Ten 2015 Life Hacks + 1 2016 Awesome Life Hack // Making things easier and simpler

The second half of 2015 (and still continuing on now), I have been trying to problem solve, eliminate stress, and implement solutions literally for ANYTHING that I notice in every day life that either is a source of stress or at the very least, just could be better. Much of this done in the beginning of this year, 2016, has been general organizing and purging/cleaning out, etc. However, in 2015, there was some specific things I did that made life easier that I wanted to document and share in case they could help others. Some are gender specific, while others are gender neutral. I have categorized these things in between the numbered items as Personal Hygiene/Getting Ready, Cleaning Out, and Specific Intentional Things or Additions, to make it easier to locate the ones you may be more interested in! Enjoy!

Personal Hygiene / Getting Ready

1. Switching face makeup to W3LL People.

I have always had very clear, nice skin for the most part. Even in HS, I was spared the acne crisis that so many of my friends went through. However, all of the sudden I was starting to get random, minor, yet annoying nonetheless, breakouts. I attributed it to most likely be hormonal, but proceeded to do some research nonetheless. I have always used high end cleansers, moisturizers, and serums and likewise have also always worn department store quality makeup. I literally NEVER wear makeup from the drug store, Walmart, Target, etc. If there is one thing my Mam-ma taught me, it was that your skin IS something to invest in and take care of. This being said, I knew it wasn't because I was using cheap stuff by any means. I came to realize that many of the high end brands I was using actually had some pretty horrible ingredients in them. Now, I am sure I was "more" sensitive to them with fluctuating hormones with breastfeeding then getting pregnant again, etc., but nonetheless, I wanted to see if fixing this would also consequently fix my problem. After much research, I realized there was really only a brand or two that were deemed 100% safe, the most reputable being W3LL People out of Austin, TX. I switched my powder, concealer/foundation stick, blush, and highlighter all over to them and got the set that had their kabuki brushes with the powder and blush along with them. It was amazing to me how in just a few days of using their product, my face was 100% clear like it had always been and has stayed that was since! They are still pricey, just like the other stuff I always used, but SO worth it. Interestingly enough, they don't even make a foundation because they know and state that there is NO way to make a foundation without all the "bad" stuff. They do have an awesome concealer/foundation stick though that you can use and blend with a foundation brush. It's amazing how comfortable I have gotten just wearing powder for the most part, after wearing foundation for so long! Seriously, it's good stuff! Also, fun fact, during my research I discovered, Bare Minerals / Bare Essentials, is actually one of the WORST things you can use on your skin! I hadn't ever used this brand, but know many who do/have. Don't be fooled by names/titles!

2. Forgone Mascara / Implemented 24/7 lipstick

I have always liked getting all dolled up, but couldn't help but notice that in recent years, no matter how expensive of a mascara I am wearing, it inevitably ends up making a faint black dust almost below my eyes as the duration of my wear goes on. This also happens with any kind of a roll up eyeliner or a gel eye liner (raw pencil or liquid eye liner works okay though). It took me a while to pinpoint exactly what I realistically couldn't wear and shouldn't wear, but I am so glad I did! I now wear my face makeup, eye shadow (usually a shimmery bright one like MAC light touch), sometimes an eyeliner I can wear (like Marcelle from Birchbox) depending on where I am going, and a nice popping lipstick. If I am literally not going to step foot outside of the house at all that day, I'll still wear everything above, but maybe will wear a nice, bright tinted lip balm (like Benefit Benebalm) instead of a lipstick- I still have a nice lip color that compliments the rest of my makeup and my face in general, but preserve my lipstick and moisturize my lips at the same time. This whole overall change I have found I actually prefer better for myself, not to mention it is more agreeable with me, given the issues I was having with mascara and certain eyeliners. Plus, it's an Audrey Hepburn look and who doesn't want a little more of Audrey Hepburn in their life? :) My aunt quoted a meme the other day when we were talking about it, "In a world full of Kardashians, be the Audrey Hepburn."

3. Use an in-shower tan lotion.

I decided several years ago I was done with tanning beds for the long haul. Again, it's too important to take care of my skin and tanning directly conflicts with that. I will still lay outside by the pool or at the beach in the summer with an SPF on my face and chest, but not the rest of my body unless it is just a low SPF like 15 or so (to get the best tan I can) if it's not going to be "too" long. Again though, my face 24/7 is protected typically with 30! However, I don't prefer to be super pale in the off months. To give myself a "real", "natural looking", healthy glow, I use St Tropez gradual in shower tanning lotion. It is AMAZING! You shower as normal, step out of the water range or just turn the water off, apply the lotion and wait 3 minutes, then you rinse and get out and do everything as you normally would. Now, to be honest, I have been so busy the past week or so that I haven't been doing it and I need to resume doing it as I was. However, when I do it, I am very pleased with the results. It is VERY subtle and is just like the title states: "gradual". You are not going to do it once and instantly look like a bronze goddess. You will however, have a healthy glow that continues to grow with each use, yet always looking natural and real. I have the utmost confidence that it will work very well as an enhancer in the transitional months too when I am starting to get a little bit of color from the sun.

4. Finish all those half full/ half empty bottles you have under the counter or on the shelf.

We all have them, don't we? Okay, maybe it's just me, WHO KNOWS?! This past year I committed to going through everything, organizing it, and making a plan to use up all the things I had started to use, but for one reason or another stuck back after some slight use. If I came across something I knew I wouldn't use/didn't want to use, I gave it away to my sister, cousins, Mamaw, etc. (I have issues with throwing perfectly good things away... As in... I can't do it!!) It was amazing how much decluttering I was able to do just by doing this. Instead of buying new of items I ran out of, I made sure to use the like product I had sitting around first. This sounds incredibly simple, and I suppose it is, but it has been SO nice.

Cleaning out

5. I have made seemingly endless garage sale piles.

Again, I have issues with throwing things away. It may be a problem. This year I went through everything and offered clothes of mine I wasn't wearing to my sister; anything she didn't want, went in the garage sale pile. I made my husband go through his clothes and anything he wasn't wearing, went in the garage sale pile also. Now, I don't do this with the kids' stuff because I save all of their stuff in plastic tubs for all the future babies I might have :) I went through books, movies, and SO much more and anything we just don't use anymore, went in the pile. We are now all set to have a HUGE garage sale pretty soon full of tons of decorative items, books, movies, clothes, random items, kitchen items, etc. I CANNOT WAIT! It feels so good to get some stuff out and furthermore get things MORE organized and simplified.

6. Things that make a mess or are constantly strewn out, get put up indefinitely.

If you know my kids, you know they are actually very self sufficient and pretty good at cleaning up after themselves. This has always been something I have been very proud of! However, moving from a 2400 sq ft house in NC to TX in an 1800 sq ft house, we have had to condense more things into a smaller space. This consequently has caused more clutter (which I have been working on as described in #5, but it also has caused the kids to have more stuff in one space, thus sometimes causing ongoing messes.) All the play kitchen things, a couple months into the year in 2015, I took away, bagged up, and put up in a cabinet. It seemed as though every time I would go in the playroom, it would all be strewn out all over the place and well, simply put, I just got tired of it! I finally just said, ENOUGH and removed that source of stress. The same thing happened with markers. The markers would get pulled out and forgotten about and then Gavin would get them and thankfully not color over anything like furniture or walls, but HIMSELF. He would come out green and stay that way for a day or so even after scrubbing him. The markers got removed until just recently (now that he is older (just turned 2 on Christmas Day), they all handle them much better and he likes coloring WITH them now and not all over himself). It was a temporary removal, but a necessary one, and one that removed that source of stress for a few months. There were other similar things that I removed for the same reasons, but you get the drift. I would encourage other moms, if there is something that you find is ALWAYS making a mess, and it is likely different for different families, just remove it for a little while and try to reintroduce it later. I had to remove play kitchen dishes, but my kids have been playing with their finger paint from Santa lately and do 110% fine with that! Who would have thought? But whatever it is for you... just try it! See how it helps :)

