13 for 13

Following suit of many of the wonderful blogs I read, I'm listing 13 things I love about my hubby for 13 wonderful years of marriage. February 17th was our anniversary. Thirteen years ago we were two scared to death teenagers saying "I do" in Iola, TX. Today we're 3 kids, 3 homes, hundreds of disagreements, millions of hugs and kisses later and still going strong.

Why do I love him? Let me count the ways.....

1. He's patient with me.

2. He'll drive hundreds of miles a day to come home to us every night.

3. He works hard and never complains.

4. No matter how crazy an idea I have, he'll tell me it's the greatest.

5. He does the laundry better and quicker than I can.

6. I love his laugh.

7. He makes the best bar-b-que hands down.

8. He's a sweet, caring, devoted daddy.

9. He's selfless and giving.

10. He treats his girls like the princesses they are.

11. He's teaching his son how to be the man God intends him to be.

12. He models #11.

13. He loves me more than any man in my life ever has.

Learning to swing

This first part is easy...

Now swing your feet....

Hold on tight!

You're swinging!

Sweet success!

A little obsession

Some of you who know me well know what my obsession is. I LOVE to coupon shop. A friend introduced me to it a few months back, but I've taken it to a whole other level . It's a rush for me. Finding coupons, finding deals, especially the "steals" when I get things for free. Just how obssesed am I? You tell me:

Here is a picture of my coupon binder. I'm not talking a little 1/4 inch binder. I'm talking a big mega 3" one. Complete with photo and card size holders to hold all my coupons and labeled tabs. The tabs are in the order that my favorite grocery store,Krogers, is arranged. For example, the bread & fresh produce is what I walk to first, so those tabs are first, then on to canned veggies, cereal, juice, etc. The side pockets I use to put any sale papers in which I've circled items.

And then I always carry with me what every avid coupon shopper must have: a calculator, coupon clipper, pen, notebook, and smaller coupon book.

That's a lot to carry, right? Yes, but it all fits perfectly in this:

I figured that if I was going to carry all this stuff around it was going to look cute.

So much work.......do I really even save that much money? Absolutely. I started around July of last year and just in 6 months I saved over $2700 and have an overflowing pantry with enough food to last months, and the same for laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, and toiletries. And I don't know about you, but there's a LOT more things I'd rather do with that money.

I have more canned food, cereal, peanut butter, jelly, frozen foods, box dinners, cake mixes, toothpaste, shampoo, body wash, water & sports drinks to last a year. If a crisis hit today we'd be set. In that event I have a feeling I'll make some good money auctioning off some supplies. We even had to buy a big freezer to hold it all - and I even used a coupon for that!

My kids love it. They've even joined me in my coupon endeavors. Mainly because the enjoy getting the brand name cereal now. My son picked some coupons out of the trash, wiped them off, and brought them to me. Too bad they were the expired ones I just threw away. My daughter will snatch coupons that print on the self checkouts at Kroger - not from the one we're at....from all of them. At my house these little pieces of paper are treated like cold hard cash.

So now every time I'm at Kroger and see someone checking out paying full price for their groceries I can't help but feel pity.......as I pick up the coupons they left behind. :)

Three little monkeys...driving mom crazy

Just look at these cute precious faces.

These faces are not capable of causing me a single headache, a single worry. No, of course not....never...because they cause more than just a single one!! Today has been one of those days. A very terrible 3's day. A very preteen drama day. A very boisterous forgetful boy day. Why do I find myself saying things outloud that make no sense?

"No you cannot put that plate of food under your bed covers",
"Would you please stop reading so much and put that book down?!"
"No, you cannot put your hands in that bleach water....or the toilet",
"Yes, you do have to wear shoes to school today".
"You cannot take your DS to the bathroom with you"
"Use soap this time when you take a bath.....and shampoo."

All of these statements were said in one day. One long, excruciating day. I almost made it without having one of those "going for worst mom of the year" moments. But I didn't. I raised my voice. Really raised my voice. Ok....I yelled. My son said he thought he left his dad's ipod in the bathroom at church. He thinks. Not really sure. The ipod his dad just got for Christmas. That he shouldn't of had in his possession to begin with. That wasn't cheap. So I started with that slow questioning voice at first...."What do mean you think you left it in the bathroom? What was it doing in the men's bathroom? Did you wash your hands before touching it again? Aww..geez.....I'm gonna have to disinfect the thing. Did you even pick it up? WHERE....DID.....YOU.....LEAVE.....IT!!" Yep, that's the moment I lost it.

Then I hear him say "Oh, wait, here it is." Like no big deal. I lost it for nothing.

So...this is not yet the moment I got worst mom of the year.....

We get home and we're unloading, but he's not getting off. I look at him and see a sad face. All I say is "Hey bubba, are you getting off?" and the quiet tears began.

