Best night ever.

Why do I do this to myself? I put so much pressure on myself to blog that I end up digging my feet into the dirt and come to a screeching halt. I love to blog. I love to blog about fun things.

Every once in a while,though, I get this wild hair that maybe I want to make it more. More fun. More entertaining. More like a job. Here's the deal. I haven't had a "real" job since college. Since Kooper was born, to be exact. That's a whopping 16 years ago. I'm a mommy. I like mommy stuff. I like fashion, and throw pillows, and Stitch Fix. I don't like to be bossed around.  Hence, no job. I've been doing me stuff for 16 years with no expectations or deadlines unless they are self inflicted. I give myself LOTS of deadlines and in the mix of all that, blogging became on of them.

No. Reboot. Again. Hello, I'm Amy. I do this for fun. I do this because I want my kids to see their childhood in print someday. We are entering into a crazy chapter of life. It's what I like to call...Kate's senior year.

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

So, to celebrate the new chapter, Kate's Senior Year, let's take a look at her best night ever...Jr. Prom.
#ihearttoomanypictures

So that wrapped up her jr. year. And so it begins.

These ARE the Glory Days

It's been a little while since I visited about the reality of heart disease in my kids. I'll just cut to the chase. It's been a hard few weeks. This time of year is always the hardest. The boys both really loved basketball and were good at it. I loved watching them play baseball. Baseball season smells like spring. 

The last season Case was able to play baseball he went an entire season without striking out a single time. His team won the city championship in his age group that year. What a way to end an era!

I wish I would have know then we would never get to watch him play again. I missed that championship game because we were out of town celebrating our anniversary. Tim McGraw could have waited. I would have given that up to see him play IF I had known I'd never see him play again. 

I still struggle with being able to not look back.

 I can't seem to pull myself together like I used to. I feel like I spend way too much time reminiscing and remembering and wishing.

I've spent so much time and energy looking forward I think I may have forgotten to really mourn what we lost. 

I thought I had.

I wrote about it. 

If I write it down with pretty words and gracefulness, then it means "I'm good". Right? 

Last Wednesday night in church I could not hold it together.

That day my Timehop brought up a picture of Kooper playing basketball with his traveling team buddies. Just a few minutes later, on Facebook, I was staring at a picture of the same boys, in varsity jerseys, after winning the regional semi-finals. Except this time, Kooper wasn't in the picture.

It. Broke. Me.

How can this be happening? Still. 

What is wrong with me? Still.

Why can't I just be happy with where we are? 

That night at church, smack dab in the middle of my pity party, literally holding my breath to keep tears from falling, my mother in law introduced a new study the ladies class was starting. 

Jesus, why do I doubt that you can carry me through this time in my life? You continually show me how to do it.

This time you used Max Lucado's new book, Glory Days, to snap me out of my pit. I haven't had a day like that in a very long time.

Yet, there it was, written so plain and beautiful, 

"These days are Glory Days.

My past is past,

my future is bright,

God's promises are true and

his Word is sure.

With God as my helper,

I will be all he wants me to be,

do all the things he wants me to do,

and receive all he wants me to receive.

These days are the Glory Days."

This book.

I am soaking up every word. 

It was written for me.

I want to remember these words every day of my life. My past is the past. I spend all my time stuck there instead of enjoying what God has for me now. Here. He will get me through, but I have to trust that that's what he wants for my life. He wants me to inherit the joy of Him. He doesn't intend for me to spend my days remembering and reminiscing about things that hurt me.

I just need to believe that and take it.

Wardrobe Wednesday

Hey guys! It's Wednesday again and I've vowed (to myself) to participate in a link up at least once a week. This week I'm linking up with Kristin, at Taz and Belly for Wardrobe Wednesday.  

If you've never been in my neck of the woods before, I am a crazy momma who has blogged about her kids for many years, and I am just starting to add a little bit of myself in! I am blogging from my little ranch house, in the middle of nowhere, as a bottle calf licks my glass front door.

