Sometimes, when I am at the end of my rope - physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually - God sends a little something into my life to remind me how much He loves me. Today, He did just that. I've had a rough few days with Babylove being sick, Hubs having to work long hours plus do school at night, and just generally emotionally spent. Today, though, God gently reminded me of how much He cares about even the smallest things. Something came up in everyday conversation that just hit me in the heart, and I realized - wow.
There are a lot of people who love the Lord and who are struggling through life just to pay their bills every month. People who aren't living out their calling and hate their jobs. People who made some bad decisions along the way. People who do the best they can to get by. People who work their tail ends off to simply keep their jobs.
Not that I haven't made some bad decisions.
Not that I don't have days where I hate my job.
Not that we don't live paycheck to paycheck sometimes.
Not that we haven't been able to pay bills sometimes.
Not that we don't work hard for what we have.
But God provides for us. When it comes down to the wire, He provides. Financially, physically, REALLY provides for us. He makes the way straight before us. It brought me back to how I felt about 11 months ago. And looking back over the past year, the Lord has been more than faithful to our little family. I wish that I could tell you all the ways He has provided for us. I wish I could go into every little detail about how He has met EVERY need in perfect timing, and how He has carried every burden for me. You wouldn't even believe some of the ways He has loved on me this year. Over the past 11 months, He has led us through some uncharted territory that was scary, unexpected, and unbelievable. But HE HAS LED US.
It is so humbling to look back at the times when I doubted God's provision for us and to see how very blessed we are indeed.
Thank you, Lord, for loving me and my family right where we are. Thank you for caring about the smallest things in our life. Thank you for providing for me and not just meeting our needs but giving us an abundance. Lord, we will follow where you lead us.
Okay, books generally don't stay on my to-read list very long because I read a lot. I got a Kindle about a year ago and I use it every day, reading all kinds of things. I love Kindle because they have lots of different things to download for free. I have read all sorts of interesting things, from real estate tactics to pregnancy books to Christian fiction, and all for free. (Consider this my Kindle plug.)
So currently downloaded to my Kindle but not yet read:
The Strong Willed Child by Dr. James Dobson (I have a strong willed child. It's tough.)
The Teachable Moment: Seizing the Instants When Children Learn by Rebecca Branstetter (I like learning things like this, momma or OT in me I guess.)
The Centurion's Wife by Janette Oke and Davis Bunn (I kinda like historical fiction)
An excerpt of Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond (the Pioneer Woman)
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (downloaded to read in a book club that has yet to meet!)
So there you go folks.
I spent a while yesterday updating my blog layout. I finally learned how to (easily) change headers in and out and backgrounds as well. Hopefully I can keep it updated for the season, now. I also added a few pages to the top that tell a little more in depth about Tyler & me and Jackson. Hope you guys enjoy the change.
Day 21: A photo of your pet, or an animal you wish you had as a pet.
Ok. So please don't judge me on this one. I am not an animal person.
I'll let you absorb that for a minute.
Growing up, I was never that interested in learning about animals in science class, nor did I even really care to have a pet of my own. We had several dogs over my lifetime at home, but I just didn't get into taking care of them and feeding them and brushing them and playing with them. I generally don't think animal videos are funny. I don't think pets should be included in our family photos. That's just not me. We now have a Yorkie, Daisy, but it's mainly because Hubs loves dogs. My mom always says that there must be something wrong with me. I don't abuse animals, I don't wish they were all dead - I simply don't want to be licked by and cuddle with an animal who mostly smells bad. I feel the same way about squirrels, tigers, and birds. Every animal is the same to me.
So having said that, here's a pic of Daisy, our Yorkie.
If we have to have a dog (and Hubs says we do), she doesn't require much work and she's a pretty good one to have. She sleeps a lot and doesn't bug me very much. She does pee on the floor sometimes, but we've just about gotten that under control. She cuddles on Hubs' side of the bed at night. Babylove likes playing with her.
Well, this is a change from yesterday's worst habits.
