10 on Tuesday

Two in a row. Nice huh?

1. We had a great time visiting Nana this past weekend. It had been over a year since the boys had been down there to see her. Jamie had seen her twice in between though. We’re hoping to go down again around Christmas time and then if I can travel again in Feb for her 90^th birthday! The five hour drive isn’t too bad when you break for a meal and gas part way. and it really is worth it to see all the family we just don't communicate with otherwise. They are such sweet and fun people. I love being down there.

2. I still can’t believe I left my camera there. We got the car unloaded and started putting up things and I thought “OH NO!” sigh. Oh well. Hopefully it comes soon.

3. Matthew is doing good at school. I’m so pleased with where he is and how he’s doing. He has a tiny bit of homework most nights. So far it’s been color a picture or write your name or something, but it makes him feel important. I also really like it. It adds a bit of structure to our afternoons. This is nice for me. Mark is also enjoying this time be/c he gets to eat colors color pictures.

4. Thought I’d update about something mentioned in last week’s 10 things… I did square away the plans to go to KC and see Nic. I’m so tickled. I’m getting to go next weekend the 27^th for two nights, by myself. Thank you to Nic for arranging it and a giant thank you to Jamie who’s staying home with the natives. It’s going to be a long time until late March or early April when we’ll see each other again but maybe this mini trip will get us through.

5. Something else to update… I mentioned we’re expecting again. I have a repeat ultrasound on Thursday. This was the marker where I was planning on telling people, so I’m praying that we’ll have good news Thursday, since I spilled the beans early. I can’t wait to see this tiny miracle again and to hear the heart beating strongly.

6. It is way too early for me to know if this one is a girl. Please don’t ask. You’ll find out when I do, after the baby is born. After losing two babies to Heaven I wouldn’t care if it was part alien in there as long as it’s born. Healthy is my goal. I don’t care so much about he or she.

7. My birthday is next week. I’m glad for it. I’ll be back on an even number. I’m not superstitious at all, but I just don’t like odd numbers. 27 has been a hard year. Hopefully 28 will be better.

8. Life is just so hard sometimes. So unfair. Course no one said life was going to be fair and the Bible even speaks of the hardships and heartaches we will have. Right now I’m thinking specifically about Lindsay and Mandi. I hope you precious dears are hugged and loved today.

9. I’m very pleased for my mom. She started a new job yesterday and is in a new season in her life.

10. I need a nap.

who leaves their camera...

Who leaves their camera five hours away??? Oh me. That's who. We spent the weekend in South Georgia visiting some of Jamie's family. Do you believe that I left my camera on Nana's table?! The very last thing I had in my hand. I can't even remember why I put it down... oh wait, there was crying and fussing and tired people to tend to. My birthday is in a week. I leave on a trip by myself in two weeks (oh yes I do!) and my camera is five hours away. Sigh. Jamie called Nana and she said she'd have someone get it to the post office in a couple days. Hopefully we'll get it back in time to take a picture of my cake. (If I make one.) Boo. Big time boo.

That aside though, we had a great weekend. Saturday night was so fun with the cousins all gathered round. I lined up 6 kids ages 7 and down on the couch and had a photo shoot. We played ball outside, ate pizza, walked through to the cotton field across the dirt road, and just enjoyed Nana's company. It was very nice.

10 on Tuesday

So one of my friend of a friends does this 10 on Tuesday thing on her blog and I've been wanting to do it for a while but kept forgetting actually ON Tuesday to do it. She just posts 10 things that are on her mind on Tuesdays and I love reading it. Sometimes the things are very matter of fact, some times they are random. So here goes, my first 10 on Tuesday for you.

1. Matthew went back to preschool today. Is summer really over? He was NOT happy about me arriving to pick him up though, so I fully realize he had a great day and I'm thrilled at where he is and the education he will receive there. He told me some things about shapes today and already has his first "homework!"

2. Mark may actually drive me freakin bananas with the fridge letter magnet things. He's OBSESSED with them. He can't quite manipulate them into the holder the right way though, so he fusses louder and louder until you come help him get it the right way. He can say A A C or A C C but not yet A B C, we're working on it.

3. Mark likes ketchup. I don't know why this just flew into my head though, it's kind of nice. Matthew wont "dip" anything, so it's nice to see my second born is taking a liking to one of my staples of life, the red stuff.

4. Grocery shopping is a challenge with two children and such a breeze with just one. Mark and I did the shopping while Matthew was at school today. I didn't forget to give the lady my coupons, no one argued with me about the items placed in the cart, no one needed to "help" me put the items on the conveyor belt, no one begged for a cookie... ah. It was nice!

5. Naps should be mandatory. I have been really tired lately and needing to nap right with Markie. It's a toss up as to what I make Matthew do. If I think he's worn out enough, he has to lay down too. If I think he can handle just a little "rest" time, he has to stay on the couch or on my bed and watch a movie, while I close my eyes. Hopefully the house wont fall apart or burn down while my eyes are closed.

