Wednesday, February 29, 2012

A Photo (or two) an Hour

Another day in the life of this stay-at-home-mom.
A Photo (or two) an Hour. I got this idea from my sister-in-law Kerrie over at The Williams' Post.
(I do realize I cheated here and put two pictures a few times...I just couldn't decide.)
7:00 my day starts when my 4-year-old wakes up. No picture here.

8:00  
Journey's awake! Breakfast time!

9:00 
We start getting ready to take Deci to school.

10:00 
Laundry

11:00
 Time to go get Deci from School

12:00 
 Lunch Time!

1:00 
 Nap time.

2:00 
Play time.

3:00 
Daddy's home EARLY! YAY! :)

4:00
 We venture out to a local coffee shop for a snack.

5:00 
Shop at a local thrift store.

6:00
 Q and the girls Skype with Pops, Q's Dad, while I cook.

7:00 
 Zach stops by to talk about design stuff for The Beautiful Mess.

8:00 
 Our friend Sharee invited me and Breanna to come over and eat popcorn and watch a chick flick.


9:00 
 Knitting and watching the movie One Day. 

10:00 
Home again and one last thing before bed: Check my email!

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Tuesday Challenge

Today I'm linking up over at The Williams Post for the Tuesday Challenge.
Although I did not do the Tuesday Challenge for this week, I'm going to write about life on a mission in Oregon and what God has been teaching me lately.  I'll have to thank Kerrie for making me step out of my comfort zone twice this month and write about something serious! ha! I'm actually guest posting on her blog on Thursday. :)

So about 2 years ago...give or take, we started praying about what God had in store for our family next.  Since before we were married, we always felt the call to "Go".  We've both gone on several mission trips to different places and always prayed that if God called us to move away from Alabama that we would.  I remember when we were engaged, our friends Chris and Lillie from First Baptist Albertville, AL were praying about moving to Maine.  We actually met with them and started praying about what it would look like for us to get married early and move to Maine with them.  We really wanted to go but after praying about it we didn't feel like it was the right time.  Then we started the Church plant (LifePoint) in Alabama not too long after this.  We definitely felt like we needed to be in Albertville at that time and LOVED being there and having a new ministry.  There is nothing like the feeling of being where God wants you and doing exactly what He has called you to do.  After about a year of the start of Lifepoint Church, our friends Neal and April were praying about moving to Oregon.  We started praying with them about us moving with them.  Again it didn't feel like God was calling us there at that time.  So 3ish years later is when we realized it was time to go.  This was about a year 1/2 or so ago.  We told our families and spent the next few months preparing with our team to move.  Last January (2011) we packed up and moved out to Oregon.

Why Oregon?  Well, first off I believe it's a place God placed on our hearts.  After we got here we discovered that the county that we live in is the #1 un-churched area in the United States.  We came out with a Team...our first Crash team in hopes to help with a church plant.  We've been here a little over a year and things are just now starting to come together... not that things haven't been happening this past year.   God had done SO much in the past year in our team.  We've learned what it means to really rely on him.  It's a great place to be when you don't know whats next and you earnestly seek God for whats next.  Honestly I've grown so much.  Oregon has changed me for the better.  To read more about the the past year you can read my one year update

I also wanted to say that I don't believe there is anything special about us because we moved to Oregon...and I don't think there is anything wrong with Oregon...or that Oregon is worse off that Alabama.  Or that Oregon has more "sinners" than Alabama... A friend here told me the other day that she thinks there needs to be missionaries sent to the South.  :)   I just want to encourage you to Share the Love of Christ where you are. You don't have to "Go" across the country to be a "missionary". (Check out Crashing From a Distance)

So, we've been approved to use a basement of a church in Eugene to start meeting on Sunday nights....this may not look like a typical church plant at first, with worship and preaching (but who knows) but more of getting out in the community and loving on people but having a place to invite them to join us.

And about what God has been teaching me lately: I need HIM.  I need to seek Him. Jeremiah 29:13 "You will search for me. And when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me!"  I need to draw near to Him so He will draw near to me. James 4:8

Click the link below to join this week's link up!

Tuesday Challenge

Dancing in the minefields.

I love this song, and after yesterdays post on Marriage letters I guess it got me all sensitive about my relationship with Q so I wanted to share this video with you.


