"OF COURSE!"

WARNING: this post is pretty sappy. and so am I.

Today at 10:00 am EST 

marked the sixth year anniversary of a special day.

My whole family knew what I didn't.

I remember sitting on the couch,

waiting on my sister to get ready.

She had asked me to go to the mall with her,

so I just threw on the ol' reliable

t-shirt + skirt

combo and started watching The Ellen Show.

My sister asked me, "Are you wearing that?!"

Umm...yea, I am not trying to impress anyone,

it's Eastgate.

Then the doorbell rang.

At the door is a boy,

(He was only 21, feels like forever ago)

my favorite boy,

 holding deep red roses.

He surprised me again!

( I thought he was in Illinois)

I invite him in,

simply thrilled he is at my house,

totally unaware of what was next!

Between being mauled by my parent's fourth child,

Keeper, an Australian Shepherd,

Ellen yelling some funny quips, 

and Ashlyn poking her head around the corner,

he asks to step back outside,

then

it.got.real.

I don't remember any of what was said next,

I just started to feel so giddy.

I remember the perfect ring sparkled in its box,

I remember how his face looked,

I remember how we both were shaking,

and then I said,

"OF COURSE!"

(NOT what I had planned on saying. I may have practiced after our first date, yep, SAP)

pictures the next day (note:I was dressed better)

goofballs

That day rocked!

 I hope to always remember it! 

And I get to, whenever I glance at my left hand,

adorned with that same glittering ring.

----

Both my sister and brother will be getting married this year!

Both were engaged within a week of each other this past month.

I am so thrilled for both of them,

I cannot wait to hug both their necks!

(and their fiancés as well)

It is such a special time for them,

and I find myself reliving that same giddiness I felt

6 years ago.

Because marriage is work,

and working with your best friend

is pretty awesome.

I am always thankful,

that he chose me, and 

that I said,

"OF COURSE!"

(even if it sounded a little unrehearsed and goofy)

My Life July Photo Challenge

Alright so this post is a little bit lighter than the last,

but come on it was 3 in the morning when I wrote most of it.

Anywho!

New month, new challenge,

and this one I want all my readers to participate in too.

Now,

I am no where near a great photographer,

but I really really like taking photos.

Also, my only camera is my trusty,

multi-functional iPhone4,

and maybe someday that will change,

But for now it takes pictures,

and i need the practice.

So back to the challenge::

most every day

in July

I will take a picture of what I saw that day in my life,

and I promise not every picture will be of my beautiful children.

Here is where you come in, yes you!

You can take and share your photos too (via Instagram) and 

each monday in July I will post some great ones to share!

Just add 

#mylifeinjuly

to your instagram pictures 

and we can all see the beauty 

in each other's lives!

Starting Monday, this blog will be mostly photos I am taking and I am nervous and excited!

I can't wait to see your photos too!

photo from our mini trip last week,
it's summertime!

late night frustration/next morning encouragement

I am up late.

Not by choice,

more like demand,

because my toddler 

will NOT sleep.

I have done it all,

laid down with her,

let her lay down with me,

rubbed her feet/legs/back/head,

let her lay on the couch,

etc.

And each time i start to leave

or doze off,

she is up, whining and crying.

It's been over two hours since I first heard her

crying out from a bad dream, (I think).

My break?

It was alright,

I was still pretty present on social media,

but it was nice to be more mindful of it.

I am pretty anxious to be back on here at apple red again.

As I type this, I am waiting out the 

wiggly, very sleepy toddler next to me.

(Please give in to your heavy eyelids!)

Guys, I haven't felt like a great mom lately.

I mean, I know I am a good mom,

and I try to be,

but between poison ivy and pink eye,

I have been extra whiny and tired.

I am just going to say it...

I have been way selfish!

(deep breath)

And I know that I need me time,

trust me, I am not trying to be hard on myself,

but truthfully, I have allowed lots of distractions 

to overwhelm me, and steal my focus.

And all of them I am holding on to,

not quite sure how,

and not really wanting to,

let them go.

And when I try to juggle it all myself, 

I usually end up crying to God in the closet,
or crying on the couch at 4:30 in the morning,

not just because I can't juggle,

but because I am idiotic enough to think that I can,

by myself.

every time.

--------------------

And after 4 hours she fell asleep,

then an hour later the baby got up.

sometimes life is funny.

I know I am not alone in this,

nights like last night,

aren't unique,

some of you have much worse nights.

I am sorry,

because right now I feel for you,

pure exhaustion.

Please, please remember,

that we weren't meant to do life on our own.

Please remind the person

in your mind right now,

who has it rough,

that He wants to do this life with us.

Because even though I am tired,

my healthy 9 month old is babbling 

and crawling around on the floor.

