Thankful Thursday

This week is our Spring Break.  I am thankful for...

~ celebrating my husband's birthday on Tuesday.  He is two weeks younger than me.  We took a cake and pie to his work office after we went to lunch.  We went with him on an overnight trip.  Before we left I remembered that we always sing "Happy birthday" to him and the boys help blow out the candles.  So I picked up a pack of cupcakes and we sang at the hotel lobby.  Titus sang on and on very loudly and it was very cute.

~ my big boy feeling better this week and being seen by the ENT.  We were glad he was able to be seen so quickly after his referral.  It looks like he is going to have his tonsils removed this summer. 

~ my little guy's love for his big brother and how he gets excited/happy about such simple things.

~ God reminding me not to worry.

~ working on our plans for the summer.  The summer months are filling up quickly! 

~  the timing of devotionals I read.  Two times in the past week it has been perfectly time on the day I needed to read it. 

Have a day of blessings!
  Bethany

14 years

On this day 14 years ago we said "I do."

I'm so thankful God brought us together our freshman year of college. I feel blessed to be married to this wonderful man who is my best friend.

It's been quite a year for us. When we celebrated our 13th anniversary, we had no idea we'd have a new son this year!  Throughout my pregnancy my husband was wonderful in his love and care for me.  I found myself just amazed at all he would do. He'd work all day, and then come home and do whatever needed to be done when I didn't feel like doing it...laundry, cooking, grocery shopping, dishes, anything. He listened to my worries and let me cry when I needed to.  I appreciated his excitement about my pregnancy and the coming baby. He took me to all of my doctor's appointments which was three hours away. He continually prayed for me and the baby to be healthy.

Now that our baby boy is here he continues to shower me with love and take care of us all so well. He changes diapers in the night. He sings our boy to sleep. He makes time for our big boy, continuing to do the things together they did before the baby came. He has done laundry, ironing, cleaning, grocery shopping,  taken our boy to school...all things I normally do for the family...but he has taken over as I recover.

God gave me a special gift in my husband. This last year I've found my love for him continues to grow deeper.  I'm thankful for this day to remember our beautiful wedding day and our vows we made to each other.

"A cord of three strands is not easily broken."  Ecclesiastes 4:12

Have a day of blessings!
 

13 years!!

As we celebrate our 13th anniversary, I have been thinking of memories we've made together.

...our first walk, our first date and the roses you sent me on my birthday.

... the comments made by our grandparents when we were introduced.

...  our wedding day. Driving by campus last Saturday and seeing a couple in their wedding attire smiling for their pictures made me think of our own special day . What a beautiful, perfect day it was.

...the many times God has provided...our first apartment, my first year teaching job (in a town where schools were closing and teaching jobs weren't in abundance), you getting your first job, my doctor who helped safely deliver our son, our home selling in 10 days, having a temporary home while we waited on our home.

I think of what a blessing you've been in my life for these past 13+ years.

....the joy it brings me daily to see your constant dedication as a father. You didn't miss a doctor's appointment with me during my pregnancy.  You continue to show such dedication and love by attending our son's programs, caring about his interests, and doing things with him daily.

... the way you support me and have always supported me. You've always shown me your support of my dream to be a stay at home Mom, and you continually remind me of the importance of what I'm doing and how much you believe in me and value me.

... the ways I've seen you grow and always continuing to learn. You are a good example to me in that and have taught me so much, more than I could ever begin to write.

...how you always know just what I need. I'm amazed at how well you read me every single time. Every. Single. Time. That's truly such a blessing.

Our marriage and friendship is a treasure to me.  These are some things I treasure....

.... From the time we took our first walk, we've both been able to totally be ourselves with each other.

... The way you are committed to me and our marriage and family. I do not take your commitment to me or my commitment to you lightly.

