3 little Miracles

3 little Miracles

Friday, April 29, 2011

The Royal Wedding

Friday I promised my nieces I would do everything I could to NOT see the wedding of William and Kate so that I could watch it with my nieces Hilary and Cassandra.  So with that in mind I stayed away from the CONSTANT news coverage and posted on my facebook "Don't tell me how it ends" HAHA.  So, we gathered for dinner, Chinese Take-Out, and then sent the kiddo's downstairs so we could watch 4 hours of DVR'd Royal Wedding coverage.

I will have to say, watching the wedding brought back so many wonderful memories of when my family lived there when I was 11 years old.  My father was a flight engineer at the time for Seaboard World Airlines (later to become FedEx) and he was stationed to fly out of the London Heathrow Airport, so we lived their for a year and a half.   We went to Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the Guard, the grass around the palace has little signs that say "Keep of the Queen's Grass" and we had also visited Westminster Abby.  I would really love to return one day.

However, back to William and Kate.  I will say I am not a "Royal Watcher", but like the marriage of Diane and Charles, I was drawn to see it because of my love for England in general.  I think William and Kate will have a much happier go at marriage, because unlike his father, I believe William married for love.
I thought William and Kate were like most couples in love during their wedding ceremony, they gave each other sweet secret looks, winks, and even whispered to each other.  Kate's dress was so beautiful and simple, I really loved the neckline of the dress, the old fashioned lace and yet the modern design of a "strapless" under-dress, truly stunning and I am sure it will bring on the return to more traditional wedding dress styles over the next couple of years.
After the ceremony the young couple rushed off to the balcony at Buckingham Palace so they could share their first kiss.  YEAH RIGHT, lovely thought, but you know at one of the private moments when the camera's weren't on them they had to sneak a kiss.  PLUS, lets remember they are already living together, so they have had a LOT of pre-wedding kisses, HA.  I am pretty sure too that Kate was texting on a cell phone on the carriage ride to the palace because she kept looking down into her lap, so unless a small TV was in the floor of the carriage or body guard was laying on the floor chatting with her, she was on a phone updating her "relationship" status on facebook.
So finally they make it back to the palace and we get to see "the kiss" and the news cast people start rating it on a scale of 1-10.  I mean come on people, did  you really expect them to french kiss in front of the Queen Mother and William's dad the Future King of England????
Now for the one sad note of the day . . . . . William's cousins, Eugenie and Beatrice, daughter's of Prince Andrew came to the royal wedding looking like a royal MESS.  Truly, I had no idea who they were during the ceremony, but when ever the camera stopped on them and Beatrice's unfortunate hat, my nieces and I commented on how ugly it was.  In addition to the fashion mess they both were, I think Beatrice really needs to fire her makeup person because they gave her two black eyes for the day.  So glad these young ladies were NOT invited to stand on the balcony with the rest of the family, HA.  I truly hope both of them get some fashion help and soon, but from the looks of other photos I have seen, this is typical for both of them.
Over all it was a blast to watch and comment on everything going on with Hilary, Cassandra, and my parents. I wish my sister April had been available to come over along with my other niece Calli, we could have had some English biscuits (cookies) and tea to really make watching festive.
  Congratulations William and Kate, may God bless your marriage and may you have MANY happy years together!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Rachel: 6 Months Old

You Weigh: 12 lbs 10 oz.
Length:  25"
You Wear: size 3-6 month's clothing and a size 2 diaper
Feeding:  6 oz bottles, Similac for Fussiness and Gas x 5 and I recently started feeding you a couple tablespoons of rice mixed with formula (April 7th). . . . . you love it.  Soon I will graduate you to a week of oatmeal and then start you on vegetables. 
Sleeping:  You are still sleeping 9+ hours each night and you take 3-4 30-45 minute naps throughout the day.  You still love hearing the sound of your own voice and most mornings you wake me up with your happy chatter coming through the monitor.  ON April 10th you rolled over to your tummy all by yourself for the very first time, and since then you have perfected this new still and have even rolled over a couple times back to your back.
You are still having physical therapy at home once a month, and Ms.Kathy is really focusing on your arm strength and core body muscle muscles.  She is pleased with your overall progress and says you are about where she expects you to be in your development.
Happy 6 month's Rachel, time is flying by way to quick!!!!

Monday, April 18, 2011

Tornado damage 2 miles from home

This past weekend wicked tornado's swept across our nation and North Carolina had the worst damage and highest loss of life.  Gratefully we were spared, but the storm came within 2 miles of our home and we had no clue until we went to church Sunday morning.  We were in total shock at the damage to a neighborhood just two miles from us, I once lived in Oklahoma and have seen this kind of damage first hand but I have never seen this kind of tornado damage in eastern North Carolina (hurricane damage YES, but not from a tornado) and never would have thought it possible.

