Happy Easter!

Oh what a wonderful weekend we had! We traveled to Leesville for our annual Easter visit and, as always, it was just eggs-cellent! ;) This is an incredibly stressful and busy time for both Chris and I, so a little weekend away from it all was much needed. We packed the van on Friday and made our way to the big LV! 

Not to deviate too much from our regularly scheduled program, we headed straight to Fox's Pizza...because it was Friday night and we eat pizza on Friday night. EVERY. FRIDAY. NIGHT. I'm actually quite thankful that Fox's Pizza was not around when I lived in Leesville because it's delicious and I would have eaten there constantly. Running into friends was the icing on the cake! 

Once the kiddos were in bed, the adults relaxed on the couch and watched a movie in our pjs. Scott is the ultimate VIP at the local library and is constantly given random (and sometimes brand new) movies to enjoy before the masses. This time is was "Mom's Night Out" and it was cute. Following  the evening of a few stressed out moms, plans get derailed and hilarity ensues. While I enjoyed the general message of the movie, I had a couple critiques. The main one being the stereotype that dads aren't capable of watching their children alone and moms aren't capable of letting go. Let me just say this....dads aren't babysitting their children...they are parenting their children...stop using the term babysitter...it kills me! Dropping the mic and stepping away from the soap box...

Saturday morning we woke up without an alarm clock and just enjoyed the morning. Sarah arrived and we headed out the meet Uncle Steve at the "ranch". Now, if you need some enjoyment, it would be in your best interest to friend my Uncle Steve on Facebook. He is hilarious! For a few weeks, I've laughed out loud each time he talked about talking to the cows and their reactions to his soft rock music. Seeing it in action was amazing. When we arrived, he had a hayride ready for us. When we got to the pastures, he was disappointed that there weren't too many cows to see...but then he just started hollering and, I kid you not, the other cows just started running his way! He was just a talking to those cows and they were just a moo'ing back. It was unbelievable...and the Henry kiddos ATE IT UP! Those two kiddos loved riding in the tractor, crawling all over the hay, petting the chickens, and watching the cows! After a full day of running around the ranch, an easy night was a must. We enjoyed some of GranZee's spaghetti with Uncle Alan and Uncle Steve before dying a few eggs and heading to bed! 

Sunday morning, our alarm clock was Lily...she was excited to see if the Easter Bunny visited...and of course, he did! The kiddos enjoyed their treats while GranZee made cinnamon rolls that looked like bunnies before heading to church at East Leesville Baptist Church. The Henrys were decked in seersucker (well three out of four) when Lily informs us that she was going to sit in Big Church. Oh yay! ;) She was actually quite behaved...thanks to a sticker/coloring book! We all left service covered in Easter stickers!

After church, we had a brief photo session, changed, cooked, and headed out to "A-hole Hill". It was a gorgeous day and our traditional Easter meal was delicious! While the Henrys skipped the BBQ chicken, we did enjoy the potato salad, deviled eggs, mac & cheese, and baked beans...topped off with homemade lemon ice cream by Uncle Alan! The kiddos loved running around, searching for eggs, and exploring while we just enjoyed each others company! It was perfect! I didn't take nearly enough photos...but enjoy!

Lily never stopped talking...which means she LOVES it!

Aren't they adorable!?!

She didn't really "love" holding the chickens!

She liked the cows...at a distance!

This girl loves to pick the flowers!

Lily and the "cow whisperer"!

Caught in the action of skipping towards a stray cow! 

My sweet boy!

This little boy loves his Pops!

How perfect is this picture!?!?! My two very favorite boys in matching seersucker shirts...be still my heart!

Seriously...they are my favorite boys!

Lily was just refusing to participate...so this is just about the best we could get!

Aw...three fifths of the Gradys!

Cuteness!

And now the hunt for eggs is on!

Please disregard the spear in my two year olds hand...it was immediately removed!

What a cool guy!

Doing what they do best...comparing notes!

Crazy Sizzer...

As you can see, it was an amazing weekend! I'm seriously dreading returning to the "real world" tomorrow...but alas, I must. (insert sad face)

I hope you all had a wonderful time with your loved ones celebrating a truly joyous occasion on a gorgeous weekend!

Taming The To-Do List {P31OBS Week 2}

"The Lord says, 'I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name." 

Psalm 91:14

Oh wedding season, how you drain me at times! I've tried to dedicate my lunch breaks to catching up on my readings for this study, but I've been falling behind. Thankfully, I'm surrounded by amazing woman at work that continually encourage me to keep moving...even if it is as a slower pace! So, week 2...wow! Each chapter this week has completely hit home...which is both reassuring and terrifying.

