Thankful

     Today is Veteran's Day and it just has me thinking how thankful I am for so many things in my life.  I am thankful for this country and those who serve to protect what we stand for.  I could never express how thankful I am to be born into the family God placed me in.  I am surrounded by loving, supporting, Christ followers on all sides to journey through life with as family and I will forever be grateful!  I am so thankful for my husband who is so perfect for me, whom I will never take for granted!  He is such a fun and loving provider, mate, friend, and father.  When days are blah I simply have to look at the faces of my two beautiful daughters to take me to a place of being thankful!  Their smiles and little selves that were fearfully and wonderfully made are so inspiring.

     Over the weekend we attended my 10 year high school reunion.  I was feeling a little awkward about the whole thing but once we got there sweet faces from dear friends eased that feeling away.  I have told many people that I feel my high school experience was different than most because I truly feel most of my friends were seeking to live a life like Christ.  Maybe it was my naivety but I have always been thankful to have been a part of a seemingly rare occurrence.  I'm not saying it was perfect.  There was drama as will always be amongst teenagers, but for me it was an as iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another  (Prov. 27:17) kind of experience.  If it weren't for facebook I would not have kept up with just about anyone, so on my list of "I'm thankful for" I must add facebook. :)

     Being a friend as an adult is way harder than it has previously been.  I guess because there are other priorities that take precedence and because you aren't forced to be in the same location as others day after day, especially as a stay at home mom.  But I am not using that excuse anymore.  I am resolved to be a better friend.  I'm not exactly sure how that will look but I have begun praying already that God would help me to see beyond my door and show me how to be a real and compassionate friend.

The Willeford part of my precious family

Sweet "new" friends

Cookie Lee

     So, what is Cookie Lee?  It is a jewelry business that operates a lot like selling Avon or Mary Kay.  Consultants (me) help people host "home shows".  That is how we sell the jewelry, and that is how a hostesses earns free jewelry.  I hosted a show right before we moved from Clovis to Taylor and I loved my stuff.  They have really cute things at reasonable prices.  The Cookie Lee jewelry I have, I bought over 3 years ago so it is durable as well.  I still wear those pieces which means I am either not up on fashion or the jewelry has been designed well to stay current.  I would love for you to view the catalog online at www.cookielee.com  For now I have chosen not to have a website so you won't find me in the consultant locator, but feel free to email or call me with an order, to host a show, or ask questions.
     If you host a show there are great benefits!  If the sales from your show are over $200 you earn $30 in free jewelry, 2 items at %50 off, and an opportunity to get the monthly hostess special.  The benefits only get better the higher amount of sales dollars your show generates.  Also no matter how much money your show brings in if any of your guests book a show you will receive a $25 gift certificate to use at their show and at least 1 item at %50 off.  All this information is in the catalog too if I am doing a poor job of explaining it.  There is no presentation at the show it is just a time to invite friends over to see the jewelry and hang out.  It is super low key and no pressure, which is reassuring to me.
     There are also ways to do fundraising, which I think is pretty cool.  I will have to look into it a little more and see how it all works but I just wanted to throw that out there in case anybody knows an organization, team, etc. that needs to do a fundraiser.
     So that is Cookie Lee in a nut shell.  I have chosen to do this to hopefully save money to buy a new (to us) car.  You know that Dave Ramsey... He would say to save up and pay cash.  I don't know if we will be able to do that but that is kinda my goal.

What's next?

     Life is so busy these days.  I LOVE the weekends when we have time to just spend together as a family.  We always find something to do.  Recently we have been to Zilker Park, Jay's first 5k run of the fall, Lexington for the Chocolate festival, and the day of all things pumpkin.  The chocolate festival was not so much about chocolate which was a disappointment for Jay and I, but Ansley had lots of fun.  We did all eat some chocolate pancakes.  The day of all things pumpkin we first went and picked out our pumpkin.  Then we came home and painted and carved it.  We roasted the seeds, that I ate almost completely by myself because Ansley didn't like them and Jay doesn't really either.  They were delicious if I do say so myself. :)  We also made pumpkin bread which everyone loved.  There was LOTS so it's good that I had help eating it.

