Mother's Day Thoughts

I love Mother's Day.

Often times, my Grandma Robb's birthday would fall on Mother's Day. This always seemed so fitting. She was born to be a mother and grandmother on Earth. It was truly her calling and she exemplified this role.

My Grandma Nef's birthday is also in May. Grandma Nef and I have grown so close over the last few years and especially recently. I am positive that I got my organization and go-get 'em attitude and work ethic from her.

My mama and I are super close now. Growing up as mom and daughter had its ups and downs. We do not always see eye-to-eye, but the love we have for each other is fierce.

I am a mother. I always wanted to be a mother. When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was always "a mother." I wanted lots of kids. Lots. I dreamed of being a stay-at-home mom and homemaker. I pictured myself taking my kids to serve at nursing homes and in the neighborhood. I wanted to teach, train and direct my kids to be the best humans possible. Life didn't turn out the way I envisioned. However, I did have four babies and they are some of the greatest humans I know. I fail each and every single day. Some days, the failures are enormous. Some days, the failures are only in my head. Most days, I feel like I have let my children down in so many ways. Everyday I get up and try again.

My children are the reason I keep going quite honestly. When I had my stroke, my children were the single most important reason I had to get up early everyday and push as hard as I possibly could. I wanted so badly to be home with them for Christmas. I wanted so badly to one day be strong and self-reliant in order to help them be the same. I wanted to make them proud. I wanted them to be confident in my ability to heal and recover and, in fact, to soar and to rise above all of it. They have walked with me, carried me, loved me and been my biggest cheerleaders throughout every ordeal over the past 18 years.

I am immensely blessed to be their mother. I love Jackson, Braxton, Kaydon and Colton with every fiber of my being.

Five Months!!

The first picture was taken December 10, 2017. I had already lost consciousness.

The last picture is today. No filter. Five months later.

We can do hard things. You. Me. All of us. We can do hard things.

Happy five months post-stroke to all of us!

Single Mom Gig - Sunday Dinners

On fast Sundays, Nana has a family dinner. Anyone who can go is welcome.

This past Sunday, the boys and I were there, my Aunt Adel from California and her daughter, Shanna, and family were also there.

Pops had lots of questions about Phil. Phil has ADD just like Pops. We talked A LOT about what that means for the partner/companion of someone with ADD. Nana loaned me a book that she used to get to know Pops and his quirks a little bit better. I will be reading that book in my weeds for the next couple of weeks.

We held Baby Amberlyn, ate a whole lot of food, laughed, talked and just loved.

I am fully aware that these moments are coming to an end the way that they are now. Only a couple of more months until my Six Pack is a Five Pack. Pretty soon, Jackson won't be at these dinners anymore. I just want to soak in these moments with all four of them and enjoy every single minute that I have still have all four of my boys with me. On Sunday, I wanted to bear my testimony. I haven't done it since the stroke. Jackson was the chosen one after a little rock-paper-scissors to go up with me. I needed to have someone up there with me in case I went blank and forgot all of my words. I bore my testimony first, then he followed. That boy, though. Oh, he is SO ready to go serve the Lord wherever he is called to for a full, honorable two years. Every Sunday, I am met with loving people who tell me what incredible boys I have. I have no idea what I did to be blessed with these boys. No idea. But, man did I get lucky!

Friday Favorites - Miss Tami Sells Oils

My Tami sells oils. I've never been much of an oil person because it seems like a lot of work to know everything about each of them... however, with children and a stroke I've begun to use them more and my Tami is the woman for the job!!

On my first day back from the stroke, Caroline brought me a bottle of oil for headaches. I use it every single day and it works. People, it WORKS. Like, immediately works. On Saturday, they gave me a necklace. It's a little fish that has a little ball inside of it that I can dip in my oil at the beginning of the day. It's SO cute and so perfect. Pictured below is one of their elephant necklaces. They have SO many options... motorcycles, butterflies, crosses, lots of animals. Then you choose the color ball you want to put in the necklace and you can dip it in oil and it does it's job the whole day!

Seriously, go to Facebook and look up my Tami Rees Hunter and let her know what your needs are!

Baby Time

Last night, Kaydon and Colton went with me to watch the babes. Oh, how I love these babes. Oh, how they wear this auntie out!!

Asher is seriously the cutest dang naughty baby that there ever was! He thinks that being told "no" is theeee funniest thing ever.

Anson is seriously the sweetest dang chill baby that there ever was! He thinks that people smiling at him and holding him and taking him on little rides on Brother's car is the best thing ever.

I think that being an auntie is the best thing ever.

May Goals!!

I have set some pretty gnarly goals for myself this month!

They include exercising three times a week... I haven't exercised since I went back to work full-time. It was just way too much for my body and brain. I need to try again. Working out is a personal release for me and one that helps me with my confidence and self-esteem as well. I love the feeling of getting stronger. When I was in the hospital, I asked my therapists to get me back to where I could walk on the treadmill and lift weights under five pounds. I was ready and was doing okay with that. Now it's time to get back at it.

Other goals are related to my business. I have a goal to do two skincare of makeup classes this month. They're free and inspiring... Let me know if you want to do one!

I have a goal of supporting two new people in their business journey. It is $99 to start your own business! That gives you a lot of product ($200 of which is free), a gorgeous purple bag, and a website to run your business on. This business includes playing with makeup and skincare, posting about it on Facebook, and working your business from your phone. It's perfect for stay-at-home moms and for people who work. I run my business at night and on Saturdays, when I schedule my posts on Facebook. If you would like to earn some extra money (you get paid within three hours of orders being made), let me know!!

I also have a goal for personal sales. This month's kudos is pretty much awesome. I love that Younique gives such great incentives and puts together such great sales for us to promote. Please let me know if I can do anything to help you with your skincare or makeup needs or wants. Mother's Day is this month! It's a great time to purchase some mama gifts from me! :)

Single Mom Gig - The Places They'll Go

When my boys were littler, I would often read them Dr. Seuss's "Oh, They Places You'll Go." I LOVE this book.

Now, they seem to know where they're going and I'm not so sure that I'm okay with any of it!!

Of course I'm okay with it. I'm so proud of them... just wondering why I ever taught them to be independent and responsible.

Last night, a package arrived from Amazon for Kaydon. It was a map. He announced that he was so excited and needed to get his markers. ???? I asked him what he was doing. He stated that he was "mapping out his future." ???
He then drew a thick black line where the equator is. He said that he plans to live on an island near the equator, where there are no hurricanes or tornadoes. He said that he has to make sure that it is in a "secure" location where the wind patterns are more calm. ????

And so it goes...