Drinks, Food and Laughs = Good Date Night

It turned out to be a good night out.  The sky was filled with heat lightening, so it was coming fast and bright throughout the sky.  Our first stop was to feed the beast stomach of the men. We ate at J. Alexander's of Boca, and when I say "we ate" we didn't just eat, we STUFFED our faces.  

A round of drinks, calamari, chips & spinach dip and then steaks, fries, another round of drinks (for me ice tea - yum!).  Just when I think we couldn't eat more and were ready to leave, Patrick and Val order this huge chocolate heresy's cake with ice cream.  Ewww!!!  

Ewww?

Yea, I am not a big fan of deserts or sweets.  Although, I did have two small sample taste of the ice cream.  I don't understand how people can stuff themselves silly and then still make room for big deserts.  It was Patrick's 40th birthday celebration, so the man wanted his chocolate desert and that is what the man got.  

Our next stop was the movie theater, where we watched 'The Hangover'.  Like I mentioned in my previous post, not my preference of movie, but I was out voted.  Ill be short on my thoughts of this film.  It did have a ton of funny 'one-liners', but some of that stuff is over board, filthy, tacky and so not necessary.  

I mean seriously, it would still be a funny movie with just the comical lines, without all that other crap and the over use of f-bombs and G-D's. Its awful.  I have more I would like to share about this, but I will wait to use it when I finally sit down and write my post about Christian artist in this industry.  Hopefully by next week I can have that post finished.

Anyway.

After the movie, our next stop was supposed to have been Mug Shots.  It is a dive in the hole bar and karaoke place. I think I may or may not have mentioned it on here once before.  Oh yes I did, remember the story about the girl that came up to me and asked if I would help her win the bet of $25.00 to her "old man" and kiss her?  Ugh!! Makes my stomach twist thinking of that.  I should have said "Ill make you a better deal, I will pay you $50 to just stay away from me." HA! 

Yea, THAT place.  Val and some of the girls from her work like to sing there and there just aren't that many great karaoke places around here it seems.  This place is a dump, and you come out smelling like a human ashtray.  It took me like three days to get that stench out of my hair.  

After the movie we decided it was getting late.  It was 11:00 PM, you think its late?  Um, YEA when you have kids that will be waking you up early! I was so relieved when Val and Patrick said they were up for just going home.  We got home around 11:30 PM not terrible, to three (3) sleeping kids and one tired babysitter.  A sweet young girl from my church named, Jessica.  She is great with the kids.  

Honey and I got in bed, and instead of following through with that double-dog-dare I had mentioned earlier in the day.  We laid in bed like an old married couple watching the Yankees lose a 5-1 lead against LAA, and listened to the lava lamps heating up in our stomachs. Watching all those yard-darts being thrown by the Yankees, I was thinking I wish I had a dart to throw at my stomach and pop the bloated pooch that was quickly arising.  

All-in-all, I feel a little tired today, but not horrible.  I think I will lay down now after this post and take a nap while Morgan sleeps and Mark heads to the gym. Good for him, going to the gym.  LOL.  Sleeps wins over just about anything, other than a screaming baby in the monitor, for this girl.  

Here are some shots taken from last night.  My blogging friend that is coming to stay with me for a week in August (exactly 20 days to be exact!) Daniella, sent me an email yesterday helping me figure out how to curl my hair for that nice beach -curl look, similar to the way she had her hair in her recent maternity photos she posted on her blog.  It turned out pretty nice, and it wasn't as big as I feared it would be.  Mark loved it and I think I will wear it like that this weekend during services I will be participating in this weekend.  It gives me an entire new due than the straight look, so this makes me happy.  Who knows, maybe it will entertain me for a couple of weeks and I can hold off on those extensions.  We'll see, and I hope to see some of you at church this weekend.  

please not my house

That was my very thought as I walked out of Publix (grocery store at 9:15 AM) this morning.  

Grocery shopping that early? 

Yes, I was. 

That is not my norm though.  I just happened to have a small list of things needed and I figured I would run in pj's and all, and grab the items on the way home from dropping my son off at the rink.

You know, very important things like: litter, milk, bread, shampoo/conditioner, toothpaste, cantaloupe, razor, shave cream, pirate booty, orange juice and arizona ice tea.  

Yea, all that stuff.  Stuff that I probably should have gotten on my Wal-Mart Supercenter run Monday.  

In truth, I really ran into Publix to get a couple of important things like milk and bread, and then I got a bit lazy and got the rest of the items that I was not able to get at Wal-Mart on Monday, as well.  But.... sometimes it just gets really, really old having to figure out what is for breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner day in and day out.  Some days I feel I am not meant to be a stay-at-home mom.  Not because of the mothering part, but because of the cleaning, laundry and grocery part.  Then I quickly slapped myself in the face and said "um, well all that stuff still exist even when you do have a job to go to." Oh, right!  Glad I cleared that up.  

