2018 was an "Event Full" Year!

Get the title? I didn't encounter a soul this year who did not lovingly mention how Ellie and I hit up all the events in an hour (or more) radius. It was certainly and eventful year for the Gladdens.

When I had Ellie towards the end of 2017, I took the time I needed to get comfortable in my new role, withdrawing from the world. Only my true and closest friends were supportive and understanding of this and it really led into a beautiful start of 2018. I had the strongest friendships possible (still do) and the greatest support system as a new mother. And after I got that time I needed to figure out semi-partially an idea of what I was doing as a mother, I sought adventure. I found Hike it Baby which was one of the most pivotal things I took on this year. It gave me not just a few new friends but literally an entire tribe of super deeply rooted close friendships in other mamas who offer such wisdom, guidance, love, and best of all, pass no judgment. I love the outdoors and it has been great getting Ellie out in these adventures and having her meet new friends this year. It has been awesome for healing bad post-partum depression and anxiety, and making me a stronger person physically.

Ellie enrolled in Kindermusik, Mommy and Me Ballet, took swimming lessons, joined MOPS, and reached all kinds of wild big girl milestones. She grew so very much this year and I learned our relationship grows as she grows.

Eric and I grew stronger in our marriage through the challenges of facing 3 more semesters of school, spring, summer, fall. This most recent Fall semester was the worst and hardest both emotionally and mentally for both of us. This fall semester was a really important round of Chem-E courses and a heavy load. This meant Eric was up at like 3:30 every morning and not home ever before 9 pm every night. I got a small dose of single motherhood and this time really challenged us to open doors for communication. We napped together more than played together. But we got through it. It will not be the last semester with these challenges but we know we can do it so I can be thankful for this season of life and the opportunities it is going to bring as well as how it grew us as a couple to communicate clearly and to open our eyes to each other's hard work. I am very proud of him and his amazing grades and his incredible work ethic. He serves God, his family, his career, and his education all so selflessly. I don't know how he does it. Sleeping about 4 hours a night. That was our biggest challenge this year.

We moved into our home we dreamed up from the ground up. I dreamed up our home a scrap of notebook paper while I was pregnant and this year we finally moved in and saw that dream come true. One of our most exciting times this year!

We lost Cajun just before the move. He had to be put to sleep. He lived a long and spoiled rotten life. I didn't make a big announcement because it was really hard for Eric and I. Really hard. We may have a human baby, but fur babies really do leave a paw print on your heart. Cajun was not mine from the start. We all know I called him my step-son and we had an on going joke that I hated him. I didn't. He made life more difficult than it needed to be at times but he was really a treasure to our family, especially Eric. We had fun times and good memories when it was just me, Eric, and Cajun...and those were special times. Our big loss of the year.

One of my favorite things to do with Ellie I discovered this year was to explore all opportunities and new adventures as possible. Every new experience opens a new pathway in her brain, and the repetition of those activities establish the pathways. So I wanted to take her to everything possible I could squeeze on the calendar. It's one of the reasons I stay home with her....so we can-not-stay-home.....hahaha! The best part is, 90% of what we do is free! The other 10% is usually $10 or less! So we have spent the year going all over and doing all sorts of fun things! I think we went trick or treating 10 times. It was not about the candy. I think she had two pieces of candy....Eric the rest. Ok, ok, I ate the Reese's and Kit-Kat's. It was about getting her into the experience and honey, let me tell you!! After her first trick or treating experience, she was RUNNING from booth to booth, bag wide open, smile on her face! There were festivals with dancing and crafts and hay rides! She saw Santa about ten times too. She only cried once for Santa. Again, not about how many, but just giving her as many experiences as I possibly could! It was so fun watching her different reactions from one event to the next! I also loved seeing which events were best organized and really worth our time for future reference.

We hosted each of our parents (and briefly siblings and kids) in a beach home in Surfside for a week. This was Ellie's first beach trip and it was really a special time. We wanted her grandparents to be able to share this first experience with her. We went to Michigan for Eric's cousin's wedding and the 4th of July. We love Michigan in July. It is a break from the heat here. We went to Edisto with my family in August.

