Happy 39th Birthday To Me!!!! -- My 30's

Hey Y'all,

I love birthday's especially mine!!!!

On November 2nd I welcomed the last year of my 30's. This decade of my life has been utterly amazing. At 30 I become a whole new person, my name was changed and my heart grew by leaps and bounds. At 30 I became a mommy the most awe inspiring role any woman can ever hold. At 35 my life became even sweeter when I welcomed my special babies into the world. Shock and awe at the fact that I could produce twins is an understatement. To this day I still look at them in amazement. My children have helped me craft a life of purpose. They have allowed me too see the best and worst of who I am as a woman, wife, daughter and Friend. In 2008 I left a job that I thought I would have for years to come. But staying stagnant is not the way of the 21st century. I endeavored to be a champion and started a new career path that I wasn't sure I was cut out to do; but alas God had an awesome plan. It was at this new job that I made post college life long friends. It is at this job that I added a new title to my name. I became a blogger. My love for writing was rekindled and an opportunity to be an influencer in my community was born. In my 30s I was treated  to first class celebrity filled trips that I didnt pay a dime for. At 37 the unthinkable happened I was laid off of my job. I was shocked, sad and confused but something positive can often result from a negative situation. While out of work I learned, patience. Something that only come with time and experience.

I had the opportunity to spend quantity time with my babies which is something I never had the chance to do. And through this experience I learned how to be patient. Patient with myself the children and the process of finding a new job. It was not easy and many things Reade stopped from us including our home. It was through that process however that the bond between my children and I became stronger than super glue. I discovered how smart and unique each of them are. Today I can honestly say I would take nothing in place of my journey. While unemployed I started a crochet business! I named it after my beautiful daughter and have been experiencing an wonderful amount of success. In my 30s I learned to love everything about me. My highs my lows and everything in between that makes me an awesome Me. In my 30s I feel in love with my husband all over again. I feel in love with his zeal for life, desire to succeed and his adaptation to the ever changing facets of fatherhood. In my 30s my love for God and his word have developed ten fold. I hunger and thirst after righteousness like never before. I attribute my spiritual growth to the Bible lead and spirit filled teachings of my bishop and Pastor, who were also added to my life in my 30s.
This final year in this decade is shaping up to be one for the record books. In the past three months I have traveled to four different states three of which I haven't been to since I was in my 20/early teens and one I've never been to. I'm super excited about the coming year and continuing to leave my mark on this world. It is My desire to leave this earth empty. As my bishop says. I want to use every gift God has given me. I refuse to hold onto anything that I'm supposed to pour out into this earth.

Until next time...
MUAH

Wordless Wednesday: Tea Party Royality

Nana, MrsDeveter and Leah
Three Generations of Bennett Women!

16 Years, 16 Lessons Learned!

Today I wish my beloved husband a very happy 16th wedding anniversary. Over the past 16 years I've learned some rather useful lessons. Of course I won't share them all but here are 16 for every year of wedded bliss.

BTW I borrowed 14 of these from my blog post in 2010 when I was a list driven blogger. They are still true so I figured I'd just add 2 more lessons. Hope you enjoy.

1. Never say never - I said I never wanted children and then I was bit by the baby bug and here we stand the proud parents of three
2. Over communicate - Saying you told him/her about the party two weeks ago means nothing. Put it on the family calendar, create an event on Google and FaceBook, send a text, tweet or put a post it note on the fridge listing how many days are left until the event.
3. Pick your battles - If it's not life threatening let it go. Do you want the kids clean and feed or is it more important that the bed is spread?
4. It takes 2 to tango - Intimacy isn't the responsibility of only one person. If you are in the mood get the party started!
5. Blood IS thicker than water - Although you are happily married into the family remember where you stand. Don't talk about the man's mama and expect life to be easy, sometimes it's better to agree to disagree and keep it moving then it is to argue about things you can't change when their family is involved.
6. Marriage = COMPROMISE - Doesn't matter what the topic you have to compromise on many issues within a marriage from what's for dinner to where we'll live you both have to come to a conclusion that makes everyone happy.
7. You can't always be right - "Yes Dear" is a line my brother and sister in law use often. Sometimes you have to say yes dear and move on. You will not be right all the time (I am 99.9% of the time of course!)
8. Time outs are needed - Sometimes from one another and from the kids. Remember that visiting family does not a vacation make!
9. Team work - As the Wonder Pets say; What's Gonna Work? Team Work. When you say I Do you become partners for better or worse so work together
10. Never let them see you sweat - I'm not talking about your spouse but rather your extended family and friends. Nobody should know when you and your spouse are at odds with one another! Keep your issues to yourself or seek professional counseling if you are in need of help. Hearing "well if I were you" doesn't help anyone because they AREN'T you!
11. What it took to get him/her is the same thing that will help you keep him/her - enough said!
12. No marriage is perfect
13. Don't assume
14. If you have an issue speak on it don't let it fester
15. Be friends and lovers (then you can act like friends with benefits when you role play)
    
16. Remember why you said "I Do" in the first place.

These are just a few of the things I've learned over the past 16 years. Everyday I learn something new about my husband, I just discovered that he actually likes butter pecan ice cream! In the 21 years that we've been together I have NEVER seen him eat it. I am allergic to all tree nuts so for me he put his like of butter pecan ice cream to the side and will eat the ice cream I like. Small I know but still something new I learned!.

If you are married I pray your relationship is lead by God and that you communicate your likes, dislikes, wants and needs to your spouse. Marriage is work but it's well worth the effort you are putting in.

If you aren't married please seek God for your mate and remember that you have to be open and honest with yourself about what you want.

Until next time...
MUAH!

Wordless Wednesday: My Boyfriend

Found out today is National Boyfriend day (no idea who came up with that one) Here is a picture of my boyfriend (now husband) from the early 1990's.

Getting My Pin On!

Hey Y'all,

I was invited to Pinterest a while but never went in and got my boards started. Well over the last three days I have been hitting the pin button HARD.

I am still trying to figure out exactly how it works but I think I might be addicted to Pinterest; have you noticed that I put a link to it on my homepage? Yup, I'm loving it and for those of you who don't know what Pinterest is - where in the world have you been? Here is the download.

Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard.

Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.
Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests. To get started, request an invite.

So far I have 5 boards and 33 pins.

1. I GetGlued - This features all of getglue stickers and anything/everything entertainment related from movies, to books I pin it all here
2. Kids Room - Pretty self explanatory this board includes all my pins for the kids room inspiration
3. Home Goods - Living room, dinning room, kitchen, bedroom and even basement inspiration
4. Foodgasims - All the yummy foods that I lust after
5. Kid Creative - Fun stuff I get into with the kiddies

If you have a page please follow me and I'll be sure to follow you. I'm really enjoying my experience.

Until next time...
MUAH!

An Imperfect Smile

Hey Y'all:

I have a gap between my two front teeth. Growing up I loathed it. Although I don't recall enduring name calling I do remember asking my dentist if I could have braces to get rid of the gap. During high school I used to take pictures with a closed mouth smile never showing my pearly whites.

But now...

I love my gap

I think I have a beautiful smile and I've learned that it's infectious. This afternoon while walking out for lunch I gave my famous smile to a rather tired looking construction worker. Before I smiled at him he looked a little beat down, but the famous MrsDeveter smile seemed to add some cheer to his afternoon.

From this I learned... when you think that you have an imperfection remember that, that very thing might be perfect to someone else.

Hope you are having a fabulous day!

Until next time...
MUAH!