The Easons

Beautiful Boy

2012-01-21T13:38:00.000-08:00

Amelia Kai - my niece

So, I have to admit - since I learned that Jacob (my ~~bratty~~ baby brother) and his wife Kate are expecting again, I've been daydreaming about what they would have. So when I got a text this week saying that it's a BOY, I was ecstatic! I'm going to have a nephew!! My SIL comes from a strong Japanese heritage, and you can see that in Amelia Kai's coloring and features (that's her in the above picture - isn't she adorable?!). I'm so curious to see what their little boy will look like and to know the name they will choose for him. But above all else, I'm curious to see the plans God has for him. This little boy will be very loved and prayed over. :-)

Sweet Caroline

2012-01-21T13:10:00.000-08:00

For those of you who faithfully prayed for my sweet friends daughter, I thank you from the bottom of my heart! Shannon keeps a blog and has recently begun updating again - you can click on this link to read up on the many ways God is working in their lives. Again, thank you for your prayers!

Success...or lack therof

2012-01-05T19:06:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. What is success?? Because if I'm being honest with myself (and with everyone who reads this), than I'd admit that I do NOT feel successful most days. In fact, I often feel like I'm failing, despite putting my best efforts in to each day!

Just when I go to pat myself on the back, the kids will start bickering, or I'll see sharpie markers on yet aNOTHer wall, or I'll realize I didn't fold the laundry quick enough and every stinkin' shirt is wrinkled, or I'll lose my temper with the kids and find myself needing to apologize, or I'll remember I haven't opened my bible in a week, or I'll realize I was an awful friend by forgetting a b-day or by failing to check on someone who was sick.....oh yeah, trust me, I eat humble pie all. day. long.

I'm sure all of you reading don't feel successful each day. In fact, I know you don't because I occasionally hear you sharing your own sense of failure. But, after a LOT of observation and a LOT of thinking...what I'm finding is that success isn't in how your life turns out....but rather, it's in how you deal with what life gives you. Success is in your attitude and in the way you approach each day. Success is found in saying to each mountain that you come up against that no matter how tall it is - you won't stop climbing. Success isn't necessarily in beating the odds, or in beating the cancer, or in finding your soul mate, or gritting your teeth and holding your marriage together, etc...life happens - we can't control it all, true?...(yes America, I realize that's borderline blasphemy!) So, most days, we have to take what life throws our way and just KEEP CLIMBING!

Jonathan Edwards said: "The way to Heaven is ascending; we must be content to travel uphill, though it be hard and tiresome, and contrary to the natural bias of our flesh.” (I feel the need to insert here that I'm not a huge fan of this man, but sure do agree with this post.) Notice he doesn't say there's going to be a downhill?? Notice he doesn't say it's going to get easier?? I am beginning to understand that America has fooled themselves in to thinking that we can and will be successfull if we can a)find our "perfect partner" b)create 2.5 children (whatever that means!), and c)out buy the Joneses!! What if your life is successful simply because you found Jesus and accepted that you need him? What if true success is by letting His light shine through your life and blessing others? What if true success is in halting a vicious cycle in your family and raising a generation of children who know and love the Lord? What if success is in doing your best and allowing God to do the rest??

I want to be successful in everything I do, but then reality sinks in and I KNOW I will fail at many things. So, if I could choose which area's to succeed, this would be my list:

1)I pray my children love the Lord and that Christ in them would shine brightly. "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Matthew 22:36-39

2)I pray Chad and my marriage is an example to them...not of fairytales coming true, but of forgivness and patience...unfailing love and continued acceptance. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for each other.” 1st John 3:16

3)I pray that my friendships will hold true, no matter how busy life gets or how many different directions we are all pulled...I pray forgiveness and grace will abound in those relationships! “Let us encourage one another —and all the more as you see the day approaching” -Hebrews 10:25

4)I pray that I will bless the people who come in my life and vice versa. “As far as it be within you be at peace with all men.” -Hebrews 10:24

5)I pray God will grant me wisdom (oh please, Lord!!) with each passing day. "My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God." -Proverbs 2:1-5

6)I pray for a more compassionate heart towards others that I just don't understand. And it would sure be nice if that same compassion could be returned to me....Lord knows I need it. :-) “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:36-38

In my book, that would be success.

We love the Wii!!!

2012-01-04T11:49:00.000-08:00

Sorry. Was that too corny of a title? ;-) Well, it's true. And if you knew Chad and I, you would know that saying that is a HUGE confession. We fought purchasing the Wii (and many other electronic devices) for Y-E-A-R-S! Shepherd is our "veg" child...he'd sit on the couch and watch t.v. all day if we'd let him...he'd also sit and play the computer, or read, or play nintendo all day if we'd let him. He's our child who would cry (literally) if we make him go play in our backyard. Yes, the same back yard that we spent THOUSANDS of dollars on making it a kids haven. I'll admit to forcing him outside and locking the door to keep him out there....eventually he'll find himself having the time of his life, but it takes a good 10 minutes before he realizes he's not in a torture chamber! Sorry, got off track. Anywhoo, after several years of Shep thinking that every other family was way cooler than ours because we apparently lived in the stone age, Chad found a great deal on a Wii at a garage sale. I'd like to add too that he scooped it up without asking me (I would have said an emphatic NO if he'd asked!). Regardless, he set it up and it has changed things around here. The kids LOVE the sports games (as do Chad and I) and we find ourselves laughing hyserically as we play Tennis, Golf, and Baseball. Mario Cart and Mario Bro.'s has also become hits in our home! The other night, one of Chad's clients came to stay with us and he and Chad wound up playing Wii all. night. long! It was hysterical...those guys were actually SWEATING! And, I have to admit, Chad and I have found ourselves on the couch playing the Wii a few nights after putting the kids in bed....it's ridiculous, I know - but it's good family fun! :-)

Touched

2011-12-29T16:08:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I CRAVE fellowship with others....I may be a true introvert and may cherish my quiet time at home with my books and my family, but if I did that all day every day, loneliness would consume me! Some of us are married, some are single, but no matter if we have a spouse or not, I believe we were each made to truly need someone. Even Paul (one of the greatest missionaries/evangelists of all times) was single, but had the gift of the Holy Spirit to aid him, as well as the fellowship of believers in nearly every city he travelled to who embraced and welcomed him....who lifted his spirits and blessed him with deep rooted connections in the short time he would stay with them. Our front door has been a daily reminder to me this christmas season of how truly important connecting with others is. With each card that arrived in the mail, our family received updates on loved ones and images of children who are growing (btw: could you please tell your precious children that Mrs. Lindsey said to STOP THAT????!!!!). It's been an incredible blessing to connect with all of you and I'm so thankful you thought of us. In fact, we took all of our Christmas stuff down yesterday (sigh), but the cards remain....not sure how long they'll stay, but for now, I'm just not ready to take down all of your beautiful smiling faces!!!

This year, one of the biggest blessings was a gift that Jenny (Chad's sister) gave on behalf of Shepherd, Rauly and Lillie Anna. For Christmas, she purchased two soccer balls for a community of children, 3 ducks for a family, and a bunny for another family. We aren't sure which country these gifts were going to, but we know that the community and families receiving these gifts will GREATLY appreciate them. The children receiving the soccer balls have been known to make balls out of leaves, trash and other miscellaneous items they could find on the ground....to see the joy on the kids faces when they see those soccer balls would be PRICELESS. And the families receiving the animals will be given the means to provide for themselves...not only to feed their families, but to potentially make a living off of selling eggs and protein. When the kids opened each card, I was touched. Knowing that Jenny was providing a way for our family to reach out and connect with people across the world and touch them in ways that will truly bless them. WHAT A GIFT! So, thank you Jenny! You have started a new tradition, I think. For anyone interested in touching someone's life in the same way Jenny did, check out World Vision - they're an incredible organization who are actively working to make a lasting difference in the lives of people who desperately need to be touched!

Update on Lillie Anna

2011-12-27T06:14:00.001-08:00

Lillie has responded well to the blood pressure medd they put her on! They've been monitoring her vitals for the past several weeks, and despite the weekly increase in her meds, she's continued to have healthy levels, both in pulse and blood pressure.

Last week I told Dr. Taugiq (Peds GI doc) that I was uncomfortable upping her dose as Chad and I didn't feel it was necessary - he agreed. So, she'll remain on 1ml 2x daily unless her symptoms return.

We got our appt with the Geneticist but it wasn't scheduled till May. I believe in my gut that this is the place we're going to get our answers, and was very disappointed to find we'd have to wait so long (not to mention, she'd have to remain on the blood pressure meds until that point. Reeeeaaally don't like that!!). Dr. Taugiq is going to try to pull some strings and get us in much sooner, so please, if you think of Lillie, pray that a window will open and we can see the Geneticists soon.

Overall, we're really pleased with how she's doing! Thanks to those of you have faithfully kept her in your prayers!!

New Years Resolutions

2011-12-27T05:39:00.001-08:00

It's that time of year again...time to start anew - time to press the restart button! I'm kind of addicted to throwing things out....purging is a wonderful thing, whether it's from a junk drawer, or a vehicle piled high with happy meal toys, or something more serious...like purging emotional/spiritual issues that are holding you back from being who God created you to be. I breathe a sigh of relief when I trash things and issues...there's a cleansing feeling that comes with letting go!

So, when the New Year rolls around, I get a bit giddy and Chad would say a bit psycho. ;-) Lists start covering the counters throughout our house as new goals are set and written down, so as to be remembered. I long to talk to Chad about what his goals are so we can be on the same page and support one another in whatever we're feeling led to tackle....bless his heart, he accommodates me even though I think he could care less!

I told Chad last night that my main goal for this year is to get healthy....mentally/spiritually/physically. No more living in survival mode (honestly, thats what it feels like chasing multiple children and living on 5 cups of coffee day!). Goals have been set to be easy on the body God gave me...no more pushing myself to the max in every area...I want to be kind to myself! That means slowing down, focusing more on total body health rather than being a a certain waist size. I want a strong back to play with my children, a strong mind to keep up with my friends and family, and a strong faith/heart to encourage those God puts in my path. To accomplish these goals would feel like a huge success.

I cut out coffee and soft drinks last week - scary stuff, I know! But, I figured God designed our bodies to thrive without those things...and I have to admit, I have felt SO calm since cutting those chemicals out.

I'm adding in vitamins, Pilates and am walking....kissed running goodbye as my back could no longer take the pounding.

I won't drone on and on...my list is expansive ;-). 2012 is going to be a good year - can feel the truth of that in my bones! So, consider the Eason restart button pushed!

What are your goals??

2011-12-21T08:48:00.001-08:00

Date Night

In December 2010, some mutual friends of ours came up with an idea to go on a group date. My love language is "quality time", so alone time with Chad is like liquid oxygen to our marriage - it's a MUST. HAVE. Honestly, I wasn't sure if it'd be as beneficial to our marriage relationship if our time was distracted by other men and women, but I knew we'd have a good time, so we set a date and went.

I clearly remember the first restaraunt we went to last December...I remember sitting around the table, with a sparkle in my eye and thinking to myself "omigosh, why didn't we try this sooner???". We saw each other in a new light - a more light hearted side came out of ALL of us and by the end of the night, my face hurt from smiling so much! That night we knew, this HAD to be a tradition!

So,a month in advance, we start researching places to go...we book our babysitters and begin planning out our wardrobe (you can bet it won't consist of sweats, tennis shoes or ponytails!). We pick a fun restaraunt we've never been to, and go spend an insane amount of money while we laugh so hard that we cry - literally, the day after "date night" I am almost guaranteed to have sore abs.

It's a night of rekindling the romance in our marriages, of remembering that we married our best friends. It's a night of private jokes and laughter...it's comfortable and exciting. In one word, it's a JOY! These couples have become a life line...they have become a part of the liguid oxygen that strengthens our marriage. They have become like family to us.

The morning after, it's back to the busyness of life....dressing the kiddo's for church, rushing around getting breakfast while we frantically sip our coffee...it's back to disciplining, teaching, instructing, cleaning, chauffering, nursing,... selflessly loving.

But for that one night, we can be "19 again"...we can finish a conversation and a meal without interruptions...we can enjoy the company of dear friends and laugh our hearts out over a glass of wine. For that one night, we can remember how truly RIGHT we are for one another, and how blessed we are to have friends who accept us for who we are, quirks-n-all!

I hope the tradition of Date Night continue's! I hope our children see us setting aside time for ourselves and our friends and that they will follow our example when they're grown and married! And I hope that each person who reads this will be motivated to start your own date night - whether it's McDonald's or Season's 52, I promise you - it will make a difference in your marriage and in your life!

Chad, Kyle, Ben and Jeff

Laura, Shannon, Lindsey, Jennifer

2011-12-12T08:36:00.000-08:00

I've always thought that a big laugh is a really loud noise from the soul saying, "Ain't that the truth." ~Quincy Jones

I can pretty much know with certainty that Chad and I laugh about things that would make most people cry. I can remember one night where we were cleaning up vomit and...other stuff...and it was probably the most awful night of our lives! But when we fell back in to bed, we looked at each other and laughed so hard we were wheezing and crying. If someone had walked in to our room at that exact moment, they probably would've thought we'd lost our minds - I think we laughed for a good 20 minutes! But really, when life gives you lemons, make LEMONADE, right? I'm so thankful that Chad and I can find humor in the midst of chaos, because Lawd have mercy...just like most parents with young children, we have had our fair share of that!

For sure, living with three kids provides plenty of entertainment and opportunity to laugh. And as hard as it may be for most to understand, the sickness we've dealt with has also provided plenty of opportunities to raise our eye brows and silently chuckle. Chad getting "head-butted" by Shepherd at church, Rauly telling us about "Adam and Steve", Lillie Anna spontaneously counting to 15 and singing her ABC's when I hadn't taught her how to do that...things like this happen all day every day and it leaves Chad and I in stitches. Occasionally, I look up to the Heavens and say "really???". I'm tellin' ya', God DOES have a sense of humor! :-)

So, today I'm thankful for my life and for the laughter that is truly medicinal. I'm thankful for my three beautiful children and for the joy they bring. I'm thankful for friends who appreciate the humor and irony that each day sends. And I'm thankful for my partner who is on this crazy, wonderful, hilarious journey of life with me!

2011-12-11T12:50:00.000-08:00

The never ending birthday bash!

Rauly's first b-day celebration was in Arkansas with all of the Davison/Monroe/Harmon crew - it was a party both for Rauly and Amelia Kai. Thanks to my mom for purchasing the sweet birthday cake. :-)

On November 30th (her actual birthday), Rauly was awarded the "Most Caring" award in front of all the Kindergarten and 1st Graders. She was nominated this award from her teacher and got to eat a special lunch up on the stage in the cafeteria with me and Lillie Anna. It was extra special since she received it on her birthday. I brought cupcakes for her class to share and then we had aNOTHer celebration that evening with Aunt Jenny and Meemaw - complete with Publix Subs (her favorite meal) and yes...more cupcakes.

On Saturday, we completed Rauly's b-day celebration with a party at the Fleming Island Movie Theater to see Happy Feet 2! 13 of Rauly's closest friends came to help her celebrate - the movie was great, the fellowship was even better!

The party started with a "behind the scenes" tour of the theater where they got to learn how the popcorn, cotton candy and soda is made. Then we went upstairs and got to see the projector's and the digital library for the movies - the kids asked tons of questions and were very intrigued by it all. I was impressed with their curiousity!

Pizza? Yes, please!

Cupcake anyone?

And after 30 MINUTES of previews, the movie began. :-)

She's a lucky little girl to have had 4 birthday parties and I'm pretty sure she knows it. :-) We love you Rauly Marie! (And now it's time to move on to Christmas...)

2011-12-06T10:24:00.000-08:00

This Thanksgiving was memorable! My brother flew in from Oregon with his wife and baby, my Papa drove in from Texas, my Uncle and cousin drove in from Lousiana, and Chad and I were able to come with our kids. To have some of my most favorite people in one room was incredibly special!!!

After we enjoyed the wonderful feast that my mom prepared, we all went around the room sharing what we were thankful for. My brother and his wife were thankful for their new addition (yes, Jacob and Kate are having baby #2!). My step-dad was thankful for good health after a rough road battling cancer and subsequent strokes. My Papa was thankful for the gift of family and was utterly amazed that so many of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren were all in the same room. And I shared how thankful I was for a family who values joy and zest for life...a family who cherishes laughter and good times! My family is deeply fun loving...I ALWAYS enjoy being with them and am so thankful for the gift of optimism that they're passing down to the next generation.

Here's some pictures of our week. :-)

2011-12-06T09:25:00.000-08:00

Marine Land

A few Saturday's back, all of the Eason's piled in to two mini-van's and drove down to Washington Oaks State Park. After a rather stressful photo session (it is like pulling teeth trying to get 3 kids to smile at the camera!!!), we went and enjoyed a picnic lunch that Linda had prepared. The Park is absolutely beautiful - gorgeous flower gardens, a sparkling river and marsh land, and all kinds of wild life. I wish we had had more time to explore, but after lunch, we had to head out so we could make our appt at Marine Land.

