Redeeming Love

I'm finished! Ok you know you are reading a GREAT book and you see you are nearing the end, so you slow down reading because you don't want it to be over! Luckily, I have The Voice In The Wind (1st book in the Lions Mark series) waiting to be read.

I loved this book! Of course, it has so many spiritual elements tied to it. It really goes to show how much God loves us when we leave him just like Angel, Sarah, Amanda (whatever you want to call her lol) leaves Michael.

My favorite part in the whole entire book was just a couple of sentences. It was when Michael made the wind chimes for Angel and she says I ruined his dreams, he made me a symphony. Isn't that so God? We ruin things and he makes some beautiful masterpiece out of it.

So I have been doing some research on Francine. I know I am SUCH A DORK! Don't make fun. But I read on her website that she doesn't have an assistant, she answers e-mails. So I e-mailed her! And guess what, she e-mailed back! That was really cool and impacted me a lot. Now, not only am I in love with her books I am growing quite fond of her and her amazing testimony. You should read it. www.francinerivers.com

Sticklers

Lately, I have really been tested by sticklers. I have come to realize these people REALLY try my patience! Trust me, I understand rules & regulations are in place for a purpose & they have been carefully thought out BUT sometimes is it really necessary to follow through with performing the rules?

Like the cashier at Food Lion that insists on reading every small detail on my coupons! I come in there every week with at least 7 coupons. Doesn't she know by now, if it isn't in the buggy the coupon isn't going to work. The register will let her know without her reading it and going back through my purchases to see if there REALLY are 6 cans of Earth's Best baby food. So annoying!

Or what about the cashier at Panera who asked to see my ID for my debit card...uh, don't you know that's what a pin # is for? I could understand if it was a credit card and no, I'm sorry I am not going back out to my car for my ID when I have a one year old to carry in 30 degree weather. He also proceeded to tell me he could only give me a small water. When I looked at him like he was an idiot and preceeded to let him know I pay $0.25 for a extra large water in a plastic cup, he then tells me I'm sorry the manager wouldn't be pleased if I charged for something that doesn't exsist on our keypad. What the heck? So, he would rather NOT make an extra quarter at the end of the day? Hmmm, exactly what kind of manager do you work under?

And then there was the cashier at the McDonalds in Asheville...which might I add has a grand piano in it! Yes, grand piano in a nasty greasy McDonalds. Only, this McDonalds is like a 5 star McDonalds! You would be amazed. I walked in wondering how a McDonalds could afford a grand piano and then I shortly thereafter found out...I asked for 2 honey mustards because there were two different things purchased for two seperate people and she tells me...oh, sorry I have to charge you for any sauces over one! Could she just have waved a flashing banner and sounded some cymbals and shouted the good ole' US is in recession! or maybe that's how we are paying for that grand piano! GRRR!!!

My dear friend at the nail place which I get my eyebrows waxed at even pulled one on me...she can only wax my eyebrows with a child who is seated and strapped in a car seat or stroller! Yes, I'm serious! Well, good luck! Because my child ain't sitting still long enough for you cut down the forest that has grown above my eyes because of lack of time to care about my appearance.

Well there's one more thing I need to pray about....patience for sticklers. They can REALLY be a pain.

Getaway!

Here is a little about our weekend getaway. Sorry for the lack of pics but I forgot my camera to put them on here. So here are two from my phone and I will upload the rest later.



Thursday came fast! We had majority of our stuff laid out to pack before church that night including Mario's electric razor. Dalen got a hold of it, turned it on and went to town! Luckily he only got one little spot that can be easily covered by the rest of his bushy fro. Here is his new do pictured below.

Dalen went down for a nap and after about an hour I heard him shrieking. I immediately knew something was wrong. I rushed to his crib only to find him sitting there screaming. I took him out and stood him up and he immediately threw up everywhere and fell to the ground holding his foot. Ok, I knew something was SERIOUSLY wrong. But what?



