Midway through my sixth grade year I received a phone call from Junior. Very rarely did he exercise his visitation rights and the phone calls were the same. Obeying the courts orders to provide child support were out of the question since he would jump from job to job. Spending time in jail because of not paying child support didn't matter because, well as he said "he had a place to sleep, hot meals, tv, new friends and didn't have to work." Junior explained to me that he never wanted me. He told my mom to abort me and she didn't. He said that I was nothing more than a mistake that should have never happened. Let me remind you, in sixth grade I was ELEVEN years old!!! He said that if he ever saw my mom and I on the road he would try to run us off. Crying hysterically, my dad (remember, Brad?)took the phone, walked outside our house and well...I'm not sure what all was said. All I know is that when my dad came back inside our house he gave me a huge hug and asked if I would officially like for him to be my dad.
The summer between sixth and seventh grade my name changed legally to Shellie Pittman. My birth certificate now read that Brad Pittman was my Father...yay!
From that point forward it all seemed to go by so fast. I was a typical teenager doing typical teenage things. I was a good girl. I never got in trouble. I was always afraid to. I had boyfriends but of course my dad never liked a single one.
Before I knew it I was entering my senior year. I was working at Chick-fil-A and had just started dating Joe. It was my last year of school, my last year of cheerleading and the first year to the rest of my life. Christmas of 1999, still in my senior year of high school, Joe proposed to me. My first boyfriend that my dad actually liked. Preparations for a wedding quickly began as well as preparations for graduation. Can you say busy?
I graduated in May of 2000 and on November 18, 2000 I was having my first kiss as Mrs. Joe Wilburn. It wouldn't be long and there would be more excitement to come.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Grace Part I:
Let me start out by saying that this blog will be long, which is why I've given it parts. It will also contain some very personal and very real emotions and feelings that I've had over the past few years. What I am writing isn't for a pity party, it isn't a story that has been created for enjoyment but it is about my struggles that I personally have had.
I've thought long and hard about what to name this entry. I constantly kept going back to GRACE. I love the acronym for GRACE...God's Riches At Christ's Expense. That's exactly what my journey has been full of. Without Grace I would be condemend to hell.
Let me tell you a little about my past...
I have an amazing mom!!! She did everything for me as a child. Even if that did include working three jobs at once. She put me in beauty pagents, bought me whatever she could and never once did I realize how poor we really were. My father (and I use that term loosly) worked but mom and I never saw the money he would bring in. We lived in a tiny duplex. While my mom was busting her tail working, my father was also working and I would stay with my Nanny (Grandmother.)
Instead of referring to him as my father, lets call him Junior. I don't feel he deserves to be called my father. Junior worked as a security guard for a Ryan's Steakhouse on the North side of town. When his shift ended he was able to bring home leftovers, which he did. They were in a white styrofoam box and he would put his initials on the box with the words, "DO NOT EAT!" My mom and I were left to eat whatever we could afford, which usually consisted of bread and water. On good days, we would get peanut butter and jelly. I remember countless times eating spaghetti noodles with ketchup. Junior would sleep all the time and when he wasn't sleeping he would trash the house that my mom had just worked hours cleaning.
When I was around 5 years old I had to stay with baby sitters if my Nanny was sick. It was then that the sexual molestation began. I can still remember it like it was yesterday. I was told that I was in trouble and if I told anyone that I would get in even more trouble. As a child terrified, I never told and it continued until I was nine years old.
If that wasn't enough, when I would come home from the sitters house I would have to listen to my mom and Junior argue. Sometimes it was over me but most of the time it was over his many affairs. I remember one time walking by their room and seeing Junior with a gun pointing it at my mom.
