tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11388520561767143662024-03-13T00:25:34.735-04:00The Babysitter's LoveThe Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-78793830929120071752015-02-27T23:57:00.002-05:002015-02-27T23:57:34.405-05:00"The Fairytale"<div class="MsoNormal">
For several years, we have searched for a place to call
home. In the beginning, it was hard to
think of leaving the house we now call home.
We live in a home that was built by my brother and sister-in-law. They began their married years there, my
nephews called it their home, and when we were ready to be joined as one, Will
and I made it ours. It has many memories
that I feared we’d lose by moving; our first days as man and wife and our first
dinners. It is where we brought our first puppy to live and then changed the office
into the first nursery we would ever fill. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The early stages of searching led us to wishing for a simple
life filled with the combined hopes and dreams of one another. Will wanted
gardens and livestock. I hoped for trees like you see in the Disney movies;
winding and big enough that two people couldn’t reach around. We looked at the
modern style homes being erected around us and both wanted something else,
maybe you’d call it “more.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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As we began to place ideas together it quickly became
apparent that we have a taste for nature and beauty. We want it simple, yet
with everything around us being a different style it wasn’t as “simple” as we
thought. Rather than simple, I began to call it “the fairytale.” Inwardly, I
hoped for things that ached to think about. The trees, sawed down by
generations before, the land, developed and small. If not small, it would cost
us our inheritance which we neither have nor want to have anytime soon (We love
you, mom and dad, mama and daddy. Stay, keep the inheritance and live forever,
please?) I began to lose hope. Bare with me, I still prayed, I still knew God
was in control. Have you been there? Have you ached for, longed for something
so impossible that you inwardly asked, “God, can it be done?” Now I know that God
is God. All powerful, all knowing, and with him all things are possible, but
don’t we always do that? We put that “but” in there so easily, don’t we? So I
feared, “the fairlytale” would have to be modified.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We knew some things: building would be the best option and
we wanted to be near our families. Will even found a cottagey looking house
plan that was just as magical as the rest of our dreams. That, we could make happen! Years of looking
for the “closest to perfect” piece of land got us nowhere. Every time we drove out to something it was too
big, too small, too far, too expensive, too (close your ears) ugly. Yes. Land
can be ugly. And even too difficult. I
had started to think we’d just settle on a lot somewhere in a development and
call it life. That’s “life”, right? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Looking at land actually made things worse, not only did we
(mostly I) want the impossible to begin with, each plot of land created an
addition to our checklist of preferences.
Did you know that some people live so close to train tracks that they’re
basically in the backyard? Yeah, well,
maybe I don’t get out much. Still, some
things were more important than others: where the children would attend school,
how safe the yard was for playing, could Will grow a garden and were there
restrictions on “farm animals”? He was ready to give that up. He figured it
wasn’t a big deal. Oh but I’ve seen him. I love to watch him test out his new
theories on straw bale gardens, to build a lean-to and then tear it down again,
to make compost and to love it all the while.
I love him, wholly. I could never, ever see him without room to grow and
build and teach our children how to be the same way. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Then there were small things, ones I’d give up knowing that
perfect just couldn’t be possible.
Things like the amount of land. We learned pretty quickly that land is
NOT cheap if it’s in a good area. Okay, so I should’ve known that, but hey I’m
new at this. So, a smaller plot, check.
Trees, I mentioned trees, it turns out those big beautiful ones I
mentioned are worth quite a lot cut down and made into things… So as much as
that was not one I was willing to part with, I pretty much gave up finding anything
to put a tree house in. Then there were
the power lines, you know, the ones that skirted all the way across the front
yard? Yeah, not pretty to look at, but okay we’ll take those too. It went on like this for a while. <o:p></o:p></div>
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One day though, Will came home with news that a piece of
property we had previously looked at had been reduced. We liked it. It had some
things on our modified list, but it was the best thing we’d seen in a long
time. We made a phone call to get more information, made several trips to look
at it and walk on it and even had a good friend give us an estimate on some
personal modifications that we planned to make.
Inside, something ached again, in my heart “the fairytale” was being
erased and I knew we’d never get it back.
I told myself I was being silly, I needed to grow up. They’re just trees
and you can make a play house on the ground. Will can grow things on that land
and the kids can learn to ride bikes; the schools are fine. But still something
was missing. The peace. I have learned
that there is a time to let go. A time
when God says, “I have better for you, something far more than you’ve imagined.”
In those times He gave me the peace to
let go, to move forward with what He had for me, for us. This time it just wasn’t
there. That is all that I knew to tell
Will when he asked me for my final thoughts.
