List of things to do on Spring Break:

• Celebrate an anniversary
• Spend time with the kids
• Spend time with family
• Visit a museum in Chicago
• Take lots of walks
• Play, play, play!
• Catch up on scrapbooking
• Catch up on laundry
• Don't feel bad that you're not in Jamaica or Florida
• Enjoy just being with the people you love
• Feel good that you accomplished everything on the list!

Hope your spring break has been as enjoyable as ours!

We'll Build a Household of Faith...

Those are the lyrics to a song that was sung at our wedding seven years ago, and we are still singing it. "We will be a family in a house that will be a home, and with faith we'll build it strong. We'll build a household of faith, that together we can make, and when the strong winds blow it won't fall down. As love in Him will grow, then the whole world will know, we are a Household of Faith."

My sweet husband and I are celebrating seven years of marriage on Monday. In honor of our anniversary, I thought I'd share our "story." I love telling it and some of you (unless you tire of reading long-winded blogs!) might enjoy hearing it.

I was 18 when Jerry and I met for the first time. We were both music majors. I was a freshman, he was a senior...and a big man on campus. He was president of the University Choir at the school and was helping all incoming freshman and transfer students at choir auditions. I was very nervous, focused, and stressed. He says he thought I was cute and had a great smile (he just asked me to add that). Shortly thereafter, the president of the university died suddenly, and Jerry's choir sang at the memorial service. It was the first time I had ever hear them sing, and they were amazing. Afterwards, at the reception, I saw him across the crowded room (really, I did), and I made a beeline for him in my polka dot dress, where I fumbled all over myself to tell him how beautiful the choir sounded and how impressed I was. He was so handsome and he made my heart flitter flutter. I'm serious, don't laugh. He truly did. After making small talk, he invited me over to his house where he and his housemates were having a party/movie night. The only problem was...I had a date. So I did what every sensible girl would do...I brought my date with me! My date decided shortly after arriving that Jerry's party was lame and that we should go. I left begrudgingly to go to a wild beer party on campus, and after about five minutes I ditched him to go back to my future husband. Let's just say it was love at first sight. We were inseparable.

Jump ahead to the end of that year. Jerry graduated, I still had three years of school to finish. We were separated by distance, which is never easy, but we did our best to continue seeing each other. It was hard on the relationship, and we both tried to move on...never successfully. Even while dating other people, the two of us were always the standard by which we judged everyone else. One thing always remained...we were devoted to one another, in friendship and in love.

After many years of being on again, off again, I finally came to my senses and realized that if I didn't marry this man soon, he'd be permanently off the market and some other lucky woman would snatch him up. In fact, he was in a serious relationship at the time, but when she left town, he invited me to a show that he was doing. Mind you, I had recommitted my life to Christ, and I was living a different life than when he first met me. I knew God's plan was for me to have a man in my life that loved Him, and I was committed to waiting for whoever that was...but I always knew it was Jerry. The Lord was already at work in his life, and eight years later, the Lord made it clear that our time had come. The night of his show, Jerry sang a song that I knew was meant for me, and afterwards, I poured my heart out to him. I told him how I felt and we were back together...just like that!

One month later we were engaged, and one year later we were married in a beautiful ceremony at our church. One year later we were pregnant with our first-born, and seven years later we are the proud parents of two adorable boys.

I can honestly say that I am just as crazy about my man as I was the day I first met him. God knew how much I needed him, and I never cease thanking God every day for bringing him into my life fifteen years ago. As I look back on those early years, despite the fact that I travelled down some roads that I'm not particularly proud of, I wouldn't change a single thing. Every path led me to where I am today...in Jerry's arms.

We recently sang together for an event at our church. We love doing duets, but this one in particular really meant a great deal to us, because it truly encompasses our story. It's a song entitled, Bless the Broken Road.

Happy Anniversary, Honey. Here's to many, many more!

While he was sleeping....

Welcome to my word-filled Wednesday. I had to share the fact that I had the most productive day. It helped that my feeling-a-tad-bit-better pre-toddler took a good nap while Cody was at school. As soon as he was quiet, I retreated to the basement where I proceeded to sort through everything...from baby stuff to artsy craftsy stuff to Christmas stuff. And I just posted twenty items on this awesome site and have seven of them claimed already. Ah, it feels good to get rid of stuff. I mean seriously, I have this really great leather backpack down there (that seriously weighs ten pounds without anything in it) but I haven't used it in at least ten years. Why do I continue to haul the thing with me whenever we move? And as for all those magazines...have I really cut out recipes, ideas, money-saving tips and that oh-so-adorable cookie creation I swore I'd make from all those family friendly magazines? NO. So offered they were to the lucky person(s) who claims them. And my basement just got that much cleaner. It was therapeutic. In the process of all of this, I pulled out my scrapbooking stuff, dug out pictures of Caden and intend on using next week's spring break to scrap his first year. I did it for Cody, I want to do it for Caden. I think THAT will be therapeutic too. Okay, truth be told, I don't want Caden asking me in twenty years, "Where's MY book?" That's a question I'd prefer not to answer.

****Updated to add: Of the twenty items I posted, only six remain. Yippee! Freecycle, ya'll. It's the greatest thing. And your "junk" becomes someone else's treasure.

A case of the Springtime Sickies

I packed up the car, grabbed my keys and the last of my things and went to give kisses and hugs to all before I left for the retreat. When I leaned down to kiss Cody's forehead, he felt warm, so I grabbed the thermometer to get a reading. Fever. He was coughing, his nose was running, and he seemed really tired. Even though I knew he was in more than capable hands (daddy's of course), I hated to leave. It is what every mother dreads...having a sick little one and not being able to be there.

It was hard to enjoy the retreat completely, knowing that he was under the weather, but everytime I checked in, Jerry assured (and reassured) me that everything was fine. I tried to relax, take time for myself and not allow my worries to overtake me! The worship went well, the speaker was phenomenal, and the time away was good. But oh, how I missed my guys.

As soon as I was able, I got in the van, drove home, and was greeted by a running, hugging, feeling-much-better five-year old. It was nice to be back home....where I belong. It's interesting, really. As a mom, I really looked forward to the time off, but then when I had it, all I wanted to do was get back home so I could be with my children!

And now today I have a sick little one-year old who needs lots of mommy time. His symptoms are the same as big brother's, so we're giving it a couple days to see whether or not he needs an antibiotic. He's very cranky, irritable, and restless. I think I got about two hours of sleep last night...and now I'm the one who's irritable!

While he naps, I am thankful for the quiet of this moment and hope he can get some much needed rest. With that, I'll sign off and wish you all a happy, spring-filled Tuesday.

Happy Birthday, Sis!

Today is my sister Kari's birthday. I am a little late getting this on the blog, but wanted to make sure the day didn't go by without a little "shout out" to the best big sister a girl could have. The best description of her...she is truly an angel on earth to so many who know and love her. I love you, Keewee!

(An little explanation about the picture: Every year our family exchanges white elephant gifts at Christmas, and this was our contribution. She was the LUCKY recipient!)