I am blessed to work with a very Godly women who loaned me Beth Moore's book Praying God's Word. It talks a lot about praying for freedom against strongholds in our lives. I won't go into to much detail just yet, but I have been so guilty here lately of allowing Satan to reek havoc on a particular area of my life...sleep. Babies are babies, I understand that. However, I am convinced more than ever that Satan is using that as a venue to steal my joy, and rob my peace. And you know what? I have let him. Seriously?!! It's time for me to wake up and smell the roses (although I am already awake most of the time...ha!) Today as I read, the Lord sent me a LOUD and clear message, FREEDOM . In fact, here are some verses from my quite time today. "It is for freedom that Christ set us free. Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery." -Galatians 5:1 "But this happened that we might rely not on ourselves, but on God wh

I am sitting here watching TODAY's Wedding...hey I work for NBC! First let me say, hallelujah...they prayed on national television!! Secondly, I am reminded of my wedding day almost two years ago. The joy of standing before my husband, my life partner and committing to walk through this journey with him. It was the happiest day of my life. I wanted that feeling, that joy to last forever. I wanted to always be that alive, that young, that joyful, that free!! We were going to travel, enjoy life, date, buy a house, camp. We were going to do it all. For us the realities of life came fast. First a baby, then a house, then a career! Those things have brought their shared of blessed joy while also causing their share of stressful moments, but they have made us stronger and happier. They have deepened our love and tested our strength, but love prevails!! And I love that man more today than the day I walked down the aisle. I guess the point is, I love weddings because they remind

The weather has been AMAZING the past couple of days and is perfect for being outside, so my friend Ashley and I decided to take the kiddos to Jackson's Orchard for a little fall fun!! This is before we headed up the giant race slides, which he LOVED. I on the other hand got a sad reminder of how out of shape I am.... This is Eli and Macy , his future wife. My daughter and law is just lovely...ha! Eli is in love with Macy's sister Emma. He's always hugging and kissing on her. Oh goodness, it starts early. My favorite fall blessing, Elijah Harold Watson!

I have so much I want to post and say, but our lives have been a little busy to say the very least. Eli has had the stomach virus twice. He gave it to Eric and I over the weekend and NO ONE is sleeping...AGAIN!! I have much to say on that subject and many more, but it will have to wait because I am at work.

Eric and I are in the market for a new vehicle. We're still driving our college cars: My Mazada Protege and Eric's Ford Focus. We are blessed that they are paid for and still run quite well, excellent actually! In any case we need a new ride. When we travel it's the car seat, a stroller a pack n' play and three full size suitecases...way TOO much stuff for a compact car! So we have narrowed the playing field down to two vehicles...an SUV and a Mini Van. You may ask we we have choosen a Dodge and Kia. It's simple, we are doing this Dave Ramsey style...that's right...CASH!! That really limits our budget, but we feel blessed to be able to have this as an option. (We got a hefty tax incentive when we bought our house and have been able to build a shop for Eric, buy a mower, and save for a car. WE ARE SO BLESSED, not well off...BLESSED!!) Anyhow, a van is practicle, but an SUV is a little more savvy, so I ask your opinion: This or That??

I have had some revelations this weekend: A. I LOVE working out. B. But not like I used to. C. I'll never be a size 2 again D. I can still LOVE my body So, what does this mean you ask? This means that I will continue to eat healthy and proceed with my workouts understanding that I will never again have a pageant body, and that's ok. That is not important any more. What is important is taking care of myself for my son and learning to accept what I can not change. My Workout This Week: Monday: Elliptical and Abs Tuesday: Weights & Abs Wednesday: Elliptical Abs Thursday: Possibly None (depends on work) Friday: Elliptical and Abs

Eli and I were originally going to go shopping this morning for fall clothes, but I decided instead to take my son to the Bowling Green Memory Walk for Alzheimer's. I wanted to honor my grandfather who has the illness, and I wanted to take the opportunity to tell my son about the legacy of one of the greatest men I have ever known. My son will never know my grandfather like I do. He'll never know how God honoring, how honest, how kind, how noble my papaw was. Alzheimer's robbed that from us, but I won't forget. I will always remember, and I will always tell my son of the kind of people from which he comes. I will always tell him how he is a part my grandfather's legacy. My grandfather was born and raised in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. Clay County to be exact, county seat Manchester, in a holler called Horse Creek. He was the son of a coal minor and was one of five children. He was loved, he was blessed, but life was hard. When he was six years old he saw one

