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Sometimes life seems so surreal

.My current reality:

1. We now are the parents of an almost-toddler (Addie is 11 months old)

2. We just took Addie to her first foreign country (Bahamas on a family cruise)

3. We are the proud owners of our first Handi-House on our property!

4. WE JUST SOLD OUR HOUSE!

 

My current thoughts about this reality:

1. We are so blessed. I have made the joke many times that because we have sold our home before we have built our new one, that we are “homeless.” In reality that is not the case. We have so many “homes” that we feel welcome in during this time of transition. I am so thankful for family and friends who have opened their hearts and homes to us. I want to cherish every day and the memories that we make during this time.

2. We are in a season of change. As we close one chapter of our lives together, I can’t help but reflect upon all of the memories Waring and I made in our new home. This is the house we lived in for five years, and the house in which we brought Addie into. I feel like Waring and I are slowly “growing up” and it feels very strange, yet exciting. It seems that in every area of life, be it work, school, or personal life, everything is in a state of flux. While some aspect of this phase may be a bit uncomfortable, I believe that God is working and preparing us for the future.

3.  I love my family more and more each day. I am not sure how I could love a little girl more and more each day, but she kind of grows on you! It is also sweet to see her interact with Waring and see how great of a daddy he is to her. And through this whole experience I am reminded of how much I depend on my parents and parents-in-law more and more. I am so thankful for the love that they show to us.

4. I want to make a difference and I want to make my life meaningful. I think that often times we get so caught up in the busy-ness of life (or at least I do) that we don’t stop and focus on the only thing in life that matters. One day my heart will stop beating and my life here will be over. I don’t care about being famous, or wealthy, or even well-known. I want to have the bravery and courage to share Christ and make this life worth something. I want to life for Christ and not deadlines, term papers, and grocery lists.

 

 

What can I say? Life is good.

Love,

April

I like stuff.  I don’t crave expensive things, but I am sentimental so I keep things (like rocks from vacation and bricka brack  from yard sales). I am not a minimalist. I will probably never be a minimalist, but I do believe in decluttering on a frequent basis and generally trying not to become a hoarder!

 

SO here is the challenge: Everyday for the next twenty-five days I will be putting items in a pile to donate to charity (hello tax write-off). Day one I will donate one item, day two I will donate two items, day three I will find three items…and well, you get it! Over the 25 day process I will have given away over 350 items.  THAT IS HUGE!

Here is what has happened so far:

 

Sometimes it takes getting back to your own zip code to be able to clearly reflect upon the journey. While traveling through California we saw a lot and ate a lot, but looking back I also learned a lot.

#1: I love to travel,but I am a small town kinda gal. Don’t get me wrong, I love San Fancisco but I am much happier exploring smaller towns like Monterey, Carmel, or even Portland.

#2: I love family owned establishments. Nothing warms by heart like a mom-pop restaurant where they truly take pride in their trade and make sure the you are enjoying your time with them.

#3 Home rentals are the way to go! Whether you use VRBO, Homeaway, or AirBnB, rental spaces are the way to go for vacations. We stayed in four different places over seven nights! Each place we stayed was unique. rentals give you the conveniences of home, such as a washer and dryer, full kitchen, and more space to move around. With a 7 month old baby in tow it was great to have the luxuries of home wherever we stayed. The added bonus is that you always get to feel like a local and the owners take care to personalize your stay and offer advice!

#4 It is just stuff….On one of our flights we accidentally left Addie’s bag of toys on the plane. Since our flight was the last one of the night for our plane the United workers told us to come back when we departed from the airport a few days later and we could pick up the bag then because the mechanics were available to open the plane back up that night. When we arrive back at the airport we secured the toy bag from the United desk, but it was missing 3 of her toys, a necklace we had bought her in Yosemite, and our iphone power cord. I could have screamed when we I got that bag back! How could you steal toys from a baby? Really!? And to know that it was one of the workers because they were the only ones on the plane make it that much worse!!! In retrospect, however, I know that a few toys is nothing compared to the riches that I already have in my family, friends, and little girl. I am truly blessed beyond measure, and no stuff lost, stolen, or otherwise could ever change that.

#5 Good friends are hard to come by, but when you do they are priceless! We were so lucky to be able to travel with some of our very best friends, Justin and Meredith. They are so easy going and great with Addie. We made memories that we will remember for a long time to come!

 

I hate running. I REALLY LOATHE IT, but we did it. Hubby, baby, Justin, Meredith, and I ran our first 10k this weekend! I never really thought that I would be able to run 6miles….without…stopping…. 

