Weekend Wrap-Up

What a beautiful weekend!  The weather here was perfect, and we enjoyed every minute of it. 
Friday night we went out to dinner at one of our favorite places.

Babe's serves family style, and it is delicious!  I had the chicken fried steak.  Yum!

After dinner we went by Mardel to pick up a book, and then we went home and watched a movie together.  It was a great night!
Saturday morning Chad went to a men's breakfast at church followed by a mission project, so the kids and I did some deep cleaning.  First though they wanted to fix breakfast.  Conner made waffles.

And Catilyn enjoyed pancakes.

I tackled our bedroom and bathroom.  I felt accomplished when you could see through the shower door.  It's the little things!

The kids did a great job cleaning their rooms including dusting and cleaning out under their beds, and they did it without complaining as well!  Victory!

Saturday afternoon Chad and I made some home visits to people that had visited church the previous Sunday and had a great time getting to know the families.  After that, I tackled the grocery store.  I like to get it over with Saturday so that we are ready for the week. 

Sunday morning we went to church, and it was a glorious day!  We were looking at the Bible as God's Holy Word.  This video was shown, and it brought me to tears. 

How often do I take for granted the Word of God?  How many times am I too busy to spend time reading the Bible?  We are so fortunate to have the Bible so easily accessible.  There are almost 2,000 people groups that don't even have access to the Bible in their language.  It's just unbelievable.

Sunday afternoon we served at a local church that ministers to the homeless and down trodden in the middle of a park.  The last time we served there it was raining and in the 40's.  This day it was in the 70's and sunny! 
When we got home, Chad, Chip and I went for a walk around the neighborhood, and we came upon this picture perfect scene.

It was the perfect ending to a wonderful weekend!

Finding Your Strengths

 

Our school district recently had students and staff take a survey to discover our strengths.  I did this a few years ago with a different program, so I already had an idea of what mine were.  What was interesting though was seeing Conner and Caitlyn's results and how they both had shared some of my strengths.  The survey gives you an ordered list of 24 strengths, but I'm just going to share our top 3.

Conner's Strengths...  Teamwork, Gratitude, Fairness

 Caitlyn's Strengths...  Creativity, Curiosity, Gratitude

My Strengths... Kindness, Spirituality, Gratitude

As you can see, in our top 3, we had one trait in common...GRATITUDE.  This was definitely a surprise to me as so often I feel in this world of entitlement and wanting my kids to be happy, I see ungratefulness rear its ugly head, and unfortunately, I'm not exempt to that either.  There are many days that I have to stop and remember all we have to be thankful for, and more importantly, THANK GOD!

 On another note, Caitlyn's greatest strength, creativity, was #7 on my list, and Conner's greatest strength, teamwork, was #8 on my list.  I found it so interesting to see how we were each similar but had our own strengths as well.  

I also thought it was funny that  Caitlyn and I had the same characteristic at the bottom of our list...self-regulation.  Yikes!

Conner has always been the kid that gets along with everyone, kids and adults alike.  His dentist just shared yesterday what a great teen he is and how she enjoyed visiting with him, so it doesn't surprise me that teamwork is his greatest strength.

Caitlyn brings joy and laughter everywhere she goes and LOVES crafting, so it makes sense that creativity and humor are at the top of her list.  Funny story, the first week of kindergarten (and my first year teaching at her school), her teacher shared that she had a problem.  Caitlyn was blocking the entrance to the bathroom, and she wouldn't let kids by unless they said the password!  We had a good laugh on that one.

 My prayer is that each one of us will use our strengths that God has created us with to serve Him better and bring glory to His name!  And I hope we will do so with a grateful heart.

 

What's Up Wednesday a Little Late...

So, it's been a busy week getting back in the swing of things.  I didn't quite make the What's Up Wednesday on Wednesday, but I figured better late than never.  I'm linking up with Shay.

 

What We're Eating This Week...

