Halloween Memories...

2005...My little blue-eyed Bunny...10 months old..


MawMaw/The Wicked Witch with the sweet little bunny

2005...Pumpkin Babies....
Perhaps, my favorite...
Okay, now I am getting teary-eyed..where does the time go??
Halloween at The Hill's...2005 (our house in Olde Town Conyers) Jenny, Mary, Danielle, Me and baby Tyler!
2005..Joseph the Power Ranger and Presley the pink bunny (me Momma Bunny)
Presley and Daddy 2005
2005...Lem (blue eyes) an his baby girl, Presley Jane
2005...Pumpkin Patch!!
Graham! 2006
My Princess Presley..2006
Batman a/k/a Joseph 2006
LOVE my babies!
2006...Joseph patting his little sister's belly...my heart melts
2007...The Hill's pose for their Halloween portrait...BOOO!
Presley, Cali Rose, and Anna-Joy the prettiest Halloween girlies!
The whole gang...pretty scary bunch!
Lem, you take by breath away...literally!
Don't eat that apple, Snow White! (Presley & Me)
2008..Trick or Treating in Olde Town Conyers...
My beautiful bumble bee niece, Ashley
Joseph, Presley, and my nephew Graham pose for the camera
Super Girl and Indian Jones walking off into the sunset...
Joseph giving his best Indiana Jones/Elvis pose...Presley smiling




So, you all know that I love Halloween! I had to post some of my favorite memories..Enjoy!!


Boo!

Happy Halloweening,

Jill

Sprinkles of fun....

Joseph getting ready to roll out some dough!

taking it seriously...

smiles and cookies...the best kind of fun!

helping Joseph with the cookie cutter...

even Dad joined in on the fun!

rolling it up!

time for the oven!

TAH DAH!!! The cookies are ready!!

a little creativity with the cookies..the kids initials :)

2009 P for Presley and J for Joseph!

We had so much fun baking Halloween cookies. This was our first year baking Halloween cookies together. I usually do it alone, to surprise the kids when they get home from school. However, I thought it was time to let them help. They were so excited.

After church on Sunday, we told them to go to their rooms and wait until we called them out to the kitchen. Lem and I put out all of the ingredients on the table and set the scene. Once finished, we called the kids in the kitchen, and all that was heard was "Woohooooo!!". You would have thought they won the lottery! I love when they are thrilled over the little things.

Much fun was had, and many sprinkles sprinkled. The cookies are long gone, but the memories remain.

still sweeping sprinkles,



Jill

Seasons Change....

God really does have a sense of humor. I have heard it said at least a million times, but now, I KNOW it's true. A while back I blogged about both of my children being in school full time, and how I felt this longing to do "something" outside of the home. Now, don't get me wrong, I would be a homemaker until kingdom come, if that's what I could do. However, with finances being a little shaky, I felt the need to contribute financially in some way.

I explained in that blog that I had always wanted to be involved in hair and makeup or any thing of that nature. School is out of the question, because of the cost that it would entail. So, I prayed, and I waited, and I waited. Just as I was in the process of filling out forms to be a substitute at the children's schools, something fell into my lap.

My hairdresser for many, many years called my sister about starting a business with her. She thought it would be a great idea to offer hair and makeup services for brides. The catch being, that we would come to them. Brilliant!! Angela passed the idea along to me, and of course, I was thrilled at the prospect! Hair, make-up, and weddings??? A dream job!

After several belly laughs, and silly name ideas later, we came up with the name Three Blondes & a Wand. Fitting, considering we are all bleached blondes. My very good friend Courtney came up with the cutest logo for our cards, and we were set!

One day after deciding this would be a fun adventure, we got our first booking for a wedding. What?? Wow!! Talk about gettin' the ball rolling!

This past Sunday was our first wedding, consisting of a bride and 4 brides maids. We had so much fun. As Angela perfected their make-up, Joyce was working her magic on their hair. Me, being the "assistant", ran my legs off running errands for the bride and her maid of honor. We all worked so well together. It was like we had been doing this for years.

God is so good. He never fails to give me the desires of my heart. The desires that He places within my heart. To top it all off, I am now working 2 days a week at my Dad's heating and air conditioning business. I needed some extra money, and he needed some help...perfect. I love helping out his business. It feels like home to me. Not to mention, the cherry on top is that I get to see my Mom and Dad more often and I am loving every minute of it.

