Thankful for Everyday in November...

Oh, November has been wonderful, so far...
I have truly been making the conscious effort to count my blessings instead of counting my problems and it's amazing what a little effort can do.
Jen and I read a book a few years ago that had a chapter titled...
Attitude and Perspective.
That chapter taught us more than any other book we have ever read. We can't control much in our lives... (thank goodness... I have no problem trusting my every step to God... takes the load off of me and His outcome is much more glorious, perfect, and full of purpose)... but we can control our attitude and perspective. We all are given that split second right before making a choice... what will I choose??
Well... raising four boys... determined to have a growing and thriving marriage... maintaining a peaceful and joyful home... ministering to an amazing group of ladies in my aerobics class weekly... nurturing my family relationships and friendships... serving our sweet church family...
I am constantly faced with those split second choices...
- will I choose to be a respectable mommy or fly off the handle
- will I choose to be my husbands' safe haven or resort to my own selfishness
- will I radiate the message in my home that "home is for free expression NOT first impressions" or shove everyone away so that I can clean, clean, clean
- will I just go and exercise at the Y or consciously be there building relationships with some folks that could sometimes use a little light in their day
- will I make that call and plan that trip or become self absorbed in my own life that I neglect family and friends
- will I go to serve or to be served

May we all wake up everyday asking God for a renewed attitude and perspective into every aspect of our day... may we make the time and effort to choose a joyful attitude and a perspective of blessing in that split second...

START COUNTING!!! Blessings...not Problems....

Here's a sneek peak at our Christmas card... I love that our street is full of boys... Homerun Derby time!!!

I finally bought a wire cooling rack... simple blessings!!!

The leaves have almost completely fallen in our yard... Max enjoyed them before daddy got 'em up... He jumped, frolicked, and ate his pudding in them!!!

Ohhh... little boys in blue jeans... melt my heart!!!

The Boys' Fort... oh, this is truly a blessing that I thank God for daily!!! I always yearned for my boys to have a place they could run off to and let their imaginations flow. Well, this fort is that place!! They have decorated it with wood planks and old rusty furniture that they found in an old dump site back in the woods. Complete with a restroom sign pointing to a far off tree!! It rained here alot last week causing the waterfall to be rushing and GORGEOUS in their sweet little boy getaway!!!!

Max needed a bath early one day after playing the mud... I was torn with playing with him and knowing that I needed to get some clothes folded... So, I thought why don't I kill two birds with one stone!!! Makes laundry much more fun with my sweet little companion having some splish splash fun!

Sam and Bo had the chance to get away together for a day to Huck Finn Father and Son Day for all the Preschoolers in the county. Bo was sooo proud to be hopping into daddy's truck... all decked out in their Tom Sawyer attire with fishing poles in hand... just the two of them! Bo won best costume and Sam one Best Daddy in Bo's eyes!!!

Counting my blessings wouldn't be complete without thanking God that noone got hurt... yes, they are on the roof... no purpose, whatsoever, just on the roof... me, oh, my!!!

Falling In Love with the Fall in Georgia!!

Just when I thought that our new hometown couldn't get any sweeter... Max and I went on a field trip with Bo to the Pumpkin Patch... this place was unlike anywhere I've ever been... deep in the beautiful Georgia mountains lay a sweet little farm ready for kiddos to enjoy... sheer beauty!

Oh my... it is GORGEOUS here in the Fall. I gasp everytime I drive over the brow of the mountain heading into the city... seeing the acres and acres of trees that are turning every shade of an autumn palate. I am smitten driving down our sweet little road that leads to our house because everyday a tree has turned a new shade of beauty.

October Happenings!!!

START AT THE BOTTOM of THIS POST AND READ UP!!!
OOPS!!!

Pop & Lali LOVE their last GrandBoy!!!

and Pop!!!

Max loves Aunt Pam!!!

Failed attempt for a sweet family picture!! I always like these better anyway!!!

Pinata time!!!

The Party Crew!!! Julia, Sam, Ben, Isaac, Cade, Cason, and the bros!!!

Present time!!!

Hayride into the pasture to see the cows in Daddy's truck!!

Ummm.... chocolate fountain!!!

Gotta have a cow cake!!!

next day.... PARTY TIME!!

Little family birthday cupcake!!!

Kick your feet up, Max... it's your birthday pizza dinner!!!

What do u want for your birthday, Max.... Play In The Mud!!!!

I can't believe that our last little baby boy is 2!!! The stomping of his feet running through the house, his sweet kisses and hugs that he loves to give away, his love for cows, and so much more.. just melts us to the core!!!

Oh.. there is a very special day in October... Max's birthday!!!

and coats!!

Time to pull out all the cold weather clothes...

Country dinner... pintos, collards, ham, and skillet cornbread... woo-hoo!!!

I woke up from Sunday nap and found this note on the table!!! My big country boy!

Fall is here... and it is wonderful!!!

COUNTRY LIVING!!! Our neighbors love to grow food in their garden and give it away to us... so we accept!!!

We got to have a fun day celebrating and raising money for sweet Mallory Mc. It was cold and rainy, but nobody's sweet hearts seemed to be dampened!!!

4 precious brothers curled up watching a movie!

Thumbs up from the men!!!

