Taking One for the Team

Last night Jeff and I went with our good friends to hear Sara Groves play. She is one of my favorite Christian artists. Her music speaks to my soul. :)

I didn't know if Jeff was going to enjoy her music and on the way over gave him a bit of warning regarding her style. Her style of music is very mellow and for a guy who loves Van Halen I just knew that Sara may not hit the harmonic chord it does inside of me.

He looked at me and said, "I guess I am taking one for the team tonight?"

"Yep. Pretty much."

This conversation got me to thinking last night as I was sitting in the concert. Marriages are all about taking one for the team. There has to be a give and take from both parties in order for the marriage to thrive.  My moment of taking one for the team occurs every fall during football season.  I have no problem watching football but I don't often get to watch my hometown team, the Cowboys.  Jeff refuses to watch any football other than Chargers on the off chance we mistakenly see the Charger score before Young family kick off.  Game time at our house is 8:30 Sunday night so the TV and computer stay off most Sundays.  This my friends, is my way of taking one for the team.

Jeff gladly accepted the invitation from our friends to attend this concert. I think he knows that his way of taking one for the team involves anything with music. (Remember my Phantom of the Opera birthday present?) As we were sitting listening to Sara, I started to realize that he was no longer, "taking one for the team" but fully enjoying himself as well.  What's not to love about Sara Groves?

Thank you Jeff for being such a good sport last night.  It means so much to me that you are willing to embrace my love for music and good lyrics. You are a great team player!

And I close with our favorite Super Bubbie who found the music so relaxing that he passed out in the middle of it.  Nothing like a sleeping "baby"!

Celebrating "Tess"

Today is Jeff's 40th birthday!

I asked him today if he felt old.  He's reply, "No, not yet." 

I found this picture the other day of he and our nephew Jacob back in October.  We had borrowed Jacob for the day and took him on an adventure to the Stockyards.  It may not look like it in the picture but Jacob LOVES his Uncle and the two had a great time together exploring.  Jacob has nicknamed Jeff, "Tess."  Not sure where that one came from but it is one of Jeff's favorite things to hear the little man say.  In fact, my sister in law was telling me that "Tess" even has his own chair at their house.  Jacob will point to one chair and say "Daddy's chair" and then point to another chair and say "Tess's chair."  Mere, I am sorry there is no "Mommy's chair." 

I may have mentioned before (or maybe it was on Facebook) that Jeff and I are now communicating via email when he is at work.  Since I am so close to my due date this will help him know that when he sees my number pop up on the cell phone that I mean business.  Anyway, the point is that I sent him an email last night at midnight telling him the 40 reasons why I love him.  I thought I would share it with you today but decided against it because really, it means more to Jeff  than I know it will mean to you. 

But here are 10 of my favorite things from that list.  (the not so mushy stuff, to keep you all from gagging)

1.  Your love for Van Halen
2.  Your raunchy one liners that you say to shock me and then follow up with "Post that on Facebook." You know there is no way I could repeat what you just said in public.
3.  You have only called in sick 3 times to work in the 11 years I have known you. Amazing!!
4.  You taught me to live in the moment and enjoy every day to the fullest.
5.  Your love for travel.  We have great road trips.
6.  You already have Andrew's first road trip planned. I can't wait to travel as a family of 3.
7.  Your willing heart to serve at church. I love watching you serve in Children's church---you are their Pied Piper
8.  You are a loyal Charger fan!
9.  You love family traditions. (see above)
10. You asked me to marry you (what a smart man you are!)

I am so thankful God brought this man into my life.  He is a wonderful husband, brother, son, friend and soon to be father.

I love you, Jeff!

Working on a Recreation

I am a huge fan of this place but I'm not willing to pay the price they have for this item.

I actually own a few keys that look like the picture above and am going to run to this place to buy a few of their frames that are similar to the above picture.  Thankfully this week, their frames are 50% off.

When I'm finished, I will hang them over my bed to look similar to the picture below.  Click the picture to see a better view of the art above the bed.  Don't you just love it when you find creative inspiration and realize you can so recreate that for a much lower price.  I know I do!!!

Making Our House a Home

I have been trying to find the best way to write this post. And you must read this knowing that this post falls solely under the heading "getting my words out." 

