Happy Birthday...to me??

No, not to me...to my wonderful HUSBAND! My husband and I have this loooonnnnnggggg history together. We began dating in middle school.  Yes, like 13...We took a few breaks over the years, but ultimately were married and are now writing our love story!

So, yesterday Greg turned 26. (I'm older...don't tell!) I am SO incredibly blessed to have him! {Hence my blog title!} I have never known anyone so determined, so faithful, so committed as Greg. It is sometimes a teeny bit annoying, but mostly just good times!

In honor of him, I gathered a collection of pictures to praise him for all he does for me and in general!!

Here goes....Happy Birthday, baby!

We were married in July 2008. Since that special {ULTRA HOT DAY} in South Georgia, Greg has been committed through it all! Yes, we have been through some mess, but God has brought us right on through and made us a stronger couple!

One month after our wedding, we decided to take on our first baby....Molly! Greg was an AMAZING daddy to our sweet fur baby. {She was so rotten!}

Greg "dates" me even though we've said, "I DO!" We were celebrating our pregnancy!!!! (Valentines Day 2010!)

My rock during labor and delivery....And pregnancy, really. It was a TOUGH job with a sickly wife, but Greg was DA BOMB.com!

God fearing is he! It was so important to both of us that GAB be raised in Godly home. Greg is the head of our home, and I praise the Lord that he finds his strength, guidance, and dependance from above!

He is THE most incredible father I could ever imagine for GAB. I am amazed as I look at my child's eyes light up when his father speaks or enters a room. {It is numbing really...if you're not a mother....JUST WAIT!}

He's hard-working! There's nothing sexier to me than a man that pursues what he wants or needs. I also find it incredibly desirable that he is such a provider.

After weekend long hunting trips, he races home to tuck GAB into bed. Just in time....

He's actually SEEN in public with me! (Okay, so we were in Miami about to board a cruise ship. Embarassing to ride down the road with me, but it was a good time!!!)

Such a hands-on babysitter! NOT....okay, this was suppose to be a positive post, but Greg was in charge for a few hours and when I arrived home, I found this...Really? No clothes in our house boys?

He's such a sport! He was coaxed into a late night rednezvous where I begged him to dance....He is NO dancer, but looked good trying! ;) {Isn't he gorgeous??}

He was an INCREDIBLE Santa this year for GAB. Christmas morning was SO much fun as our child "oohhh and ahhh" ed every thing. Greg was stellar at playing each gift up and patiently waiting as GAB tore a tiny piece at a time.

Occasionally, he will go matchy-matchy. Thanks babe!

The NUMBER 1 reason it's my birthday too....

He gave me THE greatest gift of all! Baby GAB!!

A few other pictures for your viewing pleasures....

I am so blessed because God gave me you!

 

 

Genesis 2:22-24

Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.  The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, ' for she was taken out of man."  For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Bring it on!

Okay...okay....

  Resolutions are like so bad for me. I feel like I almost dread a new year because it's one more think I'm NOT going to follow through on. So, I vow to blog about this in hopes that I will be better! {Hopefully, this works!}
My husband, Greg and I, spent NYE at my sister and brother-in-laws last night. We had a low country boil, fire, just good clean fun....I digress.... On our drive, I posed the question, "Honey, what are your goals and aspirations for our 2012 together?" His reply, "Uh, to make more money." One track mind. So, I waited and I waited and I waited...no avail. I blurted out, "THANK YOU for asking! Yes, this year I'd like to make money but that's a given because I have a full-time job. I'd like to lose 50 pounds (I know, we all do.) but not due to dieting, due to a life-style change. Like, a complete do-over. I hate diets! They are misery pits....again...I digress...
I continued by telling him that I wanted to give more time, money, and resources to needy. {i.e. I totally LOVE volunteering!} Greg agreed. Thus...the resolution conversation began....Here goes!

1. We will start and finish Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. (Greg knows this is HUGE for me as I hate blowing money and he has ten hobbies....nuff said.)

2. We will get in shape. I will continue my 4 am gym workouts and add better food choices in hopes to get this excessive weight off! He will start running and join a men's league soccer team.

3. We will serve in a missions field. Yes, we already give money to missions, but we feel called to go on a missions trip. We're still praying about the place, but our goal is to go!