There I was two months ago, in my mode of lamenting about what God had in store for me. Daily, I was asking "am i good at anything...is there anything out there for me??" Then out of the clear blue sky, the Lord all but threw 2 jobs in my lap. I love YOU. I bet you must have been smiling Your big, knowing smile all the while I was feeling lonesome and sorry for myself.

I asked and I received. More than I bargained for at that. Thank you, Lord. You never cease to amaze me with your love for me. Your timing is impeccable, as always.

grateful for this new season,

Jill

And I thought I loved you then....

Today marks 11 years of marriage for me and my beau. Wow. It sounds so strange and old to say out loud. When people ask me how long we have been married and I say " Eleven years", they assume that we must be in our early forties. Oh, but rest assured, I am quick to tell them that we are ahem...only 34. (just in case they were wondering, that is.)

Lem and I were married at the ripe age of 23 years old. Our courtship lasted right at 2 years, and in that 2 years, 7 months of it was our engagement period. At the time, it seemed like we were the perfect age for marriage, now looking back it seems a bit young. I really don't think we could have waited much longer, we were finished with college and the time was "right".

As I think back to those days, I remember being so naive about everything. My wedding planning, my expectations, my finances....I was just clueless. Thankfully, God still blesses and loves a clueless girl.

A little about Lem...He is the perfect fit for me. God knew I needed a wise man with good character. No other man would do for this indecisive, care-fee, procrastinating, whimsical young girl. I needed a strong man that could tame this little heart of mine into reality. Perhaps it was being the youngest sibling and always being carried and toted and never really having to make a decision. That's exactly what my big sister was for. I didn't have to think or even talk at times, because she was there to do it for me. Bless her little heart. I still remember sitting on the potty needing to be wiped and my parents sending her little 5 year old self to help. She held her nose the whole time while I looked up to her with my big puppy dog eyes admiring her "big-girlness."

Then along came Lem. He was everything that I ever dreamed of having as a husband. Handsome, funny, witty, smart, educated and self-sufficient. I loved how he could work a room. We would show up at a party in college, my stomach tumbling, my palms sweaty, my nose getting a little oily around the edges, my knees shaking, clutching Lem's arm for support. Then there was Lem...fully confident, big smile, beer in hand, ready to roll. I still love this about him. He leads me and I am happy to follow. He has taught me a lot about "social" situations just by watching him. It just comes easy for him. As I head for the nearest corner, he heads to the nearest gathering. Oh, how I love this about my man!!

One of my favorite things that he does is call me on the phone and he tells me to turn it on a particular station. He always says, "This is my song to you, baby." I always listen intently and grin from ear to ear as I relish each and every word. The last time he did this was last week. The song is probably playing as you read this. It's Brad Paisley's, "Then". If you click the song up at the top right it will start playing. Enjoy, it's a beautiful song.

Lem never ceases to surprise me and he never ceases to adore me. I really don't know what he sees in me, but I will take it none the less. He makes me feel like the prettiest girl in the room every time. Now THAT'S a man that loves me.

Thank you, Lem for just getting better and better with age. Your love for me is like no other. I am grateful to God for the gift of "you." I really do not remember what it was like "BL". (before Lem). Nor do I want to.

We're only getting better with time, darlin'.

and i thought i loved you then,

Jill

Did he really say that?....

~Posing for the first day of school pics~
~First day of 4 yr. old Pre-K..the teacher took the picture...sorry for the blur!~
~My third grader and Pre-K-er...ready for the first day of school..August 5th, 2009~
~Birthday Party at Momma Jane's after school~


Kids say the darndest things. They really do. Mom and I were having a nice quaint lunch with my 2 loves, Joseph and Presley not too long ago. Joseph and I are sitting in the booth seat together across from Mom and Presley. The conversation turned to growing old, looking old, something of that sort. Joseph proceeds to ask me how old I am.

Me: Mommy is 34, darling.

Joseph: Oh, okay. Well, you look younger than that. (a big smile overtakes his little face, as if knowing that what he said was indeed a compliment).

Me: I love you, thank you! That makes Mommy happy that you think I look younger than my age. ( i sit up a little straighter and suck in a little tighter, proud that my boy thinks such a thing.)

As I am relishing in this compliment and dreamily thinking of possible ages that I may look to him.. 25, 26, 27 at the most? Joseph, the sweet soul that he is, scooches his little self to the very end of the long booth. He squints his eyes in such a way that he can barely see. After about 45 seconds of this, he says...

