Wordless Wednesday
April 25, 2018
All About Laycie
Wordless Wednesday April 25, 2018 {Wordless Wednesday}
Love
Our Family Photo: December 2017 {Photo Reflection}
Family Photo – Christmas 2017
January 2018 Update {Thoughts From Me}
I haven’t been posting as much lately because life’s been busy. We’ve been moving into the new house and we’ve had Christmas and Winston’s birthday to celebrate. December is always our busy month.
My baby turned 17. I can hardly believe I’ve been his Momma for 17 years now. Time has rushed past me and my son is almost a man.
He’s kindhearted, helpful and such an inspiration to me. He’s struggled with learning over the years but he’s never stopped trying to overcome his learning difficulties. He’s taught me what perseverance is. God blessed me with this boy of mine and now I understand why he was my first born. I’m proud to be his Mother and can hardly wait to see where God leads him in his life. But we’re in no rush to get there. I plan to enjoy this last year with him before he’s a “man” by law.
17 years I’ve been a Momma. That’s an accomplishment to me. I have 13 years to go before my youngest baby reaches that “man” stage. 13 years will fly by I know.
I’m proud of this accomplishment. When I was a child, being a Mother to four children was my goal in life. To be a Mother and a teacher and singer. I do all three of those now.
Homeschooling was chosen for my children when I was married to my ex-husband. It was a choice we made together. It was a choice I prayed over and it was a choice that God led me to. It’s also a choice my children and I have never regretted, nor do we plan to change. It’s been the best for us.
I’m looking forward to continuing this journey as a Momma. I’m looking forward to sharing many experiences still with my “almost grown” son and with my other 3 beautiful babies as well. They’re all growing up on me so fast but every minute we have is cherished every single day.
I hope this post finds you all blessed and as loved as I am,
Dana
Adventures of Life {Thoughts From Me}
This Crew year is coming to an end for me. Due to our move, I haven’t been able to sign up for new items. I have greatly enjoyed our year on the crew but I also look forward to a mild break.
Our life is filled with new adventures now. We are seeing lots of new places and doing new things. Honestly, we’re able to do things I never thought would be possible in our life and I can’t wait to see where the Lord is leading us in this season of our life.
Is life perfect? No way but it’s pretty good right now and that’s all one could really ask for. God has a plan and he’s leading our way. With Him, we cannot go wrong.
Life Unexpected: Our Story {Thoughts From Me}
Two years ago this week, my life changed for the absolute better. I took a trip to see a friend, who’s family I had known for 25 years and yet I’d never met him. I didn’t expect to find in him the man of my dreams, the man who was equally yoked to my soul, the man who I had searched for all of my life. A year ago, I wrote about our meeting, our day, our beginning and I’ve decided I would share it here as well.
On this Sunday last year, I took my first semi-long driving trip alone up into the rural lower part of NC. I was invited to visit a friend who’s family I have known and loved for 25 years but I had never personally met him. I got up early and headed out to have the most peaceful and relaxing day I can remember having in my life.
We hung out all day and never stopped talking. He made me the best omelet for breakfast. He made me lunch. He fed me watermelon grown from his garden. And we had baked chicken that he also made for dinner.
He fell in love with me the moment he laid eyes on me that day and I him. I can still remember seeing him that first time and that big smile he gave me. I remember feeling warm and loved when he talked to me with that Connecticut accent that’s turned just slightly southern from his years of going back and forth between his Northern and Southern homes. It was this day that I fell in love with Donald Clayton Hodge.
He tells me I have been in his dreams for a lifetime. He loves me like no one ever has. He’s stood by me through emotional abuse in my past and has moved me into a much better life.
This year has been hell in healing for us both. Our lives have changed tremendously and though it’s been tough, it’s also been completely for the better. Neither of us are perfect and there’s a lot that isn’t seen unless you know us personally, but one thing we do have is a love of God, each other and our family. We support each other, even on days when we want to just give up. We love each other always and we know that together with God we can make it through even the darkest of days.
Thank you, Don, for loving me and showing me a life that I can dream about and make reality. Thank you for loving my children and even my stubborn mother. Thank you for putting up with so much this year and for even changing your own ways to make a better life for us together. I love you with all my heart and this day will be the one I always cherish, that will always be our anniversary in my heart.
I never expected that I’d marry this man, that I’d want to spend my life with him. I never expected that he’d love me and my children just as much. I never expected this life to be ours. God had plans we could not have foreseen but here we are living this life together and the best has yet to come.
There are blessings where we least expect them.
Yours always,
Dana
Another Week Bites The Dust {Thoughts From Me}
And another week bites the dust.
I’m totally off schedule. I feel behind in the plans I had. I need to set up a better plan to stay on track.
Emma is talking my head off. Distracting me from what I need to do but that’s okay because I don’t mind hearing her talk. She’s such a social creature.
Laycie is putting all her energy into learning about baby possums. She’s learned so much about them. Next week we will dive deeper into some lessons to learn a little more.
Winston has been working on his Minecraft game, mowing grass, building social skills. He’s ready for another Georgia trip. He had a lot of fun. I’m glad.
Jackson is busy busy. He’s learning big, little and middle in sizes. He’s learning that Daddy is big and Mommy is big and he is little. He’s learning colors like grey. He is counting to 10 on his own. He’s gaining new skills every day. He can balance on his head on the couch. And today he actually held the possum. He asked without prompting. I was totally proud of him.
So life is busy and unorganized right now but we’re working on it and we’re enjoying life together. Life is messy but joy overcomes the mess every day. So for now I’m living in the moment and letting life go as it will.
Until next time…
Dana