How Does Your Garden Grow…Results

Posted on July 1, 2010 by Abbie

What we have here is our first tomato! Which Zoe promptly washed and ate. Raw. This kid will eat tomatoes like candy. She loves them. And these tomatoes are Sweet 100’s (I think) and they are definitely sweet. After this one we have been getting a ton of little red tomatoes and now the big red ones are coming in.

Sadly, our squash only produced about three or four pieces before Mark accidentally broke off a large stalk and then the 100 plus temperatures took the rest of it.

However, Mark has planted a sweet banana pepper, two potatoes from our Science “experiment,” and an herb plant for me. And, honestly, I have not been out to check how they’re doing. It’s hot people! And I’m well past noticeably pregnant! For now, the gardening is being left to Zoe and Mark. I think they’re doing a fine job by the evidence of what is coming in every few days.

Mom update

Posted on June 14, 2010 by Abbie

Mark was able to rearrange work and willing to sacrifice sanity to allow me to travel to help with my mom. I arrived on Friday and tagged my sister and sent her home to be with her family…as she had been at the hospital for almost three days. I was able to spend the night with her Friday night and Saturday night and prepare meals and put them in the freezer (okay the meals were already prepared and in my freezer…I just made them more doable for a family of two rather than seven). Mom was in a lot of pain still but has been able to manage it more. By the time I left on Sunday afternoon, she was off of the iv pain meds and taking oral ones. They had her leg on a machine that bends it (ever so slowly) to help her get her range of motion. Pretty painful whether you have the feel good drugs or not.

She also has a small blood clot in her lower left leg (where the break is). She’ll be on meds for that for awhile. It’s not a deep vein clot (DVT) but the doctor is still being cautious treating it…especially since she’ll not be able to put weight on that leg for the next four to six weeks.

Please continue to pray for her. She was hoping to go home on Sunday but was told Saturday it would be Monday. She hit the frustrated point on Saturday night (as I would have hit that looooong ago…she’s more patient than me) but seemed to be a little stronger and resolute to get home on Monday. Pray for Dad as he’ll have to do a lot of work around the house…although he informed her she was going to paint the ceiling in a friend’s house by them wheeling her back and forth while she held the brush.

Meet the Newest of the Bunch…

Posted on June 7, 2010 by Abbie

Please do not despair…we did not go and have Bryant and leave everybody in the dark! No, no, no…this whole journey started about a month ago when our last cat passed away.

Mark and I were both pretty sad. He had been with us since before we were married. He was a good cuddle cat and we’re still not used to not having a cat in the house.

However, I’ve been asking Mark about getting another dog. Our sweet Sunny girl is fast approaching 9 years old. She’s not a puppy anymore and she won’t be here forever…so, introducing a new puppy would be nice to give Sunny a companion and also teach her how to be a good family dog for our family.

We had a bunch of travels this past month (pictures to come), so Mark asked me to wait until we got back from our trips before we started looking for a puppy.

I waited, passed up a cutie of a puppy and then waited some more. Every once in a while, I would surf PetFinder and narrow down what I thought could be a potential add on to our bunch. This one little puppy and two of her siblings kept showing up. I just knew someone would want to adopt her or them. They were fluffy and puppy cute and adorable. But, I waited.

This past week was designated as “the week” to look for a puppy. Our plan was to go to a local pet store where they hold adoptions for a local pet rescue foundation on Saturday. We didn’t make it.

Petfinder got the best of me, and we contacted an agency that had the fluffy adorable puppies I had seen. They were an hour away but we checked to see if they might be able to meet us halfway to look at the puppies. I completed an adoption form and then was contacted by the foster mom. She wanted to come by with the puppy we had our eye on and her siblings for us to choose from. We set up a meeting for Thursday afternoon. I could kick myself for not getting pictures of those puppies…but I didn’t. I thought there were only three of them. There were six. How do you choose a puppy for your family out of six???

She brought them out one by one and put them in a portable fence and we were able to play with and look at each. The last one she brought out was the one I had seen online. Fluffy, adorable, and when she handed her to me, she stayed put. Content to sit in my lap. Mark and Ace found another puppy they just loved. Mark tried to pick him up and hold him but he just wouldn’t stay still. Quite energetic. I picked up one of the others and let the Calm One in with her siblings. She just sat down and rested. I also noticed she was the smallest of them all.

The foster mom shared that the puppies were found on the side of the road with their mom and a litter of pit bull puppies. The mom was almost dead and was trying to nurse both litters. The puppies didn’t look too hot either. It’s nice to see that they are all growing and thriving now. The foster mom also told us that the Calm One was the most gentle and laid back of the bunch. She sounded like our match.

But there was more test…how would Sunny respond to a new puppy. We went inside with the Calm One and let Sunny in from the back yard. She went up, sniffed, and walked away to get petted. We put the Calm One down, and Sunny again sniffed, wagged her tail, and then walked away.