This post is very important to me today, so I'm having a hard time knowing how to start it...just bare with me. As you know, the past several months have been very trying for me. A new job, early mornings, and a sick baby have left me EXHAUSTED. I didn't realize how bad things were, until they started getting better. This past week my best friend from college, Alex, and I started challenging one another with our spiritual lives. Every morning we have emailed the other about our quiet time the day prior. As we began this journey I felt the Lord calling me into a deeper relationship with him. As I explained to Alex, Jesus should be the Lover Of My Soul and no one else. This became even more convicting on Sunday when our pastor spoke about that exact same topic using Jacob and Rebeca as an example. It continued to stir in my heart until Monday morning when, on my way to work at the wonderful hour of 5am, the Holy Spirit showed me something. When Eric and I were first dating,

I have complained on my blog a lot here lately about sleep deprivation, so I thought I would turn the tide and write about what I am thankful for! I am thankful that I will be here this weekend for great fellowship, great food, and great friendship! I am thankful that Eric and I will be spending our second anniversary here in a few weeks. I am thankful that this little guy is finally feeling better and letting his momma get some sleep at night!! What are you thankful for today?

Eric came home from work today and asked if I had heard the new Brad Paisley song. I had not, but when I googled the title here is what I found. (*Disclaimer: if you have a son, grab some tissues.) I kid you not. I saw Eli grow up right before my eyes. Time flies too quickly! My prayer is that my son grows to be bold and kind, strong but humble, joyful in his walk, and patient with his dealings. May he in some ways be like his momma and in other ways never be anything like me .

Ok, I know you think I have lost....it's Tuesday! But I have been so busy that I haven't had a chance to update you on my progress. First let me say that the past two weeks were not the best in terms of physical fitness. With Eli being sick, my dad being in town and the surgery, well something had to give and that something was my workout. Good news though! I have a healthy little boy who is finally adjusted to sleeping through the night and thus my routine resumes to normal. On the agenda this week. Monday: 3min run//2 min walk (4X) & Abs Tuesday: Weights & Abs Wednesday: 4min run 2 min walk (3x) & Abs Thursday: Weights & Abs Friday: 3 min walk//2 min run (3X) I have been feeling extra motivated this week because I realized something. Although my near depression episodes lately have been induced by sleep deprivation, many could have been prevented had I been physically prepared...ie exercise. That and, I quite frankly HATE the way I look. Not in a j

Six years ago I stepped onto the campus of Western Kentucky University. Little did I know that at little school in the small town of Bowling Green, Ky I would find deep, Godly, inspiring friendship with a group of extraordinary women. Women who would come to my dorm in the middle of the night to help me study, women who would walk across the graduation stage with me four years later, women who would be bridesmaids in wedding, women who would come to the hospital when my son was born, women who would drive from other states to help me in my darkest hours. (I LOVE you Alex) I saw some of these women this past weekend. Two years ago this was taken at my rehearsal dinner. Three of us are now married, two of us have babies, two are still in school, one engaged, and one climbing the corporate ladder. Despite the diverse seasons of our lives, time has not changed us... May the good Lord be with you Down every road that you roam And may sunshine and happiness Surround you when you're far

I started out writing this post at my desk and in complete despair. I try not to blog at work, but I had to have an outlet today. I was suffacating. I wasn't going to post this because I was just writing to relieve stress. Some of it makes since, some doesn't. But as I wrote the Spirit Of The Lord fell upon me and changed my heart. I want you to see this because it proves that our God is big enough to handle our emotions, he is big enough to handle our tears, and if we let him, he is big enough to change our hearts. As you read please remember that I wasn't writing to write. I was writing to release. Whatever came into my head I typed. I corrected spelling errors but that is all. Here it is: _________________________________________________________________ I sit here at work completely overwhelmed and quite near tears. My body feels physically heavy. I'm shaking and trying with all of my might to muster the strength to write. I sigh, and the heaviness linge

Every Labor Day weekend Cincinnati has a firework show on the river, so this past weekend we loaded up the trusty ol' Mazda and headed north with my family in tow. The firework display was spectacular, and Eli enjoyed walking with his Pappy White while we waited for the show to start. Meanwhile, the rest of us enjoyed a plethora of summer foods including snow cones, funnel cakes, and cotton candy. We also posed for a few pictures... We arrived in Cincinnati early in the day, so after we checked into our hotel we checked out the action downtown before heading to the firework show... Eli ate ice cream and looked at the skyscrapers... Then we posed for a family picture.. We even enjoyed the car ride. Can you believe that Clay and Alyssa fit into the ol ' Mazda too? Ha! Next year we will HOPEFULLY be making the trip in our minivan....did I just say that? It's hard to believe that the first time my parents met Eric was three years ago when we went to Cincinnati together.

