Happy Birthday to Mom!

This is the birthday cake that my girl picked out for me! Her Daddy took her to the ice cream cake shop and let her chose any cake she wanted. She said she liked this one because it had sprinkles and ribbon on it. Of course Daddy liked it.....ice cream cake is his all time favorite! It was delicious! Thanks Daddy and Grace Girl!

Here I am....the birthday girl! I turned 34 this year. Jason told Gracie that I was getting old and her response was, 'No! She is not old, my whole family is brand new!'. I like to think of myself as still being brand new. Jase likes to tease me about being older than Jason. Jackson on the other hand doesn't think it's so funny.

This last year had been a 'growing up' year for me. I have learned so much about myself and who I want to be. I have learned about what is important in my life and what is not. I have experienced true love and what true love is not. This past year, I have really learned what it means to be blessed. I figured out how to trust God and how to give my everything to Him! And I have been truly humbled to understand just how much He loves me. Minus a few bumps in the road...this has been the best year of my life. I am beyond thankful..... I have the BEST husband ever and three little hearts that live outside of my body! My prayer is that I continually grow in the years to come.

What my kiddos think about their Mommy

I had a friend send this to me on Facebook. I thought it was so cute. I asked each child the following questions(separately)and they had some great answers. Some were right on and others were just plain funny!

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Jase - How was your day?
Jackson - I love you
Gracie - Clean up your room

2. What makes mom happy?
Jase - To have us say I love you
Jackson - flowers
Gracie - When I clean my room

3. What makes mom sad?
Jase - When we tear up something that belongs to her
Jackson - ummmmm.....when Jase and Gracie do bad things
Gracie - When I tear up her papers

4. How does mom make you laugh?
Jase - when she tickles me
Jackson - all her funny things
Gracie - tickle you...tickle you

5. What was your mom like as a child?
Jase - she was really good - but she got in trouble sometimes
Jackson - she had glasses
Gracie - she played with toys

6. How old is your mom?
Jase - 33
Jackson - 30
Gracie - I don't know

7. How tall is your mom?
Jase - 6 feet 2 inches
Jackson - 15
Gracie - big

8. What is mom's favorite thing to do?
Jase - scrapbooking and go to our ballgames
Jackson - play with me
Gracie - go to get groceries (YUCK! Where did she come up with that idea?)

9. What does your mom do when you are not around?
Jase - take care of Bella
Jackson- i guess work
Gracie - play with Bella

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Jase -artist
Jackson- being the best mom in the whole entire world
Gracie - I don't know

11. What is your mom really good at?
Jase - encouraging us
Jackson - cleaning
Gracie - folding clothes

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Jase - trying to be mean
Jackson - playing video games
Gracie - the whole thing upstairs (hmmm....I don't really know what she meant by that.)

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Jase - she does not have a job
Jackson - seriously...she does not have a job
Gracie - put Bella in her condo

14. What is mom's favorite food?
Jase - tacos
Jackson - pizza
Gracie - soup

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Jase - She loves me and she will never leave me
Jackson - when she cleans my room
Gracie - when she helps me clean my room

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Jase - a smurf
Jackson - Spongebob
Gracie - a princess

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Jase - homework
Jackson - play games and read
Gracie - play with my dolls

18. How are you and your mom the same?
Jase - blue eyes...blond hair
Jackson - we are both good at....are you smarter than a fifth grader?
Gracie - of having yellow hair

19. How are you and your mom different?
Jase - she's 33 and I'm 10
Jackson - girl - boy
Gracie - mom gets groceries and I don't

20. How do you know when mom is mad?
Jase - she has a spatula in her hand
Jackson - her face turns red
Gracie - I don't know

21. How do you know mom loves you?
Jase - she has told me repeatedly for 10 years
Jackson - she tells me and she hugs and kisses me all the time
Gracie - she says - I love you Gracie

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Jase - taco bell
Jackson - Hobby Lobby and Marshalls
Gracie - subway

Thoughts from My Thankful Heart

Here I sit, the day before Thanksgiving thinking of so many things that I have to be thankful for. The Lord has blessed me with far more than I deserve. As I reflect on these things, I have a few that I would love to share with you.

First - My Heavenly Father, who died on the cross so that I may live. The same one who loves me unconditionally regardless of all of my short comings. The one that sustains me and meets my every need. I'm thankful for you Lord.

I am thankful for the people that the Lord has placed in my life. Where do I begin? My Jason - The love of my life! God must have saved His very best for me! Jason is the most unselfish and giving person I know. He works so hard to provide for our family so that I can be a stay at home mom to our three wonderful children. Jason loves me still, even after he knows every little flaw and every big mistake that I have ever made in my entire life. He gets me. We are forever soul mates. I love the way that he loves our children. He is so gentle as he guides and directs them throughout their daily lives. He loves Jesus and he sets a great example for our children. Thank you Lord for my Jason.

My next three blessing are the little people in my life. My little angels - Jase, Jackson and Gracie. Wow - three close to perfect,(in mom's eyes) healthy children. I am thankful for the pure joy that they bring into my life everyday. I "at-door" (as Jackson says) each of them. They each add something special to my life. I love them dearly. They know that I am their biggest fan and they are mine! Thank you Father, for their little lives.

My parents - Oh my - I am thankful for how much they love me. My Daddy used to tell me as a child that I would never know much he and Mom loved me until I had children of my own. I never could really understand what he was talking about until now. Today, I am sure of what he was referring to all those years ago. My parents are two of my Thanksgiving blessings.

Friends - What would I do without friends? I have been blessed with a few really dear friends. These are the people who come to my rescue when I need to be rescued. A few are near - one far away, but all are close to my heart. Thanks Lord for these special people.

Next, I am so thankful for our home. The Lord blessed us this year with a new home. So much more than I deserve. Yet, it was still provided. Not only were we blessed with a new home, but some new furniture too! I heart my home and I am so grateful.

Lastly, my health. I have struggled this year with some health issues, but I remain thankful that the Lord provides me with what I need to get through each day. I have constant discomfort in my foot but things could be so much worse. Over the past few weeks, I have experienced God's perfect grace. Things are not at 100%, but there is definite improvement. I am so thankful for relief from some of the pain.

I could go on and on, but I will stop here. I have so much to be thankful for.
The following is my personal Thanksgiving prayer.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for all of my blessings. I have more blessings than I could possibly list. So many of which I don't even deserve. But because you love me, you have given to and provided for me. Please bless all of the special people in my life during this Thanksgiving holiday. I love them all, but you love them more. I pray protection over their lives. Keep them all safe so they may continue to be a part of my life. Thank you for giving your perfect life for my imperfect one. I will be forever grateful.

Amen

Tag You're It!

I've been tagged by Amy at
http://www.danandamymccollum.blogspot.com/ .

7 Weird or Random Facts about Me

1.I have two nicknames given to me by my Jason. Drum Roll......

They are Angel Bangel and Boo! Ha!

2. I am still my Daddy's Little Girl.

3. I love the smell of gasoline! A safe amount - if there is such a thing.

4. Believe it or not - But I'm a Southern Belle from Mississippi and

I'm related to ELVIS!

5. I LOVE salsa! I could eat it alone with a spoon.

6. I still love to have a load of warm towels dumped on me.

7 . There are some things that I CANNOT STAND to touch! Chalk, stoneware, knives with metal handles, SOS pads, some drinking glasses - just to name a few.