update

We're alive. That's about all I have time to report. More later.

Sweet siblings

Samuel and Lucy both love to hold Lydia - she's starting to warm up to the idea. They are sweet - let's hope the love continues when she is crawling and getting into their stuff!

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is my first day of work. WOW! Pray especially for little Lydia that the day won't be absolutely miserable and for the same for me...grateful for His provision of a job but so hard to leave my sweet kiddos for the day. I allready miss them. So grateful for the two families who will be helping with the children - hope it all goes smoothly.

Happy Anniversary Mama and Daddy!

My Mama and Daddy celebrate their 38th wedding anniversary today. Wow!

That sounds really long. Not so long if it were a birthday but some anniversary years are like dog years (am I right? - for every 1 year it feels like 7) and I'm sure some of them are like children years (you reach the end and it's flown by too quickly).

I am so grateful for their tenacious love and commitment to one another - patient and attentive at times, expressive and bold, comical and crazy and always committed faithfully to figuring it out and making the best out whatever comes their way. Much has happened in those 38 years and they have weathered the storms - and I'm grateful for their love for each other and for their family.

Happy Anniversary Mama and Daddy! We love you!

Thankful

Guess what I have in my purse right now?

A badge that says - RN - Emergency Room - South Fulton Medical Center.

I was offered and accepted a position at the ER at South Fulton and I'm excited (it really is a crazy story)! The same day I got an offer from Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta but the South Fulton job seems a better fit for my family, though, the Piedmont position seemed great professionally. The Lord is good to provide what we need...in abundance.

I start Monday and have lots of changes for my family in the next few days to get ready for the transistion. Pray for the transition especially for the children (Lydia is signed up for bottle boot camp this weekend - poor thing she's been drafted and is not a willing participant so far) - I'll let you know how it goes. Thank you, Lord! and thank you for your prayers.

Homework

Lucy's homework this weekend was to bring a picture of her whole family to school Monday. I realized we don't have a pic of all five of us so we did a timer pic this afternoon. Here's all five in the same pic.

Sweetwater

I ventured with the children to Sweetwater Park yesterday for a little nature walk - we just had to get out in the beautiful day and enjoy...and we did.

The ninja smile

Lucy hollered from the back of the car
Lucy: "Mama, Yid-ia 'piled at me. Mama, it was a ninja 'pile."
Mama: "Lydia smiled at you?"
Lucy: "Yes, Yid-ia 'piled at me a ninja 'pile."
Mama: "A ninja smile?"
Lucy: " Yes, that's what I said."
Mama: "What is a ninja smile?"
Lucy: "When she has her blankey over her mouth and all you see is her eyes - its a ninja smile!"

Sweet Girls

Lucy had a great first week of preschool. Her teacher said - "I LOVE HER!! I just want to put her in my pocket and take her home with me. She is so sweet" I'm glad someone else has the same feelings as me.

Also, one of her teachers brought her to car rider line and told me she LOVED watching Lucy at music. She said she was a natural at the tambourine and dancing (she must have gotten those mad tambourine skills from Grandma) and seemed to be in her own world and not shy. I'm pretty sure 'shy' is not something anyone would use to describe Lucy. I'm glad she brings joys to others each day!

Lydia did better today and didn't scream any more than a normal 4 month old - whew! Love that little bundle of joy and grateful for the smiles and coos.

change and update

Change -

If you've been with me since the early beginnings of this blog in 2005, you know I've never changed the layout/background, etc. - EVER. Mostly because it requires time and I don't want to loose any info in the process and you're really here to see my kiddos and not the decorative border. Well somehow - there is a new template here because of an automatic upgrade and I'll have to figure out how to change it around - maybe I won't - maybe it will stay - maybe EVERYTHING in my life is meant to be changed in this time of life....change is inevitable. Even if it is forced technological change. All of the other change is going ok - but if you happen to know a great way to get rid of the stinky smell of older homes I would love some advice - I could handle a little change in the odor of the old closets!

