Monday, March 2, 2009
Memorization Monday
This week I am going to get out all of my previous index cards and review all of the verses I've memorized; that way they stay in my head and I don't forget them.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
On Saturdays we Scream for our favorite Basketball Player
We've participated in Upward Basketball program for many, many years now. Alec ushered us into it and played for 3 or so years, so when his very competitive, younger sister was old enough to play, she bounced to it (no pun intended).
Y'all this girl is quite the athlete, and ALL of it comes from her Daddy. I run and lift weights, but ANYBODY, and I do mean ANYBODY can do that. She is fierce, aggressive (in a good way), and just naturally talented. She's a natural leader . . . always cheering her teammates on and congratulating them when THEY do a good job. She's so funny though. . . every time she scores she makes sure We are screaming for her!!
Jon's Dad was quite the basketball player growing up and actually went to GA Southern on a basketball scholarship. Her basketball genes came straight from her Grandaddy. I have loved watching his face every Saturday as he watches her play. I've told him she is just a mini version of him out there playing.
We've been so blessed that our soccer coach and all our girls, but one on our team, we play soccer with. It's been so much fun. The fun will continue though because soccer starts next Saturday. Our soccer/basketball coach is the best. He loves our girls and he loves sports. His reactions are just as much fun to watch as our girls. I've often told people that before we were on his team we'd think, "This guy takes sports wayyyy too serious. He needs to loosen up." But, we have had the pleasure of being on his team for 2 years now, and now I tell people, "When you are on his team, you LOVE him."
Look at her go!
She's open. She's open.
Y'all better be cheering for me!
Y'all this girl is quite the athlete, and ALL of it comes from her Daddy. I run and lift weights, but ANYBODY, and I do mean ANYBODY can do that. She is fierce, aggressive (in a good way), and just naturally talented. She's a natural leader . . . always cheering her teammates on and congratulating them when THEY do a good job. She's so funny though. . . every time she scores she makes sure We are screaming for her!!
Jon's Dad was quite the basketball player growing up and actually went to GA Southern on a basketball scholarship. Her basketball genes came straight from her Grandaddy. I have loved watching his face every Saturday as he watches her play. I've told him she is just a mini version of him out there playing.
We've been so blessed that our soccer coach and all our girls, but one on our team, we play soccer with. It's been so much fun. The fun will continue though because soccer starts next Saturday. Our soccer/basketball coach is the best. He loves our girls and he loves sports. His reactions are just as much fun to watch as our girls. I've often told people that before we were on his team we'd think, "This guy takes sports wayyyy too serious. He needs to loosen up." But, we have had the pleasure of being on his team for 2 years now, and now I tell people, "When you are on his team, you LOVE him."
Look at her go!
She's open. She's open.
Y'all better be cheering for me!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Bumpy Waters & Dying to Self
If I had to use 2 words to sum up our week it would have to be bumpy waters. It's been one rough week. I know I have mentioned once or twice before about a family member who I love very much who has had a tough time with his health lately. Quite honestly, I've been hesitant to blog about it because he is a well-known member of our community, and I really don't know who reads my blog that lives around here. So, in order to respect his privacy and avoid the "rumor mill" I just haven't felt free to blog out it.
However, just briefly, my father-in-law, who I am just crazy about, was admitted to the hospital on Monday night. Tuesday, Hanna and I went to be with him, and let's just say, I was extremely emotional. I tend to be that way in moments of crises. I just am not one to hold it together. I cry and cry alot. . . I'm just one of those girls who believes crying is good for the soul.
Wednesday the kids and I were back there and Jon had been going by there after he worked. . . putting him getting home between 9:00 and 9:30 every night. May not sound like much, but his alarm buzzes at 5:00 a.m. every morning, and it has been rough on him.
We really all were afraid Jon's Dad had liver cancer. Wednesday morning Jon called and our conversation went as follows:
Jon: "Hey Babe, I just talked to Mom, and she was crying so hard I couldn't understand her."
Jon starts choking up . . .
Me: "Jon, I can't understand you. Please calm down. I can't hear you."
Jon: "Mom's got me crying. The surgeon said after doing Dad's liver biopsy she just knew he had cancer. She was up off and on during the night wondering how in the world she was going to tell our family that he has cancer. She got to the hospital this morning and the pathologist told her he was 99% positive it was not cancer. The surgeon hugged his neck. He told her he didn't expect that kind of response. Dad just has lesions on his liver and a really bad infection. They are going to clear it up with antibiotics."
Halfway through this I was bawling. We all were rejoicing and praising the LORD. As I was talking to Jon my mother-in-law was beeping in. I called her back and she and I shared tears together.
We had a really good visit at the hospital with Jon's Dad. He is on some pain medication so he is pretty funny.
When life like this happens I tend to squeeze it all in. . . I still worked this week. I still homeschooled the kids. We still went to basketball practice, swim practice, soccer practice, dancing lessons, ballet, and church. Honestly, I am slap worn out.
So today we had planned a field trip to a museum with some of our homeschool friends. I was quite excited about it. This morning was awfully rocky. In fact, I was downright mean to my kids.
Total exhaustion + argumentative Ashley + Alec and Ashley fussing = 1 mean mom. The kind of mean that makes me look like a raving lunatic.
Thankfully though I have very forgiving kids. Yes, I am one of those mom's that apologizes to my kids and asks their forgiveness when I have wronged them. I also asked Jesus to forgive me. I talked with each of the kids about how it makes them feel when I yell at them. Hanna is my child I have to pull things out of. My conversation with her went as follows:
Me: "Hanna, I'm sorry for yelling this morning. I was really ugly and I'm very sorry. I love you very much. How did it make you feel when I was yelling?"
Hanna shrugged her shoulders.
Me: "Did it make you mad or hurt your feelings?"
Hanna: "No, it just hurt my ears."
After my crazy fit of meanness, I started blowdrying my hair to get ready to go to the field trip. My mom calls me and asks me to drive her to the airport. My sister was having her gallbladder taken out and she needed my mom ASAP. So all of my plans for today were changed in seconds.
No field trip + crying/disappointed kids + exhausted mom = BAD STINKY ATTITUDE
God has really been teaching me a lot about dying to self lately. Sometimes I am able to do this gracefully and with joy. Other times I do it, but I do it kicking and screaming. That was me today . . . kicking and screaming. You know how bad it is when you have already chugged down a pot of coffee all to yourself and you are wondering how you are going to put one foot in front of the other because you are so tired. I certainly didn't mind helping my mom so that she could be with my sister. I just was very selfish today and was thinking of how exhausted I was. . . . . I, I, I. . . . Me, Me, Me. Well, I really stunk today, especially my attitude.
I know I've had a few negative posts lately. Please don't think I'm a "Negative Nelly." It has just been rough lately.
I need to learn to let go of things when life starts throwing things at me . . . that it's okay to miss a sports practice or homeschool or church, if need be.
I need to learn to die to myself gracefully and with joy and that life's interruptions are God's opportunities.
Praise God though, today was Jon's last day of working ALL the time for awhile. I've been a single Mom for 4 weeks now, so I'm very thankful we will be getting back to our regular schedule.
Hope you all have a great weekend!
However, just briefly, my father-in-law, who I am just crazy about, was admitted to the hospital on Monday night. Tuesday, Hanna and I went to be with him, and let's just say, I was extremely emotional. I tend to be that way in moments of crises. I just am not one to hold it together. I cry and cry alot. . . I'm just one of those girls who believes crying is good for the soul.
Wednesday the kids and I were back there and Jon had been going by there after he worked. . . putting him getting home between 9:00 and 9:30 every night. May not sound like much, but his alarm buzzes at 5:00 a.m. every morning, and it has been rough on him.
We really all were afraid Jon's Dad had liver cancer. Wednesday morning Jon called and our conversation went as follows:
Jon: "Hey Babe, I just talked to Mom, and she was crying so hard I couldn't understand her."
Jon starts choking up . . .
Me: "Jon, I can't understand you. Please calm down. I can't hear you."
Jon: "Mom's got me crying. The surgeon said after doing Dad's liver biopsy she just knew he had cancer. She was up off and on during the night wondering how in the world she was going to tell our family that he has cancer. She got to the hospital this morning and the pathologist told her he was 99% positive it was not cancer. The surgeon hugged his neck. He told her he didn't expect that kind of response. Dad just has lesions on his liver and a really bad infection. They are going to clear it up with antibiotics."
Halfway through this I was bawling. We all were rejoicing and praising the LORD. As I was talking to Jon my mother-in-law was beeping in. I called her back and she and I shared tears together.
We had a really good visit at the hospital with Jon's Dad. He is on some pain medication so he is pretty funny.
When life like this happens I tend to squeeze it all in. . . I still worked this week. I still homeschooled the kids. We still went to basketball practice, swim practice, soccer practice, dancing lessons, ballet, and church. Honestly, I am slap worn out.
So today we had planned a field trip to a museum with some of our homeschool friends. I was quite excited about it. This morning was awfully rocky. In fact, I was downright mean to my kids.
Total exhaustion + argumentative Ashley + Alec and Ashley fussing = 1 mean mom. The kind of mean that makes me look like a raving lunatic.
Thankfully though I have very forgiving kids. Yes, I am one of those mom's that apologizes to my kids and asks their forgiveness when I have wronged them. I also asked Jesus to forgive me. I talked with each of the kids about how it makes them feel when I yell at them. Hanna is my child I have to pull things out of. My conversation with her went as follows:
Me: "Hanna, I'm sorry for yelling this morning. I was really ugly and I'm very sorry. I love you very much. How did it make you feel when I was yelling?"
Hanna shrugged her shoulders.