     We are about to enter a new phase of life I think.  As of this weekend our house will be on the market and I will try to start selling jewelry.  I am SO nervous about having people come look at the house with my disaster of a 4 year old who makes even cleaning up a mess.  Seriously, I have to applaud her effort but it is  kind of incredible how that works.  We were given the opportunity to move into our church's parsonage  is the reason we are trying to sell.  It is funny because we were actually talking about trying to sell the house anyway because we really would like to have a bigger yard with shade trees because Ansley loves to play outside and in the summer it is just SO hot.  Right now though, we do spend a lot of time outside which is nice.  Just a couple months ago we had mentioned to some friends that we were thinking about it.  We really do love our house we just kinda wish it was on a different lot.  So we won't be devastated if it doesn't sell.  We would just stay put.  That situation is totally in the Lord's hands to do whatever he wills.
     Now, for the jewelry story.  When we first moved to Taylor I thought about doing this to help our family financially, but was asked to teach MDO instead.  Then I started Grad school and at first I had classes during the day.  Now my classes are online and I can do them whenever.  Although I will have to drive to San Marcos (over an hour from our house) next semester for one final night class.  Then a few months ago Jay and I started talking about it again because our car has been aging quickly lately.  You should hear it start... poor thing.  It musters up all it's energy just to start.  I know you are all thinking... just get a new battery.  And I'm sure that would help but it's more than that I think.  So in response to needing a new car I started really looking into selling Cookie Lee and finding out what it would take and if I think I could do it.  I almost committed a month ago, but decided I should take a little more time to consider it and pray about it.  Well, I meet with the lady who is going to help me make my first purchase on Friday.  I am so hesitant about it because I don't want people to feel like...here comes Jamie she just wants me to buy something.  HA!  I have been praying that it will be a ministry opportunity as well as extra income.  Maybe I can interact with people that I may never have come in contact with before and show the love of Jesus through this silly jewelry business.  This situation is totally in the Lord's hands as well.  I will not be disappointed if it doesn't work out, but you don't know if you don't try.  I know I am not super outgoing so this will definitely stretch me.  I can be pleasant, yes, but I am NOT a conversationalist.  I so wish I could just talk to anyone but it's a real challenge for me to hold conversation with people I do not know.  Anyway after Friday I will post another blog about Cookie Lee just in case anyone is curious.
     So life has been crazy and is about to get crazier.
     Lord, I pray for strength and wisdom to juggle all the balls I have in my life.  Help me to keep my priorities in order so that I don't neglect the important things in life.  Show me how to share your love with the people in my path.  Most of all be glorified and use me as you wish.

Growing Baby!

I don't really have any interesting stories to tell.  Surely something blog worthy has happened in the last month, but life has gotten too busy to document. :)  However I did want to post Adalynn's photos I've been taking each month so I could see them all together.  She is such a doll and I can't imagine life without her.  It's like I've known her forever and she has only lived 3 short months.

1 month

2 months

3 months

 

 

The princess and the frog

In our front yard there is a water meter box between our house and the neighbors.  I think the first summer we lived in this house we realized a frog was in there.  Ever since then there have been several frogs that have chosen that place as their home.  Well actually I think they are toads, but it's all the same to me.  Right now we have about 4 in there.  Until this summer Ansley would only occasionally go and check on the frogs.  I think she mostly wanted to know they were still there, but now she has adopted them as if they are part of the family.  We "go look at the frogs" just about every day.  She picks one out and holds it, carries it around, and pets it.  She almost always gets peed on at least once, but she doesn't care.  ICK, just thinking about it is gross.  She had it on the swing with us in the backyard the other day and it jumped up against my leg and I acted like the prissy little girl because I shivered and screamed.  HAHA!  They just feel so disgusting.  Ansley is a girl with lots of drama who loves shiny things, talking on the phone, and shoes like any girly girl does.  However, she also loves to climb trees, run around and get sweaty, and play with frogs.  I don't know whether to call her a "tomboy" or not.  Anyway, I have always thought this about Ansley but this situation makes it so much more evident.  I guess I was kinda that way as a young girl too.  I loved being outside, climbing trees and such.  I DID NOT ever like frogs though.  Here are a few pictures of my little princess and her frog.

