Love

"We Love Him, Because He first loved us."

1 John 4:19

You know that giddy feeling you get when you're a teenager and your boyfriend is coming over to get you and he is just the greatest thing ever and he just makes you weak in the knees?  I remember it all too well.  We had many ups and downs in our high school dating years, but we pushed through it all-all the drama of teenage life and made it into our twenties with that same feeling of giddiness and love but a more respectful understanding of each other.  

We got married at 22/21 years old. We thought we knew it all. We moved away from home and started out our married life thinking how easy it was going.  We bought our first home, had jobs that allowed us to buy what we wanted and kept food on the table. But something was missing.

We moved back home after 3 years, and realizing the love of our family was bringing us there.  We were happy to be home and started actively trying to have a baby. With no luck, we seeked medical attention only to discover that our love just wasn't going to be quite enough to create our miracle.  Through many Dr. visits, tears, nervous breakdowns, money and long drives to the clinic we got our wonderful news--we were pregnant. 

Our love for each other had shown through all of this, and the power of prayer was bringing us our miracle baby.  He was born 9 months later and became a new love in our lives. I remember crying tears of joy when he was put into my arms in that hospital room.  There is just something so sacred about the love you feel for a child.

"For this child I prayed"

1 Samuel 1:27

To know that God loves us in the very same way and is there for us everywhere and all the time. All we need is ask.

We have been through many things in our married life...going on 16 years now. We have been through the heartache of not being able to have more children-a heartache that I wouldn't want any other person to feel. We been through many obstacles that were very stressful: a flood, a car crashing into our home, building a house (not an obstacle but stressful to say the least), having hard work destroyed by weather.  These things all seem like tests. Testing our marriage. They have only brought us closer. Our love for each other outweighs any stress or problem that comes our way.  We must keep God close as a third party in our home.  He will comfort us in our sorrows and bring us out of any trouble that comes our way.  We must trust Him!

"In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

Proverbs 3:6

This man I have beside me has my back, and I have his. He loves me unconditionally. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful person to call mine. He's my one and only. I'm so glad all those years ago God put him in my path. He could see our future and knew we were a perfect fit. He's my pilot, I'm his navigator.

He's My Love. 

A Fresh Start

Since it's been nearly 2 years since my last blog post, I thought a new start is in order. I updated my header and added a few new profile items. After that long, a few things have changed around here--including me!

It seems life has gotten better-we are happy, settled, and we seem to have this life of ours all figured out. Haha!! Okay--maybe not ALL figured out. ;)

We have added new things and creatures to our little farm/ranch/hacienda--whatever you want to call it.  We now have 30 chickens, a horse, a donkey, 3 dogs, 4 cats, a bunny, and 6 sheep (and soon to be 6+ lambs). Wow-that's a lot of animals--and we are thinking of getting more.  We built a barn last summer with much help from family and friends. It was an ordeal-but it's up and withstanding, for the most part, these horrible ND winds we've been getting.  We ran out of nice weather to finish all the trim on it-but it worked to keep our animals warm this winter.

I started a new little endeavor myself. I started making signs and such with barn wood or re-purposing drawer fronts or really any kind of wood I can get my hands on.  It's been a fun adventure; I was in a local vendor show before Christmas. I mainly sell to local people via a FB for sale page or my "business" FB page.







Those are just a sample. It's fun coming up with new ideas and running with them.  I love getting custom orders and seeing the face of my satisfied customer.

More to come soon....

Resurrection Sunday

Easter is probably my favorite holiday. It is a great celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it symbolizes new life and new beginnings. 

{It also is the start of spring here in ND--which is always a blessing after a long cold winter!!}

Today was a glorious day filled with praising God, family, and fun.

We started the day off with a little candy hunt at home and an Easter gift for Ryder-a new bike.  

Then we went to church-what a glorious service!! Wonderful music and an excellent message!

After church we had dinner with my extended family, then came home this afternoon and got company and went to visit some neighbors in the evening.

There is nothing more glorious than what Christ did for us on that cross. He died for our sins, making us new again-all we must do is believe in Him and know that He died for us!