Specific, Intentional Things or Additions 

7. Grocery List stays ON THE COUNTER and is updated frequently as needed!

Who likes going to the grocery store, perhaps even with a list, only to realize when they get home that they needed to get like 3 other things but didn't realize they needed them, until they got home? I keep our grocery list on the counter and throughout the week as I am in the kitchen making lunch, making dinner, making school lunches for the next day, getting myself a snack, etc. I add things to the list that I see that we are getting low on/ almost out of or are completely out of. I also go ahead and add things that I think of that I know we will need more of by the time we go to the store, like fresh produce, etc. My kids go through literally 2 bags of apples a week, 3 bunches of bananas a week, and an entire bag of little halo oranges in a week. If you buy a bag of grapes, even in addition to all of these, they will literally be gone in one day. Yes, you read that right, one day. Needless to say, they only get grapes once a week, haha. They are too expensive to buy a bag for every day. Back on point though, even if we have apples, if I'm adding milk and peanut butter to the list, I may just go ahead and add apples too because I know once I am there I might as well get those too! It is amazing how just doing it this way prevents me from ever not having something I really need. I am constantly in the kitchen for the above mentioned things and so I am constantly seeing the inventory and updating the list accordingly. ***For those moms reading wanting some healthy snack ideas for their kids, these are the only things I offer my kids for snacks in between meals and also pack for snack for school: apples, oranges, bananas, yogurt, applesauce, and cheese sticks/cheese cubes. These items I have available and stocked 24/7; sometimes I also have grapes and strawberries stocked as options too. These literally are all I keep for snack options though and it is nice because I don't feel bad if they have 3 snacks after dinner, because they are all healthy things and things that aren't harmful to have 3 of (they get something different each time too, so not 3 cheese sticks or 3 bananas, etc.).

8. Add Shelves to Simplify/Organize Rooms

This year we put up two really long (probably 7 ft long each) shelves in each of the kids' rooms. The shelves were put up really high, about 18 inches below the ceiling. In Savannah's room, I put all her porcelain dolls and American Girl dolls and a lot of picture frames up on it. This makes it easy to display them, but keeps them safe and also keeps the rest of her room uncluttered from these items. In the boys' room, I put all their boy figurines passed down from my brothers, Nick & Zach, picture frames, Daddy's collector baseball, their block letters that spell their names out, etc. on it. Again, it looks so nice and makes these things easy to display, but keeps them out of reach and makes their dressers easier to dust and what not because they're not being cluttered with these items. These shelves can be bought from Home Depot or Lowe's for about $20 and then we just got a couple nice L brackets to hang them up by. We painted Savannah's white and the boys' a dark brown to match their furniture. It's simple, but again, something that really made every day life "better" for me as a mom.

9. Bulletin Board in the Computer Room

Now that two of my kids are in school (Savannah in 1st grade and Mason in PreK), soon to be 3 in the fall when Gavin starts preschool too, I have SO many papers of all sorts coming home. I actually put up this bulletin board the end of Savannah's kindergarten year and Mason was also in preschool that year. Any papers that come home, such as reminders of events, schedules for the week or semester, something really cool they made, etc. goes up on the bulletin board. The reminders of events/schedule type papers come down and get thrown away whenever the event has passed. I still use my planner religiously to keep everything I have got going on written down and recorded and I reference it pretty much daily, but the bulletin board is nice to have it all laid out where you can see it and are constantly seeing it. And again, it's nice to put cards people send you, etc. up on it too to display. I'm telling you, whoever said life gets easier and simpler when all your kids go to school did NOT know what they were talking about! I am SO much more busy now than I was when I had 3 at home. At home, you can make your own schedule how you like and don't have to go anywhere if you don't want or whatever. Once they are in school, so many balls have to be juggled and I feel like I am always going somewhere. I thoroughly enjoyed summer break just having everyone home and not having to go so many places. Same with Christmas Break- now of course, we had lots of family events to attend, but that's different in the best of ways. School age kids definitely add a new dynamic and one that I am trying to adapt to well; little things like adding a bulletin board REALLY help!


10. Dryer Balls

Dryer balls are wool balls that go in your dryer in place of dryer sheets. They stay in there all the time in between loads and so are always in there when you throw another load of clothes into the dryer. I just discovered them this year and LOVE THEM! They cut drying time down SO much because they help separate the clothes during the dry cycle, thus allowing them to dry faster. This also cuts down on energy costs because the dryer is not being run as long. They help your clothes look nicer too and keep lint off of them just like a dryer sheet would. They last over 1000 loads which makes them MORE than worth the $15 for a set of 6 on Amazon. I keep 3-4 in my dryer at a time. I had 3 in for a while and 3 in my cabinet for spare when those got worn out and somehow, a 4th wound up in there and I left it because it definitely seemed like it wasn't hurting anything. So now I have 4 in there all the time. I don't use dryer sheets anymore and it has been so nice for all the above mentioned reasons, but also not having to mess with putting a dryer sheet in when you're hurriedly switching laundry and not having to buy more dryer sheets. Here are the kind I bought: http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Sheep-Premium-Reusable-Softener/dp/B00GA9P5P0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1452910156&sr=8-3&keywords=dryer+balls There are several kinds though that I am sure all are about the same!


11. Bigger Coffee Maker!

Okay, so this one technically was implemented the very beginning of 2016, but it is too good not to share with anyone else who has found themselves in this predicament. We seem to never have enough coffee... I drink 2 cups always, occasionally 3. My husband could and would drink an entire pot if you let him, my Papa usually has 1 cup, and judge me if you must, but Mason loves coffee and a couple times a week, will have a small cup with us too. A 12 cup coffee pot is not really 12 coffee mugs. It's more like 6. This creates a problem when you go to get your second cup of coffee and there is literally like 1/3 of a cup left. I purchased with part of our Christmas gift cards, a 12-42 cup coffee urn by Hamilton Beach. It has 5 star reviews and sells for $35, but I snatched it for $26 as a warehouse deal. Oh my goodness, even though we just started using it, it is so amazing and we love it. We make 24 cups, which again, isn't really 24 coffee mugs. It is enough, however, to ensure we all have the coffee we desire in the morning, with a little to spare. We can tweak the amount if we need to when my sister and fellow coffeeaholic spends the night with us, which she usually does weekly. It makes WAY better coffee than the regular pot. It doesn't require a filter because the basket at the top is the filter. It is just all around a GOOD THING! I highly recommend to anyone else finding themselves in the same predicament of not enough coffee in the mornings. Here is the one we purchased: http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40515-42-Cup-Coffee/dp/B00008IH9R/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1452910211&sr=1-1&keywords=coffee+urn As with anything I post the link to on Amazon, always be sure to click on "see all new and used offers" and see if there is a warehouse deal available! All a warehouse deal is, for those who don't know, is an item someone bought and returned unused, but Amazon has to sell it as used anyways, so it's a little cheaper. It still comes in the box like it normally would and is obviously unused. I have gotten SO many great deals via warehouse deals!

Laundry Detergent Recipe

Lastly, as a bonus, I have had several people ask me about my laundry detergent that I have made and used for a couple years now. I absolutely love it! It cleans SO well, can be made for about $20, lasted me 6 months on average when my brother lived with us and now that he doesn't live with us anymore, but my Papa does, it lasts me 9 months. (My brother had a lot of laundry!!) So yes, as a family of 6 counting my Papa, soon to be 7 when baby Silas gets here, it lasts me 9 months!! Now, I wash ALL my babies clothes in Dreft for the first 6 months at least, but usually up to a year, so I plan to do that with Silas too. I received two things of Dreft as a baby shower gift for Gavin and between the two, it lasted me 11 months.

