I promise, and updates

I promise that Luke's 8 month post will be up before he turns 9 months (hopefully)!! But I am excited to share a few pictures that we got taken this past weekend!! I don't have the disk yet, but she shared a few cute pictures on her blog, that I will share! I am happy with the few I saw, and can't wait to see the rest!!

her website is http://www.clairebeeler.com/ and the link to our pictures is http://www.clairebeeler.com/blog


Luke is growing like crazy and doing and learning new things everyday! He is SO fun, but SO busy!!

I am teaching 1st grade now. Long story short, the 2nd grade classes got combined and I got moved to 1st grade. I still miss my 2nd graders, but my 1st grade class is starting to really grow on me (even though I had to write a referral for one of my students yesterday because of her behavior. SO SASSY! I have never met a more disrespectful child in my life!) Other than that, it has been okay! My heart is still wanting to be at home with Luke, and someday I will be, but for now I am thankful for my job!

We had a great Thanksgiving that I will post about also! My goodness I need to get better at this!

Happy Tuesday, friends

Gobble Gobble

Well, as you can tell....I kinda stopped blogging for a few days weeks. It was not because I could not think of things I was thankful for....honestly, each night when I would normally sit down at the computer to write, I was being very thankful for a sleeping baby and a bed that was calling my name..... So sorry!!! I love writing, and this blog really does mean a lot to me, I just need to find time and commit to it!! with that said.... HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Today is by far my favorite holiday of the year!!! It is a day completely devoted to spending time with family and friends, and celebrate all the things we are thankful for and blessed with. It is all about family, food and ohh what do they say...oh ya, football?? I love me so football, but I would rather be looking at all the black Friday adds in the newspaper! We woke up this morning and watched a little of the Thanksgiving day parade...but Luke got sleepy and now here I am writing....

This year has blessed me beyond imaginable! My sweet Luke was born and poof my whole life has changed! He is so much fun, and such a joy. I could go on and on about my sweet boy, but if you read my blog, you know that I could talk about him all day long!

Don't get me wrong, there have been some very rough patches along the way, but whose life doesn't right? It's all about how you handle it! (um, I am eating my own words though, because that is so much easier said than done) I have had a rough teaching career this year. SO many ups and downs, but right now I am thankful for a sweet 1st grade class that already tell me they love me and that I am the best teacher ever! ( although, it could have been because I has just sugared them up with a yummy Thanksgiving celebration cookie :)

With all of the unknowns in life, it is so nice to rely on God, who is faithful to me always. Even in the moments that I doubt ( and to be honest, I doubt a lot) I try to remember that no matter what things are going to be okay. Financially, Spiritually, and Physically......We are all going to be okay...no matter the outcome. I worry a lot, I have anxiety, and I have so many fears in life, it is not healthy...I am trying to take the steps to change this!! I know this will all pass and I would have the strength to move on from these crazy thoughts that go on in my head! ( I swear, becoming a mom changes your life in SO many ways.....good and bad....only bad because now I worry about every single thing with Luke...again I am trying to get past these issues in life :)

Anyways......Today is such a great day to celebrate life, and all the wonderful things in it! I am so very thankful..... My family and friends are one of a kind, and I am blessed by them all!!

Have a wonderful day my friends!!

Day 13

Day 13

Today I am thankful for a husband, that despite was not feeling well yesterday, and works so much for our little family, woke up with Luke this morning, let me sleep in, and made me breakfast!! I could never explain the love that I have for that man. I am not here to tell you I have the best husband in the world, but to me he is perfect. Flaws in all (because we ALL have them) he is so perfect to me and Luke! I am SO very thankful that through the last couple of weeks, actually months, I have had a strong man beside me to make things seem just a little better! Through all of our everyday struggles, he is supportive, loving and tells me the truth, even when I don't want to hear it ( I think I may be repeating myself on this, but it is so true). So today, I am thankful for getting to sleep in.....but truthfully I am thankful for Nick, today and always!!

Happy Sunday, Friends :)

Day 12

Day 12~ of Thankfulness

Today I am thankful for my sweet little niece Stella. We are celebrating her 2nd birthday later on today! She is such a sweet, adorable little one, and I couldn't be more thankful to be her Aunt! She is a great cousin to Luke and they love each other so much! I have 4 adorable nieces and 2 nephews. I have never met, or may never meet one of my nephews, but I am so grateful for them all!!

Being an aunt is wonderful, and I have SO much love for those kiddos!

Sweet Stella Bella and Me

Day 11

Day 11...on 11/11/11

Today I am thankful for all the veterans out there!! Not just because today is Veterans Day, but I am thankful for them everyday!

I am married to my very own Veteran and I could not be any more thankful or proud! Nick served in Afghanistan and went through a lot while he was over there. I am SO thankful he got home safely. Not all do. And for that my heart breaks into a million pieces. I can't even imagine. Being thankful is never enough. We truly have no idea what is is like to be in the military unless you a soldier you are married to someone that is. It is tough, but when they get home and you see them for the first time in a year, and you know it is over, and you can finally breath......It is worth it. They did their duty, you did yours and now is when we thank them for all they have done for us. ( Sorry, that was kind of a personal feeling I had when Nick finally got home)

Thank you to ALL the Veterans out there!!! This country would not be safe if it wasn't for you! 

