Just Talking....

moved

2007-12-05T19:59:00.001-05:00

I have moved....new address: http://shellygarvin.wordpress.com/

Shopping and other ramblings...

2007-12-01T18:30:00.000-05:00

Well, I didn't get finished but I did manage to put a bigger dent in my Christmas list. I am excited about some of the gifts that I bought today. I love giving gifts. I had a wonderful time with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. It is days like today that I am going to miss when we move. I will be closer to my sister so hopefully we will have plenty of shopping days together. That is one thing I am looking forward to when we move...being close to my sister, Tiffany and her family. She has 3 kids and our kids are wild when they are together but they always have a blast. Ryan is hoping to get a lot of fishing in with his Uncle Slade. It is amazing the things that go through your mind when you are planning on moving away...things I have never really thought of. Just today as I was driving to the mall, I realized how I know all the roads in Paulding and Douglas County like the back of my hand and will I ever learn my way around Savannah. Oh well, just some of my thoughts....I had better get busy with my paperwork that is due this week...

Busy...but my favorite time of the year!

2007-11-30T17:05:00.000-05:00

This has been a long and busy week. I always have a difficult time getting in the swing of things after a holiday. We have just about finished decorating our house for Christmas...it usually takes me about a week. I have put a dent in my Christmas shopping and hope to get done tomorrow. I am going to the mall with no kids and no husband...Yeah!!! I love being with them but I will be able to get a lot more done without them. Doug usually slows me down the most :). I can't wait...I just hope I can get some creative ideas for Christmas. I hate buying a present just to buy one. I always put a lot of thought in what I buy people because I want it to be meaningful and special. We have already started reading some of our favorite Christmas stories. I read The Crippled Lamb last night and Ashleigh started reading The Legend of the Christmas Tree. I bought this book today for Ryan to read. I love to sit around the Christmas tree and read different stories with the kids. Now that they are getting older, they like to read them to us. This is absolutely my favorite time of the year!

Thanksgiving and more...

2007-11-24T09:20:00.000-05:00

We had a great Thanksgiving....ate some and then ate some more. We went to Doug's aunt's house for lunch and then made it back to our house to have dinner with my family. It is always hectic trying to see everyone but we always enjoy it. Friday, Doug and I woke up at 4am to do our annual Christmas shopping. We love it....or least I do. We didn't have to wait in any lines in the cold because there wasn't anything in particular that we were after. We just like to get in, get some good deals and get out before the crowd gets too crazy. We came home, ate leftovers (yum!!!), watched a movie and then started putting up our Christmas tree. Doug is happy...I am only decorating one tree this year. We usually have about 3. (I may add another one before it is all over with though :) ). Well, Doug's feet started hurting him ( I guess from all the shopping) so we stopped decorating and will resume today. We are waiting on him to finish the lights so the kids and I can put the ornaments on it. We get the fun job. Doug also has the task of getting the outside decorated. We hope to be done before my sister comes over to watch Tech cream Georgia (we can at least hope, can't we?).

Date night with the kids

2007-11-20T21:07:00.000-05:00

Tonight Doug took Ashleigh out to dinner and Ryan and I went to eat Mexican. I always love this special one on one time. Ryan talked my head off....he has some great ideas for the new church :). I am just glad that he is excited. He did tell me that we needed to buy some "gospel tracks" for him to pass out. I just smiled :). I then asked him what he wanted me to pray for him in regards to the move. His number one request from God is that we move to a neighborhood with a lot of kids. I reassured him that was already on my prayer list. We also talked about the bless it forward experience and he really wanted to hear the stories of the people that were blessed. I think it is important that we take time to sit down and just talk with our kids. There is a lot going on in their little minds and I love to see God working in their lives. I am so thankful for my 2 children. They are such a blessing!

I can talk....

2007-11-20T16:47:00.000-05:00

I am so thankful that I can finally let everyone know what God has called us to do. I have a very transparent personality, so I have had to keep quiet and to myself lately. Those that know me best know that I wear all of my feelings and emotions on my face. So, if I have acted different or strange it is because we have been keeping this exciting news quiet. I was afraid if I talked too much, I would let everything out and it just wasn't the right time. We are so excited and anxious about God calling us to Savannah, Ga to start a new church. I am also very scared, sad about moving, and humbled that God would use us in this capacity. I am so thankful for all of the love and support from our CATR family. I will be sharing how our journey has been unfolding over the next several days. For now, I am just thankful that I can share our news and the opportunity to be used by God to reach a city for Him.

Wow!!!

2007-11-19T13:09:00.000-05:00

Wow!.....that is all I can really say about yesterday and our blessitforward experience. You can read about it here. Everyone I talk to is still speechless. I can't wait to hear the stories of how lives were touched in our community.

Pajama Day

2007-11-05T15:10:00.000-05:00

Today is pajama day! The kids are out of school for a Teacher's Convention and we are being lazy. I had to finish up some paperwork and Doug is driving it to Rome while the kids and I play games and watch movies. They are about to battle me to a game of Uno Attack....this game gets pretty intense in our house. I love days when we don't have a lot to do.

Ladies Weekend

2007-11-03T21:35:00.000-04:00

This has already been a great weekend. Last night and this morning I attended CATR's first Ladies weekend and it was wonderful. We discussed how to truly "Seize the Joy" and allow God to work His plan in our lives. Our "problems" and "difficulties" are all part of God's plan. We need to be content and look for the blessings in our life. God really dealt with me about some things and I am more excited now than ever for the plans He has for me. I can't wait to see what He is going to do.
This is one of my favorite verses and one of the theme verses this weekend:
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you, not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future"
I am so thankful for the Ladies who took the time to pray and organize such a great weekend.

