.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

6 years

We met in the fall.

Actually, we met in September in Louisiana so I guess you can't really call that the fall.

BUT- we fell in love in the fall.

We met at our College/Career Sunday School teacher's house. A friend of mine from high school had met Justin at the gym on post (Army base) and had invited him to come hang out with us during a pick-up game of basketball. He did.He remembers what I was wearing that night.

I remember getting there late because I got off work late and walking in and seeing this gorgeous guy and determining right then and there that we were going to be friends. At LEAST friends. We didn't get to talk that night except to basically introduce ourselves, and then we didn't see each other again for about a month because he could really only come to church on Wednesdays because he was a Chaplain's Assistant and often had to be at chapel on post on Sundays, and I taught a 3 year old Mission Friend's class on Wednesday nights so I couldn't go to our Single's group. I was quite frustrated over this because I had not forgotten about him and was keeping up with him through the others in our group.

Finally after about a month of not being in the same place at the same time we ended up at a friend's house (Jaimi - the same girl that invited him that first night) for a bonfire/game night. I was already smitten and my brain was working overtime trying to figure out how we could hang out again (yes, I was very good at letting God take care of the details...can't you tell?! sarcasm..lots of sarcasm.).

On Wednesday night of that same week I rode to church with my parents and when church was over they LEFT ME THERE because they forgot that I rode with them. Ahem.So I walked over to the Single's Building (which is always across the parking lot no matter what church you go to) to bum a ride from someone.

**Let me interject here that I was dressed in full Arab woman attire from head to toe because in my 3 year old class we were learning about Iraq for that month and I always dressed up for my kids.**

I walked in and said someone needed to take me home since my parents were negligent (I thanked them for that later btw) and Justin immediately volunteered. It turns out that he was moving 45 seconds from my parents house and needed to take a load of stuff by his new place anyway. His little Volvo was full of stuff and he cleared out a seat for me in the front and then made Nathan (another soldier that rode with him from post and still had to get back there) ride on top of everything in the back seat.:) When we got to my parent's house we discovered that we had both been at Passion's OneDay earlier that year and we were pretty much forever connected after that. :)

I dreamed about him that night. That was Wednesday.

Thursday morning I woke up determined to see him (again with the patience). My parent's were going to be at an away ballgame with my brother that night, so I decided to cook dinner and invite my soldier friends over to share it with me. I set the table up all fancy and called everyone and then got Justin's number so I could call him. He just happened to be at his new place moving stuff in and said yes he'd come almost before I even finished inviting him. It was me and the four guys that night and after dinner everyone scattered about the house and property to do their own thing except for Justin...who cleared the table and WASHED THE DISHES. Swoon.

That was Thursday.

Friday was Halloween (by this time it really was fall) and our Single's Group was serving refreshments at our church's Fall Festival that night (don't get me started on church's and their Fall Festivals). I spent ALL DAY coming up with a costume and I decided to be Lara Croft:Tomb Raider. Yes. I did. After the festival some people came back to my parent's house to watch a movie (Silence of the Lambs) and of course Justin was one of them. I remember when it was time for everyone to leave that I wanted to hug him but I also didn't want to scare him off (I could go out of my way to manipulate circumstances but didn't want to scare him with a hug??? Gees I was silly.) so I didn't. I knew I was see him the next day.

That was Friday. Halloween (just one more reason for me to love that oh-so-controversial day).

Saturday our church was having a HUGE Block Party in the Wal-Mart parking lot and our band (Single's again) was playing for it. Justin came to hang out and after wards I offered to help him move the rest of his stuff from the barracks to his trailer. Some of the other guys came too and when we got to the trailer I started cleaning it (because wow did it need it) and that's when the guys started picking on us. That night we went bowling and this time it was Justin's turn to manipulate the circumstances and he made it where it was just me and him driving out to the bowling alley (which was quite a task seeing as two of the other guys didn't have vehicles of their own). On the way there we talked about our faith and I remember being relieved that he didn't use all of the cliche terms that people use when it's not real and they just want to impress you(been there, soooooo over that). He was for real.


We bowled and shared a drink and then Justin showed off his pool skills (ask him - he'll tell you he was showing off for me). :)

He took me home he and Momma go to talking about golf (he played his whole life) and she invited him to lunch after church the next day. I love you forever for that Momma. ;)

That was Saturday.

Sunday he was able to come to church and after wards he came over for Gumbo. I remember wanting to not let any of the guys know that he was coming because they would want to come over too and I just wanted to be with him. They actually did find out and showed up later that afternoon when we were out in the lake canoeing and they were yelling at us from the shore asking if we were engaged yet and yada yada yada thinking they were oh so very funny. While we were out there we started talking about movies and Justin asked me if I had ever seen Romeo and Juliet (yes) and what I thought about people that just met and then basically ran off and got married (totally for it). I can't remember exactly what I said because at the time I didn't really read anything into what he was asking but a year or so later he brought that canoe trip up and asked if I remembered him asking me that (of course) and he said it was because he already wanted to marry me.

After church that night (gees louise we spent a lot of time at the church!) we went back to my parent's house and went and sat out on the dock. Basically we made it official that we were gonna be together and head towards marriage (after all of 3 days). It was time for him to go home and as we were walking back up to the house he grabbed my hand.

It was in that same place where he grabbed my hand 5 months later that he proposed. Four months after that we were married in our church on a very hot August evening.