We’d been there so many times, brought Daniel out to give his advice and
taken his afternoon away. We thought on
it and were coming to a close on a decision and all I could say is, “I don’t
have peace.” He never questioned
me. He said okay. He showed me love in that moment when he
understood my heart over our plans.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t have an exact time frame for everything that I’m
about to tell you, but I’ll try my best.
Some days after we let go of the idea to buy the “modifiable land” Will
found another plot. This wasn’t new of
course, we had gotten to the point that we were looking at land about once a
weekend and if we were going to be out we tried to find a few places to stop by
and see. It was on his holiday off that
he came across “something in Thomasville” and I listened (vaguely) to what he
said about it. I’ll admit, when he said
Thomasville I always felt that the “good” land was taken… I grew up in Thomasville and I know it like
the back of my hand and similar to my hands, it’s kind of FULL, you know? If it’s available in Thomasville, I thought,
it must be a bad area or a small lot in a subdivision. It just can’t be what we
want. All of that aside, I still wanted
to listen to Will in order to make sure he didn’t feel neglected in his
searching. As he began to describe the
area I told him something had to be listed wrong. I knew EXACTLY where the plot
was. There wasn’t any land available where
he was telling me. I knew because I lived there. In the exact neighborhood where we were looking
at the little pin-point on the map, right where it said “ACERAGE FOR SALE.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I agreed to go look at it, sure that there would be no sign,
we’ve come across many of those along with land that’s “FOR SALE” that actually
isn’t… We didn’t have any other plans so a nice drive through my old
neighborhood would be a delight either way.
Let me get a little off topic here, can I? I love my old neighborhood. I love the house where I grew up, where I
learned to ride my bike just after flipping it and myself over my brother’s
head. I love the memories of our
basement and my brothers catapulting me through the air in order to land on the
couch cushions they’d strategically strewn to the floor (super safe, I assure
you!). I love the memories of walking along-side
my dad and little sister, until my feet could take no more, trekking to each
and every house to fill my jack-o-lantern with candy every Halloween and
filling luminaries with sand and candles at Christmas. I love the memories of cooking in my easy
bake oven, standing on a stool in the duck covered, baby blue wallpapered
kitchen as my mom supervised. Then riding on the Electrolux vacuum cleaner as
she drug me down the halls sucking up lint and dust that living creates. I love that I learned to swim in that
backyard and that when I look back to summer beach pictures of me with a scraped
up nose, I know exactly where I fell running down the driveway that caused
it. So, sure a trip down memory lane
couldn’t be a bad ride even if there wasn’t going to be any land. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We followed the directions to be sure that it did in fact
take us exactly where I had thought it would.
After passing my house, which seemed more foreign than I would have
liked, we continued our drive to the back of the neighborhood where we rounded
a corner and there it was. A sign. A real one, not just a feeling of maybe
someone wants to sell or maybe it was listed at some point. A legitimate realtor’s listing. In a cul-de-sac, with more than enough space,
secluded beyond anything you could ever imagine for a sub-division, in my old
neighborhood, just beyond where the power lines STOPPED! I can’t remember if I cried that day, I may
have still been in disbelief, but I can tell you I have cried many times
since. Everything that I could have ever
dreamed of sat right there. More than I
had ever dreamed. Can you imagine? My babies get to sled down the SAME hill that
I crashed to the bottom of after every snow as a kid! The land was for sale (it is NOT anymore ;-)
). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are SO many details I am sure to leave some out. While the last month felt like a lifetime, I
realize now how quickly everything fell into place. We had a call in to our realtor that day, an
offer by the next and our offer was accepted within the week. Not to mention the land came in well below
our budgeted price! Facing our land all
you can see are trees; turn around and you are standing in a cul-de-sac perfect
for learning to ride a bike, in a neighborhood that is safe and serene. Just through the trees to the right there is
another cul-de-sac that belongs to the adjacent neighborhood so there is ample
space for family fun and exercise, oh and I could note that Nana and PawPaw
happen to live on that street! If ever
you feel like you’ve really done good and found something yourself, take a look
around, God can prove that He planned it for you before you were ever
born. Nana and PawPaw’s house is how I
know. Our neighborhood was created
before my time, while I grew there the adjacent neighborhood laid as an
undeveloped farm, we moved there when I was in middle school, and it is where
they still reside, now I am going back to live just down the road. Amazed yet?
