Some people are still confused about all this sub-prime mortgage stuff and how we have gotten into such a financial mess. Dilbert is one of my all time favorite comics and this particular strip is so clarifying.

Tonight I was able to enjoy spending 'girl time' with my Lacie Grace. Chris and Isaac decided to spend the evening together at the movies - so we girls decided to have a little fun, as well. The evening was filled with such things as 'peek-a-boo', rolling the ball, and singing - oh, my was there singing. I even went out on a limb and we painted our nails. Thankfully it is a light color so the fact that it went all over her (because not surprisingly a 10 month old won't sit still!) is barely noticeable. We even cuddled together in the rocking chair just before bedtime. It was an incredibly sweet night. The highlight of the evening, without question, had to be during bathtime. Bravely, we dove into a 'bubble bath' together. And there I had more fun watching her in the water. She was mesmerized by it. As it fell out of the faucet, she sat there carefully examining it as it landed at the base of the tub. Slowly she would reach out to touch it and then wrinkle her forhead when she was unable to grab it in her hand. Relentlessly she repeated this process - diligently trying to grasp this strange new thing. Once the faucet was off - her attention then turned to what she realized she was sitting in. She'd slap the water - tickling herself when she got splashed in the face. She'd barely touch the water - trying to understand why she could see her leg just underneath. She tried to put her nose up to it, but as this is generally not a good idea (water and babies don't mix) - I foiled that for her. But her investigaton continued throughout the entire bath. Don't misunderstand me - this was not the first bath she has taken in her 10+ months of life - but because I was in there with her - it was the deepest amount of water she had ever bathed in and it was terribly intriguing to her.

When we moved here to SC, we came for the sole purpose of living our lives completely for the Lord. Living our lives in such a way where through chance meetings at the grocery store, work related events, extracurricular activities - we would live out our love for and relationship with Christ. Sometimes this is easy and sometimes it is not. Those moments of selfishness enter in, those moments of stress become distracting or those moments of laziness overwhelm. Watching my Lacie play in the water tonight - gave me such a wake up call. I need Christ to be such a part of my life that as He 'pours out of me' it mesmerizes others. Where there is something about Who they see in me that they find themselves drawing closer to it, wanting to know more about it, seeking to grab hold to it. I know that I fall short so often. I give into those selfish moments. I fill my day with routine and lists - attempting to squeeze time in with Him, if possible. I become far too easily distracted with the 'stuff' of this world. Through the curious wonderings of a precious baby girl and a season surrounding the birth an amazing baby boy - I find myself humbled, challenged, and ready to jump in that much deeper.

We had an awesome Thanksgiving in Kentucky. Chris was able to have the entire week off which actually allowed for him to have some down time. Hooray. We got to spend the week with grandma, papa, John David and his fiance Nichole. And Tim, Emily and Melody (who is the world's best cuddle bug - hands down. And my new favorite sweetheart!) came down too making it a full and fun house. I am sad to say that Lacie took the idea of vacationing to heart and decided to vacation from sleeping - literally - slept very little while we were there. She has will-power, I'll give her that! Isaac had an absolute blast - though we barely saw him. He soaked in every minute of papa and grandma, but once his cousin Austin arrived on the scene - he was gone. Austin - you rock man! We got to see old friends of ours, Nate and Cam and their kiddos (who are all beautiful, by the way) and got to hug on extended family, as well. I got to have some 'girlfriend' time with my girl, Sara (who is also beautiful, by the way) and we ate at BD's - hello! :) We got to relax and jam out to guitar hero - the entire week and I'm proud to say that Emily and I won hand-and-foot - three, count them THREE times (despite the best efforts of some to cheat - we won't name names, Tim and Dad), officially breaking Emily's Cinnamon curse! You go girl! It was a great week to laugh, play, relax and enjoy family! (Pics are up now!) We have so much to be thankful for - and this week was just icing on the cake! Love you family!!

