Sparkling White!

Tonight I was given the awesome opportunity to speak at a new ministry called Loving Roots. It is designed to love and support, come alongside, provide care for, and educate young soon-to-be-mothers, most unwed. It is awesome.

They asked me to speak on Purity. That is a tough task for sure. She specifically wanted it to be on Sexual Purity...and even tougher task. I was so nervous. I was scared. I was slightly unprepared (only really my fault). However, God was calming. He filled the room with His word and hopefully their hearts. Tonight I was just a vessel. And that was such a good place to be.

I had this idea (because I am visual) to have some sort of physical picture of what it would be like to start out pure, have sin all over, and then become pure again. Since this is where we all are in life...in need of constant redemption, forgiveness and grace.

My first idea and trial run failed miserably. I tried water, food coloring, and bleach. Then, Jeff and I went to Walmart to figure out how we could make it better. And we did! (or rather, I'll let God have the credit).

We got a white t-shirt. A red marker. And some Oxy-clean. (that stuff is awesome)

During the talk I spoke of God's original plan of purity and how we were made in his image and I brought out the shirt. I told them that our ultimate goal is to stand before Christ in his coming confident and unashamed (pure). The hard part was in the middle...the life part.

Insert: sin, fall of man, us (and the red pen)

I asked them to list off things that the world throws at us that cause us to be impure. They did a really great job of this. Our shirt was filled with red words all over it...from top to bottom.

Insert: God, forgiveness (and the oxyclean)

We went on to talk of how we can set boundaries for ourselves in all areas of life (not just sexual) from things we hear, see, touch, consume, etc.

Then I took the shirt from the water and wrung it out. SPARKLING WHITE.

Isaiah 1:18 Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

I got more out of preparing for the talk than I had planned. God had a message for me in it all. I wanted to share because I was so grateful, and because well...God is just good. And I wanted to share that.

Anniversary Blessings...

This was our 5 year anniversary. We were very blessed by having one of our youth parent board member's family watch the kids for us for free. It was so fun to be loved in that way. And then I had a gift card to Olive Garden, so our meal was free too! It was delicious...
It was nice to have that time with JUST Jeff as our days have been (and continue to be) chaotic at best. Thank you McIntire's for such sweet generosity for our family. We truly appreciate you more than you'll ever know!

Lessons in Faith...

Well, good news is--I have my phone back.

Here is the story...

I deactivated my service. I was just mad after I left Chili's and felt deflated about it all. However, I had prayed and when I did, I believed, even though my faith in it was about the size of a mustard seed. (mainly because it wasn't "important" in the big scheme of things, and I knew ultimately I'd be fine without it). However, it is good to pray and believe. It's also fun, for one of the few times in life to get to see the "why" or at least a small part of the much bigger picture (myself).

I ended up reactivating it so I could call it a few more hundred times. I was convinced that someone had to have stolen it. There just was no way someone would turn in a wallet with loads of cash and not turn in the phone too (and I NEVER have cash on me, but happened to have paid with a credit card for our retreat and had all the "reimbursement" in cash).

So I called and called and called some more and figured I'd just annoy the person to death. Well, thankfully I did. Because a little girl, probably about 8 or 9 picked it up from the bathroom floor (must have fallen from on top of the TP dispenser) and in her words, "decided to took it" (if that indicates her age). While I was calling it, thankfully she didn't know how to turn it off or down and her dad happened to walk by her room. He heard it and I am pretty sure she now knows what it is like to be caught red handed! They called the number back that had called it so many times and asked if I knew who the phone belonged to. I was excited and raced to get my phone. (they didn't tell me the story until I got there).

The little girl apologized to me as she handed me the phone and then told me what she did. The mom was horrified and the dad looked like he might beat her silly (not really beat her). Then I asked if my wallet had been with it and you would have thought that the dad was then REALLY gonna beat her. I couldn't get it out of my mouth fast enough that I had it in my possession but was just curious if they had been together at the time she found the phone. The dad was about to come unglued and thought she had taken (or "tooken" :)) that too. I guess the wallet was still up on the TP dispenser and the phone had fallen.

I don't think this little girl will go through that again in a long time! And for the few hours of me worrying about my silly phone, I know it was worth it to teach her that little big lesson.

I am very thankful to have my phone. God cares about even the littlest things...that is neat.

