These Days

I thought that I would do a blog post on this season of our lives, so that we can remember it (**cough, cough, or so that I have someone to "talk to").  Chad is at FRL which translated by Chick-fil-A means Fundamentals of Restaurant Leadership.  The first two weeks were spent with a total of 7 people that are considered to be new CFA employees.  That basically means that they have never been employed by the Corporate Office of CFA, but many have been working for individual stores for a season of their lives.  Others have no CFA or restaurant experience.

Each day is intensive (for Chad, I'll get to my days later) and full.  They are usually at the Corporate Office by 8am and get back to their room around 7pm with dinner, work outs (it was encouraged), and homework to fill the gaps.  After visiting this past weekend, I would describe it as a CFA Summer Project.  To be honest, I know my husband would balk at this, but the way the group is from a multitude of states across the US, servant-hearted, humble, loving, and thoughtful, it just reminded me of a Summer Project.  If Chad reads this and disagrees I will remind him that he has never been on a stateside project, so there!  I am the expert in this very minute topic.  :)

It has really been a wonderful and enriching experience for him and we are truly thankful for all the staff that have been teaching his team this summer!

OK-let me interject my part of the summer for that part of the time.  Greer was at Marmie and Poppie's (aka Chad's parents) the first week, so I only had Luke.  We had a great time that ended up being relaxing when we both got sick.  He got a cold and gave it to me.  His lasted 3 days, mine lasted at least a week.  The following week both of the kids were signed up to go to a summer class their preschool holds for three days of the week.  Greer made it the first day then her temperature started spiking and I ended up paying my first copay for a virus.  It is bittersweet when you hear those words from a doctors office- no treatment.  At least I didn't have to buy any medicine.  Saturday morning we went to see Chad in Atlanta and spent most of the day escaping the heat by swimming and watching a movie.  Then we returned to find out that we had to change rooms because ours didn't have power.  I sulked about that until I found out there were so many that didn't have power for days.  I can't imagine!

Luke became a tiger!

Making it to church on time was a miracle!

 Getting frozen yogurt in Clemson

Greer pretending to rest

So Sunday we came home and Chad's original 7 were invaded by the Interim Managers that have been working for CFA and are now getting their own stores.  The group grew to 17, so I am sure that has been an adjustment.  Chad is also trying to handle some preliminary things to set up our store in Mount Airy, so he doesn't have much free time.  I think this week has really worn on me and the kids.  We have been tired and cooperation doesn't come easy in that circumstance.  I can certainly see God's hand working on me and bringing more of my sin and selfishness to the surface.  I haven't really been thankful for that.  I am enduring.  My kids are doing well.  I wish I could verbalize to them what I see in my own heart these days.  I look at them and know the battle with my sin is worth it, so that I can more accurately display the love of Christ to them.  We have been reading about the life of Christ in our devotions at night.  Each night ministers to me as well.  Tonight we learned about Nicodemus and I was able to tell them about the time that God saved me while reading John 3:16.  It brings me such hope to be reminded that (John 3:17) "God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."  I am so thankful that my loving heavenly Father, my Bridegroom, my Savior never leaves me and will walk me through this difficult time with His love and grace.

It might be Chad's one and only post....

Dear Friends and Family,

Reagan and I wanted to update you on some exciting developments over the past couple of months.  As you know, we have been living in the Clemson/Seneca area since March 2010 pursuing a career with Chick-fil-A.  This has been a great season for us in so many ways as we have been refined in many areas.  We have also grown closer together as a family and have enjoyed our time here more than we could have imagined.

I have appreciated the work environment and challenges at Chick-fil-A and have been continually affirmed that this is what God has called me to.  Reagan has been so supportive during every step of this journey, and it has been awesome to be able to work towards our goals together.

On March 1^st, Reagan and I visited the Chick-fil-A corporate office in Atlanta, where I had my final interview with the Operator Selection Team.  It was a very humbling day for me to sit with Andrew Cathy and others and share my passion and vision for becoming a Chick-fil-A Operator.  It was also humbling to be a lead candidate for a Chick-fil-A store as I reflected on an interview process that lasted nearly a full year!  At the end of the interview, I was offered the opportunity to be the Operator of a brand new Chick-fil-A location in Mt. Airy, NC.  Of course, I accepted the offer with great humility and enthusiasm.

