Tulip Girl

So, I don't have termites in my house. I do have them in the ground away from my house which actually every one does I guess. We had an old stupid well that was out by the street. For those who are not familiar with Virginia, people sometimes have fake wooden wells on their lawns. I don't know why. We tore ours down after we moved in. It was infested with termites. Well, it was their food source and since they live in the ground, I guess now they are looking for a new food source. That is why their was a swarm of them in my back yard. That and I just got fifteen trees cut down. So my house is safe but my mulchie flower beds are not so I will have to treat them so they stay unapealing to termites... and grubs. Ground hogs eat grubs and since I now have a ground hog, those need to go as well. I do know my front flower bed out by the road has grubs and termites. I found some grub termite killer at a nursery a couple weeks ago so I'll get that. I'm rather fana...

I think I have termites!!!! I can't believe it. I was just on my back deck doing some research (more on that later) and they were flying all around. I have not found a home, just a lot of flying ones. A pest guy just game and did the monthly spraying so I don't know if that is why they are flying all over, but they are certainly on my deck. I have another pest guy coming tomorrow to look for me. First carpenter bees and now termites. Nature sure has it in for the wood on my house. In case you didn't know we had a lot of carpenter bees a month ago. First their were two burrowing into window seals and then I found eight holes on my back deck that popped up rather quickly. I don't mind harmless bugs, but bugs that come with financial ramifications, those I don't like.

This is Dan's first week in Raleigh. I miss him! For those who don't know, the guy in charge of Raleigh - Durham facilities is done tomorrow. Dan is being considered for the position. We are not sure how we feel about it. For now though, Dan will be going back and forth between his facilities and the RD facilities. You try getting pregnant when your husband is in another state. Not possible! I am thankful I don't have a job that is keeping me here yet so I will be going with him. I am not however thankful I don't have a job. I'm still looking. I had an awesome dream last night that I was at a major corporation doing market research. Now that I've had a taste of fast paced corporate America I miss it. I loved the high structured, fast paced, results oriented environment. I felt like a coon hound who had his first taste of chicken. I honestly miss it but I don't miss the place I worked at. I am continuing my job search. Any how, I think I'...

This Memorial Day weekend I am honored to have my own veteran here with me. I thought about the many spouses who do not have their loved ones whether they are deployed or casualties of war. Knowing what freedom costs, I hold my husband that much closer. I read an article recently that explained that the military is making it more and more possible for active duty couples to deploy not only together but to share quarters. I think that is awesome. For our weekend, Dan and I kicked it off going kayaking with friends from church. We experienced minor rapids and mostly a smooth ride. I absolutely love kayaking. The fellowship mixed with a little adventure was a recipe not to be missed. I think I hit every rock in the river so good thing for a sturdy kayak. I got a bit of a tan which was necessary since my poor legs haven't seen sun in a couple of years. A new friend of mine who shares a love for gardening, C, and I went to see the Virginia House, a house basically imported from...

This is my third post in the last 24 hours but I can't go with out this one. My heart is just broke! Steven Curtis Chapman's five year old daughter was hit by a car driven by Chapman's teenage son accidentally in the family's driveway. I can't imagine what this family is going through right now. My heart pours out to this family that has done so much for the Christian church here in American as well as the beautiful children orphaned in China. Three of their children including little Maria are adopted from China. For more information click HERE .

I highly suggest the movie, Narnia's Prince Caspian for your Memorial Day weekend. Dan and I saw it last weekend and I could see it again. It really feels like you are watching something that really happened. I did read that some critics suggested kids younger than tweens shouldn't see it and I pretty much agree with that. Really consider the sensitivity of your child. There is a lot of fighting and it was only the absence of blood in the battles that kept it from a PG-13 rating. The movie overall is a very inspiring tale. Added note: This move is great and is so in its own right, but nothing compares to that first time in Narnia. The first movie was awe inspiring in that it was the first time being in Narnia on the big screen. The second movie if any less than the first is only less by half a point.

