Tall & Small

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2008-05-14T14:15:00.001-07:00

Jennifer Grace

2008-05-03T10:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the world, little one! Our new baby girl, Jennifer Grace was born on April 15th at 4:23pm weighing 8 lbs, 1o.4 ounces and she's just precious. She's a calm baby other than her fits of gas raging through her little body. She's learning the art of sleeping through the night but hasn't mastered it quite yet so I get to see a lot of the night's wonder now. :) For all those of you who prayed for my pregnancy and delivery, thank you oh so much. You don't know how powerful those prayers were and we're very thankful for your support. Jennifer was born naturally, a VBAC baby after my Cesarean with Wynter. The doctors said it couldn't be done but with the help of midwives, a wonderful Chiropractor who specializes in helping expectant mothers turn their babies in the right position to be born naturally and the constant attention and dedication of my own Doula, my sister Maureen, baby #2 was able to meet us first instead of the masked surgeons! :) Christian and Maureen were with me throughout my labor and were very supportive and strong when I needed them. My dear mother got to come visit us for 2 weeks to help me and the baby in her first days of life, a huge thank you to her home for letting her come, we love you guys! I hope you enjoy the pictures, everyone. Love, Julie

So Happy

2008-03-08T19:41:00.001-08:00

I can't say enough how thankful I am for the beautiful people in my life. I truly feel like the most blessed person in the universe right now because of the special people who I've been honored to feel loved by. Today I turned 26 and I couldn't feel happier than I do now to be surrounded by loving souls who truly care about me--I want everyone to be able to feel this way and I pray that I can pass on the gift to those who feel it less than I get to right now. To be given parents who want the best for you and confirm this with every nod of approval and wish in the right direction, to have brothers and sisters who care about how I feel and want me to know that they love me by surprising me in the most thoughtful ways, to have 3 beautiful nieces and a treasured daughter who get more happiness out of giving than receiving and be able to be the recipient of those gifts, to live the joy of being wife to a man who has proven himself so selfless time and time again and smile every time he says he loves me, I just can't imagine why all of these gifts are mine to enjoy but I won't question them too long. I only want to express the thankfulness that I feel right now and have Him know that not one gift has gone unnoticed today, I see them all and I'm humbled by their power. Isn't it beautiful to be loved?

LNF

2008-03-01T18:05:00.000-08:00

Don't know if I mentioned this before but "It" is a girl and we'll be meeting her in a month, yay! Everything has been going great with the pregnancy and my midwives are wonderful. I also have the privilege of my own Doula--Maureen! So, we're excited about the upcoming event and Wynter is looking forward to being a big sister. Tomorrow is her 3rd birthday so we just made chocolate cake together for tomorrow's party and I told her she could lick the bowl afterwards. Well, when I came back to the kitchen after getting something from my room I found my daughter with her head planted inside the mixing bowl. When she emerged, I saw what this picture of her shows--total mischief in all it's irresistibility! I laughed so hard and then made sure she had a nice, long bath.
Christian and I got to go back to the Dominican Republic for 6 days and while there, the resort held an arm wrestling contest which my strong husband simply won. There just wasn't any other way. He was rewarded with a bottle of Rum and I was so proud of him--he had to beat 3 meaty guys to be 1st place winner. Here are some pix Maureen just took of me so that I can remember how pregnant I was when it's all over. See ya!

Willy's 17th Birthday

2007-12-02T08:42:00.000-08:00

Here we are, our happy family at Hooters for Willy's 17th birthday. Willy has been going to drum classes every Thursday so since his birthday fell on a Thursday it was the perfect opportunity to surprise him on the way home. Christian, Maureen, Danny & Chris were already there waiting for us and we all had a good time.

In other news, I'm 5 months along now and the baby seems to be growing faithfully. We're finding out tomorrow whether or not our kicker is a male or female child. I'll keep you posted. Love you all.

