My heart is heavy today. We received news that a dear friend of ours from church has lost her battle against breast cancer. The news came late last night from some friends in our home group. Oh, how I ache for her husband who was not ready to let her go Home just yet. He's broken hearted; he referred to her as My Claudia Ann or My Woman. Just the sweetest couple...I know she's no longer suffering, and I know that God knows how much it hurts for us when we lose a loved one, but it makes me sad.
Then...I'm reading one of my favorite blogs that had a link about a family who lost their six-year-old daughter in a drowning accident just a few days ago...while we were at the pool at the lake having lots of water fun. Ohhh, how sad! I was feeling the tears coming and my chest tightening as I read.
I am glad that L asked to sleep in our bed tonight...even though at first I was grumbling about it...knees in the back, aching neck in the morning b/c he will constantly turn my face towards his tonight as he rubs my jaw to look for that mole he loves, no covers...then I read about the sweet little Hannah that is no longer with her family. Those parents who would give anything at all to have their little one knee them in the back tonight. I'll be snuggling with my little one...you can bet I'll be enjoying the snuggles. I ache for that little sister...she's 2 and can't understand why her big sister isn't there with her. Oh...I can't even imagine how devastating that kind of loss would be. Ugh! I really want to get C and snuggle her down in our bed, too. Maybe I will.
Drowning scares me so much, especially with C...she has no fear. She loves to be in the pool at the lake. There are steps that circle most of the shallow end where she loves to play when she's not in mine or Z's arms. But her favorite thing to do is go under (One, Two, Tree...Undah) and jump to us. We are constantly reminding her to wait on a grown up to say, "OK" before going under since she feels like if she sees you in the general vicinity of where she is, you know she's coming your way...Scary!!!
Selfishly, all I can think about is to beg God to spare me that kind of loss...Oh, how it must hurt. I'm broken just by the thought. I want to just pray that God will protect my children, and use their lives and mine for his glory.
God protect them...and be with that family who laid their baby to rest today...and be with David, who loved his wife so much...give him some peace on this side of glory as he misses his bride.
I'm going to go snuggle with my little man and our little Tinkerbell.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Lucky 7
Today is a special day...Hubby and I have been married for 7 years today!!
I remember our wedding as though it were yesterday, yet I can't remember a time without him in my life. That fact is funny because we dated only a little over 4 months before we became engaged and then married a few months later. Our first date was on Oct. 20 (my aunt's b-day) in 1999, we were engaged March 1, 2000...and then married today 7 years ago!
My college roommate and her husband, who at that time was her boyfriend, kept telling my honey and me that we should meet each other beginning in the fall semester of 1998. I was at UGA and he attended Georgia Tech, which made for obstacle in meeting. The timing never was right so I was beginning to think that this guy was not even a real person--you know, just someone who my roomie made up to keep my mind off all the random guys I had plenty of 1st dates with (mostly only dates). So, Z went off to Australia and New Zealand for a semester abroad right after Christmas, so I just let the thought of him go away as not meant to be (I mean, Brandon and Melissa had told me so many great things about him-I just knew how perfect he would be for me...Come to find out, they had done the for him about me).
In the last semester of Melissa and I receiving our Masters from UGA (spring 98), those two sneaky matchmakers worked it out for us to meet without telling either of us in advance. Most of my classes were from 4:30 p.m. until 7 or 8 in the evening, so on the rainy late March night, when I got in from class, Melissa informed me that we were going to dinner with Brandon and his roommate (insert eyeroll from me) and a couple of other buddies. She wouldn't let me out of it, so I went along...looking relatively drowned from trekking across campus in the rain). She drove, and I wondered why she handed me my makeup bag and a brush as we drove along. As we pulled in the parking space downtown in front of the Mellow Mushroom, she casually mentioned that Brandon was bringing Z...THE Z! What???!!!
Brandon did the same thing to Z, mentioning to him on the way that Melissa's roommate would be at dinner...he says his reaction was much like mine. What???!!!
