This, That and the Other

We can't believe it but it has been almost 3 weeks since our move to Decatur. As the old saying goes..."Time flies when you're having fun!"

These past 2 weeks have been quite humorous to say the least. During our 2nd week in Decatur the city found sediments in the water so we began to feel like the colonial people having to bring water in to bathe, flush toilets, etc. It was quite interesting seeing Chick-Fil-A pour our drinks out of 2 liters and limit us to only a small handful of ice chips. I told Daddy that I was going to start collecting 50 cents for each person that walked by our table checking to see if the restrooms were open. Quite hysterical to say the least. After recovering our water the next wave of "unusual Decatur behavior" began...

You got it! SNOW!

We had somewhere between 10-12 inches fall in our neighborhood. It was great packing snow. SG requested a snow princess castle, which Mommy attempted to build using an empty mop bucket. I had much more success with this snow than I did with the sand in Gulf Shores in October. However, I think SG enjoyed devouring the snow more than she liked playing in it. (We had to tell her to only eat the snow in yard that didn't have foot prints because we caught her a time or two while walking to our friends' house down the street trying to stop for a bite to eat.



Since we couldn't really go anywhere all day Monday due to the snow AND ice on the roads...we spent a lot of time with our friends the Echols. SG has really taken to their daughter, Reagan. They could be sisters if you look really fast. Peas in a pod!

After the snow finally subsided enough for the schools to reopen, SG had her first day of school at Church Street Academy (thanks Christy for the recommendation!). SG loved it! She loves school so much that I couldn't hold her from it at all. She will be in an older 2's class, but the neatest things are the "classes" that they go to throughout her time there. She will be going to a science, social studies, art, music, gym, and Bible class. The greatest thing is that she will be able to stay there, if we choose, through Kindergarten!

First Day of School

Daddy has had a busy week as well despite the snow. We had an impromptu choir practice on Thursday evening for an hour. Then...about 100 music ministry participants descended upon our home for a dessert social. It was sooo much fun! Mommy loves hosting people at our home so this was right up her alley. We loved the great fellowship had by all! Then this morning we had a packed house in the choir loft! We are looking forward to adding more chairs next week!

The Lord's blessings have been too numerous to count over the past few weeks. We are so thankful for the people that have been helping and loving on us! All we can say is...THANK YOU!

Off and Running!

Today is Daddy's 3rd day at our new church in Decatur. We are loving getting to know the community but most of all the people are so sweet!

SG and I spent this morning running a bunch of errands (without getting lost I might add). She is still trying to grasp the whole concept of this move. This afternoon she asked why we are living in a new house and where our otherhouse had gone. So I tried, in my best Mommy explanation, to explain it all to her.

I am enjoying having some extra time to really sort through all my to-do list that I had in Montgomery but never felt I could completely get it all done. I am learning, after finally cleaning out my e-mail box and reading my favorite frugal website about rearranging my schedule and making it actually work. I have set some pretty lofty, yet obtainable goals, for myself in the coming year.

The big news of this week is two fold:
1. SG had her quarterly Diabetes check-up yesterday and got a rave review from Dr.L in Birmingham. YEAH!
2. We have found a preschool for SG to attend and Mommy does not have to go too! This is a HUGE thing for all of us. We will make our final visit on Friday (prayers please) and SG will, hopefully, begin attending on Monday. She will maintain the 3 day schedule she had in Montgomery to try and keep some consistency with her former schedule. I am so excited to have Mommy time!

We cannot thank all of our sweet friends both in Montgomery and Decatur for all your prayers and support during our time of transition! We have seen God's hand at work in so many ways every step of the way! We give Him all glory and honor!

Saying Goodbye

Today is our last day in Montgomery. We packed and packed and packed. A HUGE thanks to our family and hired friends all their help. We got all...I mean almost all...of our stuff packed into a 26 foot truck and one of our vehicles. There is just enough room for SG to ride along on the roof...Just kidding!

Earlier today, around lunch time, some of SG and Mommy's friends came by to say good-bye. At first, the kids just enjoyed running back and forth in the empty house. Then out the blue SG came up to her little friend Cooper and said, "Cooper...I am going to miss you." Mommy thought she was going to melt into the floor. Mommy has done really good about holding the emotional side in until today.

Mommy and Daddy really didn't know how much of the whole "moving" thing SG was grasping, but I think today really explained it all. Below are just a few pics of what our house has looked like the past few weeks and what our yard looked like this morning. New pics of Decatur to come later.

For now...please pray for our safe travel and smooth transition.

This Grand Adventure

I am sitting in the peaceful quietness of Panera Bread at 3PM in the afternoon enjoying a late lunch (by myself), so I decided now is the perfect time to play catch-up for all our friends and family.