Mom and Junior eventually divorced and mom remarried my Dad...not stepdad because that's just not sufficient enough for him. His name is Brad and he's amazing! He's my dad through and through! Life wasn't easy but I guess after a divorce it wouldn't be. We moved to a small two bedroom/1 bathroom apartment. We used boxes covered in sheets for end tables. Mom brought my bedroom stuff for me and she and my dad slept on a matress with blankets. It didn't matter what we had, for the first time in my life (at the age of 8 or 9) I had a real loving family and a dad that allowed us to eat and gave me hugs! Of course at first I despised him. I was being fed many lies about him but once I realized that all the words that were told to me were just lies, everything changed.
We moved in with my new Grandparents when I was in the third grade. I began getting very sick and the doctors could not figure out what was wrong with me. I was constantly throwing up and just very weak. My mom came into my room crying and asked me what happened while at the sitters house. When I refused to talk she questioned me and knew the whole story. She told me that it wasn't my fault and that I should never be afraid to tell anyone. A little counseling and things finally settled down. My sickness went away and all was well.
Life was becoming amazing. We moved into our own place and had real furniture. School as a child was fun. I met my very best friend and still to this day we stay in contact, Jessica. She and I were always joined at the hip and I have memories with her that I will forever cherish. School was passing by. Then it was time for sixth grade. I began the school year as Shellie Turner. That is, until a phone call changed it all...
I've thought long and hard about what to name this entry. I constantly kept going back to GRACE. I love the acronym for GRACE...God's Riches At Christ's Expense. That's exactly what my journey has been full of. Without Grace I would be condemend to hell.
Let me tell you a little about my past...
I have an amazing mom!!! She did everything for me as a child. Even if that did include working three jobs at once. She put me in beauty pagents, bought me whatever she could and never once did I realize how poor we really were. My father (and I use that term loosly) worked but mom and I never saw the money he would bring in. We lived in a tiny duplex. While my mom was busting her tail working, my father was also working and I would stay with my Nanny (Grandmother.)
Instead of referring to him as my father, lets call him Junior. I don't feel he deserves to be called my father. Junior worked as a security guard for a Ryan's Steakhouse on the North side of town. When his shift ended he was able to bring home leftovers, which he did. They were in a white styrofoam box and he would put his initials on the box with the words, "DO NOT EAT!" My mom and I were left to eat whatever we could afford, which usually consisted of bread and water. On good days, we would get peanut butter and jelly. I remember countless times eating spaghetti noodles with ketchup. Junior would sleep all the time and when he wasn't sleeping he would trash the house that my mom had just worked hours cleaning.
When I was around 5 years old I had to stay with baby sitters if my Nanny was sick. It was then that the sexual molestation began. I can still remember it like it was yesterday. I was told that I was in trouble and if I told anyone that I would get in even more trouble. As a child terrified, I never told and it continued until I was nine years old.
If that wasn't enough, when I would come home from the sitters house I would have to listen to my mom and Junior argue. Sometimes it was over me but most of the time it was over his many affairs. I remember one time walking by their room and seeing Junior with a gun pointing it at my mom.
Mom and Junior eventually divorced and mom remarried my Dad...not stepdad because that's just not sufficient enough for him. His name is Brad and he's amazing! He's my dad through and through! Life wasn't easy but I guess after a divorce it wouldn't be. We moved to a small two bedroom/1 bathroom apartment. We used boxes covered in sheets for end tables. Mom brought my bedroom stuff for me and she and my dad slept on a matress with blankets. It didn't matter what we had, for the first time in my life (at the age of 8 or 9) I had a real loving family and a dad that allowed us to eat and gave me hugs! Of course at first I despised him. I was being fed many lies about him but once I realized that all the words that were told to me were just lies, everything changed.
We moved in with my new Grandparents when I was in the third grade. I began getting very sick and the doctors could not figure out what was wrong with me. I was constantly throwing up and just very weak. My mom came into my room crying and asked me what happened while at the sitters house. When I refused to talk she questioned me and knew the whole story. She told me that it wasn't my fault and that I should never be afraid to tell anyone. A little counseling and things finally settled down. My sickness went away and all was well.