Okay, the laundry detergent I make is super easy to make! I have seen various variations of it where people majorly overcomplicate it by pulling a food processor out, etc. and I am here to tell you, DON'T DO THAT! It is simply not necessary. I have made this quite a few times the way I am about to tell you and any other steps are just more work for you to do and again, not necessary.

**In NC, my washing machine was an HE smart washer, top loader without an agitator (Whirlpool Cabrio). Here in TX, I have that one in storage and use my Papa's also HE smart washer front loader. My point is, this is safe for HE washing machines!

I store mine in a 5 gallon bucket that now I keep in the garage (because the garage door is connected to my laundry room) and at my house in NC, I kept it in a big closet I had in the laundry room. I keep a smaller plastic container with a tablespoon measuring scooper spoon in it, in my laundry room cabinet to store the detergent in and refill it from the 5 gallon bucket as needed (usually once every 2-3 weeks and that is with doing A LOT of laundry! I'm a laundry aholic, some might say ;) ) Okay, so that's all you "need" for supplies. A mason jar would also work for your small container to keep in your laundry cabinet.

Ingredients:
A tub of oxyclean (the recipe states just the regular big tub at Walmart, but I buy the one that is just slightly bigger at Sam's or Costco, because again, it's slightly bigger, but for the exact same price as the Walmart one that is a couple ounces smaller. However, if you don't have a Sam's or Costco membership, the regular big sized one at Walmart or Target will suffice just fine!
A box of Borax
A box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
A (4 lb box) of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
4 bars Fels Naphtha (that you will grate with a cheese grater)
Essential Oil of your choice (I use Wild Orange and although the recipe states 30 drops of whatever essential oil, I do the whole bottle. I don't use a bottle that I would get from YL, DT, Plant Therapy, Melaleuca, etc. I buy the brand that Whole Foods carries (Now Foods) on Amazon and it is a 4 oz bottle (way bigger than the kind you would buy for all your other typical essential oil uses from your preferred provider) for only $6! So again, that's why I use the whole bottle; it's cheap and economical and I am a "smell" person and like my laundry to have a nice scent! Also, again, even if you typically order from Young Living, DoTerra, Plant Therapy, etc. DON'T do that for this; it isn't necessary. The Now Foods brand or something similar is still a good quality brand and is perfectly adequate for the purpose of this detergent. You'll just be wasting your money by using the expensive stuff in your detergent. I always buy Plant Therapy for personal use and have purchased a couple YL, but again, not for this. Here is the link to the one I get on Amazon for my detergent:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0019LPL8A?keywords=wild%20orange%20essential%20oil&qid=1452909034&ref_=sr_1_5&sr=8-5 If you just don't really like a lot of scent, you could do what the recipe says which is 30 drops, but again, I like just dumping the whole bottle in there! For people who want no scent, you can always do no essential oil. Other scent ideas if Wild Orange isn't your thing, is lemon, lavender, rose, and I have done Tangerine once instead of Wild Orange.

Directions:

Mix all together in the 5 gallon bucket. I pour one box of something, grate one Fels Naphtha bar, pour another box of something, grate another bar, etc. At the end, I get my husband to put the lid on and shake the bucket really well (it won't be 100% full, but about 70%, so room to shake and mix). Then, set the bucket back down, gradually start pouring the essential oil in and mixing the powdered mixture all around with your arm, repeat until you've gotten all the essential oil you want in there, or the whole bottle like me. After you've stirred it thoroughly, you can put the lid on and give it one last shake for good measure if you so desire. TIP: for the lid, don't just get the pull off cheap lid, spend the extra $2 (since you'll be using this forever hopefully if you like it) and get the kind of blue lid from Lowe's or Home Depot that are displayed on the bucket aisle that have a part that snaps on or screws on around the outside and THEN a big circle in the middle that you can unscrew/spin off. This way, when you go refill your small container periodically, it is SO much easier. You're not having to mess with snapping a hard, non agreeable lid off and on, but rather spin off the middle section, scoop your detergent into your container, spin the circular middle section back on. ALSO, the blue scooper cup that comes with the oxyclean, keep that in your big 5 gallon bucket for easy refilling of your small cup.

How much detergent to use per load? Use 2-3 tablespoons. I usually do 2, unless it is a load that has really soiled clothes in it for some reason, and then I'll do 3. It cleans SO well and clothes smell great! It's economical and nothing "bad" in it for your skin. You cannot go wrong! Also, you cannot beat how long it lasts! I still use pretreatment spray for anything stained like I would normally regardless of what kind of detergent I am using.

All items you need (except the essential oil) can be found on the laundry detergent aisle, but you will need to go to Walmart. I am a Target girl, but unfortunately, they don't have the Borax, Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda, 4 lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, or the Fels Naphtha. **Also, I didn't put the sizes of the other boxes, because there is only ONE size on the laundry detergent aisle. I specified the baking soda size, so one would know not to get the little box you get on the baking aisle. The big 4 lb box you need, is on the laundry detergent aisle by everything else! :)

**Some of the things I quoted the price for that I bought it for, when I went to add the link, I noticed had gone up slightly, this is normal for Amazon and prices fluctuate a lot on there! If something seems a little high to you, I recommend adding it to your cart and watching it for a couple days. It often will go back down :)

2016 // He is making ALL things new!

As 2015 ends and 2016 begins... I can't help, but stop, take a step back, and examine my life right now at this very moment and where I've been and where I'm headed.

Like every year for us it seems, 2015 has been BUSY to say the least. If you know me, you know busy is where I like to be and where I tend to stay. My life is very high energy and motivated and I attribute a lot of it to the great role models I had growing up, while the other small part I guess to my personality in general.

Although we incorporated our business, Dallas Aeration, in late 2014, we officially launched in early 2015. For our first year in business, I couldn't be more pleased. We saw God's hand in our plans, in the details, and in every aspect of our business it seemed, time and time again. There were SO many things that happened that all we could do was pretty much say, "Wow, God did it..." It's an incredible and surreal feeling and one that I never get tired of.

We celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary and 8 total years together in February and celebrated our beautiful daughter's 6th birthday in May. These may seem like "small" things, but to us, they continue to be magical each year. I have learned that so much of life goes on in the mundane. Appreciating the mundane and letting God rule even your mundane is not only necessary, but crucial. I read an awesome quote in a book I read, "Glimpses of Grace", that reads: "if God doesn't rule your mundane, then He doesn't rule you, because that's where you live- in the mundane." So eye opening.

In July, on my Dad's birthday to be specific, my Papaw went to be with Jesus after a long, arduous fight with Diffuse Lewy Body Syndrome and after several years in the nursing home. It was a hard time for my entire family, but we know that he is healed now and has been made completely new. As hard as it is to let him go, the rock of our family on my Dad's side, we know that it was unfair to wish him here in the condition he was in. I treasure the memories made with him so dearly and hold close all of the photos I was able to get of him with my 3 sweet children.

In August, we found out we were pregnant with our baby boy, Silas! He is due May 7th, although we expect him early April as I have had all of my children early. We could not be more elated about the soon to be birth of another life gifted to us. Finding out I was pregnant with Silas brought back so many memories of when I was pregnant with Gavin which was also when I lost my precious Mam-ma. I was reminded yet again of Job 1:21, "Naked I came out of my mother's womb and naked shall I return thither. The Lord gave and The Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!" This verse has become even more real in my life over the past few years and shows me every time I read it that the Word of God is LIVING and ACTIVE. I cannot read those words or say them aloud without my eyes filling with tears. The emotions I feel overwhelm me for more reasons than one. It is not only regarding my loss, but also my gain- my gift- new life given to me from The Lord Almighty. It is not only these things, but also the very real and present reminder that Jesus is undeniably who He says He is and proves Himself over and over again in every aspect of my life. Even in the ones that are hard. Those are the ones where it seems He proves Himself even more and I can feel Him carrying me.