Thankfully the most we had to do was clean up branches and junk from the yard, but I was totally clueless until the next day how bad it was for everyone else around us.  Mom had come down and said they had warnings on TV about the storm, but I didn't think it was really that bad until the power went out around 8:30PM, but I just figured the wind and blown branches onto a power line or something.  Clueless ME it was actually a tornado taking out the power lines.

Please pray for the families who have lost loved ones and homes.  We are safe, but so many others are without homes and lost everything.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Show Us Your Life - What is in my Book List

Kelly over at Kelly's Korner has asked us to share what is on our current Book List for Show Us Your Life this Friday.  I know it seems strange, but I actually read several books at one time, one stays in my car so I can read it when I am at a doctor appointment, at the park after the gym, or just someplace I am going to be for a while and need something good to read to pass the time.  I keep another book at home, and in those few moments I get peace, not often with three kiddos, I pick it up and read.  Finally, I have another book that is spiritually rewarding to me or helps me in being better at something whether it's about organization, photography, or healthier eating.

My current car book is Love Starts with Elle, by Rachel Hauck. 
This book is about Elle'who is trying to live her dream-but is it her dream or his? Elle loves life in Beaufort, South Carolina-lazy summer days on the sand bar, coastal bonfires, and dinners with friends sharing a lifetime of memories. And she's found her niche as the owner of a successful art gallery too. Life is good.  Then the dynamic pastor of her small town church sweeps her off her feet. She's never known a man like Jeremiah-one who breathes in confidence and exhales all doubt. When he proposes in the setting sunlight, Elle hands him her heart on a silver platter.  But Jeremiah's just accepted a large pastorate in a different state. If she's serious about their relationship, Elle will take "the call," too, leaving behind the people and place she loves so dearly. Elle's friendship with her new tenant, widower Heath McCord, and his young daughter make things even more complicated. (Description of book copied from Amazon website)

The house book I am prearing to start is In the Company of Others, by Jan Karon.  I have read every book in the "Father Tim" series and I look forward to reading the latest book in the collection. 
In Karon's latest, Fr. Timothy Kavanagh, the moral center of the beloved Mitford series, hops the Atlantic for a long anticipated vacation in the Irish countryside. He and his wife settle in at Broughadoon, a B&B run by Liam and Anna Conor in County Sligo, and Father Tim is happy to be reacquainted with his ancestral homeland. He's particularly taken with Catharmore, a sprawling 19th-century estate that was Liam's childhood home. When their stay is extended because of an injury, the Kavanaghs pass the time reading up on Catharmore's history, helping out around the grounds, and getting to know the area's many colorful characters. Father Tim assumes the role of confidant and adviser to the Conors and their extended family, investigating a burglary, helping unburden Liam and Anna of long-held secrets, and aiding Liam's alcoholic mother to recover her lost faith.  (Description of book copied from Amazon website)

Finally, my current "self help" book is in the spiritual catagory, The Mom You're Meant to Be by Cheri Fuller. 
Motherhood is meant to be a blessing, not a burden. So why do so many moms seem exhausted? Through engaging short stories, inspirational reflections, Scripture, creative ideas, and thought-provoking questions, The Mom You're Meant to Be encourages mothers to relax, embrace their children's individuality, and rely on God for the wisdom they need.  (Description of book copied from Amazon website)

The book I just finished reading was from one of my favorite author's Barbara Taylor Bradford . . . . actually I am in love with her Emma Hart series of books.  This particular book kinda snuck up on me, I had pre-ordered it when I was pregnant and so had it on my book shelf waiting to catch up in my reading and get to it.  (Side note of explanation, I purchase my favorite author's books in hardback and take the jacket off the book and place it in a Rubbermaid tub for safe keeping so the book looks "nicer" decoratively on the bookshelf and the jacket doesn't get ripped up).  SO, Breaking the Rules was on my bookshelf and when I started reading it I didn't bother to get the jacket out to re-read the book description.  As a result about halfway through the book I realized it was part of the Emma Hart series of books.
The Emma Hart series of books is the story of a rags to riches young woman and the generations of strong woman that follow her.  Emma Hart starts as a house servant, in the book that started it all A Woman of Stubstance, and through very difficult circumstances is determined to make it on her own and become rich so that she can prove that "station" and titles can be overpowered by strength, determination, and passion.  In Breaking the Rules, (the seventh book in the series, BTB's 25th book and celebration of her 30th anniversary as an author) Emma's great-granddaughter M is determined to make it on her own as a model in New York city away from her family in England.  M does not use the family name to open doors but her beauty and stength shine through and gain the attention of a famous fashion photographer who is determined to make M a super model.  However, M's family enemies and the reason M ran away from England in the first place soon follow her and threaten the love, happiness, and success that M has at her fingertips.

Believe me when I say, the Emma Hart series of books is hard to put down once you start reading them, you will fall in love with the characters and MISS them when you finish the last page. 

