Not too shabby for hump-day.......

Getting ready for the patio....

Blessings Unending

Hip Hooray for Bobby. He got us a leap ahead for drywall today!
Bobby and a co-worker got more done today than I could have helped him do in a weekend!

The wonderful surveyor that set up our easement for water went way beyond our expectations!
Where we are going to live - out in the boonies- we have to get an easement to run water lines to our property and the meter will also be on someone else's property. The surveyor who took care of it for us is also a notary public. This sweet man met me to get exact location, went to property owner to verify, received appropriate paperwork via fax, went to water board to be sure of what they wanted, drew up paperwork, went to property owner for signature, went to court house and filed it for me, went to water board again to give them a copy..... all for $200!! He is just a good hearted sweet man. He called my husband and asked if he could do all of that because he knew Bobby was very busy with work and since we had two small children I was obviously busy. Can you believe that?! So now all I have to do is show up at the water board with a handful of cash (a check really) and we are all set!!

And I was able to take my sweet girls swimming. That was a blessing.
Time is something I haven't had a lot of lately. But blessings have not run short!!



Me, LuLu - Granny, LadyBug




LadyBug, LuLu, DD, Mom, and Granny

This is why I love him Thursday and Trina

It is Thursday and time to shout from the mountain tops, my reasons for loving the love of my life!
If I never have time for anything else, I want to be sure to make time to: Pray thanks to my God, Hug my girls, and Honor my husband. Those are things that must be done no matter what else is going on.
For better or for worse
In sickness and in health
For richer or for poorer
Till death do we part
I made a promise to him and to God, to honor and cherish, to love and yes, even obey, so long as we both shall live.
I plan to hold up my end of the deal as I know he feels the same.
God has planned our lives together. Whether things are good or bad we are in it together. I am thankful that because of our promise to one another and because of the stubbornness born in us both, that we will make good on that promise.

Of course he makes that easy on my end. I found yesterday that I am terribly spoiled! I had to take the trailer with me to the house so the HVAC guys would have the lumber they needed when I got there.....
I soon found out that not only does it take me a considerable amount of time to back up said trailer, I also had no clue as to how it should be reattached to my Jeep after the nice gentlemen removed it for me so I could go to lunch minus the extra 14 feet of trailer! Thank goodness for my very self sufficient sister who went with me! By the way I think we will start drywall in 2 weeks or less!!!!
Anyway..... I found out by that experience that with out Bobby I would be lost. He just does so much that I look over and take for granted everyday. Things that I didn't even realize that he did. I wish there was some grand way that I could express my devotion, adoration, and appreciation to him on Father's Day. Nothing seems to say THANK YOU enough.

So to wrap up a very wordy post.... He is great!
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It is very important that I recognize Trina. She is such a sweet lady. Her love for peacocks isn't her only unique expression. She loves color and style. But more than that, she loves her family and God. She is involved in youth in a radical and awesome way. I always look forward to her posts. She is the type, you feel like you know her even if you haven't met. I appreciate that. Too many people wear masks when the real person is always so much more interesting to know. She was so kind to mention me in her blog and give me this wonderful gift. It means a lot that someone gets me.

this is why I love him Thursday

Because...... why not?!
That is why!

Oh and since he didn't have side work last night.......

He came in, ate dinner, talked to us, played with the girls........

And DID NOT turn on the TV!!!

What a man~
What a man~
What mighty, mighty, Good man!


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This has nothing to do with today's post but I am so excited I wanted to share anyway.
My baby sister went for her very first prenatal check up today.
She has a beautiful 1 cm long sweety that will be spoiled, like nobody's business! I can't wait ('cept I have to, for nine months) to be the aunt. Since Bobby and I are both the oldest we don't have nieces or nephews.

Oh, but the times are a changin'! Now I get to hold them without fear of dreaded spoilage, (even though some might accuse me of doing that with my own angels)
I do feel it is necessary to help out parents by following their house rules even when the little stinker is at your own house... I have learned that only grandparents are afforded the right to contribute to the dreaded spoilage.... because after all they raised our butts, they deserve it!
So, DD, I solemnly swear -'cept, I don't believe in swearing- to abide by your house rules when I am watching over your little angel. Because my time will come to contribute to spoilage. So long as you allow me to: kiss, hug, transport ~ in an approved car seat that is fastened so snug in the car that hurricane force winds could not move it, feed, nurture, and pamper them while they are in my care.