Trick-or-Treat

2007-10-31T17:15:00.000-04:00

We had the whole evening planned....the kids were going to dress up, we were going to take them out to dinner, and then trick-or-treating to a few homes before band practice. That was all before the day fell apart. Doug took the truck for the emissions test and it failed....$200 later it is working fine. Then, as the lady from the water company was reading the meter, we realized we had a leak going into the house. The plumber has been at our house since 12:00 and has left us with a big hole in the yard to go and get a part that he broke. I think he may be on dinner break. He estimated the cost to be $600-700. Needless to say, since we are without water, Doug ran to Zaxby's and the kids and I are going to go to my cousin's house to do a little trick-or-treating. I feel as if all the tricks have been on us today. I will say that I am thankful for an emergency fund....

I am blessed!!!

2007-10-25T13:00:00.000-04:00

Today has been one of those days that I have been just counting my blessings. I have so much to be thankful for and at times I find myself taking my blessings for granted. I am blessed with a wonderful husband and 2 healthy children, a great family and the best friends in the world. I am blessed to have such a rewarding job that offers me great flexibility to be involved with my children. I am blessed to be a part of CATR and seeing lives changed for eternity. I am blessed because I have some quiet time to read before getting the kids. I am blessed! Thank you God for all of the wonderful blessings in my life!

Feeling like a duck

2007-10-24T21:00:00.000-04:00

I have felt like a duck the last few days....but I am very thankful. I have been in and out of my car a 100 times doing home visits, going to the school, and buying and returning items for the Fall Festival. It seemed every time I turned the car off to get out, the bottom fell out. Of course, I would always park next to a 3 inch water puddle. A friend of Ashleigh's told me yesterday that my pants looked like they had the chicken pox from all the rain drops. An umbrella would have been nice, but the 2 or 3 that are always in my car are nowhere to be found. Anyway, I am so thankful that God has provided some much needed rain.

Chicken Wild Rice Soup

2007-10-21T15:45:00.001-04:00

Here is a soup that my family enjoys. It is so easy and was given to me by a friend from church.

5 2/3 cups of water
1 pkg. Uncle Ben's Long grain and wild rice mix
1 envelope chicken noodle soup mix
1 celery chopped
1 carrot chopped
1/3 cup chopped onions ( I leave this out...Doug hates onions)
2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup cubed boiled chicken
Combine water, rice, seasoning packet (from rice) and soup mix. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in celery, carrot and onion. Simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in chicken soup and chicken. Cook until rice and vegetables are tender.
Enjoy!!!

Spirit Week Over

2007-10-19T11:18:00.000-04:00

Today is the last day of Spirit Week and tonight is the Homecoming Game. We definitely have team spirit. We painted Ryan and Ashleigh's hair and faces blue and white. It has been a fun week but I am glad it is over :)!

Dentist

2007-10-19T09:09:00.000-04:00

Well, I had a dentist appointment yesterday. I hate going to the dentist. They always try to talk to you like you are in a position to talk back. Anyway, it doesn't matter what I do, I usually have a cavity or need some kind of work. I was cavity free this time...Yeah!!! Of course, they didn't do x-rays so who knows what could be going on. I do need a crown but we are waiting until after the first of the year since I have maxed out my insurance for 07. I left feeling pretty good. Doug goes today so I hope the good reports continue.

Wednesday....almost Friday

2007-10-17T19:02:00.000-04:00

This has been a different week. Last night we had the Elementary Homecoming/Powder Puff game at school. The kids wanted to go to see their friends...well, Ashleigh wanted to go see her friends and Ryan just wanted to play football behind the goal post with a bunch of boys. Today was Disney Character Day and Ashleigh went as Minnie Mouse and Ryan was a pirate. They are having a great time dressing up but it has made getting homework done a little more difficult. We are having a hard time staying focused this week....I wonder why? Band practice got cancelled tonight...Yeah!! I don't' mean that in a bad way. It was just a welcomed break with the crazy week we are having. Tomorrow Ryan and Ashleigh are dressing up as Royalty and Friday is Spirit Day. We will be covered in Blue and White. Well, I had better get Ryan in so he can study for his Science test...there is a lot to know about flowers and state birds :).

Spirit Week

2007-10-14T22:20:00.000-04:00

We finished the poster for Ashleigh's class for Spirit Week tonight. There is nothing like waiting unitl the last minute. The theme this year is " A Ramtastic Voyage" and we had to design it around a cruise theme. The elementary posters are presented and judged during the Podwer Puff Game on Tuesday night. Ryan and Ashleigh get to dress up everyday and tomorrow is Aloha Day. We had to bring out the grass skirts and board shorts. These weeks are always a lot of fun, but stressful at the same time.

Pumpkin Patch

2007-10-14T21:57:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday, we took our annual trip up to Elijay to Burt's Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard. We had a great time and the weather was beautiful. We couldn't have asked for a better day. I can honestly say that I have never seen the pumpkins as big as they were this year. They must have been given some Miracle Grow. The kids always have a blast finding the perfect pumpkin to bring home. We were unable to do to the Hay Ride...no one wanted to wait 2 hours. The Apple Festival was going on in Elijay so everyone else was also checking out the pumpkins. I highly recommend Burt's...we always enjoy ourselves. It is also a beautiful ride up there.

Room Mom

2007-10-09T15:10:00.000-04:00

I don't know how, but I did it again. I agreed to be room mom for Ashleigh's class. I love volunteering and I am at everything but I am not good at being the one in charge; however I am the one sitting here trying to compose the letter for the upcoming Fall Festival. Delegating is not my strength but I am learning. October is probably the busiest month of the year at school. We have Spirit Week in which I have to design a poster for our class (I will be recruiting Doug for some help on that one) and then we have our big Fall Festival. I love all these events but sometimes I get a little overwhelmed just thinking about it. Ryan and Ashleigh love it so it makes it all worth while. Well, I better get back to composing the letter so I will have some help at the Fall Festival :).

