Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Been busy!!!


This is our newest addition to our car! I had been wanting one of those little families for forever, and when I saw this on my Friday shopping trip, I almost fainted right there in the store. This is "so us!!!" Roll Tide Roll Baby!
Gosh. I have really been busy! Last Friday, Noah and I enjoyed our shopping trip. I got some neat things!!! Then Saturday, we all three went again. We were on a mission to get Buddy Boy a new collar and leash. Derrick said, "Just go to Mossy Oak, where we got his other one." I asked him could we please shop around a little, I like the Mossy Oak one, of course we wanted Alabama but have had NO luck with that, but I maybe wanted something different. Three hours and 10 stores later, we ended up at Mossy Oak! But it was a fun day! We even got to go to Ci-Ci's Pizza, Noah's favorite, where he ate 5 pieces of pizza!!! Then we came home to find that our freezer with a month's worth of meat, two roasts, waffles, pizzas, bread, and bacon had completely thawed out. I guess since we ate leftovers on Friday night from my b'day Thursday, I didn't look in there Friday, and didn't catch it thawing out soon enough. The bad news is, all my meat is gone. The good news is my in-laws have a freezer they don't use that they said we can have!!! Sunday was church all day. I really enjoyed it though as I was not in the Toddler Class for the first time in like 6 services. I actually heard preaching! And Sunday night was really good, my Dad preached at Summerdale Assembly, and we visited there to hear him. I love to hear my daddy preach. Then Monday, my aunt needed a ride to the dentist (she had neck surgery week before last and can't drive yet), so I took her to Fairhope, and her whole appointment was about 5 minutes. So, she suggested going to her daughter's house, right down the road, to visit. Her daughter, Jeannie, has 3 kids ages: 18, 12, and 10. Noah had a blast there with them, and of course, they liked having their little cousin over. Jeannie and I went to Sonic and got slushies or blasts for everyone. Talking to her, (she's my first cousin but with an 18 year old, she's obviously older than me), was so nice. Turns out, we still can have stuff in common. Anyway, at the end of the day, it was time to come home, and Noah pitched a fit. He did not want to leave. So Jeannie made a deal with him. They have a big inground pool, and she told Noah if he'd be good and not cry, we could come over Friday and swim!!! So, let's pray for good weather Friday! She said we'd order a pizza and have a pool party!!! Sounds good to me, and sounded really good to Noah!!! So, we are looking forward to that. Then yesterday, Noah had school registration!!! He was really excited about being back at his school. I know he misses his friends and his teachers. I can work with him all day at home on stuff, I normally don't "all day," but everyday we work on something (ABC's, counting, matching, colors, talking, etc.), but he misses the interaction with other kids in a structured atmosphere. He misses that routine. He misses his teachers. So, we registered for school, and then I had a dr's appointment. Just my regular check up. But it took two hours!!! Poor Na-Na had Noah all that time, but I think they did o.k. Na-Na, who is in her 70s, has worked her whole life, and still does. So, I always feel like maybe she's too tired. But she is off today. She'll work Thursday and Friday. And then church last night, which meant my toddlers. Today is like a major house cleaning day. My poor house has been neglected these past few days.



Oh yeah, Noah and I was outside working in the flowerbeds on Wednesday of last week, when he found two catapillars. He named them Hermie and Wormie (after a cartoon), and we put them in a jar. Well, that was a week ago, and after carefully caring for them, they are still doing very good. Noah is so excited. I really want them to turn into butterflies, but we'll see. He has been so dedicated to caring for those two. He just watches them crawl sometimes. It's sweet.



