A Nice Surprise

We've been recovering steadily for the past few weeks from both of our sicknesses, so life is great right now! We went back to church this past Sunday morning for what seemed like the first time in forever. I had been back to children's choir practice last week to help get ready for our Christmas program, but it's just not the same as enjoying our services. I even got to sit with Zach since I am still not able to sing, so that was really nice! I returned to choir rehearsal this past week to just read along so that I wouldn't be really behind in our Christmas music, but it was a little sad. You don't really appreciate your voice until you don't have it, but we're getting there.  

I finally got to venture out of the house for a full day this past Saturday. We had a great, busy day! We headed to Chattanooga to see Zach's mom and take her out for her birthday--finally! We had a delicious lunch at J. Alexanders and then went to the movies to see Disney's "A Christmas Carol" in 3D. The movie was absolutely wonderful and the special effects were amazing. It really puts you in the Christmas spirit...if you weren't already! I highly recommend going to see it if you haven't yet. However, Zach and I wouldn't recommend taking your children. There were some young kids sitting behind us and they were really scared at a few parts in the movie. Anyway, after the movie we went to Zach's mom's house for a while and then, after a quick stop at our house to let little Daisy out, headed to his dad's for the Alabama game. Speaking of, Roll Tide Roll, 10-0!! :)

Yesterday after I got home from work, I was looking through the mail and noticed a card addressed to me and Zach. It was from an old friend of mine who I recently reconnected with on Facebook. The card was to congratulate us on our marriage and our recent one year anniversary. It was also filled with really sweet comments and special Bible verses. There was also a gift card inside to Bed, Bath & Beyond, where we had registered. Zach and I were so excited when we were opening that gift card that we didn't even notice another card inside. When we opened it, it was a gift card to Olive Garden...as if the first card wasn't too much alone!! It was such a nice surprise to get just the sweet card out of the blue, but to get belated wedding and anniversary presents was even better! So, it looks like we'll be going on a shopping trip sometime in the near future. We're so blessed!!

Pray for the Martin Twins!

I am a member of a group on Facebook that was formed to keep  followers up-to-date on a certain couple's story. The girl actually went to school in Fort Payne many years back, so many people from Fort Payne around our age are members of that group and are trying to get the word out to people about their story so prayers will be sent up! A basic background of the story is that she started their blog when she found out she was pregnant. She had their little twin baby boys very early at 24 weeks, and both had complications from the beginning and are still suffering from those complications. They have both already had to go through blood tranfusions, surgery, and are still hooked up to countless tubes. The mother, Laura, did post yesterday that she finally got to hold one of her sons!

I cannot imagine having a baby, much less two babies, with so many problems just in their first few days of life. So many women have their baby(ies) and get to hold them immediately. With this mother, that privelege wasn't possible. A few days later, babies get to come home from the hospital and the rest is history. With these parents, they have had to go home from the hospital without their baby boys--which is unimaginable to me! In their blog, they mention how they talk a lot about finally getting to bring their sons home, their first day of school, the boys getting married, etc. I know all moms and dads think about and discuss things like this about their children, but in this situation, it just seems so bittersweet.

I encourage you to either read some of this blog if you have the time or just say a prayer for this sweet family. I read most of this blog today and had tears well up in my eyes while sitting at my desk. It is incredible the faith and positive attitudes this new mother and father have!! Please pray for the twins, that they both continue to strengthen and are able to come home soon, and for the new parents as they deal with this difficult situation mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

http://www.babyandbabymartin.blogspot.com/

The Station

The following is an essay by Robert J. Hastings entitled "The Station." My Sunday School teacher sent this out as a note to our class members on Facebook and it really meant a lot to me when I read it, so I thought I would share. Hope you enjoy it and take it to heart--especially the very last paragraph! :)

Tucked away in our subconscious minds is an idyllic vision in which we see ourselves on a long journey that spans an entire continent. We're traveling by train and, from the windows, we drink in the passing scenes of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at crossings, of cattle grazing in distant pastures, of smoke pouring from power plants, of row upon row upon row of cotton and corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of city skylines and village halls.

