Hey! Hello! HI!

I haven’t been around these parts for a while and I’ve been using the fact that I haven’t given a life update lately to keep me away. I realize now that that is so silly, so I’m just gonna jump right back in and just give a little life update instead of breaking it down by month!

We had a wonderful summer. Our revival was precious and Mason was baptized. We did have our third round of Covid, and it was the worst yet but it passed quickly and for that we are thankful. We had a fun week at the beach with JKM’s parents. We have enjoyed or fall season thus far and are looking forward to two mini getaways coming up this month!

Homeschool is going so well. Our best year yet by far! We made a curriculum switch this year and it has made all the difference. We’ve also started a fun new thing this year we are calling “boys book club + little sister. We meet with another homeschool family that also has three kiddos, twice a month. Once at the library for the kids to pick out books to present, and then again a week later once everyone has read their book of choice. Its been such a fun time. The boys learn a new bible verse every month and about one of the fruits of the spirit. I hope this continues for a long time. My boys look forward to it each month!

That’s really all we’ve been up to other than my continued quest to minimize our possessions. AND I FINALLY made my first successful loaves of sourdough from a starter I made from scratch. Small victories!

Talk to you again soon!

Peace & Hair Grease,

Hannah

Happy Weekend!

Today was our typical Friday. We read this morning. Grabbed Chick-fil-A for lunch. The baby took a good nap while we read some more of The Boxcar Children and the boys played outside.

We’ve had a nest by our front door for a few weeks now. Carolina Wrens, to be exact. The mama laid five eggs and all five hatched beautifully. Today we got to watch them learn to fly and they went on their way. It was so fun to watch and a sweet reminder of how great our God is. Forever faithful, even in the seemingly small details.

This evening the big boys left for deer camp. B decided today he didn’t wanna miss out on the fun. JKM says they are having a blast and laughing a lot. Praise ye the Lord!

The baby and I spent our evening binge watching Moss Family TV and washing the sheets for the camper. I’m so excited to get to the campground Sunday!

Tomorrow will be spent getting the camper cozy and ready. A grocery pick up order for said camping trip & a little thrifting (“frifting” as the boys use to call it) is on the agenda!

‘Til tomorrow!

Peace & hair grease!

❤ Hannah

Hi!! I hope your Thursday was wonderful!

Thursdays are one of my favorite days of the week! Today did not disappoint. Another semi-normal day around here.

This morning the baby slept in later than normal so as soon as he woke up we made (boxed) waffles for breakfast. The boys are really into cream cheese and cinnamon sugar on them right now.

Once breakfast was enjoyed, we cleaned up and took care of school. Since we are SO close to summer break and we finished our curriculum back in January, we’ve just been doing math & reading workbooks and then reading out of our read aloud. I’ll do a full post on a homeschool update soon but that’s what’s been working for us! We are currently reading the first book in the Boxcar Children series and we are all loving it.

After we read a couple of chapters the boys went out to play. We’ve been having the nicest weather for playing outside. I know it’s going to get too hot for them to do it as much as they have been the last couple of weeks so we’re really enjoying the days they can spend all day outside. They’re loving snack plates lately so that’s been fun and an easy lunch. I loved packing Mason’s lunch when he was in school so I’ve really enjoyed making them for them! They played outside for most of the day & the baby got a good nap so I have zero complaints there. I was able to do the laundry & the rest of my chores during outside/nap time and that will forever be a win.

I’m happy to report laundry is no longer the bane of my existence and I (for the most part) am staying on top of it! (I wrote about my laundry woes a few posts back).

As soon as JKM came home we ate a super fast dinner. The boys had deconstructed omelettes & I had breakfast tacos. The boys are really getting good at helping clean up after meals and it makes me very happy. They headed back out “redneck style” as Mason calls it sans shirts. They keep me laughing on the daily, for sure.

While I was cooking dinner I began my third attempt at making a sourdough starter. I excelled the first time and it flourished but it happened way earlier than the book I’m following said it would so I messed it up. It truly is a labor of love. Fingers crossed & prayers up this time takes. I desperately want to be a successful sourdough baker.

When they boys finally came in they took their showers and got ready for bed. We watched Moss Family TV and called it a night.

The big boys ( JKM & MKM ) are headed to deer camp tomorrow with my FIL to hopefully harvest some turkeys. Mason is beside himself. I hope he at least gets to see one. The littlest two bears and I are going to have a laid back movie night.

See ya back here tomorrow!

Peace & hair grease!

❤ Hannah

Happy Wednesday!

Today was a pretty normal day on the farm! We knocked school out first thing. The baby took a good nap while the big boys played outside. I got caught up on laundry and looked at curriculum for next year.

