Ten Things that Make Me Happy

In no particular order here are ten things that make me happy:

1. Starbucks and cute coffee mugs, but you already knew that! 

2. Going on walks. With just my husband or as a family. 

3. The ocean. Oh, how I wish we lived closer to the water. Maybe one day! 

4. A clean home and cleaning supplies. Yes, I am weird. 

5. Clothes from Kiki La'rue. Yes, clothes make me happy. Especially these. 

    Go take a peek, I promise you'll want one of those in every color! 

6. A good book that I just can't put down. 

7. My son singing and the fact that Maeva is starting too. Always makes me smile.

8. Date nights, where it's just my husband and I. 

9. Spring time. Everything about it.

10. Quiet time with Jesus. It fills me up so much! I need to work on being more consistent with it.

Linking up with a fresh start on a budget for the blogging challenge.

A must read series

I've always loved reading. 

In elementary school library day was always my favorite. 

There was even a day I was so sick that I couldn't go to school, 

but tried to fake out my mom just because it was library day. 

That didn't work, but the teacher sent home some books for me. 

Even in high school, I'd take trips to the library. 

I would go early to school (nerd alert) just to go to the library and check out books. 

Most weekends you could find me with my nose in a book. 

I was perfectly fine spending my evenings in my bed, devouring a book. 

Today, I want to share with you a series I think you must read! 

I came across this series my junior year of high school,

when I worked at a Christian book store. 

The series is called Diary of a Teenage Girl (Caitlin O'Conner) and it's a favorite. 

The book is written in diary form and I think that's one of the many reasons I like it.

I'm a writer, I'm a journaler, so it was fun for me to get a peek into another girl's journal. 

You travel with Caitlin through her teenage years to her adulthood. 

She writes about real struggles in her life and those around her. 

She shares about dating, her parents marriage struggles, 

her friends eating disorder, another friend having a baby and so on. 

She also writes about becoming a Christian and throughout all her struggles

and the struggles around her, how to work through all of while being a Christian. 

That is another reason I enjoyed the series. 

I have always believed in God, but didn't really become a Christian until my senior year.

These books made me think more about God 

and after I became a Christian they made me think of my life,

my struggles, and how I should handle things in being a Christian. 

I loved the realness of the series and how much I could relate. 

It was such an easy read and when I finished one book, I couldn't wait to grab the next. 

Just writing about this makes me want to grab the books and read through them again!

Yes, I do own them and hope to someday pass them onto my girls. 

They are great books for pre-teen girls, teenagers, and even grown women.

I'm definitely going to read them again. 

Linking up with a fresh start on a budget for the April blogging challenge.

The road that led me to this beautiful life

I'm a big believer in the saying, "Everything happens for a reason."
I just can't believe otherwise.
I may not know why certain things happened in my life.
I may never know, but I just have to believe that...
Every place I've been,
Every step I've taken,
Every choice I've made,
Every thing in my life has happened for a reason, has had meaning in it.

There have been many things in my life that have changed me.
I've struggled with depression and causing harm to myself.
I've been in an abusive relationship.
Those are two of the hard things, the things that are still hard to deal with.
But there's good things in my life too.
One thing that's been really life changing for me is becoming a Christian.
Other things have been meeting my husband and having babies.
Those things have changed my life so much.
Some in ways I wish they hadn't.
Some in ways I'm glad they did.
But you know what?
I wouldn't say they are the biggest thing that changed my life.
I would say, however, that my parents getting divorced when I was about two years old did.

My dad and I on my wedding day.

My mom and I. 

Maybe that sounds silly to read because all those things I listed before, 

the good and the bad, they were so life changing. 

However, I'd say my parents getting divorced is the biggest life changing moment

because it led me down the road to all those other moments. 

If my parents wouldn't have gotten divorced...

Maybe I wouldn't have struggled with depression or maybe I would have,

but I know it was part of the reason I did struggle with that. 

Maybe I would have thought better of myself

and not put up with the crap some of the guys I dated.

