Snow Pictures from the beach

7:30 AM sleet at the beach - I was amazed by this. You see the tiny white dots? That's the sleet!

Someone wrote Amy's name in the sand - it showed the snow beautifuly!

A man and his children out for a walk on the sand... or ummm... snow.

Snow covered beach - totally neat!

Sleet and Snow at the Beach

I have to be the luckiest person in the world. I’m at the beach this week! And of all things it’s SNOWING here!!! Also this morning there was sleet! I don’t think I’ve ever been at the beach when it was cold enough to sleet or snow it’s really neat! I tried to take some pictures, they are posted below, hopefully you’ll be able to see it.

For me there is just something about being at the beach – even when it is too cold to be out on the beach (poor Luke is having a hard time understanding that!), but when I got up with Luke this morning, made my coffee and started a movie for him, I went in to do my devotions and I know it shouldn’t be, but I always feel closer to God at the beach. Maybe because the ocean is SOO big it reminds me just how small I am and how big God really is! Plus the coffee tasted better than at home, and my study of Esther was awesome this morning!!!

So far studying Esther has really been totally cool! God is doing awesome things in my heart and life! If you haven’t – I would suggest you read through the story of Esther – and just see what God has to say to you. This morning, God showed me that as his child, I’m also part of the body that makes up Christ’s bride and just how special that is. How wonderful it is to be a loved bride and how much Christ sacrificed for me to be made holy! I pray you find the full love of your savior today – and if you’re like me and LOVE a good snow (especially if you live in the South AND at the beach) find much joy in the things God has given us today!

Sorry, some kinda problem downloading the pictures here... I'll try again later!

My Big Boy

Gone are the days of my baby. On Saturday morning David took Luke to Toys R Us so he could “trade in his passies” for a toy. We told Luke that big 4 year old boys don’t use passies anymore, but that he could trade them for a toy. So they went and Luke picked out a train toy – I know that doesn’t surprise most of you! So he’s gone several nights now without his beloved passie. I think it’s been kinda hard for him, but he hasn’t complained about not having it and he hasn’t asked for it. I’m so proud of him! He’s not a baby anymore!

Second Session Tonight

I'm really excited because tonight is week 2 of my Esther Bible study! I've really enjoyed the homework from week one and am so excited to see what wonderful things God will show me through Beth Moore tonight during the video session!! YIPPIE!

Also, I would like to ask for you're prayers for Avery. She's sick - again - and when I took her to the doctors on Tuesday they said everything looked fine and it was just a cold. Today she is no better - and she's still running a low grade fever. I could be here teeth, but I'm just not sure and I'm thinking that if by tomorrow she's not fever free - I'll be calling again. Poor little thing, she's been sick pretty much since Thanksgiving. Except for the 10 days she was on antibiotics! I know it's that time of year, but it's still hard and she's not sleeping well at night, which makes for cranky baby during the day! Poor thing! Thanks for your prayers!

Early Morning Snuggle

I had some wonderful time with Luke this morning. He has always been an early riser - and this morning was no exception.

After a long night with Avery, I went ahead and got up to do my devotions for the day (God's been so faithful to meet with me even when I'm SO TIRED I'm not sure I'm awake!)! After I got done, Luke came down. Since it was all still quiet I somehow managed to talk him into snuggling with me on the sofa for a few minutes! We chatted a little bit but mostly we just snuggled under the nice warm blanket! It was a moment to cherish for sure and it was a neat way to start my day!

One Quiet Moment

Warning: this is a long, kinda whinny post! Don't read if you don't want to!

Before children I was never the kind of person who felt like I needed time "to myself" I liked being around people, liked talking (well I still like talking), liked activity, enjoyed a classroom full of little people and their excitement of learning, could sit and tell David about every detail of my day and wanted to hear every detail of his day.

Now, things are a bit different. I have truly come to value a quiet minute. One minute you might say isn't very much time - and you would be exactly right, but some days (obviously like today) I covet one quiet minute. These days it's all about being, or doing or talking to stopping or getting or going or changing or making and on and on...

I do so love my children and am trying hard each day to enjoy them, and most of the time I really do. Then there are days like today that even the smallest amount of time when there is peace - I'll take peace over quiet any day - I'm happy. That's happening right now. Peace mind you - not quiet. Luke and Avery are going through that learning to play together stage and right now, as I type Luke is pilling the pillows up and they are throwing themselves onto the pile. For now, they are into each other - thankfully they aren't in need of me at the moment. Not to last too long I'm sure. Nope, Luke is now telling me just what they are doing - even though I can see what they are doing. And I’m sure someone will get hurt here in a minute… but for now… it’s the times when they aren’t getting along that seem to never end: “she pushed me”, “she’s coming over here”, “she’s got my train” , or his newest thing – talking jibberish, then there’s the constant screaming from Avery when Luke takes matters into his own hands, or the dog barking when Luke attacks her, or the constant talking from Luke about everything and nothing all at the same time. Honestly today shouldn’t be like this – Luke was in preschool until 1:00pm today!!!!!

