Abbye turned 3!

I’m a little late, but my oldest turned 3 on September 23, 2006!  (But with five extra people living in our about 1,000 square foot home, I didn’t have the time or space!! =)  … )  

I can’t believe that Abbye is 3 years old!!  I remember her waking me up with contractions EARLY in the morning.  I thought for several hours that I need to just go back to sleep.  However, I couldn’t!  I woke Matt up and hopped in the shower.  Matt tried to go back to sleep, but it didn’t work for him either!  He watched ESPN and timed my contractions until they were five minutes apart.  Then we drove quickly to the town where our hospital was.  Since, I had been sitting my contractions had slowed down.  So, we joined quite a few elderly people walking around the mall, which is only open to walkers at that time in the morning!  It was very easy to tell that we were the topic of their conversations that morning!!  When my contractions became closer together, we went to the hospital.  As soon as I could, I started walking again.  I walked until I couldn’t any more!!  (I didn’t want to take any drugs – better for the baby and for me!)  It was around 11:00 am when Matt and I headed back to the room, since the nurse wanted to check me.  That’s the same time that I was finding it very very hard to walk!  Matt was wonderful during all of this.  He helped me remember to breath and stay calm!  My mom counted through the contractions to remind me that they would end.  And Matt’s mom was ready with the camera to take pictures as soon Abbye was born.  Then Abbye was born at 12:45 pm!  Wow!!  What a miracle!  I can’t believe anyone can go through pregnancy and birth and not believe in God or the sanctity of life!  =)

Now, Abbye is full of energy and smiles.  She’s very very verbal!  It’s not that she just talks all the time, but she says things and uses words that you don’t expect to come from such a young child.  (And they’re in the right context!)  She’s so beautiful with big brown eyes and a very expressive face…no, not just face…it would be “very expressive body” since she uses all of her!!  =)  She loves to read, to watch Andy Griffith, to play, to color, to help with anything I’m doing, and to dress up.  She tells me all the time that God is in her heart!  When she’s “reading” her Bible she says “When God loves, God loves me” and “Let’s pray for God.”  During Abbye’s dedication our previous pastor, Pastor Jerry, said that she would be a voice to her generation!  That is what we are praying for our little princess!!  =)

Abbye, Daddy and I love you!!

Pregnancy Update!

We had a sonogram appointment last Tuesday (9/19/06).  We are expecting a girl!!  =)  That will make three girls!

I really like the name Ella.  Matt likes Emma.  However, we don’t agree with each other.  We’ve decided on the name Elizabeth.  (Unless God changes Matt’s mind about Ella!)  We’re still looking for a middle name.  It’s got to be short, since Elizabeth is long.  Kay and Joy are names that we’re thinking about using.  As suggestions?

Listen to This Awesome Song!!

http://www.timmcgraw.com/video-mylittlegirl

I dedicate this song to Matt who is not only a wonderful husband, but an awesome daddy. 

 ”Matt, Abbye and Hannah are blessed to be your little girls!!  We love you!” 

Let’s Live a Life with NO Regrets!!

Live so that you can look back without regret!

     Here lately that statement has been in my mind and in my heart.  What would our lives be like if we made the most of our time with the Lord, with our spouse, with our family, and with our friends?! 

     As I was cooking lunch, I noticed Matt’s state trooper magazine.  On the cover was a picture of a young man who was killed recently (and not too far from here) on the line of duty.  A couple months after he died, his first child was born.  The baby was a boy and was named after his daddy.  I thought of the young widow with a new baby to raise by herself.  (Please lift up that family in your prayers.)  Does she look back with regret or rejoicing for the time, though short, that she shared with her husband.  Does she think, ”I wish I would have appreciated, loved, cared for, shared with…him more!”  Or does she say, “Thank you, Father, for giving me the wisdom to choose everyday to love and respect him with my whole being!”

     God, I want to choose everyday (because it is a choice not a feeling) to love You, Matt, my girls, my family, and my friends with all that I am…without regret, without holding back, and without expecting anything in return.  Amen!!

Blessings Book Club

Remember, fellow readers that we are meeting tommorrow morning to discuss Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis.  Our next book, picked by Corinna, will be Like Dandelion Dust by Karen Kingsbury.

