Dyeing Eggs

Nate was very excited that Ashlyn wanted to dye eggs with us this year.  We love spending time with her.  We will be sad when she leaves for college. 

 

Planting Flowers

Callaway Gardens

During Spring Break week we made the last minute decision to go to Callaway Gardens to try out their new zip line course, Tree Top Adventure.   My parents and my niece, Ashlyn, went with us.  Darren, Ashlyn and I did the course while my parents and Nate cheered us on (and took pictures) from down below. 

I must confess that heights are not my thing.  Aerial shots on TV can make my stomach do flips.  I was VERY nervous when we first got started.  I wasn't nervous about falling or the equipment failing, I just do not like the sensation I get when I am high above the ground.  I honestly wanted to quit on the first obstacle, but Nate was down below watching.  I did not want him to see his momma quit two minutes into this adventure.  I literally kept saying "be brave for Nate, be brave for Nate, don't let him see you quit."  After about ten minutes I began to be comfortable and relax and have fun.

There are several obstacles and five zip lines in the course.  It took us a good 90 minutes to complete it.  This (below) was the absolute hardest obstacle.  I could not wait to get done with this one.

I am so thankful Ashlyn got to go with us.  She is a senior this year and will be leaving for college in the fall. 

Of course we had to check out the butterfly garden. 

  

We loved all of the fun spring topiaries. 

When There's "Nothing" You Can Do

I read this on a blog I enjoy.  It was really encouraging to me and I hope it will encourage you as well.   

"There is rarely nothing you can do.

Being still and knowing He is God a long shot from nothing.

Trusting in a God you cannot see is a long shot from nothing.

Holding your tongue is a long shot from nothing.

Counting it all joy is a long shot from nothing.

Submitting is a long shot from nothing.

Confessing sin is a long shot from nothing.

Resting in Christ is a long shot from nothing.

And hear this one really loudly: praying is a long shot from nothing."

-- Beth Moore, Mercy Triumphs

Soccer

Since Nate is four he is old enough to play sports.  Our options were soccer and baseball (t-ball).  We discussed which sport we felt like would be best for Nate and his personality.  We also discussed waiting since he is just four, but Darren and I agreed that the exercise would be good for him.  We briefly explained the two games to him to see which he thought sounded the most fun.  We all agreed soccer would be the best choice for his first sports experience.

We are currently three games into the season and we are confident that we made the right choice.  Nate is having fun, but he's not taking it too serious.  I guess that's normal for a four year old, but he literally just runs around laughing most of the time.  We have to remind him to pay attention and keep his eye on the ball several times during the game.  At least he's stopped picking the grass and weeds.  He is definitely getting exercise because they run almost the entire game (when not picking weeds).

We can see improvement in his skills and concentration each game.  He is also beginning to understand the game more.  The most important thing is that he's having fun, and we really mean that. 

Rodeo

A few weeks ago we went to the rodeo in Montgomery.  Going to the rodeo was a childhood birthday present for Darren every year.  He and Nate talked about it for several weeks.  Unfortunately Nate wasn't feeling that great the day of the rodeo.  He was actually sick with a fever virus for 10 days straight.  It was a very difficult time for him with the girls being here.  He is not used to having to share me.  It was hard for him when he was well, but it was much harder when he was sick.  We kept reminding him that the girls and their mom needed our help so it was important that we help them.  We also told him that we want to help them because God's great love for us compels us to love others, even when it's hard.  So he was totally fine after that conversation.  And I am totally kidding.  He still cried and whined and complained.  And honestly, I cried and whined and complained some myself.

Update

The girls left our home on Monday, March 26th to live with their mom's sister.  They were with us for 34 days.  Going from one child to three with only a couple of hours notice was, by far, the hardest thing we've ever done.  This experience stretched us more than I thought we could be stretched.

We are so very thankful for our wonderful church family and friends.  They were the perfect demonstration of what it means to be the body of Christ.  They prepared wonderful meals for us; shared toys, clothes and diapers with the girls; kept the girls and Nate so Darren and I could have a much needed date night; kept the girls so Darren and I could take Nate for a long awaited doctor's appointment; shared a McWane membership with us and the list could go on.  Most importantly, they prayed for us and encouraged us.  We are so blessed to worship with such an amazing body of believers and have such great friends!

We are also thankful for the help of my family.  My dad is the girls' great grandmother's brother. My mom cooked for us at least twice.  They were very helpful when Nate and one of the girls were sick and both needed to go to the doctor in the same day.  The girls have a different pediatrician so that meant two different appointments at two different offices.  They also kept little sister so Darren and I could take Nate and big sister to the rodeo.  My sister was also a huge help.  She helped me take the girls shoe and clothes shopping shortly after their arrival.  She also went with us to the zoo and McWane.  Having her with us  made those trips much more fun and much less stressful!  Thanks also to that family member, you know who you are, who listened to my many phone calls and encouraged me.  We are also very thankful for all of the prayers that were prayed for us and the girls by these family members and others.    

As far as our time with the girls, I hope I can blog more about that later.  We are honestly still in decompression mode right now.  Due to the fact that the girls are family and this blog is public, I don't know if I will ever be able to discuss our time with them in detail.  I will say that they are beautiful girls.  They have precious hearts. We are blessed to have gotten to spend 34 days with them.  We continue to pray for them and their family each and every day.  Thankfully, we will get to see them occasionally and hopefully can continue to have a relationship with them.  Please continue to pray for this situation.