  What a wonderful  day to remember this!

This song just touches my heart, so I must share! It just says it all! 

I have come to the realization that I must do more in my christian walk. I need to attend church more regularly and read my bible on a daily basis. This is no time to take this lightly. Jesus is coming back for us and I have to be ready!  I need to show my son {more often} the power there is in reading God's word.

I must be a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend. And I can only do this through Jesus as my guide.

20 years....

So, yesterday I spent the day working on this house-getting things finished up, and starting a few new projects in the mix.  

I also spent the day loving on my dearest of 20 years!! Yes--I said that-- 2-0 years! He asked me out with a note in choir class our freshman year of high school and the rest is history. Ha!

I don't know where time goes, I can't believe it's been that long knowing this wonderful man. We've had our fair shares of ups and downs in our relationship, but we have always made it through.  We have learned that our struggles in life have only brought us closer together. We've come along ways!

In the mix of working and loving yesterday, I also made this delicious cake! We had it for dessert after supper-it took much longer than I anticipated to make!! I had originally planned on having it for an afternoon snack. I found the idea on Pinterest which was originally from here. It turned out just how I imagined-lovely. My honey told our son that I "poured my heart into it". 

{ Swoon. }

A new wave {product review!}

So, we were in town over the weekend and the salon supply store is always out of the hair product I like {Bed Head Creative Genius}. So I decided to try some new products. I ended up bringing home 3 different products but I think one of them I will let my mother in law have. She needs a new one as well.

So yesterday I decided to do a trial run on product #1. Bed Head Totally Baked and my diffuser on my blow dryer. 

 I used my diffuser which I don't normally use because my hair has ALWAYS been stick straight. But I noticed a few days ago after my bath that my hair had a little wave to it from the humidity. So I gave it a go. And what came out was absolutely wonderful! I loved it! It gave my hair a texture and a slight wave which I have never had. I LOVE finding new products that actually work!! Even my bangs look pretty darn good and those I did nothing with other than blow dry them to the side.

I still have two more products to try too!! How exciting. It's the little things in life that make it all worth while--right?!

Coffee time

Here I sit, in my new home, in my office with my cup of coffee enjoying the morning sun shining in. God has blessed me with so many wonderful things that I can't help but be happy.   The people in my life that make it so much more enjoyable are always around to make me feel loved!

 

This is a time every morning for me to ponder on what my day is going to bring. Today-I get to continue to pack this house-put our belongings in there rightful place. That is NOT an easy task. I am missing a few things here and there as well. I am sure they will show up eventually, but it's strange that things just got stuck in an odd place that I don't remember. Ha!

 

We are totally moved out of our storage unit. We still have a few things scattered at our family's homes here and there-but not much. For the most part-we are HOME. Now just to make it a home. One that is fully functional and organized. Okay-at least somewhat organized. I am good at that but sometimes it seems I just want to give up!! One place I haven't mastered yet is my pantry. I also have a lazy-susan in my kitchen-so deciding what goes where is quite the task! I never realized putting food away would be such a thought provoking matter! With a little oomph I know I can do it!

 

Oh-and I get my haircut today. What to do what to do. I am thinking of cutting bangs again? But not sold on it yet. I like the length of my hair right now but it needs some texture to it. It's just too blunt. Maybe I'll come back later and show what I've done.

Journey

I have started reading a book called "Women Living Well" by Courtney Joseph.  I have only read the first chapter as I am following along on the authors blog book club. So far I am enjoying it. I need to do things like this for myself more often. I need to dig into God's word and realize that He is the maker of all and that I need to make Him my top priority.

As I do this, I believe my life is going to only get better.

 

Carving out quiet time isn't an easy task. It seems there is always a tv on or someone on the phone. I need to find my quiet place though {once this house is done!}. It will happen!

 

I hope to get on this blog and post more as well. It's good to get your feelings out and not just in my head.  I have felt a little low lately, down in the dumps.  I shouldn't-but I do. It's winter in ND-hard not to feel this way sometimes.