...  All our times together...our happy times, laughing times, sad times, crying times, silly times, quiet times.  I love our time together

... The way you know what I'm thinking. Just last week as I looked into your eyes when you came home from work, you said aloud sentence for sentence, word for word what I was thinking. You do that all the time and I treasure that about you.

I'm thankful for our 13 years of marriage. I love you. I respect you. I cherish you. I value our friendship and relationship. I'm honored to be your wife.

Happy Anniversary to my best friend. I love you!

"A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."  Ecclesiastes 4:12

Have a day of blessings!

A dozen years

A dozen years ago today I married my best friend.

A dozen years ago I could never have imagined the love we share today.  It is just so amazing and can't even be put into words.

A dozen years ago I would definitely not have written parts of our story the way it has been written so far.  Yet I can look back and see how the story is fitting together better than I could have imagined, and I know God's plan is best, even when we don't understand.

A dozen years ago I never knew the unexplainable joy of having a son nor the pain and heartache of losing 2 children we never got to meet.

A dozen years ago I didn't have the same relationship with God that I have today.  I have grown in Him because of your example and teaching.

A dozen years ago I dreamed of being a stay at home Mommy someday and volunteering at the school.  How thankful I feel that that dream has come true! 

A dozen  years ago I did not know the grief and pain of losing our grandparents who played such an important role in our lives. 

A dozen years ago I did not realize fully the fun we would have together or the way you would always figure out how to make me smile.

A dozen years ago I had no idea how blessed we would be to walk this parenting journey together.

A dozen years ago I could not grasp the blessing being your wife would be.

A dozen years have passed and I have so many memories I cherish.

Thank you God for these dozen years of marriage and I ask you to bless our marriage and continue to guide us as we walk this journey on earth.

Have a day of blessings!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Do you play games of luck/chance for money? Have you ever played bingo for money? Visited a casino? Placed a bet on a horse? Bought a lottery ticket? No.

2. Will you be preparing and/or dining on the traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage meal this St. Patrick's Day? Mashed-baked-hash browned-french fried...your favorite way to have potatoes? No again!  I have never had anything special for a St. Patrick's Day meal.  I enjoy all sorts of potatoes.  I'll say my favorite is baked with butter, cheese, bacon bits and ranch dressing.

3. What's the last thing you felt 'green with envy' over? I'm not sure.  I know there have been some in the past (and they were more being hurt than envious of what others had), but I don't really feel envious very often. 

4. What's at the end of your rainbow?  The first thing that came to my mind was my husband and son.  They are such a treasure to me.

5. March 12th marks the anniversary of the death of Anne Frank (June 12, 1929-March, 1945). Anne's diary detailing her time spent hiding from the Nazi's during the war ranks as one of the best selling books of all time. Besides your blog, do you keep any sort of diary or journal? Was this a habit you developed as a child or is journaling something new for you?  Yes.  I have kept a journal for many years.  I write in it daily about my daily life.  I have kept several through the years.  I don't know when I started writing journals; I know I did in college.  One time when I stopped I missed it so started again.

6. What's an item in your home or closet that contains every color of the rainbow? I have Starburst jelly beans on the counter that I bought last Friday. 

7. Write a limerick with you as the subject. You can do it!! Just remember this is a family friendly blog...don't make me get out my wooden spoon.
It's supposed to be silly right?  I was thinking of this in the night when I couldn't sleep.  I couldn't think of any rhyming words with Texas.  Here is what I came up with:

There was a baby girl who was born
after 11 o'clock in the morn.
Two weeks later there was a boy
Who brought his family much joy
Now the two grown up are together, never apart to be torn.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Today is my husband's birthday (the boy in the limerick above haha!).  We are celebrating by taking lunch to his office and we made him a chocolate chip cake last night.  I'm so thankful for him and the blessing he is to us. 

Have a day of blessings!

Another birthday weekend and new car

We had another birthday weekend! Sunday was my husband's birthday. He took off work on Friday. It was the 2nd anniversary of his Mammaw passing away, and he didn't really want to be at work that day so he took off. So on Friday we went car shopping.