In December, we celebrated both Mason's 4th birthday and Gavin's 2nd birthday! We can't believe how big all of our kids are getting and it has seriously been the biggest blessing this year just watching them grow and change in the neatest of ways.

We stayed very busy all year with sports and school activities along with Awana's for the kids at church. We feel like we are going somewhere nearly every day of the week it seems like and surely enjoyed the Christmas break where we did not have anything, but family events going on.

As much as I am prone to stay busy and love being productive, I value my seasons of rest. I value the weeks that we can enjoy each other a little more as a family and slow down enough to soak in some of the things we often fly by and miss. I know I have a lot more to learn through my relationship with Christ about seasons and the importance He places on each one.

As we start 2016, I know many things will be similar in some ways: Savannah will resume soccer here in about 6 weeks and Mason will start baseball (he did soccer in the fall, but we are giving baseball a try this season as he has expressed much more interest in it compared to soccer.), Savannah will resume the second semester of first grade here in a few days as will Mason resume preschool. Gavin will be mad again that he is left at home while the big kids are at school. He'll be okay though ;) and will get to start preschool himself in the fall.

We look forward to all of the things that God has in store for Dallas Aeration in 2016. After seeing His blessings poured out in 2015, it overwhelms me in the best of ways to attempt to fathom what He will do in 2016.

Most of all, I look forward to April for the upcoming birth of my sweet baby boy, Silas Mitchell Hayes. I absolutely cannot wait to hold, snuggle, kiss, nurse, and love on my sweet baby boy! If you know me well, you know that the newborn stage is my absolute favorite. Seriously, I don't know how I'll ever stop having babies!! JK- or am I? ;) Truly though, I adore that stage and it is so amazing to me every time I get to experience the miracle of life and bring life into this world. It is not something I take lightly and I cannot wait to bring baby Silas into this world and do my very best mothering him and loving him unconditionally. The kids and Zach are so excited as well. We love our family and love the thought of growing our family even more- the more to love on, the better, in our eyes!

As we press forward in 2016, I want my focus to be more on the One who sits on the throne above and what He has in store for me and what He intends for me to learn and to grasp out of each season and each event in each season as well.

"He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new.'." -Revelation 21:5

The Things I Have Learned... // Real Life Real Talk

As I sit here pondering the whirlwind my life has been since college, getting married, having kids, about to have more kids, and so on... I can't help but reflect on the things I have learned and the core concepts and truths that present themselves in every day life. I can't help but notice that recognizing these truths help life make more sense, help things that happen that perhaps shouldn't or aren't pretty, be less shocking and easier to accept, though maybe not acceptable. Knowing these truths make life easier to cope with at times while at times, it just helps make sense of it, but not much else. I feel like there are many who go through life never recognizing such concepts and truths and this is why life always takes them off guard, upsets them a little too much, why they feel out of control and helpless, among other emotions and things.

1. Blood IS thicker than water. This is something my dad used to always tell me growing up. I knew it to be true, but my mom and I would always laugh at him when he would say it, because it was usually said surrounding a negative circumstance. My dad, though he calls himself a Realist, often times can across as a Pessimist. I being the eternal Optimist, always gave my dad a hard time about such comments and phrases. However, it is nonetheless a core truth and a truth that should be known for more reasons than one. Knowing this makes things sting a little less, make a little more sense, and makes certain things that happen take you a little less off guard, or more or less makes them a little more predictable.

This is not to say that there will not be some AMAZING people in your life who are not blood, or are not family, because there certainly will be. This leads me to my next point...

2. Good people know and understand how to treat their family like friends and their friends like family. Family is irreplaceable. You'll never have another family. It is so important to nurture a friendship with your family and a true friendship at that. Superficial family relationships are miserable and will not amount to much more. Treating your family like friends enhances the quality of life spent with them. Good friends are rare and also sometimes come along once in a lifetime. TREASURE them. Even if you don't see them as much as you like. Life IS busy and especially in the child bearing years. There will come a day when it is slightly less busy and scheduling time with these true friends is easier than it once was. Again, good and wise people understand the importance of treating these friends like family. I am eternally thankful for the few good friends I have made in this life.

3. It is EASY to complain and Joy is a choice. Complainers are DRAINERS. Don't spend time with those who complain every day on social media, who are quick to point out everything wrong in life, who every time you see them, something is wrong and life is bad. That is not to say that you cannot be real with one another. I am all about a couple good solid friends who you can vent to, confide in, and seek wise counsel from. However, doing this, does not involve social media, does not involve gossiping, etc. Seeking a good, wise friend's confidence and listening ear, is not gossiping. Picking up the phone and calling everyone you know or less dramatically, even a few people, and telling people's business with no intentions of getting advice or anything productive, but only to "tell", is NOT okay. Telling yourself it is okay is deceiving yourself. Again, we ALL need someone to vent to... about life, about mishaps, about hurtful people, about marriage, about kids, about family, whatever... emphasis on someone. Aside from venting and seeking wise counsel, keep things positive. It is SO important to find and see the good in life and promote that to others. Don't enable more complainers and drainers by being one yourself. Show others that despite having a crazy life, you can choose to find joy and talk about that joy. Joy is a choice. Happiness is fleeting and is an emotion. Joy is a choice.

4. "A son is a son until he takes a wife, a daughter is a daughter for life." This is something my Mamaw always tells me and I'll never forget the first time she said it to me. I had to stop and and really ponder her words. Genesis 2:24, "therefore a son shall leave his father and mother and shall cleave to his wife: and they shall be one flesh" and Matthew 19:5, "and said, for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife: and they two shall be one flesh?" both came to my mind and I began to think more deeply about all the relationships (marriages) around me. I began to realize although how simple this phrase was that she quoted to me, how profound it was too. I began to think about how many people had never realized this or accepted this and how their lives were different because of it. It is natural for a son to leave the family he came from and start his own family. Not only is it natural, it is Biblical. Daughters do stay more involved with their families even after marriage. It truly changes the family dynamic when all the children get married, depending on the gender of the children. I look at how different parents with all adult boys who are married are compared to parents with adult girls and boys who are married or parents with all adult girls who are married. The parents with all boys seem to almost handle the life transition better than those with both genders. It's almost as if there is no other choice and so they adapt more gracefully. Those with both genders, it definitely seems to have greater effect, and likely because this concept has never fully been thought about and understood. I pray that I handle my boys getting married and starting their own families with grace. I am thankful for my daughter, but I also pray that she will also handle her brothers getting married and starting a family with that same grace. I pray she welcomes the sisters she will inherit with open arms and love. As for me as a sister, I look forward to the day my 3 sweet brothers get married and give me some nieces and nephews from them! I am so incredibly thankful for the one amazing sister that the Lord blessed me with and the closeness that we share, but I am also waiting in anticipation for the sisters the Lord will bring me when my brothers choose to marry! Sisters are sweet. Life is sweet too. The more we can share this life with, the better.

This also leads me to my next point...

5. We were not meant to do life alone. It is not good to do life alone. We were JUST talking about this in church last Sunday. Our pastor was saying how when people say to people going through a tragedy, "well you have God so that's all you need" or something more or less like it, how that is simply not true! If all we needed was God, He would never have created Eve to be with Adam. Genesis 2:18 says, " The Lord God said, 'it is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'" God knew that we needed companionship. He knew we needed to do this life with people. The more fellowship we have, the happier we are. By fellowship, I mean good, life giving, life flowing, fellowship. I don't mean, the person who goes to the most parties will be the happiest, because that is not at all, life giving and life flowing fellowship. We need good, solid fellowship with other people who are trying to live this life the best they can, trying to find joy even in the mundane, trying to live life to the fullest. Find good people to do life with! If you're currently not making the most out of your relationships, change that now! It is never too late to change. It is never too late to start making things right. Relationships ALWAYS take two. Do your part and start living life with people.

