When They Grow Up.....

If y'all have been around my blog for long

then you know of my deep love for 

my boy Dak.

When I first started this blog

he was a freshman in high school.

Things have changed so very much 

in almost six years.  

We have had many happy moments,

and many sad.

We have survived a rebellion of epic 

proportions

and many ups and downs.

Today we just really like hanging out together.

This boy has grown up.

He is still a wanderer in many ways,

but I trust the LORD, 

my Covenant keeping God.

He knows.

He does.

Just as a way of encouragement mama's,

especially of teenagers or even tweens.....

your children really do love you.

They need you.

You may think they hate you.

They don't.

They may spend a season in the wilderness,

love them.

deep.

Pray for them.

hard.

Enjoy them while they are home.

When they leave your house,

it.is.excruciating.

Then when they have lived some life,

with its ups and downs,
and ins and outs,

they will appreciate you.

The look in their eyes will tell you 

they do.

The little, hey mom wanna have lunch.

Means the world!

Dak will always be my little boy,

but he is grown.

I respect him.

I love him.

He is my sweet, sweet son.

Here we are back in the day.

And here we were are on Tuesday.

The above picture was of obligation.

The bottom is because he loves me =)

He is the sweetest.

Silly then.....

Silly now =)

And he plays so beautifully.

I put just a tiny snippet on Instagram 

a couple nights ago.

He really started playing in earnest 

after he moved from home.

Funny how that happens.

I taught him a little while he was here.

He has taught me oceans since he has moved out.

When I think of the tenderness of his heart,

and the gentleness of his music,

I could just cry.

In fact, I did on the way home.

Had me a good cry, 

but with such a heart

of thankfulness to the Father

for letting me be his mom.

I just love him.

MaMa's they grow up.  

Really fast!!

Savor every moment.

Have a Blessed and Beautiful Day ~~ 

Random Friday.....Yes on Monday!!

Ok so I am playing a little catch up.

I didn't get Random Friday up on Friday

so thought I'd go ahead and catch

ya'll up to speed.

Sir Cuteness got a dry erase tablet

for Christmas.

He loves it.

He is getting so big,

and is writing now.

Writing people.

How has this happened?

He is so stinkin' cute!!

Look at these letters.

So terrific.

Sir Cuteness found these stylus'

that Dak had here from his 

DS.

Sir Cuteness loves them.

I can remember Dak really loving them too.

So funny.

Oh my golly

then there was this goodness.

'nuff said.

And sweet baby girl was born on the 16th.

I'm not posting pics yet

of Miss Lady Sweetness,  

but we are already in love.

She is so precious.

I got to see her tonight (Sunday).

She is SO tiny.

And there you have it.

A week in the life.

Oh yeah,

my back is better.....

then worse again.....

then better.....

then worse.....

but.....

God is good.

And I am fine.

Have a Blessed and Beautiful day ~~ 

Random Friday in Pictures ..... on Saturday. Yep.

 I am just cool like that.

I didn't get my Random Friday

post up yesterday,

but still want to do it,

so I shall post it on Saturday.

Ok..... moving on.....

=)

So Sir Cuteness,

my personal stylist was at it again.

Shirtless.

Yep it's the way he rolls.

I got my first Persnickety Prints order.

Y'all I'm telling you,

I am amazed at the quality of these

PHONE photos.

That big one of me and Sir Cuteness

is an 8x8,

and a shot taken with my PHONE.

I went ahead and ordered it thinking

I would probably not like it, 

but boy was I wrong.

It is so nice!!

Yeah.

This happened.

And this.

HIGH OF 4 DEGREES.

Yeah, I'm over that.

Still in a sling.

Still over it.

Do y'all Snapchat?

This is Dak Snapchatting with me and 

Sir Cuteness one night.

So sweet.

(Yes that is Gandalf in the background.)

Its the way he rolls.

=)

Sir Cuteness has missed way more school

than he's attended lately.

So of course that means sink play.

