Keeping up with the Granstroms

How do you make it work at this stage?

2011-11-02T12:24:00.003-04:00

When you first get married, you and your spouse have all this time together, and you can be together any time you want.
Then you have kids. Mom is tired at the end of the day, baby is up at all hours, finding time to be together gets a little harder.
Then the kids get older, go to bed at 7 or 8, Mom and Dad can have some time together after the kids go to bed. (This was a good stage)
Now the kids are teenagers, they stay up until or after Mom and Dad are ready for bed. Mom and Dad can't shut the bedroom door (teenagers know what this means and it grosses them out). Mom and Dad are old and tired but still want time to be together....how do you make it work at this stage?

Happy Halloween

2011-11-02T08:11:00.004-04:00

I know I say this every year but Halloween is really one of my favorite holidays. It's really sort of ironic since my Mom has always hated Halloween. I have grown up in the church and there are many mixed views on Halloween but since moving to Savannah, I LOVE HALLOWEEN.

Growing up I lived on a little dead end street with literally 16 houses. The neighborhood is surrounded by Highway on three sides and a very large cemetery on the other, that said, no one came down our street unless you lived there. Halloween was very minimal when I was growing up, we always made a haul though because everyone knew who would be trick or treating and made little goody bags for each child instead of rationing the candy and only giving one piece of candy to each child. Halloween in the North is miserable, I swear that it always rained or snowed and it was always SUPER COLD!! Blech!

Now, here in the South, it is just about always nice weather. This Halloween was our coldest in a while with lows in the 50's by the time trick or treaters were returning home. (YES, the 50's is COLD!!) Where we live now is a very big neighborhood with lots and lots of houses. We are on the edge of town where if you go much further there are no more neighborhoods, just land and houses. Because of this, the people that live out in the "country" drive up to our neighborhood, park and trick or treat. I bought 10 bags of candy and 224 glow bracelets. Once all was said and done, I had one piece of candy left over and had gone through around 216 glow bracelets!! Phew!! But it is so much fun!!

Jason takes the kids around the neighborhood while I sit at the end of our driveway with a table and chairs. My girlfriend comes over and helps me pass out candy, break open glow bracelets and we drink wine. For 2 hours we see kids from the area all dressed up and looking so cute. I get to harass the teenagers that try to get candy and aren't dressed up and I get to talk about the parents who bring their baby and act like the candy is for the baby (yeah right). Ha-ha!! :-) No, really, I am not that mean and I just have a good time!!

Here are some Halloween pictures in case you missed them on Facebook!! Happy Halloween...a couple days late.

I wish I had an answer...

2011-10-26T17:00:00.003-04:00

I went grocery shopping yesterday, I went and I did not complain. Thanks to my trusty blog, I went with a good attitude!! :-)
I was over in the produce section when a lady stopped me and asked if she could ask me a question. I was thinking that I am no produce expert but sure, ask away. She was looking at caramel (pronounced CAR-MEL) apple wraps and asked if I had ever used them. I told her that it might be more work but that I have always used caramel candies, just unwrap, melt, and yummy caramel apples! I was ready to walk away when she started to talk about the cost of caramel and candy is so expensive...ok, I might be here for a while...
Come to find out, this lady is new to the Room Mom scene. She decided to sign up for her daughter's class of 15 and now she was literally freaking out!! She had sent a letter home for parents to please send $5 for the party that they would be having on Friday. Tuesday was the deadline to get all money turned in and as of yesterday, when I saw her at the grocery store, 3 kids had turned in money!! 3 kids?! She was planning pizza, caramel apples, dirt pudding, a little cake, goody bags, drinks, all this fun stuff and now she had $15!! Really people?! I felt sorry for her and told her that maybe she should talk to the teacher to help out, I honestly felt bad for her.
I guess she wasn't aware of the "the room Mom always spends a TON of money to make the parties happen"
But then it got me to thinking? Why does this happen?? How can we change it?? We're all parents...we all want our kids to have fun at school, don't we?....
I don't know, I don't have an answer, I wish I did...
Why does it seem that parental involvement on all levels, at the school, get harder and harder each year...
It really made me sad! :-(

How to be happy about Grocery shopping

2011-10-20T10:57:00.002-04:00

Every week I have to make a grocery list and go grocery shopping. With 6 people in the house, the food runs out pretty quickly, along with laundry detergent, dog food, toilet paper, and all those needed necessities.

Early in my marriage I learned to make a list of what we are going to eat for the week and then shop off of that list. I will be honest, making a list for the week does two things.
1) I always know what we are eating for dinner
2) I only have to go to the grocery store once and get everything I need in one trip
This is super good because I hate going to the grocery store!!

Why do I hate going to the grocery store? Hmmm, it's because it's the same thing, week after week after week. Even if I am cooking new things, it's the same store, same people who work there, same crappy cart that doesn't cooperate and some crabby toddler that screams the whole time I'm in the store and makes me cranky!! I have been known to pull out my iPod while grocery shopping just keep me happy and to keep from having to hear that obnoxious child!! I know I sound bitter but, I have had 4 kids, I don't go to the store with kids anymore, I have served my time with babies and toddlers and kids while grocery shopping SO, when I go grocery shopping I don't want to hear your kid screaming...especially if you are that parent who is letting the child throw a fit and then giving him what he wants. Grrrr!

Anyway, I have decided I need to post my reasons to be happy about grocery shopping, to help me see how blessed I am and not to complain!! So, here goes...

1) I have a grocery store that I can drive to and don't have to walk to a market like some people in other countries
2) All my food is in one place and I don't have to pick it, kill it, or package it. I find what I want, throw it into my cart and away I go
3) I have money to buy groceries which means I am blessed
4) I need new groceries every week because I have 4 healthy children and a healthy husband who stay strong and healthy with the food I buy them
5) I have 4 kids in school and don't have to bring anyone with me to the grocery store, this really is nice...although taking one kid with me is sort of fun and I enjoy the company. :-)

Ok, 5 reasons, I think that is good right? Very good!! Now on Monday I can look back on this and remind myself why I am happy about grocery shopping because I know I won't want to go do it...

Let's get out of May

2011-10-18T21:42:00.003-04:00

So, it is now October and I haven't posted since May. A good friend of mine, told me she has been stalking my blog and has been stuck in May...I'm sorry friend!!
Summer was soooo good. We stayed busy and it went by waaaay too fast. Now we got our first 9 week report cards and the weather is starting to get cold. The only good thing about the weather getting colder is the fire Jason gets to put into the fireplace. I would rather sweat and run errands than freeze and run errands, I REALLY HATE THE COLD!!! But, this is not to complain about the cold, I have too much to be happy about....do you know what it is?! I'll give you a clue, it has to do with one specific person being home for good and he looks like this...

Summer Devotional

2011-05-15T19:58:00.001-04:00

Summer's on Its Way
by Barbara Rainey

One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.
Ecclesiastes 4:6

Before summer started, Dennis used to say to me, "Sweetheart, what do you want us to accomplish by the time we finish August and move into the school year?" He knew I was the one who had my finger closest to the pulse of our family's needs and schedules and would probably have the biggest hand in implementing the answer to his question.

Truly, the pressure to create the right kind of summertime environment in your home falls largely on Mom. Summer should be a time of rest, but it's also up to us to keep things moving in a way that integrates rest with a measure of purpose.

For me, it meant letting our kids have lots of time to play--building forts in the yard (or in the living room if it was raining), going on hikes, going swimming--anything that didn't involve wasting a perfectly good day in front of the television. It also meant having some enforced quiet time, when I would read to them or send them to their rooms to spend time alone. I wanted to discipline their hearts to enjoy solitude and to help truly recharge after the fast pace of the school year.

If you're a mom who puts a lot of emphasis on structure, I'd encourage you to tone your plans back about 50 percent as summer approaches. Take the time to let some air blow into your schedule, and resist the urge to be constantly checking your list for accomplishment.

If you're more of a free spirit who basically lets both hands off the reins, try to put a little thought into summer on the front end. Set a few goals for the type of activities you'd like to pursue, the relationships you'd like to deepen, the trips you'd like to take.

