The worst four letter word in the world!

IRON!!

I HATE TO IRON!! It is BY FAR the chore I hate the most!

When I was in school, I hated ironing so much that my mom would yell at me for going to school with wrinkly clothes. "You are going to school like THAT?!?! It looks like you just threw something on that was wadded up in her hamper!" Umm...yeah, Mom, I am.

My dad worked overnights as a supervisor for Tyson. So in the evenings, mom would cook supper/breakfast and I would iron his work clothes. Still to this day, I hate seeing the Tyson khaki superior uniform. One morning he came home from work and told me that he knew I hated ironing, but didn't realize that I would go to such extremes to make sure he wouldn't ever ask me to iron again! What?? He then informed me that he went to work with only one pants leg ironed!! LOL!!! Yep, I only ironed one leg, and he had to go all night like that! I had to continue ironing for him until I moved out after graduation, but don't think he didn't ask me every time I ironed if I got both legs!

When I Hubby and I got together, I realized that he was indeed, and ironer. He ironed his shirts, his khakis, and his jeans. He even ironed his shorts if they weren't basketball shorts. So, of course, I started ironing my stuff too. I couldn't let him look better than me! I did that for 5 years...until I became a SAHM.

Why in the world would I iron my pajamas clothes that I wore around the house all day?!?! If I go somewhere like church, or just out of the house, I will iron. Ok, well, I throw my clothes in the dryer with a wet washcloth for 20 minutes or so. I HATE IRONING!!

Hubby, on the other hand, still has to have his work clothes ironed. I used to just be able to throw them in the dryer too, but he now has to wear these shirts that I HAVE to iron. You know...the kind that it doesn't matter how quick you take them out of the dryer after it is done, they are still wrinkly? Or the kind that the collar is so stiff that if you don't hold the iron on it for more than a few seconds, it pops right back up? Yeah, that kind.

So the past few weeks, I have had to do that chore I hate so much. When he asked me today to iron for him, I have to admit, I got a little attitude with him. Okay a LOT of attitude with him. He asked what my deal was and I had to confess that I hated ironing more than any other chore in the world. I don't think he gets it...

Materialistic Girl??

I was never the materialistic girl growing up. It was just my mom and I for about 4 years when I was little, and having name brand clothes or shoes were never an option. When my mom met the man who is now my dad, he had 3 kids from a previous marriage. They, on the other hand, enjoyed their name brand stuff. I mean if you are able to afford it, more to ya!

It was always a given, when my mom would take one of my sisters (the one closest in age to me) and I clothes shopping, she got the name brand stuff, and I didn't. It wasn't that we couldn't afford it, it just didn't matter that much to me to have that stuff. I mean, why would I spend $100 on just one outfit or maybe two, when I could spend that much on a whole crap-load of clothes!

Still to this day, I am more comfortable buying WM brand clothes like Faded Glory, then name brand stuff like, well, I can't even think of any brand name clothes...how sad is that?!?!

Unfortunately, the rest of my "wants" are not so realistic. I blame my husband. He is a giver. I know, your jealous, aren't you! He shows his love by showering me with gifts. A new set of dishes, a new set of Paula Deen cookware, and most recently (not that the others were given to my in the past month!) a new laptop that includes a huge wide screen monitor AND a blue ray player just to name a few.

Yes, it's nice, sometimes. But it does have it's downside. Romantic? HA! I don't think he even knows what that word means! I tried to get him to take me to dinner for our anniversary...didn't happen. I got my dishes and cookware. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. Completely...

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For once, I am feeling somewhat better and human again. Not like a stinking pig! Yep, I had the swine flu. Sorry, I mean the H1N1. At least I'm 99% sure that's what I had. I had the same symptoms that everyone that tested positive had, but I never went to the doctor. Only because everything I read about it said that most people can recover from it by just resting and drinking lots of fluids. So, that's what I did. I figured, why spend the money on a doctor bill AND medicine if I can just take OTC Thera-flu and get rid of it.

Unfortunately, because of that decision, it has taken me a LOT longer to recover than most people. I started getting sick when I woke up Sept. 12. Yes, I remember the date exactly because of this. It was the day I had my first paying photography gig! It's been almost 2 weeks and I am still feeling it! It's almost ALL gone though, and I am ready!

Both the kids are sick, but not with the flu. Bubba just has a runny nose and a cough. No fever or anything. Sissy is the same way, but with a low dose fever off and on...not bad. I took her to the doctor yesterday and he said that she just has a cold. If she starts getting a high fever to take her back in because then it is more than likely the flu. Poor kids!

