We’ve Made Our Bed…

now we can lie in it.  Literally.  I already showed you the bench that we made.  It was a test run before we took on the project that inspired this whole woodworking craze that seems to have overcome the members of our household.  For years, I have wanted a bed – not just a mattress on a metal frame, but a beautiful headboard/footboard frame that would grace our room with elegance and charm.  I have looked at yard sales, Goodwills, thrift stores, Craigslist, and online sites, trying to find that perfect one.  I found it – several times, in fact.  However, it was never the perfect price.  So, I just laid on my metal frame and mattress and dreamed of that perfect bed.  It wasn’t a need.  It was a WANT!  I could do without it.

Then, I saw the bed.  Not just the bed, but the plans to make the bed yourself.  Same book in which I found the bench plans – and a myriad of other furniture plans.  We made it!  We love it!  I suppose you all want to see a picture of this masterpiece, so without further ado, here is our new bed! (Drum roll, please!)

I could not be happier!  The neat thing is, my husband I and made this together!  Our time was full of fun and laughter, and we learned so many things while doing this project together.  It is solid and sturdy as a rock.  We will be handing this one down to our grandchildren for sure! :)  Now, I think I need to go lie down and daydream about my next project…

Romantic Charleston

From time to time – like once every three years or so - Paul and I manage to escape for a few days together.  One of our favorite places to visit is Charleston, SC.  The beauty and history of the city appeals to me greatly.  It is almost as if we travel back in time to a more relaxing era. 

Two weeks ago, we spent a few days in Charleston.  After the hectic schedule of this summer, it was a welcome break for both of us.

One morning, we sat and watched the sunrise coming up over the Atlantic.  It was lovely.  Those of you who know me well, will be surprised that I actually got out of bed early enough to catch a summer sunrise (I am not a morning person at all). :)  It was so serene and peaceful, the cool morning air blowing on our faces, and rising sun warming us as we sat on the bench.  Ahhh…

Here we are, taking our famous self-portraits again (I think they turn out better than having other people take them for us)!  You can tell I got up early – I look a bit weary!  :)

 

 

They say that every cloud has a silver lining, but this one was definitely golden.  The sun turned those clouds on the horizon to a molten color that was breath-taking in its splendor.  God is so good to give us beautiful things to enjoy here on this earth.  Sometimes I wonder at the fact that He could have made everything in shades of black and white, which would still be amazing, but He took the time to make such a glorious world for us to enjoy.  What a great and loving Father we have!  He is worthy of all the praise and worship we can give Him!

Happy Anniversary!

This weekend, my husband and I will celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary—separately!  No, we aren’t fighting, and we don’t need marriage counseling (at least I don’t).  It just happened to work out that way this year.  So while I am sweating it out with the four children in Mississippi, Paul will be sweating it out in El Paso! :)

So many things have happened in these twelve years, and most of them good.  I will recount some of these for you here.

• 12 years of wedded bliss (the honeymoon doesn’t have to end)!
• 4 sweet children that live with us
• 1 precious baby who lives with Jesus
• 2 RVs
• 4 states of residence—WV, NC, IN, MS
• 1 mission house
• 1 rented mobile home
• 1 cute little house (which, by the way, we are hoping to finish the paperwork and complete the closing next week, HOORAY! That means we can purchase a house in the area where we now live!)
• 1 Dodge Ram 3500
• 2 years of part-time evangelism (while teaching at ABC)
• 10 years of full-time evangelism
• 300,000+ miles traveled in meetings
• 16,000+ pictures
• Hundreds of sermons—I don’t think I can even figure out how many! :)
• Hundreds of friends all over the world
• 2 mission trips
• Dozens of adventures
• Countless everyday blessings
• 1 thoughtful and funny husband
• 1 extremely happy wife

Like I said, just a sample of the good things…  I thank the Lord for the husband he has given me, and for the wonderful life we have had together so far.  I am looking forward to the next 68 years!  :)

Happy anniversary, Sweetheart!  I love you and I am so glad to be your wife!

