Valentine's Father/Daughter Dance

Ati and Johnny have an annual tradition of attending our city's Valentine Father/Daughter Dance. Ati looks forward to it every year and it's so special to see daddy and daughter creating these memories together. Last year they decided to ride in "style" with their friends to the dance and that just adds more excitement to the whole evening! The girls just love to be pampered by their daddy's! Here are some pics from the previous years and pics from the dance this year which they are attending tonight! What about me you ask? Well, Maciah and I had a dinner date at Chick fil A then came on home in time for his bed time and my date with a quiet house and a blanket on the couch with my laptop! Pure bliss I tell you.....

2012

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2010

The Power of a Note

When was the last time you recieved a hand written note for no special reason? Maybe a sweet handwritten note surprise in the mailbox or in your lunch...(hint to Johnny)? I think in the mix of social media we have lost the art of handwritten notes. I personally enjoy recieving notes, they make me feel special and loved. In the wake of this thought I have been convicted to do the same for the loved ones in my life. I know periodically the Holy Spirit will bring someone in my thoughts during the day and I lift them up in prayer. Just the other day on my way to work a friend of ours came to mind and I knew they were going through a tough time with a health issue. As I drove I remember saying to the Lord..."I don't know why this person came to mind, but you do God and I just want to lift them up to you at this time and pray that you be with them at this moment." Sure enough when I got home I read on their blog that that morning had been a rough one and that they appreciate the prayers and to keep them coming. I was moved to tears. I just never tire at the work of the Holy Spirit. It is so captivating! I have yet to let my friend know but remember thinking I wanted to write a note to let them know I had been praying for them in that moment and continue to do so.

NEway, back to notes! In the wake of making those around me feel loved and special I will be keeping stationary and envelopes with my bible to use after quiet time and prayer. Often times I think of someone during bible reading or prayer and hope to be able to bless, encourage, and love others during that time. Because isn't that the second most important comandment of all?

Matthew 22:39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

Here's to recieving and giving encouraging handwritten notes!! Here's a few I have recieved at work that I have taped up to serve as great reminders to keep going, and doing even though my mind and body get tired of hanging out with my 6 and 7 year old friends!

You know your on a budget when...

1. You Google where kids can eat for free. This is our list so far!

Denny's on Tue and Sat. 4-10pm

Texas Roadhouse on Tue.

Luby's on Wed. and Sat.

IHOP every day from 4-10pm

Berry Hill on Tue. and Sat. all day

Wings & More on Wed. nights

2. You get all giddy when your brand new labeled budget cloth envelopes come in the mail! No more falling apart paper envelopes! Yay! I heart them.

In October 2010, the hubby and I attended and completed FPU with our church and it changed the way we do and think about our finances around our house. One of the big changes was getting on a cash based budget to be better disciplined when we are out. We learned there was a emotional feeling when using cash versus using that beloved plastic debit or credit card. I must say it is a little harder to turn over that cash across the counter. We do categories that we use for do day to day life in cash envelopes. And we each have our own allotted cash we get each pay check to blow on whatever we personally want. In using the cash based system we have learned how to say No lots of times. Even when it pained us to do so. In learning how to be better resourceful with our cash I have also become a fan of experienced items and clothes! Yes, I admit I have grown to love Goodwill and Resale Shops! Our envelopes love them too!

This journey has not been easy but well worth it many times over. We are VERY close to paying off all of our debt (except the house). I wish I could tell you how close but my hubby doesn't want to jinx it. LOL. He says as long as we don't have any ER visits or 'unexpected surprises' we should be right on track. It's been especially helpful to be surrounded by people like our small group where we also completed FPU together last year to share in the struggles and victories. It has been such an encouragement to lean on them for prayer and words of encouragement as we near the end of paying off our debt and feel the heat from the enemy to keep us from that goal.

We hope to have a party/celebration when it's all said and done! We have a dear sweet couple whom have been accountability and have been great cheerleaders for us in this area and they promised us they would host the shindig on our behalf! : ) They are way down the line financially that we are and as Dave Ramsey would say it they are Winners with money. They have been the ones on the other side of the mountain encouraging us from the other side saying " Come on you can do it! It's great once you get over this mountain! It's such a wonderful feeling! Your almost there!" Thanks DD and KD for your encouragement and especially DD for just flat out telling us "No you don't need that..you want it. Just hold off until the time is right. Do you know how close you are? Do you know how much sooner you can ______if you just stick to the plan?" We love and appreciate you guys!

I hope to be able to post soon when the deed is done! In closing you know when you are in a budget when.....you constantly have to remind each other with these quotes to make each other feel better or during those low times...

"If we just live like no one else now, LATER we CAN live like no one else!"

and our other favorite....

"Delayed gratification is a sign of maturity." I have to personally tell myself that ALL the time. Although it's helped cutting back on visiting those tempting retail stores!

