Water, Water, Everywhere....Not a Drop In Sight!

As you all know-we were evacuated due to a fire that was about a mile away from our house.  At the very end of our subdivision there is lots of grassy fields where the fire was.  It was quite a scary moment.  It all happened so quickly that I felt like I was in a movie.  We were driving home from school (which is on the other side of town) and could see this huge plume of smoke.  I checked it out on my news app and realized it was off from 191 & 1788-tome that means Odessa-no biggie.  As I was getting closer to my house there was a light smoke around us which continue to get thicker as I got closer and closer to home.

I pulled onto Midland drive from Wall St. and could barely see a few blocks down the road at the Thomason intersection.  It all seemed so close but I was still thinking Odessa-but wow!  Bill was in Odessa working trying to get home.  At this point 191 was closed so he was looking for an alternate route.  So, I pulled into our driveway and ran inside to do our normal after school routine but put the tv on to see what was going on.  Then it was like minutes later that the fire jumped and part of our subdivision was being evacuated.  I checked with my neighbors to see what they were doing and on my way back in my mom called and I just lost it for a brief moment on the phone.  She was telling ke just to leave not to worry about getting things-just get out!  Smoke was all around me, I had specks of ashes on my skin, I could hardly breath.  So, I calmed down, got off the phone, and went inside & started to pack up a few things as Bill & I had always discussed.

I realized in that moment that nothing had any value to me.  I had nothing of great value that I had to pack.  I always thought I would bring the baby books, and pictures in a moments notice but I didn't.  I grabbed a change of clothes for everyone, a couple toiletries, our computer, camera, camcorder, and 2 orders I needed to mail out for some customers.  I also grabbed my box with all of our important papers in it.  (at least I am a little organized with the things that matter)  As I was bringing things out to the van our neighbor stopped over to see if I needed help with the kids but I assured her we were fine & about to leave.  Gabe packed 2 backpacks, and Lily grabbed her blankies, her zebra & pluto.  At this point I still had no idea how close Bill was to even getting home.  I packed the kids into the van, grabbed both the dogs & headed to my mother in law's house.

As I backed out of my driveway-I lost it again.  Just for a moment as I said a quick prayer & begged God for safety of our home & the fire fighters.  I turned down the road & headed for Midland Drive.  As I waited in line with my neighbors as we tried to exit the area I realized how crazy it all was.  I was going through my first fire evacuation without Bill, my dogs were both whimpering in the van, Gabe was asking questions, Lily was whining for the music to be louder, cars every where, smoke every where...and then I finally made it out onto Midland Drive.  I tried to call Bill-no service!  Seriously, I felt like I stepped out of a movie.  I had little, black, ashes all over my clothes & skin.  I was sitting bumper to bumper in traffic trying to escape.

The cops had all the major roads blocked off to my left.  After waiting for over 20 minutes we finally made it a few blocks through the Illinois intersection-we were free & clear to get to my MIL's house to wait out the evacuation!  Bill still on his way home-finally arrived at the house-picked up a few things he wanted to get & said he couldn't see 5 houses down because the smoke was so thick.  I am so glad we left!

During the midst of this all-I realized how sometimes when we feel like we have no friends or are all alone-we get stuck in the woe is me-every body hates me-guess I'll go eat worms-type perspective-we are so wrong.  We received so many texts & phone calls from our friends saying that they were praying for us.  That there homes were open if we needed them.  They were here for us.  We felt so blessed.  So loved.  So grateful for all of our friends around us.

Once the evacuations were lifted, we waited a little longer for some of the smoke to dissipate and we finally came home.  It was a long, emotional, night.  But the things that really truly mattered the most to me were standing right in front of me the whole night.  What else matters?  Nothing!

Thank you God for sparing our homes & for refreshing our perspectives on what is important in this life.  Please God send us rain-we desperately need it!

For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away...James 4:14

Every Victory Is Yours

I had to come back and revist our worship & sermon this past Sunday...I got swept away before the throne and overcome with great joy as I stood there and worshiped!  We were singing a song that we sang often when we first moved to Midland.  At the time I clung to this song because my prayer was that He would not let me go.  I would weep, and beg for God to just show us that He was holding us.   That He was going to show up.  That He was going to provide for us.  We often felt so alone & unsure why we were even in Midland but knew this is where God wanted us.  We were going through great financial struggles.  My heart was so heavy and burdensom that I just hoped and prayed God would reveal his plan to us.  The emotions of how I felt 5 years ago flooded my soul how I just wanted to find rest.

