Happy Anniversary to Us

Happy Anniversary to Lou and Michael. Loved your post so I thought I'd steal it. By the way, you know your ring should be upgraded at year 5.

My 3rd Anniversary is today. We are in a hotel room in Little Rock about to go to St. Vincent Hospital where my grandfather will have at least triple by pass surgery.

Like Lou, here is a blast from the past, Jonathan and Randi

1998-June 2000: Jonathan and I were no more that casual friends at school. He had a serious crush on me. I thought he was a dork. I graduated and didn't see him for awhile.

June 2000: My bestest friend, Becca, comes down from Oklahoma and meets Jonathan and thinks he is so cute. Well that wasn't working for me and she talked me into going out with him. So we met at the pool and talked and talked. He came over the next night for dinner and hasn't left since.

December 2001: Jonathan proposes to me at Christmas (my favorite holiday) with my family all around (my favorite people). I said yes but only after I finish school.

March 2002: Jonathan was right by my side when I had gallbladder surgery even though he got so sick at the hospital my mom was trying to take care of both of us.

September 2003: Jonathan drops out of school and works full time to afford a place for us to live after we get married.

December 2003: I graduate college with a B.A. in Physical Ed. and Jonathan right by my side.

January 2004: Started my first teaching job in Hamburg.

June 2004: I marry my best friend in the whole wide world and I cry all the way to Monroe after the wedding...just very emotional. We have an awesome honeymoon cruise with great memories we still laugh about.

August 2004: Jonathan gets a job at Hamburg as IT and we get to work together.

July 2005: Go on great vacations to North Arkansas to Canoe the Spring River and then to Dallas to go to Six Flags and watch the Yankees play the Rangers. We also start trying to have a

baby.

November 2005: Jonathan leaves Hamburg to work of the Department of Corrections.

March 2006: Pass Praxis III, the next day we find out we're pregnant.

July 2006: Find out we are having a little boy, Aaron Connard McMahon.

November 2006: Move into our new home and I go into labor and 12 hrs later we have Aaron.

June 12 2007: Our 3rd anniversary and my son is 7 months old.

Here's to us sweetie. You have two years until the upgrade! I love you.

Date Night

Last night I had a date with my husband. Papa kept the boy and my husband took me out to dinner. It wasn't anything special, but it was very relaxing. I actually felt good while I was getting ready and thought I looked nice. We went to Ameca and sat side by side, not across from each other. Then we went to Wal-Mart (what can I say, I'm easy to please). We talked, laughed, and held hands. We had a really good time. But I have to admit, I was ready to get home to my baby boy. He was screaming and ready for bed when we got back. It took all of about 10 minutes to get him to sleep. Guess daddy has the touch when Papa doesn't.

Got some good shots of Jakob's graduation. Check em out at www.mcmahonfamilyphotography.blogspot.com. Comment and let me know what you think about them.

Gratitude List

Yay!! Only six more days until school is out! I am so excited. I actually seem to get a sudden burst of energy about this time, kinda like the nesting instinct when I was pregnant. (Hang on, Aaron's trying to tear up his swing.) Ok, all better now. Anyway, I have a sudden burst of energy, physically, spiritually, creatively, emotionally, etc. Maybe it's the warm weather, but even though we've (Aaron and I) been sick this past weekend, I feel pretty good.

I can't remember where I read it, but I saw something about a Gratitude Journal. I think that is a wonderful idea, so here is my Gratitude List.

I AM GRATEFUL

• that I have an wonderful husband and an amazing son. My day always starts off right when I roll over and see those two in bed with me.
• that my afore mentioned amazing son has gone to bed without too much of a fight the past 3 nights.
• that I was able to be there for a friend when she really needed me.
• that I have Christian friends who are also raising their children according to God's Word and that we can fellowship together while we are on this crazy ride.
• for my brand new awesome Canon Photo Printer that prints really good 8x10s.
• that my grandmother is so thoughtful enough to watch my child everyday I go to work and then she cooks supper for me when my husbands at work so I'm not cooking for 1 everynight.
• that my son knows his grandparents.
• that my husband cares enough about his brother to intervene when it is absolutly needed.
• that I can see God working in my life every single day.
• that I am saved and that Heaven sees me through the blood of Jesus.

