Some kiddo-time

I know, I know, y'all want to see pictures from Sarah's wedding. I UNDERSTAND, trust me, I do. But I'm a wee-bit behind on my photo-editing, and I'm even more behind on LIFE, as it turns out. Yesterday, however, I had the pleasure of hanging out at the park with these two cuties

I die. They are so cute.

We played at the park right by Jayci's preschool while their mama went to go try and figure out some free childcare/preschool for them. It was an interesting and saddening contrast to me to see them "play" at the park while Jayci attended her nice preschool with organic food and japanese class. I KNOW we are doing the right thing with where we put Jayci for school, but it's a hard pill to swallow thinking about how STUCK these kids are. How they're going to start school with such a deficit simply because their mom doesn't have the resources or ability to teach them herself or get them enrolled somewhere. By the way, allow me to get on my soapbox for just a moment (don't worry, I'll try and keep it brief) it makes ZERO sense that she has to be working 24 hours a week in order for them to qualify for childcare help -- because how is she supposed to get a job to work 24 hours a week when she has 2 babies at home?! Umm, not so much. Oh and don't even get me started on the state of her older kids' schooling. . . What a broken system. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how to fix it except to start getting my own hands dirty to help.

Enough of that. No one likes the soapbox.

Anyways, I promise I'll be back soon with some wedding pictures and stories . . . but for now, back to editing!

Radical x 3

One of our favorite things to do these days is dream. To imagine what our neighborhood could look like one day. To dream about how we can restore our old house in the hood and turn it into a home. To imagine what our family will look like one day soon as it continues to grow. To think about how we can minister to the inner-city and what that might look like. Dreaming and imagining and planning and praying . . .

Then this weekend I re-read chapter 3 in Radical. And his word smacked me upside the head a little. Or maybe the heart.

"Instead of imagining all the things we can accomplish, we ask God to do what only he can accomplish."

Hmmm. So how would all our dreams and imaginings look differently if they were God-dreams rather than Becca-and-Adam dreams?

Maybe instead of thinking about we can have kids over to our house to see a family dinner, we can pray that one day they will sit down to their own family dinner? Maybe instead of just growing a few vegetables for our family, God wants to provide an under-resourced and under-served community with fresh produce and healthy choices that aren't available to them right now? Maybe instead of helping some kids with their homework, God wants to transform the broken education system in Atlanta. Maybe, just maybe, God has bigger dreams than we do. Maybe, just maybe, He can accomplish those dreams with OR without our help. So even the title of this chapter, "Beginning at the end of ourselves" reminds me of what we need to do next.

We need to pray, we need to increase our dependence on and desperation for the Spirit of God in our lives and in our ministry. He must increase and we must decrease. What does that look like? I'm not sure yet. But we will be praying, and seeking, and trying to remember that we can do nothing on our own. Like the disciples, we are "confident that (we) are not going to accomplish anything without his provision."

Unfortunately, like Platt points out, the danger of trusting in ourselves can be subtle and insidious. Because it's so easy to fall back into relying on our own abilities rather than trusting in the power of God. We can be following and seeking the Lord, and then all of a sudden we start getting prideful, stop spending time with Jesus, stop depending on His strength. And the danger is that we end up with a "ministry" that has a whole lot to do with us, and a whole little to do with Jesus. And that, right there, is the LAST thing we want.

So we are committing to pray, every single day, for a reliance of God's power. To pray for dreams that are HIS dreams and not ours. To grow and serve and minister ONLY in His strength and our weakness. Lord, we pray that You will increase and we will decrease every single day.

*To read more responses to Radical (by David Platt) Chapter 3, visit Marla's blog!

Jayci's 2nd Birthday Extravaganza

Ok, if I'm being completely honest, it wasn't actually an extravaganza. I think I was still tired from all the crafting I did for her party last year, so this year we opted for a fun little get-together at the park (aka no cleaning up my house. Plus, we dont have a house right now. Well not one that is conducive to children's birthday parties aka - one that doesnt have boarded up windows etc). Please forgive me for the confusing, grammatically incorrect run-on sentences.