Me: "Did it make you mad or hurt your feelings?"
Hanna: "No, it just hurt my ears."
After my crazy fit of meanness, I started blowdrying my hair to get ready to go to the field trip. My mom calls me and asks me to drive her to the airport. My sister was having her gallbladder taken out and she needed my mom ASAP. So all of my plans for today were changed in seconds.
No field trip + crying/disappointed kids + exhausted mom = BAD STINKY ATTITUDE
God has really been teaching me a lot about dying to self lately. Sometimes I am able to do this gracefully and with joy. Other times I do it, but I do it kicking and screaming. That was me today . . . kicking and screaming. You know how bad it is when you have already chugged down a pot of coffee all to yourself and you are wondering how you are going to put one foot in front of the other because you are so tired. I certainly didn't mind helping my mom so that she could be with my sister. I just was very selfish today and was thinking of how exhausted I was. . . . . I, I, I. . . . Me, Me, Me. Well, I really stunk today, especially my attitude.
I know I've had a few negative posts lately. Please don't think I'm a "Negative Nelly." It has just been rough lately.
I need to learn to let go of things when life starts throwing things at me . . . that it's okay to miss a sports practice or homeschool or church, if need be.
I need to learn to die to myself gracefully and with joy and that life's interruptions are God's opportunities.
Praise God though, today was Jon's last day of working ALL the time for awhile. I've been a single Mom for 4 weeks now, so I'm very thankful we will be getting back to our regular schedule.
Hope you all have a great weekend!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Real Estate Soap Opera - Part 2
Okay, so let's see. . . where was I? The house . . . we put a really low offer in 2 days before my birthday. I kept telling Jon the house was what I wanted for my birthday. . . pretty big request, huh? It just so happens the listing agent is a friend of ours we go to church with, so I was very glad of this.
I have to stop and say right now that even before we put an offer in we started covering this decision in prayer . . . . a constant prayer in our lives we have always asked God to open all the right doors and close all the wrong doors because we want to be in the center of His perfect will . . . not to the right or to the left, but right smack in the center.
After going back and forth with the seller we settled on a price. When the listing agent would update me on the progress of negotiating I asked him one day could I do my rah-rah dance. He told me during one part of the negotiations to hold off on the rah-rah dance for now. When the seller accepted our final and best offer, the listing agent assured me I could do my rah-rah dance. Jon and I both were ECSTATIC!!
Immediately Jon's head flooded with ideas for the house. He spent so much time looking things up on the internet. We've been going over the things we like. Thankfully we have a lot of the same taste. We would go over there all the time planning, dreaming, envisioning. We met counter top people, flooring people, etc. When we picked out our counter tops the lady was amazed at how quickly we agreed on one. She said that most couples fuss and fight. We've picked out paint colors. Our kids have run upside and downside all through the house. Max even peed on the carpet (which we will replace, of course). Jon and I EVEN went on a run through the neighborhood. We've taken several family members by there. We just can't wait until we get closed and start giving the place a face lift.
There were a few bumps in the lending process which made Jon and I nervous. The lender we are dealing with is one of those types you don't feel like you can trust as far as you can throw. However, we're already in this thing and to start over would be tedious and long. My friend, Suzanne, used to work in lending so I have consulted her many a time about different issues that have come up. She has been a great help and has eased my mind LOTS!
Monday of this week I called the attorney to check on the title. . . . to make sure it had cleared. He informed me that he had just got back from the courthouse researching it, and he found MAJOR title issues . . . . like the previous owner still owns part interest in the house, which was due to a HUGE oversight by another attorney. There is also a $9,000 lien on the house that is unresolved. Pretty big stuff!! We can't buy a house where the owner still owns part of it. The former owners are well known in our community and so I have been asking around about them. I hear they are good people, so I am hoping and praying that if anything is required of them they will cooperate. Our attorney assured both Jon and I that as soon as he heard something he'd let us know. Poor Suzanne, she has legal experience also. . . so Monday night at basketball practice she hears my sob story of what's going on. Thanks for all your help Suz!!!
Jon's Dad is a retired real estate attorney and when our current attorney was telling Jon about all of these issues he knew that Jon use to do title work for his Dad. Jon asked our attorney, "Who is the numskull that messed this up?," Our attorney hesitated, and then said, "Well, you and I both know him." The attorney then told Jon the name of the attorney who messed it up. Jon started laughing and said, "For a minute there I thought you were going to say it was my Dad." (It wasn't) They both got a good kick out of this!!
The listing agent, our friend from church, has really, really impressed me. Jon called him Monday night on the way to our dance lessons and left him a voicemail telling him all that is going on. He is ALL over this. He has already contacted the seller and the seller's attorney who are also working on the issue. He assures me this is a big deal and can take anywhere from days, months, even years to resolve. He is working very hard, and I am just so very thankful God has put people we can trust in our path where we feel and know we are in good hands.
So from here on out it is a waiting game. We are waiting and praying. . . praying for God to still open all the right doors and close all the wrong doors.
I've been so hesitant to talk about this house on my blog. . . thinking, that if I talk about it, it may not happen. . . almost like afraid to get my hopes up. But, you know what? My hopes have already been up, and my blog is my journal, and this is life as I know it right now.
I did tell the kids the other day that there were some house issues, and there is a possibility we may not be moving. I have told them that I am so thankful that we have a nice home NOW and live in a nice neighborhood NOW. Then from there I told them what was even better is that we had a place to keep us warm in the winter and cool in the summer, no matter how nice or not nice it is . . . and, we're all together. Those are the things that matter.
We have been so blessed with things no amount of money could buy, and to be upset about not getting our "dream home" would truly be acting like a spoiled brat!!
My mom is coming this weekend, and she hasn't seen the house.
Will I take her by this house and show it to her? You betcha!
Will I be excited as I walk her through it? Oh yeah!!
Will I tell her all of our plans and where I am placing furniture and which bedrooms the kids will get? Of course I will.
Will she pick at her place to live in the house for when she gets old and gray so I don't have to send her to the nursing home? Oh, you KNOW she will!!!
But. .. what if the deal falls through and we don't get the house? Then that is okay too because that just means it was not God's will, and THAT is where I want to be, right smack-dab in the center of it!!!
I'll keep you guys posted. . . look for part 3 . . . whenever that may be!
I have to stop and say right now that even before we put an offer in we started covering this decision in prayer . . . . a constant prayer in our lives we have always asked God to open all the right doors and close all the wrong doors because we want to be in the center of His perfect will . . . not to the right or to the left, but right smack in the center.
After going back and forth with the seller we settled on a price. When the listing agent would update me on the progress of negotiating I asked him one day could I do my rah-rah dance. He told me during one part of the negotiations to hold off on the rah-rah dance for now. When the seller accepted our final and best offer, the listing agent assured me I could do my rah-rah dance. Jon and I both were ECSTATIC!!
Immediately Jon's head flooded with ideas for the house. He spent so much time looking things up on the internet. We've been going over the things we like. Thankfully we have a lot of the same taste. We would go over there all the time planning, dreaming, envisioning. We met counter top people, flooring people, etc. When we picked out our counter tops the lady was amazed at how quickly we agreed on one. She said that most couples fuss and fight. We've picked out paint colors. Our kids have run upside and downside all through the house. Max even peed on the carpet (which we will replace, of course). Jon and I EVEN went on a run through the neighborhood. We've taken several family members by there. We just can't wait until we get closed and start giving the place a face lift.
There were a few bumps in the lending process which made Jon and I nervous. The lender we are dealing with is one of those types you don't feel like you can trust as far as you can throw. However, we're already in this thing and to start over would be tedious and long. My friend, Suzanne, used to work in lending so I have consulted her many a time about different issues that have come up. She has been a great help and has eased my mind LOTS!
Monday of this week I called the attorney to check on the title. . . . to make sure it had cleared. He informed me that he had just got back from the courthouse researching it, and he found MAJOR title issues . . . . like the previous owner still owns part interest in the house, which was due to a HUGE oversight by another attorney. There is also a $9,000 lien on the house that is unresolved. Pretty big stuff!! We can't buy a house where the owner still owns part of it. The former owners are well known in our community and so I have been asking around about them. I hear they are good people, so I am hoping and praying that if anything is required of them they will cooperate. Our attorney assured both Jon and I that as soon as he heard something he'd let us know. Poor Suzanne, she has legal experience also. . . so Monday night at basketball practice she hears my sob story of what's going on. Thanks for all your help Suz!!!
Jon's Dad is a retired real estate attorney and when our current attorney was telling Jon about all of these issues he knew that Jon use to do title work for his Dad. Jon asked our attorney, "Who is the numskull that messed this up?," Our attorney hesitated, and then said, "Well, you and I both know him." The attorney then told Jon the name of the attorney who messed it up. Jon started laughing and said, "For a minute there I thought you were going to say it was my Dad." (It wasn't) They both got a good kick out of this!!
The listing agent, our friend from church, has really, really impressed me. Jon called him Monday night on the way to our dance lessons and left him a voicemail telling him all that is going on. He is ALL over this. He has already contacted the seller and the seller's attorney who are also working on the issue. He assures me this is a big deal and can take anywhere from days, months, even years to resolve. He is working very hard, and I am just so very thankful God has put people we can trust in our path where we feel and know we are in good hands.
So from here on out it is a waiting game. We are waiting and praying. . . praying for God to still open all the right doors and close all the wrong doors.
I've been so hesitant to talk about this house on my blog. . . thinking, that if I talk about it, it may not happen. . . almost like afraid to get my hopes up. But, you know what? My hopes have already been up, and my blog is my journal, and this is life as I know it right now.
