Saturday service & Brickman concert

The guest speaker at church tonight gave me new insight about being the one (the only leper to return to thank Jesus). Oh how I am like the nine, he pointed out that they were probably grateful but yet didn't go back and say so. His point, borrowed from Andy Stanly I think, is "Un-expressed gratitude actually communicates ingratitude." Before the sermon, he challenged us to think of five people we are grateful for, with the stipulation that only one could be a family member. Here are mine (be thinking about yours): 1. Libby, my precious daughter who models wonder, excitement and playfulness for me. 2. Kathryn, my BSF leader who has just gone the extra mile for me and really helped me feel comfortable in group again. She has no idea. 3. Amy M., for taking the baton from me when I passed along my "housekeeper," she is still continuing to witness to this precious child of God who is traveling on the wide, wrong road. 4. Karen K., who inspires me with her wonderful insights on adoption through her blog. now here is where I got stuck, I could think of a million people (maybe not actually 1,000,000 but ya know...) I saw I only had females, so I was trying to think a male, other than a family member since that would be breaking the rules so, here we go 5. Jesus Christ, and no, I am not kissing up. I would be lost, more so than I am now, if I did not have a relationship with Him. And while I have not spent as much time with him over the Christmas break as I wanted, He is faithful and waiting whenever I come to Him. During worship we sang one of my favorite songs (or combination of old hymn with new lyrics), OH praise the one who paid my debt and raises life up from the dead, it's Jesus, Jesus paid it all all to Him I owe sin had left a crimson stain He washed it white as snow.

If we have another child, or adopt, a daughter, I would love to name her Scarlett Snow. I'm not sure I have carte blanche (is there an e on this?) on this child's name as I did with Libby but what a reflection of our human state of grace. We are as filthy rags but God sees us wrapped in the light of his Son!

Do you have your five? Please share if you feel led.

Libby stayed with us in the service this time, choosing not to go with the three year olds tonight. Afterwards, we dropped her of at Granddaddy and Nana Kim's so that Bobby and I could have a date night. They bought me tickets to the Jim Brickman holiday concert. I am a huge fan, first seeing him in NYC, then with Bobby while we were dating at Cicny and Louisville, and then I took Lynn and Leah the Christmas before our wedding.

We grabbed a quick bite at Raising Cane's on campus, our first time. Zo, our cashier, was great and recommended meals for both of us that were great. Reminds me of Zaxby's (have ya'll been to the one in Nicholasville?) We had a great time talking about "dreams" but also planning our date nights for the next three months. Looking forward to more fun nights like this. Concert was great as usual, he and Anne have such a repore (how do I spell this? I now it is not right but it's late), I think from going to high school together. I was introduced to some new songs and we purchased a new Christmas CD. I know I only have a little while more to listen to it this year but it will be great to pull it out next year.

I have enjoyed these nightly reflections. We'll see if I can keep it up when the school year starts back. May you have peaceful rest, akml

Today's Top Ten in no particular order

1. Jesus made the sky and Jesus made us!

2. Do dogs yawn? (after she had yawned, I then yawned, and I had tried to explain "contagious" to her!)

3. I don't talk well (she just couldn't get out what she wanted to say. I know she was tired, no nap today, but I need to pay more attention to when she "stutters", she doesn't stutter the first letter, but the whole word. It makes me sad to hear her say this. I want to know how I can help her, tonight I just suggested she use her hands and that worked.)

4. This is the best Christmas ever (while we were wrapping Nana Kim's present, I was letting her cut the paper and she was sticking tape everywhere, she wrote her name on the gift tag and it turned out Anna, she doesn't yet know left to right, she usually writes backwards and wherever there is room)

5. I am disappointed (don't remember at what, but I know I say this to her when she does something she shouldn't, maybe it was because she didn't get to go shopping with her Mama and me)

6. She asked me to sing to her as we rocked, "Happy Birthday to Jesus"

7. We went to the library to return some of my books, because of the rain, I was just going to drive through the book drop, but she wanted to go in and look at the books. I followed her around the shelves and watched as she would pull out random ones, and then put them back (my OCD kicked in a little as I stressed if she put them in the correct spot but I let it go quickly!), we jumped on the circular alphabet carpet spelling our names, she went to "check her email" while I searched the other computer card catalog for Merry Christmas Big Hungry Bear (couldn't remember the author of Big Hungry Bear, her favorite book right now) Don and Audrey Wood so off we went to find it. One of her favorite episodes of Caillou is him going to the library with his library card, so we had to get her one. She was so excited! Carried it around proudly everywhere and wanted to tell everyone! How precious, my little reader!

