Wordless {Wordful} Wednesday

Changing it up this Wednesday in honor of Oprah.  Since finally getting DVR, I have be able to watch Oprah.  When I was working I never made it home in time to catch her show.  Then had Gabriel and when he naps I try to nap, clean, or have me time, and Oprah never fit in there.  I have seen some shows through out the years but it really hasn't been since the "Count Down" that I really paid attention.

Yes I know there are fans, FANS, and haters of Oprah.  I don't know where I fall but I do know I give her serious respect for the thousands of people she has touched and made a positive impact on their lives.  The last few of hers show have made me bawl, want to be a better mother, and more importantly, applaud her for the wonderful things she has done.  Yes I know some say she is not a believer in God or that she is just "too" popular.  Majority of the negative comments have no matter to me because I don't know her to judge her.  I only know the Oprah you see on TV and the thousands upon thousand of women, men, children, students, mothers, and fathers she has reached.  By the way, today was her last show.  She even address the "God" question...her response...I believe in the God you believe in.  The G-O-D God. 

So in honor of Oprah here is what she has taught me........
1 - Know that you ARE enough just the way you are.  No one has the right to tell you you are not worthy.  Raise your daughters and sons to know their worth.  Know that they are enough just the way they are.  If they want more in life GREAT.  Go after it.  But never let any one put you down, beat you down, verbally put you down.  Because you are worthy.  **Darn well better believe I will raise Gabriel and whatever future children we have to know they are worthy.  Oh so dang worthy!

2 - Take responsibility for your self, actions, and what you give in their world.  If you are not happy no one is to blame for that but yourself.  Change it.  But own up to your faults and take responsibility for your actions.  **This hit home because I have been in a huge funk.  No one to blame but for myself.  Besides I don't like living in a funk and try very hard to hardly ever be in a funk.  I have friends who live in funks.  They complain but yet honestly do nothing to change it.  They don't take responsibility.  Blame others and live in their self-pity.  I have been living in a form of self-pity past few weeks and man it SUCKS!  So no more.  Things are changing and the funk is out there door.

3 - Find your purpose in life, accept it, and be the best at it!  **I know before I had Gabriel I had HUGE dreams of getting my Masters, getting Nationally Certified, and wanting to travel and even live over seas to teach.  Well things change and some of the dreams have been put on hold or even let go.  Some times I struggle with being a "Stay At Home Mother".  But right now this is my purpose.  I truly love staying home, teaching Gabriel, cooking for my family, being a wife, and who cares if people don't get it.  This is MY purpose at this time of my life and I LOVE it!!!  Well, maybe I don't love the cleaning part we will deal with that later.

Now as I am writing this, many of the things I wanted to write about are slipping my mind.  Should have taken notes HA!  So I will end with the one that has stuck with me the past week.  It is a huge one.  One I believe more humans need to do.  Whether you are a parent, teacher, doctor, lawyer, or person cleaning toilets...........

4 - Have love and warmth in your eyes when you see people. 
**I am taking this to heart with Gabriel at the moment.  I miss his dad.  I miss that man so much I truly didn't think it was possible to miss someone this much.  That loneliness has creeped into my heart and has made me bitter.  Not very bitter but some days I feel it more than others.  So every morning before I go into Gabriel's room, I let out all the bitterness, pray to God, and when I open his door I walk into his room singing, dancing, and have nothing but pure joy and love in my eyes for this amazing child. 

You know what, I have seen the difference.  I FEEL the difference.  Yes there are times where it is harder to do than others, but every time I see his face I make sure to pure every ounce of love I have for him in my eyes.  Why???? I want him to know he is worthy.  The saying is true "the eyes are the windows of our soul".  Children know this more than adults.  Maybe because they are so young and innocent.  But my child needs to know that I love him.  I will practice this on friends, strangers, and in several months my husband.  You just never know when the person you look at just might need to feel loved and know they are worthy!

Thank you Oprah for the few months you were in my home.  More importantly, thank you for 25 years of inspiring, encouraging, loving, fun, laughter, and making people's lives better.  I know things change and this is a change you need in your life but man I do wish at 4pm my DVR will turn on to record your show.  May God continue to Bless you! 

Wordless {Wordful} Wednesday

I see you.....

Now I don't......

This is how mom feels about my haircut

I keep telling her I am still a little stud

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!! 

Linking up with PBD

Wordless {Wordful} Wednesday

7 out of oh 400 plus photos I have downloaded since January.  I am slowly going through deleting, editing, and thanking technology for digital cameras.  These 7 pictures are unedited and a first hand look of what I get every time I say "cheese" to my son..............

yep son needs to take "cheese" lessons from his dad

when he has had enough, he either runs up

to the camera as you snap or......

tells you to shhhhhh!

