Wednesday, May 28, 2008

I love my husband









I just want to take a moment to really be thankful for my husband. I think so many times we all just go through the motions of parenting, running a household, and the routine of life, and we often forget to celebrate the lives of the ones we love.
I am so thankful for my precious husband. We met when we were in high school (I was 14, he was 16), and started "going together" before I could ever even go on an actual date at 16 years old. He was always extremely respectful of my parents, which they certainly appreciated, even to the point of leaving movies early to get me home (even though I didn't actually have a curfew). We, of course, broke up a few times along the way, but always found our way back to each other. We got married Nov. 1, 1997 (finally!) after 10+ years of dating.

Richard has changed so much in the 20 years I've known him- I guesss we all have, but still- he has really allowed the Lord to do a work in his life from the time I first met him. Even when we got married, I didn't realize what a great husband I was going to be blessed with, and especially what a fun and great Daddy he'd become! Most of the laughter in our home occurs when Daddy is around, and he loves to surprise the kids with simple joys such as an icee when the neighborhood truck rolls around. Richard loves to make up new games with the kids, and they love climbing all over him and wrestling in the floor. He loves playing ball with Matthew, pushing them both in the swing, going for walks with them, getting on the waterslide or in the pool with them, letting Sarah Beth paint his nails and brush his hair, and letting them both help him in the yard planting flowers or mowing the lawn (even though they're really in the way!). Richard always seems to make the kids feel special in their own ways, and he shows patience with them (that I often don't have!). They LOVE their Daddy!!!

Richard is silly and crazy with the kids, but he is also very hard-working and disciplined. He always gives it his all, whether it be his job, his teaching of college students, his yardwork, his work-outs, his role as husband, or his role as Daddy. When I'm working out and just feel like I can't go another rep or another step, I hear his voice in my head saying "Finish with authority!" He inspires me to be the best "me" I can be, and accepts me as I am. Of course, we have difficult moments here and there, but the times he is wrong, he is always very quick to say he is sorry and ask for forgivness- now that is something rare for a man!!! I also LOVE his ability to see the big picture, his discerning spirit, and the wisdom he has well beyond his years. He has a love for the simple things in life, and although he wishes to provide all the best for us, he supports our decision for me to stay at home rather than working right now because he realizes that our children are our main priority. We may not have the huge house we'd have if we had two incomes, but we only have a short time to raise our babies and be home with them, and all too soon we know they will be off to college!
I always feel secure in his love and his commitment to me and our family, and these days, that is certainly something to cherish. I know he will protect us, provide for us, love us unconditionally, and always be there for us. I love him for so many things, there are too many to name. I have loved him for 20 years, and will love him for the rest of my life! Thank you, Lord, for my precious husband!!!

Monday, May 26, 2008

Our T-Ball Star

Can't believe our little guy is already old enough to even be playing baseball, but we are so very proud of Matthew! His first t-ball season, and he did great! He was quite anxious at first, but after he knew what to expect and had a few games, he was much better with it all. He is a great batter, often hitting it without the tee. We enjoyed seeing him grow and learn through this first season of t-ball. We are looking forward to the Fall when he'll play again. He loves it, and we enjoy watching him have fun and feel like a "real baseball player," as he says! Disclaimer: I have no idea why in the world the horoscope advertisement is at the bottom of the slide show. I certainly do not ascribe to that line of thinking, but couldn't get it off the slide show. Please ignore!!!

Fun at Lake Winnie


What a fun day we had last Friday! Lake Winnie was so much fun for the kids! They enjoyed all the "kiddie" rides, but especially loved the Ferris Wheel and the Boat Chute- we all got wet on that one! It was such a relaxing day, but as you can see in the pictures.....they were exhausted on the way home.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Words of Wisdom


I am copying the message below from a weekly e-mail we receive from our former pastor, Jamie Work. He was a mentor to Richard, a friend to us both, and will forever be our pastor in every sense of the word. I enjoy his weekly message, and thought this one was so pertinent to our life right now....to hear it from the "other side" of life. Maybe it will speak to you, as well.





May 21, 2008
"Behold, children are a gift of the Lord..." (Psalm 127:3)
Thirty-one years ago I graduated high school. Twenty- eight years ago I
finished three years of military service with the 101st Airborne Division at
Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Twenty-four years ago I graduated college.
Nineteen years ago, after my wife and I had been married for four years, things changed dramatically...we became parents. We had one baby...then 12 months later we had another. "Can we stop this machine?" we asked. "Where is the off button?" Two kids in two years; were we crazy?


Living through diapers and toddling we may have thought we were crazy, but we learned we were actually blessed. Two special gifts. Two special kids. Two unbelievable persons who could frustrate us and melt our hearts all at the same time...there's nothing like having kids!


