What's in store

I've got a lot going on in the next couple of weeks or so!

1. Bubba turns 1 on Wednesday, July 15th! So look forward to the past year review of my little "big" man!
2. We are throwing Bubba a pool party on Saturday, July 18th, at my parents' house, so there WILL be lots of pictures from that!
3. My MIL will be in for a week long vacation either Saturday or Sunday, July 18th or 19th. So I will probably be MIA for most of that time...but rest assured that when I return... there WILL be pictures and lots of stories!
4. AND this is my 91st post...so I am currently looking for a kick awesome give-away item for my 100th post Post-stacular!!!

On another note: My weekend was pretty good. Friday night we went to our good friends, The M's, house to watch a movie (Knowing) and eat a fantabulous dinner. The movie was interesting, in a creepy kind of way. Saturday evening when Hubby got home, we went out to the river with Hubby's aunt K and cousin. While the boys dug, K, the kids, and myself sat in the water and watched. It was quite relaxing...for us! Sunday the kids and I went to church then to my grandpa's house for lunch. Then back to church for drama practice and then off to a wonderful small group get-together.

Hubby is off today and after he mowed the back yard we are trying to decide what we want for lunch and what we are going to do today.

Hope you guys have a wonderful week! Stay cool!!

To do or not to do...that is the question!

Well the bride of the wedding that I was supposed to photgraph on the 18th called and left me a message today saying that her and the groom can't afford a photgrapher so she is going to have her aunt do it.

*

I am having many mixed emotions about this. I mean, I told her $250, which I don't think was too expensive. Factoring in the fact that I would HAVE to buy another memory card and an extra battery, I would be there for pictures on rehearsal night, and planned to be there 3 1/2 hours before the wedding started to whenever the bride and groom leave. Then photoshopping the pictures after that. So basically after buying the extra stuff, I would be left with about $150 profit which woul be awesome for our staycation that coming week. Oh and the wedding is the day of Bubba's birthday party, so then if I don't do it, I would be able to spend more time at the party instead of rushing around to get everything done. AHHH

*

So many feelings about it, just don't know what to do. Do I lower the price to like $150 and make a $50 profit and get my foot in the photography door. Or do I not worry about it all and spend the day with my son, family, and friends on his 1st birthday. I mean he does only turn 1 once!!

*

I just don't know...

My God is an Awesome God!!

I have got so much on my mind lately that I thought I would write another post today.

*

I have been struggling with leaving things in God's hands lately. I have been stressed for a few weeks over a couple of different things. Money is ALWAYS an issue. With me being a SAHM, I don't have an income. Hubby has a decent paying job, but it covers bills and that is about it. Not food, not gas, not diapers, not wipes, not essentials, not "just for fun". Bills!

*

It kinda stinks. No, not kinda, it A LOT stinks!! I have a tendency to NOT ask God for His help and to remove my stress from me. I pray that He does on an "almost" daily basis, but when I have certain things come up, I tend to forget to ask.

*

As in my last post, when I finally asked for His help in removing the stress from me about Bubba's birthday party and the wedding photographing gig, he did. And now I feel better about those things.

*

But I have been stressing over money a LOT these past few weeks. Trying to figure out how I am going to pay for Bubba's birthday present(s), the food and what-not for his party, and getting the extra memory sticks and battery for the wedding gig. I finally sat down today and asked for His help calming me and relieving me of my stress. About an hour ago, I got the thought to sit down and right out our budget for this week, Hubby gets paid Thursday. For some odd reason, our water bill (which is normally $60+) has had the deposit applied to it, which leaves us with a $25 credit! We don't have to pay a water bill this month! On top of that, after all the bills are paid, we will still have plenty of money to buy EVERY thing I need, AND have some left over!! WHEW!!

*

God DOES provide!!

Matthew 6: 25-32

25Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

My 4th of July Weekend

I have been MIA for a few days, only because I have been too stressed, too busy, and too lazy to sit down and type anything.

*

The night I got the call to photograph my friend's daughter's wedding, I was so nervous and worried about doing a good job that I made myself sick. Literally!! I was up until 3am the next morning sick to my stomach and not able to sleep. It was horrible. I was so sick and my mind was racing so much that I didn't even think to stop and pray about it. The next morning, I woke up, prayed about the whole thing, and less than an hour and a half later, the bride called me. We had a phone consultation for about 15-20 minutes. I felt so much better after that. It made me stop and think, "You know, if I would have just done that to begin with, I wouldn't have made myself so sick with worry. I should have just put it in God's hands to start with!" I'm still working on that one...I have a hard time giving my insecurities to Him. I know I should, but it's still a struggle.

*

Friday night we (Drama Ministry Team) had our dress rehearsal for our first skit. Two of our main parts where not there. The person who was supposed to play Satan and the one who was supposed to play Jesus. Of course, just my luck! Thankfully, God was watching over us, we had extra people show up. We had two guys fill in for Satan and Jesus, and myself and the Youth Minister decided that they should play the parts for the actual skit Sunday morning. Come Sunday morning, the guy (who is my cousin) that was supposed to play Jesus came in and said he understood why he lost his part, but that he would be willing to play a demon if we needed him to. Of course we did, because one of the guys who was at rehearsal, wasn't at church for the actual skit! UGH....why can't the same people be there, ALL.THE.TIME?!?! Anyways, the skit went perfect! I am so proud of the kids!! They touched SO many hearts with that skit. And of course...I forgot my camera...FIGURES! But as soon as I get the DVD of it, I will try and post it for you guys to see.

