For my records ...

Well today is day 60 of our life style and healthy changes for our lives. God began dealing with me that I really needed to change some things. I ignored it for way too long. So my time is NOW.

On day 30 Jeremy and I did some measurements. I wanted to kinda see where I was loosing and how much from each month. It really encourages me because I realize we aren't 'dieting' or doing a calorie count but literally just changing things! I believe even if it is a slow process and not a crash course it is okay because we are doing this forever. We are taking control. It isn't just a diet for a period of time.

On day 30 5/21/12 we measured four points of my body. On day 60 6/21/12 I have lost 12 inches calculating those four points. I am so excited. Also, we did some other measurements tonight so I can also check those areas. Much encouragement for me.

I had lunch today with some of my girl pals.. Heather and Shannon. MUCH needed after a gloomy weekend/week without Griffin. Jeremy tried again to call the breeder of the Maltese to see if she had heard from Lisa, the lady we sold Griffin to b/c we were under the assumption we were getting him back if we could help her get another puppy. She even requested a girl and still ........... NO RESPONSE. I am still so very sad.  I needed some good laughs today and I was blessed.

Tonight we had Piercen's last t-ball game for this season. They played the Canes for the championship. They won. 24/22 and played great. They were so pumped, came TRYING hard and won. Yeah boys. My boy played so good. The past several games he has done so well. I am so proud of him. My momma, dad, both brothers and SIL came. Piercen was excited :)

Really trying to MAKE time to blog. I miss it and I read so many others when I should be journaling my own life<3

My heart is broken.. literally.

I can't believe we made this decision! We gave Griffin away on Saturday. I am sick. Just sick. The guys are doing better with it than I am and everyone keeps saying it will get better with time but I do not believe them. Anyone who knows me knows I am not an animal person. We actually prayed about getting him for Piercen for a very long time. It was perfect.. our idea of it all, planning it all out, the birthday celebration, the treasure hunt and now I am crushed. I feel like someone has died.

I know with puppies they bring some frustrations, I know he has had some accidents and I know we debated a few times getting rid of him because Piercen lost interest in playing. Almost like a new toy, you get it, your crazy about it and then a new one comes along. He would play with Griffin but seldom without saying "OK, Piercen you need to play with your puppy". I felt sorry for him. He would spent too much time in his crate. Then, he did have several accidents. I was SO mad a few times because once we had just taken him out and he came in to play with Piercen in his room and peed all over his new, adorable bed spread. BUT.. now that he is gone. I miss him. Kinda like the saying "You do not know what you have until it is gone". Yep.
Fits the situation to a T. I talked with my momma about it and she says with the heat and weather being HOT, then getting so COLD in the winter that type of dog didn't 'fit' our family. We would take Griffin everywhere with us.. well, until it became too hot. And maybe she is right. Maybe the type of dog we chose wasn't right but still ... I have no idea why if all of this is true why I feel so bummed. I now have to reap what I sowed. I agreed with Jeremy to get rid of him because he spent one day last week five hours in his crate, we came in and he was crying. I felt horrible.. the home he was going to have five children. I just knew it was best but now he is gone I am not feel that way at all. I love this little guy. I miss him. Jeremy has asked for him back,we tried to make an arrangement and the lady said we could and now for two days won't respond to our calls or texts.. I have a feeling we won't get him back ever again. Ya know, second chances. Wish I had one at this. URG. I have a huge feeling they are in love with him, that fast. I am.

I can say I love this puppy like I've never loved another animal before. He will always be part of my heart. I'm praying some how we can get him back. I can guarantee if we do I will never gripe about poop again!!!!

Really? Four months?!?

I can't believe I haven't taken the time to post in four months. Yes we have been busy but that is ridiculous! I am ashamed to be honest. I get on the computer look at facebook, my email, and even read other blogs and haven't even taken the time for my own.

A lot has taken place in four months. In January Piercen returned back to Pre-K after being out for the Christmas holidays. He was asking us if and when he was going back to school. I cracked up.We didn't get much snow. It really only snowed one time enough to even get the sled out. Bummer. Piercen did get to play in it a day or so in the front yard on his sled but other than that it melted so fast we didn't get to really 'play' in it much. For spring break we stayed **HOME** and played and did things around here. We were going to go to Branson but honestly, after being on the road for nine years and finally getting into a normal type of routine all   we care about is being here. I am getting itchy though for a vacation I will admit!

