Destin 2008 and other things

Well, this post may be long since it has been SO LONG! We went to Destin last week and had a great time...we loved watching Ava at the beach. She had a great time playing in the sand, the pool, and at her beloved playground at Destin Commons...if you go to Destin and have a young child, they will love this area that has water fountains to run in and a play area with a soft floor and soft things to jump, slide, and crawl on. They also have a small kid train to ride and a build-a-bear! Ava loved all of those things. We took my granny with us and our 2 pugs...NEVER again will the pugs go. The poor pugs were stressed out and so out of their element, they did not enjoy really any part of it. This was the first trip for them and at least now we know to just get a house sitter for them! Granny enjoyed the trip and it was good for her since my grandfather passed away in June. That is another thing that has happened since my last post. He had a massive stroke one June 2nd and rapidly declined. He passed away peacefully at hospice on June 13th. He was a great man and we miss him dearly. He was 87 and lived a great life and taught me a lot about faith, being patient, being a servant, and lots of other things. It is hard now because my granny is alone and can't drive. Chris and I would love for her to come and live with us, and she is considering that. For now, we just visit often and call everyday to check on her.

Work has been the busiest it has ever been. So many sick babies and children with horrible heart problems. It has been long days and some long weekends on call. I think it will lighten up a little towards the end of summer. Ava is doing great. The only thing is we took her to see "The Frog Prince" puppet show at the downtown library a month ago. At the end there was a witch in it. Now she worries about this witch being in her room. We have prayed with her, used "magic witch spray" (aka febreeze!), talked about the witch living at the library, she's not real-she's a toy, etc. She still worried about it and I even called the pediatrician. She says we are doing the right things and she will get over it eventually...has anyone had similar problems with their child? I just hate to see her anxious. I would appreciate any advice.

Well, that's about it here. I will post pics when I am not at work. Hope you are all well.

Jennifer

A Long Journey

I am so blessed to be a Mommy to my sweet daughter. Mother's Day is very special to me, but I can't help to think of my good friends who long to be a Mommy also. Chris and I did not have an easy time reaching the road to being parents. There were so many times during that 3 year process that I thought it would never happen for us. I remember too clearly all of the testing, medicines, doctor visits, blood draws, charts, ultrasounds, side effects and heartache that came along with trying. We became pregnant a few months after starting clomid, only to quickly find out that we lost that baby. Oh the heartache; I can't express it. It took a really long time to realize that for whatever reason, God did not allow us to have that baby in our arms, but kept that one for Himself. I struggled with some pregnancies of friends along the way. I was so happy for them, but so sad for Chris and I. I just didn't understand.

But now I can see that God knew all along what was best for our family. Ava was definately worth the wait! She is just the most loving, funny, sweetest kid! She is all I ever dreamed of, and she is all my hopes and dreams for the future. I can't wait to see everyday what she is going to do next; what new things she is going to teach us. I always longed for a big family, but maybe that is not in the cards for us. Lately we have thought about having another baby; not ALOT of thought, but some. I guess a little of me is reluctant to dive back into that process because of what we went through before, but the outcome is worth it. I have accepted that God may intend for us to just have Ava, and I am content with that fact. Another baby would be a blessing, but it is a gift that may not come.

For all of my friends who are wanting children of their own, hold fast to God. He knows the plans for you and He is working for your good. The road is hard, but He is both on that road with you, AND waiting at the end, no matter the outcome. I am praying for you to have peace with what God desires for you.

