Ten Things We are Super Excited About

Sometimes, there are things I'm dying to blog about, but since it would be like posting a status update via Twitter or FB (since there wouldn't be tons of details involved), I decide not to do it. So, since I'm sick, I'm exhausted and I don't feel like moving from this couch, I decided just to list all the things we are thrilled about lately here.

1. Johnny and I are headed to the beach in November for a marriage retreat
2. Did I mention I LOVE my new position as UM?
3. My discovery of birchbox (if you haven't heard about this awesome little box, you can get more info at birchbox.com)
4. Johnny comes home next THURSDAY!
5. Johnny's super awesome 30th birthday bash next month
6. Noah Daniel had ALL A'S on his progress report
7. Noah and I are working on a reading fair project (this wasn't mandatory for his grade so the fact he WANTED to do it excites me)
8. The Holidays are approaching and my sweet babies are already giving me things to tell Santa they want.
9. Miley's adorable princess room that is in the works!
10. The fact that FINALLY after a whole year almost, life is good and stress free at the moment!

God has been so good to us! We are so thankful for all he's blessed us with!

"Redeemed"

The last few years have been nothing short of a battle. It's been physically, emotionally and mentally exhausting at times. We've survived the unimagineable. Faced financial difficulty, been hurt by the people we thought loved us the most, survived miscarriage, cancer scares, and complicated pregnancies - and somehow our marriage survived, we are stronger than ever and it seems as though we finally made it to the light at the end of the tunnel.

I've spent the majority of the day praying, reflecting and preparing for what lies ahead. I thought back earlier to where we stood this time last year, how afraid we were coming off of Johnny's job loss and both of us starting new ones. In one year we have made it from one end of the spectrum to the other. We have made some amazing friends who have had our backs, believed in us, pushed us, cried with us, prayed with us, and help bring us back to God. Furthermore, I could not be more grateful for Johnny. No matter what the circumstance or how scary things got, he has always stayed strong, always been there when no one else could be found and always always has had my back.What an awesome God I serve. The blessings we have recieved lately have been unimagineable.

It is beyond time for me to let the hurt go. Let the things of my life that have held me back for so long go. Let those who have hurt me and put me down go. It's time to move forward and move on with my life. Time to focus on the things that matter, the people that matter, the ones who truly love me. A song came to mind earlier today that is fitting for my life. I think I've posted it before, but I am posting it again today. It's called "Redeemed" by Big Daddy Weave and it's a beautiful song.

"Seems like all I can see was the struggle
Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past
Bound up in shackles of all my failures
Wondering how long is this gonna last
Then You look at this prisoner and say to me "son
Stop fighting a fight that's already been won"

I am redeemed, You set me free
So I'll shake off theses heavy chains
Wipe away every stain now I'm not who I used to be
I am redeemed

All my life I have been called unworthy
Named by the voice of my shame and regret
But when I hear You whisper, "Child lift up your head"
I remember oh God, You're not done with me yet

I don't have to be the old man inside of me
Cause his day is long dead and gone
I've got a new name, a new life I'm not the same
And a hope that will carry me home"

I know that our lives can't be perfect and never will be perfect. I also know there are many battles ahead but I know that as long as God is with me, I can make it through.

29 years down

Friday marked my 29th birthday. It was probably the best birthday I've ever had hands down. It started that morning with a company wide e-mail annoucning my promotion from Assistant Unit Manager to Unit Manager, continued with an awesome lunch with a great friend, and concluded with an evening with my husband and kids at which point I was asked to wear a giant sombrero, and was sung to for the first time ever in a resturant. Oh and I cannot fail to tell you that when I walked in the door after work that afternoon, I came home to find my house was decked out in Princess decorations and my 3 sweet little babies came running out of nowhere screaming "SURPRISE!" Following our dinner, we came home for cake and presents. I racked up on jewlery, clothes and some pretty sweet Jessica Simpson heels I've been wanting for quite sometime.

Throughtout the day I was bombarded with texts, facebook posts, emails, phonecalls, and cards from friends and extended family members wishing me well on my birthday and sending me their love. I cannot begin to tell you how much it meant to me and how loved and special it made me feel.

