There's No Place Like Home

Lauren began her Fall Break last Thursday and so we enjoyed a long weekend visiting with family and friends in Atlanta. It was a busy but wonderful trip. I hosted a baby shower luncheon for one of my best friends, Kim Nash, at The Swan Coach House Saturday afternoon. It was so much fun spending time with old friends and celebrating with Kim. She has been a faithful friend to me through the years. I met her 12 years ago at the start of my freshman year at Mercer. We were sorority sisters, roommates, and bridesmaids in eachother's wedding. It is rare and so special to have a friend who knows everything about you, all your silly quirks and habits and still loves you. I have no doubt we will be lifelong friends. I knew I wanted to give Kim a baby shower and yet, even after planning the date, I didn't realize how perfectly timed this trip would be. I discovered a few weeks ago that it would also be Lauren's Fall break. So Aaron and I decided that I would bring the kids over on Thursday to enjoy a nice long weekend at my family's home, rather than the usual quick trip. Lauren and Jake adore their cousins and so this idea was a big hit among us all. We missed Aaron until he was able to join us late Friday night. It finally felt complete when he arrived.

My sister Karen, often referred to as the "cruise director" in our family, always finds fun things for us to do with the kids during our visits. This time we planned to spend Saturday afternoon at Stone Mountain's Pumpkin Fest. I joined the crew after Kim's shower ended. The kids wore costumes and there were a lot of Fall activities for them to enjoy. Lauren and Gracie were UGA cheerleaders, a bit taboo for their Daddy, a Georgia Tech fan, but they were on loan from Kathy, so it doesn't really count, right? Jake was a superhero, but he ditched his costume as soon as he found the climbing ropes course. I guess it was going to slow him down. His favorite was the zip line. If it hadn't been so crowded, I'm sure he would have wanted to stay there all afternoon! We ended the day with a great dinner out at a Mexican restaurant, my favorite! My Aunt Jeannie, my mom's sister, was visiting and so it was really great to enjoy this time with her also.

It was a busy weekend, but well worth it. It is amazing to me how comforted I can still be by being at home. Though my parents are amazing supporters of me and Aaron, it is not the only reason I long for home at times. There is just something about going back to where I grew up. I love showing my children the places and things that I once loved. I love seeing the pictures throughout my parent's home. I love driving through downtown Duluth and passing by my old high school. I enjoy the memories that rise up when I am surrounded by it all. To be clear, I don't in any way long to relive those days but I enjoy remembering them. I enjoy sharing them with Aaron, just as I love hearing his memories. I love visiting his home in Blairsville, seeing old videos and pictures, and having that window into who he was before we met. We have all heard the age-old question, "Can you ever really go home again?" I believe the question is asking whether or not you can go back home and have that home still provide you with the same nurturing you received as a child. And can you revisit the past without being forced to relive it in some way? For me, and I know that this is not the case for everyone, I can go home again and be energized by the warmth and love it provides. I leave feeling encouraged and eager to return to what has become the greatest home of all, the one that Aaron and I have created together. I am excited to be where I am today. I feel blessed and thankful to have the opportunity to create new memories, ones that my children can carry with them into adulthood. I hope that one day they will also be able to say, "There's no place like home."

Here are some more pictures from Saturday at Stone Mountain...

I love my little man!

My Boys!

Hannah, Gracie, Lauren, Ryan, Jake, Ben and Meaghan




My baby girl is growing up!

Gracie stops for a snack!

Aaron distracts the kids from being sad with an

impromptu game of Simon Says as we all leave

the park. Uncle Aaron is the coolest! Always

coming up with fun new ways to entertain the

kids. Just one of the many reasons why I love

my husband!

Sarah Palin on SNL

Sarah Palin was on SNL last night and this was by far my favorite clip from the show. Hilarious! It took courage for her to go on there and laugh along with everyone. In fact, I think I like her even more than I did before...didn't even think that was possible! My favorite part of the "rap" was the moose being shot down while Palin danced along to the music in the background. Did I peak your curiosity? Watch it if you have a minute and then I'd love to hear your comments. I thought she had a great sense of humor about it all. Also, I'm sure you know this about me, but I don't in any way endorse the preview for "Religulous" that runs following this SNL clip. (Just a side note on this topic...I don't have a problem with someone questioning faith and seeking to learn more. I don't even mind if there is a movie made about it. I do, however, have a strong reaction to Bill Maher's continual mocking of Christianity. Suggesting that one who believes that God actually speaks to them should seek psychiatric care and that the Bible is just a book of stories is truly intolerable to me. He will know the Truth one day. I'll stop there...I could go on for a while. That would be a whole other post!)

We just returned from a great weekend in Atlanta. I have many pictures and will be posting them in the next day or two!