But uppermost in our conscious minds is our final destination--for at a certain hour and on a given day, our train will finally pull into the Station with bells ringing, flags waving, and bands playing. And once that day comes, so many wonderful dreams will come true. So restlessly, we pace the aisles and count the miles, peering ahead, waiting, waiting, waiting for the Station.

"Yes, when we reach the Station, that will be it!" we promise ourselves. "When we're eighteen. . . win that promotion. . . put the last kid through college. . . buy that 450SL Mercedes-Benz. . . have a nest egg for retirement!"

From that day on we will all live happily ever after.

Sooner or later, however, we must realize there is no Station in this life, no one earthly place to arrive at once and for all. The journey is the joy. The Station is an illusion--it constantly outdistances us. Yesterday's a memory, tomorrow's a dream. Yesterday belongs to a history, tomorrow belongs to God. Yesterday's a fading sunset, tomorrow's a faint sunrise. Only today is there light enough to love and live.

So, gently close the door on yesterday and throw the key away. It isn't the burdens of today that drive men mad, but rather regret over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who would rob us of today.

"Relish the moment" is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118:24, "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."

So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, swim more rivers, climb more mountains, kiss more babies, count more stars. Laugh more and cry less. Go barefoot oftener. Eat more ice cream. Ride more merry-go-rounds. Watch more sunsets. Life must be lived as we go along. The Station will come soon enough.

Halloween '09

Sadly, we didn't even plan for any trick-or-treaters on Halloween night, because of us still being sick. We had some family friends who were planning on coming to visit with their kids, but we had to cancel it for this year. Daisy didn't have a costume this year (which Zach was happy about), but she did have her Halloween shirt from Old Navy. I bought this about two months ago and was so excited about it, then ended up not even putting it on her on Halloween night! I'm a bad mother, I know! (I think I had a perfectly good excuse though! Next year, I will try to do better.) I did manage to put it on her a few days after though and I got some cute pics of her. Next year, I think I'll break down and buy her a costume, much to Zach's dismay.

It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like...Autumn

I know I've said this many times before, but I am so ready for Fall this year! The leaves are changing and some have already fallen in and around our neighborhood, so I posted a few pictures of those. I'm going to try next year to "go all out" and do an Autumn harvest display in one of our front islands in our yard (which will probably begin as a do-it-yourself type project, but turn into a "Please help me with this!" type project.) :) This year, we went the easy route and I just bought a few things to make an arrangement at the foot of our front steps. I also remembered to hang the wreath that I had bought last year. It was one of the first "girly" things I bought for our house.

We also had a guy come in our office a few weeks ago selling harvest arrangements. He had been to Woodson Jones when I worked in the office a few years ago and I had bought one from him then. They are gorgeous arrangments of pumpkins, corn, gourds, etc., that he grows in his own garden and puts together himself. When he came to Woodson Jones the first year selling them, he told us he was selling them to raise money for his wife's medical expenses. She was battling cancer at the time and they had three young children at home. (Sidenote: I am really skeptical of people that say things like this when trying to sell something, but a lady in our office goes to church with him and his family.) I had not seen him since then, which was about two years ago, until he came in our office recently. He was talking as if his wife had since passed away, but he obviously still wanted to continue creating the arrangements because he enjoyed it so much. He said that the money he raises this year was going toward a trip to Disney World for himself and his three kids. I thought Zach wouldn't object to me buying an arrangement this year, since the money was going toward one of his favorite things! :) Anyways, I posted a picture of the basket. I have his name and phone number, so if anyone is interested, just send me a message/email and let me know!

Halloween has never been a favorite holiday of mine. I'm usually just ready for it to be over with, then happily move on to Thanksgiving next. Then, after Thanksgiving, it seems like you blink twice and Christmas time is here, which is my absolute favorite time of the year!

Speaking of Christmas, we have already started our Christmas program music at church!! I have been asked to be one of the two Second Sopranos in our mixed ensemble this year and I can't even describe how excited I am about that! We'll have a group of about 8 men and 8 women and we're singing variations of "Jingle Bells," which I realize is a little unorthodox for a Baptist church, but it's something different and peppy, and that's what we love! I am hoping that our families and friends will all be able to be there for our program! It was such a blessing last year and this year should prove to be even better! We have more songs that are familiar to everyone and the theme is "Christmas Bells," so the handbell choir will have an integral part in it too! I love how I am already pumped for Christmas to be here and we're barely past Halloween! Oh well, it only comes once a year, so I'll enjoy it as long and as much as I can.

