Christmas -- slightly late and still no pictures...

Okay, so I have so many great pictures to post but everytime I try to add them the connection to the internet is lost. We had a wonderful Christmas, spending Christmas Eve service with Wil's family at the Advent, then Christmas Eve dinner/party at my parent's house, then Christmas morning and Brunch with my parents, then headed to the Coopers at 11:30ish for presents etc which followed naps by all. Then Christmas dinner at Wil's aunt and uncle's home. What a crazy day! It was so fun, but I swear it was the LONGEST day ever! Although it was exhausting, we are so lucky and thankful to have such wonderful families who want us to be with them(and who we want to be with!).

Praise the Lord for such loving families, and for the gift of Christ.

And here's the group...

For some reason, this got clipped off the post...



Also seen at Wake Forest in the library...

Wonderful Friends

This past weekend we had some of our dear friends over for Christmas dinner. We are so blessed here at Wake to have caring and precious friends. All night long I just kept thinking about how we are all going to be celebrating together for years to come, whether for Christmas or weddings or eventually babies (not to freak yall out or anything, but at some point yall will have families and I will be there to celebrate with you!) and it made me so happy (as I told some of you there, my heart was feeling like it might burst with happiness...haha). But really the point is, as hard as it was for me to adjust to Wake, I am going to be the saddest person to leave--not to leave school, or even "college life" but to leave these wonderful friends. When else will we all be together like this? I just want to remember to savor it all and remember that that is what is my lasting impression of my college experience--friendships that I will love and cherish for the rest of my life. We are so blessed by yall, and we love you so much!

Adia Beading

My friend Ali Carroll, from Nashville, is absolutely amazing in her abilities and how she has used those to follow God. She truly has a heart for service, specifically in Africa. Here is a blurb about what she has done:

Adia (ah-DEE-yah) means "valuable gift" in Swahili, and valuable gifts are exactly what Senior Communications and Studio Art major Ali Carroll seeks to provide. She creates unique, hand-crafted, Kenyan beaded jewelry and uses the profits to help support African Leadership, a charitable foundation focusing on building Africa from within. Carroll also aims to empower and inform her customer base by promoting the growing healthcare, education, and economic needs in Kenya. Carroll is in the process of expanding Adia and moving the production of the jewelry to Mbiriri, Kenya, in order to provide jobs for Kenyan women.

In addition to making beautiful jewelry (perfect for Christmas gifts), Ali and her friend actually have bought land in Kenya in hopes of constructing a place for women to have a stable job in which they make these beautiful beads.

So, She is coming to Birmingham on December 18th to do a jewelry show; If any of yall are in Bham I would encourage yall to come out and see what she does. It will be from 11 am till 3 pm. If you are interested, contact me for more information.

Here are a couple of pictures of the beads, and Ali with her necklaces.

One of those days...

Get ready for a rant...It has really just been one of those days--stressed about nothing in particular, just kinda a blah day, exams looming ahead, Christmas shopping to be done somehow.

So, picture this: Wiley and I are off to get a flu shot, I feel like I might break down any second. Somehow my spirits are lifted at the doctor's. I think it was because the nurse was nice and smiled and Wiley waved at her after she gave him a flu shot, showing his resiliency and friendliness. I was quite proud.

Off to McCall's in Reynolda, a shop run by older women with pretty linens and children's clothes. I had bought Wiley a Christmas/Winter outfit, only to discover that in the light it was not dark blue but more of a purple blue. Not loving purple. So, we go to return it.

I walk in, say that I would like to return a purchase and yes I was the one who called earlier to make sure that they take returns. I tell them that I have forgotten my receipt but was in the area so thought I would take the chance that they might not need it. However, if they did I would just return tomorrow.

First of all, they are all annoyed at me for some reason.
The woman looks at Wiley (who is in cordoruy overalls, turtleneck, but no jacket. He does not fit in his carseat in a jacket so I just took it off and figured he would be a-ok without it for the 30 second walk to the store from the car, after all we did just get a flu shot)and says to me, "Isn't it a little cold outside?"

