Happy 6th Wedding Anniversary to Us...

The pictures do a pretty good job explaining themselves, but just in case you are lost that is how Adam proposed to me. We were having a get together at his parents house for all of our family to meet each other. As my brother drove me up the country road leading to their home in Eustace, the signs seen above were placed along the way. At the end of the trail of signs was Adam standing there like that. He looked so scared! I'm sure all the family standing in the distance watching didn't make him nervous at all. Of course I said yes, but Adam didn't hear me the first time. Even though I hugged him, and kissed him, he still wasn't sure I wanted to Marry him. The poor guy just kept asking, "So, will you? " I was like, "Yes! Adam jes I'll Marry you!" I was so embarrassed by everyone being there, and staring, and crying... but I was glad he didn't do what he had originally mentioned which was having an airplane fly over with the big question on the banner behind it.
We laugh when we look back on these pictures now. For one, we were a little thinner I don't know if anyone noticed that? Look at how young, innocent, and happy we look. Maybe a little scared too. We laugh because we had NO IDEA what we were getting ourselves into! We had been friends for 2 years, but we had only dated 3 months before we were hitched! We thought we knew each other, but we only knew the person that we each wanted the other to know... not the REAL US. Can I get an AMEN!
July 4th, 2009 makes 6 years of marriage. That would be 3x as long as my parents expected us to be married, 5x as long as my brothers expected us to be married, and about 2x as long as Adam's parents expected us to be married. I have to admit, there were times the only reason I stayed was to prove them wrong... but I'm glad that I did stay.
When Adam & I were dating and first married our focus was on us. No one else. God's Will, and a personal relationship with God was the furthest thing from our minds. We had a plan, not a very good one, but a plan. We definitely had all our eggs in one basket. I was in Nursing School at the time we got married, Adam was working at ETMC Athens making a little over $6 an hour. I was going to finish Nursing School, and then he was going to go. When we were finished with school, we were going to be rolling in the dough, buy a house, buy this & that, start a family, and live happily ever after with all our stuff!
Then, after a year of barely making our bills or just throwing our expenses on credit cards I failed out of the RN program with a 74.7 because 75% is passing. We were both devastated. I was done, after a year of pure hell there was no way I was going back through that again. I told Adam it was his turn, I couldn't do it. He said no thanks, after seeing everything you had to do I don't want to be a Nurse anymore either. He decided to go back to his original plan of being a Police Officer.
The good thing that happened out of me failing out of Nursing School, and having a Marriage that was hanging on by a thread after one year, was that I started talking to God again. I had no idea where to start. I had messed up so much on my own, I didn't know where and when God would start working but he did! Adam and I had a lot of issues to work through, and they weren't fixed overnight. Adam at this point had decided our marriage was a mistake, just like everyone had warned us, and that he wasn't sure this was going to work anymore.
All I could do was pray that his heart would change. Shortly after Trenten was born, God got a hold of Adam the same way he had gotten a hold of me after failing out of Nursing School. We began our journey together really for the first time, because God was leading not us. Does that mean we've had no major problems since... okay, now that I'm done laughing I can answer definitely not! We still fight and bicker, we've had some major life changing obstacles to overcome, and no we are not always happy. I think Monday afternoon I told Adam if I could rip his big head off and throw it across the room I would! Yep, that's me such a peach to live with!
We learned in the Marriage conference at FBC Malakoff this motto, "If God and I aren't working, Adam & I aren't going to work!" I have to remind myself of that almost everyday. Adam and I were talking the other night about the past 6 years, and all we can do is give the Praise to God that he saved our Marriage, and carried us through some unimaginable situations, and that he continues to work on us daily. So, if you are unhappy in your marriage or struggling to stay married know that you are not alone! Turn to Jesus, and ask him for the strength, wisdom, and encouragement that you need to heal the wounds that we inflict on each other through life together. I want everyone to know that Adam & I do not have it all together, but if you ever want to talk to another married couple that has been there we are here!
To my Husband who has managed to tolerate me for the last 6 years... Thank you, and Bless You as my brothers tell you often. You are a special guy! Thank You for loving me, even when I make it hard for you too. Thank You for being a wonderful Husband who tries your hardest to make me happy, even though I make that an exhausting grueling task at times. Thank you for being the Greatest Dad in the World to our boys, and for backing me up on the way I do things with them even when no one else agrees. Thank you for asking me to marry you, and claiming you would do it all over again even though I've given you every reason to NOT want to do it all over again. Thank you for the years of uncontrollable laughter, and tolerating me peeing on myself because your so sticking funny at times. Yes, that happened 2x before we were ever married and he still asked me! Here is to a lifetime of being in this together, even though that seems impossible at times. I'm glad to say I no longer Doubt that the mighty God we serve will carry, lead, and guide us the rest of the way. Thank you for just being you, and ALWAYS being there for me. I Love you with all my heart!
Here is to beating the odds!
Until Next Time,
Julie