As it turns out, most of Jayci's little friends have either moved, recently acquired new younger siblings, or were suffering from various and sundry stomach bugs/strep throats etc . . . Hence, most of the party-goers at Jayci's party were adults. She didn't mind, however, because she takes after her father and enjoys being the center of attention. If she took after me, she would prefer hiding in the corner or hovering over the snack table.

I did have my sister make some delicious cupcakes. Although if you look at the cupcakes I made (the pink ones below), I can understand why you might be confused in trying to figure out which one of us went to the French Pastry School (hint: it wasn't me).

We forgot candles, and briefly considered light one of the miniature pinwheels on fire, but opted out of it since, after all, we were in a public park and not our own backyard. I also made some cute little goodie bags with Rice Krispie treats that Jayci helped make, and a CD entitled "Jayci's party mix". Unfortunately, I may or may not have forgotten to listen to the cd completely, and it may or may not have included a song with some inappropriate language. You might want to watch out for Track 15, just sayin.










*The creepy guy who is joining our family this weekend!
*Jayci's beautiful little friend Nomie


*This is how Jayci feels about all the pictures. Actually this is her "silly face." Classic.

Sarah's Hindu Ceremony

I may have mentioned this a time or twenty, but my little sister is getting married this weekend! It's hard to believe she's all grown up, but she has (apparently). Last weekend (um I think - somehow I've lost all sense of time in the midst of temper tantrums that never stop and wedding madness and work and living in someone else's house and . . . ) she and Hash had their Hindu ceremony. I was able to take some pictures, and can I just say that it was a BEAUTIFUL day with gorgeous colors, and my sister was/is just absolutely stunning?














If we're friends on facebook, you can see more pictures here. And if we're not friends, than we probably should be, right?

My stomach hardly even growls . . .

I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, but I don't even know what it feels like to be hungry. I mean, my stomach growls occasionally, I suppose, but most often I eat because it's lunch time. Or late-night snack time. Or because I really need some chocolate, or cheese dip. Or just because it's sitting right in front of me.

But while I was reading chapter two of Radical, I couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to be REALLY hungry. Like need food in order to survive/function. Not just because it tastes good, but because I can't go another minute without it. Because I'm pretty sure the HUNGER that Platt talks about for God's Word shouldn't be a slight rumbling in my tummy; but rather, a ravenous insatiable appetite that can only be quenched by His Holy Word. So how can I understand hunger the way so many people in the world do? Fasting is one way that I'd like to maybe explore this further . . . I haven't decided yet what it looks like - but I'll keep you posted. I think the key, though, lies in the question Platt poses: "What is it about God's Word that creates a hunger to hear more?" So that's it then. To develop my appetite for His Word, I just need to dive into it. I'm expecting y'all to keep me accountable. Because His Word is ultimately the ONLY thing that can fulfill the deeper hungers and longings within me.

Diving into the Word can be a little daunting (where do I start? what should i read? what does it all mean?), but even more daunting is the question that naturally comes next: What am I going to do with it? Because as Platt points out, "if we stop and really look at God in his Word, we might discover that He evokes greater awe and demands deeper worship than we are ready to give Him." I don't know what that means, what He might demand that I give up. And yes I said "demand," because as Platt reminds us: "God is not JUST a loving father." He hates sin, and there is far more sin in my life than I normally care to admit.

This week at One Church, our pastor (Jimmy) spoke on Jesus' statement that He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). And Jimmy pointed out that when Jesus says He is "the life," it counters the tendency towards materialism in our culture. Just when I was getting all high and mighty and thinking about how we gave up our nice little home in the suburbs to move downtown, Jimmy mentioned how he had recently noticed a subtler form of materialism emerging in many Christians today. This materialism was manifest in people who were "selling everything" and moving downtown, or wherever (umm by the way, our church is super-small so I felt a little "called out" on this one) . . . What? Um, pastor, you are clearly mistaken because that is the opposite of materialism. Clearly.

