Happy 15 Year Anniversary

So I intended to write a romantic flowery post that would show the world how much I love my husband. But then I decided against it. Sometimes you have to call it for what it is.
Tom I love you, I know that I am pain in the ass to live with and we have been through so much in the last 15 years. Thank you for putting up with me, for loving me and encouraging me to be a better woman, mother and wife. I love you and wouldn't want to be with anyone else. I have no idea what God will bring us in the next 15 years but I want to continue to be by your side through it all.
I love you Tom,
Love your Ivory Soap Girl

DONE.....for now

Well one more semester under my belt and 12 more credits are officially mine. It was a hard semester going back, one tween daughter, two sons in elementary school and oh yeah planting a church! Sometimes there just wasn't enough of me to go around. I am really proud and thankful that I had a great semester but there definitely isn't enough of a time lapse to sugar coat the stress that was involved. My desire always has and will continue to be how can I be the best wife and mom that I can be to MY husband and MY kids. The question always needs to be asked, "How can I do better?" How can I be the best? For this semester it was going to school full time, dropping out of other activities I'm involved in and just focusing on family and school work. At times though, it truly wasn't enough. The great thing about a semester is that you have time to evaluate before you jump into the next round. I loved my classes this past semester and the profs and the students. I honestly felt very privileged each time I went to class. So now that I am done what's next you may ask? Well my husband and I are going to be meeting in Denver for our 15 year wedding anniversary which is so ironic it's really not funny and then back to life without school but still having one tween daughter, two sons in elementary school and oh yeah planting a church!

Stomach Ache

Not feeling so kick ass today.....

Stepping out in Faith......a reminder.

This post was originally written on August 19th, 2006.
(The first month of our church plant) a good reminder when things get hard.

When we chose (yes it is a choice) to step out in faith by quitting our jobs and starting this church we had an idea of what the stress might look like. We had an idea that our family life could look differently if we didn't keep in place our boundaries. We knew we had to be diligent of not being out every evening of the week for the sake of "ministry". We knew that our kids could get really burned out on church if they got dragged around town to every "ministry" function for again the sake of "ministry". We knew that aspects of our marriage would become more stressful and that we would have to work harder than ever to keep the romance alive. We knew that we would come under attack, personally and professionally simply because we knew we wouldn't be able to make everyone happy and someone was bound to get pissed off. And we knew that financially we weren't making the most wise decision since we were relying on God to provide through others for our primary source of income. So, some may ask (or all of you) why do it? Why take a huge risk like that? What do you have to gain? Well when you take a step of faith like we have you feel and experience God in new and intimate ways. You have nothing to hide since you have sacrificed all for the sake of telling people about Jesus. And you are humbled on a daily basis by the love of others which you know ultimately they are able to show you because of Christ loving them.

AHGGGG

Instead of doing homework I have now spent over an hour trying to get my blog background back! What was I thinking.......I think I have lost have the stuff I had posted on here.....I will keep working on it....

A Story of an Ipod Nano

T turns 8 next week.
He decided that he wanted a silver ipod nano for his birthday.
We decided that this wasn't a good idea. T has the desire/ability/talent/gift to take every piece of electrical equipment that he ever comes close to (or he can sneak up to his room) and take it apart to figure out how it works. I know some day this "gift" will come in handy and hopefully he will make millions but for now this "gift" doesn't work in his favor. Should I also state for the record that he is a boy, the cost is $149 and he is 8!!!!
I digress from the real story.
We are having a birthday party next week and T took his invitations to school on Monday to give to all the boys in his class. There was one little boy that said he was going to bring T his present the next day because he wasn't sure he would be able to make the party. So imagine our surprise and T's delight when he came home and showed us this! That's right his little friend had taken his brothers ipod, he figured he didn't use it, and gave it to T.
Poor T knew as soon as he saw our faces that he couldn't keep it and kudos to him he didn't complain when I explained he couldn't keep it and I needed to call the little boys mom.
It is never a dull moment around here.....

What was I thinking....

I am again sitting in the BSU library trying to write my ten page paper on the doctrine of the Trinity. Whose idea was it to go back to school? Who thought they could handle 12 credits, a pastor husband, a preteen daughter, two elementary school boys and a dog?! Oh yeah that would have been ME four months ago.
I am so enjoying my classes and being on a college campus but so not enjoying the papers. It's the last three weeks of classes and I have a huge amount of work to do. When all is said and done I will be a total of 75 credits closer to finishing my BA and then who knows what will be next. I would like to do a Masters in Spiritual Formation but if writing is my weakness it might not be the best option for me. Well I guess there will be more time for reflection after the three weeks is over but for now back to the library ... after another cup of coffee....