In April I named "VIRTUOUS PHOTOGRAPHY" and became a legal business. I am so excited. I've been staying really busy up until now and I am steady. I am enjoying it and that is what matters to me!!! I do not want to stress.. I want it to be pure fun and blessing others with 'capturing the JOYS He gives".  Piercen also began playing t-ball and it is so much fun. The first few games he hasn't real sure what was going on or what to do but with each practice and more so each game he is figuring it all out. The past two games have been great. He has made it so fun and exciting.

 Dads health is doing well, Mema is doing well and had eye surgery again and it went well. She is released from the eye doctor.

May 14th  Piercen t graduated from Pre-K and had PERFECT attendance!! Yeah for my boy. We are so proud and he has learned so much. He received a trophy for learning scripture/bible verses. So  proud for him. Now we are ready to enjoy our summer and that is exactly what we are doing. KOA opened the pool early - two weeks. And you know its our own little swimming hole :) They normally aren't open til Memorial day weekend (which is today) but last week was our first full week of "SUMMER" so we called and they were already open a week prior. So.. guess what? We went to swim  FOUR days. BLISS!!!

                                                         Virtuous Photography's first shoot!

Today we are gathering with our family for a picnic, swimming, fishing and playing. I am so excited. I have promised myself to STOP and take a few minutes to take pictures. I get so busy that when it comes to my little family I forget to get the camera out. Sad huh? I am going to be do better at that ... AND my own blog.

Hello 2012 .. Excited to be here!

We ended 2011 with the holidays & then our boys "5" birthday. My OH My was it fun! I planned every little detail and had a blast! There is so much I could say about it but I will do so with pictures .. I had someone come and take pictures so I have over 700 of them! No joke!

We had candy and lots of it.. a candy tabe.. we had GOLD (Twix) and SILVER (Hershey Kisses) which were our LOOT, we had (Red Swedish fish) our CATCH OF THE DAY, HOIST THE SAIL (Laffy Taffy), and lots of JEWELS (Ring suckers and beaded necklaces/rings). The biggest hit were the meatballs at the food table that Jeremy made ... .. CANNON BALLS!!!
Games we played were WALK THE PLANK, SWAB THE DECK & we had a Pinata. The kids loved all of it. Following gifts, cake and fun and games we had a treasure hunt that Jeremy wrote. It was so much fun!! Each clue along with Piercens friends helped him to find his HIDDEN TREASURE!!! He was shocked and his face was priceless.

This pic is right before he opened his treasure ....

My pictures aren't even in order nor am I happy with blogger because it is not working right. I have messed with it for an hour and I just want to scream! This is one reason I never post. Always complicated!

Happy Birthday Piercen Kennedy, you are my JOY! I love you and I pray my love always gives you roots!

Holidays at HOME

Well .. Dec 1 arrived today AND so did our newest ELF on a shelf, NOEL Christmas as J and I have named him. Isn't he just adorable?!? You will have to google lots of things about these cute little elfs and find out just what this is all about. FUN FUN!!

He arrived today.. as best as we can tell he opened the blinds, came through the window and flew into the tree. Patiently waiting to see how Piercen would act today! About 9 pm we 'noticed' he was there and we introduced him to Piercen. He is here on a mission to watch Piercen the next 24 days and report to santa just how good of a little boy Piercen will be! I wonder what he will do while he is here? If he will eat any of our food, make a mess, help us clean up, hang from things and play while we are sleeping? Hmmmm.....

Piercen is doing great in preK and is enjoying it. He hasn't missed any school and loves it! Thank you Lord we are into December and he is healthy. Doing great! They are studying hard for lines for the Christmas program which will be December 12. I am so excited. Piercen has a few lines and has some of them memorized. We are now working on the others. He will do great I know!! We are nearly done with our shopping. Black Friday was fun as always. I enjoyed myself. And God blessed me with picture money to pray for ALL of it :) Thank you Lord. I am still getting calls, people still wanting to me to take pics so I am praying what the Lord will have me to do with a name and business. I just give it to him and let him lead.

Jeremys papers are turned in and all for college. Now he just is waiting to take the compass test. YEAH J! Proud of you...

