A Plea To Parents

The boys spent the morning with some friends while I went to the dentist. They had a great time, but were inside due to the mosquitoes. I have really enjoyed being inside on HOT days. However, the boys go to bed so much better if they have gotten their dose of the sun each day. So, I decided to take them to the local park tonight. It is my favorite because there are NO swings. How sad, I know. I just get tired of pushing two boys...I want them to get the "exercise", not me :) I digress. I got me a bite to eat and took the boys to the park. We were the only ones there to start with, which makes me happy and sad. I enjoy not having to worry about how other kids are going to respond to my kids, but am sad that they didn't have anyone else to play with. A few minutes later, three children come running up to the playground. I look around for their parent(s). Nothing. I saw their car. They were sitting in it! Seriously. Sitting the car, listening to music, doing stuff they shouldn't have been or something. But, sitting in the car, NOT watching their children on the playground. The car was even parked in the wrong direction to even be able to see out the front window. I was so upset by this! I think what made it the worst was that two of the three were climbing on top of the playground equipment. We are talking 10-15 feet in the air. Now, I know that kids do this and I am not a fan of it. They can fall people! And get really hurt...banging themselves all up on the metal as they plummet to the ground! So, to you parents who don't want to watch your kids at park, don't bring them please! Do you want them to break their necks? Be bullies? Get kidnapped?



OK, second request is to you parents of girls. I have boys. I would like to protect them as long as possible. The world is a hard place for our men. My boys are going to grow into men one day. (wipe tear) I would like for them to maintain their innocence as long as possible. PLEASE don't let you girl wear miniskirts with no shorts on under them! PLEASE!!!! Shorts or skorts please! Heck, with the style for girls nowadays, maybe jeans and a turtleneck would be better. Digressing again. Please, teach your girls about modesty. I promise that I am doing my best to teach my boys about chivalry and being a knight.

And on a random note...I used to LOVE mocha shakes from Port City Java. Ice cream, espresso, and chocolate syrup...what's not to love! I live here in the "Port City" where their java began. Unfortunately, I have seen a Port City Java in the Queen City, the Gate City and the Capital City. Go figure. Digressing yet again! I am learning to really taste the food that I am eating and learning to evaluate if I even like it or like how I feel (not talking emotions or guilt here) physically after eating it. I had a mocha shake tonight and HATED the way that I felt afterwards and for the next hour! Cross that off my list of things I thought that I loved!

Proving I'm NOT Southern!

Here's a tidbit for you...if I haven't shared it already. I am the only person in my family born NORTH of the line that divided the Union from the Confederacy 150 years ago. (Don't you love my "PCness"?) Well, at least as far back as like the Revolutionary War. I have always joked about how I am the outsider in my family. I get harassed about it a lot! All in good fun though! I am not exactly a "Yankee", more like a mid-westerner...whatever that means. I was born in a college town in Indiana, at a year old moved to a city in Wisconsin and after 8 more years, moved to the Queen City in North Carolina...my parents were glad to be closer to their homes in Georgia. I was thankful for only a 5 to 6 hour ride to visit my relatives instead of a 15-20 hour drive! Hey, I was 9 years old!

I was in GA this weekend for family reunions. On day two, my youngest son decided that "van" has not one, but TWO syllables! I was shocked! It doesn't take long for that southern blood to start flowing!

Well, I totally proved that I am NOT southern today! My family would be, ummm, not proud of me, but find it humorous! My dad got two bushels of raw peanuts and sent some home with me so I could boil them. I did. I also burned them! Who burns peanuts? I didn't even know it was possible! Peanuts are like the state symbol of GA, next to pecan pie!:) I think it is a sin or sacrilegious or something! God forgive me!

Thankful Thursday

1. discovering movies to rent on iTunes
2. leftovers
3. the beautiful smiles that I get from my boys
4. Summer Movie Magic (free movies, $1 concessions!)
5. seeing extended family
6. key lime pie (it sure was good the next day!)
7. the warmth of the sun (yes, even if it is sweltering!)
8. Harris Teeter's specials this week
9. God's grace
10. beauty that comes from ashes, only by God's grace

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!!!

How do you spell victory?

