Happy 10th Anniversary Scott

Today marks the tenth anniversary of marriage for Scott and I.  But this story began a long time ago.  It was a softball game in the summer of 1993 that would change my life but I just did not know it.  My friend Emily and I went to play ball with a bunch of guys. Who knew that the guy pitching would become my husband many years later?   I still remember my first group date with Scott. It was 4^th of July and a bunch of us met up at Mill Creek to watch the fireworks.  Crazy I can still remember what I had on.  I guess I was trying to impress someone.  Our first date without a group was to Savannah and we went walking on the beach.  So many more dates would come after that as we dated for six years before we got married.  Throughout those six years I would graduate high school, go off to Young Harris five hours away from Scott, we would break up once, and then eventually we would be married.  My same friend Emily would go wedding dress shopping with me.  I still remember the day that I got married like it was yesterday.  My bridesmaids spent the night at our house.  We got up the next morning and went to Shoney’s for the breakfast bar.  I would then head over to William’s to get my hair done by my friend Angel.  Next I went to Belk to get my makeup done.  I arrived at church in the parlor area where I would get dress.  I took many people to help put my dress on.  Several who shared in this occasion were Kristy, Nikki, my sister, Carol, Marybeth, Stacy, and Sarah.  We decided to do pictures before the ceremony so I went into the chapel to see Scott for the first time.  I think there were tears in both of our eyes.  You hear that most people say they were so nervous on their wedding day.  I could not have been calmer.  I felt like if you were marrying the right person it should feel extremely right.  And it did.  Since we have been married we have moved twice, had three beautiful daughters Haleigh, Zoie, and McKinley, I have earned three more degrees, and bought a house.  I could not be more blessed.  Scott is my best friend, he is the one that I want to talk to when I come home from work, who I want to vent to, who I want to hold me when I am sad, and sometimes when I am in the mood for cuddling he is who I want to cuddle with.  Those who know me know that I am not a touchy feely person.  Scott I love you always and forever and I hope to have many more anniversaries with you.  Happy 10^th Anniversary! Ruth 1: 16-17

Happy One month old to McKinley

I cannot believe how fast these past four weeks have flown.  I feel like it was just yesterday that we headed to the hospital.  I know how fast time will fly as I look at your sisters and see how quick time flew in their lives.  I am trying hard to cherish the time while I am at home with you.  I know all to well that these next three weeks will fly by and I will be back at school and you will be playing with Eli and Ty.  How I will miss you!  Your daddy and I were talking just yesterday about how we can tell how much you have grown.  I am not sure what you weigh since we don't go back to Dr. Lathem until month two but you have grown.  Last night you stayed with daddy for the first time while mommy took your sisters to Disney on Ice.  That will be a blog all to itself.  Daddy stayed at church with you and fed you a bottle which you ate 3.5 ounces of.  He took you to Walmart to buy your tree.  I am sure you are wondering about that.  I would post a picture but my camera has died and I don't have a charger.  When each of you and your sisters were born we bought a tree to remember.  T did the same thing with Aunt Heather and I.  Our trees along with your sister's trees are at the farm in Statesboro.  One day I will take you back to visit so you can see their trees.  This time we decided to get you a Japanese Maple.  After church daddy took you to Walmart and bought your tree.  It is beautiful and now we just have to decide where to plant it.  Happy One month McKinley and I can't wait to celebrate many more with you.  We love you.

2 week checkup

Well today we headed to Gainesville to meet with Dr. Lathum for your two week appointment. Thankfully no shots were in store for us today. Last night was rough enough. It seems sweet girl that your days are mixed up with your nights or you like to have what people call a witching hour. More like four hours for you. Last night you were awake from 8 until 12 and that is pm sweet girl. I think I said earlier you will learn momma likes her sleep. But if that is all I can complain about with you then we are good. McKinley you are doing great for a two week old. You have now outgrown newborn diapers. Funny that you are my only child who ever wore them. Your cord has finally fell off so we can now take real baths. We got your stats today. You weighed in at 9 lbs and 2.5 ounces. You are in the 50% for weight. You love to eat which explains your gain of almost 2 lbs in 2 weeks. Your height measured at 20 and 1/4 inches. You have grown some there as well. But looking at your genes you are destined to be short. You are only in the 20th percentile for height. Your head circumference was 14 and 1/4. That ranks you in the 25th percentile for your head. Dr. Lathum said you look great. We talked about how you don't like a pacifier. We are working on that still. I think you might be my thumb sucker. Time will tell. We don't go back to visit Dr. Lathum until you are 2 months old. By that time mommy will be back at work. Time is going by way to quickly.