Our tree is gorgeous.. J worked hard on our mesh we added. I love it!!! Thanks honey!!!

**Treasures**

I love this smile .. it melts my heart!!

Our second week of schedules and PreK was another great week! Very enjoyable. Daddy & Mommy spent a lot of time talking and visiting with one another while little man was at school. This is something we haven't gotten to do often, just the two of us. We are usually interrupted even by a phone call or text even if we are on a date. We have learned how to hit vibrate. I enjoyed breakfast with my man and good conversation. Each morning afterwards we cleaned out the van and then the next day the suburban so that we actually did accomplish something. LOL. Piercen had gymnastics Monday so I got him from school at 10:40 and we made it in plenty of time. He loves his gymnastics class, his peers and his instructor Mrs Tammy. She is super sweet!

This week Piercen decided to bring home a few 'treasures' from PreK. When I got into his backpack on Tuesday there were sticks. Two of them! I asked him about them and he said they were to decorate his room with. I just knew the next thing I'd find would be rocks or grass. Needless to say, Wednesday when daddy opened it he found another sick and grass -- bermuda to be exact. I about died. AND yes, I did take a picture. It was a hoot!!! I please asked him to not bring home his little treasures as I assured him we would not be decorating his room with sticks or grass. LOL. He got in the suburban on Thursday and as I opened his backpack to look at his papers that he didn't bring any 'treasures' home. I cracked up. I want him to be a boy and to play with them is fine but to 'decorate' with. Jeremy said he is the perfect combination of his daddy and myself.... daddy ... all BOY, loves outside, rocks, sticks, you name it. Momma.... wanting to decorate his room with them. I just love my little family!!! Great memories.

I was able to take Piercen's pictures this week. FINALLY! I have been trying since he was 4 1/2. I wanted to get them at 4, 41/2 then 5. Well, it June he had the hands, foot and mouth and no joke for three weeks he was broke out. He was okay for a few days and I was giving him time to really 'feel' better... he then caught something viral. It was a few more weeks til he was himself.. Come the end of July and into August it was so hot it was miserable. Weeks of 100++++ weather. I was like forget it. So, in the past few weeks it has really been nice. Last week was perfect. He WANTED me to do them and he was so much fun. Silly too! I love those kinda pictures of him. When he 'poses' its a pose .. when he is just playing, acting silly, those are the best pics ever! Here are the ones I loved .....

This one was kinda a 'remake' of one I took a few years back.. Piercen is named after my grandfather and this is his grace... it is at the National Cemetary.. this visited kinda bothered Piercen. He was asking a lot of questions this time and was afraid he was 'standing' on Papa. I am not sure I will take him back and do this again for a while. I know some people may wonder why I'd even take this but it is special to me. He isn't there, we know where he is but it's his memory.


My daddy, my brother Aaron and my uncle Dale have all been in CO for the week. They returned last night & I am thankful they are home safe & sound ... sad for them ... they didn't get anything. It stormed and rained, it rained some more and more. It ruined it all. I know how disappointed they must be. It is now rainy and getting cold, fall-like weather is here finally. Piercen just helped me make M & M cookies and then I made some treats as well that I saw and wanted to try. As long as I don't them it's all good ... everyone else will love them. Jeremy & I have been doing pretty good eating right. What better for me to do on a rainy day then either bake or craft?!?!?

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! We are off to see my daddy in a bit then bed early for us.. we are going to be at Crossroads in NWA again tomorrow for both services. Hope this goes well, not sure how Piercen will do staying all day and in someone else's house visiting for the afternoon. Pray for us as we continue to pray and seek the Lord about what what direction He is leading us.

Before I post I totally forgot about my photo shoot of my cousins. It was SO much fun. They are a hoot!! I took these for my cousin Angela two weeks ago and didn't post b/c she hadnt' seen them yet. I love how they turned out.... her birthday is coming up and I was trying to hold off to give to her for a gift but she couldn't wait. When you see them you will understand why! BIG WINK!!

The 1st week of the 1st time in PreK

And it went .... gReaT ... FabUloUs ... InCrEdIbLe ...memorable ... fANtAStIC ..wonDERful ...

.......BLESSED........

