Thoughts

I haven't blogged in awhile so there are a few things on my mind, other than vacation & reunion fun. First thing is funny--near our house, there is this mansion for sale. It's about 6000 sq ft with this beautiful lawn, pond, barns, etc. up on a hill. Every time we pass it Marc makes some comments about "is anyone ever really going to buy that?" or "I wonder how much they're asking for it?" His latest question has been "what do they do about that driveway?" (it's cement & there is only room for one car--it's pretty long & goes up a hill so there is no passing allowed).

So last night we were headed out that direction and at the last minute Marc turns up the driveway. Now if you know anything about Marc, this is the kind of thing he does all the time (gets it from his dad)...they just are curious & do things that the rest of us wouldn't dream of. So he pulls up the driveway and I'm "yelling" at him cuz I hate it when he does stuff like that. I mean, what if someone was living there & we couldn't get up or back down? (Bottom line...I don't like to be embarrassed.) As we reach the top, I say "Marc, there's a guy on the front porch!" He doesn't believe me & keeps going...so really, the man who owns this house is sitting on his front porch which overlooks said driveway reading the paper. His son is in the back yard playing ball and of course we have to pass his son too so we can do a 7 point turn in their small driveway so we can get out of this mess....Needless to say, it was a little embarrassing but mostly funny. He got caught! I don't know why, but it really made me laugh...I guess because usually when he does stuff like that, I always chastise him but then no one lives there or it ends up not being a big deal. But that day, I was actually right!

I digress...so some other things on my mind are: I love my family. My son is the coolest & my husband is the awesomest. I can't wait to see what my daughter will be like! Oh sweet Kenna, only 3 more months til I see your beautiful, prayed-for, longed-for, face...

Last night, we briefly stopped at the Grace American Family Cookout or whatever it's called, hosted by Grace Baptist Church in Karns. There were a lot of people there & had we planned ahead & actually brought chairs & food, we probably would have stayed to watch the fireworks. As it was, I was having a few contractions (nothing major, just overdid it) and Z was ready for bed, so we didn't stay long. But we did stay long enough for Z to check out the helicopter & fire truck that were there. I think Z thought that was the whole reason we came!

They were letting the kids sit up in each vehicle so Z gets up in the helicopter in the front seat. I peek at him through the front window & am watching him as he's trying to press all the buttons & use the levers. Then he says "Close the door!" We just rolled over laughing--he actually thought we were going to close the door so he could "drive" the helicopter himself! Oh, to have the imagination of a 2 yr old...

In other thoughts...I've been reading in Psalms lately, starting at the beginning. One thing that is really striking me is how many times David calls God his refuge, or hiding place--his shield or strong tower. Sometimes he doesn't use these exact words but the picture is the same. God is a Father we can run to at any moment, for any reason. Not just when we're feeling good or think it's "safe" because we haven't done anything bad that day. But all the time....He is my refuge. I can run to Him, with anything. I can hide in Him, when my day is long and I feel lonely. I can trust that He will be my Strong Tower when I feel like my finances or life is falling apart. He is my Shield when I feel the enemy grabbing for my soul. He is my Refuge.

More random vacation pics

I had a great time at my 10 yr reunion (thanks, Lauren for heading it up!), and I swiped some pics from my friends since I brought my camera but didn't take any pictures. (story of my life) Sorry these are small but that's how they came when I swiped them.

Me & Marc

Melissa, Heather, Becca, & me
The men trying to entertain themselves while us women gabbed the night away...they were great sports!
My best friend Adrienne & her hubby Jason (and little boy Elijah coming in October)

Our class (at least those of us who came). There were 35 in our graduating class & I think around 17 showed up...not too bad!
I can't believe it's been 10 yrs already...I'm sure the next 10 are really going to fly by!

Beach day!

We spent the day at the beach with my Dad, Lisa, & all the kids--Jacque, Katie, Kristen, Kaitlin, David, & Z. It was a perfect day--sun shining, wind blowing, lots of great waves. We went to St Andrews State Park in Panama City, FL--on one side of the park was a calm area with the jetties. Z & Marc saw lots of jellyfish-Z's favorite since he's been watching Finding Nemo. On the other side were the waves & boats. The waves were huge & it was fun watching everyone bodysurf. There were some "real" surfers there, too, and it made us all wish we knew how to surf!


