Weekend Going-Ons

We haven’t seen much of Justin this summer. The fire suppression program runs through summer and he maintains his shift life, etc. Plus he’s been working on side jobs, to top it off.

But he was home this weekend.

Yesterday, which was Saturday, we headed out for the fire house cook-off. There were several different fire houses having a competition regarding their traeger bbq and the tastiness thereof. We enjoyed visiting and letting the kiddos run rampant at Wooden Shoes Tulip Farm. They had a nice park area designated for events such as this . . . flowers galore and I left my camera behind. Retard am I.

Oh yeah, and we ate our weight in bbq . . . traeger style.

We also made it to the ‘Movie in the Park’ put on my the city of Salem. They were playing the Bee Movie. (hint: I remembered my camera)

They have an amphitheater built into a grassy knoll near the playground and we soon found a camp out spot. Tobias couldn’t wait for the movie to start for snack time.

Thats my son, Sam’s, giant noggin. Poor boy, inherited the Matthews large noggin gene. But, also in the pic, is the large inflatable screen (nearly the size of the noggin) we are to view the flick of choice. At this point we were watching vintage drive in movie commercials.

Dad brought the boy’s chairs from home, which they thought was the best thing ever . . . well, since boxed crackers and juice anyway . . . and hung out on them pretty regularly throughout.

He’s mine, I claim him but I wonder what he’s thinking sometimes.

God Bless and I hope you had a good weekend!

Haircut

Ok, I went drastic.  Very very drastic.  Drastically different than I have in 10 years, plus.  I love my locks.  I grew to love my locks as I came into my early 20’s and realized how nice natural curl was and what hair mousse could do for such as me.

But somewhere along the line . . . after marriage, kids, and having the, generally, the same do as . . . give or take a couple of inches . . . i cut it . . . off.

this is my hair yesterday, prior to 4pm.

Wannabe pic. This is the pic I showed my neighbor/friend and long-time hairdresser, Anne

Now, keep in mind . . . this is the haircut I got.  And, when the money is a little looser than today, I will be purchasing hair wax (which is necessary to create the above look) . . . I will also be adding color, fun stuff!

Ok, please be nice.  I am still getting used to the new do . . . and, at times, I cry for my lost locks.  But, overall, I think I like it. It definitely dries quicker!! Blow dryers have never been a close friend of mine and my hair takes hours to dry naturally.  Its thick and coarse . . . it was dry within an hour this morning . . . nice!!

Now, not that anyone gives a royal crap . . . but with hair wax, I’ll be able to make the hair stand on end (like the wannabe pic above) and go different directions . . . against the cowlicks.

I think I repeated myself.  Sign that its time to log off.

Please tell me the hair-do does not make my face look huge . . . thats my only concern at this point.

God Bless!

Surprise Surprise

May 31st, that is my birthday.  And, coincidentally, I will be 31 years old.  I just realized that . . . hmm, I imagine it means absolutely nothing, but still interesting.

Justin’s birthday is the 28th . . . just a few days before mine.  I’m two years his senior but act 5 years his junior.

My good friend, K, her birthday lands on the same day Justin’s is . . .

She came to visit me today, her and her daughter.  And then she surprised me with a outing to a local Mexican restaurant, her treat.  We loaded our three chitlins into her van headed out.  The boys . . . and girl . . . did great and the food was good . . . but the company was fabulous!! Thank you, K!!

My mom has told me before, that her favorite era in life was being in her 30’s. I’m starting to understand why.  I feel so much more settled and secure in who I am, regarding my identity in God and in life (though very tightly knit).  Also just very very happy with where I am in my relationship with Justin and how our lives are switching up for the better . . . though it be hard, at times, I know God will see us through and it will be for good; for us and our future generations!

So, thats all I got for ya . . .

Happy Birthday, also to my siblings . . . Billy (24th), Amy (28th), and Kelli (June 2) . . . yes we had many a collaborated birthday party.

God Bless!

Good Times

I’m a bit of house-hermit but this weekend some good friends of ours invited us over . . . an overnighter, folks. I don’t think I’ve done that since I was in my early 20’s and definitely before chitlins. That doesn’t include my Momma’s house. I was a tad nervous of how the kids would do . . . Sam hadn’t traveled for an overnight trip since he was 3 or 4 months old. But, as usual, things went better than I expected . . . actually they went really really well. And, on top of that, we spent some well-needed and overdue time with some very good friends! I enjoyed myself immensely and found myself even more grateful and blessed (and humbled) to have such people as these on my short list of friends.

Then last night we went to church.  I cried (literally) for the time lost at my “home” . . . where I feel most at home . . . and I cried cuz the presence of God was so thick in the place.  The message edifying and convicting all at once. And I can’t wait to get back.  It was excellent to see all of my friends as well! If you didn’t know, my church (Life Bible), is over an hours drive right now; living in Salem while J does his school thing.  And with finances being so slim, getting down there but once every couple of months is a miracle the last 6 months or so.  But I just choose to trust God, even though I don’t completely understand why He has us in this season.

