Everything Loved in July

July was HOT! We spent some time relaxing by one of my girlfriends parents pool on two separate weekends, getting both bathrooms in the house painted--Nomadic Desert by Sherwin Williams, and several evenings out with my girlfriends for girls dinners.

I live about 2 miles from a brand new Premium Outlet Mall that was built in Cypress, TX a suburb of Houston. This outlet mall has many fine stores that I enjoy shopping at and conveniently for me I can go after work instead of on the weekends with all the crowds, which I enjoy and am able to just hit up a couple of stores at a time. The last time I went was this month and I went to one of my favorite stores, the Corningware/Pyrex Store. I bought me this Corningware 20oz Soup Mug, used it the other day and just LOVE it! As most of us know, Corningware is such a great and durable product. This soup mug is just another one of those, great products. It holds just as much soup as you would want and the handle on the side makes it very convenient to hold and to take it anywhere to eat. The lid that comes with it is great too, for reheating, onion soup to make sure the all the cheese melts and store for later use.
I love foam soap! I use the antibacterial kind from Bath and Body Works in our kitchen and I just recently bought us new foam soap to use in the bathrooms. Bath and Body Works has finally come out with foam soap in my favorite fragrance, Aromatherapy Hand Foam Soap in Eucalyptus Spearmint. I have loved this fragrance probably since it has come out years and years ago. I have it in just about everything they have made; candles, body wash, lotions, room spray, wall outlet diffusers, etc. This foam soap is fabulous!

The Love Dare

The Love Dare. This is the book that goes along with the movie Fireproof. I bought this book about 2 months ago or so after I was inspired by another friend who did the 40 day challenge and then blogged about it. She is a strong Christian woman and has a strong Christian and church based marriage. After she did The Love Dare challenge, she was so touched in her own relationship with Christ, her husband and her life in general that it really inspired me to take the challenge as well. I believe that anyone can do this no matter if your marriage is great or is rocky. I have not done the challenge yet but I am thinking I will start it come August 1st. I look forward to everything I will get out of this book and am hopeful that my hubby will do it after I have.
"The Love Dare is a 40-day guided devotional designed to strengthen every marriage and the same powerful book that plays a pivotal role in the new movie Fireproof."

Fireproof

Fireproof! Now I know why this movie is described as "The Most Inspirational Movie of the Year." The hubs and I finally watched Fireproof Saturday night. I was actually shocked that I got him to sit down and watch it with me; he really didn't know much about the movie but I told him that I have heard great things about it, it is very real to life, and it is very inspirational. I told him that I heard the acting was kind of cheesy but it was the message behind the story that is so powerful.

WOW! It was absolutely the most touching movie I have ever seen. I am so happy we watched it together. We both had many teary eyed moments and even some crying during the movie. We were both very moved and touched by this movie as well. Fireproof makes me want to become a better Christian, a better wife and a better person in society. This movie was so true to what life is really like; no sugar coating, no fancy acting and no special effects. More movies should be filmed like this. I am very thankful that this movie came into my life and into my marriage. The power of Gods love is truly amazing.

About the movie from the Fireproof website:

"At work, inside burning buildings, Capt. Caleb Holt lives by the old firefighter's adage: Never leave your partner behind. At home, in the cooling embers of his marriage, he lives by his own rules.

Growing up, Catherine Holt always dreamed of marrying a loving, brave firefighter...just like her daddy. Now, after seven years of marriage, Catherine wonders when she stopped being "good enough" for her husband.

Regular arguments over jobs, finances, housework, and outside interests have readied them both to move on to something with more sparks.

As the couple prepares to enter divorce proceedings, Caleb's father challenges his son to commit to a 40-day experiment: "The Love Dare." Wondering if it's even worth the effort, Caleb agrees-for his father's sake more than for his marriage. When Caleb discovers the book's daily challenges are tied into his parents' newfound faith, his already limited interest is further dampened.

While trying to stay true to his promise, Caleb becomes frustrated time and again. He finally asks his father, "How am I supposed to show love to somebody who constantly rejects me?"

When his father explains that this is the love Christ shows to us, Caleb makes a life-changing commitment to love God. Andówith God's helpóhe begins to understand what it means to truly love his wife.

But is it too late to fireproof his marriage? His job is to rescue others. Now Caleb Holt is ready to face his toughest job ever...rescuing his wife's heart."

Well He Did It

My little brother Garrett (age 23 at the end of this month) enlisted himself in the Army today. My heart just about sunk and my stomach turned into knots when he confirmed to me that it was done. Then all I could think about were my mom and dad and the sadness, worry, pride, courage and fear they must be feeling. He is set to leave for boot camp in South Carolina on November 16, 2009. Then he will head to training in Ft.Sill, Oklahoma. I wish him the best of luck always. I know he has thought about this decision for a while now and has sought after advice from a good friend of ours in the Army doing the same job that he will be learning to do, so I trust in him that this decision is the best for his life. I love you lil man and will continue to pray for you daily!

The Apron

I read this in an email I received and it really touched me. I thought I would share it on my blog!

The Apron

I don't think our kids know what an apron is.

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, because she only had a few, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material. Along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears. From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms. Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls. In the autumn, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds. When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that ' old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

Happy 4th of JULY

Every day and on this day especially, the 4th of July, I am thankful for all the brave men and women who have served and serve in our Military. I am so thankful for all of the unselfish sacrifices they have made and make for me, my family and my friends to live in this free country. The words 'Thank You' are never enough to show how much I appreciate your services to the United States. To my late grandpa Myron, my Uncle Butch and a handful of friends, all who have served and serve now in our military, Thank you! Best wishes and many prayers to my baby brother who is enlisting in the military this week; may God always be with you.