First Date and Go Deacs!

This past weekend we had a wonderful trip to Wake Forest to cheer on the Deacs and visit with good friends. Wiley even had his first date with Helen--a supervised lunch date with 2 moms and an aunt...that ended up with Wiley in timeout in the car...but not for the fresh behavior exhibited below...

W and H playing on the blanket.

We sure do love Helen (and her mommy and daddy), and Wiley is so happy to have a little friend to play with...or look at for right now.

More Deacon pictures to come soon...after we try out our new space saver bags to help maximize our packing!

London Calling

{drumroll please...}

Wake Forest Mama, Daddy, and Child are going moving to LONDON!



Our visas are in the mail (according to our e-mail), and they are approved! We are packing our bags and flying across the pond on October 2!

We are so excited and grateful for this opportunity! We know it will be a hard transition at time but will also provide for some wonderful memories!

again, "for I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

and we are still here...

Just hanging out. Being silly. Not having much to blog about.



Playing golf sometimes.



Swimming a little less (fall is on its way)



And getting excited about going here:



While still waiting to hear back from here:

Kickoff Time

There is nothing quite like it.

Cooling temperatures, sunburn from early games where sunscreen was forgotten, clear blue fall skies, tailgating with friends, the anticipation of the game, a football fever overtakes all of the men in our lives (and some of the women). It is college football season in the South.

I am delighted to find that Wake Forest is on ABC, and I can watch them play Baylor from the comfort of the sofa.

But there is nothing like being at Groves Stadium/BB&T field and watching the Deacons surprise us all as they transform Wake from a basketball school to a football school. I think my like of the school turned into love at the Orange Bowl as we played Louisville. Right now, I would give a lot to be with our friends at the stadium in Winston-Salem taking it all in in the sweet, little family-friendly stadium. Next week we will be there, cheering on the Deacs.

And Baylor just scored...I must focus my cheerleading abilities on the Deacs.

As we have taught Wiley to sing "Rah, Rah Wake Forest Rah!"

Red Icee

Today at Super Target, Wiley got a red (Wild Cherry) icee since he was so good while we ran a couple errands at the mall. Right by the pharmacy, he proceeds to drop the red icee down his leg. Well, a few hours later, the red stain on his leg is still there. I tried wiping it off right after it happened, then I tried when we got home, this time with warm water. I scrubbed relatively hard, gave up, and will attempt tonight when we bathe him. My question though, is this: does red dye tend to stain the skin or am I not scrubbing hard enough?

(this was my stimulating thought for the day. ah, motherhood.)

Showers and Friends

This weekend (and week for W. and me) we had a great time in B'ham. From shopping to being with family to throwing a kitchen and tool shower, the time spent there was really special. We are really lucky to have such great friends from home, and it was so fun to throw this shower together and see one another again. We also had lunch with our friend Carly's mom and sister which was also just a really special time that meant a lot to all of us.

(Taking MF's lead here are a couple of older pictures of us.)





At the end of the weekend, my little family felt very lucky and blessed to have such wonderful family and friends who love us so well.

Amen

{Amen referring to the picture, and the linked post, and the Bible verse at the bottom}

Here is a wonderful post from a really great blog (My Charming Kids) that I read.

Caught by Surprise

I love the line "God is ever ahead of us, even when we lag behind, mouths agape as we see where He is leading us." and the idea of praying with reckless abandon (which in my mind brings images of fervently, passionately, and honestly).

{I intended this to be short with the link, but suddenly I just start typing, sorry I get a bit wordy below.}

While I haven't struggled with a child being sick like MckMama, I think everyone can relate to what she is talking about.

The pastor at ChristChurch in Atlanta was talking about Abraham's journey and how he trusted God enough to know that He would be wherever he (Abraham) went. God doesn't just live in one place. He doesn't just live where it is cushy and comfortable.

Dr. Gardner spoke (and I hope I linked the correct sermon) about our tendency even to go on vacation (say to the lake or beach) and be on a vacation from God (pointing out how "oh we are on vacation, no church this week, no God this week.), and while this is certainly not the case for everyone (how many of us feel closer to Him on the shore with the expanse of water in front of us?) you get the point that it is almost like we can compartmentalize our life. To the point that I can say this is something God is involved in and this is something He isn't, or He is here where things are going well, but over there in x country where things are not so hot, no way He could be there. But Abraham knew God would be where he was going, regardless of the conditions or people there. (Genesis 12)

And recently, I have struggled with what God is in control of and what He is not. Did He really have a hand in the disappointment I recently experienced? Was that just me being silly and making something out to what it was not? I tried to compartmentalize Him. And I still am. I am still trying to understand what was going on and what it meant. But each time I try to compartmentalize, and say that was me, not Him. Aren't I diminishing His power? His stronghold on my life? His ability to have a plan and execute it? Because if that incidence is independent of Him, then other things can be independent of Him. Thus, He is not all powerful.

And sorry self, but He IS all-powerful. He has to be. (Maddie, if you read this, I am sure you know a fabulous C.S. Lewis quote to go along with this, or a story, too bad my book is in storage...can you share one if you know it?) So I'm back to square one trying to figure this out. {sidenote: yall, I am not a pastor, have not been to seminary, this is me trying to work stuff out in my head and writing it out again (already done it on paper)}


The story of Abraham was so comforting to me in light of the London adventure. (I am not saying our journey is like Abraham's because goodness knows it is not.) BUT God doesn't just live in Winston-Salem, Atlanta, Birmingham, the South, or the U.S. He is already and has already gone ahead of my little family, paving the way for His plan whether it be in London or somewhere else. I'm not going to be without my God in London, au contraire He is already there. Sound obvious? Maybe it is. But maybe you are like me, and you must be hit over the head with the truth for it to sink in, and even then must be reminded again and again.

The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. (Deuteronomy 31:8)