The Joy of My Salvation

2:01 PM 1 random thoughts

I am sorry to inform you that Britt won't be blogging today. I will let him get on the computer tomorrow. I promise!

Instead I want to take a moment to update everyone on the job search. First of all we want to thank everyone so much for all their help at this time. It's been a little scary and stressful to be without a job, and we wouldn't have been able to function without all of you. From people bringing us groceries to giving us money to pay bills, from free babysitting while we do some job hunting to putting in countless of resumes all over the South, but most of all we are thankful for all of your love, support, and prayers. We really feel like it's important to let you all know just how much you mean to us. Gary and I have said several times to each other, if this hasn't taught us anything else, it's taught us how very loved we are.

Currently we have two positions that we are exploring more.

The first one is located here in this area. Gary would be selling credit card machines and services for Prodigy. This job would enable us to stay here in our nice little house, surrounded by all of our wonderful friends at Little Union. It has good insurance after 90 days, and the potential to make alot more money than we were previously making. The downside is that it is a sales postion, where if you don't sell you don't make money. This can be good, but it can also mean no matter how well you present something the other person, can still say no. It's a little bit nerve racking for me since I like to have the budget planned down to the penny. It will teach us to rely more on the Lord, and constantly be a reminder to me where our help comes from. Of course Gary says the biggest downside is having to wear dress clothes, and maybe even a tie. haha.

The second one is located in Centre, AL. Gary would be working as a Warehouse Manager for a company affliated with Helena. This job would enable us to move near my family. This company is almost exactly like what Gary has been doing and really is the kind of work that he prefers, the pay would be very similar to what he was making. The downside would be leaving so many friends and family behind, though no matter which job we take we are far away from half of our family and friends. While it could be exciting to move, it still means we have to move... AGAIN.

Like I said, we are still exploring both options. Gary will probably be traveling up to Alabama soon to interview and meet with two of the people with Helena. He has also been going through training with Prodigy for the last two days. We would just like to ask that everyone continue to keep us in your prayers that we would be able to make the best decision for the three of us, and be in accordance with the Lord's will.

6:00 PM No random thoughts

9:39 PM 1 random thoughts

Some of you may know that I really enjoy to crochet. I originally picked it up from Mrs. Mead our Home Ec teacher, and made my Mother a dish towel and rag. Both of which I now think a just a little lacking in quality, but still have an honored place back home on top of the tv, under some picture frames. I eventually graduated to make one special person a blanket just for them every year at Christmas... well, except this year. I mean, come on, I was about to have baby.

In college, I made a friend a scarf while on campus, and someone else saw me, and offered to pay me for a scarf I would have made for free. That was the beginning of a very brief business, that I actually made a profit at. Each fall and winter for three years, I'd make enough to not just support my addiction to buying yarn, but to help buy groceries. After all, college students do like to eat. I would walk around crochet between classes, sitting in the Student Union Building, and just hanging out. The more people that saw me crocheting the more orders I got. I even managed to get a local store and the English Department to display and sell them for me. I even started getting orders for afghans. But alas, Florida isn't all that conducive to selling scarves and heavy afghans, after all you have to have some winter weather to need those things.

Over the last 6 months, 3 people have suggested that I try selling them on Etsy. So a few weeks ago, Gary and I actually started to consider it. We're going to give this a whirl. After all, the best case scenario is that we find a way to make some extra money and put the enormous amount of yarn that I've gathered to good use. Or, the worst case scenario is that I crash and burn and we are out a little money for set up.

So, I would love to ask all of my faithful readers to take a moment and trek over to my new site at Etsy called Designs From Dani. Take a look around, let me know what you think of the place. Please, buy something, pass the website on to a friend, or just keep our little endeavor in your prayers.

(ps - Special thanks to Sara and Rachel Abernathy for modeling my scarves and toboggans, and to Hannah Abernathy, for taking all the pictures.)

9:37 PM 3 random thoughts

Sorry that I have been so slack lately in updating the prayer request. As usual, I will just up date on those for whom I have new information, and there a few new ones to add to the list.

Anyone with an update on Hailey Gowens, please let me know. I haven't heard one in sometime.

Brother Charles Carlton has had many ups and downs while we have been gone. Somedays he is doing well and improving, and other days it looks like this is the end. It is not only a rollercoaster for him physically, but also one for his family emotionally. Please continue to keep them all in your prayers, and that God's will may be done in the matter.

