10 Years!

I tried writing this once already today and right at the end of the post, my computer did something weird and didn't save it! So disappointing!

I can't believe that 10 years have already gone by since Mike and I got married. I was thinking about our wedding day this morning and how awesome it was! I was a 24 year old girl just so excited and ready to be married to the guy I had been dating/engaged to for 5 1/2 years. Our wedding day was perfect. I wasn't the "bridezilla" that some girls are - HA! I was very calm and go-with-the-flow through the whole planning process and also through the whole wedding day. We had fun and laughed a lot! Just how I wanted the day to be!

Mike was still in school when we got married and graduated in May of 2001. He began the job search and of course we were just looking for jobs in St. Louis. That's where we lived and that's where we wanted to stay - forever! But, God had different plans for us! Mike got his first job out of college and that job moved us to Joplin, MO. We knew not a soul there. We went from living in a town filled with family, friends, our church, and everything we knew and loved to a town where we needed Mapquest to find anything! We quickly found a church and got in a great SS class. We met some great friends and really liked living there. The summer of 2002 we got some wonderful news - We were pregnant with our first baby! Everyone was so excited! We celebrated our 2 year anniversary in February and our sweet Macie was born on March 20, 2003. What a sweet baby she was! So content and happy! She still is to this day. Such a wonderful blessing to us!

When Macie was 10 months old, Mike got a new job and we packed up and headed north to Lawrence, KS. We still look back on that time and kind of laugh. We only lived there a year and it was a weird year. We were perfectly happy, but it wasn't home. It was a college town and with that brought some weirdness. HA! I guess that's true of any big college town, huh?

In January of 2005, Mike got a call from a recruiter asking him if he'd be interested in interviewing for a job in Arkansas. Mike jumped at the chance! I, on the other hand, jumped with some hesitation. In my defense, the only thing I knew about Arkansas was all the bad stuff you hear when you aren't from the state. You know, stuff like: Everyone marries their cousin, their favorite form of entertainment is cow tipping, etc. I wasn't so sure about it. I'm laughing just thinking about our first drive down. We were on Hwy. 71 crossing from Missouri into Arkansas and I was looking in every car trying to see what people "down here" looked like! HAHA!!! Mike finally said, "Chris, stop staring at people!" I don't know what I was looking for - people with 2 heads or something??!! Who knows! We finally got into Fort Smith and somehow we ended up on the wrong side of town. It wasn't a good first impression. I cried. Yes, just like I cried the first time we drove around every new town we moved to! But, just imagine, you are in a place where you don't know anyone, don't know where anything is, and you are going to have to start all over again. I think I deserve a few tears, right? We circled the city and ended up on Rogers Ave. We ate dinner at Red Lobster and I saw many things that I liked. Lots of good restaurants, a nice hospital, shopping, etc. I was starting to get on board with "this" Arkansas. Mike went on his interview the next morning and it went well. As we were eating lunch and getting ready to leave town, we got a call from the company asking us to come back because they had a job offer. We went back over there, got the offer, signed the contract and headed back to Lawrence to pack and move - for the 3rd time! This time, we knew we were putting some roots down. We bought our first home and one of the first days there I saw this church on TV that interested me. I asked Mike if he'd ever heard of a town called Lavaca? He said no, but looked it up online and found that it wasn't far from our house. The next Sunday, we loaded up 2 year old Macie, and made the drive to FBC-Lavaca. Five minutes into the sermon, Mike asked for my pen and wrote "We're joining here" on my bulletin. I agreed. We loved it! We joined the church the very next week and started getting involved. That summer, we got more great news - we were pregnant again and expecting our 2nd baby! Little Miss Maddie came roaring into our lives on February 20, 2006! She's such a sweet kid. A little spit fire, but sweet as can be, too! Her personality is more introverted than Macie, but she can make us laugh so hard with her silly side. She's an awesome blessing - we are so thankful God gave her to us!

Our lives this past 6 years in Fort Smith have been so great. We have grown as a couple, grown as individuals, became parents a third time to sweet Mabrie on September 3, 2010 and made some of the best friends any couple could ask for. God has blessed us more than we ever imagined. We aren't the same people we were 10 years ago. We've changed so much and I hope it's for the better. We love each other more now than we did on that cold February Saturday back in 2001. We are closer to the Lord than we were on that day, too. We've moved, laughed, cried, had babies, bought a house, tried to sell that same house - 3 times (HA!), made new friends, served in our church, gone on vacations, dates, visited family, put more miles on our cars than we could possibly count, but through it all, we wouldn't change a single thing. Each step in our journey has led us right where we are and right where we are is awesome! We want to continue to grow as a couple, grow in the Lord and grow as parents. We are blessed beyond anything we ever dreamed. So thankful that God made us for each other. I can't wait to see what our next 10, 20, 30, + years will be like. This is forever - just like we promised back on Feb. 10, 2001!