Chad, Shep and Rauly got to experience feeding the dolphins. They got to play games with them and rub their belly's too - it was really amazing and Rauly especially was in awe the entire time. Rauly is our animal-lover and so for her, this was a dream come true! Dennis, Linda, Jenny, Lillie and myself stood across the aquariums and watched the entire thing, so we felt like we were a part of the experience too. :-)

Thanks again Dennis and Linda for a great day and lots of special memories!!

2011-12-05T16:24:00.000-08:00

O' Christmas Tree, O' Christmas Tree
The week before Thanksgiving, we decorated for Christmas. I LOVE coming home from Arkansas to a fully decorated house - it makes the drive back much easier knowing that we have christmas lights and a tree to welcome us!

Shopping for our Christmas Tree was a family affair this year. It was the very first time we have ever purchased a real tree (in fact, it was the first time I have ever had one!!). I felt like a giddy school girl the day we went to pick one out....I knew exactly what I wanted - BIG, FULL and BEAUTIFUL! We wound up being the very first customer for the shop we went to, so we got to pick from so many trees - but it wasn't a hard choice. We all saw the one we wanted pretty much immediately - it was 10 feet tall and absolutely gorgeous! The kids got to help wrap up the tree and transfer it to our trailer - so it was a very hands-on experience for them. :-)

We came home and immediately started setting it up. There are so many memories wrapped up in our ornaments and part of me wanted to just sit on the floor and shed some tears over how much our children have grown. But the kids kept me in constant motion as they decorated the tree (it was my job to make sure they didn't knock it over while they did that - lol!).

I couldn't dare offend my kids by redecorating it...so, the tree is "as is". I've added a few ornaments to the top half, but the bottom half is still too heavy in some spots, too bare in others. It makes me smile. :-)

This picture made me laugh out loud. I have no memory of Rauly being outside without a shirt on - and yet there she is, bare back-n-all! lol!!!

2011-11-13T11:20:00.000-08:00

The Gator's

Yes....you read that right - althought this football team has Jaguars on their jerzey's, they are in fact called "The Gator's". A bit confusing, right?

This is the first year that Shep has played football, and he has LOVED it! The biggest factor in him loving it has been the fact that his coach is his daddy. :) Chad decided to coach Shep's team this year, along with Coach Brian (Shep's soccer and basketball coach). Chad and Brian have had a very successful season and have worked great together.

From left to right: (Top row) Shepherd, Jackson, Andrew, Nathan, Strider
(Bottom row) Parker, Abram, Braden, Cameron, Grant

2011-11-06T13:36:00.000-08:00

Shep's music has been filling up our home these days. I have to say, he's come a LONG ways (thank you to his piano teacher, Pam Prentice!). When he first started lessons a year ago, he was banging loudly and practically hammering on our keyboard. But in one year's time, he's transitioned to gently using the pedals and playing the keys with a fluency that has surprised both Chad and I!

I played the piano growing up and was always in charge of providing entertainment during the holidays for my parents and extended relatives (sorry to all my aunts, uncles and cousins who had to suffer through Jingle Bells and Silent Night each year!). Chad played the Tuba in the band in highschool and we both enjoy singing...needless to say, we both want to instill an appreciation for and a love of music in each of our children!

To see him waking up and going straight to the piano to play each morning is really exciting. His enthusiasm has started rubbing off on his sisters who are constantly experimenting with the piano keys and fiddling around with our guitar's. Looking forward to watching this passion expand in them as they grow!

2011-11-06T12:36:00.000-08:00

HALLOWEEN 2011

Halloween came fast this year! It felt like school started, we blinked, and it was October 31st! This Halloween was a little more stressful this year with our kill-joy, I mean, our toddler...Lillie. She makes everything miserable...I mean, more challenging. ;-p She went as a Scarecrow and the picture below shows you just how much fun it was to get her dressed up...to say she hated it would be the understatement of the year!!! The candy however has been a big hit with her - go figure.

This was the finished product...which she only wore for about .2 seconds. ;-)

Look at that cute face! Seriously, thank the Lord she's cute because oftentimes it's that adorable smile that saves her hiney!

On the night of the Costume Party, I went as "The Life of the Party"! ;-)

Rauly was "Lil' Miss Smarty Pants" at the Costume Party, and a Barbie Fairy on Halloween night.

I made Shep a "Life of the Party" costume to match mine (which he begrudgingly wore to the costume party). He asked me when I gave him his costume why our family had to wear all of the weird costumes! (Both he and I were wearing a cereal box, and Rauly had smarties glued to her pants, while Chad was wearing a huge whoopie cushion. Bahahahaa!!!! When we got to the party that night, he told everyone "my mom made me wear a cereal box". I still chuckle when I think about it! :-) One day hopefully he'll appreciate his mom's creativity!

Shep was Darth Vader

I told Chad to get his costume on, but he waited and waited (something about the huge whoopie cushion costume being horribly hot and uncomfortable??), so I wound up not getting a picture of him. Stink!

2011-11-06T11:34:00.000-08:00

A Voice

“Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person they are almost indistinguishable.” (David W. Augsburger)

Shepherd and I are much alike...which is possibly why I've been so aware of the change in him over the past few months. He's been silent in church (where's he has in the past always been very vocal) and has even acted a bit sullen. Chad and I have been trying to get to the bottom of it, and finally realized that our boy is quite perceptive. He realized early on that he doesn't "fit in" with the children at our new church as easily as he did in our old church, and therefore, decided for himself that it wasn't worth the effort to even try. I've watched him week after week walk to class with his head down and his shoulders drooped...I've even sat in the back row of his class to silently observe and have seen him purposefully choose to separate himself from the other children. *Let me be clear here - the children in the church are absolute sweethearts and many of them have consistently gone out of their way to reach out to him! God bless them for their tender, compassionate hearts! Let me also be clear that Shep has been polite in return, but that is about as far as he's gone...this child I've just described is NOT my child.* And Chad and I have tried just about everything to encourage him to change his attitude and put some effort in to his new environment. But, ultimately, we have known in our heart that this is his battle that he has to fight and his own personal lesson he has to learn.

Remember how I said earlier that Shep and I are much alike? Well, life is a journey, and I've had my own set of life lessons over the years. Different experiences from childhood, adolescence and adulthood have caused me to put walls up and have left me feeling somewhat silenced. Anyone who knows me well knows that I can be very introspective and I've allowed Satan to muddle my heart and mind with more "issues" then I could handle. Not wanting anyone to know that I've been trying to work through these "issues", I've just silently been pushing through and trying to figure things out. But, I told Chad recently that I feel like I've lost my voice...no, I'm not hoarse...just a bit paralyzed. This "paralysis" has pretty much affected every area of my life. Where I was once confident and sure of myself, I find myself feeling shaky and unsure. Where I was once vocal and opinionated, I find myself biting my tongue and over-thinking.

I guess you could say that I know, that I know, that I know...that I DON'T know hardly anything anymore. I've begun to understand that I don't understand much! Have I confused you yet? LOL! Well, now you know how I've been feeling lately!

But through this silence, I have grown so much! It's amazing how much insight and wisdom a person can gain just by sitting back, listening and observing. I feel like it has been a long road these past few months of feeling like I've lost my footing, but all along, the Lord has been holding my hand and keeping me from falling. The Lord has used my family (namely my precious husband) and my dear friends to speak to me in ways that they don't even know have blessed me. I'm so thankful for the Lord's faithfulness and persistence...He SEES us and refuses to lose even one lost, silent lamb. Praise God for that!

This morning in Shep's bible class, I witnessed a breakthrough as he volunteered for a speaking part in the Christmas production. Several men in the class openly praised him for stepping forward to do that, and his sweet shy smile that he sent my way afterwards made my heart swell. The children around him also recognized what a HUGE leap this was for him and several of them reached out to pat his shoulder and say "good job, Shep!"....really,...doesn't that just make you melt???

I feel like we both have begun to break through some of our walls, and could so relate to the song that was sung in church today "The snare is broken and you have escaped...our help comes from the name of the Lord, blessed be the Lord!". So, I'm clearing my voice...I'm testing the waters...and am finding my confidence again. This blog post is for everyone out there who is on their own personal journey - who has learned over the years that "they know, that they know, that they know, that they DON'T know everything....and that they have a heck-of-alot to learn!".

So, in a way, this blog post is for everyone, in every walk of life. :-) May the Lord bless us all with wisdom and spiritual maturity...and with ears that hear. May He also bless each of us with the confidence to speak the words He has given us.

2011-08-31T04:23:00.000-07:00

Let her be little...

My "baby" is two! How is that possible?? I am in no rush with this one...she's still in a crib, she still takes a paci, we haven't even thought about potty training,...I could on and on. But, she's our "baby" and Chad and I are just soaking it all in. :)

A few hours old...

One years old...

Two years old!

Happy birthday, Lillie Anna! We love you!

2011-08-19T06:14:00.001-07:00

With Shep and Rauly in school each day, Lillie Anna has had to find new ways to spend her day. We've been singing ABC's and reading together, running errands and talking...but more than anything, she wants to play with her best friend, Chase. :-)

They watch TV together...

And play together...(or rather, LA attempts to play with Chase - poor dog, lol!).

And lounge together... :-)

We found out yesterday that Shepherd has a Staph infection in his left elbow. He had to go to the doctor to have his infection area drained and Lillie Anna was there with him. She was devestated for him. I've never seen her cry like she did when she saw him in pain. She wanted to sit in his lap on the way home (of course I didn't let her), and didn't want to leave his side all day yesterday. And to show support, she has wanted a bandaid on her elbow to match the one her bubba has...Shep's is about 4x larger, but this one suffices. ;-) This morning, I had to go to Shep's school to speak with the nurses and his teacher. When we got to his classroom - she ran in and tried to crawl in to his lap. And since we got home, she has been randomly bursting in to tears and crying for Shep...each time, she grabs her elbow and says "boo-boo". Sweet baby girl...she adores her big bubba!

2011-08-17T15:22:00.000-07:00

Our lil' munchkin....

2011-08-16T06:08:00.000-07:00

Hi ho, Hi ho, it's Back to School we go!!!

What a sweet (and crazy) morning it was today. :-) We had lots of cuddle time and prayer time,...even some manicure time! Unfortunately though, when Lillie Anna caught sight of Shep and Rauly's back-packs, and water bottles, and school supplies, she decided she HAD to have them. And so ensued the drama. (sigh) Somehow I was able to snap a few pictures before heading out the door, despite Lillie Anna clinging to my leg and flailing about. And somehow I was able to make it to the kids classrooms without sweat dripping down my face despite the fact that I had to park 2 blocks away and carry: Lillie Anna, a Camera, Rauly's nap-mat, and several bags of school supplies. Needless to say, by the time I dropped both kids off with a kiss and a smile, and walked the two blocks back to my van (with a screaming toddler who didn't understand why we were leaving "Wawie and Deperd" behind)...I had to take a second in my van to collect myself. Then I smiled, nodded my head and said to Lillie Anna....we did it! :-)

Shep's "Star Wars backpack" and Rauly's new flowery one. :-)

Rauly requested multi-colored nails this morning...it seemed to give her a lil' extra confidence. :-)

Rauly with her wonderful Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Gast! I have heard SO many wonderful things about this lady and am thanking the Lord that Rauly got her! We found out that Rauly also has several sweet friends in her classroom - YAY!

Unfortunately, I didn't capture a picture of Shep with his sweet teacher, Mrs. Luke. :-( To be honest, he was the last kid in his class to walk in and I didn't want to embarrass him by saying "smile big for the camera!"...yeah, didn't really think he'd appreciate that. ;-) So, I gave him a high-five and said "peace out, yo!". Ok...not really. I actually left with Lillie Anna lunging for him and begging "Deperd" to come with us - Shep was chuckling to himself at his table (I love that boy...he's so precious and easy going, and I just LOVE how he can laugh at just about anything!). So, I gave him a wink and rushed out the door. He too has several sweet friends in his class and again, I'm thanking God for Mrs. Luke. She's good friends with several ladies who I used to work with at the preschool and she seems to be just WONDERFUL! YAY!

And so begins the 2011/2012 school year! It's off to a great start!

2011-08-11T06:03:00.000-07:00

When Chad and I left Arkansas seven years ago...it was a day filled with mixed emotion. Excitement over the future and what was to come...sadness over leaving so many people who I love. One of those people was my dad. He lives in Cabot,AR and works a very demanding job...I knew we wouldn't get to see him very often because of that. So, when I received a phone call last month from him and found out that he had purchased plane tickets to come see us, I was grateful!

He and his wife Judy were only able to stay for a couple of days, but it was a really nice trip. We visited the Zoo, and went to the Beach. They even got to see Shep practice Soccer with his team and got to meet a few of our close friends on the Soccer field. We ended the trip with dinner with Chad's family (dad hadn't seen them since Shep's birth in Searcy,AR!).

Yes, that is sweat all over me. Gross. Winter...puhleeeease come early this year!!

Let me introduce you to Judy.

Through Judy, I've continued to learn that God's promises are true...He says He can bring good out of ANY situation, and over the past several years, I have seen that first hand. I've left Judy's presence in tears of joy on more than one occasion. She's one of the most genuinely kind women I've ever known - and she humbles me. And her children (John, Bekah, Liz and Jim) are the salt of the earth...truly four of the sweetest individuals I have ever known. Divorce is never an easy thing, and I'm grateful that she and her children have helped ease some of the pain.

The pic of her below is classic Judy. She's always got her camera on her. Why? Because she wants my dad to have as many memories of his time with us as possible! She's incredibly thoughtful and giving and I'm blessed to know her.

The runt wanted to be with the rest of the group... :-)

Thanks again Dad and Judy for taking time out of your busy work schedule to come be a part of our world for a few days!

2011-08-01T20:07:00.000-07:00

Random IPhone pic of our lil' cutie-pie :-)

2011-07-31T16:23:00.000-07:00

2011 Barco Newton Marlins!

After a long, hot summer, the 2011 Championships brought an end to Swim Team. :-( Yes, that's right...a sad face, not a happy one! Shep and Rauly made friends this summer (as did I!) and we wound up having a wonderful experience, despite the dreaded early morning practices. Not only did I watch them grow daily as athletes, but I saw them grow in character as they learned to persevere and endure to the end.

Both kiddo's did good this summer! Shep especially improved and wound up finishing second in the Butterfly AND Backstroke...not just 2nd at our YMCA, but out of all the First Coast YMCA's (to give you an idea, I think there were 20 kids competing in the "8 and Under" Butterfly, and 22 competing in the Backstroke). His buddies (Jackson and Jake) are really strong swimmers and were awesome encouragers - I think Shep learned quite a bit about how to be competetive from them as they were both top finishers in each race. I tell you what...there's nothing sweeter than watching little 5,6,7 year old's cheering for their friends!

We're already looking forward to cheering on our friends children as well as our own next summer! Way to finish strong Barco Newton Marlins!

This is Shep's 25 Butterfly - he's in the lane between the two Timer's that are wearing straw hats. :-) He finished 1st in his Heat.

Rauly, Marlea and Courtney

8 and Under Boys 100 Freestyle Relay - they finished 1st, whoop whoop! Way to go Jake, T.J., Jackson and Shep!

2011-07-28T16:10:00.001-07:00

I went to let our labrador out a few nights ago and was struck by the ray of sunlight that had fallen over the top of our tree in the back of our property...there was this mega storm rolling in, and yet there was this sun spot poking through and it was gorgoues - my camera did NOT capture it's beauty (I blame that on my lack of picture taking skills). :-(

And in other Eason news...my kids are officially sick-n-tired of summer...oh wait, that may be MY thoughts coming through. Anywhoo, they are searching for ways to entertain themselves (ways that don't include soccer balls, swim suits, and/or playgrounds). SO, the girls discovered the joys of tent-making in my bedroom this week. Our poor dog (Chase) got pulled in to the fun...bless his sweet heart, he was a total trooper! :-)

2011-07-15T08:24:00.001-07:00

Goooooooooooo Jaguars!!!!!!!!!!

This summer, we have been thoroughly immersed in "organized sports". Why? Because the kids love it! If I try to send them out in to our big, beautiful back yard equipped with a brand-spankin' new playground, trampoline and super awesome tire swing, they moan-n-groan because (and I quote), "It's sooooooo hot!!!". BUT, if I ask them if they're ready to go to Swim Team practice, or a Soccer Game, I'm met with giddy squeals as I watch them run out the door in such a hurry that they leave their shoes behind. SO, organized sports it is!

Shep decided to try out 3x3 Soccer this summer and I've been blown away at how much he's learned! First of all, I thank my lucky stars that my mom never enrolled ME in 3x3 soccer - it is HARD WORK! But, Shep has loved every sweaty second of it!

The pics aren't all that great,...it's obvious I need to be practicing with my camera rather than letting it collect dust. But, it's likely I won't bring my camera to another game as it's just one more thing to carry - so this is as good as it gets. :-)

This picture made me laugh...it looks like Shep is using some kind of mind skills to lift the ball with his energy force. ;-)

And here's Rauly with her Soccer-Side-kick, Kieran. Kieran and his sis, Marissa, (twins) were in Rauly's preschool class last year. Marissa decided to play soccer, Kiernan wasn't interested...so these two keep each other entertained on the sidelines. They also get very, very filthy.

