Wow I know it has been a while. A lot has been happening and yet nothing has been happening all at the same time. And to make things even harder our camera's cf card keeps tearing up the card reader, so now I have to get a new CF (old school style memry card) card AND a new card reader! Grr!! If anyone has one of these that they no longer use and would like to donate to the cause, I will gladly send you my address!
Our little man is steadily growing and showing us just how big and smart he is. You can ask him where your nose is and he will point to it on your face, we ask him "Reid, how old are you?" and he will hold up 1 finger most of the time, he says "Dada, Mama, Night Night, Bite, Bubba, Baby" and laughs SO MUCH! He keeps us on our toes that is for sure. He is learning the meaning on "No touch" more and more, eating like a champ (we put whole milk in his sippie for the first time today, the kid loved it!), loves going to football games, is standing and can stand up in the middle of the floor unassisted as well as take a few steps. I think he could walk is he wanted to, but crawling is still too fast right now. He loves to pull up on my legs behind me and me grab his hands while he follows me around. He claps for himself after he has done something right, loves to ride anything that has a motor, LOVES balls of any kind, and is all around just a super happy baby. We are so blessed to have such a fun loving little guy in our lives. God is good!
We are also getting closer and closer to his first birthday. You don't know how sad that makes me, my baby is not really a baby anymore. He is such a big boy, one who is too on the go for much cuddle time with Mama. I know I had a hard time in the beginning, but I would give almost anything to go back to those early days when he was about 1-3 months old and just sit there and cuddle with him. Never to be :(. I am excited to see how much more he is going to learn the older he gets, and realizing what a blessing I have to be able to stay at home with him and teach him.
I have been struggling to recover my homemaking skills since the end of summer activities. I am needing to get back into a routine (I am desperately missing this) for cleaning, shopping, cooking etc. I am hoping after this next weekend to get much better. My cousin is getting married on saturday, so I know there will be many new things cropping up this week that we do not normally have. I am excited about her wedding, her marriage, and helping her celebrate! It is going to be the fanciest wedding I have been too that is for sure.
Ok now that I have rambled your ear (or eyes) I promise I will have something more to say next time you hear from me.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Puppy Love (Had to Delete This Post)
So I had to delete this post because of some complications, but it is back again. It was written sometime during November 2008. Just didn't want to lose it, but couldn't put it back in the same spot.
So this past week was Thanksgiving and we had a lot of fun and a lot of driving to do! We ended up going to Tyler on Tuesday night to be there so Mark could go and observe at a physical therapy place. He really really enjoyed it and has pretty much decided this is what he is wanting to pursue as his career, which is very cool! Now it is just a matter of getting into the classes! So on Wednesday his mother and I just enjoyed the day together by going shopping and making Christmas pillows!! This is a stretch for me considering my homemaking skills are virtually non-existent. They turned out pretty good, with most of the credit going to Edith!
Thursday morning started off early with us heading out at 7 AM for Bryan for lunch with the Cliftons. It was a long drive but we finally made it! I got a chance to meet some family members that were unable to be at the wedding, and I have never met before. It was nice just getting to know a new family, but I definitely missed my family back at home. This was the first holiday away, and it was much harder than I had anticipated. I didn't think it would be that big of a deal, or effect me as much as it did, but it was still all good. We ate, sat around and talked some, and then headed back to Tyler just to get out of one car to go straight into another one and make the hour and fifteen minute drive back to Harleton to catch leftovers from lunch with my family. I enjoyed getting to see everyone and was glad they had a good Thanksgiving.
Another recent happening is Mark and I have a puppy! We got a miniature Shih tzu who is about 9 weeks and around just 1 pound. He will end up at 3 pounds, but shouldn't become any bigger! He is just adorable and I am definitely in love, and guess what. . . so is Mark! I love it! He loves him just as much as I do, and shows it. My dad is allergic to just about everything, including most things with fur, so needless to say, dogs aren't his favorite animals! I tell him he looks so cute to me when he plays with Gizmo, which is what we named him! Unfortunately, there is a no pets rule here at ETBU, like it goes as far as no fish, so we cannot keep him with us constantly. My Noni has offered to keep him for us until we are in a place of that will let us have one! Such as great grandmother I know! I will try to get a more pics, but here are a few:-)
Friday, September 2, 2011
Life is Precious. . .
