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Gratitude Journal // Seven - Thirty - Twenty One

Gratitude Series: Sometimes, I let the bad in my day get the better of me. Other times, I get so caught up in my own little world that I forget to give thanks for all of the blessings in my life. I find myself taking things for granted over and over again. So, today, I’m choosing to give thanks for all of the things.

• My Nephew: With his cute little voice and those little cheeks. “TIA!!” He calls me. We share a love of chocolate and I will gladly give him some when we see each other. You’re welcome, Kim. He’s constantly asking to see Em and honestly, he makes her feel like a big sister when he’s around - complete with the title. While she does have a half-brother, we don’t get to see him as often. So, her little cousin helps make her feel like she’s living up to that big sister role in some way.

• CHIPS: After years and years of paying for all of the medical and dental expenses for my daughter out of pocket, and taking on these huge ER bills from the few times we had to take her in, I made the decision to seek out assistance. Government assistance. Something I had always told myself that I would never do. Here in Texas when you don’t qualify for Children’s Medicaid then you have the option to try getting CHIPS. And well it’s no secret that my income, while a decent one for my job and this area, it doesn’t leave me with enough money to afford a family health insurance plan. Add school into the mix and well, my budget is pretty tight. The lowest we found at the time was $380/month with a very high deductible, and I'm sure it's gone up since then. So, I finally gave in and applied. And we barely made the cut. Now, this is not long-term assistance for us, and I don’t want it to be. But I am so grateful for it because we really needed it. And I know there's some judgment that gets thrown around about people who use government assistance, but let me just say this, “If you really need it. USE IT. That is what it’s there for and don’t let anyone make you feel less than just because of it.”

• Sweet Tea: My favorite “go-to” drink. One that I had to cut back on, significantly. Which makes me sad, but also, I get it. Texas tends to make their sweet tea - extra sweet. So, it wasn’t helping with my diet or the more recent lifestyle changes I’ve been in the process of making. But man, when I do go in for a full sweet tea rather than a water or half & half. Ooooh, it’s delicious! And if I could drink it forever, I would.

• Snow cones: One of the best things about summer. With the heat that we get and the humidity too. There are some days when it’s almost unbearable. The heat index gets well into the triple digits. And there’s nothing quite like treating yourself to a giant snow cone at the end of a really scorching day. I actually prefer it over ice cream. Personally, blue coconut is my favorite and I tend to stick with that. But occasionally I’ll branch out. Nothing too crazy though. While we’ve also cut back on these, mainly because we don’t have a stand right down the road, it’s definitely one of my favorite treats to get. And trust me when I say that I will definitely make that 15-minute drive back into town on those days when I’m really craving one.

• Trisha: She has been in our lives for over about a year and a half now. We started out with family sessions but at the beginning of summer, we incorporated couples sessions as well. And she’s just been wonderful! Emery really opens up to her, and Trisha has been a huge help when it comes to helping Emery work through her anxiety. As for the couple sessions, those are relatively new, but she does a great job in helping me see things from a different point of view. Sadly, we will only have her for one more session in two weeks. She recently accepted a job offer, one closer to home, and while we are so sad to see her go - we are also very happy for her! Emery shed plenty of tears at our last session, but because they’re just so fond of each other - Trisha offered to do once-a-month virtual check-ins with Emery at no cost to us. I mean, how amazing is that? I'm really thankful to God for putting her in our lives.

And that wraps up my gratitude post for this month. What are you grateful for today? This week? This month? What do you do to help bring some positivity back into your day if it's been a bad one? How do you make sure to stay grounded? And how’s the end of summer going? Any last-minute plans before the kids head back to school? Let me know below. Until the next post, I hope everyone has a really lovely weekend! Adios!

“We are what we believe we are.”  // C.S. Lewis 

❤

Wordless Wednesday

Maggie Valley, North Carolina

Part of our July vacation took us to Maggie Valley, North Carolina. We stayed in a really lovely home right on the mountain. And let me just say that the view was beautiful! We had a nice view of the Great Smoky Mountains. There was a creek that ran right next to the house, and every morning we’d have our coffee right on the front deck. It was such a peaceful place. The weather was amazing as well! High 50's at night and low 80's during the day. If that. It usually rained a little during the early morning, but there was always a nice cool breeze brought with it. That being said, this was definitely the less eventful part of our trip. Which I didn’t mind - they had the Hallmark Channel. I was also injured on this trip so the more rest I had, the better.

On the first day, only the men went out to go fishing. The rest of us stayed at the house. Did I mention we only had one vehicle? The following day we were all able to get out and about. We spent our morning at the “Wheels Through Time” museum where we were able to catch a showing of “The Wall of Death”. If this crew ever stops in your town I highly recommend watching them. 

