Intentions...

My intitial intentions for my blog was to just do a family blog...shortly after I got started...I wanted to do more...SURPRISE there, right?

It has soon evolved into my late-night date when my husband was out of town...


Now I occassionally share a little about me...although I have barely reached beneath the surface on that one...I'll get there...I promise...


BUT...there has to be a beginning in order to go somewhere...a start to where you want to go...

{picture courtesy of Coastal Living}

Although my favorite pictures to take are of my kiddos...I found I wanted to do more with my blog...you know...."Intentions"....and then my "expectations" of myself changed too...

For the past couple of weeks or so I have gotten bad about my blog...taking pictures...thinking creatively...I have been caught up in life...just trying to keep up most days...busy with my business...{which I love I may add}...but I am finding a hard balance now that my hubby is home most of these past two months...I couldn't wait for him to be home more...now my "routine" and "intentions" are all messed up! HA! Go figure...I wouldn't trade it for anything to have him home more...but I get so caught up in the daily grind...that I just feel "phewy"...I cannot find my schedule or routine when he is home now...

It's like having a 3rd kid around...{hope you missed that comment honey}...

So you know what I did? I added a day for Hayley to be at school...now BOTH are gone the same days...and this is the first week...I have experienced that...well today really that is...and it was nice!

When I think of things to share...most I say "No....just can't do" right now...I don't know why that road is so hard to share sometimes...but I know that is where God wants me to continue to grow...For awhile now I have been sharing more about me in my business...and you know God has blessed me for that...makes it easy for conversation and relating...plus I am someone that likes to know about people...what makes them tick...I find that interesting...

so it is funny how our "beginning intentions" soon transform into "new intentions"....new goals and expectations...wants...well dreams I never had a problem doing...or seeking...

But this week I didn't do anything with my intentions...it's no fun to have a blog you have trouble updating even once a week...hmmm...so I promise next week and October will hold "new intentions"...new sharing...and of course the kiddos too.

I do have a project to share I've almost completed...refinishing some furniture...I've been so excited {pictures coming soon}...it is so fun finding a new look with something you have...but then I tell myself "Uh...OH!"...{because now I want to keep redoing}...which makes my husband's heart skip some beats...not in a pitter patter good way either...he has already said..."Leave the kitchen cabinets alone!"....hmmm...we'll get there, honey...you'll see! {That's what I tell him for now}

That's sorta what I want dream my kitchen to look like someday...{picture courtesy of Coastal Living}

Ooohhh...I am so excited...so if anyone is out there that really misses me...{yah...I'm laughing about that already!} Stay tuned for more upcoming things next week....this week is just going to be a little bare at my blog...
And well...the beach pictures...I just got caught dreaming about where I will be with my family in mid-October...I can already hear the sound of the waves...well I won't be there in the picture...at that beautiful location...but that mighty fine ocean I sure will be...

Now that's a color that makes my heart go pitter patter...a little jump of my heart...{picture courtesy of Coastal Living}

Blessings from all of us...

Music to my ears...

Some music to my ears...Well folks...I decided to add a playlist to my blog...

A couple of weeks ago my husband suggested I add music to mine...you see I don't have a musical niche at all ~ I just like to listen what I like and most often I...don't know who sings anything...(I am not good at knowing artists)...well I guess except the playlist I created...

At first I said "No" just because it made me a wee bit nervous choosing songs that others would listen to...I'm still working on sharing more of me...another step, right?

I didn't want to send people away from my blog that normally or sometimes read it...so I tried to choose blog worthy songs...what I mean is songs that weren't too loud...because I do like others than this...

Afterall though I am doing the blog for me...right? So here we go...I hope you enjoy...

...Here are my thoughts...{some background to my favorites}

I pretty much LOVE all kinds of music...always have...however, I don't know that some of my old favorites would make it on the blog :)...I used to listen to even a lot harder music when I was in sports...

But my all-time favorite artist...well they only had TWO songs to pick from that were available for the playlist...VAN MORRISON...he is my VERY FAVORITE!!! I can listen to his music all the time...so our wedding song, Moondance, and Gypsy girl aren't on my playlist but I could put his ENTIRE CD's on here if I could.

Walking in Memphis...well that song just puts me at ease...just has special meaning...BOTH Madison and Hayley would go nuts on that song EVERY time when in my belly...BOTH of them...so that song just has such meaning to me during my pregnancies...

