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Committed

com·mit·ted

Feeling dedication and loyalty to a cause, activity, or job; wholeheartedly dedicated

Today is my anniversary, so this post is dedicated to my sweetie. We’ve been married 19 years. In today’s society, that’s a long time. Art and I come from parents who are also committed. My parents have been married forever…I *believe* it will be 48 years this fall. Art’s parents have been married for close to 40 years (or is it 41?).

 

Our Wedding

 

So what’s the secret to our marriage? One, is that he is a dedicated husband and father. He is not only committed, but has a passion for his family.

 

Always has time for a Cuddle

 

Did I mention he likes to cuddle?

We have a marriage that is full of love and dedication. Yes, there are days when we may not act so nice, but we forgive, move forward, put our Lord and family first and move forward. Leaving has never been an option; Loving has always been the priority. And I think it shows.

He LOVES me!

 

He Loves Me a LOT!

 

He likes to spice up our life!

 

Our Family

My husband is a great example of putting others before himself, whether small or big. He makes sure the gas fairy fills up my car every Sunday night so I am good for work on Monday morning and he took care of me for months when I was unable to care for myself. He gives me chocolate parties and unhesitatingly will do whatever is asked of him. He doesn’t mind that we always have a houseful of kids/teens whenever there is a day off from school and he always welcome our friends into our home.

I’m so happy to be his wife and look forward to many more years to come!

I love you, babe!

 

Making a Dream Happen!

Some of you may remember my post, “Dream Crushers” about the woman who told my son he was “no good” and to leave the store when he was playing their piano.

It’s been over a year since that happened…and thankfully, the Talented One did not let her crush his dreams. He continued to play. He plays with his heart and continues to bless us with his music. He is dedicated to playing during worship not only on Sunday mornings at church, but Sunday evenings as well. It makes for long Sundays with just a lunch break, but he continues to share this gift that God has blessed him with.

And it looks like it will continue.

You see, today, he went to talk to Mykola Suk, internationally recognized professor of music.  He was so nervous, knowing he didn’t have the formal training normally required to be accepted into a music program at a university, but he didn’t give up.  He spoke up and told the professor why he wanted to be in the program. He answered his questions and showed his dedication and motivation. And then he was asked to play.

When he was finished, the professor stated that he originally thought he’d have to put my son on hold while he took some classes and then have him try later. Until he watched him play.

He said he was impressed. And to skip the hold. And that my son was in.

He made it into the music program!!!

He challenged him and told him it isn’t going to be easy and that he has a lot of hard work ahead. He needs to practice, practice, practice.  He has to be dedicated. No vacations. He already has a piece he needs to learn.

Is the Talented One up to the challenge?

He is. And I am soooo proud of him! God is good!

And I look forward to watching Him fulfill dream after dream after dream.

And listening to my son play with his heart…year after year after year.

 

 

Days Like This

I just love days like today! I woke up early to do some spring cleaning while waiting for my “Bountiful Baskets” friend to arrive with goodies!

Today’s goodies included blueberries, strawberries, apples, lettuce, tomatoes, garlic, basil, rosemary, mushrooms, onions, asparagus, and more!

While making a breakfast of turkey bacon, eggs and mushrooms, I enjoyed some family time. The Talented One played the piano, while the Drama Queen shared her tap dance with me, and the Smart One carried on a conversation with me. These are the mornings I love!

After breakfast, we moved on to our Saturday chores. The Drama Queen helped me reorganize the pantry and clean the kitchen; a much needed task. We enjoyed the fresh air as we opened up the windows and worked together!

By the time we were done with it all, we had just enough time to run to the shoe store before company arrived for dinner. The meat was already marinating, so we snuck out for a bit. And I finally found some shoes that fit my short, fat feet….and are comfortable!

We then headed home to start dinner. Tonight’s guests were our Monday night friend who is taking a mission trip to Bulgaria this summer. I work with a friend who is from Bulgaria, so I thought it’d be fun for them to meet. And it was! I so enjoyed listening to my friend’s stories from Bulgaria. She then tried to teach us some of her language and laughed as we spoke it so terribly! Our meal was a mixture of new things; she brought a delicious salad, while I made mashed turnips (not bad) and acorn squash to go with our chicken. And then….we gorged on Baklava freshly made. Yum!

It was so nice to clean the kitchen while I listened to the two of them work on teaching my American friend the Bulgarian language. After, we enjoyed more stories and laughter as we lazed on the couch and shared the differences between the languages and how funny it is to be misunderstood. And then headed outside.