Don't get me wrong readers.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE being home with my babies.  I am SO VERY THANKFUL I have that choice.  When I vent and complain on my blog, it is NOT with a serious heart and pity me intentions.  I am simply letting out current frustrations. At the end of the day, when I rock my baby girl to sleep or tickle my sons back to sleep.  I pray, I give thanks and I am in love and grateful all over again, EVERY SINGLE DAY. 

Last night was a romantic night for honey and I.... well, the thunderstorm is love music for the two of us.  We love thunderstorms.  We got the kids down for the night at a reasonable time and then we got to enjoy each other's company.  Something we need to make more effort in.  It was nice.  

However, it seems as though we like to play a lot of musical chairs beds in this house.  Not last night, but the night before, this is how the dance went.

I rocked Morgan to sleep and put her in her bed.

I then lay with Hunter and tickle his back until he falls asleep in his bed. 

I fall asleep in Hunter's bed with him.  

I wake up to go to my bed, to see my husband had fallen asleep on the couch watching the Yankees.  

I go to my bed and go back to sleep. 

I wake up to honey, Hunter and two cats literately all laying on top of me where I could hardly breath.

Morgan wakes up crying.  I gasp for air and try to dig myself out of the human/cat pile I am at the bottom of to go and comfort her.  

She wasn't having it due to the thunder outside, so I ended up taking her into Hunters bed with me and that is where we slept.  Leaving Hunter, Mark and cats in my bed. 

Basically, everyone woke up in a different place than where they started.  Ha! 

So, as I was leaving Publix this morning, walking to my car, I hear and see a fire truck at full speed going in the direction to my neighborhood, and the first thought that rushed to my head is "please not my house." 

Ever done that? 

I felt like I couldn't get my bags unloaded into the car from cart fast enough.  All the thoughts rush through my head, "did I leave anything on?" It is such a scary feeling.  

Well, my house is clean.  I have two more loads of laundry to finish off and then I think baby girl and I are going to go get mommy's nails polished.  Mark and I are actually going out to dinner with Patrick and Val tonight, for Patricks BIG 40th birthday.  Both men are in the mood for some steak, so it looks like J. Alexanders tonight.  I am looking forward to a nice dinner with only adults.  I don't get those often. Then we are going to see The Hangover.  Not my preference of movies, but I am out voted.  See I am cool like that.  I can go with the flow of things, as long as I am fed.  A nice steak should do the trick. 

I know this post is all over the place and I am typing fast, as baby girl is now next to me and I can smell the foul stench of her dirty diaper 10 feet away, while she plays with the snot sucking machine.  She likes pushing the button and hearing the vibration sound.  Oh and guess what?  She said a new word last night, "night-night." It came out of no where.  I love that.

I still have to write her little update post, as she also has broken in one of her molars, which explains all these dirty diapers and waking up in the middle of the night issues.  Ah...the life of a mommy at home with a child.  

And since it is my rule to not write post when possible without posting a picture....isn't this a cute one of Mark and Morgan on 4th of July walking by the lake?  I wish I had by good camera when I took this shot.  All I can think of when looking at this, is the next image like this is when she is a teen or getting married.  So sweet.  

Oh and guess what else?  Hunter is getting baptized this Sunday.  As well, I am, or should I say my acting skills (ha!), are being used this weekend in church.  I will be acting on stage during the entire service, for all seven (7) services this weekend.  The discussion this week at church "How to have an affair!"  You read correct.  If you want to know how to have an affair, how to mess up your family and children's life, this message is for you.  Its going to be a great message and I encourage everyone to come check it out.  It can also be heard on podcast and as well seen on TV, just visit our church website www.cbglades.com. But if you live in this part of Florida, come visit our church, and come see me in action on the stage. I dare you.   

If you are able to come and your schedule is flexible.  Come to the 12:45 PM service and watch my beautiful boy take the plunge in his public display of his faith, and be baptized.  

Other than that, I hope everyone has a beautiful blessed weekend.  

About Us:

Hello, my name is Misty and welcome to my personal blog. In this blog you will read about my world. I first started blogging about my kids in order to provide family members, living miles away, a place to stay involved and feel close to our family, as well as to watch the kids grow. My blog has evolved from one solely about our family, to a platform to show how God works through our lives, while exposing his plan for us. This is our journey into the unknown, as we trust and have faith in the author of our plans. His plans!

The title of my blog, "The Wing Beneath My Wings," actually came from the 1989 song by Bette Miller. The song was played at my cousin’s funeral in 1997. It seemed to always stick with me. Every time I hear that song, I quickly stop what I am doing, and I think about my cousin. Angel was killed in a car accident, leaving behind three small children. I had originally thought of the title "Take My Breath Away" for my blog. Yes, that song by Berlin. Thankfully, I heard my title track one day and it hit me—this is “me” and what my blog will be about. My kids, my husband, my kitties, my friends and my family—the ones that make my time here on earth a beautiful place. The “Wind Beneath My Wings.” And all of the aforementioned are “one”—intertwined by the master and creator of us all, our God.

