#33goingon13

A friend and I had a conversation the other day about being in our mid-thirties...which I am not!  She is 34 so she clearly is...I am not though.  Anyway, I refuse to be in my mid-thirties or any age beyond that.  I prefer to live like I am 13.  I mean, why not!? Who wants to act old?

That being said, I had every opportunity to act 13 this weekend and so I did just that.  You all know of my love for Needtobreathe and that I have wanted to meet them for a long time.  They are just people...I know, I know.  But they are people that sing great music!  Did you know that they are currently touring with my 2nd favorite, Ben Rector!!!!?  When Rob called me a few months ago and informed me of this fantastic news I got a little excited.  Okay, okay...I FREAKED OUT!  After I got done freaking out with him on the phone I called Amber (because she shares the same love for Ben Rector's music) and continued to FREAK OUT!  (Amber likes to say I am "easily excitable" which she equates to childlike joy/wonder and I equate to being childISH.)  When tickets went on sale my fantastic husband was online the moment they went on sale and bought us great seats.  I came to learn there was a VIP package where you could meet the band and they sing you one song!  Wait...what!?  So I kindly requested that we purchase these VIP tickets as well.  He was adamant that this was not going to happen. 

Well, I waited and waited for the months to pass and finally Saturday night was the night for the concert.  To my surprise Rob did purchase the VIP tickets!!!  He is so sneaky. He said this was my birthday present which was fine by me.  BEST PRESENT EVER!!! To say I was shocked is the understatement of the century.  I was so excited to meet the band and Ben Rector.  What would I wear?  What would I say?  What do I do with my coat and purse?  Which I clearly made a bad choice on that...

While we were in line I said to Rob, "Do you think I can stand wherever I want? Because I really want to stand by Ben and Bear."  He of course laughed.  When we got up to them he grabbed me and said, "this girl wants to stand right here. You will make all her birthday wishes come true." and then placed me in between them.  Ben (we are on a first name basis now) said, "Oh...happy birthday." AH!...you guys, I was dying.  I get to cross something off my bucket list now!  Random: do you have a bucket list? I didn't until this year...it's kinda fun.  I have crossed two things off already.  Meeting Needtobreathe and riding a Boda Boda with Amber in Uganda - that is a whole other blog post for another day.  Back to the meeting of the band...How perfect is that picture?  I think I am going to print it into poster size and hang it above my bed!

The concert was just as amazing as the other 4 times I have seen them. Actually it was better.
At one point I looked at Rob and said, "I am standing up when Ben performs even if I am the only one!" No shame people...no shame. There was maybe 10 people in the whole place standing and at first I just sat on the edge of my seat, but that didn't last long...I couldn't take it.  And you know what...my sweet hubby stood with me.  Gosh, I love him. 

So there you have it friends my dreams coming true and why I am, and will always be, #33goingon13.

Happy Birthday to my Hubby

 

Tomorrow my amazing husband turns

40!

I am so excited to celebrate this special day with him!

(We have all kinds of things planned.)

In honor of him I am going to give you 40 random facts about him.

 

1. He was born in Pennsylvania

2. He has a brother.

3. He has a sister.

4. He was raised in a christian home.

5. His family actually started a church in a chicken coop.

6.  They were known in the town as the Chicken Coop Church.

7. He grew up on a farm.

8.  He once had a bat attack his face.

9.  He used to chase tires down a hill for fun.

10. He worked on a strawberry farm...or was it a tomato farm?

11.  He built houses.

12.  He has blue prints for a house that he wanted to build someday.

13.  When he was in high school he was girl crazy.

(He's going to love me for that!)

14.  His youth leader was very instrumental in his walk with the Lord.

15.  He has been to Spain.

16.  He followed a girl (shocker) to the college he went to.

(Good thing or I would have never met him.)

17.  He paid for college himself.

18.  When he was in college he made some great friends.

19.  Him and those friends did crazy things.

20.  After college he was a youth leader.

(halfway there.)

21.  He was also a worship leader.

22.  He played the guitar.

23. He stole my heart with that guitar.

24.  His first job after college was with Lipton.

25.  His second job was with Store Door Merchandising.

26.  He is still with the same company.  (They have a new name)

27.  He is now a Vice President there.

28.  He asked me to marry him Valentines Day weekend.

29.  He wrote me a song.

30.  He is a very organized person.

31.  He does a lot of our Christmas shopping.

32.  He has taken a mud bath at a spa!

33.  He is a good cook.

34.  One year he spent a whole day with me baking cookies.

35. He used to collect Coke things.

36.  He also collected a TON of GI Joe things for Broderick.

37. He hates playing board games.

38.  His favorite drink is Sweet Tea.

39. He is the funnest person. (that is what Carys said!)

40.  He is great at decorating.

 

Wowza!  I can't believe I did that!

