My daughter's Angel

(This picture was taken last summer)
Last night, it stormed. I don't mean a little passing shower, but the sky was filled with lightening. I personally love watching thunderstorms so Paul and I headed onto the front porch to take a look. Not 2 minutes after we stepped out, the loudest thunderclap vibrated through Paul and I. I swear we must have jumped three feet off the ground. It was hilarious. After that, we thought, maybe we should head inside. So we laid down in bed and Sammie came in with her "excuse of the week" to join us.
Sammie- "I can't sleep with all the thunder."
So in the bed she came. Then Paul preceded to tell Sammie how angels watch over us and that they are big and strong; describing them the best he could. Well, Sammie turns to her Daddy, lays her head on his arm and says,
"Daddy, you're my angel."
I think I saw a tear in Paul's eyes.

Our Visitor

This is Paul's friend, Paul. He came to visit for the first time since we've been married. He is a great guy and I would really like to find him a sweet southern girl, but all my friends are married.
Oh, well. I guess I'll let God do His job.

Baked Bodies

Well we had such a good time at Myrtle Beach. We actually were at Cherry Grove, which is North Myrtle. The water felt like a warm bath. It was great!

Usually Paul and I go in the off season because of the crowds but this was wonderful. I felt like I was right in my element. Warm water, hot sun, crowded beach-perfect for me!

Of course, I thought I'd be smart and only put a little sunscreen on my face. Well, now my bra feels like a razor on my back. I sure did enjoy jumping the waves though.

Sammie had a great time too. Paul and I would trade off with Sammie in the shallow waves. She was jumping and laughing and screaming; then she walked around, picking up all the broken sea shells and filling up her bucket. She cleaned up the beach like she was gathering gold.

Then we went to "Broadway at the Beach". It's a popular village-type shopping center. It has feel-good music playing, lots of restaurants and unique shops. It's something I don't miss when we go to Myrtle Beach.

The Beach

Yeah, finally a bit of a break from the day to day grind. We're heading to the beach-probably Myrtle. Supposed to be 97 degrees today. I guess we'll slather on the sunscreen.

Exercises for Mommies

I am now 30 years old as of this past April but one thing I have always tried to maintain was physical strength.
It started when I was 14 years old. Maybe my mom was trying to get in better shape, but something happened that year that kept me motivated through all these years to exercise.

When Sammie came along 4 years ago, I found it difficult to keep up my exercise routine with her wanting so much attention. That's when I started developing "exercises for mommies". A lot of them are fun for my daughter, so she is entertained and I get in better shape.

Want to know a fun one? You lie on the floor on your back. Then you pull your feet in towards your butt. Next you lift up your rear end (like you're going to crab walk). You have now become a human bridge. Little kids love to crawl under the mommy bridge, trying not to touch you while they do. If you do this over and over with your kids, you will have a back view that any husband will not be able to resist (he he). The tighter you squeeze your rear when you are the human bridge, the better.
Let me know how it works out for you.

Thinking too Much

I love all the comments....they make me think.

Does this ever happen to all you bloggers...you write a post and then think about it constantly for the next 24 hours? I started thinking about what I wrote....yes, I am a slob. I have hidden it very well for my wonderful family-in-law up in Winnipeg. But I have become a half slob, half perfectionist. Is that possible? I think part of it has to do with my husband. He is incredibly clean and neat. He doesn't have piles of stuff laying around the house. I don't nag him about leaving the toilet seat up or throwing his clothes all over the place because he is so wonderfully clean. But growing up, my house was pile after pile of junk. It seemed like every drawer in our house was a "junk drawer." We had a drawer for all the office junk, a drawer for all the tool junk, a drawer for all the cooking junk, and under the counter.....well, be careful because once you go in, you might not be coming out.
My husband has, over the past 12 1/2 years, helped me to see the error of my ways (laughing to myself).
Okay, so that brings me back to what I wrote yesterday. Even though I think I want people to think I'm perfect (diving into my subconscience) I also want them to feel that if they come to stay with me, it's like their sleeping in a hotel, with wonderful service, great food and complete comfort. I want them to go home feeling like they actually had a vacation. You know, most the time when you go on vacation, you need to come home and crash.
I put so much into my guests that I want them to hope to come back. I love company!

And since you asked Yvonne, we are having Paul Dawson come down for the first time. For any of you who were as blessed by "Come to the Cross" as I was, he was one of the leaders. I still would like to see a reunion.

Cleaning like a mad woman

Okay, why is it that a week before we have company, I clean like the queen is coming?
You should see me...I look like a wreck; cleaning baseboards, scrubbing every stain on the carpet (that's been there for 6 months), folding towels like my guest is staying at the Hyatt, making sure there is not 1 hair on his sheets, etc.
Am I a fanatic?

Then I had to go and find that magic eraser. Have you heard of it? It claims to get off crayon, scuffs, anything you or your knee bitter could have splattered on the wall 5 years ago. I spent hours scrubbing. I was in clean-up heaven!! There were marks on the wall that the people who lived in our house 20 years ago couldn't get up; and there I was, scrubbing my fingers raw.

I know why I do it....because I think people staying with me will think I'm perfect. Well, for those of you who don't know me, I'm a slob!!

This is so much fun, writing things I wouldn't normally say, because after all, no one can see me writing it.

Okay, maybe this is dangerous.

Learning something new

Yesterday, I learned how to make homemade jam!! I thought it would be hard but it was easy and cheap.
The only thing I couldn't get over was the amount of sugar it takes to make jam. AAAAgggghhh!!

I'm always the last to know

I went to go pick up Sammie at my friend's house today (she watched Sammie on Mondays so Paul and I can have some time together). So Sammie and I are going home and I ask her,

J-"Sammie, did Aunt Jenni give you anything to drink today?"
S-"Yes, some chocolate milk. But I'm not going to tell you what else she gave me."
J-"Why not"
S-"Because you'll be mad"
J-"I won't be mad, what did she give you?"
S-"I'm not telling, Aunt Jenni will never give me it again if I tell you."

I couldn't get it out of her! I couldn't believe it, my own daughter (who's only shy of 4 years old) won't tell me. Is this a glimpse of what I have to look forward to? Please, no!

So I finally had to call my friend, Jenni and ask her. Do you have any guesses?
Coke, that's right. Coke. My daughter acted like she was getting something illegal.

I didn't think I was that strict, but I guess in the eyes of my daughter, I am.

Welcome

Hey look, Jennifer has a blog!