" You really look young from WAY over here, Mommy. "

He then scoots up close to me and opens his wide, knowing eyes, as if catching every detail of my face and says..

"When I get this close, you really, really look your age, though. From far away, you can't see these spots and lines. " (as he is pointing, yes pointing them out on my thirty-four year old face.)

My Mom and I die laughing, and then Mom quickly covers her face and says..

"I don't want to know how old you think I look, so please don't tell!!"

You just can't make this kind of stuff up. Pure innocence. Honest, brutally honest, but innocent and endearing none the least.

proud of every last spot and wrinkle..i earned them well,


Jill

Seats in the balcony....

So much on my heart, not enough words in my vocabulary to convey. Sometimes, when I sit down to blog, I have no idea what I am going to write about until I just start typing...seriously. Sometimes, I just have something on my heart and writing in my journal or blogging is the one thing that gets it all out.

I suppose writing down my thoughts and feelings is something that I started as a wee little girl. My Mom and Dad could tell you many stories of notes slipped under their bedroom door asking them for their forgiveness or permission about something. Maybe this note writing thing was because it was not as scary as face to face conversation. Perhaps it is because I feel like I can hide behind the pen or the keyboard, whichever it is, it's my way of communicating and it always has been.

With that said, I am spilling out my heart. This blog is intended for my children to read and cherish one day as I retell stories about their childhood and funny sayings. 90 percent of this blog is for them, my Loves. The other 10 percent or so is for them to have a glimpse into Mommy's heart. A side that they may not know about me until reading this one day. I want them to know these things, just in case there is the small chance they may face the same battles, the same struggles.

My heart is saddened by the tragic deaths of some people in our circle. One was a 34 year old man who Lem went to school with. He took his life. He took his own life. Upon hearing this news, my knees buckled from under me...not physically, but spiritually. My friend and neighbor, Shannon, called me on my cell phone to tell me this horrific news. I didn't know him, but Lem did. None of this mattered though, whether I knew him or not did not matter. The fact was...someone my age was in such dire straits that the only alternative was taking his own life away.

I still can't wrap myself around this kind of despair and hopelessness. I have heard that anti-depressants may have been to blame. If so, I am even more saddened to know that it may have been prevented. Whichever the case, my heart has been troubled since hearing the news. My spirit has been stirred in such a way that I feel more than ever the need for loving the sick, and befriending those that need a little encouragement or just an ear to listen. My heart is stirring for the millions and millions of people that do not know Jesus. They have no hope, they have no reason to live when something terrible happens. They don't know the peace and the hope that comes with Him.

It's overwhelming and feels a bit daunting at times. Then, just when I feel this way, God assures me that He is leading. I just need to follow. Oh, yes! Follow...follow...follow....i must remember this. I get carried away with "what can i do?? what can i do???" I can almost see God shaking his head as if to say, " No, daughter...it's what I can do...not what you can do. I will work through you, just listen to my commands and follow me."

Unfortunately, I have never been good at following directions. I am much more of a "visual" learner. So, I ask God to give me a picture of hope and how to spread His love and His hope. I imagine that I am the one who is lost and in despair. For, it is not hard to imagine. I have been there, many times. Thank God for people who don't let me stay there for very long. I picture those people, this is my "visual". What are they doing? They are nurturing me, leading me, speaking love, truth and wisdom into my life. They are picking up the pieces and helping me to put it all back together without chastising me for letting the pieces fall apart. I love these people. They are being led by God, they are being stirred and prodded by the Holy Spirit on my behalf. This is my visual. This is my hope.

My friend, Beka, gave me a book that I often look back upon from time to time. It's encouraging, it's full of hope. It's called "Balcony People". I imagine the people in my balcony cheering me on when I feel like I can't go on another day. I imagine the love and belief they have in me as I face a struggle or a stronghold. At the very top tier of that balcony, I see Jesus. He is barely visible because of the light that shrouds His very presence. The warmth of His presence fills the whole arena, my arena. As I squint my eyes to get a closer glimpse, I see my "balcony people" clearer and clearer, though they are not what I was looking for. I feel myself trying harder and harder to just see Him. Then it hits me. I get it. They are Him. He is working through them. He loves me so much that He never leaves my arena at any given moment and never takes His eyes off of me. Yet, He is also using their hands as His hands. Picking me back up when I am down, and gently guiding me to level ground.

