Today is a wonderful day, for a couple of reasons! First off, last Thursday, BJ got his results back from his tests...and he passed! His scores were even better than what he actually needed, so that was awesome. I don't think I've ever prayed so hard in my life, and God definetly awnsered those prayers! We are so thankful that things worked out and that he did as well as he did. God always knows what you are up against, and he has been so faithful to us in the past, and will continue to be. Thank the Lord! We came home that day, and just kind of looked at each other like...'ok...now what should we do?'. Ahahaha:) We had only planned our day up until we found out the results...so the rest of the day was pretty relaxed, and just thanking God for blessing BJ like he had. We went out for supper at The Fishwife that night with the Zermeno's (some really good friends of ours) to celebrate!! Last week was a WONDERFUL week. Now...we are planning for the move, and getting everything ready. The Rounds' are coming to visit us on Wednesday, so I'm trying to get the house all clean, and laundry done, and all the 'moving' things done before they get here, that way I don't have to bother with it then. So the next couple of days will be nuts, with BJ running around doing some out processing stuff, and then me running around here, and town trying to get the other things out of the way. But it will be done:) We are SO excited to move back to the East Coast!! We have some great friends that are still over there, that we can't wait to see again, and just to start yet another new chapter in our life. Kinda neat that we'll be able to tell Baby Rounds that he/she got to travel across the US before it was even born ahhah:)
The second thing that I am super excited about is that I got to see some super special people in my life today!! I got to see Sara, Scott, and Emma! I used to babysit Emma at the beginning of the year until this summer, and it was SO much fun! That little girl means so much to me, and just getting to see her again warmed my heart. She is the type that can make you laugh at pretty much anything. I guess her new thing is calling people 'scalleywag' :) We met them today at RG Burger and were able to visit and catch up before we head out. She happened to say, "You scalleywag" to somebody and I just cracked up!! She is about 3 1/2 and the smartest little girl you could know at that age. Anyway though, she was so much fun to babysit, and I will miss her and her parents alot:( They have family out in VA though, so maybe someday we'll see each other again. I was just super thankful to be able to see those 3 musketeers again and catch up and then say goodbye. God puts people in our lives at certain times, and I'm thankful that I was able to be a part of their life, and that they could be a part of our life also.
S0 we are just praising the Lord for all his blessings and can't wait to see where he takes us on the next road!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
First of all I wanted to make a comment on that it is 9/11 today. Many people are still mourning, some have moved on, but those who have passed on will always be in their hearts. I couldn't imagine knowing somebody who was killed that day. I mean it touched everyone who didn't even know the people, I couldn't imagine having it be my husband, daughter, son, mother, father, sister, whatever....my heart goes out to those who have had to deal with the death of a family member or friend. I also wanted to send out a thanks to all of those who serve our country..including my husband:) I want to thank the military, police departments, firefighters, hospital workers, all of those who helped on that day to try their best to save lives, and comfort others. When I saw the 9/11 heading on the news this morning, my heart just dropped, and I took a sigh, and the flashback of watching it on tv in Mr. Herman's classroom that year came into my mind. I didn't like the feeling...and now there are MANY people still fighting for what happened that day. I appreciate all of you out there who support the military, and the men who put THEIR lives on hold, THEIR families on hold, THEIR hobbies on hold, and put THEIR LIVES on the line...FOR ME and YOU. John 15:13...."Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends". That is the verse I think of when I hear people making bad comments about the military, or how we shouldn't be here or there in another country...well STOP BEING SO SELFISH PEOPLE and wake up! There are other people out there putting THEIR LIFE on the line FOR YOU! So if you are sitting there complaining, shut your mouth, open your mind and heart and realize that there is somebody else out there who is sacrificing thier life and all they have for you. That is no time to be selfish. The Lord showed us all his love by sacrificing his own life for us....so that we could be saved. BJ is a part of something great, that I do believe in....I believe in what they are trying to do......and I have heard BJ say before that if it came down to it, he would sacrifice his life for another man's. That is the furthest thing from selfish that I know. That is what some of those firefighters and policeman also believed as they tried to help save others.....they sacrificed their life for another. Alright...I'm done...I just wanted to let ya'll know that I appreciate the men and women in our country that put their lives on the line for others, and that those who lost their lives on 9/11 will not be forgotten.
