Springtime

Yesterday was the first official day of Spring even though we have been having wonderful Spring weather for a few weeks now. We are loving being outside as much as possible. A few pic from our most recent trip to the Botanic Gardens. We love the gardens it is probably one of my favorite spots to go as a family in Memphis.









Hope everyone is enjoying the beginnings of Spring :)

Park!

I know everyone is loving this amazing weather! We went to the park after dinner and had a fun time. I love Spring and Summer! I just love warm weather. I had much rather be hot than cold. Cold weather just sucks the life out of me sometimes. I have friends that just love cold snowy days, but not this girl... bring on the sun, swimming pool, skirts and sandals.

Hooray for date nights!

Don and I had a wonderful date tonight. Our sweet friend Becky called me up last week and said she really wanted to keep our kids for us one night and it was such a blessing! Most of you know that Don and I love eating out and we love eating at local restaurants. My sweet hubs knows all the best places :) We have been trying to eat at Andrew Michael's for so long and have yet been able to go there. We also tried Restaurant Iris, but could not get anyone to answer the phone. Maybe next time. So we decided on River Oaks. Not that it was our 3rd choice or anything, but just that the other two have been on our restaurant radar for sometime now. I had seen River Oaks before driving down Poplar and thought it looked neat mainly because I really liked the font of the restaurant name... silly I know. Anyway, it was wonderful!! Our server was on top of it. He knew in detail and enthusiasm every question we asked. And their sweet tea was almost as good as my momma's...and that is hard to do. I would highly recommend it for any nice date night. Go there and enjoy some good quality food.

We started with the Camembert Cheese Beignets and they were wonderful! They were served with a ratatouille that was simply amazing.

I ordered the Ahi Tuna. It had a crispy outside, but was still raw in the middle with an English pea and Wasabi puree. The flavors were mild, but in a good way that didn't over power the tuna. It was served with a orzo pilaf that was fabulous. It was like a glorified mac and cheese, but nothing fake cheese tasting about it.

Don ordered the Sirloin Burger with Gruyere. He said it was great. We just didn't take a pic of it. We had great conversation and a really perfect night.

There was a random dog statue outside the restaurant, so I had Don take my pic. (a bit blurry, honey:)) My dress is a new one from Modcloth as well the shoes. I have mentioned this site to some of friends. It is great. I love their clothes you should check it out sometime. (they are not paying me to say that... I wish they were...ha)

Self-relaince

I had a sweet/hard/touching conversation with Eden this morning. She woke up in a joyful mood and played well this morning and then out of no where gets in a foul mood. We sat down for our school time and she was just sour, she complained that she didn't like the girl that was in the book we were reading, that she didn't like the coloring book we were going to do and an assortment of other frustrations and bad attitudes. I knew things were going on in her heart, so we went to my bedroom and we sat down to talk. We talked about how she likes to put on dress up and get all "prettied up", but if she has a bad attitude and her heart isn't pretty then those nice clothes do nothing. And how what makes us beautiful is the condition of our heart. We talked a little more about it then I told her that she needs Jesus to help her make her heart pretty and have a good attitude and that we cannot do it on our own and how mommy needs the Lord everyday. She then somewhat shyly looks at me and tells me she can do it on her own. Oh, how sad I was at that moment. We talked more, but her heart was in the same place of self - reliance. I realized and was reminded of how natural it is to be reliant on our self and desire to do everything in our own strength. Even my 3 1/2 year old daughter struggles with that. I was so there and still am, daily. How much more freeing and joyful my life is knowing that I do not have to rely on my own strength. That Christ is my strength and my hope. I also realized that my children need my prayers, daily. Just as I mentioned in a previous post about being more dedicated in prayer for my husband I know I need to do the same for my children. About 10 minutes later Eden came to me and asked me to pray for her. It was a very sweet moment. I am so thankful that I am able to be with her threw all these little moments that shape her character.

"She does him good and not harm..."

I have not blogged in 2 weeks! I have been in project mode, so it has consumed any "extra time" that I have had. I plan on posting some of my little home updates soon!

Don got a new job as I am sure I mentioned in a previous post, but this job requires traveling, so I am getting use to him being gone a little more. I am learning that when he is gone I have to stay busy!! Lots of outings, visits with friends and of course I go and stay a few nights with my sweet momma in Covington. One thing I realized that I cannot do to Don and is completely unfair is that when he gets home I expect him to then completely take over the kids while I just go do whatever I want. Totally selfish. I struggled with thoughts of (this is not a bitter way at all, but more of justifying my thoughts kind of way...) you have been able to get off work and then go to a hotel and relax all week, now it's my turn. Again, totally selfish. Thankfully, when he does come home he is willing and ready to just spend time with us as a family and help in whatever way. We knew travel was required when we took this new job it will just take some adjusting, thankfully it isn't going to be too often. Any other wives out there that have had traveling husbands advice is much appreciated.

On the lines of my sweet husband the Lord through two different conversations and my personal time with the Lord has been showing me the huge role that Don carries as the leader of our family. He will be accountable to God for the things that happened in our family. Huge responsibility. And I do not pray for him enough. I really want to dedicated the next 30 days to daily pleading on my knees before the Lord for my husband as he discerns the direction for our family as well as for his own spiritual growth. I am married to a wonderful man that blesses me daily, but he is human and has struggles and needs the Lord's help to daily sustain him as much as I do. I do not plan to stop praying for him after 30 days, but I just really want to intensify and be very dedicated to my daily prayers for him.

I want to be a wife that does my husband good and not harm all the days of his life (Proverbs 31:12) Join me if you will in spending the next month on your knees for your husband.

Don downloaded an ebook for me called Prayers of An Excellent Wife. I haven't read it yet, but plan to start it.