6. People who talk a lot about giving grace, usually give it the least. It is easy to throw around the word "grace". It is easy to talk the talk and doing so cheapens grace. There is without a doubt a message of cheap grace floating around. I can remember a conversation with my Mam-ma about specific people once and I remember quoting to her something one of these people had said to me, "we are trying to show her grace." The situation was a mess and neither party was doing what they should or handling it as they should. Even the people that quoted that weren't handling things as they should. That was almost quoted as a scapegoat, in a way to not have to make a hard choice, to deal with the situation appropriately. My Mam-ma looked at me and said, "it is GOD who gives grace. We don't give grace. God gives grace. We should act under the grace that we have been given." This was such a moment of deep consideration and reflection for me. So many today floating around in the cheap grace movement would hear this and scoff and say, " we do to give grace!" Don't take this out of context. We are not the givers of grace, God Himself is. We should live a life evident of His grace on us and being given to us and if we do so, we will naturally treat others they way we should. In conclusion, spend less time talking about grace and more time living the message of grace. In my experience, those who talk about it the most, show it the least. Those who you rarely hear talk about it, do the best at living it out. It is a lifestyle and an attitude.

7. Parenting isn't easy, but it also isn't as hard as a lot of people make it. Think back, use your imagination if you have to, to a life without so much technology (at the very least without iPads and such), think back to times when the average American family had more than just 2.5 kids, to when there wasn't all the cool toys there are today and the average person didn't have the money to spend on them anyways. How did people do it? I don't think everyone was pulling their hair out and hating their life. For whatever reason (to be fair, there is multiple reasons), parents today make parenting out to be a lot harder than it is. Kids should be independent and play outside! Kids should find the beauty in their life, just as we should find the beauty in our lives! TV isn't bad, toys aren't bad. If you keep kids doing "kid stuff", life will be simpler, kids will be more content! The only times my kids play on an iPad is when my aunts, my mother in law, or someone else like that lets them play on it. And that is OKAY. It is actually a "treat" to them because of this. At home, they play with THEIR toys, they play outside, they play with each other, they do LOTS of drawing and coloring, they watch good, clean kid shows or kid movies... they honestly don't need much entertainment from me. I don't think "I have it all figured it out" or anything like that. I just think I was blessed and fortunate to spend A LOT of time around both of my grandmothers and all the countless weekends I spent at both of their houses with my cousins from both sides, I am able to look back and think of all the things we did to have fun. I look back and can't think of much time "we were in their hair". I think of how my Mam-ma would have 5 or more of us over at any given time and that was "normal". She never seemed stressed by it or anything of the sort. We had fun playing together and entertained ourselves. The biggest problem I see today with kids is that they simply don't know how to entertain themselves anymore (that is unless you throw an iPad at them). As parents we can fix this, but it's important to start when your kids are young. I have come to realize that the moms I encounter that complain the most about life with kids, haven't figured this out. The moms I encounter that complain the least about life with kids, have.

8. Life IS what you make of it. This sounds cliche, but I have learned over the past couple of years especially, just how true this is. It is your choice to keep negativity around in your life, whether that be in the form of people, circumstances, etc. This kind of goes back to #3- joy is a choice and you can choose to center your life around joy or you can choose to center it around negativity. There have been times in my life where I have been so discouraged and felt so defeated. This has been for different reasons at different times. When I lost my Mam-ma to a ruthless lung disease called Focal Pulmonary Fibrosis, it just so happened that my discouragement and defeat stemmed from living spiritually vicariously through her. When she was gone, I felt so empty. It was that moment that I realized that I needed my Savior. There have been other times in my life where circumstances or people have left me feeling discouraged or defeated, it is in those moments that I have to stop and make a conscious decision to "rid" (my one word from 2014) my life of these forms of negativity. Depending on who the people are, what the circumstances are, this can look different, but nonetheless, you always have the choice. Choose LIFE and choose to live life to the FULLEST. Life IS ALWAYS what YOU make of it.

9. Problems do not disappear on their own. Different personalities make up different people and some people like to live their live under the assumption that problems will disappear on their own, but this is simply not the case. Problems will always be problems until you deal with them. If you have a problem with someone, spend less time talking to others about it (unless it is seeking wise counsel, like we talked about in #3) and more time talking to the person you have the problem with. It is absolutely amazing the things you can fix with someone if you are just willing to talk to them honestly about how you are feeling and if they are willing to open up and talk to you too. When only one person is willing to talk, problems cannot be fixed. Don't be the reason a problem cannot be fixed. Be the reason it CAN be fixed. Be approachable. It is one of the best qualities you can have. The best people I have known and the people I look up to the most in this life, are the ones who are approachable. The best relationships I have, aren't ones void of all problems- they are the ones that we talk about our problems that arise in a timely manner. Don't live your life accepting problems and not liking the way things are with someone or with multiple people. TALK about them! FIX them! Anything can be fixed. It is so refreshing to just sit down and be real with someone. Don't worry about being uncomfortable or awkward, when two people are sitting down being real with one another and both are willing to air everything out with the end goal of resolution, it is not uncomfortable or awkward, it is refreshing! It's only awkward sitting down with someone who you know won't be real with you, won't open up to you, won't really hold resolution as their end goal no matter what the cost. You can't change others, but you can check yourself and be an inspiration for others to then do the same. If those people who have a mental block up about talking about things with the one they have the problem with, see others letting go and loosening up and talking things out with people, they are more likely to see the wisdom and health that comes from handling life this way and make that change too!

10. There are people who will not like you just because someone else doesn't like you. I can't tell you how many times I have met someone, only for a group of people to announce to me later that they don't like them because of something that person supposedly did to their friend, sister, etc. Judging someone's character and writing off someone's character is a serious thing. Don't do it on behalf of someone else's opinion of that person. Make your own decisions about people. Get to know people for yourself. Even if your very best friend doesn't like someone, decide for yourself. I cannot tell you how many people I am friends with and think are awesome people that someone in my family may not like, one of my other good friends may not like, etc. Get to know people yourself! Decide for yourself!

In conclusion...

It is harder to see the good in people sometimes and easier to see the bad, but choosing to see the good, makes YOU a better person and you will live a more fulfilled life because of it. Some of the hardest people to love and show love to, need it the most. Be kind, for your never know what someone else is going through. Your words of kindness can make a difference you never imagined in someone's day. However, be sincerely kind, as superficial kindness can do more harm than good. People can sense when you are being real with them, when you are truly being kind to them and reaching out to them. Don't do it out of obligation or superficially, but because you are really trying to be a better person and show kindness. It's a process for some of us, but a process worth starting.
Audrey Hepburn once said, "For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others. For beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness, and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone."

Our tribe is increasing// The news many of you have been waiting for//We are blessed beyond measure!

Well, the Hayes' family is so incredibly elated to share the news that many of you, my Facebook followers, my blog followers, etc. have been waiting for.... some playfully and others seriously...

That's right! Our tribe is increasing and we couldn't be more ecstatic! After a huge scare shortly after we found out we were pregnant, and after many tears and cries out to my Lord later, we were assured that our baby was fine and that my HCG levels were going through the roof! I have thanked Him profusely day in and day out for His faithfulness and protection over our baby. The words, "You are a good, good Father. It's who You are, it's who You are. And I am loved by You. It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am. You are perfect in all of Your ways, You are perfect in all of Your ways, You are perfect in all of Your ways, to us." keeps playing over and over in my head. This truth was what I was proclaiming over myself and my baby not just after I found out things were indeed okay, but during the agonizing waiting period of 6 days as well. Faithful He has been, and faithful He will be.

"Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you." Jeremiah 29:12

"Children are a heritage from The Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hands of a mighty warrior, are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full."