8. While we were driving and talking, she replied to me "not exactly", I guess she has been seeing too many of those Hertz commercials, crack me up!

9. Very interested in "what time is it", loves anything on the half hour, when asked when we were going to Granddaddy's she replied "about six thirty" which was correct, when we were trying to nap she asked me when we were going to get up, "4:30 or 5", "I think five, mommy"

10. Just watching her tonight, run back and forth from the kitchen to the den, taking requests and relaying messages, very dramatic, saying the prayer twice, because the first time she didn't have everyone's attention, after finishing her dinner and leaving to play, she came back in and "do you know what time it is? present time!" trying to get the rest of us to hurry up and eat our dinner! where are our priorities?

Mom and Bobby, feel free to add any sayings you can remember from today!

Thursday Thoughts

Today is the first day I have pulled out my school work but I am not resenting it. I have thoroughly enjoyed my first week off from school. Libby and I have had some great times doing nothing in particular. Today she woke up calling for her daddy. He was asleep and I had been awake for a few minutes, just a little after seven. I went upstairs but was surprised to see me, repeating her call for her daddy. I sat down to rock her but quickly had to take a bathroom break to which she declared she had to go as well. We went down the hall to her bathroom; I sat on the big potty thinking that she would sit on her pink potty. I know better to than assume, she waited for me to finish. Then as she went, she looked over at the bathtub and hinted that she would like to take a bath. After her half hour long bath, we ate some breakfast bars and watched Curious George, her current favorite. I wasn't feeling well so we stayed in bed and watched MMCH and LE. This was more tv than usual and she was ready to play. Upstairs we went to play Yahtzee. I have been teaching her the names of what she rolls. Yesterday, she would yell, "The house is full!" her way of saying a full house. Today she seemed to be getting Large straights. I look at what she rolls, give her the dice and tell what she is trying to get. She rolled a 2,3,4,5 and 6. I counted those out to her but she said "Mommy, I only have five!" It was much better when she would get a 1,2,3,4 and 5 that made sense to her. Then we ventured out to the play room where she proceeded to cook for me. I got her a little recipe box for Christmas that she gives me to pick out my food. First she asked me if I wanted meatloaf but we couldn't find our rectangle pan, must be at the other house. We did find her muffin pan so that is what we settled on. I asked for banana nut, she said she could do vanilla banana. OK. Next she asked if I wanted them all the same or different, in pretend you can do that, and since it didn't matter to me, I asked her what she wanted. Differnet. So next I said cranberry orange, trying to think of all the muffin mixes I have in the panty we possibly have made. She responded, cranberry applesauce. OK. I think she went on to something else and realized she really was hungry so went went downstairs to make eggs and toast for our second breakfast. This is usual when we are at home all day. Next we worked some puzzles and read some books, when she got a paper cut. She cuddled up with me and fell asleep for an early nap. Her pattern is nap one day but not the next. Yesterday we went for a walk, ended up at Tim & Julie's to play with Peyton which turned up to dinner and her falling asleep on the couch around seven p.m. No nap yesterday so early one today, noon to two. Bobby came home from work for their usual Daddy-Daughter Day. They took Cougar to get weighed, he is down a couple of pounds but a net +1. We are going to change his food to high calorie, evidently the senior food is low calorie. Oh, brother! Then they took him for a bath. Now they are at the gym working out. She loves to go with him and it is great for me to have some time. I have taken a hot bath, and then I came out to get the computer to do some work. Which is how I ended up here. Checking email and blogs. I have done some work but I left some things I need at school. I go back on Wednesday, the second for a teacher work day, so I will wait until then to finish up. Hope your Christmas break is going well.

