10 days and counting.....

~Meet the newest member of the Hill family....my little friend..isn't she cute??~

Something about Lem...

He bought me a new car today!! Now before you get too excited, it's a small car and it's used. BUT, it gets 35 miles per gallon, people!!! YES, I said 35 miles per gallon!! Can I hear a WOO-HOO!!

I am thrilled! Every time I get in my other car..the "Guzzler ', as I have so nicknamed her...I feel like I am just taking money out of my wallet and throwing it out the window. Not anymore!! We will save the "Guzzler" for trips and other family things...but for the most part my new car...(hmmmm..she needs a name) will be escorting me in it's small but practical and economically sassy self. :) Yay!

So, I am a happy girl on her happy little way in my new little friend the Hyundai Accent! Heehee!!

Thank you sweet angel!! I'm in love with YOU and HER!! :)

zoom zoom,

Jill

a little something...

Something worth sharing.....


As I am driving home from Conyers tonight after dinner with Jane, and watching my nephew William play football, I hear a song on the radio. I immediately turn it up really loud and just melt into the song. Presley had just fallen asleep so it was perfect timing.

I have heard the song several times before, and since then I am always searching for it on the radio. The song hits in the deepest part of my soul in so many ways.

"Slow Fade" by Casting Crowns

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao927GMhlzI

Be careful little eyes what you see. Be careful little ears what you hear..

thoughts invade, choices are made..a price will be paid when you give yourself away. People never crumble in a day..the journey from the mind to your hands is shorter than your thinking. be careful if you think that you stand..you just might be sinking.

its a slow fade, when you give yourself away..black and white turn to gray, thoughts invade choices are made.. a price will be paid. Daddies never crumble in a day..families never crumble in a day..

oh, be careful little eyes what you see, be careful little ears what you hear. The Father up above is looking down with love, oh be careful little eyes what you see.

These are just a few of the lines in the song. It's a powerful message about sin, and how slowly it creeps up on you, and then before you know it your over your head in sin and destruction. Your family is torn apart, you look in the mirror and don't recognize who you see. You feel different, you feel ugly, you feel dirty and thrown away.

Nobody could ever understand , you tell yourself,...i am in this alone. This is what the devil wants you to think..to think there is no way out.

There is a way out..look up. God is waiting for you. Arms wide open, tears on his face, tears of joy and sadness. Joy for the person that you will become after you repent and give yourself to Him. Sadness for the destruction that has taken place around you.

Nothing is impossible or unforgivable with God.

This song is not about any particular sin...it is about ALL sin. I am not writing this for any other reason that to let you know that we have all been to that place. A place where it is dark and lonely. A place where peace does not reside. I hope to never visit there again.

This song explains perfectly how slowly it happens, yet how forceful it overtakes you when you fall.

I love all of you so much! Take a minute to listen to this song...remember the words. Let them resonate within your soul.

Love,

Jill

Eleven days and counting...

~This is Lem sleeping in his new hammock this past weekend. Yes, he slept there all night~ ~Just another hobby~

I have so much to blog about today..where to start?? The most EXCITING news of the day is that Danielle and Lee had their sweet baby boy..Eli on Saturday night!! He is the most beautiful little boy!! So far, I have only seen pictures..but I hope to take them dinner on Wednesday evening..(my poor attempt at getting my hands on that baby!) :)

If that wasn't enough good news for one weekend, Alice and CJ had their baby boy on Sunday morning! It was a weekend for babies! Probably had a little something to do with the full moon...or at least that's what the old wives tales say!

Congratulations to both of you!! Lem and I are thrilled for you, and can't wait to come and visit those angels.

In other news, I have slacked off this weekend with my countdown..sorry guys. I am back at it today, though! (thanks to my faithful friend and blog reader Tracey...i LOVE YOU!!!)

Something about Lem...

I have a nickname for him...well, actually i have many..but one of them is "Hobby Man". Since we said "I do", Lem has been through many hobbies. Not only does he "get into" the new hobby, but he researches, buys expensive equipment, and pretty much engrosses himself into his temporary obsession.

