waiting....

Potty training

I have hesitated to say it but Natalie is officially potty trained!!! I am so proud of her. She has been going potty for many months but for the last month and half she has been in underwear and has had no accidents even at night!!!! Woo hoo!!! No more diapers or Pull-ups!!!

Dance Recital

Juliana's dance recital was last week! She had been looking so forward to it! She had been practicing and showing us her routine for months!

Juliana loves the makeup. I feel so weird putting it on so heavy, especially the eyeliner. It is so hard to put eyeliner on a little girl. I don't wear it so maybe I just need practice!

They were hula girls and did a ballet and tap routine to songs from Lilo and Stitch. The theme was Hollywood/movies for Full Out Dance Studio. There was only one other girl in her class and she is several years older than Juliana. I was worried that Juliana would be nervous or not do as well but she was awesome!! She wasn't even nervous. She did great and smiled so well!!

Juliana's teacher is Miss Mary Grace and Juliana just loves her!! She was so excited about dancing that I signed her up for summer dance!

I am looking forward to next year and getting to see Juliana dance again and have Natalie join her!!!

Glasses

My big girl had to get glasses last month. I knew she would need them eventually. I had to get glasses when I was a freshman and Drew needed them after college. So, I thought both girls would need them in high school or after just not this soon! Juliana is farsighted and already has an astigmatism. I wish she didn't have to worry about this already. I worry how the glasses will make it through kindergarten. As a teacher, kids with glasses and retainers always made me nervous. It was so hard for little kids to keep up with them. After finding out the news, we had fun trying on lots of different types of glasses eventually deciding on a pink and purple pair. So far she has been really responsible and has remembered to put them back in the case. Most importantly, Juliana looks so cute in them!!!

I'm letting go

I heard a song today on the way home from the doctor and it just hit me. This is where I am in life. I am sure that I have heard it before but I guess I never really listened to the lyrics.

I am holding so tightly to my dreams that I am missing out on what God has planned for me. God's plan is so good. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I have to let go and give in to His word, His will. Rest not resist what his plans are for me. I have been resisting a lot lately. So much that it is getting in the way of the many blessings He has given me.

The song says:
I’m letting go
Of the life I planned for me
And my dreams
I’m losing control
Of my destiny
It feels like I’m falling and that’s what it’s like to believe
So I’m letting go

I have to give in to faith and believe and not hold on to my "dreams."
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

I have been researching a Bible study for this summer and think it will be Becoming a Woman of Purpose. I need to delve into the Word and figure out what God's plan and purpose is for me. On Amazon, the book says, "As you grow toward genuine peace and fulfillment, you'll learn the joy of loving God and others, waiting on Him with hope, trusting Him through suffering, serving Him with reverent fear, and fulfilling His purposes." That sounds amazing!!

Giving in to your gravity
Knowing You are holding me
I’m not afraid

We love a parade!

We love going to parades!! It is great to live in a small town because small towns have great parades. Alton has a fabulous Halloween parade. So fabulous that they trick or treat on the 30th so the parade can be on the 31st. The Memorial Day parade is also fun. I always go a little overboard on the "costumes." Gotta love Children's Place clearance after each holiday!


We always go with my parents and sit in the same spot. Juliana usually stands with her hands on her ears because she doesn't like loud noises.

The girls got lots of candy and flowers.

Thankfully, they even got popsicles because it was so HOT!!!!

City Girl

I am definitely a city girl. I don't like the country and I don't like being outside unless it is at the beach or a city. Drew, on the other hand, is a country boy. He grew up going to his Granddaddy's farm Prairie View all summer every summer until he was a teenager. He loves tractors, fishing and being outside. We couldn't be more opposite there! So, it is important to Drew to go to Prairie View a lot in the summertime and share that side of himself with Juliana and Natalie. This is not something I usually look forward to. Normally, I grit my teeth and deal with it. However, when we went two weeks ago it was actually pretty fun. We got yummy Qdoba on the way so that is a great start!!! We played board games and spent time together with no computer or TV on. The next morning we went to see the cows. Our dog Bailey kept barking at them and scared them away so no good pictures. The girls sat on the 4 wheeler.

I forgot the helmets so no rides this time. Natalie loved the tractor and finding worms with Drew for fishing.

We went to visit Drew's great Uncle Weldon at his cute store in Shelbyville. He is 92 and still comes into the store everyday. It has lots of sewing supplies and fabric so we picked some out to make cute t-shirts for the girls soon.

We found a fun playground and a little Mennonite grocery store and got a yummy chocolate snack. We built lots of fun memories and I am actually looking forward to going back!!