Ellie turned one this year. One of the most exciting events of the year that made me cry. I wasn't going to throw a party but I am way too much of a planner to not throw a party for her at least for the first birthday. I anticipate only hosting parties when she chooses them instead of a really once in a lifetime experience. It will always be her choice, bu I am more of experiences over parties myself.

Eric and I celebrated 5 years together and 3 years married.

It was really a very wonderful and beautiful year full of good changes and lots of growth. I have never loved my husband more and if you know how much I have loved him since I met him then you know that is an immeasurable amount. I respect him far more greatly now as I watch his hard work and constant selfless nature and I clearly see I am blessed to have a one of a kind....a true one of a kind, God given answer to prayers.

For 2019, it would seem that things are possibly "Winding down" in the sens we have no plans currently for anything new or big. School will still be a part of our lives and balancing that, but otherwise, I think now we are settled in our home after 2 years of getting pregnant, starting school, havin a baby, selling our home, renting and building a home.....things ahead finally look a little "normal". Whatever normal actually is. But Eric and I have been dreaming of our future and praying about our future and whatever God has in store. There will constantly be so much unknown. So we pray first and foremost that our lives are constantly ones full of the Holy Spirit and are seeking to glorify Him and to follow the plans He has for us. That is a big prayer because sometimes what God says is best can feel hard for us until we can see with the eyes God has looked through all along. That is why it is called faith and our faith is in Him. I pray our daily lives and 2019 would glorify God, follow His will, be full of protection, provision, happiness, forgiveness, love, strength, and pure joy. I have no big ideas or visions....like for the first time ever in my life.....no plans. Just a good year! Cheers!!!

Ellie at 16 Months

I want to do every now and then blogs mainly for myself to keep for memories of Ellie as she grows. So much changes over the course of a year. So much changes in even a month! I don't really expect anybody to read this apart from people closest to Ellie. Mainly for my record to keep for her. :) I will print these and put with her baby book. But feel free to read if you don't mind one proud mommy!

Ellie's current vocabulary:

*Ball
*Bow
*Blondie
*Baby
*Bye-Bye
*Mama
*Dada
*Mimi
*G-Daddy
*Dog
*Hello
*Hey
*That
*Water
*Up
*Down
*Uh-oh
*Yeah
*No
*Stop
*Yay
*Please
*Thank you
*Outside
*Light
*Cheese
*Ho Ho Ho (Santa)
*Tree
*Bird
*Done
*Ok
*Hot
*Eye
*Mouth
*Bless You (when we sneeze)
*Rock rock (for rocking chairs and rocking the baby dolls)
*Yuck (her name for poop)

Ellie knows the following animals and their sounds and makes the sounds:

*Dog
*Horse
*Owl
*Bear, Tiger, Lion, Dinosaur...anything that *roars*
*Elephant
*Monkey
*Bird

Body Parts Ellie knows:

*Eyes
*Nose
*Mouth
*Ears
*Tummy
*Hands
*Belly Button

Ellie has been learning at ballet class to walk on tip toes, kick, jump, and twirl. She has accomplished all of these, yet she performs them at home constantly, and observes more at dance class. Ellie has started to enjoy running alongside me in the house or in the yard just short little paces. It is like a game to her. I am so excited to get her into running as she grows! We love having dance parties together.

We have started a little mini mommy lead pre-pre schooling which is all just fun to Ellie. It should be. It should be interesting, exciting, and fun! We learn animals, body parts, colors, shapes, alphabet, and numbers. She has already sang, "ABC" and stops after "C". We read books, sing songs, practice puzzles. We do crafts, science experiments, and we even do exercises and massage to teach her about touch, feel, her body, and how her body is able to move. It is all just a bunch of play, but productive playing.

We LOVE going outdoors for exploring, wagon rides, bubbles, chalk, playing with toys and Blondie. We love our play dates with all our friends. Ellie is involved in Hike it Baby Greenville, Mommy and Me Ballet at Sterling Studio of Performing Arts, Kindermusik of Greenville at Village Arts, and Easley MOPS. (If anybody ever has any questions about these groups feel free to hit me up!! All are so amazing and I couldn't allow Ellie or I to go without any of them!)

