The Yard. It's a Situation.

So, of course, I write in the title that the yard is a "situation" (because "situation" is one of my favorite words), and then I'm only willing to post the pictures that make it look decent...not gross.  The yard does not look gross.  But, it does need work, and that's normal for a newer house that was built and sat for a year or more with no residents...it just needs to be cultivated, loved, cared about - we are the ones for the job.  I really love tulips - a lot - they are my favorite flower, ever.  I planted some pansies (which actually didn't go all that hot, but Landon says it's because they were not deep enough, and I say he's right because he never had time to till the soil up for me so I just had to shovel it down with all my might, and all my might is not a lot, so they were too shallow), and I planted some tulip bulbs (from Costco).  The tulips starting coming up a few weeks ago.  OH MY WORD.  I CRAZY LOVE THEM.  

Pretty, huh???  Did you notice the gator color pansies above??  I planted them alternately orange/blue in honor of my favorite team.  I have to consult my horticulture expert, Mariana DiVita, regarding what to do with the flower bed now.  Last year, she and her talented husband, David, drew us a map of exactly what to plant, where, when, etc.  We did it.  But, we're not horticulture geniuses like they are and some of the stuff isn't doing so hot (after I finish this post I'll be sending Mariana an email with the ugly yard pictures I'm too embarrassed to show on here).  

We brought James' Go-puh-gah outside so he could "shoot" a million times since he keeps trying to go out across the street to the neighbor's house to play with their basketball goal.  Hard to explain that is not our yard and you can't just go traipsing around in someone else's yard (...oooh...I have learned that figuratively, as well - ha).  And, there's a big scary dog over there and I'm always afraid he is going to jump the fence.  Seriously.

Whew!  It's been GORGEOUS weather!!!

This baby is so sweet! (most of the time) :)

Some of my Favorite People

Whew, we have got to get a bathroom upstairs in this house (not going to happen).  I was working up here and don't feel like carrying my stuff down...but not sure how much longer I can do it.  I need to go!  This is irrelevant to my post.  We went to Cracker Barrel last week with some of my favorite people in the whole world.  I was going to write about them for a Fenomal Family Friday, but I can't find my little picture I was using for those (like 500 years ago) so I just am going to write about them now on this post today :)  This is Papa and MeMaw Bramlett, Rayford and Gloria, as they are known to some....but probably to most just known as Papa and MeMaw.  In most churches there is usually one family that has numerous family members involved in the church.  Sometimes this is a good thing - and sometimes it's not such a good thing...have you ever heard the term "family owned and operated" about a church - haha.  I learned that phrase during our time at Woodstock when we spent time with families who were hurting through City of Refuge.  ANYWAY, the Bramlett's are a very special family.  They are special for a lot of reasons.  They were kind to us from the start - I'll never forget Neal meeting us at the church to show us around that first afternoon we visited.  Then, Ray being on the committee that interviewed us.  It was obvious from the start that this family was different.  Since coming to Bethabra, we gave gotten to know many Bramlett's.  I have to say, that honestly, I am thankful for every single one of them.  Because you know what's special about the Bramlett's?  They want Bethabra to be GOD owned and operated.  MeMaw and Papa long to see Bethabra grow, families in the community reached, and Christ's name spread throughout our area.  They desire to help with that mission in whatever way they can.  Having the Bramlett's at Bethabra is sort of like having an army on God's side to help us accomplish His mission.  It is rare that I have met anyone like them. For there to be so many of them, yet all of them united in their goal of reaching the community and moving with the movers.  They have accepted us as family since we arrived (as many at Bethabra have), and I am thankful.  I love them.  I love the whole family.  In many ways, they remind me of my Wise family back in Crestview :)   We are fortunate for many reasons to be where we are, and I have no doubt the Father ordained this exact place for us at this exact time.  Oh, how we want to do His will and see lives changed.  

I don't know if MeMaw actually knew I was going to post this, but hopefully it's okay with her :)

Oh, and of course, some cute pictures of James

I'm just telling you right now that I don't know how people survive without a church family.  I know people do it all the time, and obviously, it's clearly possible to live without one.  I can so see why God tells us not to forsake assembling together though.  The past couple of weeks have been kind of hard - for several reasons - on our family.  Many in our church family have been a haven to us.  I left the dr. the other day and we texted back and forth with about a million people who care about us :)  I am grateful to walk our journey with these people.  I love our Bethabra family with all my heart!

Pout Pout Author!

This is just going to be a crazy post.  Just know it from the start.  Unbelievable!  So, back a few weeks ago, I received an email that said this:

Hi, Bethany,

I ran across your blog when a Google alert on my book title brought me to it (to your “Santa C brought...” post).  I just wanted to say that I was tickled to see The Pout-Pout Fish among the books that Santa brought at Christmas.  Sounds like your son is enthusiastic about books – that’s wonderful!  Happy Reading!

Best Fishes to you and your family,

Debbie Diesen (author of The Pout-Pout Fish)


um, what?????  Isn't this neat???  I wrote Ms. Diesen back and she ended up writing me back again and sending us SIGNED COPIES of both her books!  Here they are!

