Archives for May 2013

May 20, 2013 By 4 Comments

Random-to-the-Ness

Let’s see, let’s see.  Lots of randomness for this Monday because that’s just how today is rolling.

This is probably his favorite spot in the whole house.  He spends far too much time perched in this window sill.  I like him.

Key fob order I finished up a few weeks ago.  I’m done with all my April orders…hahahahaha…it only took me over a month to complete.  It was sad.  Life was crazy.  Now I’m gearing up for some Saturday Sales…I hope you’re as excited as I am.

Delaney and Amon’s first date.  I’m totally not against arranged marriages.

A sick kid on his last day of MDO when they are having a popsicle and pizza party is really sad.  I hated it for him, but a nap in the middle of the morning = legit sick.

Smile/Cry.

Sol got more xrays taken last Friday.  I wasn’t really thinking and let Huddy take his play western six shooter into the hospital.  No one said anything…except Sol’s doctor.  Hmmmmm.  And Sol’s 5 broken bones are now all growing new, nice and strong, so off with the boot.

Huddy: “So I guess Amon’s not a baby anymore?”

Me:  “Why do you say that?”

Huddy:  “Well now he’s a toddler.”

Me:  “You shut your mouth Huddy Kelley…you shut it right now.”

So I didn’t really say that last part, but I wanted to.  How dare he point out that Amon…baby Kelley…itty bitty baby Kelley…isn’t a baby anymore.  How did this happen?

Third time seeing the Avett Brothers.  Great show.  Every.Single.Time.  They don’t disappoint.  They have certainly arrived.

She’s big now too.  What is happening to my small Kelleys?  Time makes me want to use curse words…lots and lots of curse words.  How did she get so big?

I told you today was Random-to-the-Ness.  Always.  Hope you’ve had a great day.  Hope the start to your week has been shockingly good.

Happy Monday!

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May 17, 2013 By 3 Comments

Best.Day.Ever

Sooooo, yesterday was amazing.  I love my kids, but goodness, sometimes a mom has to get a little alone time…and mine was glorious.  I had the entire day.  Like everyone was out of the house at 7am and I didn’t get home from dinner until like 11.  It was incredible.

Started my day off with some miles.

I spent time alone…in our house…alone.  No cleaning…only working on art.  Be still my heart.

I jammed to loud, catchy inappropriate music which I usually have to turn because of the young kiddos typically riding in my car.  Not yesterday.

I got my hair did.

Ate lunch alone.  Word.

Got a massage.  I wanted to stay forever under those warm blankets in that dark, relaxing room.  Sigh.

I had like a 6 hour dinner and drinks with a sweet friend.  Such yummy food.  We indulged.  Pot stickers and shrimp skewers were up first.

Raspberry goodness.

Next was fried okra with super delicious dipping sauce and then 2 plates of sushi.

Laura Kelley Fun Fact #401  I’ve never eaten sushi…ever…until last night.  It was amazingly good.  I might even have it again on Saturday night.  Is my life changed?  Maybe.

It was such a good day.  All moms everywhere need a day off every now and then.  I’m a firm believer that one of the best things you can do for your kids is to take care of yourself and your marriage first.  So much easier said than done, but when a free day is presented, you grab it and run like crazy.  Enjoy it.  Make a plan.  Don’t feel guilty, feel special and loved.  Your kiddos will survive without you.  And you will be sooooooo glad you did it.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Happy Friday.

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May 16, 2013 By 4 Comments

If you need me…

I’ll be alone…in my house…All.Day.Long…zero wee Kelleys to be found.  I feel like a curse word is in order…wait for it…It’s going to be a damn fine day!

I’ve already been alone in our house for an hour and I killed the largest fly I’ve ever seen that I’ve been stalking for the past two days.  Extra good day plus.  It was huge and needed to die.  Now I’m going to put on some music…I’m thinking today is a Of Monsters And Men kind of music day…and get my create on.  I also might have added a hair and massage appointment to my day…thank you very much gift cards from my birthday last November…I knew you would come in handy.  So I’m peacing out for the day.  Going to soak is up like a sponge.  And just because I have zero shame, please enjoy my ghetto super fly selfie.  And…you’re welcome.

Have a crazy awesome day!

Oh Happy Completely Alone Thursday…you’re going to be grand.

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May 15, 2013 By 10 Comments

Ink

Inquiring minds have been petitioning me for tattoo info.  You guys are funny.  So here’s the run down on my tattoos.  I wish I had more picture documentation of them, but I’ll do my best…and it’s hard to take pictures of yourself when you’re getting tatted up.