I am.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The trips we made to the “modifiable land” are mere drops in
a bucket to the countless times we’ve visited the site of our future home. Each time we have fallen more in love with its
beauty and potential. I have dreams of
what it will be like to watch my children grow there to take them by my house
and share memories of my childhood as we build new ones as a family. Oh, the joys I have in store, watching my
sweet husband build and dream! I have
gone as far as to see us grow old there and, at my age, it seems hard to fathom
growing old, but I can see it all when I stand right there. And peace.
Sweet, perfect peace that only comes from God. He loves me, oh, how He loves me!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-19356389017916838582012-01-30T13:06:00.003-05:002012-01-30T13:06:51.736-05:00If baby Holland cooperates accordingly, we will know if she's going to wear pink or if he's going to wear blue, on VALENTINE'S Day! Isn't that the sweetest little Valentine you can think of? It sure is to me!<br />
<br />
-One very excited mommy-to-be (again)The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-10243430853854735612011-12-18T22:01:00.000-05:002011-12-18T22:01:59.364-05:00Short lil Update<div style="text-align: center;">
-I'm 10 weeks pregnant today.
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-Avery has an ear infection in his left ear, but we're doing antibiotics.
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-Will only works a few days this week and we have him home for Christmas break!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-I can't wait to see Avery open his Christmas presents!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-Baby is still making me sick. :-/</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-I'm looking forward to a week FULL of Christmas get-togethers!
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-I start a one month course in Statistics tomorrow... I'm a lil nervous.
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-Everything worked out great at work and I don't have to keep our baby hush, hush anymore!!!!</div>The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-77139181542818267362011-12-15T09:01:00.003-05:002011-12-15T10:12:31.304-05:00Baby TwoWe're very excited to announce that Avery is going to be a big brother! As of our last doctor's appointment the ultrasound is showing that baby two is due July 15th (our date was changed after the first appointment). I am so excited to have a summer baby. I'm looking forward to the time off with my hubby and toddler by the pool, helping daddy with his latest project, playing on the swing set and riding bikes. Then once baby gets here we'll have some time as a family to enjoy our new addition before daddy has to go back to work. <br /><br /> So far, mommy has been pretty sick with this baby, but I feel like it may be beginning to subside a little. The doctor wasn't very happy about my weight loss and said that if it doesn't change they will put me on meds for the sickness. I'm very thankful to be feeling less tired than I remember being with Avery and therefore have been getting a lot more done :) Cooking isn't something that is on that list often though! Why is it that you smell all of the WORST ingredients in a dish? Laundry, decorating for Christmas, and wrapping all of the presents that are in is among the complete list. I also saved myself some stress and energy this year by shopping online! Wow! What a way to go... It still took me the better part of two days to find everything, but I did it all sitting down :) <br /><br />Avery has big plans for his little sister or brother and he's learning more everyday about this baby business. If you ask him where our baby is he will tell you his belly some days and others he is certain that there is NO baby in his belly only in mommy's. When you ask him where our baby can sleep he will tell you that his baby is going to sleep in his bed WITH HIM! Haha. Since Avery is learning to potty he talks a lot about baby pooping in the potty and NOT a diaper :) He is going to be the best big brother. He already looks forward to holding his baby and helping mommy & daddy take care of it. <br /><br />Here is our sweet baby at 9 weeks and 2 days:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNjyrhzBb1Iux2tFIm_Xporp55g7avXjlKVSIXEGj-6TB76U0IrbNQ7g07ZtvZgDhl1MMHHMeAoliktziLSojRR9Ho_MAiiUCBqamBso3bh-RSWZMgNK0zjk-nS9oGVAxIQe-Ckm2xonT/s1600/12-15-2011+10%253B03%253B05+AM.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNjyrhzBb1Iux2tFIm_Xporp55g7avXjlKVSIXEGj-6TB76U0IrbNQ7g07ZtvZgDhl1MMHHMeAoliktziLSojRR9Ho_MAiiUCBqamBso3bh-RSWZMgNK0zjk-nS9oGVAxIQe-Ckm2xonT/s400/12-15-2011+10%253B03%253B05+AM.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686371562788341362" /></a><br />The little circle beside of baby's head is the yoke sack and is perfectly normal. We told Avery that it looks like a little balloon with a string. Avery likes that. :) The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-8929719424520774902011-10-07T09:44:00.006-04:002011-10-07T09:57:55.828-04:00Covenant Marriage DOES work..Covenant Marriage DOES work... Nice little read. Thought I'd share. How important is marriage to you?