So there it is my Top 10 in no particular order, and that's just from this past week. What about you?

Determined

Last post, I stated we were finished nursing. This broke my heart and I truly did not feel this was the best decision in the interest of myself or my son, but more out of frustration. So what do you know, my devotional last night was God being our rock through tough situations and this morning it was on God's determination for loving us. I thought if God is so determined to show me his love no matter what then I can be determined enough to give my son what I believe is best for him, even if it is difficult. God was so determined to show us His love, He walked the hill of Calvary and died. That is big time commitment. Why quit now. I committed to my son 1 year of the best gift I could give him, that is nothing compared to what Jesus did for me.

Anyway, we are back to trying nursing again and we actually did so successfully for about 5 minutes. Aaron is so independant and stubburn...he gets that from his daddy. Just pray for me to relax and have patience with him.

Our Last Nurse

I'm sitting here with my son in my lap and it's raining outside. We had our last nursing session Friday morning. I hope I never forget it. It wasn't my choice. I wanted to nurse until he was 1, but he has different ideas.

Friday morning I crawled back into bed and pulled him close and he latched on like a pro and nursed for about 10 minutes and then fell back asleep. I snuck out of bed and finished getting ready for work. I pumped at work like always, getting very little for my efforts. He hasn't nursed since. I'm sad, but looking back I wouldn't trade the last six months for anything. I know I gave my son the best possible start I could, but for some reason, I feel like a quitter or a bad mother. I know this isn't true, but nursing Aaron is something I will miss and will treasure those memories forever and ever.

It must've been my mama sense

Sunday after church and after a good meal at the Q&Y, thanks to my sisters suggestion, my mom, dad, Aaron, and I ventured into walmart...ya do what ya gotta do when the baby is out of juice. Dad took Aaron in the Cadillac stroller and Mom and I went to get the goods we needed. Mom and I eventually made our way to the clothes...that must have been my shopping-sense when all of a sudden I can hear a baby cry. I immediately know it's Aaron and I go following the sound of this baby crying. Finally halfway around the store, I see Dad and Aaron, and he is screaming..(Aaron, not Dad). Aaron just wanted out of the stroller so I guess Mama Sense and Papa Sense are two different critters. It just struck me as totally cool, that I knew that was Aaron and not some other baby. It really did my self esteem as a mother some good. Anyone else ever experience that?

Aspiring the Abundant Life

Welcome to my new blog. No offense to anyone on Xanga, but I seem to have outgrown it, and felt the need to move on. So much has changed in my life over the course of 1 year. My priorities and aspirations have changed.

Check out this definition of aspire from dictionary.com

as·pire –verb
1.to long, aim, or seek ambitiously; be eagerly desirous, esp. for something great or of high value 2.Archaic. to rise up; soar; mount; tower.
Origin: 1425–75 to breathe upon, pant after,


I'm aspiring for an abundant life. Jesus came to give me life, in all of it's good (my salvation, my husband, my son, my opportunities, etc.) and bad (the bills, the wrecked motorcycle, the busted car, the teeny tiny bank account, etc.).

I'm an aspiring wife and mother. I never want to think that I can't give more to my family.

I'm an aspiring photographer with the best subject of all, my 5 1/2 month old son, Aaron. I wish I was as photogenic as he is.

I'm an aspiring creator. I want to create things with the talent God has given me.

I'm an aspiring inspiration. I know that sounds funny, but I want others to desire so much more from their lives and to understand that more doesn't always mean more stuff. To relish in the simplicity of their faith, families, and friends.