becoming a reality

On February 16 of this year, Mike was offered a new job within his company via a verbal offer. Well, today, almost 3 months later, it is becoming a reality!!

Parked in our driveway is the previous account manager/sales representative's car for Mike to start using for customer visits!!

And, in the third bay of our garage, are TONS of files that were unloaded from the trunk of that car.

EXCITING!!!

Yet, I'm still praying fervently for protection over the offer...he should SIGN an actual offer letter this week!!

Thank You, Father for taking such good care of our family!

flashbacks...

This is our family in April 2006.

We still lived in Maine at the time and because there was probably 15 feet of snow on the ground at this time (slight exaggeration), our church Easter Egg Hunt/outreach event was held indoors! This was after the festivities during clean-up. Nate obviously had been running around and working off some energy, and he had just shoved a piece of candy in his mouth!!! By the way, I was about 3 months pregnant with Caden at this time!

Also, 10 years ago today was Mike and I's first date! I'm totally the type to remember things like this! We have never really talked about it or celebrated it, but since it is the 10th, I decided to do something to remember the event...

On our first date, he took me to a place in Moscow, Idaho, called Winger's. Upon the arrival of our server, Mike promptly ordered Buffalo Chicken Wings, not knowing that I didn't really eat chicken off the bone (I don't mind it so much now). He eventually figured it out as I was trying to cut the chicken off the bone with a fork and knife...then it was FUNNY!!!

this was just a couple of weeks later...we look SO young!

So today, I asked if we could go eat lunch at Chili's (this was un-budgeted, so I said it could come out of my grocery budget) after church (it was an awesome Easter service). As we were walking to our table, he decided to go to the bathroom. Our server came while Mike was gone, so I ordered Buffalo Chicken Wings. When the server brought us the wings, Mike was surprised and we talked about our first date! I told the boys how much I really, really, really liked their dad all those years ago!!

Fun times!

God is SO good, in case you need a reminder

MIKE GOT THE JOB!!
(this was originally written one week ago but I never posted it because the job got held up in Humans Resources. So today is the day that we can ACTUALLY say he for sure GOT THE JOB!!)

We are SO excited! I got Mike a congrats card that says something like this "You DID it! I am so excited it's like I did it!" Well that is so true, we are SO excited because this will drastically change our family life for the better!

Before I write more about his new job, I first must give all glory, praise, and honor where it is due, to our Heavenly Father who works all things together for our good! We are so blessed by Him!

You see, the interview did not actually go as well as Mike was hoping. He just didn't feel that good about it. A friend of ours called him after the interview and suggested that he send an email to the man interviewing him to thank him for the opportunity. In this email, Mike wrote how excited he is to be able to do the new job if he were given the chance.

Anyway, it made for A VERY LONG VALENTINE'S WEEKEND, since he was told he would know on Monday! I actually was beginning to feel some guilt, like I didn't pray right or didn't pray enough...like it was MY FAULT! I know, I know...totally not true.

So, Monday afternoon, his new boss called him and explained to him that he just didn't see excitement in Mike during the interview. He wanted Mike to OWN THE JOB and be all excited and act like he already had it and say HE IS THE MAN for the job. Well, Mike IS so excited, he is just not very good at tooting his own horn, if you know what I mean (plus he was exhausted and had already been awake 9 hours and working 8 hours before his interview at noon). So, his new boss told him that it wasn't until he received the EMAIL on Friday morning at 5am, did he see the excitement in Mike. That EMAIL IS WHAT GOT HIM THE JOB!!!!!!!

You know, how many times you hear in your heart, "I should call that person" or "I should send that person a note of encouragement"? Well, our friend heard "I should call Mike" and he DID it! God used our friend as part of the plan for Mike to be offered the job!!!

Praise the Lord!!!

this is it

This is the week. This is the week that Mike interviews for a position that could drastically change our family's life for what appears to be way BETTER.

I am praying hard. I am trying to not be anxious, but to just give it to God continually.

Please join me in praying for Mike and our family this week.

