Orlando Fall Break!

Wow...lots to catch up on!  This is why this blog has been difficult for me to keep up with.  I neglect it for a few weeks and it overwhelms me to think about bringing things up to speed...BUT in the long run when the girls have their memory book it will all be worth it!  (I keep telling myself)

We had a great surprise for the girls this year for our county's fall break.  It is getting harder and harder to come up with ways to surprise Alex as she is getting way too smart!  We have had a trip to Orlando planned for about 6 months that they had no idea about.  Since I encouraged the girls to save their allowance for this week, Alex got very suspicious.  Of course it was a hundred questions a day and it is very difficult for me to be misleading.  So, they both knew they were going SOMEwhere but not WHERE.  A week before we were to leave, I convinced Tommy to tell them where we were going so that they were able to get excited and not ask a bazillion more questions on the drive down there.  They were pumped!!

We planned to leave bright and early the first Saturday of the break.  I got a call from Faith's school at about 11am saying she was sick in the nurse's office.  I honestly thought it was the excitement of the trip and she just wanted to get it started a bit sooner.  I picked her up and knew right away that she was not faking.  She was a very sick little girl!  I had to pick Alex up from school early so that I could get Faith to the Doctor quickly and she was greatly disappointed knowing that there was a setback in the original plan.  We talked about how it is not truly our plan, but God's and He knew what He was doing.  The Doctor did not give me the diagnosis I wanted,  :)  (I was really hoping for strep since it is such a quick turn around with the antibiotics) but said the dreaded work....VIRUS.  Ugh!  I hate that word!!  Virus means...no meds...long illness time and this one was really really yucky!  She was pitiful.  So, we decided to postpone our 6am alarm clock setting and wait to see what Saturday held for little Faith. 

Saturday came and she seemed to be better.  She said she was ready to leave versus her losing all the desire to even go the day before.  So, we packed up and headed south.  We arrived at our hotel room late Saturday night and stayed right across from Universal Studios.  It was a really nice hotel.  Poor Faith...this is what day one's excitement was for her...

On Sunday, the girls would receive their second surprise at the Orlando airport.  We were picking up my Dad and his wife and they were coming out to spend the week with us!  The girls had NO idea that was coming!  They were very surprised and very excited!

We then arrived at our condo that we were all 6 staying in for the week.  My Dad and Cathi were very generous in blessing our family with this trip for our Christmas present.  On day 1, we drove to Clearwater Beach and drove down the gulf coast.  It was beautiful!  We love the white sand.  We ate lunch at a great seafood restaurant called Crabby Bill's.  This was Alex's sandwich...can't believe she ate it!!

Clearwater Beach was very nice.  They had a huge public access area and it was not crowded at all.  It was a great time of year to be there since most families were back in school. 

On Tuesday, we went to Universal Studios.  We loved it!!  It was pretty low key and a lot to look at and learn about.  We did not wait in line for anything which was a HUGE bonus.  I have not been to an amusement park other than Six Flags since I was very young.  They have come a long way!  Very nice park and we had a really good time.


On Wednesday, we drove east and went to Cocoa Beach.  We love Cocoa Beach since it is right next to Cape Caneveral.  We ate at a beachside restaurant and then spent the day on the beach.  My Dad, Tommy and the girls all went boogie boarding while Cathi and I enjoyed relaxing and people watching.  ;)  You can definitely see a lot of interesting folks at the beach! 

Thursday was quite an interesting day....I was hoping that Faith had kept her virus to herself, but it reared its ugly head with Alex this time.  We had tickets to go to Islands Of Adventure and we were all very excited.  We had told the girls that they had to ride all of the rides in the park.  (this demand was courtesy of my Mom who did the same to me when I was in the 1st grade...cured me of my fear of rides!)  The girls had been online researching the rides and asking friends at school about all of them.  They were both so excited.  The first ride when you walk into the park is the Hulk.....awesome ride!!!  Alex's face was priceless when she was first strapped into the ride.  She then tried to say she didn't really want to ride when we SHOT out of the loading area which was very unexpected.  I was crying from laughing so hard at her face during that ride.  It was a really great ride and very smooth too.  We decided since there was no wait to ride it a second time.  After that, we rode the log ride (great ride too) and then it hit Alex.  Her stomach hurt so bad she could not stand or sit up.  She tried to convince me to let her stay.  We tried to let her eat some soup and she couldn't.  (for her to turn down any food, you know somethings wrong!)  When she couldn't take it anymore, we decided to take the long hike back to the car and I drove her back to the condo.  She kept apologizing to me for making me miss the park.  She was almost crying for her having to miss it as well.  When we got to the van, she went to sleep and then slept for 4 hours at the condo.  I woke her up and we picked up the rest of the group.  She was so disappointed as her stomach was better by the end of the night.  Once again, we know it is all for a reason!  Here are some pics that were taken of Faith at the park.

