Diet Soda or None

It's been almost two weeks since I gave up diet soda (my love). I didn't want to but it was starting to really burn my stomach and hurt me. I knew it was bad for me (especially how much I drank on any given day) so I took the plunge and went cold turkey.

Since then I have been ravenous, eating everything all day because I'm trying to fill that void it left. I have gained lb's which makes me unhappy AND I have nothing each day to look forward to/just for me. 

It's left me wondering if I did the right thing. ;) I've got saving my tummy on one hand and getting fat and being unhappy on the other... 

huh. Tough call.

Bentley Grew Really Fast...

I picked up my friend's boys from school a couple days ago and they haven't seen my kids in about 10 months or so. Her oldest, Joe, climbed in my car and I had some other kids I watch in the car with me, including a ten year old boy. Joe climbed in and said hello and asked if that was Bentley in the back seat. In all seriousness. It's been awhile and Bentley has grown some but not 8 years worth! ;D

Cute Sayings

Last night I was cuddled up to Bentley and I told him he is my great love and his sisters are my great love. He said "Your heart is big and strong momma." 

He often tells me "I want you for a minute" and this morning he told me "I want to hold you momma". 

Kensington is reading this series she absolutely loves. The first book is called Divergent and the second is Insurgent. The author is releasing her third this fall and made a teaser that it would be called "Detergent". Kensington thought she was serious. ;) 

It's not as easy to communicate the eye rolling and attitude I get often from the kids but I do love the cute stuff they say and do! Makes my heart happy. <3 And apparently big and strong too. 

Doggie Paddle

Last week Kensington & I drove down to pick up the baby from his dad's and we helped with a few things around his house since he has had foot surgery and can't do much. When it came down to about five minutes before we had to leave I went to take some garbage outside and left the front door open without thinking. His big dog got out and took off. Ken & I headed him off at the garbage cans by the curb but he quickly manuevered his way out of the muzzle and took off down across the field and down the ditch across from Blake's house. Kensington took off after him barefoot. Seeing that she was chasing him I kind of picked up some garbage that fell and waited... for what I have no idea. The dog wasn't wearing a collar bc he slipped out of it. Was I waiting for Kensington to carry the dog back... who knows. After a few minutes went by I figured I should run after them both as well. Barefoot. So off I went. As I turned the bend where they ran to minutes prior they were no where in sight. I kind of freaked because Kensington doesn't know this part of town, doesn't know how to get back to the house and has no way of contacting me. I was scared. I ran down the ditch path calling for Kensi and in a few seconds I could hear her calling "Jack" from across the fence line coming from the neighborhood backing up to where I was. I told her I was coming to find her. I made my way over there and almost passed the cul-de-sac where she and the dog were. She was chasing him still as they came out of someone's back yard!!! The dog ran back the way we came from and I was glad bc at least we were all headed back in the right direction!! The dog was not slowing down though at all and I said a prayer that  we could get the dog back because it was past time for me to go to pick up kids an hour north at our elementary school! Seconds later Blake showed up with his truck and fanagled the dog in! Phew!!! From reading this it just sounds like a quick jaunt down the ditch and back but it ended up being between 10-15 minutes of running like that.

The FUNNIEST part about this whole thing though was that when Kensington chased the dog into that back yard there were gardeners there and she looked at them in horror and said "I'm so sorry!" And at that moment the dog JUMPED INTO THEIR POOL!!! She had me rolling on the way home about how humiliated she was and how funny it was!! The gardeners had to help the dog out of the pool. I thought it was the funniest thing ever. Kids looking on from inside the house and all while this stranger dog ran into their back yard and hopped in for a swim!

I was so proud of her for her marathon running and not letting the dog out of her sight. I don't know how Blake will do that if the dog gets out again. He's on crutches. I'm glad Ken was with me or I am not sure if I could have kept up with him either.

More Than Just a Tree

Last fall the HOA sent a letter telling me to remove the dead tree in the front yard. Until that letter I didn't even know our tree was dead. I contacted the Management Company for this house since we are just renting and let them know there was no tree out front and if they wanted to replace it they could. Last week the HOA sent me a letter telling me that I needed to replace the tree out front. I contacted the Management Company again and told them I received a letter now and they need to replace the tree. A few days later I got a letter from the Management Company telling me it was my responsibility to replace it and I had 30 days to replace it with a 6ft Oak tree per HOA. 

I was pissed. I am barely holding on lately with all the pressures I'm under. I didn't feel like replacing a tree is my responsibility. The lease I'm under says I'm responsible to maintain the yard. It's questionable whether or not replacing a tree is considered "maintaining" or not. After going back and forth with the Management Company and not getting anywhere I put my frustration on Facebook last week stating I was not happy about the situation. Miraculously a man from church found my post days later and mentioned helping me with this was right up his alley as he owns a landscaping company. :) He and his son brought a 6ft Oak tree over today and planted it for us. 

Here it is in all it's glory. 

And believe me, it's glorious. 

This touches my heart so much. I feel so humbled. Why do I forget that the Lord will provide? Why do I get frustrated and upset? This week I saw the following on my amazing friend's Facebook post. This is regarding her mother and I learned a lot from it:

"This is how she lived!!!

To go along with the picture of my mom, here is a quote from one of her friends: "You never said you couldn't do something. She would always say "The impossible just takes a little longer, more thought and a lot of prayer."

She had great faith--that the Lord would provide a way or someone to help the problem to be solved. She made everyone feel great, to know that the Lord loved them. and that you could do anything if you'd but try."

I find the statement "the Lord would provide a way or someone to help the problem to be solved" very pertinent to my situation. I am constantly overwhelmed with problems to be solved. The tree was a HUGE problem for me. Not only financially, which was my biggest worry, but also physically. There is no way I could go get a 6ft Oak and transport it and plant it by myself. My heart is so full today to my Heavenly Father who completely took care of my problem in spite of me and to the Beckett family who took all costs & effort upon themselves. They acted in grace, doing something for me that I couldn't do myself. 

Miraculously I also had my two strong nephews at my house when he was planting the tree and he ended up needing their help. It amazes me how the Lord is in the very details of my family's life. MUST mean He is in the very LARGE details as well. 

I am also thankful to my friends who supported me and offered their advice and help, both legally and financially! <3 

That Time Again

Go Malcolm. Go home Phillip.

Doing Something Right

Me: "Bentley, what's your favorite animal?"
Bentley: "Jesus. No, no... Family"

Best Picture of Adam Ever

This is on news-stands now. I think it's the best picture of him ever ever ever. 

I <3 Adam. He's a beautiful man.