Count Your Blessings...

I feel like today's one of those days where I just need to count my blessings instead of complain and moan and groan. I let myself get too worked up today because this has just been a long week. Poor Ian has been gone a lot because of work or at home but needing some peace and quiet to get work done, so I don't get my usual amazing help in the evenings. I feel like all the stress from the week finally wore on me today, and I was not a very loving or patient mother. I hate those days. So I'm going to spend some time being thankful and trying (hard) to remember the special moments!

• Cayman and Charis's love for one another is very evident, and it absolutely warms my heart. Whenever Charis wakes up from her naps, Cayman is usually the first to hear her and INSISTS that I go get her out of her bed. He runs and beats me to the door so he can burst through the door and say hello to her. Charis returns his excitement with her loud squeal and a huge smile. Whenever she gets the chance, she leans towards Cayman with her wide open mouth to give him a special kiss. Cayman loves it. He kisses her all the time.


• Cayman is very smart and does not act like your typical 2 year old. He is very good about staying right beside the car whenever we're getting out. He understands parking lots, and he now begs to hold your hand whenever he's in a parking lot. "Dat parking lot! I hold your hand! I hold your hand!"


• I am so thankful to have other IM wives nearby. I know we are very privileged to have other IMs near us - most IMs are the only ones for miles and miles. Getting together is near impossible for them! But we are blessed to have two within 30 minutes! Tonight Britney came our way for an impromptu supper at Panera Bread because our hubbies are both in Atlanta for interviews. It was great to share life with her, and the kiddos did well at the restaurant! (Charis ate until we ran out of food to give her. Before we left, she ate 2 chicken nuggets. While there, she ate 1/2 of a banana and 1 of their baguettes they give with their meals.) I can't tell you how good it is to be able to talk to someone that's in your same situation.


• Ian is still getting great opportunities with Chick-fil-A. Even though he's not necessarily in the running for a particular store, he's still getting called for interviews and other great opportunities within the company. We know that the Lord has a plan for us, and we can't wait to see what it is! Sometimes it's tough and hard to be patient, but when we sit back and realize how gracious the Lord's already been to us, we just can't wait to see how else He's going to glorify Himself through our lives.

Of course those aren't the only blessings in my life. They're just the ones on the forefront of my mind tonight. Right now, I'm going to go enjoy the peace and quiet of my home, curl up in my nice, cozy bed, and watch whatever I want to on TV (because I'm in control of the remote this evening!) :)

Just to give you a little taste of our day... I'll set up these pictures for you. Ian had just come home from work; the kids had been in Cayman's room playing. I left the room to go do something for a second, and when I returned, this is where I found them.

[caption id="attachment_1447" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="They were beating and singing in the dryer..."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1446" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Eventually Cayman started yodeling - I think he liked the echo better inside the dryer..."][/caption]

I left for two more minutes because Ian called me for something else. When I returned, Charis had discovered the lint in vent and had eaten some of it. I contemplated calling poison control, but Grammy said not to. So I didn't. If she hurls all night long, I'm blaming Grammy.

I'm uploading the video of Cayman singing on Facebook! :)