Time flies

   I've been so quiet on here for several months now. I think its time for an update of sorts. I'm so glad no one holds their breath for my ramblings on here! Life is great here on the farm. Daniel finished up with EMT school in December. He's just now able to work at Fire Dept as a firefighter/engineer/EMT. Praise God we got through that tough semester! I'm so proud of him for working hard for us. He had it rough juggling two jobs, school, and his role here as father/husband. I don't know how he did it without us feeling neglected, but he did!
   AnnElise and Hardy are now Daddy's kids. Their faces light up when he's home and they're both fighting for his attention. If one kid climbs in his lap, the other is sure to follow, while my lap remains childless! I love that they love him so much, but really, where's my love? The kids are growing up way too fast on me.
   In just under a month, Hardy will be a year and a half! He's my mischievous wrecking ball. Hardy is ALL boy. He loves destroying Lego towers, hitting, pushing, tackling, running, getting dirty, and climbing everything. While he has such a wild spirit, he also loves cuddling up and sucking his thumb to a good book. We can't figure out how to discipline him. He mostly laughs and tries harder to do something when we say "no". He is full of life every second he's awake. He runs wild up until we place him in the crib, then he cuddles up with his stuffed dog, pops his thumb in his mouth, and is out in less than 5 minutes! He's very much different that AnnElise.
   AnnElise is very much into princess EVERYTHING. We can thank a couple of movies for that. Everyday we hear the same question-"Can we watch Cinderella?"  She has a lot of it memorized and will even act it out as it plays on TV. She even wears a Cinderella dress to bed EVERY. NIGHT. I must admit, I'm reliving my childhood vicariously through her. I grew up with too many scary thoughts and visions as my 3 older brothers corrupted me with "Child's Play" and "It". Not to mention, all of the arrows that went through my barbies from target practice! For now, I don't mind the sweet obsession with princesses. AnnElise has a tender heart, and is usually a pleaser. She's also really good at negotiating already!
   Just last week, the kids spent 3 nights away from me. It was the longest they've gone without me. They had a blast staying with Daniel's parents and even slept really well there, which was my biggest concern with Hardy. I stayed back at home all by my lonesome nursing a severely ruptured disc that left me paralyzed for a day or two. I got really excited today over a simple task of moving my toes! I can't feel them, but I can move them now! So if you think about it, pray for healing, pray for the right decisions, and pray for Daniel as he tries to balance out work and helping out more at home with the kids.

31 Random Acts of Kindess: Catching up

      So over the last 2 weeks or more, I've completed tons of acts of kindness. I've tried to help tons of people, but I don't think that I can remember everything that I've done. I've given big tips, left a slew of quarters at different places that I'd been on the candy/toy machines, made even more cookies and dropped them off at church for the staff, and also kept some to give out on the playground for AnnElise and all of Sonshine School friends, we've helped take carts into the grocery store when they were completely out, bought care bags of toiletries to hand out to the homeless as we see them out on the street begging, I've sent random notes to people to let them know I appreciate their friendship, tried to pick up a girl walking with groceries in both hands (the kids were staying with their grandparents, otherwise I don't try to pick up strangers), but she refused so I helped her understand M'boro public transportation, "Rover"(she was asian), helped mom's with kids put groceries in their car, and I've volunteered to help out at church. I'm sure there's more, but its been a while since I last posted.
      Over the last couple of weeks, I've read countless blog entries about helping people out, but they all spend SO much money on these things. We just don't have SO much money, and its really opened me up more on the everyday things that I can do for people on the cheap. I also love that I have the kids with me most of the time. I hope they can learn to go out of their way to help someone when they see it.  I have also learned that some people are just not so thankful, but to just keep on doing and giving without expecting anything in return.
    I've taken several pictures in the process of this, but I'll save it for the last post.
   

