This Is The Day!

This is the day!

This is the day!

That the Lord has made!

That the Lord has made!

I will rejoice!

I will rejoice!

And be glad in it!

And be glad in it!

That little chorus, based on Psalm 118:24, has been in my brain since I put it on my pillow to rest last night. Even after waking several times last night to very frightful and disturbing dreams, I would sing that in my head to push the ugliness out and welcome sweet slumber back in. Upon opening my eyes this morning, that was the first thought I had. And then I realized...

This IS the day that the Lord has made. Not unlike any other, but this day (in my life) holds a lot of possible change.

As many of you know, I am having to resign my position as Stay At Home Mom in exchange for a position that pays a little better. When Bill first approached me with this, I was crushed. The thought of leaving my children - especially the newest model - hurt my heart. Squeezed it so much that it leaked out of my eyes in the form of warm, salty tears. A LOT of warm, salty tears. Anyway, after a summer full of three kids, I got to thinking that maybe this back-to-work thing might not be so terrible! ;) Not even that thought, however, made me excited about entering the realm of the classroom. ::sigh::

Then... one of my dearest friends called me with a job she figured I wouldn't be interested in - because it was really more than I wanted. I have to say, it was the first time I felt a twinge of excitement about going back to working world. And I still feel that excitement. I want this job. And, today, I interview for it. I'm filled with nervous excitement... after all, I haven't interviewed for a job in 10 YEARS! (Oh, sheesh, I'm starting to shake at that thought... ) But so many have been praying for me, encouraging me, and supporting me that I think I can do this.

And then there's this morning... my sweet Carter Chance woke at 6:30. He needed a diaper change, a little of mommy's milk, and some cuddle time. He got all of those things and, in my arms with his cheek against mine, he began to breathe the sweet breaths of sleep once more. I kissed his cheek and stroked his oh-so-soft hands and arms... and then I thought, "This is what makes me love my unpaid position the most. This time that I can never ever get back once it is gone." And - for the first time - I was sad at having to interview today. It's hard to want two very different things so very much. But I do.

However, I know the best thing for our family right now is for me to have a paying job. And this job really seems to be the best of both worlds for me. I feel it is an answered prayer (to Bill's prayers, particularly *tee-hee*). I guess we'll see what the actual answer to the prayer is in the next couple of days. Right now, I need to go get ready for my interview!

Psalm 118:24 ~ This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

We've Come A LONG Way, Baby!

We were just "kids" on the day we said, "I do." But we were kids in absolute LOVE! Nothing - our being in college, only working part time, having no money, being so young - NOTHING could keep us from walking down that isle to become husband and wife. A fire burned in the middle of our chest that no man could put out. That fire will burn eternally within both of us, and no matter where we go or what we do, that fire of love will keep us warm.

We were so quick to fall in love. We met in the drive-thru of a bank where we (reluctantly) worked together. Four months later, we were engaged. Eleven months later, we were married. And, here we are... 13 years later. While things have changed so much, I know they are all for the BEST. We've come from our 1 bedroom apartment with $5 garage sale avocado green couches to a home we designed and built for our family. We've gone from part-time jobs to full-time careers. And, most importantly, we have gone from "you and me" to US. We are a blessed and happy family of five. Without the love we share, there's no way we could be the family we are today. Just imagining that the two of us - falling in love so many years ago - turned into an amazing journey to parenthood that would include the three most amazing and beautiful boys I have ever seen! Blessed... we are truly blessed.

I thank God every day for you, my love... my best friend. I pray for your happiness and well-being. I pray for our love to continue to burn within and for it to never, ever be extinguished.

13 - considered a lucky number - has become so much more than luck. It's become 13 years of bliss and blessings. I look forward to the next "lucky" set of years ahead.


August 2, 1997 - I married my best friend.

Leila's Latest

J: Here am I! Send me!

Getting the Word Out

While I could probably spew a ton of venom in how I feel about this situation, I feel Leila - in all of her amazing grace - says it perfectly. And I'm not about to muddy it with my sinful nature and thoughts.

Please, if you can, spread the word. Help a family honor their lost loved one - a man who fought for our protection, safety, and right to call ourselves Americans.




And here's Leila's blog:

Writing for J.

The Fallen Deserve Honor!

The grave of fallen soldier? Unfortunately - YES - this is the grave of SPC Jason Dean Hunt who lost his life 11/5/09 in the Ft. Hood Shootings.

8 months later, his widow chooses to honor him this way. His family continues to beg and plead to have a headstone placed here for them to visit and bring flowers. So far, EVERYTHING they have brought (flowers, pictures, etc.) have been "discarded" (thrown away) because there is no vase/headstone - thanks to his widow. What a shame.JD has a family that continues to love and miss him daily. They long for a place of rest for him that shows honor to the man and soldier he was. They long for a place to visit where they can lay flowers and photos to help their hearts to heal. They long for a marker - a way to tell others where his body is buried so they may find him, sit with him, and be still. We all know JD is not there - he is in a much more beautiful place than we can fathom until we see him there. But, for now, for those left behind to mourn the loss of a son, a brother, an uncle, a friend... for now the need - no, they DESERVE to see honor brought to this soldier's grave because he was, indeed, a man of honor.

God bless you, Leila, and the rest of your family for not only having to live with the tragic loss of JD, but for having to fight so hard for the right to mourn him peacefully and respectfully.

I Have a ONE Year Old! ... for the 3rd time...

And man, oh MAN is it bitter-sweet! While it is so much fun seeing all of the things my Carter Chance can do and loving the smiles, babbles, and cuddles I am getting from my "chunky dunker," it's hard to realize that he's not that tiny baby I gave birth to a year ago... and... the toughest realization... that these are my last "firsts." It's so hard to give up and let go of this time in my life. I never knew I would love being a mommy so much that I would want to do it again, and again, and again...

At any rate, we had a lovely family get-together after church on Sunday to celebrate the 3rd ONE year old in my life. And it was a lot of fun! Good food, good family, and great memories.

Another great Nana creation: The 1 cake!
Mommy helped blow out the candles on Carter Chance's personal cake:
Carter Chance decided he needed to do a taste test before serving his guests:
How he spent most of the party: cloth diapie and cupcake hat!
Not sure about this taking steps thing... crawling is so much easier AND faster!

Eight Months of Making Me Smile!

And so many more smiles to come!