I already knew life was precious, but I was reminded how much so in a very real way on Monday evening August 29, 2011. You see on this day I was involved in a very real car accident with my mom, younger brother, and baby boy. I will start from the beginning.
While Mark left to go to Shreveport I decided to stay behind and go out to eat with my paternal grandparents, great-grandmother, great aunt and uncle, mom, dad, and brother. We had a great meal, with Reid eating SO MUCH FOOD I thought he would burst. We had a wonderful time of fellowship and were in good spirits when we left. Reid and I went with my mom and brother who were on their way to Kohls to get Adam some dress pants for a new job he started that very day. On the way out I called "shotgun" on my brother (first one to call it gets to ride in the front), just to be funny. So mom was driving, I was in the passenger seat, and Adam was in the back with Reid-Man, and the mood was joyful, we had talked about how we were gonna get ice cream after we got done shopping. We needed gas, but decided to do that after shopping too.
We are on the road that will lead us to the opening of the driveway to the store. There is a traffic light that conducts a four way stop. It is quite a busy light because it directs traffic from walmart and into a big shopping center, restaurants, and a big movie theater. Our light was green so we continued on down the road. All the sudden we notice a green Tahoe turning left, right in front of us. We all thought, surely he isn't going to keep going, surely we will miss him, surely, surely, surely. . . BANG.
We hit the side of their car with force. Not as much as it could have been since mom wasn't speeding and had hit the brakes as soon as she realized what was happening. She tried to swerve to miss them, but we think they might have hit their brakes when they realized what had happened. Before I knew it we were stopped abruptly, the air bags had deployed, and I was screaming. I didn't mean to at all, and it is one of the few times that things came out of my mouth that I didn't have control over. I screamed "Oh my God, Reid! Reid! Reid!!!" (all the while thinking "I don't say 'Oh my God', why am I screaming it?") My brother is in the back saying "He's ok, he's ok!" and my mom telling me "He's fine, he's fine!!" I couldn't turn around and look at him though. I remember my brother unbuckling Reid and getting out of the car, my mom getting out and going around to grab him, and me just sitting there. I couldn't move. I remember seeing the kids who were in the Tahoe, scared looking, running around, not knowing what to do. I remember being surprised we hit them, I really thought we were gonna miss it.
All I could think was, "I can't move, I really can't move, can't breathe." My brother said he heard me say "I can't feel my legs" before he got out to which he thought "Oh man I don't want to see that." I don't remember saying that I couldn't feel my legs, I do remember saying I couldn't move. I was in shock. Adam came around to my side of the car and told me I needed to get out. I told him no, that I couldn't. He said "Kristen, you have got to get out of the car." This is where reason took over, I thought to myself, "The car could blow up, not matter if you can breathe or not, you have to get out." I took off my seat belt and got out of the car and stumbled over to the grass, off the road, listening to mom ask people to call 911 and to stay as witnesses. I get Reid, see he has blood in his mouth, but that he had only bit his lip. I then realize I can't hold him for long, that my back is hurting. I hand him to my brother who feeds him the rest of his bottle to calm him down before taking him to my grandmother who we called and came to help. I sit down because I can't do anything else.
Someone brings me my phone from the car and I call Mark who had just reached Shreveport. I told him what happened and he abruptly turns around, as does my dad, missing a meeting he had a work. I am just sitting there, talking to the 911 workers, answering questions, waiting. All the sudden this lady comes up and hands me an ice cold water in a cup from A&W (I don't think there is an A&W store in our town) and a sack full of cold bottle waters. This makes me and my mom break down as we thank her, she tells us she is praying for us, and goes to hand some water to the other kids in the car. We got her name, but that is all. I don't know how she got their so fast, where she came from, or where she went, but we are so grateful to her. She was the hands and feet of Jesus to us. I told Mark that I would like to do that if we ever drive by a fresh wreck scene if it was at all possible.
They ask us if we need to go to the hospital, we say no, and then sort through what we need to do. Our car gets towed away and we go up to the parking lot where my family is, as well as my mom's friends, a couple from church, who were in town that night. We all decide that we need to go to the ER to be checked out. We get there, Mark shows up, I break down again, get x-rays, get Reid checked out (fine except for a few scratches from the straps), get meds, and head home.
So yeah, super crazy, eye opening, and makes us so thankful that we are all ok. It could have been much worse. Here are a few pictures of the cars. They are taken from my dad's iphone.
