Saturday, October 8, 2011

Blessings and Hopes

I used to keep a journal in which I wrote down my "thanks" for today and my "hopes" for tomorrow. It was a way of constantly reminding myself that no matter how bad a day felt, there was always something (actually, many things) to thank God for. Since I have been in a blogging rut and feel a need to focus more on God and the ways He has truly blessed my family, I am going to start using this blog as a "Blessings and Hopes" journal. I hope it will be something I can stick to, as well as something that might inspire others to remember the way God has abundantly blessed them as well. There is no possible way I can write down all of the blessings God has sent my way, but I will mention a few for each day. If you aren't mentioned or something seems to be missing, it might be because I have already thanked God for it today (or because my mind can only remember so much, even though my heart can hold so much more).

Blessings:
-Relief from back pain
-Rest
-Time with Josh
-Hugs and kisses from Patton
-Lunch with one of my church kids
-Wendy's Frosty (one of my comfort foods and reminder of my childhood...shared with Josh)
-Family

Hopes for Tomorrow:
-More pain relief
-Time with Josh working on home projects
-More rest to help my back
-That Patton will enjoy his visit with the Lewis family
-Safe travels as Patton comes home after visiting family
-Family dinner time
-Snuggling with my little cuddle bug, and my big cuddle bug too!

Dear God, You have truly blessed us more than we could ever deserve. I thank You for the amazing family You have given me. I know that it was by Your Hand that Josh and I met, and that it was by Your Guidance that our relationship blossomed, and it was by Your Grace that we were given such a remarkable gift known as Patton. I thank You for the ways You have blessed us this week: for a successful procedure on my back, for pain relief, for family time, for rest, for time with friends, for time with our church family, for the safe travels, for our jobs, for our income and the material possessions and food that it affords, for the love You shower upon us every second of everyday, for our supportive and loving extended family, and for the countless blessings we are unaware of. You have given us so much, and we are forever grateful for Your Care and Mercy. Most importantly, God, we thank You for Your Son, who is our Salvation, our Way, our Truth, and our Life. By His wounds we are healed and made whole in You. Amen.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

The Sunroom

I think everyone in our home would agree that our favorite room is the sunroom. Patton loves to play in there, Charlie practically lives in there, Josh and I love to sit in there. I particularly like the sunroom when it's actually not sunny at all. This week, I've enjoyed 3 lunches curled up on that old green sofa in the sunroom watching the rain drops slide down the window panes and the wind blow the leaves around. I love watching it rain, especially when I can curl up with a peanut butter and banana sandwich, a good book ("The Help"...amazing!), and Charlie all safe and cozy in the sunroom.

The sunroom has become a playroom lately. It's filled with toys, and at times they seem to just drown the room in bright colors and pieces that hurt your foot when you step on them. But, it isn't just a play room...it's become our family room. It's where we play blocks and assemble puzzles together as a family. It's where Patton, Charlie, and I all climb onto the couch and wave at Josh when he comes home, or when he leaves for work, or when he is mowing the grass, etc. It's where we put our Christmas tree. It's where Josh and I spent so many evenings that first Christmas season, staring at the tree and wondering about the days to come after Patton would be born a couple months later. That's one of my favorite things to do in there too...stare at a Christmas tree while wearing flannel pajamas and wrapped in a quilt my Nana made. Maybe add a cup of hot chocolate for good measure.

It's a wonderful place to be, it's the homiest place in the house, even when it isn't necessarily sunny.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Patton, our Entertainer

Well, 2 months ago I posted...I'm really bad at blogging regularly, but I have a lot of wonderful distractions in my life so I can't complain.

Life has been great! I love our little family of 3...I guess 4, since our dog Charlie plays a big part too. We went to the beach last month with my dad and family, and it was Patton's first beach trip. He loved it, and I really don't think I have ever enjoyed the beach more than I did on that trip. Patton was the main attraction that whole week, but then again, he's the main attraction everyday here.

