Christmastime Is Here

I know that I recently said I was going to try to put out more posts, but I had no idea what was in store for us as we got closer to the holidays! I mean, I had some sort of inkling but you never really know until it's right up on you! Since the beginning of December, I have had a party every weekend (this past one was a girls only cookie swap and it was super fun), we have done Christmas shopping and wrapping, we've been making travel plans and have just been doing ... well, lots of other stuff. It's been hectic, but it's also been really fun.

Benjamin is very excited about the holidays. We are very excited to be seeing a lot of family this coming weekend and Benjamin has enjoyed the extra crafts that we've been doing and also the extra baking and treats. He has also enjoyed handing out little presents to friends and getting into the spirit of giving. This will be our first year that we have really been able to get into everything with Benjamin because he's finally at the age where he can get really excited and talk about it more. And for those of you who might be wondering, we do pretend about Santa Claus. However, we make sure to remind Benjamin that he is just pretend. And we see no harm in that! Benjamin enjoys the Santa Claus game and so do we. (:

Other than that, we had a lovely visit to the Medical Center on Saturday Morning... for me, not Benjamin. Friday night I got hardly any sleep. I had severe ear pain that would not go away no matter how much medicine I took (and I'm not really one to take medicine unless I need it). I finally dozed off around 6AM on Saturday morning and around 9 I got up and told Carl that I needed to go to the doctor (also something I never do)... really long story later, ear irrigation hurts like crazy and I have an ear infection.

Bam, said the lady.

So here's hoping that it gets all cleared up come Christmas time so that I don't have to be on my pain meds around family. Embarrassing.

Anyway! That's what's been going on! I figured I'd take a little time out to share with you. We're going to be traveling for Christmas, so keep us in your prayers - and I hope you all have a wonderful holiday with those around you! 

keep seeking.

A good reminder for people like me who can get to worrying...

I am so thankful for the wisdom that the Bible offers.

Am I worried? Who am I seeking?

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,

and all these things shall be added unto you."

Matthew 6:33

{Hopefully more posts coming in the future from me! Things have been so busy!}

Ten Thousand Words

"And everyone around me shakes their head in disbelief
And says I'm too caught up
They say young is good and old is fine
And truth is cool but all that matters
Is that you have your good times
But their good times come with prices
And I can't believe it when I hear the jokes they make
At anyone's expese except their own
Would they laugh if they knew who paid?"

Think about it...

words of wisdom

Photo Card

I am super excited about finally getting Christmas cards this year! Check it out! I love Shutterfly. We used them for Benjamin's first birthday invitations. They turned out great - I can't wait to see these! Super excited to get our bright orange package in the mail!

Sweet Little Label Christmas

Make a statement with personalized Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

can you guess what we did today?

we made memories.

silver lining

I hate to complain, but I said in my last post that I'm going to be real from now on. And today I felt like complaining a lot, and it was mostly about the dudes who have been working on the outside of the house, busting out bricks and putting them back in and ... whatever it is they are actually doing out there. I don't know, because I haven't been around to that side of the house since they started coming. Mainly because I don't want to see the mess they're making. {sorry neighbors, I know it can't be pretty!}

Today I pretty much felt like I was going crazy because it was so loud, and boy does sound carry in this house. You can't escape it. And I have no idea what they were doing but it felt and sounded like they were trying to bulldoze the house. I'm serious. This was also during the time that Benjamin was supposed to be napping. As you can probably assume, no nappage happened.

And all the voices outside! I felt like I was just surrounded!

So I ended up at the end of the day with frazzled nerves and a headache that is pounding, pounding, pounding just like they have been on my house all day long.

Wah, wah, wah...

The good news is ... I can look on the bright side. Here's my silver lining: work is getting done. It's been needing to be done and it's getting done and that's great! Also, it's not permanent! Carl just told me that they said it will be likely one more day and then they are outta my hair {er, head!} for good. And who knows, maybe some huge wind will blow away that white dust that is or was covering the front porch the last time I peeked out there!