What A Cute Couple!!!

Here's to the Days before Stress, before kids, and before Sleepless Nights! Just Youth and Happiness! I love you Babe!

Snakes, Mice, & Adulthood!!!

This is for all of you mother's out there who have ever thought... "is it just me that is struggling with this?" Yes, I have to admit my friends blogs inspired me to write, and let you know that you are not alone!
Here is to knowing your an adult... when there is a copperhead snake hanging from your front porch at midnight, and you have to walk out the back door in the dark to a dark shed and feel your way around for a hoe to kill the copperhead snake because you know you'd never forgive yourself if you just let him go until your husband comes home in the morning. What if Mr. Copperhead is gone by morning, and later in the day when your precious 2 little boys who's lives depend on you stumble upon him, get bit and die? So it's time to be an Adult! I don't want to do this, but I've got to I am on my own here! Where are my 2 older brothers? Where is my Dad? Why does my Husband have to work all the way over in Chandler! What does any city girl whose been thrown in the country do in this situation? I call to tell my husband I love him, and if you don't hear back from me in 10 minutes call the ambulance! My husband was very against my idea to Handle this on my own, but it had to be done! So I took by hoe, walked out the carport door around to the front porch to find Mr. Copperhead still there, dangling from one of our rod iron posts ready to kill his prey... ME! The adrenaline kicked in, and I swallowed down the huge lump in my throat, and decided some practice swings away from the snake would be a good idea since I had never done anything like this before... EVER!
I step back and take my practice swings with the hoe like a professional baseball player, and just as I step up to take my first real swing. Here comes Officer Foster with the Malakoff Police Department around the corner. My Husband called him to come save me. Needless to say, he killed Mr. Copperhead that night. After seeing the size of the snake uncoiled from our post, that was okay by me. 3 feet long, glad I took a pass on that one! This experience got me thinking though, how scary it is to be an adult now, with no older brothers to take care of everything for me, and a husband who works nights & is gone all the time... I've got to learn how to do this stuff right?
Apparently I did not learn my lesson well enough that night. So, God sends Adulthood challenge #2 my way last night during the crazy stormy weather. Once again, Adam is working and it's just me and the 2 kids. I get them to sleep, finish up all my chores, and it's around 10:30pm. I turn on the light to walk in my bedroom, and I catch something moving in the rocking chair out the corner of my eye. I tell myself it's just my mind playing tricks on me, but unfortunately it was for real! A little brown field mouse looking at me, sitting on the arm of the rocking chair. His facial expression was like, "Do you mind turning that light back off... " Please God tell me you are kidding, my order of hatred for intruders is Spiders, snakes/mice. Snakes & mice are tied, because snakes can be dangerous, but the thought of mice living where we live, trying to eat what we eat, or eating the best rocking chair ever! The rocking chair that I rocked both my babies in, and still do on nights like tonight! AHH! So, I grab a hanger, and go after him. Needless to say that didn't work, he got away, but I at least ran him off my favorite chair. That now can not be set in until it is shampooed to kill mice germs!
Now comes my biggest challenge. I must set a trap, the real kind that snap & break there necks! This I have never done before, or watched be done before, or even attempted before! So, what does this city girl do... call her husband to talk her through this. Keep in mind my emotions are running pretty high by this point. Stewart Little got away, my boys are asleep in there beds, and what if he bits them! Surely me chasing him with the hanger out of his comfy chair might have made him mad, what if he decides to retaliate on one of my babies, or me when I'm asleep in my bed! Something has to be done! Once again, I get to be the Adult here.
Much to my luck, Adam is busy cutting up a tree that's down in the road and would not take my phone call. Who is going to be driving down a road, in a storm, in Chandler TX at almost 11 O'clock at night? You can't stop for a minute and take your wife's emergency phone call? Anyways, that's all I and Adam's chief have to say about that. So, now what am I supposed to do? I can't figure this stupid thing out, it keeps snapping at me every time I try to make it work!
So, I do what I have been trained to do my entire 27 years of life. I call my big brother Mark. His wife Jessica answers the phone, and can tell I'm upset so she gets Mark. He calms me down, and talks me through setting the trap. I made it with out it snapping a finger, which is good for a first timer. My brother was so proud. He stayed on the phone with me until i put the trap on the floor in my room, and evacuated the premises. I did it! Like a big girl, all by myself... almost. I slept on the couch, and Trenten was a little taken by surprise when he woke around
3am due to the storm. He came running to my bed, and I wasn't there? He started crying which woke me, and I went & got him. We were lying on the couch, and he said, "Momma, why you on the couch?" So, I told him about our little visitor. He said, "That's okay momma... Daddy will get him when he gets home!" Yeah, I hope so!!!
Needless to say, I am learning the hard way over the last couple of weeks what being an Adult is a demanding job! I like you Flo found myself lying on the couch pondering the is this possible side of life? I have 2 kids that are growing to fast, and they depend on me? The thought can be overwhelming at times... if someone would have told me 10 years ago that I'd be married, with 2 kids, hunting snakes & mice I'd told them they were nuts! Yet, here I am. When I'm cuddled up on our little couch with Trenten at 3am... Adulthood is worth all the worries, woes, and strife for some moments like this.