Now, at the same time I write this story, I can't help but remember all of my friends and family who go through things SO much bigger (in life, in emotion, and even in the "scheme of things") and God doesn't answer their requests like they desire...nor has He always answered mine, but I continue to pray and believe and trust in His plan and timing and Sovereignty. Praise be to Him in the good and bad, the big and the small. Please continue to pray for the Cooks at this time.

Of Course...

You know when I went to bed after my "He's listening" post below I could have told you I was doomed....and I was.

I saw EVERY single cotton-picking hour on the clock that night/morning from 9p-9a. It was awful. Neither of them slept, so of course I didn't...but my sweet and darling husband managed to sleep through it ALL! :/

Needless to say I was VERY grouchy yesterday and last night wasn't much better, but at least Jackson didn't wake up till 5a this morning but thankfully went back to sleep (with us of course) till 8:45. Today, I am still rather grouchy but a little less because they are at least at school.

I took Creighton to the doctor last Tuesday to find out she had a really bad ear infection and not so bad ear infection AND a sinus infection. She's been on antibiotics TWICE A DAY religiously since and yet last night she was so so so upset about her ears...she was pulling like mad and screaming like crazy...from 11-12:15 and then from 3-4 until I finally just brought her to bed with me, which happened to be the miracle cure...or maybe it was all the Tylenol I gave her...because she slept great till 7:15 and then I nursed her and she went back to sleep till 9.

Jackson has been talking a lot about monsters lately...and it absolutely breaks my heart because I can be immobilized at times by my fears at night and I hate it that he might have that too. He was talking with Jeff in the shower last night about his previous night's sleeplessness and he was saying there was a monster and he began describing him and says he is on his wall. I hate that for him SO much. Any advice on how to get past this with him? He has a night light on already and a fan for noise so he doesn't hear outside noises and/or Creighton's cries. It just breaks me really to think of his fears!

Anyway, I desperately need to get some rest...I decided that I absolutely could NOT get pregnant again just for the sole reason of I wouldn't make it another year without sleep...really, I wouldn't! My depths of my being just canNOT function without it. I heard a commercial that man can survive 12 days without sleep...that is a load of bull! I wouldn't make it past the 2nd day...

Sorry for my complaining...I am just severely in a funk!

I am going to have lunch with one of my small group girls though and I visited one of my other ones this morning who had surgery yesterday and so that helped and I hope my lunch helps lift my mood (and helps me feel I have purpose again)...

Good day y'all...and Baby A is a whole week old today!!! :)---when I think of this I hate that I typed any of the above with any complain in my voice because I do have healthy babies...and I do know that I am so blessed! Forgive my complaining

What a first night!

Well, I could tell last night that my weekend had "worked" and I was refreshed and feeling like I could conquer the world...(or just two toddlers...which some days feels like the world)...this morning was great. I noticed their whines and such, but no problem, still feeling awesome...they did have school today, which obviously made it easy throughout the day because they were running wild with someone else (and loving it--they don't like leaving!).

After school we played hard for an hour at the park, which was fun...albeit much colder and windy-er than I had anticipated...but fun nonetheless. We quickly ran home and had snacks and I threw on my workout clothes from earlier in the day when I played almost 2 hours of volleyball (fun), and I threw dinner in the oven and ran out the door to go to the YMCA where I am taking a step class that I absolutely love! The kids ran around and played hard in the nursery there while Jeff and I worked out.

We came home to an amazing smelling home and a HOT dinner ready to eat. It was perfect, well besides that my floor and table are NO longer clean whatsoever. But, like I said yesterday, that is just my "normal" and to have it clean and smelling so good was just "fantasy" and certainly not reality by any stretch of the imagination.

Dinner went okay but the kids didn't eat really well, but I thought not a big deal...they did eat something and had a snack earlier...

Well, it pretty much was nuts from that point on (when Daddy left to go to Bible Study)...

We played for a little bit, and then I decided it was time for bath. Bath went decent for the first part, and Jackson was ready to get out to go finish his Veggie Tales movie so I got him out, dried and dressed and sent him on his way (so wonderful that he is so independent with so many things)...and Creighton was NOT ready at all to get out of the tub...so I let her play as the water was draining and I began taking all the toys and the mat out. Thank goodness! She was playing slippin' slide with the tub without any water and was having the time of her life! I was helping her so she wouldn't keep banging her head so hard...but she never cried, just laughed...

