Diagnosis Hope

Saturday, God's wonderful light was able to shine so bright!! I spent the entire day at Christ Church as one of the many volunteers that showed up to help with the Dr. Asa's Diagnosis Hope Free Health Clinic. I was so grateful to take part in this. We were able to see about 350 patients.

I was so moved by the amount of patients that came in along with the amount of volunteers that gave up their Saturday to be God's servants. There were 10-12 doctors and nurse practitioniers, about 30 nurses, and close to 200 other volunteers. Most of them were probably between the ages of 18-24. These kids could have been anywhere else and doing anything else in Nashville, but chose to spend their Saturday with us. We were on our feet all day, but I did not hear one complaint out of anyone.

But the sad reality is, is that there are plenty people in our community, your community, and all over the US that don't have insurance and no way of getting the proper healthcare they need, that did come or was not able come to the Free Health Clinic.

The way I see it...All humans were put on here earth by God, the same way you and I were, and that they should not be refused healthcare due to lack of insurance and funds. Their health is just as important as yours and mine. I wish there was more that I could have done. But there is more that I am going to do!!

One of the best parts of the day was being able to witness to others, share what God has done in my life, and experience the beauty of what He is doing in my life. And what is even better, I was not the only one that was able to witness and share God's work. God is Great!!

Laundry...ugh!

I HATE laundry!! Well...just the fact that I have to go to the laundromat just to wash our clothes. (We have a dryer.)
Here is how a usual laundry trip goes... As long as I already have the money and detergent.
1. Carry 2 baskets and 1 laundry bag full of clothes down to the car. (PLUS: We live on the 2nd floor)
2. Drive 5-10 mins to the laundromat.
3. Carry the clothes inside.
4. Wash 3-4 loads at $2-3.75 each load. (Luckily...they have multiple machines)
5. Load the wet laundry in baskets and back in the car. (They are much heavier now)
6. Drive back home.
7. Unload the baskets and carry them up the stairs to the 2nd floor.
8. Dry each load, one load at a time. Time consuming.
Unfortunately, I have to wait until each load is done drying, folded or hung up, and put away before I can head to bed.
I am usually exhausted by the end of the night!!
Going each week makes me appreciate the little things in life.

I can't wait until I can fnd a washer for cheap. I have been looking for one that we can afford, but by the time I can search on Craigslist, contact seller, and wait for a reply; they have already been sold. :( So if anyone has a washer that they want to donate to this family in need, please let me know.

My Car

Tyler is just too funny. Ever since I can remember, Ty has always played around acting like he is either a car or driving one. I am just a little curious. Will that ever end?? I am not too worried if he doesn't ever stop. I thought it was a phase back when he was younger, but the kid just doesn't ever get tired of acting like he is driving around the house,the store, everywhere he goes with the sound effects to go right along. He has now started using the Wii steering wheel while circling the apartment. Last night, he actually made the gear shift out of a lint roller and a shoebox. (Picture below). He actually fell asleep with Wii wheel in hand tonight.

So it gets me thinking...will he end up being a racecar driver or inventor of a FUTURE car???

Stuff On My Mind

I know that I have posted a couple of times, but really haven't utilized this blog like I should be and I am not really sure if I can treat this kinda like I would a diary that everyone can read although I am not sure who reads it or if anyone reads it at all. Well, I have some things on my mind right now and really want them off my chest. So here ya go blogger/ blogspot/blog.

First: My heart goes out to all of the women that cannot get pregnant and carry babies. I am feeling very selfish in a way. I know that I can get pregnant or have at least previously been pregnant before. And right now, I am wanting to get pregnant so badly right now that it is all I think about everyday. I know what that feeling is like having a baby growing inside me. Hearing its heartbeat for the first time, feeling its first kicks, having indegestion and acid reflux because of its hair (which Tyler had a lot of), and my stomach getting bigger as the baby got bigger. I am yearning for that. I want so badly to show off a baby bump. But also knowing that right now is not the time for us to have a baby. We are not financially ready to have a baby, nor do we have room in this apartment for a baby. But I am just tired of saying that now is not the right time, and keep wondering when the right time is going to be. We have talked about maybe trying when our anniversary of being in Nashville rolls around. But I don't want to get my hopes up again, just like saying that we would start trying when I finish college, and I am no where near that. So that little scenario went out the door. I would rather it be sooner than later. Looking back at the way I am feeling about not being pregnant and wanting to be, compares nothing to the way all of the millions of women in the world that cannot be pregnant and have babies on their own. So if anyone who is part of that ratio and reads my blog, please know that my heart goes out to you.

Second: I want so badly to be part of a group of great friends here. Eventhough, I have left Opelika and moved to Franklin/Nashville, I am not sure what I had and what I have left behind. Part of me feels like, I made a stupid mistake on leaving friends, and part of me is excited about making new friends and actually finding my place. I felt that I just did not fit in with any group from church. I had a couple of friends from previous workplaces but I never really found my place. I wasknown as Tyler's mommy, Alyssa's sister, Marcia and Rick's daughter, Kenny's wife, the babysitter, and Cassie Frank, that annoying clingy red-headed girl from school.