He could not walk. He drug his left foot behind him and any pressure on it all was enough to send him whaling. I called the pediatrician and they said to bring him to the ER for x-rays. He still wasn't standing on it or allowing it to be touched. His foot was very swollen and red. Mario left the church to come to Dalen's rescue. By the time we got to the back he was practically running everywhere....I felt like a total idiot.



No broken bones, just swelling and irritation that most likely indicated a bad sprain. He was totally fine the rest of the night. We have no clue how this happened in his crib. We think he may have gotten his foot stuck between his crib bars and pulled it out to quickly.



Friday morning came quickly and we were off to Asheville. Enterprise overbooked rentals so we ended up having to take my dad's car. The drive was AWFUL! I am NOT a fan of driving in the mountains and it was so scary! You know you are driving a treacherous road when the mountains are wearing skirts to block rocks from falling on you! There were signs indicated trucks could tip if they didn't watch their speed! AHHH!!!



Anyways we arrived only to find our hotel had a TGIFridays connected to it! Wahoo! This was the restaurant we ate at on our first date and the night we got engaged! We were excited and ate a late lunch there. Then we were off to the movies to see Traded. GREAT MOVIE! We drove around downtown seeking out where we wanted to visit the next day. The rest of the night was spent in our room taking it easy



Morning came fast and I didn't wake up until 8:30! What a difference an extra hour and a half makes! Honestly, our room was so silent I couldn't relax! Silence at home usually means Dalen is being super sneaky so he won't get caught doing something bad. After being a mom for a year and a half...silence is VERY loud.



We ate breakfast at our hotel for FREE! Compliments of the check-in lady since it was our anniversary. After breakfast we were on our way to the Biltmore. WOW! What a house! I am so thankful Katie told us to do the audio tour. Mario really wanted to do it too so we put on our headsets and were off to tour the house.



My favorite room was the Van Dyke room. It was full of shades of green (my favorite color). I also LOVED all of the antique tea pots everywhere and was quick to spot them all. Between each room we did little talking and a lot of listening. Mario would count 3-2-1 and we would punch the button for the next room so that we were listening to everything together. I loved a very delicate looking letter opener on Mrs. Vanderbilt's desk in her room. I was careful to notice the swimming pool because Abby told me it was her favorite part. It was pretty amazing! Here is a pic I got on my phone.

After the house we were off to the winery, then downtown. We looked around in little shops and explored the city. Because of Asheville's forecast for Sunday, we decided to take off Saturday afternoon to stay in Pigeon Forge overnight. My parent's had rented a spacious condo for them and Dalen and said we could stay. We were really excited to see Dalen and he was excited to see his dad.

The condo had a huge jacuzzi tub and I got in it with Dalen. He played forever in there! He learned how to turn the jets on and off and knows how to dunk his face under without getting choked. Hopefully we will have a swimmer this summer! The BIG silver faucet was Dalen's favorite. He thought it was microphone! He would hold it and shout into. It was hilarious! He also knows a fireplace is HOT and anytime a camera comes out to say CHEESE! He are a few videos.

"Octomom"

I have 5 simple thoughts concerning the choices of this mother.

1. You can be mentally stable and make very poor & irresponsible decisions. I am not saying she is or isn't mentally stable I am just saying those who are and aren't stable make bad choices.

2. We all have voids and fill them differently. Oprah has to be one of the most annoying and smart elic people I've ever seen on TV. She acted like it was obserd to hear someone say she had a void in her life and was filling it with having babies. Well Oprah, I think its obserd you used to eat 3 big macs to fill voids in your life but its the same difference. You both had a void and you both filled them or tried to with something that wasn't very healthy.

3. I find it strange, really strange that people are grumbling about having to help this family with taxpayer's money. Ok I hate to break it to you, but if you want to be mad at someone be mad at the person majority of voters paid for....he's the one that is so gung ho on free healthcare and so on. So be careful who you vote for!

