Playin' in the "Dirt-Sand"

This is what my little boy is doing this week. I'm so jealous.  I can't wait to get to him in the wee hours of Friday morning.

To Love Their Husbands Tuesday

Once again I'm linking up with Lauren at Living by Faith for "To Love Their Husbands Tuesday"(but I guess you could tell that by the title).

Here's how I helped the hubs this week.

• We had VBS last week.  Chad is the principal / director(I can't remember what the official title is) and I guess that makes me his personal assistane.  I didnt' know that was in the job description when we said "I do".  Anyway I love VBS and like to go all out for the week.  So to help him make this VBS fantastic I did all of the computer work so we could utilize the screen at our church.  Chad is most definitely not a fan of the computer.  And I'm addicted to my lappy.  I worked up all the computer stuff, filled out the certificates, and washed his special VBS t-shirt every day so it wouldn't be all stinky by Friday.
• You can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy.  That describes my husband to a tee.  He loves all things western.  So I'm currently watching "The Man From Snowy River" while I do the stuff that needs doing around the house.  This is one of Chad's all time faves and I've never watched it because it's not really my thing.  And when I do sit down to watch it with him I apparently ask too many questions and irritate him.  

That's what I've done and am doing to love the hubs.  There's one more thing but I'll share it later in the week.

Small Town USA

Disclaimer:  Let it be known that I do not normally use the camera while I drive.  I believe it to be unsafe and in the general disinterest of everyone around me and any vehicle that I happen to be operating.  And texting is bad while you drive too.  With that being said, I did make an exception just this one time one day last week.  I know it's not smart but it was in the interest of humor.  Please don't report me.  And I did wait until no other cars were around me before I snapped the infamous pics.

Now that we have all of the formalities out of the way I can tell my story.  We live in Small Town USA.  It's fun here.  And it's often funny here too.  Example:  This week is the annual "Red, White, and Bluegrass Festival".  Note the play on words.  Only in Small Town USA.

I saw this.........

while driving last week.

A better view for you.

It is not abnormal to follow a tractor down the road in our county.  Especially during hay season.  Which it is.  I only know this because the hubs loves hay.  I don't know why but he does.  I digress.  I saw this particular farm implement DOWN TOWN!  I know you can't tell from these pictures that this is in the heart of our little town but it is.  These pics kinda look like a rural road but it really is in town. 

Good times!

It's Sunday.  Church Day.  And we're getting ready to head out the door and start our day.  I just wanted to share a picture or two of Clayton at VBS last week.  My child loves anything with wheels.  He especially loves trucks and trailers.  On Friday evening 2 firetrucks and a rescue truck came to the church so the kids could crawl all over them.  Clayton certainly enjoyed himself.

Enjoy your Sunday.

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:  Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;  Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;  Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalm 103:1-5

Summer Lovin'

It's finally summer time here in NC.  It's felt like summer for months now but the calendar officially says it's summer.  I personally love it.  I like the hot weather.  Most people would disagree with me but that's OK too.

And with the summer season comes one of my favorite things.  Vacation Bible School.  VBS is one of my favorite things ever.  That's what we're into this week.  I'll probaby be MIA for most of the week.

Enjoy your summer.  It's a great excuse for a Route 44 Dt. Coke from Sonic.

Unconsumed

It's late and I really should be getting in the bed.  As usual we have a busy Saturday and Sunday.  I just wanted to mention one thing.

Today I picked up the book "I Will Carry You" by Angie Smith.  She is the author of the blog Bring The Rain.  I really should be studying the various bones in the body but I just could not bring myself to do this today.  I had to start this book.  I've wanted to read it for a while now.  And knowing me I will probably have it finished by the end of the weekend.  I can do without the sleep for a few days.  It's a soothing balm to be reminded(because it's easy for Satan(and our human minds) to let us believe that we are on this journey completely alone) that God has chosen others to walk a similar journey to ours.  Why He has chosen any one of us I have no idea.  But He did.

