I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart. Jeremiah 1:5 NLT
God definitely knew what He was doing when He made Xander. He has certainly set him apart. I don't deserve him, but I accept him with open arms and much love in my heart. He is the most precious little boy. He's not perfect, but he is perfect for me. He is sweet, kind, loving, mischievous, funny, cute, and oh, such a blessing to me! I'm so thankful for that little boy! He has been alive 25 months to the day, so I thought it fitting to mention 25 things I love about him.
I love when he copies everything I say.
I love that he talks about his cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents without my prompting.
I love his sensitive and sweet spirit.
I love his mispronunciations, like "yittle" instead of "little" and "coot" instead of "cute."
I love his determination.
I love that he insists on saying the entire alphabet all the way through.
I love his excitement.
I love how everything is brand new and mesmerizing to him.
I love his giggles.
I love when he grabs my hand to tickle him and gives me his fake laugh, letting me know that he does, indeed, want to be tickled.
I love how ticklish he is!
I love how much he loves his toys, especially cars and balls.
I love when he insists that I sit on the couch with him just because he wants to spend time with me.
I love that he asks for a waffle every single morning, without fail.
I love how he talks to Spike.
I love the color of his hair!
I love his "John Wayne" walk.
I love his desire for independence. (Sometimes!)
I love how he says, "Mommy, pick-up!" when he wants me to pick him up and "Mommy, carry you!" when he wants to be carried.
I love when he does something he's proud of and says, "Good boy!" to himself.
I love how he plays with my hair.
I love his hugs and kisses.
I love how he holds my hand and (usually) waits patiently while we pray together.
I love his memory.
I love when he tells me out of the blue "Love you, Mommy."
I had a hard time only writing 25 - there are so many more things that I love about that boy!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Encouragement
There is a grace that is sufficient;
a mercy that endures;
an atoning blood that cleanses;
a hope that doesn't disappoint;
a love that never fails;
a purpose that works all things together for the good;
a peace that passes understanding;
a joy unspeakable;
a kingdom unshakable;
a foundation indestructible;
a High Priest who prays;
a Savior who lives;
a Spirit who comforts;
a Father who cares.
a mercy that endures;
an atoning blood that cleanses;
a hope that doesn't disappoint;
a love that never fails;
a purpose that works all things together for the good;
a peace that passes understanding;
a joy unspeakable;
a kingdom unshakable;
a foundation indestructible;
a High Priest who prays;
a Savior who lives;
a Spirit who comforts;
a Father who cares.
-Roy Lessin
Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. Hebrews 6:18-19 NLT
In the ever-changing circumstances of life, there is a faithful, never-changing God in control.
Every day begins and ends with His purpose-
there isn't a detail that escapes His eye...
a trial that doesn't touch His heart...
or a single experience beyond His compassion.
there isn't a detail that escapes His eye...
a trial that doesn't touch His heart...
or a single experience beyond His compassion.
Every moment of your life is in His care-
and I pray that He gives you overwhelming peace and hope today.
and I pray that He gives you overwhelming peace and hope today.
Pray about everything; tell God your needs... If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6, 7 TLB
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Sweet Joyland
I go to many different daycares, preschools, schools, and afterschool programs for work. I know I probably shouldn't have a favorite, but I can't help but love Joyland. It is one of the home daycares I go to. There are 5 children whom I adore. Sometimes they're hyper and sometimes they're extremely easy-going and cooperative, but I just love them every time I go! Here is a video of a sweet little girl named Carys. The thing I love most about Joyland is Ms. Joy. She is awesome! She has tons of patience with the kids, loves on them, cares for them, teaches them, and gives her all to them. I would take Xander to Joyland if I needed a daycare - it's that good! She's also great about taking pics and videos of me while I'm there. Here are a few.
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| Ms. Joy with her certificate of completion for the Jumpstart Reading at Home program. |
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Family
I've had a great week! My brother Sean, and his family came to Mocksville for their spring break. They live in Dallas, so I only get to see them usually once a year. This was a special treat! Sean and his wife Jill have three kids - Cole is 14, Kennedy is 8 and Carson is 3.
We had a birthday party for my mom on Sunday at Erin's house. My sister, as usual, did a beautiful job. The house looked great, the food was awesome and the birthday cake was even more awesome. The kids played outside and the grown-ups had great conversations. It was really fun.
