The Days Are Swiftly Passing

Today my hubby is celebrating his 29th birthday. So next year he will be.... 30! Out of our friends we hang out with he will be the first to turn 30... so it is a big deal. (I have to chuckle because I will be the LAST one to turn 30 :-) oh bummer!) Time is moving so quickly these days that I feel like I can hardly catch my breath! I feel as though we just had a birthday bash for him a few months ago! Not only is it Charlies birthday but Jayce is 4 months old today. My boys are growing up!

29 Things I Love About Charlie

1. He treats me like a queen 99.9% of the time
2. He supports me 100% in everything
3. He provides wonderfully for our family
4. He can fix anything!!!
5. He lets us go to Disney World on almost every vacation just because he knows how happy it makes me
6. He trusts me with our finances
7. He used to sing me to sleep
8. He is the most loving father to our children
9. He listens to me complain (even though I shouldn't) and truly cares
10. He believes that distance makes the heart grow stronger... and we have tested that quite a few times
11. He tells some ridiculously funny stories
12. He always tells me dinner is great... even if it is burnt to a crisp
13. He watches all the dumb movies I like even though he couldn't care less about them
14. He never complains about cutting the grass
15. He likes for me to pick the restaurant when we go out to eat
16. He randomly sends me text messages that say "sure do love you babe" all the time
17. He can tell when I need a break
18. He is not into football so I don't have to worry about game days, scores, team paraphernalia, etc.
19. He loves to drive on trips so I don't have to
20. He washes my van so I never have to
21. He can get us out of any bind
22. He gets lost, at least once, on every vacation.... even though we typically go to Orlando every time.... he still get lost. It just wouldn't be vacation if we didn't!
23. He can laugh at himself
24. He has tons of integrity
25. He can't stay mad for more than about 3 minuets
26. He admits when he is wrong or messes up
27. He always blames the Wii remotes and batteries in the Wii board when he does bad on a game.... it's pretty funny.
28. He can clean and cook very well and will step in anytime I need him to
29. He knows I hate emptying the dishwasher and will do it for me anytime I ask, with a smile on his face

I know it is a long list, but quite honestly I could have written about 900 more! I love my Husband so much and I am very lucky to have him in my life. It's not that he has had a tough life, he has just had one of those lives that could be turned into a Lifetime move. I mean, the way we met and how our relationship started could be a two part movie alone! You wouldn't believe me if I told you more than likely! I have seen my Husband change so much over the last 6 years. I have seen God work on him. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him!

4 Things I Love About Jayce

1. The way you smile every single time you see me, your Daddy or Lula Mae.
2. Listening to you talk to yourself when you wake up in the mornings.
3. Cuddling you any chance I get ( have I mentioned that Lula Mae HATED cuddling?)
4. Hearing your laughs all through out the day. Every single chuckle, belly laugh, giggle and held back squeal make my heart melt!

Jayce, your first year is moving so quick. I am soaking up everything I can so that I can treasure them forever. Your personality is really shining through now. You can roll over from your back to your tummy! Go Jayce! You can roll from your belly to your back... you just choose not to for some reason. Stubborn little guy. You are ready to be on the move and you get frustrated when you realize you can't yet. Slow down son, it will happen soon enough. Your sister can't wait until you can play with her! You love each other so much and it is beautiful to see your relationship grow. I am amazed at how much you look like me. Our baby pictures are scary similar. I think that means you look a little like your Uncle Mark and that makes me smile. These 4 months have had tough times, but for the most part they have been amazing! I love you Jayce!


My life would not be the same without my boys!

Letters Of Intent

Happy Friday bloggy buddies! I hope you all have a fabulous weekend! I know we plan on it! Don't forget to check out Julie's blog for more letters of intent!


Dear Jayce,

I know you like the thought of being in my belly, but you really can't go back where you came from....

I know this is your "happy place" but you have to realize son that being 4'8" tall makes this not so fun for Mommy. Don't worry, I still love you!

Love,

Your Very Short Mommy Who Can't Wear You Around All The Time

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Dear Hubster,

I am just as excited as you are about your 5 day weekend! No really! I am! That means I get to see your handsome face for 5 whole days! Which, by the way, I would prefer you to shave that handsome face at least once, possibly twice, during this fabulous mini vacation. Thanks in advanced Babe!

