It Only Gets Better

11-11-11

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 13:34:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:54:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:02:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:42:00 +0000

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.

*********************************

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.

***************************

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

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 04:25:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:56:00 +0000

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.

You Capture - Water

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 17:42:00 +0000

It's been so long since I posted and I feel like this post is just me repeating myself from what I've already shared on facebook but oh well. Maybe this post will help me get back to blogging.

Last weekend we were invited by our friends Chris and Vicki to spend the weekend with them and their kids at her parents' house on Lake Wedowee. Brian asked me if we had anything already planned and when I consulted the All-Knowing Calendar it showed Saturday afternoon and Sunday completely plan free! We were able to find a substitute teacher for our Sunday School class and as soon as I could pack a bag for us we were gone.

My kids are not good swimmers and Cameron is a little bit afraid of the water but, eventually, we convinced him to ride on a jet ski with Brian and he ended up loving it! I drove a jet ski for the first time and I think I might be a little bit addicted. It was a wonderful weekend with wonderful friends.

The only downside was realizing at 4pm that The All-Knowing Calendar is highly susceptible to user error. It turns out that I was supposed to be decorating my room at church for VBS that day! I had completely forgotten. Oh well, it also turns out that it was a good thing that I didn't go overboard trying to decorate because 2nd grade boys can turn anything into a weapon and they haven't had much to hurt each other with except for their hands. ; )

Now, on to the pictures of our weekend!

6/10/11

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 04:16:00 +0000

These last few weeks have left me with little to no time for cleaning house. Today was a no-plan-day. A stay-at-home-day. A "git-'er-done" day.

10 am

11 am

12 pm

1 pm

2 pm

3 pm

4 pm

5 pm

6 pm

7 pm

You Capture - Busy

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Wed, 18 May 2011 17:02:00 +0000

To say it has been busy around here would be a gross understatement. In the span of one week I have:

made cupcakes for a group of ladies my mom meets with each week...

attended Cameron's last baseball game for the season

(and maybe forever - he really doesn't like baseball) ...

had a family photo session with a precious family...

inspected a "worm house" that Anna built...

while Brian was getting filthy dirty at Warrior Dash with his friend Rob...

went to Anna's Field Day at school...

attended a rally at the capitol to support our charter schools and to express my disappointment in the court ruling that they are "unconstitutional"...

went to Parker's Field Day at school...

went to Cameron's Field Day at school...

and watched Anna graduate from Kindergarten!

We graduate our kids in style with a luau!

Yeah, busy would be an understatement.

You Capture - Motherhood

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Wed, 11 May 2011 14:40:00 +0000

Maybe I should just link to my post from earlier today (how crazy that I'm posting twice in one day even though I haven't posted in 2 weeks!) since it is such an accurate representation of busy motherhood days. (It also cracks me up that the theme next week for You Capture is (drum roll...): BUSY! I'll have to link up to that same post next week too.

Motherhood starts this way. With one (maybe more) growing inside.

(For the record Mandy in this picture only has one. Don't want to confuse you.)

Then you get to hold that pink, squishy infant and you gaze at them in wonder through bleary sleepless eyes.

(For the record, Annie looks incredibly beautiful for having a newborn! No bleariness here. I'm strictly speaking about myself.) ; )

Then, if you're brave enough (or insane like me), you have more.

Maybe, if you're really lucky, they'll marry some beautiful/handsome, sweet girl/guy and they'll look at you like this when they walk down the aisle.

Then perhaps they'll have children and that will make you a grandmother!

And maybe, just maybe, you'll be supremely blessed and live a long, happy life with these people that you call your family. And they'll love you as much as you love them.

May 10, 2011 - A study of my day in B&W

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Wed, 11 May 2011 12:49:00 +0000

Yesterday was a hard day. A long day. A field trip. Work. Soccer practice. Baths. Busy life. I was asked to put two more things on my calendar for this month. I wrote them down and subsequently felt like throwing up. I'm ready for summer.

Here's my day in black & white.

7:00 hour

8:00 hour

9:00 hour

10:00 hour

11:00 hour

12:00 hour

1:00 hour

2:00 hour

3:00 hour

4:00 hour

6:00 hour

7:00 hour

I've posted 12 pictures/12 hours worth because I didn't want to leave any of these out. Especially the last one.

