28th...

This is the first 28th in a year that we haven't been to the cemetery to release balloons for Hadley.  We decided last March that we would make sure and release them on the 28th for 1 year and it has been an amazing memory that Daniel, Briley, and I will share forever.  Click here to see all of them in one post!!  We aren't going to set a date that we HAVE to release balloons for her next.  Daniel and I decided that any 28th or ANY day for that matter we can release balloons.  I thought today would be harder with not going but it wasn't.  Hadley knows I love her and I think about her constant.  Her and Briley are never far from my mind...I'm a mommy and it comes with the territory :)

I know I'm never far from God's mind...or his heart...or his love.

Room update--Daniel is ALMOST done with the bed.  Just a few more coats of varnish left.  We are finishing the chair rail and painting this weekend.  Can't wait and I will of course make sure to do a before/after post of the room!!

 

Happy Wednesday/Almost Thursday!!

the hurt...THE HEALER

I LOVE this new song by Mercy Me, "The Hurt and the Healer".  If you haven't heard it you MUST listen to it.  

I texted my sister-in-law, Mariah, and told her to listen to it because it pretty much explains our lives the past year and I knew it would bring her comfort too.

I’m alive
Even though a part of me has died
You take my heart and breathe it back to life
I’ve fallen into Your arms open wide
When the hurt and the healer collide

This is a video explaining where the inspiration from the song came from...

"A good name is better than fine perfume,
   and the day of death better than the day of birth.
 It is better to go to a house of mourning
   than to go to a house of feasting,
for death is the destiny of everyone;
   the living should take this to heart." -Ecclesiastes 7:1-2 

This song really bring me back "home" and looking at the bigger picture.  Who would think that a day of death is better than a day of birth?  As hard as it is for our earthly hearts and minds to comprehend it is so true.  

I'm starting my week remembering that the hurt is nothing that THE HEALER can't overcome.  He is slowing healing me and I will be healed forever in eternity with Hadley and HIM.

 

Daniel's Birthday!!

My hubby is 29!!  Thank goodness...I don't really care for the 7 weeks between our birthdays when I am older and we aren't the same age ;)

Briley and I started off his birthday by baking him his favorite cake the night before.  I found this red velvet cake recipe here and it was pretty easy to follow.  Definitely does not look like the picture but I tried :)

B and I got up super early so we could be awake when Daniel got home from the fire station to surprise him with his cake and gifts.  His birthday is also St. Patrick's Day so we had to coordinate of course!!

 Man I LOVE these two!

We bought Daniel a grill cover for the grill we bought back in December and the pretty Texas flag to go over our mantle.  He LOVED it!!

Later that afternoon, we headed to see Hadley and Nonnie before his birthday dinner.

After visiting our sweet angels, we met Daniel's dad and sister at Cooper's BBQ...we have eaten here the last 3 years for Daniel's birthday.  It has become a new tradition that I hope we continue each year.  It is YUMMY and I'm not really a barbecue person.

We ended the night with cake and singing of course!!

 

 On his birthday post last year I did a comparison so of course I have to do one this year!!  I love looking at how much B has changed. 

I am so blessed to be married to such a wonderful, handsome, caring, loving, (I could go on and on) man who loves his family with his whole heart.  I love you so much Daniel and I hope you had a wonderful birthday!!

Single Sentence Sunday

"All your tomorrow's are nestled in God's strong arms, you are free to live today." 

-Linda Dillow {Calm My Anxious Heart}

(Thank you Sarah for lending me this book...God is already telling/teaching my heart so many things in the 1st chapter!!)

Spring Break Randoms

This week has been so wonderful!! I have so enjoyed this time at home with Daniel and Briley...it was much needed!!  After our zoo adventure on Monday, we have spent the week...

Giving ourselves pedicures

 

 Doing crafts and playing dress up

Sending Daddy silly pictures

Working on our new bed...well Daniel has been working on it!! 

Side note...for our five year anniversary next month, Daniel and I decided to redo our bedroom as our gift to each other.  We knew that we wanted a new bed, new furniture, new mattress, paint on the walls, chair rail, etc.  So we have bought the mattresses, Daniel is almost done with the bed (just needs to varnish it), then we can finish chair rail, paint, and Daniel can start building our furniture to match the bed.  I also want a new bedspread, curtains, wall decor, etc.  It's crazy how much time, work, money goes into redecorating ONE room.  It will be worth it though!!  Here is the color pallet I'm going for in the room and here is the inspiration we had for the bed.

I will keep you updated on our room progress.  We are hoping to have the bed finished and the room painted by the end of the month.  Then Daniel can start building the nightstands and dresser.  Yes it would be a lot easier to go buy a bedroom set, but Daniel enjoys building it and I love that he built all of Briley's furniture and now ours.  When we move later on he says he would like to build all the furniture for our house...we will see ;)  Isn't he talented though?  I think the bed looks so much like the picture!!  He literally is my very own Handyman!!

While Daniel has been busy with the bed I have been organizing/cleaning.  Here was one of my projects.  Underneath my bathroom sink.  I know you might think this would be the before picture but it's the after.  We don't have a lot of storage and I wish I had taken a picture before...this looks 100 times better!!  I still want to "pinterest" it up a bit with new baskets and labels but it will do for now.

I have also been working on some friends blogs...I LOVE designing headers!!

 You may have noticed my new button on the side of my posts.   I have decided to see if this is something I can pursue.  Of course it's just in the beginning stages so I'm starting slowly by designing blogs for people I know and hopefully it will grow into something more.  Their blog designs aren't completely finished but you can check out their headers here --->Sarah, Ashley.  Plus you should follow them because they are amazing!!  I also worked on a fellow teacher's photography blog...you can see that here.  If you don't mind saying a prayer for me about this new venture I would appreciate it!!

 

I have also been busy researching ideas for a fabulous Minnie Mouse 3rd birthday that will take place in June for a certain little girl!!  She has enjoyed "pinning" with me all week and looking at all things Minnie.  Isn't this outfit adorable??

This morning we went and visited Briley's wonderful babysitter, Kristin, and got to meet sweet baby Daisy!!  Briley LOVED holding her.

 That is Daisy's big sister, Annabelle, and Briley's BFF!!  We are so lucky to have such an amazing place for our sweet girl to go to when I am teaching. 

Our sweet Briley is already a big sister in her heart but I can't wait for the day she will get to be a big sister here on earth!!  She will be so good at it.

Wow...our spring break seems like it was exhausting but it really wasn't.  Now I'm just waiting for Briley to wake up from her nap so we can start working on our surprises for Daniel's birthday tomorrow!!

Happy Friday!!