what i'm loving wednesday (2.1)

it's been awhile since i've participated, but not for lack of things to be loving!

so here's a very short list of what is making my heart full at the moment :-)

i'm loving my cell group girls...what an AMAZING group of God-seekers who daily inspire and uplift me. 

i'm loving my amazing husband who cleans the kitchen to surprise me on regular occasions, who won't let me touch the vacuum, who changes the litter box in rotation without complaint, and who will look at me at times and say "let's just watch big bang theory instead of organizing that room tonight".  balance, people.  we have it.

i'm loving intentional time spent with friends.  in my new year's post i mentioned that i wanted to let my yes be yes.  anthony is doing the same...i don't even know if he's meant for it to end up that way, but in looking back over january, we have had 12 separate occasions where friends have come over, shared a meal or conversation, and just enjoyed being with each other.  february is shaping up to be similar and we LOVE that.

(can i also just say i'm loving the creativity of those God lets me call "mine"?  cooking in my kitchen with my husband and/or my girlfriends makes my heart sing in a way i never noticed before.  and that's just one facet of the creativity surrounding me!)

i'm loving the warmer weather lately.  i mean, 64 and sunny yesterday.  come ON.


i'm loving opportunities to make some extra cash while loving on people's kids.  i'm so thankful for the opportunities to invest in their lives while at the same time put a few extra dollars towards non-necessities and paying off debt.

i'm loving being healthier and happier...i'm still slowly progressing in weight loss, but it's not necessarily about that.  i'm moving more, even if it isn't "true" exercise...staying active and having fully nutritious food 90% of the time makes those nights that i need to be a slug and consume chili cheese fries perfectly ok.

i'm loving great changes on the horizon...SO excited about what God is doing right now.

it's a short list, yes...but my heart overflows.

hey, it's ok (tuesday) 12.27

hey, it's ok


...to get choked up while watching ellen.  or the soldier appreciation episode of rachael ray.
...to see someone giving design/creative ideas on a talk show and thinK "she totally got that off pinterest"
...to toooootally have baby fever after cuddling our friends 11 week old for an evening
...to have paused everything to watch drew brees break the record last night, and to be genuinely happy for him.
...to talk about football (or hockey) in everyday conversation ;-) and your blog
...to have LOVED your Christmas celebrations, been totally overwhelmed by all the generosity given to you, and to just feel completely blessed by the whole season
...to be glad for a quiet day after Christmas to unwind a bit from ALL that family time, as good as it was
...to have been really spoiled over the long weekend by going to bed (too) late and still getting a solid 7-8 hours of sleep
...to still not understand why people want sweet stuff on their meat.  pass the spice and savory; keep your apples away from my roast


visit amber's blog and link up with your own list of what's ok in your world!

hey, it's ok (tuesday) 11.29

hey, it's ok


...to be pretty certain the new container store at the mall is going to be your new happy place
...to not kare about keeping up with kardashians or how everything they kreate has a k
...to be pretty certain that the previous statement will eventually disappear from your blog because the misspellings are gonna drive you crazy
...to be oh so very thankful for the uber-comfy faux-fur lined boots you picked up for $10.  not only do they get compliments EVERY time i leave the house, they are must-haves for cold weather!

...to not believe baby g when the response to "what are you eating?" is "ummm....tongue."
*insert moment to go swipe the fuzz out of baby g's mouth*
...to be re-making the stuffing and potatoes tonight because we ran out of them first and they were the best.  
...to be considering chucking the turkey after all the other leftovers are gone.  it was good, but come on.
...to be excited that my friend michael logan's song is going to be on one of my favorite shows (parenthood) tonight.
...to once in awhile take a nap when the kid does.  because it's just necessary
...to get this blog up approximately 10 hours past the time you meant to.  oops :-)


go visit amber's amazing blog and make a list of your own!
also, brownie giveaway ends thursday :-)

thursday's ten: the helpful hints edition

ten things i've learned about spending time in other people's houses.  granted most of this time is spent in a nanny/babysitter role, so most of my tips are specific to that.