It's a glamorous life! 

Let me start by saying...I have lost over 100 lbs in the last year. Before my weight loss, you couldn't pay me to take a full body picture. Heck, even a picture, period. I'm still working on that.

Even when I was overweight I loved clothes. I love to mix patterns and textures, but I also can appreciate a simple tee with a leopard belt. Because as we all know, leopard is a neutral!!

AMEN. 

Here is a very random mix of pictures to introduce you to my style. I WILL get better at the full outfit pictures! 

#mentalproblems

Camo, plaid, and pearls.

Yes ma'am!

Stripes and floral. 

Yes, please.

Pay no attention to my gorgeous daughter, Kate in a beautiful prom dress we didn't buy. Or the stranger without the phone in her hand.

Stripes with pockets.

Yes.

Black with brown boots.

Yes, again.

A closer look. Geez that girl is stunning. 

Not the same dress.

#wedidn'tbuythisoneeither

Comfy hoodie with pockets,

leggings that are a size to big,

Ugg house shoes,

no makeup.

Winner.

I'm a sucker for baseball tee's with fun words.

And Kendra Scott earrings. 

"Mama, powered by prayer"

No truer words have been written.

 Let's all take a moment to remember Momma's long, luscious, thick hair. This picture was the middle of the weight loss. 

Stripes, denim, wide leg, linen pants, chunky necklace, and Ray-bans.

SUMMER.

That cutie beside me is the best part of this picture.

Kooper has grown a good 2 inches since this picture less than a year ago. He's pretty cute I think.

Hey, Y'all! 

With a leopard belt, because neutral.

Short hair, don't care.

#whoamikiddingIDO.

So, if you've never been here before, thanks for stopping by! 

I'm new to this serious blogging business. I feel very lucky you took time to come say HI! 

What's Up Wednesday

I'm doing something crazy today! I've decided to participate in my first ever link up party! 

I know, right?

Things are getting crazy out here on the ranch.

I'm linking up with Shay.

If you've never read Shay's blog, it's so fun and real.

You know I'm all about keepin' it real around here. So here goes nothin'!

1.) What we're eating this week...

Deer or Venison.

I know. What can I say? We're country kids and sometimes my sons and my hubs kill our own food. 

I wish I would have gotten a picture of our deer tacos I made last night, but like I said, I'm new at this and I just don't think about it! Lets pretend it looked like this...

Yes, it looked just like this! 

#nothinglikethis

but if you want to make these, here's the link to the recipe.

2. What I'm reminiscing about...

Basketball.

We miss basketball.

#andthatsallimgoingtosayaboutthat

3. What I'm loving...

The weather. 

I have a love/hate relationship with Texas weather.

Lately, I love it.

70's and 80's make me happy! 

The kids playing outside makes me the most happy!

4. What we've been up to...

February has been nuts! We've been squeezing in the weekend trips every single weekend!

-Dancing With the Stars with these sweet girls...

There4 conference with Kate and a couple of youth girls...

ACU Sing Song with the fam...

We are ready to be HOME this weekend!

5. What I'm dreading...

As crazy as it sounds, I can't think of anything I'm dreading. 

At least not today. 

6.  What I'm working on...

I'm working on getting this little ranch house to function for our family. We are doing a master/master bath/powder room addition, but for now, I'm trying to manage this family in a 2 1/2 bedroom house with one toilet. 

#notfun

7.  What I'm excited about...

Jason and I are going on our first cruise in April with my cousin and his wife. We are super excited about getting away with them. Jaosn and I haven't taken an alone trip in TOO long! We are out of our habit of a yearly big trip together. 

Now, if only I can find a swimsuit I don't hate.

8.  What I'm watching/reading...

--The Bachelor.

This is my first season to watch and it is so fun! It's one of those shows your mind is saying "this is so stupid and ridiculous" but my heart says "this is so fun and hilarious" so I just keep watching. 

#teamLauren

--The Walking Dead...

I know. 

I can't help it. 