I feel like I am a hard worker, and when I am at work I give myself 100% to being an OT. When I'm at home, I give myself 100% to being a wife and mommy. I get that from my dad. He taught me to do everything with the excellence that I would if Jesus Himself were coming to visit.
I am tunnel visioned. This can either help me or hurt me, but most of the time it really does help me.
I generally don't struggle with self-esteem issues. I have a husband who loves me unconditionally and consistently lets me know how attractive he thinks I am. I also have a heavenly Father who tells me the same. What a blessed girl I am! I guess that's one of my favorite things about my husband and my Lord, but still.
I am proud of the fact that I am moderately a homemaker, coming from a grandmother and mother who aren't exactly the most domestic of folks. Don't get me wrong, they are great at cooking & cleaning. Somehow, though, I learned to sew and be fairly crafty without their help. (I love y'all though!)
On the home front today, Babylove has his third ear infection since Christmas. He woke up this morning with a high temp and was very lethargic. Thankfully, I got him into the doctor, and he put him on antibiotics. So much fun. Looking forward to a long night (sigh).
I've also been working hard on a couple of baby showers that I'm helping host and Babylove's one year birthday party, which is a week from Saturday. We're going to do a Yo Gabba Gabba party and it's soooo much fun coming up with crafts and inexpensive ways to decorate!
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - it's a classic. I love it. I usually read it once a year. I laugh, I cry, it moves me, Bob. This photo is actually one from the copy of the book my mom had when she was young. I love the sequels to it as well, Little Men and Jo's Boys.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - One of the most beautiful love stories ever written. This is such a classic.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - Who doesn't love Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett? I've read this so many times I can pretty much recite it.
Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot - Elisabeth Elliot is such a wise woman. She has walked with the Lord for so long and has so much insight to impart. I respect her so very much and love to read anything she has written. This is the story of how her first husband, Jim Elliot, lived and died in the jungles of Ecuador while as a missionary there with their young family. It will change your life. You should read her devotional here.
Boy, that makes me sound a little stuffy. But those are truly some of my very favorites.
Day 19: Your worst habits.
Sometimes I think it's easy to identify these things in your spouse, coworkers, or other folks. But it starts to really hit home when you have to turn the magnifying glass on yourself. I will try to be honest here.
I can be bossy without meaning to be.
I hate to fold and put away laundry and occasionally (okay, frequently) leave it in the dryer or in a basket for days on end.
I have little to no patience. When I want something, I want it then & now.
I can be withdrawn from people sometimes. Sometimes it's easier for me to just say no, we can't do that, and I end up not interacting with people as much as is probably a healthy amount. Does that even make sense?
**********************
I have been super busy the past two days with work and I haven't had time to sit down and think about these things. So, there you go :)
Over the past 6 months or so, we have gotten involved at a new church here in town. It's been really great for us as a couple and a family to find a place where we are connected, loved on, prayed for, and have the opportunity to do so for others as well. It's really interesting going through life with these people we now have around us. As some of you know, over the past year, Hubs and I have faced a few tough decisions regarding work and jobs. At the time, it was so difficult for us because we felt so alone in that struggle and we honestly just couldn't see God in it. Now, looking back, it was obvious how God provided doors for us to walk through and it was SO clear that it was His will for our family. Our situation sounds crazy to some folks, but it is truly the evidence of how much He loves us and wants what's best for us.
So tonight, after being at home group with several other families who are facing situations similar to what we have recently faced, I wonder: What would that have felt like if we had been really connected to other God-serving families at the time? How would that have influenced our decisions? How would that influence our ability to hear the Lord's voice in our lives?
I truly believe that while we ultimately made the right decision for me to cut down to part time and Hubs to take a promotion like he did, had we been surrounded by friends who were praying for God's will in our lives, we would have been able to see that much more quickly and clearer. I praise the Lord for how He has provided for us and the amazing ways He loves on us even when we can't see His will. And I praise Him for leading us into a church family that loves on us and where we feel free to simply be our own family.
Day 17: First 15 songs that come on when you put your MP3 player on shuffle.
Before I do this, let me preface by saying:
A) I currently don't know where my iPod is.