The past couple of months have basically been “normal” for us as we await our transition from Seneca to Mt. Airy.  Fortunately, Chick-fil-A was able to finalize a real estate deal on property for the store in Mt. Airy, and construction began on the site on April 30^th!  I will continue to serve as a manager at the Chick-fil-A in Seneca until mid-June.  I will head to Atlanta on June 17^th for Operator Training, which will last until the end of July.  Our plans are to move to Mt. Airy in late July/early August and get ready for an awesome Chick-fil-A grand opening in late August or early September!

I want each of you to know how much we have appreciated your interest and encouragement during this season of our lives.  It is truly an honor to be entrusted to steward a Chick-fil-A restaurant, and I am continually humbled by the fact that this is really happening.  It is our desire to trust God to serve the community of Mt. Airy and surrounding areas by being faithful stewards of an incredible business opportunity.  

Please pray for us as we prepare for a very busy summer and fall.  Reagan and the kids will stay in Seneca while I am in Atlanta for training.  They have a full summer schedule, and Reagan will continue to work for Chick-fil-A until our move.  We also have a quick turnaround with our move to Mt. Airy, and Greer will start kindergarten immediately after we arrive in our new town.  We also need housing in Mt. Airy and will be challenged with hiring a brand new team of employees and opening a new small business in a new town in a matter of weeks.  

Reagan, Greer, Luke, and I love all of you and are thankful for the blessing of friends and family in our lives.  Please let us know how we can serve you, and please come have a chicken sandwich with us in Mt. Airy as soon as possible!  You are welcome any time.  

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and

the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." 2 Cor. 13:14

p.s.- I hope to blog again when things settle down. It's ok to hope, right?

Dairy Free Dinner

To all my friends going through dietary changes, with LOVE!

Here is a {dairy, corn, peanut, egg-free} not-so-dirty Dirty Rice:

1 lb. lean ground beef {there's no draining}

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 celery ribs, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

1 T. chopped fresh parsley

1 green pepper, chopped {Here is a short cut...buy the celery, onion, parsley and pepper frozen combo in the grocery store OR I freeze extras when I chop them for other recipes}

- Cook in a large skillet over medium-high, stirring until beef crumbles and is no longer pink.

1 tsp. salt

pinch of red pepper

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

1 T. Worcestershire sauce

- Stir in seasonings, stirring well.

1 c. uncooked rice

1 can beef broth

3/4 c. water

-Add rice, broth, and water, stirring well. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 25-30 minutes until rice is tender.

You'll never go back to Hamburger Helper! (or Bog*****s)

Luke's 18 Month Stats

This morning we headed to the pediatrician for Luke's well check. I made the mistake of giving the kids apple juice before the appointment and they were bouncing off the walls in the waiting room. We resorted to singing songs with hand motions. I have a singing voice that usually I don't broadcast, so you can feel confident that I was at the bottom of my barrel for activities!

Here are his measurements:

34 inches in length (90 %)

29 lbs. 6 oz. (85 %)

I am thankful he is doing well and the doctor heard no heart murmur this time! Allergies continue to plague us. The past few days I have given him goldfish and they seem to have made him spotted. :) He doesn't appear to be in pain, though. Also, I ate popcorn Friday night and I fear that I may have a corn allergy or some form of sensitivity, too. It might have to do with cutting it out of my diet for so long, but I have been in pain until today.

On a lighter note, I have been amazed at how quickly Luke's language development has progressed. I love the fact that he communicates so well with me. One of the biggest joys is his acquisition of the word "happy." I am not sure where or when he learned it, but if you can't tell by the smile on his face, he will remind you that he is "Happy."

I just wanted to encourage all you moms that have children with allergies to persevere! I know that it is difficult, but I trust they will find a place of happiness and peace (and their parents will reap that reward as well!).

New Commitment for the New Year

Let me start by thanking God for keeping my spirits up this winter. Maybe it has something to do with staying so busy that I cannot wallow in self-pity (and I can certainly be thankful for that) or maybe it has to do with a wonderful job and wonderful friends and a wonderful husband and a wonderful, generous friend and aunt that lives upstairs. Let's just say that I have LOTS to be thankful for! A few days ago I wasn't quite so excited about my circumstances. It could have been hormonal. It could have been high and mistaken expectations. It was not well-received by my husband.