1.  it's ok to steal ideas
like the way their cabinets are organized?  see a great use for a piece that you have as well?  um, why not?  i've even asked questions of "hey, how did you..."
think of it as a living pinterest ;-)


2.  there are ranch dressing people and (*gasp*) non-ranch dressing people.  
or, always check available condiments before fixing a particular meal


3.  a little clean-up is always appreciated
i go in with the motto of "leave the house a little better than i found it".  whether that means wiping down the counters, or picking up the toys scattered all over the couch...doing something that takes me 10 minutes means that they get 10 minutes of free(er) time when they get home


4.  always bring your own caffeine (or other vice)
because...they won't always have your drink of choice.  and sometimes...you just NEED another coffee.  trust me.
(uh...it goes without saying, hopefully, that if your vice is an actual vice you should leave it at home.  you don't need a glass of wine* or a cigarette or...whatever to get through a few hours with kids.  if you do, you shouldn't be there)


5.  if you want to eat your food of choice, bring it
most of my clients are amazing at literally opening up their fridge, freezer or pantry to me.  but i always have something in my computer bag that i can fix and be happy about if their choices for me don't sound good!


6.  be early, if possible
in nashville traffic with my tight schedule this is nearly impossible for me...but i find that if i PLAN to be early i'm rarely late.  and on time is good :-) 


7.  know the area
if there's construction, crazy traffic, or an accident on your normal path, you don't want to have to rely on a gps to get to a place you've been several times.  know alternate ways in and out, just in case


8.  don't believe everything the children say, no matter how cute and sweet they seem.  also, enforce the rules you ARE sure about.
most likely they AREN'T allowed to watch 3 hours of tv, jump on the couch, or stay up reading for an hour after bedtime.  i always err on the side of strictness...because one night of not getting to do something that seems abnormal to you isn't going to hurt anything, whereas if you let them get away with something it may (a) cause problems for the parents or (b) cause you not to get a call back.


9.  actually PLAY with the kids
they'll love it (and you!).  there are always those kids who'd rather you not play with them (because they're too busy), but they still like attention, so find other ways to interact.  asking them about a particular toy, suggesting play-doh, making a necklace with plastic beads...something to engage them.  you're not there to be their constant companion (unless the parents are delusional) but you ARE there to be the adult presence.  and since you likely don't have a huge list of household chores to get done (unless, again, the parents are delusional OR are paying you extra) you may as well kick back and enjoy the children :-)


10. enjoy the conversations
i LOVE talking with children, particularly those under 5.  you'll be completely entertained if you just listen and interact for awhile!  i have all sorts of gems written down...that's a thursday's ten list all it's own.

*it should be noted that i often babysit for friends or people i know well who say "hey, feel free to have a glass of wine when the kids are in bed!".  i DO sometimes take them up on that, but that's a complete trust issue (they trust me to not be drunk or drink when the kids are up).  i never bring my OWN alcohol, or drink theirs without explicitly being told to help myself.

monday's memory: the one with the baby shower

about 2 years ago, we gathered to celebrate the upcoming birth

of a little boy

friends of ours were expecting their first, and we gathered for a shower

one of the take-homes for the couple was a photo album with pictures of the shower guests

anthony and i were in charge of the camera

and we got a bit bored of normal poses

so this is what our picture for the book ended up being :-)

what wonderful craziness life brings

that baby was finn

the child i took care of all last school year

what a blessing to have been there from the beginning :-)

he still gets excited when he sees me

(i'm hoping that never ends)

and i love the friendship that anthony and i share with his parents

full circle sometimes happens quicker than you expect

my time nannying for finn has ended

(although they've asked if i will please be a regular babysitter.

i had no problem saying yes!)

and i now work with other families as well as other jobs

(which i will tell you about soon)

but relationship

that continues

and i am so blessed

to be surrounded by SO MANY

great people

God has given us community

spread over several states,

a few churches

and many different walks of life

but i wouldn't trade this set of quality folks in my life

for anything!

choice

earlier today, this hand



got stuck in this toy



and OH the tears.
oh the frustration when she realized the situation she had put herself into.
after all, it was HER choice
no one forced her into that position, no one said "glenda, try this"
and yet she found herself in a predicament that she didn't forsee
all from one simple choice.

as i gently went to help her out, she struggled against me
not realizing that i actually knew the best way to fix the problem--that i could see the whole situation and knew the best plan of escape

once i finally got her removed, i pulled her onto my lap and hugged her, soothing words whispered gently into her ear. and for a moment, she relaxed and let herself be held, but then she struggled against me and wriggled off my lap, shooting a look over her shoulder at me through the tears she was still crying.