2007-09-03T20:03:00.001-07:00

I'll post more pix of our lake soon, it's really beautiful at sunset. We fed the ducks and geese today and we asked Wynter what the name of a baby goose is and she quickly replied "A gosling!" Then one of her older cousin's said "Hey, I didn't even know that." Proud parents moment for Christian and I, and if Willy were there he would have felt that "Proud Teacher" feeling he's entitled to for teaching her all he's taught her, including the word gosling.
We had a BBQ today for Labor Day at our place with Christian's whole family over. I asked Chris & Willy what "sides" they wanted me to cook and Chris wanted Spanish Rice, Willy wanted Green Bean Casserole--the two dishes couldn't be more different from each other but I went ahead with it and they were both a hit, thank God! Mei, Willy & Chris were superb helpers in the kitchen and I didn't even have to get my hands dirty chopping onions and garlic thanks to them. :) By the way, we're a full house here. Our fun filled team consists of Maureen, Leona, Liz, Ju Ju, Chris Willy, Mei, Christian, Wynter & I and my brother Danny is here on his way to Taiwan (we're helping him with his fundraising for that), and then there's also a 90% possibility that Christian's sister and her 2 girls will be living downstairs pretty soon so we'll have relative neighbors! There are times when noise makes you wonder about the worth of the "proverb" Less is more, but then there are those other times when you're laying on the floor in the kids room watching them play with each other and staring at their beautiful faces, wondering how each one could be as unique as they are and then it hits you--More is more!! So, here's to having more. More than you can handle... because then God has a chance to do it for you. More than you deserve...because then you feel as small as you truly are. More than you can hope for...because that's when it all falls into perspective that your prayers are really being answered. Day by day, step by step, prayer by prayer. I love you, thanks for your love and prayers. XOXOXO.

Pix from our Thornton Family Reunion

2007-09-03T19:57:00.001-07:00

The latest....

2007-08-24T21:05:00.001-07:00

Hello, I'm back! Sorry I haven't been blogging much lately because of all the excitement in the air over here--yes, it's exhausting, but good. 2 things: We had a wonderful family reunion (just our immediate family) and it was a special time of happy, loving memories. 2nd thing: I'm pregnant! Yippee, yabadaba-doo! It's been like 8 weeks since I started wondering about it so yes, the truth has spilled out and I am happy. The popular question is "Are you hoping for a boy or a girl??" and strangely enough, I'm really not set on either one. I just want a child, that would be a nice start. Then God can work out the gender part and we can all be happy with what He provides. :) I've come to realize in life that what you push for doesn't necessarily make you happy. Ahem.
Anyway, although this may be a rather short post, at least it's filled with juicy tidbits that will hopefully make you want to comment on this here page. I love you!

What's going down--or up??

2007-07-28T22:06:00.000-07:00

The Lord just did a miracle for us that makes me wonder just how blind I've been to His love all along. He really does love me. It's hard for me to grasp because I'm a pessimist of sorts when it comes to believing in myself. Have you ever felt that way before? Like you would do anything to make someone else believe in the gifts they've been given, the mercy they're entitled to and the joy that is theirs to explore but when it comes to yourself and your adequacy and intelligence--yeah, let's just say you're spent. Well, this is where that ends and I'm thankful to say I'm acknowledging His presence in my life. I'm noticing it more and more and I'm realizing that every good and precious gift comes from up above and He cares about me despite the fact that sometimes I don't .
Well, the above mentioned miracle is that we have paid the deposit on our new home--for a year anyway, since that is what rental deposits usually entail. I have to say this home is near perfect and such a gift of the Lord's love that I almost fell over. The house is 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bath's--huge kitchen, huge living room and hardwood floors with a deck on the side of the house that Christian plans to add to and last but not least, consider the following:
What we view from the windows of our new home: A large lake with a 2 1/2 mile walking/running trail wrapping around it. A mini-olympic pool w/ diving board bordering the lake. 5 darling playgrounds in the subdivision. Tons of trees and forestry surrounding everything. The Chattahoochee river (which I've learned to spell from spell check) running through our neighborhood with one of the large pools in the community overlooking it in a pristine, snobby way. :) All of this and more for a price that is less than what we were looking at spending! Crazy--but delightful. "Jesus is here, He's here right now. Jesus is here and I'll tell you how. Jesus to know is heaven below. Jesus is here, He's here right now."
Love you, want to tell more but I don't know where to start, help me with questions. Muah! XOXO!