This has been a big week for Lacie Grace! Although she's not been feeling her best - trying to get more teeth, struggling with congestion, and so forth - this has been a BIG week for Lacie Grace! She tried to use a sippy cup for the first time - not a fan by the way. She started to ride in a real carseat - no more baby carriers for her thank you very much! And she took her first 'big girl' bath! Our baby girl is growing up too fast!!

Lacie just turned 9 months old this past weekend. And as of today she has officially had 'one of those days'! I should have been aware that something was on the horizon when just before 5 this morning she woke up ready to nurse. Not that this is too odd, but the fact that she nursed for two hours straight was a good indicator that we were in for a day! :) Having been a little congested throughout the week  - Lacie woke up coughing like crazy and her nose full of junk. So much so that every time she sneezed her mouth would disappear in the 'goo of it all'. (Nice visual, huh?) She was wheezing so much that when you put your hand on her back it would vibrate. To the doctor we go...the nurses acted like I was an overreactive mom (because she had no fever, wasn't throwing up, etc), but soon changed their tune when the doctor ordered for Lacie to have a breathing treatment - one of many over the next week. They were very sweet about it, laughed with Lacie, showed me how to operate it and then politely LEFT the room for me to do battle with my strong-willed baby girl. 15 runs of "Jesus, Loves Me" later - she began to calm down and concede the fight. From there we went on a coffee date where she had the joy of chug-a-lugging 6 oz of prune juice in an effort to help her poop. Forgoing lunch - she fell asleep on my shoulder. We finally arrived home. As I tried to take a minute to 'go potty' myself - she came in after me. Trying to pull herself up on my leg she misstepped and busted her bottom lip. I immediately scooped her up and began to console the poor thing - in the midst of which her prune juice kicked in - and out! The first runny blow out we've had in 4 months - yeah? Another breathing treatment later and here we are. Bless her heart she has the best attitude though! She's blowing bubbles with her snot - stopping every so often to gargle it in the back of throat (hey, don't knock it til you try it). She jumping in her swing - and though her nose is pink, her lip is swollen and her face is covered in snot - she is singing and smiling at me with the sweetest little grin! It's definitely been 'one of those days'! I'm sure she's longing for a cold, tall glass of whole milk to help take the edge off and help her forget about this poopy day! Here's a hoping a nap will help. :)

So I am always trying to encourage Isaac to be a 'big helper'...to the point that if I start to do laundry, clean the furniture or even cook dinner - he gets upset if I have not enlisted his help. Awhile ago, I was wiping down the glass on our coffee table - as it was so completely covered in drool and fingerprints you wouldn't be able to recognize that it was in fact glass - and he shouted to me 'wait'. After his plea for me to stop, he ran into the kitchen, grabbed a rag and hurried back to help me wipe down the table. Inwardly, I began to have a very proud 'that's my boy' mama moment. My how I have laid such ground work - one day his wife will thank me - the list continued...(okay, so I need some time with the Lord over my pride - let's move on). I went to the kitchen to put something away and returned to find Isaac wiping Lacie down. First her back and then a good ol' rub down to the top of her head. 'What are you doing?' I ask. 'Oh, mama - you know she was dirty. I'm just helping get her clean.' Ah, yes...that's my boy! My little helper. So the next time you see Lacie and she has that 'streak free shine' well, you have big brother to thank. :)

When Chris and I had been married about 4 years, I had the awesome opportunity to work at a Christian bookstore. It was at this job that I first realized a few things about myself...I'm much more driven than I ever thought I was; I'm a good leader; can wear many hats and can drive the people that I work with completely crazy. I threw myself into this job - which was particularly odd because it turned into a 'gift buying' job (meaning I helped choose which of the froo-froo items would be sold in the store and even set up displays, etc in their most shoppable, but often froo-froo, way.). While I felt I excelled at this job - God made it so very clear to me that this was not my calling - but used it as a great foundation for what He had in store. It was an experience that I treasure (hard times endured and all) to this day.

