10 years in the making

Matthew arranged for us to have our pictures taken professionally for our 10 year anniversary.  This is just 2 of my favorite pics.  My kids aren't babies anymore. 

 

Time Gone By

This time a year ago we brought Grandmaw home to our house after a weeks long stay at the hospital.  She was very weak.  In fact in the first week here we called 911 three times in the middle of night b/c she had fallen while going to the bathroom.  Each time we were right there with her but couldn't do anything to prevent it.  And we certainly couldn't get her up own our own.  She was very fearful and fought anyone who tried to help her up.  It was a week of no sleep and high anxieties.  It almost felt like we had brought home a newborn because she was very much dependent on us to do everything for her.

As Thanksgiving approached we were due to go Gatlinburg with my family like we've done every other year for the last 15 years.  She went back to the Brocks and stayed until mid January.  She's been with us ever since.

 In the last year we've made a lot of adjustments.  It hasn't always been easy but I know its been good for us.  Good for her.  The changes we've witnessed with her mind has been really sad.  Some days she's so confused and lost and others she's almost fine.  Every day is full of repeated questions.  Its definitely a test of patience.  But the lessons my family has learned have been worth it. 

James 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

10 years later

Next week Matthew and I will celebrate 10 years of marriage.  I hate to sound cliché but it really has been pure marital bliss.  We have grown on so many levels. I think it gets better every year!!! 

We're taking our first trip alone... we're going to Helen, Georgia and spending a few nights in a cabin that sits over a lake.  I'm looking forward to fishing and relaxing with my hubby.  We've never been to Helen but we hear its beautiful. 

First day of School

My Little Ones were excited about their first day of school!! Darcy is officially a 3rd grader and the boys are in 2nd!

Home Away from Home

We moved Jessica into her dorm on Saturday.  She's only about an hour away but it still feels to far for this momma.  She shares a dorm with 3 other girls.  She actually has her own private room but shares a bathroom with one other girl and the living space and kitchen is shared with them all. 

There's not a lot you can do with such a tiny space but I think we made the most of it.  Its very homey and has lots of decorations. 

She started classes today! 

Its been a busy month...

An emotional month too.  Earlier this month I sat with a friend at the hospital whose husband was having a finger amputated.  Some of you may remember Rocky.  I actually just spoke to his wife who is own her way to UAB right now b/c Rocky is in the ER.  Please remember to say a prayer for him. He continues to fight CF and all that it brings with it. 

Jessica turned 18 on the 18th.  We actually celebrated with friends and family this past weekend.  Its hard to believe that she's 18 and heading off to college.  She's excited and I'm excited for her but its going to be different around here without her.  We've been buying stuff for her dorm for weeks now.

New York New York

We had a great time in New York.  We saw all the things on our list and then some :)  Here's a recap of our trip.

We flew out of Atlanta and when we landed in New York we had a white limo waiting on us.  The limo was a nice break from the stuffy plane ride.  We arrived at our hotel The Belveder Hotel.  You'd think that on our first night there after a day of traveling that we might take it easy - heck no!  We hit the pavement and didn't stop till midnight!  We saw the M&M Store - 3 stories of all things M&M.  Then we made our way to the Hersey store (same concept as the M&M store).  I can't really remember which day we did what but here's all the things we did see....

M&M Store
Hersey Store
Toys R Us
Fao Schwarz
Lego Store
Statue of Liberty - we actually didn't go to Staten Island due to the hurricane damage
One World Financial Center
911 memorial
Diamond District
Central Park - we did a pedicab tour
Times Square - we stayed really close and were there every night
STOMP
Soho
Greenwich Village
Washington Park
Little Italy
Chinatown
Hoboken, NJ
Carlos Bakery aka Cake Boss
Empire State Building
Trump Tower
Freedom Tower
Today Show where we met Sarah Haines
Macy's
Google
Brooklyn Bridge
Coney Island where I rode the Ferris Wheel that scared me to death
High Line
NY Ink
NBC Studio Tour
attempted to see Jimmy Fallon

We also rode our share of subways and cabs. We also saw plenty of street performers and characters. We had a great time.  Everyone was polite and helpful.  It seemed a lot different than when I went back in 1997. 

Say What?

I love to look at houses... its just a hobby.  But I found one I really like and its close to our friends and our church.  I know most of you would say why move but did you read the last sentence?  As of now we're not close to either.  My family leaves 25 minutes north and our church and friends are 15 mins south.  I've always loved the bungalow, craftsman, older style home.  This one is waaaay below our budget but would require some fixing up.  I've not actually seen the inside of it but I'm hopeless in love with the outside.  The area is very charming.  Its within walking distance of shops, restaurants, parks, friends and church!!! 

Here's what I love about our house now.
My new kitchen - granite counters and new cabinets!
Huge bedrooms and plenty of closet space.
Great yard!!!
covered front porch

Here's what I'm not happy about.
My common area is very small.  The living room and kitchen are combined and its not big enough.
No dinning room.
No fireplace.