But then Jimmy explained that if your emphasis is STILL on selling your "stuff" and not having so much "stuff" -- then you're still focused on the stuff and not on Jesus! Oops.

So this week I learned that I eat too much, care too much about my stuff, don't spend enough time in the Word, and need to get more RADICAL for Jesus. . . and yet, I feel strangely encouraged rather than discouraged. Why? Because I know that it's always worth it to dive into deeper. I have to know that it's worth it, or else I wouldn't be living this crazy journey called following Jesus.

"I pray that we will be a people who refuse to gorge our spiritual stomachs on the entertaining ppleasures of this world, because we have chosen to find our satisfaction in the eternal treasure of his Word." -Platt

To read more response to Radical (chapter 2), and perhaps to be challenged yourself, visit Marla's blog.

How to Decide . . .

I am so so torn right now, because I just have TOO many things to blog about. Should I go ahead and write my post to link up for the Radical read-along? Or enter a smirk picture for I Heart Faces? Or post about Jayci's bday and party? Or pictures from Sarah's Hindu ceremony? Ahhhh how can I make decisions like this, particularly in the midst of a television decision crisis. House or Chuck? Scratch that actually. My parents (as it turns out) just got DVR. I told my dad it was going to change his life. True story right?

That said, I'm going to turn it on right now -- but don't worry, there's plenty of blog posts from me in your very near future. Try to contain your excitement.

For now, here's a little birthday-cake-face smirk from Jayci at our family bday celebration.


*As always, go visit I Heart Faces for more smirks!

First Things First

So now that it's official, I thought I'd pop in and let y'all know the biggest news around . . . we bought a house!

Yup, we are the proud owners of a 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath bungalow in historic Adair Park. With gorgeous boards over the windows and current residents who may or may not be drug dealers. But we're not worried, because we've got a good two months before we can even start to consider moving in (we close on the house in mid-november) . . .

Here's a few pictures to hold you over until I can have y'all over for a proper tour, complete with diet coke and cheese dip! And maybe some yummy baked goods, but only if I can convince my sister to make them.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. -James 1:17

The "Terrible 2s" Have Officially Arrived!

Two years ago today I was about as big as a house, and the contractions had just started in earnest. My sweet friends were visiting us in the hospital and I was giddy with a mixture of excitement and nervous anticipation . . . our little girl was about to make her entrance!

Two years later, I can't believe all the changes, joy, frustration, and happiness that that little bundle has brought into my life. Not to mention, she's not exactly a "little bundle" anymore. Her long legs and little girl looks are sort of taking over her baby-ness. Which makes me really sad, but proud and excited at the same time. I just know (without any bias obviously) that she is destined for great things.
Dearest Jayci,

Today you are two years old. And the only thing I can think about is how much I treasure the last two years we've had together. Your sweet little face brightens my every day. I love hearing your voice, on the phone, first thing in the morning - even when it's 5am (your wake-up time of choice lately). Speaking of wake-up times, let's chat about that, shall we? You should probably consider sleeping in until at LEAST 7am. Deal?

Your blond hair is STILL blond - which confounds me and your daddy, along with most strangers we meet. They always ask where it comes from, and all I can do is shrug, and maybe kiss your head or ruffle said hair. I look at you and wonder how I got so lucky, to have this beautiful little golden-haired child. Your sweet cheeks, slender long legs, bright blue eyes, and button nose, continue to delight me - I can't help but kiss you and tickle you, much to your chagrin. I'm almost as bad as your daddy and "brothers" (Zack and Sabo) for driving you crazy!
You are smart, and use proper grammar and full sentences on a regular basis. You know the entire alphabet and the letters for your name. When you don't want something, instead of simply obeying and saying "yes ma'am," you say "no thank-you." Which makes me laugh, and is sometimes even successful in getting your way!
You have oma and opa, nana and pop-pop, all your aunts, zack and sabo, and mommy and daddy wrapped around your cute little "fing-ger." Sabo told his grandma the other day that we were "just crazy over you" . . . and he was totally right. We love everything about you! When Opa gets home from work, you two chase Rup-e (the dog) around the house with shrieks of delight. Or maybe you'll pound on the piano a little in an effort (usually successful) to make the dogs howl. The chaos level is unparalleled.