Love,

Your Wife Who Is Not Fond Of Facial Hair

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Dear Self,

Stop thinking about food ALL THE TIME. It is just making this whole cutting back portions, eating healthier food and working out so much harder! Watching Food Network is not the best idea either. It would be better if you didn't watch any food programs actually. There are only 18 days until vacation... that means 18 days until bathing suit time.... so get it together, would ya?

Sincerely,

The Lady Who Wants Her Mouth To Not Water At The Thought Of A Coke

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Dear Ebay Purchaser,

When you hit the Buy It Now button and hit Commit To Buy, it kinda means you have to buy it! Ignoring my emails is just rude. You are really bringing me down off of my Ebay selling high. You stink.

Signed,

The Lady Who Reported You To Ebay And Is Gonna Leave You HORRIBLE Feedback

Motherhood

Changes your body

Changes your wardrobe

Changes your hair and makeup

Changes your house

Changes your car

Changes your budget

Changes your plans

Changes your day to day life

Changes your sleeping patterns

Changes your mindset

Changes your relationship with your husband

Changes your priorities

Changes your heart

Changes your relationship with God

Changes your hopes and dreams

Changes your prayers

Changes how you view the world

Changes your opinions on a lot of things

Changes everything

All I ever wanted to be growing up was a Wife and a Mommy. Now, here I am, right in the middle of God's Will. Walking the path that He has laid for me. Sometimes it feels like a dream. Other times I question if I can do it. But 90% of the time I can't even express how happy I am to be right where I am. Motherhood has changed me. God has changed me. They will both continue to mold and shape me, every single day.

Happy Birthday

**** If you are at work, school, or any other pubic place you may not want to read this. It is a pretty heavy post. It is also super long and you may get fired for reading it! Just a warning.****

Today is my Uncle Larry's birthday. This year he is celebrating like no other. He is walking with Jesus on 2 brand new legs. I have no doubt that he is loving ever minuet of it. He died somewhat suddenly earlier this year and the sting of this death is still fresh for most of our family. Everyone but me. I am sad that he is gone, don't get me wrong. I think about how much I miss him every day. But for some reason I can't get as sad as I want to be. Confused? Let me try to explain this. Uncle Larry was the most godly man I have ever known. He truly loved God with all of his heart, all of his soul and all of his mind. Not only that, he loved others just as much. Anyone. Everyone. Really. If you think you are faithful, you got nothing on Uncle Larry! Trust me.

Ever since my Uncle Mark passed away when I was in the 3rd grade, I have worried about the day Uncle Larry would die. I stayed up many nights crying because I was so scared of when he would die. I didn't know God then. I was not a follower of Jesus Christ then. Now I am. My heart is better and stronger now.

After they amputated Uncle Larry's good leg I had a bad feeling that things weren't going to turn out well. And then, it happened. The infection spread. It spread fast. The doctors told him they could take both arms to try to save him. Can you blame the man for saying no? He already had both his legs amputated! He didn't want anymore treatment from that moment on. Just medication to keep him comfortable. I don't think anyone realized how quick he would pass from that moment. I know I didn't. The whole time Uncle Larry was in the hospital I was a mess. I cried a lot. I prayed hard. I felt very drained. I hated knowing that he was in so much pain. I found myself asking God that one question you are never suppose to ask Him... "Why?". Why would he put such a good man through so much? Why would He not just heal him on His own? Why did our family have to go through another death? Why?.... Because it was His plan. It was his time. God had called him home. It was meant to be. Uncle Larry had the best of care and they still weren't able to save him. Is it sad? Yes. Am I grieving? Yes. Do I wish he were still here? Yes..... but that is so very selfish. Uncle Larry is never again going to feel pain. He is in heaven looking down on us. God gave me peace about Uncle Larry the moment I heard he passed. Prior to him passing I was devastated at the thought of him dying. So I prayed for a safe, painless passing for him, and for peace and understanding for me. When Charlie told me he didn't make it I had an overwhelming feeling of peace. It's called grace. His grace is enough! I wanted to cry and cry. I couldn't. God wouldn't let me. He gave me my peace. I did cry some. But it felt like happy tears, not sad tears. He gave me the understanding. I know, without a doubt, that Uncle Larry is with Jesus. That thought, and the mental image of him standing on those golden streets, is peace and understanding enough for me.

God delivers. If you have never experienced "feeling" Him, I hope someday you do. Your faith will grow leaps and bounds.