*

Saturday, Hubby had to be at work at 5pm. We were having a family get-together out at the mountains, but Hubby didn't want to only be out there for an hour or two and then have to race back for him to get ready for work. So the kids and I went by ourselves...and guess what...NO CAMERA!!!

*

Saturday night, while Hubby was at work, the kids and I went to my parents house for supper and to shoot off fireworks. Last year, my little sister hurt her ankle doing fireworks. One of the fireworks had tipped over and was shooting off towards the house where everyone was sitting on the front porch. She twisted her ankle trying to get inside. This year, they were all talking about it. Well, low and behold...I got hurt this year, and there weren't even any fireworks going off yet!! I was carrying Bubba's playpen trying to put it on the sidewalk and I twisted my ankle trying to step up on it. So the whole time during the "show", I sat in my mom's Zero Gravity Chair with ice on my ankle. Of course, I didn't have to chase kids or have them waller all over me, so it wasn't too bad! LOL. I did get a few pictures before the "accident", but none of the fireworks...again, FIGURES!

(Sissy and Bubba posing for Mom at Nana's house)

(I think Little Miss has gotten used to the camera now!)

(Sissy and my nephew, CH, playing "Pop the Bubble")

(Sissy after eating some watermelon)

(I love this picture...Bubba eating watermelon, on his first 4th of July, at Nana's house. Why do I love it so much?? Because of this...)

(This is Sissy eating watermelon, on her first 4th of July, at Nana's house!!)
*

Sunday morning we had our skit, then the whole family went to my grandpa's house for lunch. Then it was home for a nap before I had to be back at church at 4pm for a meeting, drama practice, and then small groups. I wasn't able to get a nap in, but the kids stayed home with Hubby and I apparently didn't wake up until right before I got home at 8pm! They were EXHAUSTED!

*

This week should be a little calmer, hopefully less stressful. But we will see about that.....

OMG!!

OMG!!!

*

I don't think I have ever said that...until today....starting about 45 minutes ago!! And I believe that I have said it about 100 times since then!!

*

I got a phone call from one of friends asking if I knew of any good photographers for her daughter's wedding. As I was thinking about it, she interrupted me with a question which not only took me by surprised, but left me speechless...I know, I know. ME? Speechless?? Her question? "So I take it you wouldn't want to do it?!?!?"

*

In true Hannah Montana (yes, we watch that!) fashion...Say What?!?!?

*

-Me: Are you serious? You want me to do it?

-DS: Well, yeah, but by the way you didn't catch on to that "good" photographer part, I don't know if I want you to now! Haha"

-Me: Well, I didn't realize that you thought I was "good" enough...especially not to do her wedding!"

-DS: Yeah I do! Would you?

-Me: Sure...if your sure.

-DS: Yes, I'm sure.

-Me: Then okay!

*

OMG!!!!

*

This will not only be my first wedding shoot, but my first paid shoot! I am SOOOO stinking nervous!!!

*

Oh and to make it worse...it's July 18th! Yes, the day that I just quit stressing about a few days ago. The day that I was starting to stress about again. The day of Bubba's birthday party! His party was planned at 2pm-5pm. The wedding is at 630pm that evening. I do believe that I am going to have to move the party time to 10am-1pm.

*

Oh what a time to have a party! But I think that it would be better for me to be at the wedding a few hours before it started to get pictures of them getting ready, as opposed to one hour before and try and rush around getting everything they wanted!

*

OMG!!!!!

*

Now, on top of birthday party stress, I have wedding shoot stress, AND my MIL will more than likely be in that evening. It's going to be a looong day!

*

Wish me lots of luck...Lord knows I am going to need it!!

Problem Child

My sister-in-law is the Nursery Director at our church. As a Committee Member and a Volunteer, I have certain obligations to fulfill. One of them is to help in a room on the Lord's Supper Nights every so often. I still get to partake in it in the classroom, as long as I have the time to right my heart before-hand. As a volunteer, if we have a child that acts up...to where we have to discipline them (place them in time-out), we have to tell the Director (my SIL) before informing the parent.

*

Last night was one of those nights. We had a child that was a little rambunctious. Later that evening, after I got home, I called her. This was our conversation:

*

-Me: "SIL", we had a problem child tonight.

-SIL: Okay, what happened?

-Me: Well...she was pushing kids, yelling at them, taking toys away from them.

-SIL: Oh no.

-Me: Yeah, I had to sit her in the corner 3 times.

-SIL: Oh man!

-Me: Yeah, it got so bad that I almost spanked her little bo-bo. (Which btw, we would NEVER EVER do!!)

-SIL: Ummm....okay.

-Me: Yeah, it was pretty bad!

