We own a home!

Today we signed our life away :)

I absolutely LOVE our new house. It's perfect.

I went to clean by myself tonight and I felt very led to just pray at first before I started. Then I felt that once I started I wanted to pray over every room. And so I did.  It was quite the emotional experience. I am sure some people do this every time they move and maybe everyday, but I am a Prayer Warrior in TRAINING for sure...and so it was a huge step for me.  I prayed in many different ways and very specifically for each room and the people(s) that would be in, around, beside it.  It was neat. By far one of the coolest experiences so far in Bixby!

Then I got to cleaning and I didn't get nearly as much as I wanted done but I was thankful for what I did get to do. We even had our first visitor at the new house tonight. We love drop-ins! It was fun.  I heart relationships!  My soul is thirsty for genuine Godly women to pour into me as I pour out.  I am thrilled to be in Bixby and get started and I truly feel at HOME.  It's been awhile since I could say that, and even though I can't spend the night in my new house yet, it's calling me....it's home.  (temporary till heaven anyway).

One tidbit that was cool while I was cleaning all the windows.  (the sun room had 7 VERY large single pane windows)  I started windexing the insides first.  I had anticipated also cleaning the outsides, because truth be told, it'll be probably the ONLY time in the history of our living there that it'll get done :)  (I really wish I could say I was kidding, but I am NOT Susie Homemaker).  Anyway, funny thing, when you spend time with the Lord and have a right perspective and are open to hearing, he'll speak to you through all kinds of things....like cleaning a window.

To the story...sorry.  Anyway, so I was cleaning the windows from the inside and noticed how, once I cleaned them I noticed just HOW dirty the outside was.  The Lord just showed me that sometimes we try very hard to clean (maintain) the outside of our lives that people see, but really it's the inside that needs the work first.  Once the inside was right, then I could really see where I needed to focus on the outside, in order to make it look like the inside.

I got to thinking that I could have done it in reverse order and maybe had the opposite analogy, but then He said, "no, because it's only when you have a clean heart (inside), and have the SUN (Son) shining IN that you can see the blemishes on the outside"  If you were clean on the outside, but not the inside, you'd have to be in the way of the sun (Son) in order to think it was clean on both sides....

Random, never know if it comes out in writing like it sounds in my head (gets through to my heart) but I am so thankful that the Lord speaks, and that occasionally I hear. :)

I love our new home and would love to show you around (aka...have your help moving in Thurs or Friday) :)

Thanksgiving Ramblings

We went to the Zoo today to get out of the house.  It was fun! It was such nice weather too!  I had Charleigh in the carrier and the other 5 kids were running around like crazy :) It was good though...Charleigh's first time and she did wonderful.  We got some cute (hopefully) pictures of all the grandkids (now 6) but I'll have to wait for home to post pics. 

After naps we did the traditional thing and went to Rhema for the turning on of all the lights.  It was probably my favorite year so far...and this time I mean it!  Normally I don't love going because it's so cold and crowded and my kids were always too little to have a clue what was going on.  But this year, I feel complete and the sparkle in my kids' eyes and the huge smiles and laughter were wonderful.  So even though I went with a less than perfect attitude, it was grand! :)

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day.  I have a new bundle to be thankful for!  But so much more...I am just loving where we are right now as a family. Jeff and I are doing really well and are more in love than ever.  The big kids are getting bigger and well, that's just a good thing for the Berg clan.  They are learning and growing and maturing and I love seeing small glimpses of the little people they are growing up to be.  When it's so difficult to press on and be consistent in discipline, it's nice to finally see some positive reinforcement for the parents :)  they are FAR from finished or perfect, but I love this stage that Jackson is in, and well, Creighton...she thankfully makes me smile and laugh more than she makes me want to pull out my hair.  Charleigh is such a good baby and is the delight of all of our hearts.  She is very content most of the time and is a good sleeper.  I am just thankful!  We are so very blessed.

We will have 'the' meal for dinner tomorrow night at 5pm.  My brother and his new wife will be here and then our home will be filled to the brink with love and wild wild wild little people :)  It's fun.  It's crazy, but it's family...we will do our other traditional thing tomorrow and go see a movie.  It should be interesting with everyone there...but I am hoping for the very best!

Good night all. 

I am so thankful!

I am so thankful...

...to be home.

...for family.

...that my babies are safe.

...for heat.

...for amazingly delicious food that we ate for dinner.

