a parking spot..and then we had some appetizers at The Courtyard Grille. Taylor Swift, I must say, puts on an awesome show!!! She told us that she was just up for AMC entertainer of the year award and to go vote on CBS.com....she has our vote. She is unbelievably amazing. At one point during her performance...she sang in the middle of the fans in the upper section...appearing in a yellow dress with her brown cowboy boots and flower applique. Here are some pics of the concert. I didn't think we could bring in cameras...so all I had was my cell phone...so they're not the best. I borrowed some off of fb from one of my former students who got awesome pics.....Happy Easter to everyone!

WE heart TAYLOR SWIFT...but we don't heart the flu bug!!!

Soooo...tomorrow night is the big night my family has been waiting for...tickets to Taylor Swift and Kelli Pickler concert in OKC. We are going with some great friends...actually a Mom and two daughters event. We have had our tickets since December and the girls are soooo excited...even Mommy's are excited. Yet....last night, the flu bug hit our home and my two excited girls are now laying in bed in hopes that they are better! Prayin' for a quick recovery with the Burnett girls....Daddy stayed at home with them because Mommy had ESL testing and health night tonight at the middle school. Thinkin' positive thoughts...Taylor and Kelli.....here we come!!!!!

May you live your Life in the eyes of a five year old

"And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."

Another one of Sofey's inventions....or part of the costume of her daily life. I read somewhere that five year olds are less fearful of the world than toddlers because they understand the world better. This five year old has no fear in her bones. She is so carefree in her world and goes where the wind takes her. Just wanted to share this picture of her and thank God for giving us such diversity in our daughters. Happy Sunday...may it be a blessed day full of laughter from our home to yours!

Emotional Exhaustion

“This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.” I am really hoping to see some rainbows soon because I have only been seeing and dealing with clouds lately in my line of work. It seems that as I get older I know more and more people that are stricken by the "C" word.....students with family members, friends, community acquaintances.....maybe this is common, but I don't necessarily like it. I am a worry wart and I find myself just wondering when I am going to be that person affected by someone close that I love dearly. I hope I don't...but my heart goes out to those people that I know right now going through a hard time because of this ugly "C" word. I try to be a good listener and give good advice to these 10 and 11 year olds/or colleagues...but some days I just want to break down and cry.........sometimes because I know there is not a happy ending ahead...I can't just put a bandaid on it and fix the pain. Sometimes I want to cry because these children can't help the situation they are in....I think its time that I "wring" out this sponge(aka me) and do something to heal my heart and all of the sad stories I have heard lately and been witness to. My heart is really feeling heavy lately and in order for me to remain a strong listener and feelings healer for my students, I need to take time to heal the words that have entered my heart from colleagues or students I care about.....so pray for me and that I am refreshed soon....

Love Happens

Watched this show last night with Jennifer Aniston...I just love her...and it was "A-OK"(if you have watched the show...you know what I mean when I say this). It was a good rental. Made me want to share the story of how my hubby and I met....how our Love happened...at the greatest place in the world...Stilly, Oklahoma....aka Oklahoma State University. It started with a sorority party the Kappa Delta's have every year called Luau. See picture below of my lil' and g-lil....I have the best family and are still in touch with these amazing girls on fb.

(PS....notice the bandana shirt I am wearing.....where I found it I don't even want to remember...but to this day, my husband still loves this bandana shirt! I think it reminds him of when we met..so back to the story)

Anyhoo....senior girls in Kappa Delta ville are what we call "luau" girls and wear our bikini tops and grass skirts when we go to serenade the fraternities before luau. It was my senior year and I was a luau girl having fun when we visited the Sigma Nu fraternity where my future husband would be watching the serenade. At this point, I had no idea who Taylor Burnett was or even cared because I was dating an ag teacher at the time(whole other story that is not important). But Taylor sees me and asks his good friend, Triplett, who I was. Triplett, at that point, had set Taylor Burnett up with lots of her KD friends and told him "don't even think about it." However, Love Happens...as the movie says...and later on.....we do eventually cross paths...and meet....start dating....and to make a long story short.....I move to Texas to teach while he is still in Stilly working to finish his degree and finally something sinks in and Taylor proposose to me at Christmas in front of his family and my family.....such a sweet story. Another time. Heres a pic:

PS...notice my Mom on the right and his Mom on the left....so sweet that we captured or someone captured this great memory.