Make this a summer you'll never forget.

Discuss
Talk about and decide what you want to accomplish by the end of August.

Pray
Ask the Lord to establish your plans and help you see them through . . . with lots of fun to spare.

What do I want to accomplish this summer? I don't know...thinking and praying about it this week! What about you?!

13 days and counting

2011-05-09T09:26:00.009-04:00

Ahhh, only 2 more Mondays left of the school year! Yippee!! I am so ready for summer...so are my kids! Yesterday was Mother's Day and I had such a good day! I am blessed beyond measure to be called Mom by my four amazing kids!! :-)

Stephanie got on Shutterfly and made me an AWESOME photo book. She scanned in old pictures and everything. I so wish I could share it with everyone I know because I like it that much. I have looked through it at least 6 times already and talking about it makes me want to go look at it again! Just know, if you come visit me, you have to look at "the book"!

Jason took the kids and bought me a panini press! I have wanted one for so long and am so excited to have one! Now I have to plan something for dinner this week and start stocking up on panini recipes! Can't wait to start cooking with this new tool!

We went to church Saturday night which made Sunday so relaxing! I got to sleep in and then the kids made me breakfast in bed with Eggs Benedict! I LOVE that tradition, it is soooo yummy! Then J and I ran to get some propane, I got a shower, helped Stephie make my cupcakes and just relaxed! As an afternoon appetizer we had some bruschetta, which I LOVE! Then Jason made some teriyaki steaks on the grill and some potatoes along with some cucumber salad. It was all SO PERFECT!! And my cupcakes were SUPER YUMMY!! Definitely need to print the recipe and get it into my recipe book!

I just loved my day, loved spending time with family and loved being able to relax! Now it is Monday, I have to go grocery shopping and plan for the next week! I think next year my gift needs to be a day where someone else does the grocery shopping! Ugh! I hate grocery shopping each week, but it is a necessary evil!

Hope you all had a GREAT Mother's Day too!

Here is my Bellini Cupcake Recipe

Cake Ingredients:

3 large egg whites, room temperature
1 cup champagne
1 ½ cups cake flour
¾ cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature

Cake Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F.
In small bowl, mix egg whites and champagne. Set aside.
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together cake flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
Mix butter into dry ingredients until it resembles moist crumbs.
Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients until fully combined.
Divide evenly between twelve cupcake liners. Bake for 20 minutes or until cupcakes bounce back when lightly touched.

Filling and Frosting Ingredients:
15 oz can sliced peaches
½ cup + 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
White sanding sugar for topping

Filling and Frosting Directions:
Melt two tablespoons of butter in a medium-sized skillet on medium heat.
Drain and discard liquid from peach can.
Use a towel to pat dry the peach slices, removing excess moisture.
Place the peaches in a single layer in the hot skillet. Cook for about three minutes or until the bottom side is browned. Then flip.

Repeat until all sides of the peaches are browned.
Remove peaches from skillet and cool.
Use a food processor or immersion blender to puree the peaches.
Use a small paring knife or cupcake corer to remove a piece of cake from the center of each cooled cupcake. (You will not need the pieces that you remove, so feel free to eat them!) Fill each hole with peach puree. (setting aside 1/4cup of puree for frosting)

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter on high speed for five minutes.
Slowly mix in the powdered sugar and beat for another five minutes.
Mix in vanilla extract, salt, and ¼ cup of peach puree and beat for two minutes.
Pipe frosting into cupcakes and sprinkle with sanding sugar

18 school days until summer....

2011-05-02T09:36:00.008-04:00

We are just coming off of Spring Break here and boy was it a good one! Jason took a week off of work and we just spent time being together.

Monday we went Bowling

Tuesday we had a pool day at home

Wednesday we spent in Savannah going to the mall, waiting to get an alignment which never happened and going out for lunch at the mall food court! Yummm Ethan had a friend spend the night so it was just a good relaxing day. One quick picture while waiting and reading at Barnes and Noble! :-)

Thursday...I can't remember what we did on Thursday. Hmmmm...I must work on my memory as I get older!! I think we had more friends over, more time in the pool and...oh yeah. J taught Ethan how to rotate tires and do an oil change. I love this about my hubby, taking the time to teach our son how to do these things. I could never teach him how to change the oil or rotate tires!! I love watching my E become a man and learn how to take care of things!! So, even though this wasn't an eventful day, it was some great time spent together as a family!!

Friday we went to the beach and ate lunch at CheeBurger, Cheeburger. Ethan ate a whole 1/2lb burger for lunch...next time he wants to try and eat a full 1lb burger and get his picture put up on their wall!

Saturday we cleaned up the house, made pancakes for breakfast, and went to church. Then after church we went back up to Hilton Head and spent the night at a friends condo!!

Sunday we spent at the beach again and at the condo pool! Jason had to head back to work and the kids and I finished off the evening at Wild Wing and then home to unpack, do laundry, and get cleaned up and ready for the school week!!

What a perfect week! It was SO NICE! J and I even got out for a date one night, just the two of us. I always get so much peace when him and I go out, it feeds my soul! I love that he knows this and always makes time for me so we can do stuff like that!!

But now it is Monday, the 6am alarm came all too early and no one wanted to get moving!! Ugh! Alas, all the kids are at school and I must resume my roll as Mom and go grocery shopping, clean the house, chauffeur kids, and this afternoon do homework, make dinner, and get kids in bed!

BUT, summertime is only 18 short school days away. I think we can make it!! Spring break was our intro into all things summer! The beach, the bowling, the sun, the pool, grilling all our dinner food, family time together!! I LOVE IT ALL!!

So, I the Mom, am on the countdown. I can't wait for school to be out and summer to be here!! I love spending time with my family, I love the warmth outside and the sun on my body!! This is the stuff that feeds my soul!! I am so blessed!!

God is on your side

2011-04-11T08:57:00.002-04:00

This was a little devotion I read today. I know that we feel defeated and/or discouraged some days and I found this very helpful in putting things in perspective. The gentle reminder that God is ALWAYS there for us, so I wanted to share.

"The Lord will fight for you." Exodus 14:14

I read these words and draw in a deep breath. I need them right now. Don't we all? Oh, we may not go to war.
But we fight...
for relationships
for dreams
We battle...
against illness
against discouragement
I think of you staring at the screen, perhaps feeling your strength is small. Oh, yes, I know what that's like.
But victory isn't up to us.
And those words you sometimes hear?
"You're not worth fighting for."
They're a lie. Nothing more.
This is the truth from the heart of One who calls you His own:
You are loved.
You are worth fighting for.
You are even worth dying for.
So go into your day, strong friend, knowing that nothing can defeat you.
You've already won.

Family Beach Day

2011-03-20T19:30:00.004-04:00

Say what you want about the south but right now while all my Yankee friends are freezing their booties off, I am spending my time at the beach! :-p And, for the record, even when it is 102 degrees here in GA, I will still be nice and comfy at the beach!!
Where do you go in Chicago when it is hot? No where...you are land locked!! :-) The beach is full of so many family making memories, I LOVE IT!!
God knew right where I belonged, just ask my Grandma Brown...when I was little and she asked me where I wanted to live someday I told her the Carolinas...well GA is pretty dang close!! :-)

