Good news...good news

We finally heard back from the people who initially were interested in our home. I won't go into all the details but it was good news. We hope to be able to hash things out over the next couple days and see whether or not we have the house drama resolved.

In other news...the HUD home paperwork is nothing but drama. haha but it's government so should I expect anything less? :) They kept sending paperwork back because they didn't like wording one time, and this time they wanted Rod's supervising agent to be signing off on the agreement...maybe NOW they will be happy with the paperwork and we can move on.

Oh and for those of you reading my blog that I haven't already personally told, we are selling our home and moving into one (in smyrna) with more land and an extra 650 sq ft. We are tickled. More news to come.

Long day with an emotional ending

I spent the whole day today at a sleep conference. Thankfully I was able to go with Ashlie! I think I would have lost my mind without her! The conference was from 8am to 5:30pm. The speakers were either extremely boring or spoke with so much medical terminology that we couldn't follow what they were saying. Oh well...doesn't matter. I have my CEU credits and that's all that I need!

I rushed home because I also had a personal progress night planned at Krystin's house. I really didn't want to go. I was tired from getting up early and sitting in lectures all day and really didn't want to be out in any severe storms. Krystin wasn't worried about the storms and didn't want to cancel so I felt like I really had no choice but to go since that is my calling at church. So I forced myself to go and after the night we had...I'm glad I went.

I've served in this calling for 3 years and for one reason or another I've never felt that I've been able to bond with the girls to the extent "that I expected" I needed to or wanted to in order to help them. Tonight we encouraged the older girls to mentor the younger girls on their personal progress and Krystin and I floated around from group to group making sure they didn't need any help. I also checked off the girls in their progress. To my surprise, the older girls took charge and really helped the younger girls. I was so proud of them tonight.

I was able to be free to answer questions the girls had, encourage them where encouragement was needed and instruct them on what they might want to do next. The night really turned into one that I was enjoying. Their youth is invigorating and I loved feeding off of that. I finally got to my last set of girls and I know they won't realize it but they impacted me more tonight than I ever expected. Two of my sweet young behives, Carla and Emily, were sitting and chatting with Krystin. Krystin had to leave to help one of the other girls so I took the opportunity to check Emily and Carla's progress. While sitting with them, we got into a discussion about school and some of the pressure the girls are under.

These two sweet 12 year old girls are facing trials and experiences that I hate to see them have to experience. Unfortunately it is a fact of life in the day in age we live. Kids are mean...they aren't raised with values and manners, and our poor youth suffer and live it day in and day out. Carla mentioned that she had had a boy say to her that there was something different about her and another girl at school (who just happens to be another girl from church). This boy told her that it was as if they had a certain glow. Krystin and I both told her this was a wonderful thing to be "different" in a good way. The kids at school may not see their "difference" as a good thing and may pick on them...but it's good to be different and to have values and to stand for those values.

Carla shared with us how she has a 12 yr old friend who got drunk at her 18 yr old cousin's birthday party and doesn't remember what happened afterwards. Next thing she knows, after a few weeks of feeling "weird" her parents take her to a doctor and find out she is pregnant....at 12!!! She also has a second friend who "might" be pregnant. She also has friends at 12 who smoke. Emily is worried about her older sister going to HS next year. She fears it so much that she said she is going to pray every day that her sister is kept safe in school. She shouldn't have to worry about the safety of her sister in school...but this is what our schools have come to. Carla and Emily both expressed how they are called names at school and picked on. Emily....sweet emily...was called a B**** at school....Emily, quiet and shy, meek and mild. It breaks my heart for them.

So I shared with them that people are always going to be mean. We all get picked on. I told them that I know it's hard for them because even 10 years ago when I was in HS I was picked on. Then I got the shock of my life. Emily looked at me with total shock and said "WHAT? You were picked on?" I said yes sweetie I was picked on...and then Emily says, "But why, you are perfect?" I was absolutely floored that she viewed me this way. I didn't realize I had made this impact on Emily. I thanked her for her sweet compliment but admitted that I am no where near perfect and have many faults but it doesn't matter the reason, we all get picked on.

I left the get together tonight with a heavy heart. I wish I could protect these girls...I wish I could make them strong against the trials and temptations that they face. Some days at church I feel as though the girls don't even see me...but after tonight I realize the girls see me more than I thought. They see me as something I don't feel I'm qualified to be seen as. God bless Emily for her sweet compliment. I pray that I can live up to her standard. I realized tonight just how much I love these girls and I hope to God that I can be the example they need me to be as their leader. I pray I am being that example for Alli. These kids face so much in life and I just wish that in some small part that the little interaction I have with them at church can help make them strong to stand against the tidal waves of trials and pain they face.

