15 years and a bunch of other thoughts

15 yrs married.
6 months engaged.
1.5 years dating.
1 year keeping our eye on each other while dating others (just being honest; sorry people we dated that year)
18 years total of knowing each other.
Next month I turn 36 so I've now known him half of my life.
I like that.
I think it's crazy that the week we celebrate our 15th anniversary we are just days away from our next big adventure in life together.
We've had lots of adventures.
Some full of awesomeness and some mixed with a lot of work and some not so awesome.
I wonder what all this one will bring.
Regardless of it all, I'm so thankful to be beside him through all of life's adventures.

Lack of time has kept me from journaling much about this next adventure.
Church Planting - The GreenHouse.
It's been a 5+ year process but now it's time.
You can read more about it on our website.
We've been sending out monthly e-newsletters since May.
If you don't get them and would like one let us know, we'd be happy to put you on the list.

Move day is 6 days away.
Lots to pack yet and more fun to cram in.

I've been asked a lot lately how I'm doing with it all?
That's a complicated question.
I'm really excited to go.
But I'm NOT ready to leave.
Weird I know.
I didn't save up all my grieving for now though, I've been crying for 6 months.
After time with a good friend or time in the community with the kids many times I'd come home and cry knowing just how much we would miss it all.
The week of moving is just so full of so many different emotions.
On one had I'm in full "work mode" to get everything done, that holds the emotions off for awhile too.
Then on the other hand I'm sad.
Sad for goodbyes.
Sad for losses.
Sad for change.
Sad to have to start over with things.
Sad my kids will experience the same saddness.
I guess I need a third hand because I'm also so excited.
Excited to start something that has been stirring in us for years.
Excited to see what new things we get to experience.
Excited to be near old friends.
Excited for my kids to be apart of something like this.
So for those of you that have asked or wondered . . . I'm all over the board.
It will depend on what hour you ask me.
And for this hour I must kick back into productive mode.
Have a great Friday!

A Valentine Card

I received a Valentine from my oldest this week that he made in Sunday School.

All gifts from my kids are special

but this one made me cry.

I opened it and had instant tears and thought "wow".

I actually had to sit and just think a bit after reading it.

To you it might just be good words but to me it said, "I am watching, I do notice."

These are the exact words I wrote on a little white board I have in the kids bathroom. 

 They have been there for well over a month now I'd say.

I never read it to them.

I never mentioned it them.

I just randomly put things on it that I think of and hope they'll read.

I sort of forgot about it until I opened his card.

Thanks for noticing Ian.

Thanks for reminding me.

Happy Valentine's.

God IS Love.   ( 1 John 4:8)

Show Love.

Show God.

Be encouraged Moms; they notice.

Is it to late?

Is it to late to post about Green Day?

I had a date.
Went to hear Matt Nathenson.
I've had his songs on the blog lately - loving his stuff.
So very good.

The Venue (Slow Down) was really neat too. Smaller. Clean. Nice. If we go there again I'm going extra early for one of the little table for twos just at the edge of the pit.
We stood all night.

So we grabbed pizza at a little place and stood in line to get in.
While in line Jason kept raggin on us saying we were the only ones not in green.
It wasn't entirely true - I saw at least three other people.

He was gonna wear a green shirt but I talked him out of it b/c I couldn't figure out anything green for me.
Male wardrobes vs Female wardrobes --- don't even get me started.
So while in line I had to run back to to the car to get something so I ran into a little boutique and wa-la came out with these.

I think his face said something like, "Are you serious?"
Oh yes.
We wore them all. night. long.
We're dorks I know.

We laughed so hard at this picture.
Check out the lady in the back.
I'm not sure she was enjoying herself???

Jas always feels bad when someone can't see around him, he thought that was her issue.
Me on the other hand was like, um she chose to stand behind you. You were there long before her.
Not sure why people rag on tall people.
I've watched the guy deal with airplanes and all sorts of places that don't suit him. He never glares at the short people on the flight.
Tallness is in his favor  at a concert!

Here's a glimpse at the music. My favorite song by him is - Faster (it's the first one on the blog right now). It's just fun feel good music.
Good stuff.

Thanks mom for hanging with the kids.
Makes the night so much more fun when we know they are having a good time.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hearts of all sorts.
Some were bought.
Some were personally made.
Some were given.
Some were made by others.
That was Valentine's Day.

Valentines Morning you could have observed "crazy love" at our house.

That's my definition of lots of love but chaos . . . that's sort of how love is often shown in big families.

It was good.

Lots of love, but crazy.

Not really a good place for the "one thing happening at a time" type person.

Last week in art the twins made Valentines.
They are in different classes.
They could pick anyone they know to make their project for.
They chose each other.
Be.
Still.
My.
Heart.

Wrapped up the day with heart pizza and more craziness with girlfriends and kids. 

Again . . . "crazy love".

Good stuff.

Hope you had a chance to show love and receive love this week.
Valentines isn't the only day for love . . .
Hope you know you are loved daily and you give love daily!

(My guy and I saw "The Vow" this weekend.  I highly recommend it. Very good flick. My friend told me she saw a quote somewhere that said, "When Tatum Channing shows up at the hospital saying he's your husband, just go with it." Hilarious.)

Anniversary

13 years I've been married to this guy.

Known him for 16 years.
That's close to half of my life.
I knew when I saw him he was a keeper.
Coleson asked me how old I was when I got married.
I was 20 (young I know).
Coleson said, "Mommy you were to small to get married."
Yes Coleson I was "small" but it was a great match.
I don't think getting married young is always the best choice but if my kids can find someone that loves them like their daddy loves me I'd be all for it.
I always tell them.
Find someone that loves Jesus and find someone that loves people well.
If they love others well; they'll love you well.
Marry your best friend.
That I did.
He is my best friend and the one I will trust with anything.
Happy Anniversary Babe!

