I wish I could sleep

My big man and little man are sleeping fast away. I was close to being there nearly an hour ago, then my phone rang. Err. I wasn't too annoyed though because it was my sister concerned about my mom. Her ringer was off on her phone so... she hadn't answered it all night. All is fine though.

Just as an FYI, we have the new version of Mozilla Firefox and I don't like it. If I misspell something on here, it underlines it like it would do in Word or something. I'd rather do a spell check at the end than see little streaks of red under my words.

So... my brother is officially a United States Marine. Last week was filled with much joy and pride (good pride... as in proud of him). After his graduation all of our family made the trek to TN to spend a few nights here. We celebrated our Champion Christmas on Saturday morning, and they all left later that afternoon. He'll leave January 8 to head to Camp LeJune for ITB = Infantry Training Batallion. I went running with him on Saturday morning... and thoroughly enjoyed it. I couldn't stay caught up with him the entire time, but kept a good pace. It encouraged me to continue running... and now we are looking into one of those seemingly fancy jogging strollers.

To my complete surprise, W bought me an iPod for Christmas. I was really shocked, because I wasn't expecting one at all. I'm excited though because when this stroller does come about, it will be nice to have some tunes to strap to my arm while working out.

I feel spiritually empty right now, and don't really even feel like filling myself. Encouraging myself in the Lord is one of the hardest things for me to do. I'm going to listen to Heather Clark tonight (Glorious Praise - my 2nd favorite album of hers, #1 being Dark Yet Lovely) and maybe that will help me to rest well and encourage me some. Does anyone know what I'm talking about or is it just a Michelle complex? IE... if I want to dream crazy spiritual dreams, putting in Jason Upton is the way to go. Who knows. The Spirit searches all things... even the deep things of God.

Please don't taste laundry soap

So I'm extremely exicted about my "big" Christmas present from W's parents this year. I had trouble deciding, and after a few toss and turn nights the past few weeks, I have decided on a featherbed to put on top of our mattress. It looks absolutely amazing! I picked it out from overstock.com and am supposedly getting a savings of 68%. Another bonus, it comes with the removable / washable cover. Yet another bonus - only $1 shipping. Amazing. I can't wait until I "get" it on Christmas to see if it lives up to my expectations. I'll be sure to keep you posted :)

Changing subjects, I'm a little frustrated with the GOP. I'm a little more frustrated with the Democrats. I'm really just wanting our country to be united. For the compassion of the Democrats and the justice of the Republicans to be married. It's so hard to understand. I have a new interest in the military with my brother being shipped to his MOS within 8 months. Thankfully he is still at Parris Island, and then has his MCT (military combat training) but I want to be able to trust our government as far as he is concerned. I suppose the bigger trust issue here is trusting YHWH with his life ultimately.

I am super excited about going to Parris Island to see him graduate though. I've always wanted to go there - but I never thought it would be to see my lil bro officially become a Marine.

We're doing extensive traveling to and fro Montgomery over Thanksgiving. Please pray for us.

Well... I think thats about all. If anyone cares, the Apple Mango Tango Gain laundry detergent is absolutely amazing. I'm a long time Gain fan, so I am proud to endorse this new flavor-well, scent. Don't eat it... I don't endorse that.

a little better

Things are going a bit better around my family. Today is my sister's one week anniversary of being married. She really seems to enjoy the homemaking part of it. I have not talked to my mom in 5 days - we normally talk at least twice a day. I've tried to call but she doesn't want to talk to me. She says that I'm not loyal to her. I'm praying on what to tell Matthew in my next letter to him. I don't want him to be stressed out by all of this while he is at boot camp. I'm positive he has enough on him.

In my immediate family of W and T-Puppy, all seems to be well on the western front. I got sick on Friday night and felt rough most of Saturday. W did a good job of taking care of me. Then Saturday we picked up Mekia (w's parents dog) and she had the egyptian virus all Saturday night. Thankfully she was confined to the kitchen. You can imagine what it smelled like Sunday morning in here. When we got home from church I laid T-Pup down for his nap, W took Mekia out, and I sprayed each poopy and vomit spot with cleaner, boiled water + pine sol on the stove, and had 3 candles burning. I'm telling you it was rough. T-Pup won't be getting a pet until he can take full responsibility of it! :) (or until I'm persuaded otherwise).