The kid driving the car was 16 years old and didn't have a license. He admitted to looking at the wrong light and going when he wasn't supposed to.
Seriously one of the scariest moments of my life! I am blessed to be here another day with a wonderful baby boy to train up in the Lord. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
While Mark left to go to Shreveport I decided to stay behind and go out to eat with my paternal grandparents, great-grandmother, great aunt and uncle, mom, dad, and brother. We had a great meal, with Reid eating SO MUCH FOOD I thought he would burst. We had a wonderful time of fellowship and were in good spirits when we left. Reid and I went with my mom and brother who were on their way to Kohls to get Adam some dress pants for a new job he started that very day. On the way out I called "shotgun" on my brother (first one to call it gets to ride in the front), just to be funny. So mom was driving, I was in the passenger seat, and Adam was in the back with Reid-Man, and the mood was joyful, we had talked about how we were gonna get ice cream after we got done shopping. We needed gas, but decided to do that after shopping too.
We are on the road that will lead us to the opening of the driveway to the store. There is a traffic light that conducts a four way stop. It is quite a busy light because it directs traffic from walmart and into a big shopping center, restaurants, and a big movie theater. Our light was green so we continued on down the road. All the sudden we notice a green Tahoe turning left, right in front of us. We all thought, surely he isn't going to keep going, surely we will miss him, surely, surely, surely. . . BANG.
We hit the side of their car with force. Not as much as it could have been since mom wasn't speeding and had hit the brakes as soon as she realized what was happening. She tried to swerve to miss them, but we think they might have hit their brakes when they realized what had happened. Before I knew it we were stopped abruptly, the air bags had deployed, and I was screaming. I didn't mean to at all, and it is one of the few times that things came out of my mouth that I didn't have control over. I screamed "Oh my God, Reid! Reid! Reid!!!" (all the while thinking "I don't say 'Oh my God', why am I screaming it?") My brother is in the back saying "He's ok, he's ok!" and my mom telling me "He's fine, he's fine!!" I couldn't turn around and look at him though. I remember my brother unbuckling Reid and getting out of the car, my mom getting out and going around to grab him, and me just sitting there. I couldn't move. I remember seeing the kids who were in the Tahoe, scared looking, running around, not knowing what to do. I remember being surprised we hit them, I really thought we were gonna miss it.
All I could think was, "I can't move, I really can't move, can't breathe." My brother said he heard me say "I can't feel my legs" before he got out to which he thought "Oh man I don't want to see that." I don't remember saying that I couldn't feel my legs, I do remember saying I couldn't move. I was in shock. Adam came around to my side of the car and told me I needed to get out. I told him no, that I couldn't. He said "Kristen, you have got to get out of the car." This is where reason took over, I thought to myself, "The car could blow up, not matter if you can breathe or not, you have to get out." I took off my seat belt and got out of the car and stumbled over to the grass, off the road, listening to mom ask people to call 911 and to stay as witnesses. I get Reid, see he has blood in his mouth, but that he had only bit his lip. I then realize I can't hold him for long, that my back is hurting. I hand him to my brother who feeds him the rest of his bottle to calm him down before taking him to my grandmother who we called and came to help. I sit down because I can't do anything else.
Someone brings me my phone from the car and I call Mark who had just reached Shreveport. I told him what happened and he abruptly turns around, as does my dad, missing a meeting he had a work. I am just sitting there, talking to the 911 workers, answering questions, waiting. All the sudden this lady comes up and hands me an ice cold water in a cup from A&W (I don't think there is an A&W store in our town) and a sack full of cold bottle waters. This makes me and my mom break down as we thank her, she tells us she is praying for us, and goes to hand some water to the other kids in the car. We got her name, but that is all. I don't know how she got their so fast, where she came from, or where she went, but we are so grateful to her. She was the hands and feet of Jesus to us. I told Mark that I would like to do that if we ever drive by a fresh wreck scene if it was at all possible.
They ask us if we need to go to the hospital, we say no, and then sort through what we need to do. Our car gets towed away and we go up to the parking lot where my family is, as well as my mom's friends, a couple from church, who were in town that night. We all decide that we need to go to the ER to be checked out. We get there, Mark shows up, I break down again, get x-rays, get Reid checked out (fine except for a few scratches from the straps), get meds, and head home.