We have been looking for a new car. We have had the Buick for nearly 7 years now. It's been a great car, very reliable with few problems for us. It was getting on up there in mileage so my husband was looking to replace it.

We had paid it off a couple years ago when we went through Dave Ramsey's FPU. Once we paid off the truck as well as the student loans we started a car savings fund. My husband found a couple Nissan's online that would be in our price range, but when we got to the dealership they had already been sold. We went over to another dealership in town. They showed us some used models and then we drove a new Toyota Camry. We both really liked it and talked about it over lunch and then went to talk to our bank to find out about financing because our car savings fund wouldn't cover it. We went back to the dealership after we picked up Caleb from school so they could tell us how much they'd give us for the Buick. They let us take the Camry home for the night too because we weren't going to just sign the papers right then. I needed to process all the numbers in my head first.

I don't like making decisions, especially big ones! I went back and forth in my head about it....I'd really wanted to use cash for our next car purchase. The money we have saved plus some from our income taxes would not pay for a new car. But I also knew if we used the cash on one that cost less it would already have a bunch of miles and we'd be back to needing another one in a shorter time period. If we saved for another few months or year, the car prices will just go up and we still wouldn't haven't enough. I shared all my feelings with my husband. Saturday morning we prayed together before leaving. I needed some peace that it was the right thing to do because I felt like it was okay...but I wanted to be sure. The phone rang before we were leaving. It was another dealership returning a call for an inquiry I'd done online. They couldn't match the deal we were getting locally. Then my husband talked to our dealership here and asked if they'd go up a little on our trade. They agreed to that. After both these things I felt ready to go!

Here is a picture of the car. I'm very thankful!! We've never had a new car before. We will have it paid off shortly, and I'm already working on the plan to begin saving again for a truck replacement for my husband.

Sunday was my husband's 32nd birthday. Caleb woke me up and blew up balloons and we hung a birthday banner. I made a breakfast casserole. It was so easy to make and very yummy! I'd never made one before. I'll have to share the recipe here sometime. We let him open his presents before church. We went out for lunch and had an afternoon at home. In the evening we went out for supper with a couple from our new church.

This week is spring break. Hooray!!

Have a day of blessings!

My other birthday gift...

I mentioned in my post Monday that I had another present that I'd tell you about in a separate post.

After my gifts were wrapped, one of them looked like a frame to me (do you try to guess what your gifts may be too!?). We'd purchased new frames for our new house recently, and I figured it was a new frame that JMP heard me say I thought was pretty when we were looking.

On the Friday before my birthday, I emailed and asked my husband if he was getting off early so we could head to my Mom's house. He wrote back that he was trying to leave early. Then at his normal getting off time he wrote me that he was frustrated because he'd left work at 4 to go pick something up that he thought would be very quick. The lady at the store ended up being very slow doing what he wanted. I couldn't imagine what he could have been doing, but he told me it was something for my birthday.

Sunday when I opened the gifts the one was a frame. He told me, "It's for your diplomas, and I have another one for your teacher certificate." On Friday when he took off early, he went to the store to buy mats to go around them in the frame. He had been sneaky one night while I was in my bath and measured my diploma to know how big to get the mat.

When we were moving he came across my diploma and told me I needed to frame it. I never thought of doing really when I was teaching or now that I'm not teaching. I didn't want to buy a frame for it just to hang in the house. He has a frame in his office that I got for him when he graduated but never considered getting one for myself.

I don't know if I can exactly put into words why this is so special. He totally surprised me; I would never have thought of this.. It is such a thoughtful gift that just spoke to my heart. I have always known my husband supports me and wants me to be a stay at home Mom. He always tells me what I do is valuable and important. It was very validating that he wanted to frame my diploma and teaching certificate to hang in our office at home, even though I'm not teaching right now. This was a gift that said to me I love you, you matter, what you did 10 years ago in college was important and what you are doing today is important.

