Something in my spirit...

When I stepped out on the deck this morning the cool air of 65 degrees brushed across my face and something inside of me leaped.

There is something about Autumn(fall) that does something to my spirit. Every year these feelings arise in my soul and I have never been able to explain them. This year I intend to find out what those feelings are all about.

There are so many hopes, dreams, and visions in my life that I want to see come to pass. And then there is Eric. I am my own worse enemy. I start something and then tell myself that I can't do this or that. I start believing the lies of satan. NOT anymore! I am tired of having this feeling that I can't place.

Lord, show me this Season. Move in me!

Here is a song that sums it all up:

The Shabby Chic headboard

The Headboard is finished and I couldn't be more pleased with it! LOVE IT!!! Enjoy the pics!









The finished product!

The More I Seek You

God,

It's your child, Eric. My heart is heavy right now. I don't understand so many things. Your word tells us that your ways are higher than our ways. That your thoughts are greater than our thoughts. But Lord, I don't understand the death of a child.

Father I ask that you comfort the Repass family in the loss of their daughter. I know that she is dancing with you and singing praises to you. I know that she is hurting no more, from anything, but her family and friends that are left behind have a hurt that is so strong right now and it is a hurt that only you can take away. Wrap your arms around them Father. Never let them go.

Lord, I also pray protection over my children from all harm. That you will be with them and protect them all the days of their lives. And as I seek you more teach me your ways and give me understanding to the things that I do not understand at all.

Marriage

Did any of us really know what we were getting into when we got married? I know we all had our own thoughts, ideas, visions, stories, etc about marriage. We all heard about the ups and downs, the good and bad, and of course know the whole speech that the preacher read...for better, worse, sickness, health, etc, etc, etc.

There is a saying that goes, "Babies change everything!" I believe the saying is true for marriage as well. "Marriage changes everything!"

Our main view of marriage is that of our parents, guardian, or whomever raised us. It is from our upbringing that we learn really how to act or react in every situation in life; either good or bad. It is how we learn to treat our spouse in our marriage. But no matter how we were raised and what good or bad examples we saw, we are the ones responsible for the decisions/actions that we make in our own lives.

Jennifer and I had two different kinds of upbringing. I come from a family of divorce and Jennifer and her parents will be celebrating their 37th anniversary this year. Both of our upbringing has taught us many things in our own marriage and reminds us E-V-E-R-Y-D-A-Y that the two of us could not love, laugh, cry, or live together if it wasn't for the love of Jesus that we both have in our hearts and the commitment we made to Him and each other 5 years ago today...July 22, 2006!

Happy Anniversary Baby! I do love you more today than 5 years ago. You truly are what God had for me and I am go grateful that he brought you into my life. Through all of our ups and downs, ins and outs, and 2 boys later, years you are still the one that I love lying down next to at night and putting my hand on you while you sleep just to let you know that I am there and loving that you are there for me.

The song that was sung at our wedding, where you walked down the isle to, is still one of my favorites and each time I hear it my heart and mind is flooded with thoughts of our wedding day! I love you Baby!

Shabby Chic

I have a confession to make:

I am a Guy and I love to decorate!

There, I said it!

With that said, one of my favorite kind of styles is Shabby Chic. I love French Country too. I have seldom decorated using the style though. You will see in this pic a little piece of Shabby Chic where I painted a set of shutters and made them look a little distressed looking:


Doing that is just the begining. I am currently working on a project that, even if you don't love it, I will. Since Jennifer and I got married we have not had a headboard for our bed and really haven't had the need for one until we moved into our new house. So, stay tuned for pics of our new headboard. And just a side note...this Friday we will be celebrating our 5 year Anniversary!

After I finish with the headboard I have a few other pieces of furniture that I will redo. And I have an idea for our foyer and for our bathroom. I know, I know, I am a glutten for punishment. As if I don't have enough to keep me busy I add more stuff to my to-do list. Jennifer has never had to give me a "honey-do" list. I make my own!

So...who's ready to see the new headboard? Stay tuned...

It's the new internet Craz!

If you fall while going up the stairs...just Plank with it!



Enjoy more people Planking at:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Kingwood-Plankers/135693973179511

A Wiggly Good Time!