Decisions

2007-07-21T23:15:00.000-07:00

I made a decision today that this would be my last blog entry. That I would complete the last 10 months or so of blogging with a sweet and simple goodbye, thank you for viewing part of my life kind of thing. But after reading Nyx's poetry on her site I realized that we can be a help to each other in this blogging world.
I don't like being exposed. I don't know if you've noticed but I haven't put as much depth into this blog as I could. I've tried to keep it very simple and basic with just enough information to post a photo or two. The thing is, I don't want this to be an "info-site" about my life. I get tired of explaining what I've done this week and what I plan to do in the next week or coming months. Who is to say what's gonna happen in the coming months or even tomorrow for that matter? Only God knows and I will leave it in His capable hands. That said, I feel free of the burden of telling others what I'm up to--because as everyone knows, life isn't all "write-worthy", right? I mean, do you feel that everything you did last week is worth a jot in the diary or a post on the good 'ol blog? Well, if so, that's good --you're amazing. :) As for me, if I do continue to blog it's going to be my feelings, my heart, experiences that have touched me and that will hopefully touch you if possible. All that to say, goodbye boredom, hello life! I want to be brave enough to write what I truly feel, to expose the hidden words that are me and freely admit that I am no angel. So for those of you opposed to a few poetic lines, the exit is found in the upper-most right hand corner of this page, marked by an X bordered by red (in most cases.)
Below you'll find a poem I wrote recently. Ever felt this way before? ....

It hurts to love someone so much when they've hurt you so bad,
To have to stay in touch because such history you've had,
To remember things about them that make you laugh and cry,
And then remember that they broke your heart, you could just die.
Where do you draw the line between forever and enough?
When do you tell them that they've gone too far, you're not that tough,
When is the time to ask forgiveness for harboring this pain?
Do you tell them now or wait a while till it's plain?
I know I love them, that is not the question I explore,
I know I'll laugh when they exude the humor they're made for,
I know they'll touch my heart with just their smile and kind words,
Why do I have to hurt so much? The past is so absurd.
I want to live tomorrow with yesterday cut out,
But then I'll lose the happy times it's great to think about,
What do I do, do I forget or keep this all inside?
I want to know so I can leave the heartache where I hide,
I want to give I don't want to be stuck on what's been dealt,
Tell me please, should I release the pain I have long felt?
J.W. July 1st, 2007

2007-07-12T05:30:00.000-07:00

Saturday night fun. Wynter was being tickled so she disappeared into the picture.

So much to say, so few brain cells.....

2007-07-03T20:38:00.000-07:00

It feels like we've been here forever but we only just got here a little over a week ago. I just finished reading over my past posts and it's amazing what life is like. --Full of variety, exploration, discovery and surprise. I told myself (& numerous others) when I got to Guatemala that I wouldn't be moving for a LONG time. Mistake #1: Don't talk to yourself. Hahah, no, I'm kidding. Talking to yourself can be healthy.... I think.
Anyway, Willy loves lizards. I posted about that a few times but this is where it gets good. He left a few of his prime catches with Danny when we left but he insisted on taking Mr.Right with him. Mr.Right is a baby Helmeted Lizard (I spelt that wrong in my other post about him). Willy guesses he was 4 weeks old when we left. As most of us know, it is generally illegal to transport animals, food & other things that belong to another country when you're trying to cross a border. Willy kept Mr.Right in a Tupperware container with a slit in the top for air, a branch of the tree he was on when he was captured and a little water sliding back and forth on the bottom. Even though he tried to make things as cushy as possible for his precious little find, Willy still had an unquenchable fear that we would be harrassed by the border patrol and that Mr.Right would be confiscated by those who we'll call the Mr. Wrongs. It was delicious to watch Willy tremble and squirm in his back seat, alongside Wynter who watched him intently as he begged God to let him keep his lizard and cross the border unnoticed. It was genuinely hilarious to see Willy confessing all his past mistakes and begging God to forgive the sins he had so unwittingly committed--all of this to keep Mr.Right right where he belongs, on Willy's lap. Oh dear.
Anyway, the picture above is of Willy with Mr.Right just seconds after the kind, cuddly border patrol guy waved us through into Los Estados Unidos without incidence. :) The first pic is Wynter's budding photography--me smiling nervously as she finally pushes the right button. Another pic is Wynter wearing Willy's new fashion find: a fresh diaper hat. The last pic is of 2 best friends, Wynter Jane and her Papa, soaking up the love that Jesus has so fully poured down on us. We love you all, stay tuned for more of our adventures....every day is getting better! XOXO!

