This past weekend we made our first long trip with Britt. I got the house together and packed up on Friday afternoon, and after finally getting Britt to sleep about midnight I put him in the carseat to sleep. We got on the road about 3:30 am on Saturday and had an uneventful drive up to Bonifay, Florida. We were able to get the singing cds from Jim and Kelly from the FFM, and we listened to them and talked the whole way there.

We met up with Grandmother and Granddaddy when we got there. Grandmother cuddled him alot and was even able to feed him a bottle. Granddaddy held him a bit more, now that he holds his head up so much better. They were especially tickled to see how much Britt had grown.

Everyone enjoyed him, as he flirted and smiled at everyone. For the most part he was quiet during church. He has a new habit. I can talk to him and then when I stop he coos back. We can carry on a little conversation this way, I just don't have a clue what he is saying. Well, during the second sermon the preacher would make a point and then pause, and you could hear Britt coo really quietly. Then he would make another point and pause, and Britt would coo again. This went on a little while, and then the preacher started getting excited, and loudly made a point. Britt answered with an equally loud coo. I leaned over and asked Gary, "Do you reckon that was an 'Amen'?"

Saturday night we were able to all visit together over at Bro. J.C. Stanaland's house. We had a good time singing and talking. All in all, it was a great weekend.

Britt had fun with Matthew. He just talked to him and grinned at him. They had a little game going. Matthew would tickle him and he would grin and squirm. By the end of the week, Matthew could just act like he was going to tickle him and he would get all excited.Mostly we just relaxed, watched tv, and hung out. We had a great time.

Matthew has spent this week with us, since he is on his Spring Break. Yesterday afternoon we spent a little time down at the beach. I really didn't want to carry Britt until he could at least sit up in the sand, but I didn't want to not carry Matthew to the beach while he was here. So, we went for a little bit.

Britt really likes to stand most of the time. He can manage about 30 seconds on average now. He is constantly pushing up in our laps, on the table, against the couch, or down on the floor. So when we got out to the sand I stood him up on it. He quicly started trying to get on his tip toes and when that didn't work, he pulled one foot up, and eventually both feet up. He didn't want any part of the sand. Granted it was pretty windy and a bit cool, but he wanted no part of the beach. I don't blame him I don't care for that salt and sand and stuff.

He did have a pretty cute little outfit that his Uncle Matthew bought for him.

An update on the prayer request...

Hailey Gowens is not yet a year old, but the doctor's have decided that her heart surgery cannot wait much longer. They don't have a definate date yet, but they may do the surgery as early as April. It is now believed that she has a mitochondrial disease similar to what Nathan has.

James Mizel saw the neurologist and they believe that he may have Cerebral Palsy. Please pray that this may not be the case, but if so that Elder Jon and Sister Amanda may have peace and strength at this time.

Baby Nate Ferrel as far as I know is well.

I have heard no new news on Bro. Obey.

Heather Cunningham (Gary's sister in law) is doing well now. She has had no more blackouts and everything seems to be well with the baby. They are planning to name her Julia Rose, after Papa J. If it had been a boy they were planning on Julian Daniel after him. He was named after his grandmother Julia hence their choice in a name.

Melissa Green is 1 1/2 months through her 4 month course of chemo, and is doing pretty well. She has only had to miss one day of church so far. Please continue to pray for strength for her family and healing for Sis. Melissa.


Parker Allen is still slowly improving.

Rebecca Hutchinson has had her diagnois of MS confirmed this week. It has already gotten much worse than back in the fall when they first believed she had it. She has started treatment this week.

Rory is the 5 year old neice of Jamie and Bobbie Jo Arnold. She will be having surgery (for I believe a kidney problem). They would appreciate your prayers for such a little one.

Today Britt wore his cowboy hat to church. Doesn't he look so cute in his tiny button up shirt and khakhis?
Britt is two months old today. It's so hard to believe that he could possibly be so old, but at the same time it's hard to remember life without him.

