I finally get it....

Jeremy and I have been married for going on 14 years this year.

14 happy years.....

You know I love to cook, and I have honestly enjoyed cooking for my husband.

My Mother is the one who instilled the love of cooking in my life. I remember pulling the chair up to the counter and watching her make pies and as I got older she really taught me how to do a lot of the basics of cooking. She knew I wanted to be married and have a family. That was my dream in life....to be a keeper of my home. She trained me do to that the best I could.

When I met Jeremy, I feel like I found my better half. Cheesy I know, but I am madly in love with him.

He has never really cared what I cooked for dinner. When I ask him what he wants, he usually says he doesn't care and whatever I want is fine. Maybe he knows that I am the picky one ;) but I am going to say that its because he knows that anything I make will be fantastic!! ;)

There are a few meals that I had growing up that I LOVE. They are sort of comfort food, easy to make meals that, to me, are just good. I love baked potato dinner (potatoes, ground beef, broccoli, cheese and sour cream.) It a go to dinner that we could have even once a week. Well,  He says that's an appetizer and that it never fills him up.

I also love taco salad. It is just good.

So last night, with the warmer weather, I kinda wanted something light and easy to make for dinner. So I thought taco salad sounded perfect.

Well, I made it.

He ate it.

He ate 2 plates of it.

And around 9, he was in the kitchen making a sandwich bc he was starving. :/

He said that salad isn't a meal.

Its an appetizer. And he needs more for dinner.

So lesson for the day....don't make salad or baked potatoes for dinner and expect a happy man. He will still be hungry.

So, because I love him with my whole heart, I will make him some kind of meat when I make the taco salad.

And I will refrain from making the baked potato dinner to just a couple times a month. It still really is my favorite. ;)

Happy Winter to you! We have had some snow lately. Dada has gotten into liking to shovel. If Daddy isn't here, the kids try to get outside before he gets home and "surprise" him with having the snow all shoveled. Brother particularly likes to do this.


It's Saturday. YAH!! I think this has been the longest 4 day week of school EVER!! It was bitterly cold yesterday. Every school canceled school yesterday except about 4. Ours included. I think everyone but me was in a foul mood. Anyway, glad it's over. The highlight of my day was my date with my Hubby. I have been looking forward to it all week. Time carved out for just him and I. We went to dinner and then browsed around our favorite stores.....Lowe's and Target!! :) (Sarah....I bought the green hat and mittens!! They were on clearance!! And they are lovely!!) It was nice to sit and talk or walk around hand in hand.

I have had a lovely time reconnecting with my Hubby. His schedule has changed ( we think for good) and now he is back on days!! I am so happy! I have enjoyed him so much this week. I think that the kids are just as happy.

Today's to do list......
clean bathrooms
vacuum
mop
dust
LAUNDRY ( I was caught up on it.....)
possibly make Kelsey Swanks famous cheesecake (which includes a trip to the store)
change sheets
take down the rest of the Christmas decorations (maybe) it's still winter, I can still have my snowmen up.

I already have laundry humming and the dishwasher going. (which I forgot until just now I can't do b/c the electrical in our old house can't handle both of them at the same time...oops!)

Hunny has to work today, so it's a good day to get all this accomplished. I personally like cleaning the house when He isn't here. I think I get more done.

But for now, I am enjoying my hot cup of coffee and doing something else that's on my to do list for today, something I have neglected....my blog. I love blogging!!

Today, Dada's goal is to go to the store and buy more beads. Dada and a couple girls at school want to make necklaces and bracelets to sell to help the homeless and children in the hospital. I don't exactly know how to encourage this. I don't want to squash her sense of wanting to help.....

Brother stayed the night last night with the neighbor kids. So it is pretty quiet in our house this morning!!

We celebrated Daddy's bday this past week. I love baking. I honestly do. I used to bake and bake and bake. I don't do nearly as much anymore b/c of Dada. So I was looking forward to making Daddy's cake. I think the kids have a radar for when I am going to bake. :) I can be in the kitchen all morning cooking, doing dishes etc, but as soon as I pull out the flour and sugar, the seem to just know that I am making something yummy. And in they come with their stools. Dada begged me to let her make her Daddy's cake. So I did. She took such pride in baking that cake for her Daddy.

(Do you like Brother's hair? That's another thing we did this week! Get him a hair cut!)


She refused any help from Brother but I did let him help decorate the cake. He picked out the sprinkles. :)

Can you tell they are Easter sprinkles??



I saw this note on the table after the kids went to bed.



I giggled. I thought it was funny.

Look what Daddy brought us home 1 day this week!

He brought us home our favorite candy. We had talked about a while ago about how they would taste in a cookie. So I tried making choc chip cookies but instead of using choc chips using the Reese's pieces. I don't recommend it. They weren't to good. :)


But Daddy said they were and ate them.

It's snowing a bit today. The snow looks like sparkly glitter falling to the ground. It is beautiful.

