Woke up in a good mood today. Thought it was going to be a great day. It was not.

I let it not be a good day. I take responsibility.

I'm tired, disappointed, dehydrated and now have calloused hands.

Need to stay up to work on a couple of things, but I don't want to. I just want to lay in bed, listen to some good music and fall peacefully asleep.

I did not feel peace today. I guess I felt more frustrated and then just apathetic.

Whatever. It's done.

God, please help me to help tomorrow be a good day. My attitude is always in my control.

I have so much to be thankful for. And I am. Today was just was one of those days.

I want to feel you Lord. Be with me.

You are my everything.

Restore me. Get me back to my happy self.

I'm so sorry for all I've done.

Are you listening? I am sorry for hurting you.

I love you Jesus. Help me to love you more deeply. Take away the part of me that hurts. Or give me strength. And rest. Maybe give me rest first.

I love you.

Oh, my...

I'm so not good at blogging regularly! I don't even know how many times I've resolved to "blog more often". Ugh. I so dislike it when I decide to do something and then don't follow through. It's just that blogging is so last on my list of things to get done that it often goes undone. Oh well, I really blog as a mommy outlet and for a few moments to organize my thoughts into words. Sorry to those of you who check my blog semi-regularly. And one last note on blog business: I've changed my url! I think its high time that my url match my blog's title. I really kind of like And Then She Felt Peace, because it reminds me of my life (but I'll save that for a future post).

In other news with our family...

Sam is no longer with the job he was working at for the last 3 1/2 years. His last day was the beginning of May. We are more happy than anything, as God has had His hand in all our recent happenings. We're trusting in Him that His will be done and praying that we want that more than our own.

With him leaving his old job and having some time off, we took a 2 week vacation to visit friends in Charlotte in mid-May. Our friends, Meghan and Richard (and Gavin, who's Ella's age), are our best friends who moved away a year ago. They used to live 30 miles away. Now its more like 1300!! Whew, it was quite the drive, what with 2 babies in tow. But it was lovely! The trip to Charlotte was 23 hours, one-way, and I was very nervous about taking a 2 year old and 10 month old on such a long drive. Turns out, it was not only manageable, but very enjoyable. Ella usually runs anywhere she goes, so I was worried that keeping her in the car so long would make us her go crazy! But alas, she did wonderfully, singing to her baby brother and us a good portion of the trip, as well as counting and saying her ABC's. Baby Samy, I was not so much concerned about, as he generally is quite content to be in the company of everyone else and suck his thumb :) He was a happy as could be the whole trip! What made it more doable was that we broke it down into 3 days of 8 hours of driving time, plus stops for food and diaper changes.

What I especially loved about the trip was that 95% of the way there and back we didn't have the radio or any music on. Sam and I talked (so much, I loved it!) and sang songs with Ella. We probably sang "I'm a Little Teapot" and "Happy Birthday" (Ella's new favorite song) about 50 times each, if not way more. It was super lovely family time :)

And the best part of out non-driving trip was by far, getting to see our very missed friends! We absolutely loved seeing Meghan, Rich, and Gavin! Ella and Gavin hung out the whole time and spent a lot of time chasing Meghan's cat, Sasha... poor thing. She's a trooper. We just has the best time and are so thankful for the wonderful hosts they were. We love you guys!!

So, in more recent news, Sam started PA school this past week! Yaaaaay!! It's felt like this has been a long time coming, and I'm so glad we're finally here! The first week was hard, as the first day of each class was definitely graduate level. Sam came home and studied beside me as I played on the iPad (super productive, I know :), and read aloud some of the stuff he learned on the first day of class. Sounded like this, "The 2-3DPG gamma receptor inhibits the uptake of the RT803 gene's ability to secrete polynuclease indogenous cytokines that regulate the Doff's cycle." Yeah, whaaa?? No, that's not what he said, but sounded like that to me! And what's bad is that I'm a Bachelor's prepared RN! I usually get this stuff. It was incredible that his first day of class was already way over my head. All I can say is Go.Babe. You're incredible, and I so admire you.

So, that's what's new with us.

Here are some pics from our trip and Sam's first day of PA school (yes, I took a picture).


He did this a lot of the way :)


And Ella being her pretty princess self!


Once we got out of Texas, this was a lot of what our trip looked like. So much green!

My Samy

Is kind and wonderful and handsome and smart.
Loves me with a love like know love I've ever encountered.

Has a smile that melts my heart and has since high school.

Is the most amazing dad to our two little babies.

Gives and gives and gives, no matter how tired.
Loves his mom and dad like with a tremendous love, only a son can have. He's the best son I've ever met.
Has a passion for our faith.
Can make me laugh so hard when he's being silly :-b

Is my hero.

Always put me before himself.
Has strong arms that hold me tight just because.
Is sometimes a daredevil. And it sometimes makes me very nervous. His mom too!
Deserves the best the world has to offer.
Strives to do the right thing.
Likes it when I call him Samy.

Wants to grow old with me.
Is so understanding.
Tries. Every day. That may be one of the most important thing of all.
Believes in the sanctity of marriage. Especially ours.

