Flurries '08

So this is what it takes to get me blogging the day an event actually happens- snow flurries! I can't believe that both last night and this morning I could look out my window and see big gorgeous white flakes falling, actually quite a lot of them, though none of them stuck around very long. I do love snow, however mid-November is a little early for 30 degree weather, cabin fever, and snow reports! What happened to fall- it's as if the weather took its ques from retail and jumped right into Christmas and winter full force. Once again, love Christmas and the holidays, but where is the wonderful fall thanksgiving anticipation! Ruby's little face makes those transient questions fall by the wayside as she informs me at 8 am- "I need to put on my hate and mikkens (she's got a slight cold right now) and go look at the snowflakes and make a snowball." Notice the mismatched mikkens..... some one's been so eager to wear them that she plays with them and has lost one of each, she could care less! She didn't miss a beat when the snow had stopped and there wasn't enough to make that snowball, she improvised with brushing the bit of icy snow off her slide! The only way I could coax her in was to tell her I'd make hot chocolate and marshmallows, a first for her, but something she's seen often on a favorite curious George video. And it did not disappoint! Look at her drinking from her own big girl cup! What could be better than that hot chocolate smile!! I am so blessed!

The Greatest Place on Earth

Does anything compare to taking your 2 1/2 year old to Disney world for the first time? Only if you've had a house on the market for six years and get the call that there's a legitimate offer on it! We were already having a wonderful day despite the 93 degree temp. watching Ruby ride her first rides, meet Disney characters with no fear, and just basically get anything she wanted! It does make you feel like a kid all over again, what could be better? God's timing amazes me- the last thing I was thinking about that day was the burden of the house, for once. However, for the few weeks since school started (this was mid-September) I had carried this hopeless feeling- I had told myself that after the remodeling of the house, if the house didn't sell by the time school started in the fall, we had to realistically look at life with this until we paid it off. Once again, I'm ashamed of my weak faith, I called it "being realistic." And add on to that the "reality" of the bad housing market, and for anyone looking at it they may agree with me. But then God...(doesn't the Bible often change directions in a story with that phrase a lot! I love it). As of yesterday we mailed off the money, the paperwork, everything so that the deal on the house will close Monday morning. That same morning I will also start a new job that God provided for me as well, but we'll save that amazing blessing for another post. Last night we celebrated and as odd as this may sound while I am thankful beyond what I can express I do fight the urge to wallow in the guilt of not having believed. I knew God could sell the house, but for six years He chose not to. And while He did use this to teach me valuable lessons, Satan, the accuser, wants me to believe that I did something to stand in the way of God doing this for me, if I this then God that. And so he also wants to take away the joy of experiencing God's great blessing at this time- all of which takes my eyes off "Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.. to HIM be the glory" (Eph. 3:20). It's not about me, it's about Him, and I want to be sure He gets the glory, for the sale of the house, for His faithfulness over the past six years, and for His mercy, patience, compassion, and boundless love!

Max and Ruby

Max and Ruby happens to be my daughter Ruby's favorite show. It is about a brother and sister bunny and usually he's in her way and she lovingly, yet somewhat "bossingly," redirects him. I actually really like the show too, but the story line is always basically the same! Well, I better get used to it as we are expecting our own "Max" to the Driggers family March 30, 2009. Yep, we're expecting, and yep, we found out this week it's a boy! I can't even imagine having a boy, but am very excited. Ruby is excited, but does not quite get it, she just thinks we're bringing "baby Rish," her new cousin home with us! All is well so far as I'm about 5 months along, but find myself already counting down! God is so good!

Rish Griffin Owens

In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, July 16, 2008, Rish Griffin Owens arrived. (unfortunately my sister was up all night, but I think it was already a sign that he loves me because he knew I had to drive through the night to get there in time!) What a pretty boy he is with dark black hair and blue eyes, both like his mom- if the blue eyes stick around, and it is okay to call an infant boy "pretty." What a blessing it was to watch my sister become a mom over the past week and she and her husband, Jamie, and baby Rish become a family. And what wonderful parents they are- love beyond measure, patience despite sleep deprivation, self-sacrifice, and thankfullness that makes those witnessing more thankful for all they too have been given. Praise God for such a miracle!

Thinking Ahead

What will you do when or if your gorgeous daughter comes home with a nose ring?

I can handle one (on the side), but I'm not so sure about 8 large rings hanging from the center!

