We ventured down to the ocean this morning. Colt went crazy in the sand. He crawled everywhere up and down our little strip of beach. He found some crab holes to dig in and some shells to try to eat. He really liked that part. . . the ocean though. . . well the waves were big and the water was coooold! So far I guess he likes the beach but not the ocean.

This seems to be the mode of transportation here. I don’t know why he’s crawling like this. . . it’s kind of amusing/embarrassing! haha

He loved to play in the sand! He needed Daddy to build the biggest and bestest sand castle though. . .

Colt is supposed to be taking a nap. . . the only corner in our room was beside the door that connects to the front patio though. I guess he heard us outside and discovered we were behind the blinds. Needless to say, the nap didn’t happen.

“Where is Dadda?”

Colt and I are missing you babe. . . Glad you are enjoying your conference and learning lots and lots! We are so excited to see what the Lord is doing in your life and are thankful that we get to be part of the journey! Can’t wait to see you on Monday. Until then we’ll update the blog just for you! Loving you. . .

Colt and I are at Carolina Beach in Wilmington, NC with Nana Gail, her sisters, and the cousins! The fun has already begun! The babies are precious and we’ll take some good ones tomorrow when they start swimming lessons together . . . haha. Sure.

It has been scorching hot here today. . . so we decided to find some water for the Little Man. There is a really nice lake about 10 minutes away, if only we knew where the beach access/swim area was right off. It didn’t matter that it took us about 45 minutes and 2 wrong entries to the water. . . we found it and had some fun!

We waited until about 5 o’clock so it wasn’t in the 90’s like it had been all day with the sun beating overhead. It actually cooled off quickly (must have done that while we were driving all over looking for the swim area. . . ha). Colt didn’t really like getting “in” the water when Daddy was holding him in the deeper part. I assume that would be because the water was cold and rough at that time since there was a storm in the forecast. He did love crawling in the sand (he only ate it twice!) and didn’t seem to be scared of the water since he crawled toward the tide several times. We just turned him back around to crawl the other way or he would had an early swimming lesson.

I know it’s been awhile. . . for me atleast! So, here are a few pics from yesterday. We enjoyed the outdoors together as a fam. It was a relaxing “Lord’s Day.” We have so many blessings and so much to be thankful for!

The little drummer boy. . . he seriously bangs on EVERYTHING! He’s using Daddy’s drumstick on his drums – smart kid 🙂

Home. That’s what Abram had once called Ur. He was used to the city and now he was being called by the Father to “Go” (Gen. 12:1) and leave his family and his home. I didn’t know this before studying it this morning, but Abram’s father was actually a worshipper of false gods! (Joshua 24:2) – Yet, Abram is described as “a man of faith” (Gal. 3:9).

And Abram obeyed. . . not knowing where he was going (Heb. 11:8). We know by his story that the Father had a plan for this man though. He was blessed and made into “a great nation” because he was chosen by the Father and followed in faith.

That’s so encouraging to me knowing that the Father is never aimless. When He tells us to leave one place, He has another place for us. He never takes away something good without ultimately replacing it with something better. This may speak to me more than you since David and I have answered the Father’s call to reach those who have never heard, but we still don’t have His final destination. Yet, he’s brought us to a new “home” and has filled our every need.

Another awesome thing I just picked up this morning in my reading was Gen 12:2 when the Father told Abram “I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” Wow. the Father blesses me so I can be a blessing to others. What are you blessed with that you can use to bless others?

I need to go, I hear my little man waking up from his nap calling for “mama.”

If you happened to notice. . . I haven’t posted in awhile. Yes, I love my new job,but I don’t quite love the loooong days and not getting to see my little man on those days (Atleast my #1 honey is awake when I get home though!). The ‘ole alarm clock goes off around 4:30 a.m. and I’m out by 5:30 a.m. After I get there and catch the bus that takes us to the hospital, I arrive on my unit to clock in about 6:45 a.m. Let the fun begin!! (and it doesn’t end until about 7:45 p.m. . . putting me home around 9!) I was thinking 7a to 7p when this all started. I guess I wasn’t thinking much out of that box!

