Thankful for the little things.....

This week has been kind of crazy...and it's only Wednesday.  A few weeks back, my parents loaned out their brand new (well..used but new to them) Honda Pilot.  My parents take EXTREMELY good car of the vehicles, however doesn't it figure that the person opened the rear, driver side door into a tree.  Yes, I said TREE!  So...off to the body shop then went to find out that it would cost $800 to fix it and on top of that, my mom would be out of a car for a week.  Now..if I were out of a car for a week...it would give me an excuse to clean things up around the house, but since my parents live  in an absolutely spotless house...my mother would loose her mind.  In addition, she watches my daughter and my niece while my sister and I work full time so being stuck in the house with two rammy toddlers would be a nightmare.  So...my hubby and I decided to loan my mom my car for the week.  I'm currently driving my husbands truck while he drives his motorcycle.  Unfortunatley, he is unable to help pick up our daughter after work (since she obviously can't go on the back of a motorcycle) so I've been left to do the running around.  Granted, I don't mind, but when I'm running late from work and I have to pick her up and then rush home to get dinner done by a decent time...it's stressful to say the least, especially after a long day at the office.

All of that being said...I have to say that my husband has been AMAZING this week!  On Monday I came home to find him cooking in the kitchen.  I tried to help but he said.."no, you just go relax and spend some time with Bella."  Whoa!!  That almost never happens.  I'm usually the one in the kitchen cooking dinner while he sits and unwinds from his day.  Then yesterday, I got caught at work for an extra 45 minutes and I came home to dinner just about on the table, the trash had been collected through the entire house and was already out to the curb, some old branches that came down during a storm were out at the curb as well.  Then he says to me "Why don't you get out of your work clothes and get comfortable."  Who is this wonderful man?  I mean....I know that my husband had this side to him, but sometimes we just get so carried away with the things around us that we forget to do nice things for each other.

So...since I was feeling so relaxed and stress-free, my husband and I quickly bathed our daughter together  and took a family outing to his soccer game.  You see, Phil loves when I bring her to the games, but most of the time, there is just too much stuff to do so I don't go.  But...since he was being so helpful, I was able to go to his game and watch him play. 

The point in this long story is to say that I am so thankful for a wonderful husband who, without asking, makes dinner for his family and gets the chores done quickly so we can have time together as a family.  I'm thankful for a husband who takes the time to put his family first and let us know how important we are to him.  I'm thankful for feeling loved and taken care of. 

I'm so thankful for the little things that make life so much better.

And so the sewing begins.......

A few months back, well about 4 to be exact, I decided to start sewing.  My mother has sewed for as long as I can remember, so growing up, I would make a little something here and a little something there.  I always admired her gift, but never thought I would take on the art itself.  Well, now that I have a child of my own, I'm realizing how much cheaper it is to make these things yourself then buy them in the store.  In addition, my wonderful sister is due to have her second child (a boy) in January, and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to start sewing simple little things.

So....off to Joanne's I went.  I bought my very first sewing machine with the help of my mommy of course.

My first project was this little stuffed animal holder that attaches to a crib.  I didn't really like it, but considering it was the first project I did on my own...I didn't think I did such a bad job.

Then....I started sewing a new diaper bag for my sister (pictures will come when it's finished.)  It seems I like to work on several projects at once...so part way through the diaper bag project, I decided to make something for my daughter Isabella. About 15 years ago, my dad had bought me a little bunny that sat in a wicker chair.  It was just something special that he had hand made for me.  He even took the time to make sure the fabric used for the bunny's dress matched my bedroom.  Well...now that the bunny has been passed down to my daughter, it needed a new dress. 

So....I sewed this..

Front

Back

I have to say...I was pretty proud of myself with this one.  I didn't have a pattern and it was the first time I had to sew buttons.  Granted...is it the best sewing job in the world....no.  But...does my daughter love it and carry it around the house.  You bet!

So....here's to the start of a very relaxing hobby for me.

A Night with Friends

My husband and I had the wonderful opportunity to get together with some friends on Saturday night.  During the first year of college, I became friends with and amazing girl named Christie.  Our friendship was instant and it was as if we had been friends for years.  I know without a doubt that God sent her to me.  I was going through a hard time and she was always there to lift me up.

Through the years, Christie and I have enjoyed some life changing experiences together.  For spring break one year, I took her on her first plane trip to Florida.  (yes...we went to Disney World and loved every second of it.) Then, after graduation, we headed off to the beautiful country of Ireland.  We sat on a bus with a bunch of old people tour group and traveled around the whole country. It was beautiful!!!

Since then, we've cried at each other's weddings and rejoiced in the birth of each other's children.  (we decided to have an arranged marriage with her son, Matthew and my daughter, Isabella)  Everytime we get together, we realize that our husbands are clones of each other.  We have the type of friendship that no matter where we are...we will always be there for one another. 

Well (now that you have some background on our friendship) Saturday was the first time Christie, Meng and Matthew were able to come to our house.  I became a cleaning freak of nature!!  Suddenly, my house just wasn't good enough.  My husband had to clean off our patio...then I made him clean off our counters.  Sadly, I did not treat him with the respect he deserves as my husband.  (He graciously proclaimed me as temporarily insane and forgave me)  I made him take things up to the attic....and contimplated asking him to clean the attic.  HELLO CRAZY WOMAN! (I blame this cleaning insanity on my dad...)

