Well Butter My Butt and Call Me a Biscuit

Got a phone call today from my aunt who lives in our soon to be neighborhood. She told me that crazy man's sweet wife was in her driveway telling everybody she saw that they had ordered sod to be put down just as soon as it could get there. I couldn't believe it. Of course, crazy guy was nowhere to be found. Probably was sulking somewhere. His wife was really excited and happy about it (per my aunt)- of course, all she wanted to do was fit in and make connections with people, so I am soooo glad crazy man gave in and did the right thing. I just never thought he would. I never cease to be amazed. B and I decided to hand the problem over to the big guy upstairs last night and we prayed for that crazy man and hoped that God would change his heart (mostly for his wife's sake) and sometimes I think God just looks at us and says "Didn't I tell you not to worry about stuff and that I would take care of things??" I just hate to bother Him with petty stuff like sod, but I knew He could handle it better than me ;0). This was more about the principle of the whole thing, anyway. To add to this joyous day, Annelise solved a problem she had been having at school with a boy who would not leave her alone during class (she had even lost sleep over it and waited to tell us about it after it had been eating away at her for days...). We told her what she needed to do, she did it, it worked, and she was sleeping like a baby by 8 pm tonight. (Her teacher does not allow them to "tattle" on each other, so she had to take care of it herself. I strongly disagree and believe there are some times that call for adult intervention, but that is something to bring up at the parent/teacher discussions in a couple weeks.) On top of that, the lady who teaches Annelise's new Sunday School class called my mother and told her how great and well-mannered Annelise had been this past Sunday (her first time in this lady's class). Lady was amazed at Annelise's behavior. Makes me feel good as a parent and I love to have reasons to give my children praise that they deserve. It has just been a wonderful day if I do say so myself. Not to mention, I have started drinking coffee in the mornings again (2 days ago) and have been totally amazed at how much more I get done when I am loaded with caffiene instead of practically laying in a pool of my own drool by noon because I am already so tired. I was like a machine in this house today. AND, went to Publix and they were having the most awesome sale and BOGO deals, and I actually was able to pass on the BOGO Ben and Jerry Ice Cream pints- which , if you know me, is a total miracle in itself. Woo-hoo. Now if someone would call and tell us we have sold our lots that we bought last year, it would be totally perfect. But I am happy and content with what I have gotten today already! The only thing I can complain about is that I am having a hard time getting all the parents in A's class to sign up for the Teacher Treats we are doing next week. It's a huge undertaking and our class is doing it alone.... I am trying to figure out a nice way to say "Listen up people I have e-mailed you 4 times about this and yet some of you still refuse to sign up for something and I'm about to lose it." Sounds like I'm gonna have to send that on up to the One who can handle it better than anyone else, too....... Hope everyone else found something great in this day's events!!

What Would You Do?

