I DO....

I had the sweet privelege of shooting engagements Saturday. I absolutely love doing engagement sessions....I DO.....I DO.....I DO....you will get what I'm getting at if you check out the rest of the photos from this adorable couple's session by clicking here!

TO DO

Have I mentioned that my "To Do" List has 150,000 things on it? Not simply 150 or 1500 or even 15,000 but 150,000....give or take a few! I'm exhausted just thinking about it and broke too, since a lot of it involves spending money on something....house repairs, dental visits, car repairs....to name a few! Needless to say, I've been busy. And although I was hoping things would slow down for me a little after the holidays, well.....they haven't....at least not yet! So me and my two hands truck on....marking off one thing at a time....of my 150,000 things to do. I can mark one off now, since "Writing A Blog Post" was on my "To Do" List!

I'm off to continue editing the super duper engagement photos I took today. OH MY GOODNESS....I am in LOVE with some of these photos. This couple is about as cute as a newly engaged couple can get. POSTING SOME SOON!

CRYING

Things that have or do make me cry...

The video of Johnny Cash singing "Hurt"!

Reunions between service men/women and their families.

Singing in church!

Elliot asking me if Baby Maggie can play in her dollhouse with her when she gets bigger.

Watching babies be baptized.

Cal sitting in church and taking communion for the first time.

When my friends cry.

Realizing how fast my children are growing, and that I won't have a baby in my house anymore.

Thinking about the last time my dad looked me in the eye and how his face looked.

Cleaning out my grandmother's house....knowing I would never go back there again.

When my friends have babies.

Reading "The Shack" and "The Poisonwood Bible".

The suffering that some people I love have gone through, and their faith that holds them together.

When my dog, Willie, died.

Reading "The Hole In Our Gospel"!

Watching Steel Magnolias.

Listening to my girls sing in the church choir.

Reading Kisses From Katie's blog.

When my littles hug me so tight.

Cal telling me "I LOVE YOU MOM!"

Knowing that Jesus died for me, forgive me, and wants me to be in relationship with HIM!

And those are just to name a few!

God Grant Me Patience

It's a new year and a new day.....I have vowed to put my worries behind me at least for this weekend. ;) I do believe that God answers all prayers....sometimes yes....sometimes no....sometimes we won't know His answer until we get to Heaven. Once we get to Heaven, will we even wonder the answer; or will we be in such a state of bliss that those earthly worries won't matter? I can only imagine! The other day was the 2 year anniversary of my lifelong friend, Leslie's stroke, it was on that same day that she lost her second son during childbirth. Her faith is so very strong and honestly it sustains me sometimes when mine is wavering. This is what she said on Jan. 5th 2011....

"Shiloh Ross Power - sometimes it's just sweet to hear your name! resting in the promise I will get to hold you for eternity! big kiss...momma!"

My faith is strong, it's my patience that's wavering.

My Prayer

I will trust in You! I will trust in You! Oh Lord, I know you can do anything; and I will trust in You! Praying for Your perfect peace and will to be done! I would appreciate a little sign that it is Your will being done....I tend to oftentimes confuse my will with Yours! Thanks TONS! LP

NPAYNE vs. LPAYNE

The differences in NPayne and myself:

He is not the most organized.

I strive to be the most organized.

He never complains.

I complain a lot.

He strongly dislikes his job.

I adore my job.

He looks around and thinks...."I can't believe I have 5 kids!"

I look around and think...."I can't believe I only have 5 kids!"

He is optimistic.

I am pessimistic.

He can't be bothered by most things.

I can worry myself into a tizzy.

He likes to watch a lot of TV.

I don't like to watch a lot of TV.

He is pretty handy.

I am not handy and don't really care to be.

He is not tidy.

I am tidy.

He is content.

I try to be content.

He thinks other people's junk is trash.

I create cool stuff out of other people's trash junk.

He compliments me a lot.

I don't think enough of myself.

He thinks 5 children is plenty.

I think 5 children is just getting started.

He LOVES Me!

I LOVE him!

Peace

I've been having sleepless nights....yes it's true....not sleeping much at all. Last night when I was wide awake, I looked at pictures of engagement sessions, along with pictures of newborn twins, for hours. I prayed a lot for those who have requested prayer, for those who have not but would appreciate it, for those who I just felt led to pray for, for my family, and for peace and contentment for myself. I crave God's perfect peace. Remember my friend, who just found out she's pregnant, well guess what? It's TWINS! :)

New Years Resolution 2011

It's A New Year!

I am not a resolution maker....honestly I just don't like to put that kind of pressure on myself....however; this year, I am going to make a general resolution! Besides the normal daily resolution, that I try to live by, which is treasure the little things....enjoy the day; I have decided that I want to see some major stuff done to our house. Our house is older than dirt....well actually it's not....but it's close at the ripe old age of 103! Over the past year, we have simplified a lot and gotten rid of a lot and I want that to continue. I also want to show some respect to our house by finishing up many unfinished projects and rooms. With NPayne working and our financial status being that of paycheck to paycheck, that won't be easy; but I think if we focus and budget....we can get some stuff done! The upstairs bathroom and closets are first....then I'll be ready to tackle the downstairs bathroom and KITCHEN....ahem....excuse me while I jump up and down in celebration. Then refinishing the woodwork, painting anything that needs to be painted and finally refinishing the floors. The outside will get a little TLC too....mainly a new fence but possibly a little paint. Eventually NPayne will build us a master bathroom....the day that comes...my heart will skip a beat with joy! I'm not resolving that all of these things will get accomplished in a year's time, but we are going to put forth some effort and get as many done as possible! We are blessed to have such a big old house to comfortably house all 11 of us (5 kids, 2 adults, 2 dogs, 1 cat, and a fish), and I feel like we should definitely show it some love!

Happy New Year! Look forward to what's to come, don't dwell on what's passed you by; and live in the present!

A BABY

Last night I dreamt I was expecting twins....I didn't actually dream it....I fantasized about it as I lay awake trying to sleep. I was picturing which room they would occupy in our house and how so very excited, loving, and helpful my other children would be with their new siblings. And although I'm 44 and rarely without pain from arthritis, I would give my right arm...not really but you know what I mean....to be pregnant! I love being pregnant!

Late tonight I got a message from one of my dear sweet friends telling me that she is pregnant. Twins??? Don't know....she is barely pregnant! I was so overjoyed and excited for her that I couldn't stop smiling and actually shed a little tear when I thought about her having another chance to have a baby in her house. She told me that she and her husband had been on the fence about having anymore children, but ultimately their hearts won out. They decided that they would never regret having another child, but they may regret not having another! I told her I knew exactly what she was talking about!

I can't wait to take newborn pictures!

I Am Blessed!

Today is my 44th birthday....I love birthdays and am so grateful to have another year to celebrate!

I treasure so much....

my children

my husband

my mom

my in-laws

me extended family

my friends

my church

my health

My Jesus!

loving

laughing

hugging

holding hands

kissing boo-boos

kissing tiny toes

reading books

reading The Bible

prayers

cuddling

saying "I Love You!"

hearing "I Love You!"

family time

dinners at our big farmhouse table

using Granny's salad bowl at our meals

walks around the neighborhood

spending time at the lake with our friends

singing bedtime songs

giggling

snuggling in my comfy bed

old things

hot cups of coffee

very hot baths

freckles

smiling faces

talents of all kinds

and many many many more!

It's been a good year! I am so blessed!