My reading goals

This quarter I have decided to not take a Graduate class and it is already absolutely wonderful!!! I have felt so much more at peace. Ha!  Having more time to get things done at home and be productive on things I want to do has been great.  

I love to read but when I have to read textbooks, reading for pleasure definitely doesn't exist.  I am also a lover of making lists, so I am making a list of my reading goals.  Going to Barnes and Noble and buying books is one of my favorite things to do, but I don't always have the time to read them. I am checking the bookshelf now for any unread books and also adding books that I've heard good reviews about to my reading list.  I found this new (to me) website, Goodreads, that I just joined and I am going to update my reading list on there as well.  I know some of these books were popular and have already been read by a lot of people, but I'm glad to finally be getting around to reading them.


My list...

1.  Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

2.  Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall

3.  Radical by David Platt

4.  The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls


and the books that I already own but haven't read yet...

5.  Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller


6.  How to Raise a Gentleman by Kay West


7.  The Last Sin Eater by Francine Rivers


8.  The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman


9.  A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah


10. Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust 
by Immaculee Ilibagiza 

11.  The Ragamuffin Gospel:  Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out by Brennan Manning

Have you read any of these yet?  Are there any good books that you would suggest I add to my reading list? 

Happy Monday and Story Time

Tonight when I was putting Foster down for bed, I read to him a sweet book that a friend of mine gave me about six years ago. Little Rose of Sharon is such a sweet book that illustrates Christ's love for us.  

This book is about self-sacrificing and putting the needs of others before our own desires. When I think about the love my Savior has poured out on me I am both filled with joy and humbled.

 One of my prayers for my children is that they will be ever mindful of the needs of others and live life unselfishly.  I want to raise them to not just think about themselves but how they can give to other people.  

When I was in college, I interned at a homeless shelter for a semester during Christmas time.  There was a family that came to the center and cooked dinner, watched the nursery, brought clothes and toiletries, etc.  They were a very nice looking family and they didn't look like the type that would be giving their time in this way. I was very intrigued by them.  I thought that one day I want my children to be given that same opportunity to be a blessing to others. I know in turn they will both be blessed and humbled.  I certainly know I was.

Have a wonderful week!

Happy Birthday Big Harv!

Harvey turned 2 years old on March 20th! We had a little birthday party for him last Sunday afternoon.  Harvey has a lot of friends in our neighborhood, so I thought about having a party for him and inviting all the dogs he plays with, but then I decided against it.  One of the other dog owners nearby had a big shindig a couple weeks ago for her little dog, but we couldn't make it.  

Harvey was bummed.

I did bring out the birthday celebration flag for Harv's big day though.  

He is the sweetest dog and we love him so much!  He was surprised with a big bone that he was very proud of- Although he probably would have been just as happy with some plastic hangers.

Excuse the poor picture quality-remember my lack of a camera these days.  argh!

 

And for his big present.....................

its been a long time coming..................

 

and now my furniture can catch a break.........

A Molly Mutt!

Sleepy baby

Yesterday Wood had an interview in Selma and was meeting up with some people to talk about law stuff.  Afterwards he had an appointment with some turkeys:)  I was planning on staying in Tuscaloosa for the weekend, but late Friday afternoon I decided I didn't want to stay by myself, so Foster and I packed up and went to Selma.  I feel like I haven't gotten to hang out with my hubby much during law school but now he seems to be more free and it is wonderful!  Today we piddled around town and did some sight seeing. ha!  I'm not opposed to moving back to Selma, but I'm certainly not jumping up and down to move there either.  We will see what happens...

After a busy day, we went out to dinner and on the way home the lil'man was exhausted.  Sweet little sleeping baby...

Happy 5 months!

