Preparing for the big Move!

Spring was crazy around here this year. We found out in April that we would be making a giant move to Kansas City and we were woefully unprepared to sell this house! We spent a solid month repairing, painting, cleaning,sowing grass seed, and holding a gigantic yard sale in preparation of listing the Coleman homestead for sale.   Boxes literally sat in every corner of the house for a month as I threw everything I did not need in for either sale or storage.

 
Leah has no idea what is going on, but she is happy to play with the boxes that are lying all around.  On a side note, I highly recommend all you readers perform this task as if you are moving even if you are not.  Out of the 10 years we have lived here, I have never loved my house more that now when everything looks clean, neat and repaired.  Isn't it sad that you only truly enjoy your home the year you buy it and the year you sell it?
In the midst of  the home preparations, Chris and I had to fly out to Kansas City to do a 4 day house hunt. 
You think it was a rainy spring?  This is the Mississippi River from the plane.  It sprawled out over farmlands in all directions! 
Talk about an exhausting few days! I saw so many houses that I forgot which one was which.  We did get one night to relax and enjoy the city.  Chris's new office has box seats at the Sprint center.  We were invited to join the Parrotheads and see Jimmy Buffet!

Here is the center and some of the ahem fans.  This was a common site on this night!

Crowds gathered across the street to hear some live music before entering the venue.

 

Chris and I spent a few quiet moments waiting for his coworkers to arrive with the tickets.  Check out the sign behind Chris.  This is is new company's sign in the background. It was fun getting to meet Chris's coworker and really cool to experience box seats. I hope we are able to get them for future events during our time out there.

The next night, we headed down to the Plaza to the Cheesecake Factory.  Yum!  I can't believe I am going to live in a town with one of these!  The Plaza is the country's oldest outdoor shopping mall.   It stretches for blocks and is beautiful.

 

We hear the girls had fun with Mamaw while we were gone.  I was sure happy to see them once we returned.  We are going to miss our old Kentucky home, but onward and upward we go!

Easter Beauties

I can't believe this is our last Easter at this house (and in this state for a while).  We had a dreadfully wet spring and Easter was no exception.  But our two beauties made this day a little brighter.  Here are the photos from our mini photo shoot.

Leah looks so grown up.  I can't believe she couldn't sit up this time last year!

Sarah has and always will be my "poser".  Photo shoots were easy when I only had one baby.  She is certainly a baby no more!

She is very much into ponytails these days.  Last year she would not let me pull her hair back for even one day.  This year, you will rarely see her without one.  Funny how those stages work.

Leah however, spent her time trying to make a break for it.  She hates dressing up, yanks out every bow she finds on the top of her head, and refuses to stand still for any photo.  She is definitely my tomboy.  Notice the flowers and mulch in the background.  These were the days of all day gardening in preparation of putting the house on the market.  The dark skies in the background prove how little mother nature had cooperated with us in our quest to get the house finished quickly.

Sarah asked if she could take some photos of us as well.  She is a sweetie!

I feel like a model with the wind in my hair.  Ha! Ha!

How rarely we get a photo with Leah, Chris and myself.  Thank you Sarah. 

Sarah was prepared for the impending storm with her brand new sleeping beauty umbrella she got for Easter. 

I am such a lucky mommy to have such beautiful and smart girls. 

Happy belated Easter to all!

Party Time!

Way back in the spring, the family had a double party for Chris's granny's and his cousin who was having a
baby.  Granny had no idea that she was about to be celebrated as well.  Unfortunately, Angela's doctor would not let her come down from Ohio to celebrate (she was close to laboring), so the party became all about Granny.
I couldn't let this moment go without posting photos of Chris's family.  Chris has virtually no photos of them and we see his extended family on very rare occasions. 

. 

It  was too bad Angela couldn't make it, we would have loved to celebrate Bennett's arrival with her.  She had him a couple of weeks later.

Here is the lady of the day.  Happy birthday Granny!

Joann helped her open all the presents.

Granny has been spending a lot more time with Joann recently.  It has been great allowing the kids to get to know her better.

Uncle Clinton and his wife came by as well.  We haven't seen them in years!

