Blessing #148 - Shad's Birthday Adventure

Yesterday, I shared Shad's birthday week, and today is all about his birthday adventure.  One year for his birthday adventure, we explored Philadelphia, and another year we tried to see how many Goodwills we could go to in one day.  This year Shad's birthday adventure was at the gun range.

A few months before his birthday, Shad was talking with our friends that love guns and mentioned how much he would love to go shooting. When his birthday rolled around, I contacted our friends and set up a day when we could go.  I was surprised how excited Shad was about this adventure.  I just did not realize he liked to shoot guns.  Ten years together, and he still surprises me.

When the big birthday adventure day came, Shad did great! He was a great shot.

Our friends we seasoned pros, and even had a competition against each other.

All in all, it was a great day, and I'm so glad Shad had so much fun.......

What?

How did I do?

Oh.  You know. I hit the target my first two shots, and then after that I missed...every time.

In fact, I twitched every time right before I shot the gun, and I leaned back every time I shot.  Our friend tried to help me stand up straight when I shot.

All my life, I have been afraid of guns.  In fact, before this day, I had never shot a real gun.  My mother has told me horror stories of people cleaning guns and they accidentally went off, and that absolutely terrified me of them.  Strangely, my brother who had the same mother collects guns, and always has one on him. Maybe it's not my mom's fault....nah! I'm blaming it on my mom.

Did I overcome my fear of guns in this one trip to the gun range? No, but I would love to try it again.  Especially now that I know how much this guy loves it.

Birthday Adventures 2012

  

Blessing #147 - Shad's Birthday Week

Last month was Shad's birthday, and we celebrated birthday week.  It happened right in the middle of 31 Days to Love your Home so I didn't blog about it then.

A few years ago, I started the tradition of "birthday week" with Shad.  I've mentioned how much he loves it here.   Last year, I got really sick during his birthday week so this year I knew I needed to make it up to him.

For one week, and only one week, I am an amazing wife.  See, I'm not the world's greatest juggler.  I can only focus on one thing at a time.  If my house looks clean and great, well, I we are probably going out to eat that night.  If I am decorating and making some pretty project, the laundry is probably stacked high.  I try my best, but I really can't do it all.  Birthday week goes a long way with Shad.  For one week, he is the center of my attention and gets absolutely spoiled.

Before the week begins.  I sat down and listed out the surprises he would get every day.  I tried to think of the five love languages and cover each one with a different surprise.  Here are the surprises for this Birthday Week.

On Monday, I made his coffee station.  This surprise covered acts of service.

Tuesday was 60 cent wing night so he had hot wings for supper.  Because Shad thinks that food should be the sixth love language, he was a happy camper.

For Wednesday, I made a Pioneer Woman recipe.  Now, the man will probably never admit this if you ask him, but he loOoOoves the Pioneer Woman.  It all started when she came out with her cooking show. Because I loved the Pioneer Woman long before her show, I faithfully watch her show every Saturday afternoon during lunch on our DVR.

It's my special little time for myself, and I thought it was strange Shad never complained when I watched this cooking show.  Then Shad started to commentate.  "That looks really good.  I would eat that.  Stephanie, she made him a great lunch AND supper."   I've tried to explain to him that cooking is her job, and that's why her husband gets lunch and supper.  Last night, he said, "When she calls her husband whose name is Lad, I think she is saying Shad."  On Wednesday, of birthday week, I made him this sandwich and called him Lad.

I would be mad at him, but I understand.  He had to suffer through comments like that when I watched the Nate Berkus show. (Why did they cancel it? Whyyyyyy?)

Anyway, on Thursday, he got a massage from me.  That covered the love language of physical touch, and that's all I'll say about that.

Friday, I surprised him with a date to Longhorns.  This surprise covered quality time.

Saturday, I put an organizer in his closet for all these fabric boxes he had.  I also got chalkboard labels to label each bin.  That surprise was also an act of service surprise, and that's his primary love language so I wanted to do that one the most.

Sunday was his actual birthday, and I made him no bake cookies. Because he's not a big fan of cake, I always try to make him a "birthday cake" out of something different.  We just piled the cookies up, and put a candle in the one on top, and sand happy birthday to him.

All throughout birthday week, I watch how I speak to him, and try to encourage him to cover the love language of words of affirmation.

