Repeat

Tonight's picture...

reminds me a little of this picture from last year at this time.


Apparently our anniversary weekend means rain. It poured on our wedding day too!

Happy Anniversary!

We've had a great annivesary so far, thanks to Mark. Friday Caroline and I got home from the grocery store and Mark handed me a card that led me on a scavenger hunt where I eventually found a new camera! It seems that it wasn't long ago that he bought me another camera. Unfortunately that one didn't last too long. This time we are going to be sure to keep the receipt and the original box so that if this one has problems we can correct it! Friday afternoon Mark hooked up another one of our new toys and we went for a ride. I'm not sure that Caroline loved it as much as we did but it was fun!

Later that night Mom and Vern came into town to be with Caroline so that Mark and I could hang out in Chattanooga for the weekend. We are having a great time! While I miss Caroline like crazy, it has been so great to relax here with Mark.

Caroline saying, "Mom, please don't leave me!"

Thankfully, I know that she is in good hands. I've been a good Mom and have only called twice so far. Both times she was making a joyful noise in the background!

Yesterday we went to Ruby Falls which is a waterfall inside of a cave. I think the older that I get the more fearful I become. The first few minutes in the cave were filled with crazy thoughts like, "What is there is an earthquake and the cave smooshes us to pieces?!" I eventually relaxed and enjoyed our time inside.

Best picture of the day. I think this was when I was still feeling a bit nervous about the cave!

We did some reading yesterday afternoon and then walked the town last night. Chattanooga has such a great downtown with parks, green grass, water fountains, restaurants and fun shops everywhere. I'm so glad that we have been able to be on our own schedule. Normally we are worried about getting home to the babysitter or making sure to get home for Caorline to get to bed. I'm very thankful for this time!

Fun in the park

Yesterday our friends Tortoise and the Hair, aka as Dustin and Adrienne were playing at the Marietta Square. It was a perfect day in the shade and we enjoyed a little picnic and some great music! We also ran into our friends John and Lauren. I think some of the pictures below may be from John's mom but I'm not sure which ones. Enjoy!









Nothing cuter than a chubby baby foot in a flip flop!

Amazing!!!

Today Nicole and I celebrate 5 years of marriage. Words can not describe the last five years and their impact on my life. You'll have to take its meaning from my smile and from the smiles of those around me. Nicole has been such a wonderful influence on me and has allowed me to grow in ways I never knew possible. Case in point, I just ate cucumber slices last night for the first time in my entire life. And she didn't trick me into eating them either.

I am so thankful for the peaceful, rock-solid woman I was lucky enough to marry five years ago today, on a rainy day at Axe UMC in Garland, Texas.... I can honestly say I had no way of knowing how good it would be, and am thankful that God had the grace to allow me to marry her anyway!

Back again

I finally used my sewing machine again. It's been collecting a little dust even though I want to use it! I just have a hard time finding the time! My friend Noelle is hosting a Bingo fundraiser for the Breast Cancer 3 day walk. She asked me to make a childs applique shirt for her to give away as a prize. I told her that I would do it a few months ago but as the time neared I was afraid I couldn't do a good enough job with the applique. I'm still a beginner appliqueist. :-) So I went in search of another project that I could do and I found this cute tote bag plan (http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=514 ).




Lauren H. told me about Sew Mama Sew, a sewing blog, and I love this little site. They always have lots of fun projects, some that you can do without a pattern! I have to say this is my best sewing job yet for a few different reasons...1)the pattern made it really easy to hide the seams 2)there are only straight lines in the tote 3) my sewing machine didn't mess up 4) I was making it for someone to give away as a prize! All of these things helped me to feel really good about the finished product!

Now if I could just get back to the sewing machine again soon and make something cute for Caroline!

Moving

Everyone has told me to fear the moving stage and it's here! She's not fast yet though! Last night Mark arrived home from the airport with a Chick-fil-a cookies and cream milkshake (my favorite). We all ended up spread out on the floor in Caroline's room just playing and talking. I gave Caroline a teeny, tiny sip of milk shake and then sat down across the room from her (this was in no way intended to get her to crawl). We were just sitting around the room and I ended up a little further away from her but after the sip of milkshake she wanted more! She got her little knees underneath her and crawled right on over to me! It was the sweetest thing to see her move over to me and to witness it with Mark. I'm thankful that with all of Mark's traveling we have been able to see her first roll and her first bit of crawling together. I hope we will get to see her first steps together too!

