House Update

Well, good news. The house was appraised at the right value and the inspections all passed with flying colors. So, all we have left to do is bring some money to the closing table and the house is ours. If all goes as planned, we will close next Friday. It has been a long time since we've been home owners and we are ready. I was thinking on it and Brandon and I have moved 6 times in 10 years of marriage. I feel a major pang of guilt for asking my children to live a nomadic life any longer than we already have (um, like their entire lives pretty much). All Braylon wants is his own room and a dog, two things we've been unable to give him yet because of the sacrifices we agreed upon making back in 2004. That is about to change. It is fine time for us to put down roots and let our little family grow. DON'T read more into that comment - I just mean the existing family will grow, we don't plan to add more people to it!

If you read this before Sept 4, please pray that things continue to go smoothly and that we go wherever God leads us always.

School Ties

Braylon has successfully attended 2 days of the 1st grade. No behavior issues thus far, though admittedly the teacher hasn't created the behavior log yet. He says he is not getting into trouble despite being in a class with last year's trouble maker. Braylon is very bright and is an advanced reader....and sometimes that leads to his being disruptive when he is bored. Bless his little heart, he is sweet natured most of the time, but....God's still working on him, that's for sure.

God's still working on me, that's for sure, too. As a parent it's easy to look at our earthly children a little more like I imagine God sees all of His own children. Knowing they are not perfect, yet loving them still. Wanting the best for them. Molding their character to be pleasing and righteous. Seeing blatant opportunities for growth, yet gently showing them how to grow instead of doing it for them. I imagine that God is thinking that about me, and I'm touched.

Stuff

My poor, neglected little blog. Ever since Facebook came into my life, you are second fiddle. Alas, here I am.

Here are a few tidbits since last blogging.

Yesterday at dinner I whispered, "I love you," into Blaine's ear. He quickly responded by saying, "Prove it." Now where did he get that, I ask? bahaha

Tonight while watching a movie Blaine asked if a certain few men were the bad guys. Daddy told him yes. Then as he's still watching he said, "I can't wait until I can kill those bad guys right there." Wow. That was scary. Of course we laughed and said that they didn't need killing.

Braylon is officially without his splint. The doctor wanted us to keep it on until Labor Day, but he was okay to let it be off a few days before that considering school starts on Monday. We bought a handy-dandy brace for him to wear for a couple weeks. We aren't quite yet comfortable to go with nothing just yet. The break was far worse than the doc first thought, thus the 10 weeks in a splint.

Brandon ended the summer semester with 3 As and 1 B. Pretty darn good for 3rd year medical school. I'm proud of him, so I had to share. 350 more days, not that I'm counting.

Work is going well. I've received many compliments for the 'higher ups' lately. Not sure I'm doing anything different, just doing it more visually in front of supervisors, I guess. Got to give a presentation at work and was asked to testify for a case that wasn't even really mine just as support for the case. Was told that my current 2-year position is mine for however long I want. Guess it's going well.

The house looks like a done deal. We will know 100% for sure next week. Please pray we will go where God sends us (right now, that's just across town).

And finally, school starts Monday. We met Braylon's teacher and she seems like she will be good. Blaine's teacher is the same one that Braylon had 2 years ago, so we are happy about that.

Yep. All things are shaping up pretty good around here. No complaints!

A Camping We Did Go

We got back today from a short camping trip. It was our 2nd tent camping adventure. The first one was cut short because of a snow storm (2 years ago). This go around, the weather cooperated and we stayed 2 nights with our tent about 20 feet from the Llano River riverbed. We mostly just hung out, but we did go on a 4 hour inner tubing excursion down the Llano. Boy, you learn a lot about your friends and family in such circumstances. For example, I learned that Brandon buckles under the stress when he thinks his babies are in danger. He was having trouble with Blaine who was scared and crying. Braylon went sailing by them. I was stuck in a fast current and couldn't help. There was a lot of yelling. Then I noticed a friend was saving Blaine and carrying him along the side of the river and Brandon was still yelling. He had lost a flip flop. No worries, though. The flip flop was recovered. We made it home with all the kids we originally left with. Brandon settled down and we had a great time!

Momma's Boy

At VBS during snack time, Blaine offered to pray into the microphone amongst dozens of other children in the fellowship hall. Here is what he said:

"Thank you for my mommy and for me and even for this snack. Amen."

He didn't know I was standing about 20 feet behind him. Cutie pie.

Absentee Blogger

It's been too long since I last entered a blog post. Shame on me. Let me briefly explain. Brandon and I have been considering buying a house. Our original plan was to wait until he graduated next year so that we could consider both our incomes and buy a house in the neighborhood we'd really like. However, the $8000 free money from Uncle Sam is enticing, so we've decided to bump our plans up a year. In the process of casually looking, we found a house that is 1) very, very close to our desired neighborhood (like spitting distance), 2) the perfect size, and 3) near several of our friends. (Also in a great school district, but that doesn't apply to us yet since the boys go to/will go to a magnet school.) Sooooo, we simply couldn't pass it up. We are in the process of buying and if all the inspections pass, we will be homeowners again at long last. This last week has been a whirlwind of paperwork and planning. Oh, and throw VBS and vacation planning in there, too. Trying not to get too excited, but, truth be told, I do really hope it works out!!

The Lord's Supper

On Sunday our church congregation observed the Lord's Supper. For anyone non-Baptist reading this, it's where we remember the sacrifice Christ made for us through the tradition of the last supper where Jesus dined with his disciples. We drink a small cup of grape juice to represent the blood that was shed for our sins and eat a small cracker to remind us of the body that was sacrificed on our behalf. Baptists believe that anyone can observe this traditional ceremony as long as you have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. My children have not yet done that, so they are not encouraged to partake.

Braylon has witnessed this occurrence a few times. Blaine, however, has not to my recollection. This Sunday I braved it and had both boys in the service with me. I quietly reminded Braylon that the juice and cracker were just for Mommy & Daddy and he was cool with it. When I whispered to Blaine the same thing, he wondered why. Trying to keep it simple and on a 3 year old level, I said, "Well, I do this to remember that I have invited Jesus into my heart."

Blaine quietly and sweetly whispered, "Why can you not remember that??"

School Time...Almost

Last night I took Braylon school supply shopping at Target. We got nearly all his stuff, however, a few things on the list were impossible to find. I imagine there is a purchasing manager somewhere laughing riotously about not ordering the correct items on the list. For example, it appears that Crayola does not make the 16 count crayon boxes, but rather 24. The list provided by the school says, "Please pay attention to brand names when specified." Soooo, do you get the off-brand 16 count, or do you get the 24 count Crayola Crayons? Life can be so hard sometimes and choices so difficult...Ahhhh....