eat sleep and farm

Dear Miles,  Today you're one year old! I want to cry just saying it. Not because I'm sad you're growing, just because I'm always sad at how fast the first year flies by. I am incredibly thankful that we're at this milestone with you and that you're a happy, healthy boy. You don't seem one to me and I think that's why my brain is having a rough time wrapping itself around the reality that you are . I've never nursed a baby for a full year and because I'm still nursing you, I feel like we're at least a few months off from your 1st birthday. You're still extremely cuddly and as Daddy would say, "this is the sound of me NOT complaining." You're sleeping really well at night, which is awesome. You go to bed around 8:30 and you sleep until 7am. *happy dance*  You get into everything . Positively everything.  You have a fascination with bathroom toilets, which is just fantastic :-\ You fall a lot. Your head takes ...

coloring is fun at any age.  skipping makes you feel 5 again.  games like follow-the-leader and hide-n-seek never get old.  putting away folded clothes can be turned into a game.  in that case, any chore can be turned into a game.  forgiveness is given without grudges.  quiet time IS necessary.  messes made can always be cleaned up.  and, good memories are often made with a few messes  curiosity & finding answers for your questions is a good thing. why must we stop being curious?   'school' = living life and learning as we go.  praying bold prayers w/out fearing what others think is beautiful.  God is happy.  He is the most giving.  you can ask Him for anything.  Seriously ... even for a good parking spot.  seeing others as equals & being friendly is better than being judgmental or moody.  trying your best is better than sa...

... I married my very best friend.  I went from being a Betti to an Arnold I left my parent's home and moved into a new home with my husband Went to Hawaii on our honeymoon Moved from our apartment into our first home Gave birth to our first baby, Ethan   Went to Washington DC Visited friends in Washington state, not knowing it would someday be our home.  Moved from Livermore to Brentwood Had our 1st daughter, Rachel  Joined a new church Bought a house Gave birth to our 2nd daughter, Kara Moved to Washington  Joined a new church  Made lots of new friends  Began the journey of homeschooling  Began the process of paying off debt and saving for the future Lost 3 babies to  miscarriage Learned that grieving as a couple brings us closer together and helped us remember that God is our rock and solid foundation Had the privilege of seeing my husband perform the marriage ceremony at my little sister's wedding ...

I know there are many problems with social media. My title is simply MY problems with it. And I know several people who agree with me because I'm starting to see a thread of conversations on this topic popping up everywhere; online and in person. This is not a list of ways people annoy me on Facebook. I've seen those lists before and always laugh because the people who post that stuff do it all themselves. Also, I'm not pointing fingers here and forgetting I've fallen under each category I'll list. So before you decide to judge, stop it :) 1.)  Social media is everywhere. Quite literally at your fingertips.  Because of that there's a real need to feel like we need it. If a day goes by and I've not visited the online world, something is missing. I'm slowly remedying that problem, but doing so actually felt a bit like detoxing from a major addiction, which I believe most social media becomes. 2.)  its a place where you can be the very oppos...