I can see the light that is coming for the heart that holds on there will be an end to these troubles but until that day comes still I will praise you, still I will praise you.

Regardless of my circumstances-I was to praise Him.  Even if I didn't know where Bill's next job was coming from or if we would even have money for the rent.  I was to praise him.  This song always brought great comfort because I believed He would take care of us with my whole heart.


If my God is with me, whom than shall I fear, whom then shall I fear?  Oh no you never let go through the calm and through the storm.  Oh no you never let go in every high and every low.  Oh no you never let go of me.  Lord you never let go of me.


This Sunday I could stand there and sing with great passion that He truly will never let us go.  He is my great PROVIDER!  He is FAITHFUL!  He is my HOPE!  I will ALWAYS TRUST HIM!

I will fear no evil, for my God is with me. ..


I got so caught up with emotion because our journey has been hard, wearisome, and challenging.  I remember one thing our Pastor said when we went through the series War of the Wills and he said that when the going gets tough most people just throw in the towel-and I believe we didn't do that.  We clenched our fists and knew God was going to bring us through that winter season and into a summer time.  He did just that.  It got harder before it got easier, for sure!

The very next song we sang was Overcome...seriously?

All authority, every victory is yours.  Savior worthy of honor and glory worthy of all of our praise you overcame.  Jesus awesome in power forever awesome and great is your name for you overcame.


I get so overjoyed that I can't hardly breath because of the angst inside of my soul.  He is so REAL.  He is so WORTHY of our PRAISE!  He is so FAITHFUL!  He is so LOVING!  He is MY GOD!  I PRAISE HIM for all the blessings in my life.   I give Him all the HONOR & GLORY!

I am alive because I am alive in you.  It's all because of JESUS I am alive.  It's all because the blood of Jesus Christ. That covers me and raised this dead man's life.  It's all because of JESUS!

Then Patrick got up & gave us message that will rip you apart.  I think I am still trying to digest it.  I sure hope you stop for a moment this week and listen to it.  It truly will rock your world!

Why I LOVE The Gym

This morning I brought Gabe to school like most days & was going to hit up the gym afterwards...like most days.  I had been playing phone tag with a customer & for some reason I wasn't getting her text messages.  So, as I left the house this morning I still hadn't heard from her about if we were meeting or not.  So, I went on with my morning & did what I normally do most days.  I get Lily checked in, run upstairs & get settled up on my elliptical.  Water-check, Towel-check, Magazine-check, Music blasting through my earbuds-check, people watching-check, check, check!  :-)  (I love to people watch)  I am finishing up my warm-up & my phone rings and it is my customer!  So, I do what most people would do-I agree to meet her.  In 30 minutes!  Customer's come first, right?  So, 6 minutes in I get down from the elliptical, I run back downstairs & get Lily.  Rush out to the car & go meet my customer so she can drop off her gift to her child's teacher.  I tell you all this because once I got back into my car I told Lily we are going back to the Y so Mommy can workout.  She proceeds to cry hysterically so I decided it wasn't worth it & I would just get on the treadmill when I got home.  I told her in the car once we get home you need to go in your room & play while mommy is on the treadmill.  Yes Ma'me she says through her tears.  So, she does just that...this is why I love the gym...as I work out...I never hear....

I can't find my baby
I can't find my bottle
Whining.....
Can you open my house?
I need to go potty
Can I come out yet?
Crying...
I want to watch toons
I can't get my tutu on
Can I come out?
Whining...
Please mommy...

After 30 minutes-that's all just 30 minutes I am done.  I can't take much more yelling to her because I am yelling over my music, over the treadmill, through my heavy breathing.  It is not enjoyable at all.  I am frustrated, I am annoyed, I just want 30 minutes!

While at the gym I get to...
Put Lily in the nursery to socialize with other kids her age
She gets to play with toys, have a snack
I get to put my earbuds in, listed to my christian music
Flip through a magazine-the whole thing-from cover to cover
I don't have to listen to any whining (unless it's me)
I don't have to watch cartoons
I have 60-90 minutes of pure, sweaty, bliss!
I get to leave feeling refreshed by God's goodness as I soak in his truths through my music.  I am ready to pick up my child.  I am feeling like I stopped & actually took care of myself.  I feel so much better!

Thank God for new days.  I am ready to hit the gym again in the morning-like most days!