We got married on July 19th, 1997 and it will be 13 years......a cat named Lola and three beautiful girls later. Heres the invite...notice how my middle name is spelled "Ann" WRONG...it is Anne...somehow missed that in the proofing and had to send out all 500 invites that way....

AND it rained on July 19th, 1997 so if Taylor would have bought my ring at BC Clark's....it would have been FREE...right? Heres a wedding pic......one that was easily available to scan in...we look sooo young.....

PS...we also have a very professional(ha) wedding video that the girls watch and laugh so hard at how different their family looks.....Abbey even loved it that her former teacher, Mrs. Rowley, was at our wedding and how funny that was...

I love you, Clinton Taylor Burnett...thank you for loving me through these past many years...ups and downs...always believing in me and us.......you are my rock......and such an amazing Daddy to our sweet girls.....thank you for loving me through all those "blonde" moments too....see pic below!

Im so glad our LOVE HAPPENED!!!!

Updated pics of the girls

OH MY....yes, this look is soooo her Daddy's look and does she have him twisted around her finger...actually, she has all of us twisted around her finger. She is the center of attention all the time! She will be eight months on the 28th of this month and she is the love of the Burnett's lives. Her older sisters are smitten with her and she is smitten with them. I can't wait to witness the bond between three sisters as they get older. An amazing gift from God. When Taylor found out he was having his third girl.....it was a moment to remember. But I think his sister said it best to him and told him that "Daddy's of three girls are made in heaven!!!"

Oh Lord...won't you buy me....a vacay far away...as in Tulum, Mexico!!!!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

"May you always walk in sunshine.May you never want for more. May Irish angels rest their wings right beside your door."

NINE IS SOOOO DEVINE!

My first baby girl, Abbey Sue, is nine today!!! Nine years ago, I was teaching fifth grade and was so looking forward to spring break as all teachers do! But to my surprise, at my last drs visit with Dr. Evans..we found out he thought you were a breech baby. And then the xrays proved that! So a c-section was scheduled for March 14th, Wednesday, 2001. You are so special to us in so many ways. A lot of what you do reminds me of myself. I was the oldest born too. You love fashion like your Mommy. And I am amazed at you each day and how cautious you are, loving, a great friend to many and your great sense of humor. Right now in your life, you want to be a dentist and a fashion designer and ballet dancer on the side. I hope you follow your inspirations! I know that your visions may change between now and high school graduation...oh and of course, you want to be on the OSU dance team! I can't wait to see what you become! We love you Abbey Sue......just think...in nine more years, you will be graduating high school and your Mommy will be crying....tears of sadness and of joy. I know you will grow into a beautiful woman!!

***We celebrated Abbey's birthday with a swimming party at a local hotel and then rented a room. *** The cake was a peace cake made of cupcakes and the theme was with owls...."Whoo's turning nine!"

I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. --Proverbs 8:17

Dear palazzo pant...Oh how I love thee!!!

Ok...seriously...I spent a fortune on these pants...but they have been with me over the past year through thick and thin....literally "thick" because I wore them pre-pregnancy....during pregnancy......and now....post pregnancy. I found them on zappos and they are the best investment piece I have profited from(not financially speaking....but emotionally speaking). I love, love them sooo much that I am afraid people at my work are tired of seeing me wear them...seriously! I love them because they are black and black is the slimming color. But hopefully even after my goal of losing twenty pounds before my lovely state FFA officer reunion at the end of april...we will still fit and we will still have a love relationship with these pants. They are the best. I am now in search of them in the color of white for spring and summer....just had to share my love of these stick with me through the "thick and thin" of the past year or so.

Why Can't a Girl Dream?

Enough said...love, love this kitchen...someday in my home!!! And look at the peek of the couch....love the pink color and the fabric and accent pillows!!!! This is going in my inspiration folder for sure!!!!

Little Moments Like This!

So....walk into my office this morning...start to turn on my computer...and see a sweet note from my oldest daughter, Abbey...who was in my office last on the computer while I was in a parent meeting. These sweet words will continue to echo through my mind and give me a smile all day. It's the little things, right in life....you bet it is!!! My sweet Abbey girl states on her note...plain and simple.....Love u mom...Have a great day....Love Abbey.......ohhhh...talk about making my day and melting my heart! This is also the same girl who told me this weekend her La La let her shop online for her birthday and she "racked in" stylish fashion from three different places...."Although Mom, I had to delete some items from the shopping cart at Justice because my total was 283.65. But I got it down to 83.00." bahahahahahah I love you my Abbey Sue..you are my first born....and a lot like myself in ways. I am so proud of you and the little girl you have become and the woman you will be some day! I love u! Mommy

I heart Beth Moore!