Life was becoming amazing. We moved into our own place and had real furniture. School as a child was fun. I met my very best friend and still to this day we stay in contact, Jessica. She and I were always joined at the hip and I have memories with her that I will forever cherish. School was passing by. Then it was time for sixth grade. I began the school year as Shellie Turner. That is, until a phone call changed it all...
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Such an exciting time!!!
After struggling with infertility and having extremely difficult pregnancies Joe and I prayed and felt that it would be best for us not to have anymore children of our own. Now that doesn't mean that one day we wouldn't adopt if that was what we felt God wanted us to do but for now, we're done! HOWEVER, I'm so excited! It seems as if everyone around us is either pregnant or adopting. I LOVE IT! What a blessing it is for so many! What a blessing it is for me personally!
Just the other night a sweet friend informed me that they had a daughter (she's adopting!) It's just so exciting to see how God's putting children in people's lives. Earlier that same day, another one of my sweet friends had me confirm her pregnancy test. She and I have so many similiararties with infertilty. We both thought that we would never be able to conceive a child on our own. However, God showed just how incredible His love is and how He is the ultimate physician and when He wants us to have a child, He will allow it to happen. Even when we are uncertain on just about everything.
God's love is so amazing. We don't deserve any of the blessings that He gives to us each day. We deserve death and yet He gives us everything, including life eternally. I serve an awesome God. I'm so excited for my friends! I'm looking forward to going to some baby showers and some welcome home showers soon.
Just the other night a sweet friend informed me that they had a daughter (she's adopting!) It's just so exciting to see how God's putting children in people's lives. Earlier that same day, another one of my sweet friends had me confirm her pregnancy test. She and I have so many similiararties with infertilty. We both thought that we would never be able to conceive a child on our own. However, God showed just how incredible His love is and how He is the ultimate physician and when He wants us to have a child, He will allow it to happen. Even when we are uncertain on just about everything.
God's love is so amazing. We don't deserve any of the blessings that He gives to us each day. We deserve death and yet He gives us everything, including life eternally. I serve an awesome God. I'm so excited for my friends! I'm looking forward to going to some baby showers and some welcome home showers soon.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Time slips away
I have constantly wondered if anyone even reads my blog and then I had people ask why I haven't updated it in a while. So this is for them.
Life has been busy. Ethan just earned his purple belt in Karate. Bryce had a piano recital and played "Amazing Grace." We are so proud of both of our boys. School is getting ready to start and they are going into the second grade. I cannot believe my little preemies are growing so fast. They're so different. It's like night and day different. Ethan is ALL BOY! He loves cars, trucks, sports, Bakugan, etc. He loves to fight and try new things. Bryce is more of my intellictual one. He loves books and music. I guess you could say he is more artistic. He loves to draw. He wants to learn how to play the guitar to go along with his piano skills. They were just Baptized on July 10 by our Children's Minister, Pastor Jason. They were given new Bibles to read and study.
Maggie is growing like a weed. She's quite the sassy one. She is a daddy's girl through and through. She will be two next month. She loves Elmo. She is starting to put words together to make sentences. She loves going to her grandparents house and really LOVES being outside. She loves to have her nails and toenails painted and knows that if she leaves the house she has to have a bow in her hair. I love it.
Joe and I are doing great. We were able to go to Italy just a few months ago. We went on a marriage cruise or maybe I should say sailing adventure. It was really awesome. I loved having time to ourselves to enjoy the beauty of Italy and the beauty of marriage. God has blessed us so much more than we deserve. His Grace is enough and yet He still gives us so much more than we could ever imagine. I love my husband very much. I'm so thankful to be married to a man that loves the Lord with all his heart. I know that I can follow him because he follows the Lord.
My friend Shanna and I have recently started a little business. It's called Faithful Stitches. We make all kinds of cute stuff. Bags, bows, appliqued shirts, monogrammed shirts. We do embroidery and even have stuff for the animals. We currently do not have a website but we have a facebook page. I love it. I love being able to work with such a sweet friend as well. She's not only talented but she also has a love for the Lord that is amazing. I'm loving learning how to do new things.
