You + Me + Baby = Three

This morning a strong, healthy heartbeat from the little life inside me made me wish I never had to work another day - or for that matter, I'd like nothing more than to sit and watch this little one grow for the next seven and a half months! Thanks for your continued prayers and support as our baby prepares for his or her grand entrance in August.
This news is the best late Christmas gift ever!

Just for Fun - Name Game

Geoff and I have been throwing around baby names as long as we've been married, so here are our top three boy and top three girl names:
BOYS
1. William Everett
2. Linwood James
3. Robert Clyde
GIRLS
1. Jane Edith "Edie"
2. Virginia Kathleen "Kate"
3. Martha Claire
(Instead of having a Jr., we're just going to call our kids by their middle names, since their Dad goes by his middle name). They're all family names and I have the hardest time deciding between them. Maybe we'll end up with six - three girls and three boys and I can use them all! (HA!)

The Christmas Post

So this is the obligatory Christmas Post. And probably about time, seeing as my last post hit before Thanksgiving. I will definitely have to post some pictures after Christmas day. Usually I'm more on top of things than this at Christmas. I think, though, my life is a little full at the moment.
We have decorated the tree and indoors. I even put up wreaths outside and a tree on the porch. We had intended to put outdoor lights up this year, but Geoff managed to slice open one of his hands and we spent the day after thanksgiving in the ER. Then he was out of commission for a week and it just didn't happen. Here's hoping for next year!
Geoff's van is coming along, and after two years in the backyard, it's nice to say that it's really, really close to being finished. I know he's as ready as I am to have that project wrapped up.
Speaking of projects, my folks are coming for Christmas, and we always seem to have a project. Well, this Christmas's project is painting my kitchen. Over all of their visits over the past 4 and a half years, we have really done some great work on our home. For those reading this who know my mom, you know she's a project queen, so I'm not being a bad daughter asking for her help on stuff like that - she likes to do this stuff!
Anyway, I hope to post soon, showing off our pretty decorations, unwrapping the Christmas presents, and working on the kitchen among other things. Maybe my new year's resolution should be to post something once a week. I think I can manage in 2009, so stay posted...

Double Whammy

In case you're out there wondering, try #1 (out of 4 possible) with the OI/IUI procedure proved unsuccessful. This comes as a shock to anyone who had heard the details along the way because everything looked to be so promising. The news hits as a double whammy due to the fact that if the first pregnancy had not ended in a miscarriage, we would be delivering the week of Thanksgiving. I was really hoping to be able to counter that memory with the joy of a new pregnancy, but once again it's not meant to be. But as my husband says, if at first you don't succeed, try, try again...

Nieces and Nephews

So I had a busy, busy week. My sister with her two kids in tow (and my mom as well) came to visit me for an entire week! I hadn't seen my nephew since his birth at the end of June, so it was good to get some bonding time in with him. It also afforded me the first opportunity to get my two neices together. It was hard to tell which one was bossing the other around, two three year old princesses used to being the center of attention!

The week was fun, but I think exhausting for everyone and I know they were glad to get back home and see their Daddy and Geoff and I enjoyed having our home to ourselves for a little while as well.

After the week-long visit, we all went together to Samford's Homecoming weekend. There were A Cappella concerts and Kate Campbell concerts and it was a busy blast! I also did my part by serving as part of a panel of speakers for the English Department, talking to English Majors about how I use my English Degree in my daily work in the investment and insurance arena. A bit of a stretch, but hey - I speak and write in English, so it works, right?
Anyway, on the homefront, we've officially started the injectible treatments so hopefully it's only a matter of time before all the above nieces and nephews (plus Stone who is allergic to my whole house and couldn't visit us) have a cousin (or two) to join them. I'm tired of taking pills and soon to be tired of sticking myself with needles. I'm tired of feeling nauseous 24/7 and I'm just generally tired. But if it pays off, it will all be worth it.

Still Here

I'm still here, in case anyone is wondering. Maybe I'll be back in the spirit of blogging again soon. I've told a number of folks that I have been feeling lately like I have to share so much of my personal life with so many strangers that it's becoming harder for me to talk about any of it with anyone. Every time I turn around there is another doctor's appointment with more questions. Sharing every little detail of my cycle is not all that exciting with doctors. I told my mom the other day that she's really the only person I feel like talking to about all of it.
Suffice it to say we've still got a long road ahead of us with our desire to have a baby. No, I don't really want to talk about it, but when I do, I'm sure I'll post something. It's October now and I think about where I would be if our first pregnancy had worked out. Now it's looking like that due date will pass without hope of our being pregnant again. It's amazing how nine months can fly by and yet seem like such an amazingly long length of time.
I'm trying not to lose hope. We are in the hands of some wonderful doctors who tell me something new every day. And I guess if there are various problems it's good to know about them and to be treating them. But it is frustrating to hear, oh, you have this or this wrong with you - that might be why you lost the first baby. And the pills and the injections that will seemingly never end...
I can't promise to post much, but I'll keep the blog up and open. Hopefully I'll have some fun things to post at the end of the month when I have a visit from my sister and the kids. I'm looking forward to this last hurrah before treatments start in earnest and I'm having to make regular weekly trips to Montgomery or Birmingham.
Anyway, just wanted to say that I'm still here...

About Time!

I guess it's about time I post again. I haven't been much of a blogger lately, but then I haven't been so consistent since the very beginning. My sister recently posted her 300th blog post, and I don't think I'm anywhere near that many. And I started my blog before her I think. Not that it matters one bit. I've been chastised for saying this before, but maybe when I have children I'll have something worth blogging about.
So, what to say? what to say? There is really not too much to report.
On the homefront, I've finihsed tacking the weekend project chairs (they truly were done that weekend) and finished all the odd jobs around the house as well (like the pillows that were pinned rather than sewn shut. Every day I come home and think what a nice home that I have to come home to. With every project I complete, I feel more and more comfortable and luxurious. I was thinking recently about "clothing" my house because that's what it feels like I'm doing. I think our house has become a good reflection of both Geoff and me and I like that. And doing it slowly means that we can get exactly what we want as opposed to buying things because they're inexpensive.
On the baby front, I have very little to report. We've taken a semi-break, so hopefully folks will stop asking us how it's going on that note (come on, folks, like we need your pressure on top of our own!). I've finished Clomid treatments and am thrilled to say that they're over even though they didn't do the trick. Some people don't react to the drug as strongly as I do, but it did me no good! I felt sooo depressed on it and the hot flashes by the final cycle got to be constant. I'm still experiencing these - this morning I woke with a bbt of 96.8 which is plenty low, but I was sweating like crazy. I can't wait until my hormones sort of get a little more normal - whenever that will be.
Anyway, after the drug-induced depression and the continued disappointment of not being pregnant, I'm laying low for a bit and getting a referral for a specialist clinic for when we decide to start back up. Our next move may very well be in vitro, so anyone for John & Kate Plus Eight? YIKES!
On the bright side, Geoff and I just celebrated 5 years of marriage and we're doing better than ever. I know folks who go through infertility issues and this kills their marriage - it has been doing the opposite to Geoff and I. We both really long for a family, but we are happier than ever just with the two of us. For my anniversary, Geoff let me go to the beach with a girlfriend for the weekend. When I returned, he had cleaned the house and cooked a really delicious roast. I was pampered Sunday and Monday and there's a lot of love going around this house. I really feel peaceful and happy despite our lack of success in the pregnancy arena. Who knows? Maybe that peaceful easy feeling is just what the doctor ordered!
I could probably write more, but why bore you with nothing special? Life is just life, moving onward one day at a time, and yet, I'm happy and at ease. I wish everyone had it as good as Geoff and I - that's how good I think I've got it.
Sorry in advance if I don't post for awhile again. I just haven't had much to say. I'll post something if anything happens. I think we're going to the football game next weekend so perhaps a post then. And my folks visit for the LSU game in a few weeks, so definitely then. So, until then...

