Prayer Please

Please pray for our families in Lake Charles, Louisiana as they may have to endure another hurricane tomorrow. Specifically for the home, business & lake house of my parents, Jude and Melissa and the home and buisness of my in-laws: Pat & Travis and sister in law Angela's house. My sister Kari is going to be riding out this storm in Baton Rouge Louisiana - please pray for her safety as well as the safety of her boyfriend, Kevin. My mother and father in law are here with us in South Carolina - but my parents and brother will be in Toledo Bend (which is still in an area going to be hit with some bad weather). It seems that everyone just got things back together from hurricane Rita that hit almost exactly 3 years ago. I am praying for no damage and all the property to have a hedge of protection around it. We all know that our Lord gives and he takes away and all is ultimately His... we are just asking for Him to have mercy on our families - Please join me in praying for them today and tomorrow. Thank you so much - Luv, Christa

Happy Anniversary Charles!

(engagement picture^)

Thank you, Charles for a wonderful 4 years together... I couldn't ask for a better husband & provider. We've had a jam packed 4 years with 3 moves and now 2 babies, but you've shown your love and support through it all. I appreicate how hard you work so that I am able to stay at home with Audrey - it truly means the world to me that you allow and encourage me to be do that. I see you constantly in God's word seeking wisdom for your career and our family - which drives me to be a better Christian, wife and mother... I will continue to love, honor and respect you for as many years as God will gift me on this Earth.

Dream come true

4 years ago when Charles and I got married, I really wanted a pink stand mixer - and I justified the extra $50 for the the pink {breast cancer support} with the dream of baking with a daughter someday.. - I surely didn't know way back then that my mother would have been diagnosed with breast cancer just shy of 2 years later - So today we honored mom with the breast cancer pink mixer and my dream of baking with a daughter actually came true.. Audrey has been such a little helper in the kitchen lately - I thought she'd really have fun with this.. measuring and pouring - and of course tasting the batter.. I caught her fingers in the batter quite a few times.. {what can i say, she's my daughter!} We had lots of fun and our cookies came out delicious..
Many of you know that my mom is doing fantastic and all glory to God she is cancer-free...

Love you mom!

“But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,” declares the LORD, Jeremiah 30:17

Potty Training Update

This girl was ready.. she has done really well! We ony had 1 accident yesterday and the day before.. and today so far - None! :) She's not even requiring treats/stickers each time... we're so proud of her success! What a big girl!

reading one of her favorites.. "Freckleface Strawberry"

We are getting lots of reading time in since she spends time on the potty..

not as much as earlier though.. she's pretty quick now..
Audrey's sporting her big girl panties.. or "paneys" as she says.. This is what she is wearing all day.. no clothes.. just "paneys"
Notice the golf set her daddy got while I was out of town! she is hilarious swinging those pink clubs around... she loves her golf clubs.. Like father, Like daughter

Flight-Mare

After a great weekend away with some girlfriends - I had a whole lotta trouble trying to get home.. I wanted to share my flight mare experience with ya..

Sunday: arrived in Baton Rouge at 2:00 had a wonderful late lunch with my family at the Chimes.. and old college favorite, saw cousin's dorm room (cute!) and my sister's new house (so nice!) and off to the airport to be there for 4:15 - rainy bad weather.

Flight was supposed to leave at 5:10 but when I arrive at the gate I notice there is a delay. Not leaving now until 5:45 {puts a crunch on my connection (30 minutes to get across the Atlanta airport and make the flight before departure) - but it is possible}

Board the plane in Baton Rouge at 5:45, flight attendant is interrupted by the pilot's announcement: "All Atlanta fights have been grounded because of weather. hang tight - sit on the plane and wait for another update in 45 minutes." Connection is totally impossible -so, start calling people to reserve a rental car (thanks mom!)... my only hope to get home tonight is to drive to Greenville from Atlanta (2.5 hours).

45 minutes is up - pilot gives us the update: still aren't leaving, you might as well get off the plane and get comfortable. Gift shop is starting to close - run in to look at dinner options.. gummy bears and chips sounded gross - browse for 10 minutes and leave empty handed.

8:15 p.m. Go back to the gate - ticketing agent says get back on the plane - we're leaving. YES! plane is freezing, grab a blanket and a cup of coffee and a bag of peanuts for dinner. yum.

Land in Atlanta at 10:20 p.m. heading for the rental car - notice a flight about to leave for Charlotte, NC (only 1 hr & 20 minute drive). Get on the train. Go to concourse A - people everywhere - everyone is stranded (glad it isn't just me). Wait in line. Everyone quickly walks past me - gate changed. Wait in line again.

Flight is too full (10:35 p.m.) Start heading to ground transportation. Can barely get through the crowds - skip the train - too crowded.. walking the whole way. Get to the rental car counter. long lines... use kiosk instead. $200 later, I am a proud renter of a Chevy Malibu.

Go flag down the shuttle bus - he started to leave. drizzling rain. Get to the car 11:00 - wait in line to check out of the rental car gate - 15 minutes. Finally I'm off. Rain is getting heavier... can't see much, trying to adjust mirrors and get windshield wipers to function properly. Found signs pointing to 85 {that's the way home}.