Movie

2007-10-08T17:33:00.000-04:00

The kids are out of school today and tomorrow for a short Fall Break. I took them to see the new Disney move, The Game Plan. It was so cute. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. It was probably one of the cuter movies I have seen in awhile. I even had tears at the end. Anyway, if you are looking for a cute movie for the family, I recommend this one. Ryan and Ashleigh really enjoyed it.

Sunday

2007-10-07T14:34:00.000-04:00

Today has already been a great day. We seemed to have a really good crowd this morning and we started a series geared toward men...Warriors. I think it really touched home for some men. Ashleigh just beat me in Yahtzee...I don't like to lose. We are now settling down to rest before small group. I love Sundays.

Ryan...The Policeman

2007-10-05T13:38:00.001-04:00

Ryan has been saying for years that he wants to be a police officer when he grows up. He is going to go to Georgia Tech to become a policeman (we're not sure the two go together). Last night while waiting for Ashleigh to get out of dance, he witnessed a man being chased and caught on foot by two officers. Needless to say, it really scared him. He was shaking and ready to leave immediately. He told me that he wasn't sure about being a policeman anymore. In fact, he said if he was one of the officer's he would have told the other one to go after him. He said he is going to think about being something else. When he prayed before going to bed, he asked God to be with the man that was running from the police and he also prayed that the man would come to know Jesus. Tears welled up in my eyes....I think God may have other plans for Ryan.

Yada Yada

2007-10-04T09:32:00.001-04:00

A friend from church loaned me the Yada Yada Prayer Group books and I am addicted. I have found myself challenged and convicted. I relate to the main character in more ways that I would like to admit. Anyway, if you are looking for a good series to read, I highly recommend these. Well, I am off to finish my papework so I can finish the 2nd book :).

Perspective

2007-10-02T20:30:00.000-04:00

I have tried to blog over the last few days, but have been at a loss for words with the passing of Casey (a 6 year old little boy that passed away after being diagnosed with cancer 2 1/2 weeks ago). His funeral was today and my heart just breaks for his family. When things like this happen, it puts life into perspective. I have been hugging my kids a lot tighter. Please pray for his family.

We're Home

2007-09-23T21:37:00.000-04:00

We had a good time getting away for a few days. My father-in-law took the whole family to Disney World. We tried to reschedule the cruise but it was too difficult working around everyone's work schedule so we ended up at our favorite place. We had a blast and the crowd was light. We were able to ride some rides several times. It rained a lot and the ponchos became a daily attire. We now need a vacation to recover. I did manage to finish a whole book which was great. Anyway, tomorrow is back to reality...

Getting Away

2007-09-17T22:33:00.001-04:00

Well, things definitely can change in a split second. I feel that I have been on a roller coaster the last few days and have been unable to get off. We had Doug's grandfather's funeral today and it was really neat hearing some of the stories of things about him that I never knew. I could even see where Doug gets some of his ways. His grandfather was sometimes a man of few words. The one thing that I kept hearing was how much he loved his wife (who passed away 5 years ago) and his children and the legacy of integrity and commitment that he passed on to his children. We had a great visit with the family and saw some of Doug's extended family that we haven't seen in several years. Papaw will be missed but it is a blessing that he isn't suffering any longer.
We are leaving in the morning for Florida. Even though our original plans were changed, we are looking forward to getting away and spending time with each other. Please say a prayer for Ryan...he has a terrible cough. I am ready to check out and have some fun!

His Ways

2007-09-14T16:26:00.000-04:00

Today has not gone as planned. We were suppose to leave for vacation in the morning. My father-in-law was taking the whole family on a 7 day cruise. We got a call this morning that Doug's grandfather had passed away so plans have changed. We definitely have many mixed emotions. We are planning on getting away for a few days after the funeral but are waiting on arrangements to be made. I keep reminding myself that God's ways are not mine...He truly knows what is best. While I am sad, disappointed and confused,I am confident that God is in control. Please say a prayer for Doug's mom. It is hard loosing a dad.

Under Attack

2007-09-13T22:53:00.000-04:00

Wow....this has been a week! We have been attacked from all angles this week, spiritually, physically, emotionally and any other "ally" that I can't think of. I was starting to get down until today when while I was driving, God really spoke to me. I realized that we were being attacked because we are truly seeking God and His Will for our lives. We have been under attack from the one that wants to destroy us and rob us of our joy. As soon as I had this "revelation", I became excited because I realized more than ever that we are doing what we have been called to do. I think God is up to something huge and it is cool that we get to be a part of it.

In case you are wondering....Buster is feeling much better and looks 100% better. I didn't realize how swollen he was. The only problem is that he is now really spoiled. He expects to be served his boiled chicken twice a day and only wants the water from the dish that we placed by his bed while he was so sick. I think we have created a monster.

Getting better

2007-09-11T18:26:00.000-04:00

Buster is still sick but is getting better. We took him back to the vet this morning and the vet was pretty perplexed. He actually thinks that Buster is having an allergic reaction to something, possibly a spider bite. The other possibility is lymphoma which we are praying that it isn't. The lymph nodes in his legs were enlarged which is a sign of lymphoma. Buster was put on a steroid and a stronger antibiotic and he is looking a little better. If he doesn't get better, they will do a biopsy. I came home several times again today to feed him by hand and give him water through a medicine dropper to keep him hydrated.

