i heart nicholas sparks

Since early March, I have finished three Nicholas Sparks books.  Crazy I know!--and two of them I finished in less than a week!

The Longest Ride (which was just announced to be filming in Wilmington, NC), The Best of Me (which is currently filming in Louisiana), and Safe Haven (which has already been made into a movie).  I have Safe Haven on DVD and have watched it a dozen times, but I really enjoyed reading the book because I got so much more information out of it about the characters and from the characters than you do while watching the movie.  So, I really enjoyed reading the book after having watched the movie...which is not something I can always say.

I’ve had all of these books since the year they came out because I always ask for them for Christmas, but I just wasn’t always at a time in my life where I could read them.  Now is finally the time!

As I’ve stated before, The Longest Ride was two different loves stories intertwined.  One of them being about an older couple, yet the woman was no longer living.  Her husband was involved in a car crash which left him trapped in his car on an embankment, covered in snow, for several days.  While he was trapped in his car he had a visitor and it was from the spirit of his wife.  It was as though she was there with him, helping him survive and live through another day.  The reminisced and took many trips down memory lane.  He knew she wasn’t real and she wasn’t really there because she would come and go at different times.  She was there when he needed her most though and that’s what made it so sweet and intimate.

The Best of Me.  This book is probably the farthest from any of the other Nicholas Sparks book I’ve read.  It is about High School sweethearts, Dawson and Amanda, that had both gone their separate ways and and went on to live their own lives without each other.  Throughout the entire book, Dawson constantly sees this man in a blue jacket...but when he makes it to where the spot where the man was, the man is always gone and no longer there.  Dawson only sees this man during life changing events in his life and at times when he is in need of help and distraction to survive.  It’s hard to pick a favorite, but the end of this one had tears fall down my face.  The end as in the last sentence….and then it’s over.   ECCK!  Can’t wait for the movie to come out in October!!  You have until the to read it!

And Safe Haven.  This is the oldest of these three, yet still a goodie!  It probably read it the quickest because I had seen the movie I knew how good it was going to get!  In this movie a girl, Katie, runs away from her abusive husband.  Once she settles into a cottage, that she thinks is far from everyone else, she soon discovers she has a neighbor.  It is a woman about her age, maybe a little older.  She ends up becoming her friend, they drink wine together, go to eat dinner together and talk about life and the love relationship that starts to accumulate over time. Without giving too much away...she later realizes this “friend” was only someone she could see.  

I thought it was interesting that all three of these books has a "ghost" of some sort in it...or a "spirit" if you will. I just love ole' Nicholas and the way he writes his books! He never disappoints! I actually got to listen to him speak and then meet him afterwards a few years ago! You can read about that HERE.

(This picture isn't great...but that's what happens when you ask a stranger to take a pic for you!)

anxiety--it is real.

Recently I’ve felt a huge amount of anxiety.  I know anxiety is just the Devil telling me lies and trying to get me to believe them.  I know some people don’t believe in anxiety, but if you’ve had it before (about anything), you know it’s real.  It’s not only a mental thing, but can be physically exhausting as well.

It doesn’t happen to me all too often, just usually when I get worked up about something that I can't control.  That something usually has to do with my son.

He’s the one thing in my life that I love the most and I can’t handle the thought or idea of something happening to him.  Even though these are incidents and events that I am just making up in my head, or see being reported about on the news...it still rattles me and drags me down...more than it should.  THIS is when I start to get anxious, and feel the tightening of my chest.  And, I hate it.  

Being a parent is so much more than you even really realize.  It’s not even the late nights, endless responsibilities and cost of having kids that I’m talking about.  I’m talking about the emotional side of things and the unimaginable amount of love that you have for someone that you didn’t even know was possible.  You literally have your heart and soul as a separation of your body out walking around…making their own choices and decisions, vulnerable to the world and everything that comes along with that, either being kind to the kids around them, or not being so kind, getting picked on or doing the picking themselves.  It’s scary and it’s hard sometimes!