Life has been busy. Ethan just earned his purple belt in Karate. Bryce had a piano recital and played "Amazing Grace." We are so proud of both of our boys. School is getting ready to start and they are going into the second grade. I cannot believe my little preemies are growing so fast. They're so different. It's like night and day different. Ethan is ALL BOY! He loves cars, trucks, sports, Bakugan, etc. He loves to fight and try new things. Bryce is more of my intellictual one. He loves books and music. I guess you could say he is more artistic. He loves to draw. He wants to learn how to play the guitar to go along with his piano skills. They were just Baptized on July 10 by our Children's Minister, Pastor Jason. They were given new Bibles to read and study.
Maggie is growing like a weed. She's quite the sassy one. She is a daddy's girl through and through. She will be two next month. She loves Elmo. She is starting to put words together to make sentences. She loves going to her grandparents house and really LOVES being outside. She loves to have her nails and toenails painted and knows that if she leaves the house she has to have a bow in her hair. I love it.
Joe and I are doing great. We were able to go to Italy just a few months ago. We went on a marriage cruise or maybe I should say sailing adventure. It was really awesome. I loved having time to ourselves to enjoy the beauty of Italy and the beauty of marriage. God has blessed us so much more than we deserve. His Grace is enough and yet He still gives us so much more than we could ever imagine. I love my husband very much. I'm so thankful to be married to a man that loves the Lord with all his heart. I know that I can follow him because he follows the Lord.
My friend Shanna and I have recently started a little business. It's called Faithful Stitches. We make all kinds of cute stuff. Bags, bows, appliqued shirts, monogrammed shirts. We do embroidery and even have stuff for the animals. We currently do not have a website but we have a facebook page. I love it. I love being able to work with such a sweet friend as well. She's not only talented but she also has a love for the Lord that is amazing. I'm loving learning how to do new things.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Non stop for 3 days
Ok, I'm guilty. I'm the mom that gets a thrill out of planning my kids birthday. Well earlier this year the boys agreed on having their birthday party at the Karate studio where Ethan takes lessons. It was going to be so cool. They were going to give all the kids a lesson, their own karate uniform, nunchucks and would cut the cake with a real samarai sword (I mean, who wouldn't want that?) Well Bryce decided at the last minute that he didn't want his party there since he didn't take karate lessons. They could never agree on a place (the only downfall of having twins or more than one child) so we had a family day. Joe and I took them to the mall to Build a Bear workshop. We did a little bit of shopping and left. They had a great time picking out their stuffed animals, bathing them, dressing them and of course, loving on them. They filled their bellies on cookies from none other...The Great American Cookie Co. (hehe) and sodas (gotta love Grandparents (: )
We came home long enough to call the other set of Grandparents and made our way to Chuck E. Cheese for pizza and games. We told the hostess it was their birthday and they made a special announcement and then treated us and my children like we were first priority. They really went above and beyond for a family night of celebrating. They gave my kids free tokens, a hat, candy, and several of the "prizes." They boys said it was their best birthday...yet of course.
Then came Christmas Eve. We went to church for Christmas Eve service. Then afterwards our friends invited us over to their house for dinner. We read the Christmas story to the kids and let them find little people that were set up like the manger scene. We sang a couple of Christmas carols and then enjoyed some magic. The kids opened presents (while Joe and I hid a few under our friends tree for them to enjoy Christmas day) and we made it home just in time to get out the cookies for Santa and pour a nice glass of milk. Bryce left his Bible so Santa could read it before he left.
Christmas morning we woke up and did our traditional singing of Happy Birthday to Jesus. We all came downstairs. This year Santa brought each child 3 presents. Just like Jesus. I was very proud of my boys when they were asked who else got 3 gifts and they correctly answered and even answered with what the 3 gifts were. They boys had a blast playing with their new laptops and Maggie with her new stroller. Each Christmas is so wonderful and precious. One day Joe and I will wake up and there will be no pitter patter of little feet or stinky breath telling us to wake up that Santa has come.
