Oh the Bliss!

Can you believe how long it has been? Too long, for sure, but my laptop is up and running and I'm back in the swing of things once again. Not only have I missed posting, but I've missed reading other people's posts as well, so I have a bit of catching up to do. Speaking of catching up... here's what we've been up to and where we're at now... We moved in on Tuesday of this week with the loving help of Mark's parents and grandparents. Our house is better than I could've imagined, I LOVE it! There is still a few things left to do, like our master bath and window coverings and some little things here and there, but over all we're done and are just unpacking in order to make this home . I posted a couple of pictures and I'll post some more as things are finished. As you can see our kitchen cabinets are a lovely shade of green, which is growing on me quite nicely and I'm actually rather fond of it. Ben has been having so much fun exploring our BIG

It's been awhile, hasn't it? I've been thankful for 10 things everyday, but staying at someone else's house and not being able to use my computer makes for a good enough reason to skip a few days. But I've been thankful, you better believe it. I've always thought I'd love to be a speaker for women's groups, a motivational speaker if you will. One of my passions is motherhood; the trials, the joys, the really funny stories and lessons learned. Moms need to be encouraged, and I think that would be a fun job, to be the encourager. Here's the glitch though, I don't have a WOW testimony. Having been raised in a home where being a Christian was more a given than a decision, I never had an "Ah Ha" moment. No heavens opening or angels singing (that I could hear, anyway). Sometimes I get bummed about that, like my story is less effective than someone who has that shock factor we all love. I told Mom Fitz about my secret dream of speaker stardom

Today I am so thankful for... 1. Mark spending all day with Ben and me. 2. Mark for getting up with Ben this morning at 5:30. Ben actually woke up at 4am, just like I thought he would seeing as how 4am in Cally is 7am in Charlotte. I let him cry off and on for an hour, then gave him some milk and he laid down for a half an hour, but come 5:30 he was ready to start his day. Thank goodness Mark was ready and willing to start his day too! 3. seeing our new house for the first time in well over a month!! It's gorgeous! The painters will finish this week and the carpet will go in next Monday. I love everything and I can't wait to move in and make it home. 4. having great conversations with Leslie and Amanda, my sweet friends whom I missed so much! 5. talking with Amy two or three times today, I miss her so! I loved hearing Michael on asking for me and Ben. Poor little guy, he's probably so lonely without his buddy Ben. 6. the hearty soup my mom made for dinner. It was so good, I

Okay folks, Mark is typing for me today and it is gonna be short because I am one tired girl. Today I'm thankful for: 1. Mark typing for me (and his hot bod). 2. Getting home safely (to see Mark's hot bod). 3. For having an empty seat next to me on the plane so ben could lay down (although I would have liked Mark's hot bod next to me). 4. For my parents who are letting us stay at their home for one more week until we move into our new home. 5. For having a restful afternoon. 6. For Ben having quality time with his Papa Dan. 7. For my mom's home cooked chicken and dumplings with all the fixins and the cherry pie. 8. For seeing Mark and Ben together and Mark making Ben laugh again. 9. For Mark's Verizon wireless EV-DO card which lets him use internet high speed from anywhere he goes because he wanted it for so long and I am happy he gets to have something he wants and that is great. 10. The wonderful, wonderful trip I had visiting my sister in law, Amy. And

What can I say? We are having a GREAT time! Daniel is one of the sweetest babies I ever met. He rarely is upset about anything, unless it has to do with his milk, then there's NO messing around allowed. He actually can defend himself rather nicely when he's repetitively being beaten on by Ben and Michael, he can certainly hold his own most of the time, even instigating at times. Little sneaky-bean, that's what he is. Ben has grown right before my very eyes since we've been here. Playing on big-kid playgrounds, mimicking Michael's silly antics, and trying his very best to say a few words. Today we walked into a store and he said "bubble, bubble" and sure enough there was a bubble machine in the store, he was pointing it out to us. I can't wait for Mark to see Ben and see all the things he can do. I think he's going to be as blown away as I am at our little boy. We have our hands full most of the time, but these boys are so much fun and we are tru

