Confession: The last few days I have worn "work out" clothes like they were an outfit. As in, I literally went from PJs to stretchy shorts and a T-shirt and then back to the PJs at the end of the day....oh, and I barely did anything worthy of the stretch-y-ness. Yesterday I went on a walk and today I worked in the garden. In both cases I broke a sweat, but I wouldn't say it constituted a whole days wardrobe.
Confession: I do not care about the above fact. I honestly SHOULD because its a slippery slope when it comes to stretchy pants...friends, once you start, it is infinitely hard to go back...*sigh* However, like I said...I just don't care and since these last two days are considered "the weekend"...I'm ok with it.
Confession: I'm a terrible secret keeper. Especially with my own secrets. Thus the blogging. I'll probably blog till the day I die because I will need a place to share my own secrets.
Confession: I've gone to bed around 9:30 for the last week and gotten up around 7:30....having so much sleep makes me a BETTER PERSON.
Confession: Target is selling these new dark chocolate camels covered in sea-salt that are TO DIE. I got them for Mother's Day and I was initially excited about them because they came in the cutest powder blue tin...but now I love them because they are SO GOOD...and I eat two during nap time every day...till they are gone. *tears*
Confession: Ransom will be with a babysitter ALL DAY on Tuesday because Brett and I are going to a Marriage seminar and then ALL DAY AND NIGHT on Friday because we're taking an overnight date ( I truly believe that a good marriage is based on how many quality overnight dates you can squeeze into a year...no excuses. DO IT). And I already miss my little dude. He's just so darn cute. I don't care how much he loves his babysitter ( he does, he loves her ever so much)....this just might be my current max on being away from my kid. And for those of you who think that I'm up for a week without the kid. You'd be way wrong. I'm not up for it. ( currently).
Confession: I have actually blogged this week, you just haven't read my posts...I "pre-wrote" meaning I've written a post or two that are for specific days in the future. Can you say, "nerd?!"
May 20, 2012
May 09, 2012
Gleaning some mommy wisdom
I love getting advice from other moms! I'm constantly trying to glean as much as I can from all the awesome women around me....and sometimes I get the advice third or fourth hand, which usually just proves that it's even MORE awesome and should REALLY be taken into account.
Just today I was thinking about three things that I'm so grateful I "adopted" as my own:
"Hands on the tires" ( wish I could think of who I got this one from...if its you then claim it!): When Ransom gets out of the car, and I set him down on the ground I make him put both hands on the tire next to me while I get the diaper bag or whatever else out of the car. Then when I'm ready he gets to take my hand and we walk to safety. I love this! For one thing I don't have to worry about him running out into traffic ( it didn't take Ransom long to learn this one and seems to think its pretty fun, I've had to stop and tell him "no" a few times when he's removed a hand for whatever reason...so I could see that it might take a little "training"...but for the most part he seems to love touching the tire. ) For another thing, now when I get Ransom out of his stroller he puts his hands on the back tire of the jogging stroller too! I find this really hilarious! My dad says that he'll be good at getting police searches one day, but I think its the perfect solution to a safety/multitasking problem.
"Kid Scissors" today I cut up Ransom's chick-fil-a nuggets with a pair of kids scissors that I keep in my bag. Its especially awesome when traveling, but scissors are THE way to cut up kids food! I'd been knife and forking it for almost a year when Lindsay mentioned that this was the fast/easy way that our mutual friend/mother of three- Liz cut up all three of her kids food!! I've never gone back!! And having a blunt pair of scissors in my bag for any time use...well, perfect!
"Blanket time", lots of parents do this from an early age and its part of Babywise book 2 training if you're interested...But I was just not down for this particular "discipline" when Ransom was smaller...But now that he's older and has a lot of toddler energy to burn, it seemed both necessary and been pretty easy to implement a time of day when he has to sit on his quilt and play for a 20-30 min period of time. When we first started he haaaaated it, ( If he got off the blanket I would tell him "no" and put him back on the blanket, repeat and add spankings or whatever form of punishment you want if you so desire)... but then he started to actually ASK for blanket time if we hadn't already done it! I think it has promoted his imaginative play time because he has to think of ways to entertain himself with the toys that I give him ( I usually give two or three things to play with, plus some books). I now do blanket time while I'm in the shower and I don't have to worry about him running off and getting into trouble.
Are there any things that you've noticed other parents doing that you thought were pretty cool and you've stored away for yourself or started to implement? I'd love to hear them!
Just today I was thinking about three things that I'm so grateful I "adopted" as my own:
"Hands on the tires" ( wish I could think of who I got this one from...if its you then claim it!): When Ransom gets out of the car, and I set him down on the ground I make him put both hands on the tire next to me while I get the diaper bag or whatever else out of the car. Then when I'm ready he gets to take my hand and we walk to safety. I love this! For one thing I don't have to worry about him running out into traffic ( it didn't take Ransom long to learn this one and seems to think its pretty fun, I've had to stop and tell him "no" a few times when he's removed a hand for whatever reason...so I could see that it might take a little "training"...but for the most part he seems to love touching the tire. ) For another thing, now when I get Ransom out of his stroller he puts his hands on the back tire of the jogging stroller too! I find this really hilarious! My dad says that he'll be good at getting police searches one day, but I think its the perfect solution to a safety/multitasking problem.
"Kid Scissors" today I cut up Ransom's chick-fil-a nuggets with a pair of kids scissors that I keep in my bag. Its especially awesome when traveling, but scissors are THE way to cut up kids food! I'd been knife and forking it for almost a year when Lindsay mentioned that this was the fast/easy way that our mutual friend/mother of three- Liz cut up all three of her kids food!! I've never gone back!! And having a blunt pair of scissors in my bag for any time use...well, perfect!
"Blanket time", lots of parents do this from an early age and its part of Babywise book 2 training if you're interested...But I was just not down for this particular "discipline" when Ransom was smaller...But now that he's older and has a lot of toddler energy to burn, it seemed both necessary and been pretty easy to implement a time of day when he has to sit on his quilt and play for a 20-30 min period of time. When we first started he haaaaated it, ( If he got off the blanket I would tell him "no" and put him back on the blanket, repeat and add spankings or whatever form of punishment you want if you so desire)... but then he started to actually ASK for blanket time if we hadn't already done it! I think it has promoted his imaginative play time because he has to think of ways to entertain himself with the toys that I give him ( I usually give two or three things to play with, plus some books). I now do blanket time while I'm in the shower and I don't have to worry about him running off and getting into trouble.
Are there any things that you've noticed other parents doing that you thought were pretty cool and you've stored away for yourself or started to implement? I'd love to hear them!
May 06, 2012
Waves
Even though Ransom had been sick all week ( with probably a pretty bad sore throat and a fever), and Brett came down with the sore throat on Thursday. And even though Brett worked such ridiculous hours this week that I won't even TELL YOU about them because you'd scoff. Even though all of that was true. We went to a Navigator Conference this weekend in Panama City, FL.
I'm not going to lie. I didn't want to go. When weeks are as much of a doozy as ours have been of late, I just want to hole up and nurse my so-called-wounds. But I'm SO glad we didn't!!
For one thing, my son l-o-v-es the ocean. This kid would literally run into the waves if given the chance. NO FEAR. And that was enough to make the weekend awesome. But, it was also nice to get some literal MILES between Brett and his workplace. There's something about distance that can make all the difference and I need to remember that sometimes.
Also....I love the ocean. I love the beach. I love sand. I love sunkissed shoulders. I love being barefoot. I love the smell of sunscreen.
I'm planning our summer vacation to the beach IMMEDIATELY.
( P.S. Are there any good beaches between here and Nacogdoches, TX?! We'll be needing to go there on our block leave as well, but I say-who's stopping us from getting a little beach on "on our way"?! )
April 29, 2012
April Cookies
Yesterday I made Brett his "cookie of the month". They are Peanut Butter Surprise cookies...and they are TO DIE. Even though I made these cookies with crunchy peanut butter instead of smooth ( which, yes, would have been better...but I had TWO jars of opened chrunchy peanut butter ( how did that happen?!?) so I went with what I had...) these cookies still turned out amazing.
It was really a miracle that they turned out so well because I made them while in a terrible mood. Usually Rage Cooking rarely works out for me, but this time the recipe was so simple that I could make no discernible errors. Seriously. One should never, ever cook while angry or remotely mad....I for one find that food does not do well with High Emotions. This is why I feel that chefs are very calm people. This is probably not at all true. But I'm going with it for the sake of my point.
The point being you can make these cookies while both angry and while having Low Blood sugar...which for anyone that knows me can tell you, is directly related to the angry part.
Let's just say that my poor, dear husband had to work allllllll day yesterday and was still working at dinner time, so I made dinner while he was still working away in the dining room and then two hours later he was STILL working and dinner was officially cold and I was OFFICIALLY low-blood-sugar-angry. Incidentally, just in case you were not aware, Low-blood-sugar-anger is based off of NOTHING...and is not valid in a court of law, or in my marriage as it would turn out...so bottom line: it was good that I made cookies and eventually got fed-especially since my poor husband is working again today. Bless his heart. Its the LEAST I can do to give him cookies once a month. *sigh*
April 26, 2012
blurry lines
As an Army wife, one of the perks has been, up until this point-the fact that we move every year or two giving us the opportunity to not become contestants on the show Hoarders. Having to move keeps my priorities in line on the whole "necessity" verse "luxury" situation.
However, we have now been at our current location for almost three years (!!!) and the lines are getting blurry....for instance I saw this on someones blog today and I came thisclose to buying it.
Its a wall hanging, just in case you can't tell...but I kind of have a thing for owls. And I felt like it would go well in my guest room...plus, it was only 16 dollars!!! SHUT UP!