So, while Melissa and I sat at the long table, we watched the door so she could point him out to me as they entered. I had never even seen a picture of him. In he walks leading the group, spiky blonde tips on his dark hair, about 5'7", wearing a shell-bead like necklace and carpenter jeans and Redwing Australian boots, and a great smile. Cute!
He sauntered over, gave Melissa a hug, and sat down right in front of me. He was kind of quiet, but with all that was going on at the table, we still managed to talk a bit. I found it interesting that he didn't drink any of the beer the other guys got. He talked about his older brother and his baby sister. He kept getting up to go to the bathroom, which I later learned was to sneak his drinks...(He was a little tickled when he arrived, but I had no idea until after we were married!!!). I was impressed with this guy. He had his head on straight and was fun to be around, and obviously very popular...his phone didn't stop ringing, but he didn't answer the calls...( I later found out the calls were from a girl that was "chasing" him.)
I wrote in my journal that night that I found a guy like who I had in my mind and heart that I wanted to marry. Z told his friend Ted on the way home the next morning that he met a girl like who he envisioned he would marry. Cool, huh?
Well, a month or so passed and I went to Melissa's family's for Brandon's graduation party hoping to have a chance to talk with Z again. In he walks with another date (the chaser). He told Brandon that night that he would have never let her come with him. I was disappointed. I had graduated with my Masters and was headed to Amelia Island to live with my parents for the summer. I thought my chance with him was done. I was ready to move on, especially when I didn't hear from him after the party.
Flash forward to late September. I was back in Atlanta area living with friends as I worked in my first teaching job. I spent lots of late nights and early mornings working. On my way in to work, I checked my cell that I had left in the car overnight and had a message. From HIM. It was perfect timing. I had been having a rough week, and he calls and tells me his number and to call him back. I walked on air all day, and was getting ready to call him back that afternoon when I arrived home from work. I was walking to the mailbox, dialing his number when he called me again! Yay! He was interested.
We talked for several nights, decided to try to get together soon. With all the work and weekend requirements, our first date ended up being on a Thurs. night. We talked frequently after that first phone call. Our first date was to a restaurant on the north side of ATL suburbs and a movie (3 Kings...awful). The date was great...he told me later that he wore his glasses that night so he wouldn't kiss me on the first date. I wouldv'e kissed him on the first date, definitely! :)
The rest is history...
Oh, how I love this man. I am thankful to God for him and our marriage is one that is solid and fun. I love him so much more now than I did on the day we married. I got a lump in my throat this morning while we were walking down to the lake for a boat ride. I was walking behind Z carrying C and holding L's hand on the way to the dock. My whole life is wrapped up in them, and I am so blessed by God for every moment I am with them.
Happy Anniversary! I love you more now than I did before. It's been a pleasure sharing life with you and I look forward to the rest of our "Happily everafter..."
I remember our wedding as though it were yesterday, yet I can't remember a time without him in my life. That fact is funny because we dated only a little over 4 months before we became engaged and then married a few months later. Our first date was on Oct. 20 (my aunt's b-day) in 1999, we were engaged March 1, 2000...and then married today 7 years ago!
My college roommate and her husband, who at that time was her boyfriend, kept telling my honey and me that we should meet each other beginning in the fall semester of 1998. I was at UGA and he attended Georgia Tech, which made for obstacle in meeting. The timing never was right so I was beginning to think that this guy was not even a real person--you know, just someone who my roomie made up to keep my mind off all the random guys I had plenty of 1st dates with (mostly only dates). So, Z went off to Australia and New Zealand for a semester abroad right after Christmas, so I just let the thought of him go away as not meant to be (I mean, Brandon and Melissa had told me so many great things about him-I just knew how perfect he would be for me...Come to find out, they had done the for him about me).