Desire and Respect

2011-03-16T10:02:00.004-04:00

Getting ready this morning I decided to put on my "fat jeans", you know the pair you wear when you just feel bloated and fat! I put them on and much to my chagrin, my "fat jeans" really make me look fat! I should be happy that they no longer cling to my hips and hold in my tummy because that means my "fat jeans" are too big but instead I started to dwell on the negative and belittle the person staring back at me in the mirror. It really is a self-destructive path I was on and why? I have lost weight and no long fit into my "fat jeans"...but I just couldn't let go of the way the baggy butt and pooched stomach looked in those jeans and I really didn't want to put on the jeans that I knew made me look good!
I asked myself, "what is your problem?"
The joker inside of me said, "you haven't had sex in over a week, you are feeling undesirable" That is when this blog popped into mind...
See, there is nothing in this world that makes me feel more beautiful than when my husband is desiring me. Desiring to touch me, hold me, and be with me. It doesn't always have to be a Sexual Desire, just knowing his desire is for me does more for my self esteem any pair of jeans could ever do! Just yesterday my husband sent me a text and it said, "I want you to know that you are my priority and I love you very much!" No reason, just wanted to let me know he was thinking of me. Every part of my body went Ahhhhh, when I read that comment. It made me feel desired and important!
At home with 4 kids all the time, the last thing I feel is desirable. Oh, I know those 4 kids need me but sometimes it feels like they need me as more of a doormat. I am not trying to say bad things about my kids here, its just that they are kids. They are selfish (as they should be at this stage in their lives) and I am the one who is to provide for all their needs. So they need me all the time and I guess you could say they desire for me to fill their wants and needs but it just isn't the same. At the end of the day I feel depleted, sucked dry and empty. When my husband desires me, it leaves me feeling loved, full, and content.
So many people struggle with marriage and I know it is not an easy road to travel but one thing I have learned is this. Men and Woman have 2 basic needs when it comes to marriage and a relationship.
1) Woman want to be desired and 2) Men want to be respected. It really is this simple. When I feel my husband focusing on me and desiring me, I am willing to give him just about anything, including all the love and respect he deserves. When he is feeling respect from me, it is easy for him to desire me and want to be with me. It is a circle that is never ending and can be so rewarding in any relationship.
I am NOT a perfect wife but I do try to go out of my way and never say anything bad about my husband to anyone. He is not perfect and I may not always be happy with what he is doing but at the end of the day, I love him, he is mine, I forgive him and I will always love him. No one else will ever love him the way I do and no one will think anything of him unless I tell them how great he is (which he is, of course!) :-) I get very annoyed when woman talk bad about their husband in front of other people, annoyed and sad!
I don't know where this train of thought is going or what I want to say but if I could just say one thing to any husband out there....DESIRE your wife!! Make her feel beautiful and in return I bet you will be rewarded in ways you never imagined!! And wives, respect your husband, whether talking with your friends or talking with him at home!!
I think I'm going to go take off my "fat jeans" and put on the jeans that I know make me look good because I know that even if J can't see me today, he would find me desirable!! :-)

I have nothing to write about

2011-03-15T09:21:00.002-04:00

So now that my 30 day picture challenge is done and over with I have nothing to write about. I'm sure there is a lot I could say but none of it is very interesting.
We have had a bought of sickness/allergies going through our house so I guess that has kept things pretty low key around here.
Stephie made a list of 101 things about herself so I have started making a list for myself. It really is sort of fun to do and a lot easier than I thought it was going to be. I will probably post my list here once I get it done but then I will probably be stuck with nothing to write about again.
Actually, we hope to get to the beach this weekend and that is always fun to write about when all my friends and family are back in Chicago freezing their butts off! Ha! Will have to write about that! :-)
Today the kids have a half day of school and between you and me, I HATE half days of school. I would rather they just went a full day instead of this half day stuff. We still have to get up early, put on school clothes and then by the time I can get myself together it's time to go pick them up...of course I might have more time to get more done if I didn't get sucked into my computer with facebook and blogging...
Guess I better get moving and get something done before it's 11:30. Hope you are all having a GREAT week!!

30 day picture challenge

2011-03-03T10:48:00.004-05:00

Day 30
PICTURE OF SOMEONE YOU MISS

This is my Great Grandma Ollis
She passed away while I was pregnant with Alexis
I cherish pictures of her with my kids, even if they don't remember her it makes my heart happy to know that she knew them!
I don't know what it was, but me and my Grandma Ollis always shared a special bond and even 9 years later, I still miss her!!

30 day picture challenge

2011-03-02T13:51:00.004-05:00

Day 29
A PICTURE THAT CAN ALWAYS MAKE YOU SMILE

...Or sometimes it makes me cry, depends how much I am missing him!
He IS my heart! Love you Jason! Mwah!

30 day picture challenge

2011-03-01T14:10:00.003-05:00

Day 28
A PICTURE OF SOMETHING YOU ARE AFRAID OF

SPIDERS AND SNAKES, OH MY!! (I almost couldn't post this picture or Google it) YIKES!

God Speaks

2011-02-27T15:15:00.003-05:00

^{Philippians 4: 6-9, 13
6} Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

So this is what my sermon at church was about today.

As we came into church we were all given a rock and a pencil, as the service went on we were told to take and write down what we worry about on that rock. After the service we were told to take that rock and throw it into our pond in front of the church....Yeah...sounds easy, yet, not so much.

See, I am worrier! I worry so much I have anxiety issues. I try and try to give it back to Christ and then try and try to take it back! It is an unending struggle that I must fight daily. Most days, I am fine and let God take it, but on the days I don't...it's not pretty!!

So, on this rock, write what I worry about...what don't I worry about. Before church today I pulled up flight prices for bringing Jason back home this weekend. Prices for this coming weekend were$900, prices for next weekend at least $400. Thank you sky rocketing gas prices! To say I was upset is an understatement. I was so upset that I went into church with a chip on my shoulder. I didn't sing because I wasn't feeling like worshiping. I didn't take communion because I wanted to be angry.

Then the sermon started...stupid, stupid sermon! When he started talking about worry and being anxious, I knew I was in trouble....I wanted to cry, I wanted to scream, I wanted to leave the service and get out of there! A couple of times I thought about taking that stupid rock and throwing it up on the stage just to let everyone know how stupid I thought this all was! No one understands, if all I had to worry about was money maybe it would be okay. If all I had to worry about was some stupid addiction, okay but no, I have to worry about when and how to get my husband home every freaking weekend! No one understands that!

Then the pastor talked about being lonely and how with God we are never lonely. He talked about how worry and being anxious robs us of our joy and will to enjoy the life that God gave us! What the heck? Would this pastor ever stop talking about me?! Me, who never likes to go anywhere anymore, I would rather stay at home and be lonely! Grrrr! I was not a happy camper in church today....yet I never threw my rock on stage and slowly but surely God continued to work on my heart. It hurt, it hurt so much I had to think of other things to keep from sobbing in the middle of church!! I trust God but need to trust Him more! I need God but know I need to want Him more! I want to be with my husband and yet, if I don't ask daily I won't receive! Today was hard my friends...so very very hard!

Pray for me, God is moving. He is going to bring Jason back home but I need to be broken first!! Be anxious for nothing Bekah...God hears you and wants to give you rest

"Be still and know that I am God" Psalms

30 day picture challenge

2011-02-25T10:50:00.003-05:00

Day 27
A PICTURE OF YOU AND A FAMILY MEMBER

You would think again that this would be an easy post but I have a lot of family members! So how about this one? Me and my always happy, always goofy 13 year old son! I LOVE YOU ETHAN!!

30 day picture challenge

2011-02-24T08:29:00.005-05:00

Day 26
A PICTURE OF SOMETHING THAT MEANS A LOT TO YOU

My four kids and their Great Grandma - PRICELESS
16 years married to my best friend - PRICELESS X's 2

THE THINGS THAT MEAN THE MOST TO ME!

30 day picture challenge

2011-02-23T10:33:00.003-05:00

Day 25
A PICTURE OF YOUR FAVORITE DAY

This is a good blog post to sit and reflect on my blessings. You know why? I have lots and lots of favorites days and have had lots and lots of favorite days in my 34 years of life. I loved the day Jason asked me out, I love the day we got married. I loved the day all 4 of our kids were born. I love days I get to spend with Jason. I love family days. I love family celebrations like Birthdays, I love Easter and Christmas, New Years, Halloween, 4th of July. I love it all!! I am blessed to have so many great days I consider being good.
I know I have bad days and when I am having a bad day it can be all consuming!! But, IF todays post can be about one thing, it's that I am blessed!
This picture is from the beach. Jason and I went alone on his 35 Birthday, while the kids were at school. I LOVE going to the beach!! It is so relaxing once we get there, but sometimes I don't want to go through the hassle of getting ready to go and the clean up after we go. Blah! But over all, I am content when I am at the beach and I have had many many good days with my husband, my kids, with friends, with all of them combined, at the beach!! I LOVE THE BEACH!! I love my family and all my days with them, should be favorites! My heart feels full now! <3 Ahhhh!