For a time of roasting marshmallows and smore making! We laughed as we dropped marshmallows into the fire and shared memories of fires past. It was fun to watch the Drama Queen teach her friends how to make smores and laugh as our neighbor spun the girls around in the back yard.

It’s days like this that fill my heart…and leave me counting my blessings. For I am blessed, Indeed.

 

 

Today Begins a New Year!

Today begins a new year. As I sit here thinking of how I'd like to see this year go, I can't help but reflect on last year.

And I'll admit; last year was probably the hardest I've ever been through; we've ever been through, as a family.

We started out the year with the possibility of breast cancer. And my niece being hospitalized for the third time. Oh yeah; and I came very close to death. A simple surgery turned bad and many, many, months of recovery. A husband without a job, a wife who couldn't work; children who needed so much and who didn't understand anything that was happening to them or to the ones that they loved.

And finally, losing the battle to keep the youngest two safe from anymore harm and not understanding at all what God was doing or why, but learning even more to trust, have faith, and carry on.

And then, my returning to work after many years of being home.

What did we learn in 2010?

That God always, always, will take care of us. Even when it seemed impossible, He found new ways to prove it to us; through our family, friends, church family, and strangers. In the simplest things; and in ways we never dreamed of.

So, what would I like to see happen this year? I'm not sure.

I know B-boo is turning 16; she's growing up so fast.

The Talented One will graduate from high school and start college during 2011…and the Good Looking One will graduate from college and begin his career as a full fledged adult, ready to take on what life has to offer.

Hopefully, the Smart One will receive his black belt in Karate, and the Drama Queen will start middle school before the year is out.

And I pray that the youngest two will finally have the home and the family that they deserve and so desparately need. And that they will be safe, and loved, and cherished. And that we'll finally get to love on them; we miss them so much.

We're looking at a year of uncertainties; we don't know where we'll be living, or whether these hard times will turn around or not, but of one thing I am certain.

I know God will continue to take care of us. That our family will become even closer. And we can look forward to the year with joy in our hearts and anticipation for what it will bring.

 

A Child’s Heart Remembered – Josh Stevens Foundation

posted by Hope via joshstevensfoundation.org

I teach Bible study on Sunday mornings to our youth at church. I love these teenagers with all my heart. It was through this youth ministry that I met Josh. I’ll never forget the first time I met him. Shelbie, his older sister brought him in and sat him down next to her. She put her arm around him and announced that this was her little brother and that he’d be joining us that morning. He wasn’t technically old enough to be in the class yet, but I was touched by how his sister wanted him there, and the smile on his face; so he stayed.

And he was such a blessing to our youth group. His smiles, his enthusiasm for life, his rap songs, and his kindness. Josh was not afraid to seize any opportunity to show Christ to others through his Kindness.

This morning, I taught on seizing the opportunity when God puts it before you. Don’t miss your chance; don’t ignore it, just take the moment, the opportunity, and do something with it!

A little while later, I was helping run the *store* for our Children’s Ministry. Each month, the children have the chance to turn in tickets that they have earned in Bible study for a prize. One little boy in particular wanted the gingerbread man on the parachute. We dug through the bag and gave it to him as we received his tickets. Next came a little girl who only had one ticket, but wanted a two ticket item. She’d already spent two of her tickets, but really wanted the next item on her list. I thought about just giving it to her, but the table was crowded with children who were trying to get there *purchases* in and I felt an *urge* to leave it alone. Very unlike me. *smile*

A few moments later, the boy who wanted that little gingerbread man handed it back to me. He asked if he could please have his tickets back. I was puzzled, but then my heart melted as I watched him hand her his ticket so that she could have the special Christmas bookmark that she wanted.

I so wanted to give him a kindness card, as his special act reminded me so much of Josh; but I didn’t have one with me. But God is good and was showing me something, because there was a Kindness card to be found in the church. I grabbed another gingerbread man on a parachute, the Kindness card, and went in search of the boy, who was just leaving the church. I stopped his mother, and asked her to wait for one moment. Then I asked Jonathan, the boy, if he knew what a Kindness card was. Indeed, he did. I explained to him how wonderful his act of kindness was this morning, and how he had reminded me so much of Josh that it brought tears to my eyes. He smiled graciously, as he took his Kindness card and his gingerbread man.

It is moments like these that we need to seize; exactly what I was trying to teach a roomful of teenagers this morning. Exactly what Josh would have done.

Seize the opportunity; Be Kind and Bless someone else today.

visit joshstevensfoundation.org