Back in action...Maybe.

So, I've been encouraged by a new dear friend to update this little blog once a week.

For lots of reasons.

And I'm contemplating doing it.

Because I like to write.

And because there's a lot welling up in my heart and my mind about a lot of things.

And because I like these 2 people, and I'm sure they will make frequent cameos.

We shall see if I rise up to the challenge.  

I'll try.

Harry

When Harrison was living in my belly, we didn't know if he was a boy or a girl.  Same thing with Blythe.  I loved it.  I loved not knowing, and when he came out it was the best surprise of my life.
However, it did make it tough in deciding on names...because we had to choose two.  One for a boy, one for a girl.

Well, we always knew if we had a boy we would call him Harrison, even dating back to our honeymoon.

And when we talked about it, we knew that at some point, if we had a boy named Harrison, that maybe when he was 15 and on a high school sports team (if he chooses), that maybe his friends and teammates might shorten it to 'Harry'.

Brett's middle name is Harrison (as well as his mom's maiden name), so growing up his family called him 'Harry' as kind of a funny nickname.  Well, when Harrison was born, we were clear that we didn't want him to be called 'Harry', because a couple of handfuls of people did ask if that was our intention.

Not that we don't like the name Harry,but, we named him Harrison to call him Harrison, but like I said, we figured maybe it would get shortened in a friendly way when he was a teenager.

Not when he was 4.

By his pre-school teacher.

H has darling teachers, one of them who kinda talks like Gloria from 'Modern Family'.  I noticed the first week she was calling him Harry.  Harrison said to me, 'Mommy, she calls me Harry, that's not my name.'  I told him, "Buddy, you're just gonna have to tell her that you like to be called Harrison.'

I kept hearing her say 'Hi Harry!'  "Bye Harry!'  And it was when I had a parent-teacher conference a couple weeks ago, that I heard them both refer to him as Harry.  I had thought maybe they were just calling him that as a cute little greeting at the beginning and end of class.  But, it was later that day, when he was playing at a classmate's house, that I noticed the other kid calling him Harry.

The name had already been shortened, about 10 years earlier than I anticipated!  And by the teachers!

I asked him if he minded, and he said, 'No, mommy, I don't like it, but it's okay sometimes.'

So, I had to do the unthinkable.

I had to go to his sweet teacher and ask her to call him Harrison.  I kind of hated that I had to do it, but, I think my baby was too shy to do it himself.

And I think he needed to see me be brave for him when he didn't feel brave enough himself.

And I'll do it over and over again, if each time, it might give him an ounce more courage.

Donuts with Daddy

About a month ago, Harrison was studying the letter 'D' at school.  To celebrate 'D' week, the teachers invited the Daddys for Donuts.  Brett was so excited he could hardly contain himself!  They had a great time and I'm so thankful for the memories that were made!  This week is 'H' week, complete with hat day.  Harrison is staying neutral, and instead of wearing his Georgia or Auburn hat, he has chosen to wear his cowboy hat.  He is pretty adorable!  Love that kid!

Eternity with my baby

I remember clearly where I was sitting in February of 2008 when I read the line that I am using as the title of this post...Brett and I were taking a Sabbatical, having just returned from Italy, and spending a week at the beach before we eased back into work after taking a month off.  I was still a few months away from birthing my first child, but already huge, and my emotions magnified with the pregnancy.

It was in a coffee shop off of 30-A in the panhandle of Florida that I opened up my computer to read a few blogs.  I checked into my friend Kadie's blog to read a precious post about her Everett confessing his belief in Jesus at a mere 4 years old.  I cried so many tears of joy, I wept in fact.  Because he was like my first child...he was my friend's first child!  My very first friend to be pregnant.  I was with her when she bought the test (and snuck it into my bag so that no one would be suspicious, although, let's be honest, I was still single, and a missionary, maybe it would have been more suspicious for people to think I might be pregnant?!)  I remembered the morning sickness, the day he was born, his first birthday, and here he was, making a life-changing decision to come to a faith that would not be easy, but would be joyful for the rest of his life?  I was overjoyed.  I could not imagine the day that I would get to experience this with my own child.

Until 2 months ago.