B) My iPod is mainly my brother's iPod, because he uploaded his entire library to my iPod a couple summers ago, and his music choices are awesome. He is a music guy. He's good.
C) I don't know how to sync my iPod with my computer.
D) What's the point of having an iPod if you don't know where it is and don't know how to sync it to your computer?
E) This list came from my iTunes library, which is significantly limited as I only recently learned how to buy items from iTunes, and Tyler has put most of the music on there for me.
1. Never Know - Jack Johnson
2. Start a Band - Brad Paisley, Keith Urban
3. You Are The Best Thing - Ray Lamontagne
4. Mudfootball - Jack Johnson
5. Someday - Dave Barnes
6. One Time - Sister Hazel
7. Never Say Never - the Fray
8. You Need A Man Around Here - Brad Paisley
9. All We'd Ever Need - Lady Antebellum
10. You Found Me - the Fray
11. If I Could - Jack Johnson
12. You Can't Always Get What You Want - Glee soundtrack
13. Together - the Fray
14. Til You're Gone - Gabe Dixon Band
15. The Uncloudy Day - Brad Paisley
Ok, so my music choices sound extremely limited. And on my iTunes, they are. I usually use Pandora on my phone, because it helps me discover new music choices I might enjoy. Let me say something else - I like the style of Ray Lamontagne and we downloaded a bunch of his stuff before I realized that he uses foul language in some of his music. The same goes for Glee soundtrack - I don't like a lot of the values and morals that the show portrays, but the soundtrack is fun for us to sing along with in the car.
To give you a better idea of my musical choices when left to my own devices, my Pandora stations are as follows:
Frank Sinatra holiday
Collin Raye
Taylor Swift
Backstreet Boys
Boyz II Men
Bethany Dillon
Walt Disney Children's
Frank Sinatra
James Morrison
Glee Cast
Hillsong United
Lady Antebellum
Ron Kenoly
Kris Allen
Brad Paisley
Marc Broussard
Chris Tomlin
Michael Buble
Well, maybe that sounds extremely limited as well. In reality, I like most music and can enjoy just about anything except rap/hardcore screaming, especially in person.
My name is Kami. I like lists. I like bullet points. I'm a freak.
This combo is my very favorite thing on earth. Tyler is such a good husband that earlier this week he drove up to the gas station by our house and picked some up after working all day and being on call. It's THAT important to my happiness. :)
No really, if you haven't had this particular combo before - do yourself a favor and go get some today. It doesn't matter that it's January. It doesn't matter that it's 18 degrees outside. It doesn't matter if you're on a diet.
I am convinced that there will be Magic Shell with Blue Bell coffee ice cream in heaven.
And just because I love you so much, all three of you that might read my blog, I am going to share the most awesome blog that I stumbled across! Hostess With The Mostess is the cutest little blog ever. She has amazingly sweet ideas for baby showers, birthday parties, bridal showers - you name it! Tooo adorable! I have gotten so many great ideas today from her website for Jackson's party and several baby showers I'm working on as well!
Please, go check it out and be inspired to do more cutesy things in your own life :)
I guess you could get really deep on this one and discuss how you're afraid of failure, commitment, or change.
I choose to not subject you to that kind of deep thinking on a snowy, sunny Friday morning.
I am afraid of rides at amusement parks on which you travel in more than one plane of motion at a time.
For instance, there was a ride at Silver Dollar city not too long ago where you are on a spinning disc that at the same time is spinning clockwise, traveling left-to-right, and traveling front-to-back. I thought I was going to lose my lunch.
I also dislike swinging rides - like the big barn swings or those rides that look like a giant pirate ship.
Freefalls are not my thing either - the Superman at Six Flags? Please don't make me.
Don't think for a minute I'm a wimp when it comes to amusement park rides, though. I will generally try anything once. I just may not go for a second round.
************
This weekend I am working on some crafty things for Jackson's big 1st birthday party! If they turn out well, I'll show them to you. If they don't, I'll order some balloons and call it a day.
Day 14: A picture of yourself today and 3 good things that have happened in the last 2 weeks.