Ellie is very sneaky and mischievous like all toddlers, I presume. She is very smart. Yes, I am her mother, but...she is. She is smart in so many ways. Spend time with her and you will be amazed. She is clever. She also knows she is cute and she says hey, or hugs you, or claps her hands like she is proud of herself whenever she gets caught getting into things. It is hard to keep a straight face most of the time. She also hilariously tries to put everything back in order and straighten up in a fast frantic when she hears my feet coming.....then she stands up straight and holds her hands, wears a big grin and says, "Hey!" Sneaky. It is so cute but she still gets her lesson. Gentle love and a pop when necessary. She never even flinches at her poppings. She just smiles and wants to distract me to another item to play. And that is what we do...we proceed and keep loving and playing!

I have been all about Palmetto Basics and how to optimize love and minimize stress in loving and leading your little one. Love and play are so very crucial and important in their strong and happy development. I am so bi into playing with Ellie hands on. People call me crazy for how silly we are or very energetic. I am. But I had this baby to do all I could to give her the best world possible and it is fun getting down on the floor with her at her level and exploring with her....sometimes that means singing the same song or reading the same book, or pushing her around the house in a tray pretending it is a buggy over and over and over again because she wants to, it makes her happy.

Ellie can sing the starts of a few songs. ABC as mentioned previously, Jesus loves me, and some Kindermusik tunes, Riding in the Buggy, Baby Baby My Sweet Baby.

Ellie's favorite play item are baby dolls and stuffed animals. She holds as many as she can at once in her arms, rocks them, kisses them, pats them, sings to them, feeds them, tells the "sh sh sh" to calm them, and tucks them into their crib. She is a nurturer.

She is also stubborn, strong willed, and independent. This will be AWESOME for her adult self. Currently, it makes mommy have to channel in a lot of deep breathing and patience. But I also kind of love it even now because she is pretty great with a fork which she demands to use, she is already almost completely dressing herself, she even tries to change her own diapers which I hope is a sign we can potty train in a few months (fingers crossed), she likes to comb her own hair and put her bows in, and feed herself. Now, she does none of these things perfectly but she is determined to do so and that is really rather awesome. I do love this spirit about her, even when I want to just do it and make it go faster. If we don't let them try when they are curious we are putting such a bock on their independence and neurological pathway development. So take a deep breath and help show, teach, and guide. In saying that, I can also say Ellie is like her daddy and loves to see how things are done and then try and imitate or replicate. For example, she has a tea set with a dessert tray that comes apart. She does not play with the tray as a tray for crumpets, she plays with it as a puzzle that she constantly wants to take apart and put together. She loves when Eric and I sit with her and we guide her in assembling and disassembling. She even knows which piece goes next now, and her coordination for these small pieces are really being honed in as she continues practicing. I love this about her. I do not have this mentality or brain. I am a person who wants it already put together and hates taking time to read directions to figure it out.

Ellie is in love with jewelry, make-up, purses, shoes, accessories, and animals. These are a few of her favorite things.

When we go places, people think Ellie is quiet and reserved. She is a very observant child who watches and examines everything before partaking of it. Give her about 20 minutes and you will see a wild one pop loose. But she is always listening, watching, and preparing to mimic what she observes. Another reason to really be aware of our surroundings, music, words, actions, and reactions.

Ellie is a HAM!! She LOVES to make us and friends laugh and to be the center of attention. She loves to put on a show and just be so stinkin' funny!! When she sees you laugh, she laughs all the harder.

She loves snuggles, kisses, hugs, and playing games of tickle attack, chase, and games where we pretend we are going to "get her!" She still loves peek-a-boo and hiding.

The never ending comment we get about Ellie is how tanned she is. She is not tanned, lol, just has a very beautiful skin tone. She got that from Daddy. This mama lathers that baby up in sunscreen and long sleeved swimmers in summer. We appreciate the notice people take in how pretty Ellie is. She is very beautiful. She is also very smart, funny, and kind!

