Girls Day Out

The other day, Stephanie took Taylor out of school (gasp!) so that we could have a girls day out. We had so much fun. We really didn't do anything spectacular. We went to lunch, to the park, stopped by the botanical gardens, and basically just putzed around Athens, but it was oh so fun!

Snapshot Saturday

FigNewTon, August 2005

We were in GA, playing at a park after having gone to Bear Hollow and feeding the ducks. Back then, there were two dawgs at that park. This time, we thought we were having the girls pose on the same dawg, but that dawg has been moved. So, here is the closest thing to a comparison shot you get. Not quite the same, FigNewTon was playing last time and posing this time. We took one of each girl, just to make sure we had the right one. Butterfly is on the left, Taylor in the middle, and FigNewTon on the right. :)

Silver and Gold

When I began blogging, I never imagined the sense of community that I would feel. I could not comprehend caring about and becoming friends with someone I had never met face to face. But the truth is, there are several of you that I count as my friends. I had the privilege to meet one of those friends face to face on Wednesday.

While on vacation, I am already 21 hours from home. On Wednesday, I drove 3 more hours to meet one of the most beautiful women I have ever known. I already felt like I knew Bethany, from her blog. I recognized her kids the moment we walked in. Her friend that came with her even seemed familiar.

I was so nervous. Almost like the new kid in high school. I was scared she wouldn't like me. Then, I realized we really did already know each other and that she already liked me. If she didn't she wouldn't have been willing to drive three hours to meet me.

We share so many interests. She loves to read, she loves to run, she is committed to her family, to being the best mom and wife she can be, and she loves God. It was easy to find things to talk about. Sometimes though, the conversation lagged, but it didn't seem awkward. It seemed like the comfortable silence between friends.

She blogged about the day as well. In my opinion, she did a much better job. You should stop by and read her post. Plus, she has pictures. I forgot my camera and cannot figure out how to download the photos she sent me.

Oh, and I am selfishly praying that when her husband gets transferred, he will be transferred to the base near my home. Then it will only be an hour drive to see her.

Thankful Thursday

I want to post about yesterday's adventure, but that will have to wait until tomorrow. It is, after all, Thursday. :)

What am I thankful for today?

I am thankful for nice weather. We have been enjoying being outside a lot lately.
I am thankful for friends, new and old, near and far, met in person and only here in blogworld.
I am thankful for vacations and the chance they give to relax and refocus.
I am thankful for washing machines, dryers, cars, refrigerators, computers, and all the gadgets that make daily life easier.
I am thankful for spell check, and whether or not you know it, you are thankful for it, too. I am a good speller, but a horrid typist. Almost every third word gets typed with the letters in the wrong order.
I am thankful for homeschooling.
I am thankful for sleepovers, manicures, make-up, movies, wii, and simply hanging out that my girls get to do with their friends.
I am thankful for running.
I am thankful for motivation.
I am thankful for cameras and the way they capture moments and memories that would otherwise be forgotten.
I am thankful for the ability to forget, because some things should not be remembered.
I am thankful for museums and waterfalls, ice skating and fast food restaurants, basketball games and playgrounds. All of these things have filled our last week, but there were too many adventures to blog about them all. My goal is to post about one a day until I am done, excluding Thursdays and Saturdays, of course.

What are you thankful for today?

Manicures

The girls gave each other manicures last night. They are all the same. If you notice, each nail is a different color. They painted their nails the colors of the wordless book. When people see all of the colors, they almost always comment or ask why each nail is painted a different color. This gives the opportunity to share a bit about our faith in God.

Some Days

Some days, I don't want to run. Maybe because it is raining or windy. Maybe because my legs ache from pushing myself so hard the day before. Maybe because my back is hurting or my head aches. But it doesn't matter. I put on my running clothes and go. Because I need to. When I run, I feel what I have set aside the day before because it was too difficult to deal with. When I run, I pray. When I run, I begin to breathe in the glory of God all around me and with that, joy and peace seep into my being. When I run, I begin to come alive. Running is what connects me to God.