I Love telling stories, even though some are slightly embellished; it's a southern thing! Anyway, I often document our life through pictures and captions, but I never really tell a story. That being said, every now and then I will have Story Time With E li to let you know what this crazy little man has been up to. We have for a long while called Eli "Dennis The Menace." If you remember the clever little fellow who made Mr. Wilson's life, well interesting, you might recall his hairstyle. Sort of shaggy blond with a major cal-lick on the side. Eli's grows the exact same way. You couple that with Eli's antics and you have "Dennis Jr." You'll agree after you hear (read) these two stories. ____________________________________________________ I normally leave Eli in daycare all day on Mondays so that I can go to the grocery, get my housework done and then have the rest of the week to play with him (aside from small daily tasks.) Of course yesterday wa

It's fall and in the South that means one thing...College Football!! To start the season, University Of Kentucky and University Of Louisville play for the Governor's Cup! This poses a bit of a problem in the Watson home because I am from Lexington (GO Cats!) and Eric went to Louisville for two years before transferring to Western (Boo Cards.) We went to Lexington to watch the game, but this year we made a little wager. Since Eli is too young to choose who to root for, he would wear gear supporting the winning team... Here is what was at stake. And even though we beat Louisville, I was a good sport and let Eli where Cards gear...It's part of the fun in being a House Divided.

About three months ago I became an avid blogger not just because I want to document our journey through parenthood, but because I found great strength and encouragment from the community of mommies I follow. One of those I follow avidly is Dave & Brit Plus One. Like Britney I became pregnant very early in my marriage and while my son is the most precious blessing in my life adjusting to motherhood less than a year after becoming a wife is hard. I have found great encouragement in Brit's story, her postings and her humor. So, when I had the opportunity to to interview her for my show...I was excited. Here is her interview. Click Here To Watch Video I have so enjoyed this community and want to thank all of you Blogging Mommies!

After seven long and frustrating months, we will finally have a healthy baby! That's right, one look in a fluid filled ear and the ENT scheduled a surgery for ear tubes. Wednesday, September 8th is the day... Need I say more ?!!

Cherish the Moment Read my book, rub my back; Daddy listen to my prayer Let me sit in your lap, Daddy fly me through the air. Throw a ball, make a snack; Can we go to the park? Tuck me in, hold me close; I don’t like the dark Cherish the Moment; Soon you’ll be apart. Cling to the memory; Clasp it to your heart. Soon comes the day when you’ll have no child to hold, So cherish, cherish the moment. Sing a song, play a game; Swing me high in the air Ride a bike, fly a kite; How I love the times we share Hold my hand, hug my neck; Daddy bounce me on your knee. Come and sit by my bed; Daddy rock me to sleep. Think ahead to a time, When your little ones are grown; Hold them tight, don’t lose sight of the blessings you have known. Think ahead to a time when your little boy’s a man And you’d give anything just to hold him again. I cam across this on a blog earlier today and it hit me hard. My situation with Eli may be less than desirable and nearly unbearable at times, but it's part of the

Well, today kicks of a brand new month. Normally I look forward to the newness of this change. It's a chance to forget everything that went wrong the month prior. It's a chance to refresh, recommit and refocus my goals. It's a chance to celebrate the blessings that came down and the memories that we made. However, this month I find myself quite pessimistic about the newness of the season. It has been more than seven months since I have had consistent rest in my household. It has been seven months since I have had a healthy child. It has been seven months of doctor's visits, antibiotics, shots and hospitals. It has been seven months of sheer exhaustion, complete frustration and at moments near insanity. I am thankful for the family and friends who have offered kind words and wonderful advice. I am thankful for those who have made me laugh, reminded me to stay calm, and who have let Eric and I catch up on rest during the weekend. I am thankful for our parents w