I want the best for Ryder, as most parents do...and I want to provide him with everything he needs to succeed and excel in life, as well as be the best that he can be.  I’m sure most parents feel very similar, but sometimes when you think of everything that sits on your shoulders as a parent, it can seem a bit overwhelming and make you wonder how you are ever going to accomplish it all.  Not just accomplish it all, but do it and do it well.  Again...leading to me feeling anxious.  

Choices and decisions that have to be made:

Am I sending him to the right pre-school?  Is he learning the things he needs to be learning?  Is he building friendships the way he should be?  What things should I be working on with him at home?  What concepts is he not fully grasping at school that he could use some extra help on?  Is he going to be ready for Kindergarten?  Do I even know what he needs to know to be prepared for Kindergarten?  Or is he going to be bored in Kindergarten and act out, since he’ll have had three years of preschool and will be six years his Kindergarten year?

Lots of things to think about...but there’s even more!

Am I spending enough time with him outside?  Am I making him hit the ball off the tee enough?  Am I teaching him how to catch the ball the right way?  How is he going to react when he messes up on the ball field for the first time?  How is he going to behave the first time his team doesn’t win?  Am I playing enough games with him? Am I reading him enough books? Are they the right books? Do we talk about Jesus enough?

And….this is just the beginning!  He’s not even in grade school yet!  

I wasn’t an over-the-top worrisome mom when he was little and I don’t consider myself that way now...unless I think about the future in regards to R and when I question my mothering schools and the decisions I’m making in regards to R.  

{Insert anxiety here...}

I think (and hope) all parents feel the same anxiousness that I feel sometimes.  I feel like my anxiety may be a little bit more intense, as to the fact that I’m doing and taking care of these specific things on my own.  (I do have my parents across the street...but you know what I’m saying)  

This world is such a scary place and just thinking about it give me anxiety!  I love life and I love life with my son, but so many times I think, “I am so thankful this is not our home!”

That statement right there is what helps me get over my anxiousness and my anxiety.  Knowing that alone is what gets me through the worries and the fears...it’s what helps me move along.  Without that promise and security I’m not sure how I would get over that hump.  

He has made the Promise to provide us with all of our needs.  One of those needs is Peace and to live without fear...and only he can provide that Peace.  His Peace.  Jesus Calling spoke directly to me today and was exactly what I needed upon dealing with this anxious feeling that seems to keep popping up.  He has planted His Peace in our hearts when we believe in Him, yet we let “weeds” grow in our hearts such as worry, doubt,  selfishness, comparison and even pride.

He is our Gardener and he is trying to kill those weeds and make them go away, but we have to let Him...we have to let Him kill those weeds and believe that He, and only He can...and that He will!  

We have to stop in this crazy world we live in and spend time with Him so that he can shine His Light into us, and spray that Round-Up...and tell those weeds who’s boss!  I need His Light and I need the constant feeling of His peace in my life-and His light is needed on an even greater scale when those weeds try to take over my heart!  When we take time to be in His word and are in constant contact with Him throughout the day, His light will allow the Peace of His presence to flourish and those weeds will shrivel up and disappear. 

I was preaching to myself in this post. It helps to write to learn, and teach yourself. But, I share it with you in hopes that if you are dealing with similar feelings of anxiousness as I am, that it might help you with the healing process as well.

our valentine's day

R has been "Star Kid" at school all week...and he knew Valentine's Day was the week of his Star Week, so he's been looking forward to it for a few weeks now!  Even though, I'm not really sure if he even knows what the day is really about!  Ha!  

On Thursday, KeeKee & Uncle G went to his school to read a Doc McStuffin's Valentine book, make heart shaped bird feeder crafts, & take blueberry muffins to all his friends for snack!  It was all a huge hit, thank you KeeKee & Uncle G! =)

Nothing better than hearing, "Happy Valentine's Day!" from a sweet lil voice from a sleepy head with their eyes still closed!  :P  Then off to the kitchen to see what he got!  {I opted out of wrapping this year...I mean, Santa doesn't wrap! }  He got Octanaut stuff for his birthday, and then got some new Gups for Christmas...but still needs a few more, so I got him the only one he didn't have at the store!  He was so PUMPED!!  & the Ninja Turtle cell phone he wanted!  Ha!  & some gardening tools because he broke his last week playing outside in the ice...