Number 11

UGH! The number 11 reason why I haven't posted is because it takes me forever to get it to look right with the photos and "captions" lined up. Just when I think it's right and I even preview it, I check it later and find that the pictures are not lined up one under the other and the captions are broken up and malaligned! (notice in the one about the home makeover how I have the "captions" before the pictures, it's for this very reason) If anyone has any tips I'd really appreciate it!

Top Ten

Here are the Top 10 reasons I have not posted in a month:

1. I hosted a baby shower for my sister, Ellen, in SC
- she is due with her first, a boy, July 27

2. Driving to visit family in Charleston- Ruby loved playing

with second cousins Haven and ElizaJane

3. Getting rid of the old and bringing in the new- while at the dealership I noticed framed pictures of old Honda classics, yep the civic we owned was one of the pictures! I have officially lost my youth (the car was given to me before starting grad school by my generous aunt and uncle) and embraced this season! You know it's arrived when you are with your husband in the van and you both are so giddy over it!

4. Making messes- spaghetti being the least of them

5. Cleaning them up. I turned my back while cleaning the kitchen and

Ruby must have decided her babies need a thorough washing.

6. Raising a child prodigy and encouraging her talents. :)

7. Hosting a Derek Webb and Sandra McCracken concert- love them!

8. Taking care of the fam (kissing boo boo's) with daddy in the hospital and Ruby with a high fever. Thanks to those who prayed, all is well now.

9. A planned trip to shop the furniture sale in Hickory with an unexpected stop in Columbia to visit my grandpa who had a stent placed. I am so thankful for this visit- a good reminder of how precious family is. Unfortunately, no pic of grandpa great (as Ruby calls him, but this is her smiling up at him as he watched her play- it was a good day, even better than the furniture)

10.In general, I'm just behind!

Will try to do better over the next month!

Crockett Davis Asnip

My sweet 12 year old cousin, Crockett Davis Asnip, had his homegoing April 10, 2008. The pastor used that expression at his funeral a week ago and I love it. Crockett's life is remembered as one of deep meaning and worth. You see, Crockett never developed cognitively beyond that of a three month old due to a rare form of epilepsy as well as other medical problems. As his dad put it, the family's life may now be easier, but not better. I had always known they had great faith and a Godly perspective on Crockett's and all their children's lives, but to hear my uncle and his oldest son share at the funeral what the Lord had taught them through Crockett and to watch them at this difficult time opened my eyes to its depth. What a joy we have in knowing Crockett now has a perfect body that can now walk and run, a mind that can form words and cause his mouth to speak, and eyes that someday will recognize his family when they are reunited. "For we do not mourn as those without hope" 1Thessalonians 4:13

Extreme Home Makeover: KS Edition

It all started last fall when a gentleman at one of the PCA churches in the area (Jason had been preaching there) approached Jason. He said the Lord had laid it on his heart that he needed to try and help us with our house in Kansas, he said he felt he would be disobedient if he didn't act. Thus begins the miraculous way in which the Lord answered mine and all of your prayers for this house that's been on the market for five years. We only knew him in name and the Lord so convicted him. From that point it was just meetings with him and other men from the church involved in some way with property (real estate, insurance, mortgage broker, etc.) As it turns out, he was somewhat of an expert at remodeling houses and then selling them. We felt that the advice this "round table" gave us on what steps to take next was THE answer to prayer- people to counsel us. This alone gave us a sense of relief. But, the Lord had more in mind and these men decided to make our house the mission trip for the church that spring. Yep, raise money, send a team, work, the whole nine yards. A scouting trip was made in December '07 and it was decided what the plan was as far as things to remodel to make it more sellable and it all followed from there. Eventually 13 men and women signed up to go leaving in cars to drive the 17+ hours from WV to KS. Jason rode in one of the cars and Ruby and I flew out there to meet them (nobody in KS had met Ruby as we hadn't seen them since we moved 5 years ago.) Over the course of 6 days our kitchen and bathroom and kitchen was completely gutted and remodeled, all of the inside walls were painted, a subfloor was laid in the attic with wiring (in hopes this wold inspire a buyer to see the potential of finishing the upstairs for more rooms), central heat and ac installed, and the yard as well as the inside just got a good "tidying" up. Are you amazed?! I was- these people were up at all hours, some of the men sleeping there. Only the Spirit at work can accomplish what I witnessed. Many in Kansas also pitched in with housing, meals,and stopping by with words of encouragement. It was all very humbling, to be the recipient of a mission work. I fought it for a while, it's not like I'm a Katrina victim or HIV orphan in Africa- we felt embarressed that this church should do what we don't deserve. Maybe buying this house in the first place had been our mistake, why should they pay? That same gentleman said-"isn't that what grace is?" WOW! I thought of this the whole time and it will be a story passed on to the next generation of how the Lord showed His grace even in this thing.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2: 8-9