Now it's 19 years later and two kids are two adults who are planning their lives
beyond the shadow of the nest we have spent 23 years creating. And that's when I
saw it...beyond the fact that kids are gifts from God (Psalm 127:3) is the truth
that they are also "arrows in the hand of a warrior" (Psalm 127:4). You know as
well as I do, that the single greatest purpose of an "arrow in the hand of a
warrior" is to shoot that arrow straight into the heart of the enemy, not to
keep holding it in his hand!


Our kids were not given to us to keep in the "nest" (or quiver, as the Psalmist calls it). We have invested 23 years in building a nest from which these birds will fly; a quiver from which these arrows will be shot! The next best thing to being saved and being married is being a parent! It is a blessing. And it's not done until the arrow is
launched.


Don't cling to your kids; prepare them to be launched into the
battle. Pray for them; equip them; launch them. It will be another blessing to
rejoice in their victories in the years to come! Think about it...and I will see
you Sunday.Pastor Jamie

Pickin' and Grinnin'
















We made our annual trip to the strawberry patch this morning. We went with some good friends, Na and Abbey, and we had a great time! The kids enjoyed filling up their buckets (although SB had to be told repeatedly to get the "RED" strawberries rather than the green ones.) Of course, the best part is always the homemade strawberry ice cream! Yummy! We had a wonderful time! Now I just have to figure out what to do with all those strawberries......

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Bedtime Prayer


As I was just rocking my baby girl (yes, she's 2 1/2 and I still rock her before putting her to down to go to sleep on her own!), we were taking turns praying, thanking Jesus for things that happened today. She began singing Jesus Loves Me, and it was so very precious. I told her that Jesus loved hearing her sing to him, and she was his little princess. Then, I thought she was repeating me saying "I'm Jesus' little princess," but when I said, "that's right," she said, "No, Mommy, you're Jesus' little princess, too!" WOW- as I'm trying to let her know how special she is to our Heavenly Father, He sends a message right back to me through my baby girl. What a sweet moment! He always knows when we need to hear from Him, doesn't he? If only we would always be careful to listen.....

(This is a picture of SB praying while we were in the van going somewhere- she is typically our little prayer warrior of the family!)

Saturday, May 17, 2008

The days are long.....

I have to credit my father with this one, although he says he has heard it for years. Either way, it really made an impact on us when he said it: "The days are long, but the years are short." How true is that? Some days with preschoolers it seems all I can do to teach/play with the kids, keep the house in order, dinner on the table, the kids bathed and in bed before passing out myself. The days sometimes seem WAY TOO LONG! But, how thankful I am for each and every second I get to spend with my children and husband. I'm reminded of that every time I hear tragic stories of families losing loved ones, but since my father made that statement, I think the Lord reminds me of how precious these times are all throughout each and every day.

Tonight, as we sat having a picnic outside with perfect weather, the yard freshly mowed and new flowers planted everywhere (thanks to my hard-working husband), a new see-saw (a surprise Daddy brought home this afternoon), and watching my kiddos with dirt all over them from playing as they smiled at me with ice cream all over their faces, I was once again reminded of how precious these times are, and how I never want to take them for granted. When we're out in stores or shopping, I often hear comments from grandparents saying what precious children we have, and how they wish they could "go back" and relive those days with their own toddlers.

Well- those of us who have our little ones now- let's enjoy these days to the fullest! God's given us this time that we can make so many precious memories! One day we'll be those older adults at the mall who look lovingly at others' little ones remembering these days. Thank you, Jesus, for every second of every day with my babies!!!!!

Friday, May 16, 2008

Homeschool Blessings

My baby boy is reading so well these days....at 4 1/2 yrs. old! We have been doing reading lessons together all year as I have homeschooled him for Pre-K, and it is so amazing to see him grow and learn every day! I never thought I would be a homeschooler, but the Lord has laid it upon our hearts for at least this year and his Kindergarten year. It has been such a joy, and my heart is so full when I see the progress he makes every day- it brings tears to my eyes to listen to him read short stories, and see him enjoying it. Thank you, Lord, for this blessing! I can't wait to see what all is in store for Kindergarten next school year!

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Can't believe I'm doing this....




Well, I'm doing it- creating a blog for our family. I have enjoyed reading others so very much, so I thought I would go ahead and start one for my family memories. I don't get as much time to scrapbook as I would like, so this will help preserve some of our fun times as a family. I certainly am no theologian, but I will also share some things that the Lord is teaching me along this journey of motherhood. I LOVE taking pictures, so there will be lots of those, as well. I don't know how I'll have the time to get this going, but I'm going to make an effort!