You finally love school (well, you cried all day long for your first two days), but now you love "miss marna" and music class, art class, and especially "going whee" on the playground! I adore picking you up from school and hearing all about your day. And then we call daddy so you can tell him about it too - which is adorable and hilarious, and he has no idea what you're saying.
I know you're super-smart because you're such a problem solver. We only let you have your "paci" in the car or in your bed, but sometimes we'll make an exception if you fall on your head or scrape your knee really badly . . . You've realized this now, and sometimes will pretend to hit your head on the wall, fake cry, and say: "need paci, feel all better." It doesn't work, but it sure makes me laugh.

The tantrums have arrived in all their glory. Yesterday, I think you had at least 37. I was about to pull my hair out with all the throwing yourself on the floor, screaming, kicking, and crying. . . Not that pulling my hair out would be any more productive than your temper tantrums. Whatev. Let's just pretend that the "terrible two's" don't exist, and be done with all this tantrum nonsense. Especially because I think you somehow can smell my vulnerability and people-pleasing tendencies, and recognize the power of the public temper tantrum. Just kill me now.

Oh I kid, but seriously Jayci, you are a bright, beautiful little girl - and you are LOVED deeply by SO many people. We have so many hopes and dreams for you, but most importantly I want you to know your identity in Christ. To rest in the Truth that you are loved deeply by the One who made you. To grow to be the person He made you to be, without being distracted by doubts or insecurities. To know that you are SAFE in His arms, all the time.
I pray for you everyday, we love you more than anything, and can't wait to see what this year is going to hold for you!

LOVE you!
Mommy

"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." - Ephesians 3:17

Rubberband Man

Ooooo y'all are in for such a treat today (not that every day isn't full of treats here at The Stanley Clan. Wait, it's not?). This summer at camp, we had our own resident counselor (Frank) who did double-duty as "Complex the Exec." Complex is a talented rapper, and was one of our funniest counselors. I don't even know if I can explain Frank to you, despite my most valiant efforts, Frank defies explanation. Anyhow, he had this one song that he performed for the kids every week (ok every day - at the request of his fellow counselors), Rubberband Man (not to be confused with T.I.'s song of the same name).

*Just look how much fun the kids are having jamming out to his song. Is "jamming out" the cool term to use these days? I don't even know.
*As a side note, every time we hear this song Jayci says "Fank wear hat." I guess because he always wore the signature red hat, it must be what transformed him into "Complex the Exec." She loved Frank. Seriously.
See how fun? Loves it.

And I could not be more excited to share the video he made for the song here, in all it's glory. Look closely, and you can spot me (with my camera in a few places, and if you look really closely you MIGHT even get to see me dancing - a rare and priceless occasion). And Adam makes a cameo or 2 as well.

So you should watch it. Trust me, you won't regret it.

And you can visit his website here if you want to see more Frank, or rather, Complex.

I'm Radical Like That

Guys, if there's ever been a word that DOESN'T describe me, it's radical. Well, besides the whole moving-into-a-house-currently-occupied-by-drug-dealers-in-the-inner-city. But seriously, I'm such a rule-follower, it's ridiculous. I remember breaking out in hives all the time when Adam and I first started dating because he wanted to do all sorts of crazy things. And by crazy I mean, not really crazy at all, just not within my confines of "normal" behavior. And by hives I mean I complained a lot and refused to let Adam have any fun.

Anyhow, I mentioned last week that I was going to participate in the Radical Read-along over at Marla's blog. And I'm a day late to the party, but couldn't help wanting to join in anyways. I read Radical at the beginning of the summer before camp started, and it totally rocked my world in a lot of ways, so I'm excited to go back through it and pick it apart . . .

