Weddings, Birthdays, and Memorial Day

I have been reading a lot this past week.  I don't know if it is because I am avoiding people or if it is because it is just so stinking hot in my house.  Either way, I have read a lot!  I am working on my 4th book in 3 days.  I have no real reason to avoid people. I just go through spurts where I do not feel like being around anyone which is wierd since I am such a people person. 

Anyways, the month of May is over tomorrow.  CRAZY!  This month has literally flown by!  I am not complaining!  I have been eager to see June come. 

My brother gets married this upcoming weekend!  While I look forward to my little brother marrying the love of my life, I am mostly just eager to see him and his fiance'.  It has been too long.  I also cannot wait to sing with my praise team from school again.  We have so much fun together!  They are family.  It will be great to see my family as well.  I have not seen most of them since Christmas.  I also will get to see my Mema and Pepa.  I have not seen them since my cousin got married 5 years ago.  It really has just been way too long since I have seen all of these wonderful family and friends.  I am so thrilled!

Today we are down at Adam's parent's house for Hannah's 17th birthday.  I must say looking back I think my largest life decisions were made when I was 17.  Some good, some bad.  Let's just say that I am glad that I am not 17 anymore and that those days are FAR behind me!  May Hannah make great decisions and choose to follow God through all of them.

Well, hope all of you have a marvelous Memorial Day! 

Joyful Moment of the Day:  Being with family!  I am so glad we are able to live close to at least Adam's family.  They are a huge blessing and I am so grateful for them!

A Very LONG Night

So, with all that happened last night, sleep did not come naturally for me.  I ended up reading my Bible seeking peace so that I could sleep.  I finally went to sleep at midnight.  The alarm went off at about 2:30am for a quick Kaylee check.  Being nervous parents we wanted to make sure that she was ok.  It was a long, hot, miserable, nervous night!

Kaylee is herself today.  She is everywhere and her normal talkative self.  She has already thrown herself on poor Titus a few times today.

I just praise God that He has control over the storms that come and shake us.

Joyful Moment of the Day:  Kaylee being ok and being her normal self today!

Taking a Tumble

Adam and I just faced the scariest thing we have ever faced with Kaylee.  She fell down the uncarpeted, metal-lined, linoleum stairs.  Now before you start making accusations and judgments as to what kind of parents we are, you must know that the stairs are often blocked from her reach.  Tonight was an unusual circumstance.  Tonight the A/C guy is here to fix our air.  Summer has finally hit and it is almost 90 degrees in our house.  I worry about Kaylee being too hot at night.  Anyways, all that to say the fix-it guy is here making things different than usual.

Adam was on the floor with Kaylee here in the living room.  We had the doors to the kitchen closed so that Kaylee could not get to the stairs.  Adam got up to answer the guy's question, leaving one of the kitchen doors open, thinking that since he was right there she would be fine.  Well, the fix-it dude asked to see the furnace and of course Adam said, "Sure, yeah, it is right down here," and showed the guy the way down the basement stairs.

During this whole event I was watching music videos on youtube trying to find a song to sing for Michael's wedding.  I half saw Adam leave the room and talk to the A/C dude, but never noticed the door.  After about 5 seconds I realized I had not heard Kaylee talking.  Panic hit me!  I jumped up to find her, hoping that she was anywhere but overlooking the stairs.  As soon as my foot hit the tile floor in the kitchen I heard her start to tumble.  Adam had just turned to come back up and caught her about 2/3 of the way down.

We called her pediatrician and she told us to check her eyes for dilation and that as long as she is not throwing-up we do not need to take her in to the ER.  She also advised us to check on her before we go to bed and that if she stirs she should be fine.

Please be praying for her.  I know the doctor says everything is ok, but as a first time mom this sort of thing makes me nervous.  Proverbs 3:5-6

Joyful Moment of the Day:  Hearing Kaylee giggle after holding her and kissing her tear-stained bruised face.

