My Cup of Blessings

Baby...Get Ready, Get Set, Please Don't Go

2009-07-03T13:30:00.000-07:00

Oh gosh, honestly I'm not ready for my babies to drive. Erika officially has her license as of today, bittersweet I tell ya.

The day I had each of my girls, the teen years seemed so far away. Now I'm living them, holding onto each little thread of their lives spent with me.

They say a mothers job is to work herself out of a job by raising her babies to be self sufficient. With God's help I know I can let go, but I'm feeling the pain of empty nest already.

This is Erika in her new wheels......she is so excited. Please God keep her safe!

Simply Me

2009-02-24T13:57:00.000-08:00

For some reason I’m always needing pictures of myself for inspirational team challenges over at FH2S. Though I’m happy to have these pictures for my girls and someday grandkids…I feel like a dork taking them of myself LOL.

Here’s the latest photo I’m going to use for a layout. It’s not the best picture….but hey when you’re 40 you take what you can get right?! :0)

~blessings,
Kelly

Playing Catch-Up

2009-01-11T14:21:00.000-08:00

I have neglected my blog for too long; it’s time to play catch up. We had a wonderful holiday and enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Here are some of my favorite photos from the past several months.

The first picture was taken of Erika over at my brothers’ house. She looks most forward to those gifts from my brother and sister-in-law….they share some of the same likes.

The second picture is Erin’s 15th b-day picture. Since my last post, Erin had a birthday. WOW, has it really been 15 years since I held that little baby girl with big eyes in my arms?! What a bittersweet day! I'm so blessed she's growing into a wonderful young lady, yet I do miss holding that little baby in my arms. I guess a mother never gets over that feeling.

The third picture is of Erin and her sweetie Joe. We all went to the zoo for the Festival of Lights, and boy it was a frigid evening!

The forth picture is of Erika on her 17th b-day. My first born....I can hardly believe it's been 17 years since she made me a mom. My whole life I looked most forward to becoming a mother. I just keep hearing the song playing in my head "Baby Get Ready, Get Set....Don't Go". I'm so proud of both of my girls, I'm just not ready for them to leave home. I'll be holding onto these next several years with everything I have. God has blessed me with each of them, different as they are; they have taught me as much as, hopefully, I have taught them.

Cute Little Bugs

2008-10-31T14:32:00.000-07:00

Erin and Marisa (Erin's BFF) are all dressed up and ready for Halloween. Erin chose to be a ladybug, which is so funny because when she was 3 1/2 I made her a cute ladybug outfit. She refused to wear it. Daddy being the kind man he was (and still is), let her pick out the costume of her dreams.....a cheapo Barbi costume we got at Biggs Supermarket was her choice. Boy was I bummed, she choose a cheapy outfit over my handmade with love outfit. Goes to show you, even at 3 they have a mind of their own. I finally got my ladybug, but I'm telling you....that ladybug outfit I made so many years ago is still cuter :0)

My Beautiful Bradford Pears, Gone

2008-09-21T16:55:00.000-07:00

Ike paid us a visit, up from Texas…he traveled fast and mighty. Our little town was not prepared for 80 MPR winds, it took our town to its knees. We were without electric for 5 ½ days….yes over 5 days with two teenage girls.

Although I had bad moments, one in particular bad day; we made the best of it. We grilled out and sat outside most nights. We enjoyed bon fires, roasted marshmallows, smores and we even had some sparklers. There were lots of evening candle light talks too.

We were very blessed! We lost 2 shade trees in the front and one wild cherry in the back; none of which caused house damage. Though we were without power, we had phone and water. Tony took our cell phones and our portable DVD players to work for charging. We made the best of a situation that could have been way worse.

Here are a few pictures of our beautiful Bradford Pears that exist no more.
~blessings,
Kelly

My Afternoon visitor

2008-09-10T14:51:00.000-07:00

What a blessing it is to me to see butterflies! I was walking upstairs and glanced outside and saw this little fella on my flowers. My camera was downstairs and I knew by the time I ran down and up the stairs he'd be gone. I was so happy he was still enjoying my flowers and I hoped I could get a picture. I was able to walk outside and walk slowly up close and took about 6 photo's. I think he was enjoying the flowers so much he didn't realize I was there. I was told this is a Blue Swallowtail (thanks Judy).......isn't he BEAUTIFUL!

