There have been many times that I thought my marriage wouldn't survive past the 5 year mark because of the many different things we have been through and put each other through. I'm happy and blessed to be able to celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary today! Every day is honestly a milestone. There are rarely any days that pass that I am not thankful that God has restored and renewed this family. Although there is nothing perfect about our marriage, there are many good and wonderful things. I am a blessed woman to be married to a man that has taught me what trust and true forgiveness is and also to see unconditional love lived out. I have had my days of doubting but I know God has put us together for reasons we have seen and yet to see. I'm proud of my man and who he is. I'm honored to be his wife. We're blessed to have friends that support our marriage and encourage us in the rough times and celebrate with us in the good.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. 

I love you sweetheart. 

I can't believe how big these kids are getting!

   6 years old and in the 1st grade

                                      5 years old and in kindergarten

Happy 8 months!                . 

Looking back on this and it's still beautiful <3

It seems like all hell tries to break loose once school is back in session. Everyone was mostly healthy over the Christmas break and everything went smoothly. But since school has been back in, Makenna has had an ear infection, Hayden has had an ear infection, Makenna's doctor decided she needs tubes in her ears, Makenna's GI doctor called to tell us that her lab results were all good except for one and they need to do a biopsy of her small intestine to see if she has a gluten intolerance or if she has Celiac disease, and on the way to the doctor's office to have Hayden's ears checked, my steering went completely out on my car. Oh and we had to have the heat fixed in the house today because it wasn't working as of sometime last night. That's a lot to happen in two weeks. It's tiring to say the least. Somehow I remain peaceful throughout this season. I don't understand it but that's ok. I'm just thankful and consider us blessed to all be alive given the fact that my steering went out while I was driving with all three kids in the car with me. It was like God had this specific path for the car to take before this ever happened. There were no other cars around and rather than following the curve like we should have, we went off the edge and into the grass on the opposite side of an intersection. (It's difficult to explain) And then a super nice lady stopped to give us a ride when she saw us all under our umbrella's trying to make it to the doctor's office. What a trip!

Life is just too chaotic to try to keep up with a blog. My plan is to ace my classes this semester without feeling extreme pressure and without always feeling rushed. So far it's going well. I have Chemistry with a Lab, Pre-Calculus Algebra and Lab, Physics 2, and Political Science. 15 credit hours may do me in but I will lack one class of having an A.S. Then I only need a few more classes that Chapel Hill requires to transfer. I'm in the home stretch as far as that is concerned.

Now it's time for some homework since the kids are behaving.

Something about this sweet little baby of mine just takes my breath away. I love him so much. I can't even begin to put into words how he makes me feel to be his mother. It may sound cheesy but I love this song and it's "our song". When I sing it to him, he smiles. I especially like to sing it to him when he's fussy because he immediately stops crying so he can listen.

It's been said and done, every beautiful thought's been already sung and I guess right now, here's another one

So your melody will play on and on with the best of 'em

You are beautiful like a dream come alive, incredible

A centerfold miracle, lyrical. You saved my life again and I want you to know baby

I, I love you like a love song baby

I, I love you like a love song baby

I, I love you like a love song baby

And I keep hittin' repeat-peat-peat-peat-peat

Constantly, boy you play through my mind like a symphony

There's no way to describe what you do to me

You just do to me, what you do and it feels like I've been rescued, I've been set free

I am hypnotized by your destiny

You are magical, lyrical, beautiful, you are and I want you to know, baby

I, I love you like a love song baby

I, I love you like a love song baby

I, I love you like a love song baby

And I keep hittin' repeat-peat-peat-peat-peat

No one compares, you stand alone to every record I own

Music to my heart, that's what you are

A song that goes on and on

I, I love you like a love song baby

I, I love you like a love song baby

I, I love you like a love song baby

And I keep hittin' repeat-peat-peat-peat-peat

Love you

Like a love song

He melts my heart

Selena Gomez 

Like a Love Song

There's so many things I could say and that I would like to say but the only thing that I must stress is that I need Jesus. Plain and simple...I need him.

I finally heard back about my MRI's. Yes that's plural for a reason. The first one was of my brain and I was being checked for MS. Thank the good Lord that was negative! No MS but there is a cyst on my pineal gland. From what they say, this is fairly common. People have it and don't have any clue. It isn't dangerous. All indications show that it's benign. These are very good things. I'll just have to have it checked again in 3 or so years to be sure nothing is changing about it.
The second one was of my lower back. I'm not really okay with not having answers about physical problems especially after having test after test after test. So I requested that we look at my back since I've had trouble with it for 10 years now. (By the way...I'm too young to say I've been seeing a doctor about something for 10 years...) There wasn't anything terribly wrong with my back other than the scoliosis and some arthritis. I'm not thrilled about there being arthritis in my lower back and my neck but it is what it is. I'm thinking the next route will be further arthritis testing. That could be what's killing my legs. There's no telling where else it is since it's in my back. I would much rather do something preventative than end up not being able to get around because of severe arthritic joints.
A new year is coming so I'm going to lay low and enjoy this next week with the Christmas holiday, time off from school, and a much needed vacation with my family. Time to relax and enjoy each other and even enjoy some sand and waves :)