I love her smile and her dimples. I love her sweet eyes. I love her hair and how soft and blonde it is. I love the way Ellie takes off in excitement with her arms and hands thrown backwards and her face and chest bent forward like a little airplane. I love how she holds her hands behind her back when she is looking things over or walking around.

She currently still has 10 teeth (this includes top molars).

Every day with Ellie is fleeting faster and faster away. She is truly a very sweet and easy tempered, loving, helpful, and thoughtful little baby. She blows my mind with the amount of love and care she already gives. She changes every day and learns something new every day, for real! I love being able to keep a record here for myself.

Teddy Bear Luncheon

I wanted to share this with all the mamas and daddies out there who are not currently aware of this spectacular event.

Bon Secours St. Francis Health System in Greenville, SC hosts a Teddy Bear Luncheon every year to benefit the medical needs of others. This year, the proceeds are going towards the Adolescent and Young Adult Inpatient Cancer Center. Because of the generosity also provided by the Hyatt Regency of Greenville, 100% of the proceeds benefit this facility for cancer patients. When I learned that, my heart was swollen with gratitude for this community and their compassionate hearts.

The tickets for adults were $15. Children ages 3-12 were $10. We were encouraged to bring a brand new teddy bear or stuffed animal to be donated as well. For $30 and the donation of a precious lovie for a child to hold, Eric, Ellie and I were able to enjoy a delicious sit down meal, entertainment provided by Wade Hampton High School Drama Team (wonderful job), Photo opps with classic Christmas characters, cookie decorating, and a photo with Santa Claus. It was well beyond worth it. Even more so considering that our money is going to help cancer patients. I am so thankful for this community who is not using health care abusively to make money, but to help, truly, help, love, and serve, to do no harm, to those in need. Amen! As a former medical professional (before taking on my best role yet as mommy)...a large majority of my passions lie in healthcare, surgery, and touching lives who have lost hope. This event was SO much more than seeing Santa....again....it was all about the joy of helping others and exposing Ellie to that service and nature.

I couldn't recommend this event any higher to all upstate residents to attend. I am thankful my friend, Julie, shared with me so that we could be part of it! Ellie, 16 months, enjoyed every single aspect. She laughed and smiled and watched intently at the drama team, she smacked down on green beans, mac and cheese, and chicken, she danced, and enjoyed all the stuffed animals surrounding her. We loved seeing her joy, as well. Ellie was also enamored with the Festival of Trees! So beautiful. Check them out, y'all!

Y'all...add this to the Christmas docket for your families next year!

Beets!

I love adding new healthy and color rich foods into my diet. I am in love with how food is medicine for your body!

A while back, on the hiking trail, a sweet friend of mine and I were chatting about food and things the babes eat. I explained to my friend Shelly that I had never eaten beets before, yet I had considered having Ellie try them once and just bought her canned beets. Ellie detested them and then I was totally turned off. Eric had mentioned to me that he too, hated beets. So, after telling this to Shelly, she was like oh no! Don't eat canned beets! She told me to get some fresh beets and roast them and told me I could even do them up with other veggies.

So this week, to motivate me further to add beets into my diet and to get me to try them, I did a quick search on the benefits of beets. Y'all. These are sooooo insanely good for you. So, I peeled them, quartered them, and cooked them in a little grass fed organic butter and seasoned with a little Mrs. Dash original. I made them alongside onions and carrots. Note: Even the leaves are good for you. I am going to add mine to a smoothie next time.

Verdict: YUM! So so so so very good!!! I loved them. They actually are not too very different from potatoes but offer so many more healthy benefits! I want to eat them very frequently, now.

Be warned....and thankfully...Shelly warned me...poop and pee will turn red....but its worth it hahahaha! So don't be scared.

Even Ellie ate a couple. She still preferred the carrots over them. She has the same tastes as her daddy.

So go try beets, y'all! Fresh beets!! Not the canned!

Oh My Heart!