Maybe I wouldn't have a relationship with Jesus. 

Maybe I wouldn't have gone to Tabor and maybe it wouldn't have been so hard.

Maybe I wouldn't have the friends I do have.

Maybe my life would have been worse than it has been.

Maybe I wouldn't have met my wonderful husband or had three beautiful kids.

Maybe my life wouldn't be what it is. 

I used to struggle so much with my parents being divorced. 

I think it caused me to make a lot of the choices I did. 

I know it caused me to be angry with my dad for a long time. 

I know it also was the reason I ended up in bad relationships

because I just didn't know any better.

You know what though? I'm not bitter about it. A lot of it still hurts. 

My relationship with my dad is rough.

My past relationships can still affect me life. 

But I don't regret the road I've been on, 

the road that started when my parents got divorced, 

because I fully believe it led me to this life I live now and it's a beautiful one. 

My good looking husband and I on our wedding day! 

I'm linking up with a fresh start on a budget for the April blogging challenge.

My Favorite Kitchen Appliance + easy meals

I used to enjoy cooking.
More than I do now anyway.
Now, being a mom of three littles ranging from age 3 to 2 months old,
it's really all about things being simple, fast, and easy!
What kitchen item make cooking meals for my family those three things?
The crockpot, of course!
I am convinced that is the best kitchen appliance.
It's definitely a favorite of mine and if I could I would use it for every single meal.
I love throwing things together in the crockpot
and not having to worry about it all day long.
Just gather the food, toss it in, turn it on and you are done until dinner time.
Plus, my home usually ends up smelling delicious,
which makes me so ready for whatever is cooking!
I just cannot complain about that!

Here are a few of my favorite crockpot meals, all I came across on Pinterest
because finding meals on there just makes life a whole lot easier as well.

Crock pot tater tot casserole found on  Pinterest via Tammilee Tips

Original Taco soup found on Pinterest va Cooking Mommy

Crock pot Chicken Tacos on Pinterest via Katherine in the Kitchen

Okay, so clearly there is a theme to what I think delicious!
Lots of things with beans and spice! ;)
The chicken chili tacos are a favorite here.
Want to make it even easier? Throw all the items in the crock pot,
except for the chicken and by a roasted chicken that is already cooked!
An hour or so before throw it in the crockpot and mix it in.
I'm not sure if that's easier, but it seemed cheaper to me.
Maybe I'm wrong, but it's what I did!

You can find the three of these on my Recipes I've tried and loved Pinterest board.
I also have a board dedicated simply to crock pot recipes
or you can check out all my boards here.

Do you have a deep love for the crockpot?
What are some of your favorite recipes?
Share. Share. Share. Links please!

Linking up again with a fresh start on a budget for the April blogging challenge. 
Don't be afraid to join in, if you'd like! 

If tomorrow were my last day

If tomorrow were my last day I'd want to spend every moment with my husband and kids.

If tomorrow were my last day I'd wake before the sun.
I'd lie next to my husband and put my arm around him, remembering his warmth.
When he woke up I'd tell him that I was so thankful God brought him to me.
That I loved him more than anyone in the entire world,
that I was so thankful to him for giving me my children
and making it possible for me to stay home with them.
I'd tell him that was the best gift he could have ever given me.
We'd lay in bed until we heard the kids rise.

If tomorrow were my last day we would go to breakfast as a family,
at Starbucks, of course! Because it's our favorite! ;)
The kids would have juices boxes and banana bread and so would we,
but with iced white mochas, of course.
Then, we would take a walk along a grassy trail.
I would hold my husband's hand, have Sutton in the carrier,
and we would watch Braden and Maeva run free, laugh and play.
My husband and I would talk about the life we've lived together.
We'd recall how we used to go on walks before we started dating,
just to get to know one another.
I would mention how I wish we did that more, together and as a family.
We would talk about getting pregnant with Braden before being married,
but how it ended up being perfect, as did life with every baby afterwards.
We would talk about marriage and how it wasn't always easy.
There were ups and downs, but those seasons made us stronger and made our love grow.
We would tell each other we loved each other with every word we spoke.

