8 Years Ago

Today is my anniversary. My hubby & I are celebrating 8 years of marriage. In some aspects it seems like much longer and in others it seems like just yesterday I was walking down the aisle. So today I have decided to tell the story of "us".

I first saw my hubby at church. I was in the choir and was 14 years old. He came in and sat in the back. I noticed him immediately but before I could introduce myself after service, he left.

Then I was formally introduced through mutual aquaintances several months later. If you ask him he will tell you that he fell in love right away and called his mother to tell her that he met the woman he was going to marry. (sigh) I was not so easily convinced. Now remember.....I was 14. He was 21. Big difference to the parents and to me. He is quite shy and he finally got up the nerve to ask me out to a movie. Well, being that I was so young my parents only agreed if my little brother went along. So, he came to a basketball game to pick us up and I coerced two friends to tag along as well. I am sure that it was not the night he had been hoping for. He let me pick out the movie and I chose "Clueless". Yep, a teeny bopper chick flick. He was in agony. Can you imagine a 21 year old guy in "Clueless" with me, my brother, my guy friend and his girlfriend? Anyway, he drove me and my brother home and after my brother went inside he asked if he could talk to me. Well, being so young, I freaked out and told him I had to go inside. I think he got the point and we left it at that. I saw him every now and then after that but only as friends.

Flash forward 5 years and several boyfriends later and we meet up again. At this point I am in college and he is living in another state so we talk on the phone as friends. This friendship goes on for a couple years. I thought that was all there was to it. He had become my best friend. Then he shows up at my house the night of my brothers high school graduation in a suit and tie. I almost passed out. I had never seen him dressed like that. What a hottie!!! Anyway, we went to the graduation together and then we hung out at my parents house. That was the night that changed my life. He finally got up his nerve to tell me that he loved me and wanted to date me. After realizing that I too had fallen in love with him, I said absolutley. So we began dating.

Fast forward to ONE month later. I came home from playing mini golf in the middle of the day with a friend to find him on the screen porch with my mom. That was kind of peculiar since he worked full time almost an hour away. He asked me to come out to the porch with him and then he asked me if I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. I was shocked!! But that is him, once he makes up his mind about something, he goes for it. Of course, I said yes!!

Flash forward to 11 months later and I was walking down the aisle to marry my best friend. It was the best day of my life. I am so thankful to God for bringing us together and for helping us learn how to love each other the way He would want us to. I love him so much that it makes my heart hurt at times. He is the father to my sons, my best friend and my other half. We are polar opposites but it works. So while I have been married only 8 years I feel like I have been his for half my life for that is how long we have known each other. I wouldn't trade him for anything (except, maybe a Jaguar...hahaha)

So, here are some pictures of us. The first is from our wedding day and the second is from this past Easter.

Happy Anniversary to US!!!!!

Feeling like a new woman

I got a haircut!!! And I love it!!! I had been feeling ver unattractive with my mullet-like hairdo. But now I feel feminine and funky. And the fact that I have decided to wear my contacts again helps too. So, I look in the mirror and there I am. Yippee!!!! The hubby isn't hating it either. ;)

My hubby got me the coolest necklace for my birthday/anniversay. And since I can't get it to take not reflect when I photograph it I will just have to tell you about it. It is a hammered silver choker with a huge abalone slide. I saw it Saturday when we went to lunch at the coast. And the hubby handed me the wallet and said "go for it". Now I know some of you would say that it was not romantic but you would be the people who don't know my hubby. That is just him. And there have been many occassions when he has surprised me with something he has picked out himself. But he know me well enough to know that I get as much thrill out of the shopping experience as anything else. So, it was perfect. I love it!!!

And it was wonderful day with the family. My brother and sister in law(Joy Unspeakable) came into town. It was so nice to see them and to know that they came over to see and spend the day with me. It was just a nice time with everyone. Oh and I have to give a shout-out to Angelos in Panacea. GREAT FOOD!!!!! Anyone close enough ought to go.

Happy Memorial Day to everyone!!! Have a great weekend!

Stop Running around or you.....

will mess up the stripes!!!!

I heard myself say this earlier while vaccuming. My boys were having fun playing tag with the vaccum and I found myself going back over their footprints. So, after doing this over and over again I finally freaked out and told them to "Stop running around, your messing up the stripes".