--Fixer Upper

Please JoJo. 

Please come to the little ranch house.

I need you.

9. What I'm listening to...

I usually have the TV on all day listening to HGTV. 

I love music, but I haven't been loving anything lately.

10. What I'm wearing...

Today?

Ha. Today I'm staying home and cleaning house soooo....

I live in this hooded sweatshirt. It's from...waitforit..

Kohl's.

Fo real.

My leggings that are too big are from good 'ol WalMart

and my houseshoes are the amazing UGGs in grey. 

They are my fav and I wear them allll the time. I may have worn them out once or twice. 

What I'm NOT wearing is makeup. HA!

11. What I'm doing this weekend...

NOTHING.

As in, I'm not leaving the house and I may watch Netflix all weekend long. 

12. What I'm looking forward to next month...

Spring break.

I really, really like my kids and I'm excited to get to spend some time with them! Kate and Kooper are so busy these days and I feel like I never see them. The Lord is preparing me for them to leave for college. #shutthefrontdoor

Also, Kate has tried on 437 prom dresses over the last month and over spring break she IS buying one! She IS. She must decide! 

13. What else is new...

I can't think of a single thing!

14. Favorite Easter tradition...

Our church does a sunrise service and the men make breakfast for everyone, so that's fun.

I'll also have to admit I love Easter baskets.

I am a stocking girl. I LOVE collecting fun little gifts for the kids.

I do a birthday bucket on their birthday that is the same concept.

It has become something the kids look forward to the most! Besides, I'm pretty sure the littles don't buy the bunny anymore.

And there you have it. I have successfully finished my first What's up Wednesday! It was fun!

I'm almost certain I will be the last link up of the day! lol.

Call me. Let's have coffee at the end of my muddy dirt road!

ACU Sing Song 2016

Isn't it the end of the week already? This week has literally crept by at a snails pace. I'm already ready for the weekend.

Amen. 

Moving on.

Kate has big dreams. She is a junior in high school right now, but pretty much has her future mapped out.

She's known around here for her famous quote, "I wanna go to ACU, be a doctor, meet a doctor husband, and have doctor babies." She makes me laugh.

One of the things on her "things I want to do" list includes being a Siggie at ACU. 

*Now, Jason and I were married when we were 19 and had Kate when we were 21. The ACU social life was nonexistent for us. Our friends were mostly from ACU, but it wasn't from campus. It was because we had a super fun group of married friends from our church Sunday school young marrieds class. Looking back, what a blessing those friends were in such a HARD time for us. No money, working, going to school, having babies, paying rent, no money. 

ANYHOOOO...

back to the point.

Kate's Aunt Kimberly was a Siggie so it has been a priority for Kate since she was old enough to hold up her wildcat sign. 

ACU Sing Song is something she can't wait to be involved in!! 

This weekend, we took our annual Sing Song weekend trip to Abilene. This time, it was really getting real for me.

In just 18 short months I will have a Freshman in college.

In just 2 short years I will have a Freshman performing at Sing Song with her other Freshman friends. 

What. The. Wha?

Here are a few pictures from my iPhone of our weekend. 

I really need to drag out my real camera.

Annual dinner at Abuelo's with the Hales, our college best friends and their kids. Our kids have literally never known life without each other! 

We got these delicious ice cream cookie sandwiches from a fun food truck outside the auditorium! I feel bad because I can't remember the name. Something Sweet...idk.

 Case got a little bored about an hour into the show. 

He sent me this text and cracked me up!

Kenna Mae wasn't feelin' it toward the end. 

 Her 9 o'clock bedtime was showing. 

 Of course, the girls and I had to make one last stop at Starbuck for the drive home. 

#illhaveatallnonfatlatteplease

Sunday morning Case woke up at the hotel with fever. I'm so over the sick season. The Hortons seem to always get every little germ that comes along. There is no real data that says kids with HCM have a weaker immune system, but according to MY data...

they totally do. 

From the end of our very sloppy, muddy dirt road...

See ya sisters!