Jungle Beds

Once again I came up with a brilliant construction idea and Bob ran with it. Memaw and Papa had given us their bunkbeds 3 years ago and we have loved using them.  When they moved here they really needed a set of bunk beds and fortunately, I had been toying with a "hanging bed" idea for a while.  I had seen suspended beds at a friend's house and loved the idea so I mentioned it to Bob and like I said at the start....he ran with it!

We are so blessed to have a Bob in our lives.  He is amazingly handy and there is quite literally no project too big or outlandish for him.  He just rolls with it and makes it happen.  Plus, he makes all of his projects monkey proof......

Because.......well our kids are monkeys and anything with them in it needs to be  REALLY secure.  Bob went to his favorite store, Home Depot, and purchased a posse of 2x4s, paint, 850# weighted cabling and a bunch of screws.  The design evolved as we started measuring and thinking about kids having to go potty and saving space.  We started with Lily's bed up high and got it secure then raised Evie's bed so that she was close enough to the ground to go potty at night, but high enough to feel "special" too.  I LOVE how our design came out and not only do the girls have fantastically fun beds, but they have a fort area underneath it too!

My next big addition was personal bookshelves and lights for each of them.  Bob and I still want a 7pm bedtime around our house, but don't mind if our girls stay up and read.  I went to IKEA and purchased picture shelves and they curated their own little libraries the other night.

Bob was giddy to see how Lily's shelf turned out.  He is hoping and praying to have a STEM kid and based on her book shelf, I would say she is headed in the right direction!

Evie is all about animals and princesses.  Her shelf makes me smile too, "Mommy, I want some princess books, my animals in the desert book, and a space book for Daddy."  You bet kid.

Daddy is the best and there is no doubt that he loves his wife and his girls like nobody's business.  He is never frazzled by my harebrained ideas and always manages to start and finish them.  He's amazing and I am so grateful.  He and I are hoping that the jungle beds will be a tremendous memory  full of sister bonding, learning, dreaming, and fun.

Short but Sweet

We have been looking forward to the new year for 3 really BIG reasons.  Grandma Jill and Grandpa Steve are coming not once, but 3 times over the next few months! EEEEE, we are so thrilled.  We have missed them and the girls have been especially giddy awaiting their arrival!  

There first visit came about a week ago over a long weekend and we had such a great time sharing our Arizona sunshine with the Chicagoans!  They had 8 inches of snow and sub zero temps where they came from....BRRRR.  Not here, and we celebrated with iced coffee, sunshine, outdoor hiking, and playing.

We took Grandma Jill to our favorite Yoga Pulse Studio for an amazing yoga class with the one and only Tiffany (amazing Yogi and friend).  The kids did their usual yoga class, and Bob and Grandpa Steve completely remodeled/cleaned/organized our Garage (its AMAZING).  

After yoga I ran off to photograph my first of many weddings this year and they all stayed home, played at the park, challenged each other in Monopoly and ended the day with pizza and a backyard movie.  So fun!

On Sunday we spent a morning at church with all of our fellow community and had a wonderful time.  The Lord has lead us to an amazing church and I for one am so excited to have a church family that is close and excited.  God is so good!  Following church the girls couldn't wait to take Grandma and Grandpa to "The Greatest Showman."  Oh....I will do a blog on this movie, but needless to say its AMAZING, and I love that the girls wanted to share this beautiful story.  I may have encouraged it, but it was their idea.  We had a wonderful afternoon followed by a Date Night. Life is good.

The trip came to its final day all too soon, but we made the absolute best of it.  We took everyone up to the McDowell Mountain Preserve for some hiking and could not have asked for a better day, trail, or company.  What a blessing.  We even had the chance to help Grandma and Grandpa connect with some of their friends too!  Life in community is truly a wonderful thing!  Claire and Alan loved on our girls and we had a spectacular afternoon together!

Till Next Month!

Dear Fellow Wife

You may know me, but you may not.  If you don't know me, welcome to my blog.  You can learn a lot about me here and I am open to your discovery.  My life is open for you, and I hope our family provides perspective, reality, joy and some hope.

My husband and I recently attended the Family Life conference called A Weekend to Remember, and I wanted to share with you what I learned.  Take it, leave it, apply it, or deny it.  I'm not here to be judge or jury, I am just here to share.

