100 Things

I saw this on Katy Lin's blog and thought it would be fun. I love reading other people's but I rarely ever do my own list! Everything in BOLD are things I've done. Feel free to copy this list to your blog and do the same.

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you're not sick.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagra Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to truly be satisfied.
38. Seen the leaning tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo's David.
41. Sung karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served in a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Gotten flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp.
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the changing of the guards in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Been to the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the paper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had Chicken pox.
89. Saved someone's life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a lawsuit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.

I really should get out more!

MHR Friday

The moment I knew I would marry the man I call my husband...

I have to say that I entered my marriage without a clue on how I got there. The beginning of my marriage was not the storybook romance most would think about. Matt and I dated for 5 years before we married. We argued a lot and broke up several times...probably an early sign we weren't ready! Matt was the guy every girl wanted. He was handsome, smart, athletic and came from an awesome family-something I always wanted. There wasn't a particular time where I just KNEW I was going to marry him, oh but I hoped and prayed that I would be the girl that would.

I remember one day (after we were married) sitting on the couch with Matt. It had been a really rough year for us and it was only the beginning. I was carrying a ton of guilt from my past and just didn't feel like I deserved such a great husband. I was sobbing and my heart was so torn up inside. Matt sat down next to me on the couch and held my hand. He asked me this "April, do you think there is anything that you could ever do to make God stop loving you?" Of course I knew the answer and said "No." Matt then added this "Then why in the world would you think there is anything that you could do to make me stop loving you either? God calls me to love you as He loves the church."

It was then I knew that I had married the man God had intended for me. Matt loves me in that way. He is always gentle with me, patient, understanding, and stands by me no matter what. Our marriage has seen the darkest of days, but we have pulled through like CHAMPS! I am grateful for Matt and the calling on his heart to love me like Christ.

The challenge for the week is this:

1. Be patient. As the Love Dare book puts it “Resolve to say nothing negative to your spouse.” Our words have the power to build up or tear down in an instant, and unfortunately the destructive possibility is much easier, and quicker than the re-constructive. Let’s be very careful with the things we say to our spouses this week (well, always, but we’ll really focus on it this week).

2. See the movie Fireproof! I have not seen it yet but Matt and I will be making a date night this week to see it, can't wait!

Blog Prob

I really should update my blog. I'm so overwhelmed because I have so many pictures and I can't possibly post them all here. I'm not a fan of the slide show either. So...any suggestions?

MHR Friday!

I decided to use Katy Lin's prompt for MHR Friday this week. Check out her website and be a part of sharing how your husband rocks!

Tell us about a time that your spouse went out of his way to serve you, and love you sacrificially.

Matt honestly goes out of his way to serve me all the time, it's just in his nature. He knows I am an "acts of service" person and he tries really hard to serve me in that way. I don't remember the occasion but one morning after Matt woke up and got ready for the day, he decided to quietly slip out and take Sarabeth with him, leaving me to sleep in and enjoy the morning in peace and quiet. I'm not sure if has any idea how much that meant to me. I am not a morning person and after I had Sarabeth I just knew I would never sleep in again. Other ways Matt serves me is by going out of his way to clean the house. I made a comment one time about how it would be so nice if the toys just picked them selves up! The next morning when I woke up, they did! Thank you hubby!

Katy Lin also issued a challenge for us wives and I have decided to take it on. Here it is:

"Your mission, if you choose to accept it, has two parts. First, look for ways that you can serve your husband. These can be big or small, sometimes the things that seem so insignificant to us can make a big difference in making our husbands feel loved and respected. And second, if your husband asks you to do something for him, even if it seems silly, or like he could easily do it for himself, do it cheerfully and without an attitude of annoyance."

OK ladies, let's try this one out. I promise, you have no idea how these things bless our husbands. God has so specifically wired our men to thrive on us being their cheerleaders in life. Go the extra mile this week and show your man how much you think he ROCKS!

Gun Carryin' Gals

A few months ago Matt bought me a handgun. While we at his parents for Turkey Day, we shot at some targets and did a little skeet shooting (I am terrible at that!)

What a goof ball

My sister in law, Tarah did very well. I will be sure to always be nice to her!


Matt shooting skeet
My little princess sporting her ear muffs. It was too loud out there for her little ears!

Thanksgiving Rewind

Before I get to the Christmas pictures, here is a recap of our Thanksgiving. We drove up to see Matt's parents in Arkansas to celebrate Turkey Day and Pre-Christmas with Matt's two brothers and their wives and kids (only one wife per brother, just in case you were wondering). We did our normal eating enormous amounts of food and laying around all day. This year Sarabeth was just old enough to run around with her older cousins and play. Here are a few pictures from our visit."Really, this rock is tasty..."

"You should try it. Here, have a bit of mine""I love my aunt Cheryl!"

"Julia, say cheese like me"
"Ahhh, bath time with Savannah"

" I wanna be BIG just like Isaac"

This big dirt pile is the happening place for the kiddos. Many hours were spent climbing up and down, dragging the wagon (with Roscoe our Beagle), and getting dirt in every part of our clothes.

We spend every other Christmas with Matt's family. So on the years we are there for Thanksgiving, Matt's mom manages to squeeze in Christmas as well. Sarabeth was just the right age to start enjoying the wrapping paper. I was surprised to see that she was just as excited about her baby doll too!

"Babies gotta get strapped in to eat!"

I made all the nieces (and Sarabeth) a tutu for dress up. We attempted to get them all in theirs, and smile. Sarabeth is not a tutu girl. but Julia and Savannah loved them!
I have a ton more pictures but not a ton of time. I'll post a few more later. Enjoy!

MHR Friday

What better way to start the year than to brag a little on my hubby.

Today I asked Matt what he had planned for the day and he said "I'm just going to help you all day, whatever you need help with." Sweet! He cleaned the kitchen, and I mean he CLEANED it, I walked in and he was scrubbing the tops of the gas range. He had the whole thing apart cleaning every little piece. I can say I have NEVER done that! He has been really sweet the past few days, spending a lot of quality time with Sarabeth and me. We are trying to take advantage of the extra free time he has right now until he starts working again. Matt was let go from his job on Tuesday this week. We kind of knew before the holidays that there may be a small chance his company would be doing some downsizing before the first of the year, but we weren't sure that Matt would be part of that. It came as a surprise to me, but not to him. He sat me down at the kitchen table (the day after he found out) and I guessed what we were about to discuss. I took it well, as did he. We both feel like this is an opportunity for us to grow into our own business now. Matt has been preparing to start his own company for some time. He feels good about where God has him.

The most exciting thing about this whole situation is the way Matt reacted to the news, and the way we handled it as a couple. We have been in this situation before, however our marriage was in disarray. I remember how awful we both felt and how desperate we became, and we both continued to fall apart along with our relationship.

This time, we just relaxed knowing full well God had us safely in his hands. Life is so much different when you have a real relationship with the one that created you. We've worked as a team over the past few days, just brainstorming about how to adjust our lifestyle and what our next steps are. Matt is so reassuring to me. He knows my natural need to feel safe and secure and he stops at nothing to assure me, we will be fine.

Thank you Matt for working so hard at any task you have in front of you, whether it be a 12 hour day at work, a 5 minute talk to ease my mind, or a prayer to calm my spirit and protect our family. You are everything and more to me. You more than Rock!