Days at Home

I'm very grateful to be able to stay home with B while his sisters are at school. Most of our adventures are spent at home while I work on vinyl or school. Today after my eye appt & grocery shopping we had some time to kill so we walked around the park until it was time to get the girls. It was lovely. ❤️

Just Chuck It

Bentley drinks a cup of chocolate milk usually everyday & he always chucks it across the room when he's done. I walked by today & questioned "why"!!?? Lol. What makes a man-child feel the need to toss his empty cup? Is it out of defiance...mad it's empty?! Haha 

Day Trip to College Station

Brae had a tour of Blinn today and also an informational meeting for the nursing program. She, Bentley, and I made a day of it! We loved it and had the BEST time!

We left by 10 and went to meet her potential roommates first and see the house we hope she will get to live in (3 bedrooms rented out by church member's). After that we drove over to A&M and drove around a bit, grabbed lunch, then went to the Blinn tour. After that, we went to A&M and found the 12th Man Memorial, went to the Bookstore (AWESOME!!), found the Century Tree, then found our way to the nursing meeting nearby. The meeting was uplifting and we got a lot of needed info. We snapped some pics of Brae, to use with her Senior Pics, then grabbed dinner on the way home and arrived home at 9:30. Such a good day! <3 That was my first time seeing College Station and I loved it! 

We stopped on the side of the freeway to take pics in the wildflowers.

B playing football while Brae is getting her pics taken in the parking lot of the Medical Bldg.

A&M Bookstore!

Century Tree

Goodbye Diet Coke… Again

I love blogging! I have struggled to keep my blog up to date with everything going on but felt impressed a few months back that I could just blog photos or small posts just so I could remember in years from now what this time was filled with. I have been doing that. Then recently I felt like I need to be jotting down the big things that are happening. I write these things down for myself and for my children and their families in the future.

I am an "All or Nothing" kind of girl and have an addictive and obsessive personality. When I get hooked on something I go extreme and tend to have no moderation. I have loved soda for as long as I can remember. For most people they have a can or two a day, but for me, especially the last three years in dealing with so much stress and pressure, it's more like 2 44oz a day plus cans at home. I turn to soda when my life feels out of control. I gave it up a year ago for quite some time but somehow returned to the habit. It starts with me having one then I just get hooked so fast.

Recently I was drinking a lot of soda again. I kept feeling promptings to think of the most virtuous women I know and then to think if they would have a big Sonic drink attached to their hip all day long. My answer was always "no". I knew the Spirit was telling me that I should give them up, too, but I held on so tight because they made me happy. A soda was what I got everyday that was all "mine". Just mine! Did I mention how happy it made me!? :( It did.

I went to the temple one morning and as I was sitting there I felt guilty for being there. That meant that something in my life was out of alignment and I knew exactly why I felt that way. That experience was it for me. The next Sunday was fast and testimony day (once a month at church) and I knelt down and prayed and told Heavenly Father that I didn't want to give up soda because I loved it so much but if he wanted me to I would. I asked Him if he would help me with the side effects that would surely come (headache, fog, etc). I opened my fast and told him I had the desire to do His will and if He would help me I would give it up. Honestly though I wasn't  happy about it. I fasted that day and it was really hard. I got a headache. I was grumpy and could barely function. Seriously. I made it through that day (haha) and the next day I took ibuprofen that morning but felt fine all day with NO fog. The following days I felt fine too, no headache and no fog. If anyone reading this has ever given up caffeine or overcome an addiction of any sort, you will know that headache and fog usually accompany overcoming addiction for days. That was my experience in years past trying to give up caffeine. This time there were no side effects. That was my miracle and the mercy shown to me this time. I know it.

I have come to know that the happiness I found in the soda was a counterfeit happiness. I am learning to rely on the Lord and for Him to help my heart be happy.

Emotionally the roller coaster has continued for me ever since then. I have felt more with the psychological effects of giving it up more than the physical. I have felt unhappy and have struggled, though it could be related to several other issues going on now.

I have learned about the Atonement and the power of fasting. I have learned that when mercy is shown to me, the way it was regarding the "no side effects", it makes me never want to repeat the offense again. The guilt I felt in the temple and the mercy after the fast make me pretty sure I will never drink a caffeinated soda again. I have learned my weakness boundaries and that is if I ever have just one, that will be enough to have me addicted. I can't even have one.

I have been drinking water, flavored water (HEB or Wal Mart brand), and a lot of Crystal Light (I'm also on a no-carb diet). I have started taking vitamins, supplements, and allergy medicine trying to get my energy level up and to be healthy. <3

Wipeout Race

I ran the Wipeout 5k Race Saturday. It was so much fun in spite of the fact that I almost died running. I was lucky enough to run with my friends in the heat before my own. Thanks to Elliott for convincing the police officer to let me do so! :) 

This is the video as we started:

Rope Obstacle & Wrecking Balls. I am in the middle lane for Wrecking Balls and Elliott runs right after me and cracks me up!! lol HE made it across though! 

Elliott convinced the police officer to let me race with their group. :D I'm so glad I did!

Before

Climbing up to the Sweeper was one of the most difficult challenges. haha There weren't good footholds! 

This photo is the BEST!! lol!

Wrecking Balls

 Bella <3 

Bentley enjoyed himself! 

Cali being Cali! Running alongside me! haha <3

Our friend, Marc, came to cheer everyone on and snapped this pic right after the Wrecking Balls. :)

Bella <3

Braelyn <3 

Bella & Cali <3

Kensington <3

#fangies

In support of my little sister, Angie, who is awesome! 

"We are your biggest fans! Whether you decide to write a book or give up coffee, we know you can do it!! 

#fangies"

This was her "MUG  SHOT"lol

I was setting the camera up to take a picture of all of us and accidentally flipped it around. Thought I should take advantage of that opportunity. lol 

hahaha

Family Fangies! Minus Bent who was refusing (do we expect anything different?!)

Bath Bombs by Cali

Each of the girls were responsible to raise some money to go towards paying for Girls Camp this summer. Cali came up with an idea to start a little business selling bath bombs. She earned enough money to pay for all of her camp and then some. :D I was impressed with her work ethic and am not ashamed to admit I was happy when the bombs were complete and I could have my kitchen back! 

 We (I) called these "Cal Patties'. They were the deformed ones. 

 They turned out great and worked awesome, too!!