I'm it

I was tagged by Angie, this morning, so here goes.

Rules: Each player answers the question themselves. At the end of the post the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment letting them know that they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person that tagged you know when you've answered the questions on your blog.

10 years ago I:
1. had been dating Eric for just a month
2. was in my second year of teaching
3. didn't know how easy life was
4. only had to take care of myself and my dog
5. could wear a size 4

5 things on today's "to do" list:
1. work on Jaded (my bible study)
2. do laundry (that one never goes away)
3. scrub toilets (please don't be jealous)
4. make breakfast, lunch and dinner
5. teach school

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. chocolate
2. humus and pita chips (me too! Angie)
3. peanuts
4. cereal bars
5. cookies

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. Pay off our house
2. Pay for my parents' house to be remodeled (dad does all the work himself, so it's taking awhile)
3. Pay for Jenny's college tuition
4. Give lots to our church building fund
5. Travel

5 places I have lived:
1. 64 Reid Circle
2. apartment/dorms in college
3. 8 Spring Bluff
4. 114 N. Tibbs
5. 1802 Oakmont Dr.

5 jobs I have had:
1. Chic-fil-a
2. Kmart
3. campus foreign language lab
4. elementary teacher
5. stay at home mom/homeschool teacher(by far the most challenging!)

The rules say I have to tag 5 people.So I'll tag:
1. Jodi
2. Cindy B.
3. Lacey
4. Brittany
5. Justin

Disney World

Well, finally, here are some pictures from our trip to Disney World. We had so much fun. The girls have said several times that they miss Disney. This was Eric, and Maddie, and Ella's first trip to Disney. It was so funny to see their reactions to everything. Maddie and Ella somehow changed personalities while we were there. Maddie was "chatty Cathy". She couldn't stop smiling or talking. And the amazing thing was that she ran to all the characters and talked to everyone! Ella on the other hand was so in awe that she couldn't say anything to anybody. She walked around with her eyes as big as saucers the whole time. These are just a few of our favorite pictures. Here we are just before we left the house.This was Maddie and Ella's first plane trip. They were sooo excited!

Pop never looks at the camera. :)

watching the Festival of the Lion King...in awe

Princess dinner

Ariel loved that Maddie and Ella had the same color hair as her.

Epcot, or apecot as Maddie first called it

Maddie took this picture. I thought it was too funny not to include!

Maddie and Ella loved the teacups, but I had to include the picture of the 2 big kids!

Fresh off Space Mountain...yes I said Space Mountain. Ella is a thrill seeker, but Maddie surprised me again. She rode lots of rides that I never thought she would get on.

We got to be in the Family Fun Day parade in the Magic Kingdom. Maddie and Ella thought they had won the lottery!Ella's favorite ride. She's a little partial to elephants.I wasn't kidding when I said Ella's eyes were as big as saucers!

Let's Go to the Movies

*update* This is a movie clip below, even though it may not look like it. Just click on the play button.

You may have seen previews for this movie, but in case you haven't, I wanted you to know about it. It is by the same people who did Facing the Giants which is another must see. This one is about marriage. The preview looks really good. You can read more about it at this website.

Pardon me while I get on my soapbox for a moment. Y'all satan is after our marriages. If you are married, I pray that it is a stong, healthy one, but please don't become complacent. If he hasn't yet, satan will attack you. Marriage was God's plan...a perfect plan. The enemy wants no part of that. Mine has been attacked before and will be again. We have to continually work at it. We must guard our hearts and minds in Christ...continually. Plus, if we are going to support any movie, one based on Christian principals is a good one to choose. OK, I'm stepping off my soapbox. Thanks for humoring me. :) Now, go hug your spouse.

A Quote and a Thought

So...the girls spent the night with Gran and Pop Friday night. Saturday morning, Gran and Maddie had a conversation about chores...seems to be a topic of a lot of conversations around here. Anyway, Gran was telling her that she had some chores to do Saturday morning. Then they talked about Maddie and Ella's chores. The girls just can't quite understand yet why they have chores to do everyday. Gran explained that as a family, we all have things we need to do to help out. She said your mom has chores to do too, like laundry and cleaning and whatever else she listed. To that Maddie replied and I quote,

"Those are not Mommy's chores, that is her life."

Most days that is exactly how I feel. My life seems to revolve around the mounds of laundry around my house, and trying ever so desperately to stay one step ahead of needing to be the next show of "Clean House". Many days I wonder if I am doing anything for the kingdom. But God reminds me ever so gently, this time through Eric, that I am doing exactly what I was called to do. And while that may not be all that glamorous, and some days not all that fun, it is for a purpose. Maddie and Ella are watching and learning by my example...scary ain't it! If I ask them to do their chores with a happy heart, then I need to do the same. They are two precious souls that God created. If they learn to tune their hearts to Him and follow His calling, then I have done something for His kingdom.

