Monthly Archives: April 2008

Awesome Day

Today (I guess technically yesterday) was the day after we found out Zale passed The Bar Exam. I don’t think he’s quit smiling yet, and it’s wonderful. So much pressure and waiting finally over. It almost feels surreal. But we know it’s true because he got his letter in the mail today confirming everything. I am just so proud of him. All the hard work, many nights of lost sleep, working full time and going to school, the list goes on and on. But he never gave up, and he made it. It’s just awesome!

We got to have lunch today with two friends that are very dear to our family, did a little shopping, and went to church. The message was the last in a series called Warrior, and it was amazing. The music was incredible, as it usually is. I left there feeling so close to God, such a wonderful feeling! We got to spend time at my Dad’s watching NCIS and playing with the girls before going home for the night. It was a great Saturday!

It’s official!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For those of you who know us, we’ve been on a law school / Bar Exam journey since fall of 2003. Today, the list was finally posted and my awesome husband passed the dreaded Bar Exam on the first try!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He’s worked so hard for this, I am so excited for him, and for our family. I know God played the biggest role in this whole process, so we give Him all the glory and praise!!!!! God is so good!!!!!

Inspiration

Anytime I start to get frustrated with the many responsibilities of parenthood, I think about the families who have 8 (The Gosselin’s) or even 17 (The Dugger’s) children and realize how easy I have it with three. Both of these families have opened their homes to the world through TV shows on TLC and the Discovery Health , that in of itself is amazing. Can you imagine having that big of a family plus a camera crew in your house?

I get mentally tired just thinking about leaving my house and loading up my two little ones to go to church or dinner or shopping. I can’t imagine the work that goes into the everyday chores and errands for such big families. These family’s don’t let their size stop them from doing anything and I admire them so much for that! It’s an encouragement for me to not even think about the work that may be involved, but just to enjoy every day with my kids, I know the time goes by so quickly!

picking flowers

picking flowers

These are tulips from our front yard that Hannah has picked. This is the first year we’ve been in this house that we’ve had such pretty tulips. Almost every day Hannah wants to pick a flower for someone. Usually her wonderful big brother will take her outside and carry her through the grass so she can pick one. I know this isn’t a big deal for either of them, but this simple act brings me so much joy. Anthony often complains about his “annoying little sister”, but I know better, and it’s the little things like this that shows how much he loves her.

Blogging – Dooce

I never really knew what blogging was all about (even though Zale had one) until I was pregnant with my second child and looking up birthing stories on the internet. I came across one that was a part of a blog (Dooce). I started reading it, and although there is some rough language at times, I love her humor and how open she is about her life. She takes awesome pictures and has won many awards in the blogging world. It’s not a christian site, but I still read it every day, many times laughing out loud. Happy blogging!

My Birthday

Yesterday was my birthday, and it was a busy day. Zale had a mini surprise party for me in the morning. He put up a banner and had the girls ready with cards and a small basket of flowers. Then we went to his Mom’s house to pick up a desk he will be using in his home office. She had lunch with cake and ice cream, so that was very sweet. While we were there my cell phone kept ringing. Apparently my Dad made a few phone calls to remind people that it was my birthday and to call and ask how it felt to be 40. ha ha. Not for another 6 years, thank you very much! :)

For dinner we met my Dad and Leeanna (I consider her my sister) at Carrabba’s (YUM!). Not only was the dinner great, but while we were eating William Lee Golden of the Oak Ridge Boys (the one with the long beard) came in with his family and ended up setting at the next table. When my family started singing the Happy Birthday song, Mr. Golden joined in. So that was pretty cool, a famous person sang to me on my birthday.

My Dad gave me a gift card to Barnes and Noble, so we did a little shopping after dinner. I have to say I love the new store in Hendersonville, off of Indian Lake Blvd. I could easily spend hours in there. When we got home my Mom and her husband had come by while we were gone and left a red velvet cake (home made – yummy!) and a card. Then, when Anthony came home from Switch (our church’s youth group), he came in with the friends he had gone with, they brought me a card and a gift bag of goodies. The day was full of birthday surprises! It was a good day! :) Thank you so much to everyone who made it special!