~blessings,

Kelly

EC Spirit

2008-08-31T14:20:00.000-07:00

This is Erin, she's all ready for our big high school rival football game. We did not win, but that didn't take away from her school spirit. Most of the girls dress all wacky, check out those socks LOL!

A Year Ago This Evening......

2008-08-30T17:17:00.000-07:00

.....was the last time I spoke to my mom before she passed away. The last words I ever said to her were "I love you too".

It wasn't uncommon at all for us to exchange those very important words. I grew up in a crazy sort of way, but she always told me she loved me. We ended each conversation with "I love you's". I still find peace in knowing those were our last words spoken to each other.

~blessings,
Kelly

Our New Purchase

2008-08-25T13:52:00.001-07:00

Our Newest Purchase

We bought a new car. It’s been 5 years since we’ve had a car payment, so going back in dept doesn’t make me too happy. Our cars started nickling and diming us and Tony hated working on them. We made the decision to purchase a newer car (it’s 3 years old) so we could have at least one dependable family car.

It’s a Pontiac G6 GT….it’s a 4 door which we needed since we cart around 2 teenagers. As you know, you don’t get to pick the color when purchasing a used car. I prefer silver, white or dark blue….we ended up with a black one. I had a black one years ago and they are HARD to keep clean.

Erika is especially thrilled with the purchase; of course it’s not coming out of her pocket LOL. I'll post a picture soon!

~blessings,
Kelly

Back To School For Another Year

2008-08-14T17:28:00.000-07:00

As of Wednesday, I’m officially a mom of two high schoolers! Boy oh boy, where did the time go? Someone told me when I had my first baby, you will turn around once and they will be grown. I’m beginning to realize that is true. It’s hard to believe how fast time passes us by. I feel like I’m running out of time; there is so much I need to share with them, so many more experiences I want to see them experience, so much I want to show them and teach them.

This is a picture of the girls on their first day. As you can see, Erin is the girly girl and Erika is our rocker chick.

Time please slow down just a little, so I may enjoy these last few years with my girls at home.

~blessings,

Kelly

August 9th

2008-08-11T14:44:00.000-07:00

On August 9th my mom would have been 61. I was on my blog several times that day trying to figure out what to say and post.

I do know that I truly miss her and my life became a little lonelier the day she left this Earth.

It was not easy being her daughter, but I’m thankful she was my mom. We went through many tough times, and I learned a great deal. I wouldn’t be the woman I am today if it weren’t for those experiences.

I didn’t get to shop for her this year, I didn’t make that birthday wish call, I wasn’t able to purchase her favorite candy; all I have now are the memories. So for now and the rest of my life I promise myself I will focus on what was good and focus on becoming the women God intends me to be, the woman my mom would be proud of.

So for the sake of habit:
Happy Birthday mom, I know you love me (you told me everyday, thank you for that).

I can almost hear her say “thank you sweetie”!

~blessings,
Kelly

Vacation Photo's

2008-08-05T12:49:00.000-07:00

Here are 4 of the 160 photos I took in Destin Florida.
It was a sad day when we had to leave; I actually admit, I cried! I did not want to leave this beautiful place.

The mark we made, quickly disappearing in the tide.

Here’s a picture of Tony and I.

The girls.

The view from my chair, my last day at the beach.

~blessings,
Kelly

Finally

2008-08-04T16:51:00.000-07:00

Several months ago, I accidently deleted my blog. I was so disappointed; it took me months to get up enough gumption to start a new one.

So here we are….I finally did it!

My family and I just got back from Destin Florida, boy was it beautiful. I’ve visited Florida beaches many times before, but only on the Atlantic side. Boy was I blessed to see the Gulf side. There is nothing like sugar colored sand and emerald colored water to enjoy. As I gazed out into the ocean, all I could think of was “this is one of God’s fingerprints”. It was amazingly beautiful!

Two items on my ‘Life List’ (those things I hope to do before I leave this world) were to visit a white sanded beach and to see dolphins in the ocean. I was blessed enough to mark both of these off my list.

I'll post pictures once I get them uploaded.

~blessings,
Kelly