...for grace.

...for friends.

...for love.

...for blogging.

...for a cell phone that works now.

...for laughter.

...for digital photography. (and photoshop)

...for you...yeah, Y-O-U!

Valentine's Day

It is a GORGEOUS day today. I LOVE the weather. Its just perfect. I am anxiously awaiting for my luxury/fantasy weekend to begin tonight, but am enjoying my time with the kids today too. I can say that Satan has tried to nearly kill me (but instead has kept me on my knees) with thoughts of something happening to all three of the most important people in my life as they are together and I am away (here). Oh how scary, but I am trying not to get too figity about it....

Anyway, my friend Kara and her girls came over today and the kids had so much fun (and so did I) that Kara told me it was 1:45 and we hadn't had lunch yet! It was crazy....I thought itwas still like 12:30 or something...we had good times! :) We got the kids all fed and now mine are sleeping (and I hope hers too).

Happy Valentines Day!

Again, I owe my sweet husband a shout out for being so wonderful! He stayed a few extra minutes to help me pick up the house when Kara was going to come over! He is so wonderful I am so blessed and lucky! :0 Thanks baby

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?! :)

Good Night and Day

Last night was our Ladies Night Out adventure to Chili's. We I choose Chili's because it is open till 11 and I love their food and I have lots of Chili's gift card money :). My fear besides food poisoning and just gross food of choosing a 24-hour restaurant would be that we might never leave...and that would be bad. They kicked us all out last night PROMPTLY at 11:01p. I was very sad because we were having some fabulous conversation and just having a great time. I wasn't ready to leave at all, but that could have been the fact that I downed 4 glasses of tea, which I NEVER.EVER. drink after lunch if I want to sleep at all that evening. :) Anyway, I just LOVE that time with those ladies and for myself too. It is so refreshing and I get to be me...without slobber and snot and whining and someone constantly wanting my breasts (you pick, between Jeff and Creighton, the time that's not happening is slim). Anyway, I just think that it's so important for moms (and wives) to get out of the house and to be alone or with other women. It is so fun to look forward to also! I read several emails and this post and had several conversations leading up to yesterday that made me realize how important it is for this to happen. I wish that all Moms were allowed this privilege each month. I just love that time...love it love it love it.

I am so thankful that I get to do this. My husband is terrific and did/does a fabulous job of taking care of our kids. They played at McDonalds for an hour and he had the last little bit of laundry I didn't finish on Monday done and the house was picked up and dishes were done...fabulous and more that I could have asked or hoped for!

Something really crazy is that it is on Tuesdays and on Wednesdays I get to have some more time to myself because of Mothers Day Out. Usually I try to do laundry and clean and cook and go to Walmart and do bills and a million other things...well today I did go to Walmart and I did do some bills...but I just wanted some time to really relax and so I bought a People Magazine (I am somewhat embarrassed to admit this...I rarely do this, but on occasion I like to remember why I love not being famous!) and some AirHeads Xtremes (sweetly sour belts) (seriously I LOVE these things) and I sat on my bed and read it from cover to cover and ate them in less than 3 minutes and that was so awesome!

I still have over an hour before I have to go get them and I need to prepare for my bible study tonight...

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.

We're Back from cali...things are good

Here are some pictures of our stay in California:

here is Jeff when he was called up on stage to do sound FX for Universal Studios. I just love the picture because I captured his REAL smile (too bad his eyes are shut though)...still had to post it
here is the picture of Jeff and I near the only water (ocean) that we saw on the trip and this was unexpected as we were detoured way off our track on the way to the airport (suppose to go to Burbank and ended up in Santa Monica on the pier off of Santa Monica Blvd.) But it was a good thing! I loved the view!

Here is a picture in the same location of Becky and I!

Here is a picture of the Colaws and us. I thought it turned out nicely.


Here is Curious George...I saw him and HAD to take a picture with him for Jackson! And someone pointed out to me that Jackson looks like him...I agree...but I think it just the nose (not to mention the fact that Jackson is VERY curious like CG too though ;))

Here we are with Shrek...as if you didn't know....

Yesterday we spent the day in Owasso to finish our "vacation" family style. It was nice being able to relax and play together as a family. The kids were excited to see us. I got the BIGGEST hug from my little man that there ever was! Creighton was just excited to nurse again, and I'll tell you...so was I. (*a) because I hate pumping and b)because I truly do enjoy that time I get with her!)