31 years ago today my eldest brother was born! Happy birthday Darren! Now, Darren has an impeccable memory, and he will tell you that he remembers what the weather was like on the day he was born. Raining, I think? Regardless, it was a wonderful day. I hope that he had a wonderful day today celebrating with his family. When I talked to him he was on a little train that goes around the zoo there in San Francisco with Pam, Jesse and Luci. He and Pam had dinner reservations a a nice place, so it sounds as if he's having a great day. Unfortunately my card and gift are late BUT better late than never, right? :) Happy Birthday Darren!! Today I am thankful for... 1. getting to talk with Darren for a couple of minutes. I'm thankful for the eventful year he has had and the strength it has given him. I'm also thankful for the adventure God has planned for him this year, his 32nd year of life. 2. my new running shoes! I had to take a loan out for them, but supposedly if I'm truly

Today I am so thankful for.... 1. going to church with the Abbotts and Ben doing alright in the child care. 2. spending time with Daniel tonight and having him fall asleep in my arms as I gave him his bedtime bottle. 3. a fun trip to the mall with the boys. 4. laughing so hard with Amy tonight, my stomach and cheeks hurt. 5. all the great CDs Todd and Amy have that I'm downloading onto my computer. 6. Todd's love and gift for gardening, their yards are beautiful. 7. the lingo that the Abbotts have created which I have, unintentionally, picked up a few phrases. Mark is never going to let me spend so much time here again after I come home saying silly things like "Coo coo Amy". 8. for the yummy pizza we had for dinner. (In lieu of the salmon which Todd and I have put off having for dinner yet another night.) 9. all the pictures we've taken (and are going to take) which I'll post as soon as Amy can email them to me. 10. for the delicious coffee Todd makes for us

Today I am thankful for... 1. my parent's getting to see Ben and the boys in the playroom this morning. 2. Ben's fever coming down and staying down all day. 3. Ben saying "Michael"today! It was the cutest thing ever; Ben woke up from his nap before Michael did and preceded to look around the house for him. He went into the playroom and kept saying something over and over. It sounds a lot like "I Cul" Then Michael woke up and as clear as day Ben said it with the M in the right place and everything, Michael! So cute! 4. running again with Amy tonight. Our "Shamrock Run" is next Saturday! 5. Mark knowing the right things to say to me that always make me feel so much better. 6. The wonderful weather we've had since I've been here. While my fam in Cally deal with rain, hail and 50 degree weather, we had to turn the AC on last night! 7. my sweet friend Leslie calling me today because she misses me. What a dear friend. 8. finding out that not one

Something hit me today, I talk a lot about my sister-in-laws and their families. Carrie this, Amy that... but I don't really chat it up about Pam -Darren's wife. It could be because we don't get to see each other that often, and when we do most of the time a little thing called "chaos" usually is sucking up all of our attention. But let me tell you, she is an amazing woman. I love Pam, I always have. When she and Darren first started dating in college I knew she was "the one". There was never a doubt in my mind - she is PERFECT for Darren. She gorgeous; she has the most beautiful skin I have ever seen. She's hilariously funny. She has an incredible heart for the Lord - serving right along side Darren on the streets and is constantly aware of the poor and needy (physically and spiritually). She has a blast with her kids and to top it off she sings like an angel. She's one of my favorite people to hang out with and I wish, very frequently, that we