Some days, I don't want to blog. Maybe the thoughts are so jumbled that I don't know how to connect them coherently. Maybe I am tired or sad and don't want to tell anyone. Maybe I am just busy with daily life. But it shouldn't matter. I need to blog anyway. When I blog, I bring sense to the thoughts that are jumbled inside my head and they no longer consume me. Blogging serves as a reminder of what I have accomplished, the fun things I have done with my girls, and what God is doing in my life. Blogging (and writing and talking and telling) is my lifeline to others. Blogging connects me to people.

Some days, I don't want to get out of bed. Maybe I am legitimately tired or sick. Maybe I am just overwhelmed with what is going on in my life. But I get up. I go running. Then I sit down to blog. And then I begin to come alive. I have the strength to face whatever the day has for me because I know that God is in control, that He won't let me go, and that He has plans for me. And because I know I am not facing things alone.

Some days, I forget to hit publish. :)

School Days

One of my favorite things about homeschooling the girls is that it is so flexible. If we are in a different state, that is OK; we just bring the schoolwork with us. An added bonus is that if the weather is nice, we can take the schoolwork outside and enjoy the sunshine.

Make-up Madness

The other night, the girls all decided to put make-up on each other - while they were blindfolded! It was hilarious. Here are the photo highlights of the evening. They were all such good sports. I really love the intensity of emotions shown on Butterfly's face.

Snapshot Saturday

A few weeks ago, I promised an updated picture of Jackie and my girls. Here it is. The girls switched sides this time with Butterfly on the left and FigNewTon on the right.

We are enjoying our times to sit and visit. I am just trying to fit in as many visits as possible. :)

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As an aside, I got behind on my blog reading. Of course, if I read your blog, you know that already because I wasn't commenting. Anyway, for now, I have two blog lists: those I have caught up on and am staying current with and those that I still need to catch up on. To avoid being on the computer all day, I am catching up on only one a day. The choice of whose blog to catch up on next is often random, but I promise you I will get finished. Please continue to give me grace. I think it may take me another week or two to catch up on what is going on in your lives. Know that I still pray for each of you daily. God bless.

Babyland General Hospital

We went to Babyland General Hospital today. The girls had fun, mostly because of the memories it represents. They have moved to a new and bigger building. In the end, I am sure this is going to be a good thing, but for now, it just looked like they had a lot of space to fill.

There were so few people there that when it came time to name the newborn doll, Butterfly was able to name it after herself. That has never happened before, even when we lived here and went all the time.

Do you see the t-shirt on the doll Butterfly is holding? It says, "I'm Queen (when Mom's not around)". Too true!

Thankful Thursday

What am I thankful for today?

beautiful scenery, blogging, car, Chick-fil-A, drawing pencils scratching paper, flexibility, games, grace, helpful friends, homemade necklaces, homeschooling, hospitality, ice cream cake, knitting needles clicking, local honey, medicine, my girls, music, obedience, phone, pictures, prayers answered, routine, running, safe travels, scrapbooks, sleep, the computer, time with friends, trampoline, vacations, warmer weather, Wii

What are you thankful for today?

Chick-fil-A

Yesterday, Stephanie asked me what I wanted to do for the day and I said,"Eat at Chick-fil-A!" This is one of my favorite places to eat. We don't have one in NE. I was looking around the restaurant at all the slogans and signs and I think I know why. NE is cattle country. I am not sure the cattle farmers would appreciate an establishment that has slogans such as "Eat More Chicken" when those signs are held by cows. Maybe one would survive in Bellevue, close to the AFB; and maybe in Omaha, but probably not in the farming towns. I wish there was a Chick-fil-A close to my home. I will just have to eat my fill while I am here. This isn't the greatest picture, but it is a fun one so I thought I would post it.

Running

For me, running is as necessary to life as breathing. Sometimes I forget this and then I let life circumstances rob me of the joy of running. For now, I have remembered and I am running again. When I run, I can think, dream, feel, remember, plan, and simply breathe in the creation of God all around me. Simply stated, I come alive again.