Weekend Project

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Vacation Slideshow

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Back to the Grind

I'm back in study mode. So don't think me anti-social or lazy for not posting for about two weeks. I'm studying to obtain my Accident, Life & Health Insurance licensing as part of my on-going quest to learn as much as I can and be as helpful as I can be in my career.
Geoff and I just returned yesterday from an awesome "just-the-four-of-us" vacation in the North GA mountains. The other two on the vacation were our pups, Colson & Soozie, who are still barely moving because we wore them out! I will try and post a slide-show when I take a break from studying this weekend sometime. Just so busy right now!

Scattergories

SCATTERGORIES - it's harder than it looks! Copy and paste into a new email. When you have answered all the SCATTERGORIES, send it on to friends but DON'T FORGET to return it to the person who sent it to you.Use the first letter of your first name to answer each of the following. They have to be real places, names, things - nothing made up. Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same first initial - which by the way is hard if you already have read their answers! You cannot use your own name for the boy/girl names.
1. What is your first name: Meredith
2. A 4 letter word: must
3. A vehicle: Matrix
4. A city: Montgomery
5. A boy's name: Matthew
6. A girl's name: Margaret
7. A Drink: Mr. Pibb
8. An occupation: Mechanic
9. Something you wear: Moo-moo
10. A celebrity: Mel Gibson
11. A food: Mac-n-Cheese
12. Something found in a bathroom: mousse
13. Reason for being late: missing keys
14. Something you shout: Move it!
15. An animal: monkey
16. A body part: mouth
17. Word to describe yourself: musical
Good luck to the next person!
"...with my God I can scale a wall" 2 Samuel 22:30 (NIV)

A MUST READ

I am completely absorbed in a book by Donald Miller called "Searching for God Knows What." Seriously, I picked it up Wednesday to read while the jury was deliberating, and I can hardly put it down for two minutes at a time. It is fabulous - I found it at Books-A-Million on the same table as the book my Dad recommended "The Shack." Hope you'll pick it up and check it out. It rings with truth.

The After Life

My friend Rosemary was pronounced not guilty yesterday after 10 months of sitting in jail on a murder charge. Tonight she's home with her family and children, and I look forward to joining their celebrations over the weekend. What a strange road I have been on this past year. What a weird journey life has been lately. I'll write more about it all later, but Geoff has some show on with crazy music and it's really loud and I can't concentrate. I just thought others might like to hear how things went with the trial. I have a lot to write about, but it will wait until another night.

Be Bored No More

If there's anyone out there still bothering to check my blog, I commend your loyalty and offer you this spectacularly long catch-up piece to explain my long silence.

Topic One: Look Both Ways
So I go to lunch the other day with a lot on my mind and end up with some guy's mind on my car. Yes, honestly, I hit a pedestrian. It wasn't as bad as it sounds when I say I had his mind on my car, but it was seriously my scariest moment to date. The week was to get scarier beyond that, but that was not a fun moment and the other story can be #2 or #3 in this post.
So, what happened was.... I was pulling out into traffic from a parking lot. I needed to go to the right on a busy street, and I looked both ways. I had a pretty long wait and then looked both ways again after a big batch of traffic had gone by. I looked to my left one last time and had the all-clear and BUMP, hit a guy. He had literally come out of nowhere and walked right into my car! I threw the car in park and jumped out in the middle of the street. "I didn't see you - are you allright?" I mean, luckily the guy was still on his feet and looked okay, just a little out of it. Honestly, I'm not sure he was in his right mind. I'm not even sure where he came from. I asked if I could do anything for him at all and he said "No, I'm fine" so I drove off. I shook and shook for awhile afterward. Could have been so much worse, but still, quite a scary feeling!

Story #2: Children are a pain - SERIOUSLY
So I started my weekend in the ER. I finally started a cycle after my miscarriage and had been put back on the Clomid. Days 1-3 went pretty much how they have before, a little more moody, a little queasy, but more or less normal. On Friday morning, however, I just didn't feel good. I had what almost felt like gas pressure, but can only really be described as abdominal pressure and can't really be communicated beyond just saying pain. I wasn't bloated or anything, I just hurt. And the hurt continued to worsen all morning. By about 10:30 I had to leave work, thinking I'd take an antacid and lay down, although I was suspicious this might be female troubles. An hour later Geoff and I were on our way to the ER.
It took an IV, a lot of fluid, and some pain medicine and about another 5 hours or so before the pain abated. I never got to see the doctor. I did have an ultrasound, but was not offered a great deal of explanation. I was sent home with pain meds and told to take the last dose of Clomid. I remain a little tender in the abdomen, but have no continued pain. The nurse practitioner suggested that I had overstimulation. After finally speaking with a doctor today, I found that this is not really possible; it was both far too early in my cycle for this, and I had no cysts larger than a centimeter. Overstimulation causes enormous cysts.
So what does this all mean? The long and short of it is that we're not sure. The doctor (as all doctors do) wants to run additional tests. But the good news is that the doctor believes that the early ultrasounds from Friday indicate that the Clomid is doing the trick this cycle and we should have a chance of being really fertile.
After that miscarriage, though, my readers will have to know that it will be a good while before we'll be sharing any baby news with the world, whether we know something or not.
And, by the way, this was that moment that I said was scarier than hitting a pedestrian with my car. I literally was in such extreme pain that I couldn't speak. I sobbed and wailed for a long time. I have never been so incapacitated. I felt ridiculous, but could do nothing about it. I wish I had a better explanation of the whole thing!

