Bare Feet, Green Grass, Sprinkler Sprinkling.

July 31, 2017
Day 304

     This breezy summer day was spent outside; bare feet, green grass, sprinkler sprinkling. Nothing screams perfect summer day like bare feet and a sprinkler. I love when my kids get good and dirty from playing outside. I like to wash the mud off of their feet. Tobin found a cricket in the grass. All the kids collected rocks. They washed them off in the sprinkler and put them in a big pile. We watched a show about the ocean deep and ate popcorn. Patty makes the best popcorn in the world. We had burgers for dinner. Patty and I went out tonight after the kids went to bed. It was a fine Monday.

     I'm seeing sweaters and back to school items in all of the stores, and I am so excited. I adore fall. I'm also getting excited about this new school year coming up. I can't wait to set up my new classroom and get things in order.

     Thankful for many summer days left. Thankful for so many sweetly colored eyes to look at. Thankful for wet clothes from the sprinkler. Thankful for bowls of popcorn and big blankets on the couch to cuddle under while watching shows about the ocean. Thankful for laughter. Thankful for bare feet. Thankful for warm showers after the cool sprinkler. Thankful for so many things to be thankful for that I could never possibly make a complete list. Thankful for this lovely little life. Thankful for peace that passes all understanding. Thankful for a quiet mind. Thankful for quiet time with my children. Thankful for a lovely Monday.

Delightful evening.

July 30, 2017
Day 303

     Today was lovely. We celebrated my Dad's birthday. We had a delicious dinner. We played games. We had a delicious birthday cake, and we told my dad why we love him; an Otterstedt family tradition. We tell the birthday person why we love them while we eat our cake and ice cream. It's always good to be with family.

     Thankful for family. For laughter and games. For time spent outside. For birthdays. For scrumptious dinners. For dirty kids. For my mom who will always pray for me and try to help me. For Steph. Thankful for a cool breeze and a delightful July evening.

Sweet and simple Saturday.

July 29, 2017
Day 302

It was raining today.

We went shopping and got some cool Halloween costumes for the kids.

We had soup and sandwiches for dinner.

We watched a movie together.

The sky was amazing tonight. I love a good pink sky.

I'm happy to have such a beautiful family.

We got Higbee some new toys at the store today and he was so happy about it.

It was a sweet and simple Saturday.

Thankful. 

Green Glow of the Woods.

July 28, 2017

Day 301

     Today was lovely. We walked in the woods. We walked in the rain. We relaxed at home. We played games. We had soup and sandwiches for dinner. Patty and I played cards. And now I'm at home watching Parks and Rec and it's pouring rain right now. I love the sound of rain outside my window.

     Thankful for the peaceful sound of rain. Thankful for the green glow of the woods. Thankful for the quiet of the woods. Thankful for walks with the ones I love. Thankful for quiet days spent at home with the ones I love. Thankful that tomorrow will be a rainy Saturday. I adore rainy weekends. 

Tooth Fairy.

July 27, 2017
Day 300

I had an awesome meeting today about school next year. Super excited for this upcoming year. It's going to be a good one.

I got to hang out with my mom. We played games with Adelyn and Tobin, and then we danced for a good while.

Matt and the kids and I played Uno before dinner.

I went and hung out and talked to Steph for a bit.

Patty and I got to hang out. We had ice cream. We went to Target. And we went for a nice dark drive.

Adelyn writes letters to the tooth fairy and asks for very specific items. Tonight, the tooth fairy had to find headbands without sparkles or glitter, cookies, and a shark for Tobin. Adelyn uses her lost teeth to get treats for her brother too.

Thankful. 

Adventures at the Farm.

July 26, 2017
Day 299

     Today was lovely. We went to a farm to explore and to adventure.

     Thankful for the colors green and blue. Thankful for flowers. For animals. I'm thankful for donkey eyelashes. They're so beautiful and wispy. I'm thankful for the way Adelyn and Tobin held my hands while we walked at the farm today. I'm thankful for Adelyn's toothless smile. I'm thankful for flowers that grow up through the pavement. I'm thankful for Parks and Rec. I'm thankful for my family. I'm thankful for a meeting for school tomorrow. I love saying this, "I have to go to a meeting." It makes me feel professional. Thankful for a lovely day with my babes. Thankful that it's still July. Thankful for peace that passes all understanding. Thankful for a quieted mind.

     Thankful. 

Glorious Day.

July 25, 2017
Day 298

     The weather this morning was simply glorious. The wind felt cool on my skin, the sky was a brilliant blue, and it made me happy to be alive. I was thankful that Matt was off and we got to spend time together as a family. We looked at some houses. I'm thankful for Patty. She made a delicious dinner for all of us. And after dinner, we all went on a walk, and the kids played on the playground. It was a great day. I'm looking forward to more outdoor adventuring tomorrow. And I cannot wait for fall weather. I love cold air. It makes me feel like I can take a good deep breath.

