Have you heard this song?

"I am" --David Crowder 

There's no space that His love can't reach

There's no place where we can't find peace

There's no end to Amazing Grace

Take me in with your arms spread wide

Take me in like an orphan child

Never let go, never leave my side.

I am,

Holding on to You.

I am,

Holding on to You.

In the middle of the storm,

I am Holding on,

I am

I am,

Holding on to You.

I am,

Holding on to you.

In the middle of the storm,

I am holding on,

I am

Love like this, Oh my God to find!

I am overwhelmed what a joy divine!

Love like this sets our hearts on fire!

I am,

Holding on to You.

I am,

Holding on to You.

In the middle of the storm,

I am Holding on,

I am

I am,

Holding on to You.

I am,

Holding on to you.

In the middle of the storm,

I am holding on,

I am

This is my Resurrection Song

This is my Hallelujah Come

This is why to You I run

This is my Resurrection Song

This is my Hallelujah Come

This is why to You I run

There's no space that His love can't reach

There's no place that we can't find peace

There's no end to Amazing Grace

I am,

Holding on to You.

I am,

Holding on to You.

In the middle of the storm,

I am Holding on,

I am

I am,

Holding on to You.

I am,

Holding on to you.

In the middle of the storm,

I am holding on,

I am

TGIF!!! It has been a crazy few weeks in my neck of the woods. Thankful for good music to get me through..

Currently{volume1}

thinking | that even when things feel so hard, time passes quickly and the sun comes out and you forget those hard times so easily. Zetta has started school and I knew there would be a transition time of sickness, but it has effected all of us! We have all been under the weather, which brings cranky days and sleepless nights. But this past Sunday during church I felt such a feeling of peace come over me, and I realized that it wasn't all so bad. I'm blessed to have a family who needs me, two little babies and a husband who looks  to me for so much love and comfort. It's a good feeling to be needed, even when at times, it can be very overwhelming.

| Motherhood is a choice you make everyday, to put someone else's happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing even when you're not sure what the right thing is...and to forgive yourself, over and over again, for doing everything wrong | Donna Ball 

listening to | when I am running I am listening to a lot of Usher and 90's pop radio :) But, on a normal day I have found myself turning off the TV and turning on my contemporary christian station on pandora. It just calms my mind and helps me find the good in the midst of all the hard times. 

watching | HGTV Flipping the Block, Big Brother (thank you NFL for starting so that DirectTV and channel 12 would come to an agreement. :), and Bachelor in Paradise (which I will not be watching again..not really a fan). I am excited for all the Fall shows to start back up this month!  

loving | fall, of course. I love everything about it. The weather, leaves changing, the crisp air, windows open, jeans, sweatshirts, latte's, bonfire's, football, and the list could go on and on!! 

SEMO district Fair

 You know its the beginning of fall when certain things happen..football, pumpkin spice latte's, and the SEMO district fair!!! Every year my whole childhood we rode in the fair parade as a family for our family business. It is held the first day of the fair, and those are some of the best memories from growing up. This year they moved the parade to Saturday morning instead of Monday afternoon and we couldn't make it because of the wedding! I was really bummed, but there is always next year! Sunday afternoon we headed out to fair grounds! It was perfect weather so we thought we might as well go when it's not going to be too crowded! We did it all...rides (well, one ride because Zetta was NOT a fan!), funnel cakes, fair potatoes, went to see the animals, etc! You name it we did it! It was such a fun afternoon with my little family!! It's not even out of town yet and I can't wait for next year! I know it is going to get more and more fun each year as the girls get older, and I cannot wait! Next year we are going to have two little toddler's running around wanting to ride everything. Kid's make everything more fun..or at least more interesting! :)

Nora and I were getting a bit sweaty waiting on Daddy and sister looking at the animals! Plus, what else is there to do while you wait except take a selfie?!

Notice the sticker on Zetta's back from church! She will NOT take that thing off! She gets them at school also, and we usually have to transfer it to the back of her pj's and take it off once she goes to sleep! Crazy girl!

She finally gave up on me! 

See ya next year, SEMO fair!!

Mr. & Mrs. Siebert!

This past weekend one of my very best friends tied the knot! I could not be happier! Friday, myself and one other bridesmaid got our nails done and we helped decorate all day before rehearsal that evening. We had the fastest rehearsal ever, then headed out to a local winery for dinner! 

We all got up and were at the hair place by 9:30am to start the day! Bagels, mimiosa's, and some of my favorite friends of all time..I knew it was going to be an amazing day! These girls are some of my oldest and best friends. I am so happy that we have all stayed so close and were able to have such a fun weekends celebrating Tara and Michael! I didn't take as many picuture's as I would have liked because I didn't have my phone half the time, but it was a beautiful ceremony and an equally as beautiful reception! In between, the wedding party hopped on a bus and headed to one of our high school friends farm to take pictures. While the bride and groom were taking pictures, the wedding party all just sat around and caught up on each others lives!
Congratultions Mr. and Mrs.Siebert!!! You deserve nothing but the best!