If you care to know about being a pastor's wife

If you have ever cared to know about being a pastor's wife go to this link and watch all three very short videos. If you take the time to look at them it will give you a very SMALL glimpse of our lives:

http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/2009/03/life-of-ministers-wife.html

Migraines Suck

I was supposed to get tons done today.
But it is impossible when a migraine hits!
I think I am over the hump.
I've taken prescription meds, a nap and now I am sipping on coke (caffeine is very good thing for a headache).
Well tomorrow is always another day and we all know the work isn't going anywhere.

Happy Friday!

Bored and Procrastinating

I have been at the BSU library for over an hour. I have two papers due in three weeks. One is a ten page paper on the Doctrine of Trinity and the other one is for a gender studies class I am taking. Have I gotten anything done...well I have checked my email, gone onto Facebook and checked out everyones status, left a comment on an awesome blog I follow called London's Calling (no idea how to link you there), checked the news, local and international..eaten a banana and watched a link on YouTube....I still have no desire to get my work done but unfortunately it's not going to get done itself. Come on heavy theological discussion bring on the trinity!

Easter

Thank you Lord for giving your son.
Thank you for the utter brokenness He experienced for me.
Thank you for the grace I experience everyday because of this gift.
Thank you for unconditional love.
Thank you for forgiveness.

Long time no see

It has been forever and a day since I have been on here! I am learning alot about this blogging thing and how you don't have to be a perfectionist to be one. I found this picture on another blog and love it...I don't think it is copyrighted so I am dragging it over here because even though I don't have this tatoo, I have my nose pierced and would love some day soon to get a tatoo...don't think I am going with this one though!
Happy Easter All

Be careful what you pray for!

I wrote the below post in Nov. of 2005, I didn't post it, why? I am not sure but I do know that God was working in my heart and in May of 2006, Tom and I chose to step out in faith and walk with God in a new way and plant a church in Meridian, Idaho. Oh how my God has a sense of humor. After 27 months I think I want a break from the adventure!!!!!!
Hi God,
It's me. I am so frustrated Lord. I don't believe we are as close as we used to be. My fault I know. I don't depend on you as much as I have in the past and therefore I can't grow closer to you. I have created the life I have always wanted. Stable. Routine. Not exciting. But some how I have lost the sense of adventure that for so long I dreaded. Through so many times you have shown yourself to me and kept me going. Now I have built my world so that it will keep going all by itself. Where do I start back on our adventurous journey?

Unbelievable

I can't not believe that it has been almost been three months since I wrote. Amazing! Well I have been busy but I didn't realize I was THAT busy! Sun and warmth are finally making there way to the Treasure Valley. Please no more snow. Our mailbox has been hit twice now and fixed once. The latest person, (who drove away and was chased down by the next door neighbor who saw him do it) is still dragging his heals in fixing it. But at least he is calling me to tell me he can't come over (AGAIN)!!!
Kids and hubby are well and life is good. I have made some changes to my chaotic life, so I would stop driving my family and myself crazy and I can honestly say I am enjoying them. Still trying to understand how to balance between kids, husband, work, self and church but taking about three major things off my list has really helped the scale tip back into the right direction.

Girls Night Out

Last night Ashling and I hosted our first Girls Night Out. We provided the drinks, snacks and the movie and everyone else brought deserts and nail polish. Tom and the boys graciously left and the fun began! We enjoyed great conversation, fun stories and lots of laughs. We had a broad range of ages represented which I loved. It was so much fun to hang out with 11 year olds and thirty somethings. Thanks ladies for the great time, I can't wait to do it again soon.

Like the Music

Like the music...I have seen this on other blogs and love it and I am so proud of the fact that I figured it out all by myself! Enjoy

Nothing Much

Nothing much going on today. Woke up later than I wanted to this morning, but still managed to make a pot of coffee, load the dishwasher and put dinner in the crock pot before I headed out to class at 8:30am! After class I caught up on some emails, got the brows waxed, stopped at REI to look into renting snow shoes and cross country skis then it was off to work. After work back home to eat the delicious dinner! And try and register for next semesters classes (it wasn't as easy as it seemed)on line. Listened to hubby play his new Christmas present (Les Paul guitar) and now I am about to kiss the kiddos goodnight and then relaxing in front of the TV with the hubby, glass of wine and a Nicholas Cage movie!

My hubby is Wonderful

My hubby is my hero. He is a gracious human being filled with love and courage. He faces challenges head on, cleans up many peoples messes and is able to laugh at himself. He is an excellent teacher, pastor and friend. He is faithful and loyal. I don't always appreciate the sacrifices he makes for me as his wife and our family. I guess this is my little way of saying, I love you honey and I am sorry for not appreciating you more.

Ethan Quotes

So this is the real reason I wrote an earlier blog. More Ethan quotes!!!!
"Come on Dad, I am six, Ashling is 10 and Nathaniel is 9 don't you think we know everything there is to know about sex"
Said at the dinner table Monday night while we were having a discussion about the simpsons, sex and why mom and dad need alone time!

"Come here ya big lug!"
This was said when Ethan said good night to Tom He wrapped his arms around his waist and shouted this to him.

More to come I am sure.......