Two months later...

Memphis and Liam Cruz

These are my 'lil cousins. I love these sweet little boys so much. We took these back in July and well I'm just now getting around to putting them on here. :-)

It's been awhile...

I know for the four or five people who are so obsessed with reading the brilliance that is this blog, I've let you down. (Please note sarcasm) I humbly and regrettably apologize.

What's up with the fam? Other than Brad working three jobs, Lily going to kindy, and me overextended (as always) not a thing has changed.

I will say that I'm blessed beyond measure and that I'm reminded daily that I do not deserve it.

Since I don't have any original offerings of insight to share with you, I'll give you a few of my faves from some other, more well known, peeps.

"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

If you have made mistakes, there is always another chance for you. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down. "~ Mary Pickford

"Fall seven times, stand up eight."~ Japanese Proverb

"When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first place."~ Unknown

Just living the life of a princess

I have no photography skills whatsoever. These pictures were more imitation than imagination. I have a horribly cheap camera, and edited these pictures with Picasa. But, all in all, I'm very happy with the finished product. I took these about three weeks ago and wanted to share.

Here are a few pics from our recent trip to Myrtle Beach. In the pics with Lily is her best friend Hannah.

The World's Greatest!

Last Thursday was graduation at Mother's Day Out. Let me start by saying that the MDO program at Second Baptist Church in Clinton is incredible. It's an awesome program with wonderful people. I can't say enough good things about it. Lily has learned so much this year. The kids learn the normal pre-k stuff. Counting, ABC's, colors, shapes, how to write their name, their phone number and address. They also learn some spanish, and they even learned all of the US presidents. (I got to learn these too) In addition to all this they also were taught bible verses and bible stories. I can't believe these wonderful ladies were able to fit all of this in just two days a week. The kids were constantly involved in some activities, many of which was community service type stuff. I feel very fortunate to have had this experience and I know that this program has helped to shape Lily and the person she will become.

Graduation was bittersweet. On one hand I was so proud of Lily, she really had come so far. It's amazing how much a child can mature in a few months. On the other hand tough I was so sad to see that she's growing up. The three graduating classes did individual programs and then a collective group program. They sang songs and said their bible verses. All of the kids were just so cute. The last song they sung was "World's Greatest" by RKelly. I teared up just watching Lily sing every word. I know she's the world's greatest!!!! Everything about her is beautiful. Before I tear up again, I better share some pictures.



After getting her diploma from Ms. Carol







Lily with Ava and Ethan, her best friends.



Diploma

Psalms 139 1-16

I thought I would share some of my favorite scripture. Sometimes we ask ourselves what is it that we can offer the rest of the world. How can I be an instrument for God? I don't really know how to seek out opportunities to witness or present God to someone who may not know him. I hope that my life is a light to others with whom I encounter everyday, but I fear that I am a poor and pitiful excuse for a Christian. Not worthy to even consider myself Christ-like. So as I was thinking about all this, I thought from time to time, I could share somethings on my blog. I don't have too many people that read this, but you never know, where the words may go.

Anyway I wanted to share one of my favorite scriptures in the Bible. This scripture helped me through an incredible journey in my life. Through a dark and scary time.

Psalms 139:13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made: marvellous [are] thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well.

139:15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret , [and] curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

139:16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, when [as yet there was] none of them.

So powerful the thought of human existence. To know that our life inside the womb is covered in God's presence. His spirit is abiding with us. To be fearfully and wonderfully made... the concise and complex makeup of ourselves is miraculous, is fantastic, is wonderful. And yet compared to God's love, Christ's love, it is utterly unimaginable. God's love for us individually is so strong, he loved us from the beginning, before our formation. And then so much more once we were made, covered by his grace, and spirit. To my readers, if any readers, I pray peace be on you and that if you have not found this love, you soon will.

~C

Thirty, quickly approaching, slowly driving me mad

So... I hit the big 30 in roughly five months. I really thought I'd handle dirty-thirty well, I've never really been a vain person, and age is how you feel, not an actual number. I assumed being thirty was much like being twenty or twenty-five. For the last ten weeks or so, I've come to realize that dirty-thirty is going to be horrible, and any attempt to help me preserve me youth will fail miserably.

What led me to this assumption?

1.) The magnetic force that has somehow not only stopped my metabolism, but has allowed it to work in reverse. I'm never going to be a size 6 again, those 8's aren't looking too hopeful either. Yesterday my diet consisted of one lone lettuce leaf, a piece of extra gum, and licking the condensation from a coke can, automatically gained six pounds. You can't blame "bloating" forever so I'm coming to terms with it, through a twelve-step program called Belly-Bulgers anonymous.

2.) After two wonderful trips to the tanning bed I have a great connect the freckles game displayed on my back, arms, and shoulders. I've never been a freckle person, so I think these may be age spots. As if lying in your own sweat in a 115 degree coffin for twenty minutes wasn't bad enough punishment for a golden glow, I now can provide entertainment on long distance road trips.

3.) My vision, without glasses or contacts (my preferred weapon of choice) has dismally left occupancy, and is never coming back. Without the aforementioned re-enforcements, I couldn't see Santa dance with bigfoot on yacht in the middle of the day.

4.) Forgetfulness is a constant companion, a few things I've lost... keys, debit card, cell phone, my ability to jump on a trampoline (TMI).

5.) My body, well where to start? Pregnancy five years ago was the predecessor to the enormous hips, thighs, stomach and pretty much everything else that embodies the real me today. Parts that should be directionally up are slowly giving in to the Law of Gravity, despite all the Victoria's Secret and Spanx in the world. Of course pregnancy is no excuse for letting your body go, I just happen to let my body go to Hoskin's Drug Store a few too many times for gravy and biscuits while I was pregnant. There is no forgiveness to indulgence, people remember that!

6.) Crow's feet, or as I like to call them, "Memoirs of happier times, and smiles of the tight-skinned face".

7.) My need to indulge in youthful escapades.

For example, my love for all things "Twilight."No doubt strategically marketed to teens and early 20 somethings, I'm obsessed! Something about forbidden teenage love with a vampire, or werewolf is more than appealing to me.

Instead of wanting to buy clothes for a woman of my age, I find myself secretly longing to shop at places targeted for teens and college kids. When there isn't room for a stroller to fit between the stack of skinny jeans and the shirtless, guns-a-blazin, cologne inducing adonis of a sales associate, it's time to start shopping somewhere else.

I'm sure thrity is much worse in my mind than actual reality. Or maybe it will get worse as the next five months progress onward. In the meantime I'll hold on to my last seconds of 29, and hope to find something that will eventually secure youth within me.

~C