Well I am on a heart healthy high today, y'all! Woo!! If y'all could see me today y'all would see some Pentecostal Holy dancing and hand raising, shouting and smiling to God above!!  I swear Ellie thought we were gonna bring down the house jumping and squealing like two nanny goats!!

I went to my sweet cardiologist today...can I just say what a blessing and a treasure she is?! I swear she is like a sister, a friend, and a wonderful doctor all in one. This woman basically literally has my heart.  I never like check ups, but I love seeing my doctor and her staff and look forward to it because she cares for her patients on a personal level which just keeps the communication open and is so good for heart patients. What better way to care for one's heart than to love it and have it opened up to you?

Well y'all, I just have got to keep testifying praises to the King Lord God Almighty!! I do NOT know what He has planned for my physical heart. I don't. I know one day....hopefully a long time from now...God's will is in charge of that...I will have my pulmonary valve replacement surgery. But today was SO encouraging.

My doctor really encouraged me in my health and reminded my spirit how important my nutrition and running are and how pivotal they are to my being so healthy. At this current time, we won't even have a time estimated of when to expect my surgery. Just keep living a healthy and happy life! I mean how awesome is that?! How so totally awesome is that.....my heart has not digressed since me meeting this precious cardiologist 5 years ago. I'll tell you that just is not normal or expected.

I will also tell you this: GOD baby. GOD! I know I write this constantly but how could I not?!! GOD created my life intentionally with a busted up and very sick little heart no doctor ever thought would beat more than mere hours outside the womb. God created my heart that way on purpose. God allowed my heart to be a case study to help doctors and other patients. God allowed my heart to lead my Daddy to salvation in Christ Jesus. God allowed my heart to connect me to so many unique and wonderful people and an upstate wide community. God has created my heart defective to glorify the power of His very being in ways I may never know of or see. God is allowing me the honor of one day having open heart surgery again in order to serve Him and glorify Him well. Humanly, I do not ever want surgery...I mean who does? But, my life is NOT my own. My life is passionately created for God and I feel that power and worth all over my being and soul. I know that if God does have me to have that surgery one day, that it will be to serve a great purpose for others, for me, and most importantly for His glory, for others to see His miracles, love, and power. I am not as healthy and strong as I am because of my own will. I may run and mostly eat healthy to take care of my body, but GOD is the One Who gave me the natural ability to run, find a way to breathe deeply when I run hard and far, to beat records I never thought I could, and God is the One Who has made me fierce, a fighter, a strong. You see, HIS Spirit is the one that dwells within me. My spirit is dead, but HIS is alive!! And powerful!! This is God! This is Him!!

My doctor even encourages me to be strong and better. I respect her so deeply that there are hard times when I want to give up on beating a PR or I want to take a nap but I run instead and I think, "Dr P would be so proud." I really look up to people who love me and care for me and who I respect. Her knowledge and skill is impressive, but it is her nature and manner that encourages me to keep pushing. She is like big sister vibes for me. That is what everyone needs to find in any and all physicians. True caring power.

She also makes me feel excitement about the future of my one day surgery. She has told me that my good running and active performances now will improve significantly when I get that shiny new valve. Any you know what? When she told me that...I got a little happy flush in my heart that made my the eyes of my heart see goals I can only dream about accomplishing in running. Things that I want to do but just cannot. I am here and now setting a goal for myself. Two goals actually. Because I feel so encouraged and strong in Jesus and by my Doctor and even with myself.

Pre-Surgery (Current) Goal
 **Run 5k in 23 minutes flat.** (Current best time is 24:32)

Post-Surgery/Recovery One Day Unknown Goal
 **Run 5k in 21 minutes flat.**

For those who don't know better.....30 seconds cut off a time is (at least for me) astronomically hard....especially when I spent a whole year going from 28 minutes to 24:32....and I don't always get that best time when I run. I have to really push....but I push safely. I always listen to my lungs and my body.

I have dreams of being a great runner. I believe with God and Dr. P on my side I can be what I was never allowed to be in school or by the standard of life and medicine.