He LOVES to play in the sink.

He gets his green bucket out

(see it in the background)

that holds his bathtub toys

and he plays in the sink.

For a REALLY long time.

It is SO cute.

And usually requires a change of clothes

afterwards.  

=)

And this was him snow boarding.

Oh this picture.

Yep blowing this one up for the books!

This was yesterday.

Yep still in a sling.

Still over it.

But I got to see this girl!!  

And we went to Target.

So.....

All is well!

Thanks for stopping by.

I hope you have a Blessed and Beautiful day ~~ 

Thanksgiving Goodness Complete ~~ And now onto Christmas!

So let me share our Thanksgiving 

in a few pics.

Shall we?

Yes Indeed.

We started out at My Mr. Winslow's

family.

Look how cute.

And calm.

And then we went to my families.

Ummmm.....yeah

ANYTHING but calm =)

We are just cool like that.

Me and my Dak.

Oh my Dak.

Isn't he cute?

Mom and her boyfriend John.

Aren't they sweet?

Adam and Anna....

and the photo bomber =)

And the photo bombing continued.

Yeah, it was epic!! =)

Hahaha......

my sister is cracking.me.up.

Yeah.....

Pretty much sums us up.

Ahhh.....so sweet.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

My sister cracks.me.up.

Funny, Funny, Funny.girl!!!

And speaking of funny.....

your welcome =)

And now I'm just tired.

Seems all this Thanksgiving goodness

leaves me tired.

And stoic.

And Tired.

=)

Hahahahaha.....Sir Cuteness is just completely

intrigued with Photo Booth on my new computer.

Yeah I just eat him up.

Caught me.

=)

So now its on to Christmas.

I will be sharing some fun fun stuff!!

Love y'all ~~ have a Blessed and Beautiful Day ~~ 

2 Weeks Post Op and the Day that was Suppose to be Surgery.....

So howdy there!!

So today is the 25th,
the day I was suppose to have surgery.
I'm so grateful that I'm 2 weeks post op
today.
I'm so thankful they could move surgery up
by a whole two weeks!!!

So let's talk about some things that are,
and some things that are not
two weeks after surgery.

For one thing,
I have more range of motion side to side
than I have had in many months.
What a Blessing!!!

Pain is starting to really subside,
and pain meds are less.
YAY!!!
Although the nurse told me on Friday
I am well within range of what I am taking.
Which is not much.
I don't like pain meds.
YUCK!!!

Yesterday was the first day I actually
wore full on make up.
And I drove.
Ok,
so it was just like 2 minutes from my house,
but it counts.
It so counts.

So let's talk about what not's back yet.
My voice.
I'm still squeaking,
and seems that the nurse was most concerned about that
when I talked to her last week.

I'm hoping it comes back soon!!
My paperwork says it could be two weeks.
Well today is two weeks.
So voice,
come on back will ya?
=)

But I am learning a lot in this season.
I have been a good patient this time.
Well better than previous surgeries anyway.
Generally, I rush things.
I.don't.like.being.down.

But this time,
it is like the LORD let me
realize how serious things are,
and He has given me so much strength
to dig my heels in
and do this thing.
RIGHT!

I am thankful.
So thankful.

So I'm gonna press on and press in.
I'm willing to wait
and
pray
and
ponder
and
love.
This season holds gems for me.
I am thankful!

*****

On another note,
my precious Dak
starts a new job today.

He sent me this yesterday.
Am I the only one,
or does he look like a
bonafide adult?
How did this happen?
But in so many ways,
he still looks like my baby.
Oh wait,
that's because he is.

He is so stkinkin' cute!!
Can you stand it?

I haven't seen him in ever so long,
but such is the life of a mom of a 20 year old.
=)

anyway.....

He starts a new job today.
He had to be there at 6:00 AM.
He had already text and FB me
before I even got up.
Cutie.

And then there is this cutie.....
He is the funniest and cutest little dude.
Sir Cuteness lives up to his name.
So.stinkin'.cute.