Ok, so please don't judge by this photo today. It's snowing, cold and wet outside. My hair is out of control. I have on my jammies and don't plan on changing. I took Jackson outside to experience the snow for a few minutes. And it's ridiculously difficult to get a photo of yourself with one hand while holding a squirming almost-one-year-old. All that being said:
1. Tyler got our sound system installed in our living room after almost 2 years of collecting necessary supplies on birthdays & Christmas. :) I am actually enjoying it much more than I realized I would because I can play music through it during the day.
2. We got to pay a big chunk towards some debt that we have. We have been very careful to only use credit cards when absolutely necessary, and over the summer we had some necessary expenses that we simply didn't have the cash for (like fixing a car and new tires). God has been faithful with our finances and it was a great feeling to get that behind us!
3. Snow days! It snowed last week and now again today, with more forecasted for this weekend. I like it when I can be at home with my Jackson boy. I don't like it when it puts us in danger on the roads. So today, I like it - I don't have anywhere at all to be! :)
Everyone be careful out there and try to drink a cup of coffee, curl up with a book, and take some time for yourself.
In no particular order, these are movies I could (and have) watch(ed) again and again.
I said "in no particular order," but The Holiday is my very favorite movie of all time. I've probably mentioned that before. I always have a hard time deciding whether I like the Kate Winslet/Jack Black relationship or the Cameron Diaz/Jude Law relationship more.
I apologize to all those Kiera Knightley lovers out there, but Colin Firth is the only Mr. Darcy in my humble opinion. This is such a good adaptation of the book and sticks so closely to what Jane Austen wrote. Too bad it's like 3 days long, so I don't get to watch it very often!
Another Jane Austen classic. I can literally quote this entire movie. And Mr. Knightley definitely looked just like Jeremy Northam.
Oh, Return to Me. Such a sweet little movie with such a great soundtrack. I did own both the VHS and soundtrack to this movie at one point.
I think that Australia was an under-rated film. It had beautiful cinematography and a great storyline. And hello Hugh Jackman!
So those are my favorites.
Tomorrow, you'll be getting a photo of me.
Good thing I went to the beauty shop today and got my hairs did.
I saw this over at Ordinary Inspirations today and it just really spoke to me right where I was tonight. If you don't follow her, you should. She is always uplifting and encouraging and I love seeing how God can use people you don't even know to encourage you in your daily life.
Five years ago, I was just starting my 2nd semester of my first year of occupational therapy school (my junior year of college). I lived with three other girls in an apartment on the edge of campus. I had just started dating Tyler in October of the previous year. Gross Anatomy was behind me and I was settling into the rhythm of being in a program with the same 50 students for every single class. We had weekly Grey's Anatomy/study nights, and we stayed up late working hard on projects that we knew were ridiculous but we enjoyed hanging out together anyway. OT was an exciting thing for me. I wasn't burnt out on ADLs, Allen Cognitive Levels, OA, and MOHO at this point. I don't even remember what MOHO means any more. I hope that Dr. George doesn't read my blog.
This photo was taken in one of our OT classes. Can't remember which one, and can't remember why we have strings around our necks.
Day 9: Your favorite photograph of your best friend(s).
This is kinda tough! I have several "best" friends. I have been very blessed to have all these ladies in my life. Let me introduce you.
Photo 1: This is my BFF Lauren. She and I met when we both started working at an outpatient clinic approximately 2.5 years ago. We weren't friends instantly, but we became best buds over the 2 years we worked together. This photo was taken in May of 2009 when we went to Boston together for a continuing education course. We were only there for a very short amount of time (a Fri-Sun type thing) and after our course was over, we had a limited amount of daylight left. We went down to the West End and bought pastries from the Modern Bakery and rode the subway out to Harvard University, found a nice little place to sit and enjoy the evening, and ate our pastries. She's sitting on the steps in front of a science building at Harvard eating Boston cream pie, of course. Lovely! It's one of my favorite memories ever.
