Thankful for a husband who's like no other!

What a wonderful, amazing, fun, relaxing weekend we had! It was father's day, so we pretty much celebrated all weekend! I never imagined 5 years ago, 2 son's later, that I would be in love with JC this much. Through tough times, happy times, sad times, baby births, you name it, we've conquered just about every "mountain" in 5 years, that I don't believe many married couples face! We have had "valley" moments together and "mountain top" moments....which makes us who we are today. ROCK-SOLID!

I couldn't be more thankful for the many, many, blessings of being married to a man, who loves Jesus first and more than me! Yes, my husband loves Jesus more than me. Might be a shocker to some of you - but I'm glad he does, b/c that means, his heart is in the right place, which then means, everything falls beautifully in place.

JC is a rare find. He's unique, creative, sensitive, talented, crafty, smart, handsome as ever, well, I could go on forever, which is why I married the man. Oh yes, and he's a man. A rock-solid, Jesus-freak man! ha! He's devoted and dedicated in every way.

Our 2 sons, are so blessed to have him as a father. They really look up to him. They even try to act like him sometimes, which is super cute. Our boys, are a gift from God. In the 5 years we've been married & 2 boys later....I couldn't be more thankful.

No material thing, house, car, vacation, or fancy-schmancy piece of jewelery....basically, there is NOTHING material on this earth that can fill that kind of love tank. Only the man, who God hand-picked for me.

In a way, I'm sort of glad we don't have it "all". I mean by "all", all the materialistic things on this earth, b/c I don't think I'd truly be as thankful. I want us, as a team, to work hard at whatever it is that God desires for us to have. It's all a blessing, but doing it the right way, being good stewards of what we have, is truly all that matters to us.

I could have the dream house, or the dream vacation or all the nice dreamy things to fill my home, but when it comes down to it, those "things" aren't fulfilling. They are just "things". The only thing that fills my spirit, is my heavenly father & then my husband. I couldn't ask for more. That's it. I'm content.

I love that God has revealed these things to me over time. I want to learn. I'm a sponge. I'll never be perfect, or have the right answer or do everything I'm "supposed" to do as a "perfect mom"....but one thing does remain, my heart for Jesus. My love for Him first & then my love, JC.

At the end of the day, this is all that truly matters. Thank you Jesus for your love, & for giving me the love of my life: JC!

Sickies.....

It's been an interesting couple of weeks....hmmm, where should I begin?
Well, my sweet Garrett...has been battling a nagging cough for 3 weeks now. We have enjoyed our summer thus far, however, this cold of his just won't go away. His doc says, of course, that a normal cold last up to 14 days...well, golly-gee, it's been a whole whopping 3 weeks and nothing has changed. The nice thing is that he's got his appetite and no fever. Prayerfully, as his mama, I have been asking God to dry it up and boost up his immunity so we can enjoy this blessed summer.

I thought winter was for colds? I'm so confused.

Well, now JC and myself both have colds...thankfully, they are just colds and no fevers..etc. Although last weekend, I fought my cold pretty bad...body aches, chills, all that lovely flu-like funk. My adoring husband took care of the boys & maintained the house! It was interesting to see him juggle laundry, the kids, making food....sort of funny, actually, but of course, he did an amazing job, regardless of how it was all done.

I learned something this past weekend, while lying in my bed sick: that no matter how funky life can be, when mama's can do nothing more than lie in their bed b/c they are sick & not keep the house running perfectly, made me realize, that IT IS OK to let it all just go from time to time. To NOT be perfect and have every "I" dotted and "T" crossed.

I'm not saying that getting sick is what I want to happen, in order for me to really open my eyes and see things in a different light - No, I am just thankful, that even in the midst of sickness, that God can still show me things that I wouldn't normally see if I were healthy.

Ok, that was odd and deep and confusing sounding, but it made sense to me. ha!

All in all, I DO NOT like being sick. Who does? Nor do I like to see my sweet kids suffer when they are sick. Sickness isn't something I should fear, in fact, it's something I should embrace, but truthfully, a cold or sickness here and there, actually is good for the body. It teaches the body to fight things off and build up more immunity. Isn't God so amazing how He made our bodies to endure things & to naturally fight things off.

I need to remember this blog, when the winter months roll through and my kids & fighting bugs. Prayerfully, as I seek God, in all things, whether sick or healthy, I want to maintain a certain kind of peace and joy in my life. A place of just being content, no matter what the circumstances are.

Right now, we are healthy and strong. What a HUGE blessing that is! wow!
I am truly thankful for the "sickie" days.....b/c in some way, something new is built within me. God is always at work on my heart, no matter what my immune system is doing. I just pray I can keep that focus when I'm not well. hee!

Ok, so NOT really sure what this blog post was really all about??? hmmm? I'm actually a little confused? maybe its the foggy head I am having from this cold! ha! Ohhhhh, I think I'm being funny, but to some of you, I might just be having a very dry sense of humor? Oh well -- I guess for me, just writing today, cleared my brain and allowed me to "breath" a little.

I leave you with this:

"Father in Heaven, when we are down to nothing, I know you are up to something. I reclaim my physical health in the name of Jesus. I speak life into my circumstances and into lives today. I declare that no weapon formed against me will prosper. And I thank you Father, that nothing is over until YOU say it is."

