Busy Season

This is a wonderful time of year, but it is an Oh-SO-busy time as well. There are many things I'd like to update you on at length, but my bed is calling me. This will be brief. :)

When Matt and I were first married, I began a routine of asking him (right before bed as we laid in the dark) for one good thing from the day. He would hear me ask, "One good thing?" Following his response, I'd offer my own.

For me it was an exercise in gratitude; an opportunity to share with one another something good. That one thing didn't have to be big, just any old thing that he or I considered good. A little success. A little encouragement. A simple win. A pleasant moment.

So, tonight I'll give you one good thing from my day right before I drift off to sleep: Today, I caught up on ironing Matt's shirts. 

An ordinary task for sure, a task I particularly dislike, one that's remained incomplete too long, but it's my one good thing today because I have a husband whose shirts need ironing. God shows me His blessings even in the mundane and ordinary things of everyday life.

This Boy

Have I told you about this boy yet? 

Two of Matt's and my best friends, Chris and Dawn, have struggled with fertility issues over the years. Yet, God saw fit to give them this little blessing:

And later, this one:

As they waited on this little fella, they prayed for him by name. They prayed that God would bless them with a child, a son, who would be named Boaz. 

You may be able to imagine how much our friends delight in their children. They waited for a long time, cried, prayed, waited, hurt deep in their hearts over wanting a child and desiring God's blessing of a special gift. Then God moved. Once and then again. What joy these little ones bring to their parents' hearts. Now, they are praying for another of God's gifts and they are waiting.

In the meantime, I wonder if they had any idea how much this little guy would bring joy to my husband's heart. After a long hard day, especially the particularly grueling ones, Matt peruses his Facebook wall and suddenly I hear him laugh. There are other causes for his laughter at times, but most often, he's seen a new Boaz picture and it brings him joy.

Recently, Dawn needed me. She had to be in this part of the country a couple of days for school and was bringing Boaz. Matt was completely supportive of me taking the day trip to help out (as he always is when it comes to being there for friends--I love that man!), so off I went for a visit with my friend and her boy and kept Boaz when she was presenting the defense of her dissertation. These are some of the sweet pics of me with our little buddy: 

I took them thinking Matt would like a picture of two of his favorite people together. :) After sending him one, I received little response. When I arrived home, he asked if I had any pics of our little nugglar. In retrospect, I realized I was impeding Boaz's charm by not taking shots of him in his natural element. This is a sample of some of Matt's favorite Boaz moments: 

 It all began when B started smoking green beans...

 And then moved on to asparagus...

 The pickle is one of the all time faves...the many faces of Boaz.

The boy caught red handed sneaking his sister's nuggets...Matt dubbed him the nugglar :)

 

Rubber ducky, you're the one...that's not food.

 Lest you think all his faves are food pics...he likes the gut too.

The nugglar strikes again: Matt says he needs a mask and utility belt for all his dipping sauces.

 

It's been said for years the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Apparently, Boaz makes his way to Matt's heart through his own stomach.

New Orleans Style

Matt and I have been to New Orleans once since we've been married. What have I learned Matt likes most about NOLA? The food. Can you blame him?

Shrimp Po' boy with spicy Remoulade sauce

When I found a recipe in one of my cooking magazines, I couldn't resist making Matt a shrimp po' boy. He loved it! 

Now, wish me luck as I search for a good jambalaya and try that out. Matt loves Jambalaya.

Wedding Bells

One of my favorite things is seeing God do some amazing things in a friend's life. It may not seem all that spectacular when someone gets married since most people marry sometime or another. What is amazing to me is how perfectly God weaves together two lives into one.

Here is my friend Katrina on her wedding day: 

It was such a blessing to be there on her big day, to watch her marry another of Matt's and my friends, Nick.

The way God led them together, the way He crafted the story along the way and the way they compliment one another so well, these gave testimony to the plan God had all along that they become one. That He wants them to love and serve one another as they love and serve Him individually and together. What a gift! What a blessing!

Congratulations, my friend! Thank you for inviting me to be a part of your celebration.

Go CATS

Matt graduated from Kansas State and has remained a big fan of the Wildcats. When we enter college football season, I know how we'll be spending A LOT of Saturdays.

Growing up, I had a bad taste in my mouth for football because of how we spent most Thanksgivings. We were at my grandmother's house with all the men watching game after game after game. As a young girl, there was nothing more boring or frustrating (since I didn't understand the game and heard a lot of yelling at the t.v.) than football. It was then that I decided I hated the game.

Once and I mean one time in college, I went with my sister and her husband to a football game. I don't really know why I agreed to go, but I was totally surprised by how much I was interested in it. Still, I wasn't convinced. 

This season, between taking in a Ravens game live and watching K-State play some great football, I've decided I actually like the game! hahaha Who knew?!?!

If you don't follow college football, K-State was one of the undefeated teams this season almost to the last game. After about 7 wins, Matt and I were due to see a game in person. I couldn't wait! 

We took a road trip to West Virginia, the only game played in our neck of the woods, and hoped for the best.

Here are some pics taken on the road: 

I even thought I'd surprise Matt with a little fanware: 

It's a K-State hat I had made. He loved it! And so did several women at the game :)

We had an incredible time! The Cats played some great football and I loved cheering them on. Go CATS!

 At the start of the game, everyone was on the field. 

 We enjoyed sitting in the K-State Section. I was surprised to see so many fans at the game. 

 Scoreboard at the end of the game.

The CATS won!