Who knew that a little Chick-fil-a milkshake was all it would take after all this time. :-)

Sleep

I know it sounds silly but I have only seen Caroline asleep in her bed a couple of times. I put her down, leave and come back when she wakes up crying or talking. Today her nap schedule was all out of sorts so I went in to wake her up and found her cloth diapered hiney sticking up in the air!

Whatever works! I was thankful for a couple hours of peace and quiet to get some work done!

Teeth!

Caroline has two teeth coming in. They started around the first of May and it seems it may be a while longer before they are fully in. The good news is that she hasn't had any of the normal teething crazies that I always heard about.

Teach me!

Mark is such a good dad. This morning he decided he was going to teach Caroline to crawl by showing her how to do it. He crawled all around the house. She got onto her knees a couple of times (which is a step more than normal) but did not make it too far. I actually think it helped her...

or she might just have enjoyed laughing at Daddy!

Oh to be a private jet

I am posting this from 34,000 feet over the border between Tennessee and Kentucky, on my way to Chicago. When we taxied out of Atlanta, I watched as we passed several large airliners that were all painted their own colors.. they were private airliners... not a bad gig. Airliners now purposed for flying the rich and famous. I then glanced at the lowly 767 in line behind it and noticed a sad look on it's face. You see, all airliners want to be private jets. They want to quit appealing to the cattle-like masses and focus on the people who will take them to exotic airports around the world. Airliners go where they're told, do the same things over and over. They've given up the dream to strike out on their own, and have put on the corporate paint that provides security, and steady work.

FYI, I'm now about to cross into Indiana. Nice.

Dad's visiting!

He came in Saturday afternoon and will be leaving tomorrow morning. I'm so excited to have him here! I love that he has made an effort to come down a few times a year since the babies have been born. I hope that he will continue this tradition!

Lindsay worked last night so this morning she needed to sleep which means that Caroline and I got the morning with Dad!

We hiked Kennesaw Mountain and I must say he's in pretty good shape - I hope I'm in that good of shape when I'm his age! :-)

Caroline was in a daze through most of the trip (although the picture below does not show it) but I think she enjoyed it.


PaulPaul and Caroline...

Come back soon Dad!

Worn Out!

Someone sent me an email with this picture in it today and I have to say I think it explains how I'm feeling lately! My sweet pea has left me a little worn out!

Farmers Market Basket

We just got our first Farmers Market Basket.

I'm not quite sure why this is so appealing. I could easily buy all of this stuff at the grocery store but something about it makes me feel so fresh and healthy. :-) I think the two benefits are 1)The basket contains fruit/veggies that are in season. I have no idea what is normally in season so I just buy what I want and don't always end up with the best tasting fruits and veggies. 2) The basket is cheaper than what I could put together in the store. We will get a basket this size every other week for $18. Today we got carrots, green beans, zucchini, potatoes, pears, oranges, apples, bananas and corn. We got two leafy things and I honestly am not positive about what they are. I think one is bok choy (I saw Noelle buy it once so I think that is right). I think the other is kale because today the Farmers Market people sent a recipe email with kale "chips". Otherwise I would have had no idea what it was! I told Mark that we both are going to have to be adventurous in trying the new food and new recipes. I have never cooked with either of the last two ingredients before!

Caroline enjoyed playing with one of the leafy items for awhile.

Then she decided a taste was necessary.

I think we have the verdict.

Recent Ponderings...

The past few days I feel like God has been both challenging me and encouraging me in new ways. I rarely say this (because I don't like know-it-alls who make blanket statements) but I would love some dialogue about any of these thoughts. Anyone interested? Here are a few things that God has me pondering...

Why is God's timing so different from our timing? Of course, I know that God's timing is better than mine. I just find it strange that I have been praying for something specific for a couple of years now and I have finally gotten the answer that I was hoping to receive but the timing is not right. Why would God answer with what I want now if the timing is not right? I kind of feel like I'm being tempted but I'm pretty sure the Bible says that God will not tempt us.