Aunt Jennifer brought the kids favorite dog ever.  Peanut is the star of the show

Amy is our in house photographer as well as co hostess of the event. 

Sarah had fun running around meeting family as well.  We are going to miss being so close to our family.  We love them very much and plan to visit very often.  I hope they are ready for some roomies!  Ha! Ha!

What is my gift?

So I was watching Oprah on Master Class last night and I must admit, I was quite moved.  I know a great number of people who think she is a cuckoo, who became crazy and sailed of with her spiritual "mother ship" a long time ago.  But I have watched her behind the scenes show this season and have heard her discuss her life as a child and I am amazed at how she pulled her self up from poverty, abuse, and a family who never truly wanted her to become the most wealthy and powerful female on television.  Listening to her tell her story last night, I was more impressed with her than ever before.  She said she knew she was destined for greatness as a young child.  She said she always felt God's hand working in her life and she knew when to stop..and listen..and follow.  She said "to whom much is given, much is required" and that she decided to dedicate her show and her life to hearing others, telling them they are not alone, and hopefully leaving the world a better place.  This is why she is a superstar.  Not because of the big stars that came on her show, but because she listened, cared, and tried to help in some way.  But the thing that moved me most is her words on having a gift.  She talked about finding that gift deep within her and realizing that she was called to use that gift.  Then I began thinking...what is my gift?
We are preparing to move to a town where I know or am related to NO one.  In all honesty, we are moving because we believe it is God's will for us and we are trying to "listen" and obey.  We were not seeking a job in Kansas City, but it was the third offered to us in a calendar year away from Lexington.  The other two were overseas.  We said no to the Philippines, no to Budapest, and then came Kansas City.  "Is God trying to tell us something?" we asked one another.  Who gets three job offers in a year without applying for a single one?  So we are about to embark on an adventure. 
This adventure is by no means going smoothly.  We have yet to sell this house, we have yet to find a church, and we are moving a full month later than was supposed to happen.  This has been a real lesson in patience, relying on God's time and will instead of our own.  I am anxious, excited, scared and deeply saddened all at the same time.  We are leaving the familiar, the comfortable, for the unknown, unfamiliar, and uncomfortable. I have to believe this is God's will or I will go crazy right now. 
I taught for nine years of my life.  My identity was wrapped up in that job.  I know that I was good at it.  Students told me, colleagues told me.  I even got a job critiquing student teachers and offering advice on ways to be more successful in the classroom.  But is that my gift? Wouldn't I know that if it was?  I took time off with both children because I believed (and still do) that if it is possible financially to do, that it is the better for the children to be in the home for the early years. Not that I blame parents who don't or can't, because it is not possible for all.  It has been a great sacrifice and there are many days I wished I worked out of the home, but there will be a season for that as well.  But is mothering  my "gift"?  Doesn't seem that way  because there sure are a lot of days I don't feel so great at it.  I only pray that I raise children who care enough to think about and use their gifts for the greater good as well.
I am not crafty, I am not the best cook, I don't love party planning...I could go on and on.  Oddly enough, I won the award for most talented in my high school, but that was for singing (and I assure you, I could not win American Idol, but it was a small school).  I feel like I am good, but not great at a lot of things.  I plan to really work on this while I am in Kansas.  I am calling it a fresh start.  I want to use my talents for God's glory and to make the world better while I am here.  The first step is really thinking about those talents and how I can use them for the better.  Perhaps it is blogging...not because I am a great writer, but because one person might just read this and think about how to use their gifts as well.  Maybe being good, not great is a gift in itself because it lets others know that they are not alone.  So I ask you...what is your gift?  Are you using it for God's glory?  Are you using it to make the world a better place?  Are you trying to figure it out now (like me)?  
Till next time,
Angie

Matthew 25: 14-30
The Parable of the Talents


14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants [1] and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, [2] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. [3] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Serenity Now!