This evening I really NEEDED to get out of the house. After being here within four walls all day every day with no car to get out, I'm ready to go and do something on Saturday. So since I wasn't able to get out and go to the shower this morning, we went to the park late this evening. We packed little man up in his car seat and off we went. We had a great time. We watched the sun over the lake, and even saw some Mallard ducks. I stopped and pointed them out to Britt and told him all about his Mallard relatives.

Britt and I are settling more into a routine. In the afternoon after he eats about 3, we go and sit outside on the porch until Gary gets home. I usually sit and cross-stitch or something of the like and he sits in his bouncer or carseat and most often naps. He loves going outside and when he is moody, walking around outside in the sun with the breeze seems to settle him right down.

This week he has been more alert out on the porch. I've read that at 8 weeks he can focus up to 10 feet away, and see movement and blurs of color further away. He seems to be constantly looking around to try to see everything there is to see. This week he started really talking to the animals hanging from his bouncer and smiling at them when they move. I think somewhere in his little mind he has begun figuring out cause and effect. Then again maybe not, but I like to think so. After all the way he looks at me sometimes I'm sure he knows exactly what I'm telling him. Or maybe I'm really going crazy cooped up here with no "intelligent conversation."

Anyway, back to the bouncer. He kicked and saw that it made the animals move, when they stopped he kicked again. Before long he figured out the harder he kicked the more they moved. Of course when I saw how much of a kick he got out of it I helped him out a bit and got the animals to really shaking and he would just grin and kick non-stop. I thought that Grandmother and Mother would at least want to see it, so I filmed a little bit. Though when I whipped out the camera he got stingy with those big pretty smiles.

...Britt was fussy and we were trying to watch a ,movie. He likes to be bounced, so...


I couldn't stop laughing at his serious little face. You wouldn't have known that just a moment before he was squalling.

Last Saturday was such a beautiful day, that Gary just couldn't stand it anymore. He insisted that we pack up and get out the boat and go fishing. Gary's been itchin to go and so we did. We sat Britt's carseat down in the boat in between us. For the first few hours we were out there he just slept. After lunch though, he was awake and fine for a little while. When he started fussing Gary brought us back to shore. I worked on my cross stitch while Britt slept, and Gary went back out to fish some more.I think he had a right good time, I know Gary and I did.

My! little one, how you have grown!It is really amazing how our lives have changed in the 6 short weeks since you have arrived. We never sleep, and I feel like at least half of my time is spent feeding you. Even though we constantly feel the need to tell you that the world doesn't revolve around you, my day sure does. The old routines and schedules are out the window, and we are still trying to settle into something that works.You are such a strong and active little boy. People constantly ask us, "Is he always this alert?" No one believed me when I told them that you were never still, but to watch you streach and kick most of your waking hours, they believe me now. Around one month you had mastered the art of rolling from your back to side. I get such a kick out of watch the gears turn in your head as you lay there just swinging that leg, trying to get over to your stomache. You just haven't quite figured out how to get over your arm yet. You can hold your head all the way up when you are laying on your belly, but sometimes you put it down, and kick and kick and kick until you've inched your way off the blanket. That's some determination there! I have a feeling that you are going to be crawling WAY too soon. Then how am I suppose to keep up with you? It's amazing to me just how much control you have over your head. When I am holding you up against me, you bobble very little now, and turn to look every which-a-way.While you seem to be so fast at doing things, I was beginning to wonder if you ever were going to "talk" to me when you finally cooed for the first time on Monday. Of course you rarely seem to do it. I'm sure it's because you know that I really badly want you to. You are a little sociable fellow though. Everyone seems to think you are awefully cute to look so much like your daddy, ha! You've been giving us real smiles for a little while now, but today you smiled for the first time in response to me talking to you. I've been trying all morning now for more, but I've just gotten a couple. Once again, I'm sure it's because you know that I really badly want you to. I can't imagine where you've gotten that stubbornness from - not me I'm sure, ha!At your doctor's appointment last week you had gained almost 2 1/2 lbs from your birth weight and were 2 inches longer. Every day your hair looks more red to me, not just in the sunlight anymore. It's unbelievable to me just how much you've changed and how fast you grow.Your daddy is still your favorite person. You especially love it when he sings to you. If that doesn't get you quiet when you are fussing he very often goes, "Hey! Britt-Britt! What's all this fuss about?" in a very deep voice and you look at him and calm down at least a little bit. You reckonize his voice imediately and look for him when he comes home for lunch or at the end of the day. The two of you sit in his chair and watch tv or talk most evenings.Everyday isn't peachy though. There are days where you insist that you cannot be put down, and nights when you cry without ceasing. I'm still no good at getting you to go to sleep or at burping you. Daddy has me beat hands down at that. I often feel frazzeled and in need of a break, but then Daddy comes home and takes you for a while and makes us both happy.Even in the worst moments I wouldn't trade you for anything (though your daddy was going to take a billion dollars for you, remember that). I love you, little man.