Us fight??

A couple days ago someone asked me if Jason and I ever fought?
Um.
YES!
You don't have a passionate personality without having some passionate fights.

Sometimes it's over stupid lame stuff.
Sometimes it's deep and someone is hurt by something.
Sometimes someone is just in a bad mood. (Truth be known if that's the case it's 9 times out of 10 me.)
I'd hope it's true that we fight better now then we did 12 years ago.
We fight less that's for sure.
We can get into a long groove with little to no fighting; a groove where we keep it clean and we remember all the right ways to handle conflict.
Or we can get into a groove where we seem to forget how to handle conflict right.
That's when we work hard to get back on the other kind of groove.

Here's the thing with our fighting / arguing / debating (whatever you want to call it). . . we are crazy about each other.
Even in fighting we really are FOR the other person.
We've learned to say sorry.
We've learned to forgive.

We both have personalities that don't want our life, our marriage, our family, our jobs to just be "okay".
We want them to mean something.
We want them to be full.
We want them to represent something. Someone.
We want them to always be progressing and getting deeper.
We'll fight for those things to be so.

So yep, this couple that is crazy about each other is a normal, everyday couple that has disagreements and conflicts and fights and has to do the hard work that comes with marriage.
But it's oh so worth it.

Flower Girl

Tatum was a flower girl this weekend.
First time.
She was loving it.
She couldn't wait for them to kiss.
At rehearsal when the bride walked in with her dad she said, "Why is she walking in with him? Why isn't she walking in with the guy she is going to kiss?"
When we referred to them she either said "the ones that are going to kiss" or "the ones that kissed" or "the bride and the guy she is going to kiss".
After she watched several tap on their glasses to get them to kiss at the reception, I later eyed her using her plastic silverware trying to get her glass to make a clinking sound so they'd kiss.
She did her job well.
I wasn't sure what to expect.
When you are four you can have a different personality every hour if you want.
The ring boy was hilarious during pics.
He didn't say a word but apparently when he is told to "smile" he opens his mouth wide.
His mom told the photographer to say "cheese" instead so he wouldn't do that but she kept forgetting so most of the pics his mouth was wide open.
It was so hilarious to everyone.
He thought he was doing what the lady wanted.
Jason performed the wedding so I got to see them both all dressed up together.
Enjoy all the pics.

Thanks Bret and Laura for including us in your day.
We hope you are having the time of your life in the sun right now!

Happy Birthday to My Guy!

Today is my guy's birthday.

Sort of.
He's a leap year baby - so ya know - he doesn't really get a day this year.
I've always made sure to celebrate in within the same month.
He's 8 3/4 this year.
Just got older than Ian - barely.
It's a big b-day.
I won't tell you his age.
Maybe the list of things I tell you I like about him will give it away.
Or you can do the leap year math.
(If it gets to mushy for ya just come back tomorrow for a less mushy post.)

35 THINGS I LIKE ABOUT HIM.

1    He's HOTT. (Well he is.)

2    He's tall.  (I like that about him too. Just getting the obvious out of the way.)

3    He's been a good keeper of my heart.

4    He makes me laugh.

5    He's an over the top, awesome kind of daddy.

6    He lives his life on a mission.

7    He's a hard worker.

8    He can function on little sleep.

9    He likes to have fun.

10  He's a communicator.

11  He's compassionate.

12  He loves people.

13  He's not a picky eater.

14  He balances me.

15  He fits in with my family.

16  He likes to travel.

17  He likes to learn.

18  He's open to new ideas.

19  He puts up with me.

20  He's passionate about Christ.

21  He's easy to find in a crowd. :))

22  He's willing to live adventurously.

23  He listens to my heart.

24  He helps me fold laundry sometimes.

25  He provides for us.

26  He has a variety of information stored in his head.

27  He likes me.

28  He fixes things.

29  He has blue eyes which get passed to all four of our kiddos.

30  He is genuine.

31  He models what he preaches.

32  He gives a great hug.

33  He's funny.

34  He's creative.

35  He's mine.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE ONE I LOVE!!

Words

Words that made my day.

Jason said, "Let me get the mail the next several days ok?" (grin)

Don't have to tell me twice . . . I love a surprise.

Hmmm.

Give Me Jesus - Fernando Ortega Ruth Graham Tribute

My posts lately have been heavy on the words/thoughts and music and low on the pics.
Sorry.
Haven't had my camera in my hand much since Christmas.
That will be a goal in Feb.
But for now one more song post.

I am off today to prepare for the Women's Retreat I've been talking about.
Off to some time with G I R L S.
Off to some time with J E S U S.
Oh how excited I am.
All will be well here at our house - always is when I'm gone.
I have a rock star husband!


This is the first song on my playlist right now.
Our pastor showed this last week at church.
It's moving.
Moves me to want more of Jesus.
Moves me to want to be that couple that is married for 60+ years and still in love.
Moves me to want to live so my kids will say this of me someday.
Give Me Jesus.
Hope it encourages and moves you too.

By His Side

One of my favorite places to be is by my guy's side watching our kids play.

We talk about life, we talk about the kids, we laugh, and we try to solve the world's problems.
Sometimes we just sit.
There is no one that shares my intense love for those four kids like he does.
There is no one that will talk about the details of each kid with me like he does.
There is no one that understands my heart like he does.
There is no one that will listen to my complex mind like he does.
Sometimes it's a very ironic picture . . . kids playing without a care in the world while we sit just yards away discussing big decisions for our family.
Somehow after playing with the kids and connecting as a family it then allows us time to just sit back and watch them play.
From the time they were toddlers till now this is one of my favorite places to be - by his side watching them play.