for several moments she sniffled, cried, and seemingly recounted the story several times. not caring that i was only a few steps away ready to give consolation and comfort.

on the one hand, this was amusing to watch. on the other...i recognized myself. after all, if you start reading after the word "toy" you could easily substitute any person on this planet in a situation their choices got them into...a God who rescues them...and their inability to fully receive that love.

not quite as amusing when i look at it through those lenses.

be blessed today...and remember that there is a God who wants nothing more than for you to receive and embrace His extravagant love!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

hey, it's ok (tuesday) .13

hey, it's ok

...to have thought the local air show was a cool idea until you were just praying that the 2 children under the age of two you were with would sleep through all the noise
...to not really want to pay for an eye exam just to get new contacts.  grumble, grumble
...to kind of want to go to mt vernon and see if there really is a secret passageway after watching national treasure 2
...to occasionally (often?) have children's songs running through your head when there are no children present
...to pretty much be on a first name basis with folks at the cable company
...to really, really hope that the issues that the cable company and i have had the past year don't follow me to the next residence.  i'm hopeful -- after all, i had the same exact service at my old place with nary a problem  other than a rare service outage.
...to be considering doing the women's half marathon in september.  except that (a) i have never done that sort of distance before and (b) it's like 2 weeks before the wedding.  is that insane?!
...to be plotting the quickest route from the house to car and other destinations when the cicadas invade full-force
...to want a do-over for the night's sleep that didn't.happen because of all the coughing you did
...to be shocked that gas stations still exist where you don't have to pay at the pump first.  or even with cash first!

(amber has the original -- go visit her!)

it's a great day to babysit, well, all day!

so i've picked up a regular (every 3rd week) job to squirrel away some wedding cash
meaning that i spend every third saturday and sunday caring for 2 adorable children under the age of 2.

i'm gonna be busy!
and i'm totally taking a change of clothes. because nannying for 2 under 2 sometimes requires a hazmat suit.

right after i work 11 hours today, we're getting together with a's parents to give his mom our gift since i won't be around for actual mother's day.

hope your weekend is just as exciting as mine promises to be!

what i'm loving wednesday .1

i'm finally jumping on the bandwagon of this one. i've loved reading everyone else's for so long!

 

so, here's what i'm loving today!

i'm loving that it's supposed to get upwards of 80゜ today.  hellooooo walk & tan!

i'm loving that so many of my favorite shows are on on demand.  more dvr space for me.

i'm loving kid pajamas.  you know, the zip-up footie pj's.  so.stinkin.cute.

i'm loving baileys coffee creamer. 

i'm loving my cute little car.

i'm loving the new cell group members who we got to meet last night!  spiritual community is just growing by leaps and bounds :-) (and it doesn't hurt that they all have blogs...)

i'm loving my weekly lunch making dates with natasha.  today on the menu: pasta caprese

i'm loving my amazing fiance.  which goes without saying, but i still wanted to say it :D

a year in review, 2010

little did i know when i did a similar post last year what would happen in 2010. it's been a CRAZY year!

january
i perfected a bloody mary recipe, i ran a wild 5k and subsequently injured myself the next day and it finally snowed in nashville! (and i took pictures)

february
we had an amazing and sweet valentines day with amazing flowers, and then...well, life kind of started exploding...and not in a great way.  it was mid-february that anthony's granddaddy entered the hospital with some sort of unknown (at the time) pain

march
anthony's granddaddy passed away only a few days after discovering that he had stage 4 cancer. i celebrated my birthday (anthony gave me a wii!) and found out that the mortgage company had made a huge error...

april
God remained ever faithful -- that seemed to be the theme of this month.  i got the official word that i had lost my house, and i had 10 days to move out.  and that's when the CRAZY God-stuff began happening. anthony's sister got baptized at church on the last day we were moving me out.  i was the featured WOW blogger one day. i had a massive asthma...event...among other things...and ended up in the ER and staying in the hospital overnight. i was thankful to see the calendar change from april to may until...

may
the first weekend in may, nashville flooded.
one of my best friends in indiana got married and i was in the wedding, anthony had his first published article, i spent a fantastic weekend in the gatlinburg area with my suitemates from college.

