Fast forward four years...

... and you'll meet a couple who is even more in love than they were the first day they met.

Andrew and I talked for over a month before we decided that we wanted to be something more than just best friends. After attending a bonfire at Andrew's (on the nastiest day ever!) and him spending the day at my dad's, it happened.

On September 24th, 2006 we had a conversation that went something like this...

Andrew: "So, uh, is it, um, too early for me, um, to call you my, uh, girlfriend?"

Abby: Silence

Andrew: Are you there?

Abby: I'll let you know soon. (Hey! I couldn't look too eager!)

Andrew: Um, ok...

20 minutes later...

Abby: "I don't think it's too early at all!"

... and the rest is history.

Andrew's birthday is September 25th, and he told me that night that I'm the best birthday present he's ever gotten.

This is your cue to say, "Awww!!"

Just a short six months later, we were engaged.

And then we were married three years and two months after that.

And, now, four years later, we're celebrating at the Spaghetti Factory.

I thank my Lord and Savior every night for my best friend. I am extremely blessed to be married to someone who is such a wonderful spiritual leader, someone who is a source of strength, someone who can make me laugh, and someone who has his priorities in line.

"Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:

If one falls down,

his friend can help him up.

But pity the man who falls

and has no one to help him up!

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.

But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered,

two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Four years ago, my life was changed forever... and I am a better person because of it. My life is immensely blessed as a result of the love I share with Andrew!

Here's to what's to come!!!

Visitors!

It's not often that I get visitors, but I love when I do! Yesterday, Heather and her twin girls came to visit!!

I got the toys ready...

Lunch was in the oven...

And they arrived! Theodore thought they were WAY cool.

Emily explored...

Morgan watched Theodore like a hawk- she loved him!

They both really enjoyed watching Lady swim.

Theodore did something he's NEVER done... which is get on the coffee table. He didn't get in trouble though since he was watching his new best friends. It was actually pretty cute!

The visit ended with a trip to Hobby Lobby... Heather asked me to make flower clips for their upcoming family pictures!

I was very happy to do so!

I had a great time visiting with Heather... I'm really going to miss her when she's in California. We've only gotten to see each other twice, but it's soooo nice knowing that we have that option! Her girls are adorable, and she is still one of my favorite people from high school! I'm so blessed to have such a good friend!!

YAY for visitors!!

Fabulous Flowers

I did it! Yesterday I stayed home for some much need R&R. I spent the day napping... and crafting... and napping... and crafting. It was wonderful.

I am now addicted to making flower clips- they are a breeze to make and allow me to be creative. It's a two-for-one deal!

Here are some of my favorites:

I now have an email address and facebook "business" site set up. I'm hoping to take personalized requests for these- they are far easier to ship than wreaths.

I have three packages in the mail right now- I practiced making these for my three nieces first. I hope they like them as much as I enjoyed making them!



The "Big Daddy" of Wreaths

... that is what Andrew called my latest wreath. It's pretty accurate.

My in-laws came down on Friday to join Andrew and me for Andrew's birthday dinner at a local cajun restaurant. The night before, my mother-in-law, mentioned that she needed a new wreath. I readily jumped on the chance to make another wreath, and I'm so glad that I did.

She wanted to go with an Italian theme, and we set out for Hobby Lobby. Andrew made sure to tell us that we needed to hurry so we could get to dinner quicker. I assured him that there is ALWAYS time for Hobby Lobby and wreath making. That seemed to calm him a bit- ha!

Anyway... she told me not to hurry to get it done, but I couldn't wait! As they were pulling out of the driveway, I was pulling out my hot glue gun.

For the first time, I had company during my wreath making. Andrew snapped a couple of pictures of the process. He pointed out that he knew why I loved to make them... I get to destroy the flower "arrangements" before creating something new. I think he was suggesting it's a bit of a control thing. ; ) Who knows.

That artichoke required a lot of glue! This is when he decided that I needed the new super-de-duper hot glue gun that I referred to in my last blog.

Finding the perfect placement.