Love you, Laura!

2007-07-01T07:25:00.001-07:00

Awwwwwwww....

2007-06-30T18:37:00.001-07:00

Yes, I said goodbye. And for those of you who I haven't told personally yet (or who heard from my Mother at the PEP)....we've
just recently moved from our happy home in Guatemala where we made many memories and got to make life long friends with some amazing people. More on all this later, I need to put Wynter to bed. Love you!

All of you.

2007-06-30T18:33:00.001-07:00

You are dearly missed.

2007-06-30T18:27:00.001-07:00

Goodbye, My Friends!

2007-06-30T18:19:00.001-07:00

2007-06-15T19:48:00.001-07:00

Just sharing the love with ya' all.
XOXOXO

The Epitome of Tall & Small (& Smallest--yes, Wynter's crying.)

2007-06-15T19:43:00.000-07:00

The Famous Little Guys

2007-06-13T08:04:00.001-07:00

Reptiles

2007-06-04T23:09:00.000-07:00

I live with 2 of my brothers here who happen to be total animal-lovers. My Dad always taught us to respect Mother Nature and give life and substance to living things as opposed to killing them off as the instincts of man would lead (in some cases). Danny caught a baby Spiny Lizard last week with his toddler students during school hours, brought it home, put it in his tank, wondered if it would live (they live wild in Guatemala). Three days before Willy would come home from Wordstock a miracle happened and Spkie started eating flies. (Table flies that bug us all at every meal and snack time--so long, suckers!) The toddlers kept telling Danny "catch those flies, Dan Dan--do it for Spike"--the name of the baby Lizard.
A couple days later, Pablo catches a deadly, poisonous snake in the garage (we live in the mountains.) He decides to ask Danny if little Spike can be fed to his snake before it goes off to the guillotine. ( To Danny's horror.) One week later on my brothers day off, Willy catches an awesome Helmet Headed Iguana (very rare in Guatemala or anywhere for that matter.) He brings it home, makes a sweet home for it out of a laundry basket (the one I was trying to use to hang laundry with--ahem!). Oh, wait. "What about poor Spike", my siblings ponder. "If Pablo hears of this new lizard, he will for sure want to feed Spike to his snake before he's decapitated." So, as planned, Willy brings the snake to the master's courters, knocks on the door and pleads "Pablo, you have to kill your snake now or I will kill it." So Pablo obliged, thinking now must be the time because Willy would have no more of it in his room. Pablo descends upon the snake with a machete not once but twice, making sure his snake's head was successfully severed from it's body while Willy commented "You know, snakes still live for a while longer after execution, their nerves are still alive."
Knowing that their Lizard's enemy has been slain, my brothers rejoice quietly in their room and then search for insect food for their new Lizard. Now Spike rests easy and my brothers feel like the knights that they are, protecting the weak and helpless of the animal world. Long live peace.

The Tall Side of our Blog

2007-06-02T21:45:00.001-07:00

Can I say something about my husband? I am more in love with him today than I ever thought possible when he proposed to me, and in that amazing moment I was walking on air, so I could say I am very much in love. I am astounded, humbled, moved that Jesus would give me such an incredible man to love and be loved by. Do I deserve him? No. But I do want him, need him and hope to be the wife of his dreams. I know, this may sound too emotional but that's what I am--a Pisces and so I'll end on this heartfelt note: I love you, Christian....so much.

A Lead Guitarist, a Drummer, a Beauty & a Doll

2007-06-02T19:48:00.001-07:00

The Cute, Happy & Entertained

2007-06-02T19:46:00.001-07:00

Irish Girls

2007-06-02T19:41:00.001-07:00