He has been so sweet too.
He has been helping me at every turn.
When I first came home from the hospital,
he would grab my arm
and help me down the hall,
and on this ice,
he has been helping me get around,
the little bit I have gone out.
He is just the sweetest.

And then there is my Mr. Winslow.
I think I shall have to dedicate a post all to him.
He is the most beautiful person I know.
I am a well Blessed woman!!
Well Blessed!!!

Ok,
so that does it for now.
I hope you have a

Blessed and Beautiful Day ~~

Random Friday with an "Engine" (Ninja) Turtle

Allergies are driving me CRAZY!!!

In the last two days I have spent $150 on medicine and doctors visits.

i'm.over.it.

And I still don't feel very good =(

over.it.

In other news,

My Mr. Winslow is also on the allergy train with me.

Yuck.

over.it.

And in other news, 

I get to see Dak on Monday.

Happy.

So Happy.

=)

I've been creating up a storm.

To see what I've been up to,

come visit me at the Scrapbook Cottage.

Faith did me a remodel,

and I LOVE it!!!

Scroll down to my first post today (there are two on there for today)

to see lots 'O pics.

We have been having LOTS of fun around these parts lately.

Sir Cuteness has discovered the "Engine" Turtles =)

He runs around the house like this.....

Look at this beautiful face!!!

Can you believe he will be 4 ~~ FOUR ~~ the last day of this month?

Crazy talk!!

He is just the sweetest little "Engine" Turtle around.

And boy does he love his gamma, and his gamma loves him to the 

Moon, MOon, MOON!!!

Have a Blessed weekend ~~ 

Random Friday.....A Top 10

WOW!!  I haven't done Random Friday in a while,

but I have a list of just random things I wanted to get down,

so here we go.....

1).  I am no longer a vegetarian.

I am a meat eater.

A reluctant meat eater.

It is still, and probably will never be my favorite thing.

But I am type O, and O's need meat.

So I am eating fish, some chicken and turkey.....

NO pork and a little red meat.

Ughhh.....

I've tried to embrace the red meat in my life,

but it is just NOT happening.

It hurts my stomach,

but most of all I just don't like it.

Ick..... it taste, well, meaty.

Yuck!

anyway.....

2.  I went and got my hair done the other day,

and my hair dresser gets the color on and then

takes me over to the dryer.

I looked at her kind of crazy,

because she NEVER puts me under the dryer.

She proceeds to tell me that my gray is getting stubborn,

as she pats me on the shoulder.

great.

Now I have stubborn knees, a stubborn back, a stubborn neck

and now stubborn gray?

Well I guess as long as my heart doesn't get to very stubborn I'm ok with it :)

3.  Speaking of which, I have been praying not to be stubborn lately.

I was praying one day and just telling God somethings on my heart,

and I started telling Him all I want to be for Him, 

and it just flowed out that I didn't want to be stubborn.

I am so thankful that prayer flowed out from my heart.

I have been praying that God will not let me get a stubborn spirit about me.

That would NOT be good.

4.  Sir Cuteness is, well, CUTE!!!!!

He is the smartest little thing.

He has started riding his bike.

Which to me is a scary business.

He crashed yesterday and has a little scratch/road rash on his cheek.

Poor guy.

He's fine.

Not bad at all.

He's a bruiser.

He jumps from about anything,

and LOVES to take walks in the dark with the flashlights

with his PaPa and Grandma.

He is the grandest little thing.

5.  Dak is in college.

He is trying to figure life out.

It is hard.

You remember right?

Trying to figure out what this big old world was all about without getting too caught up in it all?

Yes, you could say a prayer for him.

I love him so!!!

Spring break is next week.

He's staying at a friend's, 

but says he will see me sometime through the week.

YAY!!!

6.  Legg's is as well, working out this big old world as an adult.

Yep, you could certainly pray for her too.

She has a lot on her heart I know.

