Watermelon Bandit

Watermelon Bandit, originally uploaded by aimeeblanks.

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My Baby has fallen asleep without crying, in his own crib!

08.21.07

I had my last baby almost four months ago. I took the plunge and had my tubes tied after my c-section. I feel so different this time around (maybe because I’m older - maybe because I know he’s my last). With the first two I was worried about getting them on a schedule, getting them to sleep through the night, etc. With this little guy, nothing seems to bother me. He wakes up three or four time during the night…no big! He cries for no apparent reason…no big! He poops as soon as I fasten the new diaper…NO BIG!

After not knowing if I would even have another baby, I am taking in every moment with this little guy.

Thank you Father for all my babies! You are so good!

8 Years - 8 Things About my Wedding

08.22.07

1. Where did you meet your husband? At his parents’ house. I worked with his sister at a local restaurant. We started hanging out, and she told me I had to meet her brother (he lived with his grandparents at the time).

2.What was the first thing you said? Gosh I have no idea. I do remember I had just gotten out of the shower and so I had on my pajamas and my hair was up in a towel!

3. Where was your first date? First kiss? Our first date was to a restaurant called Spanky’s. Out of habit I asked him to pray before we ate, he said from that moment he knew I was different than any girl he had ever dated!

Our first kiss: It’s actually an inside joke between us - I say he kissed me first, he says the opposite. We were in his room watching tv. (Very romantic, I know)

4. Long or short courtship? We dated almost a year, then we broke up for like 10 months, then back together for a year. Engaged for 11 weeks. Then married on Aug 14, 1999!

5. Where were we engaged? We were looking at a house that he wanted to move in to - he opened the door to the living room and there was a candle lit dinner. I thought it was just a sweet jesture - when I turned to hug him he was down on one knee and asked me to marry him, and after that he said, “Oh by the way - this is our new house!”

6. Where were we married? At my home church in New Smyrna Beach Florida. It was a very simple, but big wedding. (remember, we planned it in 11wks)

7. Where was the reception? Also at my home church. We kicked it old school with cake, punch, nuts, and mints!

8. Where was your honeymoon? The first night we stayed at the Hilton in Hollywood, FL, and from there went to Key Largo for 5 days. SOOO relaxing and fun.

Blue Light Special

Ok, I feel like my blog is the K-mart version compared to all the others out there, but oh well! Until I figure out how to make it more fancy - this will do. I don’t think I’ve left my house for a couple of days now. I’m in the process of simplifying - in other words - going through every closet, bin, and basket, and throwing away things I haven’t touched in awhile, and collecting a pile to go to the Goodwill. I can’t believe all the junk we have! Although I did find a pile of every card and letter that I wrote my hubby while we were dating. So sweet that he kept them all. I get cards from people, think, “how nice”, put them on my mantle for a few days and then throw them away! Is that wrong? I’ve looked at all those old letters more than he ever has! Maybe one day I’ll be glad he is such a pack rat…until then, the cleaning continues.

Cupcakes and Kisses

I forgot to post earlier that I did something I normally have a hard time doing…I let my five and six year old help me make cupcakes and decorate them! I know all the great moms let their kids help them cook and clean all the time, but I am not one of the moms. They are responsible for cleaning their room and certain chores, but most things I would rather do myself. Anyway, here is how they turned out, and yes we all had fun - even when my five year old wanted to put almost a whole bottle of sprinkles on one cupcake. Hey, who says you always have to color inside the lines!

After Thanksgiving blahs

It has been awhile since I have written. Another example of my lack of discipline!
My family was here for Thanksgiving. We had a nice time, relaxing and trying to keep four toddlers occupied. The family got to see our new house, and the new baby in the family...sweet Breyden. I had the priviledge of being in the room when he was born. Absolutely incredible. Lindsey did so much better than I ever imagined she would. I am so proud of her for that whole experience. To see life coming in to this world...wow. I still get chills just thinking about it!

I registered the kids for preschool today. I can't believe they are so big. Isaiah will be going to Kindergarten in the Fall. It goes by so fast. I feel like there are so many times, where he is in my way, or bothering me. Then I spend the rest of the day feeling like a rotten person for feeling that way. I pray that God will begin to help me react differently to my kids and my husband. I want to make the most of every moment with my boys. I want them to be my priority. Their needs above mine. I am tired of being selfish with my thoughts and time and energy.

Father please help me to be more patient - to love without limits. Help me to never turn my boys away, physically or emotionally. Help me be a soft place for them to fall on. May they be men of honor and integrity. May they love people, see them as You do.

Please help me to be a woman of wisdom, of a soung mind. I pray that I will learn more of You every day, that I can grow more like You every day.

Thank you for your guidance, and continued love.

I know that I would be an absolute wreck of I didn't have the love and grace from my Heavenly Father. Thank you God that even in these down times, I know things are not hopeless.

Beginnings

Well, I thought I would give this a try. I have tried for years to journal and could never be disciplined enough to do it. However, I enjoy being on line and typing, so hopefully this will work better. I don't know that I will ever share this with anyone...knowingly. I have been discovering a lot of things about myself lately that have really challenged me and caused me to think about my life differently. I am desiring more in my life. Not that I want a different life, I have an amazing husband and two great kids. But I know God desires more of me.
If I were to die tonight, I would look back at my life and say the following:
I was dedicated to my family and my church.
I always stepped up to the task.
I did things others wouldn't.
I was always busy.
I was moody.
I didn't really know how to love people.
I was consumed by what others thought of me.
I took pretty much everything personally
I read in to things that people said
I worried about my righteousness, more than my relationship with Christ.
I could go on and on.
What I want to look back at my life and say is:
I was passionate about my family and my church
I was faithful
I always had time for others
I was secure in my relationship with the Lord and others
I loved with everything in me
I was powerful (in a good way)
I was captivating
I was inspiring
I was wise
I constantly sought the Lord
Again, I could go on and on.
Bottom line, I don't like the way things are going in my life. So, what am I going to do about it?
Well, I just made some small changes in my schedule and will continue to do so, until I figure some things out. I will begin reading a couple different books, begin to practice "the Disciplines", pray more, find someone to be held accountable to, and all the while, journaling in my blog.

As I am still searching for what God has for me in this life, I live in anticipation of His blessings.