Anyway, if your also one of those people with blurry lines, you can get it here.
I was able to resist. This time.
However, we have now been at our current location for almost three years (!!!) and the lines are getting blurry....for instance I saw this on someones blog today and I came thisclose to buying it.
Anyway, if your also one of those people with blurry lines, you can get it here.
I was able to resist. This time.
April 24, 2012
Sharing!!
So, I wrote a little blog post for a College Ministry blog this week....You can read it here. I was asked to write for them back in DECEMBER...and, yeah, its taken this many months for me to actually follow through. I guess this is just a perfect example of how loooong it takes me to write anything these days! I'm trying to do better ( but I say that every time!).
April 23, 2012
The drink of fathers
When I was little Papa would drive me to school. We'd listen to NPR's Morning Edition and Papa would drink coffee out of a normal mug ( no travel mug for him!), he'd balance the mug on the dashboard which was pretty precarious, but there was no cupholder for mugs in his truck. He'd take a sip, we'd swerve a little, he'd make an "ahhhhh!" sound and he'd position the mug back on the dash so that he could focus on yelling at the Liberals on NPR.
These memories are so strong that I can literally smell the coffee and hear Bob Edwards voice.
And now, already, Ransom also associates the sound of the hot water kettle ( with which we make the hot water for the French Press coffee) with his Daddy ( this morning I was making a cup of decaf and he heard the sound and literally ran yelling "Daddy!" into the kitchen), and any time he sees any mug at all he says "caught-tee?"
I am so glad that Ransom's own childhood memories will be just as permeated with the smell and sounds of coffee...There is something kind of comforting about it. While its really not that important-I doubt that I could have married a non-coffee drinker. For the sake of our children. ;-)
P.S. Will it ever NOT be heartbreaking when Ransom asks for his Daddy and he's not able to be there?!?!
These memories are so strong that I can literally smell the coffee and hear Bob Edwards voice.
And now, already, Ransom also associates the sound of the hot water kettle ( with which we make the hot water for the French Press coffee) with his Daddy ( this morning I was making a cup of decaf and he heard the sound and literally ran yelling "Daddy!" into the kitchen), and any time he sees any mug at all he says "caught-tee?"
I am so glad that Ransom's own childhood memories will be just as permeated with the smell and sounds of coffee...There is something kind of comforting about it. While its really not that important-I doubt that I could have married a non-coffee drinker. For the sake of our children. ;-)
P.S. Will it ever NOT be heartbreaking when Ransom asks for his Daddy and he's not able to be there?!?!
April 20, 2012
two teeny tiny problems
So, as I have mentioned on this blog before, I've been having some ankle issues since December. And after several doctors appointments, 4 x-rays, a bone scan and an MRI, plus almost 4 months of no exercise... today I went in for another appointment where the "specialist" orthopedic doctor told me that there were officially no stress fractures as I was previously told, and that there was nothing wrong at the bone level. blah blah blah. Here's your cortisone shot, rest a few more weeks, come back in six...
Can, I just be honest for a few minutes!? I would like to admit that when push comes to shove I was disappointed in today's appointment because NO ONE mentioned my teeny tiny feet and ankles.
Bottom line is that it doesn't matter what's wrong with my ankle or how it happened, I feel POSITIVE that my size 4 and a half feet should NOT be supporting my 5'6'', size 6/8 frame...And while I've had every single friend/stranger that has ever seen my feet comment on how freakishly small they are, I really really wanted a Medical Professional to take note. To say something like, "Holy Cow, Woman, you are a modern day miracle!! The fact that you can walk around on those tiny stumps is amazing in itself, so OF COURSE you twist your ankles on a regular basis, and fall over all the time!! That only makes sense!"
But he did not mention this and I'm pretty disappointed. Now my ankle is pretty sore and I'm waiting not so patiently for the "dramatic relief" that cortisone shots supposedly give...for one thing I'd like to go for a run again before its officially 104 degrees outside at 8 in the morning ( that could be any day now!), and I'd also like to continue my current eating habits ( read: eat cookies) without my pants becoming increasingly tight...so I'll definitely be counting the days.
ALSO the next time you see me in sparkly pink shoes just remember that I have to shop in the CHILDRENS DEPARTMENT and that while it has not been medically verified, I think I deserve a little more "support" in life.
Can, I just be honest for a few minutes!? I would like to admit that when push comes to shove I was disappointed in today's appointment because NO ONE mentioned my teeny tiny feet and ankles.
Bottom line is that it doesn't matter what's wrong with my ankle or how it happened, I feel POSITIVE that my size 4 and a half feet should NOT be supporting my 5'6'', size 6/8 frame...And while I've had every single friend/stranger that has ever seen my feet comment on how freakishly small they are, I really really wanted a Medical Professional to take note. To say something like, "Holy Cow, Woman, you are a modern day miracle!! The fact that you can walk around on those tiny stumps is amazing in itself, so OF COURSE you twist your ankles on a regular basis, and fall over all the time!! That only makes sense!"
But he did not mention this and I'm pretty disappointed. Now my ankle is pretty sore and I'm waiting not so patiently for the "dramatic relief" that cortisone shots supposedly give...for one thing I'd like to go for a run again before its officially 104 degrees outside at 8 in the morning ( that could be any day now!), and I'd also like to continue my current eating habits ( read: eat cookies) without my pants becoming increasingly tight...so I'll definitely be counting the days.
ALSO the next time you see me in sparkly pink shoes just remember that I have to shop in the CHILDRENS DEPARTMENT and that while it has not been medically verified, I think I deserve a little more "support" in life.
April 10, 2012
My favorite
He's my favorite
I tell Ransom he's my favorite all the time. I usually say something like, "you're my very favorite child."
This is of course very true since he's also my only child, but I still like to say it. And I have a feeling that I'll say it even when we have more children. I'll probably tell my other child that they are my favorite too.
It will be no less true.
I get away with this because by definition Favorite ( adjective) means: Preferred before all others of the same kind.
And I feel like Ransom is the only one of his kind. As will be true of all future offspring. There. Explained.
So this Friday one of my dear friends is throwing a Favorite Things Party. The basic idea is that everyone invited brings three of their favorite things, categories are endless, and then we all put our names in a hat and everyone draws and gets three new favorite things to take home....
How totally fab is that?!
I've been so excited about this party for ages ever since my friend explained the concept to me. As you know, from my giveaways last year, I am a fan of sharing my favorite things...and I have a lot of them. What blew my mind was that some of the other invitees where having trouble coming up with things to bring. I'm personally having trouble narrowing down my list!!
So, if you were invited what would you bring? Here are some of the things that didn't make the cut for me:
Restaurant trips with a baby/toddler made easier....
I love wearing this ring...and getting strange looks and remarks like, "what's THAT?!"
This one couldn't make the list because it's technically not "mine"...but Ransom looks like such a little dude when he wears these, and I love it
.
.
I literally use one or more of these babies every single day in the kitchen.
If I could get away with it...I'd wear this skirt every day
I'm currently using this as my "diaper bag"...but its more like my "take the sink with me" bag.
I bought this because I have a kid...but I've actually used it more on my own sad little ankles (its oh so cute!)
If you haven't seen this movie, its not just for "people with kids"...It is one of the greatest tales of humanity I've seen, and while its been ages...I still think about this movie.
I just read this book over the weekend and it made me laugh/cry. Bonus: It's by one of my favorite bloggers!
April 06, 2012
Good Friday
I'm reading the most incredible book as part of our Home Church. Its called, The Untold Story of the New Testament Church. I am only on chapter 7 and it is SOOOOO GOOOD.
I felt like I had to share this quote today, because I don't think I have ever before thought of the significance of the actual DAY of Jesus' crucifixion. I know its just a bit underselling God by a ton, but man, He had such perfect timing! Such powerful imagery.
Today I thank God for our Sacrificial Lamb, the one who ransomed us so that we might have a relationship with our most high God.
April 7, 30
From noon to 3 p.m. the cries of the spotless lambs fill Jerusalem as they are slaughtered for the Passover feast. At the same time, Jesus Christ-the real Lamb of God-is crucified. As Jesus breathes His last breath, an earthquake hits the land, and the curtain which encloses the Most Holy Place in the temple is rent in two, from top to bottom. This signified that the way to fellowship with the Father has now been opened for all man to experience.
April 05, 2012
March cookies!!
So, Brett's cookies for the month of "March" were actually made on April 1st...but they were no joke. ( HA! see what I just did there?!? ) And while I was a day shy of the month of March, I think Brett forgave me since it wasn't like he was actually HERE during the month of March really anyway....
Here's the recipe: Salted Carmel Thumb print cookies
So, ok these cookies definitely need some tweaking. First of all, I hate, hate, hate using "cookie mixes"...cookies are so easy anyway, it doesn't seem right to use a "mix"...but since it was my first time making them I went with it...next time, I think I'll just make a classic sugar cookie recipe with a little added flour. I also think I will use Caramel Fudge topping rather than just "topping"....I think it'll be thicker and less likely to run and not set. I felt like the caramel in these babies never REALLY set, and consequently when I put them on the rack to finish cooling the caramel just sunk through the middle of the cookie on several before I caught it and put them on more solid plate.
That being said...these bad boys tasted like tiny pecan pies and they were AH-MAZING. I think Brett really liked them because instead of taking them to work to share, he sat on the couch with the tupperware in his lap and ate most of them in one sitting. That, my friends, is the goal.
March 28, 2012
When you're feeling awfully low...
I have a little habit. But I think that I've finally reached the pentacle ( whatever, I'm lying...I totally haven't).
