Visiting America

If you read my blog about my mission trip to Malawi, Africa, then you may remember T.K. T.K. was one of our hosts while in Africa. T.K. was born in Nigeria, but has found his way to Malawi and calls it home. He is employed by African Leadership as a director of several countries in Africa. He helps train men to become pastors. He has 4 kids, which I cannot tell you what they are in his language, but in English their names translate to Jesus' reigns, Jesus is good, Jesus is enough to look on to and Jesus is King (hopefully I got all those right). T.K. is the one of the most joyful person that I have ever met. He truly loves God and it shows.

T.K. came to the United States a few weeks ago for some meetings with African Leadership (which is located in Franklin, TN) and also to have a cornea transplant. This was his first visit to the United States. He was here for about 7 weeks and even made a trip to North Carolina to speak at a church and stopped off in Connecticut for Thanksgiving dinner before going back to the warm heart of Africa, Malawi.

We had the pleasure of having T.K. stay with us 2 nights. One of the nights, we got to sit around and listen to music and talk. We found out that country music is his favorite and that he especially likes Don Williams, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. Damien pulled out his cd collection and listened to a few of his favorites. T.K. even got to read a few books with Dylan.

After Dylan went to bed, we had a time of prayer with T.K. and we were honored to have him pray for us. We really enjoyed our time with T.K. and like he said, our relationship is not by coincidence.

3rd Annual Special Weekend with the Fallers

Two weekends ago, Damien and I made a journey to Memphis to kick start our special weekend with the Fallers. This would be our third annual weekend with them, but earlier in the year, they moved to Memphis so we had to travel a bit before the weekend actually started. Our special weekend is centered around the Alabama and Mississippi State game. Since the Fallers are Mississippi State Alums and Damien an Alabama alum, this is a great game to go to. The first year, we went to Starkville, where the Tide, unfortunately, lost to Dawgs. It was a horrible game as the sound of cowbells gets quite annoying especially when MSU fans see Alabama fans. Oh well, it was a great weekend over all. The 2nd annual special weekend was spent in Tuscaloosa where the Tide was victorious. This year, we headed back to Starkville.

Saturday morning we got up pretty early and hit the road, with only a few stops to try and find MSU magnets to go on Daniel's truck to compete with the Alabama magnets that we slapped on his truck :)

on the road

We had a great time just hanging out and tailgating a bit before the game. Rachel even pattied some burgers and Daniel grilled them up. Our friends, the Ogles, met up with us for a bit as well. The weather was perfect football weather and to top off a great day, the Tide won!!! It was a long way home and we finally got in and to bed around 1:30am.

On Sunday, the Fallers took us to their church, Fellowship Memphis. We were super impressed with this church and Damien and I agreed that if we lived in Memphis, this would be our church home. There wouldn't be any need to church shop. We were super excited to find out that they put their sermon's on iTunes podcasts for free, so we subscribed. It was really refreshing to see church done in a different way.

Thank you Fallers for hosting the Special Weekend. We look forward to next year when we can host you in Alabama. (oh and in case you are wondering why it's the "special weekend" with the fallers, that's something that you will have to ask Daniel about, he gave it that name :)

18 months

I am like 9 days too late for this, but better late than never, right. Well Dylan turned a year and a half on November 10. We went to the doctor for his well visit and it went, well, well. hehehe. Okay seriously, he hadn't grown any in height since his 15 month visit, but his weight was up to a whopping 22lbs and 7 onces. I know, we have a little thin one on our hands, but at least he's tall right. I say he's my swimmer boy. We make them long and lean. We got one shot that day, his last Hep A, which makes it official, we are done with shots, woo hoo. Oh, wait, the following day, everyone in the family got the H1N1 shot, so now we are done with shots, woo hoo. At least until next year's seasonal flu shot and every year there after and when he's 5 years old and they make us get the chicken pox shot that I denied, but we are done, woo hoo. (side note on the H1N1 vaccination, I swore I would not get it for months, but after prayers and seeking counsel from all the doctors, including my woman doctor, we went with it. I figured I will do all that I can to protect and leave it up to God. Plus since we won't have insurance soon, I didn't want to risk it.)

In addition to his physical growth statistics, Dylan is right on track with his developmental. He can say Mommy (or mama), Dada, Nana, PawPaw, Stella, dog, duck, light, eat, eye, bye bye, bubbles, bath, balloon, ball, moon, oh no, uh oh, sky, one, two, yea, mine, baby, tree, and turbo. (those are the ones I can think of right now). Since he's been walking for 10 months now, this boy can get around. He climbs into chairs and then onto the dining room table. He motors his way around the playground, playing on the older kid's side. I have to watch him carefully as their are lots of openings. One week he fell through a spot at the top of the stairs and the pole, luckily I slowed him down on the drop by grabbing his shirt, so he barely hit the ground. He got right up and took off again. This boy has no fear.

