Birthday party, potties and school

Liam's birthday party was this past Saturday. The kids really had fun playing with their friends. I'm so thankful for the friends I have and the boys have! We are very blessed!

My friend, Sarah, and I made Liam's cake. Total, it took 11 hours to make this cake, but it was worth it. It turned out so cute!





Sweet friends


Me with my birthday boy. I love him so much!


I decided last week that since Liam is about to turn 3, I should try potty training him. So, I put him in underwear one day and he has done awesome! He has had a few accidents, but he has caught on so fast. I'm so proud of him! He is growing up so fast. It's hard to believe that my baby is almost 3.

Sarah and I have decided to take a cake decorating class in February. I'm so excited about it! Not only learning to decorate cakes but also just getting some girl time with a great friend each week!

I've been doing a lot of praying and have really felt the pull lately to go back to school. When I was first separated, a lot of people asked me if I was going to go back to school, and I honestly had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. But, for the past 6 months or so, I've finally figured out what I want to do and now I'm just ready to get school over with so I can do it! I plan on going back for my nutrition degree and becoming a nutritionist. It's something I'm passionate about. I want to help people get their lives healthy. I know it's not going to be easy, being a single mom, having a daycare during the day and trying to study and do classes online. But, I really feel like this is what I'm supposed to do, so I'm trying to trust that God will work out all the details so that I can actually accomplish this!

It's so nice to be doing things for myself now, finding out who I am and what I want to do with my life. I've really felt for the last several years that I'm just floating through life with really not purpose or no clue what I wanted my life to be. I feel like I'm starting to get a picture of it now. I'm ready for more security in my life and my boys' life. I'm excited to see what happens the next few months!

New Year, New Us

I'm just starting this blog. Recently we've moved into a new house and I don't have internet hooked up yet. I'll make this pretty once I have internet.

I am pretty excited about 2012. 2011 was a very rough year for our family. I went from being a stay at home mom to a single mom. What an adjustment that has been. I remember how hard it was, crying myself to sleep every night, dealing with questions and behavioral issues from my then 3 year old, worrying about money. Worrying if I would be adequate enough to be a single parent and raise my two boys without messing them up. I couldn't understand why this was happening to us. During that time I lost my very best friend and to this day I still miss that person and regret that things had to be that way. That was the darkest time I've ever had in my life.

I joined DivorceCare at my church. What an amazing class that was! I'm so thankful my church offers that class. I met friends in that class that I'm still very close to today. During this time, I saw my relationship with God grow more than it ever has. My faith was strong..He provided for us through everything. We never needed anything. All of our needs were taken care of. For years I've prayed for God to grow my faith. I have no doubts that going through this divorce is what He used to answer that prayer. If you pray for something, be ready because you never know how He will choose to answer that prayer!

I always debate if I want to make "resolutions" or not. I never keep them. But, I decided to this year. I want 2012 to be a great year for me and my boys. I have a few things and I want to have this blog to help keep me accountable and collow through with my resolutions this year.

1. Spend more one-on-one time with Cade and Liam. I've already started this one. I've had a date night with each of them this week. I have 2 very fun little boys. I cannot express in words how much I love them. Seeing their smiles, hearing them say "I love you, mommy", getting lots of hugs and kisses...they make everything I went through the past u years worth it. I'm excited to work on my relationship with them this year.

2. Read through the Bible. Our pastor has challenged us to read the entide Bible this year. It's sad to say I have never done that. So far, I have stuck to this resolution. I am using Youversion and every day it gives me verses to read and I will finish by the end of this year. I know God is going to grow me more this year by doing this!

3. Get out of debt! Last year, while I was still married, we went through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. No doubt that came at exactly the time I needed it. I've learned to budget, save and not spend money I don't have. It was definitely a life changing class and I will never view money the same. I have a very small amount of debt, which will.be gone in the next few months. After that, my plan is to not have debt again. I will be getting a newer, bigger car but I will pay cash. I'm excited to work on my savings so if an emergency does come up, I won't have to go into debt to cover it. It's amazing the security financial planning will give you :).

4. Get healthy! Yes, I want to lose weight, but more than that I want to be mindful of what I put into my body. I believe God calls us to be good stewards of what he gives us, whether that's our time, family, money, body....whatever He blesses us with, we should take care of. My goal is to cut out processed, refined foods. That includes givig up Diet DP. Sigh. That's going to be a tough one. But, the more I think about it, I should not have to rely on a certain food or drink to gwt me through the day. That's as bad as any other addiction. And that's what it is...an addiction. A friend and I are motivating each other to cut processed sugar out of our diets. That's another addiction I want to break. While I know I'm not overweight, I'm not healthy and food is my "drug". It's time to get this under control and use food for what it is...nourishment and fuel for my body...it's not for me to pig out on or put nothing but processed junk into me. I want to teach my kids to be healthy and I can't teach them if I'm not healthy myself.

So, there you have it..my resolutions for 2012. I'm so excited to see how God is going to change me and my life over the next year. And I'll he writing about it right here!