Busy... and Thankful

So, it's been almost a month since our last post.  It has been one of the busiest months of the year, so that would explain it.  Matt had 2+ Forge-related trips, and I attempted a trip with my mom which, at the last minute, fell through so we have been gone a lot, and our times at home are playing catch up on housework, laundry, and Heidi-settling-back-in-at-home.

We've had 2 birthday parties, 1 Forge movie night, dinner at my parents' house in Fort Worth, a trip to Billy Bob's, 3 doctor's appointments and a little toddler who has been very much a 2-year old along the way!  To her credit, we've dragged Heidi back and forth between FW, Plano and Tyler quite a bit... and it's not even the holidays yet!

Here are a few of the things that I'm thankful for, as we approach this season:
1. My fantastic husband - Matt.  He has taken care of me during the tired, grumpy, morning-sickness-filled, lazy, wiped out, and too busy times.  I'm always thankful for him, but he has really shown me how much he loves me by how he has cared for me, our daughter, our house and in providing for our needs.

2. A sweet little girl named Heidi, who keeps me smiling every day.  Amidst the temper tantrums of 2-ness, the disobedience, and the messes, she has the cutest flirty smile, the prettiest blue eyes you'll ever see, and the cutest singing voice you ever hear.  I'm so thankful that God has given her to us.  The joy supersedes the trials!

Hoping her ambitions reach a little higher than
McDonald's, but for now, it's cute!

Playing at DeeDee's house

3. A healthy Baby #2.  It's been a trying 14+ weeks - I don't remember being this tired last time... but I didn't have a 2-year old last time I was pregnant!  Children are a blessing from the Lord, and I'm trying to remember that daily even when I'm tired.  Baby #2 is another sign of God's blessing to us, and we are so grateful.

Now the size of a lemon!

4. For a wonderful family (and in-laws).  I love my family.  I have 3 brothers - we all get along, we all love to spend time together, and my parents make their house a wonderful place for us all to gather for the holidays.  My folks are a great example of a faithful godly couple that is still married after almost 39 years.  My in-laws are the best too!  Not only can my mother-in-law make the best apple pies in the world (seriously), but they are overly generous... with their time and their money.  They have taken care of Heidi during some fun and some hard times lately, and are always willing to accommodate Matt and I to make our lives easier with a little kid and one on the way.  My sister-in-law, Jodie, is wonderful too.  She helped teach our Forge students about leadership in the medical field, babysits Heidi for me, and is a great best friend too (just like my other sister-in-laws!)

5. My friends here at Pine Cove and in Tyler... couldn't ask for a better community:  Jenn, Jenny, Hannah and Amanda next door, Jeff & Charis on the other side next door, Ginger, Steph, Amanda, Christina, Brooke, Lori, Emily, Lauren, "other" Jenny, Forge students, media team, freelance friend Linda... and I'm just getting started!

6. I am most of all grateful that I don't have to pay the penalty for my own sin.  Couldn't do it even if I wanted to.  And who would want to?  But Christ.

Grateful.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Two are better than one... right?

We think so, but Heidi might not be ready to share her kingdom (and her grandparents) with a brother or sister.  In any case, we're excited about adding another one to our family and we look forward to seeing our baby in May 2011!

(Heidi + One = Two.  No, it's not twins. :)

A summer of creativity

This summer has been great. Relaxed, fun and full of projects - which I love. Some of them needed to be done (house chores) and some I created to have an outlet for my creativity. I get in project moods... you know? Where I want to create, or decorate, or paint or build, or revamp something. Matt is patient to let me do those things - he even bought me a table saw for our anniversary. (Yes, for me, not himself.) I love it. He knows my need to have that outlet. His is Playstation or reading or writing/blogging. Mine is crafting.

So, here are a few of the things we've been doing this summer.

1. My first attempt at a vegetable garden. Cucumbers and grape tomatoes were the easiest, along with herbs. From fresh picked in a bowl, to bruschetta with tomatoes and freshly picked basil, to chicken salad with fresh cucumbers and tomatoes, it's been a success. I'll try it again.

2. Chalkboard table. Got the table for $3 on clearance at BB&B. Don't know why it was, the box was opened, but the pieces were all there. Bought chalkboard paint for $4 and voila. A $7 table for Heidi and her friends to color on. So far, impressed with the chalkboard paint...