Piercen loved it. And well, so did daddy & I. We began on Tuesday after Memorial Day. Well, no actually, it began a week before. Preparing for a new routine for bed, a new bed time, a new schedule all together. For all THREE of us! And it worked perfectly! The night before our FIRST morning we prepared. We laid Piercen's clothes out, we packed his backpack of the last few items we needed to take with him, we filled his lunch box aka snack box of his morning snack for the first day (Capri sun, a bottle of water, blueberry muffins and crackers n cheese just in case that was his choice and not the muffins. Included was also a note from momma for him to 'read' the first day when he had a morning break!) AND momma even made Mrs. Tracy a flower arrangement full of the very things that she will be teaching him ... ABC's & 1-2-3's.... Fun, Fun, Fun! It made me pray just one more time to be positive I was 100% sure that I wouldn't be keeping him home. HAHA! I might add, after our first day, we knew even beyond the peace in our hearts but by the smile on his face that we indeed made the right decision!

We were prepared and so we got him in bed, teeth brushed, blanket, barkley (pupply dog that he and daddy actually bought for me for Valentines Day in Feb after he was born in December! He loved it as he had gotten older so he 'adopted' it from me... it became his and not mine LOL) we said our prayers and daddy told him a story ... he fell right to sleep. Come 7:30 we did not even wake him up. We got up, we began getting ready and here he came.... at...... wait for it... 7:15!!!!! Yep, in a great mood and all. We all got around, he had his clothes laid out so he dressed himself. He ate a bananna and drank his juice while watching some cartoons and we finished getting ready. I fixed his hair a bit later after making our beds (HALLELUJAH!!! I love having made beds) and then off we went. We got to his preschool and as we pulled in I was asking where Mrs Tracy's flowers were ... Jeremy had them and set them down to lock the door. So, he was going to run home. We just like 3 min from the school. My point to this is so funny actually. Piercen proceeds to tell us to go get her flowers and just drop him off at the door. HAHA! I'm like "Oh no. I am atleast walking you in!" HONESTLY, I knew God had given us peace, I knew we had made the right decision and everything was planned and we prepared for weeks. It was a HUGE adjustment for us. We have changed many things about our life styles . I really thought it was going so well that maybe he would give a little once we finally got ready to leave him for the first time. I thought to myself this would be when I would loose it b/c he would get upset . Oh no, when we pulled in I knew different. I walked him in, we put his things up in his cubby and he walked right over to the other kids. Jeremy came in a few minutes later with our creation of flowers and Piercen gave them to Mrs. Tracy. I snapped a quick picture and kissed my baby goodbye for the next 2.5 hrs. To some, it may not be a big thing, to most, your probably jumping for joy but for this momma, I prayed EIGHT years for this child of mine and to me, one minute without him is WAY too much!!! I promise you, these changes, this new journey, is just as big of a milestone in MY life as it is in HIS!

He was so excited when we picked him up. I got the biggest laugh. We asked him what he learned and he said "to play". He that is perfectly fine with me the first day, the first week. So be it. He learned to play. Play with little boys, little girls, his age, who speak his language. Who are just as excited, rowdy and excited. So be it son!!!! I love it. We took him to lunch to eat Mexican and had a good afternoon.

Our week was a blessing. Jeremy & I enjoyed a breakfast or two together, talking, visiting, no interruptions. Ahhh. What a nice morning. I really enjoyed it. I felt every single day refreshed. I got some laundry done, some organization in his room done. Beds made EVERY morning. I felt so accomplished and I PROMISE you. Just that 2.5 hr a day for three days (one short b/c of the holiday) it made me a better momma all afternoon/evening long!

This week was short a day... it began Tues and went thru Thur.. only b/c of the holiday so this week we begin Monday and go thru Thur. Friday morning he had NO idea why he wasn't going to school. I explained to him the days of the week and he is ready for week two! As of now, I wonder what the future will hold for his schooling. I have no idea but I do know right now regardless of remarks people may make or questions they may ask, he is right where he needs to be. And we have peace. We don't answer to man. We answer to the Lord and he has directed our path for this year. Amen.

WOW it has been so long ...

July seems like so long ago. My last blog entry. A lot has taken place since then. I'd not even know where to begin so I will just fill it all in with the important stuff. I do take lots of pictures. LOTS so I have them to fill in the gaps of memory loss for the blog record. LOL. I so want to be better at this. So many changes going on right now so I hope one of them is this .... more blogging.

