cheers!

Autumn is a beautiful time of year.

Beautiful weather.

Beautiful blue skies.

And to celebrate Fall - and 25 year Anniversary of being "BFF's"  

my oldest, dearest friend and I set off on an adventure.

And because I'm clever, I won't say when we actually met (and risk actually dating myself).

Maybe we were babies when we met.

(but probably not)

And maybe we weren't actually celebrating our Anniversary (she might have actually planned this for her husband of many, many years- but not 25!... and he might have already had plans for a ballgame with their son)... but no matter.

Because when it's Friday night and you put on your fun boots, grab the keys to the vehichle in your garage that doesn't seat 7 - and you're driving (alone!) to a place that's not only not designed for children, but doesn't even bother catering to them in the least - who cares who's Anniversary you're there to celebrate.

I know you think this says, "Go Juice" - and you might be right.

But when I looked at it, through my roseu colored glasses, I read it to say,
"Go 2 Mom's of a combined total of 8 kids, treating yourselves to a Girls night out at the vineyard."

Yeah. That's definitely what it said.

Does it matter that we were the first to arrive for the wine tasting-

even before the blue hairs who showed up 2nd?

(an hour after we first arrived)

What can I say?

Motherhood has a way of turning late night fun seekers into "early bird special" partakers.

Here was the sky when we had finished our dinner, wine and hugged goodbye and headed home to our families. Might have been early- but it was the most fun 2 hours I'd had before sunset in as long as I can remember.

Happy Anniversary, My Friend.

Thanks for letting me sip wine, laugh my head off and take a gazillion silly pictures in the vineyard with you.

Love you!!

Mother's Day!

We don't have a ton of "traditions" in our home, but one that we DO have, and that I've been come especially fond of, is Mother's Day morning. For the last 7 years, Mike has made me a delicious breakfast of crepes, scrambled eggs & toast and brought me breakfast in bed. That's saying a lot, considering that he just doesn't cook.... other than that one morning a year!

After breakfast, we usually read the paper, get the kids ready and go for a hike. Though I'm normally a church goin' girl on Sunday morning's- it has become a tradition for us to go hiking because I really cherish and covet that time alone with just my children and my husband- but we also get together with my own mother and sister every Mother's Day afternoon, as well.

This year, we headed out to the Arboretum. Though it started out chilly- within an hour the sun came out and the weather turned glorious!

Here's a picture of my little family. Not bad, considering that it was taken the self timer of my DLSR! Perhaps not a perfect shot- but usually none are when you are trying to get 5 people in the same frame... all looking the same way and smiling!

The kids had a blast playing on (what we have come to call) the "Stick Park." It's a whole play area for kids to explore outdoors and the only things to play with or climb on are all made out of logs and wood. The kids LOVE it! Mike says- if we lived on 20 acres, he'd build us a stick park. That makes me laugh because he's not, what I'd call, a craftsman by any stretch of the imagination.

We also headed through the shrub maze. What a wonderful place for the kids to explore! You've gotta watch out for those big kids racing through - but all in all, it's the perfect game for the little ones...

I sure love being a Mommy. It's not always easy- but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Hope you enjoyed these pictures! This will likely be the only post you'll ever see with so many pictures of mwaaa in them... since I'm always the one behind the lens. But because it was, ahem, MOTHER'S DAY- I insisted!

when two became one...

1... the number of dates it took me to be "crazy" about him!

3... the number of days before I realized He was "The One"

7... the number of days before we exchanged "I love you's"

6... the number of weeks from our first date, to the day we became engaged

137... the number of "up in arms" and "whoa is me" phone calls and emails I received from my sister and mother

0... the number of reservations I, personally, had about marrying him

6... the number of months from our engagement to our wedding day

9... the number of years I've been happily married to the man of my dreams, my very best friend, the father of my children... the absolute LOVE OF MY LIFE!

________________________________

And it begins...



I will never forget this moment. So many tears. So much emotion!



Two become one...



The Happy Couple!

"Not Me! Monday"

If you haven't already checked out the blog phenomenon known as 'My Charming Kids' you should really do yourself a favor and check it out. I have the privilege of being actual "real life" friends with "McMama" and I can tell you that she is even more amazing, creative, unique and fun in real life as she is on her blog. That being said, I thought I would join in on her "Not Me Monday" invention that is both hilarious and refreshingly therapeutic.

Here is my rendition of "Not Me's" that I committed this past week:

1. I did not get up at 6:30 a.m. this morning and then sit around in my pajamas until 10 a.m. doing "stuff" on my computer and I most certainly did not let my kids play in their pajamas until 10 a.m. because that would have been highly counterproductive to our always highly productive school routine each morning.

2. I did not tell my kids that, "NO!" they could not have a square of chocolate and shew them out the door and then as soon as they were gone, shove 2 chocolate squares in my own mouth before I headed out the door. Not me! That would be very hypocritical!

3. I definitely did not give in this morning when my son asked if he could wear his Vikings shirt... for the second day in a row... and let him retrieve it balled up from the bottom of the dirty clothes hamper... and I definitely did not let him wear it after he scooped it out. dirty. wrinkled. for the second day in a row.

4. I did not bring along fruit/veggie "spray" and a rag to "wash" off all the apples before we ate them at the orchard as we walked along picking- because that would be semi-neurotic.