So yeah, super crazy, eye opening, and makes us so thankful that we are all ok. It could have been much worse. Here are a few pictures of the cars. They are taken from my dad's iphone.
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| This is a frontal view of Mom's car |
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| The vehicle we hit. |
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| View of the passenger side where I sat. |
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Reid's First Haircut
So I am a little behind on the whole blogging spectrum as far as Reid is concerned. I mean I haven't even put up his 10 month pictures for goodness sake! Yeah I know, shame on me. . .
Anywho, I am going to just jump right in there and tell you about Reid's first haircut. My 1st cousin, Kyndall, went to hair school in Dallas. Since then she has come home, gotten engaged, and began working/planning a wedding. Yeah crazy! Anyway, Reid's hair was kinda getting away from him. He had what she referred to as "wings" on the side of his head by his ears. I held off cutting them for the longest, hoping they would turn into curls, but alas, Kyndall said I could go on no longer, so on July 20th, we broke out the shears.
Needless to say this was a big day for Mama, baby, and stylist. After much collaboration and some trial and error we figured out the best way to handle our "wingy" situation.
So there you have it, recorded for all eternity, Reid's first haircut. And yes moms I did keep a tiny bit of it to go in his baby book. Makes me sad, my baby boy isn't such a baby anymore!
Anywho, I am going to just jump right in there and tell you about Reid's first haircut. My 1st cousin, Kyndall, went to hair school in Dallas. Since then she has come home, gotten engaged, and began working/planning a wedding. Yeah crazy! Anyway, Reid's hair was kinda getting away from him. He had what she referred to as "wings" on the side of his head by his ears. I held off cutting them for the longest, hoping they would turn into curls, but alas, Kyndall said I could go on no longer, so on July 20th, we broke out the shears.
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| The hair to the left would be classified as a "wing" |
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| Forming a game plan. |
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| Combined with some reassuring sugars. |
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| Trying the whole sitting by yourself thing |
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| That didn't work out so good, so enter Mama |
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| The first cut! |
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| Hey, not so bad! |
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| Until we had to get the back |
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| "Aunt" Kyndall did a great job! |
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| Until the end |
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| Then it was time for Grammy |
Monday, August 22, 2011
What I've Been Thinking Lately
I know I need to upload pictures, believe me some are coming soon, but until then here are some things that have been on my mind lately. . .
1. Cloth Diapers- Ok mom, you can stop making the face you are making and read on to hear me out. I have a few friends that cloth diaper and have read a few blogs of moms who have made the switch and loved it. While I am not trying to create more work for myself, I can't help but think that it would save money, is WAY better for the environment, I wouldn't be stranded in a small town (with no walmart) diaperless/never have to worry about picking up diapers again, and not to mention they are cute too! I am doing my research, but if anyone has any info they would like to share, please feel free!
2. The first day of school is today and this day has been bitter sweet for me the past 3 times it has rolled around. The first because instead of being in my own classroom I was doing my student teaching, thanks to an incompetent advisor and a college that wouldn't budge. The next one I was VERY pregnant and remodeling a house in anticipation of our little one arriving. I think I was still having issues with the fact my life was about to change before my eyes, and the one thing I knew how to do (teach) wasn't in my future anymore, at least not for the time being. It was hard to not be there to start my first official "first day" like everyone else. This year is a little bit different. I have a thriving (and teething) 10 and a half month old hanging on my pajamas that I am still wearing waiting to eat breakfast and play. I am content with where I am at and my situation, I know this is where I am supposed to be. So even though I am have not yet had my official first day I can smile and turn to pick up my little guy, knowing I am doing something just as special!
3. The concept of worry has been on my mind lately. More specifically as in how not to do so. As always, there are things happening here at the Clifton house, things that feel outside of my control, and hard as I try, I can't get them under control. So I worry about them. This is not smart. I have been making a conscious effort to put my trust in the Lord and to let Him do the worrying for me. Reminding myself that His yoke is easy and His burden is light whenever I get to feeling consumed with what ifs. Isn't it wonderful that we have a God who is in control over everything? He knows the plans he has for us, we just have to have the faith to follow them.