So, the guy across the street from our new lots we are about to build on has shown everyone that he is going to be a "problem person". Long story short: He ripped out all of the perfectly nice grass he had in the front yard and then started to seed new grass. The neighborhood covenants require that all front yards be sodded. Never an issue until now. 4 neighbors went to this guy and nicely told him that he was not allowed to seed the yard and he needed to do sod. He told them he was aware of that, but he was going to do what he wanted and did not care about the covenants. (Which he signed and agreed to when he bought the house....) So, these same neighbors called the developer- who is still the president of the HOA and told him he needed to deal with it. Developer sent the guy a letter. Guy asks the landscaper to find out who called and reported him. Landscaper finds out and tells guy. Guy goes around to every house of neighbors who reported him (at 9 O CLOCK AT NIGHT) and rants and raves about how wrong it was for them to call and report him. He also finds out that B and I asked the developer about it because we wanted to make sure we were not moving into a neighborhood where the covenants were not going to be upheld. He has told everyone that he still fully intends to seed his yard. Now we are waiting to see if the developer will handle it. He also told my aunt (who lives there) that he is very angry we bought the lots across from him and he had fully intended to buy them and that our house better not block his view of the farmland behind us. Now, all of the other people in the neighborhood are in agreement that this guy should be dealt with. It remains to be seen if he actually gets dealt with. I don't know why he thinks he is exempt from the covenants or why he thinks he should just be able to do whatever. He told my aunt that he" had all these same kinds of problems in his last neighborhood". She said, "Well, that should tell you something, buddy." He just cannot stand her because she is one of the ones who reported him. His wife, who is very sweet and quiet, just sat there and cried while he went around ranting about all of this. We're not second-guessing the lots because, like I said, all of the other people in the neighborhood are really nice and he is the only one like that. The girls are going to love it there and we love it there. But, I am almost afraid that this guy is going to make our lives a living hell when we move there and part of me is even afraid he will do things to our house while it is under construction. It wouldn't be so bad if he weren't directly across the street from us. And it's not like he'll be moving anytime soon- they just moved there a few weeks ago. He also told my aunt that when he yelled at us to get off that lot the evening we took my parents to see it, that he meant it. We have not even closed on the lots and he already hates us. We are waiting to see what the developer does to handle this guy. I'm afraid if he does not handle it swiftly and firmly that this guy will just keep trying to see what he can get away with out of spite. I knew when I saw him come out of his house in an undershirt and socks pulled up to his knees with no shoes that we were not going to jive..... I just don't know how I am going to handle him next time we are out there. I know he will come up to us and my temper is just so hard to handle sometimes!! I have decided that I will just be as cordial and straightforward as possible without raising my voice and that I will be as nice as I can be to his wife. I feel very sorry for her and for his 2 little kids. There really is nothing to argue with him about- the covenants are the covenants and he agreed to them, period. So, I just hope he isn't more crazy than I am estimating. I am usually very good at reading people and I think we can handle this guy...........

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMALINE!!

This was at her party at Pump It Up last weekend- she's so proud to turn 5!

This one was from last year- her ballet birthday party.

This one was her after she had finished one of her famous tantrums. Look at those eyebrows!! She was storming across the backyard.

First time Annelise ever saw her. She loved her instantly and cried when she had to leave the hospital without her.

Sweet baby with all her baby yumminess and her adorable gummy grin.

Goodness where did the time go? Baby girl, I cannot believe you are 5 today. I remember when I was in the hospital and you were born so fast and came so quickly. You were so scrawny and tiny that I overfed you and you ended up looking like the Michelin Man with all your rolls and pudginess. Now you won't eat hardly anything and you are so picky and particular! You literally came out screaming and haven't stopped since. You are a little fireball and no-one can match the temper tantrums you throw! Just as unmatchable is your awesome belly laugh and your sweet side that you show so often. You love to cuddle and get hugs and kisses. You think your Daddy is the best thing ever. You think your sister hung the moon and you want to do everything she does. You inherited my temper, but I think you even surpass me with your hotheadedness and nobody likes to get you riled! We are having the toughest time figuring you out. You have the strangest tastes in food, decorations, hobbies, etc... This year you learned to read, you started kindergarten, you learned to waterski. This coming year you will start ballet (a lifelong dream for you) and you will begin first grade. You are such a big girl, but you love being the baby and we love you so very much. You ask the best questions. You give the best hugs and kisses. You are such a joy and a blessing. We hope you had a wonderful birthday today and that you are granted many many more.

There is Such a Thing

As easy money, that is. A couple years ago I joined a marketing group and agreed to do opinion panels and talk about products, etc etc..... (I mean, really, anytime someone wants to pay me to give my opinion on something, I'm gonna go for it.) So, last year I went to a talk about central vac systems and got to play around with a few and talk about what I did and didn't like about it, blah blah. It was 3 hours long, they gave us dinner and paid 100 bucks. I decided that I liked this kind of thing. They called this week and asked me a bunch of questions about buying cars and decided I qualified to go to the ICAR research center this morning and test out the interiors of all kinds of new cars and tell what I liked/didn't like about each one. It was totally cool. I got to see/play with all kinds of new things they are working on. We took the surveys for each car on a PDA, so there was no writing or anything. After 2 hours of playing and giving my opinion, they gave me 70 bucks, a coffee and a bagel and I went on my merry way. How I wish I could have a full time job doing this stuff. Anyway, that is going to pay for Annelise's curtains for her new bedroom- of which B is not too sure of the ones I have picked, but what does he know? I hope they call me again soon...... I have lots of rooms that need curtains in this house we are building! Tomorrow is Emmaline's 5th birthday, so as always, I went to the store and got a big bouquet of helium balloons for the "birthday fairy" to leave in her room after she falls asleep. They now expect to wake up to balloons in their room on their birthdays, so it has become a tradition. She is thinking about what she wants for dinner tomorrow night (that should prove interesting- the girl has strange tastes.....) We were supposed to go to the lake this weekend but my parents decided they wanted the girls to spend the night with them Saturday night, so looks like we won't be traveling, but we wanted to watch several football games, so we were'nt that upset. So glad tomorrow is Friday. Well, that's all the updates for now. Tomorrow will be all about Emmaline, so get ready for some cute pics........