30 day picture challenge

2011-02-22T09:07:00.002-05:00

Day 24
A PICTURE OF SOMETHING YOU WISH YOU COULD CHANGE

The distance between my home and Jason's work! It's just too far!

30 day picture challenge

2011-02-16T12:02:00.005-05:00

Day 23
A PICTURE OF YOUR FAVORITE BOOK

Goodness, whoever created this photo challenge must not know how hard it is to have a picture of ONE of your favorite things! I mean really, I read books all the time. I love reading, I love getting lost in a story and I just really enjoy a good book. So, what is my favorite book?
Right now I am reading this book:

Two of my favorite Authors are these two guys:

Do you know who they are? If you can find me a book by either one of these Authors I can guarantee I have already read the book or I have it on my wish list because it's not out yet! :-) I LOVE reading!!

30 day picture challenge

2011-02-15T09:37:00.003-05:00

Day 22
A PICTURE OF SOMETHING YOU WISH YOU WERE BETTER AT

Saying goodbye to Jason at the airport. I don't care how many times we do it, how soon he is coming back, or how long we have been together before he leaves. It still hurts so bad when we say goodbye. I wish I was stronger, I wish I could suck it up (and I do a lot of the time) but I wish I could get a little better at saying goodbye...or better yet, we could stop this saying goodbye bit and just be together again!!

Happy Valentines Day

2011-02-13T10:59:00.004-05:00

Taking a break to post a Valentine video today!
Since everyone wants to go out on Valentines it is way too crowded and therefore not enjoyable to go out on Valentines night. Jason and I got these recipes off Food Network and made our dinner at home! Everything turned out perfect and the food was restaurant quality made at home!! Not to mention the time we got to spend together making the meal!!
Best Valentines dinner EVER!!

30 day picture challenge

2011-02-11T16:26:00.003-05:00

Day 21
A PICTURE OF SOMETHING YOU WISH YOU COULD FORGET

30 day picture challenge

2011-02-10T09:56:00.004-05:00

Day 20
A PICTURE OF SOMEWHERE YOU WOULD LOVE TO TRAVEL

This would be a A LOT easier if it asked where I didn't want to travel VS where I do want to travel. There are soooo many places I would love to go and visit!! I almost fear I want to go to too many to even squeeze it all into my lifetime!!
I have been a lot of places here in the States but would still love to get to New York, San Francisco, and the Napa Valley someday. Maybe even Las Vegas!! :-) I have never been West of Phoenix or Denver so there is a lot of exploring I need to do on that West coast of ours.
But if I am going to dream big it would of course be to lots of Europe!! Greece, Australia, Italy...the list could go on forever!! So many great places go to and so many great places to see!! The art the culture the food and of course the wine!! :-) Here are a few pictures of places I would love to go someday!! :-) I am sure I will get to some of them, just have to be patient and plan.

30 day picture challenge

2011-02-09T10:58:00.007-05:00

Day Nineteen
A PICTURE AND A LETTER

Hmmm, this one is sort of vague.
Does it mean a picture and a letter, as in, "Today's blog is brought to you by the Letter J"
Or does it mean, a picture of a letter?

Well, here is my interpretation:
This is a picture of me and my Daddy from when he was here at Thanksgiving time. I love him for everything he is and what he means to me!! He is not someone I would want to piss off and yet he is someone who would let me cry on his shoulder! He is all man, with that respectable sensitive side. Maybe it's because the poor guy had a house full of girls for some so many years, but none the less, I like it!! I like who he is today and who he was to me as a child growing up.
I won't write too much here about my past but lets just say that I have not always made the best of choices. Growing up, I was sort of a brat and thought my parents were fun suckers!! They wouldn't let me date who I wanted, I always had to go to church, I couldn't listen to the music I wanted, blah, blah blah!! (See, they were really awesome parents who loved me so much!!) I know now how much they cared about me!!
One day, I made some really bad choices that ended me in a place that is not pleasant to talk about. In the end, it made me stronger and of course my parents were there to walk me through that valley every step of the way BUT I have always felt that my Dad blamed himself for my behavior. They say a lot of a girls behavior is dependent on her relationship with her Dad. I think other people made my Dad feel like he had dropped the ball somewhere and that if he had been there more or done more I would have made different choices. I have always disagreed with that, I was 16 at the time and was making my own decisions (be it bad ones, but they were mine). I never felt unloved by my Dad and I never felt like anything was more important to him other than family. I have always wanted to write him a letter and tell him that but I just haven't taken the time to sit down and do it. Well, today is the day!! I am going to take that pen and paper and write my Daddy a letter. So here we go....
A picture of my Daddy and a letter!

30 day picture challenge

2011-02-08T14:45:00.001-05:00

Day 18
A PICTURE OF YOUR BIGGEST INSECURITY

Wow, what is up with this picture challenge? My biggest insecurity, where aren't I insecure?! I am insecure about who I am as a lover, as a mother, in my beauty. Where does it end? I don't know? Not liking today at all! Hmph! No picture today, tomorrow better be better!!

30 day picture challenge

2011-02-07T13:34:00.003-05:00

Day Seventeen
A PICTURE OF SOMETHING THAT HAS MADE A HUGE IMPACT IN YOUR LIFE RECENTLY

Okay, I am really stumped by this one....something or someone that has made a huge impact in my life recently? Can't say I can think of one. Not sure if this is a bad thing but....I've got nothing. Sometimes it takes all I am to just make it through the week and be the Mom, wife, daughter, and lover that I am.
God is always there and some days I hear Him better than other, even though I know He never leaves my side! If anyone makes an impact on me it's God. When I listen, He can do more with me than anyone or anything! :-)

30 day picture challenge

2011-02-03T10:28:00.002-05:00

Day Sixteen
A PICTURE OF SOMEONE WHO INSPIRES YOU

Who better to inspire me than my own 4 kids!! They are my greatest Happiness and sometimes sadness. They can lift me up and they can bring me down. But at the end of they day, we always love each other!! They are so brilliant and get good grades, I tell them all the time that they can be anything they want to be someday!! So, if I tell my kids that, I have to believe the same to be true for myself!! I can do anything and I know I will always have them (and their father) to cheer me on and keep me going!! They are inspiring!!

30 day picture challenge

2011-02-01T10:30:00.002-05:00

Day Fifteen
A PICTURE OF SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE

It is hard to get a picture of this but I want to do a wine tour somewhere in Europe before I die. There are so many places I would love to go but even one place would be great! Italy would be near the top of my list along with Germany.
I do not like Australian wines (I don't know why but I just haven't found one I like and I know Australia is not in Europe, I am just talking places now! :-).
Argentina would be cool too because there are a lot of good Malbecs from there.
Even a wine tour in California would be awesome!!
I think you get it, before I die I want to tour a wine country, be it domestic or abroad, European or not, I want to experience it! :-)

30 day picture challenge

2011-01-31T09:06:00.003-05:00

Day Fourteen
A PICTURE OF SOMEONE YOU COULD NEVER IMAGINE YOUR LIFE WITHOUT

HE COMPLETES ME, I WOULD BE LOST WITHOUT HIM!! I AM BLESSED!!
I LOVE YOU BABY!! <3

30 day picture challenge

2011-01-27T10:20:00.012-05:00

Day Thirteen
A PICTURE OF YOU FAVORITE BAND OR ARTIST

Okay, this one is REALLY hard! Who only likes one band or artist?! And music, I LOVE MUSIC!! I listen to it when I am in the car, when I am cooking, when I workout, when I need a pick me up, when I want to feel depressed, when I want to hear God speak!
Music is whatever you need it to be when you need it! I have a lot of favorites, and sometimes my favorites change depending on what kind of music I want to listen too or the mood I am in. Like, right now, I am loving some Aerosmith because of Steven Tyler on American Idol so it depends.
Hmmm, how to approach this one. I could make a collage of pictures if I knew how to do that...only my cool teenager knows how to do that so....here are a few of my favorites! :-)

So, it is a little embarrassing but I will admit, to you my faithful blog readers, that I do love Britney Spears. Her songs always put me in a good mood, the beat in her songs makes you want to dance like no one is watching!! It's great to turn up on a warm day in the car with the windows down! Britney has a lot of critics and I get it, not sure I like her as a person either but for her music and the way it makes me feel . I do love some Britney Spears!! :-)

Nickelback! I have loved them since they came out years ago. I bought tickets to their concert once too but ended up not being able to go! :-( I will get to oneof their concerts someday! Once again, this is music I love to turn up loud and just rock out!! This is not music I listen to with kids around but for me and Jason, I enjoy it!! I really like rock music and I love Chad Krogers voice!!

