Rest, Relaxation...and FUN!!!

Wow...it's been a busy weekend! I say weekend because it feels like a Sunday night...especially since I have to work tomorrow! The last two days have been packed with fun and adventure! I have been looking forward to blogging about it all!

As you know, Will had something special up his sleeve that he was going to surprise me with. On Wednesday morning he informed me that although I thought I was the one planning a visit from my sister, Amy, HE was really the one who initiated the visit! Amy was to arrive on Thursday morning and spend the night with the kids while Will kidnapped me for the night! Apparently he recognized that we were both pretty tired and had neglected one another for the passed several months. This is a rare finding in many men...I realize how blessed I am to have such a thoughtful husband! We loaded up the care, kissed the little ones, thanked Amy, and we were off! He had booked a room at the Embassy suites in Birmingham. This was a smart idea for several reasons including: it's a short drive from home, there's no hassle/no fuss, there is a Ruth's Chris in the hotel, and since we were there to REST...we didn't need to go any further than Birmingham!

So we arrive at the Embassy suites at about 5pm. We had time to go to our room and freshen up before dinner. We had a wonderful dinner at Ruth's Chris! We shared an Ahi tuna appetizer, Will had a filet and I had a chopped salad. We topped it off with a bite of bread pudding (Will's very unusual favorite). We got back to our room at about 8:30 and were asleep at 8:45!!! We slept almost 11 hours that night! It was FABULOUS!! I am so thankful for my sweet husband!

We came home this morning and got the house back into order from the previous nights events! And when the kids took a mid-day nap...guess who was still sleepy!!! Yes, Will and I took yet another nap!!

Tonight was great! We had dinner at the Olive Garden with some of Will's high school buddies. We had a table for TWENTY! We basically had the entire back section of the restaurant! It was great to see everyone there. I think it says a lot about a person when he/she maintains a relationship with friends from high school. The kids where great. And I mean all SIX of them! One of the daddy's was behind Logan at one point and he jokingly said "shut up". Well, if you know my Logan, you can anticipate what came next..."ewh...we don't say 'shut up'"! So funny!

Next was the big event! The moment we had been waiting for since October! We were at the Polar Express!! Hot cocoa in one hand, a glow-stick in the other, Logan was in 4-year-old heaven! Addelyn wasn't sure what we were doing but she's always up for a good time! It was magical! The train tooted it's horn as it arrived at the station...the kids went wild! Logan seemed to be possessed by some sort of jumping bean! He is at an age where everything is so much fun! It's great to see his face light up and to hear the interesting expressions! It brought so much joy to see him become so excited to see the train! It's worth every penny we spent just for him to enjoy this! We rode the train to the North Pole. There, we saw Santa and Mrs. Claus standing outside. There were little elves outside as well. So we sang some Christmas carols thinking that might convince the Claus's to join us on the train. Sure enough, Santa, Mrs. Claus and two elves boarded the train! We had cookies and chocolate milk, a story, jingle bells, and even a gift from the North Pole. The sweet little elves had a special gift for little Addelyn!

The last 48 hours have been a reminder to me that I am blessed beyond measure! I am blessed to have a wonderful husband who loves me dearly. I am blessed to have two children who are healthy and happy. I am blessed to have great friends who love us and pray for us. I am blessed to have the opportunities that we've had this week. I try not to take things for granted. I try to keep a grateful attitude. But it's times like these that remind me that life is too short to spend it alone, working, angry, bitter, gluttonous, fearful or absent.

I pray that you all will have a wonderful Christmas! We celebrate the greatest gift of all time...the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ!!

...good night!

This weeks events!

Today is the day. I am heading out into the wilderness of hungry shoppers desperate to finish the Christmas list! With baby in tow, I will attempt to hit 5-8 stores within 6 hours! Shopping has always been a pleasure for me. However, this Christmas has snuck up on me and left me with one day to shop! 