This picture is actually from June 20th, moms birthday but I love it and I wanted to post it. We, us ladies, went to lunch at Olive Garden and had a great time visiting.. we were in no rush. I love that!! Mom had a good day. Jeremy, Piercen and I got her a cell phone b/c hers was on crash mode... she loved it.

August brought my birthday on the 2nd and my family made me feel really special this year. On my actual birthday all of us ladies and Brenden (heehee) went to lunch at Logans. YUMMY. My fave!!! I got some wonderful gifts and money for our Branson trip. I also got to see some friends from KS who are precious to me. They were in town and we went to NWA to meet them. Jeremy set it up and I was STOKED!!! The Vicker's family.. LOVE THEM!!! I cracked up b/c they brought out a firecracker for my dessert/birthday announcement. Literally a sparkler. I about died from laughing so hard. This was a hard one for me. I have NO idea why but this age literally HIT ME!!!

Angela & I are lunch ...

My Birthday FIRECRACKER....Deidra and I.. I love her. She is a woman of God. She loves him, fears him.. She is the real deal!!!

I love my little family ... God is so good to me.

I am living my dreams with this man. To love and be loved. What more could ANYONE dream? I have learned so many things over the years.. it isn't what you have it is WHO you have!!!

We ... did .... it ..... we bought school supplies. I can't believe it. Yes, supplies for PreK!!! Piercen is going to what he calls "BIG" school four days a week for 2 1/2 hrs.. He is excited. Jeremy and I have prayed for months, checked out many places, visited the center, met with the director, teacher, went to open house and we are ready. We are going to give it our best shot, pray a lot and see how he does and how the Lord leads. It is all a matter of prayer and right now, its a go. Taking advantage of the first weekend in August being TAX free weekend for school shoppers!!

OH MY that includes us !!!!!!!! We have a little guy old enough to get school supplies!!!!!!Such a big boy. I can't even believe he is old enough to be picking out a lunch box and a backpack. He picked out everything Cars 2. Imagine that. He really enjoys that right now. I am so non character but hey, he is excited. I DO get excited what he is excited about. I love being his momma. Thank you Lord that you chose ME to be THIS LITTLE GUYS MOMMA! Blessed!

We took a week and went to Branson. My parents came up and we spent a few days with them. There is a hotel up there that is so good to us. We stay with them all of the time and they treat us right. Very affordable and relaxing. Piercen cracked me up in this HUGE chair. After my parents went home we spent a few days with the Adair family.. they too spent a week up there and stayed in a resort.. we got to stay with them for two nights and it was so much fun.. Relaxing.. we did really nothing... ahhh.. I loved it. We did swim and that is Piercen's favorite!!!Last but not least by ANY means .. in August we joined the gym!!! Faithfully. We have been so faithful and it has already paid off. We began working out on Tuesday after meeting with our trainer and I weighed only seven days later and I was already down EIGHT pounds. I am so proud. I should say I am so blessed. Jeremy and I have been talking a lot about this and its a journey, its a life we want to have.. we want to be healthy.. we want to feel better and I know having diabetes and bp issues that I've been praying for a year that we'd get on the same page. FINALLY. God is good. He has been faithful and here we are. I forgot to take pics the first day although I have recent ones to look back on but I do have a few I took on Monday 8/29 becuase we had open house at Piercen's preschool and so we took some pics before we went. I am so glad we did. Not only because of us being on our way to his open house but that we needed some recent ones to blog for the journey. I pray I can get 51 more off before Christmas. I want to be healthy and be off my medications for my sugar and blood pressure issues. I know God will help me to do so. I am believing Him for it!!!

Open house was good. There will be three boys and five girls in the class that Piercen will be in. I do know of two of the families. I do not know them well but we do know one another and are friends on facebook. One of the moms I actually purchase Scentsy from since my SIL is not selling it anymore :) Here are the pics that were taken. I can't belive our little handsome boy!

I can't wait to compare these with pictures I will take in a few more weeks or even a month from now!! If you read this, pray for us. We know God is going to bless this weight loss journey!! Back to health for me!!! I am so thankful Jeremy has no current issues right now. Another blessing! We have several changes in our lives going on. It feels great. I am such a night owl I pray I can continue to improve and enjoy the mornings.. God can help me in that area too, Right?!?!?!?