Perspective

It is a daily challenge to find perspective in my life. It is so easy for me to get bogged down with the moment that I don't realize that those things don't even matter. Especially now, as I job search, I can easily feel desperate and deflated. I try to keep my chin up and remind myself no one wants to hire a Debbie Downer. One way I take control of my situation is to exercise.
Today was one of those days when I needed to listen to my christian music playlist on my ipod. On a normal day these songs are too slow for me but today they quickly took me to another place. The song How Can I Keep From Singing by Chris Tomlin hit home...here are the lyrics:

There is an endless song
Echoes in my soul
I hear the music ring

And though the storms may come
I am holding on
To the rock I cling

How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing

I will lift my eyes
In the darkest night
For I know my Savior lives

And I will walk with You
Knowing You'll see me through
And sing the songs You give

How can I keep from singing your praise? How can I ever say enough, how amazing is your love? How can I keep from shouting your name? I know i am loved by the king, and it makes my heart want to sing

I can sing in the troubled times
Sing when I win
I can sing when I lose my step
And fall down again
I can sing 'cause You pick me up
Sing 'cause You're there
I can sing 'cause You hear me, Lord
When I call to You in prayer
I can sing with my last breath
Sing for I know
That I'll sing with the angels
And the saints around the throne


Here is the kicker...as this song started a mentally disabled guy got on the bike in front of me and he was singing with his mouth open as wide as it could go. At that moment, all of my self pity fell to the ground and I turned up the speed and just RAN. I thanked God for my healthy body to exercise and my healthy baby in the childcare. I listened to this song about 5 times over and over again.

Bele Chere

This weekend was a free music festival in downtown Asheville called Bele Chere. We went on Friday night and had a delicious gyro from a street vendor. I love eating concession stand style. There was plenty of grassy space to sit and relax while we let Summer run around.

Summer was walking up to everyone...wanting to share her crackers...or in this case, wanting a bite of this girl's ice cream. She almost stole this other teenager's cell phone! Daddy was close by to ensure our little ladybug didn't get far.

Currently Summer's hair is at a crossroads. It seems to want to go straight down...and into a point at that! As I was taking these photos I actually asked Chad to go push it over to the side but I guess it fell back. Only time will tell which way it will fall.

I am still job searching. I have a few hopefuls that I am striving to get an interview with so please pray that the right opportunity will present itself.

Atlanta Braves

We took a road trip to Atlanta to see a good friend and watch the Atlanta Braves play.

Chad and I were excited because we were staying at Matt's house and his sweet parents offered to babysit Summer while we went to the baseball game.

Summer quickly attached to Marilyn and David and they had a good time. They are grandparents to six boys so they have lots of experience with little ones.

Turner Stadium was so much fun! There was lots of entertainment and at one point the entire crowd broke out in dance. In actuality, they were paid dancers dressed as normal fans but it was so cool/weird that the girl beside me just instantly started dancing the same routine as the people on stage.

Chad with the dancers

I was most excited about getting a footlong hotdog! I got the Chicago Dog (celery salt, onions, tomatoes, relish, peppers) and added the sweet vidalia onion relish all topped with a little ketchup!

Mmmmm Mmmmm Good!

Our seats were perfect

What a great weekend!

Omitted from this story are the following situations: Chad got attacked by the mustard dispenser, the Braves lost, Summer was up every 2 hours all night once we got back to Matt's house, Sampson had 2 seizures at the doggy daycare and we got caught in 5 miles of standstill traffic on the way back home.

Friday Chit Chat

As far as Chad and I are concerned, Summer is brilliant! Every little movement she makes we seem to think is deliberate and thought through. Like how she puts her toys in the cookie jar; remove lid, insert toy, replace lid. If she has 3 toys she will repeat the process 3 times rather than putting all 3 in at once. This girl knows how to maximize her play! When she is putting her bath toys away she does something similar. She has foam letters that stick together and instead of putting the bunch of them away she will pull them apart one by one and put them in the bucket.

Summer has enjoyed this bounce seat her entire life (thanks Jada). Although she is a big girl now she loves to climb in it and play as well as relax. I will turn around and she will be sitting back relaxing like a hammock. I finally got around to updating Summer's growth chart flower. Summer's ladybug is hot pink with yellow dots (much cuter than their red sisters). Just having the paint brush in my hand gave me the painting bug but I haven't put it to action yet.

This is Fun, right?

With summer flying by we wanted to stop and enjoy the moment. So I packed up lunch and went to the Biltmore for a picnic. The scenery is gorgeous and the weather was overcast making for a cooler temperature.

We didn't realize that we would be immediately surrounded by 18 geese eyeing us down with disappointment that we trespassed on their stomping ground and didn't even give them some of our lunch! Plus, I forgot to bring a blanket...toddler + no blanket = PB&J covered in dirt. Let's just say we decided to eat our watermelon in the car on the ride home. I thought to myself, this is why people typically eat indoors at home! But hey, at least we have the pictures.

