I love my husband!

Dusty and I were married 10 years ago March 24th.  I know, it is crazy how fast time goes by. It doesn't feel like 10 years and yet it feels like forever (in a good way).  Last year I told him that for our 10th anniversary I wanted to go away with him somewhere. I did not care where or what we did.  I just wanted to get away with him.  And, I got girlie.  I say that to say this.  Yes, I am a girl but I do not like to shop.  I hate shoes and I don't wear jewelry.  For three weeks prior to our trip I went shopping I can't tell you how many times.  I bought 4 new outfits (2 of which are dresses) a pair of shoes and JEWELRY!  It is so not like me.  Everything I bought is not my "typical" style.
So, he surprised me.  We went to Guthrie, Oklahoma.   
We started out the trip with a visit to the Publishing Museum.

 This sign has been "wrong" for over 100 years.  I just loved these doors.

And these stairs!  I have always wanted stairs like this in my home.  I live in a one story house.  I don't think that will happen any time soon.

After leaving here we rode their trolly tour.  That was neat.  It turns out that D and I have something in common.  We love to hear about  and look at old homes.  Crazy.  I thought he did this for me.  Nope, he says he likes it too.

 We went by the drug store museum.  I didn't take any pictures b/c I found a few post cards that were PERFECT.  The gardens were really neat. I found a bottle of "chill" pills that were sold in the early 1800's.  I found that kind of funny.  
Ate lunch at a bbq place. YUM!   Then went to the Territorial Museum.
I am a history lover so these kinds of things are loads of fun.  I loved this fireplace.  This was the dress of the first lady of Oklahoma.  BEAUTIFUL! And you can tell by the dress that she was not skinny!  I just thought that was funny.

This might be an interesting read:  True Politeness A Handbook for Ladies .

D is looking a the craftsmanship of the early house.

 This shirt is one of the items I bought.  It is a tank top that is nothing but lace and fancy girly stuff.  I loved it but it is not something that I would normally wear and definitely to school.  10 years and we are happier now than back in 2001.  There have been some bumps but life would not be blessed if we did not have the hardships to remind us of the blessings!

We stayed in the upstairs suite of the Red Brick and Roses.  AMAZING! Normally I am cheap but it was so worth it.   

 

 We fell in LOVE with this tree outside the bed and breakfast.  It was the PERFECT climbing tree and it had lots of neat places for animals to hide.  We took the picture to show the kids b/c they too would find it neat.

 On Sunday we went shopping downtown.  I felt like an old couple.  We walked around holding hands.  A perfect weekend.

Project Life

 March 10th:  My two have made friends with 2 12 year old girls who live in the yard catty-corner to ours.  I can't keep these two monkey's off the fence.  B says "I go talk a to da dirls."

 Mar 11th:  Something off's Dusty's phone.  No story and I LOVE it.

 Mar 12:  Another of my stupid purchases that made my kids smile.  Sword cocktail toothpicks.

 Mar 14th:  We woke up and watched Dot and painted dots for hours.  Then we went to CiCi's for lunch.  B was digging the cinnamon rolls.

 Mar 16:  I took the kids to Martin Nature Park.  I have taken my class at school but this was the first time to take the kids.  We had a great time. The water level was down so we were able to climb across the rocks of the creek.  I have learned that there is a fear that I MUST work on.  I remember creek exploring but watching my kids walk on mossy rocks just sent me into a fit of "be careful" and "what if they fall and hit their head or drown."  Yes, I know VERY irrational fears.  I have got to get over this. It looks like there will be swim lessons and a pool pass in our future so that I do not make my kids afraid of the water.

 Mar 17th:  Dusty and B are having some "bonding" time.  They are watching Top Shot.

Mar 18th:  Going to Grandma's!  Does this picture really need any other explanation?

Project life March edition

 Mar 1st:  A super $.69 treat, Icee's from 7-11.  Oh, for the little things in life to make us happy always!

 Mar 2nd:  Today is Dr. Seuss's Birthday.  C had wacky wednesday.   Her outfit:  super curly hair, a green long sleeve shirt, a purple plaid shirt that stuck out the bottom of her green shirt,  orange polka dot pants and two different shoes.  Pretty good for Wacky Wednesday!

 Mar 3rd:  We hosted a pizza party for the Daisy's in C's girl scout troop.  I have had most of these girls in class at SJN.  Only one of the girls did not get to come.  We had a great time and I learned one VERY important thing about little girls that I have forgotten over the years.  When you get more than 2 of them together make sure you have a set of ear plugs.  :)

 Mar 5th:  I hate that my kitchen always seems to look like this!

 Mar 6th:  Our community group from church had a "80's Skate Night".  It was fun!  B LOVED to skate.  We thought he was incredible until we realized that his skate wheels were super tight so they barley moved.  A very DEAR friend of mine got this amazing shot of my little one in the middle of the floor trying to limbo.  We didn't even realize she had gotten brave enough to go to the big floor by herself.  I just love how "cute" these two look.

