Our Crazy, Happy Love: August 2013

When I woke this morning and began thinking about all I needed to do today, the first thing was pay the credit card that I forgot to pay last night. I went ahead and paid it right then. But it just got me to thinking how much longer will we live this tight? Taxes hit hard this year, and I finally think we have recovered and now it's time for termite renewal and Terminix yearly payments and registration renewal all this month. What else? I begin thinking to myself...stay out of Target this week, stay home so I don't have to get gas as often, and so on. I got ready for church and the boys and I went. Late of course, but so were a few other teachers so I didn't feel as bad!! :) Almost immediately as I got in church and began singing, the Lord spoke to me. I felt him saying, "Do not worry about what you have to do. Bless and thank me for what you have. I have and continue to provide for your family." Right then, I stopped and thanked him for my blessings. Church was good, and on the way home I got a text from a friend needing Spark. To me, this was just reassurance of our needs being taken care of. We are very blessed and I am humbled by the season of the life we are living. Time is special to us right now and these moments with these boys are priceless.

I hope when you read this post that you needed to hear this too. Don't waste this day worrying about tomorrow. It does NO good. We are too blessed to be stressed. We met Mark after church and headed to the zoo for the afternoon. It was hot, but fun and free because we already had a zoo membership. Prayers for a good week!

~Amber

This month Mark is working a crazy amount of hours, so the boys and I have been having a lot of quality time together. No school or anything we have to do and it's been nice! We went swimming a few times last week, babysat a sweet baby one morning, made cookies to take to the hospital for Daddy and his friends, had blizzards to support the Children's Hospital, and made it back to the gym...finally! This afternoon we went to the movies and saw "Planes." It was cute, but Anderson was finished when his belly got full of popcorn. Plus, we had been going to the $1 movies over the summer and they weren't very busy. Well today it was busy and he didn't know how to react to someone sitting next to him. They are enjoying Mark working so much because that gives them a few nights a week to sleep with me! I don't complain because I enjoy the company.

They had a wonderful time, or so it sounds, in Louisiana with out me. They came home with a lot of loot from various family members! My conference was good and it was fun to get back in the swing of teacher mode even if it is part time. However, it was way in the country with horrible cell service, scary sleeping arrangements, and the food was cafeteria style (ick!!!) So happy that I packed my own snack bag and plenty of water. I just don't do well with all of that. But overall, it was nice and sponsored by the Baptist Convention so super sweet people! I met Mom half way Sunday to get the boys since I was 5 finishing Saturday. The drive is LONG. And I say I am open minded about fellowships and a permanent spot, but boy that sometimes narrows my decision after making the trip. I know we won't go any further than 11 hours or at least I pray! It's exciting to think that next October we will know something, but that also means we will be closer to having to say good-bye to our friends here. That, I am not looking forward to.

I went last Tuesday for my 2 week check-up and all was great. I can't say enough what a super doctor I have here. The boys have still been asking about the baby. Bently wants to know when we can see him again and why the doctor gave him to Jesus. Anderson just says that since I don't have a baby in my tummy then I can carry him! Love the way they each think so differently.

We took them to get a fish this week. They had a gift card left over from last birthday and since it's almost been a year...we decided we best use it! Mark wanted to dive in to a bigger aquarium, but i knew if I couldn't keep one fish alive, a big something would be a waste. So Goofy and Charlie Brown were welcomed Tuesday evening. Charlie Brown died Wednesday!!! Not sure what happened, but Goofy is going strong!

We have one more week until school starts for me, so I'm looking forward to more Mommy time this week. If Mark gets rest tonight, we plan to go to the zoo tomorrow afternoon. If not, I'll just take sometime this week. I hope all of you reading are having a nice weekend. We love you and miss you!