Just so you know how technologically I fell behind, as I write this entry I have over 200 pictures finally downloading off of my camera into my Shutterfly account. I have not downloaded since MAY! This is not like my personality, but many of my readers know that our family has been through quite the rollercoaster ride personally since this past July.

As Beth Moore spoke last night at my Bible Study (on DVD of course), I finally put all the pieces to our puzzle together. Once we stopped trying to stack the bricks of our life and just let God do the writing and "stacking" then things will all work out for the betterment of everyone involved.

I am learning slowly not to "stack my bricks" too high. The Lord has taught me, especially over the past 3 months, to slow down and that I cannot conquer everything alone.

Now that I am done with my sermonette (I need to remember what I tell my husband all the time: Less is more.)

SG's update: She has been in outstanding health. We are still struggling, at times, trying to find a regulatory range for her diabetes but she is handeling everything like a CHAMP! She has even gotten to the point now where she helps Mommy and Daddy change out her site, which tends to minimize some of the tears. I have a co-worker at school who also has Type I Diabetes, and she has been such a blessing and HUGE help to me and SG at so many times throughout the year!

Mommy and Daddy are getting ready to begin final performances for their last Living Christmas Tree in Montgomery, Alabama. Yes...I did say last.

As many of you know, the Lord has protected our family at many times throughout the year when we felt he was calling us to one church or another by firmly closing the doors. However, we have felt the call of the Lord and he has open wide the gates in more ways than just for Daddy's calling to serve to move to Decatur, Alabama.

Daddy will begin serving as Minister of Music at Westmeade Baptist Church. Our entire family is SO excited to see how the Lord has and is going to use us in this wonderful body of believers. Throughout this transition I have been easily reminded through SG's child like faith how Christ showed his love to us and how we should extend it to others. She has been so flexible and adjusted so easily in all situations that we have put her in over the last 3 months.

We are looking forward to see how God works through our Daddy and Westmeade Baptist Church. Please pray for us during this time of transition.

May God bless you and your family during this Christmas season!

Song quotes by SG

So as many of you have read from some of my previous posts, SG LOVES to sing and, for the most part, generally sings the right words. However, she is known to have some misinterpretations of some of the lyrics. Here are two of her latest...

There is a song about Peter, James and John that is on her Bible songs CD that we have literally worn out in the car (most of the songs we can't play any more because they are so messed up on the CD). The song is supposed to say "Peter, James and John in a sailboat out on the deep blue sea". But according to SG Peter, James and John are now located in a sandbox out on the deep blue sea. Just in case you missed that section in the Bible.

But her latest one that has to be my favorite goes with an all time traditional Christmas song "Go Tell It on the Mountain". The end of the chorus says "Go tell on the Mountain that Jesus Christ is Born!" However, SG promised me in a heated 2 1/2 year old discussion on the way home from church last night that it does not say that in the last line. She "knows" that it says "Go tell it on the Mountain that Jesus Christ is Hot!" I am just quoting my 2 1/2 year old.

Hope this brings you as much laughter and joy to your day as it has ours this weekend! May we remember to "Go tell it on the Mountain" each and every day because He is born and "Might to Save".

This Little Lemon Lime

So as many of my readers can view from my facebook page, Samantha Grace likes to "perform" on stage. Well, her latest performance is of "This Little Light of Mine". However, according to her it is "This Little Lemon Lime". Enjoy!

Invisible Hands

As many of you know, two year olds can say the funniest things. Well, just these past few weeks SG has been having "conversations" with God while we are driving in the car. Some of them go like this,

SG: Hey, God, whatcha doin'?

Silence

SG: Ok. I'm not doin' anything. Just riding in the car.

Mom: So what is God up to SG?

SG: Just watching over us.

Mom: Anything else?

SG: Yeah, relaxing.

These conversations seem so cute and innocent when they happen. But her conversations I think came to life this weekend. Our church truly did have God watching over us with his invisible hands of protection. As you follow this link you can read and watch about what a true blessing it is that 14 lives were spared yesterday.

I write all of this cute conversation and link it to this story just to reiterate how important it is not only to openly talk to our children about God's hedge of protection, love and the joy He brings to our lives, but also the importance of praying. We have continually taught SG how praying is just talking to God. So she has, in her two year old mind, created these open conversations with God knowing that he is just "relaxing" and listening.

This power of prayer is truly what saved the lives of 14 young men yesterday. So as you go through this week and you are sitting at stop lights, cleaning dishes or, as in my case, tripping over another toy...stop and have a light hearted "conversation" with God. After all, He's watching over us and just relaxing in his heavenly chair!