Where does the time go?

Today is my little Angel Girl's 4th birthday!

 

  4 years!  Where have they gone?  My heart is a little sad, thinking maybe I didn't appreciate each moment enough as it has happened. 

However, I am so overjoyed with the beautiful little girl we are raising.





Lexi is smart, too smart sometimes. 

She is funny, I mean crack-you-up funny.  She has a smile that makes everyone else smile, and wants everyone around her to be happy.

Lexi is a friend.  She always wants to help others, and be liked - and she genuinely likes people!!

I am so proud of my outgoing, friendly, chatty little mini-me.  I pray that the Lord always keeps her on His path and that she is filled with a heart for Him.

God bless you, baby girl - or should I say BIG girl? *sigh*

 Enjoying every giggle, whine, cuddle, sass, and kiss,
M

God's Gift

Earlier this week, I gave a brief summary of my testimony at a ladies group.  They wanted to know when God/Christ became REAL to me.  I will give a quick rundown here:

I was 23, living with a boyfriend, and feeling completely empty and lost.  I started going to church, something I had been doing on and off since moving out of my parents' home.  The pastor's sermon on this given Sunday was about the God shaped hole in my heart.  Boy was that right on!  She said the only way I could fill it was to seek God, rely on Christ and give myself over to the Holy Spirit.  WOW!

W/in the next 3 weeks I moved out of the house with my boyfriend, broke up with him, moved closer to home and work, joined a new church and joined a women's Bible study without knowing a single woman (well one of them was an acquaintance).  WHEW!  A couple of weeks after that I met my husband.

That is where the God's Gift title comes in.  I 100% believe that Kevin was a gift from God sent just for me...well, he is a gift to a lot of people, but he is my most special gift.  I love my husband so much, that as I am typing this I am tearing up.  He is AMAZING!  Let me tell you a bit about him:



He is FUNNY!  He can make me laugh all the time.  If I am down, he can always lift me up.

He is so good at forgiving.  He loves me even through all, and there are MANY, faults. 


He always makes me feel special, loved, and beautiful.

He is smart.  He doesn't think he is, but he really is.  I am constantly amazed at his mental abilities, and his wisdom.


He is a fantastic and loved daddy.  He adores his children, and they definitely adore him.

So, thank you, God.  For giving me this gift.  I know it is his birthday, but I am the one who gets the best present.


Loving my birthday boy,
M

Just "hangin'" around

While trying to take a picture of my new 'do, the kids and I got a little distracted.  This is what I am doing instead of working!  haha!  Better get back to it!

Loving my silly babes,
M

Everything you wanted to know an more...

I stole this from my sister-in-law's blog a while back and thought I would post it now.  It kind of made me laugh to re-read her answers as I filled in my own.  Enjoy knowing everything about me you ever (or never) wanted to know!!

1. What time did you get up this morning? WOKE up at 5:40 but got up at 6:20 a.m.

2. How do you like your steak? magically turned in to pork or chicken?


3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema: Bridesmaids


4. What is your favorite TV show? C.S.I. - Las Vegas


5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? London


6. What did you have for breakfast? Mini-biscuits and gravy and cherry/peach crisp


7. What is your favorite food? chicken fried rice


8. Foods you dislike? can't think of any.


9. Favorite place to eat? Chinese Buffet or Johnny's


10. Favorite dressing? Ranch or Blue Cheese

 

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive? Dodge Charger SRT8


12. What are your favorite clothes? jeans and cardigans


13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Somewhere in South America


14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? 1/2 full


15. Where would you want to retire? Somewhere warm and dry


16. Favorite time of day? naptime? haha!


17. Where were you born? Northeast IL


18. What is your favorite sport to watch? cheerleading

 
19. What is your favorite fragrance? Viva La Juicy and Pumpkin spice from Bath and Body.


20. What is your favorite face cream? Aveeno


21. Favorite baby/kids products? baby shoes and baby jeans

22. People watcher? Most Definitely.


23. Are you a morning or night person? Probably a afternoon/evening person?


24. Do you have any pets? We have a goldfish, Jax.

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? Um, no.

 
26. What did you want to be when you were little? a singer/dancer and a boss. haha!


27. What is your favorite memory? The week of my honey moon, and any time my husband and my kids and I get to hang out together.