James Mizel is doing well with his therapy and his brace. He walks just fine now with it, and very well with it off for short periods of time. He and his twin sister are keeping Amanda quiet busy with their funny antics.

Nate Ferrel has recently been placed on O2 fulltime. This was a change that was needful, but at the same time dreaded. The good news is that he has adjusted well, he is no longer retracting in his breathing and that he seems to be doing much, much better. Hopefully, this will be something were in time, it can be lessened to only at night and nap time.

We had the pleasure of having Elder Tom Green preach at Little Union while Brother Buddy was away. Sister Melissa of course accompanied him, and we were all delighted to see her in such good health and spirits. She is about halfway through this last round of radiation, and hopefully this will take care of all the problems.

I'm adding to the prayer list a few tonight...

Aunt Joann's mother, Ann Tucker, has recently been diagnoised with lung cancer. She has a small spot on her lung. She will be meeting with the doctor sometime this week, to determine if it has spread anywhere else, and how soon they will have surgery. Please also be in prayer for Aunt Joann at this time, as she will be deciding when she needs to go back up to Georgia to care for her mother, and how long she will need to be gone from Uncle Quintin and the boys.

Sister Gayle Smith is starting chemo (or radiation not for sure which) again. She has battled with cancer in the past, and they periodaticly run test to determine if her abnormal white blood cells count is too high. They think that she will have to have chemo/radiation off an on for the rest of her life. Please remember her and Bro. Phil.

Finally, if you haven't heard Gary is out of a job. Monday will make two weeks. We are putting in applications over several states, across the South. I feel like it is important to let everyone know that I am not praying that the Lord would move us back to Alabama, but that we are together praying that He would make it known where He would have us to be, and what job He would have us to take. I strongly feel that it would be selfish, wrong, and be asking amiss to ask Him to live in a certain place, rather than to seek His will in the matter. At the same time, we also feel that it would be negligent to not cast a wide net. We are putting in applications and resumes in several places in several different fields, and praying for guidance. We would greatly appreciate that you do the same for us.

10:15 PM No random thoughts

Ok, so I don't have a Banjo, but Isaac has one that I like to watch him play. However, I have been in Alabama this week. It was kinda like magic. I went to sleep on Wednesday after Church like always, and then I woke up in Georgia outside of a McDonalds. We went inside and Momma and Daddy ate, and this nice lady gave me some hot water to mix up my cerreal. Then she smiled and talked to me. Lots of little old ladies came in while we were sitting there next to the door, and most of them stopped to talk to me. Momma says I'm gonna be conceited if this keeps up, but who knows what that means.

Then we got back in the car and I got sleepy. When I woke up again, we were going up and down big hills, I heard Daddy say that we were making good time since traffic was light in Atlanta. We drove through Fort Payne, Al, the home of Alabama. I knew who they were cause Daddy listens to their cds alot, besides even if I didn't know, their pictures were plastered all over the place. There we stopped and ate lunch with Sis. Shelly Allen. Then we got to go to their house where I played with Biscuit. I liked him, he was a nice dog. I crawled after him and chased him around the living room, and we kept trying to lick each other in the face, though for some reason Sis. Shelly didn't seem to like us doing that. We ate supper with them, and took a picture at there house, and then loaded back up. I told everyone that I didn't want to go back in the carseat, but they didn't listen.

When I woke up again, we were at Grandmother and Granddaddy's house. I wasn't really very happy, so I got a bath, and Ahna fed me my milk, and then I went to bed. On Friday, I had more fun. Me and Grandmother and Aunt Melanie all played and Momma made me some more baby food. Then we went to Culman to watch Aunt Maghen twirl a flag in the Culman halftime show. It was my first football game, and I liked it a bunch. There were so many colors and things to see. The tuba players were really silly. We sat behind them and I watched them awhile. I liked Maghen's flags too, they were really shiny. I didn't want to go to bed when we got back to their house, but mean ol' Momma insisted.

Then on Saturday morning, I got up at 6 am and decided to go and wake Maghen up. We played all morning! I got to play with their little dog Sophie too. Aunt Melanie didn't like it when Sohpie and I tried to hug on each other. Momma just laughed. Then we went to the Hurn family reunion. I was the 6th generation, and everyone made a fuss over me, cause I share my Great-Great-Granddaddy Hurn's birthday. We all ate lunch and visited. Maghen fed me, but I really wanted to eat everyone else's food but mine.

