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Friday, July 31, 2015

Friday Favorites: Sunny Summer fun

I can't believe August 1st is tomorrow! July has been such a fun and hot month. We honestly couldn't have asked for nicer summer weather. I'm going to talk about some of my favorite summer moments lately for Friday Faves!!

I'm linking up with Erika for...

1.) It has been so much fun swimming this summer in my Mom in law's pool. Troy is loving the pool this year and will jump onto the mattress with me close by. So grown up!


2.) We've found a total of around 6 frogs this summer. And this boy loves to find them and keep them :). We still have our sweet little turtle. We've gone bug hunting a couple of times, too. Great memories! I have found that the very best memories are made doing such simple things :).


3.) This sweet girl is loving her fancy dress up shoes! It sure is cute listening to the 'clickity click' noise on the hardwood floor. Music to my ears ;).


4.) My sister and her kiddos came to visit a couple weeks ago. The cousins get along so very great! I love watching them together. This particular day we did some fishing and some unexpected jumping off the dock into the water. Fun times!!


And afterwards we were able to enjoy some yummy pizza and ice cream! 



And these cool mustaches were a favorite for the kiddos. All the kids got one to wear. 


5.) This is what summer is about. Playing in the mud with trucks getting nice and dirty! I say a dirty kid is a happy kid :)!



6.) We have been meaning to go to the Library this summer. So on this hot day it was a perfect excuse to be inside getting some books. Our local library has the cutest corner for kids with a beautiful outdoors mural on the wall and tons of puppets to play with. 


Had to stop by and let Troy use the phone. Haha! At first I asked him "Do you know what that is?" :) 


7.) I'm so proud of these kiddos! They built this amazing "house" fort all by themselves. The older cousins hammered the nails in. And they even made mud concrete to keep the posts stable. With a little help from Grandpa ;)  I just love them so much! And their creative minds!



8.) We went to a water park this past week and Austin passed the swimming test to go in the deep water. I was so happy for him! And he grew in courage. As much as I love my kids being little I enjoy seeing them face their fears as they grow up :). My Mom took this picture as we were heading over there together. And I remember thinking "I wish I could've gotten a picture of us walking over there." So thankful she did that without me knowing. 


Have a great weekend!!
Jamie :)

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Thankful Challenge//Giveaway

I started reading this amazing book "One Thousand Gifts" By: Ann Voskamp. My sweet sister gave it to me for my birthday and it was one of the very best presents to be given. In it the author speaks about writing down 1,000 reasons you are thankful. Since reading it I've been sounding off things I'm thankful for...from the moment I wake up until the time my head touches the pillow at night. And my friends, it has CHANGED MY LIFE! It makes waking up much more easier, too. :) One of the secrets to living a happy life isn't just living a thankful life it's living a thank FULL life and taking note of each thing. To actually fixate on each particular reason I'm grateful every single day is deeply humbling and satisfying. Simple things that I hadn't given a second thought have given my life more meaning with this new habit. Allowing God's perfect plan to unfold by being more aware of His gifts is making me grow stronger. We have been given countless beautiful gifts from God. Everywhere we look there is something. Just looking out the window and seeing the beautiful texture of the trees each being completely different. And looking up at the gorgeous blues of the sky with big white fluffy clouds that vary in size and shape. Looking into the eyes of your child so pure and loving. Listening to the laughter of your friend. Tasting the sweetness of fruit. So many gifts to see, feel, hear and taste. As well as so many moments to treasure.


Here are just a few of the things I have become more grateful for:

30.For the sun that allows natural light to shine while I'm reading outside


 31.For cold water in my kid's kiddi pool that feels so refreshing on my hot feet

32.For the calming sounds of the birds high in the sky

33.For a cool breeze that brushes by me in the heat of the day

34.When my child grabs my hand to show me something special to them

 35.For the sweet taste of refreshing watermelon

36.The joy that a baby turtle brings

37.Beautiful wildflowers that bloom in the field with no special attention




38. The smile of a stranger at the grocery store

39. My Mom's kind and beautiful eyes that brighten as she sees her grand kids together


40. Being able to read The Bible any time of the day and anywhere


41. The quietness of the house at night while all are sleeping


42. Pretty butterflies that Troy can always spot and run after to catch




::::The MORE thankful we are the MORE fully happy we become::::

I encourage you to take the "Thankful Challenge" with me!! Each day write down in a journal 5 (or more) things you are grateful for and do this for 200 days to meet our goal of 1,000 things we are thankful for. And it doesn't even have to end there :). I have a new journal I've dedicated to this. I've been waiting to use it, almost as if saving it especially for this. And how fun it will be to look back on in years to come. Writing down the gifts we are grateful for is key. I love this book so much that I'm going to send one person her book. Just comment below or "like" my post and I will randomly select one person to receive her book. I can't wait for you to be blessed with her Godly wisdom! The drawing will end this Friday at 11:59 pm. I will then contact the winner. 

Have a great day, Jamie :)