quote

"don't ask what the world needs. ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. because what the world needs is people who have come alive"

Dr. Howard Thurman

ran across this on kelle hampton's blog "enjoying the small things" and have been thinking deeply about what it truly means., especially for my life.

{more on that later, i need to go lay down and rest}

i was blessed with the lovely flu bug that hit me like a ton of bricks last night at 2 am.

i will spare you the gnarly details. promise.

i hate being sick.

spring

it's 70 degrees outside. i know because the little and i just had a playdate which included being outside with a dear mommy friend and her sweet miracle baby girl. i'm not even kidding, she is a complete miracle. and she's beautiful.

let me re-iterate; it's 70 degrees out AND it's march 14 AND i live in a state where winter exists.

PTL!

today on his noon hr the mr informed me that this weather isn't acceptable because it's tax season (which means long work days) and to put it bluntly it's easier to be motivated at work when it's blizzarding outside your window

{thanks for working your tail off for us hunny, you are so respectable, and cute. okay i will stop embarrasing you}

here are the fruits from my media fast "cheat day" the littles first flip flops. brother is tough with sharks on his tootsies.

stay tuned for a piece i'm working on regarding why living on the sidelines isn't for me anymore. it was sparked by the below quote. while i don't know you personally mary oliver, i like what you had going on here.

"tell me what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" mary oliver

survival of the fittest

my heart is still beating.
my lungs are exchanging oxygen.
despite no facebook, blogs, and very limited internet sites for the past 30 days...

i'm still alive.

okay the above is completely and utterly sarcastic but don't we sometimes live like we would DIE without our cell phone, favorite TV shows, internet, facebook, the list goes on.

i have to be honest and let everyone know i did cheat once or twice and the websites that got me were crazy8.com and youtube.com. because brother needed some new spring clothes and this mamma had a 25% off coupon that expired. and i have a small (read: massive) obsession with music. (pitbull/chris brown international love anyone?!) please forgive me.

i am proud to say i did NOT cheat with facebook or any blogs, ever. that was what i needed a fast from most and i did it.

hail yes i did it. and it was so worth it.

next on my leap list? training for a marathon 5K.
lawd have mercy.

mr blue eyes

such a handsome little man already

{a couple of my favorite silly pictures from gavin's 1 year photo shoot}

another playdate

{with cousin larkin}

are these not two of the cutest kids ever?

i think so too.

Up Up and Away

mr gavin celebrated his first birthday

the evening was beautiful in my mind. airplane theme was cute.
there were presents (mine happen to be sitting right next to me)

there was a little number one candle

we sang 'happy birthday' loudly

we shoved cake into our mouths (mommy included)(just kidding)(maybe...)

without a care in the world

brother is smart... double fisting it

all 6 and 3/4 cousins came along to celebrate and play (one is still in utero and will make her grand debut in may)

we gave thanks to God that both grandma's were able to make it in good health. both of these women are so important to me. one raised me. one raised my husband (and did one heck of a job) they both taught me and continue to teach me how to be the best mamma to gavin.

i'm not gonna lie though, i think they love gavin more than me.

{grin}

we also gave thanks for all the people below. we have been so blessed by family. so incredibly blessed.

i've been told more than once that gavin looks a lot like my dad, to which my dad replied "poor kid"

you know dad... gavin's kickin your butt in the hair department. maybe after his third haircut we can save some and make you a toupee?

i can already hear the reply - "i'm bald because i raised two girls"

touche dad, touche.

most of all we give thanks to God for the precious gift of gavin. he changed every aspect of our lives and we wouldn't want it any other way.

Happy First Birthday Sweet Boy. We Love You!

{Day 19}

of media fast.

I don't miss facebook, at all. I texted Laura the day and informed her I'm quite certain I'm going to d/c it completely after this media fast is over.

The flip side of that coin is that my heart is aching to catch up on all the blogs I do follow. I did not realize just how much support/insight/relatability I find in those other women's entries. While I do not know all of the women personally I feel like I do "know" them because of the beautiful and real way they share themselves via writing. The blog world is awesome like that.

Strange, but awesome.

Sometimes in life communcation is difficult for me. The thoughts/ideas that are in my head don't exactly come out of my mouth as I wish they would. But oh when I sit down and write, clarity shines through. Writing provides such therapy to my soul. Often times after I'm done writing I'm suprised at what I learned by just letting my heart speak. It allows me to share some of the deepest parts of my soul. It still amazes me that anyone takes the time to read what I have to write on my little corner of this blog world, but if you do thankyou from the bottom of my heart. It is very generous of you to take time to stop here.

Now I have a request for you. Will your take the time and leave me a comment to let me know what keeps you coming back here to read? Encouragement? Humor? Don't be shy...you can be honest, my feelings aren't easily hurt and if you come here daily to remind yourself you have things together way more than me I'm fine with that :)

Now go ahead and click on that little comment button and leave me your two cents.