A Love Story

On this day 21 years ago, I took his name and I gave him my heart. Sometimes it seems like only yesterday that I walked down the aisle, took his hand and said "I do." And sometimes it seems like it's been forever!

It is a small, simple ceremony held in the chapel. 

Music from the piano is softly drifting through the

sanctuary, marking the time. She stands at the entrance,
poised on the threshold between two worlds.

Birthdays and Wisdom

Another year older, another year wiser? Hmm... Maybe so. I turned 42 on August 26th. I've never really had a fear of growing older. In fact, I look forward to growing old with my husband. You know -- gray hair and rocking chairs kind of old. I don't think he feels the same way though. Not about growing old along with me, just growing old in general :).

My birthday fell on a Friday this year. Which means we spent my special day traveling to north Georgia to watch our Appling Christian Academy Eagles play football. It's a good thing I love watching football! We don't have a cheer squad this year. Only four girls showed an interest in cheering and the cheer coach decided that four was not enough to have a proper squad. So instead of standing on the sidelines, cheering the boys on, this year Kate stands on the sidelines serving the boys as "water girl."

Maybe He Should've Just Turned Around...

I wrote about both Kate and Will's first day back to school, so I thought I would share about Ryan's first day back to college.

His first day of classes was August 22nd, a Monday. So he decided to go back to Statesboro on the preceding Thursday, so as to have a couple of days to get everything in order. His apartment complex decided to implement a parking permit policy over the summer. They seem to be having trouble with what you might call "riff-raff" there, you know, break-ins and thievery, drug deals, and some other unsavory goings-on that I won't mention specifically. So they are making some changes to try and "clean up" the place. They would like to be a college students only apartment complex.

So, anyway...

Journey Toward Learning

Yesterday was Will's first day of school. I waited a week after Kate started back before starting with him. This year I wanted to give myself a little time to adjust slowly, rather than starting them back at the same time like I did last year. The extra week helped some. I know it wouldn't be a big deal if they were both at home, but getting back into the routine of getting Kate off to school needs some getting used to around here.

2011-2012 School Year

Kate started school on Monday, August 8th. She is in 10th grade this year! She has been learning to drive this summer, and has been working on the Joshua Law requirements. I can't believe she will be 16 in February! My little girl is not so little any more. She still attends ACA, and I still tell her (often) that she can always come back home if she wants to. She always tells me, with a smile in her voice, that she really loves it at this small Christian school. They have 2 new students in her grade this year, for a total of 18 in the sophomore class. This is the biggest class yet at ACA!

Here is her class schedule:

Closing Out Summer

Wow! Where did the summer go? I know it is actually still summer, but for us, summer vacation has come to an end :(

Here's a recap of our summer in pictures ~ in no particular order :)

Our Weekend Trip

DH and I took a little road trip this past weekend. We needed some time for just the two of us. We RARELY (meaning almost never!) go anywhere without our kids. Seriously, in our 21 years of marriage I can count on one hand the number of times we've gone away without them. So DH booked this early anniversary trip over a month ago.

We went to St. Augustine, FL... the oldest city in the US. We only stayed for the weekend. DH's plans involved sight-seeing on Friday, and relaxing at the resort on Saturday before returning home on Sunday. But apparently he forgot about what a history buff I am! There was no way to experience everything in one day! So... the relaxing around the resort on Saturday? Yeah, that kind of didn't happen. We spent two whole days walking all around historic Old Town, St. Augustine (we did ride the trolley some of the time) learning about lots of history that you never read in your textbook education at school. And even two days wasn't enough time to see it all. I told dh that we definitely have to plan a vacation here now so the kids can experience all that we did!

Learning Places

My emotions are raw, and riding high right now... We didn't keep the babies. We chose to allow another, younger, child-less couple to take them into their foster home. It was harder than I thought it would be. Not foster-parenting. But parenting babies -- a 2 year old and a 9 month old. We had them for only 13 days and I was utterly worn out. Exhausted. Completely spent. And I had help!

What made me think I could do this? Starting over with a baby who doesn't sleep through the night. At my age -- I'll be 42 next month. When we completed our training and certification to become adoptive parents, we specified the age range of the children we felt like we could take into our home. And that range did not span the infant-toddler age group. But we received a call from our RD explaining that these babies needed a foster home in our county. She made it clear that she realized we didn't really want to foster-parent, and that these children were not in our preferred age range and we did not have to take them. But knowing how eagerly we've been waiting to adopt, would we be interested in fostering them, with the probability that they would be free for adoption within a few months?

Adoption Update, (Pt. 5)

We get to bring home our newest treasures tomorrow afternoon...

Those words evoke so many emotions. There are so many thoughts racing through my mind as I stare at this screen, trying to compose those thoughts.

I can't sleep. I went to bed at 10:30, but sleep has eluded me. My mind can't seem to slow down long enough to allow my body the rest it needs. We've been in a whirlwind here at my house for the past two days. Trying to get everything ready, to bring them into their forever home.

Beach Vacation and Father's Day

~ Beach Vacation ~

This year we vacationed in Miami, Florida ~ actually Surfside Beach, one of Miami's beaches.

This and That and Mother's Day

If you recall, I found out recently that I have a heart murmur. And just to be on the safe side my doctor wanted me to see a cardiologist and have some further testing. So I had an appointment last week and had an echo-cardiogram performed. Next week I have an appointment with the cardiologist to discuss the results.

