food and grace.

i am so hungry! it's times like these that i do realize i kinda like food, coming from someone who, if i could, wouldn't eat at all. and unfortunately, the things i choose to eat aren't always the best for my body. go figure. so i guess what i'm saying is that though i'm not a big fan of food, i'm completely hungry right now...and that's after i just consumed a starbucks chicken salad sandwich at almost 11 o'clock at night.

anyway, with that completely random start to a blog post, and speaking of food, the girlies and i had the best time on our friends-mini-stay-vaca. why i say food? because every time i'm at their house, i do enjoy food. and i enjoy it to the fullest. and it's good for me. and it's in good company. ms. j always surprises me with delicious, simple food that she's discovered and i eat. lots of it.

the girls and i took off friday afternoon on what is usually a thirty minute drive out to our friend's house to have a sleepover {fun, right?!}. to my unfortunate bladder, we got stuck in stop and go traffic on the tollway due to an accident at the beginning of rush hour. awesome. i absolutely had to get off at the nearest exit only 20 minutes into our drive time because according to jessa, i just couldn't "go" in the car..."please, mommy!", she said. on the verge of tears, i pulled off and found a walgreens - i've never loved that store more than i did that day. it was all amusing, really and two hours later, we finally reached our much anticipated destination. one look into baby daniel's eyes and i knew every bladder-exploding-car-overheating-traffic-stopping moment was worth it.

we had such a fun time being surrounded by the fun and laughter that fills their seven-member home {yes, that means we made ten}. we ate and played and watched and swam and giggled and story-told and napped and skipped and colored and snacked and read...spending 27 wonderful hours with our dear friends {thank you SO much!!}.

it was lovely for the girls and i to get out for a bit, it truly felt like a little vacation getaway. these last two weeks the hubby has been working extra hard on his greek class. he is entering the final week of his summer semesters and the work load has intensified. his recent days look a little something like this:

7am: gets up, feeds girls {he's the breakfast king *smile} , makes coffee {coffee king, too *wink}.
8am: takes a seat at the desk.
12:30pm: eats lunch.
12:40pm: back at the desk.
5pm: mental break - takes girls swimming {thankfully, this happened 3x last week, it's his favorite} or putts golf balls down the hallway.
6:30pm: eats dinner.
7pm: back at desk.
11pm: bed.

on the days that he actually goes to class, he's gone from 8:15am - noon. on the days that he goes to work, he's gone for a solid eight and a half hours. the way he just keeps going is amazing. the way he handles his load is amazing. the attitude he keeps during it all is amazing. he's just pretty much amazing. and the grace that the Lord gives him is beyond amazing. i really have been learning a lot by watching my hubby and the way he deals with what could potentially be a huge amount of stress. there are days that get hard, obviously. but the grace supplied is always enough. always the right measure. always fulfilling.

now i just wish i could send him on a real vacation...even for just one night.

from a late night desk.

so, it's past 11:00pm. the hubs and i just got back from a pretty amazing date. when described to others, they considered it a little 'different', but for us, it was perfect. the mere fact we went on a date and trusted our wee ones to someone we've known for only two months is a blessing in itself. we didn't expect to go on dates for another six solid months {or more}. pretty much, this place rocks. surrounded by amazing friends with really big hearts.

we spent the first part of the evening at the gym. it consisted mostly of hubby showing amateur wife around, ending in wobbling limbs of said wife and the close possibility of tumbling down gym stairs. i'm just sayin'. it was brutal. but oh my goodness, so fun. i could get used to this {and hoping the feeling of excitement sticks around}. my goal is three times a week. not dates {though that would be lovely}, but me, going to the gym. we'll see what the future holds.

and what better after a twenty minute workout {judge if you will - i'm a newbie}? starbucks of course {though completely erasing hard work done ten minutes prior - we won't talk about that}. it's pretty much awesome having an "in". we took our free drinks and headed back to the complex to shoot some pool. six rounds later, i was wishing i was back at the gym.

we took a stroll around the courtyard and started chatting with fellow neighbors. the breeze at our backs was a relaxing reassurance of the Lord's goodness in our lives. sometimes life can take us to uncomfortable places. it surprises us in the middle of a comfortable story. it wakes us up. it shuffles us around. it has a way of challenging our values and constructing our habits. and for us, life here, has probably done a little of each. as week two is in full swing of classes for the hubs, i've been busy with a few things myself. i've been challenged with some new passions that have been placed in my heart. i'm finding out more about myself as i work through what the Lord has laid in my lap. most importantly, i'm developing some amazing friendships in the process. at this point, nothing could be more valuable to me. the Lord has been good. His faithfulness continues.

