I LOVE Date Nights!

I can't wait...I am going on a date tonight with my man! I am so excited that we are going to see live theater again! I have always enjoyed live theater - both plays and musicals. I enjoy watching them and I enjoyed participating in a couple of them! I was in a musical when I was 13 - it was called, "With an Everlasting Love." I was the youngest cast member - most everyone else went to the Bible school where it was performed. I was in another one in high school called "Carousel." That was a lot of fun to be in since a lot of my friends were in it too! My best friend had one of the main roles - she was amazing! They were both so much fun to be in!

We are going to see, "Joseph" at Sight and Sound! It is going to be so nice to be on a date with Dawson again! My MIL will be with the kids - thanks, Mom! Date nights are so awesome!

Thanksgiving Place Cards

I had a great idea for a Thanksgiving craft for the kids to do - turkey place cards! I found an idea online for the general "look" of the place card, and then I got out my construction paper and traced and cut out the body of the turkey. It took longer than I thought it would to cut out!!! I knew that I needed some help to prep this craft...so, I called upon my artsy hubby, and asked him to cut out the feathers and do something for the beak and gobbler thingie. I have to say that the beak and gobbler thingie looks A-MA-ZING!!! We decided that it would be better for Dawson to glue the feathers together in a fan (displayed below), rather that have the boys attempt to do that part, since we had 15 place cards to do!!! So, here are the parts that Dawson did, and then we had the boys glue the turkey on to the feathers and then the completed turkey on to a place card (we used a folded 4x6 index card).

The finished products: My 4 year old wrote all of the names on the cards - didn't he do a fantastic job!!! I LOVE how the "Y" got carried to the top of the name, since he ran out of room!

This one says "Grammie" - I love it!

This is my favorite - "Mommy" :)

Helping to Relieve Stress

Dawson's company has been blessed with a lot of work...unfortunately stress comes along with that blessing of work. There are deadlines to meet and more hours to be spent on the jobs than they actually have, so with that...comes overtime! With overtime comes less time with your family and less sleep...which bring on more stress which can be expressed in different ways. Dawson has actually had a break from overtime for the past 1-2 weeks, but there are other co-workers who now have "their turn" with working overtime with the projects that they are working on. It is not fun, but it is a necessity.

So, I am going to try and help to bring some smiles and cheer into their office! I am going to be very busy in my kitchen over the next few days...baking some goodies and maybe making some chocolates too. Reaching out to those guys (and a few gals) with one way that I know how, and that is through baking!

Right now, my list includes: brownies, mini banana muffins and chocolate covered pretzels!

What would you include on this platter of goodies? I would love to hear any suggestions that you may have!

Prayin', Prayin', Prayin'!

My husband, Dawson, is studying to take an EIGHT HOUR test in April! You read that correctly - 4 hours in the morning, then they have a lunch break, and then 4 hours in the afternoon! Does not sound like a fun Saturday to me!

What is this test all about? It is the PE exam, or Professional Engineering exam. It is not an easy exam, and they test of such a vast amount of knowledge! He has been going to a review course every Tueday night from 6:30-10:30 pm since November (I think?), and next week is his last class. Tuesdays are very long days for BOTH of us! He leaves between 7-7:30AM and is not home until about 11:15PM (the class is about 45-60 minutes away from where we live). He brought his study materials to my parents' house and has been studying there for about 2-3 days each week. I am very proud of him!

So, I have been doing a lot of praying for him - that he will be able to absorb everything that he is reviewing and studying, and that when he goes into the exam, there will be a peace that washes over him, and that he will be able to complete all of the problems and pass! Hoping to share great news with you in June! (that is usually when the results arrive)

Happy Birthday Dawson!

Happy Birthday, Dawson!

I am so thankful that the Lord created you. You are the love of my life and a wonderful and fun husband and daddy.

The Lord has placed so many good gifts inside of you. You are talented and fun. You are so precious to Him and to us. We are so grateful to have you in our lives.

May the Lord pour out every good thing that He has for you each day of your life, and may you realize all that God has for you each day of your life.

Happy Birthday, Hunny. I love you so much - "You're a godsend - a blessing from above. You've been God-sent to me." - and I am so thankful for you!

Praying For Comfort and Peace

I cannot imagine living life without Dawson. He is the love of my life, my best friend, and I love being with him, talking with him, etc.

When Dawson returned to work today, he found out that a co-worker past away on the 23rd. My heart breaks for his wife and two daughters. Dawson went to the viewing tonight and he is planning on attending the funeral tomorrow. This was a sudden death, which makes the situation even harder for the family and the people that worked with him.

Every time I think about it, I get choked up and tears fill my eyes, and I have been praying for the family many times throughout the day. Praying for comfort and peace for the family.

He Did It Again!

Over the weekend, I noticed that Dawson had written the word "delivery" on our calendar in the square for the 25th. On Monday and Tuesday morning, I asked him what was being delivered and he smiled and said that I was going to be home, so that is all that mattered.

I tried not to think about it too much - but I did think...it is either something for me, or maybe it is that antennae that he has been wanting for the TV. Either way, I was excited to see what was going to arrive at my doorstep!

At around 1:00pm, the nice delivery man handed me a box and inside that box, this is what I found!!!

