I'm Marking This One off my Bucket List

Jon's parents just bought this new condo in St. Simons Island. We are thrilled beyond belief. It is less than 1/2 mile from the beach and the village. This past weekend we dropped the kids and the dog off at Mama's and headed to SSI . . . to work, of course.

The condo was owned previously by these people from Germany. Everything in it is very European. . . . including this. . . .

in case any of you are wondering. . . this is a bidet. . . it makes me giggle to even type about it.

Being that I'm from the South and all, you just don't see these things around our parts . . . so I couldn't wait to try it out. . . but then, honestly, I wasn't really sure what you're to do. . . here are some of the questions we were pondering.

Do you still use toilet paper or just allow the bidet to work it's magic?

Do you hover over it or sit right on the lid?

When we got back home, we goggled bidet . . . none of our questions were answered because either are acceptable.

Here's one thing we found out after we experienced the bidet that google didn't tell us.

It has both a hot and cold knob. Hot water to your booty feels a whole lot different than it does to your hands. . . . let's just say the hands are bit tougher. . .

Isn't this just hilarious. Cracks this Southern gal up!!!

Truthfully, this was not on my bucket list. . . but just for laughs and giggles I added it, just so I could mark it through.

Mission Accomplished!!!

Encountering Ms. Swan While Making Reservations

Ms. Swan . . . from Mad TV or rather, here in our household we go to youtube and watch her. . . she is H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S. Hanna does a great impersonation of her that sends us all into hoots of laughter.

Last Monday night my sweet hubby called me and asked me out on a date. This just touched my heart. We are together so very much with him being self employed and all, which is great. . . but there is just something very sweet about a phone call . . . when they are away from you. . . to know that you're being thought of.

I could have cared less if we went to Krystal or somewhere really nice. . .I was just tickled pink he asked me out. He wanted to go and try this relatively new Japanese place here in town.


We were a little unsure of the dress or if we needed reservations. This is the following conversation that took place between Jon and the Ms. Swan wanna be.

Jon: Do we need reservations?

Ms. Swan: Yes.

Jon: When do you have avilable?

Ms. Swan: Anytime.

Jon: How should we dress?

Ms. Swan: Yes, off of North Expressway. (she thought he said address)

Jon: Okay. Well, what kind of clothes should we wear?

Ms. Swan: Close to Belk ( Jon thought she said belt).

Ms. Swan: Walmart. (Jon then knew she was referring to the address. She never answered his question about what we should wear).

If you've ever seen Ms. Swan, this is really funny. We couldn't stop laughing.

If you don't know who she is go to you tube and search her. I promise it will put a gig in your giggle.

My Baby is 6

It is so very hard for me to think of my baby as 6 years old, but she is. . . September 27, 2009 was the big day . . . She was so funny . . . on her actual birthday she didn't want anyone to know it was her birthday. It was a Sunday, and she begged me not to tell anyone. She does NOT like any attention on her (just like her Daddy). . . She wouldn't even talk to ANYONE on the telephone . . . only kids she said, no grown ups.

At her birthday party the silly thing plopped this big bow on top of her head when it came time to open presents.

When everyone started singing "Happy Birthday" to her at her party. . . she ran up to me and buried her face in my legs.

My Mom made her this sweet cake. . .

I still can't believe I had to put 6 candles on it. . .

The best part is always making a wish (*side note* check Tiffani out in this picture. Click on it if you need to. I have no idea what she is doing, but it is cracking me up!)

For her birthday dinner she requested fried bologna sandwiches, mac and cheese, and a cookie cake. With all this crud we are eating for THEIR birthdays I may request cantaloupe rind juice, spinach salad ,and hummus for MY birthday dinner. . . ha!ha! just kidding. . . . maybe. . .

A Great Race

My little sister came into town to celebrate Hanna's birthday and hang out with us. There was a local 5K going on, so I signed she and I up to run.

I was so excited. I got 1st female to cross the finish line. Actually only 2 men beat me for winning the whole shootin' match. I've never done that well in a race.

My goal was to beat my best 5K time . . . which was 23:21 . . . know what I ran? 23:21. Shoot!!! Oh well, just a good excuse to sign up for another one.

I won a medal and a plaque. . .

Kristen won 1st in her age group. I was very proud of her. I kept teasing her saying we looked like the dudes from A Night at the Roxbury with our matching outfits and hats. . .

These are Jon and I's sweet running friends. The lady in the blue is Jon's favorite teacher from high school. She is a sweetheart. The other lady is Jon's best friend's sister. She is super sweet too. I love running into them. We see them at all the local races. They are gearing up to run the San Antonio marathon in November. I asked them what their goal time was . . . "To finish vertical" was their answer . . .

