Photo 365 01.25.11 Birthday Boy

Well, an obvious post today. My sweet birthday boy. He turns ten tomorrow. And I can close my eyes and remember us strapping his infant seat into the ramshackle Geo and heading home from the hospital in a snow storm, still hopped up on pain meds. I thought to myself at the time, "I can't believe they are sending us home all by ourselves with this tiny defenseless baby!"

And now he's ten. sniff. And we haven't messed him up too badly just yet.

Eli is seriously one of the most amazing people I know. He is worth every one of those 22 hours of labor. :)

photo 365 01.24.11

Always happy to get these in the mail... Updated some photos around the house, and did some Valentines-ing too!

Photo 365 01.21.11

with aforementioned cake.

Sarah's Best Effort Photo 365 01.23.11

She was trying to find a YouTube video...

Birthday Cake

Not the most amazing photo, but it was taken pretty late and I was doing well to drag out the camera. :) E's birthday cake. It's a yearly tradition, dating back to a terrific snowstorm in IL. He wanted chocolate cake for his special day, and not a box in the house was to be found. So I looked up 'Ultimate Chocolate Cake' recipe online and had the ingredients to make it from scratch. Didn't have any frosting or decorating stuff, just green M&M's on sale for St. Patty's Day. I figured he liked green, threw it on a green Fiesta plate and voila! He's loved it and asked for it every year since. He'll be away at college and I'll be bringing him chocolate cake with green M&M's. :) Ten on Wednesday, where does the time go??

Photo 365 01.19.11

My hubby loves me! One day I came home and found my pantry super organized. He asked me to keep it that way and I said fine, if he'd put away the groceries. So now we have a system that works! I love him!

photo 365 01.18.11

my to-do list for today. sadly, I wound up filling the page. I probably have accomplished about half of it, but some tasks are larger than other and I'm afraid my larger tasks still remain. boo.

Photo 365 01.17.11

We brought a brown bag lunch to shift Manic Monday yesterday. Brown bag is too plain for Sarah, she insisted on her picnic basket. :)

Photo 365 01.16.11

Life necessities lately. the cell phone, for obvious reasons. (still praying about that Verizon iPhone release next month, I'm soooo cheap) the iPod touch, essential for organization and music, of course. and the hot coffee my sweetheart prepared for me before church on Sunday morning.

Photo 365 01.15.11

happens to be my latest obsession. this is my reward for finishing schoolwork at the end of the day. or housework. or photography work. or just making it through the day. I like to play it while watching tv or a movie with Rob. It's a good motivator, although it is highly addictive, similar to crack cocaine, I believe.

Photo 365 01.14.11

Photo 365 01.12.11

Feeling pretty overwelmed today. See the state of my home office? Work desk isn't much different.

Photo 365 01.10.11

In honor of my new love of Macy's. It is an expensive replacement for beloved Younkers, but in a pinch, it will do..

Photo 365 01.09.11

Getting ready to walk out the door for church on Sunday morning.

Photo 365 01.08.11

Sarah playing Barbies on the living room floor.

Photo 365 01.07.11

A photo of dear hubby in his office at work. :)

Photo 365 12.30.10

So I tried a long exposure today... It was pretty fun but didn't quite turn out like I'd hoped. Oh well, didn't have time to pursue anything different. This is me in my kitchen, starting dinner. I was hoping it would look like Superwoman, moving too fast for the shutter. :) I was on the phone while I was doing this, and truly making dinner. Nothing like a little multi-tasking.

Photo 365 12.29.10

This photo is a bit celebratory... even though it may not look it. I just finished up the final questions on my Unit 4 exam in "Evangelism in the Local Church" which is my 5th course towards credentialing. Five of nine completed, I'll take my test tomorrow and then have pushed myself over the half way mark towards the first level of card-carrying A/G preacher. I'm amazed at how far God has brought me in just six months. I am also insanely grateful to be finishing a full ten days before my next class begins. I've accomplished my personal goal of 'catching up' with the classes I missed with the district, since they began in May and God called me in June. His grace and strength are my refuge. I could not have made it even half this far without His Holy Spirit empowerment. Feeling very blessed and encouraged right now. Of course, I haven't checked to see what that next course will be...

Photo 365 12.28.10

I found this jewel at Family Christian Store a few weeks back. We had one just like it when I was growing up. Thought it would be a great way to sow scripture into the hearts of Eli and Sarah.

Photo 365 12.27.10

trying out my new year's resolutions early... We went to the Alamo today. Took a few photos. Loved this one the most. :)