6. I totally miss my best friend so much it really hurts. We are plotting and I am really hoping that I can see her again SOON. Otherwise it may be next year before we get to see each other in person. And that. is not. okay. I also miss my sister dearly. I hate that she's so far away and am very excited about spending some serious time with her over Thanksgiving, but even that sounds way too far away.

7. Man! Tracy, you have my serious major props! This 10 random thing stuff is hard. I am like sitting here thinking "what else? what else?" Ha!

8. The cutest thing on the planet... okay there are a few but man alive, when I'm pouting or cry out or even just frown, Mark will run up and say "momma??" so sweetly and have to kiss me. It's so precious. I love my little tender heart. Okay, another cute thing (Should this be another number?) is when Mark echos me singing Jesus Loves Me. OMG. So so cute. It's so cute. Half the time he'll sing the echo, and half the time he'll sing the next word and not echo me. It's precious. I'm desperately wanting to get it on youtube soon, but the attempts I've made at recording him have been interrupted by him or others. so I need to try again.

9. While I'm writing this, Mark is one leg (with his letter thing) and Matthew is on the laptop playing a game. He just said, "Mom can I do elmo?" I'm pretty sure he was on a different website when I set him up there. How'd he get to Elmo? How is he so smart? I swear this child is going to be smarter than me by age 10. Already he asks some hard questions and wants to know answers to things that just blow me away. He's so smart and logical like his daddy. I love him very much and am so proud of how big he is growing every day.

10. Well since I'm struggling with 10 things... I will leave you with this... in March if the Lord is willing to so bless us again, there will be another little person by the name of Hobbs in this world. I wasn't planning on telling my blog world just yet, but there you are. We're expecting a tiny miracle due sometime in March. I couldn't be more excitedly nervous if I was asked to be. This was a complete surprise and shocker as we were actually preventing such. I had been focusing on my weight loss and doing well at it... we were decided that we'd get through Krystle's wedding in JUNE next summer and then revisit the issue after that. After I was healthier. After I was not needing to be in a matron of honor dress --- that is so beautiful and I love love love it and can't wait to wear it and PRAY it will fit over my then postpartum belly. EEEK! So there you have it world! We're pregnant again! God is funny sometimes, huh?

Hello General Mills!

I was just thinking the other day that I was sad last week I had to buy generic bag cereal be/c there hadn't been any great cereal deals lately. .... well look no further!!!

There is a CRAZY deal at Kroger. This is the last day for it, so if you see this and have the coupons, GO GO GO! They are having a three day cereal sale. Marked boxes of General Mills cereals are half off. Nice start, huh?! Then to make it even sweeter, buy four boxes and get a $4.00 off your next purchase. Uh, OK! Armed with a coupon for each box I intended to buy, I made out with:

6 Cinnamon Toast Crunch,
5 Caption Crunch,
2 Lucky Charms,
2 Honey Nut Cheerios
and a box of Nature Valley granola bars...

(15 boxes of cereal and one box of bars)

Ready for the total???

ALLLLL for $9.08.

Say what?!?! Yup. I did four different transactions. I paid $1.84 on the first transaction with the Captain Crunch as they had the lowest price and I had a coupon each, making each box around 40 cents each. After four dollars back, the next total was $2.53, four dollars back again the next total was $3.25 and the last one was the super lowest total at $1.46! We'll be eating on that for a while! I think even the cashier was impressed!

Pride and sorry

How much pride and stubbornness and control can a small child actually have? The Bible speaks of pride being from fools and arrogance. But how prideful can one so small really have? We're finding out these days that the answer is QUITE A BIT! There is no doubt in my and Jamie's minds that children ARE IN FACT born SINFUL. I never really thought so many things about the issue when Matthew was smaller. He was a baby. Babies "don't know" how to act/behave/etc. ... But my word! We are seeing repeatedly JUST how much PRIDE and selfishness and stubbornness and will and control Mark has. and it's a LOT.

A week or so ago, he was hitting and kicking me. Jamie asked him to say "sorry." He wouldn't. He went back to bed. Got out, asked to say "sorry" and wouldn't. He went back to bed. Finally I was able to bribe him. I said "Mark, do you want your cup?" He nodded. "I said, Okay, say sorry and you can have your cup." He said "sooo-we. Cu-uh-up?" I gave him the cup.

He has a really hard time saying sorry to Matthew if he wrongs him.

Tonight though is just awful... He threw bucket fulls of water out of the tub. Jamie stood there, told him not to and he stared Jamie in the eyes and did it anyhow. I came in when I heard the commotion and saw what had transpired, scooped Mark out of the tub. Bath time is over. Got him dried off and changed and took him back to the bathroom to say "sorry" to Daddy. Would he? Nope. It's been like 20 minutes now. He's not interested. He's currently in his bed right now. Does that make me a horrible mean mom? Maybe. But so what. At this point, we have to nip this pride thing down FAST. When I asked him where the water goes, he could whisper "tub" to me. But can he face his dad and say "sorry" to him? Not yet. He had many chances to do so. I just heard Jamie go down the hall and ask him again, got no response and shut his door again. I'm shaking my head as I am typing this.