I only say that because after counting I have exactly 31 of these and therefore I could wear a different one every day for a month and how handy-dandy is that?! But really, sadly, I will probably not stop here and also it would be really annoying to wear a different one every day....*
But basically, whenever I'm in a store, usually Target, or Walmart...or a pharmacy that has makeup counters...I am drawn to the nail polish. Like a moth to a flame, those lines of colors draw me in...
I also love nail polish names, "Better Together", "Orange you Cute?" "Lincoln After Dark" "Big Red Apple".....I can't get enough of the brilliance and cheesiness. ( HOW DO YOU GET THE JOB NAMING THESE!?!? SERIOUSLY?!?)
I am, of course, particularly partial to the Reds...but since I have so many at this point, I consciously try to branch out into other colors. I also really like colors that are optical allusions...seemly one color in one light and a different color up close and far off.... And of course depending on the season my color choices vary...here's what I've purchased since Brett has been away ( SEEE!?!? I told you I had a problem! I usually only purchase nail polish when I am feeling low...)
I only say that because after counting I have exactly 31 of these and therefore I could wear a different one every day for a month and how handy-dandy is that?! But really, sadly, I will probably not stop here and also it would be really annoying to wear a different one every day....*
But basically, whenever I'm in a store, usually Target, or Walmart...or a pharmacy that has makeup counters...I am drawn to the nail polish. Like a moth to a flame, those lines of colors draw me in...
I also love nail polish names, "Better Together", "Orange you Cute?" "Lincoln After Dark" "Big Red Apple".....I can't get enough of the brilliance and cheesiness. ( HOW DO YOU GET THE JOB NAMING THESE!?!? SERIOUSLY?!?)
I am, of course, particularly partial to the Reds...but since I have so many at this point, I consciously try to branch out into other colors. I also really like colors that are optical allusions...seemly one color in one light and a different color up close and far off.... And of course depending on the season my color choices vary...here's what I've purchased since Brett has been away ( SEEE!?!? I told you I had a problem! I usually only purchase nail polish when I am feeling low...)
Mostly pastels...and one red ( peeking in at the side)...because, heck, what can I say...Red...its a classic.
Anyway, my very favorite nail polishes are Commander and Chic for my finger nails and Ruby pumps for my toes...surprisingly the fingers one is not even a red! But I still love it, my friend Keri reminded me today that I was wearing it ( though sadly it was ridiculously chipped and awful looking at the time) when Ransom was born.
Incidentally, my time with out the hubs is hopefully drawing to a close. Thank goodness...because nail polish is not that cheap....I am happy to say that I got a lot accomplished this month. After looking at the list I made earlier in the month the only thing that I didn't do was make cookies for my new neighbors. Though I also watched several more movies ( including "Being Elmo", "Princess Diaries 2", and "Never say Never", and all of season 6 of How I met your Mother...) and sent a box to my sister in Texas and made and sent Jar Cakes to my friend in Afghanistan ...so I suppose all in all the month was a success in the "I am Productive Woman" Department.
March 22, 2012
What love is.
I know what love is.
Love is waiting until your husband comes home from training to watch the Hunger Games movie.
Seriously. I have never felt so sacrificial. And its only going to get worse when it comes out tomorrow. Everyone and their dogs are going to see it, or so it seems.
Brett. I love you. I loved you when we were reading it out loud to one another and you would go to work all day and I WOULDN'T read ahead ( even though I really wanted to )...and now I love you as I stay well away from the theatre until your return.
Love is waiting until your husband comes home from training to watch the Hunger Games movie.
Seriously. I have never felt so sacrificial. And its only going to get worse when it comes out tomorrow. Everyone and their dogs are going to see it, or so it seems.
Brett. I love you. I loved you when we were reading it out loud to one another and you would go to work all day and I WOULDN'T read ahead ( even though I really wanted to )...and now I love you as I stay well away from the theatre until your return.
March 20, 2012
Day 16
This morning I got up and put a sweatshirt on over my PJs- when Ransom saw me he said, " Daddy!!"
And pointed at the sweatshirt."
And pointed at the sweatshirt."
"Good! That's right!"
Brett pretty much ALWAYS wears a sweatshirt, hood up to block out the day ( hahah) in the morning... ransom immediately saw the connection which was great...
But really I just wanted to cry- it is so strange to have equal happy and sad emotions when Ransom mentions his Daddy when he is away.
Military life is teaching me continually...
March 17, 2012
Murphy
Ahhh Murphy's law. It knows the Army well...ask any army wife and she'll tell you-her husband leaves for any length of time and something bad usually/always happens.
Case in point: Brett left for a month and Ransom IMMEDIATELY got sick. Within the hour.
I think it also might extend itself a little because my parents have been visiting all week and as SOON as they drove away, my air conditioner broke. And THEN after it broke it began to leak, and it leaked so badly that there are literally bubbles in the ceiling, dripping water on to the floor underneath.
One can only laugh at such timing. Because when such coincidence happens in books and movies I usually roll my eyes and say, "soooo unbelievable."
WRONG. The plot progression happening at my house alone is astounding. I give the Abigail Show a solid A- rating according to Entertainment Weekly's rating scale.
In other news, I ate TWO cupcakes today, over time, but still...they had a LOT of icing on them.
I also got ten hours of sleep last night thanks to my amazing parents who watched Ransom for me. Fantastic.
oh, and there is some kind of BABY BOOM happening on facebook right now, it is as if every person on my time line is giving birth or HAS given birth in just a matter of days. It's intense.
Oh, and I'd also like to recommend that if you're married or thinking about getting married or...would one day consider being married, you should DEFINITELY listen to the Real Marriage Series going on right now at the Mars Hill Church. Goooood stuffffff
Case in point: Brett left for a month and Ransom IMMEDIATELY got sick. Within the hour.
I think it also might extend itself a little because my parents have been visiting all week and as SOON as they drove away, my air conditioner broke. And THEN after it broke it began to leak, and it leaked so badly that there are literally bubbles in the ceiling, dripping water on to the floor underneath.
One can only laugh at such timing. Because when such coincidence happens in books and movies I usually roll my eyes and say, "soooo unbelievable."
WRONG. The plot progression happening at my house alone is astounding. I give the Abigail Show a solid A- rating according to Entertainment Weekly's rating scale.
In other news, I ate TWO cupcakes today, over time, but still...they had a LOT of icing on them.
I also got ten hours of sleep last night thanks to my amazing parents who watched Ransom for me. Fantastic.
oh, and there is some kind of BABY BOOM happening on facebook right now, it is as if every person on my time line is giving birth or HAS given birth in just a matter of days. It's intense.
Oh, and I'd also like to recommend that if you're married or thinking about getting married or...would one day consider being married, you should DEFINITELY listen to the Real Marriage Series going on right now at the Mars Hill Church. Goooood stuffffff
March 14, 2012
What works
So, after my last blog post some questions came up regarding just HOW I was able to accomplish what I did....and after reading one of my friends blog who has teeny tiny baby, I feel this is important to share.
Ransom is now at an age where, while he still has a low tolerance for me doing chores, he can be tricked for certain amounts of time into thinking that they are games. dishes. Laundry, organizing of closets...all things that he thought were fun for helpful amounts of time. I just had to come to grips with the fact that I often had to leave tasks in the middle for a change of scenery when SOMEBODY got too grumpy...
AND now that he is no longer a teeny tiny baby and I get a good, healthy amount of sleep every night, and so does he....doing a little more than brush my teeth actually seems like a possibility.
That being said, it is still all about me letting go of my previous expectations of myself. I no longer believe that a day where I put on real clothes and that's it, as a wash. HEELLLLOOOOO?! Real person clothes? That's a success!!! So, if I get half a load of laundry done, awesome. I also fed and clothed a human being as well! SUCCESS
THIS is hopefully the kind of attitude that will help me stay sane and ultimately accomplish things (over time). I also want to note that all those things I accomplished last week COULD NOT BE DONE with a younger child. I am thankful every day that Ransom has reached a "reasonable" age. gosh I love toddlers. I really really do.
And here's the other thing I've learned about myself. When Brett took his current job and I went from being a full time mom to being a FULL TIME Mom. Brett and I both realized that for my sanity's sakes I needed some "me" time at least once a week. And since he wasn't able to help in that regard we hired the most amazing babysitter ever ( seriously, when she graduates college I will CRY....secretly. ) she comes once a week for three hours. Allowing me to clean my car, get the oil changed, go shopping in peace, get my nails done, work on my computer (in the attic bedroom), sit in a coffee shop, do a quiet time...or anything else I want to do. Those little hours are important. And even when I spend them doing chores, the important thing is it gives me a chance to MISS my kid, which I find is a really wonderful emotion and makes me a better Mom when I come home.
Further more, from experience I know that weekends without Brett are infinitely harder than week days-for many reasons. SO, before the month even started I scheduled a special Saturday free time with my amazing babysitter....I ate a brownie Sundae and watched John Carter and the whole weekend was much better because of it. I have often felt guilty that I "require" these extra free times, but I am also grateful that they are a possibility for me....besides, Ransom digs his babysitter so much he practically pushes me out the door when she comes. Like I said, I'm gonna CRY on Graduation day.
Ransom is now at an age where, while he still has a low tolerance for me doing chores, he can be tricked for certain amounts of time into thinking that they are games. dishes. Laundry, organizing of closets...all things that he thought were fun for helpful amounts of time. I just had to come to grips with the fact that I often had to leave tasks in the middle for a change of scenery when SOMEBODY got too grumpy...
AND now that he is no longer a teeny tiny baby and I get a good, healthy amount of sleep every night, and so does he....doing a little more than brush my teeth actually seems like a possibility.
