Did you know...

1. That I have a blog? I'd almost forgot... three or so months can sure slip by.
2. I know where those 3 months have gone: traveling home to GA, starting a new teaching career, working with an organization to evaluate schools, working on an additional credential through Stanford, getting the kids settled into 1st grade and pre-k, helping run a church... did I mention that I was starting a new job at a BRAND NEW school?

There are lots of funny things that happen every week that I should be sharing. Like, Emmie Ann now can't remember "Santa Clause" as his name, but she just keeps talking about "that Christmas Man" when she comes up with something she wants to add to her Christmas list. Or, just the fact that Will asked to take breakdancing lessons...
I also tend to think on deep levels, at times, and should share this stuff, too.

Right now, I think I should share that for our ambitious Trunk-or-Treat, my Life Group has adopted the Enchanted Forrest theme... and we're going ALL OUT. Each life group has taken a theme and is decorating their cars, dressing up, and doing that whole thing. But, (shhh) we've taken two trailors (the kind that race cars are transported in) and have renovated the inside to make a walk-through experiences, complete with twinkle light stars, foliage, and fairy tale characters. Watch out, we're out to win this one. I mean, Scott's wearing leggings... this is good stuff. [Pictures to come.]
Seriously, our church is awesome. For such a "small" church, we sure to bring-it. We do great things! I know God's always at work, but when we can be apart of that- WoW!

Last week a certain thought, mentioned during Sunday's service, REALLY hit me: "In America, we tend to DO church well- really well. But, do we BE the church equally as well?"
Doesn't that make you wonder- when do we jump out of our comfort zone and actually BE what God wants? Instead of pouring into ourselves, when do we pour into others?
So, I'm on this adventure just waiting to see where God takes me!

devastated

Our TV has been broken for almost 2 months. While we've been watching morning cartoons and the news in our bedroom, the DVR has continued to record all "our shows." Well, we finally moved the bedroom TV in to the living room, hooked it up to DVR, and are getting caught up on season finales... from Memorial Day.
Anyways, I've just gone back and watched my Jon and Kate Plus 8 shows. I've seen tabloids and know a bit about what is going on, but I just don't want to face it. Last summer, I started watching, and somewhere between their taking the kids to church, the Isaiah t-shirts, and their candid (yet a bit scary) conversations with one another, I grew attached to the Gosslins! I thought that just maybe they'd be a family to follow. It didn't take long, however, for questions to grow: are they for real? how much is scripted? are those kids okay? how much money do they want to make before they quit? is the next house going to be big enough? will she ever leave jon alone? can he do anything right? does she watch herself on tv? does she really believe that everything she does is for the kids? will they ever give it up? why haven't they mentioned counseling at all? are they really Christians? would they give up the big house/bad marriage for the small house/better looking marriage? was it all a scheme? is TLC evil? why don't they turn off the cameras and work on their marriage if they're so concerned about their kids?

I have to say I'm totally devastated by the way their life is turning out. The youngest just turned 5. That's my kids' age. No kid should have to deal with the mess their parents are going through- much less have it recorded on film and broadcasted to the world. With a broken heart, I took Jon and Kate Plus 8 off my DVR "scheduled recording" list and added them to my "seriously pray for them" list.

Then, in an attempt to be an informed individual, I did what any wondering ex-fan would do: I googled them. And, I found this article.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/juneweb-only/122-11.0.html?start=1

7 and counting

Seven years ago we got hitched. To celebrate this event, we handed the kids off to friends and went out to lunch. Nothing fancy. Just Napa Valley.
In just under an hour and a half (well, maybe two with the couple wrong turns), we made it to Napa Valley and dined at the Rutherford Grill for lunch. Fabulous. Just across the street we wondered in to a cute little tasting room from the Elizabeth Spencer Vineyards. Nice, nice people and yummy selections!
Then, we went to Peju, recommended to us by friends (thanks Kyle and Bekah!), they had the most beautiful grounds! Lots of groomed and blooming bushes and flowers that take you right up to the vines. Inside, there was an amazing art gallery on the second floor that looked out over the vineyard. Nice tasting there, too!
Finally, on our way out of town, we stopped into the Father of Napa Valley's winery to pay homage to Robert Mondavi. Also, we wanted pictures!!
It was a GREAT day! And, while it's hard for Scott to admit, it sure beats how we've spent the last two anniversaries... Cracker Barrel and a movie.

One Day Vacations

Sacramento itself is not the most impressive thing I've ever seen. It's actually funny to me that it's the California state capital.
But, what Sac has is pretty impressive; the real estate world would sum it up with "location, location, location."
For example, last week we piled the kids and dog in the mini-van and went to the ocean. For the day. It was about 3 hours to the cutest little city by the sea, Carmel by the Sea, specifically. We ate at a fun little pizza joint, played on the beach ( though not much in the cold Pacific Ocean), laid in the sun, ran the dog in the surf, and dug our toes in the sand.




Later, we wiped ourselves off and walked the hill up to Carmel. It is too cute. Very European or fairy tale like. Dog friendly. Tinkerbelle not only was allowed in all the stores and had a menu tailored to dogs at dinner, but she even drank from the Fountain of Woof- built to show just how friendly Carmel is to K-9s.
After attempting to watch the sun set (a bit cloudy), we piled back in the van and headed home. The kids slept. The dog slept. And me too.
I took enough pictures to make it seem like we were there a week.

