So it Begins (Jan 2020)

Well 2020 started out with a bang and a trip to urgent care (a place I deeply try to avoid for fear of picking up other germs) within the first few hours.

Poor Zoe had a scooter accident and ended up with a buckle break (broken on each side of her arm/wrest).  The most tears came after realizing the disappointment of not being able to participate in basketball, as she had been greatly anticipating.

We were with my sweet friend Kara and her boys when the incident happened, and she was so incredibly thoughtful in bringing Zoe a care basket the following day. 

She nailed it with all the treasures that were in there!

The next day, Zoe even brought some of the items with us to the doctor when we returned for her cast.

Trooper with a new hot pink accessory!

Grammy was the first person to get to sign it.  I think Zoe enjoyed the excuse of getting to wear some of my t-shirts (it was hard getting her clothes off and on with the cast and arm pain).

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Saturday mornings done right, thanks to the main man!

Then it was off to enjoy a gorgeous day with some yard work.

Beach created a little ditch for all the water we seem to get in our yard, and Ezra enjoyed supervising.

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We still made it to the basketball kick off celebration, as Shiloh was signed up to play as well.

Sweet prayer time, and my Shiloh on the far right.

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Seizing another sunny day...

Someone was (briefly) not happy with me, though.

Shiloh got out her kite and did her best to get it going.

Ezra was quick to follow.

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We had a kind friend lend us a glove type of contraption for Zoe for when she needed to bathe.  You end up pumping out the air around the cast...which apparently caused her great pain.

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When the handsomeness of your 5-year strikes you but he insists on not having his picture taken.

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Beach was a part of the 2019 Leadership Lexington class, and they had a celebration/graduation at the end.

So proud of my leader, he truly has such a heart for others!

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Cousin sleepover and we ended the night with popcorn and a movie.  

Love me the extra snuggles.

Zoe gave Lydia a creative new hairdo.

Bows for days!

The whole troop wanted to come with me to cheer on Shiloh at her first basketball game.

That's my tall girl!

Then it was home for an omelet brunch.

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Quiet times often have a little side kick.

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Speical mail...

and trying to keep the sun off of my face.

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After a week of staying at home with a sick kid I was a bit stir crazy.  So when I won a four pack of tickets to Artrageous in Sumpter for that Friday night (all kids were healthy at that point), I thought that sounded like a fun idea to take the kiddos.

We ate an early dinner at home and made it there just in time to enjoy some cake before the show.

Crazy fun momma, a rarity!

The kids were excited and didn't know what to expect.

Ezra was not feeling the pictures.

I had seen the show a couple of years prior with Beach and enjoyed the combo of singing, live music, and art.

It was pretty late and the time was hitting little man (who had crawled into my lap) hard.

The girls loved when they threw beach balls and streamers into the audience and everyone danced.

Then the girls joined the show on stage to dance it out themselves.  Proud of them for being brave to do so!

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Zoe's first face mask!  Makes me smile every time!

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Monday nights are now for basketball practice.

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This turned out to be the best dentist trip yet...

The kids rocked it and I ended up wining a major gift card to Wal-Mart in their monthly drawling!

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Special sale?  Special treat!

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Haircut time at my fabulous friend's home shop.

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Back at practice...

and Zoe was able to join (while wearing her brace), once she got her cast off after three weeks.

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Shiloh is always creating art...I had to include this piece that I love so much!

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The classes take turns with performing with their grade.  Shiloh rocked the top row...

and we sat up front to get a good spot...accompanied by Ezra's little buddy who wanted to sit next to him.

They did a great job...

and all looked adorable!

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When we gain another partnership with an amazing bakery across town (Silver Spoon), we have to sample the goods!

I will say that we all greatly approve!

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Another check up - this time for the orthodontist....looks like we have some more time to wait before we have to tackle the braces issue.

The kids loved visiting...

and went home all smiles for another treat!

This month kept us on our toes for many reason but counting all the blessings in-between.

Celebrate - Joy

The New Year is such a great time to reflect on the previous year and look ahead at the year to come.  January of 2019 I had been stuck.  After several struggling months (or years rather) of not being able to do much (mostly sleep and feed my children), and with very strict eating habits (in hopes it would help improve my state which meant more work and isolation), it was a constant struggle of fighting the negative voices in my head.  The ones that want to feed the spirit of feeling sorry for myself, at seeing all that I CAN'T do and be, while life keeps on spinning leaving me feeling out of the party.

Thinking through my mindset, I searched to what was the opposite of the gloom ball that often surrounded me.  I landed on the word CELEBRATE. I knew in my soul that no matter what my circumstances looked like, I wanted to choose joy. The type of celebration may be different than what I imagined would be the case in the past, but there are rainbows to found and appreciated each day that I needed to turn my eyes toward and focus on.  Perhaps one day that meant being thankful for getting to spend a few minutes in the sun, or that my children were so gracious to me in my struggling state and loved to snuggle with me in my bed, or having friends that accepted me in my state of such neediness.  There are reasons to celebrate.

I took note of when it was mentioned in the Bible while reading through it during the year.  What does the Lord have to say on such?  I know that there is much I need to gleam on the subject. Jesus was so gracious in showing me some of the small things, and I continued to count my blessings.

There were many a party to go around this past year. The kids have not had a birthday party in many years (my health could not handle it in the past), and this year of celebration they were each able to have one!  I, also, got to celebrate my big 40 in a castle.  Well, perhaps a miniature version but the closest thing you can get to it here in South Carolina. 

Little did I know of what HUGE things the Lord would have in store for us to celebrate! By faith he had me book a work trip for Beach and I to Guatemala, and then when March rolled around I was well enough to go. It was a beyond fantastic time.  My heart was so full being able to connect with some of our coffee farmers and brokers and seeing this glorious country!

Then, the largest thing of all, God gave us a building. He lead us through every scary step along the way (more on that later), towards what we had been working towards for years in the business. It is crazy how He does things!

While my health is still up and down most days, I continue to try to chose joy and celebrate all that the big and small Lord has done for me!