Sweetest Day

This past Saturday was Sweetest Day – a day originally planned by a Cleveland candy-maker to distribute candy and small gifts to the city’s widows and orphans, letting them know that they were not forgotten.  I think the name Sweetest Day may have come about because of the distribution of sweets.  While it is still not as popular as Valentine’s Day, people all over the country take the opportunity to express their love and appreciation for those dear to them.

We do not typically observe this holiday in our home, for no particular reason other than forgetfulness, usually! :)  However, as my husband prepared to leave for his next meeting, he told me that he had a surprise for me – one that I could not guess.  Of course, my interest was piqued, but, as usual, he was right.  I could not think of what the surprise might be.  The suspense was killing me!  :)
 
Friday morning, the surprise was revealed when a florist’s van drove up to my house and presented me with a gorgeous arrangement of red roses and baby’s breath (which does not smell like graham crackers, as my brother once supposed)!  I was surprised – thrilled, too, of course.  The card that came with the flowers said,
“For my Sweetheart – Thanks for eleven wonderful years.  I love you very much.” 
I counted the roses, and sure enough, there were eleven.  Okay – once again, my hubby wins the “Husband of the Year” award.  He is so sweet!  I am going to enjoy these roses for a long time!

Romantic Remembrance

My husband has been planning a "secret" date for us all of last week.  The date is planned for tomorrow, the anniversary of a very memorable event.  Eleven years ago, Paul asked me to be his wife, and, of course, I accepted.  I think it very romantic that he has planned such a special event for this normally little-celebrated milestone.  I don't know what all he has in store, but I do know there is babysitting (a must for any romantic date), dinner, and an ocean sunset in the works.  Sigh... How romantic!  Anyway, I know we will have a good time together, just the two of us!

I also have practical plans for tomorrow.  Since we are going to be out of the trailer most of the day, I am having the carpet cleaned.  It really is disgraceful how awful it looks.  There is not really a good way to keep off-white carpet looking nice when you have four kids tracking dirt, spilling drinks, dumping plates, having various and sundry "accidents," in addition to the wear of normal use.  This also means that I have to do some major house cleaning just so the cleaners can get to the carpet.  All the furniture has to be moved out, and the kid's belongings have to be stacked, piled, shoved, and hidden in various places.  Ugh.  I will need a romantic evening after all that! :)  I will be so glad to have clean carpet once again - it will be almost like having a new trailer!

I redeemed my Swagbucks today for another Amazon gift card. I love earning rewards!  My Amazon account is slowly growing, and I am hoping by the end of the year to have a lot of Christmas shopping paid for through Swagbucks!  Sign up today for great savings!

Here it is- the picture you've all been waiting for! I finally got the program to upload, and this is our most recent, unedited, candid, family photo!  Left to right: Esther, me (Sarah), Paul, Daniel, Abigail, & Josiah.  In the background, you can see the Pacific Ocean.  I love it!  Wish you all were here!

Crow Family - February 2011

Love Notes

"How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways..."
Ahhhh!  February is here, and our thoughts tend to be a little more "romantic" as we anticipate the upcoming Valentine's Day.  Admit it - you are already dreaming of chocolate and roses, kisses and romance.  I am - especially the chocolate part!  I had the most wonderful thing happen to me last week.  My oh-so-wonderful husband surprised me with a series of love notes tucked away in places he knew I would find them.  There was one in my Bible, where my daily reading marker was placed, one in my makeup bag, one in the kitchen, and so forth.  Each note contained a specific reason for his love for me.  I was so touched!  This is not the first time he has done something like that, but it doesn't happen every week, either!  I am thankful for a husband who daily expresses his love for me in words and actions.  Today, start thinking of reasons you love your spouse.  See how many you can come up with before Valentine's Day, and surprise them by writing the reasons down.  They don't have to be great big things.  For instance, I am thankful that my husband puts his own clothes in the hamper when he takes them off!  Something little, yes, but after ten years of marriage, that has saved me a lot of extra work!  Too many times we focus on what they don't do, or what we wish they would do.  This year, write your own unique set of love notes, and tell your spouse some of the reasons you love them.  It will give you an increased appreciation for them.  It will also encourage them to keep doing the "little things" that become everyday romance.