Back at it...again. And flexbreak.

Decided I need to start blogging again. I'm def going to revamp the blog and update it and start afresh! It needs to happen.

Where better to start than today, since was awesome. Was able to meet Karena and Katrina from Tone It Up, the work out plan/mentors that I follow. Was really neat, got some cute pics. This year's bikini series has been way better having my TIU buddy, my beautiful, fit sister-in-law, Erin. Love having thy accountability and someone to go the distance with me. It's made it way more fun! Got to meet some other ladies that I've only known through cyber world and hoping to connect with even more of them in the future.

Later in the day, we spent time with our Pastor and his wife. Just another few of our favorite peeps. Really can't put into words the blessing they and the rest of our church family are. Had a great din and convo at Cheesecake Factory and we're just now home and settling into bed at like 1030 pm. I'm wiped.

One of my favorite parts of today was my #flexbreak in the dressing room (accompanied by my husband and my army of tiny people) at Lorna Jane (totally worth of it's own blog.  Let's just say Lululemon has some stiff competition for my heart and my husband's wallet) MamaLaughlin and SkinnyMeg started this trend and I think it's hilarious to see flexbreak pics in random places. So flex, snap, post and hash. #flexbreak

Make sure you find me on Instagram @psap_tiu

Proud Mommy Moment

I signed up to help in Madison's Kindergarten class on Wednesdays and today was my first day.  All the kids were pretty well behaved and were a joy getting to work with and help.  I sat at a table and helped them make "Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do you See?" books of their own.  So much fun!

Madison really just made my heart happy today.  She is such a beautiful little person on the inside and out.  She makes me so proud.  She was more than happy to include the new girl in their play time at recess and she was so sweet to her friends. She can be a little bossy at home with her brother and sister, but at school she was very inclusive, helpful and sweet.  She followed directions from the teacher and today she happened to be the line leader.  Even at the young age of 5, I see so many leadership qualities in her.  She definitely knows how to rally the troops.  I also learned she was placed in the highest reading group.  Not gonna lie, pretty stoked about that.

On top of all this, she loves Jesus at such a young age and I'm looking forward to watching her grow more in Him and come to even more of an understanding of who He is and his purpose for her life.

I'm not one to constantly brag about ever move my kid makes, but today I am just abundantly blessed and wanted to share what the Lord is doing in my little Madison's life.  Today was also great validation of the choices Josh and I have made for our kids.  Seems like most of them were met with opposition whether it was to not put them in pre-school, daycare or to do homeschooling or this extra-curricular vs that one.  Everyone's kids are different and we made the right choices for ours. Every child is unique and will learn differently from other kids.  I would totally encourage parents to never think there is a cookie cutter way to educate your child and to look into all the different options available today, there are SO many!

Super proud of my little girl today and it was so much fun to see such different personalities of all the little people.  All of them so unique and precious.  Go hug the little people in your life and let them know you are proud of them!

Unexpected Blessing

I have definitely been feeling a little down still about not being in our own home, especially w/ the holidays coming quickly upon us.  As we drove home from dinner, I pondered: Am I just being materialistic and ungrateful for what the Lord has blessed us with? Don't get me wrong, I know I'm blessed.  We have someone who has opened their home to us, healthy babies, a growing business, an amazing church family, and wonderful family and friends.  We moved out of our own home into other's thinking we'd be in our own house in 6-8 months. Wrong. God has changed our game plan a few times and here we are almost 2 years later. :(

Tonight our friend Rob stopped by and shared some stuff that really humbled me and encouraged me.  Josh and I were both super blessed by the time and conversation with him.  There is something about talking with fellow believers about God's word, reading scripture, praying together, just having Christ as the foundation of a friendship that brings so much joy to my heart.  God continues to surround us with more and more godly friendships. Priceless.  

Isaiah 43:1-4

 But now, this is what the LORD says—
   he who created you, Jacob,
   he who formed you, Israel: 

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
   I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
   I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
   they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
   you will not be burned;
   the flames will not set you ablaze.
 For I am the LORD your God,
   the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
   Cush and Seba in your stead.
 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
   and because I love you.

