Hoedown!

Audrey An's school had a good 'ol fashioned hoedown today at school  She told me they even ate "farmer food".  When I asked what that was she told me it was biscuits, bacon, and eggs and some mild to wash it down.  Well, there ya have it- farmer food!

Audrey An LOVES her awesome teachers! (As so I...they do a great job!!)

Caught her in mid air...sweet!

Ready for the hayride...sweet friends!

Abigail's class had "wacky tacky jammie day" for their fall party!  If you're thinking AA's overalls look kind "vintage", they are.  Those were mine...ahem, a "few" years ago!!!

PUMPKINS!

Last weekend we went to two fall festivals...lots of fun and lots of pictures, of course! 

 

 

 

 

 

Perspective

I have to say this has been one doosey of a week for me-not the worst by any means but a doosey.  I know we all have those kinds of weeks at times, and you're just ready for it to be over, right?  Monday I went to 3 doctors for a jaw/ear ache.  After seeing the first dentist she referred me to her partner because she thought I probably needed a root canal.  WOW...what a great way to start off a Monday morning, ya know?  So, 3 hours later I came back to the same office/different dentist.  After tapping around on my tooth and doing the famous "cold" test he wasn't quite sure if a root canal was the answer....whew!  I was happy, but a little confused on how this pain was going to be eliminated.  Since my ear was hurting he recommended that I go to my family doctor to make sure I didn't just have an ear infection the was radiating down through my jaw.  Well, since we've moved to this fair state I've had TEN, yes, TEN ear infections.  I wasn't going to be surprised if that was my diagnosis.  Long story short...I'm being treated very aggressively for allergies and another ear infection.  Now, after 5 days of treatment, I'm better but not 100%.   So, I'm think' root canal is in my near future...lovely.

So, if you know anything about me you know I've been on a roller coaster of HRT since May.  The last few weeks it's about to eat my lunch.  Literally, my brain is in such a fog.  I can't think straight. I can't remember things. I can't seem to handle the smallest things.  I can't sleep at night; therefore, I'm exhausted during the day.  My hubby and my girls are getting the brunt of a not-so-put-together wife/mommy self!  So, I call my new doctor expressing my frustration and was told to come in for more blood work on Thursday.  I was excited to get in so quickly, but I got pulled over on the way up there....grrrr!  I have NEVER been pulled over- not one single ticket in my life- none, nada, nothing, never!  Needless to say since my nerves have been shot anyway and this officer's siren in my rear view mirror did not make me a happy camper!

So one last thing to spill the beans on before I get to my resolution and a better perspective.  I've had to really work on the "being patient thing" with Audrey An and her schooling.  Bless her heart, she's really doing amazingly well given that she's only been with us for just over a year.  But given MY inability to cope with some fairly minor infractions as of late, I'm about to pull my hair out at times!  I sometimes forget how difficult learning a new written language must be for her!  I've recently been asked, "What has been the hardest transition for you and your family?"  David and I would whole heartedly agree that even though AA has picked up the oral language so beautifully and so quickly the hardest part for her (and for us teaching it to her) has been learning the written language and matching it up with the phonics of it all.  I'm sure AA sometimes looks up at me thinks, "C'mon, mom.  Help me out a bit.  I've only known english the past 16 months.  Gimme a break!" 

Okay...enough of the ranting.  Last night I had the privilege of hosting a table for a Pregnancy Care Center 25th Anniversary in our community.  I was so glad I went (yes, I have to admit after the week I have had I didn't have the best attitude about even going).  What a blessing is was!  God lifted my spirits through many testimonies that were given.  It was a gentle reminder for me to not dwell on the temporary things that can get you down, but to set your eyes on things above.  Philippians 4:8-9 states "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."  So, while at the dinner last night I had to make a choice to be grateful for life. Grateful for physical life.  Grateful for eternal life.  Grateful for both of my children's lives.  Grateful for my husband's life.  Grateful for Audrey An's birth mother who chose to give her life.  Be grateful for my "light and momentary afflictions" (although they really are NOTHING). Grateful for the founder's of the Pregnancy Care Center who have impacted thousands (literally over 19,000) in the past 25 years.

I know the circumstances God places in one's life are the very things that God uses to conform our character to His.  So, may we not waste them but pursue God in the great days and in the "doosey" days.  "This IS the day the Lord has made; let us REJOICE and be glad in it."  Psalm 118:24

Flying and more Flying!

