Momma Mia...

Though this is FOUR days late (for good reason - a story for another day), I want to give credit where credit is due. If you know my Marmi, then you know why I think so highly of her. She's amazing. Hands down. She gives and gives and gives and gives and gives of herself...and then she wakes up and does it all over again.

Few days go by without hearing her voice, and even if it's a 2 minute re-cap of my day amidst a screaming toddler and a rowdy boy, it's still 2 minutes where she's all mine.

I could write blog after blog about her, but instead, I'll keep it simple: I want to be like her when I grow up.

She plays with her grandkids (really  plays...not just enjoys them). She keeps up with all of her kids (and some of our friends). She may even be a saint in my book for having four under the age of 5 back in the day. She serves people by day as she's loving them into the Kingdom. She has this resilient spirit, but mostly she just brightens a room as she walks in it. She never stops. Ever.

This week, though, my sister & I exchanged a glance and a few tears as we watched our mom go through some of the hardest hours she's known. As great of a mom as she is, she's an even better wife to my Daddy. And really, isn't that part of being a great mom? {Oh, to learn this now!}

Watching helplessly as the love of your life lays hurting in a hospital bed has to be the saddest thing.
And we watched her do it.
And comb his hair.
And pull blankets on and off and on and off.
And advocate for his meds when they weren't coming fast enough.
And kissing him on the forehead every once in a while just to make sure he knew she was there.
And shedding tears in the hallway so he wouldn't see them.

So I'm sitting here thankful for the example of love that she is to me. Not only to my siblings & I, our kids, and really anyone who comes in her path - but also to my dad {who is on the up & up today after an agonizing week}.

And I'm thankful for these two. Who both surprised me and changed me by calling me by a new name: Momma.

How could I ask for more?

Friday Faves {6}

So much to be thankful for. So sad that I don't do this more regularly. I'm linking up with Finding Joy here.

This is Big D on his "Gotcha Day." For those of you who don't speak "Adoptionese," that means it's the anniversary of the day we got him! I blogged about it on his first Gotcha Day. He picks out his own clothes, and he insisted on ruining a perfectly good dress outfit dressing up "just like Da-da" for school. He even tucked his shirt in. #cute.

As many of you saw on FB, my Mister was elected Mayor of our sweet little Village this week. I'm so very proud of him and excited that a dream of his is coming true. He told me when we were dating this would happen...just don't think either of us knew it would be this soon. He'll do amazing. Excited to watch God work through him in this capacity. #lovehim

The sweetest little batch of weeds dandelions. Yea, I know they're weeds, but for a kid who struggles sometimes just to say "I love you," these words speak volumes. Volumes, I tell ya, to this one tired momma. #that'sme

This face. Those blue eyes. She's the reason there is no down time from morning until night. She just is always moving, going, climbing, being, doing, screaming, or mischieving...if that's even a word. And yet, she is always smiling, laughing, giggling, and singing, too...so we must be doing something right. #ihopeso

I'm thankful for outside weather. We've had a few playground weather days, but just not having to wear coats all the time is refreshing. #ilovespring

So many other things to be grateful for. I will keep counting them, for it is a reason to move on, keep on keepin' on. It helps my perspective and helps me see Jesus in my moments, whether they're chaotic or not.

Leibster

Leibster, (Leibste) meaning "kindest, dearest, beloved, cute, endearing" in German.

Whaaaaa?!?

I am both flabbergasted & humbled to be nominated for this very cool swag award by a new friend from Sweet Pea Pod, Danielle. After stalking perusing her blog for quite some time, I find that she is quite the crafter and momma to 3, which...is such a fantastic combo. Not to mention the whole army wife thing, which puts her up there in my hero book. You should totally check her out {and follow her while you're at it!}. Thanks, Danielle! Seriously. I'm floored.

The Liebster Award is a blogger to blogger, peer award, used to highlight up and coming, smaller, lesser known blogs that are less than 6 months old and/or have less than 200 followers. Liebster is an award that you accept with an intention of paying it forward. How awesome is that?!? {and what a surprise, too!}

When you accept your Liebster, you must pay it forwards and nominate other bloggers that you would like to award. {Not gonna lie...this has taken me weeks to comb and find some new fun bloggie friends!}

So here are the guidelines for the award:
1) You must post 11 random things about yourself.
2) Answer the questions that the nominator set for you.
3) Create 11 questions for the people you nominate.
4) Choose 11 new blogs that you love and link them in your post.
5) Leave a comment on this post with the URL to your Leibster post so I can learn more about you!