One thing I learned early on in giving birthday weeks is to give without expecting anything back.  The first year I did his birthday week, I really held it over his head when my birthday rolled around.  My expectations were so high, he could not do anything right.  What's the joy in having a birthday week when you have to pay for it in six months?  So now, I give birthday weeks just for the sake of loving him without expecting anything in return.  That kind of giving and loving is very powerful.  At the end of the week, not only was Shad happy and feeling loved, but I was happy and feeling loved because he told me so many times how much he was enjoying birthday week and how much he loved me.  

This years birthday week was a huge success, and I'm glad.  Shad deserved it!

 

What I Wore Wednesday - Fall Festive

In the past, I have blogged about a few of my outfits.  Even though I am home most of the day,  I love to look nice.    I love this blog post by Abby Leigh, she says...

"Dress for the day you want to have...not the one that's trying to have you."

Yes! Dressing nicely brightens my day, and I want to look nice for myself! For the next several weeks, I will be jumping in on What I Wore Wednesday.  I don't know how long I will do this, but for now, I love it.

Plus, I've been 90% thrift for a year now, and love to show off my Goodwill outfits.

Lately, I've been feeling a little festive.  For Halloween, Brandon's school had a parade so I decided to go all out and wear black and orange.

Originally, I just planned on wearing tights, but it was so cold I wore jeggings too.  Collin, being the expert photo bomber he is, had to show off his costume too.

Yesterday, on election day, I was feeling festive again, and had to wear my red, white, and blue.  I know I could vote early, but I love the festiveness of election day. I'm a dork like that.  

Sorry for the wrinkly skirt mom.  I originally had on jeans, but I liked it better with the skirt.  I'm also sporting the best election day accessory, the "I Voted" sticker.

I'll be sharing this post with The Pleated Poppy and Dear Abby Leigh.
 

Blessing #146 - Collin's Birthday Adventure

Saturday, we celebrated Collin's birthday with his birthday adventure. I'm not very big on birthday parties.  There is nothing wrong with a birthday party, I have a friend that is the kids birthday party queen.  She throws fantastic birthday parties.  For me though, a birthday adventure is my cup of tea. 

When I started thinking about what to do for a two year old's birthday adventure, I went blank, but then one day it hit me.  Slides! Colli loves slides.  For his birthday adventure, we decided to see how many slides Colli could conquer in one day. 

We spent all Saturday morning running around town looking for playgrounds.  In the end, Colli conquered 25 slides.  We could have gotten him on more slides, but it was in the 40s and freezing....at least to this warm blooded Georgia girl.  

Here is a picture of Colli on all the slides.   

  This picture is my favorite.  It's just too cute.

"Who put the speed bumps on my slide?"

Our entire family tried to make the day fun for our little guy, and I think he had a great day.  I really want my boys to see the fun in the every day.  Like they say in Up, "Adventure is out there."    Even sliding down slides can be an adventure.

Blessing #145 - Collin Turns Two

To my Collin,

Colli Bear.  Colzi.  Colsters.  Colli.  Collinator.  Colzakistan....too far?

I can't even believe how much you have grown this past year.  When we took Brandon to the Choo-Choo Barn for his birthday, I realized just how much you had grown this year.

When we visited the Choo-Choo Barn just one year before, you couldn't walk and just sat quiet in the stroller drinking a bottle.  This year at the Choo-Choo Barn, you were running around pointing and yelling, "Shoo Shoo! Shoo Shoo!"

This year, you've have become a little boy, and a force to be reckoned with.  You are very orderly.   When you are done with a plate or cup, you put it in the sink.  When you find trash, you put it in the trash can.  When you leave the room, you cut off the television and cut off the lights.

You are so orderly, I have to laugh.  Your Mimi (my mom) is that way, and I've said over and over, "She is crazy."  I just didn't understand how her orderly mind worked.  Now, I think my free spirit is going to drive your orderly little mind crazy.  Ironically, I think you'll be saying, "She is crazy," a lot with me.

You are not a morning person.....at.....all.  You are such a grump in the morning. Oh my! You need about 30 minutes before you are up and at 'em.

You have a high pitch squeal that you will let out every so often.  I'm used to it, but one day, you let a particularly high ear drum shaking squeal loose in the grocery store.  One lady jumped and spent the next twenty seconds using every profanity under the sun.  She turned around and saw that it was you, and apologized repeatedly.  I told her I was sorry for giving her a heart attack, and you just smiled.

Your favorite song is Old MacDonald Had a Farm.  At random moments, I will hear you sing, "E-I-E-I-OOOOOO!" This week you added, "E-I-E-I-OOOOOO MaDonallllll!"

