Tuesday, November 29, 2011

thanksgiving week...


{happy thanksgiving!}

What a week we had this past week! It was full of food, family and fun times!
I think the best way to share is to break it down day by day!

Tuesday Ben had a full day of therapy (I will be updating on Ben's progress in another post!) He had PT in the morning and then OT in the afternoon! Let's just say that Ben was pooped from all of the hard work and he crashed on the couch for a bit!
Later that evening we were off to the airport to pick up Ben's parents. It had been over a year since Ben had seen his parents so he was quite excited! We got to the airport and then had to wait 25 minutes outside the terminal just to get to the area to pick them up...it was backed up big time! We finally got to them, got home and then chilled a bit before we went to bed!

Wednesday we got up and I got Ben ready for therapy! Yes, he still had it despite the fact that it was close to Thanksgiving. While Ben worked and his parents observed I snuck out to get in a run! I knew it would be a few days before I got back to the gym and alot of food later so I needed this! I got back and Ben got a power nap in. We then went to Michaels because the boys wanted to get a model to work on. Then we were off to the grocery store to get a few last minute items for the evening and Tday! In the late afternoon we went to my bros down the road to make some pizza! They were some darn good pizza...all made from scratch!



Thursday, Thanksgiving Day!! I wanted to do a Thanksgiving post but I just didn't get to it! This year we are home and got to be with family! The past 3 years we were not home and around family. The first year we were in GA and the last two were spent in the hospital. We didn't get to have any family any of those years so that was hard. It was so good to go over to my parents and be with them. We had a lazy morning and it started out by watchthing the Macy's parade. Of course the men got bored with it and it got switched to football and movies. We headed over to my parents next...and boy was I ready to eat! Ben was too! Not all of my family was there as this was the year for them to be with the in-laws. My lil bro was there and one of my sisters because her husband had to work. Still a blast though!
Again, I have not had a home cooked Thanksgiving in years so I was ready to dig in! I had one plate and then I stopped...it was a full plate though! :) Ben had his first jab at brussell sprouts and he didn't like them at all!

{my lil bro and sis...}

{being goofy}

{getting grumpy cuz we're hungry}

{got caught sneaking some dressing}

{dinner!!}

{my plate}

{ben's plate...more green stuff}

{yup, i don't think ben liked them!}


We spent the rest of the day and early evening at mom and dads. We played games, watched movies, watched football, ate some pie and even tried to nap! I had a small piece of pumpkin pie and dutch apple carmel and didn't finish them so I set them aside to eat later...never finished them because I was still so full! It was a good day and it was so good to be home!

Friday we were up and at em! Ben didn't have therapy today but we had a full day! One of Ben's buddies was in town and so we met up with him and his lady for breakfast. Ryan has not seen Ben since we had moved to GA and they finally got the chance to reunite! Ben and Ryan spent alot of time together climbing Mt. Rainier, the Olympics, boating, shooting, quading, being deployed together, getting in trouble together and just being good buddies! I wish I had busted out my video on my phone because the way that Ben reacted to seeing Ryan was priceless! There were smiles, clear speech and a look of happiness on Ben's face that couldn't have been scrubbed off! Ryan's girlfriend was with us too. I have been able to hang out with her a few times when she lived here and she is the one that got me doing some indoor rock climbing, paddle boarding on the bay and just having fun! We hung out at the house for a bit and then took off to get breakfast at a place the boys had been to alot! After breakfast Ben took a snooze and then him and his dad started working on the model that they got. Later that evening we went out to dinner. We ended the night with watching a movie and just hanging out before heading to bed for some much needed sleep!

{the boys}

{still smiling}

{off in the mini for breakfast}

{ryan wanted to try out the mini!}

{all of us together}

{goofy friends}

{model time.ben and his dad}


{ben's parents and us}


Saturday morning we just a chill morning for all of us. We were going to be taking Ben's parents to the airport so it was low key and just spending time together. Around lunch time we took off for the airport. After we dropped them off we headed home for some lunch, a quick rest and then it was off to get our Christmas tree. We don't normally get one this early but my parents were going so we decided to join them. We took the truck and all piled in...including Diesel! It was a fun adventure for sure. The past two years it was all about fake lil trees in Ben's hospital room that had to have battery operated lights so this year it was back to a real big tree! We found the right one not to long after we got there and so did my parents...it was a miracle to find it that fast! We got back and it was dark so the tree stayed on the porch until the next morning. My lil bro stayed the night so in the morning we drug out the boxes (they sat there for almost the whole day because I didn't want to deal with them!) and lil Ben helped me put the tree up. I had purchased our first ever Christmas frame the other day so I printed out our Thanksgiving photo and stuck it in there!












Monday, yesterday, we were back to the regular schedule of things. I was able to sneek away for a bit to get some things done for some happenings coming this week! We have some fun stuff going on Thursday afternoon and lets just say I hope that Diesel cooperates with us! Today again back to schedule and I hit the gym...oh my lanta was that hard after about 5 days off! It was good though!