     Thankful. 

   

List.

July 24, 2017
Day 297

I'm thankful for family.
I'm thankful for text messages with people I love.
I'm thankful for phone calls.
I'm thankful for tears.
I'm thankful for afternoons at the pool with family.
I'm thankful for air conditioning.
I'm thankful for wind.
I'm thankful for the way the leaves look when it rains.
I'm thankful for the way chocolate cookies crumbs look on little mouths.
I'm thankful for Higbee.
I'm thankful for friends.
I'm thankful for conversation with friends.
I'm thankful for July.
I'm thankful for Tobin's light saber tooth brush.
I'm thankful for turkey meatballs with tons of garlic and onion.
I'm thankful for salads with croutons on them.
I'm thankful for cheeks made pink by the sun.
I'm thankful that tomorrow is a new day.
I'm thankful for waxed legs.
I'm thankful for waxing sessions on the bathroom floor.
I'm thankful for the quiet and still of night.
I'm thankful for tomatoes with hummus.
I'm thankful for "good morning hugs and kisses" from my babes.
I'm thankful for our home.
I'm thankful to be able to spend so much time with them this summer.
I'm thankful that we still have summer left.
I'm thankful for our birthday month coming up: August.
I'm thankful for meetings coming up.
I'm thankful for funny shows to watch.
I'm thankful for books to read.
I'm thankful for Adelyn and Tobin. They fill me with awe.
I'm thankful that Matt is off tomorrow.
I'm thankful for time to lay in bed and sleep.

A great Sunday.

July 23, 2017
Day 296

     Today was lovely. It was cloudy and rainy. We went to church. We looked at houses. We had dinner with Matt's mom and Steph and Mario. It was delicious. It's always good to hang out with family and talk and laugh. I'm thankful for our home. I'm thankful for the possibility of a new home. I'm thankful that it doesn't really matter much what the walls of your home look like. Or the way it's set up. Or if it has nice upgrades in the kitchen. What matters most is the people you share your living space with. And if you have your favorite people around, any place can be home, because home is where the heart is. I'm thankful for blue eyes and green eyes. I'm thankful for funny shows to watch that make me laugh. I'm thankful for a brand new week coming up. I'm thankful for the smell of my home and my bedroom and my blankets. I'm thankful for hugs from my husband and my kids. I'm thankful for "good morning kisses" from my kids. I'm thankful for Higbee. I love the way he presses his head into my chest and cuddles with me when I come home. Thankful for a great Sunday.

ABSB

July 22, 2017
Day 295

     Adelyn has been telling me all day every day lately that she is going to be a baker when she grows up. She told me tonight that she is going to name her bakery: ABSB. Translation: Adelyn Bailey Sanderson Bakery. There's this one episode of The Office where Michael meets his future wife Holly for the first time. He says, "Holly is sweet and simple. Like a lady baker. I would not be surprised to find out that she worked in a bakery before coming here. She has that kind of warmth." That is totally Adelyn. Definitely sweet. And definitely warm. Adelyn is as sweet as sugar. I think she would make a fine baker one day.

      We got to see Casey test for his yellow belt. We had a lovely lunch. Patty made the best mac and cheese I've ever had. The boys went to a baseball game and the girls stayed home and had a girls night. It was a good day.

     Thankful for another good day. I am loving these good and peaceful days. Thankful for the sound of rain on the windows. Thankful for the sound of thousands of frogs out on this hot summer night. Thankful for my family. Thankful for a quiet mind. Thankful for peace that passes all understanding.

A good, good Friday.

July 21, 2017
Day 294

     Today was a good day. Adelyn worked on math and reading. Tobin worked on letters and numbers. We read for over an hour in bed. And just when we happened to be reading in bed, it started to rain. It was the coziest. I did some cleaning. We watched an episode of The Berenstain Bears, and a show about hammerhead sharks. Tobin is obsessed with sharks recently. We went to Patty's for dinner, and I made turkey meatballs and pasta. It was delicious. Sometimes, you just need some pasta with butter and cheese and a good marinara sauce. The kids were all sweet and wonderful and played nicely together. Odette was smiley and cheery. Patty and I watched Dr. Quinn.

     I was strong today. It feels good to be strong. It feels good to have a clear mind. It feels good to be able to brush fear off as if it were nothing at all. So thankful. Thankful for peace that passes all understanding. Thankful for family. Thankful for good days. Thankful for summertime. Thankful for cozy rain and cozy books and cozy blankets.

Cozy day.

July 20, 2017
Day 293

     Today was a good and lovely day. Tobin told me he loved me just the way I am. That boy always says the right thing at the right time. We had a cozy day. We cuddled. We read books. We watched shows. We ate lunch while we watched The Berenstain Bears. We went to Patty's. I made pizza and salad for dinner.

