I think I've got it!

If this works - wow - enjoy and more to come!!!

HOORAY for Mary's School!

Okay - does THIS look like the face of a little 3 year old who is afraid of going to preschool?!?!?! Yep, she's totally rockin' and Mama and Dada could not be more confident of this transition! The administrators and teachers at this school are absolutely dynamic, warm and passionate about the academic and overall welfare of these children which speaks volumes about the care that Mary will receive while she is attending this school!

Without further ado, these pics pretty much tell how Mary will be adjusting - Praise be to God, His timing is everything and we think Mary is totally ready for this phase in her journey!

Mary meeting her new girlfriends before they "spin"!

Here is Mary's 'chatty' girlfriend is showing her the routine and steps!

Baby girl at another table, working on craftsOk - here is Ms. Mary showing off her "5-O drop and roll stunt" (Book'em Danno).....then she....

........is leaving the boys choking in the dust!!!!!!

She is content figuring out the blocks now......yep - we think she'll do just fine!!!

Exciting Days ahead!!!

Well, for our 10 year anniversary, Robert and I were not feeling comfortable about just up and leaving Mary for a vacation together so we made Opryland Hotel our "Love Shack" for a weekend while Mary stayed at Aunt Nancy's!!!!! Wow - we didn't know how that would go but we made it a point to be close by in case Aunt Nancy had to deliver our little package to the hotel to stay with us.

Baby girl did GREAT! She loves her Aunt Nancy and LOVES cousin, Jacob who hung out with her too! We are so grateful for the relationship that Mary is developing with her Aunt Nancy, cousin Jacob (I have officially dubbed him now as Mary's "Bodyguard"!) - as well as the rest of the family. She just lights up a room everywhere she goes and we are so blessed to have such a sparkle in our lives! SO - Mama and Dada got the romantic weekend all to themselves and Mary spent a great weekend with Aunt Nancy........who has made herself available for future sleepovers in which Mama and Dada are soooo gonna take her up on it! By the way - dig the awesome jumper Nancy made for Mary!!!!

Next, MARY STARTS PRESCHOOL!!!! Holy Moley, it's only been 8 months (8 MONTHS?!?!?!) and our baby girl is going to preschool 5 days a week for about 6 hours a day... Dang - what in the wide, wide world of sports do 3 year olds DO for 6 hours????

Anyway, her day will consist of social skills, speech therapy, whatever it is they teach 3 year olds as applicable to preparing them for higher levels of education AND she will have a hearing impaired educator to round out this experience! She has an amazing team and we are SO excited that Mary will be around and exposed to more children on a consistent basis - I can tell sometimes that she gets a little lonely for someone her own age so I think this will alleviate most of that! The administrator explained to me that she placed Mary in a specific classroom as there were two other very "chatty" little girls! She felt they would be very good language models for Mary (party on!) and she also cautioned me that one of them had a very strong southern drawal! We figured anyway that Mary would have a southern accent just because she's in the greatest southern state anyway and hey - I don't care what her accent is - as long as she's speaking english and she's very chatty!!!! The only drawback is that Mama's separation anxiety is wrecking havoc in my heart! I was grateful that the administrator has arranged for Mary and I to hang out at school in the class she will be attending before she actually starts - I don't want to just drop her off and leave her shellshocked at a place she's never been. Everyone agrees its a good plan - and I have faith it will help tremendously in the transition!

Good things to come this year as Mary's world is ever expanding and our life is now more cohesive as a family with somewhat of a routine now! Thanks be to God, thanks for our family and for Mary's new preschool!!!!

An Anniversary Letter to Robert

Dear Robert,
I am so sorry that your cards did not make it to you in time– I can’t blame anyone else but me but boy – life as a mother sure is different!!!

Anyway, the past 10 years of being your wife have been an incredible journey. I am sure that like you, there were times that I thought we may not make it, times I thought “what the hell did I just commit to?!?!” but most of all ( I NEED YOU TO KNOW THIS)…..the majority of my time with you has felt like:
a. I did the right thing – because -
b. I’m glad I listened to God
c. Because of “b”, I received an exceptional partner
d. Oh – and because of “b” I now have an exceptional daughter which makes us more like the thing they call, ‘family’...a really exceptional one!
e. My husband loves God and knows Him as a friend! I KNOW in my heart that our God knows you, Robert and knows you as His friend!
f. I have a hot guy
g. I have a hot guy who is a hot lover! Yeah, baby!
h. I have a great friend AND a worthy sparring partner
i. There is no where else on earth that I would rather be than here with YOU and that any tears, doubts, anger or resentment that I have experienced has made me stronger, wiser, it has all grown me up, it has brought me closer to God, to you, committed and….still……married…to YOU!!!!! Any tears, doubts, anger or resentment is also NO match for the joy, intimacy, passion, truth, love, LAUGHTER, excitement, adventure and shared intimacy with God (that most couples don't share together) that has flowed over in abundance as an answered prayer for both of us.

Truly, for the first time ever in my life, I am a happily married woman to a wonderful man with a beautiful, spicy daughter. Thank you for the journey, thank you for not giving up on me or “us” and thank you in advance for all of the adventures yet to come;
I have no idea how or when God has our story end but in the meantime, I am so excited to ride this baby out with you with all the love, passion, truth and openness that I can possibly give to both you and Mary! You are an amazing husband and a wonderful father to not only our Mary but to your Jennifer and Brian as well.
Happy Ten Year Anniversary my love bunny and know how much I love you – know how much of a difference you’ve made in my life and please know that I am a better woman because of you !!! God IS good!

Forever Yours –
Your Wife –
Ronda