Saying "cheese" while eating cheese crackers! Taking a break from the water...

My sister Jacque & stepsister Kristen taking a break, too.

My beach umbrella...

Some family pics

We had a great time on vacation, just relaxing & hanging out with family. Here is Z with my stepsister Kaitlin:


Playing with my sister Katie:

With my Dad (his Grandpa Pepa) and Lisa:

Pray for Cate's family

If you get a few minutes, read this blog and pray for this family. They have such great faith despite the circumstances in their lives right now. Being pregnant with a little girl, I have no idea how they are dealing with this other than to say that God's grace is sufficient for our every need.

Something I forgot...and it will change your life!

I just learned yesterday from my UPS working husband--

UPS brown delivery trucks....

The roofs are white.

I mean, who knew that? I have always & forever envisioned these trucks to be completely brown all the way around.

Every time I see another UPS delivery truck, I remember this & think how weird it is now that I know the roofs are white, not brown.

I'm weird...I know.

P.S. for those of you who are wondering: the roofs are white to keep those dark brown trucks much much cooler during the summer months. Those UPS people sure are smart.

Happy Flag Day, Father's Day, & Monday!

Happy Father's Day to my favorite husband! He is such a wonderful father to Zachary & I am so proud to be part of his family!
Happy Flag Day (Saturday). Zachary is absolutely obsessed with American flags lately and points out EVERY one he sees. It was cute for about 2 weeks...now that we're hitting the patriotic holidays (Memorial Day, Flag Day, 4th of July), it's a bit of overkill, I think. There is a flag on every street corner & almost every house. I bought him his own personal little flag for a dollar at Walmart on Friday. He carries it with him everywhere. He wants to bring it inside grocery stores, to church, to friends' houses....absolutely hysterical!! I tried to get a pic of him & his flag but he wasn't feeling too cooperative.

And...Happy Monday! Mondays are usually a bit difficult for me, just because Z loves his daddy so much and hates that he has to go to work after being home for 2 days straight. This one is turning out okay so far. I mean, it has to be a good day when you get to shave like Daddy, right? :) Marc shaves his head bald, so when Z went to put his own shaving cream on, the first place he did it was right on top of his head! So funny!

It's always a good day, too, when you can start it with a breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes! Yummy!

Yesterday we had the greatest time at church. We've started going to a "Couples with Young Children" community group & that has been really cool for us, too. But yesterday started off great with some awesome worship done by a band who I think ministers in the college group at our church. We had never heard them before & it was so incredible & refreshing! It's been awhile since I have felt the presence of the Lord that strong. That was followed by an inspiring message by Pastor Rick...I think what impressed me the most about yesterday was P Rick's "mini-message" though in the middle of worship. He talked about what God is working in his heart, and that it is all about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That everything we are looking toward and seeking out should be about the Gospel. That we should have a sense of urgency--not busyness--to be sure we are carrying out the message of the Good News of Christ with every part of our lives. He was so humbled and broken as he spoke what the Lord had been doing in his heart. I feel so blessed to be part of such a great church, and I've been pondering all this in my heart since yesterday....processing.

Anyway, we enjoyed the worship so much in the first service that Marc decided to enjoy the worship music again during second service while I went to the community group & he would join me after worship was over. We went our separate ways & I enjoyed hearing our pastor's wife (also a therapist) speak on the development of 3-5 yr olds. It was information we desperately needed to hear since we are about to have a 3 yr old soon! Marc never showed up for the group--when I met him afterward, he had Zachary already from the nursery. Z looked at me, threw his hands up in the air & said "We had donuts!" I knew there was a story behind this, and indeed there was! :)

Marc knows that Z loves worship music, especially loud music--he calls it "praise the Lord" music! So Marc decided to get Z out of the nursery to enjoy the music with him. All was fabulous until the music got a little quieter & it was just the piano playing softly, in a sweet atmostphere. All of a sudden, Z yells out (for the whole congregation to hear): "Daddy, are they gonna play another song?" Marc said he was so embarrassed! He ended up having to take him out of the service so they didn't disrupt anyone else's worship time...hence the donuts! I certainly enjoyed since they bought me one, too!