All of mine are on my arms and my first tattoo was my anchor.  It’s for my Mom and for Hebrews 6:18-19  “They give us strength to hold on to the hope we have been given.19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and strong.”

Josh went with me to get it.  Here we are…me waiting and him checking out the tattoo books.  These guys are crazy good artists.

Next was my ship.  I wanted a really simple ship because I feel like our family is a really simple vessel and that God is our captain.  We had experienced one hell of a year and through out that year I constantly referenced our family as a ship and that we were venturing into uncharted waters and braving some pretty major waves.  I love all the stories in the Bible about Jesus in boats…He is always in control…He is always the captain.

Brea accompanied me for this one.  And that’s James.  He’s done all of my tattoos.

I went by myself for the remaining three.

I have a sparrow.  This one is to remind me not to worry…that God has clearly got this…whatever ‘this’ is.  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry…Consider the birds of the air:  They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.  And how much more valuable you are than birds.”  Luke 12:22-26  Also, the last canvas I made my mom was a “His eye is on the sparrow” canvas.

This is the temporary tattoo before he got busy inking it up.

I have the word ‘family’ in Amharic.  Amharic is the primary language in Ethiopia.  I don’t have a good picture of this one.  You can kind of see it in this picture.

And I have an Africa tattoo.  I wanted it to look like it was stitched because God has so perfectly stitched our family together.  Obviously, we’re quite tied to Africa because of Sol and Amon being born in Ethiopia, but we are also quite crazy about Swaziland and our carepoint Ngungwane through Children’s HopeChest.

Huddy keeps asking me when I’m going to get a United States tattoo for he and Harper 🙂 He cracks me up.  This is really the only good picture I have of this one..it’s upside down.  The picture was taken by Cheyenne of Shots by Cheyenne.

So there you have it…some details of my tattoos.  Not really sure what else to say about them other than I really like each of them and the reasons and meanings behind them.  And they didn’t hurt that bad.  No tears.  I think the Africa one probably hurt the worst because my arm was flexed the whole time and that area is kind of boney.  This is all making me laugh now.  Any who…hope you enjoyed.

Happy Wednesday!

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May 14, 2013 By 23 Comments

On Quitting Sweets During The Week

I love sweets.  I like sugar and chocolate and candy and cake and ice cream and etc, etc, etc.  There has rarely been a sweet treat I’ve met in my life and not liked.  I’m also an emotional eater.  I come by it honestly.  I’m from a long line of amazing emotional eaters…it’s a gift really 🙂  There are a lot of Hall woman out there right now shaking their heads in agreeance.

I would eat sweets multiple times through out a day.  It wasn’t just a treat anymore, it had become an antidote.  Something that I had put stock in and hope in.  Something that made my pain feel better and that WAS NOT cool with God.  I joked while Amon was in the hospital how I had gained the hospital 15.  All jokes aside, in our nearly month hospital stay I gained almost 10lbs.

I like food in general.  I like your normal food and organic.  Healthy and non-healthy.  Restaurant food and fast food.  I do not discriminate.  Sweet, salty, and spicy.  Tell me you want to get together and I’ll be the first to say, “Let’s grab breakfast/lunch/dinner.”

My friend Jess is probably one of the healthiest people I know and she doesn’t even work out.  Her two famous quotes…”I think God gave us food and drink to enjoy.” and “Everything in moderation.”  She buys mainly organic, but the girl will have a coke…regular, straight up coke and will also eat food that clearly is not organic…cough, cough Krystals.  I love it.  And God used her words to reach some problem areas in my heart.

I’ve always been my biggest critic.  I think a lot of woman out there can relate to absolutely critiquing your body until there’s nothing left to critique.  I come by this honestly too.  My mom was her worst critic about her body.  She struggled with her weight and as a child I made up a song called the “You’re Not Fat Song” to sing to her to make her feel better.  Everyone thought it was cute and funny, but as I grew I saw the problem in this.  In her defense, she had been in a toxic relationship that had emotionally beat her up and torn her down.  She had not been loved how she needed to be loved.  She had not been cherished and treated like the lovely queen God saw in her.  So I got it.  Her mind had been trained to only see certain things and to absolutely pick herself apart.

  When I found out I was having a daughter I made a promise to her and myself that she would never hear me use the word “fat” to describe myself or anyone for that matter.  I promised her and myself that she would never hear me critique my body or question it’s God designed beauty…no matter how I really felt on the inside.