So - here we go!

11 Random Things about me:

• I love green. Pretty much any shade of it.
• I'm an adoptee who is adopting {and isn't done yet!}
• I love to read...mostly books & blogs, but my fave is the Bible. #shereadstruth is my favorite reading plan (you should totally join in on the fun)!
• I'm a terrible housekeeper - even when I try hard I'm not good at it. {Now THAT is hard for this type-A perfectionist to admit "out loud."}
• I'm not very good at making friends. But when I do make them, I am loyal and love them to death. I'm thankful for a few new people God has brought in my life the last couple of years. And of course, I'm thankful for my lifees - Trish, Qzie, Beffie, Belle, JonJon & B, who have been my friend FOR.EV.ER. (despite the whacko nicknames I've given them!)
• I talk to my mom almost every day. {Although she is ONE.BUSY.LADY and sometimes we just can't get in touch.} She's amazing and one of the biggest blessings in my life!
• I love driving a mini-van. I'm a total dweeb, I know. {But seriously...stow-n-go? You had me at stow.}
• Life isn't what I thought it would be. And in most cases, it's better...but different. And I'm learning to not live on my expectations. {I did say learning...I'll hopefully  & eventually just grow out of my expectations.}
• I'm passionate about adoption. Seriously.
• I've only had 2 pedicures my whole life. And I'm pretty sure I could make a habit of it if only I had the cashflow.
• I love to craft & DIY, but sadly have very little time for it with a toddler running about. I do what I can when I can, and pin the rest! {Find me on Pinterest!}

{Not gonna lie. It was kinda hard to come up with stuff that's just about me. Huh...whodathunk.}

Here are the questions that Danielle set for me: My answers are after the questions.

1) What is your dream home? My dream home is many things: wrap around porch, separate laundry room, spacious kitchen with actual storage, a room/space where I can be crafty (and close the door), outdoors to play, grow & make memories, a safe place for my kids & their friends, etc. Mostly my home is where my family is...as cheesy as it sounds, it's real. My Mister would also add that our dream house has to stay in our little village. So...I guess that's part of it too. Short question. Long answer.

2) What is my favorite song & why? Oh, boy. You had to go there. My current favorite song is Kings & Queens by Audio Adrenaline. I cry EVERY.Single.Time I hear this song. {Am I the only one relieved that Kevin Max is singing again?!?} But my 2nd favorite is close - Home by Philip Phillips. Both of them are OOZING with adoption lyric-age, not to mention fantastic melodies & all around great musica. You should totally click & listen.

3) Who is your celebrity design alter ego? (ex: Nate Berkus, Martha Stewart, Holly Becker @ Decor8, etc.) To be perfectly honest, I don't know if I have one. I love the thrifty style of Kristy @ The Diary of Dave's Wife. I also love everything Stacy from Not Just a Housewife does. They're bloggers, so they're celebrities to me!

4) What is your favorite blog post you have ever done & why? Probably most of my adoption posts, I'm proud of. But the one I love most is My Never Ending Story. Read it. You'll see why it's my fave. I am so blessed.

5) What are 3 of your favorite blogs and why? Oh, goodness. I follow like 100 blogs for 100 different reasons. I guess the ones I don't miss {ever} are: Little Miss Momma {Ashley's fantastic. She writes awesomely. She loves her mister. Her style is...enviable, and her kids have GOT to be the ca~utest kids ever (besides mine, of course)} Better Life Bags is another favorite. One day I will be able to buy one of her bags. Until then, I will stalk follow her and pray for her ministry. She is a dreamer, a fantastic mom, loves Jesus & her mister, and is one of the first bloggers I started reading. I won the prayer set cards from another blog and was hooked. {The prayer set cards are fantastic. You should totally get them. And everything else she has in her shop.} My all time favorite blog {EVER} is Finding Joy. Rachel is down to earth, challenging, and passionate about motherhood (among other things). I never miss a post of hers and honestly have most of her posts pinned in my Mommy-hood board on Pinterest. She is inspiring {and sometimes I feel like she's peering in through my windows so she can find a great new idea for a post}. Her Dear Mom letters are so great, and I read them over and over when I'm overwhelmed. She is also a great photographer.

