RSG Sisters

So, even though our year in Raleigh had its ups and downs we met some AMAZING people! Abby and I both became so close to our Raleigh School of Gymnastics family. The girls had such a great time with each other, inside and outside of the gym. I wanted Abby to have a keepsake of her time with her gym family so I made this little video for her. It turned out so cute I wanted to share it! We miss you RSG!

Boogers and Broccoli

I am enjoying such a pleasant afternoon with my sweet babies (who are growing up so fast they aren't really babies anymore). Abby is playing with one of Jake's building toys while quietly singing a Taylor Swift song and Jake is reading at the kitchen island. It is so peaceful that I took a moment just to take it in and then...Jake breaks the silence with, "Mom, do you know what the difference between boogers and broccoli is?" Hmm....well there are many differences but of course I was going to play along. "What is the difference, Buddy?" With a big smile on his face he says, "Kids will eat boogers!" He started dying laughing and of course big sister said, "Gross" and looked at him as if he had two heads. I do love my life!! Sometimes, even boogers and broccoli can bring you peace!

So, just an update on the BIG MOVE. We are going to Charlotte next week to visit some schools and and a gym. I am looking forward to it b/c it is really hard to make a decision on where to live looking online...been there...done that...don't want to do it again. I told Abby's coach we were moving and he has been so awesome about helping us find a gym. It was really hard telling him and her having to tell her gym buddies. When you spend 19 hours a week together you get real close real fast. She has really bonded with the girls here and she LOVES her coach! It will be an adjustment for her but hopefully it won't be as hard as the move here! If you are reading this, pray that God will make things crystal clear about where we should go!! Until next time...

UGH! How did I get here?

So, I am not having a good day in Raleigh. I haven't posted in a while mainly because I have learned that most people, my husband especially, really don't want to hear how miserable I am. Even your bestest friends. I figured there are two reasons for this: 1) Your friends and family love you and it hurts them to know you are sad and 2) It gets old. Seriously, I have been for 6 months. It is time for me to get over it, but some how I just can't. Have you ever felt like you really belonged somewhere? I mean that feeling of looking around you and knowing you are exactly where God wants you? I did. In Birmingham. In Hoover. In Lake Cyrus. At Deer Valley Elementary. I truly felt that way. And now, I wake up every day and realize I live in a city mostly populated by Penn State and Michigan fans or anything popular "up north". Please don't let me offend anyone, not that those aren't great places, BUT I have lived in the south my whole life! I am a die hard SEC college football fan! (ROLL TIDE!) I miss hot southern nights and rednecks at Wal-Mart. I miss southern accents everywhere I go and people saying, "God Love 'Em and Bless Their Heart when they really don't like the person. I miss going to school where Christmas is celebrated BIG! I miss trucks on the road and rebel flag stickers (even though I made fun of them!) I miss my Sweet Home Alabama and I dream of going back, and when I do I will cement my feet there and you won't be able to drag me away!

Halloween

Our Halloween pumpkin that Keith and the kids carved! Jake, of course would have nothing to do with the pumpkin guts but Abby loved playing with it! We were going to carve two but time just got away from us. We are still trying to find a way to work in family time. It has been an adjustment getting used to Keith's new work schedule and Abby's gym schedule.
This is a group of kids we went Trick-Or-Treating with. It was a lot fun and our neighborhood is GREAT for Trick-Or-Treating but the holidays really make me miss all my friends in Alabama. Sometimes I drive around and still sort of wonder how I got here! But, we are trying to make the best of it!

Mean Mean Garbage Man!

Ok, for those that know me know that I have always had a GREAT relationship with the garbage men in Birmingham.  I always gave them cold water in the hot summer, extra cash at Christmastime and an occasional baked cookie.  WELL...it is not so easy here in Raleigh!  I got blasted by a garbage man today!!  He literally came to my door and yelled at me for having my garbage cans too close together!  All I am saying is that if they came more than once a week and allowed you to put bags next to your can then I wouldn't have to have THREE garbage cans!  He told me that because they weren't 5 feet apart he had to get out of the truck to pick up my garbage cans.   Well, he didn't mind getting out of the truck to come to my door to yell at me!!!!  Stupid Stupid Raleigh!

I haven't posted in a while.  A lot has been going on.  There have been some really good things: Abby won it all at her gym meet (a post with pictures will come soon!)  Jake is playing basketball and seems to really like it!  They have had some spend the nights and play dates...BUT... I am still struggling!  It seems like each day that I try to take a step forward I move a few steps back.  Keith is STILL working 2 1/2 hours away everyday.  It is really putting a strain on our family.  Moving is one thing but adding never seeing Keith to the mix is really tough.  When he traveled in Birmingham it wasn't a big deal because I had such a network there, but here I have me, myself and I to take care of all that needs to be taken care of.  Not to mention, the CRAZY school situation.

I long desperately to move back home!  I know that may not be in God's plan and I am trying to accept that and I will, but I still long for it! I get tired of people acting like I just need to get over it and move on.  Those people obviously weren't as happy as I was in Hoover!  

Charlotte...the next big decision.  So, we have learned a lot being in Raleigh.  One of the main things is we don't feel like this is the right place for us.  So, we have a decision to make.  Do we move to Charlotte???  It is closer to most of the facilities Keith will be working at, it is closer to family and friends, the schools aren't tracked in/tracked out-reassigning all the time.  So why is the decision hard?  I will tell you....the thought of moving AGAIN!  And deep down I secretly hope that when the time comes to move Keith will have found a job back in AL (the REAL south) and I can go home!  

So I have been awake since 4:30 (which is pretty typical when I have a lot on my mind) sitting here thinking about where God is going to take my family!  I will continue to get on my knees and ask him to open the doors that need to opened and close the doors that need to be closed and to make it CRYSTAL CLEAR what the right decision is.  

A lesson I have learned...I am human and nothing more.  God is in total control and all I can do is wait and see where he leads me and yes, I will follow even if he has to drag me!