Spreading Sunshine

Blessed.... yep. That is me and my family. We have what we need and beyond! Sure, we have had some really rough times, but with those times come lessons learned... blessings in disguise even though at the time I probably wouldn't have called them that! I have a nice home, comfortable vehicles, food to feed my family, and clothes to dress them in. I am able to stay at home with my kids while my husband works hard to provide for us. My children are so very blessed and it makes my heart happy. They have toys, clothes, multiple pairs of shoes, and have never once gone to bed hungry. While all of this fills my heart up with joy and I am so thankful, what comes with it is that they have never needed anything. They do not understand what "need" is which I am grateful for, but they also do not understand how incredibly lucky they are to have all the necessities plus all the "extras" they do have. 

So, I have come up with an idea for our family to help spread blessings to others. A way to help teach our children that giving is good. Giving helps others. Brightening someone else's day is amazing. That not everything has to be about them, but rather about others. I want to try and change their way of thinking even more... don't get me wrong, they are giving and sweet children, but I want to mold them into thinking, " What can I do to help or to make someone else's day brighter". I want to teach them to do this in a way that is completely about the other person... not giving to look good to others or only doing good if they are going to get something in return! Just pure goodness out of their on hearts. 

Starting this month we are going to start a new monthly tradition called, " Project:  Spreading Sunshine". My children are my sunshine. We are blessed with a sun shiny life and so what better name for our new family tradition. I want to teach my kid's to leave their sparkle where ever they go. Leave a place shinning more brightly than when they first got there. 

Once a month ( at least ) as a family we are going to "Spread Sunshine" to someone else.  Some ideas I have are making cookies for the police/sheriff/ fire departments. Making cards for the senior citizens home. Making goody bags for the children's home.

We are already working on this month's project.  We are currently heading up a Snack Pack for Kid's food drive. We are collecting pop tarts, granola bars, cereal bars, and peanut butter. The items collected are then bagged up and given to local students who do not have food over the weekends. On Friday's back packs are filled with food to help them make it through with out being hungry. I figured this was a great way for kids to help other kids. 

I want my kid's to get to the point to where they can come up with their own ideas of how to give back and help make other people's day! I want them to become more generous with their own money and time. I want them to see that helping other's feels good and will really bless them in the process! 

I hope you and your family will join in with us on this project. If you have any other ideas that we could incorporate into "Project: Spreading Sunshine" let me know. I would love to hear them! I will try and blog about all of our SunShiny outings! Please pray for our family and help us to open up our hearts even more to the people who could really use a helping hand or pick me up. 

-Holly

So, it's a beautiful Wednesday morning. I love Wednesdays... HUMP day. It is one of the first chilly panhandle mornings of fall and the mornings stay dark till almost noon... okay, not really, but 11:30 or so.=) We are on the faaaaaaar edge of the central time zone so we enjoy it saying light in the evenings longer and staying very dark in the mornings. I grew up in Tennessee on the other edge of the central time zone where it turns night at noon... ok maybe 12:30 =)... That is one thing that I can say without a doubt I like better about living in West Texas. It makes for cozy mornings and more time to enjoy the outdoors in the evenings.... WOW.... I totally just digressed.  

So, this lovely chilly snuggly Hump Day morning has me thinking about SNOW and hot chocolate. A bunch of life's wonderful little things kept popping into my mind. So, I figure it's time to do my ever so often list of "Holly's Favorite Things"! I know... the excitement is just too much. Do not roll your eyes at me... you know you love it. =) Or maybe you don't but just read it anyway. =)

One of my most favoritest recipes for fall is Pioneer Woman's Tortilla Soup. Y'all it is awesome. It's husband and child approved... even the left overs and that right there is a true success... we tend to HATE leftovers here in the McNeely home. It's totally yummy and filling. Go here and check out the lovely-ness! 