I was able to buy a new Bible study which I am kinda pumped about. It's by Beth Moore and its about the Life of Paul. It doesn't take long unlike some of her other ones and I think I am really going to enjoy it.

The past couple weeks I have been encouraged by the Lord. He has shown me verses early in the morning in the quiet time of my day and then later I can see how those simple verses have come to life in my daily living.

About a week ago Christ impressed upon my heart this verse.....

Prov 11:13~ A talebearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

That week 2 different people told me "secrets." 1 was a hurt that they were facing and 1 was....well....something ;) But I have gone back to that verse many times this past week. I even copied the verse down and posted it up by my desk in my office at work. I think that its a great reminder for every day. I was talking to Beth the other day and she mentioned that where I work, especially in the kitchen is a place given to secrets or gossip. And I have thought of that before. So many people come in and share frustrations or just life at the moment. It has been good for me to be reminded of verses on the tongue. A couple other verses that I have enjoyed are

Prov. 18:1-2~ Through desire a man, having seperated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

I have read these verses for years many times over, but I never really understood what they meant until I looked them up in the NIV the other day. It was a W.O.W moment for me.

Prov. 18:1-2 (niv) ~ An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgement starts quarrels. Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.

UM....O.U.C.H.

Have you ever said things KNOWING that what you are about to say is GOING to start a fight with someone or KNOWING that you will offend them, but that's what you feel or that is Y.O.U.R. oPiNiOn about whatever.

I have. I am honestly trying to watch my tongue.

Another verse I have posted by my desk is.....

Psalm 141:3~ Set a watch O Lord before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

This verse sums it all up for me. This verse is the prayer of my soul. I want the words that come out of my mouth to be the words of Christ. I want truly desire Christ to be seen in and through me. That doesn't mean I am perfect. Cuz holy cow, I'm not. But it's my desire. And to me, that's the start of change.

Of dates and school plays

Last weekend Hunny and I were finally able to spend some time together. ;) Both kids had a slumber party, so Hunny and I were kid-free for almost 24 hours!! We did went out for breakfast and then did some Christmas shopping. We were even able to get a little nap in.

(I want to say thank you to Joanna who simply offered to keep the kids Saturday afternoon for us.)


This week has been such a busy week. I was able to spend some time one night with my dear friend Sherrie. I haven't been able to spend much time with Sherrie in the last couple of years. Our lives are just so busy. But I have missed her so. We talked for hours catching up with each other. We shared laughter and tears. I love those kinds of friendships. She in such a kindred spirit and I so look forward to our next coffee date.

This past week also held the kids school program. What a great job the kids did. They worked hard at memorizing songs and Bible verses. I think Dada enjoyed every minute of it, but Brother couldn't wait for it to be over!! ;)



One thing I remember about the night was Dada's facial expressions! She was so animated while she was singing.



My Dad was able to come and watch his Grandkids. I was kinda sad that night, cuz Hunny had to work. I think that he was sad cuz he was missing it. Thank goodness for video recorders!!!



Brother called Joy to specifically ask her if she was coming! She said she wouldn't miss it for the world!! :)

Family

Sunday was such a GORGEOUS day, I had the brilliant idea to snap some pictures of my family.



It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons. ~Johann Schiller



A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty. ~Author Unknown



You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. ~Desmond Tutu





What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life - to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories. ~George Eliot



Once he drew With one long kiss my whole soul thro'My lips, as sunlight drinketh dew.~Alfred Lord Tennyson

I am so very thankful for my husband. I am thankful for his listening ear and understanding heart. His knowing that sometimes all I need is a shoulder to cry on and arms wrapped around me. His knowing he can't fix the problem but will be there when the going gets tough.



I heard this song and I fell in love with it. It reminded me of Hunny and I.

Lips that taste of tears, they say, Are the best for kissing.~Dorothy Parker



Ancient lovers believed a kiss would literally unite their souls, because the spirit was said to be carried in one's breath. ~Eve Glicksman




A daughter is a little girl who grows up to be a friend. ~Author Unknown

Of all the haunting moments of motherhood, few rank with hearing your own words come out of your daughter's mouth. ~Victoria Secunda



Some mothers are kissing mothers and some are scolding mothers, but it is love just the same, and most mothers kiss and scold together. ~Pearl S. Buck

I love this picture of me and the kids. I think it's 1 of my favorite of the day.



The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. ~Honoré de Balzac

Today is our 12 year anniversary.


I am more in love with today, then the day I married him.



I love our little life together, and I wouldn't ask for anything more.

Well....maybe a money tree. ;)



He is my forever.

My new clothes line....

Hunny thought I needed a new clothes line. He never did tell me why. Maybe he read my last things I love post, and new it would be nice to be able to hang more clothes out.

Maybe it's just cuz he loves me and wanted to do something he knew I would appreciate.

Who knows...but he built me one.



When he's working he doesn't really like his picture taken. Can you tell? :)



It is super nice to be able to hang out more then 2 loads at a time.

To bad my laundry is caught up! ;)

Brother came in the house hollerin about......... 1st the neighbor gave me a dog and NOW HE GAVE ME A GO CART!!

