Hot tub...

Somebody (or should I say some bodies) like to go visit Mamaw and Papaw.

DUCKS...

Very first college football game ever, for this handsome clan. They may have lost but they won in fun and good times. 

Snuggle bug...

This picture was taken in the hotel the night before we dropped Halee off at college. What I wouldn't give to sleep beside her right now. Snuggle her and tell her everything is going to be ok. Funny thing is, I think she mostly already knows that. It's me who needs therapy...not her. I guess "mom" love is the most powerful thing around. I don't guess...I know...

Time is up...

Starting Monday I'm going to be losing my freedom. I took most of September off to spend with Austin before he starts college courses here in town. It's been So.Much.Fun being with my oldest baby boy. But back to grindstone it is...

Soccer 2016...

My little (not so little) soccer player. Everyday I tell him it's time to go to practice and everyday he responds "YES!!!" He literally loves playing soccer. It makes me smile. He is such a tenacious boy.

Be afraid...

After this, I shall never complain about a bad hair or bad makeup day again...things could be sooooo much worse.

Bucket list..not really

Did I mention that I pumped my own gas? This was not by choice due to the fact that I left the lovely state of Oregon behind to take Halee to college. Nevertheless I did it, and it was super duper easy. Needless to say, Austin and I were feeling very proud...

Articles of faith...

Our little Scarlett and Grace worked the past few months memorizing the articles of faith. These are statements that summarize our fundamental beliefs. 13 of them in all. It's no easy task. Each week they passed them off. I'm so proud of them for working so hard, they are so excited to get their names on the articles of faith hall of fame, board.

Roommates...

We have been looking for ways to cheer our little Halee up while she is away. Thank goodness for snapchat...

Nothing is impossible...

You think it's never coming. That your little girl will stay little because surely there's some magic mama potion that will slow time down. And then she grows up anyway.

I took my beautiful baby to college this weekend. Was it hard? Harder than I expected. It felt like I was abandoning her, to be honest. She was afraid. She's young. She's never been away from her dad and I more than a week at a time. Of course she's scared. And there's nothing I can do to make that better.

So I say goodbye. Austin came too because he's her best friend in the whole world. And my heart breaks. And his heart breaks. But yet, she's so beautiful and she's embarking on something new, and that's beautiful. And I know she loves the lord. And that's a huge comfort. So I end up feeling confused by my emotions. 

The hardest part is going back to the hotel and smelling her bath and body works lotion or the Jammie's she wore the night before. And finding her bobby pins all over the bathroom counter.

Here's the thing. She has brought me an insurmountable amount of joy for 18 years. Bringing her into this world has been a blessing straight from God. I give him full credit for creating this wonderful girl and allowing me the privilege of raising her. And let's be real...she ultimately belongs to him. It's time to give it to God. It's time to have faith that she'll be okay, I know God loves her and that's what my mama heart is hanging onto. 

Loveliness...

Paragon of beauty. And then there's that handsome Christian...

13.1

Beautiful runner...

Driving under the influence of kids...

Driving with kids. I used to think it was hard when I had babies and toddlers. Then I had teenagers and my perspective has shifted. Luckily for me, most of the time they are amazing. But road trips are scary for me. And by the way...rest areas give me anxiety,

Sleeping babies...

Nothing more cozy than sleeping in a warm bed with white sheets and white blankets.

You can do hard things...

Halee and I began training to run a half marathon together about 6 months ago. Every weekend religiously throwing a long run in there to ensure being ready. This would be Halee's first half. 

The morning of the race we woke up at 4am to be shuttled to the start by 5:30. It was a 45 minute bus drive to the top of a mountain. On the way up I kept saying to Halee "look...we are going to be running downhill the whole time." For me, downhill equals being able to breathe more freely. Less effort. Boy was I wrong. The first 7 miles of this race was delightful. Just as I predicted. It felt effortless compared to hilly runs I'd done in the past. But by mile 8 that all changed. Our legs started to send our brains messages of fatigue. We didn't train to run downhill. Not THAT downhill at least. We started at 6000 ft elevation on this race and trained at 500 ft elevation. Being able to breathe wasn't as effortless as I had dreamt it would be.

By mile 10 I could not even imagine going 3 more miles. My legs were hurting really bad. When we'd stop for water stops my legs would wobble and feel like giving out. And because of the elevation my lungs hurt from compensating large amounts of air. But I knew I had to finish. Halee was a rock for me. She kept us going. I expected to be the one cheering us to the finish since this was her first half. I was supposed to be the alpha here, but she by far ended up being the strength for both of us. 

We made it to the end, hand in hand. I will forever be grateful to have experienced this with my strong daughter.