Happy Easter!

It was a beautiful Spring day today. I spent most of the day cleaning the house. I hate to admit the last time we did a deep cleaning on this house! I will though... by our best estimation it was just before my parents came for Pheoby's birthday, February 22nd. I don't remember the last time I had that many dust bunnies hiding out... well... they weren't really hiding that much by this point. You know how if you see lots of roaches you know there are hundreds you are not seeing? It was a lot like that with the dust bunnies and dirt and germs. There was so much visible nastiness all around so I can't imagine all that I couldn't see. YUCK! I am so glad we got it all cleaned up, though.

Anyway... I digress. What I was saying is that it was a beautiful Spring day. I cleaned the house and L.C. mowed the jungle. (He has been working to get our lawn growing well and I think he was successful!) While I was mopping with the back door opened, smelling the fresh cut grass I couldn't help but praise God for the great blessing it is to own a home to care for. So many times I get bogged down by all the responsability on my shoulders, but in that moment with mop in hand I was so thankful for the many blessings we have been entrusted with. Thank you God for undeserved blessings!

On a related note, with my return to work last year and L.C.'s advancements at Duke Energy we have been able to make great strides in some financial goals we've been working towards. We have definately not arrived and have a way to go before we achieve our long term goals, but we are to the point where we can day dream about our next steps without having them seem unreachable. Because of that we have been talking a lot about where we see our future, our family and our ministries.

Yesterday as we went for a road trip we chatted about the areas we would consider moving when we are ready for our next home. We knew when we moved here that this home would be a stepping stone. Actually we don't really see ourselves staying put for the rest of our lives in any home... there is just too much we want to keep ourselves open to. When choosing the next home/community we will have to consider school options for our children, business opportunities and many other long term issues.

What we settled on was that we really liked where we lived when we were first married. We were about 5-10 minutes from anything we should need on Woodruff Road, but also were surrounded by farm land. It was the best of both worlds. Country living with quick city access. The opportunities for schools, activities and business are endless.

Another thing that we didn't really discuss was the vast array of great churches that we would be able to consider. We really love Foothills and one day if the Lord does allow us to relocate back to that area it will mean leaving our friends at FCC. We already struggle to stay involved due to the 30 minute commute. And it is a blessing that we are already connected there. It is hard to believe we have been at Foothills for almost 3 years. WOW!

Ok... I am hoping that this post doesn't appear so much as rambling thoughts. The truth is, though, it is! I am just sitting in the recliner with my feet propped up unwinding from a beautiful day. What a blessed life!

Happy Easter, friends!

Wow... its been a while!

It has been a while since I have taken the time to post, huh? I have felt pretty busy lately, not sure why. It has definately been a couple weeks where I have eliminated a few things due to being overwhelmed. Maybe, too, it is because I haven't had any great news to report. Well... I have news tonight! We just got our new computer tonight!!! It is a laptop. Our desktop is one that we purchased when we first moved to Croswell. We have done a lot of living since then and the condition of that PC definately shows it. It has crashed twice and we have just been hanging on to the shreds of the systems that would run for the last several months. So it was time, definately time, to invest in a new computer. I am so excited, too, because I have just started to invest time in digital scrapbooking and my old system wasn't handling it too well. Also, I am getting ready for Thinkin' Ink Stamp Camp. (TISC is a weekend retreat for scrapbookers & stampers in Michigan that my mom and I organize.) I will get to bring the laptop to organize business on and work on some digi projects, too! How fun will that be to be able to play with my new toy for a whole weekend? Can't wait!

Oh... and I suppose I need to do some research on what the problems are with Vista. I realize it has only been a few hours, but I am enjoying it so far. If you have any ideas on this subject please post a comment... I would love to hear what you have to say whether positive or negative.

