Sydney Gaylord

Just had to write a post as a tribute to my dear friend, Sydney, one of the most wonderful women I know. Sydney is 32 years old and was just diagnosed with a significant brain tumor on December 27th. She is a mother of three beautiful children and a wonderful wife to her husband, Todd. She is a friend to more people than you can imagine.

Most of all, she lives in deep faith with our savior, Jesus Christ. I have had the wonderful privilege of being in bible study with Sydney for some time now. I treasure those nights now more than ever. I wish so much to have many more evenings spent in my living room praying for each other and learning about being a daughter of Christ.

I have to tell a quick story about Sydney. A long time ago we were on a walk and Sydney does her typical on-the-spot what-kind-of-friends-are-we questioning. I remember it vividly. We were walking back from the Fresh Market on Providence Road. Syd made us confess the one thing that each of us did that got on the others' nerves. Well, at the time I told her that I felt like sometimes she was unreliable and that we would never know if they would follow through with plans. She remembered that and brought it up again several years later. In May of 2007, when our son was born, who did I call to keep Haley when I went into labor? Sydney! I told her later that I had to take back what I had said on our walk that day. Not only is she a dear friend, but she will always be there for you when you need her most.

Syd, I love you more than you know and I am praying for complete healing. We are here for you and Todd and are ready to walk beside you in this journey. My verse for you is to remind you of who you are in the eyes of God:

Because you are sons, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, the spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father.' So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has also made you an heir. Galatians 4:6-7

Praise God that we can call out to him as our father and that we are free to live as daughters of Christ! We are surely calling out to him now!

Saaahweet!

Made this gingerbread house today and these kids are overloaded with sugar! What fun it is to make this with them...I can't remember the last time I made one of these!

Henry and Charlie "talking"

My good friend Lindsay brought Henry over for lunch the other day and it was so cute to see Henry and Charlie play together. Henry just turned one, so he is showing off his stellar walking and talking skills! Here is a funny video of them "talking" to each other. It is more like a grunt, but the back and forth is just too cute!

Christmas Tree Hunting

The day after Thanksgiving (yes, the very next day) we headed to the Christmas tree lot to pick out our tree. This is the most exciting day of the year for me...the smell of fresh pine needles, a big wreath for the front door, all the fixins! Man, I love Christmas!!!

The kids had fun running through all the trees and playing hide and seek from Scott and I; I took Haley to the bathroom 3 times while we were at the lot; Haley got tree sap all over her shoes and ruined them; Charlie threw up when we got home...Super! All of these things would have usually turned my day sour, but not this day...

I am thankful for Amy Letts!

Haley came home with a list of things she is thankful for in honor of the upcoming holiday. She was thankful for the following:

1. B (her blanket)
2. 1 and 2 (the numbers???)
3. curious george
4. her class
5. lily (our neighbor)
6. Amy Letts

So, my first response was...where the heck are mommy and daddy on the list? Thanks, Haley...love you too! Then, I was so curious about Amy Letts...who is she and why does my daughter love her so? Well, after saying it a couple times, I realized the teacher did not understand her! She was trying to say Ambulance! Ha, that girl cracks me up! For those of you who don't know, her favorite imagination right now is playing "hospital". She is getting a doctor kit for Christmas, so we are just feeding the fire! My dad also recently took her to Presbyterian hospital to watch the ambulances come in...kinda gloomy, huh? She loved it, but I will opt to focus on the imagination right here in our den!

To be smitten...

We just finished up photo session #3 of a series with Sharon Clark of Smitten Photography. Check out the photos here and add smitten to your favorites list. She is so cute and sometimes offers great photography tips and classes on her website.

Anyone else in love with Carrie Underwood?

Today was the last day of my niece, Riley's visit. On the way to take Haley to school this morning, we got in the car and Riley asked if we could listen to the "yeh, yeh, ye-ah" song. You see, after being with us this week, she got to liking Miss Carrie Underwood, which happens to be Haley's favorite artist right now (and thank the Lord because I am so over all the kid music)! Anyway, I immediately knew what she was talking about and turned it to track 2...not sure of the title, but it is the "beautiful, wonderful, perfect, all-american girl" song. The funniest thing to me was that as we drove down Providence Rd., all the kids (Charlie included) were singing along at the top of their lungs to our favorite American Idol. Woo-hoo...