Yesterday, in the midst of the craziness of a day full of pointless errands, cleaning up after Jayci, visiting new parents in the hospital, eating Chick-fil-a . . . I took a few minutes to sit outside, soak up the sun, and re-read chapter one. And the words seared through my heart in a familiar way. I felt a slight stirring in the deepest recesses of my soul. I felt it then, and I feel it now. Because YES we are being obedient (and some would say "radical") by following Jesus into the inner city. But what am I ACTUALLY giving up? I'm willing to trust God for Jayci's safety in the city, as long as He lets me keep her. I'm willing to trust God for providing a house, for growing our ministry, for paying our bills . . . but only if it means I will still have a place to lay my head. Never mind that Jesus himself had "no place to lay his head."

David (clearly we're on a first-name basis by this point) asserts that "our meaning is found in community and our life is found in giving ourselves for the sake of others in the church, among the lost, and among the poor." What is it going to look like for me to live in community, in "giving myself" for the sake of others? I think giving myself up is going to mean taking more risks. Talking to people when I'd rather be quiet. Sharing my meal when I just want my space. Serving Adam and Jayci when I'd rather lay on the couch and watch HGTV (let's be honest, I can't remember the last time I did that - and I'm dying to do it again someday).

In all seriousness, I know that Jesus took time for Himself sometimes, He retreated to be alone. To pray. To commune with His Father. But beneath all of that, behind everything He did, was an underlying obedience, a radical abandonment to the things of the Father. I don't want Jesus to be like me: selfish, tired, harried, discouraged, distracted . . . Instead, I want to be more like Him.

So the question, beneath it all, comes down to this: do I BELIEVE in the deepest part of me that He is worth abandoning EVERYTHING for? Do you?

"You know that in the end, you are not really giving away anything at all. Instead you are gaining. Yes, you are abandoning everything you have, but you are also gaining more than you could have in any other way. So with joy - with joy! -You sell it all, you abandon it all. Why? Because you have found something worth losing everything else for." - David Platt, Radical

Never doubt in the darkness what you know in the light

I thought I had written a post with this same name a long time ago, but I couldn't find it back so I'm just going to pretend it never existed.

We are right on the cusp of ALL sorts of exciting things with buying a house, moving downtown, starting new ministry directions etc . . . However, therein lies the root of the problem: we are still on the cusp. And I feel like we've just been sitting here on the cusp for sweet forever. Being in a place of waiting, it's easy to get discouraged and starting doubting our calling and our chosen path. I'm entirely too quick to get down on myself, and the Enemy knows my weaknesses. He preys on them; after all, he's like a roaring lion, waiting to devour us.

And because he knows our weaknesses, I have had 'one of those weeks.' Some junk happened that made me question my choice of ministry, my work in the ministry, and my ability to do this ministry -- not to mention questioning whether I'm totally crazy and only think that people might like me when really they all hate me and talk about me behind my back all the time (what do you mean? I'm not susceptible to believing lies or being melodramatic at all). And then Jayci cried the entire time at preschool, and is being pretty disobedient and constantly whiny at home, making me question my ability to be a good mom. I've been short of patience, and NOT walking in Truth.

And that's exactly where the problems start, when I let myself forget the Truth about myself, about my identity, about our calling. And unfortunately, it happens nearly every time things get a little tough. In other words, whenever things get dark.

When I was in high school, I had the most amazing women who mentored me and poured their life into mine. They have no idea, I'm sure, how often I am reminded of and transformed by TRUTH that they shared with me. This week, I keep remembering something one of my mentors always told me: never doubt in the dark what you know in the light. Because in the light I know who I am: loved, chosen, cherished, equipped . . . But in the dark? I start doubting these things. And I need to stop doing that, y'all. Particularly because the inner-city? Isn't a particularly light-filled place. In fact, I'd venture to say that the darkness has a pretty good hold there (mostly because those who are supposed to be salt and light aren't there . . . but that's another soapbox for another day).

It's funny, really, because this week I've felt attacked and dark and down, and yet the Lord has continually been reminding me of the exact Truth I need to hear. Today, even, I read three or four things, and listened to a podcast that all said the same thing: darkness amplifies light. Light shines brighter in the darkness. And that's what I need to remember and rest in: The TRUTH I know in the Light of Christ, and the blessing it is to have the opportunity to be Light to those who are still living in darkness.

