T-Minus 4 days

In 4 days we will be in Orlando on our first official family vacation. I am so excited. We got a nice hotel at a cheap price and I am the only one that had to buy a ticket to Disney World (thanks Disney). Jack seems to understand where we are going next week. I often ask him who we are going to see next week and instead of saying Dad he says Don Duck (just like that). It is so funny.

Jon comes home Monday!!!! I am so thankful that he is going to be back for a month and 3 days before leaving for a year. It will be especially nice to have an extra pair of hands around the house and helping with the crazy monster - I mean Jack.

I finally got back into the swing of things last week. The week before I was still really sick and really tired from the Passion Play and then there was Easter. It was so nice to be back on schedule last week and even this week coming up.

Today, Jack, my mom, my stepdad and my grandma went and spent the afternoon in St. Augustine. We walked on St. George Street and then went to the Lighthouse but the main reason we were there was for my best friend's little boy's FIRST birthday party. Jack had so much fun. Jack and Will are buddies. Will got so excited when he saw Jack and vice versa. It was a great day. I enjoying spending time with my family especially my grandma. Now Jack is sleeping because he did not get his full nap today so hopefully he will. Here is one from today.

Yes, I'm Alive

It definitely has been too long since I posted anything. Things are going well. We have less than 2 weeks before Jon comes home for a month. I am just going to post some pictures of Jack and the Passion Play. I have a longer post in the makings - I will try to get it up sometime today.



Getting his hair cut "A Cool Dude"



Our matching Chuck Taylors



What was really going on backstage during the invitation (before finale)



Luke and I after the last performance

2009 Jacksonville Passion Play

Well, this week marks the first full week of rehearsals for the Passion Play this year. For the next 2 weeks I am basically going to be living at First Baptist. I love this time of year but much like Pastors' Conference I will be very excted to get to April 6th. Dr. Whitmire's son Luke is once again playing Jesus and will be here next week. Last year was amazing - we saw quite a few number of people come to the Lord through this play. I am once again looking forward to seeing how many come to know he Lord as their Savior this year.

As of Friday, Jon had 1 month until he comes home. It is going to be a long month and we are looking forward to him coming home. We are also looking forward to the end of April because we are taking our last family vacation until Jon comes back from deployment. We are going to take Jack to Sea World and Disney World for 5 days.

Looking forward to warm weather.

A Shuttle Launch and Elmo Slippers

As many of you know there was a shuttle launch at 7:43 tonight. Night launches are always so awesome and this one was no different - although I wish it was a little darker out but oh well. My mom came over after Jack and I ate dinner and we all were playing. I realized what time it was but couldn't remember what time the shuttle launched. Luckily we caught it just in time. We saw it launch on Fox News and then ran outside (dog in tow) to see it come streaking across the Jacksonville sky. Man what a sight. My mom was holding Jack and she pointed out the smoke trail from the engines and he just thought it was so neat. We explained to him that it was going to space but he is only 20 months so I'm not sure how much he understood us but that's okay. I got some pictures of the shuttle in the sky. We stood there and watched the rocket boosters fall off and then watched the shuttle until you could no longer see it. Everything looked like tiny dots but we knew what they were.

Jon has been gone since Thursday so it has been just me and Jack. And wouldn't you know that on the very day that Jon leaves I get a call from the daycare saying that Jack has pink eye. I call to get a doctor's appointment for that day and his doctor was out sick so I got one for Friday. We went to the doctor to check for pink eye and left finding out that he has an ear infection and the beginning of pink eye. Needless to say he couldn't go to day care on Friday - my day off. The pink eye is now gone but he still has the ear infection. He has been running a fever off and on for the past 2 days. It never fails when dad leaves he gets sick and I have to handle it by myself.

I don't know how many of you know this but Jon is being deployed in May. He is gone right now until April 20 on pre-mobilization training. Passion Play is in 3 weeks and it is just me and Jack. Luckily my mom lives like 2 minutes down the street and has agreed to help me with him when I have to work until midnight or 1 am the week before the Passion Play. SIDE NOTE - everyone needs to come and see it.