I did tell the kids the other day that there were some house issues, and there is a possibility we may not be moving. I have told them that I am so thankful that we have a nice home NOW and live in a nice neighborhood NOW. Then from there I told them what was even better is that we had a place to keep us warm in the winter and cool in the summer, no matter how nice or not nice it is . . . and, we're all together. Those are the things that matter.
We have been so blessed with things no amount of money could buy, and to be upset about not getting our "dream home" would truly be acting like a spoiled brat!!
My mom is coming this weekend, and she hasn't seen the house.
Will I take her by this house and show it to her? You betcha!
Will I be excited as I walk her through it? Oh yeah!!
Will I tell her all of our plans and where I am placing furniture and which bedrooms the kids will get? Of course I will.
Will she pick at her place to live in the house for when she gets old and gray so I don't have to send her to the nursing home? Oh, you KNOW she will!!!
But. .. what if the deal falls through and we don't get the house? Then that is okay too because that just means it was not God's will, and THAT is where I want to be, right smack-dab in the center of it!!!
I'll keep you guys posted. . . look for part 3 . . . whenever that may be!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Real Estate Soap Opera -Part 1
This post can get very long, so I have decided to break it up. I want to start from the beginning. For as long as I have known Jon he has wanted to develop real estate. I can even remember back to our early days of dating, he and I riding around looking at houses. It's just always been his dream.
About 3 years ago God provided us with a decent-sized savings account, a book given to us by a friend of Jon's Dad, and an amazing opportunity which included meeting a complete stranger on the courthouse steps who educated Jon about the world of flipping houses. He was one of these guys who talks alot about what he knows. Jon soaked in all he could, like a sponge. God's hand was all over it. . . and we have absolutely no doubt about that!!
During that period of time, Jon and I started talking about sacrificing and sacrificing things in order to, as Dave Ramsey says, "Live like no one else today, so you can live like no one else tomorrow." We decided to look for a foreclosed home and sell our current home we were living in. We were just assuming in order for it to be sacrificial it had to be smaller, in a less desirable neighborhood, etc., etc.
Well God blessed us again. He provided us with a sacrifice home that was about 500 square feet bigger and in a nicer neighborhood . . . all with a lower house payment. On top of that, after putting our house on the market for 2 weeks, we had a contract (I didn't have my real estate license at the time). Jon often teases me about this being a sacrifice home and just how much I've sacrificed *smile*. I just always tell him it is the favor of God. Praise His name!! This is the home we have been living in for the past 2+ years.
I should back up a minute and say at some point when we were living in our old house . . . this must have been before we talked about sacrificing things in order to build our business. . . we purchased a little over 6 acres. It again was a total God thing. It was land that had been foreclosed on, and we literally got it for half of what it was worth. Once we started talking about buying a "sacrifice house", we decided that after we built the business up we would sell the "sacrifice house" and build our dream home on our land.
Okay. . . back to present day. . . back in January, I saw this house in the MLS that I knew had been foreclosed on with a local builder. . . in a very nice neighborhood, bigger, all the bells and whistles. I told Jon we should go and look at it, just to dream and get ideas. We did and then took his parents by there. They were both very excited, as were we. I really needed Jon's Mom to help me convince him to take a chance, and she very much thought it was a chance worth taking.
However, at the price it was listed we were afraid the bank would not come down to what we needed for them to. So, Jon did what he does best, he started researching. He told me the only reason he was even considering purchasing another home for us (not the business) was that because NOW is the time to buy. Interest rates are super low. The market is flooded with foreclosures. All at this time, we were still in "dream land." I knew us buying another home for ourselves was very far fetched and not really a reality.
One morning Jon told me he found a house he wanted to go and look at. It was in one of our towns nicest, more established neighborhoods, and was a good bit cheaper than the house we had looked at originally. We looked at it and I fell in love with the floor plan. I absolutely loved the neighborhood and it was only 2 miles from his parents. Jon, at that time, wasn't quite as enamored as I was. He was really unsure as to why I liked this house more than the previous one. This one needed LOTS of elbow grease and a really good face lift. The other one was move-in ready. It literally looked like a house that could be a feature home . . . very, very, very nice. I would just tell him, "This one seems more feasible to me, and I just can see our family living here."
So, I did what I do best, I started putting the pressure on him, "Have you called a lender? Have you called a lender?" We were concerned with us being self employed what a lender would say about us carrying 2 mortgages until we sold/rented/leased our current home. Jon went back to the house by himself a 2nd time, and this time he returned home just as smitten with the house as I was. So, so many things would really have to fall in place for us to get the seller to come down to what we needed them to, us to get financing (remember our business is in real estate, which things really aren't selling right now), selling our house. We were still in "dream world."
I will continue with Part 2 tomorrow. Until then I want to leave you with this scripture.
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." Malachi 3:10
About 3 years ago God provided us with a decent-sized savings account, a book given to us by a friend of Jon's Dad, and an amazing opportunity which included meeting a complete stranger on the courthouse steps who educated Jon about the world of flipping houses. He was one of these guys who talks alot about what he knows. Jon soaked in all he could, like a sponge. God's hand was all over it. . . and we have absolutely no doubt about that!!
During that period of time, Jon and I started talking about sacrificing and sacrificing things in order to, as Dave Ramsey says, "Live like no one else today, so you can live like no one else tomorrow." We decided to look for a foreclosed home and sell our current home we were living in. We were just assuming in order for it to be sacrificial it had to be smaller, in a less desirable neighborhood, etc., etc.
Well God blessed us again. He provided us with a sacrifice home that was about 500 square feet bigger and in a nicer neighborhood . . . all with a lower house payment. On top of that, after putting our house on the market for 2 weeks, we had a contract (I didn't have my real estate license at the time). Jon often teases me about this being a sacrifice home and just how much I've sacrificed *smile*. I just always tell him it is the favor of God. Praise His name!! This is the home we have been living in for the past 2+ years.
I should back up a minute and say at some point when we were living in our old house . . . this must have been before we talked about sacrificing things in order to build our business. . . we purchased a little over 6 acres. It again was a total God thing. It was land that had been foreclosed on, and we literally got it for half of what it was worth. Once we started talking about buying a "sacrifice house", we decided that after we built the business up we would sell the "sacrifice house" and build our dream home on our land.
Okay. . . back to present day. . . back in January, I saw this house in the MLS that I knew had been foreclosed on with a local builder. . . in a very nice neighborhood, bigger, all the bells and whistles. I told Jon we should go and look at it, just to dream and get ideas. We did and then took his parents by there. They were both very excited, as were we. I really needed Jon's Mom to help me convince him to take a chance, and she very much thought it was a chance worth taking.
However, at the price it was listed we were afraid the bank would not come down to what we needed for them to. So, Jon did what he does best, he started researching. He told me the only reason he was even considering purchasing another home for us (not the business) was that because NOW is the time to buy. Interest rates are super low. The market is flooded with foreclosures. All at this time, we were still in "dream land." I knew us buying another home for ourselves was very far fetched and not really a reality.
One morning Jon told me he found a house he wanted to go and look at. It was in one of our towns nicest, more established neighborhoods, and was a good bit cheaper than the house we had looked at originally. We looked at it and I fell in love with the floor plan. I absolutely loved the neighborhood and it was only 2 miles from his parents. Jon, at that time, wasn't quite as enamored as I was. He was really unsure as to why I liked this house more than the previous one. This one needed LOTS of elbow grease and a really good face lift. The other one was move-in ready. It literally looked like a house that could be a feature home . . . very, very, very nice. I would just tell him, "This one seems more feasible to me, and I just can see our family living here."
So, I did what I do best, I started putting the pressure on him, "Have you called a lender? Have you called a lender?" We were concerned with us being self employed what a lender would say about us carrying 2 mortgages until we sold/rented/leased our current home. Jon went back to the house by himself a 2nd time, and this time he returned home just as smitten with the house as I was. So, so many things would really have to fall in place for us to get the seller to come down to what we needed them to, us to get financing (remember our business is in real estate, which things really aren't selling right now), selling our house. We were still in "dream world."
I will continue with Part 2 tomorrow. Until then I want to leave you with this scripture.
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." Malachi 3:10
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Celebrating All Things Tiffani
Today, is such a very special today. It is my dear, sweet friend, Tiffani's birthday. Most of you know her already and know how truly great she is. So . . . in honor of the big 3-4, I have decided to make a list of 34 things about Tiff.
1. She is super funny.
2. She has an amazing voice.
3. She is one of the most thoughtful people that I know.
4. She is a wonderful mother and encourages me in so many ways to be a better mother.
5. She makes you feel like a million bucks.
6. She is beautiful, both inside and out.
7. She is a great writer.
8. She is fabulously creative in so many ways.
9. She has such a heart for God.
10. She knows movie lines like the back of her hand.
11. She is very warm, friendly, and makes you feel like you've known her your whole life after meeting her within minutes.
12. I think she's seen every musical known to man.
13. She is a superb bargain shopper.
14. She has GREAT hair . . . yes, even with her bangs:)
15. She is a great teacher . . . both to her kids and our Wed. night kids. She gives me so many ideas and I am inspired by her gift to teach.
16. She is a great encourager.
17. She makes me laugh like CRAZY!
18. She's my FAVE!!!
19. She's a wonderful person to share the ins and outs and ups and downs of life together.
20. She certainly DOES NOT look her age!!!
21. She's a great sister, daughter, cousin, niece, and wife. . . I know, I'm part of the family.
22. She makes GREAT sweet tea!
23. She is so very merciful and forgiving.
24. Did I say she is funny already? If so, this deserves 2 lines, because she is super-de-duper funny!!!
25. She has a no-kin twin . . . that's me.
26. She takes care of me. . . you know in a big sister kind-of way, making sure I know about things going on, keeping me organized . . . those sort-of "big sister" duties.
