Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Coming Soon...

to a blog near you...
Obi Won Kenobi and the Monkey Princess
plus...
Kyler the Edward King turns 3

Monday, October 29, 2007

Verdi, my hero

I have found a small, but vital part of myself again. I got to sing one of my all time most favorite pieces in the whole world yesterday. Verdi's Requiem. It was AMAZING!
I had a revelation of sorts this summer and realized that I have completely lost who I was before I had kids or even who I was before I got married. My husband and I had a long conversation about this and we came to the conclusion that I HAD to get back into singing classical music on some level. When school started back and I was home with the kids, that just solidified our decision. So...I went over to MTSU and joined the local community chorus. I have sung with them before when I was in college and once after I graduated, but then it just got hard to drive to the college after working all day and especially during my first year of teaching. We had our first concert yesterday and I loved every minute of it. It's like everything that I had lost came rushing back in that hour and a half. I actually teared up during our dress rehearsal on Friday because it just felt so wonderful. I know that God gave me this gift to glorify him, but have always struggled because our church doesn't sing classical music. Then it hit me...why do I have to be in church to glorify God with my voice? Just that I use the voice that he gave me is all He asks. It is by using my talents that I glorify Him. That can be the door to live boldly for Him. I'm still waiting to see how he will use this, but I am going to enjoy the ride.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Makes you think

I was reading my friend Jamie's blog and she gave this link to one that she reads regularly. It really made me think. Especially since we are a multi-racial family.

Friday, October 19, 2007

GOD IS GOOD!!!!

My mom just called and said that my brother has passed his PT test. He did just the minimum number of pushups and situps, but ran the 2 mile faster than he ever has. Then he had his blood work done and they ran the cholesterol check. It is down 30 points!!!!!! I am amazed at how God works when we all pray and pray specifically. Nothing is beyond our amazing God. My brother is a go to report to Ft. Rucker on Tuesday. I'll keep all updated as he goes through WOCS and Flight School. Thank you for your prayers.

Happy Friday

TGIF!!!! If I can make it through this week, I can make it through anything. Of course, next week could be worse. You never know. Aaliyah is still on a princess kick and it's messing with our nursing. I'm kind of upset because it is kinda her fault for not nursing as long as she needs to. She's almost at the point where she would rather take a bottle. I hate that, but whatever gets her to take what she needs to be healthy! I think she just likes making my life hard. ;)
Kyler's also on a kick. It's the "I can do whatever I want because I'm a boy" kick. I don't know where he got that from, but that's his answer to almost anything. "I can because I'm a boy!"

No updates on how my brother did on his PT test, yet. He won't have the bloodwork results until Monday. It's going to be a long, rough weekend.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Pray, Pray, Pray

I don't know who all reads this, but I hope there are more than just a couple of people. I have a major request. Pray for my brother.
As long as I can remember, my brother has always wanted to be a civil servent of some kind whether as a firefighter, police officer, or military. The firefighter thing fell through. For the last few years he has been a detention officer with Metro in the prison system (non-violent). And now, it is time for his military career to take off, literally. However, there have been some major "snags" along the way. When he signed up to be in the National Guard 8 years ago, there were all kinds of paperwork problems that took almost a full year to straighten out. Then everything was great. About 1 year ago, he decided that he wanted to change units and go back to his original plan of becoming a blawk hawk pilot. Well, it's taken a year to get the orders to go. Great!
Now for the major problem that needs prayers. He has his bloodwork done and they tell him that his cholesterol is too high! He had no idea. Come to find out, it was high (medically speaking) the last time they took it but didn't tell him what it was because it wasn't over the limit! Gotta love the Army. He has to have it re-tested (fasting) on Friday...after his PT test which is a 2 mile run, situps, pushups, and the like.
We are all praying that his cholesterol is below the limit on Fri. so he doesn't have to be tested again on Monday. This will take an act of God, and we are counting on it. God can work miracles, I've seen him do it. Now we need one for my brother. This is not beyond God's power and I want to see Him glorified through this situation.

Friday, October 12, 2007

random things

I love fall! It's so wonderful to wake up to a cold house (I know, I'm weird) and make a nice hot cup of coffee to drink. Even though I was up at 5:00 this morning, I still had a small window of time to drink my coffee and curl up on the couch to watch the news before the chaos began. What's even better is that it's sunny outside which always makes me feel better. Fall is the best time of the year!

I have declared today PJ day. Kyler and I are still in our jammies and plan to stay that way most of the day. Anyone who can join me in this is more than welcome. Send me a comment and tell me what you do on your lazy Fridays.

Why is it that with the second child you let everything slide? I am still pulling my hair out because Aaliyah has yet to be on a good solid schedule. Maybe it's because I was the one home this time (Ray worked from home with Kyler) or maybe it's because there was no rush or major need to have her on a schedule early on because I was not going back to work. Ray just thinks that she is on her own schedule and changes it whenver she wants to. I call it the "I'm a princess and you know it so cater to my every whim" schedule. I'm about ready to put my foot down and let Ray know that his little princess is about to be de-throned. She will be okay if she cries for more than 5 minutes and she will learn that I'm the mother and the original queen of this castle! Sounds harsh for a 7 month old, but she's already thrown more tantrums than I can count in her short 7 months. It's time for that to stop.

My son is awsome! As I was leaving last night to help a friend with her Pampered Chef show Kyler stopped me. He yelled at me when I closed the door so I opened it again and he looked me dead in the eye and said, "don't hit anybody and be careful and don't let anyone hit you." That's not a word for word quote, but as best I can remember that's what he said. I love him.

