This evening has been super busy.  But.  Friends.  We're so very, very blessed.  We're blessed with home.  We're blessed with family.  We're blessed with friends.  And.  We are so blessed to share time with each of these. Justin and I have been pondering the idea of maybe selling our place and buying a larger farm.  Should we or shouldn't we.  We've really seemed to struggle with this idea for awhile now.  Anyhow.  Justin has been crazy busy finishing up some minor details on our place (a new light in the stairway area, some trim around doors, things like that).  Just in case we decide to sell, and even if we don't, these things need to be done anyhow!  Breann worked this evening, and decided to spend some time at home after.  Troy and I, we went to a birthday party at the lake for one of our dear friends. Carlee had a great party.  We were blessed to spend time with friends! Here are photos and a video I captured from the day... Carlee and Aleaha's Birthday Party at the Lake from Our Lifelong Stories on Vimeo.

Bath time for our yorkie girls this morning! And there's muffins and coffee and house cleaning and laundry and a birthday party. All to fit into this incredibly packed and blessed Saturday. I love Saturday!! Most people may count the days until Friday, but I sometimes find myself counting down to Saturday because of moments like this. Happy Saturday, friends!!

As I sat and watched our pup with our daughter yesterday I wondered if somehow she knew that the kids were about to settle into their school year routine. Either way I knew that our pups were really going to miss the kids as they started the school year. We got these pups during the Summer, so they haven't went too very long without us being at home with them.

This morning.  I got up at around 5:30ish, I stumbled downstairs in the dark to make my husband's lunch. After getting him off to work, I climbed back into bed. I made sure my alarm was set in plenty enough time to take their Back to School picture. You know. The one moms with cameras take at the beginning of each school year. Yeah, those! Except for with me, I'm a photographer, and sometimes it's not just a picture, but pictures (with a s, plural). The kids will sometimes go around fussing because I take too many pictures, but one of these days I'm hoping they will appreciate all of the times I've pressed this shutter button and captured moments in their life.    

   

I find as I'm getting older, I appreciate photos even more.

Anyhow. "Mom..." I startle awake. "Hey, Mom." It's Breann waking me. Our daughter, all dressed in a beautiful t-shirt dress with her cool tennis shoes, and she's looking even more grown up than she did at the beginning of her 10th grade year and so pretty! I guess she's did even more maturing over the Summer, with the new job and all. And. Now. Now, she's a Junior. "Yeah," I respond. "Can I have some money for an iced coffee?" she asks. She then tells me she and her brother plan to go to McDonald's before they go to school. This. Her first day of Junior year, and his first day being a Freshman.

While I'm getting their money for McDonald's I'm thinking of how I won't be driving them to school this school year. Just another part of them growing up. Am I really ready for this? While my heart is breaking it is smiling too, because this girl has become one of my best friends. She understands more at this stage in life than her Kindergarten self did. And our son, he is developing this awesome character too, and it's just awesome watching him grow!

Today. Today is another first. I've almost always taken them to school and picked them up from school (or they'd ride the bus home), but this morning she got to drive them to school. I don't know how my mama heart is supposed to feel!! Anyhow. This is the first day of her Junior year and his Freshman. Crazy how time flies!! I could've almost swore that I just brought them into this great big world yesterday. I pray many blessings on this school year for the both of them. May it be productive and lots of memories be made!!

And. Behind the scenes. While they load their stuff into the car. New backpacks, stuff for Cross Country, and all of that other good school stuff, our American Bulldog and our cat are seeing them off to school as well.

Yes. I watched them as they drove off to school.

And. So did our animals.

"Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. Tiptoe if you must, but take a step." — Naeem Callaway

Since my last writing we've celebrated a friend's 50th Birthday at the lake, I've had simple but great things happenings in my day like muffins made by our daughter, and I've been soaking up days with our two teens before school starts back. Here's a little of what's been happening... About the Photo: I've been doing pretty well on this healthy eating stuff. But. Today. I'm having a muffin that my daughter made along with my coffee this morning. Happy Friday!! Photo taken: August 11th, 2017 About the Photo: Sitting by the lake. Phones down. This is how Saturday nights should be! We're celebrating a friend's birthday. It's the perfect evening! Photo taken: August 12th, 2017 About the Photo: Sitting by the lake. Phones down. This is how Saturday nights should be! We're celebrating a friend's birthday. It's the perfect evening! Photo taken: August 12th, 2017 About the Photo: Sitting by the lake. Phones down. This is how Saturday nights should be! We're celebrating a friend's birthday. It's the perfect evening! Photo taken: August 12th, 2017 About the Photo: Sitting by the lake. Phones down. This is how Saturday nights should be! We're celebrating a friend's birthday. It's the perfect evening! Photo taken: August 12th, 2017 About the Photo: Yolonda's 50th Birthday Party! Photo taken: August 12th, 2017 About the Photo: Yolonda's 50th Birthday Party! Photo taken: August 12th, 2017 About the Photo: Yolonda's 50th Birthday Party! Photo taken: August 12th, 2017

Our daughter is driving. It's no secret that we've struggled with this. We want to keep our kiddos safe, so we haven't been letting her go farther than the nearest town.

Then. Today. She calls me and her dad at work, and asks if she can drive and take her and her brother shopping. This would be at least a 30 minute drive for her. We struggled, but said yes. We trusted in the Lord to keep them safe (and He did) and they had a great time.

But. They brought four living creatures home. They must take asking for forgiveness before asking for permission after their dad, because he's always saying "it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission." He's joking (usually), but evidently they take this advice to heart! Four new fish are in that bowl.