Archive for July, 2010

Book Review: Blind Hope by Kim Meeder

July 31, 2010 · Filed under books

“Love is a bridge that stands firm through difficulties and connects one heart directly to another, not because of how it looks, but because of what it is.”    –Kim Meeder, Blind Hope

Blind Hope by Kim Meeder delivered a heart warming tale about a dog (Mia)  and it’s owner (Laurie) that dog lovers and non-dog lovers can both appreciate.  The book starts with Laurie picking up Mia from a family who could no longer take care of her, only to find a dog that she wasn’t sure she could love.  Mia was not what she had anticipated, not the beautiful, healthy, courageous dog she had anticipated, but rather a dog that was ugly, dirty, smelly and unhealthy.

Laurie talks about how she takes the dog and slowly begins to love this dog.  Throughout the book she parallels her life with that of one that we all most certainly can identify with….how can Christ love us so broken, dirty and undeserving.

What I liked about the book:

  • Great easy read.
  • Heart warming story to remind us that taking care of animals nourish the soul.

“God is with us, whether we are running away from him or to him.” –Kim Meeder, Blind Hope

Comments (1) »

35 Weeks, 5 or Less to Go

July 26, 2010 · Filed under blessings

35 Weeks today.  I have 5 weeks or less to go before I get to see Baby #2.  This weekend was spent washing, folding and putting away all those little bitty baby clothes that I so quickly forgot about as my Bug grew from a tiny baby girl to a toddler.

As I folded and put away her clothes, I couldn’t help but think about this that hangs in her nursery.  Because she is and will be a dream come true.

Comments (1) »

My Heart is in the Mountains

July 25, 2010 · Filed under life, travels

3rd week of July is a special time for me and my family this is the Annual Crazy Mt.LeConte Hikers Trip.   This trip was a little different than was planned back in October.  Let me explain.

October 1 is when you can make your reservations for the following year for Mt. LeConte and this is my favorite place on earth.  We start calling reservations at 7:00am, when the phone lines open and don’t stop “war dialing” until we get in and get the reservations made.  You can’t really appreciate the total Mt. LeConte experience unless you understand how hard it is to get reservations for the yearly trip.  Not factoring in my upcoming delivery of Baby #2, reservations were made for me and the husband along with the rest of the crazy Mt. LeConte hikers.  Fast forward to being 8 months pregnant, obviously a hike up wasn’t in the cards this year.

It was important for me to go along with the group, even though I wouldn’t be hiking up.  Important for several different reasons.  I enjoy the mountains and I knew this would be the last trip where Bug was an only child.

When I found out that I was pregnant and expecting close to the date of the trip, my Sister and I planned to go with the group, while my hiking spot was taken by my friend/adopted little brother Erik.  This trip always warms my heart, because we eat at the same place before the hike for supper the eve of the hike and breakfast the morning of the hiking.  Sis and I had planned to take Bug and stay in a hotel in Pigeon Forge  while the crew hiked and just enjoy an indoor pool with my toddler.  Plan A turned into Plan B, which turned into Plan C and ultimately Plan D.

Plan D turned into a day in Cades Cove with my sweet Bug, Superhero husband and Sis.  Great part about the trip was that we got to spend time together and Bug got to experience her first Ranger Program!  We lucked into a Wee Ranger Program at the park where Bug learned about butterflies!

Comments (1) »

So Struck

July 22, 2010 · Filed under confessions · Tagged , , , ,

Yesterday was a tough day.  Not for any particular reason, other than it was just filled with lots of “normal” type of activities.  First day back from vacation (blog to follow in a few days), Superhero out-of-town for the eight straight week, Wednesday Night Bible Study, work  and a ENT appointment for Bug.

I had clocked my time in the car yesterday at 4 hours before getting to Wednesday Night Bible Study and pulled into the church parking lot, sat there and prayed, “please give me the strength to walk my toddler into her class and not leave the church parking lot and go retreat to my house and go watch Dora with my toddler because Dear Lord, I am tired.”

Then I looked out of my back window and saw my friend Becca was at church.  She’s a ray of sunshine in just her normal every day life, but what STRUCK me yesterday was that she and her family (they have a toddler the same age as Bug) were there AND they had just picked up her husband who had been deployed for the last 9-10 months just hours before church.  I was so amazed at this family’s commitment to church, when I’m sure they would have just liked to have been home enjoying each other’s company.

Thank you Becca!  Your family lifted my spirits by your presence at church last night.

Comments (1) »

Special Birthday Lunch – Team Taylor

July 15, 2010 · Filed under birthdays

Team Taylor celebrated our birthdays on Sunday at Demo’s.   If you aren’t familiar with Team Taylor, this is the joking name we gave ourselves when running in 5ks last summer (5ks will restart in October).  Let’s just say that Team Taylor’s birthday celebration wouldn’t be complete without REI and Starbucks  Bags used a gift bags and a cake (gluten-free, of course) decorated with orange and white icing (football season does start in 8 weeks!)

Fwd: IMG00066-20100711-1427.jpg

Growing up, birthdays were very special and also very unique.  My sister’s birthdays are 7/12 (they are twins), mine is 7/16 and my Dad’s is 7/19.  We all celebrated independently and my parents were very careful that we each had our own party (or at least that is how I remember it).  In fact the cards that we received were displayed like Christmas cards decorating the house.  Good time, indeed.