<br /><br />Visit here to read about Covenant Marriage:<br /><br />http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/07/covenant-marriage-keeps-more-couples-together/The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-27302044484112453492011-06-14T08:31:00.003-04:002011-06-16T16:26:21.796-04:009, 10, 11<div>ELEVEN, is how many teeth Avery has! Four in the front on top and bottom... These were the only ones that we even thought about. I've been waiting for the eighth tooth to come on through and thinking his fussy, feverish fits we're all because of that little bottom lefty. Until, last night, while we were all playing daddy says... Is that a tooth in the back? Now, silly me, I thought that back teeth wouldn't come in for a long while... But boy I was WRONG! When I checked inside of Avery's mouth not only did I find a tooth in the back, but THREE! He has three BIG molars: two on the top and one on his bottom right. I felt like a terrible mommy for not knowing this... But then I was extremely proud and got out the baby book to fill in this exciting news! I'm sure there is no way he'll let me take pictures of those back ones, but I had to share the fun story! </div>The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-79273657723022472662011-05-18T08:12:00.007-04:002011-05-20T09:38:49.912-04:00Over due<div><div><div>So, this blog is well overdue. I have some sad and some happy news to share. I'll start with the sad. My uncle David passed away last week. It was a whirlwind of a time for us. His service was beautiful and he would have loved it; being a music director and hearing what wonderful things people had to say about him. In my previous post I said, very much hoping that it would come true, that maybe God would heal him and let him stay here with us. Please understand that I know that God knows what he is doing and though I sometimes want to question God, I just can't because no matter why I know God does what is best. We know we will see Uncle David again, and we know he is suffering no more. <br />Some happy updates: <br />Avery is learning to feed himself with a fork/spoon. His newest words are turtle and bubble car (this was very impressive to his pediatrician!). He just spent his first mini weekend (not quite a full weekend) away from home at the beach. He did fine, mommy not so much. :( He has grown up a full size in shoes and diapers this month. Everyday Avery becomes more and more of a little person with his own characteristics and preferences. He is learning so much and growing so fast. His newest decision is that he doesn't like broccoli (so we have to mix it in his mashed potatoes...) and he thinks that he can spank mommy and daddy when he is upset. We're working through that part. He is giving kisses without us asking for them and that makes me smile!</div></div></div>The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-48398337243545266992011-05-05T00:10:00.001-04:002011-05-05T00:11:17.375-04:00A Blogger's ApologyHang in there... It's exam week. I'll be back!The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-79296298743426746402011-04-27T12:26:00.000-04:002011-04-27T12:28:25.752-04:00Avery is WalkingHe's doing it, Avery's walking!!!! Video later :)The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-18798164890222258422011-04-21T12:04:00.003-04:002011-04-21T12:06:53.333-04:00A Few Things-It feels like Saturday.<br />-I've been in a poor mood for the past two days and it hasn't let up yet :/<br />-I'm going to work today :)<br />-I've been reading about this: A current generation cell phone that fits in your pocket has 1000 times more computing power than MIT’s most advanced computer in 1965. Experts predict<br />that in 25 years that same computing power will fit inside a space the size of a blood cell.<br /><br />Interesting, huh?The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-61703768212939350842011-04-06T11:26:00.004-04:002011-04-06T11:42:58.270-04:00Cancer and other things...My uncle has cancer and they're not expecting him to live long. Two weeks is a stretch they say. I don't buy it. I saw him yesterday, I saw his faith and I sat there while God walked in and visited him in that place. I saw a man who had undergone chemotherapy that very morning regain strength and smile. I heard him tell God "You are my healer Lord." And in that place I felt God hug he and all of us family members surrounding him. Maybe he won't be here to see his baby granddaughter walk, or walk either of his daughters down the aisle. Maybe he won't ever leave that hospital and see his home here again. Maybe. But I have faith and believe that ("maybe, just maybe") HE WILL! <br /><br />Yesterday I was able to see many things. It turns out that, while Avery and I visited Uncle David, that A hurt his arm again and we had to head down to the Emergency room to have it reset. And there in that place I thought of uncle David and I was happy to be able to sign discharge papers and be able to walk out with my baby (well) and return to our home! God has been ever with me these past few days and I am so encouraged. I hope this post shared at least