And even though my eye is goopy (yuck!)

it is healing, and won't last forever.

And even though so many things are out of my control,

I am alive, I have today, and I hope to glorify Him with it!

And Jesus spoke these words in Matthew:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,

 and I will give you rest. 

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, 

for I am gentle and humble in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls. 

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

(11:28-30)

I love you all and its good to be back!

Cordie

taking a break

I realized I forgot to inform y'all 

I am taking a break from blogging and social media

the month of June.

(I even deleted my Facebook app from my phone! Gasp*)

I will only be instagramming and you can follow me

@edendaygreer.

It's has been a rough couple of weeks 

so I want to spend my free time, 

refreshing and refocusing,

and thinking of new ideas for ARH come July!

We are all well here, please don't worry!

We are just enjoying doing all things summer-y around here!

How are you enjoying your summer so far? 

Come back in July!! I have an idea brewing in my head! 

Speaking of brewing, more coffee please!

hope y'all make it

more storms expected this afternoon into tonight.

We have been itching to get to the lake,

but its another busy weekend with storms in the forecast.

Blerg.

luckily, our backyard rocks!

How are you spending your weekend?

This morning I made Chocolate Chip Buttermilk Scones. Delish!

Tomorrow is supposed to be garage sale day here, weather permitting.

Yay for simplifying!!

Here is a sweet family of 6 about to head out on an adventure 

after selling their house, most of their possessions,

and will be living in their airstream!

This movie is coming out soon and I am pretty excited about it!

(Ron Swanson is in it!)

Get Outside! Thank you, Sheena, for these challenges.

 Hot buttered coffee, I think I am going to try it!

and we may cozy up and watch this!

Enjoy your weekend!!

some days

most days,

most days are full of fun,

playing,

(cleaning),

creating,

(cleaning),

and dancing.

most days look like this in the summer

P :: 8 months old

some days are full of stress,

tears,

frustrations,

tears,

complete exhaustion.

Thursday last,

that was quite a day.

I had every intention of having a most day.

The morning would be spent running a few errands,

and then playing for the rest of the day.

Levi and I were planning on going on a date,

we wanted to see Star Trek

(don't you?)

We were excited,

the girls were anxious for their babysitter

 to come and play.

But,

we went to Wal*Mart,

(that was part of the plan)

and while we were there,

our Cord took a nasty fall OUT of the cart.

It was one of THE worst feelings I have ever endured.

Waves of emotions engulfed me, 

while the goose egg on her head grew. 

I scooped her up,

while "wearing" Pen Pen,

and checked her out. 

We rushed up front,

an inconsolable toddler,

groggy frustrated baby,

a preschooler pushing her own little cart, 

and a mama with panic in her eyes,

and pit in her stomach.

After receiving some help,

we left, got into our car,

and then I lost it.

Control.

Weeping and scared, I called my husband 

and then headed to his office.

He called the doctor,

I had some water to calm down,

and some wonderful women checked Cord out,

while making all three girls chuckle in the back seat.

(fast forward a few hours)

My doctor was out of her office,

and I had not heard back from the on-call line.

Cord's goose egg wasn't as swollen,

but as it turns out she had also hurt her foot in the fall,

and couldn't walk on it.

So we packed up,

took Nora and Pen Pen to our friend's house, 

and drove to the ER.

(45 miles away)

After X-rays, we found out that there were no breaks

just bad bruising,

 and her head looked great!

Thankful, relieved,

and humbled, we headed home.

I know,

we will go through more injuries.

I will have to watch my children endure all sorts of pain.

It will be hard, 
and I may just want to lock them up in a padded room 
filled with bubbles and ice cream,

but someone very wise once told me,

"I have to remind myself, that they are HIS,

and HE has given them to me."

I pray and hope for my daughters to cling to Him,

because I know I did on Thursday.

And I am thankful for these some days,

for make most days
more precious,
and sweeter.

I rrrreeally need a nap today.

prayer and giving

I am holding my children close today.

I am treasuring every moment.

Image via Facebook

I am waiting for this storm to pass,

but for many,

life is completely different.

Already.

Words cannot describe the deep sorrow

I am weeding through now.

And,

God is bigger.

He is there, in Moore,

helping rescuers,

holding scared children,

comforting hurting parents,

and strengthening communities.

He is here,

comforting our souls,

and moving us to act. 

And while we can't all go to Moore,

our phones have made it 

so easy to help.

Here are two ways to help:

The Red Cross

Text REDCROSS to 90999 

LifeChurch.TV

Give to Relief and Restoration

or

text RELIEF & donation amount to 86613

So,

I am holding my children close today.

I am clinging to my Savior.

I am praying for the hurting.