It has been a while....

My new year resolution is to capture of some of who I am for my children. This will consist of photo albums, journaling, and blogging. I am a lover of blogs and read them quite regularly. My favorites are "Forgiven and Saved" and "Snippets" both by friends from college and Big Mama and Boo Mama, not my friends but I would sure like them to be! On the friend blogs I love that photos are shared much like Facebook but you get a different element of what experiences mean to my friends as mothers, women and wives.

I am embarking on a new journey this year as I have had our last child and now must face the work world. I have stayed home with each of my children for the first two years of life before returning to work. It feels different now, though, due to the fact that there will be no more two year hiatuses during my earthly life. I must now devote myself to not only children, husband, home, church, pet but career as well. I don't mean to make it seem like Chris is holding a gun to my head to return to work. In fact he doesn't offer much to that conversation at all. He loves me being home and "doting" on him! Returning to work will be a change for us all, especially baby girl who has had me all to herself for her whole life.

Even with 8 more months of staying home I am nervous. What if I don't find my "dream" job? What if Celia gets kicked out of daycare for biting? What if our family has difficulty making it work? I guess this is the time to "let go and let God". God will lead me down the right path. I just have to keep my trust in Him.

These babies are worth every second I get to spend with them...

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Two Stories

I have two precious stories to share from our busy week:

Mondays are always crazy at our house (and I am sure at your house too!). We all disperse to work, school and daycare only to return home that evening totally spent! This Monday was a little different because Ava had Entertainment Night practice followed by Gymnastics class. (Thanks to a great friend, I was able to release my running around for these two activities. Ava was delivered home safe and sound at 4:30.)

I had worked a long day at Homewood Alternative School only to pick up Griffin at school with a yucky ear. (Sidebar: Ava and Griffin decided to play "doctor" on Sunday and Ava stuck a Q-tip in his ear. He screamed quite loudly and we immediately checked it out. Nothing was bleeding and after he calmed down, he said he wanted to keep playing. Needless to say, Q-tips have been put on the "no" list!) Because of this occurrence and the now yucky ear, I decided to hit the pediatrician. We got in and got out fairly easy with only a minor ear infection which was the cause of the great pain when she got too close.

I know I am being way too detailed but hang in there- it gets better.

So on those days when Mommy is weary and kids are not, we usually end up at our neighbor's (Miss Betty) home for the kids to play. Miss Betty keeps her grandson while his mom works so Griffin has loved all the time he can play with Ben (also age 3). Other neighbor kids end up at Miss Betty's also because of her candy drawer which is quite large, always stocked and on the lowest level of cabinets!

During our play time at Miss Betty's on Monday there were 5 adults (Betty, me, Jamie (another neighbor), Andy (her son) and David (her husband) and 6 kids (my two, Jamie's two, Ben, and Maddie (another neighbor). At this point, I really needed some relief and quiet!

Betty's husband is in a band and has the basement set up for rehearsals. He has a "real" microphone on the stand and a huge amp. The girls migrated to the microphone for some rock star time. To say it was loud is an understatement! Maddie got up and sang a Hannah Montana rock song, Kathleen did a song from school and then it was Miss Ava's turn at the 'phone.

Miss Betty, Jamie and I were in the kitchen talking about her home improvements to her kitchen when we were blasted with this song:

"JESUS, LAMB OF GOD..... WORTHY IS YOUR NAME-AMMMM.......JESUS, LAMB OF GOD.....WORTHY IS YOUR NAME"

I have to say it ranked right up there with one the sweetest moments with Ava for me. Miss Betty is cracking up and says "I know what that one listens to in the car!" Score for Mommy! It was wonderful and just want I needed to remind me on a busy, tiring day what really matters in my life....

http://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-Lamb-of-God.html

Story 2: much shorter, I promise!

As we were leaving Entertainment night practice yesterday, there was the most beautiful sunset. It was pink and purple and swirly and just delightful! We were pulling on the Interstate and I mentioned to the kids (and friend with us) how beautiful the sky was during the sunset today. Ava and Victoria immediately ohhhed and ahhed. Griffin asked, "who made the sunset Mommy?" I said "God made the sunset and gave us this beauty to end our day with a reminder of Him." He was quiet for a second and sweetly said, "I want to give God a hug."

