Blessed Beyond Measure

Sometimes life can get the best of you.  Things just don't seem to be going the way you think they should, and before you know it, in your mind, life stinks.  Yup, I think if we are all honest, at one point or another, we have all been there.  Well, I thought maybe, just maybe, I was heading there.  Then...I stopped myself.  What in the world, Beth?  I am blessed.  I am blessed beyond measure.  I am blessed.  I may have rough moments.  I may have rough weeks, months, etc.  However, I have nothing to complain about really. 

So, yes...I've been having some moments.  About nothing, really.  Having some of my own personal issues, but...Life is good.  Elijah is growing.  He is continually coming up with some of the most amazing comments ever.  One of the most memorable this past week was... "Mommy, it is Holy Cow HOT out there!" That was after spending just a few minutes outside.  Too cute!!!  Eli keeps me hoping.  He can not wait for school to start again.  He misses being in the structure.  For that reason alone, I am wondering if we should have gone with the 5 day week pre-school.  However, I think that once we get back into the routine, he will settle in.  We are really excited to see how he progresses in the coming year.

Everyday Elijah asks me, "please mommy, can I have a brother or sister?  I would have more fun playing!"  He is definitely my social butterfly.  He loves to have kids over & his dream & prayer is that he will have sibling(s).  I'm wondering if this is a stage that he will overcome or????  I guess time will tell.

We are preparing to travel to PA.  I think I'm NUTS for driving it again, but hey, where would life's adventures be if I didn't make some of them myself?  LOL.  We will have a good time.  I am looking forward to a week at the beach with my sisters as well!!!  We are going to have a good time.  Life is great.

Enjoying Life

July 4th week Dan had vacation.  It was so nice to be able to spend time as a family.  Here is a little run down of our time together.

Monday...Dan, Elijah & I went to Moody Gardens in Galveston, TX.  They currently have a Dino Live exhibit going on & we knew that Eli would love it.  We had a great time.  We went to the Dino exhibit & then to an aquarium there.  Eli was convinced that the Dino's were live.  He would not get too close to them.  It was so neat to watch his face with each type of Dino.  The aquarium was cool too.  Eli's favorite part was the sharks.  Who knew my son would be into dangerous animals.  LOL. 

 Dan & Eli at the Dino exhibit

Eli & I in the shark cage

That evening we enjoyed dinner at the Rainforest Cafe' & Eli loved it.  If you have never been to a rainforest cafe it is super kid friendly.  Once again though, we couldn't convince Eli that the animals weren't real.  He was sure that the Elephants & Gorillas were real.  He had to get a picture with the Elephants. 

Our little man definitely enjoys big animals.  He had a great time with all of our adventures on Monday.

Tuesday...we went to Schlitterbahn in Galveston.  There are a couple of these water parks.  This one isn't the largest, however, we had a great time.  Joyce was off work & was able to join us for the day.  This was Eli's first time at a water park.  HE LOVED it!  We had such a great time.  He did much better than I ever expected.  I can only imagine that we will be visiting there more and as he gets older we will be going very frequently.  Here is a picture that we had taken in the lazy river.  All of our favorite!



Wednesday & Thursday we spent around the house.  We had appointments, bible studies & we moved Elijah's room.  He now has a dinosaur room that is very organized!  We got shelves to organize toys & books.  It looks so much better.  Now, if I could just get the rest of the house to look like that.  LOL.

Friday...Aunt Joyce had off, so she took Elijah & spent the day with him.  They enjoyed the zoo & the pool.  They had a great day!!!  Dan & I had the day to ourselves, and wow, it was hard.  I'm not going to lie, it's been so long since we've had a day together, I didn't know what to do.  We did enjoy our time, but I think next time we will be more prepared.  I also think this showed us that no matter what, we need more date nights.  We have to make it a priority.  Eli will survive without us for a night or two sometimes.  In any case, Friday, Eli was spoiled by Aunt Joyce & Dan & I had a day of shopping (of which we didn't buy much of anything) and time together to talk.