The neighbor gave you WHAT?!?!?!




So of course I went out to check this out and sure enough, their was a go cart sitting in the garage.

Hunny said that the neighbor saw him and Brother riding the 4 wheeler and saw that Brother loved it so much that he thought he would enjoy a go cart.

My personal opinion is that a boy who sucks his thumb shouldn't get a go cart. Good incentive I say!! ;)

But that's neither here nor there.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On a huge side note.......Hunny starts work on Tuesday! He will be working the night shift at a local distribution center!! He wasn't scheduled to start until July, but they called him today and want him to work in the maintenance department for a couple weeks before that!

PRAISE THE LORD!!! It couldn't have come at a better time! But why should that surprise me? Isn't that how God works?? Just as I was giving up hope.

Banana Split Brownie Pizza

A couple days ago, Hunny and I were watching 1 of my favorite shows.....Paula Deen.

I was more watching it, Hunny was there b/c he was bored!! :)

Paula's show was all about Banana's.

She made this recipe and Hunny and I both were drooling by the time it was over!!

So we got the stuff for it and I fully intended to make it.....sometime.

But Hunny beat me to it.

At work the next day, I received a picture message on my phone of the finished product.



I could barely make it home! I was so excited to try it.

Hunny even waited till I got home to cut into it!

I don't think I could have waited that long!!



All I can say is that this Banana Split Brownie "pizza" is DELICIOUS!!!!

Daddy's 35th Birthday....

Happy 35th Birthday to my HUNNY!!!

The kids thought we had off for Daddy's birthday and not for MLK day!!! :)

After bribing.....I mean rewarding.....my kids with helping me make a cake if they helped pick the house up.....which was mainly their stuff....it was finally cake making time!!! (How do you like that run on sentence??)


I thought it was funny that the kids immediately put on an apron. I have many new aprons for my ever growing apron collection!



The kids took it upon themselves to make Daddy some cards also. When I saw the finished product, my heart melted! They put such love in these cards.

Dada's card.......



I love how much hair he has in this 1!!! ;)

And Brother's card.....

I LOVE Brothers picture of his Dad!

I made Hunny's requested meal of Lasagna. Which we ate by candlelight. (the kids loved that! Hunny....not so much. He couldn't see. I think he might be getting old)

I think Brother might have been even more excited about the lasagna!! He had 2 helpings!

They wanted to decorate the cake all by themselves.

I forgot to pick up a #3 candle at the store....Brother said.....what a shame....everyone needs a candle on their birthday.

So they found every single candle in the drawer and tried to make it to 35. They were 6 short.

So they improvised..... they made a three out of all the other candles and put the 5 in the middle. :)

It was beautiful.

Even though there was chocolate all over the counter and candles on the floor.

They had a blast, and made Daddy feel special.

My little pyro wanted to light the candles. I thought maybe I should be the 1 to do it!

My favorite picture!!

Even though Brother cut off Daddy's head. :)


I think Daddy had a good birthday.....he even told me that I over did myself today. AND he helped clean up the dishes without me even asking!!!

I have the best Husband. I know that I have said this many many times. But he really is the best. For reasons that I don't want to go into.................. I have had a rough couple of days.

Today when I got home from a very long day, these were waiting for me on the table. It is very hard for me to talk about what I am really feeling. A lot of times I don't even know what I am feeling, I am good at just burying things and going on with life and never really dealing with the issues. This is 1 of those times.

He showed me that he cares, and that he loves me. By just a simple gesture, he told me that it would be ok.




God's ways are not my ways, his time is not my time. I rest in that.

A much needed day.

This weekend we found ourselves without children. Brother went to visit Janelle and Dada spent the night with Grandma G.

So we found ourselves alone. And it wasn't even planned. But much needed.

Last night we wanted to go out on a hot date. And we did go out for dinner, and headed to our favorite store Target for some much needed socks and underwear.

We came home and crashed. It was only 8:45. We were exhausted and totally felt like an "old, married couple." :)

This morning I realized that we had a Lady's meeting at church. I was all ready to go. But the more I thought about it, the more I just wanted to stay home and spend time with Hunny.

So that's what I did.

We have wanted to go to some antique malls in the area for a while now, but it wasn't something that we wanted to do with kids. So today, we got in the car and went. It was so nice just to be able to go where and when you wanted to go.

We went to 1 antique mall and then went to lunch at this little cafe next door.

The we walked across the road to the other one. It was such a neat store. It was HUGE!!! And they had so much stuff at reasonable prices. I had a blast.

It was really just nice to be able to spend some alone time with Hunny. Catch up on things now that life is so busy.

Even though the weather was cold and rainy, it was warm and bright with him beside me.

I made a big pot of chili for dinner with some cheese spread and crackers. We ate in front of the TV watching a movie. It was glorious.

HaPpY AnnIverSarY

11 years ago

I married

The man

of my dreams.

For richer or poorer,

in sickness or health,

Forever.