Weekend Adventures

It's been a while since I've been able to write about anything with sustenance. I still don't have much of anything that is blog worthy. So I will write a family update, today.

My 26th birthday (ahem, 5th celebration of my 21st birthday!) was on August 4th. Saturday evening, my husband and I went to a wine bar to watch a band play. One of the singers in the band happens to be my best friend's boyfriend, so we tend to follow them around a lot... therefore, we are groupies! I got to try new wine. I tried a moscato, cabernet sauvignon and a red blend called Texas Hold'em by Messina Hof. The Texas Hold'em is my new favorite right now. It was really good!

Sunday, my actual birthday, was filled with church and family. My parents took us to lunch at the Spaghetti Warehouse in Houston. It was so good. I know I was stuffed after lunch! We were going to try to do something else while we were down town, but it began to pour buckets of rain so we decided to just trek back home for cake. Cake was yummy! Chocolate, as usual :)

I got an awesome pasta pot/double boiler/steamer set from my wonderful in-laws! I have been wanting something like this forever :)

I also got a new tripod for my camera from my dear husband and kiddos. Let me tell you: I have been needing one. My old one is currently being used as an antenna stand at my parent's home ;)

I was also given money to go clothes shopping for myself. I braved Texas' Tax Free Weekend yesterday and got out with my three year old to do some shopping. It went well. I did only get myself 2 items. An awesome new shirt with angel wings on it from Kohl's by Rock & Republic, and some great looking black dress shorts from JCP by By & By. I ended up at Target and decided to be generous and got the girls each a pair of jeans and a top and the husband got a new polo shirt. Happy day!

Today has been a pretty lazy day. We did get up and attempt to go to church. We Matt and I got through the Sunday School announcements when the nursery director pulled me out saying Natalee had a 100* fever. Sssoooo, we pulled the girls out and went home. We tried to bring Natalee into our classroom, but she was simply too fussy to focus. We stopped for kolaches on the way home.

Riley did so well while out shopping yesterday with me that I decided to reward her for being so good and not whining. She has been BEGGING for hair chalk for a while. Today, I got her some. She has been rocking green and blue streaks for the afternoon.

Later on we will be having dinner with Matt's family.

Happy Sunday yall! I hope everyone has had a great weekend and has a great week ahead!

Cheers!

20 Questions Part 2 of 4

There was a blog floating around Pinterest where a list of questions were compiled so that you and your husband (significant other) could get to know each other a little better. Like the author of this blog, I thought it would be neat to answer them so that my children could get a little insight about their momma! So that is what I have done. It was originally 30 questions, but I have pared it down for myself. I hope you enjoy following along with me

This is part two of four

-Describe a legitimate fear you have and explain how it became a fear.

I have a fear of anything fiberglass that has not been sealed. When I was about 4 years old, my dad had a model airplane in our living room. He was building it for a friend. The finished product would have about a 9 foot wingspan. The cowling of this airplane was unfinished fiberglass. Dad had epoxied lead weights into the nose of it. The weights looked cool and I wanted to touch it. When I reached in, I got static shocked. Bad. Like, I still have a scar from a minor burn that occurred from that shock 21 years ago.

-Describe your relationship with your parents.

My Mom and Dad. Without them I would not have a clear idea of how to live life. They have been a wonderful example of parents and spouses. They are always teaching me about the love of Jesus. My parents will do anything for me as well as my new family. They help to provide for us when we are struggling and can’t make it on our own.

-List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.

*Just wait. You don’t need a boyfriend. The two you have this year won’t amount to anything in the future. One even gets arrested later for child porn issues.

*You really don’t need to be in a hurry to have your driver license, either. You don’t get your own car till you are 21 anyway and you’ll be fighting with Mom and Dad for the car keys more often than what’s needed.

*Speaking of Mom and Dad just shut up and listen. They know what they’re talking about after all.

*Your little brother dies in a car accident Oct. 2008. Be nicer to him. And push him to get his DL more than a month before leaving for school. Maybe more driving practice won’t get him killed. Tell him you love him more often.

