One For The Books..

Daniel has been working like crazy lately. Last week he was gone Sun night and Mon night. Then home for tues and wed. Then left first thing thurs morning for a work golf tournament. He finally got home Sunday night. He decided not to set his alarm clock for Monday morning..which I thought was a little odd. We slept til 8ish and while feeding everyone breakfast, he decides "let's go to the zoo!" Asheboro is 1.5 hours away, and you know I have to have everything planned out. This was so sudden! But since Daniel had been gone so long and since he won some money in the golf tournament, and since it was going to be 75 degrees that day...why not. We made lunches, showered and were at the zoo by 11:30. We called our realtor and told her not to drop the price yesterday like we had planned and to wait and do it today. (The house was a wreck and when we drop the price and create a new listing, we always have traffic.) There was hardly anyone there and it was perfect. The most enjoyable, memorable family experience to date. The girls were in the double stroller. And I didn't have another stroller b/c my umbrella stroller was left in my mom's car. So Caleb walked and rode daniel's shoulders...faith rode the stroller and daniel's shoulders too. We walked from 11:30-4:00. The best workout I've had all year! And I know what you're thinking *gasp..did she really let the kids miss their nap?* Yes I did..the first time ever. And they don't sleep in the car, so we're talking zero sleep. Selah too. She slept the last 20 minutes at the zoo and that's it...ALL DAY! They did phenomenal..so we pressed our luck and decided to stop by On the Border on the way home. I could not have been more pleased. Seriously, they were wonderful..no meltdowns whatsoever! So this will go down in the books for best day ever..so far! Finally I feel like my plan to have kids so close together is paying off. Selah is finally getting old enough where we can do things together with alot being predictable. And without packing the kitchen sink with us! Two years from now will be awesome..I'm hoping! Heck, we may even get season passes to the zoo :)

Old Faithful

So today I pulled out a pair of jeans that my mom bought for me back in 2000 I think. I remember it clearly...she took Jonathan (my brother) and I to Greensboro to emerald point water park. And it rained..so we went shopping. I got these jeans at Express. Funny how you remember weird stuff like that. Okay..so I'm probably the only one who remembers crazy details. Anyway I love these jeans. Granted, they don't fit quite the way they used to..not to mention they're a little highter waisted than my current jeans, but I love them. As long as I have a shirt to cover the waist, they still look up to date! I began to think about what these jeans and I have been through. I remember back in 2003 when Daniel and I moved into the house we built in Wake Forest, my Papa and I planted all the landscaping...and I wore these jeans. I think we planted 20 trees that day along with some other stuff around the house. I got them so dirty that I knew they were ruined. But spray n wash can do wonders. Then I remember wearing them as I was holding my step dad's hand as he passed away into eternity. The first time I ever witnessed someone go from this life to the next. It was to date the most spirtual moment I have ever encountered. I felt the actual presence of God come into their den that day. The holy ghost was so real in that moment, that words cannot describe it.

So these jeans are my old faithfuls. I wore them today to take selah to her 9 month appt. I paired them up with some heels and their like a new pair of jeans!
I began thinking about the correlation between these jeans and God. God, like these jeans, is a part of our defining moments in life. It's up to us if we want to wear them, just like it's up to us if we want to wear not only the label of being a Christian, but to actually walk the walk in these jeans. Now obviously I can't wear these jeans everyday, but I can choose to walk in the spirit daily. Not once in a while, or whenever it's convenient, or whenever it's the "cool" thing to do. Walking in the spirit takes discipline...just like it's gonna take me to stay in these jeans. Which by the way, are not my skinny jeans. Those are yet to be touched :) And discipline is hard..but it's all about keeping the end in mind..which will be another post!

ps- selah is 19.5 lbs (50%)
29 inches (80%) and doing great!

This and That

Major Milestones for the record (so I can look back and read this later)...Faith is almost potty trained. She's done great this weekend! M&M's are the ticket! She's babbling like crazy, saying new words daily, and has become quite affectionate. In this house, all my kids will probably have physical touch as their #1 love language, simply because I can't keep from hugging and kissing them..ALL the time! They fight over who gets to be held first...to the point of tears. I took Selah's paci away today..we'll see how tonight goes..."think long term...think long term"..okay..I'm motivated now.

