While Daddy's Away...

While Daddy's Away...
The kiddies will play.
And mama will, too.
He won't have a clue
the fun that they've had
while missing their dad.

They will rush through their school,
then do something "cool"
like books and play dough,
table games, tic tac toe.
There will be ice cream and sweets,
tasty treats can't be beat.

All these distractions will work for a while
but then it will turn into a fading smile
Extra hugs and kisses from mama just can't compare,
with having their sweet daddy there.

So at the end of a tiring, fun, and busy day
their thoughts turn to daddy and they wish they could say:
"I love you bunches!" to this wonderful man
a father who is dearly missed by his little clan.

Corny?...oh yes! But all true.
Daddy's away this week doing the work that the Lord has given him. Preaching a week of camp to 12-14 year olds in Buenos Aires. 600 miles away. A long overnight bus trip away.

Things just don't feel quite right when daddy's not home. Everything seems just a bit off-kilter somehow. I guess it's a good reminder of how much we take for granted. Of how often I take him for granted. His calming presence. Makes me feel safe. Makes me feel loved. Makes me feel content and at peace. Someone to share life's burdens and joys. I realize that ultimately all of those things come from my Lord. But they come from my hubby, too. Most definitely. I think that's partly why God has given him to me. To show me how all those things feel in a very real and present way. How I need to cherish the time we have together! How I need to remember that it's the "little things" in our life and marriage that really count. How I need to love and submit to him and show it.

God has given me a precious gift. A Godly and loving husband who is about His Father's business. A wonderful, hardworking man. A kind and caring father to our children.

I am truly blessed to call him mine.

30 Thankful Days {#12}

Hey! Before you banish me to the ends of the earth forever for taking soooooo long to get my "30 Thankful Days" in, allow me to point out a couple things...

#1. I NEVER specified that those 30 days would coincide with the 30 days of November {even if that was my original idea}

#2. I am a busy prego. mama with 2 littles, lots of church and school activities and the normal, chaotic Christmas frenzy topped off by boiling hot temps. Sooo...just give me a little break, k?! {ha!}

#3. It's my blog and I get to do it my way! {Neener-neener}

Ok, I digress...

Today I am super-dy-duper-dy thankful for:

#12. A Mini-Vaca. from my Kiddos/

Shopping Date with Hubby

A recent, rare pic of just me and my ♥

I love them to death. Really, I DO! 

And sometimes I enjoy them so much that I think I might just go InSaNe!!!

Once in a while {or in my case a very rare blue moon} I get the chance to escape my house and babies, just for a little bit, and recharge my batteries. 

NO "octopus arms" needed to carry the million things that come with kids or escort said kids safely to their destination.

NO hefting and un-hefting of big lug kids at 30 sec. intervals.

NO diaper bag.

NO strapping and unstrapping of munchkins in car seats.

NO multiple trips to the "little ladies' room". {Ok, maybe, but today it is the tiny princess in my tummy's fault}

NO whining, fussing, crying, pleading for toys, candy, etc.

NO sharing of treats with greedy sugar goblins.

On the other hand...

Adult conversation...I think I had forgotten what that was.

Holding hands with my hubby.

Eating a WHOLE...well, anything!

Roaming stores without a care in the world--without wondering what my kids are getting into {aka. breaking!}, without wondering if they are safe and still at my side.

Part of me would like to tell you about the wonderful, romantic, relaxing outing that we had today. How hubby and I got all "gussied up" and enjoyed a beautiful candlelight dinner in an elegant restaurant and then strolled along under a sky full of stars. 

But, it didn't actually go like that. {You're shocked, right?!}

We went to class. {Only 1 more left!}

Then, instead of taking our babysitter home, we took ourselves to the store to do Christmas shopping. Yep, for those "snotty-nosed rugrats" that I was trying to get away from. 

First we hit a couple of gas stations attempting to find that all-elusive fuel for our car.

We got a snack at McDonald's and searched the aisles of the nearby toy store. Then we went into a bigger store to buy such glamour items as diapers, eggs, butter, and yogurt.