If tomorrow were my last day the day would be full of our favorite things.
We would play outside in the backyard running around and laughing.
I would help Maeva down the slide
and when Braden got into the wagon and said, "Pull me mommy!",
I would without hesitation!
I would hold Maeva as much and she wanted and Sutton too.
And I would paint with cars right along side Braden,
talking about all the colors and how fun it is.
I would read book after book to Maeva until she decided she had enough.
And I would get down on the floor playing trains with Braden,
as he told me who they were.
We would all sit on the couch, all snuggled up to one another as closely as we could.
We would watch Finding Nemo, Barney, Care Bears,
or even the Christmas movie, if that is what the kids chose.

If tomorrow were my last day I would hold Sutton as she slept.
I'd stroke her face and kiss her cheek.
I would hold her little hand
and tell her that mommy loved her more than words could say.
I would pull Maeva into my lap and tickle her feet as she sat still,
the only way she does when I'm doing that.
I would give Braden as many kisses and hugs as he asked for.
I'd even steal a few when he didn't.
I would kiss my husband even more and sit close to him.
I would tell them all that I loved them as much as I could eve though I know it could never be enough.

If tomorrow were my last day,
I would look at my family and try to remember every inch of them.
I would remind myself to remember that...
Braden's eyes are different than any I've ever seen.
I would remind myself to remember...
the way Maeva's hair curls and how to strokes it when she's tired.
I would remind myself to remember...
Sutton's smile and how beautiful it is.

If tomorrow were my last day I wouldn't waste it,
with yelling it at my children or snapping at my husband.
If tomorrow were my last day I wouldn't worry about house work
or being caught up on the internet.
If tomorrow were my last day I would focus all of it on my family.

And if tomorrow were my last day I'd take pictures all along the way,
just so my husband and children could remember how perfect my last day was.

What would your day look like if tomorrow were your last day?

Linking up with a fresh start on a budget for the blogging every day in April challenge. 

The best 3 moments of my life

Everyone has moments in their life that stick out to them.
We have those good moments and those bad ones that stay in our heart.
For me, the greatest moments aren't hard to come up with.
The bad probably wouldn't be either, but today we're being positive!
I like the good moments way better anyway! ;)

Number 1: The moment I except Jesus into my heart. 
I remember this moment clearly.
I had "become" a Christian multiple times before, but this time it was different.
I'm not sure what happened during that moment, what really made it happen.
Maybe it was because it was just me and Jesus, no one else around.
I was at church camp the summer before my senior year of high school.
I was sitting on a rock behind my cabin, talking to Jesus...
Telling Him I was tired of living the wrong way and tired of the pain.
That moment led me to many other moments of wanting me to give my life to God,
to live in a way that was right in His eyes, even if others thought it was wrong.
That moment, was a life changing moment. A forever, life changing moment.

Number 2: The moment I met my husband.
The funny thing is, I of course, didn't realize this was one of the best moments.
We didn't know what was going on when we first met,
that our future would be each other.
I'm sure many expected me to say the day I married my husband,
and while that was a very good day, I say this one was the best because,
that one meeting changed everything.
It was the day that I dared to let another guy in even a little.
It was the day I decided that maybe not all guys were jerks.
It was the day that I knew I could fall head over heals.
It was the day I told God, "Okay...maybe I can put my fear aside."
Of course, it took a while for this to set in, but it all started in the first moment.
You can read more about us here.

Braden and Maeva. Oh, my world...look how much the look alike! 

Number 3: The moment my son came into this world
(and my daughter and soon this baby...)
Every single moment I have a child it is the greatest moment.
I love the feeling of my heart exploding with love for a new little one, that is ours.
There's nothing like it... it's overwhelming, it's joyful, it's emotional.
I fall in love with a child that God gave me
and it helps me to see just a tiny bit of His love.
I also fall more in love with my husband...
because we both brought a precious baby into the world.
I cannot wait to experience this moment, this feeling again.
It's honestly one of my favorite.

