Family Vacation Part 2

How grateful we are to some old family friends for giving us a day at Disney World!  We chose to only spend one day, for we did not know how our little man would handle it all . . . but oh, how he LOVED it!  He was such a delight all day (which was an answer to prayer) despite the sun and crowds and minimal napping.  We were just able to go to Epcot, but that was plenty for this trip and was so much fun!  The only "scare" of the day was when John David chose to drink from someone else's straw in the stroller parked next to ours...(Well, it was a scare for me that is.  John David obviously didn't care, and - although David is a sanitary man - living in Africa for a few years caused my husband not to be quite so uptight about such things:)  So, Praise the Lord for safety too, which made the day that much better!

Growing up, my family made a trip to Disney Word each summer, so it holds a special place in the nostalgic box of my heart.  Although David doesn't have childhood memories here, he does appreciate great imagination and creativity; he himself said it was "Magical."  John David proved to have similar sentiments.  Thank you - Corey & Dana - for a day we will never forget!    

A day at Epcot - A wonderful day indeed!

Enjoying classic

characters carved out of bushes...

Only Disney!

Mary Poppins - a personal fave of mine

"My new favorite place with my favorite person"

Enjoying the fountain in France . . . 

in Morocco . . .

and in Mexico.

John David LOVES music & playing instruments...

So we got our hands on as many instruments as we could!

Having fun with Daddy while waiting in line -

thankfully John David was such a great sport all day!

We were thankful to have our cousin Hillary along on 

the trip.  Having an extra set of hands & eyes, as well 

as a family photographer, was such a blessing!  Thanks, Hill!

John David enjoying a ride with Daddy

Nap time . . . a much needed break for all!

John David "directing the choir" :)

Our first sighting of "Pluto Doggie" - 

one of John David's favorites!

John David's first intro to Nemo -

a new fave! 

A perfect close to a "practically perfect" day!

Our Family Vacation, Part 1

I decided to make the post about our recent vacation in two parts.  We spent the majority of our time at beautiful Lake Santa Fe, where my mom's parents live.  It is our family's favorite vacation spot . . . so peaceful, so relaxing, and oh, so many sweet memories!  

Now that David is serving as youth pastor, summers are going to be really busy for him.  He is taking our students on several retreats and a mission trip; he is also leading a church-wide mission trip to the Ukraine at the end of the summer.  We realized a few weeks ago that we more than likely would not be able to take any kind of family vacation this summer.  So during the week that our students had spring break, we headed down to Florida to spend time at my grandparents house.  We also traveled down to Orlando where we spent the day at Disney World, thanks to some kind friends who work there.  Part 2 of this Vacation post will have some pictures from our most wonderful day at Disney! 

A windy day on the lake . . . 

My sweet Grammy and Daddy Jim

John David loves music, and he loves to watch our music minister

at church directing the congregation and choir.  So, if he sees anything

that slightly resembles a music stand (like this plaque in Grammy's

flower bed), if possible, he likes to stop and "direct the choir" himself.

  

John David was a big helper when it came to picking up grapefruit.  

Grammy & DJ have a grapefruit, an orange, and a tangerine tree

in their back yard...the most delicious citrus you will ever taste!

  I have never had grapefruit that are so sweet . . . 

Thankfully, we came home with 5 bags full!  

Kizziah baby's tend to crave citrus :)

(Unlike John David, this one has caused a lot of salty cravings too...

maybe it's a little female in there!)

I had to include this picture to show my husband's 

mad basketball skills.  Good one, babe!

Countless games of "HORSE" and "Around the World"

have taken place here. 

That All May Know Him

Thanks to our missionary friends, the Bowmans, we were introduced to the "Unreached People of the Day" that we just added to the sidebar of our blog.  Each day it displays the name of a different people group to pray for who have yet to hear the Life-giving Truth of the Gospel of Christ Jesus.  May our hearts be burdened for these souls.  If for no other reason, I added this to remind ME to pray for those who are not just dying without knowing Christ, but those who are LIVING without Him.  Oh, that all would taste and see!  

THANK YOU

I want to thank each of you who are so dear to faithfully intercede on behalf of our family; specifically regarding John David.  We have been blown away by how the Lord has been marvelously working in his little life, as well as the life of our family as a whole.  The improvements we have seen in him since returning to Alabama have been amazing.  Praise be to God, who is gracious in all His ways!  