We had/have alot to be greatful for this year! The list would go on and on. All I know is that God has blessed us and He continues to do so. I know we are not where we want to be in life and there is nothing we can do to get us out, except move forward, we are here and we will continue to live life to the fullest that it can be right now! Happy Late Thanksgiving y'all!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

crazy busy...

I cannot believe that it has been over a week and a half since posting...ok, I can! We have been super busy! I have many photos and videos to share but that will have to wait until after we take naps on this rainy, windy, nasty weather Sunday!

This is how crazy it has been around here...

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

seasons...


“To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring.” G. Santavana

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”
A. Bradstreet

“And you would accept the seasons of your heart just as you have always accepted that seasons pass over your fields and you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief.” K. Gibran

Seasons, we all go through them whether we like them or not. We cannot stop the seasons of fall, winter, spring and summer...that is how our world was created. We also cannot control the seasons that are put in our lives in the physical, spiritual and emotional. We sometimes don't even see them coming! I know that you all know that Ben and I definetly could not see the accident coming in our lives...who would! Who wakes up and says in their mind, "oh I think today is a great day to get in a massive car accident that will change our lives forever and bring us a new season in life!" Ummm, nope never did that! There were of course times when I would speak out my dreams or desires like, "I think we should start trying for a baby" "maybe we should start looking for a house" "how about moving here or going for this job"...these things we can all think about and start to initiate them but we cannot control them. Seasons come and seasons go. Those of you who have been following this blog know what season we are living in the physical relm of things...

I am in a season of trying to get closer to God. I have never given up on Jesus, stopped loving Him or lost hope in who He is to me and to Ben! We still believe, hope, trust, rely and are near Him but for me it has been a struggle to be near Him. What I mean by that is to spend time with Him, worship, pray...

I don't want to be here but I am. Sometimes I think that by taking care of Ben and loving him is how I love God and spend time with Him. God does command us to love God and love people. He commands us to love your neighbor as yourself. He also calls us to love our spouses and respect them. So, I am following Gods commands and His calling right?! Yes I am and I will say that I am doing a good job at it...yes I will admit that and it is hard to do! This is what God has called me to do at this time but that doesn't take away the fact that God has called me to love Him, more then I love Ben and He wants my time too, outside of Ben. I can love God though my man but He wants me...all of me...more then Ben has of me!

God has also called me to love Him with all of my heart, soul and mind! He wants time with me. He wants me in his Word, praying, worshipping and being near to Him. Easy to think about doing but not something that I always sit down and just do! I struggle every day with this. I think about it and sometimes that is where it stops. Yes, sometimes I start singing a worship song, say a quick prayer and so on but that is where again it stops. I am trying to devote my time to Him. Not that it has to be a set time but I yearn to have some time just with my Jesus. Sometimes it works for people to have a designated time, others are random...with our schedule I have to have random times. Like this afternoon when I was helping Ben shower...I just busted out in some worship songs and Ben joined in. Simple yes, I was in the midst of soap suds, razor and shampoo...but it felt so good!

So yes, me being raw and personal...I struggle too. I am strong because God has given me that strength. I am hopeful because God has given me that too...but I am human and sometimes am not strong or hopeful, I have ran out or just choose not to be. In the midst of it I still know who my God is and always go back to Him.
So this season in my life is a tad cloudy, maybe a lil drizzle coming down, slight breeze and a peek of sun that lets me know that a new season is coming!
As I abide in Him, He abides in me!

Am I going to beat myself up over this...of course not. Will I do something about it and make it more of a priority...of course! I want to be open to more of what God has for me. I want my heart to be soft and pliable. I want God to overtake my life!

This is what I strive for...
"O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully concious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I many know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy an new work of love within me. Say to my soul, "Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away." Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long!" Tozer

"A person who is obsessed with Jesus is more concerned with his or her character than comfort. Obsessed people know that true joy doesn't depend on circumstances or enviornment; it is a gift that must be chosen and cultivated, a gift that ultimately comes from God!" James 1:2-4

Hopefully this came out right...it's what has been in my heart and head these past few weeks. May you reap from the season that you are in and get ready for the next!

Monday, November 14, 2011

phone pics...



"Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting" Ps 107:1

"Yet I am confident I will see the LORD's goodness while I am here in the land of the living." Ps 27:3

We had alot of photos on my phone from this past week so I thought that I would share them with you! It has been a bit since I have busted out my nice camera because the weather has been nasty and I don't want to ruin it!

Here goes...

{i finished painting the door and window}


{ben didn't have therapy one day so we walked a few loops around the house and stopped for a photo}


{veterans day morning at black bear diner}




{veterans day afternoon...cleaning cars and resting}







{saturday football game and volleyball game with my lil bro}



{sunday was such horrid weather that i sewed and we watched movies...and i sewed}





...ok i went a lil crazy with the baby shoes but i had some scrap fabric to use and found so many cute patterns! i have alot of friends who just had babies or are about to have so i thought i would try them out! they need to be refined and some bedazzled but the first ones weren't to bad! The baby quilt I started about 2 years ago in Ben's room in Atlanta. It was in storage after that and then I finally busted it out and finished it!

{since i sat around the day before and Ben was getting therapies i went running...}


and the best one yet...

{look at my man standing on his own for a photo...more walking around the house}