Then I was going to wipe her nose but decided to blow mine first (sometimes I do this so she'll be less aprehensive about me wiping hers) and my nose started GUSHING blood...everywhere. I stuck an entire kleenex up there and somehow (seriously I don't know how) it was still DRIPPING outside of the kleenex...

So all over my white bathroom that I just spent 2 days cleaning I am bleeding everywhere and I am trying to get it cleaned up and stopped, or at this point at least slowed down enough to move. As I am leaning over the sink, I hear a toot from Creighton, no big deal, much bigger things to deal with than her toot...well literally I turn around and there is POOP everywhere...she was slippin' and sliding all in it and it was now all over my tub and tub walls (not to mention Creighton) that I had just scrubbed (her too)....So I abandon my nose and I go back to her and try desperately to get her up and cleaned off as my nose is gushing blood ---bright red---everywhere all over the tub, and then she slips again, just as I get all the poop off the tub (thankfully I had all the toys and mat up and there wasn't water in the tub, made for a much easier clean up) and is covered now in poop and blood from head to toe...seriously it was so disgusting! I get her all cleaned off....I think I washed her poor body like 100 times over and over, as in I used half a bottle of Aveno baby wash!

Get her dressed, and my prayers were working as I was panicking prayers up to God for my nose to stop bleeding so I could take care of her...and it did, eventually!

Then we come play and have a good ole time with the slide and the cars. Jackson's movie is over (which by the way he was oblivious to the disaster in the bathroom...thank goodness he wanted to leave, which he NEVER usually does). So I tell them 5 minutes and its time to go read books and we need to start picking up the toys....this is where Jackson begins the torture...he doesn't help pick up ONE toy...so he is not playing with them tomorrow...he throws a fit.

I tell him its time for bed which he thought was more punishment and I tried to explain it was time for bed no matter what. So, then I had to spank him. More crying, more fits. Tell him its time to brush his teeth and more fits....finally he comes and of course I put toothpaste on the wrong toothbrush, more fits. I about choke him to death getting his teeth brushed (unwilling, of course). He throws another fit when we get in his room because I told him he didn't earn a book tonight. Then I give him his blanky and binky and put him in his bed and he proceeds to throw the binky across the room. I told him I was sorry he did that and kissed him goodnight and walked out.

I read Creighton some books all the while Jackson is literally beating his door down. There is a child door safety thing on it so he can't get out if it is closed all the way. Well, he locked his door somehow and broke the child safety thing off the door. But because he had locked the door in the process, then he really couldn't get out....more yelling and crying and screaming and fit throwing (not to mention his light was off, so he was in the dark). Finally he calms down a little bit and begins trying his best to calmly tell me he was sorry and he wanted to listen and he REALLY wanted his binky but couldn't find it. So, I went in to get his binky and calm him down a little more so he'd settle down...he was so tired (and now worn competely out). I put him in his bed and he asked for a book again, but I told him not tonight and he thought about crying but I think he was just too tired. We prayed and he was asleep before I left the room.

So I go back into Creighton's room (we had to come out to get her medicine) to nurse her to sleep and she gets a tickle in her throat and throws up ALL OVER ME and herself and the chair and the carpet ( mind you all things that were recently clean!--with the exception of me). So I take her back to the bathroom and clean her up and she starts dancing immediately...like ah I just needed to get that out! :) She is so funny...although I wasn't laughing then. Change her pajamas and nurse her for a few more minutes and lay her down. I was hoping that she'd fall right asleep but she screamed her head off. I had to go take a shower because I needed not to hear her cries and I was gross (volleyball, step class, dinner, bathtime, nose bleed, poop, and throw up....)

Now I am clean and they are both asleep...whew...what a first night back into mommyhood...but I can still say, life is good, I am so blessed and I still am doing fine (thanks to my weekend away)...:)

Oh yes, and my time with my husband was so sweet last night. I cuddled up next to him and we talked for hours...it was fantastic! He was absolutely precious to me and treated me like a queen and stole my heart again...like he likes to do! He is truly wonderful!

Excitement on a lot of levels!

I have wanted to update everyday and for one reason or 50 I haven't gotten to it. Today I was planning on it but then I tried to do our taxes...Can I tell you how much I hate doing taxes?! Ugh!

