How did we get here?

I have been telling myself I need to write this post for a while now, but not sure if anyone reads this anymore.  I am going to write it for myself so I can look back and remember how faithful God has been and continues to be.  I have also (with much pain) joined the Facebook world, only to keep up with the happenings of all the people we miss so much from Clemson.  I can't believe I am living in Auburn.  God was so clear in His direction to move us here but I still cannot believe I am back to a place I love so much.  Saying that, I am learning more and more that it is not about the place that makes it home, but it is family.  Wherever Jermile and Caleb (and soon to be Aiden) are, that is where I want to be!  Months ago, God began closing so many doors in Clemson, which we took as discouragement at the time and not really understanding what He was doing.  We were trying our best to be financially faithful by stepping away from homes we really wanted and putting offers on homes that would not stretch our budget.  All offers fell through but we needed a home quickly, as we were having to get out of our rental by August.  I continued to ask, "God what are you doing? I know You are leading us somewhere, but where?"  All the while, I thought he was leading us to a specific neighborhood in Clemson.  Some time later, a job opened up at Auburn, but Jermile's first reaction was NO!  He had a great job in Clemson...worked with some amazing people and was surrounded by the community he loved.  To make it short, I saw God completely turn my husband's heart around through His Word and clearly communicated to him through so many other ways, that Auburn, if given the opportunity, was where He wanted us.  WHAT??????  I was baffled that Jermile was coming to me saying he felt led to leave Clemson and move our family to Auburn.  It was such an act of God!  Obviously, it was where God was leading us as we have been here for about a month.  It is a completely different Auburn than what it was when I lived here before.  I have the opportunity to stay at home with the boys, which is something I have wanted since Caleb was born.  I am so thankful to have a husband that listens to the Lord.  Even if it meant we were to stay in Clemson...I completely trust the Jermile listens and hears from the Lord and does what He says.  That brings such a peace to know I am being led by someone who wants nothing more or less than what the Lord wants for his family.

So, a practical update...Caleb started preschool today (see picture below)!  I think he is ready to get around some kids.   As much as I love being with him all day, I know he needs to get away from mama for a bit!  We are getting settled as we are renting the house my parents just bought from me a few months ago.  Funny how things work out, right?  God is leading us to a church that is somewhat similar to our church that we loved dearly in Clemson and I am able to get involved in some ladies' bible studies that are providing childcare.  It has been a hard transition for Jermile, but he can handle just about anything.  Thanks for everyone's encouragement.  We are about 2 weeks away from welcoming our second little boy into the world!  Crazy!  We miss Clemson, friends and family so much but know we are where we are called to be.

 This is our next door neighbor, Ella, who Caleb loves!  Everyday we pull in he asks if we can go see her!  Her little brother, Raleigh had a "tailgate" bday party a few weeks ago.  

  My proud little boy on his first day of preschool.  He was so excited, he didn't even say bye to me!

Little Man

It has been a while and there is so much to blog about.  Since my last post, school is out (praise the Lord) and we have been enjoying our summer!  I think I enjoy being pregnant during the winter months more than the summer months.  My hat goes off to those that have been pregnant with all their children during hot summer months!

Caleb is continuing to amaze us with everything he is doing.  He has moved to a big boy bed which I thought would be hard, but he has done it like a champ and doesn't get out of the bed until we come in and get him.  He is also now fully potty trained!  He is doing great and loves to tell us when he has to go pee pee or poo poo. The only thing we are having trouble with him not wanting to pee in his pull up at night, so he wakes up about every 3 hours to go potty.  I guess he is just getting us ready for the new little one!   I LOVE the fact that we don't have to buy diapers....for a few months anyways!  He is talking in complete sentences and his favorite right now is telling what he has to go to and then adding "I'll be right back, ok?"  Like, "I have to go get a shirt, I'll be right back, ok?"  "I hug Beasley, I'll be right back, ok?"  It is the cutest thing to listen to...listening to your little baby putting ideas together on his own and putting them into sentences is crazy.  He loves to go to the park and slide (he is always asking, go see slide, mommy?).  He LOVES Elmo....in an unhealthy way.  It used to be Veggie Tales, which he still loves, but I am tired of listening to Elmo talk in the 3rd person.  Has anyone ever noticed this?  Instead of saying "I am happy" Elmo says "Elmo is happy."  It is a tad annoying!

We are definitely entering, or really, deep into a difficult time in disciplining little man.  He is testing us with what he can get away with and I have recently been reading "Don't make me count to 3" which is geared toward disciplining our child's heart through God's Word rather than disciplining their behavior.  This has been so hard and I have to constantly examine my motives of why I am disciplining...is it because he has made me mad or because he is somehow disobeying God's Word?  Obviously the latter is the reason we are called to discipline, but I find it hard to take a deep breath when he has blatantly been disobedient.  I am just praying that God will teach me as I am trying to teach Caleb to obey us and in turn when his heart is ready, he will better understand to obey God.  Pictures date back to Easter! 

 

Easter Egg Hunt

 This was from a get together with all of Jermile's college buddies.  This is how many kids there are between them all!  