Photo 2: This is me and Charity. She's my long time friend; we've known each other since we were little girls. It's crazy how life works out that we grew up together, moved away and spent several years (before internet & Facebook were a part of our lives) without talking, and now live on the same side of the same road, 3 driveways apart, with our husbands. She's about to have a baby in June, and I can't wait! :) We love hanging out with them and they are our best couple friends. This photo was taken during the Kris Allen American Idol madness! We were at a big watch party and voting for him. FUN!
Photo 3: These are my GIRLS! Well, some of them anyway.... that's me, Kristin, Christen, Paige, & Whitney. We all lived in the same dorm during college and became best buddies. There's some more of us, too... let me see if I can find a better picture that includes everyone in the group. Photo 4: Ahh, that's better. Kristin, Cheska, me, Jennie, Paige, Whitney, and Christen. Like I said, we (mostly) all met our freshman year of college and for the most part have kept up! I love these ladies and am honored to call them my friends. Though we may not speak every day (or week, or month for that matter!), we can still pick up where we left off and the bonds that were formed during Sunday night prayer group in our dorm room are still strong. This was in May 2008 when most of them were graduating college. I had already graduated a semester early with my bachelors', and Kristin had transferred to another college, but the other five ladies were getting their bachelors' degrees this day.
Photo 5: My wedding ladies! You'll see a familiar face among those: Whitney, my maid of honor, Kelly, me, Joelle, Kristen, & Kate. Kelly & Joelle were my OT school BFFs. We got into lots of trouble and had many an all nighter together to make it through those tough years. Kristen & Kate were my best friends through high school. Whitney (my maid of honor) and I have been friends since we were 6 years old - which makes it - wait a minute - ..... agh. 19 years. Wowzas! I love this pic of my friends because I was so very happy, and they were all there sharing the happiness with me. What you don't know is that it's about 18 degrees outside when we took this picture, and we're freezing our bootays off!
Photo 6: Last one, I promise. Lauren, me, & Tina. These ladies made my job so much fun over the 2 years I worked in outpatient. I could never love a job as much as I loved that one, and mainly because of the people I worked with. I grew and learned so much because everybody that worked with me was way more intelligent than I am and I loved soaking up the knowledge around me. I miss it every single day, but being at home with my sweet boy is MUCH more important, and I know that. Thank you for listening to my rambling down memory lane. I hope you are all enjoying your Saturdays! We are off to Lowe's to look at some lighting options for my kitchen. I hate cooking in a dark kitchen! It's time to do something about it.
*I wrote this yesterday but for some reason it never posted. Trying again today!*
I ate several things today, piggy that I am. For breakfast I had a bowl of Cheerios, for lunch I ate at Mike's Place with my mom & grandma, and for dinner I had bean burritoes and rice with Tyler.
Here's a pic of the bean burrito I ate (before I rolled it of course):
Can I point out that it has corn, onions, beans and cheese. Tyler's burrito had beans, jalepenos, green sauce, and a minute amount of cheese. These are the fundamental differences in our marriage - corn & onions vs. jalepenos.
Day 7: What fictional character in television, film, or text do you most relate to, and why?
I'll be honest, I had to think long and hard about this one. I've been thinking it over since yesterday when I posted Day 6. I even asked my husband, who shook his head and replied, "Honey, you're one of a kind." I know that's code language for, "Honey, I love you."
I think that at an earlier time in my life, I could have been close to Monica Geller on Friends. Lately, I feel a little more Liz Lemon from 30 Rock. So I decided -
I'm Cameron Diaz's character Amanda Woods from the movie The Holiday!
This is one of my all-time favorite movies. Just ask my husband... he's probably sat through it with me 15 times now. I watch it every few months because it's just a feel good movie.
I can relate to Amanda Woods because at the beginning of the movie, she is a control freak and must have everything perfect in her little world. There was a time that this was like me, too. I color coded every little thing, and to be honest, I still have a little inner OCD. I just don't let it shine as much as I used to.
