Happy Mother's Day!

A day lily always reminds me of my mom. I know we had them when I was growing up. There's something understated and beautiful about them that reminds me of her. So from the daughter who always required much attention, I love you. The older I get, the more I see you knew. Thank you for your sacrifice, your consistency, your kindness, your creativity, and your love. I appreciate and love you.

Love always,
Kimmy Sue

Boys will be Boys

We had an awesome day in Jackson yesterday. I do have news about a maybe house, but I've decided I will be superstitious and not jinx things up. There. That's a logical, adult decision. I'll let you know more details if things pan out.

Observations from yesterday:

Jack Sullivan and Dowell Davis are two of the funniest human beings ever. They had a ton of one-liners. I laughed all day.

Dowell Davis occasionally watches Jackass on MTV. He's a grandpa.

The previous observations lead me to believe that boys will be boys. Really, boys don't ever get past 12 years old. I mean, their bodies do, but, nope, not their brains.

Chick Fil-A's newest milkshake is awesome. It's like Jamocha Shake on steroids. And it's only 500 calories! Unfortunately, that kind of ruined it for me, but it was still good.

Men like to drive around and look at stuff.

The original Dreamland Ribs in Tuscaloosa is a dumpy hole-in-the-wall, but the ribs are awesome.

I like that my husband holds hands with me in public.

I need a haircut.

Happy Anniversary to us!

Nine years ago tomorrow I married a man who loves me for who I am. He is gentle and kind and an excellent father. He is far above me. For real, am I dreaming? I love him. Happy Anniversary babe.

PS... control yourselves, ladies. I know he's hot.

As Inigo Montoya says, "I hate wait..."

The last few days have been difficult. It has been hard for me to trust in God that we will have a place to live. Married housing is available, but only the two bedroom. I am tired of waiting, but waiting is what is on the agenda. Tomorrow we head out for Jackson to see what we can find. I have been encouraged by friends who have told me how quickly they were able to acquire their houses. I'm very blessed to be in my church; friends have jumped to help with the children while we are gone. Thanks. I'm praying for resolution.

On a different note, I'm in love with big rubbermaid containers that match. I like stacking them and I like putting them in my closet. This is a new concept for me; everything used to sit in laundry baskets or old boxes. With my friends Heather's help, I organized my closet, organized pictures, and boxed my shoes. I keep looking in my closet because it is so organized. And pretty! Perhaps this will spur me on to future organizational efforts. Everything is ready to pack in the moving truck, with the exception of clothes. Clarify, everything in my closet is ready to pack. I'm nowhere near done with the house. Yikes. Maybe more today. For the first time in our moving history, I have cleaned out closets and under beds BEFORE the day of the move and I hope it makes a big difference in moving day. What usually happens is that there is junk everywhere the day of the move and it fills up most of the van. And it takes me hours to clean up. I am hoping we can avoid this.

So another day goes...

Disappointed

We didn't get the house. It was sold to somebody else who was countering the same time as us. So that's it.

I guess.

Welllll....

I know you all are just WAITING by the computer to hear my news. What IS she going to say? We are waiting on a closing date. We have agreed on a price and will hopefully close soon. Wow. As promised, here are some pictures of the inside of the house.

It's a great house and I'm excited. We are in no lack of dark panelling, as you can see. And textured, gold wallpaper in the master bath. I do not have pictures of the bedrooms (there was one of the master, but I can't find it in my pictures) and I have not seen the house personally. Quinn says that it has big bedrooms and that the living area is very roomy. I did go look at Pergo yesterday and I like the hardwood (looking) floors. How can they make it look so real? Anyway, we will paint the kitchen cabinets and the panelling. The bedrooms, foyer, and hallway also need painting. The Pergo will go from the kitchen, through the dining rooms, into the living room and foyer, and then down the hallway. We will replace the carpet in the three bedrooms. We will probably use all neutral colors (for resell), but neutral colors do not make me happy. Life goes on.

Speaking of going to look at flooring yesterday, remind me next time I want to go shopping with no stroller and my other two kids, that it is NOT a good idea. Just tell me, "Kim, why don't you wait until Quinn comes home?". Pretty frustrating. I think I actually growled at the children.

Last night, we celebrated Cinco de Mayo (we're all such big celebraters) with the Claytons. We had fajitas and other yummy latino cuisine. And then dessert. Maja made something called Chocolate Swiss. It was chocolate merengue with cut-up (non-cooked) apple, a scoop of ice cream, and homemade chocolate sauce. Delicious. The apple really added a touch of tartness that was surprisingly good to this non-apple loving gal. It wasn't that hard to make (who doesn't have chocolate merengue lying around their kitchen) and I wanted to lick the chocolate sauce out of the sauce pan. Maybe I did, a little.