I hate to be one of those mothers that can't stop bragging about her kid, but I really can't stop myself sometimes from just going on and on about the new words he has learned this week or how cute he was when he did "..." the other day. He really is quite something, if I do say so myself. He loves to read books, and he loves to learn new things. We talk about animals quite a bit, so we are constantly learning animal sounds and names. It seems like he learns a new word or sound everyday. He loves to dance. If he hears a slight beat, even background music during a movie, he stops whatever he is doing to dance. He spins, he shimmies, he bobs his head, and he bounces. He is a dancing fool for sure! He also loves to be outside. He helps me water flowers and he tries to help daddy rake the yard. He also loves his dog Charlie. She stayed with my mom while we were at the beach and then stayed an extra week with them until we could work out a return trip time. Patton missed her. He kept putting his pacifier and his toys in her empty kennel. When she finally did come home, he tried to give her hugs and he even tried reading to her. It was precious! Tonight, he tried giving her kisses as she watched him in the bathtub. He then proceeded to scare her as he splashed violently and cackled at how funny he thinks he is.

Josh and I feel so blessed to have him in our lives. Each day we seem to come to the realization that we are so lucky. God is so good!

Monday, April 4, 2011

Storms

I guess you can say that I am a total "chicken" when it comes to bad weather. I've been that way as long as I can remember, but then again, I was always a scaredy-cat of a child. Growing up, we always had at least one bad tornado scare each semester of school. I remember huddling in the halls, hearing the whispers of my scared friends, and listening to the teachers talk on walkie-talkies as the principal gave them the latest weather update. We would hear the name of a community, and all of us would start our own little panicked conversations: "I have a friend that lives in Kimberly" or "Our house is in Brookside." Most of these tornado drills (which, I guess weren't really "drills") seemed to also include tears, frantic drives home in the rain, and lifted prayers as we were all kneeling in the hallway outside our classrooms. It's amazing how certain events seem to stick with you as you grow up. I remember one time when I was in fourth grade, kneeling in the hallway by a window-surrounded doorway (which was supposed to be "safer" than our classrooms, uh no). I huddled there by my best friends, and we quietly shared our fears as we tried our best to hear what was being said by the teachers as they passed along information. I remember tears, I remember being scared, and I remember that they weren't letting children leave the school even though it was right at 3pm. They changed their minds, and let the parents come inside to check their children out of school. My mom was one of those parents. I remember hearing my name and my sister's name over the walkie-talkies. I remember walking down the hall with a teacher while all the other students stayed huddled into balls against the walls, and I remember seeing my mom at the front office. And that's it. I don't remember anything after that...probably because from that moment on, I was safe. I was with my mom and my sister, and I was safe and secure. I remember another time or two in high school. I remember Mrs. Dorothy Taylor (the scariest, yet most amazing teacher in the whole school) sitting in a chair by the double doors that led out to the parking lot. The wind outside was actually pulling the doors open, and she would close them and use her humor or a threat to "take someone out to the parking lot" to calm our nerves. Another time, I remember opening double doors as well, but it was on the other side of the school. Ashley and I were trying our best to conceal our cell phones as we frantically tried to call our mom since we had overheard someone mention our neighborhood on the walkie talkies. I remember the ride home that time. We had to take detours around fallen trees and downed power lines. I actually remember the sights on that trip home...I guess I didn't feel safe until we actually got home. I guess this post just goes to show that I am as long-winded as they come. I started this post to make a simple point, but I think I have beat it into the ground. I'm a chicken when it comes to storms, but I believe I have a right to be so. Growing up, we dealt with floods, severe weather, tons of tornado "drills" at school, and even damage to our home in one way or another. Even now, being 26 years old, married, and a mother...I am scared of storms. The mere mention of tornado warnings just fills me with anxiety. I close the sunroom doors so I can't see the lightning and the trees blowing. I turn the TV to the local weather station and make sure to check on Josh (since he is usually on a 24 hour shift when the bad weather hits...what luck!). Storms just make me uneasy, but eventually they pass, and I get to curl out of my huddled up ball and be thankful that this isn't a night that will forever be engrained in my mind because I am safe at home.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Our Normal