After JKM got home we loaded up and ran a few errands. Jonathan needed a few things for his truck so we ran to Auto Zone. I had several Amazon returns so I ran into kohls to return those. We fueled up for the camping trip this weekend & after much deliberation we finally decided to just pick up a few different things from Publix for dinner. The boys love the wings from the deli, I picked up some BOGO blackberries and fries for the babiest bear & I remembered it was $5 sushi Wednesday so we were all happy.

After we ate, which may have been in record time we all got outside for a little while to play while JKM worked on his truck. Once the sun went down the big boys came in and did some surprise cleaning while the baby and I talked to JKM as he finished up. Once we came in the boys were ready for bed and so we watched our favorite YouTube family (Moss Family TV) and then all the bears went to bed.

The baby is finally asleep, so I think I may join them in dreamland.

Meet ya back here tomorrow!

I hope your day has been wonderful or at least better than yesterday. If not, just remember tomorrow is a new day!

Peace & hair grease.

❤ Hannah

Hey friends hey! Can you believe I’ve posted a WHOPPING two blog posts this week and its only Tuesday?! Who even am I? Number three coming atcha!

So here’s whats going on… I had big dreams of becoming a daily vlogger on youtube. Turns out, filming is easy BUT sitting down to edit and actually post upon the Youtube is impossible for me. I have always loved to write and I feel led to really step up my blogging game to record this life of mine. Not to be cliche, but time is going by so so fast and I just want to remember it all. And have something for my boys to look back on. There are so many little moments that I never want to forget.

I’ve had this blog for years. This domain for just at a year. I have never been consistent but I truly want to get better at it so my current plans are to blog daily. Maybe I’ll have a daily theme eventually? For now, I just wanna post daily. Probably day in the life (DITL) style and also current thoughts!

All three of the boys are so stinkin’ funny but each in their own way. Here are a few funnies from this week to get us a going…

Last night for dinner we had salads. The options for dressings were ranch & thousand island. I asked Branson which one he would like and he quickly responded, “ONE THOUSAND ISLAND, PLEASE!” So, from now on we will only accept that name for it.

Also last night during dinner we were talking about play phones the boys have. I asked where an old nokia my parents gave them was and B immediately said, “WAIT! What pinnochio phone are we talking about?”

One more from a few weeks ago, also starring Branny bear…..

Since Mason was born we have always referred to toes as pigs. ALWAYS. Like, I sometimes wonder if they know they aren’t really called that in medical journals… anywho… A couple of weeks ago the baby started doing this real cute thing where he puts his foot up on his highchair tray while he eats. Branson had seen him do this a few times and one night while we were eating dinner he said, “Cason! You always invite your pigs to dinner!” THE. CUTEST. Y’ALL.

Love it.

See y’all here tomorrow!

Peace & hair grease!

❤ Hannah

I can hardly believe the bear that made me a mama turned EIGHT at the end of April.

His eighth year of life was the best yet for him. He made the most important decision he will ever make and asked Jesus into his heart. He is still as kind-hearted and funny as ever but really blossomed this year with his independence. He’s the best big brother and loves the baby so much. He loves Branny too but they are currently in the friendship building phase and have their days. 😉 He loves to help in the kitchen but loves to be outside with his Daddy even more. He wants to be a trapper & a pastor when he grows up. He tried Hapkido this year with one of his best buddies and really loved it. He’s a math wiz & is loving homeschool! He can’t wait to start second grade curriculum in the fall! He is most excited about having big enough hands to begin guitar lessons with one of his favorite people.

It’s been an absolute joy to watch him grow up a little bit more this year. The years are passing way too fast but I must say I am enjoying his big boy years just as much as I did his first ones.

Forever thankful to be his mama.

❤ Hannah

January 30, 2022 will forever be one of the best and most precious days of my life and more than mine, Masons.

It started out as the typical Sunday morning. We got up and ready for church. Went to Sunday School and then enjoyed the service. At the end of the service while JKM was getting ready to dismiss, I noticed Mason had his head down on the pew in front of us. I could tell he was praying so I kinda rubbed him on the back and asked if he was okay. He looked up at me and said, “Yeah, Mama! I just got saved!” I told him we could go down to the alter and he quickly told me that wasnt necessary, he was already SAVED! He said that his heart felt weird and so he prayed that the Lord would save him and that the Lord took the bad feeling away. I awkwardly asked our song leader if we could sing one verse of Just As I Am and we got Jonathan to come over so Mason could tell him. He had the same response I did, ready to pray with Mason but he told him he was good. After the song was over, Jonathan got him to come to the front of the church and tell them what had happened. He proudly said, “Jesus saved my soul!” GLORY. The church came around and shook his hand and loved on him.