Today I am thankful for... 1. my time with Daniel and Ben on our walk and at the park. Two kids is work though, that's for sure! 2. the three boys taking a afternoon nap all at the same time! The silence was deafening. 3. Joanna's phone call and getting a chance to catch up with her. I'm thankful that our friendship is enduring the distance and still thrives. She is a dear friend, for sure. 4. having great talks with Amy. I love her God centered heart and her humor. 5. discovering that Budweiser Select isn't so bad (tasting) after all. In fact, I just might have another one tomorrow. 6. the humidifier in Ben's room to hopefully nip his nasty cough in the bud. 7. Todd and Amy giving up their room for the night to Todd's Great uncle Rick. Ben and I were going to move out of ours (which I would've done, for sure, but was REALLY not looking forward to.) So for them to make that sacrifice for Uncle Rick ultimately was an even greater sacrifice made for me. 8. tal

Today I am so thankful for... 1. first and foremost... running tonight with Amy!! We did 3 miles and, after the first 5 times around the track, I got over being freezing (we were running outside in the 50 degree range, yep, that's how hard core I am.) I did pretty darn well for my first time out in 2 weeks. 2. Michael hasn't woken up yet tonight with the fever he's been hanging onto these past couple of days. Still really need your prayers though for him and Ben. (Ben has a cough and a really disatrous nose now.) 3. Todd getting the movie RENT for me. He heard me say I wanted to see it and the next night it's here! He's so sweet, I think he's pretty fond of his little sister-in-law. :) 4. Amy's prayers for me and Ben. Last night I heard some whispering outside my bedroom door and after a few minutes I figured out it was Amy praying over Ben and me, over our room and this house and everyone else in it too. I began to pray with her, on the other side of the do

Here Benjamin, Michael and I are playing in the playroom. It's a great, red room. Filled with Michael's art from pre-school. We spend lots of time in there and we have a lot of fun. Michael has been a bit sick today, so Ben and I went to the mall on our own. (Thank goodness for the Navigation System in Amy's van!) I let Ben do something today at the mall I never thought I'd let him do... I let him ride the little 25 cent rides! I always thought it was such a waste of money, and if I never let him do it then he'd never know. But he LOVED the rides! He really enjoyed himself. Sure, it set me back about 4 bucks, but the look on his face was priceless. I'm glad I'm overcoming a lot of my mom issues. (Another one I thought I'd "never" do was bring him out in public with messy hair and a dirty, food stained shirt. THAT certainly didn't last long.) We're really enjoying our stay here. We miss Mark, but Ben is getting the hang of "talking&

Ben and I are here, safe and sound, in beautiful Charlotte, North Carolina! It truly is a gorgeous city; the weather is unusually warm for this time of year, the sky is a brilliant shade of blue and the bare trees show signs of a hint of winter amongst all the greenery. But, I know you don't want to hear about the scenery... How was the trip? It was... GREAT! Really, Ben and I had 2 wonderful flights. 100x better than I had ever hope or imagined, Ephesians 3:20 realized. The trip to Walmart the night before we left really paid off. My mom and I picked out a bunch of little things to pull out of my bag for Ben every time he got restless and they all came in handy. All of them. The best and most time occupying object? Pipe cleaners! Who would've thought? (Well, me, I guess.) Ben loved the colors, the way they felt in his hands. He liked to pull them out of the package and put them back in. We did that over and over and over for at least 35 minutes, and that's a long time. Th

Today I am thankful for... 1. a trip to Disneyland with Carrie and the boys. We had fun, even though it was super crowded. We hadn't been in a while and we wanted to squeeze in a trip before Ben and I are off to NC. 2. the beautiful, warm weather. It made our D-land trip that much better. 3. the way Gavin makes Ben laugh, and how Ben likes to copy whatever Gavin is doing. They are a lot like brothers sometimes, it's really cute. 4. a nice afternoon rest. 5. the new movie from Gma and Papa. I was going to buy one to take on the plane, but this came in perfect timing. Thank you, Gma! 6. the sweet and thoughtful gift from my new friend Barbara (Mark's partner's wife from NBPD). She gave me a goodie bag filled with little treats to take on the plane. Energy bars for me, games for Ben and ear plugs for the people sitting around me! It means a lot that she would think of us and do something so sweet, especially because we don't know each other that well yet, but I have a