Quote of the Week

I like quotes! Do you like quotes? I keep a running list of quotes in the notes page at the back of my Bible. I know a good quote when I hear one because they usually make me stop, and go "hmmmmm". SO I think I am gonna start a "quote of the week" on my blog. Some will be funny some will be serious, but hopefully you will enjoy them and feel free to add to them.

drumroll please....

"Can anyone tell me what's wrong with our family?"
Actually I found this one funny and noteworthy because it was said by Jessica while the four of us were dining at Chili's and acting a little goofy. If she feels this way at 7, imagine her thoughts at 16?

"We are too busy for His glory"
I have been listening to Beth Moore's Bible Studies online and she said this and it struck a cord with me. God is doing amazing things around me all the time and I often miss it because I am too busy. "Be still and know"

Ok well I know that was two quotes, but you will live.

On a completely different side note: I am sitting here this morning and my house looks different to me, what is it? OH, yes that's it, the SUN is coming through the windows, I forgot what my house looks like with the sun shine coming in. Please: rain, rain go away, come again another day.

13 Years

Today is our 13th anniversary!!! 13 may be considered unlucky to some, but to be honest with you, with each passing year I am more and more convinced that I am the luckiest girl in the world. I think I have been in love with Chris Havard since I was 11 years old and saw him in Mrs. Carnes 6th grade English class. We had to write in our journal about some topic that she put on the board and I still remember that when she asked who would like to read their journal to the class, Chris volunteered to read. This caught my attention because I would have rather had a severe case of the flu than to do anything in front of other people. Just the mere asking for volunteers sent me into a cold sweat and attempt to shrink as small as possible or deep into prayer asking for the gift to become invisible. So yep, that's when I first noticed the skinny little blond boy. I have been infatuated ever since. His first memory of me was in gym class, I think it was the short purple polyester gym shorts that caught his eye!! HA!!! Anyway, 6th grade started a sweet little journey down a road full of blessings, adventures, a deep friendship and a "knowing" that I am extremely grateful for.

If you have any knowledge of Chris then I think you are probably aware of how completely spoiled rotten I am by him. I am not sure why, but the fella is the sweetest thing to me. I don't deserve it, I am moody as all get out and often selfish. Yet he continues to love me unconditionally, speaks nothing but kindness to me, always helps me in any way possible and always always puts me and our children before himself.

In many ways he is still the cute 6th grade boy I knew, he still doesn't mind speaking in public, he is still as funny as ever, laughter is never absent from us, he even still seems to like me in my gym shorts, but with each passing year, he just gets more and more amazing to me. I am blessed to have somehow managed to snag him and keep him for 13 years, here's to many many more...

Anniversary Getaway

Chris and I just returned home yesterday from a fun trip to Newport, Rhode Island. We dropped off the kids EARLY Wednesday morning at my sister's house and headed to the airport. We flew into Boston, rented a car and drove over to Newport. Before I begin the usual "here's what we did" part, can I just take a moment to say, I REALLY don't like to fly. I don't like the waiting, the lines, the searches, the other people that just bug in too many ways to mention. (though I could, but you wouldn't think I am very nice person, if I went on that rant!!) I don't like the take offs at all, Chris laughs at me, but I get nervous. I really really think it would just be a really yucky way to die. Chris tried to lovingly point out, "It would be really quick and over with fast." I just didn't take comfort in that since he pointed it out DURING take off!!

Ok, so we make it to Newport and we find our very nice B&B get settled in and then head to the movies. Kinda funny we went all that way to do something we could have done right by our house, but that's the beauty of it, we can do whatever we want. We saw Oceans 13 and then headed into the harbor area downtown and had a late dinner. Thursday morning we went sailing on this beautiful boat, relaxed on the front porch of our place and then did the "Cliff Walk". The cliff walk is about 3.5 miles of walking trail, some paved some rocky, that runs along the coastline. You have the Atlantic Ocean on one side and some beautiful mansions on the other. Friday we toured one of the Mansions called The Breakers, built by the Vanderbilt family. I told Chris if I had been alive back then I would have worked really hard to marry into that family!! Another mansion was hosting a flower show. This felt like a true Kennedy, Cape Cod, New England experience. We had lunch outside on this amazing lawn over looking the Atlantic with a tall ship moored just in the distance. Ladies in fancy hats were enjoying the festivities while a 5 piece band played. That night we had a nice dinner at the oldest tavern in America. Saturday we got up, checked out and went "trot trot to Boston" (sorry) walked around little bit and then went to the airport (taking a "scenic" route due to a map problem which some might claim was user error, but I say they need to hire a better cartographer @*&^%!!). We got home late, but were greeted with hugs and kisses from Joshua and Jessica.

Monday is our actually anniversary so check back on a post about that tomorrow.

