And the Next President is...

I voted today. And I am glad it is over. Now every time the phone rings I want to say: (to that prerecorded message) SORRY, it is too late, I have already voted. Yes, I am nervous about what will happen on Tuesday. But other than the power of prayer I am through with this election. Thankfully I am not the ONE on the THRONE! And regardless of what happens on Tuesday, He will still be THERE on HIS THRONE!! And it is terribly comforting to know that He won't be surprised at Tuesday's outcome!!!

Now, Here is a new choice for you...Little Andy.
He makes an excellent candidate. He is cute and charming. And he LOVES to be the boss. He is a GREAT negotiator and he has picked up the habit of saying PLEASE a lot these days. You know, "Please, mommy, PLEASSSEEE? Please, Please, Please?"

Don't count this dude out. At least he thinks he is President in our house!!

Birthday Greetings from the DOG!!

Well, yesterday was my birthday. And I am thankful for birthdays. Even ones like yesterday.

My dog, Kobie, started it all off right. With poo in his cage over night. So, I was awakened (by Adam) to a desperate little dog needing a bath (badly) and a crate needing a hose!! Thankfully, my dear husband took care of the crate part. Andy tried to take care of the bath part for me, but Kobie smelled too bad! So, he left me there to do it all by myself.

I guess Kobie felt like making me a present?! Too bad he didn't just leave it in the yard.

Thanks Kobie for the birthday wishes!!

All Because A Boy and Girl Fell in Love

Today is our 8th wedding anniversary. It is hard to believe. Time really does fly when you are having fun!

The funny thing is: 9 years ago, I didn't even know Adam. We met in January of 2000 and he quickly swept me off of my feet. I think a lot of our friends and family were quite surprised at just how quickly our courtship and engagement went. To be honest, I was a little surprised too...but NEVER doubtful!!

Adam couldn't be any more perfect for me. I know that God gave him to me as a special gift! One I didn't deserve, but prayed HARD for! And I am thankful for him every day. All our days together haven't been easy, but they have still been perfect! I have been asked more than once if he has any brothers. Just sons. And I pray that they will grow to be men like their daddy. I also pray that his daughter will be blessed to marry a man like him.

He took the day off of work to spend the day with me. So, after I use my new vacuum (previous post)I am going to enjoy him being home!! (I actually only get to use my vacuum because he is home...Erin Hope doesn't like it-and she cries unless he holds her while I vacuum.)


Happy Anniversary Adam! I love you more and more every day!!!

The JOY of TOES!!

Erin Hope has found her toes and loves to suck them. It is fun to watch her maneuver her foot to her mouth.

I hope that she finds pure enjoyment in the simple things even as she grows old.

Cardboard Testimonies

I saw this on another blog a few weeks back and it spoke volumes to me. So, I wanted to share. If you have seen this, then here is a chance to see it again. If not, enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvDDc5RB6FQ

REJECTED.

REDEEMED. THANKFUL!!

What is your cardboard testimony?

You're my BEST Friend.

"You're my best friend." Those are sweet words, aren't they? And they are especially sweet when coming out of Andy's mouth to Nate. As I have mentioned before, Andy idolizes Nate. I guess any little brother thinks the world of his older brother. And many times Nate is very undeserving. He is a good big brother. But, mostly to his sister, not his brother. Don't get me wrong here, many times, Andy deserves the treatment Nate is dishing out. However, there are times when Nate is very short-tempered with Andy. But do remember, in Nate's defense, Andy IS 3!!

Sibling Rivalry is one of those things that has caught me off guard. I DID expect it, but not so heavy and so early. Being the baby of my family I don't remember a lot of rivalry or competition. (My brother Rob would say there is a reason for that!) Sure, my brothers fought hard as teenagers. Hard enough to scare their little sister. And hard enough to cause me to react! But, I never remember them fighting as little boys. I always thought they were best friends as little boys.

So, it is challenging me to help Nate and Andy become friends. (And I am up for suggestions here.) I try to remind them that God chose them for each other. And God doesn't make ANY mistakes!

Some days I have to remind myself that my sweet boys come from the same source. They are SO different. But, yet, they are brothers. And I want more than anything for them to grow up loving each other. So, when I hear Andy say: "Nate, you are my best friend." It warms my heart.

There isn't any better friend than a brother. I believe that it is a unique kind of God-given friend. I pray my boys and their sister grow up to love and respect each other. And I pray that they are friends even in old age!

Psalm 133: 1 "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!"

October 1st

Here it is October 1st! I LOVE October. I always have. Fall is fun. I have always felt that it brings such sweet change. Cooler weather, beautiful leaves, football season, the fresh school year, another sweet year with Adam and of course another birthday!! But, don't make me older just yet...I DO have all month to claim my current age!

October brings a lot of exciting things to my life, but obviously from my lack of posting...these things haven't happened just yet!! But, life is always exciting at our house! So, I will just share a few things with you about my little crew!!

Erin-Hope is 4 months old now. She visited the doctor this week for her well-check. And, well, she is WELL! My chubbiest baby at 4 months. By 2 ounces!! She weighed in at 15 pounds 2 ounces and is 25 and 1/2 inches long. (Andy was the longest at 4 months. He was 26 inches) But, she is such a sweet baby and is getting quite attached to mommy.

Nate is thriving in kindergarten. He loves it. He is learning so fast and is bringing home great reports from his teacher. I am picking him up at 12:30 every day right now. I am trying to savor all the time I can with him. He enjoys his time here in the afternoons and I enjoy him being here with us. After Christmas he will start going a full school day.
But for now, he has time for his favorite TV shows and some sports activity in the back yard on a daily basis!! His favorite sport happens to be whatever season it is.

This picture of Nate is a little dated (last Christmas) but I wanted you to get the idea of how I see him MOST days.

Andy is a very active 3-year-old. He enjoys just about everything Nate does and works hard to impress Nate. He is a sweet little guy, but is a typical temper-tantrum-about-to-happen 3-year-old! We are surviving these days with him, as some are much more fun than others! But, I know when he outgrows the "fit-pitching" he is going to be lots fun ALL the time.