So why did I break up with sweets during the week?  Because God convicted my heart of the power I had given sweets in my life…that I had given food…and that I was letting my mind absolutely critique my body of every little problem area and skip completely over how purposely God had designed me…inside and out.  I thought sweets would make me feel better.  I thought they would make a bad day better.  I thought they would provide help and comfort and God clearly said I was to run to Him for help and comfort.

So I took them out of my week.  I got Ashley on board with it and we decided to give it a try for a solid 7 days and see how we fared.  We ended up going 10.  And we both did well.  It was hard, but freeing.  God started to move in my heart that week and started changing my thought process about food in general and about how I see myself in the mirror.  I’m still working on it, but He is stirring in my heart still.

I agree with Jess…I think God did give us food and drink to enjoy and I do think moderation is key.  I’m not the type to diet or to cut things out completely.  I love the tastes of all kinds of food, especially sweets.  I don’t want any of them gone forever.  So after talking, Ashley and I decided to not eat sweets during the week and to just enjoy them on the weekend.  We do slip up, but are accountable to each other and the accountability I have with her is so good for my heart.  God has reminded me of how nothing on this earth can compare to His comfort and healing.  How nothing can even come close to being held in His hands and feeling that genuine love and assurance.  He has reminded me that He made me.  Does He make mistakes?  Nope.  I was purposefully and intricately designed.  I am beautiful.

Now I’m trying to put good stuff in my body and see myself in the mirror as God sees me.  I’m practicing moderation and I still firmly believe baked goods can change the world.  I have sun spots and wrinkles and dark circles under my eyes…oh, the dark circles (help).  My thighs touch and my muffin top clearly loves me because she has been around since middle school.  I have chicken wrists and love handles.  But I’m coming around to not hating these things anymore and that they do not define me or make me unbeautiful.  And that when I finally meet Jesus He’s not going to say “Well done my muffin-topped, chicken wristed, dark circled eyed servant.”  He does not see me with those eyes.  He cares about my heart.  And He believes I am truly a work of His artful hands.  I’m still not my biggest fan, but I’m getting there and instead of eating some jelly bellys when I’m feeling down, I am reminded that God is the God of my heart and the Creator of the universe…of course, He is going to be my greatest comfort and antidote.  I’m constantly working on it, but I’m aiming to choose Him more.

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May 13, 2013 By 3 Comments

It’s Going To Be A Good Week

What a weekend.  It was actually pretty darn great minus a few major cryfests…nothing too uncommon though.  I wish I could tell Mom she totally turned me into this emotional wreck, cry at the drop of a hat type of person.  She would have loved it because she was a crier too.  Me, not so much…but that was the old me.  Sigh.

I did my best to soak up the joy of Mother’s Day because I really do have so much to celebrate.  Josh Kelley knows exactly how to make me feel special.  He knows I don’t need fancy flowers or jewelry or lots of gifts.  He hit a home run with a card and completing my coffee table project for me…caster wheels, some poly, cleaning the inside and taking care of all the pesky nails that were sticking out everywhere.  I love it.

And I also get an entire day to myself this week.  Like were talking AN ENTIRE DAY…alone…in our house.  I don’t know about you, but getting out by myself isn’t too hard.  The hard one is being alone in our house.  There are always these little wee Kelleys hanging around.  And an entire day having the house to myself, well I could weep.  Needless to say I’m super excited.  Oh the possibilities.

And the kids loved that I chose ice cream for dinner.  Hey, it was Mother’s Day.

This week is one of those that is absolutely full to the brim, but with all these really fun, amazing things.  I’m rarely thrilled for a crazy busy week, but I am actually totally beside myself with anticipation for this week.  Every single day holds something really great.  Today was Harper’s field day.  Too much fun.  The rest of the week is full of K-5 graduation and the last day of MDO for the boys and my day off and baseball and Avett Brothers and just lots of other fun things.  Bring on the week.

We loved being at Harper’s school today for field day.  I wish you could meet Harper.  She is such a happy kid.  We always say, “She’s just happy to be here.”  Because she is.  She’s just along for the ride and thrilled to be.  Field day was crazy fun for her and crazy fun for us to watch.

She won the 50 yard dash and absolutely grinned ear to ear while she was running.  My mind is always wondering and looking for little clues as to what she will be like as she gets older.  I wonder if she will carry this love of running on with her as she grows.  Either way…we’re crazy proud of her and her attitude.

When we were driving home from school she asked to see her ribbon.  I passed it back to her and she exclaimed, “Whaaaaat?  I won 1st place?  Like I was the fastest runner?”  And that’s my girl.  Love, love, triple love her.

Here’s to a grandly fun week.  Hope it’s outstanding for everyone.  Thanks for stopping by and reading.  See you tomorrow.