One of my favorite moments was bedtime on Monday night. Carson had been eating Reese's pieces and his mom told him, "No more candy, it's bedtime." He'd gone upstairs to get his pajamas and came back downstairs with a handful of gummy bears. Jill said, "Carson Walker! I told you no more candy!" And Carson cried out as serious as could be, "Them are not candy! Them are gummy bears!" None of us kept our composure after that. Too funny!
Erin and Nathan let Kaitlyn skip school and Patrick leave preschool early yesterday to play with their cousins and we took them all to Chuck E Cheese. Oh we had a great time! I hadn't been there since I was a kid (I remember thinking it was kind of lame back then) but it was a lot of fun! The mechanical mouse is still lame, but there's tons of other things to do. And Xander was so easy! He's too young to really play much, so he would just sit on car games and "drive" them or watch me play basketball or just walk around mesmerized. He loved it! He's been many times with Grandma, Mimi, Kaitlyn and Patrick, but I've never been with them. We'll definitely take him back!
Sean, Jill and the kids are staying the rest of the week, but I had to come back to Charlotte to work, so my time with them is over until July when we'll go on our annual beach trip. I'm really looking forward to it! All the cousins get along so well - it's great that they're not only cousins, but friends!
We had a birthday party for my mom on Sunday at Erin's house. My sister, as usual, did a beautiful job. The house looked great, the food was awesome and the birthday cake was even more awesome. The kids played outside and the grown-ups had great conversations. It was really fun.
One of my favorite moments was bedtime on Monday night. Carson had been eating Reese's pieces and his mom told him, "No more candy, it's bedtime." He'd gone upstairs to get his pajamas and came back downstairs with a handful of gummy bears. Jill said, "Carson Walker! I told you no more candy!" And Carson cried out as serious as could be, "Them are not candy! Them are gummy bears!" None of us kept our composure after that. Too funny!
Erin and Nathan let Kaitlyn skip school and Patrick leave preschool early yesterday to play with their cousins and we took them all to Chuck E Cheese. Oh we had a great time! I hadn't been there since I was a kid (I remember thinking it was kind of lame back then) but it was a lot of fun! The mechanical mouse is still lame, but there's tons of other things to do. And Xander was so easy! He's too young to really play much, so he would just sit on car games and "drive" them or watch me play basketball or just walk around mesmerized. He loved it! He's been many times with Grandma, Mimi, Kaitlyn and Patrick, but I've never been with them. We'll definitely take him back!
Sean, Jill and the kids are staying the rest of the week, but I had to come back to Charlotte to work, so my time with them is over until July when we'll go on our annual beach trip. I'm really looking forward to it! All the cousins get along so well - it's great that they're not only cousins, but friends!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Buried in life
Do you ever feel like no matter what you're trying to accomplish, you just can't finish it? I have been so scatter-brained lately! I'm constantly feeling behind at work, at home, in my marriage, with my other commitments, with my friends...it's never-ending. Hopefully this will soon come to an end.
I really love my life, but right now I feel like I'm getting buried in it. I just can't catch up. Maybe one of these days we'll have a weekend at home, with no other obligations, where everyone is feeling well, and things can get accomplished. That's a goal I'd like to achieve very soon!
I really love my life, but right now I feel like I'm getting buried in it. I just can't catch up. Maybe one of these days we'll have a weekend at home, with no other obligations, where everyone is feeling well, and things can get accomplished. That's a goal I'd like to achieve very soon!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Beginnings by Katrena Pitts
So, I'm a little late on posting about this, but better late than never! At the end of February my good friend, Katrena, released her album titled Beginnings. She wrote, arranged and performed each song, produced it, and released it. I am so proud of her! This is a huge deal!
Katrena has been one of my best friends since 1998. We met as freshmen at Stephen F. Austin State University. She transferred after our sophomore year to Belmont University in Nashville, TN, to pursue her dream of studying music business. She's put that degree to great use! Even though we've been long distance friends for the overwhelming majority of our friendship, I still call her one of my best friends. She's an amazing woman of God and I'm so proud to call her my friend.
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Katrena's the lovely lady on the far right. |
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| I visited her in Nashville in 2008 - I'm afraid this may be the most recent photo of the two of us that I have! |
You can buy her album on iTunes, Amazon MP3, Rhapsody, eMusic, Zune and Napster. Be sure to check it out - it's a beautiful album!
