Justin and Troy's Day of Hunting and My Seeing the Happiness in the Mud in Our Floor!

I'm being completely honest when I say that this mud...yes, this mud right here...



Plus the mud that I saw in a trail all the way down the steps as I was coming downstairs this morning, and even the mud I saw in the kitchen chair from my son's boots brought a smile to my face. At first I was curious, I saw the mud in the hallway (before going downstairs), and as I met my husband in the hallway I asked him where all of the mud came from, "It's from Troy," he replied. As I continued to make my way downstairs I saw mud (almost with each step).

Then...it was in the instant I came downstairs, and I saw our son finishing up his cereal that I realized why there was mud. The mud was from his boots. Troy was all ready for hunting...he had his coveralls on, his warm clothes, and his hunting boots, ready to go out hunting with his Dad. This...even the mud is bringing a smile to my face.

Something I realize is that way too soon, I'll miss those clumps of mud in the hallway, on our steps, and even in the kitchen chair, because our son will be all grown up (but even then I hope him and his Dad find time to hunt together...and even then I will welcome his clumps of mud). I must admit that every year Justin tries to take a picture of him and Troy hunting together (here's the photo from 2013, and even a bit further back, the one from 2010), and these are pictures that I really love, because it's something they both enjoy doing together, and something they'll both remember (the pictures will help them do that as well). In fact, I've come to expect a yearly picture (I reminded my husband to take one this morning), as I enjoy seeing these pictures.

I guess the reason I see happiness in the clumps of dry mud in our floor is not because the floors were messy, but because of why they were messy.  In those dry clumps of mud, I saw the effort that Troy made to get ready (coveralls, hunting boots, and all), and how he didn't pay attention to the mud he left behind, but he was looking forward to and paying attention to the day with his Dad. So, yes, I am being honest...those dry clumps of mud brought a smile to my face this morning...they brought a smile to my face because of this...



Justin and Troy's 2014 times of hunting!

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Woke Up to This!

Woke up to this! My son's "Legos" on the coffee table from where he was playing with them in our living room yesterday evening. So blessed with two healthy, happy kids! Love it! These are the days I'll try to never take for granted.

What I Really See!

I've been trying to make it a point to limit my electronic time and the things that would distract me from the things that are really important. Something I've tried to make a point to do is to maybe check my e-mails, etc. during the early morning hours and then again in the late evening hours, but the in between hours I've limited to very little electronic time, if any at all.  This has resulted in what I feel as me being able to actually live life more and not be so distracted!
A great example of the result of me looking outside of a computer or phone screen is that I've been able to see more of what is actually happening before my eyes.  I always looked for the simple things before, but I try to really make it a point to look for them now.  As a result of this I feel that I am more productive and my attention is fully focused on life.
The other evening I was sitting outside watching Troy on his dirt bike.  I just sat there, the phone out of my hands, actually, nothing was in my hands.  This is a very uncommon thing, for a person not to have a phone in our hands during an age where a lot of people communicate via text more than they do with a phone call.  Anyhow, I was just sitting there, and being his Mom, enjoying watching him ride his dirt bike.  When he discovered I was watching he made it a point to wave at me.  And you know what?  In a digital age where some may have been looking at their phones (even though they would've been present, they wouldn't have really been there), I was not watching my phone, I was watching my son ride his dirt bike, I saw him smile and wave, and I was able to respond back with a smile and a wave.  These are the moments I wouldn't miss for the world.


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Troy's Dirt Bike

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So Much More Than a Skateboard!

We were out shopping with my Mom a few years ago. Troy discovered he wanted a skateboard. My Mom decided she wanted to buy both of our kids a skateboard, and she did.

Since that day Troy has discovered he loves skateboarding. Breann seems to enjoy it, but Troy REALLY enjoys it. We have a skate park near our house. The kids ask to go there often. Troy has practiced and practiced some more. He does really good at this passtime that he enjoys so much.