 I attempted at making a heart shaped pancake...but that's not what really mattered!  He enjoyed it anyways!  :P  Then it was getting ready like normal & off to school!

KeeKee made his wonderful Ninja Turtle box!  I think it turned out PERFECT and R loved it!  They had gymnastics and then their Valentine's Party where they decorated cookies with yogurt and fruit!  YUM!

And...for the third year in a row, we enjoyed a sit down dinner at Chick!  It was fun, but R was acting crazy and I'm not sure why!  But I love this lil guy and I love getting to spend every day with him, watching him learn and grow into a young boy!  Time is flying too fast though!! :(  One day he probably won't want to be his mom's Valentine!

 {2012-See full post HERE}

{2013-See full post HERE}

cow appreciation day--TOMORROW!

Just wanted to pop in real fast and remind/tell y'all tomorrow is Cow Appreciation Day at CFA!  If you don't know what that means...you dress up like a cow and you get free chicken!  If you are just partially dressed up like a cow, you get a free entre, but if you are dressed like a cow from head to toe, when you get a free meal!  Simple as that and SO much fun!

{via}

You can download a starter kit to get your started HERE!

We didn't get to go last year for some reason, but we went in 2011 and had a lot of fun!  You can see the whole post here.

Y'all know my love for CFA and this is such a fun event I hope you'll join us tomorrow in all the fun!

Mother's Day 2013

I had a wonderful day spent with my lil man and my Mama and the rest of the fam!  We got up and went to church, where R sat with us and played Temple Run...yeah I'm that mom, but oh well!  He learns more in there than he does in his class {when he's quiet!}!  We ran home, changed clothes, ate a small lunch and then headed out the door to the river!

This was his idea, not mine!  ;)

Best card!  It even looks like R a little bit!

He literally played outside ALL.DAY.LONG with the cousins and caught this lizard at one point!  I LOVE being a boy mom!  =)

We had taco salad for lunch and I thought it looked pretty!  :P

We took a little walk down the dock...

I made him hold my hand...that water was just going too fast for me not to hold on tight to my baby.

I had a wonderful Mother's Day and I thank the good Lord every day for making me be a mom to my sweet baby boy.  He's my pride and joy and honestly can't even begin to imagine my life without him!

Fun lil flashback!  ;)

 {2012}

{2012}

 {2011}

 {2010}

Saturday night at dinner, R was saying the prayer and said, "Thank you Jesus for making me and my mommy together..." The best way to start off my Mother's Day right there!

Hope all of you Mama's had a blessed Mother's Day as well!  =)

Two years ago May 1st!

Look how tiny my lil booger was!  and carrying around that blanket like it was connected to him!  ;)

Totally waving at the neighbors...he was and still is my little politician!  ;)

Time sure does fly!  How is is already May 1st?  Wow!  So thankful I have this lil blog to look back on what was going on in our lives years ago!

Happy May first friends!--That only means one thing around these parts--TOAD SUCK WEEKEND!  Yes sir!  =)

A few pics from this time last year!

I just thought it would be fun to reflect on what was going on "in our world" as Ryder would say, this time of year--LAST YEAR!  Crazy how fast time flies!  PS-I heard life is so slow in Europe.  They aren't like as consistently busy and going and doing like we are--is this true?!  & if so...I wonder why!  I  love life, but it sure does fly by AWFULLY fast!  

 R making faces at Louie--who's no longer with us...

Poppy having his appendix taken out...the week before his 50th birthday.

Sweet boy climbing up in KeeKee's tree!

 Playing at the neighbors!

 Was my fabulous trip to Savannah, GA really a YEAR ago?!  Boy how time flies!  I've said it before but I'll say it again--if you ever get the chance to go to Savannah--GO...and don't walk, RUN!  Such a neat little place and SO much fun!

Love these girls!  I pray that God blesses me to have a SIL, and to have the relationship that these two have!  =)

I am so thankful for this blog, and being able to look back on memories in life and be reminded off all the wonderful things that go along with one snapshot of a "moment"...Life is good!

Happy Thursday friends!