the WILLIAMS

 His breakfast of choice...cinnamon rolls and hot cocoa.

 Eating Chick-Fil-A at school with him.

 Pizza party at Keller Pointe with cousins and friends. I love this picture of Kempton and his little girl.

 The boys doing what they do best....getting their energy out!

Happy birthday Caydon!!! I am so proud of the boy you are becoming. You are such a strength to me and make me want to be a better mom and person. You have a zeal for life that is contagious. You love to choose the right and learn new things. You are a social butterfly and love your little brother and sister. 

I am so blessed to be your mommy! 

No matter how big you get you will always be my baby.

Love-Mommy 

(or Jenny as you like to call me)

This little cheerleader has me wrapped around her finger. 

And I couldn't be happier.

I love you baby girl.

But...there is little I can do about that. So what can I do? Make sure the moments that we ARE together as a family are spent making FUN memories. Men are that they might have joy, right? I want my kids to understand the value of hard work, but I also want them to know that life is supposed to be FUN. 

Well that's a wrap for our 2014 New Years Resolutions. 

Now back to regular blogging. 

"Life is a balance of learning what to hold on to and what to let go of."

-Keith Urban

It seems like the older I get the harder it is to let go of things. Isn't it funny how when you watch children play, one child will flat out smack another one on the face one minute, and then the next minute they're both playing together like that never happened?? No feelings were hurt and if they were, they get over them in seconds. Funny how that changes as we become adults. 

I have learned a lot in my {almost} thirty years of life. And am still learning. But one thing I have learned is this. There are a LOT of things in life NOT worth fighting for. Relationships, things, people, behaviors. They're not worth the fight. If the good > bad in something, fight for it. If the bad > good, don't fight for it. There is one exception to that rule. My marriage and family. No matter how bad it gets, no matter how much of a failure I feel I am as a wife/mother, or how much I think my marriage/family is failing, I will always fight. It is my role as a wife and mother. To protect my family. To fight for them. Even if it seems as if I am fighting good things for them. I made that vow seven years ago before the Lord and I don't take it lightly.

As a mother, I fight battles everyday. Getting Caydon to school on time. Getting Dallas dressed. Teaching them to be nice to others. Teaching them to help out around the house. Teaching them their ABC's and alphabet. I try to teach them everything I think is important. So that when they turn 18, they will go out into the world on their own and not just survive, but thrive. I can only hope and pray as their mother that they will remember what I taught them in those short 18 years that they were mine. I hope the way that I am living my life is enough of an example to them to always choose the right and to never forget that they are the son/daughter of a King.

This year my goal is to let go of the things/people/relationships that weigh me down. Life is too short for those.
Focus on the good.
Be the good.

1. Life won't be better when you have more money and your kids are older. Life will be different. 

2. Don't waste your time away on your phone. Facebook, Instagram, email can wait. Your kids' childhood cannot.

3. Life is exhausting but try to enjoy the ride!! 

This day is a gift. Make the most of it!

{June 2010}

I was going through pictures on our computer and found this gem. I miss these boys!!!!

Let me just start by saying this. Money is a necessary evil. You can't live without it. It is usually the number one reason for divorce. It doesn't matter how much of it or how little of it you have, it's always an issue and is usually always an argument with your spouse or family. 

1. Avoid debt like the plague. Every dollar you borrow today will cost you $3 to pay back tomorrow. (I totally pulled that number out of thin air. It all depends on interest rates, length of loan, etc.) People don't understand that taking out a mortgage on a $200,000 house for 30 years at a 3.0% interest rate is actually costing them the asking price of $200,000 plus $180,000 in interest at the end of their 30 year loan period. That means that at the end of your 30 year loan, you will have paid $380,000 for your house, almost double the cost. Paying interest is like flushing money down the toilet. Don't do it if you don't have to!
2. Understand the difference between wants and needs. Nowadays too many wants are being justified as needs. (Guilty as charged. I NEED those cute shoes on sale at Target or I will die!!!!)
3. Understand how much of your paycheck is actually taken home. For example, 10% of everything we make goes to our church for tithing. Then 15% goes to Uncle Sam. That's already 1/4 or our paycheck gone before we even pay our bills. Don't let your bills take up the rest!!!
4. Save save save. You never know when life is gonna give you lemons. My husband was unemployed for two months last year and having savings saved us. (No pun intended.)