Tomorrow is the day and I'm so excited. Scentsy is doing something that no direct sales company has ever done. They are launching multiple brands (basically multiple companies) under the Scentsy family.

What that means for current Scentsy consultants is that the doors have been flung wide open. You can choose to sell the new brands coming out (if you sign up) or you can choose to stick with Scentsy. Either way, you get to recruit into these new brands and have all consultants join your current team.

It's brilliant. Exciting and limitless. Velata is the first brand to be added to the Scentsy family with more brands to come beginning this fall.

Velata is a simple and delicious concept. The creative team at Scentsy took the simple idea of our beautiful warmers and re-designed a warmer made specifically for chocolate. The patent pending silicon dish keeps the chocolate at exactly the right temperature. Not too hot and not too cold.

We received our Velata starter kit tonight and had to dig right in. It is delicious! And so incredibly simple. It made for a fun evening with our kids. A special time that we were all able to share together.

So who's ready? Need a little chocolate? Need some free chocolate? Need a new business venture? Velata may be just what you've been looking for.

.....day 262 of a year of writing.....

Living A Diamond Life

In 1923 Babe Ruth held three records. He held the record for highest batting average in a season and for the highest number of home runs in a season. But the third record he held? In 1923, Babe Ruth held the record for the highest number of strike outs in a season. That is interesting.

When you step up to the plate with the intent to hit a home run, you greatly increase your chances of striking out.

My intent today is not to teach you how to strike out, but I do want you to know that you can't be afraid to strike out. That's part of the game in running a business. As a small business owner, you will strike out at times. People will tell you no. You will fail occasionally. The difference between those who succeed at a Scentsy business and those who don't is that those who succeed aren't afraid to step back up to the plate and try again after striking out.

I want you to imagine a baseball diamond.

If you've got a piece of paper close, go ahead and draw a diamond.

The idea of living a Diamond Life doesn't just apply to your business. It can apply to any part of your life: your job, your family, your hobbies, etc. The reason? It centers around relationships.

So, on your baseball diamond, I want you to draw home plate and write the word, Purpose next to it.
This is where it all starts.

Home Plate: Purpose

Home plate is your purpose. If you don't have a purpose, there is no point in even stepping up to the plate.

So do you know yours? Your purpose?

Write it down.

Purpose is where it all begins. It's why we work. Originally, my purpose in starting a Scentsy business was to be able to be a stay at home mom. Then it became to pay off $10,000 in credit card debt. Now my purpose is to be completely financial free so we can serve God however He calls us to.

So what is your purpose? Traveling, paying for college, getting debt free? What is it? Dream big. With Scentsy we have a big opportunity, so why not dream big? You are only going to go as far as your purpose.

So, let's step up to the plate with intention and hit the ball.

Once you hit the ball, where do you go?

First base. Draw first base on your baseball diamond. And next to first base, write the words: Win Within. 

First Base: Win Within 

What does it mean to win within?

It's taking care of yourself....mind, soul, spirit, all of those important things, before you attempt to take care of others.

Winning within is about character and internal restoration.

So, how do you win within?

When it comes to Scentsy, this is where your goals come into play. You need goals. Do you have any? Have you written them down?

You need a long term goal with an end date and short term goals (monthly, weekly, or even daily) that are going to help you reach your long term goal. I would bet that a very large percentage of you do not have your goals written down, and I get it. Writing down your goals is an acknowledgement that you want it, but it also means that there is a chance that you might fail. As a perfectionist, I often have a hard time committing to a goal by writing it down, because I don't want to fail.

But, remember what we talked about earlier? We can't be afraid to strike out. So, write out your goals, and hold yourself accountable.  We're not going to be afraid of striking out, but if we do, we'll get back up to the plate and try again.

Write your long term goal first. Then your short term goals. Be bold. No fear. Then hold yourself accountable or find an accountability partner. Some ideas for an accountability partner would be your spouse, your sponsor, another Scentsy sister.

Here's why winning within is so extremely important: You absolutely cannot lead someone else if you don't know where you're going or why. Winning within is focusing on the swing and keeping your eye on the ball. It's doing the things that matter most consistently to grow your business.

So, now let's move to second base. Next to second base, write the words: Win with Others.

Second Base: Win with Others

I don't know if you consider yourself a leader at this point in the game or not, but I'm hoping by the end of this, you know that you're a leader.

