Its my blog and I will whine if I want to...

I am tired!
I am ready for the weekend.
I am ready for our 10 year reunion to come...and to go.
I wish all 5 year olds would behave, listen, follow directions, and more importantly come with a good support system.
Everyone and everything is on my nerves.
I can't stand when people offer plenty of complaints but offer no suggestions to "fix" what is "broken".
I also can't stand when people think if you aren't on their boat, you will SINK.
I agree that if you aren't involved you will feel uninvited...just never thought it would apply to me.
I am ready to spend some quality time with Hollie- even if its just dinner in Macon.
I am ready to hear all about Stephanie's Kenya trip, but there is not enough time in the day!
I am ready to get over this beginning of the school year slump...

There is a fine line between...

holding on and letting go!

Gage will be 2 in less than a month and it has been hitting me harder that I ever would have imagined! He has given up his passy completely. He is beginning to give up his sippy cup (hence the reason they change his clothes at least twice daily at school) and he sits on the potty every hour at school(no luck yet). To the mother who has been there and done that you know these are BIG steps...and a lot to take in all at one time. His teacher at school says he doesn't really like to color at school...instead he likes to eat the crayons...he is trying to use his big boy cup, but more ends up in his lap than in his mouth- and to that the defensive side of me is thinking...well if he is eating the crayons he is either bored or he doesn't like to color- its not that he can't- he doesn't want to :) If he is spilling milk and juice all over himself put a top back on it for Heaven sakes...what does it matter??? While all of this is going on in my head, the teacher in me is hearing the mom in me and telling her to SHUT UP... I am reminding myself that he will do all that is requirred of him in time...when he is ready! There is this constant war going in my head and it sounds something like this...hold on tighter...no, let him grow...he is just a baby...wake up and look at him- he is growing up...slow down...no don't- we are having so much fun...let me hold you...but I love watching you run around the house...let's cuddle in my bed...no, its REALLY nice when you sleep so sound in YOUR bed...etc, etc, etc

There is no possible way Chris and I could be more proud of Gage. He is a precious gift from God and we could never thank Him enough for allowing us the opportunity to raise him. What an awesome responsibility He has entrusted us with. Gage is so tall and healthy, so happy, so sweet and so smart. He loves to laugh and sing and count. He loves to read books and talk...and talk...and talk. He can be a little nosey at times (not sure where he gets this). He loves Elmo, Thomas the train, and unfortunately...Barney. It is an amazing thing...being a mom...Chris and I constantly look at each other with "that look" and in both of our minds we are thinking we are-

BLESSED BEYOND BELIEF!!!

Who would have ever thought that time...

wouldn't stop...

but instead...

FLY SO FAST!!!

We still believe...

in MIRACLES!!!

One of my all time favorite photos...

That's what friends are for...

in good times, in bad times, I'll be on your side forever more....are you familiar with the song?

It's an oldie but a goodie!

My best friend Hollie is that forever friend to me! We met when we were 16 years old during the summer of one of the most pivotal years in high school. I wish I could say we were "bff at first sight" but it was not so much that way for us. She had just moved to Ga from Texas and as much as she talked about it I figured she would soon be catching the next flight "home". Her dad was in the army and throughout her first 16 years of life, she moved state to state to state. It took me a while to realize she just needed some time to adjust...and I wasn't exactly helping her...I am so thankful she came to Ga! We got past the initial funky time and moved almost immediately into a "best friendship"! Hollie and I went through high school together- disappointments in people and all! We came to college together, found our church home together, met our spouses at the same place...they lived in the same dorm! We fulfilled our dreams to become a teacher and a nurse at the same time. We were in each other's weddings, and there for each other during the births of our boys. Just as divorce is so rampant in our culture these days, so it is with friends, hard times come, ditch'em and find a new one. Hollie and I have had plenty of opportunities to ditch and divorce each other but, thank the Lord, we never have. Hollie has been there for me during some of the most critical times in my life when I could talk to nobody else...she is irreplaceable and she is more than a friend, she is family!

All that said to say...we are pushing 29 and I dare say...we are closer than ever! Our boys are about a year apart and we LOVE to see them play together. It is my prayer that Gage and Rowan will find in each other the friend that Hollie and I have in each other!

Ahhh...the beach

Here are three of my favorite beach pictures...there are more to come!

All in a good week...

- cleaning out and reorganizing all of the drawers and closets in the house

-finishing up discipleship with Mrs. Sally (it took us about two and half years) but it was well worth it...I am so glad we did it, and completed it! She has always and will always be a very special mentor and friend in my life!

-spending the day with Hollie and Rowan (we were having so much fun laughing with the boys we forgot to take any pictures)

-spending the evening with my Sunday School class cooking supper at the Ronald McDonald House in Macon...for a few minutes in my mind I was back in Philadelphia...just remembering!

-today...I still have a long list of "fun" stuff to complete

I love summer!

What is the sweetest sound you ask?

It would have to be Gage and his two friends Leroy and "Squirrel" in the back-seat laughing and talking tonight on the way to church. What makes it so sweet? Gage could care less that these two boys do not look like him, dress like him, or live in his neighborhood...when he sees them...he sees his friends. He screamed with excitement when they got in the car, and he cried with disappointment when they got out.

Thank you Lord for being so faithful to answer our prayers for our son...we pray this sweet attitude follows him all the days of his life!