Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Great Falls
So a few weeks ago, Jeff and I went to Great Falls, VA, which I didn't know actually has some pretty great falls! It was a hot day but he views were spectacular.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Gray Turns One!
Look at this adorable one year old!! LOVE HIM.
Learning from Grandpa Grange how to hit a pinata...
Friday, May 18, 2012
Leah & Kallie Come to Visit!
Leah and Kallie are planning to move to Texas within the next month, so they came down to Virginia for a quick visit before they're out of the area! We have LOVED having them here. Kallie is growing so fast! She toddles everywhere and is talking a little too... mama, baba (baby), apple, bear, uh-oh, hi, bye bye, night night.... it's so fun!!!
This little girl brings me so much joy. I just can't even say how much.
She helped me unload the dishwasher yesterday morning...
Oh, and they came with me to visit Mrs. Anderson, and since I had my camera with me, I decided to get a picture of the two of us! I visit her once a week still.
Then we met up with Kiff and all went strawberry picking!
Kallie loved loved loved it...
She couldn't get enough strawberries!!
Kiff is really getting big... She's a glowing mama-to-be. She's also turning 20 next week!
Kallie loves cell phones - and I mean she is completely enthralled by them. She picks up anything electronic that's sort of that size (remotes... iPods...) and thinks they're cell phones. She lifts them to her ear and says something that sort of sounds like, "Hello?" But we obviously have to be careful to not let her play with our phones too much ~ or she'll actually make phone calls and such. So I decided to give her an old one of mine that we can't use anymore. That way she can punch all the buttons she wants without accidentally calling someone! :)
She loves it!!
Hello?
Eating her ap-pa! She eats apples all the time, but she isn't used to cold ones. We keep ours in the frig... so that's why she's got this look on her face! Too cute.
Singing "If You're Happy and You Know It!" Clapping...
Keeping her eye on her mama so she knows what to do... Stomping her feet!
I love you Kallie!!!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Hmm.
I'm feeling a little down today. Life has really changed for me over the last few years - well, starting back in the mid-.... how would you say that? Mid-naughts? Mid-2000s? Mid-00s? Anyway, since I left for China in 2004, I have felt..... less popular, I guess. Before I went to China, I was involved in a large, active singles community at a large, active church. I had lots of friends and a few good, close ones. Before that I was part of an intimate fellowship of believers; I was the only single woman there, but fellowship there was wonderfully rich. Since I went to China, it feels like little by little it's like I've become less and less popular. That's not to say that I haven't enjoyed good fellowship since then (I really miss the VMI Chapel ladies where we had really awesome fellowship) but now that I'm married, I have hardly any friends at all - nearby ones, that is. It kind of stinks.
For example, Jeff and I threw -- well, tried to throw -- a New Years Eve party this past year. One person said he could come; everyone else declined. So we had to cancel. That gave me an awful, disappointed, sinking feeling in my stomach.
Now I'm trying to throw a Norwex Party... It's just a little product party, and honestly I'm just trying to get a few ladies together and have fun and let them know about Norwex because it really is neat stuff. I'm not trying to get lots of free product for myself. That would be nice, but I can just buy them if I wasn't having a party. I honestly just thought it would be fun to have a party and introduce people to Norwex.
I sent the invitation out a few days ago, and so far 16 people have replied. Not one person is coming. It's not like I blame them. Most of them are busy. Some of them don't like product parties. (I definitely don't blame them, because I usually don't either.) Some of them aren't more than acquaintances from church, or neighbors I hardly ever talk to, or whatever. But it's just that much more of a stark reminder that I don't have close friends close by. It's kind of depressing.
Jeff says that's what happens when you get married. Single women have lots of friends, but as soon as you get married, your priorities change and you don't have as much of a social life as you had before you were married. Well, I know that's true, but I still want to be in a community. I don't really have that at my church, whereas the churches I've been in before have had that wonderful and loving sense of community. That's not to say that St. Peter's doesn't have a loving community, because it does... But... for some reason I don't feel a part of it. I'm not sure why that is. Maybe it's because it's Episcopal and I'm afraid that I'm too different to really, truly fit in.
Since Jeff and I are moving soon (hopefully!), I'm going to pray that the next church we find would give me the sense of community and belongingness that I long for. The kind of belongingness where you just can't seem to get out the door because there are too many people you want to hug and chat with. (I miss you Nancy... Bernadette... Crissy... Cassandre... Christy... Sarah... Kelli... Julia... not to mention my mom and sisters... and I could go on....)
*sigh*
To avoid sounding too pathetic, I do get together with Mary (and Gray!) every now and then. And every Tuesday I meet with Laurie who is another step mom of kids whose mom died. The two of us are like a mini support group (which is something we both really need because step-motherhood is not for sissies). And I do like sitting here in the sunroom with my husband, rocking on our wicker rocking chairs and listening to the steady, gentle rain as darkness settles over our little part of the world.
another *sigh*
For example, Jeff and I threw -- well, tried to throw -- a New Years Eve party this past year. One person said he could come; everyone else declined. So we had to cancel. That gave me an awful, disappointed, sinking feeling in my stomach.
Now I'm trying to throw a Norwex Party... It's just a little product party, and honestly I'm just trying to get a few ladies together and have fun and let them know about Norwex because it really is neat stuff. I'm not trying to get lots of free product for myself. That would be nice, but I can just buy them if I wasn't having a party. I honestly just thought it would be fun to have a party and introduce people to Norwex.
