WOW!

We are alive.
We are moved.
We are (hopefully) all better ...

Just a little recap of the last week:
Last Sunday, we got up and packed our suitcases to leave Nashville. We had a great Thanksgiving weekend with the Fenders. Took the boys to the zoo, strolled around downtown, went to the Rhyman, and ate lots of food. We rolled out of Nashville around 10:00 am CST, and got home around 6:00 pm. The biggest excitement on the way home was in Chattanooga. We got really backed up in traffic. When we finally started moving (in the right lane), we saw that the left lane was backed up due to a super slow driver. When we started driving past, we noticed that the driver was slumped over! Luckily we were on a straight area in the mountains, so he didn't run off the road. Christian pulled over, jumped out of the car, and started banging on the guy's window. I called 911. The guy - who was older- woke up and raced off. Hopefully, he just fell asleep and didn't have any condition that caused him to fall asleep again.

Monday morning I got up bright and early to be at the testing center by 7:30 am. I took my test and went home to finish packing. I don't want to jinx myself, but the test wasn't intimidating. We'll see in 1-3 weeks. That afternoon, Christian's mom came up from Florida.

Tuesday morning we were up early to meet the packers. They came around 9:30 to pack the beds and a wall hanging. I was expecting the actual movers "mid-day". They show up around 2:45 (that is not mid-day to me). I pack our cars with the odds and ends I don't want on the truck, and they pack the truck. By 7:30 we roll out of North Augusta. Christian was in Statesboro all day for meetings. I am so glad Carol was there to help with Lukas. I barely made it as it was. I'm not sure what I would have done if she wasn't there.

Wednesday morning we are woken up at 5 by Lukas throwing up. Christian meets the movers at the house at 8 while we are getting ready, dealing with a sick baby and trying to have breakfast at the hotel. We get to the house around 9:30, and Lukas continues to throw up until around 11. After that he sleeps most of the day.

Thursday Lukas seems much better, and we all set to the task of unpacking the boxes.

Friday Carol leaves and Christian goes to work. Lukas sleeps most of the morning. That afternoon, I start to feel sick. I call Christian to come home, and he is starting to feel sick, too. We make it to bedtime, and all go to bed early. I wake up in the middle of the night and throw up. By morning, Christian and I are feeling a little better, and after some breakfast and coffee we feel well enough to drive up to North Augusta and get the rest of our things and clean the house.

We went over to a new neighbor's for dinner last night. It was great to get out, meet new people, and feel well. We were actually able to walk to their house (it's a few blocks away). Now that we are back in the land of the living, I am really excited about what this move is going to bring.

I have most of our stuff unpacked and in it's place. Today is laundry and starting to get the office in order. By next week, Lukas and I will be out running errands and Christian will be diving head first into his new job. It's going to be busy, but this is going to be a great home.

Quick Notes:

• Using pre-divided liquor and wine boxes to pack glasses and stemware: BRILLIANT!
• Scheduling a test and a move one and two days after a Thanksgiving holiday in which one will be out of town: IDIOTIC!
• Trying to pack a house with a 17 month old: YET TO BE FULLY DETERMINED!

Needless to say, my stress level is through the roof. I am having to literally remind myself to breathe today. So far, I have packed 6 boxes (which equals half the contents of the china cabinet). Hopefully, the results will pick up here in the next day or so.

I also learned that washable markers (emphasis on the washable) and a note pad will keep a 17 month old occupied for about an hour.

Oh, and we went to my 12 week check up and everything is going well. I have my next sonogram on January 7th, so we'll find out if it is a boy or girl then. With everything else that is going on, I sometimes forget that we have a little one on the way.

Wish me luck (or better yet - COME HELP ME!!!)

I am a minority.

Besides the fact that I am female, it seems not being affiliated with a religion AND being liberal in my political and social views makes me very strange. (but, I've been told I am loved anyway - nice to know).

The hate that I have seen (luckily in the media, and not first hand) during this past election saddens me. The thing that I find VERY ironic is all that hate seems to be coming from the Christian right. Does that make sense? Aren't those who are religious, those who are supposed to be followers of God, aren't they supposed to be the ones who are preaching (and living) a life of love toward fellow man? They aren't.

After the election, and all of the coverage of the hatemongers (Republicans/ Christians), I started really thinking about where I stand. I felt I needed to vent in a public forum, and not just to my husband.

Politically: I align myself with the Democratic party. In general, that party places importance and has the same views on the issues I find important. I need not go into issue by issue details, it's just the fact. I will also (probably) always align myself with the Democratic nominee for President. Initially, I did not jump on the Obama bandwagon. However, I have found it very exciting that he has been elected. Historically, his election is extremely significant, and I am proud to have been a part of such an important event. I am also relieved that Palin did not worm her way into the White House. That woman frightens me, and to think that the American people almost elected such a nut would have surely sent me to Canada. Luckily, intelligence prevailed. Whew!