Then, in the middle of the movie, she realizes she's falling in love and it's messy and out of her element and not able to be controlled like everything else in her world. That sounds like me, too. I just had to meet my British (did I say British? I meant Southern... SOUTHERN honey!... ;)) guy and he helped me realize that sometimes things are messy and out of my comfort level, but that doesn't mean they're bad. He has been patient with my flaws and has helped me overcome some of my crazy tendencies (note I said some). Since we've had Jackson especially, my inner OCD has gone out the window for the most part. It's extremely exhausting to keep up the OCD and be a mommy at the same time. Most things I can let go of; but some things (like the dishes) still must be done before I can sleep well. I just pick and choose my battles lately :)
So, I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from the movie, though it's from Iris:
know I'm more than a little late on this, but we had a great first Christmas with Jackson! It was such a special time for Tyler, Jacks, and me. Christmas Eve we went to candlelight service at our church. It was packed out, raining outside, and freezing. Jackson was ready for bed and cranky, but the service was awesome. Candlelight is one of my favorite services of the year - even in the hustle and bustle, it seems that it is a quiet, reverend time to worship our Creator. We had communion as well, and I thought that was a great way to take time to remember the sacrifice the Lord made for us. They had tables set up where each family could take communion as a family and were prayed over by the elders & deacons of the church. Here is a picture from the church website of us standing in line for communion.
After church, we came home and put Jackson to bed in his Christmas jammies, ate dinner, and then Tyler and I got to play Santa! We had a blast putting together Jackson's toys and setting them all up for him. Then we watched a little tv together and hit the sack, knowing our baby gets up at 6 a.m. most days, and we figured Christmas would be no exception!
Christmas morning, we got up and took Jackson to show him all his toys and see what he thought about them. He was so funny; he played with all of them and was just pleased as punch to have all those new toys! Here's a video of him when he first saw all the toys.
After we opened presents & stockings, we got cleaned up and packed our car and headed down to visit my inlaws. Tyler's family hosted the extended family dinner on Christmas Day evening this year. It was a very special time for his grandparents because all of their living children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and (all the spouses) were able to be there. Later that evening we exchanged presents with just Tyler's parents and brothers. Tyler & his brothers modeling their Ninja Turtle boxers
Candy cane love! Me & my hubby opening presents (please excuse my double chin. I'm working on it.)
The next morning, Jackson got a second Christmas morning with his GranGran and Poppy. He got a set of golf clubs and a rocking horse - which was so much fun to watch him play on!
Earlier in the year, Tyler's mom had bought all of us matching pajamas and wanted a group photo. So:
Then we came home , worked all week, and got to do Christmas again with my family on New Year's Day! My grandpa cooked a deer leg, we made mashed potatoes and lots of other yumminess, and all went to my grandparents' here in town to watch football and exchange presents. Jackson had an ear infection by this time and wasn't too thrilled about presents or food or anything for that matter. He got lots of fun toys from his Sassy, Grandpa, Nan and Bop though!
We do Christmas poppers every year with my family and it's always fun to see what's inside each one. My dad being a ham. Me & my mom Jackson with Grandpa Jackson playing while we were trying to eat. He just doesn't sit still for anything! Ha!
All in all, we had a great first Christmas with our babylove. He certainly kept us on our toes and changed a lot of the things we normally do. It's interesting being on the parent end of Christmas, that's for sure!
My hubby and I didn't really do gifts this Christmas (or any Christmas that I remember!) because we tend to buy one big-ticket item as our joint present. Last year it was a new TV, and this year we bought a new table & chair set for our kitchen. We're loving finally having a real table to sit and enjoy dinner.
Hope everyone had as much fun during the Christmas season as we did. I can't believe it's come and gone already. Now on to the next fun thing - Jackson's first birthday party in 3 weeks!
Day 6: What’s your favorite band? Why? What are your favorite songs by them?
My favorite "band" is actually an artist, I guess, and the answer is Brad Paisley. I love Brad Paisley because he is so very honest and real. His lyrics are clever and witty. Most of his songs I can relate to as a southern girl, and they usually make me laugh. It doesn't hurt that my husband resembles him pretty strongly when he wears a cowboy hat. And I would be letting my brother down if I didn't say that I respect him as a fabulous guitarist as well. All of his songs are my "favorites", but there are a top few.
