Dothan, Grand Prairie, or Austin

Almost four years ago we had a decision to make.  K was interviewing for a job in my hometown.  I had a good job in Dallas. We had a cute house down the street from the YMCA, a church we liked, Austin had a great daycare.  We were settled or at least I thought we were.

K got the job.  We moved to my hometown.  The adjustment was hard.  I didn't know God was moving us down here because He knew I would need my family more than ever.  Because my husband would choose the world over us.

I'm still going through boxes of stuff.
Stuff from Texas. Stuff from before he left us.
It's hard.
I don't like it.

I have good memories, and I know God has a plan in all this, but it all just makes me angry.

I feel like I got the better end.  Holding onto good memories and 2 beautiful kids.  But that's not what I wanted going into dating a man I thought I wanted to marry and eventually did.  I promised him for the rest of my life, and he didn't.  I prayed for a man to marry, God gave me one, then that man chose a very different road.

Life's not fair.

So I raise two little ones teaching them about Jesus, how to live a Christ honoring life.  Praying this anger & frustration will pass like the sadness that came before it.


Oh how I love them :)

This face.

I love it.

There's never a dull moment with him.



Our first night.

This was our first night together.

Just us two with little one in my tummy.

Thought it was important to document.

We survived.

I am woman.

Hear me roar.

He is little.

Watch him grow.

We pray to Jesus.

He sustains us.

Join me?

When I was 12 years old a beauty queen came to my church and spoke.  She told us she started praying for her future mate when she was young and it was very important that we pray too. I started praying for Keith when I was that young.  I didn't know who he was, but I knew it was important to pray for him. I didn't know where I was going to meet him or what he looked like but I knew God did.  Praying continued through high school, college and seminary until one day when I was home for Christmas Jana Wright told me about this tall, dark, handsome guy who was just starting seminary.  What a recommendation from Ed & Jana Wright! I met him and I kept praying.  I felt like God was answering my prayers for a future mate in Keith. 

20 years of praying - 1993 to 2013 and it hasn't stopped although right now it's a different kind of prayer.  Pleading, asking, pleading, relentless talking to God about my mate. My mate that I've been praying for for 20 years...I will not give up.

Everything's OK?

No.

When a husband leaves his pregnant wife and 2.5 year old son things are not ok.

NOT ok.

Geez.


But this? this pair - good. Very good.

Just the Two of Us

Well,

My hat is off and I bow down to single moms everywhere.

It's just the two of us for two nights and lets just say our sound machine has been put to good use.  It covers up the creaks and cracks in the night.

 I'm trying to have a normal schedule and love on my little guy as much as possible.  This week was probably was one of my worst, but I'm glad I have people who love me and will help me through this.

Happy Thursday!

Atlanta

This weekend wasn't all that great.
I went to a marriage conference with my spouse who is about 5% into our marriage.
It was hard to watch other couples in love.
It was hard listening to what a great marriage looks like when you aren't sure of your future.

On a brighter note
We ate at Jason's Deli Saturday night

We both got California Clubs with fruit & fruit dip.
It was yummy!

And it was good to come home to my buddy.
Who had a great weekend at the beach
And has recovered from Strep. Wahoo!

Sickness Prayer and Lots of It

Well Austin has Strep Throat, but the good thing is he's on the tail end of it - High fever Sun-Weds. then a rash today.  Antibiotics should kick it soon.  He's such a sweet boy.

We are heading out soon to The Weekend to Remember Conference.  It'll be at a nice hotel in a big city just praying God works a miracle.

Pray Pray Pray!


I went with my friend Angela to hear Chonda Pierce last night.  She was great!  We went to the lady's room at the very end and it happened to be where Chonda was taking pictures.  I was 3rd in line!

Me, the bump, and a zebra

 Me with crazy hair and pregnant at 14 weeks

We get an ultrasound next week!

Well -

we are going to a marriage conference this weekend

this one

and we need your prayers

we need a miracle from God

I love my man - I love him a lot

that's why I want us to go.

 

Last full week of April 2013

Here are some photos from this week:

 Creating really cool drawings on the magna doodle

 Golfish & yogurt raisins afterschool - Little One is tired here - 10min. nap doesn't cut it.

Started teaching Smudges in the county schools this week.  Kids like the artwork b/c they get to play with model magic.  Incorporating science into the lesson this time - living/nonliving things in a swamp.

 

And I am 13 weeks pregnant.

 

So life is very uncertain. That's for sure.

Please pray your spouse today.

While your at it - get on your knees pray for him/her.

Prayer works.

Tuesday

Someone went to sleep late last night and

Someone woke up early this morning

I think he had a bad dream.

What could I do but get in bed with him

And hope we could both go back to sleep.

But sleep didn't come

It was time to get our day started

More Valentines Day

Austin's classmates gave him some cute gifts for Valentines Day.

Here are 2:

 Could be a cupcake...could be a cookie...yum

Looks like marshmellows...yummy

 

And here are my pretty flowers from Keith



Happy Monday!

 

 

This was taken on Austin's first Valentine's Day.  He was almost 6 months old - 2/2011

...I painted that heart on his shirt.

What a cutie!

Time flies.

I just signed Austin up for 3 year old preschool.

 

Tear.

 

Wasn't he just this little?

Tucking him in.

Happy February!

Austin celebrated February 1st by saying, "Love you!" to me after I tucked him into bed.  It only took 2 years and 5 months for him to say those words.  So we kept saying it.

Love you
Love you
Love you
Love you
Love you
Love you

And I smiled deep down in my heart.

This afternoon.

I walked inside the house with Austin, then turned around and got something out of the car.

WHAM!

Austin shuts the door to the house and It. Is. Locked.

I was locked out of my own house with a toddler inside.

I called Keith.  I tried to keep Austin by the door.  Keith came home quickly!

Skip to tonight

I went to get us Panera for dinner.
On the way home I see what appears to be my favorite coffee cup in the middle of the street.
I drove off with my favorite coffee cup on my car.  Perfect.  Juust perfect.

I'm going to bed before anything else happens.

Time flies

January 2013

January 2011

Happy Tuesday!

Before school

Mad Libs

Science Lab

 

Once a week we have a science laboratory class, and we get to do scary experiments with dogs and bananas.  Our teacher, Ms. Cameron Diaz, shows us how to do experiments.  We have to work quickly or else we'll make a mess.  We learn to use different ingredients to make spicy things like inexpensive household tamales and deodorizers that make a hotdog smell like a foot.  Last week, we had a saucy accident in the lab. Austin mixed some windows with bread and added some oil, and the mixture exploded and blew two cells through the roof.  So now our teacher makes us all wear fish nets during science class.

 

 

from a Chick Fil A kid's meal

underlined words by Keith

2 years and 5 months

Yes I am counting

Because that's how long we've been parents
And we can't believe it's been 2 years & 5 months!

He is so big and so cute and talking so much.

We are so happy to be his parents!

Love him!