 Mar 7th:  I have been reading Ramona to C.  I loved this book as a kid.  I enjoy it now but not as much.  I feel too much for that poor teacher with her 29 Kindergarten kids.

 Mar 8th:  Daddy and B are showing what we bought special to make Daddy smile:  DING DONG's.  I love coming home with a small just b/c gift.  It just makes my day.  We made the kids "Scooby snacks" as a surprise tonight.  They did not like them as much as we thought.  Chocolate oatmeal cookies cut into dog bones.

Project life (behind as usual the rest of Feb)

 Feb 22: I love that my husband is so silly.  Charlie had homework for dinner.  Can you guess those letters?





Feb 23:  This is a daily occurrence.  How do you do laundry?

 Feb 25:  Date night!!! We went to Dollar Tree to get our stuff to "sneak" into the play.  It was a pretty good play.

 Feb 26:  Charlie worked a booth sale for her Girl Scout troop.  This not so little girl next to her was one of my Pre-k kids my second year at SJN.  B joined us he sat in his car seat playing the duck game on my i-touch and watching Cars. He did so good the first hour.  The second hour, not so much.  Charlie was the BEST sales girl!  She can get ANYONE  to buy a box of cookies.

 Feb 27:  These two LOVE to dig for treasure with their military shovels that Daddy got them for Christmas.  Now, my backyard is full of holes from the dog that we no longer have and holes from the children.

 Feb 28th:  I just love this picture!  C is telling B a "secret."  And of course she is talking so loud that we can hear the secret.

Feb 28th:  I know this is not a very good picture but it just made me laugh.  I am sitting at the computer playing words with friends with my husband on his i-phone.  He is just outside the window sitting on the front porch swing with Brantley.  I just love it.  We have always loved to play scrabble but with a 2 year old around it just is NOT a good idea.  Words is a great way to do something we use to do when we were first married.  It just make me smile.

Etsy!

Lunch box love--I added some new stuff to my shop.  Let me know if anything interests you.
tirzahdawn

Project life--

The kids got in trouble today because B got stuck in the fence between our yard and the neighbor's.  He had thrown something over the fence so that he could go get it.  It made me think of the story Peter Rabbit.  B is  little bigger and louder than Peter would have been.  So, for their consequence they could not be outside today without mommy or daddy. I decided I would enjoy my Christmas present (chairs), the book loaned from a very dear, dear friend and the beautiful day that God had given us.  I sat down and began reading every now and then glancing up.  I noticed that C was sitting next to me off and on drinking her water.  B was all over the place.  I heard B first. "Do away monster."  I look up and notice that he is reading.  I look over at C and she is reading. I found this very funny!  I called for the camera.  Me being the photographer of the family I am in very few pictures.  And, although this particular picture is very much staged.  5 minutes earlier is was not.  When I asked C what she was doing she said "You are the kindest sweetest mommy I know.  I want to be just like you."  Touched my heart.  I think I will remind her of this the next time she tells me I am mean or that she hates me.  :) Oh, and my hour spent reading in the sun has sent me running for aloe and the sunscreen.  Here comes summer!

God's faithfulness

There are many, many times in my life that I can look back and see where God has been faithful.

Jan of 2009 I felt the desire to begin reading my bible with the idea that eventually I would read it cover to cover.  I did not act on it. Instead I complained (something I am good at).  I whined. I made excuses.  "I don't know how to read my bible.  I don't get what everyone else gets when they read the bible. etc."  Over and over again I whined and complained about how I was "not prepared or smart enough" to read God's word.  But, I knew I needed to stay in God's word through bible studies.  I decided that I would do the study on Wednesday night.  What study you ask?  It really didn't matter. I was going to do whatever  was offered.  I signed up for a study on Ruth.  Oh, this should be fun I thought.  How great I love the story of Ruth. I have heard of it since I was a kid.  This will be SO easy.  I know the answers.  Besides this was a short book.  I walked into the study only to find that I was not going to be using a bible study devotion book that told me how to interpret the book.  No, I was going to be using  The Navigator Bible Studies Handbook.  God was answering my complaints.  He guided me through this study.  Everyone else in the room got that God was our kingsmen redeemer.  I got that I needed to be a blessing to others.  We had to give a 5 minute devotion.  ARE YOU CRAZY!!!! I don't like to talk in class let alone give a speech on how what I got out of the study is so completely "wrong" compared to what you got out of the study.  I asked to go first b/c if I didn't I would have chickened out and I would have pretended that I didn't do mine.  I compare myself too much to others.   Again, I complained.  "Why is it that when I read a passage, I don't get what everyone else gets?  My way must be wrong."  I attended the next study offered by my church in Winter of 2010.    This one was on a book called CRAZY LOVE by Francis Chan.  Again, I read the book feeling that what I got out of the book was NOT what everyone else got.  God has something for me.  I don't have a clue what it is but He is going to do something with or through me.  So, I began to pray that God would let me in on the plan.  I solicited the prayers of others.  I don't know what it is but, He has got something for me.  I even filled out one of those prayer requests that you drop in the offering plate (this is SO not me).  "God has something for me.  I don't know what it is.  Will the women's ministry team please pray for me?"  Fall 2010 comes a new study.  You would figure that by now I would "choose" my own study.  Nope, I just did what ever  was offered.  This time it was 1 Peter.  All about suffering.  Again, I did not get that out of 1 Peter.  Instead, God used 1 Peter to give me the confidence that He was in control when my daughter asked how she got to heaven.  (Leading others to heave in NOT something I am comfortable with. I might screw it up.  I don't want someone else's salvation to be on my shoulders. I know how selfish and it's all about me is that.  I am working on that.) This class like the Ruth study also used the Bible Studies Handbook.  And, again we had to give a "talk."  This one was  a little easier, still very difficult but easier than the first.   I am still feeling and praying that God would let me know when he has something for me to do and what that something is.