I love how the warmer weather and Patton's growth have changed our daily routine. Instead of coming home and struggling to take Charlie outside with Patton bundled up on my hip before hurrying back inside to play in the warm house; now, we all walk outside and play out there as long as we can. Patton wanders around the yard, pulling bark off the pine tree, trying to pull his big wagon around, chasing Charlie, and pulling my pansy blossoms into pieces. He is just so happy to be outside, and I love that we can play in the yard. That's exactly what Josh and I imagined when we bought this house. We saw ourselves out in the yard playing with our future children, and now we can't wait to all get home (especially now that it doesn't get dark so early) and go swing or run around the yard. I love our family time, and it gets better and better every day!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Spent & Lent

The weather was wonderful for a couple weeks, and then our household was invaded with sickness, which was then followed by rainy, cold days. Oh well, it is March, and that "in like a lion" thing is supposed to explain it all away.

Josh and I went to the Mardi Gras Party in Gardendale with our pals (Fab 4 plus guys), and it was great to reminisce about that same party 3 years ago when we first met. And of course, it was great to catch up with our Gardendale gang of friends. While we were there, Patton spent the night with my mom (his first night spent away from me), and we all did great. No tears shed on my part, although I did keep my cell phone at hand all night. He had a double ear infection, so most of his night was spent awake, and he apparently swept my mom's floors at 1am, but she promised that it was all enjoyable for her.

Saturday, as we headed back home, Josh was plagued with the stomach bug, so I drove us home through the torrential down pours, and we finally made it home around 6pm. I sent Josh straight to bed, and he slept until after Patton and I left for church the next morning. Oh that reminds me, I woke up Saturday morning with no voice. Must have been allergic to something, but my voice was still not better for my children's sermon on Sunday morning. It was sorta fitting anyway since my children's sermon was about how some things are hard to understand (like my voice that morning) and some things about God and Jesus are hard to understand, like Jesus' transfiguration, which we were studying that morning. So I guess it worked out.

Now we are all healing. Josh is back at work and feeling much better. Patton is going to school and spending his nights in bed instead of sweeping, and my voice is creeping back into my throat a little bit each day.

Now it is Fat Tuesday, and my one action of celebration for this day was eating a Wendy's frosty. I would try to convince myself that I ate it in hopes that it would help heal my lack of voice, but in all honesty, that's a lie. The truth of the matter is this is the last time I plan to enjoy a Frosty or anything else that includes chocolate until Easter. No Sunday breaks, no "accidental" lapses in judgment. No chocolate for Lent. No, it's not a publicity stunt. This is my way of celebrating Lent (wait, is "celebrate" the right word?). This is how I will mark the period of time known as Lent. Instead of eating chocolate or focusing on how much I love chocolate or how great it makes me feel...I will spend this season of Lent focusing on how I should crave God, how much I love God, how much He loves me, and how amazing it feels to know that His grace is sufficient for all of life's twists and turns. All those moments that I usually turn to chocolate, well, I need to learn to turn to God. His comfort is more amazing than a Reese's cup or scoop of Bluebell's Milk Chocolate ice cream. This season of Lent, I am going to crave God!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Birthday Recap


Patton had an amazing 1st birthday weekend! The weather was absolutely wonderful! It felt like spring, and we just soaked it up. The weekend was filled with lots of friends and family, and Patton did so well with all the visitors and excitement. We spent a good part of the party and the rest of the weekend outside: playing ball, lounging on the patio, or taking wagon rides. We ate cake, opened gifts, and just enjoyed visiting with everyone. It really was the perfect day. Josh and I couldn't have wanted it to be any different than how it turned out. I think Patton enjoyed his special day as much as we did!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Patton's Almost Birthday

