What a week!

Well, some of you know and some of you don't but Chad lost his job on Friday. It was a total shock. He was informed that there would be cutbacks but we didn't think he would be one of the ones to go! (Honestly I am a little glad he no longer works there) So our weekend was filled with insecurities (mine) and thoughts on the future (his). I worry about insurance, being diabetic causes many problems when it comes to insurance. Chad has been working on his resume and looking for jobs. All the while totally disrupting my schedule of how I work (I know this might sound mean but I truly think he might drive me NUTS). Chad has some prospects about side work that could keep us from drowning. Today he went back to his now former office and collected his things and picked up his last check. I feel sad for him, he worked for them for a long time and has some good friends there, it has to be hard on him, but of course he doesn't show it. My faith has been wavering this week, but now I feel that it is stronger. I have faith that God has a purpose for all of this and that He will see us through!
I will praise Him in the storm!

Great Date 9/27

Great Date number 2 was great. We got free bowling coupons and used them tonight. Neither Chad or I had bowled in over 12 years so I'm sure they were laughing at our scores up at the counter. But I am happy to say that I beat Chad 67 to 58. I know, it's sad. And if my sister Cyndi is reading this, I'm sure she is probably embarrassed for me. But we had a great time and really enjoyed being with each other. After we went bowling we went to Golden Corral. We ate too much and then went back to pick up the kids. I'm really happy with the way our church is now now. I know we are far from where we have been and far from where we will be. I am loving our focus on love this fall.

101 Things That Make Me Smile

I got inspired to do this, so when I feel sad or like life isn't treating me right (I hve no right to feel this way) I can take a look at these a remember God gave me so many things to be happy about, even if it's just the small things!

1. Baking ~ cookies, cakes anything sweet
2. Watching babies sleep ~ especially mine
3. Good Deals at the Goodwill
4. Classic Winnie the Pooh
5. Dirty Dancing (Favorite movie of all time)
6. NetFlix
7. Watching Sam walk
8. A new book
9. Marching Bands
10. 24/7 Praise Team
11. Swimming
12. Fridays
13. FaceBook
14. Holding hands with my husband
15. Fall
16. Planning birthday parties
17. Planning any parties
18. Relay for Life
19. Fairview Christian Church
20. Craig Springs
21. Camp fires
22. The smell of an old book
23. watching a movie with the kids
24. Christmas Morning
25. Sleeping late
26. Spring
27. Surprises (good ones)
28. Family games
29. A friend who shares my sarcastic views and understands them
30. Friends I've know since preschool
31. Watching my husband play Call of Duty 4 (even though I tell him I hate it, I love listening to him when something doesn't go the way he wants it to) "It's just a game"
32. Learning something new
33. Road trips with my girls
34. Scrap Booking
35. Pipe cleaners
36. October (Birthday and anniversary)
37. Bubble Baths
38. Bubbles
39. The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air
40. A new camera (well it would make me smile if I had one)
41. Oreo
42. Eating lunch with Joshua and Sarah at school
43. Nap time
44. Fresh clean laundry
45. When the kids say something to me that I wasn't expecting at all
46. Letters in the mail (not bills)
47. Looking through Chad's artwork
48. Word finds
49. Twilight
50. Curls on babies
51. "Special Lunches" with Chad
52. Playing dress up with Sarah
53. Twister
54. Mary Poppins
55. Dressing up and going out
56. Dressing down and staying in
57. Regional Assembly
58. My close friends
59. Cookouts
60. The Disciple Women
61. Sheila Bread
62. Planning
63. Getting IM's
64. Baseball
65. Watching my kids play sports
66. Falling more in love with Chad every day!
67. Watching my sister fall in love
68. Weddings - they make me cry too
69. Helping people
70. Yard Sales
71. Office supplies
72. Finding money
73. Rachel Ray
74. Taking Pictures
75.Thinking about my Grandma
76. Thinking about my Daddy
77. Canned air, it's just fun
78. Finding out Joshua has his first real crush, Sarah Jones doesn't count
79. A five year old's secrets
80. Meeting new people
81. Re-meeting people I've met before but haven't seen in a long time
82. Camp Friends
83. Baby Shark
84. Dancing with my husband
85. Embarrassing my husband and kids when I dance in the aisles of the grocery store
86. My In-Laws ~ They are pretty cool
87. My sisters
88. Mountain Dew
89. Diet Dr Pepper
90. New Babies
91. Old people
92. Listening to my kids say their prayers
93. Just because gifts
94. Pampered Chef, Princess House Parties
95. Joshua
96. Sarah
97. Sam
98. Chad
99. Love
100. Knowing that God will meet my needs, what He knows I need, not what I want
101. Feeling safe