And on top of that...they BOTH busted their mouths opened yesterday. Bubba was playing in the kitchen when I heard him screaming. I ran in there and he was laying in the floor. I thought that he just bumped his head and would be okay, until I seen the blood pouring from his mouth. I picked him up, got Hubby out of bed, and we tried to clean him up with a wet washcloth. I noticed that he had split that little piece of skin that connects his top lip to his gums. Less than 10 minutes after that incident, Sissy fell backwards in her chair bringing her little table down with her. Yep. It smacked her right in the mouth! I had two kids, blood gushing out of their mouths at the same time! One kid is bad enough, but two bleeding from their mouths? Not fun!!

Well, I hope that all of you guys are well and not sick. If so, I hope you get to feeling better soon!! Really! I know how miserable it is!!!

7 years in the making

Eight years ago, Hubby and I started dating.

(Our first Thanksgiving together...the week after we started dating.)

Marriage was in the talks with us. We knew wanted to but just didn't know when. In January, I proposed. Near the first of the summer we started planning a vacation for September. We were going to Pensacola to see his mom. We decided that we would get married before-hand and use the trip as our honeymoon.

(Our engagement picture)

Neither one of us wanted a fancy wedding for many reasons. So we opted to go to the courthouse and have the judge or a JP do it for us. The week before we planned on leaving, we talked about just getting married on the beach in Pensacola, but didn't know how to go about it. We planned on leaving on Sunday, and on Thursday morning, we talked about going to the courthouse Saturday....but yes, we then realized the courthouse would be closed. So since we already had our marriage license in hand, we called up the JP that worked at the local bank and asked if he would marry us the next day. Thankfully, he said yes.

So on Sept. 18, 2002 I became Mrs. Hubby! A year later, we moved from the place we called home to a place 2.5 hours away for Hubby's job. It was a very hard time for us, seeing as we didn't have any family up there, and the only "friends" we had were people we worked with. We decided to start a family after about 6 months to a year of living there. Two miscarriages later, we decided that it was time to stop trying...neither one of us could take losing another one. Especially being so far away from loved ones!

After being up there about 3 years, Hubby got the opportunity to move back "home". Of course we jumped on it in a heartbeat! We had been back home for a week, and something told me take a HPT. It was positive! But we weren't positive that things would be okay. So we tried not to get too excited. I made an appointment with an OB/GYN and he started me on some progesterone pills. They made me extremely sick, but in the end were definitely worth it.

So after 2.5 years of trying to get pregnant, on October 17, 2006, the Lord blessed us with a beautiful little girl. I know that He had a plan for us, and it didn't include having a baby so far away from our families. We were truly blessed!

(Daddy, Mommy, and Sissy)

The next year was a whirlwind. We loved our little girl so much, and our love for each other continued to grow. We had so much fun as a family and decided that since it took so long for us to get pregnant with Sissy, that when she turned 2, we would start trying for another one. The Lord, of course, had different plans. A about a month or so after Sissy's 1st birthday, I was having a conversation with a co-worker that led to me taking a pregnancy test...long story. Yep, pregnant. I wasn't so sure about it, I mean they would only be 21 months apart! Would I be able to handle it? Would Sissy be able to handle it? Would our family be able to it?

But that didn't matter...because on July 15, 2008, Bubba was born. We couldn't be happier! Our family felt complete.

(Mommy, Daddy, Sissy, and Bubba)

The past 7 years of our marriage have had its ups and downs, but we wouldn't change any part of it. We love our kids and we love each other! Who knew that 11 years ago when we first met, we would have the life and family that we have know. Filled with love, laughter, kids, and each other!

(Daddy, Bubba, Mommy, on Bubba's 1st Birthday)

Happy Anniversary, Hubby! Here's to many, many, MANY more!!! I love you!!

Almost Famous..My Big Debut

Remember this post? Well, I went and bought the local paper that came out today and noticed a familiar looking picture on the front page! Yep...it was mine! :D

This picture was front page, top half of the paper, in color! Yay me!!

After seeing it, tears formed in my eyes. Not for the reason you think! Any time one of us was in the paper, my grandma would call and tell us how proud she was. She made sure and cut it out and save it to give to us at a later date. She was very proud of all of us. As I am typing this, tears are forming again.

