Easter!

We had a great Easter!  However, I don't have a SINGLE picture from the whole day! :( It was kind of a busy, whirlwind day.  And I kept thinking--need a picture, snap a picture, but didn't really have the time to take any. And honestly, with the weather, we couldn't do an outdoor egg hunt, so it was kind of hard to get in the picture mode. 
But that's OK.  I may try and "recreate" Easter this weekend! :)  I want to at least get pictures of the kids....and what's 7 more days?

What a Good Friday It Was!

Yesterday, on several occasions I thought of what the day meant as a Christian.  I think that's the first time in my life I REALLY reflected on the day's meaning like I did.  There were times I was sad, there were times I was thankful, and times I was happy.  What a day! To know that God would do such a thing as to give his only Son for us...amazing! 
I found some great tweets yesterday about Good Friday....

"Just when it looked like evil was going to win; it didn't.  A LOT can change in a weekend."

"Betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, abandoned by the eleven, forsaken by God. Darkness, you get one hour.  Then you die."

Happy Easter!!

I Have a Choice

After the last two tumultuous weeks, I had some drive time Monday and Tuesday and that always gives me plenty of time to think! :)

And think I did.  And I made a few decisions.  But those thoughts and decisions didn't come until after I heard a sweet song on the radio Tuesday.....It's called Blessings by Laura Story.  And what's so ironic is that another friend who knows the pain in my life right now blogged about the same song! 

But the words in that song reminded me of a few things.  The song is full of questions like "What if blessings come through raindrops?" or "What if the trials of this life are your mercies in disguise?" And those questions got me to thinking--I have a choice.  I can choose to be bitter and resent the people that have hurt us or I can choose to see the situations as what they might possibly be--blessings.  Looking back in life, some of the most trying times of my life ended up being some of the biggest blessings. And I have to trust Him that this very situation is a great example of that yet again.  So, I did a weird thing yesterday--I invited some of the very people that hurt us to go to church with us. After I did it, I thought, "what did I just do??" I texted Richie and told him and said I didn't really know why I did it and he just responded, "Because you are a good person with a kind heart. That's why I married you." Made me feel so good.  Then, a few minutes later, someone else got wind of what I did by overhearing a conversation with the people and I got a text out of the blue that said, "....I overheard ___ and ___ talking about a text you sent to ___ about them going to ya'lls church this Sunday.  I am so proud of you and Richie. You have both handled this mess with such grace and poise.  You have no idea how much I admire and appreciate you. You will both be blessed for letting Christ's love and grace flow through you!!" I had tears in my eyes after reading it--It made me feel so blessed to have people in my life that care and love us.  And after that I made a choice.  I am done with hurting.  I am done with this stuff consuming our lives.  I can't change people.  But I can change my response.  And my response now is I refuse to be bitter.  God knows what he's doing and I have to trust that.  Until I understand (and I may never) the reason, I will continue to love these people.  And I can honestly say from that moment on, I am at peace.  I am happy with whatever outcome may head our way in this.  

  Here are the lyrics to the song.  Such wonderful words!

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home,
It's not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

The Pox

As if we didn't have enough drama around here, Weston has the chickenpox! Well, I guess I should say "had" the chickenpox as he is finally on the mend and should be able to go to school for the first time this week.
It started Friday when I came home from work.  He was laying in bed and felt warm.  I checked him and he had a fever of 100.4.  He then says, "mom, I have these red dots on my arm" and pulls up the sleeve of his shirt.  I knew at that moment.  But, I hoped it wasn't really that!
So, we went to the dr first thing Saturday morning--and it was. Ugh. But, Dr. J was good to put him on an anti-viral medicine in hopes of lessening the duration and extent.  He said that the older you are when you get them, the worse they are.  So, I am thankful he chose to be proactive and shave some time of this thing!
However, it wasn't enough time because Weston still had to miss his first baseball game last night.  He still had a few blisters and I was so scared that he could possibly bust one open and get a staph infection (not to mention infect someone).  However, he looks tons better today, so he will be back at school tomorrow!! Bring on the make-up school work! :(
**IMPORTANT**I could not figure out how he got the chickenpox at his age.  There are at least 4 cases at his school.  I called his pediatrician and he received the vaccination at 1 yr, however they did not require a follow up booster for school when he started, so he only had the one shot.  Please call your pediatrician and check to see if you child has had the 2nd booster!! Kylie had not had it and we took her first thing Monday to get it!