NCIS

NCIS has to be one of the best TV shows ever. It’s been so long since there has been a new episode, but last week, finally, a new episode. It was so good!! This week is supposed to be a new episode too, I can’t wait to see it! But I will wait until Saturday night. (Gotta love DVR!)

We go to a church (LifeCurch.TV) that has four services on the weekend, two on Saturday and two on Sunday. Same service, but 4 times so it fits everyone’s schedule. We choose to go to the Saturday service so we can sleep in on Sunday. Our routine on Saturday is church, drive thru somewhere for food (usually Arby’s, yum!), then over to Dad’s for NCIS, Stargate Atlantis, or football. Depending on the season. And I love our routine!! A great way to end the week and get extra family time.

working out…ugh!

I don’t ever remember a time when I didn’t struggle with weight. Even when I was thin, it was still a struggle. Of course this has everything to do with how much I enjoy eating, but not so much working out.  There was a time when I loved it. I’m looking forward to getting there again, the first few days are so tough though.

In November ’07 I started walking on our treadmill, almost every day in an effort to lose the baby weight of our last child. I did pretty good for about 2 and a half months. Then I got sick and couldn’t work out for a week or so.  Then I had wisdom teeth taken out, that hit me harder than I thought it would. THEN, I fell and strained my foot. I still have some tenderness if I move it the wrong way, but tonight I was finally able to walk again.

I’ve wanted an elliptical for quite a while. When I worked out at a gym, that would always give me the hardest work out. So for my upcoming birthday my husband and parents went in together and got it for me. As I attempted to use it tonight, I vividly remember referring to the elliptical as a torture machine. For the life of me I can’t figure out how I forgot that!

Here’s how my first work out went. I get on the elliptical, 90 seconds, not minutes, seconds later I thought I was going to die. So I switched to the treadmill. Did half a mile then went back to the elliptical. This time I made it two minutes before I thought I was going to die! Back to the treadmill for another half mile. I was determined to make it at least five minutes on the elliptical, so here I go again. And I made it another two minutes for a total of 5.  And thought I was going to die!

forgiveness

I found myself in an unusual position this week. Someone who I have forgiven, kept insisting the issue wasn’t dealt with.  I was a bit dumbfounded that they were telling me what my emotions are and that I haven’t dealt with something that I’ve been dealing with since I was ten years old. It’s not been easy, and there are days I have to forgive all over again, but with God’s help I have moved on. It’s hard to forgive, but I know that to be forgiven myself, I have to forgive others. No matter what they have done, or even if they realize or are sorry that they have offended me. I still have to be the one to forgive. I’ve found the hardest person to forgive is myself, I’m still working on that one.

I hope that if anyone out there is struggling with forgiveness, you’ll realize how freeing it is to forgive and let go. I know that we’re not able to forget as God does, but I have personal experience that time does help to mend whatever wounds are there. I also know that God can fix things that seem impossible and bring people closer than what they thought they could be.

Washing windows

In mid to late 2001 I was just beginning a true walk with God. I was raised in church and always believed in God and Jesus and the whole deal. But I never knew the meaning of God’s grace, love, mercy, or having a true relationship with Him. I started the real journey in 2001. Something I learned is that people who have a relationship with God are different. There are even times when you can physically tell when someone loves God.

So back to mid 2001, I was in a McDonald’s and there was an older man (I’m guessing in his 70s) washing the windows. He was smiling, I think humming, and taking care to make sure the windows sparkled. Almost as if he was doing the job for God himself. You know what? I think he was. I didn’t meet him or say anything to him, I was too busy pondering how he was washing those windows almost lovingly. I didn’t have any doubts that he knew God personally.