Hello again...again!

Wow...the plan to blog more in 2014 failed miserably. Whoops!

Here's to trying again in 2015!

On my mind today is that my first born turns 4 on Friday. The not-so-tiny baby that made me a Mommy has gone from baby to big girl.

August 2011

October 2014

This girl!

10 favorite things about this little lady:

• Everything that happened in the past, happened "last-er night". "Do you remember Mommy when we went to NC laster night and stayed at Grammy and G's?"
• I used to think Matt was the most extroverted person I would ever meet. Nope, Madden's got her Daddy beat!
• Her gorgeous blue eyes. I was so SO excited when my first born kept her blue eyes and that she and I get to share that trait.
• She forgives me when I make mistakes.
• Her love of princesses...I get to experience Disney princesses again through Madden's love of them!
• She has no inside voice...she comes by that honestly!
• While she might be me in looks, she is her Daddy in personality. It's so crazy and fun (and frustrating) to see a little mini-me that doesn't do things at all like me.
• She's always on the go. Always questioning. Always pushing buttons. Always curious.
• She loves being outside.
• She loves rainbows.

I've been so blessed to be this little lady's Mommy. I'm living the saying "the days are long, but the years are short." 

~EVRS

Well Hello Again...

I haven't blogged in a long time...sorry...life continues to be busy and I continue to want to blog and then don't get around to it! But, here I am...back for another try!

There's a lot going on in the Sally household. With 2 very busy wee ones we are constantly being challenged as parents, marriage has been hard and we are frequently being reminded we are not perfect and work has been challenging as we've both gone through a lot of work transitions over the last 2 years. Our goal is to focus on the positive in 2014 and praise God for the many blessings He has provided!

2014 could also be a rather intense year for us and I am blogging to invite you to pray for us. For close to 10 years I've been dealing with TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) pain - the joint that clicks for those that don't have "perfect" bites. What I’ve learned over the past year is that God literally broke the mold when He created my jaw. (Smiling through the pain is my best positive coping mechanism!) It boils down to my upper jaw is extremely narrow and doesn’t come out far enough and my lower jaw is really big and comes out too far. All this causes me consistent pain currently and it’s likely that I could have some intense pain/issues in the future.

So…what does that mean..well I’ve been recommended to have orthodontics, jaw surgery and orthognathic surgery. That means I’ll have braces, have my upper jaw split and widened (first surgery), continue with braces, have my upper and lower jaws cut and sliced and diced and repositioned (second surgery) so they fit together and continue with braces until everything sets/heals/etc.

Our first prayer request is for the decision to move forward with the surgery and for our insurance company to cover the surgery. Insurance often deems this a cosmetic surgery and therefore does not cover it, we are hoping they recognize that is not my situation and cover it without a battle. I am 90% sure that I would like to pursue this surgery, but I am scared and also feel bad that I will be putting my family through a financial hardship (our portion of the surgery and braces, etc). There is no guarantee that my pain will get better, but it is the only thing I can do to prevent the pain from continuing to worsen.

2014 will be an interesting year that’s for sure! Thanks for your prayers…I will try to be better about updating my blog as a way to update y’all on all things jaw surgery related. Now for the best part…

Kate and Madden - Dec 2013

Much love,

EVRS

New Song to Sing

 

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,

and He turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the pit of despair,

out of the mud and the mire.

He set me feet on solid ground

and steadied me as I walked along.

He has given me a new song to sing,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see what He has done and be amazed.

They will put their trust in the Lord.

 

                                                                         Psalm 40:1-3

 

It has been a season of hardship in the Sally household. Mustang gave me a card with this beautiful verse written in it yesterday and I about cried (not saying much there...I know I'm a crier). I wish I could say I was good at being patient, but I feel as though I was not...not at all.

 

But God lifted me out of despair, He heard my cry...and it is only right to sing a new song...shout to the world that God has lifted me out and set my feet on solid ground. Woo-Hoo!!!

 

Thank you to all that have walked these last few months with us, that have prayed us through this season...your love and support is so much more than I feel I deserve...it makes me know how great the kingdom of God is!

 

And now for your viewing pleasure...Monkey Madds and Kate Kangaroo...

 

:) EVR

2 weeks left

I have 2 weeks left of my maternity leave and I'm beginning to feel a little sad. I've had good days and bad days at home with both girls, heck I've had good moments and bad moments in each day that I've been home with the girls, but I feel like I might be getting into a rhythm being home and now I will be returning to work and it makes me a little sad.

Instead of wallowing in that fact I'm going to focus on my favorite memories from the time I've gotten to be with both girls.

Kate's first big toothless smile! No I was not able to get the very first smile captured on camera but I did recently snap this one!

Kate's cooing. I don't remember Madden making as many baby cooing noises as Kate does. It's so fun to "talk" to her.