Monday, October 8, 2007

More Pictures

Just some pictures I took of Kyler and Aaliyah on Friday.


Here is my cousin Chasie playing with the kids. She is so great with them!




I realized I didn't have many recent pictures of Kyler or the two kids together. I decided to take some inspiration from my photographer friend, Alison and just snap some as they interacted. I think these turned out really well.






















These pictures are of my family at Cannonsburg. Again, thank you Alison for the ideas!

Four generations of Carter women. I only hope that one day we can have a picture of five.




four generations of Carter men.


My grandparents, uncle Darrel, Chasie and Chase, and Rory.


Kyler and Chase. They had so much fun together.

Family

My grandparents, uncle, and two cousins came into town this weekend for a visit. It was so nice to see them. This was the first time they all got to see Aaliyah and the first time I had seen my cousins in 2 years! Chasie is only 7 weeks younger than I am and her son is exactly 14 months younger than Kyler. Funny thing, Aaliyah is one day shy of 14 months younger than Chase! Weird how those things happen. Here are some pics of the weekend.


We went on a tour of the Jack Daniel's Distillery on Friday. Here is Chasie and her son Chase.


Uncle Darrel and his son Rory.


The tall one is my brother. The short one is my son, Kyler. Scary thing is, Kyler will probably be as big as his uncle one day!


Close up shot of a bottle of Jack. I was trying to do some "artsy" shots.


My grandparents enjoying a sit after the hour-long tour.


Kyler posing with the Jack race car.


This is a rare sighting of my brother holding his neice (only because he rarely gets to see the kids)!


Kyler and his great-grandpa playing.


Rory and his nephew, Chase. There was a lot of playing around with the boys this weekend!


Aaliyah and her great-grandma.


Uncle Darrel deep in thought in my parent's front yard.

There are a lot of pictures that I won't post for space sake. This is most likely the last time grandpa will be able to get our here. I will treasure all the pictures I got of him and only hope I can get back to Oklahoma before his mind gets even worse than it already is. It's hard to see someone you love so much forget that they even know who you are. I can't imagine what Grandma has to go through every day.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

struggling and other random thoughts

I have been struggling lately. Kyler has just been driving me crazy and I don't know why. I know he's almost 3 and I know he's a boy and I know he just wants my attention when he doesn't have it. These things I know. What I don't know is why it drives me up the wall. Why do I feel like my 3 year old is walking all over me and treating me like trash? I don't let him talk back, I'm fairly consistent with discipline, and for the most part he is a great kid. Maybe I just take things too personally. He's trying to find himself and his boundries and I take it to heart when he yells at me or refuses to do something I asked him to do. I guess I just need to remember that he is only 3 which is really hard when he has the vocabulary of a 5 or 6 year old.

I was reading a friend's blog this morning about perspective. That's something else I have been struggling with. I look at other moms and wonder how they stay so calm. Why do they seem to love being a mom and staying home and just take all the chaos in stride? There are days that I long to be just a wife again. I want to be able to work on my marriage and fall in love with my husband again without feeling like I'm taking away from my kids or feel guilty about leaving my daughter (who can scream bloody murder for an hour and a half) with the grandparents. I miss loving my husband. I miss the Saturdays we used to just lay in bed all day and watch TV. I miss being able to just up and go somewhere. I miss my job. Maybe this stay-at-home thing is not for me. It's something I've always wanted and dreamed about, but like most dreams, it is not turning out the way I thought it would. Will it get better when they get older? Will it get better when I can have a car and go somewhere? Will it get better when we move and possibly have a more kid-friendly neighborhood? I hope so. I don't want to feel this way.

My final big struggle is with my walk. I really feel a need to get back into the word and have a daily quiet time. I know in my head that my comfort lies with God and he can help me deal with a lot of these feelings I have, but I cannot let go. To those moms with two or more small kids at home; how do you do it? I physically cannot sit down and really study right now. When the kids are awake, I'm trying to clean or do laundry and when they are asleep I'm trying to run my business. I already get up at 5:30 or 6:00 and go to bed at 10:00 or 11:00. Any advice?

Day of Birthdays

We celebrated 3 birthdays yesterday (of 5 total in Oct.). Thomas turned three and Grace turns 1 today. They shared their birthday (how sweet) at The Bounce Factory in Antioch. This was Kyler's first trip there so you know I had to get pictures. He had a blast.


Here's sweet Noah coming down the slide. Kyler's at the bottom in the yellow shirt.



Climbing the ladder.


"Wwwwwwweeeeeeeeee"



Tyler W will be 3 on the 12th. Notice the t-shirt. His mom swears they designed it just for him!


Thomas the birthday boy!



Savannah sweetie.



Savannah's big brother Jackson showing some style on the slide.



Tyler's little brother, Aiden. He turned 1 yesterday, too!



Aaliyah just hanging out.



The whole crew of kids. I think there were about 16 in all. It would have been chaos anywhere else!



My "niece" Grace, the birthday girl.



Gracie loves her sugar! Nathan wanted in on the action, too. He was opening her presents and helping her with her cake. What a great big brother.




When it was all said and done, we were worn out. But never fear! It was Nana's birthday, too!! We went over to my in-law's house and had some cake and ice cream for dinner. It was an amazing cake from this little Spanish bakery on Murfreesboro Rd., I think. She finally got her Tres Leches cake and was soooo excited. I have a pic on my phone, but that doesn't do you any good, does it. ;) Needless to say, it was a very busy day and we all slept well last night (until Aaliyah woke up at 3:00). Ah, the life of a mom.