We came back home last night and ate at Taco Bueno (which has officially been promoted in Jackson's vocabulary to "tock payo" instead of just "payo" now *which I LOVE). His vocabulary has just exploded and he is speaking in long sentences now and for the most part I can understand him about 80% of the time. It is so incredible. I love it! He is the funniest guy. And he is SO sweet too!

All day today I kept myself very very busy without really a moment of stopping! The day went by SO fast. It always seems to do that on Mother's Day Out days unfortunately. But it was good. I went to see my friend Melissa and her sweet baby Avalynn today and she is SOOOO tiny and sweet. I went to get all of our mail (which was a ton!) and then went to the bank and to walmart! The ever love-hate relationship I have with that place....but it wasn't too bad. I came home and put away all the groceries and did LOTS of laundry. I ate a few bites for lunch, checked my emails and it was off to get the kids. When we got home we played hard for 3 hours until we had to leave for church. Nikao/small group went well and we made it home by 9:30 and the kids went to be late like around 10 or so.

I had so much fun with my kids today. I was intentional with them and I had energy and I was just refreshed from my time away with them. It was truly (as much as I can remember) the greatest I have felt in a long time (since Creighton was born anyway). I am just at peace with where I am in life and the stage of life that I am in. I found myself humming and singing a lot today. We played music and colored and cut out Christmas trees and snowflakes and played in their rooms and read books and did A LOT in only 3 hours. I had FUN with my kids in a way I have not ever been able to experience. I am so so thankful for my vacation, if for that reason alone. Life is good and I am so blessed. *now lets see if I feel that way on a day where I have my kids for more than just 5 or so hours total of the day :)...but that was a good way to start it off....even though I could tell I was different even yesterday. I love productive days...

Oh yes, and if you don't know about being elfed...check out our version of it! Haha

200th Post---A year in pictures

Here is a bit of the last (a little over a) year in our lives picture style. I can't say these are my favorite pictures, but they are some of my favorites. There were so many to choose from and they were taking a LONG time to download for some reason, so I am only going back to November of 2006 till Creighton's party November 2007.

Its been a lot of fun going through pictures! I loved it (even though it took me DAYS)....Enjoy!

November 2006

December 2006

January 2007

(apparently he was really cute and we took lots of pics in January!) :)

February 2007

March 2007

April 2007

May 2007

June 2007

Birthday Boy Turns 2!

July 2007

August 2007

September 2007

October 2007

November 2007

I am thankful...

-for my Savior (and the hope that I have in Him)
-for my husband
-for my sweet Jackson
-for my sweet Creighton
-for my parents (and their families)
-for my siblings (and their families)
-for my inlaws (and their families)
-for sleep (I just had to put that in there :))
-for my friends
-for second chances
-for my home
-for Jeff's job
-for our church
-for honesty
-for new life (sweet Addie Jane)
-for memories
-for digital cameras
-for really really good (and lots of) food
-for our cars (yes, the fact that we have more than one is SO nice!)
-for computers
-for blogs
-for life

I am thankful today because it is Thanksgiving, and I hope that I carry my thankfulness over to all of my days...
There are so many things I am thankful for and so many I didn't list and more details to EVERY one that I did list. I am so blessed,so incredibly blessed. I have everything that I need and even most of what I desire. My life is blessed. God is so good.

We are at my mom's for the holiday week. It has been really nice to be with my my sister and brother and the neice and nephews. My mom cooked a FANTASTIC meal for all of us and it was a cozy nice lunch/dinner. Then we ALL went to see a movie tonight (a LONG tradition)...it was a little crazy with my two kids who are a little young still to go, but it's all good. We saw the Bee Movie. I don't know if that is the name though, but I think it is. It wasn't the greatest cartoon movie I have ever seen, but I came away with this thought...there has to be a creator. There has to be something/someone greater than we, something that fasceted all of this together, for it all to work perfectly, in order, in structure. It can't be random chance or a big bang or even an evolving of sorts. (I know it was just a cartoon, but I can't help but think that would really happen if nature went against its creator, against the way things were suppose to be). Again, creation obeys God...there is order in everything that the trees and animals and wind do...that's cool. God protects us and provides for us in the big and little ways. In all ways.

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!

Long day, good day, big win!

