Enough

Just popping in for a little update on our life. I would apologize for being MIA the paste several months (Or year... or however long its been), but I decided in 2015 to relish every day, and that's exactly what I have been doing. So #sorrynotsorry.

Though it might not look like much has changed, a lot actually has. I've spent the last year and a half learning about what God wants for me and who He wants me to be. In the past, I have wasted so so so much time burdening myself down with the weight of this world. Even good work is not always God's work for us. He convicted me of spreading myself so thin, that I had no time or energy left for Him. I no longer feel like I have to do or be everything. I no longer allow myself to feel guilty for not doing or being everything. I am not everything, nor am I supposed to be everything. Neither is my husband, or my children, or anyone else. God is everything. I am enough. All I have to be is His. All I have to do is what He calls me to. I am planning to write more on these specific things.

 

Ephesians 2:10 ~ For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

which God prepared in advance for us to do.

 

Matthew 11:29-30 ~ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

 

Mom and I closed our daycare in August. I started homeschooling Bunny (now almost 6) and Squirrely (now three and a half). The are amazing little people and I am so grateful to spend everyday with them. We have a very laid back style. Kindergarten is great because we only spend about an hour (broken up into 2 or 3 or even 4 sections throughout the day) to get everything done. For Bunny this includes math, writing, reading, art, and unit studies which are either science, history, or literature, depending on what we are studying at the time. In January, we learned about the calendar and seasons, with a little moon and planets thrown in. Right now we are on classic fairy tales. Why fairy tales? Because we can. Homeschooling equals freedom for us. It means we can learn what we want, when we want, from wherever we want. It means we can up and go to the beach for a week and not have to worry about following a school schedule.

 

 

Homeschooling overall is actually a lot easier than I expected. The hardest part is having Mousey (now 16 months) underfoot. She wants to be a part of everything, but can't sit still or participate in much at this point. She is a little ball of energy and so much fun.

 

 

 

A side effect of not having daycare kids to play with every day is that Bunny and Squirrel have become the best of friends. I can hardy believe that a year ago they barely got along.

Now Mousey is joining in. They are a great group of girls.

 

 

We are still back and forth between WV and NC.

My husband's job is still here and our hearts are still there.

 

 

Leaning to relish, meant learning to look at life as an adventure.

Even the hard tings are just the up hill part of the journey.

 

What a crazy beautiful messy amazing adventure it is.

 

 

 

New Blue Room

Papa and I have been slowing making our NC house a home. We started with a  total redo of  the bathroom, then painted the family room (still have some odds and ends to do in there), and now the girls' room.

                          BEFORE...

                            AFTER!

 The bed was mine and Papa's. We upgraded to a king and I couldn't bare to part with it. It works well since this room will be shared by both Bunny and Squirrely. They are used to sleeping together in our bed, so it makes sense for them to feel more comfortable sharing a bed in their own room.

I got the netting on Amazon for around $10. A must have for every little girl's room.

 

 

The bedding was a Bed in a Bag from Kohl's. The fairy pillow we bought handmade/used. Mermaid and Horsey are Bunny's.

We actually have another little pillow by

Natural Life that my baby sister got for me. It goes with the room perfectly... When I came in to take pictures, it was no where to be found... I still don't know where it is... No clue...

 

The butterflies were a birthday gift to Squirrely. They just belonged here. Miss Mousey seems to think the should be lowered a bit for her convenience.

I got this vintage lampshade at Goodwill for a buck. I grabbed a $5 lamp at walmart to go with it.

The dressor, shelf and end table were actually pieces that were in Bunny's nursery (that she never slept in). I just gathered some secknd hand things and painting the to match.

Thrifted knick knacks and some art from ... fit here perfectly.

The bassinet I used for my wee ones is now a home for dolls. Walmart curtains and rod, and a bunting I made from scrapbook paper and twine... 

And on the opposite wall, a poster of one of our favorite quotes, finishes out the dormer space beautifully.

 

Needless to say, I'm in love with this space. The girls love it too. 

Just A Mom

I have worked, at least part time, since I was 15. In the early years of our marriage, I brought in the majority of the income. When the babies came, I just added them to the mix of daycare children. When Squirrely was a baby, Papa got a better paying job, and could now completely support us on what he made. But it was not a permanent position, so I kept working just in case. When I was pregnant with Mousey, he finally got on full time, I worked full time though the rest of my pregnancy, but when she was born, I looked down at her and at my older two and knew I was ready to be "just a mom". I finished out the school year and then the summer. A couple of weeks ago, the last ones went to school. Ten months after I first decided, I am now "just a mom".

Going for a un with my big girl...

Funny how those words actually mean so much. How being less is actually being more.

Shopping shenanigans... 