and what better then a date? i mean, really.

gosh, i just love him.

seven glorious years...and counting.

anniversaries are fun. they're fun to reminisce. they're fun to get all ooglie-googlie eyed over. they're fun to find a babysitter and go out on the town for the night. any reason to do that sounds good to me. they're fun to hug a little tighter, smooch a little longer and be a little more thankful. and seven years with this guy has been just that.

the age old saying about time flying by has nothing on the last seven years for us. we've jammed packed each day full with great memories, lots of laughter, a handful of "discussions" that have made us stronger and joys that have come from above. the beautiful two little girls that have joined our family have reassured our love for each other on deeper levels. the Lord couldn't have blessed us any richer through His love for us. what a God we serve!

two years ago, we were celebrating five years with a surprise trip to disneyland that i will never forget. today, we are dropping girls with grandma and grandpa in the afternoon and heading downtown for some dinner and a little shopping.

babe, i am so in love with you and respect the man you continue to become. thank you for giving yourself to our marriage 112%, sacrificing and loving beyond yourself. happy anniversary!

"love. true love. you do silly things." - jacob

happy birthday my love!

twenty-eight today? i'm not sure if you can believe it yourself...that you've been out of high school for almost ten years. that you've completed your four year degree, been married and produced two gorgeous girls. i'm not sure if it's sunk in. if you've truly considered what the next ten years will happily bring. not sure if you've let it soak in that thirty is peeking around the corner ever so quickly. most of all, i'm not sure if you really know just how amazing you are.

you raise our girls with absolute commitment, adoration and love. you work with integrity, always striving to serve the Lord with your hands and feet. you speak softly, showing your heart of compassion. thank you for making me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. for respecting our marriage, adoring our love and providing with your overtime hours. thank you for seeking the Lord's will for our family - praying, reading His Word and following His commandments. thank you for using your years of life for good. i say this with all of the conviction that someone in love could feel. i love you and wish the best for you this next year.

happy birthday my love!

a good message.

today must be filled with good things in the air. the hubby sends me a text message every morning that says, "good morning there love!" this morning, the message continued with a good reminder for my morning:

jacob: "good morning there love! i hope you have a great day!"

me: "aww...thanks babe."

jacob: "well it should be good. the Lord made it."

me: "the day?"

jacob: "yup He made the whole day."

here's to choosing to make it a great day!

leave it to the boys.

a conversation with the hubby as he arrived home from work:

jacob: "i made ten bucks today."

beth: (totally thinking he made a sweet tip. you know, something "work" related?) "awesome, hunny."

jacob: "yeah. the guys dared me to jump in the snow with my shirt off."

beth: (ah uh. trying to hold back the major smiles eeking through my mouth) "maybe not so awesome, hunny."

now i know why they only have to give three work sundays out of the year. do they ever get anything done on this seventh day of rest? i think not.

the man of the house and his great return.

it's true! he has made his way through the dark days of school and is done (for the most part). i was explaining to him last night that i kind of felt like a single mommy for three months. i know that many of you have had your husbands physically gone for too long and this poses more challenges than i could fathom. but it was true all the same to have him "gone" emotionally and in the supportive sense. it was a bit much to try and make decisions on the whim if i knew he couldn't be bugged. it was challenging to do every single errand known to man on my own. many to which i tried to do at night while he was studying and the girls were in bed. there was a bonus to this 'stage' of our lives, however. jessa and i felt like we got lots of mommy and me time in. there were several occasions that i took her along with me to the craft store at night or to target for popcorn and a stroll down toy aisles. we both benefited from this special time. but there is nothing like having the man of the house 'checked out' for awhile. things are definitely not the same.

i've already noticed a change in his attitude. jacob is the type that does not get easily upset or stressed out. and even while studying full time and working overtime, he held it together better than anyone i've known. but this morning, he called with a pep in his voice that i haven't heard in a long time. he eagerly said, "good morning! how are you? i just wanted to call and say 'i love you'!" before, it was the same message, but with the sound of a lack of sleep and a wee bit of a stressed tone. i told him that he sounded a million times better and he replied, "it feels like a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders." we've already planned a special stay-at-home family night tonight with pizza and a movie. finally, he can come home and relax. something that home and family are meant for.

while editing his paper, i found this.

