Trip Update

Well...Obviously Jon and I are back from Charlotte. We LOOOOVED it! What a great city! We see soo much more opportunity there for us as a family than in West Virginia. We are sooo anxious to get there and we feel like we'll be really "starting life". I think these feelings come from the fact that we always knew that WV was temporary...so we tried to keep that mind set.
Charlotte seems to have the big city appeal - but the small town feel. You can be in the city - and then drive 5 minutes and be in a neighborhood subdivision. It's great! The best of both worlds. It will be very hard to start over...I can't even think about it right now...but it will only strengthen us again.

Ok - so now for the good part. Kennedy and staying over night. Whew. Well - the first day with Tina - all she did was cry. She stood by the door and pointed and cried. She wouldn't watch her videos or play with toys or EAT! Tina even told me that she tried to feed her a chocolate donut - and she wouldn't even take that! :) ha-ha. :) She cried herself to sleep a couple of times - one time sitting straight up on the couch...and her head flopped in between her 2 little legs. Tina said she felt so sorry for her - but she wouldn't let Tina hold her or comfort her. :) She even tried to take her outside (because she loves being outdoors) and Kennedy just walked to the driveway and pointed to the car as if to say "I know this will take me to my mommy!" :)

By 2pm - it was time to take the stroller and walk to the school to pick up the big kids. When Kelsey came out of the door - Kennedy was a new woman! She was so excited and was playing with Kelsey. The minute they got home Kennedy was running to the kitchen doing the sign for "please" and pointing to the refrigerator.
Tina said she couldn't get the food fast enough for her! :) She was even eating plain pieces of bread...just shoving food in! :) The girls played dolls and house and blocks and had dance parties.

Then came bed time. :( When Tina pulled out Kennedy's pajamas...Kennedy lost it! I think she realized..."OH MY GOODNESS...I am spending the NIGHT here!!!!!!!!!!!"
Eventually she cried herself to sleep and slept until 4:30 am. Tina finally got her back to sleep around 6am but then it was time for her to get her kids up for school! :) What a good friend right!?

The next day was better...she kind of seemed to adjust and get in the groove of things. :) Let me tell you...Mom and Dad couldn't get home fast enough. We were originally planning to look around some more that morning...but instead - we just showered and hit the road! :)

IT was a tough thing to do - but we did it! We all survived. I did have a wonderful time with Jon - we had adult conversation - ate at an adult restaurant - and just really were able to love on each other. We felt like we were dating again! :)

Thanks to all who prayed! :) Wish we lived closer!!

Freaking out....

Tomorrow, Jon and I are heading to North Carolina. And...here is the clincher....we are leaving Kennedy with my wonderful friend Tina and her family. This will be the first time I have left her for more than a couple hours since I quit working.

I realize that most of you with kids probably leave them all the time - b/c when I started telling some of my friends - they were almost shocked that I hadn’t done it before. But it is sooo different if you don’t have family close by! Who would be crazy enough to volunteer to keep her!? ha-ha! TINA! :)

Also - the only experience I have of leaving her is with the babysitter when I was working. Most of you remember that she wasn’t getting fed...seriously....and she would be completely distraught when I picked her up each day...and she was a baby. I have no idea what all went on there....but neglect is certainly the key word.

So...that being my only experience - I am worried!! I’m not worried that Tina will not do a good job. She is a wonderful mother who loves her girls soooo much! I’m worried about Kennedy! She is sooo high maintenance and she is my baby! I guess I turned into one of those moms.... :)

But...I am sooo thankful that I have a friend like Tina to do this wonderful thing for Jon and I. Once I know Kennedy is fine...we will be able to relax and really enjoy ourselves!! I’m really looking forward to adult conversation - and a meal with no food thrown on the floor or drinks spilled..... well - I guess I still am out with Jon...ha-ha!! Well anyway - it will be nice. :)

TJ told us that he is only doing this for Jon - and sang .... Boum-chicka-boum-boum. :) Jon says..."PRESSURE"!! :)

So...if you think of it....say a prayer for Tina and for me and for my baby. :)

A little deep

Roger Scruton, a well-known British philosopher, has suggested that worship is the most important indicator of what persons or groups really believe about God. These are his words: 'God is defined in the act of worship far more precisely than he is defined by any theology.' What Scruton is saying is, in essence: 'If you want to know what a people really believe about God, don't spend time reading their theologians, watch them worship. Listen to what they sing. Listen to what they say. Listen to how they pray. Then you will know what they believe about this God whom they worship.'" All this means that a wise worship leader will be more concerned about biblically faithful lyrics than a cool harmonic progression or a musically complex arrangement.

