Do you feel me?

We are struggling with some things. There are some areas in our lives that need some polishing. We are going to be trying some new things. Pray a simple prayer with me:
"God, we want you to be our rock and our refuge. Lead us in your direction, not ours. Show us where you want us to be in all aspects of our lives. As your children, we look to you for guidance. Thank you for our blessings and your love." Amen

Out of the Darkness...

I want to say a special thanks to the following people who donated under my name in the donor drive: Julie Pitts, Anne Allen, Jeanna Balistreri, Rick Hames, Eddie Whitehead, and William Jefferson. You guys helped me reach my goal of 100.00 + 50.00 more dollars. Between Debbie and I we raised over a thousand dollars! Thanks to you, God Bless you.

Today I had the privilege of walking in a charity walk titled, AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) . My friend and co-worker, Debbie Froscello, asked me several months ago if I would join her team and raise money to help fight the stigma against suicide. I have learned a lot through this organization. I am blessed that no one I know in a close, personal way, has successfully committed this act. However, I do have several people in my life that have tried, thank GOD, unsuccessfully.

My heart was overcome with joy when I walked in to the park this morning and saw three familiar faces, Joel and Jackie Meyer and Martha Taylor. We go to church together and they graciously gave up their time to come and volunteer in the Out of the Darkness first annual walk in Decatur. What an amazing day.

I also caught up with some folks from Danville. My friend, and fellow DPD officer, Nick Jones! He looked cool in his uniform! All grown up too! He was striking his cool dude pose for me. He actually smiled once his photo op was over!

Debbie was amazing today. She had this sense of peace that I have not seen in her in awhile. God Blessed her today.

I enjoyed taking photos today. I really tried to focus on people and the emotion of the day. They released a team of doves. What an awe-inspiring moment of peace and tranquility. The lady that spoke said they represent peace and God's Holy presence in our lives. His Spirit is represented by their freedom.

Is there anyone out there?

Do you ever feel like no one is listening?
I DO!
Well, sometimes the wrong people are listening...
So, who is listening? Let me know!

The first of many, I hope!

We hosted our first official devotional time tonight. We had a great discussion with the Clifton's, yeah, I will call you guys out like that! Our kids played with a new babysitter, whom I must say was awesome!
It felt good. We finished around 7:30, still had time to be with each after it was over. That is nice.
The devotional was about God pursuing us. He does that, ya know. He seeks us out and wants us. How awesome are the Words of God and Christ? I will tell you, totally rocking, confoundingly fabulous, beyond all comprehension. God's word is awesome.
Bless you today and pray for someone you barely know. You might just find a new bestfriend out of it...

Blowing out the candles and making some wishes

Sammy was great about the whole fire being in front of his face and he wanted to know what he was supposed to do with it. He did, however, think it was cool once he got the hang of it. I did not get any candles this year on my cake, did not even get a picture of the cake that my folks brought me...huhm! Were they afraid we would burn down the house with my 29 versus Sammy's 2?
Food for thought.

I know what my wish would have been, to sell my house.

I remember when I was a kid I would make wishes for toys, visits from grandparents, crazy things like walking on the moon or getting to go fishing all day with my dad and brothers. I actually wished for those things. As I got older I wished to be a starter on the basketball team for my local high school games and I wished to pass tests, get a kiss from that special guy or get asked out by the most popular guy around, and I even wished to get into a good college.

Once I was married I wished to relax and get some money.
One year, early in our marriage, I wished for Jeremy to get a good job and for us to have a baby.

One time I just wished to be happy.

My family

I am so blessed.

God blesses me so much with these three people.

Thank you God for my angels.

I love them all.

The perpetual 29

I turned 29 this weekend. I did, really.
I am not joking. A lot of girls say that they stop counting at 29.
I am NOT going to be that way.
I love birthdays, hate the aging part, but love birthdays. I wish I could say that the day was magical, but it was anything from it. We painted the hallway, bought Samuel a bed, and I cried for about an hour in the bathroom thinking that I was forgotten by my parents and grandparents.

I have a birthday buddy, Sammy. He will always be 26 years, 364 days younger than me. His birthday, September 12, will always a day before my own big day. That is cool.

I am such a baby, didn't think I had an ego, well, I DO!

Having his cookie cake and eating it too...

Busy, busy.
We stay that way.
This weekend we celebrated Sammy's second birthday on the 12th.
Can't believe my baby is 2!
Amazing how quickly time passes. Truly it seems that yesterday we were
listening to him coo and gurgle sweet noises from his swing and bouncy seat.
Now, we listen to the sound of him making words and sentences. His "cave-man" like ways keep us hee-hawing over his brute gentleness. He is anything but.
Sammy blows through life and tests the waters openly without any hesitation.
He is the epitome of second child syndrome.
He keeps us on our toes these days. Between his constant need for entertainment and his desire to be his brother. He keeps the whining to a minimum and leaves cascading, lovely messes in his trail. He is mesmerizing. My little enigma.

playing nurse

Both of our babies have had a fever thing going on this weekend. Samuel's started on Friday and went through Saturday and he has been cranky and ill all weekend! Tristan complained silly last night and I thought he was faking because he was putting on, well, he wasn't!
He began running a fever at around 3:00am this morning! Bummer, I haven't even gotten through the first six weeks of school and both of the sweeties have been sick! Gotta love this time, right?
Well, also be praying for this house to sell. I am at times getting bummed. I am like Jonah and that plant that God sent. I am great while people are looking and seeming interested. But, as soon as the people leave I get all mad. That is like the worm that God sent to Jonah's plant. Why can't we just be satisfied and know that God has His hands on everything?
God Bless your day and may you recognize your Jonah today and try to fix it by listening to God the first time...

scars

Writing about scars is something that everyone understands. We all have scars. The emotional ones sometimes are continued on by our physical ones. I cannot look at my leg or brush over my elbow without the gut-wrenching pain of the memory of Sammy's accident. I am scarred, but changed forever for good and emotional reasons. This picture of Sammy with the little tractor is new, I took it this week! He will gradually get over it! I, on the other hand, can actually go a day or so now and not think about it. However, when I do think about it, I just have to be alone and thank God for the gifts that he has given us.

My house

Fireplace in living room

















Front of house



















kitchen view from breakfast area





Bedroom two, front of house



Bedroom 2 view of closet











Kitchen view of cabinets and new backsplash




breakfast, bay windows, view of backyard





Dining room with trey ceiling




Master bedroom, trey ceiling, french doors to back yard





Whirlpool tub in master, glamour bath




Bedroom 4 in back of house, new paint




Spare bath, new paint, two sinks







Bedroom 3, in middle of the two other spares. New paint. Has shelf across top of one wall.




Back of house view.




Living Room/Den with 9 foot ceiling and fireplace