The 25 Day Praise Plan - Marriage Challenge

One quality I admire most about my Husband:

Integrity

From the first time I met my husband, he has oozed with integrity.  He does what he says he is gonna do.  He is consistant.  He cares about what others think, in a healthy way.  He strives to do the right thing. 

Now, I am not saying my husband is perfect!  He has forgotten to do something I've asked him to do.  He has been impatient and inconsiderate on occasion.  But at the end of the day I strive to see his heart and it is then that I see who he really is.  He lives a life of Truth.  He is zealous for things he is passionate about. 

I have NOT spent the week praising my husband.  I wish I could say that I have but I shall not tell a lie!  I have most likely been very impatient, moody and even a little mean.  (it has been a rough few days).  So tomorrow I will include a special note in his lunch letting him know what I think of him!

I love you honey!

What will you do to praise your husband??



Homemade Pizza (Frugal Friday)

We love Pizza!!  For a while we had pizza every Friday night.  Sometimes it was take out.  Papa Johns is our favorite.  Sometimes it would be frozen.  Now, we make Homemade.  We often get day old bread from Jimmy John's (they sell it for 50 cents per loaf) and top with a variety of toppings.  Chicken, Spinach and Feta Cheese is a favorite.  I also have been known to make my own pizza crust and then top with Sauce, Pepperoni and Cheese.  The nice thing about homemade pizza is you can pretty much make it with whatever  toppings you have in the fridge.  I usually use leftover sauce from when we have spaghetti.  I use just enough cheese.  And there you have it a wonderful meal for very little moolah!! 

How do you save money??

I am linked up to Frugal Friday!

Finer Things Friday: Big Brothers

I am so grateful that my oldest son lives next door and is able to enjoy time with his younger brother and sister any time he would like.  They are able to spend lots of quality time with him, we are blessed to have meals together a couple times per week and he even offers to babysit from time to time!  That, my friends, is definately a Finer Thing!

I am linked up at Finer Things Friday. 

Eating 1 meal of the same color

After reading a post from Chasing Cheerios I decided to incorporate food into our study of colors.  So each week we will be eating one meal that consists of foods that are the same color.  (I was not able to locate the post but the link will take you to the website which has so many fun and exciting activities.)

Last week was the first week and we talked about Yellow!  So on Sunday night we ate all yellow foods.  It was so much fun.  On the menu was Yellow Rice with ground beef, squash & corn.  The ground beef was seasoned with Tumeric Root so it was yellow tinted.  I also made Banana Pudding.  A first for me and it was yummy!!  See pic below. 

This week is Pink & Green and we will be having Spinach Pizza.  (I am sure I will think of something else to go with it.  Probably salad. )  Next week is Blue and we plan to have Blueberry Pancakes, Blue Eggs, Blue Koolaid and Blue Jello.  I will post pictures so stay tuned!

The 25 Day Praise Plan - Marriage Challenge

I am so excited to focus on my sweet Husband over the next few weeks!!   I just linked up to the 25 Day Praise Plan - Marriage Challenge.  You can get all the details at Woman Living Well.

I love to utilize different devotionals, challanges to encourage me and hold me accountable.  This challange offers suggestions on different ways to encourage and love your husband each week over the next 4 weeks.  Start now, you and your hubby will be glad you did!!

My sweet boy is growing up!!

Today (January 19) my sweet Zeke turns 4!!  I remember ever so vividly the morning I woke up in labor.  The chair I labored in for about 3 hours before I woke anybody up is the chair I am sitting in to write this post.  I remember getting to the birth center dialated to a 3 and being sent to the mall to walk.  I must have been a sight walking all over Golden Triangle Mall with my sweet husband and teenage son dragging behind.  I was so excited.  Then they called us back to the birth center to get my IV set up.  (I was group B strep positive with both babies)  Once we got back things moved ever so quickly.  By 1pm I was around a 6 and we were really getting into the heavy labor.  By this time my sister had showed up.  She and Mike were so good to me.  They talked me through, held me up and encouraged me.  I am sure I squeezed my sister's arm a little too hard at least twice.  More family arrived as the labor progressed.  Through the whole labor I was surrounded by family.  Once my water was broke the contractions came quickly and I began to push Zeke out.  I had my mom, sister, other mother, nana and husband surrounding me.  My wonderful husband was able to pull his son out!  What a wonderful moment!  We were  so blessed by Inanna Birth Center to be able to deliver like this.  Zeke was born at 6:45pm on Friday January 19, 2007.  He weighed 8 lb 15 oz.  He was perfect!  Today he is still my precious boy.  He loves to write, draw, play with trains and dinosaurs.  He even likes to cuddle with mommy sometimes.  He is so smart and likes to just sit and talk.  He is so very thoughtful and will just randomly ask me "how was your day, mom?".  I love him so much!!

Our first time to really look at Zeke!

Our wonderful midwife, Jean Sala!

 Zeke 1 week old!  At home all cozy in his bed!

 Zeke about 4 weeks old.  This was after we found out I was starving the sweet boy!  Once he started gaining some wait he just kept eating and eating and eating!!

 Zeke probably less than an hour old!!

 Mommy and Zeke about 1 week old

 Zeke at 2 years old!  What a character he is!

 Zeke and his daddy!  Zeke is 3 years old here!  He loves to be with his Daddy!!  His daddy is pretty fond of him as well!!

Sweet face of Zeke!!  3 years old

Zeke first signature and hand!  3 years old

Zeke first Vacation Bible School - 3 years old

Camping!  Zeke trying to be like Daddy!  3 years old

Word for 2011

After reading several blogs about choosing a word for the year, I have done just that!

The word I have chosen for this year is.....

Obedient

Obedience to God

Obedience to My husband

Obedience to My self

Obedience to My kids

I have broken each one of the categories down and found practical ways that I can fulfill this word over the next 365 (less now) days of 2011!!!

God:

Daily Quiet time

Read the bible through in a year

Daily Prayer time

Giving (not just finanaciallly)

Hubs:

Pray for him daily

Weekly date night

Taking care of myself

Daily flirting, encouraging

Being aware of my "tone" (I can say alot with the way I say something)

Self:

Daily Quiet time

Weekly Alone Time

Routine (me and kids)

Kids:

Pray for them daily

Play with them daily

Routine

Lesson Plans for School (we homeschool)

I have also made financial, personal/relational, spiritual and physical goals for myself for this year!

The phrase that has come to mind as I have prayed and sought the Lord over this word and goals for this year is...

"It is up to me!"

That is not to say that I do not have to lean on God to have the strength but to me it means that I have to put myself out there and allow God to meet me!!! 

If you have made any goals for this year and you want to share, please leave me a comment!!

God Bless!!!!