Work Hard~ Play Harder...

Here is April in pictures:


Happy Easter from the Estes Clan!Yes this is the best picture out of 100!Sad day!


Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, Athens TX


See the Aligator coming out of the water...


He came towards Trenten like he was going to eat him!


Nope, this isn't Tri-City Steel.... we are still at the Fishery Center!


Our Favorite pose, this was a nice day!


Adam & Trenten fishing at the Fishery Center. I think we've started something here! Trenten is obsessed now!


Trenten's 1st Trip to a movie theatre. None of us particularly cared for this Reese Witherspoon film!


Got Hardware?


Every room in my house....


became an assembly line. Jenna I'm sorry this was not posted sooner!!!


Hardware Before & After shot!


Which led to a much needed Get A Way to Kerrville, TX


Our drive up the mountain... (I got car sick!)


First mornings breakfast brought to our room!


The only picture of us shoping in Fredricksburg! Really more like walking Fredricksburg! We were good, we spent very little here.


2nd mornings breakfast brought to our room! I could get use to this!


Excited about Kayaking Trip down the River...


Kayaks...


River...


Bad Weather Canceled our trip! Really Sad Day!


So we went Hiking instead!


On the plus side this was free, courtsy of Our Awesome God!



Last Day's Breakfast, brought to our room once again!


View from our Balcony...


Oh' yeah... Our Room!


Jacuzzi Tub for 2!


Log Fire Place in corner...


Sitting Area...


The Safety of Traveling with a cop....
PRICELESS!

Until Next Time,
Julie

One more Day!!!

Stores at Fredricksburg


Scenery of Fredricksburg


Where I'd like to sit & read all day, but Adam won't let me!


What I'd like to see on a hike!

ONE MORE DAY! Until 4 days & 3 nights of this! Beautiful, quit, relaxing Fredricksburg. Stay tuned for pictures of our trip. Please pray for our safety as we Travel! Have a great weekend in Malakoff with out us....

Until Tuesday,
Julie

Things to do list....

Feel free to join in sharing your "List of Things to do this weekend".
As for me:
-Reviving old cabinet hardware with CLR!
-Rehanging cabinet doors that are completely finished
-Finish Painting any doors that are NOT Finished!
-Finish planting Flowers in front yard
-Cut Landscaping Timbers for Flower beds
-Put mulch out
-Clean my house
-Grocery Shopping
-in between all these projects keep kids from hurting themselves, or each other. Also, keep them fed, watered, and alive!

Please Pray for us!
Until Monday,
Julie & the Rest of the Estes Crew!

Where has April gone?

