Finish This (week 17)!

The cute creature I grew & nurture!

My last growing pain was… The adjustment to being a mother. The transition from a family of 2 to 3 wasn't nearly as difficult as I imagined it would be, but it was certainly my last growing pain in the transitional sense. A little known fact about me is that since I was in 6th grade, I would have horrible back and hip pain as I grew. My growth plates didn't appreciate my growth quite so much and I could feel the plates separating. I was a Junior in high school last time I had literal growing pains.

I grow and nurture…babies!! Well, one baby... but I'd love to have a house full (Lord willing)!

The guilt-free snack I enjoy most…Snacking is my diets demise! I lose the most weight (or do a good job maintaing a weight) when I'm too busy to snack. I don't like potato chips, which has been a great blessing so I snack relatively healthy when I do. I love Veggie Straws, Pita Chips & Hummus, carrots and a little ranch dressing, celery sticks and peanut butter... Really the list could go on and on. I love food, too much! 

The best reason to stay up all night… family time! I'm from a family of night owls. Some of my favorite memories with my Dad and brothers are from the middle of the night! 

If I were stranded on a desert island, I’d… need a lot of "beach read" books! 

The way I see it, Desert Island = Permanent Vacation!

I have found little in life that is as relaxing as sitting on my bum on the beach listening to the waves roll in as I read mindless garbage!

Linking up with Nicole (Three 31) Lisa (The Costal Chicster), Jen (The Arizona Russums) and Becky (The Java Mama) for this weekly series, Finish This!

Prayers for Joshua

This morning my "baby" brother reported to Dallas MEPS for processing to MCRD (Marine Corps Recruitment Depot, San Diego), or 'boot camp'.

Our family is so very proud of Joshua and the commitment he is making and his desire to serve our country. Though proud, we're such a close family, in some ways he's more than a brother and more of a son; this is going to be a very tough time for all of us.

If you would please join us in praying for his safety and the safety of all the other Recruits in India Company as they start their journey to becoming Marines. The Marine Corps Boot Camp is 12 weeks full of tough emotional and physical training. We have faith that he will come through this strong, but prayers are coveted and greatly appreciated!

Joshua and I at his last family dinner on Friday

Finish This! (week 16)

Since having Cora back in October, I've had trouble getting back into a routine of blogging. When I first started out a couple of years ago, link ups were a fun way to encourage myself to blog so I thought I'd try that again. I've enjoyed reading others Finish This! posts so here it goes...

My favorite makeup item is ... Mascarea! I don't wear make up daily, but I put on mascarea more than anything else. I feel like it really gives my eyes a pop since I have light eyelashes and they aren't terribly thick. It also really helps make me look a bit less like a zombie after a long night of little sleep.

The best book I’ve ever read was ____ because … The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I really enjoyed the story but also loved studying it English class. It's just chalk full of symbolism and I love reading it and looking for the hidden meanings and context!

My favorite TV show is … Greys Anatomy! I haven't been on the bandwagon since it first came out, but a few years ago as I was struggling with some changes in life, something about watching the show just made me happy! I've probably watched every season four times, many thanks to Netflix!

The most spontaneous thing I’ve ever done is … I'm really not very spontaneous. Like at all. The only thing that comes to mind would be our last minute trip to Galveston a few years ago. We were in Houston for John's cousins' graduation and we decided last minute to go down to Galveston for the night.

I prefer DOGS/CATS because … I like them both, but I generally like Cats better. That being said, I hate litter boxes and hair everywhere. I've also decided, as much as I love animals... they're worse than children! At some level they max out their capacity for learning and you're left with a furry creature that can't clean up after its self and lacks opposable thumbs. 

I met my significant other … in Lubbock at a game night a mutual friend was hosting!

Linking up with Nicole (Three 31) Lisa (The Costal Chicster), Jen (The Arizona Russums) and Becky (The Java Mama) for this weekly series, Finish This!

April...

For about a year we have been looking forward to/dreading April. Starting with the last weekend in March, I hosted a brunch and a bachelorette party for my friend Kim. Then the first weekend in April, prepared the food for her Rehearsal Dinner and served as her Matron of Honor in the wedding. Last weekend we took a road trip to Austin to visit John's Grandparents for an early Easter get-together. This weekend I hosted a going-away party for my baby brother Josh as he prepares to leave for the Marines this week and Next weekend John is in a wedding in Houston. See, it's been a busy month! I'm just now coming up from air!

Here's a bit of a photo dump from the month so far and I can't wait to share specifics of some of the parties and all I've been hosting!