Something Special

I just think they are so cute!!!!

Image: www.readthespirit.com

  There is something special about a man with a vision and some ambition and a women who will support that man while he seeks to accomplish something great!  

“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”  -- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Bycie

The week before Christmas a little guy came to visit.  He's teething so he wasn't all that happy....but he still was a lot of fun ;)  He's such a sweet little boy and I can't believe he's already 9 months!!!  Here we are playing around while his Mommy, Daddy, and big brother took a nap!

Destination: Atlanta

Over the Christmas holiday my family and I took a trip to Atlanta to visit some friends and family and also to go to a big game!  We had a blast.....it was a quick trip.  We spent less than 48 hours in the "A" but it was worth it.  Here are a few snapshots from our 2 days there...

 A few of my friends from college came to the hotel....I can't believe it's been 5 years!!!

Keyta and me catching up....I hadn't seen here since 2004!

The Mister and his college roommate Marlin

Kaletta and me...we went to college together, she and Marlin were in our wedding, and now they're married and have a baby girl!

Neish at dinner.....it was so late.  We were to busy hanging out and catching up!

Aunt Karen and Neish....it was freezing cold in Atlanta!

Mommie and her Big Sis...having a good laugh!

Daddy and Uncle Slim....laughing too!

My little cousins...Lacy, Elexis, and Ma'Kari

Daddy waiting on us to go to the game

Mommie and Neish after we did make up!

Neish and me....so many people ask us if we're twin!  

All ready for the game!!

Riding the train to the game!

After the big win!!!

Not a big game without ESPN!

The Married Woman's Proclamation

I thought it might be a few women out there who needed this for their own marriages, because I sure did!

The Married Woman's Proclamation

Lord, I thank you for my husband, and I cherish the years that we have had together.  Bless his life abundantly.  Bless the work of his hands, his labor for us and his children.  I thank You for all of his good qualities.  He has been a good husband, a good father, and a good provider.

Show me the ways to let him know how much I appreciate him.  Father, bless our marriage.  May my husband treat me with respect, loving me as Christ loved the church.  As a wife, may I have more worth than rubies to my husband, bringing him good and not harm all the days of our lives.  Thank You for this man who is my life partner.  Help me to express how much I revere and trust him.

Father, teach me how to pray more efficiently for him.  May he walk in health, having his strength renewed as an eagle.  May You, Father, pour out Your blessing on him and our relationship together.  May we together bless Your name, and may You always come first in our lives.  I proclaim this in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

--Diana Hagee, The King's Daughter

Menu Monday

Without further ado....here's what will be gracing our table this week :

Monday: leftover spaghetti, salad, and Texas Toast
Tuesday and Wednesday: chicken stir fry and rice
Thursday and Friday: pan seared salmon and steamed veggies

I'm adding photos of the chicken stir fry....this is when I was still learning how to make it!

I cook the chicken first

Then the veggies

 Add the stir fry sauce

Cook some rice

Dinner is served!

No plans for the weekend because it's Wild Card Weekend and I've learned to never plan dinner when Mister is out of town....sending up lots of prayers for a win for Mister's team!

End of the Regular Season

I'm sitting here watching ESPN recap the playoff schedule and waiting for the Rams/Seahawks game to start.  But I cannot believe that the regular season is over....really....where did these 17 weeks go?  This season has been very interesting....definitely not what I expected it to be.  It's been a mix bag, but that's life, part disappointing and part exciting.  I can honestly say that the biggest lesson that I learned this season is to not have any expectations and that minimizes the rate of disappointment and maximizes the chance of surprise.

So, since we're being honest here....if you would have told me in Week 1 of the regular season that we would be in this new city with this new team I would have been like "nah, we're not on their radar."  But  I'm proof that you never know what God is up to.  I'm so thankful for the opportunity that this new team has offered Mister but somewhat disappointed that it wasn't more.  Nevertheless, by Week 5 when this new team called Mister and told him to come on over I was excited to go.  More so excited for him and the change of scenery.

But I say all of this to say that Mister absolutely loves his teammates and has enjoyed playing for this organization more than any other.  For this I am so grateful, there is nothing like seeing your boo leave with a smile on his face and returning home the same way.  In this thing called the NFL....you have to constantly remind yourself that this is a blessing.  No matter the struggles, injuries, contracts, instability, pending lockout, crazy coaches, FANatics, and insane media.....this is Mister's dream come true!  I'm pinching myself as I think about the fact that Mister has been doing this for 5 years and so thankful that this is the 1st season since '06 that he's heading into the offseason completely healthy (being "injury prone" has been one of the knocks against him).

So kudos to the Packers, Saints, Bears, Patriots, Colts, Eagles, Chiefs, Ravens, Jets, and whoever wins  the NFC West tonight!  Let me not forget the wives and families who have made it through this season too....they definitely deserve a pat on the back because I'm giving myself one! ;)  As of now the 2010 season is officially in the books and while some teams start their offseason tomorrow...the playoffs are just beginning! Mission: Go Big Or Go Home

**Updated - Seattle Seahawks won the NFC West.

2011 - Refresh and Refocus

I can't believe that it's 2011!  When I was in elementary school the 2000's seemed so far away, almost unimaginable. And now we're in the teens of the 2000's (if that makes any sense).  I'm not a fan of New Year's Resolutions because I feel like they will never be kept or by June I will have forgotten all about them.  So I look at the new year as an opportunity to refocus and refresh.

It's funny because I always feel like it's a new year when Mister heads to training camp.  Kinda like how children start a new year when school starts.  But I try not to always deal with life in football terms, although it dictates so much of our lives right now.  When I think back to NYE 2009, 2010 was not exactly what I thought it would be.  So here's how I plan to remember 1/1/11.....it's the day that I "hit the REFRESH" button on my perspective and really start to REFOCUS my priorities.

Last night I wasn't feeling well so everything that I would normally do on NYE had to wait until today.  So tonight I cooked dinner and while eating dinner Mister, Neish, and I shared how we planned to refresh and refocus in the new year.  And after we toasted with some sparkling grape juice in hopes of holding each other accountable and when we're reviewing this year (2011) next NYE having made some bold steps in a new direction.

I hope to really grow deeper in my spiritual relationship, give back more than I take away, embody the Proverbs 31 woman for my husband and my family, and enjoy this thing called life!  So here's to a healthy and prosperous 2011!!!!