4. The children of this woman are TOTALLY INNOCENT in the matter. Don't you think their life is going to be hard enough as it is without idiots making death threats to their mom and refusing to donate diapers because of HER poor decision making? These kids need help. I am not saying to throw money at the feet of the mother but you can give things like formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, clothes...Isn't that we as Christians are supposed to do....help the least of these? You know I never see Christ in scripture evaluate people's cirsumstances and THEN help them. He helps all of us IN SPITE OF our ignorance, selfishness, irresponsibilty. I think we should do the same.

5. Do you know how moms are out there with tons of kids living off the government? They never lift a finger expect to get their welfare checks out of the mailbox. Yet, this family can't even make it to the bus stop without being photographed and scrutinized. The media needs to back off. This ONE story goes to show just how influential the media is.

Oh, and the doctor who performed IVF needs to be evaluated and punished. He is more responsible for this than Nadya...I think.

Three years ago

Three years ago today, I said, "I do!" Today has been a normal day with much to celebrate. Others may think 3 years is hardly enough to celebrate but I think every year you have made it is a milestone with how frequent divorces occur.

So here's to today...and they said we would never make it ;)

Even Dalen seems to be super giddy today.

He must sense the specialness of the day.
Here he is at breakfast smilin' away!

Look at her go....

Look at Olivia go! Yay! After eight months of toting her spoiled hiney around,

I think all of our arms can rest for a while as she begins to make herself find her own way

through this big, big world! I must say she is pretty fast!

Book Review Anyone?

When I was younger, I loved to read! LOVED Beverly Clearly, Judy Blume, Ann Martin and so many more! Today I love Beth Moore, Mary Higgins Clark AND Francine Rivers.

A couple months back my cousin REALLY encouraged me to read Atonement Child. Literally, I could NOT put the book down. Mario and I would literally fight because I was so addicted to this book, I would read it in the car which makes me sick. I finally finished and the craze was over....BUT NOT FOR LONG!

Then I came home with Redeeming Love (no one spoil it I am not finished yet) which is three times its size. I make up stories (or lies) that I need to bathe JUST to sneak away and read this book in the bathroom (its the only place I am not interrupted when Mario can keep Dalen out). I love, love, love it. I have about another 200 pages left but I am so captivated by the real and awesome story line.

I know most all of you have read this book (if you are into reading) but I hadn't. I have an awful habit of starting books and quitting but I am finally into this one and I can't stop. I already have another one of her books called Voices In The Wind that I will start when I am finished with this one. I can't wait.

Anyway just a thought I wanted to share with each of you reading....Several years ago I had an addiction to Days Of Our Lives. I know....SO STUPID and humiliating to even admit! But I did. I watched it EVERYDAY and Mario would get so mad at me. We would literally fight that something so stupid shouldn't even be worth my time and the garbage filled in that show shouldn't even be turned on....he was right. I quit watching.

I didn't quit watching until my bible study teacher ran something across me when discussing this obsession I had. (It was brought to her attention when Mario revealed it, thanks a lot!) She asked me why I watched it. My response: Because it was hilarious! Marlena prances in dead after dying last week! HILARIOUS! Austin forgives Sami after one shenanigan after another and then they re-fall in love! HILARIOUS!

Her response: Lazarus pranced in after being dead for three days but it was real! AMAZING! God forgave everyone in the Bible after one shenanigan after another but it was real! AMAZING!

Anyways....all of the drama and events we seek after in television and books is in the Bible. I am not saying TV is bad or a sin or reading is bad but when you read novels the way I am reading Redeeming Love I think it is dangerous. The story is based on a REAL STORY from the Bible! But I have never literally exscused myself to go read the Bible! Why? I am not sure.

My point in this post is just to ask for your love to be rekindled for God's word the way our passion burns for novels and sitcoms and events. Could you imagine how much our spiritual lives would be enhanced? Wow, a lot.

I Have Butterflies!

