Brag Attack!!!! BAM!

Okay, I have to brag on Wes.... If you become nauseous when girls brag on their man and go on and on about how wonderful they are, just stop reading now. I'm typically not one of those girls, at least I don't think I go on and on THAT much, though I do have an AWESOME, AMAZING, WONDERFUL, SEXY husband.... (Okay, sorry, I'll stop!)

Last week was pretty busy for us. Well, it wasn't really much different than any other week, but it sure felt busy. It started about Wednesday. I met up with some of the middle school girls following youth group at church and went over some basketball drills with them for about an hour. Then, Wes and I both helped with a new high school basketball ministry later that night (which is awesome, by the way. I'll post more about it at some point.) Anyway, it was late when we got home, so we pretty much showered and went to bed. Then Thursday night, we had a quick dinner after work, had our Upward basketball practice at the church for an hour, then had practice for the b-ball team we play on afterwards. Once again, it was late by the time we got home and showered. The kitchen was a mess from dinner, but I was way too tired to clean it up. I did something I VERY rarely do: I went to bed with a messy kitchen.... I flinch at the thought! I know, but it's just a pet peeve of mine, something that my mom instilled in me so much during my adolescent years, that it's near impossible for me to leave a sink full of dishes for the next day. (Yes, I blame my mother...)

I had to work Saturday and then we had our Upward b-ball game after I got off work. So, Wes and I decided to go out for dinner Friday night for Valentine's Day, instead of Saturday since I speculated that I would be beat by Saturday evening. When I got off work Friday, I rushed home and got ready to go out for dinner, obviously neglecting my messy kitchen (I just didn't make eye contact with the dirty dishes!).

Wes and I had a delicious dinner at Bonefish, one of our favorite places. And, it was YUMMY!!! Since we get lost in conversation when we go out to dinner, it was a little late when we got home. But, add a few rounds of Guitar Hero on top of that, and it was very late.

Anyway, what I'm leading up to is this: We got home from our Upward game and I walked into, not only a clean kitchen, but a clean house!!! While I was at work, Wes had cleaned the kitchen, master bathroom (including the bathtub and toilet), living room, and the basement! Not that our house was messy, but it was our typical once-a-week cleaning, and he had done it so that I didn't have to do anything after working. Of course, I was very appreciative. But, with Wes being the amazing husband that he is, he didn't even feel that I should thank him. His response is that it's not my job to clean the house, it's both our responsibility, so I had nothing to be thankful for. (However, I know he did it for me!)

And the award for Best Husband Ever goes to James Wesley Keene!


Thanks again Baby! I LOVE YOU!!! [MFEO]

Happy Valentine's Day (well, day after!)

Valentine's Day..... It's a pretty big deal! The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year, following Christmas, of course. The association estimates that, in the US, men spend on average twice as much money as women.

Wes and I usually do something special, but don't do big gifts or anything too extravagant. I know it sounds corny (maybe "Hallmark-ish"), but we feel we don't need a special day to show our love for each other; we do that all year round! I'm sure I read that in one of the 100 cards I browsed in an attempt to find the perfect one....

When I say "100 cards" I mean it!!! This year I really struggled to find just the right card. They either referred to "new love" or "old love" or "we've been through ups and down..." or "I know I don't always tell you as much as I should how much I love you..." or had something along the lines of "I never thought love could be.....until I found you..." In essence, referring to a time that the one giving the card was single and wanted a relationship, or a time when the relationship struggled, or a couple who allowed the busyness of their day to come between them. Our relationship is so different because we started dating in high school. There wasn't really a time when I was "looking" for a relationship or "hoping" to find that perfect somebody. I always felt I had that "special someone." While Wes and I don't have a "perfect" relationship (after all, does anybody?), I don't feel we've had major "ups and downs". (The ups and downs we have had in our life typically don't have anything to do with our relationship, but more with those around us...) And, we are very intentional about our relationship, so we purposely don't allow the busyness of everyday life to get in the way of us showing our love for each other.

I finally did find a card that I thought was as close to perfect as I was gonna get. It read, "I could say I got really lucky when I got you for a husband. But the truth is, I think God had us picked out for each other from the very beginning. And that makes me more than lucky. That makes me blessed!!!" (Short and sweet, but of course I wrote a book inside!)

I am extremely blessed to have the absolutely awesome husband that God gave me!!! I thank Him every single day for providing me with Wes, and I thank Wes for loving me like he does. I LOVE YOU BABY!

HAPPY VALENTINE's DAY!

Happy Birthday O'mauri!!!

