My Man!

I just realized I haven't written a single post about ma' man ... better known to y'all as Hubby.

You won't see many pics of Hubs around, as he's usually the one behind the camera.

But I think he's wonderful, fabulous, handsome, funny, sexy, smart, quirky, frustrating, loving, sweet, crazy, artsy fartsy, original ... the list goes on.

We've known each other for a LONG time (since I was 12 and he was 13). One of our mutual friends invited him to church, and I immediately thought he was a geek. My friends and I picked on him mercilessly for about 2-3 years ... then I noticed something.

He would always laugh at my jokes.

Every. Single. Time.

Now, when you're a tween (whatever that is), most of your jokes are LAME. But he thought I was really funny.

Then I noticed something else ... his eyes. Whoa ... hold up! Where did he get those eyelashes? And his eyes were literally the color of the spring sky. 

Hubby and D-bug ... goodness this is a sweet pic!

Hmmm ... intriguing.

Then, he started growing taller, and taller ... and kept right on going (he's 6' 2"). And then, his hair started getting longer ... I was am a sucker for long hair.

But he was UBER skinny ... like "skinny jeans would be baggy on him" skinny. But my brother told me, "Just wait. He will eventually fill out and he will be good looking. Just watch and see."

And I did.

And he did. *sigh*

In the meantime, we hung out and got to know each other. We would pal around and do stuff with our youth group friends. Then we started being more interested in hanging out with each other alone.

By my junior year in high school (he was a senior), I had a major crush on him. Then, the day before I started my senior year (and the day before he left for college), he asked me to be his girlfriend.

And the rest is history ...

We just celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary on June 1st. And things get better every year.

Honey - Thank you for loving me always (especially when I'm unlovable) and for being a wonderful Daddy to our crazy littles. I love you!!

Summertime!

WOOHOO!

Summer is finally here!!

Beebee's last day of K4

 The boys are out of school.

D-bug's last school pick up of 3rd grade

The cicadas are back and the hydrangeas are blooming.

 The pool is ready.

Life is good!

My fave summer pic

Wishing you a wonderful summer!

When did THAT happen?!

When did our little D-bug go from this:

and this:

and this:

to this:

and this:

and this?

Nine years passed away in a flash. It's all one big blur.

Happy birthday, D-bug! We love you!!

My heart hurts...

There has been too much tragedy and pain lately ... Sandy Hook ... Boston ... now West, Texas ...

My heart is hurting for those who are in pain, grieving, questioning, wondering, crying, screaming ...

But even in this, God is still God, and He is still in control.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. - Revelation 22:20

Amen.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Friday Funnies

For Hubby:

Source unknown

For D-bug (who would stay inside ALL DAY if I'd let him:

Source

For Beebee:

Source

For AC:

Source

For Cita:

Source

And for all moms everywhere (I said this one to myself last night):

Source

HAPPY FRIDAY!

WFMW: Quick Salad Toppings

Have you tried these yet? New Lean Cuisine Salad Additions?

Man, this is some good stuff!

I'm usually not big on frozen dinners. They always look so yum on the box, but not so much out of the box, you know what I mean?

And I'm the only one in our nest who really enjoys salads ... so the ingredients tend to get tossed, since I can't eat them fast enough.

My gut can't handle iceberg lettuce, and not many "to go" salads have other options, like spinach (my fave leaf!) in them.

So .... I usually don't get to munch on salads too often.

Well, hold the phone! Lean Cuisine has come out with these yummy little salad helpers. You just pop the meat and veggies in the micro, add them on top of your greens, dump on the toppings and voilà! A fancy salad!

I just tried the "bistro chicken" version, with grilled chicken strips, asparagus, yellow carrots, red peppers, vinaigrette dressing and little onion straws on top. SO good!

It takes about 3 minutes to assemble, including washing your greens. Only issue I had was the plastic baggies which held the ingredients weren't that easy to pull apart (especially the meat/veggie one, which was steamy hot), so I had to use scissors. Keep that in mind if you're in your company's break room ... may want to bring some scissors with you.

And, of course, the portion is fairly small ... the usual for a single-serving frozen meal. But you can add as much greenery as you wish. And they don't skimp on the dressing, so it goes a long way.

Just so you know -- Lean Cuisine didn't ask me to do a review of this product, nor am I getting any compensation for this review. I just wanted to share my discovery with you!

Have you discovered any new, exciting, quick meal options lately? Do share!

Linking up with:

Are you in The Room?

Shifting my weight in the uncomfortable chair, I studied the big screen in the waiting room. I was looking for those magic words: "450831 in PACU."

You see, 450831 was our son, who was five years old at the time. He was away from us, in the care of strangers, having his eardrum repaired due to multiple ear infections, unsuccessful surgeries and a round of MRSA.

The doc told us the procedure was fairly routine, should take about an hour, and then we could see him. Now, creeping toward two hours, my mommy arms were itching to hold my baby. And God was getting an earful.

Hubby and I watched as parents, families, siblings who came into the waiting room after us were told that their loved ones were out of surgery, everything was fine and they could see them in a few minutes ... we saw their bodies relax and smiles spread across their faces as they were told they could see their child/spouse/brother now. We watched as 450831 still said "Pt in OR" on the big screen.

And we waited some more.

Finally, the magic words appeared, and a bit later the doc arrived. WHEW! He walked over to tell us, I assumed, that everything was fine ... instead he said, "Let's talk in here" and he opened The Door.

The Door to The Room.

Some of you know what I'm talking about. The one with the sign that says "Consultation." The one the docs take you into when they are ... well, let's face it ... afraid that what they have to say will cause you to freak out.

Yep ... That Room.

I had been in That Room only one time before ... at a different hospital ... over 10 years earlier... and the news I got was earth-shattering.

I don't have warm fuzzies for The Room.

So, you can imagine the crazy somersaults my gut was doing as I walked in and dropped into an even more uncomfortable chair and grabbed Hubby's hand.

The doc started with "the surgery went well" ... then why the HECK are we in here?! ... and then the BUT ... in this case, "but the damage to his ear was more extensive than we thought."

Deep breath. Remember to breathe.

Apparently, the MRSA had done a number on his ear ... it had completely eaten away his eardrum and had started on his ear bones. Two of the three bones were disconnected (NOT good) and were already showing signs of being eaten away as well. Chances were high that he would have at least moderate hearing loss in that ear, with the possibility of replacing his ear bones with prosthetics in the future.

Not really what we wanted to hear.

Have you ever been in The Room? Maybe you are there right now ...

...watching your husband go through chemo, waiting on that dreaded diagnosis, wondering if your child will ever come back to you, worrying about how you will pay the bills...

Even though it may not feel like it ... feelings will lie to you ALL. THE. TIME. ... remember that Jesus is right there in The Room with you. He's got his arms wrapped around you.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. - Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

 He's crying right along with you.

Jesus wept. - John 11:35 (NIV)

Jesus ugly-cried with gut-wrenching sobs. The God of the universe, the Creator of all things, was overcome from human pain and loss.

Amazing.

And remember ... He has big plans for you ... though chances are, they aren't the same plans you have.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

You might not be able to see the big plan in your overwhelming situation, but it's there. This pain is just one strand in the beautiful tapestry of your life. We are jars of clay; but He handles us with care.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. - 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 

Our little man still has ear problems 3 years later. But he has normal hearing in that ear ... God healed the bones and his eardrum is beautiful (never thought an eardrum could be beautiful ... but it is).

I don't know how or if God will solve your problems, but I know He isn't leaving you to go through them alone.

He loves you.