While I appreciate and am so thankful that I never felt slighted growing up and felt like I had to share my birthday with anyone.  I’m so glad that we all celebrate together now, because what do we really have if we don’t have each other?

Comments (3) »

I’m Yours / Somewhere Over the Rainbow

July 14, 2010 · Filed under misc

This song just makes me smile.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Comments (1) »

The Way the Day was Suppose to Go….

July 13, 2010 · Filed under life

This day was suppose to go something like this:

  • Drop the happy toddler off at daycare
  • Go to work and attend a ton of meetings and be productive
  • Get a pedicure
  • Go help with the Advanced Negotiations Class at Belmont University’s Jack C. Massey School of Business MBA Program
  • Come home late, but in enough time to put the previously mentioned toddler to bed
  • Enjoy a late supper with my super hero husband and maybe watch TV
  • Read for a while
  • Go to bed

This is how the day went:

  • Dropped off the happy toddler at daycare
  • Got on the interstate to monster traffic because of the rain and realized that I had left my wallet at home
  • Turned around (finally, took a while to get turned around) and stopped in the pouring rain to discovery I actually did have my wallet, it had dropped under my car seat
  • Went to Starbucks, ordered the wrong coffee and then had coffee envy and didn’t appreciate my order (start of pity party)
  • Looked at the clock and discovered I had been in route to the concrete jungle (aka – work in Downtown Nashville) for almost 90 minutes
  • Heard a loud BANG! Something hit my driver’s side window and shattered in on the interstate causing the glass to exploded in my lap, down my dress and all over me was immediately thankful that I didn’t have Bug with me and that I wasn’t seriously hurt (I only had a few scratches on my leg from the glass shards, even though I was covered in glass)
  • Was helped by the nicest police officer (thank you Metro Police!) and drove my non-driver’s side window car to work where a nice co-worker helped me dig the rest of the glass shards out of my leg
  • Called my superhero husband to come rescue me, which he did
  • Went to see the doctor to check out me and my little impending bundle of joy
  • Got to see #2 on an 3D ultrasound and found out she’s already 4lb and 11oz with 7 weeks to go (end of pity party)
  • Superhero husband taking complete care of the car and presently you wouldn’t even know there had been any glass present in the car
  • Currently watching Dora the Explorer with my happy toddler and glad to be home

Comments (5) »

Dear #2

July 11, 2010 · Filed under life

Dear #2,

I am less anxious about your arrival than I was about #1, but  just as excited about seeing your sweet little face.  Less anxious doesn’t mean that you will be any less loved, but it will mean that you’re mom (me) will hopefully be less crazy when you get here.

See you in seven weeks!

Love,

Mom

PS-Please look like me, okay?  And if possible can you have dark brown hair and eyes like mine?

PSS-I’ve already picked out our first hiking trail, Beaman Park, the same hiking trail that I took your big sister on for her first hike.  You’ll love it.

Comments (2) »

I’ll Pray for You

July 4, 2010 · Filed under life

I just don’t know what to say.  The first time I heard this song I just sat  in my car dumbfounded.  What are your thoughts?

Comments (4) »

A Day with Dad

July 3, 2010 · Filed under blessings, life

One of my favorite pass times is hiking.  I love it and love it even more when I get to take Bug and hike with my Dad.   My last hike with Christmas Eve when the Superhero & I found out we were expecting our new bundle of joy, Reagan.  Combined missing hiking and missing spending Saturday mornings with my Dad (Saturday mornings are our chosen time to hike), Dad and I decided we’d take a day and just hang out together.  This will probably go down as one of my favorite days.

IMAG0052

After dropping off my car for an oil change, we started out with Breakfast at Larry’s in Springfield.  Larry’s is the kind of place where you can eat great comfort food, see 10 people you know and talk to the waitress like she’s part of the family.

IMAG0054

Next we headed to Radnor Lake to check out the damage from the flood.  Thankfully, it wasn’t as bad as we feared.  We trekked around and took a nice stroller, no real hiking, but just enough to be able to see and appreciate just how awesome this park.  I never leave this place without feeling so thankful that it is close, within an hour drive, and very well taken care of.  If you are looking for a cause to champion (besides Robertson County Reads) Friends of Radnor Lake is a great group that exists to support, maintain and keep Radnor Lake great.

IMAG0056

The next part of the day was to venture over to REI!  Dad and I can’t stop by Radnor Lake without going to REI.  It is by far my favorite place to shop.  And it was nice just to stroll around.  Growing up, we spent all of our family vacations camping and we typically stopped at an outdoor store.  Back then they were all family owned stores and we’d spend what felt like hours there.  I wish I could go back and relive those vacations and treks on cool hiking trails and outdoor stores, I wasn’t as impressed with those vacations as I am today.  But I’m so thankful that my Dad exposed me to the outdoors and I’m looking forward to spending the our family vacations at some of the same camping spots.

IMAG0057

I also found my new jogging stroller!  But will wait to purchase it until REI has one of their famous 20% off sales!  This stroller is great and I’m sure Amelia, Reagan and I will log a ton of miles with it!

Dad and I finished the day with ice cream for lunch and then attending our Springfield Lions Club meeting that evening.

Thanks again Dad for a great day out!

Comments (4) »

« Previous entries
Next Page »
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 1,275 other followers