It's been awhile..

Sense I have found myself posting here. It makes me sad, but I needed to step away. The whole point to embracing life, is embracing it during the bad too and when we got some possible scary news + the death of my grandmother + the stress of life in general. I couldn't do it. I kept trying to think of all the good around me and for a short time my mind was just wrapping around all the bad. I went down a semi depressed road but then after I said goodbye to my grandmother, after a whole was ripped through my chest. 

After the good news we received  I felt like I could breathe again. So now i'm getting back on track and I was finally able to see, that through the bad, God was showing me just how much strength I had. Just how much I love the life I was given. 

So, today while I am remembering to Embrace life..

I will be thankful for today.

Stepping away from My Phone

Sunday was exactly the type of day I needed. 

It was filled with Family, Friends + Football! 

{via}

From about 2:45PM until almost 7 I barely even gave my phone a glance. The only time I pulled it out was to snap a few pictures and upload one on Instagram because it was too pretty not to share right at that moment. Sunday was my husband's nieces birthday party. There were tons of family & friends. Being social was refreshing. I am a stay at home/work from home mom - needless to say I don't get out much so it was so nice.

I also spent 1 1/2 hours outside with my boys and the other kids at the party. I didn't care that all the adults were inside having conversation, all I cared about was spending time with my little's having fun! Something we don't do often enough these days. I pushed little kids on the swing and threw around the football for a long time. #ifeeltheburntoday

{via}

But it was completely worth it. Sometimes we just need a day to unplug and have fun with those that we love.

Embracing the messy part of life

Once upon a time there was a mom. Who spent every minute she could with her babies. 

Who cleaned house and made dinner. Who's husband was happy and she was happy. Her kids were always good & they were always clean and dressed.

& they all lived Happily ever after.

The end. 

Okay now that we got the fairy tale out of the way. Let's talk about Embracing the mess of life which is reality. Let's face it, I can no longer spend every minute with my boys, especially now that I'm working. But that doesn't stop them from climbing into my lap while I work & that's perfectly fine with me. 

Let's face it - our husband's and ourselves aren't always happy because that's part of life. No one is happy all the time and it is completely fine to have down days! 

My kids are in fact not always good and not always clean. They like to get as dirty as possible and make huge messes! But, that's part of having kids.

Are we living happily ever after - of course. Because we choose too. 

We embrace the messy reality of life. 

We roll with the punches & are thankful for the life we were giving. 

It's a choice and all you have to do is make that choice.

Do you embrace the messy part of life?

Relish in every moment of life

There are times in every persons life where things happen. Scary, bad, break your heart sad. 

It's been a long time sense I have had to experience any of that but now with personal things that are going on with my mother - I am feeling those again. 

{Via}

There is nothing quite like that kind of news that wakes you up.

It makes you feel things you haven't felt in a long time.

it makes you realize how precious life is.

It makes you realize how much you care about someone.

I have been trying to keep it out of my mind.

Trying to focus on other things and no matter what I do.

It fights it's way back in.

So for now, all I can do is pray & relish in every moment of life.

God gave me Sunday {Re-post}

A re-post from my blog.

I posted this on my blog last week and I loved it so much that I wanted to share it with yall.

Sunday, Hubs and I celebrated our Anniversary a day early. We went to six flags and it was so much fun. I can honestly say, that God gave us Sunday. Specifically, he gave me Sunday. Unplugged, not paying attention to my phone, just enjoying the day with my husband. I say this because I noticed at one point while we were waiting in the line to ride the batman {I didn't even notice before, shows you how much attention I was paying to my phone} that my phone had zero bars but my husbands did. I thought it was completely weird but I just shrugged and stuck it back in my pocket.

I didn't realize until we were in the car to leave at 9PM that my phone was in airplane mode. Which mean I couldn't receive calls, texts, emails, etc. I told my husband I think God did that. He unplugged me from my phone so I could just spend the entire day focusing on the man that has stood at my side for the past seven years & did I ever.

We laughed and we walked alot. We waited in lines that were 1 to 1 1/2 hours long and I screamed my head off as we rode the rides. Hubs even asked me why people scream on roller coasters. I told him for me, I just had to scream - there is so much fear + excitement inside of me on the roller coaster that the only way I can let it be free, is by screaming. This time of the year it is also freight fest at Six Flags - we went to two haunted houses.

I haven't been that scared in a long time and by the time we were done with the first one, I thought my heart was going to explode out of my chest it was beating so fast. I screamed more times than I can count. I dug my nails into Hubs hand or arm - whatever I was holding and I laughed. I laughed everytime something scared me {after I screamed of course}. It was just a huge rush and I loved every second of it. We enjoyed lunch in my jeep. We took our shoes off, kicked back and grubbed out for a good hour before we went back in to enjoy more rides.