Who doesn't love Rob Thomas?! I love his voice too! From before when he was part of Matchbox Twenty to where he is today out on his own. He is more mellow but can still rock a beat!! He also has some deeper lyrics like his song, "Diamonds" I just love it!! Have liked him for years and will continue to like him for years to come!!

This is a picture of the current Newsboys band. I have never really like the Newsboys, they are too mellow for me sometimes. The reason I have their picture here is because I LOVE their new lead singer Michael Tait!! Ever since DC Talk to when he was his own band Tait! This guy can sing and I love listening to him!! The new Newsboys album is pretty good too!! Love Michael Tait!!

Aerosmith, they are just legendary! The first time I really remember listening to Aerosmith was probably in Jr. High. Powerful lyrics in some of his songs, "Janie's Got a Gun" oh and I love the song "Angel", so many...too many to write! I am enjoying him on American Idol as a judge. He really seems to care and doesn't really want to hurt these peoples feelings. It's a new side to Steven Tyler that I like!! I'm sure Aerosmith will be around for years to come and I'm sure I'll still be listening! :-)

Coldplay is another one of my more Mellow likes. Again, I have listened to them for years and love them! They relax me more, not as much rocking beat but I like that sometimes and Coldplay will always be a favorite

This woman....if you don't know Regina Spektor you are missing out! Not only can she sing, she can play the piano too and all so well!!
Her songs are more mellow, less pop style, more unique and I think that is why I love her so much!!
Her songs are poetic, they make you think!!
I LOVE REGINA SPEKTOR!!

So if that doesn't run the gamete of types, styles and sounds of music I don't know what does!! About the only thing I don't listen to is rap and country. Ewww! Just can't get into either of those.
I listen to a lot of Christian music in the car with the kids but I likes songs, not necessarily artists....and there are so many! If you want to listen to Christian Music I suggest finding an Air1 station in your area. I love the music they play because it is more Christian Rock and I enjoy that the harder rock sounds and upbeat tempos...of course I do! :-)

30 day picture challenge

2011-01-26T07:35:00.003-05:00

Day Twelve
A PICTURE OF SOMETHING YOU LOVE

I know I just posted our Family Christmas card a few weeks ago but when thinking of what I love, this is it, my family! And what better way to show all of them than with this collage. It's like little bits and pieces of my life and the people I love. This is what makes life worth living, after God! They are my greatest source of joy and frustration, happiness and sadness, strengths and weakness's, together though we are a family and I would be lost without them. I saw a sign at the store the other day and I think it sums it all up nicely.
FAMILY - ALL BECAUSE TWO PEOPLE FELL IN LOVE...
I LOVE MY FAMILY!! :-)

30 day picture challenge

2011-01-25T13:15:00.003-05:00

Day Eleven
PICTURE OF SOMETHING YOU HATE

Oh yes, I went there! I may live in the South and love my GA state but when it comes to sports, I will always be a Chicago sports fan. With that love comes an easy hate for Greenbay Packers, and Minnisota Vikings!! Grrr! We hate them both!! I just chose the Packers for this post because they beat my Bears this past Sunday in the Superbowl Playoffs. If that is not a reason to hate, I don't know what is!! I will say that I am rooting for the Steelers this Superbowl game just so I can see the Packers lose!! Ha! :-p

In a more serious approach to this post of something I hate, it would be this:

BRIDGES!! I HATE BRIDGES!!
I am not so afraid of them that I am unable to drive over one or ride in the car going over one. But I will admit that when traveling over a bridge, I will close my eyes when the traveler OR speed like the dickens when the driver!! I also keep a close eye on cars coming from the opposite direction so that I know the bridge has not collapsed up ahead of me!! I know it is crazy but I just can't help it. I don't know where this fear came from but one idea springs to mind. When I was a little girl there was a teacher who's husband at my Elementary school was killed in an accident. The teachers husband had gotten out of his car to help someone on the side of the road (ON A BRIDGE) Someone hit the car which hit him and threw him off the bridge and to his death!! It was terrible and I remember that story so well. Weird, because it really has nothing to do with driving on a bridge (this guy was walking and got hit) but none the less, I think that is when I started fearing bridges.
The worst part is, I live in the south and every beach is on an island and to get to an island you have to go over a bridge....oh well, I have made it 34 years going over them and I'm sure I'll make it 34+ more but I still don't have to like it!! :-)

30 day picture challenge

2011-01-24T09:13:00.002-05:00

Day Ten
A PICTURE OF THE PERSON YOU DO THE MOST ****** UP THINGS WITH

Hmmmm, feeling a bit too old for this post today. I don't do stupid stuff like that anymore. I guess I should put a picture of Jason since he is the one I was with when I jumped on the hotel bed! :-) Or maybe I should put a picture of my kids because they get me to do stupid stuff like play Just Dance and then laugh at me! Or maybe I should just put a picture of me because I know that if I do something stupid, I will be there! :-) So.....I guess there is no picture today. Just my words to say, I love where I am in life and am glad I don't really have a picture to put here! :-)

30 day picture challenge

2011-01-22T12:27:00.004-05:00

Day Nine
A PICTURE OF THE PERSON THAT HAS GOTTEN YOU THROUGH THE MOST

This is my hubby! I LOVE MY HUBBY SO MUCH!! We have been married for 16 years and together since 1993!! WOW!! I definitely have my moments where I need some help. Whether it is physically, mentally or spiritually and no matter if he is near or far, I can always count on him to be rational, loving, and always there for me!! I LOVE YOU JASON!! You are my rock!!

30 day picture challenge

2011-01-21T07:10:00.003-05:00

Day Eight
A PICTURE THAT MAKES YOU LAUGH

This is me after my Jason took me out for my 34th Birthday. It was the first time He and I had gotten away by ourselves for a night and I was SO EXCITED!! This is the life of a Mom when her kids aren't around. Because, all parents know that when the kids are with you in a hotel room you have to tell them, "don't jump on the beds", "don't walk like an Elephant (people are trying to sleep underneath us)", "don't make too much noise", "shhhh, shhhh, shhhh!" Maybe that is just life with 4 kids but none the less, you try to make sure your kids behave like angles while staying in a hotel.
So, being silly and kid free I jumped up on the bed and told Jason, "don't tell the kids, Mommy is jumping on the bed!" Ha-ha! This picture makes me laugh! I had so much fun that night with my Jason, and guess what, the kids were just fine without us for a night! It is nice to get away every once in a while!!

30 day picture challenge

2011-01-20T16:23:00.004-05:00

Day Seven
A PICTURE OF YOUR MOST TREASURED ITEM

This my my porch swing! I LOVE my porch swing. When people say, "Go to you happy place! Go to your happy place!" This swing IS my happy place! I love sitting on my porch in the afternoon when the sun is setting and casting it's warm glow right there! I love falling asleep and taking a cat nap on this swing! :-) I love seeing hummingbirds come to my feeder. I love watching the rain while staying dry. I love drinking a glass of wine and just sitting outside. I LOVE THIS SWING!! This is one of my most treasured items!!