My big girl Madden. We've watched way too much television in the time that I've been home with her alone but the only thing that I can do to keep her out of harms way while I'm breastfeeding is put on Mickey Mouse (or some other equally entertaining cartoon). There's this line in the Mickey Mouse show we watch that goes "Everyone who has ears say CHEERS!" To which Madden girl yells out "Cheers!" in her cute little voice. Our newest phrase to Madden is "listen with your ears" when she isn't obeying.

Getting to pick Madden up for the first time post c-section. As a mom it's hard to be told you can't lift your little peapod!

 

Madden and Kate,

You can't possibly understand how much love and joy you have brought into the lives of those around you. Your Daddy and I are so thankful to call you our daughters. We look forward to seeing you grow and know that it will be a fun and challenging ride!

Love,

Mommy

 



Sometimes it's hard to believe that this is my life, I have so much to be thankful for! Much love,
EVR

In which I return to blogging...

Wowzers...that was a LONG break.

Blogging consistently has been a challenge, obviously...but I am returning to give it a second (maybe third) shot.

Four weeks ago today we left the hospital with our beautiful Katherine Joy.

We've had amazing help from Matt's folks, two weeks with Matt home full-time, our first few trips out of the house with both girls, a fun visit from Matt's lil' sis Elizabeth and we are looking forward to more family and friend visits, a few more adventures and five more weeks of maternity leave for me!

The transition to two has been...overwhelming, wonderful, emotional, scary, superb, sweet and heart-achingly beautiful.

My prayer for my two beautiful girls is that they grow to love the Lord and love others. I pray for my relationship with them, their relationship with Matt, Matt's and my relationship and for their relationship with each other. I pray for us to continually show love to one another. I am blessed by them already and by the man they call daddy.

Much love,
:) EVRS

Easter Thoughts...

As I sit here on Easter...enjoy "Mommy" time (aka nap time)...no wine for obvious reasons...I reflect on all that Christ has done for us...for me. I recently listened to a speaker who told a story about a young man's (teenage years I think) reaction to hearing that "even if it was just him, Christ would have come to save him." He loves us that much. The teens reaction was simple "and imagine...if you were the only one you would have been the one to crucify Him." WHOW.

STOP.

THINK.

Let it sink in.

I laughed at the speaker at the moment because of his energy. He's a lot like me when I talk...hands everywhere...emotions at the edge of our sleeves. And then I stopped and thought and then I wiped a tear away. Jesus loves me SO much that He would have come to save me even if I was the only one and I myself nailed him to that cross. It still gives me shivers. It's good to be blown away by the teens around us (even though I don't know this teen), it reminds us that wisdom is not an age thing but a God thing (thank you Beth Moore!).

This Easter I want to thank you Lord for your sacrifice...for your forgiveness...for your beautiful creations...for the many blessings in my life. THANK YOU!

Easter 2012

He is risen indeed!
~The Woman With 4 First Names

When Thank You Seems Too Small

 30 things I am thankful for from my 30th birthday (and week)

 

1. Hubby's chocolate cheesecake

2. "Happy Birthday" voicemails...in which you are told Happy Birthday 30 times

3. Surprise dessert celebrations

4. Free babysitters...Ann and Mike you rock!

5. Brownie care package from Dad

6. Sweet cards

7. Funny cards

8. Note from hubby

9. Friends gathering to celebrate

10. Chocolate truffles from the Henderson's

11. People fretting over whether they've ruined the surprise dessert celebration...but they didn't (Andy!)

12. Buttercup "saying" love you

13. Late evening phone calls that make you feel loved...love you Joyce!

14. Multiple phone calls/voicemails from Dad before I'm even out the door to work

15. Hubby's chocolate cheesecake - it is SO good

16. Sweet friends offering their house to host dessert celebration...thank you Greg and Sarah!!

17. Work peeps that wish you happy birthday

18. Work peeps that remind you that 30 is young

19. Friends that tell you that "you are SO old"'

20. Friends that "welcome you to the club"

21. Neighbors that give up their Friday night to watch your daughter and stay to chat after...can not say thank you enough Ann!!

22. Happy Birthday texts

23. Fried mushrooms...oh Quivey's Grove how I enjoy your fried mushrooms

24. Phone calls from family

25. Sharing stories over dessert

26. Laughing with friends you haven't seen in too long...Pastor Dr. Terri

27.  My organized and thoughtful hubby

28. Kind and thoughtful birthday emails...your words meant so much Julie and Mandy

29. Facebook happy birthday wall posts - first birthday on FB!

30. Hubby's chocolate cheesecake - you really have no idea JUST how good it is...unless you've had it and then you do know

 

 

Much love folks!

The Woman With 4 First Names