We are back!!!!

Picking up from the last post....We made it back and Jacob (and I) did fine.
Jacob loved being with grandparents, who wouldn't? Ice cream cone anyone? Jacob asked every few minutes where we were but I tried to convince my mom that I start my day with, "My daddy is at work today?" and "when will Daddy be home?" Inman says that when I am gone that Jacob asks several times an hour where I am....all while having fun but just wanting to keep tabs on everyone's where abouts. I KNOW that he had fun because after being back a few minutes Jacob wanted to be with Mema alone and told me to "go into the den but not on a trip," at Dadoh and Nana Jeanne's house the next day.
We had a great time away. Grown up time and having a NOLA break (good for the mental health) but I was personally ready to be with Jacob again after 2 nights. (We were there for 3)

We spent last week with family in Atl. Jacob has all of his grandparents and 5 great grandparents! It always goes too fast but we are looking forward to the upcoming holidays too.

I have no pictures to post tonight because I am still getting our house back together and the camera cord is yet to show up. Inman took a chance to poke fun at me because I always misplace that thing! I promise to post some this week......

"It's good for him...."

"It's good for him." Inman has said that several times, many times the last couple of days as we prepare for this weekend.
We are finishing up a whirlwind week and are leaving today to head to Atl. We are leaving Jacob in the care of eager grandparents and heading to Ohio. No, not the bahamas but some time together, grown ups, talking about grown up things. Hey! Talking, getting to see each other besides passing like ships in the night, handing off the baton, I mean Jacob. Inman has several speaking engagements on behalf of Baptist Crossroads www.baptistcrossroads.com
We knew this would be a great opportunity for us. So, I agreed to 2 nights and it turned into 3. I was doing fine and check the weather a possible tropical storm or more headed our way! My imagined first evacuation of NOLA post-K did not involve me being across the country, my child being in another city & needing to pack up my house in N.O! I have prayed through all the "anxiety" verses and am putting one foot in front of the other. I am alternating between complete denial of a storm and totally freaking out and making Inman promise me if a major storm develops that I could return and pack up what survived before that I vowed I would protect with my life....baby, wedding pictures etc.
So, "It is good for him." Our child that is, if his parents have some grown up time together. That is what THEY all say. Spending time together, you come back stronger for your kid, right? Yeah, unless there is a hurricane and your mother has to be put in a mental hospital:)

A New Friend

Maybe he is here?

Or maybe in the tent?

In the chair?

Sleeping in Jacob's bed?

Sometime he eats breakfast with Jacob and of course, reads the football highlights.

Our new friend, Ki (not sure how to spell but rhymes with Sigh). K lives in our house, unless he stays at church which he did the other day. He is small, according to Jacob. He does eat, brush his teeth (in fact he shares a toothbrush with Jacob), he likes to go to church and mother's morning out. Sometimes he does cry for his momma. He sleeps in Jacob's bed and sometimes Jacob holds him in his lap. Sometimes he wakes Jacob up and wants to play. A lot of times he is in the other room when we are all in the den but Jacob always knows where he is. I asked the preschool director if there is anyone named Kai, Ki, Kei anything sounding like Sigh but with a K. No, no one by that name. What an imagination!

Childhood Cancer month

September is Childhood Cancer awareness month. I know there are so many great causes out there. Every time I turn around, there is a walk, marathon or campaign to raise money for some type of medical research and they are all great causes. Childhood Cancer has been one that has touched me. Several years ago, a very special little boy began the battle of his life. His entire family rallied around him for what turned into a battle FOR his life. Carter was healed, the ultimate healing and is walking in heaven. The three year anniversary of Carter's passing was last week. You can read about his journey at www.caringbridge.org/ga/cartermartin but what I would really like you to do is go to www.choa.org/cartermartin and give. Give so that the many children fighting cancer will have a chance for a cure. The Martin family wants to live out Carter's dream that no other child will have to suffer. Through Carter's journey and website, I have followed many more children. I have been touched by each of their stories. As a mom and a nurse, I have cried and can't begin to imagine what these families are facing.
Did you know?
*Every year almost 3,000 children die of cancer. *The national government recently cut the budget for funding of pediatric cancer research.*Currently there are 30,000-40,000 children being treated for cancer in the US.*As a nation, each year we spend 14 billion dollars per year on the space program and only 35 million on childhood cancer.

I plan to leave this link on the blog. Please consider giving and hug your children tightly!

What would have been & playing in the rain........

Jacob chases his friend Jack while they play in the rain

This week would have been the due date for the little one we lost in February. At the time, September seemed so long to wait while I had thoughts of,..."I would have been 4 months pregnant"......"By now, we would have found out if we were having a boy or a girl"....."We would be setting up a nursery by now"....in these last couple of weeks,..."We would be about to bring our baby home." Now I know that just because the due date is passed, those thoughts don't end. Now they are,..."How would Jacob have been adjusting?"...."Would the baby have been early like Jacob?"....."I would be juggling two right now."

I am thankful the Lord has given me a verse to remind me of His compassion for me, "The righteous cry out and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:17-18

A couple of weeks ago thinking of the days that were ahead, I wanted to wake up and it magically be the end of September. I realize that if I had done what I wanted to do a couple of weeks ago, I would have missed many moments of blessings. Jacob is at a very special age (aren't they all?) He is learning so much and constantly amazes me and cracks me up! On Sunday, he played in the rain for the first time. I would not have missed that for the world. Today, I am thankful for simple moments like this:

Inman's birthday

Jacob had a great time "helping" make Inman's b-day cake.
He loved sprinkling the chocolate on the top.
Inman's favorite part of the day was the Georgia Tech score
Jacob was actually able to sing some of Happy Birthday, still a 2 person chorus was weak!

This was the view from our front porch about mid-day. It rained really hard and the drains could not keep up. Luckily, we were not flooded for long. A good day for staying in and kicking off college football season. A perfect day for Inman!