10 Great Dates

Our church is doing a great program on Sunday evenings called 10 Great Dates. They have programs for kids ages 0-18, and then you go on a date with your spouse. It's great. I'm so excited about it. Over the next 10 weeks Chad and I are going on a date! Without the kids! It's all about revitalizing your marriage. Now, we have only been married for around 22 months but we will take advantage of it. Josh, our leader, wants us to go on dates like we did in high school. And we will try it. Tonight we only went to Arby's and had a little dinner cause we didn't have much time. But we talked about our first impressions of each other when we met 3 years ago and when we knew we were in love. I asked him if he could remember our first date, he did. It was really sweet. I look forward to our next Great Date. I'll let you know what we do next week - next week!

Soccer Soccer

Both Joshua and Sarah are playing soccer through TRBC this fall. I am so happy with their sports program. Aaron is a wonderful sports director for the children's ministry there. Every game they have devotions and each team prays before the start of the game and at the end. Teaching the basics of the game so that they learn the game in a good christian environment. They both are doing so well, it's not as easy as they thought. And it isn't as easy for me to be sitting on the sidelines while their coaches tell them what to do. Chad fusses at me more than one during their games, to be quiet and let the coaches do their jobs. Today, Sarah dind't want to play cause it was cold and her coach let her sit out for the first few minutes, then he made a point of telling her how much he needed her, which of course made her want to play and she played for the rest of the game. Joshua loves soccer and is excited to play, even if he isn't the best player he is always ready to do what ever is asked of him. He loves the idea of being on a team even if he doesn't always know everyone.

Proud of What I Am!

People are always talking about being proud of what they are, weather it is a doctor, teacher, actor or the garbage man. Well I'm proud that I am a Stay at Home Mom! I absolutely hate it when someone asks what I do for a living and I tell them. And what do they say? "Oh, that's nice." or "So you are unemployed?" and my favorite "What does your husband do? He must make good money." And it's always said in the tone of voice I use when something terrible has happened such as a death, or job loss or cancer has invaded someone's life. Just to get a couple of things straight. I made the choice to be a stay at home mother. I enjoy it (most days). It isn't easy and we struggle to pay bills and make ends meet. But as a family it is the best thing for us. I am a frequent shopper at discount stores and the Goodwill, and I clip coupons. There is no way I could afford not to. I know that if I went back to work I could afford a little more luxury than I do now. And maybe buy stuff we don't need but want. And I'm tempted every once in a while, when my friends get a new car, or new furniture for their house or even a new pair of shoes or a new purse. But then I remember my 3 children and think about being able to watch them get off of the bus every afternoon, and watching them make a goal in soccer and watching my youngest nap and I know that I made the right choice. I am a stay at home mom and I AM PROUD!
**This is not a jab at any of you wonderful working moms. I know you work hard and your choice is what is best for you. As is mine!

