In the Waiting

Today is Mother's Day and my family and I have had a very memorable and enjoyable day. We went to church this morning and my ladies ensemble sang and so did the children's choir. Then we changed clothes and grabbed a quick bite to eat on our way to a nearby botanical garden. This was part of my mom's gift since she was in town for the weekend and had been wanting to go there for years. The weather was perfect, actually a little warm in spite of a rain forecast, and the flowers were beautiful. After we came home we exchanged presents and then went out to dinner. A fun filled day.

Even in the midst of the memory making my mind couldn't help but wander to the many friends I have who weren't able to celebrate today the way their hearts would have liked to. I kept thinking of these mommies in waiting who are facing one of the biggest emotional challenges they'll ever experience. Those who are having trouble conceiving for whatever reason... Those whose bodies aren't cooperating in carrying a child and won't be able to hold the baby that was once there... Those who are waiting for governments to process paperwork so that they can add to their family. It's heart breaking for me because I've lived through each one of those circumstances and feel their pain as fresh as if it were happening to me all over again.

Let me share a very special picture with you.

This is the only picture we have of our unborn child whom we believe to have been a boy. In the sermon this morning our pastor reminded everyone to 'call your mama and tell her you love her' and if she was no longer here to ask God to tell her for you. So I asked the Lord to tell my grandma I love her and to give our little boy a hug from his mama and tell him I love him very much. Until I can do it in person one day, I wait.

So for all my mommies in waiting friends, I've remembered each of you today and I pray you've felt peace beyond understanding. Today can be extremely difficult to get through but let me encourage you by saying you have not been forgotten, by me or by your Abba Father.

Cinco de Mayo

Rex and I enjoyed lunch at our favorite mexican place today taking full advantage of kid free dining time together. These moments come few and far between so it was nice not to have to worry about spills and disruptive noise for other diners. It's amazing how much faster we were able to get done too!

Happy 5th of May!

(Only 13 more days until my birthday in case you're keeping track! hee!hee!)

Kenan Sings

This should make you smile. Make sure your sound is turned up so you can hear him.

In the weeks leading up to our women's conference I played this song so often in the car that he started saying this in time to the music. He's got the groove goin' on doesn't he? He reminds me of a bobble head doll. It cracks me up!

I don't know...do we have a funniest home video's submission? Maybe not funniest but certainly cutest!

14 Years And Counting

Today marks 14 years that my sweetheart and I have been married. He's my best friend and the only one who puts up with my many faults on a daily basis. After everything we went through in the four years leading up to our wedding day, I knew that if we had made it past that we'd stick by each other for a lifetime.

I remember it like it was yesterday...

My mom woke me up the morning of April 29, 1995 with breakfast in bed and the gift of my grandmother's diamond earrings. It had been a late night - after getting home from the rehearsal dinner and being too excited to sleep - I was pretty tired. We both got ready and headed over to my maid of honor's house where she and my matron of honor (yes I had both) were throwing me a shower with all the other bridesmaids, their moms, the grandmas and extended female family. We had a great time laughing and opening gifts but I was too nervous to eat much.

At lunch time Rex was over at his best man's house with the other groomsmen, dads, grandpas and extended male family. He was being given a tool party and cookout. Mine was a brunch 'cause it takes us girl's longer to get ready. Afterwards we all headed over to the salon to have our hair done. Just the girls by the way in case you were wondering.

We had arranged for the photographer to do all separate wedding party pictures before the ceremony so it wouldn't take us so long to get to the reception and so that we wouldn't see each other beforehand. This worked out great but it meant getting to the church a few hours earlier. Because I hadn't eaten much that morning I was getting pretty hungry, the wedding wasn't until 5:00, so I have video of me standing there in my wedding dress eating a hamburger and big cookie. What a sight!

It was a beautiful wedding. The sanctuary was filled with candlelight and flowers. I selected lots of music and solos - you know my love for music! I'm a big fan of The Sound of Music so I chose to use the Wedding March that Maria walks down the aisle to. Gorgeous, rich organ music filled the sanctuary. Just thinking about it gives me chills. I even recorded a song that played while we lit the unity candle. I knew I wouldn't be able to sing it live so I borrowed the idea from my friend/matron of honor. It was such a great day we decided to do it all again!

That's right, we had a vow renewal ceremony for our 10th anniversary. Same church (were I grew up), same flowers (they were silk), and same people - only there were fewer this time, just the original wedding party and our families. It was much less expensive too!

It's almost unbelievable the many things we've experienced as a married couple. Life, death, schedules, car accidents, travel, jobs, moving, school, surgeries... the good, the bad and the ugly.

