THANKFUL Thursday

Well it has been a couple of weeks since I have gotten around to doing a Thankful Thursday Post... as Budda said “Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful”....so here they are, last weeks and this weeks!

1) I am SO unbelievably thankful I can stay at home with my kids. Being a stay at home mom is so full fulling and am grateful EVERYDAY that I do not have to leave them with a stranger. 1.a) I am also thankful I love my kids enough to want to stay home with them! Some people need an out, I am grateful I don't.
2) I am grateful for Birthdays, they allow us to stop, slowdown and focus a minute or 2 longer on the ones we love and care about. Birthday are a big deal around our house.
3) I am grateful I can now find Cadbury Eggs at the store, I wait all year round for those. Oh and the Reeses Pieces eggs too.
4) I am grateful we are here in Austin. It was exactly one year ago Sunday we were here visiting for the 1st time, scoping out Austin as a possible home for us and our company.
5) I have said this before but I am grateful for my babies breath. Without it I would fail to thrive.
6) I am grateful for the taste of sharp cheddar cheese. It does wonderful things in my mouth. I love cheese.
7) I am grateful for the positive people in my life that inspire me, rather than pull me down. I have encounters from time to time with people that just being around them darkens my mood yet others who immediately lift me up at the sound of their voice or sight of their smile, those are the people I am drawn to like a magnet and I am SO grateful for them in my life. It is a very intuitive thing, being drawn to some one. I hope I am that way for others (especially my family), that is what can I hope for.
8) I am grateful my mothers double mastectomy went well. What would I ever do without my mother?????
9) I am grateful for the summer I feel in the air. (82 yesterday)
10) I am grateful for new friends. I love meeting new people and discovering great qualities about them, learning from them and sharing things with them. Friendships are a very special thing and lately I have reflected a lot about new and old friendships that have been meaningful to me and I am grateful for all of those, I have gained so much from those associations.

“In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then, burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” Albert Schweitzer

....lots to be thankful for, always!

Birthday Extravaganza Weekend

The weekend before Scooby's birthday was for all intents and purposes suppose to be a BIRTHDAY Extravaganza. We have 7 birthdays with in a month of each other and this weekend really lent itself to a serious party. Last minute patriarch and the mama-arch Hurst could not make it due to a serious kink in Grandma Jo's neck, so we partied without them. Life has been VERY busy for us and as a result I did not get around to all the "party plans" I had intended, sometimes you just gotta let stuff go... so I did, but we had a great time anyway. We love visitors.

Zilker Park, feeding the birds.



I love the story of the Philosophers Rock, totally Austin-ish.


Train ride and park at Zilker

Eddies Arrow of Light

Eddie really out did himself. He not only got his Arrow of Light Award but also accomplished all the other requirements in the Webelos book, the 1st time EVER in this troop to have ever awarded the "20 Patch". Truth be told.... we were really bored on our road trip to and from Utah and just kept working on the activities that were not already signed off and before you knew it we were done the the entire book. I am glad they do give you so many opportunities to complete activities badges via road trip. :)We are VERY proud of Eddie and all his hard work.

Happy Birthday Angel Daughter

No one could have ever guessed this angel child would bless our lives as much as she has. She is such a choice spirit and we are so grateful for her. She is tender, loving, thoughtful, smart, funny, kind, a leader, a deep thinker has a strong little spirit. It is virtually pointless to try and express the intense feeling we have for this little perfect being. She is an absolute angel and she has brought nothing short of jubilation into our lives.


I have vivid memories of the 1st night after I had her, when I woke up in the night and would get flooded with excitement as I got to remember all over again that I had a daughter. It was like I could hardly wait to fall asleep again just so I could wake up and remember what a blessing I had been given.

She had an absolutely perfect face! Not a mark, perfectly proportioned, the face of an angel!

Born at 3am at 8 lbs 14 oz











A recap of our precious angels daughters 4th birthday.



Our Sweet Ava A. shares the same birthday as Douey and it was fun to be able to share that with her again this year. We love Ava like our own, they may be the closest thing to sisters they will ever have. We did a "favorite things" meal which is a common tradition in our home, we made their favorite things to eat. Spaghetti, french toast, fruit and mac & cheese, it was a feast.

Sweet Arianne

This is my sweet friend Arianne. She is an adorable 19 year young lady that has a heart bigger than her body. Many months ago, she saw me at church and could not stop touching and admiring my white flowing skirt. She is my soul sister that loves pretty clothes and fun accessories just as much as I do. Over time, when I would wear that favorite skirt of mine, she would track me down at church and ask me if she could have it. Knowing it would give her far more joy than it could ever give me, I decided to give it to her in addition to a handful of some other hand me downs and now every time I see her she is almost always wearing something I gave her and she looks beautiful in them. Arianne is quite the singer and loves music. I have been seen her perform and I feel privileged to have shared in those experiences, she truly is a star. Sweet Arianne is moving out of our ward and I will miss my sweet friend. She is so tender and loving and FULL of life. Her little broken body can only hold her back so far, her huge spirit reaches beyond her trails and loves life and those in her life. I am so grateful we were able to bond and have this sweet friendship, I love you Arianne and I will miss you, come back to visit soon!

Last Monday night dinner date.

Upward Basketball