It's Sunday!

Surprise Party Week

It was a great weekend! We had a great suprise party for Harvey and it turned it out almost perfectly. I can't even <i>begin</i> to tell you how hard it was to gather everything during the week with two tired little ones after work/school every day, but it got done! I seriously can't believe the wealth I have in friends and family! People high and low, ready and willing to help with whatever they could to make the day special. My neighbors opened their home to storing all the groceries and party supplies, a Lifegroup friend, Amy, picked up the humongous cake for me and got helium balloons blown, some other friends brought kitchen supplies (Alexandra), and still more family cooked and prepared ALL of the food (Harvey's brother Gary, his mom, and my sister-in-law Lisa all helped). I had no part in the legwork--I had the "tough" job of keeping Harvey from being suspicious and we went shopping while it all came together at home without his knowledge. I had "arranged" for his parents to come babysit while we had an afternoon date, and when we returned, everyone was to surprise him. Well, Harvey got a little carried away with the shopping (go figure!). Believing that this was the only downtime he would have with me, he squeezed as much time as he could out of the trip (and his parents!). I had to finally say, "We've got to go...now! (I made a promise to your parents...yada, yada, yada...haha!)" to get him out of Macy's! We finally started home, an hour behind schedule (imagine my nerves in the passenger seat!). I was texting friends on the way there and couldn't be more relieved when we pulled into the driveway. I had my camera with me and told him to just let me out first, so I did, and walked into the house. That's when I found everyone was at the wrong door! Everyone quickly moved over to the kitchen door where he would be entering, and I quickly switched off the lights and got my camera ready. Harvey came in, the lights came on, and everyone yelled SURPRISE! then burst into "Happy Birthday to You". It was majestic--Harvey was so red and speechless--he didn't know what was going on and was truly surprised at all the people. The rest of the night and the next day, we rode the waves of feeling loved by everyone that came and helped out. We loved it; I'm so glad I did it!

Some pictures from that night!

Well, his birthday is so special and I'm so glad I have God to thank for him. He is a great man of love and faith and it has been an incredible journey with him and I am looking forward to the rest of this life alongside him. I look at our children and they are such a blessing to us--he is overflowing with love for them and for our life. It has been amazing!

Here are some fun pictures of Harvey with our baby Lathan having fun in the pool ;)

The Lord God knows my heart like no one else and He has been faithful beyond belief! I praise the Almighty One and am joyful in His wonderful and amazing presence! I know He has a plan for me, for each of us, and I am so glad to be counted in His kingdom...there is nothing else I know or want to know! Without my Lord, I am nothing. He teaches me to live for others and to and love them until my cup is emptied to be filled with His Spirit again. Thank the Lord for the heaven He has in store for me; I am created for a place I've never known!

May your week be blessed with His Goodness, Love, and Grace. He will show you the way!

Well, look at that...

Well look at that, life is lived in between Sundays. So much that I haven't written in over a week! Well, I'm not going to stress myself out, I have enough of that!

Lathan and Rio are growing up so fast--right before my eyes. I'm scared to blink! I'm so glad I have an iPhone. You'll think I'm silly, but I grab it as soon as I realize I'm appreciating anything they do. Rio kind of got in the habit of running from the camera, but Lathan is still pretty good. So, when he's doing almost anything remotely interesting (which is pretty often), I grab my phone and start recording video. I keep hearing people say to me...this time when they're little is going to fly by so fast! Every time I hear that, it pains me, and I get scared! I don't want to miss it, yet I don't see them through most of the day. SO, when I do, I definitely cherish it. Lathan's funniest thing lately has been saying "no" to everything. "Lathan, do you want a cracker?" Before I show him what it is, he says, "No." and looks at me so seriously! "Lathan, hug your sister, Rio, she loves you." "No."

I noticed today that he started making "boy noises" with inatimate objects. It had to have a motor sound. He held up some plastic piping and was going "sssssccchhhhh" as if it were flying through the air. Where do boys get this? Rio has never made that noise in her life... so I got it on camera. At least I tried to..

Rio is using big words. The other day she said, "Oh, give me those, daddy, I can classify them." (in reference to some toys). She's kind of a geek that way, but it's oh so cute! Tonight she told me she had a plan for what she will be wearing the next few days. She also asked (after getting a "pep" talk), "Mommy, how do you like the way my voice looks? I'm not pitching a fit or screaming..." Gave me a HUGE smile and cocked her head to the side. Not only is she hi-freakin-larious, she also makes me melt!

A couple easy-squeezy, non-edited, in between Sunday pictures..

This one is a "Rio Original". Something from her perspective.

And a favorite from this summer. :)

In Between Sundays

Why do I have another blog? Because nowhere on my other blogs does it seem that I ever really get to share my spiritual journey and life. I called it In Between Sundays because so much life happens there! I find my comfort on Sundays, around His people, and I have come to realize that most of the things that I struggle with happens in between Sundays. How do I deal with work on Monday mornings? How do I treat my family on Thursday nights? Am I constantly looking for guidance. I think it's easy for those of us who don't work in the church to say of those who do, "Of course you have a strong faith--it's your job, you get to work on it all week!". Truthfully, they need just as much help as we do, and so much goes on that the rest of His church doesn't even know about. So, since I am an ordinary, married, working mom of two kids, I feel the need to share my working mom journey. It is a tough life, and keeping Him in the forefront is a constant struggle. What I have learned, I have learned out of necessity. I have gone through amazing trials and a long depression of sorts, and I have had to realize more and more that if I don't keep God in front of me, it is extremely easy to fall into Satan's hands and the ways of this world. Thanks goodness for people like my minister, who keep a daily blog and I can just ride on the coattails of His disciples. I am wanting to do more and be more for God's glory. Hopefully my love for Him can be passed onto my kids in a way that leaves no doubt or fear. That is my prayer for them through this blog and for you if you happen upon this. I will not always be this serious, believe me! It's 12 am, and well, it's a Holy time. ;)