Ok, it may be just me..but doesn't that sound like a cry for help to you? I mean, seriously, do I have to be able to see the stripes after vacuuming? Up until today I thought YES!!! Now I think that I need to loosen up and just be glad that I have kids that can run around and drive me crazy. They are so funny and energetic and I am so blessed to have them in my life. So what if I never have perfect carpet ever again. I think that they are definitely worth it.

So, today was my birthday and while we are all celebrating tomorrow I thought that I would make a list of 29 things that I either love, am thankful for or just am quite fond of. (in no particular order)

#1 - God and his loving presence in my life

1. My hubby!!!
2. My two boys!!!
3. My sister
4. My brother
5. My parents
6. Chocolate
7. My home
8. Friends
9. My car
10. Spring time
11. Fall and the changing of the leaves
12. Huge Redwood trees
13. The rays of sun that shine down between the clouds
14. The smell of my children right after their bath
15. The smell of my children after they have been outside
16. Watching my husband with our sons
17. Our church
18. Reading!!
19. Singing and playing the piano
20. My grandparents, both sets
21. The beach
22. The mountains
23. Epcot
24. My children laughing
25. Really good food
26. Praising the Lord
27. Visiting with friends
28. Pictures, I have oodles of them
29. The Lord, because without Him I would have none of these things. He is the reason I am alive and able to experience life. I love Him!!

And thank you to all of you for the well wishes. I absolutely love this blogging thing. I don't think I have ever had this many "girl" friends in my life. LOL

Good bye 28

Tomorrow is my 29th birthday. I am having mixed feelings about this birthday. On one hand, it is just another day and I think to freak out about it would be silly. But on the other hand it brings me one step closer to "30". It doesn't seem that long ago that I thought that 30 was ancient. Boy, was I wrong. I also have mixed feelings every year when my birthday rolls around. My sister and I always celebrated our birthdays together. She would be turning 22 this year if she were still with us. So, sometimes I think I would like to just forget about my birthday all together. Not to dishonor her memory or anything.....it just is hard sometimes to celebrate when all I can think about is how she should still be here and she's not. And that really stinks!!! Happy birthday lil' sis!

After admiring Mrs. Sofa's beautiful confectionary masterpieces, I decided to try my hand at cake decorating. She gave me the recipe for the fondant and icing. And while the cake tasted good, it was not exactly what I had imagined in my mind. I was going for a spring flower on the top and it came off looking like a limp poinsetta. LOL!! So, practice, practice, practice. However, I am wondering about this new hobby because it seems that I have been eating my homework quite often. If I keep this up, I might end up having to find a friend named "Jenny" to help me recover from my practicing. I wish I enjoyed things like running, exercising, etc. That would be a beneficial hobby. Anyway, I will keep on trying and hope to find homes for my practice cakes. That way I won't eat the entire thing. hahahaha!!!

By the way, Mrs. Sofa, we had a wonderful time yesterday!!! The boys are already asking to see you guys again. So we will need to get together soon. PS. I hope you cake turned out great!!!! And for all of you other bloggers out there, check out her site SofaBulous Sweets. And make sure you use her for your next function, party, etc. She makes tasty cakes that are works of art.

That is it for now. Have a wonderful weekend!!

Armed Forces Day

Well, I was looking at my calendar earlier and noticed that today is Armed Forces Day. I am ashamed to admit that I did not know that it was coming up. I am also ashamed to admit how quickly the members of the Armed Forces and their families slip my mind. So I thought that I would take a moment to expound on all of the things I appreciate about our soldiers and their families.

1. Their willingness to sacrifice everything for those of us here at home. (even if it goes unappreciated)
2. Their wilingness to go so far from home to protect our home land and our home freedom.
3. Their loyalty to our country.
4. Their integrity in doing the job even if they don't agree with why they are doing it.
5. The sacrifice of being away from their families so I can spend every day with mine. (a tough one, I know)
6. Going to the aid of those less fortunate.
7. Being so strong and dedicated.
8. Doing everything in their power to uphold the foundations upon which this country was founded.
9. Making the tough calls and decisions for the greater good of all.
10. I am thankful that they are so strong and selfless that they are doing what I don't think I could.


Thank you to all of our armed forces and their families. I know that we, as a nation, do not do enough to show our appreciation and gratitude. And for that I am sorry. My prayer is that we will see what you do without getting bogged down in the bureacracy of the whys. (politics)

Thank you and we pray safety and protection over you all and you families. I would also like to say thank you to the familes that are currently waiting on the return of a family member. Your sacrifice astounds me. Your strength and selflessness is to be admired. I pray that the time will go by quickly for you all. I also pray that our soldiers will be able to come home soon.

