Need of Prayers

We are home. Thank you for all your prayers!! This is going to be a huge adjustment for me (even though only for a week or two). The boys are so used to a routine and I'm worried that they will get thrown off. I am asking for prayers! Specifically about the things in my last blog and everyone getting along and helping out. I am very nervous about all of this and much more!

I'm going to stop there (sorry its so short) as I am very tired and stressed and just emotionally and physically drained.

Night!

Road trip...for real this time. :)

I talked to my cousin this evening and they are on there way! A friend is driving her and meeting me half way in Bowling Green, KY. They left tonight and are staying there and I will meet them in the morning. Its a straight shot down 65 so it should be fairly easy to find. I have also recruited my sister-in-law to ride with me. YAY! :)

I can't tell you how excited I am! It is going to be a blessing to have her and her girls here with us. We have so much to catch up on and alot of things to accomplish. Ya know...the basics...a place to live, doctors and of course...fun outings (as she's been gone for 5 years and lots has changed)!! I am really looking forward to this time with her and a chance to share with her Gods love! I hope I get the chance to introduce her to some of you and have her join us on some of our get togethers! She has already expressed to me her anxiety so even if its just a chance for her to rest, I will gladly take the girls with me. Whats 2 more right? :)

So please pray for my safe drive and everything to happen according to Gods plan! As my excitement has taken over and I was expressing to Amy the other day that I want so much for her and I need to stop and pray for Gods will in her life and not want I want. Everything will happen in Gods timing!

OK..I'm off to get ready for tomorrow! Early to bed...early to rise! I hope everyone has a wonderful day tomorrow! Enjoy some sunshine for me!

What have I gotten myself into?

So today was the twins very first piano lesson!! YAY!! When I enrolled Mason they were very upset with me because they wanted to play too. His teacher said that she would start teaching them when they turned 4...which is why 4 has been such a big deal to them. Can I just how proud of them I am!!! They did SO well! We decided to start with them sharing a half hour instead of having a full half hour to themselves. Then Masons half hour which leaves us at the studio for an hour! wow-wee! I wasn't sure if they would have the attention span for the full half hour. Man...was I wrong. :) We have truely been blessed with a wonderful piano teacher! She kept their interest and they didn't stray at all. They were actually a little disappointed that they didn't get to go longer. I think we'll be moving it up next month, but I thought this first month would be a good trial period. Another thing, I have never seen them so quiet! Those boys are anything BUT quiet, but for a while I thought they had lost their voice. haha They eventually snapped out of it and began to talk, but I was starting to get worried. I even prepared her for Isaac, the one that doesn't shut up and will probably ask tons of questions. She probably thought I was lieing after today. haha

They only worked out of one book today bc the other one had to be ordered. So the "work" they did was mainly coloring and recognizing the groups of black keys, recognizing numbers, and left and right hands. Who would of thought they would be learning basic fundamentals...I love it! Side note, its seems very strange to me that Mason, who is older would be playing on the white keys and knows nothing about the black ones yet, but the little ones start on the black ones... hmmm interesting. I suppose it because its easier for the littler one to focus on a smaller group of keys...I'l have to ask. Any-whoo...they did get to play the piano today. Weston was so cute. When she said it was time to learn some keys he goes, "YES!!" I know, you had to be there though.

Mason has started playing now with two hands doing completely different things!! I can't believe he's there already! I can tell you that I hope he gets it because it has sparked an interest in me! :) What am I saying...he IS getting it! I was completely shocked today when she pulled out different flashcards and he knew ALL of them notes! He is catching on so fast! Do you think our kids are going to be musically inclined? I sure hope so with all that money I'm paying. LOL I truely hope that if this is truely their passion (which I feel its definitely Masons, the twins are kinda young to determine yet) then I can continue to encourage him to stay with it.

Weston so eager to start!

Weston doing his "work" in his new book!

Issac doing his work!

Weston playing the piano..the right way! haha
Isaac playing the piano!!

We have to include a picture of Mason!! Check out that hard music. :)

It was a very momental day! I leave you with one more picture...can you guess what kind? :)

Relationships

The kids have enjoyed a wonderful week at VBS!! Every year they have a picnic on Friday and we eat dinner outside and then go into the church for the program...basically we sing the songs they have sung all week and then they talk about the money they raised for the missions. Which by the way is amazing! Every year they chose a missions project and this year it was kids helping feed kids. There goal was $3000! On Thursday they only had 900 and something...God is good! By Friday they had well exceeded the $3000 and over 600 children attended this year!