Story #3: Court TV in Real Time
The trial for Rosemary started this morning. After a heads up from her attorney, we got there about 1:00, which was great, because they were just wrapping up jury selection and we didn't have to wait long for the actual trial to begin. We sat directly behind Rosemary and her attorney, and the two younger boys sat with us. (Incidentally, if we had custody of those children, they would not have been brought to this trial)!
Today was fairly uneventful. Looks like it's going to be presented fairly and professionally, and it also looks like whatever other lies Rosemary has told to me in her time, she did not lie about the fact that there is no physical evidence in this case whatsoever. If all her attorney has to prove is reasonable doubt, he shouldn't have any trouble winning this thing outright. Maybe Rosemary will be home for Kaylan's 13th birthday Saturday.
Geoff and I went back and forth about going to the remainder of the trial. It will mean time off work without pay for me, if my boss is able to spare me. But we both feel that we have stuck it out this far, and it seems appropriate for us to stay. Besides, you should have seen her tears when she asked me to be there for the rest of the week. The witnesses have been sequestered for the trial, and since most of the witnesses for her side would have been the folks to sit in the courtroom in support of her, her side was really empty. It was Geoff & I, her uncle, her brother and two of her kids. So if work can spare me, it will be a long week for me, but I will spend it giving her a final show of support through this. I'll keep y'all posted on everything as it unfolds.

So no more "tagged" post. Happy, Aunt Kathy?

I've been tagged!

This is just for fun so copy this entire post and paste into your own post. Change all the answers so that they apply to you and TAG someone else! I tag Cricker and Summer!

1) First thing you wash in the shower? My hair
2) What color is your fav hoodie? white, because it's warm out now and the lightest-weight one I have is white
3) Do you plan outfits? No, but I keep thinking that I should do this, to save time getting ready for work and to keep me from buying "pieces" that I like but don't have anything else to wear with
4) How are you feeling RIGHT now? Kind of blah, not happy, not sad, not sure....
5) What's the closest thing to you thats red? my mousepad, a Lincoln marketing item "Hello Future"
6) Tell me about the last dream you remember having? I'll keep this one to myself. Had one of those psychological nightmares last night, you know where something hurts your feelings or you have to deal with something extremely painful. It was so realistic that I had to wake Geoff up for reassurance for about 30 minutes before I fell back to sleep. But when I did fall back to sleep I dreamt that Gini, Jason, Geoff, me, Mike Catoe, Reagan Catoe, and Micah were all at some big church sing-along thing. I started playing violin and classical guitar with the musicians and then couldn't find Geoff and the others after awhile (so again, turned into a scary dream, where I felt I'd been left somewhere). Not a good night for dreaming, I guess...
7) Did you meet anybody new today? Not so far, but it's still early.
8) What are you craving right now? Just gave into my craving - a Reese's cup
9) Do you floss? Of course - have you seen what gets left between your teeth with ordinary brushing?
10) What comes to mind when I say cabbage? Yum!
11) Are you emotional? I'm in this funk right now where I don't feel the slightest bit emotional, which is actually kind of odd for me. I think since the miscarriage I have had trouble coming out of my shell. I've been in permanent pms mode or something.
12) Have you ever counted to 1,000? It sounds like some obnoxious thing I would have done as a child - probably very loudly to show off
13) Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it? I more or less bite it I guess, kind of like gumming it, I try not to involve the teeth too much or you get an ice cream headache
14) Do you like your hair? Sure; sometimes it doesn't do what I want it to, but I think the color is pretty cool and I'm glad I can have it really long for now.
15) Have you ever met a celebrity? Quite a few, if you know folks in Christian music circles
16) Do you like cottage cheese? Not in large quantities or by itself, but I like a little with some pears
17) What are you listening to right now? Birds chirping outside and traffice noises
18) How many countries have you visited? I think just France and Jamaica
19) Are your parents strict? It kind of depends on the situation. More yes than no.
20) Would you go sky diving? Not a chance
21) Would you have dinner with George W. Bush? Why not? It sounds amusing.
22) Would you throw potatoes at him? I seriously doubt it.
23) Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in? Nope
24) Have you ever been in a castle? I feel like I've been to Hogwarts for as many times as I've read the books and seen the movies. Didn't the Louvre used to be a castle, because I've been there; And I've been to Louis XIV Palace at Versailles - very cool!
25) Do you rent movies often? Probably more than I should. Can someone come up with something to do other than watch movies on a date with your spouse?
26) Have you ever made a prank phone call? Thanks to my cousins the Meyers, I've made quite a few - most along the lines of "Is your refrigerator running? Well, you'd better go and catch it."
27) Do you own a gun? No, but Geoff has a pump action rifle that sounds scary even though we don't own shells for it. After my neighbor was murdered, Geoff and I borrowed a gun with shells and kept it in the hallway for awhile, but we've since calmed down and returned it.
28) Can you count backwards from 74? Sure, isn't this what they ask you to do when you're going under anaesthesia?
29) Brown or white eggs? we buy brown because Geoff thinks they're more natural (not actually true, it has to do with the type of chicken and what they eat)
30) Ever been on a train? Several times, and I've been on the RTF in France which I'm pretty sure is the fastest train in the world.
31) Are you too forgiving? Is that possible? Then it depends, what did you do?
32) Do you use Chap-Stick? Sometimes
33) What is your best friend doing tomorrow? Hopefully having lunch with me
34) Can you use chop sticks? I can do a passable impression of using them
35) Ever had cream puffs? At a bridal shower or reception or something - gross
36) What was the last CD you bought? Casting Crowns
37) Is your hair curly? Straight as a stick
38) Ever walked into a wall? All the time; I should seriously get my head out of the clouds!
39) Fav time of the year? Fall
40) Favorite color? Yellow
41) Are you sarcastic? Me? Never!
42) Do you have any tattoos? Yes, an ichthus on my ankle (Christian fish with the Greek letters); I go back and forth between liking and hating it
43) Do you sleep with the TV on? I can't. Seriously, if there is a show on, even if I've seen it a thousand times, I have to see it through to the end.
44) What is your favorite animal? All of them, seriously, I love horses and dogs, and cats, really just about anything with fur or hair.
45) Can you hula hoop? I can make it go around once or twice

Trying to Get on with Life

This past weekend in an effort to get on with life a little bit, I had mom, dad and Mercy come visit and go to the Auburn City Fest, a local shangri-la for kids. Most of the events are free, and M really racked up the prizes and had a great day. I'll have pictures as soon as mom gets a chance to download them to a computer and send them my way. I only had a few photos to share today.

After the fair Mercy had an ice cream cone, which she enjoyed with all the fervor of a two-year-old. She's sitting on our walkway looking at a flower she got (for free) from the fair.

Mom and Dad also enjoyed some ice cream under the tree. Wonder if they'll be mad at me for posting this picture? It looks like mom managed to get the entire scoop in her mouth at once!

Finally, Geoff and I spent Sunday planting things and spreading mulch and generally being in the yard. It's good to do these things, to get up and get moving. As I said in my last post, I'm not doing great at the moment, but I am trying to manage all of these feelings the best way I know how. Gardening is good for that sort of thing. I put together two pots for the back patio like the one below.