Curly Q's

Second week of vacation has begun.  Today has by far been the best day of the 2 weeks.  I have been quite productive.  It is about 12:45 and I have already read my Bible, fed Kaylee breakfast, checked my facebook and email, skyped with my parents, talked to my bestie Meggan on the phone, played with Kaylee, put Kaylee down for a nap, cleaned out the fridge, fixed the ceiling fan, washed Kaylee's laundry, worked out, dried Kaylee's laundry, layed out, showered, fed Kaylee lunch, talked with my friend Sara on the phone and now I am blogging.  Oh and did I mention that the sunshine is out???  I love the sun!  I try to be in a good mood every day, but on sunny days it comes more naturally. :)  Also, Kaylee is in a pretty good mood today.  She has been playing and smiling a lot.  Not to mention she has the cutest curls forming in her hair.  She is such an adorable kid.  It's been a good day and a great start to week 2!

Joyful Moment of the Day:  Definitely talking to Meggan even for a short time.  I miss that girl!

Tough Day

Today was one of those days where you just wish a friend would call.  The kind of day when you could use a hug or someone to just hold you and let you know that they care.  This kind of day calls for ice cream and lots of TV and or movies.  Something to draw the mind away from where it is and hold it's attention.  With that being said, I am off to the freezer and then to the couch upstairs to watch a movie to finish off my evening.

Joyful Moment of the Day:  Having ice cream in the freezer.

Bout to go for a walk

Waiting on Adam to get home from work so that I can go on a walk with my friends.  Worked out for the first time today in pretty much a month.  I have tried a couple times to get back into it without much success.  It is quite frustrating because I saw a noticeable difference in the way that I looked after working out consistently for about a month.  Then, I just stopped.  Now I lack motivation.  I don't know why.  Either way, I started again today. Hopefully, tomorrow will have in itself a workout as well.  Please be praying for me in this area.  I really want to take care of myself and get/stay in good shape.  I also desire to be pleasing to look at for my husband as well.  The only way for any of that to happen is I start working out consistently again.  Well, Adam is home now. Off to walk with friends.

Joyful Moment of the Day: Kaylee was pulling Titus's tail today and he just kept loving on her and purring.  Crazy cat!

LOST and a Bit of Karen Kingsbury

This week has started off boring yet somewhat productive.  The weather has been about the same.  Rainy.  I have been able to get the bathrooms cleaned, the laundry folded and put away, supper on the table for Adam, and have taken care of Kaylee.  On the fun side, I have watched old episodes of LOST, skyping with friends and family, and have been reading a book by Karen Kingsbury.  It may not be the kind of week I would want to have every week, but it has been somewhat relaxing and enjoyable.

Joyful Moment of the Day:  Last episode of LOST is tonight before the season and series finale on Sunday. I am pumped!

Remembering the Journey

Over 4 years ago a desire began to grow in the smallest parts of my heart. A longing sinking its roots in making the next several years ones that I truly had to have God help me through.  A faraway dream.

To have a baby.

It was not an easy time.  Adam and I had always agreed to wait to have children.  Wait until we were both done with school. Wait until we move.  Wait until we have secure jobs.  Wait until we have a house.  Wait.

I hate waiting.

In the midst of all the waiting several family and friends were embarking on my dream.  It felt like every woman around me was bursting at the seams with babies and joyful mommy glows.  Even people that did not want to be pregnant were doing so.  Ironically, I was not mad at Adam for reminding me of our agreement to wait.  I was mad at God.

I was mad at Him because I knew He has power.  Power over birth control.  He could make it happen.

He didn't make it happen.

It was a really hard time for me.  It was this burning desire that started small, but completely occupied my whole heart.

I finally let it go.

The desire was still there, but I knew our lives were about to change and it was not the time.  I made amends with God.  He helped take some of the tension and burning that my heart felt.  He eased the pain of knowing it wasn't time.

3 years passed and it was finally time to try to make my dream a reality.  I knew the statistics.  It takes the average couple 1 year to conceive.  However, everyone around me was popping pregnant after 1 or 2 months.  I found myself back in the pit of despair after a few months of trying.  I kept asking God to take some of the tension off again.  It was too hard to experience month after month of failed attempts.  I needed some relief.

In September, God and I talked and I let go of my desire once more.  This time it was the deepest part of the desire. The root.  I wanted to carry my own baby in my womb.  My child that would look like me and Adam.  "Alright, God, if you have a different plan, if you want me to adopt, that is what we will do."  It was by far the hardest conversation with God I have ever had.