Thanks. As if I didn't know.

And then she asks me regarding the receipt, "Did you not think to bring the receipt?" Well, yes I did, but I forgot it and happened to be out. Thanks.

And then as they try to search for my name under Cooper, they ask if I came in yesterday and I said yes,I am pretty sure. Or maybe it was Wednesday. To which she replies, "Well it matters."

Thanks. As if I didn't know.

Then she asks "Could it be under another name?" And I realize that my debit still runs under Drinkard and not Cooper. So I say, "Oh, I wonder if it is under Drinkard, my maiden name, because my debit card still runs under it."

Total annoyance from the old biddies in the shop.

To which they find my name and purchase, I am refunded for the purple john-john. And I leave annoyed, wondering if I truly look as ignorant as they made me feel.
I realize I look 14, and I realize I had a 1 1/2 year old on my hip. But really. Do I look like an idiot? Those women may be older and by older I mean old, but there is no need to belittle anyone...especially a customer.

McCall's just might be going on my "Smut List" along with Grandmother's Joy.

It's the Holiday Season!

We are getting ready for Christmas here at Wake!
On Sunday, we got a Christmas tree together! We found the perfect one and hope it can make the trip back to Birmingham in a week or so! Wil was so sweet to go find us some ornaments, a tree stand, and he even got candy canes! Wiley was so excited--he just kept running around the apartment, it was a hoot! Not to mention how much he LOVED eggnog! He and Wil had a cup together!

Then, today, in preparation for the RUF Tacky Christmas Party Wiley and I (with Wil's help too) cut out sugar cookies to be decorated tomorrow by a bunch of friends coming over in the afternoon.


This has been such a fun Christmas season so far and I know it will only get better--Wiley is really starting to somewhat understand it--at least the excitement of the season! We have also used this as an opportunity to teach him about Jesus thanks to a wonderful nativity that T gave Wiley. He can stand up the soft,felt figures and create and re-create his own manger scene. It is fun to watch--although we try to keep an eye on Jesus--he tends to randomly end up on the shelves...

Hope yall enjoy these pictures, and let's all remember to slow down and enjoy the little fun moments of the season, along with preparing our hearts for the arrival of Jesus!

(by the way, sorry the pictures are jumbled, can't figure out how to fix it!)

Time Out

So, We are trying to cut out the babyfits/whining/etc. as soon as possible. How much Wiley understands I'm not sure, but I have a feeling he understands more than we give credit for.

Did I mention that as I type he is having a babyfit?

That is, after he has already been to time out multiple times for whining about food when he has been eating ALL day!

And did I mention that he apparently LIKES time out?

We want him to understand that "no" means "no"; no questions asked, no whining, no crying. And he is almost 19 months (tomorrow) and I don't see why we should not start trying to drill this into him. He may not understand right now, but eventually it will click especially as we near the terrible twos. So our strategy is that we tell him that if he doesn't stop whining for example he will go to time out. Ideally that would stop him (and hopefully it will when he fully gets it) but right now, if I say time out he goes with a smile to his timeout corner.

He hit me in the face after I scolded him for reaching into a drawer for scissors. So off to timeout we go for like the 5th time (1 minute = 1 timeout sentence, by the way). I tried to be stern and use my "matronly look of disapproval" as a friend, Tom Knott deemed it. I think he got the point then that time out is not fun.

So, I guess point is, if anyone has any tips on time out, I'm all ears.
We understand that consistency is truly the key and if I say that if he whines anymore he is going to timeout then I dern well better follow through. If not that is partial reinforcement (shout-out Dr. Batten, Psychology 151, whoot whoot)and my discipline is ineffective b/c he will remember that one time that mom said she was going to put me in time out and she didnt, thus encouraging him as there is that chance (even if it is one in like 150 times) that I will be inconsistent. That's a lot of pressure re: consistency.

So, prayers for consistency and guidance in training up Wiley.