Yesterday, we received a bulletin from our previous church, First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, and there was a covenant for reflecting on as we begin this new year. It is a covenant renewal prayer adapted from one used by John Wesley. I must admit that it was just what I needed. I thought that it might be a commitment others might need to make in 2011, so I wanted to post for you and so that I can be reminded of my commitment to God in the year ahead.

The Covenant

I am no longer my own, but yours.

Put me to what you will,

Place me with whom you will.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering;

Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you,

Exalted for you or brought low for you.

Let me be full, let me be empty;

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things

To your pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:

You are mine and I am yours. May it be so!

And may the covenant which I have made

here on earth

Be confirmed in heaven.

Amen.

I will fully admit that the first 10 lines were oh, so painful to type. I don't want to be poured out and surrender the false gods I so easily can come to embrace. My heart so often treasures earthly comfort more than heavenly joy. I draw hope from the contrast that follows "And now." It is a reminder that causes me to take my eyes off of what I may be giving up and place my eyes on the incomparable riches of Him. God is MORE than anything I could ever give up on this earth. He alone is the treasure on which I desire to build my life!

Recap of 2010

Today I was thinking about all our changes this year. Since I have had a dormant blog for a couple of months, I thought this would be a great place to write down some thoughts about all that has taken place.

This has been a very interesting year for our family. In many ways I have seen God's abundant grace, and through some difficult challenges, growth has really occurred in our lives. Here is a month-by-month brief description of what has gone on...

January- Chad offered an opportunity to work at the CFA of Clemson. What does the Lord have for us? Waiting...

February- Our house sells, free living arrangements bestowed, sad goodbye to Pennington friends, warm welcome to Tiger Town, trusting God to redeem, embraced by prayers.

March- New job with new friends, Prodigal God reaches out to us, treasured memories hiking as a family, Clemson baseball, our hearts awaken with the spring.

April- Reuniting with old friends as a new family, crawling boy, imagination blossoms, pouring myself out as a mom, beautiful views, Christ has risen indeed!

May- Tragic slip but miraculous protection, allergies fully discovered, tired Daddy, evening picnics after afternoon hikes.

June- Birthday at the Zoo, evening boat rides, The Happy Berry makes us VERY happy, grilling on our terrace.

July- Chad becomes a manager, Greer learns she is not the boss via swim lessons and Debbie the Drill Sergeant, blueberries, I celebrated my birthday with April, Debbie, Dabo, and the Clemson football players at the Ladies Clinic.

August- Greer goes to Marmie and Poppie Camp with the cousins, trip to visit Ash and Bax in NC, Luke's first birthday, Fan Appreciation Day and sliding down THE Hill, reuniting with the Chick-fil-A sandwich :), Chad moves to CFA of Seneca.

September- First Friday with old and new friends, Daddy and the cows in the First Friday parade, hiking with friends, football weekends with Bax, Ash, and Paul, Community Bible Study, new CP group with the Finleys.

October- a mini-vacation to see the Tigers play in Chapel Hill with Pennington friends, Lazy 5 Ranch with Ash and Bax on the way, continuing the allergen-free diet for Luke, I started working in the CFA office on mornings when Chad was off.

November- Luke discovers the joy of climbing on everything, pumpkin pancakes, Thanksgiving Day with the Tidds.

December- Jesse Tree Devotions, Greer and Daddy date to Clemson Symphony Concert, Greer covers her ears during the entire Christmas program at CBS, early Christmas with the Fowlers in Seneca, my kids scream at Santa, Christmas chaos with all the cousins in Simpsonville (and great food and fellowship!).

Reflecting on the past year, I am reminded on how much I NEED Christ in the midst of my parenting, friendships, time, marriage- just to name a few. This year has been one of new friends and sweet fellowship in our study of the Word. As we sit on the edge of Lake Keowee, I am amazed at how God brought us here and gave us a visual reminder through the beautiful lake of his provisions for our growth.

Greer and I have enjoyed praying each night before bed and each night we entrust our future to God. Usually those prayers are interwoven with thanks for the investment Herb and Karil are making in our lives. Words do not begin to describe how much we appreciate the way they share their lives and business with us. They are great friends as well as mentors in every area of our lives.

