to blog or not to blog

...that's seriously the question.

I have this constant battle in my mind.  This battle to capture every waking moment of this life.  This beautiful, blessed life God has gifted me.  This life that I am to live to the fullest for His glory.

And then I have this side of me that says "take a break! For goodness sake, take a break!" (As if I have religiously blogged the past, oh, say two years.)

So I continue this pondering into the beginning of 2014.  I want to enjoy and soak in these days in a carefree, no strings attached, kinda way. I wish my mind would just let me leave those moments be and just take them for what they are.  Because as a blogger, as a writer at heart, I never live a moment of this life without thinking, oh I need to blog about this! Or I look at those moments as a "what can I share from this moment? what metaphor is there here? I gotta keep this captured. I surely have something to say and share about this."

So as we inch closer and closer to 2014, there are many things I am pondering.  I'm pondering for what I truly have a passion.  What He wants me to do with this season, these moments.  What I feel God has given me talents and equipped me to do better than other things:

-being organized
-being thrifty
-being a mommy
-being productive
-being efficient
-being creative
-writing
-encouraging
-studying God's word
-PR for our store
-budgeting
-loving and caring

And I have a list going in my journal of areas I want to improve on for our family's well-being over the next year:

-getting active as a family
-less social media (especially during sacred night time at home)
-saying no to the unnecessary and excess things, events and commitments
-packing Justin's lunches (so he doesn't have to grab things)
-meal planning/eating intentionally healthier as a family
-letting go of what I'm NOT doing

And that's where I'm leaving my thoughts right now.  Trying to figure out how all these goals work together and how God can best be glorified amidst this.  What does He want me to really tackle and what does He want me to push to the side so I'm not glorifying busyness, but I'm glorifying Him.

I'm listening to Him. I'm waiting upon Him.

The next steps are to be determined.  Praise the Lord for being a work in progress that is completed in His grace.

blessings

<a href="http://cait-theblessedlife.blogspot.com/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdi8bhLnqwQCARE-R7S_Ab32byJbJk4Uc52n9kJQdHfQPq2IKoS47u3cgOrBHV5qPQUOKCLR3EersUwR4AMjREvf2WZzsuPviERs0df2mXCa1BhR2JJungPyWre-0NuSSTNrETuq_FSY/s320/the+blessing+box+10.jpg" width="320"></a>

As you are probably getting used to seeing on Tuesdays now, I'm hosting with Natalie, Beth Ann, and Jordan to share the blessings God has placed in our paths during the week.

{Blessing One}

Moments like these...
 

{Blessing Two}

My Momma.  I'm so blessed to have my Momma as a best friend and in our lives the way she is.  Her and and my dad are such a blessing to us in so many ways.

{Blessing Three}

It's fall y'all!

{Blessing Four}

Our Family Friday Nights we have started! We had our second this past Friday and it has quickly caught on to be a tradition.  We have a fun, yummy picnic in the living room while we watch a Disney Movie together! Two weeks ago was Peter Pan and last Friday was Tangled.  Adeline has a ball with this time together.  It blesses us tremendously!

{Blessing Five}

That these two have each other.  They are brother and sister...forget the difference in number of legs and body covering...they are siblings.  They love on each other.  They play.  The fight for window space.  They make our house a home.  And they are best friends.

What blessings has God placed in your path this past week? We would love to have you join us!

Make sure to grab the box and link-up with us today!

The Blessing Box (link-up!)

<a href="http://cait-theblessedlife.blogspot.com/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdi8bhLnqwQCARE-R7S_Ab32byJbJk4Uc52n9kJQdHfQPq2IKoS47u3cgOrBHV5qPQUOKCLR3EersUwR4AMjREvf2WZzsuPviERs0df2mXCa1BhR2JJungPyWre-0NuSSTNrETuq_FSY/s320/the+blessing+box+10.jpg" width="320"></a>

As you are probably getting used to seeing on Tuesdays now, I'm hosting with Natalie, Beth Ann, Mallorie, Jordan, Allie to share the blessings God has placed in our paths during the week.

 My main blessing this week was a weekend away with my two lovelies!!

Family time is so important to me and I absolutely treasure our time away from the hustle and bustle around us! We were originally supposed to go tent camping, but rain and storms in the forecast changed our plans. :) So we visited Cincinnati, Ohio instead and it was a perfect getaway!

On the agenda...
-aquarium (Adeline's second aquarium visit) for our little "ish" lover
-Ikea trip
-outlet shopping
-sight seeing
-yummy food
-swimming
-relaxing
-laughing
-family memories

I'd say we checked them all (plus some) off the list!