I spell it by going out to a nice dinner for my anniversary with Manly Man and...

NOT finishing all the hush puppies that come instead of bread,

NOT eating all of my dinner (2 of my 5 stuffed shrimp is all I could do),

NOT eating all the the Key Lime Pie that I had been craving for a week (we actually got it "to go" and had one bite each before we left the restaurant), and

NOT wanting/wishing/ or needing to unbutton my pants once we got in the car!

Honoring my hunger...and stopping when full, is what I am working on right now!

That is how I spell VICTORY!

How do you spell VICTORY?

Happy 7 Years!

We've come full circle or something like that Manly Man. Seven years today! At 3:30pm to be precise. I can't hardly believe it! We have had our shares of ups and downs, but who hasn't? And I really feel like the completion of 7 is here or something. I feel different this year. Good. Really good actually. Happy. Blessed. Loved. I am so thankful that I am finally starting to settle into the fact that I am loved. Adored actually. I feel that, just so you know...adored. Most of the time. Sometimes I just feel like a worn out wife and mom. But deep down, I know that I am adored. Hey if you didn't adore me, you would have never done this...

That is right ladies. Go ahead and be jealous. But don't hate me too much. My Manly Man sang a song to me at our reception. Not just any song. A song he wrote for me, that I heard for the FIRST time at our reception. And not just any words! Words straight from the cards I mailed him weekly while he was in Rookie School with the fire department (oh yea, I got me a firefighter...manly man that he is!). Yep, he kept them all. They (Fresh Ink, thank you!) always said the right thing.


"Coffee shop, corner booth, lots of time for me and you


Look at me, I'm a wreck, but you stop my bad days in their tracks.


Night and day and night again, I was thinking of you when...into my heart these words of love came in...


So turn the page you'll find my heart, I was hoping you would keep it for a while, keep it for a long long while,


Don't you know oh baby, don't you know that every day your my first smile, your my first smile."


(That is just a sampling.)

I wish I had a way to post him singing it, but I don't at this time...but trust me, it was amazing. He really should have gone out for Nashville Star, that country voice of his just makes me melt! I remember the first time I really heard him sing...I just loved it!

To remind you and to remind myself, here is what I vowed to you that day, seven years ago.

Manly Man, as your wife, I accept the call of God to love you faithfully and unconditionally. For as long as we both shall live, Jesus Christ will always be our Rock and our Fortress. In His strength, I will love Him first and love you second and He will always be the head of our household. I will continually push you toward Christ and encourage you to live for Him always. I will be honest with you and always put first the needs of our family. I will honor you always, trust you always, and support you always. I will be your lover; I will be your best friend; and as long as I live, I will never divorce you. This is my covenant that I make with you.

Today, I affirm that vow to you. I love you very much. I know that I have failed in a lot of way, but I know that Jesus has held us together, and that I will always lean on God's strength to keep my vows.

I love you Manly Man! Happy Anniversary!

(Hey, don't we look like such little babes? What happened?)

PS: Teesa, your dad took all these pics, except the last one!

Tropical Storm Cristobal Party

Well, that depression did turn into a storm and they named it! Lucky for us, we were ready to party! Jakey loved the puddle-jumping! Jonathan didn't even want to get wet!

We made a trip to Grandma and Papa's house for the second, and much better I might add, part of the party...

Aunt Zana came into town...

Papa cooked blue crabs he caught off the dock...

He also fried flounder that he caught the day before in the river...

Grandma held down the kitchen upstairs and made some real french fries and boiled some corn on the cob...

Thanks Cristobal! The Sellers' Fam had a blast!

Hurricane Party Anyone?

OK, actually just a tropical depression which may turn into a tropical storm, but still....

Almost Too Embarassing...

This is almost over the top, but I couldn't resist! Just two minutes ago, I was giving my boys some directions, and this is what I told Jacob....

Me: Jacob, put your p***is back inside your underwear.

Seriously. Am I raising an exhibitionist?

