Celebrating 18 months!

While we were in Branson, Andrew and I celebrated a year and a half of marriage!    I know some people may think it's silly to celebrate the little milestones, but we find delight in every little thing about our marriage.

We began our night out by playing putt-putt golf.  We hadn't played since before we married and had a blast!   Andrew beat me...barely.  ;)  

After enjoying a lovely stroll down the River Walk, we watched a water and light show.   It was really neat because they time the water shooting up and the lights to music.    Afterward, we had a relaxed meal at Old Chicago Pizza Company then headed out to see a movie.


As we celebrated we found ourselves so thankful for the many blessings God has placed in our lives.  Never have I received an earthly gift so precious as my husband.   Thanks, babe, for the past 18 19 months...here's to the next 78 1/2 years!  ;)

As we grow older together, As we continue to change with age, There is one thing that will never change. . . I will always keep falling in love with you.
~Karen Clodfelder~

The Duggar Family, Decisions, and Michael Bublé!

The Duggar Family   I have been reading The Duggars: 20 and Counting!: Raising One of America's Largest Families--How they Do It and I am loving it!   They are holding fast to their faith in spite of all the negative comments they receive.  It is very obvious that their love for the Lord and each other runs deep.   While I don't think I will ever have 10+ children, I do agree with them that children are indeed a blessing from the Lord!   They are such a precious family.  =)

Sticks and Stones  Whoever came up with the old addage: sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me obviously did not have a clue as to real life.   Loved ones say things to hurt you...not purposely maybe, but it hurts just the same.    Even after you forgive them, the hurt still lingers.  

Decisions, Decisions   We have some major decisions coming up.  Please pray for wisdom that we will know and follow God's will for our lives.



Pounding the Pavement   I finally got serious about walking in the last month and finally reached my goal of 25 miles a week -- this past week I beat that by walking a whopping 29 miles.  Woot woot!



Michael Bublé   I just downloaded his Let's it Snow! Christmas album for FREE from Amazon.   Go HERE and enter the code GET3MP3S to receive a free $3 credit.  His Let It Snow! (Bonus Live Track) album is only $1.99 meaning it is FREE plus you'll still have some left over.  I love, love, love Michael Bublé! 



Which Michael Bublé song is your favorite?

Better Together

Walking hand-in-hand together

Cooking together

Dancing together when the mood strikes

Playing the piano together

Shopping together

Exploring new places together

Midnight Conversations

Drives together just because

Reading together

Learning together

It doesn't matter what we are doing...so long as we are doing it together!

What are some of your favorite things to do together?

Branson Trip | September 2010

In September Andrew and I headed out with my family for a visit to Branson, MO.   My family and I have visited Branson often since I was little due to the fact that my grandparents use to own a restaurant close by and it was less then a 6 hour drive from our home.

My sister and I ended up having to take our brothers up there for the first two days by ourselves due to some unforeseen complications with my Dad's work schedule, but we had a blast!   We shopped till we dropped, took the boys swimming, and just enjoyed being together.

Once my parents and Andrew arrived later in the week, we spent 3 extremely tiring and wet fun days at Silver Dollar City.    Andrew and I spent a few nights in Branson during our honeymoon, but we didn't get a chance to head to SDC so Andrew was especially excited to be able to visit.   He loved it! 

We spent a lot of our time wet from certain rides.  But what fun is there in staying dry?  None at all.  

 {my mom is in the pink}

{Jonathan is on the right and Caleb is behind him}

{four of my men: Ethan, Samuel, Andrew, and Luke}

Andrew rode his first real roller coaster.  And has become addicted.  I was rather hoping he wouldn't like it since I am a chicken and won't ride the things.  He still asks for me to ride when we go next time.  I told him when pigs fly.  He then wondered aloud how to get a pig onto his Dad's plane.  *sigh*  Oh, the man I married!

We were able to see how Blow Glass creations are made.  Andrew loved this and it was really neat to watch.

I found this adorable airplane rocker while we were there.  I told Andrew once we start having children we have to purchase this.   He is going to turn them into airplane fanatics anyway so why not start early?   I think an airplane themed nursery would be not only unique, but absolutely adorable!  =)   What do you think?


We ended our trip on a Sunday morning, planning to head home around 10ish, but that didn't happen.  We ended up spending 6 hours in the emergency room with my sister.   Nothing life threatening, but it made for a long day of worrying and waiting.

I was glad to be able to spend some time with my family and it was so much fun seeing Branson and Silver Dollar City through Andrew's eyes.  Family is such a blessing!

Holiday Shopping, Decision Points, and Books!

Books  I love 'em.  Made a trip to my home state to spend the weekend with my mom for some one-on-one girl time.  Something we hadn't done since before Andrew and I married.  We had a great time at a book sale and chatting over lunch.   We ended up with a TON of books and now I only need to figure out where to put them!



Andrew   Let me tell you, I LOVE that man!   He put together the nightstand I ordered for me while I was gone plus he cleaned our bathroom and made dinner for me when I got back Saturday afternoon.   He rocks my world!  ;)



Holiday Shopping   I am so happy that we are 100% done with our Christmas shopping.  Well, I am.  haha  Andrew still hasn't quite purchased my gifts yet.   You know men though.




Bush  While we were book shopping this weekend, I came across former President Bush's new book Decision Points.   I'm afraid I couldn't work up enough gumption to pay the whopping $25 for the book, but my mother did.  I read some while I was still there and I LOVED this book.  It looks awesome and I cannot wait to read the rest of it.  I miss him in office!


