A Little Mush And A Lot Of Thankfulness

My days are all off since we have been off the mountain for a week. But, we loved the little 'vacation' at our in-laws house. When we got back on the mountain last night I was already missing their central heater (we use a wood-burning stove for our heat up here, but it takes awhile to take effect.) and the cushy/not so freezing toilet seats. We have the porcelain ones and they are so stinkin' cold when you sit! Anyway, when Timmy got home he commented on how much he missed his bed and his smile said it all. It is good to be home! Plus, I see a happier set of kids up here. It is funny how they have acclimated to the mountain so well. Guess you can take the city out of the boy/girl, afterall. (However, I am ALL CITY...and do look forward to moving back down the mountain, someday.)

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Tim and I have really been benefitting from the 'Home Builders' project we have going on at our church. We had our 'date' to do our homework a week ago, and ended up having to finish it in the van, because the seats inside the Starbucks were not made for a pregnant woman and a man with a spinal cord injury. It was great though, because we had such sweet fellowship, no matter where, and such a sweet time of prayer together. We have loved doing the homework, because we are finding out things about one another, that maybe before we overlooked because we weren't in a setting meant to write down our thoughts and look deeper into what they might mean.

I did really want to mush it up for Timmy and surprise him for our date. He has been bugging me for YEARS to get another spiral perm, like when we first started going out, but I hate to deal with all the product, etc, etc. I have seen so much lately how God is in all the littlest of details, so I thought that I could also be in the details for the love of my life and off to the salon I went a few hours before our date. I wish I could have captured the look of happiness on his face when he saw my hair...he was so grateful and it was worth every second at the salon.





We attended our 2nd 'Home Builders' meeting this past Monday and we had to each write out a floor plan of our dream house. We actually had a very, very similar plan, except his included a 'smoking room'...he likes to enjoy the occasional cigar. And, when I say occasional, I think it has been almost a year since his last one...so, I think the smoking room should be a scrapbooking room...although, I have never scrapped a page in my life. Maybe having a room for it, would encourage me!









BTW, what do you think of our shirts?


We will have to wear them every time we have a meeting as our 'uniform'. Pretty cheesy, but cute, huh?







You should have seen the looks we got walking down the aisles of Target after our meeting with all 5 kids and my VERY pregnant belly.



I must tell you that we have started to incorporate something back into our marriage since our date. We used to use this method a lot through the first few years of our marriage, but after the accident, so much changed. We both talked about how stupid it was to let it fall away, because it was a good method to use. It is called the 'Kiss you 'til you shut up' method. If one of us is trying to argue with the other, the sane one should kiss the other, until the other shuts up. Works every time!

I can't wait until the next one because it means I will have to top my spiral perm for our date. I better start thinking of what to do to wow Timmy, now!

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I am so thankful for my sweet friend, Nicole! I have wanted to do a post honoring her for all she has done for me. She has been in my life for almost a 9 years, but we have been good friends since our birthing class together about 7 years ago. She has always extended the hand of friendship out to me, and she makes me laugh like it's no ones business. She is GORGEOUS, inside and out, and I do thank God often for bringing her into my life. So, thank you, Nicole for loving me and letting me be a part of your life. You are such a cherished friend. If it weren't for you, I would be a lonely mountain mama...barefoot, pregnant, braless, and probably unshaven legs, too. So, I am sure EVERYONE thanks you for being my friend!







Thanks also to Nicole for including us in the special BEE SHOW that was put on by a doctor friend of her Mom's. The kids got to see bee's up close and personal, and were even able to hold the drone bees, since they don't have stingers. Did you know that?


It was great to watch the kids all having a blast holding the drone bees, but once the 'lesson' part of the show started, off to the swings and slides they ALL went. So, it was all of us mommies soaking up the amazing information. Boy, was I totally mislead about bees!
After the lesson, our Bee Doctor, brought out a jar of honey taken from the hive itself and it was soooo tasty! All the kiddos and Moms got to try some. I didn't know you could eat it straight from the hive. It tasted amazing!








I am also thankful for the mommies in my group. They have been a very important part of my life for years now. I hold them all in a very special place in my heart because they pray for me, for my family, and for my husband, faithfully. They encourage me, they lift me up, they love me with all my flaws. I was telling my husband that it is so sweet to have this group of women that are kind of in a different world from my church, or family, because I can go to them with personal prayer requests and not be concerned about it getting out. They have been like that special piece of jewelry you just never wear out in public because you are afraid you could lose it...I hold them near and dear to my heart, enjoying the sweetness of the privacy I am allowed by having them be a separate part of my life, but a huge one as well. They have made me fee like I have 2 church families. I love you, girls!! I know you guys read my blog, even if you don't comment. (Special thanks to Deana for letting me love on Jonathan. He is so sweet! I miss baby boys!)












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And, for your viewing pleasure.....









Zack had a blast celebrating his little friend's 2nd birthday. It was a Pink Poodle in Paris Party and you have to check out the cupcakes!


















My girlfriend is so talented! Check out these little pieces of art, known as cupcakes. She made these little poodle ones, ones with pink doggie buscuits on top, and then beautiful sparkly ones, as well. She also handmade the goodie bags and everything looked so beautiful and was presented in a way that made you want to go and have your very own 'Pink Poodle Party'.







That's why when she offered to do our Isabella Grace's 1st birthday...You know I was all over that..since the only thing I am crafty at is: being pregnant, nursing, and things of that nature.