25 Days of Thanks: Day Two

I'm thankful for the privilege of raising a child and teaching him new things everyday....today, how to crack an egg! He was completely in awe....More new posts below...

25 Days of Thanks: Day One

Since I'm not a very consistent blogger- I Thought it would be fun to try something a little different and post everyday up til Thanksgiving...already missed day one so I guess I'm starting out behind...story of my life these days!(:

Day One:

So thankful for my wonderful, amazing Dad who I have grown to love even more as I watch him be a grandad to my precious baby. Ryder completely lights up every time he sees him- it is the cutest thing ever. Dad is always teaching him something new and engages him constantly in whatever he is doing. I hope Ryder grows up to be as wise and Christ-like as he is.

We love fall!!!

Just like all of you I'm sure, I LOVE this time of year! There is something so exciting and refreshing about the change of the seasons...isn't amazing how the Lord created it that way?!! We are especially thankful this fall- we are finally in a house after several years of waiting. We had originally started looking at houses about 2 1/2 years ago but the Lord led us to put that on hold as we grew our business. I will be the first to admit I was not very patient. I whined to Andy all the time! It was my first lesson in real submission...which I failed miserably at. I guess the Lord is teaching me patience as the first 2 big things in our marriage I had to wait years for (a child first, then a house)!!! Guess I should go ahead and plan on waiting a few years for whatever it is that I want next..ha!

Anyways, all that to say, it's been so much fun to have a front door to decorate, a mantle (yay for hanging stockings on a real mantle!!ha!), and a deck with a gorgeous fenced in back yard. I could not be more thankful..needless to say, I am completely in love with our new place. It's more than I deserve. And on a practical note, it's less than a mile from our new store, wholefoods, publix, my grandparents house, aunts house, cousins house, and the summit...ahhh, convenience...that could be my new idol!
When I put these on the front steps and sat Ryder down with them, I realized that he had probably never seen one! He was loving them! I've been buying white pumpkins for years, but just now bought my first grey one which I love!!! Wish I had gotten more because now there already gone!

A deck and a backyard that we enjoy everyday!!!

Pumpkin Creamcheese Muffins that are to die for...I'll probably post the recipe on the Amacs blog soon....About this time of year I start getting a little obsessed with cooking with my pumpkin and butternut squash...Andy will be sick of both in a few weeks..ha!

Non-Stop.....

...pretty much describes our life lately. I hate to answer people with "really busy" when they ask how we're doing but I can't seem to come up with a better description. It's been a very difficult few weeks trying to get our new store open...physically, emotionally, spiritually....we're exhausted in every way. I can't remember another time in my life when I've felt this overwhelmed. I question multiple times a day if this is what we are supposed to be doing and for some reason the Lord keeps leading us to continue.....not just to continue....but to hold on for dear life because the business is growing so fast that we can barely hang on! Someday's I think "this is what I was made to do" and other days I think "how did I get myself into this?"!! Struggling to trust the Lord and believe that His plan is perfect.

Anyways, if you live in Birmingham we're going to have our "Open House" for the new store this Saturday from 10-4.....lot's of free food, cupcake decorating station for the kids, free t-shirts etc so come by if you can! (and if I look like I haven't slept all week...at least you'll know why!)

I'll leave some pics of the one thing that has kept me smiling all week! So thankful for my sweet mom who has kept Ryder for me everyday this week while I've been working! So glad that he loves his Cookie so much...and Andy's mom (Kaki) is coming this weekend to watch him...what would we do without our wonderful mom's?!!!!

First Day of "School"

Ryder started MDO at Briarwood on Tuesday. He's going 2 days a week so I can work at the new Cafe during the lunch rush (Cafe is still not open...hope to get health dept approval today). Anyways, I was a little sad dropping my little guy off! He just doesn't feel like a baby anymore! I'm glad I'm taking him to somewhere that is so familiar to me and I know most of the teachers etc. It is such an awesome program. They love the kids so much and they are already teaching them Bible verses and crafts etc. So it will be good for him! He actually posed for some pics before we left...

Bittersweet

Today we said goodbye to our home of almost 7 years! We came home from our honeymoon to this condo and began our life as a married couple, Ashley Mac's was started in this TINY kitchen, I found out I was pregnant with Ryder here and finally brought our long awaited child home in our arms....so many wonderful memories...lots of laughs and lots of tears...lots of ups and lots of downs. So thankful for all of it.

I feel like we said goodbye to our "newlywed" chapter today...definitely bittersweet. But excited for the next chapter too!

On another note, packing with a one year old crawling around is not easy....but much more fun!