27. Adam is so blessed to have her! I hope he knows he hit the jackpot when he married her.
28. She should be the poster mom for stay-at-home moms!!
29. In fact, she should be the poster mom for homeschooling moms!
30. She's very smart.
31. She has a fierce sweet tooth . . . maybe that is why she is so sweet?
32. I love the fact that she is willing to do things she's fearful of for those that she loves.
33. She has a great sense of fashion. She makes me super proud!
34. Simply said. . . she's just plain wonderful!
I love you, Tiff!!! I don't know what I'd do without you. I hope this is your best birthday yet - Celebrate ALL week, girl! I wish you were older. . . I had so many other things to say about you *wink* *wink*
Monday, February 23, 2009
Memorization Monday
"It is He who changes the times and the epochs;
He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to wise men
And knowledge to men of understanding." Daniel 2:21
He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to wise men
And knowledge to men of understanding." Daniel 2:21
Weekend in Review
This past weekend my kids vacationed over at Nanna and Papa's house. I call it a vacation because they get to do whatever they want and the bug the stew out of me on the day they are supposed to go. After about the 20th time of hearing, "When are we going to meet Nanna?" I called my mom at work and demanded to know WHEN she was going to get off work because my kids were aggravating the fool out of me *wink* *wink*.
I met mom Friday evening and then came home to get ready to show my house. I've mentioned a few times our house is on the market, and we are in the process of buying another home. It really deserves a post of its own, but truth-be-known, I'm really just afraid we are not going to close on the house. Just being a little Negative Nellie I guess. . . I think it's because I want it so badly. Anyhoo, we put our house up for rent and I showed it Friday night to one girl, and I spent Saturday morning showing it to 4 other couples.
After everyone had gone Jon and I ate at our favorite pizza place here in town, then we went to pick out light fixtures for the new house. We didn't buy anything yet though. We came home, watched a movie, and then went to O'Charley's for dinner. We then went to his parents house to check up on them.
Sunday morning we woke up and I had to do my long run before we left to go to my mom's for lunch. Jon said he'd run 3 miles with me. It was cold, cold, cold, so we bundled up good.
Jon ran 9 of my 11miles with me. The last 2 Beth Moore ran with me . . . she just doesn't know it. I was listening to one of my Daniel study sessions. I got home, got ready, and headed off to my hometown to my parents house. Jon is my very favorite running partner. I love sharing life with him!
Mom, as always, fixed a wonderful lunch. We brought Max with us, and it really grosses my Mom out that the girls will let Max kiss them. We had so much fun with the girls getting kissed by Max then they'd go and kiss Mama.
After a little while we went riding around on the golf cart with the trails they'd created. Papa and Alec worked hard all weekend clearing a new trail. It was a great weekend had by all!
There truly is no place like home!!!
I met mom Friday evening and then came home to get ready to show my house. I've mentioned a few times our house is on the market, and we are in the process of buying another home. It really deserves a post of its own, but truth-be-known, I'm really just afraid we are not going to close on the house. Just being a little Negative Nellie I guess. . . I think it's because I want it so badly. Anyhoo, we put our house up for rent and I showed it Friday night to one girl, and I spent Saturday morning showing it to 4 other couples.
After everyone had gone Jon and I ate at our favorite pizza place here in town, then we went to pick out light fixtures for the new house. We didn't buy anything yet though. We came home, watched a movie, and then went to O'Charley's for dinner. We then went to his parents house to check up on them.
Sunday morning we woke up and I had to do my long run before we left to go to my mom's for lunch. Jon said he'd run 3 miles with me. It was cold, cold, cold, so we bundled up good.
Jon ran 9 of my 11miles with me. The last 2 Beth Moore ran with me . . . she just doesn't know it. I was listening to one of my Daniel study sessions. I got home, got ready, and headed off to my hometown to my parents house. Jon is my very favorite running partner. I love sharing life with him!Mom, as always, fixed a wonderful lunch. We brought Max with us, and it really grosses my Mom out that the girls will let Max kiss them. We had so much fun with the girls getting kissed by Max then they'd go and kiss Mama.
After a little while we went riding around on the golf cart with the trails they'd created. Papa and Alec worked hard all weekend clearing a new trail. It was a great weekend had by all!
There truly is no place like home!!!Saturday, February 21, 2009
Hands-On Homeschooling
If anyone were to ever ask me which way I love teaching and which way my kids love learning, I would have to say . . . hands-on, hands-on, hands-on. Unfortunately hands-on learning requires:
Here are her ovaries and uterus. Thankfully I have my mom's stomach when it comes to gross things. After all, when you grow up seeing fish cleaned and deer gutted your whole life . . . you kinda develop a strong stomach.
The office manager who lead us around the vet's office was so informative. She would give the kids all of these interesting facts and then later ask questions. When they got one right, she'd give them a folder.
She made sure EVERY child got a folder. Hanna, who is super shy and speaks to NO ONE would not even make eye contact with this sweet lady. I answered the question for Hanna as she looked at the ground . . . that way every child got something.
Did any of you know that you are supposed to get your dog's teeth cleaned? Yep, once a year. We got to see a teeth cleaning be performed on a dog.
I'm not goin' lie. . . when she opened this dog's mouth it STUNK!!
Both Alec and Hanna had queasy stomachs. . . they take after their Dad. But, my mini-me, Ashley, made me proud. She was right in on the action. I often times tell her she would make a great nurse, just like her Nanna.
We then got to see all sorts of things they passed around the room . . from eyeballs, to heart worms, to huge ticks . . . it was very interesting. Here is an eyeball Ash wanted me to take a picture of.
And here is a boy part which I posted about here that we refer to in our family as peas.
At the end of the field trip the tour guide wanted to introduce us to someone very special. It was her dog who had been brought into the clinic after being mauled by another animal. They had to do numerous surgeries on this sweet dog, one that required him losing one of his legs. . . out walked this sweet, 3-legged, German Shepherd who was appropriately named,Chance. The kids and the moms went crazy over him.
One of my very favorite things of the field trip was I got to spend some time with my dear friend, Tammy.
- lots of preparation
- lots of time
- lots of organization
I will go through spurts where I am a better teacher than others. But, last week the kids and I both got to experience hands-on homeschooling . . . and I didn't have to do a thing . . . well, show up on time, but that's it.
I'm a member of 4 homeschool groups. . . I know, talk about wanting to give your kids every opportunity out there. One of the groups I'm a member of had a field trip a local veterinarian's office. It was one of our best field trips yet!!!
We got to see a cat get spayed
Here are her ovaries and uterus. Thankfully I have my mom's stomach when it comes to gross things. After all, when you grow up seeing fish cleaned and deer gutted your whole life . . . you kinda develop a strong stomach.
The office manager who lead us around the vet's office was so informative. She would give the kids all of these interesting facts and then later ask questions. When they got one right, she'd give them a folder.
She made sure EVERY child got a folder. Hanna, who is super shy and speaks to NO ONE would not even make eye contact with this sweet lady. I answered the question for Hanna as she looked at the ground . . . that way every child got something. 
Did any of you know that you are supposed to get your dog's teeth cleaned? Yep, once a year. We got to see a teeth cleaning be performed on a dog.
I'm not goin' lie. . . when she opened this dog's mouth it STUNK!!
Both Alec and Hanna had queasy stomachs. . . they take after their Dad. But, my mini-me, Ashley, made me proud. She was right in on the action. I often times tell her she would make a great nurse, just like her Nanna.
We then got to see all sorts of things they passed around the room . . from eyeballs, to heart worms, to huge ticks . . . it was very interesting. Here is an eyeball Ash wanted me to take a picture of.
And here is a boy part which I posted about here that we refer to in our family as peas.
At the end of the field trip the tour guide wanted to introduce us to someone very special. It was her dog who had been brought into the clinic after being mauled by another animal. They had to do numerous surgeries on this sweet dog, one that required him losing one of his legs. . . out walked this sweet, 3-legged, German Shepherd who was appropriately named,Chance. The kids and the moms went crazy over him. 
One of my very favorite things of the field trip was I got to spend some time with my dear friend, Tammy.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Capture the Flag
Have you ever played it . . . Capture the Flag, that is? It is one of those old-school games like "Kick the Can." A few weeks ago my SMB (sister by marriage) and her boys were visiting. On Sunday afternoon the kiddos and Max took on the Moms . . . yep, all of us . . . the matriarch (Gigi) and Holly and I. It was so much fun! Below are just a few pointers and warnings if any of you decide to play . . .
Get a good hug before you start . . . you will need it when you play 5 kids and a dog.
When you fall to the ground, and you will . . . . make sure you laugh . . . ALOT . . .
Adding a dog on the opposing team makes the game much more interesting . . . plus it adds ALOT more laughs . . . and . . . who doesn't love to laugh, right?
Make sure you don't go on a 6-mile run with your hubby before you play. Otherwise, you will be really worried about your body odor . . . even with family. See that sour look on my face. I was so sweaty I could even smell myself . . . YUCK!
Hang on to your partners super tight. The kids are VICIOUS . . . look at that little one and big one underneath us trying to pull our feet out from under us. . . .
If you can tickle the opposing team . . . it really helps . . .
When you can . . . take the flag and . . . RUN. . . those kids are FAST. Oh, and . . . cheer for your team mates. Look at Holly go!
Get a good hug before you start . . . you will need it when you play 5 kids and a dog.
Make sure you have some super-fun kids who know how to strategize. It makes the game much more challenging. . . .
When you fall to the ground, and you will . . . . make sure you laugh . . . ALOT . . .
