Wouldn't you know....

Just when we were getting into a good routine and looking forward to traveling to see friends and family in Knoxville.......we all got SICK! It started with Kevin's dad, who passed his cold on to Laura, so we were in the doctor's office twice with her last week.....then Lindy started with a fever of 102 last Sunday morning, more doctor visits and medicine for her.....and then finally, the typical "another one bites the dust" I managed to get it, too. My doctor listened to me Monday and told me my lungs sounded crusty. Not sure how that sounds, but not so good. I think of Jack Nicholson as crusty, you know? Anyway, here we are a week later and we are starting to feel better. The girls are almost completely well now. I'm not quite there but definitely on the mend. We spent most of all last week with Kevin's parents because he was out of town and then I was so sick I just couldn't have taken care of the girls properly without help. I've got some new-ish pictures to post but just don't feel like doing it right now. Kevin has the girls at church and I'm supposed to be asleep. If everyone is well, Lord willing, we'll travel to Knoxville this Thursday to do Lindy's six month pictures. How can she be six months old already???? I'll have to get a video of her new skill: rolling. She rolls everywhere! Our lives have officially changed forever now. The baby is mobile! I write this hoping that you are all keeping well and are not sick like we have been lately.....Happy Sunday!

A Rich Heritage

We traveled this past weekend to Harding University in Searcy, AR, for the annual homecoming celebration. It was wonderful to be there with family we only see once a year. Both sets of my grandparents graduated and married out of Harding, so you could say that our family started there. I loved getting to see my grandparents visit with dear ones they've known for more than 60 years, and couldn't help reflect on the wonderful heritage I have. When I went to Harding to do my Master's work in 1997 I became the third generation Harding student for both sides of my family. I would love it if our girls chose to study there, too. We went to the Homecoming football game and I got to see people I have known since I started teaching in Austin in 1991! I am grateful for the friendship and family ties, and for the role Harding has played in them.

Here we are as a family of four on a Harding swing. Not Christmas card worthy, but the best we could get with two tired children!

Here are four generations sitting on a swing like the one where my grandparents courted 67 years ago!

The weather couldn't have been more beautiful. It was a perfect fall day to get a sweet picture of Laura and Lindy.

Mamama and Lindy after chapel Friday morning.

This is the archway into the campus that has stood in place for many decades.

Ten Promises

Ten Promises No Matter Who Wins The Election:

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.

2. Prayer will still work.

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.

5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.

6. There will still be singing of praise to God.

7. God will still pour out blessings on His people.

8. There will still be room at the Cross.

9. Jesus will still love you.

10. Jesus will still save the lost.

ISN'T IT GOOD TO KNOW WHO IS STILL IN CONTROL?

I'm not sure who wrote that but I received it as an email last week, and as the election draws closer and closer I just felt the need to be reminded that Jesus, by His mercy and grace, still has the world in His precious blood-stained hands.

Seven Years Ago Today.....

I went to church with my friends in Knoxville and met the most wonderful man in the world, my sweet husband, Kevin. It was a movie moment, really, for me....I looked across the crowded Bible class and saw him sitting there and thought he was the cutest thing I'd ever seen. When I went upstairs after class and saw him talking to my friends I just knew he was the one for me. By the way, I still think he's the cutest thing I've ever seen. And there is so much more to him. He loves God, he loves his family, he takes care of his mom and dad, he is a fabulous amazing friend, he is so very good at what he does in his career. I couldn't have more gratitude for the blessing of sharing my life with him than I do every October. In a way I remember this day better than our anniversary.....because this was the day everything changed in my life!

So, sweet husband and friend, after seven years, five houses, three cities, and two children, I'm so grateful to share it all with you. God truly blessed the broken road that led me straight to you. I love you so dearly! Thank you for sharing your life with me!

Lindy Eating Cereal

Here is the video I wanted to post last night. Hope you enjoy watching our little doll baby eating her first meal!

Lindy at five months

Here is our big girl on her five month "birthday". She has grown so much! I think she weighs about 13 pounds now. She loves to smile and laugh and is happy almost all the time. Her favorite things right now are Mommy, Daddy, and Laura and any thing she can put in her mouth. She is a drooler so we have her in bibs constantly! As she grows I think she is looking more and more like me, which is really fun.
We tried her on some rice cereal the other night. She actually really enjoyed it and wanted me to put the spoon in her mouth as fast as I could get it to her. I think she actually swallowed some cereal. Most of it dripped on the tray and on her bib.
I tried to upload the video we took of this but it didn't work. It was much cuter than these pictures. Laura was at Grandma's house when we tried this cereal adventure. I haven't done it again yet. Maybe we'll do it today.

Confessions of a Dietitian's Wife and other bits of Randomness

Okay, here goes, I have to admit it. I love white pasta. A lot. And as I dug it out of the back of the pasta section (yes it has a section) of my pantry I realized that I'm a closet white pasta eater. The first step is admitting it, right? So I took a picture of the box after I started cooking the portion I am now eating. When my family is eating pasta I serve I get the healthy stuff. You know, either whole wheat or Barilla brand that is better for you than the "Enriched Spaghetti Product". I don't eat "Pastuerized Processed Cheese Food" but I love white pasta. I suppose this probably wouldn't be really good material for the writers of Desperate Housewives, but in our family this could be considered scandalous! Maybe I should tell Kevin before he reads this post......

Other bits of randomness: Conversations with a Four Year Old

Conversation #1

The other day Laura was disgruntled because I had either given her something she didn't want in the food department or I didn't give her what she wanted. Both happen so often I don't know which it was. Anyway, here is the dialogue to follow:

Kara: "I'm sorry this isn't your favorite, but it is what is good for you and you need/don't need to eat it." (depending on situation listed above)

Laura (now laying in the floor in the living room very dissatisfied with her lot in life): "I don't want to be in my world anymore."

Kara: "Oh really?"

Laura: "No, I want to be in Susan's world. I like it better there."

Kara: No response but laughing out loud. A lot.

Conversation #2

Laura: "When God was a little boy where did he poop?" (excuse the graphic nature of the questions but it is life with a four year old.)

Kara: "Um, well, when Jesus was a little boy I'm sure they had places for pooping.

Laura: "No, not Jesus, I mean God. Where did he poop?"

Kara: "I don't know if God really needs to poop. I'm not sure if He eats or not."

Laura: "If he doesn't eat, how can he live?" "Do you think He likes cheese toast?"

Kara (deciding not to get into theology way over both our heads): "I'll bet that if He eats, I'm sure He'd like cheese toast."

Laura: "Where are the bathrooms in heaven?"

Kara: "I don't think we'll need bathrooms in heaven."

Laura (alarmed): "If there are no bathrooms there where will I go potty?"

Kara (again deciding to take the easy, sensible route): "I'm sure that God will be able to tell you where you can go potty."

Laura: "Okay, what's for lunch?"

What a sweet life we live. So blessed we are to share it with you......