This weekend our family was suppose to make a trip to see my family in Kingsport....but there was a huge storm this week that pushed a real estate class to be rescheduled on Friday leaving Chris unable to really go and get the stuff done here that he needed to....so, after praying about it Friday night...I decided to go on Saturday morning, b/c the weather looked good for the weekend. It was a lot harder for me to leave than I thought (which that is a good thing I guess...more on this later). I was able to get everything packed and ready....this includes Eli. He was asleep before we hit the interstate and slept until we got to Cleveland, where we stopped for lunch. I can't tell you how wonderful he was as a backseat co-pilot! He was just so good! Anyhow, we met my sister and parents in Knoxville. It was a sweet time with them. We shopped a little while my dad pushed Eli in the stroller....and then we went and had some dinner. It was good to get to see Lindsey, b/c she has a lot going on trying to finish school! I am her biggest cheerleader when it comes to knowing that this is what she was called and created to do. There are some people that have such a passion and gift...and she has one for teaching! You can see it when she talks about the kids she works with. She lights up. Anyhow, if you read this Lindsey...it is a joy to see that you have found this thing that you truly are fantastic at...few people figure this out...keep allowing Jesus to use you for His glory...b/c I know He has great things to do through you as a teacher! It makes me smile so much to think of all the children you are going to have an impact on. I don't deserve to have you as my sister. I love you!
Anyhow, it was good to see my sister...and that time seemed so short...but then we traveled to Kingsport to hang out with the family...my mom road with us home. ...I am grateful b/c we had to stop and put on his pjs, give him a snack, and his milk....he was out before we made it in the driveway. Anyhow, I have said that it is such a joy to watch Chris with Eli....but, it is also a joy to watch Eli with his grandparents....(both in Marietta and in Kingsport). You have such an appreciation for what your parents did for you when you have a child...and it is my joy to get to see them loving on their grandchild...and how much love they have for them. Eli loves them so much (so do we of course)!! Chris and I are forever grateful and undeserving of all the love and support you all give to him....we thank you from the bottom of our hearts...we would not be who we are without you....we are blessed. You all made so many sacrifices so that we could do and see things that most people don't have the opportunity to do or see in their lifetime. I know I was not the most grateful person for those times growing up...and I am sorry...but I look back now and am so appreciative for all the memories you created for me. Thank you...and forgive me when I did not have the most grateful attitude.
Anyhow, we were able to have good conversation, food, and time together. Eli loves being outside, books, trucks, bouncing balls, elmo, and wagon rides...but we can officially add another place he loves being...my dad's "unique" basement....he is on sensory overload here...and could have stayed down there the whole time discovering new things and walking around looking at everything....it doesn't hurt that there is a huge tv ready to play an occasional video....but, he enjoyed being there greatly! If you haven't seen this place with your own eyes...words don't do it justice so I am not going to try to explain...I will have to take some pictures next time I am there and attach them to this post so you can better understand what I am talking about. We enjoyed hanging out down there..and I would guarantee no one you know has two cabin fronts in the basement! I love you dad...God has given you a creative imagination....and you have used it!
We ended up going to Bays mountain State Park (http://www.baysmountain.com/) on Sunday afternoon b/c it was so beautiful. Mom and Dad strolled Eli around for a little while, but he wanted to "get out in nature"...so he walked most of the time...we looked at deer, owls, wolves, raccoons, and bobcats in cages...he couldn't see all of them...but overall he seemed like he enjoyed it greatly....walking through the leaves was a huge hit for him as well. We tried to take some pictures....I'll get some up when I get them! It was a good time! This time again showed me that he already believes he is well beyond his years...b/c he thinks he can walk around like he is five...he is becoming a "big boy".
Anyhow, it was good to see my sister...and that time seemed so short...but then we traveled to Kingsport to hang out with the family...my mom road with us home. ...I am grateful b/c we had to stop and put on his pjs, give him a snack, and his milk....he was out before we made it in the driveway. Anyhow, I have said that it is such a joy to watch Chris with Eli....but, it is also a joy to watch Eli with his grandparents....(both in Marietta and in Kingsport). You have such an appreciation for what your parents did for you when you have a child...and it is my joy to get to see them loving on their grandchild...and how much love they have for them. Eli loves them so much (so do we of course)!! Chris and I are forever grateful and undeserving of all the love and support you all give to him....we thank you from the bottom of our hearts...we would not be who we are without you....we are blessed. You all made so many sacrifices so that we could do and see things that most people don't have the opportunity to do or see in their lifetime. I know I was not the most grateful person for those times growing up...and I am sorry...but I look back now and am so appreciative for all the memories you created for me. Thank you...and forgive me when I did not have the most grateful attitude.
Anyhow, we were able to have good conversation, food, and time together. Eli loves being outside, books, trucks, bouncing balls, elmo, and wagon rides...but we can officially add another place he loves being...my dad's "unique" basement....he is on sensory overload here...and could have stayed down there the whole time discovering new things and walking around looking at everything....it doesn't hurt that there is a huge tv ready to play an occasional video....but, he enjoyed being there greatly! If you haven't seen this place with your own eyes...words don't do it justice so I am not going to try to explain...I will have to take some pictures next time I am there and attach them to this post so you can better understand what I am talking about. We enjoyed hanging out down there..and I would guarantee no one you know has two cabin fronts in the basement! I love you dad...God has given you a creative imagination....and you have used it!