*Dr. P....if you see this...thank you for helping me to defy medical rule. You are really and truly a gift from God and I hope you know how important you are to my life and my family. God made and created you so wonderfully and I am so glad for the purpose and plan He gave your life so that you may connect with me and help me and all my friends in the ACHD community.

Removing Parasites

Giggles for the someecards. It is light hearted but still...I am going to be pretty real here. The best thing I have yet learned in my adult life is this: Detach the Parasites.

This needs to be shared with anybody needing to be set free of the things that has been using you as a feeding trough, a life source, not letting you fully stand and shine in your own light and energy. It is something God has shown me in scripture, Sunday School, Worship Service, and Bible Study. I am here to testify.

I have always thought myself to be a compassionate, loving, serving, hospitable, and going out of my way friend and person. I was voted "friendliest" in high school. I have been labeled "bubbly" "happy" "perky" and "outgoing". In college, I planned all the parties (decent ones, I didn't "party") and hosted or co-hosted. I baked and cooked all the things I possibly could. I picked up the pizzas. I picked up the supplies. I did the decorating. I did the invitations. I cleaned up. Now, it always made my heart so so happy to do these things BECAUSE I loved those people I was serving so deeply. Those people loved me and poured into me the love of Jesus.

After college, began work, college friends moved away. I remained best friends with my current best friends to this day. One whom I went on to work with until I had Ellie, another who has been living away since graduating from Clemson. Work turned me into an introvert. So weird. I was the most outgoing, hosted and attended every party, went on every hike, excursion, trip, etc. Suddenly, I was tired and just loved my bed and Disney movies and cheese fries. In fact, my best friend Lauren (twin) asked me to go to the Monster Truck Rally one night in Greenville. (neither one of our ideas of a night out). I was already in pajamas and watching the Lion King and I told her no, I wanted to stay in for the night. Knowing how honest I am and not doing anything I don't want to now at this point of life, Lauren let me be. But then, I changed my mind as I remembered it was not always about what the activity content was but more about what attitude you have and whom you share the experience with. So, knowing Lauren and I could make a riot of a time out of it, I called her back and said I would go. The next thing I knew, we were wearing our "Red-neck" plaid to really embrace the evening, eating at California Dreaming looking very out of place. The Monster Truck rally was actually super super fun and we laughed soooooo hard my abs hurt so bad all the next day. It is now one of our fondest memories. This girl, is a treasure.

That experience taught me that life should be filled with people who provide the following:

    1. Excessive Laughter
    2. Truth, even when it hurts
    3. Unconditional love and forgiveness (I later really learned this one all too well).
    4. Strength and accountability in your relationship with God
    5. Acceptance of all your quirks and weirdnesses.

So, there was a time not so very long ago in my married and maternal life where I then learned that sometimes, you have to cut off any people or any things that simply do nothing but act as parasites to your joy, sucking all the life out of you. People that are not like Lauren. No friend is a friend if they constantly harp on your or put you down...even done so in a so called "sarcastic" manner. People are still created with feelings.

In my personal experience a parasite is someone or something that does the following:

   1. Sucks away your joy
   2. Drains you of all your energy
   3. Makes you feel guilty or that you need to create excuses to please them/it
   4. You have to defend them/it to outside loved one's view points
   5. Drag you down, make you play with fire in your beliefs
   6. Disrespects your beliefs
   7. Does not lift you up, strengthen you, motivate you, build you up, challenge you to improve
   8. You can never please...it is work to please...leaves you mentally and emotionally exhausted
   9. Takes offense to truth given in love
   10. Does not encourage your lifestyle in a Godly manner

When I was allowing my parasitic lifestyle to happen, I didn't realize it had begun. It was gradual. It was not until I realized how bitter, exhausted, and rude I had become, and filled with desire to hide from the parasites that I realized the "parasites" were indeed extracting from me all of my joy, energy, happiness, and making me feel worthless. Which I am not! God has shown me better than that!