I was nineteen, you were twenty-one
The year we got engaged
Everyone said we were much too young
But we did it anyway

We bought our rings for forty each
From a pawn shop down the road
We made our vows and took the leap
Now fifteen years ago

We went dancing in the minefields
We went sailing in the storm
And it was harder than we dreamed
But I believe that's what the promise is for

"I do" are the two most famous last words
The beginning of the end
But to lose your life for another I've heard
Is a good place to begin

'Cause the only way to find your life
Is to lay your own life down
And I believe it's an easy price
For the life that we have found

And we're dancing in the minefields
We're sailing in the storm
This is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that's what the promise is for

So when I lose my way, find me
When I loose love's chains, bind me
At the end of all my faith, till the end of all my days
When I forget my name, remind me

'Cause we bear the light of the Son of Man
So there's nothing left to fear
So I'll walk with you in the shadowlands
Till the shadows disappear

'Cause he promised not to leave us
And his promises are true
So in the face of all this chaos, baby,
I can dance with you

Monday, February 27, 2012

Marriage Letters: I knew you loved me when

Join me and Q, along with Amber @ The Run a Muck as we write Marriage Letters on Mondays.

Q,
   I'm not sure when I first knew you loved me...  Was it after our day in Mentone? Or was it actually years later when I finally let you go so that you could realize what you wanted?  I remember there was a change in you, in the way you needed me like I needed you. I knew you loved me then.

   I knew you loved me when I went to Ireland and you wrote me letters to open every day I was there.   I knew you loved me when you proposed, and as we made wedding plans.  I knew you loved me when after only 3 months of us being married, I came home telling you that I wanted to have a baby and you said okay.

   I knew you loved me in those years of trying to have a baby and when we finally did have a baby and miscarried, I knew you loved me more.  You hurt for me because you knew I wanted a baby so bad.

   I knew you loved me those early months of having a new baby.  I looked horrible.  I acted horrible. You were always so patient with me.  You struggled with me but I knew you loved me.  You stuck with me.  I knew you loved me when I expressed that I wanted to have another baby.  You said, "lets adopt" Because you knew everything about pregnancy was out of your control and you couldn't stand seeing me in pain knowing there was nothing you could do.  I also knew you loved me when you encouraged me to quit my job so that I could be a stay-at-home-mom.

    I knew you loved me when you asked my opinion about us moving to Oregon.  You wanted me to be happy.  I knew you loved me when late one night we got in a really big fight and you didn't leave.  You were honest with me.  You went outside and sat in the grass until you calmed down and then you came back in.  I love that we can disagree but in the end I always know you love me.  We seem to always be able to work things out.  Sometimes I don't like it when you're honest with me but that's when I know you love me also.

   I knew you loved me this weekend while you took care of all 3 of us girls while we were sick.  You were pretty much up all night.  Honestly I was so amazed at what all you did and how well you took care of us.  Seriously there aren't enough words to say about how thankful I am for all you did this weekend.

  Thank you for loving me for me.
                                             -A










Saturday, February 25, 2012

Weight Watchers: Mini Chocolate-Chip Cookies

I found this Weight Watchers recipe online for chocolate-chip cookies. 1point each!  Here is what you will need:

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375ºF.
  • In a medium bowl, cream together butter, oil and sugar. Add vanilla, salt and egg white; mix thoroughly to combine.
  • In a small bowl, mix together flour and baking soda; stir into batter. Add chocolate chips to batter; stir to distribute evenly throughout.
  • Drop 48 half-teaspoons of dough onto one or two large nonstick baking sheets, leaving a small amount of space between each cookie. Bake cookies until golden around edges, about 4 to 6 minutes; cool on a wire rack. Yields 1 cookie per serving. 

I'm pretty sure I made my cookies a little larger than what the recipe called for. :) These were really yummy! Especially for 1 point Weight Watchers cookies but they are a little fluffy...kind of like pancakes...or something... I'm not quite the perfect baker so it could have been something I did wrong. Ha! :)  I hope you ENJOY!

Friday, February 24, 2012

It's FRIDAY: A Week Review in Pictures


My friend Brandi (who I mentioned Here. A.K.K Aunt B.) sent me this key chain and I LOVE it.  These keychains were designed for SCTNow.com and all proceeds go to them to help Stop Child Trafficking.  You can buy one for yourself HERE at www.thevintagepearl.com You can also read more about how you can help stop child trafficking by reading a post I wrote a few weeks back HERE.

I can not keep this girl off the table.  I remove her from this table SEVERAL times a day.  We underestimated our high top table when Deci was this age.


