Family, Friends and lots of love!

In the past couple of weeks, we have gone to Austin for 5 days, Lubbock for the day and daydreamed about a week at the beach and had a great family day here in town. It all started when we drove up to a little city outside Austin called Bastrop to see Tim's mom, Nancy. We haven't been there in a few years so it was nice to steal away to her secluded forest home. We had a great time visiting and got to see some neat stuff too. We went to the Children's museum in Austin and had a blast spending the whole afternoon exploring. I highly recommend it if you're ever in town. Then we went to the capitol and saw where they help make our laws for Texas. My kids aren't really old enough to appreciate the tour and the beautiful architecture. It amazes me how detailed it was. We had to eat a Chuy's while we were there too of course. It is one of the best Mexican food places I have ever eaten. Nancy and I got to spend the day shopping and seeing the sights of downtown Austin. And, Tim enjoyed a day of golf with his Uncle Warren. We also mourned the Dallas Cowboys loss while eating pizza with the kids. We wrapped up our trip by meeting Tim's step-dad, Louis, up in Rockdale for lunch. Overall, that was one of the best trips we've been on. It wasn't overwhelming and we had time to rest and enjoy ourselves.


Then, Tim had a meeting in Lubbock so we tagged along to spend the day with friends and do some shopping. I enjoy when Tim and I can catch up and talk all the way there. Being a stay at home mom makes me crave adult conversation all the more! Back to Lubbock, I really do love Lubbock. I really would love to move back there if God allows. We dropped Tim off and rushed over to the church I use to teach PDO at. We saw so many dear friends that we have truly missed. I was excited for the kid's teachers to see how they had grown. Later, I got to have lunch with one of my best friends in the world. Nicole is one of those down to earth people you can just be yourself with. She gets my goofy, silly attitude and still likes me! I love her to pieces and miss her tons. Next, I was so excited to go shopping at Burlington Coat Factory. I was able to find some running pants for me for super-duper cheap. We were able to eat at Taco Bueno for dinner before our return trip home. We love it and wish they would hurry and build one here! So, all in all it was a successful day.


After going to visit Nancy, we decided to invite them on a pre-summer trip to Port Aransas. We want to go spend the week at a beach condo and let the kids play in the sand, run thru the water and enjoy the sunshine. It is going to be great!! The kids have never been to the beach before. And, this condo is where Nancy was gracious enough to take me away for a girls weekend. It is such an awesome place. You walk down the bridge and there's the beach. You can wake up and have coffee on the balcony and watch the waves roll in. I can hardly wait!!!


Tim was lucky enough to have yesterday off so we spent the whole day together as a family. If you know us, this is a big deal. Tim has worked 6 days sometimes 7 days a week since we moved here. He is just a hard worker and his store desperately needed the attention. Anyways, we woke up and had muffins and eggs and Kaleb announced it was hug and kiss day. So from now on family day is also hug and kiss day. I think that is so cute. Then we went and played at the park and tossed around the football. We sat down and ate lunch together at a restaurant and just enjoyed each other. No rushing around. Then, we rented a new wii game and movies from blockbuster. We lounged around all evening and had pile on nachos for dinner. That is what I call a fabulous day. It's trips and family days like these where you learn to appreciate the small stuff and be grateful for those fun days together.


As I have wrote before, it's the little things like this that makes me fall in love with my husband all over again. I love to spend time with him and wish we could do it more often. He is just so loving and kind. He is such a good father and husband and I thank God for him everyday. I look forward to the beach and our next family/hug and kiss day!

Do you know how awesome it feels to still be in love with my husband. Let me explain myself. In this day in age, when the divorce rate is so high and everyone around us is divorcing, to still be with the 1st person you married is a very big deal. The odds are against us because both of our parents have also divorced at least once. I met Tim when I was a sophomore in high school. I knew he was the one I wanted to marry. I have been with him for 13 years, 9 of those married years.

We went to watch Tim play his cello in the Christmas program last night and I fell in love with him all over again. God continues to bless our marriage. I find myself "falling in love" with him all over again many times throughout the year. Sometimes it's just the little things I see in him that remind me that God knew exactly what I needed when he put Tim in my path. I am so thankful for him being a good husband, father, and provider.

Good times.....