To go along with maximizing my mornings...I have decided to order a Beth Moore book. I have heard several of my friends talk about her and our church has had studies with the Soul Food groups...but I've never engaged in the opportunity yet to study her wisdom and words. Til now...ran across her blog this morning and wanted to publish an excerpt from her blog that spoke to me and some personal issues I am going through at this time.


"My devotional time this morning was spent on the subject matter of anger. I thought to myself how life offers one opportunity after another to get hopping mad about something...or, more often, toward someone and what kind of price we pay. What kinds of words we say. Proverbs 16:32 (NET) says, "Better to be slow to anger than to be a mighty warrior, and one who controls his temper is better than one who captures a city." Let's quit blaming our hormones and our husbands and our workplaces and just bring our anger problems before God. Let's tell Him what we're mad about, repent for our reaction to it, ask Him to tend to us, heal us, free us. And, if the situation or relationship continues to be irresistibly, understandably infuriating, may He teach us how to refrain from sin in our anger until we can be loosed from it altogether. For those of us who don't have one of those monumental, overwhelming reasons to be angry and we're just temperamental, irritable, and summarily lacking in self-control, sometimes it's just the matter of making a choice. As my grandmother used to say, we can get glad in the same clothes we got mad in. Or, then again, we could just change clothes and see if that would help. One way or the other, it's time to get over it." ***So let me just say Amen, Beth!*** Have a blessed Sunday everyone!

Defining "ME"...

Me. On a small scale.
Childhood:
Strawberry Shortcake metal lunchbox
Books. Way too many to name.
My big stereo(which my parents still have in the guest bedroom)
Flannel nightgowns.
cinammon sticks(homemade)
Posters. (Kirk Cameron, Ricky Shroeder from Silver Spoons)
Cabbage Patch Dolls

Nuns(private catholic school)

watching Top Gun in the convent our 8th grade year
High School:
stock shows
White gmc truck
my first wreck the day after I got my license(waving to boys).
Burger Shoppe
state basketball championship sophomore year
My first date with my friend's boyfriend in his mustang(didn't last long...he dated all of his sister's friends that were freshman and then my cousin)

Office Aide(teasing my principal)

Weiner and wheelies in the church parking lot with friends

My friend Stephanie running into Trail Stop with the mini van

love's sandwiches after basketball

ugh..basketball fourth hour before lunch

lockers(once again...went to a catholic school with none til 8th gr.)

FFA(enough said...so many loves here)

Old Blue and FFA road trips

FFA friends

College-
The Weed

The Bakery by the Dorms at OSU...best cinammon rolls
Hanging out at Farmhouse with Whitey(rip).

Kappa Delta
the biscuit(aka Stephanie Dickey)
Lizzy and her french dip sandwiches
Luau
Birth control.

Bagels

Joe's

Joe's weekend

Taylor Burnett

MARRIED LIFE BEFORE CHILDREN
Black yoga pants.
Sports Bras.
Naps
Lingerie.
Alarm clock.

Chi straightener.

Eating whatever I wanted

Not having to exercise

Spending hours at school working in classroom

Eating out with my hubby and friends for hours

????what did I do with all that free time..no children???

Now.
Hoodies.
Camera.
flip flops or flats.
cookbooks.
facebook
laptop

THREE daughters
Bottle making fool
pandora bracelets obsession
eyeliner.(quick)
Kitchenaid.
Birth control.
So that is my list of defining "things". I would love to read yours. (copied this from Natalie's sentiments blog)

LOVE IS IN THE AIR!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day to all my blogger friends out there and non blogger friends. May you celebrate the loves of your life! I am blessed to have such rich love from my husband of almost 13 years this July...and of course, the love from my three beautiful daughters.....family and close friends! Celebrate Love!!!!

LOVE IS IN THE AIR!!!!

My forever memory moment today...