Buster

2007-09-10T21:04:00.000-04:00

Our dog, Buster, is really sick. I spent last night at the Animal ER. His eyes are really red and almost swollen shut. They are treating him for doggie pink eye and allergies but he seems to be having a reaction to one of the medicines. I spent most of the day getting fluids in him by using a baby medicine dropper. His vet called tonight and wants to see him in the morning. I never realized that a pet could be this emotionally draining. Ryan and Ashleigh are having a hard time watching him act this way. We are praying that he gets to feeling better soon...

Crazy Week

2007-09-06T21:05:00.000-04:00

This has been a crazy week with my work schedule, homework, tests, dance and everything else that I have already forgotten about. I am so glad tomorrow is Friday and we only have 8 more days until vacation. We are hitting 4th grade hard this year. Ryan is learning about being responsible with his homework and studying and I have to let him make some mistakes. It is hard but I know it is for his good. You know how it is as parents, we want to do it for them, but just like us, they learn from their mistakes. But...in the meantime, it is killing me :).
Ashleigh had her first dance class tonight and we were able to see a tap dance they learned to Hannah Montana's "Best of Both Worlds". Disney is really helping out the dance industry. While Hannah was playing in one room, High School Musical 2 was playing in the other. Seriously, Ashleigh loves dance and this is the beginning of her 6th year of dance. Things are starting to come together for her. Through the craziness of the week, God has really been teaching me some pretty cool things. I will share some later after I am able to organize my thoughts. God has a way of putting things into perspective.

Football, Sloppy Joes and more

2007-09-01T21:01:00.001-04:00

Today was the first Georgia Tech game and they won. Ryan was pretty excited. It seemed like last year every time he watched a game they lost. I made homemade Sloppy Joes for him and Doug to enjoy during the game. Here is the recipe...it is really easy:
3lbs. ground beef
1 onion chopped
1 green bell pepper chopped
16oz. tomato sauce
3/4c ketchup
1 tbs Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder
Brown beef and drain. Put in crock pot and add remaining ingredients. Cook for 3-4 hours.
During the last part of the game, we played the game, Life and I won. I am not one of those moms that let my children win. I know, they are young and I should, but I like to win. I can be competitive at times...I try not to let it show. I don't always win and I don't think I have ever won in this game but tonight was my night :). Anyway, it has been a great day but it is time for bed. Tomorrow is a busy day.

Rules for Vacation

2007-09-01T10:42:00.000-04:00

In case you haven't heard, we are going on vacation in exactly 2 weeks from today. We are not excited at all. We have Family Rules for Vacation and the other day coming home from school, my kids quickly reminded me of them. They are 1) no cell phones and 2) no computers. Doug and I also try not to talk much about our jobs, which is harder for him than me. Anyway, vacation has always been a priority for us and something we value very much. It is a time we try to check out and just concentrate on our family. We usually make some family goals and have some really neat discussions. We love vacation and are literally counting down the days.

I Passed

2007-08-30T20:04:00.000-04:00

Today I had to take the Computer Competency Test in order to renew my teaching certificate and I passed. Yeah!! I can officially go back to teaching now. The test had a lot of stuff on Power Point and Excel which I know very little. For those of you that don't know, I just learned how to send an attachment and a group email a few months ago. Passing this test was a big deal for me. I apparently guessed right....

Any Good Books?

2007-08-30T13:52:00.000-04:00

We are going on vacation in 2 weeks. Yeah!! I am ready and looking forward to a week with nothing to do but relax, eat and spend time with my family. My father-in-law is taking the whole family on a cruise. (Thanks, Poppie :)) I am hoping to get some reading done while I am soaking up the Caribbean sun. I am a lover of Beth Moore's bible studies but her books aren't always my favorite. If you have any recommendations, please pass them on.

My children

2007-08-28T08:49:00.000-04:00

I love it when my kids pray and want to read God's word. Ryan's teacher encouraged them to try and read through the New Testament this year. He has been reading a chapter a night on his own and we have had some really neat conversations. The other night he said that he never realized that Jesus told so many neat stories and that he talked that much. Last night as Ashleigh was praying she thanked God for making her just the way she is. She told me that God doesn't look at her beautiful hair but at her heart and we were able to talk about what our hearts look like. I love these times with my children and I love to see the work that God is doing in their lives.

Good Deals

2007-08-25T17:10:00.000-04:00

Okay, the store with the best buys that I found today was New York & Company. It's not Doug's favorite store for me but I like it. I was able to get 4 shirts, a pair of capris and flip flops for $38. I was impressed. The receipt said that I saved over $100. I always like to think I get things for a good price even if I really didn't. They have plenty of stuff left so you should go check it out. Doug was able to get a few things with his birthday money. If you need any summer stuff, most of the stores have some really great deals.

Going to the mall

2007-08-25T08:44:00.000-04:00

I am so excited. We are going to the mall today. I need to get a few things for vacation (21 days but who's counting?). I don't have much to spend but I have heard of a few stores that have some really good sales and clearances. I love getting a good deal. Doug is my personal fashion consultant and I like to have him along. He has good taste in picking out clothes for me. Anyway, I don't know why but today I am really excited about going to the mall. In all reality, I get excited anytime I get to hang out at the mall. I'll pass on any good deals that I find.

Date Night

2007-08-24T20:05:00.000-04:00

Our date got rained out tonight. I help Doug put out signs on Friday nights and I love it. We have time to talk, laugh and catch up on the week. Well, another thunderstorm hit tonight and I wasn't about to get out in it. He will be going by himself in the morning. I am not ready to sacrifice sleeping in on Saturday mornings. Seriously, I do love the time Doug and I get to spend together and very thankful for the extra income that it provides. I am also very thankful for the much needed rain. The kids are at a birthday party so it is very peaceful sitting here listening to the thunderstorm once again.