5. And, speaking of the apple orchard, I most certainly did not find myself in a very precarious situation in the bathroom stall having to be very creative by folding a diaper in half, inside out, and creating a very bulky feminine hygiene product- no way, no way! Because that would have been very embarrassing, desperate, and made for a very "padded" ride in the tractor wagon. (P.S. thank God men don't read this blog!)

Whoa, Nelly- I should stop myself right THERE. Before this thing gets out of hand!

Bucket List...

Today when I logged onto msn.com I noticed that there was a photo with the caption, "Last Lecture Professor dies of cancer..." - for whatever reason, I clicked on the link and read the brief article. I had not previously heard of this gentleman or the video of his last lecture that become a You Tube phenomenon (10 million + hits).


When I was done reading the article I felt sad... I know that it was supposed to be inspirational, but I always feel sad when I see a photo of a beautiful family and one of the members has too prematurely been taken from this earth. Though I have not seen his You Tube video- perhaps I will check it out sometime- I noticed in the article that some of the things he had talked about were things he had hoped to accomplish in his life that he had, indeed, accomplished.... "being in zero gravity, writing an article in the World Book Encyclopedia and working with the Walt Disney Co." I began to think of my own mortality and what I would "do" or say, or wish to "accomplish" if I was given 6 months to live.


As I sat in deep reflection, I at first felt like a bit of a boring person. Because as I sat and thought - the truth, I realized, was that I don't have a "bucket list" - at least not in the traditional sense of the phrase. Deep sea diving? SKY diving? Touching all seven continents? Nope. Not really. Don't get me wrong. There are definitely things I would love to do throughout my life. Most revolve around traveling and getting involved in missions. But, when it comes down to it, the only thing that matters to me- the only thing I truly wish to accomplish in this life is to serve God, the very best I can, in the calling He has placed on my life... the calling He has given me to raise my children to not only be "Christians" but to LOVE our God and Savior - to be passionate about Him and for my children to want to love, honor and serve Christ throughout their lives.



That's it. That's my "bucket list." It's not something I can "cross off" on a piece of paper, not something I can "do" in an afternoon. It's a lifetime. It's a lifestyle. And it's the only thing that matters to me. When I die.... whether it be in 6 months or 60 years - that is what I want to have accomplished more than anything. I want to leave my children a legacy of true HOPE in life everlasting.



Don't get me wrong- I love the life God has given me right now. I love being a wife, a mother, a teacher, a sister, a daughter, a friend. I am grateful beyond measure for the blessings God has heaped upon us. I pray every day that God will protect the health and safety of myself and my loved ones because while I am on this earth, I couldn't bare to go a day without my husband or my children. And, of course, I SO badly want the opportunity to raise my children.

But the truth is, when it comes down to it- the life I live on this earth really is not about LIVING life on this earth- it's about the eternal life I seek in heaven. Because the day my life on earth ends will be the day that my life TRULY BEGINS. And more than anything, I want my children and my husband with me- and all of the people that I love so dearly.

So that is my "list," my friends. The one thing I want to achieve, more than anything... children who love God and who, in turn, raise their own children to love God. And it is my daily prayer that He will help me accomplish this, that every choice I make would help, and not hinder me towards reaching that goal... for it is only through His grace, His love, His guidance, His forgiveness and His mercy that we can accomplish anything that GREAT.

Tag.... I'M it!

I've been TAGGED! My friend, Kristi, tagged me (and, so did my friend Amy a couple weeks ago... I am sorry I totally forgot to post, Amy!) - SO, here goes.

6 random, fun facts about me:

1) For the first 7 years of our marriage, I ALWAYS drove the car/van wherever we went. I always told myself it was because I was a better driver, but now I wonder if it wasn't a control issue (there's another little fun fact for you- I'm a little control freak). One day, I "let" him drive and we didn't die. So, now he always drives and I am glad!

2) Not many things in life are guaranteed, but I can guarantee you

that EVERY night at 9:30, I you will find me eating a bowl of this...

And devouring a few delectable pieces of this...


















3) I've never had short hair. Never.


The shortest my hair has ever been is seen in this photo - when I got my hair (what I considered to be) "chopped" in about 5th grade...




4) Oh, and as long as I'm drudging up photos from the past, here is another fun fact for you. I look pretty much exactly the same as I did as a kid (a few more wrinkles, of course). People (who knew me then and know me now) are always telling me that I haven't changed a bit. I guess you can judge for yourself.


Then... (age 6)



Now...




5) I'm fairly conscientious fanatical about eating organic, natural foods and maintaining a non-toxic home. As a matter of fact, I just signed up for a farming crop share and couldn't be more excited to pick up my boxes of fresh, local, organic produce for the next 19 weeks (I am sure my kids will be tickled pink, as well... LOL!) My friends think I go a little overboard (and my husband would agree) but I don't think I am. Well, maybe a little bit. I have gotten to the point where I am even baking all of our bread, instead of buying whole wheat store bought!

6) I never want to sit around and "relax" after my kids are grown and out of the house. A few nice vacations would be nice- and, okay, I'll admit- I wouldn't mind a place on the beach (someday?!?!) BUT- my biggest desire is to travel and SERVE in missions. I have a huge burden on my heart for the poor and someday I can't wait to go and serve in whatever capacity God would call me.



NOW- for my "tag" that I got from Amy.

Here are 6 words that describe me...



1) Christ-loving

2) Compassionate

3) Talkative

4) Opinionated

5) Family-Centered

6) Friendly



Soooooooooooo - now I tag the following 2 people...



1) Laura

2) Lisa



So- let's hear it.... 6 random, fun facts about you and 6 words that describe you!