Isaiah 43:1-4

I had these great plans to recap my weekend in this blog and talk about some of things I've been pondering, but then I heard this verse in a James MacDonald message about insecurity and decided I would just post this and be meditating on it this week.  

God's love blows me away, humbles me and brings tears to my eyes.  

9/11 thoughts

Looking at all the pictures from 9/11, it still seems surreal.  It makes me ill how many innocent people died that day and even more ill thinking about all the firefighters that ran INTO that building, no clue it would come down.  If only they could have just evacuated it, but it is what it is and here we are 10 years later.  I still bawl like a baby watching the replays of the attacks, hearing the stories.  Gives me great joy and relief that this September 11th Osama is no longer walking this earth. I'm so proud to be an American and I'm so grateful for all men and women who have served our country in any way, shape and form.  And thank you to President George W. Bush for not being a coward in the wake of terror, you are one of the greatest this country has ever seen. Words cannot express.

Thank You.

What is my deal??

So last weekend I washed my blackberry in the washing machine. Awesome.  Our Pastor had an older, extra blackberry that I could have to use.  A few days later we realized I was eligible for an early upgrade so I ordered a new phone set to come on Tuesday.  A Samsung Fascinate.  It has pretty good reviews.  So as luck would have I dropped my loaner phone into my coffee. Seriously?? I am demented.  I feel so bad because we were gonna give it back to my Pastor so the next idiot to wash their phone could borrow it, but I had to be that idiot TWICE.  I have 3 kids and yet I was the one who ruined 2 phones in ONE week.  #whaddyagonnado?

The girls are with my Dad tonight and I miss them.  It's nice to get a break and I know they have a blast, but I always start to miss them like crazy when they're gone.

Today Josh worked a full day and had, Rob Jewel, work with him and he is quickly becoming a good friend.  Can't even begin to describe how blessed we have been in the friend department in the last couple years.  We had us some Gina's pizza tonight and I popped into my favorite boutique that's right there, Pretty In Pink Boutique.  Holly, the owner, was telling me she is having a girl's night out event on Thursday, Sept. 15th.  I missed the last one and def wanna go to this one, any other takers?? Some Gina's and then some "perusing"...notice I didn't say "shop". Shannon, I know you wanna go...Gina's...nom nom nom. I got 2 tops there tonight and if I wasn't already typing this straight from my bed I would totally take pictures and put them up, they are the short boxy tees.  One in charcoal, the other teal.  I really want this top:

Ok, well I better go to bed or I'll be hatin' life tomorrow...

I ain't no quitter...

...however, I am also not a 'juicer'. My last sips of my lunch juice were pure torture to get down my throat. I don't know how anyone does that for 10 days, let alone some 30 or 60. BLEH! So I took my juicer back to Target and had me some Gina's Pizza then headed to Disneyland with the family. That sounded way more appealing than choking down one more of those heinous drinks and feeling like I could kill someone at any given second. I. Needed. Coffee. Yep, I'm weak and addicted to food. Oh well, at least I'm honest.

I am definitely feeling challenged to start cooking healthier meals for the family, although when I cook, they are pretty decent. I use lots of ground turkey and we eat poultry and veggies, but I want to fins a cookbook with healthy recipes for kids that I sneak some micronutrients into stuff that tastes good to them. My little Levi is hooked on Almond Milk and will hardly touch the regular stuff. My girls will drink it, too, but don't care either way.

In other bits of news, Madison's first week of school was awesome. She loves it and I LOVE that it's only 3 days a week.

We also bought a truck this weekend. Hooray! We've been sharing one vehicle for almost 3 years. It's been rough. We named her 'Ruby' and she's Fab.

That's it for today. Ignore my last post. That was very impulsive. Usually, I'm very aware of my limitations, clearly I was a little overzealous. We're just gonna pretend it never happened. Back to my cup of coffee. G'night! xoxo