Here's a pic of the house I'm talking about... isn't it cute!!!! 

 

It has 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 fireplaces and a super cute porch.  The yard isn't as big but its got lots of big trees. I think I'm going to schedule a viewing.  It actually says it has the same square footage as our home now. 

The Almighty Mud Run 2013

I'm still pretty impressed with myself that I not only attempted this but finished it! It was the hardest thing I've ever done.  I still haven't taken off my bracelet that I got at the finish line.

 

I'm pretty sure I was mid sentence when this pic was taken :) 

 

Our group - Grace Runners

Chores!

I've been giving my little ones more responsibilities and chores lately.  I think they are more than capable to do a little a more around the house to help out.  We're almost all caught up on laundry and I've let them put it all away.  They've also been helping unload the dishwasher as much as they can.  And today they raked the yard and picked up sticks.  They've finally mastered cleaning their rooms but I can't get them to do it quick enough.  Darcy loves to dust and make beds.  She likes keeping things picked up.  The boys aren't as excited about doing things. 

I made a schedule for the kids to go by during the summer.  Its also a way to help me be more productive during the day.  We have a small amount of chores and the rest is things like table time, reading time, outside play, movie/rest.  This week I think I'm going to break out the slip n slide.  We also have a few play dates scheduled with some friends.  Trying to make the most of our summer!!!

I survived!!!

The last few days have been full of emotions.  Jessica graduated on Friday night.  She was salutatorian and I couldn't have been more prouder of her speech.  She cried and others cried with her.  It was a heartfelt speech. She left this morning with her classmates and one chaperone for Disney World. 

I am so proud of her.  She's a good kid.  I worry about her safety being in the real world but I have to trust God.  I've raised her well and she knows right from wrong but its not those things that I worry about. I worry about all the crazies out there that do harm to others.  I can get myself really worked up thinking about all the things out there that could happen and I know I should even entertain those things.

On Saturday morning I ran my first ever 5K... it was more than a race.... it was an obstacle course.  Its actually called The Almighty Mud Run.  It was one of the hardest things I've ever done physically and mentally.  But I did it.  I didn't quit.  I wanted to quit.  It was hard.   I cried but I pushed through it.  I swam through mud pits, submerged myself entirely at times to go under logs.  I swam a freezing cold lake.  I crossed over three sets of narrow balance beams over the cold lake and didn't fall of.  I climbed walls.  I went through barbed wire.  I faced my fear of heights on more than one obstacle.  I pushed myself like never before.  I had support from my husband and friends... they cheered me on and prayed me through.  It was TOUGH! But I'm sooooo glad I did it.  I'm glad I didn't quit when it got too hard.  I finished it.

Lions, Tigers and Bears!!! OH MY!!

Matthew and I are actually taking the kids camping at a real park - not our back yard!!!  I'm a little apprehensive b/c my bladder needs to be emptied several times throughout the night and I'm not too excited about walking to a bathhouse.  We're going at the end of this month and we will also be participating in a primitive archery competition while there.  I've been browsing pinterest for ideas and tips for camping. I have also spent most of my morning on the Camping World website looking at all sorts of fun things that will make this experience better. 

10 days until...

10 days until my daughter, Jessica, graduates from high school.  I can't even begin to explain all the emotions that I'm going through.  I'm excited for her but at the same time I'm extremely anxious about her being away from me.  She's been with me for half my life!  To think that she might not every "live" here again makes me sick.  Oh the emotions!!!! 

Thank you Jesus for Friends!!!

I do better when I'm around people... sometimes staying at home is great but for me I tend to get lonely.  However, I'm pretty pumped about the next few days for me!!!  Tonight we're having some friends over for dinner who happened to be our pastor and his family.  Thursday I have a pedi/mani date with a friend and Sunday - whew Sunday is busy.  My little ones are getting baptized AND I have a lunch date with an old friend.  Funny thing is she's not really an old friend... just someone I've known forever but b/c of FB we've actually become friends. 

At some point we've got to finish our garden.  We've done too much work not to finish it as this point!!!

Its Official

Jessica has made her choice - Auburn University at Montgomery!!!  She's very excited.  She was accepted to UAB, AUM and Troy early on but she wasn't sure where she wanted to go.  After visiting UAB I think she quickly decided that was not where she wanted to be.  We went to AUM last week and she immediately fell in love with the campus and everything there.  Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful.  It wasn't too big and it wasn't too small... perfect fit.  She's going to be living on campus.  The rooms are really small but she's not complaining... I guess I wasn't really aware of how small those living spaces are.... I've been told that those dorms are bigger than others.  Wow! 

Please continue to pray for her as she adjust to college life.  And as we finalize everything. 

Spring Breakin it!