Our lives are so rich with a beautiful family, a wealth of people who love us, and so many people that we care deeply about. We trust that God's direction for our lives is good and perfect. We take comfort that He leads our 2011.

Dairy Free Meals

Here is an idea of what I ate throughout the day... (some things are not appropriate for young children)

All day: fresh fruit, dried fruit, fruit juice, nuts

Breakfast: bagels, granola with rice milk or almond milk, cereal, cinnamon toast, fruit smoothie, grits (prior to corn allergy), homemade granola bars (I ate prior to L's peanut allergy diagnosis), dairy-free oatmeal, pumpkin bread, applesauce bread, zucchini bread

Lunch: leftovers, wraps, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, peanut butter and honey sandwich, ham sandwich, turkey sandwich, chicken salad sandwich, baked potatoes, hummus

Dinner: Here is a link to many of the recipes I have used, just modify any milk to rice milk and butter to a vegan kind.

I forgot to mention previously that Ghiradelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips are dairy free, so enjoy!

Shopping for Dairy Free Products

The hardest part of going dairy-free is that it is in everything! Dairy is a preservative that is used in so many different foods that it isn't safe to just try something without having an ingredient list. I have often explained to my husband that one bite is not worth the 2 weeks of pain that my child experiences (or me dealing with his change of behavior).

A short cut to checking the ingredient list is to make yourself familiar with the Kosher labeling system. You can look for a symbol that indicates whether or not the product has dairy. Be advised that sometimes a product will have a K with a "D" underneath (indicating dairy is in the product) when it is processed on shared equipment. Important when buying cookies. :)

Anyway, here are some staples that we depended on...

Hormel Natural Choice sandwich meats (available at most grocery stores)

Arnold Whole Wheat or Potato Bread

Earth Balance or Smart Balance Vegan Butter Substitute

Earth Balance Vegan Butter Sticks (available at health food stores)

Rice Milk was my preferred milk sub. in cereal or baking

Oreos :)

I just found some oatmeal packets by Better Oats that are great

Some Nature Valley Granola Bars

PETA's website has other options

This diet really pushed me to incorporate as many whole foods as possible in my diet. I found that in order to feed my family in a timely manner, it was necessary to cook enough at night that we could have leftovers for lunch. That also helped me to get enough calories to nurse. Also, I tried to make as much as I could at home so that I was sure of the ingredients. Examples would include granola, breads, soups, and chicken broth.

Some Things I Learned about Nutrition: Besides how much I am annoyed with processed food? Oh yes, another soap box. I went to a nutritionist when L was about 3 months old, and despite the disappointment over her lack of awareness on the topic, I was helped by her suggestion that I count grams of protein. It was a good way for me to keep track of what I was eating without getting bogged down in too many details. It reminded me to put that extra slice or two of deli meat on my sandwich. My goal was to have 70-80 grams of protein each day. That broke down to be three meals of 18-20 grams and two snacks of 10-15 grams. My snacks were usually while Greer snacked. I apparently overdid the peanut butter because I am now dealing with L having a peanut allergy.

Milk Allergy 101

As many of you know, we are going through a transition in our house. At one year of age most children usually outgrow their milk allergy. Greer did and now I am in the middle of testing Luke, so I thought that I should take this opportunity to impart all that I have learned in case someone else might need it. :( Remember that the only authority I have is experience, so don't take my comments too seriously.

Diagnosing a Milk Allergy: Some of the symptoms that I observed in my kids were projectile vomit (in quantities that would lead you to believe that they threw up everything they ate), green stools that are very loose and may have traces of blood (take a sample to your pediatrician for testing to confirm that blood is present), uncomfortable and gassy behavior (G wasn't this way, but Luke certainly was), frequent spitting up (again, L and not G).

Here is an example of one of Luke's diapers...

Nursing with this Allergy: I am very thankful that G's pediatrician encouraged me to continue nursing and just try eliminating dairy from my diet. Little did I know what a journey this would lead me to personally. I have had to battle emotionally as at times I felt different from everyone around me. Having to look at every label is so tedious and with G I would feel guilty if I slipped up and ate something with dairy. On top of the emotion is the battle of feeling constantly hungry with little to no relief. It really is worth it, though. It is like that feeling you get post-delivery when you stop to think "Wow! That is amazing! I can't believe I just did something that hard!" Two very different types of hard. I feel like I am just completing a marathon, but the best part is that it was for my child's benefit. HUGE lessons and growth! That said, I wouldn't slight anyone in the least for choosing a different option.

