Wifey Wednesday - Declutter

Marriage is not easy. It is hard work. It is tiring work. It is exhausting till I can barely stand up anymore work. You add children into the mix of things and that adds a whole other element of work. Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the "work" of if all and miss the "moments."  

I have bought in to the whole social media frenzy. Now, I may not share every single detail of every moment of my day but I get it. It helps us stay connected with family and friends among many other things. This blog is a perfect example of social media. It allows me to create an easy scrapbook of memories for our family when otherwise it may not happen. 

However, social media also lends to temptation. "Friending" an ex on facebook, checking out how others are living their life and who got what and went where on vacation. Then, before you know it, the internal analyzing begins. Well, why doesn't my husband do that? Why don't we get to go there? Why can't I buy that? It is disturbingly easy to get wrapped up in everyone elses "status updates" and before you know it you are trajecting those feelings upon your own marriage and life. That is when things get dangerous.

Marriage and life are hard enough without the "outside" clutter influencing you and your relationship. This is something I struggle with sometimes. Who wouldn't love to have a spouse who just received a triple digit promotion? A vacation through Europe? A 5000 sq. foot home?

The clutter starts eating at me and prevents me from just "being" in the moment and the simple joys that God has blessed our family with. The "clutter" is not part of God's perfect plan for us. Our marriage and our journey together is not like anyone elses. Our journey is our own path which we chose to walk together 8 1/2 years ago in front of God, our family, and our friends. 

My husband gets me and knows me, at the very core of my being, and unlike anyone else. He is the one who holds my hand when we pray together, when I am sick, suffering a loss, or just watching TV in bed together at night. And now, he helps me hold the hand of our little girl. He is my partner and my best friend. Sometimes though, it just seems easier to focus on the "clutter" and negative. When this happens I miss "seeing" the moments of coming home to a clean house, him playing princess dress up with our 4 year old daughter, cuddling on the couch with our kittens, keeping us safe and secure, or calling our neighbor to check on her because of a random car parked her driveway. Pretty much all of the reasons (and many more) I fell in love with him in the first place. All the reasons that I CHOSE to say yes when he CHOSE to ask me to marry him all those years ago.    

Our marriage is centered around God and our foundation in him. Yes, it is work. Yes, it is hard but at the end of the day, we CHOOSE to commit our lives to each other until death do us part.     

Tummy Tuesday - Wings Night

No, this post is not about some fantastic wing recipe. More along the lines of a yummy dinner we had at Buffalo Wild Wings last night. We are creatures of habit at our house and always cook during the week. However, we were so tired last night and really did not feel like cooking. Plus, as a result of my hectic grocery store visit on Friday, many key ingredients were accidently (maybe my subconcious knew what it was doing) left off the list therefore leaving us unable to cook dinner last night. 

To be honest, I don't think Sophie has even had wings before. They are Jeff's most favorite food in the whole world and I enjoy them as well but not necessarily on his level. If there was ever any doubt (and there wasn't), Sophie proved last night she is most certainly her father's daughter. 

Very proud of her messy hands and face!

I love that look! She is thinking - hmmm...I am not sure that is going to be enough water for me!

Wild Winger Champion!

Sophie - 1, Wings - 0

Doing what any reasonable lady would do after eating a basket of wings - reapply her lip gloss!

  

Like father like daughter!

Mommy Monday - Cousins

I love big families - the bigger the better. We grew up without any cousins so the fact that Sophie already has cousins with hopefully many more to come, makes me extremely happy for her!

This past weekend we were lucky enough to have some of Jeff's family in town for the weekend. It was one big slumber party with people everywhere - especially kiddos. There is almost nothing that makes Sophie happier then spending time with her sweet cousins. I am sure the fact that they dote on her has nothing to do with it!

An added bonus is that we of course all get to spend time together and Jeff had time with his brother. When those two are together, it is as though they enter their own little world. It's kinda like catching a glimpse of what they must have been like together when they were younger. Makes me love and respect my mother in law even more - just kidding....kinda.