Adding a dog on the opposing team makes the game much more interesting . . . plus it adds ALOT more laughs . . . and . . . who doesn't love to laugh, right?
Make sure you don't go on a 6-mile run with your hubby before you play. Otherwise, you will be really worried about your body odor . . . even with family. See that sour look on my face. I was so sweaty I could even smell myself . . . YUCK!
Hang on to your partners super tight. The kids are VICIOUS . . . look at that little one and big one underneath us trying to pull our feet out from under us. . . .
If you can tickle the opposing team . . . it really helps . . .
When you can . . . take the flag and . . . RUN. . . those kids are FAST. Oh, and . . . cheer for your team mates. Look at Holly go!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
I JUST HAVE TO VENT
Two posts in one day . . . yeah. . . I just have to take a moment and vent. I'm having one of those days when I am just plain exhausted. So many irons in the fire and I just can't keep up, no matter how hard I'm trying.
Work is on my case . . . I'm making mistakes like crazy. Homeschooling is behind this week, 1/2 marathon training is behind also. I should have run 4 miles yesterday and didn't get to it. I tend to be a stress eater, so my jeans are too tight. Trying to balance it all, all by myself is very hard. Jon is working a lot lately. Praise the Lord for that. But I am practically a single mom and have been for the last 3 weeks. He leaves at 5:30 AM and isn't home until 8:00, which is the time we try and get the kids in bed.
I'm trying so hard to be upbeat and peppy, but between balancing ballet, basketball, soccer, and swim (which is 30 minutes away), ballroom dancing lessons, train for a 1/2 marathon that is 2 weeks away and my longest run has only been 9 miles, being behind on homeschooling, trying to be an attentive mom to my children, I feel like SCREAMING!!!!
Oh yeah, the dog chews on every. single. thing he sees. My house is a wreck. Church is tonight, and church in itself is a WHOLE other issue. Honestly I don't want to even darken the doors right now. There is ALWAYS something going on and sometimes I just get to a point where I am fed up and I want to go to a big church where I don't know what goes on behind the scenes. But I sure do love Jesus and I want to be obedient to Him. If it were not for the smiling, sweet faces of the children Tiff and I teach on Wednesday, I'd just stay home tonight.
One more thing . . . our house is on the market, the stress of renting/leasing/selling it while we are trying to purchase another house. The lender needs all of this paperwork and I feel like a complete idiot because I don't even know where to find what she needs or what it looks like. Jon handles all of this stuff. I had to confess my ignorance to her yesterday. I really felt small AND stupid. The worries of being a real estate agent and knowing that you can get to the closing table and not close on the house of your dreams. UGGHH!!!
Thanks for hearing me vent. Sorry if I've been a "Debbie Downer" or "Grumpy Gracey" today. . . but unfortunately these days do come . . . and . . . Praise God . . . they do GO!!!
Work is on my case . . . I'm making mistakes like crazy. Homeschooling is behind this week, 1/2 marathon training is behind also. I should have run 4 miles yesterday and didn't get to it. I tend to be a stress eater, so my jeans are too tight. Trying to balance it all, all by myself is very hard. Jon is working a lot lately. Praise the Lord for that. But I am practically a single mom and have been for the last 3 weeks. He leaves at 5:30 AM and isn't home until 8:00, which is the time we try and get the kids in bed.
I'm trying so hard to be upbeat and peppy, but between balancing ballet, basketball, soccer, and swim (which is 30 minutes away), ballroom dancing lessons, train for a 1/2 marathon that is 2 weeks away and my longest run has only been 9 miles, being behind on homeschooling, trying to be an attentive mom to my children, I feel like SCREAMING!!!!
Oh yeah, the dog chews on every. single. thing he sees. My house is a wreck. Church is tonight, and church in itself is a WHOLE other issue. Honestly I don't want to even darken the doors right now. There is ALWAYS something going on and sometimes I just get to a point where I am fed up and I want to go to a big church where I don't know what goes on behind the scenes. But I sure do love Jesus and I want to be obedient to Him. If it were not for the smiling, sweet faces of the children Tiff and I teach on Wednesday, I'd just stay home tonight.
One more thing . . . our house is on the market, the stress of renting/leasing/selling it while we are trying to purchase another house. The lender needs all of this paperwork and I feel like a complete idiot because I don't even know where to find what she needs or what it looks like. Jon handles all of this stuff. I had to confess my ignorance to her yesterday. I really felt small AND stupid. The worries of being a real estate agent and knowing that you can get to the closing table and not close on the house of your dreams. UGGHH!!!
Thanks for hearing me vent. Sorry if I've been a "Debbie Downer" or "Grumpy Gracey" today. . . but unfortunately these days do come . . . and . . . Praise God . . . they do GO!!!
Wordless Wednesday
Look what Hanna learned to do after months and months of trying. . . my baby girl can blow a bubble now. After she learned to do this she must have blown 100 bubbles . . . no lie!Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Celebrating the Ones I Love
I know this is a tad bit late . . . typical me . . . but I've been super busy. . . more than normal this week. I still didn't want the week to go by without posting about our Valentine's Day.
We made love notes for one another. Everyone had a heart with their name on it and we sent our hearts around the table for everyone to write something nice about one another.
Valentine's Day started off with this sweet little thing helping me make my yearly strawberry muffins . . . yep, it was a prepackaged mix . . . can't a girl have fun and let her hair down? *smile* My kids LOVE them. Honestly they are much better than the homemade ones I make, much lighter and sweeter. . .. not nearly the fiber though *grin*
"Happy Valentine's Day. Happy Valentine's Day. Happy Valentine's Day." You get the picture.
After breakfast the girls and I got all dolled up and my mother by marriage (you know I don't like the term mother-in-law) picked us up and carried us to a Victorian Tea Party. What fun! We learned about how tea time originally developed and proper tea etiquette and went on a tour of the amazing house it took place in. Sometimes I think I should have been born back in that era.
Next, we headed to a Fresh Market before going home. I must say I have never been to one and I was super-impressed! The smell of coffee when I walked through the door had me sold. We spent more time than we should. I got several things to make a special Valentine's Day meal for Jon and we picked up pizza for the kids.
We made love notes for one another. Everyone had a heart with their name on it and we sent our hearts around the table for everyone to write something nice about one another.
Valentine's Day started off with this sweet little thing helping me make my yearly strawberry muffins . . . yep, it was a prepackaged mix . . . can't a girl have fun and let her hair down? *smile* My kids LOVE them. Honestly they are much better than the homemade ones I make, much lighter and sweeter. . .. not nearly the fiber though *grin*
The smell of the muffins woke this sweet thing up. He then went back to his room, grabbed his guitar, and serenaded all of us with a song. It went as follows:
"Happy Valentine's Day. Happy Valentine's Day. Happy Valentine's Day." You get the picture.
After breakfast the girls and I got all dolled up and my mother by marriage (you know I don't like the term mother-in-law) picked us up and carried us to a Victorian Tea Party. What fun! We learned about how tea time originally developed and proper tea etiquette and went on a tour of the amazing house it took place in. Sometimes I think I should have been born back in that era. 
Next, we headed to a Fresh Market before going home. I must say I have never been to one and I was super-impressed! The smell of coffee when I walked through the door had me sold. We spent more time than we should. I got several things to make a special Valentine's Day meal for Jon and we picked up pizza for the kids.
For dinner I made Jona nd I grape tomatoes with feta cheese, baked sweet potatoes, salmon with fresh spinach and feta, and chicken breast with sun-dried tomato and feta. I thought the meal was super yummy; however, I have a hubby with simple taste. He actually liked the kids pizza better.
After dinner we headed outside for a silly string fight. Max joined in on the fun.
Truth-be-known it lasted all of 30 seconds, but it was a lot of fun. We then went inside and watched Madagascar 2. Super-cute movie! We put the kids in bed and Jon and I put on The Notebook. Can you believe neither one of us have ever seen it? I've read the book. The movie was so sweet . . . . a little depressing though. I told Jon that if he ever got Alzheimer's I would read him my blog. He then told me I might be the one to get it. W-H-A-T? He must not be listening to me when I tell him I will be teaching aerobics in the nursing home when I get old. Whatever. . . I did make him promise me though that if I get Alzheimer's he has to read my blog to me:)
Truth-be-known it lasted all of 30 seconds, but it was a lot of fun. We then went inside and watched Madagascar 2. Super-cute movie! We put the kids in bed and Jon and I put on The Notebook. Can you believe neither one of us have ever seen it? I've read the book. The movie was so sweet . . . . a little depressing though. I told Jon that if he ever got Alzheimer's I would read him my blog. He then told me I might be the one to get it. W-H-A-T? He must not be listening to me when I tell him I will be teaching aerobics in the nursing home when I get old. Whatever. . . I did make him promise me though that if I get Alzheimer's he has to read my blog to me:) Hope all of you had a wonderful day of celebrating the ones you love!!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Memorization Monday
Okay, so I'm cheating a little bit, it is really Tuesday, but I am back posting this for Monday. My memory verse for the week is:
"Daniel said, 'Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him.' Daniel 2:20
"Daniel said, 'Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him.' Daniel 2:20
Friday, February 13, 2009
Peas, Carrots, and Roast Beef
Our dog, Max, loves to lay on his back and us rub his tummy. With the floppy jaws of an English bulldog his mouth will look like roast beef when he is upside down on his back. One day after we first got him, as Jon was rubbing his tummy, he said, "Let me see that roast beef." It just kind-of stuck with our family and so this is what we say when we rub his belly.
