I'm A Mormon Monday: Austyn

I am so excited for you to get to know another amazing Mormon woman. I met Austyn when we lived in Asheville NC and I feel like I have really gotten to know here since our families moved to different parts of the countries and we kept in touch through blogging. Austyn is a multi-talented, super mom (she would never admit to that but it is totally true) who has worked hard to learn about nutrition and has even started a blog (Project Granola Mom) to share all her knowledge with us.  Reading Austyn's post reminded me that we all have something important to share with others and I am so glad she agreed to shared her "mission" here on my blog.  With out further ado, let me introduce to you "Granola Mom":

  This is my oldest son, "The Wild One."  True to his nickname he came out screaming and has not really quieted down since.  He was a pretty intense baby and my mind was a whirlwind thinking that this motherhood thing was a lot different than I had imagined!  Right around the time that he turned eighteen months, things really escalated.  He did some pretty odd things behavior-wise, was not talking much, and was a very sensitive and difficult little toddler.  Enourmous meltdowns would errupt at the tiniest things - like someone saying hello to him or a sudden movement someone made.  I feel like I had tried everything to help him be happy and meet his needs, but felt I was failing, and was very worried.  At routine checkups doctors started casually throwing around the term "autism" which scares any mother, let alone a brand new mother.  I was at a loss for what to do, and felt helpless.  At times I couldn't even get him to focus on my face as his attention was all over the place.  Feeling I had exhausted all my efforts, I turned to my last resort - nutrition.

I'm A Mormon Monday: Jaime

  I am honored to be guest posting for this I'm a Mormon Monday.

When Carrie asked me I was so excited to do this, then she sent me the questions...there were MANY.  I hope I do a good job!  She gave me free reign to answer whatever I wanted to, so I hope that you enjoy this little peek into my VERY random psyche!

Why did you choose to homeschool your children?

Oh wow, this is a rather loaded question!  When my first son was born, my hubby and I discussed homeschooling.  We knew that we might like to do it as we could see a deterioration in our school system.  When he was 5 we finally found a school we could believe in (mostly) so away he went, taking a little piece of me with him.  When my second son was ready for school, we sent him to the same school and he took a little more of me with him. 

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Fifteen years and counting!  (I knew I better have Jake click a picture of us before we headed out to Olive Garden because that would be the one and only picture that we would take since Aaron is a P.T.P.P.) 

Ranee's Mexican Fiesta

I am just going to start off by saying we are not racist.  Why would I preface this post with that you ask? Because, I am sure some one out there will think we are being politically incorrect and insensitive.  Maybe we are but this really isn't a negative thing (but someone will most likely spin it that way...).  That is all I really need to say because if you know me (which chances are pretty good you do if you are reading this) you know that I love everyone and I like to have a good time.  That being said: onto Ranee's 40th birthday celebration Fiesta style!

Jeremy asked me if I would make a dinner for Ranee's birthday and plan a little party.  I of course said:  YES.  I love this kind of stuff.  He also asked me if Ranee had mentioned anything that she wanted for her birthday...she had...but it wasn't really something you could actually give her.  Ranee said she wanted a Mexican for her birthday.  You see, for some time now she has been wanting to put new flooring in her downstairs and redecorate her family room.  Since it hadn't happened she wanted to hire someone who she knew would do it right.

Hub City Railroad Museum

Earlier in the summer Jake and I headed over to the Hub City Railroad Museum.  If you want to know what city is the "Hub City"  (a nickname that has made a comeback over the past few years) you will have to do a little research to find out.  I will tell you it is in South Carolina.  It was a fun little place full of railroad "artifacts" from a city that used to be the Souths hub for trains.  The people that give the tours are volunteers and train enthusiasts.  The boy that gave our tour was only a year or two older than Jake. 

Nana's birthday surprise....

For Nana's b-day  we wanted to do something fun and surprise her at work with a treat.  She is working as a long term sub in the office at an elementary school and we were sure we could surprise her. That day also happens to be Erin and Matt's anniversary so we decided to make 2 fun treats at 1 time.  I saw this on Pinterest and thought it looked cool (click it and it will take you to the blog it that put it on Pinterest):

 After going back and looking at it now I see that it didn't even have directions which was really no big deal because I didn't plan on reading them.  I thought the pictures were pretty self explanatory.  I would do a couple of things differently but it worked.  We just melted dipping chocolate and went to town!

Bowling...

(It is time for me to get caught up on some of the fun things we have done this summer...since technically it is over and we have started homeschooling.  The only way I am going to accomplish this is by posting like crazy for the next few days so bare with me.  This is going to be lots of pictures and a few words....)