One of my favorite books EVER is called The Giver. I read it back a few centuries ago when I was attending the beautiful Kingston Springs Elementary School. It was sooooo good and I remember just wanting to read more and more. Then a couple years ago the big Hunger Games phenomenon came about. I love those books as well, but thought the whole time that it was just the newer version of The Giver. I nearly did a triple luxe double back flip yesterday when I heard that they are making a movie of the book. It will be interesting to see how the movie comes together... it could be a total flop, but I have hope it will be awesome just like the book. There are some pretty impressive actors set to be in the movie including Meryl Streep and Jeff Bridges.... I am stoked for this one.

One of my other new found favorite things is this new liquid eye liner. I am not sure why I have always been scared to use the liquid, but it always freaked me out since I do not have a steady hand. I finally bit the bullet and got some after my pencil liner kept smudging all over the place. It's Maybelline Master Duo. Try it out.

I have a couple of Pinterest finds that I absolutely love. I do not own these things, but I reallllllly hope to one day. They are just full of awesomeness! First is this adorable sweatshirt. 

How cute is that.... I would love to have it. It talks about my favorite person and it is my favorite piece of clothing ever... a pullover. Ahhhh. It is meant to be. =) 

Then this little gem of a shirt... It speaks for it's self. Just need a different color, because yellow and me do not work.

Next is probably my most favorite of my favorite things. It's The Message Bible/ the remix. It's translated by Eugene H. Peterson. Here is the description from the website, "Translator Eugene Peterson worked from the original Greek and Hebrew texts to create The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language. Written in American-English, the words we use in our daily conversations at home and in the workplace, The Message has sold over 16 million copies and influenced the lives of people around the world."  I love reading through The Message along with my KJV Bible to help me understand and relate better to the words. You should check it out.... and guess what? They have it in neon pink! =) Here is what my copy looks like.

Last but not least on my list of favorite things.

FALL.

I do miss my Tennessee Fall.... nothing like the beauty of the changing seasons.

 Pumpkins!!!

Coffee

I hope your day is filled with all of your favorite things and lots and lots of love and laughter. 

-Holly

Tuesday Ramblings

• The wind is blowing... like blowing hard enough you need to hold onto your hats, wigs, and small children when walking outside.  It hasn't rained in a long while. The sky is so dirty from the dried cow poo and freshly plowed dirt from the neighboring fields. I should be used to this from living in the Texas Panhandle for over eight years now, but I guess you never really get used to a sky filled with flying cow matter!

• My Nannie had surgery this morning to fix her blocked carotid artery. Things seemed to have gone smoothly!!! Our God is wonderFULL! 

• I am in the process of giving up lots of my PTO responsibilities. I am a stay at home mom, because I want to stay at home with my kids. Being this is Ari's last year before he starts kindergarten I have decided to step back from the school and spend more uninterrupted time with my sweet boy! I will still volunteer my time and head up events, just not be present as much! 

• The new show called "The Black List" is awesome. It is one of those sit on the edge of your seat shows. It's my favorite show since 24! I can't wait for that one to come back on in 2014.

• My little boy just randomly says "I love you" all throughout his day. He will make an amazing husband one day with his loving nature and hardworking personality. His favorite activity is to make everyone else laugh! He is good at it too! 

• My little angel girl is brilliant. Her smarts impress me! Her teacher gives spelling words based on ability. So not all students in the class are on the same spelling words. Anika is on the hardest level and still only missed one on her first run through of the words. Her reading level is way above 2nd grade and she is very good in math! I am so proud of her hard work ethic. She is always well behaved and is always on the best color. I am super proud of that little tootie bear.

• I can tell I am getting old, because I am beyond excited about getting a new front door. =) Never knew that things like that would excite me so much.

• Every person you meet today probably has something going on in life that is not perfect. It may be a different challenge than the one you are facing. It may seem petty and small, but it could be huge to them. So, if a person is a little off or grumpy, don't assume they are just jerks. You never know what's going on with them in secret. 

• My brother is awesome! He would do anything for me. He often tormented me as a kid, but as far as grown ups go he is one of the best around.

• I have lost 4 pounds since starting to workout again. May not seem like a TON, but to me it's a lot. Each pound is like prying my Ari off of his John Deere Tractor to go to bed... stubborn and unwilling to just go...

• Ari has learned 10 letter sounds in his beginning reading book. He can read 15 or so words now and is just chugging along. 