Because at the end of the day, even though it was long and tiring, this is my reminder that there is a lot of color in my life.

And color is good.

You Capture - Pink

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 21:29:00 +0000

You Capture this week was Pink. How timely that our Knockout Roses are in full bloom!

Good Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 14:44:00 +0000

It's only Friday but Sunday's comin'.

You Capture - Smile

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:47:00 +0000

Assignment this week from Beth: Smile. Beth has had a rough week and so I hope everyone's pictures will put a smile on her face and encourage her.

I thought about taking pictures for this assignment of things that make me smile. But that would be an incredibly long post! We were on Spring Break last week and there were lots of smiles to capture and so I'll post some of my favorites.

I'm glad that I took a picture of him smiling at the beginning of our bowling game because by the 4th frame Cameron was doing his usual pouting about not being perfect. I sure hope that one day he learns how to have fun while playing games.

Look at this sweet little messy smile!

Why won't my own children look at my camera like my nephew does?

Instead I get vacant expressions and goofiness (at least from the boys).

Still a cute picture though with Lisa visiting from London!

Anna is just about choking her Nana but I'm glad Dixie is loving that big squeeze!

I love Mom smiling in the background at Parker.

4/10/11

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:28:00 +0000

We went to Callaway Gardens yesterday on our last day of Spring Break and I actually forgot that it was the tenth until about 4:00p.m.! I'm sure I don't have a picture from every hour but, hopefully out of 150 pictures, I can find at least 10 good ones. Keep your fingers crossed!

1:57

2:05

2:16

2:56

3:32

3:43

4:43

6:42

7:09

8:13

'D'

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 03:54:00 +0000

Anna is pretty much my only child that will let me take their picture lately. She is such a sweet, beautiful girl. She's my Doll.

A, B & C

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 02:47:00 +0000

My friend Joyce has been doing an A to Z April blogging challenge. Each day, except Sundays, write a post that incorporates the letter of the day going in order from A to Z. As usual, I am a few days behind and I had better hurry up and write this one before the power goes out - big storm headed this way.

Assessment

I wrote out my goals at the beginning of the year. Well, now is time for a quarterly assessment and a reminder of what I promised myself I'd accomplish.

I started out strong with a daily time of devotion but there was a whole month where I just ignored it but I've been getting back to it over the last week.

Brian and I haven't had a date in several weeks but I'd say we've gone on at least one date a month.

I've been running/exercising 3 to 6 days a week, I ran my first 5k (31:03!!!) and I got picked in the lottery for the Peachtree Road Race in July so I'll be training hard for that over the next few months.

After my race

I sold the old dining table and chair, finished one quilt and started another and I got my scrapbook junk organized.

I've already read 2 books for the year: The Help by Kathryn Stockett and The Guy Not Taken by Jennifer Weiner. And I've started reading my third book.

On the business end, I have started my photography business! In order to do so I bought a more capable camera body and external hard drive, designed a logo and business cards, registered the business name and got my business license. That last part was not easy. It's the having to deal with government agencies part, after all.

I had been told to go to Suite 150 at the Justice Center but the website said to go to Suite 370. I found the building fine but Suite 370 is now a room for D.U.Is. Wandered around for a few minutes looking for the Deeds & Records office and finally asked a woman behind a "welcome desk" for help. I told her I needed to register a business name and get a business license. She told me that had to be done in a different building located several miles away. (Frustrating) When I asked her for directions she, in typical Southern style, gave me a ton of landmarks but not one street name.

I got lost.

And I cried.

Forty minutes later I had finally found my way but was nearly home by then.

While I was lost I felt like I was more than just looking for the right street names and for a way around - I was searching for something more. I found myself wondering, "Why do I want this?" Is it silly for me to want it? I wasn't sure. The answer to my question came with a lump in my throat and with hot tears. My answer to myself: Validation.

I wanted God to say to me, "But you don't need this for validation."

But I didn't hear that. I didn't hear Him say anything.

What I heard was, "What you want is stupid." BUT it wasn't God who said that because He would never say that. Or at least He would never say it in that way.