So, Saturday we ventured out and went to the Frontier Heritage Fair.  It wasn't quite exciting but my husband loves any kind of fair.  We went but ended up at the Asian Heritage Fair going on next door which turned  out SO much better.  Too bad my husband had a stomach bug and we had to rush out after about 15 minutes. :( Luckily no one else caught the bug.
My youngest blog reader. :)
Journey and Deci around the same age in the same dress. :) This is the dress Deci wore for Kerrie and Wade's wedding.  Deci saw it in the closet the other day and begged me to put it on Journey so she could be a princess.  :)  I know this isn't the best picture of Journey.  Sometime soon I want to put her in it and take some pictures outside but right now it's still too cold.   
Happy Friday Everyone!  Have a GREAT weekend!!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Lately

So, whats been going on lately? you may ask...  WELL... nothing really but also SO MUCH! ha!  First, I was asked earlier this week to guest post on another blog! EEEEEK! It's my sister-in-law's blog. Kerrie @ Williams in Love.  I haven't written it yet, it will be on her blog sometime in March.  I'm writing about my mission as a mom.  I'm honored that she would even ask me but also so intimidated (silly I know)...she has way over 100 followers and she writes so well.  I'm not sure I can measure up, but it will be fun. :)  Kerrie has started something new on Tuesdays and I love the idea.  Check out her post from this past Tuesday HERE.

Also,  we booked tickets to fly back to Alabama for a visit this Summer and I CAN NOT WAIT!!!  It's so expensive to fly back so it looks like we will only be able to fly back once a year.  We picked a few weeks last Summer and it turned out perfect.  I miss the Alabama humidity and heat!!  Honestly, I do!  I miss all of your Southern accents also!  I love it here in Oregon but honestly 3 weeks back in Alabama once a year is SO refreshing!

 We also have been praying about whats next for the Crash team.  My husband, Q, wrote a post called The Crash Update.  If you haven't read it yet, you should. :) Please pray for us.  Q and another guy met with this church staff on Monday.  So far we haven't heard anything back but we are excited about the possibilities.

Also on Monday Deci had a play date.  One of her friends from school came over with her mom.  We don't know a lot of girls here Deci's age so it was really nice to be able to get to know this little girl and her mom better.  If you didn't know, Deci goes to school twice a week for speech.  It's a free program here.  We got to pick if we wanted someone to come to the house or for Deci to go to a school type environment.  We thought it would be fun for Deci to be around other kids and she loves it!

Just in case any of you were wondering...my hair is fading slowing, which is a good thing.  It is no longer EXTREMELY red/purple at the top.
 
Well, I feel like I haven't updated you guys on life lately...so there you go!  I'm already working on Tomorrows "A Week Review in Pictures" post and then Saturday (hopefully) I'm going to be posting a photo an hour post about my day today.... like Kerrie's post today.  So fun!

Oh, ONE MORE THING: Have extra income tax money?? Consider helping my friend Breanna go to India! :) Check out how you can help by reading THIS POST.  She only needs about $100 more to have all $500 of her deposit!



Monday, February 20, 2012

Marriage Letters: My Job - Your Job

Join me and Q along with Amber @ The Run a Muck as we write marriage letters on Mondays.


Q,
   Let's face it, I'm not sure who has the harder Job.  I would love to be the selfless wife and say that you do but then there are days that I would for sure change my mind and argue that I do indeed have the harder job.  I do know one thing for sure.  I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, appreciate that you go out and work a job where you get paid.  I appreciate that you provide financially for our family because we know that this life of a stay-at-home mom doesn't pay the bills.

   I do know the sacrifice you make for this family.  I know the stress that comes with that.  Thank you so much for always encouraging me to be at home with the girls.  I know sometimes this life would be easier if I would go out and get a job but you understand the sacrifice we are both willing to make.  I LOVE my job.  I love being able to stay at home with the girls everyday.  Thank you.

  Thank you for understanding when you come home and the house is a mess.  I'm glad you don't give me a hard time when I don't feel like cooking every night...even though I'm sure that is in the job description of a stay-at-home mom.  A lot of times you have to pull the load of both of our jobs...like the fact that I HATE going grocery shopping.  So many times you offer to go grocery shopping for me.  You cook quite a bit also and I love you for that.  I love that your expectations of me as a stay-at-home mom are not so high that I feel like I'm failing everyday. 

  Thank you for trusting the Lord enough to follow Him.  To move our family across the county and have to apply for jobs all over again.  I will always love you for that.  As hard as it has been living so far away from Alabama it's also been so rewarding.  You get paid to work with the homeless now.  Who would have thought?  You really do love those guys and are so willing to make them apart of your everyday life.  I know your job isn't easy but I'm so proud of you.  I'm so proud to call you my husband.  Thanks for all you do for our family. 