2011-07-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

Jesus take the wheel...

On Father's Day, Chad flew a kite with the kids out at Little Talbot Island (thanks to Linda for bringing it!!). Lillie Anna was fascinated with it...kept attempting to reach her arms out and touch it, and desperately wanted to be the one to steer the direction of the strings....

This is pretty much her minute by minute goal in life...to steer the direction of our day. She wants to determine what she's doing and the rest of her family is doing minute by minute. It's amazing to me how a child who can be SO tender, gentle and absolutely a-dor-able can also be such a pill!!! :-) But, when she loses the ability to steer, she's not a happy camper, and I realized as I watched her in swim practice yesterday fight with ALL her might to go in the opposite direction she was suppossed to be going....ummm...could she take after ME??!

I do NOT like to be controlled. My instinctive reaction to being told what to do is to buck the system...weird, seeing as how I'm such a "people pleaser". But, somehow I have both traits...the desire to please and yet NOT be controlled. Because the ugly truth is, I'm a control freak! Which is maybe one of the reasons this particular phase of life is so challenging for me, because so little is actually within my ability to control. Let's face it, no matter how much I clean, the kids undo it. No matter how much I plan, something can throw a kink in it (whether it's a sick kid, or rainy weather!).

I feel like I've grown leaps-n-bounds over the past few years in this area of my life (probably because I've been put in situation after situation where I've had to practice giving up control!), but I still have so far to go. And as I teach and train Lillie Anna to relinquish control to the authorities in her life, I have to constantly remind myself to do the same with God...trust that HE has my life in HIS hands and that His plans are so much better than mine.

The song "Jesus take the wheel" has been playing in my head this week...it's a song that reminds us that the Lord can steer our lives so. much. better than we can. And that often times, when we try to snatch the wheel from Him, we wind up crashing. And in a phase of life where we are always (and I mean aaaaalwaaaaaaays) in motion, it's imperative that the Lord be in charge of the direction we're going - NOT me!

This, btw, isn't a battle worth fighting. My accessory-lovin' control freak seems to think that if one is good, more is always better! ;-)

2011-07-06T10:50:00.000-07:00

WIPEOUT!!!!!!...our kids pretty much live for this show every Tuesday/Thursday evening. They plop themselves on the couch (usually piled up high on Chad) and laugh their hearts out - good times! :-)

2011-07-06T10:26:00.001-07:00

Has it really been over a month since I last updated?!?! I think that's the longest I've gone in YEARS! Life has gotten away from me lately....this summer has been jam-packed with activities and I feel like we literally go from one thing to another...making it challenging to find time to update the blog. Actually, I've been downright awful about taking pictures too...maybe it's laziness, but the thought of carrying Lillie Anna, a diaper bag, my purse AND a camera bag is just unappealling...so pics are usually the first to go! I'll try to do better though. :-)

On Sunday evening, we went to Christ's Church for their annual Freedom Spectactular event. It was so much fun - and really nice to see old friends! The kids did some cool bungee jump thing which they loved, and the fireworks display was awesome (as always)!

Quick update on Lillie Anna! In a nutshell, she's doing GREAT! We've pretty much nixed all travel, and have been amazed at the improvement we've seen in her. Her oral aversion is gone - as you can see from the pics, she's become our little chunk-a-lunk. ;) And although she still has one or two bouts of gagging and diahrea throughout the week, it only lasts for a few hours and then it's done. Sooooooo much improved from 6 months ago!

Here's some pics of her watching the Fireworks - she loved them!

2011-05-30T11:07:00.001-07:00

SHEP's 7th BIRTHDAY BASH!

It's a tremendous blessing to find a friend whose spouse you enjoy and whose children you love! We have found several families just like that here in Fleming Island/Orange Park and are so thankful! These families came to celebrate Shepherd's life this past weekend at Ollie Koala's - every husband came with their wife and kids and it was nice to see the adults enjoying themselves (almost) as much as the kids! :-)

Peepaw, Meemaw and Aunt Jenny with the kids.

These two are so cute! They might fight like cats and dogs, but they are extremely important to one another. Rauly woke up the morning of Shep's party with a belly-ache, and Shep was so concerned that Rauly wouldn't be able to come to his party...he breathed a big sigh of relief when she started feeling better!

The kids played all kinds of games...
But Luke was the only child who hit the "jackpot" more times than I could count!

Lillie Anna and her best bud Noah had a grand ol' time playing and eating cake!

Thx to the Kneisley's, Graston's, Sherman's, Bergin's and Ward's for coming to make Shep's party extra-special!

2011-05-11T07:36:00.000-07:00

On Mother's Day 2011, I woke up at 3am to Rauly staring at me...creepy! It took me a few seconds to register that she was even there, but when I finally did, I immediately sat up and asked her what was wrong! Then she handed me a very large gift that was wrapped and said "Happy Mother's Day!". I was so surprised I didn't quite know what to say, but after she laid her gift on my stomach, I said "thanks hon...now go back to bed.". And she did.

At 5:30am I was woken up again ,,,but this time, it was to scuffling in the foyer...instantly I knew someone was rummaging through the hall closet and I could hear little voices whispering so I knew that it was the kids. I figured they were looking for Shep's gift (which he had hidden in there). Call me a bad mom, but it was WAY too early to be waking up...especially on Mother's Day - the one morning throughout the year that a mom can hope to actually sleep in!!! So, I hollered out that ALL of my little children had better be in bed by the time I walk in there!...they quickly ran back to their room and I went to bed with a smile on my face.

There's nothing like being woken up at 3am and 5am by your kids lavishing you with gifts to make you feel loved (and sleepy!). It was a very special day, and I want to always remember how excited they were to make me feel special...their gifts were really neat too (thx Paterson Elementary and STPFI for your creativity and thoughtfulness). :-)

There's no words which would fully express my thankfulness towards our mom's. I always feel like I fall short when I try to express my appreciation to people, but especially when it comes to these two women! I'll be forever grateful to the sacrifices my mom made so that she could give me the best childhood she could possibly give me...every good memory I have as a little girl includes my mom. She had a way of making EVERYthing fun and exciting...I never felt like a nuisance or a burden to her. She was a constant cheerleader at times in my life when I so desperately needed a fan, and she was always...ALWAYS on my side. And words can't express my gratitude for the job Linda did in raising Chad...and yes, it is a JOB to raise a child! He is an incredible man,...self-motivated in so many ways to be the best he can be in all areas of his life. I'm so thankful for the man he is and that is largely due to his sweet mom! So, thank you ladies!!! You are dearly loved and appreciated!

2011-05-10T04:24:00.001-07:00

I was sitting in the waiting room of a salon a few weeks ago when an elderly "Betty White look-alike" came in and sat down next to me. She was adorable with her flushed cheeks, Dr. Scholl's loafers and manicured fingers! When she sat down, she folded her pretty hands together and sat as regal as a queen...I would've said hello, but to be honest, she intimidated me! So, I sat there with Lillie Anna and waited for Rauly to finish getting her hair-cut.

While we waited, Lillie Anna worked her sweet magic (babies are always great conversation starters, aren't they!) and got Mrs. Betty (that wasn't her name, but for the sake of the story, that's who she'll be) to open up and converse with her. Before I knew it, she and I were in a conversation about her life. She quietly shared with me about her great-grandchildren, her grand-children, her children...and then finally, her husband. She shared with me that they'd gotten married when she was 15, and had gotten pregnant when she was 16! They proceeded to have SIX children (God bless them!). Her husband worked many odd jobs until he finally started up his own business which brought them from backwoods Alabama to Florida. So much of her life (minus having 6 kids of course!) I could relate to...getting married young, struggling financially, the stress of owning your business, moving away from everything you know,...I felt like I was nodding my head with wide eyes for about 15 minutes as I silently related.

Nothing she said was negative...not a single word, but still, something compelled me to say "so I'm assuming that it wasn't all sunshine and roses?". She quickly looked at me and began chuckling...she might as well have "tsked" at me! As she shook her head no, and patted my leg with her gnarled but beautiful dainty fingers, she said: "Honey, the first 10 years were spent just trying to learn how to live together! When people tell me they have a perfect marriage, I laugh at them and ask them what in the world that looks like!"

I was afraid to ask what happened to the man she had chosen to walk this life with...everything she had said had been in past tense. And as if she was reading my mind, she gently told me that her husband had died in 2004 of a massive heart attack. He died instantly. I sat there...looking at this sweet, gentle woman who had lived such a full life and been married to the same man for 50 years, and my eyes flooded with tears. Not because I felt sorry for her, but because I was so thankful God had allowed our paths to cross.

I believe the Lord wanted Mrs. Betty's sweet story to be shared. Her life was a reminder of what marriage is meant to look like. A partnership. A commitment. A contract. Till death do we part. A relationship that is filled with support and encouragement, where you pull in the same direction. A give and take. A steadfast love that is rich and abundant in forgiveness!

I didn't want to leave the salon that afternoon and I've thought about Mrs. Betty ever since our little chat. I wish I'd have gotten her name and number...the wisdom she had to share is immense, I'm sure, and I would've loved to have visited with her again. Who knows...maybe we'll bump in to each other in the future, but if not, I'm so grateful for the few minutes that she shared her story with me.

So, today - on Chad and my 9th wedding anniversary, I celebrate our marriage! A marriage that is far from perfect and holds room for improvement. But also, a marriage that has two committed partners who actively love one another (and like one another...that's always a plus!). :-)

2011-04-29T19:02:00.000-07:00

SPRING SOCCER 2011

I appreciate the YMCA for SO many reasons...but mainly, because they put God first.
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This is our team praying before the game tonight. All the families join in and it's truly an awesome way to kick things off (pun intended!). I really can't say enough good things about the Y's athletic program...but that's not the focus of this post, so I'll move on. :-)

Shep's team this year was called "The Dirty Dogs". We got to play with some of our favorite girls - the Kneisley's, Anna and Brynn. This is them, duking it out.

Shep had a BLAST this year and was, ahem,...very enthusiastic from the sidelines!

But thankfully he was even more enthusiastic on the field. He had a very good season this year and we saw a lot of improvement! Most importantly though, he had fun and he burned a WHOLE lot of energy!! :-)

Speaking of energy...remember how I mentioned earlier this week that Shepherd's energy level is in a category of it's own? Well, I'll let the pictures I took tonight speak for themselves! (Keep in mind, he did NOT get any sugar today!)

But that's Shep, and I wouldn't have him any other way!

2011-04-22T11:47:00.000-07:00

CHAOS?....You can't HANDLE the chaos!!!!!

I'm channeling Jack Nicholson and Pioneer Woman. :-)

Here's Energizer Bunny #1...the calmest of the bunch. She's deceptively quiet and incredibly intense...she's mostly sweet as sugar though, so I can't (and won't) complain.

Energizer Bunny #2...she's our half-n-half. Mostly she's cool, calm and collected, but if you get her with her brother (or her Aunt Jenny), you'd think I put an i.v. of sugar in her system.

And me-oh-my. Shep is in his own category. The Energizer Bunny ain't got nothin' on this kid! He's loud, animated, dynamic, enthusiastic, busy, zealous...and did I mention he's loud??? Within 2 minutes of being woken up (ALWAYS by him), my blood pressure feels like it's at dangerous levels. I often have to drift off to my "happy place" when I'm with Shep, or else Chad would be admitting me in to an insane assylum from WORD OVERLOAD!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday, after my work-out at the YMCA, I checked the kids out of the Kids Zone. As I was leaving, I bumped in to a friend and we struck up a conversation. While her three kids stood pristinely still, MY three kids took that opportunity to "divide and conquer". Lillie toddled to the Foozball table to swipe some balls, Rauly snuck over to the Atrium to twirl ballerina twirls around the wobbly sign, and Shep decided to pick THAT moment to bounce up and down like Tigger...up-n-down...up-n-down...in my face, hands raised as if he were in a basketball game...trying to get my attn.

**Let me just pause here and say that I can handle a fair amount of chaos...I've learned to deal with consistent loud noise, I've learned to ignore pesky children who repeatedly try to interrupt, and have pretty much mastered the skill of watching my children out of the corner of my eyes. However, there is a certain "Chaos Meter" I think every mother has...and mine hit the LIMIT.**

So, after shooting fire out of my eyes at Shepherd to try to silently tell him to STOP,...I finally apologized to my friend (whose children were all three standing as still as statues) to reprimand Shepherd in my oh-so-scary mommy voice. Once I felt he fully understood the wrath he was messing with, I turned back to my friend to finish our conversation. But during the time that I had paused to reprimand Shep, Lillie Anna had somehow managed to get her hand stuck in the Foozball ball slot. :-/ So, I hurriedly said goodbye to Kara as I muttered something under my breath about there ALWAYS being chaos....but as I turned to save Lillie Anna's hand,...as if in slow motion...I heard this gosh-awful-LOUD-crash, that seemed to echo off of every wall in the entire building. I felt rather than saw the eyes in the gym turn to see what in the world had happened...and my "mommy intuition" knew that the loud noise had been caused by my middle child.

Sure enough, I peeked in to the atrium, and Rauly was sprawled out on the floor, with the wobbly YMCA sign laying on top of her (in pieces) and two men were attempting to pick her up. (sigh)

I wound up helping Rauly first (since she'd drawn the most attn), and quickly went to save Lillie's hand. Then grabbed each child by their ears to haul them out! (Ok, I didn't really haul them out by the ears - but I WANTED to!!) Needless to say, I was the "Old woman who lives in a shoe" that night and spanked the kids soundly before putting them in bed 1.5 hours earlier than normal!

Thankfully every afternoon isn't like that...but I do frequently have to remind myself to breathe (literally sigh all. the. time.) and am really learning how to walk in this journey of craziness with peace!!!

I'll leave you with this sweet picture...ah, if only life was clean Chap's clothes and pretty poofy white dresses ALL the time, right? :-)

2011-04-20T08:30:00.000-07:00

Final Chapel??? Wha??? How is that possible! As I walked in to Christ's Church this morning, I was bombarded by so many memories. Memories of Shep starting there over four years ago,...memories of chapels, Thanksgiving Feasts, and Easter Egg Hunts...memories of Staff Meetings, organizing Art Shows and greeting parents at the door...oh, I could go on and on. I have so many sweet, precious, tender memories from this preschool. And it hit me this morning that we're ONE month away from Rauly graduating and moving on to Kindergarden! I actually got teary-eyed! It just seems like we blink, and time flies. :-(

Today's chapel was centered around Christ's death and resurrection. And despite the fact that most of the moms were sad at the fact that their baby's are growing up and a new season is approaching swiftly, we couldn't help but join in the joy of what we were celebrating! There was a whole lot of praisin' going on - it was awesome! :-)

Maureen is a sweet friend, and is Sharing Tree's music teacher. I met her over four years ago - her closest friend was the first Director at Sharing Tree (the woman who hired me for the position when she moved away). Since then, we've both homeschooled our children and have participated in CBS together, and have begun having regular GNO's ("girls nights out"). Maureen is probably the MOST Community driven gal I've ever met - and she does it ALL for the right reasons. She's got a huge servant's heart and will do anything...ANYthing for you. I'm blessed to have her as a friend!
And as you can, Lillie Anna thinks she's pretty special too. :-)

Look at those sweet little hands and arms lifted up to the Heavens...not much sweeter than that.

2011-04-18T08:43:00.000-07:00

This is the look I get each time we go in to Publix or Walmart...this sweet little smirk of a grin. She scrunches up her nose, smiles up at me with her big brown eyes, and points at the Bakery adamantly until I turn the wheels of my shopping cart in the direction she's requesting...and what does she want? The COOKIE! I've asked myself many times why I ever allowed her to get a cookie to begin with, and than I'm quickly reminded after she starts munching on it that my shopping escapade is MUCH more enjoyable when she has a cookie stuffed in her mouth. :-) Parenting at it's finest, right?
Chad came home the other day with a box of Chips Ahoy Cookies (something I NEVER buy because I could easily devour the entire container in just a few swallows...it's dangerous stuff!). Lillie somehow sniffed them out of our cabinet and after pointing and begging all morning, I let her have one after lunch today. Look at that sweet contented expression!...my girl likes her sugar. :-)

"Look Ma!...no hands!" Ok, actually, she was trying to signal to me that she wanted another cookie - uh....me thinks you've had enough!

2011-04-18T08:33:00.000-07:00

This post is for my sweet lil' man who wanted me to take pictures of every. single. egg. we. dyed. He was very proud of the rainbow of colors. :-) I learned a few years ago that outdoors is the place to be when you're dying easter eggs, so the kids helped me take everything outside. Sure enough, within seconds, my driveway (and the kids) were covered in a multitude of colors...but I could care less, because it wasn't my tile floor and countertops! :-)

Have I mentioned before how much I adore Apple Cider Vinegar? Did you know that you can clean with it, cook with it, AND it helps the egg coloring to adhere to the egg better?? That stuff is AWESOME! I'm one of those people who believes more is usually better...so I practically doused each bowl with the vinegar...in a few of the pics, you can see the liquid fizzling...haha, it probably wasn't suppossed to do that! :-) But, hey - we got some very vibrant colors this year!