Get two pilots together and what do they talk about?  I'll give you a big hint: lots of metal, has wings, and it now pays the bills!  Last week we pulled the girls out of school for a couple of days to take a much needed trip to visit Big D (David's grandfather).  He had never met Audrey An, and David had been wanting to tell his grandfather how much he appreciated the impact on his life for quite some time now.  Big D was (is) the kind of grandfather who took time to spend with his grandson and foster a love in him about flying.  So, Big D, a big thank you for impacting your grandson- my husband.  I'll be forever grateful to you for that!  God has allowed him to pursue a career that he loves, and neither of us take that for granted.  A good lesson for us as parents- "train a child in the way he should go..."

With the death of my grandmother a few weeks ago it just made us realize how we couldn't delay this trip any longer.   It truly was such a special trip for all of us!  David drove us to Nag's Head, NC, one day to show us the place where he spent a lot of summers growing up at his grandparent's home.  I've heard about Nag's Head and the Outer Bank Islands all my married life but had never been there until now- very cool.  Although the neighborhood had changed it was still very cool to see the house where he remembered playing in the backyard on the sand dunes and swimming in the ocean all summer long.  We took the girls up into a lighthouse and they though that was so cool (as did I!).  We went to the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center where they'd fish, toured two aviation museums (of course!), and showed the girls Kitty Hawk (where daddy's obsession with planes all started!).

David, so glad you took me on this adventure to show me and our girls where you have such special  memories.  I'll never forget it, and you'll never forget the great conversations you had with your grandfather last week.  Thanks for taking the time to let us all into your "world" a little more.  I love you!

2 pilots enjoying their trade!

AA's face says it all!

They even found Big D's old log book...very cool!

future pilot?

Now...off to see KittyHawk.

 The hill where the first flight of the Wright Brothers took place on December 17, 1903!

No comment...

Nag's Head

Oregon Inlet

Ft. Henry

In the "old" lighthouse overlooking the newer lighthouse

inside the lighthouse

Oh yeah...forgot to tell ya that if Abigail had been a boy, David wanted to name "him" after this man, "Yeager"!  Chuck Yeager was the first man to ever fly faster than the speed of sound.  Does that sound like my husband or what?!?!

Adventures with "Dangles"

Okay, so this weekend Audrey An was chosen to take Dangles (the class mascot) home with her.  She couldn't have been more excited! Boy, did we show Dangles a good time! So, just in case you're wondering what Dangles did this weekend....here you go!

Dangles tried to fly to Texas with all of us so we could attend David's high school reunion. Dangles was very patient all of Friday night, but got to experience the glamour (ha!) of getting "bumped" from a flight.  Fooey...David missed out on his reunion!

 

So...off to other adventures.  Good dangles...you're wearing your seatbelt!

Dangles & Audrey An cheered Abigail from the side lines as she had her basketball try out at our church.

Then it was back to the airport...this time for a family fun fest with David's company.  Ahhh, Dangles likes to hold hands!

He endured face painting...

drawing numbers for door prizes (we didn't win any...rats!)

He tried to ride in the cockpit, but David said there was a safer place to ride...

No, Dangles....not on the wing!

That's better, Dangles...next to your buddy and with your seat belt on!

Audrey An thinks he actually liked hangin' out with our goofy family!

Dangles even went to church with us.  Shhhhh....don't tell Pastor Mel!

Whew...Dangles is all tuckered out.  He even got to have a sister slumber party (a routine weekend ritual at our house!)

 So, this is what it's like to have 3 kids????  HA!!!

"Weedie"

Last Saturday, my grandmother (who we called Weedie) went to be with the Lord.  I don't know if many people can say a day at a funeral is a "good" time, but I think this one was.  She had been ill for many years and had suffered through a lot.  She had a tremendous faith in her Lord and lived her life well....all 92 years of it.  Her funeral was a celebration of her life.  It was very special  to me to hear my dad and many others speak of such fond memories and how they were impacted by her faith.   Although I didn't speak, I was recalling the fun memories I had spending the night at the children's home where she was a "house mom", sleeping in the "loft" and hanging out with all her big "girls".  It was interesting to me that when I was explaining to both Abigail and Audrey An what she did at the children's home...she was a mom to the parentless.  I have that legacy on both sides of my family.  Maybe my girls will make that connection in their own lives one day.  I rejoice that I know for sure that she's celebrating today with Jesus and for all eternity.

The other good thing about that day was I was able to show my girls the home I lived in through first grade.  I'm not usually very nostalgic about many things, but I am about some and that happens to be one.  I was brave and knocked on the door (I think much to the embarassment of some other family members!) and introduced myself.  The high school gal who came to the door invited me in...I was so excited!  I saw the inside of the house I spent the first 6 years of my life.  It had changed.  The neighborhood had changed.  I teared up- not sure why?!?!  It was a sweet memory, too.

This was taken in May...the last time I saw my grandmother.  I'm so thankful she met Audrey An and remembered who we were.