Our middle princess turns 7!

Happy Birthday to our Sofey Elaine...7 years on June 21st...we love you so much and are proud of the independent girl you are.....wishing you many more years of happiness!

Important Reminders in Life....

(taken from Style Your Blog)


1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3.. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone.. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time..

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift!"

HAPPY WEEKEND!!!!

Weekend words.....

Happy Weekend....sweet mommy blogger friends! Signing off....Tara(I know this blog is short...but Nelley Kate has been teething clingy all weekend. And don't tell me I will miss this someday....because I won't appreciate your sweet little comment right now. Im going to wash my hair...as I haven't in three days. xoxo

Growing up soo quickly!

Our oldest daughter, Abigail Sue, turned ten on Monday. Looking up the oldest born's traits, here is what I found: people pleasers, crave approval, nurturers, caregivers, reliable, cooperative, team players, "grin and bear it" mentality, movers and shakers, want things their way, driven, ambitious....to name a few. Both myself and your father were first borns. I see so much of me in you(except you really don't care if your room is in order or not...and that you got from your father, my dear). Abbey....we love you so very much. We know that you have goodness in your heart and God. We can't wait to see where your ambition takes you. We know that you like things your way and definitely crave attention. You ruled the roost until Sofey came into our lives because we let you sleep with us until then...if that tells you anything. Anyway, happy day to you. You makw our lives complete! And you are an amazing example to your two younger sisters who look up to you! xoxo, Mommy

The Extra Degree....

We can always learn from our youth. I get excited to receive my copy of FFA New Horizons magazine every so often. This month, I read Oklahoma FFA's current state FFA reporter's article and was inspired by his words. He talked about how "at 211 degrees, water is hot. At 212 degrees, water boils. With boiling water comes steam, and steam can power a locomotive. That is the difference that one degree in temperature can make." He went on to quote a book called The Extra Degree that points out that many of life's successes and failures are decided by just a slim margin. He states that "a little extra effort can make a huge difference." WOW!!! You know how God tends to give you clues through words you read at the moment you need to read them. He then goes on to talk about a big thing called "And-then-some syndrome." He compares it to an essay written by Carl Holmes and the spirit of service being summed up in these three little words...and then some. "Always do what is expected of you....and then some. Do everything you can to help somebody...and then some. Be considerate and kind to others...and then some. Give everything you have to the thing you are passionate about....and then some." Woozers....those are some powerful, powerful words and words for thought. Our youth leaders today sometimes say it best. Thank you to Trevor Lucas, 2010 State FFA Reporter.....I am a has been but am still learning from the leaders of such an inspirational organization that I am still fondly passionate for.......thanks for giving me the "umphhh" I needed at the time I read this....and then some!!!!

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