The Last Weekend as a Webster

I love when God reminds us of the reasons we do what we do in life. We had the perfect weekend before the wedding. One of those weekends where everyone gets along and we had family time and activities and fun. A weekend jam packed full of things that included kids, friends and some alone time for David and me.

It was my last weekend as a Webster. It's still so surreal to me. This next weekend I take on an entirely new name. Even though my little family has been with me for the past year, we will be an 'official' family. I will finally get to sign school papers as 'Amanda McCellon' and be legally tied and bound to all of them.

It's been a long road to get here. It hasn't always been easy. There have been times and parts that have been down right tough. I've shed many tears, said a lot of things out of anger and frustration and doubted myself continuously though out this journey. David and I both said from the beginning that we knew it wouldn't be easy. But in the end, I'm always grateful and blessed for the life and family that God has given me. And this past weekend was a huge reminder of why we started down this path and why every bit of it is worth it.

Friday was a perfect reminder that it doesn't take a lot of money to have genuine family time. Our little town has Movieg in the Park once a month during the summertime. We loaded up the kids and made a quick trip to the Dollar Store for snacks and headed to park with our chairs and blankets and cooler.  For Summer in July, it was a beautiful, cool evening with a breeze, as we  all settled in to watch Happy Feet 2. What a fantastic reminder what $18 and a free movie can do to bring the family together for a few hours of laughs and smiles.

Sunday was a jam packed day of doing things with our kiddos. We planted a small garden with the boys that included tomatoes, squash, peppers and eggplant. It was hot, but we had a blast cleaning out a spot and preparing it and getting some new plants in the ground. The girls and I used my new Babycakes Maker to whip up a bath of mini cupcakes and I walked our oldest daughter through making her very first batch of homemade icing. It was delicious! And as if all that wasn't enough, my Mom took the kids to the movies that evening and David and I got a few hours alone to cook up some steaks and relax together in the peace and quiet!

I have people say to me a lot, "I just don't know how you do it. You're something special to take on 4 kids." But, that's not how I feel at all. I feel blessed that these four kids took on me! It's weekends like this that remind me why I do all of this. Reminds me that it's not just about me or David and me, but it's our family. I get frustrated and mad and worn out - but then we have one of those 'perfect' weekends and it all just falls right back into place. And what better time for such a big reminder than the weekend before we officially become a family. It was a very special memory to tuck away.

Four more days! And then I will be an official step-mom and wife!