This was about 2 weeks before Adalynn was born.  Her eyes are closed so because she is showing off her blue eye shadow. 

  
Here's a little video I did of her playing with her frog the other day.

Of course I have to post a photo of Adalynn.  I don't want her to feel left out. :)

This was on her 2 month biirthday.

For the parents

     Well summer is over.  I do LOVE summer, but this year I am kinda ready to get back into the routine of "school days".  Ansley started MDO this week.  I have always called MDO school but Ansley insists on me calling it Pre K this year.  :)  A lot of the kids from her class last year are in the other class which made me a little sad.  I think this means Ansley is one of the oldest in her class.  She already thinks she is so "big" so I appreciated her being the younger rather than the oldest of the kids last year.  It will be fine though.  Ansley's teacher Ms. Debbie is awesome and so sweet.  I think her calm spirit will be good for my crazy Ansley.  I hope that a little of Ms. Debbie's calm can wear off on her.  Today was my first day to "teach" music to the MDO kids.  It was a lot of fun and those kids were so sweet.  I'm glad that I see them in 15-20 sessions that way they stay sweet. HA!  It's not really long enough for them to get to cranky.

     Last weekend we went to visit my parents.  While we were there we went to visit my Nanny so she could meet Adalynn.  I think Adalynn is her 13th great grandbaby.  It was fun to go up there.  It had been a while since we'd gotten to visit and as always I enjoy seeing my family.  It still feels like home when we are all together.  Jay, Ansley, and I went riding around "the farm" on the gator.  Jay had never seen all Nanny's land and Ansley has been talking about how she wants to live on a farm when she grows up so we thought it would be fun to explore.  I wished I'd taken my camera with me out on our drive.  Oh well, maybe next time.

Adalynn will be 2 months old this coming Monday.  To me she has gotten so big, but today I had someone ask me if she was a preemie.  She has started holding her head up pretty well and reaching out for things she sees.  The other day she even pulled the rings on her swing to make the music come on.  Isn't she talented. :) Oh those little milestones.  My favorite of her new activities is her smile.  She has started smiling a lot and when you smile at her she will she back.  She also smiles when Jay tickles her.  Love those sweet baby smiles.  Now we just need to start sleeping through the night!  Here is a video of Ansley and I giving Adalynn a bath...she was all smiles!  

      

Road Trip

     Last week we took our first road trip to Clovis as the Reed family of 4.  The trip there could not have gone better.  I mean I was a little nervous but the girls did great.  Ansley did ask if we were almost there when we were in Georgetown though (which is 25 minutes from our house).  Once she realized this was a REAL car trip and not just a trip to go shopping she was fine.

     We got there on Tuesday night and on Wednesday Adalynn met her great granny.  Then later that night we went to the Curry County Fair and had our pictures made with our friend Cristy who has been a sweet friend since we lived in Clovis.  She is married to one Jay's best friends from high school and he was also a groomsman in our wedding.  Cristy is super talented and what I love most about her is her desire to use her business for the Lord.  If you have never visited her website, you should!  www.cristycross.com  Also if you want to help us earn free photos comment on Cristy's blog post of the Reed family here http://cristycross.com/jounral/?p=2085  
     On Thursday we ended up taking a few more pics of Adalynn and Ansley at Cristy's house and then we got to visit with our friends the Osburn's.  It is always good to see them and catch up.  Ansley then went swimming with Jay at another friends house.  Friday Ansley "played" golf at the par 3 course with Jay and his dad.  She has been visiting the driving range and putting green with Jay here at home through out the summer so this was her first time playing actual holes although I'm not sure she finished any hole all the way though. HA! Me and Adalynn just mostly sat around the house on Friday but that was good because I think we wore miss Adalynn out.  Saturday we packed up and drove back home.  It was a good time and kept Ansley and Jay busy.  Adalynn was a little more fussy on the way home but both girls did get a good 2+ hour nap in.

     Jay's dad has a huge garden in his backyard and I just had to post a pic of Ansley and her vegetable find.  It was pretty crazy!