Celebrating daddy on Father's Day:

Jermile and I are trying to make it a tradition to take a trip to Charleston on our anniversary every year.  We rarely get a pic together without out little man with us!

Caleb Birthday and some more...

I know this post is a little late, but little man turned 2 on March 11. Crazy. We celebrated with family and Elmo! Caleb is really into Elmo and Veggie Tales these days. The weather was wonderful and it was a great day to celebrate.

Mom made Caleb's cake.

This was a favorite, but everyone got soaked!

This was the only picture we got with Caleb's new shirt. Not sure if you can even read it, but he is going to be a big brother! It was the perfect time to announce seeing as all the family hardly ever gets together!

Just some pics for now...maybe a little update

Quick update...Christmas was spent in Hawaii for a bsk tournament. Jermile has 8 (well, not counting tonight's, he has 7) more games! The countdown begins. Caleb will be 2 in about a month. Crazy. He is saying whatever you want him to. It is insane. He repeats EVERYTHING. Some "complete sentences" include: I need help, daddy/mommy at work, I'm coming (as he sprints after you wherever it is you are going). Everything has a possession...mommy's juice, daddy's juice, Caleb's milk, Beasley's ball, Susu's car...He knows grandaddy and Susu go together and mimi and papa go together...if that doesn't make sense, he can put things together that just blow me away. We are proud. That's all I got for now.

Christmas in Hawaii

Josh Graduation...finally!

Thoughts

Just a few thoughts I have been "struggling" with lately…

We are supposed to spread the Gospel, right? I am struggling with what that looks like in my life. I am surrounded by kids who need loved on and who might not ever know the Gospel if I don't share it or show it to them. Through teaching, I have so many opportunities to love on kids that don't get loved on otherwise. That has been my passion for so long. But, I miss my baby. I miss my days with him. I hate being away from him for 8-9 hours a day. I hate that someone else has more influence on him on a daily basis than I do. I hate being in a hurry in the mornings and if I get to see him at all, it is for 5-10 minutes. I just don't think I have it in me to be a working mom. When I do get to see him, I am exhausted. He doesn't get the best of me, nor does my husband. But, I also know that I went back to school for a reason, have added an incredible debt to my family, and am struggling with what the "responsible" decision is. What is best for my family? I want to stay at home with my little boy more than anything. But, how to spread the Gospel from home? I know there are some people out there that do not believe moms should work, while others believe kids should be in "school" at an early age. Caleb has learned SO much at school it amazes me. Really, I believe we have made our decision, but just really want continued confirmation from the Lord that we are in line with what HE wants for our family. Although we have bills to pay and debt to get out of, I don't want to look back and regret. No matter what, I don't want to regret. I want to slow down and soak in the moments that I have. This looks different for every family, so whatever your family looks like is special to your family. I know what it feels like to be judged because I work so I am judging no one and not saying there is a "best" way in all of this. I am just trying to figure out what God wants for MY family and just do it with a whole heart. Thanks for listening.

The cutest little fireman ever (in my opinion!)

Been a while

It's been a while since posting. I have found that working limits my time! I am going private with this (again), so please comment or email me if you want to be able to read it. Hope all is going well with everyone! Caleb turned 19 months this month. Can't believe it. Here are some pics of happenings lately…

One of Caleb's favorite spots

Learning early :)

Flirting...

With my family in Auburn (minus Josh)

He loves his bean bag and watching Veggie Tales (yes, we allow him to watch a video)

Just for me…to add to his words: mailbox, airplane, shoe, socks, shirt, bath, bless you, blueberries, apple, movie, hello, hi, tiger paw (ti-paw), yes, no, thank you, chair, juice, milk, eat, teeth, bus, grass. That's all I can think of for now. This will be the last post before going private!

Summer, don't end!!!!

Really this is a post for me. I have needed to remind myself of all our little one is doing lately. He is growing so fast and doing so many things that just blow me away. Things he is saying: dog, goat, moo-moo, woof-woof, duck, quack, tree, flower, grass, ball, all done, all gone, nana (banana), milk, car, truck, Beasley (well, beasy), no (this is driving us crazy), book, nose, eye, bubbles, up please, thank you (his version of it), boo-boo (when it is necessary to let us know it is time for a new diaper!), night-night, bye-bye, hi, hey, more, amen, love you, knock-knock, good girl (tells Beasley this all the time). That is all we can think of right now. He absolutely loves books…prefers to sit and just go through his picture books, he loves the water, wants to point to everyone's body parts (especially your nose), loves bath time, will go to the Ipod and point to signal he wants to dance, loves bubbles, will climb up on anything but really loves the kitchen table chairs, likes to climb up on our bed (up, down, up, down), LOVES PraiseBaby DVD's and VeggieTales, gives Beas hugs and says "aaaaawwwwwwe," is a picky picky eater now, will hear the key turn in the door and drop whatever he is doing to run to the door saying, "dada, dada, dada"-so sweet. Well, here are some pics from current happenings...

Visiting with Janet

Snuggled up to little Miss Mary Evans (visiting a dear friend from college and her kids)

Hangin out with the boys

In Charleston with my parents

"Aaaawwwweeee"