june
i spent a long weekend in delaware with laura and izzy, started a new summer nanny gig with two precious kids, i wrote a little about provision and other deeper subjects

july
God signed me up for a fantastic retreat weekend (no, really), anthony's grandma passed away, about 20 minutes after her graveside service my car was totaled when it was parked on the street -- hit and run, i headed to the beach for a whirlwind trip with some girlfriends
 
august
i began working for my friends as a nanny to their sweet little boy, we traveled to kansas city and loved our time with family there, i replaced my car

september
this was the month of CRAZY weekends!  we went to st louis with friends, had a retreat with the youth group,  we went to holiday world, i went to arkansas with natasha.

october
i attended an awesome prophetic conference where i actually was on a team that GAVE prophetic words...amazing, i got pretty real on the blog

november
i took the time to finally write out how God has orchestrated my every move for the last 2.5 years, we continued our tradition of visiting the christmas village, we found out a favorite nashville store was closing

december
we got not one but TWO white christmases!  we visited my family in indiana for our first christmas in mid-december...and it snowed.  and it snowed here christmas eve and christmas day which was a lovely thing.  it hadn't snowed here on christmas since anthony's childhood!  i joined a wonderful cell group of Spirit-filled and amazing girls.  december was pretty much a blur and i didn't blog very much of it...but that just means i was out living it :)

so 2010.  it was a very interesting year.  what a range we've been through!  heartache, loss, love, provision, abundance, and just crazy things!  i think i'll look back on 2010 as one of the best years of my life, as strange as that sounds.  yes, i lost so much in the material sense.  but what i gained in return -- what God has blessed me with -- is so much better than anything i had before. 

i can't WAIT to see what He has for me -- for us -- in 2011.  if this year was this crazy and amazing...just wait.  buckle up, guys.  i have a feeling it's going to be one awesome ride!

hey, it's ok (tuesday) .5

hey, it's ok

... to have equally wanted all 4 groups left to win the sing-off.  mostly.  but to have been quite excited about the top two, and to have been proud of the US for choosing in the right order :-)
... to love fruit snacks, even though you know there's little "fruit" in them
... to sometimes leave the christmas tree lights on all.night.long
... to get just as excited as the 3 year old co-chef about making sugar cookies together.  and to indulge in a heavily decorated by said 3 year old's sugar cookie.
... to buy 99 cent mint water from trader joe's on occasion just because it's yummy.
... to be overwhelmed with laughter at times when you think about God's provision in your life
... to ignore the healthy options at home and head straight through a drive-thru after a rather stressful last-minute shopping trip.  salads can be had tomorrow.  :D

:-)

it's a great day for a tea...and more!

this week's wordle:

(gee, wonder what time of the year it is!)

and

teaching, tea and making some cash!

that pretty much sums up today.  a piano lesson this morning, a tea party with some girlfriends this afternoon and an evening of babysitting first for all the children of a small group and then for the hosts kids while they attend a work party!

it'll be crazy, but productive and definitely fun :0)  i may even don a cute little dress for the tea! :-)

hey, it's ok (tuesday) .4

 hey, it's ok!

...to possibly love wrapping the presents as much as anything else at this time of year 

...to think that those fruit in a pouch deals for babies and toddlers are pretty awesome...and to consider adding a few to your own pantry since you never eat fruit and this would be one way to change that

...to giggle a bit at the baby terrorizing the cat before actually stopping said baby from said terrorizing

(really all he was doing was standing at the chair she was sitting in and reaching out to pet her.)

...to realize that a good number of your "hey it's ok" points involve children when you don't even have kids yet

...to get a little giddy about "the sing off"

...to kind of wish you could hibernate for this season because it's COLD

...to have been slightly freaked out when the mother of a couple of your students placed an albino ferret in your arms when you were dropping off some music at their house, followed by the realization that the animal was actually quite adorable and very snuggly!

Thursday's Ten: thanksgiving '10

(you should all participate in this one. just sayin')

today i am thankful

- for the table we will gather at with anthony's family.  for them, their hospitality, and their immediate acceptance of me.  and that they asked me to bring something that's traditional in MY family today so i'm bringing green bean casserole and pumpkin pie.  and so incredibly grateful i didn't get a preparatory letter like this one with instructions. (read it.  you'll laugh)

- for the man i love and our time together so far...and for SO.MUCH to look forward to.  for future plans that excite me, for knowing that he loves God more than he loves me...so the balance is alllll gooooood.  and that he's a dork, just like me.