What am I saying? I am saying that everyone needs a balcony full of people cheering them on, believing in them. When the seats are empty or vacant, it makes for a lonely show. I hope that by the end of my life, I will be in the balconies of many. I want to rest in the peace that God used His hands to work through me, not for my glory but for His alone.

"May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us-yes, establish the work of our hands. " Psalm 90:17



reserving my balcony seats,


Jill

In search of Me....

The best way to describe it is like a big, fat roller coaster zooming around in your stomach, all the while looking for somewhere to screech it's loud brakes and park. That's one way to put into words how I am feeling lately. Both kids are at school, full time. Me, well, I am zooming around looking for a place to land.

Suddenly and abruptly, I feel myself needing to find a niche. A hobby so to speak, but one that can help pay the bills. Hmmm...good luck with that, right? My mind is in constant motion of what in the world I should do now. Am I good at anything?? Not really finding a definitive answer to that one. Really, I am not feeling sorry for myself, just telling the truth. I feel utterly out of sync with the job market, due to spending my last 8 years on diaper duty so to speak. Daycare working has crossed my mind a few times, just because it fits the bill with my training.

Mommyhood is all i know, and really all i care to know. It's just that with today's economy, i really need to expand my horizons a bit. I made a list of things " that I am good at", then i crossed it off and made a list of "things I like to do".
Here is the list of things I like to do:

~being a mommy
~taking care of my household duties
~ hair, makeup and any kind of beauty treatment on the planet

Well, so what now?

In the meantime of" finding myself", I am in the process of being a substitute teacher at the kids schools. It's a start, I guess.


With my love for all things hair, I also spoke with my hair dresser, and asked her about helping out in the salon. She said I could, but probably not until October. Hmm. Okay, so, now i wait.

I know that God has a plan for me, I am just ready for the "reveal". Impatience is knocking at my heart and I'm sincerely trying not to answer.

Meanwhile, you will find me in my usual spot. I am comfortable here, but comfortable is not always a good thing. Ambitious, resourceful, industrious, ardent, and determined are the adjectives I am striving for here in my job pursuit. It's scary, very scary for me to think of doing anything other that what i have been doing for so long. I am happy here. However, I can't help but see the wave of change in the horizon, cresting, and coming ashore.

I found a verse that hits home with my emotions at the moment...

"All you who put your hope in the Lord, be strong and brave", Psalm 31:24

Strong and brave are not knocking at my door, but I am looking through the peep hole anxiously awaiting.

still searching,



Jill

The apple doesn't fall very far....

Our wonderful neighbors invited us to come swimming this week after school. It was a Tuesday afternoon...homework was done, dinner was warming, and the house was semi-clean. What the heck...sure, we will join you for a swim.Why not.

The Sewell's have become dear friends of ours. Their son, Tristin, is 10 yrs old, and their daughter, Slylar, is 8 years old. Joseph and Presley have come to love playing every afternoon with them. Before they moved in we had to force the kids to go outside. There was just not really anyone to play with..that was their age anyway. Well now, another story. Tristin and Skylar are more like cousins to Joseph and Presley. They LOVE playing together.

Well, I have been noticing that Joseph really seems to like playing with the little girl, Skylar, more than the little boy. They just have fun together. She is very much a tom-boy and loves to get dirty with the rest of them. She is just adorable. Joseph, I think, agrees. ;)

Where am I going with this, you ask? Okay, I'm getting there. So, we agree to come swimming with them on Tuesday afternoon. The kids put on their swimsuits with the speed of a lightning bolt. Excited, to say the least.

As Presley and I walk down our driveway to our neighbors house, we notice Joseph is not with us. Huh? He was just with us coming out the door. Hmmm. I look behind me and see him on the hard pavement of our driveway doing push-ups. Yes, push-ups. His face is etched into that of a trained fighter getting ready for his next match. His eyes are closed and he is grunting loudly.

I am startled. "Joseph, what are you doing darlin'??" No answer.

"Joseph, are you okay? Are you doing......push-ups?"

"Yes, yes, Mommy. You know, just like Daddy does before we go down to the beach. He always does push-ups to look more buff."

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I asked him who he wanted to look buff for, and he nonchalantly said...."uh, nobody."

My boy is growing up.

not sure if i am ready for this,

Jill