Jeff started a 90 day fitness challenge at the YMCA and his goal is to lose like over 30 pounds. I didn't pay to do it, but I am in charge of feeding him healthier meals and buying healthy food and not making cookies and such (bah hum bug). Anyway, I was excited when they did his weigh in because I got to do my testing too (helps when you know people and are in the right place at the right time). I was SO excited to hear even though there is NO way its right that I had a 25 body fat % (they gave the exact amount but I can't remember) and my "ideal" according to the test based off my height weight structure and all the other stuff was like 24% and it said I only needed to lose a few pounds to achieve this. I was very excited! :)

I was also very excited this week because I finally got rid of my old "ghetto" Oklahoma license and replaced (renewed) it with a newer one that looks 21st century instead of something I made at home. It was actually a good picture too! That rarely happens...I get to keep it for 4 years...and even better than that she didn't ask for my new weight and that is the weight from when I was 16! :) Hahahha! I was as excited as I was when I got my very first license I think! Seriously...I should get out more, huh?

The biggest news of excitement is this:
My fantasy is coming true!

Jeff is taking both children and going to Enid for the weekend. I get to stay in my bed, in my house with all of my things, ALL.BY.MYSELF. for 3 days (and 3 BLESSED nights).

I am so beside myself with excitement I don't know what to do! I love my family and love spending time with them, but I can GUARANTEE you that I will want to so much more after having this weekend to myself. Having time to myself is one thing when I am away like at a hotel, or a friends, or my parents, but the fact that I get my own bed is just....well, I am so blessed and thankful....and lucky....

My husband is so sweet! Happy Valentines Day sweetheart and thank you ahead of time!

**as for what I will do with my time...I will for sure Sleep a lot, blog, sleep, update pics, sleep, taxes (maybe), sleep, clean the house (maybe), go to a movie (haven't got a clue what is even in the theaters)....we'll see. I truly have NO plans...I am trying to "squeeze in" a massage in all that time off (if the guy is open)*** oh did I say I was excited?! :)

Life is good

I had minor (major to me) dental surgery on Wednesday afternoon and have been a little "low" because of it the last few days. I am such a baby. Pain level is decent but my need to be "felt sorry for" and cared for is GREAT (much exceeds the normal limits). *Having said that, I will say though that my mouth is really gross looking and very uncomfortable and I am still taking much much too much ibprofen every day to be able to function.

Anyway, I am hoping this all will just go away and feel better overnight although I am not holding my breath...I just popped another 600mg of IBP.

However, we have had some really great fun and lovely family time this weekend. My kids are getting big, which on one hand and for a very small second is sad, but on the other is so wonderful! They are getting a little bit more independent each day. Creighton acts like she's 3 and Jackson acts like he's either 5 or 5 months depending on the minute :)....it is just neat.

Discipline with Jackson is so much easier when we can communicate with one another! That might not always be the case, but it is just fantastic that I know I don't let him off the hook now by making excuses for him that "oh, well, he just doesn't understand"....he craves structure and discipline and guidelines and boundaries....just like his mother, but much unlike his father (whom his very precious princess takes after). He doesn't always want consequences obviously but he is doing so much better with it. He is my little cuddle bug, full of energy though, very people pleasing type A personality. He likes order and loves things "exactly the way he wants them" at the exact time and location....we are working on this. :)

Anyway, we are just enjoying these little people and of course I absolutely ADORE watching my husband spending fun play time with them. It is truly awesome. He is such a wonderful father, Daddy, friend to them...Thanks honey...

Jackson has continued in his pursuit of praying and he prays FERVENTLY and with MUCH MUCH obvious desire for his grammy Terrie to feel better so he can go to Pop's house....it is almost too much to handle how cute he is...he squeezes his eyes so tight and grasps his little fingers around his hands so tight as if to think "if I squeeze harder maybe it'll happen faster"... I just can't get enough of it! It is my most favorite thing in the world right now.

One last funny thing, I was at Hallmark and I happened to buy 3 cards all random and they told me I could get one of these stuffed animals that makes noise for $9.95 since I bought 3 cards....I can't really stand the thought of one more stuffed animal in my house and so almost immediately said no...but the lady persisted in showing them (all 3 of them to me) anyway, the last of which was this funny little dog that had ears that flapped up and down and sings in a doggie voice "Where's my hug, where's my hug, i want a hug, give me a hug, come on come on give me a hug, oh boy oh boy oh boy ruff ruff"....I don't even like dogs but my sweet Rae LOVES them and she loves noisy toys and loves hugs, so I caved and got this silly dog. My kids couldn't love this silly thing more! If you push the paw Creighton will RUN (drop whatever she is doing and RUN) to give that thing a hug...it is priceless and precious in everyway....Jackson does it too but really only because Creighton gets so much attention from it and/or because he knows she wants it. It was a great $10 gift for her....I will get video maybe soon of it...