     It was a peaceful day. I am so enjoying my peaceful days.

Family Day.

July 19, 2017
Day 292

     Today was lovely. We spent the day with Matt's mom. She took us to breakfast, to Barnes and Noble, and to Toys R Us. The kids had a blast picking out new books and a new toy. Adelyn ate all of her big breakfast, and finished Tobin's. She's going through a growth spurt. We are so blessed to have Matt's mom close by and as a part of our lives. She's a blessing to us. It's always good to see her and spend time with her.

     We went to Patty's for dinner. Odette was smiling and feeling better than she was yesterday. She was teething yesterday, and she was so sad. It's always good to see my sister and my nieces and nephew.

     Today was another good and lovely and peaceful day. I am so thankful to my God for giving me peace. I am thankful for days to enjoy my babies. I'm thankful for days to spend with family. God is so good.

Amayuls.

July 18, 2017
Day 291

     Today was a very pleasant day. The wind was gentle and warm. We had a lazy morning. I love lazy mornings. I love looking at blue eyes and green eyes in the morning. I love "good morning hugs." I love watching Berenstain Bears in bed before we get dressed. I felt strong today. I felt calm and peaceful.

     These were the things that made me happiest today:

1. The way Tobin says, animal. He says it like this: "a-may-uls."

2. The way Tobin cuddles in bed with his amayuls at bedtime.

3. The way Adelyn gathered her things for her sleepover with her grandma tonight.

4. The way Higbee and Greenie slept on the couch together this afternoon.

5. The quiet after the teething storm that hit the Galarza home this afternoon. We've never heard Odette cry so hard before, and to be honest, it was alarming.

6. Thankful for Tylenol.

7. Thankful for Stephanie. I can call her anytime for sound and reliable medical advice.

8. Haircuts.

9. How grown up Adelyn Bailey was today. And how sweet she was. She was as sweet as sugar today. I love her sweet as sugar days.

10. A lovely sunset.

     Thankful for another successful and peaceful day. If feels so good to have peace deep down in my soul. Thankful for Bible verses that speak to me. Thankful that there is still so much summer left. Thankful for time to sit and be thankful. Thankful for sleepy Higbee. Thankful for a fine day.

Peaceful Day.

July 17, 2017
Day 290

     Today was awesome. Fact. This day was the first really fantastic day that I've had in a long, long while. And it feels amazing. It feels exhilarating to truly live and enjoy the seconds and minutes of my day instead of wishing them away because I'd rather be anywhere besides the land of anxiety. I adore being Facebook free. I'm kicking myself for not getting rid of it a long time ago.

     I felt strong today. I had an enlightening dream last night. And I carried it with me throughout the day today. Whenever I felt like fear was creeping its way back in, I returned to the dream I had. And I felt strong and courageous because of it.

     I got an eye exam today so that I could get new glasses and contacts. Matt came with me because I am usually a mess at medical appointments. But this day was different. I didn't cry. I didn't shake. My teeth didn't chatter. I didn't ask a bunch of ridiculous questions. I got the most amazing new glasses! I love them. Matt's mom works at the place we went to, and we got an awesome family discount. It was so so good to go and get an eye exam, new glasses, and a year's supply of contacts and not pay $600 for it. Matt's mom made our day! I left my appointment happy. I love leaving happy.

     We went to Patty's house and had pops on the deck. I gave Odette her bath and got her dressed for bed. We watched Dr. Quinn. And we ate cookies that my parents brought over. It was a good evening.

     So incredibly beyond thankful for this first really successful and peaceful day. It was like a breath of fresh air on a brutally hot day. It was like a tall drink of ice cold water. Like a big bowl of ice cream. It was like the way sand feels under your feet in the cool of the evening. It was like the colors of a beautiful sunset. It was so good for my soul. I feel renewed. I'm looking forward to more wonderful days.

     Thankful for these words: there is power in the name of Jesus.
   
     Thankful. 

Sunday.

July 16, 2017
Day 289

     Today was a good day. We went to church, a birthday party, and we looked at some houses. Then we had dinner with family. It was a delicious dinner, and it was so good to spend time with family. I am especially thankful for Stephanie, today. The truth is this: for the past few weeks, I thought I was dying from various ailments. Stephanie assured me today that I am not dying, and that there is nothing wrong with me. When you feel like black storm clouds have been hanging over your head for the longest time, and someone comes along and clears them away for you...it's a feeling I can't really describe. I'm on top of the world.

     I'm thankful for family dinners. I'm thankful for people to call family. I'm thankful for words of encouragement from Stephanie. Thankful for the shady spots on dog walks. Thankful for Sundays. Thankful that today was a day of freedom for me. Freedom from Facebook and freedom from fear. It was a pleasant day, and I'm thankful that I had it to enjoy.
   

   

Simple and Sweet.

