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.

Mark's Torino

Well, he did it. Mark has finally put some fresh paint on his pride and joy. I think he's been trying to get this thing restored for about 4 years now. Long time to wait for the finished product, but I'm sure he doesn't mind after seeing what he's done. This car was given a 429 cobra jet engine full equipped with top performance parts. He wants this thing to go fasssssst! A complete interior re-do from the dashboard to the trunk. Then finally the paint job that shines so brightly. Mark did a fantastic job on it and I'm so proud of him. I only hope that he realizes how talented and gifted of a man he is. I know I give him a hard time every so often about putting so much money into this hobby of his, but truth be told ~ he is doing something that is worth while and I shouldn't be doing that. He deserves to have this. He's a good, attentive and loving father. He doesn't abuse me or the kids. He doesn't drink himself to stupidity, nor does he indulge in drugs. I can't complain about this hobby, but only love him for being a special guy that has a passion for cars.

Great job Mark ~ I love you!!!! ((hugs))

"Anything that is worth doing, is worth doing right"

Oh I just love summer!! A time to really spend some quality time with the kids. During the hussle and bussle of school time, I think I tend to just skim through it all. Missing out on things.

One of the things the kids did this summer, was fix and get running their go-kart. A friend of mine gave the kids a double seater. After bringing it home and tinkering around with it, they got the it running. So now we have two running go-karts and 3 crazy kids! You can drive up to my front yard and tell exactly where they have been making their rounds. The path is definitely worn down. Tristan decide to take a stroll through the fence today. Thank God for helmets and roll cages other wise he would have been hurting a bit. Mark wasn't to pleased that he has to know replace the fence, but he'll get over it I think. We'll all just help him, so it won't be that bad.

I'm wanting to plan a camping trip here soon. Not sure when though and where. (might just end up camping on the hill across the street). Maybe something will present itself here soon, so I can get inspired!

Well, I am off. It is midnight here and this cinderella is about to turn into a sleepy servant girl!

Chat with you later!