Easter

This day had so much more meaning for me this year. 

With Nora in heaven I constantly think of heaven more, much more than I ever did before. 

And I think about Jesus and what he did for us.  That he died so that we could live.  So that we could live in heaven one day.  So that Nora could live in Heaven with him.  And the great thing is that Jesus didn't just die.  That's not the end.   Because if it is then we wouldn't have any hope.  But he rose from the dead.  And that's amazing.  AMAZING.  It's even more amazing  and even more meaningful to me now.  Jesus conquered death for us.  He conquered death for Nora.  And I'm so thankful.  So thankful that he loved us so much.  That he continues to love us even now.  That he hasn't forsaken us or forgotten us.

I had this vision during worship at church yesterday.  Just a thought really about Nora and her telling me "I'm OK here mama"  "I'm happy"  "I'm with Jesus and I'm loving it"  and I cried while singing Behold our God seated on His throne.   She's experiencing that right now, every day.  She is growing up in the kingdom of Heaven.  And that must be great.  Much greater than growing up on this broken earth that I so badly wished and wanted for her and for us.    Oh how I wish I could hold her.  Oh how I anxiously await for our reunion in Heaven.  How great it will be.


Cole has been talking about Nora a lot lately.  He wants to touch our baby he says.  He likes to tell me that she was sick and that she's all better now that she's in heaven.  Such sweet truths he is learning at such a young age. 

in pj's at the cemetery.  That's just how we roll some days ;)

Happy Birthday - Late!

a long time ago it was Cole's 3rd birthday :)

Here are the pictures from our fun filled super long wonderful day of celebrating our wonderful 3 year old!

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Happy green day from this cute guy! 

He's trying to show you his green cookie! 

Am I that cool, creative, crafty mom who makes St. Patricks Day treats for/with her kid to celebrate the day?? 

No. 

Did I make cookies because I had a craving and had all the ingredients in the pantry. 

Yes. 

Did I throw some green sprinkles I found in the cabinet on top last minute? 

Yes. 

So Happy St. Pattys Day from this spur of the moment, not creative, sometimes fun (or I like to think so) mom.  

Disney Part 2

Here are the rest of the pictures (I did narrow them down a bit) from our fabulous Disney vacation back in January. 

We spent the next morning at Animal Kingdom.  It was a beautiful day and the warmest one of our days in Florida.
Animal kingdom is like a big zoo.  We definitely didn't spend enough time there to see everything but did some highlights!

We went on a safari ride!  Cole loves animals so this was fun for us.  

 

We enjoyed walking around and meeting some more characters while the guys went to ride the roller coaster Everest.   They said it was awesome.  Ray took me back to ride it and the ride broke while we were in line so I didn't get to experience the awesomeness.  BUT once it broke I wasn't about to get on it anyway :) 

We are awesome little kid ride riders don't you think!? I promise the kids were in there even though you can't see them!

Cole got a safari Mickey doll.  

loves it. 

We headed back to the hotel for lunch and a swim in the pool.  

Cole was so happy to be swimming in January!

He even joined in a hula hoop contest!

We spent a calm evening at Epcot where we ate dinner a the Nemo and Friends aquarium restaurant. 

There are not many kid friendly things to do but Cole did enjoy the boat ride in Mexico and the Nemo ride.  It was a calm evening and everyone was tired so the kids just chilled as we walked them around in the strollers. 

I do have to say as a kid I hated going to Epcot.  So. Boring. Right?!  It's much more fun now that we are adults, so now I see why my parents would make us go.   

Our last full day at Disney we went to Hollywood Studios.  

We got front row seats to the Disney Jr. show.  

Lillian and Cole had a blast seeing Mickey, donald, Sofia, Doc, & Jake.  

Success.

 We met Lightening McQueen and Mater!

We played on the Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground and then had lunch at Hollywood & Vine.  

Great buffet lunch with all the Disney Jr. Characters.  

We met Oso, Jake, Handy Manny and more.  We got to dance with them and sing with them. 

We spent the last evening (and it was a cold one) bundled up at Magic Kingdom.  