Is it just me?

Or is this year FLYING by? I can't believe it is already the middle of May. It seems like it was just my youngest sons 1st birthday but that was 6 months ago. Wow! My sister is really showing now. I can't wait to see and hold that little baby boy. I love my boys but they are not babies anymore and I think that spending time with this little one will be great. And I also can't wait until my brother and sister in law have their little one too. Babies, babies, everywhere. Its great!

I am wanting to plan some fun stuff for the youngsters this summer. Anyone with any ideas? I had thought about taking them to the Junior museum in Tallahassee and also to the Zoo in Jacksonville. A friend had mentioned a day camp at the Mary Brogan Museum about dinosaurs. There is always the beach. But that is where my ideas run out. Help!!!

Kudos to the Hubby

So, yesterday was a nice day. My boys gave me a card. So cute! The oldest still wasn't feeling 100% so we didn't get to go to church but it was a wonderful day anyway. We had a big breakfast together. And then the hubby gave my the sweetest card I have ever gotten from him and a Breadmaker. Woo Hoo!! We love bread and we wore our last one out so it was a great present. Then he grilled steaks, baked potatoes and corn on the cob for dinner. My mother-in-law, my parents, my sister & her husband came over for dinner. It was great!!!! I know that all of the other mommies out there don't do what they do for accolades or praise but man isn't it nice when we get that treatment for at least a day? Happy Late Mothers Day to all of the mommas out there!!!

Just some stuff

Well, the lil' guy is feeling a bit better so thank you to all that were praying.

My husband was commenting to me yesterday about how he & I are very poor life planners. The month of May contains Mothers Day, my birthday and our anniversary. That is like torture to a man. Then December hold Christmas and the birthdays of our two sons. So lots of fun. Luckily the two months are not close together. So, I am not sure what Mothers Day will hold for me this year. Anxious to find out.

Has anyone else out there ever watched the "Gilmore Girls'? I have been DVRing the reruns everyday and then watching them when I get a chance. Well, apparently the reruns of the show are about finished and it just doesn't seem to be wrapped up to me. So my question is this...... How does the last season end? Right now Rory & Logan are together, Lorelai & Luke are together and Lane & Zack are about to get married. Is that it or am I missing a season? I know this seems really pathetic but I HAVE TO KNOW!!!

Well, we received our Economic Stimulus Rebate this week. Yippee for that. But my hubby thinks we should hang on to it because he heard a rumor that they will ask for it back this year in our taxes. Anyone else hear that? And I had plans for that money...........momma needs to go shopping.

I am so ready to go to the beach. I can't wait to take the boys but I can't help thinking that I would like to go one time without them so I can enjoy some sun time, relaxation time. Anyone else out there think selfish thoughts like that? Just one time, that is all I am asking for. Then, I will be rejuvenated enough to fully enjoy a day of exhaustion and lots of fun with the kiddos. Maybe this year I can talk the hubby into going with us. That would make a huge difference.

Wow! Lots of randomness today. But that is where my head is today. Have a great weekend everyone!!

poor Lil' Guy

Well, now my oldest doesn't feel well. I was taking the boys to visit my bestest buddy and her boys yesterday when he started saying that he didn't feel well. So, visit was cut short and we headed home. He was running a fever and acting very lethargic (not like him at all). So, please pray for fast recovery. oh! And also pray for my dad. He broke a tooth yesterday while eating lunch and has been in alot of pain. So, I guess that is is for today. Hope all is well with all of the other blooger buddies.

A Brand New Day

As I was sitting at the breakfast table yesterday morning with my two favorite little people, my oldest stopped munching on his Lucky Charms and said to me, "It's a brand new day". I asked him what he said and of course, he repeated "It's a brand new day" but he added an emphasis of "MOMMY" at the end. I was floored. I didn't know what prompted this revelation so I asked him where he heard that. My looked me in the eyes and said "In my ears". Too cute. Is is possible that my 3 year old has been able to tell that I have been a bit down? And is it possible that God used this 3 year old to remind me that every day is brand new and that I get to decide how to live that day out? It was a total wake-up call. I had already begun feeling a less funky which I attribute to the prayers of my blogging buddies. Thanks!!! And it says in the Bible that "This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!" So there it is, and here I am pressing on, looking ahead and waiting for the newness of each morning and the blessings and opportunties that come with each one. That is all I can do. I have to leave the rest up to the Lord. And to think that my sweet son is the one that was able to get through my self-pity and self-centeredness. Isn't God good?