30 day picture challenge

2011-01-19T10:21:00.004-05:00

Day Six
A PICTURE OF THE PERSON YOU WOULD LOVE TO TRADE PLACES WITH FOR A DAY

This is a picture of my oldest daughter Stephanie. She is one of the best teenagers I know, nothing like what you hear or see on TV. Of course she has her moments, but all in all she is the best!! :-) She attends public High School and has a great group of friends. I would love to trade places with her for a day because I never went to public High School. I grew up in Private school my whole life. My whole High School was about 300 people, her class is 482. I mean WOW!! I would like to experience a day through her eyes one day...not to be a creeper Mom but just for the experience! :-)

30 day picture challenge

2011-01-18T09:08:00.005-05:00

Day Five
A PICTURE OF YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY

Growing up every Friday night was Pizza night. Mom and Dad would order pizza from one of Chicago's finest pizzarias! Always Half sausage, half sausage, mushroom and green pepper. I always I ate from the sausage side...no veggies for me as a kid! :-) Then we would get to have a glass bottle of Pepsi (pop was only aloud on pizza night too) to drink with our pizza. Mom would get this super ugly orange and yellow sheet. We would spread it onto the living room and congregate to watch the latest episode of The Dukes Of Hazzard!! It was our regular Friday night routine and I loved it!
Now that I have kids of my own every Friday night is again pizza night. We don't have a show to watch so instead we rent a movie and eat pizza!! I let my kids drink pop on Friday nights too!! It is such a great memory for me as a child and now as a Mom I enjoy making new memories!! I love Friday night pizza night!!

30 day picture challenge

2011-01-14T09:22:00.003-05:00

DAY 4
A PICTURE OF YOUR FAVORITE NIGHT

This is one of my most recent favorite nights! This was Christmas Eve 2010. My friend Kim and her fiance' Carson came over with her 3 kids and hung out with us to celebrate. We had dinner together, played games together and let the kids just do the same. It was so much fun and time well spent! At my age, I have a lot of favorite nights but this is just one of them! I do Love my life and know I am blessed with a great husband, good kids, and great friends!!

30 day picture challenge

2011-01-13T14:59:00.004-05:00

DAY THREE
A PICTURE FROM THE CAST OF YOUR FAVORITE SHOW

Two And A Half Men, it has been my favorite show for years now. There is something about Charlie Harper and Alan that makes me laugh over and over again. It's the one show I DVR every single week and wait to watch it until I can watch it with Jason. It is the one show we both really like and laugh at. I have watched episodes laughing so hard my cheeks hurt. I have bought all the seasons on DVD and when nothing else is on TV and we don't have a movie to watch, Jason and I pop one of these in. I'm telling you I love this show! :-)
I will also admit that it wasn't until reading something in a magazine that I made the connection between Jon Cryer and Ducky from Pretty In Pink!! So, I'm a little slow on these things! I LOVE IT!!

30 day picture challenge

2011-01-12T09:11:00.004-05:00

DAY 2
A PICTURE OF YOU AND THE PERSON YOU HAVE BEEN CLOSEST WITH THE LONGEST

This is a picture of me and my older sister Kim. Outside of my husband, I would say she is my best friend. I talk to her almost every day on the phone and if we don't talk we text. She has been through life with me both the good and bad. She knows my ugly side and still loves me!! I have known her and been close to her longer than my husband so that is why her picture is here. :-)
Sisters are special people and I love both of mine!! (Yes, I have a younger sister but since she is younger, I have known my older sister longest!) I do love you Liz!! :-)
I am blessed to have sisters and cherish those relationships.

30 day picture challenge

2011-01-11T11:52:00.004-05:00

I found a post on Facbook where someone is doing a picture challenge where you upload a picture each day to correspond with what it asks for. Sounded sort of fun and it gives me something to blog about and a chance for you to get to know me better. So here goes, 30 day picture challenge, for your viewing pleasure! :-)

DAY 1
A PICTURE OF YOURSELF WITH TEN FACTS

1) The spelling of my name is from the Bible
2) I am a middle child
3) I married my High School sweetheart
4) I am left handed
5) I drink Starbucks coffee every morning
6) I like my coffee black
7) I love wine
8) My favorite color is Purple
9) I used to hate seafood and now LOVE IT
10) I hate/fear driving over long bridges

Nobody really understands...

2011-01-09T14:41:00.002-05:00

Think about when you were first dating your husband, what was it like?
You spent every waking moment with that person?
If you went to High School together you were together during the day, together during lunch, together on the weekends! EVERY moment was together! No time for not being together, right?! You loved this person and knew you wanted to be together!! Okay, this all make sense! I was right there with you!! I couldn't get enough of Jason, couldn't wait until I was his wife, until we lived at husband and wife and as one!!
Fast forward 15 years! I still love my husband Soooo much that it hurts!! I still long to spend every waking moment I have with him and yet here I am at home while he is 900mi away!! It just doesn't see right!
I try to stay strong, take care of my kids and live my life as best as I can but deep down...way deep down, the things I don't tell people would shake them to the core!!
I don't know how I do it, I don't know how I live life day to day except to say that I have to. I have anxiety, I have depression, but I don't tell people about that because everyone thinks Bekah is strong. Everyone tells Bekah how great she is and how much they admire her. No one wants to hear how much she aches just to be in bed in at night with her husband.
It's not all sexual it is about emotional connection!! No one understands how much I yearn to just be in arms night after night, to hear his voice, to be with him....and I feel I have no one to talk or to understand.
I have family that have problems of their own and don't want them to think I am unhappy?
I have friends that live with their boyfriend and aren't even married so how do they understand?
I have a spouse who is doing the best he can to support us so how can I complain to him?
I have friends that don't even like their husband and think I am lucky to be apart from mine!!
I have friends that put a medal around my neck and think I am so awesome to do without my husband and survive day after day....but I am barely surviving!!
I am surviving but friends it is SO FREAKING HARD!!
Pray for me!! Pray Jason gets a job close to to home and pray I can keep on keeping on!! It is not as easy I make it look but I fear no one wants to know how hard it really is!! I miss my husband with such deep hurting that it makes my own heart hurt even more!!
Don't take you spouse for granted!! Revel in every moment and minute you have together because I know...I take nothing for granted and LOVE every moment I have with my husband!!
I am blessed but desire so much more to be with him every moment than I can!!
God is good and I believe He hears my crys and wants us together as a family but I need more...I am hurting...I need your prayers!! Pray for me, please pray for my family, I need HIS comfort, I need so much more, I need to be shown how to live my life in honor of Him and my husband!! I need so much more...is that even right to say?!!

Merry Christmas from The Granstroms

2010-12-27T11:15:00.002-05:00

Devotion on Marriage I read from Dennis Rainy

2010-12-17T14:48:00.001-05:00

11 Rules on Marriage You Won’t Learn in School

For many years, e-mails have circulated the country with the outline of a speech attributed to Microsoft founder Bill Gates titled “11 Things You Will Not Learn in School About Jobs.” It turns out that Gates never wrote these words or delivered the speech—it was all taken from an article written by Charles J. Sykes in 1996. And it really doesn’t matter that Gates wasn’t involved, because the piece does a great job of unmasking how feel-good, politically-correct teachings have created a generation of kids with a false concept of reality.

I thought I’d not only pass on these rules, but also make a few of my own—on marriage.

First, here are the 11 rules of life that you won’t learn in school:

Rule 1: Life is not fair—get used to it!

Rule 2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3: You will not make $60,000 per year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss.

Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping—they called it opportunity.

Rule 6: If you mess up, it’s not your parents’ fault. So don't whine about your mistakes; learn from them.

Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes, and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parents’ generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to anything in real life.

Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you “find yourself.” Do that on your own time.

Rule 10: Television is not real life. In real life, people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

Sage advice.

After reading this piece, I was inspired to take a crack at something I’d been chewing on: “11 Rules That You Won’t Learn in School About Marriage.”