Eating Out with a Milk Allergy: Let me preface this by saying that L not only has a milk allergy, but also peanut, egg, and corn. Kinda limits my options and willingness to "just try" something new. Since my previous experience with G, restaurants have become much more helpful disclosing ingredients and allergens on their websites. Check there first, but don't assume that it is always accurate. Here's what I eat when I go out...

Chick-fil-A: Waffle Fries, Side Salad without cheese and either Fat Free Italian Dressing or Berry Balsamic

Panera Bread: Turkey on Country Bread, some bagels, Vegetarian Black Bean Soup, apples, french bread, chips (Ask to see allergen book that all stores keep on site. I prefer to hold the book myself as opposed to letting someone look for me.)

PF Changs: Most items are dairy-free, but ask your wait staff to be sure. Of course, overlook the desserts. We ate there every night while we went on a weekend trip, and we discovered the egg allergy when I apparently ate too much egg drop soup.

Firehouse Subs: A recent discovery since I didn't have there allergy info with G and didn't check until recently. I ate Hook and Ladder without cheese.

Subway: I get a turkey on white or wheat with no cheese.

Not glamorous, but hopefully enough to get someone by for a year. Beware of trying something you haven't seen an ingredient list on. Since dairy is found in many preservatives, it can be found in the craziest of places. I have read that McDonalds' french fries have dairy.

I have also found that local restaurants are usually pretty willing to help you find something that may be dairy free, if you explain the situation. When I visit at home (Mullins), I know that I can eat Fred's fried chicken and a hamburger steak at Pizza Shak. Good options considering all the butter that can be found in most southern cooking!

Next post: Buying Dairy Free and Cooking Dairy Free

Happy Birthday Luke!

I am amazed at how quickly the year has gone by! I have to admit that there were days where your birthday couldn't come soon enough and here it is. Such a relief to your momma (and probably you, too, but thankfully you can't say so)! You are a great joy and blessing to your whole family! You have a adorable smile and a fearless spirit that are going to make you a great leader and an awesome friend. Here are some of your favorites on your first birthday:

Favorite Foods: blueberries, strawberries, bananas, guacamole, mashed potatoes, and peaches

Favorite People: Momma (you are a little clingy), Big Sissy- Greer, Da da (you are very good at his name), Mr. Herb

Favorite Toys: anything that will enable you to walk- stroller, bus, broom, chair; balls; books; cooking toys; anything that is off-limits and elicits a "no" from Momma and Daddy

Favorite Things to Do: go on a walk outside, listen to music and dance, take a bath, brush your teeth, babble, ignore your sister's instructions, smile

Favorite Song: "If You're Happy and You Know It"

We love you very much and are excited about the journey of parenting that we will have with you! Thank you for blessing our lives! Thank you God for allowing us the opportunity to love Luke. We know that you love him far more than we ever could and we pray for your will in his life.

The God Who Sees

If I were to be honest, the question that plagues my mind is not "Does God exist?" Rather, in the darkness of my selfish wanderings I often ask "Does God see me and does He care?" Along the same lines, I don't question God's intervention in the big areas of my life. I feel very confident that He has placed me in the right family, given me a (wonderful) husband, and directed my many steps thus far. The problem I face is finding him as I sit behind a slow driver, misplace a valued item, or struggle to pay an unexpected bill.

Last week while Greer was taking swimming lessons, I was privy to an experience that left me calling out a resounding "yes" to the question "Does God care?" and reminded me that God's love goes before me and hems me in from behind. Let me share the story with you...

The class of 7 and 8-year-olds that followed Greer's class had just begun and the students were sitting on the edge of the pool. One of the participants, we'll call her Sarah, came around the gate. She was late and her mother dropped her off before going to find a parking place. Sarah walked around the pool to join her class, but before she could get all of the way to them, they began oohing and aahing over her new bathing suit. One girl shouted out, "WOW! I love your new bathing suit. The colors are so pretty!" Even the boys joined in with compliments. By the time that she had arrived at her position, everyone had given their unanimous approval of her new suit.