Since I am sure I will not be able to post on Patton's actual birthday due to festivities and company, I just want to take this moment to wish our son a very Happy 1st Birthday! Patton has blessed our lives in so many ways, and we are just so thankful that God allowed us to be his parents! Josh and I were always a fun and laughing couple, but we have never laughed as much as we do now. Patton keeps us rolling with laughter as he plays and giggles. He just makes our family complete (for now, yes we want more children, but not right this second). Patton has brought Josh and me from a newlywed couple to full-blown parents, and we are just so grateful for this past year that is filled with so many lovely memories!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

3 Amazing Years

Three years ago today, I was forced to meet the love of my life. I don't think that back then I ever thought that the man I was going to meet that evening would be my boyfriend, let alone my husband, love of my life, and father of our wonderful son! Three amazing years have passed since that night. To celebrate, Josh and I went to lunch today and grabbed some ice cream...oh, and I wore the same polka-dot dress I wore 3 years ago to that Mardi Gras dance.

That night was something special. It started out as a headache since neither one of us wanted to meet the other, but it turned out to be the night we both reminisce about when we get in bed at night and have a conversation. That night, we stayed up all night (seriously, until the sun came up), and we practically told each other our life stories through silly questions and answers. That was the night he learned where my favorite spot in the world is...and that is where he proposed to me about 6 months later. We shared our childhood memories, our fears, what we order on our pizza, and our favorite holidays. It was like a relationship crash course, we got it all done in one night, and from then on, we were head over heels.

God really does work in mysterious ways, but they are some amazingly wonderful ways as well!

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Wisteria Weekend

I'm sure we're not the only family that enjoyed the amazing weather this past weekend! Friday, Josh and I were able to spend most of the morning together shopping for Patton's birthday party decorations and eating lunch at Little Tokyo. Friday afternoon, since the weather was so nice, we took Patton on his first trip to Mason Park to swing! We all had a great time, and some of our friends were even there (The Mobley Family). On Saturday, we were ready for a day filled with tasks outside of the house. We woke up and had a family breakfast at Huddle House followed by our weekly family trip to the grocery store. Patton fell asleep on the way home from Walmart (yes, the less than 1 mile trip home), so he took a nap while Josh and I tackled the huge tangle of wisteria in the corner of our front yard. We've been wanting to get rid of it for a while, but on Saturday it was finally warm enough for all of us to be outside, including Patton and Charlie. After Patton woke from his nap, he joined us outside in his playpen (since he still has a tendency to try to eat anything he picks up). He played and laughed as we worked on pulling up the wisteria. Eventually, he took his afternoon nap, while Josh and I trimmed some hedges and just took on any project we could think of before the sun went down. It was such a great day full of accomplishments!

Sunday was a good day to be inside, since the weather was icky, so after church we stayed in for the rest of the afternoon except for Josh going to a meeting. He was elected to be on our Pastor Nominating Committee at church, and I am so proud of him! He was chosen to represent the youth and children of the church, and I know he will do a great job!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Manic Monday

Well, not too manic, today is actually a fairly calm day compared to the past 5 days in the Lewis home. Last Wednesday (oh Wednesdays!), our washer overflowed and flooded our hallway. Water was practically pouring out our back patio door. We spent most of that "fun" day sucking water out of carpets and purchasing a new washer and dryer. Thursday and Friday were spent constantly checking carpet for moisture or foul smells. Saturday...and I mean ALL of Saturday, was spent installing our new washer/dryer. Josh and his dad labored for hours...this was no easy installation. The washer and dryer are an apartment style set (one on top of the other), and they have to go in our hall closet. In order to get them in the closet, the closet door as well as the patio door had to be taken off their hinges and moved out of the way. Also, a water line had to be modified so that the washer/dryer could completely fit in the closet. Oh, and a hole had to be drilled into the side of the washer/dryer for the vent duct. Once it was in and we washed a load of clothes, we thought we were good. Wrong! As I emptied that first load of laundry after church yesterday afternoon, I discovered a huge crack in the plastic basket in the washer (the basket that holds the clothes...has lots of holes in it). Looks like we will be getting a new washer/dryer (for free) due to the defect, but we will use this one for the next month (since Josh's dad is needed for installation again).
There have been a lot of times these past few days that I have wanted to break down in tears or just kick a wall, but Josh and I have tried our best to see the good in this. God has a funny way of working...and by funny I don't mean that it is always comical. Things could have been a lot worse. Josh could have already left for work that morning, my mom could have decided not to stay with us Tuesday night, something could have shorted out and started a fire, the water could have reached the bedrooms and our furniture, or Patton and I could have found the water many hours later when we would have come home that afternoon. You see, God has blessed us in the midst of what could have been seen as something tragic and horrible. We are all safe, we are all cared for, and we are all together. God is so good!