After that we drove up to Tennessee to see all the Mallards. I got really excited when I saw Emily. She's my cousin and she is almost 2 1/2. We played with my Taggie Ball, and she shared he puzzle and books with me. The best part was that we took her Taggie and covered up Grumps face and climbed all over him in the floor. I told her he was my Grumps, and she said, "NO! MY Uncle Rick!"

We spent the night in Tennessee and the next morning went over to Rutherford to hear Elder Noble Mallard preach. Uncle Nob is my Great-Great-Great Uncle and he is 87, but you wouldn't know it to see him. We had a good time visting him. We went together with all the Church members to eat lunch at a Resturant down the road. They all were so happy to get to visit with us, Momma says it's been a long time since she's been able to go to Rutherford to Church. We played at Aunt Cindy's some more, before it was time to go home. It was like magic again. I feel asleep in my car seat as we were walking out the door, and I woke up the next morning in a pallet in the floor in Benjamin's Auburn room.

On Monday I dressed up in my BEAUTIFUL Auburn stuff to go and get a free chicken sandwhich from Chick-fil-a. Ahna said that they wouldn't give one to the baby, but they did. Daddy ate most my sandwhich though, I just got a little bread. Then we went over to Grandmother and Granddaddy's and I got to play in Ahna's old rocker. She got it when she was around a year old. All the grandkids used it, and now I get to use it too. Today Uncle Nicholas has promised to finally buy me something, maybe a Halloween outfit and some toys. We also have to go by and see Ahna out at school, so I have to go now. I will keep you updated on all my Adventures!

2:07 PM 1 random thoughts

8:01 PM 2 random thoughts

3:59 PM 3 random thoughts

11:16 PM 5 random thoughts

Today, Daddy took me to Busch Gardens and it was AMAZING. We were only there for 2 hours, but we saw a bunch of stuff. We got to see the lazy alligators. We got to ride the sky ride. We got to watch the hippo. We got to talk to the Monkeys. We got to sit by these great big turtles. I even got to pet my first Clydesdale, and we got our picture taken with it.

I got to ride the skyline twice first to one side and then back. The first time, I sat up and looked everywhere. It was really fun. But the second time, I didn't like it as much. I just held on to Daddy.

When we got off we went to see the monkeys and I tried to talk to them, but they wouldn't talk back. Then I complained to Daddy, but he said he doesn't speak Monkey.

Then we went to see the hippo, but he never moved and was at the bottom under all the water. I think he was dead. But there was this bird, Daddy said he was a water turkey. He was really sorry looking and then he swam pretty under the water, and caught a fish.

When we watched the tortoises, we had this strange bird walk up to us, and it went "awk, awk." It kept scaring me, and then Daddy went "awk, awk" back. They talked back and forth and every time the bird went "awk, awk" I jumped it was scary. Finally, Daddy convinced me to try to talk to the bird, and I said "awwwwa, awwwwa." But I didn't like that bird.

We went over to see the horses, and they were having the meet and greet. I got to pet Harley, Daddy thinks that's a weird name for a boy horse. We petted him, and a nice lady took our picture with Momma's phone that I stole. Daddy is going to have to help me get it off the phone. Then it started to sprink so we sat on a bench, and Daddy taught me how to flirt with all the girls in the barn. He said I was laying it on thick as horse manure. I don't know if that's thick, but I got lots of smiles so I guess I did a good job.

Daddy carried me the whole time, and I didn't have to ride at all. After all of that I was really tired. Ok, I'll talk to you later cause Momma says it's time to take my bath and go to bed.

8:41 PM 2 random thoughts

7:39 PM 5 random thoughts

Britt,

I'm sorry this is a little late but this weekend was a whirlwind. You are 7 months old now, and my how the time has flown. Each month I am just as surprised that another month has come and gone, and each month I ask myself where did all that time go.

This month has been a big month for you. You went from a little bit of leapfrogging and rolling to get around to all out crawling and pulling up and cruising a bit. I keep telling you that you are a baby and not big enough or old enough to do these things but you just laugh and keep right on trucking. The first night that you pulled up and grinned at me, it about broke my heart, cause my little man isn't as little as I thought you were. Don't get me wrong I'm happy that you are growing stronger and stronger; but as you grow and become more adventure-some, our cuddly time decrease rapidly. After all, you have so much to discover. Your Daddy on the other hand, is loving this, he can get in the floor with you and you climb all over him, and the two of you are partners in crime when it comes to messing up the house. You two make faces at each other and laugh and laugh at night. I suppose, that makes all the mess worth it.

