Pepper Tree

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about our lives.

Not just mine, but yours.

I pray for your family as I pray for my own.

As I sleep, entertained by my realistic dreams and very frequent nightmares, my friends and family are sprinkled thru like little reminders God has placed in my soul.

This country is in a weird place.

Businesses are failing.

People are losing their jobs and careers.

And I think of my husband who is self employed and the weight that must carry on his shoulders. But he is faithful and always looks to God for guidance and provision.

For He has never let us down.

I think about our life in the future and when our baby is welcomed into this world with loving hands, and how I won't be going back to work.

I secretly worry.

But my love for my family and my children surpasses that worry.

God has placed that seed in my heart to be faithful to Him and I find peace in that.

To be a bigger presence for my children.

Even if we live in a place of "ugly" to societies standards...wherever my family lies, is where my heart is.

Even if we were in a tent under a Pepper Tree as long as my family is there, it would be "our home."

I am constantly reminded by Grace to let myself be moved, to always see beauty in everything around me. To not worry about the future, for today I have all that I need.

A tidbit for our baby

I promise to drink plenty of water and go easy on the caffeine.

Although lately, I have not really held up my end of the bargain.

But one day you will understand... that dinner tastes so much better with a soda.
And mornings aren't morning unless you have a hot cup of coffee as your companion.

For you...I sacrifice.

xoxo,
your mommy

The Big Piece of Chicken

Happy Fathers' Day husband!

You definitely deserve the big piece of chicken!

We love you!

Morning

We found this sweet face enjoying the morning on our front porch all by himself.

He is exceptional and my heart swelled with love just watching him secretively thru my screen door.

Because it's kinda funny...

And because I know how much you love our
"stories from the hood"...

Here is what happened last night:

After leaving the Larkins house (on a hunt to find a car seat...which was a bust...), we turned onto our street to find every one of the trash cans (it's trash day) from the front of every one's house lined up perfectly in a row blocking cars from driving thru.

Cars were parked in all directions just sitting there...
c-o-n-f-u-s-ed???

We turned around and saw our sweet neighborhood teenagers laughing hysterically at the prank they pulled off.

Aren't they just darling?
What would we do without them?

So my husband called the police. Again.
He was angry.

But to hear him tell the police dispatcher that, "teenagers lined up trash cans on our street..."
well was kinda funny.

Do you think the police cared that we were inconvenienced by trash cans?
Ummm....probably not.


and so it continues…

What we need more of...

Bulldogs surfing

(who look exactly like Booger...how could you not love that face?)

and babies in monkey ear beanies.

(I don't know why but I really want to buy this beanie...)

The "List"

We have lists for a lot in life.
Grocery lists,
To do lists,
Honey-do lists....

and now Brandon has presented me with thee "List."
The list of all the names he thinks we should name his new brother.

He took this VERY seriously.

Some are not bad.
Some would be great if I was a comic book junkie
Or if our other kids were named, Dr Dre & Snoop Dog.

But overall how could you deny a boy with so much creativity?
and passion?

Not to mention, if we name his brother "Man-Laser" he is going to be the one who will be defending his brother from the tons of kids who can't stop making fun of his name...

that or the kids just might be afraid of "Man-Laser" because his name means business and you might not want to mess with that!

Here is what I look like these days. And here is a corner in my house.

Courtesy of Jeanie.

Our friends, Scott & Jeanie come over for dinner on Saturday night with their sweet boy Demetri.

We made tostadas & had some amazing guacamole.

Kyle & I missed it the next day.

The boys had fun playing together.

Running around chasing each other.

Stealing hugs from each other thru out the night.

We sat at the dinner table.

Listened to stories of the "old days." (Kyle & Jeanie go way back)

Talked about family.

And friends.

And how life now is so different, but in such a good way.

It was a good night.

Then I was off to bed...

because my body is not good at keeping up with me these days.

He survived 1st grade.

And got an award for excelling in Advanced Math...he's pretty smart.

Then Dad took him to celebrate at the place of his choice for lunch...he chose Del Taco.

And because he did so great this year and worked so hard at reading (went from a level 2 to a level 16!) he was able to buy the bike he'd had his eye on all year.

He gets to pick it up today...

We are very proud of him.

I can't wait...

Tell me what you think...

is this a cute maternity dress?

The Results

I secretly knew that it was a boy.

My husband just doesn't make girls.

