Every month we are doing something around here! We enjoy surprises and showering our friends with love and goodies! Make sure you’re on our email list so we can include YOU!
It has been a labor of love for me this year. What usually is 3 of us putting out I did by myself.
Dustin of course helped me with big stuff. But it’s usually Kristi, me and either her mom or Tracy.
Rachel and Brooke did my tree per usual.
But it’s taken me all of 7 days. 4 of those were full days. The other 3 were after work. My husband was sick.
I have lost 4 pounds during this process. And I’m still not done. I have my mantle to do, florals, front porch, and finishing touches of garland and such to do. But the bulk is done.
The house is clean. Bins are put up. Everything is organized. And ready for the week.
This time next week nothing will be left but to sit back and enjoy the twinkling lights and fruits of my labor.
Kristy finally made it tonight to help me put finishing touches on salon. I need one more garland out there and she is done. And she will come in and put final touches on my house.
I love two sets of eyes! So here is a glimpse of the magic before I head to bed. Good night fb. Let’s have an amazing week! ✨🎄✨
God has been so faithful. So generous. So kind to me.
In my season of rest, in a valley, and frankly disobedience, he is reminding me how worthy and how loved I am. That he is who he says he is all the time.
I have not been in the word like I’m supposed to be. I’ve felt farther from him than I have felt in a long time. Then I’m reminded of the story of Elijah.
God let me rest.
He let me sleep.
He didn’t shame me.
He didn’t lecture me.
He didn’t abandon me.
He’s been strengthening me all along. I can feel his love right now. Like genuinely.
He has shown me this week what he is capable of and I’m starting to see a new purpose. A new calling.
I had to rest to be prepared for my next adventure. Where he will be using me next.
When you’re tired, confused, heartbroken, lonely, scared and feel abandoned and that you aren’t worthy, keep talking to God. 1am, 5am, 7pm. In the shower, driving down the road, in the floor of your closet. Doesn’t matter.
He is a good good father who loves his child very much. Keep trusting your kingdom purpose. And that he is always in control. 🫶🏼
Oh and how did I forget! My daughter getting diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes too. Add that to my list.
And this month is Diabetes Awareness month.
Let me tell you. This girl has shown me and those around her how to persevere. She doesn’t skip a beat. Talk about graceful!
Life can throw some pretty stinky things at you. What are you going to do about it? We praise God in the highs and lows. Literally.
When Tatum was diagnosed, I was blown away. In fact, I was that statistic that thought she had eaten her way into diabetes. I called her a Cookie Monster. That girl loves her some sweets. Not how that works.
Her pancreas broke. That’s it. And now it’s on the outside of her body in the form of an Omnipod Pump. With the help of a Dexcom.
I don’t want to down play it. It’s scary. At the end of the day, I will forever worry about electronic failures and lows. But I choose Faith.
When she was diagnosed, she looked healthy and normal to me. When I look back, I can see how frail and tired she looked. I thought she was just so skinny. We all were at her age. I thought her thirst was from the 100 degree days. I thought she had to go to the bathroom bc of all the water she was drinking.
Little did I know. But I knew the day she called me and couldn’t breathe or open her dorm room door she needed help. I didn’t let her go to sleep like she wanted to. It saved her life.
And now. She is thriving. We have learned so much. We can pretty much tell you a carb count in anything by looking at it.
I have used what I have learned and helped coach newly diagnosed Type 1s over the last 3 years. Several of my friends or friends’ kids have been diagnosed too.
Please be aware of the symptoms. Please educate yourself on type 1 and type 2. Please know how to use glucagon or save a life if you see someone in a low in public.
I’m so grateful to my community and hers bc it takes a village. All of her friends keep watch and they all know what to do in case of an emergency. Its been impressive to see these college kids care so deeply. We are better and stronger together.
Im so incredibly proud of the warrior Tatum is. She is a one of a kind. 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙
And then there is this guy. No matter how I try to pivot, course correct, lick my wounds in private or internalize, he stands beside me. He holds me. He sits in the quiet. He serves me. He encourages and knows just when to cheer me on or motivate me, or shut the hell up and let me process.
He never pushes me. He never tries to make me something I’m not. He doesn’t try to change me. He doesn’t think I’m stupid or irrational. He never gets annoyed with me or expects me to snap out.
He asks how he can help me. Then does it. After I say it the first time. And when I don’t have the words, he rubs my back or feeds me.
We have gone through hell and back. And we are stronger today than ever.
As I continue to metamorphosis from these years and now into menopause I am not afraid of what’s ahead bc of who’s beside me.
So incredibly grateful and blessed by this man of mine. I love you no Facebook Dustin. 🤍✝️🤍
I was chatting with someone today. Had a huge epiphany. I’ve been in my own way. And I had no idea.
The last 6 years took tolls on me I didn’t even know were happening.
I have been open and honest about the things that happened, I just wasn’t honest about how I felt.
The passing of Raven, a secretary embezzling from us, Landon coming to live with us, Covid, some betrayal from people I would have never expected, my husband selling his business.
I am the type that I am an open book, and it seems like I’m talking but I’m really not. I’m telling you what happened but not how I feel about it.
I didn’t have time. Course correct. Course correct. Course correct. With a side of don’t let them see you squirm. Don’t let them see you weak. Don’t let them think they got to you.
I’ve suffered in silence. I protected people and myself. I didn’t have time to think about how I felt. I had to resolve and course correct. I tend to lick my wounds in private, even being so public.
Today I realized I quit trusting people. I quit putting myself out there. If you’re on OG I KNOW you have seen that change in me. I kept myself safe and small to protect my heart.
There have been some people who have checked on me. Who have shown up despite how hard I tried to hide. I forced myself to go to dinner with another couple last week. I used to go out 4-5 times a week.
And the truth is, none of this defines me, my life or other people. There are some amazing people out there who don’t want anything from me.
I realized I was surrounding myself with too many people who needed something from me, or who wanted to compete with me. I thought I was showing genuine love and care when all I was doing was enabling people. I love to root for the under dog. I love showing women they can and do deserve it.
But so many don’t want to. They want me to do it for them. Then God gave me some women who showed me what relationships look like with friends who don’t benefit from you. They don’t need me. They don’t use me. Or compete with me.
In fact, I’ve been the one in the trenches. And I didn’t even know it. I had nothing to offer. I was numb. Cold. Void. Avoidant.
Time to make a change.
