Daily Drops in the Bucket

2014 Year in Review

Published on December 23, 2014 by aprillynetteLeave a comment

It is hard to believe that in a few short days we will be saying farewell to another year. 2014 has been full of many full of many firsts and exciting moments, and it has certainly been our busiest year to date! When I look back upon the past twelve months I am overwhelmed by the grace, mercy, love, and providence of God. He has overseen the sell of our first home, the safe travels of many friends both domestic and abroad, kept Addie safe, healthy, and strong, allowed hubby and I to function with very little sleep, helped us to persevere through bible college and graduate school simultaneously, given us the opportunity to get plugged in with our church through small group and children’s service, and managed to shower us with mercy and grace when we fail him on a daily basis in our walk. I am so thankful to Christ for 2014, and I am hopeful for the coming year.

My worth will NEVER be measured by the length of my Bucket List, but I find it strangely comforting to cross each new adventure off the list! It is all about the JOURNEY anyway!

2014 Bucket List

1. Read at least 20 books (with at least 5 devotional books, 3 finance books, and 5 parenting books)….(OKay, so aside from school research, and children’s books I didn’t really get very far on this one. I will try to redeem myself next year when I am not in full graduate school mode!)

2. Visit 35 States (Made it to 32 currently. This year I added Oregon and Alabama. Oregon was absolutely amazing and Alabama…well…no comment.)

3. SCUBA in a new location (I still can’t believe we didn’t make this one happen this year! We did get around to having the gear serviced but that was about it!)

4. Create a Will (YIKES! This didn’t happen yet because it didn’t seem to make sense to do it before we built the house. This one will be moved to the 2015 list for sure!)

~~5. Set up a 529 Savings and General Savings Account for Addie (because college is right around the corner…)~~

6. Plant bougainvillea and hydrangea (Moving this to next year . Currently we do not have a house to plant anything on/around/or near!)

7. Parasail (This would be a big nope…)

~~8. Try Acupuncture (I really actually enjoyed this one! I wish that it wasn’t so dang expensive)~~

9. Take a Cooking Class (next year? anyone want to come?)

10. Read my Bible Everyday (I try to, but I would like to become much more intentional in my study habits.)

11. Stick to a budget all year (last year we made it from about June until the end of November…)

~~12. Create a Mother-Daughter Bucket List (Yes…I do make lists for my lists!)~~

~~13. Run a 10K (Empower Run Irmo, SC)~~

~~14. Run a 1/2 Marathon (Rock N Roll in November) HECK YEAH! I am so proud of this one right here because it took so much work upfront! Can’t wait until next year!~~

15. Start sewing (Next year?)

~~16. Start a Thanksgiving Table Cloth–CHECK!~~

~~17. Shoot a gun (really I am terrified of this, but I feel like I should try it at least once)—CHECK 1/25~~

18. Learn more constellations

~~19. Start juicing and eating less processed foods (Started off the year so well…hm…).~~

~~20. Make Baby Addie baby food (This was actually another big area of successful for us I think. Up until Addie started eating more textured solid food I made everything for her from scratch.)~~

~~21. Cut out soda (I really yoyoed on this about all year long. Really need to try again next year!).~~

22. Make it to post-baby goal weight (I have lost the weight from pregnancy, but I still would like to get down to my happy college weight! 🙂 (The baby weight came and went, but never made it to that elusive college happy weight. It stayed about 5 lbs away)

23. Light a sky lantern (got them just in time for NYE).

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Christmas Bucket List

Published on December 15, 2014December 14, 2014 by aprillynetteLeave a comment

Christmas is only a couple of weeks away. What is on your CHRISTMAS LIST?

Check out our Christmas Bucket List To-Dos:

1. Make Christmas Cookies/Holiday Baking

2. Make Christmas Ornaments

3. See Christmas Lights

4. Christmas Pictures

5. Get a new Christmas Book

6. Get new Christmas PJs

7. Share with a family in need

8. Watch Christmas Vacation

9. Set up a Christmas Tree

10. Make an Advent Calendar

11. Make homemade Marshmallows

12. Drink Apple Cider

940 Saturdays

Published on December 15, 2014December 14, 2014 by aprillynette1 Comment

I saw a book this past week entitled 940 Saturdays. Apparently that is the number of weekends that will pass between your child’s birth and their 18th birthday. Wow, just 940. Undoubtedly some of these weekends will be spent on vacation or having birthday parties and celebrations, but most of these weekends will probably pass by without thought or reflection on their importance and scarcity. This little book was another wake up calls for me that Team Too Busy (that is our nickname now, as you know…) needs to STOP. REFLECT. ENJOY. and FIGHT FOR OUR TIME AS A FAMILY. There are so many distractions today from smartphones and apps to grad school and grown up responsibilities, but I want to fight for each of our 940 Saturdays together. Whether our time is spent in Monterey, CA catching a killer wave or catnapping on the couch in small town Georgia, I WANT OUR TIME TO MATTER!