WOW...wouldn't our churches light on fire if we took this to heart - instead of trying to "fill time" with senseless songs and meaningless lyrics?

Nothing like an audience...

Today I had a 3 year old in addition to my 1 year old - and Ted - the 2 year old. WHEW! It was a handful! Especially b/c the 3 year old was potty training. I have no idea what I'm doing, so we set up shop in the kitchen. (Only b/c my bathroom on the main floor was too small of a space)

Well - after Ben pottied the first time - he got a sucker. Tell me how to explain why he gets a sucker and the 1 and 2 year old don't get one!?!? So...we ALL got suckers!! After that sticky mess...I decided to go with M&M's for round 2. Ding ding. By the end of the day...I had Ben trying to potty...with no privacy....and 2 fans cheering him on!!! "COME ON BENNY!!! POTTY SO WE GET CANDY!!!" They kept trying to pump him full of juice. Now who says 1 and 2 year olds aren't smart enough to know anything!? See them waiting patiently for a bit of sweetness? Oh to be that age again.

Out of mere curiousity....

I decided that I wasn't going to wipe Kennedy's nose or face all morning. I just wanted to see what would happen. Well that and...because she fights me everytime she even sees a kleenex or washcloth coming her way.
So - I was avoiding fights... er... or being lazy?! Anyway - here is the final product...

New found body parts...

SO...Kennedy found her nose




And then she found her mouth....

Wow! It's hard to believe that 2007 is here and gone! And what a year for change. It has been amazing to see our little family grow together. I am so thankful for so many things. I remember that every year for a VERY long time, my New Years Eve wish was that I would find someone who would love me and care for me as my husband. If you had told me then - that my life would have turned into this fairytail - I would have laughed in your face. I'm so thankful that God's ways were higher than mine and that His thoughts were bigger than mine!! He has blessed us beyond measure by giving us a beautiful baby girl and another one on the way. My biggest prayer is that we can honor Him in the way that we raise them.

He has taught us many lessons by being here in West Virginia. I think the most important thing I've learned is that "Home is where your heart is". My heart is with Jon - so wherever we are at - I am to be content. He's also taught me that my family comes first. My husband and children are to be the number one priority in my day to day life. This means that if ministries or friends try to get in the way of that - they should be removed or I should take a step back. I have learned that I can count the number of good friends on one hand. Having a good friend is a rare and special thing. Sure - I have lots of good "friends" - but someone that really puts my needs and my feelings ahead of their own - is hard to come by. I've learned that most friendships are selfish - and most people are out to see what they can gain - leaving me drained and tired. I have learned to appreciate the friends that pray with me, and for me. The friends that help me clean up after a party, the friends that can make themselves at home in my house, and the friends that I WANT to call because I know that we are going to have a good conversation - not a negative one. The friends that load up their 2 kids on Christmas Eve and take me and my daughter to Urgent Care, the friends that come and take my screaming child when I'm staying at their house - at 3 in the morning, just so I can sleep. The ones that get excited when my daughter takes her first steps or shoves cake into her mouth on her 1st birthday! I love being there for those few friends as well - and pray that I can be as they have been for me. You know who you are!! Thank you!

I have learned that being a "Stay at Home Mom" is not all it's cracked up to be! It's such hard work. I don't get a weekend break - or vacation days. I don't get a bonus check or a ham for Christmas. No one pats me on the back and tells me I am doing a good job every day. I don't get a raise or incentives...and I put in a lot of nights. But there are still rewards they are just different - and will be everlasting.

2007 has been a big year of change for me. I have grown up a lot! Partly with no choice in the matter. :) Those growing times are not always fun - and sometimes they just stink!! But - I always seem to come back stronger. Cheers to 2008!!