Jennifer

Well, life has just been a little hectic here in the William's house! Ava has had a upper respiratory infection, Chris had to travel again, work has been a little crazier than normal, and we have had some major health problems with family members. Chris' Uncle Frank had to have emergency open heart surgery after a sudden heart attack... he is still in the hospital and having some abnormal heart rythyms, but doing ok overrall considering the severity of the situation and his age. My Grandfather, Chester, ran into a brick mailbox and totalled his car! He is having to face the fact that driving is no longer in the cards for him. His health is declining so very fast. My family is having a little get together tomorrow to talk about what we can all do to help them and what changes need to be changed. Also, my close friend/other Mom is dealing with her sweet Father having to go into a nursing home after falling and chipping his hip. WOW! All this in really LESS than a week. I just don't know how people without Jesus can even begin to deal with these sorts of things. Please pray for these sweet, dear people if you have a minute. They are ALL the most wonderful folks you could meet.

So, on a lighter note, a funny story about Ava from this week. I was putting her pj's on after her bath and she was singing "itsy bitsy spider." She was singing in this really high pitched voice and then all of a sudden she started singing in this DEEP (almost scary) voice that I have never heard. Then whole song she would switch up the voices...it was SO cute! She and I laughed a lot and I found out from her teacher at pre-school that they sing these two songs like that so she was combining them! This week she made me a card at school; here are some of the funny questions and answers:

"How old is your Mommy?" TWO (the oldest Mommy was nine!)

"What does Mommy like to eat?" Umm, Some Bread

"What is Mommy's favorite color?" Pink

"Who does Mommy love?" Umm, AVA!

So funny! She got a lot of them correct!

Happy Mother's Day to all of my Mommy friends and to those who would like to be Mommy's.

Jennifer

Can you let go?

I think that blogging could be addicting. Do you love to read people's blogs? I guess it's fun because we see into the everyday world of a friend...kind of like you are there with them or on the phone chatting with them. I love it because if I get a free moment during the day, I can check on them. If my husband is hogging the t.v. watching basketball (like now), I can check up on a friend and send a message.

We went to Black-Eyed Pea tonight for Chris' birthday. It was mostly family and a few of our friends. We had three kids there under age 3...you might have heard the noise if you live anywhere in Hendersonville! We were in the party room, but I am sure the adults in the restaurant thought the kiddos were at their table! They were digging in this huge gift bag and throwing the tissue paper in the air; it was pretty entertaining and I just let them be. Chris kept giving me that look like should we try to control them, but what harm were they really doing? I was proud of myself for not even stressing over it. Ava even ate without the throw away bib...Go Mommy:)! I am really trying to let some things go. Do I really have to come home from work everyday and straighten up the house and make sure the dishwasher is loaded. I am trying to just play more and let go. Why is that so hard for some of us? We all work all day, whether we are at home with our kids or outside the home. Then at the end of the day when we should be able to enjoy our kids and husbands, we just continue to find things to do. Most of my "things" are not that important when I really stop and think about it... my relationship with Jesus and loving on Chris and Ava are what's important. Who cares if I don't get the weeble family back in their place everynight...do they really care???:)

I hope you have a great day tomorrow! Here's to letting go!

Jennifer

I finally did it!

Ok, so I have finally started a blog! The Williams' family is now with the times. Thanks to all of my girlfriends who have inspired me to join your blog world! Well, I am so happy that warm weather is finally upon us. Ava has loved playing outside the last week or so, and her new best buddy is her pink bubble mower! Oh my is she in love! She races at top two year old speed and makes her Daddy so proud! Future mower in training! Ava started a class at the zoo for 2 year olds this past Saturday. She got to meet an eastern screech owl and a TARANTULA! Mommy did not instill her fear into the child...all say good job Mommy! The screech owl was the cutest thing since the little gremlin from that movie! He was only as tall as a coke can and Ava thought he was spectacular. The little group read a story about loving spiders (again, I held my tongue) and then made a craft. She loved the class, and we had fun watching her. We went and visited the meerkats (our fave) and the giraffes and elephants before we left for home. As we were driving home, Ava says..."I take nap." She was worn out!

Anyway, we had a great weekend and enjoyed spending time with Daddy who was back from a trip to Germany for work. Oh how I worry when Daddy goes international! We wish him a HAPPY 35th BIRTHDAY today!

Hope you all have a great day!

Jennifer