And The Thunder Rolled

Thunder Beach 2009! Woo!

Spring break in Panama City Beach is one thing...the Thunder Beach Rally is another.

Over the weekend we spent two nights in PCB for a youth leader's conference. The conference was really good and we enjoyed meeting and getting to know other youth pastors in our district. It was a little strange...it had been years since I'd stayed overnight in PCB and here I was, an hour away from "home" and spending two nights in a hotel right on the beach. It was a nice little getaway and we had a great view from the 18th floor.

As we got closer to PCB we noticed signs welcoming Thunder Beach and we began to see more and more motorcycles. By the time we got to our hotel we clearly understood why what we had entered was dubbed "Thunder Beach."

Bikers. Everywhere.

To be heard outside, one had to yell to the other standing right beside them. It was nuts. As we headed to our room I realized that the room doors opened directly to the outside, which made me a little nervous. As it was Addie's first couple of nights to spend away from home it was all we needed to be kept up by the all night "thunder"storm.

Working in our favor, our room was a studio that had two doors - one to the outside and an interior door that led to our room. On top of that, our bedroom was on the beach side of the building, not the street side.

Addie enjoyed her stay away from home.

Here she is, contemplating sleeping through the night:

And she did! We had two nights of 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. She did great the whole weekend. She was fairly quiet during the conference sessions and won over those in attendance. She even endured a little shopping on Saturday afternoon and dinner at a Japanese restaurant with most of the group from the conference that night.

Addie and I had our first hibachi experience together. We shielded her from the flames and had a good time...until she got hungry! No hibachi for her. Yet.

The sights and sounds of the Thunder Beach Rally were nothing short of interesting. We did have positive encounters with anyone we came into contact with, but I'm pretty sure next year the conference will be on a different weekend. A much quieter weekend.

Sunday afternoon we started for home (yes, we got a Sunday morning off!) and ate at this diner before we left.



I love breakfast any time of day and this restaurant serves a breakfast bar = perfect.

Here's to a good weekend, an encouraging conference, and a great first overnight experience for Addie.

Goodbye from Thunder Beach!I am thankful for a good weekend with Addie...a great trial run before we head for home!

I Never Win Anything & a Happy Birthday

Sabian isn't big on birthdays, so much so that he planned a youth retreat on his 30th birthday. While he may not be overly excited to celebrate his own day, I am more than happy to recognize the day that he was born. A week after his big day the three of us took the day to do what he wanted to do.

Our day started with stopping by Wewa's Electrical Co-op day. Our utilities come to us via a local co-op and they make a day of holding their annual meeting during which they offer food, free drinks, and a raffle, as well as some swell door prizes. We won this hanging plant for having the youngest person in attendance. Way to go, Addie! We actually beat out a one month old who had already left. Sweet victory.

We also ended up winning a $50 Wal-mart gift card. So much for never winning anything. I didn't even know about the co-op day until the night before but our visit was well worth it!

After a quick rest and some lunch, we headed to Eden Gardens, a Florida state park we've visited before. Sabian wanted to go back and take some pictures so we took advantage of the wonderful weather and headed out there.
Addie wasn't too impressed with the flowers that were as big as her head.

After the park we headed to Seaside for Addie's first trip to the beach. It was a very short trip, as it was pretty windy, but she managed to get a little sand between her toes. Her first footprints on the beach:


It was a good day, rounded out with dinner at Borago and a good night's sleep. The key to a good night with Addie is to get her out and about - it wears her out!

I am thankful that 30 years ago, my husband was born.

At About 5:30 this Morning...

...I saw this video. I like it for a couple of reasons.

One, it takes place in Chicago.

Two, although arguably a bit cheesy, I like the concept.

Who doesn't need a little love to start off their week?

Today I am thankful that for the past two nights Addie has gotten up only once. Yes, that's right, once.

Lake Chaney

A couple of weeks ago we received quite a bit of rain. When it rains around here, it floods. It can be a bit sad, as some people really receive a beating if they live close to the river, but whether or not you live close to a water source when it rains as much as it did, the water comes to you. Check out our front lawn:





It didn't just rain cats and dogs, it poured down rhinos and hippos. In the past I know certain students who have taken advantage of the sudden lake and skim boarded across the yard. It was tempting.

A disclaimer to my last post. I mentioned that Addie wasn't much of a crier, which is true, but that's not to say that she doesn't cry. She does, and she has her moments, as any baby does, but generally she does pretty well and is consolable when she is fussy. She can also be distracted, as we have found out, by certain things.


I do hope she enjoys reading as I did when I was a kid and as her dad does now. I do like to read now, I just don't have as much time. However, since moving to Wewa I have been able to read a little more.

Just one more picture. A shot of me and my girl enjoying the weather on Easter. Now that we have "clearance" to get out and get some exercise, I look forward to taking her on some walks. I'm hoping to get her to the beach this weekend!

Today I am thankful that we don't have to wait too much longer before we're able to make a trip home.

vuhl-ner-uh-buhl

The title of this post says it all - that's how being a parent makes me feel. Even at almost six weeks, Addie has a power that no one else is my life has had. She tears at my heartstrings with her cries and her smiles alike. She is a pretty awesome kid and the reason why I haven't posted in so long.

Despite the learning curve and a few less hours of sleep, we're doing pretty well. She's not up too often, so I shouldn't complain and she's not a big crier, so I really shouldn't complain. It is hard to believe that she has been here almost six weeks. The time really does fly. She is growing in leaps and bounds, a long little girl with big, bright eyes. Things on her favorites list? Lights and ceiling fans. She also gets a wondering look on her face when Sabian hands her off to me, as if to say, "Where's he going?" It is pretty endearing. Another thing on her favorites list - being held. She's a big fan of sleeping for hours at a time if you hold her. Putting her down to sleep? Not so much. But, even when I hear, "Don't start that habit! You'll spoil her!" It takes about a split second for me to remember that she's this small only once - a little holding never hurt anyone.

Other than the daily adventures of living with Addie, we had someone in our household roll over into a new decade. Since I've already had the pleasure of living in the 30s, this can only mean that Sabian had a birthday.


He spent his actual birthday on a youth retreat with our youth group, so our family celebration will take place this weekend, but we did enjoy cake the Wednesday before his birthday and when he came home on Saturday. Really, you can never have enough cake.

Sabian spending the weekend with the youth kids meant that Addie and I spent our first night without Daddy. We did pretty well, but I quickly realized that I don't "dig" the single parenting thing. We were happy to see him walk through that door, even if he did smell like sun, salt, and sunscreen.

Addie's first Easter also came upon us a couple of weeks ago. We watched as Dad played dual roles as disciple and angel in the Easter play at church and then headed home for a rest before going out to dinner.


Addie was pretty tuckered out after church and all of the photos.

I don't have too many Wewa happenings to report at the moment. The schools are winding down, about five more weeks to go, and we are looking forward to summer. Friends and family will be in the area throughout the summer and we are hoping to visit home for Addie to make her Illinois/Missouri debut next month. We're also looking forward to spending time with the kids from church and watching Addie grow. Well, I'm a little conflicted about that last part, but it is pretty cool to watch someone learn and discover day after day.

Today I am thankful that our Wal-mart is finally carrying Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie FroYo. I could eat the whole pint in one sitting.