My Husband...

...is wonderful. He bought me flowers and had them delivered to the house yesterday, for absolutely no other reason than he was thinking of me and wanted me to know he loved me. That is pretty cool. He is doing a really wonderful job of showing me how much he loves me in big and small ways. It is so neat. My parents really have a great marriage (as far as I know) and I always dreamed of having someone love me like my Dad loves my Mom and I found that. God has blessed me so much. He is truely wonderful to me, for me, and for my kids. I got the WHOLE PACKAGE...and his comment below about God tricking me...no way...He was made just for me...no one else in the world could do for me what he does and just know me like he does. Thank you Jesus for my sweet man that you handcrafted just for me....and Jeff, thank you for being that man, and for growing daily to be a better husband, daddy, friend and follower of Christ! I notice...I do.

Under Construction

I don't know how many of you noticed that I was away and so was my blog for a few days. I needed to do some cleaning up within my blog...and so I did. I found that I had some drafts that were duplicates and some posts were not worth leaving up and within some that were, were specific things that I shouldn't have said/needed worded differently.

I had like 218 or so posts to start with and now I am back down to 197, this one being 198, and so I will get to do my "blog anniversary" on my 200th post like I had wanted! So that is good news!

I had wanted to do this for some time and never took the time to do it...and now I know why...it took HOURS and several days to do this! But, it was brought to my attention that I am a daughter of the King, and I am also a wife of a minister and therefore, whether I like it or not, I have to be even more careful about my content, my comments, my depth. I value being "real" so much that I said some things that hurt people, confused people, made people wonder and worry. I need to be more careful because we live our life in a fish bowl---and that has to be okay....even though sometimes it is very hard.

I learned alot about myself though through re-reading all of my posts over the last year. I learned that I am constantly talking about sleep! Sorry to all of you about that :) I value sleep so much and I love to sleep. When people ask Jeff what my hobby is, it is sleeping, and that is exactly what he says :)....But I also learned that I complain an awful lot! That isn't a good thing at all. My "realness" that I prided myself in being, wasn't very appealing to the public eye, and so my apologies for that as well. I will try to do better.

I am very grateful for good friends and for people who care enough about Jeff and I to put us in our place when we are out of line. That isn't always easy...AT ALL, but man, so true is the verse in Proverbs that "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses."

Life is good. I am learning a lot. That is good, not always easy, but good. My sweet husband is so good to me...and I am so in love with him. Going through difficult things together is always a good test of the strength of our marriage and commitment to one another.

The kids are good. Both of them are getting over a cough and ear infections and such, but are being pretty good. I am weaning Creighton off of nursing and as sad as I am about it, I think it will be good for BOTH of us. It does really make me sad though. I have LOVED nursing both of my babies. It is sucha sweet and tender time and noone else gets to EVER experience that closeness like I got to with them. I'll never forget that (I hope!).

I finished up my Seeking Him bible study that I love so much. I miss it...but I am glad that I am able to move beyond a specific study and do some good old fashioned scripture study with the Lord. I am on a 30 day commitment to studying the word and spending quiet time in prayer...I desperately hope to come out on the other side of the 30 days changed and knowing the importance of that daily time and cherishing that time so much that I can't not continue in it every day. I want desperately to be different. To be sold out for Christ. I want the Lord's joy to be my joy...even when being a wife and a mommy and a christian for that matter gets tough!

I am so thankful for my friends and family!

Update, Ladies Night Out, Christmas Early

Thanks to all of you who posted comments/emailed me about my "talk" this morning. It went really really well. I was very nervous before and even after, but during, the Lord calmed my heart and I was really okay and I felt encouraged by His voice that came out and the testimony that he allowed me to share. I was vulnerable and open and honest and that proved to be worth it. The Lord is good! Thanks!!!

We had ladies night out today and it was amazing! We just had such a great time. We had 8 there and 6 of us stayed till closing...it was a fabulous time and it was so refreshing and great!!!! I just love it. I wish I could do it more often...but then it probably wouldn't be so great. I look forward to it constantly!