Psalms 127:3-5

Zach and I can honestly say we are overwhelmed in the best of ways by our Lord's goodness. We have seen a shower of blessings as of late and are just so grateful. From finding out we were pregnant again, to finding out our baby was okay after a huge scare, finding out I had been elected and appointed to the City of Allen board of Parks & Recreation, Dallas Aeration getting sought out multiple times for business in just a few short days, the list just keeps going... Our God is so good.

What a wondrous thing, I can stand and sing! Because when I fall to me knees, You're the one who pulls me up again.

What a mystery, that You notice me! And in a crowd of ten thousand, You don't miss a thing!

Because You see everything!

I am seen and I am known, by the King of kings and Lord of lords.

When You sigh, the wind becomes a sonnet. When You laugh, the storm around me ceases. You whisper and all my enemies are scattered. You surround me with angels on assignment.

There's no place I could go that Your love wouldn't find me; no place I could hide that You won't see. Because You see it all.

You don't miss a thing- Bethel

Our baby is due May 7th and we have an appointment coming up in October with my midwives here in Allen. We should find out what we are having mid November and cannot wait! Savannah and Mason have already told me they know it is a baby sister and that Gavin told them he wants a baby sister too! LOL I told them that is great, but we will take whatever Jesus wants us to have!! We seriously are so excited and honestly do not care either way, one way or the other. We are just so happy we get the blessing of raising another baby and pointing him or her to Jesus.

My faithful and predictable morning sickness or actually, all day sickness, has crept in slightly earlier this time around and I can already tell it is here to stay for a while. For those of you who don't know, with all of my past pregnancies, I have wretched all day sickness that consists of throwing up multiple times a day (realistically, just all day in general) until well into my second trimester. With Savannah, I was sick from 6 weeks to 17 weeks; with Mason, I was sick from 8 weeks until 14 weeks; and with Gavin, I was sick from 9 weeks to 19 weeks. This time I started getting sick at 6 weeks (I am 7 weeks now) just like with Savannah and it is TBD how long it will last ;) It's okay though, I honestly cannot complain knowing far too well how worth it my babies are. I long to hold, nurse, kiss, and nurture this sweet little baby and I will gladly go through whatever I have to go through to get to that point! I'm grateful for the independence my kids have even more so during this time. It is such a breath of fresh air that they will go and play independently and let Mommy work in the office and take breaks to deal with nausea and everything that comes along with it. ;) Love my kiddos! They really do bring so much to the table and I am so thankful for each of them and that I get to be their Mommy.

For those of you that faithfully request baby bump pictures each pregnancy, here you go:

I just popped out, out of no where, this past week! These were taken at 6 weeks 3 days. 

I will update my blogs periodically with baby updates and if anyone would like to know more, just message me and I am always happy to share!

I find that "In over my head" by Bethel has been like my life song these days and it brings me such peace just singing it out to The Lord. I wanted to share it here:

I have come to this place in my life,

I’m full but I’ve not satisfied, 

This longing to have more of You.

I can feel it, my heart is convinced.

I’m thirsty, my soul can’t be quenched. 

You already know this but still,

Come and do whatever You want to.

I’m standing knee deep but I’m out where I've never been.

I feel You coming and I hear Your voice on the wind.

Would you come and tear down the boxes that I have tried to put You in?

Let love come teach me who You are again.

Take me back to the place where my heart was only about You,

And all I wanted was just to be with You.

Come and do whatever You want to.

Further and further my heart moves away from the shore.

Whatever it looks like, whatever may come I am Yours.

Then You crash over me and I’ve lost control but I’m free.

I’m going under, I’m in over my head.

Whether I sink, whether I swim,

It makes no difference when I’m beautifully in over my head.

The End of Summer & Start of a New Season of Exciting Things

Well, summer was great here in Texas for our family! I cannot believe it has come to an end, but we are excited to have started the new school year, all the sports that have come along with it, along with all the other activities that have started back up again!

A recap of our summer before moving on to current events:

Some trips we took....
We went to Arkansas in May to see my sister graduate college and also got to spend the day with Zach's grandparents, his aunt and uncle, and cousin. The kids and I went to the beach with Zach's family in June, although Zach sadly stayed behind in Texas. All of us went to Oklahoma the following weekend for a family reunion and had an amazing time reconnecting with people. Zach and I got to take a trip to San Marcos and Austin in August and had an amazing time getting away! I think this covers all the "trips" :)

Savannah and Mason both got to go to 2 different Vacation Bible Schools together over the summer in the evenings and they had such a good time. They actually were asking me what the next one they could go to was, ha! I wish there was more that I could send them to that they both could go. Unfortunately, the two they went to (our church and a church down the road from us) were the only two that Mason was able to go to as well, not just Savannah. I'm thankful for those two they got to go to as they learned so much and really were just like sponges absorbing everything around them while they were there.

The kids had a blast playing in the freshly sodded backyard over the summer, particularly playing in all their water toys. Zach and I had ordered them something that hooks up to the water hose, both of my aunts here in Texas bought them something similar, and then Zach's parents sent them something as well. They loved interchanging the water toys and deciding which one to play with each day! The boys' hair got even blonder and all 3 of them had some tan lines going on! It was good, simple fun.

Both Savannah and Mason did the summer reading club at the library. Savannah read over 80 hours by herself and to Mason (she's such a good big sister!) and Mason was read to over 56 hours collectively from Savannah, Papa, Zach, my aunt, and myself. Savannah is blowing through chapter books and making her Mommy so proud! Chapter books she was reading at the beginning of summer and finishing in 2-3 days, she is now finishing in a couple hours. Seriously, we went to the library yesterday and she read 2 chapter books in one evening. Zach and I both were like, "it's time to move up to even bigger chapter books now!" Mason enjoys picking out all kinds of different books and actually picked out some really neat ones. One in particular that we all enjoyed reading to him (literally Savannah, Papa, Zach, and I all read this one to him while we had it checked out because it was SO good and interesting.), was called Otto and was about a teddy bear during WWII that was passed around from a Jewish boy to his German childhood friend, then ending up in the hands of a US soldier, in an antique shop, and back in the hands of its original Jewish owner years later!

Savannah had cheer camp in August and loved it! She has her first game coming up and has been practicing weekly since July.
Both kids are now in soccer full swing and have both had games! Zach is assistant coaching Mason's team. Savannah is back on her old team the Fireflies and Mason's team is the Jets. Mason LOVES his time to shine. He wants to play t-ball too!

Awana's just started back tonight and both kids were SO excited! I am thrilled that they get to go and get to learn all they learn in Awana's. It is such an amazing thing. They both finished their books last year and memorized so many verses and Savannah also memorized all the books of the NT. I am so excited for them to do the next book this year.

We just got done doing some rearranging at Papa's house this past week and Savannah now has her own room again and the boys have their own room. Savannah took the room that she was sharing with the boys and the boys new room is so awesome. Zach says it is the coolest and perfect boys' room. They love it and Savannah loves her room. She was such a trooper sharing with her brothers up until this point, literally never once complaining or anything. I was so happy to be able to tell her she was getting her own room because she was just so sweet. We love the change too and think to ourselves, "now why didn't we do this sooner?" The only bad thing is when we went to get Savannah's bed and nightstand out of storage (we already had her dressers here at the house), we realized that ALL her bedding and room decor didn't make it on the trailer load here to storage, which means it is still in NC at Zach's old work. Again, Savannah was so understanding about it and hasn't complained at all. I told her we would find a way to get it down here as soon as we could and she was just so complacent and collected. This Mommy is proud of her girl if you can't tell :)

School started back for Savannah on August 24th and she absolutely loves first grade and her teacher! She has told me that her teacher is the best teacher ever! I am so happy she loves her teacher! I got to go to curriculum night at her school this last week and I am even more pleased than I already was with her school. We are so blessed to live in such a great school district (#8 in the state of Texas).