 We kept it simple this week!  It's crazy that we are grilling in January, but the weather has been so nice the last few days.  Sunday nights are usually whatever we can find since we eat a later lunch out after church.

What I'm Reminiscing About...

It's only been a week, but I am already missing our trip from last week.  Monday evening Chad said, "I really missed not having an afternoon nap today."  I had to laugh because it's true, we took a lot of afternoon naps on our trip!

What I'm Loving...

Our weather.  As much as we would love a snow day at some point this winter, we are enjoying the spring like days this week.

What We've Been Up To...

Conner had a tooth crisis this week, so he has been to the dentist twice and the ortho once.  He has another dentist appointment today that I will be taking him to.

We've also been enjoying our Apple TV that Chad got for Christmas.  You can play apps on the TV.  Chad, Caitlyn and I played a few games of bowling Tuesday night.

I'm sad to say that Chad beat me.  I'm not competitive at all.  :)

What I'm Dreading...

Getting everything together for taxes.  It isn't hard, but it is time consuming.  I need to bite the bullet and do it!

What I'm Working On...

Getting the house back in order.  After being out of town last week and not having a day to get everything put up, I'm looking forward to getting everything back in place.  I function much better when things are in order.

What I'm Excited About...

My birthday is next week, and I am looking forward to some freebies!  I have a bunch of birthday coupons including an appetizer from Texas Roadhouse, a dessert from Cotton Patch and a bundlet from Nothing Bundt Cakes!  I think I'll just eat my way through the day and then go for a run.  

What I'm Watching/Reading...

Like everyone else, I'm enjoying Fixer Upper.  I'm hoping a trip to Magnolia Market is in my future.  We've also been watching American Idol since it is the last season.  We haven't watched it in several years since we are The Voice fans, but I do like Harry Connick, Jr., Jennifer Lopez, and Keith Urban as judges.
I haven't started any new books.  It is so hard for me to read during the school year.  I use breaks and vacations to read.  I am continuing my journey through the New Testament though.

What I'm Listening To...

A song came on the radio this week that I hadn't heard before, and I love it!  You can hear it here.

I am planning on buying the Passion album.

What I'm Wearing...

Conner bought me these slippers for Christmas, and they are perfect!  The tile in our bathroom is very cold in winter, so I wear these as I'm getting ready, around the house, and even in the car sometimes if I'm just dropping off or picking up.

What I'm Doing This Weekend...

Tonight we will go out for dinner, and I'm thinking we will grab a movie to watch at home.  Maybe

Saturday morning the guys have a breakfast and mission project with our church, so Caitlyn and I will probably do something exciting like go to the grocery store!  We don't have a lot scheduled this weekend which is good because February is going to be a busy month.

What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month...
Valentine's Day!  I know many people don't think this is a real holiday, but I look forward to it!  Chad and I decided several years ago that we wanted to do something simple yet fun for Valentine's.  So, we decided we would exchange gifts, but we can only spend $5.  This really forces us to be creative and intentional in what we do.  It has been great!  We have done a CD with songs, a picture collage, a jar with 52 dates/gifts/serving ideas where you can draw one for each week, a scavenger hunt...It really is something I look forward to every year.  We also try to do something small but fun for the kids.  Last year we did a QR scavenger hunt, and Caitlyn is already asking if they get to do it again.

What Else is New...

We are hosting junior high girls for our church's Disciple Now weekend in a few weeks.  I think Disciple Now is a wonderful experience for teenagers and am thankful that we get to be part of it.  It was at a Disciple Now weekend my sophomore year of high school that I realized I was not living for Christ.  I had given my life to Him, but I was not growing in my relationship with Him.  It was at the same D-Now that Chad knew the Lord was calling him into the ministry.  It still amazes me how God works in our loves in such perfect timing!

What My Favorite Valentine's Treat is...

Do Girl Scout cookies count???  It's that time of year when they are out full force tempting me with the cookies.  I have bought a box for each of the kids to give them as part of their Valentine's.