4. My phone. For those who don't know, I had to send my phone in to Apple because of some problems. I was 3 days without it. It was hard and liberating all at the same time. I didn't notice how many times a day I reached for it, weird times really. Like I checked for it when I went to the bathroom at a store (I guess to make sure it didn't fall out of my back pocket into a toilet), as my clock for what weird time Reid was waking up because of his teeth, for my book, for my music, for my e-mail, I mean seriously it was a big addiction. And yet it was nice to not have to worry about it for just a few days. I didn't have to think "do I have it?" "where did I lay it down?" or things like that. Yes it does make my life easier, but I think going without it for a few days was just what the doctor ordered.
So there you have it, welcome into my head. One scary place to be huh?
3. The concept of worry has been on my mind lately. More specifically as in how not to do so. As always, there are things happening here at the Clifton house, things that feel outside of my control, and hard as I try, I can't get them under control. So I worry about them. This is not smart. I have been making a conscious effort to put my trust in the Lord and to let Him do the worrying for me. Reminding myself that His yoke is easy and His burden is light whenever I get to feeling consumed with what ifs. Isn't it wonderful that we have a God who is in control over everything? He knows the plans he has for us, we just have to have the faith to follow them.
So there you have it, welcome into my head. One scary place to be huh?
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Do Everything
God is just funny awesome sometimes. Even in the little areas of our life, He just chooses to show us His love, and that He is very involved in our lives, yes, even the life of a stay at home mom. Yesterday the hubby and I went on a crossover trip where we took the 6th going into 7th grade students who are going into the youth group to a water park. This water park is called Splash Kingdom, and it encourages it's patrons to first Seek the Kingdom using Matthew 6:33 in it's advertisements. They play Christian radio throughout the park all day long. It is a small park with a great family atmosphere. So much so we even let the kids go around in pairs or more if they wanted. All in all a great trip.
Back to my story. We were on the way back, listening to KLOVE, the local christian radio station when I heard the lyrics to a song come up and then the artist start talking about them over the song. I was trying to listen to Mark, listen to the lyrics over the artist, and all the time thinking, he is singing about my life! I never caught the name of the song, but I knew it was Steven Curtis Chapman. I said I would look it up later. As soon as we got home, we picked up the baby, showered, and headed across the street for a prayer meeting and fellowship with some friends. It was a great time, something I am so thankful to God for. Once that was over, Reid and I headed to the youth building to go get Mark, who had left the get together early to go practice praise band for the next day, and found him, along with my brother, playing in there. Adam was downloading some songs from his computer to a jump drive for Mark to download. I took it from him, then once we were finally home and had the baby in bed, I decided to upload them to my laptop. One of the CD of songs that was on there was Steven Curtis Chapman's new CD Re:created. And wouldn't you know the first song on there was the one I had heard earlier!!!! It is called "Do Everything" and I fell in love right away. Here is the first part of the lyrics. Doesn't the first part just sound like the life of a stay at home mom?
Back to my story. We were on the way back, listening to KLOVE, the local christian radio station when I heard the lyrics to a song come up and then the artist start talking about them over the song. I was trying to listen to Mark, listen to the lyrics over the artist, and all the time thinking, he is singing about my life! I never caught the name of the song, but I knew it was Steven Curtis Chapman. I said I would look it up later. As soon as we got home, we picked up the baby, showered, and headed across the street for a prayer meeting and fellowship with some friends. It was a great time, something I am so thankful to God for. Once that was over, Reid and I headed to the youth building to go get Mark, who had left the get together early to go practice praise band for the next day, and found him, along with my brother, playing in there. Adam was downloading some songs from his computer to a jump drive for Mark to download. I took it from him, then once we were finally home and had the baby in bed, I decided to upload them to my laptop. One of the CD of songs that was on there was Steven Curtis Chapman's new CD Re:created. And wouldn't you know the first song on there was the one I had heard earlier!!!! It is called "Do Everything" and I fell in love right away. Here is the first part of the lyrics. Doesn't the first part just sound like the life of a stay at home mom?
