Just a quick update

Wow to sure where the past two weeks of gone but here I am again.

Things were busy as I was gone for 5 days on a girl weekend. Fabulous time was had and we are hoping to do it once every year. 

I did manage to get some stuff done though on my list so I'm really happy. In fact I got organizing done that wasn't on the list. So score one for me. Lol

1. Step out of my box. 

Well this is probably the one thing I need to work on the most. I'm really struggling so if you think about me please take a moment and pray. 

2. Enjoy life. 

Well I sure enjoyed my trip. Lol. However I've really noticed that I need to make a concentrated effort to spend more quality time with my kids. I also am working hard to make memories with them. This weekend we are off to visit my parents on Saturday and then off to see the chuck wagon races on Sunday. 

3. Our spare room. 

Well this was a biggie for me. Do you remember what it looked like? Scary. 

Well drum roll..........

It's done. I took a couple days and tackled it. I managed to move things around, sort, put things together that needed to be together, emptied out other areas in the house and put it away. I also managed to move two of our pantries into the room. Now each thing has is designated area. 

The two pantries I moved in. 

The organized desk area. Please ignore the dust. I haven't had a chance to dust this week yet. 

I have room to walk around. Floor is neat!!

I also have another cabinet that I use for craft supplies in this room but I was uncle to get a good picture of it. 

The dresser is used to store all my fabric! Oh man I love that it is organized and in one area. 

And YES I do have my elliptical in the middle of the room. Small house not many place to store it. Lol. Although I do like going in there now to exercise now that the room is clean. 

And one more pic of my cupboard in our dining room that was full of fabric. 

I love that I managed to find room in other places now.

Plus since I've been home I went through all my clothes and cleaned out 2 black garbage bags full of stuff to donate. Plus so far also 7 pairs of shoes. It feels awesome. Less clutter!!!

So that's my last two weeks, how have yours been?
I am linking up today with Aurie. Come over and check out what everyone has been up to. Or better yet join up with your own 3 in 30. 

I'm back in!

I realized towards the end of last month that I REALLY needed to get back focused. This spring things got really chaotic and I just went into survival mode.

However now things are evened out and I want to start being purposeful again. 

So here are my 3 in 30 for the month of July. 

1. Step out of my box. 

For me this will probably be the hardest. I let fear overtake me, that loss of control so I climb back into the box thinking I'm safer. 

I want to let God use me. I need to let God use me. 

I know if I write it here I will have to show how I did it. I will have to have that accountability so therefore I will be forced out of my box. :)

2. Enjoy life. 

I need to make sure that I'm in the here and now. I tend to daydream or worry or think ahead to much when I need to be focused on those around me. I want to make sure that as Sarah gets older she knows how much she is loved not only by her Father and myself but also by God. By letting her hide out in her room because it's easier for me so I can daydream myself, I want to make sure that we talk, we do things together. We grow together. 

3. Our spare room. 

Ok this one is a biggie. You all know that Rob and I are wanting to add to our family through adoption. What you may or may not know is that we are starting all the process of adopting through the special needs program in China. 

Several months ago I had cleaned out our spare bedroom thinking we were going to need it right away with the foster to adopt program and then I believe God had other ideas. 

So all the stuff that was in the spare too got shafted to other places. 

Well now we know we don't the need that too for a bit and we are honestly sick of the clutter. ( it got turned into a dump room). So we've decided to for now make it a craft/sewing/pantry room. 

I'm bravely putting pictures up so I can have real accountability otherwise how are you ever going to know if I do it, unless I show you. 

Ok that's what the room looks like now. Gross hey. 

All of our scrap booking/craft supplies got sent out to the school area. Not a good set up. 

Some of my main sewing supplies are in our dining room cupboards. Would LOVE to have this space back again. :)

I'm not even showing you the boxes we put outside in our storage area. 

My main goal is to make sure I have proper organization of all the stuff. 

Each genre of stuff will be organized and set up properly. 

Now in saying all this I'm leaving next week for a girls weekend in Seattle so I know I might not get a ton done next week, however I need to make this a goal otherwise I might never do it. Lol

I am joining up today with Aurie. Hop on over and encourage others as they work on their goals. Or even hop in and set some of your own! :)

Life is a highway unless....