Eating dinner outside resulted in Gabriel giving me a smile

Wordless {Wordful} Wednesday

He is fearless, funny, sassy, independent, adventurous, and my little dare devil.  In a blink of an eye Gabriel climbed up these rocks while Mr. May and I were discussing where to go for lunch. 

This is what happens when you take my fearless, funny, sassy, independent, adventurous, little dare devil away from his rock.  Even if in 15 minutes he is about to have a fabulous lunch at Mellow Mushroom.  He wants to be back on top of that rock being King over Mr. May and I.

That is why for the month of April, I have joined with this fabulous blog.........



 
We have decided to take the challenge of getting outside, everyday, for at least 30 minutes.  I know my little dare devil needs it.  More importantly, my inner dare devil needs to get out and climb those rocks again! 
 
**Thank You to This American Momma for posting about this challenge and giving the link for our family and hopefully many other families to join Can You Come Outisde To Play Blog**

Wordless {Wordful} - Foto Wednesday

When you can do this.........

Your poor child needs a haircut.  Ever since the whole Joe Dirt/Billy Ray Cyrus incident, I can not get Gabriel's hair to lay/style correctly.  I think it is time for me to move on and find a short style that I like.  Happy Wednesday everyone!!

Wordless {Wordful} Wednesday

Unloaded the camera and forgot I had taken these photos......silly guy and even sillier story at the bottom.....

Tonight's Dinner Conversation

Gabriel - yummy noodles and chicken momma

Me - no those are meatballs

Gabriel - oh

Me - meatballs

Gabriel - (insert smile and face covered in spaghetti sauce) Meet My Balls

Hope you all had a fabulous Wednesday and found laughter like our family did!!

*I am linking up with Parenting By Dummies this week*

Wordless {Wordful} Foto Wednesday

Say What??

Had a really great smile but little booger decided to

jump on me instead...look closely and you can see the

smile inside the blur

This makes me realize how fast he is growing up

Channeling his inner Donald Trump Smack Down look

*I am linking up with Parenting By Dummies Wordless Wednesday*

Wordless {Wordful} Foto Wednesday

Organizing my photo files on the computer and came across this.  Shawn fabulously took photos for us to celebrate Gabriel turning 1. 

Flashback Friday

Nathan with his mom and grandparents celebrating his OTS Graduation.  I elected to be behind the camera because it was July, in Alabama, and I was about 4 months sick as a dog pregnant.  It was a day full of congratulations, hugs, tears, and some fear of this is really happening.

Wordless {Wordful} Wednesday

I get surprise photos like this usually daily.  Either hubster or Gabriel will

get ahold of camera and snap a few. 

Last night at dinner.  He was cracking us up while

trying to eat the peas with just his fingers.

Yeah 29 years old and I finally burn part of dinner.

House still smells today.  Oh they were homemade chips.....

Whats better than using a strainer to strain food???

Use strainer has a hat and dance in the kitchen with your mom!!

Note Bailee's expression in the back LOL

Flashback Friday

My mom posted this on FB last night and I just smiled.  This was December 6, 2003  Man my hubby looks like a kid in this picture.  He is older now, sexier than ever, and still acts like a kid -ha!  I love this man.

Happy Friday!!!

Wordless {Wordful} Wednesday

Our home is unboxed!!!  Here are a couple of pictures of the kitchen, dining room, and living room.  Bedrooms have stacks of "stuff" that I need to go through of what to keep or toss.  Those will come later.  Any suggestions on how to decorate I would love it.  Please ignore the little piles in the kitchen area....sorting still :)

View of Dining Room - we are renting

and trying to work out something about the paint

One side of the kitchen

Other side of the kitchen

Right side of living room - wall to separate kitchen

Back of living room with entrance to front door

View of living room from front door.  Need to figure out paint ASAP

Also as you can see need to lower curtains (using curtain rod that was left)

and decorate the walls.

My new pillows from TJ Maxx

Front bathroom - walls are a sea foam green.

Waiting on shower curtain to be ordered.

Think the chocolate brown helps with all the green

For the most part we are really liking the home.  I am taking my time searching the Internet, Blogs, and magazines for ideas on how to decorate.  Happy Wednesday!!

Wordless {Wordful} Wednesday

This Christmas should be fun!!  Maybe he won't notice that two of his three presents will stay in the boxes since 5 days later the movers come.

 

Find the child....

Where has he gone???

Action shot - sorry for the blurriness

Whole roll of wrapping paper - now time to rip!