Now on a lighter note:
One down, two to go! BJ just got done taking his first test yesturday, and feels fairly confident that he did well. No actual scores on that one yet...but teachers have reassured him that he would do well. Next week Tuesday and Wednesday are his other tests...so keep him in your prayers for both of those days. And then on the 18th is when we will know final results. Lord willing he will pass it all...we're praying for that atleast. I know he will do good..he's done his best the whole year. Done all his homework, studied hard for all the tests, and kept a good level on his GPA. I have faith that God will help him get through next week, so we can move on to the next stage in our life:)
In the mean time, I've been home keeping things clean, getting everything organized for the move, picking up records, running here and there, just making sure that everything is somewhat squared away for our move day. It's kind of hard because we have to act like we will be moving, but if something were to happen, and he weren't to pass a section, well then....we won't move. But I'm really praying to move ahhahah:) I think we both are. Monterey has been good to us. Yes, it is very beautiful out here, and there are things to do....the scenery is all free which is GREAT..however after you've seen that, then you better have money bags to go do other things, because Monterey is expensive. We're just excited to get back to seasons...the kind of weather we are used to. Anyhoo though....just wanted to give a quick update on how this week is going. So by next week Thursday we should know for sure what's what! Stay tuned in, and we'll let ya know!
Now on a lighter note:
One down, two to go! BJ just got done taking his first test yesturday, and feels fairly confident that he did well. No actual scores on that one yet...but teachers have reassured him that he would do well. Next week Tuesday and Wednesday are his other tests...so keep him in your prayers for both of those days. And then on the 18th is when we will know final results. Lord willing he will pass it all...we're praying for that atleast. I know he will do good..he's done his best the whole year. Done all his homework, studied hard for all the tests, and kept a good level on his GPA. I have faith that God will help him get through next week, so we can move on to the next stage in our life:)
In the mean time, I've been home keeping things clean, getting everything organized for the move, picking up records, running here and there, just making sure that everything is somewhat squared away for our move day. It's kind of hard because we have to act like we will be moving, but if something were to happen, and he weren't to pass a section, well then....we won't move. But I'm really praying to move ahhahah:) I think we both are. Monterey has been good to us. Yes, it is very beautiful out here, and there are things to do....the scenery is all free which is GREAT..however after you've seen that, then you better have money bags to go do other things, because Monterey is expensive. We're just excited to get back to seasons...the kind of weather we are used to. Anyhoo though....just wanted to give a quick update on how this week is going. So by next week Thursday we should know for sure what's what! Stay tuned in, and we'll let ya know!
Saturday, September 6, 2008
A little bit on little girls.
Well, Natalie's in bed. Roscoe's crashed out on the floor. The TV's off. Didn't feel like fighting to get into Dreamland--sleep eludes me just now--so I thought I'd write a quick thought down. Want to make sure I don't forget it later.
As you know, Natalie's due with our first child here in a few months. She doesn't want to know what it is, boy or girl. I do, but I respect her wishes on this one...She's the mom, after all =). Plus, like Natalie says, it's the biggest miracle a person can experience. Will knowing the sex of the baby really change anything--besides getting red/blue/pink/purple onesies instead of yellow/green/white? Not really.
I'm for her decision, our decision, as I said. BUT...and there's always a but...there is one thing that knowing might change: my nerves. Now, I'm not all anxious--not climbing the walls over here-- but a little girl puts the fear in me. My sister has her daughter Ava, friends of ours have had little girls recently, and the Lord bless 'em for it. I know it's doable, but man...what do I know about little girls??