Thunderstorms

2007-08-23T18:52:00.001-04:00

I love thunderstorms. I love to listen to the rain and thunder. It is raining and hopefully cooling it off outside. It has been so hot and I am definitely ready for Fall. I think God knows we will appreciate the cooler weather after having such a heat spell the last few weeks. Just remind me of this heat come winter when I am whining about being cold.

Getting on a schedule

2007-08-22T11:09:00.000-04:00

I have been really trying to get on a good schedule lately. You know, turn off my cell phone by a certain time, no computer during certain hours, homework completed by 5:00, paperwork completed during certain hours....However, I like to play and be out and about so being on a rigid schedule takes a lot more discipline for me. I can get distracted easily and it usually only takes a phone call to get me to change my plans. I am learning to say "no" to certain things but it is hard. One thing that I am pretty good at is only being out one evening during the week, whether it is for work, church or fun. Even then, I want to be home by 7:30. Oh well, I had better get to work so I can stay on my schedule. I told you that I would rather be doing something fun.

Happy Birthday, Doug!!!

2007-08-21T12:06:00.000-04:00

Today is Doug's birthday. He is 30something. God has blessed me with a great husband and Ryan & Ashleigh with a great dad. There are times that when he walks in the room, my heart still skips. Here are a few reasons why I think he is pretty terrific:
1. He surprises me with Diet Cokes all the time.
2. He pushes me and encourages me to think.
3. He spends a lot of time with the kids playing and being a kid himself.
4. He goes to the mall with me.
5. At night, he reaches over and will hold my hand.
6. He puts up with all my phone calls asking him "what are you doing?"
7. He enjoys cooking.
8. He works hard and is committed to all that he does.
9. He is humble.
10. He is committed to God, our family and people. He is truly sold out to seeing lives changed for Jesus.
11. His great looks :).
12. He sings "Christmas in Dixie" to me and I just melt.
I could go on, but I will not bore you anymore. It is an honor to be Doug's wife and best friend.
Honey, you challenge me and keep me on my knees but I love you and I can't wait to see what the future holds for us. Life has been and I hope continues to be a great adventure. I love you!!

Build-A-Puppy

2007-08-19T22:15:00.000-04:00

Doug's birthday is this week and he got a coupon for a free animal at Build-a-Bear in the mail. Don't ask why? Anyway, I couldn't pass up a free stuff animal so after church we took off to the mall for Ashleigh to stuff the animal of her choice. She picked a puppy and named her "Aly". Of course her puppy needed a new outfit. We had a great time finding the perfect outfit and the glasses were the finishing touch. The free animal ended up costing me $15 but we had a great time!

Yard Sales

2007-08-18T09:20:00.000-04:00

Well, I am completely over Yard Sales. I lasted until about noon on Friday. It was so hot, I was melting. There were a lot of people that stopped by and I was able to talk and invite people to CATR. There are some really great people in our community. I made enough money to take care of Ashleigh's dance registration and stuff for this year, which was a blessing. We have so much junk and we were able to get rid of most of it and the rest is going to Good Will today. I like to get rid of all the junk and declutter my house. It makes everything look better and I feel better too. Last night I kept thinking what do I need to declutter in my life. What is the junk that I need to get rid of that is keeping me or holding me back from me being everything that God has called me to be. Where do I need to exercise more faith? More Patience? More love and time for others? Sometimes it is not pretty when God shows me the junk that is cluttering up my life, but I do know by cleaning it out, I will draw closer to Him. My desire is to have a heart like God. I love it when God gets my attention through little things.

Nothing to say

2007-08-16T16:44:00.000-04:00

This has been a crazy week getting used to the kids being back in school. Ryan and I have both been sick with a cold. I don't know if it is the new routine, the heat or my cold but I have been just blah and haven't had much to say. We are having a yard sale tomorrow and Saturday. I have only been talking about it for 3 months now but since the whole neighborhood is doing it, I decided to join in. Maybe making some money on junk will get me going if the heat doesn't kill me. Oh well, I had better get off the computer and find some more junk...

First Day of School

2007-08-13T21:48:00.000-04:00

Today was the first day of school. I always cry. Ryan requested that I not kiss him and say "bye sweetie" in front of his friends. We did our good byes and kisses in private. Ryan and Ashleigh have wonderful teachers and I think it is going to be a great year. Ashleigh couldn't wait to come home and start her homework. Ryan couldn't wait to get outside and run. It is sad watching them get older but also so rewarding. God has truly blessed us and I am enjoying watching my children grow up. It is amazing how I grow with them. I continue to pray that God will give them a heart for his people and for the things that please Him. I can't wait to see what God has for them!

Instant Air Conditioning

2007-08-13T21:37:00.000-04:00

The kids found a way to stay cool this past week. They ran an extension cord from the basement all the way to the play fort to plug in a box fan that they found. Pretty ingenious I think. They wanted to sleep out in the fort but after about 15 minutes, they were scared and ready to come in. When cousins are here, we don't know what will appear. The 5 of them are always up to something!

Great Weekend

2007-08-12T19:29:00.000-04:00

It is quiet around here tonight. My sister and her family left this morning and it feels weird. I hate saying goodbye. It is always such an empty feeling. We had a great visit but all good things come to an end. Summer is over. Tomorrow, the kids start school. I can't believe Ryan is going into the 4th grade and Ashleigh is going into the 2nd. Didn't they just come home from the hospital? We are off to bed early tonight....5:30 is early.

We went to 2 services today and it was great. I believe that I heard that the count was around 360. God is so good. I can't wait to see what he has in store for CATR and the people of Paulding County.

