Marriage Survey

I'VE BEEN TAGGED WITH A MARRIAGE SURVEY!  HERE GOES....(I did it in the color "RED" for love)

How long have you been married?

10 years and 19 days

Is this your first marriage? 

Yes.

Is it how you imagined it would be?

Yes and no. The first six months was really tough.  We fought about stupid things (my control issues with money).  Now our life is so chaotic that we do not even have time to fight. 

What would you change?

More time together. 

Are you married to your soulmate?

Yes. 

What do you argue about the most?

Money. 

What do you see eye to eye on the most?

God and our children. 

Where did you meet your spouse?

Out to dinner with friends. 

Where was your first date?

Depends on what you call a first date....When we were first dating we always went out with friends. 

Where were you when you became engaged?

Brian's apartment. 

Did you live together before marriage?

No. 

What was your wedding song?

Random music.  Brian always tells everyone we walked in to Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do With It". 

Who was in your wedding party?

My girls....Joy (reason I met Brian), Judy (my sister-in-law), Crystal (my BF), Paige (my old roommate from college), Angie (friend from high school), Ami and Amber (Brian's nieces).  The boys...Hud, Brian F, Chris (all friends of Brian),Frank (Brian's brother), and Brian's dad. 

Do you get along with the in-laws?

Yes. 

Whats your view on children?

When I married Brian, he said he wanted an entire football team of children.  After 2, he is done.  We love them and hope to raise them to love God.  All our friends are having children now so we love holding their babies and loving on them. 

Does your spouse feel the same way?

Yes. 

Are you a 2 peas in a pod or opposites attract couple?

That is a hard one.  When we first got married, everyone said we were "like peas and carrots".  Is that opposites or the same?? 

Do you go out without your spouse?

Yes. But with other married or "taken" girls usually. 

How long are you away from your spouse before you start to miss him/her?

1 minute.  But is is okay...I will survive. 

Have you ever compared your spouse to someone you have dated in the past?

No. 

Do you trust your Spouse?

Yes. 

Does your Spouse trust you?

Yes. 

How well does your spouse know your favorites?

That is a good question.  I usually buy my own gifts so I guess not too well. 

Do you get along with your spouses friends?

Yes. 

Does your spouse get along with your friends?

Yes. 

Did you go on a honeymoon?

Yes.  We went to Cancun and we were suppose to go back for our 10-year anniversary but with the economy the way it is...we will have to wait until later. 

Do you watch the same TV shows?

Some.  Private Practice, The Biggest Loser, and Dirty Sexy Money. 

Can you agree on Pizza toppings?

Yes, Meat Lovers. 

Who takes out the trash?

Him more than me. 

Who does laundry??

Me. 

Who cooks dinner?

Neither. 

Do you have any traditions?

I cannot think of any right now. 

Do you know your spouses passwords/pins?

Yes. 

Does your spouse know your social security number?

No. 

Do you ever nag your spouse?

Me? Nag? What a silly question! 

Do you admit wrong doing?

Sometimes. 

Does your spouse?

Sometimes.

Okay Heather and Morgan, your turn!!! 

 

Fun in our Pajamas

On cold, dreary days like we had last week, it is just fun to stay inside in your pjs....

But on other days........we can go BOWLING (the only sport that mom is competitive at).

Okay Ryan and Kayce, it looks like I still need help with this new camera and on blogging.  

God, where are you?

I know a lot of people who are asking this right now...unemployed, sick, mourning, etc.  I know when we lost Maddux, I probably thought it.  But the great thing is that he was right there, holding my hand, loving me, comforting me, and leading me closer to him.  I never thought loss in my life would be the eye opener to the glory that God brings.  Every day when I read blogs from people who are dealing with infertility, loss of a child, economical stress, there is always one thing in common.  They are still glorifying God and praying to him to show us all the way.  Sometimes it is so hard to understand.  But what is the other alternative......not believe???

How can I look at these two faces and not believe in Him!

Not Me Monday!

I have been tagged in the tradition of this new blog trend:

1.  I did not send my daughter to school in shoes she could hardly walk in so I would not have to run upstairs and get a different pair.

2.  I did not let my daughter sleep with me last night because I do not like to sleep alone.

3.  I am not 30+ years old and still scared to stay by myself at night.

4.  I do not have steam blowing out my ears because of Wachovia (I know it does not have anything to do with my kids but right now it is big to me)

5.  I am not continuously looking on the internet for a puppy and telling my husband I am not ready to get one.

Maybe next Monday I will have more exciting ones...Sorry.