Momma

We fed Britt his first bottle Monday night. I had been meaning to get him started sooner, but with the moving and all, I hadn't managed to get around to pumping for him. I was warned that if I didn't get him started by 5 or 6 weeks he might never take a bottle. Thankfully he took right to it with Gary and even let me feed him the last of the bottle.

The funniest part is that he has a whole new interest now in that plasic pacifer that he previously really didn't like.

Britt and I spend alot of time together everyday. We are getting closer to a feeding schedule and a bedtime routine, but other than that every day is an adventure. I'm still trying to get unpacked into the house, and there are always laundry or dishes to be done. Britt isn't much of a helper yet... I fold laundry and he lays in the middle of our bed, I wash dishes and he sits in his carseat on the counter, I unpack boxes and he louges around in his swing. Those are the good days. Then there are the days where he screams if he isn't held 24/7, imagine that he's a depraved sinner who thinks the world revolves around him... and you know it kinda does right now.

For the most part he is a good natured baby though and I enjoy giving him baths, reading to him, and talking to him, not enjoying changing diapers yet, but I do enjoy spending time with him.

So we finally got moved, with lots of good help. Britt wasn't one of our helpers though. He just rode around sleeping in the middle of the back seat, and eating everytime I stopped to eat. Thanks so much for all the help everyone.

I still have some boxes to unpack, but we are mostly settled. The best part, we finally have internet again!

I'm just updating on the two who we have new news on...

Heather and the baby are doing fine. The doctors have determined that the spot that they saw was just a calcuim deposit. Apparently sometimes these things happen. It had already shrunk in size from the orginal ultrasound and they expect it to have completely disolved by the time the baby is born.

Parker Allen's wreak was a year ago today. His family continues to desire your prayers as he slowly improves. I would encourage you to go and read what hid dad wrote today.

This picture was taken June 2007 and it was the boys first suit and their first time to wear them to Church. So that's Matthew, Grandaddy, and Nicholas leading at Crossroads.

This past weekend, we were blessed at Little Union to be able to host the Florida Fellowship Meeting. We had a blessing in just being the host Church. Over the last several months we've had a few work days to prepare for the meeting. We've repainted the building, pressure washed everything within sight, taken apart and fixed our sign, poured additional concrete for handicap parking pads and sidewalks, and worked on flower beds. The Saturday and Sunday before the meeting we all came together to put up the tent, the outside kitchen, lights, roll silverware, and cook. In the midst of all this work we had a great time visiting and enjoying one another's company. As a result of the hard work of so many the meeting went very smoothly and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. All in all we had a wonderful time of fellowship with so many that came to be with us, whether it was preparing food, over the meals, singing between services, or just sitting around talking. The Lord truely blessed us. If you came thank you for coming to support the meeting, and if you didn't shame on you, make plans to come next year!Note pardon the spelling. Ministers in attendance - Thursday night: Elder Charles Broadway, Elder Jeff Winfrey, Friday morning: Elder David Montgomery, Elder Charles Kitchens, Friday afternoon: Elder Doff Painerd, Elder Tim Montgomery, Friday night: Elder Michael Green, Elder J.C. Stanland, Saturday morning: Elder Clayton Knolle, Elder Ronald Lawrence, Saturday afternoon: Elder Bufford Dean, Elder Gus Harter, Saturday night: Elder Daniel Woods, Elder Tim Montgomery, Sunday morning: Elder Paul Blair, Elder Charles Kitchens, Elder Mike Roberts.

