Blue Angel

Buttercup's godmother is a wonderful, sweet and funny woman and I am so excited to see their relationship grow throughout the years.

Buttercup's godmother also has a rockin' style and I am very excited to have another person that will help eye out adorable outfits!

Thanks Deeds for our little Blue Angel outfit for Buttercup!!

Much love folks!
~The Woman With 4 First Names

Monthly Muggings

Totally stole the title of this blog post from a wonderfully word-witty friend of mine.  She named her son's monthly photos his "monthly muggings" and I just think that's adorable.  As I am still feeling as though in almost a week of being away from Buttercup she changed more than I could imagine, I am subjecting you to a recap of Buttercup's Monthly Muggings!

I'll tell you something these monthly muggings get harder every month.  Buttercup's more mobile by the minute and she likes to try to eat the month sticker...any suggestions from other parents on distracting her from eating the sticker would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for walking down memory lane with me this Saturday night. 
~The Woman With 4 First Names

Our First Weekend Away

This past weekend Mustang and I went away withOUT Buttercup.  (A big shout out to the Kenley family for keeping her and loving on her all weekend.  Thanks guys!!!)  Where did we go you ask?  Well, read further and take a guess (or if you are a punk, skip to the end to see)!

Highlight #1 of the trip - a bike ride through a beautiful park!  (Thanks to Deeds for borrowing us a bike and bike rack!!!)




Highlight #2 of the trip - climbing the 'Eagle Tower'.

Highlight #3 of the trip - a sunset sailboat ride.  We both thought this was also a 'tour', but nope it was not.  This experience, although a highlight, was definitely not something either of us would put on a 'must do' list.

Highlight #4 of the trip - ice cream, gelato and more ice cream!!  My favorite stop for ice cream was Wilson's.

Highlight #5 of the trip - wineries.  We found a new favorite red, Marechal Foch.

Highlight #6 of the trip - lighthouses.  We visited 2 lighthouses and the second was this beauty.

 
We were able to climb to the top.  Up the winding stairs.  Through a little hatch opening.  And then to the outside where it was very windy!

Highlight #7 of the trip - fudge and hats.

No Buttercup did not make a surprise appearance on our first weekend away.  But I snapped this today and couldn't resist posting it, besides it also shows my cute new cap!

Highlight #8 of the trip - I learned about these rock stacks and Mustang and I made our very first 'I was here' rock stack!

Highlight #9 of the trip - The Mission Grill.  (Thanks to the Kenig's for that recommendation!)  I could write a whole blog post just on the deliciousness that is the food you are served at The Mission Grill. 

Highlight #10 of the trip - our first experience staying at a Bed & Breakfast.  2 thumbs way up for the service and food at the Eagle Harbour Bed & Breakfast!!

It was a great and wonderful trip to............DOOR COUNTY!!!!  Thanks to hubby for all the planning and researching you did.  A big thanks to all the friends that offered up suggestions and insights as well and a special thanks to Mrs. G - I don't know you (or if you go by Mrs. G) but thanks for giving my hubby ideas and suggestions and helping him with his research. 

Hope you enjoyed a peak at our vacation!
~The Woman With 4 First Names

If Money Were No Object...

The church I attend is doing a sermon series on IDOLS...money, success, family, relationships...how we take good things and make them THE ULTIMATE THING...instead of finding our identity in Christ and growing in relation with Him and becoming whom He intended us to be...we become bedazzled by fill-in-the-blank and decide that we know better than the Creator of the universe and that we should put our hopes and dreams in fill-in-the-blank.

Recently, a girlfriend of mine recommended and borrowed me the book Chazown.  The back of the book reads:

Chazown

(pronounced khaw-ZONE)

from the Hebrew, meaning

a dream, revelation, or

vision.

You were born with your

own Chazown.

Do you know

what it is?

In the book the author asks the question, "If money were no object, what would you do for the rest of your life?". 

So, lately I've been doing a lot of self-inventory. 

I've been asking myself, "what are my idols?".

I've been asking myself, "If money were no object,

what would I do for the rest of my life?".

Mostly, I'm still asking...and praying for wisdom...and trying to hear God's voice...

Much love folks!

~The Woman With 4 First Names

Which of these is different than the rest?

Ellie the Elephant, Hilda the Hippo, Mack the Monkey (yes I know green would seem to say 'frog' not 'monkey' to me too), Leo the Lion and Buttercup the Baby.

~ The Woman With 4 First Names

Home Sweet Home

Mustang and I took a weekend away this past weekend and then I had a work trip and didn't get back until tonight.  Being away has made me think of all the things I appreciate about home.

1.  Mustang.  I miss him when we are not together.  He truly is my better half.

2.  Buttercup.  I think that I will be addicted to the video monitor for the next month.  She grew and changed so much in the almost week that I was away.

Buttercup ~ Sept 2011

3.  My Home.  I am so thankful for our house, which has been made into a home.  A hope of mine is that all who enter our home feel welcomed and loved.

4.  Familiarity.  I can get lost in a paper bag and so enjoy not having to deal with negotiating an unfamiliar city without hubby.

5.  Hubby's voice.  As I sit here listening to him talk to a friend I realize just how much comfort and how much love I hear in his voice.

My 2 Favorites ~ July 2011

6.  Friends.  While I can handle situations where I don't know anyone and have to initiate many conversations it is such a blessing to be close to those who 'know' me.

7.  Buttercup.  Wait, did I say her already?

8.  Central Time.  Even just an hour difference threw me off a little.

9.  8 hour work days.  Or at least not 14 hour ones.

10.  Mustang.  Wait, did I say him already?

Yeah for being HOME!
~ The Woman With 4 First Names

My Husband's Faith

Mustang's top spiritual gift is faith.  Mamaw Sally's (Mustang's grandmother) top spiritual gift was also faith.  I met Mamaw Sally in the nursing home she lived at two years before she past; but I didn't really get to know her until her funeral.  I always meant to tell my NC Dad that Mamaw's funeral was such a gift to me, to hear stories of my husband's grandmother and to get to know her through those stories and the memories of her that were shared at her funeral is something that I will always be grateful for.



Huston and Mamaw Sally - Christmas 2008

The spiritual gift of faith is defined as: to be firmly persuaded of God's power and promises to accomplish His will and purpose and to display such a confidence in Him and His Word that circumstances and obstacles do not shake that conviction.

I don't have the spiritual gift of faith.  Currently, I struggle with believing that I don't deserve any of the things I have in life...and on top of that wondering if my faith is tied to my situation more so than to who God is.  Enter my hubby, who last night stated, "we need to find a way for my spiritual gift of faith to benefit you, too".

Oh, hubby, it already does!!  In ways that I can't put words to.  Thank you dear Jesus for my hubby's faith and for the spilling-over effects it has in my life and others!


The Sally Family at Mamaw's Funeral - Oct 2010

If I had to describe Mamaw Sally's funeral in one word...that word would have to be beautiful.  It was a gathering of family and friends and loved ones.  It was a celebration of our loving God and that Mamaw now lives with our Savior.  It was a time to remember and a time to learn, a chance to mourn and a chance to be with one another.  Thank you Mamaw Sally for the life you lived and the love you poured out to your family!

~The Woman with 4 First Names