You’re picking up toys on the living room floor
for the 15th time today
Matching up socks and sweeping up lost
Cheerios that got away
You put a baby on your hip and color on your lips
and head out the door
And while I may not know you I bet I know you
Wonder sometimes does it matter at all
We’ll let me remind you it all matters just as long as you
for the 15th time today
Matching up socks and sweeping up lost
Cheerios that got away
You put a baby on your hip and color on your lips
and head out the door
And while I may not know you I bet I know you
Wonder sometimes does it matter at all
We’ll let me remind you it all matters just as long as you
Do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you
Cause He made you to do
Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face
And tell the story of grace
With every move that you make
And every little thing you do
Cause He made you to do
Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face
And tell the story of grace
With every move that you make
And every little thing you do
It was such a good reminder and such wonderful way for God to speak straight to my heart, that yes what I am doing matters. Yes following His will for my life and staying at home matters to Him, it matters in eternity, I am making a difference even if it is just sweeping up the Cheerios that got away. It also helps me to keep right attitude as do stay at home, that I am supposed to do everything as if working for Him and not for men (and wouldn't you know that is also what I read this morning in my quiet time in Col 3:23).
All in all it has been a great week for me. I have been working on not keeping tally and finding joy in doing things for my family. It has been my prayer and God has been so faithful to provide. It isn't an overnight thing, it has been a process, but it's wonderful.
Here is the whole song if you want to read it. You can also go here to listen to it, and here to hear the story behind the song.
You’re picking up toys on the living room floor
for the 15th time today
Matching up socks and sweeping up lost
Cheerios that got away
You put a baby on your hip and color on your lips
and head out the door
And while I may not know you I bet I know you
Wonder sometimes does it matter at all
We’ll let me remind you it all matters just as long as you
for the 15th time today
Matching up socks and sweeping up lost
Cheerios that got away
You put a baby on your hip and color on your lips
and head out the door
And while I may not know you I bet I know you
Wonder sometimes does it matter at all
We’ll let me remind you it all matters just as long as you
Do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you
Cause He made you to do
Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face
And tell the story of grace
With every move that you make
And every little thing you do
Cause He made you to do
Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face
And tell the story of grace
With every move that you make
And every little thing you do
OOoh ooooh oooooh
Maybe you’re that guy with the suit and tie
Maybe your shirt says your name
You may be hooking up mergers, cooking up burgers
But at the end of the day
Maybe your shirt says your name
You may be hooking up mergers, cooking up burgers
But at the end of the day
Little stuff big stuff in between stuff
God sees it all the same
And while I may not know you I bet I know you
Wonder sometimes does it matter at all
We’ll let me remind you it all matters just as long as you do
God sees it all the same
And while I may not know you I bet I know you
Wonder sometimes does it matter at all
We’ll let me remind you it all matters just as long as you do
Everything you do to the glory of the One who made you
Cause He made you
To do every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face
And tell the story of grace with every move that you make
And every little thing that you do
Cause He made you
To do every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face
And tell the story of grace with every move that you make
And every little thing that you do
Well maybe you’re sitting in math class
Maybe anekatips on a mission in the Congo
Maybe you’re working at the office
Singing along with the radio
Maybe you’re dining at a five star
Or feeding orphans in Myanmar
Anywhere and everywhere you are
Whatever you do it all matters
So do what you do and don’t ever forget
to do
Maybe anekatips on a mission in the Congo
Maybe you’re working at the office
Singing along with the radio
Maybe you’re dining at a five star
Or feeding orphans in Myanmar
Anywhere and everywhere you are
Whatever you do it all matters
So do what you do and don’t ever forget
to do
Everything you do to the glory of the One who made you
Cause He made you to do
Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face
And tell the story of grace as you do
Everything you do to the glory of the One who made you
Cause He made you to do
Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face
And tell the story of grace with every move that you make
And every little thing that you do
Cause He made you to do
Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face
And tell the story of grace as you do
Everything you do to the glory of the One who made you
Cause He made you to do
Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face
And tell the story of grace with every move that you make
And every little thing that you do
Ooh oooooh
Every little thing you do
Every little thing you do
Saturday, August 6, 2011
A Much Needed Time Away
Mark and I are currently on a little vacation get away in Tulsa, OK! It has been absolutely fun! Actually it is quite a funny story as to how we got here. . .
We were planning on going camping with Reid and another couple in Broken Bow, OK. Later on though the other couple wasn't able to make it. Mark and I were still going to go, but last minute that fell through for various reasons. You would think we would be bummed, and we kind of were, but we war still going to go to the local lake here and spend time camping and being lazy. So with that in mind, Mark set off Tuesday night with my dad and brother to play golf while I stayed back with the Reid Man. After I got the munchkin in bed I got a text from our friends Brant and Amy saying they were going to Skype us. I get on the computer and start Skype only to find out that Mark's twin brother, Blake, was sitting at their house in Tulsa! We talked for a long time. So long in fact Mark ended up coming back home in the middle of mine and Amy's conversation.