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Double Date Night

Last night we escaped the house with the help of my niece Hilary so that we could have a wonderful double date with my sister April and my brother-in-law Calvin.  We had an amazing time talking, walking, and eating yummy food in historic downtown New Bern.
We first had dinner at Ribeyes Steakhouse, which is in a renovated bank building on Pollock Street.
The atmosphere is wonderful with huge black and white images of historic New Bern hanging on the wall of the main dining room floor.  We started out in the bar drinking our diet Pepsi's (I would have preferred diet coke, but what can you expect from the town where Pepsi was born) while we waited for our table.  Then we were seated at a lovely bench table against the window, perfect.  The chef came to our table to take our order on how we wanted our steaks and then while we waited for our entrees we took advantage of the fantastic salad bar which is situated right next to the old vault.
In fairness to my hubby, I was really trying to snap a picture of the decor, so he wasn't really ready for this picture
My sister and I got the giggles during dinner because the girl at the table next to us looked like she was wearing a bra over her dress shirt.  Every time I looked across the table, my sister seemed to be taking a sideways look at this lady.  I SOOOOO wanted to take a picture of her for "Tacky Tuesday" but I wasn't brave enough, HA.  April said she would give me cover if I wanted to snap the picture on our way out and then we could RUN, but alas I felt it wasn't cool to do, so no picture.
After dinner we walked around downtown, the weather was so perfect.  We even stopped for a bit in a small park and sat down on benches to chat for a while.  Then we all decided we were ready to hunt down some coffee and dessert. So we headed to Morgan's Tavern at sat on their back patio and drank coffee and had some really yummy desserts.  I can't believe it, but I actually couldn't finish my dessert, it was a huge WARM brownie with vanilla ice cream on top.

Completely amazing evening with my sister, BIL, and husband and I REALLY want to do it again SOON!!!!!

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Day in the Park

We had a wonderful time in the park Sunday afternoon celebrating new friendships and saying goodbye to friends that will soon leave our area.  I thought this was such a fantastic way to say goodbye to two families that have faithfully served God in our church instead of a stuffy banquet. 

So after church we all met up at a park near the church to have fun picnicking, playing games, letting the kids rung, and celebrating two wonderful families.  The Baddorf's and the Flemming's are both amazing families and we will miss them greatly as the move on to serve God in other states.
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Somehow I missed getting a picture of Davey :-(

God Bless and Good Luck Crystal, Chris, Laura, Tal & kids! 
We will miss both of your families.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Show Us Your Life - My Church

I was born and raised Southern Baptist, and although I don't feel I have to attend a Southern Baptist church in order to hear God's word, it is the place I feel most comfortable with how God's word is taught, expressed, and shared. 

I truly do love our current church home and feel that God directed us to it.  We had been at our previous church for 17 years and we hated leaving it, but we felt like God's hand was directing us to move on.  So last summer I began the process of searching for a church by taking our boys to VBS at Tabernacle Baptist Church in historic downtown New Bern, North Carolina.  I truly thought it would be just the beginning of our search for a new church home, but to my surprise both my husband and I felt like God was leading us to join the ministry work at Tabernacle.  So we continued on at our church through the rest of the summer and honoured some commitments there, then in August we began attending Sunday School and morning worship services at Tabernacle.
I told my husband I wanted to wait until Rachel was born before we joined the church membership, but after about a month we both truly felt the pressing need to walk forward and join (in retrospect that turned out to be a good thing considering everything that happened with Rachel's birth and following).  I think the biggest thing that lead us to to be a part of the Tabernacle family is the amazing teaching of God's word through our Pastor and through our Sunday School class.  Pastor Scott teaches God's word with such passion, conviction, humor, and no apologetic approach, I truly can't get enough of hearing him preach and teach.  In fact during the summer when our boys attended VBS, I attended an adult bible study class and Pastor Scott taught it. 

Although Tabernacle is much larger then our previous church home, we still feel as though we are part of a intimate family of God.  We especially love our Sunday School class, we meet as a larger group for the first 15 minutes and then break into smaller groups that study different topics, so you can pick and choose every couple of months what study you want to be a part of.  We have stuck with a small group that has focused on marriage and family.  We have also enjoyed being a part of the supper club with our Sunday school class.  Every couple of months we gather together in small groups at someones home to have supper and games together, couples only, NO CHILDREN YEAH!  It has been a wonderful way to get to know the other couples in our class and have a night out without the kids.
Even better the boys have been so blessed by their Sunday School classes, mission classes, and discipleship training classes.  We feel so amazingly blessed that our children have a church home to grow up in that will support us in teaching them about God and how to minister to others through missions.

Currently our church has a team that is on mission to Mexico to serve the Mayan people and we are working in the 5 Points community of New Bern to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the people that live there.  Recently our church voted to start the process of building a family life center in order to expand the potential of ministry to our community and the church family.  So we have a lot to look forward to in the future as we join the work that God has already begun and has been doing here for almost 116 years.

If your in the area, we would love to have you come visit our church!
God Bless!!!