Ready To Go

Last night we took the girls out to my parents to eat and then took my parents over to see our new lot. They could have driven there, it's only 10 minutes from their house, but of course they use any excuse to see the girls..... Plus, B and I had no plans and knew this would occupy the girls for a while, too. When we got to the neighborhood, my aunt and her hubby came over to see us (they live there) and we all walked around the lot and talked about where the house would be and stuff. Eventually almost everybody in the neighborhood was out there talking to us. It was so cool. Almost everyone is our age and has kids the same age as ours. In fact, there are sisters down the street who are exactly the same age as my 2 girls. Annelise and Emmaline made fast friends and they cried when we had to leave. All the neighbors were so nice and were already welcoming us to the neighborhood. We have never lived in a hood with kids before- even growing up I lived in the country, so this is all going to be new for us. The thing we love about this neighborhood is that it is just one street and everyone knows everyone. So, when my girls go running down the street to go play at so and so's, I can watch them walk there and know the parents they will be with. It also means there is hardly any traffic, so the kids just play in the road and the driveways without much concern for cars. There are only 20 lots, total, and right now there are only 10 houses, so we really liked that. Now, the people living across from our lots just moved here from California. They seemed nice, but a little on the strange side. The husband came out of his house and was yelling at us to get off the property because it was private property, etc etc. I think he thought we may have just been a group of people wandering around (there were about 8 of us out there at the time) or maybe he was joking, but he apologized after my aunt went over and explained that we had put a contract on the lots and would be building on them. He was nice after that, but I'm not sure the common sense elevator goes all the way to the top, ya know what I'm sayin'? To add to it, he came out wearing one of those white v-neck undershirts and shorts and sandals with socks pulled up to his knees. (And he's only about 40...) His wife was really sweet and quiet and they have 2 kids, one daughter Emmaline's age and a little boy who is 2. So, not sure how we will groove with them as far as personality- but I think we'll be fine as neighbors. Otherwise, everyone else was really friendly and the kids played together like they had known each other forever. So, we left with a warm fuzzy feeling and knowing that this move is going to be great for the girls. I was so happy that when I got home I celebrated with some fat-free vanilla ice cream- which is not half bad, but got even better when I mushed up a piece of chocolate cake in it. Mmmmm. All in all a nice, fun evening. We are so ready to begin on this house!

Fireproof

I'm not one to promote movies on here. In fact, I'm not a really big movie buff. But, I saw the trailor for this movie "Fireproof" and I am so excited about it coming out. It is a movie with huge Christian influence, starring Kirk Cameron. I would encourage anyone who is married or who is ever thinking about getting married to go see it. I think marriage is in trouble in this country and has been for quite some time. No-one really talks about it because people don't ever want to admit that they have issues or that they are unhappy. Brian and I had a little rough spot back earlier this year and I thought I was the only one in the world who had the feelings I was having. I got the book "Every Woman's Marriage" and it changed the way I dealt with the issues I was having. Then, after talking to several women about it, I found that almost every one of them had these same problems and fears and wondered why no-one ever addresses it. I think we just get so involved in raising our kids that our marriage gets neglected and then when the kids are old enough to be independent and don't need us as much, we look at our spouse and think "Who are you and where did our marriage go?" Some people choose to work on the issues and some take the divorce route. We get bored with the same person and we get tired of their little annoying habits and we decide we may want something new. We just need to remember that temptation is the Devil's strongest tool used to destroy us. When we can make it through the hard times, we get rewarded for that with a stronger, more meaningful relationship. I hope that Christians and non-Christians alike go to see this movie. I think it has the potential to change lives. This Friday morning Dr. Phil is going to be interviewing the actors/actresses from this movie and although I am not a huge Dr. Phil fan, I plan to TIVO that show so I can see what they have to say about the message they want to send. Anyway- keep it in mind for a date night you may have after it's release. And if you don't do date nights, start- it's a great way to reconnect!