Thanks babe for choosing me to go through life with. I pray that the Lord will continue to bless us and grow us closer to one another. I love you. Happy 14th Anniversary!

You know what? I'd still do it all again.

Another Job Update

Rex is finishing up contract work with the mortgage company this week. Severance ends and we thought insurance did too. Praise the Lord we have coverage for nine more months at 35% of what we were paying.

There's another contract job for May with a different company but we're not exactly sure when it'll start. Nothing permanent yet but we are being provided for month by month.

Keep praying that something somewhere will open up for him and give thanks for His provision thus far.

Spring Break, Easter and Everything In Between

Goodness Gracious! Has it really been three weeks since we talked? WOW!
Well, I'm glad you're here 'cause we've got some catching up to do!

Rewind to three weeks ago...
Spring Break was here and it was so nice to get away for a little while and have a change of scenery. After M's game we drove separately to my mom's. R and K in his car, Me and M in mine. Rex had to come home Sunday afternoon so he could go to work Monday morning, not to mention a short side trip Monday night to Chapel Hill. He and a friend went up there to watch the NCAA Championship game in the Dean Dome and to celebrate the Tarheel victory!

That's right baby, #1! WooHoo!

The kids and I stayed for three more days before coming home on Wednesday of that week. We made our usual stops - Piggy*s for ice cream and H*t D*g W*rld for, well, hot dogs. We had left comfortable, sunny, 70+ weather to look out the window while eating our hot dogs at snow flurries. I guess that's what you get when you visit the mountains. If you're ever in Hendersonville I highly recommend paying a visit to those establishments...YUM!

Two weeks ago...
Easter. What an incredible time of worship we had that morning! Words fail to express so I won't even try, wish you could've been there though. We also did the traditional stuff...dye eggs, new outfits, egg hunts. It was a beautiful day for Resurrection Sunday.

This is what happens when daddy hides the eggs...

And now one week ago...

The women's conference was absolutely awesome. I had such a good time with my mom and my singin' girlfriends, One Voice.

Girl's Just Wanna Have Fun!

Finally, Thursday of last week, Madeline's school had a Boosterthon Fun Run. Students asked for pledges per lap or a flat donation. She completed 34 of 35 laps and had a great time doing it. Towards the end though she was pretty tired.

Each time the kids passed the finish line they received a mark so they'd know how many laps they had completed. To make it even more fun, laps were themed. For example: be an airplane, ride a horse, link arms with a buddy and walk. The coordinators did a fantastic job.

OK! I think you're up to speed now. There are some fun things coming up that I look forward to sharing so don't forget to check back. Thanks for stopping by!

Side note: the preview looked a lot cuter and was spaced nicely - not sure what happened?!

Life...In Random + Job Update

Things are just...normal. Busy, but normal. Busy in that we've had something nearly every night for the past two weeks - ball practice, church, school and volunteer activities. Normal in that none of those things make for interesting or exciting reading. Sorry if your bored all ready.

Madeline, or at this time of year aka Slugger, has really been enjoying softball. She has her first game tonight and is so excited. She's also been busy working on a dinosaur research project that was due today along with class pictures this morning and last week her elementary school put on their Spring Musical. It blesses my heart to see young children praising the Lord. The Children's Choir at church is currently working on their spring musical, I Know It, and she's part of a dance team and Mama gets to sing harmony in a back up ensemble. Can't seem to make it through one of those either without crying.


Our choir presented a program last night, 3:16 The Numbers of Hope, so Rex and I have been busy with rehearsals for that. I'm also excited about the upcoming women's conference that our ladies ensemble is singing for. So many fun and uplifting songs we're working on. Hope you're coming, the speaker is going to be awesome! To find out more registration info click on the button in the top left corner.

Rex has been working hard at finding a job. He's had to go out of town a few times recently for interviews that appear to be promising... The good news is, the current contract job he has wants him to stay on for another month to continue working on the project. Yea! We can eat for another month (although, it looks like I need to take it easy since shopping for an Easter dress has proven to be difficult).

Kenan just goes along for the ride as we play chauffeur. He's doing fine. A normal two year old, tantrums and all!

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OK, all that was supposed to go out yesterday...

It seems a stomach bug has found its way into our house, and as all loving families should do, we've shared it with each other. I'll spare you the details but lets just say, it hasn't been pretty!

We did manage to get to Madeline's game before the sickness hit. She did a great job and can make that ball scream!

Next week is spring break - and that's exactly what we'll be doing - taking a much needed and well deserved break!

Hope you're staying well!