It’s weird all the ways that children change a person. Now, there are days when I could spend hours and hours alone in a quiet house and be totally happy. Of course that would pass and I would be dyeing for someone to talk to and I would be missing my kids and all that, but before them – never would I have just WANTED to be alone – but now there are times when I WANT to be alone. I am even jealous of those who share about their times alone!!

One way I’ve started working my schedule to get a bit of time alone is by getting up earlier in the morning. Now, Luke is usually up at 7AM SHARP every day! Honestly sometimes he’s up before then, but we’ve managed to get him to stay in his room until he sees a 7 on the clock! And some nights (like the past 2) he’s up in the middle of the night. But I’ve started getting up in order to have my devotions and complete my daily Esther homework.

So far it’s working REALLY well. The hard part is when Luke is up in the middle of the night, and Avery’s been up with a cold some the last few nights, that it gets hard to get up earlier in the morning, but just like everything else – when I do it – I feel better. God is faithful to bless me in my time alone with Him. I am more of a morning person anyway, but being up in the night makes it hard to do that every morning. I’m really glad I have been. I’ve been totally blessed by it… and some days it’s the only quiet time I get until bedtime!!

Women's Bible Study

Each time I start a new Bible study I have lots of different emotions about it. First it means time away from my family – which I don’t like to do! But I have come to realize that I truly need some time away from the little people and time in the Word with close women friends who are studying and learning as well! In the long run, I think it does good things for the family; it’s just hard to be away from them.

Second: I realize that I know very little about the Bible I claim to love so much. It’s embarrassing, but I am thankful for God’s grace – and so I intend to learn as much as I can! And so far the things I have learned about the book of Esther and the history of the book are fascinating!

Third: this study on Esther – so far – has been totally awesome!! I have learned a ton in just a few short days (and just a few verses in the Bible!)! The really neat thing is I’ve learned historic things as well as “biblical” things (which you would expect to learn in a Bible study!)! It’s been really neat –and honestly we’re only to verse 12 of chapter 1!

There are 2 things that Beth Moore brought up in the first video that has been on my mind since last Thursday, I would like to throw them out – without giving away too much from the study (because if you’re not doing it now, you need to find somewhere to take it!!) – the title of the study is Esther, but the subtitle is “It’s Hard Being A Women.” (My first instinct was to say a whopping AMEN!). So she said she had done this survey before she started the study, she asked what the 3 hardest things about being a women are? GREAT QUESTION!!! So I would like to pose those questions to you as well! Please just share with me what you think the top 3 hardest things about a woman are!

Again, without giving away too much – she also posed that the hardest thing about being a women are – other women. Thoughts on that? I think she’s 100% correct, but would love to hear what you’re thoughts are!

That’s all for now, I’m sure I’ll have other “deep insights” to share as time goes on!!

Remember to share your top 3 hardest things about being a woman (and maybe for you guys – the 3 hardest things about living with a woman – but maybe be careful!)!

24 Date

This weekend I had the privilege of not only a date night, but a whole date 24 hours!! That was a rare and very special treat! The kiddos went to my in laws and David and I started on our 24 hour break!

Friday night we had dinner with our good friends Todd and Tina at Leblon Brazilian steakhouse in Greensboro. It was an interesting experiance for sure. You can click on the name to check out the restaurant! We were totally stuffed after dinner, and came home and spend a few hours just chillin’!

Saturday morning started by SLEEPING IN!!! It was so fun! Now I only slept until like 8:30, but still that’s at least 2 hours later than I normally sleep! It was great! Then David and I headed off for some breakfast. Then we ran errands, did a bit of shopping and meet Todd and Tina again for lunch for some YUMMY sushi! Then we went and looked (yes, just looked) at big screen TV’s.

It was a day like we haven’t had in a long time! I totally needed the break and the time with David!

Then we got to spend Saturday evening with family in Concord! Thanks so much to John David and Lauren for having us, and for the WONDERFUL food! Thank you also Lauren for the decorations for Luke’s birthday! It made him feel very special! Thanks so much!

It was a great weekend for sure!

The Beach!

Just a quick update for those of you following me here in blogger world - I GET TO GO TO THE BEACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOO-HOO!!! My sister in law and I are taking the kids and going to the beach for a few days next week! My in laws were wonderful enough to offer us some of their timeshare "time" and we're gonna go!

Between this trip and my new Bible study - my discontent seems to be less and less!!