That being said, it is still all about me letting go of my previous expectations of myself. I no longer believe that a day where I put on real clothes and that's it, as a wash. HEELLLLOOOOO?! Real person clothes? That's a success!!! So, if I get half a load of laundry done, awesome. I also fed and clothed a human being as well! SUCCESS
THIS is hopefully the kind of attitude that will help me stay sane and ultimately accomplish things (over time). I also want to note that all those things I accomplished last week COULD NOT BE DONE with a younger child. I am thankful every day that Ransom has reached a "reasonable" age. gosh I love toddlers. I really really do.
And here's the other thing I've learned about myself. When Brett took his current job and I went from being a full time mom to being a FULL TIME Mom. Brett and I both realized that for my sanity's sakes I needed some "me" time at least once a week. And since he wasn't able to help in that regard we hired the most amazing babysitter ever ( seriously, when she graduates college I will CRY....secretly. ) she comes once a week for three hours. Allowing me to clean my car, get the oil changed, go shopping in peace, get my nails done, work on my computer (in the attic bedroom), sit in a coffee shop, do a quiet time...or anything else I want to do. Those little hours are important. And even when I spend them doing chores, the important thing is it gives me a chance to MISS my kid, which I find is a really wonderful emotion and makes me a better Mom when I come home.
Further more, from experience I know that weekends without Brett are infinitely harder than week days-for many reasons. SO, before the month even started I scheduled a special Saturday free time with my amazing babysitter....I ate a brownie Sundae and watched John Carter and the whole weekend was much better because of it. I have often felt guilty that I "require" these extra free times, but I am also grateful that they are a possibility for me....besides, Ransom digs his babysitter so much he practically pushes me out the door when she comes. Like I said, I'm gonna CRY on Graduation day.
March 12, 2012
One Week fully and completely down.
When Brett is gone I have a lot more free time. Its weird because its not like he is around that much when he IS at home...but I suppose it adds up. Like weekends. He's usually around for at least one day over the weekend and that's really nice..or at least a couple nights during the week. That's definitely hours that I'm unproductive.
But now. Its just tons and tons of productive ( or at least HYPOTHETICALLY productive) time.
So on top of my usual routine I've done just a few extra things...
So, here's what I've done so far:
Re-organized the hall closet.
Re-organized the guest bedroom closet.
Bought and organized Ransom's summer clothing.
Gotten my hair cut.
Written a reference letter for a friend.
Researched why my internet bill was so expensive last month.
written and published last month's family newsletter
re-organized my pantry
cleaned the whole house ( over several days and evenings)
caught up with friends
downloaded and uploaded pictures for february
cooked two meals for people who are ill or just had babies
made a breakfast item to bring to bible study
babysat Lily.
Watched The Help
Watched the latest twilight movie ( don't remember or care what it was called...embarrassed I'm even telling you about this).
Watched The Bodyguard ( oh, Whitney...)
Watched John Carter
Watched a ton of television shows...too many to keep track...sadly.
Started reading the Mark of the Lion series again.
Watched two sermons
What I have yet to do in the next three weeks:
Have a night away with Lindsay
Do our taxes
get my nails done
organize Brett and my closet
organize ransom's closet
get down my spring/summer clothing from the attic
put away most winter clothing
make cookies for my new neighbors
make something for our FRG potluck
That's all I've got so far, and considering how much I got done in week one...I better add some more items to my list. Movies I need to watch? Sermons I need to listen to? Things you really think I ought to do? Comments are welcome ;-)
But now. Its just tons and tons of productive ( or at least HYPOTHETICALLY productive) time.
So on top of my usual routine I've done just a few extra things...
So, here's what I've done so far:
Re-organized the hall closet.
Re-organized the guest bedroom closet.
Bought and organized Ransom's summer clothing.
Gotten my hair cut.
Written a reference letter for a friend.
Researched why my internet bill was so expensive last month.
written and published last month's family newsletter
re-organized my pantry
cleaned the whole house ( over several days and evenings)
caught up with friends
downloaded and uploaded pictures for february
cooked two meals for people who are ill or just had babies
made a breakfast item to bring to bible study
babysat Lily.
Watched The Help
Watched the latest twilight movie ( don't remember or care what it was called...embarrassed I'm even telling you about this).
Watched The Bodyguard ( oh, Whitney...)
Watched John Carter
Watched a ton of television shows...too many to keep track...sadly.
Started reading the Mark of the Lion series again.
Watched two sermons
What I have yet to do in the next three weeks:
Have a night away with Lindsay
Do our taxes
get my nails done
organize Brett and my closet
organize ransom's closet
get down my spring/summer clothing from the attic
put away most winter clothing
make cookies for my new neighbors
make something for our FRG potluck
That's all I've got so far, and considering how much I got done in week one...I better add some more items to my list. Movies I need to watch? Sermons I need to listen to? Things you really think I ought to do? Comments are welcome ;-)
March 10, 2012
the weather channel.
I think my attitude is clearly connected to sunlight. Give me a sunny day with clear blue, blue skies and I am infinitely happier. Infinitely.
I'm wondering that if I were to live in a tropical location if I would become the happiest, most productive person in the world.
Since I will probably never get to live in a tropical location lets just go ahead and say, "yes."
Today was gorgeous. Sunny, 73 degrees, a little wind here and there. I sat outside during Ransom's nap time and soaked in a such as I possibly could.
Brett has been gone for a week, he's officially no longer contactable and has been that way for two days and counting. I miss him terribly but today, thanks to the sun ( and the Lord, obviously)....it all seemed much more doable. I will soak in today as much as possible because there are inevitably hard days too. Life is so very much like weather sometimes...
I'm wondering that if I were to live in a tropical location if I would become the happiest, most productive person in the world.
Since I will probably never get to live in a tropical location lets just go ahead and say, "yes."
Today was gorgeous. Sunny, 73 degrees, a little wind here and there. I sat outside during Ransom's nap time and soaked in a such as I possibly could.
Brett has been gone for a week, he's officially no longer contactable and has been that way for two days and counting. I miss him terribly but today, thanks to the sun ( and the Lord, obviously)....it all seemed much more doable. I will soak in today as much as possible because there are inevitably hard days too. Life is so very much like weather sometimes...
March 08, 2012
Never dull...
Life around here is never dull. Even when Brett is gone. I always think he's going to pack up "interesting" and take it with him. But "interesting" always gets left behind with me...
My friend Melissa texted me two nights ago that she had a bat in her house.
You should really go read her blog post where she details our text conversation...she's hilarious.
Go read it, I'll wait...
Then the next night she texted me at 10pm to say that the bats were back and that she was waiting for animal control but if need be could she and her 1 yr old come spend the night? Um. Yes. I will not turn away moms and their babies whos husbands are away at NTC who also have bats. Ever. Its one of my mantras.
Anyway, skip to midnight when she texted that they were on their way...I then came to grips with the fact that it was going to, yes indeed, be a late night and that, no indeed, would I want to get up early to make the cheese danish that I needed for my women's morning bible study...So, instead I got up at midnight ( since i was waiting on my guests anyway) and made a cheese danish.
This is what you do when your husband is gone. You fight off bats and make cheese danish at midnight.
My friend Melissa texted me two nights ago that she had a bat in her house.
You should really go read her blog post where she details our text conversation...she's hilarious.
Go read it, I'll wait...
Then the next night she texted me at 10pm to say that the bats were back and that she was waiting for animal control but if need be could she and her 1 yr old come spend the night? Um. Yes. I will not turn away moms and their babies whos husbands are away at NTC who also have bats. Ever. Its one of my mantras.
Anyway, skip to midnight when she texted that they were on their way...I then came to grips with the fact that it was going to, yes indeed, be a late night and that, no indeed, would I want to get up early to make the cheese danish that I needed for my women's morning bible study...So, instead I got up at midnight ( since i was waiting on my guests anyway) and made a cheese danish.
This is what you do when your husband is gone. You fight off bats and make cheese danish at midnight.
March 07, 2012
If you give a mouse a cookie...
Oooooor in my case if our DVD player breaks....
So I've been meaning to blog about this for a while, but lets just say visitors and then a major bout of sickness, Brett leaving for a month happened and blogging has taken a mini vacay. But I think we're finally through the woods of sickness ( PLEASEPLASEPLEASE LET THIS BE TRUE!) and now for my blog post...
A little while before Christmas our DVD player died. That little $40 gem had been going strong for 6 years so I say it had a good run. So we bid it farewell and put "DVD player" on our Christmas lists. And so it was that at Christmas Brett unwrapped a BLUERAY player from my parents. WHOOOA the Wilson's just went up a notch on the technology ladder and so we took our new little baby home and hooked her up to our little TV ( incidentally the TV was purchased back when TVs were JUST starting to become flatscreens. She was pretty sweet back then, but now we looked upon her with distain....she could not even show HIGH DEFINITION! How could we put up with such subpar viewing when we had such a fabulous blueray player?! And so the obvious solution was to go shopping for a new TV.
Did you know that small TVs are actually more expensive than big TVs?!?! At least in direction correlation with size and price the bigger TVs are a better deal...and P.S. Its not like I wanted a BIG TV its just that a small TV ( under 32") that could comfortably fit in our entertainment center where particularly difficult to find....
And since we're bringing up our entertainment center lets take a look at in now:
So I've been meaning to blog about this for a while, but lets just say visitors and then a major bout of sickness, Brett leaving for a month happened and blogging has taken a mini vacay. But I think we're finally through the woods of sickness ( PLEASEPLASEPLEASE LET THIS BE TRUE!) and now for my blog post...