The "after shots"- 1.the outside of the house; 2.new bathroom tub, toilet, vanity, tile, floor; 3.new kitchen cabinets, sink, counter, tile floor, stove; 4.master bedroom; 5.front entry with new paint; 6.Ruby after a hard day's work

Fall Creek Falls

I am a little late on this post, but wanted to be sure and relate what a blessing it was to be able to go to the TN, KY, AL, and now WV (we're the only RUF in this state) spring conference. Six students joined us at Fall Creek Falls in TN, about a 7 hour drive. Although that part was hectic with a two year old, it was worth it. After being able to sit under a lot of the campus ministers during classes they taught, I feel even more honored and humbled to be counted among those that minister the gospel, especially with RUF. What amazing hearts and minds these ministers and their wives have. To see over 500 students learning, worshiping, and fellowshipping to the Glory of God is just what I needed. Even though I always remind myself of the bigger picture, it can get kinda lonely starting a new campus, with few students, far from family, and in a new place. I was able to sit under teaching that convicted me, but it felt good. It reminded me that the conviction of the Holy Spirit is gentle, loving, and freeing and what I often feel as a mom, wife, nurse practitioner, and friend is the devil's accusations that I am not good enough. The truth of the gospel is that indeed I am a sinner, fallen very short of the glory of God, but as His child I am more than enough in Christ. I can be wrong and sinful but have hope that what is at work in me was finished in Christ and it is enough, more than that it is perfect! Oh, and on another note- Ruby absolutely loved being among all those students getting lots of "AWH, isn't she cute" as she walked by. She met her friend Knox for the first time, but I think she thinks his mommy's name is Knox as she always yelled it at Meredith.

Ruby with some of our students at large group

Meredith and Knox Westmoreland

Ruby loved running in the great outdoors after 7 hours in the car

Happy Valentine's Day

So, the plan was to take a sweet valentine's day picture in the new outfit grammy sent and make a video of Ruby saying I love you. And what is it they say about plans.....? Needless to say, taking the pictures and video was easy enough and lots of fun! Step #2- trying to figure out for the first time how to download, upload, transfer, edit, or whatever a video on the computer. Not being able to find the manual to the camcorder doesn't help! Jason steps in with his laptop to try and do it to the cries of his wife,"but I want to learn how to do it myself!" (and I thought this phrase just came naturally to my 2 year old!) In the hopes of being loving on this of all days, we silently carry on with trying to figure it out. I won't go into the details but we were engrosed (spelling? spellcheck isn't working). Suddenly, I realized, as many of you out there do, it's way too quiet. True, Ruby's on my bed watching a video, but I can't remember how much time has past. I peak into the room and she catches my eye and exclaims "uh-oh mommy!" Cream from my bedside table is shmeared all over. Now, I couldn't help but laugh (of course, a little lax on the discipline I know) at her exclammation- I know she knows how to use "uh-oh" properly so did she truly devise it in her head: "okay, if mommy comes in before I get this stuff all rubbed in I'll just say uh-oh as if the cream lept out of her drawer and opened itself up and with me kicking and screaming just got all over me. Surely she'll get mad at the cream and not me, oh, and I'll flash my dimpled smile just in case." Wish the video had been set up in there instead, what fun was had! Hope you all have just as great a valentine's day, we love you all very much! XOXOXXO

Hugs and Kisses from a well moisturized Ruby

Ruby's 2!

One week ago tonight, my one and only little girl turned two. Although this is my first blog, I'll make it short as I'm using this mostly as a way to do a year in pictures to sort of let everyone catch up who hasn't seen her over the past year. She's quite the "little girl" now. Many of the baby things are disappearing replaced by toddlerness. We now have hair long enough to put in pigtails and "curlies" as she puts it (or should I say "ask" for it every time she sees me do my hair now). There's the broken sentences to replace broken words- although oftentimes the words blur together to sound like one run-on word. The other day she even suprised me by counting to eleven. Instead of crying in order to get attention she breaks into her ABC song because she knows it will draw all eyes towards her in amazement. I am thankful to still have lots of cuddles, arms held up saying "carry you" (she often uses the pronoun she hears me speak to her to ask me to, for instance, carry her), and new girlish ways of showing affection. For all the ways in which she's changed I still find myself staring at her as if it was the first time I realized I have a daughter! I am amazed at the joy she brings and how blessed I am by her. It has been a great second year!