I'll let you know more details of the house as they come.

House Anticipation

We're still waiting on word about the house. Quinn says he thinks we'll get it. Maybe we'll know today. I have a feeling the next two weeks are going to be CRAZY.
I kind of hope so, actually. I think crazy-busy is the only way I'll be able to not think about leaving my world of security and jumping into the black abyss of the unknown. (Maybe a little overdramatic- maybe).

I have library books to return today and I'm thinking of going to Irondale to return them so that I can swing over to the Habitat for Humanity Outlet store. You can donate stuff for the cause of Habitat for Humanity, but you can also buy their surplus for super cheap. It's like a thrift store for housing items. If we get the house, we'll probably get our floors (brand new Pergo for CHEAP)and maybe light fixtures and fans (we'll have to see what's available) from there. I'm fighting the urge the go to Sam's and buy enough toilet paper to stock us for a year. We're almost out again. AGAIN! I hate buying toilet paper. I also have this thing (in my crazy head) that I have to have everything we'll need this summer BEFORE we move into the house. Why can't I go to Sam's AFTER we move in? Because I know where the Birmingham Sam's are located. That's a good reason. I AM going to Aldi before we leave to get milk at $1.99 each. We'll chunk it into coolers for the four hour drive to Mississippi so that I'm stocked for a week and a half. I will miss Aldi's cheapness. I actually did speak to an Aldi bigwig this week (at Roebuck's Grand Opening store) and asked when there would be an Aldi coming to Jackson. Not anytime soon, unfortunately, but for you folks in St. Clair county, there's something in the works!

Hopefully, my next post will be something like "We got the house!". Stay tuned...

Unbelief

I would, but cannot, rest in God's most Holy Will. I know what He appoints is best, and yet I murmur still. Yet I murmur still.

Help my unbelief.
My help must come from Thee.

Being a Girl

I love being a girl. I like heels. I like make-up. I like to wear a dress. I love wearing an apron when I'm cleaning or cooking. I like hot rollers and hair spray. I like being told when I look pretty. I like shaving my legs. I don't like plucking my eyebrows, but I don't like a unibrow even more. I actually enjoy the strenuous effort I put into making myself up. I love shopping. I love finding an incredible deal. I like standing in my closet trying to decide color combinations and shoes. I like listening to pretty music and imagine myself running through a field somewhere with my arms spread open wide (no snakes or bugs, of course). I like to do a random cartwheel. Or cheer. Or dance. I like to sing broadway tunes and songs from Disney movies. I like being romanced. I like costume jewelry. I love that it's me who does the mommy thing. I like being the nurturer. I like crying over girly movies. The whole thing. I love it. I love being with girlfriends who know me. I love to laugh with them and be silly. I love to talk about real life and struggles and know that they will encourage me and help me see Christ. I love being treasured and loved and held. I love that my husband loves me. I love being a girl.

Still waiting...

Things are still working for the house... The back and forth thing is happening right now. Patience, patience.

I found this picture yesterday when I was looking for something else. "Kim and her trusty Windex will save the day!"

A House?

I am sipping my coffee and thinking what I have to do today. I am NOT packing today. Tomorrow I'll slip back into cleaning out another closet. Today I may go to the thrift store to look for bar stools and maybe a book shelf. Bar stools and a book shelf? (you may ask) Well, we have made an offer on another house in Jackson. Can you say 2 1/2 weeks? Yes, because that's when we're moving there. I'll let you know what works out. I actually really like the house. It's a 3 bedroom, 2 bath (2 car garage) house in a neighborhood with sidewalks. It's in great condition, but is very outdated on the inside. You know what that means: HARD WOOD PANELLING. Lots of it. So, my ideal dream is to close on the house next week (sometime) and then replace all the carpet and linoleum (which looks original in the 1979 house), paint the walls, kitchen cabinets, and panelling before we move into the house on May 19th. Doable? We'll see. I will post pictures of the inside if we get the house. I'm trying to not be panicked about the whole thing (whoever heard of closing on a house a week after making an offer?), but I know we're going to move SOMEWHERE two weeks from next Monday. Our other option is married housing, which appeals to me, but is small and we wouldn't be able to resell after seminary. What does my life look like a month from now?

Thanks!

Thank you blog friends and family who wished me birthday greetings.

Thank you to my husband who got me my own computer stuff for when we move (he'll take the laptop to class). Who knew I'd ever want my own computer?

Thanks, Ma, for a gift certificate to LandsEnd. Woo hoo! I'll be heading over to the Overstocks in just a sec.

