thanksgiving

Gratitude | Days 12-15 | Mr.

~ Kimberly Landreth ~ Leave a comment

191EEED7-0C53-45E1-B016-F0730A23A8F3

So I’m playing *major* catch-up on my gratitude posts. I look back on Timehop and my “On This Day” and see how, before kids, I was able to make a legitimate gratitude post, find a picture that corresponded, and get it posted at a decent time.

Not now.

Not with two boys.

Although it’s been a few days since I last blogged- just know that my Mr. has been by my side everyday. And I take him for granted. So for days 12-15, I am dedicating those days to my Mr.

I cannot do this life without him. I say I can, and that he wouldn’t be able to do life without me…but deep down we both know that we wouldn’t know what to do if the other wasn’t there.

Mr. has bugged me since I was 7 years old. He’s loved me since I was 7 years old. He’s been my best friend and constant, since I was a 7-year-old little girl on a school bus.

Our relationship was built on communication. I feel that communicating is one of our greatest strengths. I am thankful that Mr. let’s me put it all out there and never rebukes me for my thoughts, fears, or feelings.

He knows my heart.

He knows me better than anyone else.

He is my partner. My confident. My forever. He loves his boys- and he loves all of me. I am grateful that our paths crossed back in elementary school, and that a stubborn teenager said, “yes I’ll go on a date with you” so many years ago.

I am grateful for the life I have. I am grateful for my Mr. and him giving me the title of mom; but my favorite title is wife. I am so grateful to be Mrs. to my Mr.

Gratitude | Day 11 | Veterans Day

~ Kimberly Landreth ~ Leave a comment

5317EF16-CB9D-48D5-B37C-2AA46F5109E5

Happy Veterans Day! Thank you to my friends and family who know how special a country we live in. Thank you for fighting for our safety, our Constitution, and for me to say and post whatever I want to to social media and this blog. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, America is the best!! ❤️💙🇺🇸❤️💙

Here’s a special shout out to my favorite Veteran, my Dad. My Dad is one of the most amazing people you can have in your life. He’s got stories that will make you laugh at his childhood decisions. He’s got love for his family that he’s not afraid to show. He’s got a heart for The Lord, and his country.

My Dad is such a special guy. With his guidance and teachings he showed me: what a man should look like, how to love and serve others, and how to always believe in the Red, White, and Blue. So, this Veteran’s Day…

I am thankful for sacrifice, loyalty, and respect. Those three words that make me think of the men and women who have and are serving in our Armed Forces, but also…My Dad.

Gratitude | Day 10 | Wild Thing

~ Kimberly Landreth ~ Leave a comment

535E4F41-3306-482A-A740-89D5A826E4B9

My Wild Thing. He was my calm…now he’s my storm warning.  He used to watch…now he mimics. He was so quiet…now he’s found his voice.

He’s loud. SO loud.

Wild Thing is such a little (baby) boy these days. He does his best to keep up with Monster- but he not quite there yet. He loves his inner circle, and there are only a select few who are in that circle! He’s set in his ways and I can see some strong-willed tendencies in him as well. (Pray now)

But, let me tell you. This boy loves and he loves big. There is nothing better in the world than getting a slobbery kiss from him when I least expect it. Chasing him around the house before baths is something we’ve turned into a game. Just him and me. Every single night.

It makes him belly laugh. Oh how I LOVE his laugh!

He’s a beautiful masterpiece. His personality is tenacious, and his ability to love big melts my heart. He is my Wild Thing- that’s for sure. I am forever grateful The Lord saw fit to entrust him to us!

Gratitude | Day 8 and 9 | Health

~ Kimberly Landreth ~ Leave a comment

04E99A44-BBE7-48AF-A2BA-D31B7073892B

So even though it looks like I have it all together, I don’t. The other night I wrote about having such and incredible day with my boys and here I am combining my grateful posts tonight. Tonight I feel like for every positive there’s a negative just a few inches behind.

Like I said- I was so happy go lucky about my good day with my boys that I really wasn’t expecting a negative to follow like I got…the stomach bug.  You know, because moms do not get sick days.

Anyway.  Let me stop rambling and write about Day 8 and 9 and why they are dedicated to health. I’m thankful for good health.  I’m not a health nut.  I’m still carrying about 25 pounds of baby weight.  I occasionally get out and exercise.  I do not eat kale.

But I am healthy: emotionally,  mentally,  physically…

I got hit with the stomach bug- and though it’s not fun…I’m glad my body was like- “get outta here!”  I’m thankful my body was able to do what it knew to do to get that bug out.  I’m thankful for relief today.

I’m also thankful for healthy boys. Monster had his four-year checkup today. He’s a great, big, brave boy! He weighs in at 42 pounds and is 41.5 inches tall. He left with enduring six shots and a finger prick.  Everything went well…and he’s good to go.

I’m so thankful and grateful for good health.  I’m also grateful to be one to see the glass as half full.  Always looking for the positive is great for your mental and emotional health as well.  I’m thankful for that out look, and all around good health.

Gratitude | Day 7 | Good Days

~ Kimberly Landreth ~ Leave a comment

D277F70E-E312-478F-8930-E6D9EC8293A0

We had such a good day today. I mean:

no drama

no whining

no fighting.