I was friends with people that I babysat for but I felt at times that I was only their friend when they wanted me to watch their kids. But I was never invited to have dinner or cook-out with them as friends. I was not part of any group of girls that got together to play Bunco or go to the beach with. (Other than the beach trips with the clinic. And that ended when I left the clinic.) I never really felt like I had a place in our Sunday School class. We went to a couple of game nights but that is all we were invited to do. No one ever called to chat or go shopping with or have a drink after work with. Even though I don't post on my blog a lot (I am trying to post more), I only have 2 followers which kinda makes me sad. So... Pretty much the only friend who I love and care about so much lives out of town. Well... Kenny and I have one other couple that we are friends with but they live out of town as well.

I am thinking about deleting my facebook because it does nothing but make me upset and sad. I try not to look at peoples pictures, but I do it anyways. When I do, I see all of these people that I call friends and their lives that I am not really part of that I thought I was. Thank you so much to Facebook for opening my eyes.

I want so much for us to make new friends as a couple. I am hoping that once we find a church that we like and can go to regularly, maybe we can find our place with a new group of friends. I can't wait to see what the future holds for us in Franklin, TN.

If anyone reads this that has called me their friend, it is appreciated. I am going through a "Time" right now, but I do cherish the friendships that I had when I was in Opelika and I remember each and every one of them. And just a little "Thank You" to my best friend in Bessemer for always being my friend through thick and thin. I love you.

Update from Franklin, Tennessee

Our little family has gotten a little settled in now. Tyler has started the 2nd grade here at Moore Elementary. He has such an awesomely sweet teacher. She is a red head and expecting twin baby girls in October. Ty loves her and says the playground at school is the coolest one he has ever seen. He is making some new friends, but definitely misses his friends in Opelika. He talks about his "Opelika friends" almost everyday.

Kenny is working 3rd shift at Academy Sports and Outdoors. He really enjoys working there.

Now, I have changed jobs. The nanny job was great but short-lived. The family decided that aren't in need of a nanny since the mom works at home and the father is not working at the moment. So...I quickly went on the job hunt. Luckily I found a job overnight after going on craigslist and started responding to posts left and right. The next day, had an interview and later that afternoon accepted a position at The Center for Natural Medicine as a receptionist (phones only). Since taking the job at the end of May, I have moved into a new position handling patient flow and helping with ionic treatment. I love it!!

We have a little bit more to do to say that we are settled.
1. Find a church to call home.
2. Find some friends. (Will come when we find a church.)
3. Find a bigger place to live in. (We have some prospects in mind.)

I am proud to say that we are...HAPPY living here. We can't wait to get a start on expanding our little family but that too will come when the time is right.

Life these Days!

Hello. I only have a short bit to write this... but I wanted to give an update on our life these days. About a month ago I decided to make the big plunge into becoming a full time Live-out Nanny. I was not quite sure where this big adventure would lead me, but I was very hopeful! After looking for a bit I found a wonderful family to do what I know best, which is take care of their kiddos. The big kicker is that this family lives in Nashville, Tennessee! Which brings me to my big news... the Taylor family is moving to Nashville!! Yay! I have already started my job as a nanny as of yesterday. Unfortunately my boys are still in Opelika. Kenny is actively looking for a job up here but is at home taking care of our kiddo. We have decided to keep Ty buddy at Southview until school is out fr summer break and he will stay with Mom until the 2010-2011 school year starts back up. But as soon as Kenny gets a job in the area, he will make the big move. Thankfully, Ty will be in great loving hands of my parents and will be provided for until he makes the big move!! Right now I am living in a one bedroom apartment for the first time in my life. When Ty gets here, we will move to a bigger apartment! Well...I gotta go! The kiddos are waking up from a nap and its time for a snack!

Alyssa's Valentine's Gift

I have decided to be CRAFTY. I am not sure where this has come from or what has gotten in me. But I have started wanting to make things, build things, or redo things.

My first project came from an idea out of one of my favorite magazines, Do It Yourself. I was flipping through it at the beginning of February. I came across this page that had the title, Chic On a Shoestring. I saw what they were making and then read the instructions. I thought to myself. "I can make this!" The project includes fabric, a piece of 22" X 24" plywood, drawer knobs and pulls. Its a jewelry organizer. But WHO would I make it for?? I didn't need it, Alyssa had gotten me the jewelry box that I begged her to get me for Christmas this past year. Mom already had an awesome jewelry box. So...I decided to make this for Alyssa for Valentine's Day. It would be perfect for her. Its kinda like giving her what she gave me but with a little twist.

So, as soon as I finished reading my magazine, I got my butt off of the couch and got started. I asked Kenny to bring home some plywood that they didn't need from the shop. I went to Hobby Lobby to get the fabric. (Side note: Hobby Lobby has been added to the "Dangerous Store" list along with Walmart now. I would go broke in there if I let myself. So many projects pop into my head as I walk through the doors.) After I got the fabric, I went to Lowes and Home Depot to get the knobs and pulls.

The next day, Kenny brought the plywood home and I got to work. About 4 hours later without any mess-ups or accidents, I am proud to say that I made this all by myself.