Thankful Thursday

I am beyond thankful for this man, this man I am honored to call my husband and father of our children. Ethan went to his dad and asked if he would teach him to mow. Of course Steven agreed. I absolutely LOVE witnessing Steven teach our boys how to do things. This particular event pulled at our heart strings. Steven said, "this was really emotional for me...I never had this kind of opportunity with *my* father, I'm so thankful I have this with Ethan."

I am also incredibly thankful for this boys willingness and eagerness to learn and please us.
He is such a blessing. My oldest boy is growing up way too fast.

Today(and everyday)...I am thankful.

Life. Keepin' it real.

the last 24 hours.
Yesterday:
4:50pm, Steven left for his last fire training class and I was once again home alone with the boys to do the entire night time routine, by myself!
5:00pm, I was going to cook supper but the boys didn't like what I was thinking, soup and grilled cheese, so I caved and got Pizza Hut.
6:30pm, The boys shower. Ethan jumped up to adjust nozzle and it broke, water EVERYWHERE!
Abram showers and needs a new towel because his towel got soaked from Ethan's nozzle knock.
7:00pm Wednesday nights the boy(s) and I watch American Idol. Usually by this time of night I've already checked out for the day mentally and just want to watch some teen hopefuls make it big and every Wednesday Abram complains he doesn't want to watch it...last night was no exception.
His little six year old body just couldn't sit still or keep his arms, legs, hands, or feet to himself.
He likes to talk, sing, hum...NONSTOP which annoys us and makes it hard to hear the TV.
I had asked him several times to sit down and shut up be quiet and he just wouldn't until...the candy necklace he was swinging came undone and all those little pieces of candy went flying...into my face! I came unglued and called him a not very nice name. Real mature I know, but I thought it was better than beating his butt or throwing the remote at him. He senses my extreme frustration and sits down but keeps talking. He just had to tell me how grey my hair is. Well DUH!
9pm, bed time. I am VERY clear, if either kid comes downstairs there will be serious consequences.
We say what we're thankful for, prayers and I leave, well try to. Ethan needs a drink, Abram wants the window shut. I allow Ethan to get a drink and tell Abram to just go to sleep. I leave, for real this time.
5 minutes later I hear foot steps...Ethan is coming to tell me that Abram tried to shut the window and got it stuck, he's hot and mad at Abram, Abram is mad the window is open...I want to scream and cry.
I come downstairs totally wiped, log into Facebook and learn that my dearest friend Trina passed away. I am now completely falling apart.
10pm, Steven comes home. We talk about his testing and evening, I tell him about ours and about Trina. We finally go to bed at 11:45pm I wait for Steven to fall asleep before I allow myself to cry and ask God why Trina? Why now, why her...why God?
12:01am, Steven's fire pager goes off...he leaves, I get back up.
1:00am, a massive storm with thunder, lightning and forceful winds sweeps threw our town.
1:30am, I have a bowl of cereal and head to bed. I pray for Trina's family and count my blessings.
2:15am, Steven comes back home, showers (because he smells like a fire) and heads to bed.
3:00am, we go to sleep...zzzzzz
6:55am, Steven's fire pager goes off, again.
7:00am, boys wake and start their day...me too.
7:40am, Steven comes back home. Abram has decided he doesn't want breakfast (like most mornings) and he doesn't want hot lunch either. Steven proceeds to make him a lunch. He is insisting on 1 piece of buttered bread and 1 cookie. They fight over his lunch. Yelling, screaming, crying...not how I want my boys to go off to school. I'm sad, Abram's mad, Steven's frustrated, Ethan waits outside by car.
8:35am, I leave, head to the coffee shop, then work. I try my hardest to smile at every customer and count my blessings, because with my blessings, I am a rich woman.
9:30am, I notice I forgot earrings today, I'd rather forget to brush my teeth then forget earrings. I'm sad.
12pm, A friend drops off Mary Kay, brings me chocolate and offers me her earrings, I love her.
2:50pm, Get off work, go back to same Coffee Hut, see different girl thankfully and hope to refuel for afternoon. Pick up kiddos.
3:15pm, We arrive home. Ethan wants to watch Sports Center, Abram wants to annoy him and begs him to play outside. I agree to sit outside where I promise myself to not yell, scream or say mean words today. Abram gets the hose. I ask him very nicely NOT to spray me.
3:20pm. He sprays me "accidentally." I want to cry. I come inside without saying anything. I think about supper, for about 3 seconds then hope Steven has a supper idea.
4:06pm, Text from hubby-computers went down at work, he'll be home soon.
4:22pm, Second text from hubby-fire call, no ETA now.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!?!
But...as I sit here and reflect on these past 24 hours I know in my heart I am blessed, so very blessed.
Blessed to even have known Trina, for her to give me Godly advice and counsel, prayers, and wisdom.
Blessed for the health and life of my boys, even when  he  they challenge me.
Blessed with a husband who  works full time and loves to serve on the Fire Department and who never complains about anything, ever.
Blessed with incredible family and friends IRL and virtually who are willing to give me their earrings, listen to me, lift and encourage me.
I am incredibly blessed and to Him be the glory.