With these 940 days in mind, this is how we spent our Saturday this past weekend:

We woke up early (as usual) and set up Addie’s new play kitchen. This is actually her Christmas present from Mimi and Papa, but they couldn’t wait for her to try it out. Next, we made our way to Christine and Jared’s Gender Reveal Party. Surprise! They are having a BOY! Finally, we made our way back home to spend some family time with Waring’s cousin’s family and the grandparents. Addie felt pretty lousy still from getting her flu shot yesterday, but we still managed okay. We made Christmas salt dough ornaments, handprint bulb ornaments, finger painted crosses, and watched the Elf on the Shelf movie, and topped it all off with hotdogs and S’MORES!

Every moment matters!

Best Thanksgiving Ever!

Published on December 14, 2014 by aprillynetteLeave a comment

I am a little late….but in case you were wondering, this year was the best Thanksgiving EVER!

At her Granny's (Great Grandma Mary) she wanted to walk everywhere like a big kid. This was the last weekend that she needed our hand to walk... — At her Granny’s (Great Grandma Mary) she wanted to walk everywhere like a big kid. This was the last weekend that she needed our hand to walk…

She is trying to bring Gigi some Double or Nothing luck!

Playing double or nothing...a family tradition. — Playing double or nothing…a family tradition.

Addie loves when Daddy throws her in the air...but not too far! — Addie loves when Daddy throws her in the air…but not too far!

This Fall has certainly been crazy for Team Too Busy (that is our family’s new nickname…and it is certainly fitting!) It was great to be able to spend a few days with family resting and reflecting upon the past year.

Blessings in which we are thankful to God for:

-The health of our family

-A growing little munchkin affectionately referred to as “Baby Addie”

-The sell of our first home

-Plans for the building of our dream home right next door to family

-Waring’s graduation from Luther Rice Seminary and Bible College this December!

-Friendships that can withstand moving across the country, to other continents, and training for a half-marathon

-The ability to cross many new things off the Ole Bucket List

-The gift of grace, mercy, and salvation through Christ

This Thanksgiving was EXTRA SPECIAL because I got the opportunity to mark off TWO Bucket List Items:

1. The start of a new tradition: Thanksgiving Table Cloth! (Each year I will get all of our family to sign their names and a little message. I will hand stich embroidery over the names. Each year the names will be stitched in a different color to denote a different year. Pretty soon we will have a FULL table cloth representing how FULL our lives are as we surround ourselves with family and friends each holiday season.

This is an example of what it will look like in a few years!

2. The next occurred after Thanksgiving, and is something that I have always wanted to do: Trapeze Lessons! Thanks to my sister, AJ, who is always up for my crazy schemes and outrageous ideas, we drove to Orlando, climbed a 30ft ladder, and took the leap! We had a blast…and I think AJ may change her major to Trapeze/Circus Performing Arts.

Before...we are nervous! — Before…we are nervous!

So. Much. Fun! There isn't anything like accomplishing something you didn't think you were capable of doing! — So. Much. Fun! There isn’t anything like accomplishing something you didn’t think you were capable of doing!

***Also, Waring got to do something he had always wanted to do…go to the Turkey Rod Run in Daytona, FL. Going to this car show has always been something he has wanted to do, but something has always come up. This year we were able to take a family mini-vacay! Addie got to play on the Beach, we shopped with Mama, AJ and I swung from a trapeze bar, and Dad and Waring got to drool over thousands of classic cars and outrageous hotrods. I can’t wait until next year. It was a blast!

Bathtime with Addie is never a dull moment!

Aunt AJ...I want to walk faster! — Aunt AJ…I want to walk faster!

Half Marathon: Bucket List Adventure ACCOMPLISHED!

Published on November 16, 2014 by aprillynette2 Comments

After growing to an all new-larger-than-life-me during pregnancy I knew once 2014 began I wanted to do something that I didn’t think I was physically able to do. I wanted to run a half-marathon. I half-heartedly (pun intended) added it to my bucket list for this year, thinking all the while that this was a goal far out of reach. Eleven months later, however, I am proud to say that I am a medal-wearing member of the HALF MARATHON FINISHER CLUB! Yes, I did run at the pace of a turtle trudging through peanut butter, but I made it across that finish line just the same!