This was followed by a trip to Soco Falls. Now, I was determined to make this trek to see the waterfall, and I totally made it! It definitely took me a bit longer than everyone else, and there were a few sketchy spots that I avoided. But I made it to the areas I wanted to go to, and I was so dang proud of myself! Once we were done it was time to head back up the mountain to take the kids to a Fantasy Golf place they had been begging to go to since they caught sight of it. And it was well worth it because the kids had a blast! This was also my very first time playing putt-putt. And then it was off for a late lunch/early dinner before heading back to the cabin.

The following day was met with a sunny morning and we were up in time to attended mass at this beautiful Catholic Church that had two glass walls. I can’t even begin to explain the sense of peace I got when walking in. After mass, we took a few pictures and spoke with a few people about the church. We even saw two nuns! And then we were off, back up the mountain! Once we got back to the cabin it started to rain so we tried to wait it out. I was able to take a nap, rest my leg, and then we all decided to spend the rest of our time doing some shopping.

And that was about it for us. They did have a lot of great restaurants, and we had just missed the "Thunder in the Smokies" bike rally. This area is heavily traveled by motorcyclists so definitely be cautious of that if you're ever there. Overall, Maggie Valley was a hit! There were plenty of things for everyone to do. I really wish I hadn't hurt myself before the trip, because they had a lot of hiking trails close by that I missed out on. I wouldn't even mind going back! Though if we do, I'd like to visit Cherokee, NC - which was just 30 minutes down the other side of the mountain. I heard a lot of great things about it, but sadly I was outvoted. And next time I'd like to have our own vehicle! It was harder than we thought having everyone travel in one. Now, after six days of being off/on the road, I know a good chunk of us were ready to be back home. Back into a routine. And weirdly, we were all ready to sleep in our own beds. Even though our bed seriously needs replacing. And I don't know if it was the elevation, but I found myself in bed pretty early every night and easily tired throughout the day. And heavy, if that makes any sense? Still, overall, it was a beautiful place! I'm really glad we were invited and able to go. 

So, how is everyone's summer going? Any fun trips? New places to visit? Have you been to any of the places I've mentioned? What was your experience like? Let me know below. Until the next post, hwyl fawr!

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The Ark Encounter

Well, we went on a semi-vacation, y’all. A few weeks ago we packed some suitcases, and everyone piled into a small SUV at 4AM. We drove all day, with a few stops here and there. And one little detour to visit the largest Bass Pro in the USA. Because let's be honest, how could a car full of hunting and fishing enthusiasts NOT stop? However, the ultimate destination was Williamstown, Kentucky and we made it there in about 16 hours. The townhouse we were staying in was very decent, and after settling in, everyone quickly explored the game room downstairs. However, we did get there pretty late, so we kept that to a minimum. The real adventure for us would be the next day. So, after a few hours, we got everyone ready for bed. Now the house we were staying at was only 5 miles down the road from the Ark. Since we had gotten in so late we ended up having a late start to the day. It was closing in on 10:00 by the time everyone was showered, dressed, and fed. Once everyone was ready we were off to start on our adventure! 

While the weather wasn’t anywhere near as hot as it has been in Texas, it was still in the mid-80s. Thankfully, we got there a little before 11 AM and the forecast called for a partly cloudy morning. As we made our way, you could catch a glimpse of the Ark from the road. And it was huge! I expected it to be big, but I didn’t realize just how big. Parking was a breeze, and the ticket lines moved very quickly. Then everyone was handed a map and an insert with all of the information for exhibits and short presentations. And as soon as we had our bracelets we were directed to a different area where the shuttle buses came to pick us up. The wait time here was probably 8-10 minutes. The buses run continuously and they had quite a few of them going back and forth so it didn’t take long for them to get back around to pick up/drop off another group.

Now, I won’t bore you with too many details, but let me just say that “The Ark Encounter” was an experience. From the minute you step off of the bus all the way until you board back on to leave. They have a lot of activities, exhibits, films, and short presentations. There’s a VR building that you can visit as well, which is really cool. But honestly, my favorite part was just being there. Walking into this massive boat - I mean it was huge. Learning about how it was built. The animals that were on board. Walking through some of the Bible, and then learning about how there are very similar accounts of what happened in every single country. There was so much to take in, and I still don’t think we had enough time to cover it all. Often, I found myself just standing there in awe of it all. And it was beautiful!

Tickets prices are: Adults 18-59 ($49.95), Youth 11-17 ($24.95), and Kids 10 and under are currently free. They do offer senior discounts as well as combo passes and annual passes. And while that may seem pricey upfront, it really wasn't bad considering everything that they offer. However, there are a lot of other extras that they offer which do cost an additional fee. There is more than one gift shop, a few outside vendors in order to grab a snack, and even an all-you-can-eat buffet-style restaurant. There was also a small bakery and coffee shop. They have a small zoo, a children’s playground, and a fossil find area. They have zip-lining, and camel rides for the kids as well. In total, we spent about 5 hours there, and this includes the VR experience as well as dinner at “Emzara’s Kitchen” which is located on the grounds right outside of the Ark. And we spent a little over $400 on a family of three (tickets & food included).