That's the thing I love about running . . . community . . . it's great!!!!

Route 56 and Footsteps Lead Worship

We have a ministry at our church called Route 56. It is 5th and 6th grade students who are all taught together, take trips together, etc. It is to prepare these kids to merge into the youth group. Although Alec is in 7th grade, since we came from a very tiny church. . . we thought it would be best if he stayed in this ministry. He agreed. . . . Also that is why the band is playing . . . they lead Route 56 in worship every Wednesday night.

They even have a little lead singer. . . isn's she precious. No, she isn't a Zorro wannabe . . . my red-eye fixer messed up and made her face look that way . . . but I didn't want to leave her out.

One Sunday night "Footsteps" along with the Route 56 choir were asked to lead worship service.

This Mama here was so proud . . . and teary eyed . . .

That boy of mine was nervous . . . and anxious . . . and probably wished his Mama would have sat down and shut up:) His guitar teacher even showed up (Thanks Barry and Steph . . . you guys were so sweet to come).

I remember the days

I remember the days when I took my camera everywhere and it seemed as if I always thought in "blog" . . . do you know what I mean. . . something funny will happen and you think to yourself, "That is a bloggable moment." I've even been caught saying that out loud.

I haven't felt that way in weeks . . . maybe months now . . . and when I think about weeding out things that take up my time . . . things I could do without. . . . I go look in my blogging archives . . . archives where I've stored up my memories for the last year . . . and I smile . . . and think to myself. . . ."Okay, I can't, I just can't weed blogging out. Maybe I can just be better organized with it. . . more on top of it."

I don't want to lose that place of stored memories, so I'm gearing it back up girls and for the one guy (Barry) who reads my blog . . . I'm back . . . and hoping to stay. . .

Throughout my stressful 2 weeks I am realizing some things that I make into a huge big ordeal just really are not that important. If it is not life or death or heaven or hell, I'm going to work . . . hard, very, very hard (it will require much effort on my part) . . . to not stress over it. . . "Don't sweat the small stuff, and it's all small stuff," . . . at least that's what I've heard . . . Hee!Hee!

With that being said, all week long I'm going to be playing blog catch-up. . . . so here we go . . .

About a month and a half ago some girlfriends and I went to see Grease at The Fabulous Fox . . .

We all decided it would be so much fun to get really dolled up. Now, mind you, we didn't talk ahead of time about what we were wearing . . .

We ALL wore black except for Suzanne. . . . she just had to stand out *wink*wink*

Here is our "sexy" pose . . . or so WE think anyway. . .

After much debate about where to eat we opted for this wonderful Mexican restaurant . . .

Here we are outside of The Fox.

Here I am outside posing in front of the Grease poster. I love this dress I'm wearing, but I don't get out to too many places to wear it. It was a dress my SIL gave me that didn't fit her. . . I want to find somewhere to go so I can get to wear it again. . .

To top a wonderful night off. . . we got to meet. . . . Mr. Teen Angel himself . . .

Taylor Hicks . . . what a great "icing on the cake"

He was so very nice. He seemed a bit shy. I, of course, let him know we voted for him on American Idol.

We were like giddy 15-year-old girls . . . so fun. . . we headed to "Noah's Ark" and this is what everyone proceeded to do . . . .

Text and call their loved ones about who we just met.

Thanks ladies for a super fun night out on the town. . .

Dear Blogger

I know I haven't been very faithful to you in these last few weeks. There has been much going on that I don't want to forget . . . and I want to jot down . . . so when I'm old and gray I can look back at these words and recall this season in my life.


I have lots to stay and lots to blog about. I just haven't been "into it" lately. To my blogger friends, I've been reading your blogs and staying involved in your lives. . .I just don't have any words right now.


I think I'm just tired . . . really tired. Last week was a rough week with me trying to be a juggler of all things . . . I had so many balls in the air and I couldn't keep them all in sync . . . they were piling on top of me very rapidly.


It is hard . . . working and homeschooling . . . especially when you work at home . . . because you still feel like a stay-at-home mom . . . because that is what you do . . . stay at home. This week work has really demanded my attention more so than ever.


So many times I feel like I can handle it all . . . and then I crash . . . and normally with crashing comes tears and, unfortunately, complaining and griping. I know God does not honor my complaining and griping. . . I have to learn to not hold so much in and learn express my emotions and frustrations in a healthy way . . . a way that honors my Lord. . . . a way that doesn't look like Mt. Vesuvius is erupting.


