all i ever wanted

Today is our anniversary...our 20th to be exact.  For the last few weeks I've been making eyes at my man.  Every time I'd look at him it was like I was really looking at him...remembering...feeling all those days, months and years.  Twenty seems like such a big deal.  I mean 20 years is 20 YEARS!  That's 7,300 days give or take a leap year.  That's major!!!!

I went down into the basement recently to look for our wedding cake topper and became completely overcome with memories.  I stumbled across a memory box and a folder full of old love letters.  I sat there and blubbered like a baby.  How can it be that we are here already?  Wasn't it just yesterday that we were slow dancing in my mom and dad's living room to the blue muted glow of the stereo light.  Just the two of us lost in love.  How can it be that we have a family and a home and live in Virginia??  I mean when did that freaking happen? 

Do you ever just step back and look at your life?  Do you ever just go back down that lane and recall all the teeny tiny moments that got you to where you are?  It's a trip let me tell you.  One that I would gladly take again and again with this man by my side.  He's my best friend, my lover, the one who has my back, our provider, the fixer, the emotional "feeler" that makes me go even deeper if that's possible, he's the rock and spiritual guide of our home, he's daddy and forever my honey. 


He's who I was meant to be with, and I'm forever grateful that all those years ago God gave me a dream and He answered a bunch of silly requests on a piece of notebook paper.  I'm forever grateful that He heard the prayers of a 16 year old girl and gave me the man of my future.  Here's to praying that mercy and grace will rain down on us and we'll get at least 20 more!  BTW the song that's playing was sung at our wedding...All I Ever Wanted.  It's a beautiful love song to Jesus...our first love:)

**I'll announce the give-away winners hopefully on Friday:) 

I've loved hearing from you girls!!

Have a blessed day.

700.  twenty years with my best friend
701.  the answered prayers of a teenage girl
702.  provision when i don't see it

703.  a week of games, fieldtrips and fun with the in-laws
704.  you...for supporting me always! love you girls.

artful blogging and a give-away

Good mornin' friends!  How are you girlies??  Is anyone out there....tap, tap, tap on the microphone;)  Have you guys noticed how quiet it is in blogland lately?  Is everyone just on Instagram or busy running through sprinklers or WHAT!?  Geesh if you can blog regularly during the Summer I think you deserve an Olympic medal...I'm just sayin'!  Okay so I've had a little excitement lately I thought I'd share with ya'll.


A few months ago I got a random email from an editor at Artful Blogging.  They wanted to do a feature...on Farmgirl Paints!!!  EEEEKKKKKK!!!!!!!  To say I was excited and surprised was an understatement.  I've always LOVED that magazine...drooled over the beautiful pics and artsy layouts.  I have to admit I kind of daydreamed of seeing my own blog in there, but didn't really think it would ever happen.  I mean I talk about my crap struggles 90% of the time and that culminates in me talking about my faith, and I didn't really think they would go for that...but they DID!  It sort of came at a weird time for me though.  I was taking a blogging break and really at that moment I had major blog burnout.  Funny how things sometimes fall into your lap when you give up caring. 


So with the seed of excitement planted I painstakingly submitted my photos and nervously wrote my article...butterflies in full frenzy, and then waited and waited for what seemed like forever. It finally came out yesterday!  You would think I'd be jumping around totally thrilled...and I am...but I'm also feeling really nervous. For some reaon I feel totally OUT THERE.  I know I write here, but it feels safe and small.  This is in PRINT!  It's in a store!!!  I feel completely spotlighted even though I'm really not.  Am I a nut or what?  Seriously I could not handle being famous;)  It would do me in!  Oh the scrutiny, the attention...the judgement of strangers!! 



Anyway to celebrate I got a few extra copies just for you.  Leave me a comment telling me your favorite part of summer so far, and I'll throw your name in the pot:)

Have a blessed day.

 

695.  in-laws are coming today
696. which means fruit pizza for dessert tonight
697. and lots of fun fieldtrips
698. and games and more games
699. oh and ARTFUL BLOGGING liked me;)  YAY!!

track 6

 

I was driving home with the family tonight and my favorite song came on.  It's kind of my anthem song.  It moves me to the core.  The girls know whenever track 6 comes up we are going to hear it over and over and over again...all our voices chiming in.  The speakers are turned full volume...hands are raised and if I could close my eyes I would.  I love this song so much thought I'd share.

Newsboys...Forever Reign

Verse 1
You are good You are good
When there's nothing good in me
You are love You are love
On display for all to see
You are light You are light
When the darkness closes in
You are hope You are hope
You have covered all my sin

Verse 2
You are peace You are peace
When my fear is crippling
You are true You are true
Even in my wandering
You are joy You are joy
You're the reason that I sing
You are life You are life
In You death has lost it's sting
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsty.com/newsboys-forever-reign-lyrics.html ]
Chorus
Oh I'm running to Your arms
I'm running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

Verse 3
You are more You are more
Than my words will ever say
You are Lord You are Lord
All creation will proclaim
You are here You are here
In Your presence I'm made whole
You are God You are God
Of all else I'm letting go

(Repeat Chorus)

Bridge
My heart will sing
No other Name
Jesus
Jesus

Have a blessed day.

690.  newsboys
691.  phone call with kristine

692.  afternoon thunderstorms
693.  CHICK-FIL-A



694.  my honey who doesn't mirror my moods...God I love him!

boxing with lady ocean

We were driving home last night from the beach and I told honey I literally feel beat up by the ocean.  I'm going to refer to that big beautiful expanse as a "she".  She seemed to be in a mood yesterday.  Deceptive to say the least.  No waves to be seen, just calm and THEN BAM!  Slam!!  No thank ya ma'am.  I got walloped I don't know how many times.  And I don't do it gracefully like some.  I have my top about yanked off.  My cute little bandanna rips away.  I swallow half the salty surf and come up gasping for breath.







My little chick got smacked around too.  Literally!  It looked like she was spanked on the bottom.  HARD!  Shame on her...that moody ocean.  She taught us a lesson.  Tried to beat us down.  And for my little who all of a sudden has been struggling with seeds of fear...that was all it took for her to get the sad face and to pout for part of the day:(

Fear is an interesting thing.  All it takes is one bad experience...one scary event to shift what used to be fun...what used to be exciting into something we never want to do again.

 

What seemed unappealing for us was just the opposite for my big chick.  She seemed to thrive with the big waves...egging them on.  Come and get me she seemed to say:)  Instead of getting pulled under by the waves she went into them face forward...diving into their scary powerful pull.  I marvel at my first born.  At her bravery with life.  I marvel at her eye for beauty and her upbeat attitude.  Her, in all of her 12 years of life, seemingly full of knowledge and wisdom.  How can a child make me want to be a better person?  How can someone so young teach me so much?? 

We didn't let "her" win yesterday.  We got back in.  We braved those waves.  We had FUN!  Ultimately we faced those fears and didn't let them keep us down.  A lesson was taught...a pep talk was had:)  It was a good day boxing with lady ocean!!

Oh and by the way...my honey had his own boxing match.  It wasn't with lady ocean...it was with bad drivers!  Talk about some road rage.  We need to sign daddy up for anger management courses!!  The beach may be relaxing, but getting to and from not so much;) 

Have a blessed day.

685. lady ocean...nasty or not...we love you!

686.  time observing my girls

687.  pep talks and attitudes changed

688. rainbow colored umbrellas

689.  people watching...how God made us all big and small:)