My point to this is to say that I regularly wonder(worry maybe) that my daughter will be forgotten as the months and years pass.  Chad tells me I imagine things(and he's probably way more right than I would care to admit) and that the things that I perceive around me are not really as they seem.  He really is quite handy to have around.  Reassuring words from those around me are wonderful and very kind and thoughtful.  But they can not completely ease the Mommy part of my heart. 

I don't say these things to illicit kind or reassuring words from ya'll.  I say them to be honest and transparent.  And so that I can share with you the peace and reassurance that God has given me once again this evening.  His timing is so amazing.  I don't know why I ever doubt His sovereignty(and yet I do over and over).

I read this tonight........

"But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.  When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.  For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.  Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.  Fear not: for I am with thee:"  Isaiah 43:1-5

He redeemed me.  He called me  The waters will not overflow me.  The fires will not burn me.  Why? Because He is God.  Because I am precious in His sight.  Because He's with me.

And these words completely reassure and calm my heart. 

Will I need new words tomorrow?  Absolutely.  Will God give me those words?  Absolutely.

What do you think.............

..............I paid for all of this?

I don't even know if you can see everything that's in there.

CVS
6 Renuzit Air Freshner thingies
1 Schick Super Powerful Awesome(that's the official name) Razor(Free after Q's and ECB and I think there's a rebate floating around for it too)
1 Huggies Diaper

Harris Teeter
3 Gillette Clinical Strength Deo's(this is Chad's new fave so I stocked up)
Neutrogena Men's Face Cleanser(I found this on the clearance rack and got it for $1.16)
Kraft Salad Dressing(.50 cents)
Meuller's Spaghette(FREE)
Lettuce
Country Crock Butter (.60 cents)
2 Oscar Meyer Beef HotDogs(they aren't Ball Park but they were at a great price so I improvised)
1 pack marked down Angus Chuch Steak(this will become our favorite Mexican dish for dinner tonight)
1 pack marked down Chicken Thighs

Aldi
Yellow Squash
Zucchini
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Yellow Pepepr
Red Pepper
Orange Pepper
10 Jalapenos
2 packs Colby Cheese
1 pack Monterey Jack Cheese

I paid..............

Drumroll Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

$41.71

I could have had a few more things but some of the best deals at my local CVS were already gone.  I think I'll hit up another one after class today and see of they have the products I couldn't get in MoTown. 

A word to the wise(or at least those of us that wish to maintain a little bit of our integrity).  Play by the coupon rules.  I saw a fellow couponer called on the carpet this morning for trying to use multiple CVS cards in different names to get the same deals over and over.  She wasn't bright enough to get away with it because she tried to use the different cards in different names on the same cashier(who happened to be the store manager).  They wouldn't sell her any products on the additional cards she was trying to use and then asked her to leave the store.  She was very rude and became beligerent with the CVS staff.  Stuff like this makes us all look like morons.  I am all about getting the absolute very best deal for my money and work very hard to do so.  And I feel the store should honor the deals/promotions they are advertising(sometimes a specific store or store manager doesn't like to cooperate).  But when the system is taken advantage of by some the whole thing gets ruined for the rest of us.  So if you coupon play by the rules.

Happy Savings!

Friday......I'm in Love

So I was told today that there are a very select few of you that log on mainly to see pictures of Clayton.  And from that I gathered that I don't post nearly enough pictures of Clayton for the taste of some of ya'll.  I have now seen the error of my ways and will attempt to do better in the future. 

So for the two of you that wanted to see more Clayton, here you go.

I deemed this Clayton's "Michael Jackson" look.  It's the glove.

I'm guessing the gloved look kinda gets old(and I don't know why Clayton and Emma have taken all the pillows off of the couch.  Wonders never cease.)

Yeah that glove has got to go!

I have no idea where he found the inspiration for this outfit.  But he came prancing out of his room like this last Friday.  If he pops out with a red leather coat I'm running away.  

We took him to see his first movie this afternoon.  He saw Shrek 4 on the "big TV" and loved it.  He did great.  He sat very still and watched the entire movie without a peep.  We shall have to do that again.

