Watching my little one grow..

She has the funniest little crawl!

Practicing walking with Mommy.

Tornado Remembrance

Tuscaloosa isn't really in the news anymore - but the recovery effort is still underway.  The videos below were taken by David while Ashlyn and I were tucked away safe and sound.  We had NO IDEA on our end of town the devastation that was taking place less than 15 minutes away.  I thank God daily as I pass by the wreckage - because you can't get anywhere in town without passing destruction - that we were protected.

For obvious reasons - I didn't take a lot of pictures of the destruction.  For one - that is time that can be spent helping instead of snapping pictures, two-the people that belong to these buildings are in the middle of all this clearing the debris and trying to salvage what little they can, three - these images can't ever be unseen.  They are forever seared in my memory.  I don't need a picture to remind me of the overwhelming, sinking feeling that came over us when we realized that 1/7th of our city was wiped clear.  These are pictures of the Central Church of Christ and the neighborhood that surrounded it.  The worst part of looking at this was the fact that you knew something used to stand there, but you couldn't tell what it was anymore.  It made me feel lost and it was scary.  I can't imagine the way it felt to come out of your "safe" place and see this.

I can't begin to say how proud of my husband that I am.  They didn't hesitate to help.  They donated so much time and food to feed the disaster response workers and those who had lost their homes.

April 27, 2011 is a day that will forever be in our hearts all over this state.  Tuscaloosa and her residents still needs a whole lot of prayers!

"Faith that Moves God's Heart"

I have loved to hear and learn more about David for a long time...yes, my husband, but I'm talking about the David of the Bible.  The "Man after God's Own Heart".  Was he a perfect man?  No...not by any stretch of the imagination!  He committed some pretty serious sins in his lifetime...but yet, God continued to pour His favor out on David.  The reason...David believed God would take care of him!  He didn't just tell himself that and figure out a way to get what he wanted himself...no, he believed, deep down to the depths of his heart, that God was able to give him what he needed - so much so, that if God didn't provide it, he was at peace knowing that it wasn't for him to have.  Wow!
My daily emailed devotion this morning really hit home and I wanted to share a quote from it -
"God is calling me to a higher place of faith.  It's a place where I believe God can and will provide for me.  And therein lies the hard place.  I've anchored my life in the belief that God can do anything, but somehow feel presumptuous believing He will for me.
That's doubt masquerading as false humility.  And that, my friends, saddens God and limits His work in my life." - Glynnis Whitwer Encouragement for Today Devotion
My heart was moved by this.  I think it would be safe to call me "high strung".  I worry too much.  I'm working on it with God's help - but I know that is an indicator that I am lacking faith in God's provision.  I admit, I have oftentimes convinced myself that my doubt was really just feeling "presumptuous" that a good thing I wanted would be provided by God - so I set about figuring out a way to get it on my own.  It has come back to bite me many times over.  I am trying to learn my lesson.  I am trying to rest in God's peace.  He will provide - He always has!  I pray that God will give me a heart like David's.

Another fun weekend!

We were back at the river this weekend!
Saturday evening we got to go to our new Sunday School class' get together at the lake.  I can't say enough about how great this group of people are!  They were super sweet and SO welcoming!!!!  It is so nice to have the opportunity to meet some other couples with small children!  I am excited about getting to know them all better. :)  Next stop...New Orleans!!!  Yep - we decided since I don't have much vacation time available right now and we aren't going to make it to Oklahoma this summer - we are going to take a mini-vacation this year to New Orleans!  David hasn't been before and it's been a very long time since I've been.  I'm super excited!!!

Jam Packed Weekend

Thursday evening -  we busted out Ashlyn's new pool!  She LOVED it!  She had gotten a pretty bad case of diaper rash, so we let it all hang out for a while (that's why she isn't wearing a bathing suit).  Her diaper rash looks so much better now!

I took a PG version of her playing in the pool so I could share online.  I wish you could see her face.  Her expressions are priceless!

Friday - Mommy and Daddy had date night!  We went to dinner at Logan's and then went to see a movie.

Saturday - We slept in a little late, then decided to take the boat out to the river.   We had so much fun!  Ashlyn generally falls right to sleep as soon as the boat starts going - seems strange to me because it is kind of loud, but it's not as loud for her facing the opposite direction being held in my arms.  Her little hairs just flap in the wind..it's so cute!