- for emi, who scrunches her face up into "her" chair, who sits on the piano bench more often than i do, who jumps up on the bed to be loved on as soon as i walk in the door, who runs to greet me when i arrive, who sometimes just runs around the house like a crazed animal, who is stingy (but rewarding) with her purrs, who loves to chase a laser light, and who most nights will cuddle with me at bedtime just for a little while.

- for life in the garden, in the herb planters.  and that i've managed to keep a cilantro plant alive for a whole month now.

-  for the fact that i just drove to anthony's apartment with my sunroof open.  on thanksgiving day, people.  it's in the 70s today :D

(and yes, it'll be cold tomorrow.  but i can be thankful for warm weather on thanksgiving!)

- for friends who get me.  and for those who don't, but accept that i'm a little crazy ;-)

- for the spiritual communities that have shaped my faith.  this journey has been a wild ride, for SURE  but i've told many people to buckle up and raise their hands because it's the ultimate thrill ride!

- for the privilege of being called to live this way.  so completely dependent on God for provision and strength that i pretty much live just like this quote:

"But God doesn't call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn't come through"

(Francis Chan)

- for my wii, dvr, laptop and iphone that serve as distractions when i need them, entertainment when i'm lacking, exercise when it's hot/cold/rainy, and connections with those i love. yes, all of them have their downsides, but using them for their intended purpose has been a blessing

- for so many countless things in addition: my dog magnet that has dogs of all shapes, sizes and breeds flocking to me and giving me affection.  for starbucks and my ridiculous collection of travel mugs.  for road trips with friends.  for snuggles on the couch.  for naps.  for worship.  for babies and the privilege of watching them grow.  for the families who have supported me and entrusted me with their most valuable possessions -- their children.  for learning about and beginning to operate more fully in my giftings.  for laughter.  for family.  for so.much.more.

and of course...for all of you.  who come here and read what i have to say, who humble me with the way you respond, who encourage me with your friendship.  i started blogging just for me, and i'm ever surprised and blessed that you hang out with me here in this small corner of the internet. so thankful that our lives (and blogs) have crossed paths.  :)

it's a great day to enjoy the weather

surprise!  it's gorgeous out there today!

funny. it's been cold here all week and today? gorgeous. i don't mind this trend of cold miserable weeks followed by a rewarding gorgeous weekend!

i've already taught a lesson this morning and i babysit starting at 5 -- first for a small group (at minimum 12 kids, but the parents will be right.there) and then when small group leaves i'll stick around.  tis the season for holiday parties, and the hosts of the small group have one to go to!

yay more monies :)

have a wonderful day out there -- hope you enjoy it immensely!

somebody forgot to tell me that it's apparently a monday

this morning began as most wednesdays do

with my alarm going off shortly after 5

unfortunately, it did little to rouse me out of bed

so i lay there for awhile, enjoying my warm bed

(i bought organic sheets on sale not too long ago and they are so.incredibly.comfy)

and i started hearing this strange noise upstairs

and just assumed that it was anthony's grandpa, although it was WAY too early for him to be stirring

and somehow in this meantime

i fell back asleep

sooo, i woke up (again) about the time i should be leaving

and *may* have said an inappropriate word

as i ran to the bathroom to brush my hair and throw on some clothing

and realized that i was still hearing that strange noise...

and THEN realized that i hadn't seen emi yet

which was odd

and as THAT sunk in, the word that i *may* have said earlier *may* have slipped again

as i ran up the stairs in only my undies

to let her back in

(that strange noise was her attempting to open the door -- i was hearing her paw scrape the underside of the door to the downstairs)

it was a pitiful "meow" that met me

and i felt soooo bad

(although, she'd been up there for less than 6 hours...but still)

so of course as soon as i got dressed i had to go upstairs to make sure she hadn't made any...messes...upstairs

thankfully, i didn't see anything out of the ordinary

(although i had to search in low light on tiptoe...)

and after all that, i thought

"well, maybe she won't be so sneaky about coming upstairs with me now!"

because i distinctly remember her coming upstairs with me last night

and i made sure (as i always do) that she headed back down the stairs before me

but i turned my back for a couple of seconds to put something in the dishwasher

sneaky, sneaky girl

sigh

after calling finn's mom (my friend jes) to let her know the craziness of the morning

i was on my way

waaaay late

i arrived and finn was still sleeping

(a miracle in itself)

and when he finally awoke an hour later

i went to get him out of his bed

he was excited to see me

smiling and clapping

i picked him up

and snuggled him close...