You know, I'm thankful that I can look on the bright side of things when I've had a long, noisy day. It makes things a little easier to deal with.

Also thankful for Tylenol. I'm just sayin'.

EDIT: Just found out we might have bad weather tomorrow... so more work might be delayed... which means Wednesday it might resume... which means we could have dudes bustin' up bricks or puttin' them back in, whatever, while company is here... silver lining... silver lining... silver lining...

Changes.

Obviously, there have been some changes made to my blog in the past couple of days. Maybe you haven't really been coming by since I've been posting again, but I've been morphing my blog over the past couple of days... ta-da! I'm still working on a few things, aesthetically. I've been, for the past few months, trying to get my head back into blogging. I tried a new blog, and then came back here, and then had a blog that I posted on twice that I didn't tell anyone about because I wasn't sure I'd stick with it... anyway, here I am again. I'm back to where I came from and I'm excited about it... but I want to tell you something. I'm going to be real here. I deserve that much. Anything I post from a few days ago on out is just going to be real. I used to blog thinking I was being real, but what I was really doing was trying to ... I don't really know. Maybe impress? Myself probably. Conform? to mommy blogs, I mean. But I don't want to do that anymore. I don't want people to come over here because I write great posts about whatever I may post about. I want them {you} to come because you know I'm being real over here, and who doesn't like someone to be real every once in a while? Real life is real. Deep, I know. But it's not easy. You know that. I'm tired of pretending like it is. I have a lot to blog about, if I'd just let myself do it.

So. Changes. To my blogging attitude: Real life is real. Be real. {and awesome on the days you can manage}

... also, new blog button. just sayin'...

& Something I found on pinterest:

my benny-boy.

It's amazing to me sometimes that this little person is my little boy. God has really blessed Carl and I with such an amazing child who is so sweet and precious and smart and funny and affectionate... of course, who can also be stubborn and moody as well. But mostly just wonderful. He brings a lot of joy into my life. I hope that I'm doing everything that I can for him, to help him grow up to be the Christian he should be. I don't think Benjamin will ever know just how much I love him. How could he? Every day I'm just surprised at hoe much more I do than the day before! My sweet Benjamin.

freshening up!

Bear with me as I get all my ducks in a row! Trying to get back to this, and thinking a fresh look might help! I've missed blogging and have been wanting to be able to get back to it for some time. I know I've tried before. Just stick around for me, yeah?

emotions.

I feel like the last few days I have been just wasting time because I've been so emotional. Wasting time because I've been focusing more on myself, and how many things I've had to do and how many things just seemed to be going wrong, what sort of things kept getting on my nerves... etc, etc, etc. I wasted precious moments that I could have been spending with Benjamin, teaching him, making precious memories with him instead of getting irritated at the little things. I haven't been sleeping well, but that doesn't give me the right to take my emotions out on those around me. I hope I'm not the only mother who has had days like this. I've felt so awful about it, apologizing profusely and trying to make it up to Ben... even though he's likely forgotten all about it because no matter what, he's mommy's #1 fan, and mommy is his #1 fan. I just needed to get this off my chest... Tonight we had friends over for dinner, so that helped me relax a little bit. I'm hoping that tomorrow will prove to be an even better day. For Benjamin's sake. I'm going to do my best.

Concerned

Zoe is concerned about the man who is fixing our windows I'm more concerned about the lizard I found this AM..