Friday, March 4, 2011
A letter from Mommy
Dear Xander,
It seems like yesterday that you were just a little baby laying in my arms. What a sweet little thing you were - and so happy! You smiled all the time. I don't know if I've ever seen a smilier baby than you. :) And now you're 2! You've gotten so big. And even though you still lay in my arms, with your head on my shoulder, and ask me to rock you, I fully realize that you won't do those things forever. Each day that passes I'm thankful for the time I've had with you.
I'm so excited about this year! Your 3rd year. You already talk so much and tell me all kinds of stories. I realized just the other day that we really do carry on conversations! You're silly and make jokes. You love to run around, playing with balls and tractors. You always want to give Spike treats, but then you never quite give them to him before they're all crumbled in your hands. Spike eats them anyway. :) You ask me to sing to you constantly - mostly "the ABC song" or "Happy birthday," with a few others thrown in. You tolerate being around people you don't know - you don't really like it, but when Mommy or Daddy holds you close you feel secure. One of your favorite things to do (besides watch Elmo - I must hear "Elmo's birthday?" 10 times a day!) is to play on my iPhone. You look at pictures and videos of yourself. You've watched them so much that you know what's going to happen next! You absolutely adore your Mimi and Grandma. You talk about them a lot, too. :) Daddy is your #1 Dude. You love rolling around on the floor and wrestling with him, tickling him, playing ball with him, and even watching football with him!
I'm looking forward to what this year has in store. I can already imagine - a big boy bed, potty training, learning all kinds of new things, talking even more, playing with little friends, trips to the beach, the zoo, and so many other cool places! Wow! It's going to be great. :)
Even with all of the things that will change and happen over this year, you'll always be my little boy. Forever and ever.
All my love,
Mommy
It seems like yesterday that you were just a little baby laying in my arms. What a sweet little thing you were - and so happy! You smiled all the time. I don't know if I've ever seen a smilier baby than you. :) And now you're 2! You've gotten so big. And even though you still lay in my arms, with your head on my shoulder, and ask me to rock you, I fully realize that you won't do those things forever. Each day that passes I'm thankful for the time I've had with you.
I'm so excited about this year! Your 3rd year. You already talk so much and tell me all kinds of stories. I realized just the other day that we really do carry on conversations! You're silly and make jokes. You love to run around, playing with balls and tractors. You always want to give Spike treats, but then you never quite give them to him before they're all crumbled in your hands. Spike eats them anyway. :) You ask me to sing to you constantly - mostly "the ABC song" or "Happy birthday," with a few others thrown in. You tolerate being around people you don't know - you don't really like it, but when Mommy or Daddy holds you close you feel secure. One of your favorite things to do (besides watch Elmo - I must hear "Elmo's birthday?" 10 times a day!) is to play on my iPhone. You look at pictures and videos of yourself. You've watched them so much that you know what's going to happen next! You absolutely adore your Mimi and Grandma. You talk about them a lot, too. :) Daddy is your #1 Dude. You love rolling around on the floor and wrestling with him, tickling him, playing ball with him, and even watching football with him!
I'm looking forward to what this year has in store. I can already imagine - a big boy bed, potty training, learning all kinds of new things, talking even more, playing with little friends, trips to the beach, the zoo, and so many other cool places! Wow! It's going to be great. :)
Even with all of the things that will change and happen over this year, you'll always be my little boy. Forever and ever.
All my love,
Mommy
Thursday, March 3, 2011
I feel loved when...
I meet up with some ladies from church a couple of times a month to talk about our preschool ages (we call this age group's environment Waumba - the Swahili word for Creator). My friend Whitney sent out a test for us to take to determine our love language. Here are my results:
The Five Love Languages
My Primary Love Language is Quality Time
| My Detailed Results: | |
|---|---|
| Quality Time: | 11 |
| Words of Affirmation: | 8 |
| Physical Touch: | 7 |
| Acts of Service: | 4 |
| Receiving Gifts: | 0 |
About this quiz
Unhappiness in relationships is often due to the fact that we speak different love languages. It can be helpful to know what language you speak and what language those around you speak.Tag 3 people so they can find out what their love language is.
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