-SIL: Well, who was it?

-Me: "Sissy"

-SIL: HAHAHA!!! Oh Shauna! Your so funny!!

-Me: No, I'm serious, "SIL", she was really bad!!!

*

Yes, MY child was the problem child last night!! I asked the lady that is in there all the time with them if she was always like this. She said no, that it was just when I was in there that she acted like that! Are you kidding me? I would think that my child would be less likely to act up when I was in there, for fear of the ramifications! Nope...just the opposite!

*

SIL told me that the nights I worked, she would move me out of there. It would be so bad, but I was having to spend the majority of the time getting on to her, putting her in time out, or calming her down because I was paying another child attention! She was acting like she was the only child at home...which, of course, she is not!

*

It's also amazing that she does NOT act that way at home...I don't know what her deal is when we are at church! UGH!!

Stress Be Gone!

I am so excited to say that I am no longer stressed over Bubba's 1st Birthday, that is less than 3 weeks away!

*

Hubby and I had a conversation about the destination of the party. This is how it went...

-Me: So I was thinking that we could have a swim party for Bubba's birthday, either at the pool or Mom's house.

*

-Hubby: Let's just do it at your mom's.

-Me: But if we have it there, there is going to be a lot of people that aren't going to go.

-Hubby: And?

-Me: That means most, if not all, of your family, will NOT be there!

-Hubby: And?

-Me: Okay?!? I just don't want anyone to be upset with us.

-Hubby: Bubba loves to swim. Let's give him a swim party. If people don't want to go, then so be it! It's Bubba's birthday, not theirs!

*

That made me feel a LOT better. His family being there, or not being as the case more than likely will be, was what bothered me. Yes, I would love for them to be there to celebrate his 1st Birthday, but if it's just because it will be 30 minutes away, well, sorry!

*

As for the theme, when I called my mom yesterday to ask her about using her house and pool for the party, she asked if I had got a theme for it yet. I told her that I was just going to go with the cheap generic "Happy Birthday" stuff they have at Wal-Mart. She asked me about Cars. What about it? She said that she has some Cars stuff left over from what she thinks was my little sister's birthday party years ago. That all I would have to buy is some plates and party favors...of course the food too.

*

That's just kick awesome!! Now I am more excited about his party then stressing about it! Of course in the week before it, you can bet that I will be on here again, stressing about this or that...

Sissy's 1st Date!

This is my third post of the day..but this is a good one! Promise!!

*

Sissy went on her first date tonight!!

*

Of course, her handsome date was her daddy, but it was a date none-the-less. They went to watch Transformers 2. Hubby said that it was too long for her though. About half-way through, she started getting restless and not minding. I'm sure the other movie-goers were real excited about a 2 1/2 year old little girl being obnxious, but her and Daddy did have fun!

*

What did Bubba and I do during the date? We went to church then grabbed McDonalds for supper on the way home. We got home, and he went right to bed...Little Man was tiiirred!!

*

And guess what?!?! I REMEMBERED TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE CUTE COUPLE....plus some of Bubba. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!!

(Sissy's hair that I did.)

(Waiting on her date)

(I LOVE this girl)

(Sissy and her date, Daddy!!)

(Bubba drinking from Sissy's juice cup..check out that little sly smile!)

(The loves of my life!)

(Happy Little Man, Bubba)

(The Scrapblog I made to remember their date)

Who's party is it?

I am a people pleaser. I HATE confrontation. I know, I know, who REALLY likes it. But I hate it to the point where I see both sides to every situation. Even when I am the one doing the arguing! It's annoying sometimes...I feel like Sweden, they're the ones that stay neutral, right?

Anyways, I have to start worrying about just pleasing a handful of people...God, myself, my husband (sometimes) and my kids (sometimes). As for everyone else...well, if you're happy good, if not, sorry!

You see, I have been stressing about both Bubba and Sissy's birthday parties since, well, they were born! Where can we have it so that people will go, we can invite everyone so no one feels left out, and so that everyone will fit...my house is not big enough to hold a large crowd, at all!!

Bubba's birthday is in 3 weeks...and I have yet to start planning anything because I have no idea where to have it at. I would love to have a pool party...Bubba LOVES to swim, but we don't have a pool. My parent's have one, but they live 30 minutes from here...not sure Hubby's family would drive that far to go. We could have it at the local public pool, but would anyone want to attend.

I mean, really, is it their party or my son's?!?! Exactly...so what should it matter! As long as he has fun, it shouldn't!

As for Sissy's, her birthday is in October, and I have decided that we are going to have a small party at our house. Family and a small handful of friends. Of course, that will probably change when the time gets closer.

Yep, I try to please way to many people!

A Giveaway from Footballs and Crowns

Footballs and Crowns is having a giveaway! I'm all about giveaways, but this one I absolutely adore! I love these little boxes, so very cute! Sissy doesn't own a jewelry box or anything, and what little girl doesn't need one? So this would be awesome for her to keep her stuff in, she doesn't own ANY jewelry yet either...is that wrong? Anyways, go check out Footballs and Crowns blog and enter to win a box of your choice! Good Luck!