Dreams...

Dreams, Dreams, Dreams...
I love having things in my heart that I can't wait to do one day. I love that I am in a place in my life that I can't particularly get to those dreams, yet, because that means I'm in the process of fulfilling dreams now. Having babies; working a job that is soooo fulfilling that it allows me to be home with my kids, but also allows me to thrive in the gifts that God has given; living in a home that I love, not because the house is a certain way, but what's inside of it is sooo dreamy; But I know that I will one day get to those other things! That's soooo important to hold onto those dreams. One thing that hurts my heart is when I ask a person, "What are some things that you would love to do one day?" and they can't give me an answer.
OH GIRLS... know what you would love to do for years to come and hold onto those dreams... YOU'LL GET TO THEM IF YOU KEEP THEM ON YOUR RADAR, because you never know when an opportunity will arise for a dream to come true. God is good and FUN!!! He may just want to pull a blessing out of His pocket when you least expect it!!

So, I want to write them out... dreams that I have! I encourage you to do the same...

ALI'S DREAMS

* Real cooking... spend an hour prepping meals because the recipe is so beautiful it takes that much time to get ready to cook it. FOR NOW... I will live the dream of playing in the mud in the cool, evening air with my boys instead of working in the kitchen. I'll get there one day...

* Visit Italy... Growing up with my grandmother, whose maiden name was Destefano, and the rest of my dad's big family was so rich! I think that that family fun and closeness stemmed from our Italian roots. Well, it spilled over to me. I love having people over to the house, eating, laughing, and sharing life together. So, I'd love to visit the country where my heritage is rooted. Tuscany, oh Tuscany, I will see you one day. I will stay in that villa, walk those vineyards, soak up the Tuscan sun and those beautiful colors of marigold, bronze, and salmon; cook in an authentic Italian kitchen; and just breathe in that air of my heritage. FOR NOW... I will live the dream of decorating my home, as money allows, with a Tuscan feel. I will have all of the friends over that I can, and I will watch "Under the Tuscan Sun" to keep this dream alive!

* Mine and Sam's rocking chairs... Sam let me know that one day he'd like to take on the big task of building two rocking chairs for us to rock in when our last child heads off to college. Oh, what a sweet moment that will be. I can just see me, at 48 years old, sending my last little man off... crying away, but then sitting in those chairs, gazing into my husband's eyes and begin to giggle saying, "It's just us now!" FOR NOW... I will live the dream of raising my four little men to be ready for their days to leave this house to be all that they were created to be. I will soak up their baby days and their days when they just love me soo much :) I will enjoy these days that I am young and don't need to fall into a rocking chair yet because God has given me insurmountable strength and energy to live this fun life.

* Read, read, read... I am slowly fulfilling this dream now, but I can really see it coming to fruition when my boys don't need me sooo much. I do alot of reading to help myself grow as a woman of God, to be a Godly wife, and to be a strong, knowledgeable mother. I have the dream though to read the classics. You know, those books we were forced to read in high school. Got the Cliff's Notes and hoped we could pass the test with the knowledge from that little yellow and black "cheat book." Jane Eyre, Great Expectations, The Grapes of Wrath, The Scarlet Letter, To Kill a Mockingbird. I am reading The Hiding Place right now; about a page a week... so that has me completing it in 2009. FOR NOW... I am living the dream of growing in which ever arena... as child of God, wife, or mother... the classics will come, probably in a basket next to my rocking chair!

Cooking, Traveling, Rocking, & Reading... they will come!

Dreams... Live the ones of today and keep your eyes open for the one's of tomorrow!!!

I was TAGGED!!!

Ok... I'm gonna respond to my tagging, but everyone that I know in the blog world has already been tagged, so I can't tag them back. SO, does this thing end with me? Sorry I'm the party pooper!

THE 8 RANDOM FACTS...
1. To all of my "clean freak" friends gasp... I would scrapbook, read, or blog at night before going to bed BEFORE cleaning the kitchen... it can wait until the morning!!!

2. My favorite "thing" about God is HOPE. Ever since I have been living for Him, I thank Him daily for the hope that I can cling to during my difficult times, my growing times, or things that people around me are going through. The fact that He is in control and the hope that He will shine bright in a sticky situation if we seek His face, guidance, and perfect will. If I were to have a daughter her name would be Savannah Jane.. if I were to have a second daughter, her name would Hope. Well, if I'm to have a Hope... God would have to put 2 baby girls on my doorstep. Any hope in that? Sure!!

3. My dog and I share the same natural, blonde highlights.

4. I LOVE fried eggplant, beets, and pickled okra. Even when I'm not pregnant!

5. I moisturize my face about three times a day, but I'm lucky to floss my teeth once a week.

6. I have to take my shoes off to drive. Is that illegal? Shhh.. don't tell...

7. Although when Max is born, I will be undergoing a painful surgery and the beginning days of nursing (eek!) and missing my three little men at home... I'm soooo excited about those three or four days in the hospital. That is a time that Sam and I love... yeah, he's helping me sit up, roll over, and get up to go to the bathroom... but we love that sweet time together with our newborn. Little naps, little kisses, and little visits from friends and family... Beautiful time!!!

