Late To Summer

Escaping the reality of school days with the freedom of Summer break really is one of the most bittersweet times of parenthood. Not only have I come to learn this about parenthood, but I've also realized it with the children I've grown to love over the course of the school year. When you're in a preschool class and have children for more than one year, your love for them grows beyond measure. With this year being my second year, I really learned once again how much I love children in general.

This school year literally kept me on my toes from keeping up with surgeries, to my Dad's illness, to the transition of fourth grade for Charli girl. But I could never be more thankful for a rewarding position that lets me be in the school with both of my children. 

Next year will be incredibly bitter sweet in all that we experience with this being Bryar's last year of preschool. I'm not sure how we'll survive school life of being separated, but of course it will be time for little bear to adventure into Kindergarten. 

As you can see there is never a dull moment with this little character. He's learned so much, and his speech has jumped leaps and bounds throughout this year. While we hope to make even more progress this summer while we're home making memories together, I'm loving being able to witness his first experiences with school. 

Boy, are we glad to have the transition of fourth grade past us. It was a lot of ugly, and a lot of great too. Charli Beth has really developed into her own little person but is still insanely passionate about the things she cares about - animals. 

While I don't see her as often as Bryar in the school building, it's pretty great to run into her. I'll always remember this year being the time she was not too old, or too cool to grab me and give me a kiss no matter who is around. She's multiplied friends, and found love in all new things. 

She may not have celebrated being Leader of the Month, or honor roll every nine weeks and that's okay. I'm actually more proud of Charli than I've ever been. Through the struggles, the let downs and the time spent trying her heart out she built character. I hope that I always remember how my parenting style isn't one of perfectionist moments, but one of making sure my children give their best in everything I do - someone remind me of this will I let them create art projects. 

Our Summer has been a slow go, and we are pretty empty on the bucket lists of items to do. But the most important thing I know we will accomplish is making memories with family. 

The Strength of Love

It's 9:00 on a Friday night and I'm sitting in the worlds most uncomfortable hospital chair. Typically, I would complain or move to another seat but right now my site is too precious to be anywhere else. 

I remember days of sobbing because I wanted happiness for my Mom. I wanted her to find that person that we sang so loudly about in our truck to the Dixie Chicks. 

We're probably not the best at carrying a tune, but we all felt that person would come.. and we were right. 

My Mom has had the pleasure of loving a man who surprised her with a wedding on a beach in Florida with family surrounding. She loves a man, who jokes often and works harder than any person I had ever met. While their love story is still going strong, they're still blessing every person they encounter including myself. 

But tonight even though I'm mad at the world for cancer trying to take this man we all love so much. I can never recall a moment of love that is more beautiful and strong to the foundation as I look upon my Mom holding my Dad in bed cuddling him, just to solely give him peace. 

We may know moments of happiness in marriage. Or the fights that break us to our core. But even after five years of marriage to Curtis I cannot even begin to say, that I am half the spouse that my Morher is. Over the past two years, she has loved in a whole new demeanor. One that is selfless, strong, and as hard as she can. She has missed events, stayed up for countless days, cleaned up, prayed over and just simply loved the man that became our Prince Charming. 

While my heart is aching for my entire family, I cannot help but to also be blessed and touched by the love these two share. As we often share within parenthood that the, "days are long, but the years are short." I also am seeing this to be true in marriage as well. While we may not feel like we can even make it through the day sometimes because of an ignorant fight with a spouse, we must remember how precious our years are together. The battles may be fierce, but let your love be stronger than them. Never let a day go by, that you don't thank your loved ones and most of all without loving to your full potential. 

If there's anything in this life that my parents have taught me, it's how to love. I will never forget these looks of sadness across my Mother's face, or the selfless acts she continually shows. If there's anything in this life that my parents have taught me, it's how love as hard as possible. 

As my Dad likes to sing, "there will be peace in the valley," and even through our hurt we are praying for just that. Please pray along with us for our entire family,  and for the comfort of Jesus across my Parents. 

Charli Beth's Darling Derby Party

Birthdays should be celebrated and remembered for years to come. Life is too short to not have fun and celebrate in a way you wish. In my past life I was probably a party planner, and for some reason events set me into a new atmosphere of happiness. I reluncantly and selfishly say, that I probably enjoy my children's birthdays as much as they do. I mean after all, it is a celebration for us as parents too...

Charli Beth {somehow} turned ten on April 6. It really has been the quickest and most rewarding ten years of my life. She has grown into such a little lady but even though she's growing older her young loving heart has yet to change. Even after all of the years, horses are still her number one passion. Even though she's more of the cowgirl type, she loves anything and everything to do with horses. But being from Kentucky, she has always held an interest in the Kentucky Derby. We also visited a retired race horse farm in Versailies, Kentucky during Spring Break. So as we began party planning for a huge celebration of year ten, she knew this would be the perfect theme. 

To begin with it was more than likely the hardest party to plan. If you're having a party for ten year old girls, in your southern baptist church parlor then obviously that excuses all derby items such as bourbon, mint juleps and betting.  

There are many girls within Charli's grade that are animal lovers and I knew they would love this idea as well. 

It just so happened to work perfectly that the next week fell within Teacher Apprecistion Week and my PTO had a derby themed week. We were able to kill two birds with one stone, and reuse almost all of the decor. 

In saying this, one of my favorite things about planning birthday parties is to make sure you can reuse most items. This is one reason why I always pick to use cloth fabric runners for decoration. These beautiful fabric pieces were picked out by Charli Beth. They are timeless and elegant. She may even want them one day for her future home...gasp.

Our menu: 

Hot Brown Sliders

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Vegetables

Kentucky Caviar 

Tortilla Chips

Derby Pie 

Strawberry Cake 

All Bryer horses are a collection from Charli, even though not all are Kentucky Derby breeds they helped make a perfect touch. We made the cloths from felt that I had left over from previous school projects and added numbers. 

The girls came in and were seated together to start checking their derby knowledge, and of course this consisted of lots of giggles. We then were able to pray together as my Dad blessed the meal, and ate a terrific lunch made at the hands of my loving Mom and Mother in law. After everyone was finished we took turns making derby hats, and doing photo booth pictures. Once the cake was cut the girls are, unwrapped gifts together and celebrated the rest of the time playing. 

It was so fun to see the girls at school the next week wearing their hats in celebration of Derby Weekend. Even though the Bluegrass State doesn't seem to shut down for the derby anymore, we sort of do. Charli has picked the winner the last three years, it's literally quiet amazing. I may not know what the future holds for this girl, but I can sure tell it's going to be amazing....