This was our dog!

So, without further ado…meet Ginger!

Yes, she’s tiny. She’s part cattle dog and part…hmmm??? She is pretty gentle but playful too. She loves to trip us up when we walk and nip at our heels (a puppy trait that is being dealt with).

She also loves to chase and play with the kids. The first day we had her, she wouldn’t go to sleep until we were all in bed…she slept all night. She was sooo tired from playing with and listening to the kids.

And my belly is a good puppy prop to escape kids!

Ceili Rain is our most timid child and we were slightly worried about her reaction. She was a little shy but eventually started petting Ginger. Now, she’ll follow her around and pet her and say, “Puppy!” They do adore each other!

The rescue agency we went with was Old Fella Burke County Animal Rescue. And they were wonderful! I really appreciated the kindness and speed at which we were able to get through this adoption (all the speed caught Mark off guard a little!)! So if you live near me and are looking for a puppy/dog or other pet, check out their website.

But seriously, our next addition will be Bryant! So, stay tuned in a few weeks to see our newest human addition.

There and Back Again Part Two

Posted on June 4, 2010 by Abbie

So, from my last post, you saw we had a plan. NTB could fix the van and we were stuck for several hours waiting on my parents to come with both their cars to take us back to their house. What to do, what to do…

Eating sounded. Although Mark and I had very little appetite from the emotional stress of being stranded. Right next door was a Chick-fil-a. Of sorts. It was called Truett’s Grill and had a sit down service type restaurant in it. It was very pretty, clean, and had a neat toy train that ran all the way around the store (near the ceiling). And the kids could push the button to make the train go (they pushed it so often, I think they almost broke it). It also had a jukebox playing great oldies! We ate, enjoyed a/c, and got refueled. I say refueled but Liam continued to run on fumes…which mean the was ultra hyper.

As we left the restaurant, I checked my phone for messages from my parents and saw we had a voicemail. It was the mechanic. Mark talked to him and he said he would probably have the vehicle finished by 8. It was 6. He was the brother, who left work at another NTB store to come across Atlanta to help us. He went to the warehouse, checked out the parts, and started working on the van. The bad thing was that it was going to cost a little more because it had nothing to do with the brakes. It had to do with the wheel. Bearings in the wheel had come loose (and flown out…which was the thud thud we heard as we drove over them), causing lots of other issues. However, it was a quick fix, and the parts were available and he was willing to stay late, away from his family, to help us get home.

So, I contacted my parents, with the plan they would come on, the kids and I would return to their house and Mark would hang out until it was fixed. We walked around several of the stores nearby (thanking God there were places to go so the kids wouldn’t be bored and try to tear up the NTB waiting room). We were heading to our second store at about 6:45 when Mark gets another call. The van was almost finished. What?!? Woohoo! I called my parents to tell them to turn around. We were going home! However, they were already there. They drove by the store we were at and took Mark to NTB while the kids and I went to Target to feast on icees (for them) and a nice double chocolate something or other ice cream (for me). By the time we were finished, Mark pulled up in our Crimson Cruiser and he and I both thanked God for all of His provision that day…

especially when he talked to the mechanic who told him that our wheel (not just the tire…the entire wheel) was about to fall off. Any more waiting and we would have not only been stranded but probably seriously hurt. If we had been on the interstate…well, there’s no telling. We are all too aware of how God provided for us this day and wanted to share!

There and Back Again…

Posted on June 3, 2010 by Abbie

This weekend we headed out to visit my side of the family. We squeezed in birthdays for June as well as a retirement party for my daddy (and yes, he’ll always be my daddy). Overall, it was a great trip. And after I get pictures from our anniversary overnighter up, I’ll post pictures from this trip…but first, a story!

All weekend, we could see God’s hand watching over us. Josiah felt a bug on him and started walking towards the house…Uncle J met him before Mark got there and pulled off a tick that was just crawling around.

And then Monday…well, Monday…was one right after the other of God’s hand of protection on us.

On Monday, we got up to leave my parents house and head over to a Memorial Day celebration that they were working at (my dad makes pens out of wood…beautiful work…he also makes them out of other materials using a lathe). After visiting with them, meeting veterans and getting in a little shopping, we headed out a little after lunch. A rough start off included losing Josiah’s balloon and trekking up a hill to get him another. I think I freaked out the vendors from the sweat pouring from my face and my large belly! We were not right on the interstate for a long while, so we settled in and looked for a place to eat lunch. About a mile out from lunch, the car jerks from side to side and then a few seconds later we hear something thud thud under the car. Mark and I both think that we’ve lost a tire. So, he slows down and pulls over immediately. We both get out and all tires look great. No flats. Not even close to a flat.

