This past week Brielle got to celebrate turning 3 and getting a NEW friend (our foster child) in the same week! To say it was eventful, is an understatement. On the day of her birthday, we spent time with family and friends and went out to eat and had the best time with those that we love. Friday, she went to Corpus Christi to spend the night with my parents at the ocean (got to go on a sailboat, on a regular boat to look for dolphins,go swimming in the pool, and got to pick up her cousins and bring them back home to our house) and then celebrate her birthday here at home yesterday. Whew! This little girl turning 3 means so much to Shane and I, and we are beyond blessed and thankful for ALL of our friends and family who called, sent us a text message, bought her gifts, and donated to our adoption agency! We love you all!
delicious cake balls!Best cousins!photo booth time!make your own goodie bags!cupcakes!so happy with her balloonsdelicious!she is 3!THREE!!So big!!
our little love!
I hope everyone had a great Father’s Day (post will be coming soon)!!
This month I believe the word to describe how I am feeling now is clarity. I now have more clarity than ever before, more understanding of what’s to come, and just more desire to just really help others and listen to others. I feel like if I can help one person and/or family by sharing my story, my precious angels, and what all I have been through, it just may make things a little easier, or at least give them hope when they feel like there is none left.
Yesterday as I was driving home from celebrating Rochelle’s first birthday, I looked up and noticed the sun was setting, and this has become one of my favorite things to look at and admire this past month. I actually notice now all of the different shades of greys, blues, pinks and whites in the clouds and the shapes and textures, that just seem more bold than ever before. I notice the crispness in the trees, and all the different hues of green, orange, and and brown. Photography has definitely helped me describe my feelings through the beautiful pictures, and I love it.
My mom came up with an idea on what we should do to carry on her name, and to really help other babies that have been in her similar situation. It just makes you realize that even the most simple thing can seem to make the biggest difference to someone, especially those who have been in our shoes. I am SO excited to share what we have planned, as soon as is comes to pass. Please pray that our thoughts/ideas come true and that our hands can help just one baby in the NICU, who is right where we started, with their parents sitting and praying for hope, recovery, and healing.
I must never forget that God’s working miracles in our lives everyday and even though we cannot see them or protect them from happening, I really want to make sure my heart and mind remain open at all times for anything good, or bad. I can’t believe just yesterday we were all together as a family celebrating, just as we would if she were here with us. In her honor, I will share some of my favorite pictures from our beautiful day.
Brielle writing in her sisters birthday card.SUCH a beautiful photo that could never be planned or re-created.Helping mommy with her cake!Rochelle is 1!Cake!Beautiful still photo of Brielle and her cousins.My beautiful prayer before my balloon releaseStunning. Hope you love them Rochelle! #pinkforRochelle
This weekend was definitely one for the books! Thanks to my parents for watching Brielle, Shane and I got to have a little weekend get-away! We quickly headed over to my best friends house, and got to spend time at her new house and enjoy the peace and quiet of country living.
Friday night we got to my friends house pretty late, and enjoyed catching up for a couple of hours before snacking on foods and enjoying some delicious homemade margaritas! It was so fun to stay up late, and catch up with Jimmy and Adriane! (Of course, Jimmy and Shane went outside to their outside patio and their new outdoor tv to watch football games and me and Adriane stayed inside the house and relaxed at the bar area.)
Saturday morning was a drag because first off, I am not used to staying up drinking, getting no sleep, and waking up early.. so needless to say I was dragging for a bit, but it was oh-so-worth it! Shane woke up at the crack of dawn to go fishing at their little tank they have out in the backyard, so I joined him when I finally dragged my butt of bed, and it was definitely a nice quiet moment that we rarely have together (and catching fish was a definitely bonus!). Adriane cooked some delicious breakfast, and then we got ready to get our mani/pedis while our men took naps (hello–jealous! haha). After we got home, it was quickly time to get ready to go to the Cheesecake Factory and it was so delicious! It was good friends, good laughs, good drinks and just overall, such good fun. The food was amazing and never fails to be so good, and having them sing happy birthday (to me and adriane) wasn’t too shabby either ;). We headed over to the Barnes and Noble’s to walk off the food and dessert, and it was literally my heaven! I wish I could seriously buy all the food stuff, but I only left with two great looking books, which I can’t wait to read! Getting home after such a fun-filled day was so worth it, but getting good sleep was definitely on the plan for the night!