The roses are SO beautiful...and he gave me two dozen of them! The colors are pink, red, yellow and peach - just gorgeous! Now, I need to learn how to arrange them a little better! I have never been given that many roses before! Do you know why he gave them to me? Because he loves me and is thankful for me! He is wonderful and knows how to make me feel special and loved.

I am thankful for my husband, not because he has given me flowers, but because he loves and appreciates me. He shows this in so many ways from working at his job to being an excellent and fun father and husband and of course for his love for God. It is amazing that we have been married for almost 6 1/2 years - as we continue to learn more about each other and how to fill each other's "love tank," marriage is definitely something that continues to get better with age!

I Love You Too, Babe

I enjoy receiving flowers - not weekly, but from time to time. As some of you know, red roses are my favorite flowers to receive! I used to think that it was "bad" to enjoy receiving flowers - just because others don't care for it, but you know what I have realized? We are all different and we all get our "love tank" filled in different ways. So, it is okay if you enjoy flowers, or chocolates, or a night out with the kids, and it is also okay if you don't!

Anyway, I was not given flowers the other day - but I was given a little note, that just made my day! It was just as good, if not better than roses!

On Tuesday, it was a foggy morning and we had our MIA meeting that day. I got the kids into the car, and after I buckled my seat belt, I looked up at the windshield, and there was a special note written on the condensation, just for me!

It simply said:

I LOVE YOU!
XOXOXO XOXO

(there were hearts drawn on it too!)

It made my day!

I love you too, Dawson! :)

Celebrating Six

Last Sunday was our six year anniversary! I think that it is amazing that Dawson and I have been married that long! Sometimes it feels like it has not been six whole years and other times it feels like it has been forever! :)

On Sunday, I was thinking back to our wedding day and remembering the different parts of the ceremony, picture taking and the reception. It was a beautiful day and we had a wonderful time. One of my favorite parts was the ceremony. I was not the type that had my wedding planned when I was six years old, but I always did dream of marrying the One that God had chosen for me. I cried before walking down the aisle, while walking down the aisle and during parts of the ceremony - not a hard cry (I did not want to mess up the make-up and I wanted to look pretty in the photos! I actually had given my dad and Dawson a hanky to place in their pockets in case I did cry - that was good planning!)...in fact, only one of my eyes had tears that came out of it. They were tears of joy - my dream had come true. Dawson was the One that I had waited 28 years to marry and to spend the rest of my life with! He is one of my promises that the Lord fulfilled to me.

Over the past six years, we have been through a lot - the tough times and the good times have brought us closer together. We now have two beautiful boys - and our littlest guy celebrated being five months old on our anniversary! :)

I am thankful that the Lord placed Dawson and me together as husband and wife. We are thankful for all that the Lord has done in our lives, for what He is doing in our lives, and for what is to come. The Lord has very special plans for us as individuals and as a married couple and I want all that He has for us!

And in Dawson's (paraphrased) words that he prayed on Sunday, "Thank you Lord for giving us the past six years together and we pray for a thousand more together!"

I love you Dawson! Thank you for all of the fun memories that we have had so far. I am excited to see all that God has for you and me! :)

My "Surprise" Special Delivery

Yesterday, I received an email from Dawson letting me that there was going to be a special delivery that was going to be made somewhere between 9-5! He told me that he wanted it to be a complete surprise, but he decided to give me a heads up, so that I would answer the door (even if I was a little busy at the moment with one of the boys).

I was so excited! I had a feeling that it would be flowers, but I was not sure! He has never sent flowers to me since we have been married, so who knows! (he has given me flowers, but has hand delivered them)

Yesterday, at about 4:50pm, I saw the delivery truck drive up, and I went to the door to receive a box. Inside the box were the beautiful bouquet of one dozen red roses and a little box of chocolates. They are such beautiful roses and they smell so good! I will have to post another photo of them (if I think about it) as they begin to bloom. Dawson walked into the house about 5 minutes later and he got a big kiss and hug! :) It was so thoughtful of him to do this! He told me that he has been wanting to do this for a while, and so, he finally did. He is the best...even if he did not send me flowers, he is still the best!

Thank you Dawson for my beautiful flowers. You really made me feel special, appreciated and loved! You will always be my #1 Valentine! I love you!

Happy Birthday Dawson

Yesterday was Dawson's birthday! Happy Birthday to the man that I love! Since you were born on the 10th, here are 10 things that I love about you!

1. Your heart is after the Lord. Even when you feel like you are "slowing down" - I still know where your heart is (and so does the Lord)

2. You love me unconditionally - even when my hormones are a little out of whack! :)

3. You love our two boys and play with them every day!

4. You gives Brady his baths (and will eventually give the baby his baths too!)

5. Your laugh - I love when I hear you laugh hard, especially when you have had a rough day

6. Your smile - it is so cute and warming!

7. You will make breakfast, lunch or dinner when you know that I am not able to do it - I don't even have to ask!

8. You change diapers - and lots of them! :)

9. You make me happy when skies are gray

10. We have fun together and try to make each other not take things too seriously all of the time

I love you, Hunny. I definitely could make a longer list - but the baby is crying! (So that is why I did 10 things and not 32!) I pray that the Lord blesses you in new ways in this coming year of your life.

Love, your Sweetums