PRECIOUS!! Out of the mouths of babes....

Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Where has January gone?

Hello strangers! I know that I have about 2 people actually reading this blog so I know I have not disappointed masses of people but still.....I miss writing. When you love to write and express your feelings through words, it doesn't matter if others ever read what you wrote, you simply wrote because you love it. My mother was an English major in college and taught high school English but I never let her "proof" my papers before I submitted them. I have always been independent. Anyway, I have chased that rabbit long enough...

We have been so busy since school returned. I have been working everyday and really regret the decision to do it. I thought that it would be good for me to get some more hours but I have just turned into a crazy woman :( Oh well.... I will stick it out until the end of the school year and re-evaluate at that time.

Other than school, Ava has been busy with practicing for Entertainment Night at school and starting gymnastics. She is still doing piano and added a theory class this semester. She also got the opportunity to cheer at a Briarwood girls basketball game with her holiday cheer class group. Now before you say "poor Ava, so overscheduled"- let me explain. Entertainment Night has been alot of extra time but it is over this week when they do their performance. Cheering is over. Gymnastics is big for us because she does it for an hour weekly but piano is so low-key (and one on one with her teacher) that I don't consider that a big "activity" for her. Here is a photo from her cheering:

Griffin has been great! No activities for him yet but I am really excited that he will get to do soccer in March. I think he will be precious!

We took the kids bowling for the first time last week. It was a hoot! Chris and I were nervous wrecks because we were worried they would go past the "line" and slip on the waxy floor! Ava did great but Griffin soon lost interest. He just wanted his Icee :)

On another note, our calendar is filling up for the Spring and Summer! I love to travel and it seems that every year we get to do the majority of travel in these seasons. As a family we will travel to the beach, the lake and Disney in April. I have a girls trip with college girlfriends to the beach and another girls trip with Chris' aunts and cousin to New York in May. Fun! Chris has a canoe float planned with some friends for the spring. Busy, busy!

Take care ya'll and I promise that I will update the blog more than once a month :)

Happy 3rd Birthday Griffin!!

My sweet boy is 3.....

where does the time go?

Devotion: What God's Care Is Like

From Ava's Little Visits with God devotional:

Long ago Moses wrote, "Underneath are the everlasting arms." What do you think he meant?

Was he thinking of a boy jumping from a chair into his mother's arms? God's care is like a mother's arms.

Was he thinking of a girl whose father carried her over some water? God's care is like a father's arms.

Was he thinking of an eagle? The mother eagle flies under her young eagles while they are learning to fly. If they fall, the mother eagle catches them on her back and flies them safely back to the nest.

The everlasting arms under us are God's arms. We can't see God's arms, but God tells us that nothing bad can happen to His children because "underneath are the everlasting arms."

God's arms are everlasting- they never get tired, they're never too weak to help us, and they're always under us.

Smores anyone?

We had some good friends over last week to make smores at the campfire Chris built in the backyard. (Note: we had to have some trees cut to save our play set in the backyard from being destroyed- now we have enough wood to burn a campfire for 50 years! Chris did say that splitting the wood was very "therapeutic" for him- where did he get that word? HA)

My Christmas Angels :)

Griffin's 3rd Birthday Party

Griffin will not be 3 until December 27 but we decided to have his party the first weekend of December so that he would have a special time before Christmas. We hosted a few friends at Chuck E Cheese yesterday for his party. Our friends are the BEST because several gave up watching the SEC kickoff to come celebrate Griffin!