But how do you remove a parasite? I can assure you no matter how gentle or abruptly you remove the parasite it is not without pain. I had hoped to slowly detach from mine. I didn't want to hurt feelings, I didn't want there to be a thought that I did not love or care for, I simply wanted to just be free of the parasites. I eventually had to abruptly jerk the parasites away because it was turning into a scab that wouldn't heal. It made me sad to feel I had possibly hurt the parasites in the process but the real truth is, the VERY SECOND I ripped it away.....I felt SO MUCH relief. It was truly as blood rushed back into my veins. My spirits were lifted, I had an outlook to a free and happy future without obligation, judgment, and a stronger relationship with Jesus. I reunited with the very best friend of my life by being able to see the love of Christ again and not the "love" of a parasite that needs you but doesn't necessarily want you. I began smiling at Wal Mart for goodness sakes!! I even started having conversations with random people again! Then, even more recently I got involved with an amazing MOPS group which is basically a bible study for moms full of love and service to others as well as each other! I even get to help in hospitality which is my spiritual gift and help lead discussions! I was not just pumping blood in my veins again, I was pumping the power of the Holy Spirit again! Emily. Sweet little Emily that I am known to be by the grace of God and my good parental raising, was back! I lost my bitter and ill-compassionate coat, my lack of desire for people, and became loving and joyful and happy and glowy, bubbly, sacrificial Emily again!! I am far from perfect, Lord have mercy, so so so far. But the best thing I can do to please the Lord is to love those parasites from afar with prayer, forgiveness, and true hope all is well. I don't have to be caught up in it, to love it. An unholy attitude would be to hate and not forgive for the parasitic ways of the parasite, but the truth is, your parasite is God's to handle and if it is a person, God loves them and so shall we...but from a safe distance. Keep this in mind. I am so glad for the adult lessons God has given me and the joy He has given me with the wonderful people in my life who let me be me as long as I am my best self in the name of Jesus! Let nobody or no item steal you or your spirit! And remember to detach in and with love of the Holy Spirit. This is not a "you suck....literally!" war. Let all you do be done to glorify God.

Ellie's First Christmas Light Experience!

EEEK!! It's the most wonderful time of the year!! And while it is not always fun to see your little baby grow up, it is occasionally such as times you get to share a new experience with them and see their faces light up, their excitement, smiles, and joy!

Everyone knows I take Ellie to LITERALLY every single event I can find for her because while I know she will not remember them at this age, each new experience or repetition of an experience creates and enhances new pathways in the brain. So, I keep her super active and explorative and she soooo loves it! Well, God willing, Christmas adventures will be no different. We are hitting up every Santa, festival, market, parade, Breakfast, toy drive, and cookie party we can!

I had to do my research on Christmas lights around us as I grew up going to a lot of places that just don't exist anymore. The families grew older, died off, and those family members left behind just didn't seem interested in keeping it all going. Not to mention Roper Mountain Lights are finished forever now, too.

I did, however, recall my childhood and a time or two with my oldest niece and nephew years ago before I met Eric, when we went to Hollywild's Safari of Lights. Not only were the lights beautiful, but the experience was top notch to us. If you go to Inman to Hollywild while they are open this holiday season, only, you must include the "deer forest" in your experience. For those who are unaware, this is an incredibly cool experience in which you drive your car in a field full of goats, deer, cows, buffalo, llamas, and sheep, and they come to your car and eat crackers that are provided for you....right from the window of your car!!! It is so so so fun! Adults will enjoy this as much as the kids. I have always loved this and was ecstatic to share this with Eric and Ellie...both of whom had never been.

Ellie was mesmerized by the lights. She stared, never blinking an eye, pointing and shouting and squealing with excitement.

When we had finished the feeding, we retired to Santa's village where we got out of our car and went to take a photo with Santa, ride ponies, feed more animals, and gather around a toasty bon fire where hot dogs and other concessions were being sold. It wasn't just a fun event, it FELT like Christmas. There was magic. We were all laughing so hard, so excited. The three of us were a bunch of kids together. I loved even the looks on Eric's face as he fed the famous "Zonkey" (Zebra + Donkey). Eric had such a childlike nature explode and it warmed my heart to see my family enjoy my own childhood memories and traditions.