Happy Easter everyone!!

2011-04-06T05:34:00.000-07:00

I love this face.

2011-04-05T08:44:00.000-07:00

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome = random days of blah

We received the official diagnosis about two weeks ago. After ruling EVERYthing else out, the doctor told us that Lillie Anna does in fact have CVS. She may or may not out grow it.

So, let me tell you what this is not...
1) It is NOT a food allergy - she's been tested for every possible allergy and everything has come back negative.
2) It is NOT contagious - Lillie could throw up all over you and you will not catch a thing from her!
3) It is NOT something she can control nor will it ever be (although it is something that we can try to prevent).

This is what we know...
1) There are triggers (travelling, change in routine, certain foods, changes in weather, etc). For each person, the triggers are different and with Lillie being so young, it is very difficult to figure out what is causing the cycles. We know for a fact that travelling is one of them - each time we've travelled in the past 6 months, she's become violently ill.
2) There are medications that can help to prevent the cycles. We tried one and it made Lillie belligerent (that's actually putting it mildly, this video will show how she was acting after just two doses), so we're waiting on Plan B.
3) Each time something "triggers" a cycle, her body develops a type of migraine which sends signals to her stomach to vomit or have diahrea. We now know this is why she developed her Oral Aversion...the poor girl was battling nausea so much that she developed an aversion to food.
4) Average range of a cycle is 1-4 days. The point being, she will not just throw up once or have one bout of diahrea, it will be cyclical.

Overall, she's been doing well. She's gained 4 pounds after coming home from the hospital, despite having several very short cycles. I believe she got much worse while she was in the hospital because she was in a new place, a new environment, with new people and very off her normal "schedule". It scares me to think what might happen if she gets significantly sick again, because if she has to be hospitalized, I fear the same thing may happen. So, I'm going to put that thought out of my mind and hope that we never have to cross that road again. The GOOD news, is that now that we know what is going on, she will never have to go through a series of tests again, and hopefully if she does get dehydrated, they will just give her an i.v. and then we'll be able to go back home where she feels the most comfortable.

I recently found the Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Assocation website which offers helpful resources as well as a forum where families can share information. And as I've researched, I've discovered that this is NOT that rare. You can click on this link to watch a video by Chandra Wilson on The Talk,...she shares how her daughter was recently diagnosed with CVS.

After church on Sunday, another cycle was triggered and Monday she was very ill...vomiting, diahrea and a LOT of dry-heaving. This morning she woke up MUCH better, but as you can see from the pic below, she's tired. SO, we're learning that it could be worse, but this is not an easy road. It's going to be a process of learning what her triggers are and doing our absolute best to avoid them. We're trying very hard to lead a normal life despite her diagnosis. I usually don't even want to talk about it with my friends because just dealing with Lillie's symptoms alone is exhausting, much less talking about it with people. Which is why I'm writing this blog post - so everyone will better understand what we're dealing with, and know if I don't talk about it, it's simply because I don't want to dwell on it. I'd like to deal with each cycle as it comes, and then move on with life.

For those of you who have continued in your faithful praying, thank you! If you think about it, please pray that we will find a successful treatment, one that she responds well to! As I said earlier, Lillie is doing great in between cycles and the past several that she's had have been short lived which is definitely something to be thankful for. Thank you again for your continued prayers!

2011-04-04T07:10:00.000-07:00

Let's get ready to R-U-M-B-L-E!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, 8 & Under basketball isn't quite as exciting as highschool or college basketball...but as first experience's go, Shep had a good one. :-) Anna and Brynn Kneisley were on his team (his friends from church and school), and Sawyer (one of his classmates) was also with them. They were pretty darn cute if I do say so myself (and I do!), but basketballs stars they were not! lol! Oh well, they all seemed to have a blast, and that's all that matters. :-) The season came and went without me posting a single picture, so here's a few I snapped during one of their games...if we do this sport again, I'll try to do better!

Shep

Brynn and Sawyer

2011-04-04T05:41:00.001-07:00

Brag alert!!!

I try hard not to be "that mom"...ya' know, the one everyone rolls their eyes at because they won't stop bragging on their kid. But occasionally, I want, need and HAVE to get on here and share something, because this blog is for my kids, and they must know when they do things that make my heart practically burst. :-) I tell them in person when times like this happen and hug them so hard their eyes might bust out of their cute little heads, but in 20 years, I want them to REMEMBER! SO, you've been warned...

While I was in carline waiting to pick up Shepherd this past Friday, I could see him standing on the sidewalk, clutching an envelope in his hands while he jumped up and down with a HUGE smile on his face. I didn't know what it was, but figured it was a b-day invitation or something. A few minutes later, I pulled up to where he was, and he practically leaped in the car, waving his envelope and cheerfully bouncing in his chair. "Mommy', I got my very first report card!!!!! Can we open it???" (I think he said that twice before I was able to get my response out! I told him to rip it open,...I pulled over so we could look at it before we got home, and I couldn't have been prouder. He made the Honor Roll - straight A's and Outstanding's across the board. :-)

My proudest moment though, was when I read the note his teacher had typed out...his grades matter, but the state of his heart matters so much more, and to know that he's a shining light in his school makes me thank my Heavenly Father!

When I looked in my rear view mirror at Shep, he had stars in his eyes! My little man has worked very hard this year to fit in to a class that he didn't initially want to be a part of,...he's dealt with a lot of change, and through it all, he's kept his chin up and excelled academically and emotionally. God is good!

2011-04-03T14:26:00.000-07:00

"True friendship multiplies the good in life and divides its evils. Strive to have friends, for life without friends is like life on a desert island..to find one real friend in a lifetime is good fortune; to keep him is a blessing.”

I don't remember meeting Melis...in fact, I distinctly remember after initially meeting her thinking that she I would most likely never be super close (if you ask her, she'll tell you the same thing!). She and I are not much alike in personality, and we had different groups of friends when we were in college. What we DID have in common though was our husbands. Our guys were brought together through the Harding Football team, and because both Melissa and I were at all the games, and because our guys often wanted to hang out outside of practice or games, we inevitably wound up drawing closer.

God obviously knew the two of us were meant to be life-long friends, whether we knew it or not! :-) And so the Lord started providing opportunity after opportunity for us to draw closer. Chad and I were at her wedding and within the next few years, had helped them move multiple times (they helped us as well...you'll be hard-pressed to find two couples who have moved more times than our families have!). We experienced a pregnancy together (Kayden and Rauly), and as I've found with both Melissa and Jamie, there's nothing like a pregnancy to bond friends for life! :-) The Hicks family were the last people we said goodbye to when we left Arkansas and I honestly didn't think I'd be able to leave her...and then she was the person I called and sobbed to when we moved to Savannah and realized what we'd gotten ourselves in to! I remember cheering over the phone when she called to say she was pregnant with Janey, and crying on the phone when her sister called to tell me that Janey had anencephaly, and I will never forget the day she buried her sweet little angel. Since that day, the Lord has continued to draw us together...through joys and sorrows. She's one of my biggest cheerleaders (and vice versa) and we'd share each other's burdens in a heart beat. Sometimes I'm amazed at how two girls who weren't initially drawn to each other have become so near and dear to each other's hearts.

Melissa may be one of the best unexpected blessings I've ever received and it's always such a joy to watch our children playing together. I love Kayden and Brecken as if they were my own,...and despite the distance in our homes, my kids have managed to build a solid bond with her girls that I am confident will also last a lifetime.

I've been blessed to have a few friends that I will hold on to forever, and Melissa is one of them!

2011-03-14T11:49:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

Thx to everyone who prayed for LA's safety during her procedure today! Lillie's Endoscopy/Colonoscopy went very well. The doctor sat down with us afterwards to show us the pictures of her esophagus and large/small bowels. There was no sign of inflammation or lezions/ulcers. There was nothing that he could see (visually) that was causing her problems....unfortunately, he couldn't rule out IBS, Crohn's or Colitis until he gets the biopsy's back (which will be Thursday). BUT, we were very relieved that he saw no signs of a functional problem today!

He shared with Chad and I that he's highly suspicious that Lillie has something called "Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome". It is basically a migraine that sends messages to the stomach (via the nervous system) and causes a LOT of upset...vomiting, diahrea, abdominal cramping and belly distention (even fever) are all symptoms of this syndrome...although it is rare for infants to show signs of this, it is possible. It is more common for children ages 4-6 to show sypmtoms, although even that is not common. It's challenging to diagnose because unless you do a Cat Scan or an MRI, it's impossible to know for sure (and apparently even those tests occasionally give false negatives)...so basically, the doctor has to look at the child's medical history, test results, past/current symptoms, and come to a conclusion that way.

What causes it??...well, it's a "psyche" issue...meaning, it's not viral or bacterial. Basically, when she becomes stressed or overly excited, this is how her body responds...vomiting and diahrea. Will she outgrow it? I don't know...I've been reading a lot of info online and most of what I've read has shown she won't. BUT, it is treatable with medication and the doctor has already said he will start her on that if the biopsy's come back negative for bacteria or functional problems.

So, on Thursday we should know if this diagnosis is official. We'd prefer this over something like Crohn's or Colitis, although we're not thrilled with this diagnosis either. :-( But we're very very thankful to finally be getting answers! It's been a long road, and we're glad to finally be close to the end!

2011-03-11T10:47:00.000-08:00

Why I run...

When I started running last year, it was purely with the goal of shedding the excess baby weight I'd gained over the past 6 years and 3 pregnancies. I thought I'd run in a few 5K's, and that once I hit my goal weight, I'd be done. But something happened along the way...my goals shifted, as did my frame of mind and perception.

Now I run for multiple reasons...all of which have continued to motivate me to stick with something I have NEVER before enjoyed! (Seriously, I was the highschooler who dreaded track and avoided jogging at all costs!)

I've found that running is a great way to deepen friendships...it's become a time to visit uninterrupted about life. I've learned so much about some of the women I've ran with over the past 12 months...I've learned about their marriages, their children, their upbringing, their faith, and they've learned the same things about me. We encourage one another in our daily walk of life and pray for one anothers burdens...I've grown to really look forward to the jogs I have with these women - they're a blessing!

It's also allowed me a healthy seperation between myself and our kids. Prior to jogging, I had become pretty consumed by all three of my little ones - I didn't have any hobbies, or extra-curricular activities...my life revolved around THEM. But now, they know that mommy has to run...they love going to the YMCA and when I don't take them, they moan-n-groan because they miss it. I think it's been really good for them to cheer me on at the races and to see that their momma' has a life outside of dirty diapers and PB&J's and soccer/piano/swim practice...I hope it's helped them to see me for ME.

Aside from the above reasons (which in my mind are enough to keep this newfound hobby up!), I also run for overall health (it lifts my moods and helps me feel mentally and physically strong), but I no longer run for my waist line. To be honest, the weight didn't just POUR off the way I had expected it to, and that's ok! My point is, I no longer run to shed pounds....nor do I run to beat a competitive time...that is NOT what it's about and if I made it about that, it would no longer be any fun at all!

Who knows...I may run for a few more months and be done with it. But for now, I'm enjoying having goals and meeting them...I'm enjoying having 30 minutes-2 hours a few days a week to look forward to. The last race I ran was the Donna 1/2 Marathon which was INCREDIBLE! I never thought I'd be able to run that far of a distance, and it was really cool to meet that goal!

Tomorrow is the GATE RIVER RUN! Bring it on, baby!

2011-03-06T15:31:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!
For those of you following my blog, I apologize for going so long in between updates. To be honest, I've just been kind of stumped lately as to what to blog about. There's plenty to talk about...but when I go to blog, something holds me back. SO, hopefully this writers block will end soon. :-)

I wanted to let you all know that Lillie is doing well. She's had a great week - only a few "bad diapers" since our trip to Orlando (she had a 3-day-flareup on our vacation). Her Endoscopy/Colonoscopy is scheduled for March 14th (Monday). We're hoping to find out why her stomach continues to have "flare-ups". Thankfully she's put on several pounds since coming home from the hospital (I'm just guestimating, but the point is that she looks much healthier!)...she's eating better and going long enough in between flare-ups to actually hang on to some of that fat.

Thanks again for all your continued prayers and hopefully the next update will be much more interesting. :-)
- Lindsey

2011-02-16T03:49:00.001-08:00

Our third child's first hair cut...was not very eventful! lol! When Shep and Rauly both got their hair cut, I came prepared with a ziplock baggie to collect their beautiful curls, a camera to document every second of the event, and extra family members on hand (like Aunt Jenny) to be their fan club.

With baby #3, I tried my best to make it a special moment...Chad remembered the camera (I forgot), and Chad changed his schedule around so that he could be there (I had origonally planned on going alone), and, well...ok, I didn't do an awful lot (ok, ok, I didn't do ANYTHING) to make it special! I just went to get the poor girls mullet chopped off! :-) We did wind up getting pics, and P.J. (the stylists) collected hair for us in some foil to keep.

So, it was uneventful, but memorable and it turned out really cute. :-) And lo and behold, her curls are still there! The short chopped locks are actually curling up already - so maybe she'll have naturally wavy hair like her Papa and her Nannie? I would love that!

2011-02-06T10:55:00.000-08:00

Who knew???

Who knew that an Oral Aversion could wreak so much havoc???

When Lillie Anna was 4 months old, we excitedly pulled out the Rice Cereal and her beautiful silver spoon. We grabbed our camera, and prepared for her monumental first taste of food. But we were very surprised when she gagged when the spoon came near her lips! It was actually pretty funny! She was so obviously oppossed to the spoon, that we thought we'd just try again in a few weeks. So, I con't nursing her and a few weeks later, we re-introduced the rice cereal...but to no avail. She HATED the spoon and was gagging before it even touched her mouth. I thought it was really weird, but didn't think much of it. We put the food away with the goal of trying again in another two weeks. This went on and on and on for months...I kept trying cereal and baby food and she refused it all...not only did she refuse it, but she would look at it and gag.

This began our journey of what we thought was extreme "pickiness". I can't tell you how much money I spent on baby food products that I thought for sure she'd like, and nothing worked. Around 6 months, she began vomiting after drinking her formula (I began having to supplement at that point), and because the vomiting was so bad, her pediatrician tested her for Celiac. It was negative.

Fast forward one year...and her pickiness got worse. She was eating whole wheat bread (dry with nothing on it), crackers (only saltines and ritz), french fries from Chick-Fil-A, rolls from O'Charleys... and was drinking Almond Milk (dairy made her vomit). If I tried to feed her anything other than those items (yogurt, green beans, chicken nuggets, banana's, etc) she would either throw them on the floor or she'd vomit when she looked at them...nothing ever would even make it to her mouth.

Because we weren't usually around anyone during meal time, most people never saw how severe her "pickiness" had become. Over the holidays, my MIL witnessed it first hand and became very concerned...she said she'd never seen a child that age so picky and she felt like I needed to speak to someone about it.

Last November is when her sickness began. Chronic diahrea and vomiting around the clock...she'd be sick for a week and then have a few days of being "better". Most of you know how tough the past few months have been - literally one sickness after another until she was finally admitted in to the hospital for severe dehydration and malnutrition. She actually looked like the Ethiopian children with the stick arms and legs and the painfully bloated stomach. It was the awesome team of Pediatricians who immediately (within minutes of our arrival) diagnosed her with an Oral Aversion. They sent in a Speech Therapist and Nutritionist to help us, and we'll be working with them until we feel Lillie has completely conquered this problem.

These are a few pictures of what a typical meal looks like. Lillie automatically reverts to covering her mouth with her hands, throwing her body to the side of her chair to try and escape the utensil, and literally closing her eyes in hopes that the food will just dissapear. This process can take several minutes....

But, OH, glorious day!!!!!!!!!! Now, after a bit of patience, and persistance (and creativity on the part of Lillie's Speech Therapist), she is eating from a utensil and self-feeding with food that is NOT just in the "bread family".
(Chad is feeding her spanish rice in this picture.)
(Here she's self-feeding with black-eyed peas....amaaaaaazing progress!)

Lillie has gained TWO POUNDS in two weeks. TWO POUNDS!!!!!!!!!!! Can you believe that??? It's incredibly exciting! I've spoken to a Dietician who said that it's possible that her body became so malnourished that the chronic diahrea and vomiting was caused by that alone. Wouldn't that be amazing if THAT is the problem?? Oh, we're praying!!!!!! Her Endoscopy/Colonoscopy is scheduled for tomorrow morning, so if they are able to perform the procedures despite her runny nose, then we'll learn tomorrow if we're dealing with an actual "Functional problem". If you're still reading (and if you are, I'm impressed!), please pray for safety during her surgery. Thanks in advance!

