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resolved2worship
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Name: a. ann w.
Birthday: 9/9/1977
Interests: Jesus Christ. My man, my four boys, and two girls. Music. Singing with my Children. Sports- Just about All of them. Photography. Interior Design. The Outdoors-Hiking. Playing with My Kiddos. The Beach. Date Nights! -Ballroom Dancing With My Husband. Adventure. Writing. Creating Things. Reading. The Sunshine.
Expertise: Robert. Playing with my children.
Message: message me
Member Since:
10/6/2006
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| To My Sister...Happy Birthday Abby!
My older sister turns 33 today. It's hard to explain my sister because she's not like anyone else I've ever known. Ever. Not even a little bit. There was never a day in my life I didn't look up to her. Even when I got taller than she was. It always seemed like she had to have been inches taller than me because it seemed in my mind, she just was.
My sister is real. I like that about her. She and I go out when we get a chance... and we don't do much. Sometimes she is the one who needs to talk, and other times it's me. We just talk. Or listen. Or both. We kind of go back and forth. When I am with her, I just about feel as comfortable as it gets.
Because she loves me. Amidst the varying interests, ways of life, beliefs, thoughts, ect. she takes me for who I am. She knows me better than just about anyone besides my husband. We don't have time to hang out all the time... but when we are with each other, though there be ten kids between us and chaos ensuing, there is peace between us.
She is loyal. She is a fighter. She has a servants heart just about more than anyone I know. She has accomplished a lot in 33 years. A lot for the Lord, and a whole lot for others.
One of the things that always amused me about Abby is that she might appear as if she didn't know what was "going on" around her or what people were thinking or feeling... but she has this sixth sense about her and she picks up on things others don't. She is incredibly discerning. But she doesn't appear like that "discerning type"  I admire that about her.
Yet, what I like about her just as much is that with all her discernment, she is not judgmental. She loves people as they are. I've watched since we were younger~ girls come up to her and pretend to like her, knowing full well they were talking about her behind her back. I would watch her and how she would treat these folks and be in wonder! She sincerely would seek to love them. Anyone.
And I would think to myself, "Man, maybe I need to inform her what that person is really like..." or even, "I need to tell her that girl is really two faced..." If I did mention it to my sister, she would always say, "I know. I've seen it. or I've heard it..."
But she would still give of herself to those folks and I would stand back in amazement at her selflessness.
She has been a constant example in my life of a woman who seeks to show Jesus through service and a listening ear and looking past people's faults and loving them as they are. She is a true woman of God and I am so blessed to be her "little sister."
Abby, I love you very much. Happy birthday! Thanks for being an example to me of someone who has been resolved2worship Jesus no matter what comes your way~
The children say Happy Birthday too ~ we've sent cards and gifts you way! 
a. ann~ | | |
| Sacrifice to help them fulfill their dreams..."...you cannot and should not replace a person's dreams with your own goals and desires. If you like hunting or sports or mechanics, that is your heart, and it is fine for you, but if you son likes something different, you are the one who needs to sacrifice to aid him in the fulfillment of his dreams..."
Robert read this last night to me out of something he was reading. It was speaking to fathers primarily, but how true for us mothers as well when loving and raising our sons or daughters.
A good reminder in being on their "team," so to speak. Not pushing them to deliver our dreams to us through them. A reminder to find out WHO they are in personality and what they like and are good at... and help them achieve THEIR dreams.
It can be so easy for us as parents to set their "dreams" for them by constantly directing them and encouraging them in certain things that might not be their gifting or desires at all. Are we willing to let go of molding them into a certain personality or dreams WE have and willing to let the molding 100% go to character and biblical training?
I am very grateful that just because my parents were in the ministry they did not put pressure on any of us to be in the ministry -- or raise us making us think this was the higher godly calling on someone's life! They saw that no matter what we did in life, if we loved Jesus, we would be doing ministry! Just because my mom was an amazing classical pianist, didn't mean we had to all be like her. Just because my dad could play tennis incredible, didn't mean all us children had to be tennis players. I personally stunk at it. When I tried, I danced all over the court.
I appreciate the fact that they looked for what we wanted to do, our dreams, our desires, our abilities... and they got behind them and were on our team. All the skills I enjoy today, and the dreams I am fulfilling are because they let go of their's and helped me pursue mine all the years I lived at home.