Is there anything so necessary to life for you that you are incomplete without it? For FigNewTon, it is ice skating. For Butterfly, it is drawing. What about you?

Having Fun

Butterfly took the pictures since she couldn't jump on the trampoline with us. We are having tons of fun. The weather is beautiful, although some of the locals are complaining that it is cold. :)

Travels

The drive was beautiful. The first five hours, I was driving through icy fog, which is beautiful in its own way. Then things were just blah driving through most of the rest of Friday. On Saturday, we saw some of the most beautiful scenery. In middle TN, the road has been carved out of rock, it goes straight through with the rock on either side towering above the road. In the summer, there is water cascading out of those rocks. Right now, that water is frozen. It is breathtaking. I drove in awe of God. I kept looking for a safe spot to pull over and take a picture, but there wasn't one. The only picture I got while we were traveling is this one in the north GA mountains.

Snapshot Saturday

June 8, 2002

Stephanie's wedding day.

We have arrived in GA safely. I will be splitting my time between visiting Stephanie and Jackie.

Thankful Thursday

What am I thankful for today?

I am thankful that we are going on our trip tomorrow. I am thankful that Butterfly's appointments are all done. I am thankful that my car is in good condition. I am thankful for the cleaning team at church, especially the ones who are doing some of my jobs while I am gone. I am thankful for my church. I am thankful that the girls are being so cooperative. I am thankful that I have gained understanding how to handle Butterfly's brain issues. I am thankful that FigNewTon is most often patient and calm with her sister. I am thankful for play-doh and music, slinky's and paper to entertain my girls in the car. I am thankful for friends who help and offer to help. Just knowing I can call them lifts so many of my burdens. I am thankful for nice weather predicted for our travels.

What are you thankful for?

Snapshot Saturday

July 2005

This is my girls with Jackie the last time we were able to visit. Within two weeks, I should have a more up to date picture of the same three beautiful ladies.

Missing

I have not been really good about blogging lately.

There is so much I am trying to get done in a very short period of time that I feel rushed and stressed and do not stop to think about this blog. It is in the background of my thoughts all day and when I have a minute, I stop to check on all of the people whose lives intersect mine through their blogs. When I relax for a moment, I pray for each of you. But the time constraints on my life right now prohibit me from putting energy and effort into regular posts. That should change soon.

I am also still in the funk that I wrote about a few times in the fall. That probably won't change soon. Usually, I can keep up with the blog posts in the midst of the funk, so right now I am blaming my absence on the things I must get done.

We are leaving for Georgia in eight days. As soon as we get home, literally, the yearly inspection of my apartment is scheduled. Everything must be perfect, every closet, every cabinet, and every window hanging. So, I am quite busy and pushed for time to get it all done in the next eight days. Plus I scheduled six weeks of doctor appointments for Butterfly in the two weeks before we leave. And, of course there is packing and getting the car ready to travel. OK. So I am guessing you have an idea of how crazy I am going with all that there is to accomplish in only eight more days.

I miss blogging. I miss interacting with you through posts and comments. I will be back. Soon.

Thankful Thursday

What am I thankful for today?

I am thankful that the music on my blog is working again.
I am thankful that we have a really good Goodwill here. I find clothes for $1, shoes for $3, and various other things really cheap.
I am thankful that I am healthy, that we are all healthy.
I am thankful for sunshine.
I am thankful for creativity.
I am thankful for friends.
I am thankful that I get to go to GA to see some people who mean a lot to me.
I am thankful for flexibility.
I am thankful that the girls are homeschooled and therefore we can take an extended trip in the middle of the school year. Their school work can go with us and they are not missing out on anything, rather they are gaining educational experiences I could not give them here.
I am thankful that the girls are being relatively cooperative in all of the chaos of getting ready to go.

What are you thankful for today?

Snapshot Saturday, er, uh, I mean Sunday

September 2001

Butterfly, age 6

I love the hair! It was entirely her idea. And she looks so happy in this picture.