This past weekend was pretty much perfect. We surprised our friends in Columbia again (they are just too fun to surprise…) by coming up to see them and their brand spanking new little boy for the weekend. We rented our home away from home on Lake Murray, ran a 10k, and got to hold Audra and Drew’s little peanut, Samuel. And even though we were surprising them, I got a cookie cake and a fun birthday present from the new parents.

I am so blessed to have such loving friends who would remember my birthday in the midst of their own celebration, and friends who are willing to run for miles week after week to help me cross a goal off of my bucket list. 

This running journey has taught me a lot about myself in the process. For me, a lot of my struggle running is my mind. If I can get outside of myself and focus on the rhythm of my feet hitting the pavement I can make it much farther that I ever thought possible. I think my struggles with running parallels my relationship with Christ. Sometimes I am so consumed in the struggle and mess of every day life. If I focused on the presence of the holy spirit and Christ’s hand in my life I would be able to accomplish so much for for HIM. 

This week I will celebrate the accomplishments of the past weekend, but keep my eyes looking forward to the future! 

Lock up your sons…MAMA’s gotta gun!

It has been driving me crazy that almost an entire month has passed and I hadn’t been able to cross anything off of this year’s bucket list…until…TODAY!

Hubby and I went with Justin and Meredith to the shooting  range (which was an experience in and of itself…) and shot a real live gun. I have grown up around guns, but it has always been the men in my family or my husband’s family that have hunted or shot for a hobby. I am generally pretty terrified of guns, so this was a big deal for me. It seems silly but I had a similar feeling to when I was skydiving…which I think many people would find MUCH more terrifying. HAHA! At least now I can say that I actually know how to protect myself and Addie if I every had to (not that I really want to think about that too much either…).

I hope that I will be able to knock out another bucket list item next month too!

 

 

Well, after only planning to take six weeks off, and later stretching it to twelve, my time as a stay at home mommy is about to end. I can’t believe how fast the time has flown! Some days were difficult with growth spurts, cluster feedings, spitting up, poopy blow outs, crying, gassy tummies, lots of wardrobe changes, and sleepless nights. When thinking back on the whole maternity leave experience, however, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The first eight days of Addie’s life were spent without cuddles or hugs because she was in the special care nursery and labeled a “touch me not” baby. Any stimulation could send her into respiratory distress. Then we brought her home and she went to the doctor ten times in the next two weeks due to prolonged jaundice and weight gaining issues. We felt like we were on an emotional rollercoaster. Where was the time when we got to cuddle with our little girl, sleep in late, and spend the day around the house in our pjs? It was at that time that hubby and I made the decision to extend my maternity leave another twelve weeks.

I can say that was one of the best decisions we made. It has been SOO worth it.

I will go back to work next week knowing that my little girl is in great hands with my mother keeping her during the day. She will be spoiled rotten by her, but she will also show her love and nurture her and teach her. I was lucky enough to be kept by my grandmothers as well, and I am so thankful for the time we spent together. They have influenced and impacted the woman that I have become, and I am so excited that Addie will get to have those same experiences with her Gigi and Meme as well.

I am so thankful for the snuggles, hugs, sugar, naps, smiles, playtime and moments with Addie. I already am looking forward to Summer break with my little girl, but for now I am going to enjoy every last second of my time off with my little girl right now!

THIS YEAR HAS BEEN AMAZING!

Lots of new experiences, a new job, and a new baby!

Hubby and I welcomed in 2013 in West Palm Beach, FL. We spent our time in Florida SCUBA DIVING and DEEP SEA FISHING!

January started the year off with a bang! My favorite teaching buddy from the high school that I taught at went SKY DIVING!

February and March were very busy with work trips and planning for CROWN JEWEL CONFERENCE. I saw my first OPERA!

In the month of April, Hubby and I both celebrated our Birthdays and we told the world that we were EXPECTING!

May, June, and July Hubby and I were both blessed to be a part of three beautiful weddings for some of our very best Friends! During the Summer we also found out the Baby Harvey would be a GIRL and I accepted a new job at the first every STEM Magnet Middle School in our area! Waring and I also found time to go on a BABYMOON to ALASKA!

August marked the beginning of the School year and a brand new start at a new school! Waring and I stayed up late to watch a meteor shower!

September and October were very busy, but we still managed to go on an APPLE PICKING ADVENTURE with two other sweet couples! I also got to complete my first ever COLOR RUN 5K and Addie had THREE awesome BABY SHOWERS!

November started off very exciting! On November 3rd ADELINE entered the world four weeks before her estimated due date!