Of course I have grown to LOVE a lot of country music ~ so I have a mix of those that I love ~ I should add a Taylor just for Madison ~ I think she would LOVE that:) Kenny Chesney...his songs take me away to the beach when my mind wants to escape...Tim McGraw...Gary Allen, Montgomery Gentry,Heidi Newfield...now that just got me thinking...I have so many other woman country stars that I love too...maybe some additions need to be made...

John Mayer...well he is pretty much always a good choice too...The Fray as well:)

The Christian music I chose...well it is just music to my ears...Josh Wilson came to our church several months ago since he was invited by our worship leader...I could always play his CD too...

Our church just did a concert ~ Mark Roach our worship leader has a CD of his own, but he also recorded a CD of various songs we sing during worship by different artists...I personally think he sings them better than anyone...

I added a few of my favorites he did; although not sung by him on my playlist... Mark's version of the Happy Song he uses the harmonica...so fun and a terrific song...but Chris Tomlin's version is obviously really good too:)

Enjoy and Blessings to you!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom!....I know this will make her excited I did a post especially for her...but you see her birthday was Friday...September 11th...
I know we will always associate the tradegies of the day...BUT it is nice to step aside to celebrate her birthday together...with laughter...family... appreciation...and love.

So we did...we went to dinner out on the patio in a nearby town that was JUST beautiful...we didn't get rained on this time:)...it was a nice dinner...the girls were marvelous...and some new memories formed on my mom's special day!When I think about my mom...I think about how we share our first name...but she goes by Marti instead of Martha...
she is a great listener...one of the best I know...

she taught me how to be giving...

thankful...

and empathetic with people...

Although we are not always on the same page...hence why she calls my dad and I "Buddy One" and Buddy Two"...

she always keeps the laughter going and situations light-hearted...

she tries to teach me to take time to smell the flowers more than always being busy...{I'm the scheduled...type "A" kind-of-person}.

My mom has always been supportive of me through every situation...every endeavor...she has always been someone for us to lean on...and always understanding...

A perfect person to celebrate with...or lend a listening ear during hard times...

She is a fantastic "Mena" {what the girls call her} to Madison and Hayley...they love to see her and spend time with her...sometimes Madison asks if I am going to do work so she can spend time with her...and not me around:)

For Mother's Day a year or so ago...one of the things I gave her read...

"A mother

is someone who

understands your past,

believes in your future,

and accepts you today

just the way you are."

I think that really explains it all...well almost all because I could say so much more like a great cook, gardener...

But she knows my childhood...she understands who I am and who I continually strive to be...she believes in my dreams...and accepts me today just as me (well until I get too type A on her, that is)...

Thank you Mom for being you...and Happy Birthday!

Much Love,

Martha

Blessings to you!

Fingerprint Friday ~ by Martha

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:

I can see the fingerprints of god

When I look at you

I can see the fingerprints of god

And I know its true

You're a masterpiece

That all creation quietly applauds

And you're covered with the fingerprints of god

So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints.

Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them?

Bobby and I both love dogs...we grew up with dogs...and just love them as a family member. The special bond you form with dogs is one of the most blessed things...and to show our girls and pass on our love for dogs {animals} to them has always been very important to us...

Madison was always attached to Maximus...and after he passed...she and Cadence have grown to share a special bond now. Hayley was too young at the time when we lost Maximus...but one of Hayley's favorite things is dogs as well...everywhere we go...she will point them out...she almost cannot take it...and she just loves her Cadence too...Hayley immediately bonded with Cadence when she started noticing her as a baby...

Cadence is a special member of our family...this picture is of Madison with Cadence the night before her 1st day of school...Cadence sneaks in with Madison at bed time and naptime which is so cute, we think:)

{To participate in Fingerprint Friday please go to Pampering Beki's wonderful blog}

Back to School...

Back to school was for Madison Wednesday...(Hayley starts next week...I know a bit later than everyone else...and by the way this post took 2 days to complete...the pictures would NOT upload...for some sort of reason...ever have those moments where you feel like tossing your computer? well...I did {well that is..I sure felt like it...didn't actually}...)

...and oh Madison looked cute as ever...bright and early and ready to go in the morning...I think I was more excited for her...because I know she LOVES it there...and her friends...she is a little social bug!

It feels like I had been waiting all August for school to start for the girls to have those regular times/days that I can get some things done...but then as I dropped her off and was walking out of the building...tears started to well up a bit...I was looking forward to it...but it is so hard at the same time...my mom came with me to drop Madison off which was neat to have her a part of...

