Monday, August 17, 2009

Going Going Going...
















Since it is the last month of summer we are taking advantage of every day!! I know that we will soon be stuck inside the house with a crazy toddler so we're enjoying the great outdoors while it lasts.
We had a fun weekend up North with Chris, Anne & Audrey. It was fun to catch up with them since our lives always seem to be on the same track as theirs!! It feels good to air out the reality of marriage and parenthood with family who understands, encourages, and laughs along!! We boated, beached, the boys fished and the girls talked talked talked. Jeff & Char watched the girls so we could get away for a dinner one night, which is always a blessing! We had a great breakfast on Monday at a local buffet before heading home. Pete didn't have to work so we enjoyed the long weekend and wonderful weather. It did rain but it waited until we were done boating and the girls were napping! Makenzie enjoyed Audrey and it was fun to have a baby around again!!

My mom & I headed back up North only a few days later to enjoy a LOOONG weekend doing things we always talk about doing! Makenzie LOVED the deer park and enjoyed Story Book Gardens too! She has no fear of animals and loves to feed them. My dad flew in on Friday and Makeznie was in heaven crawling all over the plane and pretending to fly. Pete came up after work on Friday and was able to stay until early this morning. We spent alot of time with his family and really got to relax. My favorite part was s'mores on the beach at night when all the other boaters were on the road heading home. We are truly blessed to have the condo. It is a place to go to focus on family and forget all the little things that seem so stressful in the moment.

Mak & I are going to pack up again this week and head over to IN to visit our good friends Adam & Annette... and I can't forget Makenzie's boyfriend, Austin. I am really looking forward to some girl time and it's always great to watch the kids play! Thank the Lord for good friends. I only wished they lived closer and that Pete could come to... but someone has to bring home the bacon!

Pete has been doing good. He is loving every chance he gets to drive an 18-wheeler and he's doing a great job. I never thought that I would marry a truck driver (since I grew up knowing what that life brings) but it has worked out great so far. It's nice that he has a job he enjoys. This week has been slow but hopefully it will pick up again after the rain dries up. At least it gives us more time to work on projects!!

A verse that has been on my mind..
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

It is important to remember the bad times to appreciate the good times ... but not dwell on what cannot be changed but rather focus our energy on appreciating the blessings God provides and appreciate the comfort that being a believer brings. It is also so easy for me to worry about how life can change in just one day or even one hour. That is why that verse puts me in my place. God is in control and I am so ready to surrender my fears to Him. I cannot control the future, as much as I try with my lists and all my plans, but I can choose to trust the One who is in control and take comfort in knowing that He does all things for good (even when it is impossible to understand sometimes.)

Friday, August 7, 2009

Not Much Going On...

Our Side Yard
My Little Flower Garden (Veggie garden coming next Spring!!)


Rachie looked so beautiful and happy!!


My crazy hair!



Yes, we've been like this for more than 10 years now.

I say that and laugh. I haven't blogged in a while because I am trying very hard to enjoy the warm weather and get outside as much as possible. I know that the cold weather will be here soon but I'm praying for a warm August/September. We got a fence last week and I LOVE it. Makenzie and I spend alot of time outside in the flower garden now. She loves to run around and have no limitations and no one chasing her! Praise the Lord that we stayed here because it is just perfect for right now.

We are hacking away at our project list which has included: the amazing fence, a kids pool (I'm picking up on my way to WI tonight thanks to criagslist!!) getting a hutch and TV for our living room (we only had TV in the finished basement and I admit that a little baby Einstein goes a long way when I'm trying to cook dinner or empty groceries from the car!), fix up my old toy box for Makenzie's room, get a little play kitchen for Kenzie in our kitchen, clean out our master closet, update the version of accounting software I use for all the companies, etc. This next week I'm going to work on child locks in the upstairs bathrooms (so I can actually keep stuff under the sinks), transplant a tree that was on our lot line and is now getting a beating from the fence, we really want to clean out our storage in the basement to move our treadmill from my mom & dad's down there, and maybe work on some more closets. The more we do the more I feel a peace about staying here!!
Rachels & Neals wedding was last weekend. Beth & I had a great time getting ready for the day. It was a treat to get my hair & makeup done but it was a little much for me. Makenzie didn't even know who I was, lol! Oh well. I always thought I would never be the mom who took 20min to get ready but there is a freedom it not being wrapped up in how you look. Pete & I were able to dance alot at the reception because my amazing mom & dad took Makenzie home for us. They had her most of the weekend for us with all the wedding activities.

Pete has been buys at work. He loves it. Me.... not so much. I know a man loves to provide for his family so I get why having a lot of hours excites him. It gives us more financial freedom... but I miss him. I try not to complain about work since it comes and goes but I will admit that I have been spoiled with how much he's been home this year!! He worked 21 hours one day and other than sleeping in the same bed for 3 hours I didn't see him for two days!! At least we have all weekend together. He thought he would be off work by now but moves keep coming in. Praise the Lord for work and I'm working on my attitude, lol.