Happy
Reformation Day!
Fun pictures to come later.
Big Daddy is driving us halfway home tomorrow to meet Eric. Aunt Amanda’s coming along, too.
It feels like forever being away.
Pray for safe travels for Eric and for us!
Pray for Eric . . .
He’s sick. I want to come home and take care of my baby!
Could some of you back home check on him for me? Hopefully tomorrow he’ll feel like meeting us in GA and driving back home with the kids. I don’t know, though, we may stay a couple of extra days so that he can recooperate before the madhouse returns!
Please pray he gets better soon. I know you probably aren’t on the computer today, but I love you, honey!
Happy Birthday
Today we celebrated my dad’s birthday (I’ll be nice – but he’s over 50 now)! He’s so young! I’m up in SC with my children, and we have had a restful and fun week. Tonight we ate taco soup and sang “happy birthday” to “Papa,” and it was so good to be together. We were only missing Eric and my sister Jenn who are back in FL. Lydia ran around the house a million times with her buddy Rebekah, and they had a blast. They get so upset when we say “good night” and they have to go to bed.
It’s time for me to go to bed actually, but I wanted to write down these thoughts before they fly away. I love my father so much. Of course I don’t tell him enough, but I try. There are so many attributes that I respect about him, like his quiet tranquility, his big heart, provisional nature, his incredibly hard work ethic, his love for missions, his faithfulness to God, family, and Church, his personal frugality but willingness to give to others, his trustworthiness, his compassion, his devotion to his word, and his unwavering support for values and those he loves. Those are just a few…. not to mention that he’s the best-looking father of grown children in the world today. (I’d post a picture, but I’m not on my computer. He’s not vain like me and doesn’t have any head shots lying around on his hard drive!) Anyway, every day is hard, but recently the days in our family have been ultra-trying. Who has had a steady ear to hear me, a firm shoulder on which to rest my head? Good ‘ole daddy. I’m so thankful he’s always there for me – sometimes it’s to kick me in the pants a little and get me thinking right again, but usually it’s just to remind me in his own way (he always says, “Kristi, it’s just a thang…”) that God is in control and I need to lighten up a little bit. I think that’s what drew me to Eric – he’s just like my dad in that way. People like me who are so animated (can be a weakness and a strength!) need a straight, steady spouse. Well anyway, I love you, Daddy! I’m always praying for you, and I love you! Happy Birthday again!
Take Out Sunset
Tonight we took our dinner to-go to watch the sunset at a park on the water. It was BEAUTIFUL outside, and we enjoyed the breeze. Grandmama chased Lydia around, and we took some fun pictures. “The heavens declare the glory of God . . . ”
Lydia enjoying the park and her FOOD! “Wannnsommma!”
Steven loves to be outside, and he loves his Grandmama!
After the sun had set, Eric took a picture of the gals with Steven.
Cute family photo minus the speed limit sign!!
Tomorrow I’ll be riding along with the kids and my mom to visit family for a few days in SC. I can’t wait. My mom bought Lydia a “magnedoodle” toy for the car-ride, so that should be fun! I’ll miss everyone and see you when we return next week! I’ll try to blog if anything noteworthy happens while we are in the Palmetto State! Lots of love 
"Aunt Jenn Jenn Comin”
Lydia always says, “Aunt Jenn Jenn commmmin’!” when I tell her that my sister Jennifer is on her way to our house. Today Aunt Jenn Jenn stopped by about 10 am and said, “Hello! I’m here on a surprise visit to get Lydia and take her on an outing!” Lydia got really excited, and that was so nice for me, too, so I could have some special time with Steven by myself. We got to play after he ate lunch – just the two of us!
My mom is on her way to see us tonight. I always love giving my mama a big hug when she gets here and hearing her scream, “Hhhey!” with delight when she comes through our front door. She always smiles at me and says, “Let me squeeze those skinny ribs of yours!” ha ha I can’t wait until one day I’m really chubby and have fat ribs. What’s she going to say then?!
It will be nice to have her help me clean and make meals to leave with Eric while we’re gone. Then it’s up to Sparkle City for a week. I LOVE being in my hometown in Autumn. It’s so beautiful; the sky is crisp blue, the air is a sweet cool, and I always think of apples and pumpkins. I have such fond memories of Autumn at my college, and I try to take a walk through the campus each Fall or at least drive through because it’s so beautiful. All of the trees there make me sad that we only have Pine Trees down here, but Eric always smiles and tells me he adores our palm tree out in our front yard. ha ha
We lost our Bradfor Pear tree last year during Hurricane Ivan. Although I love those kinds of trees I know it’s a small loss compared to all that has been lost in such storms before or since. When I think about Hurricane Wilma, I think, “Poor Florida.” My sister Katy sent me this cartoon last year during Hurricane season. I think it’s pretty relevant right now.
I’m excited about my “new blog” (yes, I made another one) – it’s for the Thursday lunch group at CCS that I’m doing weekly. It’s called Thursday Lunches. I hope each week I get to post the devotion for that week on there. Check it out if you’re interested.
Well, Lydia and Jenn should be home any minute. I better go so I can play with them when they get here!
When Daddy’s Not Home,
we find some strange and creative things to do together, but hey, it’s a lot of fun! Eric was gone last night, so I knew both of the kids would be restless with only a tired mommy after dinner. After baths I got out my trumpet from high school. I got it out of the garage last week and showed Lydia how to blow into it, and boy was she fascinated! Her favorite thing to do is have me blow out of the bell on to her bare tummy because it tickles.
I push all of the valves halfway down and blow really hard to make a horse sound, and she goes into a squealing fit: “Mommmmmy! Horsey! Horsey! Theah’s a horrrsey in theah!” ha ha ha ha! She looks way up into the horn thinking that big horse is going to jump out any second! I must say, as a little proud aside, that she can buzz on the mouthpiece exceptionally well for a toddler! Maybe she’ll be so blessed to be a brass player! Playing my trumpet really makes me want to join a nonprofessional symphony or concert band. I really miss playing, and it would be such a nice way to enjoy reading and playing beautiful music again (Oh, the Dorman days with Mr. Wenger!)
Then we lined all the books around Steven, trapping him into a “book pow wow.” Lydia just loved the idea that Steven was trapped and giggled because he couldn’t get out. She finally jumped in with him and tried to pull him out by his head. (Oh, dear!) Well, at least it kept them happy and gave me a good laugh while Eric was gone.
Why is it so hard at night when you’re the only adult in the house? I know it has to be so hard for single parents. Someone I know who is a single parent told me once, “Oh, you get used to it. You just do it.” I feel like a big whimp! I guess it will get easier after our 11th child (haha)!
Today we mailed letters to Nanny and Papa and Grandma Barbara who live in South Carolina.
She tried to eat the glue that we used to attach flowers on the paper, but I figure a little glue won’t kill her, huh? Lydia is already excited that her Grandmama’s coming to get her this weekend; we’ll be going up for a little family trip. Maybe Eric will have a book pow wow by himself while we’re gone. (If he really does that, then you WILL see pictures! ha ha)
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