I sent the invitation out a few days ago, and so far 16 people have replied. Not one person is coming. It's not like I blame them. Most of them are busy. Some of them don't like product parties. (I definitely don't blame them, because I usually don't either.) Some of them aren't more than acquaintances from church, or neighbors I hardly ever talk to, or whatever. But it's just that much more of a stark reminder that I don't have close friends close by. It's kind of depressing.
Jeff says that's what happens when you get married. Single women have lots of friends, but as soon as you get married, your priorities change and you don't have as much of a social life as you had before you were married. Well, I know that's true, but I still want to be in a community. I don't really have that at my church, whereas the churches I've been in before have had that wonderful and loving sense of community. That's not to say that St. Peter's doesn't have a loving community, because it does... But... for some reason I don't feel a part of it. I'm not sure why that is. Maybe it's because it's Episcopal and I'm afraid that I'm too different to really, truly fit in.
Since Jeff and I are moving soon (hopefully!), I'm going to pray that the next church we find would give me the sense of community and belongingness that I long for. The kind of belongingness where you just can't seem to get out the door because there are too many people you want to hug and chat with. (I miss you Nancy... Bernadette... Crissy... Cassandre... Christy... Sarah... Kelli... Julia... not to mention my mom and sisters... and I could go on....)
*sigh*
To avoid sounding too pathetic, I do get together with Mary (and Gray!) every now and then. And every Tuesday I meet with Laurie who is another step mom of kids whose mom died. The two of us are like a mini support group (which is something we both really need because step-motherhood is not for sissies). And I do like sitting here in the sunroom with my husband, rocking on our wicker rocking chairs and listening to the steady, gentle rain as darkness settles over our little part of the world.
another *sigh*
Monday, April 23, 2012
April Showers
Thanking God for the rain... even though it's dreary and cold, I know we need it.
I can't believe I haven't written on here in a month! Classes have been taking up a lot of my time, and life is full. I have one week (woohooo!!) of class work left, but I wanted to just take five minutes and say hello to whoever out there who still follows my blog. :)
Two quick updates:
Jeff and I are still planning on putting the house on the market in a couple weeks - as soon as the guy we hired comes to paint the trim. We have been doubtful as to whether or not it will sell, though. There's a beautiful house down the street that's been on the market since last year -- which doesn't bode well for us. We think they've been priced too high, but of course there's no way to know for sure. So I think what we're going to do is put our house up for sale, commit it to the Lord, see what happens within a month or so, and then if it doesn't sell, do a little remodeling and gardening and what not to spruce it up here. We'd both prefer to move (both to be closer in to civilization and to Jeff's work, and also to give us a fresh start in a new house that doesn't have memories of his first marriage in it), but God knows.
Also, I wanted to let you all know a bit of news that has put Jeff and me through the ringer over the past couple of months. Kiff came to us at the end of January and told us she was pregnant. Major shock and disbelief and disappointment and anger. It has taken us quite a while to adjust to the idea (and we're not fully adjusted yet). She is not with the father and has decided that he will not be in the picture (thank God, because he is not a good guy) but that she will keep the baby. She is in her second trimester, and we found out last week that her baby is a boy. As disappointing and shocking as this has been, we know that God is in control and has allowed this for a purpose. Already we are seeing Kiff maturing in ways she wouldn't have had she not gotten pregnant. So that's something to be grateful for. She is committed to finishing school (she wants to be a physical therapy assistant); she has no idea how difficult it will be, having a newborn to take care of, but..... that's just how it is. As you can imagine, this is tough on everyone for different reasons. We all need prayer support through this time - so please pray for us! We would really appreciate it.
I must go do some school work.... but thanks for checking in with me! Have a wonderful day!
I can't believe I haven't written on here in a month! Classes have been taking up a lot of my time, and life is full. I have one week (woohooo!!) of class work left, but I wanted to just take five minutes and say hello to whoever out there who still follows my blog. :)
Two quick updates:
Jeff and I are still planning on putting the house on the market in a couple weeks - as soon as the guy we hired comes to paint the trim. We have been doubtful as to whether or not it will sell, though. There's a beautiful house down the street that's been on the market since last year -- which doesn't bode well for us. We think they've been priced too high, but of course there's no way to know for sure. So I think what we're going to do is put our house up for sale, commit it to the Lord, see what happens within a month or so, and then if it doesn't sell, do a little remodeling and gardening and what not to spruce it up here. We'd both prefer to move (both to be closer in to civilization and to Jeff's work, and also to give us a fresh start in a new house that doesn't have memories of his first marriage in it), but God knows.
Also, I wanted to let you all know a bit of news that has put Jeff and me through the ringer over the past couple of months. Kiff came to us at the end of January and told us she was pregnant. Major shock and disbelief and disappointment and anger. It has taken us quite a while to adjust to the idea (and we're not fully adjusted yet). She is not with the father and has decided that he will not be in the picture (thank God, because he is not a good guy) but that she will keep the baby. She is in her second trimester, and we found out last week that her baby is a boy. As disappointing and shocking as this has been, we know that God is in control and has allowed this for a purpose. Already we are seeing Kiff maturing in ways she wouldn't have had she not gotten pregnant. So that's something to be grateful for. She is committed to finishing school (she wants to be a physical therapy assistant); she has no idea how difficult it will be, having a newborn to take care of, but..... that's just how it is. As you can imagine, this is tough on everyone for different reasons. We all need prayer support through this time - so please pray for us! We would really appreciate it.
I must go do some school work.... but thanks for checking in with me! Have a wonderful day!
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