for Nanna...

Saying you will be missed is just not enough. Your life meant so much to so many. Our Alvie being only two years old will sadly probably not remember much about her Nanna, but there are amazing qualities that I vow on this day to forever share with her about you.

The first will be your passion to help in any circumstance. No matter how crazy life was or how busy your day had gotten if we called you for help you would drop whatever you were doing to run to our side. Your first response was always, "what can I do?". You were a server of others and that is a trait I pray will resonate deep in the heart of our Alvie.

Alvie will know the quirky things that made you, you. Such as, your choice of wool socks with Birkenstocks or clogs, your wearing of only one earring most days, your old baseball caps, your love of rooting flowers, your choice of only BRIGHT red polish for your nails and how your window seal above your kitchen sink was the place of choice for some of your most prized pieces of jewelry. Most of all I will work hard to nurture in Alvie, as you possessed, the absolutely appropriate amount of self-confidence that went along with all those quirks. You were a women who knew she had funny parts of her personality and who knew it was completely OK, because that was how God made you. I pray Alvie will always know, whatever her quirks end up being, that she is beautiful because that is how her creator made her.

The last, but certainly not least, will be your hardworking spirit. I have heard you say many times, "there are not many who can out work me...". I believe this statement to be very true about you and her Daddy. Your son is one of the most hardworking individuals I have ever met. He never tires, or at least he doesn't show it. I know, as well as Seth, this trait was instilled in him by you, from an early age. Hopefully with God's help we can pass the importance of working hard on to Alvie.

We love you Nanna! You were an amazing women who lived a lovely life and helped so many. May you be dancing with the angles and eating with the saints! Have peace in knowing your memory will live forever in our hearts and your many beautiful qualities will be passed down through your children and grandchildren.

Missing you on this day and forever more!

"Dolly's House" most other people would know it as Dollywood...

We had a fabulous time. We spent most of the day in the State Fair section of the park going on the same 4 or 5 rides over and over again. All day we heard, "Go faster Mama, go again Mama, Go higher Daddy...". I think we have an adventurous dare devil in our midst. I love it! If there is one think we pray consistently for, is that our daughter will not have a sense of fear about anything, and that she knows that God is with her in everything.

Her first trip to Dolly's House was exciting and I am sure there will be lots more. Things to remember would include, winning our first pink Lady Vol basketball (here we come Pat...), Alvie riding her first roller coaster (Bob and Larry), loving the homemade donuts/fresh orange juice at our new cozy motor lodge, Alvie saying many times, "this was a fun day Mom...and a sneaky little laugh afterwards", riding our first chucka choo choo train, and just the fun of having a child to take to a theme park.

A little bit of snow never hurt anyone...right?

I have not blogged about the overwhelming sickness that took over our little sweet Alvie's body last week, but I will try to fill you in now. I would like to first say, God is good and HIS mercies are everlasting. We called on HIM many times during this ordeal and HE was always faithful to provide for all our needs and most importantly heal our little girls body. Alvie was hospitalized last week for Pneumonia (both lungs and double ear infections). Praise HIM for she is home and MUCH better now.

She started out on a Sunday afternoon with a stomach virus that took over her body for about three days, throwing up/diarrhea. Then the persistent cough arrived on that next Thursday (only 24 hours of not loosing her cookies, before the next sickness hit). We went to the Peds. office on Friday morning and she was hospitalized the next Monday for two nights. So, just in case you don't want to do the math, that is ELEVEN days of being very sick and more importantly (to me at least), not taking in any food during those ELEVEN days. Her little system was completely depleted when we arrive at the Pediatricians office that Monday morning (after calling the call service twice over the weekend :-0). She was pitiful, but oh how God gave her strength to endure all the pokes and procedures that her little body took that Monday, before she finally got all hooked up to the meds and oxygen. Thank you Jesus for settling in that room with us and carrying her when we could not.

While in the hospital, it snowed! Then we got home on that Wednesday afternoon and the next Friday we got the biggest snow we have seen in several years. It was beautiful! My only disappointment was that Alvie wasn't quiet in "snow sledding condition", due to being 2 days post hospital. We viewed the beauty from the windows and then yes, we broke down on that Sunday and let her get a taste of the action. Literally of course.... you have to taste the snow many times when you are two years old (or 32). Although Mama was not 100% sure about having a fresh out of the hospital baby out in the snow, Daddy very quickly reminded me, "A little snow never hurt anybody...right?"

