Happy Birthday, Grandma!!!

Today is my grandma's birthday and I want the world to know it!!!!! She has been an amazing grandmother to me these past 25 years and an amazing great-grandma to baby bear these past 8 1/2 months.
Grandma, we love you!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

This Week

Well, I started classes last week. The first 5 days were an introduction to the school, how to study, the stresses of nursing classes and basically, how not to fail out. Yesterday was my first day of Microbiology and Anatomy and Physiology I. It's definitely going to be hard for me. I have to stay on top of reading and studying because sciences never came as easily to me as other courses. But, I am so excited about nursing school!!!!! (yes, I know you're not supposed to start a sentence with the word 'but'.)
Today was a pajama day for Ryder and mommy. He started daycare last Wednesday and though he only goes on days I have class, I still feel very torn about leaving him with someone else. I know he's having fun and is in very good, very capable hands but I still feel like I'm the one who should be home with him. I mean, I'm his mommy. If I had stuck with nursing at Samford, I might be able to stay home more with him now. Then again, if I had stuck with nursing, I might not be where I am now-and I LOVE where I am now. As we were playing tonight, Ryder put my finger in his mouth to chew on. PEOPLE--- WE HAVE A THIRD TOOTH!!!! He hasn't been too fussy so I didn't think about it. But, then again, he's been in daycare and I haven't really seen him during the day. I am soooo excited and sad at the same time. My baby is growing up. He isn't the same little boy I brought home almost 9 months ago.
Anyway, I'm going back to bed...it's 1:30 and I have to be able to function tomorrow. Ryder is pretty demanding ;)

How my baby calls out to me to come get him in the morning...

PS-he's fighting off a pretty big cold right now-from being in daycare and getting a tooth-so if you want to send up a quick, little prayer for him, we would all appreciate it. :)

Love and Respect

Tonight was not only the launch of our Saturday night service at Coastline Church, but it was the first sermon in the Love and Respect series. The foundational verse for this series is Ephesians 5:21 "And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." The bible asks that the husband and wife submit to each other-it's a mutual submission-just as we submit our lives to Christ. The husband is the Christ figure in a marriage and the wife is Christ's bride.
That image really sunk in tonight. I am to look to Pat, my husband, as the leader of my home and I am supposed to respect him as that. He does so much for me and my baby boy, to make sure that we are okay. He gets up every morning and goes to work to make sure we have the money to live. He puts food on our table and pays all our bills.

Thank you, baby. I love you.

Project 365

I think I've given up Project 365...With school and everything going on, I don't think I can keep up:(

Sorrypro

My God is Awesome!!

SOOOO - I got an email from NACCRRA, finally. God is so good and his timing is just right. There was a small  "mistake" in that they listed Ryder as going full-time  (5 days a week -all day) and he is actually only going Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. But that is easily fixed and won't stop or delay me in filling out paperwork.
I was so worried that I would have to rush to do everything tonight and tomorrow morning, but, ONCE AGAIN, God stepped in to relieve my stress and burden. Pat took someone's watch and came home early today and doesn't have to be at work until tomorrow NIGHT!!! Which means, he can stay home with Ryder tomorrow morning while I go to school. I don't have to get up at 4:30am to get Ryder to daycare early to fill out paperwork. When I get home at 1130am, Pat will go with me to drop off Ryder so he knows where the daycare is and then we will come home and Pat can rest while I clean, do homework and get the rest of the things that I need for school.
A little faith, a little trust, no matter how hard it may be at times, how stressful it can be in the meantime, is so worth it and pays off EVERY TIME.

This week, at church, starts our Saturday night service. No excuses allowed!!! There is a service for everyone and Pat can even sleep in on Sundays, still. Also this weekend, starts the marriage sermon series. I believe the series is based off of the Love and Respect book. I have also registered for the Marriage Conference that takes place February 17 and 18. I am so thankful that this series is happening now. Pat and I have a great marriage...I am not going because we have issues...We are going to make our marriage BETTER and to keep our eyes on our number one priority-we want a God centered marriage...

I'm off to run more errands...the work of a mommy/wife/student/domestic goddess never ends

NACCRRA

I am patiently waiting on an email from NACCRRA saying we have been approved and our daycare prices will be drastically reduced from $298 a week...Lord knows we can't afford that on a military salary. Ryder starts daycare tomorrow. If I get the email today, I can go fill out paperwork. If I don't get it, I have to wait until tomorrow-I have to get up at 4:30am and get ready to take Ryder to daycare at 6am so I have time to fill out paperwork and then be at class by 8am. I am trusting God that we will receive this email in time but that doesn't  stop me from getting anxious, ya know?

Another Day

Well, actually 2 days. I get to spend 2 more days with my baby bear until he goes to day care. My classes start this Wednesday and go straight until next Wednesday. KinderCare was nice enough to let me do three days this week as Wed, Thurs, and Fri and then next week will start Mon, Tues, and Wed until the summer semester starts.
God has been so amazing in opening all the doors for me that I make an effort to open. I am amazed, all the time, when I open my eyes and look around me and look at where he has brought me and all he has blessed me with. My amazing husband and son, school, family, my home, etc. I am so thankful.

I've got vegetable soup on the stove and the smell is amazing!!!! No real recipe, just vegetables, spices and chicken broth. I put in onions, celery, carrots, potatoes, garlic cloves (minced), chicken, salt, pepper, ground thyme and bay leaves...
Have I mentioned I'm amazing -haha...well, the soup smells amazing