I had a workshop today on powerschool that started at 8:30...so I took advantage of the fact that I could take my older girls to school this morning. Usually I am in charge of taking Nelley and Taylor takes the older girls. When I told my Sofey last night I could take her to school...she states to me "I love you Momma!" Talk about melting your heart.....love, love IT! So this morning as I pull up to her school, she opens the car door, shuts it and stands facing me waving goodbye until I drive away. I about lost it thinking about how my second baby girl is almost a first grader and will be going to school all day this fall! The picture of her standing there waving to me is embedded in my memory forever! Just had to share my forever memory! Made my day!

Sweet vs. salty.....

Ok...so I must confess...I am sitting here eating doritos and at the same time teddy graham mixture(cinnamon, choc. chips and chocolatey teddy grahams). Yes...it has been a stressful day in general. So when I stress...I confess....I EAT!!!! I know that my ultimate goal is to be a balanced mother not a perfect mother...but my goodness.....I feel like I just never have enough time in the day to do anything balanced. Laundry is never done at my house...it is continual. My house, lately, is never clean.....toys, clothes, shoes, magazines, unread mail, unfinished projects...lay all around my house. Then there's the whole issue of my career.....I have been a counselor now for 8 years....and if you are a counselor out there reading this...you will very much understand this when I say that I feel like a "sponge." Students and adults come and go in my office during the school day......tell their stresses or worries...and I absorb them. They leave my office feeling better(at least I like to think that they do) and then their worries are with me...the sponge. I go home and continue to dwell on what I have heard or things I might have said to them or how I could have said this or did that...and on and on. I have found from experience that if I don't destress......I carry that burden with me and it weighs heavy on my emotional and physical and mental being. So I need stress relievers....so you guessed it....I EAT! After all...life is kinda like my after school treat.....sweet at times....yet salty at others. Ups and downs.....triumphs and trials. I am praying very deeply for answers. I pick up my oldest daughter today who proceeds to tell me that her friend has asked her to ask a boy in her class if he will be the friend's boyfriend. CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS? She is in the third grade. I proceed to tell her that, "No, that is not a good idea to get involved in that and to tell her friend that her Mom says she is too young to be talking about boys." Here comes the stress.(for the next 18 years of teenage years with three daughters). She then proceeds to ask me to call her friend's mother and tell her about this....uh, I don't think so. I tell her I am in charge of her and her actions, not her friend's. This is how we handle this situation. Any advice out there? Going to kick my feet up. Quiet now at the Burnett house...Nelley is napping, Sofey and Taylor are working out(which I should be) and Abbey is at dance. Hope everyone out there has a great evening. Signing off......

A Mother's Prayer....

A Mother's Prayer
I pray you'll be my eyes
And watch her where she goes
And help her to be wise
Help me to let go
Every mother's prayer
Every child knows
Lead her to a place
Guide her with your grace
To a place where she'll be safe
I pray she finds your light
And holds it in her heart
As darkness falls each night
Remind her where you are
Every mother's prayer
Every child knows
Need to find a place
Guide her with your grace
Give her faith so she'll be safe
Lead her to a place
Guide her with your grace
To a place where she'll be safe

***This is dedicated to one of my dear friends who had to show her true love for her daughter recently and we are still praying that her daughter sees the light. This is also dedicated to another dear friend of mine whom I just met this past summer and is also a school counselor who just lost her daughter to an overdose.....love you Janet and you continue to be in my thoughts and prayers!!***

ART....HOW I LOVE THEE....

Just ran across the cutest prints from an artist on Etsy and wanted to share...thinking about getting it for a very close friend of mine that is going through an extremely hard time right now in her life....precious precious prints! Check it out on etsy. Here is what the print says..."Every girl needs a swimming cap and a pair of wings to make her way in life… That is what this series of works is about, the ups and downs of life and how we stumble through. Sometimes we feel like we are sinking and things are out of control and then there are some days when things are ok, treading the water of life and am pretty much on top of things. Then there are the moments where you feel you are being lifted right out of the water when everything in life slots together and my world is just... right.I guess you can’t help but use your wings when you have a friend beside you… whether that friend is right with you in person, in spirit or imaginary it sure helps."

Any other Mothers out there who feel they have to be "Perfect"?

I found this amazing article as I was "blog stalking" this morning. I have been on Nelley duty and up since before 7....preparing for church and actually my first outing since the snow storm and two days off of school. I am always feeling like I am being pulled a thousand directions. I had a similar conversation with one of my dearest best friends last night and as she stated, "I feel like I am not a good enough wife, mother, daughter, friend, bill payer, project finisher....and on and on". Haven't we all been there and felt this. I wanted to share this article with my sweet mama friends and it really helped me to put things in perspective. It came from Kat's blog and I am putting credit where it is deserved. Enjoy and have a blessed Sunday!...

