Week in Review

While we were on vacation we planned some structured and unstructured activities. We went to the Country Music Hall of Fame, The Grand Ole Opry, The Hermitage (the Home of Andrew Jackson), downtown Nashville, drove down Music Row, and went shopping at Opry Mills Mall. We also took time to be able to swim at the pool at the hotel.

At Opry Mills Mall the girls got to feed and touch Sting Rays. At first the girls were scared to touch them, which they get naturally from their mom LOL! However, once they saw other people touching them and keeping their hands in the pond they seemed to get use to it and touched them. Even I touched a couple of them. They feel slimy.

I was so impressed that Bethany, my 10 year old, took such an interest in learning something about history while on vacation at The Hermitage House. She gets that from her dad. Bethany and John loved learning all the interesting facts about Andrew Jackson and how things were in his day. Jody, my 6 year old, on the other hand enjoyed seeing the mansion, but could have passed on everything else.

Jody loved the pool the most about vacation. Jody has always loved water and will stay in the pool all day long if you let her. However, she still didn't like to go under the water and when jumping in the pool would only do it if she knew someone was going to catch her. Well, she has advanced. She started doing tricks with Bethany and jumping in on her own and was loving every minute of it. In some ways I loved seeing her Independence, but in other ways I felt sad that she doesn't need me in that way anymore. :( ? :). I'm sure you can relate.

This vacation was a great time for our family. We not only got to do some fun things, but it was a great relaxing time away and just what my spirit needed.

Until Later,
~Betty~

Missing in Action

I know it has been awhile since I have last posted. I have struggled with what to write about and how to put my thoughts together. I really have missed blogging and want to get back to it, at least that is my plan.

Life here is starting to calm down a little. It has been a hard adjustment to moving and working outside the home full time, but God has walked with us each step of the way and I have drawn closer to him through this part of my journey.

This past weekend we took a little vacation to Nashville, TN and had a wonderful time! It was a great time to get away and relax. It was something I really needed and was well over due.

As a child I don't ever remember a time I went on a family vacation with my parents. It just wasn't something we did or was encouraged. I do remember going to the county fair EVERY year, but that was as close to a vacation as we did. I always had the desire to go on a vacation and felt jealous of those families that did those type of things. As I grew up there were many things I said I would do differently as a mom and wife. Planning vacations and traveling with my family was one of those things and I have changed that in my family.

Because it took me longer than expected to find a full time job our budget has been very tight lately and things have been a struggle. However, things are getting better. Therefore, I was able to fulfill my hearts desire and planned this family vacation.

The details of the trip is still to come. Right now I am going to enjoy a special home cooked breakfast with my family.

Until Later,
~Betty~

Weekend Reflections

We have had a good week visiting family and old friends. It was good to be back at our old church and visit with our friends. Here are the postive things that happened on our trip.

We had a safe trip to Ohio and no vehicle problems. We also made great time traveling and was able to watch the Ohio State game.

We were able to go out to eat with our Pastor and his wife, Kim. Pastor & I are big pizza fans, Kim is not and especially not for Sunday dinner. One time when we were still living in Lima a group of us were going to go to Pizza Hut after morning service. I invited Kim and she declined, because they had pizza over the weekend and Pizza Hut was not her idea of Sunday Dinner. After Kim declined Pastor walks by, not knowing Kim declined the offer, and asks were we are going and I replied Pizza Hut. Well, they ended up at Pizza Hut that day for Sunday Dinner and it has been an standing joke between Kim & I ever since. Now anytime we are in town we try to meet with Pastor and Kim and have dinner at Pizza Hut. Once again, because of schedules, we did it for Sunday dinner :).

I was able to visit with my best friend Pat. We have such a special relationship. We are not the same age. Our children are not the same ages. Our family lives and situations are not similar. Our marriages are not the same. However, we both are Christians and our heart's desire is to serve the Lord and to have all that He has for us. Therefore, our spirits connect and we can talk to each other just about anything - and we do! Pat is one person in my life that I can take my guard down and make myself very vulernable and let her know what is really going on in my heart. She does the same thing with me. When we were visiting together our husbands were joking with each other about when we get on the phone together they know their time with us in the evening is over and they lovingly say "good night see, you in the morning". :) What a blessing they are to be so patient with us. We sure do appericate it and my life is blessed by it.

It was so good to spend time with my sister-in-law, my brother-in-law, and my neices. We all had lunch together and then the ladies went out shopping. We also enjoyed playing cards together, which we don't do very often.

On Thanksgiving Day we all got together and had a good meal and a good time together :). There was very little frustrations with each other, which is always a good thing. For the most part everyone acted like adults and enjoyed themselves. Even the kids did not get into any arguments. Now that I think about it - Am I sure I was with the right family? lol :). It was a good day!

On Friday we did do a little shopping and was able to go eat at Texas Roadhouse, where John's brother, Josh is a manager. We had a good time visiting with him too. We were able to see Josh every day while we were at John's mom and it was good. My girls enjoyed spending time with him too.

It was good just to spend time at John's mom's house and be with her with no time pressures. The girls enjoyed being with grandma and asking her all kinds of questions. It was very comfortable and relaxing.

We had time to just relax and be causual. It was very nice. I also had time to reflect on how John & I have changed over the past 2 1/2 years while living in GA. There has been some hard times and hurtful moments, but I can see how God has used those times to help us grow in our walk with Him and for that I am grateful. I can see areas in my life that I am stronger now than I was 2 years ago. I am very thankful for my life, my family, and my relationship with Jesus Christ. He is my stronghold in life and am in love with Him!

If you would like to post a weekend reflection or to visit more go over and visit Judi, who I am also very thankful for. She is GREAT!

Until Later,
Betty

3:00 am Wake Up Call

When planning to leave home at 5:00am for a ten hour road trip, I try to get to bed early and get a good night sleep. Just like any good plan, I was behind schedule and did not get to bed as early as I wanted. However that should be okay since my husband would be driving most of the trip and I could be sleeping in the van. John went to bed before I did and all was well. Then 3:00am came. We noticed Jody, my 5 yr old, was in bed with us and just as John was about to tell her to go back to her own bed, she looked right at John and threw up all over our bed. So at 3 am John is doing laundry and I am scrubbing the floor where my daughter left a trail to the bathroom. (I tried to clean all the spots, but it was 3 am, therefore, not sure what it will look like when I get back home.)

We then went and slept in the living room and tried to get another hour of sleep in before we left for our trip. At this point I was not sure how the travel would go and how sick Jody really was. Well Jody slept until we left and then in the van (we let the girls travel in their pj's). She was not running a fever or did not have any more stomach problems the whole trip. We did not have another problem with her. lol :).

John & I just laugh at the situation and know it just goes to prove that Jody does have a mind of her own and will let everyone know. We keep saying Jody just did not want to go back to her room and was going to tell John before he could tell her differently. Boy, do we have our hands full. We just continue to laugh on this journey of being parents.

We ended up leaving the house 30 mins later than what we wanted, but still got to my mother - in - law's in time to watch the big game between OH & MI (GO BUCKS)!

We had a good week and I will post more about our vacation as the week goes on. We will be back home tomorrow.

Until Later,
Betty