• Anika is progressing in piano very well. She doesn't love to practice, but she loves to play and make up "her own" songs. She is currently playing Mickey Mouse Song, Jingle Bells, Brady Bunch, and The Bubble Gum Song. It's amusing to watch her play. She bops her head right along with the beat. 

• I am am still reading Soul Detox. I am reading through it slowly to really let it all sink in. It is very very good and soul stirring. You should pick up a copy.

• I am also reading Made to Crave. A book about a woman's weight loss journey and how she finally succeeded with replacing her food craving with cravings for God. It seems pretty good and a real so far. I will keep you up to date. 

• Miley Cyrus is one lost girl, but I really wish she could figure out Hollywood life and get her life back on track. She is very talented and I love her voice, but she needs some major Jesus in her life! 

• The Civil Wars are my musical loves this week.

• Mary Magdalene was a great example to all of us Woman. She shows you that even Woman can do things for Jesus! 

• I wanna go on a cruise sooooooo bad. Anyone wanna take me?

• Volunteers are next to impossible to find. I am seriously forlorn about how to get more volunteers to help with school PTO. No one wants to help and the ones that want too can't won't find the time to give a few hours once a month.

• All people have tendencies that can cause harm to their souls. Addictions and addictive personalities can be past down in genes. Tendencies are just that though... We all have the power to overcome our addictions, because we have a friend called Jesus and an amazing God who can overcome the darkest of circumstances! Sexual promiscuity, alcohol, prescription drugs, food.... whatever it might be. We do not have to act on these tendencies. 

• It's the season for pumpkin everything.... and I love it!

• I am done rambling. =) Have a great day and if you made it all the way to the end of this ever long list of nothingness.... you are a rock star! 

-Holly

Crazy-ness and the oh goodness NO's!

What a week. It has been a busy hectic one to say the least, and what is funny is that I thought it would be a slow week. I should know by now that I shouldn't think things are gonna be smooth sailing... I always get proved wrong. I enjoy my hectic life, but I admit that this week proved a little challenging... and what really takes the cake are the comments such as, " oh how nice to be able to sit at home and be a stay at home mom." To that I said.... nothing. Because momma always told me if I don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all!" I wish there were days that I could sit at home and do nothing, but yeah... that's not gonna happen. I am a wife.... I take that role seriously.  I try and provide a loving and relaxing home atmosphere for my hard working husband. Always trying to be positive and trying to be a cheerleader in my man's life. Yes, I am a momma of two wonderful children. YES, I believe it is my calling in life. I am raising two of the future's adults. Praying they become useful to society and more importantly soldiers for our God! I spend 3 days of my week volunteering for my children's school running our Parent Teacher Organization and numerous extra hours at home preparing for events, shopping for our school store, ordering shirts, and planning canned food drives... FOR free. I also am homeschooling my youngest in K-4 four days a week instead of putting him in a regular daycare/preschool. I coach 10 beautiful 2nd graders in volleyball and devote time and love to them each week. Along with helping teachers prepare things for their classrooms. Yeah... all the sitting on the couch eating bon bons is really fun. =) HA. 

This week along with all my usual obligatory chauffeuring, chef, PTO, Momma, teacher's helper, after school play date maker, coach, tutor, teacher, lover, kisser of boo boos, and wifey duties I had to add another hat to my collection.... an exterminator hat. I hate that hat!!! With a passion. That hat means that I am a MOUSE catcher. I hate mice. Like, hate them a lot. Not as much as I loathe snakes, but close. They are gross and fast and INVADING my HOME. Yuckola. My little boy and I have chased and caught and smashed 3 mice INSIDE and we have caught 7 in traps out in the garage. We live out in the country on the corner of a crop circle in the midst of fields.... lots and lots of fields. Our whole yard is surrounded by fields which are now being harvested. I know the little critters are being driven out of their homes, but it is not okay to come join me and my family. Oh GOODNESS these creatures are giving me a run for my money. Every movement and every sound freaks me out, because I am just sure it is another mouse. It's not good. It's stressing me out y'all. I even went and got a new Momma cat to help with the "Killing at the McNeely's"! 