It was slightly hot...Eli was cooling off.

Saturday...we went to the CIRCUS!  We had a great time.  Eli wasn't amused for all of it, but he did have a good time.  I think the last time I was at the circus was in the 1st grade.  Yes, that was forever ago.  I think that we adults, Dan, Joyce & I, almost enjoyed it more than Eli.  LOL.  I'm sure we will go again as he gets older.  He did enjoy the motorcycle acts & of course, the Elephants.  BTW--he wants to ride an Elephant. 

...at least he got to ride a fake one.  :-)

That concluded our stay cation.  We had a good time though. 

This week has been good.  For those of you who don't have Facebook I have to share something that Elijah said this week.  His friend Garner was here playing with him & they came out of Elijah's room chewing gum.  I asked the boys if they had asked for the gum.  Eli quickly responded, "Yes!"  I asked them who they asked.  Eli said..."we asked God!"  my response..."and what did God say?"  E: "He said we could have gum!"  I was a little floored.  I am sometimes amazed at the things that come out of his mouth. 

Eli & I have enjoyed a great week.  Dan had to travel again & will be home this afternoon.  Today is his birthday, so we will enjoy a weekend of fun. 

I must say this...I am so thankful for our church.  Elijah loves going & usually asks to go at least 3-4 times a week.  He has his "favorite" people there, of course they are ones that play with him & run with him.  Shocker, I know.  I am so thankful for the men there who are amazing & take care of Eli when Daddy is away. 

Until next time...logging off saying Happy Birthday Dan.  We love you!

End of June?! Really??!!

I can't believe it is the end of June already!  That means Christmas in July is coming!  In July QVC always starts selling stuff for Christmas.  So, on July 23rd the big Christmas in July sales begin.  I know that stores are already preparing for Christmas.  How close are you to starting your Christmas shopping?  My little man has already started his Christmas list.  Well, we have started it for him, simply because he is into this "I want" mode right now.  Today he clarified to me that Christmas is too far away.  He really wants a stuffed T-Rex from Toy Story and I told him that we would put it on his Christmas list...well, that wasn't necessarily the thing he wanted to hear.  Oh well, he will like it when he gets it.  Whether it is in 5 months or 12.  So....don't forget...get your lists started.  Start thinking about Christmas cards, pictures, etc.  The most enjoyable thing for me is that Elijah asked me to tell him the Christmas story tonight about Jesus being born!  Yay!!!  Jesus' birthday (which, BTW, may be closer to this time of year than December).  Anyhow....moving on :-)

Elijah is 4.  Hard to believe.  Along with him being 4 comes the fact that I have to realize that he is really, truly, growing up.  He has become so manipulative, strong headed, loving, caring, manipulative, bull headed...oh, did I repeat those?  LOL.  You get the idea.  He is so sweet, but there are days that things just break you down.  Last week, I was on my way to Bible study & Eli was going to the childcare they provide...so, on our way there I was explaining what I expect of him.  I talked to him about respecting the teachers & other kids, etc.  When we got there & we were walking in, I started again to explain to him what I expected...I started, "Now, remember Eli..."  He quickly cut me off & just said..."Mommy, I know.  I already heard you."  I chuckled.  So, I'm a little over the top.  At least I know he was listening.  :-)

Speaking of my Bible study, I must tell you that I am really learning.  I am so blessed to be in a class with many mom's of all different ages & to be able to listen to them & get help with my issues.  We are going through the book by Dr. Kevin Leman..."Have a New Kid by Friday."  I am hoping to be able to learn from this for many years to come.  This is something that I have always wanted to be able to be a part of & now I can.  I am so excited about it too!!!!

Elijah has been enjoying life, however, since his birthday (June 20) he has been thinking that EVERY day since then is his birthday!  That's cute & all, but really, he thinks that he should be receiving a birthday gift everyday.  I'm hoping the feeling comes to an end soon.  He has asked me a couple times why so & so hasn't given him a gift.  I am trying to teach him that not everyone needs to give him a gift.  I explained that Mommy & Daddy are the main ones that will give him birthday gifts.  Hmmm...that didn't settle it.  So, last night the teacher at church asked me if it was Eli's birthday.  He had her believing that yesterday was his birthday.  Oh my.  I guess acting is being added to his personality.  Such a precious little man.  Hopefully when we celebrate Daddy's birthday in July he will realize that his has ended. 