My nephew (one of the 3), O'mauri Dylan, turned 4 years old yesterday! The family celebrated at mom and dad's house yesterday evening. O'mauri was showered with toys, clothes, and love! More than a 4-year-old could handle, I think. He was SO excited, running around all day! When Bridgette said it was time to sing Happy Birthday, Mauri said, "To me?!" and jumped up and ran to the table. It was so cute!

Then he got so excited while we were all singing to him, that we fell off his bar stool! Now, that was one for America's Funniest Home Video's!!! But, of course, Mauri jumped right back up and we all just kept singing! :)

So, Happy, Happy Birthday to the cutest, most amazing 4-year-old little boy on the planet!!! Uncle Wes and Aunt Tiff love you SO, SO, SO much!

This is the year we do it for our health!

"I work out at Curves." When I share this information, the usual response is that of surprise, followed by a comment similar to, "You seem like you're too athletic to work out at Curves!?" I think there's a stereotype that Curves is geared towards older women. However, I'm here to tell you that couldn't be farther from the truth! Curves offers a cardio and strength training workout each workout, working every major muscle group. Its set up in a circuit format (see pic on right), with all the machines set up in a circle to promote a supportive, encouraging atmosphere. Each workout lasts approximately 30 minutes. You're on each machine for 3o seconds, working as hard as you can for that 30 seconds, then you get 30 seconds on the recovery boards before moving onto the next machine for 30 seconds, etc. The machines utilize a resistant-type method, making it easy on your joints (which is why many 'older' women choose to work out at Curves). However, what that means is that you determine how hard you want to work out, or in other words, how much you want to get out of your workout. The faster you move the machines, the more resistant they become and the harder you workout and the more you get out of each workout.

The Curves I go to (in Shelbyville, right by my house), is ran as a faith-based business, and utilizes new "Curves Smart" equipment. The Curves Smart tracks how hard you work out and serves as a personal trainer in that it lets you know when you need to work harder. Your progress is tracked and adjusted as you reach personal goals. Before getting on each machine, you insert your key tag. Then, a green light shows up if you're working hard enough, and a yellow light if you need to work harder (see pic on right). At the end of each work out, you put your key tag into the computer and your points are calculated. It determines if you met your personal goal, how many calories you burned, and shows your progress by muscle group. Based on your last three workouts, it adjusts what your "goal" is.

Trust me! This is a workout in every form of the word! Someone once told me that they went into a Curves before and nobody was sweating and it appeared as if the workout was easy. Just like any other gym, some people work harder than others. When I complete a workout, you better believe I'm sweaty! I come home and am still sweaty, just ask Wes! ;) There's also a machine that tracks your heart rate. Mine is usually 140 to 160 beats per minute. How much more of a cardio workout can you ask for?

Based on my Curves print out today, I burned 754 calories (in 30 minutes!!!) and have lost 12 pounds and 18 inches since October. That's without dieting. In my book, that's success!!! :) (Though, I'd like to lose more, wouldn't we all!)

This year, the motto at Curves is "This year we do it for our health!" I'm on board! :)

Come one, Come all! (For a bit, anyway! :)

Wes and I were blessed, we didn't lose power during the snow storm (well, only for an hour and a half, but relatively speaking, that doesn't really count). However, many of our family members did. Therefore, our house became a refuge for many of those without power. I counted, and the latest toll looks like our house was a revolving door for a total of (including Wes, myself, and our girls) 7 adults, two teenagers, three kiddos (under the age of 6), and 4 dogs. Thankfully, not all at the same time! The picture below is of my sister, her boyfriend, and their dogs along with me and the girls. It was funny when we were all watching TV and looked up and there were all these dogs spread out over the couch! Doggie Hotel? No, but close!
We're glad we were able to provide some basic needs to those we love (including the loved ones with 4 legs!). Of course, Wes didn't stop at simply the basic needs... Over the course of the week, we had chicken and rice casserole, homemade vegetable soup, and his "secret recipe" chili. YUMMY!!! So, at least everyone's bellies were satisfied! ;)

However, there was one small, tiny, itty-bitty thing Wes and I realized.......WE LOVE OUR "US" TIME! No offense anyone, you're more than welcome anytime! We love ya'll! But, it is nice to have our house to ourselves after going several days without that! Again, I swear, we love ya'll!!!! :)

I really pray that everyone's power has been returned!

Happy Birthday Baby!

February 1st, 2009! Today Baby is 8 years young!
Happy Birthday to one of the two best dogs in the world!!!! I still remember when Daddy and I went to get you. You were the sweetest little thing ever and you just cuddled up in my arms! You're still so sweet and have been the best girl! We've been through a lot together girl! Mommy loves you!