So, yeah I have been busy. No, I have NOT been watching Soap Opera's while eating chicken salad on croissants, getting mani/pedis all the while shopping with my fully loaded credit card while I whisk my kids off to school and the local mother's day out. It's not like that. So quit assuming. 

Why are mother's so judgmental of each other. Aren't most of us trying to do the best we can. I do not know a single mother who wants the "worst" for their child. We all do things differently, or course, but different doesn't always mean AWFUL. Some mother's work. They work hard for their children to give them a good life and they do the best they can to juggle all that life throws at them. Some mother's raise their kids by themselves. Maybe their spouse died or left them to fend for themselves. They have to bust their booties for their children. Then there are the part time working moms who work the night shift to spend days with their kids. The Helicopter moms. The Tiger Moms. The homeschool moms. The "Let the Child Choose" moms.  The stay at home mom. The "Super mom". The "let them cry it out moms". The "never let them cry moms". The "Shelterer". The "Give'm Space" mom. There are a million ways to parent. Guidance and suggestions can sometimes be helpful, but my goodness lets not be so mean and judgmental.  Most mom's are probably trying their very best to be the very best for their kids. So lets give each other a break and be gentle with one another. The world is cruel enough without the mommas guilt tripping each other. So working mommas QUIT dumbing down the stay at home moms. Stay at home moms quit guilt tripping the working moms. We are all on the same team. The team that is building tomorrow's grown ups... So, let's teach our daughters that each of us may mother differently, but it's okay. Teach them to pray for guidance for their "calling" in life. Whether they may be the next CEO or the next PTO president, my hope is that they can respect others and work hard where ever their lives may lead them. 

-Holly 

What's your biggest life long struggle? Mine is weight! It has always been weight. I hate my fat. It is my thing that I have never been able to concur. I have always been the biggest one around. A little on the chunky side for a big part of my life. Then I had babies. With the babies the weight piled on... and now my baby is 4 and 1/2 years old and the fat is still hanging around. I am sick of it.

I have good self esteem. I am good at a lot of things. I have succeeded in most things that I have tried, but it's this one battle that I keep fighting and keep failing at. I think about all the things I could do better and be better at if I could be more fit and healthy. I want it.

My down fall.... well it's a nasty four letter word. Something that you must have, but only in good and healthy ways. My downfall is FOOD. I love it! I love to bake and cook for my family. All happy and fun occasions are usually based around food. Not a healthy salad either. Good ole southern hospitality food. It's my thing when I am happy or sad. I lack self control. That's all there is to it. 

I want to kick this in the bootie once and for all. I want to win. I am not use to losing. Especially when I am the one in control of my own fate. I hate that I keep losing. 

This morning I started a new journey with a good friend of mine. We both need to lose quite a bit of weight. We are at different phases of our weightless/working out journey, but we are both striving to live healthier happier lives. We have small goals we are wanting to reach all with one big final goal in mind..... GET HEALTHY! 

Now, I say this seriously... PLEASE pray for us as we go through this journey. I need the strength and the inspiration to do this. I have failed at it a lot.... I need God to help me WIN this! I am praying that God will keep me from temptations and give me the strength to get my bootie up and hit the gym with workouts that COUNT! I wanna WIN. 

Support us. Pretty please... Thanks Lovies!!! 

-Holly

"Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me." We have all heard those words. I remember when someone in elementary school would say something mean, we would spew that little saying right back at em and put our hands on our hips and walk away thinking, " well, we told them." 

Yeah, back in like the second grade ( the same age as my Anika ) I had a friend who I will not mention by name Amy Henderson  who told me that their Lisa Frank trapper keeper was cooler than my wal-mart one.  It might have made me a bit mad, upset, and jealous, but guess what... the next day we were friends again and back to getting "Holly and Amy talk to much" written on our report cards.   Yeah, back in the wonderful years of childhood when the biggest problems were in the school cafeteria line when you had to choose between pizza and chicken nuggets, and Lisa Frank trapper keepers.  Children are so eager to forgive and get back to being BFF's. Even after hardcore trapper keeper slandering. ;) 