Heartbroken.

This evening I found out that my dear friend Trina was called home to be with the Lord.

I am saddened and heartbroken, but will rejoice knowing she is dancing in Heaven.

Our shared love for the Lord, coffee, our husbands and sons connected us. 

She leaves behind an amazing husband, SIX handsome sons, 

a beautiful daughter in law

 and a precious brand new grandson.

She will be forever missed.

Love you Trina, until we meet again.

Wordless Wednesday:Spring

Wordless Wednesday: cherished moments

11 Random Things

My friend Melissa tagged me to answer 11 random things.

First, you're asked to post a picture of yourself...

Then she wants to know 11 random things...

-I really, really love coffee. The smell, taste, color...all of it.

-I miss my grandparents everyday. Every.single.day.

-In the 14 years we've been married, we've lived in 3 houses.

-I'm not a sweets girl, or pizza girl, or an ice cream girl either.

-In college, I thought after I graduated and I'd move to a big city(like NY or Chicago), work 60+ hours a week in corporate America, live in a swanky apartment, eat sushi and drink wine every night. Little did I know God had other plans for my life, plans that have far exceeded anything that other life could have given me.
-My husband and I are total opposites.

-I really don't like animals or pets. *shudder*

-We have a cat. *shudder*

-I love doing laundry.

-Fall is my favorite season, with Spring a close second. I love what both have to offer.

-I have never smoked a cigarette, ever. *puke*

Now to answers Melissa's question to me:
1. What is your favorite childhood memory?
-for my 10th birthday my dad bought me a Raspberry Red Schwinn beach cruiser...I LOVED that bike.

2. What is your biggest fear?
-my biggest fear is having my husband die before we're super old, way grey and before me or having my children die before they have to bury Steven and I.

3. When you started driving, what kind of car did you have? (Whether it was the family vehicle or you were given it just for you.)
-On my 16th birthday I was given a $20 bill(back then that filled the tank) and the keys to a Nissan pickup truck that had been through several people before me. It's name was "The Nasty." It was an old, dirty, paint chipping, interior torn, broken radio, best first set of wheels that was FREE! It was eventually passed on the my husband who drove it into the ground. It had well over 500,000 original miles on it.

4. What moves you to tears?
Any sort of military homecoming.

5. Why do you think babies spit up on you whenever you've just put on clean clothes?

-because they want to show you just how much they love you!

6. What was the hardest life-lesson you had to learn?

-that sometimes people who you love, admire and adore leave this world far sooner than you'd hoped for. It's not fair, plain and simple.

7. What is something you are good at?

-organizing

8. Fast forward 30 years and then look back. What is something going on in your life right now that you'll probably miss in 30 years?

-hands down, my boys at this age. Abram LOVES to snuggle&smooch me, sit on my lap, read him stories and Ethan is still a boy who likes to tell his mama everything.

9. If you have children, what is something he/she/they have taught you?

-patience, humility, humbleness...daily.

10. Name something on your "bucket list."

-to be a grandma!!! Nana Ness...doesn't that sound wonderful?!

11. When you are dead and gone, what do you hope people will remember about you?

-that I loved my family fiercely and that I fed them well :)

If you read my blog, play along and let me know!

Happy answering!

Happy, happy birthday Steven!!!

from your mini me, Ethan.

from Abram.

from your sweet boys that love you so much!

Have a wonderful day~

Love, me :)