Some may think it a waste to have my degree and not be teaching right now. I'm glad he doesn't see it this way.

Have a day of blessings!

Thankful Thursday

What an interesting week this has been at our house! I'm glad to share my thankfulness, even in the midst of the crazy week.

Caleb has been sick. He started running a low grade fever Sunday night after church. He threw up in the night. Monday he was out of school and we took him to the doctor. She tested him for strep throat because that was going around. It came back negative and she said he had a virus. The fever continued Tuesday along with headaches. Poor boy. He rarely complains of anything hurting and I knew he just did not feel well at all. Tuesday A.M. Daddy left for a trip to go to get some hands-on training for his new position. Caleb napped most of the day and about 4 woke up with a high temperature and complaining of severe pain in his right side. He was not wanting to get up or walk or anything and saying how badly it was hurting so I was very concerned. I took him to the walk-in clinic. That doctor examined him and said it could be appendicitis or pneumonia in one lung and he wasn't comfortable sending me home so he sent us to the ER. Well this Momma has never taken her baby to the ER. To have him be feeling so terrible and be by myself without Daddy's help I just prayed and knew God was going to have to help me handle the situation. Caleb did not like the room and said he was feeling better, we should just go home. The doctor wanted to do a CT scan to check his abdomen, which meant Caleb had to have an IV and drink some "stuff." Daddy was on his way (he was 2.5 hours away). Gramma came and my aunt did too. I told them I was going to feel bad for them coming all that way if it turned out to be nothing. They all told me no they wanted to be there and there support was greatly appreciated. I tried to occupy Caleb as we waited on the nurses. Then they came in to do the IV. They were super nurses and I was very pleased with how they explained to him just enough of what they were doing so he would know yet not be scared. I talked to him and kept him from watching them. He did cry when they poked him. Let me tell you, he was so brave. I was so proud of him. I knew that God was with us. I can't even take him to get his shots by myself so I know God was giving us strength in that moment when we both needed it. We were working on drinking the "stuff" mixed with apple juice and Gramma arrived followed by Daddy and Sis. Daddy's boss also came to check on us, which was very much appreciated. Caleb was so brave when it was time to go to the CT scan. He rode over in a wheel chair (his first wheel chair ride). The man doing the scan explained it all to Caleb and Daddy stood with him while we watched through a window as they did the procedure. Then we waited some more. The doctor came to tell us his appendix was okay. He has some sort of virus in his intestines which was causing the pain and fever.

Today I am thankful for....

~ my amazing husband and his true love for me and Caleb. I didn't know if it was necessary for him to drive all the way back to be with us but I was so thankful he did. We needed him there.

~ my sweet boy, I am praying for him to be well and this fever to be gone. He has improved Wednesday but is still running fever.

~ the support of our family to come be with us and also their love for us and Caleb. Very special indeed and I love them so much!

~ a huge praise....at this point we believe we are signing the contract on our new house on the 22nd!! Thank you to those of you who have been praying for us.

~ the peace and strength God gave me as I was alone with Caleb. I'm so thankful it wasn't his appendix.

Have a day of blessings!

Happy Anniversary to my husband!

On this day nine years ago, I married my best friend, the special person God gave me to travel with down life's path. I remember how we were so in love on that day. I've looked back this week at my journal from those months and days leading up to our wedding and also taken out our wedding photographs. Such sweet memories! Oh how I cherish them.

I remember that people would ask us questions like where are you going to live, what are you going to do? At the time I was finishing college and looking for a teaching job. We were in a place where the school district was talking about shutting down schools. Not exactly the most promising outlook for a first year teacher who needed to stay in the area while her new husband finished college! I remember not knowing where I'd be teaching in the fall but just being so happy and in love that I just knew it would work out. I had several interviews and then was offered a job teaching 2nd grade (in the district that was closing schools!). Looking back on that time is so encouraging to me today. I love how God fits all the pieces together and does what He knows is best for us at just the right time.