Most of you know that Lem is very, very obsessive compulsive in a LOT of areas. I always feel slack around him, because he just is a perfectionist. This side of him really shows when he finds a hobby. He is so loyal and gives it so much of his time....then he moves on. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we are left with equipment, gear, etc...which collects dust in the basement. The hobby obsession usually lasts about a year, then he's done and on to the next thing...here we go again.

If I had a dollar for every time that I say.."I love you, darling..but could you just stick to something??"...i would be a VERY rich girl.

Of course, then he..in all seriousness replies......"Well, well...you're just jealous that I HAVE a hobby and you DON'T!!"

Okay, you got me there.

The following is a scant list of some of the hobbies that he has so eagerly jumped into...and just as eagerly jumped out of!

~basketball

~Paint ball ( yes...Paintball!!...ummm...this is like for teenagers.)

~dirt biking...my least favorite choice. he came home dirty and bruised and just plain icky.

~golfing..he actually still loves this ..but it's still a hobby none the least.

~camping..his newest hobby...see the above pictures. He actually camped out in his hammock this past weekend...right out in the yard!! Obsessive much?? Hearing coyotes all night long didn't stop him from trying out the comfort of his camping hammock! (whoever heard of a hammock for camping, anyway?? is this really roughing it???)

I know there are more hobbies that I hav missed..Lem if you are reading this, please feel free to add to the list.

Well, this sums up my little adventurer. He will be forever and always my "Hobby Man".

still looking for my hobby,

Jill

14 and counting..

~All of Us...Fall 2007~
Something about Lem..

Lem has an awesome family. Jason is Lem's oldest sibling, and he is married to Andrea. They have 2 beautiful children, Graham and Ashley. Jessica is Lem's twin sister and she is married to Rob. They have 2 handsome boys, William and Danny.

We love spending time with all of them every chance we get. Lem is fortunate to be able to work with his Dad and his brother! Pretty neat-o!

In the summertime we all try to make a trip to the beach. I blogged about our last trip which was in July. The kids enjoy each other so much. :)

happy to be a part of the family,

Jill

15 days and counting..

~God bless America~

Today is September 11th, 2008. 7 years ago I was at home with a 5 week old baby named Joseph. It was a gorgeous Fall morning. Joseph and I had gone for an early morning walk and the world was well. When we returned from our walk, I turned on the t.v. and the images that I saw will be forever etched in my memory. It didn't make sense at first, it was like I couldn't comprehend what was happening.

As my mind is trying to wrap itself around the story that I am watching unfold, I see a second plane hit the World Trade Center. I grabbed Joseph out of his crib, and sat in my rocking chair and rocked. I rocked, and rocked, and rocked. I remember having a hard time breathing for a bit. I called Lem, my mom and my sister. I needed reassurance that we were going to be okay.

My world changed from that moment on. I wanted to take Joseph and run away. Far away from the world that we were living in. I had my first panic attack in that green rocking chair. I thought I was having a heart attack.

I had never felt more protective over my child up until that point in time. Motherhood and all that it encompasses was suddenly staring me in the face, and I felt like a weak kitten.

I prayed for God to give me the strength to get myself up out of that chair and be strong, be strong for this child that He had graced us with just 5 short weeks earlier. He did. He immediately came to my rescue and gave me the peace that I so desperately needed.

After that day, I admit that I struggled. I struggled with panic attacks and depression. September the 11th changed me.

After that day, I never look at an American flag without thinking of it waving at the site of the demolished towers.

After that day, I realized the importance of every second counting, and not taking any of it for granted.

I often think of the women that lost their husbands that day. I say a prayer for them and their families. But for the grace of God, there go I.

May God bless this great country of ours.

Something about Lem....

Throughout these almost 10 years of being together, he is strong when I can't be. He is there when I need him. And most of all he "gets it" when I am a mess and just need some understanding. He is practical when I am irrational. He is what I need when I need it most.

He is my rock.

i'm still yours,

Jill

~Me today!!!