Dan thought this was a better picture of my hair so here it is. He also thought I should post a picture of my pink painted toes, but that is where I draw the line. He's kind of funny some times. So Dan got a call from his new boss telling him he is being considered for the Raleigh NC operation for his company. I think that this would be a great opportunity since Southeastern Seminary is there and we would both like to attend. I do have somewhat mixed feelings about it since we are only just now feeling like we are settled here with a great church and friends. Then again we have been talking about wanting to go to Raleigh for a couple years now so this could very well be a God planned thing. That is why I am not going to fret about it. If God wants us in Raleigh, it will happen, if He does not then this won't happen. I would like to go to Southeastern though. I got some blood work results back regarding the whole pregnancy thing and from the best I can tell at this point...

Here is a picture of my friend, Erin (bottom row far right), at the Juvenile Court House getting sworn in as a Court Appointed Child Advocate. I am soooooo excited for her and me. Now we can discuss our cases together as I am working on becoming a CASA in my town as well. It should be pretty quick since I only need to do a few things before I can transfer my appointment to the local court here. Here is my new hair. I don't know if this is a very good picture of it, but my hair is brunnette or slightly auburn depending on who you talk too. If I stand next to Dan, its redder than his hair. I like it for now though I won't be maintaining it. I will be going back to my blond eventually. Today I worked on the church nursery with Pastor Todd. I went to Wal-Mart to get stuff which was fun. There was a woman there threatening to call the news stations because she had been humiliated by something or another. I high tailed it away from there so I don't know what it was about...

I have had such a nice weekend. Dan took Erin and me out to dinner Sat. night for Mother's Day. Dan and I had made homemade cards for our moms. That was a lot of fun. We put lots of love into them. Dan made his own card and it turned out really cool. On Mother's Day I went to D.C. with Erin to pick up her Aunt Angie from the air port. It was pretty stormy and D.C. is easy to get lost in so I went along as her assistant. On the way back, Aunt Angie shared with me about her experience with cancer and how God spoke to her through it. He continued faith in God through Jesus Christ during her experiences is a great testimony. She trusted God when she believed he said she would be healed of her cancer especially when she got cancer for a second time. What I heard her say was that God told her that he would heal her but she had to walk through this ordeal that God could be glorified but his intent was not to harm her. Today she has come through her experience a stronger,...

Dan and I were surfing Godtube this evening and found this really awesome singer, Coffey from Texas. There are a couple of songs that we both just love. Here is a link to his Godtube blog with the song, "All Ye". It is awesome. It rained like crazy last night. The thunder and lightening woke us up through out the night. This morning the creek behind the house was overflowing. It was quite a sight. I opened some windows just so we could listen to it. I sure won't have to water my plants for a few days. I have decided again to be a CASA in with the local juvenile court system. I am excited about starting up again. I applied today for a couple different positions at a local Christian school. I am very excited about a Bible study we are going to do next fall at church. I will be leading it so I am going through it right now. It's Breaking Free by Beth Moore. I am so excited about not just having God's word come to life, but also what I know God will do in...

Here is the house before..... and here at last is my house after. Compare it to the house behind the trees. Big difference! I am so excited. I will continue posting pictures as the yard progresses. We have a giant flower bed and flower beds along the side of the fence. I am working on clearing out brush from behind the fence this week. I let the vines get way to over grown back there. I bought some petunias this week to plant. I don't know where they will go though. Mulch from the trees cut down, may they rest in peace. Below is a picture of three trees verses the ten that were there before. I posted a journaling of my thoughts on forgivness before this one if you are interested. I just posted these both today and I don't want you to miss out.

During my prayer time this morning I was reading the Jesus devotional, 90 Days With the One and Only by Beth Moore. God opened my eyes some more as to what forgiveness is and what it is not. The Bible verses that brought this to light was, "You must not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor directly, and you will not incur guilt because of him. Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself." Lev. 19:17-18 and "If he(or she) sins against you even times a day, and comes back to seven times, saying "I repent," you must forgive him." Luke 17:3-4 Sometimes forgiveness is not a "fix it and forget it" process there are wrongs someone that cause a day by day need for renewed forgiveness. Many times friends have shared with me how others they trusted turned on them. There have have been friends who became bullies and others who took our deepest secrets and made them lunch ...

The Team Mission:Clear 14-15 Trees (they look like they're holding my house hostage) Moment of silence for fallen tree please.... O.K. maybe a few more moments for the rest of these too. To be continued......