I, being the "great" mom I am :), forgot to take my camera and take pictures of the boys. But I did get some pictures with the boys and the sunglasses they made (which Isaac insists on wearing everywhere!) Oh yeah, he's the picture on the bottom.

Ok, so I really have lots to say but not many words to say it in. So please excuse me while my brain is still trying to figure some things out, but sometimes it helps me to blog about it while I'm thinking about it. I'm sure I'll be doing some editing after posting! haha When I read Mari's blog (sorry I'm not sure on how to link it) this morning it really struck me. Then, at church the message was about relationships...come one seriously! My mind is still going and I'm still processing everything, but when he asked about being an encourager or a discourager it really got me thinking. I am an encourager to everyone else BUT myself. Yeah thats right. I am lousy at encouraging myself. So...most of you know that I am struggling to open up with other people, the minute I start to, I tell myself that my problems aren't as bad as everyone elses...not anyone else. And Mari, I can completely identify with being so emotionally drained that you don't even want to try. Anytime you want to talk or get together I'm up for it! :)



This relationship thing is new to me. It is something that I have been longing for, but I am so used to just sitting and feeling lonely. That has to stop! I am really learning to reach out in this time for me...even when I tell myself the ENTIRE time (which I know is a LIE!) that its worthless and seriously..how can they really care. But I'm going to start trying anyway!! I have to say that it is getting a little easier as I do it. :) I HATE telling others how I'm feeling and feel like it is putting them in the middle of things (just go with me here as I'm not ready to share that yet) and feel awful. I WANT to be the happy person I was once! I WANT to have relationships and friends! I WANT to be able to encourage myself!! But I am coming to realize that this is where I am RIGHT NOW! It is was it is!




So on that note... thanks everyone for reading and bearing with me. This blog is an outlet for me in helping me step out and be transparent a little more without feeling awkward doing it face to face. I have come to realize though that sometimes I use it (and email) for relationships so that I don't have to step out of my box. Not good, I know. :)



I'm off to enjoy this beautiful Sunday! I hope everyone else does the same!



Loves~


Oh...more sleeping pictures! ENJOY!! :)

Burnt to a Crisp

SO first thing first...I just got off the phone with my cousin and she was in the hospital today after having seizures. Also...the chemo medicine that they have put her on is making her really sick and so she has not be able to accomplish much. Therefore...here comes the bad news...she's not coming. :( I am really saddened by this and am having a hard time. Its probably a little selfish of me because I know that her health comes first...but I want her here so bad!! My heart serisouly aches for her and her girls and everything they are going through. I'm at a loss for words, really I'm so upset that I just don't know what to say. On the flip side though she is feeling terrible about it. It meaning me making all these plans and her having to cancel. I explained to her that its really ok, well it will be anyway. I know that in Gods timing she will be here and everything will work out...I really do know that. But my selfish self wants her here now! Now for the even more selfish part of me, I cleared my calender for the trip and now, I know me, I'll sit around being sad all day tomorrow. So if anyone wants to join me for an outing...the mall, park, strawberry picking or anything else I could use some company tomorrow. WOW..did I just say that? OK, so its getting a little easier.

So..onto some good news! Today was a fun filled day and I enjoyed every bit of it! We spent the day at Tropicanoe Cove with Renay and Lindsey and all the kids that accompany us moms. haha Then we saw Kirsten, with the kids that accompany her of course (haha). It was truely a fun day. It was very hard for me today because that pool is so big and my boys are very adventurous, well Weston and Isaac anyway. In a second they would be off somewhere else. For those of you that don't know I am a worrier! Sorry girls, I hope I didn't drive you crazy today. :)

I bought a new kind of sunscreen that you spray, which I thought would be more handy. Well, let me tell ya that it doesn't go on as thick as the lotion. Here's the proof!

I feel like the worse mom in the world!! :( The picture does not do justice. And it got worse as the night progressed. I, too, am fried! (sorry no pictures of that, haha) No really...I am. Lindsey, I think I could run ya pretty good competion, just kidding. Uh-oh..lightbulb, maybe I am a little competitive (those in my small group will understand this). Anyway, when Renay and I went water walking tonight she noticed that I even have a line from my hair and where my strings dangled from my bathing suit. Thats crazy!