One day as Hanna was rubbing his belly she saw his boy parts. She told Jon, "Daddy, Max has peas, carrots, and roast beef." I'll let you guys use your imagination and decide which part is the peas and what part is the carrot. This is another one of those things that have just 'stuck' . . . Max has peas, carrots, and roast beef.
Yesterday we took him to get neutered. The day before Max was to go to the vet the kids had lots of questions about him getting neutered. I started explaining to them how it takes a male and a female to have a baby. A male has sperm and a female has eggs. A sperm has to fertilize an egg in order for a baby to be formed, and the vet was going to make it to where Max couldn't participate in having babies. . . . blah, blah, blah.
Yesterday morning, as we were hurrying to get out of the house to take him to the vet, the following conversation took place.
Alec: "Mom, are they going to cut Max's peas off?"
Me: "No, baby. They are going to leave his peas and his carrots. They are just going to kill the sperm."
Ash: "Yeah, Alec. They are just going to make it where he can't be a fertilizer."
**Shows you what I know . . . I've had a terrible "blonde" moment (I don't have a hint of blonde in my hair but I DO think like one) . . . . I just assumed neutering was like a vasectomy. After talking to my mom yesterday she informed me that "Yes, they do remove the peas." Oops! Better go tell the kids:)
One day as Hanna was rubbing his belly she saw his boy parts. She told Jon, "Daddy, Max has peas, carrots, and roast beef." I'll let you guys use your imagination and decide which part is the peas and what part is the carrot. This is another one of those things that have just 'stuck' . . . Max has peas, carrots, and roast beef.
Yesterday we took him to get neutered. The day before Max was to go to the vet the kids had lots of questions about him getting neutered. I started explaining to them how it takes a male and a female to have a baby. A male has sperm and a female has eggs. A sperm has to fertilize an egg in order for a baby to be formed, and the vet was going to make it to where Max couldn't participate in having babies. . . . blah, blah, blah.
Yesterday morning, as we were hurrying to get out of the house to take him to the vet, the following conversation took place.
Alec: "Mom, are they going to cut Max's peas off?"
Me: "No, baby. They are going to leave his peas and his carrots. They are just going to kill the sperm."
Ash: "Yeah, Alec. They are just going to make it where he can't be a fertilizer."
**Shows you what I know . . . I've had a terrible "blonde" moment (I don't have a hint of blonde in my hair but I DO think like one) . . . . I just assumed neutering was like a vasectomy. After talking to my mom yesterday she informed me that "Yes, they do remove the peas." Oops! Better go tell the kids:)
Thursday, February 12, 2009
I Came, I Saw, and I Conquered
THIS
What I refer to as Mount Vesuvius in our home. It is constantly being erupted with little and big hands trying to find their clean clothes (yes, these are all clean). However, the "lava" never gets put back up. It will just stay all over the ground, until I come and pile it all up again. Laundry is the never-ending chore around here. . . between working, homeschooling, ballet, basketball, ballroom dancing lessons, swim practice, and church, it is so hard to stay on top of it. . . at least we're out living life, right?
But today, I went downstairs and saw it, but before I conquered it . . . it erupted with this little one hiding from her big sister.
I can keep up with washing and drying. It is just the folding and putting away part that is tough. Praise God it is all folded and put away now! Please don't judge me *smile*
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
My 100th post
In honor of my 100th post I have decided to celebrate by posting 100 random things about me. This was much easier than I thought it would be.
1. I play with my hair when I am tired.
2. I have always wanted to be a mom.
3. When I was little I always wanted to have glasses, braces, and a broken arm. I never had ANY of them.
4. I used to hate having red hair, freckles, and being tall and skinny as a teenager. Now those are the things I love the most about my appearance.
5. The beach is one of my most favorite places in the world to be. I can literally be out there from sunrise to sunset.
6. I love running. It is some of my best time with the Lord. It is the only time of day when I am all by myself. Running gives me time to pray and LISTEN. I love especially running outside where I can gaze at God's masterpiece of creation.
7. I grew up eating deer meat, squirrel, dove, and quail. My stepdad loves to hunt. I actually loved squirrel. One day my Granny told me it was a rat. I disagreed heavily with her, then looked it up in the dictionary. Beside the picture of a squirrel it said rodent. I have never eaten one since.
8. Well water is some of the best tasting water in the world to me.
9. I never could have imagined marrying a man as wonderful as Jon. He really is my Prince Charming and my best friend.
10. Jon and I met where we worked. He had graduated from college, and I was a freshman. He was my boss. We were great friends for a long time. At that point in my life I dated LOTS of people. I started dating this guy I really liked alot. Jon knew this. He decided to make his move. The rest is history!!!
11. Our first date was to The Roxy in Atlanta to see Candlebox. Honestly it really was not a very good date until it was time for him to take me home. I told him I was sorry that the date hadn't turned out so well, but I really valued his friendship and I didn't want anything to mess that up. He replied by asking if he could kiss me . . .
12. My parents divorced when I was 3 and my sister was 1. Growing up I resented this alot. I can remember telling God that if He'd make my parents get back together I would give up all of my Christmases for the rest of my life. Now, as an adult, I am glad they did. If they didn't, I would have grown up in a home where my dad was abusive to my mom. I would have never had the privilege of being loved by my stepdad, who means so very much to me. I love him as much as if he were my biological father. I would not have my little sister Kristen either.
13. I was a majorette in high school. My senior year I twirled knives.
14. I bleach my teeth way too much.
15. I obsess at times about exercise and food. I go through periods where I really have body image disorder and pick my body apart.
16. I love to laugh.
17. I love children, not just my own, but other children also.
18. When I found out I was pregnant the first time I knew I wanted a boy. I didn't grow up around boys very much and thought a boy would be lots of fun.
19. I gained 40 lbs. my first pregnancy and thought I'd be able to wear my regular blue jeans home. I actually packed them in my suitcase. Imagine how upset I was when I tried Jon's on and couldn't even wear his!!!
20. To lose my weight I wanted to take diet pills. Jon said no. I then had to learn about the healthy way to lose weight. . . . exercising and dieting.
21. I have white eyelashes and I look very different without my mascara on. It is the one makeup item I must have.
22. My mom has the best cooking in the world. I love going home to one of her home-cooked meals.
23. I love my stepdad dearly. He is such a great Papa to my kids. They all are just crazy in love with him. Nanna and Papa's house is one of my kids very favorite places to go.
24. I tend to keep myself busy. I think I thrive on busyness. I used to think it was b/c I had LOTS to do. I now think alot of things I create myself to keep busy. I struggle with what Beth Moore calls the "captivity of activity."
25. I watch really little TV. If I had to total my hours of TV watching in a week I would probably guess 2 hours or less, unless we pop on a family movie. I fall asleep easily in front of it.
26. All of my kids names have stories behind them. I love a good story!
27. The first apartment Jon and I lived in was a DUMP! I don't even think it had a name. I just remember calling it Mrs. Parker's apartments (that was the name of our landlord).
28. I love living close to my family, even though it is an hour away from my parents.
29. I wish my parents would move closer to us. I love the town we live in, and although I love going back and visiting my hometown, I would never want to move back there.
30. My mom married my stepdad when I was 5. The first memory I have of him is he bought Melissa and I a doll called, "Tippy Toes."
31. When I was little my Grandmama would tell Melissa and I that we would be the best of friends when we grew up. We fought like CRAZY with one another. I would tell Grandmama, 'NEVER, EVER'. . . . Grandmama was right.
32. I have great memories of my grandparents growing up. They instilled in me alot of the values I have to this day. Some of my favorite memories are . . . watching Braves baseball, The Price is right, Tom and Jerry, and Sanford and Son with my Papa, putting Dippy Do in his hair, painting his thick, yellow, crusty toenails (YUCK), waking up to the smell of my Grandmama's cooking, her listening ear when I was sad about my parents fighting, she always dolling Melissa and I up in pretty dresses, going to the nursing home with her to see my Great Grandmother.
33. A good salad is one of my very favorite foods. Growing up we had a salad at every meal.
34. I had never eaten chicken wings, feta cheese, or mayonnaise on saltine crackers until I met Jon.
35. I quit college with only 8 months and student teaching to go before having my Bachelors in Education to be at home with Alec. I have never regretted being a stay-at-home mom.
36. I never in a million years thought I would homeschool my kids.
37. I never knew I could love a dog like I love Max.
38. I wish I were more organized. Getting organized is not the problem. . . staying organized is.
39. I drink lots and lots of water, most always with lemon added.
40. I have to repent alot about my feelings for my Dad. I wish he would change. There are some days when I feel like his biggest cheerleader and others when I never want to see him again. I have to depend on the love of God to love him. He seems to get worse and worse as the years go by. I have always held onto this hope that he would get better.
41. I wish I talked to my little sister Kristen more. I wish I made more of an effort.
42. I would love to travel anywhere and everywhere. I have a taste for adventure.
43. Growing up I was a daredevil and afraid of very little. When I had Alec I became afraid of just about everything. I am slowly, but surely breaking free of that.
44. I have a selfish side of me. My children teach me about 'dying to self' everyday.
45. I drive a Yukon Denali that we call "Noah's Ark"
46. I have been to Disney World 8 times as an adult and once as a child.
47. I love to play board games or cards with my family.
48. I love to read.
49. I love blogging and reading blogs. I really need to control this addiction of mine.
50. I tend to be a very driven, motivated, and disciplined person. Those are all good traits; however, I tend to couple all of them with being stressed out. I wish I could be these things and still be carefree, silly, and laid back. . . . that is the balance I am trying to obtain.
51. I love Jesus with all of my heart, soul, strength, and mind. I truly don't see how people make it without Him!!!
52. I serve in the Children's ministry at church. This is where my heart is. I love each and everyone of those children dearly.