4. Finally, we will grow our family once more. Getting pregnant was difficult for us, but we are going full force one more time. We have agreed to seek the Lord in this journey and not feel discouraged when it's often so easy to do. {I think this is my least favorite resolution simply because I'm so scared.} However, I know the LORD makes all things work together for MY good! For this, I will rejoice!


Happy New Year my blogging friends! I pray peace, prosperity, and abundant blessing and happiness to you and yours!

MUAH!

Share Your World Thursday...Linky

My Dear Friend Jessica is hosting a Linky Party Christmas Style! If you don't already follow her, DO! She's hilarious and is always doing some fun linky to make new friends!

 

 

That's easy! My first married Christmas  (still very much in love and very happy in every way as my marriage was a ripe 6 months old) my MIL {just imagine if you don't know what THAT stands for} gifted us with an enitre set of kitchen and bath towels that said..."Love is blind but marriage is a REAL eye opener." REALLY? Greg and I had our house painted a beautiful green and we used natural browns and whites as accents through out. No red. AnyWHERE. And the towels were a terrible damper on our first Christmas. Needless to say, they hit the spot! (Code for the DUMPSTER!)

 

Growing up, my family had this insane tradition to watch the 24 hour marathon of THE Christmas Story on TBS. I found it to be totally annoying....until I didn't do it anymore. Then I missed it. The marathon always starts at 8, so we would pop popcorn, grab out sleeping bags-or pillows and blankets- and the whole crew (like all 6 of my brothers and sisters and my parents) would pile up in the living room together. And how can you not love the grumpy dad and the dorky kid? The movie is classic. 

The End!

 

Choosing one is a joke, right? My grandmother makes the most incredible Christmas candy every year. Divinity, fudge, peanut clusters, pecan puffs, Christmas cookies, hard candy...etc. To. Die. For. I literally look forward to tearing up the sweets because they are such a treat. She spends days cooking all of this and it is all incredible! Hands down my favorite Christmas dessert!

Remember during this wonderful time of family and friends, Jesus is the REAL reason for the season!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

 

Sick...

Have you ever had that stomach churning, awful feeling like something bad was happening around you? {Please, Lord, tell me I'm not the only one!} That's where I am today. Sleepy, exhausted, grumpy from the long day I just. Laying in the bed, I logged onto facebook. (It's so difficult not to just ONE. MORE. TIME.) Anyway, I did. Mis. take. I see a post from yesterday that made my stomach churn. Made my heart hurt. Most importantly, made all my "need for sleep" vainsh. Poof! Gone. Now, I sit typing wondering how to fix this problem. Or maybe not fix it, just address it. YIKES! Pray for peace of mind. Gym at 4... It's 11:33. Might be a tough day getting out of bed. Thank you, Lord for naps! 

Linky Fun!

I'm ONLY a day late and a dollar short...who's counting??

1. What is the best compliment you've ever recieved??
I got a compliment today that was pretty incredible. I'm a teacher [I babble about that a lot, I'm afraid...] Anyway, I teach 20 students reading intervention {i.e. extra intensive help} for 40  minutes every day. One of the students mothers bought me a gift and wrote the most beautiful letter inside. She told me though she didn't know me, a light shined through my smile. She knew I was an awesome teacher because the way her child rambles on about me and the growth she sees in him. She said I always wore a smile even in the toughest of situations and it was evident I was great at what I do. SMILE! My heart smiled....literally!
2.Seat Belt?
Always. GAB needs his mommy. Nuff said....

3.  Fill in the blank.
You know you're comfortable with your spouse when ______________.
You talk about the color of poop, snot, amount of dirty diapers, etc. while scarfing down dinner. GAB and his needs pretty much consume most topic of conversation, however doing it while eating takes it to a new level!

4. Someone gives you a gift wrapped in a 4 inch square box. What is it?
Really? A picture frame of course! All teachers need trinket type frames, coffee mugs, and a zillion candles!

5. You are at Chik-Fil-A. What do you order?
Easy...regular chicken sandwich (no pickle), side salad with ranch, and a diet lemonade. A. MAY. ZING! Truly epic.

My Whole World...