Marriage is hard and wonderful. There are seasons of incredible love and connection.  There are seasons of great strife and distance.  Its all purposeful, its all part of this journey called oneness, and its rich with lessons and growth.  2 months ago, Bob and I were at a bit of an impass.  We had battled with each other for over a year regarding a few issues.  It was constant.  So much miscommunication, so much hurt, so much misunderstanding.  How did we get here?  How are we still here? Why can't we get past this?  We wrestled with the question, "Do we need counseling?" and the following, "We can't afford that" concern.  We were struggling and simply didn't know what to do.  Bob happened upon the conference above and we committed to it.  It was a lot, and we worried over the expense, but we needed something.  Oh how grateful I am for it.

Ladies....NEVER, EVER, allow yourself or your spouse to negate the needs of your marriage because of money.  If you are struggling together, and your response is, "we can't afford that,"  I can say with absolute assurance that you can't afford not to.  Invest in your marriage.  Forget the house, the kids, the trips, and the stuff.  None of it matters without your marriage.....invest in it.  We did and I am grateful.

I could write novels on what I learned, but lets face it, if you are like me you want the bullet points so here is what I learned:

1. Not all things you think in your head about your spouse, your feelings, or your circumstances should be spoken. Its not about hiding, its about thinking.  Remember the whole "if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all" thing our Mom's used to tell us.  It applies in marriage.

2. Respect your husband.  Every day, all the time.  In marriage respect is something given freely not something earned.  Your husband is not perfect and will never be.  You are to give your husband unconditional respect  in spite of his weaknesses.....all the time.

3. Love is a gift.

4. To BE loved is a gift.

5, Leadership and submission are not mutually exclusive.  These do not represent hierarchy, they represent Divine identity.  To lead requires submission, to submit requires leadership.  They are intertwined.  Created in the image of the Divine.

6. Respect your husband.  All the time (and you thought I was only going to mention it once).  Learn how to help him in his weaknesses by showing respect and being a woman he trusts with his ego.  There is a right and a wrong way to provide criticism.  I guarantee our default is the wrong way. The path is narrow....and few will find it.

7. Respect extends out of the home, in the presence of your friends, during your Mom's Night Outs, and when you are angry. 

8. Believer or not.  A successful marriage takes a Higher power.  Seek it, Dwell richly with it, and allow it to guide you.

9. Pray.  Every day, all the time.  When you pray, pray the fruits of the spirit over your spouse, even when you want to pray the fire.

10. Invest in your marriage.  Yep, I'm gonna repeat this one too.   You can only grow if you tend.  You can only find when you look. You can only truly love when you give.  Give your time, look for ways to reconnect, and tend your relationship by investing in it. Invest your time, invest your energy, invest your money.

I have chosen to apply these things to my marriage, and the fruits of its planting are already growing.  There is more richness, purpose, connection, and oneness in our relationship together. 

So my friend, my fellow wife.  I may or may not know you, but I see you, I feel you, and I understand you.  This marriage thing is hard a beautiful and you are not alone in it.  Know without question that your marriage is special, purposeful, and meant to challenge you. Without challenge there is no change and you, my friend have been made to change the world.

Remember you are a warrior, and a beautiful one at that.

In Him who has made you and your spouse and delights in you.

Bethany

Vegas Baby

In true 2017 fashion, our winter break has been busy and not devoid of travel.  Bob and I had the fantastic opportunity to head to Vegas for a 3 day visit with our amazing friends and travel partners Matt and Tara.  The 4 of us have such a great time in Vegas.  We have been together about 3 times and I was so excited to go again considering the last time we went I was pregnant so drinking was out of the question.  Not this time!

We left the girls and Ellie with Memaw and Papa (did I mention they are awesome?) and headed down to the airport.  We got into Vegas with an entire afternoon to enjoy.  Tara and I took a girls day and shopped while the boys bought show tickets and gambled.  It was great and Tara and I discovered an amazing bar with huge Mules for a great price.  We frequented "our bar" many times on the trip.  Ill tell you, nothing better than a cocktail and shopping with a friend!

Matt took us out for an INCREDIBLE dinner at the Top of the World restaurant on the Stratosphere.  What an  experience and the food was fabulous.  We enjoyed a nearly 2 hour dinner and a birds eye view of Vegas before heading out to the LA Comedy Club for a night of belly laughs.  Man, some people are funny!

I drank too much, but managed to get myself up and out on the strip for a 6 mile run the next morning.  Running on the empty strip is one of my top things to do in Vegas.  The roads and sidewalks are all freshly washed, no one is awake except like minded runners, its cool and crisp, and the scenery is awesome.  If you want to see it all....RUN it in the morning.  

After a run and completely unrushed morning, Bob and I decided to go and take in an afternoon movie, The Greatest Showman.  It was amazing and wonderful and everything a movie should be.  I couldn't believe how happy it made me and Bob.  The theatre was SKETCHY, but the movie was perfect and such a fun way to spend the afternoon.