Mason's preschool starts back this coming Tuesday (day after Labor Day) and we got to go to meet the teacher this past week also. He is THRILLED that he gets his same teachers again! They loved their particular class they had last year for the 2's that they requested they move up to the 3's to get that same class again! Mason was on cloud nine when he found out and even more so when he got to go see them! It was so sweet! Mason learned so much last year in their class and I cannot wait for him to start this school year and see how much he grows.

I got to drive Papa about an hour to Kaufman this last week to see all of his siblings (he is one of twelve) and eat lunch with them! It was so nice to be able to get to see all of my great aunts and uncles again and spend some time with them. The boys just loved it too. Gavin went to all of Papa's sisters and was just letting them take turns holding him! Papa loved showing them off too ;)

Speaking of Gavin, he has been talking up a storm!!! He can basically say anything you tell him to say now. We multiple times a day will just roll off a list to him to repeat and he'll say 99% of it. Today he said, Mason, bath, juice, milk, among other first time words nonchalantly and easily. He's also getting even more of a personality than he already had- it's just so cute! He is just in a big developmental overflow stage and we are eating it up!

Business has been growing and we are so thankful. We gained several more private resident customers over the summer, along with a couple new golf course customers, and a community customer. God is certainly blessing and enlarging Dallas Aeration's territory and keeping His hand on Dallas Aeration, so we will be free from pain. (Prayer of Jabez) He is such a good Father and we are so continuously amazed to watch His faithfulness even in ways we didn't foresee or imagine. There are so many things that have happened since we have been in Texas that there is nothing we can say about it other than "God did it."

"I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you." -Psalms 32:8

Stay tuned for more updates soon ;)

UPDATES... BIG BUSINESS UPDATES!!

Wow, it has been 3 months since I last updated my blog. I knew it had been a long time, but wasn't aware it had been quite that long. Our lives have been SO busy... so SO busy... but in the best of ways (mostly).

Recap of the end of the school year before I move on to current exciting things happening in our lives...

Savannah ended her first soccer season with 2 goals scored! They won all but every game! They had a great fun party at Chuck E Cheese and received their trophies, etc. She made some great friends and had a good time. It was so neat to watch her progress through the season from being virtually clueless to actually scoring a couple goals!
She ended her kindergarten year with a bam, reading on a 3rd grade reading level! She's one of the top readers in her class! I always knew she was a good reader, but I didn't fully realize how ahead she was until I started having some other moms ask me what our secret was, etc. (By the way, to which I always answered.... "Ummm she just loves to read!!" and "she went to a great preschool!")

(Shout out to First Presbyterian Preschool back in Asheboro! They truly loved the kids and were very thorough with them! Savannah flourished there in all her time there! I am truly thankful for their influence! I know some parents would be bragging about the things they did at home with their kids, etc. and how they had the hand in their kids being so smart, etc. but honestly, First Presbyterian Preschool was such a valuable resource to us and our children! They helped prepare Savannah so much for kindergarten and I know that is largely why she flourished so prominently along with her natural love for reading as well!)

Mason ended his preschool year with a bam also! He progressed SO much this year and learned an incredible amount. He has amazed me with little things he has said here and there, where I'm just like, "how did you know that??" One of the things that stands out in my head the most is at the beach where he told me that he knew our cousin and his girlfriend weren't married. When I agreed that they weren't but asked how he knew that, he replied, "they not have rings on!" My jaw literally hit the floor. Smart boy. Mason is a big time observer. He watches, listens, and learns all the time. Mommy is proud of him! And as if being smart isn't good enough, he is seriously so sweet! I love how loving he is, gentle, and just all around sweet.

Both kids finished their Awana's year strong, both finishing their books and memorizing all the verses therein. They got all their patches (Mason)/jewels (Savannah). Next year (starts in September) they'll be ready to get their next book. I can't wait!

Well, when I had written down some notes back several months ago for my next blog update, I wasn't expecting it to take me so long, ha. So some of this is old news. But at the time...

Gavin was saying: this, bird, Bella, dink (drink), ball, o there (over there), pup, (in addition to his already long time saying of Mama, Dada, Bubba, Papa, (sorry Savannah!) )
Now he also says tons of other random words he learns daily, like, rock that he learned a couple days ago, cup, Siss (what he calls Savannah- sounds more like "sss" ;) ), there it is (he learned this while playing the hiding game!), that, nose, and more that I just can't think of right now... He's a sponge... a cute little sweet squishy sponge!

Zach has been playing drums for one of our churches every 3 weeks or so. It is so awesome to watch him play and see/hear all the positive feedback he gets! (I take his compliments way better than he does ;) He doesn't know how to take his compliments! This is one area, he's far too humble in! He's a great drummer and I love to watch him play!)

Savannah is now enrolled in cheerleading for the fall and has had her first meeting and uniform fitting. She'll have her first practice here in a little over a week, although Mommy has already been practicing with her at home a ton! I cannot wait to see her cheer! She's had so much prep with gymnastics for 4 years, I know she'll do great. She has already learned all the motions at home with me and we have been working on her back-walkover and back-handspring.
She's also enrolled in soccer for the fall again and will be returning to her same team!
She'll be starting first grade the last week of August and we should find out who her teacher is the end of this month. (This summer is FLYING by!)

Mason is enrolled for soccer in the fall also and he CANNOT wait! We also told him we would enroll him in t-ball, but the registration has not opened for that yet. It should open any day now and then we can get him signed up! He is even more excited about t-ball than he is soccer. I am curious which he'll take to more, which he'll have more natural ability at, etc.
He has been doing swim lessons (just started this Monday-Thursday and will go back next Monday-Thursday too- just a 2 week session) and he absolutely loves it!! He is doing so well and not scared at all. I'm hoping that after this 2 week session that he can swim a little more with Savannah and me not have to worry as much. Right now prior to these lessons, he was just so brave... He didn't want to wear floaties, but wanted to follow her in the deep end. I'm like, "um NO!" and of course Mason is like, "why Mommy???"
Mason will be returning to his same preschool this year in the 3 year old class and we are so excited to watch him flourish for another year. They are really great with the kids up there and they even have  Spanish once a week and computer once a week as well. It's amazing how much Mason has learned to do on the desktop computer just from this past semester there!!

As a family we have been enjoying summer nights (stays light here till 9/9:15) and walking to the park in our neighborhood, letting the kids play at the playground while we play soccer in the big wide open field beside it, going to free outdoor concerts on the weekends at the shopping center right across the street from us and again, letting the kids play on the playground while we listen to the music (this past weekend they had a Dave Matthew's cover band that literally sounded just like them! it was so good!), and of course, going to the library!

We are so thankful that we live in such an active community. We are blessed to be able to do all these fun things in our community. For Fourth of July, we took the kids up to the same place where the concerts are and they were able to make free festive crafts and then after the concert, we watched a firework show right down the road. It was a fun filled holiday day and all it cost us was some ice cream that we chose to get! Seriously, we are blessed to be a part of such a great community that cares about its members! I'm so thankful.

As I mentioned earlier, we go to 2 churches now, Cornerstone on Sunday mornings/nights and Wednesday nights with my Papa and then Gateway on Saturday nights and then once a month special Sunday night service (Habitation) and we just discovered a once a month special Monday night service they do that we just went to and loved and plan to start going to. It was a more intimate setting (only about 80 people or so), but had a full worship set. The teaching this week was on spiritual gifts and it was truly a great service and we walked out so full and learned so much. What I love about Gateway is you can be there HOURS and it only feel like you were there for less than one hour. This past Monday, we were there over 2 hours and it literally didn't feel like it at all. The Sunday night habitation services last nearly 3 hours, but you walk away thinking, "it's over already???" Oh, it is SO good. I'm getting all excited as I write thinking about habitation coming up this Sunday night. As I said, it's only once a month, so whenever we go and then leave, we just cannot wait for the next one. It is an extended period of worship as a body completely consumed by Holy Spirit, then there's a brief message, and then an extended time of prayer over the people. For my Texas people... Come to Habitation THIS SUNDAY at Gateway church at 6pm! Gateway has lots of different campuses... go to any, whichever is closest for you, or message me if you want to go with us! We are bringing my sister with us this Sunday (she has been going to Saturday night services at Gateway with us, but this is her first Habitation) and I'm hoping to have some other people come with us too!


