11-11-11

Eleven pictures

It was a relaxing day.  Landon home from school "sick" - really he was fine but he had been sick the day before.

For the record, Cameron and Parker do live here but Cameron went to a friend's house to spend the night and Parker Bear was by my side most of the evening.

You Capture - Green

I haven't participated in You Capture in quite awhile but this week's theme was Green and last week we were basking in the sun on Santa Rosa Beach, Florida and I have too many pictures that easily fit in this theme.  There is a reason it is called The Emerald Coast.

We all had a great time at the beach but the kids still like being in the pool better.  Parker, Anna and even Landon improved their swimming so much during this trip.

It wouldn't be a proper vacation without mini-golf....or...

 ...naptime!

 The master bedroom in the house we rent for the week is the brightest shade of lime and makes me immensely happy.

We made it home in time for the Elvis Costello concert. 

He brought fans up to spin a huge wheel to decide which song he would play next and he had this "cage" that his go-go dancer and audience members could dance in.  Elvis is awesome!

Prayers Needed

Yesterday someone asked for an update on Baby Ella.

Ella is in Heaven right now.  She was born and passed on September 8th, 2011. 

Please, friends, pray for her mama and daddy and their older son and daughter.  Their hearts are broken and need healing.  

Paper Therapy

I began writing today.

I've never considered myself as "a writer."   Still don't and probably never will but sometimes, especially in times of deep need, I find myself with pen in hand.  Scribbling and scratching out my emotions.  Ink and paper therapy.

Today I have a paragraph.  Tomorrow, perhaps, there will be more to follow.  Maybe there won't.  But I'm devoting an entire stack of college-ruled paper to an idea and we'll see what becomes of it.

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I wrote this next part over 5 years ago and I've never beat myself up about not writing more than one other entry.  It isn't important to me to MAKE myself write.  I've given myself enough room to not feel obligated to do so.  Writing is for me not the other way 'round.  But I'm glad writing is always there when I need it.

6/27/06

10:50pm

Well, I've never kept a journal before, but here goes.  ...

With a million things running through my brain like what to pack and buy for our vacation next week, who should I call to teach Sunday School for me while we're gone, things I need to do before we leave and things I've told other people I would do and haven't yet - I can't sleep.   Not to mention your daddy is in there snoring away and that never helps.  : )   So, while I'm awake, I should start writing.  Right?

I hope your brothers and sister won't be jealous later on that I didn't keep a journal while pregnant with them.  But since this is, or should be, our last time to be pregnant, I don't want to forget what it was like.  I've really enjoyed being pregnant and am expecting to feel pretty much the same this time around.  I've been blessed with uncomplicated pregnancies and deliveries and each time God has given us a healthy baby at the end.  I am richly blessed.

Tomorrow we have an ultrasound appointment and I'm praying everything is going well.  That you're growing and healthy.

I love you immensely already and we're only about a month and a half into it.  Who are you?  Are you a boy or a girl?  What will you look like?  Will you have brown eyes or blue?  We're planning on not finding out what gender you are but will I be able to wait?  We waited with Cameron but couldn't with Anna & Parker.  I already can hardly wait to meet you.  At least tomorrow I'll see you on the screen and hopefully be able to see your tiny heart beating.  I love you and I'll "see" you tomorrow, baby.

Goodnight.

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My heart is heavy after reading this because I have a friend who desperately needs a miracle for the child she's expecting.  Doctors have expressed their grave concern and prayers are being offered up to The Almighty.  Please remember Baby Ella today and send a petition for peace on her mommy's behalf.

Water

Aw, why not?  Haven't linked up to I Heart Faces in a while. This is one of my favorite pictures.  That is Myrtle Beach and the Atlantic Ocean in the background and this is Marvin, a traveling street musician, who was cool enough to let me snap away while he played us a song on our anniversary.

Train Ride

Each Thursday during the summer our family has a Family Fun Day.  Brian takes the day off work and we doing something together.  Last week we went to Chattanooga, Tennessee.  We go up there nearly every year.  There is so much to do in Chattanooga and this year we decided to do at least one thing we hadn't done before.  We went to Rock City (which we did a couple years ago) and our new thing was riding a train at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.  I made this video from the pictures and video I took of our visit.  I decided just to "feature" Landon in this one.