Oooo buddy, you have a LOT to learn. You can't just be all cute all the time and get away with things. In the long haul, is spilling water from the tub disastrous? No. But the issue isn't the action/offense, it's the unwillingness --in EVERY situation-- to say "sorry" for his actions.

If there are other moms out there with super strong willed, full of their own pride children, HOW do you handle situations like this?

Matthew Funny

Here's a random Matthew funny...

Today we're driving around, the whole family, running errands. Matthew knows we're going to the mall and was anticipating riding the train and getting a new backpack for school. First though, we needed to go to David's Bridal to try on and order my dress for my sister's upcoming wedding...

As we turn into the DB parking lot, I say "Matthew, we're going to the mall, but first we have to go to the dress store."

He says "Ohhhhh man!"

Jamie goes "Yah, Matthew. Me too."

I laughed SO HARD! It was priceless.

Sayla is in Heaven.

Sweet baby Sayla Grace was taken home to Heaven yesterday afternoon. The funeral was today at 11:00 this morning. My dear friend KB has been keeping me updated. Last night she called me on her way home and we talked for a lengthy time. She told me about the amazing awesome God we have and I reminded her how He is still in control. She told me about the box that Daniel had made for his sweet angel girl to be laid to rest in. She told me how the family was able to say goodbye. She told me how glad she was that her own daughter got to see this miracle baby and get a glimpse of God's marvelous handiwork. We are very sad that Sayla has left this side of Heaven, but I think we are all so grateful for the amount of time she did have here. For the love that all around Mandi and Daniel were able to show her and them. For the impact she had and will continue to have on all our lives. I don't know Mandi personally, but I am blessed beyond measure to be a part of her journey.


Dear God above I pray for this family. Continue to hold them today as they are home without their daughter. Lord Jesus, comfort Mandi's aching heart. Lord Jesus thank you for the knowledge that Sayla's body is now healed and new in Heaven. Father God thank you so much for the blessings you have given us and continue to give us. May we never forget how truly awesome and gracious you are! Amen.

update on Sayla

This is from my friend who's with the family now...

pediatrician came today to see Sayla, they couldn’t believe what they saw and were amazed. Sayla’s heart rate is better, color is better, she is eating, and having bowel movements. Hopefully she will be going home today. She was weighed again and came in at 4lb., 2 oz.


THANK YOU SWEET JESUS!!! You are still in the business of doing MIRACLES! Thank you Father for each moment this precious family gets to spend with their new miracle baby.


UPDATE: 4:25pm...
I just refreshed Mandi's blog and it looks like they ARE heading home! God is AMAZING.

Please Pray for Sayla Grace

Yesterday, a sweet angel was brought to earth. I don't know how long she'll have. And I should have posted this then... I don't know the current status update, but yesterday, Sayla Grace was born around noon. She wasn't expected to live five minutes. And God showed mercy. She lived through the night. As of 5pm tonight, over a whole day of life, the last update my dear friend KB got was that the family was being called back and that the end was near. I haven't heard anything since 5pm. I don't know if Sayla is still in the arms of her mommy or if she's now in the arms of Jesus. Please pray for her. Please pray for God's perfect and holy will to be done. Please pray for their families. Thank you.

Go here to see Mandi's blog about her beautiful precious daughter, Sayla.

Children are gifts

Our Sunday School class started a new study yesterday and will be continuing it for the next several weeks. I'm excited to see where this leads. The book that we're working out of is Charles Stanley's "How to keep your kids on your team." We discussed chapter one yesterday. There was lots of thought provoking comments in class, but I'm glad to say that throughout the week Jamie and I were able to have several conversations about the study too. (It's handy that he taught this week). Some things I took away that I thought I'd share...

1. Your children are a GIFT from the Lord.

--what is a gift? ...it is something given to you without anything expected in return, it is unearned, something given to show favor

2. Your children are a REWARD.

--what is a reward? ...a prize, something you win or earn, something given in return for merit or service or hardship

Psalm 127

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.

¹ Unless the LORD builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the LORD guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
² It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.

³ Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
⁴ Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
⁵ Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.



Here's some of the hard questions from the study...

1. Do you view your children as gifts?
2. Do they see themselves as burdens or blessings?


I'm very interested to see where else the book takes our thoughts. I've made a promise to myself to show my children that they are blessings daily. To tell them verbally and also show them with the non-verbal. To take time to spend the time with them. To value their words. To sit down and play with them. To put my "stuff" aside for them. To snuggle extra long on the couch. To do projects with them when I'd rather to other things. To read extra books, even when I'm tired. To pray with them more. To choose to give them the attention they need and desire so that they don't ever feel unwanted or not cherished. I need to work hard on being kind and patient and gentle with them while they are so young still and impressionable. I want them to always know they are loved and never question it.

If you have this book or can get a copy, I highly recommend reading the prayer on page 11. It has drastically helped my mindset this week.