A better blogger & Alabama

I am still off Facebook and surprised at how many times I've mindlessly opened my phone to check it. (All the more confirmation of my decision!) So, with less time on there I'm hoping to be a more frequent blogger. Have I mentioned I print our blog into a book every couple years? It's a fun family keepsake.

So here I am, in Troy, Alabama in a Hampton Inn blogging when is rather be in the gym but the baby is asleep in the crib in the bathroom and there's noooooo way I could go to bed sweaty. Gross. Charli is on the hidabed finally asleep after a hyper hotel arrival. (The cookies from Emmy probably didn't help either, but hey, this is vacation!)

Tomorrow we'll drive the rest of the way to Orlando. So far the girls have done pretty well. More to come from Florida!
(Pics: about to leave and we're excited & Troy, AL on the map... About half way there!)

Bye Bye Facebook

Today I deleted my Facebook account.  It's something I've been contemplating for awhile.   My main reasons are because I would hate for anyone to think I am showing off, not being real, etc.  It is also not a way to foster real relationships.  Is it convenient? yes.  Do I  love seeing pictures of my friend's kids? yes.  But for me, the cons outweigh the pros.  My real relationships will not be affected by this change, in fact, I have a feeling that they will be enhanced.  I might actually have to call friends to see how they are instead of checking what they put on Facebook today and vise versa.   I feel freed.  I don't need it, it doesn't add anything to my life, and I don't think I'll even miss it that much.

Self Family Portrait

Occasionally Rarely we are ready early for church and not running out the door spouting off the morning checklist. (while running back inside to grab numerous forgotten necessities) When we are ready, all looking presentable, I feel we should document the occasion with a picture.  Last Sunday was such a case.  The girls were extra cute in their fall clothes, so we set up the camera to click away and did our best to get them to look at the red blinking light.  There were also about 15 pics of us waiting for Brandon to set it up and most of them included Charli picking her nose.  Luckily for her, I deleted them, although now I'm regretting not cropping one and saving it for a high school graduation photomontage. ;)

Long Time, No Post

Life has been a whirlwind these last few weeks.  All of the regular fall activities have kicked off and we are adjusting to the new business of life all the while anxiously awaiting the fall weather! I've felt quite sentimental this week as Charli just turned 3 and Claire will be 1 in a week.  Claire is more and more like a toddler and growing out of her baby-ness.  She is trying tirelessly to crawl but has only managed to master the lunge, scoot, and roll.  She is such a happy girl but her personality is much stronger than her big sis.  When she's done, she's done and when she's mad she's MAD.  She might turn into a temper tantrum toddler.

Charli continues to be our verbal, sweet, affectionate girl.  She questions everything out of sheer curiosity and talk constantly.  Most of the time it's sweet; however, we have implemented a discipline for her sassy tongue at the tender age of 3.  (Sassy sauce = a spoonful of cider vinegar)  Even the threat of this method is enough to straighten her up almost immediately.  She loves to "read" and was overheard yesterday saying over and over, "...and more rainbows are comin' your way..."   She is a quick learner and loves when we get out her preschool materials.  She is also starting to learn some Turkish because I've made a couple new Turkish friends and their daughters only speak turkish so far.

Here are a few recent pictures...

Claire can stand but can't pull up quite yet

this kitty is WILD

finally figured out she could sit up in the bed

swinging with her buddy

Happy Birthday Charli!

Ready for a Royal Tea Party

Excited

my best attempt at dressing up as cinderella...

presents time!

Charli and Uncle King Lee

Beautiful Princess

my fav pic of the day

Claire liked the cake!

Brooks took some pretty pictures...

Charli's BIG birthday present, Caesar the ragdoll kitten

Malachi 3:6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change..."

Yesterday I was sitting in my new gift from Brandon, a reclining, overstuffed arm chair for our bedroom and it really struck me about a theme in my life. I have always loved to have a chair in my room to sit and read and have quiet times in.  I have had a chair in my room since I was at least 13.  My first chair was this hideous, old golden mustard yellow chair that had belonged to my great great aunt.  It was worn out when I got it and it only got worse.  When we redecorated my bedroom in high school all I wanted was a new chair, a papasan, to be exact.  We bought it and I loved it.  I studied, read, slept, watched tv, etc all in that chair.  At CBU Sarah and I decided we needed chairs as well.  We bought INFLATABLE neon pink and green chairs that I think lasted about a week.  I laugh every time I think of those chairs.  When Brandon and I moved to Turkey I got a chair/ottoman from IKEA and spent many many days praying and reading God's word in that spot.

So, yesterday as I sat in my chair reading my Bible I was nearly overcome with astonishment that though I have changed and my locations have changed, both dramatically, God hasn't changed one bit. He is the steady Rock, my sure foundation, the faithful God of old.  What a peace that gives me!  I imagine one day I'll be sitting in a recliner in a nursing home and as I approach the throne of grace, He will be the same God of my childhood, youth, and adulthood, the One I have clung to all my life.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8


"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:17

Wow Wednesday

I saw this project on Pinterist and it's been a big hit: Rainbow Rice

Clean out fridge to find some jars...

Big bag of rice from aldi: $4.99, white vinegar (from laundry/cleaning supplies), jars, and tablespoon  and food coloring, not pictured

add 1 TBsp vinegar and food coloring (however much you think to get it dark enough) to rice and shake up in a jar really really well
Repeat with each color

Pour out rice on cookie sheet to bake (to dry) bake at about 250 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until all the rice is dry

The finished product... and I should've made a lot more! (I made about 2 cups of each color)

This has become an outdoor activity because of the spills. I'd hate to hinder the fun...