Today was a bit different day for me. I got up at 6 and fed Creighton and then got ready for the day and was out the door by 6:40 and got breakfast and was at the court house before 7a. I sat outside in the cold until 7:50(yes, the first morning of fall! ) how on earth would I really know, it could always be that cold at the hour, but I AM NEVER EVER OUT then. I was blessed by the sunrise (which I never usually see) and I did my bible study before I even left (did it while I pumped, since Jeff was sleeping I couldn't use the computer :)). Well, as we were entering, the very grumpy lady informed us the judge wouldn't be in today, so we'd have to reschedule or come back on Thursday if we needed to see him. (um, who comes to court that DOESN'T need to see the judge?) So, I was THE first one there and sat outside FOREVER in the cold, for nada! I have to REDO it on Thursday morning.

Anyway, I made it to bible study and that went well for the most part, and then on the way home I decided I needed to take advantage of the cooler weather and take my kids to the park...so we went and met Kara and the girls there...and there were lots of other mommies and kids there too...some I knew, some not. It was going great. It was the first time I can remember going to the park and not having to keep my eye on Jackson and help him constantly...he was fine to be "a big boy" and I watched Creighton...it is so much easier only having to "hawk" one of them instead of two at the same time. Things were going great, until Jackson fell and accidentally got ran over by a stroller at the same time (it is TOTALLY okay Casey! :)) I thought he just hurt his hand, but he dislocated his elbow, AGAIN! I knew he was more susceptible to doing it again because he just did it recently. It was as if I was torturing the kid to get his arm in and out of the carseat...I thought I was going to have to leave him in there at home, because he just wailed in pain every time I tried to move it. But eventually he moved in a certain way (after lots of tylenol) and it must have relocated itself because he was fine, and now you wouldn't even know! Weird...glad that I didn't have to take him to the Dr. since we are going tomorrow though!

Both kids took a nap at the same time after lunch and I got a small 30 minute half nap/rest which was nice and then I darted off to the gym. I half expected us to lose because I had heard that Jenks was really good this year...and that being my alma mater and such....I just wasn't sure, but my girls showed up, and showed up ready....they beat them in 2, even with my second string in the second game! That was nice. JV pulled off a win in 3, but Varsity lost in 3 and one of the Seniors quit after the match! It was so silly all of that drama....good ridence is what I have to say...I don't like quiters much...needless to say I am disappointed in her decision, but ceratainly think that now that an attitude is gone, maybe we'll do something better than what we've done!

So we are now 6-7 on the season and that is great news! They actually looked good tonight too! I am tired though, so I am excited its only 10 and hopefully I will get to sleep tonight!

Oh yes, my husband....he's wonderful. He managed to make it to the game...with both kids, alive, dressed and with a poster cheering me on in hand. He stayed the ENTIRE evening...with both kids...Creighton fell asleep during the last game of Varsity match, only goodness knows how the crowd was screaming so loud the whole time...but she was PASSED OUT! He is pretty amazing...

AHHHH....

I am glad that I realized my need for an eternal perspective with my girls PRIOR to last night's match. They sucked it up pretty good. I was more than a little upset with them after the match. I think I scared them a little. I hope it was just enough and not too much. Going from Division 1 Volleyball to small town Oklahoma High School Freshmen is a super-challenge for me! We had practice today and it went well...I wish it had lasted longer though because we didn't get to everything I had wanted to do...we have a tournament all day tomorrow (and when I say ALL day, I mean ALL day...) we are leaving at 6:45a and probably not returning till atleast 7p. I am really nervous about it, more for their confidence sake than my ego, but only slightly. We are down our best passer and one of our hitters (and a good passer) will be out for most of the day. Oh the terror this brings me!

I am missing my kids because I am gone so much, although they have each done their faire share of driving me nuts at the same time, making it easier than it should be to walk out to practice or games each day. Thankfully Jeff is such an incredible Daddy to them and loves spending time with them and isn't afraid to be with them alone. He is really really great. (thank you baby!)

Today we went on a bike ride all four of us together. I was on Jeff's old bike, and he was on his new one with the two babies in the bike trailer attached to him. It was way fun! I would like to get a bike of my own that actually fits me though, because I can't even reach the ground on his...and I don't feel comfortable riding it. I haven't ridden a bike in so long though, that my butt hurts so bad right now! It was really great to be doing something together as a family though! Ususally Jeff and Jackson go just the two of them....Creighton did great. She actually fell asleep on the way back home even! I should have taken a picture, but I didn't!

