I am not sure what it is about this picture, but it sure does make me feel all "gooey" inside. Now, I realize that just the picture itself isn't what makes me feel like this, but rather who the picture is of. My husband of 16 years and friend for 21 years. Hard to believe that we've been together for such a long time, I mean its been half of my life that we've been together.

Mark came into my life right at a time when "I" was planning a new chapter in my life, but upon reflection a few years back, I realize that it was divine intervention that brought us together. Sometimes you just have to give credit where credit is due. If you asked me way back then, I honestly can say that I couldn't have imagined that I'd be spending my life with this man. I really believe that God put this man in my life because he knew that anyone else would not have been able to endure the difficulties I lay before him. Mark has endured so much over the years we me, I still am in awe knowing that he' hasn't left me. Through uncertainty of who I am, the insanity of depression and countless moments of self-doubt he sees me through it all. His quiet nature and supporting love resonates through my soul. I'm not sure if he realizes that or not, but I sure do hope and pray that he knows that I love and appreciate him with all of my being.

All this to say that God got it right and I am so thankful!

Mark and Conner left for New Jersey today. Mark wanted to go and watch a friend of his race his 1968 Mustang at Atco. (One of our old stomping grounds when we were dating). Anyway ~ Mark is getting to help Rich behind the scenes in the pit crew. He's definitely excited about it. Although I am not sure if he is excited about watching/working at the race or going up to collect the parts and such that his other friend has been gathering for him. At first, Mark was going to take my Explorer up, but then changed his mind and is driving the truck. Makes me wonder what in the world he is bringing back that he needs extra room for. Lord help me to just "grin and bare it." I can't even imagine what life would be like for Mark if he didn't have his cars to tinker and mess around with. I know he'd be one unhappy person, which is why I can't begrudge him of it. We all have to have those passions in life that keeps up going and desiring to get up and move each day, right? My family is what keeps me going. I couldn't imagine my life without them. Even with all the craziness that life with 3 active boys and a husband entails. Love is what its all about.

Tristan, Ian and myself are here alone this weekend, so I'm going to make the best of it and make sure we do some special little things. Tonight we had dinner at the school and then rented a couple of movies. The boys have spread out their sleeping bags on the living room floor and are planning on camping out there tonight. They informed me that I could have the couch since I am older and need something soft. So thought of them, huh? :) Think tomorrow we'll head to Charleston for some shopping and maybe see if I can find the bowling alley. Bowling seems like a good idea at the moment. We'll see.

Life is good. Thank you God for all your blessings in my life and I thank You for all that You do for me. Please Lord keep my family safe this weekend while we are split apart. Even though we are far apart, I know that You can keep us safe and connected through Your love. Lord I pray that we all will have fun and enjoy the things that we have planned. It's in your name I pray... Amen!

Love lives on

The fruit of our union has arrived-
Smiles abound as we gaze.
Similarities in complextion-
Pudgy cheeks with dimples so deep.
Eyes that penetrate the soul.

Love endures as a new life arrives-
Love continues as nurturing is given unselfishly.
Love grows through the copying of-
Compassion, laughter, kindness and teaching.
Love will multiply.

Time has come to find another-
Seeking another with the love that was taught.
Finding the mate that will help me carry on-
Our union has produced the love learned
Love lives on.

I've found a new hobby

A week before Christmas last year our electric went out for five days. Funny enough it is when you are forced to do something different then the normal you find some things to do that you normally wouldn't have thought about to begin with. This is how I started drawing. I picked up a pencil and paper and just started drawing. It's been fun and interesting to see what I can create on a blank piece of paper. I am not the best at this and I have many, many flaws in my drawings, but what I hope is that with practice and study I'll get better at this. Maybe even with some confidence after I get good at it, I'll be able to teach the kids at school how to draw. Wouldn't that be something??? I've got a long ways to go....but you've got to start somewhere's right? :)

Here are some of the pictures I've done....





This is a cobra I did. This one was hard to get the shading down....still needing practice with it.



This after reading in a book how to figure out the right porportions of the facial features...which I might say is very hard!!! ~ I drew this face. I've got the proportion I think, but I do have to work on the detail work...freckles, facial shape, hair.



LOL ~ Well, this is Ian. I took one of his school pictures and tried to study the lines and whatnot. This is what I got out of it!



Thought I would try using a ruler this time. Before I've been just free handing the drawings. This building was pretty easy...shading, again is tough to get right though. Door is a little crook it, but isn't that the way barns are suppose to be?? :) I actually have to say though this is my favorite picture I've done so far.