On March 7th, Foster turned 5 months old!  I'm way behind with this post and now he is almost 6 months old.  He has started doing so much lately, but I will save that for later.  A few weeks ago my point and shoot camera broke and before Foster was born my fancy camera started glitching and needs to be fixed. Sooo...I have been without a camera for a while-major reason for my lack of blogging lately. Until I get time to get them fixed, the iphone will just have to do.  I have been using Wood's phone to take pictures, but yesterday I jumped on the bandwagon and got an iphone for myself-it is the best!  I have been holding out for Verizon to get them, so I wouldn't have to deal with terrible service and I am really enjoying it.  Maybe I should have waited until June, but oh well.

Just for my own information....

This month:

• Wears size 2 diapers
• Wears size 9 months clothes
• Reaches out to grab and hold bottle
• When we are out of town and don't have our video monitor, we have to be so quiet when going to check on him-if he sees us he starts screaming to be picked up!
• Absolutely loves being read to-he laughs and smiles the whole time!
• When we put him into his car seat he arches his back and starts to fall out.  Seriously... already?  I calmly tell him "no, we don't act like that"  and put him back in the car seat and strap him in as fast as I can!  The crying stops shortly after he realizes he can't get out.
• Sometimes he looks at people and will burst into tears.  I have to tell people not to get their feelings hurt, he will quickly start to laugh.

 I usually get Foster's monthly cakes at Celebrations-a bakery here in Tuscaloosa.  For this cake I thought I would just try to pick one up while I was grocery shopping at Publix.  It is hard to tell in this picture, but this cake does say "Happy 5 Months!" and is supposed to have a St. Patrick's Day theme.  When I was loading the groceries into the car I noticed the cake had already tipped over on its side.  This month's cake was a hot mess.  Next time, I will go back to Celebrations.

I'm thinking ahead and need some tips for flying with a toddler....

I am planning on going to Pennsylvania in September with my mom, aunt, cousin and of course the lil'man for my cousin's wedding.  My aunt and cousin are going to take the train which sounded like a lot of fun! I thought the train might be easier with a toddler, but after researching the sleeping arrangements on trains- I know it won't work with almost a one year old. I decided to fly and get there as soon as we can!

I also wanted to share this link with you so you could pray for this sweet family and others like them. 
http://oureyesopened.blogspot.com/

 Every child deserves a loving and safe home environment.

Life Lately

Where have we been??  

Things have been busy lately, but nothing super exciting has happened...Yet!  

Just a little recap...

Lil' man finally got over all of his funky sickness-thank the Lord!  After RSV, he got bronchiolitis.  Thanks to everyone for all your tips and suggestions on getting him well.  I am always in favor of a more natural remedy if it is available.  

He also turned 5 months old!  I need to post his 5 month post sometime soon.

We are still praying for Wood to be able to eat food like a normal person again.  The doctor says it has to  get worse before they can do surgery.  We are praying and just believing God for his healing of this incurable disorder.  

We appreciate your prayers as well!

Also, we are awaiting the news of where we are going to be moving after graduation!  Aaah-  

I can't wait!  So excited to move on to the next chapter and see what the Lord has in store for us.  I feel so richly blessed and I want us to be wherever God would have us to be.

After a huge screaming fit, he finally fell asleep during his breathing treatment.

"Ok, mom I won't cry if you let me play with my Ninja turtle mask first!"

After much frustration, crying and straining, Foster is finally rolling over!  

It is easy-peasy to him now and he rolls and scoots all over the floor. 

I had a couple weeks off from school, but Monday I started back.

My thoughts exactly.........

We have really been enjoying the beautiful weather.

While we were in Selma a couple weeks ago, we stopped by my Aunt and Uncle's house to let Foster swing in the new swing they put up for him.  

His first time in an outdoor swing 

and

he LOVED it!!

Last week we went down to Foley to check in on Paw Paw and show him how much Foster is growing.  We went out to lunch to one of our favorite little restaurants at the Wharf, Ginny Lanes.

Paw Paw being a southern gentleman and trying to shake Foster's hand.  It looks like he was reciprocating with a high five! ha!

Holding hands... so sweet!

Daddy is always trying to snuggle up with his little buddy.

Mr. Pajama Head says, "Good night!"