He brings such joy to Damien and I, sometimes we just like watching him. The other night we were laying on the couch and he'd put his hand on my cheek, turn my face and kiss me. Those are the memories I want to keep forever.

This day, he was full of himself, he found Damien's glasses, and surprisingly put them on correctly without breaking them.
Then he went to the closet and got my hat out and put it on.

Favorite Foto Friday

After reading one of my friends facebook status on playing in the leaves with her son, I thought maybe Dylan would like it. I raked a pile of leaves together, and I was right, he loved it. He would run and jump in the pile, roll around in them and laugh. The past few days, I have gone out and raked up a pile of leaves (Damien scatters them afterwards to not mess up the grass) and Dylan has so much fun. It's free family fun....and it's for the whole family did I mention?

Proof that mommy is there, she just doesn't always make it in the pictures...

Finding Joy

Last week, Dylan and I went to the park to enjoy a beautiful fall day. While I was pushing him on the swing, I saw someone, from a distance, out of the corner of my eye, running down the path a la Phoebe style. I thought oh I bet she has a little kid with her and she's just being silly to make them laugh. I kept waiting to see a kid, but there wasn't one. I noticed she was running towards me. She was running towards the swings. Once she was closer, I realized she didn't have a kid with her, she was a kid herself. This girl was about 15 years old. She slowed down once she got to the swing and gently sat down in it, carefully holding onto the chains. As soon as she was sitting down, her eyes had a new shimmer to them. She ran back in the swing, picked up her feet and let a little smile loose. She began to pump her feet harder and harder until she was reaching the sky. Her smile was so big. She was finding joy in one of the most simple, pure things, swinging. You could tell that she really enjoyed the swing, that it was freeing to her. We were at the park for about 40 minutes after she began swinging, and she was in the swing the entire time with a smile plastered on her face. At that point, nothing else mattered to her but the swing. I couldn't help but be drawn to her and the joy she radiated. My eyes teared up. I wanted for everyone that I knew to be able to share in that moment with me.

As many of you know, Damien was let go from his job 3 weeks ago. Being in the business that he was in, we knew that it could happen, as not many people are remodeling their kitchens because of the economy, but we were shocked by how quickly it happened. In the past, I have prayed a few times that Damien could get a job where he didn't travel so much; one where he could be home for dinner every night. Damien had mentioned to me (maybe even prayed) that he would like to have a different job than he had, one outside of the industry. Well, I guess our prayers got answered. We kind of thought that it would happen on our terms, not someone elses. We know that God has a plan for us, and it's going to be better than the path that we were on. Even though we were surprised, we know that He wasn't. We are seeking His will and what He wants for us to do. Although, Damien and I are worried that we may not know what He wants...how are we to know? I was reminded by a friend last week at bible study that as long as we are seeking His will and that He is our priority, then we will make the right choice. God will never abandon us or forsake us based on a decision that we make. We know that God is teaching us something through this experience and while I pray that it's a quick lesson, I have to remember that God's timing is perfect timing.

I heard a portion of a sermon the other day on the radio, and it really hit home. He was discussing how many people worry about their reputation among men, but the only reputation you should worry about is the one you have with God. (maybe worry wasn't the right word, I am paraphrasing here). That as long as you have the right attitude towards God, that God will provide you favor through people.

That is what we are choosing, we are choosing to have the right attitude through this season of our life. We are seeking first His kingodm. God is using this time to prune us. In James 1:2-4, it says Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. We are thanking God for this trial, because we will be more mature and complete in Him.

I know that people are going to think we are crazy for some of the things we are going to choose to do or even the choices that we have made, but we cannot be concerned with what man thinks or say. We are praying about every decision that we are making, that's all that we can do. Pray and be patient, to let God reveal to us His will. If during that time, we want to go to Hawaii (which we are at the end of the year as we already had the trip planned and it's basically free other than food) than I would hope that no one would say anything negative about that choice. If we end up selling our house, so be it. God is giving us this time to spend a together as a family and with Him, and that's what we plan to do. During this season, we choose to find joy in everything. Some of our friends, who recently went through the same situation, told us that they kept a blessings journal. As you're in the moment, it's really hard to forget about all the blessings along the way. Thanks Allison for sharing that, we plan on doing just that, remembering all the way God blesses us on the journey.

I have realized that I haven't been as sensitive to others in the same situation and for that I apologize. I have been so thankful for the kind words, encouragement, prayers and the genuine concern even from people whom I don't even talk to that much. It really has shown me who the people are that really care. I feel horrible that I haven't been that friend to people I know that may have needed that encouragement from me.

One of my favorite bible versus speaks to me no matter what trial I am facing. I lean on this verse and rest on the promises whispered by God.