After church was over we called my parents to tell them and then headed over to Grandmamas to tell her and Jonathans parents. Then we went to lunch with my inlaws to celebrate the sweetest day.

That was almost five months ago now and every time he talks about it he still smiles ear to ear and just glows. Yesterday, May 8, (Mother’s Day) he made the decision to join Settendown Baptist Church where Jonathan is currently pastoring and will be baptized in July!

“Thank you Lord for your blessings on me.”

❤ Hannah

Hi! My name is Hannah, and I am addicted to social media.

Have you ever had an experience that from the outside looking in you would’ve missed seeing but profoundly shakes you up? I’m not the mysterious type, in fact I am for sure an oversharer but out of respect for the other party involved in said shake up I will refrain from detailing what my experience was specifically. I will say however that I have been a social media addict for almost 10 years. WHAT? Gross. And tonight, about an hour ago. I QUIT. All deactivated and deleted. Peace OUT. See ya NEVER.

In all honesty, Facebook is not a problem for me. I actually loathe it. More than the Grinch loathes Christmas. Instagram, however. Gets me EVERY time. Last year I took 4 months off. Cold turkey. Never missed it. One day, most likely out of boredom I logged back in and BAM right back on the sauce.

I saw this quote (on instagram, ironically) that said, “If social media is an idol, my time is the burnt offering.” – Jackie Hill Perry. SHEW. It punched me in the face, gut and heart all at once but clearly didn’t stop me from keepin’ on with my burnin’.

I really don’t have any vices. I don’t drink alcohol, smoke any thing or do any drugs but social media is something I have used to numb SO much over the last decade. Sad? Insta. Happy? Insta. A moment for self-care? Insta. PPD? Insta. I have attempted to use it to feel a void I have and any boredom I feel instead of spending time in prayer or my bible. I would even follow bible study accounts and justify more time spent scrolling as to learning how to study… I know. REDIC. But tonight… I AM DONE. I mentally, physically and spirtually cannot continue basing my life and thoughts off of the clips of someone else’s life I see. I only get one life to live and I’ll be danged if I give another minute of it to Instagram.

When I think of all the time I’ve missed with my kids, the conversations I could’ve had with my husband, the things I missed in front of my face because I was looking at someone else’s highlight reel, how much farther along I could be in my walk with my Savior, the books I could’ve read, it legitimately makes me sick. I can’t turn back time and get any of those moments back BUT I can turn it all around right now. And I WILL. My kids deserve it. My husband deserves it. And most of all my Lord deserves it.

I completely acknowledge that folks can have healthy boundaries with social media. Unfortunately, I am not one. Tonight I deleted my TiKTok, Instagram & Facebook. The end of an era but the beginning of really living. Dramatic? Maybe to some. Truthful? Completely.

Keep me accountable, y’all.

❤ Hannah

Happy Monday!

We had a very sweet weekend around here. Nothing terribly special, just laid back and enjoyable.

Friday – The boys and I hung around during the day and my sweet mama girl brought us lunch and visited for a bit. When JKM got home he and Mason took off for the huntin’ land with my father-in-law. Their mission was to kill some gobblers but sadly…. the Toms all made it to see another day. The littlest boys stayed with me. Branson and I had some time together and it was very good for the both of us. Being four is hard, y’all. On EVERY one. He is my sweet boy and loved getting some one-on-one time. We ordered in and just relaxed. He loved sleeping in our room and keeping me safe.

Saturday – We slept in and had a playdate with my bff from middle school! We picked up our fave (Chick-fil-a) and went to her house where the boys got to play and she had a craft (because she’s the best) for them to do. We headed home mid-afternoon and picked up a special drink during happy hour at sonic. B loves getting fun drinks and so does his mama. The big boys came home shortly after we got back so I headed off with the baby to my parents while they enjoyed some “man time” in the yard. My mom just got a new espresso machine so I enjoyed trying that out. After the baby bear and I returned home we all just kind of relaxed and then headed to bed early, that never happens around here and it was SO nice!

Sunday – Sunday is one of my favorite days of the week. Probably my MOST fave. We all got up and ready for church. We were actually early to sunday school. Maybe going to bed at a reasonable time does in fact have its perks! Who knew? Lacy and her boys joined us and we had a wonderful service. JKM preached his heart out. After church we picked up Freddy’s and went on home. We ate lunch together and then we napped while the two biggest boys watched a movie. When we got up we all were wanting a sweet treat so we went and got milkshakes and once the sugar high kicked in the boys played outside until dark. After baths they were ready to tap out, so they went to sleep. JKM and I made an iced coffee and booked a surprise vacation for the beginning of May to celebrate Mason’s seventh birthday.

