Oh, the irony!

One of our twins, Andrew, is accident-prone. There is no way to sugarcoat it. He is an accident waiting to happen, at any moment, any SECOND. If my phone rings around lunchtime (which happens right around recess time at school!) and the caller ID shows the school, I can pretty much bet it is the school nurse calling with the details of Andrew's latest injury. More often than not, he is fine. Thankfully.

Tonight, after dinner, we took a family walk. Andrew and Jacob chose to ride their bikes. Yes, they wore helmets. No, injury was not involved, although I know that is what you expect to read following my opening paragraph. Hopefully, you will see the irony that I saw when Andrew, riding lazy circles in the street, called back over his shoulder what he wanted to be when he grows up.

A professional stunt man.

A Love Story - Our Beginning

Since today is Valentine's Day, I thought I would post how my husband and I met.

I was 13 years old, and it was Good Friday. My church youth group was meeting at our church, and then all going to a church member's lake house for a Good Friday service. Those of us who were already at the church were playing softball while we waited for everyone else to arrive. I was on third base, waiting to run home, and noticed a friend walking up with a strange boy I had never seen. I thought to myself that he was kinda cute, then finished the ball game.

Our mutual friend introduced everyone to his best friend from high school. It was Gilbert - my unknown-to-me-at-the-time future husband! He was 16 at the time, and a sophomore in high school. He came along with us to the Good Friday service, and we got to chat and get to know each other a bit. He started attending our church the very next Sunday, and went every Sunday after that.

For the next year or so, Gilbert followed me around like a sick puppy, obviously had a crush on me, and became one of my closest friends. He eventually asked me to a dance after a high school football game. I said yes, but I was so nervous that I made myself sick. After the football game, he had to take me home. I was young and oh, so nervous!!

I think he tried to ask me out a few times after that, but my dad wouldn't let me go. Finally, his senior year of high school, he gave up and began dating someone else. He brought her to church a few times, and I quickly realized that I was very upset at this turn of events! I kept it to myself though. At least, for a while.

Gilbert was (and is) highly intelligent, and received a Congressional appointment to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. The day before he was scheduled to leave, our youth group all went to the lake. I worked up the courage to tell him, just as we were gathering up to go home, that I really liked him much more than a friend, and I was very sad to see him leave. I forget his exact words, but the gist was along the lines of - "You're telling me this NOW?!!"

Right after he left for Colorado Springs, my parents divorced and we moved to Atlanta, GA. Gilbert and I had a long-distance telephone and letter relationship for about a year, at which point I moved back to Arkansas. He was home for the summer, and we finally went on our first real date. We went to the movies to see "Romancing the Stone." That movie has had a special place in our hearts ever since!

Gilbert went back to the Air Force Academy for another year, then decided at that point that he didn't want a military life. He came home, finished his aviation degree at the university where I was beginning a music degree. Long story short, we dated for about 6 years, and were married in 1990. The rest is, as they say, history!

And that is the story of our beginning. The beginning of our ongoing love story.

Truly - we are not alone.

There is a song that Michael Buble sings, one that I love. It makes me cry every time I hear it, but I listen anyway. The lyrics are so appropriate for our lives right now. Things are going wrong, and falling apart in certain aspects of our lives, but it has shown us that we are truly not alone. Not only do Gilbert and I have each other, but we have been reminded over and over that we are truly blessed with the love and support of friends and family.

"Lost"

I can't believe it's over

I watched the whole thing fall

And I never saw the writing that was on the wall

If I'd only knew

The days were slipping past

That the good things never last

That you were crying

Summer turned to winter

And the snow it turned to rain

And the rain turned into tears upon your face

I hardly recognized the girl you are today

And god I hope it's not too late

It's not too late

'Cause you are not alone

I'm always there with you

And we'll get lost together

Till the light comes pouring through

'Cause when you feel like you're done

And the darkness has won

Babe, you're not lost

When your worlds crashing down

And you can't bear the thought

I said, babe, you're not lost

Life can show no mercy

It can tear your soul apart

It can make you feel like you've gone crazy

But you're not

Things have seem to changed

There's one thing that's still the same

In my heart you have remained

And we can fly fly fly away

'Cause you are not alone

And I am there with you

And we'll get lost together

Till the light comes pouring through

'Cause when you feel like you're done

And the darkness has won

Babe, you're not lost

When the worlds crashing down

And you can not bear the cross

I said, baby, you're not lost

I said, baby, you're not lost

I said, baby, you're not lost

I said, baby, you're not lost

need continued prayers

If you follow this blog, you sort of know our story. Too complicated to elaborate, but today we got some more bad news, potentially devastating to what we thought was going to be an eventual return to my husband's job. So I am asking that if you pray, please keep our family in your prayers for the best possible outcome to this. And if you don't pray, please send us good karma, good thoughts, whatever positive energy you can.

I am grateful for our friends and family. Love to you all.

Kelley

And PS - if you know of a well-paying job that provides paid training, and benefits, let us know!

Getting Together

Tonight, we are having friends over for pizza and Mah Jongg. I will be late to the festivities, as I am doing a play right now. However, my part is over pretty early on, so I will be home by 9:15. So we decided to go ahead and have them over, especially because I won't have another free evening (besides Mondays) for the next few months.

I don't get together with my friends often enough, and I wish I did! I have a million reasons: my house isn't clean, my house isn't big enough, our 'stuff' isn't fancy enough, the food isn't fancy enough, blah blah blah. I should just bless and release all of that nonsense, and make more good memories with my friends!

So, if we are friends, consider yourself invited over! If you have kids, bring 'em along, and our kids can play while we chat or play a board game, or eat pizza, or whatever. If you don't have kids, just remember that I do, and prepare yourself for lots of rowdy fun, or come over later, after they are in bed.

Let's get together!

Productivity Rocks!

The boys were home from school today due to ice or, rather, the potential of it. It was nice to not have to get up at 6, or get everyone out the door in a rush, etc. We had a lazy morning of breakfast and Wii, but the twins got to arguing and fighting, and just wouldn't stop. So, we all know what happens next, right? HOUSEWORK!

Everyone got busy straightening the clutter out of the living room, playroom, and the boys' room. They all worked well together, things got done, floors were vacuumed, and lo and behold, Jacob found his school agenda, which he has been missing for weeks! Yes, I could have looked for it and found it long before now, but I am tired of finding the things they misplace. Time for him to do it. Plus, he got a first-hand lesson on how keeping things picked up makes life easier!

Woohoo, I love it when the whole family is productive! The kitchen and bathrooms are next!

Great site

I am a book lover! What's the fancy word for that, bibliophile? Anyhoo, that is me! And I don't have near enough time to read everything I want, if I plan to get any sleep, so there are stacks of books near my bed...my To Be Read pile. I love the library, but I invariably get a book, then don't get a chance to start it, or finish it, before it is due. Or I forget to take it back in time and rack up late fees. Which brings me to one of my favorite websites, and I wanted to make sure you know about it!

Paperbackswap is a great way to get those books I am dying to read, and not spend loads of money. All I have to do is list books I am willing to part with, then I look for books I want. I build up credits when people want my books, and I can then use those credits to get books for myself (or my boys!). All I have to pay is the postage it costs to mail the books I have listed to people who have requested them. I love it! According to Paperbackswap's tally, I have saved $167 on books!

So if you love to read like I do, are short on reading time, don't want to spend tons of money, and have some books you are willing to part with, then check out Paperbackswap. You will love it!