I wanted to share with you a few of the passages, blogs, etc that impacted me today (mostly because they say it far better than I ever could with this rambling, entirely too long, post). I hope you leave as encouraged as I have been.

"I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." Isaiah 45:3

-----
Maybe it's this: God hides with the poor and in the pain and we can only witness Him at His most beautifully creative work in the places needing redemption.

Maybe we are only at our most beautiful work in the same places too --- the places where we don't hide behind the distractions of stuff, where we finally empty our hands of all our possessions and idols and come to God empty and ready. The places where we can make art with tears.
(from here)
--

When we are up against the wall, when our resources are gone and our hope is dwindling and the odds are mounted high all around us, God gets to step in.

And he gets to shine brightest when the night is darkest.

That’s what he did with Moses.

In Exodus 7:3-5, God lays out his plan.

“But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt, he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites. And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.”

Those are difficult words to hear when you find yourself lost in the land of the impossible, because God is promising it is going to get even harder.

You think it was bad making bricks all day as a slave? I’m going to harden Pharaoh’s heart and he’ll force you to also find the hay to make the bricks from here on out.

You think I’ve been loud before? I’m going to multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt, but he still won’t listen. It’s going to take “mighty acts of judgment,” not tiny acts, but mighty acts. And it’s going to be hard. The night will be dark. The skies will fill with hurt when the firstborns die in Egypt, but then, only then, will the Egyptians know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.

I think God brings us to the land of the impossible because it shines us. It reveals his glory in a way that shallow water never could. Nations are rarely swayed through tiny domestic miracles. Families are rarely changed through quiet acts of wonder. And Moses knew this. In Exodus 33:16-17, he asks God, “How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

In the next chapter God answers him as he makes Moses’ face radiant. It literally glows with the glory of God. It physically, tangibly lights up with the wonder and awe of the Lord. This, this is how we will be distinguished from all other people on the face of the earth, in how we reflect God’s glory.

The night will get dark. You will try to be a loving parent to a teenager who does not seem to love you back. You will stand in the gap between love and divorce and it will feel impossible. You will lose a job that you thought you’d always have. You will face opportunities that feel like mountains.

And when you are there, when you stand in that place, you will shine. For God’s glory. For his name. For his might and power, you will shine.

Because in God’s economy, the impossible is a gift, not a curse.

And it always amplifies God’s glory.

(from here)

Our summer in Review

As if I haven't "reviewed" my summer enough already, I decided to participate this week at I Heart Faces and do it again! I know, you're so excited you can barely contain yourself. Clearly.

Since i LITERALLY took over 1000 pictures this summer, I narrowed it down to a fraction of those (which, for those of you who do math, is still a lot). And since it was still far too many pictures to post on here, I put them into a handy-dandy little slideshow. I'm so efficient like that.

I even tried to include some video footage of some of the sweet cheers and such that the kiddos did this summer; however, said inclusion is clearly too technically advanced for my feeble mind. So just imagine the kids shouting "hello yellow" and "honk honk beep beep rolling down the street say it 10 times a week that the ladies can't be beat" or "He makes it O, He makes it OK" . . . Music to my ears.


Here's a few more random pictures from our summer (from the few parts that didn't include camp)



And just now I realized that these pictures don't actually show anything specific about the summer, there's no activity involved. Just a super-cute little girl.

Side notes:
1 - Go visit I Heart Faces today for more summer reviews (yikes - the way I said that made it sound like a school assignment of some sort. Don't worry, it's not.)

2 - Who's participating in the Radical read-along at Marla's blog? (me me me!) The introductory post is up today. Be sure to head over and introduce yourself. If you have no idea what in the world I'm talking about (that's par for the course around here anyways right?) then head over anyways and read all about it.

