I survived!!!

The last few days have been full of emotions.  Jessica graduated on Friday night.  She was salutatorian and I couldn't have been more prouder of her speech.  She cried and others cried with her.  It was a heartfelt speech. She left this morning with her classmates and one chaperone for Disney World. 

I am so proud of her.  She's a good kid.  I worry about her safety being in the real world but I have to trust God.  I've raised her well and she knows right from wrong but its not those things that I worry about. I worry about all the crazies out there that do harm to others.  I can get myself really worked up thinking about all the things out there that could happen and I know I should even entertain those things.

On Saturday morning I ran my first ever 5K... it was more than a race.... it was an obstacle course.  Its actually called The Almighty Mud Run.  It was one of the hardest things I've ever done physically and mentally.  But I did it.  I didn't quit.  I wanted to quit.  It was hard.   I cried but I pushed through it.  I swam through mud pits, submerged myself entirely at times to go under logs.  I swam a freezing cold lake.  I crossed over three sets of narrow balance beams over the cold lake and didn't fall of.  I climbed walls.  I went through barbed wire.  I faced my fear of heights on more than one obstacle.  I pushed myself like never before.  I had support from my husband and friends... they cheered me on and prayed me through.  It was TOUGH! But I'm sooooo glad I did it.  I'm glad I didn't quit when it got too hard.  I finished it.

Lions, Tigers and Bears!!! OH MY!!

Matthew and I are actually taking the kids camping at a real park - not our back yard!!!  I'm a little apprehensive b/c my bladder needs to be emptied several times throughout the night and I'm not too excited about walking to a bathhouse.  We're going at the end of this month and we will also be participating in a primitive archery competition while there.  I've been browsing pinterest for ideas and tips for camping. I have also spent most of my morning on the Camping World website looking at all sorts of fun things that will make this experience better. 

10 days until...

10 days until my daughter, Jessica, graduates from high school.  I can't even begin to explain all the emotions that I'm going through.  I'm excited for her but at the same time I'm extremely anxious about her being away from me.  She's been with me for half my life!  To think that she might not every "live" here again makes me sick.  Oh the emotions!!!! 

Thank you Jesus for Friends!!!

I do better when I'm around people... sometimes staying at home is great but for me I tend to get lonely.  However, I'm pretty pumped about the next few days for me!!!  Tonight we're having some friends over for dinner who happened to be our pastor and his family.  Thursday I have a pedi/mani date with a friend and Sunday - whew Sunday is busy.  My little ones are getting baptized AND I have a lunch date with an old friend.  Funny thing is she's not really an old friend... just someone I've known forever but b/c of FB we've actually become friends. 

At some point we've got to finish our garden.  We've done too much work not to finish it as this point!!!

Its Official

Jessica has made her choice - Auburn University at Montgomery!!!  She's very excited.  She was accepted to UAB, AUM and Troy early on but she wasn't sure where she wanted to go.  After visiting UAB I think she quickly decided that was not where she wanted to be.  We went to AUM last week and she immediately fell in love with the campus and everything there.  Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful.  It wasn't too big and it wasn't too small... perfect fit.  She's going to be living on campus.  The rooms are really small but she's not complaining... I guess I wasn't really aware of how small those living spaces are.... I've been told that those dorms are bigger than others.  Wow! 

Please continue to pray for her as she adjust to college life.  And as we finalize everything. 

Spring Breakin it!

We're in the middle of our Spring Break.  The little ones are acutally with Matthew's parents today.  So far we've had a pretty good week.  Monday and Tuesday was a bust but Wednesday we went to the park and met up with my mom and nephew.  Tomorrow I'm spending the day with the kids while my mother in law comes to sit with Gmaw. I've thought about taking them to a movie.  Other options are visiting different parks all day long :) and pump it up.  I'm hoping it warms up a little more.  Jessica spent last weekend and the first part of the week at the beach.  I was able to plan a last minute get away to visit my dear friend Staci in Mississippi.  It was a great weekend get away.  This weekend Matthew and I are spending Saturday with the kids - maybe planting a garden :)  Sunday is Easter and everyone is coming to our house to celebrate Easter AND the boys 7th birthday!!!!  I can't believe my boys are going to be 7!!!!!

Gearing Up from Spring Break

Our Spring Break is next week.  Jessica is going to be at the beach the first half of the week with a friend and on Wednesday all the kids have dentist appointments.  I'm hoping to squeeze something fun in at some point in the week just not sure what.  Maybe a movie or a day at the park... gotta figure it out and plan in advance so I can get someone to sit with grandmaw.

I remember when Spring Break used to be at the end of April... I think they should move it back!!!  Its too cold to really enjoy it.