My little Corbster(Corban) is growing up so fast. I would be lying if I told you that I didn't just get misty-eyed while thinking about just how fast. It's just that time really does seem to go by faster when you have kids and it is so hard to try to slow down and capture every single moment of each and every day. But thank goodness, with the help of cameras, we can capture as many as we want to.

Corban L-O-V-E-S the Wiggles! LOVE may even be an understatement. Either way, he loves them and their tour this year lead them to Atlanta, GA. So we bought tickets and waited for the day to arrive; which was yesterday 07-12-11.

Here are just a few pics; trust me there were MANY more taken:







During the event Corban sat in either my or Jennifer's lap. He didn't get up and dance around during the show like he does when he is at home. The looks on his face throughout showed that he was enjoying it though.

Jennifer and I are very selective on what we let our boys watch and what things we buy our boys. We are not ones to spoil our children. Since we are selective we were more than happy to Make Corban's Day with a trip to see The Wiggles LIVE!!! And I also want to say that I am blessed to work for a company that understands that Family comes before the Job so I had no worry about not being at work yesterday.

Count your many Blessings...

...name them one by one!

Can you do it? Can you count ALL the Blessings that God has given to you? Can you count ALL the times that He has provided for you, cared for you, kept you from harms way; knowingly and unknowingly?!

There is NO WAY that you can count EVERYTHING that God has done for you because all that He has done outnumbers the grains of sand! Yup, He's done that much!

We are blessed beyond measure! Remember that as you go through your day.

Sick Babies

The boys have been fighting sickness lately. Corban is just congested again but Asher has been fighting some kind of harder fever-virus that ranges from highs up to 101.5 and causes congestion and diarrhea. It is going on 1 1/2 weeks today and he has been to the doctor twice. All they tell us to do is keep him on tylenol and motrin and keep him hydrated. Thanks for that little nugget of information at $40.00 each visit! I'm glad you got "Dr." in front of your name. I would have never figured that one out.

Asher goes next Tuesday for his 9 month check up. I really hope he is better before then.

I hate it when the boys are sick. I do not understand why babies/kids get sick. Or not why they get sick but honestly, "why does God allow them to get sick?" If they are babies they can't tell you that they are sick and it is just pitiful when they are so little and you see them hurting and can't do anything for them. It breaks my heart. It frustrates me too because I just don't think they should get sick.

Father, please heal Asher and Corban from their sickness in Jesus' name, amen.

I know it is just a virus, cold, fever, etc and I know there are other parents who have children with far more worse medical conditions and it really hurts me to see them too. So I know I have a lot to be thankful for since my boys sickness is so minor compared to others, but it doesn't mean I have to like it.

When I Cry

Prayer Warriors UNITE!

I am not going to give the real name of my friend that needs to be covered in prayer right now and for months to come. I will call my friend Pat! God knows what the situation is and I need each of you prayer warriors to join in unity with me that God will show Himself to Pat. Put Pat on your daily prayer list.

Seek your hearts, allow God to speak to you on behalf of Pat! Pray without ceasing!

Certain things to pray for would be: comfort, peace, JOY, understanding and questions that Pat has to be answered by God.

Pat is a christian but satan is doing what satan does best, coming to try to kill, steal, and destroy Pat.

PRAY!

Newly Painted Dining Room

To finish it off we will be getting a new light fixture and I am still thinking about putting a chair rail around the room. The kitchen and eat in area have it so...

Getting rid of the purple:




The curtains still match...which is a good thing!

Is this thing on...tap, tap, tap!

So I haven't posted in a while...bite me! Okay, don't really bite me. I get enough of that from my two year old. He pokes, bites, hits, throws things at me, etc. I feel like I am being bullied. I am constantly saying, "stop it, don't do that, quit!" My Son, the bully. :-/ Okay, he's really not a bully but I do wonder sometimes.

Corban, my two year old is my smart little boy! He can count, say his ABC's, and other than the bullying mentioned above, he gives great hugs and kisses, randomly says I love you, which even to a Dad, melts your heart. While saying the blessing over our food he is quick to get to the Amen part because he knows he can eat after that. He is my Son, what can I say!

Corban is also my helper. Most of the time I reluctantly let him help me do something just because I know how much he loves to help; even though I know it will involve me having to clean up or correct even a bigger mess than what was already there.

