My Love

You may remember how i feel about marriage. It's the greatest blessing, but it takes work.  The "work" doesn't have to be difficult or challenging though.  Sometimes the "work" you have to do is just making time to be together.  And focusing on the positive.  I hear women complain about their husbands a lot.  Too much.  It's time to build each other up and stop focusing on the negatives.  So, pardon me please while I share a little about "my love."

Last week Brian and I celebrated nine years of marriage and we were blessed to sneak away for a night without the girls (Thanks mom!!).  Sometimes it feels like there's no way 9 years have passed.  Other days it feels like I've known him forever.  What I do know is that in 9 years, my love has continued to grow.  It's one of those "hard to put into words" kind of things.  I suppose it's like having a child.  You LOVE that baby so much and can't imagine loving another child as much.  But then you have a second child and your love just increases.  I like the phrase that "love multiplies, not divides." While we have added three blessings to our lives and have busy schedules, my love continues to multiply.

Yes, he's an amazing dad and that makes me love him even more.  But he's also an amazing husband. He works hard for our family without complaining and plans ahead for our future.  He helps wherever he can with the kids and the house.  (He's also an incredible cook!)

Most importantly he seeks the Lord daily and leads our home spiritually.  We pray together for our girls, our families, our community, and each other.  I admire his strength and love that he makes me feel safe.  We also laugh together and truly enjoy just spending time together.

Nine years is just the beginning...

While we were dating-at my brothers wedding in 2000. 

Headed out for a night last week!

I love you honey! With you is my favorite place to be!

What was I gonna say?

I have 7 drafts in my blog folder.  Seven.  Unfinished thoughts.  I'm pretty sure this post is going to be full of randomness but at least it will publish.  I just haven't had time to finish my posts.  Or haven't made time I guess.

We've been busy bees around here.  We're not traveling the globe or anything.  Just playing, eating, sleeping, and enjoying each day.

Some of my teacher friends are already doing the "countdown" back to school and it's making me sad.

Reagan is doing VBS this week.

Brian and I celebrated our anniversary last week. Nine years.  We even went away for a night! It was so nice! But hot outside.

It's hot.

Very. Very. Hot.  We're having a heat wave (aka summer).

We had a freak monsoon blow through last week.  I loved watching the lightning and hearing the thunder.  It reminded me of all the summer storms back east.

I've lost some motivation to cook lately.  Praying it comes back soon.

I have a whole post I'm writing about running but haven't run in a week.  Ironic.

I hope you are having a good summer.  One of these days I will catch up....

Until then...enjoy this video: (be sure to scroll down and pause my playlist so you can hear the video and not the music)

Baileys version of "Jesus Loves Me"

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

I have a lot of hair.  Or had a lot of hair.
This is quite possibly the worst "before" picture.
Next time I'm going to ask Brian to stand up to take the picture.  :)

It's thick and unruly and I had started getting "ponytail" migraines.  So, I decided to do something I've always wanted to do.  I cut it off.  And donated it.

Fourteen inches.  

 Locks of Love need a minimum of one half inch in diameter to make a wig.  Mine is 2.5 inches. 

(and obviously not blonde at the root!)

I love having it short! Not sure why I waited so long!!

(Headed out to dinner for a kid free dinner with my husband on my birthday last Wednesday)

In related news...Bailey gave herself a little trim.  I had to blend the chunk she took out of her hair, so  she's officially sporting side bangs.  One of my friends said she has "big girl hair" now.  Sigh.  She does.  

I guess she was ready for a change too.

 

Have a blessed day!!

Change is gonna come!

I love to re-arrange.  I used to move my bedroom furniture around all by myself when I was a child.  My parents were amazed that I could move a bed, dresser, and toy box by myself before I was even 10.  But at our house we don't have a lot of options with the furniture.  It fits best where it is.  (We did get to rearrange the guest room/office a few months ago so that satisfied my "bug" for a while).  So since I can't move things physically, I'm adding decorations where I can.  And rearranging the blog.  Yep.  I'm going to start changing things up here a bit.  Hope you don't mind.