Happy Anniversary, Mike! I love you!!

Just for the Record

I'm over the snow. And winter.

That's it. Have a great day! :)

Surgery for Maddie & Mabrie is 5 Months - All on the same day!

Well, today was quite the day! It started at 5:00 a.m. when our alarm clock went off to get Maddie up and out the door for her outpatient surgery. She was born with a preauricular ear pit/cyst that had to be surgically removed. Normally, this type of surgery wouldn't be too worrisome, but because of the size of the cyst and it's proximity to her facial nerves, we were a little concerned. Thankfully, the surgery went very well and as far as we can tell, there aren't any issues with nerve damage! She seems to be feeling pretty good and hasn't complained too much about pain. She's one tough cookie! :) We prayed so much for a successful surgery and praise God for watching over and protecting her!



Another big thing happened today - Mabrie hit the 5 month mark! Amazing how fast those months have gone! I was just thinking that in one more month, she's already 1/2 way to 1 year old. Where do the months go? I think it goes faster with each child because you get busier and just lose track of time. I can honestly say that I don't even feel like we ever dealt with the typical "newborn" stage. She was born right at the beginning of the school year, my mom came and stayed that first week and after that, we were back in full swing! And that poor child has been hanging on for dear life ever since! HA! She is a pretty easy baby and deals fairly well with all the running around. Some days she's not too thrilled with me waking her from a great nap to go pick up one of the girls from school, but she rolls with the punches pretty well. She's eating about 4 times a day now. She does rice cereal in the morning and then veggies in the afternoon, with a bottle at each feeding. I stopped nursing her at 4 months old and she took to the bottle with no problems at all. It's funny to watch her when she sees me fixing it now because she knows exactly what it is and will reach for it and sometimes will even try to lunge out of my arms towards it! She's kind of a fighter - and has a temper that she'll gladly show you when something isn't going her way. She's rolling all over the place and even getting up on her knees and trying to crawl, but hasn't quite figured out the art just yet! She's been sleeping like a CHAMP since birth basically and through the night since 5 1/2 weeks old. She doesn't like her pacifier - but loves her first 2 fingers! She occasionally sucks on her thumb, but it's usually her fingers that she prefers. We have been so blessed by her! Macie and Maddie love her so much and they are great helpers. They do so much for me and it's been great having 2 older kids that are capable of helping with her. I look forward to watching her grow. I pray she grows up to love and serve the Lord! That's the most important thing and what I hope for all 3 of them more than anything!

Mabrie - On the Move (Somewhat)

Tomorrow our little Mabrie will be 21 weeks old! The time has gone so fast. She started rice cereal at the beginning of this month and likes it most of the time. She's really a sweet, happy baby with the occasional temper that flares up that makes me wonder what she'll be like when she is bigger. I have loved watching her start to "play" with things - she'll reach and grab for toys that we hold out in front of her and just this week, she started this little trick:



Seriously?! She's just shy of being 5 months old and she's already starting to pull her knees under herself and lunge toward things! That just seems like it's happening too soon! HA! I fear she'll be walking at 9 months old and in to everything! I can't wait to see how her little personality develops and watch her as she can start interacting more and more with the other girls.

Just tonight, we gave her some veggies for the first time. We started with sweet potatoes and she inhaled them! We'll continue with those for the next few days and then move on to carrots and then green beans and so on. Then in a few weeks, I'll start introducing fruits. Gotta get her liking veggies first, cause if she starts with the yummy fruits, she'll NEVER want the veggies! I mean, who would?!



Such a sweet smile! Wish we all looked that cute with food all over our faces!

Haiti

Our church went on a Mission Trip to Haiti several months ago to do some work in the Port-au-Prince area. This area is still dealing with the devastation from the massive earthquake a year ago. While the team was there, they visited an orphanage and that visit has since rocked our church's world. The report they gave when they returned was heartbreaking. These children were living in terrible conditions, dealing with severe malnutrition, lice, worms, etc., etc. The decision was made that something HAD to be done. And WE (our church) were the ones to do it.

Our pastor told the church that a large portion of our Harvest Day Offering in 2010 was going to go toward feeding these 94 children for a year. And not just rice with a few beans once a day like they have been getting. Three full meals a day. Good meals. Meals that will not only satisfy them, but give them the much needed nutrients they are lacking right now. But, this wasn't going to be a small feat by any stretch of the imagination. This will require trips, monthly trips, by church staff and church members to go down there and see to it that the food is purchased and that these children are being fed and cared for. Not only that, but the first trip will be in February to go down there and build a kitchen and a place for these kids to eat their meals. The first team is heading out in a few weeks and it consists of some staff and several men in our church that have building/construction experience. They will build them a functioning kitchen so that they can cook this food that will be provided.