I can't really think of much else to write. I think the college bible study should be good tonight... we're talking about reckless abandonment and what that entails. I found some really neat things this morning when I was preparing for it, but I'll save that for another day.

I'll take any family advice you're willing to give.

family feud

it's driving me crazy.

my 18 year old sister is now married.

my brother is really going to be a marine... it has just become real to me. he will probably go into a war region.

my mother... I don't know what to say.

me... I'm tired of being the negotiator for all of them. it's sressing me out.

Just a Wednesday

My friend Heather that was my summer missions partner in South Carolina is getting married next Saturday, October 14. I am so excited about going back to SC! We are leaving Friday morning (4 or 5am) and driving. It's about an 8 hour drive, so hopefully we'll still have a good bit of the day to spend once we get there. And, I'm hoping with it staying dark until 6:30 that T-Puppy will sleep that extra time. When we came back from GA in January he literally cried from Atlanta to Huntsville. Now that he is older and facing the front hopefully we'll have a better experience.

I woke up about an hour and a half before W and T-Pup this morning. I had some good time with the Lord, folded two loads of laundry, unloaded + reloaded the dishwasher, and started another load all before they woke up. It was soooo nice and felt amazing to be so productive all before 8:30. I have become soo bad at staying in bed until T-Pup wakes up... which is usually 8:30-9:00! I seem so tired in the mornings though. You would think I'd stayed up half the night before, but in all reality we're in bed by 10:30-11:00. It's crazy. I'm praying that today will help in motivating me in future mornings.

So my brother is on day 8 of his 13 week Parris Island boot camp. According to the training matrix, today he is going through Customs and Courtships. Whatever that means, who knows. Tomorrow is bayonet techniques and first aid 1. I'm sure I'm having more fun here at home than he is there. We got his address on Monday, and I mailed out his first letter on Tuesday. I hope he'll write, but with it being my brother, again, who knows.

My sister found out last week that she is having a baby girl. They are planning to name her Addison Faye, and call her Addie. I think it's sweet. She is enjoying feeling Addie move a lot now, and her belly is starting to round nicely.

T-Puppy and I just got back from a trip outside (or as he says "siiiiiiiiiiide"). It was not a normal trip... he wore a t-shirt and old shoes. That's it. Bare bottom. He has an icky case of diaper rash. My homemade wipes haven't helped at all, and the acidophilus I'm taking doesn't seem to be helping either. He's had diarrhea for almost a week now, but is acting normal... so I'm guessing it has to do with teething. He is getting his canines in. As for now, he's prancing around in an old fashioned cloth diaper. It's cute with the little safety pins sticking out the side. A little makeshift... but whatever works.

Well... I guess thats all. I hope all 3 of my readers enjoy. Hopefully I'll post again soon.

The day after

Well, since I know you all (a possible 2, maybe 3 people) are waiting on the edge of your seats to hear how T-Puppy's party went.... it was great. I couldn't have asked for anything better for our little man's first birthday party. The cakes turned out great, everyone (eh, most) of our guests mingled well, and T-Pup had fun... except when he fell into his new toybox. Still not sure how he managed that one. But, as I thought, I'm glad it's over. I'm getting better at " hosting events" and hospitality, but still have so far to go. I wish it were an overnight process that I could learn to put things together and it be an amazing hit (whether baby shower, supper club, or birthday party), but... that would be a long hard night. I suppose as with most things it's best to enjoy the process. I can't wait to put up some pictures from his party. He was soo cute smashing his little fingers into the birthday cake. So sweet. Next year I'm sure he'll have a fork in his hand and be all grown up.

So last night I had what seemed to be a never-ending dream. It was regarding my past, and a person of my past. It frustrated me so... and I have no idea why I continue to have these dreams (this is at least the third or fourth one in the past 2-3 years). W and I talked about it... but I'm still so -ahhhhhhhh- at even dreaming these things. Why can't we control our dreams? And now today it seems to be all that I can think about... which only dampens my already soggy mood.