So, if the Ark is something you’ve been wanting to go see and visit, do it! I can’t stress that enough. It’s a wonderful experience. And while we didn’t have time to visit there is also a Creation Museum, about a 45-minute drive away which you can get combo tickets for if you have the time to visit. I feel like that was our mistake, not getting there early enough to make the extra trip to visit the museum. Now, a few tips would be to pack light for the day, get there early, and wear comfortable shoes. There’s a lot of walking involved. Also, if you tend to get cold easily, wear a light jacket or cardigan because they keep it nice and cool inside. If you have small children I definitely recommend bringing a stroller, and honestly eating there at the restaurant is probably the best thing you can do. They had a whole range of options and everyone in our party was satisfied. Even the picky eaters. We had kids ranging in age from 7 to 11, and they all expressed a lot of excitement throughout our day there. Most importantly though, just take your time and enjoy it!

Wordless Wednesday

June Wrap Up

June was a month, y'all. Originally, I had planned on taking a summer course to help keep me on track for the earliest graduation date possible. However, after a week, I quickly realized that the class I was taking NEEDED to be done in person. I don’t do well with “self-taught” courses. I need examples, instructions, and a lot of guided direction. I have to be able to ask questions. Especially when it comes to math-related subjects. So, I dropped it. And there was this instant sigh as I felt the weight/stress fall off of my shoulders. Little did I know, June would have other plans for my mental health and I would need every bit of time off to help gather myself.

At the beginning of the month, we had to say goodbye to one of our four-legged family members. And it was hard for everyone. We stayed up well into the morning hours. Taking turns watching over him, letting him know he was a good boy, and cuddling with him. But as the sky started to lighten, right before the sun came up, he took his last breath. While I’ve had to have two dogs euthanized before, watching one go naturally, was a much different experience. He didn’t seem to suffer, and we had him as comfortable as we could. However, it was something that I know will stick with me.

We also had to make a trip to the ER with Em due to stomach issues. There were a lot of tears and after she went two days without eating we decided it was time to see a doctor. After a few hours, and one medication cocktail later, they sent us on our way home with two prescriptions and a diagnosis that I had a feeling was coming. Just because of our family medical history. They did tell us if it continues to happen frequently, or if it comes back and it’s much worse then we may have to have her see a GI specialist. She wasn’t too thrilled with that, but as of right now we’re just grateful that it wasn’t anything too serious. She’s pretty much back to normal in the department.

Corey’s been doing a lot of fishing lately. And he already has two tournaments under his belt - one of those came with a cash prize too. He sold his small boat for enough money to buy a kayak and put a downpayment on a small fishing boat. It needs a bit of work, but it should be ready to take out on the water soon. Still, he’s been having a blast doing something that he loves to do. And I’d even go as far as to say that it’s also helped him adjust to the boys not being here. They’ve officially moved to their “in-between” city. They’ll be there until November, and then they’ll be off to their final destination. Well, at least for the next three years. And while we’ve still gotten to see them from time to time over this summer, it’s definitely not how it was before. So, Corey has now found himself with a lot of extra time. And he’s using it to do things he likes.

I, on the other hand, have been struggling lately. We had some setbacks with our future home. And the minute we start to get things figured out or fixed, something else comes up. I’ve had some personal setbacks as well. From having to deal with the very real possibility of not having another child to my consistent weight gain. It kind of put me into this weird state of semi-depression. If that makes any sense? I’ve tried for over a year to get things with my health under control on my own, using more natural approaches, but it's clearly not working. So, I’m calling it. I’ll be making an appointment with a doctor to see if I can get placed on medication. And that kind of feels like a huge failure to me for some reason which just adds to the emotional rollercoaster I've been on for the past few months. This is also why I am hitting the gym again. If for nothing else I get that release of endorphins which makes me feel a bit better. And honestly, at this point, I'll take anything that helps. 

It hasn't all been bad though. In the larger picture, overall, things are good. It’s been a very slow week, and I’ve had a chance to relax. Counselling has been going really well too. And we’re gearing up for a vacation soon. I’ve also decided to downsize my closet in the very near future. I recently listened to an episode of the "Poco a Poco" podcast, and it just spoke to me. So, it’s time. I’m hoping to have a good chunk of my clothes, shoes, jewelry, books, and other miscellaneous items ready for donation by the middle of July. And I’m really looking forward to it. Weird, I know. But the idea has made my heart happy so I know it’s what I need to do. Other than that, there isn’t much new with us. I hope y’all are having a wonderful summer so far though. Enjoy the time off and the whole country coming back to life. Though Texas has been ahead of that curve for a while. Maybe even travel somewhere if you can. Or visit one of your favorite local spots. Until the next time, take care of yourselves. 💙