Recipes and More...

2007-08-08T11:53:00.000-04:00

We are having one of Doug's favorite meals tonight. He loves this Chicken Broccoli Casserole. It isn't the kids favorite so they are having Spaghetti with their cousins. Here is the recipe...
Chicken Broccoli Casserole
3 cups of crushed Ritz Crackers
3 large boneless/skinless chicken breast (boiled)
2 1/2 cups of Broccoli (I cook mine first)
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 can of cream of chicken soup
8 oz. sour cream
2 cups of shredded cheese.
Spread crackers on the bottom of the pan. Mix all the ingredients (except cheese) and pour over the crackers. Sprinkle the chesse over it. Bake at 375 for about 30-45minutes. It is so easy and so good.
Tomorrow night the kids are going to make English Muffin Pizzas for dinner. Ryan and Ashleigh love doing this so it should be a lot of fun with the cousins. The adults will probably have some kind of take out.
Well, that is enough cooking ideas for today. We are counting down the hours until the cousins arrival-6 hours to go......

Cousins are coming!!!

2007-08-06T21:50:00.001-04:00

Ryan and Ashleigh are so excited! My sister and her 3 kids are coming this Wednesday and staying until Sunday. They always have a blast with their cousins. We haven't seen them in several months so we are counting down the days. They have been cleaning their rooms and helping me get the rest of the house clean. I don't know why I always clean so much before they come? We will have a great time and have a lot of fun things planned. We are hoping to go to Stone Mountain to see the Lasershow. The kids always have fun just running around making a lot of noise. They usually get very creative. Buster, our dog will probably hide in my room for 5 days! I may have to hide with him :).

Back to school shopping, slumber party and more

2007-08-04T20:27:00.000-04:00

We have had a busy last few days around the Garvin house. We went to LaGrange Thursday night for dinner to thank and show appreciation to some supporters of CATR. I really enjoyed meeting everyone and dinner was great. My cousin's daughter, Hope, came over Friday to spend the day and night with Ashleigh. They had a blast. We set up the inflatable bed upstairs and they tumbled and did somersaults off of the couch onto it. I will post pictures later. They even allowed Ryan to join in on the fun. Then today we went shopping for school supplies and clothes with the rest of the state of Georgia. I don't think the money we saved was worth the crowds we encountered. People were crazy. Three different stores that we went to were out of notebook paper. I have never heard of a store running out of notebook paper. Oh well, we are almost finished with everything we need to get this school year off and running. The kids are excited. Ashleigh couldn't wait to get home and pack her book bag. She has been wearing it around all evening and even went to swing with it on. I am ready to settle down and watch a movie with the kids. Tomorrow is another busy day!

Laundry

2007-08-01T19:28:00.000-04:00

Why is it that you never can get caught up on laundry? Just as I think that I am all caught up, it is bath time and I have more. I feel like I do laundry every day of the week and there are only 4 of us. Since I work outside of the home too, we all share a part of the chores; however, I can't share the washing machine. I would like to but I am just too picky. I won't let Doug get too close because things have a tendency to change colors if he washes. The worst part of laundry is putting it all away. The kids put theirs away and I take care of mine and Doug's but that is always the biggest chore. Oh well, I think it is time to switch the laundry...

I'm getting old

2007-07-31T00:02:00.000-04:00

We were given some free tickets to Six Flags and took the kids this afternoon. I have always been a lover of roller coasters but today my body took a beating and it is making me reconsider. Doug and I both rode the Goliath with Ryan who absolutely loved it. I can't tell you very much about it because I was praying and had my eyes closed the entire ride. Doug had to leave early for a meeting and Ryan and Ashleigh got me on the Scream Machine and Ninja for the second time. They each rode the entire ride with their hands up. I, on the other hand, committed the time to begging God to spare my life and thinking what kind of mother in her right mind puts her children on these rides.

We ended the day with an hour wait at Thunder River. We got drenched. I don't believe that I have ever seen 12 people get so soaked. Needless to say, we got stuck under the waterfall. Ryan and Ashleigh were giggling so loud.

My feet hurt. I am going to sleep now.

Great Day

2007-07-29T21:54:00.000-04:00

This morning we went to Oakleaf chuch in Cartersville since we didn't have service (we had Saturday Celebration last night). It was nice to be able to go to a worship service and sit with Doug. They are doing a great job there and the people were super friendly. God is doing some cool things at Oakleaf. It was really a nice break. I will definitely have to say that the seats were the most comfortable seats I have ever sat in at a church before. The kids were a little hesitant at first but they had a great time. They are using the same kids curriculum that we are but Ryan really liked the cool lights. We explained that the lights were necessary since they meet in a theatre. Anyway, I recommend if you get a Sunday where you are not serving, take some time to get away and visit another church so you can completely disengage. We then had a nice lunch and came home and took a long nap during the thunderstorm. I love rainy Sunday afternoons. It was really a great day!

Small group

2007-07-27T23:02:00.000-04:00

We just got home from hanging out with our small group. We met at Canterbury Lane's pool and grilled out. Our group is serious about eating. The kids swam while the adults were able to talk and catch up since we haven't met for awhile. We have a great small group and I love doing life with these guys. I am looking forward to us getting together weekly again. If you aren't connected with a small group, your are definitely missing out. If you attend CATR, you need to attend Connection Nite and get hooked up with a group.