Some of the highlights from the weekend include me learning how much of a germ-a-phob I have become. We took the crew to our local spray and play park which also has a large community pool. Of course I packed Sophie's swimmies/floaties but guess what?! They don't allow you use your own floaties and instead you must use one of their lifejackets. You know - the ones that everyone and their brother have also worn? The ones that have probably never been cleaned? I could keep going but I will refrain. Please do not get me wrong because I most certainly do not think we are too good for them because we aren't. I totally get the importance of everyone wearing the same thing. But....the germs, oh the germs! And the way some of those straps on a lifejacket fit, it is just not places I think are meant to be shared with other people. Sophie on the other hand could have cared less and that is how I want it. I don't want her turning into a germ-a-phob like me....or my Mom. Thanks to my mom - I can also no longer take my shoes off in a hotel room but that is beside the point.

At the pool there were some pretty awesome inflatable obstacle courses floating in the deep end of the pool and of course we all had to try them out! However, they would not let you in the deep end of the pool until you passed a swimming test. I am not even going to lie.....watching Jeff pass the swimming test and go across the floating obstacle course was perhaps the highlight of my weekend......possibly my life!

I wish I had more pictures to share but I was too busy trying to keep the house from burning down and/or our new kitties escaping from one of the open doors that had been le. However, I truly would not have it any other way.  

Fabulous Friday - On the Pontoon

We had a great time last night riding to dinner on Bubba's boat. Such a nice summer surprise after this hectic week - very much needed!

Rare family pic! 

I don't care how old you are - your never too old to enjoy feeding the ducks!

Jeff doing the "dougie" dance. Yes, you read that right!

Even after seeing him dance, I still love him!

Love of my life! She broke it down dancing too but it was too dark to snap a picture!

Love our Titi and love watching our family grow!

I am ready for some nieces and nephews!



Take a look at this view and I dare you to try to tell me that our God is not good!

Have a great weekend! xoxo

Random Thursday - The Cat's in the Craddle

1) I get up early every morning, while things are still quiet, and do my devotional then run. I love this quiet time before the day starts getting crazy but I do hate the actual act of running. As much as I would love to be one of those people with the stickers on the back of my car for all the marathons and such that I have completed, it will never happen. It just won't! Now, I could do Zumba and a Mud Run every day of the week but as for the 'ole boring run - it is a necessary evil!

2) I learned something crazy cool in my devotional this morning that yet again shows how great is our God! There is the existence of a protein molecule in the human body called Laminin. Laminin is a self adhesive protein molecule that litterally holds our human bodies together. The shape of this tiny protein is a cross. Seriously, a cross! How crazy right?! Just another example of how precious and amazing our heavenly Father is. He really does hold us together in every since of the word!

3) King, one of our new kittens, LOVES for Sophie to carry him around like a baby. I am not even kidding - he loves it. This morning she was carrying him around craddled in her arms and she said to me "Mommy, look what just came out of my tummy." We did not have enough time for me to even begin to broach that subject so I just rolled with it.

Have a great day!

Wifey Wednesday - Strong Foundation

In the past few months I have become hypersensitive to little eyes and ears watching everything we say and do. As Sophie grows and become more aware of her surroundings and actions, it is more important now than ever that Jeff and I provide a strong example of a Godly, healthy, and loving marriage.

Jeff and I love laughing together. A few evenings ago we were joking around with each other as we were cleaning the kitchen after dinner. Jeff made a joke and Sophie's little head whipped around on her shoulders and without missing a beat she said - "Daddy, don't talk to Mommy like that." We both just stopped and stared at each other with our mouths hanging open. Of course, we explained to her that Mommy and Daddy were just playing around and being silly but yet again we were shown what a strong impression our relationship together has on her.

The way that Jeff helps around the house, showers us with hugs and kisses, dances with me in the kitchen, and many other things are all qualities that Sophie will one day look for in her husband. The way that I take care of Jeff, provide affection, encouraging words of support and appreciaton, and many other things are all ways that Sophie will learn to be a wife. Most importantly, showing Sophie how to have God at the center of her marriage because our heavenly Father provides the best foundation of all. With his help, we are laying a strong fundation that will last her a lifetime.

Tummy Tuesday - A Crock Pot Meal I Didn't Burn!

We have always been big fans of crock pot meals at house. Even if I do find ways to burn them half the time. Yes, I know this is a talent that not many people have so please try not to be too jealous. Don't worry though because of course, I only share the meals that I don't burn!

Cool Ranch Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

And then I found this GREAT suggestion for corn on the cob that we added with it.

Directions - Fill pot with water and then add a stick of salted butter and 1 cup of milk. Bring to a rapid boil. Put in ears of corn and turn heat to low simmer for 5 - 8 minutes. Yummy!!

Enjoy!