Jake and I were leaving Walmart one day and noticed the nearby bowling alley was charging only a $1 a game so we decided we were going to do it! We totally rocked the shoes.

I'm A Mormon Monday: Melissa

{Image credit to Mormon.org...plus I added the Monday to it. :) }
I just realized this is my very first guest post on my blog.  I am so glad it could be written by an amazing friend of mine.  I have known Melissa for several years now and every time I need a little pick me up I go and read her blog.  When I think of Melissa I think of 100% positivity.  I think you will agree after reading this post....

Over the last couple of days, we have gathered together as a family each evening to watch the Olympics. My two older girls are at an age where they understand what is going on and they are so excited to cheer on team USA, in whatever sport they are participating in. The other day we were watching the men's rowing competition. I was so fascinated by the whole five-six minutes of the race. As they row, they do so in perfect synchronization. It is quite amazing to watch. I loved to hear all of the comments that the commentator was making because I am so unfamiliar with any of the logistics of rowing and it was just so interesting to me. As I cheered on the USA team (they totally killed it, by the way), I couldn't help but feel an analogy coming on (I know, I know, it's a sickness I have...what can I say?) The precise rhythm and perfect unity shown amongst the crew was so symbolic to me of the goals and vision that I have for my family. We are also a team, made up of individual members who have different strengths and weaknesses. As we come together united and in perfect synchronization, we have the possibility to accomplish and become greater than we ever could on our own. Really, that's what being part of a team is all about. A team united in purpose, direction, and vision and all working together to win the victory.

Okay, now I am really excited...

I am a Conservative Republican. I always have been and always will. I have mentioned that before but I have never really mentioned this: I am going to vote for Mitt Romney.  It goes with out saying really since you know I am a Conservative.  I was going to vote for whoever the nominee ended up being.  I am even more excited to vote for him since he picked exactly who I hoped he would pick for his running mate: Paul Ryan.

These are a few of my favorite things: Bowling, dogs, famliy photos, temples...etc.

The list is long this week...Who am I kidding it always is..These are a few of my favorite things: (feel free to hum the song while reading this post.  I did while I was writing it.)

*Going bowling (more on that later...because I had 7,942 pictures of the 2 times we have gone in the past week...maybe not quit that many pic's but close.)

*Bowling balls.  Aren't they so pretty?

S.O.O.N-something out of nothing...

I have mentioned my new love for refinishing and distressing furniture, mirrors,...basically anything I can get my hands on!  Jake and I decided to create a little business since we can't possibly keep everything we distress.  I have no idea how much to sell anything for and we are really just beginning so we will see how this all goes! I started posting all my/our pieces on a new blog so that I can at some point catch up on all the pictures, memories, and life stuff on this one! 

If you live in the Upstate SC area and surroundings and are interested in having a piece painted & distressed (or just painted), buying a piece I have already painted, or learning how to do it, let me know!

Go check out our new blog:

S.O.O.N-Something Out Of Nothing...Recreating,Re-purposing, & Remaking

I'm a Mormon Monday: Guest posts schedule

  It is an awesome thing to be able to keep in touch with people through blogging and make new wonderful friends!  I have some great guest posters scheduled for the next 6 weeks that I think after reading their posts and going to check out their amazing blogs, you will consider friends also.  There will be more...that is just as far as I have gotten so far!  I am in the middle of gearing up for our first week of homeschooling next week so I decided to get a little help from my blogging, Latter Day Saint friends...who are probably even more busy than me but they are amazing enough to still help!  So, with out further ado, here is the the schedule with links to their blogs:

*Monday, August 13th: Melissa from Moments That Matter

*Monday, August 20th: Jaime from Welcome to the Madness

*Monday, August 27th: Austyn from Project Granola Mom

*Monday, September 3rd: Cocoa from Chocolate on my Cranium

*Monday, September 10th:  Cara from Kigginsanity
 
*Monday, September 17th: Cassity from Remodel Aholics

Please join me the next 6 weeks to learn, be inspired, and get to know all these wonderful ladies.  We all have the same beliefs but we all have different lives!

We ate at Chick-fil-a today.

Unless you have been under a rock than you probably know why.  Just in case you have actually been under a rock I will try to catch you up to speed. :)

The President and CEO of  Chick-fil-a is a Christian (that's why they aren't open on Sunday's) and in an interview recently said this:   "We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit".  We believe that too.  Our church leaders even released a document all the way back in 1995 talking about the importance of families and marriages.  You can read The Family: A Proclamation To The World here.