In the last semester of Melissa and I receiving our Masters from UGA (spring 98), those two sneaky matchmakers worked it out for us to meet without telling either of us in advance. Most of my classes were from 4:30 p.m. until 7 or 8 in the evening, so on the rainy late March night, when I got in from class, Melissa informed me that we were going to dinner with Brandon and his roommate (insert eyeroll from me) and a couple of other buddies. She wouldn't let me out of it, so I went along...looking relatively drowned from trekking across campus in the rain). She drove, and I wondered why she handed me my makeup bag and a brush as we drove along. As we pulled in the parking space downtown in front of the Mellow Mushroom, she casually mentioned that Brandon was bringing Z...THE Z! What???!!!
Brandon did the same thing to Z, mentioning to him on the way that Melissa's roommate would be at dinner...he says his reaction was much like mine. What???!!!
So, while Melissa and I sat at the long table, we watched the door so she could point him out to me as they entered. I had never even seen a picture of him. In he walks leading the group, spiky blonde tips on his dark hair, about 5'7", wearing a shell-bead like necklace and carpenter jeans and Redwing Australian boots, and a great smile. Cute!
He sauntered over, gave Melissa a hug, and sat down right in front of me. He was kind of quiet, but with all that was going on at the table, we still managed to talk a bit. I found it interesting that he didn't drink any of the beer the other guys got. He talked about his older brother and his baby sister. He kept getting up to go to the bathroom, which I later learned was to sneak his drinks...(He was a little tickled when he arrived, but I had no idea until after we were married!!!). I was impressed with this guy. He had his head on straight and was fun to be around, and obviously very popular...his phone didn't stop ringing, but he didn't answer the calls...( I later found out the calls were from a girl that was "chasing" him.)
I wrote in my journal that night that I found a guy like who I had in my mind and heart that I wanted to marry. Z told his friend Ted on the way home the next morning that he met a girl like who he envisioned he would marry. Cool, huh?
Well, a month or so passed and I went to Melissa's family's for Brandon's graduation party hoping to have a chance to talk with Z again. In he walks with another date (the chaser). He told Brandon that night that he would have never let her come with him. I was disappointed. I had graduated with my Masters and was headed to Amelia Island to live with my parents for the summer. I thought my chance with him was done. I was ready to move on, especially when I didn't hear from him after the party.
Flash forward to late September. I was back in Atlanta area living with friends as I worked in my first teaching job. I spent lots of late nights and early mornings working. On my way in to work, I checked my cell that I had left in the car overnight and had a message. From HIM. It was perfect timing. I had been having a rough week, and he calls and tells me his number and to call him back. I walked on air all day, and was getting ready to call him back that afternoon when I arrived home from work. I was walking to the mailbox, dialing his number when he called me again! Yay! He was interested.
We talked for several nights, decided to try to get together soon. With all the work and weekend requirements, our first date ended up being on a Thurs. night. We talked frequently after that first phone call. Our first date was to a restaurant on the north side of ATL suburbs and a movie (3 Kings...awful). The date was great...he told me later that he wore his glasses that night so he wouldn't kiss me on the first date. I wouldv'e kissed him on the first date, definitely! :)
The rest is history...
Oh, how I love this man. I am thankful to God for him and our marriage is one that is solid and fun. I love him so much more now than I did on the day we married. I got a lump in my throat this morning while we were walking down to the lake for a boat ride. I was walking behind Z carrying C and holding L's hand on the way to the dock. My whole life is wrapped up in them, and I am so blessed by God for every moment I am with them.
Happy Anniversary! I love you more now than I did before. It's been a pleasure sharing life with you and I look forward to the rest of our "Happily everafter..."
Friday, July 13, 2007
Sorry, Dora!
It seems C is cutting two gigantic molars on the bottom, which brings for her an upset tummy. So, while we are diligently completing our potty training, here come the accidents. Poor girl is aware that she's not supposed to "shoo-wee" in her panties or pull-up. So, after her brief (UGH!) nap while we were keeping some friends children, she runs to the potty saying, "I run berry fast Dora. I so sorry I poo-poo in you Dora. I try to run berry fast to the potty. I sorry Dora." Too cute!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
SunScream and the Nasty Cheese
Well, here it is almost a month after my last post....but it's been extremely busy!