After we opened our presents, Joe's parents came over and we opened more presents. Then Joe and I went to my parents where we enjoyed lunch and played a stealing Santa game. My parents came over a little later to open presents. My boys are seeing more and more how much fun it is to give than to receive. Now don't get me wrong, they love getting gifts but they are truly understanding that Christmas isn't about the laptops, or stockings but rather about the very first gift that was ever wrapped, baby Jesus.
We came home long enough to call the other set of Grandparents and made our way to Chuck E. Cheese for pizza and games. We told the hostess it was their birthday and they made a special announcement and then treated us and my children like we were first priority. They really went above and beyond for a family night of celebrating. They gave my kids free tokens, a hat, candy, and several of the "prizes." They boys said it was their best birthday...yet of course.
Then came Christmas Eve. We went to church for Christmas Eve service. Then afterwards our friends invited us over to their house for dinner. We read the Christmas story to the kids and let them find little people that were set up like the manger scene. We sang a couple of Christmas carols and then enjoyed some magic. The kids opened presents (while Joe and I hid a few under our friends tree for them to enjoy Christmas day) and we made it home just in time to get out the cookies for Santa and pour a nice glass of milk. Bryce left his Bible so Santa could read it before he left.
Christmas morning we woke up and did our traditional singing of Happy Birthday to Jesus. We all came downstairs. This year Santa brought each child 3 presents. Just like Jesus. I was very proud of my boys when they were asked who else got 3 gifts and they correctly answered and even answered with what the 3 gifts were. They boys had a blast playing with their new laptops and Maggie with her new stroller. Each Christmas is so wonderful and precious. One day Joe and I will wake up and there will be no pitter patter of little feet or stinky breath telling us to wake up that Santa has come.
After we opened our presents, Joe's parents came over and we opened more presents. Then Joe and I went to my parents where we enjoyed lunch and played a stealing Santa game. My parents came over a little later to open presents. My boys are seeing more and more how much fun it is to give than to receive. Now don't get me wrong, they love getting gifts but they are truly understanding that Christmas isn't about the laptops, or stockings but rather about the very first gift that was ever wrapped, baby Jesus.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Christmas Memories
I love Christmas time. I love everything about it. I especially love making memories. I have three favorite Christmas memories. My first favorite Christmas memory was when I was around 7 years old. My mom came to me and said that Santa Claus might not make it to our house that year. (I loved being a child. I never knew that we were poor.) Momma explained to me that I had been a really good girl that year but that Santa wanted me to give my gifts to other kids that didn't have any toys. Truth was, she didn't have the money to buy anything. She was already working 2 jobs to pay the bills. She told me the story of Jesus and how he was born in a manger. Not a heated room. That he slept with the animals on hay in a tiny bed. I thought Jesus had it made. I mean, I was a tomboy and to sleep outside with the animals sounded awesome to me. However, I understood her point. I learned that Christmas that it wasn't about receiving gifts but giving them. Just like Jesus did for us. Well, we didn't have a tree and definitely couldn't afford to buy one so we found green paper and we cut out our very own paper tree that we hung on the living room wall. We popped popcorn and used a needle and thread to sew them together. We used construction paper to make rings that made our garland. We had the prettiest tree ever that year. My mom and I made it together. I went to bed. When I woke up the next morning I walked into our living room and saw a huge Christmas tree decorated with real ornaments and lights that lit up the room. Underneath the tree were boxes that were wrapped and addressed to me from Santa. And in the tree was an envelope addressed to my mom. My mom's best friend provided Christmas that year for my mom and I. She did it out of the kindness of her heart. No expectations in return, just because. That Christmas I learned about the miracle of Jesus and that Christmas wasn't about getting gifts but rather understanding the sacrifice of the gift that was given to us. However, I did enjoy playing my new Nintendo all day long that day.