I can remember when my mom was just a mom of three. Homeschooling and having adventures and living life with us. I think those are the best memories of my childhood. I often refer to those days as "the golden years". Not everything was perfect, and not everything was happy all the time, but when I think about the kind of mom I want to be, what kind of life I want for my girls, that is it. 

Those piggies though...

My biggest challenge is the internet. It can be so so so good and have so much help and information... But it can be so so so time sucking too. I need to be careful about that... I am better when I strictly limit my internet time. Right now it is rest time so I am ok... But I have to be careful because even good intentions can lead me astray.  

Sweet sisters...

For now, we are figuring a lot of things out. We've started homeschooling and it is going great. I want to get on more of a routine with housework. Since we live with my parents, I dont do really any of the cooking, so I feel like I should be able to get in a laundry and cleaning rhythm. I have been working on decluttering to make everything easier and flow better. 

Sooo helpful with the laundry...

We are also going back and forth to NC a lot. We have the eight hour drive down to an art (art can still be messy lol) and I am hoping to do a post about road trips with kids pretty soon. Now that I am not working, we have a lot more freedom and I am looking forword to the adventures ahead. 

God is good. I love my life!

Thrifty Thursday: Thrift Haul

We are in NC for the week and we decided to hit up some thrift shops in the area. This was my first time thrifting here and I was thrilled with the amount if thrift stores and the things I found. 

At the first store, my sister grabbed up this bag. 

I later found an awesome belt in her size and she ditched the bag in favor of the belt. I, of course, bought the bag, along with this tiny doll that my Squirrely fell in love with and named Stella (she names everything Stella). The bag was marked $4 and the doll was 50 cents. Everything was 20% off, so I got a steal.

(I think they look alike)

At the next store I found this little cropped sweater in my size. $4 :) 

The next stop was a consinment shop so the prices were higher, but I still found some things to buy.  The fairy necklace was a must for my girls. I basically bought the other, so they wouldn't fight over the one... And cause mom wants to borrow it from them lol. They were $8 each which was prob too much lol.

I also found a necklace and ear ring set for myself. $10

Nice loose, but not baggy t-shirt for half price making it $3.

I bought this top for Katie... She was out of thrifting money I just felt like it was too "her" to pass up. $7.

As we were leaving the consignment shop,  we realized there was another thrift store right across the street. We popped in. Not ten seconds in the door and I spotted these ear rings for a buck.

Kids clothes were only a dollar too, so I found a few things for my big girls. 

(They had to wear these dresses as soon as we got home)

As we were about to leave, mom and I both saw this blue dress at the same time. $5.  

(It fits me perfectly)

P.S 

I had seen some bath towels that I fell in love with at the first store. They didn't match my bathroom at all so I reluctantly left them behind. While on the island that evening,I looked up and saw some towels hanging from a balcony. They could have been either bath towels or beach towels and it dawned on me that I could use the thrift store ones for beach towels too... So, while out with the hubs, I ran back in the first thrift store and they were still there! Two for a dollar, but the sale made them 85 cents for both!

They worked great!

Thanks so much for checking out my thrifting adventures!

To DIY For

On a recent date with Papa, we stopped in a thrift store. I found a pair of jean shorts, on a clearance rack for $1. They were too small for me, but I tend to pick up amazing things no matter the size because someone in my family can wear it. I had my sister, Katie, in mind. I also had a major refashion in mind. My dear little sister forced a fake smile, but I could see her disbelief that these "mom shorts" could ever be cute... Oh, ye of little faith!

I chopped off about two inches. I could have gone a little shorter, but didnt really want to make them into short shorts. It's a fine line between bermuda shorts and Daisy Dukes. I also took in the legs a bit cause the were really wide.

I distressed several places, but made sure that none of the holes would show too much skin in the wrong places.

Lastly, I cut triangles in the sides and sewed in some old lace to add a nice detail.

 

I washed and dryed them twice so all the distressing would fray. Popped them out of the dryer and voilà!

A success, if I do say so myself.

Her whole outfit was thrifted for grand total of eight dollars. I love it. She loves it... What's not to love?

A Gift of Love

I write this post with a full heart. My cup runneth over with love and pride. My five year old daughter, Bunny, has decided to cut off nine inches of her gorgeous golden locks to donate to Children With Hair Loss.

My little girl is not so little anymore.

 

The curls are still there, about which her Papa was worried.

She still looks as adorable as ever, though a bit more grown up.

Inspired by his little cousin, The Boy (after reading the donation form) asked to donate some of his spending money to buy a hat for a child with hair loss.

My almost three year old, Squirrelly, wanted to send her hair too, but it isn't long enough so she settled for decorating the envelope.

Sending out love to the recipients of these gifts. I hope you feel as blessed as I do.

For more information on Children With Hair Loss, or to learn more about making a donation click the link here: http://www.childrenwithhairloss.us/