a picture to make you smile

I saw this picture on another blog and it just made smile. Maybe because I have a lab and I could picture our lab doing this...

Not only that I would love to have a mudroom like that...in my dreams I guess...

My birthday weekend

So last week was my birthday, but due to me getting over being sick, my husband being sick, and a very irritable teething toddler we decided to postpone any celebrations. Since Christmas wasn't too much of a surprise for me, my husband told me he would plan a nice birthday for me.

So Friday night he arranged for a couple in our church to watch Jude for us (they took him for the whole night so we got to sleep in Saturday morning!). He then took me out to eat at one my favorite local seafood restaurants. He knows how much I love there shrimp. On top of that he ordered a cake for me from the local bakery that did our wedding cake. I LOVE their cakes. It has always been a tradition to get a cake from their for either our anniversary or my birthday. We have ordered from there so many times they know exactly what we want now. They even remembered that we couldn't pick up our anniversary cake two anniversaries ago because I was in labor. Haha. I guess that I means I eat a lot of their cake.

Anyways, my sweet husband gave me a card and gift certificate for me to pick out a new necklace. After dinner as were leaving the restaurant (which is on the water) we noticed they were doing fireworks on the way back to town. So we pulled off and got to watch fireworks. God really does have perfect timing! After that we just came back to the house to relax and watch tv. The next morning we had a leisurely Waffle House breakfast and then went to pick up the little man. Boy was I glad to see him - but I sure did enjoy the break.

Now as soon as that cake is finished in the refrigerator I am back to being on a diet. So starting Thursday back to running. I desperately need to get my butt into shape. Good thing our anniversary isn't until September so we have several months before I have to order a cake again. (Notice how I say have to.)

New Years Goals

I don't normally do New Years resolutions, but this year I have some goals that I would like to accomplish before the end of the year.

• I really want to spend more time alone with God this year. I always get so busy trying to clean, cook dinner, wash clothes, all the necessary things that I don't take any real time with God. Who cares if the house doesn't get clean, who cares if the dishes don't get done that night...it won't matter when I get to Heaven. God could care less what my home looks like, He cares about my heart.

• I really want to get our house organized. Sadly we have never really organized in the 2.5 years we have lived in our house. Last weekend we did clean and organize our storage room so we have started.
  

• I want to get my guest room presentable. It looked nice for a while (I use the term nice loosely though because it was never decorated.) After we got pregnant we turned the office into Jude's room so the guest room became the free for all room. We don't ever have guests that often, but I am tired of constantly tired of shutting that door when guests come over because of how horrible it looks. Honestly if I accomplish my goal of organizing my house then my guest room would naturally stay nice.
  

• I want to get new flooring throughout the house. Our dog has really destroyed the carpet in the guest room so it definitely really needs to be replaced before we could even think about selling. I love the look of hardwoods, but I am afraid my dogs claws would destroy that. We are actually considering to rip out the carpets and stain the concrete. A friend in our church did theres in their home and it looks awesome. He even offered to help!

• I want to lose some weight this year. I know that is so cliche, but it has been 15 months since I had a baby so it is about time I got back into shape. I have started to drink more water to try and cut back on the soda I do drink. What can I say - I love Coke. I do cook dinner about 90% of the time, so fast food isn't an issue and I really don't cook a lot of fattening things, so really I am just lazy. I don't exercise like I should. I need to make some time to go running or walking. I have a desk job so I really should be getting some exercise in.
  

Hopefully I can look back at this in a year and say I have accomplished these things. I am looking forward to great a 2010!! (okay that is still weird to write)

An another note: Roll Tide! Yay for Alabama winning the National Championship. They deserve it.

Christmas '09

Just a few pictures of Jude at Christmas time.

Thankful

So last night the hubs and I were watching "Wife Swap" (yes I know that show is a train wreck, but it is good entertainment) and one of the wives made a comment that got me thinking. She said "let's face it they are poor and have nothing to be thankful for." We always have something to be thankful for! I am definitely not rich, but I have so much to be thankful for. God has blessed with me a wonderful and caring husband, an amazing and healthy son, wonderful parents who raised me right, a job to go to everyday (even if I do complain about it), roof over my head and I could go on and on.

I have been to Mexico on a mission trip so I have seen poverty. People over there live in the dump (and I literally mean the dump, the place where garbage is thrown). When we left the dump to go back to the mission house we were covered in soot and sweating so bad, but these people lived, bathed, worked, ate in that. I had a warm (or it may have been cold by the time it was my turn) shower to go to. I had a bed in air conditioning that I sleep on. I had food to eat that wasn't pulled out of someone else's garbage. These people were so greatful that we had come to give them food and teach them about Jesus.

So the next time that we want to complain about something lets stop and remember that we always have something to be thankful for.

Stepping out....

Alright so I finally decided to take the plunge - I started a blog. Who knows how many people will read this? But you know what I don't care. This is a way for me to get out my thoughts and in a way create a journal.

I love reading blogs and always thought of starting one, but finally after encouragement from my husband (I love you sweetie!), I decided to do it.

This blog will be probably be a bunch of randomness - family, design, fashion. Heck it is my blog so I can write whatever I want!