Taking The Leap

We are going to home school. Wow, that feels really good to be firm in that decision, and totally terrifying also! Anybody with me on that one? I have started ordering curriculum...what a daunting task. I think that I have picked some good "stuff" for Jonathan. We still haven't decided what to do with Jacob...preschool or not? It would be good for Jonathan if Jacob isn't home during school since he is such a distraction...love you Jakey! Thankfully, you can't read this yet :) Financially and logistically, it doesn't make sense to send him though. Any suggestions from anyone who is homeschooling as to what to do with a younger sibling?
There really are some serious fears when it comes to being your child's teacher! What if my non-love of reading rubs off on him? What if he won't listen to me? My biggest fear is that I will stop enjoying being around him. Manly Man and I have talked about all of these things. Our commitment is on a year to year basis. If I stop delighting in Jonathan, then I am done...I don't want to lose that joy!
There are some really good pros for it though. Be finished by lunch time! Really in about an hour, to an hour and a half for kindergarten....makes you wonder what takes so long in public school doesn't it? I can set the schedule around holidays that are important us, including birthdays! I am actually going for a more year round approach. We will start mid-August and work for 4 weeks and then take a week off for a little break. This will continue for the year. They will have two weeks at Christmas, a week at Easter, and a week at the 4th of July, and then 4 weeks off from mid-July until mid-August. Sounds kind of weird, I know. However, if you have had kids in any kind of school setting (school or preschool) then you know how bored they get in such a short period of time in the summer. This schedule will cut down on that!
Jonathan will be studying reading/ phonics program, math, handwriting and having a Bible lesson 4 days a week. We will take Thursdays off, since I have a women's Bible study that morning. We will also do some arts/ crafts one or two afternoons a week as well as some social studies types of things. Grandma is a pianist and she is going to teach them how to play, so we will make weekly trips to her house for lessons, lunch and fun!
It is interesting to responses we have gotten. Some are all for it. Some know nothing about it and therefore say things they shouldn't. Some just don't know what to say so we get an "oh" response. There are several families at our church that home school so I have a good network there.
Any tips, ideas, websites, or suggestions anyone has, feel free to share them!
Did I mention that I used to teach? That would make you think that I would not be fearful of this right? I taught high school chemistry....they already knew how to read and write!

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for...



1. two boys who are not intimidated around adults.

2. my boys' Aunt and Uncle for giving them two rounds of swim lessons...they have really taken off!

3. this man...my daddy, "Daddy B" who came all the way to my home to fix my computer!

(Note: although he may be "goofey" at times, he isn't Goofey!)

4. a working AC unit, again.

5. the chance to home school my boys.

6. a new book I am reading that I feel is going to be really great for me.

7. our new digital converters (yes, we still have rabbit ears, but now we have a clear picture, most of the time....we just never could bring ourselves to pay for cable when you can't ever find anything to watch on it!)

8. my wonderful Manly Man, to whom I have been married 7 years, come Monday!

9. the moments when my oldest tells me I am the best mom ever (he is a charmer!)

10. the moments when my youngest "steals all my kisses!"



Life is good!

Let's Hear It For Caro!

So, this is a few days later than intended, but here goes....

Caro is a year younger than me, but it isn't noticeable. Here is how we met. We grew up about 10 or so miles away from each other, attending rival middle and high schools in the Queen City. Never knew each other.

The day I arrived at UNCG, I had a ton to move in...tacky matching sheets, a stereo, a computer (mind you we were just learning about the web and email!), and a bunch of other crap (I have such a hard time typing that word, since it is a word that I have had to take out of my vocab with the boys getting older and all!) that I did not need! A group of students from InterVarsity Christian Fellowship were helping move students into their dorms. Sprout, Caro's sister, just happened to be the one to help me, and be my neighbor in the dorm. She was wonderful! Three knocks away, right Sprout? Well, one weekend, in the fall I believe, Caro came to spend the weekend because she had her voice audition for the School of Music at UNCG. Sprout and her roomie, Caro and her friends and me (I am sure there were others) all went to play putt-putt or something and somehow Caro ended up with me and listened to me talk about the Drum Major from high school. I must have whined and droned on forever about him....years I think. So thankful that we aren't together today and that I have Manly Man now!