8. I love getting older... I'm sooooo excited to turn 30 in a few weeks. Be it that I love to accomplish things and grow and succeed and have stories to tell and learn new things and meet new people and watch my children grow and grow deeper in love with my husband... I gotta grow older to do all that. So, bring it on Birthdays... I welcome you with a hug, not punching gloves!

WE did it... I mean... HE did it!!!

Yes... the day has come... our Jackson went to school!!! And our home did not flood with tears. He shined bright, God shined bright, and mom and dad are beaming quite brightly, as well!

We have homeschooled Jack for the past two years and chose this year to send him to school. Boy was he ready!!! The morning was beautiful. Sam cooked his favorite pancake breakfast and I put smiley faces with strawberries. We gave him a wooden cross necklace letting him know that all of the kids in his class may not know about God or be living for Him, so we wanted him to have that to remind him to make choices that Jesus would make. I let him know that if he didn't want to wear it as a necklace that we could hang it on his backpack strap. He said, "Oh no, I want to wear it." We got the lunch packed and all loaded up in the van to drive our little man to school. Sam pulled up to the front door, Jackson gave Bo and teary eyed Colby a big hug, then we ran up to his classroom. We walked through the, to be expected, chaotic halls and then we walked into his classroom. His room was full of peace. Light music playing, kids coloring... everything a momma needs to drop her boy off for the first time. I got him all settled, asked for a kiss to which he agreed I could give him, and then I was off. As I walked throught the halls to leave, I prayed through every step... "Lord, please fill this place with your angels of protection. Please guard Jackson's heart of any pain. Please help him to make wise choices. Please help him to be the friend and student that he needs to be... and so on, and so on!!!" Every step to the front door was absorbed with prayer. We all took off for a special morning with Colby and Bo and Jack was on his way to being a big boy!!

All day I just kept looking at my watch wondering what he was doing. God just had to be giggling at my fireworks of prayers that I shot to Him all day long. I could feel Him saying, "I got him, honey!"

Then, it was time to go get him. As we drove... we wondered was it fun or was it boring; were kids nice or possibly mean; did he learn anything or just play??? The moment I saw him, my smile tapped my ears... OOOHHH, there's my boy and he's smiling as big as me!!! Got my big hug and loaded him up. I turned to look at him and I asked, "Well, how was it?" With his mommas expressive arms opened wide and a grin on his face, he said, "PERFECT!"

YES.... thank you, Lord, for blessing his first day with joy! We went home to have a special cookout and bake a celebration cake!!

I loved tucking his tired little self into bed and praying with him thanking God for taking care of him and his heart!

So, now he's off for day two. I asked him if he wanted his necklace and he excitedly put it on! I let him know that everyday may not be perfect and that we would talk through those days as well. To which he asked if we could have a cake on those days, too. To my reply... "those are the days we need cake the most!"

"Come On Baby, I'm Taking You Out"

My husband is a country boy at heart!
He has downloaded countless country songs in which he plays at House Blend over the speaker system during his shifts. I said to him... Surley people don't want to hear that stuff. Come to find out... they all love it. The workers, the customers..EVERYBODY! Even our very "sophisticated" friends have since told me that they love to go to the cafe when Sam is working because they know they will hear some good ol' country music! Chuckle, chuckle, from me! I think my country boy Sam has let these city folks know that it is ok to listen to country and boy are they all listening to it... to my surprise! :)
For Sam's 32nd, birthday we surprised him with tickets to the Brad Paisley concert here in Orlando. And last night was the night. He was giddy all day! I have to admit so was I! Seems that majority of Brad Paisley's songs have caused Sam to think about me, our kids, or him being the best man he can be... so, I am in full support of any songs that cause a little hop in my husband's step. So, our evening was upon us...
We were getting ready to go and Sam asked me where I wanted to eat... oooh... such a fun question for a pregnant lady! I said.. "I want to go to one of those big buffet places that you can have your choice of everything for only $9.99! You know where you can have chicken, steak, shrimp, green beans, tacos, pasta, ribs, cornbread, big fat yeast rolls, AND dessert... your choice of cookies, cobbler, cake, brownies, ice cream, jello, fruit. THAT'S where I want to go." He said, "Well, I'm gonna take my girl out on the town. We are going to the Golden Corral and then to a Brad Paisley concert!!!" Yee- Haw!!!
So, we got the boys dropped off for their sleepover at our precious friends, the Caffey's home; with their three boys... all about the same age as our boys and they adore each other;
AND WE HIT THE TOWN!!!
We polished off all of the above named foods at the Golden Corral and headed for the concert. As we pulled into our parking space, I said, " I don't see any other minivans." To which Sam replied very disgruntled, "AAHHH, we should've driven my truck!" Maybe next time!
We got into the concert, found our $9.23 seats which were exactly where we wanted them; high enough to where we could just sit back and relax and listen to the music; not have to stand and dance with the beer luggin' rowdy crowd. Boy were they fun to watch though!!! Max was definitley dancing along with the crowd in my tummy; I guess he's gonna be a country boy at heart like his daddy! Brad Paisley was everything wonderful to sit and watch and listen to and then we headed out to our quiet little home. Woke up this morning, went out for a quiet breakfast, and then we went and picked up our three little men from their sleepover!
What a fun night... It's a beautiful thing being together for almost 11 years now and still having that fun spark as if it were the first night of the summer we met. I've still got my country boy... the same as the night I met him... and "I wouldn't have it any other way!" Oops... that's a Kenny Chesney song... sorry Brad!