Does anyone really need this? We all know where we were this weekend. Really for the last 2 weeks preparing for this past weekend. Incase you are one of the few who are in the dark, this weekend our church put on a play called "Bow The Knee". It was amazing! A lot of people poured a lot into making this weekend happen. I hope & pray that all that hard work will continue to pour out into the community & continue to plant seeds for Jesus.
That aside I'm exhausted! How about you other Bloggers out there? I miss my bed, I miss my kids, I miss my husband who has been on vacation since April 1st and yet we've managed to see less of eachother in the past 13 days rather than more? I also really really miss my bed, and a full 8 hours of uninterupted sleep! I can't blame that all on the play, because sleep as a mother of a 3 & 1 year old is a joke. You never get enough anymore.
On the bright side of this blog, I am looking forward to the remainder of April. Our goal is to soak up the time off we have together, before it is sadly over as of May 1st. We have some day trips planned as a family over the next couple of weeks. This week is the Texas Freshwater Fisheries in Athens, and possibly taking Trenten to see "Monsters Vs. Aliens" which would be his first time to a movie theatre. Along with finishing up some house project we started the 1st week Adam was off... that may have been a little much all at once.
I have the first coat of black on all the kitchen cabinets, except for a small lower section that we are not brave enough to paint with Jonah awake. Plus painting all the doors, and sprucing up the original hardware. If you have never been to our house, you will not understand the magnitude of this one project! We have A LOT of cabinets, which equals A LOT of doors!
Did I mention several Flats of Flowers I thought I would be able to plant all in one day? Plus cutting the Landscaping Timbers we bought to divide new flower beds from the rest of our jungle! I'm starting to worry the flowers will be dead before I get them in the ground!
With not having TV, you would think Time would be of over abundance in our house? Yet, I have all these projects started... that are needing finished before OCD Julie has a nervous breakdown, and yet so little time to do it in! Also not to mention the disagreements my OCD problem starts with Adam not painting the way I think is right, & flower beds not being perfectly level... I know, I'm terrible. Which leads to us really needing some of this....
The Greatest thing left to look forward to in April is the 24th-27th. Adam & I are taking our first real trip together, alone!!! We went to Dallas for the weekend for our Honeymooon due to my school schedule. With all intentions of taking a real honeymoon later. Well, almost 6 years & 2 kids later Dallas is as far as we've been for a couple of weekend trips. Plus one weekend in San Antonio for Mother's Day when Trenten was 4 months old, and a family Trip to Arkansas for Thanksgiving 2 years ago. Needless to say, we so desperately need this! 4 days 3 nights of just us in a Bed & Breakfast in Fredricksburg. Neither of us have ever stayed in a B&B, or gone to Fredricksburg. So we are excited, and counting down the days!
Stay tunes for more posts & pictures of our fun trips, and yes "Projects" around the house!
Until May,
Julie

What to do when the Great Outdoors... come Indoors???

It seems we are not alone here at the offices of Tri-City Steel. I thought I was loosing my mind, or having an adverse reaction to some of my new medications... but NO! The sounds of Raccoon's talking to each other, just like the movie "The Great Outdoors" is really happening above my head!
For those of you who don't know, our Offices are in a very old building in Malakoff. We have built three new offices in the existing old building, and it's starting to look really good. Unfortunately, we still have some problems with the Old Part. They found there way in here somehow, and are living in the space between the roof, and the old ceiling. Yes, I said they... they have babies too! It's a whole Raccoon family, and maybe even some friends dropin' by from time to time.
Yesterday I kept hearing them talk to each other, and I thought they were under the floor. So what does any girl do in a situation like this? I go get my big brother! He confirmed that it sounded like Racoon's, but he was hesitant to take a look & see. I'm still trying to sweet talk Adam into sticking his head up there, but he would rather someone else do it also. This is when I'm glad to be a girl! I'll use that excuse to not have to stick my head up there with a flashlight. I can just picture in my mind a Raccoon jumping on my face, and attacking me. No thanks!
So the City of Malakoff is coming out to set traps Monday. They have assured me that they will not kill them, that they take them out to the Country & let them go. So watch out Flo' they may be coming to visit you soon! If I get any pictures of my fury friends I will be sure to post! I just hope in the mean time we can all live together in Peace & Harmony!