Friday was Tommy's 35th birthday and what a way to celebrate than to be on vacation!!  I had arranged for the two of us to have a special dinner at Medieval Times and Dad and Cathi took the girls out on a date to a dinner theater called Capone's.  Tommy and I had a great time and we loved watching the horses.  The food was really good...only no utensils!  Kind of weird, but I was happy when they gave us wet wipes after we were finished. 

Saturday morning, very early, Dad and Cathi flew back to Okieville.  We checked out of the room and then headed to Downtown Disney.  We had a great time there too!  We had a little too long of a time there and we were way too tired to make the drive home once we were finished.  So, we got a cheap room and rested up for the drive home on Sunday.  Whew...what a week!!!

Highlights we will never forget...both Alex and Faith's hilarious faces when riding new rides and then saying how awesome it was when they got off...yucky viruses...late night gator hunts...finding NO mexican restaurants in Kissimmee (except for the lady who said a great mexican place is chili's) jumping in the pool with our clothes on...the alligator that lived in the pond next to the condo...hot tub and steam room...Walmart at 1am...my Dad kissing a bullfrog...2 Ron Jons...living by the GPS...enjoying God's beautiful oceans...the awesome Lego store...so many new and fun experiences...Thank you Dad and Cathi for your generosity and taking the time for us!  We Love You!!

Good times!!!

Oh man!  We are just entering the world of kids sports and having such a great time!  Faith played her 5th game of the season and they had their first win!!  Tonight they won the game 15-3.  The 3 runs by the other team were made in the first inning.  Every inning after was a shut out.  The girls have really come a long way!



Alex has now caught the ball bug so we may have both girls playing in the Spring.  That will be a new challenge but will be equally as fun!

We are getting ready for Fall Break next week.  I still love our school calendar.  We have a very short summer, but it pays off with the two extra weeks off during the school year.  We are planning a trip to Orlando.  We have never been there.  It has been a long time since we've had a family vacation so we are counting down the days, hours and minutes!  We have a special surprise for the girls when we get there...more to come!

My crazy Uncle!

Ok, I mentioned my Mom cracking up at her brother taking our picture at the wedding.  Well, I have to give him and his family props too.  This is one of the crazy things he did that day...

This says it all!!  I cannot look at this picture without still laughing.  While we were standing there waiting for him to take our picture, he was taking pictures with my camera of himself.  He is such a goober!

It was awesome to see Uncle Mitch and Kristie and their two sweet girls!  So nice of them to travel from the Houston area for Sarah's wedding.  I have not seen them in several years.  This is a couple that I looked up to as a young girl as they married as high school sweethearts.  It was cool to see our girls connect and hang out for awhile while they were in town. 

Wedding Shower and Wedding Bells

Another event to catch up on is my sister's wedding.  On July 31st, she married her sweetheart James in Flowery Branch, Georgia.  It was a very nice wedding and she was a beautiful bride!  I had the honor of giving her a bridal shower the Thursday night before the wedding. 

The Baker family all played a part in the wedding.  I was the old lady matron of honor, Alex was a gorgeous bridesmaid, Faith was a pretty princess flower girl and Tommy (who was MIGHTY handsome, I might add) escorted my beautiful Mom down the aisle.  Tommy was a huge help with setting up the church and reception and being a food runner, clean up crew, and most important a jokester who kept all the high emotions in balance!!  My man has a true servant's heart to always jump in and help with whatever, whenever.  Thank you sweetheart!

