Tuesday on a Wednesday

Hello all! Sorry I am so behind these past couple of weeks. Between our vacation, prepping all the materials for VBS, & now doing VBS this week, I haven't been able to respond to all the wonderful comments, new followers, & read my normal blogs. I miss you guys and I love all of the comments. Believe me I am reading! Anyway, without further ado here are my Tuesday memes on a Wednesday!

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Need vs Want

I have been trying to censor myself this week (and actually for a few weeks since Ben got home from his detachment.) I have been trying not to put more stress on him by stopping myself to think if what I am asking him to do his an actual need or if it is just that I want him to do it.

It is amazing at some of the little things that I have actually though "Wow, I can do that myself & not bother him with it." I have not perfected the method especially with all of the work and stress that VBS has brought this past week but I am slowly trying to implement it into daily life. I can't wait to catch-up and see what y'all have been doing for your husbands this week!

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It's that time again.....Kendall story time!

Monday, we were in the car & on our way to run errands after a very full morning of VBS. It was Kendall's first VBS so I was kind of curious on her take on it.

I asked, "Bug did you just LOVE vacation bible school?!?!"

She said, "We didn't go bible school yet."

Me: Honey we just left from there.

Kendall: Oh. But it not bible school....we didn't even open our bibles!

Hmmm.....I guess the whole point of the bible story and memory verse was lost on her!

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Top 2 Reality Shows

1. I think that the first reality show that I would like to be on is

The Amazing Race!

I am not sure who I would want to take on it with me but.....

2. Dancing with the Stars

I would love to learn all of those dances but I guess I need to become a star before I can even attempt that right?!

Day 224 of 365

The age of a woman doesn’t mean a thing. The best tunes are played on the oldest fiddles. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Day 223 of 365

“Love sought is good, but given unsought, is better.”
~ Shakespeare on Love

Until Death Do us Part (completing him)

Do you remember your marriage vows? They went something like this:

I, ____, take you, ____, for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.

"Until death do us part." Do you remember that line? Statistics say that in America, over 50% of marriages do not make it "Until death do us part." (It is a even higher, more frightening percentage in military marriages)

Do you take your vows seriously? God does.

1. Matthew 19:6 says "what God has joined together, let man not separate." (exception: look at Matthew 19:9)

2. Malachi 2:14 says God is a witness to our marriage covenant.

3. Ephesians 5:22-33 says marriage is a picture of Christ and the church.

This weeks challenge is simply to Remember. Remember the day you entered your sacred vows. If you are a blogger, please post pictures from that day and share your story.

Our wedding day (or elopement day if you know our history) started off a little rocky......

We went to meet with our pastor on December 31, 2003 to talk about our January 1,2004 wedding. He was really dressed up and said many weird things that we finally had to get clarified. He thought that we were getting married THAT day!
He couldn't do it the next day. It was just a silly miscommunication but our day was ALMOST ruined BUT thanks to the help of our good friends, it went off without a hitch! We had Ben's roommate, Dan (and his wife,) stand witness with us. My friend, Dana, took our pictures. They threw flowers, me, videos, and alot of other stuff together in a quick hurry!

We went that night to spend the night down on Pensacola Beach. It is a fun story to tell now & it was really a wonderful ceremony despite it's rough start.

I'll save our renewal of vows story for another time!

For more visit

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2nd Annual Mr. Wonderful Contest

Ok,ok so Mama M. was having this yesterday for Father's Day but I have been CONSUMED with prep work for our VBS week. I figured that it is better late than never!

My hubby also known as BeeGeeWeeGee (BGWG), babe, babers, Benny, BB, B, daddy, dad, DDDAAAADDDEEEE!

He encourages me in whatever I take on & helps out when he can....like putting pre-school crafts together on father's day!

He has been taken away from us for 24 hour duty days too many times to count, 5 detachments (that vary from 4 to 9 weeks long), 3 deployments to Iraq (7 months a piece), training, cross-countries, and all that comes with being a Marine. People will tell me, "I don't know how you do it." Well I don't know how he does it. I get to see our kiddos sweet, smiling faces every day & I never have to leave them or hear of their "firsts" through an email, phone call, or letter. For that, he really is my HERO & MR. WONDERFUL.

He is the best father to our children that I could have asked for. Constantly giving more energy after long days and commute from work.

He changes diapers and doesn't even throw up!

(Kendall 2006)

He loves our children so well!
He pushes me to be a better person.

He challenges me to try new & exciting things.

He is beautiful inside and out!

For more visit Mama M at

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Monday Mugs (summer fun)

Today over at www.oswaldcuties.blogspot.com/ is Monday Mugs with the theme of Summer Fun today.
Here are my cuties this year at the beach.....amazing that we live so close & have only gone 3 times so far this year!

