I Don't Like Driving In Snow...

Our day was somewhat adventurous!
*This is kind of long. I got lost in re-living it I guess!*

The girls have been sick (as I said.) Gracie is finally feeling better and has been without a temp for over 24 hours, which is the magic number for going back to school. Autumn, however, is still pretty puny. She just can't seem to shake her cold. She's terribly congested and continues to run a low-grade fever. It's always worse at night, so we haven't been sleeping very well. For the past several nights we all go to bed like normal, and then sometime around midnight, Gracie comes and gets me or I hear Autumn crying. So I send Gracie to bed with Daddy and I spend the night with Autumn in her bed. (The girls share a room, so it's impossible for Gracie to sleep in there when Autumn's not feeling well - which I want to add is very RARE.) We go about 25-30 minutes sleeping and then Autumn wakes up super congested, half asleep and pitiful! So it takes about 10 minutes for me to get her calmed down and settled. We repeat this process until morning and are, by then, both equally exhausted!

Mike took several sick days last week to take care of the girls on the days that I had class. We give it our best team effort, so this morning when I realized that I had to leave at 0715 to get to class by 0900, and he was left getting Gracie, himself and Autumn all ready by 0800. Then dropping Gracie off at school and taking Autumn with him to work. I decided that school would have to come second. Normally my Monday is lecture from 0900-1200 & Lab from 1300-1700. With a 1 & 1/2 hour commute BOTH ways, it makes for a long day. Anyway, I (by the grace of God) only had lecture today giving me a half day of school. So I sent a message to my carpool group and my instructor that I was needed at home and would be arriving a little late to lecture. We got ready and I dropped Gracie off at school at 0825.

It was raining pretty hard the entire time, but no big deal. I headed on to Hopkinsville and at about Exit 89 (just over the KY line) the heavy rain turned to heavy snow. I didn't know we had snow coming because we don't have TV and I didn't check online before I left. So I figured it was a KY thing and trudged on to class. By the time I got to HCC, the snow was starting to cover the ground, but nothing on the roads. We finished class 1 & 1/2 hours early (by the grace of God) so I was headed home! When I stepped outside, I immediately realized what a blessing it was to be leaving early. The parking lot was completely covered and the roads were just about there as well. I don't like driving in the snow! It makes me nervous. And, as much as I love my little car, it's pretty much a wimp in the snow! So with 2 strikes against me, I called Mike and let him know I was headed back to Clarksville...SLOWLY!

I made it back just fine and the roads in Clarksville weren't nearly as dangerous so things were good. I picked Autumn up at Mike's office, stopped at the bank & grocery store and headed to pick Gracie up at school. I had received a phone call that schools would be dismissing 2 hours early. If/when we have bad weather, I always pick up the girls instead of letting them ride the bus. I'm nervous like that! And today, it paid off!! In the less-than one hour between picking up Autumn (when the roads were fine) and Gracie, the roads were completely covered! It was very scary. I didn't like it when I was by myself, but even less when I had my girls with me. We buckled up and prayed the whole way home! After slipping and sliding a few times, we pulled into our driveway. It is 4 miles from our house to the school. It usually takes us around 7 minutes to get there. Today it took us almost 45 minutes to get home from the school!

Around 3:30, 2 hours after school was dismissed, I received a call from the school letting me know that the bus the girls would have been riding had to go back to the school because of terrible road conditions. Praise the Lord for giving me the sense to pick them up! I love their bus driver and I know he does the best he can, but those roads were extremely dangerous for a vehicle with 4-wheel drive, let alone a big school bus! I'm just so glad we made it home safe and sound!

I'll post some pictures of our snow tomorrow! So far, 5 inches!!! And (by the grace of God) I have no school tomorrow! Normally I would be back in class...

I'm glad to be sitting home with my family. Safe and warm. So warm and cozy in fact that this is the scene here at 6:30 PM...

Maybe snow days aren't so bad :)

Father/Daughter Purity Ball 2011

I am so thankful that I am married to a man who loves his girls and invests in their hearts and lives!  Both of the girls have been sick all week, but we've been praying and hoping that they would be well enough to go to the ball. Autumn has been waiting patiently to go for the past 3 years! I think it would have crushed her little heart if they would have had to miss it! So we made the decision after seeing Dr. Prine early Friday morning that they should be ok to go! :) We spent the afternoon getting ready for the ball. Gracie wanted me to do her hair and make-up (I don't let her wear any make-up in public, but made an exception for such a special occasion!) Autumn, on the other hand, didn't want ANY help! She picked out her own clothes, put on her own make-up, and fixed her own hair! She had everything all planned out...and she wasn't needing anything from me to make her evening perfect :) I decided that it wasn't a battle worth fighting and let her have fun!