Elijah is all done with swimming lessons for this year.  Honestly, he wasn't real receptive.  He didn't want to listen to instruction.  He wanted to do what he wanted to do.  He is swimming a little, but not correctly.  He still wants to play soccer & I am hoping that this will help him learn how to be a team player & listen to instructions.  That is my prayer anyhow.  He really is enjoying the pool time this year.  He always wants to be with other kids & he is enjoying going under water for toys.  The exercise is good for him & with the weather being so hot he really loves being in the water.  Today, while we were coming back from the pool he made my heart melt.  Elijah started singing, "Jesus loves the little children..."  I was so proud, so I joined in with him & we sang the whole way walking home.  Sweet, sweet time!

Dan is on vacation all week next week!  woo hoo!!!  So, starting this Sunday we will have Daddy for a full week.  We have plans to have a good time!  I'm sure I will blog about our experiences.

Vacation Bible Experience (School) at our church was last week.  I participated this year & this was my first EVER VBS/X.  I taught a class of 3rd & 4th grade boys.  I will admit I was a little nervous for the week, but it ended up being a fantastic week!  I had so much fun & the boys were so sweet.  The week lessons were on Forgiveness & I learned just as much, if not more, than them!  I am thankful I had that opportunity.

Going to the beach...my sister's go to the beach together every year.  They have always invited me to go, but due to various reasons, vacation time, personal issues, etc...I haven't gone.  Well, this year, I'm going!  Just me.  It's going to be A LOT of driving as I will be driving to PA & then to NC & back to PA & then back home to TX, but I'm sure we will have tons of fun.  Woo hoo!!!!!  Sister time.  Looking forward to it. :-)

One final thing...ever notice how we procrastinate the stuff we shouldn't?  I am so bad about this.  I am having some health issues & I need to have more blood work.  Have I had it done yet?  Nope.  I THINK I am going to have a 2nd opinion, but have I looked up the Dr yet?  NOPE.  So...I tell you this to ask this, pray that I STOP procrastinating.  Thanks!

Have a wonderful week.  Until next time...our journey continues....

Real You

So, lately I've been doing a LOT of thinking.  One of the items I have been thinking about is something that I have struggled with for quite a long time.  Wanting everyone to like me.  Truth is, not everyone is going to.  Truth is, I'm really not sure I want everyone to.  However, there is a part of me that is still living in my childhood and all I want to do is fit in.  No matter how that happens.  I think if we are honest with ourselves we would all agree that we all want that, or at least most of us do.  Prior to our move here to Texas I had finally become comfortable with who I was.  When we moved I realized I would enter that "childhood" fear again.  I had to force myself to be real.  I was committed to allowing me to be me, no matter how difficult.  You see, by nature, I am a peace maker.  I always want people to like one another.  One of the best things I have enjoyed is that I can be friends with anyone, and I have be blessed with some AMAZING friends.  Everyone won't always like me. That is true. Sorry for them.  I am me.  Take me or leave me.  I hope you all can be you.  Don't allow the temptation of being someone who you aren't in order to have someone like you.  It is easy to do.  We want someone to like us so much that we try to adapt to what we "think" they would like.  Sometimes we try too hard.  We can't do it.  I won't do it.  I am the real me.

Otherwise...life has been busy.  We had visitors & had a fantastic time!  Dan was home for several weeks straight, but is now back to the traveling life. Elijah is taking swimming lessons & enjoying the pool.  We have many summer plans. 

Eli is getting cuter by the day & also more difficult sometimes.  He is stubborn.  Yup, just like his mom.  I can't believe that he is going to be 4 this week.  Time has really gone by so fast.  I remember that phone call like it was yesterday!  Elijah has blessed our lives.  In celebration of his birthday, Julie, Little G, Camryn, Eli & I will enjoy the day at the beach!  So glad that we can do this!!!!