I have some other things to post about, some playing catch up and some just trying to fill some space. And I hope to have a slideshow to put together soon of this past weekend. I think mom got some good pictures, and I'm sure Gini would like to see them.

I went back to work today and cried much of the morning. It was a fairly busy day and tomorrow promises to also be busy, and I think that's just best for now. Keep my focus off my sorrows and allow me just to work. I will be training a new co-worker next week. On Wednesday I am off to St. Louis for a work trip and will be gone through the remainder of the work week. I think it will be a good thing for me to be out and about, but I'm going to miss Geoff. I've really gotten clingy since last week and nothing beats the comfort that my hub provides.

I will probably not blog until after the St. Louis trip. Hopefully mom will have some pictures to me by then...

How are you?

I was reading back over what I wrote the other day before surgery and realized what a game face I was putting on. I'm not as strong or emotionless about this whole thing as I tried to come across in that post. And specifically, one thing the doctor said to Geoff while I was in recovery was that this was truly a pregnancy and truly a baby. He said if we hadn't been on clomid and all, we may still not know that this pregnancy was not going to result in the nine month delivery of a child, because we wouldn't have had such early ultrasounds. I tried to brush over this in my last post, like it was just a fertilized egg and nothing more, but for me this was so disappointing. I thought at first it would be helpful to know that we never had to go through seeing the heartbeat start and then stop. But I'm not sure if that really changes much at all. The doctor is right. I was really pregnant for nearly 10 weeks, and losing a pregnancy is losing a baby.
I guess it just goes to show you how we process. One day we're thinking, "I can handle this," the next we're breaking down.
I'm sick of being asked how are you by folks because the socially acceptable response to this question is "fine" "good" or "okay" and right now none of these really fits. Right now I'm hurting, frustrated, and feeling like I'm supposed to suck it up and move on. It was a few days ago now, let's put it out of mind and move on. Yeah. Right.
But what an adjustment. Just last week I was pregnant, with high hopes for a Thanksgiving bundle of joy. I'd contracted a nanny and pre-approved my post-delivery work schedule. I'd bought a crib, maternity clothes, and a baby swing. I had been thinking about going to Babies R Us to register.
And now? I think I'm kind of lost. I'm suddenly not pregnant, and I don't even have a baby to show for it. I can't focus on work stuff because everything there has changed. I'm not sure how to adjust back to what it was like a little over two months ago, because I had changed gears to be focused on a future that should have come in 7 months.
After Wednesday, I had to put away a bunch of stuff, just get it out of sight. The crib would be too difficult to remove right now, but everything else has been stuffed into closets or the attic. And right now I don't want to look at baby or mom stuff; I don't want to hear about other peoples' babies or pregnancies or whatever. I threw away my pregnancy journal, which I was really enjoying writing in, and the sonagram picture from 7 weeks and all of the gifts from the doctor's office (which are basically promotional type items) and the positive pregnancy tests.
I think I would like to forget any of this happened, but I guess that's just how I'm feeling today. Tomorrow I may feel something a little different, who knows...
I'm feeling a little angry right now at things I don't want to be angry about, people I don't want to feel angry at. It is so frustrating to find others getting pregnant while on birth control, when I have sepnt nearly 5 years of marriage with no birth control and can't seem to conceive (effectively) without medical assistance. It's hard for me to see so many folks who haven't even been at this marriage thing for nearly as long as Geoff and I have, and they are already having children to show for it. I feel left behind. I feel a little defective. First the problem was that I couldn't ovulate at all. And then when I finally do, the egg was bad. I mean, could I just exchange my female parts for ones that work?!?
But after this week, I find that I am also a little glad that we can't just get right back to trying to get pregnant. For one, the D&C doesn't leave me feeling very sexy. But also, I'm emotionally not ready to deal with the possibility of going through this process again, and just because we've had one miscarriage now doesn't mean that we won't have another one. I can guarantee that Geoff and I will not tell a soul that we're pregnant next time until we know for sure that everything is really looking good. I want the doctor's word that all looks great at 12 weeks before I will breathe a word of this to anyone.
I haven't given up hope, but the answer to "how are you?" is not "fine" "good" or even "okay" at the moment, and that's just the way it is for now.

Not the Post You've Been Waiting For

Tomorrow morning, three days shy of ten weeks, our first pregnancy will end in some outpatient surgery. That's right - we finally managed to get pregnant, something I was so excited about only a few weeks ago, until we had our first ultrasound, which showed a clearly defined gestational sac with a great looking yolk in it, only problem being it was supposed to contain a fetus. We scheduled a second ultrasound 10 days later in hopes of having simply been off on our dates. The second ultrasound (Monday) proved to show only an empty sac.
We're processing right now, but doing okay. One bonus of this situation (if you want to call it that) is the fact that it has made us a stronger team. Geoff has been a big supporter through the last few days, and volunteered whole-heartedly to be my caretaker through the next few days of surgery and recovery. Pray for me especially through Mother's Day and if you feel like leaving me a message, please leave off the part about "it just wasn't meant to be." Sorry if that sounds like I'm being picky or cranky, but don't people think we know all that? We're not angry at God and we're not feeling particularly overwhelmed or depressed by this. But we don't need to constantly here this phrase or its many variations.
The biggest thing that has made it easier was the fact that we never saw the fetus develop, never heard a heartbeat. In fact, in some respects, there never was a baby at all - just a fertilized egg that never developed into more. The loss seems different somehow. The biggest thing that has made it harder is the fact that we are over 9 weeks into this process of feeling and for all practical purposes being pregnant. We wish we had known earlier that the egg was not developing, but c'est la vie, we really are okay.
My weekend with my folks a few weekends ago was really fun. Before we realized the problem we spent the weekend preparing for a baby, preparations that I am still confident won't go to waste. We bought a crib and swing and some blankets and such, and we went through our storage unit and discovered the perfect dresser and rocker, both of which are being fixed up for the future. And my dad helped put some finishing touches on the house, painting our columns white.
On another note, my neighbor's trial has been postponed yet again and my patience in dealing with her runs very thin. I have recently caught her in some more lying (she is hoarding child support money meant for her children) and I am really tired of the situation and unsure about the future of this relationship. But right now I think I just have my own cares to deal with, and I'm taking a bit of a break there.
Well, like I said, not the post you or I were hoping for, but it is what it is. And if at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
We appreciate your prayers.

