Reasons to Celebrate

In just a few hours we are going out to celebrate our 9th Wedding Anniversary! Can you tell I am excited?

This time last year, I was struggling so much with my jaw that I didn't really look forward to our dinner out. Tonight, my sister is babysitting and we are going to a steakhouse. I can hardly believe, God's goodness. He has brought me so far. Yes, the road seemed forever long, and I am still not 100%, but the thought of eating steak (of course the more expensive one will be easier to chew :) almost brings tears to my eyes. Not b/c steak is my most favorite, but because He is healing me!

Of course, I am also looking forward to an evening with adult conversations and complete sentences. And perhaps actually looking at my husband while we talk and not jumping up from the table every 2 minutes. Not to mention not cooking or doing the dishes or putting the kids to bed is a nice plus too.

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

Today we have been married for 9 years!
(Please excuse this explosion of random thoughts)

I continue to be amazed at God's design for marriage and I am amazed at the blessings He pours out on those who following Him. This fall, we had the privilege of taking a 6 week marriage class taught by the senior pastor of our church. I really had no expectations of the class, I just thought it sounded good and it was! I looked forward to it each week. It was so nice to focus on marriage and not just parenthood.

I have recently been blown away with the story of Adam and Eve's marriage and God's marriage to His children. I have always loved to blame Adam and Eve for all my troubles or the worlds troubles. But a recent sermon made me rethink my view of their sins and The Fall. God's reconciliation to Adam and Eve (after they eat the forbidden fruit) is perhaps the sweetest example of love, second only to God giving His only Son. God has given us an example of love, that does not stop when sin enters, if anything His love is more deeply expressed.

I have been blessed for the past 2 years of having several newly weds in my life. My sister got married in 2008 and a woman in my Wellspring small group got married this summer. It's fun to hear their stories and in return reminisce about mine. But mostly, I am blessed b/c I can say/think, it gets so much better and easier! Not that either of them have terrible stories or b/c they complain about marriage, but b/c they are reminding me how it felt to be a newly wed. It was hard and fun and exciting all at the same time. But NOW, the hard stuff is so quickly worked out and the fun stuff is entirely new b/c we have kids and the excitement is not so much the discovering of new things about each other but instead realizing how well we fit together.

With all that being said, I am discovering it is far easier to love, when it's not about me. I think being married 9 years has helped it be less about me and more about EJ. WOW, this can only come from the Lord. And please don't think I do this perfectly ;)

Happy Anniversary EJ! I am loving our journey!

A Grandma's Request

My mom thought it would be great if she could include a picture of all her grand kids in her Christmas Card. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The thought of another photo shoot (the 1st for our own card) was bad enough b/c the boys are not very cooperative. But to add a dog in the mix (Owen is scared of dogs, and will barely tolerate Yeager) was a whole other story. Not to mention the chilly temperatures we've been having. BUT we LOVE our mom/grandma and she is always bending over backwards for us. It ended up going super smoothly. Plus, it was a great excuse to be outside and near the river. We bribed them with Happy Meals (grandmas treat of course) and it did the trick. If Yeager was my dog, this would be our card :)

In Vain

Why I continue to use the following words, I'll never know. I have read Bringing Up Boys, I should know better. Somehow I just can't help myself. I need to reread it. If you have boys, and you haven't read it. It's good!

1. "Be gentle"
2. "Watch out"
3. "You are going to get hurt"
4. "Be careful"
5. "I don't think that is a good idea"
6. "Slow down"

Are you sensing a pattern?

The Memories

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

Your lights and ornaments look lovely.

The star was strangely placed on top.

Little did we know you'd drop.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

I wanted to cry and the boys were laughing!

No joke, this happened about 20 minutes after all our hard work. We were upstairs putting the boys to bed and we heard a loud crash. Miraculously only 3 ornaments broke out of the 28 ornaments that fell off. I had to totally rearrange our garland and ribbons, but it could have been much worse. This has never happened before.