God knew what he was doing when he paired up hubby any myself. 

He knew that we would always be up for an adventure. 

Tonight hubby and I were driving home when we saw a real estate sign. We decided to check it out. Down a muddy back road we head. Not far down that road we find the place. Instead of turning around and heading back to the highway hubby decides to turn down another back road to try and meet up with our highway. 

Little did we knew what a little adventure that would be. 

Down a VERY muddy road we head. 

Squeeze between two very full sloughs. 

To realize very quickly that we were going to run out of even gravel roads. 

Down a horse trail we head. 

 Between two fields we travel wondering if we were going to have to turn around. 

But we press on. 

Saw some beautiful countryside. 

Tried to convince hubby to build me a house out there. 

 All of the sudden up pops another very muddy gravel road and shortly after we meet up with the road we were trying to meet up with. 

Nothing is ever boring. Life is an adventure. Learning to embrace the unexpected often finds oneself seeing God's creation like never before. 

Life is a highway unless of course it's a trail in the middle of well in the middle of life. :)

My crazy family

Sometimes I spend a few moments and wonder if I'm thankful for my crazy family. 

I mean don't get me wrong I am thankful for them every single day however there are moments. 

Like who but family is going to be brutally and I mean BRUTALLY honest with you. 

Such as look how much skinnier I am then you. :) 

Or gee you were such a brat growing up, I love you much more now. 

See what I mean? 

I know we all love each other but sometimes I wonder if we always like each other. 

I know they are going to be so excited I shared these pics. Lol

One thing I do know that no matter what we are ALWAYS there for one another. 

In good times and in bad. 

Aren't I just the cutest? Lol ( I am the baby)

One thing is for certain family is forever. 

Stress relief

How do you deal with stress? Are you a cleaner? Eater? Shopper? Crier?
I must admit other than the shopper I have done those others upon occasion. My most common is cleaning. In fact I think hubby sometimes gets me going just so I clean. Lol
The other week though I decided I needed a break and went for a 11km walk.
This was just supposed to be a stroll. I blistered my feet so bad. Oh well. Finally texted my daughter and had her bring out some flip flops for me.

While I was enjoying the scenery I had plenty of time to just think and de-stress. 

I spent a lot of the time just talking to God. 

Seeing HIS creation all around me always puts me in a better mood. 

Being outside I find it so much easier to connect with HIM. 

Having HIM surround me with this beauty sure helped calm me and ground me. 

I need to remember to do this more often. 

Although I'm sure Rob would sooner I clean. Lol

22 years of wedded bliss

Last month hubby and I celebrated our 22 wedding anniversary. It's hard to believe that much time has passed already. After all I only feel 26 myself. 

We spent most of the day working in the yard as the snow had finally melted and it was clean up time. 

We then decided to head out for supper together. 

So off we headed into town for a nice steak supper. Afterwards we thought we might go for a movie until we realized nothing was playing that appealed to us so instead we decided to head to a park and go for a walk. 

Time alone together is a precious commodity. 

After 22 years we have sure had our ups and downs. Life has not been a even steady road more like a dangerous mountain pass. But just like the pass the ride is worth every difficult mile. 

I love you honey. I am so glad God blessed me with you!! You are an amazing head of our household. Thank you for choosing me. 

HI!!

Hi Everyone!!
What a break that was.
Much needed.
My mind is working differently these days.
HE is calling out to me and I am struggling to listen and to obey.

We are almost done dance season!! Yay!!! Pretty pumped about that one. Only one more day of dance and one more day of pictures.

Rob has been crazy busy at work.
He is now working nights. 7 days on 7 days off and I love it. The days off that is. :)

Our summer is already getting jam packed and for that I am very grateful.
Lots of friends and family to visit along with a whole pile of memories just waiting to be made.

We officially started the process today for international adoption. I can't tell you how that makes me feel. After years and years of talking about it, the first form was officially mailed away today!!

Things are still changing and evolving around here. I have plans to write more, I find it very therapeutic.  My topics might change now as I change and evolve.

As always we could always use and appreciate prayer.

Have a great day everyone.

It's awesome to be back!!!!