A little while before Christmas our DVD player died. That little $40 gem had been going strong for 6 years so I say it had a good run. So we bid it farewell and put "DVD player" on our Christmas lists. And so it was that at Christmas Brett unwrapped a BLUERAY player from my parents. WHOOOA the Wilson's just went up a notch on the technology ladder and so we took our new little baby home and hooked her up to our little TV ( incidentally the TV was purchased back when TVs were JUST starting to become flatscreens. She was pretty sweet back then, but now we looked upon her with distain....she could not even show HIGH DEFINITION! How could we put up with such subpar viewing when we had such a fabulous blueray player?! And so the obvious solution was to go shopping for a new TV.
Did you know that small TVs are actually more expensive than big TVs?!?! At least in direction correlation with size and price the bigger TVs are a better deal...and P.S. Its not like I wanted a BIG TV its just that a small TV ( under 32") that could comfortably fit in our entertainment center where particularly difficult to find....
And since we're bringing up our entertainment center lets take a look at in now:
Sorry about the picture...I really didn't think about taking a before shot, I wish I had...but regardless this picture will do.
What you can't see is that the bottom right cabinet door is just for show, it was ripped off its henges years ago...now its just propped there precariously. What you also cant see is the awful particle board backing behind the TV. UG-LY. What you probably CAN see is what a large monstrous, atrocity it is in my living room. Let's just say in the 5 houses its lived in while we've own it, it has dominated the living room set up. And its no picnic to move either. In a word ( or three), I. Hate. It.
And so, here we were having to get a TV that will fit inside a entertainment center that I hate with every ounce of my being?! Certainly not! And so, that is how we came to get the Beautiful Buffet to go with the new significantly larger, TV-that-will-show-all-the-beauty-of-the-Blueray-Player.
Ta-da:
Yes. This is one of those first-world posts...where I tell you about a DVD player breaking and how in the end we spent waaaaay more money than the cost of a DVD player. *sigh* BUT the good part is that my living room is beyond pretty to behold now. Annnnd we used our usually ear-marked "Anniversary Trip" money on our new view. You see, Brett will be deployed for our 5th Anniversary and so this seemed like the right thing to do under the circumstances. Or at least that was my excuse.
Anyone want to watch something on blueray? Because now we have to buy some of those too....
February 28, 2012
The story of the Wagon
So, last month ( January) Brett was gone for a lot of the month. Its kind of a blur really but I definitely remember a few low points, but we got through them, he came home and February has been a rather Brett-full month! This is nice because in the next few days he'll be gone again for a month. 30 days straight ( not 31, because then Army would have to give him extra $$ and they wouldn't want to do that now would they?!?)...Annnyway, you may remember my post about how my ankle is hurt...well, it turns out its my foot...and they don't really know what's wrong so I've got to get a bone scan which... *Sidebar for a little rant*
UMMMM...have you EVER heard of anything so LAME ( pun) as to have a rule that anyone getting a bone scan has to COME DOWN to the hospital to make the appointment?!?! SERIOUSLY?!?! SERIOUSLY.
I had to pack my kid into his carseat, with a snack, a book and a sippy cup, drive to the hospital, drive around to find a parking spot, park the car, get out the stroller, put my kid, his sippy cup and the book into the stroller, walk a MILE ( huge parking lot...) to the hospital....walk to radiology where I had to wait in a long line ( WHERE A WOMAN CUT ME!!!!) and then have them say, "would March the 9th work at 8:30?!"
Done.
THAT SHOULD SO HAVE BEEN DONE OVER THE PHONE..
*sidebar completed*
so the bone scan will take "several weeks" to get the results from and who knows how long they will take to actually do something about those results...*sigh* All this to say that I've been in serious mourning not geting to go for my runs in the morning. And today I realized I was boarding on more than mourning when I realized that my MAJOR coping mechanism when Brett is gone is to put Ransom in the jogging stroller and walk...and walk...and walk. He loves the stroller and we can both just clear are little heads. Some how being out of the house and in motion makes loneliness easier.
But not this month.
I'm so sad.
But tonight I'm claiming something. I went to my bi-yearly consignment sale where I score awesome finds. However, this year I was late, because I had another engagement. But, I was ok with that because really all I needed was clothes. However, in my heart of hearts I wanted a wagon. You know one of those awesome Red wagons that I can pull Ransom and half his toys around in?! A wagon we can take to the beach, or to the zoo?! YESSSSSS one of those...Ok, so anyway, I was pretty sure that getting such a wagon would be a long shot since usually all the big items are gone in the first 15 minutes of the doors opening. But I wondered in 20 minutes late and if my eyes had been closed I would have tripped right over the most wonderful Radio Flyer red wagon you ever saw...I looked around, no one was near it or looked like it was theirs...I looked all over the wagon to see if it had a "sold" sign on it. No sign. I looked at the wagon more closely to see if it was defected. Nothing major. And then I looked at the price.
$20.
That's right. I scored my perfect wagon for $20 ( these things run around $80 on average)....WOOO HOO!
Anyway, I went and got all of Ransom's summer clothes ( and some awesome boots for me...it pays to have tiny feet...) and was heading home when I started to think about my Wagon. Now, you might shake your head at me and tell me I'm stretching a bit, and that's totally your prerogative. But I for one believe my wagon was a little gift from Above. A reminder that He knows my heart. He knows my secret and not so secret desires. And even if I'm not healed enough to walk the block a million and one times I know Jesus will be with Ransom and I ( and Brett too for that matter) in the coming month away from each other.
He is the giver of perfect gifts.
UMMMM...have you EVER heard of anything so LAME ( pun) as to have a rule that anyone getting a bone scan has to COME DOWN to the hospital to make the appointment?!?! SERIOUSLY?!?! SERIOUSLY.
I had to pack my kid into his carseat, with a snack, a book and a sippy cup, drive to the hospital, drive around to find a parking spot, park the car, get out the stroller, put my kid, his sippy cup and the book into the stroller, walk a MILE ( huge parking lot...) to the hospital....walk to radiology where I had to wait in a long line ( WHERE A WOMAN CUT ME!!!!) and then have them say, "would March the 9th work at 8:30?!"
Done.
THAT SHOULD SO HAVE BEEN DONE OVER THE PHONE..
*sidebar completed*
so the bone scan will take "several weeks" to get the results from and who knows how long they will take to actually do something about those results...*sigh* All this to say that I've been in serious mourning not geting to go for my runs in the morning. And today I realized I was boarding on more than mourning when I realized that my MAJOR coping mechanism when Brett is gone is to put Ransom in the jogging stroller and walk...and walk...and walk. He loves the stroller and we can both just clear are little heads. Some how being out of the house and in motion makes loneliness easier.
But not this month.
I'm so sad.
But tonight I'm claiming something. I went to my bi-yearly consignment sale where I score awesome finds. However, this year I was late, because I had another engagement. But, I was ok with that because really all I needed was clothes. However, in my heart of hearts I wanted a wagon. You know one of those awesome Red wagons that I can pull Ransom and half his toys around in?! A wagon we can take to the beach, or to the zoo?! YESSSSSS one of those...Ok, so anyway, I was pretty sure that getting such a wagon would be a long shot since usually all the big items are gone in the first 15 minutes of the doors opening. But I wondered in 20 minutes late and if my eyes had been closed I would have tripped right over the most wonderful Radio Flyer red wagon you ever saw...I looked around, no one was near it or looked like it was theirs...I looked all over the wagon to see if it had a "sold" sign on it. No sign. I looked at the wagon more closely to see if it was defected. Nothing major. And then I looked at the price.
$20.
That's right. I scored my perfect wagon for $20 ( these things run around $80 on average)....WOOO HOO!
Anyway, I went and got all of Ransom's summer clothes ( and some awesome boots for me...it pays to have tiny feet...) and was heading home when I started to think about my Wagon. Now, you might shake your head at me and tell me I'm stretching a bit, and that's totally your prerogative. But I for one believe my wagon was a little gift from Above. A reminder that He knows my heart. He knows my secret and not so secret desires. And even if I'm not healed enough to walk the block a million and one times I know Jesus will be with Ransom and I ( and Brett too for that matter) in the coming month away from each other.
He is the giver of perfect gifts.
February 17, 2012
Cookie of the Month
This month I killed two birds with one stone and made Brett his "monthly cookies" for "Valentine's Day".... I put Valentine's Day in quotes only because we put in a lot more effort on other holidays such as birthdays and anniversaries.....Buuuut V-day cookies seemed like a good idea and Strawberry Nutella thumbprint cookies seemed like an even better idea.
I got my recipe from this site: Sinfully Spicy and go ahead and do a compare and contrast on my cookies and her cookies. Yeah. Her's look better. But, since I always say presentation is not as important as taste I was not deterred. However, I really wish I'd read all the way to the end on her recipe because I think in the long run I would have gone with the original recipe rather than her adapted one. Mostly because the cookie itself ended up being super bland. And come on....anyone who's ever had a spoon full of Nutella knows that stuff is NO JOKE. While, I admit, I'd eat an entire tub of that yummy goodness all on its lonesome with no reservations, when I am pairing it with something else I probably need something with a strong enough flavor to stand on its little lonesome. So next time more strawberries, and more sugar and I think it'll be really A-mazing cookie.
February 13, 2012
A non-runner
So, I've never liked running. It was boring and it hurt my little bitty lungs, and besides swimming was soooo much better.
BUT after Ransom was born and after childcare at the gym went up in price by about a million dollars, I decided running was for me. Besides, I had a really great running partner-which if you know-can make ALL the difference in ALL the world.
So, Ransom would get all comfy in his jogging stroller, I'd put on my heart monitor ( now that my running partner moved to Hawaii...tears...its the only way for me to really know how fast I'm going), plug in my route on my iRun app on my phone ( best App EVER!) and off we'd go....things were grand, and I'd even planned to run a little 5k with my friend Melissa when our Hubbies were gone next month...and then....TRAGEDY STRUCK.