While Brian was away I took one morning with the girls and had a photo shoot.  They were hammin' it up and having fun so I got some great shots.  Here's a sneak peek:

 Happy 4th of July!

Friday Funnies

In all honesty...I forgot it was Friday.  Brian just started his "furlough Fridays" so I was convinced that it was Saturday most of the day.

We've been busy enjoying our Summer and having daddy back home after his two weeks of traveling.
But of course I have a few gigglets for you!

*********************
Reagan asked the other day, "Mommy, are girl Chipmunks called Chickmunks?"
*********************
Reagan and Skylar were discussing their lemonade stand and how much they were going to charge. Reagan said "Mommy, what do you think we should charge because sometimes you just can't put a price on great homemade lemonade." HA! She didn't like my suggestion of 25 cents.  She wanted to charge a dollar per cup.  Skylar said "What if people don't want to pay that much?" Reagan responded "Well, then they can go somewhere else! That's capitalism Skylar!"
I wish I had recorded their conversation because it continued and I was laughing so hard I was crying by the end.
Skylar asked "What's capilism?"
Reagan said, "Capitalism is where you can charge whatever you want and if people don't like it they can go somewhere else. But it also means you have to pay more for the good stuff." (Seriously have no idea where she got this information).
Skylar asked "Since I'm your sister do I get it for free?"
Reagan said "Since your my sister, you KNOW how good the lemonade is so you should actually pay more!" :)
Lord help us all with that little entrepreneur.
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Bailey still has her own terminology for things but this week my favorite is what she says everytime she sees a hummingbird drinking from our feeder on the patio.
"Look mommy!! A hunnybird!!"
**********************
I heard a noise coming from the area that Skylar was sitting in so I asked "Did you toot?" She said "Well I don't think so but I guess I'll know in a minute if it starts stinkin!"

Have a great holiday weekend!

A life of legacy

One of my dearest and closest friends recently blogged about doing something of "significance" with her life.  It resonated with me.  While I know that my girls are significant (and teaching them to be awesome, God-fearing women is a true calling), I know there's more.


I was reminded of that again when we found out that Brian's Aunt Joan had passed away.  She was truly a special lady.  She was an ordained minister with a passion for Christ like most never see.  She had an incredible prayer life! She is the reason that so many folks know of Christ's love and sacrifice.  She loved her family just as passionately.  She had a significant influence in Brian's life and I'm grateful for it!  I only got to know her for ten years, but her legacy will live on in me and many others.  She made sure that there were folks behind her that would carry the torch. 


She was a woman of prayer and although I pray, I know there's a need for someone to step into her shoes and pray even more.  They are big shoes.  By God's grace, I will make sure her life's mission will continue for generations to come.  


When I finally reach the gates of heaven, I want those left behind to carry my legacy too.  I want them to see my shoes as "big." 


What kind of legacy are you leaving? One of pessimism? One of anger or doubt or fear? One of being miserly? Unapproachable? Or are you leaving a legacy of love? Christ's love.  Are you leaving a legacy of selflessness and prayer? 


I want to leave a legacy.  


Lyrics to Nichole Nordemann's "Legacy"

I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
You could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all who's who and so-n-so's that used to be the best
At such'n'such ... it wouldn't matter much

I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an 'Atta boy' or 'Atta girl'
But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

I don't have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthly list of all that I enjoy
It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon enough destroy

Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
Just want to hear instead, "Well Done" good and faithful one...

Joan Hack

September 22, 1941- June 8, 2010

Forgive me...

Sorry we've been MIA around here, but we've been playing....

...at the zoo....

and hanging out with friends....

Enjoying the summer...

at the beach of course...

and being silly too of course!

Hope you're enjoying your summer too!