Truly wants the best for people.
Is a very hard worker.
Is and always was my favorite member of the Breakfast Club.
Will one day have a very nice truck.
Keeps me on the right and narrow path.
Is my greatest ministry.
Is my best friend. Truly, truly. And I love that I can say that.

Will do great things in this life, because he cares.


Is my amazing husband, who rocks my world, gave me two gorgeous children, loves me faithfully, puts forth the effort, loves unconditionally, and still manages to look handsome as ever at the end of the day.


I am beyond-words-blessed to be married to you. All of the above are reasons why I'm so proud to be your wife. You could've picked anyone, yet you chose me. Thanks for the best three years of my life. I can't wait to spend my whole life being silly with you, perfecting our dance, snuggling up to that one spot on your neck that is mine (where you always smell oh, so good), watching our children grow, traveling, laughing, crying, and holding hands all the while.

You are the best part of my life.

I'm crazy about you, Sir.

Happy Anniversary <3 4.18.09

Smiles and Pretty Folders

A great read. Well several great reads. Sam and I are just into book #2!


Samy just loves a high swing <3


I know, I know, I'm bragging now... but goodness, my kids are beautiful!!


Her cousin Levi got a John Deere for his birthday. I think Ella might have loved it even more than he did! It was so cute. They just rode around in around in that little thing. Too cute!


The pretty view from my craft room. Love this.


And being as I felt particularly crafty today, here's the before of what I made for my little teacher sister:


And here are the afters:






Vóila!

A few things I'm in need of...

I lay down to go fall asleep a couple of minutes, but felt compelled to blog while I laid there, awake with thoughts swirling around in my head. Mostly of things I need. Maybe if I post them, they'll appear in my house in the morning. Maybe.

I need my own personal Cinna to make me look radiant and beautiful. (Sam and I finished the first of the Hunger Games tonight.)
I need more sleep than I'll get tonight.
Sam to stay home and hang out with me tomorrow (and study for his test).
To stay focused on the prize.
To feel trusting and comfortable... And confident, it seems. Sometimes I am all these things. Sometimes I'm not.
A really, really good friend who is spontaneously wonderful.

Sleep.

Pictures please!!

So, I totally realize that these pics are from the end of last summer, but they're just too darn cute... I had to share. She's really beautiful, isn't she?



Check out this stud! What a cutie, just like his daddy!! I love my little man :)


Compare this pic with the last one of Baby Samy... totally the same face, right? I tell everyone they look so much alike. It's basically the same kid, different hair. lol.





Silly Ella. She was playing in daddy's super cool safety glasses. Alright! Or like she says, "Aw-white!"


Here's Ella and cousin Levi hanging out at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Check out how the further he leaned away, the closer she leaned in. She wasn't taking no for an answer. That boy was gettting a kiss!


These pics are from today. We took a few picture breaks while we spruced up our lawn. Its just so exhausting helping out... whew.



Gotta love this little one...


...She does.


Hope y'all are having a great March so far. We most definitely are.

Words of Wisdom

A patient recently shared some very wise words with me. He was an elderly gentleman in his late seventies who liked to reminisce on the past. He told said, "Be as gentle and kind and active as you can for as long as you can."

I like this very much. I think it'll get a person far in life. And happily so.

Oh, recently one of my best girlfriends send me a link to a website with modest(er) swimsuit options. I've decided not to wear a bikini this summer, because I always feels self conscious around the pool. I just don't like the idea of my body being so exposed. More than that, I don't like the idea of showing more flesh than necessary, because I realize men are very visual beings, and I wouldn't want to give reason for a man's eyes to wander. Ugh, the thought alone creeps me out. Melody, over at Blossoming Joy, commented not long ago about men having custody of the eyes, and that post has made me even more self aware of how I dress and how it affects others, men in particular.

Anyway, I'm really liking this one.
Think I may order it in the next couple of days :)

For the moms out there that might like a little more coverage, Hapari even has these great Tummy Tuk bottoms that help give more support and coverage for not showing skin for the extra self-aware. Here's an example.


Anyway, just wanted to share, because I've found it a challenge to find bikinis that cover well enough to not feel so exposed. I also like that most of the items they have are mix and matchable.

Note: I just saw on the website today that Hapari is offering free shipping until March 15th if you use the code: FREESHIP2012 at checkout. Yay!

So, in other news, our little family is planning a summer getaway to North Carolina to visit our friends, Meghan and Richard! I'm so excited! Meghan is the good friend who referred the Hapari swimwear website to me, and I miss her so much. She's a great friend and an amazing and truly inspiring Christian. I've told her before that she's the first person that comes to mind when I think of the word "gracious." She truly is. Sam and I are just so excited to get out of Texas for a little while and see something new! We haven't done much vacationing since we've been married, what with growing a family and all :)

Ella will also be very happy to see Gavin, Meghan and Richard's son. It's so cute, when they're together, its like they're the best little friends. Here are some cute pics of them from when Meg and Rich still lived close to us.





Well, I guess I'll leave it at that for now. My little loves are just waking up! Off to have a great day with my family!