In chapter 4, we addressed the price we pay for over-committing our time or procrastinating various tasks. Just as there is a price to our bad decisions, there is a price to good decisions too. She uses a great example that completely correlates to a goal of mine: If I say yes to reading my Bible every morning than I must say no to something like sleeping in a few more minutes. She mentions that if we want to be sincere followers of Jesus we have to put Him first in our lives and the cost of not doing so is just too high. She continues to explain that these costs of our decisions can be costs to our character, calling, unmet potential, and health. So many of her examples felt like pages torn out of my personal story. I have the talent to justify any decision, good or bad, with notions of what I deserve or "need".  I get so overwhelmed due to over-committing, that I tend to put off the hard projects until I have to push through them. I white lie about progress so others don't get a sense of me being overwhelmed because I put way too much value on my "to-dones" than I should. Too often have I equated "I don't have the time to do that" as an admittance of weakness. All of this leads to unnecessary stress that can seriously affect health...and has affected my health. Just so uncool! This biggest "aha" moment of the chapter was when she mentioned that the greatest cost any of us can pay is in our relationships...first with God and then with those we love. Oh, how true this is! I will kill myself to get tasks done...even if it means putting off the time I had dedicated to reading my Bible or going to church or even spending time with my family. Seeing those words in front of me was the nudge I needed to make a change! We must prioritize God and people over everything! I love that!

In chapter 5, she busted so many of the myths we tell ourselves. I just mentioned how I can justify any decision...and she tore my reasons down! I work better under pressure...I'll feel more like it tomorrow...I'm too busy to get that done...I'VE GOT THIS! Oh no, I've said all of these and more! True procrastination involves a voluntary delay of something we could do but chose not to...period. I could do all of my tasks strategically or methodically, but I chose not to because I'm too consumed with something unimportant that I shouldn't have agreed to do in the first place! Because of this chapter, I've started making a list of what my actual priorities are and the tasks that directly correlate with those priorities. If I have time to do more after, great...if not, oh well.

Chapter 6 wasn't my favorite because it was the least relevant for me. It was all about overcoming fears. She talks about fear of failure...and I do have a fear of failure and a fear of the loss of control, but it isn't entirely debilitating. I don't think my underlying reasons for procrastinating tasks is due a fear. She continues to explain misplaced identity and I can admit that I placed a huge star next to this portion. I do place too much of my identity on results...even bad ones. If I stumble, I label myself clumsy. If I make a mistake, I label myself stupid. If my house is too dirty, I label myself pathetic. Even if its temporarily, that label is there...and it never feels good. What's worse...that negative labels always trumps any positive labels I give myself..always. I love how she transitioned next to mention that only one label really matters...as His chosen and beloved child. (John 1:12).

So many truth bombs this week...and based on the titles of the chapters of week 3...I think there are more truth bombs ahead! Loving this study...even if it is making me feel a tad bit vulnerable!

Taming The To-Do List {P31OBS Week 1}

"Ever just wish the world would stop for a day so you could catch up?"

When I read this in the email from the Proverbs 31 Ministries advertising their Fall online Bible study, I was immediately intrigued. I would LOVE an off day to catch up on my never ending to-do list. I feel like no matter what I get done in a day...it's never enough. I can't celebrate the achievements I do cross off the list, because I'm too focused on the items that got left behind. I'm so overwhelmed with my busy work that I tend to forget my best work. The items I tend to focus on throughout the day definitely do not align with my priorities...so what does that mean? I signed up for the study within minutes of receiving the email...and then I did the unthinkable. I emailed a bunch of ladies that I work with at LSU and invited them to do the study with me. To my delight, several jumped on board...and away we went with 'Taming the To-Do List" by Glynnis Whitwer.

I've never done an online study before but this has been a breeze! Each day I receive an email with either a video or blog post to supplement the readings. Each Monday I receive an outline of a proposed study schedule and each Wednesday I receive an action item that coordinates with the readings. I've been doing my readings during my lunch break and since the weather has been so amazing, outside...and it has been beyond refreshing! The best part has been the fabulous conversations at the office coffee pot with the other ladies doing the study. While I shouldn't be rejoicing that other women have the same challenges and insecurities that I do...I kind of am! It's just so nice to know you aren't alone!

Now, the first three chapters, I could have written myself! I've been making notes in my book and I've actually written "YES! PREACH! I'm SO guilty of this! HA!" I've been underlining and staring so many things...it's definitely been hitting home...hard.

So far, we have focused on procrastination...which I never realized is something I'm quite successful at doing...and the various reasons why we procrastinate. I literally murder to-do lists each week. I'm knocking items off left and right. But, after really evaluating those items, I'm realizing those are the easiest items on the list while the large and sometimes much more important items get pushed to the next week...week after week after week. Talk about ground breaking! I've been focusing on quantity over quality. 

If anyone were to ask what my priorities are, I would immediately respond with faith, family, self, community. But, my list of "to-dones" don't necessarily line up with my priorities...so why? Over-commitment issues, people-pleasing issues, resistance to anything uncomfortable, dependency on emails/texts/social media and the crazy need to respond immediately which causes me to shift my focus...the list goes on! 

I'm so looking forward to diving into more of the book to learn about what I can do to better match my to do list to my priorities! I wanted to start sharing my journey with this study to, selfishly, help me absorb the lessons more deeply but also in the hopes that I can encourage anyone currently in the same boat. Being Type-A is just exhausting and, at times, completely debilitating. I was desperate for a change and, after much prayer, discovered this study that has already been so refreshing! If you aren't really interested, please be patient with me...it will be 8 weeks of sharing! ;)

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." James 1:5