Hope you enjoy the pictures & stories...more to come! I'm off to make my little guy some lunch.

Looking up

That is, things are looking up because I am looking up. It's ironic how easy it is to be down in the dumps when you take your eyes off the things that really matter and the One who has it all under control.

I have been super frustrated the last 2 weeks, about a number of things, our finances, the fact that Marc pretty much does nothing but work, the fact that it's summer & I don't get to see any of my mommy friends anymore. I mean, the list could go on and on about the things that brought me down.

I forgot that what I should be focusing on are the things that I DO have, that I am thankful for--all the overflow that we have received from the Lord's hand. It's so easy to compare myself to other moms, or our family to other families, and feel like we're coming up short. But the truth is, none of us were meant to be exactly like the other. God has placed me in this city, in this family, in this marriage...to be the wife, mom, friend, neighbor He has designed. When I get away from that design--that's when I get frustrated.

On that note, I am thankful for.....VACATION! We are having a time of vacation coming up next week. Yes, we're "only" going to Dothan--admittedly not the most exciting vacation spot in the country, but I'm determined that our family is going to have a good time. We're not going to feel sorry for ourselves because we can't "spend away" our trip--yes, we'll have some fun times & do a few fun things, but pennies will still have to be pinched. I'm determined to find some fun, creative, mostly free things to do during that time so we don't feel too deprived.

Mostly I am just super excited to be spending lots of quality time with my hubby & son--no working allowed!!

It's too hot!

So I've been a bit of an emotional mess the last week or so...my poor husband. I don't ever remember feeling this way with Z, but I'm sure I did (& I'm sure he'd be the first one to remember each & every time!) :) Here's a "view from above"--it's blurry but you get the point, no more looking at my feet when I look down. The pink blob is my belly and my pretty pink toenails are lost until the end of Sept. when this little girl makes her appearance. At our last ultrasound on Thursday, she weighed 1 lb 4 oz & was looking good! We tried to get a 3D picture, but she was hiding her face with her hands.

I finally figured out how to make my "Memere" chocolate chip cookies again, as we call them. This put me in a bit of a good mood this weekend....I think the chocolate helped too! For some reason when we moved here I lost my touch and the cookies fell flat every time. I hate having to switch from a gas to electric stove--it makes cooking so difficult! So, 8 months later, I'm back! They were super yummy, and I'm trying to keep myself from eating them nonstop all day long.

Z's latest obsession has been with my shoes. His favorites are my black clogs, which he puts on the second he goes downstairs in the morning & pretty much wears them all day. He also loves to be shirtless as much as possible--I think the combination of no shirt & girly shoes is pretty funny! Here he is this morning wearing a few of my high heeled shoes (at least someone is wearing them--I've been sticking to flip flops).

The funny thing is that many times I will catch him with no shirt on, black clogs on, pushing his Dirt Devil vacuum around. Marc said the other day "where's the video camera when you need it?" Z is really into pretending lately, too. On Saturday, Marc caught him playing with these 2 butterfly toys he has. He was having the butterflies touch a button on the microwave (something he's not allowed to do), then he would take them over and put them in "his" time out spot and say "I told you to listen--now you have to go in time out." (He's not really in time out as often as he'd like others to think!)

Z & I had fun outside last week, trying to stay cool with his makeshift swimming pool (we emptied the sandbox) and his sprinkler. It's been in the 90s here for about a week now & pretty miserable for this pregnant woman. Here he is enjoying some watermelon outside.

Well, I've had some fun figuring out this blogger stuff (hence the pics all over the place), but I'd better get back to my normal routine so I actually get something done today!

A new page...

I've decided to switch our blog to something a little more blog friendly and a little less "myspace-xanga-facebook-y" so this is what we end up with. I also wanted to have a place where people who weren't "members" could post comments if they wanted to.

Hope you enjoy our new "home"!