They headed out around 4:15 and met some long-time friends, Chris Beck and his two sweet girls at O'Charley's for dinner. Then they headed on over to the ball! Gracie & Autumn were very excited about the punch & candy bar! Gracie told me they had a bar full of all kinds of candy! What a dream come true for little girls (and their Dads for that matter!)...

Pretty girls almost ready to go!

What a beautiful family I'm blessed with! They've got their dancin' shoes on!

At the dance!

The night's complete with great friends, Chris & Taylor :)

What's There To Do?

Fun things to pass the time! It's cold outside. And two little girls who don't feel so good need a distraction.

After Mike taking 2 & 1/2 sick days, I'm finally able to stay home the rest of the week with my sickly girls. No strep, no flu. Just some nasty little bug that gives the gift of high fevers (103.5) & headaches. Go away little bug, and take your gifts with you!

Snow Where To Go...

We have had a lot of snow so far this winter! It makes for fun days when we have nothing to do! The girls enjoyed our last snow (about 4 inches). Honestly, I am ready for Spring!

 

Beautiful! Messy when it melts though.
 
 






A girl and her trusty dog!

2 Down, 2 To Go...

A year ago, almost to the day, I started a journey toward my degree in Nursing. And now, in what seems like a day, I'm getting ready to enter my third semester (of 4)! I am trusting the Lord for all things this year (and always). I'm proud to be part of a family that truly operates like a team. This journey is one that we each decided to take in our own ways. Lord willing (please Lord be willing), I will finally graduate in 2011! I'm excited to spend the next year watching God meet all our needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19) and strengthen my inner being through the power of His Holy Spirit (Eph. 3:16).

We would greatly appreciate all your prayers if ever our family enters your thoughts. I'm giving Him praise now and trusting Him to see me through to completion.

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Heb 13:20-21

Stress Relief?

Me: "Can we do something about that dresser on the front porch? You might be a redneck if...."
Mike: "Sure. I'll take care of it."
Me: "Thanks, babe."

10 minutes later I go outside and find this....



Not exactly what I had in mind...



Are you signaling for help?



I greatly regret not getting a picture of the mile-high flames rising from our front yard. We were a little busy making sure the roaring fire didn't overtake our very dead grass. Was this the best idea?




Ummm....ok. He looked at me with sincerity in his eyes and said..."this is one of the greatest days of my life." Nice.

Christmas Morning 2010

We had such a fun Christmas morning! I'm thankful to live in a safe home and enjoy the freedom to celebrate Christ with my family...

Loved having my Sisters & Mother-in-love with us!!

My cup runs over...

9 Years Old

My first born baby turns 9 years old today! At exactly 7:11 PM she will officially be in her last year of single digits...it's so hard to believe!

Gracie,

You are a beautiful, smart, kind young lady and Daddy & I could not be more proud of you! We knew you were a special treasure the day we found out you were going to be the 3rd member of this little family.

As you grow, I'm praying that you will always keep your tender heart and your compassionate spirit. You are such a blessing and we love you very much! Daddy & I are the most blessed of parents to call you our daughter.

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. Eph 1:16-19

We started the celebration by meeting Gracie for lunch at school on Friday to pass out cookies to her classmates & teacher for her birthday! After passing out the cookies, she wanted to go out to the visiting area and eat lunch with just her Dad & I!



Then we checked the girls out after lunch and made way to the movie theatre. The new Narnia movie, Voyage of the Dawntreader was out and we thought it might be good to see it in the early afternoon before all the Friday night crowd moved in! We were SO glad we did. We only had to pay matinee prices (and we had a gift card!) and there were only 2 other people in the theatre with us! It was great!



Then we took the girls over to The Sweetest Batch Cupcakery. It was very girlie and pretty pink. The cupcakes were huge and delicious! The girls LOVED it :)



Then we got Jersey Mike's and headed home to just hang out! It was really nice. Gracie said she had a great time and that's what we wanted!

Saturday we deep cleaned the house. Amen.
That evening 3 of our favorite families came over to eat with us. The Abrahams, The Phillips & The Dickisons. And to top it off our good friend (and neighbor) David came by. We were planning to have a bonfire, but the torrential rains did away with that idea so we all settled into the house for a good night of food and fun. I'm so thankful for the friendships the Lord has blessed us with :)

We woke up this morning to SNOW! Gracie found her present on the table and enjoyed ice cream (a tradition we started when Gracie turned 3!) & her leftover cupcakery cupcake for breakfast! A pretty "great" birthday weekend according to Gracie. And that's what it's all about!

A picture of the snow this afternoon. Mike & the girls were out playing in it and at last count we have over 3 inches!!

"Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel"

Here's a video I've put together as an intro to the classic Christmas tune, "Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel". Hope you like!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

Outside lights...

Inside festivities! It usually involves the first christmas music of the year, hot chocolate and cookies! Lots of laughing and the tricky procedure of tree-top decorating...

Lookin' good team Williams :)