It's 8:20 p.m. and I am just getting around to blogging. Today has been a little trying. Joseph has been sick for the last 2 days and I have been up to my ears in being a full-time nurse, wife, and mommy. Loving every minute of it, just tuckered. (that's a funny word, but it seemed fitting :))

Anywho, here I am...still churning away at my countdown for our anniversary.

Something about my Lem...

Lem came home from work today and saw the run-down state that I am in from a sleepless night with a sick child. I immediately apologized for not having any dinner prepared. (the time really got away from me..when he walked in the door I thought he was home early...but it was almost 6:00!!) I know you guys know what that feels like.

I was suddenly in a panic and too threadbare to throw some dinner together.

In my sweetest voice, I ask if we could go grab a quick dinner. Without hesitation he agreed! I almost choked on my gum! I threw the kids in the car as fast as I could..hoping he would not come to his senses and change his mind.

We needed to get out of this house. It was a long day here and Joseph was feeling better, so we both wanted a good meal...without the clean-up, I might add!

Sanchos to the rescue. We had a yummy Mexican meal, and I was so grateful.

All is well now, as we are winding down getting ready for bed.

Thank you, Lem. You knew exactly what I needed.

It's really just the little things that mean so much.

heading for the mattress for some much needed shut-eye,

Jill

Seventeen days and counting...

Something about Lem...

To catch everyone up..I am counting down to our 10 year anniversary on September the 26th. Every day, yes EVERY day, I am posting something about my groom. Here is today's tid-bit..

He loves music. This morning as I am taking Joseph to school he calls my cell phone.

"Hey" he says.

"Hey, darling." I reply.

"Listen to this song". he says as he holds the phone up to the radio.

"Aww man..it's over" he says.

"What was it, honey?" I say.

"It's my new song to you..it's called I'm Yours by Jason Mraz." he says.

So, like any other curious female, i rush home to google it..and found it. I am grinning from ear to ear as i listen intently to the words.

This is his romantic side. I love it.

I'm yours,

Jill

Eighteen and counting...

"Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.." Proverbs 17:6

~Granny Hill and her grandchildren..Graham, Joseph, Presley, Danny, William and Ashley July 2008~


~Graham and Presley pushing Granny in her wheelchair...2008~
~Granny, Joseph and Presley having a good time..2008~ ~Granny Hill and Presley (3 weeks old)..2004~


Presley, Jessica, Lem, and Granddaddy Still..Easter 2005~

~Granny Hill, Joseph and Presley 2005~

~Aunt Nancy, Mymama Still, Granddaddy Still, and Mommy Jane...Christmas 1998~

~Granddaddy and Mymama...i love how he is looking at her...1998~
~Granddaddy and Mymama Still~
~Granddaddy and Me at an engagement tea party hosted by Mymama Still before we were married..August 1998~
Something about Lem.....

Lem is the product of the love and support from all of the above people...his grandparents.

To say that his grandparents influenced his life, would be a major understatement. They played a monumental role helping to develop Lem into the man that I fell in love with 12 years ago

.

Lem encompasses all of the best and finest qualities of these distinguished people. I can't imagine my life or his life without them. They have played an eminent role in our lives and the lives of our children.

Unfortunately, Lem's paternal grandfather (Joseph Jesse...Joseph (our sons) namesake) passed away before we met. I have heard countless stories of this man, though. From what I hear, Lem has MANY of his qualities as well. He was quite a character from the stories that I hear. I am sorry that I never got the chance to meet this wonderful man.

Granny (Lem's paternal grandmother) is by far the sweetest lady I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I have done a post on her in the past so I won't go into too much detail. But, I will say that she is truly an angel on Earth. I love this woman with all my heart, and am so thankful that my children know her as well. What a blessing!

Lem's maternal grandparents, Mymama and Grandaddy were also very special to us. We loved hanging out with them any chance that we got. When we first got married, we would eat dinner with them on Friday nights. Lem liked calling them for dinner because they always paid. :) They loved Victorian House in Conyers, so at least once a month we ate there with them.