I wish there were more pictures to show yall. But I can't say I didn't enjoy acting as if my phone never existed, because I did enjoy that and our day was perfect.

Just Scream

Hubs and I went to six flags on Sunday to celebrate our anniversary. We have both been before, but in 7 years we had never been to six flags together and it was the perfect day. I remember waiting in line to ride the roller coaster you see above. We waited an hour or so before we could ride it. All that anticipation building. You know those nerves beginning to climb, you are asking yourself if you should just get out of line because you aren't sure if you can handle that drop, you start fidgeting with your shirt or staring off in the distance wondering if you are crazy after all. 

But your turn finally comes. You climb into that seat and glance at the person next you and smile {for me I glanced at my husband and smiled} all the while your sitting their thinking "I can't do this. This was a bad idea. Maybe I should get off." You nervously glance at all the people around you, "No, I have to stick it out. I CAN do this." Then you begin that slow climb - that one that starts giving you butterflies and you are watching the world shrink below you. Then it comes, you go over that peak and woooossshhh you are going down the slope that you weren't sure you could do. 

& before you know it - a scream so loud and freeing is coming out of your mouth. For me, that scream was from all the excitement and fear that I just had to let it out and once I did. It felt so damn good.  Life is alot like that isn't it. All this anticipation builds up, stress, fear, worry - we are waiting, just waiting for that moment when we drop. But instead of being afraid of that drop, instead of letting it hold you down. Take that ride of your life and enjoy it - put your face in a pillow or go out somewhere far away from people and just scream and let that scream free you...

  

Live life

Today, on this beautiful Friday.

The start to a wonderful weekend {Hubby & I will be celebrating our 7 year anniversary}

All that I ask, is that this weekend

You live life.

{I got this  picture off of Facebook, I do not own it in any way shape or form}

Do something you've never done.

Spend a couple of days outdoors.

Whatever you do, shut your laptop down. Put away all your technology {Except maybe the camera ;) } and just simply live.

Happy Friday!

Let them be little

There is one thing I have learned while embracing life + being a mommy. It's teaching my kids to embrace life and to do this you gotta let them be little. Let them explore this little world around them.

That puddle you don't want them splashing in because they are going to get dirty - let them.

The walk they keep begging to go on - take them.

The way their eyes light up over the acorns on the ground - let them pick em up.

The way the want to explore their surroundings - let them.

There is no greater way to embrace life then through your child's eyes. They still have this pure, innocent view of the world. A view that around every corner a new adventure is waiting. 

So let them be little.

& you be little with them.

You will be surprised at how much of life you were missing out on when you see it through your child's eyes.

I do everything I do because I love them

With my life being crazy busy these days, I have had to reteach myself to slow down. To make sure that throughout the day my kids are getting enough of my attention. To make sure there is a time I "unplug" at night. To make sure I have that time with my husband. 

I'm not going to sugar coat it and say that it is. Now that I work full time from home as a Virtual Assistant + manage two blogs and all the aspects that come with those blogs, it is definitely hard to know when to stop. In between that, making sure my kids get enough of my time, my husband gets enough of my time & keeping our house in order - I am one tired lady at the end of the day. 

But there are moments, late at night - when all the world is sleeping and I lye awake and think about these things. I remind myself that I am setting two examples for my boys.

One - I am going to work hard to help provide for them.

Two - That I believed in one of my passion's enough to do something about it.

& that helps the busy days ahead, knowing that I am teaching them that if they really set their mind to something, there is nothing they can't achieve. I am letting them know that mommy wants so much for them, that yes she helps bring in money and thankfully from home. That I do everything I do because I love them and I want them to know that. I want them to know that those dreams they are going to have one day - can become reality even when raising a family. 

Stepping back

This past week I took a break from blogging. 

To focus on life.

To focus on my writing.

My work.

My boys.

My husband.

My family {sisters and parents}.

{Discipline is what you need to balance it all for sure}

I wanted to step away from the computer so much and just live. Do you ever have those times - where you just want to live life, be more involved in life? In life it can be so hard to balance it all and I learned a lot this past week. Like how much of my life is consumed by blogging.

{agreed}

and don't get me wrong - I love blogging but I love life more. 

So changes for me are coming.

Today, I encourage you - that if you are feeling overwhelmed with all you have to do. Just stop and take a break for as long as you like. Come back refreshed and ready to go again. It truly is good for the soul.

{These two graphics I pulled from facebook}

Four tips for getting back on track

The past week has been so crazy. We were sick for an entire week and trying to take care of yourself, sick kids, your house, working and be someone coherent to have a conversation with your husband when he gets home from work, can be so exhausting and take so much out of you and leave your house looking like a mess. Putting everything back together can seem like a completely unbelievable task, so here are a few tips that I use when this happens in our home.

One. Ask for help.

Biggest one. Sunday afternoon, my husband helped me clean and I couldn't thank him enough for that. As women we feel we should be able to do it all, but we can't always and asking for help is completely okay.

