Tuesday, May 29

{With Thanks}


I wanted to take a minute to just say a big heartfelt 
"Thank You" 
to you for reading my blog, 
supporting me, 
encouraging me by commenting,
 and for reaching out to me just to say hello 
or share a thought!  

May has been such a difficult month for me, 
but in the midst of it all, 
I've discovered how even friends I have yet to meet in real life 
{YOU}
 are genuinely caring
warm-hearted and 
generously loving!

Thank you so much for your sweet comments this month, 
most of which I regret I have not had the time to respond to. 

 I read every single one of them, and they mean so much.  

I am so grateful for your friendship and support.  

If there is anything I can do for you, 
to help you, 
encourage you, 
even to pray for you, 
please let me know!



P.S.
Top Baby Blogs reset their votes today, 
and we need your help!  

Would you please give us a vote and help us stay ranked in the Top 25!

Just click this link and then Mr. Owl on the LEFT!! 

That's it.  

XO

Sunday, May 27

{Broken}


It's been a hard month.

I don't even know if I'm sure how to begin this conversation,
but I have to open up my heart.

I need to release the tidal wave of emotion that is threatening to drown me.

I'm not very good at sharing this part of me.

I'm not good at dealing with pain.

I'm broken.

I'm so very broken.

Some of it is my fault…

I take full responsibility for the choices I've made 
that have brought with it the consequence of pain.  

But this is not the brokenness I'm speaking of today.

I'm talking about the brokenness that is a result of someone else's choice.

A choice to rob me of my innocence as a child.

A choice to violate the depths of my soul.

It is a wound that continually bleeds.

It is a pain that knows no limit.

As I sit here today, writing this, 
I am discouraged in my soul.

For as long as I can remember I've tried to control the pain,
to stop the bleeding,
but I have finally realized I cannot do it.

I've self-medicated, and I've run.

I've buried it and I've hid.

I've screamed, I've cried and I've rebelled.

Most of the time I smile through it, refusing to expose it.

And now, I've reached the end of my own efforts.

I am perplexed.

The one thing I haven't tried is to 
just be still 
and allow myself to actually 
feel the pain.

Allow myself to actually feel
 the emotions that are trapped
 in my mind and body's memories 
of what I've endured.

But today I'm doing that.

Today I'm just feeling what I feel.
Today I'm being authentic about how deep the wound is.
Today I'm trusting God that this is the way to freedom.

I may be broken,
but my faith is intact.

I may be broken,
but I am being restored.

I may be broken,
but God will not leave me here.

Thursday, May 24

{Featured Lovely+Giveaway}
Meet Michelle of Heartfelt Balance, Handmade Life

I was born and raised in Florida.  
I lived in Tallahassee, 
where I attended Florida State 
to earn my degree in 
fashion.  

I met my hubby on a cruise. 
Six years later, I moved to Ohio.  
I've been in Ohio for 12 years now and
my hubby and I will be celebrating our 
10 year anniversary 
this year.

I have a wonderful husband 
who is a carpenter.  
And 
I have two kids--
an 8 year old boy and 
a 5 year old girl.  

Logan, my 8 year old 
is into anything LEGO 
and has recently found out that he 
loves swimming.  

Jaycee is my funky little diva.  
She is one of the most active people I've ever met.  
It is sometimes a challenge keeping her busy!
a Mish-Mash of mommy stuff.  
I float back and forth between different topics.  

Sometimes I focus on cooking and recipes.  
Sometimes I focus on crafts.  
Sometimes I might write heartfelt mommy thoughts 
or show you a little bit of the local fun. 

I've recently started doing a "Daily Fashion Post", 
where I create an outfit of the day.  
Since I earned my degree in fashion, 
I miss the clothes!  
It's a way for me to feel like I'm still involved.
I've recently started selling mark. cosmetics.  
It's another way I can stay in touch with the beauty/fashion world.  
It's been a lot of fun so far.  
I can't wait to see where it takes me!

