200th post

Today is my 200th post- I began my blog on Feb. 13th, 2008, the day before Valentines day. Soon after we discovered we were pregnant with Kate and the blog sort of took on a "for the grandparents" theme.

It's fun documenting the things the kids do. Last night we looked at all the old videos of when Kate was the age that Savannah is now and laughed at all the similarities. Carson is determined to teach Savannah how to snort like a pig- like Kate did when she was about a year old. Click here for a reminder video.

We are having a wonderful time with Carson here! We have had great late night chats and I am not sure what I am going to do when he leaves! He LOVES the kids and spends time teaching them and playing with them. His recent question to us "Do you guys ever leave, like when they are asleep, and run to the store? I mean, people do that." has confirmed to me how he has a few things to learn about kids....

I couldn't believe he asked us that, I mean, who does he think we are? And he was dead serious. "No, Carson, we don't leave our kids at home while they sleep and go to the store, and you have just disqualified yourself from ever babysitting!!"

Here are some more pics of our trip with Carson from the Memorial Day weekend.

Here are some more pics from Ruth of the night we went up to her house for dinner.

Carson has been sending out resumes and looking for a job and yesterday the Lord has blessed his efforts. He literally got two jobs in the same day! He will be gainfully employed at Buster's Chicken Factory and Eileen's button store. That's not true.

He actually will be working at Bed Bath and Beyond and for a neighbor here in our new complex. It's a cool story how the Lord worked it all out. We just "happened" to be outside and "happened" to start talking to this guy who just "happened" to buy the condo beside ours. He needed a painter and Carson just "happened" to have a history in painting and needs work! He got two jobs in the same afternoon!

Would you hire this guy? I would...doesn't he look spiffy?




Here is Michael at the beach on Monday, with our new friends Andy and Christopher. Michael and I met them 2 weekends ago at the beach and he will be training them this summer in volleyball.



I will close this blog with a story of horror. While at the beach on Monday with a couple hundred thousand people at the pier, I turned around and realized Kate was missing. I had asked her to pick up her beach toys and she was gone. Gone.... gone!! I turned in a circle while muttering, "Kate, where are you?" Another circle, looking farther out, nowhere. "KATE!"

Screaming...nowhere to be found. SHE WAS RIGHT THERE, now gone. Visions of someone carrying her away under a towel, etc. were stinging my eyes. I was crying, yelling at everyone...trying to find her. Michael went towards the ocean, Carson towards the shower and our friend Rob stayed with Savannah. I couldn't see in the crowds of people, no Kate.

I was screaming louder than I have ever screamed at any football game. "KATE!! KATE!!! Lord, please show me which direction to walk..." Scanning, crowds of people. Too many to focus on. Where do I look?? Which way. I am running...

Then, after about 30-45 seconds of sheer horror-trying not to panic... but failing...

I heard the best words I've ever heard, "She's over here!!" A family, walking by had taken her hand and were standing still. They spotted the maniac mother bear screaming like a wild bancchi and 'bingo', that must be this little girl's mommy.

I ran to Kate and smothered her in tears of joy and sorrow. "I almost lost you!!!" I tried to tell her not to do this again, but all I heard myself doing was mumbling and sobbing. It was quite a moment. One that I won't forget for a long time. (Oh, and what was she doing? She had all her sand toys in her hand, taking them to the car, I guess. I need to be a bit more specific with my words next time =)

Thank you Lord for your protection and for your angels who lift us up in their hands so we don't strike our foot against a stone. Ps 91