Two. Start slow.

Don't throw yourself back into cleaning your house full force, playing with the kids, doing all the laundry, making dinner, etc. You will burn out fast. Take it one room at a time and stop when it just seems to be too much that way you can do the other things you need to do.

Three. Write a schedule.

Schedule the next few days out. Even if it's a lose one. Write down what rooms you want to clean what day. What tasks need to get done, etc. This will help so much. Before you know it - everything will be crossed off that list.

Four. Make extra for dinner.

While you are trying to get back on track from everyone being sick for so long or being in a slump. Make a little extra for dinner that night, that way tomorrow you can have left overs so that omits cooking the next night and allows you to do the other things you need to get done.

Those are my top four tips. How do you get back on track after being majorly sick?

Broken

{Pulled it off facebook}

One thing that is true as ever is that quote above.

Things happen.

Life get's chaotic.

We get beaten down.

& we break. 

You are not alone in this. But remember that even though you feel broken, the pieces can be put back together again.

Inspire someone

There is this girl I know. She is actually my best friend and I remember seeing this and all I could think of was her. She unknowingly inspires me by simply being herself. She is so true to herself. Real. Honest. Funny. Sweet. It's an inspiration to know someone who can be all those things and more. Sometimes you just don't know when you are inspiring someone, you don't know that your words are lifting someone up. Your story is giving someone hope. Who you are in general is making someone happy. 

She is the type of friend who is always there for you. Listens to you. Gives you advice. Talks with you about the craziest conversations, which are hilarious. She is your rock in a hard place and you know she will always be there for you.

Do you have someone like that in your life? Are you that person for someone else? Inspire someone by simply being you.

Smile

Today.

I want to do something simple.

I want to make you smile,

so that way you feel that warm fuzzy feeling and you can pass it on.

So, SMILE! :)

{Via}

{Via}

{Via}

9/11

{via}

We will never forget 9/11.

Our prayers and thoughts are with those who lost loved ones on this tragic day.

On following the crowd

{I found this picture on facebook}

I absolutely love this quote. How often do you find yourself trying to follow the crowd? Trying to keep up with what everyone else is doing because you "should" be doing it too. I am not a big follower of crowds. Granted there are things that other's do that I enjoying doing as well, but for the most part. I try to do my own thing and be my own person.

So when you find yourself trying to follow the crowd. Remember that beautiful quote above.

Realizing who you are...

Growing up Cassie always loved to write. Notes, letters & in her journal. Now she has a passion for writing. She's loves Jesus. She's a wife to her high school crush & a mother to two beautiful little boys. She dreams big, loves entirely and lives life to the fullest. She believes laughter is the best medicine and embracing life is something she does with pleasure. Her blog is Live.Laugh.L0ve and she creates spontaneous designs in her handmade shop called The Spontaneous Designer. You can see more post by Cassie here.   

Apart of embracing life - is not only understanding yourself but realizing who you are. Figuring out how you go to where you are today. Reflecting on what made you who you are today. We all have a past, a history, a story - it comes with life.. Today I'm going to share a little bit of mine.

The beginning of my story is what people have told me. It is nothing that I can remember - but none the less it's where it all started...

November 21, 1988 my parents welcomed me into this world. 7 pounds 12 ounces - bald headed and extremely blue eyed. I no nothing of anything in between this day and the horror that struck my parents except this - I was a very sick baby/toddler. I was always getting sick, the doctors thought nothing of it but my parents knew something was wrong. Call it parental instinct if you will but the last time I got sick I was almost 2 years old.

I look at KJ and see the fun, energetic sweet little boy that he is and cringe at the idea of what my parents had to go through next. Like I said, I was sick again and my parents had had enough and rushed me to the hospital and demanded the doctors find out what was wrong with me. Multiple tests and an EKG later they found out I had a whole - big one - in my heart. I can only imagine the fear that shot through my parents.

The doctors told them that if they had waited any longer to bring me in - I wouldn't be here today. That opens your eyes quite a bit. That if my parents would have gone against their instinct and listened to the doctors when they said I just had a weak immune system I wouldn't be here. They rushed me into surgery and closed up the hole and I spent some time in the hospital recovering.

This part of the story is where I always find myself smiling because I have always been the type to bounce back fast. My dad told me 2 days after my surgery I was running around the hospital room as if nothing happened. I can just picture it, my little nightgown on running around on my short little toddler legs. Laughing and playing 2 days after I just had my chest split wide open. This happy little toddler that you would have never guessed by looking at her had just had open heart surgery.

That's who I am. I recover fast. Anyways, this next part is still me as well. While I'm running around like any toddler I trip and fall and slam right onto my chest. great. my dad flipped out - turns out I was okay and didn't do any damage. But still to this day - I am clumsy.