Rule 1: Marriage isn’t about your happiness. It’s not about you getting all your needs met through another person. Practicing self-denial and self-sacrifice, patience, understanding, and forgiveness are the fundamentals of a great marriage. If you want to be the center of the universe, then there’s a much better chance of that happening if you stay single.

Rule 2: Getting married gives a man a chance to step up and finish growing up. The best preparation for marriage for a single man is to man up now and keep on becoming the man God created him to be.

Rule 3: It’s okay to have one rookie season, but it’s not okay to repeat your rookie season. You will make rookie mistakes in your first year of marriage; the key is that you don’t continue making those same mistakes in year five, year 10, or year 20 of your marriage.

Rule 4: It takes a real man to be satisfied with and love one woman for a lifetime. And it takes a real woman to be content with and respect one man for a lifetime.

Rule 5: Love isn’t a feeling. Love is commitment. It’s time to replace the “D word”—divorce—with the “C word”—commitment. Divorce may feel like a happy solution, but it results in long-term toxic baggage. You can’t begin a marriage without commitment. You can’t sustain one without it either. A marriage that goes the distance is really hard work. If you want something that is easy and has immediate gratification, then go shopping or play a video game.

Rule 6: Online relationships with old high school or college flames, emotional affairs, sexual affairs, and cohabiting are shallow and illegitimate substitutes for the real thing. Emotional and sexual fidelity in marriage is the real thing.

Rule 7: Women spell romance R-E-L-A-T-I-O-N-S-H-I-P. Men spell romance S-E-X. If you want to speak romance to your spouse, become a student of your spouse and enroll in a lifelong “Romantic Language School,” and become fluent in your spouse’s language.

Rule 8: During courtship, opposites attract. After marriage, opposites can repel each another. You married your spouse because he/she is different. Differences are God’s gift to you to create new capacities in your life. Different isn’t wrong, it’s just different.

Rule 9: Pornography robs men of a real relationship with a real person and poisons real masculinity, replacing it with the toxic killers of shame, deceit, and isolation. Pornography siphons off a man’s drive for intimacy with his wife. Marriage is not for wimps. Accept no substitutes.

Rule 10: As a home is built, it will reflect the builder. Most couples fail to consult the Master Architect and His blueprints for building a home. Instead a man and woman marry with two sets of blueprints (his and hers). As they begin building, they discover that a home can’t be built from two very different sets of blueprints.

Rule 11: How you will be remembered has less to do with how much money you make or how much you accomplish and more with how you have loved and lived.

Pass on “The Rules” to a friend who will enjoy them!

Love and Marriage

2010-12-09T09:16:00.002-05:00

I thought yesterday was interesting because all day long conversations, e-mails, blogs kept bringing me back to my marriage and reminding me how thankful I am for mine.

Instance #1 - While working at the kids school the Moms started talking about how old they were and how old their kids are. I just sat there silently because I hate when people talk about age...I am always the youngest and I just get tired of hearing it. Needless to say, one friend of mine piped up and said, "Bekah is younger than all of us and she has a daughter in High School" All eyes turned to me as I said, "Well Jason and I were High School sweethearts and got married right after graduation." Then one Mom said, "and your still married?" I looked at her sheepishly and said, "yes, for 15 years now, and I still love him." She started talking about how those high school relationships NEVER last and ALWAYS end in divorce and she couldn't believe we were still married, blah, blah, blah. I hate the way it made it feel to be honest. It's like I was so odd because I was young and married with kids and I still loved my husband. Hmmm

Instance #2 - I read a few blogs online. Some are from people I have never met but somehow I have been pulled into their lives and enjoy reading their blog posts. First blog I pulled up said, "I left my husband" Wow, I thought to myself, I can't believe she left her husband, she just had a baby, they have 5 kids,what did he do, what about her kids?! Questions, judgment, and accusations filled my mind. I thought they were working on their marriage, I thought to myself. I thought they were Christians, once again blah, blah, blah. But I kept reading her post and was moved by her raw emotion and truthfulness as she spoke of her own selfishness and need to be transparent. Along with her post she linked to another blog that makes....

Instance #3 - The blog link was to this site right here. This blog post was from another woman who spoke of how her husband left her. I don't know much about her story, I have never read her blog before but again this woman poured out her heart posted about the pain of her husband leaving her. Very sad.

Instance #4 - I asked my kids to tell me what they were thankful for yesterday for my blog post. I was deeply moved when my oldest daughter said, "I'm thankful I have parents who love each other more than they love me." I'm sure I have posted about this line of thinking somewhere in my blog before and I know it brings up a lot of controversy but I still fully believe that God intends for parents to love one another first and then their children. If Jason and I can't love each other, how are we to show love to our children? Anyway, I do not want to get into a debate over this today...it was just another instance in my day that made me think of my marriage and how blessed I am.

Finally Instance #5 - After posting my blog yesterday I got a little note from a friend of mine saying how much she envied the love I have for my husband and our marriage. WOW, that totally floored me!! Envied my love for my husband, that was a huge compliment!! After this compliment I had to send my hubby a text message and tell him how much I appreciate his love for me and our family and that I love him sooo much! Of course this made him suspicious and he asked why I was buttering him up but after I explained all the things that happened yesterday he understood and said he was glad too and that he loved me too! Awwww! :-)

I do love my husband so much and I am proud to say that we have been married for 15 years but please don't ever put my marriage on a pedestal or think that J and I have it all figured out. We have our ups and downs just like all marriages/couples. I have fought with Jason, I have cried myself to sleep at night, I have even disliked my husband but I think that is normal. All relationships have trials and times where we don't always "like" the other person but what is important is that we work through it. Always communicating, never judging, and always forgiving. It's easy to write those words but a lot harder to live out, especially in the middle of conflict!! Ha!
Anyway, all of that to get to my point...I do have one! Don't take your marriage/relationship for granted! I think it is easy to get complacent in marriage and take our spouses for granted. They are supposed to be our best friend, lover, and confident and I think that sometimes we lose sight of that. I look at these broken relationships and it breaks my heart because I know that these people are hurting. I don't ever want my husband to leave me and I don't plan to ever leave him but the only way I can guarantee that doesn't happen is to be purposeful in my relationship with him. To keep him as my best friend and to work on our relationship daily. I don't want to take our relationship for granted and I want to encourage you to do the same thing! Don't let the one person who means the most to you slip away, don't get complacent, don't ever say, "I didn't know what I had and now it's gone!"

DAY 30

2010-12-08T15:31:00.005-05:00

I made it!! I now have a record of thirty days of being Thankful! Woohoo! I know they weren't consecutive days but I still have it done. It has been helpful and I hope that when I am having a bad day, I can remember all these blogs and remember how much I have to be Thankful for! For my last day of Thankfulness I am going to let my kids tell me what they are thankful for and record it here. I am always thankful for my kids so today I am thankful for them and their attitude of Thankfulness also!

Alexis - She is thankful for God and Jesus! :-)
Nicholas - He is thankful for EVERYTHING
Ethan - A roof over his head to keep him warm (seeing how he forgot his coat today!)
Stephanie - Having two parents that love each other more than they love me

My kiddos plus 1 :-)

Thankful for Media

2010-12-07T18:55:00.003-05:00

Today my thankfulness pays tribute to the world of Entertainment/Media :-)

1) Free Redbox rentals the first Monday of each month. Rented Letters To Juliet and watched it all by myself today while the kids were at school! I LOVED every minute of it!
2) I'm thankful I can dream and that my husband lets me dream, I know one day he will take me to Italy!
3) I'm thankful for Christmas songs on the radio. My favorite is from Capital Lights called "It Was His Favorite Christmas Story" I LOVE IT!!
4) Math projects done and turned in on time by my kiddos!
5) Monday to Friday doesn't seem that far apart this week!

If you don't know the song mentioned in #3, you have to click below and listen!!

Day 28 of being Thankful

2010-12-06T15:27:00.002-05:00

I have a lot to be thankful for today!!