 

Cruising

 

Every year Chad and I take a trip together for our birthdays and anniversary instead of buying gifts.  We started this on our 10th anniversary when we went to Russia on a mission trip, and we have just continued each year.  We are very fortunate to have wonderful family members that take care of the kids.  We take turns picking where we go.  This year it was Chad's turn, and he chose a cruise.  This is a good choice for us because it really forces us to "disconnect" from everything. 

Our cruise was out of Fort Lauderdale, so we flew in on Saturday (gotta love airline miles!).  Our hotel room was right across from the beach, and the view from our room was amazing.

Sunday morning we got up and headed for the cruise terminal and loaded the ship.  We spent the rest of the day enjoying the ship and sailing away.
Monday was a day at sea.  It was overcast, so we didn't get to enjoy much sunshine.  However, I did enjoy a day of reading and relaxing and got an entire book read!



  
  That evening was the formal night, and we didn't really feel like dressing up.  We went to a mexican food restaurant they had on board and enjoyed some tableside guacamole, tacos, quesadillas and churros.  After dinner we went to the musical show. Monday night was a rocky night at sea as we hit some rough waters.

We arrived in Grand Cayman on Tuesday and were looking forward to jet skiing to a sand bar, hanging out with sting rays, and snorkeling at a coral reef.  Unfortunately, when we found our meeting spot, we were told that the waters were too rough to take anything out.  We were disappointed as we were looking forward to the excursion, but we enjoyed some more down time on the ship.  We watched some movies that afternoon and went to Johnny Rockets for burgers that night.

Choosing from some oldies but goodies

The staff was dancing to a song, but I don't remember which one!

After dinner, we played miniature golf, and I am happy to say that I finished victorious!  I beat Chad by 2 strokes-which is unusual.

Wednesday we arrived in Falmouth, Jamaica to rain.  We headed out for our excursion, and thankfully the skies cleared up.  We explored some caves first.

The caves were neat EXCEPT for the BATS!  They were all over the ceiling and would dive bomb at times. 
After the caves, we headed to Dunn's River Falls, and it was awesome!

It was definitely our favorite part of the trip!  We got some exercise and enjoyed God's beautiful world!
The bus ride to the ship was an hour long, and we took in all of the scenery.

By the time we got back to the ship and ate lunch, I was wiped.  We took a nap and just went to eat dinner in the cafe.  We arrived back to find this some towel art in our room.

We also received news that we would not be going to our last port on Thursday due to some problems at the port.  We were disappointed because we had never been there.  But, that made for a day of relaxing, reading, and just taking it easy.  We ate dinner that night in an Italian restaurant on board, and had a towel animal waiting when we got back.

We played a game of Phase 10, and I won that as well.  I was on a roll!

Friday was our last day at sea, and the sun was finally out!  I enjoyed some time in the sun with a book on our balcony while Chad spent some time studying.

And by the end of the day, I finished it!  It was more of a political thriller, The Theran Intiative by Joel Rosenberg, but it was good.  We finished the day with dinner in the dining room and another game of Phase 10.  Chad won, so we had to play a tie breaker game.  I won the tie breaker!

We arrived back at the terminal early Saturday morning and headed to the airport to head back to Dallas.
Although our trip didn't go as planned, we are thankful for our time together, resting, rejuvenating,  relaxing, and reflecting.  I firmly believe that it is important for couples to spend some intentional time alone together.  Even if it is a night away, that time together is vital.  If you don't have family to help with your children, maybe you can work out a trade off with friends. 
I'm already dreaming about next year...it will the big 20!  How is that possible?!

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday!

This week has been fast and furious, and we are ready for the weekend!  Here are a few of my favs from this week.  I'm linking up with Andrea, Narci, and Erika.





I've been trying to run/walk with Chip 3-4 times a week.  The extreme cold (for Texans) kept us in for several days, so we were excited to finally get out on Tuesday.  My ears are very sensitive, so I have to keep them covered.  Getting some exercise with Chip is a favorite.