If I don't get first place, I'm a good runner up.

I told him I was so sorry for yelling at him. I shouldn't of reacted that way and could he ever forgive me. You ever notice how much better kids are at forgiving than adults are? He nods his head with a happy yes. I hug him and kiss his head.

I carry my sleeping Annaliese to her bed, looking like the angel she is.

I notice that my preteen drama queen had fixed all the small pillows and blankets on her little sisters bed, and put all her toys away. She kisses her dad and I good night.

Looks like my day didn't end with my kids driving me crazy. I think I was crazy to begin with. My little monkeys are what keep me sane.

Wonder and Beauty

I don't fly often, only about 4 times ever, and it is never one of my favorite things to do. But never have I ever caught such a view as I did this last time. I went to a conference in Florida last week with the church. On the way back it was cloudy and the sun was going down, which made for a perfect picture. For someone who doesn't like to fly, I sure do like sitting by the window. From there I can see the wonders of God, from the other side looking down. Now if the day would of been dark and stormy there would of been no pictures of that because I would be riding with my eyes and the window shut. But this was such a beautiful sight!

"He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth..." Psalm 135:7

And so I ran

I did it. Yesterday I ran. I intended on just walking, but walking didn't satisfy me. So I started running. A slow jog at first, but I gained some momentum and was soon in a full run. I thought for sure my body would give out in a short distance. But I felt my body filled with an inner strength I didn't know I possessed. And so I ran. Heart racing. Feat pounding. Throat burning from the chilly air. Riding alongside was my sweet boy on his bike. I'm not sure how long I ran without stopping - but it was the half circle of my street. (I know my wonderful neighbor has that distance measured, so maybe she could tell me.)

It was glorious. I felt so triumphant. And once again I felt God's presence. I needed Him so much. The only reason I stopped was because I felt Him speaking to me. I heard it so clear it was almost like an audible voice. So I walked a bit and prayed. I looked ahead and behind me and realized that my son had gone home. Was tired I guess, or stayed to play with his friend down the street. I started to run the distance home. This time my throat burned more, I struggled to keep my breathing at a steady pace. One of the keys to running is keeping your breathing steady, through your nose, and I was failing miserably now. I kept gulping air through my mouth as if it were in limited supply. My mouth was getting dry. But I wasn't going to give up yet. I'm sure I looked pathetic. I could imagine my legs looked like they were flailing. My run no longer those long pounding strides, but more like a sad attempt to lift them one inch off the ground.

Off in the distance I could see something coming towards me. At this point it was getting dark and even my eyesight was failing me. Was it a dog coming to chase me off his street? I had gotten off easy and had only been chased by a chihuahua so far. Was it a car about to confuse me for a speedbump? There are people down this street that know only one speed....super fast.

Ah....but no....the Lord is so good. It was my sweet boy riding back to me with a bottled water in his hand. I think I saw a halo over his head.

"For I will pour out water to quench your thirst....and I will pour out my spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children." Isaiah 44:3

How do you keep your marriage happy?

Ok, I realize that is a loaded question before I even posted it. But I can't help it. I have been consumed with this question lately. It has been driving me insane. I haven't thought of this as in a "me" sense, as in what would keep me happy, but in how can I keep my husband happy? I realize there's only so much I can do - at some point the decision is ours, or theirs - but what is my role in this?

I must admit that my husband and I took very little marriage counseling before we were married. And the counseling we did have was with a Catholic priest who, after I voiced my concern with my husband's occasion drinking, told me that I needed to let that go and that a little bit of anything didn't hurt. This he tells to a girl who grew up in with an alcoholic father. I should also mention that I never had an example of what a good marriage is. It's not something that I witnessed in anyone in my family, or family friends. My husband did, with his own parents. It is by the Grace of God that we are still married today, and very very happily at that. That's how I want to keep it. I know marriage has it's ups and downs....but I really want to keep those downs to a minimum. I've heard so many different views. There's the woman who lost all faith in men that told me that all men are the same and to expect nothing different from my husband. There's the one that has been married a long time with no major bumps that told me that communication is always key. Then there's one that I love.....never stop dating your spouse. Never stop romancing them, and always assume that you are competing for them. That thinking that way keeps you on your toes. I like that one. It reminds me that if I want this to work I have to be willing to work. That means put some time and effort. That a good, long marriage doesn't just happen. Hmmm.....so many things to think about. So many things I'm still learning after 12 years of marriage. Learning all these things makes me feel like a young newly wed that just entered marriage knowing absolutely nothing about it. A little scary that I have been so naive for so many years. Again I say, by the grace of God I'm still married today.

So what do you think is key to a good marriage? What things do you do to keep your marriage healthy and happy?

I'm trying to remember...