My winter tree. I like this one, but again...need work on the details of it all.

A visit from a long and dear friend....

A little bit before Thanksgiving, my friend from high school came to visit me. She brought her two youngest boys with her, Hunter and Riley. It was so nice to have her come and spend some time with her. We don't get much "real" time together as she lives in the next state over. Six hours away. Breaks my heart sometimes when I think about it, because we have been through so much together over the years, I really do miss her and wish we could be closer.

I met her in high school, in particular, the Mechanical Drawing class. I remember this only because it was only her and myself in a class full of boys! We became friends and I'm so grateful for it too. Her and I have had spent time in high school together, gone to some parties together (oh the stories I could tell!), have cried on each others shoulders when boyfriends would dump us. We would spend lots of time on the phone together when we moved away from each other. Her to PA and myself to WV. It's funny as I reflect back over the years, our friendship has had periods of intensity to periods of silence, but it as always remained the same in that we have always felt comfortable with each other. We could go a few weeks/months without speaking, call each other up on the phone and just pick right back up where we left off. I sit here almost in tears, reminiscing over the memories I have stored in my head of how Amy helped me the day I didn't want to live anymore. I was in the house all by myself, no one was around and I could easily have done whatever and not been accountable for it. That day God placed it on her heart to call me and stay on the phone with me until Mark came home. Her selfless act of love and compassion for my hurting soul has meant more to me then she probably even knows.

Finding a friend besides your spouse that you can share intimate and vulnerable things with is a treasure. My prayer is that everyone can find that special friend in their lives. I pray this for my children as they begin to foster the friendship with the kids they come in contact with. I know that God uses these friendships in more ways than one, but I think most of all the love that comes from it is precious indeed.

A reminder that God is always here

My children and husband keep asking me why in the world I keep playing this song by JJ Heller. Not sure why, but I do know that I love this song. The lyrics are simply written, but it brings power to my heart, to my soul. Not sure if it is the simple reminder that God is with me no matter what is going on in my life and in the lives of those around me.

My heart swells up when I truly think about this and believe it. There has been so many things that I've gone through in my life. Some of them have been really hard to deal with. I've had stress of managing/juggling my time, parenting my children, loving my husband as a wife should and just being a friend to others. All of which take effort and are challenging. Don't get me wrong, I love my life. I love what I have become so far. All of the effort and challenges have made me the person I am today. But it is so helpful and comforting, knowing that God has me in His hands. That during all of "it", that there is One that I can look to for strength to push forward. He has done it before and He will continue to do it! Whoo Hooo, isn't that awesome??!!!??


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlL8LayF0uw

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That You would take my pain away
That You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crookedly lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

When You walked upon the Earth
You healed the broken, lost, and hurt
I know You hate to see me cry
One day You will set all things right
Yea, one day You will set all things right

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

Your hands
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave You when...

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave...
I never leave Your hands

Catching up on various things....

Gosh its been so long since I have updated my blog. Not sure what happened to the time, but somehow or another it disappeared on me while I've been living this thing called life.


Well to start we have a new addition to our family. He came to us about a month ago from a lady that lives in Morgantown. After hours of searching on a website called www.petfinders.com, Mark found this dog and embarked in trying to find out about him. After leaving a few messages and waiting for a call back, someone finally called and I talked with this lady over the phone for a while. I could tell that she really was attached to him and it was heartbreaking for her to let him go. He must be a special dog, I thought. After negiotiating a meeting spot, we settled at the Sheets gas station in Weston and waited for our meeting of the dog. Him and his owner arrived and what a huge puppy he is. Part Great Dane and part German short-haired pointer, he came out of the car and instantly had his nose to the grown and was sniffing all that he could. The owner was so nice and supplied us with a 55 lb bag of dog food, toys and balls for entertainment and a little laser light. Didn't realize how much fun it would be to play with that little thing when we first got it. I think that, we found out, was his favorite toy out of it all. He pounces on that light like a cat and to see a huge dog like Munch, it is hilarous.

I have to say for a person that can take or leave dogs, this one has weezled his way into my heart and loving him is not hard at all. He is well behaved, loving and extremely attentive. He is obedient and eager to please. The kids just love him and the kids enjoyed the fact that I have relaxed on the rule of "no dogs allowed in the beds". The kids argue over who gets to sleep with him next. It's great that not only is this dog loving our family, but he is teaching my children how to love as well.

"Detective Munch" as he is called is a welcomed and will be cherished addition to the Hallman household.