Mommy Monday - My Big Hearted Girl

Happy Monday! Apparently blogging during my food fast last week was not exactly high on my to do list. If you don't have anything nice to say right? I sure did learn a lot about  myself though and look forward to sharing it all tomorrow.

 

For now, I have to tell you that my heart is just melting into ten million pieces at how much my girl is growing up. Everyday she does or says something new that reminds me how she is no longer a baby but rather....a little girl. Insert tears here. I am amazed by what an exceptional little girl she is growing into and am so very proud of her big heart!

 

I came home from work on Friday to find an impromptu birthday party waiting for me complete with a pink washcloth path leading the way to my presents. She used ribbons for decorations and lots of goodies from my closet to serve as my presents. Smart thinking on her part because at least this way she does not have to worry about me returning anything!
 

I just pray that her heart only continues to grow as her relationship with Jesus Christ deepens and that as parents we not only nurture that love but set examples of how to live your life for him!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Random Thursday - Fluff Piece

1) After beginning my new bible study, due to some of the material I have been reading, I am starting to seriously consider revamping my families complete eating habits. Even more so, my grocery shopping habits and bringing more organic options into our diets. My only hesitation is that these type of food choices tend to be on the more expensive side....?!

 

2) Jeff and I will be starting our food fast on Saturday and in honor we will be going all out tonight with Pizza (in all fairness we have run out of groceries at the house) and tomorrow night will be our favorite Mexican resturant.

 

3) I have come across some random pics this week which I love and just had to share!!

 

With our crazy week and this insane Polar Vortex weather - this is how I have felt.

"Hey, I can't put my arms down."



 

Bahahahahahaha!!!!!!!

 

And of course I have saved the best for last -

Apparently she got into my lipstick while I was in the shower. Doesn't she look like the most precious deranged crazy lady you have ever seen?!

Love!

 

 

Wifey Wednesday - To the Boring Men In My Life

To the first man of my life -

Happy Birthday to my most amazing and inspiring Daddy and Sophie's Poppy!! We would all be lost without him!! He is the true definition of a wonderful and supportive Father who I always know I can count on to be there for me, no matter what the circumstances. To now see him as a Poppy with Sophie - we are blessed beyond words!!! I love you Daddy!

 

 

  

As for the main man in my life now, I just had to share this article - ""The Real Truth About Boring Men and the Women Who Love Them" because it reminded me what a real man is all about. It is a quick and easy must read! Click Here to check it out.

 

 I am so thankful to be married to an amazing "boring man" (even though he did provide the most spectacular enagagement) and to be able to call my Daddy one of the best "boring men" around! 

Tummy Tuesday - My Week of Fasting

We finally started our new bible study that I have been raving about for weeks now - "The 7 Experiment" by Jen Hatmaker.  

 

The study shares how excessively we live every single day and how this has become such a norm that we do not even recognize it anymore. The excessive lifestyle is broken down into 7 specific catagories of clothes, spending, waste, food, possessions, media, and stress. Each week focuses on a specific catatgory in which you fast. Famous last words but I am looking forward to this journey! I am excited for my head and heart to be cleared of all of the unnecessary "stuff" that blocks me from being able to hear my heavenly Father when he speaks to me.
 

One of my favorite things about the study is that it truly recognizes how each person is on their own path and walk with our Lord. Each week of fasting she offers suggestions on different ways to fast within that catagory. She encourages you to really pray over how and what you will be fasting from during the next week. On this journey, my goal is to "feel the burn". If I am not feeling the burn then I am not being challenged and therefore not sacrificing enough. Burn baby burn!

 

Jeff has been interested in this study as well and has decided to join me in fasting. How encouraging! Let's just hope it doesn't drive us to divorce court! Our first fast is food and will begin this Saturday which is great timing considering that over the holidays, I ate anything that was not moving....and yesterday....and today. We have decided for our food fast over the next week we will drink only, no sugar, no eating out, and will cut our weekly grocery cost in half from $150 to $75. For us, this hurts....just as it should. All of this being said, there is a good possibility that we will eat out on Friday evening and order everything on the menu!

 

I loved what one of my friends suggested during our recent study that anytime she felt discouraged or missed what she was fasting from, she would pray! What an incredible idea!

 

I am excited to share this journey and even more excited to hear my Heavenly Father in a way I never have before! Wish us luck! 

 

 

 

 



Mommy Monday - Holiday Recap

What a wonderful Christmas break!!! We were blessed to be able to spend some special time together with all of our family and in honor of it all, I took some time off from my blog to enjoy the moments. However, I must say, the OCD part of me sure does like being back into a nice routine again. Plus, this is essentially the only way I am able to "scrapbook" our lives!

 

As much as I thrive on routine, I am not welcoming the sound of the alarm clock or the record breaking cold temperatures we are expecting. In the negative people!!! IN THE NEGATIVE! I am someone who becomes cold when the temperature drops below 70 so you can only imagine my excitement with temperatures of 13 and a wind chill of -5. We live in the south! Southerners did not sign up for this!

 

Now, our 2013 Christmas Holiday recap in a glance!

 

One of our favorite yearly tradition is visiting Rock City Enchanted Garden of Lights. This was the first year that Sophie was really ALLLLL about it and just loved it. Sadly, we only missed Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis's visit by a few days. Not sure who was more disappointed - me or Jeff?!

 

 

In a weird way, I kinda like the spot on this picture because it is like a little spotlight for baby Jesus who it's all about anyways!



I just loved this picture of him planting kiss on her rosy cheek. You can't really tell but when you zoom in, her eyes are closed and she is grinning from ear to ear. He is def her prince charming!

Sophie insisted on giving kisses to all of the lighted figures.

 

We could not have picked a more beautiful and clear night!! Check out the insane view of our beautiful city and the amazing moon! God is good!

 

 

Playing with all of her goodies on Christmas morning!

 

It was so fun exchanging gifts with Jeff again this year! We are both already starting on our list for next year. I'm kidding....kinda. This was one of my favorite gifts. He said For - Zumba Queen, From - Da Man. He always makes me laugh!

 

So excited to be at Gigi and Poppy's opening her first American Girl Doll! Not sure who was more excited - Gigi or Sophie. Mommy was pretty pumped too!

 

Hello World - meet Lucy. Affectionately named after her soon to be baby girl cousin! Sophie and Lucy modeling their matching PJ's along with Sophie's new cowgirl boots of which she is now obsessed.

She loves Kevin from the movie - "Home Alone" and just had to have this picture made!

 

We already knew she had turn into a camera ham. However, our suspicions were confirmed when the day after Christmas she had used up all of the memory on her new Nabi tablet. How did she use that much memory you ask?! Well, by taking about 300 selfies of course. She is four. How does she already know about the duck face?!

The Easterday's had a blessed year but we are looking forward to 2014 and all of the opportunities God has in store for us!