Hmmm…that was weird but the van seemed to be running fine, so we hopped back in and took off. We got our lunch, some running around, and a bathroom break done and then we hit the road. A few more miles down the road, the ABS light comes on for the antilock braking system. We grab our manual and look it up while Mark pulls over. Nothing to worry about it seems, the ABS is just a back up braking system and as long as the brake light doesn’t come on, we can head on out and make it home. Mark checks for leaks. I press on the brake and hear an air sound coming out. Mark notices too but it still doesn’t seem too concerning. He drives it around a vacant parking lot and then turns it on and off. The ABS light stays off.

So, we figure we’re safe and can get back going. Driving down for several more miles Mark notices a slight grating sound as he’s driving. It’s not constant but is frequently enough that he worries. I dismiss it, for once, and think it’s just the road grade. Then, the ABS light comes on. Goes off. Comes on. Hmmm…that’s really weird. Then the grating noise gets louder. I ask Mark if we should check with Gippas (GPS) and see if there is an Autozone near by.

First, blessing of protection. There is. And then we pray it’s open. It is. Mark pulls in. Consults the people there. They run a quick diagnostic but can’t be for sure if it’s the brake pads. Then a mechanic who worked at Honda came in and heard the discussion. He thought we may have lost the brake pads and the metal shavings were irritating the ABS sensors and the grating was the rotor messing up. He suggests we take it to NTB (National Tire and Battery) and let them look at it. If they’re open…and they are. So we head over there.

An hour and half of waiting and we get the word that it’s the brake pads, rotor, and caliper (I know that’s not spelled right…forgive the dysfunctional auto author…but this locked up when they were trying to pull it into the garage), that needed to be replaced. The mechanic that Mark started with at NTB said he could get it fixed by noon the next day. Okay, so then we start plotting calling my parents and figuring out what to do the rest of the day and where to go for the night. We tossed around the idea of a hotel (which happend to be less than a mile away). The mechanic offered to take us there and get his brother to help. Then the mechanic says he’ll have his brother over and he can guarantee if fixed by 1 in the morning.

Did you get that?…this guy and his brother were more than willing to come work, away from their families, to fix our car so we could get on the road. Mark insisted that they not do that. The guy he had been working with had children our age so I think he empathized a lot with our predicament.

The plan was decided (and changed several times) that we would wait on my parents to finish their show, go back to their house, unload, and then drive both their vehicles to pick us up. That would put us back at their house for the night at around 8 and then they would go in late to work the next day to take Mark up to wait on the van. I would stay at their house (which was an hour away) …to be continued (Just because it’s getting late and I’m hungry 🙂

Ten Years Ago…

Posted on May 20, 2010 by Abbie

…I started on a journey with an amazing man. I never could have forseen what God would do in and through our lives over the past ten years. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything! Lots of ups and downs and twists and turns and He has worked in our lives to grow us closer to Him and each other.

Thank you for being an amazing, doting, and handsome husband…for putting up with my emotional rants and being the rock that grounds me!…for being willing and insistent on night time parenting so I can stay somewhat sane during the day…for never complaining when things are tough and I’m sick (or growing a baby) and you have to do two jobs at once…for supporting and leading our family, through homeschooling, and discipling our children….for telling me I look pretty and am the most beautiful woman in the world…even when I’ve gained 50 plus pounds during a pregnancy!

I cherish each day we are able to spend as husband and wife.

I pray that I am able to serve you more as a godly wife should. Thank you for setting the standards for me to be the wife and mom our family needs and God has called me to!

I love you, always and forever, no matter what, I promise!

BFF

Posted on May 17, 2010 by Abbie

Almost two years ago one very hot and humid August, Mark and I were sitting at Chick-fil-a with four kids who were really busy running, jumping, and screaming in the play area. It was a nice break as I had just learned I was pregnant with Ceili Rain and I needed some breathing time. As we sat there, I glanced over at a table near us and did a head count of kids…hmmm, I thought, this lady has almost as many as we do…and they’re all close in age. As is normal for my crew, they made friends right away (but never got their names). As is normal for me, I never really said much to the couple that cradled their baby and ran interference with the other two.

About a month later, I was a greeter at church helping get people to and from nursery/childcare rooms etc. And in walks this family…with three children, close in age to my kids. Hmmm…I soon realized this was the same family from Chick-fil-a. I told them so and I think they thought I was just a little weirdo for remembering them..

Their daughter, who is Zoe’s age, had a tough adjustment but seemed to calm down some when I told her Zoe was her age and in her class. I soon shuffled the mom and dad off to our Sunday school class as well.

And even though, I was a little weird, they kept coming back! And not even a month after attending our church, the mom, Kristina, announces she is pregnant with #4…and due the same month I am.

Thus, started a wonderful friendship! We’ve laughed together, cried together, listened to each other scream at their children together. Add in that they started homeschooling this past year, and we’ve enjoyed all the adventures that come with that together.