***
Courtney here:
I "met" Michelle via the MayDay Follow Fest!
I really like her daily outfit posts 
and was happy to hear that she started a mark. business.  
They have such trendy and affordable cosmetics!  
Michelle recently mentioned that she is growing out her gray…
and I have to say…I'm super impressed by her choice!  
I hope that when my hair starts turning that I will look as stunning as she does!  
Doesn't she look amazing!?


You can connect more with Michelle here: Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest.


Don't leave yet!  
Michelle is generously giving away some mark. goodies 
to one lovely Baxtron{Life} reader!


Enter via the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Meet&Tweet}



Today I'm thrilled to be co-hosting a twitter party with Laura from Our Reflection!  


I hope you'll join in on the fun - 
I have come to love meeting other bloggers through this party!  


And seriously…
now that I have my shiny new iPhone, 
I'm even more of a twitter-hollic!  


I can't wait to meet you and follow you via twitter, 
so if you are new, please say hello!

Here's how this Meet & Tweet works...

HOST

This week's co-hosts are:
Courtney from Baxtron Life
Jess from Jess Is More
Kendall from Songbirds and Buttons
Helen from Eat.Enjoy.Live.
Christine from The DIY Dreamer
Jennifer from Mommy Huh 


The Rules
1. Mandatory you follow your hosts
{They are the first 8 in the linky.}

2. Follow at least 5 new people via Twitter
{Or more! Introduce yourself... Its a great way to make new friends!}

3. Tweet about the Meet & Tweet!
You can use "Meet new friends & gain new followers! Join the Meet & Tweet at @_laurahernandez aka Our Reflection blog. I did! http://our-reflection.blogspot.com/"

4. Spread the word!
The more the merrier! Grab a button and add it to
your blog, Tweet or Facebook about the link up.
Our Reflection
<div align="center"><a href="http://our-reflection.blogspot.com/" title="Our Reflection"><img src="http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g383/_laurahernandez/MeetTweet-2.jpg" alt="Our Reflection" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

One lucky link up person will WIN a FREE
solo guest post on Our Reflection blog!
Drum roll please....
Last weeks Meet & Tweet winner is Amanda from Royal Daughter Designs.
Congratulations!

Please link up your Twitter account, not your blog.

Want to be a future co-host?
Only requirement is your become an Our Reflection sponsor.
Email Laura at momsgonnasnap@gmail.com.

Tuesday, May 22

Friday, May 18

{Coffee Date}


I've been meaning to sit down with you and share a cup of coffee for some time now.

If we were to share a cup of coffee today, I'd tell you that my heart is filled with a mixed bag of emotions…that I need to just purge for a little while if you don't mind.

I'd start our conversation by focusing on all the lovely things that have brought joy to my heart in the past few days.


I'd tell you...

How Zion's 2nd Birthday was beautiful, filled with close family and friends.

How I slaved away to make her a six layer rainbow cake with homemade buttercream frosting…mostly to prove to myself that I was capable.

How she lit up the room with her excited response to everyone singing Happy Birthday to her.


I'd share...

How great it felt to treat my in-laws to a fancy steak dinner at one of the best steakhouses in New York City (for Mother's Day)…a gift that Jerry and I have been dreaming of giving for a few years.

How Jerry received a bonus that was much higher than we expected, and how we've paid off our highest interest/high balance credit card in full!

I'd probably gloat a little about the fact that today we ordered my iPhone 4S in white, of course, and how I can't wait to destroy my current "smartphone" by smashing it to pieces.  Yes, I'm really going to do that.

And then of course the conversation would probably move toward some of the minor struggles I've had over the last couple of weeks….


I'd share that…

It is hard to admit to myself that my daughter (my sweet little baby) is now 2.  And I secretly hate the fact that we took away her pacifiers the other night, even though she is doing fine without them.

I felt awful that she ended up getting her blood drawn on her birthday and how they couldn't get her vein to stop rolling so she had to get poked in both arms.  I wanted to punch the nurse, and cry too, but of course had to be strong and reassuring while she looked at me with those big tear-filled brown eyes.

I would tell you how I haven't quite got back into the swing of things with my blog or other projects, and that I am allowing myself to be okay with that for now.  Time away is good for regrouping and refocusing, always.