So now I spoke my peace, Everett. And I done counted to three.


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One more thing and then I promise I'll be done.....

I am going to be part of a Supernatural Worship Summit called LIFT starting tonight. It will take up most of my weekend but I can't wait to tell you how it goes!

Clawfoot and this is why I love him Thursday

This wonderful man just got off work and is working on my project. Every one who knows me will not be shocked by my openess about my anal tendencies to 'do it myself ' adn that in all reality..... even though my hands felt like they were falling off from using the grinder, I grudgingly let it go into his hands.... But between the thoughts of ' I could have done it myself ' I was really and truely thankful for him doing so much! He gave me a 'demonstration on proper grinder use' And for two days, came home after a long day at work and helped. Then took the feet to the machine shop and bead blasted them, oh ........ and he ran up to Home Depot to get a new paint roller --because the roller covers I picked up didn't fit the paint roller I had! LuLu was asleep and daylight was running out so he just took LadyBug with him and took care of it.




Here is the paint. I had it custom tinted to a dreamy light blue.




This was after wire brush grinding, three coats of paint stripper, wash down with acetone, another wash and scrub with muretic acid, hand held wire brushing, sanding of the bondo (some lune put on one side of the darn thing) and still more more grinding with the grinding wheel! Whew! That exhausted me all over again just typing it!!






TaDa! Only four days of WORK and one coat still to go on the outside when the rain and humidity clears for at least 5 hours.

By the way, I have to flip her over and refinish the inside still!! I also have a 1940's cast kitchen sink to do. That will have to wait for next week.

This is why I love him Thursday

As it turns out.... this summer heat will be no different than the summers before.

You see, my sweet husband works outside. And this humid Alabama heat is exhausting. If it is 20 degrees or 120 degrees, he works outside. Sometimes he works in the rain. Sometimes he works in the blistering cold. Sometimes he works in the Alabama humidity that seriously can't be any better than the Rain Forrest! You know those days when you go outside and think 'I am so thankful for air conditioning'?... well he doesn't get that luxury from daylight 'till late afternoon. And those days when you step outside and you can see your breath (if the cold didn't take your breath away)? Well, you guessed it.... no heater.

Anyway, I am so thankful for him. And do you know he never complains? He doesn't grunt when he has to get up at 4 am. He doesn't say a word when it hurts just to stretch. He never comes home and says 'I can't do this anymore'. He only says it is his job. He works harder than anyone I know. And that is not just me bragging... I have had men that work with him tell me they can't keep up with him.

He is on a mission. He is on a mission to be the best man he can be. He doesn't go out at night. Doesn't go to bars. Doesn't find excuses to be away from home. Doesn't complain when the house is less than perfect. Doesn't complain when I completely ruin a meal. He loves his Mama. He loves his girls. He loves me. None of us ever question that.

He doesn't worry about whether or not his shoes match his shirt. He doesn't want formal hair cuts. He likes when I don't wear make up. He likes the windows down in the car, but keeps them up when we ride so it doesn't mess up our hair. When I get angry, he makes me laugh. He doesn't 'look' at other women (now granted he may see them, but he doesn't look) He respects me. He respects his position and roll as a husband.

He is a blessing to me and those who know him. He is my husband. I love him.

We are formaldehyde free, 35% post consumer, mold and mildew resistant!

In case you didn't already know, my husband and I have been married for a little over 7 1/2 yrs. We have been planning our 'forever home' (a term I borrowed from a friend) for about 6 of those 7 1/2 years!! I have felt a little disappointed several times because I wanted my home and I wanted it now! But the house we are in has been good to us, and God's plan is not our plan. Finally my prayers are being answered and we are moving along on our 'forever home'. The one will will cherish for our time on earth. The one we will raise our two sweet girls in. The one we will work hard on caring for. The one we will actually do landscaping around. The one we will see many sunsets from our 30' long front porch. The one we will fight in. The one we will love in. The one we will make mistakes in. The one we will experience victories in. The one we will play with our grandchildren in. The one we will grow old together in.