Aside from all of this life is normal.  I am enjoying Texas.  It is very hot and I'm told will be even worse, but I'm enjoying it.  I sweat like nobody's business, but hey, at least I don't swell up with retention.  I have to look at it one way or the other, right?  So...I will sweat, but I will enjoy life.

Hope you are enjoying your summer.  Love to you all.

Random Thoughts

I want to first start by acknowledging that I haven't been here for a while, but with good reason (well, mostly)...in any case, on May 5th, Dan & I celebrated our 10th anniversary.  It's hard to believe that it has been 10 years since our wedding.  We have been through a lot together in those 10 years, but we are thankful that God has enabled us to endure the challenges put in our path.  We are still facing challenges, but with God's help we will continue on.  I'm thankful for Dan, for the husband that he is & the father that he is.  God has blessed me.

I want to talk a little about the Saturday before Mother's day.  This day is Birth-Mother's day.  Not a day celebrated by everyone, but in our family, this day is very important!  We have a birth mom that we celebrate on this day.  We are incredibly blessed by her.  She chose to give us an opportunity that we otherwise wouldn't have had.  I pray that as Elijah grows up this day will be special to him as well.  My prayer is that he will thank her for her sacrifice.  My prayer is that he will love her & know that she loved him so much that she gave him a mommy & a daddy.  So, birth-mother's day...we honor all birth mom's...ours & other's on this day.

Mother's day was nice.  I ended up so sick, but it was nice to have my boys home with me.  I realize how precious time is.  I don't take these days for granted.  I used to long to celebrate this day as a mom myself, so this special day is just that for me.  Special.  I don't know how or what other people do in their households for this day, but in my house this day will always be a special day. (at least if I have anything to say about it.)

Something I have been thinking about lately...we judge people so quickly.  We judge by the car they drive, we judge by the clothes they are wearing, we judge people by how they talk, well...we judge.  We always say, "don't judge a book by its cover," but let me tell you, we do it.  The sad thing is, we really have NO clue what people are going through.  We have no idea what their day has been like.  We don't know if they are working 3 jobs just to tend to family or what.  So what gives us the right to judge?  What gives us the right to look at someones "stuff" and make a decision on what they are like?  Think about it next time.  Before you judge...think.  If we all do this it will be a better place.

Something else I've been thinking about (yup, I've had a lot of time since being sick)...how we think about ourselves & how it affects our children.  Kids listen to us all the time.  I know I am guilty of this.  Cutting myself down is almost too easy.  I started to think about how much Eli is listening to this.  I want him to grow up respecting me, but if I don't respect myself, what does that tell him?  Also, do I want him to grow up cutting himself down?!  NO WAY!  So...I am making an effort to be content with me.  If I have issues I need to keep them to myself.  I need to be confident in me, no matter what I feel other people think.  Just me being real...

So, our little Eli is so smart.  He asks questions all the time!  He also comes up with things in ways that we wouldn't even think.  For instance...we had a caterpillar that transformed into a butterfly.  Eli told his daddy that the butterfly was like Jesus.  He died and came back.  WOW.  Talk about a proud moment.  You betcha little man, Jesus is just like that butterfly & the best thing is, because of Him, we can be a beautiful butterfly!!!  Eli also has been asking a lot about his color lately.  He asked us why God made us different colors.  On any given day we never know what he will come up with next.  Today he told me that my polka dots were beautiful on me (talking about my freckles).  One more thing about my little man...he is obsessed with dirt.  When he plays outside guaranteed he will come in covered from head to toe.  I'm just glad he can have a good time.

So...summer begins soon.  Eli's last week at school is next week.  We have a lot of plans already for the summer.  Eli is enrolled in swim lessons.  I am enrolled in a bible study on Thursday mornings.  Eli is enrolled in a 3 day vacation bible school.  Daddy is taking a vacation & we are going to go to the circus!  We have visitors coming & we are oober excited to spend lots of time at the beach!  It is going to be a great summer!  I can't wait to share all about our fun!