Over Christmas I got some new running shoes...Asics. Apparently they were the best. But as soon as I started wearing in them I started getting KILLER shin splints. So, I made the terrible mistake of going back to my old shoes ( shoes that I hate to admit this...but I've had them since before Ransom was born...shudder.) Anyway, I went back to them and every thing seemed fine. Until, I did *something* to my ankle last week. It didn't hurt during or even after my run but it hurt like the dickens the NEXT day....but I decided to walk it off ( yes, I realize this post is riddled with hand slapping to the forehead moments...) and took three days off, bought some sole inserts for my shoes and I ran again on Friday.....of course, all of you are shaking your heads at me at this point. Especially since I've been literally hobbling around ever since.
So, I promised Brett I'd take a week off ( at least...meeh!) from running and I've got a brace on my ankle and I'm icing it whenever I have a few moments to do so....but let me tell you. THIS my friends is IRONY. I finally decide I like running and now I can't even do it. :-(
Boo.
P.S. I really, really need to be able to run....it is literally the only exercise I can do WITH Ransom that we both seem to enjoy. *whimper* I am begging God to give me another chance with my ankle. I promise to treat it better this go around.
BUT after Ransom was born and after childcare at the gym went up in price by about a million dollars, I decided running was for me. Besides, I had a really great running partner-which if you know-can make ALL the difference in ALL the world.
So, Ransom would get all comfy in his jogging stroller, I'd put on my heart monitor ( now that my running partner moved to Hawaii...tears...its the only way for me to really know how fast I'm going), plug in my route on my iRun app on my phone ( best App EVER!) and off we'd go....things were grand, and I'd even planned to run a little 5k with my friend Melissa when our Hubbies were gone next month...and then....TRAGEDY STRUCK.
Over Christmas I got some new running shoes...Asics. Apparently they were the best. But as soon as I started wearing in them I started getting KILLER shin splints. So, I made the terrible mistake of going back to my old shoes ( shoes that I hate to admit this...but I've had them since before Ransom was born...shudder.) Anyway, I went back to them and every thing seemed fine. Until, I did *something* to my ankle last week. It didn't hurt during or even after my run but it hurt like the dickens the NEXT day....but I decided to walk it off ( yes, I realize this post is riddled with hand slapping to the forehead moments...) and took three days off, bought some sole inserts for my shoes and I ran again on Friday.....of course, all of you are shaking your heads at me at this point. Especially since I've been literally hobbling around ever since.
So, I promised Brett I'd take a week off ( at least...meeh!) from running and I've got a brace on my ankle and I'm icing it whenever I have a few moments to do so....but let me tell you. THIS my friends is IRONY. I finally decide I like running and now I can't even do it. :-(
Boo.
P.S. I really, really need to be able to run....it is literally the only exercise I can do WITH Ransom that we both seem to enjoy. *whimper* I am begging God to give me another chance with my ankle. I promise to treat it better this go around.
February 12, 2012
In lue of a picture...
So, I guess a picture of Ransom does not constitute as a blog post, huh?
Ah well, you can't blame me though, life has been busy ( but what's new?) and I've been writing never-to-be-published blog posts in my head for weeks now...So, I'll take this Sunday Ransom Nap Time While Brett Is At Work time and write a real life honest to goodness post!
For Brett's birthday my parents sent him a box of goodies. It was totally and completely a wonderful gift because it was so very them and yet it also was perfect for Brett because he just so happens to like similar things ;-). Anyway, it was a combo of random household things that one can't live with out...and then books. ( We allllll love books) And since Brett works all the time and therefore has little chance to read, I decided that it wouldn't hurt anyones feelings if I read one of the books my parents sent.
Its called Son of Hamas and its the most incredible true story of Mosab Hassan Yousef "Joseph" the son of one of the seven founders of the Palestinian group Hamas that we, in the West, all know so well from its many terrorist attacks against Israel, it is his jaw-dropping tale of becoming a Spy for the Israelis to help bring down Hamas from the inside and how he step by step, piece by piece became a follower of Jesus.
I don't know what kind of books you like to read, dear readers...but I'm not even kidding, I could barely put this book down. I read it while Ransom was playing, I read it while he was eating, while he was napping, I read it while I was waiting for Brett to put on his PJs and get into bed, I read it while he went to the bathroom in the middle of watching a movie...basically any second of my day I could squeeze in a few seconds, I did. It was part spy thriller/ part biography of a modern day muslim/part love story to the Lord.... It was truly one of the clearest reminders of what Christ's Love can truly do and the Hope that it brings to this world that I have had in a long time. Read. This. Book.
Ah well, you can't blame me though, life has been busy ( but what's new?) and I've been writing never-to-be-published blog posts in my head for weeks now...So, I'll take this Sunday Ransom Nap Time While Brett Is At Work time and write a real life honest to goodness post!
For Brett's birthday my parents sent him a box of goodies. It was totally and completely a wonderful gift because it was so very them and yet it also was perfect for Brett because he just so happens to like similar things ;-). Anyway, it was a combo of random household things that one can't live with out...and then books. ( We allllll love books) And since Brett works all the time and therefore has little chance to read, I decided that it wouldn't hurt anyones feelings if I read one of the books my parents sent.
Its called Son of Hamas and its the most incredible true story of Mosab Hassan Yousef "Joseph" the son of one of the seven founders of the Palestinian group Hamas that we, in the West, all know so well from its many terrorist attacks against Israel, it is his jaw-dropping tale of becoming a Spy for the Israelis to help bring down Hamas from the inside and how he step by step, piece by piece became a follower of Jesus.
I don't know what kind of books you like to read, dear readers...but I'm not even kidding, I could barely put this book down. I read it while Ransom was playing, I read it while he was eating, while he was napping, I read it while I was waiting for Brett to put on his PJs and get into bed, I read it while he went to the bathroom in the middle of watching a movie...basically any second of my day I could squeeze in a few seconds, I did. It was part spy thriller/ part biography of a modern day muslim/part love story to the Lord.... It was truly one of the clearest reminders of what Christ's Love can truly do and the Hope that it brings to this world that I have had in a long time. Read. This. Book.
February 07, 2012
January 30, 2012
January cookies
So, for the year of 2012 I am making Brett a new recipe of cookies every month. I'm pretty excited about the challenge of coming up with new and fun ( but also yummy) recipes every month! This month I found a really great recipe for "S'more Cookies" and the picture above is when I took them out of the oven, before I'd cut them into squares. ( while you put them on the graham crackers in individual cookies, they kind of morph together into a bar...)
I'm happy to say that after cooling and cutting they were still A-mazing. Now Brett just has to come back from the field before I eat them all myself :-)
If you'd like the recipe you can find it here: S'more Cookies
January 29, 2012
Miracles
So, back in August we had new neighbors move down below us. They were mildly annoying to say the least. The guy had a bunch of his friends over for his lunch break most days and they always talked REALLY LOUDLY ( with one particular word that starts with F being their favorite) and would periodically wake Ransom up from his nap...
The wife was also super cool and bought this sign for outside...
The wife was also super cool and bought this sign for outside...
What makes this EVEN better is that our house is next door to an Elementary School...so the sign was able to scar young children on a daily basis.
Then Halloween time came and the guy spent days on end sawing and hacking outside their front door ( for some reason they didn't seem to realize they had a whole patio and garage BEHIND the house...) which was directly under our living room. We were puzzled at WHAT he could possibly be doing until one day he erected a large wooden witch outside their door...also for their children. *sigh*
Now, one of the kind of cool (?) things about living on a "training" Army Post is that if you know what school a person is doing you know how long, give or take, they will be at Fort Benning. These people were here for the Infantry Basic Officers Course and therefore I had a pretty good idea of how long we would be graced with their amazing presence downstairs.....too long.
And now to change scenes:
Our good friend the Fones have been planning to come to Fort Benning for a while now for the Captains Career Course. Lindsay lived with me before she and Isaac where married and while Brett was deployed. Now, she's married and has a baby of her own and I was SO excited about living near her again in this new stage of both our lives...
I was excited about them being close by, but I was incredulous when I heard that Lindsay and Isaac were praying that they'd get to move into the same building ( each "house" has four different homes in each one, two upstairs, two down stairs. On each side, the upstairs and downstairs share a back door and the stairs leading down to the basement. Essentially you could both open your kitchen doors, lock the back door and you'd have one, very large house.). I knew all of our surrounding neighbors and I knew that none of them were planning on moving any time soon. I was sad, especially since I was not such a big fan of our perviously described downstairs neighbors...But I felt sure that there was no way living that close to our friends was possible. I secretly felt that those prayers wouldn't be answered....
As the time for the Fones to arrive got closer I started to get excited and take multiple walks around the block to check for empty houses. There were several that were pretty close by and I thought that this must be the answer to our prayers about living near our friends.
Then a month before they headed to Benning, I was on my way to the grocery store one morning and I noticed some workmen heading into our downstairs neighbor's house...and being the crazy stalker neighbor that I am, I looked closer and LOW AND BEHOLD they had MOVED OUT. Oddly enough, we never saw them move and we're guessing it was some time when we were out of town. But all that really mattered is that what I thought was IMPOSSIBLE had happened! The home directly under ours, the one that shares our back door, that shares our patio, that shares our very roof...it was available!
But the Doubting-Thomas in me was still not sure...we still had a month to go before our friends arrived and I knew that there were quite a few schools starting at Benning in the intervening month and that there would be a lot of people moving in. The odds that this particular house would stay open a whole month, they were slim. However, by now my faith was rising a little bit ( thank goodness..) and I shot out a facebook status asking people to pray that the house would stay open for a month....