I am very grateful to God and to them for not trying to mold me into their "dreams" for me... but rather, accepting me and my diversity from them, and getting behind me and cheering me on.
I am asking God to help me do the same with my own. I want to help fulfill the dreams THEY have in life.
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We've been working a little on 4th of July dresses around here. I was out last weekend taking a look at cute stuff, and prices were just a bit more than what I could pay... so I headed to the Goodwill to check things out again.
I was not looking for dresses but rather anything that could be USED to make dresses. Fabric is so much $ that you end up paying more just to make something and that really isn't cool to me. I found a little blue and white dress for .99 cents a few sizes too big for my girls. A red and white men's shirt for about $1.99, and a blue and white checked curtain panel for $1.50. And then a little white shirt about size four.
We cut the dress in half and used the fabric to add to the little shirt to make a dress ~ then adding a sash made from the curtain and a pocket from the shirt...
We used bits and pieces from each and came up with some pretty stuff~
Morgan's dress~
 
Brighton's~
Morgan holding them both together - ready to do a finish iron on them~
These are my "determination" photos for the week:
 
 
I took the children and my niece over to a wonderful General Store yesterday and we got mint chip icecream with rootbeer to make old time icecream floats. They were SO good. I have been craving another ever since.
 
This was one of my favorite signs in the store:
The other favorite of mine:
"My aim is to keep this bathroom clean. Your aim helps."
If you have boys like I do. You might feel like me. I would like to paint that one in bold letters on the wall in there.
On another note, the other night after coming in from track near 9pm, I just didn't have the energy to fix a big meal and the children were not that hungry. After getting out left overs for Robert and heating them up, I just did what any desperate mother does I suppose.
I skipped supper and just went straight to dessert. Loads of fresh strawberries, some good pound cake covered with nuts and whip cream. Second helpings available.
The children were thrilled. One son suggested: "Mom this is just the greatest idea you've had in a long time! Why don't we do something like this- one night have a meal, the next just desserts, the next night a meal, then the next night desserts and just keep going on and on like that!"
Sometimes desperation and survival ideas are winners with kids. They LOVE IT. But no, I am not going to skip cooking and just make desserts every other night. Sure was fun though.
And last but not the least...
We had a middle of the week date night last night. Unexpected kinda. We'd planned on Friday like normal, but the last two Fridays just didn't work out for one reason or another so we were dying to go date!
Long day yesterday... for Robert too with work and so when our babysitter showed up we were just getting a chance to get out of sweaty clothes and run out the door. In all the flurry, a client called Robert and said she had an emergency with her plumbing.
Well, ya know, sometimes God provides last minute details. Like the money to go out on a date! Robert took the job and we headed out together. Robert looked rather handsome to me to be going on a plumbing job. And it just struck me so funny that I was going with him... and this was our date!
We took off in his car with ladder strapped to the top, no air conditioning in his car so windows down, hair blowing, tools thrown in the trunk for the job.
We arrived and we went to the door. He went straight to work and I had a wonderful time chatting with his client in her home. She got so into us going on a date and that we would still take her problem on and do it together. It was a blast - I wish I could go along everytime!
 
 
After completing the job we had a real date to head out on... and the money in which to take it with.
Course, it seems the strangest things happen to us sometimes. We headed to a place to eat we'd not eaten before. One that was a little nicer than Freddy's Frozen Custard or some other such fast place. We were all excited, sitting there waiting for our food. It was a romantic place...
And it just all of a sudden got even more romantic -- haha, the electricity in the whole place just went off! And stayed off for quite a while! And then came on and went off and back and forth. Our meal must have been ready and waiting to come out when the electric went out because they brought it out soon after and we ate in the dark at our little table.
We were not too far from a window though and so there was a little light coming in so we were not completely eating mystery food!
It was delicious. Made for even a more eventful night and another fun memory. Thanks Babe. Date nights filled with plumbing jobs and pitch black dinners. Life's not boring. I love it.
P.s. IT finally Rained !!! Thank you Lord. Caedman just came in and said, "Mom, it's raining so don't let Baby outside without a lifejacket on!"
a. ann~ | | |
| ReAl LiFe MoNdAy...
I can't think of a better way to explain a real life Monday for this week than this little video the kids and I made.
About a month ago I was in the grocery store. The country music was blaring. You've got to understand! I don't think I'll ever get use to loud country music in the grocery store. I just wasn't raised here!