My mom bought Jeff and I a new bed set for Christmas and gave it to us early. I am very excited! I put it all together yesterday and we slept in our new sheets/spread last night and I love it. I think it looks great. Jeff thinks it looks "too grown up"...I keep reminding him we are on our 5th year of marriage and we have two kids! We are old! :) Its like a dull turquoise and brown (dark dark chocolate!)

Washer/Dryer!

Our dryer broke and so we purchased a new set of both a washer and a dryer, actually not a set, but both a washer and a dryer....We got LG brand of both, but they are different models. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE them....I think I did like 5 loads of laundry in the last two days (maybe 6) but with my old washer/dryer it would have been like 10-12 loads AND my clothes smell better, feel better, look better, ARE better. I love them!

The only thing is that they both have child locks on them...but apparently to MY eldest child there is NO SUCH THING! He figured out how to unlock both of them in 5 seconds and LOVES to play with the buttons because they light up and make noises. And, oh how my child loves buttons!!!!!, (and noise, and lights!)

awesomeness

I am just filled with JOY--true JOY. God is awesome. I love it! He has really put some of my freshmen on my heart to really pour into and pray for and minister to and tonight I got to do that outside of volleyball. It has made it ALL (the hours, the no pay, the stress, the tiredness, the losses, the wins, all of it) worth it. It doesn't matter what I teach them really as far as volleyball is concerned...I care, but that isn't what matters most. I am now (I am a super slow learner) realizing that...for the first time.
I am so thankful that the Lord put in me a desire and an ability to play volleyball, because it is with that and through that, that I am making some really neat relationships and really getting to plant seeds...as for the soil, I think it is open and willing, and I am so thrilled to see what happens, even if I don't find out on this side of heaven. I love sports, but to be able to play(coach) AND minister and love on kids who need and want it, now that is just awesome!
6 volleyball players were at Nikao tonight!
Thank you Lord!

A red candle

For quite some time our church has been doing this thing after the sermon where you can light a candle if you wish if God has answered a prayer for you this week. Well, today they added a new addition to that--in that if you, or someone you know, has accepted Christ for the first time, then you can light a red candle. I cannot tell you how emotional I got EACH time a red candle was lit and placed on teh alter...it was amazing! Young kids and older adults...it was fantastic. After several were laid there I asked the Lord for one more....it took like 10 minutes and at the very last second a little boy rose from behind us and came forward witha red candle! I was amazed at the Lord and his sweet and gentleness to that little boy and to me. It was such a neat blessing to me. I had chills and tears for the remainder of our time in worship...I love it! I love it! It was also, just a neat time for me and the Lord...I am so thankful that when things often don't seem to still be 'fresh' and 'new' and alive that they ARE...this world is so much bigger than just me--I needed a fresh and new reminder of that today adn I received it. Thank you Lord

Randomness

Church was really good today. I went with an open heart and a willing heart. Its been some time since I went with that kind of heart. Satan was doing everything he could do distract me, and sometimes I was, but for the most part I was really connected to what was going on and listening and trying to apply. It was on prayer and I KNOW that I need more work in that area than most all else in my life, especially my spiritual walk. I am just not a prayer warrior. I don't know why, and to be honest I don't know how I am not...because being a minister's wife and a mommy leaves me little not to be praying for. However, I struggle here, and so I was challenged and enlightened and taught today. The Lord is so good, so gentle and so sweet. I am thankful that He is patient with me on so many things...

Jeff and I had a wonderful weekend together. We didn't do anything spectacular but that in and of itself was spectacular. We didn't spend much money because we just bought a new to us car--an 05 Nissan Altima. It was like almost 80000 miles on it, but that is okay, it is really nice, and it has a/c so that is wonderful and would make ANY car better than what we had in this heat!

Jackson and Creighton did really well at my moms...of COURSE Creighton slept through the night for my mom BOTH nights...and I put her down tonight at 9 and JEff already had to go in just now because she was up screaming! I hate that! It just wears down my soul...the one that was just refreshed feels a month old and I have only had them back for 7 hours. How is that? I feel almost guilty with how much fun I had with JUST Jeff this weekend. We had a blast and spent so much time together and giggled and goofed off and were "free" feeling and it was wonderful. What did we do with all of our time before kids?! It was amazing...I miss it already...but I did miss my kids...don't get me wrong...but they wear. me. out.