On the way out, hubby bought me a toffee crunch ice cream bar, and I admit, I didn't get to eat the whole thing...but I got to share it with my sweetheart.♥

On the road home...one more gas station where we had success! Gasoline at the gas station, who would've thought?!

Keepin' it real. Multi-tasking. Enjoying each other's company just the same. The day was special because I shared it with my best friend. Those are the things that really matter. 

Oh, and getting Christmas presents for the munchkins is pretty important, too. Don't believe me?! Ask my Clara and Ethan :)

We ♥ Our Papa!

 Oh yes, we sure do! I know, you are probably thinking, "Papa???!!?? Are you talking about their grandpa or what?" Let me explain. If you haven't figured it out yet, we are a little scatter-brained, mixed up and confused on languages around here. {Be very thankful that I proofread my posts before sending them out into bloggy land or they probably would not be decipher-able!} Well, it's not just me, it gets passed on to my kiddos and they don't know the difference. They think that the crazy use of 2 languages interchangeably mid-sentence is completely normal. Don't worry--Clara has no problem speaking either one fluently and Ethan is on the fast track, too. So the point is, in Spanish, the word for daddy is papá {accent on the 2nd syllable}. Therefore my kiddos, both of them, call their daddy "Papa" {accent on the first syllable, kind of a mixture of Sp/Eng.} at least 50% of the time. Honestly, I think it is about the sweetest thing ever and I love to hear them say it with so much love in their little ♥s for their papa!

Kiddos with their Papa on Father's Day!

Clara was very excited about all the special things we had planned for Father's Day and even kept our present a secret. Good thing we just bought it on Friday, nevertheless, pretty impressive that she held out that long! :)

Papa with his "Toolbox" card

Papa's "Tools"

Clara and I made this for papa while he was at the teen activity on Sat. Quick, easy and turned out cute!
One of the tools says, "We couldn't have 'built' a better dad!

Reading his "Dad Facts" Sheet ;)

 
We tucked the "Dad Facts" Sheet into daddy's toolbox, too. He got a kick out of reading some of Clara's answers. Such as:
Daddy weighs: 5 lbs.
He loves to:  Work on some things.
What I love most about my daddy is: I love him because I have a ♥.
It makes Dad happy when I: obey! {yep, she's got that one down!}

Papa with his present--a work/casual watch

Papa's new scarf

 This was our Sunday School project and present for Father's Day. {It's winter down here, remember?!} Fleece scarves with their kid {or kids, in my case ;) } hand prints on them, and it says "Papa, I ♥ U!" Isn't that the sweetest thing?! Then when they wear it, everyone can see how much their kiddos care about them! ♥

Here's all the fun crafts, including the nice "shirt and tie" cards that we also made in Sunday School class. The kids loved gluing little pieces of paper on the tie to decorate it for papa!

I would say we did alright in spoiling our Papa for Father's Day. And if anyone deserves it, he sure does! He is an amazing husband and father to our kiddos. He takes time for the kids, playing and tickling and wrestling and loving them, everyday. He takes care of our every need and puts us before himself.  He makes us feel special and wanted and loved. We want him to feel the same way, too! WE ♥ U, Papa!

7 Years = Perfection!

 This is me. 7 years ago {tomorrow}. Walking down the aisle to say "I DO"....

...To this wonderful man that I get to call my husband.

Sometimes, I don't say much about him, especially as there always seems to be some funny, cute little thing that the kiddos are doing to write about. But the truth is, somehow I just can't seem to find the words when it comes to this man. He completes me and meets my needs. He loves me and puts up with my moods and hair-brained ideas. When I get caught up in the middle of my latest project, he is there to step in and help keep things going. He is so special and gives of himself to me everyday.

 I was 20. He was 23. We were young and in love...

 And WE STILL ARE!!! 

...and they lived "Happily Ever After"!