I've had two cups of coffee this morning, which is an all time high for the past year. Nursing babies and drinking coffee just don't work well together for me. I wish there were some politically correct way to do both. There usually never is. That's why we have conservative and liberal :)

babies everywhere

I can't think of a title right now, so maybe by the end of the post I'll have one. I can't believe today is already Wednesday. Time seems to fly by at such a rapid speed. I am beginning to realize more and more that our time on earth is indeed a mere glimpse of eternity. Isn't that wild? That in itself is what the Lord has been showing me concerning my thoughts of the future... and whatever happens on this earth, use it to produce character in me... for now and eternity.

So that might have been a small tangent, but all is well. We found out this week our friends Alan and Maranda are having two baby twin girls (). There are pregnancies everywhere I look... my sister, our cousin Amanda, Stacy W., Heather F., Alan and Maranda, Barbara S... it's amazing. I'm really looking forward to our next one. I really want T-Pup to have a little playmate. It'll be at least a few more months though. Maternity rider won't be over until December, and I really want to go skiing in February with W and the youth group... and rafting next summer, but that might be stretching it.

So birthday plans are going well. I'm excited more than anything now. My family isn't going to be able to make it, but I understand and hope to send them a DVD of the party.

I tried to upload a picture of me and t-pup, but it wouldn't work... maybe next time.

Birthday Blues

Well, several people have asked if I'm sad or upset that T-Pup is on the verge of his first birthday. This is absurd to me. I'm just as excited as he is! I'm even excited at all of the new goodies he'll be getting. However, what I am a little apprehensive over is the actual birthday party. I wanted it to be a small, sweet setting.... in our home, where he could get down and play, etc. Our family here is HUGE, but we could still handle the smaller party here. But, then I remembered the others we wanted to invite... a few of our friends, a couple youth and their families... and next thing you know I've mailed out 24 invitations.

So, after some prayer I realized we could still handle this. I know. We'll have it at the church. Whit checks and the fellowship hall is open. Ok, cool. I'm doing the party Sunday from 2-4, so we won't have to have any real food - just cake, ice cream, and drinks. I've always wanted to make my children's birthday cakes... just a natural thing, I think. Now, I'm having dreams about this cake! It falling apart... or tasting bad... or not being cute... but in the day time I'm not worried about it. It's a pretty simple cake, with most of the decorations being put on there. The hardest part of decorating will be the crumb coat and top coat of white icing. Come on, this is 8th grade home ec stuff. There isn't any icing bag decoration, save "gluing" the decorations on with icing. I'm trying to be peaceful... :)

So, this week will consist of preparations for Sunday, and the normal homely duties I love and enjoy.

bah hum

soo . . . I'm a little frustrated with the world... my immediate sphere of influence to be exact. I know who I think I am, but in reality it doesn't ever seem to add up. It seems I'm always one step behind. I don't really know how to change it, and I don't necessarily want to accept it. I don't think I'm content, but I really don't think I'm complacent. Is there a medium? I know 1 Timothy 6:6 a hundred times over. But the only gain I ever seem to experience is weight. I do have joy... it just seems shallow. And sporadic. I want the joy of the Lord. I want to be filled with it so much so that nothing else matters... unlike now where it seems everything else matters but the joy of the Lord.

We delivered T-Pup's cute little birthday invitations today. I'm excited about his party but a little nervous too... I'm making the cakes so I feel a little pressured. I really wanted his party to be small and intimate, and it's going to be the opposite. Many people. The thought of living in a town where we 2 or 3 people is actually appealing to me... wild, I know. On the flip side I enjoy all of the family here. I've never really experienced it before, so it's a blessing.

We are going to the high school football game tonight... first of the season. I'm looking forward to it. I've tried on 10 different outfits and none fit my current mood... I'm such a girl.

It's all for you...Megan

Well... I thought about making one of these before. Then yet another time. Then, decided against it. So, why am I? Megan Eileen... so I can comment on your blog.