I have been quite struck by the concept that we are indeed responsible for "training up Wiley in the way of the Lord." That is a huge task that we have been blessed with. I just pray that I can do so and that he will love the Lord as he grows up. I suppose that will be a whole other post. Along with my thoughts on Daniel from my Beth Moore Bible Study...ahh my blog dryspell seems to be ending...

Hope everyone is doing well! I'm off to try to distract Wiley....

And here is a question that applies to what is going on now/scenario: He wants something he should not have until dinner like yogurt, I say no b/c dinner is in less than an hour. He cries. Do I let him cry and fuss until he is over it thus proving, I think, that he won't gain attention from his babyfits, or do I do something else?

Help Please!

Fall is my Favorite!

The picture on the left was taken on November 6th, from our apartment porch looking towards these amazing woods! The trees just look amazing, and it has been so fun to watch as they progress. The picture on the right was taken seven days later on the 13th. I think this is why fall is my favorite...(well, along with football and Caramel Apple Cider at Starbucks).

We are so excited about Thanksgiving next week, just trying to work through this week with classes and exams! We have so many things to be thankful for, especially this year. I think that Wil and I both have grown even more fonder of Wake Forest and our amazing friends here. For me at least, it has been a transition (that's a whole other post) and last year was wonderful, but this past semester has been so re-affirming and simply incredible! I am thankful for friends here that love Wil and I as we are, and love Wiley as well. They encourage us in our walk with the Lord in addition to always offering to babysit! :-)

Praise the Lord, for brilliant red trees and beautiful friendships. Amen.

Halloween

We had a great Halloween. After easing Wiley into his costume, we drove to the Teasley's house to trick-or-treat. Wiley cried a little on the way, but with the help of a banana to snack on, forgot about disliking his costume.

The Teasleys (our RUF minister and his family) were so kind to let us come with them. Kennedy was dressed as none other than Hannah Montana, Micah was Anniken from Star Wars, and Molly Jane was a princess. Wiley did a great job hanging in there with the big kids--although we think a wagon would be good for next year! The Halloween decorations are up, and now we are just getting ready for Thanksgiving!

We also just got back from visiting Birmingham and Tuscaloosa--Wiley stayed in Birmingham while we went to T-town for the Alabama-LSU game. Sadly the Tide didn't pull it out, but it sure was great to see our friends there!

I cannot believe that it is November! Before we know it Thanksgiving will be here and then Christmas! The fall has really flown by--it always does. In fact, there is a radio station here in Winston-Salem that is already playing Christmas music! I cannot believe it! I just am not quite ready yet to get in that spirit--I want to get through Thanksgiving first!

I hope to put a picture up of the view outside of our apartment. We look out on some woods and the trees are just at the peak of turning and are really beautiful. The entire Wake Forest campus is beautiful as well. This might be my favorite time of the year...

What Wiley likes...

A little Top Ten Favorites List for the Little One (in no particular order)

1. Yogurt and "Appie"sauce
2. Brushing his teeth
3. Dancing
4. Trying on shoes (particularly his Mom's and Dad's)
5. Pointing out and Naming family members in pictures (yes, he can name all of you!)
6. "Guh-Guh"s (otherwise known as dogs)
7. Sesame Street Sing Along movie, particularly Twinkle Twinkle and BaaBaa Black Sheep
8. Spinning...and then falling
9. Rough-housing with his Dad
10. Laughing (this one might be the best)

We had a great time this weekend with Baba, Dean, and Brooke (and Jonathan, too). We stayed busy between eating and football! Wiley also enjoyed dancing with his animated witch who sings "Abracadabra." Sadly, the witch's batteries are draining...
We are looking forward to seeing everyone again this weekend, but until then, we will be trying to acclimate Wiley to his halloween costume. He is going to be a "Guh-Guh" (that is dog in Wiley-speak). However, he is terrified of the costume. Even when Daddy Dean tries it on! (cue picture above, which hopefully I can get to work!)

Welcome!

Hello Friends and Family!
I hope that this site will be a means for yall to experience some of the everyday fun that we have up here at WFU with precious Wiley! We will try to update it as often as possible!
Take Care!