As each week passed and moving trucks came and went, filled up and poured out all over the neighborhood-we prayed hard for our downstairs house. Slowly weeks went by and it stayed empty! Finally Isaac arrived to being their moving in process. It took a few days ( whoa are they busy!) but he finally got an appointment with the housing office. As he made his appointment on the phone he mentioned that he was staying with some friends and that the house below us was free and that he'd really like to move in...The lady replied with, "Is that on M- street? Because those are the only keys I have and the only house I'll be able to show you...."
That's right. There are no other houses available. The only house?
The one right below us.
And so, as you can see I under estimated God's ability in a big way. I forgot the greatness of our God. I forgot that a little matter of having Close Fellowship with friends is but a small thing to Him. He delivered.
January 26, 2012
Swears.
So, friends life has been jam packed with cool stories lately. But, since our house is currently occupied by four adults, a toddler and a baby there has been pretty much zero time for blogging.
But, as SOON as a get a second ( hopefully this weekend) I'll tell the incredibly cool story of WHY there are so many people in our house this weekend...
Until then a quick story:
Today is Brett's birthday. Which is great. What is NOT great is that his Texas Drivers License and the registration on both our cars expired on the same day.
Of course, this fact wasn't fully realized until two days ago ( cuz I guess we live by the seat of our pants around this joint), anyway, being the ultra Doer that I am, I jumped into ultra high gear and figured out a way to get all these things taken care of yesterday. The day before Brett's birthday.
First, I got everything together for Brett to get a Georgia License ( it takes 40 days for Texas to renew a license long distance...so that was out).
And I waited until my babysitter arrived and then I planned to head to the JAG office to pick up the proper paper work to get our registrations renewed and then head out to the random teeny-tiny town where the registration office is located.
And then the curve balls came....of COURSE Brett couldn't get out of work to get his new license...and *I* started searching the house high and low for our Power of Attorney ( so that I could do things for him)...and couldn't find it. Any.Where.
It was horrible. I literally looked through ALL our files. ALL our drawers. ALL our boxes of misc. papers...and I got more and more worked up...finally I decided to drive to Brett's office to check and see if it just might be in his car. And then when I got to his car, and searched it completely I got back in my car only to find that it was completely and utterly dead. As in deader than a door nail. As in so dead the automatic locks wouldn't work.
And that was the last straw.
All my plans failed. Completely and utterly.
But you know what didn't happen?! I didn't start driving out to a little town in the middle of no-where and have my car completely die on me. INSTEAD it died in front of Brett's company where I had my husband and 150 dudes there to help me. Talk about the perfect location for your car to die.
And then today, without any of my totally awesome planning involved at all-Brett got his new license, we got both cars re-registered, and our broken car got fixed.
A little bit humbling to realize my amazing management powers do not hold a candle to God's graciousness.
But, as SOON as a get a second ( hopefully this weekend) I'll tell the incredibly cool story of WHY there are so many people in our house this weekend...
Until then a quick story:
Today is Brett's birthday. Which is great. What is NOT great is that his Texas Drivers License and the registration on both our cars expired on the same day.
Of course, this fact wasn't fully realized until two days ago ( cuz I guess we live by the seat of our pants around this joint), anyway, being the ultra Doer that I am, I jumped into ultra high gear and figured out a way to get all these things taken care of yesterday. The day before Brett's birthday.
First, I got everything together for Brett to get a Georgia License ( it takes 40 days for Texas to renew a license long distance...so that was out).
And I waited until my babysitter arrived and then I planned to head to the JAG office to pick up the proper paper work to get our registrations renewed and then head out to the random teeny-tiny town where the registration office is located.
And then the curve balls came....of COURSE Brett couldn't get out of work to get his new license...and *I* started searching the house high and low for our Power of Attorney ( so that I could do things for him)...and couldn't find it. Any.Where.
It was horrible. I literally looked through ALL our files. ALL our drawers. ALL our boxes of misc. papers...and I got more and more worked up...finally I decided to drive to Brett's office to check and see if it just might be in his car. And then when I got to his car, and searched it completely I got back in my car only to find that it was completely and utterly dead. As in deader than a door nail. As in so dead the automatic locks wouldn't work.
And that was the last straw.
All my plans failed. Completely and utterly.
But you know what didn't happen?! I didn't start driving out to a little town in the middle of no-where and have my car completely die on me. INSTEAD it died in front of Brett's company where I had my husband and 150 dudes there to help me. Talk about the perfect location for your car to die.
And then today, without any of my totally awesome planning involved at all-Brett got his new license, we got both cars re-registered, and our broken car got fixed.
A little bit humbling to realize my amazing management powers do not hold a candle to God's graciousness.
January 22, 2012
The Climb
And let us all pause and listen to the Miley Cyrus song, The Climb. I heard it on the radio twice this week. And I did NOT change the station. Cuz I rock to some Miley.
Anyway, I suppose that's why the title of this post popped into my head, and because it describes so well how I've felt over the last 10 days. ( ten days!! since my last post!! crazy pills!!). I'd say the first half of this month was rough, as in bottom of the barrel rough....but even at the bottom there, where its lonely and you walk around your block on a Sunday afternoon and you think, "Geez, no one cares about me or Ransom here!" even down at the bottom there was light. And there were surprise dinner dates, and phone calls and little things that proved that earlier thought was a lie. And while things are not easy (as in it isn't being handed to me on a platter) it doesn't mean I can't get out there and find some Community.
It helped that my oldest, dearest friend Amy came into town for a few days- it helped that I've seen Brett a little more. Its helped that I've started going to a Women's Bible Study ( PWOC! WOOP WOOP) on Thursday mornings. Its helped that I've started meeting with an older woman once a week. It helped that I've decided to take Ransom to story time at least once a week. Its helped basically that I not sit around at home alone. With only a one and half year old to talk to. Not. good. for. anyone.
But, I cannot promise that such walks around the block will not happen again. Because, let me tell you I bet they will....I don't even know if loneliness can really BE avoided. But I will embrace the fact that I hope it has made me more gracious and loving towards others. Because I feel that everyone ( yup! I'm going to make a giant sweeping generalization because I think its just THAT true.) is lonely or struggling at some point. And who's to say that I'm not the one to help them in that?!
So, I mentioned before that I'm doing a "Best things" status update every day on Facebook this year. And its taught me to be a lot more aware of the little things that make a day good. And you know that I've noticed thus far that its often the little nice things that strangers do...like the guys in the fire truck that turned on their lights for Ransom when we passed them on our run the other day....or the little old lady in Chick-fil-a who went and asked one of the works if Ransom could have a balloon that was hanging from the ceiling because she'd seen him pointing at it....I'm telling you people: Those things made my day!
I need to also be more intentional about being kind to strangers not just people I know. People in my inner circle, people in my outer circles...and people that aren't in my circles at all! Here's to kindness and here's to the great help it brings to climbing out from the bottom of the barrel.
Anyway, I suppose that's why the title of this post popped into my head, and because it describes so well how I've felt over the last 10 days. ( ten days!! since my last post!! crazy pills!!). I'd say the first half of this month was rough, as in bottom of the barrel rough....but even at the bottom there, where its lonely and you walk around your block on a Sunday afternoon and you think, "Geez, no one cares about me or Ransom here!" even down at the bottom there was light. And there were surprise dinner dates, and phone calls and little things that proved that earlier thought was a lie. And while things are not easy (as in it isn't being handed to me on a platter) it doesn't mean I can't get out there and find some Community.
It helped that my oldest, dearest friend Amy came into town for a few days- it helped that I've seen Brett a little more. Its helped that I've started going to a Women's Bible Study ( PWOC! WOOP WOOP) on Thursday mornings. Its helped that I've started meeting with an older woman once a week. It helped that I've decided to take Ransom to story time at least once a week. Its helped basically that I not sit around at home alone. With only a one and half year old to talk to. Not. good. for. anyone.
But, I cannot promise that such walks around the block will not happen again. Because, let me tell you I bet they will....I don't even know if loneliness can really BE avoided. But I will embrace the fact that I hope it has made me more gracious and loving towards others. Because I feel that everyone ( yup! I'm going to make a giant sweeping generalization because I think its just THAT true.) is lonely or struggling at some point. And who's to say that I'm not the one to help them in that?!
So, I mentioned before that I'm doing a "Best things" status update every day on Facebook this year. And its taught me to be a lot more aware of the little things that make a day good. And you know that I've noticed thus far that its often the little nice things that strangers do...like the guys in the fire truck that turned on their lights for Ransom when we passed them on our run the other day....or the little old lady in Chick-fil-a who went and asked one of the works if Ransom could have a balloon that was hanging from the ceiling because she'd seen him pointing at it....I'm telling you people: Those things made my day!
I need to also be more intentional about being kind to strangers not just people I know. People in my inner circle, people in my outer circles...and people that aren't in my circles at all! Here's to kindness and here's to the great help it brings to climbing out from the bottom of the barrel.
January 12, 2012
"Thankful"
This morning Ransom and I got to see Brett for a few hours....most of which Brett spent sleeping.
And thus I fought hard against disappointment ( that we didn't get more time together), guilt ( that I wanted Brett to give up on sleep to spend time with us?!), anger ( stupid army!) and a whole lot of other unpleasant emotions. Buuuut, the whole experience reminded me yet again what a challenge being thankful can really be sometimes...I mean, what I wanted was to be genuinely happy to see my husband who I haven't laid eyes on in the flesh for over a week. What I wanted was to soak up the few hours we got ( even if it was watching him sleep) before he heads back into the field. But sometimes my ugly side gets the better of me.