I am so thankful for my husband and the 9 years of marriage we have had. Nine years! It has been such a wonderful nine years. Sometimes I stop and think, "Wow I'm in love with him." Then I'm amazed at just how deep our love has grown. God gave me such a blessing. I could never had dreamed or planned it all so perfectly what God did by bringing us together at ACU.

Happy Anniversary sweetie! I am so excited about what the coming year will hold for us.

I am so proud to be your wife. You're an amazing husband and father and I love being married to you, my best friend!

I may have shared this song here before, but it is a sweet song that I wanted to share today for our anniversary.



Have a day of blessings!

A birthday wish!

Wishing my husband a wonderful birthday today! I'm glad I get to be with him today and show him my love. The card I got for him says I feel like I am the one that got the gift. That is so true, he is such a gift every day to my life!

Have a day of blessings!

A dozen things I remember...

Thursday afternoon I received a surprise delivery. The UPS man pulled up. Caleb said, "I hope it's for me." And I said, "I hope it's for me." The delivery man got out and had in his hands a box from Proflowers. Inside were a dozen multi-colored roses. The card said there was one for each year I've been his Valentine. I was so excited. Soon after that my Valentine got home from work. He said he thought they were coming on Friday. It was so sweet and such a sweet surprise!

I've had my very special Valentine for 12 years. He asked me if I could believe it has been that long and really, I can't! On February 13, 1998 he gave me a card he had made and asked me to be his Valentine. I'm so glad I said yes. :)

So today I'm remembering. I'm remembering a dozen things that have happened in the past 12 years since I said yes.

1. Remember giving me a Valentine in the Bean during lunch. You must have been nervous! It had the poem in it about the value of a smile. It made me smile again to read it the other day.

2. Remember not being sure you'd be able to come back to ACU yet God made a way and you were there every year and finished your degree there. I was so proud of your hard work and determination through those years. It really was inspiring to see you work so diligently in pursuit of your dream.

3. Remember on December 2, 2000 when you surprised me with a marriage proposal (which I will say I was expecting at some time, yet not at that time!) What a great surprise! I loved it!

4. Remember when people asked us where we would live or how we would make it when we got married. We didn't know all the answers but found out God did!

5. Remember our perfect, beautiful wedding ceremony, those delicious chocolate covered strawberries at our reception, leaving without shoes on, and our wonderful honeymoon together (and getting sunburned!).

6. Remember when God provided my first teaching job for me in a district that was closing schools at the time and said they weren't hiring.

7. Remember the excitement we felt when we found out we were expecting our first child only to go through a miscarriage a few weeks later. You were such a rock for me of love and support during that painful time filled with questions, sadness, hurt, doubts, and fears.

8. Remember when God gave us good news (just when we needed it) of a new job for you, one for a position that you really specifically hadn't even applied.

9. Remember how we watched our home being built and we'd drive out most days to see the progress that was made. We have so many special memories here in this home.

10. Remember on that wonderful day in August when the doctor said "It's a boy!" Our lives have never been the same! Parenting has been an amazing learning process with you. You've supported me in countless ways, and I appreciate that more than words can say. Seeing you with our son brings me great joy as well. You are such a great daddy.

11. Remember how we helped each other through the painful times, including sicknesses and the deaths of our loved ones. Having each other to lean on helped so much. I know there will be other times of pain and sadness through the years, but I know we count on each other.

12. Remember, always remember that God has a plan, His timing is perfect, I am proud of you always, and you are the best.

It's wonderful to remember (and kind of hard to stop because I keep remembering more things) and be reminded of all the ways God has been there for us through every thing we've been through together. Thank you for so many wonderful memories. Happy Valentine's Day to my sweet wonderful amazing forever Valentine! I love you...