Here are some pics from the trip:

It's The Thought that Counts

HMMMM! I am really starting to think it isn't the thought that counts, at least in some areas of life. I learned last night that a friend is moving away very soon and I started to have some regrets, which of course set me to thinking. How many times do I "think" about getting together with friends, but never seem to get around to it? How many times do I "think" I need to call someone, yet the sun goes down on another day and I haven't done it. How many times do I "think" I should email that sweet friend in another state, yet I waste my time writing blogs or reading the paper online. It really is kinda pathetic to think that I have more and more tools available to me to connect with friends, yet I still manage to procrastinate or get busy etc. I am missing out on something when I choose to remain self-centered or "too busy" Last night when I learned that my friend is moving I realized, I grew complacent in the idea that I could see her when I wanted instead of actually following through on it. My loss.

It's the "tyranny of the urgent" getting caught up in what must get accomplished right now instead of trying to also remember to do that which is important.

What's the solution? I am not sure, but I think I will call a friend and see if she wants to meet for lunch to chat about it...

My Dad is cooler than your dad!!!

Now before you go getting all miffed at the title, I was just kidding around. However I still will say I have a very cool dad!! Here are just a few things that I love about my dad or things that he has taught me over the years:

I love the fact that he survived in a house with all chics! No easy task, I am sure his doctorate in psychology paid off in ways he never expected.

I love the fact that my dad is the most honest person I know. Growing up, my mom and sister enjoyed making up things to tease me or try to make me believe something. All I had to do was find out the truth from dad, he wouldn't lie!! This really irked my mom and sister!

I love the fact that my dad doesn't do anything half way. When he wants to learn or do something, he throws himself into it. Over the years, what he is into may change, but never how he attacks the process wholeheartedly.

I love the fact that my dad was overprotective! This use to drive me crazy, but now I understand!

I love the fact that I NEVER left the house without hearing him say "I love you" often more than once.

I love the fact that my dad is completely crazy about my mom, always has been, always will be and never afraid to show it!!

I love the fact that my dad is full of corny jokes and puns!!!

I love the fact that my dad takes really good care of his mom.

I love the fat that my dad is extremely generous and there are never "strings attached"

I love the fact that my dad likes my husband.

I love the fact that I could call my dad right now at this moment and say, "I need your help" and he would immediately do whatever he could.

I love the fact that my dad loves me unconditionally. This one gift has done more to shape me and give me the confidence every girl needs growing up. I have never for one moment felt unloved by my dad! Thanks Dad!

And lastly, I am glad that my children get to have the coolest grandfather around.

Happy Father's Day Dad!!

Just thinking

With Father's Day approaching the kids and I had gotten a little gift for Chris and it set me to thinking "What's it like to be a dad?" Never really thought about it before, I guess I get caught up in what it's like to be a mom. I know that I will never really know the answer to that, but it was fun to ponder. I thought things like:

How did he feel when I uttered the words "we are gonna have a baby" the first and second time? What did he really think of me big and pregnant? What was it like to be in the room when they were born, I only have the perspective as the one pushing. What's it like to be the hero in the house, the one that can fix what's broken or makes them feel safe when a storm comes? What's it like to get on the ground and wrestle with your boy, while I stand back and wait for someone to get hurt (ha ha) What does it feel like to tuck your little girl in at night and know that at that moment you are her main man? Watching that exchange between the two of them is one of my favorites as a mom! What's it like to be the one that can answer any question about any sport? That one really amazes me. Really he can answer just about any question they come up with. They think dad is super smart! What's it like to feel the pressures of work and also the pressure to leave that at work when he comes home? What is it like to know that you have these kids watching you and learning more from what you do than what you say? (That's true for moms too I know) What's his favorite part of being a dad, what's the hardest part?

I guess I was trying to "step into his shoes" for a moment and think about life as a dad. Empathy is always a good thing and helps us to understand and to think beyond ourselves. Bottom line, I know I can't fully understand what it's like to be a dad, but it was good to try.
Made me very grateful for the amazing dad that my kids have.
http://www.ignitermedia.com/products/sea/singles/628/What-Dads-Cant-Do
check this link out, it's very cute and clever.

All is right with the world again (at least my world)

Jessica woke up this morning and said, "Bubba comes home today!" We were both pretty happy about it. If you didn't read my earlier post he has been at his first camp with our church this week. Now I know I sound a bit neurotic and I guess I am, but by yesterday I just needed that boy home. It was time.

Chris made a "Welcome Back Joshua" sign for us and we joined all the other excited parents outside of church standing in the heat, waiting for the buses. The first bus went by, 3rd grade girls, not what I was looking for, then the 3rd grade boys bus went by and sure enough my "mom radar" spotted that cute little kid easily through the tinted windows. He hopped off the bus with a big grin, looking a little older than when I left him on Thursday and hugged us all.

I love that kid!