Family Fusion Highlights

2007-07-26T21:20:00.000-04:00

We got home last night from Family Fusion (a retreat for the entire family) with mounds of laundry and a ton of great memories and experiences. It was a great week and Wendell, Emily and his team did an outstanding job of serving and being Jesus this week to all of us that went. Here a few things that I got out of Family Fusion:
1. God has blessed me with an awesome husband and wonderful children!
2. Don't sit up when you are on the bottom bunk.
3. To be more intentional with my prayers for my children.
4. Some of the best time with God is spent when it is 4am and you can't sleep but your entire family is snoring.
5. Our family is uniquely designed and created for a purpose. We nailed down our mission statement for the Garvin family.
6. For me to continue to support, help and allow Doug to lead our family.
7. Turning on and off a shower takes a higher level of education than I obviously have.
8. We learn a lot about ourselves through our children.
9. Our family would not survive in the wilderness (we had to build a fire without matches and cook corn and needless to say we didn't win and I am not sure it was edible)
10. The best thing from this week was that I got to spend some wonderful time with my family and God drove home that there is no better calling and honor than being Doug's wife and Ryan & Ashleigh's mommy. I wouldn't trade my life with anyone!!

I would love to share pictures with you but of course we had our camera but we also had a dead battery :).

Family Fusion

2007-07-22T14:11:00.000-04:00

We are waiting on Doug to get home from picking up his signs before we leave for Family Fusion. We will be gone until Wednesday afternoon. I have packed enough for an army. I always over pack but I don't know how to do it any other way. I am always afraid I am going to need something. Anyway, I know it is going to be a lot of fun and the kids are so excited! Say a prayer for safe travel and for God to do a great work in all our lives! Time to load the car....

For Sale

2007-07-22T14:03:00.000-04:00

Well, our house is officially for sale. We put the sign in the yard yesterday. With the changes with my job and a few other things, we felt like God was telling us to sell our house. I have a lot of mixed emotions, but I do know that when it sells it will help us out a lot financially. I am anxious to see God move because the odds are against us for it selling fast. The market is slow, there are a ton of new homes and there is another house just like ours for sell. Oh well, God knows all this. I guess I think I need to remind Him :). All I know is when God tells me to do something, I need to do it and leave the "how" up to Him. It is all about faith.

Journaling

2007-07-21T12:41:00.001-04:00

I love to journal my prayers. I have been journaling since I was in college and I go through seasons where I journal more than others. It is a very intimate time with me and God. I even have a few favorite spots that I love to sit and journal. Just this morning during some quiet time, I went through my current journal and just read what God had done in my life over the last year or so. I am definitely a work in progress, but it is amazing to see how much my faith has grown over the last year. God has met some really BIG needs and continues to provide in ways that I will never be able to understand or even explain. This verse and this verse were a reoccurring theme which helped me through what I would call some challenging experiences. My journal is very private and I cherish the journey that God is taking me on.

Doug's New Look

2007-07-20T20:24:00.001-04:00

Check out Doug and his cool new glasses. I think he looks good in his new look.

Erasing Pads

2007-07-20T19:04:00.000-04:00

While cleaning today, I found some Scotch Brite Easy Erasing Pads under the sink. I don't know how they got there because I don't remember buying them. Anyway, it said it was great on soap scum. I am a clean freak about my bathroom and have had a time getting the soap scum off of my tub and shower floor which both are marble. I have tried everything with lots of elbow grease and it is always difficult to get clean. That was until today with the help of these wonderful erasing pads. All I had to do was wipe over it with water and cleaner and it looked like new. I went crazy and starting cleaning the tile and everything else with the eraser. My bathroom is shining tonight. Now, all I have to do is to figure out where to buy them so I can stock up on them.

Another prayer

2007-07-19T21:20:00.000-04:00

I'm not really sure how I ran across this blog but I can't get this pastor and family off of my mind. His son was in a golf cart accident and has been in the hospital for 2 weeks in serious condition. If you have time, read about it and keep this little 8 year old boy and his family in your prayers.

Seasoning Bags

2007-07-19T20:54:00.001-04:00

I love the McCormick seasoning bags. They are so quick and easy. Just this week, we have had basil green beans, Italian potatoes and a roast. All you do is put the vegetable in the bag with the seasoning mixture and put it in the microwave for 10 minutes. This morning I put the roast, potatoes and carrots in the bag and when we got home we put it in the oven for about an hour. It makes the most tender roast. They kids have really enjoyed it all and Ryan will actually eat the green beans and carrots. I can't get him to eat any other green vegetable, but he really likes the way these are flavored. We tried the Italian potatoes for the first time this week and they were great. I couldn't believe how fast and easy it was. I may enjoy cooking after all :).

Prayer

2007-07-19T11:32:00.000-04:00

Please say a prayer for my cousin who I spoke about last week. The mother of Brandon has decided that she wants to keep him even though she has given her other 4 children away. She signed over her rights to Isabella in March of this year. Anyway, she is scheduled to be in court today. Our prayer is that Brandon will be given the life that God intends for him to have. We all only want what is best for him, but at the same time the emotional roller coaster has been very hard for my cousin and her husband. They have already fallen in love with him. I will keep you posted.

What's for Dinner?

2007-07-17T19:42:00.000-04:00

Why is it when you are hungry, everything at the grocery store looks wonderful and very tempting? The kids and I went to Kroger this morning with our shopping list to get everything for the week. Of course, it was close to lunch time and it all looked really good. I told the kids that it was their job to make me stick to the list because we only had so much to spend. They really enjoyed this. They like keeping me in line. We have been making a menu for the week and only shopping from that. This has really helped us and has also made cooking a little easier for me. Doug does a lot of the cooking and one of the main reasons I don't is because I can't think of what to cook. In the past, we would call each other and ask several times during the day, "What do you want for dinner?". The answer was usually, "I don't know, what do you want?". Many times we would end up at Chick-fil-A. So, now we each get a turn picking our favorite meal for the week. We know that spaghetti and fettuccine will be a staple since that is one of the few things that Ryan will eat. We can always count on Ashleigh to have plenty of vegetables. This has been a lot of fun and has taken some of the stress of thinking "what are we going to eat tonight?" off of us. BTW, we were under budget this morning so we were able to add a few favorite snacks as well.