Wonderful Weekends

I haven't been absent that long, but everyone wants to know why I haven't written. Just been crazy busy (not to mention tired from being busy)!!! After several months of straining the budget, I decided to take on full-time hours at work for the remainder of the year, trying to help keep Geoff and I in the clear on money. So work has been an adjustment, and I've just had my mind on other things for awhile.
However, you want me to post something, so here I am.
I find myself wedged between two wonderful weekends. The first was two weeks ago when Gini (my sister) and my neice M came to visit. If you'd like to see a slideshow (which I know I promised earlier) use the side menu of blog links and go to "My sister." She's posted some since then, but scroll down and you'll find pics of all of our fun. I would have posted my own slideshow, but discovered when I went to use my camera that it had not been recharged!
I always love having both of them to visit. M really enjoyed our "Puddy-Pud," Irving. And I continued my now long-standing tradition of falling down anytime M is in town.
Last summer she was visiting and we went to Hickory Dickory Park. We were all having a good time when suddenly out of nowhere, I slipped and fell flat on my back. All M could say about this adventure was "Minnah fell down," which she repeated for at least a week afterward to anyone who asked her about her trip down to see me.
Well, I had to outdo myself on this trip. M and I were sitting on my front porch on that nice swing Geoff gave me for Christmas, just minding our own business swinging back and forth and suddenly - CRASH! Down came swing with me on it and M on me. No one was hurt, not even the swing, but we were all quite startled. The swing is still on the ground. I guess we need a longer screw to hold it in. I know the wood in the ceiling is all new so I think I just didn't get it in there deep enough.
I did say I outdid myself, right? So one fall was certainly not enough to content me.
G and M and I went to Frog Legs, our new Opelika establishment with loads of indoor inflatables for kids to play on. M needed a little help from time to time, so G and I took turns. (Can I mention that I'm really impressed at my sister getting up there and doing these climbing and sliding things at 6 months pregnant)? Anyway, I was just finishing up one slide with M and the step down was about 3 feet. Someone had put this nice little stepping block to help folks get down (or so I thought). Only it wasn't solid. It was entirely made of foam! So I stepped like it was solid and it squished and flipped and there I was, flat on my back again with little kids running and jumping over me to get onto the big slide. M unfortunately missed Minnah falling this time as she had found another slide or jumping, climbing station to enjoy, but Gini laughed so hard that she cried.
Anyway, Gini told me I just had to share my humiliation with the world, so there's your laugh for the day.
I'd write more about that weekend, but the pictures speak for themselves (and this post is getting really long as it is).
And I did say I was sandwiched between two wonderful weekends, so let me just say, I'll have another post soon about the lovely weekend that starts tomorrow (taking another Friday off). Mom and Dad are on their way to visit! I won't tell you what all we're up to now, because I'm sure you'll enjoy hearing about it when it's over. Just let it suffice that I've been counting days (and am now counting hours) until this weekend gets here, so I'm sure it's going to be great!

Visitors!!!

With three blogs I'm actively participating in, and now going basically full-time at work, it's amazing I have any time for anything. But the weekend is coming (my last Friday off) and my sister and neice are on their way for a visit! Mercy is not the only one excited about finally checking out "Frog Legs Inflatables" here in Opelika. Her Aunt Minnah just can't wait to see her and her oh-so-preggo mama.
We're also going to be heading up to B'ham all together for an A Cappella Choir reunion at Samford. I've been back and forth on going, but will be glad to be there with my sis, who was at least 1/2 the reason I tried out for and participated in A Cappella, something I certainly am thrilled that I did.
I'll be sure to get some pics while they're in town and while we're all travelling together in B'ham, and will post a nice photoshow when I return.
Happy weekend...

Anah

After changing my blog for Easter, I took off the verse that I used to have at the bottom of the screen. Many of you may never have noticed the verse. Perhaps I ought to edit my blog so that T.S Eliot's quote will be placed at the bottom and this verse at the top. I just might do that when I have time later...
Anyway, the verse is a big time favorite of mine:
"You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great." Psalm 18:35
This morning I started an online Bill Gothard Bible Study on the Commands of Christ with a group of ladies. This morning's lesson was on repentence, but something in the additional reading caught my attention. It said:
"Several Hebrew words are translated humble. One is anah, which means 'to stoop, be downcast, bow down; to be afflicted; to weaken oneself; to mishandle'.” When God stoops down to make us great, he humbles himself in the manner of this Hebrew word "anah." What greater example of humility do we have than that of Christ, who as Paul says in Phillipians, "who being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but instead made himself nothing, taking the very form of a servant, being made in human likeness; and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!"
God stooped down all the way to earth. And he didn't settle for being a king in all of his glory - he stooped down to the level of servant, he weakened himself, he gave himself up to be afflicted. And for what purpose? Well, certainly for His own glory. But also so that we could be made heirs with Christ our brother!
Yesterday morning I sang and played violin in an Easter sunrise service. The song we sang reawakened me to the love of God. If you haven't heard "Who am I" by Casting Crowns, I suggest you check it out, thinking about the God who humbled Himself, not even stopping short of death, who stooped down to make us (YOU) great.

New Recipe

I've posted my March recipe of the month. This soup is great for a quick lunch - it literally takes no time at all and is very very tasty, even with mostly no-sodium ingredients. The book it came from is a new favorite of mine "Meals in Minutes" from the American Heart Association. Bon Appetit!

A New Look for Easter

My blog has a new look in anticipation of Easter. I'll post a new recipe in the next day or two. In the meanwhile, happy reading and Happy Easter.
He has risen indeed!

The Business of Church

Isn’t it sad when the business world is a safer place than the church world?

[DISCLAIMER: The contents of this post have been edited, I hope in a manner that will still allow it to be meaningful to readers. If you find yourself at a loss to understand the context, either ignore it or email and ask me for more information…]

Sometimes it feels right to be very, very angry when it seems you’ve been placed by God right in the path of destruction – especially destruction created by a person who has set himself up as someone to be trusted, or as a spiritual leader. It can be just as bad to have to stand by and watch people you love suffer – seemingly for no reason at all! And all people can say is "let go and let God" and all of that trite baloney?!? Or how about this whopper: "wish we could do something to help... but we don't know what to do that would not harm the good work and the reputation of our church or our pastor." Or the simple: "we are praying for you and wish you the best of everything in this life" unaccompanied by any genuine assistance.

I’m reminded of scripture: "Oh you foolish Galatians! Who has deceived you?!" "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10 "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" Galatians 6:2. It is amazing how God's word is ignored by "His people!"

God’s true people are being persecuted by the church, and what for? For their honesty. Where are the church staff members, the church deacons, elders, members who will stand up for truth? They have been told not to seek the truth; they’ve been hushed by “you don’t want to know.” And maybe it’s become true – they don’t want to know. Their comfort has become more important than sacrifice. They have shown where their allegiance truly lies.

I blogged awhile back about triumphal Christianity. We are told to accept that "it's not about you," and then (if we accept that it isn't about us), God will reward us with all the lovely things this world has to offer. Wouldn’t that just make it all about us? Our acceptance that “it's not about us” is considered our sacrifice?! WOW!

What kind of Christianity is this? "We don't want to know [the truth];" gosh I just keep thinking, "oh you foolish Galatians! Who has deceived you???" God's mission for his church will not/cannot go on unhindered without the Truth.

More on this to follow...