From there God moved me into what I coined as my 'dream job'. I had the awesome opportunity to be apart of a church staff where my daily responsibilities surrounded the concept of Bible study. I helped write material. I spent my days in prayer. I facilitated and even taught countless studies. I got to use my skill of organization in numerous ways and I worked with a team of ladies that have forever changed my heart and my walk with Christ. It was by far the most difficult and most rewarding job of my life! It was here at this job that I found a new depth in my relationship with the Lord. My drive to do my best and help those I work for look even better only increased. I wore even more hats and I totally drove those women crazy. It was a job that doesn't just come around everyday, but how God has used it to enrich my life and how I will forever be grateful for all of those experiences.

And then came my ultimate dream job - the one I would have never thought I'd enjoy much less excel in. One in which I was scared to death to enter into. One I was sure that no amount of prep, leadership capabilities or drive would really be enough to make it. God opened the door for me to be at home with my kids. I must admit - having worked so hard and so feverishly for so many years; having thrived on the successes of great sales, awesome events and witnessing people fall deeper in love with their Lord - I wasn't sure that such 'highs' could be had just being at home with my kids. Oh, how God has proven me wrong. I now have the joy of spending my days making my children laugh; teaching them life lessons; teaching them practical lessons and watching as they finally understand. I get to hold them when they cry and lovingly fuss at them when they mess up (again and again). I get to watch them grow, watch them seek to know the Lord and watch them become the awesome individuals God created them to be. Talk about a job that requires drive, multi-tasking, organization, quick thinking, and long hours. And oh, yeah - I drive them crazy too! :) But it is far and away the best job I have ever had. The rewards aren't monitary and I am seldom commended on a 'job well done'. But when my son sings about Jesus and talks of how knowing his Bible verse makes Jesus' heart happy - when my baby girl rests her head on my shoulder and hums along with me as I sing 'Jesus, Jesus - there's just something about that name' - I am blessed woman working the best job God could have ever have designed for me!

As Lacie's hair has been growing and getting longer - it has reached this point where it just has a mind of it's own. It sticks out in weird places and while I try to fix - it is often a losing battle. So tonight after bath time - I  decided I would stop fighting and give over to her wild side. Looks good to me! :)

...a husband who - on one night - let's me sneak off to Wal-Mart at 9 p.m. for two hours of grocery shopping without the kids. Who on another night, and though very tired, spends uninterrupted time talking with me about all of the 'big somethings' and little 'nothings' that are going on. Who loves me when I am not always at my loveliest.

...a little boy who asks to turn the T.V. off so that he can spend hours working on his letters, numbers and 'learning book'; who is extremely dramatic - quick with the crocodile tears or with a big old belly laugh, and always with a song on his lips. And who when he wakes up from naptime, crawls into my arms and repeatedly tells me - 'Oh, mama I love you!'.

...a little girl whose face lights up when I walk into a room, who hugs me tight each time I pick her up and who joins in with me as I sing her to sleep each night. Who is a perfect combination of determined and head-strong, as well as, gentle and precious.

...a God who was beyond gracious in allowing these three to be in my life. What precious gifts of a 'Christ-bearer' in my husband, 'laughter' in my son, and such 'cheerfullness' in my baby girl. A God who seeks to mold, refine, teach and stretch me a little each day. Who places both adventures and obstacles in my path and then promises to stand with me as I step out into them.

Just overwhelmed by God today and wanting to praise Him for His simple joys and sweet blessings in my life!!

Since Isaac was born Chris has been trying to convince me that he is 'my boy'. Meaning that when he is a bit dramatic, when he is particularly goofy or when he is just downright silly that he is acting just like his mama. I have denied and fought this - teasingly - for 3-1/2 years now. Well, then there are moments like this morning where I cannot help but concede the argument. This boy...what am I going to do with him?

Just to clarify the situation for you - he has his shorts on his head and his legs through the arm holes of his t-shirt! He was SO proud of himself and ran all around saying 'I'm so silly!" Yes, baby doll you are. And yes, you are my boy!