What Marriage means to me

What marriage means to me.

Here I sit on Monday morning, not wanting to work. My normal ritual is to drink my spark while I browse my normal blogs. I came across a particular blog that was talking about marriage. I had to stop and read her intake.

Let’s be honest. Marriage aint easy and if someone can give me a little insight on it, I’ll take it. This adorable blogger explains what marriage means to her. As I read it I thought, man I really need to write down what marriage means to me. I laughed quietly to myself as I reminisced on the last 7 years of our relationship.

It all started with a cardinal’s game. I would say M and I fell pretty fast in “LOVE” if you will. He was “all in” within a month and was proclaiming his love for me. I guess I have that affect on people. I kid… I kid. We dated 3 yrs then I FOUND the ring and proceed to wear it when he wasn’t looking. Then he finally proposed and life threw us into a whirlwind of a out of state move, baby, family, death you name it, we went through it.

It’s easy to get caught up in the “wedding day” and not look at the full picture of marriage. Yes, my wedding day was the best day of my life (aside for having H)
After moving miles away from family and friends, our wedding day was more than perfect and just what our home sick hearts needed. We were surrounded by everyone we loved and…not to mention an open bar.
After a long night of dancing, laughing, cake and booze we sailed on our wedding day high for a few days then we drove our happy self home six hours away from everyone we knew and the marriage began.

Marriage takes work, it’s not always pretty and for the love of God it isn’t Disney. It’s more like Sex in the City if you ask me.

Here is what marriage means to me:

IT MEANS CHRIST IS YOUR ANCOHOR: Christ has to be the center of it all. That goes beyond marriage, Christ needs to be the center of YOU. I mean we ALL fall short of the glory of God, but with Christ nothing is impossible. Even marriage, some things in a marriage are bigger than you. You have to let go and let God. When M lost his mom, I had no idea what to say or do. I hadn’t lost anyone in YEARS. Do you ever pray and just not know what the heck to pray for? Yep, that was this girl. I had many prayers that went “Lord, I don’t even know what to pray, but we need you now more than ever…”

IT MEANS TO SHOW LOVE: This one is a tough. It’s not always easy to show love but it’s so important to show love in everything. Even when you are angry. Lord JESUS this isn’t easy, but it’s so important. I’m pretty spicy or like M says “excitable” if I’m angry you know it. I’ve learned you can’t take words back and at the end of the day will this little argument matter? M always says Is *insert ridiculous reason for an argument* really the end of the world? At the time it makes me angry but at the end of the day it’s so true.

IT MEANS COMMITMENT: Marriage to me means a commitment before God and all of your friends. Making a commitment to Love, Honor, and Cherish one another in good times AND bad. That’s pretty big. I always told M that divorce just wasn’t an option in my book. We may want one at times but it’s just not an option for me. If something is broke fix it. Period. Divorce is an easy out if you ask me.

The Beach

Life is better at the Beach. That statement is 100% true. In case you missed all my excitement over the last few weeks. M and I headed to the beach last Sunday. It was a full week to relax and get away from adult responsibilities.

More importantly it was a time to celebrate marriage. Our dear friends were finally tying the knot. J is an old time friend of M. These boys have history and have war wounds and t-shirts to prove it. K is the sweetest kindest most down to earth person I have ever met. Most brides would have been in full blown Bridezilla mode the week of their wedding, not this girl. She was so laid back and so hospitable. They were more concerned about their guest having a good time. We hit the jack pot with this couple.

Are they not the cuttest?

We stayed in a 4 bedroom house, with our own pool (BONUS) and pool house. This house was fully loaded...with people, which meant lots of laughs and great food and drinks. Did I mention J & K were BOTH chefs? Cause they are and they put the big pot in the little pot when it came to cooking. We were so spoiled by the end of the trip. And by spoiled I mean ten pounds heavier

We were walking distance from the beach….aahh can we just take a moment and reflect on this picture. There is something so peaceful about the beach. It just relaxes me; I’m sure my “Happy Cup” helps too.

One day the boys went “Deep Sea Fishing” M’s dream. He is country at heart. Of course they all said they "caught the big one" and just like every good wife I believed M when he said he caught ALL the big fish.

The girls stayed back and lounged out by the pool with our Happy Cups. This was probably one of my favorite days. There is just something about girls, laying out in the sun and laughing. It’s good for the soul. We later ran out to do a few errands for the wedding, but somehow ended up at Chans Wine World. I highly suggest it if you are ever in the Destin area.

The big wedding day quickly came and it was beautiful.

She was a beautiful bride.

It was bittersweet leaving the beach. We had a great time away but I was more than ready to get back to my sweet girl. My mom and sister kept H while we were gone. I thought she’d be so distraught because we were away. Ha, jokes on me. This girl was living it up. She had a week full of: movies, Barbie’s, ice cream dates, etc.