Options and solutions are offered by those near and dear to me . . . yet, the thing is at this stage in life I HAVE to work. My husband is stuck in the middle of whether to continue his business full time . . . a very successful business (through God's grace). . . yet a business that scares him because of the current state of our economy . . . that is option A or option B is find a full-time job. He has applied and searched and applied and searched . . . yet NOTHING, NOTHING. Not even a phone call for an interview.


I don't know what God is up to. . . but I know that He does, and that alone gives me so much strength and confidence.


But my income is really needed right now as all is in limbo with Jon's career. God has shown me through this very trying time that it is not a job that provides for us . . . but it is He Himself and no other. He may provide us with a job to provide for us . . . but it ALL comes from Him.


So while I'm overwhelmed and frustrated and so desperately want to just teach my children and throw all of my efforts and energy into teaching them . . . I can't . . . and I'm grateful for the job I have. Even though at times I literally hate it and it stinks . . . I'm still grateful and will continue to be.


Jon wants me to quit just as much as I do, but God gives us wisdom . . . and right now the best thing is is that I keep my job and just learn to rest in God and Him alone. . . It would be so very foolish to quit my job because of my emotions . . . the fact that is what I want. . . .but obviously God has something better in store . . . because all things work ultimately for His glory and my good because I love my Lord and am called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)


Rest is hard to come by these days. Very rarely do I find myself entering the bed until 10:00 and then as soon as I close my eyes I hear the sound of the alarm clock. I wake up and feel as if my eyes have only been closed for 5 minutes. I get up and work. Honestly, when I'm finished working I'm pretty pooped. I just need more than 6 hours of sleep at night . . . especially now that I'm running 30+ miles a week.


A few months ago I was having some minor health issues. The doc didn't know about my hectic schedule, but as he started to question me his eyes grew wide. He informed me that I needed at least 7 hours of sleep (being as busy as I am) but he would prefer me to have 8.


I was a good girl for awhile . . . and I'm telling you an hour more worth of sleep makes all of the difference in the world. I started thinking about it the other day. Basically getting 6 hours of sleep a night 7 days a week . . . that means I'm losing out on an hour of sleep that my body needs, which equates to a full night's worth when I add up all 7 days. It's rough some days, but God never promised us easy.


I'm so very incredibly blessed to have such a wonderful and loving man. He wants me to not be so tired and to be free from the pressure of working 10-12 hour days (that is my schedule with work plus homeschooling). But he knows what must be done for our family, and I know if he could take this pressure from me, he would. I had a friend of mine tell me recently that she loves the way she sees him constantly touching me . . . that it was like an admiration he had for me. Her sweet words stuck in my heart and my head . . . I'd never really thought about it that way . . . but obviously those around you can see things about your life that you're oblivious to. I don't deserve this sweet-hearted, gentle husband of mine, but, again. . . I'm living a fairy tale dream . . . a dream that can only be made possible because of God's grace.


So that is where I am . . . where I've been. I do miss blogging and commenting . . . but I'm just dry right now. I'm very grateful for my job though . . . it allows me to fulfill God's calling on my life. . . to be at home . . nurturing and educating my children . . . instructing them in the fear and admonition of the LORD. If that means I have to go without sleep . . . then so be it. I am my God's servant . . . to serve Him as He pleases in whatever way that may be.

The Has Beens . . . and The Never Was

So we have this friend . . . who is Ash's soccer coach . . .

He played soccer in both high school and college and is really good. . .

He also heads up an adult soccer league . . .

Jon thought it would be fun . . . so he gave it a try. . . Our friend put Jon on his team . . . which was a team full of dudes who'd played soccer in the past . . .

Their team name? The Has Beens. If you know Jon well you know he is a relatively quiet guy around people he doesn't know . . . but when he's comfortable . . . he's the life of the party. . .

So here he in on a soccer team and he only knows 1 guy . . . and feels like all the other guys know one another quite well. Plus to boot . . . it is quite intimidating for him to play on a soccer team and be the one who knows the least about the sport . . .

especially since in college . . . he was a "super star" in his intramural football, basketball, and softball teams. . . .

I've heard all of his stories at least a dozen times . . . .

I tease him and tell him when we are old that we will both be convinced in our minds that he actually played for the Georgia Southern Eagles (where we both went to college) and not just intramural teams. . .

As far as soccer? Who knows? His games are on Sunday . . . and it's a load of fun . . . he really is having a good time and getting better and better each game.

His first game I'd yell out "Go Baby" . .. that probably did not help his intimidation factor . . . sorry honey!!!

So Jon plays soccer on The Has Beens, but refers to himself as the never was :)

Her Last Year in Single Digits

We had such a big time celebrating Ashley's 9th birthday. For her birthday meal at home she requested macaroni and cheese and banana pudding?!? I had no idea she even liked banana pudding!!! I added some grilled chicken to her birthday meal . . . although I didn't make her eat it.