Concerned

All My Mistakes

We may not all have a whole lot in common with each other, as in interests and things like that. But there is at least one thing that we all inevitably have in common with one another and that is that we are all human, and we all as humans make mistakes. Even those of us {meaning, myself included} who hate to admit that we make mistakes … I am saying right now that we, I, do. I know you are thinking, duh. We all know that. There is probably not one person who honestly believes that they are never, ever at fault for anything, ever. The Bible even says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” {1 John 1:8}

I’m thinking about me here. You’ll have to excuse me for a moment. But I mean … I have made a lot of mistakes. I mean a lot. I am not proud of any of them, and I have hopefully learned from them {although sometimes the lesson needs to be heard more than once … but like I said, I’m human}. And what … I don’t know  if this is the right word, but what baffles me is how patient God is with me. With me. I’m a mother of a nearly 3-year-old {don’t go gettin' teary-eyed on me, now, Kristen!} and I have a new puppy who pushes my buttons and things get ‘hairy’ around here {especially lately with my brand-new Achilles tendinitis, YAY D:} … and I admit that patience is not always my strong point … okay, hardly ever. But God… God is so patient with me, even when I make the same mistakes over and over and over. Do you know what some of my favorite verses are?

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” - Romans 5:6-8

While WE {you, me, everyone!} were yet sinners, Christ DIED {not only died, but faced the most excruciatingly painful death known to man!!} for US {the UNGODLY!}. Why? Because He LOVES us.

I feel like you could knock me down with a feather every time I read that passage.

I am soooo not perfect, but because of verses like these, I want to try my hardest. It’s only right, right?

Thank God for second chances!! And third, and fourth, and fifth…

But with that we also have to remember that some day there may not be another chance… “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” Hebrews 9:27; “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” James 4:14

 

I was reminded about this tonight as we watched two very dear friends get remarried – to each other. And I was thinking how powerful forgiveness is, and love, and the desire to reconcile with each other even when the most unthinkable have come between two people. But think about it. Doesn’t God do that every time we sin and then come back to Him in repentance? Amazing.

It just … wow. Amazing.

-----------------------------------------------

And I just wanted, while I have your attention {that is, if} to say that I was featured over at Marli’s blog and I am so humbled by being featured over there! You should definitely check out her blog – she is such a sweet young woman! We don’t know each other very well but I love her dearly and her sweet sister Memory too.

Be Still.

There are days with Benjamin {and now Zoe} that I just am amazed at how much movement there is in my life, going here and there, doing this and that, never, ever ending. Not even during nap times because I even have to get things done then. There is rarely any rest. Sometimes I just want to say, “BE STILL!” And have everyone just freeze in the moment … just be still for once. Just. Stop. Moving.

And some days I feel like maybe I need to hear this myself, because I try to do so much. I try to be and do everything. I don’t make enough time for important things because I’m trying to housetrain the dog or keep up with laundry or wash all the dishes because they are always piling up. Or I’m trying so hard not to stress out about Spiritual things that are bothering me, maybe a burden I am carrying or something I just can’t seem to get off my mind… sometimes I think too far into things and sometimes, not enough. Sometimes I feel like I need to hear it, from God… to be still, for once.

Just be still. Be content. Everything will work out. Everything will be okay. It’s all going to be fine.

“BE STILL and know that I am GOD.”

Kristen. Do that. Right there. Be still and KNOW. Focus on what’s important, and be still.

Meet Zoe.

The newest member to our little family, little Zoe. She is the sweet little puppy that we have welcomed into our home {mostly on the screened-in porch but she is allowed inside, providing she is not destructive (; }. She showed up unexpectedly at one of our Elders’ house we are guessing a few days ago… at least three days? Anyway, you can see her ribs in that picture, and the poor thing just had bugs eating away at her.

We could tell from the first moment that she just needed someone to give her some lovin’s. She is so sweet and lovable. Of course, being a puppy, she is really energetic and a bit sneaky too, but over all she is just a big sweetheart who just wants to be loved. She’s intelligent, too, and catches on quickly.

Ain’t she precious? We are hoping that we will be a blessing to her and that she will be a blessing to us. Most who know me know that I have been wanting a puppy for … four years, ha! And we finally decided to give this sweet little girl a home. We’re still getting used to each other but we are looking on the bright side of things and enjoying the sweetie.