Acts of Kindness the last 5 days

    Well, once again, I've found myself busy, busy. You'd think a stay @ home mom wouldn't be so busy, but I am. Play dates take a lot of our time. I don't necessarily try to do a lot of play dates, but it just happens. I'm finding more and more stay @ home moms that have kids around AnnElise's age and she just loves these sweet girls so much, particularly Aden, my friend Claire's little girl and Anna, our friend Catherine Robinson's little girl. I am so glad that Catherine moved back from Colorado and I'm sure she's so happy to be back around friends and family.
    So the last few days, I'm finding it hard to think of easy, free or cheap acts of kindness. If I don't start out thinking about it, it slips my mind. One that came easily to me was our adopted student, which we still haven't met. We were given his name 2 Sundays ago. I thought it may be a while before we could invite him over for dinner or talk to him b/c of our random schedule, so I went out and got him a Starbucks gift card and dropped it off at RFC through which we adopted him. While I was there, I also dropped off a couple of platefuls of homemade chocolate chip cookies for the college students. It also counted:) The student lounge was full for a Friday and at least one full plate was emptied before I even left. Food doesn't last long there. The next day I picked up a shift for a friend in Cool Springs. She needed coverage that day and it was more than I'd prefer to work on a Saturday, but I stuck it out. I also handed out more than than the usual of samples for people who weren't buying. I also did a makeover/consultation even though it wasn't on the schedule. During events, we usually want an appointment b/c we're busier than usual. Sunday, I taught a class full of the sweetest, smartest 5 year olds. They've been learning about Moses. There's so many great stories to tell about him. I have yet to do an act of kindness today, besides taking the kids out of the house so Daniel could have a quiet house  for a bit and get some stuff done. I have to get out and run tonight so maybe something good will come out of it!
   I feel like lately, even though I'm making a point to give more and be more open to seeing needs/wants that I'm receiving more than giving. I do have some of the sweetest, most thoughtful friends and family in my life. Maybe I can even it out and give more than I receive, but I am so grateful when it falls on me from time to time.

31 Acts of Kindness: Rethinking Leftovers

    I don't know how it is in most big cities, but I imagine it to be the same as it is here in Murfreesboro. We currently have one of the fastest growing cities in America. With the rapid growth we have, we also have an insane amount of street beggars. Its mostly at big intersections that make it very difficult to actually talk to them, but easy to wave a hand of money out of the window while waiting for the red light. Some of these people have to be making a ton of money based on what I've seen. Until recently, a lot people are seen handing out food and money to them. Lately, it seems that people are becoming jaded for seeing the same people day after day at the same location. I am as well. I expect someone to eat what I give them having their needs met for the moment and to put down the sign momentarily to enjoy a warm, free meal. I usually drive away seeing them put it near their backpack to continue holding up their sign probably to never eat a bite despite telling me that they're hungry. But, I'd much rather waste money on food for someone than to drop off money never knowing if I'm encouraging bad habits through gifted money.
   I began dinner tonight, very early, and with intentions of making a plate of warm food for someone who needs it. If your cooking is anything like mine where you grossly overestimate how much everyone will eat, you'll be tired of leftovers after the two days and still have more than you know what to do with. We're always throwing out food. The dogs, goats and chickens love that I cook too much. Tonight, I still had leftovers even after dishing out a very large portion of spaghetti. I've helped a guy out with food before that I randomly met through church as he was trying to find a NA group there. I called him several times today thinking my dinner tonight would be for him, but I couldn't reach him when it was time. So I loaded the kids up and headed to the Y so I could go workout. On our way, I figured that I would see one of those beggars with the cardboard signs that reads "Homeless, anything helps!" and do a drop off. It took us a while to see one tonight. I guess they mostly go home to eat with their families around dinner time and already made their "wages" for the day.
  Today, I hopefully helped out someone who needed it and it was little to no worries for me. It actually helped me out! I still had leftovers, but not so much that we couldn't eat it. I hate seeing food rot in our fridge. I'd like to think that our grocers give out food to a local homeless ministry before they're too bad to eat, but not many people think about doing that in our own kitchen. I hope I can change my mindset to think of others outside of our home to help out when I make way too much to eat. I will find someone ahead of time to ensure that its actually eaten and appreciates the freshness of it:)
     I remember someone telling me that they were so grateful every time one of my family members invited them for dinner b/c they didn't have to worry about whether or not they'd eat that night. At least once a week I cook too much, so I'd like to keep this going. Maybe it'll give others a good idea for their leftovers. We have a hunger crisis going on all around us, but its difficult to find sometimes.

31 days of intentional acts of kindness

   Recently I began thinking that I don't help others as much as I should. There are times that I've had a clear opportunity to help someone out. Most of the time its in the grocery store with someone in front deciding whether to get chips or broccoli and when the total comes up, the person throws out the broccoli and several other items as they count what money they have. Who couldn't help those people afford something as simple as food. They are always grateful and I leave feeling good about it and even more thankful that I am able to help. So, for the next 30 days, I will be writing about some acts of kindness that I am doing with little or no money b/c we're raising a family on a single Firefighter's salary.
   I don't have a plan for each day. Last night I got out late to do my running at the Y, then went to get groceries, but nothing popped out at me, until I started driving home. I started thinking about how much Daniel has been working, studying, driving, then coming home to help me out with the kids. Daniel has been working a ton. He has 2 jobs now, is in EMT school, has to complete a certain number of clinicals that are 12 hour days each, he's a deacon at church, and comes home to work really hard on the house/yard/farming/raising kids. So, my intentional act of kindness yesterday was giving Daniel a massage before bed. I never do that for him! He even begged me one night to massage his shoulders and neck b/c his doctor blamed a week long headache on tension.
   Most days my acts of kindness will be directed at strangers, but there are days when it be for family. They deserve it too and are sometimes the most neglected by my kindness. I'll try to post everyday on it, but our days this month will be busy sometimes. Everyone loves the Fall with throwing parties, watching football, going to pumpkin patches and hayrides. Its all so much fun, but sometimes it goes by way too fast and we walk away with few memories b/c of the crazy fast pace of the days that were intended for lots of memories.
   