Sometimes, it's just good to get away with friends. Cheers to a great vacation and to the happy couple.

Three Things Thursday

It has been a whirlwind of tears, party dresses, girls night, angry orchard, running, bed time stories, and hair cuts in the L house. Do you ever wish things would just slow down? Would the crazy mom please raise her hand?!


1. We are exactly 4 weeks away from our childless beach vacation. I am so looking forward to a week of laying on the beach, no cell phone, no tv, just me and the ocean, a book and a umbrella drink.

2. I am 12 weeks aways from my next race. This time I am going to try something new. It's a new thing called TRAINING. Yep, who would have thought? It's go time. Plus this race is in STL. What a better place to run than your home town with friends and family cheering you on.

3. I'd like to reserve a special place in heaven for my husband. He has really stepped it up these last weeks. I recently changed my schedluled to work 4 ten hour days. which means mommy leaves for work at 5am. READ: daddy gets H up and ready for school. Did I mention H is NOT a morning person? yes, poor daddy.

It's my Birthday

On July 18 I turned 32. wow....That was hard to type..lol...

The night before, I went to Bar Louis with some friends, I was a little sluggish when I woke up. So when I got this text from my bestie, It put a little pep in my step.

Every year I say I'm going to take my birthday off and just pamper myself. That never happens. Plus the word on the street said there would be cake at work...

So, I took my happy butt when into work.

Thankfully I did...

These guys were waiting for me.

I always tell M not to get me flowers, while they are beautiful. I just can't get over the price tag.

I couldn't help but laugh at the card. I'm sure the delivery guy thought I had a little Brother Husband action going on.

 

After work I met up with some friends for happy hour because my liver was running low on booze.

 

 

 

We went to a hole in the wall bar then headed out to one of the cool college kid spots. It was fun but it all came to a screeching halt when someone said I looked hot for a married 32 yr old. Really?! He just should have stopped after the word hot.

 

It was a fun night, but I knew M would be home from Jonesboro by 9. I wanted nothing more than to be home in my comfy clothes with him.

 

 

Feather's Ruffled/ Dinner Date

 

Monday morning. (Hannah refuses to get dressed=Mornings are the worst part of the day)

 

As my sweet husband and I battle (our soon to be) 3 yr old to get ready for school he decided to tell me he will be out of town this week.

 

The look on my face was priceless.  I normally don’t mind M going out of town but can someone please teach my husband a little thing about timing.

 

Let me set the scene:

 

M has hidden my shower cap. Like we are 5 yrs old.

 

I can’t find that dang thing and I never remember to look for it until it’s time to get in the shower. 

 

Hiding my shower cap is just low.

 

First Feather ruffled.

 

Then, we’ve been hiding this rubber snake around the house scarring each other… (it’s supper childless, but it’s hilarious to hear him scream…like when it was in the shower…bah! Point for Amie!)

 

We’ll Joke McJokerson stuck that snake in my make-up drawer and scared the living daylights out of me.

 

Second Feather ruffled.

 

Then, he tells me he’s going to Jonesboro this week.

 

Third feather ruffled…and did I mention it’s not even 6:30am yet.

 

So, I just quietly said… “I’ll handled it” Translation: I really want to go off on you but I don’t have the energy, plus I can really use this to my advantage.

 

Tuesday,  I get a text during the day, asking I wanted to go on a date with him.

 

Of course my first answer was um “you know it’s Tuesday right?” (BEAUTY SHOP DAY) He said we’ll go afterwards.

 

I forgot what it was like to have (clean relaxed hair) to go on a date with my husband.

 

We went to Bonefish

 

 

My friend, E raved about the BAMBAM fish. which I now realize is called BANG BANG shrimp..
 

 

She was not lying. That stuff was finger licking good.

 

And their watermelon Martini’s. Sinful.

It was nice to sit down and have a meal with M and it help simmer down my ruffled feathers. Great start to my birthday week!

 

 

Two Week Challenge

It's JULY...Which means this sweet mocha turns another year old. I can't believe I'll be 25 for the 7th time. Where does the time go?

I have to say I am truly blessed to have a hard working husband, a beautiful healthy daughter, good health, etc.

But something will always sting about my birthday. Last year on  July 18th, L told me she had cancer. I really don't think she meant to tell me, but it just came out. We ALWAYS had coffee  outside in the mornings. Watched the hummingbirds, I will always miss that. July 18th was no different, and even though I was just her daughter in law that morning I was more. Linda just blurted everything out to me.  I just sat there big eyed and crying. I had no idea what to say, what to do. I'm pretty sure I asked her (who was in her late 60's) if she wanted to go to Vegas and get crazy...Ha, I told you I didn't know what to say. Ha, she of course just laughed it off...

Little did I know she would pass 6 months later.