...only to realize that his wet diaper 

had completely soaked through his pj's

and now onto my clothing

something tells me i'll be heading home for a wardrobe change later on...

all this before 8 am

wonder what other craziness is in store today?

i'd better get more coffee.

Thursday's Ten: a more positive spin

as i typed in response to a comment last night, yesterday's post was published to remind myself as much as anyone that while i choose joy most days, some days are meant for sadness...and that's actually a healthy response as long as i don't wallow in it!

but i like joy.

don't we all?

and so today's list is going to be things that make my heart sing.  things that take me out of the sadness momentarily, and lift me to a higher place.  and some of them may be a surprise...others, probably not.

1.  car rides with friends

there's something about a trip, whether 10 minutes or 10 hours, that opens up conversation in a way that sitting over a cup of coffee or meeting at a movie theater won't do.  maybe it's the sunlight tickling the corners of the car and shedding light on life itself.  maybe it's that moment when darkness has descended on the day and you feel safe to talk about what's real.  i find that those conversations often continue out of the car and onto my couch...and it's a blessed time.

2.  knowing i am loved

i have a Godly man who reminds me of that multiple times daily.  i have his family who not only say it...they show it.  i have my family who loves me in the best way they can.  i have church familIES who minister to my spirit and soul.  i have friends who will drop everything just to be with me.  and i have perfect strangers who have prophesied words of love and grace over me.

those are just a few examples...and they are all reflections of the Father's love

3.  a baby

i told a lady in class tonight "you don't have to operate in the prophetic to know that i'm drawn to babies!"  and it's true.  there's something about snuggling a little one close...something about hearing those giggles (or in finn's case, those fake coughs!), something about the innocence and trust.  i love reading a book, snuggling in, and putting a baby to bed.  there's something so tender and wonderful about those moments -- i consider them sacred.  

and as much as i've loved on everyone else's babes, i am so ready for the day when i rock my own little one before bedtime.

4.  emi

the last few months have made her even sweeter.  i feel like she "checks" on me now -- jumping up on the bed or couch with me when i walk in the door, sometimes even jumping into my lap.  she's never been overly affectionate, so i love those moments

5.  hot coffee

it's been so chilly here lately, and coffee just warms my insides and makes me feel...comfortable.  at rest.

6.  hiking

i haven't done it much lately, and i need to.  sometimes a walk in pure creation, conquering a steep ridge, or just crunching leaves underfoot in a forest is exactly the recharge i need.

7.  the prophetic

i don't pretend to understand it all, and i'm certainly no expert...but going to this class has really highlighted my gifts and given me reassurance and affirmation about areas of my life and personality that i had always questioned.  it's been such an encouragement...and honestly last night's class was the very thing that lifted me -- at least for awhile -- out of the funk i had been in

8.  words

reading your blogs -- they make me laugh, cry, think.  

writing in my own -- it gives me a voice, and stretches me to be more authentic and transparent.  

words like "restore" "refresh" "renew"... they give me hope.

9.  ethnic foods

i'm a fan of thai in particular...but going to experience the food of another region of the world is somehow enlightening to me.  i don't know -- there's something about the experience that reminds me to treat each day as a new adventure.  maybe that's a stretch or corny or something...but i somehow relate the two

10.  music

of course.  it's my language.  it's how i felt God speaking long before i ever realized that He actually does speak.  it's how i've learned to speak back to Him...long before i ever knew that He cared about what i had to say.  and so it's special.  it's amazing.  and i never go through a day without it, in some way, shape or form.

will you join me in sharing what brings you joy?  if you post something on your blog, will you let me know so i can read it?  if you don't post it on your blog...will you share it in a comment?  i think sharing these things will make God smile today...and it'll certainly make ME smile!