And hold. I later had to get out the gorilla glue for the heavier items. This was some intense wreath making!

Breathe, Abby, breathe!!! No, not getting stressed out, just feeling like I've completed a marathon! This puppy took two hours from start to finish.

It even required a cheesecake run. Oh, how I love cheesecake!! I sure do have a good husband!

It's finished!

The bottom is packed with two large artichokes, a clove of garlic, two clusters of grapes, a rose bud, sunflowers, and lots of leaves and fillers.

A closer view... beautiful!

The top. I love it!

I just had to get a picture taken with my pride and joy! I am so glad that this wreath is going to a good home... and a home where I'll get to see it again! Like my mom's wreath, this one was also hard to part with!

This week brought about a lot of creativity... I created two of my favorite wreaths of all times. I'm home sick today, and I plan to go from the couch to my creative space. I already have a request to make flower clips for a precious baby girl, and I cannot wait to get started!



New Project

I have been inspired to create something other than wreaths. I don't have all of the items necessary to make what I'm wanting to make, but I'm also itching to do so. Hobby Lobby opens tomorrow. Being the good Christian company they are, they are closed on Saturdays. I applaud them for that, but I sure did miss them this evening. But, it's probably for the best since I'm feeling a bit under the weather today.

ANYWAY- I had to get off of the couch and DO SOMETHING!! After just one day, I am already stir-crazy! So, I searched and searched until I found something that would kind of work.

My new project?

Flower clips for little (and grown!) girls!

Like I said, I didn't have the alligator clips I'm wanting to use, so I used miniature claw clips and a regular barrette for tonight's project. I simply had to take time off from being sick, and I'm excited about this new project!

If my health permits, I am going to head to Hobby Lobby tomorrow to purchase alligator clips, pretty silk flowers, and lots of rhinestones! I have high hopes for these, and I look to open an etsy.com account soon.

I'll be blogging more about these in the days to come... and my nieces should be expecting a package within the next two weeks with pretty hair goodies!

But, until Hobby Lobby opens, it's back to the couch for me so I can get well enough to be a responsible adult tomorrow... and then have some creative fun!

P.S. Something else that's way exciting? With all of my crafting, my awesome husband bought me a super-de-duper hot glue gun! I am chomping at the bit to put it to good use!!



Childhood Flashback

Fall is just around the corner.

As a youngster, I knew that when the first brown bag arrived at my Grandma Kline's house, fall was on it's way.

Grandma would drive all the way to St. James via I-44 just to purchase these grapes from a rickety roadside stand.

After my Grandma passed away, my mom carried on this tradition. These tasty grapes are something I look forward to for 11 months out of the year.

Concord grapes most certainly are the first sign of fall.

A couple of weeks ago, a brown bag arrived at our little home. Andrew drives past these same rundown stands on his way to school each day. When I saw the first bag, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of saddness... and a whole lot of happiness.

Grandma lives on in my mom... and now her memory is living through me. She was a phenomenal woman, and she instilled tradition in all of us.

With each bite of these juicy grapes, memories of a life well lived flood my mind... and my heart smiles.



Ooey-Gooey Breakfast Surprise

Have I mentioned that I have an incredible husband?

Because I do.

He's wonderful in so many ways, but this time I'm going to focus on my Sunday breakfast treat.

As I was getting ready, the smell of sweet cinnamon filled the air. I just knew he was in the midst of cooking the cinnamon rolls we purchased the day before!

He even took pictures for my blog!

Mmm!!!

Pre-decorating.

See?! I told you he's wonderful!! How pretty!

Before too long, I heard the kitchen monster behind me telling me that breakfast was ready. He never ceases to make me laugh! We really enjoy being together!



Even Gato loves these sweet treats. He definitely has a new favorite food- they even beat blueberry muffins!

We cook a lot of our meals from scratch, but these cinnamon rolls are too good to pass up. We buy them at Aldi, and they are only $1.39 for the package of 8! That's too good of a deal to mess with making them from scratch. In my mind, it doesn't get much better... inexpensive, delicious, and made by my sweet husband!