{Vacation in Texas}

Each year we drive 18 hours to visit my family in Texas.  It's a beautiful drive and although long it lets us see some of God's most beautiful work.  We always stay at least 3 weeks since February is the only down time my husband has from farming.  We had a great time & while away I took a break from blogging to spend quality time with my family!

I've missed checking in on my favorite blogs & doing some much needed DIYing around our house!  We got back late Friday night & spent all day Saturday just being lazy.  It was so needed after being on the road for two days pulling a trailer full of furniture my grandparents sent back with us.  

We are happy to be home & ready to get back into a routine.  We have tons of plans for our home this year & we can't wait to share them step by step with each of y'all.  We are working on potty training our beautiful 20 month old & cannot believe that we will soon be celebrating her 2nd birthday.  

Here's just a few highlights from our trip.  My favorite was probably visiting Southfork Ranch.  It was so awesome to learn the history of the ranch & show.  

{1.Texas line 2.Southfork Ranch 3. Ft. Worth Stockshow & Rodeo 4. Ft. Worth Zoo}

We have tons of frame orders that we will start working on tomorrow! 

Never did I imagine that our frame business would be what it is today! 

We are super blessed & excited about all that 2013 has to offer us!

Happy Sunday!

{Happy Birthday, Teagen & Prayers}

Teagen is our youngest female GSP {German Shorthaired Pointer}.  We bought her when she only 3 weeks old & brought her home when she was 8 weeks old.  She's been such a joy & a much needed addition to our family.  Today is her birthday.  She turned 4.

This afternoon we noticed she wasn't acting right.  When we finally got her to come to us we saw blood & puss coming out of her mouth.  We immediately called our vet who referred us to another vet who is open on Sundays.  We drove an hour {which seemed like a lifetime} to get Teagen to the vet.  The vet came in & after examining her asked if she could have been poisoned.  My heart sunk.  Upon further examination she said it was one of three things; poison, bone marrow cancer or an auto immune disease.  Again my heart sunk.  The vet said that she is very sick and needed treatment immediately.  She was admitted & has to stay overnight.  She is on IV's & antibiotics & as I  type this I am waiting on a call from the vet to get the lab results.  

Our oldest GSP, Pep, as an auto immune disease that we have been treating for almost 2 years.  She's doing good but has to see a vet at NC State Veterinary School.  We are praying that Teagen isn't struggling with the same disease as it takes a toll on their precious bodies.

Please say a prayer for Teagen.  She is a very special part of our family.  I cannot imagine what our family with do without her sweet face.  She is the most loving of all our dogs.  She has a gentle heart & the softest kisses.

Our house seems a little empty tonight without her.  We appreciate any prayers this beautiful girl can get!

{I'm back...}

So it's been a while since I last posted & for good reason.  Christmas came & went in our house.  It was as wonderful as we thought it would be.  Landry loved all her gifts but especially those left by Santa! The tree & all the decorations came down the day after Christmas.  As much as I love Christmas I am always ready to see it go too.

Our new year started with our sweet girl running a fever that wouldn't go away no matter what we did. She ended up developing a horrible couch, tons of congestion & runny nose.  The final diagnosis was a severe double ear infection.  She took her last dose of antibiotic today & seems to be feeling so much better!  Now my husband is sick.... That's the way it seems to go in our house though.  

I've been super busy painting furniture trying to restock my booth since it was pretty wiped out after the holidays.  Keeping up with a sick baby & a business isn't for the weak at heart.  I'm learning so much on this journey & although some of it is extremely challenging it's all rewarding in the end.  

It's hard to believe that 2013 is already here.  I can't believe that this year I'll be married for 7 years, turn 36, celebrate our oldest daughter's 7th birthday in Heaven and celebrate our youngest daughter's 2nd birthday.  It's surreal at how fast life goes by.  This year we are taking time to slow down & enjoy the small moments as a family.  Losing a child can help ground you.  Our journey with our daughter Parker has always led us back to our faith that God has chose a path for our family that we should embrace during the good & bad moments.  

Over the next few weeks I'm going to get real with our plans for our relationship with God, our family, our businesses & this blog.  I've never made this blog a priority.  It was started as a form of therapy for me when we found out our daughter was sick & eventually just turned into a forum for my small DIY projects around our old new to us home.  I'm hoping to change that this year.  Share more of our projects, our farm, our family.  

We really do live a life we don't deserve and I hope that in all I do I make my God proud.  

Hope all of you have an amazing weekend!  Stay warm if you are in the middle of the snow that is slowly making its way to us!

{Heavy Heart}

I am at such a loss for words about the senseless tragedy in Connecticut.  

Our prayers are with everyone affected. 

"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for

of such is the kingdom of Heaven."

Matthew 19:14