I’m sure you’re wondering how Mr. Benjamin is doing with the new puppy. Well, he spent the day with one of his favorite people, Mrs. Aneya as he calls her, and so when we got home tonight he was SURPRISED. Big time. He’s not too crazy about dogs who are smaller and more energetic, because when we lived with my parents, the only dog he knew was Bailey, who was old and lazy. So he spent most of the night screeching and trying to be as far away as he could possibly be, and his running meant “CHASE!” to Zoe. But by the end of the night, they were both calm{er} and Benjamin was even giving her toy rope to her. I am pretty sure that as soon as they get acclimated to each other, they will be thick as thieves!

O, To Be Like Thee

There is something, and I am sure that most if not all parents would agree, so very humbling about parenting that sometimes just takes my breath away. Especially lately. Benjamin will be three (yes, THREE!) in just a few short months. He’s at that stage where he is repeating everything we say and paying attention to every little detail. He’s always got those beautiful blue eyes peeled wide open, just soaking it all in. Absorbing it. It’s amazing because I believe so many people underestimate how much information these tiny little minds can store. It’s humbling because it reminds me just how careful we need to be, because one thing that this little person wants to do, is … well, everything. Everything he sees us do.

It reminds me of a hymn that we sometimes sing … “O, To Be Like Thee” – you know the one? It gets me thinking … Benjamin really looks up to us. He really wants to be like us as much as possible. He wants to do what we do. He wants to say what we say. He wants to eat what we eat (which is difficult if what we’re eating has eggs in it – yes, still working with that allergy). He wants to drink what we drink (unless it’s a soda, because he thinks those are ‘yucky’). You would think sometimes that he would just be thinking desperately, “O, to be like mommy” or “O, to be like daddy”.

You see, he puts a lot of effort into being like mommy or like daddy.

And we sing “O, to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art” … but do we always put that effort into it?

Me … well, I will be the first to tell anyone that I’m not perfect. I do my best – sometimes not even that and I’m ashamed to say it! But it’s true. I don’t always do my best. I could do more. I know I can do more.

Oh! to be like Thee, full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wand’ring sinner to find.

Loving … forgiving … tender and kind. Full of compassion. I can do better than what I’m doing now … certainly, I can.

So when Benjamin mimics me, he can also be mimicking Christ. Does that make sense? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if I could instill that in him … to put even more effort into being Christ-like when he’s older?

It starts with me, though.

Humbling, right? Sobering. My toes are all sorts of sore from treading on them this past week as I’ve been milling this thought around through my head, wondering why we sing such songs and never really take them to heart … Ouch, Kristen. It starts with me.

It starts with soaking up God’s word … and desiring to live Christ-like. O, to be like Him! I know I can do so much more than I have been. Y’all pray for me. I don’t always have my priorities in the right order.

Oh! to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

one more day

A ton of these Pink Spider Lillies just surprised me this week! I had no idea they were out there till I stepped outside… and it’s not like I never go out in the back yard! But there they were! Bright and beautiful like summer!

Gorgeous, right? They are a perfect farewell to Summer, because in case you didn’t know, in ONE DAY it will be officially Fall! Yes, you read that right! Fall! I cannot wait for the temperatures to reflect that! And I haven’t been here in Alabama long enough to know what that feels like here, but I think it’s starting to feel that way! Hello, lower 80’s! You are my BFF!

We have been enjoying the cooler temps by being outside much more often than during the summer.

Yeah, I think Ben likes it too! We love our little ventures outside! He all the time wants to go to the playground now. Now that the weather is cooler, I think we can start going more often!

That’s something even I can get excited about!

Wordless Wednesday: Home For Sale

desperate times call for desperate measures…

Sometimes, you just gotta do what you just gotta do. Even if it means washing your dishes in the utility sink.

Yup, we had pipe problems. Apparently pretty bad ones, from what it sounded like from the plumber. But thankfully, they’re all taken care of. At least the sinks are draining and not into the dishwasher, either.

