Off to the races?

Yeah, not the horses, better. Talladega...That's right NASCAR! I got to go to my first Sprint Cup Race this Sunday. And what better way to start than the largest track, TALLADEGA! I have to admit, I was a bit apprehensive, but I had so.much.fun. I love getting outside of my box, and doing something so random and different. Add in some GREAT company (see below) and a little friendly competition and I AM HOOKED!!

I was also super impressed with the kindness and comraderie of the fans..Seriously. I mean, don't get me wrong, there was some GOOD people watching (and, um,not so good) but really a good family time!!

       We sat on the back side, just coming out of turn 2.

 Did you know you cam camp in the middle of the track?

         Sunscreen, hat, glasses, and a police scanner to listen to the drivers and their spotters.

Derek and Aidan, I love these guys :)

Its Just a Word..

Autism... Its a word that I have dreaded for two years. Literally it made my stomach clench and flip over. But I think that I have suspected it would impact us for a while. Last Friday, one of my worst fears as a Mom was confirmed. Noah, my sweet little independent, fiercely curious Noah has autism. Or so they tell me. ( "They" being the Center for Children's Developmental Disorders at Georgia State) There has been much discussion and denial....anger and peace...but ultimately, its just a word. It's just direction, on a path that we started when Noah was 6 months old. I won't and will never believe that a label, stigma, or diagnosis will keep this sweet beautiful boy from living the life that God has laid out for Him.  I wish I could wrap him in bubble wrap and protect him from any feelings of inadequecy or inferiority, but instead I will pray they sharpen and define His character, and His dependency on His Creator. That is all any of us  can ask.

Thanks for your sweet words of encouragement and your prayers this last week. I promise to keep you posted in our journey.

Psalm 54:4 Surely My God is my help, the Lord is the One who sustains Me!

Picture Time

We had a great, busy week last week....this is basically just ALOT of cute pictures!!!

Nate, Noah, Charlie, Elijah, Ian

Trouble x 3

I can't believe this baby girl is ONE, and that she (and her Mommy and Daddy) will be leaving us for Africa in a few weeks!

Nathan and Katey ( Keddy)

Noah and Haley (yay yay)

Ninjas

Yep, Ninjas..little climbing, earring losing, front door locking, bubble drinking, food throwing ninjas. That was just since Saturday, seriously. As a type this, they are in their beds. I think. I hear Noah ( most likely) up knocking on something...probably the wall, or the door. Who knows.

The twos are here, and they are taking me for a ride. ( please don't reply and say the threes are worse, yeah, I know, hear it all the time) I am so thankful for them, for our lives, for how God provides for us, but for real, this is hard (duh) and people I AM TIRED.

Someone asked me the other day.. what is your schedule like.. ok here you go

5:30 _wake up/shower. Usually Noah wakes up now, and is watching fireman sam in my bed, or running around my room screaming, or putting my brush in the toilet, or pulling open the shower curtain, you know, normal toddler 5:30 am stuff.

6:30- Super Kathi, babysitter sent from God, gets to my house, I leave for work

7:30, pull in parking deck , hoping to see best friend to mentally get ready for our day

7:45-3:30-Piedmont Wound Clinic Madness

3:45- leave, either to gym or to pick up boys

Home by 6:00 or 6:30.Dinner

6:30 -outside, walk playground

7:30- bath

8:15, books and bed

8:30-me on couch, laundry, phone, TV , studying for cert exams..dunzo

There it is... not much wiggle room :) Don't get me wrong, I love our lives, but I would love more energy, or maybe a clone.

So I guess the point of this post is not to whine or gain sympathy, but to be honest and say I could use prayer or encouragement ( not to be confused with "advice")

Now, so not to end on a down note, here are a few things I am particularly thankful for...

-Summer is coming and so is VACATION

-Had a really good weekend, and hung out with some pretty awesome women who aren't afraid to -be real and speak TRUTH to each other.

-God has put a really sweet man in my life who mows grass, fixes mailboxes, puts together tricycles and he cooks too, ya'll!!

And of course, THESE:

The kids..not the bikes :)

So there you go, real deal, not so perfect Mama..

6

Psalms and Lyrics

I was once called a Psalmist..( or prophesied over, sometimes not sure which) When I asked the sweet man who prayed this over me what he meant, he said he saw in me a heart like David...full of music and lyrics...and seeing my Savior and my Life (which are one and the same) through those eyes. Music has always been a big part of my life, from as early as I can remember, dancing around my living room to records ( I think they were Purple Rain, and Paradise)..And I so clearly remember listening to songs in elementary school and being affected deeply by them ( Dog and Butterfly, by Heart in particular..yes weird, I know)

The biggest influence is Jesus music. I use that to sum up whatever you want to call it, praise, worship, hymns, sacred music.. "secular" music that the Big Guy upstairs uses how He wants anyway... and I remember really worshipping for the first time, it was like a light came on. Whoa. God speaks to my heart through music, no mistake.

I say all that to sort of explain why I quote songs so much. I don't need to reinvent a wheel, someone else summed it up for me. So the other day, I stumbled upon this song..yes yes, its from the Hunger Games...that isn't why I love it. It literally haunts me. It makes me cry. I love it.

I don't know how they will use it in the movie, and I don't care. I think this song is a picture of how I feel ... As a Mother, and even more so , a single Mom, I wish I could protect my babies from the things that are of this world. Not so. At 2 1/2 they have been through more than most of us... and because we live in such a fallen world, there is only more to come.

I can see myself singing this over them, and God singing this over me..us.

I remember tears streaming down your face
When I said, I’ll never let you go
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said, Don’t leave me here alone
But all that’s dead and gone and passed tonight

Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You’ll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I’ll be safe and sound

Don’t you dare look out your window darling
Everything’s on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold onto this lullaby
Even when music’s gone
Gone

Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You’ll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I’ll be safe and sound

I remember tears streaming down your face

When I said, I’ll never let you go
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said, Don’t leave me here alone
But all that’s dead and gone and passed tonight

Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You’ll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I’ll be safe and sound

Don’t you dare look out your window darling
Everything’s on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold onto this lullaby
Even when music’s gone
Gone

Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You’ll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I’ll be safe and sound

( By Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhdNG_ebbTg&feature=share

What they've been up to..

Playing is "intents" :) ( yes, I did)

Big boy beds and Tents..

So, today is big boy bed day. Makes me kind of sad, really. Where did my babies go? And WHO do these toddlers belong to? I mean, really..come get them. Seriously, my boys are so big, so into everything. My house will never be clutter free, again. (wait, that implies it was before kids)

So the cribs are in the garage, going to sell one and keep one. You know, in case one day, in the future... And they are upstairs in big boy beds. Playing. And talking. Not sleeping. AT ALL.

What I've been up to...

Last weekend I had the chance to go to on girl's weekend with my best friend Jen, her sister Kristi and my good friend Danna. We didn't all know each other well, I didn't know Kristi, they didn't know Danna, but it was such a good group, a good mesh. I think we all enjoyed each others company, and much hilarity ensued :) We went to Mentone, Alabama to a house that some sweet friends of mine from church own, and it is one of my favorite places to unplug. Friday night we played some "Just Dance" on the Wii ( still the reigning champ, just saying) Saturday we walked around DeSoto Falls and then went to Fort Payne Alabama ( Merry Christmas, tonight) and saw a movie for $4.50! We decided it was so cheap they couldn't afford to light the theaters or a decent bathroom, but, hey, you get what you pay for!!! It was a really good time for us busy Moms to recharge our batteries.

I originally uploaded LOTS of pictures, but the images took up too much space. So here are a couple!

DeSoto Falls.