My wonderful husband.....

I have the Greatest Husband in the World!!!!!  He is such a hard worker and he always makes time for our babies. No matter how tired he is or how much he has to do, he still makes time to sit them on his knee and just spend time with them teaching them.  He comes in from work and wrestles with them and they LOVE it!!! I love hearing the screams of joy and the "Come get me Daddy".

He  has been sick with a sinus infection the last couple of weeks but he still has been working and taking care of his family.   I had to have a tooth pulled a couple of weeks ago while he was out of town on a trip for a couple of days.   He knows how dental work gets me down and he hated being out of town.  He came home the next day and immediately started helping with the house and cooking and making sure I had whatever I thought I could eat.  He even made two different trips to town to get me stuff.

His (our) first Grandbaby is due any day and I cant wait to see him as a grandpa.  I never thought that I would be a grandma at 29.  But its okay.  I am so anxious for this baby to get here so I can spoil it.  But I know he has waited a loooooonnnnnggg time to be able to say that he is a grandpa.   He is so excited about it.


I thank God everyday for sending my husband to me.  He knew what He was doing when He gave us to each other.  We have learned alot the last couple of years about becoming a couple that pleases God.  It has not been an easy journey and we are far from finished but I am so glad that My husband has been the one that I have journeyed it with and that we will continue this journey together! 

This picture was taken at the Zoo in Great Bend, Ks.  We were there on business and the town has a free Zoo and Raptor center.  It was really cool.  We were in the Aquarium house when this picture was taken and a really big fish had just swam by and of course Jason was distracted...Kylie was acting scared and Alaina clung to daddy...lol.  A great trip though.

This monkey was so playful and was really enjoying having the kids talk to him.  He followed us all the way around the cage.  Course pictures are hard to take of a moving monkey through wire.. :)   The fish on the right, was one of many in the aquarium house.  The girls thought it was cool in the house because the only light was the lights coming from the aquarium's.  It was a really really cool but weird light.   If that makes any sense....but most of the house dark with green and purple and blue and pink lights everywhere....made for some interesting pictures! 

This trip was just one of the many things that Paul does for his family!  So blessed to have him!!!

Blessings and I pray all has a very blessed Holiday weekend!
Crystal

Morning thoughts! & Husaband Encouragement!!!

"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing" (James 1:3-4). KJV

This was the scripture in my daily devotion from Alpha Omega this morning. Head on over to Wonderful Words of Life to read more!


On Heartlight's Todays Verse, Phil Ware talks about Isaiah 10:1-2 Very interesting thoughts. Have I become too worried with "stuff"?

Ann over at A Holy Experience has a great post on family knots

And my Sis had this post a couple of days ago.

Just some interesting places I visited this morning.

HUSBAND ENCOURAGEMENT!

My dear hubby this morning let me sleep in. He turned my alarm off and got up, made coffee and kept quiet while I gained some much needed sleep. What a wonderful man! There has been a struggle within our family (Not Paul and I) but it has affected our lives the last few days. Paul has been my stronghold, constantly reminding me that I have to let God take care of it. We can pray and help if asked but we have to put it in Gods hands. He has let me cry and rage and overall be a complete grouch without saying so much as a word to stop me. I am so grateful for my husband..He is my rock...(After God of course..which he keeps reminding me of..lol) Sweety, I love You and Thank You so much for being there and for helping me..I know you are hurting just as bad as I am...but you are putting me first after God and altghough that is how it is supposed to be, I feel so unworthy.

That has been my morning thoughts, and now, I am off to enjoy a day with my kids. After we finish our initial school and cleaning assignments for today, I am going to make curtains and aprons and we are going to immerse ourselves in Little Cabin In the Big Wood..for like the third time through. HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

Blessings
Crystal

Husband Praise!

I know I havent been doing my daily Husband Encouragement on here...but I have been doing it.

But for now, lets just say that he is so good. He went out early this morning to do an extra job for bill money and when he came home, he decided that he was going to take Jack to get a new phone...(his broke last week...plus other issues with it...) So instead of just him and Jack going, he took all the little ones too. We were doing chores and fixing to do school but hey, they get to go with Daddy, we can always do school this evening. When He gets back, he is going to do another side job and maybe this evening we will watch a movie if he is not too tired.

And I get an hour of quiet rest. I am off to get a much awaited long shower and to read some of a new book.

I love my darling wonderful husband. He takes great care of us and knows just when I need a break. Love Ya Baby!

Blessings
Crystal

Catching up!

Finally, I get to catch up on my post. But only because I dont feel like doing anything else right now. I just got back from the dentist (I had two teeth filled) and the numbinb stuff always makes me sleepy and sick to my stomach but I have kids to love and hug on so I am sitting here with them watching a movie and resting. (Hubbys orders!)

Let's see. I left off on Thursday. Well, Friday we were at the archery shoot and were really really busy. My Husband Encouragement (H.E.) for that day was the fact that my dear sweet hubby worked hard all weekend to make some extra money so we could pay off some bills....He takes such good care of us and loves us so much.

Saturday, he told me that I could go shopping for the girls one new outfit apiece and when I got tired, he told me to go back to the motel and get a nap. I did get to go shopping and I got the girls several shirts at the goodwill store (that has to be my favorite goodwill store around...lol). I also got Jason several shirts and some jeans for this winter. Then I got the girls one outfit apiece at Goodys for 60% off. I was so happy.