Sunday was so good to wake up with a great nights rest (even though Shane woke up yet again at 630am to go fishing),and I ready to start the day off feeling blessed and so thankful to be alive! I asked Adriane if she wanted to go on a walk/jog with me and when ended up taking the pups so a walk it was! It was so beautiful and overcast on the entire two miles, that it felt so good to have the breeze and fresh air first thing in the morning. Seeing beautiful horses, miniature horses, and donkeys, definitely made the walk that much better! It will be time soon to head home back to Lockhart, to pick up our precious girl so she can have a Daddy/Daughter day tomorrow (yay for those days while Mommy works), but I am so thankful that this weekend happened and it was MUCH needed! Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate my 27th birthday and it was definitely a great start to this year! Bring on love, friendship, and happiness!! 🙂
Beautiful flowers and bear Shane got me for my birthday!Delicious cupcakes made by Adriane!Mango Margarita!Me and Shane before dinner!BFFThe men of the evening!Looked great, tasted not so great! haha Strawberry MartiniCheesecake time!The group!Adriane’s awesome pup Balto!
Wow, 27 years old. I remember thinking, after turning 25, there really isn’t anything much to celebrate until you turn the big 3-0. Whoa, was I wrong! This is the first year that I can actually tell you I am finding who I truly am. Without college, being pregnant and having babies, this is the first year that I have had to grow and find who I truly am. I will write down 27 things about me on my 27th birthday!
I woke up at 4:30am to start out my 27th birthday year off right at the gym! (I have walked 5,469 steps and it’s only 6:30am)
I found this passion for photography that I never knew I had!
Crafting is still my weakness, but it’s something that I LOVE to do!
I set a goal to lose 27 pounds by my 27th birthday, and I just accomplished it yesterday(lost 29 exactly)! (Still have a new goal to set, but so happy that I did it!)
Late night walking with my husband and my baby, has become one of my favorite things to do.
My favorite bath and body works product is the lavender and vanilla body wash that is supposed to help with sleep! 🙂
I love to read! I just finished the book by author Anna Maxted and will be posting a review soon!
My favorite season of the year is fall, and I am so happy it’s right around the corner!
I am wanting to grow my blog further this year, and I will put in as much hard work as it takes, to do so!
My top two favorite shows right now is Mistresses, and Total Divas.
I love to work as an RN, but I LOVE to spend more time at home with my little love even more!
Teaching is one of my biggest passions in life, and I probably will spend Brielle’s whole life teaching her something new every day!
This is the first year in 5 years that I haven’t been pregnant or trying to get pregnant (kind of surreal).
I have had the same best friends for over 10+ years (of course adding my favorite twins over the last 5+ years)
I have’t dyed my hair since my sophomore year in high school in over 10 years (I definitely think that ages me a tad bit) lol!
Brielle will tell everyone “look that’s mommy’s favorite color pink”, and every single thing that is pink, haha! Oops!
This month marks two years that I have been with my home health patient in Austin!
My favorite places in our house are the keepsake areas for both Lamar and Rochelle.
I love me some pumpkin smelling candles in the fall time (well, really pumpkin anything in the fall sounds perfect to me).
I have three animals (2 dogs and 1 cat)!
Brielle’s liquid chalk markers, may just be some of my favorite things to use.
My teeth have shifted so much since I stopped wearing my retainer years ago (really need to make my dentist appointment and get a new retainer)
My mom got me the sweetest, most thoughtful presents ever this year (A bracelet with all of my children engraved on it, and the most beautiful jewelry box that I am keeping it in! Thank you so much mom!!)
Writing has been the one key factor that helps me express my feelings, and get out of feeling so alone and down and about these past few years!
Lamar’s middle name is Grant (After Shane’s family)
Brielle’s middle is Diane (After my mom)
Rochelle’s middle name is Elaine (After shane’s family)
sheridanjohnson.com 