I know little boys, I can speak their lingo. Heck, half the time I'm still one of 'em. Little boys play hard, get dirty, get their knees bloody, climb trees, fall out of said trees, fly by on their bikes, eat curb (or street) when said bikes crash, and do it all over again. And that's just in the span of an afternoon. An hour, if they're like I was. Can a little girl do all that? Well, yes, of course. My problem isn't with a little girl, then. I guess it's with myself.
What happens when the little girl scrapes herself on the pavement and bleeds a little? What if she climbs that tree and, Heaven forbid, takes a (short) fall? If it's up to me, here's what happens: I jackhammer the &*^% out of that street and install mattresses down its length, and then I burn the tree down. Easy day.
But I know I can't do that. The city doesn't have enough money in its budget to fix all those streets, and I don't own a jackhammer. Yet. So what, then? I'm ridiculously old-school when it comes to girls. Little ones, especially. They need to be protected, loved...did I mention protected? Natalie says I'm her knight, and I admit, when it comes to self-image, I generally have a decent one; I like to cast myself in that role too. Knights are protectors. How do you ask a knight to let down his guard a bit, and allow the little girl to learn through experience? That is beyond me. I know it'll be necessary to do so at times--after all, she comes from tough stock, and we're all generally a hard-headed lot. She'll try to go on her own, tackle her own challenges, and more often than not, by the grace of God, I know she'll win. But how will I be able to stand by as she takes her lumps along the roads of "Life" and "Experience"? Thank goodness she'll have Natalie. Thank goodness I have Natalie. Natalie'll help rein me in when I need to be. I'll somehow do the same for her; after all, she's the one who has to deal with the "mother's instinct," and if she's anything like my mom, it'll be a strong one...
Lest any trees feel encouraged, I may not have a jackhammer, but I've got plenty of matches...
PS: Since I know jack about raising a little girl, whenever any kind of "Lightning from Heaven" strikes me on my noggin, I know I better write it down. You know what got me tonight? Actually, it came to me last night, but I was again confronted by it a few hours ago. Girls need heroes too. Crazy obvious, right? Not to me. I am so fixated on the idea of little boys and their heroes, how important it is for them to have a pattern of greatness to model themselves after, that I entirely skipped over the fact that girls need heroes too. And not just the knight-types; they need their own heroines.
The other night while talking on the phone with my mom, she mentioned Esther of the Bible. We were discussing Senator McCain's pick for VP, Sarah Palin, and Mom wondered about a comparison between the two. That comment led Natalie to ask me more about who Esther was, so we pulled out the Bible and checked her out.
Natalie and I have a (usual) tradition of reading a bit of the Bible aloud before we call it a night. As I read Esther's story last night, I could tell how into it Natalie was--enraptured, for lack of a better word. She was into that story, just as much as she was into the movie we went and rented tonight: "One Night with the King," the movie version of Esther. Esther is a woman a little girl can get behind; a woman with courage, passion, wisdom, etc. Shoot, Esther's a woman ANY woman can get behind. Seeing how much Natalie got out of Esther's story just brought home to me the importance of our little girl--should we be so blessed--having heroines to emulate. I've read so many history books and military biographies, I've never thought providing a little boy with stories of courage and "derring-do" would be a problem. I just can't believe I didn't realize how necesssary it is to make sure a little girl gets the same...Wow. Captain Obvious strikes again...
Oh, and a quick disclaimer: I can neither confirm nor deny the presence of a little girl in Natalie's tummy. Heck if I know what kind of kid we got cookin' in there...=) Just had this on my mind tonight.
As you know, Natalie's due with our first child here in a few months. She doesn't want to know what it is, boy or girl. I do, but I respect her wishes on this one...She's the mom, after all =). Plus, like Natalie says, it's the biggest miracle a person can experience. Will knowing the sex of the baby really change anything--besides getting red/blue/pink/purple onesies instead of yellow/green/white? Not really.