Sunday, when we got home from the shoot, Paul helped me to unload and start laundry and he went and got a pizza so I didnt have to cook and he fed the dogs and watered them and then came home and we sat down and watched Star Trek.

Monday, he got up at 4:00 a.m. to go to work and get in some extra hours. He also came home and worked on our new project we have going.

Tuesday, he got up at 4:00 again and when he got home, my parents were here to visit so he visited with my dad. He had to go get some stuff for our project so he invited my dad and dads friend to go with him and they had a great time visiting. When he came home, he helped me get the kids in bed.

Wednesday, my dear sweet hubby let me sleep in and he had to go to real estate for a little while but when he got home, he worked some more on our project and he helped me last night with a major catastrophe in the house.

Today, he is doing an extra job to make som extra money. But this morning while Iwas gone to the dentist, he watched the kids and done dishes and laundry! Isnt he sweet! I really think so.

I am still trying to get caught up on everything. It seems like the laundry is never ending and I am also trying to get our school schedule made. I was going to start school at the first of July. As you can probably tell, that did not happen. It seems like one thing right after the other happened to keep us from it. All it was was the devil, I know it and I let him in. I need to focus on God and not let the devil in. I really need to get my schedule made and stick to it. So that is my plan by Monday, to have my schedule, to make sure I am up earlier than the kids, and to stick to my plan.

I hope you all have a blessed Friday and weekend and that your plans are working out.

Blessings
Crystal

Husband Encouragement!

I have been extremely busy the last two days! We are getting ready for an archery shoot and trying to find all the stuff to go and get packed and everything. But here goes making up for yesterday and for todays.

Yesterday! My husband is the greatest. After he went to real estate, he went by Wal Mart and picked up pizzas so I wouldnt have to cook last night...brought them home and put them in the oven and then we sat down and watched Star Trek! Wasnt that so sweet of him.... :)

Today, we have had a really really busy day! First thing though, he woke me up with kisses....then he took the girls and went to get rid of some scrap metal about 45 minutes away and just left me with Jason who was a little cranky but still peaceful enough for mom to get some quiet time...then when he came home, he went to Wal Mart with me so I wouldnt have to go with three kids in this heat and be all grouchy when I came home....we got through about lunch time and he decided to take me out to lunch! While we were there, we picked up some take out for his parents and took it by on our way home. (his mom (granny darlene) recently had a mild heart attack so we are trying to spoil them as much as possible....lol) Then tonight after he got all of his stuff done, he helped me with dishes and laundry so I could get everything done....

He is the greatest guy I know (besides my dads and our oldest son...lol) But isnt he just so sweet.....

I will be really busy the next few days but if the hotel's internet works, I will try to keep posted. This has helped me so much the last couple of days. I will try to post some positive things about my kids also. It seems if I look at everything in a positive light, it all goes better.

I came across a sticker today. It said "The Task ahead of you is never greater than the power behind you" (or something really really close) Talking about God. Nothing is greater than God and as long as we keep him on our side, it will be okay.

Gotta get in bed now we have an early morning .

Blessings and prayers to all
Crystal
PS THank you for the nice comments! They really keep me going.

Odds and Ends

First of All, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ROSE! My Niece. She is 7 today!

Next I want to share some links with you. I have probably shared some of them before but they are very inspiring to me and on days that have just not been going so well, well, they just help.

Kelli at There is No Place Like Home always has such beautiful things to show. Her garden and crafts are always inspiring to me. Makes me wish I had more time and was more creative.

The Art of Making a Home Joyful has very helpful post on working through day to day issues. She is so real and I cant help but relate to alot of things that happen in her days.

I am always enjoying new and exciting blogs that I stumble across, I may not always remember to bookmark them but I do like to read them.

I have been struggling here lately with my attitude. I have not been very Christlike or a very nice mommy at all. I have been snappy and grouchy and just overall really hateful. I have been doing alot of soul searching and have come to some conclusions. 1) I need to take more time to stop and listen to my kids. Actually hear what they are saying. 2) I need to work on my attitude because until I change mine, theirs isnt very likely to change either. 3) I need to be more positive in every aspect of my life. I just happen to go to Church with a very negative person. I tend to let this affect me and I shouldn't. I should be positive anyway. This one person should not make my entire week bad from one week to the next. There are plenty of positive people at Church. I need to gain from them. 4) I need to encourage my husband more. He is so loving and he deserves all the encouragement I can give him.

There have been more stuggles than just these but I am through focusing on them. I am going to focus on the positive. Like the fact that my daughters are being so thoughtful and caring today, and the fact that my little boy is no longer in his play pen (yeah thats positive...he was tearing it up!) He is now trying to potty train and yes it may take a while but he will get there and then woo hoo no more diapers....lol.

I am going to try to post one encouraging thought a day about my sweet dear hubby. (I may miss a day here and there but I will just post two thoughts the next day...) Todays's thought is the fact that he cleaned out my tub last night so I could soak in it because I had a very long day yesterday. And even though I didnt soak because something came up, the fact is it was the thought that counts. And Tonight, I get to soak...Lord Willing!

Please pray for my sister as she is nearing the end of her pregnancy! Your almost there Julie! I am so excited to see my new nephew.

Please pray for me that I may learn patience and be a more happy and cheerful mother to my kids.

Blessings
Crystal