Around here lately

Good morning friends, I hope you're all doing well :)

Well, I'm here, early morning with a post filled with pictures and some random chit chat about what I've been doing, what's been going on etc.

You know I've kind of told myself that it's ok to not always post, even though I really want to, but I also realized the other night that while I was thinking about my blog and my life and kids etc, that I really do need to get back on the ball and mainly because I am missing out on sharing so many moments.

I want to be able to look back one day and read through all the posts, look at all the pictures and enjoy the journey that has been motherhood.

With that said, I've also been trying to get back on track with a lot of aspects in my life.  I've said it before here on the blog and I stick by it.....the past 2 years or so, I totally feel like I've lost who I am, have stopped doing the things I love, have changed into someone I'm sometimes not happy with and I need to get back to the core of who Sandra is.

Easier said than done though, right?

Anyway, so what's been going around here.  Well, lots of running around mainly with my Jasmine, back and forth to therapy appointments as we work on getting her mentally healthy.  It's so hard folks, so very hard.  As a mother I tend to question everything and wonder what in the world I did or we did to make her feel the way she is at times.  Then I have to tell myself that it's not our fault, this is her journey and something she has to work through, best we can do is just support her and love her through it.

I've been taking pics here and there to share with you, kind of a little peek at my life and since so many of you enjoy those posts :)

Rain

It's been relentless, never ceasing but for a few days. It pummels down, it knocks against the windows and doors and floods the yards.  I love rain, but I even could use a little less, though I've learned that it's just the way it goes here in old Texas :)

Prayer Beads

So during the family reunion two weeks or so ago, our cousin Cindy brought all her bead supplies and taught us how to make some prayer beads.  It's not something I had ever done before, but I had so much fun.  When I started out I realized that I wasn't quite feeling the combinations and actually drew a blank, I couldn't seem to get anything going, but the minute I got the first combination of colors right for me, I was all into it.

The one above was actually the last piece I made, I wanted a bracelet and I knew that I wanted to use some of my favorite colors which are the Robin Egg Blue and the woodsy brown.  I kept it pretty plain, just used some crosses, some different wood beads and threw in a black and silver bead here and there just to make it pop.  It has become one of my favorites and I wear it as often as I can.

This one was made by Cindy, but the minute I saw it I knew I wanted it.  Not just because it again uses the gorgeous blue, but you see those crystal beads?  They came from a necklace that belonged to my husband's grandma, and I just felt that it would be a sweet treasure to hold on to.

This was actually the first one I made.  I love pink, just love it.  I wanted something to put on my purses.  I decided to go with the pink butterfly and a silver cross and then just picked black and pink beads to place between.  I absolutely adore the way it turned out, it makes my purse pretty but it also gives me something to hold on to when I'm in a stressful situation.

Nature

Country life is the perfect place to enjoy nature at it's fullest.  Things I never thought I would get to witness and enjoy.  Some cute, some not so cute, but all a reminder of the beauty that surrounds us every single day.

This little one was in my walkway, right outside my front door.  I thought it was a mouse at first but then I kept thinking "what's with the long hair?"  hahaha   Turns out it is a baby gopher or mole, not even really sure and I know they're regarded as garden pests but he is just adorable.  My nephew Colby moved him to the grass, to a safer place but unfortunately he didn't make it, poor thing.  :(

Cardinals, they are all over my yard and I find them to be one of the most beautiful birds, ever.  Wish they would come closer but they like to stay way up in the tree and not really give me a chance to get near them.  I always find that I have to pull out my zoom lens if I want a good pic.

Outside

My wild flowers seem to have just burst into life.  So many different colors and shapes, some tall, some short.  It's wonderful walking out my front door and seeing them all blooming, and I'm sure the rain has been a major contributor to that.

I'm still absolutely besotted with Texas and the area I live in.  It's everything I always wished for and more and I count myself blessed to be here in this area.

Still close enough to the base, still able to hear the jets flying above us and see them in all their glory.  Best of both worlds, I believe!!!

Inside

I love being at home, I love homemaking and everything that goes with it.  I am not going to lie and say that there are not days that I don't feel it, or would rather not have to worry about washing another dish or cooking another meal.

I wish people would understand that loving what you do doesn't mean that you can't at times rather do something else.  For the most part though, I enjoy what I do, I enjoy taking care of the house and my family and take great pleasure and pride in it.

Simple cakes are baked when we're all craving something sweet to enjoy with a cup of coffee.

On rainy days, lamps and candles are lit.  This is my newest addition and I love it so very much.  I'm wanting to make my paneled living room into a country, cabin kind of feel.

On dark gloomy days, I will often sit at the dining table, on my laptop and enjoy the rain coming down.  Picture above does remind me that I need to give my windows a good cleaning, all this rain has made them very yucky.

With the dryer out of commission, hanging clothes up has been my life.  I've been using the clothesline and the this foldable laundry rack.  See that pile in the laundry basket?  That's my ironing for this morning.  Joy!!!

Miss Naughty is getting old, but still acts like a little puppy lol  She cracks me up.

That's her toy, all chewed up, stuffing completely gone but nonetheless, she still enjoys throwing it around and playing with it.

As you can see, life is just normal around here, but I like that, I like that there's nothing completely out of the ordinary because that would mean something was wrong.

Sometimes boring is good, especially in this day and age where the world seems to be running crazy and so much tragedy surrounds us all.

Well friends, I have tons of ironing to do, some more computer work, emails to reply to and a meal plan to work on.  Oh and in a few hours I have the first Portugal soccer game in the UEFA Euro Cup.  You know I'll be watching and biting my nails in anticipation.  Wish us luck!!!