What A Crazy Week!

Last weekend we went to Atlanta for Mark's conference. Sounds fun and we made the most of it, but I had a kidney stone start moving. I thought I was getting off easy because by Saturday afternoon I was better. Sunday was a whole new story...I ended up at the ER there to get some relief so that we could make it back that night. Again, I was reminded that God has our days planned out for us and I'm thankful the boys were able to stay with their Aunt and Uncle and play with cousins they never see. Initially, I wanted to stress and feel as though i imposed on them, but it all worked out. I haven't had a stone in several years, but this one lasted a little too long! Thursday was my first day back to normal. And today I was able to get back to the gym to work off my 2 bags of fluids!! ;)

Thursday night, Anderson started throwing up when we were headed in Walmart. I stopped in my tracks because I have never dealt with this with the boys. I turned around, stripped him down (& me as much as I could) and we came right back home. Thankfully it only lasted that night because we had one last resident dinner party last night. Unfortunately, Mark was at the store at midnight Thursday getting all we needed to host last night. CRAZY, but today is Saturday so that means we survived. We also had 2 prayers answered that we had been praying for, so that was the best part of the week. I say it often, but God is so Good!

Today has just been a fun, lazy day. The boys are great and growing! We are happy and blessed!

Love to all ~

Made it to the Coke Museum!

Tasting room fun!

All he wanted to taste was Coke - the real thing!

This post is dedicated to my husband! I feel as though I go on and on about how the boys are, what they do, how cute they are, and so on! But today I get to brag on Mark. 1) He is a great Dad (when home) and almost the best husband (if I can teach him how to wrap my Christmas presents instead of the plastic bag or better yet, just let the store do it! ;)) 2) He loves his job and that makes me so happy! 3) He has been getting wonderful reviews on how he is a hard worker, dependable, easy to get along with, knowledgable, and will one day make a great attending. 4) He is currently working on several research projects that will benefit him as he searches for a fellowship. To have anything published should make him proud. 5) This week, he's been getting up before work and going to the gym. The boys love to work-out with us upstairs. This makes ME proud because I feel that habits start young and if they see it's important to Mom & Dad, then hopefully they will continue. He's a great guy and if I had to choose all over again, I'd choose him!!

One little thing about Bently though! He is signed up for Prek 3 and will be playing soccer this Spring, Yay!!!!

Love to all

Attitudes?

So I just need somewhere to vent and this is where I chose to do it, so lucky you. If you read and have suggestions then please share. If not, then please pray for me!

I'm not sure if it's the age or what? But this week has brought all new attitudes to both boys. My days have been filled with talking back, fit throwing, and lots of tears. I feel like I am constantly counting to three, sending to time-out chair, or spanking. Don't get me wrong, there have been some sweet moments, but come night....I am TIRED! Mark has been late resident this week which means 11am to 11pm. In my words, it's a week of call because we are gone to school when he leaves and he comes home after the boys are asleep = no help. I have to wonder if God was really SURE that I was supposed to be a mom to boys?! I am no disciplinarian, but I am quickly learning. ;) I feel that if I invest this much time trying to correct the wrong behavior and model the correct then it will make the next years easier. Am I right???

I love my boys (and I hope all reading know the real me) and wouldn't change a thing about them because that is what makes them who they are, but I am just having one of those weeks when I am not sure I am being the mom I should. Kudos to my mother-in-law that raised 3 great boys!

It's the New Year!

It feels so good to be back home! Boys are out playing and finally getting to play on their swing set for the first time (thanks to all of the rain we have had!) Christmas is down and things are semi-organized. Dinner is in the crock-pot, so I am taking a few minutes to catch up on things. Good day? I'd say so! We all had a wonderful time in Louisiana last week. I can't say we did too much besides celebrate Christmas a few times, but it was great. The boys got to spend quality time with all of the grandparents and a few aunts. They played hard and I worked hard keeping the mess cleaned up after them! :) Guess that's the way it goes when you have lots of new toys to play with. I, personally, had a great Christmas. I didn't really ask for anything this year because I seem to have all I need right now, but got everything I would have asked for!! Worked out just perfectly. So with that, I say "thank-you!" Thank you to all that love us for who we are and give unconditionally. We love you and thank you so very much.

Now that it's all over, I can't help but think how fast March will be here. It seems that January and February is filled already with a conference in Atlanta, interview dinner, Success School, registering for Pre-K3 ;(, and so the list goes on. But March brings a vacation for Mark and a new nephew, so we are all pretty excited about that!

While our life seems to be going great except for the normal life that gets in the way, there are several others that could really use some extra prayer right now. I guess I would call them my friends even though we really aren't, but Rebekah and Garrett Thompson had to say good-bye to a sweet little 22 week old girl last week. All were praying for a miracle that she'd be born healthy, but God had other plans for her and them. This hit me so hard last week when I saw the news on facebook. I had no words and don't even know what I would do if I were in those shoes. So praying is what I am doing and I ask that you will too as they grief during this time. There are several other couples that have mis-carried recently (I'm choosing not to share their names) so remember these unspoken as well. I love the song that God will let us bend, but not break! Sometimes it's hard to see that, but oh so true.

Love to all and I hope that this new year brings you joy, peace, health, and so much more than you ever dreamed!