BIG NEWS on the BUSINESS front:

Dallas Aeration, Inc. is now proud to announce that we are a majority woman-owned business!! We are undergoing certification from NCTRCA as minority/woman owned business and we are excited about what the future holds for Dallas Aeration, Inc. We know God has great things in store and has opened a door wide for us. We are trusting Him and His hand on our business and can't wait to see what Holy Spirit does next and where He leads us next!

Zach had the opportunity to speak at a big board meeting for my parents' neighborhood's HOA a couple months ago about aeration and biological approaches to their ponds' needs. It was a big deal that they asked him to come and we are excited to hopefully work with them in the future.

There will be more later... hopefully sooner rather than later I can update! We are anticipating some more exciting things to unravel here very soon! Please pray for us and please pray the prayer of Jabez with us over our business. We appreciate it!

SO many Updates//Easter

We celebrated Easter here in Texas with all of our family here and had a wonderful time! Throughout the running around from church to lunch with one side of the family complete with a fun egg hunt with all the cousins, to another late lunch with my other side of the family also with another fun egg hunt for just my kids, we also dearly missed all our family in NC too! I loved seeing pictures of the kids all dressed up! Dressing my own kids up for Easter is always so fun for me! I just love it! 

Our family! Love how the kids outfits looked- especially the boys' ties! They just melted this Mommy's heart! & Savannah looked as beautiful as ever!! Love my family!

Mamaw with her two youngest great grand kids- Madison (6 months) and Gavin (15 months) (She has 10 total!!) Isn't Gavin's tie just adorable??

An attempt at all the cousins!

My cousins and I 

Now for some updates... We have a ton this time!

Savannah:

Savannah was on the announcements at school this past week leading the Texas pledge. She was so excited about this!

We got her first progress report sent home this last week also. She was considered "at grade level" for everything, except reading, which she was way ABOVE grade level! I was surprised at her level and SO immensely proud of her! She really is so smart and has such a love of books. I'm so grateful.

Soccer is going great! She is adjusting to participating in a team sport, having done gymnastics for 4 years. They won their first game 6-1 and their second game 11-0! The team is really good and I'm glad she's getting the experience!

Savannah before her first game!

Mason:

Mason had his bikeathon at school this week and did 3 laps around the track! They said he did absolutely amazing!  He is still loving preschool!

Mason at his egg hunt at preschool!

Savannah & Mason:

The kids had a Pinewood Derby race at Awana's! Zach made them both some really sleek cars and they were on cloud nine! Can you say, best daddy ever??

Savannah's car (pink rhinestone S on front)

Mason's car

Gavin:

Gavin had his 15 month doctor check up last week and is doing great! He weighs 21 lbs exactly and is 32 inches long! He's in the 20% for weight, 75% for height, and 75% also for his head (thanks Daddy!!) :)

Gavin has had a bump on the size of his eyebrow that I've been concerned about for a while. I finally asked his pediatrician here in TX (who was Savannah's when we lived here before and also was my little brothers' and who literally saved my life at the age of 10 when I had appendicitis (already ruptured) and had been misdiagnosed by 2 major and reputable hospitals.) at this appointment. It turns out it is a dermoid cyst, which is dead skin cells entrapped under his skin (something that likely happened in pregnancy) and he will have to have surgery most likely the end of this year (possibly very beginning of next year). A great and reputable plastic surgeon in Dallas will be doing the surgery and thankfully, it will just be day surgery, although he will have to be put under. Although I absolutely hate the idea of my sweet baby having any surgery, I'm incredibly thankful for the overwhelming evidence yet again of God's hand on Gavin. This bump could have been a lot worse things, yet it is this, something very fixable with no lasting repercussions or effects. Hallelujah to The Great Physcian, my King, my Jesus!

Gavin is loving outside and tries to ride Mason's bike. He's just so cute and sweet.

Bella:

Bella had her puppies 2 weeks ago. The first one was the biggest one and was her color. He unfortunately was stillborn. He was stuck in her birth canal for roughly 36 hours. He was literally nearly twice the size of all the others and was a beautiful puppy.

The second one was a black and white girl who looks identical to her border collie dad! She was the runt of the litter, although you would never know that now! She came out squeaking and squeaking loud (although she doesn't anymore surprisingly) and so we call her Squeaky Wheel! Her eyes just opened yesterday and she's now walking!

The third was a blonde boy who we called Butterball. He was my favorite! He sadly died when he was 6 days old. We were told that when mutts breed, it's not uncommon for several of the puppies to be born with genetic defects (weak hearts, weak livers, etc.) and therefore die at just a few days old. We were still sad though.

The fourth puppy was a beautiful gray girl who we called Little Lady. She died 36 hours after birth. She was very very weak from the start. Again, we were so sad. She would have been a beautiful delicate little pup!

So now we have Bella and her lone survivor, Squeaky! They enjoy each other and Squeaky has more than doubled in size since birth. Bella gets jealous when we give Squeaky more attention than her too. It's quite humorous! 

Bella pushing out the first puppy.

Bella's first puppy.

Bella right after she birthed Squeaky Wheel

Bella's third pup. He was way lighter after he got cleaned up.

Bella with the 3 live puppies, shortly after the gray one was born.

Squeaky at about 9 or 10 days old. (She's now 15 days old and WAY bigger, believe it or not, and eyes opened!)

Family updates:

Our new favorite thing is the Allen Public Library! It is seriously so awesome! It's 2 story with everything you could imagine... Books galore... DVD's and BlueRays for both adults and kids galore... Audio books galore... They even have an app for members that you can download books and audiobooks for free to your iPhone or iPad! We have been almost every day since we got our cards (a little over a week ago) and the kids just love turning their old books in and getting a new book. I checked them out The Flinstones DVD so they could watch a cartoon Mommy and Daddy used to watch! (I plan to find the Jetson's next ;) )

Zach found some great business books; I haven't gotten anything yet, but plan to check out Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers just as quick as I can!

All in all, GREAT free entertainment! And that is always a good thing!

We also went to Gateway Church's Saturday night service last Saturday and took my Papa. We were still going to our church Sunday morning/night and Wednesday night, but had really been wanting to visit this church on a Saturday night. We all (including Papa) loved it! The worship had me literally in tears and we were all so overwhelmed by the presence of The Holy Spirit during worship! My Papa just had a huge smile on his face the whole time and you could tell, just thoroughly enjoyed it! We plan to start going there Saturday nights, primarily for the worship, in addition to our regular church services. It is a satellite church, so the campus we went to had a live band, but the pastor wasn't physically on that campus. It was very good though! We would like to one Saturday night also visit Matt Chandler's church, The Village, as it is very close to us!

After we went to that service, we went by the mall to see the Easter bunny! Papa really enjoyed watching the kids and told them after, "you know I met the Easter bunny a long long time ago, before your Mommy was even born, when my kids were little!" The kids thought that was SO COOL! :) It was a really special time for all of us!

I think I mentioned in the last post, but Zach is going to start playing drums for our church! He's very excited!!

We got to see my cousins from Tennessee last night and were so happy about that. They are going back Saturday and it's always so good to see them. They have a big church in Tennessee and are actually the ones who recommended Gateway to us because they attend there whenever they are here. Very thankful for the recommendation! Fun fact they shared with us last night: Kari Jobe actually came from Gateway church and was leading the band live at the main campus the night we went! How neat, huh? 

Stay tuned for more next time... It seems to be never ending here :)