I'm for her decision, our decision, as I said. BUT...and there's always a but...there is one thing that knowing might change: my nerves. Now, I'm not all anxious--not climbing the walls over here-- but a little girl puts the fear in me. My sister has her daughter Ava, friends of ours have had little girls recently, and the Lord bless 'em for it. I know it's doable, but man...what do I know about little girls??
I know little boys, I can speak their lingo. Heck, half the time I'm still one of 'em. Little boys play hard, get dirty, get their knees bloody, climb trees, fall out of said trees, fly by on their bikes, eat curb (or street) when said bikes crash, and do it all over again. And that's just in the span of an afternoon. An hour, if they're like I was. Can a little girl do all that? Well, yes, of course. My problem isn't with a little girl, then. I guess it's with myself.
What happens when the little girl scrapes herself on the pavement and bleeds a little? What if she climbs that tree and, Heaven forbid, takes a (short) fall? If it's up to me, here's what happens: I jackhammer the &*^% out of that street and install mattresses down its length, and then I burn the tree down. Easy day.
But I know I can't do that. The city doesn't have enough money in its budget to fix all those streets, and I don't own a jackhammer. Yet. So what, then? I'm ridiculously old-school when it comes to girls. Little ones, especially. They need to be protected, loved...did I mention protected? Natalie says I'm her knight, and I admit, when it comes to self-image, I generally have a decent one; I like to cast myself in that role too. Knights are protectors. How do you ask a knight to let down his guard a bit, and allow the little girl to learn through experience? That is beyond me. I know it'll be necessary to do so at times--after all, she comes from tough stock, and we're all generally a hard-headed lot. She'll try to go on her own, tackle her own challenges, and more often than not, by the grace of God, I know she'll win. But how will I be able to stand by as she takes her lumps along the roads of "Life" and "Experience"? Thank goodness she'll have Natalie. Thank goodness I have Natalie. Natalie'll help rein me in when I need to be. I'll somehow do the same for her; after all, she's the one who has to deal with the "mother's instinct," and if she's anything like my mom, it'll be a strong one...
Lest any trees feel encouraged, I may not have a jackhammer, but I've got plenty of matches...
PS: Since I know jack about raising a little girl, whenever any kind of "Lightning from Heaven" strikes me on my noggin, I know I better write it down. You know what got me tonight? Actually, it came to me last night, but I was again confronted by it a few hours ago. Girls need heroes too. Crazy obvious, right? Not to me. I am so fixated on the idea of little boys and their heroes, how important it is for them to have a pattern of greatness to model themselves after, that I entirely skipped over the fact that girls need heroes too. And not just the knight-types; they need their own heroines.
The other night while talking on the phone with my mom, she mentioned Esther of the Bible. We were discussing Senator McCain's pick for VP, Sarah Palin, and Mom wondered about a comparison between the two. That comment led Natalie to ask me more about who Esther was, so we pulled out the Bible and checked her out.
Natalie and I have a (usual) tradition of reading a bit of the Bible aloud before we call it a night. As I read Esther's story last night, I could tell how into it Natalie was--enraptured, for lack of a better word. She was into that story, just as much as she was into the movie we went and rented tonight: "One Night with the King," the movie version of Esther. Esther is a woman a little girl can get behind; a woman with courage, passion, wisdom, etc. Shoot, Esther's a woman ANY woman can get behind. Seeing how much Natalie got out of Esther's story just brought home to me the importance of our little girl--should we be so blessed--having heroines to emulate. I've read so many history books and military biographies, I've never thought providing a little boy with stories of courage and "derring-do" would be a problem. I just can't believe I didn't realize how necesssary it is to make sure a little girl gets the same...Wow. Captain Obvious strikes again...
Oh, and a quick disclaimer: I can neither confirm nor deny the presence of a little girl in Natalie's tummy. Heck if I know what kind of kid we got cookin' in there...=) Just had this on my mind tonight.
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