December has been sweeter than ever before as we get to cuddle with our sweet little girl and celebrate the holidays with our family and friends.

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HERE IS A LOOK AT THE 2013 BUCKET LIST

1. Sleep in a Tree House (man…I wish this could have been accomplished…)

2. Go to an Epic Concert (Red Hot Chili Peppers at Music Midtown Festival=rainy and crowded, but still accomplished!)

3. Learn about bee keeping (I had intended on attending an outdoor seminar during the spring, however it was raining to hard. I like to sleep in when it is raining…doesn’t everyone?)

4. Write a book (for baby when he/she arrives)…..does a photobook count 😦

5. Got to Alabama (amazingly enough I didn’t make it to any of these states because our girl friend trip was cancelled…boo. There is always next year!)

6. Go to Louisiana

7. Go to Mississippi

8. Read Ten Books  (I think the final count ended up being around 15)

9. Learn 7 Constellations (currently I can spot the big dipper/little dipper/Ursa major and minor, and Orion)

10. Watch a Meteor Shower (Watched the Perseid’s Shower in August)

11. Read the ENTIRE Bible (I have been pretty good at sticking to my devotionals every morning…even at 5 am…but I am not reading in chronological order at this point)

12. Go to a pottery class (we did this for my husband’s birthday!)

13. Learn about eating  clean/organic (IN PROCESS! I have found the local co-ops and places where I can get free-range eggs and meats without all the nasty stuff added. AND with the help of Pinterest I have learned more about clean eating and am going to take some baby steps until August 1st and start full-force!)

14. Have a T-shirt quilt made (really hope this is a Christmas present this year from the hubby…I have laid down some SERIOUS hints!)….OK so no Christmas present…but I WILL make this happen for 2014!

15. Start a Recipe Book

16. Go Deep Sea Fishing (We went fishing…haha but we didn’t catch anything! Most people just fed the fish (the water was very rough, haha!)

17. Sky Dive (My best teaching buddy and I bought the Groupon…and never looked back! I am so glad I didn’t chicken out because the experience was amazing!!!)

18. Ride on a hot air balloon (I am afraid that this was is out of the question until after Addie arrives)

19. See an opera (I went to see La Traviatta with two of my favorite people in Atlanta.)

20. Learn about investing/read a book about $ (creating a life insurance and financial plan with an adviser currently and read a book by Suze Orman)

21. Color Run (with Justin and Meredith in Savannah!!!)

22. Go Apple Picking in North Georgia (Went in October. It was beautiful, but still 80 degrees outside…nothing like Fall in Georgia!)

 

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I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT IS IN STORE FOR 2014!

Today marks the start of a very BIG week! This is the first week that Addie has not had to go to the doctor’s for lab work. Yay! We are both very excited about that. We can finally enjoy some cuddle time without worrying about getting ready to go to appointments and look presentable. We can nap together and hang out. I am not sure who is more excited!?

One of (many) things I have realized since giving birth is that I was so caught up in researching and preparing for pregnant life as well as labor and delivery, that I spent very little time becoming well-read in post-partum life. I couldn’t see over the proverbial hill that was my big belly to the future with Baby Addie. I am now trying to do double time. I am reading and researching like a fiend on baby sleep schedules, breast feeding, tummy time, etc… (you get the picture!)

I don’t know if it was the fact that I wasn’t able to hold her four days, or the unknown infection that she was fighting, but now every moment seems so fleeting and fragile. I love this little girl more than I could have ever dreamed of or imagined. I am not sure really how it happened…

There are a few lines within the book I am currently engrossed in that pretty much capture my heart at the moment. In fact, I really can’t even read them without crying.

“They wrapped her up and handed her to …me and I stared in wonder at this little tiny person fresh from heaven. It was as if I could still smell the angels on her, like I was looking straight into the face of God. A God who had just blessed us with so much more than we could have imagined. How amazing that he brings life this way. Through pain and hurt and the ugly things inside us we try to keep hidden away. The things we don’t talk about. In that moment, as I looked at my little girl lying in my arms, I realized this whole process was such a striking picture of how Christ works in us. He takes our disappointments, rejections, and hard times and he makes something beautiful. He creates life and shows us what beauty looks like in places where we look and see nothing. He blesses us beyond our imaginations, in spite of all the broken roads we’ve traveled. As if to remind us that he sees us, not just for who we are t any given moment, but for what we could be one day. I looked at her and saw perfection. And mercy. And grace. I had never seen the hand of God so clearly in my life.” —Melanie Shankle Sparkly Green Earrings