Blog Award

Thank you, Amanda and Paula, for my very 1st BLOG AWARD!! So, now I have to do three things:

1) Talk about my "main squeeze"/hubby. Brian and I first fell in love in high school in 1994. He's my complete opposite and therefore completes me in everyway. He's sticks by me through all my dramatic ways and loves me even when I drive him crazy. He's the only one who completely understands me and loves me inside and out. He's my bestfriend and the most wonderful father ever.

2) List 6 ways I measure success in my life:

- Being confident of my purpose on this Earth

- Always being willing to grow and learn

- Learning to love unconditionally

- Having a passion for something and not being scared to live it out

- Having friends & family that love me and that I can trust

- Having raised my children to love Jesus and love others

3) Lastly, I need to pass this cool award along. If I tagged you, you have to do this, ok?

- The Headley Family

- The Cowan Three

- The Souza's

- The Alexander Academy

- Mommy Mimi

Now that you guys have been awarded, you must keep up the good blogs!!

Fun weekend but no pics

We had a great weekend but of course the batteries in my camera died and I didn't have any new ones. So, today you'll just have relive my weekend in your mind! Not that there's anything super intriguing to tell but I feel as though I should post EVERY week. I love having a blog but it sure is a lot of pressure! I feel like I'm letting you guys down if I don't have something excited to say. Sorry, today's post if one of those!

I took the boys to the Donut Shop (AKA Donut's Etc.) on Sat. morning to let Brian sleep in. Yes, you could say, "Wow, McCall...what a good wife you are!" That's true but my main motivation was so I wouldn't feel guilty Sat. afternoon while was helping host a housewarming party. After the party, since I felt I "earned" the right to be away for a while...the girls hung out and just laughed and goofed off! We went to the In-Laws for dinner and of course the boys begged to spend the night! Fine with me. They didn't have clothes to sleep in or anything but they didn't care. So, B & I took advantage of the situation and went to see Grand Torino. It was great! I stopped by early Sun. morning and got the boys ready for church. They love staying with MawMaw, Pawpaw and the cousins.

We had a diaper shower Sun morning during Sunday School for some friends that are in our class. So far, our class has a 3 week old baby girl, Claire; another girl due Feb 5, Lily; and another girl due Apr 5. So, needless to say...my baby girl desires are now at the "Coveting" level. I'm still being patient but having to work on it daily! Hope you guys have a great week. I'm off to Dallas tomorrow for a business meeting.

A Day with Mommy

Trying to "picnic" at the park
Party got moved to McD's

Hud's fav dog from down the street

Freezing, but still wanting to play on dirtpile

Eating yummy Truffle from Sweet Shop USA

Drew, mad b/c he had to eat food before truffle

Ending a great day with Dr. Seuss

WELL...that is the LAST time I ask you guys for decorative advice!!! Absolutely no one had any ideas of what to do to spiff up my bathroom. Well fine, I'll just have to use my own creativity; which is not all that great!!

Anyway, I skipped work yesterday and the boys and I had a fantastic day. We played in tractors most of the morning and I actually got them to help me pick up their closets! YEAH, my kids are old enough to do something constructive!!! We met some friends at the park for a picnic...well, that was dumb...it was freezing. The boys were so excited to go on our first real picnic. I packed sandwiches, goldfish and a Valentine fruit roll-up. That adventure didn't last long and we promptly moved to our trusty standby...McDonald's. They had a great time running wild and getting rid of all that energy they build up while being indoor for so long. Then we went to the new Chocolate Factory in town, Sweet Shop USA. It was delicious and they even had a huge dispenser of Jelly Belly's!!! Oh my, I HAD to have some Sour Jelly Beans.

We didn't get home until 2PM so I played "nice mom" and let them skip a nap. Of course, I knew it would benefit me in the end, b/c they were both in bed by 8PM!!!! Yeah!! What a fabulous day with my two favorite boys!

Decor Help!

