School is out, marking the official start of summer. Although, Spinner argued with me for 10 minutes that technically it is still Spring.

"Right," I said, but it's summer break.

"Well, maybe it shouldn't be called that until June 21 when summer really starts," replied Spinner.

"Mmmm, maybe, but if it's okay with you I am still going to refer to the next few weeks as summer."

"I gueeeess," moaned Spinner as if he was having to make too big a compromise.



And so begins our summer. Methinks it's going to be a long one! To fill our days we created our summer to do list and posted it in the kitchen.

We kicked things off today with a trip to a local spray park.

Yes, I'm fine!

No, I haven't given up blogging.

No, we aren't in the middle of moving. Sigh. . . 

Yes, our house is still on the market.

No, I'm not lost in projects.

Yes, school is almost out.

No, I haven't run away from home.

Thanks for the email love and concern. Hope that answers everyone's questions. :)

So, where have I been? What have I been doing, you ask? Well, I don't really know, time has just slipped away from me.

How's that for an answer?

Here's what I've come up with for you:

1. We have had upwards of 35 people view our home so that keeps me on my toes for sure. But, STILL. NO. OFFER! But you know what? It's okay. I'm just not worried about it. The Lord has definitely given me a peace about it. And I gotta tell ya, that is not my normal state of being. Normally I would be worried sick that the house we have a contract on will get snatched out from under us before ours sells. But I'm not. I'm not going to question it or analyze it. I'm just grateful for the peace and increased faith.

2. I stole away to the beach for nearly four whole days with 18 friends for our church's Spring Women's Retreat. A really good time.

3. The boy's are wrapping up school so I have been thinking through summer plans and taking advantage of my last few weeks of free time.

4. I have worked on a few projects. I spruced up three lamps around the house. The jobs involved spray paint, white cotton fabric, and spray adhesive. I love how they turned out - they look very anthro. When I'm feeling less lazy I'll get some pictures for ya.

5. I have also been messing around in the yard and  playing with my plants. In an effort to keep some of my fav perennials when we move I have divided and moved some to pots.

6. I have been toying with the idea of opening a small business. Small. Ran the idea by a banker friend last week who works with small business owners to get some feedback. There, I have said it out loud.  I'll let ya know more about that later.

7. I have been trying to fit in more exercise. I'm working up to running a couple miles at one time while Pastor J is cycling and running ridiculous amounts.

Next week he is participating in the Assualt on Mt. Mitchell. Doesn't that just sound like so much fun? Not. A  few days after that he is competing in the rock2rock run outside of Asheville. In between we are caving up in a cabin with the boys. Taking a break from everything. 

So, that's a quick run down. Once we return from our mini vacay I plan to get back in the blogging saddle. And once we move, assuming we do indeed get the house we have a contract on, I look forward to blogging about all the changes that'll be going on to make the new house our home.
I have requested a compound miter saw and nail gun for my birthday so I have big plans! :) Those two items, by the way, will be of great help to me in my small business. hint hint.

Okey Doke! See you in a couple weeks!

Five years ago today I went in to see my perinatologist for what had become a routine look at Bean. We had been doing this little routine for five weeks; non-stress test, 3D ultrasound to check on  the size of some unusually large organs, a measure of the blood velocity in his brain to monitor anemia. All of these things, we thought, were related to the antibodies I had developed in my bloodstream that were not being very kind to our little Bean.

Nothing about this pregnancy had been typical. Conception occured on our fourth (and would be last) cycle of fertility treatments, at 27 weeks we determined he was sick due to my antibodies, and on this day five years ago the atypical nature of my pregnancy with Bean continued.

When I went in for that routine visit my doctor reviewed everything with an even more somber contenance than he usually wore and rushed me to labor and delivery. I was 32 weeks along.

Within an hour our boy was with us. You can read all about his birth story here, then here, followed by here and here.

We are happy to be experiencing the first breaths of Spring around here. With longer days and Bradford Pears in bloom we know, without doubt, that we are about to witness the unveiling of Spring in all it's beauty. We will watch tiny buds turn into leaves on all our favorite trees and perennials burst through the thawing ground with a rainbow of color.  We get to add to the rainbow of color with beautiful annuals that will bring us pleasure until Fall's first frost. We get to watch our planted seed peak through the soil to grow tall and proud and fill our home with color and frangrance. I love it all.