No Words

Spalding High School Homecoming Parade

I cannot muster up the words to type to explain my absence. We have not been really busy, just normal stuff. I did go to Birmingham to an awesome conference through Lifeway. There was an advertisement on the back of the Homelife magazine about six months ago and I knew I wanted to go. I'd never visited Birmingham before plus an added bonus: Angie Smith was speaking. She is so phenomenal. She is real, has seen loss and rejoices in her glorious faith. Her first book I Will Carry You was great and told the story of her daughter who died shortly after she was born. She just released a new book, What Women Fear and while I have not finished reading it completely her session was very raw and open. Amazing. We had a fun time in a new city. I had a little catch in my back - Yowsers - but the ride there and back was fine. We even went for a little run Saturday morning. We also managed to get in some shopping at The Summit! Our diet was a little compromised you could say. I don't think that one tuna fish sandwich, salt and vinegar chips, a strawberry/pomegranate bar, TCBY yogurt, a diet Mountain Dew and a bag of white cheddar popcorn would be the ideal meals for being gone for 36 hours. Seriously, that could be what put me over the edge.

When I say put me over the edge I mean my back is OVER THE EDGE!!! Sunday afternoon while walking home from Pressley's birthday party I felt a little catch in my back, shooting down my leg and into my foot where electrical currents were pulsing into the bottom of my foot. UGH. I wanted to lie down in the neighbor's grass. Monday morning when I was unable to stand at the counter to pack my children's lunches I called my sweet friend to come help. If you know me, I do not ask for help often. She immediately came and we got into a great group of doctors Monday morning in McDonough. Three pinched nerves later I have been in the bed since then. Actually, I've been up and down and trying to prove that I'm going to get better but this sciatic or whatever it is is life altering and paralyzing. I will forever have a different view on others that suffer this type of pain. This is Thursday and I'm feeling a little better. However, I am still crippled after standing for a period of time or walking. It's something I've never before experienced. I need to make a list because I have pleaded with God and promised him things if I can just be out of the pain. My devotion book, Jesus Calling said that in my weakness I am able to focus more on Him. I am weak and I am asking and praying diligently for his powerful healing. Please join with me.

Scott's 20 year reunion

Scott's 20 year class reunion was a couple of weeks ago. A trip down memory lane as we reminisced about meeting at his 10 year! Has it really been 10 years? This is when fancy bloggers could somehow pull up/scan a pic of us from the 10 yr. I'll try to figure that one out!

We had a fun time. There may be a few details I won't share but in all it was great. This is my new friend, Sloan. I enjoyed hearing her stories of Scott in high school. She was the professional iPhone photographer!

Stansberry pics 8/11

Sweet sister Cindy took our pics at the end of August. We possibly should've waited til mid December as much as we were sweating. Thank goodness the heat didn't bother the kids. They were troopers. Scott wheeled in just as she was snapping the last shot so he jumped in the last pic. Obviously, Ben was DONE.

Lillee's Baptism 8-28-11

This past summer Lillee Grace began talking to us about being baptized. We started asking her questions and mentioned talking with our pastor at church. There was an announcement that our church would be having a baptism at the Flynt River. I knew that if our family was going I'd better mention to Lillee before getting down there. When I told her about the opportunity she immediately said that she wanted to do it. Baxter told her that he'd never want to do that in his lifetime. Her response was, "Baxter, you're going to have to do this sometime in your life if you want to show people that you're a Christian and you have Jesus in your heart." I knew after that sweet statement to her brother that she was indeed mature enough and ready to make this commitment.
I called our pastor to talk with him about seeing Lillee the week before. He gave us the option of Scott doing the baptism. Wow - talk about tears at 10 a.m. for me. Scott immediately said yes as long as Lillee wanted him to. She was equally as excited about him doing this.

It was such a unique and touching experience. Seeing our firstborn and only daughter being baptized by her father and brother in Christ was absolutely amazing.
We were so fortunate that my parents were here that weekend. Many of our dear friends were there to share with us in such a special time. I can't wait to see the video. I ended up putting my camera down because our sweet friends were there capturing the moment. I was trying to keep it together and take it all in. So very, very moving.
I found these two verses she wrote recently.

Love the Lord your God with all you heart and all your soul and all your strinlth.

Dutromidy 6:5

There for if any one is in crist he is a new cration the old has gone the new has come.

2 creathlins 5:17

The Last Weekend of Summer

Why no post in a couple of weeks? Life has gotten in the way. In a totally good way but we're really hunkering down, getting homework done, perfecting our name writing, getting to bed early, starting preschool, having yearly pictures made, life, life, life.

The weekend before school started we took off to the lake with some very dear friends. I can't tell you how many times Scott and I have made the comment since about what a fantastic, relaxing, stress-free, relaxing weekend we had. They had a way of making us feel so at home and comfortable.