Needless, to say, God, who is loving and gracious to us when we are the least deserving, gave me the desires of my heart a month later.  A positive pregnancy test.

I literally cried.  I fell to the floor sobbing.  My heart wept for the child I wanted for so long and now finally had.

It has been 20 months since that conversation with God.  As I look at my little girl and watch her grow, I thank God for her life, for His provision.  He knew the right time.  He created her just for me.  She is every prayer answered that I prayed for those 4 years.  I praise the Lord for her life.  I was able to carry her in me, feel her kick and hiccup.  I delivered her and was able to see her crying face and hold it next to mine.  She is my blessing from God Almighty.  Creator.  He is Mighty and Wonderful.

Kaylee is everything I ever wanted and desired.  Everything I prayed for.

My little girl.

Joyful Moment of the Day:  Remembering the journey.

Let Summer Begin

Summer is finally here for me!!!  I am so excited!  While I do have plans made to travel quite a bit, I do not have plans otherwise.  I am just looking forward to being home every day with Kaylee and having the afternoon to get things done.  Hopefully, our summer will be filled with trips to the park and mornings with friends.  I also hope to do some cleaning.

My house could definitely use a deep clean.  Floors need to be scrubbed.  Closets need to be cleaned out.  Dust bunnies need to be collected.  Furniture needs to be vacuumed.  Baseboards need to be washed.  The list goes on and on. 

I am also looking forward to doing some cooking.  It has been a while since I have truly been able to host.  We are talking like full meal, other than something easy such as spaghetti.  Keep your calendars open!

On top of that Adam and I will be celebrating our anniversary and also Kaylee's birthday! 

The summer is full of fun!

Let summer begin!!!

Joyful Moment of the Day: Spending time with family.

Hide-n-seek

Yesterday I realized that Kaylee will pretty much follow me anywhere in the house so I decided to hide and call her and see if she could find me.  Sure enough here comes Titus.  (He is our cat.)  I used to play this with Titus before Kaylee was born.  I would hide and start calling Kaylee and Titus would come running up with Kaylee crawling behind.  It was super cute!  It made for a fun filled beautiful morning!

Joyful Moment of the Day: Getting the couch fixed today and it is not going to cost me anything because it is covered by the protection plan that we bought with the furniture. YEAH!

Family

Family plays a huge role in my life.

Growing up we moved a lot, which had its ups and downs but overall it made my family super close.  I see other families that have relationships, but nothing like the deep meaningful relationships that I have with my parents and my brother.  Moving made friendships with others hard to come by at times, making my family my best friends.

Right now many hours separate me from my parents as well as my brother.  Living far apart sucks.  There are days that I would love to do nothing more than go to my parent's house and just lay down on the couch and hang out with my Mom all day or go pick up pop cans along the road with my Dad. There are so many days when going out into town with my brother would make my day.  Running to wherever, but goofing off the whole time.  I miss them.

Some would probably remind me that I will get to see them soon.  My brother is getting married in 3 weeks.  Here in this moment though, in the quiet, all I want to do is be with them.  They are the definition of love, strength, and encouragement.  God's instruments that He so magnificently gave to me.  Blessings.

May He bless them today in whatever they are doing. Love you guys.

Joyful Moment of the Day:  Kaylee is getting more teeth.

Weekends, Weddings, and Whatnots

It has been really hard this last few days not to be looking to the future.  There is just so many super fun things that I am looking forward to.  Next Friday is my last day of work until August. June 5 my brother is getting married and so we will be celebrating that with he and his future bride in Denver.  Plus I will get to see some great friends and family while there.  Then, my 5th anniversary is June 25th. Kaylee's 1st birthday is June 29th. Then, in July is my grandparent's 50th anniversary which means we will be heading to South Dakota for that.  In the process of going there we will get to spend some time with more great friends and family!  It is going to be a great summer!!!  So, as I sit here with anticipation I try to remain in the here and now and all that I need to accomplish today.

Joyful Moment of the Day: Hearing Kaylee call my name from her crib this morning when she was ready to get up. :)