~Happy Valentine's Day~

No big plans around here

except to wait for Darren to get home

Wednesday so we can celebrate

HIS birthday!

Maybe we will even make pink

pancakes :) We will do a little

V-Day dinner as a fam while he is here too :)

Over the weekend my sweet mom surprised

me with a little shopping trip for some new

make-up! Yippee! MAC just came

out with some delicious new colors

last week and the fun pink makes

me sooooo excited for spring!

I am really trying to cut back on the coffee

but these cute cups keep calling my name!

I love festive things.....

Love heart day~

Here is my fun loot!

(Candy lips and jelly beans not included!)

MAC make-up

Violet color eyeshadows

Pink Swoon Powder blush

Woo Me Lip Glass

I also got some much needed foundation.

This was so fun because I really am

a Maybeline, Cover Girl woman...

I miss making Valentines cards so much

that I am having a little party with

my 8th grade Bible Class at school.

Love these vintage cards~

These are super cute bookmarks

I found on Pinterest.

They are just paint cards with heart shaped hole punches~

Cute, Cute!

My Valentine for last 23 years~

Can't wait for him to get home~

Happy Rolled Taco Night~ 22 Years Later!

I wrote this 2 years ago on our "20 year anniversary of meeting each other" We have never celebrated this day, except to take note..Oh yeah, we met on this day....but it's still so precious to me..that night, meeting him, talking all night and hanging out on the beach by his dorm..the same dorm we just moved our son into this fall..HOW CAN THAT BE!! Time is fleeting...but I have loved every single minute of it! 
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I met my husband twenty years ago today. We had been at college a total of two weeks! There was an "all you can eat rolled taco night" happening on campus and you can bet there would be no way this chubby freshman was going to miss that! When I walked in with my roommates, we immediately gravitated to the taco bar and without realizing it, cut in front of a group of the cutest guys I had ever seen. I quickly noticed the "cute guy in the red hat"......our story began that night and we rarely spent a day apart during our college years. We were married two years after meeting and it has been pure bliss since then......throw in the blood, sweat and tears, but other than that, pure bliss!

Darren has a different version of what really happened at that "rolled taco night" ....something about I had guacamole on my face...and that's what made him "notice" me?? Yeah, whatever...he still asked me to go walk on the beach with him that night! ; )

Where did twenty years go?
I love that within weeks of meeting you, I wanted to keep you!

I love that our story started in my favorite city , San Diego, where dreams come true!

I love that our story really started on the beach, late that night, on Oct. 7, 1988!

I love that our story started when we were only 18!

I love that our story began with many nights in that small prayer chapel on campus,

I love the story that we have made together, a story of God’s grace and faithfulness!

I love that God knew we would be a perfect fit.

I love God knew that you would be everything I needed and wanted.....you still amaze me, sweep me off my feet and always make me come back wanting more ; )
I love that you are my partner, my best friend, my strength, my hero!
I love that our story is not over and still being written!

Yes, you had me the moment you let me cut in front of you at rolled taco night on campus.

Reading Between the Lines

The other day I received an email from an aquaintance. The way the email was worded made me defensive immediately. I was ready to hit reply in a split second...you know, "put her in her place" so to speak. Her words consisted of "Why didn't you..."  "Help me understand why you would..." "You should've...." I don't really like how...." I was surprised to receive this from her, she wasn't usually one to question my leadership or be negative but I had obviously done something she didn't like and she felt free enough to let me know. Before I decided to reply another friend happened to stop by my classroom, I mentioned  the email and this was her simple response, "She probably just needed the situation explained to her, she probably didn't mean to sound rude, just call her." Oh! NEVER crossed my mind...WHY? Why would that not be my first response..to call her, in love, explain it and expect the best? I know the "emailers" heart and I know she would never purposely hurt or attack me, but something in me made me rise like a lion, defensive and ready to speak my mind. That makes me so disappointed in myself and who I think I really am....Why would be first response be defensive and feel attacked instead of thinking the best. But get this...that's not the end. I call her, explain the situation, she thanks me for calling and then...AND THEN, AND THEN goes onto say how she has been praying for me and my family! Wha? Not only was I way off base in my assumption, but this Godly woman had been praying for me! I want to respond FIRST in love because HE has first loved me!

God forgive me and thanks for always humbling me when I need it!

 And we have known and believed

 the love that God has for us.

God is love, and he who abides in love

abides in God, and God in him.

1 John 4:16

This is Winnie from Uganda.

One of two little house guests

 we have joining us this week.

Their smiles have

captured all 5 of us.

How will we ever say goodbye

to them on Friday!?

They sing, dance and giggle

ALL DAY!

Everything is exciting to them.

I want to keep them!

More pics to come!

Redeemed Life

SHOW ME YOUR REDEEMED LIFE

and I MAY BUY INTO YOUR REDEEMER!

This quote speaks volumes to me! Especially after yesterday's post!