Have a day of blessings!

Marriage Monday: Open Topic

Want this button?
Today, you’re invited to join us for the Marriage Monday meme. Usually, we write on a specific aspect of married life (like joy or friendship), but today our topic is wide open. Please consider posting your thoughts on whatever facet of marriage is on your heart. You can publish a short piece of prose or a poem, a video, a song, a joke etc.

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I'm so thankful for my husband. It brings my heart gladness to know he is there for me, really there for me to offer support. When I'm sad he seems to know when to say something or say nothing. He seems to always know when I need to talk about something or when I need to laugh. When I am running out of steam, he always seems to know to do a little something extra to help me, whether that is pick up the living room, surprise me with a clean bathroom, or rub my feet. I'm thankful for the special blessing God gave me in my husband.

Hope you'll join us for Marriage Monday on the first Monday of each month!
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"But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15

Update on my hubby

The appointment scheduler called Monday and told him to be at the surgery center at 7:30 this morning. My Mom stayed at home with Caleb and we left around 7:00 a.m. They got him back quickly for the pre-op stuff and then we just waited. I was glad they let me go back and talk to him while he waited. Then it was his turn so I went back to the waiting room. While I was waiting the fire alarm went off! Apparently it is a new building and something set it off by accident. It did make me think though what if it was real and they were in surgery! It was about an hour later when they called me to go back to be with him in recovery. He was shaking when I got to him, I thought he was cold. They told me that the anesthesia (did I spell that correctly? Spell check didn't highlight it!) does that though, and than after a bit he quit shaking. I gave him drinks of water and sat with him. The doctor came by and told us his tonsils were really enlarged and filled with some stuff (I can't remember what word he used). He said he should notice a big difference since they were so big. He also shaved off some of the uvula (the hang down thing in the back of the throat) and he said it was really long too. I got my Mom to come by and get the prescription for pain medicine and take it to the pharmacy. He was having some pain so the nurse gave him something in the IV so I didn't want him to have to wait when we got home. I was glad she could go get it. Caleb got to see Daddy and give him a kiss. They kept us about 2 hours, and we got home about 1:00 p.m. He has been resting and drinking lots of fluids. He's had some Jello and a Frosty. He's been writing me notes too since he can't talk very well either. Caleb loves being a little helper. He got the trash ready to take out and take to the curb for trash pick up day tomorrow. He gave Daddy a bell to ring if he needs anything. Please keep him in prayer over the next few days if you think about it as he heals. Thank you! I'm thankful I can be here to care for him.
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I'll close with this verse today. My husband mentioned it as we were talking and laughing before surgery.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine...." Proverbs 17:22

My sweet husband!

I meant to originally include this in my Thankful Thursday yesterday but forgot and this really deserves it's own post anyway. ;)

Last Thursday I heard a knock at the door. Caleb said it was the UPS man. I was surprised because I couldn't think what delivery I had coming. The white envelope had my name with a return address of JA. I opened to find a small pink box with this inside. It is the August birthstone (peridot). It is so simple and beautiful! You can stack them to wear side-by-side or wear them one at a time. My cousin has this ring so that is where I got the idea.

Also there was a card from my husband that said "Just because I love you."

Isn't that sweet! We looked at the remembrance rings when we went on a trip since we don't have a store here. He worked with my Mom to figure out my ring size for sure and then ordered it to surprise me last week.

It makes me smile to see it on my hand. Thank you sweetie! You are the best!
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"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." I John 4:7

Opening weekend

I wrote this last year about the things I'd learned in the past 9 years (dating and marriage) about hunting. This is opening weekend! Caleb and I will visit Gramma. We have family coming in to town as well and we look forward to spending time with them.

We plan to take Caleb to the lease sometime this season.

