Happy POPday!

"I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they aren't trying to teach us. We are formed by the little scraps of wisdom."

-Umberto Eco

Most of you know my Pop and the majority of you can say that you have learned something from all of his scraps of wisdom. Some may have learned that it is not wise to use fire pots near fake plants...it will set the stage on fire. Others may have learned how to be Mr. Fix It's or how to correctly open and store ice cream in the freezer.


One of the first things he told me when I found out I was expecting Bryson was "oh I can teach him to throw rocks and pee outside"....and believe it or not he did!  When I asked Bryson what he learned from  his Pop he said " everything...like throwing rocks and baseball. How to fix stuff and why air planes make smoke"....

In honor of his birthday this coming Sunday I wanted to take some time and write about some of the things I have learned from him...

At an early age I learned that I held his heart in my tiny small hands. This didn't mean that he gave me everything I wanted...okay, okay so maybe he gave in the majority of the time. What this meant to me was that I knew he loved me if he trusted me with his whole heart...and I knew he always would!

As I grew up I learned what a husband should be...and how he should treat his wife. For over thirty years he has loved and been loved by this lady. I am so grateful for the home that they have built together and the example they have set in my life.

 I learned how to be direct and how to stand my ground form my Pop. Got to stand for what you believe in....even if what you believe is that your truck isn't a trash truck!

I learned that despite what I thought...at the age of 18 your dad can STILL beat your butt! There is no amount of running through the house trying to avoid him that can save you...he can and will catch you. 

I learned my confidence from Pop. He always believed in himself...if he can do it then I can do it. There is nothing that we can't do...and if we can't do it alone then we can do it together.

I learned what the true meaning of servant leadership is...and it wasn't from a book. Honestly, Pop could have written the book on Servant Leadership...YEARS AGO!

I have learned that loving people is what makes my Pop so special. My entire life I have watched my dad love and welcome so many of you into his heart and his home. In his eyes you are his family....you may not be blood...but you are family!

Happy Birthday week Pop!! May you have many many more so that I can continue to learn from you! 

143

Adventures of the GREEN BOOTS

I am Houston.

I am two...and a half.

I am invincible...when I am wearing my green boots.

My green boots found me last August.

I have been testing their limits since then.

You won't believe the places my green boots have taken me.

Together we have tested the depths of the deepest puddles.

We have been a super hero and saved the world.

We have hit grand slams..and struck out a few times.

We have worked at the shop...and been so filthy you couldn't tell my boots were green!

We Christmas shopped...until I dropped.

We have made my mommy laugh...uncontrollably. Probably made you laugh, too!

We have hiked the Blue Ridge Mountains...and shot bears.

We toured the Mayfield plant..and ate wore an ice cream cone as big as me!

We drove all of my mommy's co-workers crazy...after we drank coffee.

We learned how to ride a scooter...and didn't get any boo-boos!

We have copied Pop...and made sure we ate candy from a bowl.

We attended a wedding and were hands down the best dressed there.

We have saved the garden from evil villains....with the help of our trusty side kick, Memphis.

We dream big dreams every night...and anxiously await the adventures that tomorrow will bring.

Most importantly we have made memories...and stories to tell! One day I will be too big for my green boots...but for now I will continue to explore the world one adventure at a time. Just me...and my green boots!

- Houston

Importance

"What is the most important moment in your life?"

A question that I was asked recently that left me completely speechless. How am I to choose just one moment? 

I have been alive for 10,164 days...that's 243,948 hours...which means I have been alive for 14,636,930 minutes (and counting). HOW AM I TO PICK JUST ONE? Should I pick the first breath I ever took or the day I held my first child?

So today I wanted to share a few of my most important moments/events with you. They are in no particular order of importance...but these things are the moments in my life that made me into the person that I am...

May 8th, 2008....the moment I heard my first born child's heart beat for the first time. This is a moment that took my breath away! In an ultrasound room all by myself I fell in love with this little life I was carrying inside of me! 