Twas the Night Before Kindergarten

Well, tomorrow my little girl heads off to her first full day of kindergarten. She is so excited and I am as well. It seems like she is still too young to go to school, like just yesterday I was holding her in my arms and watching her sleep (which I still do with all of my kids). I just finished reading her a couple of stories "The Night Before Kindergarten" and "The Kissing Hand" and I'm not ashamed to say that I got teared up while reading them and Sarah actually asked me if I was OK. I should be an old pro at this, I put Joshua on the bus for the first time 4 years ago and I cried like a baby then too, so I'm ready for the water works tomorrow. Everything should run smoothly tomorrow morning, we have our book bags by the door which are over flowing with school supplies, the clothes are laid out, alarms set. I don't know what else we could have done. I even started getting the kids up early last week so it wouldn't be a shock come Monday morning. We should be ready. But tomorrow is another day and I may be prepared physically but I know I'm not prepared emotionally. I have a feeling that Chad may get a little teary eyed as well, we will see. Well i better get to bed the kids want a big breakfast tomorrow morning and I guess I will try my best!

Leaving Camp

I went to pick up Joshua from camp today and was so happy. I couldn't wait to see Joshua, he went away to camp last year but I missed him bunches this time. As we were leaving camp and pulling on to the road, Joshua said "Mommy, I almost cried when I had to leave." I couldn't help but think back to all the times I cried as I was leaving camp. And I missed it all year and counted down to when I got to go back to camp. He later told me after we got home that I had made him go to camp, so I told him he didn't have to go next year and he was very quick to say "No, mom! I want to go!" As I'm writing this I'm grinning, not just smiling but grinning, because Craig Springs means so much to him.

My shadow

SO Joshua is away at camp this week. I miss him a bunch but not near as much as Sarah and Sam. Sam keeps crawling down the hall to see where his big brother is and when he gets to Joshua's room he looks up at me with sad puppy dog eyes. But Sarah is an entirely different story, she doesn't know what to do with her self. She follows me around like she is lost and needs to follow someone to find her way. I can't do anything by myself: she stands out in the hall while I use the bathroom, she follows me downstairs to do laundry, she is constantly asking me to do something for her "Mom, can I have some water" "Mom, can you play dress up with me" Mom, can you take me somewhere" I love my daughter but I can't wait to pick Joshua up tomorrow, I might actually be able to go to the bathroom in peace.

Craig Springs

Sunday I dropped Joshua off at New Covenant Camp at Craig Springs. He went last year and loved it. I love the fact that Joshua is falling in love with camp, just like i did. I have so many great memories of going to camp and so many friends that will always be special to me. I attended New Covenant Camp in '89 and '90. I was one of the first campers at New Covenant. So I guess this year is the 20th anniversary of that particular camp. WOW, it doesn't seem 20 years ago, but then again it seems a lifetime ago. I pray that Joshua will learn from his new friends and grow in Christ like I did 20 years ago!

A baby shower, and a wedding in one day!

Well Saturday was a day! (duh of course it was but it was a busy one to say the least)

At 1 o'clock on Saturday I went to a baby shower for an old friend of mine. It's sad that we have grown apart over the years, she was my best friend in high school and thinking back to that time I never thought we would be anything but best friends. But times change and people grow apart. She is pregnant with her first baby. She had a terrible miscarriage last year and I really wish I could have been there for her. I did the only thing I knew to do and I prayed for her. I had a miscarriage before Joshua was born and it was the hardest thing I had ever experienced, I just remembered how much I had needed prayer so I sent mine up for her. Another one of our close friends was there as well. So we had our picture taken together. It was a great party. I pray that Kristi will have healthy baby girl, she deserves it!

At 4 o'clock I went to my friend's son's wedding. It was a beautiful wedding and fun reception. I love weddings and seeing two people commit themselves to each other is so moving! Following the wedding a reception was held downtown at The Ballroom. Everything was wonderful and my best to Mr and Mrs Daniel Riley!

My first Blog

Well it's official, I have a blog. Not that anyone will read it but at least it will give me somewhere to put my rants!

There is a lot going on right now. Today is August 10th, a special day in my house. 3 years ago today I met my wonderful husband, 2 years ago he asked me to marry him, and one year ago we had our son dedicated. So to my wonderful husband ~ Happy Anniversary! I love you!