We have a busy busy volleyball week: games (away) Monday, (home) Tuesday, (home) Thursday. We are currently 0-2 which stinks because I really really HATE losing, but they are actually (for the most part) (minus one game entirely) much better than I had anticipated them being! They are improving for sure adn that is what matters. I have already decided I am not doing it next year though! I would if I could hire a babysitter and still have money left over from coaching, but as it is I am only making like $80 a month...and we all know that covers just about NOTHING!

I am baaaack!

I am excited to be back online again! It has been too long for me without it....although it was probably a really good thing for me...as during my "leave" the Lord has brought me to a much better place--a much NEEDED place. I am still the clay being molded and I am far from the shape He wants me to be, and even further from the finished project, but I am atleast back in the Potters hands again.

Thursday was Jeff and I's FOURTH anniversary and that was fun to celebrate, although we really didn't celebrate that day at all. We are this weekend however because currently I am childless! That is so nice. Although, I am in on the computer and Jeff is playing the wii so this is going to be a short post so I can go enjoy the rest of my day with my SWEET husband! I am so much in love and so thrilled to be his wife. Life is good, I am so very blessed!

God is good. It is great to be emotionally and physically and spiritually restored! It is unbelievable what a good night's rest does to the soul, body, strength, and mind. All those things I am suppose to love the Lord My GOD with...I now have them to be able to do that with!

Have a great day all!

Ps...just so I don't forget...Creighton is saying several words : mama, dada, hi, bye bye, and she is pointing all the time, waves hello and bye, and is getting closer to walking every day

Jeff gone, Life

Jeff left for Waco, Texas Friday morning really early for the mission trip (Mission Waco). Granted its only Saturday night, but I am doing okay this time. Last year when he left I was a basketcase. I had to go on anti-depressants....but I was pregnant with Creighton at the time and they made me very very sick so I really only took them once and never again, but I was certainly not "okay" last time and although I am very sad he is gone and I miss him, I am okay. Like I said too though, he hasn't even been gone for 48 hours yet though :). I found out today though that they are coming home a day early because they had plans to attend the Collide Festival in Sherman, Texas on their way home and now the festival is cancelled due to weather. I am sad for them that they can't go, but I am very happy to have him home a day early!
Jackson went to be with Terrie for the weekend and Creighton and I have hung out with my parents all weekend...it's been great. Jackson comes back Monday morning early to Bville with Debbie (Jeff's stepmom). And school starts this week (M/W) for Jackson too. So, M/W won't be too bad and of course Debbie will be here to help me also, so it should be fine. Then Thursday my mom took off and we will play with her and then Jeff comes home Thursday night! :)

Creighton turns 7 months old in 10 minutes...well technically I guess more like several hours but in 10 minutes it is June 3. Jackson turns 2 in like 21 days and that scares me. I can't believe he is two years old. I ordered his cake today. We are having a Bob the Builder party for him! I am excited about that! My babies arent so baby anymore. Jackson is getting so big and so helpful (most of the time) and Creighton is unbelievably older than she is in reality. She is doing so much and Jackson is talking more and more each day. He is really catching on to things too. He is so smart. He is very very into details and I can tell he will follow in my footsteps being a perfectionist...which I am sorry for him for that because although it might get him far and ahead it is a pain in the butt!

I turned 27 this past month too...and Jeff turns 28 next month....life is really moving fast. Sometimes the days last for an eternity, but the years go so very fast. So fast...

I miss my baby and my hubby tonight. I am so thankful for my mom and dad and their incredible hospitality and love. I am thankful for my family. I love my family. I love my life and I hate it that I don't always FEEL that....but right now, life is good. I am blessed, so very blessed.