a little piece of that with you today. :)The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-72479176111696744642011-03-31T20:15:00.005-04:002011-03-31T20:22:40.688-04:00Update: Baby SamsMy dear friend Jeremy whom I mentioned in my latter post also has a blog. He posted about his family's recent loss and I had to share with all of you. He wrote just exactly as I had expected, to God be the glory. Please take a moment to read and understand the love that my friends (as I shared) have for our God. Below is a post from Jeremy Sams (this is not my writing)... <br /><br />He Being Dead, Yet Speaketh <br /><br />What a beautiful sound to hear your baby's heartbeat on a monitor. But dreams become nightmares when all you hear is silence. For 40 weeks, we dreamed about our upcoming birth. We dreamed of what this child would look like and who's features he/she would have. We prayed even before the child was conceived that God would give us a little preacher boy. On March 29, 2011, God answered our prayers. <br /><br />However, he's not your typical preacher boy. You see, the day before he was delivered, we found out through ultrasound that our baby had already gone home to meet his Lord. So, how does he preach? His name is Zion Jeremiah Sams. The Hebrew root of the word Zion means waymark or sign. It was often used of an object or place to help people find their way. "Jeremiah" means of whom Jehovah has appointed. Of the Old Testament prophet, God said, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." My little preacher boy has already preached God's sovereignty and God's grace to people all over the world, literally. God's sovereignty is preached in the fact that his death was a sovereign act of our Creator. Job 1:21 says, "...the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." <br /><br />The Doctor and hospital staff had no explanation as to his death. He was a beautiful healthy baby boy. "There was nothing anyone could have done or done differently", the Dr. told us. This was unexplainable to man, but not to God. Little Zion is preaching God's grace in the fact that the grace of God is presently encompassing my family. Crystal and I spent much time alone holding our little preacher while watching the sunset, praising God, and rejoicing in His goodness. We are hurting bitterly. We weep...but not as those who have no hope. Our heart is broken, yet something strengthens us. My dear friend, Pastor Jeremy Varner gave me this verse that explains it so well, found in Psalm 73:26, "My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever." <br /><br />But, how does this happen? How can those grieving the loss of a child still have joy amidst the tears? How can a mother laboring to deliver a lifeless child raise her hands in praise as we listen to the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir sing Psalm 8? One small, beautiful, powerful word explains it: GRACE...God's undeserved, unearned favor and goodness. I will post more later as this will be therapeutic for me. To God be the glory.The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-67298847059200575362011-03-30T12:04:00.002-04:002011-03-30T12:22:30.568-04:00Thinking BabySo, as I mentioned in my post before we've been thinking/talking baby #2. Today I personally have thought about her (for some reason I feel all warm inside to think of baby as a girl) a lot. Here's why: a good friend lost her sweet baby yesterday after carrying it almost full term. Sad is how I feel when I think about the pain that a loss such as this would bring to a family. A mother, that has already loved and nourished this bundle, who has carried but not held her baby, who has watched it kick and turn, but never seen it smile. A sweet daddy who is ready to meet his baby to know of it will wear pink or play football. A proud big sister who has already begun the process of learning to share both time and toys with a new person on the way. All have lost something precious that seemed to be just within reach. So close to being here and now so far. <br />I can't imagine the hurt and sadness, but knowing these dear people, my precious friends I am reminded of a love so real and so true that they carry. My dear Christian friends always let Christ's love shine through them to everyone they meet and I know that God is wrapping them tenderly now in his arms and promising them peace that certainly passes all of our earthly understanding. <br />Today, I've been thinking about baby #2 and how blessed we will be when the time comes to have her or HIM. I cannot imagine what my life would be like without the people in it or the people that are yet to come. So today I am feeling blessed for all that I have and not asking for anything more.The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-19756624342601536082011-03-29T12:20:00.004-04:002011-03-29T12:33:04.133-04:00A Few Things.I have a lot on my mind today, but not enough time to give it the proper writer's creative edge so I think I'll share a few things bullet style ;-) <br /><div align="center">I'm excited about a few things that are just around the corner!</div><br /><ul><br /><li>Attending UNCG in the fall to pursue my love of writing.