Update -

While I'm on the computer I thought I would let you know the status of the job search. I went for an interview a few weeks ago and was told I would know by that Friday. I heard nothing. I assumed I didn't get the job but I called today to ask about another position and the recruiter said they were still considering applications. Maybe I'll find out next week about that position (a position in the ER at South Fulton).

I still have applications in at Piedmont Hospital and next Friday I have a 'walk-up interview' at Atlanta Medical Center (I'm not sure how else to describe it). Thank you for your kind words, prayers and care for me. Please pray for a job this Fall that would be a good match for my skills and be best for my family.

Reflections on work for this Labor Day week

I wonder...if I dressed up to clean would it be more enjoyable? Would I admire the shine, savor the clean smell and gain energy from the accomplishment just a bit more than in my 'house clothes'? She sure seems to love it!

Reading

Last night Samuel called me into their room after they were in bed. He had been reading outloud a super hero book and then stopped. I wondered what he needed. When I arrived

Mama: "What do you need buddy?"
Samuel: "Mama, Lucy should never be on my bunk bed again - look, right here it says 'no children under 6 years old should be on the top bunk'"
(He finally read the warning label that has been at his head board for the past few weeks)
Mama: surprised he read the fine print "I'm so proud of you for reading that buddy but its ok sometimes for Lucy to be up there if she is careful"
Samuel: "But Mama, the rules say she can't be up here."

My little rule follower and reader...oh what fun we will have in the years to come!

How to eat a lion

This is how you eat a lion -

1. Growl and scare your prey
2. Open wide your mouth
3. Wave arms around wildly
4. Go for it one bite at a time
5. Keep up the noise and enjoy

She's not screaming but she still can make lots of noise. She 'talks' all the time and it seems our house will be filled with the sounds of one more talker soon.

my opera singer in training

She really is pitiful at times and often unpredictable...but so sweet and not near as hysterical as she used to be - Thank you, Lord. Yesterday morning - perfect, enjoyable, smiling. This morning - complete meltdown for the entire morning and it's almost time to pick Lucy up. This video is just bit of her lungs at work (when I played it back on the computer she stopped crying for a few minutes - surprise). Grateful for healthy lungs, tears that show she's not dehydrated and a peaceful morning to tend to her while her big brother and big sister enjoy the world outside these walls.

Talents

Samuel was sitting on the floor playing with Lydia the other day and he looks up and says

Samuel: "Mama, I wonder what her talent is going to be?"
Mama: "That's a good thing to wonder Samuel, so what do you think your talent is?"
Samuel: "Running and rhythm"
Mama: "You are good at those things. What do you think are Lucy's talents?"
Samuel: "Maybe, dancing and dressing up like a princess."

Here's Lucy's outfit from Friday to let you see her talent - soccer shin guards, ballet slippers, froofroo dance dress, apron, fuzzy hat and pet stick pony named Lucky. I do have some talented children

Lucy's First Day of Preschool

Lucy started her first day in school today. Besides Sunday School and her ballet lesson she hasn't been in a classroom and she is so excited. She is in the Farm Friends class and has 9 other children in the class with a teacher and a helper. I'm so excited for her and can't wait to hear how it goes!
She wanted me to walk her in the first day and ride in car rider line the rest of the year. While I was getting Lydia out of the car to walk her in she said "I wonder what it will feel like to sit in car rider line? Just what will it feel like?" Such a girl - trust me - Samuel never wondered what it would "feel" like. My little sweetie girl is growing up...

On the way to school today she said "Mama, my teacher is going to be the best 4K teacher I'll ever have" This is her main teacher Ms. Julie and Ms. Lesley will help.

Happy Birthday!

This past Saturday we had a chance to spend with dear friends - though the time was too short. We always love seeing the Coon's, Krevere's and the Autry's and are grateful for their friendship. While we were together we decided to send birthday wishes to our friend John Gunter who is turning 40 today!

We all stood in front of the computer and sang Happy Birthday several times until we finally got a good video on the computer. After the last song Samuel said

Samuel: "Who are we singing to?
Jeremy: "My friend, John Gunter."
Samuel (turning to the little girl who lived at the house): "Your computer's name is John?"