More Observations from Dallas Willard

{Material from a long-ago chat with mom re: Dallas Willard's Hearing God}

Willard says (in Hearing God) that scripture can be divided one way into incidentals and principals. Take the parable of the rich young ruler, for example. Is this incidental or principal? Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell all he had and follow Him. Was Jesus’ statement intended for the entirety of the human race to use as a dictate? Should we all go and sell all that we have and follow Him? This, Willard says (and I agree) is an incidental story. The rich young ruler was told to sell all by Jesus, because Jesus saw that this specific man needed to deal with this specific area of his life. That doesn't mean that all people are supposed to sell all they have, but it may mean that there are other rich young rulers out there who will be convicted to sell all and follow Him. It’s not a principal, it’s an incident; an instructive anecdote, not an anecdotal instruction.

But plenty of Christ’s words are principals. "Love the Lord your God with all your mind, soul and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. Do unto others…" There is a fairly big difference between the commands of Christ (the principals) and the incidental stories in scripture. Both are intended to instruct us in how to live, but only some are meant to be taken as true dictums that are one-size-fits all of Christendom.

It seems that a lot of what you read in popular (instructive) Christian writings are incidentals being written as principals. In the human quest to figure out the “perfect (easy) method to find the perfect walk with God" some “theologian” finds an obscure verse that can “de-code” the rest of scripture and allow you to prosper in the Christian walk like never before. The Prayer of Jabez. An incident, not a principal. That prayer was meant for Jabez to pray. Should others pray similarly? Some people, some of the time. But when Jesus tells us, “this is how you should pray…” it is a principal, meant to apply to all people all the time.

What happens through this “Christian” writing is that people entirely MISS the principals because they are wrapped up in the incidentals. As responsible, intellectual Christians, we debate whether or not to attack these “Christian” works, because there is no doubt that they have some merit; they espouse some truth. The problem becomes that people MISS the big truths because they are focusing on these lesser things. People would rather read The Purpose Driven Life for thirty days, than read the bible every day for the rest of their life on earth. It’s easier. So they miss God, but gain religion...

Comments welcome.

Just Dreaming... The If/When Game

Here are the names we're set on for if/when we finally get pregnant. Since we're using fertility methods (thereby increasing odds of twins) we've chosen two boy and two girl names. An interesting note, we've decided the signature family thing for our kids will be that everyone goes by their middle name, like their dad does.
So here they are:
William Everett Peel - boy name 1 "Everett"
Linwood James Peel - boy name 2 "James"
Charlotte Edith Peel - girl name 1 "Edie"
Martha Kathleen Peel - girl name 2 "Katy"
All family names, and fairly old fashioned. We've had Everett and Edie set for so long, and their definitely the favorites. I would love to have boy/girl twins just to use those two names together. Too cute, you know?
William was Geoff's mother's father, Everett was my mother's father. Linwood was Geoff's father's father, James was my mother's mother's second husband and her brother (my great-uncle). Charlotte is Geoff's mother's best friend and like an aunt to Geoff, Edith comes from my name and Edith Schaeffer. Martha was Geoff's mother's aunt (a missionary all her life to South America and a remarkable woman I met a few years ago at her 100th birthday celebration) and my Aunt's name, and Kathleen is Geoff's sister's middle name and also a derivative of the many Katie's/Kathy's etc in my mother's family. I love names with meaning.

Subject Matter

So I've seriously been trying to come up with something to blog about, and I keep coming up short. I've found it fascinating that all my life I've been called a writer and told I have talent in that arena, but I get online and discover that I'm nothing of the sort - at least not in this medium of the blog. Cricker's blog is full of such funny anecdotal clips and great quotable material that I never tire of reading and re-reading her posts. And my sister has turned out to be such an enjoyable writer. I love to read Shelby's blog, I get inspiration from Summer and Aunt Kathy.
But on my blog, I feel like a real dud.
Sure, every now and again I get some topic about which I'm passionate and I write something that I think is decent. Maybe this blog thing is a bit like the digital camera. You can take as many snapshots as you want because the storage space is limitless, but only some of them will be good. And I've worked all my life to be less verbose, so that I'm disinclined to write just for the sake of writing, and wait instead to say something that needs to be said, and try to say it with a certain amount of style.
I guess this is just not a natural medium for me. Everyone else seems to journal with ease, showing themselves as transparently on the web as they do in real life. Am I still playing games? Am I still trying to always put my best foot forward, and always be the best, the most polished at everything? Is this post just more of the same? Who am I even writing this for, and WHY?
I think too much...

Auld Lang Syne

Or however you spell that. :)
Just feeling grateful today for old friends. I have recently gotten back in touch with some old friends. I was talking with my mom the other day about how hard it is to have friends and make friends as a late 20s, nearly 30s person. I felt that part of the reason for this is because we are spending our time building our homes, and we allow very little time for anything aside from family obligations. Not to mention childbirth and rearing and the alienation that brings. So during a time of isolation, it's nice to reach out and be reminded of childhood memories shared with childhood friends.
I'm feeling young at heart today and enjoying remembering auld lang syne...

A New Bed for Soo

After receiving a well-intentioned jab from my husband about the size of Soozie's old bed (something about a saccharin tablet - a bit of an exaggeration), I went to Petco to see what was on sale. I came home with a big pink cordoroy bed for Soozie, less than 1/2 price! She has hardly gotten off the thing since I brought it home and she bares her teeth at Colson if he gets too close. (We're going to work on that). :)
In other news, I'm still fighting this cold (end of week three now!), but doing much better. Geoff is a little sick with it too, so what a fun pair we make for the moment. And once again, I'm working on decorating projects at the house - new curtains, new paint, new wallpaper - you never know what will be different each time you visit! It's just like going to my grandmother's house, the decor is constantly changing...

A Prayer for Rosemary

"This I call to mind and therefore I have hope: because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness... The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him... For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though He brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love." ~ from Lamentations chapter 3.

I have found that the more I seek to show God's love to a friend, the more God seeks to show His love to me. The truths that I feel my friend needs to hear are those that God uses to minister to me.

My friend Rosemary is in jail for murder. It is a murder that I do not believe she committed, but a murder I do believe she caused. When she and her family moved in next door to us around two and a half years ago, I had no idea that this is what the future would hold. I saw four beautiful children and a single mom, being supported by a much older boyfriend. I experienced a call to minister to this disjointed family, and my husband and I answered that call - forming a friendship that ebbed and flowed through the following two years.

When the family moved away last August, we vowed to keep in touch. Little did we know that within a week of their move, we would be keeping in touch with Rosemary behind bars. With Rosemary suspected of murder, I knew that she would be very alone, and that I had a choice to make about my continued responsibility in her life.