It's a blessing and I'm so excited!!

Now, to start on "The List"!

Ever feel like this...

I NEED TO GET AWAY?!?!?!? I have felt like that for about a month now! David and I LOVE to travel! But it's hard to do that with 2 small children! So each day I try not to think about wanting to go somewhere.

Where do you want to go you might ask?! It simply doesn't matter! We love Las Vegas - I could go there! I LOVE the beach - I would be happy to go there! Pigeon Forge, TN isn't far from here, I could go there - or anywhere else that you could think of! I get this deep, deep "need" (it's not a need, just a want - I know that) to GO SOMEWHERE!

Here is the problem with not going somewhere - I start to get restless in other areas of my life, and I start thinking about wanting to make changes. What kind of changes you might ask? Well, my hair color for one. Unfortunately for me, my hairdresser is on maternity leave! Another tattoo is another thing I start thinking about wanting. I really do want another one, but I can never decide on what I want or where I would put it, so I have never gotten another one, but right now I want another one - BAD! Shopping seems to be another outlet for when I cannot go! This is especially not good! Not what David wants to hear, right! He's been working his butt off and I wanna go out and spend his money!!! Poor guy!

I do try to focus my attention on house stuff and getting other things done around here! Sometimes that works - sometimes not! So I guess what it boils down to is - I gotta find a way to be content with my surroundings and just know that in a couple of months we can go somewhere - hopefully!

For now, I'm going to try to focus my attention on my goals for 2009 - starting tonight - I'm gonna try and get some scrapbooking done. Then tomorrow morning, I'm getting up and doing some exercises and doing my devotions, and I'll try not to think about going somewhere warm, sunny and sandy...

Fun times in '09

I had the opportunity to go out with some girl friends last evening. David was working, so I got a babysitter and 3 of us girls headed out for some fun and relaxin’ without our kiddos! That rarely happens, as I hate to spend money (well not hate it, but…) while David is out earning it! But I felt like I could use some time for myself, and this was a great time to do that!

What a blast we had! We first went for manicures/pedicures – a nice time of being pampered for sure, plus my toes look great now! Then off for some dinner – we decided on Japanese so that we could get sushi and dinner as well! We waited almost an hour, but it was well worth it! OH MY!! The sushi was wonderful and I was so happy to have some and have someone to share it with me! I think I could go on an all sushi diet and love every minute of it! Anyway, the food was so very good, and the company was even better!

I think the Lord helped me use that time to unwind and just spend time with sisters in the Lord, just being silly, relaxing, and enjoying each other. It helped me to remember how blessed I am to have a slew of loving friends, more of them than most people have! I am truly blessed with ALL my friends and family and I hope that last night was just a small glimpse of all the many blessings and memories this new year will bring!

Happy 2009

New Year’s Day! Hard to believe isn’t it?

I have 2 thoughts when it comes to the first day of this our new year – first – my baby boy will be 4 years old in only 11 more short days! That makes me want to cry on one hand for all our happy days of toddlerhood and the fun of seeing him grow to the little boy he has become and on the other hand I want to shot of joy as I look ahead at all the new and wonderful things he will do and become! It was a good year last year, and I am praying that the Lord continues to bless Luke and that He would continue to guide and direct David and I as we try to parent both Luke and Avery in a godly way!

My second thought is – I have never done, or made or thought that resolutions for the New Year were something I could do. But many years ago a very good friend of our families suggested that we make yearly goals. Now to me that makes more sense. Most jobs require you do to do yearly goals, why shouldn’t we for life. Plus I think it seems easier to work toward a goal than to try to “keep” a resolution. So I’ve put into motion 3 things I would like to work toward this year. For you long time readers – some of these will be the same as the ones I tried to start back when Luke started back to school in August – so needless to say, I’m carrying them over and will continue to make them goals for 09! #1 – Exercise with the goal of losing 5 pounds per month until May. Sounds attainable enough, doesn’t it? We’ll see. #2 – Daily time in the Word. I have the privilege of starting back to a women’s Bible study that I went to faithfully for many years – until I had Avery – then it was too hard to be gone one night each week and it was an adjustment in my daily schedule in order to get the homework done. So anyway, I get to start back next week with a Beth Moore study on Esther. I’m so excited. Anyway – this will also help to facilitate more consistent (like since I’m not really doing them now!) daily devotions; more time alone in the Word. Last, but not least #3 – I really would like to get some scrapbooking done!! I’m so very far behind, but we keep taking pictures! I gotta get them in some sort of scrapbook before both my kids are 16!!

So there you have it. My goals for 2009 – we’ll see how it goes, but I am gonna try really hard to meet each one! And if you’re a resolution maker – good luck to you as well!