10 YEARS

Yes, we've made it.
Michael and I have been married for ten years today.

Some things that I have taken notice of:

1. I wasn't sure of the direction of my life back then, but God knew exactly who was the perfect man for me.

2. I was so much cuter ten years ago. sigh.

3. Michael seems to be one of those men who gets even more attractive with age.

4. God has given me 3 beautiful children from that man-o-mine, all of whom I enjoy the majority of the time.

5. We have had so many bumps along our road thus far, but have powered through by God's grace and mercy, and respect and love for one another.

6. I am amazed that I have blessed with someone who has stuck with me for this long, watched me birth three children, seen multiple sides to my personality, watched me lose but mostly gain weight, witnessed me fail miserably and STILL wants to be married to me. Thank you, God, that you gave me someone so stubborn in all of the best ways.

Here's to ten more years, babe!

DECEMBER ALREADY?

Yes, waaaaay too long since I've blogged. Not that I really have anyone who checks out my blog on a regular basis, but if I did, I'm sure I've lost their support.
The last few months have been a whirlwind. We are (finally) back in Reno and at this point enjoying something we have missed terribly for 6 years....SNOW!!
It's absolutely beautiful. Driving is somewhat scary, but we are loving it. So far 2009 has been the most difficult year for so many of the wonderful people I know. Sickness, loss, separation, theft, debt, broken hearts, and very possibly any other negative thing of this world that try so hard to tempt us to give up completely. I am on a mission of thankfulness at this point, because it is just too easy to focus on the negatives and I want more of a challenge. I am thankful for our move, I am thankful for my marriage and my children, I am thankful for the unyielding love and support of grandmas and grandpas, aunts, uncles, siblings and friends. I am thankful for the home that God has provided for us. I am full of excitement and hope for everything that God has in store for the upcoming months with friends adoptions, sister's wedding, advancing in school, renewal of body, mind and spirit. Praying that this holiday season I can get my focus off of myself and on someone who needs it.

THIS SUMMER WE...

went camping with the Cross Family!



















We got to go to Donner Lake!



























We went to the Great Reno Balloon Races!












We packed up our home in Las Vegas and moved to Reno...




The packing crew


Life is not settled yet, but God is good and we're healthy and blessed!

There are too many thoughts going through my brain; i cannot organize them enough to post anything remotely interesting.

Keeper

This came in a forwarded email, which I usually cannot stand to read, let alone pass on. This one, however, was just simple and sweet and I wanted to post it (and yes, I realize the punctuation and sentence structure is less than perfect, but I enjoy less than perfect) :

Keeper

Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress; lawn mower in his hand, and dish-towel in hers. It was the time for fixing things.. A curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep.

It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing, eating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful.. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more.

But then my mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more. Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away....never to return. So... While we have it... Its best we love it... And care for it.... And fix it when it's broken..... And heal it when it's sick.

This is true... For marriage... And old cars... And children with bad report cards... Dogs and cats with bad hips... And aging parents.... And grandparents, aunts and uncles and friends. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.

Some things we keep. Like a best friend who moved away or a classmate we grew up with. There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special.... And so, we keep them close in heart and mind and spirit.

And just like that...he was gone.

I am not usually very fond of this time of year, mostly because my hubby has to work out of town so often. This stretch wasn't too bad, it was two weeks. It was long enough. Michael came home to spend the weekend with us and just left a couple hours ago on a plane to go back to work. He's been working up in Reno for the past couple weeks and still has a few weeks of work left to do up there. We used to take part of the summer and just go to Reno, but with the track that my kids are on they aren't even done with their 08-09 school year yet. siiiiigh.
This weekend was nice, calm, relaxing. Just what we needed. I am so completely in love with that man I cannot even put it into words. I love that God knew exactly what I needed in a husband. He has an amazing work ethic and has worked hard for our family even before we became a family. He has loved me at every stage of my life, sinful, god-fearing, thin, fat, comfortable, poor, cute, ugly, kind, irritable, ... he's been so wonderful through all of those different sides of me. He has the ability to make me laugh on a regular basis and is attracted to me even when I can't stand myself. He's the one who is in it with me for the long haul. I confess that I am human and find myself, on occasion, making a mental list of things that I would like to change about him and even think that God would probably appreciate my help in changing my husband. (embarrassed sigh). Nope. God made him exactly the way he is supposed to be and he did a wonderful job at that. I do hope, however, that God will change me in the many many ways that I am in need of. I am praying for our marriage regularly as well as the marriages around me. There are seasons of good, bad, and ugly. Seasons I love to remember, and seasons I pray to forget. There is an evil enemy who is absolutely out to destroy marriages everywhere. I have witnessed it first-hand. It is a sadness I cannot explain. In keeping with the point of this post, I will end on a happy note: I love my husband so very much, and I am thankful for the continual challenge and blessing of my marriage. I am thankful for God's mercy and grace as I do my best to show my children what a healthy marriage looks like.

BECAUSE THEY LOVE ME...

My life has been like the lives of so many others lately, stressful. I have been letting my circumstances overwhelm me to a point where I lose my joy. If I had as much faith for myself as I do for everyone that I love I wouldn't have such a problem in this area. I know God hears my prayers, He loves me, He has a plan for me. One thing I know for a fact, that which I thank Him for regularly; God has showered my life with amazing friends. Friends who pray for me on a consistent basis, who love me in spite of how rotten I can be, friends who encourage me when I need it (which is often, lately), who speak truth to me even when I don't want to hear it. They aren't the kind of friends who jump on my bandwagon when I am angry or judgemental; but instead are able to remind me of who it is that I am striving to become and steer me in the right direction. The women of God that I am speaking of stretch to other parts of this city, other cities, across this country and to other countries. Sometimes in the midst of thanking God for these women, I feel my heart fill up with love, and at the same time, sadness for those who don't have people like this in their lives. A couple of the adored women that I include in my treasured group of friends, Jessica Baldwin and Jenene Boardman, came over to my house today while I was out and did an unbelievably beautiful makeover on my upstairs loft. They painted, and decorated with items and furniture that they found in different areas of the house, turning my cluttered office/loft into a calm and wonderful reading and prayer retreat for me. The love that went into the makeover is what makes my eyes sting even as I type. I can't put a price on my friendships. My heart is full.


Shelves with all of my bible study books, devotions, and references...


a few crosses from around the house including my favorite, Molly's art.


The one item that was added, the best gift ever, framed picture of Jess, Jenene, Shontell, and me. (happy sigh)


The beautiful tapestry that my mom bought for me in Jerusalem a couple years ago. It matches perfectly.

Grandma therapy

For the past 2 days my kids have been with their grandma Ellen in Sacramento and just today drove up to Reno to visit with the rest of the family. They were able to see their cousins and have some fun with Grandma. In the midst of my emotions, worries, fears, tasks at hand and crazy life, my kids get to have some much needed Grandma love. Anyone with the energy and desire to entertain, feed, and clean up after 5 kids under the age of 11 while still keeping a sense of humor is truly amazing. (yes, you too Shontell) Sometimes Grandma therapy is the best kind.


My kids were surprised by their cousins at the airport!


relay races on the lawn...


They love the slide at the Sacramento house!


face painting...


and arm tattoos...


and Jeffrey's obsession with climbing trees...


awesome tree-house slides...


corndogs...


a visit to the coolest toy store EVER...


jumping on the bed...


bathing suits in bubble baths...


ahhhh...the end of a busy day!!!


WE LOVE YOU, GRAM-ELLEN!