Summer Time: Part I

Yes, it has been a while since I've blogged.  It never fails that summers wind up being just as busy (or busier) than the school year.  Anyway, I thought I could catch up by dividing the summer into two parts....

The weekend after school ended we took a road trip with our "bestest" friends, the Turners!  Keeping in mind we had a 13 month old to contend with, we tried to break the trip into 4 or 5 hour increments, and trust me, that was just the right amount of time!

So, we left on a Sunday afternoon and stayed in New Orleans, LA that night.  We got to walk around the square in New Orleans Monday morning and it was neat to be back after our Babymoon before Langston was born.  Of course, we wonder if we'll ever go when I'm not pregnant! :-)

We got on the road around lunch time and headed to Houston, TX.  This was probably the toughest drive.  For the last 30-45 minutes all that kept Langston happy was Amy and I singing whatever church and early 90s songs we could come up with.  But, we made it, and the next day we took Langston to his first official MLB game, Houston Astros vs. Colorado Rockies at Minute Maid park.  I want to start a petition that all ball parks put a retractable roof on their parks, because it was so nice to sit in air conditioning!!  We stayed another night in Houston and then on Wednesday we headed to Dallas, TX!  I think this was my favorite stop on the trip.  We went to see the "grassy knoll" and the place where JFK was shot (I have a fascination with that family) and we kind of lucked out because that day a Canadian film crew was shooting parts for a documentary that focuses on if there was a "second shooter" how would they have done it?  Anyway, they had local actors playing the role of JFK and the shooter.  There was also a man there that was present the day the shooting took place (he was 8 years old when it happened) and he shared with us where he heard shots come from, etc.  So, very cool!  I know Langston will not remember being there to see it, but I hope one day he can appreciate the rich history that is in that place.  *Did anybody realize this year is the 50th anniversary??* Anyway, later that day we met up with my Best Friend, Courtney, and her husband, Gabe.  The last time I saw her was when Jeremy and I got married.  She had not met Langston even though he knows her as "Aunt" Courtney!  They drove from Oklahoma City to go with us to a ballgame and visit with us that night!  Loved seeing them and seeing Langston give love to his Aunt Courtney!

Of course, Friday morning at breakfast, Langston started walking...officially!!  He would go table to table visiting and trying to get food from people!  Such a cool thing to witness!  He waited for his mommy to get out of school to start so I wouldn't miss it!  We drove from Dallas all the way back to Demopolis that day, stopping for a few minutes in West Monroe, LA, to meet up with our good friends of Duck Dynasty! ;-) Of course they were filming at the time so Amy wasn't tempted to run off with Jase! :-)  The warehouse doesn't look as big as what they show on tv, but it's so cool to see something in person and say you have been there! This is how we sat for the entire trip and I was extremely worried about how Langston would do over the course of the week, but with enough snacks, toys, books, and singing, he did really, really well!!  And Amy wins MVP of the trip!! 

The next week we had VBS at Canal Heights church of Christ and studied Daniel, Josiah, Paul, Christ, and the church in the "Circus of Faith"!  My mom and nephew, Aidan, came to stay with us that week, so mom could help with Langston while I taught the 5 year old-Kindergarten class!  (Although Langston joined in with the 3 year old a few days!) I thought it was very successful with us having between 35 and 45 each day.  And, I have to say, it brought such joy to my soul to give each one of my students a sucker because they had learned their memory verse for the week.  Once we got back to Florida, Aidan was able to repeat the verse to my dad and sister!  I think we severely underestimate what a child's mind and heart can handle when it comes to scripture! (While they were here, Langston and Aidan got some pool and sprinkler time!)

 As I mentioned before, Langston and I spent some time after VBS in Florida with my family.  It was nice to go "home" and visit my GG and Granny B, attend my cousins wedding, see ChaCha compete in a pageant (I was so nervous, I don't know how I'll handle peanut in the Fall!), and play with Aidan some more!

Okay, so I will wrap the first part of summer up with mentioning the trip to Atlanta we took last week!  OH. MY. GOODNESS!!  Dreams came true for many women who were but mere pre-teens in the early 1990's!!  The "PACKAGE Tour" came to town and Amy and I were there to renew our "crushes" on Jordan, Joey, Donny, Danny, and Jonathan!  That's right NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK, 98 Degrees, and Boys II Men!!

Honestly, I would not have missed 98 Degrees (although still nice "eye candy")!  Boys II Men still know how to make women swoon and I would even say husbands should play more Boys II Men around the house (if you know what I'm sayin)....but, of course, NKOTB rocked it!  And, I think they are better now than they were!  I mean these are grown MEN now and they still have "The Right Stuff!"

While Amy and I were at the concert, Jeremy and David were able to catch a Braves game.  They even got to go to batting practice and get some autographs.  But, the next day we took a tour of Turner Field, and that was really awesome!  It's definitely worth the money and time if you are a Braves or just a baseball fan!  I liked seeing the locker room and sitting in the dugout the most!

I've kept you reading long enough, I will only add in that Butterbean is doing well, mommy is taking one day at a time.  I will not say that it's as bad as with Langston, but sickness is definitely back and, at times, with a vengeance.  We will be at 13 weeks tomorrow so at the finish point of the first tri-mester!  Langston is doing so good (except for a cold that turned into an ear infection and bronchitis), but he is walking everywhere!  I am continually amazed at how smart he is!  Truly, he can see something done a few times and then he understands the concept and will try to do it himself.  He has that willful personality and sometimes he wants to do it all by himself!  I am still learning how to let go and let him make messes or fall just so he learns.  Boundaries are being tested, of course, but we just do the best we can!

I don't think Summer Time: Part II will be as busy, but I will fill you in later!

You formed my inward parts....

One summer at Camp Wiregrass, Dwayne Key spoke at chapel and he recited Psalm 139 from memory....here is a small portion of it.

"For You formed my inward parts;

You covered me in my mother's womb.

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well.

My frame was not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

And in Your book they all were written,

The days fashioned for me,

When as yet there were none of them."

                                                                Psalm 139:13-16

Bro. Key went on to say how science is just catching up with God, how only within the last 20 years scientists have been referring to the womb as a web-like area that envelopes the growing baby.

After 8 weeks, Jeremy, Langston, my mother, nephew, and I got to see our sweet new addition growing within me....meet "Butterbean."

I've been so busy with school and our Texas vacation and VBS and a husband and a (now walking) toddler, that I really haven't had the chance to be excited about this new baby.  I've been nauseous, extremely tired, moody, and have an ever expanding belly, so I understood that I was pregnant, but it hasn't carried the same excitement as with Langston....until today!

Today I saw my little "Butterbean" stilled curled up and growing within me.  I saw the censor flare where the blood was pumping through the heart.  And, the moment that I met with tears was when I heard the strong, healthy heartbeat.  

Tonight, as I was still thinking about it, I do not understand those who knowingly and violently abort the soul living within them.  Also, I pity those who cannot see God's handiwork.  I will pray for their souls.

I was blessed to be able to experience pregnancy and give birth to a healthy baby the first time.  Now, God has blessed me with a second pregnancy and I will continue to pray for another healthy child.  But, the interesting thing is, even if this one is born with some sort of disability or disease, it doesn't matter as long as he/she is with me.  I already love him/her. Looking forward to more sickness, an ever expanding belly, and feeling uncomfortable, because I understand that this phase is temporary and when I meet "Butterbean" it will not matter.