First off I LOVE MY HOUSE.  I often will walk through the house and say out loud, "Lord, thank you! THANK YOU!"  I feel blessed to be where we are today and down right grateful that my husband refused to settle on the many houses over the past 7 years that I just knew were for us.  In fact I had nothing to do with finding this house.  NOTHING.  It was all the Mister.  He came home with a list of houses he wanted us to look at with our realtor and I said, "Okay-whatever."  Seriously, I was so done with house hunting at this point that I had lost the thrill for the hunt.  I just wanted a house--any house would do--just tell me when to start packing was my attitude.  We found 4 houses before this one that we were willing to put an offer on but each one already had a contract pending when we tried to move ahead.  Talk about being frustrated but trying to trust God at the same time--a delicate balance. But this house had no contracts and no interested buyers and had been on the market the whole time we started looking (since December.)  It's like God was just waiting for us to find this house or allowing me time to grow to the point where I let Jeff find the house and be totally at peace with his decision.  In fact, a week before we looked at this house for the first time, I had said those exact words.  I am so thankful that I did say it too.  Not only did Jeff do a great job finding us a home but my man walked a little taller too knowing I fully trusted him to lead us. 

Fast forward a bit...

I had a moment the weekend we moved.  I was hot, tired and was trying to get dressed for church without knowing where any of my essentials were located.  And then we realized that something was wrong with our shower--it had no hot water.  At the time, I couldn't take a shower in the other bathroom because our shower curtain was at the apartment.  And taking a bath was out because I had not had time to bleach the tub to my liking.  All this to say, I was a wreck and hating myself for even feeling this way the first night in our home.  As I was drying my hair I found myself saying, "I wish I was back at the apartment!"  To which I quickly chastised myself for even thinking such a thing.  It was at that moment that I found myself quoting 1 Timothy 6:6, "Godliness with contentment is great gain."  And yes by the following Sunday things were back on track and I had no problem finding my essentials. Oh the difference a week makes.

And then came last week...

Most of you know by now that I was very much looking forward to putting my own stamp on our house, my decorating touch so to speak.  Unfortunately 5 weeks away from having a baby can keep you from decorating high up places, like above the kitchen cabinets and painting bathrooms that desperately need a new coat of paint.  As I was sitting in Andrew's room (my favorite, most decorated room in the house)  I found myself wondering if it would all get done soon. The answer to that question is no, it will not.  Then I had to ask myself if I would be okay with that.  The answer to that question is yes,  I will.   I don't know why I put so much pressure on myself to have it just right in such a short time.  The thing I have coming to realize is that the joy of being a homemaker is having little projects to enjoy doing at your own pace.  Who cares if I have accessorieses sitting in my window sill waiting to be put on display above the cabinets?  It will happen one day.  Who cares if there is a big black streak down the hallway where "the originals" scratched the walls as they were moving furniture or the chunk of wall their furniture took as a keepsake.  It will all come together in it's own time and I am okay with that.

I have so much to look forward to that I don't want to let my need for perfection hinder the joy that is coming the next few weeks, months and year.

I look forward to bringing Andrew home from the hospital to his first place.

I look forward to planting flowers in our flower beds.

I look forward to picking out fabric for my curtains to hang in our living room.

I look forward to having people over to our house to entertain.

I look forward to getting outside to meet my neighbors and start cultivating friendships on my street.

I look forward to trick or treaters ringing our bell.

I look forward to celebrating our first Christmas as a family of 3.

I look forward to watching Jeff be a father to our son.

I look forward to rocking my baby boy in his room and laying him down to sleep.

I look forward to making this house OUR home. 

But most of all, I look forward to seeing how the Lord will use this house to bring Him glory. 

The home we waited for, the home we prayed for, the home we found in God's perfect timing.

"Thank you, Lord! THANK YOU!"

Happy 4th of July

We spent the 4th of July working around the house. 

• Painted laundry room (pictures to come soon)
• Picked up our changing table from friends (Thank you Tim & Cyndi!)
• Hung a few fans (Thank you Matt for your help! You are the best BIL EVER!)
• I ate two helpings of Cousin Libby's banana pudding (a 4th of July tradition)
• Enjoyed the cooler weather...preggo even uttered the words, "I'm cold" at one point that night.  Words I thought I would never say 8 months pregnant in the middle of July.  Praise God for the rain & cooler Texas temps.
• Watched the fireworks with the Cherry Clan cousin's at Doug & Libby's new house.  We were so close to the show and in the privacy of their backyard.  Priceless!
• Enjoyed a relaxing Sunday afternoon of piddling and napping and finishing "The Help".
• The night ended with Jeff and I eating hot dogs at his parents and enjoying my "special surprise dessert" from my FIL.  (Actually for him but he loves having "the baby" to blame his sweet tooth on)
• Dinner was wrapped up with my MIL using my face as a test dummy for her school homework.  Let's just say I am very thankful not only for her but her deciding to get her Esthetician license.
• Thankful for the fun, productive and relaxing 4th of July weekend.

Happy 4th of July from our family to yours!