Here’s some pics, hopefully its cool with my friends if they are posted on me blog.

Mixture of families, since there was a birthday party going on for Chad and Ezra.  My hubby is on your far right. hot!

At the table after some awesome burritos, courtesy of Sarah and Linda. Again, mixture of families and my hubby is on your far right.

Playing with our dog, Byron.  It was still relatively warm out at 8pm. My husband is on your far right . . . I’m seeing a pattern forming.

Enjoying cake and ice cream.  Ezra wanted a pink cake . . . so the frosting was, indeed, pink. Very cute! He turned 3 years old.

stinkin’ camera

I am a dunce. We, Justin, myself, Tobias and Samuel, all went to the zoo with Justin’s grandma, aunt, niece, his mom, dad and sister. I had only met his grandmother once and had never met his aunt. It was not a beautiful day but the rain did hold out until we were loading into our cars afterwards. But, despite the lack of sun, we had a fantastic time and the boys warmed right up to their extended family and all was well.

Oh yeah, I’m a dunce . . . I’m a dunce because I forgot my camera. Forgot my camera like I get together with these people every weekend and the zoo is a monthly affair . . . like I’ve got so many pictures of this type of outing, who needs more. Ugh! Yeah, I regret forgetting the camera more than I have anytime in the past.

His Aunt and Grandma were taking plenty of pics . . . so I’m hoping I can solicit pics from them . . . out of the goodness of their pee-pickin’, related-to-me-now, hearts.

No, they are fabulous people and I was honored that they included us and blessed us with their limited time in the area, as well as his grandma treating everyone to the zoo.

Now, I just need pictures so I can bore the heck out of all of you with the excited-toddler-running-for-the-primate-cage-faces and look-its-an-elephant-pooping . . . wow-that-stinks-face.

The Portland zoo is a very nice park! Very very enjoyable. And, bonus, we got to hear Tobias mimic the Peacocks all the way home.

Ok, thats all . . . that was Wednesday, by the way. I guess its been a few days since I’ve written. oops

Starting yesterday, if we weren’t sleeping, we’ve been outside . . . has anyone experienced how warm it is out there today! Holy mackerel!!

God Bless! Enjoy that sunshine!!

ps, today is the T’s birthday . . . . I will post more later on that.

Grace

Circumstances surrounding the fact that we are dirt poor, on a school budget, has kept us homebound for the past 6 weeks.  Meaning we don’t have our cars covered by insurance so we refuse to drive them more than 10 miles, give or take, from our home.  We shouldn’t even be doing that! But the hubby still has to get to school, groceries, etc.

Anyhoo, that said, we haven’t been to church in almost 2 months!  Our church, Life Bible, is located in Harrisburg; an hour or more from us.  I desperately miss corporate worship, the message, and the important relationships that keep us accountable and functioning properly.  God knows my heart . . . believe me, I’ve done my share of whining . . . not sure why these particular circumstances would plague us, keeping us from the very thing that brings us closer to HIM.  But HE reminds me that HE is in control and HE knows whats best.  One thing is to know that HE is the ONE I worship, not the church body, the people or the idea of church . . . becoming my identity, instead of the my CREATOR, my Saviour, the Lover of My Soul!!!  I’m not saying I’m quitting church . . . its essential for me, as a Christian, to be plugged in . . . giving up myself and trusting God that He’ll use me.  And stuff will straighten back out, by the end of this week, God willing . . . so I’ll be back at it, church wise.  And I will be a little less hasty to take for granted my ability to be at church . . . a bit less whiny about the long drive and kids being crabby over the long round trip.

I brought allllll that up to say this.  God has not forgotten that I need my friends, the relationships that keep me from feeling completely cut off . . . I’ve had more visitors in the past 4 weeks than I have since Samuel was born.  Saturday some very good and old friends of ours came down with their three boys.  It was absolutely wonderful to be re-connected, since they moved back recently, and to just feel ‘at home’ as we ate our humble lunch and hung out talking nonsense and God stuff. So refreshing!!! I love how God works and how HE just keeps orchestrating our lives to HIS will and purpose . . . never forgetting our desires and wants along the way . . . such a personal and loving Saviour.

So this was a very serious post . . . I do enough goofy, nonsense posts to make up for it. I love my God . . . HE is my everything and I have not a clue where  I’d be without HIM, but I know the things I’ve overcome by HIS grace and I’m convinced I wouldn’t have come through as clean without HIM! Thank you, God, for friends and good times to rejuvenate and refresh the soul!

God Bless!!

drama

I have never been known as a drama-queen. Never, in fact normally quite the opposite occurs. I tend to shy from anyone that creates mucho drama or I’m just ignorant of it altogether.