53. I straighten my hair with a straightener. If I don't, it will be frizzy-izzy and BIG!!!
54. I love laying out in the sun by the pool in the summer.
55. I love to paint rooms in my house. . . weird, huh?
56. Growing up we had these neighbors that we thought were so weird. . . . they homeschooled their kids, they put honey in their tea instead of sugar, they were very strict about what their children could see on television (including commercials) . . . . little did I know that I would turn out to be just like them!!!
57. I am grateful that I moved away from home. I miss my mom, but I believe moving away allowed me to grow and develop my own identity in ways I don't think I would have if I'd stayed at home and had the same environment, influences, friends, etc., as I did in high school.
58. I love to decorate.
59. I don't like cooking, but I think it is because my kitchen is super-tiny.
60. I started drinking my coffee black about 4 months ago and I love it.
61. I use coconut oil as a moisturizer.
62. I take off my makeup religiously every night. I started doing this once I read that it ages your face 3 days for every night you sleep in your makeup.
63. I am an avid flosser. If I don't floss my teeth before I go to bed it drives me crazy.
64. I very rarely dream at night. If I do, I don't remember them.
65. I wear way too much black.
66. I kiss and tuck my kids into bed every night.
67. I wake up during the middle of the night to check on them.
68. Then I get up at 4:00 a.m. to work.
69. Jon and I pray with our kids every night.
70. My constant prayer over my children is this, "Lord, where I fail them or others fail them in life, I pray you will use that for your glory." It helps me deal with "perfect mom syndrome."
71. My first name is Anna, and I am called by my middle name. I am named after my Granny (mom's mom) and my Dad.
72. I love to scrapbook and sew.
73. Very rarely do I remember mom cooking dessert growing up . . . it is probably why I could leave it or take it.
74. I will never forget the day I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I was 10-1/2 years old. It was in July. I told the lady at church who prayed with me that my Dad is on drugs. I can't remember a time in my life where I have not hurt for him.
75. I remember visiting my Dad one time in jail. My Grandmother, Faye, took Melissa and I to see him. She was a special, special lady. I named my Ashley after her. She taught me about the love of Jesus and took me to church and to Sunday School. I believe she is the one who instilled in me a love for children.
76. I picture myself growing very old and teaching aerobics in the nursing home.
77. Jon and I didn't have cell phones until 3 years ago. He hates monthly payments and we never had a need for them until we got into real estate. I think it was a happy day for Mama, Tiff, and Melissa when we got them!!!
78. We had a ski boat growing up and I LOVED to ski. I looked like a Q-tip on skis. These are some of my favorite childhood memories, being at the lake camping and skiing.
79. I have memories of my Dad being abusive to my mom and stepmom. He never ever was physical with us, but I remember being very afraid of him as a kid. My Grandmama and Papa's house was a safehaven for Melissa and I.
80. I have prayed many, many prayers over my Dad. I have fasted and prayed. I've prayed scripture over him. I've read books on spiritual warfare. About 2 years ago my prayer became very simple and has stayed that way, "Lord, please do your will in my Dad's life."
1. I play with my hair when I am tired.
2. I have always wanted to be a mom.
3. When I was little I always wanted to have glasses, braces, and a broken arm. I never had ANY of them.
4. I used to hate having red hair, freckles, and being tall and skinny as a teenager. Now those are the things I love the most about my appearance.
5. The beach is one of my most favorite places in the world to be. I can literally be out there from sunrise to sunset.
6. I love running. It is some of my best time with the Lord. It is the only time of day when I am all by myself. Running gives me time to pray and LISTEN. I love especially running outside where I can gaze at God's masterpiece of creation.
7. I grew up eating deer meat, squirrel, dove, and quail. My stepdad loves to hunt. I actually loved squirrel. One day my Granny told me it was a rat. I disagreed heavily with her, then looked it up in the dictionary. Beside the picture of a squirrel it said rodent. I have never eaten one since.
8. Well water is some of the best tasting water in the world to me.
9. I never could have imagined marrying a man as wonderful as Jon. He really is my Prince Charming and my best friend.
10. Jon and I met where we worked. He had graduated from college, and I was a freshman. He was my boss. We were great friends for a long time. At that point in my life I dated LOTS of people. I started dating this guy I really liked alot. Jon knew this. He decided to make his move. The rest is history!!!
11. Our first date was to The Roxy in Atlanta to see Candlebox. Honestly it really was not a very good date until it was time for him to take me home. I told him I was sorry that the date hadn't turned out so well, but I really valued his friendship and I didn't want anything to mess that up. He replied by asking if he could kiss me . . .
12. My parents divorced when I was 3 and my sister was 1. Growing up I resented this alot. I can remember telling God that if He'd make my parents get back together I would give up all of my Christmases for the rest of my life. Now, as an adult, I am glad they did. If they didn't, I would have grown up in a home where my dad was abusive to my mom. I would have never had the privilege of being loved by my stepdad, who means so very much to me. I love him as much as if he were my biological father. I would not have my little sister Kristen either.
13. I was a majorette in high school. My senior year I twirled knives.
14. I bleach my teeth way too much.
15. I obsess at times about exercise and food. I go through periods where I really have body image disorder and pick my body apart.
16. I love to laugh.
17. I love children, not just my own, but other children also.
18. When I found out I was pregnant the first time I knew I wanted a boy. I didn't grow up around boys very much and thought a boy would be lots of fun.
19. I gained 40 lbs. my first pregnancy and thought I'd be able to wear my regular blue jeans home. I actually packed them in my suitcase. Imagine how upset I was when I tried Jon's on and couldn't even wear his!!!
20. To lose my weight I wanted to take diet pills. Jon said no. I then had to learn about the healthy way to lose weight. . . . exercising and dieting.
21. I have white eyelashes and I look very different without my mascara on. It is the one makeup item I must have.
22. My mom has the best cooking in the world. I love going home to one of her home-cooked meals.
23. I love my stepdad dearly. He is such a great Papa to my kids. They all are just crazy in love with him. Nanna and Papa's house is one of my kids very favorite places to go.
24. I tend to keep myself busy. I think I thrive on busyness. I used to think it was b/c I had LOTS to do. I now think alot of things I create myself to keep busy. I struggle with what Beth Moore calls the "captivity of activity."
25. I watch really little TV. If I had to total my hours of TV watching in a week I would probably guess 2 hours or less, unless we pop on a family movie. I fall asleep easily in front of it.
26. All of my kids names have stories behind them. I love a good story!
27. The first apartment Jon and I lived in was a DUMP! I don't even think it had a name. I just remember calling it Mrs. Parker's apartments (that was the name of our landlord).
28. I love living close to my family, even though it is an hour away from my parents.
29. I wish my parents would move closer to us. I love the town we live in, and although I love going back and visiting my hometown, I would never want to move back there.
30. My mom married my stepdad when I was 5. The first memory I have of him is he bought Melissa and I a doll called, "Tippy Toes."
31. When I was little my Grandmama would tell Melissa and I that we would be the best of friends when we grew up. We fought like CRAZY with one another. I would tell Grandmama, 'NEVER, EVER'. . . . Grandmama was right.
32. I have great memories of my grandparents growing up. They instilled in me alot of the values I have to this day. Some of my favorite memories are . . . watching Braves baseball, The Price is right, Tom and Jerry, and Sanford and Son with my Papa, putting Dippy Do in his hair, painting his thick, yellow, crusty toenails (YUCK), waking up to the smell of my Grandmama's cooking, her listening ear when I was sad about my parents fighting, she always dolling Melissa and I up in pretty dresses, going to the nursing home with her to see my Great Grandmother.
33. A good salad is one of my very favorite foods. Growing up we had a salad at every meal.
34. I had never eaten chicken wings, feta cheese, or mayonnaise on saltine crackers until I met Jon.
35. I quit college with only 8 months and student teaching to go before having my Bachelors in Education to be at home with Alec. I have never regretted being a stay-at-home mom.
36. I never in a million years thought I would homeschool my kids.
37. I never knew I could love a dog like I love Max.
38. I wish I were more organized. Getting organized is not the problem. . . staying organized is.
39. I drink lots and lots of water, most always with lemon added.
40. I have to repent alot about my feelings for my Dad. I wish he would change. There are some days when I feel like his biggest cheerleader and others when I never want to see him again. I have to depend on the love of God to love him. He seems to get worse and worse as the years go by. I have always held onto this hope that he would get better.
41. I wish I talked to my little sister Kristen more. I wish I made more of an effort.
42. I would love to travel anywhere and everywhere. I have a taste for adventure.
43. Growing up I was a daredevil and afraid of very little. When I had Alec I became afraid of just about everything. I am slowly, but surely breaking free of that.
44. I have a selfish side of me. My children teach me about 'dying to self' everyday.
45. I drive a Yukon Denali that we call "Noah's Ark"
46. I have been to Disney World 8 times as an adult and once as a child.
47. I love to play board games or cards with my family.
48. I love to read.
49. I love blogging and reading blogs. I really need to control this addiction of mine.
50. I tend to be a very driven, motivated, and disciplined person. Those are all good traits; however, I tend to couple all of them with being stressed out. I wish I could be these things and still be carefree, silly, and laid back. . . . that is the balance I am trying to obtain.
51. I love Jesus with all of my heart, soul, strength, and mind. I truly don't see how people make it without Him!!!
52. I serve in the Children's ministry at church. This is where my heart is. I love each and everyone of those children dearly.