 She just looks so tiny next to Daddy and the boat!

 This little beach area (just one of many along the riverside) was just perfect.  Ashlyn liked it as long as she could touch the bottom with her toes or if someone was holding her.  She can float in her little swimmy suit...but she's not a fan of that!

 She loved her little floaty!  By this point we were all hot and tired and she was hungry - so we fed her and packed it all up to head back.

 She zonked out in about 30 seconds flat!

 At home after I finally woke up from my nap.  Daddy says - "Look!  It's a 'Playbunny!'"  We all thought it was pretty funny that the bunny ears stick to the diaper.  :o)

Saturday evening - David and I worked late into the night finishing up projects around the house and cleaning like mad people to get the house ready for an Open House on Sunday.  The constant cleaning is a little irritating...but I sure am enjoying have a clean house everyday!

Sunday - We continued to clean like mad people!!!  We took the dogs over to Mary and Chuck's house and GrandMary watched Ashlyn while Mommy and Daddy ran some errands.  Open House went ok.  Our realtor said we had a few visitors.  I hope we don't have to do too many Open Houses...on the bright side, our back yard hasn't been this presentable in about 4 years!  It's not pretty...but it's definitely presentable!

 Look who's learning to use a sippy cup!  Right now she just mostly chews on it.  She has already cut another tooth!  We found it Sunday.  It's her bottom right tooth.

At last but not least...Ashlyn's Nine Month Onesie pictures.

My First Toothy!!!

Ashlyn's first tooth has made it's debut! Her bottom left toothy is barely poking out of the gum! She has been such a trooper through her teething so far. Poor baby girl has been teething since about 6 months, which is when we started looking for a tooth to pop through!

Hanging out with Daddy after Mommy fixed my hair!  I have the longest hair in my class!

 We lovingly refer the the pack and play as "Ashlyn's Cage".  She is scooting all around the room now.  She has the cutest little crawl!  She gets down on two hands one knee and keeps one foot flat on the floor and scoots her little self wherever she wants to go.

 I spent part of the day Saturday purging all the clothing items that don't fit Ashlyn any more from her room and reorganizing it.  I found this cute little bonnet that used to be Mary's when she was a baby.  I bleached the yellow from the material and lace and as I was doing that...I realized that the pattern matched a little dress that Richard and his Mary had given to Ashlyn before she was born.  The dress just started to fit her so we had a little photo shoot!

Snoozing after church Sunday while Mom and Dad eat lunch!  She's such a good baby!

 Couldn't help but add a comparison shot.  She is growing up so beautifully! Still pokes those cute little red lips out when she sleeps though! :)

Memorial Day 2011

For some reason...the University does not give us the day off on Memorial Day...we get about two zillion other days off...but alas, on Monday I was working.  I could have had a bad attitude or for that matter, just taken a vacation day (which would have been fine with the University), but I really do have a lot of work on my desk since the fiscal years are coming to a close.  I was actually pretty grateful to be able to work on Monday for this reason - I chose my career.  I chose accounting, which about 20 years ago was a male dominated field.  For that matter there are still countries in which the citizens have no choice in their work.  They, both men and women, are tested and groomed from a very young age to work in whatever area their government sees fit.  They are told how much food they can have and where they have to live.  They are told how many babies they are allowed to have and if they go over that number...they murder the unborn (and often times newly born) child!  Can you imagine this???  I can't!!!  I am so blessed to have been born in this country and I am so grateful to those who have gone before me to ensure all the freedoms that I hold so very dearly!  I have been guilty of taking these freedoms for granted on many occasions...but today I openly acknowledge that the freedoms we enjoy did not come freely.  Many men and women paid a very high price for that freedom and I am grateful.  I am also very aware that we have men and women still fighting this day to protect the freedoms that were hard won.  I am grateful to them and their families for the daily sacrifices that are made by them as they fulfill their duty as servicemen and servicewomen.  I have several family members that served many years in the armed forces and I remember them today also.  I feel very proud that my family played a part in fighting for our freedom.  I am really big on "putting your money where your mouth is".  I have really been feeling a tugging at my heart to give back to the veterans that gave so much.  We have a great VA hospital in Tuscaloosa and I went online to fill out an application to volunteer.  I don't know what I can do to help, but I truly hope there is some way that I can show my appreciation.  Actions speak a lot louder than words in my opinion!  Happy Memorial Day!