I have butterflies! They are swarming all around in my belly! Tomorrow is our three year anniversary and on Friday we head for our FIRST getaway since Dalen has been born to the Biltmore. I am soooo excited!

I think Google has gotten about 50 hits just from us checking out the area to see what else we can occupy our time with, besides the Biltmore of course. Thinking back to last year, Mario was jobless and we couldn't afford to do anything to celebrate another year together and this year we are going away to a really nice motel and I know we are going to have a great, much needed time away.

Here are 5 things I am looking forward to...

5. Waking up in the morning to silence....no crying, no alarm, no dreaded day ahead at work.

4. Packing our portable DVD player and hooking it up in our room to watch late night DVDs....WITH NO INTERRUPTION! (I have already googled directions to the nearest Bi-Lo to get our movies from REDBOX & I have the FREE code for the week WAHOO!)

3. Visiting the winery at the Biltmore. (No, I don't drink wine but vineyards and wineries have always intrigued me.)

2. Being able to go to places without seeing ANYONE we know! Thats the ONE thing I absolutely HATE about living in a small town. You can't go ANYWHERE without having to speak with someone.

1. Being with Mario in a new city, far from home (ok not too far, but far enough) and getting to see new attractions through his eyes.

Ok can you tell I am excited?? I just can't wait to be alone with Mario, with a change of scenery to spark new interest and new conversation and learn more about a place I have never been.

Let's pray we do ok without Dalen!

Preach Preacha

Recently, Dalen discovered the mics at church. He loves speaking in them while the band plays away.

More of Yibby

Ok I know I just posted a slew of pics of Yibby but I couldn't help but post another slew. She is just so stinkin' cute. Here is Dalen hugging Yibby on Sunday.
Ok if you don't just want to pinch and twist these cheeks something is wrong!

I wasn't squeezing them...Meredith was.

As you can see she has started wearing bows. Which is sooo rediculous because she has like 4 twigs of hair for the bow to attatch to. The bows usually end up being bigger than head but I guess they are "cute" looking. As you can tell I am not a big fan of bows but she does look all grown up and prissy.

Hospitality

Ok BIG confession, I am not naturally nice.  There I said it!  

I am not naturally mean either, I am just a strange character who doesn't show kindness as outwardly as I think kind things.  It's really weird.  My friends who are really close to me know I am nice and welcoming and loving but those on the outside always think I am mean...but I'm NOT!  

Or maybe I am.  I took a spiritual gifts test last weekend at the request of my husband.  My lowest score was....HOSPITALITY!  Go figure!  

Well with us taking part in a new ministry and everything I am going to try to be very conscience of the fact that this isn't a strength.  I am just not the type of person to meet new people, talk to strangers and be huggy.  I am trying though!  But then with this confession out in the open (I think its quite obvious anyway) I fear people will think I am fake.  So if I hug you or smile A LOT its not that I am faking affection or happiness I am just trying to display it in an outward way what I am thinking.   

Oh man, I sound nuts.  But seriously, I am really trying to create relationships with new people and create a comfortable atmosphere for newcomers.  Oh, and I am throwing a party at my house on Saturday...that's hospitable, right??  

This post has turned into a pat on my own back but its just an open post of something I struggle with and something I am aware of and working on.  God help me :)

READ THIS POST....PLEASE!

I recieved a somewhat scarry foward from a friend today, who NEVER fowards me stuff. If you have toddlers or you are around children PLEASE READ THIS!

Of course I can not confirm the foward is true but I think it's worth checking into. It was a story about a 4 year old little girl who was rushed to the ER after she became unresponsive and very lethargic at school. After dozens of tests and them all coming back clear, the teacher and class was questioned. The doctors soon discovered the young girl's hands had been sanitized and she had licked it off her hands (Dalen does this all the time!).

Her blood alcohol level from it was up to 85%! Three squirts is all it would take for a toddler to consume a fatal amount of this sanitizer. Be careful using this stuff! I would like to believe its not true but I don't think a little bit of caution would hurt anyone!