Religiously: I think all organized religion is a crock. Yep, I said it. However, I do not judge those who belong to this church or that. It is their reality. It is what they believe. It is what they need in their lives. Great. I don't, so don't judge me. Just because you go to church every week, you read the bible, you pray, you do all of your other rituals, does that mean you are better than me? Are you giving freely of yourselves to fellow humanity? Are you protecting the earth that your God gave you? Are you practicing love? Too often, I am not seeing that. You cannot tell me that just because I do not go to church and do not believe in your God that I am damned. It is not your place to judge me (per your own rules). I do not claim that I know the correct answers, but it doesn't matter to me. My goal for this life is to come to its end, look back, and know that I was the best human I could be. That I protected the earth the best I could. That I raised children who were tolerant, non-judgemental and loving in every sense of the word. That I gave of myself to my fellow man without expectations of something in return - that I did it because it was the right thing to do. If I cannot see that I have lived my life selflessly and with love, then maybe I am damned. But, I cannot believe, that if there is a God, he will damn me just because I did not go to a church.

I am tired.
Tired of all the hate that is in this world.
Tired of the judgement.
Tired of the hypocrisy.

At least with the elected President, I have had a renewed feeling of hope. He may not be able to bring about the change that is needed, but it's a beginning. It makes me hopeful of my future and my children's future. It makes me remember that, although I am just one, I can contribute to the bigger cause and make a difference.

Perseverance.

On The Road Again

As of the first week in December, we will be leaving North Augusta and moving to Statesboro, GA. Christian has been offered, and accepted, the position of Planning Director for the City of Statesboro. We are very excited about the move and the opportunities the community has to offer. This will also put us in a more central location between immediate families.

We have our house on the market, and are hoping to sell it. However, if by mid-November, we haven't had any offers, we will rent it out. We have a house lined up in Statesboro to rent.

I am frantically studying for my last Architectural Registration Exam. I passed General Structures, and will be taking Lateral Forces the weekend before Thanksgiving. If I can get enough consistent study time, I think it will go well. With the upcoming move and with upcoming travel, that looks sketchy.

Lukas is doing great. He is really starting to "chat", and has expanded his sounds a lot in the last week. He is all about asking questions: hand motions and change of voice inflection. He is a stubborn little thing, and I am constantly after him to stay out of the drawers and cabinets we have set off limits. He now gets popped on the leg because the hand became ineffective. The leg seems to get the message across a little better.

What? Who?

So, this blogger thing is no go of late. Who has time? Although, evidently I do have a bit of time now ... we'll see how long this lasts.

Lukas is 13-1/2 months old. He is walking, "jumping", and getting into everything. He is very much boy - you can always find him with a stick in his hand. He has different noises for each of his cars, trucks and boats. Of course, everything seems to have a motor now. He loves books, bikes, balloons, and animals. He is getting pretty good at his animal noises - tiger and snake were the first. He really isn't "speaking", but I noticed a couple of days ago he is changing the inflection in his voice. Really interesting. He also spanks himself when he does something he knows he shouldn't. He knows - it just doesn't stop him.

We are having a bit of an issue with nighttime sleeping. He stopped nursing last Thursday (sniff, sniff - it was harder than I thought - for me), but putting him to bed has gone pretty well. He wakes up two or three times a night. I usually go in, check on him, and rock him for a couple of minutes, then back in his crib. Sometimes it goes well, others he does not want to go back to his crib. I am wondering if he relies on me checking on him ... hard to know what to do. Otherwise, no problems. He takes two good naps a day. Eats very well. Is extremely good natured.

I have been studying non-stop for the past couple of months. I took my *hopefully* next to last exam for Architectural Registration 1-1/2 weeks ago. I'll take the *last* one in another month or so. I will be so glad to get this out of the way. I should find out my results in 1-3 weeks.

Otherwise, we are just trying to stay cool, and keep some money in the bank. Groceries have gone over the top with prices. I am buying 90% fresh food (dairy, meat, veggies and fruit) and it is still $200/ week. Ridiculous! I tried planting a couple of square foot gardens, but it's not going so well. I think I waited to late to plant, and I didn't add lime to the tomatoes and peppers. Oh well, second planting is a couple of months away.

11 days until Desiree is married. It's hard to believe both of my little sisters will be married and starting on the wonderful life journey of families of their own. It is pretty exciting, and has been cause for much reflection over Christian and my last 10 years together (yep, September 5th with be big 1-0). I just feel more and more blessed each year.

Where Did The Time Go?

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round?

Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?

Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

Do you run through each day on the fly?

When you ask how are you?

Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done do you lie in your bedwith the next hundred chores running through your head?

You'd better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow?

And in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die cause you never had time to call and say "Hi".

You'd better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere you miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift thrown away.

Life is not a race.

Do take it slower.

Hear the music before the song is over.

I posted the poem above about this time last year. It is amazing how quickly time has flown. Lukas is now 9 1/2 months and is amazing! I am so blessed to be able to stay at home with him full time. Each day is filled with laughter and wonderment. I stress that I am doing enough with him or doing too much. I am trying to soak in every minute of every day, because they are going by so quickly. He is crawling everywhere, pulling up, and pushing and walking behind anything that moves. He is very content to sit a play with his toys or play outside or sit and listen to me read and sing to him. Since having him, the world has been filtered down to the basics: eating, sleeping, cleaning (him, me, the house), music, laughter, love. None of the material things really matter any more. For one, we can't afford "extras", and I really don't miss it. This is the life that I have been searching for for a long time, and I am full of peace now that I have it. All I need is a smile or kiss from my little boy, and life is perfect.

Arrggghhh

So, my old template disappeared, and when I went to change the settings, all of my links disappeared. So, anyone know how to get all of my links back? If not, please send me your blog information to link to my blog.

Otherwise, I am going to be a stay-at-home mom in February. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!