Adeline's fave at the aquarium was definitely the "tuh-tles". The huge sea turtle caught her attention and she was begging for "moh tuh-tles" the entire rest of the time.  She also got very brave and pet a starfish underwater! Another fave were the walkways over the water where she could see the "ish" swimming under!

cheesin' with the huge gator

how we measured up to the big gator

play time

she couldn't get enough of the underwater tunnel

classic "not impressed" face she gives these days ;)

We did a lot of damage shopping this weekend too! Girlfriend went a tad crazy in the Disney Outlet Store.  She went all through the store demanding for more "meh-nee! meh-nee!" (Minnie).  She is crazy over Minnie Mouse right now!

scoping out the clearance...that's my girl! ;)

Barney "choo-choo" was the perfect treat for being a good shopper!

hotel silliness before we left

Daddy and Adeline were pretty smitten with their first trip to Ikea!

a chocolate milkshake treat for the ride home!

Justin and I both grew up in families where our parents made "family time" a priority.  And we grew up wanting to spend time with our family.  As Adeline grows up, we want her to know the excitement and joy of spending time together as a family.  We want her to remember that we always carved away time to devote to "just us time".  Looking back...I know we will only wish we had done even more of it! What a treasure this time is!

What blessings has God placed in your path this past week? We would love to have you join us!

Make sure to grab the box and link-up with us today!

The Blessing Box

<a href="http://cait-theblessedlife.blogspot.com/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdi8bhLnqwQCARE-R7S_Ab32byJbJk4Uc52n9kJQdHfQPq2IKoS47u3cgOrBHV5qPQUOKCLR3EersUwR4AMjREvf2WZzsuPviERs0df2mXCa1BhR2JJungPyWre-0NuSSTNrETuq_FSY/s320/the+blessing+box+10.jpg" width="320"></a>
I am so excited about co-hosting a new weekly link-up...

The Blessing Box

I will be hosting along with my sweet friends each Tuesday! Natalie, Beth Ann, Mallorie, Jordan, Allie and I will be sharing the blessings God has placed in our paths during the week.

We have been inspired by James 1:17a, "Every good and perfect gift is from above."

God blesses us daily, and it's important to be intentional on praising and thanking Him for those gifts in our lives! His love is so amazing, let's give Him the praise and recognition He deserves for the blessings He provides!

This is our second week and we are excited you're with us again! Grab the box, and link-up with us!

Blessing one-

Finding and joining a local MOPS (Mother of Preschoolers) group! I've joined with two of my friends, Cheri and Ashley, and their little girls.  The toddlers have fun in a preschool setting type room while the mommies gather for a message, breakfast, conversation and sometimes craftiness! We meet once a week and our theme is "Beautiful Mess".  I was reminded last week of how powerful it is to be a beautiful mess designed by God. I'm so thankful He loves me despite the mess of my mind and soul sometimes! I would so encourage you to seek one of these groups out near you by checking out the MOPS website!

Blessing two-

Speaking of messes! Getting artsy and creative with Adeline is one of my most treasured blessings! She LOVES painting, coloring and creating. I love feeding that with my own creative spirit!

Blessing three-

On Sunday after church, we took the afternoon afternoon and spent it as a family! We visited a local amusement park to enjoy the last weekend of the season for the water park to be open. We had such a good time!! Adeline enjoyed riding some rides BY HERSELF! Such a brave girl. And she of course loved all the slides going into the water. We had such a great, much-needed time together!

The picture doesn't show it- but she actually LOVED the space rockets and they went higher up and so fast!

Vacation Week Day 7- the Beach!

We spent the other half of our trip at my in-law's beach house.  This was Adeline's third beach trip in a little over a year. Ha! Raising a beach girl, for sure! She did great when she was 2 months, loved crawling around at 8 months and then running around at 14 months!

My beach tips with a toddler:

(Disclaimer:  I have a very go-with-the-flow child that has never had a sensory issue...the beach/water has always been "easy" for us with her.  She comes by it honest. ;)

-pouches to eat!
-take A LOT less than you think...the sand and water are plenty to keep them happy
-don't be scared of the sand...God made it...like dirt...it won't hurt ;)
-baby powder on legs and arms before getting in the sand helps it roll right off
-a beach tent is fabulous for a shaded area to play
-if possible, at this stage, ditch the stroller and just carry them out to your spot
-rashguards are so helpful to block the rays
-time it early morning/lunch time so that they knock out after for nap time ;)
-wash them off with water and change them into a regular dipe before heading to the car (if your place isn't right on the beach)
-hats and sunscreen (apply the sunscreen before you get to the sand)
-water bottle
-let them run, explore, and be free (it's one of few places they can run like crazy)

Adeline loved the lanai at my in-law's! She spent a lot of time hanging out out there! :)

Justin and I actually got the gift of a date afternoon while at the beach...Justin's parents babysat for us! We hit up a little market and then had dinner at a movie theater while seeing Silver Lining Playbook.

We spent some time at parks and the neighborhood playground, including one where you can ride a mini train around the park!

We ate out and shopped...b/c what's a vacay without that?

doll baby

Momma finally got some raw oysters!

The rest of our time was spent on the beach and at the pool.  Pretty tough time! ;)

 

Family time is the absolute best time!!