Christmas Surprise for Me.....Valentine's Surprise for You!!!

Go Texans!!

I married into football. My hubby is a huge Texans football fan and the rest of his family is too. No...let me get that straight. They are not Texans fans but 'football fans'. My in laws bleed Kansas City Chiefs and every year during football season their is a rift in the family. Most Sundays while he watches football by himself or with his family you will find me either taking a nap or reading a book on the couch right along side them. I've learned to tune out the hoopin' and hollerin' that goes on around that time. After many years of trying to learn the game of football I think I am finally catching on a little. Basically, if the team can get their ball to their side of the field at the goal they get several points. Then if they manage to kick it into the same goal right after, they get some more points. But they have 4 tries also called Downs to continue from their same yard line. If they don't advance a certain number of yards by 4 downs (i think) the other team gets the ball. I may be all wrong but that's how I interpret it. I used to just think it was a violent game of chase to steal the ball from each other but there ended up being more to it than that. You'd think that being in high school band and attending every football game during my high school years I would have understood all of this but...I had no interest on what was going on on that field. Except the score on the board of course....and making sure I looked cute with a band uniform on. That's a tough job, I might add.

NEways, Johnny and I don't get to go the games much but over the years we've had the opportunity to go several times. The highlight of course was getting to go to this past weekend's Playoffs!! Johnny was so stoked he was going to be able to go. He was like a little kid waiting with anticipation the whole week prior. It was the first game that I was actually paying attention to and actually understood what was going on a little. I was proud of myself when I found myself standing up to cheer just when everyone else was too. I wasn't just trying to blend in! I did it on my own and it ended up being at the right times just when an interception had happened or a touchdown was about to be caught. I especially love the community there is with complete strangers. Everyone was high fiving each other and celebrating together....it was awesome! Here are some pictures of us over the years enjoying some games with friends and family. GO TEXANS!!!

Crafty!

I have recently been inspired to connect with my inner craftiness since being hooked on Pinterest. I've always enjoyed making things but never had the time to come up with my own ideas or peruse magazines or other sources for inspiration. Welcome Pinterest b/c it's all in one place! If I'am looking for something specific to make I can search for it! Here are some of the projects I've done thus far.

Since we hosted Thanksgiving at our house this year, I felt like I needed something 'fallish' to decorate the front door with. Enter our Fall Pumpkin Wreath...

Since I was on roll with decorating the front door I for sure needed something new and fresh for the Winter! My old Christmas wreath wasn't cutting it anymore. This is what I ended up making...

Aside from my front door makeovers I found myself getting pretty creative with the Secret Santa gift exchange at my school. We were only allowed to spend $2/day for the first 3 days before the big gift exchange. With just $2 to spend you gotta be creative! I was thankful that we had some info with our person's likes and favorite snacks. I ended up getting our school librarian so I thought it would be neat to incorporate some handmade bookmarks into each gift to commemorate her love of books. I also included a cute little message with each gift. Check it out!

Santa & The Tooth Fairy

What are the chances of both Santa and the Tooth Fairy coming on the same night?! Well this year we were lucky enough to have a visit from both on Christmas night! We had...ahemm...Santa and the Tooth Fairy had their work cut out for them in the middle of the night, let me tell you. Ati just couldn't believe her luck before going to bed that both characters were going to pay her a visit during the night. Here is a pic of our official big girl without her two front teeth. Isn't there a song that goes something like "All I want for Christmas are my two front teeth, my two front teeth, my two front teeth..." ? Well it applied very well for our dear girl. Here she is excited that she had two down and a whole mouth full to go.

After the tooth debacle we had to prepare for Mr. Santa himself. Ati put out the usual couple of cookies with a glass of milk and this year since she knows how to write a little she decided she wanted to write him a note. I didn't manage to take a picture before his visit but here is a picture of the left over cookie and milk he left behind. He even wrote her a sweet little note back! So sweet!
On Christmas morning Ati came running into our bedroom crying. Crying?! Confused we woke up and asked her what was wrong. She was holding the 5 dollar bill the tooth fairy left her behind in exchange for her tooth and said, "The tooth fairy came and she was so nice she left me 5 dollars! BUT Santa was not nice! He came and ate all the cookies, drank the milk but didn't leave us any presents! Buahhhh...ahhh! I must not have been good!" Tears pouring out of her sweet face.

Well, little did she know that Santa needed some help wrapping up presents and asked for our help. The presents he left blended in with the rest of them b/c they had the same wrapping paper as the ones previously under the tree. So to Ati the area under the tree looked untouched as the night before. No presents added. But once we got up and inspected closely we managed to find the ones Santa left behind. The day was saved....close call.Here are a few pics of the kids on Christmas morning.

This shirt describes me to a "T"!

Maciah: "I am more interested in these empty bags!"

Maciah: What time is it again? Sorry guys I need to wake up with my cup of milk first. First things first. I don't care how many goodies I have under that tree."