Ramalamahamjam....

This is the word my husband so kindly interrupts my rambling with sometimes. It is his way of saying, "just get to the point, or stop rationalizing and tell me what is going on". He says it so sarcastically and in such a funny voice that it makes me laugh every time. I thought I would use this Seth created word to theme this post, as I plan to jump around and ramble a bit.

O.k. let's see...the month of December was fast and in a hurry. It is the 8th of January and I am still looking back to see where it all went. Let me recap a bit...we did our normal 4 Christmas', the joy of having two sets of divorced parents. We visited Santa Clause twice. We did hot chocolate in the car and searching for Christmas lights on houses many times. We did Jesus' Birthday, singing and celebrating enough that now every time I say, "Angels said...", Alvie says "Jesus is born". She may grow up thinking that is the only thing the angels ever said :-) We did several Christmas parties and paid baby sitting fees way too many times for one month. We did cookies by the tree a few times, which is a tradition we stole from our friends the Bass'. Seth and I celebrated our 9th anniversary (Dec.18th) and enjoyed a night away from the Boro (Hot Atlanta!).

We rung in the New Year here at home and made some family resolutions for 2010 and recapped God's blessings for 2009. We continued our New Year's tradition of planning and brainstorming about our travel adventures for the upcoming year. That brings me to today, the 8th, two days before Seth's birthday (34). We are going out with friends tonight and yes, paying another baby sitter. He has had what he says, "may be the best year yet", which I have to laugh because he is truly an eternal optimist and says that every year.

O.K. I am back...it is now Jan 16th and I hope to finish this today, so as not to have to keep rambling through my thoughts. I think I will just finish up with what God is doing in each of our lives at this moment.

Our church (WOC) is opening our new sanctuary this weekend and we are anticipating what God is going to do in this beautiful new building. It is going to be such a wonderful tool to minister to so many. My largest God event, to date for this year, other than our health, is that my brother who I have prayed for many years would get reconnected with the Lord and involved in a church, has made a step toward that by attending our family church back home (this will be the 3rd Sunday in a row). This all came about after a wonderful conversation, which was truly spirit led, that we had during Christmas Break. Praise God and how He works to bring people/thoughts together at just the right moment. Seth and I have so many goals (spiritual, domestic, professional), for this year that we rotate prayers for them all. Mostly just praying we are in His Will with all we do and He would continue to protect us from things we can't even see.

As for Alvie Rose, she will be two in just a few weeks and we can really tell it:-) She is really testing our authority and stretching our patience lately. Her most popular reply in this stage is, "why Momma" and "no, don't want to". The problem is she is so stinking cute that it makes parenting very difficult, just keeping the consistency. I am sure most of you are laughing at that statement, in a few years I am sure I will too.

Alvie LOVES preschool and she loves her teachers, Mrs. Roxanne and Mrs. Judy, or as Alvie says, " Mrs. Juuuudy, Juuuuudy, Juuuuudy". Yes, that is how Goober says in the Andy Griffith show, one of our families favorite shows. She is very verbal and hears everything that is said around her. Her sense of humor is amazing. She is genuinely a funny child and she makes us laugh multiple times throughout each day. As I mentioned she is almost two and it looks as if she is going to be close to 38 inches tall. So, if the old saying is true about doubling her height at two years old, she will be as tall as her Mommy - 6'4". I must admit I was hoping for a bit shorter, only because of one reason, shopping for a 6'4" girl is very difficult, but not impossible. Maybe I will learn to sew and just sew her clothes. What? Sorry, had a brain miss for a second.

I will conclude with our recent family prayer requests and praises...

Most recently (the last week) Haiti (devastating earthquake)

The orphans in Africa, especially our three kiddos - Grace, Topsi, and Henry

Walking closer to our Lord Jesus Christ and hearing/feeling the Holy Spirit when it directs our path. Calling out to Him and His Spirit to continue to direct us and teach us to be more faithful followers.

Praising Him for our city we live in, our church, our jobs during this economic down time, our health, and mostly for our wonderful friends/family.

Until next time...Weathersby Mom Signing Out