28. Are you a cat or dog person? dog person


29. Are you married? Oh, yes!


30. Always wear your seat belt? Buckle up, its the law.


31. Been in a car accident? unfortunately


32. Any pet peeves? Many:  top two are 1.  Liars  2.  People who only think of themselves.


33. Favorite pizza toppings? sausage & mushroom


34. Favorite flower? tulips


35. Favorite ice cream? chocolate always chocolate


36. Favorite fast food restaurant? Burger King


37. How many times did you fail your driver's test? None - I was a pro. ha!


38. From whom did you get your last email? A woman in my Mom's group.

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Bergner's/Carson Pirie Scott.


40. Do anything spontaneous lately? maybe ;)


41. Like your job? most of the time.


42. Broccoli? Love it.


43. What was your favorite vacation? My trip to Europe and my honeymoon to Nashville.


44. Last person you went out to dinner with? My handsome hubby, Kev

45. What are you listening to right now? My babies talking to each other.


46. What is your favorite color? coral - and varying other shades of red.


47. How many tattoos do you have? 2

48. coffee drinker? definitely


Praying for energy after this post,
M

Who does that?

Today is the 10 year anniversary of the 9/11 horror.  What an amazingly awful day.  I can remember where I was, what I was doing, etc. when my mom called me and told me to turn on the news.  It was completely surreal, wasn't it?  Watching the coverage of that day 10 years later did not lessen the shock and sadness that overwhelmed me.  If anything, time only made those feelings more extraordinary.



Now I have a husband and children.  I can feel a broader spectrum of emotions than 10 years ago.
Who takes a plane, without a thought to the other human life on it and destroys it?  "Who does that?"   Who can hate to profoundly that no other person or persons is worth saving?  "Who does that?"  I can't think of anyone I know, besides satan.  And as I was watching footage of firemen racing to save lives of those in the towers I was taken over by awe and sheer terror at their bravery.  I thought to myself, "who would do that?"  "Who does that?"  Who would willingly go in to that building and save lives knowing theirs is so surely at risk?  Many people came to mind:

Jesus.  He, would surely race in to a destructing building, even if it was to only save 1 life.

Kevin.  My husband is brave.  He will stand up for people without thinking of the harm that might come to him.  He stopped on the side of the interstate a few weeks back to make sure a woman who was clearly being verbally (if not physically) abused was OK.  To make sure that the man walked away.

But, would I?  Of course, if it was my children or family in there I would run in at my own risk.  But would I for someone else?  I can't say for sure.  I would hope that I would trust God and follow where he lead me, even if it is in to obvious danger.

On this Sept. 11, I am praying for all those who lost family members.  I am praying for all those who live with that last memory of a loved one before they watched their demise on national television.  I am praying for all the emergency workers who were there to save and those who perished while trying to save.  I am praying for all those who continue to put themselves in danger to protect others.

God Bless America,
M

Yum

This is what I made yesterday.  This picture isn't of my exact cookies, but it looks a lot like them.  They are delicious.  I tried a new recipe, and it needs some tweaking but the cookies are still pretty tasty.  And the recipe makes a TON.

I love to bake.  I love to cook.  I love to create new meals and meal ideas.  YUM. 

Now, if only I didn't like to eat.

Trying to stay away from the kitchen,
M

Hard at work

I am not a hard worker...at most things.  I work hard to be a good mom/wife/daughter/friend, etc.  But in other areas of "work" I am sub-par.  All my life I have been pleased with "good enough."  This can be a bad thing, like when cleaning our house.  Or a good thing, like I don't get too worked up if the house isn't in perfect order. : )

My husband, on the other hand, is an extremely hard worker.  He will work from sun-up to sun-down and I never hear a complaint.  He truly takes the following verse and runs with it:

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

 Kevin is amazing in this respect.  He is just good at it.  If he doesn't like his boss (at his part time job) he doesn't slack off.  If he isn't super excited about a job he is on, he doesn't complain and drag his feet.  He works at it with all his heart and energy.  Kevin is my inspiration in this area.

I know so many moms who are good at keeping their house clean, keeping their laundry caught up, playing with their kids. getting their work-out, etc.  They seem to balance everything.  I am NOT one of those moms/wives.  I can cook.  I can keep our laundry caught up.  I love to play with the kids.  But that is about where my "work" ethic falls off.  I am praying today for continued improvement in this area. 


Do you deal with this work problem? 

I have Colossions 3:23 on my fridge.  I need constant reminding to work.  Get back to work.  Keep working.  Work. Work. Work. 

On that note, I think I will go clean up my kitchen!

Enjoying the work,
M