I think Creighton is teething ferociously at the moment! She was so cranky today and rather inconsolable at times. I know that is hard on Jeff and he has her all day tomorrow...so pray that she is her happy self for him!

This week has felt crazy, but next week is even worse! Sunday is the normal Sunday-busy, then Monday, I have practice 3-5:30 and then softball from 6-8. Tuesday we have a home game so I am gone 3-8, then Wednesday we have church and the kids are in Mothers Day Out (praise the Lord) and they both have ear rechecks that afternoon and I also have practice. Then Thursday the team leaves at 12 to go to Enid (and me too) and Jeff and the kids (God help them) are driving down seperate to come and we are staying through the weekend till late Saturday and coming back to church on Sunday. Whew...I get tired just thinking about it!

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!

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!

Back from Branson

We are back from Branson. We had a fantastic time, except for Jeff's migraines that decided to join us on our vacation. I wish we knew how to help those for him....oh well. That was really the ONLY down side to the entire weekend. Otherwise, it was incredible. We are so blessed. I love the people at Kamp. I love being there. My spirit thrives there, like it belongs there. I just LOVE it. We had the awesome blessing/opportunity to stay at K-Kauai the new family kamp in Branson next to K1/K-Kountry in one of the director's cabanas. It was fabulous and just perfect for Jeff and I. I tell you what, the family kamp ---a SUPER RESORT---was amazing. It was just crazy that its linked with kamp, because it isn't like kamp at all...it is like a reallly nice RESORT that people pay tons for per week...and yet, it is reasonable...and I have not heard anything negative about it. The food was great, the speakers were great, the cabanas are super nice and a/c everywhere. The pools/fun stuff were spectacular and everyone seemed like they were having a great time. I couldn't believe it, but Jeff said we were going to start saving up to go. I am thrilled. I think that in 2 years or so it would be fun to take the kids, but not really before then just because they are too little to enjoy it. But I highly recommend you all check it out.
Jeff and I returned late last night after getting the kids from Terrie/Philip and poor Jeff had an all night 8-8 lockin....ugh! He had a supersized migraine all day yesterday, but he said that the lockin went well. He is working today after all of that too with just like 2 hours of rest. I don't know how he does it!

I will say how thankful I am for my husband. He is just amazing and I love him so much. He is my rock on earth and I truly am loving the analogy of how husband and wife represent the chruch and Christ. It is just neat! Married life is great and our marriage is refreshed and renewed and thus, I am. Yeah for God...he is so great

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.

24

Okay, so we don't get many channels on our tv because we are cheap and only use an antennae and thus, only get about 4 channels or so. Because of this we watch our favortite show...THE Show...on dvd or someone else's tivo.

24

Hello...it is sad how much I think of this show and really it all has to do with my love of Jack Bauer...and really lets talk about that...because I know his name is Keifer Sutherland, but its not...there is Keifer and then there is Jack. Jack exists you know...in my head he does and always will.

Anyway, we are in the middle of season 6 right now and it is awesome. Probably totally unrealistic in a "outsider's" opinion, but amazing if you are addicted like me. I get so wrapped up in it I think it about and dream about it and sometimes that is more "real" than our real life we live in...such as a few seasons ago, I really thought that our President was David Palmer...which by the way, he would do a much better job than we one we have or have ever have...again, like Jack, but not quite as crazy, David Palmer exist(s)(ed)....I loved him as President.

Now I am sure that you are thinking I am psycho...but that is only if you dont watch 24...and if you don't watch 24 then youwouldn't understand a thing this post is about...and if you do watchit and still don't understand, then I suppose that is okay...but you aren't as big a fan as I am then :)

I love it. I can't wait to watch the rest. We have 4 hours to catch up to real time in the season....then maybe we can watch the final epsidoes live at someone's house....so exciting!

sorry for the complete randomness of this post....

yes, 24 is addicting in every way like cocaine and alcohol, so procede with caution :)

I am thankful for lots of things: Creighton is 6 months old! Jackson is being a really sweet and very big helper, Jeff is a wonderful husband, my parents are watching the kids tonight, for summer