The minute you have a customer, a hostess, your first team member, you become a leader. To be a leader, everything you do has to be centered around other people. Second base is about serving people, caring for people. It's about ceasing to be self-absorbed.

It's interesting that Jesus's greatest command was to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your soul." His second request? "Love your neighbor as yourself."

The problem with that command is that we are naturally self-absorbed. We think of ourselves first in most situations. Second base is about teaching ourselves to put the needs of others before our own needs.

When I look at the really successful consultants in our organization, they all have one thing in common and that is a true desire to support others, to care for others, to help others really succeed and grow. This is where leadership really begins. Recruiting, selling, leading (all of the things that are important to your business) happen in a real, business building way when it stops being about you and it starts being about other people.

So, here's what that process looks like for you. Recruits are essential to your business, but if you don't know why your recruits stepped up to the plate in the first place, you won't be able to help them for very long.

You have to help the people in your life by walking them through and helping them understand their purpose. Then you go to first base with them. Help them set goals. Give them personal tasks to complete.

Remember, when it comes to leadership, no one wants to hear a vision in which you are standing and they are bowing. You are running the bases with them. You are the example.

So let's review:

Home Plate: Purpose

First Base: Win Within

Second Base: Win with Others

I guess you can guess where we're going next....Yep. Third base.

Draw third base on your diamond and write the words, Win Over Obstacles next to it.

Third Base: Win Over Obstacles

This is where the game is won or lost. Third base is about success, but it's not the end. You do not score on third base.

This is where consultants succeed or fail. You will run into obstacles. No doubt about it. I call them walls, and you'll probably hit lots of them. If you're on the road to success, you have to know that you're going to run into obstacles.

What's interesting is that our society wants us to run to third base first. We are a performance driven society that finds value in what we do and the results we generate. It's like college graduates that expect to come out of college making $70,000/year, buy a new house, a new car, and have the lifestyle that their parents worked decades to get.

You may have thought when you signed up to sell Scentsy that you would immediately start making hundreds or even thousands of dollars right from the beginning. That's just not how it works. You have to start at home plate. You have to step up to bat with intention and purpose. And you have to work your way around the bases. You can't just jump to third base.

So, how are you going to overcome obstacles when they present themselves? You have to have tools. Find an accountability partner to keep you motivated. Make it a priority to attend events to learn from others who have made Scentsy work. Go to the training center. Get refreshed with new ideas. There is always something else you can learn.

So there you have it. You've made it around the bases, and now you're headed back to home plate.

Here's the thing: If we fix our hearts on finishing well, our lives and our businesses will bring us right back to the place of purpose where we started.

The idea is to start on purpose and end on purpose. We often get so involved in the task or the strike out that we forget the why. We can't forget the why.

And when you get back home, you go to the bench, you rest, and then you step up to the plate with intention and purpose and do it all over again.

And you do it over and over and over again.

Relationships and consistency in those small things that matter will get you around the bases and score you runs.

A diamond life.

It's not just about you. It's about knowing why you do what you do and then taking yourself out of the picture and focusing on others.

.....day 261 of a year of writing.....

Idea for The Diamond Life found at http://betterthanblank.org/leadership-the-diamond-life-by-kevin-myers/

Whew!

Well, we did it once again. We pulled off another full day of Scentsy training. We had almost 500 Scentsy consultants with us today in Norman, Oklahoma.

We had some incredible consultants present for us, and we were able to raise $5,833 for Positive Tomorrows, the only school for homeless kids in Oklahoma. They provide education not only for the children, but they also provide support for the families. Their goal is to break the cycle of generational poverty. Thank you to everyone who generously donated.

This was half of our group. Thanks to my friend and fellow SuperStar Director, Stef Swindell for taking pictures all day.

I started typing up my presentation tonight to share with you, but I can barely keep my eyes open, so instead you just get this update that all went well. I'll finish typing it up tomorrow.

More tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who made today a success. It takes a small village. (You know who you are.)

.....day 260 of a year of writing.....

Down to the Wire

We are still up. This is usually how it goes. We just finalized all our powerpoint presentations for tomorrow, and we still have work to do in the morning.

This is always a process. We do tons and tons of prep but we always seem to be up late the night before.

I have finally started writing my speech. That's good news, huh? I think I'll have to finish tomorrow, but it's all good. I finally have a plan.