Most of our time spent together has centered around our kids…whether it’s braving the pool and daring the other to watch the kids while going on a bathroom run….dragging them all through Hobby Lobby…throwing them in the backyard so we can talk…or sewing up some cute (and probably annoying to some) matching outfits for our girls.

And now…today, they are heading out of town. The dad, J, is in the army and is being transferred to a foreign land (okay, it’s not foreign but when you’ve only lived in two states anything outside of that might as well be).

I really feel that we’ve built a life long friendship with this family. We’re already working out arranged marriages for the kids. And planning vacations together.

Kristina thinks like I do…but on a much more laid back scale. Mark is a lot like J in that they are computer “geeks” and don’t have to say a lot to get their points across. Our kids have always been instant friends. Sure, they can fight like siblings but they can also love on each other and bring smiles to each other in a heartbeat.

To say they’re going to be missed is an understatement. The kids have already dubbed this month the “sad” month. This is the first real group of friends they have had move.

I know, I could write a thousand more words here to talk about my friendship with Kristina and her family…but it’s late and I don’t want to cry all over the keyboard and make a big sopping mess…just know, my dear friends, that we love you and will always be praying for you and can’t wait for you to come down to meet little Bryant! (and for us to come up and invade your home)

*Photography by Kimberly S. Busby Photography*

What We Saw

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Abbie

Yesterday, Mark took the kids outside before bedtime. A rain storm (not thunderstorm) was brewing so it was pretty windy but when it started raining (we only got a little), this appeared!

Not only was it a rainbow, but it was a full rainbow. And it was bright! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a full rainbow before.

And not only was it a full rainbow it was a double rainbow! Look closely and you can see the lighter one towards the right.

And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” Genesis 9:12-16

Decorating…

Posted on April 16, 2010 by Abbie

I’ve mentioned that we have been trying to get more verses up on the walls around our home. So…I got another one up:

This is part of the verse from Psalm 127. It’s The Message version which says Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift?(vs 3). And yes, we’ll adjust it so that Bryant can be included. I designed the verse in Uppercase Living’s MyDesign Suite. Let me say, this was not one of my cheaper verse projects, but I thought it would work best to use the vinyl lettering so that I could get the right size. Mark cut a piece of wood to the size that we needed for the verse.

Speaking of Bryant…I’ve added his name to the boys’ room door…but with an updated look. There were wooden letters on their door, but Bryant’s name would not have fit. They were bulky wooden letters. So, Uppercase Living (and Mark’s handy wood work) to the rescue!

Yes, I’m fully aware that the train has nothing to do with flying or the sort…but I was outvoted that Josiah would much prefer a train as opposed to plane…and everyone was right!

This next project (as with the names on the door) was not a necessity but something I was able to do cheaply and cutley (again with Uppercase Living’s MyDesign Suite). We have three bathrooms in our house: our mater bathroom, the “girls” bathroom, and the “boys” bathroom.

On the girls’ bathroom. The thing with their bathroom is that it’s also the guest bathroom…so I guess I’ll have to add to that at some point.

Bonus points if you can tell me why there is a number 13 on the helmet 🙂 Here’s a hint: the boys’ bathroom decor is all done in University of Alabama….any guesses???

The great thing about the bathroom doors is that I can add to or change if needed…and the ones on the boys’ door and above the pictures I can take down and carry with us should God send us somewhere else other than this house…and those are the ones I’d want to take with us. I am going to get the girls’ room done…just haven’t ordered their names yet.

Be Patient…

Posted on March 5, 2010 by Abbie

I am well aware that I missed a post yesterday. Sorry! I’m anxiously trying to get some sewing done. I’ve got Ceili Rain’s Easter dress finished and am close to getting Zoe’s finished. Besides those two projects…next up are

Zoe’s swimsuits…apparently being tall is in for her and she’s outgrown the ones I made last year.

Hopefully a dress for me for Easter. Finding a nice new outfit is a Spring treat for me and trying to find one while pregnant is near impossible…so I found a pattern I want to try…we shall see.

Aprons for the boys. They’ve all but destroyed their first aprons they’ve received and I’ve got to make them some more.

And then, possibly, some things for Bryant. He’s last because, well, he’s not here. And, I’m not sure what I want to do. I bought baby bedding at a consignment sale, so that’s taken care of. Possibly a new nursing cover…appliqued onesie and pants…a sling (Mark’ll love that) and a mei thai (almost most definitely). I’ve got 20 weeks to come up with something and get it done (add on getting a crib and the boys’ room set up to add one more boy). That should keep us busy until then. So glad to have my babies close, but it does make for a tight schedule on getting ready for them. At least I’m occupied during that “waiting” time.

Just a Bunch of Characters

Musings of everyday life in a house full of Characters.

Tag Archives: About the House