Tara's getting married!

One of my very best friends, Tara is getting married the first weekend of September! We went to school together all our lives and have been good friends since middle school. She is one of most loyal and loving friends that a girl can have! She is always there no matter what, and I couldn't wait to celebrate with her last weekend! We all met and loaded up Saturday morning and headed to Nashville! We pulled in about lunch time, checked in at our hotel and took off walking! We grabbed some lunch, they just walked in and out of stores for a little while. A couple of the girls bought new boots (because we actually live in a town where people wear boots on a daily basis, not just to look cute ;)), and then we headed back to the hotel to do the lingerie part-ay and get ready for a fun filled night!

Lunch!

My room of girls!

We all got these little drink cling stickers, they made for a good time!

Some of my absolute favorite girls, ever! 

 It was a fun evening! We did have an eventful trip home, with my car over heating and then getting pulled over, because I called Pete to let him know we were back on the road and apparently there is a strict law against being on the phone while driving in Illinois. luckily, the lady cop was extremely sweet and let us off with a warning because we didn't know and she didn't want to ruin our weekend! Thank you lady cop!!!!!

I was more than ready to get home to these two sweet babes though! I am so thankful for my awesome husband that watches the girls without question so I can have some time with friends!! Such a great time with great friends!

The internal roller coaster of a working mama

Pete and I probably have the same conversation once a month. Any other working mama of small kids knows how it goes.. "I hate work, I wish I could just stay home with the kids all day"! Then the next sentence is how much I love my job and I need the adult interaction and staying home is not for me.
So, yesterday was my day off since I work Saturday's, and I really just thought all day about how grateful I am for my job and what it is teaching me, but also, more importantly what it is teaching my children. Zetta is at an age where she understand where I am going and such. She knows my work shirt, and when she has to go to work with me she throws her arms in the air and lets out a big "yahoo" before we even make the turn into the mall parking lot. I had to run into work yesterday morning before we opened because I needed to exchange money to get them smaller change before the day started. Which means we all have to load up, go to the bank(where she also knows that they have suckers), and unload at my work so I could take the money inside. I know I work at a kids entertainment center, so it is obviously a fun place for her to go, but she just kept saying, "mommy's work, yahoo" all morning. It just changed my whole attitude. I need to be grateful that we got to choose when she started any type of outside preschool or daycare. We have family around that takes time out of their lives to come watch my girls and wants to be an influence in their life. I need to be grateful that I am teaching my children that Pete and I go to work so that we can provide for our family. I feel like working moms get a bad wrap sometimes because "someone else is raising our children". I am extremely thankful for the job that I have and the flexibility that I have when we are in a bind, or the fact that I can bring Nora to work and wear her around while I do my job. Not many places allow things like that and it really is a perfect fit for our family. Yes, the job has a few negatives, but what job doesn't? After yesterday, and having to run in on my day off, usually that changes my attitude for the whole day. I get aggravated and let it affect the whole day. But yesterday, I didn't. I usually get stressed out on my day off and run around like a crazy person trying to clean my house, go to the grocery, cook a few meals for the week, laundry, etc. But yesterday, I just set all of those jobs aside and spent the whole day focusing on my girls. We went to the library, lunch, they both took amazing naps and I sat on the couch and watch stupid reality TV the whole time, then we drove down to Sikeston and visited with a few friends. I had the best day. It was like I hit the reset button. I am okay that I have to go to work today, because I know I am doing what is best for ME and MY FAMILY and that is what matters most. I just want to encourage all those working mama's out there that struggle with the same internal battle of guilt. It is okay that you are working. It is okay that your kids are going to a childcare facility. They are learning and playing with other kids and that is just helping them learn to share and be independent people. It is okay that sometimes you eat pizza for dinner and have dirt on the floor. Because you are teaching your children that working is a good thing, and you are doing your best to provide the best life for your family. Don't ever let someone tell you different. Mom wars can get pretty ugly these days but if you focus on your family and whats best for you, that is all that matters.

I know that got a little deep at points but I needed to let it out. For myself, and any other mom that struggles with going to work. I feel like I am finally at a place emotionally that I am okay. I know I am doing whats right, and I need to cling to that when others try to put me down. 
Have an awesome day! We are going to cheer on the Redhawks tonight and kick off the start of college football! WoooHoo! The best time of the year!

Favorite Things Party!

Today I am linking up with Erika and Andrea and sharing my favorite thing (or two) for under $10! I am going to share two beauty must haves for me that are under $10.

1. Hands down, must have, is my concealer! With a 5 month old, 21 month old, work, and trying to train for a half marathon, there is no way I could go a day without concealer! Even when I just stay at the house all day I put my basic face make up on. I feel like I am more put together if I do! 
                                           ..

2. My second must have is my baby lips chapstick. I have every single one that is sold, but I think my favorite is the "grapevine". It is the very last one in this picture. It gives you enough color, but still has the chap stick feeling. Love it!!!




I fell behind on blogging last week, but I almost have my Nashville weekend recap finished so stay tuned!