Thursday, July 23, 2009

24





Happy Birthday to me! So far, 24 seems to be ok. We had my parents, my brother, and my sister and their families over for Chicken-n-Dumplins and Gumbo. Of course, I didn't cook...my mom did...my house is just a better location for everyone. And my mom made my cake too! Lots of work went into this birthday. All Noah cared about was getting a piece of that cake! It was so funny! I had a very fun time with my folks, and got lots of neat gifts! I was very super excited to not just get money this time. Although, I like money....and I got money.....but I also like to just get a few things to open. That's always fun!!! And I was very happy to receive cards, postcards, and a letter, along with MySpace and Facebook greetings! I am so truly blessed. I have so much to thank Him for. Tomorrow, Noah and I are going shopping together, just the two of us! I am very excited. I had the opportunity to go today by myself (Derrick was sick with a stomach thing....which is never fun...but he managed a bowl of Gumbo!!!) but I didn't want to go by myself today. I wanted to go tomorrow with my boy! It's kind of a treat to Noah. It's really a treat to me, considering I have no list or groceries to buy. This is just for me. I'm excited.
Either way, at 24 years old, I am amazingly blessed. I have been married for 5 1/2 years, I have a 4 1/2 year old son, I have a 9 month old puppy, I have a wonderful family, I married into a wonderful family, I have a beautiful home, I have some good friends, and I am so honored to be a housewife...aka trophy wife....aka super mom!!!Haha.
I also think this would be a good time to realize something. Out of all of the people in the world, God chose me! He chose me to be healed several times of life threatening illnesses (high white blood cell count, hepatitis, asthma, and a couple of others...Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.For by it the elders obtained a good report!!! That may be another blog another day...I'll try not to preach right now!), He chose me to be Derrick's wife, He chose me to be Noah's mom, and He chose me to be His! And I am so humbled by that. My God is so good all of the time, I am His and He is mine! I am so unworthy of this. We all are, for we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. I try to do so much for the kingdom of God, but it seems like nothing will ever be able to compare to the love and mercy of my God! I said MY God, I like to make that personal! Again, I'll try not to preach, but there are not enough words to explain the majesty of my Lord. There is a song we sing at our church called King of All Glory from New Life Worship Center. Sometimes, I like to sing to God, not just about Him. Anyway, the song really conveys just how I feel!!!
So, in conclusion (after writing a book!), Happy 24th Birthday to me! God, thanks for 24 wonderful years!!!
King of All Glory
Who can stand next to Your majesty?
Next to Your holiness, who can stand?
What compares, faced with Your righteousness?
Next to Your promises, what compares?
Here we are, by Your grace we stand.
MATCHLESS KING, we've come to sing
Holy are You Lord, King of all glory, we have come to honor You.
Holy are You Lord, Heaven and Earth ring, singing Hallelujah, Holy.
It pretty much just repeats that over and over again. But, it's such a powerful song, as are a lot of the songs on that CD.
And it's 10:59 p.m. I'm officially 24!

Monday, July 20, 2009

Just a few thoughts...

I love the ESPYS. This is the fan-voted ESPN sports awards. It was on last night, we missed the beginning due to church, but after we got home, it was on! I understood all of the little jokes and clips and all. I remembered all of the highlighted plays (except for the hockey ones), and that made the show so enjoyable. I know nothing about movie stars, TV stars, music stars, etc. but give me the Steelers, Kobe Bryant, Michael Phelps, Evan Longoria, the Williams sisters....the list goes on and on...I know them all!!! When my husband and I married 5 years ago, I didn't have a clue. I knew Bama football, but that was it. Shockingly, there are other teams and sports!!! So I chose to like them, and I feel it's kept down a lot of friction. And sports are enjoyable to watch. Sometimes my blood pressure goes sky high, but hey....that's the fun!!! Big thanks to ESPN for putting on such a show!!!

I recently saw something that really made my day on a friend's Facebook page. An old friend of mine just got her own place. She put all the pictures of her new apartment on her page. Well, in one of the pictures is a bookshelf, and on one of the shelves is an old picture of us from high school. After I graduated (a year before her), she and I kinda lost touch. She started hanging out with this girl who I just couldn't take, and so the friend, wrote me a letter saying that she didn't want to be my friend anymore. Still and all, for about 6 years, we haven't really talked. I have ran into her a few times. She came to my wedding, and baby shower, and my 19th birthday party, and my little boy's first birthday, but that was it. And all of that was 4-5 years ago. But, after all of this time, I still earned a place on her bookshelf. I have two comments about this friend. First, of all of the people in this whole wide world, no one, and I mean no one, shows the love of Jesus like this girl. I mean the pure love of Jesus. The love in 1 Corinthians 13. The love that even I don't understand. No matter what I did, she never judged me or got mad at me, she remained the same to everyone. She treated everyone this way. I use the past tense because I haven't been in contact with her, but I am sure she is still this way. Her parents did a superb job. Second, since the day I moved in with my husband (after our honeymooon), I have always, ALWAYS, had a picture of me and her on my dresser in our room!!! Derrick always asks me why do I still have that picture of the girl who I just haven't stayed in touch with, and I tell him just because. I couldn't have imagined my life without her. I have tried writing her letters, I may have even called a couple of times earlier on. I e-mailed her sometimes, and contacted her on Myspace and Facebook, but it just hasn't worked. We are at two different places right now. She's miss independant, has a boyfriend, has a job, etc., I have a home, husband, and son. It's just different now. But, I was so amazed that I was not forgotten. Thanks J.P.

And, finally, I wanted to say that Kids Krusade at our church went great!!! It was our childrens pastor's first time doing one, and she left out a few things that needed to be done, but I think that right now, she knows that. You learn by doing. And not a whole lot of people were lining up offering to help. It was just me and her setting it all up. At the Krusade itself, we had lots of help, the same ole people, but they are good and helpful people. I just hope they don't turn out to be burnt out people. Either way, I think all things considered, it went great. And of course, I was so happy to have my toddlers. Our church encourages people to follow their ministry. They do not hold people back, or hinder people from anything they feel is of the Lord. Our pastor and his wife both support every person in that church. It's amazing to me. I thank God for our church. Wait, that's His church. I thank God for it!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Bananas.

