My Life...

This is my life. It is made of tears both of happy and sadness. Its where I spend a vast majority of my time. Its not perfect. But its mine. (Stolen from Grant's facebook page. What can I say? It makes sense to me.)

Goodbye my sweet little friend...

This morning my little Bailey dog passed away. It was not a surprise as he has lived a long life and was getting old. But it is still so sad to lose him. He was getting on in age. He was almost 13 years old. That is pretty old for a Pom.

He went the way anyone would want their dog to go. He just lay down and feel asleep. No pain. No struggle. No long drawn out process. Steven buried him with his favorite thing in the whole world - his ball.

He was such a sweet little doggie. Always happy to see me. Always waiting for me when I got home. Always wanting to play ball. That was the thing that made him so happy. He always looked as though he were smiling at you. I will miss his ferocious little bark. His boundless energy. His furry little face. He sweet, kind eyes. His furry little paws jumping up on me for a pat on the head. I will miss his sweet face waiting to greet me every day. I will miss him so much.

All animals belong to God (Psalm 24:1).


A DOGGIE PRAYER
So do not grieve for me, my friend, as I am with my kind...
My collar is a rainbow's hue
My leash a shooting star
My boundaries are the milky way
Where I sparkle from afar.
There are no pens or kennels here
For I am not confined
But free to roam God's heavens
Among my special kind.
I nap the day on a snowy cloud
With gentle breezes rocking me
I dream the dreams of earthlings
And how it used to be.
The trees are full of liver treats
And tennis balls abound
And milk bones line the walking ways
Just waiting to be found.
There even is a ring set up
The grass all lush and green
And everyone who gaits around
Becomes the "Best Of Breed".
For we're all winners in this place
We have no faults you see
And God passes out the ribbons
To each one--even me.
At night I sleep in angels' arms
Their wings protecting me
And moonbeams dance about us
As stardust falls on thee.
So when your life on earth is spent
And you reach heaven's gate
Have no fear of loneliness
For here, you know I wait.
Author Unknown

Liz's Bucket List

As you may or may not know, I recently turned the big 3-0. While I still feel like a spring chicken and by no means think this makes one "old," I do think that it is a milestone birthday and a chance to take stock of where you are with your dreams and goals and a chance to maybe even revamp them. I do believe that goals change as you change and as your life changes. And in recent years, mine have changed drastically due to many wonderful (and some not as wonderful) things that have occurred in my life. So, in celebration and honor of my recent leap into my 30's, I am going to create a "Bucket List" for myself. Some of the things on it are big goals. Some of them are tiny. But they are all important. And they are not in any particular order... except for the first one.

1.) Be the best wife and mother that I can possible be.

2.) Travel the eastern coastline and see the lighthouses.

3.) Take a second honeymoon.

4.) Sing in a band for an audience.

5.) Own my own business.

6.) Find time to do more sewing.

7.) Go back to Disneyworld.

8.) Go horseback riding.

9.) Sail on a sailboat.

10.) Learn to play the fiddle.

11.) Make a difference in one person's life.

12.) Swim with dolphins.

13.) Have a bathroom with one of those old claw footed bathtubs.

14.) Love my job.

Okay, that is all I've got for now, but I am sure I will add to it as things develop! I have included a picture of myself in NYC for my 30th birthday trip blowing a kiss to Steven off of the Empire State Building. I guess you could also think of it as me kissing my 20's goodbye!

In full swing...

We've been back in school for almost two weeks now and everything in my life is in FULL SWING - full speed ahead! I posted the cast list for Beauty and the Beast this morning and the kids are so excited. We start rehearsals next week. I must say that I am getting excited myself....their enthusiasm is contagious. Steven is busy working on the set, Cynthia will be starting with the music rehearsals soon and I am organizing, working on schedules, costumes, parent meetings, fundraisers, etc. My classes are also in full swing and seem to be going well thus far.

Our little Peanut seems to be doing very well. I am sitting right at week 9 now. It is hard to believe that we found out about Peanut a month ago! I have been nauseated a lot lately, but mostly I am just EXHAUSTED. I do not ever remember being this exhausted in my life. I wake up exhausted, I am in bed at 8:00. Nothing helps. But, all of my books say that will let up soon as I head into my 2nd trimester. They say the 2nd trimester is the best. You are supposed to not be nauseous and have more energy. I hope that is the case! But I am willing to endure whatever I have to as long as Baby D is happy, healthy and safe in my belly. I read that this week is the week that the baby is building muscles. Bekah says he or she is using my belly as a gym and no wonder I am so tired. I am really trying to watch what I eat and drink these days. I haven't had coffee or coke in about a month now. Baby D has now graduated from a embryo to a fetus! I am so proud!