We're in the middle of our Spring Break.  The little ones are acutally with Matthew's parents today.  So far we've had a pretty good week.  Monday and Tuesday was a bust but Wednesday we went to the park and met up with my mom and nephew.  Tomorrow I'm spending the day with the kids while my mother in law comes to sit with Gmaw. I've thought about taking them to a movie.  Other options are visiting different parks all day long :) and pump it up.  I'm hoping it warms up a little more.  Jessica spent last weekend and the first part of the week at the beach.  I was able to plan a last minute get away to visit my dear friend Staci in Mississippi.  It was a great weekend get away.  This weekend Matthew and I are spending Saturday with the kids - maybe planting a garden :)  Sunday is Easter and everyone is coming to our house to celebrate Easter AND the boys 7th birthday!!!!  I can't believe my boys are going to be 7!!!!!

Gearing Up from Spring Break

Our Spring Break is next week.  Jessica is going to be at the beach the first half of the week with a friend and on Wednesday all the kids have dentist appointments.  I'm hoping to squeeze something fun in at some point in the week just not sure what.  Maybe a movie or a day at the park... gotta figure it out and plan in advance so I can get someone to sit with grandmaw.

I remember when Spring Break used to be at the end of April... I think they should move it back!!!  Its too cold to really enjoy it. 

Keep on Keeping On!!

2013 is a big year!!! 

Jessica graduates and goes to college! 

Matthew and I celebrate 10 years of marriage in September!!! 

 

And because of these two important things I've decided that I AM REALLY GOING TO LOSE WEIGHT!!!  I've started jogging/walking.  My route is 2.4 miles but I like to say 2.5 miles b/c it sounds better.  I've always thought runners were cool so I'm trying really hard to become a runner.  Right now I'm more like a fast walker with a few jogs occasionally.  It feels great and though there's some tough times mentally - overall I really enjoy it. 

New York New York

Jessica is graduating in May and we are planning a trip to New York City!!!  My mom, sister and I are taking her to New York!!  How fun!!!  So far I've submitted a request for Jay Leno tickets and I have a reminder set for Jimmy Fallon and Kelly & Michael tickets.  We will definitely be making a stop by the Today Show one morning too.  I watch the Today Show every morning from 7 till 11am.

Now if we can only decide which Broadway performance to see!  Any suggestions? 

Have you been to New York?  Any must do's I need to ad to my list? 

CORRECTION!!!  Jay Leno isn't in New York City - hahahahaha

Updated

I'm trying to get back into the swing of blogging but so much has changed and I'm still trying to figure it out.  I have taken time to update my profile.  So much about me has changed since I last time filled that out.  I guess as I get older my likes and dislikes have changed - duh. 

A peek at Us

For Valentines Day Matthew arranged for a sitter for the kids and grandmaw.  He booked us a hotel room down town and we had dinner reservations.  It was a much needed break and a huge surprise. 

Darcy would not buy this hat!  I thought she looked adorable!!!  I couldn't even get her to smile for a picute!  Her favorite store is Clairs.

This is the day that it snowed in Alabama.  I told my kids I'd check them out of school when the first snowflake fail and I did.  They were so excited but it never stuck.  Still holding out hope for snow!!!

My baby is graduating this year.  I can't even talk about it without getting emotional.  This kid has been a part of my life for half of my life!!!!  Its hard to imagine her being off at college.  Its scary. 

shocked?

yes i'm blogging.... to tell you the truth i haven't had home internet in months b/c we use our iphones for everything but we recently decided to get home internet so we could try hulu and netflix.  i don't know if anyone checks this or not...

its been a year since i blogged last and so much as happened but i'll save you the loooong post. here's a few things you need to know.

jessica graduates in May and has decided to pursue a career in nursing.  she's going to get a 4 year degree and at the moment we think at UAB.

Darcy, Jacob and Jeremiah played Upwards basketball this year and really enjoyed it for the most part. 

Darcy is in 2nd grade and has been tested for the gifted program.  She's a little artist.  Always painting, drawing or some sort of craft.  She loves to be the teachers helper.  She loved basketball... and is already begging to play again next year. 

Jacob loves cars.  He still takes a handful where ever he goes. He's doing great in school as well.  He's a ladies man and likes to have all the little girls attention. He loved playing basketball.  He likes sports.

Jeremiah's teacher asked us very early on about the gifted program... he's actually a grade too young but they think he should be tested too.  He reads like his daddy.  He loves to play video games and we have to really watch his time or else he'll play all day.  He likes to take things apart and figure them out.

Matthew and I will celebrate 10 years of marriage in September.  We also welcomed his 90 year old grandmother into our home at the end of January.  She has Alzheimer's and it makes for interesting times.  She cannot be left alone so I spend my days watching Gunsmoke and other old tv shows.  Its been a huge adjustment but well worth it. 

Maybe I'll have more time to Blog... we'll see.