Then we start growing up... second grade turns into the ugly years of seventh and eighth grade. I always loved school and never had a problem making friends or fitting in, but even for me those middle school years were not my favorite. When people ask me if I would go back and do it all again, I always say,  "YES... if I can skip seventh and eighth grade." Those were the years where "clicks" started. Everyone started having boyfriends and girlfriends. The years that not everyone could just play basketball or volleyball you had to actually make the team. They were also the years where it seems everyone got the "lets say mean things and not monitor what comes out of our mouths" syndrome. It's amazing the things that can come out of the mouths of middle schoolers and not in a "kid's say the darndest things" kinda way either. I am talking about hurtful, heart breaking things. You are to fat. You are to slow. Your  clothes come from wal-mart not American Eagle and Abercrombie. You aren't cool enough. No you can't come to my sleepover that the rest of the class is invited too.... Those are all things that I heard people say to other people. My thing that was ALWAYS said to me was, " Wow, you are like the Jolly Green Giant." Holly, you are just so tall..... how's the weather up there. You are the biggest one in the whole school. Yeah, all of those were true, and they didn't bother me 99.9999% of the time, but it still got old. Yes, I know I am tall. Yes, I know I am larger than most of the population of Tennessee, but hey.... give a girl a break. ;) Anyway, you get the point, those were the years I really started to notice that words can really really hurt people and once the words are said they can never be UNsaid. 

Words can be dangerous if used in mean hurtful ways. Causing doubt and killing self esteem. Words can cut deeper than a knife. Those bruises and body wounds from the "sticks and stones" can be healed, but the wounds the words leave can last a life time. Something that takes 1o seconds to say, can effect someone the rest of their lives. Something said in a burst of anger can lead to self loathing and and a feeling of worthlessness. So, we MUST be careful with our negative words. Our useless words that leave wounds on the hearts of others. Remember what your momma said... " If you don't having something nice to say, don't say anything at all." Wise words from Mommas everywhere.

On the other hand, beautiful words can lead to great things. Share your positive thoughts. Let those words flow freely. If your child does great on a spelling test, praise them. If your friend lost a few pounds and you notice she is looking healthier, TELL her. If you think your child's teacher is doing a great job in a certain area, let her know. If your husband works hard for you and your kids, let him know that you are thankful and proud of him. Good words can boost someone. Can make their day. As easily as it is to tear someone down with negative words, you can lift someone up with positive words. You can make someone's day by saying, " hey, I notice how hard you have been working, good job and I am proud of you!" 

Let us all choose our words wisely today... positive energy can only bring positive things. We cannot always control the things that happen around us, but we can control the things that come out of our own mouths. Think positive thoughts and positive words will follow. 

Make this Friday the best day of your week and lift someone up in the process! 

-Holly 

You know that comfy spot in your warm ( but not too warm ) bed.? That ahhhhhh that feels so good spot. The point where you turn your pillow over and it is cool on your face and it feels soooo good? I love that spot. It feels just lovely doesn't it? Even though that spot feels amazing, if you laid there all the time it would begin to get old. If you didn't get up and eat, your body would eventually start to starve. You wouldn't be learning anything and you wouldn't be using any of the things you had previously learned, so you would be losing the knowledge. Starving and wasting away in your comfort.... 

Isn't that like life in general. You can stay in your comfort zone. All nice and warm in your "bed". Sure you are  "safe". Free from the hardships of life. Free from embarrassment. Free from working hard. But also free from learning, teaching, enjoying, and letting your light shine! Wasting all that you could be!

Get out of your comfort zone today. Do something that will make your light shine brighter. Do something to better yourself. Do something to help someone. Don't hide your talents. Don't get stuck in a rut. Take the cruise control off. Challenge yourself. It's okay to enjoy some rest and relaxation once in a while, but don't stay there and waste away. Use up all the goodness that God has given you. You never know what might be around that next corner if you just get up and go find it. Ask God to lead your life and don't be afraid of where it might lead you. The best days of your life could be just ahead. Don't settle for just enough. Don't allow yourself to hold YOU back. 