A few days in Paris

    We just got back from a long trip to Paris. My oldest brother Damon got married and it was one of the most beautiful weddings I've been to. I loved the laid back style and the fact that Mary Ann and Damon didn't have any attendants, just 3 really cute flower girls just itching to walk down the aisle for a sucker. The weather turned out perfect. It rained before setting up and just after most of the clean up part, which is pretty awesome for an outside barn wedding. It was great to see Damon so happy and in love. They had friends from all over the states come in to celebrate with them. Such a beautiful wedding, day, and bride. We love that she is part of our family now!

AnnElise is in the middle waiting for her sucker

What's the 1st thing a girl in a white dress do? Play in the dirt, of course!

The mischievous little man!

    
    I really enjoy visiting Paris, but I think AnnElise enjoys it more. She and Hardy were spoiled rotten. AnnElise didn't eat a single vegetable while we were there. I thought she had until I realized that Grandbobba was sneaking all of them off of her plate. Instead she was handed smarties by a sweet lady at church, cake, cookies, and suckers. Hardy was in the same boat as AnnElise. He had his 1st sucker at the wedding, and was given plenty of cake. They did, both, eat tons of fruit. Its still a treat for them. AnnElise picked apples from Mom's tree, and helped her pick okra for dinner one night. Grandbobba brought over a tractor tricycle for her, and she got sleep with Daniel one night and me another. Mostly we were afraid that she would wonder around the house late at night if one of us wasn't on the mattress with her. They both did surprisingly well with little sleep and crazy nap schedules. Everything else aside, AnnElise's favorite thing about Paris is my family. She adores each of them and gets plenty of attention from them.

  
   We got to visit with Mama Dot for a bit. We just love her and hate that we can't visit with her as often b/c we're so far away.

   We even got to hang out on the farm for a bit. I really like to watch the corn harvest, though it was a little depressing because of the drought. Hopefully farmer's insurance will kick in and help out a lot. I made a call as soon as we entered into Henry County to see about raw cow's milk. Much to my surprise, it was quite easy to find some. The kids have been drinking it up. I'm a big fan of it's health benefits. So much better than the vitamin depleted, homogenized milk from the store. Looks like I'll be milking a goat soon. We also tried Kefir for the 1st time. Its like drinking thinned yogurt, but also a lot healthier. AnnElise said she liked it, but only came back for a couple of sips. I'm not a fan of yogurt unless its in my smoothie.

Hardy's 1st Birthday

 

   Hardy turned 1 last Friday, YAY! I didn't expect him to do anything new that day, but sure enough, he learned to walk backwards. If my memory is correct, AnnElise began walking on her 1st birthday. She'd already taken several steps for over a month, but she became a walker that day. So, on Hardy's big day, he became a backwards walker. I watch him backing up to everything now. He had a fun day, but the most fun to be had was the day after for his party.

   We've been working tirelessly over the last week or more getting the house ready and party planning. So much work is put into the 1st birthday party and they don't even remember it the next day. Our theme for his birthday was Olympics, even though they've been over for 2 weeks, I wanted to stick with it and play some games. Hardy and another little boy that is only a week younger kicked off the games with unrolling toilet paper, Hardy's favorite thing ever. Hardy definitely won since he's had quite a bit more practice. I have to give credit to Daniel for thinking of this game for the wee ones.

  

   We had several games for the kids and gave gold medals to the winners at the closing ceremony. I think the kids favorite part was blow up water slide. I thought it might end up being too cool for it, but the weather was perfectly hot and humid for some water balloons and water slide.

    Our awesome neighbor and small group friend made some special cupcakes in ice cream cones to resemble torches. She made all of the cakes and they were delicious. I think one slice had about 1,500 calories.

Cupcake torches

Hardy really enjoyed his cake, but it took some time for him to realize that it was a good trade off from the watermelon he'd been gnawing on. As you can tell, he was really upset when I took the watermelon away from him. Once he got a good taste of cake, it was demolished and devoured.

Our favorite babysitter came to celebrate and thanks to    
 her mother, we have all of these great pictures to help tell the story.