Uncle Larry passed surrounded by family. He got to tell everyone goodbye and spend time with his family before he passed. I always thought it would be terrible to know you are about to die. I'm not so sure anymore. Uncle Larry got to accept it, he got to say those goodbyes. Still, it doesn't change that he died, but at least everyone got a chance to tell him how much they loved him. Everyone but me. I was selfish and didn't go. My thinking was " I don't want to remember him that way". What if there was something he wanted to tell me? What if he was disappointed that I didn't give him just one more hug? I missed my opportunity. Never again will I get the chance to see his face, hear his contagious laugh and feel instantly comforted by his presence. I wanted so badly to sing to him and comfort him during his time of need. But I froze up. I hate the feeling of regret, but it is there and probably will be for the rest of my life. I also wanted to sing at his funeral, but I choked at that too. I didn't feel right even asking if I could. Not sure why,but I just didn't. Some decisions feel so right while you are making them, then in an instant they feel like the biggest mistake of your entire life.

Happy Birthday Uncle Larry! I hope you are dancing at your birthday party with Jesus! Oh, I know you are! Dancing on your new legs! I can't wait to give you a hug again, because you had the best hugs! I'm not in a huge rush though. My day will come, when God is ready. I love you Uncle Larry! Miss you!

Happy New Year!

Okay, not quite yet... but we are creeping closer and closer to another years end. That means a new beginning. A fresh start. Each year we all make that famous list of resolutions that will ultimately be forgotten by Feburary. What a waste of time. Why create resolutions if you don't intend to even give them a second thought? Here is a tip, when 2011 rolls in try writing your resolutions on a brightly colored piece of paper. I even write mine in a colored sharpie and decorate the paper with stickers. The point is, make it appealing to your eye. Perhaps cut up some pictures and paste them on the paper. Put things that you love on it, things that give you motivation. After your art work is complete, hang it up. I would suggest the refrigerator, your bathroom mirror, above your desk in your office... just somewhere you will see it at least once a day. Read through them each day. Ask yourself how you think you are doing. Should you make changes in your routine to better meet your resolutions? Did you think of another one you would like to add? That's just fine. I have a feeling if you try this your resolutions will be fulfilled. It can be very discouraging and disappointing to look back at your list, a year later, and realize you accomplished nothing. I urge you to try this for 2011! Go ahead and think about what your 2011 resolutions may be! It also isn't too late to revisit your 2010 resolutions and get to work on them. There are still 4 more months left! Give it your all!

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men"
Colossians 3:23

My 2010 resolutions


Happy Monday everyone! Good news.... no one seems to have caught Charlies cold! Hopefully we won't! Plus, we did our weigh in for P90x on Friday... I lost 4.5 pounds!!!!! WOO HOO!!! I guess I can't give up on it yet. I only have about 5 more pounds to go! I feel like I am starting a good week! God's grace and mercy abound! I am beyond blessed!

New Books!

I recently turned some of my Swagbucks into Amazon gift cards. Well, I love buying books on Amazon so of course that is exactly what I bought! Two new books! I have to admit, I am not a big reader. Not at all. I was in the second grade before I finally learned to really read. I struggle terribly with comprehension still, even as an adult. I despised teachers who made you "read out loud". I stutter and slip and read very very slow. Reading out loud made me sick to my stomach. So for me to buy books is a pretty big deal. I do not read novels. I don't really care for them. What I like to read are "help" books. Books that will help me be a better Mommy, a better Wife, a better Teacher, a better follower of Christ. Those kind of books thrill me!

Taaadaaa!!! I have already read another book by Elizabeth George called "A Mom After God's Own Heart" and LOVED it. I knew I would love "A Wife After God's Own Heart" just as much! I am only on chapter 2 folks and am so in love with this book! I can't say I recommend it yet (I have to finish it first!) but I am sure I will! Just the introduction was fantastic! Now, the other book! It is more a teaching tool. I love teaching tools!It is actually a series of books. I have to say, I read the first couple of paragraphs to my husband and we were like, "wow! we must be doing this whole parenting thing right.... thats our parenting strategy word for word." No really, the introduction is great! It talks about what we are called to do as parents. Oh so good! The rest of the book is broken down into ages. It gives you verses to teach each age and songs as well. At the end are Catechisms for young children. It has places to date when the child has memorized each verse, song and catechism question. Oh, I am so in love! Right now I can remember which verses, songs and questions Lula Mae knows, but as we add to that list I am sure I will forget. Plus, what about when Jayce starts learning them too? No way could I keep track of all that! So I am glad to have a book that can guide me through teaching my kids about God. I need all the help I can get!