Monday's Minute Update

7 school days until Christmas break! Tomorrow (Tuesday, 12/11) I work all day since we are going on a field trip to Frankfort for the Gubernatorial Inauguration Parade. There is a 40% chance of rain -- please pray for great weather and a great time to be had by all. I think the temperature should be in the 60s so that is a blessing in and of itself! Until my next quick post, have a good one!

Tuesday Thoughts

14 more teaching days until Christmas break! (I only teach Monday thru Thursday.) Maybe I will post on December 20, my last day of school for the year 2007. Sorry for the delay, but thanks for checking in with me!

Tuesday, MaMa's Day

This is from last Tuesday, but her routine is the same each week -- Tuesday she gets to spend with her MaMa. I have life group on Tuesday mornings so I drop her off on my way to church. She has her music class from 11:15-11:45 and she usually stays to play on their playground. My mom and dad just recently decided to start taking her out to lunch after music, in part because my dad and Bobby are now working out on Tuesday evenings. They are actually working out now as I type this. Libby didn't nap today so she fell asleep a little before six, which gives me time to post a brief update. I would type longer but I have to type my post test for my US History boys! Here is one last pic for the post -- who knows where it will end up -- above or below this typing! Mom and Dad used to live over in the Hamburg area and they loved eating at Texas Roadhouse. They don't get over there as often as they like but they just happened to make in when the Budweiser clydesdales were there. What a treat -- Libby loves horses. Just look how big they are...

Well, that wasn't what I thought it was. Guess my honey didn't download the other one! Sorry about that. I'm sure my boys wouldn't mind if I posted some more, but I really must get this typed (I'm afraid Libby will wake up but who knows she could be down for the night!)

Monday -- McDonald's

Our routine for Monday is Daddy takes her to preschool and Granny picks her up, then takes her to McDonald's. I meet them there and have to be the mean Mommy when I drag her away from the play area. Granny told me that right before she leaves school, the teacher leads them in "Go Cats" while sitting in their circle to be picked up -- how cute is that! Lib is really into walking Cougar right now -- I can't wait for it to cool back down! I usually do the morning walk before we head to school. Daddy gets the evening walk, but they are learning to be a bit more careful since she ran head on into a truck (in the driveway, silly!) They have just dropped Coug off and are headed out for some more running -- she wears herself out before bedtime! I may try to get her those NB running shoes again, since she won't wear anything but tennies for her walks. This afternoon she did the sweetest thing. We are still working on poo-poo on the potty but she sneaked a nighttime diaper to do her business in. She climbed up on the changing table since I have that set up in the baby's room now at the Aria house and I cleaned her up. She went to change clothes (any excuse will do for her) and I headed back downstairs to read my book, In The Likeness of God by Philip Yancey and Dr. Paul Brand, which I highly recommend. I noticed it was quiet and when I went to check on her, she had crawled into her daybed and put herself to sleep for a nap -- what a darling! She did wake up early this morning -- 6:15. Bobby was up so she said, "If someone is up, I am up!" (oh, brother!) He is not usually up that early but had to leave for the golf course at seven. They won the scramble by the way -- can't wait to see the ugly golf shirt he got (his words not mine.) Back to our potty training issue, I read a great tip in one of my parenting magazine. To get her daughter to go potty, she told her she got to call a princess. What a great idea -- which one of you wants to be my go-to girl to call and pretend to be a princess -- hopefully she won't recognize you voice. Tonight she did a litte business in the potty and that was the first thing she said, "I get to call Belle!" Please help, we will be calling soon! TTFN, akml

First Day of Autumn

I realized I haven't posted in over a month -- please forgive. I haven't had my usual time on Saturdays but yesterday was the first time in along time that Libby has gone with her Granny for their usual Saturday playdate. Rather than fiddle with the computer, I spent the day at the Twin Pines house doing laundry, which has overtaken Libby's playroom, and catching up on Tivo since we don't have television at the Aria house. It was the absolute best day! Our friends from OH were in with their daughter so they came over to watch the UK v Arkansas game -- which was great for the Big Blue Nation! We were all into the game but took our respective turns checking on the girls but when they got ready to leave, we all made our way upstairs to find two little Indian girls -- they had marked on each other's faces and arms with Crayola markers! I tried to get a picture with Libby's digital camera but it was too dark and since I had our camera at the other house, a golden opportunity slipped by! Sorry about that. I will try to make a fresh start with this blog -- it is a new season. Here's to fresh starts! kml

