He is clearly seen.

The more I looked, the more frustrated I became.  I had a mission and it didn’t look as though I would complete it.

Dave knew that I was agitated and said, “what are you looking for?”

My reply was simple, “I’m looking for Jesus.”

Standing there at the do-it-yourself home store, I was looking for Jesus in the Christmas decorations aisle.  I saw santa and frosty.  I didn’t, however, see Jesus.

I looked at Dave and said “Will you build a cross for our house?”

When I pulled into the driveway the very next day, I saw him in the garage meticulously building the cross.  Jesus would be seen from our home this Christmas.

I love the carpenter that lives at my house.  He makes my heart sing.  He also helps glorify the God we serve.

Celebrating our anniversary in downtown Chicago.  Kissing (I do so enjoy kissing my husband of 14 years); walking together; talking; enjoying quiet.  Perfect. Thank you mom and dad for taking care of the girls for us.

View from our room – evening.

View from our room – morning.

When we first got married, I’d ask him this question several times a week:  ”So, what movie star or model or singer do you think is really beautiful?”  And for the first few years of our marriage, this is the answer he always gave me:  ”Oh honey, you are the most beautiful.”

How that answer frustrated me!  I wanted to know who I should be trying to look like; what my hair should be like; what my style should be – all based on who he thought was beautiful.  I just wanted a doggone answer from him and he refused.  We’ve been married 14 years today and he still hasn’t answered that question.  The big difference between 14 years ago and today is that I don’t ask that  question anymore.  I finally realized just how wise my husband is and I accepted that he has been telling the truth all of these years.

My heart knows that I’m not the prettiest nor the smartest nor the kindest.  However, my heart also knows that he thinks I am.

And so today, I’m writing to tell my groom thank you for not answering my silly questions.  Thank you for the love note you put in my lunch last week.  Thank you for grabbing my hand while I’m sleeping in the middle of the night so that we can sleep holding hands.  Thank you for making me feel like the most important person in the entire world.  Thank you for wiping my tears when things are hard.  Thank you for listening to my dreams and for encouraging me.  Thank you for promising me all of those things you promised me on our wedding day and thank you for working hard to make good on all of your promises.

God’s fingerprints are all over our lives together.  He was orchestrating this beautiful life that very first week.  That week when I visited your town while on vacation.

Cross My Heart, babe.

My biggest regret thus far goes all the way back to that first Christmas.  We had been married just one  month when Christmas rolled around.  And I know you remember that I cried all day long because we were living in Cheyenne and my family was in Chicago.  It was my first Christmas away from my mom and dad and my brother and sister and my grandma and grandpa.  And I moped and was miserable all day long.  It breaks my heart to remember you trying so hard to make your new wife happy.  From the deepest part of me, I wish that I had treasured that time alone with you.  I wish that I had focused on you like you focused on me.  I know you forgive me for that but I’m aggravated that I missed what could have been such a sweet time.  Only now can I look back and be thankful for that time we had in Cheyenne to build this marriage.  To have long talks.  To dream together.  I loved those days.  Do you know that?

I greet the future with you with such gladness.  It will not always be easy; there are hard days ahead I’m sure.  But I know that I’ll be happy because, God willing, when I’m 80 years old you are going to be looking for my hand to hold in the middle of the night under the covers.  A girl like me gets teary eyed just thinking about such a lovely and tender moment.

I love you; I thank God for you; and dangit you are my hot, hot, hottie.

Veteran’s day was just as it should be.  I got to hug my favorite veteran…..my marine dad; my daughters celebrated vets at school and I heard patriotic tunes that I hummed in my head all day long.  ’Tis good and right to love your country.  ’Tis honorable to protect it.  ’Tis a shame some of our leaders are ashamed of it.

Feeling very indebted to the vets:

Feeling thankful that my girls are being taught to recognize and celebrate this country and those who defend it; grateful beyond words for their school:

love this guy so much:

We have a little ray of sunshine living in our house.  She’s straight from God, our little ray of sunshine.  The bright sunshine pours out of her as she flutters around our lives.  Her smile is like a beam and I think she may have been sent here with more pixie dust than most.  She’s magical and today she turned seven years old.

It’s so exciting holding a surprise for little sunshines in your life when you are a mama.  It’s like the best gift ever waiting to be unwrapped; the anticipation of her smile made me giddy all day long.  For weeks we’ve been hard at work remodeling her bedroom and setting up the aquarium that we knew she’d love.  And she did.  Her day was full; special day plate for breakfast with the sprinkled doughnut and candles; cake pops to share with her friends at school; the unveiling of her brand new bedroom complete with fishies and dinner where she wanted.

Her sister……sparkly light in her own right I assure you….gathered friends today to go to her classroom and sing happy birthday to her.  A mama could just cry when love between two sisters is shared so freely.  Did you ever have a moment when you felt like the world could not get any better than that very second?  I had a moment like that today.  When Livy told me what her big sister did for her.  I adore moments like that.