Thank you to all my wonderful, lovely, generous friends who helped make my birthday such a lovely day. Right now I feel like a child at the end of her birthday who is sad that it is over.

Thank you Missy for surprising me today with your super-sweet, awesome, homemade ice cream cake. And casseroles! You are my Petunia and you are the best.

Thank you Paige, Heather, and Missy for helping me pack today. And for my sweet gifts. We got a lot done. I'm proud and relieved to see all the stuff that was packed away today.

"Dan in Real Life" is an awesome movie. I want to get the sound track. Thank you, Laura Morgan, for not allowing me to be alone on my birthday evening. I would've been miserable. And she knew it. Thanks to Boo, Kim P, Ginger, Laura, Jenny, Whitney, Heather, Maja, and Katrina for coming to watch it with me. And bringing yummilicious snacks. It was a blast!

Thank you to Maja for hand embroidering me a gorgeous jewelry bag with a drawstring pouch. Um, wow. Thanks Heather and Boo (and Lana) for giving me jewelry to go in my new, hand embroidered jewelry pouch that Maja made for me. Today. No, really. She started it this morning. Amazing woman.

I'm anxious to hear about my hubby's trip to Mississippi to see how everything went. His job interview was with UPS, which would be a great parttime thing for him to do while we're at seminary.

Oh, I'm so full of food! Tomorrow I'll be running a wee bit faster. Sleepy girl needs sleepy. Oh, after I go to LandsEnd Overstocks, Ma!

What a lovely day!

The Birthday Invite

Laura told me that she is going to bring "Dan In Real Life" over to my house tonight around 8ish to have a Ladies' Movie Night. Sounds good to me! Come over if you'd like to participate!

There may be some chocolate involved. And laughter. And general good times. Just saying...

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today I turn 33. Quinn left a couple of minutes ago to go to Jackson, MS for a job interview and to look at houses. He will return late tonight. We went out last night for my birthday to Macaroni Grill at the Summit in Mountain Brook and then we walked around the summit. Actually, he asked me if I wanted to go to some shops, which is when I shot my eyes at him and said, "uh, sure". So we walked and I talked to him about stores, clothes, and shoes, which I'm sure he found completely enthralling. He nodded and smiled at appropriate moments. I saw an %80 off sign at Liz Claiborne shoes so went in there to take a look and the following conversation occured:

Quinn: "So, what are those naked shoes you were talking about?"

me: "huh?"

Quinn: "You know, those naked shoes you were talking about in your blog."

me: "Do you mean 'nude'?"

Quinn: "Yeah, same thing. Well, it means the same thing."

me: Nope. "It's a color, not a state of being."

Quinn: "Oh. What are they?"

So I show him. It was very sweet of him to offer the gesture of shopping for shoes. He hates shopping. HATES IT. He's fond of the term "I'd rather be drug out to the street and shot" when he thinks of shopping. After a while, we walked into the Gap and I found a cute pair of nude flats for $12 and he told me I should get them. It was very unlike Quinn, who would usually say something like, "Do you really need ANOTHER pair of shoes?" That answer, of course, is YES. It's okay if he doesn't get it. And, of course, I can't ask "Do you really NEED another Theology book?", because his answer is also YES. So, we're even, kind of. I have a slightly uncomfortable feeling that his obsession is better than mine.

Today will be a day of getting stuff done. Heather and Paige are both coming over to help me pack (thanks, ladies) and Corin has SAT testing at Crossroads. Even though we'll be busy, it will still be fun and I'm looking forward to it. Paige and Heather are both CRAZY cleaners, so I'm sure we'll have a lot done by this afternoon. Woo hoo! I told Quinn what we were doing today, to which he responded "you better go to the liquor store this morning". I looked at him with confusion. "What? Why?". I'm thinking this would not help me at all. He looked at me. "You can always get good boxes at the liquor store." Ah. I looked at some of the boxes we've already packed and most of them are whiskey boxes and Crown Royal boxes. So, I'm going to trek over to the liquor store this morning, with my three children, and get some boxes. Is ABC Liquor even open in the morning?

Changed it Again...

Can you tell what I've been doing? I like this look, it seems more me. Not doing what I need to be doing, I'll tell you that. The house looks like a warzone.

My hubby is taking me out for my birthday tonight. Woo hoo! I'm guessing Macaroni Grill (we have a gift certificate) and maybe he'll want to shop for some nude stilletos with me (oh, yeah, that's gonna happen).

I guess I need to get moving. Oooh, I just wanted to share this pic.... It's Missy and me from at least 12 years ago in college riding in her Connie Cellica (that's the car- my car was Dottie Datson). A friend of mine from Facebook sent it to me. Crazy times. Can you believe she and I were never allowed to room together at our small, private college because we were a "bad influence on each other"? Me???? Innocent until proven guilty is what I say!