Everyday Chad and I are impressed with the things Summer is doing. She seems to be comprehending everything and she really shows signs of an organized person. She loves to stack things. You can typically always find her with both hands holding something...typical girl - a brush and baby doll. The ultimate is to go outside with the dogs first thing in the morning. She can now have her sippy cup and a plate on her high chair without throwing it off like a maniac!

Summer Update

My to-do list has been too long this week and I just couldn't justify blogging before doing some of the other items...and that is why I have been out of touch for this week.

However, we have been having a great time.

• Summer is no longer drinking out of bottles! The transition was a cinch although it has altered our nightly bedtime routine...leading me to my second proclamation.
• Summer's bedtime has been pushed back to 8-9pm (not so happy about this one). Without a delicious bottle to soothe her to sleep it takes a little longer to burn all of her energy.
• She hugs and loves on us constantly. This is the first time in her life that she has really shown affection and we are in love with this stage. Daddy is her favorite as of this weekend!

• Summer twirled for the first time and had her first bubble bath.
• She loves for me to chase her. She looks over her shoulder as I get near and just giggles.
• She and I play in the garage to beat the heat during the day and she loves riding around in her wagon. Her favorite part is to hang out the side and touch the wheel while it is moving...dare devil, thank goodness it comes equipped with seat belts.

Check out this big girl photo!

• She helps me around the house; always unloading the dishwasher and even carrying her laundry to her room today.

I am currently job searching. Please say a prayer for me this week for the right opportunity to present itself.

I have found a women's running group at church and I am thrilled to set a target for a 1/2 marathon in December. I'll share more details later.

4th of July Fun

NEW PICTURES ADDED

This year we celebrated our freedom on the 4th of July in Hayesville with the Martins.

And so did the horses...who broke free from the pasture only to be wrangled by these two cowboys!

Ladybug, Doug and HersheyChad and Reno
Summer got to spend more time around the horses
Summer and Daddy relaxing by the river
And it is hard to think that this is what Daddy and Summer looked like July 4, 2009We took an evening stroll along the dam of Lake Chatuge.
Our best attempt at a family photo...kind of hard with the blowing wind

Summer- July 2010

Summer- July 2009

I have a lot of random thoughts that I won't mess up this post with but stay tuned for a random post this week.

Summer's First Beach Trip, Playdate & the Lake

Summer's First Beach Trip - Panama City Beach, FL (oil-free)

Note to self: Don't take a 1 year old to the beach and stay in a hotel room!

Mom, Summer and I spend a couple of nights on the beach and I had high expectations of quality girl time. In reality, after Summer went to bed Mom and I sat in the bathroom and talked then went to sleep shortly after (less glamorous but quality still I guess).

I can't tell you how messy our hotel room was. First thing Summer did was take the phone off the receiver and carry it around. I figured I might as well unplug it from the wall so we didn't have a beeping noise. She also had a BALL pulling every.single.kleenex. out of the dispenser. At first, I told her no but then thought-hey we are on vacation, go ahead!

Our hotel had a water park for the young kids. Summer sat with Mimi and watched the other kids play. She told me that she wasn't a fan of splashing water.

PS - That sure is one Cute Mimi!

Summer LOVED the pool. I think she liked the security of being in my arms. She waved to everyone and said "Hi!"

The beach wore her out (and it was nap time)

I would love to tell you that Summer regularly falls asleep in my arms like this...BUT this is rare! In fact, she only does this when she is sick. And sure enough after she rested on my shoulder at dinner I knew something was wrong. She was hot and it wasn't from being outside. We bought a thermometer and her temperature was 102! My nurse told me to see a doctor then next day and we decided to end our trip a day short and head back to Birmingham.

This mama was Catty! I told my mom in advance that I was sorry because I was bound to lash out at some point. After much trial and error (Pediatricians won't see you on a one time basis and many walk in clinics won't see a baby her age) we went to the American Family Care on Shades Crest Rd (Dr. Chandler) and it was great (highly recommend for B'ham friends).

My poor baby had an ear infection:( We got an antibiotic and she was back to herself almost immediately.

While in Birmingham, I met with my college friends, Nicole, Erin and Christina, for a kids playdate. Here is my attempt to getting a picture of all of them. I have learned if I dance silly then give a BIG Ta-Da! at the end then Summer will give me a big smile. Turns out she will also raise both hands and make a face dive off the couch! Saved her in the nick of time.
Rebecca, Marley Rose, John William, Summer, Tom, Elizabeth (Stella was napping)

Bud, Jen and Sadie took me on a boat ride at Logan Martin Lake in their refurbished ski boat. Sadie is such a swimmer. She even has her own life jacket with a handle on the back for pulling her back up into the boat.

Man and Man's very tired best friend