Philippians 2:5

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus..."

I have been struggling with the homestretch of summer vacation. Trips are done, football has started, but still no school. Since the days of summer are starting to add up, our tempers are starting to flare up. All 3 of the kids are cranky from time to time, which makes Mom cranky from time to time. I am trying to keep my parenting skills in check, but from time to time I just simply explode.

Today has been a cranky day for me. I feel like all Steve and I do is run the kids to and from their activities and try to keep them happy. Where is the gratitude and the realization of all we do for them? When do we, as parents, get to have any fun or do something that would make us happy? I'm not talking about jetting off to Hawaii, but maybe just a quiet moment where everyone is content. I know this is selfish and a wrong attitude, so don't think I need to be reminded. I realize that as I type it.

But I also know that this is more than just a much needed attitude adjustment. It is a heart problem that doesn't just lie within me, but within all of us. Philippians 2:5 says that our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Ouch! That is what I want to convey to my children when they are behaving in a manner that is anything but. I think through my disciplining of my children, God is gently reminding me that He still has to discipline me too. My attitude is not always like that of His Son. It's more often like the attitude of my sons.

So, I will continue to press on and pray for the strength, calm, and attitude to be a better Mother. My children deserve at least that.

Until next time,

Attitude check!

Ready for Football

Think we're ready for practice?

Until next time,

Go Wildcats!

Pecan Pie Bars

Do you ever just crave something decadent? Well, Steve and I have been wanting a pecan pie for about a week now. I didn't have a pie crust, but found this recipe and decided to try it. It was delicious! You won't regret making these. They were easy and more importantly, yummy.

Pecan Pie Bars

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup pecans, chopped
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
2 Tbsp butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. For crust, in a medium bowl combine flour, powdered sugar, and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in the 1/2 cup butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pat crumb mixture into a 11 x 7 x 1 1/2 inch baking pan lined with tin foil (make sure foil extends over edges of pan). Bake about 20 minutes or until light brown.

2. Meanwhile, for filling, in a medium bowl stir together eggs, pecans, brown sugar, corn syrup, the 2 Tbsp melted butter, and the vanilla. Pour over the baked crust, spreading evenly.

3. Bake about 20 minutes more or until the filling is set. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Lift tin foil out and set on cutting board. Cut pecan pie into bars. Cover and store in refrigerator.

Until next time,

Bon Appetit ya'll!

Tubing in Helen

On June 23, M'ryanne Peacock and I took all our kids down to Helen for the afternoon to go tubing. The kids were so excited about trying something new. Here are a few pictures from our afternoon tubing down the Chattahoochee River. All of these were taken by the company photographer at the end of the run.

Until next time,

Shoot the Hooch!

More Vacation

Here are some more pictures from our recent vacation.

Until next time,

daydreaming about the beach!

Our Garden

This past Spring, Steve got our previous two garden spots ready for planting and built a third one. We planted tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, herbs, squash, strawberries, peppers, and lettuce. We also planted onions, but the squash got so big that they couldn't get any sun and therefore didn't do very well. Here are a few pictures that I took of the garden.

The squash plants

The pumpkin vine. It has taken over the backyard.

The tomato plants.

Tomatoes, squash, and cherry tomatoes from our garden.

Until next time,

Have to water the garden!

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good" 

Psalms 34:8

Vacation!

We have just returned from a week at St. George Island, Florida. It was so nice to get away as a family for some downtime. Even though the weather didn't always cooperate, we did enjoy our time together. But we are glad to be back home too.

Until next time, 

there's no place like home.