"Children are a gift from the Lord. They are a reward from him." Proverbs 127:3


I have never known a love like I have for my son. I am more blessed today than ever {also more broke than ever} but alas I'm rich in love! I look at GAB and see how he's growing and changing and  I am reminded of my purpose. My purpose on Earth is to teach GAB to be the best that he can and to live for Jesus. I have heard it said so many times, it's better to allow your children to learn by watching you than by hearing you. I couldn't agree more! Recently, GAB has demonstrated many things he's learned by watching his daddy and myself.
1. He knows EXACTLY how to put on blush. {Daddy=FURIOUS at me for this one!}
2. He washes his hands (minus soap and water) exactly like his daddy does each and every afternoon when he walks in from work.
3.He has MASTERED a duck call. Yeap, we live in the South! My husband is 100% country boy and it makes him so proud that his {almost} 15 month old knows how to call a duck and can effortlessly identify one. (Real or fake.)
4.GAB knows how to worship! It makes me heart leap to see my son raise his hands and sing. I am not ashamed to say, he's witnessed this and has picked it right up!
5. He knows how to "read" me a story. Jibber jabber or not, he turns the pages, points to the pictures, and laughs at appropriate times. What can I say? I'm a teacher!
6. When momma and daddy want to know if his cup is empty, what do we do? Shake it of course! Guess who else does too? Yeap, my boy! And when it's empty, he throws it. (Don't love the throwing, but I rest assured that he's brillant and will catch on soon enough.)

My list could go on and on bragging about my precious gift. Instead, I'd like to share some photos. This boy melts my heart....literally!

GAB loves himself some cheese grits! He can put a hurting on a serving! However, we haven't mastered the spoon just yet.

It gets me every time! Opening day of deer season this year, Greg pulled out these boots I purchased at a consignent shop for $2 (as play shoes...might I add) and they played in them alright! So much so, I had to coax GAB out of them.

GAB picked out his own pumpkin! Didn't care about taking a picture with me at all...LOVED the pumpkin patch though!

I love these 2 boys SO much. {Even though GAB is JUST like his daddy.} HA!

GAB and MLB. Best friends! Incredibly blessed with great family. These 2 are about 3 months apart and they are SO much a like. Rotten...for sure!

And last but not least...the hat photo. The weather is so crazy lately. 30 one day and 80 the next. It's a miracle we've all stayed pretty much well. This was a cold day and although he was still in his jammies, I wanted him to let me catch him in his new hat. He hated it, but I got a cute expression. The one that screams, "Mom, really?"

I'm so blessed....more than I deserve!
Good night!

WHY?

Have you ever wondered why something happens? Why me? Why now? What have I done to deserve this??? I find myself very often asking these questions. Sometimes in good situations and sometimes in not so great situations. Most recently, our very good friends invited us on a cruise. We had SUCH a blast. I found myself asking WHY am I the recipent of this awesome friendship? Why am I so blessed? On the other side of that, I feel I have lost a friend I thought I'd never lose. No matter what, I just knew SHE would never be anywhere but the absolute closest, nearest to my heart, dearest best friend EVER. Wrong. Can I just insert I have lost a lot of tears over this. But.... I find that God has a funny way of bringing things to my mindseye. I was completely bummed when she gave birth to her first baby and I wasn't contacted to come for a visit and when I offered to bring food I was brushed off- completely. Then, at 10 o'clock on Saturday night, I found myself listening to Dr. Charles Stanley explain how and WHY God allows people to come into our lives and leave. There's a season for them. Listening to him made me feel much better about the friendship I've lost for no apparent reason. I have been blessed with so many wonderful friends. Friends who want what I want in life, love, and their family. This one particular friend and I are polar opposites at this point in life. How does this happen? Really? Regardless, I find that in soul searching persay and in "why"ing God, I have found some particularly great pick me ups. I am reading Bringing Up Boys by Dr. James Dobson. (Complete pick me up. Another reminder of how incredibly blessed I am to be mommy to the most amazing little boy EVER!) I also love music! Jesus Culture and Hillsong have gotten me through many "why" questions. I am reminded daily, no matter how bad my situation may seem while I'm in it, God sees it all. Every season may bring pure joy, but HE has my world in his hands. Thank you, Lord for leading and directing my path. Thank you for placing those that you do into my path and I'm going to praise you for removing those that you do even if it doesn't make sense at the time. 

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."Romans 8:28