The kids had an absolute blast!

1st Day of School 2011

It's official! We have a 2nd grader and a Kindergartener! It's hard to believe. This past summer seemed to fly by. Lillee was very excited to be back in the swing of things and ready to see her friends and teacher. However, Baxter was a little nervous and hesitant about going. I tried to tell him there was more to life that the DS, iPad, Batman shows and the iPhone. There was definitely not the hype there usually is in the back to school wardrobe department. For that, I am thankful. Lillee decided in a few minutes what she would wear and clothes are not of any concern to Baxter.

Here's our back to school celebration meal! I think this calmed some night before nerves!

We woke up sleeping baby, loaded up the Johnsons and headed the white bus to school. Brooks said that he didn't want to go because school took too long.

I think they were all happy once we dropped them off in the car rider long. Pics with teachers will have to come later as we opted not to walk them in. Mary Kate and Lillee assured us they would get those boys to their classes.

Here they are after jumping off of the bus. I asked how the day went and Lillee said, "great!" then Baxter said, "really good!" Lillee had detail after detail to share but Baxter said recess and lunch were fun. We're ready for a terrific year with awesome teachers and sweet friends.

Summer is Over!

All of our "events" are not checked off. It must be from pure exhaustion that we couldn't muster up the energy to find the dry erase markers and do it. While I'm looking forward to school starting next week, I'll also miss those two big cats (not kittens as I often refer to them) a lot! We've been very busy until this week. I promised early bedtimes and a resemblance of a routine and we've stuck to it pretty well. It's tough when it's so hot outside until 8 p.m. That's the only time anyone wants to go out to play. Then the lightening bugs run for the hills when they see Ben coming.

We've been inside doing a lot of this...
He really does live in his own world. I'm not sure what it's called but there are many times he is not with us. He'll join our planet for a bit but then it's right back to his land! Ben has really been playing independently lately. The other night Scott was looking around for him and we found him in our bedroom with the door shut. He had shut Piper in and was shooting him with his water gun! Many times he goes to the basement to play with trucks or blocks and if you go downstairs he'll shoo you away and say, "Goooooooooo."
I resisted the urge to put them in matching smocked outfits and opted for the Old Navy Star Wars shirts. I thought maybe Baxter wouldn't be so angry looking back at pictures! These boys are tough. I'm currently thumbing/plowing through This book and this one but I'm not sure I've found the right one yet!
The Methodist church had a great VBS program. Lillee went everyday. Scott, the boys and I enjoyed watching her sing the songs from the week. Is it just me or does my face look like a mortician has tried to "touch me up"?
The Johnson family had box seats and took Baxter to the Braves game. I think from the pictures Lindsay sent Baxter really enjoyed himself!
Lindsay had a group of girls out in Senoia to celebrate her birthday. We went to Founder's and it was delicious. The night before Scott and I had gone with friends to Natalia's in Macon. It was a weekend packed with delicious meals!
After dinner we headed to Creative Canvas in Senoia. To say we had a fantastic time is an understatement. We were supposed to paint a boat and I have to say it was pretty difficult. You could definitely tell who the natural artists were! It took about 3 1/2 hours and it probably should've taken longer! I was ready by the end of the night to slap my paint on and go to bed!
There was another group with ours so it made for lots of fun conversation! The owner was super friendly and helpful.
I'm not sure what I'm doing in this picture below but it doesn't look natural. Maybe the boot is doing something to my facial muscles!
We had a fun time making new friends and memories.
I had to throw this one in - deep, deep focus and concentration.
Moving on....

Lillee, Bethany and I went back to school shopping. We hit Academy Sports, Target and Staples. Oh, and a little detour at Sally's Beauty Supply because after seeing the above picture of myself, I had to do something about my thinning hair.

It's hard to believe Bethany is driving. I have lots of driving skills to brush up on. We were on a four lane road going west and there was a funeral procession going east. Should you stop? Technically, no. However, there were cars in front of us that were stopped so I told B to stop. Then cars behind us came flying around us. I just said go, go, go. Ugh. Can I make time stop so my kids will never drive. Too stressful.

The girls and I did have a fun time shopping. They're growing up so fast so I'm glad to have them hanging out now! We did lots of talking about school, classes, teachers, ballet, jazz and a little about boys!
Speaking of stressful, try taking Ben to a grocery store. He's at the age that he doesn't love being in the buggy. If we get one cookie from the deli we can make it about half-way around the store.
Lillee went to work with Scott. He took her to court and she got to meet the nicest judge ever! She's been asking all summer to go so I'm glad she finally got the chance. She's a sweet junior associate.
We spent last Sunday doing lots of this but this is the only picture I can find!