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"Humble yourselves under the might hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." I Peter 5:6,7

Toady's prayer for the election:
Pray for Presidential candidate Barack Obama and his family

Feeling blessed

This couldn't wait until Thankful Thursday! Today my husband called while I was on the phone with a friend. I called him back, and he said you're not going to believe this, I can barely believe it. He found out that he was receiving a cash award. Remember months ago when he took the Dale Carnegie class? When he found out this class availability so near to us, he was really interested in attending. He talked to the "boss people" at work about it, and they gave him the go ahead that he should go for it and gave him the impression they'd be willing to pay for part of the class. Well since this he has not heard a definite answer. His boss has been very supportive but the upper people in charge of the finances have not given him an answer. He just wanted a yes or no from them and was not getting anything. We were aggravated to never hear one way or the other. Thankfully received the tax bonus refund this year so that could be used for this class. But we'd gone into the class thinking he'd get some reimbursement from work and felt disappointed not to hear about it. Just last week he'd received the email that any more requests for funds needed to be submitted because they are closing out their fiscal year. I guess today was the day we got the answer! He still has not received an official notification that he got it or why he got it. It was just in the program and he saw it that he had received it. We believe it was their way of paying for part of the class. It is such a blessing. I just wanted to cry really when he told me! It shows me once again of God's perfect timing and He would know when we needed that money!

Another thing is it's been a fun blessing to have my cousin here with us. She came to stay since she's without electricity thanks to Ike. She stayed through the storm as it passed over her city and said what an experience that was! She was safe and unharmed, however doesn't have electricity. She must return to her job Tuesday and classes will resume Wednesday. Hopefully her electricity will be on soon! It's been fun having her here with us. Caleb loves playing with her!

I just wanted to share these blessings today. I feel grateful and didn't want to wait for Thankful Thursday to share! God is good!
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"The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!" Psalm 18:46

Thankful Thursday

I hope you're having a nice week. This one has been busy for me along with the weekend. I usually have a list of various things I'm thankful from my week, but this week I want to focus on reasons I'm thankful for my husband. This mainly involves things that have happened this past week. I kept thinking I'm just so thankful for him so this post of thankfulness is dedicated to him!

I'm thankful my husband...

*listens to me.

*makes me laugh.

*hunts down lizards for me. A few nights ago he saw a tiny lizard moving across the floor by the kitchen door. After we said prayers I was throwing something away and saw it go under the stove. He came and chased it down with his flashlight and eventually the vacuum to get rid of it. Tonight I moved the shower curtain and saw movement in the tub. Another lizard. He quickly got it out of there for me. I don't mind bugs or spiders, but lizards I cannot stand! I am thankful he gets rid of them for me!

*showed calmness about the mess when we got home Sunday. I'm sure it would have been easy for him to be grumpy that the freezer door was left cracked and we had a mess and ruined food. He wasn't though. He was calm and wonderfully helped me clean it all up.

*enjoys spending time with our sweet boy. They always do things together in the evenings, but this week it really helped me have time to finish my course (see previous post).

*helps me in big ways. In addition to spending time with Caleb, he also took clothes off the line, folded them all, and put them away! I was so happy! I was off my routine schedule of doing laundry on Monday because of VBS in the mornings so for him to do all this while I worked on my class made my heart so happy.

Join us today at Sting my Heart for more Thankful Thursdays!

"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12

I'm proud of my husband!

My husband completed the Dale Carnegie course. The class began back in March. It was 12 weeks. They met once a week for three and a half hours. Each week he had to prepare a 2 minute report on a variety of topics. He learned so much, and we did as well as he practiced his speeches for us. There are a couple of the practice speeches that he did that Caleb loved doing with him. They still do them sometimes!

We did not get to attend the graduation class because we were on the mission trip. Today the class leader came by his office and gave him his certificate. It is in a beautiful frame too that will match his college diploma already hanging in his office.