But, it's time for me to head to bed. We're down to the wire. I'll let you know how tomorrow turns out. It's going to be a ball! Literally!

.....day 259 of a year of writing.....

I've Got Nothing....So Far Anyway

Putting together a speaking presentation is a true process for me. It usually begins many, many weeks before the event.

I usually throw ideas around a million times before I land on something specific to zero in on while I'm on stage.

Usually no matter how much I try to prepare beforehand, I always end up completely changing what I originally thought I was going to talk about.

On Saturday I'll have the wonderful opportunity to speak to 500 Scentsy consultants. Our committee has deemed me "the closer" this time. That means I'm supposed to bring it home. Make it personal. Make it real. Make it possible. (Oh, and the goal is to appropriately make whatever it is I decide to talk about fit into our theme of "Swing for the Fence.")

Currently, I pretty much have nothing. The event is about a day away, and I'm still at ground zero. It's okay though. I've been praying about it a lot, researching a ton, and believing that I'll have something worth saying at the end of the day.

So with that being said, I'm heading back to all my baseball and leadership and business research. Can't wait to see what comes of it all. I'm sure it's something I'll need to hear just as much as you do.

Getting excited about this weekend!

.....day 258 of a year of writing.....

My Saddened Soul

I have poured cup after cup of decaf coffee tonight hoping that it would warm my cold and saddened soul, but no such event has yet to occur.

It's always something with us, isn't it?

Tonight I can't give you any details. I can tell you it does not have to do with our foster babies. Things are still going great there. The Lord has simply calmed my soul when it comes to caring for those babies. And things are good.

But, in the midst of a very busy week for us (we're hosting an event for 500 Scentsy consultants this Saturday), I feel like the devil is attempting to take us down and make us question things we know to be true.

Of course, there are people involved. There always are. As a dear friend said to me tonight,"I hate our humanness." As do I, sister.

I feel like we need to stand up right now and continue to fight for something that we know is right even though it's become twisted and lots of people have become jaded over it.

More than anything, I'm extremely disappointed in someone I looked to as a leader, and I'm really really sad. Not mad. Just sad.

It's times like these, when I know decisions have to be made and confrontations possibly have to take place, that I know there is no better place to be than in God's Word. I want Him to speak to me so clearly so I don't doubt a single decision.

I don't want to be emotional or angry (none of that humanness). I want to be objective. I want to do the right thing regardless of what I feel. I want to know that God is behind it and in front of it all.

So, with all that being said, I'm leaving you to throw my nose into a book...the only book that can bring Life. It's a living word that speaks when it needs to speak, and I definitely need it to speak right about now.

What do you do when faced with a decision to make? Who do you go to? Where do you go? I'm just curious.

.....day 257 of a year of writing.....

Grocery Shopping

I love it when the nights get warm and the Oklahoma breeze wraps you up instead of knocking you down.

I was home today (all day) with two kiddos running temperatures. :(
Both of their spirits were good. But, I did get a little stir crazy. Brian was gone all day and even had to be gone for dinner.

When he got home around 8:00 p.m., I was more than ready to head out the door into that sweet, warm Oklahoma air.

Destination? Target.

Now, don't judge me. Here's the thing...I know that Target can be a deadly place for a woman. It can be. Lots of temptations there.

But you know what I love to do at Target the most?

Roam.

Yep. I just like roaming.

Grocery shopping is like therapy to me. I go with the intention to take my sweet time and enjoy the peace and quiet.

I always go with headphones on. And depending on the mood I'm in, I either listen to music or a podcast of one of the pastors I follow.

Today it was James MacDonald and Andy Stanley. Both awesome pastors with a great Word from God.

And really, there isn't much more to report today than this: Target (or any other more economical grocery store) can be your own personal dose of therapy.
The rules?
     -don't take your kids
    -quiet your mind

Yes, I believe the Lord can speak to you in the grocery store. I went to the grocery store once just to seek Him. And boy did He show up that night!

So, I'm curious. Where is your favorite store to grocery shop? And what do you do while you're grocery shopping?

.....day 256 of a year of writing.....

Transitioning

Hmmmm....where do I start?

It's always interesting when a post starts out this way and since I'm doing this "write everyday for a year" thing sometimes this is how it starts.

I don't know what to tell you today besides that I'm happy. At peace. Comfortable.