Of a Book and Tears

I just finished a very strange, horrible, warped, sad, completely addictive book called The Book of Lost Things. I highly recommend it. It's one of those kind of books that I could absolutely not predict the ending and I had to continue reading it until I was done, which was last night at 11pm.

I've been weepy for three days. Maybe longer than that. Just at the drop of a hat, I start the waterworks. Maybe it's the move and the strangeness of it all (Jessica, we're moving to Jackson, MS so that Quinn can finish seminary). I feel very selfish about the whole thing and have been feeling the urge to detach myself from anything concerning it. Except that now the move date is so close that I feel the pressure to actually make sure I get things done. I feel like I am being unsupportive and cruel to my husband, who is pursuing a call to ministry. I love him and want to stop being an emotional wreck.

Pooh.

Roaming Thoughts

I made coffee that's too weak this morning. Too lazy to remake more.

The house is very quiet. Quinn took the boys camping. Except for Beex who wanted to sleep with me. I consented and slept with feet in my face all night.

I can make a really good S'mores. Toasting the sandwich over the fire on fork tongs to melt the chocolate is essential.

Again, wanting a haircut. Short and choppy.

I would love to find a pair of nude stilleto heels. I've been looking for them everywhere. Tried to look for them online but got discouraged. Do not Google Nude/Camel Stilletos. I think I screamed out loud. Quinn said, "Type Shoes! Just type shoes!".

I haven't been to the thrift store since Tuesday. I think I'm having withdrawals.

Birmingham was named as the most indulgent city this week on the Today Show. Really? I'd like to know how they did their research. Just not seeing it.

My birthday is this week and I will turn 33. I'm getting crow's feet and I have a dimple on my face that used to not be there. Oh, and more weird facial hair. Fabulous.

Three weeks and two days until we move.

Gotta get "bekfast" for the sweet cheeks Beex.

Si-Guy's Birthday Party

We decided this year for Si's birthday to invite some friends from church (and a few others) for a bonfire/cookout. We had a blast! The Sullivans (a generous couple from our church) let us use their lake on their property to fish and do a bonfire. The kids had a great time and so did everybody else. Here are the pics...

Insane

Today, today, today. Busy, busy, busy. Doctor's appointment yesterday was fine. Somehow I always forget that Dr. Radbill is super-excited all the time. Whenever we've been pregnant (which, I'm not now, btw), Quinn always hummed a little circus song and walked around pretending to bang cymbals together after Dr. Radbill left the room. Strange line of work for extreme happiness, but I'm glad because he always sets my nerves at ease. The scale wasn't so bad (I guess all of my OCDness worked, ha!) and I was in and out pretty quickly. I found out that my issues were probably related to stress (what????) and that everything looked fine.

Man, my house is a mess. Again. Maybe it's just the boxes. I'm going to defer to the boxes. Pretty much until we move.

I'm having some trouble with making links. And with pictures. It shows all the script instead of just underlining the link or showing the pictures on my draft page. Can anyone help me out?

Must go bake.

OOOOOH-BEEEE

You're supposed to say the title like a horn from a boat that would be in the harbor. You know, like that old B-O commercial from a long time ago. I'll give you a sec. Get it?

I'm going to my doctor this morning. Yuck. I do love my doctor (he has delivered all three of my children), but I DETEST going for a check-up. It has been almost three years since my last check-up and I have kept putting it off. Honestly, I'm going now because we're about to move to another state where said doctor does not practice. And I have questions about stuff. Yes, yes I see your wide-eyed looks of horror, gentlemen, and I'll refrain from discussing it. And I really don't hate it because of what they do (thought that IS a bit uncomfortable); what I hate is... being weighed. For two weeks, I have waited in quiet dread about getting weighed at the doctor's office. I skipped dinner last night and I have already started drinking water this morning (I will stop promptly at 7:30 to give my body a chance to rid itself of it). I cannot skip breakfast (ever) because I'm STARVING. I hate stepping on the box (with clothes on and everything) and having the nurse write down what she sees. Don't they know that clothes weigh ten pounds? I think everytime I go to the doctor, I request that the scales be put in a room where I can put on one of those lovely patient gowns to get weighed in. The nurse usually just smiles. I did have one fellow blogger suggest that I turn around on the scale to not see what I weigh. Yeah, can't do that. MUST KNOW. I know that I'm not overweight. It's the numbers that bother me. Why can't they be less? Why must I weigh that particular number? I don't like it. I will be relieved when it's over.