2011-01-25T15:37:00.000-08:00

Thank you to those of you who are continuing to call, text and email to check up on Lillie. As you can see in the top picture, she's doing pretty well today. Her appetite returned as the day went on, and this evening she's eaten more then she ate in several days combined! Her belly is permanently distended...it just doesn't go down (although her belly is MUCH MUCH smaller then it was at the early part of last week!). Her lips have also begun turning pale - something we were told by the doctor is a sign of a stomach disorder. Despite being poked and prodded all week, she maintained her tender, sweet and gentle demeanor...today, some of her mischeiviousness has begun to return...a sign she's feeling a little better. ;-)

Several of you have also asked what you can specifically pray for. Please pray that we can keep her "well" until February 7th (that is the day of her procedures). She needs to NOT get any cold or upper respiratory infection in order to have the anesthesia. If you can believe it, Rauly seems to have come down with the Flu...she's coughing, achy throat and has a fever of 105.1! So, as you can imagine, our job of keeping Lillie "well" until February 7th is going to be a tough one.

I have been brought to tears several times by the kindness of the Fleming Island community. A friend from church brought us a meal last week and our preschool delivered a "get well basket" filled with immune boosting items for our entire family. A mother from Sharing Tree (whose daughter has been in Rauly's class since the age of 2) dropped by this morning to deliver a meal for our family. Shortly after, I received a phone call from a YMCA Women's Bible study (that I don't even participate in!) to say that they wanted to provide meals for our family until her surgery so that I could avoid having to get out to the grocery store. It has NOT been easy being on the receiving end of all this kindness - I would much prefer to be that person who is delivering the meals to someone in need. However, I have been so incredibly touched by all the love and support we've received and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart!

2011-01-25T04:02:00.000-08:00

So close....yet so far away.

Lillie's Colonoscopy/Endoscopy was scheduled yesterday (to be done this morning), and Chad and I were filled with hope yesterday after meeting with the Pediatric Gastrointerologist. He was extremely confident we'd have a diagnosis after the procedure...and at the very latest, he was sure we'd know what was causing her chronic diahrea, vomiting and infections by Friday (once the lab results came back from her procedure this week). There is a list of 30 possible stomach disorders he was going to be looking for, and basically told Chad and I yesterday that she wouldn't go home without a diagnosis.

HOWEVER...after he left, the Anestesiologist came in and informed us that due to Lillie's RSV 6 weeks ago, we were going to have to postpone the procedure for another two weeks. (Insert deep breaths and a LOT of forceful calming thoughts.....)

We came home last night discouraged. After spending a week in the hospital, we had envisioned going home with a baby who was WELL...not a baby who is dehydrated and puny. So, we could really use prayers for two weeks of miraculous HEALTH. It is imperative that Lillie not get an upper respiratory infection in order for her to be able to have this procedure. We also could use prayers that she not get so dehydrated that we wind up back in the Emergency Room. It's hard being so close to a diagnosis and then having to wait, but I'm trying to find comfort in knowing that we really ARE close and within 2-3 weeks, we should know what's been making her so sick.

SO:
We know she does NOT have:
*Thyroid problems
*Lactose Intolerance
*Parasites
*Chronic issues due to Antibiotics
*Chronic issues due to a bacterial infection or viral infection

We're waiting to determine if she has:
*Pancreatic Disfunction (ex: Cystic Fibrosis)
*Celiac
*a number of stomach disorders

We were also informed that she needs to be getting out-patient care from a Speech Therapist (she was diagnosed with a chronic oral aversion this week - she won't and never has eaten anything from a utensil and has steadily decreased what she will eat to bread. They've told us this goes much deeper then just normal "pickiness".) On top of that, we've been told she needs to see a Physical Therapist (an Occupational Therapist came in to determine if she was delayed developmentally due to all this sickness and noticed that her hips are overcompensating, and her knees aren't in alignment with her feet when she walks). I however cannot even begin to focus on any of this until she's well...it will be placed on the back burner this month.

2011-01-21T15:04:00.000-08:00

This is a copy of an email I sent out earlier - it's the latest update on how Lillie is doing.

Hi friends,
I'm home for a short while...showering, eating without a toddler sitting on my lap, and doing my best to update everyone in the quickest form possible - hence this email! :-) Thank you to everyone who has been praying! Chad and I have truly felt such peace since Lillie Anna was admitted to Wolfson's...I think a large part of that peace is coming from the prayers that you all are sending up for us. We are confident that Lillie is in the best hands she can be in - our Heavenly Father's!

Here's the latest update:
The Upper GI test showed nothing abnormal - meaning they saw no blockage or twist in her intestines.
The Infectious Disease tests they sent off came back normal - meaning she has no infection in her intestines or stool.
The Parasite tests came back normal - meaning she does NOT have Giardia, E. Coli, etc.
The problem is that her stomach is still full of something (they don't know what, yet), and any time she eats anything, her tummy becomes dangerously distended and she begins having gosh-awful diahrea. Ex: Yesterday, after not eating anything for 24 hours, she was given a handful of cheerios (which she nearly choked on from trying to swallow so quickly). Within 1 minute of swallowing the cheerio's, she began having diahrea and her stomach swelled up and became rock hard. She then proceeded throughout the rest of the night to have SEVEN diahrea diapers....all from that handful of cheerio's. Unfortunately, the same exact thing happened today...she went 24 hours without eating, swallowed a few handful of cheerio's, and voila - distended/rock hard stomach and chronic diahrea. As you can imagine, if she were doing this at home without the i.v. fluids 24/7, she would be at a severe deficit.

SO, we've been told that Lillie will most likely (at the very least) be kept in the hospital over the weekend to continue receiving fluids while they try to let her eat a normal diet. We're meeting with a Gastrointerologist tomorrow to discuss how to proceed from here. They've fore-warned us today that Lillie will possibly have to have an Endoscopy on Monday, as well as an MG Tube to reduce the swelling in her stomach. They are currently looking in to Mal-Absorption Diseases (ex: Celiac) and I'm sure the Gastrointerologist will have suggestions on where we go from here. Chad and I have begun wondering about the possibility of Crohn's Disease or something along those lines, and are planning to ask the doctor all of our questions tomorrow.

The staff at Wolfson's is incredibly thorough and kind and I've been assured by several doctor's that they will NOT send her home unless they know what is going on. Brooke Caplin's (the CBS Ministry leader in Orange Park) daughter is on staff at Wolfson's and has been so kind to drop by and give us updates today - I nearly cried when I saw her this afternoon...she shared that she'd been going out of her way to follow-up with Lillie's team of doctor's to try and get details and answers for us. Such a kind thing to do, especially considering how busy she is!

My friend, Jamie, will most likely continue to update y'all as we learn something new. It's very hard for me to write out a detailed email on my IPhone, so I have been so thankful that Jamie has taken time out of her very busy schedule to continue to update all of you...she's much more eloquent then I am, so sorry if this is harder to read then her emails have been. :-) Thank you again for your prayers, comments, phone calls, texts, emails and hospital visits. We love you all!

2011-01-09T12:37:00.000-08:00

BUTTERFLY KISSES...
Sorry for the major sun spot right in the center of this photo...

Rauly finally grasped the idea that she cannot marry her daddy...she began asking Chad a LOT of questions about marriage yesterday morning while we were all cuddling in bed. And although we've told her a few times that she can't marry Chad, it finally clicked in her head and there was a sadness that came over her that just broke our hearts. She is SUCH a daddy's girl. She'd much rather be with Chad over me - she'd go to Home Depot/Lowes with Chad in a heart beat over going to the mall with her momma'! The conversation the three of us had got me thinking about the song "Butterfly Kisses". Time passes so quickly, and I know before long, Chad will be walking her down the aisle...wishing we could turn back time and return to the morning that Rauly was wishing she could marry her daddy.

I'm so incredibly thankful that I married a man that my daughter wants to marry...I'm so thankful that I married a man that our daughter thinks hangs the moon. Rauly trusts her daddy completely with her heart, (as do I), and it means so much to me just knowing that she has Chad to model what kind of man she should marry one day. It won't be easy to find someone who measures up, but I trust he's out there...let's hope he's a tough one too, cause' Rauly's going to need someone who can keep up with (and control occasionally) her spunk. ;-)

This is the garage that Chad has been working on for the past few weeks! It needs a few more full days of work, but it's nearly finished. I took "before/after" pics of the yard, but that will have to be another post. :-) (Notice it's RAULY assisting him, not Shep. This is typical - Shep is our book worm...he'd much prefer to stay inside and read or play the computer, then work outside with tools. Oh well, at least Chad has Rauly to enjoy those things with! haha!)

And on a different note, we have grass! Finally!

2011-01-06T08:00:00.001-08:00

First day of school...Take 2!!

Shep bounced in to our room this morning saying his belly was all better and he was ready to go to school. I stared at him a few seconds and then sputtered out "who are you and what have you done with my son?!". You see, Shep has NOT been looking forward to going to school...he's been anxious, nervous and dreading the LONG hours that public school requires (smart boy, he knows he can get all his school work done at home in less then 2 hours a day). So, imagine my surprise when he bounced in to my room like Tigger and showed ENTHUSIASM about the prospect of school.

His virus was short-lived...it only lasted a few hours and although it had been a little less then 24 hours since he had been better, I decided we needed to get on board with HIS enthusiasm and let him start today. I know, I know!...you're suppossed to wait a full 24 hours and I know!, I know!...I'm totally being THAT mom! :-/ Does it make you feel any better to know that I've never been "that mom" before??...oh well, there's a first time for everything.
So here's some pics of my two lil' side-kicks...kickin' each other around. :-) Rauly played the part of Chad today...being perfectly light-hearted and keepin' Shep smiling. (Chad left for south Florida today so he couldn't be there to walk Shep in with me.) When we got to Shep's class, Rauly boldly waved to everyone and said "Hi!" to all the kids in the hallway, and then proceeded to walk in Shep's class as if it were her own! LOL! I had to call her back out (which got a scowl...she truly wanted to stay!).

Shep and I had already had our morning prayer times and cuddles, and had already talked about what today might be like. I gave him a big ol' hug before we got to the school so that he wouldn't feel like I was embarrassing him if I tried to love on him in front of his classmates. And boy am I glad I did, because when we got to his classroom, he just walked right in...I hollered out "Bye Shep" and he hollered over his shoulder "c-ya later!". And that was that. My little boy was spreading his wings and I left trusting that he was in very good hands.

2011-01-05T07:02:00.001-08:00

1st Day of School...Take 1!

There's his cool, new bag.
(Jenny, this pic is for you - we love our new frame!)
And, there's the puny, little boy. Ok...so a stomach bug is definitely NOT the best way to start your 1st day at school. Bummer! Hopefully "Take 2" will follow shortly....

2010-12-29T18:57:00.000-08:00

If only you could've heard the squeals of the kids as they leaped out of the van to run to the backyard! Shep and Rauly had already watched a video of us showing them their two BIG presents - their playground and trampoline, so when we got home from Callaway, they were ready to play with their new toys! The solid 48 hours that Chad, Rick and Randy put in to this backyard haven was well worth it - the kids have not stopped begging to play outside since we've come home. HALLELULIA!!!!!!!!!

I added this pic of Linda and Rauly from Sunday morning just because I love it! :-)

This thing is awesome! It has a clubhouse, a picnic table, sand box, monkey bars, rock wall, swings, a tower and a spotting scope...makes me wish I was a kid!

And I have to admit...I may have bounced on this as much as the kids. hehe!

2010-12-27T11:21:00.000-08:00

2011....bring it!

I hesitated to share this on my blog, but ultimately decided that this is reality. I want my kids to know that life is not all sunshine and roses...that they will have good years, and bad. And since this is something that will be passed down to them one day, I've decided to post it on here.

I guess you could say that 2010 has thrown our family some curve balls. Starting with our feeling led to change churches. This was a HUGE decision for our family - our church congregation has always been like our physical family...we pour ourselves in to the body of believers that we've been planted in and stick there like glue. But, after a series of events (that I won't go in to), we felt a very strong calling put on us to move on...and although we know we made the right choice, it was still very sad. Add to that the fact that we haven't felt a firm calling to any particular congregation in our city, has made this calling that much harder. Many people feel strongly that you should not leave a church body unless you're feeling specifically led to another church body...and Chad and I usually would've felt inclined to agree with that thought. However, this circumstance was different and so this is where we're at...a very raw place of asking the Lord where He wants us...after several months of not knowing, we're very ready for this revelation!

That was the first curve ball...and it was quickly followed up by my step-father being diagnosed with several forms of cancer. The Lord has been so good to both my mom and Mike throughout this extremely hard journey! He has blessed my mom with healing of her back/neck and she is now fully able to take on all the responsibilities that Mike had been helping her with. She's also been able to step up with her business and recently found out that she is one of the top Realtors in Central Arkansas. Her and Mike have been incredibly optimistic and faithful over the past several months and have continued to put their trust in the Lord. Knowing how well they are doing (most minutes of the day), has helped me - I can't tell you how difficult it has been to live 15 hours away during a time that I know both my mom and Mike could use an extra set of hands and occasionally, a shoulder to cry on. I'd like nothing more then to be able to drop everything to be with them, but have been so blessed to watch Little Rock Church be the hands and feet of God...they've been such a source of strength for my mom and Mike and I'm eternally grateful for the way they have blessed my parents!

Shortly after this second curve ball, we were thrown a series of curve balls...Shepherd broke his arm (the day before Swim Team began). And a few months after that, he developed Spinal Meningitis (again),...and a few weeks after that, he developed an infection in his Chest Wall. And after that, we were referred to an Immune Specialist. Such a scary time! But, throughout it all, the Lord revealed some practical ways we could be helping Shepherd (through diet alone) and since making these very simple changes, he has not been sick since...except for a minor stomach bug over Thanksgiving.

And towards the end of the curve balls that were thrown at Shepherd, Lillie Anna was thrown her fair share. In 5 weeks time, she was diagnosed with Pneumonia, two sets of double ear infections, had two rounds of stomach bug, and was in general, the most miserable little 15 month old ya' ever did see! Thank you Lord for the fact that the third antibiotic is FINALLY working it's magic...our sweet punkin' is returning! :-)

And the final curve ball of this year is our decision to enroll Shepherd in to school beginning in January of 2011. After all of these bumps in the road, I have felt emotionally drained, spiritually depleted, and physically exhausted...not a good combination for a mother trying to home school her child. I've tried and tried to push through these feelings because I know feelings are fleeting. I've also tried to push through because I soooooo believe in what I've been doing - I've loved my beautiful curriculum (that I did HOURS of research on!), and have treasured the sweet moments I've had over the past 1.5 years with Shepherd. He's been the best little student a momma' could ever ask for! This was not an easy decision, nor was it made overnight. But, both Chad and I agree that this will be good for our entire family...we wouldn't be doing it otherwise.

Chad and I have had many wonderful years where we felt like the sun has shown on our faces 365 days out of the year, and this just wasn't one of those years. Someone said to me at CBS this year "You're different this year...you're so quiet!" I just looked at her and wanted to say "I'm tired, lady!"....but she was 70 somethin', and ya' gotta respect your elders, right? :-) Instead, I grinned, nodded my head and said it's been "one of those years". Truth is, I've tried reeeaaally hard to keep a smile on my face and my chin up, so I was surprised this woman was observant enough to notice! I know that there are many people who have had a MUCH more challenging, exhausting and overall, hard year. I've counted my blessings and although I've accepted that it's been difficult at times, I've tried not focusing on it. 2010 wasn't all bad - not even remotely! Chad's business is doing great, and our little family is closer now then we've ever been. Life is tipsy-turvy...it's up-n-down. We just have to hope for the best and pray that the Lord will cover us with His grace as we handle what is thrown our way.

So, this year I may have been quieter...but, I'm still here! I'll suffice it to say...we're definitely ready to close 2010 and say Hello to 2011!

2010-12-27T11:02:00.000-08:00

Christmas at Callaway
Dennis and Linda have begun a tradition of traveling to Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain,GA on Christmas Eve and staying a few days in a cabin. It's such a beautiful tradition and a much appreciated gift! The kids look forward to this holiday all. year. long. Seriously, as we were pulling out of Pine Mountain on Sunday, they were already asking when we would get to come back!

Lillie got to meet Santa...she wasn't impressed. And as you can see by Shep's body language, he wasn't all that impressed either...I thought at any moment he was going to just kick back and lounge on Santa's bench! :-)

On Christmas Eve, Chad and Jenny have begun a tradition of creating a Ginger Bread House with the kids - I usually am watching the baby (the first year we did it, Rauly was 1 year old, last year Lillie was a few months old, and this year, Lillie was 15 months!) so I just snap the pics once it's complete. :-)

On Christmas morning, after the presents have been torn open, we all head over to the Lodge to eat breakfast...and boy is it YUMMY!

We had a great time creating some sweet memories. We rode the Trolley through the Festival In Lights, played card games and sang Christmas carols, and had story hour (thx to Linda), and ate way too much delicious, homemade food. And it was extra magical when the snow began to fall on Christmas day - every child's Christmas wish! :-) Thank you again Dennis and Linda for treating us all to such a nice getaway (again)!

2010-12-21T07:44:00.000-08:00

All we want for Christmas is a healthy baby girl!

As you can see from the pics below, Lillie Anna is still sick. :-( But that's not what I want to focus on...our lil' sweet pea is on meds that should have her better by Christmas. What'd I'd like to focus on instead, is how incredibly proud I am of Shepherd and Rauly!

