An Anniversary

Today I celebrated my 12th wedding anniversary to a wonderful man.  God so blessed this undeserving gal with a man who loves his heavenly father which is what makes him the most wonderful husband and father to our children.
Thanks to some friends of ours we were able to go out to eat just the two of us at a lovely Indian restaurant, and have an adult drink.  Before that though we took a stroll around a part of Binghamton, NY.  It was a beautiful autumn day the air was comfortable, the leaves on the trees are just beginning to light up with bright reds and oranges.  This is my time of year.  I love the colors, the smells, and crisp air.

When Eric and I started dating, one of our first dates was roaming around Binghamton hand in hand on a cool fall day.  So much has changed since that day.  We have both sadly have changed physically and now have three lovely children that accompany us just about everywhere we go.  Which we wouldn't change at all.  We love being with our kiddos most of the time and love to have them with us.  But there is the rare occasion when it is nice to go on a date, just the two of us.  So when friends offered to watch our crazy kiddos, we took them up on their offer.
On the way to the place where we would park the car there was a lot less off the normal clamor that rides along with us will car full of kids.  As we began our walk I think the lack of needy, noisy children felt very unnatural at first.  We had done this before in our not so distant past which had an awkwardness about it for different reasons (dating, newly weds). I don't know if we new immediately how to relate to one another without the clamor, and the stunted conversations.  While noticing this a small fear tried to creep in.  Would we be able to relate to one another when that day comes, when each of our children takes flight and we are left with an empty nest?  Thankfully by the end of our delightful date I think we were getting the hang of this relating to one another again as friends, and as a husband and wife.  Not just two who share the same home and take care of the same children, but as a couple of friends.  Maybe we should try to do this a little more often?
~Laura

Hills

The other night I found myself becoming teary while watching our first baby (German Shepherd/Husky mix) find it difficult to get moving after being in one position for too long.  I had also been playing in my mind with the idea that I should start getting my self some exercise, again.  So upon my late night climbing into bed I mentioned both of these to my husband and he decided to take me seriously about the second.  So at 6:30a.m. my wonderful husband nudged at me to get up so that Zander (my fury baby) and I could go for a walk. 
Ugh!  I am sooo not a morning person and I am so not a physical exercise lovin’ gal, but I do wish I was.  So out the door the two of us went.  One of much more excited about this activity than the other, and of course the first portion of my circuit is up a slight hill.  Hills are not friends to those who are out of shape, overweight and asthmatic.  Now my traveling companion actually was helpful for a portion of the walk up the hill until he stopped so that he could sniff something and then leave a message to any other animal that might be sniffing around informing them that he was there. 
Oh sweet momentum  was now gone.  On I trudged with our occasional stops for the marking out of our presence.  Now we approached a road that I could take before reaching the one at the top of the hill that tempted me, but no I forged ahead and made it to the top of my little hill and was now going to be able to enjoy the down hill portion of my walk.  It’s my favorite part.  Its the time that I get to look around and enjoy the newly rising sunlight on this lightly foggy and slightly chilly day and ponder my existence just a little.  Then of course to return to where we began I must climb the brief bottom portion of the hill I live on and up the stairs back safe and sound in my cozy little home.  I guess my husband will try to get me to go out again tomorrow, so I should probably get to bed so that I can rise and shine.    
Goodnight
~Laura

My fury baby when he was still puppy

It's Been Awhile

It has been more than a year since I have posted anything here.  A lot has happened in this break of time.  We added a 3rd girl to our brood.  She has brought us much joy during the stresses that we've endured such as the separation of my parents, the decision to change the church that we would be regularly attending, and more recently the disruption in friendships.  But yesterday was Sunday (I actually wrote this last night)!  Easter Sunday that is.  The day that my Savior, Jesus Christ who died for my sins/our sins conquered death so that I may live.  He is Risen! My Savior lives!  To quote a hymn "and because he lives I can face tomorrow".  He has gotten me through a lot of tomorrows in my 3 plus decades. 
This Easter season was a new one for me.  Most of my Easters have come in a flash and left just as quickly, not this one.  The girls and I took the week off from school work and as a family attended 2 Holy Week services and participated in a prayer vigil on Holy Saturday.  I think my favorite time this week was during our designated prayer time.  We got to the church and were unable to enter.  The doors were locked so instead we as family sat down on the concrete step outside the door.  If you had witnessed our prayer time you might give me a look of confusion as to how this was my favorite.  It was cold outside and my children were whining and uncooperative but the sun was shinning.  The light and warmth felt so wonderful to this NY native who is anxiously awaiting more warm and well lit days.  Its warmth and light brought great comfort to us as we sat outside the church just as my Savior and his word does.  My Middle who uses a lot less words than my Oldest and leaves her momma wondering what is going on in her head regularly, fervently turns to her momma during the Tenebrae service and states "Jesus is the light of the world." To hear such declaration from her children's' lips warms this momma's heart. 
My prayer for those known and unknown to me is that the warmth of God's love so marvelously displayed on Good Friday for all who believe will be felt in all of our lives today and tomorrow.
Happy Easter!
~Laura