"Then" really reminds me of my relationship with my husband, and how we started - quick, but we knew we were in love from the first time we met.
"Anything Like Me" rings so true when it comes to having a little boy.
"Oh Love" is a duet with Carrie Underwood. I firmly believe that Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley were created to perform duets with each other.
"Wrapped Around" is just a cute little song with a great little tempo.
"Two People Fell In Love" is just a sweet song that reminds me how important it is to pass down a legacy of love.
Hope everyone is doing well heading back after the snow days. I am settling into our routine again and looking forward to a bunch of chores today. While my husband did a great job of picking up the house while I was gone... the laundry has piled up like nobody's business and there's a houseful of food that is screaming to be made into yumminess and there are bathtubs to be cleaned.
Day 5: Post a picture of the view from your window.
I totally failed for the 30 Day Blog Challenge today.
I worked from 7 am to 4 pm, drove from work to my mom's, picked up Jackson, and drove 2 hours home (plus an extra 30 min because I had put my mom's keys in my purse and had to turn around and take them back to her...). I just walked in and realized that it's pitch black outside and you wouldn't be able to see what it looked like outside my window anyway.
So. At least I blogged today. The Challenge is to blog every day anyway. And I did. Ha!
Well I can't think of a more depressing theme for the day. So...
Let me talk a little about the legacy I hope to leave on this earth when I am gone. I hope that my children remember me as a loving, fair, honest and fun mother; that their memories of me include lots of snuggles, kisses, building forts, homemade cookies, family dinners, and campfires. I hope that my children know how much I love my husband (their father) and that we can set an amazing example of a Godly and truthful marriage to them. I hope that my husband knows how much I love him and that I have tried in all ways to be a loving, caring, faithful wife who has served beside him for many years of our lives. I want my husband, children, and grandchildren to know that I love the Lord first and foremost, and I want them to know without a shadow of a doubt that I have interceeded and sought the Lord on their behalf every day of their lives. I want them to know the Word of God because we (their mom & dad) taught it to them at a young age. I want my friends to know without question that I am generous and that our home is always open and welcoming to every person in our lives. I want to be able to stand before the Lord on my judgement day and say truthfully that I have done my absolute best with all He has entrusted me with - finances, time, resources, children, and husband.
********************************************************* So, folks, how was your snow day? Mine included working with minimal to no staff to help me, and coming home to a pot of soup at my parents' house. Hope you guys had a little more fun than I did! :)
The Most Memorable Day of Your Life So Far: Well... I hate being cliche', but by far the most memorable day of my life so far was the day I had Jackson boy.
I blogged all about the details here, so feel free to read all about it.
But since I've already covered those bases - let me break it down to the most memorable MOMENT of my life - which was certainly the moment I met my sweet boy for the first time. Ever since that moment, watching A Baby Story or something similar on TV makes me weep. That feeling of pain and success has to be close to what marathon runners feel as they cross the finish line. It was a high like no other. Seeing him face to face and looking into his pretty blue eyes - oh, it was incredible! Not only did I find strength I did not know I had, I accomplished something that I was unsure I would be able to accomplish and that was an unbelievable feeling.
Just a little backstory for you - Jackson was a surprise and an answer to prayers. My doctor had told me that I would most likely either be on birth control or fertility drugs, and that I would most likely have a difficult time conceiving. However, God had a different plan for our little family and gave us our precious boy without any trouble at all after only 1 month without hormones. What a wonderful miracle!
********************
So, Jackson and I are camping out at my parents' house in VB this snowy Sunday. We got up this morning and after watching the weather, decided that it would be wise to come on up so that we wouldn't be risking driving at 5 am tomorrow morning. We came up in time to attend church at NLC FS, and it was great to see some old friends that we don't see very often. We have been napping, drinking hot tea, making chocolate chip cookies, and playing Kinect all afternoon and just watching the snow come down. Hopefully I'll be able to get across the river to work in the morning.
Everyone stay warm and be careful! Have a great week.
