71 years of Love

 Beautiful aren't they?  

71 years together!  

I can't even fathom how long that is.  My grandparents were together and shared their lives together for 71 years!  71 YEARS!!!  That 's crazy.  My grandpa passed away October 2011, and my grandma, 5 months later, still gets teary eyed whenever talking about her "Ed".  What must a couple learn about one another during a 71 year period?  How many arguments must a couple endure?  How many laughs and stories would a couple together that long have? 

The first story my grandma told me about my grandpa the day of his funeral followed something like this:

Grandma went to the train station to pick Grandpa up, (he was in the war), and he was no where to be found.  Grandma was so mad at him because she had gone all the way down to the train station to meet him, and he wasn't there.  Sadly, she went home.  As she entered her hallway closet to put her coat away, Grandpa jumped out and threw an orange at her!!!  Grandma says,"I was so excited, I almost wet myself!  And we laughed, and laughed, and laughed together!!!"  She completely forgot about the train station incident, and could only lavish in being in Grandpa's arms again.  

They fought, they bickered, they drove each other crazy at times, but they both loved each other endlessly.  They were crazy about one another, and fell in love again and again everyday.  

I feel like marriage is an everyday ride, it constantly changes, has ups and downs, goods and bads, and can be enjoyable but very challenging.  

We are no where near 71 years of being together.  I do hope and pray, however, that our journey to getting older will be one of falling in love over and over again.  Even if we bicker along the way, we will always remember to simply throw an orange once in a while, and laugh and smile together.  

Two Cutie Pies

The two cuties I get to spend my days with!!!!!!!!

Adelyn Lou (4 months)

                                                                    Landon Alexander (2 1/2 yrs.)

                                                   
                                                            I'm such a blessed mama!

13 in 2012

We all have goals-and what a better time than the New Year to start with a new list!!!  1 goal just doesn't seem like enough, while 12 just seems to cliche...so 13 it is!

1.  Finish our backyard-While this is more my husbands jurisdiction, I play a critical role as cheerleader and financial advisor!!!  Our hope is to put in our sprinkler system, fence, and plant grass seed while doing this completely debt free.
2.  Read 3 books-I know for some, this seems rather easy.  However, as a mommy of two, doting wife, countless trips to the gym each week, and all the odd jobs that fall under mommy-hood duties, I rarely find time to sit and enjoy a good read.  I'm thinking about starting with The Hunger Games.  What do you think?
3.  Run a half marathon-That's right folks, I am hoping to PAY money to run 13.2 miles...for fun!  Maybe crazy, but this gives me a little more focus at the gym between teaching and training clients.  It will also, hopefully, aid in the next goal!
4.  Lose the baby weight-We got 10 pounds to go, and as mentioned, hopefully the additional running to my already busy workout schedule will help this go quickly.
5.  Organize the garage-Right now, about half our car is able to park inside...and I'm constantly tripping over the strollers and shop vac.
6.  Take swimming lessons-With Landon that is!  He loves baths, and a pool is basically just a big bath, right?
7.  Get Zumba certified-I love dancing, and although I can't shake it quite like many out there can, I like to think I'd really enjoy trying!
8.  Daily devotions with my kiddos-Even though they're only 2 years old and 4 months, I'm a firm believer that reading the Bible and praying together can start early.  I love listening to Landon's sweet prayers before bed, and look forward to reading stories from the Bible together.
9.  Take a family trip-I don't have any ideas where and it doesn't have to be any major trip, but I'd love to get away at least once this year with my family.  Last year we went to the zoo before Adelyn was born, and Landon loved it.  Maybe the aquarium this year?
10. Volunteer-I would love to work as a volunteer with girls who need a mentor.  Whether they are single moms or older high school girls, I'd love to be part of their lives in a positive way.
11.  Get together mommy time-There currently is a mom's group that a wonderful gal puts on in our area.  I really enjoy being a part of it.  I would love to extend that and have at least one mommy a month over to my home to spend time together and letting our kiddos play.
12.  Organize pictures-yes, just the organizing of all the photos  in my home-camera-computer could take a year!  The actual act of scrapbooking, putting into albums, and online albums may have to come next year!!!
and finally...
13.  Strive to be the best mama/wife I can-I know there is no way to gage this, but I hope to work, everyday, to impact my children's lives the best way I can.  I want to be a wife my husband wants to come home to and a mommy my children can look up to.

Well, that's that.  What are your plans for 2012???

My Children, My Loves

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie." ~Tenneva Jordan

I love my mom.  She is a strong, caring women.  She is calm, honest, patient, loving, and always thinks of others before herself.  She is determined.  She sets her mind to something and it is always accomplished.  She (successfully!) raised three kids and is now helping to raise her grandchildren.  There are so many attributes my mama has that I admire.  She truly exemplifies what I feel, God created mom's to be like.  

As a new mother myself, I often look at my children and wonder what God was thinking in giving these two precious children to me.  I'm not a patient person, I'm not always calm and caring, and I know I don't always put others before myself.  I have no idea what I am doing in this mommy-hood business and struggle in the day to day decisions that impact my kiddos so much.  Many times, I feel as if I live life on a trial and error basis, and when we find something that works, we stick with it.  

I do know, however, that I have been blessed with beautiful kids.  My son has the energy of a fireball and such a great sense of humor.  He loves to laugh and teaches me everyday to find the joy in the little things.  He forces me to forget about my laundry and dishes and to cherish the small moments.  My daughter is such a beautiful little thing.  Her smile lights up a room and her huge blue eyes instantly make me melt.  

Since becoming a mom, I think I am realizing that God has given me these children to become more like my own mom.  I know my mother would argue with some of the attributes that I see in being so strong in herself.  She would humbly say,"I'm not that patient.  I have my moments too".  Maybe this is why we are given children.  To learn how to be calm, patient, loving, and to enjoy the small moments in life.  My kids, I am learning, make me a better person.  A more patient, loving person who now chooses to not take life too seriously.  

I never understood love until I laid my eyes on my kids.  I never understood what it meant to honestly choose to lay your life down for someone.  If I feel this way for my children, how much more is the love of Christ for us?  I can't wrap my head around what Mary felt when she saw Jesus, her son, dying on the cross.  I can't understand why Jesus would chose to live and die the way he did.  I can't wrap my brain around that kind of love, that someone loves me like that.  

Have you experienced love like this?  It's pretty amazing to me, that the love I feel for my children is multiplied like crazy by Christ's love for us.  What an amazing thing.