Random Thoughts

I haven't blogged in a while. We have been busy, busy. I'll try to catch up quickly! We traveled with Brad to conferences 2 weekends back to back. The first conference was near Williamsburg, VA (check out my facebook pictures) and the girls were both sick (virus) that first night! They felt better by Saturday when Brad was done at his conference and we were ready to explore Colonial Williamsburg! We had such a good time!! What a blessing that God has allowed me to homeschool so that Olivia studied Colonial Times the week before we went! And....that we were able to see Williamsburg for FREE!!! We were home for 2 days, took Olivia to the ENT, scheduled a tonsillectomy and started packing for Myrtle Beach! Just as I was doubting our decision regarding the surgery, Olivia woke up with strep AGAIN! So....we postponed leaving for MB for a few hours until her antibiotic could kick in. Olivia, Caroline and I ALL had the most horrible stomach virus while we were at the beach!!!! OH MY!!!!!!!!! And, in the midst of all of our travels, we are delivering Girl Scout Cookies! Anyway, we are glad to be home now and so ready for SPRING!

Speaking of Spring - Olivia was SO excited yesterday because I let her wear a short sleeve shirt and flip flops! That girl talked about Spring ALL day!!! Isn't it great how such a thing as small a short sleeves made her day??? :)

And speaking of home - Caroline LOVES home! Every time we turn onto our road, she says "Home Sweet Home"! What a sweet sound!!!

Today, Caroline wore her green to school and took a green snack to share with her tiends (friends). Olivia is doing her workbooks (and whining a little) and poor Brad is in bed with the horrible stomach virus.

For me, today: in spite of stomach bugs, strep throat and tonsillectomy's, Girl Scout cookies and long sleeves, I will rejoice!

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4

Happy LATE Valentine's Day!

First - Happy LATE Valentine's Day to all of my readers! I hope all four of you had a great day! I am so excited to find this post! I thought I had lost it!! And....there it was....just waiting in my drafts! I almost didn't post it this late, but I put my heart into this post....so here it is....

I did not always "enjoy" Valentine's Day. At work, I would watch as all the ladies received their flowers and I sat with none. At home, I sat alone wishing I had a Valentine date and yep....feeling sorry for myself. One year, I even wrote a poem about it. :) It was funny, if I do say so myself.

The past 9 years have been the best of my life. Not just because I have a Valentine now, but because I have Brad. Every day I wake up knowing how blessed I am to have someone who loves me so unselfishly. God is so good to me. He not only gave me Brad, but my two precious little girls. He knew what I needed as I watched all those women with their flowers and dates. He knew my time was coming.....in His time. What a blessing to wait for God's best!

Brad and I celebrated our first Valentine's Day in February 2001. We had only been married for a few months. I woke up early to find a little stuffed bear with a rose and note giving me a clue to another location in the house. This continued until I found 12 roses and 12 clues hidden all over the house until I reached the final prize - a Brighton watch that I had mentioned in passing months before Valentine's Day. I loved that watch, but what I loved more was the time and thought that Brad put into each little clue that he had written out. This is such a sweet memory for me.

Our Valentine's celebrations have changed through the years. Now, Brad has 3 girls to buy roses and candy for. The girls love being treated special by their Daddy and I love that they have a Daddy who shows them how they should be treated.

God is so good to me!!

"Praise the Lord, all you nations, extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord." Psalm 117

Ta Da!!!!!

My sweet Caroline is finally pee peeing on the potty!! Yes, she is 4 years old. She turned 4 in December. I would have never guessed it would take this long! We have tried several times before and she has just pee peed all over the place - would not even try to make it to the potty. It was so frustrating!

Well, weekend before last, I told her "no more pullups, you are 4 years old". She pitched a little fit and wanted her pullup, but I made her wear the panties. She did GREAT!!! She only had a couple of accidents that day! We worked on pottying all weekend and even had an extra day (MLK Day) to practice. By that following Tuesday, she was doing wonderfully - even making big stinky on the potty!!

She is so proud of herself! When she made her first big stinky, she said, "Look! It looks like a snake!" I cannot believe all of that was in my child! I had to call Brad and Olivia in to witness! Seriously, it stopped up the toilet!

After she pee pees, she stands up and says, "Ta Da"! She has gone 3 whole days now with no accidents at all! She is even waking up dry most mornings (still using pullups at night). My girl!! I am so proud of her! It took her a while, but when she did it, she really did it! TA DA!!!!!!

Looking Back...

It's hard to believe that 2010 is here. I was thinking today that my children have not lived in the 1900's. WOW!!

2009 was a year of change for me and my family. Some were good and some were very very hard.

Changes in 2009:

Olivia was baptized March 22.
Our Mimi (adopted grandmother) turned 60. (She may not think this one is good).
Olivia graduated from K5.
Our church merged with another church.
Olivia went to her first summer camp.
My mama went to Heaven.
My niece Lynsay married her highschool sweetheart.
My dear friend Tammy married her prince.
God blessed us with a new vehicle (new to us).
We found a new church home.
Caroline started K3 5 days a week.
I started homeschooling Olivia first grade.
We had a chance to travel to Memphis, Birmingham and Atlanta with Brad for his work.
We also were able to go to the beach twice.