Tuesday's Two Minute Wrap up

9:00 AM Libby's Three Year Old Check Up Weight: almost 30 pounds (the poor girl did not want to stand on the scale -- who can blame her! When I tried to demostrate, the darn thing read 145.5 -- surely not! I was holding my big VB Rooster purse which surely weighed a few pounds and I had on my big honking heeled & open toed sandals (no idea it was going to rain!) Height -- no standing against the wall either so we had to lie her flat on the examination table and make head/toe marks to measure the old fashioned way. Not quiet 40 inches. Blood Pressure -- her first time, how precious! 88/50 would somebody tell me what those numbers mean, please? Also for the first time she had to wear a robe which she did not want to do either. It wasn't very soft so I can understand. Luckily at the grocery I had bought a five dollar nurse/doctor kit and put away in the closet for such a time as this. She enjoyed playing with that during the fifteen minutes we waited back in the room! If you asked her, probably her favorite thing was getting her hand stamped after she was done. That made her day -- much more so than a sticker even. We pay, she gets a lollipop to put in her medical kit and then we are off to run to the car in the rain -- yippee! I had my students fill out a questionnair that Libby had gotten from Great Escape and one question was "What do you like to do in the rain?" and one of my precious high schoolers said "play -- of course!" how darlin' 9:30 Drop Libby off at MaMa's and head to Life Group at SCC Love these ladies! I just have to share about our answers to prayer: Janet's sister in law has had a turn for the better after looking like she was not going to be able to go home for awhile and Martha, who is doing the job of three people after two have left, we prayed for rain so that she could come to LG on Tuesday mornings. (She was a pro golfer so she does give lessons in the rain and therefore can come to group) She called during group to say she couldn't be there but to keep praying for rain on Tuesdays! We all had a great laugh. 11:10 drive thru Fazzoli's to get lunch on my way to school 11:30 wander the halls since the students are have a Leadership Team meeting in my room noon -- Study Hall -- Can you pray that they would open their Assignment notebooks at the beginning of class so that I could go around the room and check their homework? They did work well today on their homework -- six boys, no girls. I know God has been laying on my heart to adopt a son but somehow I think this teaching job is that answer. 1:00 sit in on Science class -- I really don't know anything about science! Classifications of living and non-living things -- you try it! 2:00 US History -- Yesterday was Benjamin Harrison's birthday (8.20.1833 i think) our 23rd president from 1889-1893 so we read about him in a little fun facts book I had. When he became president, there were 38 states in the union. By the time he left office, six other states had joined -- can you name them? Also what sport was invented during his term in office? (hint: very big in our state) Also, today's fun fact was Hawaii joined the union on this day in 1959 -- who was president? I am learning alot -- are they? 3:15 head out to pick up Libby 4:00 she falls asleep in the car on the way home from MaMa & PaPa's I read my Daily Chronological bible, eat a snack and flip through the mail, and then I veg. For some reason, I am stressed about school today. The house is a mess, dinner was soupy and it shouldn't have been. Did I make the right decision going back to teach? Too early to tell. I'll check back in on a good day when I am not plagued with doubts. I tried to download the pictures from my Mom's camera of my trip this weekend. Well, her memory card is different than mine and it didn't work. That's the reason for no pictures and just a journal entry. 8:30 signing off for now, akml

Hi-5 Live!

Libby is worn out after a long fun day of singing & dancing with her Hi-5 friends.


Libby NOT wanting her picture made! She is holding her Jump N Jive with Hi-5 cd book and jup-jup. This is all we listen to in the car now -- please pray for me!

Kimmee reading a story -- the show is almost over!

Libby hugging Jup-Jup during intermission -- just starting to get the hang of this concert thing!

This is Jenn & Chats, her second favorite characters.