"as much as I often tell my wife to put the camera away, i am eternally grateful for her capturing the moments of our lives." - jacob

aww. thanks babe.

it's a joke around here that he 'feels for the famous' and knows a little about what they go through, calling me his personal paparazzi.

a date? what's that.

my husband took me on a wonderful, romantic, easy-going, care free-of-kids date last night. we took in some chinese food at our favorite local restaurant. which i am totally digging for lunch today. he took me to my favorite store in town (no, not costco - i know you were thinking it). world market, actually. i had a few goodies on my "list" to pick up for christmas and it was the last day of their 'friends and family sale'. me? friends and family of world market? yippee! as my thoughtful hubby opened my door for me and took me by the hand to walk me into my place of 'aww', i told him he is definitely making the blog for this one. he let out a 'jacob chuckle' and stated, "yeah, cause i'm doing this just to make the blog." we then had a good laugh. the last time my mama was in town, we spent...get this...three hours in world market. the thought of that literally sent the eebie jeebies down jacob's spine. he can't possibly fathom the thought of spending that much time in a store like that. he's not the shopper type. and that's exactly why it meant so much for him to take me there last night.

we later headed to the mall and strolled the aisles of sears to see what we could find with a leftover giftcard. jacob picked out a cindarella doll for jess, which after receiving, she clutched in her adoring arms with all her might. it was a hallmark moment, people.

this date was actually a late birthday present from dear friend, heidi. we finally managed to find the time to go out, leaving our girls with her for part of my gift. next, she donated starbucks to the cause of our date, which we picked up for our dessert. there's nothing like ending an evening with your sweetie with starbucks. mmm...frappuchinos. someone asked me if i was still going to be getting my frapps in the dead of winter. you better believe it! it wouldn't be fall, winter, spring or summer without it. *wink.

oh, and heidi? i found the turkey. behind the grapefruit juice in the door of the fridge. *smile.

now i'm off to proof read a paper for my hubby for school. and snack on a few of those evil peanut butter m&m's while i'm at it. brain power. perfect.

simplicity of a dime.

i wanted to share something with you that i've been doing since my senior year in high school. at the time, it was a friend who was in college that passed this great idea on to me. it's called a dime jar.

for three years, i collected all of my dimes from loose change (and others contributed) into a whimsical jar of my choice. each time i made a small ten cent deposit, i was making a bigger deposit into my prayer life. i would lift up a prayer for my future husband or for myself that correlated to keeping pure spiritually, emotionally, physically...etc. it was a great reminder that the Lord had someone promised just for me and to keep my thoughts on His heavenly plans. obviously, i am no longer doing this for my future husband. however, i did start one for the girls. i have explained its purpose in toddler terms and jess just loves plopping dimes into her special jar. she says a simple prayer and then happily runs off. at this point, i think it is mostly for her mama...me. to remind me to pray for their future spouse because hey, it can never be too early.

you may be asking...what do you do with the dimes once prince charming arrives? great question. i used my dimes to purchase jacob's wedding ring. to help purchase his ring. it actually added up to a pretty impressive amount after only a few years of collecting. jessa and miley will have enough to purchase their own rings as well when their time comes. *smiles.

i appreciate the concept of what really matters. since my senior year in high school, i have had a completely different view of a dime. it's not just a measly ten cents. it's a deposit into the heavenly realms of what the Lord has planned. it keeps my mind on His desires for our future, which are always optimistic.

half of the fun is finding a cute jar to keep the sentimental dimes contained. for the girls, i originally had a starbucks glass jar (because i couldn't find anything else). this evolved into a cute plastic heart jar with a twisty lid. then i found this,
a crown for their prince. how appropriate.

this can obviously translate into a crown for a prince's princess as well, for you young little boys out there.

i look forward to painting it and giving it a little jazz and pizazz. i know jessa does too. i will post our end result.

putting love in action.

you're my constant. you're my best friend. my deepest love. you know my good. you know my bad. you know the moments awkwardly caught in between. i'm comfy in your arms. i'm safe when you're near. i'm happily perplexed that the strength of your hands can offer such gentleness. how do you do it? rough and raw from a hard day's work, coming home to hold your dainty girls in soft embrace. your best attributes have to be your humor. your personality. definitely your integrity. your honesty gains respect. i admire your passion to strive for the higher standard. to live above it and not waver. to seek His kingdom in even the smallest detail of life. i love your silly smooches and will take one any day. thank you for adoring me. for cherishing our two beautiful girls. simply for loving us the way you do. so passionately. so completely.