I have never seen anyone love another human being like Grandaddy loved Mymama. The man was head over heels smitten for that precious woman. Theirs was truly a love story like no other. I could literally write a book on their romance and their epic life story. When Lem gets upset with me, I always cry and say.."Why can't you just love me like Grandaddy loved Mymama??!!" And he replies..."Act like Mymama and I will treat you like that!!" And then I reply.."Treat me like that and I will act like her!!"

Grandaddy passed away in 2006, and Mymama died the very next year in 2007. Mymama died the day before it would have been Granddaddy's birthday. We all said that Grandaddy would get the grandest birthday present ever in heaven with Mymama's homecoming.

I can't even begin to express how much of a presence they were in our lives. We miss them daily, yet we know that now they will never be away from each other again.

So, that's my story about Lem for the day. He is "Lem" because of all of these choice and paramount folks. Thank you Lord for his heritage and the prayers that made him the man he is today.

with happy tears of remembrance,

Jill

19 and counting..

~Lem, Jim Donnan, and Mike Rutherford...2000~ ~Mark Richt and Lem...couldn't they be related??~

~Presley's first GA game...Fall 2007~ ~Joseph and Lem at our first GA game as a family..Fall 2007~
~Reading a book AND watching the Dawgs...that's my boy!!~
~The girls love the Dawgs as well~ ~Tailgating before the game...Fall 2007~
19 more days to go until the big 10 year mark in our marriage....

Something about Lem...

Okay, so you know that Lem is a sports fan. But not just any sports fan...he is a die hard Georgia Bulldogs fan. Lem graduated from UGA the same year that we got married. He barely got out of there before we walked down the aisle. :)

Lem's grandfather and namesake...L.B. (Lemuel Benjamin) graduated from Georgia way back when. I am not sure of the year..but it was somewhere in the 1940's, I think. Anyway, Lem's love for the bulldogs runs deep to say the least.

Ironically, Lem was raised as a Tech fan. Lem's dad graduated from Tech, therefore they were huge supporters of Georgia's biggest rival! He hates seeing pictures of himself decked out in Tech attire when he was younger. He always said he finally broke free and came to his senses. :)

Now he is passing the love for the Dawgs onto our children. They have been doing the bulldog chant since they could talk. It's so cute!!

Here are a few pictures that he has happily agreed for me to post!

Goooooooooo Dawwwwwwwwwwwwggs,

Jill

Twenty days to go....

~Los Angeles, and Santa Monica area...visited C. J. and Alice ...i was 5 mos. preggers 2004~
~Felton, CA visiting my aunt and uncle..we are standing inside of a Redwood Tree...2003~

~Breckenridge, Co...2000~

~Nassau, Bahamas...2002~

~Maine trip 2000~

~New York, December 2001~

~San Francisco & Napa Valley trip 2003~

~Scotland trip (Lem and Jason golfing at St Andrews) 2000~
~Breckenridge, Co. Trip 2000~

~New Orleans..6 mos. before Katrina hit...2005~ ~Boston, Mass. 2000~

20 days and counting..

Something about Lem...

So, I admit, this is harder than I thought. Finding nice things to write about him, isn't hard, but the time it takes to write every single day IS hard. Whoa. I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew!!

Here we go, anyway...

Lem is a traveling man. One of his greatest passions is seeing the world, and all before we turn 40! He doesn't want to wait until we are retired like most sane folks, he wants to see it all while we are young enough to have fun doing it! Me, on the other hand.....well....I love seeing different places and staying at different hotels....but the flying...not so much. :( Every time I get on an airplane I think to myself....Okay, this is my last flight. We are all going to die and I will never see my babies again. Dramatic, I know.

With this said, he will not take my excuse of the kids being too small for us to travel, or any other excuse I can conjure up not to fly. I am always saying..." hey!! how 'bout a road trip??" Not cutting it with him. In his eyes, if you can't fly getting there, then it is not worth seeing. Yikes. So, Xanax in hand, I half-heartedly and knee-shakingly oblige.

born without wings,

Jill