Not such an uncommon experience you might think, until you learn that Sarah is about 50 pounds overweight, and is probably not used to getting complimented on her appearance. I joined most of the onlookers in being excited that a group of children who are more likely to tear others down with their words, had elevated this little girl to walking on the clouds.

About that time her mother entered the gate unaware of what had just taken place, so I shared with her the class' approval of Sarah's new bathing suit. She told me that they were late because Sarah had refused to put on this new swimsuit, and it took the convincing of her great-grandmother to get her to wear it. Ding-Ding-Ding A light went off in my head. HE SAW. None of those children knew that the lime green tank with cut outs on each side and fluorescent peace symbols throughout had brought Sarah such a sense of embarrassment, but the God of the universe chose them to remind this little girl that she was indeed the object of his delight.

The lesson for me that day- God's delight is not reserved for those that have it all together. God's delight is not reserved for those that wear the right size or have the large bank account or have the right personality. God sees all of life's seemingly mundane events and orchestrates them to prove that He is The One Who Sees. My response is to turn from staring at what clouds my view (the problems of life) and to gaze into the character of the God who loves and delights in me so that I might be privileged to love and delight in Him. Even today I needed this reminder to lift me up from the focus on self that has trapped my thinking. Thank you God for opening my eyes to your glory and helping me see!

Fort Hill Dentistry

Monday, June 21st was one of the proudest moments of my life. My brother, Mark, and his wife, April, had the ribbon cutting and open house for their new business, Fort Hill Family Dentistry. I have been so privileged to live nearby and see all of the work that they have done to see their dream come to fruition. It is amazing to see all the details they thought out and their research into all the equipment. Can I just tell you how much I am looking forward to falling asleep in one of those comfy chairs while I have my teeth cleaned (for free)?

As Chad and I have embarked on our Chick-fil-A journey, we have started really observing what it takes to own your own business. Mark and April have been such a model to us of how to love our community. When they moved back to Clemson last year, they jumped right into building into the people around them. I cannot go anywhere with these two without April seeing someone she knows! It is wonderful! The best part is that their actions aren't for the purpose of "building" a business or to get customers; it is to impact their community with the light of Christ. Thank you Mark and April for being wonderful friends to us, for letting us share in your joy, and for demonstrating how God longs to use people for His glory!

Mark and April in front of the sign

Their office in downtown Clemson, SC

My mom and Greer reading in the office

Greer sitting in "Uncle Marky's" office chair

Ribbon Cutting with Clemson's Chamber of Commerce

Mark's J. Crew pose

Luke and my Aunt Karen at the Open House

ps...If you live in the Clemson area, be sure to schedule an appt! The title above is a link to their website.

Lake Day

This past weekend we had the privilege to spend some time on Lake Hartwell with Chad's boss, Herb, and his wife, Karil. We had so much fun and enjoyed a delicious picnic on the boat! We feel so blessed to get to learn about operating a Chick-fil-A under their leadership.

Here are some fun pictures of our time together.

Luke is waving despite his heavy eyelids! He loves to sleep on a boat!

Chad, Luke, and Greer

Chad and Greer tubing

Back to the brave girl that she used to be...

This summer Greer has started shrinking back from many of the things that she previously enjoyed out of fear. It took some convincing to get her to tube (OK, and in the water), but once she did- she loved it. She and Chad swam around the boat so many times! It is also so very interesting to add learning to go in the lake to our potty training lessons. :)

I hope her motivations aren't an indication of my life to come, but to reveal the "how"- all credit goes to Herb and Karil's son, Christopher. He made the water look much more appealing. (**and he is at least 15 years older than her!)

Happy Berry

Good News! The Tidds are still alive! We have been so busy with life over the past 3 months that I hardly have time to sit down and blog. Here is my attempt to reconnect with the world.

Last week we went to a local farm, The Happy Berry, and picked blackberries. I had a blast with my camera, and here are some pictures of our time there.

An after shot of the fruit of our labor.

Greer sampling blackberries

She may look happy, but keep in mind that she is in the stroller. She had a breakdown, and was sent to sit down for a while. When I went to check on her, she heard a rooster and was caught by the camera while imitating his "cock-a-doodle-doo."

A before shot. Greer is either tired or giving Chad directions. It could be either.

Greer and Chad are picking together.