*You have a strong Faith. Remember this when Kyle does pass. Don’t go as long as I did without church.

*You have two beautiful daughters with a wonderful guy. The first one is out of wedlock, but don’t let it bother you too much. Your whole family life falls into place after this. And Mom and Dad do eventually come around. Just do as they say and eventually Matt will charm the socks off them, anyway! Oh, tell your Dad’s family about Riley BEFORE you go into labor. Whatever Dad tells you about Granddaddy Ted, don’t believe it. Everyone will be THRILLED to have a baby in the family again.

*Marriage is tough. 110% tough. But you have it easier than most. Work hard together and you’ll make it!

*College is long for you. Buckle down early and don’t goof off your first year. In fact, dump that Goober you’ve dated forever and don’t pick classes that he’s taking. That will just hinder you in the long run. Keep your grades up and you will go far. You can do EC’s, just don’t go out of town EVERY week with the cow show team. This, too, will hinder you. Just focus on school!

*Handle your money better. You never learn to save until it’s almost too late. You and Matt tend to miss out on a lot of fun because you’re so broke all the time. You do start a great craft business that brings in your own money, but sales are far and few between and the money seems to come when you need it most!

*RED LIGHT CAMERAS! Avoid the intersection in town by the old HEB. You and Matt get 4 tickets there in 2012 alone. Ridiculous!

-What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?

*Working out six days a week. I’ve never felt better since leaving marching band behind with high school. My joints don’t hurt near as bad and I actually have energy!

*My craft business. I love that I have a business doing something that I actually ENJOY!

*I am happy that my girls are at the ages where they will play happily with each other. Sometimes that is not the case, but for the most part, I love hearing them squeal in delight when they are playing in their room together.

*Driving alone in my truck makes me happy. It’s rare, but when it happens, the windows are down and the tunes are up!

*Date nights make me happy. They are also far and few between.

An Awesome Book!

For about seven years now, my go to book has been Francine Rivers' "Redeeming Love." It is a fictional book based upon the book Song of Solomon in the Bible. I read this book whenever I feel like I need a reminder that there is Someone who loves me unconditionally.

Wednesday, I decided I would go to B&N. My weekend had been pretty terrible and I needed a pick-me-up. I was intending to purchase a Gary Chapman book. I have the 5 Love Languages on Kindle, but I wanted a hard copy so that I could highlight, take notes and underline important sections. Well, B&N was out of stock on that book. So I perused the featured tables just looking for anything to catch my eye. I saw a book with a photo of the most beautiful wedding dress I'd ever seen. Appropriately, it was called "The Wedding Dress" by Rachel Hauck. I read the back cover. Its tag line read, "One Dress, Four Women, One Hundred Years..." or something to that effect. The summary read to be a great mystery book. Already I was hooked.

Additionally, I have this funny habit when it comes to selecting books to read. I will read the first page, a page somewhere near the middle, and another page near the end. I like to see if I will like the style of writing and how challenging a read a book may be. Just reading those three pages, I was hooked. The writing flowed well, there was mention of Jesus in an appropriate context and I wanted to read more!

I couldn't dive into the book until Friday. But, let me tell you... I was done with it in three hours!

This book is my new "Redeeming Love." "The Wedding Dress" was like a hug from God. The message of this book was that this wedding dress is a metaphor for The Gospel. The Gospel is for everyone. It fits everyone like a glove. The dress in the book fit four women over the course of a hundred years and never needed to be altered. As is the Gospel, It does not need to be altered. Not by one stitch in or out.

I have been saved since I was 8 years old at Mims Baptist Church in Conroe, TX. William Blackburn came to preach as a guest at our church and he did a good job of explaining sin and salvation. He did such a good job that at invitation time I made my decision to accept Jesus Christ as my personal Lord an Savior. I was baptized a few Sundays later. By no means am I perfect. I still sin. But I repent and I know that the Grace of God has redeemed me for ever and ever.

Anyway, after my terrible weekend, and reading this wonderful book... I feel back to 100%. I have been reminded that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me unconditionally even when my life is in turmoil.

Go Find Rachel Hauck Here.