I love my momma so much. She is one of my best friends, along with my sister. I talk to her almost everyday. Mostly small talk but sometimes good heart talks. She is just about one of the most selfless persons I know. Sometimes I have to try and ask her how she is doing after I talk about all of us:-) She is always there to listen and encourage me in everything I do. She has always been like that. She is the real deal:-)
  I saw this picture of us and couldn't help but see how beautiful my momma is. Not just on the outside but on the inside too. I pray that I can be a mom to my children like she has been to me. A mom who loves unconditionally. A mom who thinks my kids are a perfect gift from God.
  When I was about 15, I had this crazy idea that I wanted to be a model:-) OK, I was about 5 foot tall and maybe 85 lbs with fuzzy, permed hair. Did my momma ever tell me or shall I say laugh at me? No she took me to different things and encouraged me. Now I know she knew I would not ever make it as a model but she wasn't going to be the one to crush my dreams. I also tried out for choir in 4th grade and did not make it. I can not sing to save my life. My mom marched up to that school house so fast to tell that teacher a piece of her mind. That her daughter had a beautiful voice and she could not understand why I didn't make it.

  My momma is so precious to me. I thank God for her everyday. May we all be those moms who invest in each of our children's lives and love them unconditionally.

    ~ Joli ~

The Little Things

 Jesus has been teaching me lately to notice the little things in my life that should make me smile and give thanks to Him. Having a big family means that I am busy most of the day and into the night sometimes. He has also convicted me of always wanting a perfect, clean home. I wasn't always this way. When Sean and I were first married, I kept a messy house and it didn't bother me one bit. I was just as content as I could be to hang out with my husband and my little kids. The bigger our family grew the more I needed to organize and keep things clean just to function. Well, I needed the Lord to show me that I had allot of pride issues and I needed to be like Mary and not Martha. I need to keep my eyes on the eternal at all times. I'm not saying we should never clean our houses and organize, but we do need to set our priorities right.

 These are just a few of the little things in life around me each day that I normally would miss but not anymore.

1. My husbands big strong hands! I love his hands.

2. Sweet-sixteen doughnut faces

3. Little giggles

4. Swinging on the porch swing with my baby

5. A phone call from Sean ( means he was thinking of me:-))

6. A picture of me drawn by my 3 and 5 year old. For the 10th time in a day:-)

7. Coffee

8. My 15 year old giving me hugs and telling me he loves me first

9. walks with Sean

10. Salads with strawberries in them

11. Bathing my busy little boy and then massaging him with his yummy smelling baby cream

12. watching my children sing to Jesus

13. Folding up laundry .I love the smell of clean clothes:-)

14. shopping with my sister and Peyton

15. Getting surprises from Sean:-)

  I hope each of you stop throughout your busy day and give thanks to the Lord for all He has done and just for who He is!! I am so glad He cares about every little detail of my life and that He sings over me!

  "The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing."
~ Zephaniah 3:17

~ Joli ~

 My niece Gracelyn Faith is turning one in a couple of weeks. Can I just say she is just about the cutest little girl in the world! She is such a blessing from God to her Mommy and Daddy, uncles, aunts, cousins, and grandparents. She is so tiny but so busy:-) We are going to her birthday party this weekend to celebrate her!!! Lots of pictures to come next week. We sure do love you little Linny the Pooh:-)

Fun days

 We are loving this weather around here. I have been sitting on the front porch some and venturing out with the kids again. I hate Charleston summers:-( I grew up at the beach and then got married and moved way up north for a few years. I do love Fall so much! I love everything about it. The cooler temps, the fall leaves, soups again, apple cider, camping, the clothes, no more sweaty children, less laundry and I could go on and on.

  The kids have been playing outdoors alot, which makes for happier children:-)

 We have also been doing alot of baking and cooking lately, something I absolutely love to do with my girls.

  

Park day

   

        

 

 Eden Joy is already seven months

  I hope you have a blessed week.

  Joli