Gary is getting an awefully early start here...

Baby Nate Ferrel has been diagnosed with a mitochondrial disease. This is a progressive degenerative disease with no known cure at this time. However, Nathan is doing well and even if this disease remains with him, he can live a full life, it won't necessarily get worse. However, we can pray for better than that. We are able to trust in a Great Physician who isn't limited by our medical knowledge.

Baby Hailey Gowens is believed to have the same problems as Nathan. She is improving as well. She is gaining weigh and they hope to have heart surgery around her first birthday.

Bro. Buddy Abernathy is doing better and has been able to preach well and enjoyed the meeting this weekend.

Bro. Obey has typhoid fever and malaria. Even worse, he is currently in a hospital in Kenya away from his family.

Erich Wouters is recovering from Chemo.

Florida Fellowship Meeting was greatly blessed this past weekend. There will be a separate post about this soon.

Heather Cunningham still has no further news on their little girl. Their doctor is in no hurry to make her appointment for an echogram for the baby. Please pray for peace of mind for her as she waits as well as good news on the baby.

Melissa Green is starting her chemo treatments on Wednesday for breast cancer.

Parker Allen is communicating more and more and growing stronger each day. His family has seen alot of improvement lately. Please continue to keep him in your prayers.

Remember about this time last year when I said that we were moving into a new apartment. Remember how I said that we weren't moving again until we bought a house, or were headed back to Alabama. Remember how we painted and stuff because we were going to be here awhile at least for a couple of years.

Well, we are moving again, 10 months later. Don't get me wrong. I am super excited to be moving into a house. We will have a yard, and it has a grapefruit tree and a cherry tree. We will have more space, and it's all nice and neat and stuff. We will have a big front porch just begging to be sat on in the evening in a rocking chair. We will be closer to Church and out of town. However, I am dreading the idea of actually putting all of our stuff in boxes, moving it to a new location, and unpacking said boxes. All while working around Britt's feeding and naps. To say the least it should be exciting.

We do have a game plan to make this easier. We are going to move one room at a time. Gary is going to bring home some boxes and I'm going to pack one room tomorrow day, then we are going to move that room's furniture and stuff tomorrow evening, and then on Wednesday I'll get to unpack and put all that stuff away. That way should be more managable.

Any volunteers... ha :D

Grandmother and Granddaddy made it here on Wednesday and just left this morning. As Granddaddy said he came to "See and Hear, and I saw Britt and now I'm ready to hear good preaching." This weekend was the Florida Fellowship Meeting so they had two good reasons to visit, but more about the FFM later.Both of them were tickled to get to see him, but Grandmother especially so. She held him an aweful lot of the time, and everytime Granddaddy would tell her, "You're spoiling that boy!" Granddaddy didn't hold him as much because he said that he was too fragile that he would be more fun in a month or two when he could "wool him" or play rough.Grandmother was so much help with Britt. She held him while I got ready and changed diapers and rocked him when he was a little fussy. She helped with the dishes after we ate so that I could get him washed and dressed for Church. But there were a few times when we were both getting ready for Church, so Granddaddy held him and talked to him. Thursday evening before Church Britt was a little fussy, but we had to get ready. Granddaddy sat there and talked to him and he got quiet. Grandmother came out and wanted to know what he had done, and he just replied, "I charmed him." ha! We spent most of the time sitting around talking, with Granddaddy laid out in the recliner or on the couch and Grandmother holding him, but not all the time. Britt spent some time in his swing. Infact he slept in there most of last night, because he was super fussy, but that's a whole nother story.