I read 2 new books in a week, which is pretty good for me. I just couldn't put them down. Crazy Love by Francis Chan..and Forgotten God. Both these books are so awesome. I will forever be a better person just from reading them.. they are thought provoking and eye opening. Forgotten God touches on issues that have been burning within me for almost a year now. It's so good to see in print what I've been feeling. Makes me feel less crazy :)

Guess I should go now...selah's not taking this whole "no paci" thing very well..figures this is her bedtime for the night.

Piano Lessons!

Hey everyone! Please check out www.leinostudios.com My friends Jordan and Patience have started a business of piano lessons and Jordan also does graphic design. He's pretty much all the graphics for C3 church and it's amazing. So if you need a website done, t-shirts designed, invitations, etc contact Jordan! He's also been the worship leader and it never ceases to amaze me how he can do it all..piano, guitar, drums..all without any sheets of music! I don't think I've ever seen him with any paper in front of him..come to think of it! And I can't leave out Patience..she should start teaching singing lessons :) Her voice is that of an angel and she has the most unique way of bringing you into God's presence. You don't run across worship leaders like her every day!

Exciting News!

Okay--not really that exciting to anyone but me. But I still thought I'd share. I miss alot about where we've lived before. And in Jacksonville I miss Holly :0), Celebration Church, Kerri's bible studies on Thursday mornings..(even though I only got to go a handful of times), indoor rock climbing at the Y (even though I only went once..but I've always wanted to go back!)..and finally...TIJUANA FLATS!Oh yeah, and the beach, and our house and yard..ok back to tijuana flats.. I've been waiting (not so patiently) for them to open one up here. It's a mexican joint that we literally used to go to every sunday after church! And while in FL I was preggo with caleb and craved mexican..and so of course he loves it. The best thing on the menu...chocolate chip chimichangas! Daniel has managed to successfully make these at home, but even he says they're not quite as good as the restaurants. And if you've never been and you go...you'll probably be let down. And if you already have one in your town, then you probably don't appreciate it. I have lots of fond memories tied to it besides food..maybe that's why I love it so much :)
Funny confession: as I'm writing this and salivating about food, biggest loser is on in the background..oh well!

What's up

I went to my first MOPS meeting today. Finally..you'd think I would have gone before now, but it just always got pushed aside. The good thing is that it's at our church so the kids just think it's another sunday and they're very familiar with everything. In other news, the offer did not work out. I could say more, but to avoid getting red in the face I won't.
I had a xango meeting Friday night. That went well. I can not believe how awesome this product is. I started using it a year and a half ago (all of us) and it got rid of faith's eczema. Hadn't seen it since until I ran out of juice recently, and got off schedule and she did without it for 2 weeks. Her eczema returned for the first time in a year and a half! So we're back on it, and I'm using the all natural non toxic skin care called glimpse on her and after 5 days..gone. Amazing! They just came out with mineral makeup so I can't wait to try that. And if any of my readers go to C3, I will have a booth at chick nite on oct 11th. I don't get excited about much. It takes a lot to get me to cheer. For those who don't know me well..I'll go ahead and fill you in..I'm by nature a pessimist and I hated cheerleaders growing up. UGGG..so nerve wreckin! No offense to any cheerers out there :) So for me to rave about a product is huge.
Daniel is building his first pergola for the southern ideal home show this coming weekend. He hopes to sell it and get orders for more. He's never built one before. But he's a genius so you know he'll get it done. I'll try to post pics of the completed project!
I'm so happy connect groups are back for the fall! Thursday mornings Martha has one at the church with childcare! Come on somebody-that's a big deal! Childcare :) Then our couples one is Thursday nights. I hate being bored. The more I have going on the better!
Guess I should go start on the 20 loads of laundry I have to do..so daniel can have some clothes to take to charlotte tomorrow!

Long Time-- No Blog

Well I'm back. After an eventful 2 weeks I am back. Daniel came home a couple weeks ago from a business trip with a sore thoat and cold...and of course, before it manifested itself he had slobbered and kissed all the kids..So one by one, they all got it. Faith first..along with teething. Then Selah..then Caleb. So I didn't sleep through the night for 2 weeks. UGGHH! Selah's fever was almost 103 at one point. Good thing she's the third. It was 11 at night. I gave her a bath, sent daniel for some meds and really wasn't all that worried..weird. We had an offer on our house..but it was contingent...and their house wasn't really priced to sell. And yesterday we had another offer. We have since countered and so we'll see what happens. Trying to keep this house clean is enough to drive anyone to take a long walk off a short bridge. Hopefully I'll have some more news later. But for now that's the update. I must go put all three of my youngins down for naps..YIPEE!!