 

Babe, have a great birthday!

My Valentine

I have had the wonderful privilege of calling this AMAZING man my Valentine for 11 years. We got engaged on February 12, 2000.

Here's how:

He used to lead worship at our old church, so on Saturday night (the 12th) he told me he had to go set up his guitar for Sunday morning. We went to church and he set up. Then he asked me to come sit down. I did not expecting anything. He started to play a song, that he wrote. Unfortunately, he didn't keep a copy of it so neither one of us remembers much of it. The last line was, "Amy will you marry me?" I was so surprised my response was, "are you serious?" Nice, huh!? Of course I said yes and he put the most beautiful ring on my finger. 10 months later we were married at the same church.

I know I just posted about 8 weeks ago how much I love this man and all the reasons why, but I am going to again. He is hard-working, fun, good looking, funny, motivated, ambitious, loves God and tries to more each day, is very self-aware, handsome, loves spending time with me and the kids, respectful, helpful, kind, supportive, a great listener, hot, & all mine!
I will also tell you why I like and dislike Valentine's Day.

Here's why I like it:

I get to make all kinds of fun things. Like these and these.
Also these. I admit, I am no Little Miss Momma or Bakerella, but these things were so fun to make!
I love, love, love wearing and dressing Carys and Broderick in fun shirts, dresses and hair bows for fun holidays. (Broderick won't wear them anymore, but I try.)
This year all of us made "mailboxes" and left notes for each other throughout the month. The kids loved it...so did I, I will admit. I got this idea from a friends blog and it was a great one.
And finally, any excuse to eat cookies, candy and cupcakes is worth a holiday to me.

Here's why I don't like it:

I think sometimes it is an easy out for husbands and wives to not do special things for there spouse on other days. We should be showing each other the love we feel compelled to on Valentine's day all throughout the year. Right!? I don't just want to be taken out to eat or surprised with flowers or candy on Valentine's day, and I know Rob doesn't want that either. I want those things out of the blue. Let's be honest, it isn't a surprise when it is Valentine's day...it is kind of expected, and that is why we do it. It is a surprise on February 20th, or March 2nd, or July 18th. I mean, I am guilty of it...what is the title of my post today!? I should write nice things about my husband all the time. (Maybe that will be March's resolution!)
So, let's love like Jesus loves all year long, not just February 14th.

I left my heart in San Francisco

Okay, so I didn't really! As many of you know Rob and I went on a trip to San Francisco this past weekend. We had such a wonderful time. I had never been so it was all new and exciting for me. Most of my pictures are on Facebook so I thought I would just highlight some of my favorites. We arrived Friday after a 4 hour flight. Have I ever mentioned that I HATE flying!? If not, I do! So that alone was a task! When we got there we walked around the pier. Below we are standing at the end of the pier, Alcatraz is behind us.

On Saturday we took a tour across the Golden Gate Bridge, to Muir Woods - The Redwoods, and Salsilito - an Island just on the other side of the bridge.

I can not even begin to describe this place. These tress where huge! The leaves and grass where so green. I seriously felt like I was in a scene from Twilight. I kept waiting for Edward Cullen to come running through the trees. Didn't happen, but wouldn't that have been cool!? This place is truly a masterpiece of God. Below: We are standing inside a tree! Inside!

We came across this street! Can you believe it! We have never seen a anything with Broderick's name on it. When I sent the kids the picture and then talked to Broderick later, this is what he said, "Mom, I can't believe they named a street after my name!" He really thought that this street was named after him. Who am I to bust his bubble? We will just let him believe this!

We had a wonderful time and are so grateful to the many people that helped make this happen. It is always so nice to get away with just Rob and I. Can't wait for our next adventure!

(10)

Today Rob and I celebrate 10 years of wedded bliss. Okay, bliss, maybe not all the time, but I wouldn't change one moment of the last 10 years for anything. When I was 19 people told me I was to young to get married and I didn't know what I was getting into. True...but would I have ever been "ready" or "known"? NO! Marriage has it's trials and tough times, but I am a better woman, wife, and mother due to all of them. Marriage also has it's AMAZING times. Intimacy, laughter (and lots of it), children, vacations, in-laws, and someone to wake up to each morning. No one in this whole world challenges me the way Rob does. No one in this whole world knows me better than Rob does. (With the exception of maybe my mom. But even Rob knows things she doesn't.) No one loves me in the whole world like Rob does. He knows my good and bad qualities and loves me anyway. He is one special man and I am truly blessed to call him mine over the last 10 years and can't wait to celebrate many more with him!