What are the best 3 moments of your life?

Linking up with A fresh start on the budget for the September blog challenge.

5 reasons I'm excited for fall

Summer is coming to an end and I couldn't be more ready!
Fall is my favorite season and I cannot wait until it finally arrives.
Here are my top reasons that fall is my absolute favorite.

1) The cooler weather. I always think I like the idea of summer, until it actually arrives. This pregnant lady just cannot handle the heat. It makes me sick, tired and cranky! I'm ready to enjoy the weather and be able to take the kids out to enjoy it as well. I feel like a horrible mama making them stay inside most of the time, but it's just too darn hot! It's the perfect weather to me... between summer and winter. Not too hot, but I'm not freezing either!

2) The clothes. Seriously, one of my favorite things is to layer up.
Bring on the leggings, long tunics, cardigans, scarfs and boots.
Gosh, I get giddy just thinking about those things! They are my favorite!

3) The holidays. I've always enjoyed the holidays, but since having my own family I enjoy them so much more! I love dressing my kids up for Halloween. It's fun to just fuss over them making them cute and allowing them to have some fun. Mom doesn't mind getting some candy either! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday however, because of the food. I just love turkey! My son was also born in November, so that makes me love it as well. Can't believe my first baby is going to be 3 soon!

4) The beauty. This reason goes along with the weather, really. Fall to me is just beautiful. The trees, pumpkins, the freshness of the air. Really, those things are beautiful to me. I see God in those things. When I see the beauty in those things, I can't help but think, "How can one not believe in God?" I like that.... it makes me feel better about this world which can be so dark sometimes!

5) Pumpkin spice. If you read my blog or follow me on twitter or instagram this comes as no surprise! ;) I've already had my fill of pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks and it isn't even fall yet! It just tastes so good, that I couldn't wait. However, it will taste far better when there's a little chill in the air!

What's your favorite season? Are you ready for summer to officially end?

Linking up with a fresh start on a budget for the September blog challenge.

My Life Story

I've been wanting to working on how involved I am in blogging.
I love to blog, but some times I fall short because I'm clueless as what to blog about now.
So, starting today, September first I'm joining this challenge to blog everyday this month!
I'm going to aim to go with some of her prompts,
but also do a few of my own because there are things I want to write about.
This is a good challenge for me because
it gets me out of my own head and just gets me writing.
I love to write and some times I just need to put words here without pondering what to write!

The first prompt is to tell my life story in 300 words or less!

I'm the oldest of two girls. My sister is 2 years younger than me. 

My parents divorced when I was 2 years old and both have been remarried. 

I have 2 half brothers.

One is just hitting college age 

and the other is younger than my son, older than my daughter. 

When I was around the age of six my mom remarried, but the guy was abusive, 

so thankfully we were all able to get away from that. 

After that it was just my mom, sister and I for a while until I was in about 5th grade. 

Then, my mom met that man she is now married to. 

That's when life really changed for the better, in lots of ways. 

I struggled a lot with depression starting in 6th grade 

and it hits me every once in a while. 

I didn't always handle it well because I wasn't sure how. 

I cried a lot, hurt myself and hurt lots of people in the process. 

This isn't something that really changed when my life changed, but I think it would have been worse if life stayed the same. 

Growing up I really was in search of finding love. 

I tried to find it in relationships, but that failed miserably. 

I was in a handful of bad relationships that left me feel defeated and wounded. 

They really put me in a dark whole of depression. 

God, saved me from that when I turned to Him my senior year of high school. 

Without Him there is so much I wouldn't have been able to make it through.

He also lead me to my husband. 

I wouldn't have given him a chance if it weren't for God because I was just too scared and too hurt. Thankfully God took care of that. 

Now, we have each other, two toddlers and another baby on the way!

There's much more to my life than this. It's always changing and I'm always growing.
Not sure if its 300 words or less because I don't have a word count, but we'll say its close!

Want to join in on the challenge? Check it out by clicking on the button!