Anyways, my mom took the place of calling me. Tonight she called to tell me congratulations on making the front page and that she was very proud of me. It, again, reminded me of Granny. I have been thinking of her a lot lately. Not only is this going to be the first holiday season since she has been gone, but her birthday is also coming up. Sissy was born the day before her birthday so it's always going to be a reminder of her. The other day I was looking at the obits on the funeral home page, (no I'm not morbid, I was trying to find an obit on a recent death), and I came across hers. I decided to read the online guest book and came across some entries that brought tears to my eyes. Ones from distant family members, and others from friends.

Another thing that gets me is that the day after my grandmother passed, we went down to my grandparent's Pop's house for dinner. God helped me realize that she was in a much better place. The radio station I was listening to played a new song by Chris Tomlin. It's called "I Will Rise". It definitely helped me through it. Now though, we sing it almost every Sunday in church, and of course, like a big baby, I start tearing up.

Okay...now I am bawling like a baby! I'm so glad you guys can't see me!

Sorry.... As I started this post, my intentions were not to take the sappy route. In fact, it was supposed to be a post about my photography "business" getting up and running, hopefully, by this exposure....no pun intended.

Maybe next time...

You want what for breakfast?!?!

It's 9:30am and this is the conversation Sissy and I just had:

Sissy: Where's my lunch?!?!? (in an ever so demanding loving tone)

Me: Lunch?!? You haven't even eaten breakfast yet!

Sissy: Ummm...I want popsicle!

Me: Ummm....nooooo

Sissy: You make me crryy (in a 'I'll do it if I don't get my way' tone)

Yep...I do believe we have said that to her one to many times! LOL

It's Final!

Jen wrote about an "I Love You Cake" that she did. Totally cute and sweet idea! She asked what creative way we have told (or been told) I love you. Hubby and I will be celebrating our 7 year anniversary in 4 days so I thought this would be a good time to tell you about our proposal!

My ex and I had filed for divorce shortly before Hubby and I started dating. Even though we hadn't been dating that long, we knew we wanted to be together forever. Marriage was being talked about within a month of us being together. Around Christmas, he had bought me an engagement/wedding ring set but held on to it until my divorce was final.

The day that my lawyer called to tell me that it was final was the happiest day of my life....for more than the obvious reason! I bought a cookie cake from the bakery and had them write "It's Final" on it. Then I went to the house, Hubby worked overnights at the time and was sleeping, set up a ring of candles on the floor, and had the cookie hiding under the couch. I then went and woke him up and asked him to come in the living room.

When he walked in there, I was sitting in the middle of the candles, waiting. I asked him if he would marry me. He laughed and said, "I told you I would." "Tomorrow?" I asked. "What?!?!?" was his reply...LOL!

I then brought out the cookie and told him, "We can do it tomorrow if we wanted, because 'It's Final'!!!" He just hugged me and told me that he was surprised that I proposed to him but that he would LOVE to marry me!

8 months later, Sept 18, 2002, we were married at one of the local banks by a JP. Yes, a little out of the ordinary, but it's the people that make the marriage, not the place!

How were you proposed to? Or if you proposed, how did you do it??

Photo Gig, and I'm sick??

This past week my friend, Stacy, called me about doing a photography gig for her. She was double booked and needed help. Of course, I agreed. Though I did have a little anxiety issues. This was my first paying gig after all.

After a couple of phone calls, I get the call that my bid was approved! I was super excited but super nervous as well. I don't have the best camera...it's a Sony Cybershot so I wasn't going to really "professional". I told everyone I was an amateur professional! LOL

Anyways, I woke up yesterday morning, the morning of the gig, and felt sick. My throat was sore, my head was stopped up a little, and my chest felt like an elephant was sitting on it. But, the show must go on...and I went to work. It has been dreary and rainy here for the last few days, and yesterday wasn't any different. Thankfully, the majority of the time, the festivites were inside. We were only outside for about an hour or so. When the job was done, I came home only to be greeted to two very tired children. I laid them down, and went to WM for a few groceries. Hubby refused to go so he opted to stay with the sleeping kids.

When I got home, I planned on taking a nap and try to feel a little better. Didn't happen! I had to start dinner, clean the kitchen, and by then the kids were awake. No nap for Mama. When I did finally go to bed, I was so sick and stuffed up, that I couldn't lay down flat, and couldn't sleep for nothing! I tried to take a hot shower, but to no avail.