Kendall's first trip to the beach in 2007

Isaac's first trip to the beach 2009

Getting to know you (better late than never!)

The questions..

1. While at the beach, pool, etc..Do you cover up your assets or show them off? A little bit of both. I am very thankful for the body that God has given me but also want to make sure that I respect it as well!
2. Road trips or Plane trips? Yes, please! I love both for different reasons.
3. I can't stand it when...? people drive like idiots. Driving slow in the fast lane, cutting in front of you, etc.
4. Have you ever gone topless at the beach? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!
5. How many blog carnivals do you do a week? Way too many but there are so many fun ones! Hmmm.....I would have to say 12???? Estimate!
6. My favorite thing about the weekend is...? Having Benny home all to ourselves!
7. Pancakes or waffles?Pancakes!!
8. Water Park or Amusement Park?Amusement park hands down!!

Day 222 of 365

"Sometimes the poorest man leaves his children the richest inheritance." -- Ruth E. Renkel

Happy Father's Day!!

"A wise son maketh a glad father." -- Proverbs 10:1

"Fathers, like mothers, are not born. Men grow into fathers - and fathering is a very important stage in their development." -- David M. Gottesman

"A father is a banker provided by nature." -- French Proverb

Happy father's day to my wonderful hubby!!

The greatest gift I ever had
Came from God; I call him Dad!
~Author Unknown

A father is always making his baby into a little woman. And when she is a woman he turns her back again. ~Enid Bagnold

Happy Dadoo's day!!

Father-in-law - I came into your family with someone we both love. You shared with me your heart and home and loved me as your own. As I have grown to love you, I am thankful everyday that God sent me this family who's special in every way.

Happy Father's day Jim!!

Grandfathers are just antique little boys. ~Author Unknown

Happy Father's day Pappy!!

The reason grandchildren and grandparents get along so well is that they have a common enemy. ~Sam Levenson

Friday Memes are the best!

Kelly over at
http://www.kellyskornerblog.com

is hosting

Show us your life: Proposal Stories

Since I am participating in the summer challenge, Completing Him, I thought that it would be fun to stroll down memory lane today!

I knew that we would be getting engaged but I wasn't sure just when. We had been talking about eloping & where we would like to do it but Ben hadn't popped the big question. I was getting nervous because we were going to be moving from Florida to California & I didn't want to do so with "just a boyfriend."

We had a big month in December. Ben was "winged" or completed his naval aviation schooling for the Marine Corps. We moved all of my things from my apartment to Ben's house so that they could be moved by the military. I finished my job at Baptist Hospital. You know many life changing events!

We came to PA for Christmas vacation. It was my family's "normal" ruckus going on. Ben left to go to the grocery store with my dad, by himself! GULP!!

I had been wanting to take Ben on a tour of my old college campus but had not really had the opportunity to do so. Ben suggested we go on Christmas Eve. I thought ok but it is December in PA.......we walked the 'oak grove' which is my favorite part of campus. Ben was acting sort of weird but I didn't really think much of it. We had went down further into campus when I told him that I was getting cold. He said, "Ok let's go back to the truck." I started the quickest route which was not back through the oak grove. Ben asked if we could walk back through the grove.

I was thinking for real? I am about to freeze my tushy off. We went back through. Ben was asking ALL kinds of questions.

"Did you have class here?"

"Did you study out here?"

"What's that for?"

"Were there lots of squirrels?" (Oh yes he really asked that question!)

Finally, he said ok let's go.

I turned to leave and he said,

"Hey I have one more question for you."

I turned around ready to be like "WHAT?!?!" when I saw him down on one knee. I think that I said YES before he even got his last question out.

A little aside here......

I think that he proposed at my college campus because we couldn"t be at his college campus. They have a tradition at Texas A&M (Whoop!) of proposing under the century tree. He did say his (and mine) first "I love you" to me there but it would have been way cool to be there for the proposal too!

Hope you enjoyed! Can't wait to read yours!

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And This is my first Friday to participate in

Have a blessed weekend!

Time for the weekend!/Father's day Flashback

Friday Photo Flashback

In honor of father's day

My Dad and I 2000

I think that this was in 1997?!
High school graduation 1995

With my Father-in-law (and mother-in-law), Jim, 2004

With my Pappy (and grammy) Heider 2000
For more flashbacks visit
Alicia

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And...here we go!