Thanks gals for a great day!! Its a must do again sometime.

By the way, I'm pretty sure that my friend Becky and I will be water walking on Monday evening if anyone wants to join us. Becky correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought thats what we talked about. Hope to see some of you there!

I leave you with another sleeping picture. I just can't help myself! :)

Random thoughts

Ok so I have lots of random things. here goes.

1) Many of you know that the boys are attending VBS. Its has given me a couple of much needed hours to myself and been very relaxing while they get to learn all about God. At VBS they start off the day singing and end the day singing. This is the first year that the twins have been able to go as you need to be 4. They just made it! :) But last year we would go early and listen to the singing and such and they loved it. So today I went a little early, because to be honest...I missed hearing all the cute songs they sing. :) So I try to get a good spot on the side to watch and see if the boys are singing and dancing and it was so cute. How much they have grown and matured in a year. I am amazed at the energy these kids have and how excited they are for God! As I stood there I couldn't wipe the smile off my face...it was fantastic!! Oh...and by the way...the were about (i dont remember exactly but, ) 540 kids there!! AWESOME!!

2) I also realized today that it was a year ago this week that we felt God saying that we needed connection and so began our search for a new church home. Where we are today from a year ago is amazing as well. I have made some of the most wonderful friends and am grateful everyday for all of you! I love you all!!!

3) Not many of you know this, but I'm about to take a road trip to Alabama. Many of you do know that we canceled our family vacation because of gas prices so your probably asking yourselves if we changed our mind. No...we did not. I have a very close cousin of mine that had moved down there about 5 years ago. We were very close all our lives...we were like sisters as she had lived with me for most of our childhood. Well about 9 months ago she found out she had brain cancer. She has finished all of her treatments however the doctors haven't come through for her like they should. She still hasn't had an MRI (a little over a month later) and is very scared. She has no family down there and I have talked to her about moving back home. A little inside info, when having brain cancer you can only have radiation on your brain once. If done right it can work, but if it doesn't you can't have anymore. There is still a strong chemo that she can do, however with no family it would be very hard for her to take care of her two girls. So on Friday I am heading down to get her and her girls. They will be staying with us for a week or a little longer. As we have been trying to find her her own place, but until then she will be with us. I am making this road trip by myself (agh) as I have not been able to find anyone that can take off work to go with me. If we were to all go it would be a very crowded ride home with 8 people and alot of stuff. So I would love it if you would all keep me in your prayers on Friday as I am really nervous to make this drive by myself. I am trying to not let my fear get in the way of something that is going to be so good!! Also, eight people in one house can be challenging at times (Kara, if you have any suggestions I welcome them :)) so I am praying that all the kids get along (which her girls are 8 and 4..how cool) and we are able to find something suitable for her financial situation but comfortable as well. I am also believing God for a MIRACLE with her cancer!!!!! And praying for the right doctor to come along as well. :)

So we'll see some of you tomorrow for some fun strawberry picking and I'll be praying for good weather tomorrow!

:)

Water Walking

I'm not sure if many of you have heard of this, but last year a friend of mine and I did it and had a blast! Tropicanoe Cove has times throughout the week, usually in the early morning or late evening, where you can water walk. It is so much fun!! :) The pool is closed to the public and you walk the lazy river! I know...your probably thinking how much fun can that be? Seriously, its alot of fun! It gives a change of pace from your exercise routine and its easy on your body(or knees). I will tell you that I didn't think it would much of a workout. Seriously how hard can it really be to walk in water for 45 minutes? Man was I wrong! The kicker is trying to turn around and walk against the current...YEAH, what a workout! :)

Its $2 to do it, which is I think is pretty reasonable or you can buy a pass for the summer. I'm not sure how much that it, but I'm sure its on the website or I can look it up if anyone is interested.

We are thinking of going tonight so if anyone would like to join us it would be a blast! Or if anyone wants to go another day just let me know! I hope thats ok Becky that I just invited everyone!! :)

OK..so I'm off to do the dreaded bathing suit shopping! Yuck! Wish me luck! :)

Edit: These are the times that they offer the water walking. I will definitely be there tonight (if anyone wants to join with my short notice) and if anyone has another day that would work for them just let me know!

Monday - Friday 7:00-8:00am & 8:00-9:00am

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 7:15-8:00pm

Saturday 8:00-9:00am