-Holly

Compassion. A word people have always associated with me. It always made me feel good to hear someone say that about me. Holly you are compassionate. Why, yes.. I believe in a lot of circumstances I have shown great compassion, but it's hard to admit, there are lots of times that I really reallly realllllllly lack the compassion I need for people. Usually, it's my own peers, people I am around or talk to often that I lack compassion for. For example, " Ughhh... they are just so whiny. We all have to work hard and do things we don't just love, why do they have to broadcast their whiny-ness to the world." Or..." They just don't get it. If they don't have the money to spend why do they keep spending it?" Or... "Why do they not put in the effort to be generous to others. Why do they think more highly of their bank accounts than people." 

These are all thoughts I have... Those are nasty and un-lady like thoughts. . I see no compassion there. I see judgmental thoughts on my part. These thoughts fill me with negativity. I let thoughts of other people put me in a bad mood. Wow. That is silly right there. I get in a "feeling sorry for myself for having to deal with this" kinda attitude. How silly of me to let my non-compassionate thoughts bring me down. Even if others are really guilty of the things I see, why am I letting it get me down! I am so guilty of this y'all. I struggle with it all the time. I get down because others don't act the way I think they should... welcome to the "Holly is self centered and still struggling to be God centered" attitude. 

I pray that I can become more compassionate to everyone, because I have NO idea what's really going on in their lives. I have NO insight as to what happens when the doors are closed. I have NO idea what inner struggles other people are dealing with. Maybe.. just maybe they are holding onto that money, because their personal struggle is not trusting in God enough to provide. Or maybe they spend money to help them feel better... boost their struggling self esteem. Or maybe just maybe something is happening at home and the whiny-ness is really just a call out for help. Here I am all exasperated over things and people could seriously be struggling. I pray that I can become more Christlike and learn how to use compassion in these circumstances instead of getting irritated. 

-Holly

I love Peyton Manning.... when I was younger my dad was ( and still is ) the biggest UT Vols fan, so it just came naturally that I told a few people all my entire class that Peyton was my uncle. Oh young Holly... you are a goober.

My Ari man's version of "Oh My Darlin" melts my heart! 

Anika studied really really hard this week to ace her first 2nd grade spelling test. She knew ALL the words and was really prepared. Come to find out she was the only one given the WRONG word list and had studied the wrong words all week. She still only missed one word. Went was spelled Whint. =)

I don't understand why kid's these days are so mean. Why do parents not find it appalling that there children frequent the principal's office and always blame the teacher for their misbehaviors.

I LOVE fall and am so excited about the changing seasons. I love living in a place with seasons!

I am really enjoying The Message. It is a contemporary version of The Bible. I love reading it along with the King James Version. You should all check it out! 

I am looking forward to 3 concerts coming up soon. First Miranda Lambert, then Sarah Brightman, followed up with our traditional TSO concert. If you have never been to see Trans Siberian Orchestra you should. It's ahhhhhhhmazing! 

I LOVE watching the fields around my house change.

The changing of the fields around my house is killing my allergies. =)

I am tired of momma's criticizing other momma's just because they parent differently. I don't like homeschooling for my family, but it doesn't mean it's not the best for other families! Just because I put my children in public school, doesn't make me less of a mother either.

The Jesus Storybook Bible is amazing. I got it to read to my children, but I learn and love to read the beautifully written words. At the end of every story it leads back to the real Hero of our lives... no.. not Superman or Hulk or whatever other goofy super hero is out there. The real super hero. Jesus! 

All the meals at my home this week have not had RED meat in them! Only chicken and fish at the McNeely Casa. This is a big deal.... remember we do live in Cow County USA.

Ari got pooped on by a bird today.

We laughed for a little while 30 minutes  because of this! =)

I am currently reading the Amanda Knox memoir "Waiting To Be Heard" and find it very interesting. I am halfway through and know without a doubt if I ever go to Perugia to NOT get in any sorta trouble. The Italian police seem a little whacky.

I hope people remember that however harshly they judge others, God is gonna judge them accordingly. Makes me really realllllllllllly think twice before I go on one of my "Ugh..." spells about others. 