This was Friday when he was just starting to get spots

By Saturday morning, we were facing this!!

And by Sunday, they were on his back/belly....and a few on legs, head, face.

Day 3 when the blisters started to form

Words

Words--I have plenty of them right now to say, but for some reason I can't.  I am baffled. I am shocked.  I never imagined the cruelty of people.  I have seen my fair share of heartbreaks and hurt feelings with me and my family, but gosh, this?
And how do I remain faithful when I don't understand to begin with? I know faith isn't connected to understanding. I realize we don't always like the outcome of situations. I know life isn't fair or perfect.  But just once, just once can't the right thing happen? Just once can't the honest guy prevail? Just once can't people treat each other with respect? Why am I asked to forgive when others continue to hurt me and the ones I love?
I know I sound so bitter in this post, but like I said I have a lot of words.  Words that are meshed inside feelings.  Words that are masked with as much of a smile as I can muster.  And sometimes words that are hidden behind a blank stare.
I am sick and tired of it.  I am sick of being sick and tired of it.
I only want what's best for the ones I love.  And I know that maybe right now God knows what's best and I don't.  That's the ONLY thing keeping me sane.  That's the ONLY thing keeping me from using my words.  That's the ONLY thing keeping me from lashing out.  Because when it's all said and done, that's all I have left--hope that God is going to show me that he has a better answer than the one I thought was best.
So, I will keep my words unspoken.  I will put my faith in the One that holds the answer.  And I will trust--trust that He knows what he's doing!

But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him."  1 Corinthians 2:9

Happy Anniversary!

On April 12 (Tuesday), Richie and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary!  It was a crazy day full of the typical ho-hum of life, but thankfully we "observed" our anniversary on Saturday night with a dinner and movie, so that made up for it! We went to eat at Beef O'Brady's and to see Lincoln Lawyer.  Great food and good movie!
I can honestly say Richie is my best friend.  He cracks me up sometimes.  He talks about how birthdays and anniversaries are "just another day" (he gets that from his Dad I think). I am the total opposite! I look forward to birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries! I love the memories you make and the opportunity to just stop and appreciate life and those who are in it. We have seen some wonderful times and we have had our fair share of storms to weather.  But the amazing thing is, we have done them together--side by side.  I couldn't imagine anyone else standing with me throughout life!!
I love you, Richie! :*

Uncle Ju-Ju Babysits

My brother Jordan was kind enough to babysit Landen last weekend so that Richie and I could go out to eat for our anniversary....I think he has as much fun as Landen! He took him to Bell Park where his Dad lives and he was having a BBQ.  They managed to run up the hill to the playground and Landen got to swing! He had a ball!

Spring Wreath

Last weekend, I made a cute spring wreath with the assistance of Jen! What a sweet gal she is! I had the pleasure of chatting with her on the phone and she was so kind to walk me through the steps to making a cute spring wreath.  My wreath is not anywhere as cute as hers, but hey, it works!

House Update....with pics this time!

Last time I tried to post about the house, the pictures wouldn't load.  So, now I think my technical difficulty is fixed and I thought I would show some house progress! 

Brick going on the house....

Back corner of third car garage

Side of 3rd car garage w/rock trim on corner

Landen checking out his new house!

Play Room

Media/2nd Living Room

Garage

A View of the hall between living/dining area

Sheetrock Tape/Mud

Front Door--Great brick work above the door!

Another view of front door

Tomorrow, I should have some more updated exterior pics--final product of rock/brick work.  It's coming along great! I spent the week picking out carpet, wood flooring, and paint...ugh, too many choices!!

A Day at the Park!

Too funny--my computer is letting me add pictures again, so I will post more house progress later, but for now, here's some pictures of Landen yesterday at Bell Park.  His sweet babysitter loaded up the kiddos and took them to the park to play.  They only got to stay a half hour because it was so warm, but it looks like they had such a great time while they were there! 