:-)

 

Thursday's Ten: this week

stuff i've done this week

1 - joined twitter.
2 - changed my twitter name 3 times in the 3 days i've been on. still agonizing over whether to be "lorasays", "lorasaystweet" or "nannymcb"
(get it? because of nanny mcphee...and my last name starts with b...and my former students called me nannymcb when i left. ok, if i have to explain it, it's probably not a great thing.)
{PLEASE tell me if you have an opinion...}
(also, please feel free to follow me. i'll figure out how to tell you how to do that one of these days)
3. got completely covered in spit-up from a 6 month old...needless to say we BOTH got a wardrobe change
4. celebrated both anthony's (late since he was sick last weekend) birthday and his awesome aunt's birthday with their family
5. made my precious finn cry as if he were heartbroken...because i removed cat hair from his mouth
6. joined a fitness challenge
7. went to the first class in an 8 week series on the prophetic -- WAY cool
8. actually received 2 pretty clear words for different people...and received two for myself that were spot on
9. had my first pumpkin spice latte of the season...ahhhhhh
10. registered for my free ticket to see bill clinton next week!

Monday's Memory: the one with the baby that's growing waaay fast!

hard to believe that this child

is now this big
and while i can't cuddle her like this
she still likes to hang out with me :)
(second mommy, as her mom has named me)

sweet baby girl
:)

what's that? you wanted beach pictures?

ok, maybe not

but i'm sharing them anyway :)

first, the beach story

so, thursday my friend meghan called

and said

"i'm in serious need of some girl time

and to get out of nashville

and see some place beautiful.

so...if i pay for hotel and gas

would you please go with me to florida for a day?"

(i didn't have to think about it for long.

i checked with anthony since i felt bad leaving him right after his grandma's funeral

and he said "are you kidding??

as much as you love the beach

you HAVE to go")

so sunday afternoon

when i got back from encounter

i quickly switched dirty clothes for clean

hung out with anthony for a few moments

and eagerly awaited my ride

:0)

laura and meghan arrived at 4:45

we packed up the car

grabbed a few snacks

i kissed my boyfriend goodbye

and we piled in

on the way, laura and i shared with meghan about encounter

meghan shared her latest news

we laughed and joked

there were even a few tears

revelations came to light for all three of us

it was one of those drives that only happens

with a couple of your best girlfriends

we had a gorgeous moon to look at once the sun went down

eventually laura fell asleep in the back

as did her darling baby

and meghan and i made small

and big

talk in the front seats

we also had a few

"find the blue dot" moments

(the blue dot being the dot on my iphone's gps)

and when we arrived in destin

meghan and i were excited to see our hotel

right next to a...

whataburger!

we literally pulled into the drive-thru lane

and laura popped up from the backseat saying

"food?"

which made us laugh

a lot

(whataburgers are goooood, but i just got a picture of the drink)

since we got to the drive-thru at 12:29

we pretty much checked into the hotel

brushed our teeth

and collapsed into beds

we slept in a bit the next morning

i grabbed coffee, the girls got breakfast

then we started showering and getting ready

(well, meghan and i did)

and meghan at one point while we were sharing the mirror said

"you know why i'm doing all this, right?"

and i replied,

"of course! for pictures!"

at that point laura said

"OH!

i was wondering why the makeup and hair straightening..."

anyway, we left the hotel at 11:03

(thank goodness we opted for the late check-out...)

meghan knew her way well

and soon we arrived in seaside

what a FUN little place!

meghan and i enjoyed our temporarily straight hair

there were beautiful walkways and shops

and the taco bar

oh.my.gosh

yum

iz and i found a way to occupy ourselves while we waited for food

(the blocks they gave us to wait with

and the camera)

(take a look at these fish tacos and tell me they weren't worth the wait!)

that's enough with the narration.

i'll let the rest of the pictures speak for themselves.

just enjoy :)

(no oil here!)

(izzy feeds mommy)

(meghan reads while izzy sleeps)

(it doesn't even look real, does it? all these were taken with my iphone....)

(laura took this awesome pic of izzy and me)

(i got a little sunburned...but you can't really tell here)

(pretty sky on the return trip)

we got in a little before midnight

laura and izzy crashed on my couch

and i collapsed into bed

worth.every.moment