Sunday Scripture! Time Well Spent

There are many points of frustration in the reality of Jimmy being without work but there have also come opportunities for Jimmy to become closer with our kids. I believe that can be a hard thing when the Dad's are off at work they don't always get to enjoy their children during the mornings and afternoons when they are often at their best. I know for our family Jimmy would come home many nights in time for dinner and prayer and then the kids were off to bed and they were often beyond tired by the time he would see them. Well with him being here he has been able to help in the mornings get the kids off to school, he loves making them eggs with ketchup and seeing Grace climb onto the school bus. He loves to take James out into the back yard or on long walks in the neighborhood. I have seen him grow so much as a father in such a short period of time, and our kids just love being with him and having him here more. While we pray everyday that work will come and he continues his search for employment, it has been time well spent.

Malachi 4:6

"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. "

I love Babies!!

My dear friend Lindsay had her baby boy two weeks ago and I was able to go take his pictures on Friday! Colton is such a sweet baby, very calm and just stinkin adorable!! It was so fun to hold him, they grow up so fast and it help curb my baby cravings!! I know, I have issues :) I posted a few others on my photography blog!

Flashback Friday!! Plucked from the same Garden!

Do you have a friend or friends that you would do ANYTHING for? I do! Several actually, I am very blessed to have some very AMAZING friends! Well I found this picture and it just makes me laugh every time I see it! Weird runs in my family and I have for sure passed it to my children, there are times when weird feels lonely but then you find others that can be weird with you and it feels absolutely RIGHT!!

This was taken during one of the famous "Holler FHE's" (Family Home Evening)

Being Eaten Alive with a Smile on My Face!

So for the last 3 years I have served on the P. T .A board at Lexi's school and helped the year before so I could keep Lexi's Zone variance, last year was a NIGHTMARE!! This year has been great as far as the people I get to work with, but it has been tons of work for a few of us who seem to be doing EVERY Event by ourselves! We always try to get as many volunteers as possible to help if we can but the daily grind and prep for most things end up with a couple very devoted Mom's!! I wish there were more that came to help but it's the nature of the beast and we just suck it up and do what needs to be done for the sake of the kids and the school!! Recently we have been preparing for the Basket Auction and there have been long days spent making fliers, passing them out, collecting items for baskets, making the baskets look pretty, making signs for food and tickets, and having meetings about the previous things as well as all other things "Basket Auction". My husband has been wonderful in helping with the kids so that I could be at the school doing my duty and I am grateful for the women who are there helping because we laugh while we work! I do what I do with the reward of being familiar with the teachers and the staff at the school and Lexi has been fortunate to attend a better school than she otherwise would have! It does kick my butt though, I often come home after dark feeling like I have been beat with a cardboard stick (thanks Carla)!!

I am sure I am not the only Mom out there who has spent time at the school helping out , so here's to all of you that devote time and talents to the education of your children, for giving of yourself even though you swore at the age of 10 that you would never go back to Elementary school!! :)

All for this sweet girl!!

Pay It Forward!

So here's the rules! The first 3 people to leave a comment will receive something either bought or made by me sometime this year! The only catch is that you have to in turn do the same thing on your own blog! The when and what will be a surprise, one day you will just get a little surprise in the mail! Email me your info at marylinkelley@gmail.com Fun Fun! I love this stuff!!

If I Don't Laugh, I will Cry!

Many times in my life I have used this tactic, keep the smile as big as possible to keep the tears from running down my face. I think of my self as a "glass is half full" kinda girl, I work on staying positive and try not to let my sadness or worries spill into anyone's lap. I look at this life as a test and that if I endure it well no matter what, it can only help my case. I have to confess that the last several months have been especially trying at times but with three kids, a husband, PTA meetings, sewing projects, who has time to sit and feel sorry for themselves. However there are moments, fleeting as they might be, there are moments of vulnerability where I am alone with my thoughts and this week I had one. I decided to take a quick bath since two out of three children were at school, one was asleep and the husband was out and about. Now, I like my baths just hot enough that I get goose bumps but not so hot that skin melts off, now don't get it twisted this was not going to be a long soak, just a enough water to splash myself off with, but a bath nonetheless. So I sit down and allow the running water to run through my fingers and then splash my face and decollete then gently tilt my head back to take in a deep breath when the overwhelming smell of cat litter fills my airway and I begin to choke. At first I was like "Man I wish we were in our own place so I didn't have to have the cat's litter box in the bathroom!" My eyes became a little misty and then the hilariousness of the entire thing found me and swooped me up out of my pity party and I began laughing out loud!! I mean, really how funny, I finally have a moment to relax and all I can think about is the smell of cat poo and chemicals trying to mask it, can we say relaxing?!?! Maybe next time I will find somewhere else to relax!

Lemons What Lemons?

So tonight was the "Blogger in Real Life" girls night and it was sooooooooo much fun! Thanks to all you fabulous girls that made it cause you really did make my night, wait my week, no my month for sure!! If I am being honest about an hour before everyone started to arrive I was in tears because I had several texts in a row of people telling me they couldn't come for some reason or another and I felt upset because I believe I am a good friend that supports my friends in their jewelry parties, craft nights, coupon parties, selling liver from a suitcase nights, whatever nights and so I was a little miffed and sad but then the door bell rang and there were two smiling blonds standing there with food and I thought this is gonna be a fun night!! And it was!! I don't think I have laughed that hard for so long in a very long time! We had GREAT food and AMAZING conversations!! I didn't even remember to take pictures because we were just having a great time!!  It was so fun to learn new things and hear stories about everyone,  Jessi even though I had read about your "snow boarding" accident hearing it in person was way better!  Heather D. I think I learned that you are extremely "lazy" but your husband doesn't seem to mind!  Melissa I am glad you have informed me of that factory for people interested in losing weight cause I will not be going there anytime soon!!  Sara you better have taken notes so you can post about them!!  Heather B, laundry is just one of those evils that we must do in order to find our way through our houses!! :)  Ipuna you are more than welcome to use the restroom at my house but you must tell KC to go before he comes over!! Hee hee  Thanks again to the "cool girls" that came love to you and for those that didn't you missed out!