Blink

Um.....its Thursday? Where did my Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday go? I truly feel in the blink of an eye I lost 3 days! I am on day 4 in my week. Seriously....I don't remember everything I did! I do know that we've attended a JV game for Spain Park, I am looking forward to another game tonight and one tomorrow night, attended Nature Night for Weeblos, worked on two trifold board projects and a power point......I might have worked a bit.....did I eat or sleep? Not sure....but I think you get the picture. Whew...I'm tired.

It's mornings like this I have to ask myself...did I enjoy my family so far this week? If I haven't...I need to make that a priority. Did we laugh..play...or do we need to run away and make that happen? Spontaneous get aways are great for that. Sometimes that family time I crave can only happen when we leave everything behind. I am getting that feeling. The only problem is...the older my kids get, the more responsibilities they have that don't allow them to just pick up when we get an idea to run away. Nick has football games every Friday night and works most Saturdays. We are part of a church plant group that has commitments every Sunday night. Hmmmmmm, when are we going to run away? We'll just have to note it on the calendar and choose somewhere close so we don't spend our time away....in transit!

This week also held a 'Big First' for us. Nick has had a really good friend (a girl) since middle school. They've been in classes together since the beginning of high school. They've talked each other through girlfriends and boyfriends.....and made fun of each other for 'liking' him or her. Well, this week Nick told us that he has more than just friend feelings for this girl. He's felt them for a while....and now he wants to let her know. But he's scared because she really is one of his best friends and he doesn't want that to change like it can when you date. His hopes are that she stays the same...they can still be silly...fun and try dating at the same time. This girl is sweet, a Christian that loves to share her love for Jesus and an active member of her youth group at church. She also cheers on our Varsity squad so they see each other all the time. Well, he is asking her to Homecoming today. Gulp...I am nervous for him. He says he's not nervous about asking her...but I think he is. So, while we were busy with lots of stuff this week, Nick was busy trying to think of how to ask her to Homecoming. You see, now days, you can't just ask the question...the pressure is on to do it creatively. Kevin gave him great ideas as he is the 'King of Romantic Ideas'. Nick wrote a song that he has been telling his friend about. She has asked him repeatedly to let her hear it. He told her last week he would record it so she could. Well he did.....and in the middle of the recording, he stops playing the guitar and says, "________ Will you go to Homecoming with Me?" I kind of thought he would say something more....but it was short and sweet. I wonder what she'll think??? I'm not worried too much about the outcome though. I have the inside scoop that she has felt more for him for about a year. My source? The mother.
I love this pic. Kind of cool - he could spend hours in the guitar store. He and his friends actually go there to hang out and play guitars. In my day...we hung out in parking lots. Yeah.

So....it may go by fast....but I'm trying to hang on to each happening and enjoy the moment. This whole week makes me think about that Country song, Don't Blink by Kenny Chesney. Sounds corny....but the lyrics are pretty good.

Don't Blink

I turned on the evening news
Saw a old man being interviewed
Turning a hundred and two today
Asked him what's the secret to life
He looked up from his old pipe
Laughed and said "All I can say is."

Don't blink
Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you
Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your "better half"
Of fifty years is there in bed
And you're praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think
So don't blink

I was glued to my tv when it looked like he looked at me and said
"Best start putting first things first."
Cause when your hourglass runs out of sand
You can't flip it over and start again
Take every breathe God gives you for what it's worth

Don't Blink
Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you
Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your "better half"
Of fifty years is there in bed
And you're praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think
So don't blink

So I've been tryin' ta slow it down
I've been tryin' ta take it in
In this here today, gone tomorrow world we're livin' in

Don't blink
Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you
Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your "better half"
Of fifty years is there in bed
And you're praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster then you think
So Don't blink

Naw, don't blink
Life Goes Faster Than You Think

Giver of Good Gifts....

Yes, God is good....and so are husbands! This past Friday night, my sweet husband and I had a fun date night. He is such a sweet husband and a giver of good gifts too. When we got in the car and began on our way - i looked in my purse and there was a camera case. Inside that camera case was a new pink camera just for me.

I love to take pictures and he always has our other camera with him for work stuff. I expressed a while back that i would love to have my own camera.....and now I do. He was excited to show me the functions and all the cool things it could do. I was just excited to see that it was pink!

Here is one of the first pics I took in the car. It was fun! I love that my husband truly is a cheerful giver!!!!!

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Kodak Moments

Ok...well, alot has happened since Thursday of last week. We celebrated Nick's birthday and enjoyed a long weekend in Sandestin. It was wonderful. I soaked up every minute of beach time I could without getting burned and found some time to just relax on our beautiful porch in the house we 'lived' in for the weekend. It was exactly what I needed.