"I am a perfect mother.
Oh? What? You didn’t know that? I’m surprised since I try so hard to broadcast that fact to everyone. That’s why I rush my kids out the door so we won’t be late. That’s why I spit on my hand and wipe their faces so that they won’t look messy. That’s why I whisper harshly to my children, telling them to behave in public.
And all that trying to “be perfect” only increases my imperfection.
How many of us fall into the trap of believing that we need to be “perfect moms” who raise “perfect children?” That we need to mother a certain way, dress a certain way, keep our homes a certain way and discipline a certain way. That our kids need to behave a certain way, look a certain way and speak a certain way.
Those are called puppets, not children. And we are actors, not mothers.
Perfection vs. Balance
The world calls us to be “perfect” mothers, but I believe God calls us to be “balanced” mothers.
A “perfect” mother puts appearance above relationship. A “balanced” mother sacrifices appearance for relationship.
A “perfect” mother seeks approval from others. A “balanced” mother seeks approval from God.
A “perfect” mother finds reward in perceived success. A “balanced” mother’s reward is a peaceful heart, family and home.
A “perfect” mother perpetuates the lie and spreads disillusionment. A “balanced” mother breaks the lie and spreads hope, truth and inspiration.
The Challenge
The challenge for us today is to focus on being balanced rather than perfect. That every moment we’d love our children more than our clean house or the approving look of a stranger. That our confidence, strength, hope and identity would be found in God and the trust He’s put in us by giving us His perfect little gifts that look to us and call us “Mommy.”
How To Be A Balanced Mother
Here’s the problem. I can’t be a balanced mom. Neither can you. We can’t do it alone. As humans we crave the approval of others. Until we migrate our identity from this world to the arms of God, we will strive to be perfect mothers. That’s why I’m so passionate about spending time praying and reading every morning. Before the voices of others crowd out His, we need to hear from Him that He has given us everything we need to love well. We need to be reminded that we are precious, beautiful, powerful and worthy of the love of the Almighty, Everlasting God. Because once we hear that….who cares what anyone else thinks.
And that, right there, my friends is a truth that demands a good fist pump.
Simple Start
In reality, though, words are cheap. Action speaks loudly. So, here are 2 simple things you can do to take action towards being a balanced mom:
1. Take 1 minute right now to pray that God would begin to change every facet of your heart so that it can reflect His. No one tries to balance with their eyes closed. No, they have a focal point. Pray that God would be your focal point today. And, yes, you only have to pray for 1 minute. I’m all about low goals here at InspiredToAction.com. Because doing something little is bigger than doing nothing at all.
2. Download the eBook Maximize Your Mornings. Resolve to get up 5 minutes earlier tomorrow morning so that you can start your day focusing on Him.
God has called you to this journey of motherhood. Give it all you have."


I subscribed to Maximize Your Mornings and am hoping to start my new goal of exercising, praying, and reading in the mornings starting tomorrow...Join me on my journey. Signing off...Tara

6 MONTHS OLD TODAY!!! My baby girl....

Nelley Kate is six months old today! Perfect day to celebrate too....it was a snow day at school...yet no snow til 1:00 pm. What a blessing and true miracle you are to our lives! Some fun filled facts about our third precious daughter.
*You love your big sisters and smile big everytime you see them.
*You are rolling everywhere to get to places
*You are getting stronger everyday at sitting up!
*You love to be on your changing table and always have!
*You laugh when you see Lola, the cat
*You still have no teeth(your sisters had teeth at 3 months)
*You look identical to your sister Sofey at this age
*Your older cousin, Naomi, is in love with you and asks about you everyday!
*You love rice cakes and are eating baby food pretty well(thanks to Gay Gay)
*You are so loved by your family and we can't imagine our lives without you! We love you, Nelley Kate Burnett!!!

TOP 25 children's books of 2009

Here is the link to the top 25 children's books of 2009. I thought it would make great gifts for the nieces and nephews in your life!!! So here's to some book shopping!

http://www.grandparents.com/gp/content/expert-advice/you-your-grandchildren/article/sshow-25-best-childrens-books-of-2009.html?page=1