       -A

Friday, February 17, 2012

A Week Review in Pictures

Last week I forgot to do a week review in pictures so this one has a few pictures from last week.  Warning: You are about to see  A LOT of pictures. :)
Deci and her outfits:


On Saturday Q and I went out for Valentine's Day.  We went to get super at a Thia place in Eugene then we headed on over to the Roller Derby Tournament.  It was soooo much fun to watch.  The middle picture is from our neighbors 2nd birthday party.  And the picture on the right was our celebration after getting our taxes done.  We didn't owe anything back! Whoohoo!!!  Deci requested that we sing her happy birthday, so we did.  Why not? :)
Monday night bible study.  Marks on the wall from a 1-year-old.  Yay for Magic erasers! That stinker little 1-year-old learning to wear a bow.  Sisters. :)

Q (Click HERE to see his blog) took Deci on a Daddy/Daughter date last night.  On Valentine's Day he came home with flowers and Chocolates!!  Then we ordered my favorite: Stuffed Crusted Supreme Pizza from Pizza Hut! We ended the night watching Lost after the girls went to bed! It was a perfect day.




Journey wearing Deci's backpack and rain boots. My Valentine Deci made me at school.  The Valentine's Deci sent to family. Deci and Raegan. The McKinney family came down to Eugene on Valentine's day to take Knox to a clinic.  Breanna watched Charger and Raegan.  Raegan went with me to pick up Deci from school.  :)
So, I dyed/colored my hair twice in one day.  The picture (above) on the left is after the first color.  My new friend, Katie colored my hair the first time.  She is amazing and gave me an AMAZING deal for her to color my hair professionally.  The problem is that she has never touched my hair before and I colored my hair this dark brown/black color a few months ago.  So, it's so not her fault that my hair didn't change much.  By the way she said she would fix it for me but for us to not be rushed she would have to wait until Tuesday. Busy, busy girl who is spending the weekend in Portland with family.  If you know me, you know I don't have patience and when I decide to do something I want to do it NOW. :) SO, I went out and bought hair color myself (pictured above Middle).  Yes, I wanted my hair that red/orange color.  Breanna (Her blog) put the color on for me and we left it on for 45 minutes AND she put the color on my ends first.  Here's what my hair looks like now:
:)  I'm thinking the problem is that dark brown/black color that I put on months ago will not absorb a lighter color.  I've colored my hair a lighter red color before and it took but it was probably because my hair didn't have color in it.  So...this is what my hair will look like if you see me in the next month or so...I'm not touching my hair again for a little while. :)  I'm not sure this is the "different" I was going for but it sure is different.

*Speaking of Breanna (mentioned above) Please go read this post HERE about her and her upcoming trip to India and find out how you can support her by giving financially and praying for her! :) Thanks!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

A Day in the LIfe of a Stay-at-Home Mom.

Have you ever wondered what a stay-at-home mom does all day? Well, I decided to journal on Friday, Feb 10, 2012 about all that went on in the Williams house that day.  This day was pretty typical but do know that all stay-at-home moms are not the same.  Also If I would have done this, lets say, a year ago it would have been completely different.  My girls are at the age now where I actually can get things done around the house.  :)

7:30 Journey wakes up, therefor I wake up. :) (Wake up time varies in this house.  sometimes as early at 6) I go to computer initially to check time, since my phone is in a bag of rice at the moment.  I dropped it in the toilet a few days ago.  I hold Journey and check my blog, Facebook and email.  Journey gets her books and reads.  I write out my "to-do" list which has 12 things I need to do.

8:15:  I fix Breakfast for Journey and myself.

8:30: Deci wakes up so I fix her breakfast.  When I ask her if she wants milk or water she says Milk.  When I hand her the cup of milk she says, "I didn't know what I was saying, I want water."

9:00: Put girls in the bath while I clean the bathroom.  Then I put the first load of clothes in the washing machine.  START COFFEE! Put dishes away that were drying on the counter top.

9:30: girls out of bath. Deci ask to wear a dress because she has to go to a party... there is no party, the girl just likes to wear dresses.  I wash dishes until the hot water runs out.  The girls play by themselves.

10:00 I sit down to drink my coffee and Deci starts her talent show that she does every single day.  Today she starts out as "shoe girl".  I fold towels while watching because I need to multitask to get everything done.  I try to have a conversation with Breanna but Deci tells me that I can't take my eyes off of her when she is performing and I must talk in a whisper.  :)
I play memory with Deci while trying to keep Journey away.