Thought it’s not the hours I expected it is the job I love! Duke seems to be a great place to work so far. They have a lot of neat features for nursing that I was never exposed to in West Virginia hospitals. The “nursing job” is more efficient it seems. I really am enjoying it! I like the floor I am on as well as my coworkers. I really enjoy ministering to the patients too – the main reason the Lord led me into this field of course. If you are in it for the wrong reason. . . it could be quite miserable I’m sure.

It’s been good to be home though and getting to see David and Colt these days that I’m off. Thankfully I only work 3 days a week. Colt is still all over the place. He’s been saying “mama,” but we finally got a “dada” out of him today. It’s funny though because he only says it in a whisper voice. David says it’s their “code language.” I’m not sure which drains me more by the end of the day – work or trying to keep up with this busy little guy . . .

He seems to enjoy crawling under things?

He has discovered the cubbies that we keep his toys in. They don’t stay there for long though once the day begins!

He didn’t even need help to make this mess! Boys are so talented in that area 🙂

“Mama wants me to read her another story. . . oh bother.”

“DO YOU MOOOO SAYS THE LITTLE COW TO THE LITTLE DUCK?!”

“oops, lost my place.”

“The END!” (what a cute uvula in the back of that little throat! haha)

He keeps my hands full, but having just gone to work four full days now makes my time at home more precious to me. I seem to have all the time in the world to be with my guys rather than letting the little things distract me. We are thankful for the Lord’s many blessings.

Since Haley has worked the past few days and has to work again tomorrow she has not had time to take pics and update the blog, so I thought that I would. This morning we had to be at chrch by 8:15, so Colt and I had an early one. He did real well so I snapped a couple of pictures of him right before we left for chrch about 7:45.
He has been crawling all around the apartment saying “mama, mama.” It’s so cute. I don’t know who misses her more though, him or me.

David and I were on our way to the park with Colt the other day, when I saw some spots I thought would be perfect for a photo shoot! haha. I’ve been thinking about starting a little photography side job since I enjoy it so much, so I had to try out a few potential places in the area here. I may start a website and upload these on there. Then, they will be big enough for you to view to the fullest! I’ll put a link on the blog when I get finished with the site.

Well, we are working folk down here. I have orientation every day this week, and I start my 12 hour shifts on the floor next week. I must say Duke should probably win an award for motivational speakers. They really make you feel like they are happy you “joined their team” (as they say) even though they have 33,000 employees! I do hope to make some sort of an impact, and I really am looking at this job as an opportunity to learn and minister to others . . .

Everything has been smooth sailing, and I’ve been loving what they have to offer. . . . except the parking. I bought my parking pass yesterday ($30/month!!) only to find out today that it is quite possibly the farthest lot away from the hospital! So, my travel time is 40 minutes and I leave early to give myself a little over an hour to get there, park and whatever (like be early or something!). I find the lot finally . . . only 2 wrong turns. . . and try to catch a transit (they offer buses from various points along your journey – it really is a journey). Well, they didn’t care to include a tour or this part about parking/transits in the orientation so I was on my own. Let’s just say I took off booking it (walking really really fast) but everytime a transit came I wasn’t at a bus stop so they wouldn’t pick me up. Then, when I got to a bus stop they were nowhere to be found! WHAT ARE THE ODDS? Well, I walked for 40 minutes, got completely lost and just stopped at the nearest bus stop and the kind driver helped me out. Needless to say, I spent a great deal of extra time before I came home today figuring out the best way to my parking lot and the transit times and locations!!

Other than that. . . I am loving Duke! I’m not loving the getting up at 5 am and missing my family all day though. David is doing a great job with Colt though – he’s always fed, clean, and happy when I get home. I’ve been leaving enough milk for Colt during the day and he’s been using his sippy cup (he still won’t take a bottle). . . so that’s a big improvement and helps make it a little easier for me to leave him. I had the past 8 months with him and am thankful for that. He’s getting his 3rd tooth (a top one is halfway in), and he’s pulling up and crawling like a mad man!! It must have been those few days with cousin Sarah that motivated him 2 weekends ago or something. He’s really enjoying reading books too. He will sit in the chair with me and read as long I can stand to. . . of course when I get home I devote all my time to playing, reading, and making him laugh AND loving my hubby, cooking, cleaning and going through mail/papers and various other things (blogging hasn’t been on the top as you see). Enjoy the pics!

He’s cracking me up wearing his dress shirt with his pajama bottoms. . . looks like something Gramps might do?!