Now I realize, that although "7"  is the number of perfection, that we have not quite attained yet. ha! But, that's why I am "in the making", remember?! We are working on it, little by little, day by day. Plus, I look at it this way~~although neither Matt nor I are perfect, although our marriage is not perfect, we are most definitely perfect for each other and there's no one I would rather strive for perfection with! ♥

And in the lives of missionaries there is no such thing as "a dull moment." We have lived through/enjoyed many things together already, such as:

1. I finished and graduated from Bible college
2. Deputation--traveling for mile after mile, with only each other as company, if you still like each other when the ride stops, you are doing good! lol!
3. Birth of Clara Grace in the midst of deputation
4. International move
5. Birth of Ethan Matthew in the first year of living on the field
6. Learning and adapting to another language and culture--still working on this!!
7. Teaching and preaching in Spanish
...just to name the "Big" things!

Praying for many more "perfect" years together with my "perfect for me" man! Such a joy, not only to go through life together, but to serve the Lord and raise children for Him, side by side, hand in hand!

♥ I love you, babe! Happy "Perfect" Anniversary!!!  ♥

"Horsey for Hire"

At least I think that's what his sign should say. After all toting around 1 kid is bad enough, but 2 at one time?!!!! Serious back/knee ache is on the way!! Nevertheless, this is what my sweet hubby was doing the other day; toting his "recovering from colds" kiddos around on his back. Boy, were the little "cowpokes" getting into it, too!!

The poor "horsey"

The "cowpokes"

Enjoying the ride!

"Aaaahhh, this is the life!"

I love how Ethan just laid right down on daddy's back. Putting all his faith and trust in his father without a care in the world. Wish I was better at doing that, if you know what I mean. It's all to easy for me to pick those cares back up and try to tote them around myself again.

I am also thankful that I have a Godly husband and father of my children that can be trusted. Someone I can look up to and point my kids to when they need answers about life's ?s. Anything from {now} "Why is the sky blue?" to {later} "What should I do with my life?" and everything in between. I know that he will do his best to steer them in the path that they should go, the path that rightly aligns with God's Word.

Giving Clara some attention at church

Snuggling his "under the weather" babies

Thankful for my sweet man that spends time with his kiddos. They know that they are loved and treasured ´cuz daddy makes them feel that way.

By the way, Clara put on her pink, frilly headpiece/veil today and said that she was going to ask daddy if he would marry her.

♥

I told her that was sweet, but that he is already taken ;)

♥

30 Reasons to have a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Hubby's birthday! Time to celebrate! Celebrate his life and all he means to me and a few of the many, many reasons why I L♥VE HIM!!!

My sweet hubby...hmmm....what can I say about him? Well, for starters, tomorrow is his birthday. BUT, not just any birthday, it's the BIG 3-0! Wowzers! Who new that creeping towards middle-aged happened so quickly?! When we got married we were a young (and a lot less gray) couple of 23 and 20. Now, well, hubby's not in his twenties anymore and I am pushing my way that direction, too. (A little faster than I would like, in fact. Considering the alternative, I will go with it and hopefully do it gracefully, too--ha ha)

So anyways, here's my 30 reasons why I L♥VE my hubby (even if he is 30 now--neenerneener!) (Hopefully, you can relate with a few of these, too, and they will remind you to be thankful for the wonderful hubby that you have!)

1. I ♥ that my hubby loves the Lord and strives to serve Him
2. I ♥ that he loves me, takes care of me, and puts my needs first
3. I ♥ that he loves our kids, is an amazing father, that takes time for them, to play and teach and train
4. I ♥ that he loves and honors our parents
   
5. I ♥ my hubby's willingness to serve and help others and work hard--no matter the task
6. I ♥ that my hubby does not make rash decisions, but thinks things through, prays for the Lord's leading, and does what the Lord wants with the best interest of his family and the big picture in mind
7. I ♥ that he knows a little bit about everything (even if this very fact does drive me a bit crazy at times ;)
8. I ♥ that we can laugh together
9. I ♥ that he is my best friend, that I can go to him and he will be there to listen, even if tears are involved
10. I ♥ that he is trying to hold our family to a high standard of Biblical living
11. I ♥ his beautiful blue eyes
12. I ♥ that he is an avid reader and thinker
13. I ♥ that he takes pleasure in the simple things
14. I ♥ that he is a good steward of God's money
15. I ♥ when he does the dishes for me (which is often ♥!)
16. I ♥ that he is very even-tempered and self-controlled
17. I ♥ that he is honest and sincere in his dealings with me and with others
18. I ♥ that he has goals and works to fulfill them
19. I ♥ his goofy sense of humor :)
20. I ♥ that he knows just how to rub those knots out of my back
21. I ♥ that I don't have to wonder where he is at and if he is coming home to me
22. I ♥ to hear him sing
23. I ♥ that he uses his many talents to glorify the Lord
24. I ♥ that he doesn't quit
25. I ♥ that he is sooooo patient with me and forgives my flaws and mistakes
26. I ♥ that he lets me warm up my frozen feet on him
27. I ♥ that he doesn't let me push him around
28. I ♥ that he is strong where I am weak
29. I ♥ that he has chosen to go through life with me
30. I ♥ that he completes me