Online Reward Programs   I am a die-hard bargain shopper.  I hate, hate paying full price for anything.  In fact, I won't do it unless it is absolutely necessary.   I started shopping for Christmas in January.  Yep, January.   I have looked for deals all year long in order to stay under our Christmas gift budget for our family - with 13 siblings and 2 sets of parents to buy for...it can get expensive. 

My favorite way to cut costs was to join Swagbucks to earn free gift cards for making searches online.  Other favorites are MyPoints, Inbox Dollars, and Send Earnings where I receive gift cards {from MyPoints} and cold hard cash {from Inbox Dollars and Send Earnings}.    I received over $20 in Amazon Gift cards to purchase gifts plus four $10 gift cards to various stores that I know my family will love.  


What are some ways you cut cost with your Christmas shopping?

Miscellany Monday: Netflix, Taylor Swift, and more!

Netflix.   Somehow our DVD's are not finding their way into our mailbox, but rather being returned to Netflix.  We're two for two in the past 2 weeks.  Honest thief...or simple mistakes?  

Overtime.  Andrew is working lots of overtime this week.  It's only Monday and I already feel lonely.  :P  So, I decided it was time to stop talking about redesigning my blog and go for it.  Thoughts?    I'm lovin' the new header!  ;)

Hitting the Pavement.  I have finally gotten on a walking routine.  It only took me 11 months, but better late then never, right?  Right!

Once A Month Cooking.   I whipped up enough meals to last us for the next month this past Friday.  Easiest OAM cooking day yet.   Now my freezer is stocked and I only have to worry about salads and sides for the next 4-6 weeks.  {sigh} this makes me happy!  ;)

Taylor Swift.   I recently got her new CD Speak Now and, at first, I did not like it.  She always come across as a bit whiney and know-it-all-y to me.  But, after 10 days of listening to it, I am beginning to like it.  My favorites?   Mine, Sparks Fly, Back to December, The Story of Us, Mean, and Better Than Revenge.  

Which Taylor Swift Speak Now songs are your favorites?

Girl Time, Blogger, and Giveaway Winner!

Girl Time - my mom and sister came down this past weekend for some girl time.  We watched movies, talked non-stop, and made good use of the paraffin bath Andrew gave me for my birthday.  It was heavenly.  My soul was in desperate need of some girl time.


Blogger - has changed things so much.  I am on Wordpress about 90% of the time with my other site so I was surprised by the changes you can make now without editing any code.  Niiiice.   Now if they would only work out all the other kinks...


Christmas - yeah, Christmas.  I am in the mood for hot chocolate, Christmas decorations, and holiday music.   I've also got a Christmas DIY project up my sleeve if I can talk hubby into it. haha  ;)


Giveaway Winner - remember when I posted this giveaway?  Well, I bet ya'll wouldn't believe that I forgot about it, would ya'll?  ;)   Anyway, the winner is Callie!   Congrats and have fun shopping, Callie! =)

Celebrating the Bling...

Yesterday marked 2 years since Andrew proposed.   Yes.  He proposed on Halloween.    

Not that I cared, of course!  ;)

We had gone out with friends for a quick photo shoot.  It had started raining that afternoon so we were only able to shoot for about 30 minutes or so.   Why the photo shoot?   At that time, Andrew was headed to Iraq in four short weeks as a subcontractor with the Air Force.

 We had gone to one of our favorite spots down by the Arkansas River.  We sat there as the sun faded, listening to the water gently splashing.    I wasn't prepared in the slightest.  We got up the leave and, when I noticed he wasn't follow, I turned around to find him down on one knee.   Tears came to my eyes and my throat closed at his heartfelt and love-filled words followed.    

When no answer was forth coming from me, he finally got up and gently led me to a bench.  I was so excited and deliriously happy - this is what I had been waiting for him to ask for ten years.    Once I finally calmed down, I told him to ask me again.   He did.  And I, of course, said you betcha!  ;)

He slid that ring on my finger and I had never felt more content.  I had never known such a peace.  I was right smack in the middle of where God wanted me and I knew it.    I kept looking at my ring all night long, and I couldn't help but giggle and grin like a woman in love.

The next day we attended a friend's wedding...I was excited to finally be able to share that we were engaged.  We arrived to find that everyone knew already through another friend of ours.   I was um, bitterly disappointed to say the least.  I told a scrawny total of 4 of my friends....since everyone knew at the wedding before we even arrived.

I struggled with that for a long time.  I had waited and waited and waited for my turn.  And it was ruined.   I wasn't able to see the surprise, love, and happiness for me on my friends faces when I told them.  That moment was taken away from me by another.

But...you know what?  In the end, it didn't matter.  They knew just the same as if I had told them.  They still celebrated with me.  Sure, it hurt.  I was disappointed, but life moves on.  I don't think my friend even realized what they did in taking that moment from me.  A moment I will never get back.  It took me a long time to get over that but, with wedding details quickly filling up every. single. moment. of my time, I soon did.

We celebrated with our families.  I can't say that our parents were surprised.   We rejoiced and laughed with those we love...those who mean the most to us.   We were ecstatic to begin this new phase of life.  To join our lives together forever. 

When we said our I do's just a short five months later, it was a sweet, sweet time for us.   Our dream was finally becoming our reality.   Oh, we have our days...just like every other couple.  But with every day, with every kiss, with ever tiff, with every look...it just gets better.     Our love grows and changes daily.


Thank, babe, for loving me.  I am so glad God led our families together through our homeschool group so long ago.  Who could have known how far the Lord would bring us?   




Yours Forever & Always,
<3  Meg