New House.. Coming Soon

So, here's the drawing of the house we are getting ready to build. We are doing the stone and hardy plank, but not the shake shingles on the big middle dormer, and we are also going to make the little side dormers pointed at the top to make it a little more traditional and southern. I really like the porch and the symmetry. Of course, it looks better in the picture with the big oaks and the little stone fence and all that. (Why do they have to do that- just makes it look like something's missing when you build it!) Well, a few crepe myrtles and some little tiny oaks and possibly a little magnolia will have to do. They should look like the trees in the picture by the time B and I are ready to go to "The Home"..........

Thoughts on Life

Yesterday was such a long day. It started off sad with the visitation and I found myself thinking of life and what it means and what I'm doing with it. I always do that when something like this has happened. When I worked on the Pediatric Oncology unit, it was something we saw far too often. I end up doing a "self-evaluation" of sorts and usually get my priorities back in order and really see things a little more clearly. I ask myself things like : Is my life making a difference in someone else's (other than my immediate family)? Do I give as much of myself to my children and my husband as they deserve? Do I show love when it would be easier to hate (with my temper that is a tough one...)? Do I give mercy and compassion when it would be easier to pass judgement and discard someone? In other words- Do I strive to be more like Christ in my everyday actions, and do I realize how truly blessed I am? Usually the answer to those questions is 'Not really.' I need to work on that and I need to come back to what's important. This house stuff has been consuming our lives lately- which I know is partially necessary because there are just certain things that have to get done when you're getting ready to build. But we are done with most of the "big" decisions, so we can refocus our attention on things that last and things that really matter. I have to remind myself sometimes how short this life really is- it's just a breath, a vapor and then it's over. All that matters when you're gone is what you've done while you've been here. I posted the pic of my girls when they were smaller because it always makes me smile to look at pictures from those times. Too cute. Seems like last week they were that size! Anyway- don't mean to be depressing today, that's not my intention. Today I feel refreshed and a little renewed. I have stuffed all the prize bags for Emmaline's Pump It Up party this Friday night (my baby is going to be 5!!) I've done some laundry and now I'm waiting on some more Mommy calls to come in. We got the contracts on the lots we decided on yesterday, so we are ready to go with all of that. All in all- life is good. I've been slightly slack on posting, so I promise to do better with that, and that the next posts should be a bit more upbeat. People who know me don't know how to take me when I'm being serious!

Long Weekend....

Wow, I am almost glad it's Monday. This past week-end was just crazy. Saturday started with soccer in the scorching heat. Then we get home and I get a phone call that my step-cousin was killed in a car wreck that morning. We weren't extremely close, but she was such a sweet person and she was only 24 years old. She has a 7-month old daughter and a 3-year old son and she loved being a mom. I'm so worried about the kids- the husband didn't really take care of them much, so I don't know if he can handle being full-time mommy and daddy and working. Terrible situation and just so sad. All day Saturday I was consumed by thoughts of her and her life and how quickly it was gone and thinking of her mother and her kids. I'll be going to the visitation tomorrow and I know that is just going to be heart-wrenching. Sunday was consumed with houses. Some friends of ours wanted us to come look at a house they bought and are thinking of flipping. Since we have basically been doing that for the past 8 years, they wanted our advice. I love stuff like that, so it was a good thing for me. The house is great, space-wise and in a wonderful location. Then we jetted over to P'ville to see our office manager's new house. They just moved in and she has been wanting us to come see it for a while. It was really pretty, but really bare. Then she tells me she wants me to decorate it. I'm starting to feel overwhelmed at that point, but like I said, I love that kind of stuff, so I agreed to help her with that. It's about 6,000 square feet, so I am going to have a tough time with it, I think! I told her we would have to take that room by room. After that we grabbed some dinner and went to our builder's home to show him our floor plans for the house we are wanting to build and discuss it so he can estimate a price for us. That was about 2 hours worth of discussion and decision-making, so we got home around 10:00 last night and the girls were absolute bears this morning when they had to get up for school! WE put a contract in on some lots in P'ville this morning, so we are waiting to hear back from that and we will then start the "building process" over again. I am so excited about the house, I'll post more about it later. Anyway- please keep my cousin's family in your prayers. They are having a truly difficult time. And remember the babies. I cannot imagine what that family is going to face. Well- I need to go back to work- got to call these worried Mommies back!