Happy little garden

The last couple of years we have planted a small garden with mom in her big garden bed. The soil has been over used and needs nutrients added into the ground if we really want to continue to plant there. It was always a hassle to drive across town to water. So this year we are trying to grow our garden in pots. We are growing what we use the most...although we'd love to one day have a much bigger garden to do a few "bigger" plants.
The picture below shows 4 pots. The big white one has 1 tomato plant, 2 green pepper plants and a bunch of georgia sweet onions. The clay pot colored one has 2 red pepper plants and some more onions. The plant on the railing is a rosemary herb. Then, hard to see is another clay pot hanging off the deck which has parsley and chives.Here is a second pot of tomato, peppers and onions
This picture shows you both or hanging herb pots. The second herb pot on the right has our cilantro and basil.
It feels good go grow things...maybe its the money saving aspect or maybe it's the healthy aspect...not sure... But we like it.

Thanks Alli

Thanks to Alli, I was sporting this adorable bruise on my left cheek. I can't wait till it turns the pretty color of green...

I may be sporting a black eye...

Ok...I love my daughter so much...and its a good thing too...because she can really inflict some pain. Tonight I was lying on her bedroom floor talking to Ben and Alli had walked behind me to go to her bookcase. Next thing I hear is her walking toward me, and then WHAM! I get smacked in the face by one of her toys...Not just ANY toy...probably the heaviest toy she has. Oh my goodness that hurt. It actually brought tears to my eyes. I think Ben was in shock! haha. We aren't sure if she tripped and dropped it on my face or if she just dropped it on my face because that seemed like a good idea. Needless to say, my poor cheekbone is puffy and bruised. I just might be sporting a black eye tomorrow. I'll be sure to post a picture if it happens. :) The joys of motherhood. I just couldn't be mad at her. Ben told her to apologize but I'm not even sure she did it on purpose...although she did smile when I said ouch...not a good sign...appears she might like to inflict pain...gonna have to nip that in the bud.

Conference was great this weekend. I loved so many of the talks. It was nice to have Ben home today to enjoy it with us. It's easy to forget things you should be doing and become complacent. Then conference rolls around and you hear the words from God's inspired Prophet and apostles and it really uplifts and re-centers your purpose. To make the weekend even better, the sun came out, it was 70 degrees and the wind was blowing....LOVE IT.

Girls afternoon OUT

Yesterday was beautiful!!! I dream of days like that...feel the warmth of the sun on your face and a nice cool breeze to make it perfect. Days like that are truly when I look to the sky and thank God for all His beautiful creations.

Shannon asked me earlier in the week if we wanted to go to the zoo...well sure! Alli loves the animals so it sounded perfect. There was a gun show in town Ben wanted to go to with a buddy of his so that made it that much more perfect.

Of course all of Nashville's surrounding areas thought it was a great idea too because there were a TON of people there. We had fun anyway, but we had to maneuver through a mass of people at every exhibit. It made it really hard for Alli and Alaina to see the animals. I would've loved to take Alli out of the stroller and let her see over the fence but once she is out of the stroller, good luck getting her back in. If the zoo hadn't been so packed, I probably would've let her walk the whole thing.

Due to the massive amount of people there, I was never in a position to get a good picture of Alli with any of the animals at the zoo. I was constantly having to make sure we didn't lose her or get run over! So needless to say Alli didn't really get "excited" over any of the animal exhibits but she LOVED to be with her cousins. She just adores Caitlin and Alaina. There is a great jungle gym at the zoo and there is a huge padded mat area for toddlers. Alaina and Alli really loved walking the mats and throwing themselves down on them. I wish I had had my camcorder with me because it was so cute. We might have to go back soon so that Ben can see how much fun she has there.

On the car ride home, all three girls thought it was funny to buzz their lips together. Alli and Caitlin did this almost the whole ride home. Of course Alli ended up with spit all over her chin...gross...but that's what kids do. :)

Thanks again for inviting me Shannon. We had so much fun and look forward to hanging out with the girls again!

Pictures

Here is a picture of what Alli was wearing on the day we went to do the pictures for the new brochures at work. Wasn't she a doll?!?
Alli loves loves LOVES to read. This was last This was on a Sunday morning after Ben got home from work. Alli was so happy that daddy was home. He was lying on the floor in front of her door. She took a book over to him, stood between his arms and plopped herself right down and handed him a book. Love it!
I was at work a couple weeks ago and was really missing Alli. I Asked Ben to send me a picture of Alli. So this is the picture he sent me...Bonus!!! A picture of both of them and it's adorable!
We were in the spare room the other day and Alli was wanting to "read" the "books" that were in there. The books that she was referring to were my photo albums. So here she is on the bed, surrounded by the pillows she has strategically placed for her lounging comfort....and she is ready to read. Adorable.
Progress on the house continues. Ben and I finished up the chair railing today. We also finished painting the hallway upstairs. Now the only rooms in the house to be painting are the master and spare bedrooms. One day...not entirely important we do them anytime soon but we have the paint so might as well. We might start the crown moulding next....time will tell. We need a break from this weekend first.