Let's see...after the last post, I began a 2 week class for credit towards maintaining my teaching certificate. That was exhausting!! I had to be at the class at 8:30 am, meaning leavivng my house by 7:45 am, which the children did NOT appreciate. I really felt bad about it, too, because I had to arrange sitters that were different almost every day. It would have been way too expensive to send them to our regular sitter, who is a steal by average standards, so off they went in a million and three directions for 9 mornings!
Anyway, after the intense class each day, I raced to get the kiddos lunch and naps. Naps were crucial as swim lessons followed each afternoon of the first week. On the first day, L and C were late arriving b/c they had spent the night at my in-laws at the lake on Sunday. My mom-in-law met me at the lessons with the kiddos but it was about 4:20 before she arrived. No biggie, though. Our lessons are with old friends of the in-laws, and it worked out that the baby that C's lessons was with was a member of a family driving from about an hour away who often got stuck in traffic. So, the first day, we did the lessons together. C and the other baby and the moms and Jessica and the big brother of the baby and L. At first my two water bugs were fearful...give me a break! You have both been going under the water like crazy at the pool at the lake! But, by the end of the week, all was good...although C told the instructor, "That's just not very nice. I don't like when you make me swim unnah the watah." She got so much better, and really loves it all now. In fact, we have to watch her like a hawk when it's not her turn to jump to an adult b/c she'll just jump in anyway and swim to the wall. L was a little fearful of the diving board on Wednesday, but he overed it by Friday. However, it took him a couple of weeks to gain his confidence about jumping in at the Lake. What is that about??? He's got it down, now, though. He's swimming under the water, kicking his feet like a champ and even beginning to pull his arms. C is all about going "unnah" and swimming to the steps or the wall. She really loves to go down and pick up the dive sticks. Go figure!
After the class on the first week ended and swim lessons were over for Friday (at 5 pm) we headed over to the lake on the interstate...to meet up with my mom and aunt who had come for the weekend. It was fun to see them...and the kiddos had a blast! I had to leave the lake by 6:30 am on Sunday to make it back to teach Sunday School at first service and then zip on off to finish the last minute preparations for the baby shower I was giving my friend Melissa at our home that afternoon. Z kept the kids with him at the lake, but my mom and aunt helped him out. My aunt ended up staying through Monday, a break she desparately needed.
The shower was from 2 until 4 and was really just close family. Kind of a disappointing turn-out in my mind, but Melissa was thrilled and had a ball. Everyone left by 4:30 and the kiddos were home by 5:30 with supper from our 2nd fave place...Zaxby's.
Now, my C arrived home with a high temperature and generally felt miserable. Her eyes were goopy, she had a nice cough...everything. I wasn't completely surprised by this, though, as she had been saying her ear was hurting on Friday night. She didn't mention anything on Sat., so I kind of thought that maybe it was water in her ear from swimming all week. Needless to say, I was in a real pickle. Monday I had my class (mandatory attendance or no credit), Z had to work, and m-in-law was working, sis-in-law was also working...no one else to take the sick chick. Brooke kept L, as we had planned, but I couldn't sent C b/c she was running such a nice fever. So, I dropped L off at Brookes, and zipped over to my class for an hour. Z met me at the doctor with C about 9:45. My professor was cool about everything, so that was good. C ended up with a double ear infection, sinus infection, and continued with her fever for another 2 days. And, lucky gal, she had the contagious kind of infection...guess who had the same thing at the end of the week? MOMMY!
Tuesday, Nana came and kept the sick gal here while L went to Brooke's to play with Harrison as had previously arranged. Wed and Thurs both went to maw's. I finished my class (which had six tons of writing homework, but was wonderful...I awakened an inner writer that had been sleeping for quite some time), but was so sick I couldn't enjoy it!