3. After 8 years of marriage and 3 hand-me-down dining room tables, we though we'd bite the bullet and get one we like. Tried long and hard to make an old antique door work for a table. Still have the door, still have the dream of using it. Maybe later. In the meantime, here's what we got. Seats 8. Glad to have it now that 25 (!) new Forge students are coming next Saturday. Thanks to Freelantz Design for the new table and even new settings and centerpiece!

A friend decorated a hutch in her house. That inspired me to deco our shelves. The shelves inspired the desk area. The desk, the kitchen area... what's next? Any votes on what the next craft should be? 2 months to make a Halloween costume for Heidi...

My 30-while-30 List

I discovered this idea on one of my favorite "mom blogs," and thought I'd create one of my own.

I like having goals. I don't actually check the list often enough to remind myself of all of them, but they're in the back of my head - much more concrete than if I hadn't written them down. The list gives me projects to do that I feel are worthwhile, so I'm not just spinning my wheels on "whatever" and wishing at the end of the year that I'd done something more meaningful.

Try it. I think coming up with the list was one of the most fun things... I should have put "make a list" on my list!

Our Military...

We went to Kansas last weekend for a wedding. I have to say that the wedding was great. The bride was lovely and Matt and I can't be more excited for them as a couple.

However, I was reminded of something just as impactful as we sat in the Wichita airport, waiting to fly back to Dallas. I guess Wichita is a small enough town that they still let loved ones come to the gate with you to see you off on your plane. I watched as a middle-aged man dressed in U.S. Army fatigues talked with his family - wife and two kids, probably ages 7 and 4. He carried a large backpack/duffle, the standard issue I assume. He hugged each of their necks, said a few words. When the time came, he boarded the plane early so I sat and watched his departure. He looked back at his wife and smiled. She picked up their 4-year old son and held him close. The 7-year old girl stood close at her side. The kids waved - Mommy probably told them to say goodbye. Then he disappeared into the tunnel to board the plane.

I watched the wife as he rounded the corner, out of sight. She closed her eyes for a brief second, gathered her thoughts, gathered her children and headed out of the airport. I don't know if she was making a mental picture of him leaving, memorizing his face as he looked back at her, I don't know where he was going - to field training in Texas or Alabama, or to Iraq or Afghanistan. I don't know if he'll be in harm's way, or immediately anyway. I don't know if he'll come back or see his family again. I don't know his rank, I wish I did. I'll have to have my brothers teach me how to recognize it on a uniform.

I do know his last name is Rogers (on his uniform), and he's serving our country in some capacity, and he had to leave his family for some amount of time to do it.

So, I write this because I am thankful. And I want to remember to pray for officer Rogers, whatever his title may be. And his wife and two kids. And for his safe return. And for the Lord to strengthen them all. I'll add my cousin Doug Jones in there too, in Afghanistan. And my brothers as they serve in the Air Force.

A friend posted the link below on Facebook, which reminded me to write. You don't have to watch the whole thing, but you'll get the idea after a couple of minutes. Fathers really are special.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSMlIM9zLio&feature=youtu.be

(disclaimer: I have no idea what the "verse" reference is at the end of the video, if you get that far. :-)

Heidi Sing-a-Long

We'd love it if Heidi would sing for everyone on command, but she typically gets pretty shy.  Luckily we caught her singing in the back seat while we were driving into town and thought you guys might need a listen.  We were bummed we didn't have our video camera, but thankful for the voice recorder on Matt's phone!  Enjoy Heidi's rendition of the ABC's, the Itsy Bitsy Spider and God Made Me.

Ahhhh.... summer time.

Just a quick note. I'm enjoying our summer a lot. A friend and I talked last night about how summer just feels different even though she still works all day and I still work at home and take care of Heidi full time. You just feel like it's vacation time even though everything else is pretty much the same.

Case in point - we went to Braum's for ice cream tonight: Matt, Heidi, Jenn and I. We came home and Matt started the sprinkler to watering the lawn in the front. Heidi decided to play in it a little bit (she's been scared before)... she liked it this time so we let her play til her clothes were soaked and it was 30 minutes past her bedtime. She had a blast.

Ice cream cones and playing in the sprinkler. That's summertime for ya'. Love it.