At first I wasn't certain whether I was being an ungodly onlooker in business that was better off without me. I have a great disgust of this tendency in all of us, myself included - that we are drawn to other's suffering. If you look within yourself or others you know, I think you will see this tendency. It is akin to gossip. We like to be experts on other people's grief. It's amazing how when someone has a tragedy, there are suddenly "friends" present who we'd never known before. I think we do this because we like the way that others look at us when we are so compassionate and kind. It sickens me when I discover it in myself.

However, regardless of whether this was what initially drew me to continue my contact with Rosemary, I sincerely believed that God had not released me from this friendship. Over the last six months, I can see not only confirmation that God wanted me to remain in contact with her, but I can also see some of what He is choosing to do through this friendship.

For example, I do not tell folks "I'll pray for you" very often. It is a promise I hesitate to make, because it is not a light thing to say. I believe you make a commitment before God when you speak those words, and that far too many people use them far too lightly. These words often even become a blanket excuse, as if promising to pray for someone negates your Christian obligation of charity, as if when you pray you no longer need to help others to meet their physical needs. But I told Rosemary I would pray.

I can only thank God that I made that promise to Rosemary, because there have been events in the past six months that have threatened my often unsteady prayer life. Sometimes Rosemary is the reason that I pray. And I believe that God is using her to minister to me, while He uses me to minister to her.

Rosemary reminds me of my own guilt before Him, and of His great compassion for me. And when I speak the truth to her, like God's promises in Lamentations, that He does not cast us off forever, my faith is strengthened. The more I try to help her to believe, the more I believe.

So tonight I encourage you to commit yourself to pray for someone you love. When you can't love yourself enough to pray for your own needs, maybe lifting up someone else to God, even if the words feel like an empty fulfillment of an obligation, maybe God will use that to change your heart. Voicing someone else's hurts can give you an opening to voice your own. I'm still struggling to speak to God about my hurts, my anger, my fear, my pain, my desires, my needs, but tonight I will start my prayers with Rosemary; and if God can heal her, He can heal me too.

Out Sick

So apparently everyone I blog with is having this same post. I have a cold. What's funny about the cold is this:
When I got up this morning, I realized I was no good for working, so I went back to sleep, setting the alarm for 7:45. At 7:45 I got up again and went to email my boss to say I wouldn't be in. I had an email from my boss saying he wouldn't be in because he had developed a cold. So I had to call him and tell him I was sick as well and we both sounded the same. Which turned into a conversation about who gave whom the cold, etc.
The truth of the matter is, we both got the cold because we've been trying to split three jobs between the two of us. My co-worker is probably reading this saying - hey don't blame me or just feeling bad she's not around to help, but seriously, things have been crazy busy at good ol' FFG. It was probably just time for both my boss and I to take a break and rest.
So I'm home today, resting. And by the way - check out the February recipe - it's so tasty and so easy!

A Real Post

So for months now most of my posts have been about the house. Which I guess at least some of you are bored with. Where are the real posts? Where are the gut-wrenchingly honest posts about my life and what's going on?
The answer is I don't know. When I first set out to blog, I had no idea why I did it. I hate the idea of sharing everything with everyone, not that I have any big secrets. Who in their right mind would want to broadcast every feeling, every thought, every happenstance of their life to the world? But then again, who are we fooling?
So you want to know where I am right now? I'm struggling, but making it. I'm struggling once again with my weight. I managed to lose 30 lbs last year, then had an issue with my husband that rocked my world and made me wonder why I was working so hard to be in shape. So now when I go to the gym I wonder what I'm doing it for and I have all sorts of added fears that it will never be enough. I try to remind myself that I'm doing this for me, not for him, and that I'm doing it to increase my chances of being able to have some healthy children.
And there's another struggle - having children. It's so hard to watch others who don't even try to get pregnant get pregnant when they sneeze. It's hard for those of us who desparately want children and are told by doctors to take this pill and that pill and the other pill and keep our legs elevated and on and on. It would/will be harder after all of the methods of increasing my fertility are exhausted, and luckily we are not at that point yet. But still, I am frustrated and struggling.
And then there is work - but this struggle is only for a time. I admit, my career is very new to me, and I am not even close to knowing it all. That is actually what makes it fun and challenging at times, but it also tests my patience and humility. Because I'm used to being good at everything. And sometimes looking at all of the tasks I've taken on during a coworker's maternity leave, I feel completely overwhelmed, like I don't know where to start. It's not that I'm not capable, it's that I just don't have the experience and knowledge that she does, so things that she'd have done in 10 minutes take me 10 days. I'll get there, I know. When I've been in the business for five years and have some more training and licensing under my belt, I'll look back at these little things and laugh. But today, it humbles me to struggle to do the work set out for me.
So what's the point of sharing all of this? I guess I'm just trying to give more of myself than a photoshow of my house. I love the house and all of the work we put into it. It's a wonderful place which I feel Geoff and I are really turning into a great place for another young couple to get their start down the road (when our family grows too large to stay here any longer). And so much is going well for me and for my marriage and my life. After living in Auburn for four and a half years, I'm finally starting to develop some female friendships, I've gotten actively involved in church and music, I have a job that I LOVE, a home that I LOVE, and a husband that I LOVE. And yet I struggle. Such is the condition of all men in this life, on this earth. And thus ends an honest snapshot of where I am this morning.

The Post You've All Been Waiting For

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Snow Day!!!

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Outdoor Projects

I changed my mind and decided to post pics of the outside project. As you can see, the columns won the vote. Actually, this was a budget decision. They were just much less expensive. They have not yet been painted.

What remains to be done on this project:

• Pour the concrete walkway
• Pour the concrete side stoop
• Pour the section of driveway that has been torn up
• Put up the iron railing on the side stoop
• Replace the fence/gate
• Clean up!

The contractor says he has at most, four days of work left. The weather is going to delay those four days indefinitely though. I'm thinking no work will be done next week looking at this weather!

What we will do to "finish" the work:

• Paint the columns white
• Stain the porch swing
• Dress the front flower bed

The contractor is going to take Geoff to get a rock the size of our swing for the front flower bed, as a center piece. We're pretty pumped about getting the area landscaped. Well, that's all for now, folks!

Indoor Projects

So I decided to start an indoor project of my own. While Geoff's been working in the attic, I've been working in the study. The walls in here are atrocious. They have been an eyesore since we moved in. And the rest of the house has been looking so nice that I really wanted to get this room in shape. Plus, we recently decided to take the door off of this room to allow some light in, and that means it's very accessible/right out there in front.

Geoff picked out the wallpaper with me. Up close it looks like a grass mat. It's a good fit for our house, and it's somewhat textured which works well to cover up the crazy drywalls in this room.

I was gung ho for this project when I first started it yesterday morning, thinking I would also wallpaper the hallway. Not anymore! Wallpapering by yourself is really difficult and time consuming and messy. We're both thrilled with the end product, but I'm not likely to start another wallpaper job anytime soon.

I'll add another picture of this room when it stops raining and we can move the furniture in and all of that...