</li><br /><li>Avery is cutting more teeth.</li><br /><li>My favorite sister-in-law is coming home!</li><br /><li>Easter :) </li><br /><li>My last day at the Community College (meaning I'm moving up to taking lots of writing courses!!!)</li><br /><li>My husband's SUMMER vacation from work!</li><br /><li>A couple of family getaways that are scheduled.</li><br /><li>Zipline, full force.</li><br /><li>Baby #2 (still a while away, but thinking and talking is in the works...)</li><br /><li>Life! </li></ul><br /><p align="center">I'm just so excited about the things that the coming months hold!</p>The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-29553191262682141342011-03-22T11:16:00.005-04:002011-03-22T11:39:25.264-04:00reminiscingI've devoted today to laundry, homework, and cleaning up closets (after all it is Spring!!!). I've already gotten some laundry out of the way and snuck in a little kitchen cleaning while Avery skyped Nana and Paw Paw at the beach... :) While playing with my sweet growing boy this morning I was able to get some things put away from winter and it made me reminisce. I don't want this to be a sad post although my heart has a bit of bitter-sweetness lingering from memories of my 5lb. 15oz. baby doll I carried home from the hospital. So, in order to keep this light and happy I'll share the AMAZING changes we've been through in the last (short) two months of our lives.<br /><br />-Avery is walking more and more every day. Today he showed off for Paw Paw and Nana by walking across the living room (with the assistance of his dinosaur)... The reason this is such a big accomplishment is because he actually ran! He was holding Mr. Dino up... He just didn't know it!<br /><br />-Big boy is drinking from a straw now! Mommy packed away all of Avery's bottles and saved them for little sister (or brother, hehe.).<br /><br />-Avery can tell you where his hair, eyes, teeth, and belly/belly button are :) He is learning how to show you his feet now.<br /><br />-Amongst his many words the newest are: ball, car, eye, night-night, poop poop, and diaper.<br /><br />-Avery can make so many sounds... he says: Ah, ah (for a dog bark), buuuuden (for a car or big truck, complete with vibrating lips!), cack cack (translated to quack quack), and his newest sound as of yesterday is sh (while trying to say shoe).<br /><br />-He is also on the move! Though he's not walking (in his mind) just yet... Avery is learning to climb (mostly out of the bathtub) and he lifts his leg to get out of his crib (so we lowered it!!!) and up onto furniture.<br /><br />-We are amazed that at bath time Avery has been pointing to the potty and saying "Poop poop" already showing an interest in potty training!<br /><br />There are so many things each and every day that I could probably share with you until my fingers went numb, but remember, today is for laundry, homework, and cleaning! Haha. Since my wild child is fast asleep for at least the next hour... I'd better get to it!The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-73833761747143711642011-03-17T09:17:00.004-04:002011-03-17T09:31:00.021-04:00Flight Captain Fun<div align="center">So, a while back I shared with you all that I was in training to become a Zipline Flight Captain. I have been certified as a professional rescuer and have had countless numbers of hours both training and paid on the line.<br /><br />A nice little perk of my job is that I get to fly family (and sometimes friends during non-busy seasons) for FREE! Here are some photos of my "hard work!" :)</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585039200677133922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIpTTJLPhGVYAhvV0NZrtAePS4WzKBreR1rcJeg8AJmmqC119NapSn_nRSV5o93_dpUTnBp2n4kjdjjSo-SSwfFLdAnOVh-5sNVqRko_dFR9V3eD3sgd83s9Hih0WFnDOXj0gU4MTw8ul/s400/102_1294.JPG" /> <p align="center">I received my "wings!"</p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585039208446163250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5oq6eN7UIsrG1wDLKrERWyZdXeQ8XW9wq-qkEKpFZgKP9lxHqA_PmdKOfg4Jm5iuQUyh7BeJiOgimzY3xfZHKxjSCq7bnb8da_7b4GmV7NHp-myvy_T7LdkAZ7DpcRmZz_2cGflYoewY/s400/102_1297.JPG" /> <p align="center">Flying with the guys!</p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585039201696350898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK60rRdoPLLMJh9ev-__JM4Zg_aA3xjOzALUG8WYcVZRp4-H6eU1tMqvTEoajvS1HywQ4ise3MXU_a55FzhHpNH_aWXjJbX8jS3VQw64ikDFJQL6h3LrZBlhoYrDd__9LCXcEy0HbtGy65/s400/102_1295.JPG" /> <p align="center">Family fun.</p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585039198214454050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64RU0SKv4tR1UNhx-L8Zy6QKvvEPJGtbzQgsWVlcbmTjGiat7jS0neT_gMQmxSGmTl1OsEV9ZSKG2UWmAmsIuChf-_ddYKqq37Hz0zUvu5G9YxhmphcdCO4u0RFm2cHXfrA2pqIQXmlER/s400/102_1478.JPG" /> <p align="center">Great day for flying!</p>The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-42794222191504655832011-03-10T11:32:00.004-05:002011-03-10T11:49:16.876-05:00Wreath Contest<div align="center"> A second Spring wreath. Made especially for my mom. </div><p align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 303px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582493762462811794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_dMbOmiqc-hf-99GxyXu1b8ulIsxzOvBI0vnNlayOYrOj2NUvXwi5V7bH_Z71FEnEPBaDQ85Id_bLGHfjudMphAhgM49dqNAHY1iCuwvyRlsed1uW0hIzIYynuGJ66Mk6a1Z9IovCHt0/s400/Spring+wreath2.JPG" /></p>The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-69623613923993777112011-03-08T08:15:00.001-05:002011-03-08T08:25:27.139-05:00Spring time fun...