My birthday

Today was my birthday and it was fabulous. My husband is amazing and wins the husband of the year award for making today so special for me. It started with a card key to a local hotel so I could rest alone and rest I did! It was great. (I think that is the greatest present ever!) Then I was on a scavenger hunt around town with my friend Kara for the rest of the afternoon today. She was my "mystery" person who met me at lunch at Aroma's, a nice Italian restaurant in town. Then from there Mikey dropped off $50 in bville citybux for me to use (and get my next clue) at Something Like That. *I ended up not getting anything though* And, then my next clue was to Maggie Moos where I had an AMAZING chocolate ice cream with mixed in oreos and a waffle cone! It was heavenly for sure. From there Kara and I went to the mall and I did buy two shirts for myself (on sale for $5 each) at the Gap and I bought Creighton an outfit and Jackson a cute shirt. Then the plan was originally for me to have a massage from Samantha Lin, MY MOST FAVORITE MASSEUSE ever!, but she is out of town and didn't get in in time, so it is next week....but that is 100% okay. We came home and I played with my kids *which on top of it all, he watched them all night and day for me so I could sleep/play (and he even got work done with them). Then we went to meet my parents for dinner in Tulsa at Olive Garden. It is my Dad's birthday too! He was sweet enough to go to OG with/for me because he really doesnt' like it...but I LOVE IT...the poor guy....he probably hasn't gotten his way on his birthday in about, oh 27 years (that's how old I turned today)...then we went back to my mom's for cake and it was yummy! IT was chocolate cake with carmel layers inside and choc. icing and carmel and pecans drizzled on the top! I ate about half of it myself. I am very dairied out right now.
We are home and I am tired after a long but amazing day. My heart is full, overflowing with blessings and thankfulness and love. I have great family, great friends, and a great God.

Happy birthday to me!

no computer

I absolutely hate not having a computer with which to attach myself to the outside world, but for now ours is crashed...and this time I am not certain we are getting it back on...atleast I know we have a backup harddrive this time and so I am not insane with craziness of trying to get it to go back on for fear of losing it all. I just wish we hadn't shelled out so much money buying the dumb thing for it to only crash a few days after the warranty expired...our luck!
Anyway, I didn't think I was going to make it through the week on several different occasions...but luckily its almost over and that is refreshing.
My mother-in-law is in town to help and play with the kids which is so nice...I love help and Jackson loves having grandparents around because he gets spoiled. I got a little spoiled this time too because I got a whole new easter outfit for tomorrow: shoes, shirt, skirt, necklace and earrings...yeah me :)
I am tired still right now but I slept last night for like close to 7 hours straight because Terrie got up with Creighton! :)
I am thankful for that and the fact that Jeff has an office computer I can bombard to connect with my computer world.
Happy Easter everybody!

RSV and Day Spa

Well, it is official. I took Creighton in to see the doctor and she has RSV and an ear infection...ugh! Thankful I already have Jackson's nebulizer from when he had RSV and so we dont' have to purchase another one of those...(i am still paying it off until April). Anyway, I feel sad for her. I hate it that she is sick and there isn't anything really I can do for her. The doctor told me I have to give her this medicine every 4 hours even through the night for her breathing, which she is up every 3 (or less) right now and thus, I will get presumably no sleep for the next week. I am so tired already I think that the thought of it is making my head hurt even more than it already does. This too shall pass, right?!

I have something wonderful to look forward to though. March 8th! I can't wait for the day to come. Jeff said that in his world and in the corporate world you get bonuses and raises when you do a good job and he stated that I have beena really great mommy and since I don't get this monetary rewards that the world offers he was going to give me a day at the spa. I don't even know where it is or what I am getting, but I am there for 5 hours and then that night he has a hotel room for JUST ME! I am so thoroughly excited and thrilled that the anticipation and excitement of it all is all that is keeping me going right now. I cannot wait....a WHOLE day to myself relaxing and then the best part is I get to sleep afterwards for as long as I want with no interruptions, except maybe to pump or something. I am thrilled! He definitely is the greatest husband around...not just for this, but certainly this helps!

I am thankful for my husband, duh!

Eliot

Well, its another Thursday...and normally I'd be complaining about how I don't get any help on Thursdays and blah blah blah...but today I am not going to do that....

I would encourage everyone to go read this blog (Eliot). It has made me cry, and smile, has encouraged my heart, my walk, and my faith, and made me realize how INCREDIBLY blessed I truly am and that I have a beautiful wonderful healthy family that I love and cherish and I that this Thursday is an amazing day, a beautiful day, a blessing. My sweet Creighton is 98 days old today...can you only imagine?

For allof that I am SO thankful

Also, fyi...go back in the archives and read from the beginning of the blog...it'll take some time, but it is WELL worth the read....these two people are quite amazing and the Lord is SO evident in their lives...what a testimony to the awesome healing power of our Lord Jesus and His sweet tender mercy and grace, yet his Sovereign plan that we cannot thwart.