 These are all very random, but very wonderful parts of my hubby and why he is so special to me. I am so blessed to be married to such a godly "young" man as we journey through life together and try to make a difference here in Argentina.

Honey~ May God give you another 30 years and more, that we may serve Him side by side. I ♥ you with all my heart and appreciate all you are and all you do for me and the kids!  HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY!!

Also, here's a few pics of hubby with the kids and our pre-birthday celebration last Friday!

My hubby enjoying his kiddos

The Boys

Daddy & Daughter

Having fun at the mall for Daddy's birthday

Yummy Burritos for lunch

Birthday Ice Cream!

YUM!

Ethan was such a good boy!

Bowling for Daddy's birthday

Our well-behaved kids got to ride in a car, too!

Birthdays are so much fun, too bad they mean we are getting old!  LOL
Happy Sunday!

HUBBY'S HOME!!!!

Actually, my hubby came home last Thursday, but I was too busy enjoying him (and looking through the MOUNDS of stuff he brought back) to write about it on here. :))) My home, family, and ♥ feel complete again! I told him that I thoroughly HATE, I mean really and truly DESPISE going to bed without him. Having the big bed all to myself, it's not all it's cracked up to be. ;) I love being his wife and the mama to his kiddos, and can't imagine my life without him. I know that we are not guaranteed tomorrow, so I want to do everything I can to enjoy my life with him TODAY and everyday that the Lord allows us to have together!

Now, I am not usually about sharing all the mushy, gushy sentimental stuff, but I just HAVE to take a moment or 2, (or 3, or 4, ...) to brag on my sweet hubby. (If you can't handle that, well, you have been forewarned, and can stop reading anytime lol ;))

1. He puts up with ME! That's a big deal right there.

2. He does the dishes for me sometimes--♥ that!

3. He is my bug killer--esp. cockroaches, which he doesn't care for himself! YUCKY!

4. He never complains about running to the corner store for me or about the food that I make; as long as there is food on the table, he is happy! :)

5. He LOVES our kiddos and takes time to cuddle them, read stories, play GO FISH, etc.

(I love to watch him be a big kid and play with them; Soooo Sweet!)

6. He is wise with our money, but gives a lot back to the Lord, and makes sure I am taken care of.

7. He watches the kids for me so I can get my hair done (cut, and yes, colored too, I am WAY to young to be doing this already~ugh!!)

8. He goes grocery shopping with me, and even pushes the cart sometimes ;)

9. We love to pick on each other and laugh together

10. He's my Best Friend in the world!!!

There's about a million other little things that make everyday together special and unique and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Even on the hard days, I have someone to walk through them with me. So thankful for my godly husband to lead our home. :)

Looking forward to my hubby's return and an early Christmas :)

I am missing my hubby, but getting so excited for his return, too! Can't wait to see him and all the goodies that he is bringing us. Grant it, we paid for them, but it will still feel like Christmas! So overwhelming to try to do 2+ years of shopping in 2 weeks, but he is doing a fantastic job! Some things we will put away for future birthdays and Christmas, so that will help, too. Hopefully we will still have some money in our bank account to start looking for a car as well. THAT makes me REALLY EXCITED!! CAR = FREEDOM!!! WoooHOOOOOOOO! Our pastor and his family will probably be almost as ecstatic as we are, because then they won't have to provide taxi service for us anymore. :) So much to be thankful for! God may not provide when we want Him to, but He ALWAYS provides!!