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!

Thank you!

To all of those who have served,
To all of those who are currently served,
To all of those families who kiss their loved ones goodbye not knowing if they will come home,
To all of those people who fight for us no matter what anyone says,

Thank you!
Thank you for going into the unknown to fight for people you don't know.
Thank you to your families for being brave enough to let you go.

Because of you we are strong as a county.
Because of you we live these wonderful lives.

Thank you.

Happy Veterans Day!

Our Answered Prayer

I sit here tonight and I'm so grateful.

Relieved, but mostly grateful.

We got amazing news from the Doctor's at Children's Hospital today.

Blake is going to be fine.

Cancer was officially taken out of the picture.

Let me back up and explain.

About 6 months ago, Blake developed a weird rash on her body.

We took her in and through tests found out she had a very very low count of a certain type of white blood cell.

We kept testing and testing and nothing was changing.

For a period of time, she was on house arrest, and wasn't allowed to be around anyone for fear that she'd get sick and not be able to fight it off.

And for a period of time, our doctor thought that something was wrong with her bone marrow, and something was attacking these cells.... Cancer.

Oh we were freaked out.  Although, prelim tests showed no cancer cells, her count was still not improving.

So off we went to Children's Hospital today.

After a couple of hours of tests and examinations galore, 

We got the news, definitely no cancer!

I wanted to hug the doctor, but I decided that was inappropriate so I hugged Blake instead.

She was going to be fine.

Yes, we have to keep testing her for every 6 months to watch the levels.

Yes any bacterial infection will require hard core antibiotics to treat.

But her body is making up for the lack of these cells in her body, and we will just have to wait and see if this is something she was born with, or if it is a temporary thing while her body fixes itself.

I've done a lot of praying over these last few months.

I've been working to constantly check the "what if's", and the worries.

And one thing I've learned is that she is not mine!

Yes, I'm her mother.

But she is God's child created by Him to do His will.

I'm just the lucky one who gets to raise her.

I don't know how long I'll have her, but I will enjoy every second I get.

And I will make sure I give 100% to raising her the way she should be raised.

And as I sang my girl to sleep tonight, and she kept looking at me saying, "Mama".  

I hugged her tight, and knew that God was taking great care of us today.

And I'm grateful.

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!