This is Kimmee, her favorite character. You'll see more pictures of her, but not with Jup-Jup her sidekick.

Bobby & Libby before the show began. This is pretty much what she did for the first part of the show -- suck her thumb!

OK! I don't get this blog! Earlier I lost all my journaling so I am too mad to retype it right now and all the pictures are backwards with all this space in between! Love/hate relationship going on here. I had so much fun reading Mel and Shannon's blog and I haven't had my usual Saturdays to update what has been going on with us. Can't believe it is August 1st today! Maybe my entry just sucked and that was God's way of not posting it! Who knows! I am going to heat up a nice slice of apple pie with caramel topping on top with side scoop of HD Dulce de leche ice cream and relax for the evening. What a way to end the day! Hope to hear from ya'll soon -- akml

Shilito Park with MaMa

This is the same day as Lunch with Mama (see blog archive) but notice the different outfit. She is doing great with the potty but this was her first accident while we were at Shilito Park at the playground. She loves to slide, climb and crawl so much that she doesn't want to take a break to go to the restroom. She did but after she had already wet her pants! Never to fear, I had a change of pants in the car and she went right back to her job of playing. What a fun day!

Cousins who play together, nap together

This is my niece, Macy. She is helping me prepare for my new job as a US History teacher -- we are working the 100 piece Presidents puzzle. She did a great job -- actually recognizing Abe Lincoln! Her father is a High School Gov't, Economics and World History teacher at Davidson Academy in Nashville, TN. (I, on the other hand, have taught math, reading and English at the middle school level so this will be a new challenge for me.) Kevin takes a trip to DC every year and I believe the first year he brought her a book about Honest Abe. She is a bright student, just graduating from Kindergarten.

Libby loves her cousin! They have such a good time playing with each other. They wear themselves out and won't stop until we make them. Here are some pictures of them sacked out in my parent's bedroom. I think they were watching Cinderella, much to Millacy's chagrin. She would prefer one of the newer Disney movies. We did take her to see Ratatouille and I highly recommend it! Libby is still not ready for the loud theater sound (which her daddy loves) but I will get it on DVD when it comes out for her.

Poo Poo Party

Libby's latest achievement -- going to the potty! While her cousin Macy was here over the July Fourth holiday, she really did not want to wear diapers. She naturally wants to be big like Macy and that means wearing panties. They left for Nashville on a Thursday and she was going to the potty on Friday -- peer pressure can be a good thing at this age!

We have a sticker chart above her pink potty in the bathroom -- gold crowns for #1 and red crowns for #2. She has the first one down but still wants to put a diaper on for the second. Since she loves going to Gattitown, we decided to use this as an incentive. It worked once so off we went. Here she is with Bobby on the carousel, her favorite ride. You can check the bottom of the blog for Libby's Latest to keep update on her newest achievements. Thanks for viewing

Lunch with MaMa

Libby and I took my mom, Jenny, to lunch on Thursday, July 12th at Flag Fork Herb Farm. Have you been to this place? We love the comfort food (I had one of my bridal luncheons there with the Mohney ladies.) Every year they send me a free lunch for my birthday. I have had that green flyer on the fridge for awhile so by the time I made reservations I was down to a free dessert. I love quiche but usually they put things I don't like in there. Not today -- it was three cheese and ham so I ordered that with a linguine pasta salad that was to die for! All that to say that by the time dessert rolled around, I was stuffed. So being the wonderfully thoughtful wife that I am, I ordered Bobby the Key Lime Pie which he loves. Well, long story short, I forgot to bring it in from the car! What a bummer. What makes it even worse was that Bobby was at one of his clients doing work, Jean Farris Winery off of Old Richmond Road, and he being the thoughtful husband that he is, brought me a bottle of wine. That is when I remembered his pie -- several hours later in the hot car was not pretty! He appreciated the thought and so did I -- better luck next time!

Pool Party!

Day #2 of Blogging! For those of you new to this like me, you can click on the pictures to enlarge them -- when you are finished with each picture just be sure to use the BACK button instead of the X or you will have to log on again! I speak from experience.