My Favorite Season

Fall has always been my favorite time of year. I love the arrival of the cooler temperatures, football games, apple cider and the falling of colorful leaves. One of our favorite outings during this time of year is to go to a pumpkin farm. The kids love it! Yesterday, we went to Walden Farm with several friends from our church. We had a wonderful time. There were plenty of seasonal activites to keep us busy for hours. Lauren and Jake loved the petting zoo and the hayride the best! It was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. After the pumpkin farm, we all went out to dinner together at Fat Moe's, which was delicious. When Aaron and I were driving back home after dinner, we talked about how faithful God has been in answering our prayers. We have moved around frequently these past 8 years. While it has been hard to start over so many times, God has faithfully led us to wonderful communities where we have developed friendships with other Christian families. Not only have we loved these people dearly, but our children have created friendships with their children. We are thankful to God for His hand in guiding us each time we move. While it is bittersweet to think that we may have to move again in 8 months, we know God's faithfulness will continue. Until that time, we will enjoy days like this with our friends and pray that God will continue to bless our families together.

It was a little hotter than usual for this time of year but thankfully we were well-prepared with lots of drinks for the kids and lots of Diet Coke for Mommy!

Look at those little pumpkins!

My heart is so full!

The Sweetest Sound in the World

I have had so much fun playing around with Windows Movie Maker on my new computer. I'm still learning how to do it all but I did manage to get one video loaded. This was taken the day the Gracie was born. We were all anxiously awaiting Gracie's arrival and it was a wonderful moment. Her first cry was the sweetest sound. We were also very excited to know what she weighed at birth. Both Lauren and Jake were very small babies. We brought them both home at 4 lbs, 6 oz, so we were thrilled to finally have a "big baby." This is just a small clip of that wonderful day.

Memories

Here are links to some old pictures that I posted on my Facebook page. Some are really funny! I can't even believe that I'm sharing some of these but I'm trying to embrace ALL of my growing years. The good, the bad and all the frightening hairstyles! I'm loving it all. For those of you who only know me and Aaron now, I hope you enjoy learning more about us. For my old friends, I hope it takes you back too!

The First 6 years...
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=42092&l=abcd8&id=614281844

Oldies but Goodies!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=42244&l=36710&id=614281844

My Family
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=40967&l=1c7ea&id=614281844

Family Videos

Here are some family videos that were created in celebration of my parent's 40th wedding anniversary. I shared the Disney video with you last month but it was always my intention to make it a "trilogy" and I just finished it this past weekend. My Mom and Dad have always wanted something like this and so it was a lot of fun to create a DVD of videos for them. My sisters and I just wanted to express our appreciation for all they have done for us over the years. Spending time together as a family is one of our favorite things to do and we have created some wonderful memories. I've listed each video below, just click and enjoy!



The Gift of Disney


The Gift of the Beach House

The Gift of You

The Chapman Family

Today was a good day. We had a great morning of worship at our church. We always feel such comfort each time we enter the doors and God has given us wonderful friends to grow together with in Christ. I often think back to the first few months of living in Nashville and the search for our church home. We visited several churches in the area and many of them were wonderful but we never felt at home until we walked into Clearview. We knew that God was leading us there. God knew what was ahead and that we were going to need the love and support of His church. It is a great journey and I feel incredible comfort in the fact that I am not the one in control. It helps me to look back and remember all that God has done for us in the past; it reminds me that He is still working in our lives now. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. There is no way to measure the peace that that gives me in my heart.

After church we went to lunch with our friends and saw Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife Mary Beth eating lunch. I grew up in Paducah, KY and actually was very close to his extended family. One of my best friends was Beth Chapman and she is Steven's first cousin. To my great excitement, I met Steven and Mary Beth a couple of times when I was young. Today I went over to him and introduced myself to him again and told him that I grew up in Paducah, knew Beth, etc. My Dad was also pastor of FBC in Paducah, which he remembered. He then said, "Yes, I remember you came over to the house, it was during the holidays." I was 14 years old! Hard to believe how long ago that was. What was most amazing to me though was that God used this today to minister to my heart in a way that only He can. As I told them how much their family has been in my thoughts and prayers over the past several months, I looked into the eyes of Mary Beth and my heart hurt deeply for her. To know the love a mother has for her child made it so profound. I try and imagine what she must be going through every day after the loss of their daughter. There are not even words to describe the pain she must be experiencing. I remember seeing their wonderful interview on Larry King Live and how when they were asked if they were angry at God, they said no. I'm sure there are many people who watched that interview that do not have a relationship with Christ and therefore do not understand how the Chapmans could say such a thing. I was thankful that they spoke their hearts to the world in that way. Though hard to understand, it was a deeply truthful answer. We will never understand on this side of eternity why God allows bad things to happen, especially in the lives of those who have dedicated their lives to serving Him. What we are promised, however, is that He will work all things together for good in the lives of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. God used that moment today to remind me of all that I have to be thankful for in my life. In the midst of my own sadness, I looked into the eyes of another mother who is grieving so deeply and in a way that I can't even imagine. To know that I could walk back to my table and pick my baby up in my arms and hold her had new meaning. It encouraged me to thank God for what I have been given. We can't take one moment for granted. I will continue to lift the Chapman family up in prayer and will not forget how God used them to speak to my heart today.