On Saturday she celebrated her birthday with our family and friends. My mom did a fantastic job with her soccer birthday cake. . . .

Let me tell you . . . when these kiddos were running upstairs, it sounded like a herd of elephants. It was so much fun!!!!

On Ash's birthday list was a new bike with gears. Jon has really gotten into biking and has bought himself a new bike that has a gazillion-jillion gears. . . so Ash wanted one too.

We called all the kids outside to tell them they were going to have to get some trash up . . .

She was so excited. The bike is so big Ash actually thought Jon had bought me a new bike . . .

In fact, the bike is so big she kind of has to hop to get on it.

There she goes . . . she loves it!!

Her birthday party actually turned into a slumber party. This was so unplanned, but I'm really working on just going with the flow . . . we had 5 little girls spending the night with us.

They all had a wonderful time.

Sunday morning I was quite concerned about how I was going to get myself, my 2 girls, and the 5 other girls all ready for church. And of all Sundays . . . this Sunday we had to be there a little earlier than normal . . .

Ask anybody who remotely knows me and they will tell you very rarely am I ever on time. Somewhere along the way I made up this rule in my head that as long as I am no longer than 15 minutes late . . . then I'm still on time . . . that's the definition of fashionably late in my book.

Jon was not here to help. He went out and did my Sunday morning paper run for me.

Guess what? We got to church and on time!!! The girls were all so pleasant. They actually all helped one another get ready. They would help fix one another's hair. One of the girls helped me ice the cinnamon rolls. It was really a lot of fun!

Alec spent the night with a friend . . . and for that I know he was grateful that he did not have to be in a house full of squealing girls.

I will say the difference between boy sleepovers and girl sleepovers is when boys come over . . . I just know to have plenty of food. Very rarely will I ever hear from them. They hang out and play . . . rarely is there ever any drama.

Now with girl sleepovers . . . I had to leave watching the GA game with Jon several times to go upstairs and mend hurt feelings, settle things in a calm and rationale way, tell everyone to include everyone else and no telling of secrets, to remind them to treat one another just like they want to be treated. . .

One time I headed back downstairs and all of the girls were upstairs watching the Hannah Montana movie. Jon and I heard the sweetest sound of their little voices singing . . . we snuck up the stairs so we could watch them. . . so sweet.

One minute they all are fighting like cats and dogs and the next minute they are kumbaya-ing with one another:) That's girls for you . . . both little girls and big girls.

A Beary Special Day

This year for the girls' birthday my Mom AKA Nanna took them to "Build a Bear". She did this for Ashley for her 3rd birthday and it was such a sweet experience for Ash, she wanted to do it again . . . even at 9 years old . . . I love that. I love how she likes her dolls still rather than chasing boys. So many girls at her age are trying to grow up too quickly and be so much older than what they really are.

First they picked out their stuffed animals . . .

Hanna changed her mind when she saw the bulldog. It reminded her of Max, so she immediately wanted this one. . . .

Next, they picked out a sound to go inside of their animal . . . Hanna picked a bark. Ash picked a musical sound. . . .

Next they had to pick out a heart and rub it on their tummy so it wouldn't be hungry, rub on the cheek so it smiled, rub it on it the forehead so it would be smart, then make a wish . . .

Here comes the fun part . . . dressing them. I knew Ash would pick a funky outfit . . . and she did. Hanna had such a hard time choosing. Finally she saw this one pair of shoes she just had to have for her dog. That's my girl . . . buying the pair of shoes first . . . then the outfit to match.

They had to dress their stuffed animals. Raising 3 girls Mom has LOTS of experience doing this. . . .

Here's to a beary special day with a beary special person. . . . Nanna

Poor Mom had not even had lunch, so we headed over to Sticky Fingers.

Next we headed to Barnes and Nobles. This is where I'm weak. . . shoes and books are my weakness. I can have 10 books I need to read and I still want more . . . I didn't even take my purse in. Mom treated me to Starbucks . . . and it was ever so yummy. . . . We had so much fun. We laughed so very much . . . and, of course. . . we were the loudest people in there.

Please Watch . . . It's Worth Your 7 Minutes

A friend shared this with me . .. please watch . . . and pray and be broken and be anguished . . . truly, mournfully anguished . . . oh, what a scary thing to pray . . . to pray to be anguished . . .most times it takes something drastic . . . oh, that our very hearts would so desire God Himself that NOTHING satisfy the pit of our longings until we seek him with our whole hearts. . . until we search for Him as we would for treasure.

I was so convicted by this video . . . convicted in my heart, in my eyes, and in my mind . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGMG_PVaJoI