We girls had a lot of fun getting dressed up for the wedding.  I reminded Faith for two weeks before the wedding that she HAD to wear the dress and she WOULD be getting her hair fixed and how HAPPY she was going to be to be Mommy's princess for the day.  :)  Knowing Faith is knowing that she prefers much more to be in basketball shorts and a t-shirt with a ponytail and sneakers.  I love her for that but also need some girlie time with my girls.  I am happy that Alex is now at the age where she likes to get dressed up.  This was the first time she got to wear mascara, powder and lip gloss...just for this occasion. 

This picture is fuzzy...and my Mom was cracking up at her brother

I always cry at weddings.  I cried in Jamaica when Tommy and I saw a wedding on the beach.  Weddings are so intimate and personal and it is as sweet to me as seeing a newborn baby...new love!  I have never been IN a wedding before.  So, you'd think that with the stress of being an old maid matron of honor that I'd be focused on the tasks I needed to perform and not think about crying...I was a mess...and on stage.  Sarah was beautiful, the bridesmaids were beautiful, the reception was amazing...a really great day!

So sweet to watch Mom helping Sarah get ready

Sarah, I pray you and James will seek after the Lord with all of your hearts.  He is the key to a lasting and fruitful relationship.  Don't let the little things become big things. 

3 recommendations to stay connected:

1.  Dialogue daily

2.  Date weekly  

3.  Depart quarterly

Doesn't have to be fancy...just keep the lines of communication open.  Put each other FIRST.  That was a hard one for me to learn!  Allow James to be the head of your household beginning now.  Don't wait until your marriage is in trouble to begin seeking the Lord, because the storms WILL come.  It took me 10 LONG years of us trying to do it all on our own and then finally the Lord hit us both in the heads with cinderblocks to show us He has been there the whole time wanting to lead us both.  This will be one of the greatest challenges of your life.  Make the decision to change the course of divorce for our family.  Always know Tommy and I are here for you!

One more thing.  I have to share how proud I am of my Mom.  She had to face some challenging and uncomfortable situations with this wedding.  I am very proud of her getting out of her comfort zone and attending all events with grace and dignity.  She has come a long way and I am very happy.  I am proud to be her daughter and I pray that God will continue to use me as a true light in her life.  Love you Mom!

The Best Gifts Ever!

Today was a crummy day. Crummy in the way I felt. The last 24 hours have consisted of a UTI, extreme fatigue, chills and a migraine. I went to work to day for 3 short hours and had to leave early and wasn't sure if I could make it home. I picked Faith up from school, picked Alex up early and the first thing she said to me was...don't worry Mom, I will take care of Faith and the house today. At the time, I wasn't comprehending much so I got home and headed upstairs straight to bed. I didn't move for about 6 hours. In that time, Alex cleaned the entire house, folded AND put away laundry, helped Faith finish her homework and made dinner for the two of them. Tommy had to work late so when he got home, I realized all that they had done on top of staying quiet! Alex is such a responsible girl for her age and I am so very grateful for all she does for me and helps me with. I am also grateful that her little sister watches all she does and is following in her footsteps. It reminds me back when it was the "training years" and I never envisioned their life going beyond those terrible fun and exciting years. Now, we still have situations that need redirection and training, but it is awesome to see Jesus shining through them to give to others in an instant. That is something that cannot be forced.

A couple of months ago, I was having a stressful week with a lot going on at work and Tommy being out of town. I was outside talking with a neighbor when the girls created a "spa" in my own bathroom for me...candles, music, bubbles, books, even my robe and slippers laid out for me! Now, for the girls to have never even been to a spa they did a fantastic job creating one!

I can't help but to see God loving on me through my girls. What a gift He has given to me! Parenting is one of the greatest challenges in life, but I am loving seeing the fruits of our labor even though Tommy and I don't always make the wisest decisions and we do fail at times. One thing I have learned is to let your children see you being humble. When we have really messed up and acted out of anger or frustration, we have apologized to them to show that parents are capable of making mistakes and we should own up to it. The hardest part of parenting has been being consistent with discipline. That takes MAJOR effort and hard work! I cannot contribute any author or personal reference to anything we have done with the girls...JESUS is the only One who has taught us what we know and continues daily through surrendering our girls to Him. He is the One who has intimately created their minds and personalities, therefore HE is the only One who can truly give wisdom on how to love and discipline them effectively.