"In sickness and in health..."

We've really had the chance to practice the former part of that vow lately! Zach and I have had a rough week! Poor Zach got sick on Monday night and has been sick since! It started with flu-like symptoms (fever, aching, etc.), then Thursday he began coughing constantly. I was sick when I woke up Wednesday morning and on through Thursday. I didn't have what he had, but was still weak and "achey." We made it fine on Tuesday when I felt well and could wait on him, but things were difficult on Wednesday and Thursday!

Zach finally gave up because of his coughing and let me take him to the doctor this morning. They did blood work (...which I did watch, Mom! You would be proud!), and let us know that he had atypical pneumonia. We picked up some good drugs for him, including some cough medicine that should hopefully knock him out for the night!

 My mom brought us food one night, Zach's dad brought us lunch one day, and my grandmother brought us lunch/dinner and even cleaned our house for us (bathrooms and all, bless her heart!) Zach's mom called to check on us and even offered to bring food all the way from her house in Chattanooga. Thanks so much to all our family and friends who have brought us food, called to check on us, or sent us comments and messages via Facebook!! It feels so good to know we have people sending up prayers for Zach while he's still sick.

We're just going to "enjoy" the weekend by staying in the warm, comfy, clean house. I may go to church on Sunday by myself, just to "rejoin the living" for a while and see our kids in children's choir. I pray that Zach gets better really soon and that I don't get sick again!

Fun At the Fair, Children's Choir & Fall Cleaning

This past week, the fair was in town. Zach and I didn't go for some reason last year, but this year we were really excited when two of our really good friends asked us to go with them on a double date. We had such a blast getting to spend time with Alan (McNew) & Elizabeth (Carr)! Even though we're all in FP for the time being, we're all always busy with our jobs. Zach hit the basketball game first and won me a prize! (Of course he won a big stuffed gorilla--it was also our first stop, meaning I would have to carry the stupid thing ALL night!) Luckily, as soon as he won it, we ran into David, Sissy and Rachael Walker who were about to leave. I offered it to Rachael and she was delighted to have it!

We actually rode a couple of our favorite rides- the Tilt-A-Whirl and the Himalaya. We ended up riding the Tilt-A-Whirl twice, but our first time around was better. We all four fit in one of those things (which was not an easy task!) Elizabeth & I were a little squished, but it was so much fun. I suppose it was all the weight that kept it spinning and spinning. I don't usually get dizzy on rides like that, but this was a little much after the second time around! Later that night, Zach won me another prize in the water gun shooting game. He picked out a stuffed Batman, which he probably would have kept for himself, if we wouldn't have ran into my cousin Kayla and her cute little boy. Those sweet little kids' faces lit up when we gave them those toys that we would have just taken home and put up in the closet. It was a good highlight of going back to the fair. Little did we know we would have just as much fun as we did back in Junior High!

On a different note, last Sunday our primary leader for our children's choir was on vacation, so me and one other lady had all the kids to ourselves! We had 23 kids show up that afternoon for practice! All-in-all, it was a good experience! Last night was our very first performance for the church and our kids did GREAT!! We had only about 15 there for the practice and performance (so many kids are sick this time of year!), but they made some noise and it was wonderful. When I got home last night, our music director for both our sanctuary choir and the kids' choirs had texted me to say he loved all the music and the smiling faces...especially the leaders' smiling faces, which made me smile even more. :)

Onto our project we've started at the house...I told Zach that our garage would HAVE to be cleaned out by this winter. He has offered countless times to let me use the garage and he would park his vehicle in the driveway, but I just think that's ridiculous when we have a TWO car garage! I had actually cleaned out a lot of the garage when he was away on his fishing trip in June, but it was too hot to work at times. Now that we're about to run out of time before the much cooler months arrive, we're working to get it completely cleaned out. We're hoping to finish it up tonight and have my car a new home for the night! Only now, we have to clean the guest room, because that's where we've placed all the boxes from the garage!