(As I was typing all of that out I realized we didnt eat a single meal that wasnt take out this weekend. While thats certainly not the norm for us, I’m definitely craving some home cooked meals this week! We all really enjoyed our weekend and time together!)

Mason is anxiously awaiting his birthday on the 29th. I don’t know how it happened or where time has gone but it is surely a thief. We will be camping on his actual birthday. It will be a sweet (local) trip for a couple of reasons, not only is it his birthday but it will be our maiden voyage in our camper! We will camp for a few days and then head to the great smokey mountains to go to a water park he (and his middle little brother) have been wanting to go to for months. They saw it on an episode of one our favorite shows, Sweet Home Sextuplets and have been begging to go. We can’t wait to surprise them with it! We aren’t going to tell them until we get in the car to head up. We are TERRIBLE at keeping surprises a surprise so this will be a huge feat but I believe we can do it. We will be vlogging the trip and of course blogging about it too!

If you’re reading this, I hope you have the most wonderful week and not only see the light of the Lord this week but reflect it as well. 🙂

Until next time!

❤ Hannah

Spoiler alert : it’s Monday.

I’ve heard the mention of “Sunday scaries” more and more lately. I’m pretty sure it refers to the sense of dread most people get on Sunday’s when they start to think about going back to work/starting a new week and not really looking forward to leaving the bliss the weekend tends to bring. The break from reality.

I use to experience this a lot when I was working outside the home but since I’ve become a stay at home mama I tend to feel another kinda way on Sundays. A feeling I can best describe as “I get so hyped on Sunday nights about how much better of a person I’m gonna be this week!” Granted, it’s not near as catchy, it’s very true.

It seems like every Sunday evening after everyone is asleep I lay in my bed and literally pump myself up for the week ahead. Here are a few of the things I tell myself about the week to come…

“I’m gonna wake up early in the morning and enjoy my coffee in peace and while it’s still hot/cold!”

“I’m not gonna yell as much this week. I’m gonna be more patient.”

“I’m going to read my bible every day this week. No exceptions!”

“I’m gonna stay on top of the laundry.”

“I’m going to clean the kitchen every night, no matter what.”

The list goes on and on but these are the main things I promise myself on a weekly basis. I will say that I sometimes start the week out real strong. Monday’s are my least favorite days so I really try to stay strong and hold myself accountable. But by Thursday… by Thursday I’m a HOT mess, y’all. I’m overwhelmed again.

I’ve tried several different methods and I’ve tried doing little things that will set me up for success as the week goes on. When I’m diligent with the little things I can definitely tell a difference and I can keep the momentum going but it seems like I always end my week feeling the same way.

Tonight as I lay here preparing myself for this short week, I’m trying to think of a new method for my madness. I love the analogy about the empty cup. Not being able to pour into others unless you have something in your own cup. It makes perfect sense. It is so important to take care of yourself so you can take care of the ones you love and want so desperately to do all the things for. My mind often goes to “What would Memaw & Nanny do?”

A little backstory. My Memaw (my sweet mamas mom) and my Nanny (a God send who made me believe whole-heartedly that love is thicker than blood) both raised five babies all while working full time, maintaining their home and serving their family with love and delicious meals. I have a hard time wrapping my head around how they wore so many hats and still would speak so fondly of even the hardest times in their life. My Memaw passed away in 2009 and I miss her every day. My Nanny is still as feisty as ever and I’m so thankful to still have her influence in my life.

I sometimes think that the reason I get so overwhelmed is because I’m trying to pour from an empty cup. That I don’t do enough “self care” but then my mind goes to the two sweet women I just told you about. I highly doubt they had any time to themselves for a multi-year span. Not counting driving to work or sleeping. They managed. Not only that.. they did it with love and understanding. Why is it so hard for me? Why can I not do what they did with three less children?

Well… tonight it hit me. Because I feel like I’m owed time alone. “Me time.” I’ve been looking at my life (chores, church duties, parenting, wife-ing) in a “I have to do _____” mindset instead of “I get to _____.”

Talk about a light bulb moment. I’m not at all saying breaks, “me time” and self care aren’t important. They are but I’ve been using them as a crutch or an excuse when I don’t get them when I want them as to why I’m not productive. Not the most fun thing I’ve ever admitted about myself but so true.

Going into this week with a new mindset and a clear heart and mind. I’m not nearly as hyped as I usually am about this time but I’m feeling SO much more grateful for the life I’ve been given.