One of the blessings of having multiple children, is that the older children learn to put their siblings needs ahead of their own. There's not much sweeter then a child whose heart is bent towards kindness and patience...and having a toddler around (especially a SICK toddler) is a sure-fire way for a child to practice those fruits of the spirit! Over the past five weeks, Shep and Rauly have jumped at every opportunity to help me. Shep especially has a servant's heart - he's just naturally inclined to offer to help me clean, or grab wet wipes, or entertain Lillie if she's fussy. Rauly has different gifts then her brother. She's more inclined to nurture and love on Lillie...Shep is the entertainer, while Rauly is the comforter. And Rauly has been rewarded all day today by Lillie Anna wanting to lie in her lap and put her head on Rauly's shoulder.

The past five weeks would've been much more challenging if I hadn't had Shep and Rauly around to help ease my load - they've been such a blessing this month, both to me AND their baby sister. I'm so thankful for the gifts God gave each of them!

2010-12-19T09:22:00.000-08:00

OREGON
I travelled to Oregon this week for my brother. It was NOT easy to make this trip happen...I had to leave Chad with the kids during a very busy week with his business and a very busy week with the kids schedules...it was an inconvenience to him and his parents/sis (who volunteered to take off work or leave early from work). They had to shuffle their schedules around and so did I...it added stress to an already stressful environment! But, it was the right thing to do. I cherish my brother and I value marriage...and it just wasn't an option to miss his wedding!

So, I got on a plane with Lillie Anna (who I thought was all better) and made the exhausting flight to Oregon. I was thrown-up on multiple times during my 5.5 hour flight (horrible, awful experience that I pray I never go through again) and then dealt with her Diahrea (which came back with a vengeance and led to her having a very raw booty) the rest of the week. Also dealt with sleepless nights...LA decided she wanted to wake up at 2am every morning - so I got to know the janitor in the hotel kitchen REAL well that week. :-/ This week, Lillie also got her back, top molars - I thought those didn't come in till the age of two??? It was kind of like our Thanksgiving trip...sounds awful, but yet somehow we still managed to have a good time. :-)

SO, on to the good stuff! :-) First things first....
The wedding
The only picture I snapped of the two of them after their ceremony was with Jacob withOUT his shoes on. Oh brother! ;-p The ceremony was very sweet, reverent, and it brought tears to my eyes. They only invited their immediate families and one couple which was their closest friends. Afterwards, we headed over to a Japanese restaraunt where we met about 25 of their closest family and friends. The food was delicious, and after we ate, Jacob and Kate cut their wedding cake, and then stuffed eachother's faces with it. Gotta' love tradition. :-)

Amelia Kai
This lil' angel made me an aunt...oh happy day! I'm in love with her jet black hair and her loooooong dainty fingers. She is BEAUTIFUL and I intend to spoil that little bambino rotten! Jacob and Kate are great with her - patient, and attentive, and they are soooooo deeply in love with their little girl.

John, Akiko and Kate
This week, I had the great pleasure of meeting Jacob's wife, Kate and her parents, John and Akiko. John was born and raised in Portland,OR while his wife (Akiko) was born and raised in Japan. They met in Portland, fell in love, and got married...and later on, they had their daughter, Kate. It was neat to observe the two of them...to watch how their two cultures have meshed. John and Akiko blew me away by their kindness and generosity...they showered us with gifts and meals and were incredibly welcoming. I was also very touched by the way they were with one another...very tender, respectful and loving. Having been married for over 30 years, they're a great example to Jacob and Kate of what it takes to make a marriage work!

Kate is really an incredible girl with a big heart, a laid back personality and a VERY smart mind. She speaks 5 languages (3 fluently)...my jaw dropped when I heard that. She balances Jacob out well and the two of them are very cute together. I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to go up to Oregon to spend the week with her and her family!

Justin and Brook
Justin and Brook are my Nannie's sons. They grew up in Jonesboro (which is 2.5 hours north of Little Rock), so we saw them often throughout the year. I have so many memories of these two...they were the most attentive and protective big cousins a gal could ever ask for! They acted more like big brothers (minus the annoyance) and I never once doubted that I was loved and special to them. When I was a teenager, they moved to Colorado...and when I was in college, they moved even FARTHER, to Oregon. :-( Because of the distance, it's been nearly 10 years since I last saw Brook, and about 5 years since I last saw Justin, so I was practically bubbling over with excitement to get to hang out with them this week. We had a big ol' group hug before I left and I really hope it won't be another 5-10 years before our next reunion!

The Countryside
And when we weren't sitting around visiting with our loved ones, Mom and I were travelling the Oregon countryside. There were so many breath-taking, awe inspiring places to see. We visited Cannon Beach, Multnomah Falls, Hood River, the Columbia River, drove through the Gorge and saw different parts of downtown Portland. I don't know how you can see the snow capped mountains, the waterfalls, the beautiful evergreens, and the rivers and NOT know that there is a God.

2010-12-18T17:20:00.000-08:00

My baby brother...at the age of 3.5, he was my little love. He was "my baby". I know Jacob as he once was...an adorable, sweet hearted, honest and occasionally...ok, oftentimes, annoying little boy. :-) It was an honor to travel to Oregon to see the man he is growing in to...the husband and father he now is, and the friend he is becoming to me. We shared private jokes, remembered family feuds and shared many joys throughout this week. At times, I stared at him in awe of the time that has gone by...my little brother...he's now holding his daughter in the palm of his hand gushing over how beautiful her eyes are (and they are gorgeous!). I love you, Jacob and will forever be one of your fiercest protectors and loudest cheerleaders! May God bless you, Kate and Amelia Kai as you go grow your little family.

2010-12-11T06:16:00.000-08:00

It's the annual Gingerbread House day with Mrs. Hoch!

Each year, when the weather turns cold and the christmas music starts playing on the radio, the kids at Rauly's preschool begin to anticipate something very special. Ginger Bread House building day with Mrs. Hoch! She transforms a room in to a winter wonderland and creates the most magical atmosphere, complete with fake snow, and every candy imaginable! This year may have been the best...possibly it had something to do with the fact that all three of my children were able to participate which was really special.

Rauly was very precise and knew exactly how she wanted it to look. There was no globbing or blobbing...each move she made was thought out. Her house turned out beautifully. :-)

I was very touched this year. Mrs. Hoch (whom I'm grown to love over the past 4 years) knew that there would be a few siblings (one being Shep) and she had him all set up with his own Gingerbread House to build. Shepherd was really excited to get to join in the fun! (And in case you can't tell "more is aaaaalways better" with Shepherd.)

Here's Lillie Anna, enjoying her 2nd...or 3rd...or maybe even 4th cookie?

These beautiful children are used to being told to "smile pretty". After a procession of camera flashes and perfect poses from each one of them, I finally hollered out "make your goofiest face EVER"...and this is what they gave us. Seriously? Seeing how "unsilly" they were, it made me want to stand on my head and get them to belly laugh...maybe I'll save that for graduation photo's. ;-p Seriously though, these sweet children are well behaved and quiet when they're suppossed to be - I am continuously impressed with Rauly's bunch of friends. :-)

2010-12-04T15:23:00.000-08:00

This is the final birthday post - scouts honor! :-) Rauly's birthday party was at Ollie Koala's this morning. It was a great way to end her birthday week! NOW,...time to start focusing on Christmas!

2010-12-03T12:23:00.000-08:00

I'm the King of the world!!!!!!!!!!

That is what Shep was screaming at the top of his lungs today as he jumped from dirt pile, to dirt pile. Chad's garage that he's building in the back yard required several loads of dirt to be brought in (for the slab) and they aren't leveling it till tomorrow. So, this afternoon Shep was begging with his voice, and pleading with his eyes for us to let him go roll around in it. I must admit,...I almost said "no" because Molly Maid came yesterday - my house is pristinely clean! But, I remember the clay hills my mom used to take me and my brother to...it was a magical place that we could get FILTHY on, and when I thought of that, I just couldn't say no. So, Shep and Rauly put on their old clothes and rolled around in the dirt for a while...jumping, leaping, sliding, falling...it was quite a sight to see! :-)

2010-12-01T16:14:00.000-08:00

Lawd have mercy!!!...puhleeeease!

Our 15 month old is normally quiet, content and sweet as sugar! But this virus has wreaked havoc on her temperment. For the past 12 days, she has been cranky, clingy, fussy, whiny, and LOUD in all four of the above categories! On top of the oh-so-fun-and-never-ending-virus, she also had a few unfortunate meetings with the floor...or rather, her TEETH had a few unfortunate meetings with the floor. After two bad falls, she wound up chipping and jamming her upper right tooth. Not only did she chip it AND jam it (all the way back up in her gums), she also managed to turn it sideways. Y'OUCH! Our Pediatrician told us to prepare for her tooth to come out yellow or gray...(picture me cringing right now). And UNTIL the lovely grayish/yellow tooth decides to drop back down, we may have to deal with THIS lovely temperment...yay.

2010-11-30T17:49:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving in Arkansas/Missouri!

Most people think Chad and I are c-r-a-z-y for making a 15 hour trek to Arkansas with all three kids a couple times per year. Honestly, there were a few moments on this particular trip that I would've agreed! In fact, I think I may have muttered under my breath on the trip back to Florida that we would NEVER do this again.

But, we make the trip for this...

...and as crazy as it may seem, the smiles in that picture make it all worth it!

We also went for this!....

...and this!

My mom and Mike have begun a tradition of travelling to Missouri every other year for Thanksgiving. We stay at the Big Cedar Lodge which over-looks Table Rock Lake. It's gorgeous and something special to look forward to throughout the year!

And despite some of the worst luck I've ever experienced (our family came down with a stomach virus the night after we arrived which lasted the ENTIRE trip), we still managed to make some good memories. :-)

We played at the park (before "Virus Round 1" began) on Friday morning...

They rode motorcycles at my dad's...

They rode horses (after "Virus Round 1" had hit and before "Virus Round 2 began")...

...they swam a few hours...(after "Virus Round 2" ended)...

AND, they got to see snow on Thanksgiving day! It was Rauly's first time to EVER see snow, so despite the fact that she was sick just minutes before the snow began, she still perked up considerably when we told her she could go run through the snow flurries!

It was an exhausting, somewhat frustrating trip, and we cut it short because Lillie was beginning to get sick (for the THIRD time). But as you can see - we still managed to enjoy ourselves. Here's a few more pictures from our time in Arkansas....hopefully next time we're there, we'll get to see more friends and family!

2010-11-30T09:58:00.001-08:00

Today was Rauly's birthday celebration with her classmates! We came in to hand out some goodie bags, sing "happy birthday" and give out cupcakes. I am so pleased with her classmates this year (well, I have been every year!...but especially this year). She has a class full of quiet, well-behaved children and her teacher is very soft-spoken and sweet. Most of these children have older siblings that enrolled when I was the Director, so I've seen their older siblings graduate into Kindergarten and 1st grade. It's really neat to now see who I remember as the "babies" in the 4 year old program! !

2010-11-29T15:41:00.000-08:00

Rauly's like a magnet....she simply draws people in. It's always been intriguing to me that she's most drawn to horses...such a free-spirited, wild-at-heart animal. Her feisty spirit and spunky personality must recognize something familiar in her horsey-friends. :-) Five years ago, on November 30th, Rauly was born - how glad we are for that! We love you Rauly-girl, happy 5th birthday!

2010-11-15T11:26:00.000-08:00

Aunt Jenny
The kids adore Jenny...adore! She lavishes love on them and allows them to believe that they are her world...truly, they think that. She's gentle and patient and incredibly tender-hearted with them. She took Shepherd took the Imax Theater a few weeks ago to see a Dinosaur movie and Rauly was crushed that "her Jenny" wasn't taking her too. Jenny WOULD'VE taken her had I not put my foot down and said "no"!...it's good for them to have one-on-one time with her from time to time rather then having to fight for her attention....and fight over her they do! You'd think she were a toy the way they vie for her attention!

Jenny has set the bar for all aunt's out there and she's set it high! My kids are eternally blessed to be a part of her life and to be able to say proudly "that's MY Aunt Jenny!". So Jenny, thank you for the gift you give of yourself. We love you!

2010-11-09T08:46:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking lately about all the ways that different people in my life have touched my heart, and changed me, and helped make me the person I am today. I do believe that we can learn something from just about every person we meet (whether it's good or bad), and so I wanted to do a short tribute to a few of those women...a small thank you for sharing nuggets of truth without even knowing it. For teaching me life lessons and valuable examples on how to live life to the fullest - I'm very grateful for these women (and so many more!). If any of you reading this happen to know even one of these girls, you're blessed!

My momma (Gina Harmon) has taught me a lot...many of my mannerisms belong to her...many of my facial expressions and voice tones...many of my quirks (some good, some bad) come from her, and many of my values were learned from her. But one of the best things that I got from my mom is a desire to laugh...in fact, I think that has already passed down to our fun-loving Shepherd. My mom laughs (hysterically laughs) more than any person I know...she doesn't even need anyone around to start laughing because she'll just laugh at herself. I love that about her and I love that she passed that love of laughter down to me. Sometimes I will embarrass myself from laughing out loud, but I usually catch myself and think "why the heck should I be embarrassed for expressing joy?". In a stressed out and highly depressed society, laughter is truly good for the soul!

Linda and Jenny (Chad's mom and sister) have both taught me what a "gentle spirit" looks like. I have watched them over the years and often times have been in awe of their gentle ways. I am NOT a gentle person...I'm loud and oftentimes impatient and can be a bit gruff and because of that, I'm more aware of their gentle touches and calm demeanor - it's so feminine and beautiful and I really do love that about them. Rauly takes after these two women in many ways and I'm very thankful for that!

Amy Bell taught me what true optimism is. This girl is like a walking ray of sunshine...she just spreads joy wherever she goes! It was such a blessing to be her roommate in college - truly, it is impossible to not get along with her. She taught me to always try and look at the bright side of life and because that is NOT my true nature, she really stretched me...even though I don't think she ever knew she was doing it at the time. Her attitude was inspiring and I've tried my best over the years to continue to allow her attitude to rub off on me. On that note, I'll add a smiley face! :-)

Melissa Hicks is one of the most conservative minded friends I have...many people think of the word "judgemental" when they think of ultra-conservative, and yet she is the one who taught me what it means to be accepting of others. Not just tolerant...but truly accepting. When I say this though, I'm not referring to sinful lifestyles. Melissa has a strong value system that is based on scripture and her values and beliefs aren't easily swayed...when I say she's accepting, I am referring to physical appearances and personalities and people's upbringing's that make each person an individual. I can remember a conversation we had in college about something...I don't remember who we were talking about or what we were talking about, but I was venting about someone and her response was "Linds, that's just how they are.". So simple...so true... She understands very clearly that each person is made unique and different and that we are all children of God...no one person is the same in personality or appearances and that is OK! So, through the years, she's gently reminded me that we are called to love everyone and accept them where they are at. Everyone has their own fair share of life hurdles, and she's had some incredibly tough ones to walk through...she's handle each one with grace, dignity, poise and many times I've look upon her with awe. I'm grateful for the example she's given so many in the area's of perseverance, forgiveness and agape love.

Jamie Graston has taught me what it means to be authentic. She is one of the "coolest" girls I know - she makes the two roles of being a home school mom and housewife extremely attractive! She's just a beautiful person (inside and out) and she naturally spreads beauty and eloquence wherever she goes. She is true to herself..again...it's a simple concept but NOT an easy thing to. And although she may not know it, she's encouraged me to be more confident in who God made me and in the roles in which God has called me to. She's actually taught me a WHOLE lot more because this girl is overflowing in biblical/parental/marital wisdom. The bible says "If you walk the wise you will grow wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm." I have grabbed on to Jamie and clung to this girl - she's going to have to stick wtih me for life whether she wants to or not because I love her dearly! :-p She makes the choice to daily die to self as she serves her family,...she also makes the daily choice to fall deeper in love with the Lord (despite the chaos that surrounds her). Well, I could go on and on about all the ways I love this girl and all the ways that make her special, but I'd be here all day, so I'll just suffice it to say that Jamie is a gift from God!

Jennifer Sherman has continued to amaze me over the past three years. The more I get to know her and see the direction her life is going, I'm simply amazed at how God has continued to change her, and grow her, and use her. She has taught me just how much God can affect not only one person but an ENTIRE family (parents, siblings, children, grandparents) if we would simply allow ourselves to be used...isn't that what God promises??...a complete and total transformation? The old life is gone forever! Jennifer has also taught me about humility...she has learned how to be confident in who she is in CHRIST...not who she is in herself. She is very uncomfortable when others try and build her up or compliment her and reminds everyone that anything good that comes from her comes because of CHRIST in her. Pride is the downfall of many, but I know it will never be hers!

Mary Beth Picker and Shannon Kneisley have both taught me the same thing. That abundant blessings can and will come when you make the choice to step out in faith and follow God's will for your life. These women have both adopted two children (from two different countries) and have shared their stories with Chad and I. They are inspiring and blessed to the point of overflowing...not with restful sleep, or quiet organized afternoons...but rather with the peace that comes in knowing that they said "yes" to the Lord. These ladies have serious jewels awaiting their crowns one day in Heaven!