I should have taken pictures of the fruit of our fruit. Over the past week I made blackberry jam and a blackberry cobbler. So very yummy! This weekend marks the beginning of blueberry season, so you can expect me to be there! I can hardly wait!

Mother's Day Idea

Here is a giveaway that I want to share. I was given one of these beautiful necklaces for Christmas, and I think all the moms I know would love one (or a gift certificate). You can enter here to win a gift certificate.

Running Music

Chad and I have been trying to spend more time recently exercising. He started Cool Running's Couch to 5K plan at the beginning of the year, and encouraged me to start last week. I have been really needing some time to be alone and process life, so I decided to give it a try. We went to the park yesterday, and took turns running and watching the kids at the playground.

For a self-professed "non-runner," I am really enjoying this. It might have something to do with the way running makes me feel like I can escape life for a short time. I am finding that one of the keys to enjoying/surviving a run is having the right music. On my "to-do" list is to make a new running playlist, so I thought that I would ask for some recommendations. Any ideas?

And I Return

I am returning after two months of a blogging break. So much has happened that I hardly know where to begin. If you have a blog you probably would agree with me, blogging is much more about getting your feelings out than having anyone read what you write. There is something so beautiful about a catharsis.

Since I last wrote we sold our house, moved (yuck for that process), and have begun building roots in Clemson/Seneca, SC. Oh, I forgot to mention that my valiant husband resigned from a fabulous job and started another great one at Chick-fil-A in Clemson. Our intention in moving here is to give Chad the opportunity to learn everything he can about Chick-fil-A and God-willing be launched into operating his own store in a mystery location one day.

Currently, Chad is spending his days working in the Chick-fil-A kitchen and making runs to the storage unit on my behalf. I have been getting settled into a new home and life AND helping my kids do the same. We have been really enjoying meeting so many wonderful new people and reuniting with many friends that we have known for years. In case you were wondering, Clemson really is God's Country!

I want to tell the story of our home selling for those of you that haven't heard it. It is pretty incredible how God provided for us and affirmed our desire to become a part of the Clemson CFA family. We listed our house the first week of January. We had a few showings every weekend and had a few repeat showings during the time that it was listed. At the end of January, we were trying to make a decision about CFA and knew that we couldn't move forward until our house sold. It was the same weekend that we got an offer on our house. The kicker- we had to be out in 3 weeks because the buyers had sold their house and needed somewhere to go, too! So...we had to find somewhere to live in Clemson. Thankfully, my aunt invited us to live in her basement. It has been incredible! We get to see the sun rise over Lake Keowee every morning, take Jeep rides through the country, and hike as a family frequently. The kids and I are also able to take advantage of all the wonderful family events that the Clemson CFA offers. The lake is a physical reminder of the refreshment I feel when I reflect on what the Lord has done for us already.

Chad and Greer at Whitewater Falls

Cuddle time

Greer and I making some dairy-free cupcakes!

A Clemson Baseball Game

Greer, Luke, and me at Issaqueena Falls

Luke

A New Year, A New You

I will admittedly say that 2010 has started a bit chaotically. We listed our house, and feel the pressure to keep it clean all of the time. I started Luke on solid food, so frequently I find myself running late because I forgot to add the extra time it takes to feed him. Thankfully, I have found a few minutes almost everyday to pull away and read my new devotional- "The Wonder of the Cross," and have felt more renewed by the Word than I have for some time. I love the application points that they offer each day!

Chad has been running more regularly (praise the Lord for more smelly clothes to wash) and trying to eat healthier as he travels. He just finished reading Ginger Plowman's "Don't Make Me Count to Three." I will get there one day. I hope.

We had a wonderful weekend participating in a Spiritual Life Conference that was led by Kent and Barbara Hughes (writers of "Disciplines of Godly Families"). I won't go into details here because you can listen to the same things we heard on our church's website. Here is the link...http://www.firstprescolumbia.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=43244&PID=755302. Those of you in full-time ministry HAVE to listen to the ones called A Personal Pilgrimage and Back to First Priorities. As we listened to the Hughes share, thoughts of many of you popped in my head. I pray that you will know the Father's pleasure as you minister. By the way, I have always wanted to know what the Men's Talks are all about- now I can listen! Ha Ha! In my free time, right.