Caro continued her trips to UNCG a couple of times and I would always see her. A year later, there she was...in that "other" side of the dorm...not Weil, but Winfield! Sprout was still on one side, Caro was about 4 doors down the other way. We hit it off! She and I have had our times where we are really close and then not so close and then close again. Why do girls do that? But, she is amazing! She has been a solid friend to me, and probably the only one that I would trust to post on my blog! We don't get a lot of time together, but this bloggy thing has made me feel like I am right there in the tiny 'boro where she lives. We even get to see each other in my town because Manly Man and Mr. Baseball are from the same town, where we now live! Yippee!!! That is where we do the wild and crazy, 9pm coffee milkshakes together!

I love you sweet girl! You rock! Doesn't she?

Funny Things I Heard

Just a few funnies I heard over the past few days, while the computer was, umm, dead as a door nail.

Me: Jacob, you need to have a happy heart before we can go.
Jacob: Fappy Fart.
...........
Jonathan: (in a very "upset" tone, with feet stomping) The potty is all out of flusher!
Me and Manly Man: (falling out of chair laughing, having nothing to say!)
...........
Manly Man: I think I like my new bloggy name..."Manly Man"....yep sounds good!
Me: Glad you like it, I thought it worked well!
Manly Man: If I had a blog I would call you Wifely Wife. No, no, no. I would call you "Nanly Nan"!!!!!
Me: (falling off the couch laughing, again, having nothing to say!)

It's Me!!

I'm Back!!!!!!! I am working on reading all the blogs that I follow...if I don't comment, forgive me...but there is about a weeks worth of posts on about 1 blogs I follow! I am very overwhelmed!
Thanks to Caro for all she did! Isn't she the bestest BFF to have??? I love you Caro and can't wait to get a current picture of us in the near future...when was the last one taken?
Several posts are a brewing...but I have a lot of stuff to catch up on first...bills and junk like that!
So, peace out and see you soon!

nan, you're irreplaceable

Caro here. I know you must be getting tired of me by now. I need to inform you that Nan is waiting for her father to come and fix her computer, so it may be this weekend before she comes back. Oh how I have missed her.

I have to say that lately I haven't been on my A- game with posting. Now that I have the chance to raid Nan's blog and say whatever my little heart desires, I have nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada. My mind is void of anything zany that Nan and I have done together. There was that time we went to the coffee shop...yeah, good times, but not crazy. We just wanted some caffeine. It was past 9pm and I think I was about 8 months pregnant. On the other hand, that just might qualify as crazy.

I can say that I've always thought Nan has great legs. I say this not in a crazy girl crush kind of way, as a friend who can look at her friend's legs and think..."wow, she has great legs." She says its from dancing when she was younger. That may be so. That may also be why my legs look the way they do - nothing like Nan's, as I am not a dancer.

Nan, I hope you and your nice legs are ready to take back your blog. All my grandiose ideas and plans have gone down the proverbial toilet. I am good at my blog, you are good at your blog. I am not you - good thing too. The world would be without one great person if you weren't here Nane.

So, I guess this will be my last post before Nan returns. Go ahead, breathe your sigh of relief. I won't take it personally.

nan and caro: the college years

Caroline here. I haven't heard from Nan today, so I'm still here to post whatever I want to on her blog. I just so happened to dig up some pictures from our life in college. Unfortunately, I couldn't find as many as I would have wanted to, but there were three little gems I would like to share with you.

This first one is of Nan and I on the InterVarsity Freshman Beach Retreat at Ocean Isle in 1995. At this point in my life, I don't think I went anywhere without a ball cap. Nan is looking less than amused at whatever has transpired in the moments prior to our photograph. What a great pair.

Nan is a little happier and more awake in this picture. I think we were either going to or coming from another IV retreat - this one to the NC mtns to my uncle's farmhouse. Wish I had some more pics from that trip. And what's up with my triple chin?

This one is to impress Nan's Manly Man, since he plays guitar and all. Here is Nan at another Freshman Beach Retreat when we were small group leaders. Our friend Adam also plays guitar and he showed Nan how to change a string. Being the guitar player that I am, I can tell you, it most likely was the G string, as that's the most common one to break. But I'm just sayin'.

Nan, feel free to do other things for a while. I'm having fun with your blog.