That was 6 years ago. It has been an amazing 6 years and I wouldn't trade ANY of it - not even our time of separation because of the Army. He is my best friend (gag if you want, but it's true) and knows me better than anyone else. I love him because he loves the Lord and looks to him for everything and leads our family well. I love him because when he goes to the store to get things and doesn't know exactly what brand to get, he makes the decision by seeing which one has the coolest glass bottle because he knows that I will appreciate it and save it and use it to decorate with later (he gets it!). :) I love him because he is the best daddy and pours everything he has into his relationship with Silas.

I love you Justin. Thank you for loving me and putting up with all of my quirks. ;)

Monday, August 23, 2010

Sneak Peek - 6 years

This past Saturday was our 6 year anniversary. We went to the beach for the weekend. I'll have more on that, but just wanted to share this pic today. I think it is my favorite from the weekend. :)

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Embrace the Camera (Aug 19)

So I had these grand plans of having a picture of all three of us for EtC this week. We were planning to go biking at Stone Mountain this morning and I wanted to take a picture there of all of us on our bikes...but that was a great big FAIL. We loaded up the bikes (even added air to the tires) and the kiddo and ourselves and drove all the way there only to realize when we got there and unloaded the bikes that my bike somehow had a flat tire AND we forgot to bring the WeeRide seat that Silas rides in (I hate you dangling preposition). Basically it was a disaster and after several minutes of complete anger and frustration, we just went for a walk and then came home. Oh well - we'll do better next time.

All of that to say that we still don't have a picture of the 3 of us (hopefully Zach will fix that soon), but here are some cute ones I snapped of Justin and Silas.

waiting for a kiss

Be.still.my.heart.

Oh yes! And this is The Little Climber Part 2...

And I just had to share this one. He went swimming in his little pool yesterday and when we came in to cook dinner I put a diaper on him and turned on VeggieTales Jonah so I could whip up the spaghetti. I checked on him a few minutes later and he had removed his diaper and was quite contentedly (is that a word?) enjoying the movie. :)
How did you Embrace the Camera this week?

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

the latest - burpies, wallets, and a camera strap

Moonpie Designs has been hoppin' the last couple of weeks and it has been soooo fun! I forgot to take pictures of most of the orders before I shipped them off (of course) but here's a few that I did:

Burpies - the "sam" fabric might be my new favorite, and I love the monogram idea for the second one. Thanks for that Mary. ;)

This mini-wallet is going to Hawaii for my friend Kristi.

I whipped this up for myself today because I was tired of having a naked camera strap. Don't look too closely - things I make for myself are rarely perfect and I totally threw this together in about 30 minutes start to finish - no tutorial. I really like it!

I only have one mini-wallet to finish and then I'm done with all of my orders. I need more! Want something? Need a gift? Let me make you something fabulous!

James 4:17

Today (and this whole week and probably tomorrow and next week) I am meditating on this:

"Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and does not do it, sins."
James 4:17

Heck, I might spend months on that verse.

I'd love to know what you are thinking/praying/meditating on these days. Will you please share a comment?

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Embrace the Camera (August 12)

I took my own EtC picture this week...which is saying something since I have a D40 and small hands. :) I'm just thrilled I didn't drop it in the sink.

Bathtime snuggles!


Go check out some more Embrace the Camera!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Silas (13 months)

Yep. Silas is now 13 months old and he is a complete tornado as his father likes to call him. He is a tornado because he has the ability to completely DESTROY a room in a matter of seconds. I have never seen anything like it. He very much enjoys cleaning off counters and tables by throwing or pushing everything onto the ground. He isn't happy until every flat surface is clean. There is an exception though, and that is the hearth. We line his toys up there every evening when he goes to bed and with the exception of a few, he leaves them there. It is his favorite place to be - sitting on the hearth with his back up against the fireplace with all of his best toys within arms reach.:) He is still the absolute cutest kid and he makes us laugh every single day with his antics.

He isn't walking yet, but he stands up on his own now and has actually taken a few unassisted steps.

He yells. Sometimes it is when he needs something, sometimes it is when he is mad or we say NO, and sometimes it is for no apparent reason at all. Cracks me up.

He helps us clean up his toys - and he knows that the blocks go together and the instruments go in the drum...etc.

He is a SILLY GOOSE and we love him!!

After having rolled off the couch

My parents have a picture of me just like this with Daddy's white t-shirt on my head...I'm gonna have to get a copy of that. :)

Oh yes. Then there's this. I heard him splashing about the other day and realized that I had not shut the bathroom door behind me when I left it which meant that he was playing in the toilet. But he wasn't JUST playing in the toilet...

...he was throwing all of Momma's tampons in the toilet. Yay.

Splish splashing and making a MESS

Drummin' all by himself

I heard him giggling one day last week and looked and saw that the gate was not up. I walked around the corner and this is EXACTLY how I found him. He was laughing up a storm just waiting for me to come and see where he was!

I made him take some pictures today. He looks like such a big boy!

Also today...standing up all by himself!!
I love you my sweet wild child. :)

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Little Climber

This is how I found him just now:


He has an obsession with climbing on EVERYTHING right now and also with anything that can be plugged in (basically all things DANGEROUS) and he was quite pleased with himself for getting to the ipod charger.
And no, he is not wearing a dress. It's a romper with the snaps undone. ;)