Friday, Nana met ME at the doc's to pick up the kiddos for me to be seen for my double ear infection, sinus infection and tonsilitis (my ears were so bad the nurse prac. wanted to prescribe me some hefty pain meds)...meanwhile, unbeknownst to anyone but hubby, I am late! The preggo questions kept filling my mind, and then the nurse practitioner's as we worked out my medications. Turns out, I'm not, and while I was panicked at first, I'm really sad about it now. I ended up being 18 days late! But no positive pregnancy tests showed up, so chalk it up to stress. Z was Ok with things, but is really, really glad that there's not another baby on the way. I really don't think he'll ever change his mind, which also makes me a little sad. I am, however, happy with our wonderful boy and glorious girl.
So, another weekend at the lake, with me on the couch passed out with a migraine and yuckky ears. Then home Sunday. Monday, my dear friend Audrey welcomed a baby girl (planned induction), so I went to the hospital for that while C went back to the lake early with Nana and L went to the movies with Grandpop. I packed our things up for the week at the lake and off we went. We arrived and hung out all week.
July 4th was fun, with a barbeque for hubby's uncle's 50th. Lots of family and friends. C also had her first haircut. A very slight trim by Nana, just to even up the back a little. She looks great.
On the 5th L, C, and me headed down to my mom's for C to have her toes checked by the doc my mom works for. C has some funky toes...We got visits in with my dad, mom and nanny and Papa. Then back on Friday evening. A lonnnnnng drive capped off with no nap by C and a warning from a police officer for speeding. God blessed me with that one!
The weekend finished up at the lake, and Monday was spent catching up and at the library. Yesterday, the kiddos had their annual portraits. This time, I went with a very casual look. She wore a RL pink and white seersucker skirt and white shirt, and he wore blue and white seersucker shorts and white shirt. I think I'll have a tough time choosing.
Later!
Let's see...after the last post, I began a 2 week class for credit towards maintaining my teaching certificate. That was exhausting!! I had to be at the class at 8:30 am, meaning leavivng my house by 7:45 am, which the children did NOT appreciate. I really felt bad about it, too, because I had to arrange sitters that were different almost every day. It would have been way too expensive to send them to our regular sitter, who is a steal by average standards, so off they went in a million and three directions for 9 mornings!
Anyway, after the intense class each day, I raced to get the kiddos lunch and naps. Naps were crucial as swim lessons followed each afternoon of the first week. On the first day, L and C were late arriving b/c they had spent the night at my in-laws at the lake on Sunday. My mom-in-law met me at the lessons with the kiddos but it was about 4:20 before she arrived. No biggie, though. Our lessons are with old friends of the in-laws, and it worked out that the baby that C's lessons was with was a member of a family driving from about an hour away who often got stuck in traffic. So, the first day, we did the lessons together. C and the other baby and the moms and Jessica and the big brother of the baby and L. At first my two water bugs were fearful...give me a break! You have both been going under the water like crazy at the pool at the lake! But, by the end of the week, all was good...although C told the instructor, "That's just not very nice. I don't like when you make me swim unnah the watah." She got so much better, and really loves it all now. In fact, we have to watch her like a hawk when it's not her turn to jump to an adult b/c she'll just jump in anyway and swim to the wall. L was a little fearful of the diving board on Wednesday, but he overed it by Friday. However, it took him a couple of weeks to gain his confidence about jumping in at the Lake. What is that about??? He's got it down, now, though. He's swimming under the water, kicking his feet like a champ and even beginning to pull his arms. C is all about going "unnah" and swimming to the steps or the wall. She really loves to go down and pick up the dive sticks. Go figure!
After the class on the first week ended and swim lessons were over for Friday (at 5 pm) we headed over to the lake on the interstate...to meet up with my mom and aunt who had come for the weekend. It was fun to see them...and the kiddos had a blast! I had to leave the lake by 6:30 am on Sunday to make it back to teach Sunday School at first service and then zip on off to finish the last minute preparations for the baby shower I was giving my friend Melissa at our home that afternoon. Z kept the kids with him at the lake, but my mom and aunt helped him out. My aunt ended up staying through Monday, a break she desparately needed.