Hopefully, however, I did rally enough to enjoy a little breakfast of scrambled eggs, apples and cinnamon toast with Brett and our growing little dude. Looking over the last few days of pictures reminds me just how he has transitioned out of the "baby" stage. *sigh*
And thus I fought hard against disappointment ( that we didn't get more time together), guilt ( that I wanted Brett to give up on sleep to spend time with us?!), anger ( stupid army!) and a whole lot of other unpleasant emotions. Buuuut, the whole experience reminded me yet again what a challenge being thankful can really be sometimes...I mean, what I wanted was to be genuinely happy to see my husband who I haven't laid eyes on in the flesh for over a week. What I wanted was to soak up the few hours we got ( even if it was watching him sleep) before he heads back into the field. But sometimes my ugly side gets the better of me.
Hopefully, however, I did rally enough to enjoy a little breakfast of scrambled eggs, apples and cinnamon toast with Brett and our growing little dude. Looking over the last few days of pictures reminds me just how he has transitioned out of the "baby" stage. *sigh*
Every time I come into a room and he's sitting proudly on some piece of furniture I get a little shock...luckily it hasn't been on, say, the top of the entertainment center...not yet anyway. ;-)
Let me just say that riding in one of these carts has made shopping a BREEZE yet again...of course when he gets tired of this, I'm not sure if they have anything cooler...heheh
Is it just me or does eating cereal the proper way seem really grown up?!
Little dude up and started blowing bubbles in the bathtub last night! I didn't even show him how! He was so pleased with himself that he posed for this picture. ( seriously, he posed.)
January 10, 2012
Drought.
So, while chatting with a friend on FB this morning I was reminded of an important verse for me...
"He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." ( Jer 17:8)
So much goodness there, a combo of exhorting- Am I planted by water? Am I not anxious no matter circumstances? Have I ceased to bear fruit? ...
...and encouragement: I do not have to fear when crunch times come, I do not have to be anxious in rough times when things are drier than a bone...for I have living Water!
Yes, I would not hesitate when saying this is a "drought" season- being with out my Other Half is bad enough. But then, at the same time this verse is perfect, because I hesitate in saying this are Bad. They are definitely NOT bad.
Getting to watch my son grow and learn every day. To see the big and small ways that the Lord provides for my mental wellbeing every day. To see the Lord working in the Lives all around...these are good things. These are the green leaves that keep me going. :-)
January 09, 2012
35 minutes of free joy.
So during my run this morning, I ran by the back of one of those non-discript Army buildings (WHAT do they DO inside all those buildings?!?) where there is a dumpster. And next to said dumpster was a bookcase ( sadly destroyed by last nights rain). And metal industrial shelves ( not yet fully destroyed by rain!). And I immediately thought, "Hmmmmm, what else do I have to do today but take those shelves off the hands of that dumpster!?"
And so after my run, and after talking to Brett on Facetime, Ransom and I piled into the car and I wedged the metal shelves into the back of my car....I even thought to bring a tarp so as not to ruin my car insides. This was smart since they shelves were wet, dirty and covered in leaves.
So I brought them home, waited for Ransom to go down for his nap ( which, P.S. He is STILL asleep!! He's been down for OVER 2 hours! WOO!) , then I cleaned up that bad boy and BOOM! I turned my back stairwell from this:
And so after my run, and after talking to Brett on Facetime, Ransom and I piled into the car and I wedged the metal shelves into the back of my car....I even thought to bring a tarp so as not to ruin my car insides. This was smart since they shelves were wet, dirty and covered in leaves.
So I brought them home, waited for Ransom to go down for his nap ( which, P.S. He is STILL asleep!! He's been down for OVER 2 hours! WOO!) , then I cleaned up that bad boy and BOOM! I turned my back stairwell from this:
Into THIS:
And the whole process took less then an HOUR!! YAY!!
January 07, 2012
One day at a time...
This year I'm not counting the days Brett is gone. I'm consciously not figuring out just how long Brett's going to be out of the picture of our family. Instead we're taking it one day at a time....and out of that has come my favorite New Year's Resolution. It actually just happened rather than me "resolving it so"...and I suppose my hope is that I'll keep it up...
On facebook at the end of each day I am recording the best things about that day. Simple. Not anything new. But I've found, in the need to document the good things, I'm continually on the look out. And, since its not like our days are that jam packed around here, its a bit more tricky and you have to be on the look out for the special moments.
For instance, yesterday one of my favorite moments was when I was scrubbing the bathtub. Well, wait...let me re-phrase. I actually hate scrubbing the bathtub...I'm pretty sure that's what they'll be doing in Hell. So, instead let me quickly continue by saying that while I was scrubbing the bathtub Ransom came in and brought me one of his favorite books-one that had been strategically "hiding" at the bottom of the book pile after I got super tired of it-He had obviously found it and in his joy had brought it to me to read. "MO!" he said... "MO!" ( meaning "more"...which also translates into just about anything that he would like at any given time.)
So I stopped scrubbing ( really, any excuse there...) and read the book right there on the bathroom floor. And the after a few more minutes of scrubbing and Ransom investigating his bathtoys that were hanging out on the floor while I cleaned...once again he stuck the book back in my face "MO!"
And so I read that stupid Colors: Slide and Seek book about five times while trying to clean the tub, each time I'd stop cleaning and Ransom would position himself into my lap with a little satisfied sigh.
Honestly it was fun. And I loved that Ransom loves his books. And I also love that I don't love cleaning the tub so much that I don't mind "breaking the task up a bit". hahaha!
I also was stripping the guest bed and putting fresh sheets and after sticking the old sheets in the laundry I came back to see this....
These are the good moments. And I think that when I look carefully, they out weigh the bad moments by quite a lot.
On facebook at the end of each day I am recording the best things about that day. Simple. Not anything new. But I've found, in the need to document the good things, I'm continually on the look out. And, since its not like our days are that jam packed around here, its a bit more tricky and you have to be on the look out for the special moments.
For instance, yesterday one of my favorite moments was when I was scrubbing the bathtub. Well, wait...let me re-phrase. I actually hate scrubbing the bathtub...I'm pretty sure that's what they'll be doing in Hell. So, instead let me quickly continue by saying that while I was scrubbing the bathtub Ransom came in and brought me one of his favorite books-one that had been strategically "hiding" at the bottom of the book pile after I got super tired of it-He had obviously found it and in his joy had brought it to me to read. "MO!" he said... "MO!" ( meaning "more"...which also translates into just about anything that he would like at any given time.)
So I stopped scrubbing ( really, any excuse there...) and read the book right there on the bathroom floor. And the after a few more minutes of scrubbing and Ransom investigating his bathtoys that were hanging out on the floor while I cleaned...once again he stuck the book back in my face "MO!"
And so I read that stupid Colors: Slide and Seek book about five times while trying to clean the tub, each time I'd stop cleaning and Ransom would position himself into my lap with a little satisfied sigh.
Honestly it was fun. And I loved that Ransom loves his books. And I also love that I don't love cleaning the tub so much that I don't mind "breaking the task up a bit". hahaha!
I also was stripping the guest bed and putting fresh sheets and after sticking the old sheets in the laundry I came back to see this....
These are the good moments. And I think that when I look carefully, they out weigh the bad moments by quite a lot.
January 04, 2012
Lashes
How totally adorable is my son today?
So, this is my "Mommy Date" time. I'm spending it at Starbucks working on a few Internet projects.
But I thought Id drop the ol' blog a line, because I wanted to follow up my yesterday post with what's happened since: I had one friend schedule a visit for later in the year ( much later, but during a time when I'm guessing I'm gonna be extra lonely), I had a blogging friend invite Ransom and I for a visit! Fun! And it's always good to have those kind of things stored away so that your mind always has things to look forward to- that's the most important thing for mental well being in my opinion. AND last but not least I've been scouring our neighborhood the last few weeks trying to find the closest empty house for my friends The Fones to move into when they move to Benning at the end of the month.....and what do you know?! Our downstairs neighbors must have moved overnight or something!! Good riddance crazy people!! And now I'm praying hard that Lindsay and I get to live together again ( or at least under the same roof...this time with our respective homes, husbands and children...)
All that being said, the Lord continues to remind me of his Goodness, His presence and above all His perfect timing.
January 03, 2012
My fav pictures from 2011....
In no particular order, my favorite pictures from 2011....There are so many it was hard to narrow them down, but here are a few to remind me of all the fun-especially in watching my little dude grow up-that this year has had to offer...
Red Letter Day
Ransom has a habit of sitting his fridge magnets around the house as though they are standing. It cracks me up to find an "A" on the arm of the chair, or an "I" next to the bathtub...
While Brett's 9 month deployment doesn't start until June, he's gone for most of January, parts of February and ALL of March. I am resigning myself to loneliness. And while last night when thinking about days upon days of just me and Ransom I wanted to cry, for the most part I'm curious to see what God is going to do with all this extra "free" time. If there is ONE THING I've learned from the last few years its don't Doubt God. He comes through every single time....and time and time again when I've faced a future of emptiness and loneliness ( its a reoccurring Army Wife Theme) the Lord has always provide: reminders, letters, friends, projects, activities, trips....He provides.
And in fact, last night when I started to feel a little tear coming into my eye when thinking about this weekend alone ( why is it that weekends are the HARDEST to be alone?!) I opened my Bible App on my phone and this was on the screen...and for some reason it was HIGHLIGHTED...I guess just so I wouldn't miss it...but its kind of a mystery of how it got highlighted or why it was on the screen ;-)
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid..." ( John 14:27)
And so this new year begins...how will it go? That just remains to be seen...but "little" miracles are expected daily. Happy New Year, everybody!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)