It was a great family vacation and I can't wait to go back.  

breakfast burritos for the freezer

Ray has been saying for months that he would love some breakfast somethings in the freezer that he could just grab on work mornings.  He goes to work so early.  So early that I am not out of the bed yet. Most of the time I do not even recall him getting up, getting ready and leaving for work. 

So tonight as I was searching for what to make for dinner  I decided to whip some up to stick in the freezer (and eat a couple for dinner). 

Here's what you need:

1 lb ground sausage
11-12 eggs
1 green pepper
1 onion
salsa
cheese
corn chips
10 tortillas


1.  Brown the sausage and set it aside.
2. Dice up the peppers (i used red and green) and onion and throw them in the pan to cook for a few minutes
3. Crack the eggs into a separate bowl and whip with a fork.  Then pour in the skillet with the veggies and scramble them up.
4. Fill the tortillas with a little bit of sausage and a little bit of egg/veggie mixture.  Top with cheese and salsa.  Put a handful of crumbled corn chips on top and wrap up the tortilla.

* I found that putting the tortillas in the microwave for a few seconds made it easier to wrap them up. * 

Wrap each one in saran wrap and then foil.  Pop them in a freezer bad and put them in the freezer. 

Take out what you need, unwrap and pop in the microwave for 2 minutes.

Ray is excited to have some food to grab for breakfast as he walks out the door at 6:30 every morning. 

6 months.

It's been 6 months since this beautiful girl graced us with her presence for a few hours on this earth. 

It feels like a thousand years ago.  It feels like yesterday.  

It hurts. It's painful.  It's sad. It's beautiful. 

  It feels hard.  It feels terrible.  It feels normal. 

I am full of grief.  I am full of sorrow.  I am full of peace.  I am full of love.

I am angry.  I am devastated.  I am hopeful.  I am grateful. 

Time stands still and time moves on.  

I feel so many things at any given time that it's so hard to describe the past 6 months. 

I can move forward and backwards all at once.  I want to hold on so tight to the past and move on to a hopeful future. 

 Life feels different.  Life feels normal.

It's hard and messy and many, many times I think, why me?

But it's turning out to be somewhat lovely and painfully beautiful

because I continue to see Christ in all of it.

Psalm 139

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from afar.

You search out my path and my lying down
    and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue,
    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

You hem me in, behind and before,
    and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
    it is high; I cannot attain it.

 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
    Or where shall I flee from your presence?

If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
    If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 

 If I take the wings of the morning
    and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

even there your hand shall lead me,
    and your right hand shall hold me. 

 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
    and the light about me be night,”

even the darkness is not dark to you;
    the night is bright as the day,
    for darkness is as light with you.

 For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 

 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well. 

 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 

 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.

Disney Vacation - Part 1

The beginning of the new year took us to sunny Florida (during the ice storm in Tennessee)!

We took Cole on his first flight to Orlando to go to Disney!! or as he calls it - Mickey's Home!  He didn't do great and didn't do terrible on the flight.  It was pretty much what I expected from him.  He was excited to be on an airplane but not so excited to sit still in a seat for 2 hours. 

Disney World is the most magical place on earth!

It was such a great treat to be able to go on this trip, get away from reality for a few days and enjoy ourselves.  Disney makes you happy.  And that's what we were the entire trip:  Happy!

This little guy absolutely LOVED Disney World.  

I had no expectations for him.  I think you just never know what you will get with a toddler.  He had so much fun and was so excited the entire trip.  It made our vacation that much better just being able to enjoy it through the eyes of a child. 

We spent the first two days at the Magic Kingdom. 

With fast passes and a wait time app with maps we did minimal waiting for most rides.  

The It's a small world ride is a classic and was one of Cole's favorites!  

Cole eyed the race cars and was excited that he was tall enough to ride!

We had breakfast at Chef Mickey's with all the classic Disney characters.  

So. much.  fun.  

"I want to see Mickey."  

"I want to see more mickey momma!"

Morning snack:  ice cream!  

Rules are different at Disney - or so the grandparents say ;) 

(the parents were off riding Space Mountain when this happened)

The parades at Disney were great!  The kids (and adults) loved watching them!!

 Even the Clemson band marched on by!

More rides, more parades, more characters, more fun!

I love the castle!  

Magic Kingdom was great.  

Stay tuned for pictures from the rest of our trip!