Simple Things

2007-07-16T23:21:00.000-04:00

We took the kids to the Silver Comet Trail to ride bikes tonight. We always forget that you have to turn around and go back the same distance. We rode almost 10 miles. I had a difficult time keeping up with the kids. Of course, I blamed it on the fact that I was in the wrong gear most of the time :). As we were riding, I was enjoying the scenery and finding delight in Ryan and Ashleigh talking and giggling. I couldn't help to think how much God must delight when we take the time to notice all that he has created. I am sure he enjoys our laughter and when we take the time to acknowledge what a great God he is. I never want to get too busy that I don't enjoy the simple things in life. Here are some pictures of our evening. I can't wait to do it again!

A Busy Week

2007-07-15T23:10:00.000-04:00

I have got a very busy week ahead of me. This will be my first week without any classes and now I have to play catch up on all the work I had gotten behind on. In addition to that, Family Fusion is next week so I have to get everything done to take 3 days off. I am ready to have a few days without the computer, work and my cell phone. I am looking forward to some much needed family time. I know God has great things in store for my family and all the families going. I feel like my time with my children has been cheated this summer due to a very unusual schedule. I reminded myself that it was for just a short season. I am hoping that by working extra hard this week, I will have to work very little between next Sunday and when school starts. It is hard to believe that this summer is almost over! I am also hoping to get some time in for me and the kids to go and spend some time with my sister and her kids. We always have a blast when we are together and the kids really miss each other. Let the work begin....

A Terrible Mom

2007-07-14T21:08:00.000-04:00

I feel like a terrible mom after going to the eye doctor today with Ashleigh. She got glasses last year before school started and we were told that she only really needed them when she was reading. Well, she broke her glasses right before school got out in May and I have been putting off getting her new ones, especially since Doug broke his glasses a few weeks ago too. I received a check last week that I had been waiting on so we had the cash to take both of them to get their glasses. We found out that Ashleigh's eyes are a lot worse than we thought. We were told that she needed to get in glasses immediately and she had to wear them all the time. I just about cried. We ordered her new glasses (we had a hard time finding the "perfect" pair and the purple metallic ones didn't make the cut :)). She has to go back in October and they are expecting to change her prescription then as well. Doug ordered his cool new glasses. He really wanted a pair of prescription sunglasses but we didn't have quite enough money for those, so when the next check arrives we will order his sunglasses.

Payday!!

2007-07-13T19:12:00.000-04:00

I have come to really love Payday, especially since starting Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace class. I will let you know that Doug has wanted us to take this class for a few years and the free spirited one that I am, did not want to be confined to a strict budget. However, after a month of being on the envelope system and paying off one bill, I love it. I love getting my check, going to the bank and getting the cash to put in the designated envelopes. There is power in telling your money where to go. I love paying for everything with cash instead of my debit card and worrying if there will be enough to buy groceries. I am even more excited because there is actually enough money in the hair cut envelope for me to get one. I highly recommend everyone going through this course. It has been great for our family.

What a day!

2007-07-12T22:26:00.000-04:00

Today I finished my last class in order to renew my teaching certificate. Yeah!!!I have been in class most of the summer. I treated myself to a delicious Chick-fil-A milkshake. (It was even better because I had a coupon for a free one.) Tonight, we had a family night at the Kroger parking lot with moonwalks, slides, a rock climbing wall, cotton candy and much more. It was for the community and several hundred families came out and seemed to really enjoy themselves. I loved seeing all the new faces. I can't wait for Sunday. Well, I am tired and off to bed. Today has been another great day!

A neat story

2007-07-11T22:36:00.000-04:00

My cousin and her husband found out about 8 years ago that they could never have kids and over the years they have been to different doctors and adoption agencies trying to get a child of their own. Over a year ago, they received a call from a distant relative on her husband's side that there was a 6 month old beautiful little girl that was in foster care and would be up for adoption. Of course, David and Jennifer said yes without any hesitation. We all fell in love with Isabella. Well, last week they received another call that Isabella's biological mom had a baby boy on June 30th and wanted to know if they were interested. Without giving it a second thought, David and Jennifer met their son for the first time today. You can see pictures and the rest of the story here. God is such a Big God and continues to amaze me! God has blessed our family once again.

I am so blessed

2007-07-10T21:17:00.000-04:00

Today was a very busy day. I had 12 home visits and dodged thunderstorms all afternoon. Of course, my umbrella was at home so you can only imagine what my hair looked like. I visited with some of my families with medically fragile children (these kids are on ventilators and feeding tubes). These families always have the best attitude and always end up ministering to me. I am always asking God to allow me to be a blessing to them and I usually leave humbled and blessed. I love to see the progress that these children make every month and I love celebrating with their families. Well, I am off to snuggle with my kids and tuck them in to bed.

World of Coke

2007-07-09T22:37:00.000-04:00

The kids and I went to the new World of Coke a few days ago. It was great. I recommend going. After staying in the museum for 2 hours and tasting all the flavors of Coke from around the world, they ran off their energy in the water fountains at Centennial Park. It was a wonderful day!

I'm blogging

2007-07-09T12:57:00.000-04:00

I have been reading blogs for awhile so I guess it is time for me to join the blogging world. I always have something to say. I love to talk!!! (It may be a nice break for Doug for me to ramble here instead of to him all the time.)
I hope I have something to say that is worth reading.