The second of 3 favorite memories was Christmas 1999. Joe and I were a couple and had been dating for a few months. Of course, we had known each other for quite sometime. Joe came over to our house that morning and asked me if I could help him carry gifts inside. As I went outside he asked me to sit down. So I sat down in the driver seat of his little car. He got down on one knee and said this "this driveway was the first place I ever told you that I loved you. I do love you. Will you be my wife and marry me?" My mom and dad were looking out the living room window watching it all. I of course accepted with pure joy. We went to my grandparents house afterwards and I loved showing off my beautiful engagement ring.
My most favorite Christmas memory was in 2003! I've shared my testimony before so I will not go into detail but that was the first day that Joe and I got to hold our little boys for the first time. That was our first Christmas as parents. We celebrated in the hospital but it was such a blessing. It's hard to believe that was 7 years ago almost.
I love Christmas. I love memories. I am looking forward to making many more.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Halloween, Anniversary, Thanksgiving and more...
So, it's been a minute. I'm terrible at keeping up with my blog. I have a friend that blogs almost everyday. She's so good at it. I always wonder what the point is and wonder if anyone even reads them. So, I will take my chance and update you on what's been going on.
Halloween: Quite possibly my least favorite holiday. I just don't get it. I never cared for dressing up and going from house to house to get candy from strangers. I mean, we teach our kids not to take candy from strangers. All the same, I refuse to be the fuddy duddy mom. We did the usual pumpkin carvings. The boys picked out their pumpkins and even a carving kit. When we got home I asked them which kit they wanted to use and they both said that they wanted a Christian pumpkin. They wanted thier pumpkins to represent them and who they are. So, with the help from a note their teacher sent home we carved our pumpkins into Christian pumpkins. This is the little poem we used to carve our pumpkins: Dear God,
As I carve my pumpkin help me say this prayer:
Open my mind so I can learn about You;
(Cut the top of the pumpkin)
Take away all my sin and forgive me for the wrong things I do.
(Clean out the inside)
Open my eyes so Your love I will see;
(Cut the eyes out in heart shapes)
I'm so sorry for turning up my nose to all you've given me.
(Cut a nose in the shape of a cross)
Open my ears so your word I will hear.
(Cut the ears shaped like the Bible)-we did rectangles
Open my mouth so I can tell others You're near
(cut the mouth in the shape of a fish)
Let Your light shine in all I say and do! Amen.
(Place a candle inside and light it)
I could not have been more proud of my sweet boys for putting a Biblical spin on a holiday based from paganism. This year Ethan dressed as a Knight, Bryce dressed as a fireman and Maggie was a flower. They were adorable.
Anniversary: This year Joe and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. I cannot believe 10 years have come so quickly. And what an amazing ten years it has been. Joe and I married just a few months after I graduated from highschool so my wedding dress was very small. So to make a long story short, after 2 pregnancies and working my booty off getting weight off, I was able to fit into my dress. I was only able to get it zipped half way but to be tactful, it wasn't because of my weight.
Joe and I were able to celebrate our anniversary with another couple that we've become pretty close with. Their anniversary is November 30th so they were able to celebrate at the same time. For our anniversary, we were given a weekend to the mountains. We stayed at a gorgeous cabin. We were told once we got to the top of the driveway NOT to stop and to punch it. WELL...it was cold and damp. I was driving. We were going up and up and up this hill and we reached the top when we got stuck! Tires were spinning and gravel was flying. I was so nervous. Our friend Shanna gets car sick very easily so she got out to prevent that from happening and her husband Jason got out to help me figure out the best way to go. My car ended up at the bottom of the hill with the help of Joe guiding Jason down the weavy entrance. We definitly got our workouts in walking up and down the hill. It made for some pretty good comic relief. We pretty much stayed at the cabin the whole time. We bought groceries and played games. It was nice to get away and relax with friends.