I don't think I even heard a real country song until I'd nearly left home. Got to the south and realized how much I'd missed out on... and seriously, didn't feel the worse for it.
But over time, this cowgirl state has gotten the best of me. Well, not really, I don't ride horses. I can't afford the rodeo. Tight boot legged jeans aren't a typical wardrobe item of mine and I just got a pair of boots for the first time this year. That would mean it took nearly ten years of me living in this country music intoxicated state to have just one single pair of boots...
And I only got those because Robert and I were invited to a western party and I was tired of being asked, "So now where are you from?"
I decided it was time for me to try some country music. After all, as long as it takes me to grocery shop, I've got a few memorized just by buying them groceries.
I mentioned to the boys about writing a fun country song of our own. They informed, and rather reminded me that I do not sing country. But why not go for it just for fun anyway? They were all up for it.
So we found a little tune on the computer that had some country feel to it. Short, and one that we could develop a singing melody to. Then the fun part: comin up with words. Silly, but reasonable, most song words I think about these days have to do with being a mom. Go figure.
(Here's a little clip from the comin' up with words to the song and playing around recording while the children were all running around me ~)
I originally titled the song "Country Mama" just for the laugh. Seriously folks, I never would imagine myself anything but a Southern California girl... and typically where I'm from, you don't see country mama's running around with a cart load of kiddos. But where I'm from now~ well, that's a different story...
As the simple words came to my mind, it ended up being retitled to "Precious Days."
(final version~ dedicated to my husband and children ~ June 2008)
Words to song~
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[Some say it's the life
living free, no kids no strife,
but what i've found it's just not true,
cause life wouldn't be worth
living with out you.....
long days short nights,
messy hair and breakin' up fights
tight hugs, sweet talks,
memories made on hot summer walks,
I wouldnt trake this crazy life
lovin these kdis and being his wife,
I wouldn't trade these precious days just livin to love on you.
Some days I won't lie,
get so tough, man, I could cry.
But these years, baby, they just fly by,
so I'm gonna live my life to love you.
Some ask if I'm insane
for havin' lots of kids to train.
Well, what they say it might be true,
but no way in the world I"m trading you!
I wouldn't trade this crazy life
lovin' these kids and being his wife,
I wouldn't trade these precious days
just livin' to love on you!
One day when there all grown
and I'm just sitting here alone,
That's when you'll reap what I've sown,
in the days I had with you.
That's why darlin with you by my side,
I'm livin' it up takin' this ride!
Cause don't ya see, time just won't hide
SO I'm livin' to love on you!]
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Over a few weeks period, the song came together and I took an evening Robert had to work and the kids were in bed to do the final little recording. As you can tell, I'm not exactly pro at a country twang, or accent even after all these years here. But, it was fun. I laughed more than I sang and I told myself this truly was part of embracing my present state of living (that was suppose to be a pun on 'state'.)
Well, several weeks ago, I was somewhere and got a glimpse of a country music video. I was enthralled with how it was put together and all the clips and the somewhat humorous places this female vocalist found herself in singing her tune! I got tickled as I started imagining a country "music video" with the recent little country tune I'd recorded. I started thinking of all sorts of ways to make a spoof of a country music video.
That got the wheels turning and in a few weeks, a little clip here and there and some brain stretching on my part with music, video camera and computer, the kids and I put together a "country music video" depicting our little life. Depicting my heart for my children and how much I love them.
So that's the story behind this short little film. I really think all the film clips we didn't include would be funnier. I can't tell you how much laughing went behind this little project! Trying to keep a straight face on my part when my sons were the ones filming me singing in a barn! We laughed ourselves sick at times!
The quality isn't the best on here, but hope it comes out clear enough to enjoy~
Last night we celebrated Scott's homecoming from five days being away by heading to the park for some fun family time... when we got there it started to rain!
That didn't keep us from enjoying the park, or the rain - since there wasn't any thunder and lightning.
(Baby has really just taken off with her walking this week!)
Speaking of walking, I've decided I've nearly walked on out of these flip flops from last summer. Shelton asked me how I'd burned these "holes" in my flops the other day. He didn't ask me why my toe nails were painted blue. But since some of you might, the reason is that I often let my daughter pick out the color of my polish. This makes her pleased, and it makes me break out of my mold. (though I'll admit, though I don't tell her, that blue gets old really fast. Pink here we come!)
Happy Monday!
a. ann~ | | |
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