I try not to dwell on July 18th as the day L told me she was sick but I can't help but think about it. L lived a good life, we miss her dearly. BUT she is in a much better place. I know she is watching down on us. I don't even put it pass her to "mess with us" like the time H's tricycle just rolled off the porch by itself. Linda and were close enough to joke about when she was gone. She said she'd always be there with us, watching H grow. And I know she is. We miss her, and I know M misses her. He gets really sad around holidays. I can't even imagine what it's like to loose both parents.

I'll just love him through this.

anyway I digress...

My bday is less than 2 weeks away, girlfriend needs to lose 10 pounds before her dirty 30...ok...dirty thirty two.

I can do it right?...

Put your mind to it go for it...get down and break a sweat... Jessie Soprano style..

No carbs, No sugar, No booze during the week...It's time to get serious

I have Zooma in less than a month...which my sole sista can't run with me... Not going to lie, totally freaked me out! I'm so sad that she can't run with me.

Plus M and I are going to Destin in September.....without H.

insert:
Booze
Acting like we're in college
No responsibilities
PARTY
BEACH
FRIENDS
NO KIDS
Celebrating wedding anniversary

Girlfriend need to get it together. CAN'T.WAIT for a week alone with this guy!

Garden

So, I have great memories of my grandparents. One of my greatest memories was my grandpa and his garden. Me standing at a whopping 3 feet tall made those corn stalks seem as tall as the empire state building. I loved walking through the garden with my grandpa. We’d pick the corn and throw them in a little basket. Grandpa would have a cigar hanging out of his mouth. Little coco (the chocolate toy poodle) would be following behind us. Ah memories.

 

 

Anyway

 

I always said when I have my own house. I’d have a garden. Of course I’d love harvest (you like that? I feel all farmer-ish) enough to never have to buy vegetables from the overprices Kroger but, let’s just be honest (aint nobody got time for that)  So we plant the usual. Squash, tomatoes, peppers. Etc.

So this year when it was time to plant the garden, my lovely husband decided he wanted to put his two cents in, I mean participate. Bless him, he went to Lowes and bought the entire garden section. He came back with a truck load of manure, miracle grow, seeds, tools, gloves, etc.  Sometimes you just have to let them go…

 

 

He spent hours out there preparing for the harvest (ha there I go again) while I sat and drank wine, And sort of helped.

He evenly divided the garden into 3 equal quadrants and began planting his seeds.

Buzzed from my wine, I carelessly threw my seeds in the ground without any type of measurement.

This is what we got….

 

 

A plethora of harvest from my quadrants.

 

What have we gotten from M’s quadrant? Nothing.

I’ve noticed a few rabbit droppings.

His little farmer feelings were hurt.

To this date:

Amie’s quadrant: 10-12 Squash
Mike’s quadrant: rabbit turds

I told him my side was planted with love…that’s the key.
 

Maybe next year he’ll leave the gardening to me J

Tuesday Thoughts

Happy Tuesday Ya'll!

Can I just say how nice it was to have a three day weekend, cause it was nice. I defined laziness. True story. I had 302,633 things to completed and I finished 1/2 of one. I know, my house looks like an episode of Hoarders but what ev. I got in some good quality time with my wonderful hubs (who went to Jared's for Vday) and my sweet H.

Friday, I ran like it was my only way into heaven. 8 miles on the dreadmil. KILLED IT. Did  I mention the LR half is 2 weeks away.

Saturday, we got up bright and early and got our taxes done. I don't know why but I love finding out how much money we will be getting back. We weren't five steps from the door before the sentence " let's book our vacation" came out of my mouth. M laughs, he wants to save and put away for a rainy day. I want to splurge on a beach vacation and umbrella drinks. You only live once! I skipped my run Saturday.

Sunday, was absolutely gorgeous. We spend the day outside playing with neighbors, feeding the birds, and of  course bubbles. When we got bored with our house we went to the park. M played with H while I got my miles in. I felt very blessed that day.

Monday, I sat on my butt all day like it was my job. I had the house all to myself. I could watch my shows without re-winding it 30 times. It was beautiful and relaxing all at the same time. I skipped my run. I didn't want to over exert myself.

So, I have to share. H is 99.9% potty trained. I don't even want to say we haven't had accidents at night because I don't want to jinx myself (but we haven't) I really have to say she was really easy at potty training. Mostly because she was super excited about "princess panties" to match her "princess night gown" I mean we are all about "princess" these days. So we made a huge deal about H's pretty princess panties. (oh note: We have princesses aka Cinderella and Angelina the ballerina and we also have Barbie who is a princess, basically any girl that dances is referred to a "princess" in our home)
H loved having her princess panties on. I mean she was BIG TIME.

So, one night H picked  these panties for bedtime:

 

Well Mother of the year award, says "Don't potty on Princess" I noticed H gave me a confused look but I brushed it off. Well that night she fought and fought going to bed. Then she woke up screaming and trying to pull her panties off. It really didn't click until days later when she saw these panties in the laundry basket and she said " Don't potty on Princess, She's mean"

 

oh boy.