Pretty Pretty Princess

One of Lily's favorite things is to dress up as a pretty, pretty, princess!  Some days it's a princess ballerina.  

One day she will realize she already is a beautiful princess!  

We are God's MASTERPIECE.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.  Eph. 2:10

Have a blessed Wednesday friends!

Mother's Day

I am so glad I can finally post!  My blog has been down the past couple days I have tried to get on!  I hope y'all had a fabulous Mother's Day!  Here's a little peek into what we did!

Mother's Day Spa Escape

in Gabe's Class. 

Mrs. Putnam totally went above & beyond for her class!  She set up this little "retreat" for all of the moms.  It was so much fun.  Once we arrived we received a bag from our child with a little tag on it with his picture in it.  Super cute :-)  The picture is really nice too!  Inside the bag had a craft for us to do, an eye mask, and instructions about our day.  We made his cute little frame, took turns giving each other a massage, putting lotion on & eating!  We had some yummy pinwheels, cheese & crackers, cake & a tea punch!  So much fun!  Did I say that already??

On Mother's Day-I felt like I got to do all of my favorite things!  First of all my kids spent the night at my mom's house so I got to wake up kidless-I know it was MOTHER'S DAY and I should be with my kids but it was GREAT!  I got to get up, get dressed, and Bill treated me to some Starbucks before church-serisouly?  He also bought me this fabulous necklace!  I LOVE it!  It has the kids names & the year they were born.

He got it at lilly ellen designs on etsy!  Super fabulous!  I will cherish it forever!

After getting home from church my mom & dad came over & we had some breakfast burritos.  My mom brought me this gift the kids made-a cookbook (I forgot to take a picture of it) that was filled with recipes I like to make i.e chicken salad, tomato salad, pancakes, waffles, chocolate chip cookies.  Let's just say I have never made waffles in my life unless they have come out of the freezer or it was at a continental breakfast at a hotel.  :-)  But hey they can think I make them, haha!  Gabe also spent HOURS making me this amazing banner.  I wonder where he got the idea to make a banner, lol.  Isn't it so fun?  It decorates our hallway.  I might just need to leave it up forever!

We also snagged a few pictures of me & the kids!

Gabe and I made some chocolate covered strawberries together!

I said I got to do what I loved!  So Gabe & I planted over 40 plants that day!  So maybe it was more me than him but hey he still helped!  Check out the before & after!

We planted 6 tomato plants, 4 peppers, several different herbs & lots of flowers!

We even busted out the slip n slide!  Yes I did go down it!

We wrapped up our day with a big turkey dinner-who says you can only have turkey once a year??

I love to cook for my family!  I also made 2 banners before bed!  

I got to go get coffee, praise Jesus at church, play with my kids, cook, plant, play some more, spend time with my family & create stuff-can it get much better?  

Here are a few pictures of flowers from around our yard!  May you soak in the beauty of our creator today!  Hope you all had a great Mother's Day!

Happy Easter!

I feel like I start every blog post with how busy I am but seriously I am!  My business is keeping me so busy & just life is keeping me busy!  I am looking forward to summer!

I thought I would share a couple pictures from Gabe's kindergarten performance last week.  

Maybe I can get a little video clip up later of them singing.  It was super cute!

Here's a little glimpse into our Easter filled weeks!  We always kick off our season with some Jello eggs. I think it might be one of the highlights of Easter for Gabe!  I think he just likes making things!

We thought it would be a fun treat to bring them to his classmates at school.  They were a hit!

Although I don't have any pictures of it we love doing the resurrection eggs with our kids each year.  I think I might do them as long as they will allow me to.  I think they are a great way to tell your kids about the REAL meaning of Easter in a fun, exciting way!  We always hide the eggs, 2 each night, and they can find them.  We read them the story & scripture for each egg.  The night before Easter we review what each of the items are in the eggs & talk about it.  Super fun!

Also, have I mentioned that Gabe is on the fence of salvation?  I think if we would let him he would "pray the prayer."  I know what some of you are thinking....let him....but to us it is WAY bigger than just praying the prayer.  It does him no good to pray it if he doesn't really understand it.  We really don't want to sway his decision.  He has been talking about it A LOT lately.  My prayer is that God will show Gabe when it is the right time & us!  Pray that we have wisdom!

On a lighter note, check out these pictures from his school egg hunt & party!

On Good Friday we had friends over to color eggs!

Saturday my fabulous, amazing, kind hearted, hard working husband finished our patio so we could use it this weekend.  Check out his amazingness.