Wonderful Wednesday

To Love Their Husbands Tuesday

I think I'll link up with Lauren again this week for "To Love Their Husbands Tuesday".  Why?  Because it's hard.  And I have an easy person to love.  At least in my opinion anyway, some peeps think Chad is kind of hard to love.  They can be wrong if they want.  So how have I love my husband this week?

• He mowed grass in 95 degree weather.  I randomly took him a bottle of water.
• Chad doesn't really like chicken all that much.  I think the years growing up on a commercial poultry farm kinda did him in as far as chicken is concerned.  I try not to fix it a lot because he doesn't care for it.  But when I do fix it I cut it into the tiniest imaginable pieces.  Pieces the size of my fingernails.  Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup sized pieces.  Tiny!  It takes forever but that's what he prefers.  Why would I not want to accommodate him in this area?
• I've learned to love cabbage because he loves it so much.  I didn't not like it at all a few years ago but I started experimenting with a few different ways to cook it and I've since became a major fan.  So I can add that to the list of things that I can cook and know he will be very happy with.  Now greens, pickled beets, and boiled eggs are another subject completely.  I just can't do it.

I've not done much this past week to show him that I love him.  In fact I don't feel like I do much any week to show him that I love him.  But I try.  And in any marriage 1+1=1.  Since we are 1 I need to make more of an effort to act like it.

Now Chad is getting ready to show me how much he loves me and go to the DA's office and attempt to get a "violation" that I received taken care of.  And he clipped my coupons for me yesterday.  YAY!!

Little League

This morning Chad, Clayton, and I went to Zach's baseball game.  Zach is the nephew of my BIL(Andrew) and SIL(Trish).  They are raising Zach as their own son and doing an amazing job if I do say so myself.  He's thriving with them.  All 3 of us just adore Zach(especially Clayton).

The game went well.  His team lost but I'm not 100 percent sure that they even keep score.  Zach hit an RBI and made a great stop at his position.

Clayton ran and climbed the fence.

And attempted to lick his nose clean like a cow.  Nice!

Chad our sherpa.

And we finished off our morning with a little celebratory Mexican food.  I don't know what we were celebrating but the food was great.

As was the chocolate milk.

Bath Time!

Bath time is Clayton's absolute favorite time of the day. 

(For the record I don't normally let him stand or jump in the bathtub.  Just this once it was too cute)

Catching Up

I have oodles to catch up on.  Here goes:

• School is still going well.  Actually I'm loving it.  I'm a big nerd though.  I'm one of those people that likes to study.
• I had a BDay on Tuesday.  I'll proudly claim that I'm 28.  It seems like a perfect age.  Actually I've felt that way for the last 5 years or so.  I don't mind getting older, it's just part of life.  It's also a great excuse for new Coach bags.  
• We now have a porch swing.  It's absolutely wonderful.  I love southern summers and what better way to enjoy them than from the comfort of a beautifully stained(black if you must know) wooden swing.
• We're going to dinner with Jesse(my brother) and Amy(SIL) tomorrow evening.  That's always a lot of fun.  Somehow we will manage to confuse the wait staff and be entirely too loud.  I'm not sure how this always happens but it does.
• Our family has expanded by the quantity of 2.  That's right we have 2 new goldfish.  Clayton was given a fishbowl by his Tram.  And you can't have a fishbowl without fish.  So we loaded up the bowl with goldfish.  Clayton wanted to name them "Truck" and "Trailer".  We haven't decided just yet.
• A wonderful benefactor gave me a wonderful surprise today.  I'm so very excited.  I've used it all evening.  (How was that for vague!).  Thank you!

It's been a great week.

So I have a question for ya'll.  Where does the blog go from here?  I know most of my readers out there in cyberland happened upon the blog when we first found about Johanna and Trisomy 18.  And for the better part of a year the blog has been centered around her story.  But I'm starting to feel a shift in the direction of topics on the blog.  I guess I'm basically asking do ya'll like reading random crazy things about other people's lives like I do?  Just wondering.