I could name a few more who have touched my heart and left a lasting impression, and I might one day...but not today. I've absolutely got to get off this computer now. :-) So to each of the ladies I mentioned today (and to those of you who I haven't mentioned yet!) - thank you for being the person God created you to be!

2010-11-07T17:41:00.001-08:00

In Meemaw and Peepaw's wonderland...

...the kids explore...

...gather trinkets from shelves...

...and allow themselves to create anything their hearts can imagine.

They receive kisses from Henry...

...eat way too much good home-cookin' (thanks to Linda!)...

...and then head outside to do some more exploring...

We love Meemaw and Peepaw and are so thankful that their house is full of wonder!

*Btw: I just happened to have taken a lot of pictures on Sunday - I promise I really do change the girls clothes. ;-p

2010-11-07T11:46:00.001-08:00

Sisters, Sisters, there were never such devoted sisters...

Rauly and Lillie Anna have embarked on a journey together...a journey that will I'm sure include (one day) sharing lipstick, jeans and hopefully a lot of love. They've recently discovered they can play with one another, and baby dolls are the toy of choice! Rauly dresses them while Lillie brushes their hair...then they take turns rocking them or holding them...it's a site to see! After church today, Rauly asked me where my Maya Wrap was...she wanted to put her baby in a "comfort hold" position! LOL! So, I gave her my shawl to wrap her and Lillie's baby up. Between my shawl and their baby doll, the girls entertained themselves for quite a while. :-)

2010-11-07T05:41:00.000-08:00

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (Matt. 6:28-29)

When we chose Lillie Anna's name, we had this scripture in mind. We were dwelling on God's infinite wisdom and his promise of provision, and we felt this scripture painted the perfect picture (and reminder) of both. We weren't planning to get pregnant with Lillie Anna, and were initially nervous about adding to our family, but God KNEW what our family and what this world needed.

We've unintentionally tested the Lord over the past few years. I felt called to homeschool and was TERRIFIED...would I have enough patience?...would I have enough knowledge?...would we have enough money to purchase the proper curriculum? God has answered each question with a resounding -YES-! The peace that has come from stepping out on that leap of faith and following the Lord's guiding has been incredible...not once have I regretted that decision! Don't get me wrong, it hasn't been easy all the time, but if you know what you're doing has God's stamp of approval, then the decision to push through the bad days is worth every second! And the personal growth I've seen in my own life...I tell ya', easy peaceful days won't stretch you...days where your patience is tried, your endurance is tested, your knees are forced to bend to the ground in prayer for grace...THAT is where the real blessings come!

Another way we unintentionally tested the Lord's provision was the day Chad and I decided I needed to quit working at the preschool and lean solely on Chad's business so that I could focus on our home. Scary doesn't even cover it! I can't tell you how many people approached me with words of fear - they weren't trying to be unGodly, but human nature says lean on YOURSELF...human nature says trust the TANGIBLE. My own boss sat me down and said he was very worried about me losing my income if I quit because of the economy...I loved my boss dearly and he cared about our family - but He wasn't trusting that the Lord was BIGGER then the stock market. Despite these concerns, we trusted the Lord and in the past two years, we have watched Chad's business grow to the point of him having to hire multiple employees...he's now working in Georgia and South Carolina and is covering the entire state of Florida. I don't share that with pride, but to praise the Lord and encourage anyone who is feeling led to step out in faith...if God is leading you to something, He'll see you through it!

And lastly, our little Lillie Anna. The Lord knew we needed her - He knew she would be the perfect fit with our family. He knew she would spread joy and peace and that she would be yet another example of the Lord always being with us. As I said earlier, we were nervous...would we survive the sleepless nights?...would our house be large enough for three children?...would our finances stretch to feed another mouth? These fears seem humorous now! Although I could never lie and say that the past two years have been a breeze, I can say that Chad and I are stronger in our faith and are so much more grounded on what truly matters in this life. We know where our help comes from!

So, with Lillie's precious life has come some real soul searching. What have we closed our hearts to out of fear? We've been in prayer that God will use us as His hands and feet...but where, and how? We pray for clean hearts, a right spirit and that He will draw us in to His spirit and reveal how He desires to use us!

2010-11-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

Have Spaghetti Noodles ever looked so yummy and yet so gross all at the same time?

2010-11-04T12:01:00.000-07:00

How far will I have to go?

This afternoon, I went from standing in my kitchen (where I stared at the counter top for about 20 minutes) to lying in my bed (where I eventually fell asleep after staring at the all for another 20 minutes). As I was staring at the walls, I was thinking in my head "how far will I have to go with this???"

We wound up in the hospital with Shepherd again on Tuesday. While I was exersising on the treadmill, one of the workers hurried in to the gym and said that Shepherd had been sobbing from pain he was feeling in his chest. Wha??? A few hours later, we were in the ER having chest x-rays taken. Shepherd's pediatrician had told me to prepare for him to be admitted - with his history of illness, he felt Shep had most likely contracted Pneumonia. Imagine my surprise when they said his lungs were clear but that the muscles surrounding his lungs were very inflamed...they diagnosed him with Chostochondritis! The very mild "cold virus" he'd had this past week worked its way in to his chest wall and the pain he was feeling is apparently worse then child birth - many adults with Chostochondritis compare the pain to that of a heart attack/stroke. What in the world!!!!!

I had promised myself that if it was in my control, we would never step foot in the hospital again for Shep's illnesses...and here it was less than 3 weeks later and we were being admitted in to the hospital. It was an all time low point. I called one of my friends from the hospital to let her know what was going on and for the first time in a long time, I couldn't even fake it...I wanted to weep, I wanted to hit something,...I wanted to throw my hands up in the air and scream "I GIVE UP!". But of course I can't - it's my son, and I have to keep fighting this battle for him.

So, we're home and I'm reading every bit of literature I can find on health/nutrition and vitamins. I'm getting REAL drastic with our diet. Thus the question: "How far am I willing to go with this???". I could nix dairy, sugar, and go 100% raw...but the battles which would ensue would be major...so I'm thinking baby steps...well, maybe toddler steps.

Today Shepherd is doing good - he's out of breath easily...he skipped in to the school room this morning and was panting and said his heart hurt. I can't tell you how much it pains me to hear my six year old boy say that. I'm committed to doing whatever it takes to making him better....even if that means turning in to a rabbit and eating carrots and lettuce 3 meals a day.

2010-11-01T07:56:00.000-07:00

Halloween 2010!
We asked Shepherd what his Indian name should be and he came up with "Lego Pirates"...ok????
Jasmine Princess...I know, her make-up scares me too! lol!
Lillie Anna didn't get a costume this year because I knew she would HATE it...she doesn't like bows or hats or sunglasses and an outfit that confined her movements would've driven her nuts. So, she went as herself...a cute adorable little toddler. :-)

Halloween is a controversial holiday...a lot of Christians (some that I'm very close to) have made the choice not to celebrate it, and I completely 100% respect that! My own parents allowed us to celebrate it for a few years before they too decided it was a holiday they would rather not honor. Now that Chad and I have our own family, we've discussed over the years whether or not we should celebrate it and ultimately (at least for now) have decided to keep it a part of our traditions.

What we love most about Halloween is the fellowship with our community. It's the ONLY time throughout the year where our children can go up to a total strangers door and be guaranteed to receive a smile, a friendly phrase and greeting, and receive a little trinket or candy. Each year after our exhausting night of going door-to-door, Chad and I have gone to bed having a little more faith in the individuals who make up our neighborhood/city. And that's what we focus on each year during the Halloween season...it's not about the candy (honestly we throw away nearly all of it)...it's not about the costumes (they can dress up any day of the year). For us, it's about fellowshipping with our community - allowing our kids an opportunity to trust that people are good and kind...in a time when we preach "don't talk to strangers", and "don't leave mommy's sight"...it's a refreshing break from the norm.

Here's some pictures of some of the sweet families that make up the Fleming Island community.

This picture makes me laugh out loud - I have no idea what just happened, but this woman's expression just cracks me up!

2010-10-30T17:18:00.000-07:00

I heart Disney! :-)
Here's a picture recap....we had several fun hours at Epcot!

We played in the Water Park at the Fountain's Resort...fun, fun!!

And we had several fun hours at Magic Kingdom. :-)

Despite Chad having to work the majority of the week that we were there (he had several jobs going on in Florida), we still managed to see him quite a bit, and when he wasn't there, we were relaxing in our beautiful room, or playing at the water park. It was truly a nice vacation - can't wait to go back!!!!!

2010-10-25T05:55:00.000-07:00

We spent Sunday afternoon on our new favorite island...Talbot Island. It's secluded, it's gorgeous, and it's got the perfect sized waves for the kids to surf and for me to be able to relax and not have a heart attack. :-) We feel as if we've discovered our own private paradise...as you drive over on to the island, it feels like you're stepping in to another world...Hugenot State Park is on the right, Talbot on the left and everywhere else you look is bright blue ocean water...it's INCREDIBLE!

I saved the best picture for last...so I realize it's just a headshot, but Chad was seriously our entertainment yesterday. He bought a Skim Board and was determined to figure out how to do it. I taught Chad how to water ski when we lived in Arkansas while we were in college...something that appears so easy (and comes SO naturally to me) was brutally hard for him - we learned very quickly that water skiing is something you need to learn to do when you're a CHILD. I seriously haven't laughed so hard (or encouraged so hard) since I watched him drowning in water while trying to water ski. Chad busted it on that Skim Board over and over and OVER again...and he is sooooo sore today and left the beach BLEEDING (chuckle, chuckle!!!). Seriously, we were bent over laughing so hard we were going hoarse while watching him attempt to land on that thing - but all his falls paid off - he finally got it! YAY CHAD!!!!!!!!!!!! :-p

2010-10-23T06:19:00.000-07:00

My dear friend from college came to spend the night with us last night and she brought along her sweet friend Patience. I've gotten to spend some time with Patience over the past few years when we've visited John and Melissa in Georgia, and am so glad that we got to see her again. She's got an incredibly sweet spirit and the three of us had a really great time just sitting on the couch and catching up on life!

There's not many friends who I feel completely comfortable with, but Melissa falls in to that category. It could be because we go so far back...she knew me when we lived in Arkansas (my hometown) - she's seen the house where I grew up and been to some of my old stompin' grounds. It could be because she knew me when Chad and I were dating (which I equate to childhood because let's face it - we may have felt "grown up" but we were sooooo immature!). It could be because we were both pregnant with our girls together - she had Kayden two weeks before Rauly was born. It could be because our husbands are best friends and played college football together...they bled together..sweated together...ate too much food together (lol!)...lifted weights together...cried together (sorry, had to throw that in boys!)....the fact of the matter is, Melissa and I would never have been friends had it not been for our husbands! I guess it's "all of the above" and so much more. But because of all these things, I feel like I can just let my hair down, walk around in p.j.'s, and be myself with her. And I really really love that.

And I really love her. :-)

2010-10-19T18:31:00.000-07:00

My cup runneth over!

Well, I'm like every other parent. I'm proud of my son...really really proud. And although it does warm my heart that he reminds me so much of myself (both in personality AND in looks), I'm proud of him because he's everything a mother could ask for - obedient, optimistic, kind, joyful, hard-working, tender-hearted, loving and thoughtful. Today he came in to my room while I was drifting off to sleep and he asked me if I needed anything...he was holding a glass of water and asked if I would like a drink. Shortly after I woke up from my nap, I walked back in to the living room and Shep was sitting next to Rauly (who was also napping) and he quietly informed me that he had covered her with a blanket so she would sleep better. And earlier this week, while we were doing his Bible study, one of the questions asked "how could you serve God wholeheartedly?"...he answered with this "I could show everyone that I still trust God, even though I've had to get a whole lotta' shots in my arm!".

We love our son and we know that God loves him too. We're convinced God has a very special plan for Shep and that His plan is already in the works. Our appointment with the Infectious Disease Doctor is November 18th. And until then, we are providing Shep with lots of opportunities throughout the day to eat healthy, whole foods...we're hopeful that alone will make a big difference in his ability to fight off viruses!

2010-10-12T06:22:00.000-07:00

Ramblings from a concerned momma'...

Thankfully, Shepherd's second round of Meningitis involved much less suffering than the first round. After two days in the hospital, they confirmed that he did NOT have bacterial, but rather, viral...therefore we got to come home. I still can't believe his diagnosis. After 4 days of a persistent (but seemingly mild headache), he began saying it hurt his head to walk. And within 12 hours, he went from having a mild headache, to a horrific one. We almost didn't go to the hospital...his neck wasn't stiff, he hadn't had any kind of cold/virus that we knew of...I was confident he couldn't have meningitis. But I was becoming concerned about swelling around his brain...especially when he began vomiting! But again, what in the heck would cause his brain to swell...right?!?! Chad was convinced it was just a virus...I was becoming convinced something was very wrong. So, after watching him for about two hours, I told Chad that we had to go to the hospital...I apologized in advance for the fact that I would probably be wrong...that he was probably fine...but I just couldn't take a chance!

I will never doubt my "mommy instincts" again!

...And having said that, I've officially become "that parent"...ya' know...the one who is over-protective?...over-worried?...over-cautious?...yup, that is now ME. Over the past six years, I've actively tried to be laid back about Shep's illnesses. Despite the fact that he's had more E.R. visits and Hospital stays than 10 adults COMBINED, I've really tried to NOT be paranoid. I've approached most of his illnesses with a sense of calm and have tried to shrug each infection/virus off as an odd coincidence or fluke....although in the back of mind I've inevitably looked at his peers (and his younger siblings) and wondered why no other children his age are being hit by the same illnesses as he's been hit.

After all, he LOOKS healthy...he's a physically strong, athletic and gorgeous little boy with a healthy appetite...he has more energy than the Energizer Bunny! So, the fact that a mere cold or mild virus or patch of eczema winds him up in the hospital is mind boggling to me.

And these are the thoughts that have been buzzing around my head for the past 3 days...I literally feel as if someone has blown smoke in my brain. Some friends dropped by to see if we needed anything last night, and I felt like such a space cadet...just staring at them with my mouth open and feeling completely unable to form a coherent thought. Because the truth is, that despite my seemingly calm facade, I'm inwardly flippin' out. He's my first born child...my only son...my sweet tender hearted little boy. And to think that we could be facing a lifetime of bizarre illnesses...to think that every time he sneezes, or complains of a headache or stomach ache, or leg ache that we will have to be on guard for something serious...it makes my head spin.

Selfishly I want to be thinking about which basketball team he's going to play on this Fall...NOT what sickness he could develop by playing on that basketball team. And I must admit to feeling extremely guilty...I am struggling with wondering what I did wrong while pregnant with him or when he was a newborn...did I fail to give him the nutrients his little body needed to develop a strong immune system?!

(sigh) So...these are my ramblings. We're currently waiting for the Immunity Test results to come back. We were told to start him on Purified Fish Oil and Kefir to begin fortifying his body. And while we wait...Shep gets to play Lego's, read books, and watch all the Disney movies he can handle! :-)

Lightning has struck twice...

2010-10-11T06:15:00.000-07:00

Lightning can most definitely strike the same place twice...something we have learned this week. In the past 6 years, Shepherd has now been diagnosed with Osteomyelitis in his left knee cap, Toxic Synovitus in his right hip joint, multiple ear/throat infections which have led to getting Tubes twice, two broken bones, asthma, and drum roll please...Spinal Meningitus TWICE! After a cat scan and spinal tap, Chad and I sat in shock as we were told this weekend that he had developed it again. We were NOT shocked however when we were told that they were now suspicious that he had an Immune Disorder...after his track record, I'm thankful they are finally taking serious notice.

After a series of tests, they have learned that he breathed in the virus (rather than getting it from a bug bite) and that the barrier which protects his brain from viruses crossing over is not functioning properly. (sigh) This means it is more likely than not that he will get Spinal Meningitis again.

Unfortunately, that is not the only problem. They are running a series of tests (while we veg out in Shep's hospital room) to try and narrow down what is wrong w/ his immune system...this could be a long process, so I'm hoping they send us home soon. We don't know much about immune disorders...in my opinion, ignorance is bliss! :-/

Despite all this, he seems to be much better and is ready to go home to see his sisters. :-) Thank u for all ur prayers and calls and emails. I'm doing my best to return phone calls, emails and texts...bear with me as I'm having to use my iPhone for everything! I will update more once I hear something.

2010-10-05T15:18:00.000-07:00

Lillie Anna is officially in her big-girl carrier...no more sweet infant car-seat that faces backwards. :-( The time is passing waaaay too quickly. So this week we have packed up our Peg Perego and said "goodbye". So sad!

2010-10-05T15:09:00.001-07:00

Fall is in the air...

...cool breeze, pumpkins galore, bails of hay, the smell of cinammon and baked apples,...there is soooo much I appreciate about this time of year! But what I like most is going to Pumpkin Patches!