So, being the only gal in the house... I don't cook many pretty, girly meals... but this night was different. I wanted a yummy SALAD with grilled chicken, strawberries, blueberries, almond slivers, and girly dressing... HOW'D THEY LIKE IT!!!???

Max has lost it with this crew!!!

Time to get clean!!!

Yes... that's their faces in the water!!!

When it rains... these boys don't want to curl up with hot chocolate... they want to get in it!!! No lightning... GO FOR IT!!!

Happy Baptism Cake!!

Colby was baptised!!!! Grammoo and Grouch & Pop and Lali all came over to celebrate the day with us! Colby let us know that..."I've known Jesus my whole life and I've known that I don't want to die without Him cuz I don't want to go to hell... now I know that I can't LIVE without Him." That's right buddy...

The Dukes' (minus Jason... he was at a conference in Atlanta) came to stay a week with us. Jen and the 4 kiddos piled into our home... and we had a blast!!! We took most of our pics on Jen's camera, but I had these two! I got to show Jen our new life here in Rome! She took my aerobics class (and did GREAT!), we went to all the parks, saw camels at the fair, went out for an Ali and Jen nite, and so much more... We jokingly called ourselves... "Sam, Ali, & Jen Plus Eight!"

He was catcher the entire season... we bought our first CUP. Now that's little boy world. You should've seen me after the first game washing his uniform... I didn't know how to clean it... washing machine in the undies?? Take it out and put it in the dishwasher?? Hand wash???

Jackson played Fall Baseball with his best friend Cade!

OHHH October is FULL of fun...

September Fun!!!

September has been a blast... and we are only half way through it!!
We finally completed Sam's wreck settlement and were truly blessed by someone in our church family to sell us a wonderful truck! Makes a wifey feel good to know her husband is driving a big truck after he was smashed by a big rig in his little car!

The boys have started doing flips, cart wheels, and hand stands all over the house!

I have a picture of Max doing a handstand, but he just got out of the tub... naked noony handstand... for our eyes only!!!

Rolo found a new bed... our blanket box!

We got to go to the beach for a weekend!!!
Pop and Lali kept the boys for us... they are sooo wonderful everyway imaginable!!!
Me, Sam, Pam , and Jud took off Friday evening for Panama City and came back Monday...
It rained all day Saturday... but we didn't care... we napped, watched movies, played cards, and got to go see the Dukes' in Destin and go to dinner! Thanks, Pop Dukes!!! Sunday was BEAUTIFUL outside.... we played in the ocean like a bunch of 12 year olds, played cards on the beach, & swam in the pool. That afternoon, we cooked at the condo and had a GREAT chill nite in with more cards and a movie!!! Much needed chill time and much enjoyed friend time!!!

I love my Pam!

My favorite person on the planet!!!

Pam & Jud... responsible for my sore stomach muscles and loss of voice after making me laugh ALL weekend!

Sam and Jason... even though we've moved... never skip a beat!

My Jen... my heart..

What a glorious September... more to come...

God Soooo Knew What He Was Doing...

I think money is soooooo OVERRATED!!!

Maybe I'm only saying that because we don't have any... every bit extra we get goes into our pantry and then inevitably into the tummy's of our 4 boys within 27 minutes of purchasing!!

ANYWAY... God soooo knew what He was doing when He created this amazing Earth... Just in the past 3 days I've experienced more beauty and joy in my own backyard and home than I could ever experience purchasing...

HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING WHEN HE GAVE US...

*Sweet Neighbors with a Really Sweet Pear Tree*

Not only will we love fresh pears and a pear tart, but also a sweet little centerpiece on the dining room table... until the hungry lil' mongers eat 'em all!
* Gardenia Bushes Lining Our Garage*
... made for some sweet momma time with her baby boy...

... and a quirky little smell good in the kitchen... recycle everything... count it all JOY!

* Grammoo*

Oh, my momma... just precious.

* Teeth Pulling*

who needs Saturday morning cartoons when you can set-up a wrestling match with your favorite wrestler attached to your loose tooth with dental floss... then, your wrestler does his signature move and... whammo... tooth pulled and a morning of laughter!

* Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Swirl Bundt Cake*

* Brothers*

... sometimes mom and dad just don't cut it... let me go to my bro!

I hope you are able to find much JOY, LAUGHTER, and CONTENTMENT in the things that are right in front of you... count it all joy!

We're Ba-ack!!!

but on another site.... silly me!!! I posted it on Colby's blog... check it out
www.colbyandwhitebear.blogspot.com

So Long....

Wow! Are we loving our new and simple life! Sam is in a job that he is thriving in and I get to be home with our little boys while focusing on our home and family! This decision has caused us to make some very important, yet valued sacrifices. We're making alot of changes to nurture our new life and renewed focus! Be it a pay cut, no internet, no big cable package... IT'S ALL WORTH IT! More time for the things that we love and value the most! So, although I will miss facebooking with my friends... I will enjoy phone calls that much more! Even though we won't have some of these fun luxuries... the peace of knowing that we will be putting money in savings is exciting! Although we won't have entertainment at our fingertips with the TV... we will enjoy more game times and quiet times! Although I won't be blogging our family stories for our loved ones to enjoy... that just means you have to come visit to see our life story told in scrapbooks!

So long internet buddies... call or visit ANYTIME!!!

The Couch Clan