Things are slowly getting back to normal. For those of you who don’t follow my every move on Facebook, we spent a week in Missouri where Hubby did his first out-of-state gospel meeting. It was amazing. I loved seeing everyone and meeting everyone. Seeing everyone meaning two very dear friends, Peyton and Kara!! Isn’t it so wonderful to have such an extensive Spiritual family where you pretty much have friends anywhere and everywhere, and if not, it’s so easy to make some new ones! I love it!

Anyway, after that, I had a week to prepare for our own Gospel Meeting and keeping the visiting preacher’s family! It was a blast! And I am sooo not just saying that, Amber! Even though we had four adults and three kids in the house, I really enjoyed it and I miss having the company here!

So yeah. Once they left we have plumbing problems, but I guess we should just be thankful we didn’t have the problems while they were here!

I’m still getting back into the swing of blogging, but this feels so much more natural here on my old friend. Thanks so much for your kind words, you guys! It feels good to be missed, even from this little corner of the world wide web which I claim as my own.

More to come soon, my lovelies!

A Little Note

Before I forget, I wanted to let you all know that if you are trying to link up to my blog via my domain, www.BringingupBenjamin.com, you're not going to find it. I chose not to renew the domain this time around. So switch up your links, please! http://bringingupbenjaminblog.blogspot.com - I know it's a mouthful, but it is what it is!

Thanks y'all!

We’re Back

After a long break from having Bringing Up Benjamin public, I have decided to bring it back. I’ve tried, as some of you know, to blog over at my other blog, but it never really felt right. It was like drinking sweet tea made with Splenda instead of the real deal. Just wrong.

So I’m going to attempt to get back into the swing of things! So much has happened since July, the last time I updated! We’ve done a lot of traveling, and we’ve had guests, and meetings, etc! It’s been busy around here!

But for now, I’ll just leave you with this – and hope that soon I’ll get my inspiration for blogging back. I’ve had ideas, but lost them … maybe they’ll come back to me!

Ahhh, it’s good to be back!

day eight without you

Dear Carl,

Today was a rather uneventful day. I did laundry. Benjamin “helped”.

He had a bubble bath in our  bathroom this time while I did the rest of the laundry. He seemed to have a lot of fun and he cried when I took him out.

Other than that, we had spaghetti tonight and it rained.

Anyway, that was our day! Not much to brag about. I hope your day was really good though. I miss you and love you!

Always,
Kristen

day seven without you

Dear Carl,

Well, we’ve made it a week. You’ve been away from me out of the country for the first time ever for an entire week and I am still alive. I’ve also gotten the trash out BOTH times this week. I know that has to impress you, but don’t think that’s going to be my newest chore when you get back. I find it gross.

Today was a really hard day. Benjamin woke up at six-something this morning and he was pitiful sick. I had to text Jessica to tell her just in case she didn’t want Gabe around him (in case it’s contagious). I think the Meyers ended up getting Gabe from daycare and I assume he is staying over there. I think Benjamin was running a slight fever by the end of the day, but he was still acting himself, just with more coughing, sneezing, and nose-runniness.

Today he did not take a nap, so instead he did this, and then I decided to take him to McDonald’s for dinner since I had been rather grumpy all day and felt pretty bad about it.

We spent an hour in McDonald’s… most of that being waiting on the food, go figure. But Benjamin enjoyed the visit and I think it was just good for us to spend that little bit of time together away from the house. He asked for you to come eat with us. He misses you.

Oh, by the way, I wanted to share a conversation I had with him today. I was just asking him what he wanted to be for Halloween (just curious as to what he would say… this was all during his bubble bath, btw), and he avoided the question and instead said that he was going to have a party! And I asked him who was going to be at his party and he said balloons. And then he said, “Mommy, Daddy, Blythe, and Jeremy!” And I asked him what kind of party it was going to be and he said, “Fireshow!” (Which means fireworks show) and then I asked what we would eat at his party and he said “… fireshow!” HA! Anyway, I just thought that was really cute. Can’t wait to have that party when y’all get back in the States.