December 6th, 2008 6:22 pm I held the most perfect seven pound baby boy in my hands for the first time! I counted his fingers and toes a hundred times and I worried that the hair on his ears wouldn't fall off! I dreamed of what his laugh would sound like and couldn't wait to hear him call me "mommy"! I welcomed my first born child, Bryson Reid, into the world...

November 18th, 2011 Danny and I found out that we were expecting our first baby together! I think this is the biggest I have EVER seen Danny smile!

December 8th, 2011 is the day that Danny and I heard Houston's heart beat for the first time. We both cried. This was the day that I realized that my heart was big enough to love Bryson, Danny, and now Houston! 

May 1st, 2012 I promised forever to my best friend. Danny and I got married at the beach...just us and Bryson. We wrote our own vows to each other and we exchanged vows with Bryson. While I wish I would have shared this day with our parents, I loved the memory and the sentimental value that just us being there had!

July 11th, 2012 I endured the worst pain of my life (natural child birth) and at 10:43 AM I held the most perfect 6 pound 12 ounce baby boy in my hands. My heart sank as his face begin to turn blue and they rushed him to the nursery. Thankfully his breathing was FINE he was just extremely bruised from the super fast and dramatic entrance into the world. This was the day I welcome my second son, Joshua Houston, into the world...

December 28th, 2012 I met Memphis for the first time. I blogged about the importance of Memphis in our lives a few weeks ago. She plays a huge role in our family and now we can't imagine life without her!

March 31, 2013 the day that Danny and I lost our second child together. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't stop and wonder what that child would have been like or if it would have been a girl or boy. This is a day that changed our lives.

How do I narrow my life down to the "most important"...I have celebrated with all of my friends on their wedding days and the births of their children.  I have watched my husband go from banker to self employed. I have helped my boys take their first steps and watched them take their first breath. My life is full of so many joyous moments, and so many heart breaking moments. Each of them have changed me and made me into the person I am today. 

If you were asked what the most important moment of your life is...how would you answer?

Here's to you..

I stumbled across a Valentines Day card I made for our friends several years ago...inside that card was this quote. I couldn't help but be reminded of how true this was! 

"The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity."

 

Ulysses S. Grant

 

 

 

Danny and I don't take the time to tell each of you how much we love you and appreciate you. Through the struggles of our past year you have each been there for us to vent to or a shoulder for me to cry on. Each of you stepped up and helped us in some way...from visiting us in the hospital, to cutting our grass, to cleaning our house. Despite the fact that you each have your own struggles. There is NO WAY that we could have made it through all of the curve balls life has thrown our way this year if it wasn't for your support.

 

We are SO THANKFUL that our lives (and family) are surrounded by an amazing group of LOYAL and LOVING friends!

 

We LOVE each of you and we are so happy that you are a part of our lives! Because of you our world is a happier place!

 

Here's to the GOOD times and the BAD times!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1st Annual Celebration of Danny's 30th Birthday

Better late than never, right?

 

I realize it has been nearly two months since Danny's birthday party! We have just been extremely busy and I haven't had time to sit down and write a blog.

 

We had such a great time celebrating Danny's 30th birthday last year we wanted to continue the tradition. So from here out we celebrate annually that Danny turned 30 (soon it will be the 10th annual celebration).

 

This year I recruited my friends and we devised a plan to have a party that was made of everything Danny wasn't particularly fond of! LOL

 

My friends and I decided that a rainbow and unicorn theme was the LEAST like Danny and he should love it! I rummaged through my pantry and located any and all rainbow food/candy. (Yes, we keep TONS of snacks and candy in stock) I then went through my craft/party closet and found anything rainbow colored. This is what we came up with...the unicorn napkins were a splurge from Amazon (5.00) I owned everything else.

 



 

You probably noticed the rainbow display of drinks. My friend Amanda and I went through Pintrest for different color punches and drinks. We had enough drink containers to make a complete rainbow! (I think that makes us hoarders)

 

My friend Marie set up a photo booth for us to have fun in....as you can see everyone really enjoyed it! I can't wait to see what she comes up with for our Halloween Photobooth!

 

To see a full album of photos check out her Facebook album here