Some things new

Wow--it's been a while since I've posted.  Been a little "hairy" around here.  For the last 3 weeks I've had a test every Monday.  Each test covered 300-500 pages of material!!  Oh my!  So I've been studying a lot.  And crying a lot.  And being REALLY thankful for my dear friends who've been helping out!!

So, on Tuesday--I took a breath.....and we all played!  Brett, Lydia, and I all went to Tanger Outlet.  We shopped, ate out, and we came home and Brett and I watched Letters to Juliet.  It was a great day. It made up for the last 3 weeks.





 So onto the NEW things....Lydia wore shoes for the first time!  I got these cuties at a consignment sale.  Never worn--for $10 (regular $36!!)  I was afraid she would hate them...but she didn't flinch.  That's my girl--she's ok for change (at least now)

Lydia also got "teething biscuits" for the first time!  What a mess, but she loved them.

And I got new jeans.  Well sort of (hehe).  Brett has ALWAYS wanted me to get a pair of "worn" jeans.  I always refused.  So when he told me they were only $14.99 I agreed to try them on.  And I thought....I spend most of my time in coffee shops or at home on the porch studying anyway.  So why not.  He was happy......and I was too.  After all--only $14.99 for a pair of $49.99 jeans.  Just don't tell my mother I paid money for an "old" pair of jeans!

Of course, these "new" things are all temporary, but ONE DAY--we will all be able to experience how God will take all of those things hurtful or painful and make them ALL NEW!  Revelation 21:1-5

Be encouraged today--remember.....it is only a SEASON!

A Whole Foods Birthday

Well--this week Lydia turned 7 months and moma--well I turned more than 7 months ;)

Lydia 6.5 months

So to celebrate (and to get out of the house as we were both going a little stir crazy--I've given up trying to study, really study, with her--because I get frustrated--and don't want to live like that)--so off to have some FUN!

Fun for me these days--is a great stroller ride to Whole Foods!  It's just a hair over a mile--so round trip I get a 2.5 mile walk for exercise, and she gets wind in her hair.  Lydia LOVES it!

On the way to Whole Foods--we also stopped by the Gap.  I've been having this gift card as a result of a baby gift I returned that didn't fit, and I found this Denim romper  I love it! and I got it 50% off because of a sale and then another 25% off sale prices--only on the day I happened to stop by!  It's the perfect romper for fall--and the perfect romper for a visit to the PUMPKIN PATCH! Now I'm not sure which pumpkin patch we are going to, or when--but I can't wait!  (Any recommendations?)

Chantilly Cake from Whole Foods (picture borrowed from someone else--I didn't have my camera ;)

While at Whole Foods--we bought a piece of this wonderful Chantilly Cake!  We sat and ate it together (Lydia liked it too).   It was scrumptious!  I think this is my favorite cake.....ever.   I had never tried it before, but I WILL find a recipe or make one myself (when I get the time haha).

Then we went home--and both took a nap!  My kind of birthday celebration :)

Quarantined

Quarantine:  Voluntary or compulsory isolation

Yep--that's us--quarantined!  Last Wednesday I became quite ill--with "gastroenteritis."  We'll just keep it at that.  I was actually so sick, I ended up in the ER to get fluids.  That never happens.

Well, then Miss Lydia got it, too.  In the midst of all of this... I had my first test of the semester coming up (tonight in fact), so when I recovered after two days, my dear friend Lisa agreed to keep Lydia for me all day Saturday so I could study while Brett was working.

Sleep, sleep, and more sleep----that's what we've all been doing

Do I need to tell you what happened?  Yep.....Lisa and ALL three of the children--up last night....sick!  I was shocked that it spread that easily!

So--I took my test tonight....and right after it.....Brett started.

Smoothies made from Lydia's frozen baby food, yogurt (for good "bacteria") and juice

Well.....we are quarantined.  Don't come over and we won't come to see you, either ;)

So..the moral of the story (all stories have some kind of moral, don't they?).......
There are many things in life that are contagious.....some are good--like laughter, joy, encouragement while others are deadly--like negativity or gossip.  And often, it's the bad that spreads so quickly--most of the time you don't even realize you are spreading it. 
So before you send your viral negative words around--like death and disease--try spreading a little laughter, joy, encouragement, or positive words instead.  That way....you won't need to be quarantined!

And by the way--amazingly--with God's grace (I got an "A") yippee!!

She's mine too :)

My mother brought over some pictures of me--and yes--Lydia DOES look a little like me (even though Brett likes to take all the credit).

That's me at 5 months!!

Here are pics of my sweet girl at 6 months old.  I finally got around to taking them this week.  We just LOVE her :)

This one focused on her LEFT eyelashes!  It's somewhat blurry--so I made it blurrier for effect.  I just loved her expression.

Now back to studying :(

Seasons........they do change

For everything there is a season,

a time for every activity under heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die.

A time to plant and a time to harvest.

A time to kill and a time to heal.

A time to tear down and a time to build up.

A time to cry and a time to laugh.

A time to grieve and a time to dance.

A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.

A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

A time to search and a time to quit searching.

A time to keep and a time to throw away.

A time to tear and a time to mend.

A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

A time to love and a time to hate.

A time for war and a time for peace

A conversation with a friend yesterday made me think about seasons. She just had a new sweet baby, and was reflecting on the difficulty of having a newborn (getting up every hour at night, etc.) especially while having a toddler as well.

I immediately thought about seasons. Not only have I (as well as everyone) walked through many “seasons” in life, but I am also constantly reminded by my best friend that “This is just a season” when I lament over the difficult times right now being in school with the baby, etc.

I decided to do a scripture search on the topic—and this is part of what I found (paraphrased)

Exciting, fun, new seasons 12/10/08

Psalm 1:1-3 --you are blessed when you walk in the ways of the Lord--meditating on His truths all day.  You will be like a tree--always watered--and bearing fruit in season. 

All trees bear fruit in season.  Even nature has seasons for producing fruits and flowers.  Why should we expect that our lives would produce the same "fruits and flowers" all year round.  Part of my discouragement is the pressure I place on myself to "produce" certain characteristics etc. at all times.

A season of CHAOS (Gustov 9/1/08)

Life definitely has seasons.  I'm learning to embrace each one for what it holds--both good and bad.  Some are learning seasons, some are resting seasons, and some are down right confusing.  But all in all--walking through them with the right attitude makes me into a better person.  I think recognizing that it is different season is one of the most important parts of coping and dealing with the change/situation.  Embrace it.  Learn from it.  It will change.  Seasons.......they do change.....eventually :)

How have you dealt with changing seasons?  What have you learned?

Galatians 6:9  Let us not become weary in doing good,

for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

A season of stability, quiet :)