John David loves the preschool program that he is attending twice a week and speaks with great fondness about his teachers and classmates.  He is such a big boy and goes into class now without insisting that Mommy be in the room.  Even taking him to the nursery at church has been so easy, for he knows that "Mommy be right back". :)  He really seems to enjoy his friends and teachers there, as well.  When I do come back to get him, he gives his teachers good-bye hugs and then usually proceeds to tell me which of his classmates had been crying that day.  He is very concerned for others when they are upset.  I am so grateful that he seems to be so happy now during these times that we are apart.  

These improvements are HUGE, for anxiety ~ specifically, separation anxiety, ~ has been one of our biggest concerns.  But PRAISE THE LORD for His lavished grace in allowing such beautiful improvements.  Thank you for your prayers for John David; please continue to pray for him, as well as for us . . . that God will give us wisdom to know how to best parent this precious one with whom we have been graciously entrusted.          

Ocean Waves and Riverdance

This past Sunday, the three of us headed down to Sandestin, Florida, for a most delightful (although short) vacation.  It was very refreshing...just what each of us needed.  We were just there two nights, but we were able to enjoy the conveniences of the resort and the beauty of the emerald water and white sands.  We are most grateful to Martha Junkin, a dear church member at Circlewood, that made these few days possible.  Thank you, Martha!  We are so thankful for your gift!   

Also, David and I were recently able to see Riverdance live in Birmingham.  We have made it a tradition to go see this show at some point during each pregnancy.  (Our first viewing was in Louisville, KY.)  I love Riverdance!  My husband knows that ever since I saw it done at Disney World once, I have wanted to learn to do this type of dance and play the violin simultaneously.  I know that sounds difficult - I'm sure it is! But they did it at Disney World! (Well, it is a place of magic!)  I am doing nothing to work towards achieving that goal, but maybe it will come to reality one day.  I love watching this type of dance, as well as listening to the Celtic music, the sound of the unique instrument combinations, and the purity of the voices that were also a part of this fantastic production.  Thank you, David, for such a delightful date!

  

Update

Much has happened since I last wrote.  My days have been filled with nausea and tiredness.  I am so grateful that the doctor prescribed some medicine to combat the nausea that I was able to start yesterday.  Oh, Praise the Lord is has been SO HELPFUL!  Now that I know about this medicine, we may actually have more than two children!   I was convinced one day last week that I could not imagine being pregnant again and going through this a third time.  I know I sound like a wimp!  Women have done this for centuries, having dozens of kids.  Many of them have to be hospitalized or...think of other cultures...some women do all the work - killing chickens and carrying big pots of water on their heads, all while carrying a baby inside. They do not get a break, prescription medicines, or fast food.  I was this sick with John David for the first trimester, but because I had no child nor job, I was able to lay on the couch all day. Being sick this time around has been much more difficult, for I now have many more responsibilities than before.  (No 10 hours of sleep each night and two-to-three naps a day this time!) However, I cannot complain - my child is so easy and my husband is so caring and John David's grandparents are all in town...I am not having to do this on my own!  I have ample amount of help, for which I am so grateful!  So, I have nothing to complain about!

But, I did want you to know why I haven't updated in a while...for unlike Crimson Cafe's Chicken Salad Melt and Rold Gold's Honey Mustard Pretzel Twists, sitting at the computer and typing has not been on my "appealing" list the past three weeks.  But, now, Zofran is here!  (I highly recommend this to anyone experiencing nausea for any reason!) 

Enough about me.  Here are some more recent pictures of John David.  Like most children, he has his favorite books.  Below he is reading one of them (Guess How Much I Love You) to his stuffed giraffe, just like we read to him before he goes to sleep.  I thought this was a precious moment.  

This picture was taken of John David his first day of attending his new preschool, which is going wonderfully well.  He is doing great, and his teachers are fantastic.  John David really enjoys his teachers, as well as his two classmates.  I have enjoyed getting to know the other mothers too.  Last week, we had a "play date" with the other children outside of class.  I am so thankful that the Lord provided this opportunity for John David.  In the picture, John David is saying "one more" ... I told him, "just one more picture", and I think he was making sure that I knew what I had said :)