catching my breath

The past 8 days have been CRA-ZY.

It all started on Father's Day when Marko's family descended on our not-so-big house.

16 people (including 9 kids under the age of 8) squeezed into about 1000 sq. ft.

Note to self: Get a bigger house.

Monday I watched 4 of my sister-in-law's munchkins while she took the 5th one to the doctor. Turns out he was having an acute asthma attack and needed to be admitted to the hospital. The kids stayed a few extra hours and a grand time was had by all.

Tuesday, we caught up on school (and everything else that didn't get done the day before).

Wednesday I watched some of the cousins again (because Momma and little brother were still in the hospital). We went to the park and these really great kiddie fountains that the kids love...getting home just in time for naps, and dinner, and heading out the door again for church.

Thursday, more doubling up on school.

 And cleaning the house like mad.

And grocery shopping.

And thanking God that my nephew was released from the hospital.

Friday, we went to the beach with some friends that were visiting from out of town.

I got really sun-burned.

Note to self: Don't forget to slather yourself, after you bathe the kids in sunscreen.

We got home just in time for naps, dinner, and hosting a party here for our niece's 6th birthday.

Note to self: Really, GET A BIGGER HOUSE!

Marko made her a princess castle cake. It was very cute!

That night we also had a pretty nasty storm. Lightning struck my computer (I think) and fried it.

So, I've been without a computer for 3 days.

And I'm going into withdrawal.

This computer I'm using is my hunk of a husband's laptop (which he takes with him each morning for work) so my time on it is very limited.

Well, back to my insane week.

Saturday.

I can't, for the life of me, remember what we did Saturday.

Except that it was crazy and we ended it by going to church.

Sunday.

Ahhh....the home stretch.

The light at the end of the tunnel.

Only one birthday party to go to.

Although, I was alone with the kids all day because Marko went

SWAMP BUGGY HUNTING!

FOR WILD BOAR.

He got to carry a gun.

And wear camo.

And ride on a vehicle that was 8ft off the ground.

He was in hog heaven! Heh.

In the meantime, the munchkins and I had a relaxing evening at my sister-in-law's house.

We ate fabulous BBQ.

And hung out with friends.

And I was finally able to catch my breath.

nine

Nine sweet faces.

Nine little mouths to say "I love you!"

Nine sets of arms to give tight hugs.

Nine sets of ears to listen to Daddy's words of love and instruction.

Nine sets of legs to run to the door when Daddy gets home.

Nine little minds being molded and shaped.

Nine little hearts being protected and cherished.

Nine little eyes that shine with laughter. 

Nine amazing gifts from the Father in Heaven.

What better gift could a daddy ask for?

happiness is...

...a cozy bed.

And a really good book (or four) to curl up with.

What makes you happy?

For more Happiness is... photos, check out Carlotta's blog.

the young and the clueless

This week I'm taking a walk down Memory Lane.
Yesterday, I posted the story of how Marko and I met and started dating.
Today I thought I'd sorta fill in the gaps between then and now.

1994.

19 and 23.

Dated for 6 months (4 of which were spent 20 hours apart from each other).

Engaged on Christmas day. 

He came to my parents' house in the morning.

I was still in my pj's...had bed head and morning breath. 

He still proposed. 

It must have been true love.

We were so young and naive! We didn't have a clue about marriage. 

All we knew was that we wanted to be together...forever.

Good thing we were committed to making it work.

We made it through horribly cooked meals,

being penniless,

differences of opinion in almost everything,

miscommunication,

stubbornness (on both sides),

major illnesses and life-saving surgery,

miscarriages,

and...life.

2010.
35 and 39.

Now, almost 16 years later, we have 

better cooking (for the most part!),

stability,

acceptance,

honesty,

comfort in each other,

health,

children,

laughter,

and satisfaction in a marriage that we have worked hard to create.

Don't get me wrong. Our life is far from fairy dust and rainbows.
But in the space between what was and what is,
there is a wisdom and a mellowing that has happened. 

I have to say, I'm really looking forward to the next 16 years!

butterflies

Today I'm linking up with the "Completing Him" Challenge over at Women Living Well.

Today's challenge is to tell your dating story.
So, here we go...

Memorial Day Weekend 1994.

My friend, Hope, and I planned a camping trip to North Carolina for the long weekend. Several mutual friends were going and Hope had also invited a guy she thought I'd like a lot. I wasn't really looking for a serious relationship, but I didn't object to her inviting him.

The day of the trip arrived. As soon as Marko and I started talking, I felt butterflies in my stomach...good ones! He immediately liked me too, and we were inseparable for the rest of the trip. We spent every moment together, staying up 'til 3am talking over a dying camp fire, finding out everything we could about each other. I often say that it was like catching up with a best friend that I hadn't seen in 20 years.

 (for those of you who haven't seen this photo here, Marko and I are right in the middle.)

When we arrived back home Marko asked me if he could call me, and a week later we were seriously dating. Two months after that I left for Bible college (20 hours away) and 4 months after that (Christmas Day) we were engaged. 

Side Note: As it turned out, Marko's family and mine had known each other for decades! Our mothers, grandmothers, even aunts and uncles knew each other. Marko and his mom were even at my parents' wedding- but we had never met! The Lord kept us apart until just the right moment and then we were a match made in heaven.