The Pout Pout Fish note says:
For James: A book a day keeps the pout-pouts away.  Best Fishes, Debbie Diesen

The Pout Pout Fish in the Big Big Dark says:
For James: Books are a flashlight for life, so always keep one handy to light the way!  Best Fishes, Debbie Diesen

Um, is this like the MOST AWESOME THING EVER OR WHAT????  I have always loved reading, and I want our children to love reading, as well.  I try to make a big deal about books and reading and how fun it is to read.  What a wonderful lady!  If you do not have these books for your children...you should get them...they are GREAT.  What a neat experience to have met Ms. Diesen by email - and what a generous lady.  The Pout Pout books will be on our favorites list ALWAYS.

Baby, Hold My Jacket

Excitement abounds in Hoschton.  What can I say?  We're were it's at.  This past Monday, a movie crew came to the Milner farm across from the church to film part of their movie, Trouble with the Curve, coming out later this year.  They used the church parking lot to park all their cars/trailers/equipment/etc. It was a pretty interesting day.  They even said we could eat lunch out of the catering truck.  We did.  It was delicious.  They brought van loads of the crew/actors back and forth to eat lunch.  It was very interesting.  Clint Eastwood and Justin Timberlake star in this movie.  While Clint was not in the scene they shot across from the church, he was spotted driving a Chrysler 300 on 211.  Justin Timberlake was in the scene they shot, and several people got to see him from afar.  We kept waiting for him to come over for lunch, but he never did :(  They must have taken him somewhere really nice in town for lunch - where, I do not know, but somewhere.  I kept saying I was going to ask Justin to hold my jacket if I saw him.  Most people had no idea what I was saying, but a few did :)  Very exciting day.  

AND, sadly, I have seen people talk more on FB and seen more pictures of our church because of this movie stuff than ever before.  I guess that's not really sad though - obviously Christ can use anything for his glory :)  SO HOPEFULLY, millions of people will see the side of our church building on FB and it will help us reach our community for JESUS!!!!

On the Night You Were Born

On the Night You Were Born is a book by Nancy Tillman.  Once I read it before James was born (after I stopped crying), I knew we had to have it.  I have to have any book that at the very beginning page says:

For you are fearfully and wonderfully made... Psalm 139

I want to write down the words of the book in this post with some pictures of James during this last year and a half.  I am grateful beyond words for this precious addition to our family.  No matter what chaos and craziness and exhausted-ness comes...I am sure thankful for my life.

On the Night You Were Born

On the night you were born, 

the moon smiled with such wonder

that the stars peeked in to see you

and the night wind whispered,

"Life will never be the same."

Because there had never been anyone like you...

ever in the world.

So enchanted with you were the wind and the rain
 that they whispered the sound of your wonderful name.
The sound of your name is a magical one.  

Let's say it out loud before we go on.

It sailed through the farmland

high on the breeze...

Over the ocean...

And through the trees...

Until everyone heard it
and everyone knew
of the one and only ever you

Not once had there been such eyes, 
such a nose, 
such silly, wiggly, wonderful toes.
In fact, I think I'll count to three
so you can wiggle your toes for me.

When the polar bears heard, 

they danced until dawn.

From faraway places,

the geese flew home.

The moon stayed up until

morning next day.

And none of the ladybugs flew away.

So whenever you doubt just how special you are

and you wonder who loves you, how much and how far,

listen for geese honking high in the sky

(They're singing a song to remember you by.)

Or notice the bears asleep at the zoo.

(It's because they've been dancing all night for you!)

Or drift off to sleep to the sound of the wind.

(Listen closely...it's whispering your name again!)

If the moon stays up until morning one day,

or a ladybug lands and decides to stay,

or a little bird sits at your window awhile,

it's because they're all hoping to see you smile...

For never before in story or rhyme

(not even once upon a time)

has the world ever known a you, my friend,

and it never will, not ever again...

Heaven blew every trumpet

and played every horn

on the wonderful, marvelous

night you were born.

Weekend with Nanna and Grandaddy

I am so weird about blogging.  If all factors in life are perfect, then I'm good to blog about stuff.  If anything, I mean anything, is going on, then I'm like AUGH I cannot blog!!!!!  So...I'm behind!  The weekend after Steph's visit, Landon's parents came to see us.  We love it when our families visit.  They are so generous to us.  I didn't take many pictures - but even a few is a huge improvement over my usual :)  Here are James and Grandaddy doing a puzzle together.

And this picture just cracked me up - Nanna and James enjoying their drinks on the couch.

I tried to make this next picture smaller so my foot doesn't look so weird.  Landon's mom and I went to get a pedicure on Saturday.  It was GREAT.  I decided to get this weird green color for fun.  I like it.  It will probably be on there for like 2 or more months, so hope I do really like it.  Mom got a much more normal pinkish spring color.  

We didn't do anything too big.  Landon had to go and work at the church for a little bit Saturday morning, and we all had been sick...so...we just hung around at home, shopped at Costco, ate at Red Lobster, churched on Sunday - we had a wonderful visit with them.  Very thankful for our families.