Some moments before school started...
As we were waiting for the doors to open...one of Madison's very BEST friends arrived...she gets so excited to see him...after all they are at school together, our mom's group together, and church together...their friendship is sooo very cute and they just play so well together! Her conversation started right away with Brenton...she thought it was so very cool he had a Diego backpack and she had a Dora one {unplanned of course...but how funny is that?} It was so darn cute that we had to get pictures of them together:)
Then there was my mom saying "Don't cry" as we left...just because if I did...she would start crying...but it was neat to have "Mena' as my girls call her with us on Madison's first day of school. As we got in the car {Hayley starts next week}...Hayley points to Madison's car seat and says "May"..."May"...{that is how she says Madison's name right now...which is funny because she says "strawbah" for strawberries...that's a sidetrack, I know}...but it kind of melted my heart a bit...I wasn't quite sure how Hayley would do without sis but you know what she seemed just fine until the afternoon...as soon as we got home...I think she relished in the fact she didn't have to fight with sister over the bracelets...because she had them ALL on her wrist:) as soon as we got home...
The best part was that when I picked her up she said "I missed you Mommy" after I told her I missed her too...that just made my day...and she always proudly holds up her artwork...

Eventful day as after school we went to my Dad's football game...so fun to see my Dad coach again since he has gone back to that after retiring... Bobby met us there and the girls ran around like wild women (maybe I should say Hayley did:)...see the dirt all over her and in her mouth...she was even doing quite well drinking out of a water bottle all by herself...the occasional spill where it scared the wits out of herself with the cold water...but it is crazy those little moments you see your kiddos growing up.

Madison enjoyed seeing her Papa on the field...my mom was cheering "Go Defense" and Madison corrects her in saying..."No...they are the Eagles!" It was just priceless...

Madison was a trooper all day long...she is back right where she loves it...you can tell she enjoyed school and back to the schedule and routine like her momma...

I knew it was a big day for the girls so I made a sweet for my sweeties...we enjoyed some cupcakes together when we got home...the girls & Daddy loved it! Madison said..."You made these for me Mommy?!!!" {sorry the football pics and cupcake pics wouldn't upload}

Back to school time it is...I am beginning to embrace fall now that school has started...

Blessings from all of us...

Wedding Highlights...

The wedding we went to was a beautiful wedding...of course the bride and groom just made it fantastic...but we enjoyed it!

Here are some pictures of highlights...it seems like I couldn't get one of the bride and groom together without it being blurry...but still thought this picture was neat...(I tried to get more but literally everyone I took someone would step in the way unknowingly and at the reception they were all too dark)

The ceremony was beautiful...we ended up being a bit late and had to sneak in because we got lost...but we weren't the only ones thank goodness...of course I had a few tears and had to hold back most tears...happy ones...wedding always are happy cry times...I just LOVE them!

Flowers were beautiful...I thought the bright colors transitioned from summer to fall so beautifully...(like I am wedding expert or something...absolutely not...but I loved the colors...she did black and white and then with the flowers...they accented everything wonderfully...I thought:)!)

The reception was just as pretty too....(it was neat to see the same caterer that did our wedding because it was a friend of the family too....so needless to say the food was terrific).

However...I don't have a wedding cake to report on...sorry guys....but did you notice her gorgeous dress on her? It was so fun to see the bride who I played soccer with and her parents...and in between the wedding and reception we had just enough time to stop by at a place downtown to watch the Mizzou game where I spent some time with a friend I ran cross country with and her parents and another girl I knew from high school. So great to catch up all of them!

We parked our car where we watched the Mizzou game in between there and the reception...as we were walking we ended up thinking we were getting lost...we were laughing so hard about it because there was some time in between the wedding and reception that we couldn't believe we were going to be late to the reception...we turned the corner and there we were...we weren't late to the reception...just laughing about something one of the girls I shared...something funny which would be considered "TMI" if I shared to everyone...but all moms would understand:) for sure...Bobby caught the moment on camera...just think it is a fun picture...not too many times do you catch moments like this on camera...laughing so hard...

And as we signed in ~ a fabulous bird cage to put the cards...and we had someone snap a quick pic of us together too...Some other pictures of the room...the table centerpieces...sorry for some pictures turning out darker...

I snuck a picture of the mother-of-the-bride too...a family friend that we have stayed in touch with over the years...and of course I had to get a pictures with the gorgeous bride!!!!

A picture of the bride and groom during the toast...and the father daughter dance...

Hope your weekend was fabulous too.