Well, welcome to Day 2 of the 30 day challenge! :)
The Meaning Behind Your Blog Name:
Since it's called The McDonalds, that's pretty self-explanatory! I married a guy with the last name McDonald, and there you have it.
I do have the phrase "All because two people fell in love" across the top of my blog currently, and have for a while. Everything that goes on in my life right now comes back to the fact that I fell in love with my husband about 5 years ago. We got married, bought a house, had a baby. The most important two people in my life are my husband and my son. That sounds so cliche', but it is very true! The picture behind the phrase is one of my all-time favorite pictures of us and was one of our engagement photos in fall 2007. And to be perfectly honest - I can't remember how to change the photo on there, so it will probably be there for quite some time more.
Maybe the next few days will get a little more interesting! :)
I need to catch up and post some Christmas pictures of Babylove's first Christmas! I'll do that when I get a chance here soon!
I have not been very faithful with keeping up with my blog over the past few months. In an attempt to jump-start my blogging this year, I am going to follow my friend Shanna over at Keepin' Up With The Moodys and do the 30 day challenge! :)
Here's what the 30 days will entail:
Day 01: 10 interesting facts about yourself. Day 02: The meaning behind your blog name. Day 03: The most memorable day of your life so far. Day 04: Write your own obituary. Day 05: Post a picture of the view from your window. Day 06: What’s your favorite band? Why? What are your favorite songs by them? Day 07: What fictional character in television, film, or text do you most relate to, and why? Day 08: A photo of something you ate today. Day 09: Your favorite photograph of your best friend(s). Day 10: A photo of yourself from five years ago. Day 11: A song to match your mood. Day 12: Your favorite TV shows. Day 13: Your favorite movies. Day 14: A photo of yourself today and 3 good things that have happened in the last 2 weeks. Day 15: Something you’re afraid of. Day 16: Something you crave. Day 17: First 15 songs that come on when you put your MP3 player on shuffle. Day 18: Favorite books. Day 19: Your worst habits. Day 20: Your favorite things about yourself. Day 21: A photo of your pet, or an animal you wish you had as a pet. Day 22: Books on your To-Read list. Day 23: Your fundamental beliefs. Day 24: Photos of places you’ve traveled. Day 25: Five random things you love and five random things you hate. Day 26: If you won the lottery, you’d… Day 27: Your top five favorite restaurants, & your favorite things to eat there. Day 28: Your nicknames. Day 29: Short term goals for the month ahead. Day 30: Something you miss & something you’re looking forward to.
Whew! Here goes nothin'.
10 Interesting Facts About Myself:
Good luck, folks, there ain't that much to say.
1. Oh wow, I don't even have a number one. Someone should have dictated questions to answer.
2. When I was pregnant with Jackson I drank milk like CRAZY, I mean a gallon every 2-3 days by myself.
3. I don't eat most fruit. I have texture issues. I can eat an apple or banana occasionally, but otherwise - no.
4. Like Shanna, I never really played organized sports. I did swim on swim team for 3 years, so I do have some medals and things from that, but otherwise - I wasn't really athletic.
5. I really hate funky smells. I have serious issues with them.
6. I simply cannot sleep until I have taken a bath or shower. I can't stand the thought of getting into bed with prickly legs and my sheets rubbing them all night.
7. I love to read cookbooks and am currently working my way through Rachael Ray's Look + Cook. It's awesome.
8. I have a small obsession with the Pioneer Woman and check her blog almost daily for new recipes.
9. I could eat coffee ice cream every single day, and would then weigh 900 lbs.
10. I really, really hate it when people use "your"/ "you're", "its"/"it's", "they're"/"their"/"there" incorrectly. Especially on printed things like advertisements. Don't you have an editor?!
Okay, so there you have it. You probably already knew those things about me anyway, if you have known me for any period of time. Some of the days I'll probably decide not to answer the questions anyway... but here's to trying! :)
I'm a daughter of the Most High King - I'm a princess and I know it. I'm a wife and mama stumbling my way through this crazy adventure called life with all the grace that God lavishes upon me.
Posts