I was the one who said it to myself. Those were my words. To myself. But I kept on looking for the right building and I pushed myself to keep from giving up. All the while, though, I was saying, "What you want is silly. What you want is insignificant. Isn't important. No one else cares if you do this. No one will be influenced or changed because of what you want."

But I kept driving.

I kept driving for me. I kept driving for Cameron. I kept driving for Anna.

Cameron has been having a tough time in his first year in Baseball. He's been hit with a pitch twice. He hasn't gotten even one hit. Not even a foul ball. But I want him to learn that things worth doing take time, practice and determination. I don't want him to give up because it's hard. He has a tendency, like his mother, to look for the easy way. These are lessons he needs to learn now before he has a job, before he is married, before he has a big dream.

Anna made a mask out of a paper plate, some yarn, glue and buttons. She proudly showed the mask to Cameron who made fun of it. She was so upset and she tore the yarn off and went to her room and cried. I held her on my lap and told her, "Baby, did you like your mask? Because if you liked it then it doesn't matter what someone else says. A lot of times you're going to do something or make something and someone else won't appreciate what you've done or made. But you need to keep doing what you love and you need to ignore people who will make fun of those things. Keep being Creative and love what you've done"

It took 2 trips to each building and 4 1/2 hours instead of 1 hour but I got it done. On Sunday I took 300+ pictures of our hike up to Amicalola Falls. Only 7 of them are good. But at least I have 7 good pictures and it's not going to stop me from doing what I love and loving what I've done.

You Capture - Youth

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:53:00 +0000

Prompt this week for You Capture at I Should Be Folding Laundry was: Youth. That's not too hard to find around here with 4 little people running around and their parents (Brian & I) who rarely act their age. And I waited to publish this post until tonight because I had lots of extra young people here at our house today and I got some great shots of most of them. At lunch time today, while we were all sitting around the kitchen table, I said something about all "the kids in this house and one of the boys (age 11) declared that he wasn't "a kid". I said, "If you aren't a kid, then what are you?" He replied, "A young adult." I told him he was close to being a young adult but that I thought he probably still fell under "the kid category." But I think he may have proved me wrong by acting so maturely today and he helped with the smaller children and is one of the most polite "young men" I've ever met. His mama is doing an amazing job!

Spring is as Beautiful as She Ever Has Been

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 12:42:00 +0000

I haven't participated in a Sweet Shot Tuesday in quite a while. But I have gotten so many sweet shots lately that I have to share at least one or two...or more...

I went out Saturday night to capture that beautiful full moon. At first I had my ISO cranked way up and my shutter speed way high to let in lots of light. ??? All I was getting was a haze. So I went back inside and went to Darcy's blog to find out what I was supposed to be doing and I ended up with some great shots! Thanks Darcy and Kent!

Trespassing.

Well, not entirely. I did get permission from our neighbor to use her beautiful trees for some pictures a few days before I took these. Just a few days ago the blooms were all snowy white but on Sunday they were the most beautiful pale pink. *sigh*

Because it was nice and warm the kids wanted to take the dog for a walk around the block. They did the Spongebob musical doodle dance about half the time we were out. ; )

3/10/2011

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 23:15:00 +0000

I've started really looking forward to the 10th each month! I like not knowing exactly what my day holds and then being able to look back on it when it's all over. The anticipation of the day and wondering what kind of pictures I'll be taking is a lot of fun!

6:40 - Time to wake up. But I'd MUCH rather still be in bed!

7:25 - Getting ready for school

8:15 - Getting some preschool homework done

9:00 - Giving Daddy kisses before going in to school

And then Daddy and I went on a Breakfast Date!!!

I love Thursday mornings!

10:15 - After a big breakfast someone (ahem!) is ready for a nap

11:00 - Is that a wee bit of blue sky I see?

12:00 - Picked up Landon from preschool and stopped at the park before we went home

1:15 - Doing a little "location scouting" for future photo sessions

2:30 - Big kids are home from school

4:00 - Brrrr! It's chilly out here but at least there are signs of spring!

You Capture - Body Parts

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:56:00 +0000

It's been entirely too long since I've posted on this here blog!!! Way too long! Alita said today that everyone needs a break from blogging and I guess that's what I needed. A break. I've been much too busy taking care of sick children (yet again) and myself this time (didn't dodge this bullet) and taking care of the house (which is now in "maintenance mode") and I've been quilting. So, yeah. Busy.