Answering Prayers

James 1:2-8

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

Today I am praising God for so many things.  Yesterday, another prayer was answered for a woman I don't know physically but we share the same God.  After 9 years of infertility, her twin babies were born.  The mother was rushed to ICU and was in and out of a coma, having seizures,  and her blood pressure was spiraling out of control.  So I prayed.  Heather prayed. Carol prayed.  The family prayed.  Last night they brought her babies in her room and she woke up.  It bring tears of joy to my eyes even typing this.  (But we all know I am an emotional wreck over children.)  Also yesterday, a prayer was answered regarding our finances.  I try really hard not to pray about money, but God knows my heart more than I even know it.  God has always provided and he continues to do so every day.  The list goes on and on....... 

Thank you God for being in my life and loving me even when I don't deserve it!

  

A Name......Now I Gotta Find A Cure

I have found a name for my funk that I have been in lately.....seasonal affective disorder.  Of course..the seasons have changed and not only did it bring cooler weather, but also brought my change of mood.  Thank goodness I was born in the south.  As most of you know, I have goose bumps in 70 degree weather.  So today my goal is to get out of this funk and embrace the cold.  Now I am not going to do anything crazy like run outside in my underwear (sorry Andy and Ryan, I know that would have given you quite a laugh), but I am going to enjoy the fall and winter seasons and all that they bring.  Thanksgiving, Christmas, maybe snow (doubt it), family gatherings, Brian's birthday, Octoberfest, annual friendship dinner, etc.

Exhaustion

I am so tired.  I feel like I have been non-stop for the past few days.  This weekend was a whirlwind.  Then last night was Bunco.  Tonight is Keith's birthday.  Tomorrow is church.  Thursday....could it be....nothing!  Friday is a jewelry party in Moncks Corner.  Saturday is a baby shower in the morning and Octoberfest that night.  Sunday is church (extended session) and handbell practice that night.  Then we start all over again.  Hopefully I can find some time to sleep in there.  How am I suppose to spend time with the kids, read my book, and study for the CPA exam?  Oh yeah, and what about TV?  I know I gave up some shows, but I cannot go cold turkey!  If you walk by my office and see this.. 

Don't be surprised!

Brotherly sisterly love

If you look around my parents' house, you will not find pictures like this of me and my brother when we were little.  I hope their love for each other only grows stronger.

One More Day

As I sit here and think about those words and how we have one more day until we celebrate our 10-year anniversary, I also think of a song that use to be one of my favorites.  I don't know if any of you remember many years ago, there was a song by Diamond Rio called "One More Day".  Of course, those who know me can only imagine that I cry every time I hear it.  In the song, the person that he is singing to has left this earth and he would give anything to spend "one more day with you".  As I think about that song and the title of my post, I just thank God for the 10 years that he has given me with Brian.  I know that there are no guarantees for tomorrow or the next day, but I will cherish all the times that we have together and the memories that we have made.  Brian and I talked yesterday about all the plans that we had made for our 10-year anniversary that we are not going to be able to fdo.  I am okay with that.  I do not need expensive gifts, fancy trips, or elaborate dinners to celebrate how much I love my husband.  Those come and go.  Our love is forever!

To my Husband...

How do I begin to tell you

how lucky I am to have you in my life?

I'll start by saying what an honor

it is for me to be your wife.

You're my best friend in the good times and 

my rock in times of sorrow.

You're the reasons for sweet yesterdays and

my promise for tomorrow.  

Author Unknown

Anniversary Week Day 2

I am God, the only God you’ve had or ever will have—
incomparable, irreplaceable—
From the very beginning
telling you what the ending will be,
All along letting you in
on what is going to happen,
Assuring you, ‘I’m in this for the long haul,
I’ll do exactly what I set out to do,’
- Isaiah 46:9-11 (The Message)

It is so strange to think that from the beginning of my life, the beginning of time even, that God knew that Brian and I would be together.  Of course, you date other people and say the "I love yous" and think "is he the one", but God knew all along that Brian and I were meant to be together.  God knew from the first day I met Brian that I would fall in love.  He knew that we would only date 6 months before getting engaged and then another 6 months before we got married.  He knew it all.  He knew that the birth of our 3 children would change our lives forever and that that would make us both stronger, not only in our relationship with each other, but with him.  The story of how Brian and I met is a classic example of how God works.  We had no reason to meet that night.  I had no business trusting someone I had never met.  But God knew that we were soul mates, and he had made us for each other.  I know that our marriage has lasted 10 years and will last many more because God is at the center.  

10 Years......and counting

I cannot believe it!  This week Brian and I will celebrate our 10 year anniversary.  I have decided to dedicate this week to me and Brian and each day post a picture of us or something that have made us stronger over these years......We sure have been through a lot these 10 years but through all of it..... our wild club days, moving to Charleston, losing a child, having 2 more children (only 15 months apart), and changes in careers, our love for each other gets stronger and stronger.  Sometimes we could kill each other and sometimes we cannot stop holding each other.  He is my life and I know that he will always be there for me.  Thank you God for not only giving me a man who loves me and our kids, but also loves you.

The reason I breathe..............................