July 15, 2017
Day 288

     This day was simple and sweet. We had a lazy morning. We went out for lunch. We played on a playground with an awesome tire swing. Tire swings are something you don't really see anymore on playgrounds. We went to Target with the intention of buying a birthday gift for a party Tobin is attending tomorrow. We left with 7 games for ourselves as well as a gift for Tobin's friend. Sounds like a bit much, but allow me to explain: our children have like 10 toys here at home right now. We have packed up about 80% of our belongings. We figured it would be a good way to entertain ourselves while we are in limbo with the sale of this house and the purchase of our next home. We played games for 4 hours straight. It was an awesome evening at home with our loves.

     Thankful for a simple, yet lovely and sweet day at home with my family. Thankful for Higbee. Thankful for the wind that blows the trees and the leaves. It says in Psalms 135:7, "He makes the clouds rise from the ends of the earth; he sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his heavenly storehouses." I love that verse because whenever I feel the wind on my skin, I remember that I am feeling something straight from heaven. Sent by God. Thankful that today, I was able to quiet my mind with God's help. Thankful that my husband knows exactly when I need a strong hug. Thankful for laughter. Thankful for little blond babies that make me happy every day to be alive. Thankful for the memories I have of them when they were very little. Thankful for my sister who calls to say she misses me. Thankful for my parents. Thankful for books to read. Thankful for highlighters to mark the important bits. Thankful for God's peace which is so great it passes all understanding.

     Thankful. 

Facebook Break.

July 14, 2017
Day 287

     Today was a good day. It was relaxing and lazy and quiet and calm. We stayed inside all day. The kids made us breakfast this morning. We each had 1/4 of a banana, some crackers, a plain piece of bread, and a yogurt. They also made us cards. And they dressed up real fancy for our surprise breakfast. It was very sweet. After breakfast, Adelyn worked on math. Tobin worked on numbers and letters. We read books. We watched The Berenstain Bears while we ate lunch. When we finished lunch, we came up to my room to watch more Berenstain Bears. It was very nice to cuddle in bed with my babies during the middle of the day. We had a good dinner. Higbee got some new toys and a bone. It rained. And we all went to bed early. It was a very good day. It was ordinary. But ordinary days are the ones that matter most. Ordinary days make up the majority of our life. So if the ordinary ones are good, our lives are good.

     This will be the last post that I post on Facebook for a while. I will still be blogging daily. I just will not be posting to Facebook because I've decided to take a break from all the chaos and negativity. I just can't take it anymore. It's too much information. Every time I get on Facebook, it's information overload. I despise the person I am on Facebook. I waste time on Facebook. I get scared reading posts on Facebook. I compare myself to others on Facebook. I judge people on Facebook. I hate to say that last bit, but it's the truth. Not posting links to my blog on Facebook means that not many people will see what I write. But I've thought about it, and it doesn't matter. I write because I have to write. I don't write because an audience of people read my writing. Facebook is like smoking cigarettes. I thought for a time that I needed them to get through the day, but I don't. And I don't need Facebook.

     So, I will be here. In this space. Writing every day and being thankful.

Wind on skin .

July 13, 2017
Day 286

Thankful for bright, early morning sunshine.

Thankful for the wind. When we feel the wind on our skin, we are feeling a small piece of heaven.

Thankful for five sweet little ones. They are beautiful and wonderful.

Thankful for time to sleep.

Pool Mornings.

July 12, 2017
Day 285

     Thankful for mornings spent at the pool. For kisses in the pool. Thankful for my sister. For my husband. For my children and nieces and nephew. Thankful for late night movies. Thankful for how cuddly Higbee was today. It's not very often that he lays his head on my lap for an extended amount of time. But he did today, and it made me happy. Thankful for afternoon naps. For homemade guacamole. For sleepovers. I'm thankful that Tobin cuddled with me the whole time we watched a movie in the basement today. I'm thankful that he told me that I'm the love of his life. He also told me that he will never stop loving me. Thankful for carrots that were cooked in stock. Thankful that Adelyn remains my lighthouse. She is a bright light on dark days.  It was a good day. I'm thankful.

Uno afternoon.

July 11, 2017
Day 284

     Today was lovely. Patty, AJ, Matt, and I played Uno and snacked on watermelon while the kids played in the basement. Odette liked the Uno cards. She kept trying to grab them. We had dinner with my parents; turkey burgers with bacon, homemade fries, and corn on the cob. My dad made smores for dessert. We watched ET. Matt and I are looking at houses tomorrow. Right now we're in bed watching Dr. Quinn. It was a good day. And I'm thankful I had it to enjoy.

Pictures from Vacation.

July 10, 2017

Day 283

     Thankful for the best family. For birds. For sunsets. For sand. For baby nails. For sunny smiles. For vacation. For people that make life wonderful and beautiful.

     So thankful.