He had a great time playing games and opening his presents. The thing he was most excited about was his cake as he picked the football theme :)

1st Grade Christmas Program

Briarwood 1st graders had their annual Christmas program on Friday. Ava was an angel in this year's production. She was so beautiful! (I know that I am biased!!) Ava just loves the whole process of working on the program. I know that she would have been a terrific understudy to anyone as she knew all the parts from memory. At home, she would recite almost the whole script! She has a sharp mind and seems to have a keen memory. I am so glad she got those qualities from her daddy! Here is my little angel:

Piano Recital

Ava was so wonderful in her very first piano recital today. She played Jingle Bells from memory and was very poise on the stage of the Brock Recital Hall at Samford University. Her teacher, Dr. Melodie King, has done an excellent job of teaching Ava the piano these past four months. We are thrilled for her to be learning this valuable skill for the future

Time with Family

I am so thankful and greatful for my little family this year. We have had many struggles this year but have come out better than ever!

Our precious little ones...

Grammy and Poppa have had their "quiver-full" this year with the blessed birth of Elijah Clay Tinney! He brought their number up to a whopping 7 grands!!

A Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Lord, so often times, as any other day

When we sit down to our meal and pray

We hurry along and make fast the blessing

Thanks, amen.

Now please pass the dressing

We're slaves to the olfactory overload

We must rush our prayer before the food gets cold

But Lord, I'd like to take a few minute more

To really give thanks to what I'm thankful for

For my family, my health, a nice soft bed

My friends, my freedom, a roof over my head

I'm thankful right now to be surrounded by those

Whose lives touch me more than they'll ever possibly know

Thankful Lord, that You've blessed me beyond measure

Thankful that in my heart lives life's greatest treasure

That You, dear Jesus, reside in that place

And I'm ever so grateful for Your unending grace

So please, heavenly Father, bless this food

You've provided And bless each and every person invited

Amen!

--Scott Wesemann

Breakfast with Santa

We went to the annual "Breakfast with Santa" event that Jr. League hosts every year. This year it was renamed to "Snacks with Santa" which is more appropriate since 95% of the food there is 100% sugar! At least the kids get to see Santa and tell him what they want, eat a bunch of junk before lunchtime and wear their Christmas finery :) Fun times with the Albrights!!

Grayson at Samford Homecoming

Me and the G-man hit Samford Homecoming last weekend for some football fun! Before the game, I gave Grayson the "nickel" tour of all my old stomping grounds around campus. We immediately hit the bookstore for Grayson to purchase a Samford shirt and cap. He was so pumped that they carried the Under Armor brand! Then we cruised by the food court (one of my favorite places back in the day) for Icees. We walked around the Quad and listened to a band play in front of the Student Services building. Vail (my freshman dorm) was just up the hill so I convinced Grayson to go up there so I could show him my old window and where I used to park. He was really anxious to get to the game at this point!

While we were waiting for them to open the football stadium gates, we peaked in the awesome Divinity School Chapel. It is incredible with a painted ceiling and very ornate furnishings. I made Grayson stand at the pulpit because I know that Poppa prays that he is a Pastor one day! As I took this photo, I told him that one day he may preach from this pulpit! We shall see...

Grayson's 3rd grade teacher at Brook Hill, Mrs. Alexander, has a son, Wes, that plays football for the Bulldogs. She was excited to have Grayson at the game and even brought a jersey of Wes's for Grayson to try on.

The highlight of Grayson's day came after the game when he got to meet Wes in person and have him sign his cap. I wish everyone (especially his mom and dad) could have seen Grayson's face when Wes gave him his actual game gloves. It was so precious! Pure joy! Wes was so kind to Grayson and wrote the Bible reference for Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Trick or Treat!

We had a busy but fun-filled Halloween night around the Albright home! Our morning was slow because Ava's last football/cheerleader game was called due to the rain. Let me tell you- we needed it! I feel like we have been rushing so much lately and I needed some "down" time. Our church's fall festival was from 2 to 4 and the kids always love that.

After we had done all our damage there, we headed to the Bloom's house in Mt. Brook. Their neighborhood has a parade with the kids for two blocks and then everyone enjoys a hot dog supper in the street. Martin and Kathy had some Boston Butt sandwiches and grilled shrimp for us. It was so yummy and they were such kind hosts for us. The kids loved passing out candy at their house!

Running over to Lake Cyrus was the next item on our busy night agenda. Thomas and Laurie hosted us and some other friends for the trailer ride around the neighborhood to load up on more candy. Griffin and Ava loved the stopping and running up to the doors with their friends!