To Blog or Not To Blog.....

That is the question for the day...  it feels like forever since I've last sat down and taken time to write here.  So much has happened in the past 2+ weeks it almost seems overwhelming to catch up on it all.  I know.... you've been waiting on pins & needles to know all the tiny details of our family.  Ha!  Nevertheless, I'll try and give you the "cliff notes" version.  We've definitely had some noteworthy changes recently!

First of all, our family has grown by one.  We got a cat, actually a kitten!  Her name is Nala, and I could probably write a book on all the joy & pain (literally... those kitten teeth are SHARP!) she has brought to our lives.  Rest assured she is VERY well cared for.  I now have absolutely NO DOUBT that both of my girls have a strong maternal instinct.  Poor Nala has been... dressed up, rocked in a baby bed, pushed in a grocery cart, swaddled in blankets, stuffed in a purse, and anything else you can possibly imagine. 

Isn't she CUTE!?!?!

Time to go shopping!

Showing Nala where she got her name... (from the Lion King)

Little "Momma Drama"

This is what happens when there are too many "mommas" in the house.  LOL! 

All snuggled up watching cartoons in bed.

Seriously... this cat has got it made!

Look... she fits in my purse!  Can we take her to the store Mom?

(Ummm... NO!)

Nala "posing" for her portrait!

"Big event" #2 would have to be that Jarred & I recently attended a couples camp.  With the busy life of our family we wanted to make it a priority this year to have some dedicated intentional time to just enjoy our marriage and grow deeper in our faith and to each other.  It was amazing!!!!  To be honest, we haven't really had a date even since our week vacation in Mexico, and that was in JUNE!!!! Crazy!  Ironically the study we did while we were there was "The Time Starved Marriage".  How sad that it is a iconic "sign of the times" that we are too busy to enjoy such a blessing that such a study even exists.  I have already seen changes and blessings that have come from this study.  And to think I thought our marriage was wonderful BEFORE we went.  Friends, never question the tremendous blessing God has designed for your marriage.  No matter how green the grass seems, he can always give you a little "miracle grow" to make it even better!  We did have some free time to explore the ranch and participate in the many ammenitites it has to offer.  I managed to catch a 3 pound large mouth bass.  Whoo Hoo!  I do feel kind of sorry for the fish though... I was so excited as I was reeling him in, I was running backwards towards the house to show Jarred so technically I kind of "drug" him in.  LOL!!!  He seemed fine when they let him back in the river though.  (It's a catch & release place.)  It should come as no surprise that I'm not a big "fisherwoman".  The only part I really like is the thrill of catching one & reeling it in!  I refuse to touch the fish itself or the bait for that matter.  Ha!  

However, the real hi-light of the weekend was a BIG first for me!  We went skeet shooting!  Keep in mind, I have NEVER even TOUCHED a gun in my entire LIFE!  I am absolutely terrified of them.  However, I wanted to at least go watch Jarred shoot and see what all this hub-bub was about.  The next thing I know, I've got neon orange foam thingys in my ears and a 20 gauge rifle in my hands.  (Please excuse my misuse of gun terminology... I'm a rookie here! LOL!)  I was the first of the rookies (there were about 10 of us) to step up to the challenge.  

I look like a "natural" right!?!?!  LOL!

Once I finally stopped screaming every time I pulled the trigger it actually got fun!!!  (Honestly I was SO thankful I just screamed and didn't curse.  LOL!!!  My hands were literally shaking like a leaf in a hurricane.)  And BONUS.... I actually HIT a target when the insturctor told me where to look and how aim.  I thought it was too funny that husbands were NOT allowed to instruct wives on "how to shoot".  LOL!!  Gotta love couples camp!  And wouldn't you know there is a skeet shooting course just down the road from us (Aaah, the "perks" of country life! LOL!).  Jarred & I are looking forward to going again soon.  Maybe this time I'll actually keep going after I hit a target.... I just wanted to make sure I ended that "adventure" on a good note.  Ha!

I have so much more to catch up on with my marathon, my mom's visit, halloween, etc., but alas life does not stop just because I'm writing about it.  Time to go cook dinner & then it's off to disperse the kiddos to their various activities.  Have a blessed day!!!