Jan 2011 A message in church.  "The women's ministry is planning a retreat.  Volunteers needed."  I love the retreats.  I LOVE the retreats. I desperately want one.  I have for years. It has been four years since the last one.  If I want one that bad, I might as well volunteer to help. I don't think I will be any help but I will volunteer.  (Again, that self doubt and "not good enough" mentality crops up.)   I go to the first meeting.   The volunteer coordinator starts giving ideas for what she is feeling needs to be the "direction" for the retreat.  She begins by talking about the book by Francis Rivers The Scarlet Thread.  She speaks about how the book shows how God has been faithful through the lives of these two women like a scarlet thread in a quilt.  And I have my answer.  NOT THE ONE I WAS LOOKING FOR.  You need to give your testimony.  That still quiet voice that comes to me.  I ignore it and focus on Kay's words.  You need to give your testimony.  "Do you have any ideas of someone who might be wiling to give their testimony?" You need to give your testimony.  NO!  I am not giving my testimony.  I don't know how to give my testimony.  You need to give your testimony.   I don't like talking in front of people, especially adults.  They scare me. You need to give your testimony.   What if they laugh at me? You need to give your testimony.   I don't have anything to say.  I don't know how to give the wisdom that I have heard from these great woman from the years I have gone before.  You need to give your testimony.   But, I make mistakes.  I am not any good at this.  You need to give your testimony.  And then the meeting was over.  I go home get the kids in bed, start cleaning my house and the voice returns.  You need to give your testimony.  No!  I fold laundry.  I watch TV.  I wait for Dusty to come home.  And still the voice is there.  You need to give your testimony.  It is 11 pm.  I go to bed and the voice is still there. You need to give your testimony.  FINE!  I get out of bed at 11:30. I send Kay an e-mail.  I think that I need to give my testimony.  I go back to bed. You need to give your testimony.  1 am and the voice is still there.  I get up pull out a notebook and write.  I write 9 pages front and back.  I am finally able to go to sleep.

A week passes,  Kay says that we will continue to pray but she is confident that God will give us the answers.  An hour later, I get ready to leave community group and they say, "Next week we will look at how to give your testimony."  God's faithfulness.  I am still worrying and stressing about this.  I have three weeks before the retreat.  Everything I read lately leads me back to God's word and verses that "fit" into my testimony.  He is orchestrating everything.  I am scared.  I am terrified.  I am fearful.  "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave your nor forsake you!  Do NOT be afraid!  Do not be discouraged!"  Deuteronomy 31:8  

My testimony and the retreat have been on my heart, in my head and in my prayers.  For Lent, I decided to read My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers.    My first reading was March 10th.  "Have a message and be one.  "Preach eh word."  2 Timothy 4:2  We are not saved to be "channels only, " but to be sons and daughters of God.  We are not turned into spiritual mediums, but into spiritual messengers; the message must be part of ourselves.  The Son of God was His own message, His words were spirit and life; and as His disciples our lives must be the sacrament of our message.  The natural heart will do any amount of serving, but take the heart broken by conviction of sin, and baptized by the Holy Ghost, and crumpled into the purpose of God before the life becomes the sacrament of its message.  There is a difference between giving a testimony and preaching.  A preacher is one who has realized the call of God and is determined to use his every power to proclaim God's truth.  God takes us out of our own ideas for our lives and we are "batter'd to shape and use," as the disciples were after Pentecost.  Pentecost did not teach the disciples anything; it made them the incarnation of what they preached--"Ye shall be witnesses unto Me."  Let God have perfect liberty when you speak.  Before God's message can liberate other souls, the liberation must be real in you.  Gather your material, and set it alight when you speak."

Thank you GOD for being faithful!  Now, I am gathering my material and praying that GOD's message will be said through me and heard by those who need it.