A Smorgasboard Post

So life has been busy lately and I was trying to think of a way to catch everyone up on things. I decided to steal an idea from Cricker's Live Journal blog and create a list. So here's everything I can think of needing an update in no particular order:

1. My co-worker Summer delivered a healthy baby boy yesterday. This means I am now working full time and trying to cover as much of both of our jobs as possible. I'm sure I'll post more on how this is going after I adjust. Let's just say this was the most hectic day I've had in a long, long time. Can you tell from the picture that there's a bit of a gleam in my eye? Here's hoping the Lord blesses us with our own bundle of joy in 2008!

2. For the sake of building up to the dramatic reveal, I've decided not to post anymore pictures of the porch for the moment. The finished product should be available in about a week to two weeks, so that's not too long to ask you to wait. I will likely post pictures of other parts of the project, but not of the porch itself. So you'll all just have to wait to see whether the iron or columns won out.

3. Geoff's motorcycle is back - hallelujah - and just in time for the weather to turn cold again. They are even talking like we might have some snow this week (a big deal since it's been at least 5 years since Auburn last saw snow of any kind). We are going tonight to get him a little better prepared for riding in the cold. (He drove the other night without gloves or a face mask and that was too much!) Now if only we had a place to put the motorcycle when he's not actually on it!

4. I passed my Series 66 licensing and am now a fully licensed General Securities Registered Representative and a fully licensed Investment Advisor Representative. This was perfect timing as I needed the license prior to Summer going on maternity leave and she had the baby early. Boy am I glad to be finished studying!

5. Happy birthday to me. In anticipation of celebrating my 27th birthday (holy cow - I can't possibly be that old yet!), we went ahead and got my birthday present - a new sofa. The picture doesn't do it justice (it came from my camera phone), so I'll post another soon. I've been thinking of doing a slideshow of my house, a little tour, when we finish a few more projects.

6. We've been informed by my former neighbor who has been indicted on murder charges that we will be subpoenaed for the murder trial at the end of February. We have no idea who actually did this or who to believe. I continue to maintain a friendship with my neighbor, who is just a year older than me and has four children. We will be visiting her in jail in a few weeks and are looking forward to hearing the whole story at the trial, just so that we can put it all behind us and clear up all of the confusion (hopefully).

And finally (for today)...

7. Geoff's family is all in Auburn now. His dad is officially buying a trailer nearby, and his sister's family is settled into their jobs, schools, and home here. I decided to include a funny photo of taking my nephews and niece to Wal-Mart the other day. The legs belong to Matthew, age 7. I wasn't so sure about everyone moving here, but so far it has been great to be able to spend time with my nephews and niece and sister-in-law.

Not my project...

So last night I offered to help Geoff with the attic because his hired help (Dad) had been detained elsewhere. I didn't really want to help because I was really tired. And as helpful as an attic is, and as happy as I am about him doing this project, I did not feel like this was the appropriate timing for such a venture, so have made it clear that this is not my project.
Geoff thought this was a cute picture of me last night - yes, we vaccuumed the attic! I think it makes my face look fat, but oh well. None of us is ever really all that satisfied with pictures of ourselves are we?
Anyway, at some point, there was an attic fan in this house which sucked a bunch of dust up into the attic. I cleaned all the dust I could get off the rafters last night. Also, in all those trash bags from cleaning up here, are what appeared to be two bales of pinestraw - well, one of pinestraw and one of hay. We have no idea what they were doing up here. In one of them last night we found four very old bird eggs. I think they're robin eggs, Geoff's going to check.
Tonight I have praise team rehearsal, so no attic duties for me, and my head is so stuffy that that is a very good thing! This weekend Geoff's Dad will be back to help him out, and I will be turning my attention to putting Geoff's man room together. More on that project later... Right now I'd better finish getting ready for work!

My 100th Post!

In honor of my 100th post, I've decided to add a new page element to my blog. If you check the sidebar under my pic and "about me" blurb, I have added a "recipe of the month." This month the recipe comes from my Nene, my Dad's mom. It's a favorite from my childhood. (By the way, serve the stew over rice).

I'd love to encourage any and all of my readers who are interested to do a similar something - to post a recipe once in awhile for the rest of us to check out. I've already got enough great quick and easy dishes to last the year on my blog.

Well, happy reading! Happy New Year! And remember, if you make the stew - No peeping!

My Christmas Present

This is not the greatest picture, because I took it at a weird hour and the lighting was difficult. But I wanted to use this one so that you could not only get a picture of my porch swing, but you could also take a look at some of the craftsmanship of the work that's been done on this porch. I wish I had taken some more detail pictures of what was there before, because you wouldn't believe the difference in quality!

Needless to say, I'm thrilled to have the swing up. And the porch supports will be in on Thursday, which means by the end of the week, I'll have a completely functional porch. I'm not going to tell you which type of supports won out between the columns and the cast iron. You'll know when I post a picture on Friday, so be on the lookout.

Also, take a look at the brickmasonry on this porch. Isn't it beautiful?? The color of the concrete looks splotchy still. They say it takes about 10 days in the winter to dry and even out in tone. Also, we will be staining the swing in the not too distant future.

As you have seen from my other posts, we have taken on some big home projects lately indoors, so who knows when we'll be done (and I've updated the attic slideshow, so take another look for more photos). All I can say about having a "starter" home is that they're right - you definitely start the home, it's the stopping that's a problem. It seems we're always working on one thing or another.

I'm really happy about all of the choices that we've made, though. Our home is not only a great investment of our time and money, it's a real home for both of us, full of all the things that make having a home worth all the blood, sweat and tears that go into working on a house. :)

More Home Projects *Updated*

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Funny Feet

So at first I thought that socks with defined toes would be really uncomfortable and odd. They look strange enough! But then I realized how nice it is to be able to wear socks with my fuzzy slippers on a cold wood floor on these winter nights! Thought I'd share. Geoff is always amazed at my crazy socks, largely because I rarely bother to wear two of a kind...

Warm and Dry and Time to Pour

Well, I wouldn't really call 45 degrees warm, but apparently above freezing will work for pouring concrete. So the temps are right and the weather is right (no rain for the weekend) and lo and behold around 2:30 PM I heard the unmistakeable sound of a concrete truck (beep beep beep) backing up into my front yard.

I really wanted to go out and video this process. It took less than an hour. The most amazing part was watching the cement truck back right up to the window. I thought he was going to come right on into the house! But, yes, folks, we have a front porch. Now I just have to find out how long concrete takes to dry, so we can hang my new porch swing out there!

More work being done

After a nice long Christmas break, the contractor got back to work on the house, getting the porch all ready to pour concrete. Unfortunately, the weather turned too cold to pour the concrete yet, so we're still waiting. One thing you wouldn't have seen from the Christmas video in my last post is that Geoff got me a PORCH SWING for Christmas!!! I'll definitely post pics of that when the porch is up and running!

Our little Christmas

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