Happy New Year!

As I think of what this new year may hold, I can't help but think back. Indulge me a bit as I reminisce.

1991 - 20 years ago (can you believe it!?) I was in the middle of my senior year in high school. It was a great year - probably my best school year ever. I spent the summer in Alabama working at a Christian camp. Got a lot of sun and met some cool people and had a blast! Went to Rosedale Bible Institute (yes, that was before it was a College) and met my future husband. Made some lifelong friends.

2001 - 10 years ago - Our country had a controversial presidential election finally come to a close. My hubby and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary. 9-11. Don't need to say much more about that.

2011 - present - Who knows? I pray for a good year. A year that will be full of life and love and blessing - to and from my dear Father in Heaven.

I'm not much of a "resolution" maker, but I do like to set goals. This year I only have a couple, but they're pretty loaded:

• Get to know my God on a much more intimate level. He loves me and I want to get to know that love even more!
• Get healthy - including losing weight and eating healthier.
• Get organized - including de-cluttering! de-piling! and just plain organized!

That's it. Seems like I should be able to accomplish that. I like setting myself up for success, not failure. Here's to a wonderful 2011!

Christmas is coming!

I'm always amazed at how quickly the years go by. I remember when I was a child, older people used to tell me to enjoy each day, "because the older you get, the faster the days go by." Well, they were right. I'm not very old, but I do know that each day and all of it's moments are precious and need to be enjoyed.

I took a little flack for setting up my Christmas tree the weekend before Thanksgiving. But I figure, if the stores can have all their Christmas stuff up before Halloween, why in the world do I have to wait until after Thanksgiving to decorate my house? Seriously, this holiday is my favorite and I want to enjoy the wonderful look and feel of it as long as possible!

Plus, having a 4 year-old makes this even more fun. Casey loves Christmas and winter. This year I'm going to try to not be a scrooge about either one. I am struggling with what to get my family for Christmas. I love pictures, both taking them and getting them. So I'm guessing that's the direction we'll go this year. I've never been very good at picking out Christmas gifts. Part of my struggle comes from the fact that we already have so much, why do we have to spend a ton of money on more? I think I would rather take a family vacation somewhere and make a ton of new memories that way. Am I strange? I feel like we get the commercialized part of Christmas shoved down our throats. What is Christmas really about? Does anyone remember?

How can I honor Jesus during this time of year? Or better yet, how can I honor Him every day of the year? I find myself becoming so consumed with all the stuff in my life that I forget to make time for the one Person who has made my life possible! If I can change my eating/dieting habits, then I can most certainly change my daily habits and insert Jesus into every aspect of who I am!

I know this post was very random, but so am I!

Update Time

Ok, so every time I look at this blog I think, "For pete's sake, Faith, update it already!" So, here I am. I wish I had some pictures to upload and make this post perfect, but since I don't - well, this is what you get. I think the biggest thing right now is that I just need to write something to get over the hump of not writing for so long. Hope that made sense...

I'm sitting here at the computer with our beautiful Christmas tree glowing beside me, and Sports Center blaring in the background. Do those two go together? It seems that I should have Christmas music playing softly as I type. Oh well, I'm not complaining. I'm just letting you in on my life. At one o'clock in the morning.

Now that I've gotten over the "not writing" hump, hopefully I'll be back very soon!

Un-Busy?

It's funny how I always think that things will slow down when summer gets here. I don't know why I usually feel that way, because I'm nearly always wrong about it. I mean, why in the world would things slow down when the weather turns beautiful and there are a million and one things you can do when it's warm outside that you can't do in the freezing bitter cold?! I don't claim to be brilliant...

Amazingly though, this week is quite un-busy. I need to get some grocery shopping done. I have one photo shoot. We need to go to the pool as often as possible this week because it's warm outside. I need to do the regular household chores. And that's all. Really. Of course after this week, things take off like a wild horse, but I'm going to relish every peaceful moment of this un-busy week. Because these weeks don't come around often enough.

Why don't they come around very often? Because I don't let them. Which makes me want to actually schedule these kind of weeks - and I think I will. Why not? I feel so much more relaxed, and it's only Tuesday. So, here's to a relaxing summer!

Summer?

It's sad. My house looks like we've been having nice weather. Meaning that we've been spending the majority of our time outside! That's not a bad thing. I just need to be more efficient when I'm inside. I'll get there!

Today the pool is opening and Casey is chomping at the bit to get there. She's so funny! This year I'm having her start swim lessons and hopefully I can teach her some basics, too. After all, I'm assuming we will be there almost every day. I'm looking forward to the adult swim time. I'm going to take full advantage of it and get in a good workout. Last summer I went a couple times, not nearly as often as I should have! And wow! What a workout! I was really out of shape then, I can only imagine how bad it will be this year...

We are getting ready to take our "new" camper on it's maiden voyage. Next weekend we finally get to use Chris' creation and I can't wait! It's always fun to camp with friends, but this time we won't have to sleep in a tent and we'll have air conditioning! I'll post pictures as soon as I take them.

Casey was sick for 10 days with Hand, Foot & Mouth. It was awful! The pictures I posted earlier were only the start of how bad it got. Poor child wouldn't eat a thing and I basically had to force her to drink. She had a horrible sore throat along with blisters on her tongue, cheeks, gums and lips. Unfortunately, there's nothing they can do for this - it's viral and has to run it's course - but, wow, it was horrible. From what I read, I think she had an exceptionally bad case of it. By Friday, day 8, it was so bad, I called the Dr just to see if there was anything else I could try. She called in a prescription that I later found out was just to appease me - she never actually spoke with me. And that REALLY upset me! Enough so that I've switched doctors. Never prescribe something for my child just to get me off your back... In spite of all that, I now have my sweet Casey back and jumping to go swimming!

The nice weather and lunch is calling my name... Lunch, by the way, is homemade pizza made with olive oil for the sauce, fresh mozzarella and veggies. The best pizza ever.

Hand, Foot & Mouth....

I can honestly say that I did not know what Hand, Foot & Mouth disease was until this week. It has to be among one of the most painful sicknesses a child can get. Casey started with symtoms on Friday afternoon - fever, not feeling well - and by Sunday night she had sores all over in her mouth, tongue & throat. Her mouth is so swollen, it looks like she got smacked in the face. And it hurts. They say this lasts 7-10 days and this is day 5 of pain and suffering.

Unfortunately for kids, this is highly contagious. The best way to avoid it, is to teach your children how to wash their hands. I would say that I'm a stickler for clean hands, and yet, my dear Casey still got this. I feel so bad for her, if I could take this pain away from her I would in a heartbeat!

Notice all the blisters on her lips and tongue. It really is a horrendous disease. Thankfully, once this is over, she won't have to worry about getting it again.

Grandparents

Casey with Grampa & Gramma Dee


When I was a young girl, I loved to spend time with my grandparents. I grew up just down the road from my mom's parents and in the summertime, I think my sister and I were up there almost every day. I remember watching Grosdoddy clean fish while he would tell us the fishing story of the day. I remember helping Grosmommy in the garden and house. Sometimes she would even put little quilts in a frame for us to "quilt". Growing up with grandparents is a treasure. I'm so happy that Casey knows and loves each of hers!