I still am floored at the way He simply picked me up, flipped me over, and changed my mind about our current fostering situation.

I'm officially eleven weeks pregnant. Our baby is the size of a lime! (Because I know you wanted to know that.)

I feel like we're in a huge transition period. We have inspections on our new house tomorrow. I'm excited to see it again and walk through it. I'm ready for things to move along. I know that we have work to do on it. I want to pack, but I know that realistically we won't move until July.

Our business also seems to be in a transition (an incredible transition!). We are days away from Scentsy launching their first (of many) new brands. Velata (a chocolate fondue company) will go live on May 1st. Our consultants get to decide if they want to sell Velata or not. If they choose to sell Velata, they sign up as a Velata consultant. The greatest part? All of their sales for Scentsy and Velata combine into one number. It also means that we are going to have an integrated downline. We'll have some people who only sell Scentsy, some people who only sell Velata, and some who sell both. It's really, really, exciting, but I feel like we're just getting geared up.

We're looking at new school options for Addison, and we just enrolled Luke in a Mother's Day Out in Piedmont today. It's all new and exciting. Part of me wishes that I had it in me to homeschool next year, but I know with a baby coming in November, it would not be a good year to be our first year homeschooling.

I am planning on jumping back into meal planning and cooking this week. I'm really hoping that that can happen. I am sick of not cooking!

I guess that's it. Who knows what you'll get tomorrow. I'm thinking it'll be something straight from James. I'm all wrapped up in the book of James, and it has a lot to do with the change that's taking place in me.

I can't wait to share with you.

.....day 255 of a year of writing.....

A Different Sunday

Today was not what I expected. I'm not sure why I expect things at all anymore. But I was surprised with the day and my attitude.

I woke up to a baby with a fever which meant that we couldn't go to church. Usually this would make me frustrated and annoyed that I would be at home all day with no adult interaction and four bitty ones, two of which are not my own. No worries. My attitude is changing. Today was different.

We went about our morning routine. Everyone played and ate, and they were overall happy. The morning was unusually long, but I was at peace and content.

Brian made it home around 4:30 p.m., and all was still good. I was productive today. Content. Happy.

I was not frustrated. I was not angry. I was not annoyed. That's how I usually feel, but not today.

I don't know what it is other than change through Christ. And I'm good with that. I'm very good with that.

.....day 254 of a year of writing.....

He's Changing Me

You know how yesterday's post was titled, "He Makes All Things New?" Well, I'm here to tell you that He does. Again. I'm sure of it. He's doing it in my life right now as we speak.

I had a dear friend text me tonight and ask what she could do for me tomorrow because she knows Sundays are the hardest day of the week for me. My response? "Nothing. I've got this. The Lord is working on me. He's changing my perspective. And He's changing me."

I know that this process of us taking in our foster babies and working through all the emotions and struggles and challenges that go along with that has been rather difficult to endure here on the screen. My sister even told me today that she isn't reading the blog anymore because in her words, "It's depressing."

Agreed!

That's the conversation I've been having with the Lord lately. I just keep asking Him why He would have me do this and write about it when it looks so painful. I am definitely not an advertisement for fostering. Not at all.

And in all honesty, Brian and I both know that this is not "our thing." There are people who the Lord has set apart to serve as foster parents. He equips them, encourages them, gifts them. He actually does that for all of us, it's just not all in the same area of service. He equips us all to serve, just not in the same capacity.

But the reality is, we were definitely called to fostering for this moment. And today the Lord brought me a story that I had heard a million times, but it came in a different way. There was new light behind it. His Word is alive.....did you know that?! That's how it works.

So you may have heard a little story about a man named David. David was the youngest of his brothers. He was a shepherd. And one day, he was told that he would become the King of Israel. He was chosen. Anointed.

But when he was anointed, he was still just a boy. And he went back to shepherding sheep. He knew the Lord had huge things in store for him, but in the meantime, he was to shepherd sheep.

The conversation I've had with the Lord lately may have sounded like a conversation David had with the Lord.

Lord, why do you have me doing this right now, when you have called me to do so much more.....to help so many more people? 

The answer, I believe, is that He is preparing me for something else just as he was preparing David for something else.

One day as David was delivering food to his older brothers who were fighting against the Philistines, he came face to face with Goliath. You probably know the rest of the story. David takes Goliath down with a slingshot.