She is a joy to be around,

and makes me smile.

I love her.

7.  My Mr. Winslow is still and will always be the bees knees!!

He works so hard, and loves us so much.

I am truly a Blessed woman.  

Be still my heart, Mr. Winslow.

8.  Our insurance stuff is changing, 

again.

So this year instead of taking another 20% rate hike hit,

we are doing a program that will lower our rates,

but that requires us to do all this physical testing and health story stuff.

Yes, it has been interesting to say the least.

Well, I did my physical last week,

and WOW on paper I should be able to run 10 miles like,

right now this morning!

My height, weight, BMI, Good Cholesterol, Bad Cholesterol, Total Cholesterol, 

and waist circumference are all in terrific ranges.

YAY!!!!

The lady told me that she was suppose to give me a "teachable moment" and talk about 

things I could improve upon,

but she said she had nothing to say, except keep doing what I'm doing.

Now if I could just run that 10 miles.

Silly knees =)

Well, I wanted to do a Top 10 Random List for you,

but 8 is good right?

Oh wait,

9.  Check out my Scrapbook Blog.  

I am LOVING having a place to talk about my art and post lots of pics :)

Oh yeah,

10.  Today I am doing grocery shopping,

so this weekend I can work on my art.

My Mr. Winslow will be working,

Dak will be at school or a friends,

Leggs will be with Byrd,

and Chase will be here with Sir Cuteness,

so I will be hold up in my room getting some crafty love a going ~~

YAY!!!!!

So there we go, we made it.....

 A top 10 of Random loveliness going on in our lives right now.

I Love You So ~~

Field Guide Pictures and I NEED YOUR HELP!!!

 Well Happy Tuesday and Valentine's Day!!!

Our Valentine's Day will be pretty low key around here.

I have a UTI (yuck) and had to go to Urgent Care yesterday in the snow and bad roads,

but I was so sick.

So I got some medicine, but today still have no energy.

So we are gonna make it a low key kinda day.

Well, except for Leggs!!

She is ALL about Valentine's Day and has a hot date planned with her sweetie J =)

He has made reservations somewhere, but won't tell her where,

and has planned their date.

Isn't young love fun?!!

She told me last night she was getting up at like 9:30 this morning,

and I said what time are you going out,

and she said their reservations are for 8:00 PM!!!

I love young love!!!!!   =)

Now that is cute!!!!!

***** 

So before I start with some pictures of somethings I've been up to in class,

I wanted to ask y'all a question.

I have been thinking about something for awhile and thought I'd get your thoughts.

I am thinking about starting a scrapbook blog.

I think it would help me to really keep things separate.

What do you think?

*****

Okay, on to class.....

I am LOVING this class!!

I am learning SO much.

Well this week is all about mists and washes.

So I thought I'd share some fun things I've been working on.

I sent Dak a fun little care package for Valentine's Day.

I love sending care packages.

anyway..... 

=)

Here is a bookmark I made for him.

He loves to read and being in college gives him lots of reasons for that right?  =)

Bookmarks are so much fun to make.

I used a stencil for the wing at the top.

I sprayed the wing stencil with my white spray mist

and pulled the stencil and viola!!

Love it!!!

And here is the cutest little helper in the world!!

He LOVES to scrapbook!!!

 Thought I'd show you the tags I posted pics of the other day

all tucked away in my art journal.

I made little pockets and did a little practice with heat embossing.

 This one is one of my favorites!!

It says "follow your heart"

and the flower came from Leggs.

And the lamppost is my FAVORITE stamp,

because it reminds me of Narnia.

I am making our Valentine's this year.

This one I sent to Dak.....

Here is the inside.

I wrote a little poem =)

Its the little things that mean the most isn't it?

I've tried to remember that this year.

So there you have it.....

Some crafty fun!!

So let me know what you think.....

Scrapbook Blog = Yes

Scrapbook Blog = No

And I'll let you know what I decide.

Love you ~~