Our journey with our 'forever home' started long before we purchased the 7 acre tract it sits on in December of 2006. A year later we poured the pad for the floor. Another year and a half later and we started on the framing. We are moving right along now.

We insulated every wall that the plumber from Plumbing Dynamics didn't have to work on over the weekend!! We are hoping to have him (our plumber) there this week or weekend to finish up so we can complete the insulation. We also ran the telephone/data wires and cable wires, cut the grass (weeds) that have grown out of control this spring and cleaned up inside.

Here is a picture from last winter when my hubby 'Bob the builder' started the framing.

Here is a picture of the outside. I don't have one of the outside that has roofing on it but I will do that next time.

Here is a picture of the inside with some insulation.

I can't wait for the HVAC guy and Plumber to get their stuff done so we can Sheetrock and tile!!!

You might ask why we are taking so long?.... We decided not to go get a large mortgage so we have done what we can and now we are financing the rest because we want to be in there by next school season.

This is why I love him Thursday

It's Thursday, time to list my sweethearts lovable qualities.....
This weeks list includes...

He took Wed. morning off to go to LadyBug's 4k graduation, then went to work without complaining while we headed off to the end of the year pool party!

He is being so patient with me on my never ending list of things I want to do to our house.

He is undeniably the hardest working, best man, I have ever met.

He has been eating my half hearted meals lately, because I've been preoccupied with everything else going on and waited till the last minute to put something together for dinner.

I feel blessed to have him in my life. The past 11 years have gone by so fast! I couldn't imagine, wouldn't want to imagine, my life without him. We are so different in so many ways. God put us together that way. He has all my missing pieces and I have his, that way we fit perfectly together. Like a puzzle we need each other to be complete.

This is why I love him Thursday

You can see yesterday's post here where I explained what I know about Daddy.

This is why I love him Thursday is my weekly reminder of just how special my man is. Because it's the little things that easily slip through and are forgotten. And it's the little things that are the biggest over time.

Why do I love him:

He came home when he got off work early yesterday instead of going to the machine shop to chat.

He tucked LadyBug in, set her sleep-timer, and talked with her before he went to bed.

He worked in the rain yesterday.

He made Mother's Day my day and did all the things I wanted to do. (He even said he would eat Italian food, if that was what I wanted):)

He got up an hour early this morning for work (about 4:30am) and never complained.

So ladies I don't know what it is like at your house. But to me, I have the best husband ever!! He does some things I'd be embarrassed to tell, and some things that are frustrating, but he couldn't be more perfect. After all, he puts up with me, what more could I ask??
I'd like to hear from you. What are some things your husbands or boyfriends do that are special?

Yes, I changed it again.....and this is why I love him Thursday!

I know this must be like playing musical chairs, the way I change my background so much! I want a three column, but not all the busy background to go with it. If only I knew how to manage that. Although the ones I've had are really cute, they are just a little busier than me.
LadyBug will look at something in the stores and say "mom look isn't this.... oh, never mind it has too much accessories, right?" Yep, she is five and yep, she knows that is just what I am...
I'm not sure if basic or plain would be the right descriptions, but that's who I am, really. I wear my wedding band, no diamonds, no earrings, no necklace most of the time, no polish on my finger nails, no mousse or hairspray, just me, my t-shirt and jeans, and flip-flops. I am complicated enough with out all the 'accessories' as she would say, so in a way it balances.

So for now I am happy with this background.

Now for the real business:

I can't leave out my sweetheart. So, here are this week's reasons why I love him:

He tries to stay awake when I take too long in the shower at night.

He always kisses me and the girls before he leaves for work.

He never fails to include me in whatever he has done that day, even when I don't know what he is talking about.

He loves being a family man.

This is why I love him Thursday-New Blog

Every Thursday I like to share with the world why I love my husband. Doing this has helped me look for the little things that make a big impact on my heart. Things that he does to show his love or things that are uniquely him.

Why do I love him:

He works outside in 85 degree heat in April without complaining to be the provider for our family.

He smiles with his eyes.

He is well beyond his years in wisdom.