3 - Anyone praying for our house and the offer right now, 35k is the number to be praying they accept.
"The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." -James 5:16

A Labor Day List

1. The truth is that I don't REALLY even know what Labor day is about. All I know is that Adam is home from work, Jayci is home from school, and yet I still have to send out my email newsletter. Lame.

2. This weekend we celebrated my sister's bachelorette weekend. I seriously find it hard to believe she's going to be married in less than three weeks. Next weekend, in fact, is the ceremony at the Hindu temple. For which I get to wear a beautiful "Lacha," which is an "Indian party dress" according to my sister. All I know is that it's pretty and beaded and green and pink. And shows my belly, which is blindingly white and contrasts nicely with the bright colors and my camp-all-summer-wearing-a-one-piece tan . . .

Back to the bachelorette party: It was fun. And I have no photographic evidence that it even existed because my camera has not been retrieved from the shop yet. I was really sad not to have it along this weekend, especially since my talented sister made a delicious cake using a penis-mold (it looked more like Casper the friendly ghost - but that wasn't her fault, I blame the mold). And because Sarah paid for all her bridesmaid to have a FAN-CEE wine tasting at a gorgeous, gorgeous vineyard in North Georgia. Where it was so beautiful that it was physically painful not to have my camera in hand. And then we went for boat rides, and laid out in the sun on a fantastic double decker dock. Although I will be honest, I did sneak off to bed before all the rest of the younguns did. Proving that I was the old-married-mama at the party.

3. While I was gallivanting around doing bachelorette activities, including eating lots of junk and drinking margaritas, Adam took the boys (Zack and Sabo) along with my brother-in-law-to-be to the opening Georgia game. We were super-excited to be able to take them, because we are hoping to inspire them to attend college. Especially college at UGA. Go Dawgs! It was a blow-out, the weather was perfect, and game day is always fun - so I'd say mission accomplished on that one. But again, no photographic evidence that it ever happened.

4. Today we're sitting at my parents' house, and staring at the accumulated mess from them being out of town and us not having to immediately pick-up after ourselves. I'm willing it to go away on it's own, but unfortunately the cleaning crew doesn't come until Friday and my parents get home tomorrow. Dang-it.

5. We *think* we're putting an offer on a house tomorrow . . . PRAY!!!

Who can blame her?

Today was Jayci's first day of preschool. She ate a healthy breakfast, her outfit was all laid out and ready to go, and her backpack was packed with everything she needed. In other words, we were entirely together and not at all acting like ourselves this morning. I dropped her off this morning, we were even a little early, which is somewhat epic for us, especially considering we had to drive downtown from Marietta during rush hour traffic. We had been telling her all about how she was going to school, and that her teacher's name is Miss Marta. She pronounces it "miss marna," which I'm fairly certain is the cutest thing ever. Anyways, we walked in together, and she want straight to the puzzles. So naturally, I scurried out of the room while she was happily occupied.
I must admit I felt like a bad mom because I didn't even cry, I tried to well up a few tears since everyone else has been blogging and twittering about losing it for their kid's first day of school. But nope, nada. It might have something to do with the fact that I'm spending my morning enjoying this. And in my defense, she didn't cry either.
I've been sitting here getting actual work done without being interrupted every few minutes, which I'm convinced is going to make me a better mom when Jayci is home with me. Plus, I just got a call from her preschool to let me know she is having a fantastic first day, and doing really well.
I will admit, they DID say she got off to a rough start because she didn't want to take off her backpack. But who can blame he, I mean it's such a cool, stylish backpack . . . Ok, so it's from Walmart, doesn't zip up right, and has a built-in white board with markers that never worked. But still, who can blame her?
With that, I'm going back to work, and then off to do a little house hunting while I'm down here. Hopefully, soon I'll be able to drive 10 minutes instead 60 minutes to bring her to school every week. Because we all know there's no way I'm going to be getting her to school on time twice a week in rush hour traffic. That's just not how we roll.

*Side note: My camera is in the shop, so I used my mom's Nikon to take these first day of school pics. And clearly I have no idea what I'm doing with a Nikon. Clearly.