I promise you I am happy,

I'll love this boy with all that I am

BUT deleting my computer folder with all my handmade dress ideas,

room decorations

and putting to rest the name Lucy...

was a wee bit hard. (I'll be honest)

Now it's on.

I can start shopping...

which I'll need to do because can I really have a 3rd shower for another boy?

Even though you know I really haven't saved a thing.

Is that a good excuse?

Thanks friends for your sweet words and prayers for us.

Your prayers went to the health of our boy, which is most important after all.

Kisses!

PS

I don't usually post twice...

but I had to tell you that tomorrow is our ultrasound appointment!

Boy

or

Girl???

PSS - (I'm thinking Girl too.)

And the drama continues...

So those who know where we live, know we live in not the greatest of neighborhoods.

"But your house is so cute...too bad you live in the ghetto."
(we hear this way too often)

For a long time, we embraced it.
It never really bothered us.
It was like our running joke.
Yeah it's ugly coming in, but we were thankful for what we had and really loved our house.

Lately though we've had some hiccups.

Like last night for instance...

It's quiet.
We are watching Benjamin Button and hear screams coming down the street.
4 teenage girls decided that they are going to vandalize the 2 houses next to ours.
(Which are foreclosed properties)

My husband goes out to see what is going on and maybe scare them away...
but kids these days aren't scared of my husband?
(really?)

They take sticks and are hitting windows and mailboxes, screaming.

The hippie's across the street come out and once they do...it's always a guaranteed good show.

But these girls (who probably are 14 years old), don't care.
They take the sticks and slam them on the ground making crazy noises.
I think it even scared the hippie's.
Too crazy even for them?

Meanwhile we are on hold for the police....AGAIN.
They know us by name.

"Ohh..the Fishers? 6th street right?"

"Yep. That's us."

I lay in bed with Ayden, trying to shield his ears from all that's being said outside our walls and I think of our family and our new baby on the way...
and instantly wish that our house would sprout wings and fly away?
Why not?

We've had enough of this place.

It is

Last night while waiting for the husband to get home from Stockton the boys and I laid on my bed... we talked and made funny faces to pass the time.

When he came home, we were very excited to see him.
The house isn't the same without him.

After putting the duo to bed.

The 2 of us sat down and watched Man Vs Wild with Will Ferrell.

(It was really funny.)

Then the husband said it was good to be home.

"It is," I said.

And then we went to bed at 9:30.

It was nice.

Things I've learned from my Grandma

I am going to start a new post about

"Things I've learned from my Grandma,"

because she is quite the lady and I have memories I never want to forget...
Plus I know you'll come to love her as much as I do, right??
Of course.

so
here
goes

Things I've learned from my Grandma - # 1:

"Ladies never drink from the can. Soda is always over ice in a beautiful glass cup."

-Grandma Betty

The Greats

I learned about a few of the Greats in my Family Tree...

Great Grandpa H.D.
He was a pastor of a church in Jasper, Arkansas.
Who passed away way too young leaving behind a wife and 6 children.

Here is a flyer from his church...isn't this amazing that my family kept this over the years? I think so. I love this stuff, but secretly know I would have thrown it away the second the revival was over. My husband doesn't appreciate that wacky side of me.

Here is the church he built in Jasper...

Still stands to this day, with beautiful stained glass windows.

I think Kyle & I should fly down to Jasper and get married again in this church.

Great Grandma Floy

I had always seen this picture in my Grandmas house, but never knew this was her mother.

Wasn't she stylish? Not to mention she raised 6 babies on her own!

On a side note, my dad noticed that she was wearing a ring in this picture and at the time had not met my grandmas father. Her children never noticed it before and now wonder if she was married before their daddy! Quite the scandal.

I wish I got to know her. I bet she had really great stories.

Newell Post

Saturday...

Was the Newell Family Reunion.

My Grandma, her brothers & sisters, & their families.

It was amazing to see faces of people I haven't seen since I started growing hair on these legs and people that I had never even met before.

Don't you find that strange that you have family that you've never seen?

I could ponder on that for awhile...but I'll save you from my mindless ramble.

Brandon really enjoyed the Massive Cupcakes!

And I enjoyed this boy! I melt whenever I see his sweet face and chubby cheeks!

Sweet quotes in pots with red flowers on the tables. Very nice touch.

These sweet ladies...whom I adore...one of which is my grandma. Aren't they precious?

And besides the folks, let me just say there is nothing better to a pregnant mama than a endless table of food.

I had my fair share of "bad stuff."

Which I ate without a care in the world.

It was splendid!