He added the wall with a double door gate.  I planted all the flowers for it-we got a lemon tree!

He also finished this little project for my kitchen!

We have an addition on our house so we have this window in our kitchen that looks into our sunroom (a.k.a Sarah's craft room) and we normally have a curtain up but I was ready to get rid of it.  Check out that super fabulous chalkboard!  I CANNOT wait to fill it up with scripture!

Saturday night I made resurrection cookies with my kids.  I love doing this because you can read right from God's word and teach them about Easter.  It is so hands on!  Lily obviously didn't get it...she participated in it but Gabe did.

Before bed we finished up our resurrection eggs and read from the bible about Christ dying on the corss & rising from the grave!  Hallelujah!

 Today we got to celebrate that Jesus is alive!

It's so funny to see how the enemy works.  We all got up early but took our time getting ready.  The kids were all ready to go so I quickly showered but then realized how late it was.  I had no time left to dry my hair or anything.  I threw on some clothes (nothing I wanted to wear of course) and got in the van & went to church.  Somewhat upset that I didn't look the way I had planned but my kids did.  :-)

Once I got there I received a call from my brother telling me that my grandma, Nana, wasn't going to make it.  She has been in a nursing home for several years now and we knew the end was coming near but I just wasn't thinking today.  They told the family it would probably be within the next 2 days.  I just lost it on the phone.  I was sobbing as I dropped Lily off.  At that moment I didn't care what I looked like.  I was actually glad I had no makeup on.  I wouldn't have raccoon eyes.  :-)  It brought great sadness to my heart, a heaviness.  I have the, "I wishes...."   I wish I was able to go home to see her last week with my mom.  I wish my kids knew who she was.  I wish she (and Jopa) could see how God has blessed my life.  I wish she could see how successful I am.  Maybe not to the worlds standards but to Christ's.  My life is full & rich.  

I am glad soon her pain will go away.  She will be looking into the face of the almighty God!  She will be dancing with the angels!  Her life will be full of joy.  Full of happiness.  With Jopa by her side!  Needless to say, the rest of our day was kind of heavy.  The unspoken words.  Waiting.  Praying.  Loving on each other.  Cherishing the moments together with family.

This is how we spent the rest of our day....

We had brunch & dinner at my house!  I love that I am able to cook for my family and serve them.  It brings me great joy!  I love that we have family here to spend the day with.  I am glad we have a savior who has risen from the grave and has given us freedom and overflowing joy in Him!  

Weekend Wrap-up

We kicked off our fabulous weekend celebrating all of Gabe's hard work and accomplishment when he received his yellow belt at Tae Kwon Do!

Then Friday night we had a date night planned.  Yes a date night!  They don't happen very often but we are quite intentional about doing them as much as possible.  A good way to keep us accountable is our split membership with Jake & Jess to the local community theater!  We went to their beautiful home for dinner, amazing ribs & chicken!  (craved them all weekend)  Then off to to the theater!

Saturday morning we had the farmer's market and once again I didn't get any pictures.  Not because I forgot my camera but because it was so windy I was trying to keep my paper goods from blowing away.  But my fabulous husband watched my booth so I could bring the kids down to the YMCA for their kids day & sign us up!

I spent my entire Saturday cleaning & organizing my house...more pictures to come later with all that!  But I couldn't wait to show y'all my new stools.  Well, they are not new new I just redid them & they are super fabulous now!  I love them!

aren't they so cute??

Amidst all of our cleaning, purging, and organizing, Lily thought it would be a good weekend to start tee teeing on the potty, what?  seriously?  now?  Let me tell you this...it has been amazing!  She's just doing it.  She's so independent.  I'm so proud of her!  We always fret over the whole potty training thing (I did more with Gabe than Lily) but when they are ready to do it they will and it is stress free!

We figured since she was using the potty it was time to convert the crib.  Yes, I said it, convert the crib into a bed.  It has been a little emotional.  We are done with the crib...for good.  Kind of bittersweet!

But she absolutely LOVES her "big girl" bed.  She has to get in and out all by herself.  I love it!

All day Saturday our poor community battled fires.  One huge fire claiming 40 structures and more than 16,000 acres.  The smoke seemed like it was so close.  This was out our front door over our neighbor's house.

So scary.  To think of the few things we would grab if evacuated.  The rest is quite meaningless.

We wrapped up our weekend with a trip to the Y for the family swim!  We will put our new membership to good work!

Hope y'all had a great weekend too!  Blessings!