You love Chickfila.  Anytime we pass one, you recognize the sign and say, "See Olay! See Olay!" (That's your word for Chickfila.)

Most of the time you think Dannon (a.k.a. Brandon) is the best big brother ever, but sometimes we have to pull you off of him.  I used to worry about Brandon being rough on you, but you have shown that maybe we need to worry about you being rough on Brandon.

I tell you all that time that you are my sunshine, and you say back, "Shunshine."

Two years ago, God put you in my life.  I'm so amazed at the little boy you are becoming.  You're cute, sweet, and friendly (to selected people).  You are one of a kind and my little sunshine.  Thank you for all the joy you have brought into my life and our family.

I love you, and I can't wait to spend another year with you.

Mom or as you call me Ma-ee

Blessing #144 - Turtleman and Turtle

This year for Halloween, B and Collin went as Turtleman and a Turtle.  (If you don't know who Turtleman is I've blogged about him here.)

A few months ago, B found the hat a Goodwill, and we put together the rest of the outfit from things he already had.

I searched for Collin's turtle costume online, but I was shocked when I found the perfect costume at a yard sale for just $3.  The costume originally was a Franklin costume with a hood, but Collin hated the hood.  I didn't want Collin to refuse to wear the costume so I cut the hood off.

There is something disturbing about that.

Here are a few cute pics I got of them in their costumes.

I can't take it! Those pictures just melt my heart, but then I decided to make a quick collage of all their Halloweens, and now I'm just a puddle of mommy mush.

Collin was born just four days after Halloween so he was a little late for his first Halloween.

Brandon's seven Halloween's. I can't take the cuteness.

 

Blessing #143 - 30 Days of Thanks

It's November, and I think I need a t-shirt that says, "I Survived 31 Days."  Surprisingly, I actually loved blogging 31 Days to Love your Home.   The whole experience was a big refresher for me and a good shot in the arm.  Thank you for reading and all your kind comments. They meant so much to me.

Now it's November and I am on to my next challenge, 30 Days of Thanks.  Have you ever done 30 Days of Thanks? 30 DOT is where you find something to be thankful for every day in the month of November.


Four years ago, I started participating in 30 Days of Thanks. At the time, I had a list of prayer requests that God wasn't answering. In my heart, I was focused on those few unanswered prayers, and God seemed silent and unloving.

One day in November, I saw my sister-by-choice doing 30 Days of Thanks in her facebook statuses.  Unable to resist a good challenge, I had to join too.  Everyday, I would take a few minutes to reflect, write down something that I was grateful for, and thank God for it.

Such a small task, but it changed my entire outlook, and inspired me to start this blog.  Before, I thought God was silent and unloving, but through giving thanks, I realized He was there all along with daily handfuls just for me.

Four years later, those prayer requests are still unanswered, but I am changed.  I know God is with me and loves me.  I see the evidence not in whether or not these prayers get answered, but in the blessings he has all around me.

Last year, my dad encouraged his entire church to do 30 Days of Thanks last year.  I was so encouraged reading all of every one's gratefulness on facebook.

The great thing about 30 Days of Thanks is that you can really make it fit you right where you are. This year, my dad decided to do something big before he turns 60 in April.  He is writing a thank you letter to a different person every day in the month of November.  He's let me read a few of the letters so far, and they are absolutely beautiful.  After reading the first few, I asked him to make me copies because I really want to keep them for the boys and I.

For me, I decided to change it up a bit too.  Remember a few weeks ago when I mentioned the (in) Perfect Balance (in)courage group? If not you can read about it here.  This 30 Days of Thanks, I am participating in The Grateful Wife Challenge at (in) Perfect Balance.  Basically, we will be finding something we are thankful for our husbands for everyday in the month of November, and check in with each other every Thursday.

After 30 Days of Thanks changed my entire outlook, I am really excited to see what is going to happen during The Grateful Wife Challenge.  

Colossians 2:6-7 says,

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." 

That verse didn't say, "with a little thanksgiving at the start of every prayer and before your meals." NO! It says, ABOUNDING with thanksgiving.

God has given me life but not just a little life.  He has given me life more abundantly.  I want my life to reflect His love back and be abounding with thanksgiving.

If you've never tried 30 Days of Thanks, please think about it. Gratitude does not come naturally. I think that's why there are so many verses that tell us to give thanks. Gratitude is something you have to practice, and once you make it a part of your life, great things can happen.