#365/366--2

Two days left

in this

crazy

year

We decided to
be
loco
and
get tattoos

My BFF, Sarah

and

I

both got arrows

signifying

that

sometimes

life drags you down

but

we

keep moving forward

and

looking up

and

hanging in there

with each other

I mean

because

...hey...

we

...single moms...

have to

stick together 

Mom,

Lauren,

and

I

got matching

Cross tats

because

a) we love Jesus and what He has done for us

and

b) that's been passed down between our

...generations...

I know

different people

have

different

thoughts

beliefs

opinions

views

and

perspectives

about

tattoos

Me?

I've chosen to

have

my body

tattooed

with

pictures and words

that are

...significant...

to me

My tats

help me

tell my story

and

exert a bit of

...control...

over

" things "

when

everything else

feels

...uncontrollable...

and

I'm

excited to share

the newest

additions

to

my collection

and

I'm proud to

share

stories

memories

tattoos

with

these peeps

#364/366--3

Obviously

everyone

loves

their mom

but

there are

certain things

about my mom

that

Lauren, Michael, and I

find

endearing

about

my mom

one of those

qualities

is

that

she cannot just come

for a visit

she

finds something

to be done

and

...she does it...

This visit

she noticed

that

the handle on my

storm door

was broken

Sometimes,

these

...endeavors...

turn out to be

...more...

than she bargains for

She thinks it's a big deal

when it doesn't turn out

the way she thought

but

it's actually

quite

funny

Mom and I
also

had

lots of

one - on - one

time

because

the kids

were

constantly

on

the

go

working

and

socializing

bonding time

margarita time

From

a

...Mom Perspective...

I know

that

I am always

trying to

take care of

my kids

and

I'm a

nurturer

listener

adviser

encourager

by

nature

I try to

help my kids

probably

more than

they need it

or

more than they want

It comes naturally to me

As an adult child

sometimes

it's easy to

lose perspective

that your parents

are still in

that

"Parenting"

mind - set

and

it truly

cannot be

...shut off...

I'm learning

...that...

with

these teenagers

of mine

who

think they are grown

but aren't

I know

that

I have more

wisdom

and

experiences

and

I want to

protect them

and

provide for them

and

learning to let go

is difficult

I have to keep this in mind

with

my own mother

and

extend

a little

grace

and

thanksgiving

to her

because

she

still

takes care of me

sometimes

when

I don't want to be

...taken care of...

and so

...Mom...

I'm sorry

for

the past

thirty - something years

for thinking

that

I know better than you

Thank you, Mom

for

baking

cooking

paying

fixing

advising

encouraging

visiting

and

continuing to

extend your wing

over our family

You are

one

amazing

strong

intelligent

persevering

wise

woman

I love you, Mom.

#363/366--4

Mom came to visit

and

stocked us up

with

Chex Mix

chocolate fudge

cherry almond fudge

and

chocolate chip pecan pie

#362/366--5

Skies

and

Sunset

#361/366--6

Tradition!

A want:

(shoes for him

Tattoo for her)

A need:

(him: wallet

her: tires

*in part*)

Wear:

(him:  sweats, socks, underwear

her:  socks, shoes, underwear, boot/leg warmers)

Read:

(him: yearbook

her: Anchored in the Storm)

Stockings and Sibling Gifts

My gifts

(from Mikey's girlfriend, Alysia)

from

Lauren

and

from

Michael

...who was so proud

of his gift

because

it's the first one

he's purchased

on his own

with his own money...

many, many

blessings

Merry Christmas

from

us

(in a series of pics)

2010

2011

2014

2015

and

2016

Luke 2:11

"For unto us is born this day, in the city of David,

a Savior, which is Christ the Lord!"

Merry Christmas

God Bless us,

Everyone!

#360/366--7

Y'all.

For real.

17.

It's unreal.

In my mind...

I'm still

25

and

my kids

are still

...babies...

But.

No.

He really

did

turn

17

and

nothing

stopped it

or

slowed

it

down

I know, right?

How'd that happen??

This kid.

He's matured so much.

He's like a grown man.

His grades matter to him.

His relationships matter to him.

He has a job.

He's acting responsibly.

He's learning to drive.

He still comes up

with the most

perceptive

thoughts

and

he's

incredibly

hilarious

(( even if...

it's

incredibly

inappropriate

which

...being 17...

most of the time

inappropriate

is

his

middle name ))

We

traditionally

start his birthday

with

donuts 

Later on,

we did gifts

and

...not surprisingly...

the gifts

from

the girlfriend

got more smiles 

...then...

we went to see

a movie

it

just

goes

way

too

fast

and

each

day

they

are

one step closer

to

flying

from my nest

and

some days

I'm ready for that

 but

most days

I just wanna

hold them close

and hide them

under my

"wings"

Happy

17th

Birthday

Michael

I'm

proud

of

the young man

you are

I love you, kiddo.

#359/366--8

More

Pooch

Pics

and

she

wears

Sandy

out