Sorry it is been so long since I have blogged.  I miss it dearly and hope to begin anew when we settle in Kansas.  The moments to myself are currently few and far between.  For instance, I am currently sitting in a minivan writing this post on my I phone with a tyrant, I mean toddler in the backseat. I just couldn't let this moment go by without chronicling for posterity.
 My family and in laws are currently  inside Cheddar's enjoying a lovely dessert in honor of Joann's birthday. Leah did everything she could think of to make this occasion miserable.  After consuming her weight in chips and salsa, she was ready to leave.  Unfortunately, the main course had not even arrived.  Chris and I walked said toddler three times around the establishment, looked at fish in the aquarium, and brought our "bag of tricks" to occupy Napoleon, I mean Leah. No one wants to eat next to a screaming one year old.  So I bit the bullet and took her out to let everyone else enjoy their meals.  I would rather have dinner next to a hungry crocodile. Has anyone else dealt with this? The terrible twos have moved on in. I remember this with Sarah but of course it seems worse now than in our sanitized memories. Let me give you a rundown of a week with little Napoleon.
On Tuesday, we made our way down to the local library for Sarah's story time. Leah loves the library. She thinks she owns it. There is a toy that she literally drags all over the children's section to keep anyone else from playing with it. There is a section that she likes to climb. She saw another kid climbing in her section and literally jerked her down. After a beating (yes they have begun), she heads back to the same girl with a different tactic. She pats her on the shoulder and said "uh oh" over and over. As if the "people's eyebrow was coming next. What am I going to do with this one?

On Thursday I kept Leah out for about forty five minutes too long and was punished by a screaming Child who Refused to nap, slammed her finger in a door and threw up all over me, her, and my (currently for sale) floor.  Serenity now! 

She also conquered the Chik Fil A playground this week.  She made it to the top and looked like she had just conquered Mount Everest.  After a few times up and down, it was time to go.  Then the short one threw the spaghetti- legged scream fit that we have all seen when we are out.  As young people, we are annoyed that those terrible parents can't seem to train their child better.  As parents, we all sympathize because we know the embarrassment they are feeling at that moment.  What a fraternity in which we belong!
I know that someday I will look back on this and laugh. I know that there will be a time in which I have more time on my hands than I ever wanted and will look wistfully back at these days.  I am simply writing this so that when my teenage daughter comes to me telling me that I don't love her (I hope this never happens, but I am a realist)... I can pull out the old blog book and let her read just how much we put up with when she was a wee one.  Yet through it all, I would give my life for either one of my little ones.  Isn't that crazy?  Imagine how much more God puts up with and yet He still loves us all as well.  I think this phase is just a taste of that for us to better understand His deep, abiding, and unconditional love.
Until next time (when I will still be exhausted yet fighting the good fight),
Angie

The Blog Takes a Backseat

Sorry followers!  The end of March marked some pretty big changes for our family that have necessitated the suspension of blog activity.  Chris accepted a position working for a company Lexmark purchased in KANSAS CITY.  I have NEVER lived anywhere other than the great state of Kentucky in my entire life!  Needless to say, there is much to be done in preparation.  We are cleaning, holding yard sales (a two day which turned into three due to early birds), packing, decluttering, landscaping, painting, repairing, searching for a new home, new school for Sarah, new doctors, etc.  I am exhausted!  I promise to resume activities when my world calms down (if it ever will).  Please pray for this new chapter in our lives.
Angie

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts = Best Day Ever! (Who knew?)

It sure has been a long winter! We have been scrambling for a chance to exit our den (I mean home) and end the hibernation. Sarah received some free doughnut coupons from her preschool teacher for Valentine's Day and we said "why not". We don't typically frequent doughnut shops. Not that I wouldn't enjoy every last second of being there and partaking in their gooey goodness. But, let's face it. It is not the healthiest breakfast a family can have on a Saturday morning. But when you say free, you speak my language. So we loaded up the van and made our way to Lexington for the girls first Krispy Kreme experience.

Notice the mischievous grin.  Sarah was mesmerized by the doughnut making process.  Yes!   I am justifying my trip as an educational experience!

Couldn't you just eat every one of these?  Yum!

Leah enjoyed herself as well.  It is so interesting to watch any assembly line, but especially one with such a sweet ending!

I wish I had gotten a chance to show the girls eating the finished product.  We only got one per person and they were gone in seconds!  Sarah informed me that this was the "best day ever".  Who knew a short jaunt to the doughnut shop would get this kind of response.  We still have some more free coupons, and we can't wait to return!