<div align="center">It's here at our house!<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq26GK7dldOIs7w4qu6u54OAOPyITrK1QSLfJZR86PuoblwP1vmjpU_XlFCskCSR30G93mrvmWMXwPhw9l0G8D5D2s4HSlEHU-XDsa69tyOo2eNSnwF8rRmddJbmYwlzBWudLsm7-fu8H_/s1600/spring+wreath.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581699449789972978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq26GK7dldOIs7w4qu6u54OAOPyITrK1QSLfJZR86PuoblwP1vmjpU_XlFCskCSR30G93mrvmWMXwPhw9l0G8D5D2s4HSlEHU-XDsa69tyOo2eNSnwF8rRmddJbmYwlzBWudLsm7-fu8H_/s400/spring+wreath.jpg" /></a>The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-66646500550667432372011-03-06T09:00:00.003-05:002011-03-06T09:01:11.729-05:00:)<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6WqcTq7nhYQ/TXOTncFr7JI/AAAAAAAAAvU/Hm3sG1AAQ3A/s1600/i_love_blogging-787805.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6WqcTq7nhYQ/TXOTncFr7JI/AAAAAAAAAvU/Hm3sG1AAQ3A/s400/i_love_blogging-787805.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580966669006400658" /></a><br />Something I wanted to share today!The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-29803518954575957272011-02-27T08:23:00.003-05:002011-02-27T08:35:08.554-05:00Blogging- A Precious Commodity (to me anyway)So, I know that blogging means sitting down and writing something meaningful. Of course that word has different definitions and people would have various answers if you asked them what it meant to them. <br /><br />Today, I have a couple of hours (and a huge list of homework and studies to check off before morning) and I am taking a short time out to blog. I treasure writing to the fullest. I am so thankful to have this wonderful way to express my thoughts and feelings. Of the many things in my life that mean so much, today I am reflecting on the fact that I feel devinely favored to have received such a tremendous blessing. <br /><br />What is your precious commodity today? Have you thanked God for the little things? Happy Blogging Friends!The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-69333395913751475302011-02-11T15:40:00.001-05:002011-02-11T15:41:25.285-05:00Happy Valentine's Day!<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d6a49344d6a59314d7a513d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox collage" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d6a49344d6a59314d7a513d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=google&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own collage - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/" target="_blank">Free digital collage</a> generated with Smilebox</td></tr></table>The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-62870699267225681952010-11-19T09:54:00.008-05:002010-11-19T10:13:23.035-05:00Christmas is HERE!<div style="text-align: center;">Yes, yes, I know it's not really here. But it's <span style="font-style: italic;">here! </span>In our home. I'm very thrilled about the Thanksgiving holiday and being with family and having extra time with Will while he's out of work. However, I'm so excited about Christmas time this year with Avery! He has enjoyed watching all of the "new" decorating and trying to figure out what in the world mommy and daddy brought a tree inside for. Here are some pictures to show you exactly why this year I decorated before Thanksgiving for CHRISTMAS!!!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSbhBTsuYd7p_rcoUbDn6Pck0OssKdrHGtgcAp9Q-3P11vcVg0i9286KwjSzrzIIq3F_WvwkiNeL6t8u_gcW-9licdDkyIaoG5t_OIo_GWXPidSyfEZaKwLajkYox7r2odVQuMfFYc9Li/s1600/102_1392.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSbhBTsuYd7p_rcoUbDn6Pck0OssKdrHGtgcAp9Q-3P11vcVg0i9286KwjSzrzIIq3F_WvwkiNeL6t8u_gcW-9licdDkyIaoG5t_OIo_GWXPidSyfEZaKwLajkYox7r2odVQuMfFYc9Li/s400/102_1392.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541278838688923778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4gczgtjMN9PeeEnYekEYqtYg5bhMLHprVjZOR5ssdMYs9lD__Hw6rh6ap0faHYKLDStKwf43awcDtmoLX88r9cfLdN4f_OsqDwOIVt4c8rf5YuHUzhS3NBh-7H5XF19K7-QvB7d8wIwO/s1600/102_1400.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4gczgtjMN9PeeEnYekEYqtYg5bhMLHprVjZOR5ssdMYs9lD__Hw6rh6ap0faHYKLDStKwf43awcDtmoLX88r9cfLdN4f_OsqDwOIVt4c8rf5YuHUzhS3NBh-7H5XF19K7-QvB7d8wIwO/s400/102_1400.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541277788893108770" border="0" /></a></div>The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-8402241944464051922010-10-22T14:34:00.004-04:002010-10-22T15:29:21.779-04:00It's been a while.So, I just realized exactly how long it's been since I've blogged. And yes, I'll admit, I've been on here several times in the last 8 months, but never have been able to find the time to actually post anything of my own. Me time is one thing that is hard to find these days. But, none of that negative vibe today... It's a wonderful day in the life of me :)<br /><br />Since I've been gone a while I've decided to devote today's blog to ME. Yes, I know it may be silly, but I've lived quite a few months now with very little focus on myself. Today (for some reason) I've been happily reflecting on the positive changes that have happened to me and through me in the last little bit. I thought you might enjoy it if I shared.