A few weekends or so ago, my brother, his wife, and their son came to visit. We went to the skate park. Troy was going up and down the ramps with what seemed like such ease. I thought of trying it myself, but without practice I'm not able to even keep my balance on the skateboard.

While I already knew that the skateboard was a passtime Troy enjoyed, I realized how much of a skill he's developed with those ramps. The skateboard he has now is actually his second skateboard, as my brother got him one for Christmas (it was on Troy's wish list). This skateboard is not just another passtime, it's something Troy enjoys, something he has learned to do, and another childhood memory for him!

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Spending Time Outdoors

One day, a week or so ago, we decided to spend some time outdoors. It was late evening, almost dark, but we had a good time! The kids played football and I took pictures while they made memories.

I also got a photo that evening of Easter lilies growing in our yard. God is the greatest artist, He decorates our world with such beautiful things, we just need to take the time to notice them!











I'm so blessed! We have such a great God! :)

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A Time to Build!

Justin and I have been trying to encourage our kids to spend time doing things that do not involve electronics. Sure, they still want to spend time on electronics, and we're not completely taking away the electronics, but we are trying to limit our whole family's use of electronics. As you can imagine (and may have even experienced), with so many electronic gadgets and neat things to do and see with electronic devices this can be quite the challenge, not only for our kids, but for all of us! We are trying, however, each and every member of our household family to put down the electronics just a little bit more and spend more of our time doing more productive things (such as spending time together, etc.).   I am by no means saying that the electronics are not at all beneficial. A lot of people (us included) enjoy time on electronics, whether it be playing a video game or checking a family member or friend's Facebook status to see their latest photos and happenings. If you enjoy doing something it is not completely a waste of time. It is a challenge though, with today's fast paced world (which mainly involves technology/electronics of some sort), to not have some electronic gadget in our hands though. Our family has been trying to make it a point to limit a bit of our time on electronics and do other things as well to manage our time more wisely. Anyhow, as I went upstairs, I found this...



no video game controller was in his hand at the time. I enjoy his smiles while he is on his video games...he really has fun on them, but I love seeing him do other things as well! This time I found him building something with his blocks, he wasn't just building with his blocks though, he was building memories. Just another moment captured in a photo! :)

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Troy's First Karate Class

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Youth Hunting Day: Troy's First Deer!

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Troy's Dirt Bike

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Troy and his Bike!

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Troy's Baseball Team: First Year of Baseball 2013

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Troy's First Baseball Game

Troy had his very first baseball game on Saturday and his team won, 10-0!  :)

Photos:



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Troy's First Year of Baseball...

This year is Troy's first year of baseball, and this past weekend was Troy's first tryouts and we decided to head out to the field a few minutes early so he could get a head start on some practice.  I got some adorable pictures of him and his dad practicing!  :)

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My Husband and Son...

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Snow October 2012

  Here is the snow we got due to weather from the side of Hurricane Sandy. The kids and I even built a snowman (even though the snow melted rather quickly) and it held a sign saying "Thanks Sandy"...our snowman made the news!  :)


Troy decided to spend the time he spent inside by building a tower out of change. He also wrote me this note telling me how many pennies he counted.

A Fun Fall Day!

A fun day at home, making snacks (a veggie bar and "Snickers Caramel Apple Salad"), and making forts!

Our dog, Bo was put up in the building for a bit, because he kept knocking the kids fort over, but once they let him back outside, he was happy to do it again, and then play with a soccer ball ontop of it!

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Troy's Hiking Trip for Cub Scouts 2012

Troy had his first hiking trip for Cub Scouts this past Sunday. Although I was working, Justin and Breann also went along and they got some pretty neat pictures!!

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Corn Maze 2012

Justin, the kids, and I went on our first trip to the Corn Maze this weekend.  We had so much fun!!  There were 10 "punch stations" and we found them all!  We also got the kids pumpkins there and then came home and their snacks were popcorn balls.

A very blessed day...great day!!


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County Fair 2012

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