It's SO exciting. To be involved in something so much bigger than ourselves. To know that there's something we can do to help those in need. I'm pumped for and proud of my husband! He's getting his passport and he's joining one of the groups one of these months to go and serve.

Macie picked up a card at church tonight of one of the little girls that lives in the orphanage. She is excited about praying for this little girl. We are trying very hard to teach our kids that it's not all about them. They need to help others. We've been given much and much is required of us. These children need clothing, shoes, vitamins, food and hopefully our church can provide all of those things. And through that, my prayer is that we can also give them what they need more than any of that. Jesus.

James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.

Money Lesson

Mike and I decided about a year ago that it was time to start giving the girls some chores to do around the house in order to earn an allowance. They are constantly asking for something and it was time they realized what it means to work, earn money and save for something that they want. Be it a new toy or a pack of gum at the check-out counter. It's never too soon to let them learn the process of saving and also learn what things cost.

So, the other day, Maddie had her ziplock baggie of money in her hand as we were walking out the door to Walmart. She told me she wanted to take her money and buy something. She had a bunch of change and 2 dollar bills. I told her she couldn't get much, but that if she wanted some candy or something, that would be fine.

We get to the store and as I was finishing up, she wanted to go look at the toys. I reminded her that most toys cost a lot more than $4-$5, but she insisted on looking. We walked up and down a few aisles and I remembered something she is always asking for, but I rarely buy. They are these little bathtub fizzy things. You drop one in the bath water and it turns it a fun color. The girls LOVE them! I mentioned to her that might be something she could afford, if she wanted them. And of course, she did! We headed over to the bath section and found them. They were just under $4 and I told her that she had enough to get them, but it would take most of her money. She insisted that was what she wanted and we went to check-out. At this point, $4 didn't mean much to her. She was just excited to use her own money and get her own receipt! :) When it was our turn to check out, I took her baggie and pulled out the 2 dollar bills and then enough change to cover it. Immediately tears filled her eyes. I asked her what was wrong and she said, "Why do they have to take both of my dollars?". I told her that was what it cost, but that she didn't have to get them. She could put them down and get some gum or candy and save her dollars for later. She said, "No, I really want them, mommy!". So, with tears streaming down her little face, she handed the container and her handful of money to the cashier. He gave her the bag and the all important receipt and started to ring out all of my stuff. As we were walking out the door, she goes, "Mommy, has Walmart ever taken all of your dollars?", I said, "Yes, Maddie, every time I walk in the doors!".

You don't know how badly I wanted to just buy them for her. Her poor, pitiful face as she was handing her money over was almost more than I could stand. She wanted something, but it was painful to her to let go of her money. She definitely learned a lesson that day.

And here's what I learned. How often do I want God's blessings on my life, but it's with tears in my eyes that I give Him my time, money, service, etc.? I want Him to bless me, but it's painful to give Him what He deserves. I was reminded that I shouldn't cling so tightly to this world. It was difficult for Maddie to let go of that money, even though by letting go of it, she got something she really wanted. I need to learn to let go of things, be a cheerful giver. Not only of my money, but of my time, of my things, etc.

So thankful for that little lesson. What I thought was a learning experience just for Maddie, turned into a much bigger learning experience for me.

2 Corinthians 9:7
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Proud Mommy Moment

Haven't we all had days where our kids do something, something that we have taught them from the time they were very little with the hope that it will "stick", and when we either see them do it or someone tells us what they did and we feel like maybe, just maybe we are doing something right?! Well, I had one of those days yesterday.

Last night, the girls and I headed to a friend's house for dinner and to watch the beginning of the Sugar bowl. Mike was lucky enough to actually BE at the Sugar Bowl! We visited, ate, and the kids played until time to head home for baths and bed. As we were driving back, Macie and I were talking about her day at school and I asked her if she had fun eating lunch and watching a movie in her classroom. (Students with good behavior each month get to do this as a special treat with the teacher). She told me that it was a lot of fun and went on to tell me a little story, which made me so proud of her. She said, "Mommy, my friend and I were the only ones that brought our lunch, so we had to wait in the classroom while the other kids went to the lunch line. We got our lunches out and I asked her if she went to church. She said yes and so I asked her if she wanted to pray with me for our meal." She went on to say that the little girl agreed and Macie led them in a quick prayer before they started eating lunch.

How great is that?! It's something so simple. Something we do at home each night as a family. And she not only wanted to pray over her meal, but she also used the opportunity to witness and pray with a little friend. I was so proud of her. She's such a sweet little girl - we are so blessed to have her!

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.