what we do

A few nights ago daddy decided to grill hotdogs. I like to think that he is grilling them on OUR grill by OUR pool. I guess for now it is OURS! So what do we do while he is grilling? Streed rides his scooter around the pool deck. (DISCLAIMER: I know it sounds dangerous. It is not as bad as it seems). Ella rides her big wheels around the same pool deck. (UMMM...this is as dangerous as it sounds). Nate walks around, sits on the lounge chairs, gets close to the pool, gets in trouble, yada yada. He's 2!

And I...take pictures with my NEW CAMERA!!! I have waited YEARS for this. I was about to send it back yesterday and get a new one because of a few minor issues. But, I stayed up late reading a lengthy review (Olympus e-620). They agreed with my same observations but pointed out other things that I had not taken the time to learn yet. So, today I am more patient and really diving into the manual.

PS-Yesterday we were out there again. One of the girls from the office came out and told me that they really were not supposed to ride or have toys out by the pool. And if they did it again that something else would be said. I was in shock and God held my tongue. I wanted to say, "Exactly what does that mean? You are going to kick us out?" I got really sad because there is no where to play here at the apt. I could drag all three kids and three riding toys up to the parking lot for them to ride by the cars. (We live on the bottom floor but you have to walk down twenty stairs from the parking lot to get to our apt. It's hilly here) This is really my biggest beef with apartment living--it is not kid friendly. Anyway. We are here and will just be making the most of it.

Just put your feet in

Why do I waste my breath? The dynamic duo hears what I say kind of like the teacher on Charlie Brown. That has to be the case. Surely they would not disobey in front of my face...as I take countless pictures of how cute they are in their moment of weakness. I mean, what 2 and 3 year old can resist a pool on a sunny hot day in May.

Boo Boo got a boo boo

Chip and the kids were running into the apt as the tornado sirens were screaming. Ella then started screaming. Chip kept telling her just to come inside. He did not see her fall. He soon figured it out. This was the result of her wipe out.

year 32--psalm 32

Since I did not start the calendar year off with a bang as far as reading my bible I figured I could start over with this year of my life. I got up this morning at 5:45 and read in Psalm 32 since I am now 32 and also in Proverbs 4 since today is the 4th.

Psalm 32
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is not deceit.
For when I kept silent , my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Therefore everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.
You area hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.
Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

2 weeks in

I feel like we have been here for 2 months. I don't know why. It is not bad. It is beautiful and most everyone is super friendly and helpful. I have pictures uploaded to my computer (our old family computer) but Chip's work computer is the only one that can get online at the moment. long story. I think it just feels like we left Baton Rouge a long time ago and that we have been here for a lot longer than we have because we have done a lot in the past 2 weeks. We have been to 2 soccer practices, 2 soccer games, a t-ball practice and a t-ball game, 4 different church services, 2 church intro classes, a national park, lunch at a new friends house on Easter, another new friends house for dinner, a bible study, a park playdate, looked at countless houses and eaten out a lot. oh and had a round of the stomach bug that went through all three kids. WHEW! I am tired!

Although we are keeping busy and loving the beautiful scenery, we miss everyone much!!! We still know we are doing the right thing. Oh yea, this is mainly what the kids and I have been doing. Chip too has been extremely busy but loving his new calling.

Fellowship Bible Church

We are in the process of getting to know churches. This church came highly recommended by those we respect in Baton Rouge. Last week was our first time to go. I was emotional from the get go. People are so happy to be there, they are helpful and kind. The kids area is amazing. The lady beside me was in her 60s and belting out praises to a contemporary hymn. People of all ages were there serving and worshipping and taking notes. And then the sermon started. And it was about "Doing Life as a Team". And how the church started by a few couples who were on staff together with a college ministry. Ahhh! And then the flood gates opened. It is a really encouraging story if you have time to watch. If you click on the link below, it will pull up an archive of all the sermons. Once you choose the sermon, you can choose to listen or watch. I would watch.
Fellowship Bible Church - Sermons & Media

here i am

I do not have internet at the apt. So, since chip is home till 7:45 this morning I hopped up and headed to chick-fil-a for breakfast and internet. i am being blessed by christian music playing overhead. i asked the manager if there was always music playing. i am usually only at a chick-fil-a at lunch and you cannot hear a thing. anyway, we started out the week (last wed) with unpacking. we hit the high points and then road around looking at a suburb. This turned into our pattern for the past week. Chip left on Sunday night for a 4 day trip. He is leaving at 7:45 this morning for the day. Gone are the days when he would take the day off after a trip. He is spending the day with a fire fighter and then putting the finishing touches he has on a presentation for a meeting Monday night at a volunteer dept. There is much to say just no time to download pics or say it. Streed is playing soccer and t-ball. We (the kids and I) are going to Community Bible Study on Wed mornings in one of the suburbs. This is where the girls go that I was "getting to know" over email before we moved. People here are very nice. It is the South. There are churches on every corner. There are probably 3 that we will visit. We shall see....

march madness

this was a fire right off the interstate in Birmingham. we made it through just before they shut down the interstate. not to be confused with the Sunbelt Fire field day.
the kids looking at some kind of equipment that pumps water out of ponds in the event of a rural fire.
playing at Hope and Billy's
Visiting The Ayers
the cousins
the baby brothers crashing the party
dying eggs with our buddies
lunching with some sweet ladies from church. they did a lunch for me after bible study and wrote me sweet notes and blessings/prayers for the move
ella with her sweet friends catching loads of beads
a picture of a truck that was hit by a sober 16 year old driver. i think he had his license for 6 days when he hit a PARKED fire truck! chip had to take pictures of the damage.
our new dining room and kitchen. whoo hoo!

i was uploading pictures to the computer today, mostly so we could sell a few things on craigslist. but, as the pictures were loading i realized we did a lot in the month of march and it ain't over yet. there was a trip to cullman, a sunbelt fire field day where new friends were made, a short stop in birmingham to see old friends, trips to mobile, birthday parties, easter parties, going away parties, a fabulous st patrick's day parade, a trip to little rock for chip, a lease signed on an apartment...and that's just what we have documented by photos



next week i will be able to add: packed up a house, closed on a house, said good bye to dear friends, drove an insane distance with three kids, moved to arkansas and moved into an apartment

i am telling myself and others that i am moving but i swear it is not sinking in. i am delusional.

my pretty

here and there and everywhere

Chip has been gone Monday thru Friday for about 6 weeks. He was home a total of 4 days in February. Currently we are in Mobile for my grandmother's 80th birthday party. The kids and I are heading home today. We close on our house on March 30th--a week from Tuesday. "Here and there and everywhere" is how we have been both physically and emotionally (and kind of like this blog post). Because of this crazy training time for Chip I am ready to go ahead and move just so we can be back together as a family. The kids are really struggling with him being gone so much. It is very wierd for me to think about really moving away from Louisiana. This is where we have lived married and where all of our kids were born. I feel really out of touch with reality. For the first time ever we have movers and packers. So, my house is not boxed up yet. This has been challenging for my brain. I know I am moving in a week but it does not look like it at my house. But, there is much organizing yet to be done before the movers show up next weekend. I have been going through closets and making multiple trips to the Goodwill. I have to organize what is going to the apartment and what is going to storage. Off we go. My internet has been down at home. I have had much to say lately but no technological outlet in which to say it.

We sang this today at church. I felt it was appropriate.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness
Drive the dark of doubt away
Giver of immortal gladness
Fill us with the light of day