Lord, only by your grace can we be an example of you. Fill us right now with your Holy Spirit so that we may accomplish what you have called us to.
Amen

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Well, here I am again. I am hoping this is like riding a bicycle, and it will all come back to me very quickly! Anyway, MB, I will try and be a little less lazy in the days to come. :)

Back at the beginning of summer as my anniversary was approaching, I was having a hard time coming up with a gift for Eric. I can't express how much giving the "perfect" gift means to me. Unfortunately, it doesn't happen very often for whatever reason, but when it does, It makes my heart happy. I always have a hard time with gifts for Eric. If he needs something, he just goes and buys it, leaving nothing left to the want list. I finally resorted to Google...I mean what can't you figure out with Google at your fingertips?? I came across an idea that sparked my interest and tailored it to fit us. The drum roll please.....I gave him a box with 13 envelopes...yeah he looked at me that way too. But he was allowed to open the 1st one and read it. It was all mushy and sappy and stuff, but explained that each of the other 12 envelopes would be opened on the 5th of each month (our anniversary is the 5th). They would each explain a date that we would be taking. So, if you do the math, that is one date each month until our 10th anniversary. But, what I thought was the cool thing is that most of our dates are recreating things that we did back before we were married.

Last night, we went on our 3rd date. I know what you are thinking...no it wasn't the on the 5th, but that is the only one that isn't. Back when we were dating, Eric lived in Dalton, and I lived in Bremen. We would meet in Atlanta a lot, because that was sort of half way. One of our rendezvous was a trip to a Braves game, so that is what we did yesterday, hence the reason we went on the 2nd instead of the 5th. They do not schedule their games around me. Anyway, we had a great time, even though it was 150 degrees outside! We were very blessed however because our seats were shaded by the upper deck.

Awwwww, aren't we cute?

I used to be a big Braves fan. I went to games before they ever started winning and Fulton County Stadium was empty. But, now the games seem longer, and the seats seem harder. Maybe that is showing my age. But, yesterday was a treat because Steven Curtis Chapman was in concert after the game, which made the long game and the hard seats worth it!

Now, I mentioned that it was 150 degrees all day, and there hadn't been a cloud in the sky until the band began to set up. Then out of nowhere, the sky turned ugly and the wind started blowing. We could see lighting flashing in the not too distant sky. John Smoltz spoke before the bottom dropped out of the sky. It was rather fitting that he talked about the clouds and storms that God places in our lives.

It absolutely poured for 20 or 30 minutes, while everyone ran for cover. Then we were able to go back to our seats. Because of safety reasons, the band wasn't able to play, but Steven came out with his guitar, his Bible and a microphone. The sky cleared and turned the most beautiful shade of orange and purple. My picture just doesn't do it justice. God is so big and so amazing. The very fact that SCC can even stand on stage is evidence that God is real. He talked about little Maria and the storm that they have been in. He said he has never been more certain that God is real and has a plan for each of us. Does he understand everything, no. Is he still full of questions, absolutely. But, God does have a plan for each one of us. We all walk through storms. This life is a series of them. If we aren't in one now, we will be soon. We just have to trust. So, I pray that wherever you are, whatever you are going through, you can give your life to Him, because He loves you more than anything and He's got it figured out...even if you don't exactly understand it.

Happy Birthday Maddie!

Wow! I can't believe it, my sweet Maddie is 6 years old today! I'm not sure where the time has gone. It seems like just yesterday that we brought her little tiny self home from the hospital. I remember it like it was yesterday. We had no idea how our lives were going to change! When I think that this is just a glimpse of the love that God has for us, I am just overwhelmed.

On Sunday, we had a few of Maddie's friends over for a tea party with their American Girl Dolls.

Is this good tea party etiquette or what???

After the tea party, we headed to the movie theater to see the new Kit

Kittredge movie. It really was a cute

movie. I highly recommend it!

Happy birthday Maddie Belle! We love you a whole stinkin bunch!!

An Easy DIY Project

Every once in awhile I come up with a good idea. Now, I will be the first to say, I am no Nate Burkus, nor am I anywhere close to Billy Graham, but I came up with a quick easy project that combines a little spirituality and some home decor to boot. Many people have "life" verses. I really don't. My mind doesn't tend to work that way. I compartmentalize in my brain. If I had to sum my whole life into one verse, I would be in trouble. When Maddie and Ella were born, several wonderful people told us that they had picked a life verse for their children. I tried that...didn't get very far. So, I backed up and punted. I began to pray and asked God to show me what HE wanted me to pray for them. A mere four years later, He gave me one for Maddie. I don't call it her life verse. It is just one of many that I am praying for her until God shows me another. I didn't really have a specific verse for Ella, but God has shown me very recently that I need to pray for her to understand and accept authority. I want my girls not only to know that I pray for them daily, but I want them to know some specifics. I have painted "verbage" on several walls in my house, but I didn't want this to be so permanent. When God gives me a new verse, I want to be able to change it.

So, all that to say here's what I came up with: I bought two 10x20 frames, which I found for only $8.00 a piece. Then cut white paper to fit in each. I wrote the particular scripture for each girl on each paper. Then put it in the frame. I used cute ribbon to hang them with, which I found on clearance for a couple of dollars, but you certainly wouldn't have to. I just happen to be able to write in cute fonts, but those of you who are much more computer savvy than I, could easily print it out instead. Now, how easy is that...and all for around $18.00!

Here is the finished project