He gives with all his heart.

He is dependable.

He is trustworthy.

He is himself no matter who he is around.

He is willing to go outside his comfort zone to do the things I enjoy.

I have a new blog. I have decided to do a pro life blog in addition to this one. I will try to keep it up to date with government and pro life announcements. Please follow and share so that I will know who is reading and you can add or comment at any time.

Baby Bunny is Back! Oh and This is Why I love him Thursday.

The baby bunny from yesterday (that hopped away) was in my drive again this morning. My dog still looking out for it when it comes out into the open!! This time I got a few pictures of it.

Notice the oak leaf just to the right of the little bunny, they are nearly the same size!! I'm so glad he/she is doing well and that Buddy is looking out for him/her. I was so afraid it wouldn't make it without it's mommy (being so small and all). I love Spring.

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Oh, and I didn't forget about my hubby! I love him today and always. Here are this week's reasons why:

He loves me.

He took me with him to work on his buddy's car instead of leaving me at home.

He let me drink over half of his beer drink.

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This is my life right now....... Babies, Bunnies, Buddy, Beer, Beef, Boxes, , Bobby.

Some are constant (Babies, Bobby, Boxes, Buddy), some in small quantities (Beer), some are 'rare' (Bunnies, Beef) But I love them all.

Fast Furious Friday

TGIF! Need I say more?
Bobby is working on our house today. His wonderful boss is doing the wiring. They are doing the telephone wires today. I really had no idea how many decisions would need to be made so quickly. Thankfully, I have received some very good tips. So far we have built out of pocket, oh and thank you - Home Depot Card. But the time has come to BORROW. Yuk, I hate to say that word, it sounded very loud just typing it. Anyway, I am very excited that we will be moving forward in a quick way very soon. (the plans took five years to 'perfect' and just getting it dried in has taken a year or more!)
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Bobby is taking me out tonight! Fast and Furious. Anyone who knows me knows that this tops.... dinner, although we will do that too. Then if funds allow we will attend the 'races' Saturday night. For those who know me... you know this is not so exciting. But my MIL has the kids for the weekend and I am going to walk hand in hand with my love..... through mud, dust, smells, loud engines roaring, swearing in the background, and lots and lots of did I mention- DIRT? Oh well, he loves me, and I love him.
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Stellan is doing much better! He still needs our prayers.

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Thought for the Weekend:

Encourage and be encouraged. Jabez asked God and God did what Jabez asked.
(1 Chronicles 4:9-10)
God knows us each by name, His plan is written. Our names are written on his hand.
(Isaiah 49:16)
Because Jesus took the fall, we are able to rise. God loves us so much that we are able to stand tall, look the enemy in the eye and say 'you are defeated'! Who is your enemy? Are you taking charge of your victory? Your enemy could be anything; health, violence, anger, jealousy, grief, shame, lust.... You have victory in Jesus!

follow up and dress hunting

OK... follow up from yesterday.... after a 'show down' last night our family came to the realization that at some point we fell off the wagon. Thank God it was brought to our attention in a timely manner as to not drag out hard feelings!! Now after a few smart remarks here and there we are on the same page again!!! When all cards are drawn the fact remains that we all love each other deeply. Again, thank God.
Today we went shopping for Easter/spring picture dresses. Now this typically would not be such a hard task but my girls think it is fascinating to match for special occasions! Matching a 17 month old and a 5 year old is not an easy feat considering the older one is big for her age and the other is sort of small. In a funny sort of way it's like a line backer and a pixie..... I may be exaggerating a little but not by much. Any way when I finally did find the perfect ones I couldn't afford them. ARRGGG! That was frustrating! I still may go back -I don't know. Not that I care what other people think about their little dresses- I want them to feel special. I tell myself that your inner self is what makes you special and beautiful and that is absolutely with out a doubt the truth...but every little girl and big girl alike love to dress up special once in a while. But alas we are trying to build a home right now and at some point you have to decide expensive outfits or save, save, save. The little girl in me says go back and get those dresses. I probably will.

My thought for the day:
God rewards those who seek Him. Not those who seek doctrine or religion or systems or creeds. -Max Lucado (Just like Jesus)