New definition of Winter

Since moving here Louisville has had more snow (& below zero temps) than they have in at least 5 years.  And coming from Austin you can imagine this is a shock to our system.  For example, last Christmas when we had to replace all 4 of our tires before traveling to Mississippi for Christmas, Keith chose the basic road tires over the all-terrain for the Subaru.  Of course he did, we lived in Texas.  Thankfully, those road tires have been working just fine on our snow covered streets and we are beyond grateful for a house with garage.  

While the snow and the polar vortex have been shocking it is nice to see winter. Since it has been a while since the locals here have seen this much snow I do feel like we need to savor it, don't you agree?  I also would guess that the next time we have a winter like this one Eli will be begging to get outside instead of playing happily inside and occasionally running to the window and yelling "sNNOOW!"  

There are loads of snow pictures at the bottom, but in other happenings...we had the pleasure of hosting an international student for a week right after New Years.  He is an undergrad and recently transferred from the University of Kentucky to Boyce College (at Southern Seminary).  He needed a place to stay for a week before orientation and move-in started so it worked out perfectly for him to stay with us.  I met him through Bridges and was thankful to reconnect.  Eli was also in heaven having someone else to play with!  

The following week Eli started a 1-day mother's day out program.  We talked "school" up for a week or so but as far as I could tell he had no idea what he was getting into.  (Every time I say the word school, Eli moves his arms in a circular motion and wants me to sing "The wheels on the bus", so that is all he knew of school).  The first (and only) day he has gone because of sickness and snow went well.  He didn't eat much and he didn't nap but he enjoyed himself and didn't cry when I left.  The church where it is held is 5 minutes from our house and seems to have solid teaching (came highly recommended) so that is a blessing!

Below are some more pictures of Eli and his new friend Miles. Miles and his family moved here in June and live in our neighborhood. We met through church and are so thankful to have a family to be friends with in this large, mostly unknown city. We get together often for play dates. 

                                   

Behind their house is a great sledding hill for little ones so if the weather isn't below freezing we head their way. 

                                   

Daddy even joined in the fun!

                               

and Mommy too!

                               

I'll leave you with a few more snow shots. 

Happy winter!

                                 

                                 

Christmas 2013

This Christmas we traveled to North Carolina to spend time with the Wilson side of the family.  I must say it was nice to load everything in the car and hit the road instead of traveling by air.  Eli did great in the car (well, as great as a 1 yr old can) and we made pretty good time.  We were blessed with lots of time with family and Eli thoroughly enjoyed his cousins!

Eli perfected the art of unwrapping and everyone commented on it.  Elmo was a hit this Christmas as well as tools.  Eli is ready for anything.

It is always funny to see Eli in a new place.  My parents house has a lot of things that Eli probably shouldn't touch right at eye level.  For the most part he left them alone but one thing he couldn't keep his hands off of was my Dad's stereo.  He would hit play and either "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives or Annie's Song by John Denver (you know the one "you fill up my senses..." ) would come on.  Below is a fun video of the last night we were there and all the grandkids are dancing to the fiddle.  

This Christmas was full of joy because we were together, gratefulness because of how blessed we are for Jesus coming to earth as a baby to save us from our sins and the constant reminder that "they will never be that little again".  

One of the main reasons I started this blog was to document our life and especially Eli's.  I want to remember the good times and be able to look back and give thanks for all the great things the Lord has done in and through our little family.  As we approach 2014 I want to live in expectation of what the Lord will do.  Yes, we will have hard times but I am always amazed how the Lord never leaves me.  

Happy New Year!

Flu update (& what we've been up to this week)

Well, this week has been full (even though I haven't left the house since Monday morning).  

The good news is Eli is on the mend and I have managed to stay healthy. Unfortunately Keith did not make it out untouched. He came home Wednesday night with a fever and a sore throat.  He went to the doctor Thursday morning and was put on tamiflu too.  We've been told that since we got our flu shots our infections should be milder but they have still packed a punch. 

It is nice to have an excuse to stay at home all week. Try new recipes, bake some Christmas goodies and Eli has provided us with lots of snuggles. 

Here are all the books that have covered our coffee table this week. It is so fun that Christmas provides different book options and an easy way to talk about why Jesus came to earth!

Also, I got all the presents wrapped and under the tree!  Eli only managed to try and unwrap one before I caught him and all the other presents seem safe. 

Yesterday and today Eli has been almost completely fever-free and his appetite seems to be coming back. Below is a shot of him at breakfast this morning (please notice all the snow that is still outside, crazy how cold it is here!)

Keith is back at work today and we are praying that his flu is mild. Thank you to everyone for your care & concern and prayers for us. They have been felt! I always hate when we are plagued with sickness around the holidays but am hopeful we are on the up swing!