Like I said - figuring out who you are starts at the beginning of your life. There are things you did right from the start that make you who you are. Do a little soul searching, ask questions and find out if you are still the person that you were born as.

Which path would you choose?

Growing up Cassie always loved to write. Notes, letters & in her journal. Now she has a passion for writing. She's loves Jesus. She's a wife to her high school crush & a mother to two beautiful little boys. She dreams big, loves entirely and lives life to the fullest. She believes laughter is the best medicine and embracing life is something she does with pleasure. Her blog is Live.Laugh.L0ve and she creates spontaneous designs in her handmade shop called The Spontaneous Designer. You can see more post by Cassie here.     

A repost from my blog

I was going to do a vlog today. But I felt like writing instead. I feel like I can explain things and say things better with writing then I can trying to talk to a video camera. Which by the way - I'm awful at. My eyes never stay on the camera and I tend to say um. But that's off subject.

What I wanted to talk about today is something that is on my heart and it all seems to center around one thing. Life. My Life to be exact.

I don't know if it's because another birthday is coming up.
Or time seems to be at a stand still for me and I don't feel I'm moving forward.
Or if I'm just putting too much thought into things.

But I feel like I'm on this path. It is paved with beautiful stones the colors of the sunset, it's beckoning me too move forward, it's smooth as marble and as breathtaking as the sunset it was created after. There aren't many bumps in this road, it's safe. My kids are happy on this path and so is my husband. But we are all just happy - that is it. Because we played safe.

The path to my right is paved with every dream, wish & hope I've ever had. For myself, for my husband, for my children. I can see the various bumps and the detours along the way. It's beautiful and scary all at once. Some of my dreams are so close I feel if I reach my hand out just enough I can grasp them. Other's are so far away I feel like I could walk forever and never touch them. I can see my children continuing to grow up too fast right before my eyes and the love I have for my husband continue to soar. 


I feel like I'm living in this dream of not knowing which path to take. Do I want to play it safe, stay where I am and continue to be happy with life. Because I am happy. Or do I want to take the path that I feel I was meant for.. the path of the unknown and the beautiful. The path where I could be more than happy. 


I have new dreams forming along with old ones. I'm learning about myself as I go. I have taken on a new job {still working from home} and I hope to take on more. In a couple of years I hope to live another dream, even if it's for a short time & I'm still holding onto my dream of being a published author someday.


The sunset path may be the safest. But it won't get me where I'm meant to be. 
I will take the path of the unknown. Continue to be happy, roll with the bumps and detours and live this life I was given and give it all I have, give my children and my husband all I have. 
I won't live a mediocre life. I will live an extraordinary one. Because I was never meant to be ordinary.


I will continue to wake up each morning and rain kisses over my children's faces & kiss my husband a thousand times. As I take the path of the unknown, I know I will look into three beautiful faces and know that they believe in me and that we are all on this journey together.


I will know this is the path that was meant for me.

{Coffee date - linking up here}

I almost passed up this beautiful moment

Growing up Cassie always loved to write. Notes, letters & in her journal. Now she has a passion for writing. She's loves Jesus. She's a wife to her high school crush & a mother to two beautiful little boys. She dreams big, loves entirely and lives life to the fullest. She believes laughter is the best medicine and embracing life is something she does with pleasure. Her blog is Live.Laugh.L0ve and she creates spontaneous designs in her handmade shop called The Spontaneous Designer. You can see more post by Cassie here.    

After two weeks of being teased with the chance of rain. We finally got some.
KJ was sleeping & Jay immediately wanted to go outside when it had calmed down and was just lightly raining. I won't lie - my first reaction was going to be no. Because I had a list a mile long of things I needed to get done. But something told me just take him outside.


So there we went.
Short, t-shirts, no shoes.
Out into the rain.

At first we I just sat on the porch while the rain fell lightly like a feather floating from the sky. I let the cool breeze only found during the summer rain whip around me. I watched Jay drive his train along the cracks in the driveway - he seemed so incredibly happy.

But a voice inside my head told me to get up and enjoy this moment with him.
So I did.

I let that feather light rain wash over. I walked hand in hand with Jay up in down the street - splashing in puddles and laughing. We raced up and down the driveway. We spun in circles until we thought we were going to throw up. And we laughed. Boy, did we laugh.

For the first time in a long time. I let the rain wash away my to-do list. I let it clear my mind. I let the cool breeze engulf me and I appreciated it. I talked with my little one and laughed with him. I embraced the moment. A moment I almost didn't take the time to do. A moment I could have never had with him. He reminded me that once upon a time I used to love being out in the rain. Jay reminded me to take the time to appreciate it.

And as the rain stopped.
As our fun was coming to an end.
We witnessed the most beautiful sky after the storm.
Jay could only keep saying "Mommy looks at the pretty colors."
It was a moment I will cherish forever.