Miracles Do Happen

So, last night went pretty perfect if I do say so myself. Idiot magnet was not allowed to work because behind our seats was equipment and in front of us, almost the whole row was completely empty. Amazing. Dinner was spectacular and the concert was surprisingly really good! I knew I loved the song "Wicked Game" back in the day and still like it- but beyond that I had no idea what to expect from Chris Isaak. Looking around before the concert started I noticed there were people of every age and every "group" from all walks of life. He actually played all kinds- blues, country, rock, love songs, 50's type music. And he has such an incredible voice. It has this haunting quality and I would also venture to say that he can hit all but maybe 2 octaves on the scales! Plus, any man that can rock it out in a hot pink suit with silver sequins has my vote. In addition to the great music, he is one of the funniest people I've seen perform. He had a totally dry sense of humor- which I love- and mercilessly picked on one of his guitar players, a Jewish guy named Herschel. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how entertaining it was. Today I have been working like a mad woman to get the general house cleaning done so I can sit my fanny on the couch and watch SC hopefully get whipped up on by the Bulldogs tomorrow. Immediately following I hope to see Clemson take care of the Wolfpack. This will all occur after Annelise's soccer game in the morning. Oh, speaking of soccer- Emmaline scored her first goal last night while we were at the concert! I was so sad to have missed it. Sweet Thang gave me the scoop and said Emmaline actually stole the ball from some boy and then scored. Yeah- takes after her Mommy. She also said Emmaline just went right back to playing as if nothing had happened. I tell you, when that girl hits the field she is all business. Annelise had to go to bed early tonight because she was acting like a psychotic maniac, so let's hope she is back to her normal sweet self by the morning. Otherwise I may feel sorry for any other player that gets in her way during the game tomorrow..... B and I have pretty much decided what to do about the house. More on that later. For now, I have to get back to the Kansas/UCF game- I have 2 points placed on Kansas, and so far, I'm a happy gal!

Keeping My Fingers Crossed...

Tonight we are going downtown with some good friends to a nice restaurant and then to the Chris Isaak concert. I am hoping our ever-present "idiot magnet" will not be working this evening......................

The Facebook Experience

These past 3 days have been so incredibly crazy and awful that I don't even want to blog about them, so I chose to discuss this Facebook thing I have recently become a part of. I thought it would be like MySpace and that I was maybe too old to be doing that, but when I heard about all of my friends that were on it- some of them I had not seen or spoken to in years- I thought I would check it out. So, I created a fake identity at first, just in case it was really lame and I wouldn't want to be associated with it. But I was so amazed at all the people on there that I knew! There were even people my parents age on it. It was really cool to go on there and look at everyone's pictures and see all their kids and stuff. There were a lot of people from my high school and college graduating classes. So, I cancelled my fake account and opened a real one and I now have 60 friends and have a couple of breakfast get-togethers next week with some friends I have not seen in forevah, but was really close to way back in the day. I don't expect to become BFF's with these people or anything, but it will be nice to catch up. I don't know about you, but high school seems like such a different world when I think about it. It's almost like I was a totally other person then. I could not stand being in high school and counted the days until I would be able to go to Clemson and get a real life. Almost all my friends were guys. I lived to play basketball. I didn't understand the ridiculous emphasis placed on brand names and money and how far girls were willing to go with guys. I couldn't figure out why girls cried over a guy they broke up with and had only been "going with" for 2 days. I felt like I was so far beyond all that, but when I think about it, I definitely had my immaturity issues, too. I probably didn't enjoy it because we didn't have any money, my mom refused to buy brand name stuff and I was not allowed to go to any parties of any sort at any time. Plus I thought high school boys were stupid. Looking back I am so thankful for all of that! Even so, it has been great reconnecting with people and seeing that they are doing well. So, if you haven't been on Facebook and want some good entertainment or are just curious then check it out. You may be surprised at some of the people you see!