The interesting thing about David is that while shepherding sheep, he often had to fight off wild animals like bears and lions to protect his sheep. When he came up against Goliath, he was prepared. Those seemingly meaningless times in the field tending to sheep were times that the Lord was preparing him for greater things.

I know the Lord isn't setting me up to be the King of Israel or to defeat a giant, but I know He is setting me up for something. I just feel like He wants me to know what it's like to serve like this....to love like this....to learn like this.....exactly how He wants me to.

People have told me over and over again that the Lord won't give me more than I can handle. Here's the truth about that. This is all more than any of us can handle. Life should be more than you can handle. You simply have to be in a place where you know you need Him and you can give it all back to Him.

That's where I am today. I don't know how much longer this journey will last. I don't know if we'll get to see these babies reunited with their parents or not. But I know that I'm okay here now.

He's changing me. I told you. I'm honored really that He's challenging me....that He's asking me to be more, give more, serve more.

My encouragement to you? Don't think the little things you're doing don't matter. They do. He may simply be preparing you for your Goliath.

.....day 253 of a year of writing.....

He Makes All Things New

I feel a little stuck. Like all things are in the middle of changing and I'm standing still.
I was listening to a sermon from a podcast today while driving and I heard these words: "Our God is not a pampering God. He is a perfecting God." In other words, He is not always concerned with making us comfortable. He is concerned with refining His children. He is constantly striving to make us more like His Son. That's it. Ya know? Why did I ever think bringing two babies into our home would be easy? It's not. And for a while I felt like supermom. I was doing it and doing it well, but lately I feel like the control I thought I had slips farther and farther away each day. I know one thing is for sure. He has me seeking Him, pursuing Him, chasing after Him. I don't really expect to catch up to Him and have Him turn around and explain it all to me. That probably won't happen. I just want Him to keep going, keep leading, and keep changing me. What about you? I don't know most of your personal circumstances, but I can imagine that many of you are going through challenges in your lives. Are you pursuing the Lord in search of His guidance and help? In search of His peace? I'm encouraging you and reminding myself that He makes all things new. He can renew your strength. He can renew your spirit. He can renew your mind. He can {and will} make all things new. I'm crazy about you. Thanks for letting be me always.                                                                                         

.....day 252 of a year of writing..... 



Peace

Today was beautiful. Blue skies, green grass, trees, and a trail.

I grew up near the Wichita Mountains, and I count them as close to heaven.

Today we ventured deep into the heart of the mountains with Addison's classmates. No cell service. No to do list. No one to worry about but us.

It was a day of freedom.

It was hard work. We were out on a pretty tough trail for about two hours. But, it was a ball!
I was so proud of my girl. She learned a lot about climbing and hiking today. She was a trooper.

We encountered many kinds of creatures out on the trail. Mr. John is good at pointing out and explaining things. It's always a learning experience.

This trail was tough. A lot tougher than I thought it was going to be. And Addy hung tough. She was proud of herself and listened well.

And as we walked and talked, I cherished her. I miss her.

Sometimes with the babies here, I feel like I'm missing things. Opportunities, chances, experiences.

And today we got all those things at once.

We saw buffalo. Lots of them.

We saw land and lots of it.

We ran into Grammy (who took a half day off from work and spent half the day driving around looking for us.....remember...no cell service.)

And we did those things that I love to do, but don't ever get to.

We dreamed a little.

We loved a lot.

We were reminded of the big things of the world.

And we were reminded of the little things, too.



And, all in all, we were reminded of the good and beautiful things in life.



Thank you Lord for this day that You made. You know my soul needed it, and it was perfect, and it was beautiful, and it was peace.

.....day 251 of a year of writing..... 

War

My mind is jumbled with a million thoughts...on the top of the list: babies, God's Word, and baseball. Random, I know, but they are all things that happen to be rather important right now. I wish I had time to filter all of my thoughts before they end up here in the jumbled mess they usually turn into, but I don't. I'm lucky if I have time to shower in all honesty.

I'm beginning to understand a few things. I think. Encouraging, huh?

I'm tired of being in a constant state of struggle...it's like the inner battle in my mind and my heart won't cease. No one is winning at the moment. It just keeps going on and on and on. The warriors in there are fierce and persistent. Neither one wants to back down.