Blessings to you!

A little suprise...

I am just so excited about today's post for several reasons...First...I have been working on a little surprise for Bobby...and just wanted to share with you...because I am soooo in love with everything that I found...

Bobby and I love EVERYTHING about the beach...

...the ocean...starfish...sailboats...water...the sand ...so I wanted to find him some of those things to take to work...to have in his office...not that he is really there that much anymore...but when he is...I thought it would be perfect for him...some stressful days he sometimes has and perhaps he can look at the things he loves about the beach in hopes to find a bit of easiness...

So....I came across this wonderful, did I say wonderful?...I think one more time....WONDERFUL shop ~ White Flower Farmhouse...that had everything I needed for the surprise!!!! Now I had to get double of things for our house...the items were just soooooo beautiful...I couldn't just send those beauties to my husband's office without having some here...although...he hasn't been home long enough to notice them around the house yet.... hee.... hee....{just an fyi ~ I am not usually a secretive shopper at all ~ but I couldn't tell him now could I? since it would have ruined the surprise ~ I honestly kept this surprise to myself...usually I seem to spill the beans accidentally to him when I am trying to surprise him...but I didn't this time!!!! Hooray!!}

And I also want to make some blog mentions about my friend, Angela Harris with her etsy shop too because I used her items in the surprise too:) {her blog and etsy shop are the highlighted links}...oh it is delightful with her tags and embellishments...she makes the love envelopes...tags for my business...the tea dyed sea shell tags...in the past she has made butterfly and dragonfly tags for my girls...truly FANTASTIC ~ she custom makes about anything and everything...so I had the best accessories to go with the suprise for Bobby...

What did I get you may ask???? for the surprise???...

Driftwood Sailboat - individually handcrafted...

Salty Sea Air Candle - handmade as well

Starfish too:)

You can also check out Angela's sea shell tags in front of this sailboat...I used them to write some nice words to Bobby about each item...why I chose it, and refreshing things to him...

I had to take soooooo many pictures it was unbelievable because everything they did was truly fantastic.....sailboats made from driftwood....salty sea air candle {really smells like sea air, and it's a soy candle...so BIG fan}, starfish {white ones!!!} Check out these pictures! ~ I feel like the pictures don't even do justice to all the items...so check out their blog and shop too!

And the detail of these boats are just amazing...jumping for joy right now!!!Love these starfish...on a worn wooden plate...courtesy of Michael's that is similar to the driftwood...the Love envelope in the backgroud courtesy of Angela Harris...the salty sea air candle, starfish, and sailboat from White Flower Farmhouse!!!!When I opened the box of goodies from White Flower Farmhouse...it was definitely like Christmas for me...so cheerful and bright as I pulled each and every item out!!!!! And Megan included a special little gift so beautifully packaged I may add...wonderful lavender sachets...they literally are the most gorgeous and best smelling ones ever!!!! Lori and Megan are BOTH the best at their shop!!! This is how they looked before I opened them...I really honestly didn't even want to open it...it was so beautiful!...But then I was too curious about what was inside...

After I finished snapping these shots...I put all the items in a box...wrote on my tags...and a little note in the envelope and had them waiting when he got home late the other night...I initially wanted to drive them to his work...but just wasn't up to being in the car for 6 hours total today... 4 is quite enough with the kiddos going out of town again...I mentioned I kept some items for our house...well ordered extra...a bigger version of the sailboat for home...sitting perfectly on a top shelf of ours...and a bowl full of the starfish....(and I did paint the bowl myself...my very favorite color!)...and of course a candle for home too!!!

A little note about what I mentioned above about Angela's tags....wanted to show what a great job she did for me...a custom tag with her name on it....a client of mine said his future wife is simple and loves blue... so could this tag be any more perfect? Thank you ANGELA!!! I used a brown memory box and just added some items ~ ribbon & starfish to it...a pampering gift when she opened it on her honeymoon especially for what's inside....of course what is inside I know she will LOVE! I just want to thank Angela for all her help she gives me in when I do my packaging of my business orders ~ she helps me make them unique and personalized...I love her ideas...and especially her creative talent!!! Angela you are terrific!Off to another blog mention...of course reading Lola B's blog....she referred to another blog ~ French Larkspur ~ that is having a HUGE give-a-way...please check it out and enter it....her items are so lovely too...

Thank you White Flower Farmhouse!!!!!!...thank you Angela for all of your wonderful items!!!

Enjoy your weekend everyone and Blessings from me!