PTO got kicked off this week and I love the group of girls who help me out! We are few in number, but are women so watch out and hear us ROAR! =) 

Finding a silver lining. In the recent past somethings in my life have happened that are just right crazy! Crazy I say... and not in a crazy good kinda way either. A crazy "have you lost your ever loving mind" kinda way. Yup.. that kind. I am a positive person and I always have been a girl with a glass half full... It might be full of crazy, but it is always half full. I like to look on the bright side of things. It helps me keep going. I learned from a young age that life is not perfect. We do not live in a bubble, even though that would be lovely and I am still trying to find one that WILL work for my children! Life is not full of all lovely things, and bad decisions and choices can make it even worse. I firmly believe though that God can use all situations to teach us things. Lately, I have been thinking what in the world is the "silver lining" of all of this. At first I came up blank.... blank as can be. I didn't see any good or even any "well, maybe that is what it was teaching me" moments. That frustrated me, because I am always one to find something there... even if it is just a glimmer. It was a hopeless feeling. Then I had a lovely lovely mentor of mine tell me, " just wait.. it may not be today or tomorrow or this year, but it's coming. You will need to use the things you have learned to help someone who will be going through a similar situation as the one you went through. Someone will need YOUR help to get out of the hole. God will bring them to you, so you can use THIS as a way to help someone else. There it was. It took my person.. that God sent to me to tell me that... and now I get it. I don't have that hopeless feeling anymore. I can take the "crazy have you lost your ever loving mind"  and turn it into something good in the end! With God... all those crazy things can be turned into good if you are willing to let Him lead you! I am trying to do that... it scares me sometimes to not know when... today, tomorrow, ten years from now who or what might need me, but it excites me too. It scares me, because I am still human and still freak out! I need to stop that, because it's okay. Everything will be okay, because NO matter what, if I keep myself turned toward God and seeking him out he will keep me safe and prepared. 

We have all had our "have you lost your ever loving mind" crazy moments.... some crazier than others, but they are there! Take those moments and learn from them. Ask God to forgive you and forgive yourself. Then let God make you better. Choose to let God lead your heart. Ask him to fill you up with his presence! It's easier said than done... I fail daily with this and struggle, but I must always come back. God loves me. He loves you. He loves sinners... each and everyone of us. Goodness, he sent his son to die the most ugly cruel death for you and for me. I cant imagine having the strength to send my Ari to be beat up, spat on, and then nailed to the cross. I get my momma feathers ruffled when someone cuts in line in front of him for the water slide. I honestly CANNOT imagine watching him get hurt, but what I do know is that God LOVES us enough that HE did do that....HE loves us in a crazy full over the top, unconditional, forever and ever kinda way. 

So, I take hope in that. That even though I failed Him, I can now take the lessons learned and use it to glorify him.

Don't lose hope on yourself. God never does. He is always there waiting and willingly ready to forgive you and help you. You just gotta let Him. Don't take my word for it... listen to the bible. In 1 John 1:9 (from The Message) it says, " if we admit our sins, he won't let us down, he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrong-doing." 

When I was really down, my mentor told me to read a passage in the bible. Ephesians 2:7-10. Those verses really helped me. I read them out of The Message. I encourage you to all go read those verses! They have helped me and continue to help me everyday. 

-Holly

Okay, lovelies!!! Everyone wants to know how to get those cute lil "Taylor Swift" curls and keep them in. My Anika Bananika's hair has never been able to hold a curl, but my lovely cousin, Emily Westbrook, gave me a tip and y'all it works!!! I had been using rollers or a regular curling iron, but she told me to get a wand...that is the trick! The wand is AHHHMAZING and the curls will stay put for up to 3 days. 

This is the wand that we have. I bought it at Wal-mart for around $25 if I remember correctly. At Wally World they will likely have 2 different sizes. That is the size of the barrel or the hot part of the wand. =) I have the smallest one. You can loosen the curls up afterwards, but you can't tighten them up.

Straighten fly aways first with a flat iron and then you are ready to get started with the wand. Here is a great video tutorial of how to use the wand. It takes a few minutes to get the hang of it. Keep trying, because you will be a pro in no time! My daughter has a lot of reallllllly long hair and it only took us 10 minutes to completely curl her hair! Hope this helps.