10:30: We are still playing memory but I take a break to put the 2nd load of clothes in the washing machine.  I find Journey playing in the trash.  Decided it was time to take trash out all the while Deci is still trying to play memory screaming "Your turn mom!" over and over until I finally make it back.

11:00:  I sit down to do my Bible study.  Its sad to say but this doesn't happen every day.  The day before I actually sat down with the bible beside me while Journey was sleeping and she woke up before I even got the bible open.  While I'm doing my bible study Deci is playing the keyboard and Journey the guitar...right beside me.  Journey then starts bringing me books and Deci is asking me which is my favorite animal.  I really should just get up early to do my bible study because it's almost impossible while the girls are awake.

11:15: I get lunch ready.  Left overs from yesterday.  I cooked 2 meals yesterday! Go Me! But today I won't cook anything.  I've only crossed 2 things off my "to do" list.

11:30: Both girls are finished eating and I haven't even sat down to eat mine yet.  I realize I haven't had any water all day.  Journey is now covered from head to toe in pizza sauce.  Outfit #1 comes off.  When you become a mom, you learn to eat fast.

11:50: Get online to check Facebook and Twitter.  I feel a little disconnected from the world outside without my phone... even though it's not a smart phone...

12:00 After flying thru FB, Twitter and reading a few blogs, I make myself get off @12.  Start cleaning up toys in the den and getting Journey ready for nap.

12:30: Journeys nap time! Praise God! I work on a Valentines craft with Deci for the grandparents.

1:15: Wash 3rd load of clothes then finally get a shower.  Then get the Valentines ready to go to the mail.

2:00: A battle within...whether to blow dry my hair or blog.  I know I only have about 30 more minutes before Journey wakes up.  Decided to blow dry hair.

2:30 Sit down to blog.

2:50 Wake Journey up.  We usually don't let her sleep over 2 hours because she doesn't sleep well at night if she gets too much sleep during the day. I realize we are out of toilet paper.  whoops!

3:15: I'm somehow accomplished writing a blog post.  6 out of 12 things are crossed off my "to do" list.
I give the girls a snack and I attempt to wash the rest of the dishes.

3:45: Finish washing most of the dishes.  Put 4th load of clothes in the wash.
Q got home early! YAY! This doesn't happen a lot.  We talk blog talk.  Played with the girls and read them books.

4:30: Fold clothes.  Deci goes to the potty and falls in because Q left the seat up. Q leaves to get us food. :)

5:00: I straighten my hair because I'm going out with Breanna and two new friends to watch The Vow.  I drink my 2nd cup of coffee for the day.  Who knew I would be the girl that needed more than one cup of coffee in one day?

5:20: Q's back with food.  We eat.  Then watch TV and play with the girls.

6:30 Journey's new trick: Taking her clothes off.  She pees in the floor.  I put Journey's PJ's on and start getting ready for a night out with some ladies!  I think just knowing I was getting out later in the day made the day go by so much smoother. 

7:20:  Breanna and I leave the house.  This part is totally not normal.  I usually am home to help put the girls in bed but since our friends asked us to go out Q said he would watch the girls. :) Plus, we have plans to go out for Valentine's day the very next day.

At the end of the day I've checked off 8 things off my "to do" list.  Not bad, not bad.  It was a very good day in the Williams house.   Some days are crazier than this.  Some days I don't clean ANYTHING.  Some days I sit and watch Biggest Loser while the kids play.  Some days we do leave the house....not very often but it does happen.  I hope you've enjoyed reading about a day in the life of this stay-at-home mom. :)

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Just Q and A: Our love story in Pictures

I wanted to attempt to post our Love story today...about how we met and the years in between then and now...BUT it seemed VERY overwhelming to me to try and get that done today.  This March we've been together 14 years.  We dated 7 years and in May we will have been married 7.  I'm so blessed to have this man in my life. 
Me 15, Q 17 :) Q's Senior Prom
Our Wedding May 28, 2005
This picture is for Deci.  She asked me the other day if we ever kiss. ha! :)

Our Honeymoon.  A Cruise to the Bahama's

Our first (I believe) Vacation after being married.  You don't see them here but we took this road trip with 3 single people...I'm not sure what we were thinking.  But it sure was a fun trip.  We went to Washington D.C. by the way. 














 This post was by far my favorite post I've done in a while.  I Loved getting a chance to look back at old pictures of me and Q.  I just wish I had more of our pictures before we got married online.  I'll try and take a picture of a few of the one's we have...because I don't have a scanner.

Thanks Q for all the wonderful memories!  I'm a better person because of you.   I love you more and more everyday!  I honestly couldn't imagine this life without you.