Derrick had our house built in the fall of 1999. The next summer, he planted banana trees all along our back deck. They never produced any bananas. We married in Jan. 2004, and that September, we spotted a little bunch of tiny bananas on one of the trees. We were so excited, and figured in another week or two, the bananas would be ready to pick. One week after our great discovery, Hurricane Ivan came and took care of our bunch of bananas for us. We still have all of the trees, but never any bananas. Last Friday, when Derrick and I were spraying the yard, we found what looked to be the beginnings of another bunch of bananas, on the same tree even!!! We were again super excited. Today, I walked outside to find this.



I'm pretty sure I have found the guilty party!!! Thanks Buddy Boy. Thanks.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Todays thoughts.

This past weekend was fun and busy. Friday, I went and got my sister's kids for Noah to play with. Then my mom came and got them, and Noah for a sleepover! So, Derrick and I, with an evening to ourselves, spent our precious time together.....spraying our lawn with 2 4 D, which is weedkiller! Really though, he and I both really enjoy the yard, so it was fun. Then Saturday, we had a meeting a church for Children's church. It was long, and honest, but it got a lot of misunderstandings cleared up, and a lot of needed communication. Noah had a birthday party Saturday afternoon, a school friend of mine's little boy. Noah had a blast. I almost didn't go, because I was so tired and my mind was racing from said meeting, but I am so glad I did. Then yesterday, my favorite day, was super. My toddler class ran smoothly. I even had a new kid! Lunch was good. Praise practice was good. Revival was AWESOME!

First the first Monday in a long time, my head does not hurt. I am not still so tired and stressed from my weekend. I felt the refreshing of God in my spirit last night. It was then that I realized that it's probably not healthly to miss so many church services. Even though I am at church, doing the toddler class, I have not been fed that much myself. Tonight we have revival again. I will be in church again. After that, I will miss an entire month of Sunday mornings and Tuesday nights. I'll still have Sunday nights in church. But, I now see the importance of having all services just the way we do. I love my church, my church family, and most importantly, I love my God. He is so good. We have Kids Krusade this weekend. I am super excited about this. I am actually offering something for the toddlers as well. The theme of Kids Krusade is CSI-Christ Scene Investigations. The theme for the toddlers is God Keeps His Promises-The Story of Noah's Ark. Imagine that....Noah's Ark...who came up with that I wonder?!?!?! Can't wait to see what God has in store for His people.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Some fun in Tennessee...






Tennessee consists of....the creek, more creek, and more creek!
Cane poles and solitude, 3 generations splashing and swimming after jumping in off the platform, and Noah with his MeMe and Poppy.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

My new kitchen







I am not so good with decorating at all, and we were on such a tight budget with this, but it makes me so happy! I wanted a country kitchen from the start, but someone had already bought us a bunch of lighthouse stuff. For five years, it's been lighthouses. Now, it's country!!! I am so happy. Derrick helped me so much with this, and he knew it was what I had always wanted. It makes me proud to call him mine!!! It is more than just a newly painted/decorated kitchen. It's a constant reminder that my hubby cares! I actually enjoy being in there more (I always enjoyed it, but I mean even more!!) and to me, the meals taste better!!!

Pictures




Library, Splash Park, Loving my cousin, Waterville, Cowboy at Grammie and Pa-Pa's, and watching the airplane while saying cheese with Mom.

















Monday, July 6, 2009

This summer....

This summer has really flown by fast.....I just cannot believe it is July already! School starts in 5 weeks. That's unreal! We have had a fun summer, but a busy one. We started with our Ocala/Ft. Walton Beach, FL vacation, then the summer reading program at the library, I have Bible College on Monday nights, church on Tuesday nights, we went to Waterville with my husband's company, we had a yard sale, had our living room and kitchen painted (Go M & L!!!), re-decorated the kitchen (it's too cool...the living room will have to wait it's turn.), had a custom desk built (Go Modern Millwork!!!), and we went to Tennessee this past week/ weekend (Not in that order though, of course). Tennessee was really nice. I enjoyed myself so much, as I got to actually relax! It was just us and my husband's parents, and it was a relaxing time! I even got a surprise birthday party thrown for me (my b'day is 07-23, but they won't see me!) and got to go fishing for two days! It was much needed. Now, I'm back to normal with laundry, cooking, and cleaning. Bible College tonight, church tomorrow night. Thursday night I will be the speaker at the Women of Worth (W.O.W) meeting at my church (which is a little scary!!!) ! Next week we will be having a revival at church a couple of nights, then the kids krusade is the 17th, 18th, and 19th!!! I am super excited about kids krusade.....I sure hope my toddlers enjoy it! But all of that means work and chaos again!!! Haha. I always say, "Well, after this I can simplify"......never happens! I will be posting pictures maybe later....for some reason it will not let me post them right now...and I have some really good ones. I just cannot believe how the time has flown by. Last summer seemed never-ending to me, and I had a lot going on then too, but this summer has been different. Time flies when you are having fun I suppose!!!