Anyway, I am going to head off to bed (It’s 10:00 and I need the rest). I love you so much and I can’t wait for you to get back! Just a few more days!

 

OH – also. I just watched another amazing movie. Becoming Jane. Add that to my list of I NEED TO OWN THIS (alongside Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility).

 

Adoringly Yours,
Kristen

day six without you

Dear Carl,

Five more days! It’s the final countdown! Yes! I am excited with the prospect of seeing you in five days. It has been a long week so far. Tomorrow is Thursday… and you know that you left me Thursday night. I think it’s getting easier but it still isn’t easy. Benjamin misses you and he talks about you coming home and he says that you are here when he hears a car. But it won’t be too much longer.

Today I think I already told you but we went to Wal-Mart. We were out of Milk (regular and almond) and other things. I got some stuff for my Bible class. I also got that waterless shampoo I was looking at a while back because it has been so hard to get a shower in when I really want it. Guess what? It works pretty well! I think whoever invented that has to be a mom! ha!

Anyway when we got home I saw this in the flowerbed:

They are so beautiful! That cheered me right up. Kind of reminds me of a special wedding I once went to… I think you know the one! ;D

Benjamin napped again today! It’s probably just because I have been giving him allergy medicine because the poor thing is just miserable since we spent all that time in the grass on Monday. I am having a hard time getting him to not stretch the neck of his shirt out anymore…

Definitely not supposed to be that wide. Anyway when he woke up from his nap, he was really in an ill mood.

But he did end up cheering up after a while, mostly when we went to services. Oh, I forgot to tell you that now every time we get in the car he asks if we’re going to see the fireworks show. ha!

Anyway, that was our day. I cleaned the fridge out too. There were … a lot of leftovers. Like, reeeeeeeallllyyyyy left over. Yum.

I forgot to show you these pictures from yesterday so here they are:

He just loves his water bottles.

Going to the fireworks show.

Well, I miss you, and I love you, and I wish five days would just fly on by, don’t you?

Anxiously Waiting For You,
Kristen

days four and five without you

Dear Carl,

I meant to post last night but I got so caught up in that movie I was watching… and I decided I’d go ahead and talk about today since later on I believe Blythe and Aidan are coming over for pizza and a movie. Did I tell you her nephew came back from Florida with her? Well, he did. Benjamin enjoyed running around with him last night at the fire works.

Benjamin entertained us all by dancing (shaking his behind specifically) while people were doing karaoke not too far from us. He was going wild! It was really cute. I don’t know when he picked up that dance move but he’s got it down pat. Wish you could have seen it. Wish I had been able to get a video of it!

Anyway, I already told you about our experience with Benjamin being scared of the fireworks. Again, I wish you had been there. It was me, Ben, Blythe, Aidan, Elizabeth, Collin, Junior, Dixie, and Junior & Dixie’s parents, and then later on Brandon showed up with Gabe and we all sat together and watched the show. It was fun!

Today is hard for me because I’m remembering Papaw. He passed away four years ago today and I keep expecting it to be easier remembering him but I can’t help but to still be saddened. I guess it isn’t as hard as it once was, but it’s still hard and I wish that you were here with me. I really don’t like this holiday at all.

Well, Benjamin just had a big poop  in his underwear at the lunch table so I gave him a bath and sent him off to nap. He woke up a lot earlier than he usually does today for some reason. He also has a very runny nose today probably because we were sitting in the grass so much last night. Anyway I gave him some medicine so hopefully that’ll dry him up and also help him get some rest.

I hope your day is going well. I’m sorry I keep missing you on chat. I love you. Can’t wait till you get home.