So my oldest son is out of college for the summer, and is working as a summer intern at the power plant where my husband works. He just finished his first week of work. Not really work, per se, training this week. I overheard my youngest son asking him if he was glad to be out on summer break. His reply made me smile. It might be summer but it's not a break for me! I think he'll feel pleasantly compensated for the loss of his "summer break" when he receives his first paycheck.

Baby Dove

Kate, my sensitive child with a big heart for God's creatures, found a baby dove in a friend's yard this week, and decided it needed to be rescued. Of course I told her that just because it was on the ground did not mean that it needed to be rescued by humans. But this one was in danger of being eaten by the friend's dogs. Kate tried to put it in a nearby bush, but it couldn't grasp the limbs with its feet and hold on, so it fell to the ground again. She couldn't find a nest anywhere, so she asked if she could bring it home and take care of it. Me being the softy that I am, said yes.

Easter

Easter... What does this holiday mean to you? What traditions do you associate with this day?

When I was a little girl Easter meant a basket filled with chocolates and treats. A new dress, sometimes with a little bonnet. Sometimes with a little purse and gloves. It meant decorating eggs, and finding them, hidden in the yard. It meant getting together with family and sharing a special meal.

The Jelly Bean Flowers... this is a tradition that my children and I share at Easter. We make this simple flower arrangement and place it on our kitchen table.

Tornadoes and Torn Lives

Our spring break is coming to a close. Will went to the beach with a friend's family for a few days. Kate and I were able to accompany Mike on a business trip to Birmingham, Alabama on Monday and Tuesday. Ryan was at college, as his spring break was a few weeks ago.

But my heart is heavy as I ponder the destruction, the devastation, the loss of lives from the day of twisters through the state of Alabama.

This I Know

Just thinking back over the past months of the sickness and surgeries and suffering that seem to have kept coming, one on top of another, we've dealt with in this house...  My God has been gracious. Gracious enough to not allow me to dwell on it, to not linger over it. Gracious enough to sustain me through all of it.

Throw Out My Homemade Laundry Detergent?

School finished by 12:30 today. Two loads of laundry finished. Lunch done. One of Will's friends (who is in the local school system which is out on spring break this week) is over to spend the afternoon with us. So that means that I am free to write on my blog earlier than usual.

So much for using the homemade laundry detergent that I recently experimented with. Not long after beginning to use this detergent, Kate came to me one day with a full body rash. She was covered with a bright red rash from her head to her feet. I don't mean a few splotches here and there. I mean totally covered with a raised red rash. Not. Even. Kidding. And me, the Queen of the Camera, did not take a single picture.

What's On My Mind

I know, it's been kind of quiet here. Not in my house per se, but on the blog front. I've been sick this past week. Imagine that! Didn't I wonder recently if life could somehow possibly slow down a bit around here? God sure has a sense of humor.

I've spent most of my time between doctor visits, and the hospital for tests, and in the recliner nursing a fever and pain. For about two weeks now, I have had a fever off and on, and pain on my left side (front and back), as well as a general pain throughout my whole body. You know, kind of like stiff and aching body parts. I wondered if maybe I am developing arthritis. I wondered if the pain in my side might be appendicitis, but the pain never really was excruciating enough to convince me. I also wondered if it might be kidney stones, but again, the pain level never reached an unbearable zenith.

He's No Longer a Teenager

20 years ago yesterday, I journeyed into that realm of life known as motherhood. I do love strolling down memory lane, reminiscing, recalling, remembering. Care to join me?

It really isn't even my due date yet. My doctor has plans to be out of town the following week, on my actual due date, and he recommends labor induction. I am young, naive. I don't know better. I am ready to meet my baby.

Homemade Laundry Detergent = Domestic Diva?

Yes, you read the title correctly. I have been reading alot about homesteading, living simply, being frugal, thriving on one income (you get the picture) for quite some time now. I've been slowly making changes around here. You know... using coupons, only buying if it's on sale, shopping thrift stores, making do, using it up, finding new uses for old items... those sorts of changes.

Travel Ball

This is how we spent our Saturday... watching our daughter play in a softball tournament.

Adoption Approval Granted!

We received the letter in the mail yesterday... we're officially approved as an adoptive family!!! Woo-Hoo!!

We began this journey (officially) on May 3, 2010 and now almost one year later, (WOW!) we are approved and ready to begin searching for the child our God has already chosen for us!

We are excited beyond measure, and can hardly wait to meet him or her!

Praising the Lord for His goodness and faithfulness...

God sets the lonely in families. Psalm 68:6

Family and Auburn University

We had an opportunity last weekend to visit with our families. If you remember, Mike's dad is somewhat handicapped and lives with Mike's sister. Debbie (that's Mike's sister) and her family were on a spring break vacation, so we spent the weekend with him. We were also able to visit my parents and one of my brothers, as well. It seems the older our kids get, the busier our lives become, and the fewer our visits with family.

Jelly Bean Flowers

One of the "crafts" we incorporate into our Easter celebration...

One lesson I am continually learning -- never underestimate the importance of family traditions to your children. Case in point: this simple little flower arrangement. My kids are older (my youngest is 12) and I always think that they won't want to continue some of the things that we've done in the past as part of our holiday celebrations. They always prove me wrong :)