Bubble baths are the best!  I enjoyed a nice, relaxing time in the tub this week.

I received an email for buy one get one free at Nothing Bundt Cakes.  So delicious!  I treated Conner and Caitlyn to it one day after school, and this is the selfie Cait took.  I don't know what she is doing!  She got the chocolate chocolate chip, and Conner got the white raspberry.  I enjoyed a sample of lemon.  Definitely a favorite place around our house-especially when it's free!

I saw this online this week and sent it to Chad.  He teases me about being too optimistic sometimes-like when I kept telling him that the Cowboys had a chance to make the playoffs.


I saved the best for last...our Birthday/Anniversary/Therapy trip is TOMORROW!  It is one of my favorite times of the year.  The kids will be staying with family, and I am so thankful for this opportunity for Chad and I to get away together.


Have a fabulous weekend!

Weekend Wrap-Up

Winter has arrived full force in Texas, and it was a COLD weekend!  We spent a lot of time indoors.

Friday night Chad and I had an unexpected date night!  We enjoyed some delicious fajitas at
La Hacienda.

Then we kept things really exciting by hitting up Half Price Books.  We had to pick up a book for Conner's language arts class, and we bought a couple of books to take on our trip next week.  I am looking forward to some uninterrupted reading time!

Saturday morning a group from our church served at an area homeless shelter.  Part of our group helped in the kitchen and served lunch while the rest of us sorted and hung clothes in the donation center.  It is always such a humbling experience.

This was hanging on a wall at the shelter.

We got home in time to watch the Texans game...if you can call it that.  Conner is a Texans fan, and since the Cowboys didn't make the playoffs, we were pulling for them.  It was an ugly loss.  We spent the rest of the evening taking it easy.

This is so me! 

Sunday morning we went to church.  It was my week in Kids' Church, and our focus was Daniel 3 and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  What a great story!  Chad had an afternoon meeting, so we went to lunch and dropped him back at church.  Before leaving, Chad gave Conner his first driving experience in the parking lot.

Conner was so excited, and Chad thought he was going to have a heart attack!  At one point Conner went to hit the brake but hit the gas instead and gunned the car.  Thankfully, he was able to recover quickly, and Chad survived!

Sunday afternoon I spent at the grocery store getting ready for the week, and now we are relaxing in front of the fire.

The weekends always go too fast, but I am so thankful for the time to serve, worship, and spend with family and friends.  We are looking forward to a great week and counting down the days until our trip!

Friday Favorites

 

I'm linking up with Andrea, Erika, and Narci for this week's Friday Favorites.

 Our Trip

 Chad and I leave for our Anniversary/Birthdays trip in a little over a week.  Spending a whole week alone with my hubby is definitely a favorite!

This Wreath 

 

This wreath may look innocent enough, but anytime it senses movement, it starts singing.  It kind of drives me crazy.  My sweet father-in-law gave it to me for Christmas.  It hung at their house for several years, and every Christmas I would mention how annoying it was, and every year they would hang it back up.  With the passing of my mother-in-law, he decided it was time for it to find a new home.  I am thrilled that he chose to give it to me, and I will always cherish it, even if it does drive me a little batty! 

My Bible Reading Plan

I am striving to read the New Testament all the way through this year.  I know it isn't quite as ambitious as the whole Bible, but it's what I believe I can do and be successful.  I am using a plan on my Bible app.

Fun Days with Family

Caitlyn convinced Chad to help her try to win a stuffed animal 

The lights were so pretty!

Over Christmas break we used our Six Flags season passes one last time.  It was much more crowded than anticipated and very cold, but we still had a blast.  Spending time with my family is definitely a favorite!

A Good Deal

Through our grocery shopping, we accumulated 60 cents off of each gallon of gas for one visit.  I can't remember the last time I paid so little for gas!

It has been a good week getting back into a routine, but we are all a little sleepy.  We are looking forward to a great weekend.  Enjoy yours!