Anyways, with the house a mess cleaner, my friends came over and we had a lovely night.  Christie and I talked babies...while Meng and Phil talked hobbies.  (I think they secretly made plans to go shooting)

So...although there are some friends that I am much closer to, I cherish my time with Christie and her family.  It's a friendship that I am grateful for and know will last a lifetime.

I'm back!

Let me start this off by saying that I'm sorry I haven't been a very good blogger.  In fact...you could say that I haven't been a blogger at all and that's a very fair statement.  Truthfully...I always had a hard time figuring out what to write about so eventually, I just stopped.  Never the less, I'm going to give it a second go around.

So...what better way to enter the blogging world (again) but to tell you a little about me.  You know...all those things that make me...well me.

1.  I am a very punctual person.  I can not STAND being late for anything.  In all seriousness, when I think I'm going to be late for something, my heart starts pounding and I literally start panicing.  I just hate it.

2.  I love being a mommy!  I think it's the hardest yet most satisfying job in the world.  My daughter, has truly completed who I am as a person.

3. I am horrible....I mean HORRIBLE at fashion.  I mean seriously...I have contimplated paying a friend to do my shopping and dress me.  It's just bad.

4.  I am compassionate.  So much so that I think I have to fix everyone's problems and carry the weight of the world on my shoulder.  My mom always says "don't pick it up" because that's what I do.  I take other people's problems and make them my own to try to fix things.  The hardest part is knowing that I can't.

5.  I'm an open book.  I have no secrets.  I don't think any question is too personal because frankly, I have nothing to hide.  I have no regrets in life.

6.  I love working with the youth at church.  Yes...its very tiring and trying at times, but truth is...those kids heal every wound in my heart with just one look.  The love they  pour out on me and my little family is just amazing.

7.  I love my job.  Yes...there are times when I wish I was a stay at home mom and wish that I could get together with girlfriends all day long or go to mommy and me classes (which I do miss but I'll write on that later.)  But truth is...my job allows us to have a good house and pretty much anything that we want (within reason of course) and for that, I will always be grateful.

8.  I am a strong woman.  I didn't have the easiest childhood, but everything I went through made me a very strong and determined person.  I'll never forget someone telling my husband when we started dating..."who ever marrys that girl better be a strong man, because she is one strong woman."  But...my strength is always found in Christ and with him I know I'll get through anything.

9.  My husband is my life.  I can't even think about life without him.  He supports me in all things and trys his hardest to protect me from getting hurt.  I have never doubted for one minute that we were made for each other.

10.  I love writing!  I used to write short stories and maybe one day, I'll start again.  But for now...we'll stick with blogging.

Well...there you have it.  Just a little peek at who I am (didn't want to make this blog too boring.)  I hope you enjoyed and I'm looking forward to sharing some more.

Until next time........

Valentine Swap!!!

My lovely Valentine from Tammy!

Thanks so much! I am enjoying it!!

Am I really this spoiled?

I was driving through my in-laws neighborhood yesterday and I happened to take notice to a specific house. The owner has been spending the past few years fixing the driveway, adding onto the house and re-landcaping the entire yard. It really made me think about how spoiled we are. We can't just be happy with the house that we are in. In stead we have to make it better. Now, I'm the first one that is guilty of this. Growing up, I lived in a house that was constantly and still is constantly being renovated. The second my husband and I bought our house, we immediately starting fixing it into what we wanted.

There are so many people out there that are lucky to live in a little hut with no electricity and no
running water. But me...I can't be happy with just a roof over my head...I have to make it perfect. I have to drive the car that I want and won't settle for less.

So, yesterday was a realization for me, that although I don't necessarily act spoiled (well at least I don't think I do), the truth is...I am. So thank you God for giving me all of the things I have and may I never for one second take them for granted.

Two Years Ago Today

I Christina take you Philip to be my husband, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before. I will trust you and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall live.

Two years ago today, I stood in front of approximately 250 people and said those vows to my husband. He is my partner, my love, my best friend. He is my one true match; the person God created to complete who I am. Today, I honor him for who he is and all he does for our family.

When God Made You

Newsong and Natalie Grant

Written by: O'brien, Michael; Carswell, Eddie

It's always been a mystery to me
How two hearts can come together
And love can last forever
But now that I have found you, I believe
That a miracle has come
When God sends the perfect one
Now gone are all my questions about why
And I've never been so sure of anything in my life

I wonder what God was thinking
When He created you
I wonder if He, knew everything I would need
Because He made all my dreams come true
When God made youHe must have been thinking about me.

I promise that wherever you may go
Wherever life may lead you
With all my heart I'll be there too
From this moment on I want you to know
I'll let nothing come between us
I'll love what ever you love
Now gone are all my questions about why
And I've never been so sure of anything in my life

He made the sun
He made the moon, to harmonise in perfect tune
One can't move without the other
They just have to be together
And that is why I know it's true
You're for me and I'm for you
Cause my world just can't be right
Without you in my life

I wonder what God was thinking
When He created you
I wonder if He knew everything I would need
Because He made all my dreams come true

He must have heard every prayer I've been praying
Yes, He knew everything I would need
When God made you
When dreams come true
When God made you
He must have been thinking about me

I love you Phil. I truly would be lost without you.