First Digi Layout

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls... I am pleased to present you with my very first ever digital scrapbook layout! It was so fun to work on. I loved putting all the elements together and manipulating them to suit my whims. I have known for a long time that digi was the way for me and today's experience confirmed it! Now that I have a tiny bit of experience under my belt I will enjoy reading my digital scrapbooking magazines, I am sure! There is so much I want to know more about. For instance, I am not sure if I made the best choices when it came to saving. (It loaded, so I did something right!)

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

Oh!!! I just realized something I did wrong! I didn't add journaling to the layout! Shoot! I guess I am already needing to go back and edit!

2 months old & moved out!

Trey moved out! We moved him to his bedroom a week or two ago. I meant to post pics then, but I figure you will forgive me! Because of Trey's continuous coughing we have elevated his mattress. He scoots a little now and with the scooting and the incline he seems to have taken a little detour!

Ketchup... oh, no, I mean "Catch up!"

I logged onto msn messenger this weekend, which is something I rarely do, and lo and behold my dear old friend Amanda K. popped on! Amanda was a member of the (I'm sure) famous Jetsabillies small group from SLM @ CWC. Amanda is a very special girl. I was really looking forward to watching her (and all the other Jetsabillies) grow, mature and graduate from high school.

I started out with these girls when they were in 7th grade, followed them to 8th grade and was preparing to transition with them into high school when I felt the Lord calling us back to South Carolina. It was hard to follow God's plan and leave my family twice, but it was a close second having to break the news to those teenage girls who I had committed my life to. I will never forget the night that I told them I would be leaving or the conversation, tears and special gifts that came from that. It was a pivital spiritual point for many of us in that room. We talked a lot about faith and trusting God through it all. And my, didn't we have to lean on Him so much through so many things.

It has been almost 3 years since we made the big decision to head back to SC. My heart still hurts for the relationships changed because of our decision to move, especially for the relationships lost. But I must praise God for the amazing gift of many special relationships that have stood the test of time and many miles. My friendship with Amanda is a tremendous blessing which reminds me that God is right by my side taking care of me when I need a little extra surprise!

Thanks, Amanda, for the connection we share! You truely are a blessing and an amazing young woman! I am honored that you call me friend!!! I love you, girl!!!

Virtual Weekend Crop

I am spending much of my weekend participating in a Virtual Weekend Crop with my secret sister group. We are all working hard to get lots of paper craft projects done while checking in on one another throughout the weekend. There are also challenges. We will post pics of our projects and prizes will be given for jobs well done. It is a nice concept, the virtual crop thing, because it isn't costing any of us anything and we can come and go as we please. Actually, I wasn't planning on participating as much as I have, but since I am still sick I didn't want to take my germs to the FCC Girls Night. And now, instead of going to the UniverSoul Circus with L.C., Pheoby and the rest of the Hayes & Banks families, I am staying home with poor Trey who is coughing up a storm still.

I am excited to share with you some of what I have accomplished so far. Then I am going to get back to work and make some more progress!

75% Of Us

This Tuesday was not-so-Super for the Hayes family. In honor of Super Tuesday II a poll was taken in our home and the results are in...

75% of the human residents in this home are sick!!!

It pretty much stunk when Pheoby came down with the flu symptoms (sore throat, cough, high fever, lathargic) over the weekend, but it has gotten worse! Last night my symptoms (sinus pressure, congestion... is that the same as pressure?, runny nose, achy neck, headache) became almost unbearable so I popped some Sudafed and some Tylenol and hit the hey pretty early. Trey started developing his symptoms today. (low grade fever, runny eyes, sneezing, cough) Pheoby seems to be feeling better, but she still has a runny nose, is sneezing and coughing, and has a low-grade fever.

Because of all this our 2-times-this-week doctor visit may turn into a 3-times-this-week if Trey's fever climbs. I took Pheoby yesterday, may have to take Trey tomorrow, and they both have well-checks (including vaccinations) scheduled for Friday. How much does that stink?!?! I am so thankful for L.C.'s good insurance with a relatively low co-pay!