But! I'm back!

This week's assignment from Beth: Body Parts

Lips

hair

nose

cheeks

and some weird little toes

You Capture - Warmth

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 13:52:00 +0000

Aaaahhh...Warmth! Time to thaw.

For all my friends north of the Mason-Dixon Line,

consider this an informal but official invitation to pack your things and migrate south.

Warm sunshine through the kitchen window

Cozy quilt

Landon is 4 now!

Warm enough to play outside!

Warm enough to play outside WITHOUT jackets on!

Laundry still warm from the clothes dryer

Four! It's like his last year to be a baby! (kind of)

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 16:54:00 +0000

My baby is four years old today!

He is quite a handful at times but he is full of kisses and "I love you"s and lots of silliness so it all balances out in the end.

Last night I interviewed him. I wanted the picture to be of him, naturally, and I wanted to get it on video so I will always remember how he talks at this age but he wanted absolutely NOTHING to do with that! He showed his tush to the camera (literally) and cried, "NO! STOP TAKING PICTURES OF MEEEEE!" The only way he would agree to answering my questions at all was if he was holding the video camera. In his defense, it was way past his normal bed time and he was especially ornery. But being "especially ornery" is not at all unusual for him and he's actually turned it into a higher art.

So, if you are prone to motion sickness, get a barf bag ready...

And, yes, I have a zit on my chin...

Happy Birthday, Landon! We love you so much!

Ten on Ten - 02/11

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 03:59:00 +0000

I had to laugh that today's Ten On Ten started the same way as last month's! Only this time the street is clear and every flake was melted by 2 pm.

I've decided that next month for Ten On Ten I'm going to have to take my camera off Manual mode and put it back on Auto because clearly I can't think about changing all my settings all day long and 4 or 5 of my pictures turned out like this and it was too late to take them over again. Oh well.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

noreply@blogger.com (Rebekah) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:57:00 +0000

Finally joining Joyce's Wednesday Hodge Podge. Here are her questions this week:

1. Will you watch the Super Bowl? If so who will you root for? If you are outside the USA what is the 'big deal sporting event' in your own country? We'll probably watch this year. It will be like watching a Super Bowl rerun or highlight clip from the 70's. Steelers and the Pack! How cool is that? It'd be cooler if it was Steelers and Falcons but ... oh well. Who will I root for? Hmmm...I don't really care but it might be easier to swallow our (the Falcons') defeat if we lost to the guys who win it all.... so I guess I'm cheering for Packers.

2. Is ignorance bliss? I'm going with ... sometimes Yes? But I don't know, really. There are definitely some things I would rather I didn't know and there are some things that I am glad I know about because, otherwise, how would you be able to help if you didn't know about it? Am I being too ambiguous?

3. Which of the seven dwarfs are you? (and just in case your Disney is a little bit rusty, here they are-Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Sneezy) I think I'm all but Sneezy. Bashful is afraid to speak up and sometimes I feel the same way. Doc stumbles over his words - so do I. Dopey is sweet and lovable but a little slow - me again. Grumpy - well, I can be too. Happy - this is me most of the time! And Sleepy - goodness knows I could use a nap!

4. When you are riding in the car with another couple how do you organize the seating? (Men up front? Women up front? Couples sit together?) And thanks to Lori at Mountain Woman at Heart for the question! Everyone go say hi to Lori. Depends on who we're with. Most of the time it's couples but occasionally it's men up front and women in back. It's rare that we're in the car with another couple, though.

5. What is beauty? Everything. No, not everything. There are a lot of ugly things too (this could be a reference to question #2) but beauty is almost everywhere. It doesn't need to be defined ... just found.

6. If someone asks you to bring an appetizer or a dessert to a party in their home, which would you choose? I usually choose dessert.

7. What is your crowd pleasing go-to appetizer? Gosh! I wish I had one. Cheese dip? Can't go wrong with cheese.

8. Insert your own random thought here. I sent Brian a link to Ann Voskamp's post today and he sent me this in reply. Tissue warning! And, by-the-way, He was 26 and I was 21 when we got engaged but we still got the "you're too young" comment from one or two people.