Love Me Some Michael!

Happy Valentines Month, ya'll!

I don't know about you, but I LOVE Michael Kors' watches!!

I purchased my first MK Watch about 3 years ago, and to this day, I adore it.

Well, in honor of Valentine's Day and my incredible love for all of you,

I'm giving away the Michael Kors Watch of your choice from above!

I've teamed up with Shanna & Kaitlyn and all the other ladies below to bring you this amazing giveaway.

They all voted, and these were their top 6 choices.

1// Kaitlyn 2// Shanna 3// Emily 4// Stephanie 5// Robin 6// Kalyn

7// Samantha 8// Lisette 9// Kristyn 10// Jami 11// Courtney 12// Ashley

13// Erin 14// Hallie 15// Jessica 16// Kim 17// Michele 18// Rebekah

Happy Valentine's Day to you my dear, sweet friends!!!

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter below!

This contest is open to US Residents only.

The giveaway will run from February 7 - February 13, 11:59pm EST.

Winner will be announced on Valentine's Day.

***All entries WILL be verified to make sure the winner has completed what she said she did (:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Favorite Love Story

Once upon a time there was this girl who had decided moving and adventures were fun.
She had been through a pretty rough relationship which had caused a lot of pain.
This girl decided that she would be single for awhile and enjoy life on her own with God and of course, her trusty sidekick, Shia, her husky pup.

One day she decided she would go hang out with her favorite cousin.
Off to the pool they went where they worked on their tans.
Next thing she knew a handsome guy and his friend walked into the pool.
This wasn't any guy, he worked with her cousin and had decided he wanted to meet Girl.

Cousin time turned into Girl, Cousin, Handsome Guy and Handsome Guy's friend time, and off they all went to dinner.  Handsome Guy even tried to convince Girl and Cousin to hang out with them the rest of the evening, but Girl put her foot down.  She told him she was in town to hang out with her cousin and they already had plans.
Even though she had said no, she made sure to ask her cousin about his friend, Handsome Guy.

A few weeks later, Girl's cousin called and asked her to come to a party that Handsome Guy would be in attendance.  Cousin had put a stamp of approval on Handsome Guy to Girl and even later gave permission to Handsome Guy to pursue a relationship with his cousin.

That night was one of the best night's of Girl's life.  She got a chance to talk to Handsome Guy for quite awhile and realized he was goofy just like her.  The next day, Girl called her family and friends and told them that she knew it sounded crazy but she finally met her future husband.

Handsome Guy called Girl and asked her out on a lunch date.  Their work schedules wouldn't allow for a dinner date for at least a week and they didn't want to wait that long so they decided their first date would have to be a lunch date.
That first date marked the first of MANY dates and little did they know it would be the last first date they would ever have.
It was perfect.
She was immediately comfortable with him and him with her.
As the weeks progressed she realized that He really was her perfect match.
They managed to make a long distance relationship work against all odds.
They lived an hour and half away from each other and both worked crazy work hours, but their relationship grew and flourished.

Many months later, Handsome Girl proposed to Girl and they were married November 29th, 2009
Off they went to Jamaica where they had the best time and enjoyed their first week of married life in a tropical paradise.
Girl couldn't have been happier.
She was so grateful that God had finally given her a man who would love her through everything.
He had given her a man who brings out the best in her and challenges her in every way.
These two lived happily ever.
They have made it through many many challenges in their relationship, but they are stronger than ever.

Happy Anniversary, to the love of my life!

Thank you for sweeping me off my feet all those years ago.

You have changed my world for the better in so many ways.

Every year just keeps getting better and better.

Can't wait for many more to come and our adventure to continue!

I love you!

The Faith of a Child

I had just finished my Senior year of high school.

I was going to be a Freshman in college.

Man, I thought I was cool.

And then my life changed.....

I went with a group from church to Honduras.

I saw life lived in a completely different way.

People lived with barely any food or clothes.

A small cement block with a door served as their home.

The hurricane had taken everything from them.

And yet, they were happy.

Kids ran in the streets playing soccer (football)

Families loved balloons and singing songs with their kids.

These people really knew Jesus.

They had to, they relied on Him day in and day out to meet their most basic needs.

It was then I realized how much I'd taken for granted.

I wish I could say this trip permanently changed my thinking.

I wish I could say that I never complain when something doesn't go my way.

I can't say that... but I can say, this trip serves as a reminder that I am beyond blessed.

I wish I could spend my life living in third world countries and helping these families.

God has not led me there, he has led me to Colorado, to be a wife to a great man and a mother to an amazing daughter.  He has led me a different path but one He wants me to live.

But I long to be connected to people across the world.  

So for almost a year now, we have taken our new honorary family member, Melly, in as part of our own.

We sponsor her, write her, 2x a month, her picture hangs on our family wall, we pray for her, and send her birthday gifts.  This girl has blessed my life!

She reminds me to slow down and enjoy what I have.  With each letter I get from her I am filled with joy.  How can such a young girl challenge this almost 30 year old to grow stronger in her faith?

I sponsored her because selfishly I wanted to help change her life, but instead she is changing mine.