Thank you for taking the time to better know us through this blog. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it and, more importantly, I hope that it touches your life.



 

Now, a little bit about us.

Mark and I met through mutual friends—my best friend Lisa and her husband David, the pastor of our church. I’ve been adopted into their family in Florida, as mine live far from here. Lisa Hughes originally was my agent (modeling/acting), and her husband David is the head pastor of our amazing church here in Coral Springs, Florida (Church by the Glades). Lisa has now been my best friend for the last eight years—and David is a brother, of sorts. David was a workout partner of Mark’s, and he had mentioned me several times over the course of two years. Lisa often mentioned Mark to me. However, our paths never crossed. I had been traveling a great deal, hosting HD Net’s travel show 'Get Out!' Mark moved to Coral Springs, starting the next chapter in his life after retiring from the National Football League. Mark played in Jacksonville for three years and Denver for one, playing his last game in Houston in 2003 after injuring his knee.

On July 30th, 2006, our paths finally crossed and we met after the 11:15 AM service at church that Sunday morning. Prior to meeting Mark, I had been a single mom for several years, which were marked by many stressful and painful custody situations (regarding my son, Hunter). To make a long story short, the night before that 11:15AM service and meeting Mark, my future husband to be, I prayed for him. Late that Saturday night, I drove home from Disney World, with my son Hunter and Angel's daughter (Joslynn, who was in town visiting me—and she looks just like her mother by the way). When I got the kids home and in bed, I laid down, started crying, and pleaded with my heavenly Father. I told Him how lonely I had been for the last five years as a single mother. I asked him to please give me someone that could love me, and my son, while being my companion in life. I met Mark the very next day at church. I love God *winks*.

Mark and I were invited by the Hughes to join them and some friends for lunch that day. We went and had a wonderful time. We exchanged our contact info and went about our ways. Mark, never sending a text message before in his life, decided he would text me a quick message to tell me it was nice to meet me, and that he would like to see me again. Little did he know, but he won my heart by that text (kidding, but if you knew me you would agree). I love to text, despising conversation on the phone.

We went on our first date the following Friday (8/4/2006), and have become inseparable ever since. In October, almost three months after our first meeting, Mark took me to Rochester, NY, to meet his family and visit his alma mater’s (Syracuse) homecoming. He then drove me to Garrett’s Chapel, this beautiful place on Keuka Lake. While taking in the breathtaking views from a bench, he proposed to me with a beautiful diamond ring.

Engaged for another short few months, we wed at the Riverside Hotel in Fort Lauderdale on February 11th, 2007. I became pregnant, had a miscarriage, and became pregnant again in August of 2007, exactly one year after we met. We had our beautiful little girl, Morgan Paige, on April 14th, 2008.

We are now a family. We are far from perfect, but we trust in God's perfect love for us. Hunter is now eight years old and in the second grade. He is our little athlete, playing on travel hockey and baseball teams, with hockey his favorite. Hunter is strong-minded, and although difficult to communicate with him sometimes, I love his strength. He is my first real love and gave me my first glimpse of what life is truly all about. He loves me no matter what—I am so thankful and honored to be his mother.

Morgan Paige will turn one in April of this year. She truly is just a pure bundle of joy, our little Butterfly. She is learning so much each and every day, the latest figuring out how to crawl. She has made our family the full package, the cherry on top. We prayed for her and God rewarded us with her, His gift to us.

Mark is now a wealth manager, primarily for professional athletes. Mark and his partner in the business, Rob Konrad, were college roommates and teammates at Syracuse (Rob also played for several years for the Miami Dolphins). Understandably, athletes have an inherent respect and trust for both Mark and Rob to manage their wealth. Mark's true passion, though, is trading (speculation). He recently finished writing a business plan, in hopes of opening and running his own fund. We will be praying and ask that you join us in that prayer, that God lead Mark into the right hands if this be His will for Mark.

As for me, your host, I am still modeling and acting, while learning each day how to keep my life balanced and in perspective. I am a stay-at-home mom to Morgan, exploring my passion for photography, and a servant to my kids, my husband and anyone that comes into my life. I am, simply and beautifully, thankful that God chose me to be ME! I am honored and blessed, to see where my life has been and how far it has come. God has shown off a great deal in my life. I often feel that I could be a more productive witness. I do not have answers to hard questions, and I can't quote scripture. However, I am learning, and my prayer is that my life story is a beautiful testimony for witnessing about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

So join in and become a follower of my blog. We will follow Him—you never know where the Wind under these Wings will take us next!!!