Faith...isn't easy

Faith isn't free! That is what I have discovered. There is a price to pay. It just doesn't happen over night, or in the middle of the day....faith, is like when you plant tulip bulbs in the winter and it takes them several months to push through the dirt & bloom in the spring.

That is how I am feeling right now. Like a tulip bulb, deep in the ground....not above the earth yet, just barely poking my head above water...literally...before the sweet, little sprout sticks it's head out and then....BOOM - there's the beautiful, perfect, happy, pink or purple...tulip!

Right now, there is so much uncertainty. I can't explain it in great detail, b/c it's too tiring to do that. So, in a nutshell....well, we are really struggling.
We're not like most americans with huge mortgages, thank goodness. We are just a simple family, running a couple businesses from home, not using credit cards, TRYING to live below our means....& STILL making ends meet, is unbelievably difficult.

I don't know what's going on??? I'm starting to think is it me? what have I done? what have I NOT done? I'm confused. I am angry. I am sad. I am scared. I am feeling very faithless. I know who I need to trust. Not my husband, but my savior. My father in heaven. He already knows...He is in control...& He's not surprised by this. He knows the outcome.

I just wish, I could trust. I wish my faith was a little stronger.

Help me God! Help me find my way back to believing. I"m exhausted.
I want more of the Father IN ME! Help me daddy-God to trust, honor, love & cherish you.....no matter how hard the days may be.

Let my faith be a light shining for my kids to see. Let my faith be a light shining for those that are lost, find their way. I feel so empty right now. Please rescue me God!

Ok, so I prayed through this blog...but that's all I knew to do, b/c my heart is aching. When there's nothing left....pray.

More later....I'm tired.

Summer is here....

Today, for some reason, officially kicked off the summer season...it's nice having Garrett home more now...we have planned out some fun things for the summer, but nothing crazy, b/c we are pretty content with whatever the days bring us!

I love where we live...at times, but for now, it will do. We have a little kiddy pool in the backyard & a picnic table & grill...so we enjoy the summer evenings & watching the boys splash around. Simple, yet very fun.

There are so many little DAILY blessings that I know I take for granted....& believe one of them, is having an amazing husband who loves me, NO MATTER WHAT & 2, very healthy, beautiful boys! Life can get very "DAILY", but it's in the daily things where I am refreshed and reminded of God's amazing blessings that only HE has hand picked for me (us).

My boys & I went to visit their great-gramma & great-grandpa today. PRICELESS! What beautiful memories I am making with my children. Just talking or sitting with gramma & grandpa and listening to them tell stories...well, here's that word again, PRICELESS!

WOW, how grateful I am! The beauty of family and of a heritage MONEY CAN'T BUY!

My grandparents love Jesus, & that is the one thing that makes it so special.

My boys see in their great-grandparents love for the Lord & I love that my son's are able to surround themselves with such a generation as that. It's very rare to have family around like that!

I was AGAIN, reminded of what to be thankful for today!

To top off our fun, summer day today, spending time with my kids, my family & popping over to see my husband...well, love, family, Jesus, just having eachother, means more to me, than anything on this earth.

Thank you Jesus for all you are doing & the promises & blessings you continue to pour into us each day!

Here are some fun, recent photos of my boys & I @ the beach this past weekend & a few other pics of my son's playing in the sprinklers with their cousins!

Life...well, PRICELESS! Summer is definitely here....

Life...

I am thankful for my life. In so many ways....this week, especially, something has triggered random thoughts of being "thankful"....such as:

~Gideon, my 16 mo. old talking jibber-jabber...it's priceless
~Garrett my 4 yr old....well, it never ends, but every moment w/ him, is a gift. He finished his first year of preschool and this week, is his first week of summer. He has been asking to go to school, telling me what clothes he wants to wear to school and that he misses Mrs. Jessee. It's been so much fun, just listening to all the thoughts going through his sweet lil' brain. I love it!

JC and I are incredibly blessed to have 2 healthy, amazing little boys. I want more, don't get me wrong, but I am truly content. If this was it, & it was all God desired for us...than, I'm happy as a clam!

God is doing a work in JC and I right now. It's a very "stretching" period we are walking through, but I am thankful for it, b/c it only has drawn me closer to my heavenly father & has forced me, literally forced me, to depend totally & completely on HIM. The Father. It's HARD to do, but I know that in this "season" of growing & pruning, that is the only choice that I have.

Trusting the Father comes w/ risks. But WELL WORTH THE RISKS! wow!

I am amazed at when we've endured a "trial" of some kind, & then look back at how we got through it.....JESUS is the ONLY way we got through it.

All that said, b/c I want to remind myself that this life ain't easy...I am beyond blessed & have been given SO much, & just journaling my thoughts on this, is a beautiful way to really, truly think about ALL that God has done & IS GOING TO DO!!!!

Today is today. I'll receive it for what it is. It hasn't been easy, but I'm trusting the Father, no matter what!

ok, today I went deep...oh well. If you're reading and it's too deep, too much...GET OVER IT! hee!

Love to all....thank you Jesus for who you are & all you have done for me! I am eternally grateful!!!

More bloggin later!