you want some cheese with that whine?

It's Monday morning Matthew had slept until 8:30 which never happens...sometimes he wakes up and just starts unloading all of his complaints, the toys he wants but doesn't have, what someone has done to upset/offend him, you know general whining and complaining. Eventually I tried to change the conversation and it went something like this...

Me: Your birthday is coming really soon, what kinda of party do you want?
Matthew: Elmo I guess, but I just want to go to Target and buy something now, it's going to take to long for my birthday to get here..blah, blah, blah...
Me: Matthew Today is a good day, and you need to stop whining and lets talk about something happy.
Matthew: Talking about something happy is boring.

*I take a moment for a cleansing breath and a sip of my coffee.

6 kids would be fun.

backyard beauty

my brothers are rock stars. get over it.

my new hero...

Jenny MCCarthy was on Oprah today sharing her story about her son who was diagnosed with autism. After changing his diet and doing other therapies she has pulled her son out of his dark, lonely world. My heart was racing and I had tears in my eyes as she told her story and showed a clip of her son doing so well. She talked so much about mommy instincts and how she had no peace to give her son the MMR (which she believes gave him autism) but she did anyway after being yelled at by the doctor. I made the gut wrenching decision not to vaccinate my boys from MMR...I did not believe it was safe for them...no science to prove it, just a still small voice saying "NO" that was all I needed. I get intimidated sometimes by the other side of the argument but I have to listen to that voice in my heart. I admire Jenny for her courage and pray for her to brush off all the criticism she will surely receive...It's not a popular argument that vaccines aren't safe but I know that truth will come to the light...until then, pray mommas, pray!

gunther's photo shoot take 2...

Gunther had a visit to the vet today and he DID NOT like it...He growled and howled it was unbelievable!!! Gretta used to shake and whimper a little but overall it was a social experience for her. Gunther acted like a vicious killer dog...I was so embarrassed. He is healthy and weighs 12 lbs and he's only 3 months old....Gretta weighed 4 lbs at 4 months so he will be much bigger than she was. I'm glad he's bigger and more sturdy because the kids are kinda wild with him. He's so fun to have around and I am still so impressed by his personality. Yay for Gunther!

barista woes...

yesterday at work a lady ordered a venti peppermint mocha... a drink that has about 500 calories and 15 grams of fat...by recipe it has peppermint sprinkles on the top and so when I went to shake some on she yelled at me "no, sprinkles! I'm trying to cut back on the sugar!"

Happy Birthday Vaida...

I haven't met you yet but I love you...
and I hope Tyler lets you be in His band.

"Freedom has a scent
like the top of a newborn baby's head"
-Bono

park swings, air bazookas, and baby teeth...pictures from 3 years ago

where did the years go?

The last few weeks have been such a time of reflection...with my daughter's tenth birthday and our third year anniversary of living in Huntsville. It also marks the tenth year of friendship with my BFF Hannah...we were acquaintances for several years before we both had our first child (within weeks of each other, something we managed to do a total of 3 times) but our girls picked each other as best friends when they were babies so it just all clicked and so began the legacy...

waiting for the world to change...

so my glasses broke at work tonight...and yes, I'm squinting as I write this blog and yes the glue that will hopefully hold them together for two weeks until my vision plan kicks in is drying whilst my prayers are extending to the heavens PLEASE GOD give me grace! It's kinda life imitating art that I'm not really praying for new glasses as much as just for the glue to hold...i find this a lot in my life...the provision is there, it's just not the time yet...regardless I've got to function. It's a struggle to fix broken things, it takes patience and time and sometimes glue which tends to be messy... there is always the risk that others will see that something of yours is broken, will they think less of you or even worse feel sorry for you? All I know is that sometimes you've just got to put things back together and move on...one less ounce of pride to carry along the way.
Yeah, in my life I struggle to hold it all together and wait for a bunch of tomorrows to bring some relief but I'm ok with it because I know it won't be like this forever and also I'm fairly confident that in the future will never take any good thing for granted including my new glasses.

ht

good people...good times

Last weekend I saw the lady who was my pastor from the time I was 15-30 years old...and her 2 daughter-in-laws and their babies...Wendy and I go way back to summer camp, weddings and baby showers, and Jennie married Brandon so my hat is off to her, way off...love you Brandon, mean it!!! I didn't realize how much I missed them...they know me and my family and there is NOTHING like being around people who know you. The great escape from Jacksonville, the exodus if you will have served many purposes...God had to kill me somehow and he brought me to this valley for a reason. I am not anxious but curious to see where God takes us from here but one thing is for sure...Jacksonville will always be home, and I love my friends there!!!