Remember how it felt to run. For no reason. To run just for the joy of running. I used to run 2 miles a day, all through high school, then for years up until we moved here. I thought it was 2, until today that I mentioned to a friend that I knew where my 2 mile mark was because I used to run to my neighbor's house when we lived in Washington (TX, not DC) and she lived almost exactly 2 miles away. Then friend said "Then how would you get back?", to which I replied, "Well, run back of course!". To which she mentioned "Then you ran 4 miles, not 2". DUH! So cool, I used to run 4 miles. And I do remember loving it. I'd wear my oldest pair of worn running shoes, put my hair up, and off I went. Sometimes alone, sometimes the kids would tag along on bikes. My best runs were out in Old Washington. There was some straight road and then a slight hill, which I dreaded when I would start, but loved the challenge every time, then would love the boost going down hill. I loved waving at the neighbors, then running at the speed of light when their dogs were loose. It was on one of these runs that my then 3 year old son insisted I take off his training wheels on from his bike because he couldn't go fast enough to keep up with me. I told him ,"Once they come off I'm not putting them back on"....and they've never gone back on.

Mainly, I miss my time with God when I would run. I wouldn't carry anything to listen to music. I remember running with my face looking towards the sky and talking with God. I knew the road well - I didn't have to worry where my feet fell. Sometimes I would walk and talk....sometimes I would stop and listen. Sometimes there was no talking...just the feeling of companionship.

I remember the days He uplifted me with a gentle breeze. I remember the days pleading for that breeze but felt none. I remember the lessons He taught through watching a cloud, a stream, an animal (dead or alive), or the traffic.

I also remember the satisfaction running brought me. That feeling like I had just done something magnificent for my body. I had just given it a gift. Sometimes I would push myself a little farther just to surprise myself at how amazing this body God had given me was. There were also the days it was all I could do to keep from asking my neighbor for a ride home.

I want to start running again. As I was contemplating how I would make my body endure the few weeks of torture that it takes to get accustomed to running again I started to wonder "Why?". I need to know why I used to love running so much - to give me inspiration to do it again. Is this something I can realistically do again? Do I have the time? Can my knees still take it ?(they crackle every time I bend) Can running down my street give me the same satisfaction as I had when I ran down those country roads? Should I not hold those expectations?

Well, I guess there's only one way to find out. Even if I don't make it as a runner again, I'm sure walking would be good for me, too. Any runners out there that can offer some inspiration ......I feel I'll be needing it...desperately.

What a way to start the year

Pitiful, just pitiful. I've been sick, we've all been sick, all but Ashley, since Friday of last week, with what I've been told is different forms of the flu. Saturday was the worst day for us all, and thank goodness my dear Ashley was well because she played nurse for all of us...without being told to do so. She took our requests for food, drinks, medicine, blankets, pillows.....and silence. Oh, yes, even talking hurt. Sunday hubby was sick of being sick, so off he went to church in a deceptive spur of energy, only to crash a few hours later. Monday I was up and at the grocery store with that same deception, only to later crawl back into bed and call my mommy for help. She came bearing gifts of food and cleaning energy. Bless that wonderful woman. Tuesday was spent under blankets and the blinds closed. This morning I thought was the first morning of me feeling better so I eagerly took down the tree and all Christmas decorations. A few hours of that and down I went again. My dear son hasn't been bouncing off the wall in 5 days. My baby girl hasn't asked to ride her new bike...not even cared to look out a window. Hubby came home after half a day of work with his feet dragging and headed straight to bed. We were all sleeping on such a beautiful afternoon.

Please, someone please tell me....how much longer will this take?? Any way to speed up this healing? We're all sick of being sick! We wanted to do so many fun things while the kids were out of school. And they will be back to school in....um....what day is this? I'm going back to bed.....

Christmas only lasted the day

Christmas morning was wonderful, sleep deprived and all. Alex and I went to bed at 6....in the morning. Not really so much by choice. We didn't get in from visiting family until 3am......again, not by choice.....can you say family drama? Anyway, once we got in we still had hidden presents to get out and wrap and put together. Of course hubby gets the assembly duty and I get the wrapping duty. As we wrapped and hammered we chatted, and finally our bodies said enough. Ashley gets up at 8am saying "It's Christmas! Come on mom, get up!", to which I say, "Honey, please do me a favor and just lay in your bed for a little while longer." I was thinking more like until early afternoon longer, but I knew that was asking too much. She falls back asleep and at 9 we finally all get up. Oh, the kids were so happy. My son says , "Mom, am I dreaming?". The kids are sharing their DS games, playing so happily. They play with my baby girl's kitchen, playing tea party with her. It was a sight for a tired mom's eyes. But...that only lasted the day. As we mom's know, we try to soak up those moments for we know that soon enough they will be gone. The next day it was "That's my game!", "Don't touch my tractor!", "Bubba, you make my baby cry!".

Ahhh, yes......Christmas only lasted the day......but what a joyous day it was!