For now, I will leave you with all of my random thoughts.  Peace Out.  LOL.

Zumba

So...I had to post about my experience tonight...just in case tomorrow I can't move at all.  LOL. 

Zumba...tonight was my first night ever.  I have always wanted to try Zumba, but didn't ever get up the nerve to go on my own & couldn't ever find anyone to go with.  So...tonight I was going with a friend.  Well, something happened & she was not able to join me this evening.  I wanted to stay home.  Everything in me wanted to just curl up in my comfort zone & be here.  But, I didn't.  I had already pretty much told the world through my earlier blog & my post on Facebook that I was going to go tonight...so, against my inner being, I went.  I was there.  I know officially LOVE Zumba!!!!  I can't wait to go back.  I am super excited about Thursday & Saturday morning.  I think if I use the gym for nothing else than Zumba, my membership is totally worth it! 

I am sure that tomorrow I will hurt in places I didn't even realize I had.  I was sweating tonight ALL over.  Seriously, I was drenched from head to toe.  I didn't even know I could sweat so much.  LOL.  It was amazing.  Boy did it feel good!  There was a girl there & on the front of her shirt it said...OMG.  On the back it said...ZUMBALICIOUS!  Yup, I want a shirt like that! 

In closing, I will say this...people who go to a Zumba workout...please remember to wear deodorant.  When you don't...YOU STINK!  UGH.

So, officially I am addicted to Zumba.  Already.  WOO HOO!!!!

Thoughts

So many things have been on my mind lately.  It is crazy.  You know when you are doing things for the Lord that the devil isn't happy.  He tries to manipulate your mind & get your focus to be elsewhere.  However, I can't let this happen.  The devil will NOT steal my joy.  I am claiming God's provisions.  His love.  His help.  His overwhelming strength.  I am claiming God as my champion!  Thank you Lord!

Now...having said that...some updates on us.  Elijah is growing up so quickly.  I can't believe it.  Only a little over a month & a half until he is 4.  That is absurd!  He still reminds me quite frequently how young he is, but I know my little man is going through some changes in his little body.  He has grown & continues to gain weight.  So...I know we will be good to go with the booster seat in a month!  Yay!!!  He constantly asks questions.  Over & over & over!  His mind is always going.  Today, I was taking him to Jumpalooza, so when we got in the car this was our conversation.

E: "Mommy, where does God live?"
M: "In heaven Bub."
E: "Well, I would like to see God so I can ask Him a question."
M: "What question do you want to ask Him?"
E: "I want to know if He has toys & other boys up there with Him that I can play with."
M:---COMPLETELY SPEECHLESS

A lot of times this is how our conversations will go.  I will do my best to answer questions & then he will come off with some statement that throws me for a loop & well, I just won't have an answer.  If he notices something, he will ask about it. Most days it is nice to see things through his eyes.  Some days I silently pray he will not ask any more questions.  LOL.  Then, I am reminded, I am blessed with my little man.  I love to hear him laugh (as he is laughing right now sitting beside me), I love to cuddle with him at night & in the morning.  I love to hear his feet running across the floor.  I love to hear him tell me that "he loves me all day," and most of all I love that he is a healthy normal boy who gets into things sometimes, pulls my last nerve, gives me bruises, kisses me, loves me & I could go on & on.  My little man is doing great.  He is loving life & I am so glad!

Dan has been home with us for the past couple weeks.  Due to all of the inspectors having to go through 2 weeks of training he is working in Houston.  It has been nice having him here.  Eli has really enjoyed having some normalcy.  It appears that he will be home with us for a couple months & that is going to be a blessing.  God really does know what He is doing.  He placed Dan home at the time that we needed him.

So...tonight I will participate in my first ever Zumba class.  I am so nervous!  I will let you all know how it goes, if I am able to move, that is...LOL.  Hope y'all have a wonderful day!

Love to all...