Rockin' House!

Well, I tried to load several pics of house updates, but for some reason they wouldn't load.  I did manage to get this one to load, so you can see the finished rock wall in the middle front of the house.  I am really happy with the way the brick/rock are turning out! They have finished the sheetrock in the entire house and have started to tape/mud it.  The brick should be complete by Monday on the entire house, and we hope to have garage doors on it in the next few days.  The house is coming along great....however, estimated completion date is around June 1-10. Well, that sounds wonderful except for one minor glitch--I will be in Vegas for work from the 13th-24th!! Ouch! I really, really wanted to at least have all of our stuff out of the duplex before I left.  I know I won't have things put away, but it would be nice to not have the rent and at least be IN the new house before I was gone.  So, we will cross fingers and toes that the people get on the ball and get this thing finished before we run out of time!!

Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual Warfare...that's how my Mom summed up this week for her and my step-dad. And you know what? It fits mine too.  It's been a stressful, emotionally draining, and tense week.  I am trying to remain positive.  I am trying to be faithful.  And you know what? Some days it's just plain hard to do.  I know it's what I have to do, but at times it's not what I want to do.  I want things to be fair in the world.  I want people to respect each other.  I want peace and happiness.  But, the reality is, that's not always the case.
I saw on Katie's blog a verse that seemed rather fitting for the week and a great reminder that I need to lean on God during tough times.  I know that good will come out of this if we remain faithful and I have to believe that evil can't always prevail.  So, this is my verse. This is what I am telling myself, reminding myself of in these times.....

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Our First House Guest

SEVERAL POSTS TODAY!!

Richie was over at the new house sweeping and cleaning after the sheetrock was hung.  Well, he was upstairs all of the sudden heard something and went in the hall to check it out.  There coming up the stairs was a little Schnauzer dog! He said the dog looked in a few of the rooms, came over to him, and then walked back down the stairs to leave!!

Little Man

I feel like Landen is literally growing and changing right before my eyes! Tonight, we went to Wal-Mart and since we were just running in for one thing, I let him walk and hold my hand.  Well, we headed over the the "lingerie" section to look at a slip for a dress I bought.  He was standing next to me while I looked at the slips and all of the sudden I hear him giggling like someone had tickled him.  I thought, "what in the world is so funny?" I looked over and he was eye to eye with a  section of bras and he was squeezing the cups and just laughing up a storm!! RICHIE'S SON! It was soooo funny!!
His new question this week is , "Whatcha doin, ______? (fill in blank with whoever he is talking to)
Then, tonight he got in trouble and Richie said, "do you want a time out?" and put him in the "corner" of the kitchen.  The face he made was hilarious. I snapped this with my phone so it's horrible, but if he knows you are taking a picture he immediately says, "SMILE!"

Congratulations Kylie--2011 Petite Little Miss Greenwood!

Kylie had such a great time Sunday at the Miss Greenwood pageant!  It was a last minute entry for us as I have been more than swamped with work and I wasn't even sure how we were going to pull it off.  But I drove up to my step-sister's house in Springdale Saturday morning and borrowed a dress and then drove to my Meme's house for alterations....until 11 p.m.! I also spent last Thursday frantically trying to pull together a spring outfit!
But, it was all worth it--Kylie WON! She did such a great job--I am so proud of how confident she has become.  When she started this 3 years ago, she was petrified to be on stage and did not want to talk into a microphone.  Now, she has confidence and enjoys being in front of people.  She has come such a long way! Kylie, I am SO proud of you!  And, not only did she win the crown, but she also won Miss Congeniality! I thought that was so awesome!

Here's some pics from the day!!

Kylie modeling spring wear--I wish I had gotten a better pic!

Answering her onstage question

Backstage waiting with the girls!

Me and Kylie

Kylie and her cousin Madi

Kylie and Miss Arkansas Alyse Eady (and 1st runnerup Miss America!!)

"The Glam Squad" Ang, Kylie, and me--Thanks Ang for helping out with hair.  You saved yet another day! :)

Kylie's Crowning Moment!