Optometrist

Well, we're old. Scott and me. We found out this week at the optometrist.
Not to be "gotten" by the insurance company, I made us all appointments with the eye doctor (and dentist) before my old insurance ran out. There, we learned that both of us have astigmatisms and needed new glasses. They make contacts for this, but that involved an additional appointment only partially covered by insurance. I made an executive decision- contacts could wait for the FSA with the new insurance plan in a couple months. It didn't matter, though, because as soon as Scott saw (with the new lens) what he hadn't been able to see (because of the contacts) he only wanted glasses. He'd forgotten that trees have leaves and not just branches with blobby greens surrounding them.
Our appointments were back to back- so the kids accompanied us to the eye doctor. Walking in, Will asks which door we're going to. Scott says to Will, "The one that says Optometrist. Where is the word Optometrist?" Will points it out and we head in.
I don't mind the eye doctor. It's kind of fun- trying on all the frames while you wait and all. (Now, I won't blog about the dentist visit. Hate those visits.) And, this eye doctor is great- very personable, a Christian, and friendly. He loved the story of how I shared my "used glasses" with Scott in high school...
Anyways, while we were there, the doctor recommended that the kids start an every other year rotation to get their vision checked out once they turn four- and seeing as both Scott and I are near-sighted, Will and Em "don't stand a chance" (the eye doctor's words, not mine). Eventually, they'll probably need glasses. And, due to the great insurance plan I was taking advantage of, I scheduled the kids an appointment for the next week.
So, this week, I hauled the kids across the street and into their appointment. We pull up , and Will points to the sign he remembers from last week and says, "Optometrist- that must be Spanish for eye doctor."

Will and Em do not need glasses. Yet. But, Spanish lessons may be in Will's future.


Handsome Scott with new glasses and Sushi in his mouth







Handsome Scott with new glasses and Will and Em on Father's Day

timing is everything

God said so. At least that's what Em would say. (Or, she'd say "God made it that way." these are her remarks for EVERYTHING)
But, really, it is. And, it's all about God's timing. Leonard (our pastor, Scott's boss...) speaks in series, and the most recent is Life in Limbo. I'm really working on the whole "live by faith and not by sight" thing. God's patient and knows just when to reveal Himself. Those times when I'm waiting for him to reveal Himself, I tend to bite my nails and chant "I trust You... I trust YOu..." I don't like to wait- I like to get it done now. I don't like to have to rely on someone else- I want to do it myself. I like to control it all. Hence, my lists. I list everything: to-do today, to-do tomorrow, to-do in the next 5 years... I make these lists for Scott, too. Sometimes I email them to him. Other times, I type them directly onto an open Word Doc on his computer and leave it open- so he can't miss it. Sometimes, If I accomplish something that's not on my list, I'll even go back and add it so that I can cross it off!
Recently, I've HAD to (not just wanted to, or would have liked to- but HAD to) turn over to God all the things I can not (no matter how BADLY I've wanted to) control in my life (and sometimes the lives of those around me...). One is the house in Georgia; another is the direction for our church; and, the third is a job. All these have financial burdens that keep me awake at night. I know, I know. God has a plan. I know, I know. Put my faith in Him. And, my heart says "done." It's my head working out a budget, worrying about preschool enrollment, and telling Scott that "losing the house is not the worst thing that could happen." (at least in my mind.) So, for a few months now, God's been nudging me to get my attention. Mostly, I'd sigh, tell Him I understood, then I'd find myself working up a plan for Him to agree to. He'd laugh a little and tell me, "that's not how it works- it's not your plan but My plan." I'd sigh, say I understood, and then basically start reworking the plan for Him again.
Through all this, God got my attention and reminded me, like only He knows how to do, to put my faith in Him. Find rest for my soul in Him. And, (what I'm worst at) just TRUST Him. It was only a couple weeks ago that I actually started to follow His plan and began to trust Him, and Him alone. He waited for me to walk by faith, and I have to admit that sure was lighter than walking alone. Then, once I had really started to walk by faith, the phone rang. It was God calling, in the form of a job offer, and He let me glimpse Him with my eyes.
Now, His plan is unveiling (it always has been...)and it's like He says, "Now, SEE! I had it planned all along!" To boot- my sister-in-law, Alex's wife, was hired for a teaching position this week, too! Praise the Lord!!
So, for someone typically against change- I say Bring It On! And, God being God, started with my heart-mind balance!
So,in this one week we've now seen a lot of change. I went from a crammed front-to-back side to-do list to a very scratched out, marked up to-do list. You know, lists kinda run my life, and being able to mark "find a job" off my list was great- especially when the job called me up! And, I think it's gonna be that kind of job that stretches you, challenges you, and you like it.
I went from being an unemployed mother of a kindergartner and a child who was preschool-less to an Teacher and mother of a rising 1st Grader and an enrolled Preschooler for next fall.
I marked off "buy plane tickets home," and we'll be seeing ya'll the end of July!
I marked off "insurance, eye doctor appointments, Breakaway registration (VBS), upload pictures, laundry, mail packages, meal calendar, and (now) blog!!
(In my head I hear one of those old men at church-like Southern Baptist church- call out "AMEN!")
I'll post pictures of ALL Our Recent Accomplishments- ballet, tball, Kinder Graduation:

I'm too young to have a 4 year old

four years ago this week, Scott was on Good Day Alabama. I remember this because he left me at the hospital with our second child, a new born only 2 days old. My dad checked me out of the hospital and drove Emmine Ann and I home... did I mention she was a C-Section?

now, my baby is four. her birthday was full between a ballet performance and a garden tea party. She is a doll, a delight, and our 100% girly-girl!