We talked to them a little bit longer. By this time it is around 9:30. They had heard our vacation plans fell through and on a whim said "Come up here and see us!" To my surprise Mark says, "Are y'all serious? Because we will be there." They tell us to come on, and ask when we would start out. Mark says "As soon as we get packed, that way Reid sleeps all the way there." Everyone is in disbelief and looks to me, expecting that I will be the voice of reason and say we should wait until tomorrow. However I say "Why not!" Everyone cheers and we hang up and start frantically packing and getting everything in order. By 10:30 we are packed and on the road! We drive all the way and end up in Tulsa by 3:30 A.M. Needless to say Mark got to sleep in some!
We have had a blast while we have been here. Brant and Amy have two little kids, a boy who is 4 and a baby girl who is only 4 days old than Reid! To give you a little back story, Mark, Brant, and Amy grew up together and were in each other's weddings. They were Mark and my first couple friends really. I met Amy while Mark and I were dating and have gotten to know her real well. We have watched them have a wonderful marriage and become wonderful parents. Long story short, we just love them! They have been generous hosts and we have enjoyed just getting to relax and play with the kids as well as have fun with each other. We have played in the sprinklers, with a slip-n-slide, swam, ate some TASTY food (Amy is a wonderful cook!) and have played transformers, good guys and bad guys, soccer, and any other assortment of things that are all boy!
They boys played golf a few times while Amy and I stayed here with the kids, sewed, and cooked. I cannot tell you how nice it was to be with a friend who is doing the same thing I am doing every day. And enjoying it! Not only that, but thriving! She encouraged me so much and doesn't even know it! It was so nice to just be around friends who love Jesus, love each other, love their kids, and love us! We have had a wonderful visit, are sad we have to leave, and can't wait to get back together again!
We were planning on going camping with Reid and another couple in Broken Bow, OK. Later on though the other couple wasn't able to make it. Mark and I were still going to go, but last minute that fell through for various reasons. You would think we would be bummed, and we kind of were, but we war still going to go to the local lake here and spend time camping and being lazy. So with that in mind, Mark set off Tuesday night with my dad and brother to play golf while I stayed back with the Reid Man. After I got the munchkin in bed I got a text from our friends Brant and Amy saying they were going to Skype us. I get on the computer and start Skype only to find out that Mark's twin brother, Blake, was sitting at their house in Tulsa! We talked for a long time. So long in fact Mark ended up coming back home in the middle of mine and Amy's conversation.
We talked to them a little bit longer. By this time it is around 9:30. They had heard our vacation plans fell through and on a whim said "Come up here and see us!" To my surprise Mark says, "Are y'all serious? Because we will be there." They tell us to come on, and ask when we would start out. Mark says "As soon as we get packed, that way Reid sleeps all the way there." Everyone is in disbelief and looks to me, expecting that I will be the voice of reason and say we should wait until tomorrow. However I say "Why not!" Everyone cheers and we hang up and start frantically packing and getting everything in order. By 10:30 we are packed and on the road! We drive all the way and end up in Tulsa by 3:30 A.M. Needless to say Mark got to sleep in some!
We have had a blast while we have been here. Brant and Amy have two little kids, a boy who is 4 and a baby girl who is only 4 days old than Reid! To give you a little back story, Mark, Brant, and Amy grew up together and were in each other's weddings. They were Mark and my first couple friends really. I met Amy while Mark and I were dating and have gotten to know her real well. We have watched them have a wonderful marriage and become wonderful parents. Long story short, we just love them! They have been generous hosts and we have enjoyed just getting to relax and play with the kids as well as have fun with each other. We have played in the sprinklers, with a slip-n-slide, swam, ate some TASTY food (Amy is a wonderful cook!) and have played transformers, good guys and bad guys, soccer, and any other assortment of things that are all boy!
They boys played golf a few times while Amy and I stayed here with the kids, sewed, and cooked. I cannot tell you how nice it was to be with a friend who is doing the same thing I am doing every day. And enjoying it! Not only that, but thriving! She encouraged me so much and doesn't even know it! It was so nice to just be around friends who love Jesus, love each other, love their kids, and love us! We have had a wonderful visit, are sad we have to leave, and can't wait to get back together again!
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