This post is not to brag with a prideful heart but to positively affirm my girls who are hard workers and love Jesus deeply. Believe me, Tommy and I are incredibly humbled by the grace He has extended us with the two of them. I know if they will continue to submit their hearts to serve Him that He has a great plan for their lives. Thank you Lord for WHO YOU ARE and the two greatest gifts you've given to us that we do not deserve!

Two years have passed...

Oh my! I had totally forgotten and seriously neglected this poor blog! I can't believe how the girls have changed in looking at their pictures. I also cannot believe all that has happened in this two year time span. I couldn't possibly catch up. I will say that we have just got home from an awesome softball game! Faith is playing her first season of softball and she is doing fantabulous!! The team is doing great. It is an under 8 team of all girls. They have only had 2 practices and tonight was their 4th game. They came very close to winning tonight with a score of 15-14. Faith won the game ball because she caught TWO FLY BALLS!! We have been working with her on not being afraid of the ball and catching balls the proper way. Alex has now got the softball fever and wants to play in the Spring. How fun to have both girls in sports!



Let's see...just a brief bio of where we are at...Alex is now in the SEVENTH GRADE and Faith is in the SECOND GRADE! Still shocks me! They are both such fantastic students and are doing well in their advanced classes. Faith has been accepted in the AIM program and she really loves going to that class on Tuesdays. She is also excited that our awesome friend from church Mr Bill (Mr Barsh officially) is her new Art teacher. We could NOT ask for a better man of God to be a part of our school.



Tommy followed with obedience to the call to go to Haiti in February for a disaster relief mission trip with our church. I could write an entire essay on how God opened up each door to make that trip possible in TWO SHORT WEEKS! Everything was taken care of from the time off at work, finances and immunizations. It was a week he will never forget and God truly captured his heart for the people of Haiti. This is a picture of Pastor Edmund who has 23 churches and schools in Haiti. He and Tommy made a connection and I'd love to see them cross paths again. The experience truly made an impact on our family to learn each day to not take things...even the simple ones...for granted. It also has made a huge impact on my heart to hear the stories of people in other countries who worship GOD for WHO HE IS and not for WHAT HE CAN DO. I have to just stop right there...I could go on all night!

I am still working at our church's preschool in the office and LOVE the ministry I am able to be a part of each day. I am also involved in All Grace Abound Ministries with my dear friend and mentor Angie Williams. www.allgraceaboundministries.org Cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store in the near future.

Ok, I will do my best to start updating this for our family across the country to try to keep you up to date with our ever changing family!

Fall Break

Last week was Fall Break for Cherokee County. Whoever came up with this schedule, I think it's great! I love my job because I have the same schedule as the girls'. I needed a break this month!

Tommy's mom came to town for a visit. We had a great time! We went to see a movie, went shopping and a fun trip to good 'ol Chuck E Cheese. The weather was great too. I have to say I'm a bit envious of my friends at work coming home from cruises and Disney trips, but one day we'll be there!

We went this past weekend to stay with our fantastic Sunday School teacher's kiddos. They are great. We had a great time with them :)

Tommy's birthday is Wednesday. He'll be 33! The girls and I have a special night planned for him tomorrow when he gets back in town. They love surprises!

Doggie Drama

Poor Max.




Ok, so we've had some doggie drama. A few weeks ago, Max hurt his leg...we have yet to figure out exactly what he did to hurt it. It was initally sprained, but turned into a fracture. I took him back to the vet after he's hobbled for a couple of weeks now and the x rays showed a break through both bones in his leg. Soooo, the first fix is to try to cast it for 4-6 weeks and if that doesn't work, the vet said he'd need surgery. We DO NOT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN!! An orthopedic doggie surgeon will cost us over 1200.00....that's a negative!

The fun part is that I GET to make sure that his cast stays dry. So, every time he goes potty, I have to cover it with a bag...are you kidding?!? I have to laugh, or I'll cry!!