1 Peter 5:7-10 - Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make your strong, firm and steadfast.

Free Groceries

Today, I went to Kr@ger to do a little shopping. I didn't really have time to plan out a list nor pull my coupons. I was up late last night clipping and sorting coupons from the past 5 weeks, so I was tired. (I really need to do it every week. I just let it get out of control.) I went to the Kr@ger in Franklin as they are doing triple coupons up to 99 cents to competed with H@rris Teeter's triple special. I tried to pull it together and get a few things (I am disappointed as I should have grabbed more, but will go back Sunday when we are in Franklin.) I ended up saving $48.46, so I don't know if that includes the $1.36 that Kr@ger ended up paying me for my groceries. Yes I got paid for buying my groceries. That has never happened, and I was elated. As soon as I left, I called Angel, who teaches the couponing class I went through, and told her. I was like a little kid on Christmas, still am, this is a natural high I am experiencing right now ;) I love playing a game with Damien, I come home, set out my stuff and have him guess how much I spent. His guess was $9. Usually after his guess, I say, now I am not that good, but today I got to say, now, I did better than that. I had to say it about 7 times until he got down to free, then I told him that they paid me $1.36. We had a good laugh with our little game.

The breakdown: ($5 discount on mega event only applied once after purchasing 10 participating items)

- 2 Pepperidge Farm Texas Toast - free item after coupons and $5 off mega event discount

- 2 Birdseye Steamfresh Vegetables - free item after coupons and $5 off mega event discount

- 2 lean pockets - free item after coupons and $5 off mega event discount

- 2 Maruchan Noodles - free item after coupons

- 4 Ortega Taco Seasoning packs - free item after coupons

- 2 Martha White muffin mixes - free item after coupon

- 3 (4 packs) Yo Plus Yogurt - $3 (mega event item)

- 1 (6 pack) Yoplait Kids yogurt - $1.20 discount (mega event item)

- Juicy Juice - no coupons or discounts

- Post Raisin Bran - coupon for a free box

- Chocolate Chex Mix - free item after coupons and $5 off mega event discount

- Mentos Gum - free item after coupon

- Playtex Gloves - free item after coupon and $5 off mega event discount

---$2 off coupon for spending $10

I wish every shopping experience could be like this!

Fall Pics and Fun Family Day at the Zoo

Today, we headed to the Nashville Zoo for a little family fun time. I have to say, this trip was the best we have had, not just because Damien got to come, but because of the weather and the fact that no one was there. I felt like we had a private tour of the zoo. Okay, there were a handful of people, but that was it. It was so a beautiful fall day.

The zoo had an area where an old farm once was. We checked it out and sure enough there were some really pretty trees with leaves on the ground. I had to get some pics of Dylan.

Of course, we checked out the animals and I thought we were going to see some giraffe lovin', but the volunteer told us that he wasn't quite sure what to do yet. The female is ready, but the male just ends up spooking her. He did say they were smitten with each other though. I feel bad for the other female, she's not going to have a boyfriend.

After viewing the animals, we ate lunch and played in the jungle gym area. Have I said how I love this area before? I think I have. We all had fun playing. It was nice to have an extra set of hands.

mommy's a little frightened by it

hangin' tough

monkeying around

we had a a hair raising time (what's with my cheesiness today?)

Halloween Fun

As we drove around yesterday, from activity to activity, I found myself saying multiple times, I love Halloween. I do. I explained to Damien, not the evil side associated with Halloween, but the family time that the day offers. I just love the activities and family fun that Halloween has to offer.

As usual, we went downtown Franklin for the annual Pumpkinfest. I just love this event. We love walking the streets and meeting up with friends that we don't see that much and friends we see all the time. Also, I love the fact that our church, The People's Church, sponsors the children's area, as one of our biggest outreaches. The area is totally free (with the exception of food). There are bounce houses, pony rides and lots of games and candy for prizes. The weather cooperated and it turned out to be a beautiful day.

After Pumpkinfest, we came home and put Dylan down for a nap. We had a big night ahead of us. Once he got up and got ready for the night, we headed to a local church for their fall festival, which I am sure is a big outreach for them as well. They had bounce houses, laser tag and games all for free too. (Another reason I love Halloween, free activities.)

We stayed there for a little over an hour, but I can't wait to Dylan is old enough to really understand what it's about and old enough to play all the games. He did get to play some games, and he understood that he was suppose to get the candy at the end. Although, he didn't really care to eat it unless it was a sucker.

We came home, ate dinner and headed out to do a little trick or treating.

He was so cute when he tried to say trick or treat, but of course wouldn't say it in front of anyone. We only went to 4 friend's houses, but he had a good time, especially at one friend's house, as he got to go up and play with the boys.

We had a great night. I can't wait until next year.