Hi everyone, its Caroline (a.k.a. Pocket Change). I will be guest hosting this blog for a brief amount of time. Nan wanted me to let you know that her computer - more specifically her hard drive - crashed this morning and she is unable to post anything. But she ALSO wanted me to make sure you knew that this isn't a permanent situation. She doesn't want to lose her faithful following of readers.

With that said, in order to keep you interested and coming back to Nan's blog in the interim, I will be posting whatever I want and Nan has no control over this (insert evil laugh). The ball is in my court and Nan cannot defend herself. This is gonna be great.

Goal For The Week: Break A Habit

I have decided, by God's grace and power, to work on one bad food habit a week. It is my prayer that I can break one bad one and form a good one. I hope to post once a week on my goal and update often during the week about how I am doing. I have posted a weight loss tracker on the left over there...I want to lose the weight, but still, health is my main goal! So, my goal for this week is to...

STOP eating while I am standing

and to

START drinking water whenever I want to munch.

Join me on my journey to freedom from food!

Wonderful Fourth

We had a great time at the 4th of July festival! The weather was perfect! We enjoyed a great parade, yummy food, the best company ever and a great fireworks show! Yes, we made it! The boys took naps REALLY late so that we could go to the show. Here are my two favorite pictures from this year's festival!

Have a wonderful remainder of the weekend!

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!

For a long time, I took the 4th of July as just another holiday, some good fireworks, and maybe some good fair food. And then, I started dated Manly Man. He grew up and his parents still live in the town where NC has their "state" 4th of July Festival. It is a very big affair down there! The first time I went, I was moved by the patriotism that is just oozing from every corner. There are no anti-war protests happening or anti-Bush signs. It is a few days that people come out and really show how proud they are to call America home. They even have a naturalization ceremony over the 4th! How cool!

We have only missed one 4th here since we got married in 2001, but with good reason...is was about 34 weeks pregnant with Jonathan and could not stand the heat. That 4th didn't "feel" like the 4th.

We have taken the boys to the parade the past two years, which has been fun and will be doing it again this year. They haven't seen the fireworks yet because they don't start until about 9:15PM, and if you don't know anything about me...I am a bit of a stickler for bed time. (Hey, my boys need their sleep and I need my quiet time and hang out with Manly Man time.) Not to mention that neither of the boys like really loud noises. We are still undecided as to if we are going to attempt them this year.

Ever year I think I become a little more patriotic and a little more proud to be an American! Don't get me wrong, I wasn't ever "not patriotic", but I just never thought about it a whole lot. My mother in law has been working on genealogy and she has traced backed that 4 of my husbands ancestors actually fought in the Revolutionary War. They played a role in my freedom, and yours. I am more vocal about thanking veterans for their service to our country. I am so thankful that over 200 years ago, some brave men stepped up to the plate to win our freedom and that through the years, even more brave men have and will continue to step up to the plate to defend our country and the rights that those men so desperately fought for!

So, on this 4th, remember where you live, who paid the price, and what the price was. Remember how blessed you are to live in the USA!

I am proud to be an American!

By the way, hop on over to Pocket Change and wish Caroline a happy birthday!

Thankful Thursday

My friend Ainsley over at Chattahoochee Mama used to do a "Thankful Thursday" post, but hasn't done it in a while. (What is up with that Ainsley?) I am trying to be more aware of the blessings in my life and helping my children do the same. We have started saying "gratitude, not attitude" in our home. I am thankful for (in no particular order)...

1. a free nation to live in and the liberties I am afforded
2. freedom in Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior
3. a well-working AC unit
4. my two sweet little boys
5. my Manly Man
6. my coffee that is waking me up
7. a Bible teaching church
8. family that loves us and supports us through the easy and hard times
9. my cute nephew who is getting glasses (he's 4...can't you imagine how cute that will be?)
10. my bed, which I didn't feel enough of last night:(



Junior Asparagus (from Veggie Tales) says "A thankful heart is a happy heart." When I get grumpy, I try to start counting my blessings. Give it a try!

Wordless Wednesday

I have seen people in bloggy land who do these "Wordless Wednesday" posts with nothing but pictures. We have been having some fun here lately and I have pictures to share and thought this would be a good way to do it! Without further delay...