Remembering the night...

So Feb. 13th is the day Sheldon and I first met... 1997. This is the first year in FOREVER that we're actually going out with great friends and celebrating Valentine's Day which to us has always been wrapping these two days into one. We celebrate Valentine's Day and we celbrate the day that God brought our two lives together. It is funny how God can take a young girl from a little town called Fairbury Illinois, and take a young man from a little town called Morenci Arizona, and have them meet and fall in love in Cartersville Georgia. Now our lives are so interwoven into our community and church here, we know this is our home... a home that we just so happened to sign the papers on, Feb. 14th 2006 (a wonderful Valentine's Day gift if I do say so myself) God is soooo good to us. I was thinking today about how little he really wants from us. Yes, he wants ALL of us, but at the same time he wants us to just know that HE is there all of the time with His hand reaching towards us for Him to guide us in the path we should go...all we have to do is look for him (if you seek me, you will find me). I heard a short message on Jonah, and how the seas were horrible and tossed until he surrendered and threw himself overboard and the storm ceased... and the speaker said, that so is our life... our life is horrible and tossed and we are on a sinking ship until we throw ourselves overboard to God and to His will for our life...instead of running like Jonah did at first, THEN following where God was sending him, we should run to God and surrender everything to Him and follow His will for our lives. Made me think...

Church today

Sometimes I'm convinced that God gives us special little moments with our kids that melt our heart back to being soft. This world has a tendency to go straight for the heart, wound us, try and break us... Then you have this little person that you love more than anything in the world... it doesn't seem to matter what age they get to, they still have that effect on the momma's heart =) Something they say, something they do, something special that just warms you from head to toe. Today during church Gavin (our 9 year old) was standing with me, arms around me as always (he's always been a clingy or touchy kinda kid) and we were doing some of our Praise and Worship songs. I heard his sweet sweet voice sing as his arm was around my waist, and we sang together in perfect harmony. I felt like I had been given this gift... this special touch from Heaven as I closed my eyes and sang with my son, and with my heart.

Mixed emotions...

My weekend so far has been crazy.... It was kind of a full week too with dr's visits and procedures, the young ladies from our youth group kept me up at our sleepover on Friday night =) Which was a blast... it is such a reminder that I am not 20 anymore...lol Took Jonathan to the airport and said goodbye to a young kid who I think is making a big leap with little thought... I'm so tired I can't sleep (tried napping today, didn't work!!) The funny thing is Darian & Gavin are sleeping over at Bob's with Tristan tonight, my little brother and my niece & nephew are all gone.... it's actually QUIET ... I mean crazy QUIET!!! It's just me, Sheldon and Brandon and they're both knocked out already. Sometimes just peace and quiet is really all you need ;) Turning in early (to try and be recovered from Friday) since we have a Fellowship Dinner Sunday. Way to go babe for making spaghetti for 60 people while I drove to Bloomington =) You amaze me everyday!!We'll miss you Jonathan

It is well...

Some old hymns just bring back so many memories...being young, innocent, drawn to God...before serious peer pressure, and wories of being an adult, parenthood etc... took over... back so long ago it seems, yet hearing some of these hymns I can close my eyes and be taken back to such a tender age of innocence.....

Writing again

His Word never changes
though my circumstances do
His love never wavers
no matter what I go through

His arms never let go
they're always held tight
His weakness is stronger
than the strongest man's might

His forgiveness is free
all you must do is ask
His gentle hand peels back
all the layers of your mask

His Holy Spirit fills you
from your head to your toes
His whisper will guide you
in this world where to go

The only thing He asks
is simply for us to LOVE
in a way that shows everyone
that it's sent from above =)

Little tykes =)

I have always from as long as I can remember LOVED babies. Had tons of baby dolls, always played that I was a mommy taking care of her babies. I get more joy out of watching kids play than any tv show I've ever seen, movie I've ever seen... I mean you can go from comedy, to drama, to violence, to love story all within a 1 minute exchange between small kids...lol

So today I babysat for two of the cutest kids that are on the face of this earth!! I forgot to take my camera to get some pictures of Brandon's "play-date" while mommy babysat. Things went soooo well. The kids played so hard and all slept so hard for their naps ;) As odd as it may seem it's kinda nice to get out of the house even if it is staying inside at somebody else's house... does that make sense? I guess even just the change of scenery in another home during winter can make you feel good!!

Special thanks to my buddy Laura, thanks for letting us be a part of your lives =)

Happy #7 to my Sweetheart

As a momma to 3 boys, I have to admit that I ADORE my nieces =) I get to finally have someone "girly" around when I'm used to a house full of really loud and usually odd smelling noises. My sweet, sweet Ariana turns 7 in just a couple of days and we went to her birthday party on Saturday. Of all the little girls in my world, this one can put a smile on her Sissy's face unlike any other. I was blessed with being there through most of her daily life for right at 3 years. She really was the little girl I never gave birth to ;) So, to look back on 7 years as we drove to her party was pretty emotional... I could still picture the exact night she was born as I drove home from the hospital and it was snowing and everything was so beautiful and peaceful (it was crazy crazy early...lol that's the only time Joliet is peaceful!!), now she's turning 7. How fast life truly does go. Here's to my big girl... You will forever be my princess, and I will forever be your Sissy =)
I LOVE YOU!!!