Looking back on that time, the thing I remember is the freshness of a new relationship. There were so many things to find out about each other. 

And I think along the way we've lost a bit of that. 

We got comfortable.

We started to finish each other's sentences and stopped asking questions that we didn't know the answers to. 

After 16 years A LOT has changed in our life. 

We are not the same people that we were then. 

We have different likes and dislikes,

different interests and goals,

different perspectives on life and God.

So this week I'm going to ask the questions. 

I'm going to rediscover all over again 

this man that I'm so in love with. 

And find even more reasons to love him. 

sam says...

Sam has been saying some pretty hilarious things lately (in my humble opinion).
Here is a sample:


As he played in the tub the other day, he was pretending that he had fallen out of a boat.

"Help!" he yells, "I'm draining!!"

(drowning) 

This morning, he and Marko were getting ready to go fishing and we were saying that it was already really hot out. To this he asked,

"Do I need to wear sour cream?" 

(sunscreen) 

As he was getting dressed this morning, I offered him a pair of clean underwear to put on. 
"No mom, those underwear are for wearing around the house. I need a pair for going out!" 
(I have NO IDEA where he came up with that theory! LOL!)

Can you stand it?!?




 

the woman your man needs

What does your man need? 

I know what mine needs.

He needs a peaceful home,

clean underwear,

satisfying meals,

physical attention,

playtime (with me and without me),

a tidy house,

and most of all...

a godly wife!

For the next couple of months I'm joining the "Completing Him Challenge" over at Women Living Well. The challenge is to take inventory of your relationship with your husband and allow the Lord to reveal and refresh areas that have taken a backseat to kids, work, hobbies...and, well, LIFE!

I want to be all that the Lord has made me to be for Marko. And by God's strength, I can be the woman he needs me to be. Want to join me?

Here's the Topic Schedule for those who want to link up each week:

June 7 - announce to your readers you are participating by posting the button on your site and leaving your link below. 

June 14 – Post Pictures from your dating days (or tell us all about it!). Think about one thing you used to do or have as a couple that you have lost in the shuffle of life. How can you regain it?

June 21 - Remember Your Vows - post pictures of your wedding day. We will review the sacredness of this day.

June 28 - Ask your husband every morning how you can pray for him that day. Bonus: Fast and pray for him one day this week.

July 5 - Admire Your Husband. Write this post and then show it to him! He will smile!

July 12 - Make a list of 5 things you currently do and ask him to prioritize them for you of what is important to him. For example - a clean home, home cooked dinner, coupon clipping, service at church, having friends over for dinner, watching/doing sports with him, etc.

July 19 - Make him a priority. Ask him what his favorite dinner, dessert and drink are. Be sure to serve him all three one night this week. Bonus: cook his favorite dishes all week long!

July 26 - Support his vision. Discuss his vision for your family. Where does he see your family in 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years. Share with us how you let your husband lead.

August 2 - R-E-S-P-E-C-T! No complaining, criticizing, rolling your eyes, nagging, or giving him any friction this week. Enjoy a week of peace in your home!

August 9 - Kiss Him Like You Mean It (and be sure the door is locked!)

“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”

Proverbs 31:29

kicking and screaming

I have a confession to make.

I did not intend to home school my children. 

In fact, I initially loathed the idea for several reasons.

1. I was home schooled myself and I saw first-hand the time and effort required to do it right. 

I did not want to spend the time and effort.

2. I dreamed of the day that my little darlings would trot off to school so that I could...

have a spotless house?

be a lunching lady?

pursue a new hobby?

I don't know. 

But it was going to be glorious!

3. I was am scared. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not dumb. But I've always felt like I needed to be a MENSA

candidate to give my kids the best education possible. I have come to realize that this is not the case, and that a little fear goes a long way in keeping me accountable to do the very best that I can do. 

So, how do I now find myself a home schooling momma?

Well...Marko made me do it.

Just kidding.

Sort of.

You see, my wonderful husband has long held the opinion that home schooling would be the best fit for our family. Coupled with that fact, is the reality that (because of his CF) Sam is at a much higher risk of picking up illnesses in a traditional classroom setting.

So, being the perfectly submitted wife, I gladly obliged (um...not so much).

Actually, it took a couple of years of discussing it for us to come to an agreement. 

But in the end, I consented. 

Realizing that above all else, Marko was doing his best to lead our family in the way he felt God was leading us. And by honoring his conviction, I was ultimately submitting to God.

So, "How is it going?" you ask.

Well...GREAT! Thanks for asking.

I am knee deep in ABC's and Bible stories, 

counting by 2's and practicing printing, 

cutting and crafts, 

and it's going really well. 

And you know what? 

Don't tell Marko...but I'm actually enjoying myself!

 

feeding on Jesus

I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. 

John 6:57

Awhile back I was listening to a sermon on Jesus being our Food and Drink. And how, in order to receive Life, we must continually be filling ourselves with Him. The Lord brought 1Kings 19:5-9 to mind and showed me this.

bed head

This greets me every morning.

The cutest case of bed head I've ever seen.