Last weekend the family (Mom, Dad, Justin, Amy, Aunt Shirl, Uncle Bob, Nene, ET) and Steven and I went to New Orleans. For my dad's birthday we got him tickets to see his favorite performer - Celine Dion. He loved the concert. We all stayed in NOLA on Saturday night and had a yummy dinner at GW Fins and then went to the show at the New Orleans Arena. I must admit, it was really good. On Sunday, we had a fabulous Southern breakfast and then Justin, Amy and Steven and I hit the streets of NOLA. We walked around and shopped and ate and had a good time. On the way home we stopped at Middendorf's and ate yet again. It was a weekend of food! I have included a picture of the fam waiting on Celine to come out and sing to us! HA! My mom looks mad - maybe she was jelly cause my daddy never put down his binoculars the whole concert! My mom calls Celine my dad's "other woman." You can also see Nene and Aunt Shirl, Uncle Bob and two family friends, Quint and "little" Amy sitting directly behind us. The empty seat between Amy and my mom was Justin's - he was taking the picture. Great memories!

The Friday night before I went to NOLA, Caroline (who is getting married next weekend!) and I went to see Bride Wars. It was really cute. I enjoyed it and I know she enjoyed it as well. There is so much that I should be doing at this moment, but I think I am going to take this afternoon off to rest! I deserve it!

Music to My Ears...

Today Steven and I went for our first sonogram. It was AMAZING! I was more nervous than I can even begin to say. When Mrs. Katie took my blood pressure, it was way up. She reassured me that it was due to my nerves, which apparently even she could tell were on edge.

But it ended up going great! Pretty much as soon as we started with the sonogram, the nurse looked at the images on the computer and exclaimed, "I see a baby and I've got a heartbeat!" I nearly cried - with relief and happiness, of course. Then she turned up the volume and we could hear Peanut's little heart beating 90 to nothing as plain as day! The nurse told us Peanut's heart was beating at 162 beats per minute, which is right on target at eight weeks.

Then we got to look at Peanut on the computer screen. We could see Peanut's head and arm and leg buds. Even though Peanut is so tiny, he or she is just precious!

Then all of the sudden Peanut MOVED!!! He or she shook its little bum at us! How funny is that? I had no idea Peanut was already moving around, but he is! Dr. Cook told me today that they do move this early, although, I of course won't feel it yet.

Steven was so cute during the whole time. He was nervous and unsure about being in this "woman's doctors office" at first, but after seeing all of the other daddies there and getting to look at Peanut, he was just amazed! He asked Dr. Cook a ton of questions about Peanut. Dr. Cook was pleased with how everything looked and said that we are right on schedule for August 20th!

It was just such a great experience. I pray that our next appointment in four weeks will be just as wonderful. I am going to scan the sonogram pictures and post one soon! Thanks for all of the prayers!

Beauty and the Beast

Well, tomorrow are my auditions for my spring musical, Beauty and the Beast. There are about 60 kids signed up to audition, which is just great! Our auditions start at around 5:00 tomorrow and won't be over until about 9:00. Then we have to audition another group of kids on Thursday night. Again we will start at 5ish and go until about 9:00. CRAZY! I am starting to get a little bit excited about the production, though. I will be especially excited once we get the cast nailed down. Steven is my Assistant Director/Set Designer. Cynthia Stuart is going to be our Musical Director - for which I am so grateful. She is so talented. She just finished a show at New Stage Theatre as the musical director. One of my best students, Kimberly Russell, has been selected as the student director for the production. Show dates are April 16th - 19th! I am sure I will have plenty more blogs to follow on the topic of this musical!

Also, all six of my classes will be presenting a one act in the spring. I have no idea what I am thinking allowing all six of my classes to do a one act (I am positive I will be going nuts and regretting this), but I do have a pretty good plan, though. All six of the class will be presenting three different shows. So, two classes will each do the same show. My three upper level classes will present on one night and then my lower level classes will present on another night. So, we will have three one acts during two night of performances. And each of the shows that I have selected have very, very minimal sets, so I am not too worried about being stressed about sets. I figure we will present the one acts in early May, but I have to nail down the exact dates. So, we will have the entire semester to work on these one acts and get them ready. More info to follow later on the spring Night of One Acts.

Okay, since I shall be working so late tomorrow evening, I plan to relax as much as possible tonight! I go for my first sonogram on Wednesday and I am so nervous and excited. I pray that everything is as it should be with Peanut and that he or she is happy and healthy.

A New Discovery!

I have recently made a wonderful new discovery. Preggie Pops. This week I have started being nauseous pretty much 24/7. I am not complaining because I know this is what my body is supposed to be doing, but..whew...it can be difficult to feel seasick 24/7. And I have been off work for two weeks now, so I am just wondering how in the heck I am going to actually make it through a workday and then direct a musical on top of that.

While they don't totally get rid of all of the nauseousness, these Preggie Pops do help a lot. I am sure anyone who has been pregnant before has tried them. They are great. I highly recommend them. They sell them at that Motherhood Store at Dogwood.

So, if you see me out and about and I am sucking away on a lollipop....you shall know why!

PS: I am now into my 7th week and according to my books, Peanut's arm and legs are starting to form!