First trip to the ER

After a few days of snow I was getting used to staying in, just going out for short play times in the snow, drinking cider and watching Christmas movies. Pretty perfect huh? 

Well, that was until about 5pm yesterday afternoon. Eli, who had been coughing and a little feverish all weekend, came over to Keith shaking and half crying/half moaning. We decided to go to the ER almost immediately. 

On the way there I called a friend who is a nurse and she told us which hospital to go to, how to get there, etc. By the time we got there E's temp was nearly 105 and he wouldn't let go of me. They poked and proded and gave him medicine. After 3 hours of waiting they confirmed he has the flu, even though he got the shot. Thank you Jesus that is all it is!

We got home last night with a tired boy and tamiflu. He's on regular doses of ibuprofen and he's providing us with lots of extra snuggles. 

I hated last night. Seeing my boy so uncomfortable and thinking how it could have turned out. Much, much worse. I thank Jesus daily for a healthy child but it's experiences like these that really make me grateful. 

So thankful for these two!

So much to be thankful for

Isn't it nice that we have a holiday to remind ourselves why we are thankful?  What is important in our lives. The ways the Lord has blessed us.  We, like many others, had a thankful tree this year.  I think this will be much more fun in the future when Eli can actually verbalize what he is thankful for but it was a good exercise for Keith and I.  It made us be intentional on a daily basis of how the Lord has blessed us, from Keith having a short(er) commute on a given day to a friend of ours coming to know the Lord.

Lately I we have really been missing Austin.  The warm weather, the familiarity and especially the people. This probably was due most in part to the fact that we spent this Thanksgiving just the 3 of us, but the emotion has been creeping in for some time.  It is easy to think about what I don't have and what I wish was. There are many days when I don't want to go to a new group or visit another church, etc but we know that is part of moving.    

It's interesting that I am having these emotions on Thanksgiving, a day when we think about what we are Thankful for.  I, like many of you, have so much.  More than enough really and I really need nothing.  If this is true why am I not content in my circumstances?  Why don't I trust the Lord to guide our family from Texas to Kentucky?  Why, why, why?  

Fortunately, the Lord led me to this verse over the weekend..."give thanks IN all circumstances" (1 Thess 5:18).  I need to remember this.  I don't have to be thankful FOR being lonely, being away from community and the hard adjustments of moving, but the Lord does command to be thankful IN them.  So, I thought I would list some of them out below.

-for the house the Lord provided in a good neighborhood
-the friends we have already met and good neighbors
-Keith's new job where he is thriving
-a healthy, fun, energetic 1 year old who would be happy anywhere
-the holiday provided much needed rest and family time
-opportunities to serve others around me
-a church small group where we've already met many people
- the hope of a future in this house AND city
-Jesus, who has led us all the way and continues to be so gracious to us.  

"I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods.  The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths."  Psalm 135: 5-6

I know one day that "moving to Louisville" will be added to the list.

Winter's coming

I'm sitting here looking outside at the snow falling. We've had a very cold few days but it's nice weather to get into the holiday spirit. The pictures below are from the last semi-warm day last week. 

    Eli getting ready to do some mowing. 

We decided with all the traveling lately to stay home for Thanksgiving. I think it will be great. Yes, of course we will miss being with people but it will be nice to have 5 whole days with Keith home & no where to go 😊. 

We have plans to eat here, go downtown on Friday to the children's museum and to some local shops. Hopefully we will get to explore our new city a little & the weather hopefully warms up. 

Listening to the shower through the wall (isn't it amazing what captures their attention?)

We hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving! 

We're so thankful for all of you!

Ups & Downs

Things are going well with the house and our transition to L'Ville.  I am amazed by how the Lord has brought other young moms into my life, allowed us to find a church group that we like and feel like a family in this house.  Every week I talk with someone who has recently moved here or in the last few years and can completely relate to all the emotions and loneliness that inevitably comes with it.  Halloween was really special because it forced us out in the neighborhood and allowed us to meet our neighbors.  We even met one who came for dinner the other night, so special.  

Halloween costume #2--Scarecrow

I could go on and on on how the Lord has led us here, how He provides for us and how much we know he cares.  Still we have those down days.  I would say last week was a down week.  Keith was out the door by 7:20 every morning and didn't return until well after 6, Eli struggled with the time change and the weather is getting cold so it didn't allow us much time to get out.  As I think back on the week it doesn't seem horrible, just long. 

Maybe that's what I'm in for, a few long months inside with a toddler?  A long season of meeting lots of people but having no one who I would really consider a close friend?  Weeks maybe months of finding my way around and using my GPS every where I go?  I know it could be worse and I'm really not trying to complain, it's just life right now.  A life I'm getting used to even though I do still question why we moved here some days.  If you would please pray for our family.  We really do appreciate it!   

Such a cutie!