Memorial Day...

I'm so grateful for those who have and still do, fight for my freedom. I truly admire those who willingly serve our country. It's a personal service to me...and a personal service to you. There's a special place in heaven for these earthly Angels...

Family time...

We had such a wonderful time visiting my parents over Memorial Day weekend. We took the kids roller skating and it was kind of a break through moment where you realize that all your kids are old enough to do the same, fun activity. That doesn't happen very often with the varying ages of our kids.

Chris and my dad ran off to breakfast and left us all in the dust...just kidding, I'm actually super happy they had some man time. After all...they are my two most favorite men alive.

The kids all loves squishing in the hot tub built for two. Luckily Halee didn't get in on this idea. 5 was enough...

I love family time...

Halee turns 18...

This gorgeous girl turned 18 today. She's only two years younger than I was when I had her. How's that even possible? It means two things...Halee is growing up...and I am getting old.

Halee has been such a rock for me the last two years. She's helped pick up the pieces while I endeavored to go back to school. She learned in that process to be an amazing cook and house keeper. 

I go to her as a sound board. She always has great advice and is willing to listen to me ramble. 

Being her mom had been pure joy. I miss playing dollhouse with her. I miss spoon feeding her Malto meal. I miss giving her a bath and putting her in clean Jammie's. I miss reading to her. I will always miss those things, but seeing the woman she has turned into makes my heart swell with happiness that she is mine. I will always be her mommy and she'll always be my Halee bug and nothing will ever change that.

Mud...

Before Tammy and I had the scary accident we actually had a wonderful two day getaway, shopping, laughing, and running in the mud. So grateful for my husband and children who support the fact that I need a recharge now and then.

Tomorrow's...

Our beloved prophet has said "Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family. One day each of us will run out of tomorrow's." I had no idea I would be faced with the possibilities of running out of tomorrow's until my best friend and I were in a life changing car crash Sunday evening. We ended up losing control of the vehicle in a situation where the steering was over corrected to avoid hitting another vehicle and our car was stuck in cruise control at 70 mph. We fish tailed back and forth until our car turned completely around facing oncoming traffic, slid backwards/sideways and turned on its side and ran into a tree. At 70 mph. We were both looking behind us as we neared the tree and my heart breaks at the horror my friend must have felt as she was on the side of impact. But we hit. And we lived. We had people pull over and in less than 30 seconds we were being rescued from a trapped car. Tammy had a window breaker and our guardian angels/good Samaritans helped us out and tipped our car back over while we waited for emergency personnel and our husbands.

We walked away between the two of us with minor cuts...neck and back pain. The accident changed us both. That change may fade as life gets back to normal and taking things for granted becomes human nature again, but for now, we are grateful to be mothers to our children. Wives to our husbands. Daughters to our parents, and sisters to our siblings.

I'm thankful to my best friend for letting go of the wheel when she did because had she not, we most likely would have hit the tree head on, and I wouldn't be typing this today. She is a hero.

Life is beautiful.

Dating...

Scarlett got to go on her very own date with her dad this evening. They rode bikes and ate blizzards at Dairy Queen. She was smiling from ear to ear when she came home and I asked her how her date went. It doesn't happen as often as it should but I believe fully that alone time with our children is essential. It's also a little beautiful too...make that a lot, beautiful.

Color run...

The girls and I had a girls day today running a color run. I've always wanted to see what the hype was all about and who better to do it with than my girls? It was so much fun...and nice to just take a race at a relaxing and fun pace. We ate lunch together afterward and didn't even care that people stared at us like we looked ridiculous. I love making memories with these wonderful girls.