I had the most fun time making Christmas cookies with my kids this weekend. We made such a mess, but we had a blast. I want to start making fun traditions like that for them to remember when they grow up. They made some really cute sugar cookies and we tried some new recipes this year. The yummy mint chocolate chip cookies were the best! I love Christmas and all the fun things that go with it. I love the Christmas songs and the present wrapping. I love all the baking and cooking. I love the shopping and the busyness. I love the candle light service and reminding my kids that this is Jesus' birthday and if it weren't for him we wouldn't have a Saviour. They wanna make Jesus a cake and sing happy birthday to him. How cool is that. We are so blessed. We have everything we need and almost everything we want. God is good!! Merry Christmas everyone!

Baby, Baby I've got the blues....

Ok, I seriously want another child or two. I really do. I am sure, despite having to start all over buying baby things. The only thing we still have is a crib. We have a 5 and a 7 year old and I never intended to wait this long to have the 3rd or 4th. I don't mind having 2 am feedings again, poopy diapers or potty training. I feel in my heart my family isn't complete yet. People don't quite understand that sometimes, especially when I have a boy and a girl and it's still one parent per child. I love kids and want to have them running around for a while longer. I am still a little sad that my last pregnancy test was negative. I have already had to wait so long. So many families around us have 4 or 5 kids and there are pregnant woman around me everywhere to remind me how badly I want another one. Even my kids are anxious to have a new brother or sister. It's sooo hard to wait on God's timing, but I knew he has a reason. I just really hate having that empty feeling. Some days I feel consumed by wondering thoughts of another child. I guess I will continue to pray about it and be thankful for the 2 God has given me.

Lately....

Well, lately I haven't felt well. And, I can't pin point the exact reason. But lately, there are quite a few illnesses going around and Kaleb actually had tonsillitis last week. I have been out of town for 2 weeks helping my sister with her new baby and that was a little stressful. Mostly just from being out of my normal routine with the kids. And, lately I have been having some behavioral issues with Kaleb that are stressing me. We have also been thinking of getting pregnant again. So, lately I am experiencing a roller coaster of emotions to say the least. You'd be surprised what stress alone can do to your body!! Tim has also been working a lot at his store to get it in order from the previous manager. Christmas is coming so that will probably only get worse. Despite all this, I am considering working seasonal help somewhere to help with gifts and pay on a few bills. We are still paying on Kaleb's ER visit for his broken arm. We do thankfully have temporary insurance now and our permanent insurance should kick in on November 1st. I will definitely go to the dr. then to make sure none of the things I am experiencing are due to a thyroid problem. But, lately I do just feel sick, easily fatigued and I have had a few headaches that keep me from conquering my day. I really wish I could just step out of reality for a few days and rest. Lol ok anyways, I know I'll be ok. I have a great hubby and some sweet new friends at church who are praying for me. We can only take one day at a time and rely on God's strength and not our own.

Expectations....

Have you ever wondered if your expectations are too high? Too low? How exactly is one suppose to set them and how do you know if when they are not met that they weren't too high to begin with? Living here in Odessa is not one of greatest places in the world but I did have some expectations. We have not had very good luck with customer service here for example. I thought maybe it was because the world is losing respect for other people. Then, I realized that is just Odessa/Midland for you. No one says hello, no one says thank you or even can I help you. It's so hard not to criticize businesses for that when your husband has been retail for 13+ years and he expects the highest standard of customer service. People who's job depend on their services to you even don't care. I have to admit, if you don't take good care of me at a restaurant, I am not going to tip you well. People won't hardly even speak to you if you don't speak first. This has been so hard and I don't want to have to adjust to it, but what do you do? I think a lot of people write it off as, oil is their business and they don't care about much else. Well, some of us do care and want and deserve the service they pay for!

Thankfulness

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good . His love endures forever.

Psalm 118:1

In EVERYTHING give thanks. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

I am so thankful that His love endures forever. I am trying to learn to be thankful in ALL things. I am glad He is good and has provided for us every step of the way. Our latest challenge is Kaleb's fractured arm. He fell from the bunk bed ladder and has a supracondylar humerus fracture. He did it 60 days before our new insurance kicks in. And, we have been paying out of pocket. Thankfully, it wasn't worse and we don't need surgery. Thankfully, it only needed a fiberglass splint instead of a cast. And, thankfully the doctor's office gave us a huge discount and is willing to work with us. I have to out right admit I am usually a pessimist. I always seem to find the bad first. Tim THANKFULLY is an optimist and makes me see the good in things and kindly reminds me how awesome God is! I am going to continue to fight this battle and pray I become an optimist. I am going to memorize Psalm 118:1 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and remind myself how good God is in ALL things.