This is from Karen Kingsbury’s website about this book.  “It’s the emotional story of an adoptive couple that tragically learns that the birth mother who gave up her son four years earlier has changed her mind. A forged signature on the paperwork makes it seem possible that they will lose their son, Joey, maybe forever. Like Dandelion Dust is the story of a mother’s passion, and the lengths a couple is willing to go to, all for the love of a child. This is the book that spurred my songwriting efforts with the lead singer of the country hit group, Lonestar. I’m not sure when the song will release, but the book is a very emotional journey! I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!”

Where were you…?

Yesterday, September 11, 2006, was the fifth year anniversary of 9/11.  I can’t believe that it has been five years.  The question I heard the most yesterday was “Where were you when you hear the news?”  So, I thought that’s what I would share with you.

I was in a small town’s high school where I was teaching Algebra.  It was my first year of teaching.  My classroom was located across from a coach’s history classroom.  As I was standing outside of my classroom in between classes he came over and said that one of the Twin Towers had been bombed.  My first thought was “Is this a joke?”  I do know some coaches who are stupid enough to try to be funny like that (I’m not being rude to coached, but that was just my experience!), however this guy wasn’t like that!  

I went back in my class and turned on the TV.  Sure enough, we had been attacked!!  Wow!  We didn’t get a lot done that day in class.  Our principal and assistant principal were gone that day.  Our counselor was handling everything.  What a day to be the principal, assistant principal, andcounselor!  A couple of hours later he made an announcement.  He asked everyone to turn off the TVs and try to get something done!  I know that we didn’t get much done, but I do think it was wise so that the kids weren’t being bombarded with this again and again in every class.  We had more discussions than we solved any algebraic equations!  Also, quite a few kids were pulled out of school by their parents.

That’s really all I remember.  I don’t remember dealing with it at home or discussing it with Matt.  However, I could still point you to the spot where I was standing when I first heard the horrible news.

God bless the United States of America!!

Check out Corinna’s Post…

You Can’t Deny the TRUTH!

Quote from E. Stanley Jones

A Prayer for the Journey 

O Christ, do not give me tasks equal to my powers, but give me powers equal to my task, for I want to be stretched by things too great for me. I want to grow through the greatness of my tasks, but I shall need your help for the growing.

E. Stanley Jones

What a Wonderful Day!

I wrote a great post, but when I tried to post it, it disappeared!  How very annoying!!  I considered not even worrying about trying to write it again.  However, I really enjoyed yesterday and wanted to share it!  =)_________________________________________________________

After Matt got home from work, I ran some errands.  Normally we like to pack up the girls and head out together, but I didn’t suggest it this time and neither did Matt.  I think I just needed a little time by myself.  Matt probably wanted to make sure he was ready for his fantasy football draft that was occurring that evening.  I needed to run some book club books (Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis) by some friends, return a library book (Found by Karen Kingsbury), drop off some clothes at a consignment store, and make a deposit at the bank.

My first stop was taking Corinna’s book to her.  I had not seen her in awhile, especially since book club took a break for the summer.  She allowed me to interrupt her busy day of the paperwork side of the self-employed!!  Thank you, Corinna!  I really enjoyed talking to you! 

Next I dropped of the clothes and then the library book.  Outside of the library I ran in to another dear friend, Alice.  We haven’t seen each other in awhile, so had a good chat.  It’s wonderful getting caught up with people you love!  Thanks you, Alice, for putting your boys on hold to chat with me!!

The bank was my next stop.  The teller went on about how adorable my girls were (she just saw us in McDonalds at lunch) and gave me some candy to take home to them.  After that I dropped another book club book off at Cheryl’s house.  She was rearranging, cleaning, and trying to get ready for family coming.  We visited a little, but I could tell that she was anxious!  Cheryl, I hope your weekend goes well, especially as you enjoy your little granddaughter!!  (Everyone please keep Cheryl’s health in your prayers.  Thanks!)

My last stop was at a new friend’s house.  Lisa and her sister (who’s family is living with them until they find a house) are new to this area and especially new to living in a small town!!  The last time I talked to them they were looking for things to do.  So, I took a book club book to them.  They can check out the book and come September 15, which is the date of the next meeting, to see if they are interested.  Also, I attend a Connection Group at our church on Thursday mornings.  I took them a couple copies of the chapter that we are discussing next week.  Lisa, the book club and the connection group would love for you and your sister to come!!

Then I went back home.  Now that may not sound so wonderful to you, but I truly enjoyed it!!  I normally don’t see that many people in one day.  Also, it’s always wonderful to see and visit with friends you don’t get to see often!!!

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Hopefully this will finally work!  I’ve lost it a couple more times!!