1. I was pushing very hard at 6:58 in the morning on September 7, 2008 to give birth to our son at 7:11 a.m.
2. It was the reason, of course, that I left the house.
3. Going out at all hours of the night is something I no longer feel the need to do.
4. I have another errand to run, then I am going home to collapse.
5. The treasure is there...just go find it
6. What were once vices are now just memories & another life ago.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to small group (if I get all of the craft supplies ready for VBS), tomorrow my plans include whipping this house into shape & working on VBS and Sunday, I want to decorate the craft rooms at church because Monday starts VBS!
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1. What is your favorite thing about summertime?
Flip flops and going to the pool
2. What is your ideal retirement location (if money didn't matter)?
Western North Carolina or maybe Tennesse. I love the mountains!
3. Do you live in the same town you grew up in?
Nope! Far from it. Such is the life of a Marine Corps wife!
4. What nervous habit did you have as a child that you kicked to the curb before becoming an adult?
I am not sure that I had one?!? Mom, Dad can you help out here?
5. What is the most embarrassing thing that happened to you while on the job?
It was during a code of one of my patients and I would just rather not go into all of that! Minus that time probably when one of my patients tried to set me up with her grandson!

Day 220 of 365

The world is a book. And those who don't travel just read a page~St. Augustine

Captivate your husband (Completing him challenge)

Captivate Your Husband

Proverbs 5:18b&19 tells husbands "May you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer - may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love."

The Webster definition of captivate is: to capture the attention or affection of, as by beauty and excellence; fascinate; charm

Do you remember when your husband was first captivated by you? He saw you as beautiful and excellent. You fascinated him. Your eyes twinkled, you smiled with each thought of him, you bonded over long conversations of who you both were and dreamed to be.

Do you remember the butterflies when he was around, how it felt for his hand to hold yours, how your mind soared when you dreamed of taking his name as your last name. And then when the diamond wrapped around your finger you sat and stared at the reality that indeed you were about to become the wife of the man you were head over heels in love with!

Remembering does wonders for our soul to remind us of how fabulous our men truly are! We are the wife of our husband's youth and God tells our husband - be satisfied and captivated by her love!

But I wonder, are you still captivating or has pleasing, pursuing, touching, loving, listening and feeding you relationship been lost somewhere in the busy shuffle of life?

It's Week #1 of the Completing Him Challenge. If you are a blogger - share your dating pictures and story (save the wedding ones for next week!).

Consider: How much time do you spend on a daily/weekly basis cultivating your marriage now? In what ways can you regain some of what has been lost in the daily shuffle of life?

Purpose this week to do something that reminds your husband of the youthful wife you once were - maybe it's wearing something you know he loves on you (remember we dressed to please back in those dating days!), go somewhere you both used to enjoy going together - alone!, look at photos together of the "good ol'days", watch a favorite movie, or just simply sit together talking, listening, dreaming, holding hands, rubbing his back, and simply paying attention to the amazing husband of your youth! Treasure him this week!

Week 1 (Dating pictures)

To join in the Completing Him Challenge please visit

Ben and I have a VERY short dating history. We met in May of 2003 and started dating August of 2003. We were then married December of 2003.

When we started dating, I have to admit I wasn't really looking for anything long term. I had just gotten out of a crazy & messy relationship. Ben was going to be transfered & he was a marine. (I was not very fond of service members at that point.) But Ben was SUPER attractive and fun to hang out with SO who knew that God had lead me to my future husband?

It was with the help of 3 great friends that I saw Ben's and our relationship's potential. (That and a few hard shoves from God to this strong-willed woman.)

I finally started to see Ben's real feelings and intentions in October 2003, when we traveled to a reunion at Texas A&M.

(He said our first "I love you" under the cenutry tree.)

Our first Marine Corps Ball together November 2003

Ben's winging December 2003
(About a week before he proposed!)

This was after we had eloped but before our big ceremony so I am considering it "dating!"

San Diego, CA

I know that wedding pictures are next week but I had to throw this in there because it is one of my favorites!

Now go love on your husbands! I plan to when mine gets home!

S.O.A.R Adventure Race

Ok, the real reason we went to Highlands, NC, was for Benny's first adventure race. We did have fun as a family but I know that some of you want to hear about what my crazy husband did this past weekend!

They took

5th place overall

3rd place in the age group:Men under 40

Completed the race in 11.5 hours

Biked 50+ miles

Ran 5+ miles

Canoed about 5 miles

Rappeled

Did some orientiering

and

were among the 43 out of 62 to complete the race.

Job well done Ben and Aaron!

Here they are pre-race

They rode past our rental house several times!
Second stop

Canoing out on the lake

FINISH!!!

Posing for pictures

Week 30 of 52 (Highlands, NC trip)

We ENJOYED several outings to our hottub at the house.

Kendall and I at Whitewater Falls, NC