Picture left: This should actually be the last picture of the blog but ended up the first! Still working on all this! Both the girls were ready to go at this point. Libby said "I want to go back to the beach house!"

Picture right: Libby and Daddy riding the whale float.


Lauren Clay, John, Libby and Bobby stop briefly to pose for me!

Getting ready to jump...

look at that perfect cheerleader form!

I thought this would be the first picture on the blog -- it was our first picture at the pool. Slowly working our way in, one step at a time.

Just a few more days of vacation left. The guys are playing golf this afternoon and the girls might go to the outlets and Starbucks. We went to dinner and the outlets last night but it is huge and we only made it half way through -- we hate not to finish it! Thanks for checking us out! Be sure to comment or email me! This is so fun -- I have gotten more emails from friends which is so nice! What a way to keep in touch. TTFN, KML

My Early Morning Beach Time

This is my first time blogging so please bear with me!

We are currently in Gulf Shores, Alabama for the BPL (the Livesay family reunion.) There is an annual golf tournament, which my husband won this year! We have had a couple of family dinners, the last one consisted of a game for the grandchildren, "Are You Smarter Than A Grandfather." Libby was on a team but being three she didn't like all the commotion and clapping so unfortunately we had to leave early. But we were told the tiebreaker question was "How are Summer and Libby related?" to which Summer replied "Who is Libby?" They are actually third cousins. It has been fun meeting new relatives.

Libby has loved the beach! But I have just found out my husband doesn't like the mess of the sand! He is a pool person I now know. Aunt Laura and Caleb left this morning before 5 AM. I was up changing laundry from the washer to dryer. I went back upstairs to lay down and thought about watching the sunrise. Libby poked her head up so I got her up and took her to the beach with me. I took my Chronological Bible for me and sand buckets for her. We had the whole beach to ourselves and it was very peaceful. A couple of walkers, a slew of birds and then a bird as tall as Libby, which I am calling a crane. I watched him for the longest time. Very majestic. Although I was a little scared that he might just come running towards us at any moment.

Of course I hadn't brought my camera. We packed up and returned to our beach house (see picture below.) Bobby was up so I left Libby with him so I could get the camera to take a picture. I was sure the crane would be gone by this point. However, he was there but my batteries were low and it wouldn't let me take a picture. I felt like the bible story with the ten virgins with lamps waiting, five had oil and five didn't. I wasn't prepared and was going to miss the picture! I ran back and borrowed batteries from the Sampsons' camera and trekked back. Thank the Lord, he waited for me. I took a ton of pictures but only posted the one. I wanted to see him fly and sure enough as I was taking my last picture he took off. I just watched in amazement! Our God is so good! What a way to start the day and it wasn't even eight o'clock yet.

Oops! I just lost the picture of our beach house but I will try and get it back. {Its back but above this time.} Here is the picture of Libby's footprint in the sand. How precious -- I got this with all the crane pictures and I wasn't even expecting it. She loves to see her footprints in the sand so I am so happy that I got one on camera for her and for us to remember.

In reading my devo for this morning (and yesterdays since I hadn't read it) I am in Micah and came across one of my favorite verses:

He has showned you, O [wo]man, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

and to walk humbly with your God.

I remember in NYC there was a building on the corner of Fifth Avenue (which is across from Central Park and not Park Avenue as you would think) and some street that I would love to get a picture of. It was undergoing renovation and I pray they left those reminders ( the italics above) on there for future generations.

Later in Micah 7 it talks about an enemy asking "Where is the Lord your God" when even "though I have fallen, I will rise" and I thought of the Pittmans friends back in Thailand. They don't understand how our God could allow this to happen to Gracie. I would love to say to their friend that our God is right here with us in the midst of our trials. Our God "delights to show mercy." I just felt like singing Chris Tomlin's song,

"Indescribable, Uncontainable, You placed the stars in the sky and you know them by name. You are amazing God.

All powerful, untamable, Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim, You are amazing God."

It is almost eleven. Bobby is taking a shower, Libby is watching her DVD "Christy", the Sampsons are at the pool, and Bob and Kim are walking on the beach. I am going to wrap up my first blog. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did! Please comment. Or email me.