Hmm....what else. Oh the Elmo slippers. So a few months ago my mom and stepdad came by with a pair of Elmo slippers for Jack. In case you haven't figured this out yet, my child is absolutely enthralled with Elmo. So before dinner I put Jack in the bath tub and got him ready for bed. He has on his police car PJ's (in honor of his godfather Kyle "Uncle Kyle"). So when we went running outside we had to put shoes on him because he loves to get down. We didn't have time for socks and shoes so Elmo slippers it was. He went running outside with them on and I got some pictures.

Hope everyone is well.

Here is the shuttle screaming off to space.




Here is Jack in his PJs and his Elmo slippers (looking for ducks - his favorite animal)







This is how I found Jon and Jack on Monday night.

Because I'm Sick

This is going to be a short post because I am sick and doped up on medicine. I'm glad that I got sick this weekend and not next. Jon is leaving Wednesday for a little over a month so it will just be Jack and I. This past Monday Jack started daycare. I have a few pictures from the week. So here are the pictures of Jack and his new "big boy" backpack.

Pastors' Conference Recap

Ok, I know that I said that I would be back for day 1 - well, I was insanely too tired to try and post something. So here goes a recap - IT WAS FANTASTIC! (pictures to follow in another post)

Friday Night - opening night...the music was great as usual but it was not from the usual cast of characters that one is accustomed to seeing on the opening night. This year, the combined children's choir was in the loft and Charles Billingsley sang with an ensemble. Dennis Swanberg got up and spoke for a while - he is hilarious. Last year Dr. Brunson started awarding a pastor with the Homer G. Lindsay Award. This year it was given to Dr. junior Hill. Dr. Hill is one of my absolute all time favorite preachers. Growing up I loved it when he and Dr. Adrian Rogers would come to the conference. After the award presentation Dr. Brunson got up and preached an amazing sermon.

Saturday - this was the first real day of seminars, premium sessions and daytime sessions. Dr. Hill spoke in the morning session and Charles led worship. Side note on Charles Billingsley - he is the sweetest guy and he allowed me to hang out with him for almost 3 days and help him get the things that he needed. Ok - back on track. Saturday was a really good day.

Sunday - BIG DAY#1 Ravi Zacharias preached in the morning service. He is an amazing preacher. Daniel Crews sang in the morning service and Tim Tebow and Rusty Smith made a surprise appearance. All in all it was a great service. In the evening sessions, JD Greear and Dr. Vines preached. Dr. Vines did an amazing job as always.

Monday - The day started off with Dr. David Allen preaching the first of a two part series on Hebrews. Monday was looking to be a real busy day. The eveing sessions were fantastic. Dr. Johnny Hunt finished the night out.

Tuesday - BIG DAY #2 Just like yesterday Dr. David Allen started the day off by finishing his two part sermon on Hebrews. Tuesday was the last day which it also meant that it was FINALE!!! We did the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Christ and it was great. Dr. Whitmire's son Luke came into town from New York to play the part of Jesus. He always does such a wonderful job.

I know from a personal standpoint I love having all of the pastors that come to the conference here. I am also happy when the conference is over. I was so tired by Wednesday morning that I could barely keep my eyes open.

That is all for now. I will post pictures later.

Pastors' Conference 2009

Well, it is finally upon us. This magical time of year where pastors from all over the country descend upon First Baptist. I know first hand that it will be wonderful as it always is. This week has been one of, how should I say it, pure organized chaos. For the first two nights of the week, I was at First Baptist until well after 10 pm for rehearsals for Tuesday night's finale )it's a must see!). Yesterday I was home by 7pm and today I was in the house by 6pm. And I have tomorrow off. But needless to say I am exhausted. Monday and Tuesday just drained me and then on top of it Tuesday morning I had to take Jon out to Camp Blanding for a week long drill (he will be back on Wednesday - the day after the conference ends). Let me just tell you that Jack knows that his daddy is not here. For the past 2 days I have been running completely off of 4 hours of sleep (and 2 red bulls today). I busted butt today at work. I am just so looking forward to Pastors' Conference but am also looking forward to the end (and I am allowed to say that b/c I am staff). Well, I will check back tomorrow - DAY 1.