Raining even harder - trying to maneuver in traffic, skinny - narrow lanes, 6 lanes across going north and 6 lanes across going south... roads are PACKED. thinking "what are all these people doing this late on a Sunday night?!" It is now pouring down - can't see much in front of me - hazard lights on, going slow, knuckles are white, eyes are blurred with tears, jaw is clenched - praying constantly for protection.

12:30ish out run the rain - going fast, too fast trying to make up for lost time. Getting tired - crank up radio & chew gum to stay awake - praising God for getting me thru the traffic & weather alive. No one is on the roads - very dark.

1:20 get home.. (made it in 2 hours.. i drove too fast) open our garage door walk in the door to a big sign, "Welcome home, Mom!"

it was all worth it. asleep by 2:00a.m.

He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. Isaiah 40:29

Giving it a "Go"

Ready or not here we go...
She's ready - I'm kinda not. I was in no hurry for this only because it just seems like such a daunting task... "potty training." Scary, confusing, which method, which potty, rewards, charts... frightening. I have read no books, no online tutorials - just going with the "flow" (ha ha!) On Monday Audrey told me to change her diaper b/c she was wet. Then she wanted her "big girl panties" on. Now she only wants to wear her big girl panties - all the time... She's been consistent with doing #2 on the potty, but has never been interested in #1 until now. She has been doing pretty good today- 4 successes and only 1 accident! I ask her about once an hour to go - but a couple of times she has just pulled those panties off herself and gone to sit on the potty.. wow. It is only 12:30 so we'll see how the rest of the day goes. It has got to be the worst possible timing though - I'm leaving town for the weekend on Friday morning early. I'm really hoping that Charles will give this the time and attention it needs in the early stages.. {sigh} Then the next weekend my in-laws are coming to babysit over the weekend - who wants that job?! ... I wanted to wait another two weeks for this but didn't want to miss a good window of opportunity either, so here we are!

Shoe Freak

Anyone who spends more than five minutes with Audrey quickly learns Audrey's love for shoes... She typically will take them right off of your feet, try them on and not give them back for a very long time.. She didn't get this one from me - {don't get me wrong, I appreciate and enjoy a good pair of shoes, but don't HAVE to have a million pairs to be content} This one is handed down from my grandmother "Mimi" and my sister, Kari also shares this gene. Since people know how much Audrey enjoys her shoes - we've collected many throughout this last year. 9 pairs to be exact - {i found an extra pair after taking this picture} - they are everywhere.. all over the house.. including my shoes that she takes out of the closet and wears them downstairs for me to find them sprinkled and scattered around. Here is what I had to do to keep some order to this shoe maddness :)
I think 2 is way too young to own a shoe organizer.. but honestly between her playshoes and normal shoes she could fill this sucker up with out any trouble.. geez - what will the teenage years have in store for us??! :) ha!

Don't be Jealous

Our weather here has been unreal this week..

this is today's forecast...

Weather for Greenville, S Carolina

71°F Current:MostlyCloudy

Wind: S at 0 mph

Humidity: 77%

**okay, since i posted this at 12:00 it has warmed up a bit - but we still aren't even to 80 degrees yet - I've had Christmases hotter than this! I cannot believe it is really August... but I have to say~ I am enjoying it!

Two Great Finds

the "Wallies" came in - they are chalkboard sticker thingamajigs that I think are so fun.. They came two to a package and the other one is up in audrey's play room. You can also cut them to fit smaller spaces..

Ambidextrous ?

I found these fun fall shoes today at Shoe Carnival for a STEAL.. they had buy one get one half off... and since audrey needed some cute t-strap keds for the fall, I got these! They are originally $40, on sale for $24 and since I got them 1/2 off.. yes ma'am..
only $12 dollars!!! fyi.. that is a shadow under the toe of the shoes.. not super platforms.. just a shadow ;)
if you like them and need help finding them..
back right hand corner of the store in a red box, the brand is victoria spenser

She's 2

Happy 2nd Birthday Audrey! We love you...

She has brought us so much joy over these last two years.. enjoy the slideshow as you will see how she's grown and changed throughout her life~

Get to Know Audrey... she: thrives on a routine, needs to go to bed early, can be sensitive, hates to be alone, enjoys getting everyone involved in what she's doing, has a red-headed temper, talks well, excellent eater, loves avacados and any type of berry or fruit, hates brushing her teeth, enjoys her bathtime, gets excited when I paint her toenails, is territorial over her toys, desires to be independent, has a creative imagination, has a blast in her play kitchen, loves all things musical, loves being a helper and hates olives.

today's devotional

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Whoever heard of a child who was never disciplined? Hebrews 12:7

Divine discipline--what does it mean? It means that God is faithfully molding you into the image of his Son. He is showing you who he is--and how much he loves you.

5 1/2 minutes

my friend, jennie sent this video to me today and i thought it was too cool not too share.. {keep in mind that they are doing all of this with only white gloves and a black light... super creative!} enjoy! p.s. turn my blog music off first

(scroll all the way to the bottom and hit the pause button)