<br /><br />To begin, I started school back this semester after taking a summer break to spend time with my boys. I am currently an A student and am <span style="font-style: italic;">still</span> pursuing my dream of a higher education in English. That alone makes me happy. If your question (as most people seem to ask) is "what will you do with your degree?" Then I'll tell you that my motto is: My degree is for me! It's not so that someone in an office can look at a paper and tell me I qualify for a job or so that people around me can know that I have a "four year." My climb, my journey, and my accomplishment is solely so that I can learn more about a subject that I have a passion for. It is for my heart, my soul, and my mind. It makes me happy :)<br /><br />Then there is my home. I feel like I am the closest to understanding relationships that I have been in my lifetime. But wait, I also feel that I have MUCH to learn about life and love. However, today, I am content in the realization that I have a love beyond comparison and a soul mate that couldn't be matched in a lifetime of searching. Now working towards five years of being in each others lives I am happy to say it isn't always easy, but it's ALWAYS worth it. Life would never be the same without my darling husband and even the short times we spend together are more valuable than any wealth or richness that one could ever offer.<br /><br />Of course, this post wouldn't make any sense if I didn't share how absolutely amazing my new little guy is. Everyday, he reminds me what is meaningful in life and how that every moment should be made memorable. He is growing so fast that I can see him living all on his own one day. He is one of the main reasons for my absence from blog world and I can't feel bad about that for a second. His one year birthday is very rapidly making it's way. All I am left to think about is how fast it has come about, but most importantly how quickly each important day can pass by meaningless unless I do something about it. I'm working harder everyday to wake up and make every day better than the one before.<br /><br />Another happiness that is <span style="font-style: italic;">new</span> in my life is my current "job" situation. I have a few side jobs that are very difficult to call jobs for me. I am living a dream that only a few people would probably ever think of as such, but for me it's a pretty big deal. I have had the opportunity to work at Spookywoods (a local haunted attraction) as a "character." Like I said, for some, that may not mean much, but if you know me you know that I am right at home. I have, through this opportunity, been introduced to yet another local amusement and am in training to be a part of it in the coming weeks. I will be a flight captain on our area Zip Line! If you have done this before then I'm sure that you can understand my excitement as I certainly am not "working" nearly as hard as I am playing ;-) For me, it is important in life to enjoy what I do and to be able to forget that I am making money while I'm "hard at (work) play." I have never wanted to be normal in that way and am happy to say that I LOVE MY JOB!<br /><br />These are just a few of the things that I have had on my mind today. Things that matter; things that I love. At the end of my life they may not matter much to people around me, but they are the pivotal elements of what makes my life mine. Hopefully today, though different things make you happy in life, reading about my little bits of heaven on earth made you smile.The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-53714741672872140762010-02-19T19:59:00.005-05:002010-02-19T20:04:02.867-05:00He's Here!William Avery Holland was born February 9th 2010 at 9:29 pm. He weighed 6lbs 7oz and was 20 inches long. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 244px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440124303319689906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-sxjHCfQYNWKzHPrF3u7WY1dczeyhzIP3dnxv-iajMndUz4LsZz4Da7q0y0s0WvT5UoUM_EYHcgwgs3BPPD_2e4WJP-Cw-efCc0Ec5p1LPJ4W6UZFpy6O5Adi8mOdDzNj67JnvqocGaZ/s400/Avery3.jpg" />The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1138852056176714366.post-23062257787113779862010-01-25T12:07:00.001-05:002010-01-25T12:09:03.214-05:00Avery Will be Here Soon!<div align="center">It's almost time to meet our little baby boy!</div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7bEYhO1k3OY/S13P-qwqBmI/AAAAAAAAAt8/llxknxMT9MY/s1600-h/babyfeet.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 260px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430725401215895138" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7bEYhO1k3OY/S13P-qwqBmI/AAAAAAAAAt8/llxknxMT9MY/s400/babyfeet.jpg" /></a>The Babysitters Lovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15435529938721774149noreply@blogger.com2