I love taking pictures of my boys and our getaways. I want to preserve the moment as much as I can because they are special times. You know what I mean I am sure. Just like when we dress our kids up...we want to enjoy the 'age' they are and what memories we have of them at that time. Am I alone - or do you find that when you are trying to capture the perfect moment, it is any thing BUT a Kodak moment. If its a planned picture, there is whining and frustration between the perfect smiles for the 'click' of the camera. If you are on vacation (like I was) there is silliness and lots of fun faces. Now, the kids are totally enjoying it! Laughing it up....but me (you) the parents, are well....less entertained. It's no longer that Kodak Moment. The picture above is my example. There are many more...believe me. Actually a series of what we were trying to do....but didn't accomplish. But as I look at them now...I think, 'I have really funny kids'. I do! They truly do crack me up. And I love that they enjoy making me laugh. That is just another reminder to me to keep it simple...enjoy the moments...and the 'real life' pictures like these are what makes my family fun.....and special. And for that...I'll exchange every perfectly posed photo in the world! Go love and laugh with your kids today and forget about making your house perfect....nobody really lives in 'those' kind of houses anyway.

Teaching a boy to love a girl....

You know as parents, we teach our kids the right manners, obviously right from wrong...and the spiritual truths of course. However, as my boys grow up I become even more aware of how we teach them to be future husbands and fathers themselves. We all know that they look at us as authority and we hope role models too...but what kind of role models. I don't think of it often - though important - that when my boys see me, sometimes they think...is that what a wife/mom/woman is supposed to look like? Now, of course they will marry someone they fall in love with, but if we as mom's model good examples of who we are called to be, they will look for the right people and something inside them will click if they become involved with people who aren't necessarily good for them.

Having boys, we are focusing more on the side of how to cherish and respect a girl. How to treat her like she is special and all those things. In our home, our boys see this firsthand. I am blessed to be loved by an amazing man. Those of you who know him, know what I mean. He is crazy about me and never passes a chance to tell me so. Sometimes I think that because he is always that way...I forget that is not the norm. I have had eternal displays of love for me etched in wet cement at many gas stations, on church stage props....you name it. It's actually a game during musical season at church. Four letters and a symbol.... KJ (heart)SJ. That is what he paints/draws, reminding me that he loves me. I see this at a gas station on Acton road - right by the pump - Kevin loves Shannon. How fun is that for me? I am not that crazy...but I do leave notes for him on an old mirror in our bedroom. Our boys see this - they roll their eyes. But they know that their dad loves their mom. They see us cuddle on the couch, dance in the kitchen and have date night. That is so important. Now, I could tell you something else...but I am not sure it stays within the realm of things you should post on a blog for others to see, but it would be quite funny. But, maybe Max singing that awesome song Viva...something....just wouldn't be appropriate. You know, I wish they wouldn't make catchy songs about crazy products....anyway, let's get back to the subject at hand. What I am trying to say as I get caught up in ways my husband shows his love for me is that our boys see that we have fun and that we love each other. They in turn, look forward to getting married and plan to have fun. I hope they see that when they get married, they are to keep pursuing their love and keeping romantic gestures a part of their life. I don't want them to think that once they 'catch her' the chase is over. As women we long to be pursued. That is how we are wired, I am thankful I have a chaser.....

Scout, Max and I were home alone last night and we enjoyed my latest show of love from my man. I have begged for a long time to have a TV in my room. Just to enjoy a movie or some quiet tv when Guitar Hero 3 is blasting in our family room and flows into most every other area in our home. That's all.... Anyway, before Kevin went on a hunting trip with Nick - I received a wonderful flat screen TV that is pretty enough to kind of fit in my girl room. So its Friday, Max, Scout and I are all cozied up in my bed. All Max said is, Mom, I am so glad Dad is in love with you. He gives you good gifts. You know, he is right! He does.... and I wonder if Kevin knows he is giving our boys a gift. The living example of a man who loves his wife and truly cherishes her. Kevin is teaching them daily how to be a wonderful husband.

Kevin and I love to go to bookstores - and just read, drink coffee, look around. Well, around Christmastime, we found a devotion book for couples that we bought. Songs in the key of Solomon. It is written by well known Anita Renfroe ( women of faith) and her husband John. Inside we found many romantic devotions that remind us and married couples to connect in romantic ways each day. I am reminded that I need to do that more. I want our boys to continue seeing a love that has sparks in their parents marriage. What about you? If you are not getting enough....oooo you two.....that is gross comments from your 9 year old....maybe you need to turn up the romance too. :) Just saying.... Read the scripture below, if this is not something you want to read with your spouse.....take a heart check and go away for a weekend alone - no kids. A healthy marriage is just as important in your home as keeping your kids away from bad movies, language, drinking and drugs....I promise! :)

(The man) Oh my dear friend! You're so beautiful! And your eyes so beautiful - like doves!
(The woman) And you, my dear lover - you're so handsome! And the bed we share is like a forest glen. We enjoy a canopy of ceders enclosed by cypresses, fragrant and green. I'm just a wildflower picked from the plains of Sharon, a lotus blossom from the valley pools.

(the man) A lotus blossoming in a swamp of weeds -that is my dear friend among the girls of the village. Song of Solomon 1:15-2:2