McKinley Jade Holland

Happy Birthday McKinley Jade Holland. We arrived at the hospital on March 1st extremely early. You will learn sweet girl of mine that momma likes to sleep late. We had to be at the hospital at 5:30. Yes that would be AM. Your sisters spent the night with T the night before so we could get there this early. We checked in and were taken to a room. Around 7ish Dr. Lake came to check on us. At 7:15 they took us back to surgery. At 7:30 they allowed Daddy to come in to surgery. Dr. Lake and his team were ready. At 7:45 Dr. Lake told Daddy to stand up. He could not quite tell what you were. Dr. Lake had your parts covered well. He finally lifted you over the screen and revealed to us both that you were a girl. At this point we did not have a middle name. Your first name came from my friend and co-worker Carrie. We decided we loved it and began working on a middle name. We contiplated Ruth, Rae, Hope, Faith, Grace and Jade. Your middle name would come later as we were late picking Zoie's middle name too. After they weighed you at 7 lbs and 8 ounces at 39 weeks Daddy went with you to recovery. You were my smallest of our girls. Once I was taken to recovery Mrs. Abigail met us back there and she began taking pictures. It was in recovery that your middle name came to be. I love Jade because it means green which is my favorite color. But we called to talk to Haleigh and Zoie and Haleigh really liked Jade. So Jade it was. As we were wheeled from recovery to our room, in the waiting room was Mrs. Andrea, Mrs. Laura, and Brooks. It was such a welcomed sight. You had some amazing nurses while we were at NEGMC. We had Ms. Jenny, Ms. Cindy who was our night nurse and favorite, and our last day we had Ms. April who lives in White County. The girls came to meet you with T. Haleigh and Zoie were smitten right away. They want to hold you all the time. Several more people came to visit you at the hospital too. Mrs. Katie came and spent the night and brought you goodies so that you would be "Dolled up". On Friday evening we had to evacuate into the hallways as tornado's were spotted. That was a little crazy. On Saturday the doctor said that we could go home. At lunch, this party of five headed to Shelter Cove. It has been a world wind since. McKinley we love you and are so excited that you have completed our family. I could not imagine our lives without you. Now let the drama of 3 girls begin. Your sisters will clue you in well. Above are some pictures of that special day we now call your birthday. We love you sweet girl!

New Years Resolutions

I hate the title of this. I have always made them and then forgot them. My goal is to just do better. However there are a few things that I am bound and determined to do better at. So even though I am calling them resolutions I hope that they will actually stick this year.
1. To blog more often now that I am done with school.
2. To begin a 365 this year. I think I might be crazy trying to do this and have a baby.
3. To be a better mom to my two but almost three children.
4. To slow down and appreciate the little things. Not wish for time to pass by. It does so on its own quick enough.
5. To spend more time in devotion to my Lord. Glad to be a part of my CBS and love the girls I meet with weekly.
6. To be a better wife.
7. To get back on track with Dave Ramsey and stick to our budget. Live like no one else does so that you can live like no one else does.

Notice that I did not put down to lose "x" number of lbs. Not that I don't need to but I always put that one and then don't stick with it. So maybe if I don't put it then it will happen.

Happy New Year to you all! Praying that 2012 will be better than 2011

Sisterly Love

This week Haleigh has had somewhat of a cold. Monday night while I was at bible study Scott was doing a devotion with the girls and saying prayers. It was Zoie's turn and she said God please make my sister Haleigh feel better cause I love her so. It is such sweet sisterly love. They sleep together every night not because they have to but because they want to. You can go and check on them after they have gone to sleep and many nights find them curled up next to each other. Recently Haleigh spent the night away and Zoie said she really missed her sister. I hope they always have this relationship. It makes my heart all warm and fuzzy. Speaking of sisterly love we had a visit from my sister and her family this weekend. It was great. The O'Dell party of six arrived Friday afternoon. I was late getting off work because we were finishing up a semester. The girls were excited all day. Their first question when I picked them up on friday was are they here yet? They love their cousins. So Scott picked up pizza for supper that night and we just hung out. On Saturday the men went fishing and hunting while us girls plus Carter staying around the house. The kids played and played. Late Saturday afternoon the men returned and we cooked supper. We had quail, chicken fingers, corn casserole, mac and cheese, brown rice, and brownies and cobbler for dessert. It was great. David had to preach on Sunday so they left right after baths and supper. Love when they come and visit and hope we can do it again real soon. Here are a few pictures from this weekend!

The Servant Song

I have been doing a bible study with Community Bible Study (CBS) for the past few months. I never used to love Genesis. It had too much history piled into one book but now that we are taking an indepth study of Genesis I have truly learned to love it. This past week we have been reading Genesis Ch 24. It is about Abraham's servant going to bring home a wife for Isaac. As I was doing my devotion it reminded me of a song I learned 15 years ago when I went to Chrysalis. It is called the Servant song. I am going to post the words below and I hope you find meaning in this song as I have. I hope that I can learn to be like the servant of Abraham but be the servant for God.

The Servant Song

Brother, let me be your servant Let me be as Christ to you Pray that I may have the grace To let you be my servant, too We are pilgrims on a journey We are brothers on the road We are here to help each other Walk the mile and bear the load I will hold the Christlight for you In the night-time of your fear I will hold my hand out to you Speak the peace you long to hear I will weep when you are weeping When you laugh I'll laugh with you I will share your joy and sorrow Till we've seen this journey through.

When we sing to God in heaven We shall find such harmony Born of all we've known together Of Christ's love and agony Brother, let me be your servant Let me be as Christ to you Pray that I may have the grace To let you be my servant, too.

If you know this song. I would love your comments of where you learned it and what it means to you.

South Georgia Chrysalis #10 Table of God's Little Angels