I am so thankful for our dearest friends, Meredith and Justin, who sacrificed their time, sweat, and even their knees to help accomplish this crazy bucket list goal of mine. While the four of us can’t say that we are IN LOVE with running, I am thankful for the MANY MILES that we spent together catching up on the latest news and sharing our lives and heart with each other. IF only those roads could talk…they would have many stories to tell! 🙂

I am not sure what next year’s bucket list adventures will have in store for me and my family, but this one has sure taught me a lot about determination, loyalty, and love. Thank you GOD for allowing us this victory!

A Year in the Life (of Addie)

Published on November 7, 2014 by aprillynetteLeave a comment

Addie is ONE. I am now the mom of a toddler. Is this real life?

A year ago my water broke at 5am…a month earlier than expected. That day was the start of our adventure into parenthood. We were catapulted into the world of fear, anxiety, hope, faith, worry, and joy that is parenthood. In those first eight days I have never felt God’s hand of protection and the love of family and friends more clearly. Over the past year Waring and I have been blessed more and more each day.

When I was pregnant I did a lot of “research” so that hopefully I would have it all figured out by the time Addie arrived. I found out rather quickly that I was COMPLETELY unprepared for this new adventure and I would have to depend on Christ to guide us (as well as really helpful family members). This year I have learned a lot, but most importantly I have learned that no amount of worrying or fear can help me raise Addie any better. This year and for the rest of our time together I want to live in the present, be genuine, be transparent, and strive love my husband, my little girl, my family, and my students the way Christ loves us.

Where did this year go? I am excited for the future and I love seeing her grow, but man I miss my baby. I am going to hold her a bit tighter tonight and try not to blink….

Happy First Birthday Addie!

Fall Fun!

Published on October 29, 2014October 29, 2014 by aprillynetteLeave a comment

Life has never been crazier, but we have managed to add in a bit of fun to all of the hustle and bustle.

A couple of weeks ago I also had the opportunity to spend my planning with these beautiful girls. Jade and Erica were my “god daughters” from Beach and I have watched them grow into amazing young women in the past couple of years. If I ever feel like I am not making a difference I think about all of my time spent with them!

Adventures with Addie and Family: 40th Anniversary Cruise to Bahamas October 2014

Published on October 14, 2014 by aprillynette1 Comment

Last Pictures of our First Home

Published on October 14, 2014 by aprillynetteLeave a comment

Is this real life?

Published on October 8, 2014October 8, 2014 by aprillynette1 Comment

Sometimes life seems so surreal

.My current reality:

1. We now are the parents of an almost-toddler (Addie is 11 months old)

2. We just took Addie to her first foreign country (Bahamas on a family cruise)

3. We are the proud owners of our first Handi-House on our property!

4. WE JUST SOLD OUR HOUSE!

My current thoughts about this reality:

1. We are so blessed. I have made the joke many times that because we have sold our home before we have built our new one, that we are “homeless.” In reality that is not the case. We have so many “homes” that we feel welcome in during this time of transition. I am so thankful for family and friends who have opened their hearts and homes to us. I want to cherish every day and the memories that we make during this time.

2. We are in a season of change. As we close one chapter of our lives together, I can’t help but reflect upon all of the memories Waring and I made in our new home. This is the house we lived in for five years, and the house in which we brought Addie into. I feel like Waring and I are slowly “growing up” and it feels very strange, yet exciting. It seems that in every area of life, be it work, school, or personal life, everything is in a state of flux. While some aspect of this phase may be a bit uncomfortable, I believe that God is working and preparing us for the future.

3. I love my family more and more each day. I am not sure how I could love a little girl more and more each day, but she kind of grows on you! It is also sweet to see her interact with Waring and see how great of a daddy he is to her. And through this whole experience I am reminded of how much I depend on my parents and parents-in-law more and more. I am so thankful for the love that they show to us.

4. I want to make a difference and I want to make my life meaningful. I think that often times we get so caught up in the busy-ness of life (or at least I do) that we don’t stop and focus on the only thing in life that matters. One day my heart will stop beating and my life here will be over. I don’t care about being famous, or wealthy, or even well-known. I want to have the bravery and courage to share Christ and make this life worth something. I want to life for Christ and not deadlines, term papers, and grocery lists.

What can I say? Life is good.

Love,

April

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