Exciting Weekend

Okay, so I am promise that I am going to get better at this blogging thing. Well, maybe I'll start once Pastors' Conference is over - so we'll say Feb. 12th. My weekend has started out great. Number 1 - I don't work on Fridays so technically my weekend started today. Number 2 - I got a call from the eye doctor stating that my new glasses were ready for pick up. WOO HOO! (picture to come at end) Number 3 - I talked to my friend Chenekka today and we are having lunch tomorrow. The reason that I am so excited about this is because she and her husband had a little baby girl on Jan. 17th and Jack has yet to see her. He likes babies but from about 4 feet away. (Sarah, I think that he is going to be inacting Noah's 5 feet rule from Disney) Number 4 - On Saturday, I get to go have lunch with my soccer coach (well old coach). He was my coach from the time that I was 14 until I was too old to play and then he just became like a second dad to me. I am so excited to see him and spend some time with him. Other than that we will spend a majority of the time cleaning house, doing laundry and cleaning out the car - I know it's so exciting I can barely stand it. Now for the promised picture plus one of Jack from last week.

I was vacuuming the hall last Friday and I look up to find Jack trying to vacuum his room.

These are my new glasses - they are black rims and green on the inside.

I've Noticed Something

So today I realized something, I am ahead of the curve in a having a baby amongst my friends. Two very good friends of mine just had babies. One had a little girl last week and the other had a little boy very early this morning. Jack is almost 2. I have a lot of friends at church that are expecting a baby and I couldn't be more excited for them all. I have people all the time ask me if we are ready for another one and I kindly tell them no. Jack is probably going to be an only child for the simple fact that he has way too much energy and excitement to have another anytime in the near future. He is going to be one of those kids that has to be involved in everything simply for the fact that he will get bored easily. Something else that I have realized over the past few months is that when I tell people that Jon and I have decided to have only one child they look at me as if I have cursed or said something horrible. It is a decision that we made when we started trying to get pregnant. We talked about it at length and this was our decision. We prayed about it and felt that God allowed us this one wonderful little boy and we are going to do everything we possibly can to raise him up in God's ways.

On another note.....

Last time I checked it was not supposed to be FREEZING in Florida. We had our few days of winter back in December and now it is supposed to be gone. I know I am complaining about it being in the mid-20s for a few days, when it is snowing else where in the country and double digits below freezing but people need to understand I live in Florida for 1 reason and 1 reason only - the HEAT (ohh yeah and the sunshine but mostly the heat). Just thought I'd throw that out there.

And on an unrelated note....

I highly recommend for everyone to go and see Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Jon and I went on Saturday - absoultely histerical.


That is all. Have a great night.

Can't believe he's 18 months old

My little boy is getting so big. This past Wednesday he turned 18 months old. Sometimes I still see him as a newborn but then realize that he is growing up so fast. We took him to the doctor on Friday morning for his 18 month checkup and the doctor said that he is doing great. He is weighing in at 28.4 pounds, measuring at 34.75 inches tall and his head is measuring at 50 centimeters. He has grown exactly 2 inches in 3 months - now I understand why his pants are too short. He is beginning to talk more and potty training might be right around the corner. He is just so much fun right now.

In other news - the Gators won on Thursday. Go GATORS!!!! and Timmy Tebow is coming back for next season - WOO HOO!!!! I started a new bible study last week on Esther by Beth Moore. It is wonderful so far. This month is flying by. Pastors' Conference is fast approaching as is the beginning of deployment training for Jon. Looking forward to what the Lord has in store for us.