I highly encourage you all as a family to look through THESE pictures, pray for these kids, and maybe even decide to bring one into your family!  I can promise you that God will work through the relationship you build with your child.  

And maybe just maybe, your life will change like ours did.

Melly with her grandma- wearing her new dress and shoes!

The Cop Life... part 2

Awhile back I wrote this post on what it's like to be married to a cop.

Well it's all still true, but now I feel like I should update this, with what it's like to co parent with a cop while being married to him.

Ok, that changes things... just a little.

Husband is still wonderful at leaving work at work, and overall he's a wonderful hubs and father.

I really couldn't be more blessed.

But.... (you knew there was a but didn't you)

when you make the decision to both work full time, and to not put a kiddo in day care.

Well then life gets a little tricky.

And then our relationship gets a little tricky, and then parenting gets a little tricky.

Currently, we are single parents half of the day 4 days a week. 

4 days a week, our life looks like this.

I wake up early, and head to work.  Get home with 15-30 min before hubs heads out the door to start his shift at work.  He gets home, we sleep in the same bed for 3 hours and then I'm up again to go back to work.  My joke is I see my husband 3.5 hours a day and 3 of those hours are spent sleeping.

Awesome!

Now the other 3 days of the week are great.  One day I spend working part of it, and then the other 2, are spent as my highly anticipated family days.

The other 4 days just plain stink... A lot!

Every year, we adjust to a new schedule and every year, I go through this period of hating Caleb's new shift.  And then we finally get the hang of it, only for it to change all over again.

It's been a hard few weeks of this shift, I'm not going to lie.

I've cried a lot (poor hubby)

I'm exhausted!

And sadly, I've learned to rely on Yo Gabba Gabba, so I can actually get food on the table for me and Little Miss each night.  That show is so obnoxious, but I'll save that for another post.

But in all of this, I am realizing that this is my constant reminder to keep God first.

I love my family, I really really do. 

But sometimes, I need the reminder that I need to love God more.

And this is the perfect reminder,

In the chaos, and the loneliness of nights alone after Blake is in bed....., I'm reminded that it isn't Caleb that can make me eternally happy, and as much as she tries it's not Blake either.

It's the Big Man Upstairs.

As long as I keep this perspective, we will be fine, I will be fine, life will be fine.

After all, Husband and I have big plans for when we're old, retired, and the kids are grown up.

So I'll miss him now, but look forward to the plans of the 2 cool old people traveling across Europe like we're 21.... ahh yes, that is what I have to look forward to.

Cop Life... it's a constant adjustment, but at least I can say every day, I'm proud of my husband and the work he does!  He truly makes a difference in this crazy world we live in.

Welcoming a New Member to the Fam

Our beautiful girl, Melly!

Melly lives in Tanzania Africa, with her grandparents.

She is 5 years old and lives a life that it completely opposite to ours.

I can't wait to get to know this little girl.

And in the short month we've known her she has already changed our lives.

Her picture hangs in our house.

Prayers are said for her every time I pass her sweet face,

Letters are written to her once a week.

And although I haven't met her in person, she feels like a member of our family.

I long to hug her and let her know how special she is.

I want to know more about her and the world she lives in.

Thank her for the way she is changing my life every day I pray for her.

It's funny, I don't pray her to have "things". 

 I don't pray that she'll all of a sudden live in a nice house or have new clothes.

I pray for her to not go hungry today,

I pray for her safety,

I pray for her heart,

I pray that she will feel God's love.

After all these are the things that matter.

And that is how this little girl is changing my life.

She helps me focus on what matters.

"Stuff" doesn't matter!

In fact, it complicates our lives more than it enhances them.

Our family's health, safety, hearts, and love for God is what matters.

Everything else is extra!  

And when you look at life that way, you can't help but smile.

You can't help but be grateful.

When you focus on what all you have, instead of what you don't have, your life will be changed.

Write down what you are grateful for,

Through out your day, say a prayer of thanks for even the smallest things.

It will change you!

We are so blessed!  

Tis the Season

Every time I see this picture I tear up.

I do!

It is the most beautiful thing I have seen.

Here is a little one, who probably has nothing.  Yet, she is praising God with everything in her!

This picture alone stirred something in me.   

It spoke to me enough that I asked for my Christmas present, that I wanted to sponsor a child.

We live in a world of wealth!  Yet, we still want more money, things, etc.  Most of us have enough money to put food on the table, and keep a roof over our heads and yet we still want more.

Americans will go into debt to give "stuff" for Christmas.  This isn't the way it should be.

We are so blessed and it is our responsibility to share it.

It's amazing that a picture can really make that big of an impact.

I know most of you have heard of Compassion International 

If you haven't check out this website.

And if you are looking for some Christmas gifts, why not agree to sponsor a child.

Not only do you give a small monthly amount to your child, but you also get to exchange letters, mail presents, and really begin a relationship with this kiddo.

Caleb picked our child for us, and I can't wait to meet him/her on Christmas day when I get to open my present and learn all about our child.

Teach your kids, it's not just about giving and getting presents.  (All though that is a ton of fun)

But it's also about showing God's love to others.

And while I'm at it, I thought I'd leave you with yet another beautiful picture and quote!  

"Intense love does not measure, it just gives."  

- Mother Theresa