Some of the changes this year have been very emotional for me. It's hard to even put it into words. God's grace has been sufficient for me. His mercies are neverending. He is faithful. He is good. He has been with me every step. I am looking forward to this new year and the hope that God gives. It's gonna be good.

Reminders

Christmas is almost here and it is a bittersweet one for me this year. I have many sweet memories of my mom and Christmas. This first one without her is so hard.

Everywhere I turn, I am reminded of her. I was Christmas shopping in Belk's (her favorite store) and for a second I thought "I need to find something for mama" and then realized that I won't be doing that this year or ever again. I was in the grocery store and saw chocolate covered cherries - reminding me how much she loved them. I would always buy them for her this time of year. She loved all sweets. I used to take her milkshakes and candy bars - she never gained weight.

I guess the most poignant reminder of her this season has been her iron skillet. I dug it out yesterday to make cornbread for dressing. This is only my second attempt at dressing - we'll see how it goes. Anyway, my mama used that skillet almost everyday. She made cornbread for our family. I thought about how she would make her cornbread and how she taught me how. I can remember her showing me how to grease the pan up with lard and showing me just how "soupy" the batter should be. She told me never leave the pan wet. "Wash it and dry it immediately". "Take care of your pots and pans", she said.

My mama taught me so many things. I miss her so much. I know she would not come back here and who could blame her? She is with our Savior....in His precense- praising Him, walking, dancing, rejoicing. She is well. She is new. She has everlasting life because she knows Him. I am thankful that I have that promise, too.

Catching up

I just noticed that I have not blogged since September 30! I can't believe it's been so long. I kept thinking that I really didn't have anything to say. Maybe I was just too busy to say it. :)

We had a really busy October. We were at Myrtle Beach for our vacation the first full week. It was really nice. The weather was good. There was a little rain, but not too bad. The pools were heated and they had a lazy river that the girls really enjoyed. Every year, I say we're not going to the beach that late in the season, but we always end up doing just that!

Homeschooling is going good. We have settled into a routine that works for us - morning school for Olivia while Caroline is at preschool. We took our first field trip to Happy Cow Creamery. I think I enjoyed it more than Olivia! We are going to a co-op every week and I think I am beginning to get the hang of everything.

Christmas is fast approaching and I am trying not to dread it. I know it will be tough - the first one without my mom.

Caroline talks about my mom all the time. I think she is trying to understand her being in heaven and not being able to see her. She has been extremely attached to me since mama died. At first, I thought it was because I was away from her so much being at the hospital with mama, but now I am wondering - does she think I will leave and not come back like Nana Allie?

On to more recent events: Last night, the wind whipped and the rain poured....and....I heard a big crash! I thought lightening had hit the house! I ran to look out the front door and I could see sparks in the trees out front. I heard crackling. The power flickered on and off and finally went out completely. I ran and woke the girls ready to get them out of the house! I was so scared that the house was on fire. Brad was at work. I panicked. I realized (after the girls were jerked awake and crying) that a tree had blown over and hit the transformer across the street! Needless to say we had a very restless night! The power came back on at 4:40 a.m.

During all the craziness of the power outage, Olivia was crying and so scared. I felt horrible that I had woke her! She fretted and fretted and talked and talked. We prayed and asked God to calm us - to be with us and comfort us. She settled right down after that and so did I. God is always with us -ready to comfort and calm us - all we have to do is ask.

I love being a mother. When I was a little girl - I dreamed of it. I had to wait a looooong time, but God's timing is perfect. He has blessed me so!!!

He gives us the desires of our hearts.

My girls are growing up so fast! They are both so different and both so wonderful. I remember wondering when I was pregnant with Caroline if I could love her as much as I do Olivia. How silly! My heart just opened up and welcomed her right in!

Olivia is telling me that she knows what I'm thinking "cause she can read my brain". :) She is so creative - always making things and giving them to me. Olivia is a giver. I think gifts is her love language (she also likes to receive them). She always writes me notes that say "I love you" and wraps up gifts for all of us. She takes such good care of Caroline. Well....except for today when Caroline was screaming and Olivia couldn't hear the TV- Olivia bopped her then. But....that's another blog!

Caroline is talking non-stop. I can understand most of it now! She has really turned into a "mommy's girl", but when asked she will say that she's "mama's girl, daddy's girl and LaLa's girl". We were on a trip recently and she announced to everyone within 5 miles of the rest area that she "needs privacy!". She would not let me come into the stall with her. She has to do everything herself. We drove by Six Flags on our trip and she saw the big rollercoaster and she wanted to ride it. Brad told her it was very high and very fast. Her reply? "I'll hold on." She's got it all figured out. :)

What a joy these girls are to me! God is so good! He's so good to me!