Your Children teach you things and my Son Corban is teaching me Patience. He is full of love and gives love freely but as already mentioned, he is my Son so of course there is patience that is needed to deal with me...I mean him. ;-)

Now my second Son, Asher! He is now 8 months old. The boy wakes up with a smile and goes to sleep with a smile. He loves his big brother, even after his brother has knocked him in the head to the point that Jennifer had to call the nurse. Asher is our more quiet one, unless he's hungry. (look-a-there, another son of mine that loves food!)

Asher is a happy baby. He is and has been our sleeper from the time he was born. Yes, he has a few nights here and there but nothing like the way Corban kept us up. He is about to start crawling which is a little sad for me because it just means he is growing up so fast. But don't worry, I'm not so sad that I change my mind about only having two. Two is it!

Since he's only 8 months old, I don't really know what Asher is teaching me. Time will tell.

Moving on...I got the pool open and ready this past week. I am finding out quickly that having a pool is work...but work that is well worth it. I know we will be enjoying it almost everyday and I will be enjoying those evening swims.

I started painting the dining room. Once done we will get a new light fixture and then I will continue on completing one room at a time; updating this and that, painting here and there.

We've meet the neighbors behind us that are our age. They are awesome people and we have already had them over for game night last friday, along with other awesome friends, and we will be getting together for bbqs and swims all summer. They have a daughter that is 5 that I know Corban will love to play with; he likes those older girls and they like bossing him around. Get use to it Son! :o

This past May 1st I celebrated 11 years here at work. I know, WOW! I was 19 1/2 when I started. Who knows, maybe I will see another 11 years!?! Some have been here for 20plus years! What can I say...it's an awesome company! It's family!

Jennifer is still at her current position. We are praying for her a new job that she has applied for. She really wants it and I want it for her. She would be awesome at it! She's the best!

Father, Thank you for my lovely wife and for my two beautiful sons. Thank you for giving to me exactly what you knew I needed. Thank you for letting them teach me things that I would have never learned. Thank you for blessing me with all 3 of them even when I feel that I don't deserve any of it.

Singing

Singing...it's something I have always done.

I cannot remember a time when I have not been involved in a choir, praise team, chorus group, etc. I even attended Jeff State Community College on a Singers Scholarship. I do not claim to be the BEST singer in the world but I can "carry a tune in a bucket" and love to harmonize in songs. I will even tell you that I know I am better at doing harmony songs than I am a soloist.

When we started attending the church we are at last October I knew it was the place for us to be. Of course, Jennifer knew it was were we were suppose to be years back but that is another story about my stubbornness. It was the place for us because number one: the True word of God is preached from the pulpit. Number two: because it has the classes Jennifer and I need, and number three: because it has what our children need.

One of the most exciting things for me though was it had a choir and praise team. My passion is singing and they had a lot to offer. I joined the choir, filled out the form of where I would like to be used(i.e. choir, praise team) and started enjoying what I know is my calling. I really feel that I was working toward joining the praise team but some changes happened.

The Minister of Music Pastor announced that he and his family was leaving. It was all on good terms and they are missed greatly. Because of them leaving, changes were made to the current music ministry.

The Lead Pastor is not in a hurry to hire another music minister. The details is too much to go into here but I and everyone else understands why and we are excited about the future and the next person that will take over, whenever that will be. In the meantime though, they have dismissed the choir and only kept the Morning Praise Team which means that I am no longer singing because I had not been put on the team yet.

So...here I sit, currently at my computer typing this, but sitting in the congregation on Sundays wishing that I were up on stage helping to lead worship. I have contacted the "fill-in pastor" that is leading worship until a replacement is found. I let him know the desires of my heart and that I am readily available when he needs another tenor/alto voice. He said thanks for letting him know. Who knows, we will see. And to let you know, the reason why the fill-in pastor can't continue on with the choir, etc is because he has other obligations on wednesday nights and sunday nights so therefore having choir practice would be rather hard to juggle.

To be honest though, my heart hurts from it all. It's only been two weeks since no choir and I already miss it terribly. It might even be the new year before they find a new music pastor.

Maybe there is something I am suppose to be learing during this time? I know we are not leaving this church. Like I have already stated, "this is where we are suppose to be." I just feel lost right now.

Follow link to my Wife's blog to see current update of Corban at 2 years!

http://jenbsnyder.blogspot.com/2011/03/two.html