Selfishness vs. Sacrifice

Bible study today was awesome. The Beth Moore study on Daniel is incredible. Its odd though because it isn't her typical bible study...but today was great and this past weeks homework was great. Her video today was definitely from somewhere deeper within her than could be from her alone...the Lord was all over it. I don't have my book in front of me with all my notes I took, but I was so challenged today...I am still processing it all though and haven't really had the opportunity to really know exactly what it is I am going to do about it all...ie, how I will apply it. The application part is the challenging part of it all...she was talking about selfishness and how we will miss our calling if we are selfish and how the world in which we live, and especially the culture in which we liveis constantly telling us to be selfish and that we shoul dhave what we want, when we want it and how we want it...but that isn't at all what God's plan is and if we give in to that lie then we will miss our calling...We were called to be living sacrifices (if I remember right it is from Romans 12:1) and that the antichrist is demolishing daily sacrfices like Antiochus did in Daniel...and how that is what he is trying to do is make us forget the daily sacrifice that we personally are. Its so big of a thought that I can barely wrap my tiny brain around it...but I am trying. I want to get it. I want to be it. I want to do it. I want to not be selfish...I want to be sacrificial...and be that living sacrifice. I know that I want that...but it is hard. And that is something else she said...if you aren't doing anything to deter it, you will be selfish, plain and simple. Motherhood has been the best thing to show me just how selfish I really am, and I have had to be selfless so many millions of times already and I know I will continue to be with them, but I want to be in my everything. However, this is where it gets really really hard to apply, because I feel I am so selfless in being a mother, that in everything else I should be able to do "something" for myself...but that wasn't promised us, nor is that even close to what the Word says is for us. I remember memorizing this verse at kamp in volleyball in Mark 10:35 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be serve, but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many." He did it. My selfish me wants desperately to say, well, He was God, he was perfect, and he knew he only had to do it for 33 years. I am not God, am far from perfect and only God knows how many my days are numbered...I could be 90 or older :) I am just being real here, real and honest and vulnerable for sure. I don't get it all. BUT...I want to. I want to be different. I want to be something I am not right now...something I have never fully been before. I don't want to wait till I am done being a tired mommy...because that day may NEVER come (sure seems like it).
Anyway....I wanted to get that all down and out...it was for me really...but maybe someone else will gain some insight or atleast questions from it. Who really knows with my head and thinking if you even followed it (especially since it was written in 2 parts on 2 seperate days...I could'nt finish the first time I sat down and I never made it back to the computer till today).

I am thankful for my comittment to learn that I made...because I am learning and that is good.

a lot of nothing

I had a fabulous time at church last Sunday. It was really great just to be there and to be worshipping. Its been so long it seems since I was at church and actually able to enjoy it and relax and BE there in the moment, in the uniqueness, in the presence of the Lord...it was nice. I hope that the kids stay healthy for me this weekend so that I can go again...they also seem to get sick Saturday night...I think the devil enjoys watching me, preying on me, and loves to make it happen so I can't go and worship. I hate that! Fevers and puking for little ones make it not possible to take them to the nursery....therefore, I can't go....I pray for their health every Saturday....well usually most days, but very fervently on Saturdays :) I really wanted to get that on the post, just so I would remember...thanks for listening

I had dairy out the wazhoo last night and it was terrific....we went to Ted's-mexican food-where they give you free queso, chips, salsa, flour tortillas, and sopapillas...that was fabulous! I ate queso like I was a starving child or something...I think literally I had 4 bowls by myself....it was so yummy....and I had cheese on everything I ate (except of course the delicious sopapilla--I had 2). Then later that night we went to Cold Stone...which I was disappointed in for sure, but oh well....oreos and ice cream....
I am shocked that my stomach isn't hurting as bad as I thought it would be...I am doing relatively okay. We went out with our friends Becky and Brent Colaw because they are moving to California in the next week or two. We had a good time...but it is sucha shame that I am so tired because after like 10 I was just in zombie mode...and I was planning on spending time with my husband together at home since we had no kids, but I just fell right asleep...poor him. Oh well...this too shall pass---I swear I hear that almost daily...I think that is my least favorite quote...not because I don't like it...but because EVERYONE uses it and thinks that it just should solve all of my problems...well, it doesn't. UGH! sorry about that little rampage for a split second...I think I am just really tired of everyone throwing that around and at me.

Well this blog was super pointless really but that is okay....by the way...I have left 2 huge picture posts (Easter pics & Family Update) and no one is commenting on them...I like comments...I like to see who is reading...so comment! :) Especially when I leave fun pics behind for all to see... :) (thank you for those of you who do comment, have commented and ahead of time for those of you who will comment now)

I am thankful for my night without children that I was able to sleep through the night...that was amazing!