The shower was from 2 until 4 and was really just close family. Kind of a disappointing turn-out in my mind, but Melissa was thrilled and had a ball. Everyone left by 4:30 and the kiddos were home by 5:30 with supper from our 2nd fave place...Zaxby's.
Now, my C arrived home with a high temperature and generally felt miserable. Her eyes were goopy, she had a nice cough...everything. I wasn't completely surprised by this, though, as she had been saying her ear was hurting on Friday night. She didn't mention anything on Sat., so I kind of thought that maybe it was water in her ear from swimming all week. Needless to say, I was in a real pickle. Monday I had my class (mandatory attendance or no credit), Z had to work, and m-in-law was working, sis-in-law was also working...no one else to take the sick chick. Brooke kept L, as we had planned, but I couldn't sent C b/c she was running such a nice fever. So, I dropped L off at Brookes, and zipped over to my class for an hour. Z met me at the doctor with C about 9:45. My professor was cool about everything, so that was good. C ended up with a double ear infection, sinus infection, and continued with her fever for another 2 days. And, lucky gal, she had the contagious kind of infection...guess who had the same thing at the end of the week? MOMMY!
Tuesday, Nana came and kept the sick gal here while L went to Brooke's to play with Harrison as had previously arranged. Wed and Thurs both went to maw's. I finished my class (which had six tons of writing homework, but was wonderful...I awakened an inner writer that had been sleeping for quite some time), but was so sick I couldn't enjoy it!
Friday, Nana met ME at the doc's to pick up the kiddos for me to be seen for my double ear infection, sinus infection and tonsilitis (my ears were so bad the nurse prac. wanted to prescribe me some hefty pain meds)...meanwhile, unbeknownst to anyone but hubby, I am late! The preggo questions kept filling my mind, and then the nurse practitioner's as we worked out my medications. Turns out, I'm not, and while I was panicked at first, I'm really sad about it now. I ended up being 18 days late! But no positive pregnancy tests showed up, so chalk it up to stress. Z was Ok with things, but is really, really glad that there's not another baby on the way. I really don't think he'll ever change his mind, which also makes me a little sad. I am, however, happy with our wonderful boy and glorious girl.
So, another weekend at the lake, with me on the couch passed out with a migraine and yuckky ears. Then home Sunday. Monday, my dear friend Audrey welcomed a baby girl (planned induction), so I went to the hospital for that while C went back to the lake early with Nana and L went to the movies with Grandpop. I packed our things up for the week at the lake and off we went. We arrived and hung out all week.
July 4th was fun, with a barbeque for hubby's uncle's 50th. Lots of family and friends. C also had her first haircut. A very slight trim by Nana, just to even up the back a little. She looks great.
On the 5th L, C, and me headed down to my mom's for C to have her toes checked by the doc my mom works for. C has some funky toes...We got visits in with my dad, mom and nanny and Papa. Then back on Friday evening. A lonnnnnng drive capped off with no nap by C and a warning from a police officer for speeding. God blessed me with that one!
The weekend finished up at the lake, and Monday was spent catching up and at the library. Yesterday, the kiddos had their annual portraits. This time, I went with a very casual look. She wore a RL pink and white seersucker skirt and white shirt, and he wore blue and white seersucker shorts and white shirt. I think I'll have a tough time choosing.
- C hates suncscreen. She starts saying, "I want to swim...but I don't have to wear sun-scream. It's cold, O-kay?" Her Okay is the cutest thing...it trails up about 14 octaves.
- L is becoming hillarious. While "playing" ps2 baseball with his dad on Saturday, he says,"I can't hit it out of the park b/c that pitcher keeps throwing the nasty cheese to me!" We all cracked up.
Later!
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