We ended up going to Bays mountain State Park (http://www.baysmountain.com/) on Sunday afternoon b/c it was so beautiful. Mom and Dad strolled Eli around for a little while, but he wanted to "get out in nature"...so he walked most of the time...we looked at deer, owls, wolves, raccoons, and bobcats in cages...he couldn't see all of them...but overall he seemed like he enjoyed it greatly....walking through the leaves was a huge hit for him as well. We tried to take some pictures....I'll get some up when I get them! It was a good time! This time again showed me that he already believes he is well beyond his years...b/c he thinks he can walk around like he is five...he is becoming a "big boy".
We then visited with my grandparents and cousins...another sweet time. Eli will never be short on people that love him that is for sure! We hung out with them that evening as well and my friend Amanda came over to see us before Eli went to bed....Eli had another wonderful day! I was able to have some good conversation with my parents...which was nice....I love them both so much and am grateful for the lessons they have taught me. Going to bed was hard, b/c I was missing my best friend again....it's hard when you are use to talking and going to sleep next to your husband...it was such a confirmation that he is who the Lord had in mind for me to do life with! I went to sleep thinking about how very blessed I am to have such an incredible family in all senses of the word!
The next morning I got packed to head home. My dad was able to spend a few minutes with us before he left for work....I was grateful for that! Eli and I met my grandparents for breakfast at Perkins...it was another great time. I love them so much! I couldn't leave without seeing my mom....what a selfless woman she is....so we ran by her school....she wanted to show Eli to everyone!! Eli loved being there too....he is such a people person. They all have seen so many pictures of Eli but many of her friends had not met him yet...so, it was a good time. Mom could not stop smiling....Eli kept laying his head on her shoulder too...he has a way of knowing what someone wants at exactly the right time....so, she was "in heaven". Mom, thank you for creating in him such a love for books...I know he has to have more books than he will ever need....it makes me smile every time I see him flipping through books....b/c I think of how much you would want to see him doing this so early! You have such a gift with teaching children to love books....I hope to help show Eli your passion in this area as well! I love you! Of course, I scrubbed him down before getting in the car....again, he fell asleep before getting on the interstate....to make a long story short....we stopped once for lunch....and made it back here before dinner...but he was wonderful in the car!! I was so proud of him. What a great little man he was all weekend!
I was so happy to see my husband when he got home! I had missed him so much. It was wonderful to come home to such a clean house...he was happy to see us home...but I don't think was ready to have all of our "stuff" back in a newly picked up house! Ha!
So, I have learned a few things this weekend....
1. I am blessed more than I deserve....on all levels.
2. Something is missing when my husband isn't with me. Oh how I love him!
3. Eli brings out the best in people.
4. I am truly grateful for the family the Lord has blessed me with and the things I have been taught through them.
5. I don't deserve anything I have been given....I know I have said this...but I don't.
6. God is good.
I end with that...b/c the question I was posed the night before I left was do I believe God is good. I thought about this question a lot over the past few days....do I just say God is good...or do I believe God is good....and though things in our lives..in the lives of those around me are not always easy...do I still believe God is good? The answer I have come to find out is yes...I believe that nothing changes that....b/c I look at how much I have been blessed and realize I don't deserve any of it....God IS good....circumstances might not always be...but God is the only thing that is good no matter what happens. God is good....nothing changes that....I claim this truth today.
The next morning I got packed to head home. My dad was able to spend a few minutes with us before he left for work....I was grateful for that! Eli and I met my grandparents for breakfast at Perkins...it was another great time. I love them so much! I couldn't leave without seeing my mom....what a selfless woman she is....so we ran by her school....she wanted to show Eli to everyone!! Eli loved being there too....he is such a people person. They all have seen so many pictures of Eli but many of her friends had not met him yet...so, it was a good time. Mom could not stop smiling....Eli kept laying his head on her shoulder too...he has a way of knowing what someone wants at exactly the right time....so, she was "in heaven". Mom, thank you for creating in him such a love for books...I know he has to have more books than he will ever need....it makes me smile every time I see him flipping through books....b/c I think of how much you would want to see him doing this so early! You have such a gift with teaching children to love books....I hope to help show Eli your passion in this area as well! I love you! Of course, I scrubbed him down before getting in the car....again, he fell asleep before getting on the interstate....to make a long story short....we stopped once for lunch....and made it back here before dinner...but he was wonderful in the car!! I was so proud of him. What a great little man he was all weekend!
I was so happy to see my husband when he got home! I had missed him so much. It was wonderful to come home to such a clean house...he was happy to see us home...but I don't think was ready to have all of our "stuff" back in a newly picked up house! Ha!
So, I have learned a few things this weekend....
1. I am blessed more than I deserve....on all levels.
2. Something is missing when my husband isn't with me. Oh how I love him!
3. Eli brings out the best in people.
4. I am truly grateful for the family the Lord has blessed me with and the things I have been taught through them.
5. I don't deserve anything I have been given....I know I have said this...but I don't.
6. God is good.
I end with that...b/c the question I was posed the night before I left was do I believe God is good. I thought about this question a lot over the past few days....do I just say God is good...or do I believe God is good....and though things in our lives..in the lives of those around me are not always easy...do I still believe God is good? The answer I have come to find out is yes...I believe that nothing changes that....b/c I look at how much I have been blessed and realize I don't deserve any of it....God IS good....circumstances might not always be...but God is the only thing that is good no matter what happens. God is good....nothing changes that....I claim this truth today.
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