Happy Monday.

PS:  Thank you to whoever left the kind goodies in our mailbox.  You are too sweet and I am so grateful.

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May 12, 2013 By 7 Comments

Mother’s Day 2013

The last two Mother’s Days have looked like this:

2011

2012

Although Mother’s Day is both crazy joy celebrating that I had an amazing mom and that I get the incredible honor to mother 4 stellar kids, it also holds such a sadness in missing my mom and for all the unknowns for Sol and Amon.  I know a lot of you can relate to the mixed emotions the day contains.  This year I’m trying to dwell on the sweetness of finally having Amon home.

Today I am praying for all of you who are mothers, who long to be a mother, who have lost your sweet kiddos far too early, who are birth moms, who miss your mommas or who do not have that special relationship with your mom for whatever reason.  Wherever your heart may be today, I can only imagine the shoes you walk in, but please know I am praying for your hearts today.

Today I am thankful to God for the honor I hold in being “Mom” to Harper, Hudson, Solomon and Amon.  I am incredibly grateful for Sol and Amon’s birthmoms who changed our family and gave us an outstanding gift I could never repay.  They are a powerful and important part of Sol and Amon’s stories and our lives.  I hope they know they are valued and beautiful beyond words to us.

And I am thankful for my Mom…she was grand…truly, truly grand and rare and I miss her Every.Single.Day.  She was the absolute best mom for me and I thank God every day He allowed me to be her daughter.  It is an honor.  She was quite the lady.

*Mom, thank you for loving me like no other.  Thank you for the millions of prayers, for my sense of humor, for tight hugs and rice krispy treats in a bowl.  Thank you for your words and notes that will continue on through hopefully many, many generations and thank you for always telling me, “If anyone can do it Laura, you can.”  Thank you for your sincerity and your honesty and belief.  Thank you for the example you set…it’s marked on my heart and I strive to be like you.  Thank you for being loud, having an infectious laugh and for just being fun.  Thank you for loving so hard and so big and always giving of yourself and doing for others.  You invested in people…you showed me and so many others Jesus in the best and most genuine way.  Thank you for loving Jesus.  Thank you for just being you…I couldn’t have asked for anything more.*

  Happy Mother’s Day.

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May 10, 2013 By 6 Comments

Local Info + Insta Friday

All you local folks…Tennesseans call people ‘folks’ sometimes, but I digress…Friends are having a big adoption carnival, bake sale and silent auction this Saturday.  You can get all the details HERE.  This 4×12 Mumford & Sons canvas will be in their silent auction.  Go and spend some moola.

And this is a shameless ploy to locals in our area, but we are still looking for a house or land in Goodlettsville.  We’re all over Realtracs and watch it like a hawk, but are also looking for houses or land for sale by owner.  If you have something or know of someone who does, I would so love additional info.  Thank you so much.

  Okay, so on to Instagram pics for the week.  You can find me by pitterpatterart.  Amon kind of ruled my feed this week.

Teal hair + pink hair + silly only lady child = big like.

I promise he’s not always pantless.  Pretty often, but not always.  Sleeping with no pants though, is kind of glorious.

I call this one “pantless baby stuck in laundry basket”.  #pantlessagain

Star Wars and cosmic bowling and foam noodles…tucking this little combination away in my mom file.  Crazy good fun.

BTW:  Zero filter here.  Cosmic bowling is way trippy.  I really wanted to break out my Pink Floyd black light posters and incense.

He was playing the role of a pantless, award winning accountant this day.  #pantlessagainagain

The best running shoes ever…like ever ever…Brooks Pure Flows, have been discontinued.  Jami wants me to make a complaint to go along with hers.  I got lucky…like lucky lucky…to find a rare size 7 online after weeks of looking.  I considered it a good day.

He only sort of kind of liked the Oreo I let him have.

I die.  His cuteness is too much.  #pantlessagainagainagain

They are wearing their bikes out.  And I love it.

Josh having to work at night means I get him during the day.  Windows down and me in the passenger seat.  Rare & Awesome.

Hardworking legs and feet.

It feels like the doctors appointments never end, but I am incredibly grateful for good medical care, health insurance and a resilient kid.  We are blessed.

Campbell played the best big bad wolf ever.  She was awesome and Amon was slightly terrified of his wolf cousin.

Hey Time, why don’t you come a little closer so I can punch you in the face.

Whew!  That was a lot of pictures and a lot of pantlessness.  Now I’m off to enjoy the day with my 3 little Kelley boys.  There is stuff to do and fun to be had.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend.  I hope it is crazy grand.

Happy Friday.

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