Thanksgiving: Quite possibly my favorite holiday. I love getting together as a big family. Joe's family is HUGE. I will never forget the first time I joined the Wilburn clan for Thanksgiving. He has so many aunts and uncles and then you add cousins/2nd cousins/3rd cousins, etc. It's ridiculous how big his family is. Usually Joe will deep fry a cajun turkey but this year I baked a cajun turkey. It was really good and looked good too. I was pretty proud of myself. I'm not exactly Betty Crocker but I try. I was really hoping to be in a new home this year but I know that God's got it out there and He's just waiting for the perfect time to give it to us.
So, now we're approaching Christmas. I hope that each of you have a wonderful Christmas and I hope that you all remember why we celebrate it. Merry Christmas to all of you!
Halloween: Quite possibly my least favorite holiday. I just don't get it. I never cared for dressing up and going from house to house to get candy from strangers. I mean, we teach our kids not to take candy from strangers. All the same, I refuse to be the fuddy duddy mom. We did the usual pumpkin carvings. The boys picked out their pumpkins and even a carving kit. When we got home I asked them which kit they wanted to use and they both said that they wanted a Christian pumpkin. They wanted thier pumpkins to represent them and who they are. So, with the help from a note their teacher sent home we carved our pumpkins into Christian pumpkins. This is the little poem we used to carve our pumpkins: Dear God,
As I carve my pumpkin help me say this prayer:
Open my mind so I can learn about You;
(Cut the top of the pumpkin)
Take away all my sin and forgive me for the wrong things I do.
(Clean out the inside)
Open my eyes so Your love I will see;
(Cut the eyes out in heart shapes)
I'm so sorry for turning up my nose to all you've given me.
(Cut a nose in the shape of a cross)
Open my ears so your word I will hear.
(Cut the ears shaped like the Bible)-we did rectangles
Open my mouth so I can tell others You're near
(cut the mouth in the shape of a fish)
Let Your light shine in all I say and do! Amen.
(Place a candle inside and light it)
I could not have been more proud of my sweet boys for putting a Biblical spin on a holiday based from paganism. This year Ethan dressed as a Knight, Bryce dressed as a fireman and Maggie was a flower. They were adorable.
Anniversary: This year Joe and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. I cannot believe 10 years have come so quickly. And what an amazing ten years it has been. Joe and I married just a few months after I graduated from highschool so my wedding dress was very small. So to make a long story short, after 2 pregnancies and working my booty off getting weight off, I was able to fit into my dress. I was only able to get it zipped half way but to be tactful, it wasn't because of my weight.
Joe and I were able to celebrate our anniversary with another couple that we've become pretty close with. Their anniversary is November 30th so they were able to celebrate at the same time. For our anniversary, we were given a weekend to the mountains. We stayed at a gorgeous cabin. We were told once we got to the top of the driveway NOT to stop and to punch it. WELL...it was cold and damp. I was driving. We were going up and up and up this hill and we reached the top when we got stuck! Tires were spinning and gravel was flying. I was so nervous. Our friend Shanna gets car sick very easily so she got out to prevent that from happening and her husband Jason got out to help me figure out the best way to go. My car ended up at the bottom of the hill with the help of Joe guiding Jason down the weavy entrance. We definitly got our workouts in walking up and down the hill. It made for some pretty good comic relief. We pretty much stayed at the cabin the whole time. We bought groceries and played games. It was nice to get away and relax with friends.
Thanksgiving: Quite possibly my favorite holiday. I love getting together as a big family. Joe's family is HUGE. I will never forget the first time I joined the Wilburn clan for Thanksgiving. He has so many aunts and uncles and then you add cousins/2nd cousins/3rd cousins, etc. It's ridiculous how big his family is. Usually Joe will deep fry a cajun turkey but this year I baked a cajun turkey. It was really good and looked good too. I was pretty proud of myself. I'm not exactly Betty Crocker but I try. I was really hoping to be in a new home this year but I know that God's got it out there and He's just waiting for the perfect time to give it to us.
So, now we're approaching Christmas. I hope that each of you have a wonderful Christmas and I hope that you all remember why we celebrate it. Merry Christmas to all of you!
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