It was awesome to have a stress free day. It made me happier than I've been in a really long time and I don't think I stopped smiling the entire day.

I'm looking forward to Monday as I begin my career as a Unit Manager. I feel like this will be a huge step forward for me and I'm excited about the changes that are about to take place. Unfortunately Johnny leaves tomorrow for a month for work, but we will be right here to celebrate his big 3-0 when he returns!!!

Cutest little bulldog EVER

Some shots with Miley. I know one is not MSU themed but it was too cute not share. I do have some pictures of the boys, but it's 2 AM and I figure I might actually need to go to sleep now. I'll post more pics over the weekend.

With this ring

Four years ago today, I married the love of my life. Ten years this November, I started dating him. It only took him 3 attempts at marrying me before I decided to go for it. Needless to say he's a keeper.

The first time I met my husband I thought he was stuck up. He drove a sportscar, was known as a football star in highschool and word around campus was he was a "bad boy." Ironically, he thought I was stuck up and rude.

I'm not really sure at what point we actually fell for each other, but I do remember sitting in the library at MCC one day and him deciding to sit with me. At that point we began to talk to each other and on November 26 2002 we went out on our first offical date. The rest is history and we've never looked back.

The last 4 years have been filled with laughter, joy, tears, fear, sorrow, sadness, darkness and light. Johnny is truly my best friend, my biggest supporter and my cheerleader. He's given me 3 beautiful children, stood by my side through 2 cancer scares, a miscarriage, job loss and financial strain. Many hours he's spent laughing with me, sat by a fire four hours on end talking about nothing, held me close late into the night hours when my whole world was falling apart, pushed me to achieve the unimagineable, been the best father to our children and has always, always had my back no matter what the circumstance.

Last year, when he lost his job and we were strapped for money, I pawned my wedding rings to buy groceries and diapers to feed our kids. It killed me on the inside but I had no other choice. I've worn fake rings in it's place since.

Friday morning as I was finishing my weekly reports for my UM, Johnny called me and told me to come downstairs because he had an anniversary present for me. To my surprise, he had purchased a new diamond band for me.

I am so grateful for Johnny. He really is my best friend and I can't imagine my life without him. I am blessed beyond meausre to have made it through the last year and a half and thankful that I had him there with me every step of the way.

Rambling...

My life has been super busy lately. In between having a kindergartener, being supermom (and wife), and rocking my job, I really haven't had much time for blogging till now.  For that reason this blog is nothing more than a compiled list of totally random thoughts and happenings of my life lately -

1. Noah LOVES and I mean LOVES school. His stories are hillarious!
2. I literally had someone pass gas in my face the other day and kept talking as though nothing happened --- yeah that was totally awkward.
3. My birthday is in 2 weeks!
4. My wedding anniversary is this Saturday!
5. Super excited about all the great things happening at work. Focused on recuriting a fabulous group of "superheroes" to help me save the world ;)
6. Headed back to the beach this Fall for some one on one time with the hubby!
7. Miley's favorite things these days are her blankie, paci and baby doll. We can't go anywhere without them.
8. Memphis is in love with the upgrades to his superhero themed room. His fav is the "Incredible Hulk" border that we put up.
9. I pet a pig for the first time last week.
10. Life is good.

Like I said, just a bunch of random thoughts. I'll try to post a more detailed blog soon!

Noah, the kindergartener

Tuesday marked Noah's first day of kindergarten. He was beyond excited and I was beyond sad. He allowed me to hold his hand to class the first day. He went into his class, put his stuff in his cubby and found his seat with his name on it. I began trying to take pictures of him at which point he told me "okay mama, you can go now." I held it together until I got to my car at which point I broke down into tears and cried for the next two hours (yes I know I'm pathetic). I just couldn't believe that my sweet baby boy was turning into such a big boy.

That night, I asked him about school. He told me he loved it and his favorite part was swinging outside on the swings.

Day 2 rolled around and he told me that again, I could walk him to class only this time he made me walk behind him and when we arrived at the classroom door? He turned and looked at me and said "go to work mama i love you"

Day 3 we were fully prepared for drop off needless to say!

He's loving kindergarten!