This morning I woke up feeling 10 times worse!! My ears are stopped up. My nose is runny, yet stuffy. My throat is still sore. And yes, the elephant is still sitting on my chest, along with the whole upper part of my body. I really hope I am not getting the flu. The "wonderful" swine flu has made its way to this part of the country (what part of the country has it NOT made it to?) and now I am of course paranoid that I have it. Not a big deal for me, I just don't want my kids to get it! And if I have it, they will probably too! :(

So I am sick, I need to burn about 6 more picture cds, tend to the kids, all while trying to keep the house some what decent looking. Oh and I'm thinking that my nephew that I normally keep on Mondays, is not going to want to be around me like this.

Now I will leave you with a few of my fave pictures from yesterday. They are from the Hebert A. Littleton Medal of Honor Ceremony.

The curse

I am blessed, or cursed...depending on how you look at it, with the ability to see both sides to every story. How did this come about? I blame my mother. Yep. She did it to me. You see, after she divorced my biological father and married the man I call, and have for the past 20 years of my life, Dad, she and I would have some "heart to hearts". She told me, from the time I was old enough to understand what she was saying, that there are always 3 sides to every story. "His" side, "Her" side, and the truth.

I do believe that is when the "curse" started taking affect.

It's not so bad, most of the time, but it does end up putting me in the middle of a lot of things. The fact that I hate confrontation and try to be the peacemaker, doesn't help! Also, not only does it tend to make me second guess myself, a LOT, but it also makes those annoying little voices in my head argue with each other!

So what is all of this about?

Well, I have recently been thinking about my past. Things that I have said, or done. Things I should have said, or done. It makes me wonder where I would be or what I would be doing if certain things were still the same. As I mature as a Christian, certain things from my past are harder for me to accept and forgive myself for. Though I know that after asking Christ for His forgiveness, He has done just that, it's still hard for me to do the same.

I try not to be hard on myself over all those things and realize where I am now and where my life is headed.

I mean, c'mon, I have a wonderful, loving, hardworking, kind-hearted (though sometimes it's hard to see that...LOL), gorgeous husband. I have two wonderful, sweet, loving, beautiful children. I have wonderful, amazing, loving family and friends. I have a wonderful church home that includes a wonderful church family. And more importantly, I serve a wonderful, loving, forgiving, amazing God!

So all in all...my life is, well, wonderful!

So why do I try and second guess and belittle myself for my previous mistakes. Is it because I don't want to make those same mistakes EVER again? Maybe because I am embarrassed as a Christian woman of the mistakes that I have made? Or is it because I should be able to learn from those mistakes and move on and it's hard for me to?

How do I get out of this funk and move on with my life? I have repented of these sins, and asked for forgiveness, so why is it so hard to forgive myself?

Mumbo Jumbo

I've kinda been MIA from blogging for a few days. I've had so much stuff running through my head, but I didn't really want to talk about it for fear of jinxing it all. So a LOT of prayers have been said, and a LOT of fingers (and toes) have been crossed instead. I'm hoping that we will have get some news next week sometime and if so, you can definitely count on a post about it.

Hubby and my anniversary is coming up in less than two weeks. We will be married for 7 years. It doesn't feel like that long ago. Guess that's a good thing. Hubby has already given me a couple of presents, which is normal for him. I'm used to it by now. Anyways, he bought me the 8th season of Smallville on DVD. Remember this post? We all Jordan and I have been watching the previous seasons non-stop. The only time I have watched actual TV is when Big Brother comes on! We are gearing up for the season 9 premiere airing September 25...still a ways away, I know.

He also bought me the dishes that I have been wanting since before my birthday! I am so L.O.V.ing these dishes!!

I won a give-away on Lauren Nicole Gifts for some awesome Vera Bradley fabric napkins. I am still trying to decide what to do with it, I am NOT a sewer at all!

Bubba has learned this cheeser look. When you ask him, "Cheeser" he will do it for you! Such a cutie! But I am kinda biased!! LOL

That's about all I got right now. Hopefully by next week I will have more to say! Until then... Au revoir.

Prayers Welcomed!

If you read this post, and happen to recall the last thing I asked, it was for your prayers. Well, Hubby didn't get the promotion that he was hoping for at that time. But we were optimistic in the next opportunity that should arise.

Well that time has come, and I again ask for your prayers. It's not a definite yet, but very possible. I ask that you pray for God's will be done. If it's not His will for this to happen, I ask that you pray for our understanding of His will.