-Holly 

I enjoy pre-schooling my little man.

I love watching and hearing of Anika making new friends. She is a bit of an introvert which makes her beautifully her own, but I have always worried that she would struggle making friends.

I love being involved at school. PTO, classroom mom, or volunteering of any kind. It's fun and I know the people that are around my children everyday!

PTO stresses me out sometimes. =)

Tennis shoes are my favorite.

My husband makes me proud.

I love being his wife.

Anika is coming out of her shell more and more everyday and it's fun to watch. She does things in her own time her own way.

Ari is a fixer. He has to figure out how things work. What makes things tick.

Sometimes Ari is not a fixer, but a breaker. =) While trying to figure things out sometimes things fall apart... forever....

I am so ready for fall.

I love Nicole Reeves... she has helped get me through tough tough times. She is wise beyond her years and goofy as they come. The thing about her is she just knows when something is wrong. She gets me and she cares enough to ask.

I could not be more excited about the first Herd Football game this Friday evening. The kids are pumped too!

I am currently reading Soul Detox and it is a "stepping on toes" book. Really enjoying it so far.

I love going to the movies.

God is lovely.

I love when it's harvest. I love when the fields around our home are filled with tractors and combines. I love the activity.

I am tired of judgmental people, who harshly and unlovely criticize  others.

No one knows how a person really feels. You might can relate to a certain extent, but you CANNOT know... I understand that now.

I have learned to not "dumb down" other people's problems. They might seem huge to them. Lovingly help rather than harshly hinder.

I am hungry. =)

That's all the facts I can think of for now... stay tuned for the next episode of "Holly's so uninteresting facts of the day."

-Holly

In love with this song.... a good little pick me up. Give it a listen and remember that you are WANTED!!! 

From the day you were born 

And took your first breath 

You opened your eyes and in came the light 

He was watching you 

But all of your life you couldn't shake the lies in your head 

Saying you're a mistake 

Oh but you were made 

By a God who knows your name 

He doesn't make mistakes 

CHORUS 

You are wanted 

To every broken heart, He stands with open arms 

You are wanted 

To every searching soul, look to the rising sun 

If you're lonely, hurting, gone too far 

To the outcast you come as you are 

For you, you are wanted, you, you are wanted 

You, you are wanted, you, you are wanted 

Let this be the day that joy takes the place 

Of all of the years that shame tried to steal away 

He is calling you 

Lift your eyes to see His face 

Come run into the arms of grace 

CHORUS 

You, you have been marked 

You're set apart 

And He calls you His 

So you don't have to search 

Don't have to look for where you belong 

You are wanted 

Everyday's a Holly Day... which is so lovely. I am lucky to live in the world of "Holly"! Life is blessed and God can be found all around it. Letting God be the leader of my life has not and does not always come easy, but I have found out that just letting go and letting Him is so much easier than leading life my own way! I am striving everyday to be blessing to those around me. To let God and His sparkle shine through me. I want every person and place I come in contact with to SHINE more brightly than it did before I was there. I pray that I can give myself fully to God in all times and that He can lead me and shine through me in a way that GLORIFIES him completely. Struggles... wow. I have had struggles. Bad. Ugly. Terrible. Struggles. Holly Days are not all glamorous. They are not all beautiful. Quite frankly... a lot of them are just plain stinky. Recently, things completely fell apart at the seams, but that right there is what is so beautiful. I can fail and disappoint God and he still loves me. Thank you Jesus for your suffering, because I need your cleansing power more than anything!

I hope that this blog can touch just one soul and make them smile or inspire them or cause them to laugh at one of my many ridiculous moments, because let's be honest... I have many ridiculous moments. Maybe parts, or maybe one day, all of my story can inspire you to keep going. Do NOT give up on yourself, because God will always have your back. You just have to decide to let him have it. In your lowest hour... your deepest darkest hole that you have dug yourself into... God is there with his hand outreached to pull you up, hug you, and help lead you into the SHINE and SPARKLE of His glory! 

-Holly