I am proud of him taking the initiative to take this class. He had read Dale Carnegie books from the library and has always been interested in this class. I know it has already benefited him, and he'll continue to reap the benefits of the class in the future.
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"Now that we know what we have--Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God--let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't' have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all---all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help." Hebrews 4:14-16, MSG

The interview

Last Thursday morning I was out hanging clothes and the phone rang. It was my husband and he said, "Go check your email." His voice sounded weird and as I walked from the living room to the computer a million thoughts were flooding my mind, wondering what could make him call randomly in the middle of the morning telling me to check my email! He had sent me an email he had received that he had been referred for an interview.


This was such a huge surprise to me and to him. Earlier this year he had put in two applications for two other jobs. I'd proofed his applications, and we'd prayed for God's will. For this job he had told me about it, and my comment was something oh that's nice, sure apply, why not. I kinda forgot about it and later asked him if he ever turned in his application. He had on the day it was due and that was that!


For his interview he had to give a Power Point presentation answering two questions as well as a question/answer session with the interview committee. He worked throughout the weekend on his presentation. He gave it to me the first time Sunday night. I gave him some tips on things to add or change. Monday night he did it for me again. I was just amazed at how well he did. He had taken the Dale Carnegie class earlier this year, and I could tell he was incorporating things he'd learned in the class.


Monday night he was talking about getting ready for bed and Caleb asked why. He told him he had an interview the next day. Of course Caleb starts asking why. Daddy proceeds to explain to him he has an opportunity at his job to climb the ladder. I was putting some laundry in the wash and was grinning to myself at what I was hearing. I knew this comment was then only going to bring more questions! I must say Daddy did do a good job of explaining it on Caleb's level though.


Tuesday morning as Daddy was preparing to leave, Caleb asked him, "Are you gonna climb a ladder today Daddy?"


The interview went exceptionally well. Those on the committee told him how well he did. I knew he was going to do well after hearing his practice, but it's always nice for others to compliment him and think he did great as well. That afternoon when he got home Caleb asked, "Did you climb a ladder today?"


Then came the waiting. We knew there were four people who qualified for interviews, and they'd finish interviewing Wednesday afternoon. There were many rumors about who they'd choose as there is for any government job opening I've learned. Thankfully for me we didn't have to wait very long.


Thursday morning I got the call to tell me someone else had been chosen for the position. I was okay with that. I felt a twinge of sadness to find out, thinking of the things I'd thought about regarding moving that won't happen now, but then I was okay. He told me the conversation he had with his supervisor as well. I know God has a plan. That is what we keep saying and that is what we really believe. I can look back at unnumbered examples in my life of things not working out a certain way and then later down the road something better comes along.


Through this past week I'm thankful for the peace God gave us. I don't know how many Bible verses, emails, and blogs I have read that I thought were specifically written for this situation. One of those verses I'm including at the end. We both prayed for God's will.



I am very proud of my husband. He is wonderful at what he does. I'm thankful his supervisors recognize that and see his talents. I know he did his absolute best in the interview and that makes me proud too! We are content here and will continue to "keep on keepin' on" here until God shows us otherwise.


The whole week has truly been a wonderful experience for us. It is a great feeling to know our life is in God's hands and have full faith that He is directing our steps.


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"Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." James 4:13-15

Sleep study

My husband had a sleep study done back in March. Originally it was scheduled for February but it ended up being the days after we were getting over the flu. We went with him to his doctor appointment to find out the results at the beginning of April. He definitely has obstructive sleep apnea. The numbers the doctor gave us were rather high above the normal range.

It has been rather interesting to me to pay attention to his snoring and hear the patterns in his breathing. Lately I haven't noticed his snoring as much, so I don't know if I'm just more tired and fall asleep before him or if he's snoring less.

He has a titration study done next to determine if he can be fitted with the CPAP. We were looking at some online, they are rather funny looking!

Hopefully this would help him feel less fatigued during the day. He did not feel like he slept the first time he went so he is just ready to be done with this part.

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"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1