Your babbling has increased as well. You have added so many different letters that I couldn't count them all, and when you finally started saying "dada" when Daddy was around he just melted. It didn't take you long to figure out that he rushes to scoop you up and play with you when you repeat that enough. As it gets to be time for him to come home in the evening you look at the door and say "dadadada," and during the day I talk to him enough on the phone that you will reach for it and say dada when I stop talking to him. You don't just talked to Daddy though, our conversations have changed to. You now quiet often wait for me to stop talking to insert your own babbling. We take turns talking, and even though I have no clue what you are saying, it's cute.

We had one good scare this month. When I took you to your 6th month appointment last week the doctor about gave me a heart attack going on and on about you not growing enough. You had only gained 4 oz and 3/4 of an inch in 2 1/2 months. So we had to start you on formula, and postpone starting finger foods and meats. I was a little disappointed that I wasn't producing enough to feed you anymore, but at the same time so glad to not have to breast feed anymore. Hopefully you will gain quickly this month so that we won't have to go to the next worrisome step that the Dr talked about. Speaking of food, we have finally found something that you just flat out refuse to eat. You hate the broccoli, carrots, and cheese food, after smelling it though Daddy doesn't blame you. I promised you that you won't have to eat broccoli again, until you can change your own diapers, because that seriously smelled.

You are spending more time, playing with various things now. You really like to turn the pages in your books, and watch much more intently now, when I read to you. We have read The Very Hungry Caterpillar alot lately, and you always point at the Caterpillar, after I point him out. The toy that Uncle Benji gave you has been a really big hit. You chew on it, and dunk on it, and pull up on it, and play with it more than anything else you have. Balls in general are really exciting now, especially your taggie ball with the bells inside.

You have the best personality, and I am continually grateful for that. You are always so happy, and a flirt. You have never met a stranger, and your smile melts everyone around you. I hope you always can find such joy in every situation no matter where you are. That unbound joy and laid back attitude definitely come from your Daddy. You are the best of us both.

I love you,

Momma

11:13 AM 1 random thoughts

11:49 PM No random thoughts

So we love to hang out with the Taylors. They are so good about coming to all of our special meetings, and other events too, so last time they were here we decided that some of us would plan a trip over to see them. Several of the folks hadn't seen the Atlantic Ocean so we decided a beach trip was in order. Unfortunately several folks were unable to go with us on Saturday, but those of us that went still had a great time.

Kelly, Hannah, Olivia, me, Gary, and Britt all left from the Abernathy household around 8:30 on Saturday morning and treked it on over to Vero. We met up at the Taylor's before we all went to the beach. As we walked up we saw a yellow and purple flag. The sign said that they meant caution big waves and danergous marine life, but Isaac informed us that yellow really meant fun and purple meant sharks, so it wasn't caution, but "Yeah! Fun Sharks!" It was a nice day, not too hot. Isaac and Gary, and Hannah and Olivia went WAY out and were jumping and playing in the waves. Which were pretty big. Kelly and I quickly decided that the water was way too cool for us, so we sat just in the edge and held Britt and talked. Sister Sherry and her three youngest had alot of fun running in and out of the waves.

We were out there about an hour and out of nowhere a storm came up, so we were all scrambling to get out of the water (well not Isaac and Gary, I think they had a death wish). Before we could get everything gathered up and get to the cars, it came a down pour. Britt who had been unhappy with the water and sand, was really unhappy when it started pelting him. He just squalled, poor baby. It came down hard maybe, maybe 5 mins. By the time we had all run through the wet sand lugging everything we owned and made it up to the cars, it quit.

We decided to just go back to the Taylors and we played in the pool some, and Bro. Chris grilled some hot dogs and we all had a great time just talking and visiting. Sis. Sherry, Sis. Kelly, and I all talked about homeschooling. Kelly's definately going to homeschool Joshua, but I'm not completely sold on the idea. Hannah, Olivia, and Isaac all sat around playing on the piano and acting crazy. Of course Gary and Bro. Chris were talking and mostly telling jokes. Of course being the PBs that we are, we had to do some singing. We had a great time visiting, and hope that we can go back to see them real soon. After all they come to see us so very much, it's only fair that we go and visit with them from time to time.