Love you forever,
Kristen

day three without you

Dear Carl,

Three down, eight to go. I imagine that you’re going to be really, really busy starting tomorrow. I’ll be thinking about you and wondering how you’re doing and what all you will be doing! You’ll have to be sure to fill me in.

This morning, this is one of the first things I saw:

I thought of you so I went back to get my phone to take a picture so I could show you. He was out. I can’t remember exactly when he got up, but it must have been closer to 9 than anything. You never did tell me what time you ended up getting up this morning. Does your alarm clock work okay? Do you have three going off at once? hehe.

Today it was hot. It was 101 outside but weather.com (laugh it up, laugh it up) said it felt like 103 and I believed them! I wore new shoes today ($1 at Dirt Cheap, don’t worry) and they rubbed really bad on the backs of my feet so I wore bandaids for evening services. And of course when I was putting my bandaids on, Benjamin HAD to have a boo-boo band himself. I think he still has it on even now.

I know you are sad that you missed the birthday fellowship but really there were only a handful of us there. It was still good of course. I made lemon cake mix cookies, and I made them without eggs so Ben could eat them and would you believe he didn’t even like it? He took a bite and put it down and wanted nothing more of it. Well then! Next time I won’t bother skipping the eggs! Hmph!

I also made popcorn chicken and I brought that honey you bought because I loooove me some chicken and honey but I don’t think anyone used it. Oh well, their loss! I ALSO made lemonade. It was so funny because Haywood was asking about what I wanted to drink and I told him I made the lemonade and he smiled and I was like “yep, squeezed them lemons myself,” and he laughed, and then I was like “my arm is real tired from it!” and he was like “oh you are serious?! pour me some!” and he seemed impressed. ha!

Mr. Terry did the morning lesson, as I already told you, and Mr. Haywood did the evening one. The morning one was on Jeremiah 6 and the evening one was on Daniel 6. I’ve always liked Daniel!

Anyway, I’m just sitting here waiting around to see if you’ll pop on tonight or not. If you don’t, I’ll understand. You’re tired. I may go to Jessica’s tomorrow because she says they will have slip-n-slides and pools out. And I figure she could use a friend nearby. I’m referring to the message I sent on FB of course, I assume you received it by now if you’re reading this.

Well my dear, I love you desperately and I miss you almost as much! Eight more days! I think I can, I think I can!

Devotedly yours,
Kristen

day two without you

Dear Carl,

I am so happy that we were able to Skype tonight, and that you were able to put up a video on my wall! I missed you an extra lot today because we just had so much fun and I kept thinking “Carl would really enjoy this!” I know that Benjamin misses you a lot. Nana and Papaw have done good to occupy his mind but there are times when he asks about you.

Today we set up the pool just like I thought we would. Dad got these carpet pads from Dirt Cheap $1 a piece. He set those down on the floor of the screened-in porch and then we set the pool up. Of course the tricky part was finding a way to get a hose to reach. We ended up doing this:

My idea. Aren’t I brilliant? Impressed? I thought so. Anyway, that worked perfectly and we filled up the pool while Benjamin “napped” aka: tore up his bedspread… yeah, I meant to look at Dirt Cheap for a new one.

The pool is actually pretty big! I think we will have a good time in it this summer! Here are some more pictures:

(In case you missed my attractive face)

Benjamin isn’t afraid of Nana’s play doh snakes anymore either! Progress!

Anyway, for lunch we had KFC but we took it home. Ben had … you guessed it … PBJ. For dinner, we had hamburgers and french fries and corn on the cob and it was really good.

Besides going to Dirt Cheap and Wal-Mart and Dad turning left off of Walnut into on-coming traffic (well if traffic had been on-coming… I was like WHAT ARE YOU DOING), there really wasn’t much to our day! Just a simple Saturday. It rained a little bit, but not much.

I miss you. I’m real lonely about now without you. I wish you would come back tomorrow but I know what you are doing is really important and I am proud of you!

I love you!

Yours Affectionately, and always,
Kristen