I've been thinking a lot about who the Lord has called me to be lately, and what He has called me to do. I am a firm believer that He gives each of us special talents and gifts that He calls us to use for a task that only we can do. Seeing that vision can be hard at times. But after working through the Chazown experience, it has all become very clear to me.

Unfortunately, I don't feel like I'm walking in my purpose at all right now. I don't feel like I'm doing much good for anyone at all in all honesty. I feel like I'm attempting to survive...nothing more.

I don't know when I started missing my kids, but I do miss them. I feel disconnected from them almost. I think they're starting to feel it, too. Kids are tough and resilient, but I think it's finally starting to wear on them.

I asked them today how they would feel if the babies went to live with another family until their mommy and daddy got better. Addy simply said, "No" at first. But then she looked at me and said, "Like, they would be with another family, and we would be our family?" Yes. And then she simply nodded her head up and down.

Luke's response to the same question were simply the words, "Sad and happy." Yes. I think you're right my sweet man. I think that's exactly how it would feel. In the grownup world we like to call that bittersweet.

Yes, I'm throwing the idea around in my head that maybe we need to find another placement for them, and you could say that that is why the warriors in my heart and mind are at war. Neverending war.

That's it tonight, I guess. Simply war. One side will win in the end.

 .....day 250 of a year of writing.....

A Discouraging Day

Overall today was discouraging. It seems like the devil enjoys coming at me from all angles.

I am currently battling a horrendous cold. The babies are struggling with allergies rather severely at the moment, and I'm still feeling exhausted.

On top of it all, we have a situation in progress with some people we love very very much that is just difficult for everyone.

I also found out some discouraging news regarding our foster care case. I can't tell you very much, but I think you know that mom and dad are doing everything they can to get the babies back. And I thought that things were going really well, but today I learned that biological dad is in a bigger mess than I originally thought, and mom is acting really strange lately.

All in all, I'm discouraged. I'm starting to get worried about where the babies are going to ultimately end up. We have made some decisions about how long into this pregnancy we are willing to keep them here, and I originally thought our plan might mean that they could stay here until they were reunited with their mom and dad. But after today's news, I'm afraid they are going to be in DHS care much longer than we can keep them.

Now I'm all wrapped up thinking about what is best for them. Do we keep them as long as we possibly can before they go to another foster family? Do we throw the towel in now so they can get adjusted someplace else? I really have no idea.

Our social worker told us that we could keep them once the baby came as long as we had enough bedrooms. But there is no way. I just don't think we can physically do it. Plus we don't have a car that will hold five car seats. We don't have enough bedrooms, and once I start getting bigger, it is going to be physically hard to care for everyone. I just keep thinking about trying to get the kids into their car seats in the third row of my Tahoe. Right now I have to either crawl back there to strap them in, or I have to learn over the top of a car seat to snap in the kiddo in the back. I'm not going to be able to do that when my belly gets big. How will I take them anywhere?

Am I crazy for thinking about these things? It's all my mind is consumed with lately.

On a good note, I got to spend the morning with some amazing women from numerous LifeChurch campuses around the metro area. We got together to talk about the expansion of our women's ministry at LifeChurch which is really just in the beginning stages at most campuses. It was wonderful to be around such amazing women of God. It was a wonderful reminder of what I know the Lord has plainly and clearly called me to do. I left excited, passionate, and ready to take it up a notch.

I love the way He keeps reminding me that He has a plan for me, and that there is something specific He has called me to. It feels like we're on the long road sometimes, but I'll go wherever He leads me.

It's always an adventure.

.....day 249 of a year of writing.....

Week 10

Well, I'm officially ten weeks pregnant today. I like that.

I'm still exhausted. It's really hard to get anything done when I'm as tired as I am. Plus, it's really hard to write anything worth reading. For your sake and mine, I'm hoping this exhaustion clears up in the next couple of weeks. I could use some energy.

I did buy some maternity pants today. Isn't that crazy? Ten weeks and I needed new pants. I have friends that are around twenty weeks pregnant and our bellies look the same size. This baby #3 is a whole new ball game. I really should take a picture of that bump for you to see.

The farther along I get, the less worried I am. Which is good. It becomes more real everyday.

Things are simply changing around here. We just bought a new house! Well, it's not new, but it's new to us. Can you believe that? I'm excited. We have renovations to do....quite a few actually. We close in a month and plan on renovating over the summer months and then moving in before school starts in the fall.