I know that most of you have your houses decorated to a "T" so I thought I would ask for some help with my bathroom. Even though we've been in this house several years, I have not put the finishing touches on all the accessories, etc that make a house feel like a home. I've always blamed it on the kids being too little and the fact that they would pull everything off/down. Well, now that they are 5 & 3, I guess there's no more excuses. Please help me decide how to make my bathroom feel complete and cozy! I'll post pics of the vanity area next time. So....come on...don't be shy...let me have those great ideas!! Oh, and I need some ideas of what to put in that metal thing to the right of the bath. Feel free to send links to actual items or you can email them to me. Thanks a bunch.

Deep thoughts; well for me anyway!

I haven't posted in a while b/c I haven't really had anything exciting to share. Although, I did go on a date with my hubby on Sat. to Longview to see Benjamin Button. It was good but lasted 3 hours and we got out of there at 11:30PM. Then, had an hour drive home. McCall and late nights don't mix anymore.

Mostly, what's been on mind are deep thoughts; which I usually try to avoid. For the last 5 days or so, I've been thinking about my friend Amanda. A lot of you know her and what she's going through. I absolutely hate what she's had to experience these last few years and what she's still facing today. She deserves all the happiness this world has to offer. And I know, this world cannot make you happy, but God has put things on this Earth that enrich our time here. Like a husband and the joy of children. I have prayed for her many times throughout each day and am still praying that her results next week are incredible. God has not promised us health and happiness, even if we are followers of Him but he has promised that "He will never leave or forsake us" Joshua 1:5 I pray we all remember that when we are faced with difficult times and don't understand the meaning of it all.

Another deep topic I've been rolling around in my mind is the plans God has for my family. Not only in the upcoming year but way down the road. Over the last two years, the Lord has been opening my mind to the possibility of living differently than what I've always deemed "The American Dream." He's showing me that there is so much more to this life than going to work everyday, coming home, eat, sleep, go on vacation, buy stuff and do it all over again until I die. He's starting to show me the joys of living the way He has designed and not the way the world has constructed an American lifestyle. He's opened my mind to the idea of adoption (whether I can birth my own children or not), taking family mission trips with our boys, giving above the regular tithe offering, and constantly trying to love on people thru the eyes of Jesus. Wow, what a revelation all that has been. It's been amazing to see God break through my selfishness, my worldliness, and my closed mindedness. I pray that I will "Not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind. Then I will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing, and perfect will." Rom 12:2

New Years' Project

My Cutie (a pic, just b/c)

**BEFORE ** Awful, Pea Green (wish I had a pic of old bedspred)

In between the transformation (B is really happy about this project)

**AFTER** YEAH!!!

What a lively New Years we had...Just kidding...we spent our entire New Years' Day painting our bedroom and bathroom. After seeing the pics, can you blame me? Technically, it's my fault b/c I'm the one that picked the original "Pea Green" paint when we built the house 3 1/2 yrs ago. I didn't like it then but I was soooo ready to move in & I thought maybe it would grow on me...well, it didn't. What finally made me take the plunge was the fact that Dillards had bedding on sale for HALF off. I've been wanting new bedding anyway so w/Christmas money in hand, we fought the after Christmas shoppers and found this beautiful bedspread. I still need some accessories for the bedroom. Not sure what though. Something over the bed. I don't want a painting/picture...I'm thinking maybe some metal work...something swirly?? Any of you home decorators have a good idea? I also think maybe a big plant in the right corner?

Hope you guys have a fabulous 2009 and here's a few "goals" for the year for myself:

1) Hopefully conceive baby #3 while remaining patient (if that's possible)

2) Leave work at 3 to spend more time with the boys (Hud will start Kindergarten this year)

3) Have more "date nights" with the husband (we've been married for 7 yrs, you know)

4) Spend more time doing things with girlfriends (it's hard to find time)

5) Think of others before myself, daily

6) Get to know my Lord better and yearn for His will in my life

Here's wishing you a Happy, Healthy and Joy-filled year!