And now, I can honestly say that I will spend forever with MY baby boy.  Forever.

As the son of missionaries, little Harrison has been exposed to lots of Jesus talk.  Not just from us, although we hope to talk to him the most about it, and hopefully live life at home in a way where he would desire to share the faith that we have.  We talk to him a lot, pray with him a lot, and make LOTS of mistakes, and ask lots of forgiveness.  There is so much humility in parenting, and as much as I can make excuses to myself or to my husband, when my son tells me, 'Mommy, you were wrong',  It  usually means I am, and I say lots of "I'm sorry's" because I can't teach him to do it if I don't.

On the eve of August 14th, just 5 days after we moved back to Florida, Brett called me into Harrison's room while he was putting him to bed.  Harrison had said he wanted to have God in his heart.  I told him that I could pray a prayer that he could repeat after me if he wanted Jesus in his heart.  He said, "No, Mommy, you pray."  I told him it wasn't a decision I could make for him, but I still prayed anyway.  

2 days later, Brett and I didn't think anything of it, because we thought maybe he hadn't made that decision.  But, Brett reminded me that it's not just about praying, but believing with your heart and confessing with your mouth (Romans) that Jesus is Lord.  He began to ask H questions.  He asked him if he believed that Jesus died on the cross for his sins, and if he believed in his heart that He is God.  Yes, and yes!  He then asked if he could take his toys to heaven!  I told him he wouldn't need them there.  He then asked about if he could take his clothes.  He finally came to the conclusion that we could build a toy shelf when we get there!  

Since then, he has proudly proclaimed that Jesus is in his heart.  

And I'm grateful. 

 I pray that he will believe in Him all the days of his life.  

Lake Time

After our visit to NC, we drove down to Irmo, SC for one night to see my dad's latest project.  He is a custom home builder and I always love seeing the houses he builds.  They are usually very large and beautiful and I knew I would not have another chance to see this one since it is out of state.  The finished product will be absolutely gorgeous and ridiculously big (it's his biggest one to date), and I loved walking through it...but even better was the quick zip around the lake that we took that morning...

 My Dad and my Godfather Charlie built this boat in 1980, the year I was born...and I have lots of good memories of days on Lake Lanier on this guy!

 I had not had a ride on it with my dad since before our wedding in 2004...living in another state and another country, leaving only time for short visits doesn't make for much time on the lake...a crime, in my opinion!!

 So, because my Dad is spending half his time in SC, and Lake Murray is minutes away from where he stays there, he decided to take his boat up there.  so, I jumped at the chance for us all to take a ride with him.

 Warms my heart...

 We didn't have a lifevest for Blythe, so Brett and I took turns riding while Harrison "drove".  Brett had never even seen the boat and wasn't sure it even existed until now!  It was a short, but sweet time and brought back lots of good memories...we won't let 8 more years go by before we go for another ride on this special boat!

Visit to Cary

In July, we visited my dear brother and sister-in-law in Cary, NC.  The visit was too short, as always, but packed with some sweet time.  It was days before Blythe's first birthday, so Lindsey, as thoughtful as she is, had a little mini celebration during our time there!

 Lindsey, Grace, Blythe and me

 our precious girl

 This is such a Brett face to me!!

 Those long eyelashes just about kill me!!

 Gracie really took to her Uncle Brett...He really likes the babies!!

 budding pianist!!

 Harrison LOVES his girls!   We call Gracie 'Cheeks'...can you see why?  Those cheeks are JUST killer!

Thanks, Chris, Lindsey and Gracie, for having us (2 months ago).  It was a special time that we will never forget!!

Cute

Just a few things I wanted to remember...

Today my sister took Harrison to the park...he came home with little flowers for me.

He said, "Mom, I picked some beautiful flowers for you because you're so beautiful."

Melt my heart!

And, Story # 2...

 Yesterday I took Blythe to the doctor to check on a lingering cold...

The doctor I saw was someone new to me...

He picked her up and smiled at her and she smiled right back, and he said:

"Phew, her Daddy needs to worry!"

It's true...he already does...

Looks like I'll need to keep BOTH my kids under lock and key until they are 25!

Oh, and it's just a head cold for the little pumpkin!