My hope is in my compassionate, loving Father who knows best. I'll keep you posted. (following is a video of the worship song that God is really using in my life right now called How He Loves Us...I can't get through it without crying...listen to the words and worship our loving heavenly Father!)

1/2 the kids

It's amazing experiencing life with only two children when you're used to having four. This doesn't happen very often for me, that's for sure! Since Sunday evening, I have only been responsible for Ian and Caden since Nate and Kyle are at my parents' until tomorrow (We took the week off from school)! Wow!! I get SO much more done with 1/2 the kids. Crazy. I do miss Nate and Kyle; don't get me wrong! It's just been a nice little break.

Anyway, both Mike and I were able to take Ian on two separate dates. On Monday, after dropping Caden off at Parents' Day Out, Ian and I had our date! We ran a couple of errands and then went to the mall to play on the playground. While there, we actually got interviewed by one of the local television stations about how to stay safe while shopping. I should have just told him, "Hey, I'm not shopping! I'm just here for the free playground." But, that probably wouldn't have got me on the news. Plus, I do shop. Just not often and mostly for groceries! So, Ian and I had our little 2 seconds of fame...yes, that is about how long they showed us. Oh well, it was fun!

We got our picture taken in one of those little photo booths...Ian was so excited, but I couldn't get him to actually LOOK at the camera. He just wanted to look at himself in the screen ABOVE the camera :) We finished our date off with lunch at Taco Bueno where he got a "Happy Meal," which was a real treat! When I have all 4 boys with me, they usually just get 2 party burritos each and share a drink. Yes, I am frugal and NOT a germ-a-phob (anymore)!

Then, Mike took Ian to see the movie Bolt tonight! Ian really wanted to see it because of the movie's website he somehow found via the Playhouse Disney website (a marketing ploy aimed at 3-year-olds that totally works). He LOVES playing the games from the website. Anyway, they got "pah-corn and Spite" (popcorn and Sprite.) I snapped a few pictures when they got home and then used Picasa to make a collage! How fun is that!!

anniversary

Today I have been married 9 years. Nine years. Wow! Could this picture really have been taken 9 years ago?? Crazy!

I love this man!!

Mike and his work and blessings

Mike has been working CRAZY hours. I almost just typed, "Mike has been working crazy hours, again." Well, that wouldn't actually be truth, because Mike pretty much has ALWAYS worked crazy hours, so I left off "again." Pretty much since he moved off the evening shift that he was working when we first moved here, 3pm - 1am, he has been working 12-14 hours days. It's been really hard for all of us.

Anyway, I have just been praying and praying for his job. God sees the big picture. God has plans to prosper Mike and our family, not to harm us. God knows all, is in all, through all. God is in control. I know, I know...but it's still hard in the midst of it. It's hard to consider trials "pure joy" when I just miss my husband/best friend. It's hard to hear Mike say he just has SO much to do at work when I am thinking, "there is SOOOO much to do here."

Well, God is moving there. I know it. I really, really can see it. God is using Mike there. God is blessing Mike there, even though it is hard to see it in the middle of 60-70 hour work weeks.

For example, yesterday, sitting on Mike's desk was a brand new-in-the-box 4GB mp3 player with the words "God says hello" written on the box. It was a gift from one of the guys that works there. Wow! Mike feels so blessed.

I love him and pray that he always knows how much I love him!

Wordless Wednesday (almost)

Ian and Mike at Hallelujah Hoe-Down Fall Festival, 2005

football game

Mike and I had a great time together on Saturday at the OU game. I think our date almost lasted 12 hours! That's 12 hours of just me and him time!! Actually, about 4 hours of that was me and him and about 85,000 screaming OU fans. We really had a fun time! The Sooners won 35-10 over the Texas Christian Horned Frogs (what a name!)

Our seats were pretty good! They were 16 rows off the field near one of the end zones. One of OU's touchdowns happened when a guy ran right up the sideline in front of us. I'm sure that guy has a name, but I have no idea what it is!! It was cool.

This is their ENORMOUS screen!!

Everytime OU scores, this "Sooner Schooner" runs out on the field. I wasn't entirely sure what a schooner is until I just skimmed that link! They also set off fireworks on both sides of the field at each touchdown.

