January News

We have had an exciting two weeks! The start of 2007 has been a great one so far.

The most exciting thing for me was when we went to our first baby shower in Jackson, MS last weekend. Laura, Hayden’s sister, and several ladies from Crossgates Baptist through us a lovely shower last Sunday. Hayden and I were talking this week about how wonderful it was to see everyone who was able to attend- including two sorority sisters of mine- and how special it makes us feel to have friends and family helping us get prepared for our little Angel, Haley. Unitl all the baby gear starts piling up, you don’t realize how much stuff you can use to clean, feed, entertain, and snuggle your baby! We truly appreciate everyone’s gifts, we would never be able to pamper Haley the way we will be, because of your help! We are looking forward to the Memphis shower next weekend. I am really excited because I just found out that not only Hayden’s Mom, Sister, and Grandmother will
be attending…but so will my Mom, Sisters, Grandma Dee, and Aunt Mary/Cousin Rebekah!

We also got a new truck this week! Hayden is currently selling the Tahoe and we found an incredible deal on a Toyota Tundra. We actually don’t have it yet, but Hayden’s sister will be driving it up to Memphis for us next weekend. It’s a 2005, four door, and fully loaded. We really got a great deal. Hayden is really excited about having a truck and plans on always having a truck from now on. It will be so convenient for hauling wood, bikes, and anything else!

The Pregnancy Report is really good. I still have a lot of energy, not too many complaints, and my weight gain hasn’t gone overboard. I eat every two hours, without fail, but am within the limits my doctor set for me. More importantly, Haley isn’t getting too big. With diabetic Mom’s there is a risk that the baby will grow too much, too fast. Luckily, my blood sugar numbers have been kept at normal levels and Haley and I are being treated as a normal pregnancy as of right now. I have to go to the doctor twice as much as a normal pregnant lady, but I also get to see the baby every week on a 4-D ultrasound…which is basically a photograph of what she will look like. My Mom has gotten to attend a few of those visits with me too, so it’s been a special time. I appreciate all the prayers and concerns you all have about our health. I means the world to me to know that we have so many praying for us!
Hayden and I are also learning a lot at our baby classes- probably more than we’d like to know. He’s the smartest Dad there, and most caring, if you ask me. He answers all the questions and rubs my back when I’m sore. I’m so happy to have such a supportive and loving husband, he’ll be a great labor Coach!

I am very happy to say we are also updating our photo gallery. We’ve got pictures of Haley’s ultrasounds, my pregnant belly, the nursery (not completely done) and the Jackson shower to share. I know many have been waiting to see some of these. Lucky for me, Hayden’s newest hobby is photography. I’m so excited that he is so enthusiastic about this hobby because I know I will want priceless pictures of Haley when she gets here. If you know Hayden at all, you know he can’t just take pictures…if he gets into a hobby, he has to go all out…meaning our house now has umbrella flashes, Hayden walking around taking pictures of me at all times, and he is at Lowe’s right now buying supplies to make a backdrop stand for portrait type pictures. He has been glued to the Internet reading and buying supplies. Lord, help me!

Happy New Year!

It is always pretty neat when New Year’s rolls around. It gives us time to reflect on what has happened over the past year and make goals for what we want to achieve over the next year. Laura and I spend a little time on New Year’s Day sitting in bed and talking about what all has happened over the past year…and what excitement lies ahead. Espeically this year as we know life will absolutely change for us in just a few short days- 65 or less to be exact.

Our major trips were to London, Austin, and San Antonio. We also
did Nashville and the regulars like St. Louis, Starkville, Tupelo and Jackson, MS. This year we were able to watch the Bulldogs lose game after game in football. This year we each got one year older. I did my first (and probably only) half ironman. Laura taught her first Women’s Bible Study. I got involved with the Men’s group and church and for the first time started going to Men’s Fraternity on Tuesday mornings and Bibles and Biscuits on Friday mornings. We started a new small group. We made a couple of new friends (Jimmy and Shep to name two). Our prayers were definately answered- we’ve been praying to be surrounded by a group of young Christians to support us and love us and share our lives with us…we are thankful for all that have brought those things to our lives.

I shot two deer with one bullet. We paid 12 house notes. We went to Sardis lake for the first time. We went to Memphis in May again. Stephen Agostinelli got married. Laura and Jason Holmes had a baby girl. Matt Sumrall made it back from Iraq. Boston Legal got moved to Tuesday nights. Desparate Housewives got way too ‘out there’ and lost two of it’s viewers. I built a mantle, some clocks, many pens, a bowl, some canlesticks, a crib, a nightstand, a humidor and a bookshelf. I got a table and fence for my bandsaw. I got a nasty cut from my bandsaw- which sent us to the ER. I stayed at the hospital from 10 p.m. until 5:30 a.m., it’s nothing like the TV show, Laura says. My friend Miguel was the doctor that sewed me up.

Laura was let down that she didn’t get a position she really wanted. Laura was excited because she realized the reason that God didn’t put her at the position she wanted. I spent many months in Conway, Arkansas. Laura spent many nights home alone. I started a new job. I now spend all nights at home.

We put up Valentines, Halloween and Christmas decorations. We eventually took them down as well. I got a new computer. Laura got a new camera. Laura picked up sewing. I am picking photography back up. We lost my grandfather to cancer. We lost Mayme Imbraguglio. We lost Steve Farmer’s Father. We got pregnant…the highlight of our year.

Now, I’ve run through probably 30% of what has happened over the past year. I know it sounds like a lot, but I’d be willing to be that if most people stepped back every once in a while and took an inventory of their lives, they’d see they do a lot as well. One thing that I’ve learned is that life is one of the most rugged and fragile things all at the same time. It could disappear at any time. No one is guaranteed even that next breath. Don’t waste it. Run with it, get it dirty, clean it up, make it help others, let it be a little selfish, let it be alone sometimes to recharge, push it…to the limits. Engage it with other lives, work it hard, let it rest, wake it up. Don’t let it hold a grudge, forgive. Smell the roses or coffee or brownies or sawdust or baby powder or engine grease or fish guts or whatever it is that makes you forget everthing else. Just don’t waste it. You know, there’s nothing better than burying someone and being able to say, “You know, that guy lived life to it’s fullest.” I hope to live 2007 just that way.