53. I straighten my hair with a straightener. If I don't, it will be frizzy-izzy and BIG!!!
54. I love laying out in the sun by the pool in the summer.
55. I love to paint rooms in my house. . . weird, huh?
56. Growing up we had these neighbors that we thought were so weird. . . . they homeschooled their kids, they put honey in their tea instead of sugar, they were very strict about what their children could see on television (including commercials) . . . . little did I know that I would turn out to be just like them!!!
57. I am grateful that I moved away from home. I miss my mom, but I believe moving away allowed me to grow and develop my own identity in ways I don't think I would have if I'd stayed at home and had the same environment, influences, friends, etc., as I did in high school.
58. I love to decorate.
59. I don't like cooking, but I think it is because my kitchen is super-tiny.
60. I started drinking my coffee black about 4 months ago and I love it.
61. I use coconut oil as a moisturizer.
62. I take off my makeup religiously every night. I started doing this once I read that it ages your face 3 days for every night you sleep in your makeup.
63. I am an avid flosser. If I don't floss my teeth before I go to bed it drives me crazy.
64. I very rarely dream at night. If I do, I don't remember them.
65. I wear way too much black.
66. I kiss and tuck my kids into bed every night.
67. I wake up during the middle of the night to check on them.
68. Then I get up at 4:00 a.m. to work.
69. Jon and I pray with our kids every night.
70. My constant prayer over my children is this, "Lord, where I fail them or others fail them in life, I pray you will use that for your glory." It helps me deal with "perfect mom syndrome."
71. My first name is Anna, and I am called by my middle name. I am named after my Granny (mom's mom) and my Dad.
72. I love to scrapbook and sew.
73. Very rarely do I remember mom cooking dessert growing up . . . it is probably why I could leave it or take it.
74. I will never forget the day I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I was 10-1/2 years old. It was in July. I told the lady at church who prayed with me that my Dad is on drugs. I can't remember a time in my life where I have not hurt for him.
75. I remember visiting my Dad one time in jail. My Grandmother, Faye, took Melissa and I to see him. She was a special, special lady. I named my Ashley after her. She taught me about the love of Jesus and took me to church and to Sunday School. I believe she is the one who instilled in me a love for children.
76. I picture myself growing very old and teaching aerobics in the nursing home.
77. Jon and I didn't have cell phones until 3 years ago. He hates monthly payments and we never had a need for them until we got into real estate. I think it was a happy day for Mama, Tiff, and Melissa when we got them!!!
78. We had a ski boat growing up and I LOVED to ski. I looked like a Q-tip on skis. These are some of my favorite childhood memories, being at the lake camping and skiing.
79. I have memories of my Dad being abusive to my mom and stepmom. He never ever was physical with us, but I remember being very afraid of him as a kid. My Grandmama and Papa's house was a safehaven for Melissa and I.
80. I have prayed many, many prayers over my Dad. I have fasted and prayed. I've prayed scripture over him. I've read books on spiritual warfare. About 2 years ago my prayer became very simple and has stayed that way, "Lord, please do your will in my Dad's life."
81. Jon and I always wanted 4 children, Hanna cured us of that.
82.. There are times when I feel my family is not complete . . . that thought really scares me! My mom would kill me!
83. I LOVE being a homeschooling mom and I wouldn't trade all the tea in China for it. Watching my children learn and grow is a precious gift from God.
84. I tend to overextend myself ALOT.
85. I tend to be a worrier. I have to take my thoughts captive to the truth - what God says in His word.
86. I am so addicted to coffee and really wish I wasn't.
87. My church has A LOT of ups and downs, and at times I get frustrated and am ready to throw in the towel and go somewhere else. . . I am thankful that Jon is a committed person. Our church is an extension of our family and I love each and every person there dearly.
88. Melissa, my sister, knows me better than I know myself. She can call me out on things in 2.2 that I would even deny to myself.
89. I love PEOPLE - all kinds, those who agree with me and those who don't,those who are like me and those who are not. I don't consider myself a judgemental person at all. People tend to energize me! I tend to make friends easily and am definitely a social butterfly.
90. When my children are grown I would love to be a personal trainer or teach aerobics at a senior citizen's center . . . to help people get healthy and be healthy . . . like Bob on Biggest Loser. I'm not tough enough to be Jillian.
91. I am a priss-pot. I love to wear my high heels - EVERYWHERE!!! I refuse to become a frumpy mom.
92. I hate going grocery shopping. I spend way too much money and have absolutely no fun doing it.
931. I love my Mom deeply and don't know what I'd do without her.
94. I love having a son. Most of the time I don't understand boys, but I love him to pieces.
95. I hope and pray as my children grow I will remain a steady and constant, positive influence and role model in their lives. I pray that our family of 5 will be the best of friends with one another for our whole lives.
96. I love to study the word of God. I would spend hours upon hours if my day would allow. Kay Arthur Bible studies are my favorites (they teach you to dig into the truth yourself and not rely on what a teacher says) and I really enjoy Beth Moore a lot too.
97. I have wonderful in-laws. I really don't like the word "in-laws". It sounds so forced to me, like you just HAVE to be family with someone. I prefer to refer to them as my "parents by marriage". They are wonderful, wonderful people and love me like one of their own. They teach me more about the love of God than they could ever know. I am very privileged to carry their last name. I feel the same way about my "sister by marriage" Holly. She's a great big sister and I look up to her and lover her just as much as Jon does. The same goes for my "brother by marriage", Lee. I love having a brother. He is such a great guy. I'm so glad he is happy.
98. I tend to overextend myself ALOT, and I have a hard time saying, "No."
99. I really like for people to like me and if they don't, it bothers me.
100. I love my girlfriends dearly. They mean so very much to me!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Memorization Monday
Here is a good time for some honesty. . . I didn't memorize my verses from last week. I got about as far as "wanton creature." Every time I got this far I started thinking about Chinese food, which grosses me out! Honestly I didn't make a whole huge effort. So, I am just going to use that one again for this week's verse. Here we go . . .
8 "Now then, listen, you wanton creature, lounging in your security and saying to yourself, 'I am, and there is none besides me. I will never be a widow or suffer the loss of children.'
9 Both of these will overtake you in a moment, on a single day: loss of children and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and all your potent spells.
10 You have trusted in your wickedness and have said, 'No one sees me.' Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself, 'I am, and there is none besides me.' Isaiah 47:8-10
Gotta go Memorize!!!
8 "Now then, listen, you wanton creature, lounging in your security and saying to yourself, 'I am, and there is none besides me. I will never be a widow or suffer the loss of children.'
9 Both of these will overtake you in a moment, on a single day: loss of children and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and all your potent spells.
10 You have trusted in your wickedness and have said, 'No one sees me.' Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself, 'I am, and there is none besides me.' Isaiah 47:8-10
Gotta go Memorize!!!
More Kid Talk
Jon was not very happy with me and the girls this weekend. The house was a bit of a mess which normally doesn't bother him. But our house is on the market, so it is important it stay clean. He went through the house cleaning (which I do the majority of and the stressing out of). I couldn't help but get tickled at him being so grumpy about cleaning. In fact, I was in the bedroom giggling as softly as I could so he couldn't hear me. I was thinking, "At least I'm not the only one who gets grump when I clean house."
The girls very rarely see this side of Jon and were somewhat in shock. We got in the car (the girls and I) to head to Jon's parents house. Ashley was ranting and raving about how grumpy her daddy was.
Hanna: "Mom, are you and Daddy going to get a divorce."
Me: "No Baby. Just because Daddy and I disagree or get into an argument doesn't mean we don't love one another. We really aren't fighting. Daddy is just aggravated with Mommy. I'm not upset with him though. No, Hanna, we are not getting a divorce."
Hanna: "Well, if y'all do, I'm goin' live with you because Daddy is being mean."
After Jon was in a better mood, I told him about this. We both just laughed!! Art Linkletter was right when he said, "Kids say the darndest things."
The girls very rarely see this side of Jon and were somewhat in shock. We got in the car (the girls and I) to head to Jon's parents house. Ashley was ranting and raving about how grumpy her daddy was.
Hanna: "Mom, are you and Daddy going to get a divorce."
Me: "No Baby. Just because Daddy and I disagree or get into an argument doesn't mean we don't love one another. We really aren't fighting. Daddy is just aggravated with Mommy. I'm not upset with him though. No, Hanna, we are not getting a divorce."
Hanna: "Well, if y'all do, I'm goin' live with you because Daddy is being mean."
After Jon was in a better mood, I told him about this. We both just laughed!! Art Linkletter was right when he said, "Kids say the darndest things."
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Kid Talk
Ashley has held the heart of this one certain boy for as long as each of them could talk. Through the years he has told his mom often how Ashley is his girlfriend. When she would get a new haircut, he would notice, and tell his mom that he thinks she is pretty. We went to church with this family for about 5 years. This little boy's dad used to lead worship at our church. They have since left the church, so Ashley and this boy, whose heart she holds, see very little of one another. This little boy has a girl in his neighborhood that comes to his often to play. He's made it very clear to her that he has a girlfriend, and her name is Ashley. This little boy's name is Benjamin. Just a precious thing he is.
When I was leaving church today his Mimi stopped me and told me about the following conversation they had:
Benjamin: Mimi, I saw Ashley the other day at the basketball game and she was looking hot.
Mimi: Benjamin! You'd better not say that to her mother or she might get mad at you. That is not a word that a young boy should be saying.
Benjamin: Well, Mimi, what if I said Ashley looked like a foxy mama?
When I was leaving church today his Mimi stopped me and told me about the following conversation they had:
Benjamin: Mimi, I saw Ashley the other day at the basketball game and she was looking hot.
Mimi: Benjamin! You'd better not say that to her mother or she might get mad at you. That is not a word that a young boy should be saying.
Benjamin: Well, Mimi, what if I said Ashley looked like a foxy mama?
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