Friday night will prove to be an adventure for the Harris Crew! Last year, I tried to get tickets the the Polar Express. I later discovered that the tickets go on sale and sale out in October or early November. So this year I was determined to snag some seats! I got our tickets a few months ago and it's finally here! We will go to the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum this Friday night. Logan will wear his PJ's, drink hot cocoa (as he calls it), listen to a Christmas story, and spend some time with the one and only, Santa Claus!! We are making it a surprise for Logan because last April, we had tickets to Thomas the Train at the Railroad Museum but a tornado came through and damaged the place. We were ready to go on that Saturday morning when I got the devastating news that the train ride would be cancelled and Thomas would not be back for another year. It broke my heart to have to tell Logan that Thomas was "in the hospital"! So this time, we will make it a surprise....just in case a blizzard hits tomorrow night!!

Meanwhile, Addelyn is cutting her first tooth, crawling at record speed, and pulling-up. Did I mention that this child hardly ever naps??? At night, when Will and I are getting ready for bed, we know that as soon as the lights are off and our heads hit the pillows, Addelyn will be waking up!! It NEVER fails! We don't always go to bed at exactly the same time but she seems to know exactly when we close our eyes! 

So, I was surprised today when Will told me that he had a "night out" planned for me. Apparently he has made all the arrangements and isn't telling me anything! This is fun and I can't wait to find out where we are going and what we are doing! I will fill you in soon!

We hope you have a Merry Christmas. Enjoy the blessings!

What He's teaching me...

I have been working a lot this month. Therefore, I have been learning and seeing a lot. I have had some uneventful shifts in the ED and some shifts that will have a lasting impact on me. I have come in contact with a wide variety of people. Some, obviously know Christ and some...I'm not so sure about. I have described the environment as "toxic". I have complained that it is not where I need to be as a Christian. But the truth is that we are called to be witnesses. We are ambassadors of Christ. I am willing to go to the other side of the world to share Christ with those who have never heard His name; yet I want to flea from the lost within my own environment. I realize that we should surround ourselves with those who know Christ to build one another up and to fellowship. But if we don't get out into the world of the lost, what are we doing here? I don't want to simply exist and live my life separating myself from those who don't know Him as Abba Father. It makes no sense to go on expensive trips to South Africa to "share the gospel" if I'm not even doing it at home. Maybe it makes us feel more "heaven worthy".

A patient came into the ED the other day after being shot in the leg. He had lost essentially all of his blood and was literally dying right before my eyes. He knew he was dying and he told me he was dying. I believed him.  This encounter, and a few others, has reminded me of the most important reason for my being here.

I have said, in the past, that on the day I gave birth, I realized why God put me here...and that was to be Logan's and Addelyn's mommy. Yes, it is crucial that I be a Proverbs 31 woman. But God put me here for several reasons. He made me to love & enjoy me and he made me to love Him. He made me to share His love with the lost. My children are just a part of the reason for my existence.

1 Peter 3:8-17

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." 

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 

I do not know what God has in store for me. While I wait, I am reminded that I have been given this day. Each day is a blessing and with each day, I am compelled to live a life that screams JESUS!  My prayer is that I will not lose focus of why I am here. 

A Christmas Ham

That's what we have in our home right now! Addelyn has been turning it on for the camera this holiday season! Every time I get the camera out, her sweet little face lights up! I should probably take advantage of this while it lasts! What's funny is that everyone told me that I wouldn't take half the pictures of my second child as I did with my first. That's not true in the Harris Home! I don't want to miss a moment and I want to capture as many as I can!

Here are just a few of the shots we've taken over the last couple of days:

This is it...the long awaited first blog!! Carrie has been checking our blogspot on a daily basis hoping to see this. So, this very special first blog, is dedicated to my very best friend Carrie!! I am married to the most wonderful man in the world. I have two of the sweetest angels. Logan will be four in January and Addelyn is six months old. I have the greatest career as a nurse practitioner. I have been blessed beyond measure and far more than I deserve. 

You will be hearing the tales of the days of our life. The milestones Addelyn and Logan achieve will often be boasted.  The struggles we face as parents and Christians will be revealed. We will be sharing our lives with all of you. 

I am by no means an eloquent writer. I am a mother, a wife, a daughter, and a Christian woman. Join us on this journey!!