If we were to have coffee today, this is probably the point where I'd grow a little quiet and seem a bit distant, as I stripped away the layers and moved closer to the deeper things going on in my heart.


I would probably get a little choked up as I told you…

How the last two weeks I was convinced that I was pregnant again.

That I had all of the normal symptoms I had with Zion…that I couldn't wait to test myself yesterday, only to find that I was not pregnant, and then shortly thereafter have confirmation of that.

Then I would tell you how I'm afraid that I won't get pregnant again easily…how I'm worried about running out of time.  How my dream of having a big family seems like it may not come true after all.

I'd probably finish by saying, I still trust God, and know that He has perfect timing…and that I will still rest in that and believe and hope despite how I currently feel.


I'd then tell you how terrified I am about what God is currently doing in my life…all of it good…but incredibly scary for me.

I would tell you…

How I got asked to speak at a conference and said yes, even though every part of me wanted to say no, because I knew it was God's will.

I would tell you that I am more nervous about delivering the right message than I am about the actual public speaking, even though that part terrifies me a little bit too.

I would tell you that I know I will never be the same after sharing this part of my story…because once it is out there…well…there is no turning back…no more secrets.  I'd also tell you that I know this is part of God's plan to bring greater healing and wholeness to my life, yes, but also to the lives of others.


I'd finish probably by apologizing for talking the whole time and not letting you get much of a word in, and I'd thank you for being there for me, for praying with me, for encouraging me, for being a part of my life.

Lastly, I'd ask you to come and share a cup of coffee with me again…sooner than later…and promise to listen more than talk this next time around.




Linking up with Alissa & Dana.

Tuesday, May 15

{24 Months}




Today 
my little baby sweetheart 
is officially 
2 years old!  

While, we didn't do anything amazing today, 
we had a full weekend…
a Rainbow birthday party,
family visiting from Ohio,
and a beautiful memorable Mother's day!

My heart is happy and sad at the same time.
My baby is really not a baby anymore…
she is a sweet, spirited, little girl.



Sunday, May 13

{Remember}
Mother-to-Daughter

Origin Unknown
Letter from a Mother to a Daughter

"My dear girl, 
the day you see I’m getting ...old, 
I ask you to please be patient, 
but most of all, 
try to understand what I’m going through.

If when we talk, 
I repeat the same thing a thousand times,
 don’t interrupt to say: 
“You said the same thing a minute ago”
... Just listen, please. 

Try to remember the times when you were little 
and I would read the same story 
night after night until you would fall asleep. 

When I don’t want to take a bath, 
don’t be mad and 
don’t embarrass me. 

Remember 
when I had to run after you making excuses 
and trying to get you to take a shower 
when you were just a girl? 

When you see how ignorant I am 
when it comes to new technology, 
give me the time to learn and 
don’t look at me that way… 
remember, honey, 
I patiently taught you how to do many things like:
 eating appropriately, 
getting dressed, 
combing your hair and
 dealing with life’s issues every day… 

the day you see I’m getting old, 
I ask you to please be patient, 
but most of all, 
try to understand what I’m going through. 

If I occasionally lose track of what we’re talking about, 
give me the time to remember, 
and if I can’t, 
don’t be nervous, impatient or arrogant. 

Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you. 

And when my old, tired legs 
don’t let me move as quickly as before, 
give me your hand 
the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked. 

When those days come, 
don’t feel sad… 
just be with me, 
and understand me while I get to the end of my life 
with love.

I’ll cherish and thank you 
for the gift of time and joy we shared. 

With a big smile and the huge love I’ve always had for you, 
I just want to say, 
I love you… 
my darling daughter. "

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!

-Author Unknown

I received this via email from my Dad's girlfriend
…and felt it was beautiful and worth sharing.  
Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Wishing you a blessed day!

Friday, May 11

{SunBerry}
Spa Water


Continue reading at Through the Eyes of the Mrs.

{MemoryLane}
0-12 Months
















p.s. I know the image quality isn't great on some of these..but I haven't had a chance to go back and edit with my new editing super-skills, so I apologize for that.