My Fog

Not that any of you are anxiously awaiting my next post, but if you are, I apologize for the delay. With good reason, I've been in a fog and can hardly process what I'm thinking...forget trying to post on my thoughts.  School is back in session which means I'm back at work and delirious as ever.  Gone are the days of taking my time and enjoying my leisure start to the day.  I'm up before the rooster crows and going strong until evening (and I'm still getting up with Levi once or twice a night).  So, needless to say, I have nothing to post...I think I'm losing brain cells and can't focus long enough to type anything meaningful.  Soon, I will adjust to being a working mom, the fog will clear, and I will be able to be more consistent with this blogging thing (which I enjoy more than I ever thought I would have...thanks Linders!).  

Oh, completely random thought (as most of them are these days)...yeah for Baby Levi...I think we see the start of his first tooth!

Here's a couple of pics from his photo shoot on the 15th...I was so proud of him, he was perfect as always!

"GO PACK!!!!!"

Happy Birthday BABY!

Okay, this title may be misleading.....I guess I should say, "Happy Birthday to my other BABY!".  Yes, today Matt turns another year older (I'm still 4 days wiser...) and he's celebrating his birthday at a convention in Atlanta, so send him happy birthday wishes...I know he'd love it!  

I'm just missing him while he's away and wanted to spend this post celebrating my dearest friend, my husband.  For those of you who have been with us on our long journey, you know that we truly are best friends....we have been for half of our lives...hard to believe, but true.  Yes, Matt has been charming me now for 14 years and he keeps on going!  Here's a list of what I love about my husband....

1.  He loves me all the time.  Even when I wake up with my hair all a mess and wearing who knows what (usually covered in dried spit up!).

2.  He absolutely cannot listen to anything I say while playing with Levi because he's so involved with the 'lil man (this actually does drive me nuts when I have something important to say...).

3.  He is one of the most dependable people I know.  He rarely makes promises he cannot keep.

4.  He is pretty stinkin' hilarious with his random thoughts and freaky dreams.  I'm not sure where he comes up with this stuff, but he keeps me laughing.

5.  Speaking of dreams...he always manages to remember his very disturbed, detailed oriented dreams, and loves to share them with me in the morning.  His mind can be a crazy thing...

6.  He is a hard worker and takes pride in the work he does.  In the past year, Matt has left his career in law enforcement and started an entirely new career in sales.  I have been so proud of him and how he's adjusted to the changes and the sacrifices he's made.  

7.  He is good with his hands and if he doesn't know how to do something, he tries to figure it out.

8.  He is superb at choosing the perfect card and writing lots of good stuff on the inside.  If he makes a mistake, he just turns the scribble into an interesting picture...sometimes it is a sailboat, skull & bones, fish bones, heart...I never know what to expect!

9.  He is the least pickiest person I know when it comes to food.  He'll eat whatever I cook and pretend to love it.  As long as there is meat in it, I usually can't go wrong.

10.  He is the best person to be with when experiencing something or somewhere new...he's like a child.  He just can't contain his excitement sometimes...

11.  He loves every kind of music...from 80's love songs to eardrum exploding rock to techno to lullabies.  I'm not quite sure he's in to show tunes or rap...but everything else is pretty much game.

12.  He will try anything once.

13.  He is one of the bravest people I know and because of that, I always feel safe with him.

14.  He undoubtedly loves the Lord and strives to please him as a father, in our marriage, and in his daily walk.

If you have anything to add to my list please do so on my comments!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!!!

Our Company from NY

Our dear friend, Rusty, came to visit this past week and was finally able to meet Levi.  He has lived in NY for about 10 years doesn't get many opportunities throughout the year to come to NC. Matt was very excited to introduce Levi to his best friend and it was such a joy to finally watch him with our son.  Levi warmed up to him right away.  I know Levi is friendly with everyone, but he really took interest in Rusty as soon as he scooped him up...Levi must have sensed how special Rusty is to our family.  Levi thought he was so special that one evening, he christened him with his dinner...he only does this to his favorite people!  

We love you Rusty!