6) How long have you been blogging and why did you start? I've been blogging for a long time...I don't know. The reason I started (and still do it) is just to release pieces of me. I've had a few ideas at times along the way about what I'd like my blog to be...but the truth is, it's a release for me. It's great to put my thoughts out there. It's like a great friend.

7)  "I'll ---------- if it's the last thing I do." Is it sad that I want this to be about sleep? I'll sleep well (and good and get really rested) if it's the last thing I do. But the truth is...the thing I'm most passionate about is adoption. So "I'll keep on pushing, advocating, adopting, helping, educating, empowering, learning, encouraging, and supporting adoption if it's the last thing I do." That'll be the official one. :)

8) Best vintage or decor find of all time? Um....I mostly shop at garage sales & thrift stores. So...I have a lot of great frames (that I will eventually turn into something else or use to frame a picture). I do hope to one day find a great vintage find. I love the individuality of vintage-ness.

9) What is a home trend that you have tried/followed that you've regretted? Oh, boy. Another one I don't really relate to. Not much of a home trend follower. I have a SUUUUPER small house. And my walls are filled with pictures, paint, and things I've made. I have a different sense of style that's all hodge-podge of things I like & see (and can afford). So...I'm good.

10) Who is your favorite author? Karen Kingsbury, Nicolas Sparks, Ann Voscamp (I know...that's three.)

11) Favorite pattern? POLKA DOTS!!! #fortheloveofpolkadots

My 11 Questions for my Nominees:

1) What is your dream home?

2) What is your favorite song and why?

3) What do you love most about being a momma?

4) What's your favorite blog post & why?

5) What are your three favorite blogs & why?

6) What tv shows are must-watch for you?

7) How long have you been blogging & why?

8) "I'll ------------ if it's the last thing I do."

9) Favorite decor find of all time?

10) Who's your favorite author?

11) What's your favorite "homemade" gift?

Now for my 11 blog nominees (drum roll, please):

1) Kara @ Borrowed Blessings

2) Susan @ My Grace-Filled Mess 

3) Momma Hughes @ That You May Be Comforted

4) One Blessed Lady

5) Kelly @ The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking

6) Aprille @ Beautiful in His Time

7) Lynne @ Living Life Wildly

8) Amanda @ Chaos & Coffee

9) Abbey @ A Moment's Peace
10) Martha @ Martha Anne
11) Carissa @ Carissa Miss

Welp, that's it folks! Don't forget to put your Leibster link in the comments here! And really, I totally understand if it takes a while to find some new bloggie friends. Be blessed, y'all!

This Growing Up Business

Dear Dillon:

7 has always been my favorite number. Don't ask why. I don't even really know. It just seems like such a perfect number to me.

And now, today, my favorite boy turns 7 {that's you!}!

People said this would happen. That life would go quickly...that I would blink and you'd be driving. Thankfully you're not there yet (unless you count your little 4 wheeler, bike, or Gator), but I blinked...and now you're 7. And I'm thrilled/happy/scared/terrified/excited/sad that you're growing up. It's very emotional - this growing up business!

You are such a blessing in my life. And it's so busy. Life is...our home...our schedule. I just hope that you know how much of a blessing you are to me. I can't imagine what life would be like without you, and I actually don't remember much of life before you.

I admire you in so many ways. I admire your determination (even if it's annoying at times, too!). I admire your sheer tenacity. Your memory is amazing, and you make me giggle on a daily basis. There's nothing I love more than your kisses...even if you try to wipe mine off. Wrestling with you is fun, too, and you should know that I won't always win...you will be stronger than me sooner than you think. :)

You are a child of routine, and as we prayed over you last night before bed, I got really emotional...hoping, praying, begging you to know how much you are loved. Sweet boy, do you know how much you are loved?

We longed for you before you ever came. Just ask those that knew us then...we did. And a sweet day in October that I found out you had this chance to possibly be my child...I just knew it was God answering the cries of my heart. God, in His infinite wisdom, knew so much better than I did...He answered my prayers far better than I could have ever dreamed or imagined. He's great like that, our Father...

He loves you, too, D. I mean...I'm told that he loves you more than I do. I. Can. Not. Imagine. And He has huge plans for you. You're going to be something great when you grow up. And you're going to reach people for Him. And though life is hard some days {sometimes a lotta days}, He is always there...a constant source of love, mercy, and grace.

My prayer for you this year is that you will continue to grow. That you will continue to learn...and that you will have fun while you're at it. After all, you're only a kid once! I pray that you will keep seeking Jesus and learning more about God's goodness as you start to read the Bible on your own. I pray that you will, above all else, know how much you are loved.