It. Was. Such. A. Good. Day!

I don’t know what was going on or how it even happened. All I can say is when your four year old and your one year old get along…and there’s no tears.

It’s a good day.

Days like this are few and far between. I was able to see the bond and friendship that’s between the boys. I was able to see how much admiration there is between these two, and I was able to sit back and watch them enjoy eachother’s company.

I know tomorrow will not be like today. But God’s Word says not to worry about tomorrow. So…I’m not even gonna think about tomorrow. Right now, I’m thanking The Lord for such a good day with my two boys. I am thankful to see a glimpse of the future- it’s gonna be good!

Gratitude | Day 6 | Laughter

~ Kimberly Landreth ~ Leave a comment

A6B31F9E-EFFC-491B-8978-73BAE324C8F7

Laughter is amazing!  It doesn’t matter what makes me laugh…endorphins take over and my mood can switch in an instant.  Usually my favorite kind of laughter comes from laughing with the ones I love.

I have an ugly laughing face, but the older I get, the less I care less how I look when I laugh.  I embrace every laugh I can; I absolutely love a good belly laugh.  I am thankful for laughter.  I am grateful for the way it makes me feel.

Gratitude | Day 5 | A girl named Jana

~ Kimberly Landreth ~ Leave a comment
56FFE271-D22D-4313-BC74-BE48C6725C05
Photo By: Jana Glass, Looking Glass Photography 

They say, “a picture is worth a thousand words.”  Whoever “they” are, is correct.  At least I think they are.

We tend to have professional pictures taken twice a year- to  commemorate the boys birthday.  (The picture above was taken for Monster’s fourth birthday.)  I love professional pictures.  Love them.  You know why- because I have found a photographer who captures my family for who we are.  She’s awesome and I’ll leave her information at the bottom of this piece.

I love pictures simply because they freeze time.  They’re so much fun to go back and look at.  They’re a fabulous talking point.  They’re an investment. I am grateful for pictures, and beautiful professional ones at that.

I am grateful to have found Looking Glass Photography and owner, Jana Glass simply because she sees what I see in my head, and can bring it to life.  Jana has talent!  Waiting on her email with my pictures is like waiting for Christmas.  When my inbox has her name pop up- I am ready to open that present!

I am grateful to have had Jana capture every milestone in our family for the last four years.  She’s not only an amazing artist, but she’s grown to be my friend.  If you’re interested in checking her out, I’ll leave her information below.

Looking Glass Photography

https://www.lookinggphotography.com/contact/

Gratitude | Day 4 | Night Time Prayers

~ Kimberly Landreth ~ Leave a comment
21D9311C-DB6D-4408-AB89-4A543283F07D
Photo By: Jana Glass, Looking Glass Photography 

This boy. He wears me out! He is stubborn, strong-willed, and set in his thinking. He is me through and though. His actions show leadership. His heart shows compassion. His mouth gets him into trouble.

Yet, every night when he lays down in bed, and we say our prayers, his true character shows. Of course he prays for things that any four-year-old would pray for. His new shark book, his glow in the dark stickers, and his new monster truck.

BUT…in the darkness and comfort of his room, he opens up and shares things that I wouldn’t even think of asking him.  He’s asked questions about the moon, Jesus, and how to be nice to people who are mean. He’s asked about his Big Mamaw, why his sister is in Heaven and not here, and why cookies taste so good.

There are so many nights that I just want to crawl in bed and go to sleep. Forget bedtime and just rest. I can’t though. I cherish this small window of time each night to just let my Monster speak from his heart.

If you’re reading this and you’re tired as a mother (haha, get it) don’t ever give up the opportunity to put your baby to bed and listen to them. Hear them. There’s a vulnerability there. There’s a trust that is formed and a bond that is made stronger. Sitting on the floor, listening to my Monster speak to me, openly, is something I am so very grateful for.

Gratitude | Day 3 | Sweet Potatoe Casserole

~ Kimberly Landreth ~ Leave a comment

768D3CEF-E1B9-4B1F-A7D8-0ABAF0A94246

Sweet Potatoe Casserole?!  Why in the world would you be grateful for that?  Well, once October wraps up, my side of the family immediately starts diving into planning for Thanksgiving. It takes a lot of coordination because our family is SO big, and we have in laws to think about.

Every year, my sisters and me bring something to our family’s Thanksgiving dinner. We’re at a point now where it’s basically a given of who’s going to bring what. I’m in charge of bringing sweet potatoe casserole. Not just any sweet potatoe casserole, my Mamaw’s recipe for sweet potatoe casserole.

My Mamaw passed away, unexpectedly, 28 days before Monster was born. It was a total shock to us all. 2013 was a tough Thanksgiving to plan without our Mamaw. My sisters and me decided we’d each take on one of her recipes to bring to dinner that year. In a way, it made us feel like she was still present with us. I still feel like it’s an honor to create something she loved making to share with her family…and now I can share it with her great-grandbabies.

To this day…we each stick to that recipe we picked back in 2013 and bring it the day of our family’s Thanksgiving dinner. It’s amazing how the smells, tastes, and memories bring my Mamaw back- even if it’s only for a few hours. So today I’m thankful for sweet potatoe casserole…because it reminds me of my Mamaw- who I am so grateful for.