Along the same lines as above, how can it be that my heart can feel so strongly one way and my practical brain feel so strongly the other way? I know the personality tests say that you either lean on your heart or your brain. Is it ever good to follow your heart when everything logical says you shouldn't? I think the answer is yes but rarely... ?

Is it ever OK to question someone in authority? I'm not talking about just questioning in my own mind. I question authority all the time in my head. I'm talking about confronting the person. Sounds way too scary for my rule following self but there is a part of me that thinks God might want me to do that in this situation. I think I'm losing my mind! Has anyone ever done that with any "success"?

In Sunday School the other day someone asked if anyone had done a Bible study at the church. I have and responded as so. "How was it?" I kind of stuttered through an answer, "Good....met new people...studied about the New Testament..." The class kind of giggled and said, "Wow Nicole that study must have really made an impact on you." I left feeling a little guilty. Later as I was thinking about it, I realized that the study was over 3 years ago. Of course I don't remember much about it. I barely remember the sermon from two weeks ago or any specific truths that I have learned in Sunday School last year. I think that Sunday School, Bible study and Church are all extremely important but I'm not going to remember everything. I am a growing person and little bits and pieces of Scripture that I put together over time are making me who God wants. Not every thing I learn is going to be mind blowing and drastically change my life.

Sometimes I feel like God wants me to do x, y, or z but in my head I rationalize that it's not the right time and that now is the time to be building a foundation in order for x, y or z to happen later. There is always an excuse to wait. Is that just a trap or should I really be focusing on something else?

Along the same lines, x,y and z are often times "big" things for God. I know God wants me to follow him daily in the big and small! Why am I attracted to the "big"?

Do you think God calls us to be faithful in lots of "little" things in our lives or does he want us to champion some sort of cause? He gives us gifts, talents, resources, experiences, dreams and much more - it seems that all of those things would lead to being able to make a significant impact in some area. ?

A bit of encouragement from God tonight...Mark and I are doing one of those reading through the Bible in a year plans. Tonight we were reading Psalm 133 which is just 3 short verses. "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity....For there the Lord bestows His blessing, even life forevermore." I was just reminded of how thankful I am for Mark and our marriage. I will say that we had some pretty intense discussions when we were first married (thanks to my fiesty personality). However, we have both learned how to communicate and we rarely get upset with one another these days. Our frustrations end as quickly as they get started. We are living in unity and I do feel that God is blessing us!

If you have made it this far, bless your heart! My poor brain just couldn't take anymore. I'm hopeful that as I spend some time with God over the next few days he will reveal some new insights to me! I'm also looking forward to some good conversation with others who love the Lord.

"Come here...

No, not carrying the trash can with you!"

Caroline loves to scoot around in her little walker but I am constantly having to say "no" because she is fascinated with the trash can. This morning I told her "no" and then "come here." She tried to obey, she turned toward me and drug the trash can behind her. :-)

Date Night

Poor Mark had a rough week at work so I decided to try and make Friday a fun night for us. I pulled out the china and the candles and made steak on the grill for him. I think Caroline enjoyed her first candle-lit dinner. I hope she will have many more of them in her lifetime.

After our dinner together, Becca came over to babysit and we went to see The Music Man. I had never seen it before and it was so funny. The best part about it was that one of Caroline's day care workers was the lead female character! It was a fun date night!

I love the picture of Mark and Caroline! They both have such sweet grins on their faces.

More Crafts

Can you tell what we're making?

Our babysitter came over the other day and was wearing a tie dyed shirt. I figure she is in college and must be in the know on what is in style, right? So Thursday Adrienne came over and we tie dyed some shirts. Two each for Adrienne, Caroline and me and we couldn't leave the husbands out...they each got one too! Being the bright girls that we are, we decided to tie dye our husbands first so that we could correct any mistakes that were made. :-) Mark's ended up with a really "pretty" green color.

Overall, it was great fun! I think tie dyed shirts may be my new workout gear. Caroline's already got her sweat band on and is ready to go! :-)