Here we are with some random guys right behind us! We were CRAMMED into the seats!

But please, have no fear my OSU friends and family, my allegience is still to OSU! Go Pokes!! Caden represents this so well!! What a cutie!

Cream cheese, butter, and homemade cleaners

Well, I must tell you that I am turning more and more old-fashioned, or what some people may call green, by the minute. Right now, I am making cream cheese. Yes, cream cheese. I have actually been making cream cheese and whey for the last week; you basically just sit raw milk out until it sours and turns to curds and whey (You know, like from the nursery rhyme...little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet eating her curds and whey!) Last week, I made my own butter and I must tell you that it turned out wonderfully. You may be wondering, why in the world would she be doing that? Well, I have began reading this book.
I have been learning all about homogenization and pasteurization and all sorts of other unfortunate processes that our food goes through. So, about a month ago, I purchased our first raw milk (straight from the cow, non-homogenized and non-pasteurized) from a local dairy, complete with cream on top and everything. My husband said that the transition from Braum's 1% to raw whole milk was too great. So, we found another semi-local dairy that sells raw skim, 2%, or whole milk. You can buy the cream separately. We also bought sharp cheddar cheese made from raw milk. It tastes great. I have also been learning a whole lot of other things from this book, but I'll save those for later!

I have also been reading this book.. From this book, I have been learning how to make safer cleaning products. It is very interesting and actually very cost effective. I just had to buy some spray bottles, borax, washing soda (different than baking soda), some more vinegar, and a good environment-friendly liquid soap. So far, I have made an all-purpose cleaner, a glass cleaner, and a baking soda scrub. I have also washed one load of laundry with the recipe for laundry soap. I am actually excited about this all! Everything has worked very well!
I must tell you that Mike is getting a kick out of all of this. I heard him saying, "The next thing I know she is going to be making our underwear out of tree bark." Ha, ha, ha!! You never know!!!

Flashback Friday

My super friend did this last week, so I thought I would join in this fun bloggy thing! Also, since many of my readers haven't really known me for that long, I will be able to share a little of my past (most of it with blond hair!)

I thought my first Flashback Friday should be some pictures of Mike and me while we were engaged. This first one was taken at Multnomah Falls in Oregon in April of 1999, right around the time when we realized we were each others' "one". It is SUCH a beautiful place. Yes, we look young! (You can click on the pictures to make them bigger!)

This next picture is taken on the Clearwater River in Idaho. Mike grew up in Kooskia, an itty bitty town of 600 people, on this river. The picture of us isn't very clear, but the scenery is awesome. Mike took me on a picnic and drive this day in May 1999, the day before I was moving back to Oklahoma for the summer. At this point, we knew we were getting married, we just didn't know when, where, or where we would live or anything. I had gone out to Idaho for only a semester and then met Mike. Anyway, it's a long story, but I ended up moving out there for real that August and then we got married in November. This is about 2 hours from where we lived in Moscow, Idaho. Mike actually used a timed camera to take this picture. He sat it on a rock and then jumped out to the rock where I am standing. I thought for sure he was going to fall into the river!

These next two pictures are from our engagement pictures. They were taken in September 1999 by Mike's best friend David.


I can't believe that this year we have been married 9 years...wow! Who would have thought that God would bring two people together from two tiny towns in two totally different parts of the country! I praise God that He did! I am so blessed by my husband! This is the verse that was on the front of our wedding program:
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Resourceful daddy

Mike had today off from work, so I went to the YMCA this morning without the kids. When I left the house, the kids were still in their pajamas. Much to my delight and surprise, when I returned home a little over an hour later, the boys were dressed! They had even been outside playing soccer because it hit 80+ degrees today. I think that because of my excitement of them being dressed, I didn't actually pay attention to what Caden was wearing. After about an hour or so, I realized that he was wearing a short-sleeve shirt that used-to-be long-sleeve. Mike couldn't find a short-sleeve shirt for him, so he just cut the sleeves off a long-sleeve one. I just chuckled and took a picture!