THE WEEKEND

Friday we headed south to visit with family and pick up the girls.

We are recovering today from a busy couple of days but it was a nice trip.

I am sure that these next two weeks before we start school will go fast but I am determined to squeeze all the life out of the last of our summer. We have a few things left on our summer list and we are going to get them done plus a couple of other things.

We had some visitors at church today and it was so uplifting.

My Daddy is having surgery on Wednesday and we are praying that this takes care of his heart problem. If you think about it, will you pray with us?

OUR ANNIVERSARY

On August 3, 2011, Mike and I celebrated our 20th anniversary.

Wow. I really can't believe it sometimes.

I've been thinking over the last few weeks about why we have made it this far. Let's be honest. When 2 18 yr olds with a baby get married, our first reaction is, "Uhh, yeah, that's probably not going to work."

We had quite a few people tell us that. Some were nice about it, some weren't.

So, why? Why have we been able to keep it going all these years?

First and foremost, God's mercy. Look, being married is wonderful when we are at our best. Horrible, when we are at our worst. I've not been the easiest person to live with. When there are insecurities, which I have had, there are rough patches.

When we first got married, I wanted to please everyone. My parents, his parents, sisters, brothers, cousins, uncles, the man walking down the street, the person behind me at the check out counter. I felt that if I just did whatever was expected of me they would be happy. Everyone would be happy. Everyone but me.

So I tried. I really did. I could write story after story about how I tried. But, at the end of the day, I was MISERABLE. And I made my husband miserable in the process. It took me years to realize I was killing myself. Slowly. Painfully.

I only had myself to blame. I had all these expectations on myself that I thought Mike wanted out of me. He didn't. He has made it clear through out our whole married life that all he cares about is me. Not what I can or can't do for him. Not what I look like. Not what I dress like. Not anything outwardly.

He loves me because I am me.

He models to me daily Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it.

We haven't had a perfect marriage. There's no such thing. We know that the odds & statistics were stacked against us. Thank God He doesn't go by odds & statistics.

We do have a marriage steeped in love, honesty, forgiveness, & commitment. Sure, we wear battle scars but anything worth having is worth fighting for.

There are times when those old insecurities creep in and the doubts start to take over. Moving to a new place will do that to you. The One who made me and knows every single, ugly thing about me, loves me.

I want to honor God and my husband every day. Sometimes I get it right. Sometimes I fail. At the end of the day I know I am loved and that is really all that matters.

Happy Anniversary, again, my love. You are truly the one I love the most.

THE SUMMER IS COMING TO A CLOSE

Yesterday I ordered curriculum. It was very painless because I have been scoping out what we will use this school year since last school year.

Recording it for my records:
Shelby~ MATH U SEE
Growing with Grammar Level 5
Soaring with Spelling Level 6
All American History
Exploring the History of Medicine
Answers for Kids by Answers in Genesis
Piano

Abby~ MATH U SEE
Growing with Grammar Level 3
Soaring with Spelling Level 3
All American History
Exploring the History of Medicine
Answers for Kids by Answers in Genesis
Music Theory

We may add some stuff to our list but for starters this is what we are tackling.

We will start after Labor Day just like the school system here and we will probably continue Field Trip Fridays because they are so fun. There are so many places for us to go here and some places we have to go more than once to see everything.

Tomorrow our Field Trip Friday will be a blast. It is a big surprise and the girls have no clue. Gotta get off here and get us all ready to head out early in the morning. And by early I mean 8:30. That's early for us:)

IN WHICH I TALK ABOUT ALL THE POSTS I SHOULD HAVE WRITTEN

There is a good reason for all this silence here on the blog. I've been busy...and lazy. I would say equal parts of both mixed in with a little melancholy.

Anyway, I have neglected this blog long enough and so I am back. For how long? Not sure. Just enjoy it while it lasts.

We have had a pretty busy summer with people visiting. Which I love, by the way. Celebrating. Which, again, I love. Working. That I don't love but it's necessary.

We went on a weekend trip to surprise my Daddy for his 60th birthday on May 30th. We had a real blast. It was so much fun that we came away vowing to do it again soon. It was just....great. Mike was unable to go with us but he will go the next time I'm sure.

We had our nieces & nephews come and stay with us for a few days(see picture up top:) and WOW that was very fun. We ate watermelon, visited the White House, rode the Metro, played in the water, watched movies, laughed, ate popcorn, walked to get ice cream, made pizza, and lots more.

Trevor and Jessie came for their vacation and we had a blast. Did lots and lots of stuff. I'll write about it later.

The girls went to camp for a week and Mike & I had a week to ourselves. Some of that I can't write about.

More to come I promise. Stick with me here. Oh, and btw, the post before this one that never showed up. My phone wouldn't let me finish it then I forgot about what I had dreamed. So pathetic:)

WEIRD DREAM

GOTTA HURRY!!!!!

Ok~so I'm already over my limit of internet. I told Mike I would be back over to the house in 20 minutes and it's already been 30 but I need to blog. I have the blogging itch. Yes, it's real and the only relief is to blog.

I went out to get lettuce at the corner European Foods market this evening and I got lost. Not even kidding. It took me over 20 minutes to get back to where I needed to be.....at the CORNER market....by my house. Click on the name and you will see exactly where I was going:)

We went to the National Air and Space Museum at Dulles on Friday. Amazing...if you like that kind of thing...which we do. FIELD TRIP!!! YAhoo!!

Our service was great Sunday and I hope I never, I repeat, NEVER get tired of hearing my husband preach God's Word.

We have some plans for this week that I know the girls will love. I'll write about those after they happen.

Oh and guess what???? I took me TWO weeks to get a library card. I can't believe it took that long. But, the girls and I are properly carded now. Funny story, the girls checked out 2 movies from the library and when we got home they wanted to watch them but couldn't get the cases open. I said you guys are weaklings bring me them stinkin' cases. I tried with my superhuman strength and could not get those dumb things open. Upon closer examination I realized that the little lock on the case meant they were indeed locked. Back in the car we go. We got back to the library while lots of people were coming out.....they were closing...we had 5 minutes to get those bad boys unlocked and back out the door. We did it...with 3 minutes to spare. Note to self~always make sure the little electronic lock is green and open before leaving the library with DVDs.

Oh, I didn't even get to the part about breaking down at the DMV and waiting 3 hours for the tow truck. Which, btw, was worth it because Mike was able to encourage the tow truck driver about his marriage and invite him to our church:)

My time is way gone. Gotta fly. Love you all. Bye~bye:)

THE POST IN WHICH I TALK ABOUT UNPACKING BOXES

Mike's office

Church Sanctuary

I have been unpacking boxes and unpacking boxes~okay, just remember when I was packing boxes and reverse it.

We have been settling in slowly. Mike actually went to a VDOT community meeting tonight. He said it was about some intersection in the neighborhood that they wanted to expand. He met some of the people that were there.

The girls and I walked to 2, yes 2, parks this evening while Mike was at the meeting. It is so nice to live in a neighborhood. I reminded the girls that they have been praying to live in a neighborhood for a couple of years now. God answered their prayers.

God also answered my prayers today. My pastor's wife in Nashville, Linda, had tests today on a supposed tumor on her pancreas but they could not find it!!!! Praise be to God!!!!

My Dad has an appointment in June to see about having an ablation on his heart so that he will not continue to have the A-fib episodes he has been having.

The girls and I started back doing lessons yesterday and it feels good to have some routine.

I have to come to the church to use the internet so I guess I should get back over to the house and...........unpack a box or 2.