Oh, and can I just say that my husband is amazing too! He has worked his butt off during all this, and even though we don't necessarily enjoy going through tough things like this, I do like the fact that we can always get through these things TOGETHER.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Wednesday...oh how I loathe you

Wednesdays are my horrible days. They usually start off with me being late for work, and they end with me getting home late from work. In between those 2 moments of complete running-behind-ness, my Wednesday is packed full of work, projects, phone calls, and other tasks that have been handed to me. Wednesday isn't just another work day for me...it's my looong work day. Instead of being in my office from 8:30am (ish) to 3:30pm, I might actually be at work until 7:30pm. Which will probably be what happens today. I went home for lunch (and put pork chops in the crock pot for a new recipe...I hope it turns out), and then I hurried back to work to finish up my lesson plans for the 2 (yes, 2) lessons I have to give tonight. One for the youth, and one for our lone 3rd grader. Luckily, they are covering the same subject ;)

Wednesday is long because it includes our church's Wednesday Night Supper. So, not only do I come to work as usual, but then I have to pretend like I haven't been in this same building all day when they all show up for dinner. I have to act like I am refreshed and prepared...and I'm usually neither. I'm usually running around, trying to get Patton fed or taken care of while at least 5 people approach me with some sort of concern, question, or task for me. I don't even get to eat...I don't even try to anymore. Sometimes I can at least get Patton fed, but that's not always the case.

I know for a fact that Wednesdays would not be so horrible if I didn't start out dreading them by Tuesday night, and I want to change that. I want to stop groaning because I have to take all the youth's phones away so that they will stop texting, and start being excited that I actually get to see the youth. I want to stop worrying about if my lesson will be "cool enough" for them to actually listen, and start being excited that I am able to share God's love with them. I really want to stop dreading the moment I step into the fellowship hall to be bombarded with people, and start appreciating who these people are and what they mean to me and the church. I want to try, but it gets pretty difficult.

Maybe "liking Wednesday nights" should have been put on my New Year's Resolution list.

Maybe next year.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

It's Been A Long Time

Well, I haven't posted since last year...actually it's been over 6 months! The main reason for that is because I have started a new site on shutterfly.com where I can post pictures and such. It's been a much better format to keep my family up-to-date with Patton's milestones and moments. I plan to use this blog more this year as well...maybe as more of a personal blog for me (although Patton and Josh will definitely be a big part of it since they are a huge part of my life).

In the past 6 months, Patton was baptized, we traveled to the mountains for a vacation, Patton enjoyed his first round of holidays with tons of festivities and new traditions, and we are now looking forward to his first birthday in February.

Life has been wonderful...we are so extremely blessed. We have had such a wonderful year as a family. We love just spending the evening all three of us on the floor playing (I guess I should say all four of us, since our dog Charlie is usually right there with us). Patton is such a happy baby, and he is just such a funny kid! I laugh so hard at him everyday. His reactions to Charlie' kisses, his need to wave at the security cameras at daycare (and say "Mama" and "Dada" to them like he knows we are watching), the look of pride and excitement as he realizes that he has pushed the button to turn his toy on all by himself, his enthusiasm in telling me some long story in jibberish (he must be saying something very important), and his need to push all of his toys around like he is rearranging furniture: all of these things just make my day.

Here's to trying to keep up the blogging in 2011!