I'm sure we'll be out at the house over the summer since it is literally on the lake. I am a huge, huge lake rat. We just sold our boat last week so we could buy a different boat and a couple sea doos. My big belly will definitely be sunning on that dock this summer. Yes, there is a dock. A huge one.

That's a fun little announcement, isn't it? I can't wait to show you pictures. It's going to be fun to renovate, and I'm sure you'll see all of it.

So back to pregnancy. I'm tired of being tired (for the 100th time) and I'm tired of eating out and eating unhealthy. Uhhhh, I'm sick of it! Since I found out I was pregnant, meat has been grossing me out. Really just raw meat. And I am usually the one who plans all the meals and cooks them. Brian is a much better cook than I am, but I am generally the one who does the daily cooking. So, Brian agreed to be in charge of meal planning and cooking for a few weeks, but it hasn't exactly worked out. He has good intentions, but it just hasn't really worked out. I have done way too many drive-thrus lately.

I do think that the thought of cooking is less repulsing than it was, so I am hoping to jump back into my meal preparations this week. It will be a good thing.

That's about how it's rolling around here for now. Ten weeks down....by the way, I think it's a girl. I'm calling it now. My only indication is that I am extremely hormonal and emotional, and that is exactly how I was with Addison. Oh, and the Chinese calendar also said it was a girl, and that thing is oddly accurate. I guess time will tell. I would love to not find out since we have one of each, but I am way too much of a planner. I want to know and I'm awful at secrets.

What do you think? Would you find out? Could you handle the suspense?

.....day 248 of a year of writing.....

Jesus Calling

Are you looking for something you can do daily to connect with God? Do you have a desire to be more connected to Him?

I've had so many of you ask me questions about how to feel closer to God. Or how to get into reading His Word. Or how to know Him better.

There is a wonderful and easy daily devotional called Jesus Calling. I highly recommend this devotional for anyone and everyone. It is great for those of you who are just getting into God's Word, and for those of you who have done multiple Bible studies in the past.

Jesus Calling is a very short and simple daily devotional that reads as though it were straight from the mouth of Jesus himself. Each day's reading is based on a Bible verse.

There is also a Jesus Calling app for your smart phone.

If you're looking for a way to know Him more, this is a great place to start. Hoping you start here.
Enjoy.

.....day 247 of a year of writing.....

A Short Break

It was awesome. Being away from life for even just a moment was nice. Honestly, I'm not crazy about the weekends. I love that my kids are home from school, but I don't love that all four kids are home. It usually makes for an exhausting day.

So, to be away this morning and afternoon was nice. I woke up this morning to Addison asking me if it was morning because she wasn't tired anymore. I ended up snuggling Addy all night while the boys had their own snugglefest in the other bedroom of our hotel.

Addy and I ended up heading down to breakfast before the boys even woke up. It was glorious to not have food thrown at me and to not have to clean up the kitchen! What a dreamy morning. The boys joined us before too long, and we had a great breakfast as a family.

After breakfast the kids and daddy put on their swimsuits and headed to the hot tub. Anytime there is swimming involved, my kids are happy. It was a wonderfully relaxing morning.

After we packed up and got ready to head home, we made a pit stop at Bass Pro Shop (which my kids call the fish place) where after a walk around the store, we all picked out candy to have after lunch.

We stopped for lunch at a hibachi grill where we oooooed and awwwed over fire-filled onion volcanos and flying kitchen utensils.

And when we got home, I was slightly spoiled. The laundry had been started and at least one load was folded. My house smelled delicious thanks to new Scentsy wax in all the warmers, and the couch was calling my name. We all spent the majority of the rest of the day on the couches watching tornado coverage. We watched tornado after tornado drop down out of a wall cloud over a period of hours. Thankfully they were all very far north of us.

And now, real life is peeking around the corner again. Tomorrow I have to be up extra early to get everyone dressed and ready for church. I've got to squeeze in some time to head to the grocery store, and we have our first speaker practice tomorrow afternoon for our upcoming Scentsy training at the end of the month. (Sigh)

Oh well. My short little break was beautiful, and I am so incredibly grateful for it.

They are still saying that tonight may be an eventful weather night around here, so if you think of us Oklahomans, say a little prayer. We'll appreciate it.

.....day 246 of a year of writing.....