Love,
Momma

Friday Faves {5}

Though I'm not as faithful at this as I should be, I enjoy capturing life's moments through the week and sharing them on Fridays. Here I am, on Monday, sharing a few days late...Nevertheless...here we go!

Am I the only one that finds this utterly hilarious {and fantastic}? The kid is.FUNNY.

Baby R hugged the mannequins.  Yup...and this one she could actually semi-hug for real. Old Navy was happy to see us go that day, this I am sure.

We had a surprise road trip to go see my sister & her 4 kiddos on our first free weekend all year! Baby R adores her cousins...can you tell?

Upwards Bball 2013 is in the books. And I'm so glad I captured this moment in the last week of it. I love Upwards for many reasons, but my favorite reason is that they teach kids about Jesus as they teach them about said sport. Soccer's up next!

I had a "YES day" with D. I'm going to blog about it. I will.

Not even sure you can see it, but this is D's little snow person. By this time, the cheeto we were using for the nose & the m&ms we were using (from Christmas) for the eyes were...not there anymore. But it was a cute little dude. With SUUUUUPER long arms.

Baby R's first piece of artwork. Love.

Baby R's reaction to a StarKiss from DQ. Funny. And then she'd want more. And then she'd make the same face again...

These two just can't get any more cute, eh?

And I'll close with my favorite shot of the month: Daddy & Baby R napping. It tugs at my heart strings EVERY.Single.Time I see it...

Linking up @ finding joy.

It's Been A While...

I mean...a WHILE. I have these great and lofty goals to blog a couple times a week. {right!}

I find that I blog most when I'm not in the valley..when I have something positive to put out there...when I'm not struggling to get out of bed in the morning...So...good news: I must be coming out of a funk.

I have so many blogs started in my head. So many things to say & share. And I wonder if anyone besides my Belle even reads them, ya know? But here I am....clicking away at the computer just letting you know I'm here. Life is good. And I have some drafts going. I'm ready to tell you about a few of my favorite things on Friday with Finding Joy. Hope to see you then! See below for some eye candy from my IG account (JosKeathley if you wanna follow me!)

 Daddy & Daughter - is there any sweeter bond? They get me Every.Single.Day.

 Having a "yes day" with D. Definitely going to write about this experience, which has been inspired by several of my favorite bloggers.

My Mister is running for our little town's future mayor. Our house is hustling & bustling with election stuff. And I'm the "un"official campaign manager, graphic designer, etc. {And I couldn't be more proud of my love. He's always wanted to be mayor of our cute little village.}

Friday faves {4}

I am loving this Friday Faves notion from Finding Joy. I find myself snapping things that make me happy, for they are blessings, great or small, that help me hear God whispering to me: "I love you."

I am officially counting 1,000 gifts this year with Ann Voscamp & crew. {There's an app for that.} So there will be more than just what I have in pics.

1) Baby dolls & the shoes they wear...and the sweet toddlers that are intrigued by them.
2) Games with my favorite 6 year old.

3) A bestie who will do a devo plan with me on the fly {which is tremendously challenging me. Check out #shereadstruth to find out more.}

4) #shereadstruth
5) Simple dinners {ramen noodles} and the kids who appreciate them. Literally - D said, "Momma, you're the bestest cook EVER!" I don't even know why I try with real food. ;-)
6) A quiet Panera & devos before heading to work.
7) Asiago cheese bagel at said Panera.
8) The ladies Bible study that started behind me as I studied God's word (in Panera).
9) Big D being so happy to go back to school, even though I sure was sad.
10) Baby R giggling with Daddy.
11) Our new pastor...
12) An answered prayer
13) Snuggles on the couch with the Mister.
14) Adoption - moving forward {even if it is just a 4 minute appt with a lawyer}
15) A rare snuggle session  with our ever-active toddler, Baby R.
16) New words & communication "shoo-shoo" = Choo-choo
17) Long talks with the boy...he is so funny.
18) Teaching D to spell what. "What, what, what...W-H-A-T" while punching the air. {Here's to hoping he remembers it for his test today!}
19) My basketball loving boy, even if that does mean he gets boo-boos!
20) Sleeping beauty

21) Cake batter Krispies {found here if you're interested}. #willnevergoback

22) Vinyl wall phrases. I will become a junkie of these...this I am sure.

My heart is full.