I am behind

I am so behind on my 30 days of what I am Thankful for, that I am just going to begin again today. So today is the 10th (right? I don't even remember at this point)

Day 10 of Thankfulness 

Today, even in the midst of feeling like my day came crashing down on me, I am thankful for a God that I can pray to and give my problems to when times are tough. He is there for me no matter what. Good times and bad times. He is ALWAYS there. Today is one of those days I wish he could just take me by my shoulders and physically guide me in the right direction. Or at least give me a really clear sign! I feel like my thoughts and my emotions have been so negative lately, and I am usually not that type of a person. I am ready to feel like myself again and become a little more positive. Things always have to get better right? Again, I am thankful for a God that forgives me when I am being selfish, emotional and bratty. I need to get over this bump in the road, and become the best Mom and Wife I can be!!

Adios.....I need to go to sleep!

P.S. to my hubby.....Thank you for putting life into perspective....even when I don't want to hear it! I love you!

Just because

Not that I will EVER forget how cute he was.....but I had to share!

I love you buddy!

Running

Hello Friends!

It is a nice, crisp Sunday here in AZ, and I am really enjoying it! It is finally feeling like Fall! It is the weekend, so of course I am as happy as can be. I am praying that my week is nothing like it was last week...awful.... Anyways, on a more positive note...

When I used to hear the word running I would cringe. I always hated running. I remember back in junior high our P.E. teacher (who I may add was HUGE, and would never run with us) would decide each day if he either wanted us to run the short distance of just around the baseball field once, or the long run around the entire school yard. I HATED when it was the long run. I was always embarrassed because I would have to walk half of the time, and would be so out of breath by the time I was done. My hate for running started young. I also remember one time when I was in late Junior high again, one of my brother's friends dared me to run up our street hill 3 times in the middle of the winter (in Oregon, so it was cold), so I did it, but ended up in the ER because I couldn't breath, from my asthma. Okay, so needless to say, me and running have never gone hand in hand.....but deep down inside of me, I REALLY want to be a runner. I always have. I want that satisfaction of doing something that I really hate, but can start to love. I think it would be so good for me physically and mentally...

So this brings me to my next point...I really want to run a marathon. Actually my goal is to run more than one......but I think I need to start small. I always say I am going to run the P.F. Changs marathon in January, but I never do (and I actually payed one year and still didn't do it :/). So I thought that I would start small and run the Pat Tillman race in April. It is only a little over 4 miles, but I think that is a good goal.It is for a great cause, and if you don't know about it, go to http://www.pattillmanfoundation.org/pats-run/ . I would eventually like to run 1/2 marathons...I am not really sure about the full marathons, but I guess you never know!

Now, where do I begin....I guess I better start running I mean jogging  walking fast and work my way up to jogging, and then running! :)

Day 5 of Thanks!

Day 5

As much as I complain and complain and complain about my body. I am thankful for a womanly body that was able to grow my sweet baby boy in. I can always think of a million things I would change about it, but the most amazing thing my body has ever done was grow my sweet Luke! And for that I am SO very thankful for the miracle it was able to perform!

Sorry this post is so short, but both my boys are asleep and I need to join them :)

Happy Saturday!

Opps I am behind

Oh goodness, I am behind in blogging again.. what's new!?

Back to what I am thankful for...

Day 3

 I am thankful for my Dad! I have always been very close to my dad, but ever since my mom died, my dad and I's relationship has become even closer. I would always talk to my dad and all that stuff, but my mom was the one person that I would spend hours and hours talking to about EVERYTHING! Well, now that my mom is gone, my dad has become my only parent, and I cherish him more than he will ever possibly know. I was the only one really living at home when my mom died, so it was my dad and I that lived together. (my brother lived at home for a while during this time, but wasn't home as often). We spent a lot of those first empty feeling evenings together after mom was gone. It was pretty awful, sad, hard and lonely for a long time. My dad and I started to do pretty much everything together.

3 months after my mom died, Nick was deployed to Afghanistan, so I really had a lot of time at home and to spend with my dad. Not that I would ever wish or even like to think that I am thankful for my mom dying, but it has brought my dad and I very close. I can talk to him about everything and he has stepped up and taken the role of both mom and dad. He is the strongest man I know, and would do absolutely anything for us kids. My Mom and Dad were a great example for us kids on what a marriage should be about. My parents were happily married for 33 years. I am VERY thankful for my dad, who not only loves me, but loves my husband just like he were his own son, and he LOVES my sweet Luke. My dad is an amazing Grandpa, and I have loved watching his new role at being a grandpa. I could never put into words how much I love my dad, but all I know is that I am SO thankful for him and cherish him so very much!

Dad and Me with my big ol preggo belly!

Grandpa and Luke

I had to add this picture in of my mom and dad because it shows just how much they truly loved each other!

30 Days of Thanks

I am exhausted, worn out, beat up(not literally), sore and everything else that could be wrong tonight, but despite my bad mood and heavy, sad heart, I REALLY am so thankful for so many things in my life. As many blogs I have read are doing. I am going to be posting 30 things I am thankful for in the Month of November. No matter my mood or what is laying on my heart, I have plenty to be thankful for!

Day 1(since I missed yesterday): I am thankful for a baby that smiles at me when I walk into the room!

Day 2: I am thankful for my husband that works so hard for our family and sacrifices A LOT!!!

I really do love the month of November! The weather is changing, the crisp air is so refreshing to smell and best of all.... Thanksgiving is coming (my favorite holiday)!

Goodnight my friends, I am hoping a good nights sleep will help this mama lift some heavy burdens off her heart!