Back to School

Today I had my first taste of what I'll be experiencing starting this coming Monday....WORK.  Not that being a mommy all day isn't work, but it is a different kind of work and something that I haven't exactly perfected when I have to juggle my job as a mommy and my job as Mrs. R.  These past couple of weeks I've been telling everyone how much I love my job and how going back won't be that bad...yada, yada, yada!  Well, today was my first day back on the 8-3:30 day, without Levi (and pump in tote).  After sitting through meeting after meeting and learning all of the paperwork changes I get to painfully fumble through this school year, I have to say....I'm not sure I'm liking it so much.   

...Of course, being back with the crew I work with is wonderful...they're so great and I don't think I'd love my job half as much without them.  I guess I do miss my students, a teeny-tiny bit, and I'm looking forward to hearing of their summertime adventures...which, unfortunately, I'm certain consist of mostly wasting away in front of some way too mature video game.   Also, I must confess, I'm one of those nuts that loves the "back to school" time of year...the smell of freshly cut grass (not that it isn't cut all summer long...it just has a different smell when school starts.  I'm not sure why...) and the smell of new pencils....I love it!  I also find it so entertaining to see how well everyone...teachers, parents, and students...get along at the beginning of the year.  That warm, fuzzy relationship doesn't last long for some, but at the beginning of school, everyone gets a fresh start.  

Okay, I guess going back may not be that terrible of a thing.  Although I can think of many reasons I'm not looking forward to walking down that hallway and unlocking the door to my freezing classroom, my cave, I'll keep those 'lil thoughts to myself.  Let's keep positive, right?

I am grateful for the roles the Lord has led me to play and I will try my hardest to keep a smile on my face....and no tears in my eyes!  We'll see what the next couple of weeks hold....

Home...

Matt and our Romania team returned late Sunday night to the welcoming arms of family and friends anxiously awaiting to bear hug the person they had missed so much over the past ten days.  I was right there with them...butterflies and all.  From my experience, returning home from a mission trip is, for lack of a better word, bittersweet.  You long to see your loved ones and share with them all that has happened; however, in all reality, words will never be enough to share your experience, so often, you remain speechless....this was the case with our Seniors that night.  I could see the tears that were being held back, not from being homesick, but from the relationships they left behind in the mountains of Romania.  I'm not even going to attempt to share what they experienced....please take a moment and read Matt's post on the trip.   I do have to echo what he said in regards to our Seniors.  We have been blessed to be their Sunday School teachers and, as they prepare to leave within the next few weeks, they need to be commended for serving Christ and not themselves, for being available and for stepping out of their comfort zones...in Romania and here in Davidson County.  These students will do great things...God-size things...we love you all!

My Prayer...

Yes, I feel like one of those teenage relationships who mark every month with an anniversary, but I have to share that today is Levi's half year birthday.  Six months ago our world changed in a way greater than I could have ever imagined.  When I take a moment to try and absorb the whirlwind these past few months have been, I stand in awe.  I have to thank our Maker for blessing us with such a wonderful son and for giving him to us to take care of on this earth.  Many times I have to remind myself that he's mine only for a short time on this earth.  Like any mother, I have countless dreams and hopes for my little boy.  It is a cruel world and evil is lurking around every corner, but there is good out there and I pray he stays out of the dark and in the light...

My prayer is that he, above all things, has a personal relationship with Christ.  I pray he is good to the core and that he loves our Father and seeks His will daily.  I pray that he always respects women and his elders and that he's a good listener.  I pray he is a thinker and doesn't make rash decisions.  I pray he's comfortable in his own skin and has no desire to work at following the latest trends.  I pray he seeks out friends with similar qualities.  I pray he is always polite, even when others are not.  I pray his role models are Christ, Matt, Chad (my brother), Chris (my brother-in-law), Pappy (my father), his Papaw (Matt's father), my Papaw and Pop...these are the greatest men I know and I pray Levi will consider himself blessed to be in their company.  I pray he's humble, kind to animals, loves God's beautiful creation, and feels responsible to take care of all the Lord blesses him with.   I pray he seeks a godly woman who will offer him uninhibited love and support.  I pray he willingly serves others and has a heart for the less fortunate.  

I know these are such heavy requests for a little, innocent boy.  I also know that one day (all too soon I'm afraid) he will be a man and more than anything, I pray his eyes are on Christ during this journey.  

Through your triumphs and failures, I pray your eyes are on your Maker, little one...

I love you with all of my heart!