3 MORE WEEKS!

PRAISE GOD! We only have 3 more weeks until Mike is home with us. This has been the longest separation of our marriage and our Marine Corps career. Life as a Marine Corps family is always challenging but this year has been extra tough. However, God is truly faithful and has pulled us through this. If not for Him, we would all three go insane. I am so grateful to my friends and family who have helped us out in so many ways. I can never truly express the gratitude I feel in my heart for you! May God truly bless each of you. You will be rewarded with many jewels in your crown.

This is a hectic and crazy week but I will try to blog some more of our recent activities. It has been a busy 2 weeks. Lots of fun and work with even more to come.

God bless and we love you all!

A & K

Drowning

I apologize that I have been MIA for a while. Life is very hectic and crazy at the moment. I have been so busy that I have felt like I was drowning. UGH! I love my new job, but I worked everyday last week. My paycheck will be great but I have not had the time to get many other things accomplished.

Mike is coming home in 3 weeks! Yes!! I have so much to do and it seems like not enough time to get it done. So, I will be back after church today to post some musings on the recent activity in the Hackney household.

Have a great Sunday!

Happy Birthday Kate!

Happy 5th Birthday!
The Birthday Princess 10-11-08

Welcome to the world!

10-11-03

It is so hard to believe that 5 years ago on this day our world changed forever. Kate was born! She is the light of our lives and truly a blessing from God. Today began early, as the day did 5 years ago, with Kate waking me up. She was so cute and quietly walked into my room. I sang Happy Birthday and gave her a great big kiss! I then showed her the box that her Daddy sent her and told her about the Birthday Fairy. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I created a large problem for myself in the future. I created the Birthday Fairy.

Kate was having a rough morning and was sad with Mike being gone today. I had hidden part of her gift in our bathroom overnight so I got the bright idea to mention that I heard some rustling around in there and she should check it out. She was so excited about the possiblity of a Fairy being in our house and her little face just lit up. She loved the clothes, headbands, purse, and DVD's that the Birthday Fairy brought her. So, it is done! I must get a separate gift each year from the Birthday Fairy.

We then spent the day with our friends, the Parkers. Mason's birthday was yesterday so his party was today, also. He had a huge bouncy house with slide set up in the "green space" in our neighborhood, which just happens to be next to our house. So, Kate got 2 parties for the price of one. She, Mason, and the other kids all bounced and played for hours. We then went to the Creative Discovery Museum for Kate's party. It was great! The ME's were wonderful and took care of everything. I have a few pictures to share. Let me know and I will send more!

Blowing out the candles.

Birthday ribbon!

Lots of friends and family joined us to celebrate her day. We returned home and had a great afternoon jumping in the bouncy house and then playing with a few of her gifts. She then put on her new Hannah Montana jammies and was off to bed.

God is so amazing and great! I can not believe how blessed I am to have Kate for a precious and beautiful daughter. She is so kind, thoughtful, and polite. I am so thankful that Mike and I are so lucky. Happy Birthday Baby girl! You are truly a princess!

Wedded Bliss

Kate and the Bride, Kym. Kate and me before the ceremony.
Kate with Dad's GTO. She is ready to roll!
So, this weekend finally arrived. JC & Kym were united in love and marriage on Saturday, Oct 4, 2008. JC is the youth pastor at The Church at Catoosa, where we are priviledged to serve as youth volunteers. Kymmy is so amazing! Kate was flower girl and looked so beautiful and grown up. The ceremony was beautiful and wonderful. I was so honored to be able to attend and share in their joy.


Being involved in the wedding this weekend allowed me the opportunity to reflect on my own marriage and wedding. I am so lucky to be married to an amazing man. Mike is truly my best friend and sould mate. God created him for me and I am so grateful! Over the past 9 years we have had our ups and downs, but our love has grown stronger. I am really more in love with him today than I was the day I married him. Next year is our 10 year anniversary and I am seriously contemplating a vow renewal ceremony. Thoughts on this?

Now it is your turn! Share your love story, I can't wait to hear them!

I've been tagged!

My friend, Deanna, tagged me today, so I will play along. Here's how it works:

List the rules of the game

Tell 6 random things about yourself that others may or may not know
Tag 6 more people at the end of your post
If you're tagged...just do it and play along

Here we go, 6 random things you may or may not about me:
1. I was only born with 1 kidney but didn't find out until I was 18.
2. Mike and I met in a bar in NC.
3. I can not leave the house without my toenails polished. (Thanks to my Alpha Xi sisters!)
4. I really believed that the waterheads lived on Cooperlake Rd and would attack your car if you stopped at the railroad tracks.
5. I absolutly love mexican food! I could eat it 3 times a week.
6. I fell off the school bus one of the few times I rode it in high school and fractured my ankle.

That's all....Now who will I tag??? I'll pick Hollie Hixson, Jamie Worley, Tammy Nolan, Ken Worley, Derek Bruner, Janet Hunt. Alright folks, it's your turn!