Older and Wiser

So, I am one year older today, which makes me around 22......... ;0) I still feel 22, so does that count? Turning 30 was tough for me, mentally, so after that nothing seems too bad. 34 should be a breeze. Brian took the girls to one of my favorite gift stores as he does every year and let them go wild in there picking out whatever they wanted to get me. They did great. I got 2 ceramic pumpkin candles and matching pumpkin salt and pepper shakers and a lot of jewelry. They also each picked out a handmade soap bar , and those smell really good. I told Brian that from him, I just wanted the curtains for our new bedroom since they are a bit on the expensive side and we need to be saving money for the house. He didn't like the idea, but agreed anyway. Today, I started back to work with the phone triage for the office and so far that is going great. Not too bad, but winter hasn't hit, yet..... I am just thankful for another year and all that has come with it. The good and the bad. One lifts us up and the other teaches us and strengthens us. I have been, once again, blessed far beyond anything I could ever deserve and am happier than I could have ever imagined. God is good all the time. No doubt! This year should hold a lot of new chapters for me. We should be building a house and moving and the girls should be starting at a new school. We'll be taking some vacations and maybe starting on the lakehouse construction if our lots sell. We will find a church in the area we will move to and plug in there and in turn, deepen our spiritual walks, which have been a little shallow lately. I look forward to all the experiences that this year will hold for me. I did enjoy the early gift that Clemson gave me this past Saturday- I know they were just playing the Citadel, but I saw a few glimpses of the "good Clemson" during that game and I was so excited to see that. Hopefully they will find their groove and get on track for the remainder of the season. The rest of the ACC isn't looking too good either, so we may have a chance! Well, back to the Mommy calls! Here's to another year and hopefully many more to come!

At least the team that beat Clemson was RANKED!!!! Woo-HOO. All that smack talk from my Carolina Gamecock fan friends after last week. If any of you are reading this, I'll warn you ahead of time- don't answer your phone today if you see my number......... Yee-haw.

She's Got My Vote

Yep, I liked her speech and the more I learn about her, the more I hope Mc Cain wins by a landslide. I thought he was crazy to choose her at first. Crazy like a fox, it turns out! That's all I got today. Oh, yeah, and- Go Vandy!!

Square One

Yep, that's where we are back to. I feel about like this cat right now. We were supposed to close on our new lots last Friday. Paperwork did not get done in time and it got delayed to this Friday. We have since found out that part of the lots are in a flood zone and we would either have to spend thousands of dollars bringing in dirt to try and bring the level of that part of property up or we would have to get flood insurance for thousands of dollars a year. No go. We took it as a sign that God just didn't think it was the thing for us to do. So, now we are back to the question of whether to build or just buy something with the idea of staying there for a few years until we are in a place -mentally-where we can be capable of deciding where we want to live forever. I'm not sure we are in a position to decide something like that, yet. We are just going to lay low for a while and talk about our options. We have to decide something soon, because we need to know by next January if we are going to keep the girls at private school for another year or not and will have to re-enroll. There is a waiting list at their school, so I don't want to lose their spots if we aren't going to be in a better school district by next August. But, January is a while away, so I think we can decide between now and then what direction we will want to go in. I am not really upset, but I am frustrated. I don't like not knowing what we will be doing- especially when it comes to where we are going to live. I'm used to moving, I just usually know where I'm going way before we go there. There really aren't any houses that jump out at us at the moment, but houses come on the market every day, so we will keep that option open. Well, we will figure it out. We just don't need to be making snap decisions, and that means we need to hand the control over to the only one who really knows what is best for us. My white flag is up and I am ready to just listen. Annelise doesn't care where we live as long as her room is pink and there is a pool somewhere she can go to. Emmaline could care less about any of it. So, at least they are being easy about the whole thing. :Sigh: Please pray for us! It would be nice if something just "fell in our lap" because we are so frazzled, it needs to be obvious! Well, I will be excited about wherever God leads. Just waiting to hear the exact location......