 

So then we had to have a talk about how there are only nice princess, she just doesn't want to be pottied on.

 

Just the three of us

Seven days of no house guest equals seven days of Mike and I pretending we're on our honeymoon no one screaming  because their show was interrupted to record the new episode of Honey Boo Boo!

Don't get me wrong, we love having N and Mimi with us. N is like a brother to M. And he buys nice gifts, takes out the trash, picks up dinner AND I don't have to rub his feet to return the favor. 
MIMI can stay because she's MIMI...duh. I owe that women my life.  She's wonderful and not to mention my wardrobe doubled when she got here.

I'm not going to lie, it was nice being just the two of us. For like 2.5 seconds...lol. I kid we had fun. We ate dinner together, watched movies, shopped and even thought about throwing a party before they came home. It was nice, it was very nice.

M seems to be doing better and better each day. Of course there are some odds and ends that he has to tie up and thankfully everyone is working together without drama. I can't believe it's been one month. Time surely heels all wounds. H keeps asking for her. Of course we say she's with Jesus. And usually H's say "oh ok" but lately she's been saying "no, she's at the hospital" which usually ignites the water works for me. So, my plan today is to find a book. I still feel that she's a little too young but I know she feels and realizes that L is missing.

ok enough of that.

This weekend my wonderful husband took H to her very first movie. I was so torn.  I really wanted to go but I had plans to have drinks with a friend of mine for her birthday. I'm a sucker for drinks and girl talk. M assured me he'd be fine and he would take pictures.


M said H did awesome! She sat in her lap the entire time eyeballs glued to the screen! I'm sure it had nothing to do with the COKE or the Twizzlers or the BUTTER POPCORN.

So sweet. He is such a good daddy.

So, since things were going a-ok with those two. I took it upon myself to go see THIS IS 40 after drinks.

 GO SEE IT!

 

Things that make me smile

1.  M driving all 6.5 hours to STL. The plan was for him to take the “first shift” wake me and then I take over. I’m pretty sure I entered Lala land before we left the subdivision and I woke up in my parent’s garage 6.5 hours later. BLESS HIM
2.  Waking up early in my parents’ house, leaving M a “Dear John” letter stating that I was going for a run in Tower Grove Park. Oh running is the best therapy.
3.  Waking my Bestie up with a text that said “unravel yourself from Romeo’s arms, get dressed and meet me in TG park for a run. I totally felt like SR.
4.  Running 4 miles and decided that we’d rather go home and make pancakes and bacon. Not so much like SR
5.  Having a lazy day at my parents’ house. There really is no place like home. And the homemade cookies helped.
6.  Having drinks, dinner and laughing…lots of laughing with friends this past weekend. I now get what M means when he says “my friendsare my family”
7.  H puking on M. Poor baby. Puking in the middle of the night is never good. But when H puke and I was so glad it wasn’t on me. (seriously M is the best dad ever.)
8.  Stepping into H& M. SERIOUSLY LOVE THIS STORE!!!
9.  Getting a “13.1 finisher “necklace from my BFF
10.  Seeing my BFF at the funeral. What a great surprise.She.Is.The.Best.EVER
11. Getting all the “thinking of you”, “love you guys” you’re in my thoughts and prayers” messages from friends and family.
12. Having brunch at First Watch with my sis and Maryann
13. Wine, Wine makes me smile a lot
14. Running, Man I love  runing
15. Seeing Devin this past weekend.
16. Knowing Linda is at peace and out of pain

Happy Birthday to me!!

Another year...WOW...Where does the time go? I can't believe I'm 25...again....for the 6th time. It's amazing the older you get the more the little things just don't matter anymore. I remember being "young" and having birthday weekends. Parties, Booze, Friends, Trips, Gifts, BBQ's, Bars and of course Birthday Shots.

 

Those days are OVA!!!

My sister came up on Sunday to spend the week with us. We LOVE when Amber comes. The night before my birthday we decided to act like teenagers and go to a 10:40pm movie. What was I thinking? I don't know if it was the Vodka Lemonade that I drank or the fact that it was after 10:00pm but I didn't make it 15 minutes without falling asleep.

This year I got to sleep in for my birthday. Thanks for my wonderful sister Then I had a day of relaxation and pampering. Hair (which was way over due) Mani And Pedi. It was wonderful!!

oh and my wonderful husband send me flowers..

 And my sweet MIL and baby girl made me a cake

I realize as I get older what really is the important things in life. I am so blessed to see another year I am so blessed to have 2 healthy kids, I am so blessed to have a hard working husband, I am so blessed to have my MIL who is such a blessing to have here. I am so blessed to have a roof over my head and food to eat.