My personality, I have come to the conclusion in my 31st year of life, is that of blunt honesty . . . most of the time honesty that I truly mean no harm or foul . . . and most of the time there is no harm or foul. My blunt honesty that borders on cynicism occasionally, is normally pointed at myself; not others.

Some other conclusions were made over the past 2 days, due to a set of circumstances that has spanned since September of last year (I’m being mysterious here but it really isn’t that big of deal, just hit a sore spot with me) and the lessons about people and myself are coming through clear and bright.

#1 and foremost: Material possessions and money never ever take the place of true and lasting relationship, ever! No matter how much you give money to someone and buy them things, it does not compensate for the lack of your presence, heart and genuine interest in their lives. Period. It makes the other person feel good for a bit but the remedy to loneliness is not things but connection and kindness. Hard lesson learned. It also goes the other way . . . don’t keep wanting material stuff from people or keep looking for what they can do for you; be happy that they are willing to spend time and energy with you and the fact someone genuinely cares about your life. Also look how you can be a blessing in lives around you and not just looking for blessing. Again, hard lessons learned.

I might be slow to grow up, so no laughing at me on these. They might seem elementary but I know old people that deal with these same matters.

#2 If you find out someone has said something negative about you, why wait 2 months to vent on them? My theory, go directly to them, point it out . . . hash it out . . . forgive each other and have life move on. It might take awhile, but its worth it . . . relationship is worth it!

#3 and hardest lesson for me thus far in life: Do not justify yourself after, what you perceive as, being attacked verbally.  Unless its going to physically harm you or your family or friends . . . LET IT GO!!!  Pray about it, choose to pray and love the other person.  That’s “turning the other cheek”. I unfortunately felt the need to “fight back” this week and it has effected me more than if I would have just let it go and chose to do the above.  It wasn’t even that big of a deal . . . Mountain out a mole hill, as my mother always said.  I learned my hate for drama from her. Thank you so much, mom!

*Note: in the word ‘drama’, I’m not referring to professional (or otherwise) theater . . . I’m using it as slang to refer to unneeded conflict and hackles being raised over personal rights and ego.  I’ve had friends in the past that thrived on this phenomenon and I had to make a choice to break with those friends.  Its mostly is done out of boredom.  I find it extraordinarily tiring and so against the word of God.

So, life goes on . . . I might have burned a bridge with someone that should be an intricate part of our family life, this past week.  But I pray things pan out for the better and we both come out better people and more understanding of the other; as well as ourselves.  I know I learned valuable lessons, some of them for the 2nd or 20th time. ” _

Introductions

Ah, I felt good. I had gotten the second work out of the day in, one usually does it, but the fat is stubborn these days. I was in the process of cleaning my house. The kids had both eaten a good dinner and now relaxed in the living room with their various toys of choice, occasionally trying swap toys of choice for their brother’s toys of choice which would result in shoving and ear-piercing screeching until the matter was settled; usually by me.  But all was normal and good the house. I had skipped doing my shower directly after working out, opting to sweat doing housework in the same slightly sweaty workout clothes.  I know, kind of gross, but I don’t feel like showering twice before bed; especially when bedtime is 2 hours away.

On that note, my hair was frizzy frizz (I have naturally curly hair), I have ratty sweat pants on and a baggy fleece sweatshirt. Oh yeah and I had opted for my comfy, taped together glasses rather than my contacts.  So I was a picture to behold, beauty still-framed. Yeah, not quite, actually quite the opposite.

Justin walks in from being at school and announces that Tod (his study-buddy and co-fireman) brought him home and he has to take off immediately due to studying for mid-terms this week. Whatever, I’m used to these announcements so I shrug it off, not thinking much about it and return to my house work.

He walks out the door and comes back seconds later with Tod (whom I’ve never met or even spoken with) and starts to introduce us. Embarrassed as I was at my appearance, my house and the fact my boys were running around in their skivies, Tod was congenial, friendly and seemed well at ease despite the mess.

This is my wife,” Justin says (still willing to claim me, that says something for Justin) I shake Tod’s hand and say something, I don’t remember what

Justin continues. .”This Toby . . . “

Tod says hi to Toby and Toby quickly warms to him and then takes over Justin’s intro’s . . “this is Sam,” Tobias says proudly, pulling Sam to the forefront.

We all laughed, but my heart warmed simultaneously.

I have been amazed how much Tobias has grown, not in stature but in communication and general knowledge. He is picking up words like mad and uses them regularly.  I love this and I try to catch myself at the end of a long day; when Toby is jabbering away, only half discernible, just excited at life; from showing my fatigue by becoming annoyed with him. I want to encourage him to communicate with me and his dad. I don’t want him to ever feel like he has to shove things down and deal.  He’s got his whole adult life to look forward to that. 

Samuel, approximately 10 months old . . . got his grandfather’s ( my dad’s) grin. Goofy.