That night we had another feast at TAO and then took in the fun and colorful Cirque de Soliel show, LOVE.  I was never a Beatles fan, but the music, dancing, and joy of the show was perfect.  The boys got us fantastic seats and we ended up nearly touching the stage.  We were immersed and I seriously wondered if I secretly wasn't supposed to be in the circus.  What fun.

Our last day was a late start for all.  Bob and I connected with one of Bob's old work buddies who happened to be visiting Vegas when we were there.  It was quite the blast from the past and Bob and I were  smiling at the memories of jobs long ago.  We had a great afternoon with Matt and Tara and while Tara and I drank, the guys managed to win some money.  We came home richer than when we left.  Shocking! (You're welcome Lily for that dental work ;) ) 

We left before the New Year's crowds descended and had a simple fantastic time together!  Here is to the next adventure guys!

Christmas Memories

I love Christmas time.  I really do.  I recognize that not everyone has such lovely memories as me, but I relish my joy in the season and look forward to it every year.  This year was especially exciting as we were going to spend it up at the new Flying E Ranch.

Unfortunately my family has not been immune to all of the horrible sick bugs that are floating around. Not only did we manage to be sick most of December (and are still battling bugs now), but managed to successfully give the germ fury to Memaw and Papa when they visited us for our marriage conference weekend.  We arrived 2 days before Christmas to a nearly bed ridden Memaw and a Papa on the brink.  It was awful and I just felt terrible.  They were so sick.  

While I am so grateful that we could be there to keep them company in their misery the days leading up to Christmas were pretty blue.  After an urgent care visit, some good ol' antibiotics and some steroids, life started to perk up come Christmas day.

We even all ventured outside for a post present hike.  It was lovely and even though Memaw and Papa were still not completely themselves, they were amazing hikers.  Their property is so much fun and the national forest is right out their back door.  We hiked this amazing trail that gave us a birds eye view of the land.

Ellie was quite literally in doggie heaven.  She had no idea that when 3 ladies walked in to claim her that she would be living a life or freedom, running, hiking, outdoor digging, treat eating and family loving.  She is a lucky duck and we feel most assuredly.....we chose wisely.

Our holidays were very low key and I spent most of my time being present instead of taking pictures all of the time.  I think it is a good thing and I try my darndest to make and capture memories while staying in the moment without a camera.  

I pulled the big camera out one evening around the fire.  The wonderful thing about this particular winter in AZ is that you can be outside all of the time.  Yes its cold, but with a fabulous fire you stay pretty cozy and comfy.

We had a great time just being together.  No agenda, no timeframe, just some puppy snuggles, kid snuggles and celebrating the season.

Christmas 2017 may have been filled with more sickness than we could want, but it was not void of joy.  I am thankful for the ways God moved in 2017 and that Mom and Dad are close to us.  Here's to celebrating many more holidays together!

They Stayed in a tiny Barn

Happy New Year!  I had such high hopes of being able to get caught up on 2017s blogs before 2018 rolled around and as you can see.......I'm gonna have to live in the past a bit!

The Thursday before Christmas Evie Frances had her Christmas program.  We are so blessed by the RMUMC Preschool and we look forward to this program every year.  I won't lie, I am not sad Evie will be going to Kindergarten next year, but I am sad that we will be leaving the Preschool!

Evie had been singing snip its of her songs for her program for the month leading up to the evening and I just couldn't help myself but smile every time she would practice.  She would go on repeat with 2 or 3 phrases from a song and the most popular verse was "no room in the inn so they stayed in a tiny Barn....."  Now remember, Evie doesn't do R's well so you can imagine how cute that little refrain was.  I love this little girl and she was SO EXCITED when her program arrived.

Evie loves to sing and it shows.  She was placed right in the front middle and did not disappoint. while some of the words, especially the Spanish ones, were lost on her, she did the motions and sang as loud as she possibly could. 

I was snapping so many pictures and about half way through the performance, Evie looked over at me and gave me the look below.  Cannot wait until she sees this one as an adult.  Mom and her camera.

In true Longmire fashion, the yawning started in earnest towards the end.  She was all in with the motions but couldn't help herself.....it was tired out.

The program was such a lovely one and such a special memory.  One of Evie's requests was a picture with Mrs. Hershey.  This woman is her music teacher and quite possibly her favorite teacher of all time.  This woman and her daughter have a special place in Evie's heart.....no doubt.

Evie is very loved, and she loves very big.  Her teacher's and friends delight her and her joy is so fun to watch.  Her program was a thriving success and I am so grateful for the men and women who pour into her.