***Edited to say:  This isn’t an issue about what’s for breakfast, my issue with my daughter is always saying “But I…..”  and talking  back.   I would have given her cereal no problem, it was the tone and attitude in which she addressed me first.   I guess if you weren’t there you wouldn’t have known that.

Scene at breakfast:  I’m setting down beautiful plates of scrabled eggs with salsa and cheese.  A crowd favorite at our house.

Becca:  I don’t want this, I want Coco Puffs.

Me:  Tough luck, this is what you are having.

Becca:  But I…….

Me:  Go to your room and sit, I don’t want to hear “But I’s.”

Becca:   That’s ok, I want to go sit on my bed.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I bring my daughter to you.   She has such a strong will.  I see so much potential in her.  I know she has the strength and the will power to do anything she sets her mind to.   Help me to be the best mommy to her, bringing around a changed heart, one not of just obedience, but one because she trust me (and You) to follow what we say.   Let me know which battles to pick and the ones to let go of.   Help me not to provoke or frustrate her on purpose, but to do everything to help her become the girl (and one day woman) you want her to be.

I saw this on Barb’s blog and thought it was a wonderful thing.   I call Walter “Love of my Life” all the time and it was even on the Valentine’s day card I got for him.

♥ How long have you been together?

We have been together for a total of 8 1/2 years and married for 8 of those this past January.

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating?

We didn’t know each other before we started dating.  It was a blind date.
♥ Who asked who out?

I think he did after that first date, but we just started hanging out together all the time.

♥ How old are each of you?

I am 36 and he is 37.

♥ Whose siblings do/did you see the most?

I would say mine, but we don’t even see them very often because of distance.  
♥ Do you have any children together?

We have two beautiful children Benjamin who is 6 1/2 and Rebecca who is 3 1/2.
♥ What about pets?

We just got our yellow lab Echo two weeks ago.  
♥ Did you go to the same school?

Nope, we lived in two separate towns.
♥ Are you from the same home town?

Nope, he is from Visalia and I was from Porterville.   For about two years we lived less than a mile from each other, but never met.
♥ Who is the smartest?

My husband, hands down.   He’s smart and articulate, can add, subtract and multiply without a calculator.  Plus he has the official college degree, not like me – the college drop out.
♥ Who is the most sensitive?

Probably him.  He gets heart broken very easily.   Ben’s a lot like him.
♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple?

Right now our life style doesn’t allow for much eating out, but when we do we either go to the Mexican food place or the Casino.
♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?

From Visalia, CA to Bend, OR. our first Christmas before we were married.   Or maybe it’s from Susanville to San Diego a few years ago.  We want to travel into Washington maybe this summer.
♥ Who has the worst temper?

Probably me.  But we are both very strong willed and early in our marriage there were lots of power struggles.

♥ Who does the cooking?

We both split the job equally.  
♥ Who is the neat freak?

Neither of us.   Although a mess starts bothering me quicker than it will him.
♥ Who is the more stubborn?

It’s equal.   We are both very strong willed.
♥ Where was your first date?

Sizzler in Visalia, a trip to visit my sister who was being induced with my nephew at the time and then to a coffee shop to talk afterwards.
♥ Who has the bigger family?

He does.   I don’t know how many 1/2 siblings he has, I’ve only met 3 of them.
♥ Do you get flowers often?

I get them for our anniversary and sometimes just because
♥ How do you spend the holidays?

We spend the holidays usually at home with just the 4 of us.   I don’t like to travel during the holidays.
♥ How long did it take to get serious?

Not very long.   We just started doing things together and love just happened naturally.
♥ Who eats more?

He does now.  My tummy is just too small.
♥ Who’s better with the computer?

Walter.  You should see the things he can create.
♥ Who drives when you are together?

If it’s around town, usually me.   If it’s longer than that him.

This has been going around on Facebook.  I’ve decided since I haven’t posted in FOREVER that I would put this here instead of there. 

1.  I love to spend time by myself.  

2.  I love to read.   I always have a few books going on at once.

3.  I fell instantly in love with Benjamin when he was born.   It was totally love at first sight.  I felt like being “mom” was what I was supposed to be in life.

4.  I didn’t fall instantly in love with Rebecca.   I think it was because of my miscarriage in between Ben and her.  I didn’t bond with her during my pregnancy like I did with Ben.   Now I can’t imagine life without her and my heart swells with love for her each time I see her.

5.  I love being in my 30’s.   I feel like my 36th year of life has been the best so far!   I love being settled in my marriage and with my family.

6.  In my mid 20’s I went through a rough time.  I was depressed and made some really poor choices.   I thought I would never get past that time and that my poor choices would always follow me.

7.  I’m so glad that I have been forgiven for those mistakes in my 20’s and that I am a better person because of it.  

8.  I have major trust issues.   It’s one of the main reasons why I don’t have a lot of close friends.   I don’t like people getting  close enough to hurt me.

9.  I love sewing.   I especially love making things that don’t require a pattern.

10.  I made a list when I was 19 of characteristics that I wanted in a husband.   Walter fulfills every item on the list.

11.  My life isn’t what I thought it would be when I was growing up.  It’s better!

12.  My husband wants to be a pastor.  The thought scares me so much.  I don’t know if I would be a good pastor’s wife.

13.  My dog is laying at my feet.   We just adopted her a few weeks ago and now I can’t imagine life without Echo.   She fits into our family perfectly.

14.  I always said that I would never drive a minivan.   I do now and I love it!

15.  I want to learn to play the guitar.  I want to be able to lead worship or to play around the campfire.

16.  My favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11  “I know the plans I have for your declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

17.  My love language is words of affirmation.   I make Walter tell me each night before we go to sleep and sometimes during the day why he loves me.

18.  I hate doing dishes.  In fact while I was pregnant with Rebecca I threw up while doing them.   Since then (over 4 years) I have maybe done dishes 10 times.   Walter does them.

19.  I love to cook.  

20.  I don’t like unexpected company coming over to my house.  This is one reason I don’t think I would make a good Pastor’s wife.

21.  I used to be a morning person.   For years I went to work by 7:00 and always went to bed early – by 9:00.   Now I love staying up late.  It must be because the house is quiet.

22.  I am looking at a basket of material to make the kids pj’s.   It’s flannel material.   It might just have to wait till next year to be made.

23.   I moved around a lot as a kid.   Even as an adult I moved around.   Walter and I have been in Susanville for 7 years and I’m ready to move.

24.  This December I spent some time with my mom.  I have to say it’s one of the best times that we have had.   We were able to talk about some things and I feel like my heart was healed in the process.

25.  I suffer from depression.  I take medication daily and if I have to take medication for the rest of my life I’m ok with it.   My life is so much better since getting my depression under control.