SO, this week we went to a local pumpkin patch and I let the kids pick out their favorite pumpkin! It was a really fun time and we followed it up with a trip to Chick-Fil-A for Lillie Anna's first taste of ice cream...I think she liked it...what do you think? :-)

2010-10-05T01:03:00.000-07:00

I've just entered to win a "Spelling Quizer" online! For those of you who are interested (homeschooler or not), check out this link to see how you too can register to win. :-)

2010-10-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

Rauly was invited to a Princess Tea Party...this wasn't a birthday party, it was a "just because" kind of party. :-) The girls in this pic have been good friends since they were two years old...they're all nearly 5 now, so they've grown up together in many ways. Anyways, they all had a very fun time pretending to be princesses and having an adorable "tea party".

Sammi-Jo (Barbie Princess), Haley (Cinderella), Sarah (Ariel), Avery (Ballerina princess) and Rauly (Jasmine). **I LOVE that they're all barefoot in this picture...**

2010-10-04T11:36:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, our friend Jeff had a surprise 40th birthday party! Unfortunately I didn't upload a picture of the birthday guy, but I have to say this about him: Jeff is one of the nicest men I've ever met...ever. He's an eternal optimist and always has a smile stretched across his face - he's the kind of guy who has wrinkles around his eyes even when he's NOT smiling because he just smiles so much! It was very apparent by each couple who walked through the door that he is deeply loved by his close friends and family and well respected by his co-workers. We're blessed to know him and his sweet family!

It was a really great night of visiting with friends. We n-e-v-e-r get to do this! Chad (being a typical man) could count on one hand the men who he's befriended since we've moved here...I'm very thankful that the girls I'm closest to just happen to have husbands that my husband respects and genuinely likes! It's rare for us to spend anytime with these guys though outside of church, so it was especially good for Chad to get to go have some "guy time". Anywhoo...here's some pics from the night. :-)

Jen, myself and Shannon...the three "Pump"ateers! We've been attending a weekly weight-lifting class together for several months now. There's no way any of us would stick with this crazy class if we didn't have that fellowship to look forward to!

Shannon's family was in our small group last year at CCFI. Her and her husband Ben have four beautiful daughters. We've grown to love their family and are thankful to be on this journey of life together!

Lillie Anna was such a joy at the party...however, we left a few minutes after this pic was taken because baby girl was sleepy. :-)

Shepherd and his buddy Jackson singing Karoake - these two have been friends since Mrs. Bucklers 3 year old class at Sharing Tree. It's neat to see how much they've grown and matured since then and I love that they're still great friends!

Me and Laura (another friend from church and the preschool) also decided to take a stab at a song...it was quite awful...but fun! :-)

2010-09-29T10:35:00.000-07:00

How I love thee...let me count the ways...

I love your beautiful hazel eyes!

I love how you always try to make us laugh with your silly faces!

I love your sweet brown curls!

And I love it that you only have these two adorable little chipmunk teeth!

Ooooooo how I love you!!!

2010-09-29T10:31:00.000-07:00

Donuts with "Peepaw" Day!

Monday was Rauly's very first Chapel of the year, and to kick it off, the daddies were invited to come in and eat donuts with their boys/girls before chapel began. Unfortunately, Chad was out of town, so Peepaw swooped in and saved the day! Rauly was so happy to sit in his lap throughout chapel and show off her Peepaw to her classmates. Thanks again Dennis - we love you!

2010-09-24T04:31:00.000-07:00

Daddy's home!
My children are blessed. They are blessed to have a father who is patient and kind, tender and loving. To have a father who is consistent and dependable...engaged and trustworthy...that is a true gift!

Chad's business has been taking him to south Florida and different parts of Georgia a LOT lately - he's been away for the majority of the week for many months now. And I'm so thankful that Shep and Rauly are mature enough to know that daddy has to work. They never complain about him being gone, although they miss him and ask me frequently when he will be home. And when he is home, the kids act like they've just heard the ice cream man...they come a runnin'!

This morning the kids woke up to daddy's voice and practically bounced in to his arms - it was really sweet to see their excitement and love for Chad. I rarely am able to get pics of them playing, but this morning I grabbed the camera, sat back and just basked in the precious love of a father and his kiddo's.

This btw is what I look like most mornings...lol!

Life doesn't get much better than this...

This pic cracks me up - Lillie is desperately fighting for Chad's attention while Shep carries her away so Chad can give Rauly a piggy back ride...

We love you daddy!

2010-09-23T16:52:00.000-07:00

Whatever it takes...

I've been continually struck recently by a thought...The realization that life is about far more than ME and MY needs. The realization that I am spoiled...ridiculously so. The realization that I have GOT to do whatever it takes....whatever it takes...to ensure that my lifes focus is not on MYSELF, and MY house, and MY vehicle, and my husbands CAREER, and the beauty and earthly succes of my children...oh Lord forgive me. For He put me on this earth for reasons that have a much higher purpose.

I had some errands to run this afternoon...one of those was to purchase some hair bows for my girls. So, I piled the kids in the car and headed in the direction of Avondale...a part of the city that is about 30 minutes from where we live. And as I was driving, I was hit yet again by the realization that the money I was about to spend on those ridiculous hair bows could be put in an envelope to go towards something much greater....like food for the homeless, or clean water for those who have none, or a scholarship fund for an orphan child in Russia. I also remembered that the ribbon I use to hang all the girls hair bows became so heavy and weighted down this week (because we have so many hairbows) that it actually fell on the floor due to becoming too heavy...my point being...my girls do not need anymore hair bows. My cheeks burned as I turned my van around and headed back home.

Yes, we are spoiled. We live in excess and aren't even thankful for it! We (meaning I) want more, more, more....never satisfied. I flip the channel when I see infomercials on african children with their little distended bellies and rib cages jutting out...it makes me uncomfortable. And rather than watch in horror and ACT, I change the channel and try and forget. Because the problem is far too great for me to help, right??...there's no way that little ol' me could really make a difference...right??

What I've realized this week is that I'm wrong...Satan has been lying to me and I've been buyin' it. The truth is, I've only allowed God to use me where I feel comfortable being used...but my natural response to things that make me UNcomfortable is "ooooh, God hasn't called me to that."...what I've realized now is that God will use all of us for far bigger and greater things if we will simply allow ourselves to feel uncomfortable. For years I've been wrong...disgustingly so. But, I'm aware now. And there are going to be some changes in the Eason household from here on out. I fully recognize it's going to be a process...because we are faaaaar more spoiled that I even realize...but we are going to begin taking baby steps in the RIGHT direction.

Please don't ask me what the "Right" direction means!...cause' I just jumped on this crazy train and I'm not quite sure where God's gonna' take it. :-p

2010-09-13T11:22:00.001-07:00

We live in sunny Florida...surrounded by plush foliage and beautiful wildlife...saltwater and natural springs...and too many state parks to count! SO, Chad and I decided on Saturday that on the weekends he's in town, we'd make a commitment to start travelling the surrounding areas to take advantage of all the incredible places that are at our fingertips!

So, after church on Sunday morning, we drove to Little Talbot Island State Park with Jenny and the kids! It was gooooooorgeous and I'd highly recommend that everyone try and make it out there. Unfortunately we didn't get to spend more than a couple of hours due to the ugly clouds (see below pic), but we got to swim near about 10 dolphins, ride the waves and play on the beach for a while. We'll definitely be going back!

2010-09-08T17:14:00.000-07:00

Lillie Anna's 1 year check-up stats....
...yes, I know...you're all dyyyin' to know this information. Ok, so this is obviously for MY own personal memory bank, and all of you can just skip this post and check back in later when I have something more interesting to say. :-)

Height: Again (much like her last stat update)...can't remember what the doctor said. :-/ Can one of you new moms puhleeease come to the doctors office with me and help me remember my child's height?!?! It's ridiculous how distracted I am and how little I actually hear when the doctor is speaking to me! What I DO most DEFINITELY remember is this: Lillie Anna will be 5'10 or TALLER. Ok...no surprise there, right?

Weight: 22.7 Yup, seems huge, but it's still only 50%. I was expecting more of a 20 pound number on the scale and about fell on the floor when I saw 22.7! That whoppin number means that she has officially outgrown her carseat! So now, baby girl gets to face forward - whoohoo!

Head circum: ??? clueless - New moms, please revert back to the "height" stat and take me up on my request...please???...anybody???...

2010-09-06T06:04:00.000-07:00

We FINALLY got to experience the land of the Free! lol! (Sorry, Jamie...I've been dyin' to say that!) My friend Jamie grew up in GA on about 500 acres - her family has owned this land for generations and her parents graciously welcomed us in to their home yesterday while we were travelling back to Florida. What an incredibly beautiful house and property! We got the grand tour on jeeps and golf carts and were jostled around many different trails...up-n-down mountains (ok, probably just hills, but when you're hanging on to a 12 month old baby and gripping your seat so hard that your knuckles turn white, it begins to feel like a mountain!). Our visit was too short due to having to get back home before it got too late, but we hope to return one day soon to play! :-) I put a few links to some blog posts Jamie has written about their home...it's absolutely magical!
Georgia-Land
Graston-Stuff
Snow!

2010-09-05T18:24:00.000-07:00

The Mayo Family reunion was this weekend in Thomson,GA! It was Chad's side of the family...specifically his Granny's side of the family. It took us about 6 hours to make the trek up there, but it was well worth it - we had such a wonderful time! Chad got to re-connect with a bunch of his cousins, aunts and uncles, and I got to meet a lot of really special people. Horrace and Nina (?) host this reunion annually, and it is INCREDIBLE! It's literally in their backyard...and what a marvelous back yard it is! Their property comes complete with goats, cows, geese, swans, hummingbirds, martins and butterflies...it was breathtaking! The people who hosted and who helped the hostesses must've worked very long and hard to create a relaxing weekend for all of us who travelled in, and we were all grateful. I can say from the bottom of my heart that the Mayo family is grounded in everything that is most important...faith, love and family.

This was the pavilion where everyone gathered all weekend to visit and eat. It was such a neat area filled with plenty of seating and shade.

These men (and a few others I didn't get photographed) stayed up for practically 48 hours cooking meat for the entire family. They were dead on their feet...but somehow they managed to con't cooking - and MAN - that meat (chicken, goat, hog, beef) was INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lillie spread her little wings and flew...or walked rather! She tromped up and down those hills over-n-over-n-over-n-over...well, you get the idea. We ALL got a work-out chasing after her and I think it's safe to say that she's a walking PRO now!

There was plenty of time to just sit around and bond with one another. There were empty chairs sitting around all over the place just begging to be sat in...and we did. :-)

The kids spent quite a bit of time in the pool with their cousins, Chase and Caitlyn. They learned to dive off the diving board, and began to learn how to do both a front and back flip off the diving board! It's amazing what kids will try when there's no lifeguard blowing his whistle, (or parent hovering over them shouting "Noooooo!"). We love Fleming Island, but sometimes it can feel a bit stifling as kids are encouraged to be as safe and clean as possible everywhere they go! This was the perfect place for the kids to get dirt under their nails and take a few risks in the water - it was GOOD for them...and they LOVED it! :-)

And THIS is what 63 years of bliss looks like! Let me introduce you to "Bob and Becky"...the cutest couple I think I've ever seen! I got them both to share with me how they met - married at 17...Becky was fresh out of highschool, Bob was in the National Guard...and I honestly can't imagine that they were much cuter than they are now. I was in awe of these two and couldn't keep my eyes off of them! They were obviously still in love as they constantly found ways to put their arms around each other, and their tender smiles came so easily as they made eye contact. Life hasn't been easy for them as they shared with me that they've lost a son and a granddaughter, but they've held on to God and to one another and God bless them for it...they were such a testimony of love and faithfulness and literally witnessed to me today.

And this ol' girl?...she and I had a connection! Ok, truth be told, she stared miserably at every person who walked past her. But I felt I could so relate to her uncomfortable stance and her agonizing moo's. Why??...the poor cow was pregnant! I could literally...(LITERALLY!!)...see the baby calf inside of her kicking! Can you imagine how horribly uncomfortable a hard hoof would be kicked in to your rib cage?! I told this sweet cow that I promised to never again "udder" a complaint while pregnant. (What she doesn't know is that I'll NEVER be pregnant again...but hey, what she doesn't know won't hurt her!) Do they offer epidurals for cows?!...aw...poor girl...you think a mere kick hurts?!...you have no IDEA what's comin'!

2010-08-31T08:31:00.001-07:00

Happy 1st Birthday Lillie Anna!

Words are not enough to express the love we have for our little angel-baby. Her tenderness and sweet spirit has touched our family deeply. She has each member of our family wrapped around her heart...we simply love this baby girl and adore her maker! Thank you Lord for blessing our family with Lillie!

Noah and Lillie's party

2010-08-30T13:20:00.000-07:00

Saturday night we had a special birthday celebration for Lillie Anna and Noah's upcoming 1st birthday. These two were "womb buddies" and have been very special friends over the past year - it's been such a joy to watch them explore, mature and learn together. It seemed natural to let them have a joint birthday party! So, Chad's family, my mom and the Grastons all got together at our house to celebrate God's faithfulness (thus the Rainbow theme) and to thank Him for these two precious lives!

Lillie's birthday post will come soon.... :o)

2010-08-30T08:40:00.001-07:00

Our last 1st day of preschool!

My precious little girl is officially a pre-k student! I woke up this morning with a jittery tummy and was by far more nervous about it than she was. The thought of her being gone 5 days a week breaks my heart - I'm going to miss her vivacious and bubbly personality around here...and I'm sure will be the 1st to pick her up each day in car-line! She on the other hand is THRILLED to be with her friends each day and really likes her teacher (as do I), so I'm confident it will be a good year. :-) Wow...hard to believe that after being at Sharing Tree for four years, today was the last 1st day of preschool!

2010-08-27T15:47:00.000-07:00

After playing the role of a single mom all summer, and after Chad having worked 90 hour weeks for a 12 week stretch, and after going faaar too long in-between Gigi getting to see her grandbabies, we all met up in Orlando for a magical vacation! Unfortunately, Mike was unable to come, but we sent lots of love his way and fully intend for him to be at the next get together! :-) *Oh, and for those of you who prayed for a cold front - thank you! It was overcast the majority of the week, which cooled things off enough to make it nearly chilly...seriously, I saw goosebumps on my arms a few times! Goosebumps in late August???...that's a good thing. :-)* We started our trip at the Fountain's Resort on Monday. Our room was 1500 square feet, so we basically had a house to spread out in...when you travel with 3 kids, that is practically a necessity! We spent quite a bit of time in the resort all week playing games, watching movies, and relaxing. We started our morning on Tuesday at Animal Kingdom with the Lion King Show and it was the most fabulous show I've seen in a long time! In my opinion, it was about as good as a broadway performance, but maybe even better due to the close contact of characters and audience! The kids sat on the front row and the entire time they were being given tons of attention from the characters. My face hurt at the end of the show from smiling so long and laughing so hard - seriously, this show was AWESOME! Can you tell it was slightly humid outside?! We were walking through a fog and drizzle all day! We spent one day in Downtown Disney. This place was wonderful and F-R-E-E...or at least, no entrance fee's. :-) Lillie learned to walk (officially) while we were in Orlando! I think she finally decided (while crawling on the tile at the pool trying to make her getaway) that walking was much less painful for her knees! Anyways, she's still a little wobbly but is definitely walking more than crawling now. (See bottom of post for video footage of her walking!)*Oh, and she also had her first pony-tail. LOL!...I did it as a joke, but it made us all laugh so hard that I couldn't take it out - no matter how goofy she looked. Poor child.* Shep practically got lost in Lego Land...this place was awesome! Gigi took Rauly to be transformed in to a Princess...can you tell which one she is? btw: I've never seen anything like the Bippidi Boppodi Boutique...wow! We ate way too good while we were there! I brought several home cooked meals (thx Pioneer Woman!), and we ate out at the RainForest Cafe as well as the T-Rex Cafe - both had incredible atmospheres and the food was delicious! Let me introduce you to Julius "Squeezer". He sat right over our heads throughout the entire meal....Cuhreeeeeeepy! Ew! Everyone but Shep looks exhausted in these pictures... T-REX We ate inside the Ice Cave which constantly changed colors and had a meteor shower every 20 minutes...this place was absolutely amazing. I'm not sure who enjoyed it more...the adults, or the kids! Lillie Anna made herself at home while she ate her lunch! lol! Me and Shep channelled our inner-dinosaur. Gigi had quite a task in chasing after Lillie Anna...she was unafraid of the water and would've dove in...dived in...dove in...oh brother, I have no clue how to say that. Shep and Rauly raced down this slide a gazillion times! It was the highlight of the resorts Water Park. Rauly learned to back-dive by herself, and Shepherd perfected his front-dive! I tell ya'...we've been blessed by the fact that usually these two don't get discouraged by the other's successes...but rather, they only become more motivated to try hard and accomplish it for themselves as well. **See bottom of post to watch video's of them diving!** We played Volleyball...although their wasn't a lot of "volleyin'" going on... Over all, it was a WONDERFULLY relaxing week filled with many happy memories. :-) The next post will be about these two adorable soon-to-be ONE year olds! Chad's family, my family (Gigi included) and the Grastons are celebrating their lives tonight - can't wait!