(I'll post a picture later from the concert)

Celebration, Relaxation, Elation... Our Vacation!!!

Vacation was upon us... after doing kids camps, events, and preparing for one of our biggest kids events with our church family EVER... it was time to get away. Get away from our life? NO WAY! I didn't want to "escape" for a second. What I did want to do is get away from my to-do list and focus 100%, 24 hours a day on my boys and my husband. I can't do THAT at home... there is a job, there are friends, there is a home to care for... the things outside of our family structure that make life even richer... but on vacation... it's just us! And an amazing family who was ready to pamper us all along the way!! So, it was time... time to chase lightning bugs, rock on the porch, stay up late, skip rocks, ride the wake, comb the mountainside, look into each others eyes and just gaze, hold a sleepy eyed baby in the morning because I don't have to prepare breakfast, have deep quiet talks while the kids sleep in the car, and laugh, and smile, and sleep... It was time!!!

Our Vacation began when my sister, Tami, came to Orlando with my niece and nephew, Cale & Whitney for a few days to play. Then we all took off together to head to her home on The Creek. When I was logging the pictures in I did it backwards, so the pics begin at the end of our vacation at the Lake with Sam's parents. So, just as adventurous and crazy as this vacation was... so, will the blog!!!

Check out this data... We drove 6 hours to see my sister and family and my dad, stepmom, and little sister with twins in South Alabama for 2 days. Then we drove 9 hours to see my mom, stepdad, stepbrothers and families, and grandfather in The Mountains of Tennessee for 2 days. Then we drove 4 hours to see Sam's parents, sister and family at The Lake in Alabama for 3 days. Then we drove 9 hours home!! Shew!!! That's 7 days, 28 hours in the car, 21 meals I didn't have to cook, 4 new laugh line wrinkles... PRICELESS! What a vacation!!!

Sam's Parents with our boys and Sam's sister's twin boys, Ben & Isaac. Can't you tell how much they love them???
Yes... we relaxed! Pop and Lali take over and shove us out of the way to be with the boys. The first thing Lali did when she saw the boys was hug them and say, "I just don't get to see you enough!"

Bo's first waverunner ride! He loved it letting out a little "woo-hoo" with his arm in the air!

Jackson played the big brother role perfectly riding with Bo in the tube!

Yes, that is pregnant me taking Bo for a ride. I only went 25mph on a smooth lake. I couldn't let the boys have ALL the fun!!

Bo, Ben & Isaac had fun playing in the "tunnel"!!!

Gotta borrow the quote from Stephen Curtis Chapman...
"I'm diving in, I'm going deep, in over my head I want to be!!"

Now, we were in the mountains with Gramoo and Grouch. We had "funny faces and races." Max got in on the fun, too!!
Bo fell asleep everytime it was time to go to sleep while on the 4 wheeler!

The inclined slip and slide was a hit!

Oh, my boys!!! I can't believe that God is giving me another one!
They loved skipping and throwing rocks in the Creek.

My grandfather and Audrey just ate up the kiddos!! Too sweet!!

Here we are at my sister's house on the Creek.
Do these two love each other or what?

Colby enjoying the watermelon and Sam enjoying some R & R!

Jackson mastered the kayak!!

Here are the boys in the mountains.. they camped out both nights with Daddy. Pregnant mommy slept in the cabin. I laid with them in the tent until they fell asleep, then headed for the bed!!

Traveling with Cale & Whitney to pick blueberries with Papa (my dad)!

Blueberries beware... the kids are coming with buckets in hand!!

More went in Bo's mouth than in his bucket!

Mommy got in the action with the blueberry eatin'... I mean pickin'.

Yes.. that is Bo jumpin' into the Creek!!!
Now, we are home and there is no better place on this planet to be... the first thing the boys did when we got home was run and jump in their beds!! While Sam gave them their bath, I freshened up their beds, so that as they dozed off for the night they could fall asleep with sweet memories of their vacation, but inhale the smell of their home that is the scent of love, protection, guidance, provision, and peace!
It was time... time to be home... time to get back to our jobs, our friends, our to-do list, and focus on our life 100%. The beautiful life that God has given to us... may we cherish every moment we are given.