1) Jason "missing" his flight and staying home for the day
2) Finishing our Thanksgiving puzzle today while drinking coffee and just enjoying being together.
3) Neighbors who have a smoker and offer to smoke a chicken for me for dinner.
4) Early Christmas present for Ethan
5) Packages in the mail

Day 27

2010-12-03T14:55:00.003-05:00

Today I am thankful for:

1) A day alone with just my Ethan
2) Free parking downtown because of the Holidays
3) Sunshine
4) Fridays
5) Ice Cream Calories that don't count when out on a date with your kid! :-)

Day 26 of being Thankful

2010-12-02T08:37:00.004-05:00

I got my happy back ya'all!! No, Jason isn't home...yet, but I am feeling content today (Thanks for the extra prayers Kitty!). I went grocery shopping yesterday, turned on the heat at home :-( , made a new recipe for dinner (which was super yummy), watched Survivor, and I guess I got a good nights sleep!
I also got my coffee going this morning, got kids to school on time, and turned on my seat heat warmer in the truck!
See, life is good! :-)

Today I am thankful for:
1) Heat seat warmers in my truck!!
2) Old Navy Fleece pullovers to keep me warm
3) A good nights sleep
4) New recipes (did I already say that yesterday?) Oh well!
5) Heat in my house that I can afford and that works to keep me warm!!

Do you get it yet? I don't like to be cold at all!! Our low this morning was 30 degrees when I took my kids to school! Our high is in the 50's but none the less, I had to dress the kids in layers this morning and make sure they had their winter jackets for school! I don't know how I would keep them warm if we actually lived where it was cold all the time! Ha-ha!! Check 'em out this morning before school, you would think it was frigid out there....well to us it is/was!! Actually 30 is cold no matter where you live!!
Have a good day all!! :-)

So close to finishing

2010-12-01T13:15:00.002-05:00

It has taken me a lot longer than 30 days but I am almost there!! I am going to finish this quest and have 30 days of being thankful on my blog and to look back on any time I want!
Today I am thankful for:
1) Foodnetwork.com I LOVE that site, channel, FOOD! :-)
2) Being done with grocery shopping until next Wednesday!
3) Fireplace inside
4) Pandora Christmas Station! :-)
5) God using the radio to speak to me! I have sung this song a thousand times, was singing it today when I really heard the words and had to stop singing because I started crying!! I love how God uses life, radio, friends, nature, to speak to our hearts when we need it most! Check out this song and have a blessed day, letting God lead! :-)

Not feeling thankful...

2010-11-30T09:03:00.003-05:00

Just having one of those days. Jason was off of work for a whole week and I LOVED every minute of it!! My family came from Chicago to visit, the kids were off school for a week, it was an awesome week. Then yesterday Jason still had one day off of work so we spent the day together and enjoyed some alone time!
Now it is Tuesday, and everyone is gone. No more days off of work, no more days off of school, and no more family in town. My house has been so busy and packed full of people and now I feel so alone and depressed! The weather outside is nice but rainy and dreary, it is playing with my emotions! All of that whining and complaining for what? I still have much to be thankful for, I just have to dig a little deeper today to do it. So, here goes, today I am thankful for:

1) Rainy weather, I know we need it.
2) A good job for my hubby.
3) Good schools and teachers for my kiddos.
4) Food in the house so I don't have to go grocery shopping just yet!
5) Lounge wear for when I feel lazy, depressed, and want to stay in all day!

Hope you are all having a GREAT day today and don't worry, I'll find my happy again and be back to normal soon! Number one happy is in this picture! I LOVE HIM SO MUCH!!

My day 23

2010-11-29T15:34:00.002-05:00

Good thing my Kindergarten teacher doesn't read my blog, she would start to wonder if she failed teaching me how to count! ha-ha! :-)
Moving right along to my 30 days of Thankfulness! I am thankful for...
1) Monday's with my hubby alone
2) Trying a new beer, black and tan...yummm! You should try one!
3) More leftovers, this time with ham instead of turkey
4) Good schools where I don't worry about my kids...at least not to much
5) My new"ish" bed that my hubby got us this year, I LOVE IT!!

Thankful for Thanksgiving

2010-11-28T21:16:00.002-05:00

I LOVE THANKSGIVING!! It was even more awesome this year because my sister came to visit. I am thankful for:

1) My sister coming to visit
2) My parents coming to visit
3) Going to the beach on Thanksgiving
4) Leftovers
5) Long vacations from "life" :-)

Day 21 - Two weekend posts in a row!

2010-11-21T14:05:00.002-05:00

Wow! I have remembered to be thankful two weekend days in a row. Actually I always remember to be thankful I just don't always have the time to sit down and write it out! :-)
Today I am thankful for:

1) High 70's all week long!!
2) Only one more trip to the grocery store before Thanksgiving
3) A husband that decided to make us Mimosa's this morning in celebration of vacation!
4) My husband who tried to protect me from a bee and broke my Mimosa glass in the process! :-(
5) Hubby being home for over week (be warned, I will need extra prayers next week after he leaves!)

Remembering to be thankful on a weekend

2010-11-20T17:00:00.002-05:00

It's Saturday and I'm logging in to say what I am thankful for!! Woohoo!! Gold star for Bekah!! Ha-ha! :-)
Okay, today I am thankful for:

1) Small town Christmas parades the Saturday before Thanksgiving
2) Good friends to take to a wine tasting with me
3) VACATION
4) Family that is willing to endure 18 hours in a car just to come see ME!
5) Washable couch covers! :-)

Thankful in the hard times

2010-11-19T07:31:00.005-05:00

Last night one of our family pets died. Blacky was our dog for roughly 8 years. We were living in AR when we found her, a stray wandering around the neighborhood. You could tell she was only a puppy and she was so skittish. Poor baby had mange and had just been dumped. We couldn't just ignore her so we brought her into our home, nursed her to health and had a new family friend.

I think we already had Zoe when we found Blacky so Zoe and Blacky have grown up with each other, it's all they have ever known. Blacky has moved with us from North West Arkansas to Little Rock and then to GA! She has had a good life and she has been loved!

This was the first time our kids have really had to deal with death and it was very hard! Nicholas just bawled his little eyes out, Stephie cried a lot too. Ethan and Lexi were sad too but weren't as outward in showing it. Tears were shed and this Mama's heart broke, if not, just for her kids!! What a rough life lesson! But I am reminded why I have such great hope in Jesus and why I am glad we can use bad time to focus on the good so today I am thankful for:

1) A great family pet that was a part of our lives for 8 years
2) My hope in Jesus and a day when there will be no more hurt and no more death!!
3) A hope for doggy heaven...not sure Blacky will be there but I'm sure God will give us some puppies to play with, right?! :-)
4) Life lessons, they aren't always easy but they make us stronger and mold us into the people we are and will become some day
5) My kiddos and their precious hearts!

Blacky dog! RIP 11/18/2010

Day 18 - I am thankful for...

2010-11-18T07:08:00.002-05:00

1) Four healthy children
2) A roof over my head with a house that is not falling apart
3) A husband who is capable of repairs on car, house, yard, or anything his Egineering mind can fix!
4) Tomorrow is Friday
5) My long shopping trip yesterday because my cupboards and refrigerator are stuffed!!

I am really sucking at this thankful "thing"

2010-11-17T09:18:00.002-05:00

I think I have been doing this thankful "thing" for over 30 days and yet here I am at day 17, for me, not actually day 17! OYE!! I suck at this!! Oh well, I am trying and will keep pushing on, even if my 30 days takes me 50...or more.
Today I have a HUGE list to tackle for grocery shopping, I am just getting over a cold and right now I am not thankful for any of that BUT, I am going to put on my big girl panties, suck it up, move forward, and be thankful!! (That is the worst run on sentence ever, sorry Becky M) Okay, today I am thankful for:

1) A huge grocery shopping list because it means I have family and friends to cook for
2) Getting over a cold because it means I will be healthy over the Holiday
3) This time next week my sissy and my Mommy (along with dad and brother in law) will be here with me!!
4) Starbucks coffee made at home
5) Lovely November weather to do it all in!! I mean, this would all really suck if it was deathly cold outside..deathly cold as in, anything below 50! Brrrr!