Way Back Whensday-Senior Pictures

It's time for Way Back Whensday, a blog carnival started by Raechel. Today's theme-senior pictures! If you want to join, post yours and link to her site! You know you want to!

This is the only senior pic I have on the computer, so you'll just have to enjoy it. The rest are in an album in the garage somewhere. This one is from our wedding slideshow so it's in a folder on the computer already.

I did locate some other pictures from graduation time though!

This is from the day I graduated. Rather than wearing black and gold robes, my class chose to wear our class colors-blue and silver. We were also the only school in the area that carried on with graduation that day due to a tornado that went through earlier that morning, thanks to a teacher who allowed us to use their generator so we had a sound system.

This is from my final band and varsity chorale concert. Tradition is (or at least was, I don't know about now) seniors wear their gowns to set them apart. I think we only took them off for a song we danced to with Varsity Chorale.

This is a picture from my open house. My parents worked really hard on the details of it, making food for weeks in advance and freezing it. My mom also ordered an awesome cake, I worked hard on the posters with pictures throughout my life, and we all had a fantastic time.

This isn't from graduation time, but one of my last marching band shows every. Amy, the junior drum major was one of my best friends. Colorguard was my life in high school, and it was the one thing that really seemed to come naturally to me. I loved it and I miss it sometimes.

My (still) best friend Thess and me our senior year of Track. I sucked at track, but it sure was fun, and Mr. Morton was an excellent coach. I loved it.

Well, that's my senior year!

Life isn't always fair

So many crappy things happen to people. Life isn't always fair. I've been praying for baby Stellan, and recently I added a new, unborn baby, April Rose to that list. Today I add yet another person I dont' know, but have a heavy burden to pray. This last one is a couple I've never met, but have learned about from friends through the xanga blogging community. It is a young husband and wife (I believe they are in their 20's) and they just found out the husband has cancer. I'm not sure of the type of cancer. It's always sad to hear of cancer, but it seems especially sad when it's someone young. I know God can and will take something bad and bring something good out of it. He always does. Sometimes we just don't see it in the moment. I still think that life is unfair, but we can't control that. Bad things happen. Bad things happen to good people. But maybe some lives will be touched because of it. Maybe it's a way to show the amazing power of prayer.

Not too long ago I learned about a fairly new artist, Kari Jobe, from another friend in the xanga community. Her music is so amazing. The words go to the depths of my heart. I truly believe that she is anointed by God.

Today, I found the video to her song "Healer." I think it's fitting for each of the above prayer requests, and many others that are out there.

99 Days

A baby who shouldn't have lived outside the womb beat all odds and lived 99 days. God is still doing great things today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th6Njr-qkq0

(P.S. Have a tissue handy)

Way Back Whensday

Today Raechel's theme is baby pictures! I love baby pictures! And I was a pretty cute baby if I do say so myself! Without further ado:

Me:

Newborn

I'm assuming this is my first easter, probably 3-4 months old

My first Christmas. I was almost a year old.

Next Easter...over a year old and look how little hair I have

I think this is my first Christmas, but it could be that or my second...I didn't really have much hair back then!

Nicholas:

Infant

Toddler

Toddler

Kylee at 5 days old

Kylee right after she was born

Elijah's hospital picture

Elijah the day he was born

Praying for Stellan!

Pray for Stellan as he has his surgery today! Pray for Stellan, his mama, the rest of his family, the doctors, nurses, and all involved in his care! Wear orange for Stellan!

Kylee and Elijah are wearing orange for Stellan today. I didn't have any orange, so I dressed them in orange! Kylee didn't have orange either, but Elijah had a Diego t-shirt that fit just fine!

We had a fabulous time in Michigan this weekend! I thoroughly enjoyed spending time at my aunt and uncle's house for the final time. While I am a little sad that they won't be so close anymore, I am so excited for them and their upcoming move to Florida. I have never been to Florida, so we are thinking we may use some of our tax money next year to go visit them. Even though it's a year off, and anything can happen (like the government becoming even more greedy we won't see a tax return), I am already excited at the very thought of just the possibility of Florida, beaches, the ocean, pools and family. It didn't feel like we'd never be back to my aunt's house, even though it's the truth. Maybe it hasn't quite hit that she won't be there next time we go up. I think in the next few years most of that side of the family will be pretty spread out. Flint is just going downhill. There is nothing there anymore. If (or maybe more accurately when?) GM closes there, it's going to become a ghost town. Everything around there is dependent on GM. I'm glad my aunt and uncle are getting out now. I hope that my other family members are able to either get out before it gets too bad, or find other ways to make it there.

I DID miss my husband terribly while I was gone. The kiddos and I went without him. Other than the one night I stayed in the hospital after Elijah was born (he came home to be with Kylee), we have never been apart since before we got married. We talked a few times, texted (is that a word, Christine?), but I generally kept my mind off it. It is so much more difficult to manage two toddlers with no husband. My aunts and my sister helped when I needed to go inside to pee, or when I was trying to get Elijah to sleep and Kylee wanted food, and just loving on them, so that was great. My aunt has taken to them like they are her own grandchildren. Anyhow, back to my sweet hubby. I came home to a house that was cleaner than when I left! I had cleaned up, made sure it was as neat and orderly as I could with a fussy baby, Elijah whining, and two doctors appointments that day. I wasn't sure if he'd remember to get his socks to the laundry room, or if there'd be dishes in the sink, but lo and behold, everything was picked up, floors vacuumed, and all the dished done. He even gave the dog a bath!

On a not so fun note, I came home expecting he'd be home shortly after. He had to work and was given the 4-8 shift. Usually on Sundays that means he'd be home by 7 or 7:30. He was going to pick up Italian beef sandwiches from Boz's, however Boz closes at 8 and he did not get off work by 8:00. He got home sometime around 8:30 and I was so glad to see him. I think I squeezed him pretty hard. It was so nice to feel his arms around me. I don't know how people can go long periods of time without seeing their spouse. I am thankful to our military men, but also thankful that is not my husband's calling! Two days is plenty long enough for me. I don't know military spouses get through that. That is their strength. Mine lies in other areas.

I love my husband!

I opened my email to an incredible sweet one from my hubby this morning:

I love you. Thank you for being such a great wife. I appreciate your willingness to babysit to help out with finances. You are a great mother to our kids. I understand they get very frustrating. I also understand that things get hectic and you can’t always get to the house. I love you and miss you and can’t wait to see you when I get home.

I love that he thinks to write me emails like that. I'll admit, I cried a little. I'm such a sap. But he knows just how much I appreciate little notes. I love that he allows me to add $5 a week to budget in a Starbucks drink of my choice. This is my indulgence on my way to moms group every week. I love that sometimes he knows I want something before I even ask. For example, the other day I mentioned I was really thirsty and had forgotten my water bottle (I'm really trying to take it everywhere). I mentioned that a shaken black tea lemonade sounded good. He was already planning on stopping to get me one! That was my Easter treat and I thoroughly enjoyed ever ounce of it.

He knows when I need to get out on my own and does everything he can to make it happen, even if it means managing dinner clean up, bathtime and bedtime on his own. He is ok with me being gone on Monday evening so I can go to band and be with only adults and no kids. I might not play the clarinet the best (or even close), and we don't sit and chat, but it sure is nice to be in a room full of adults, even when most are MUCH older than me.

He's a snuggler. He likes to sit close while we watch movies or TV. He likes to cuddle, even though he gets really hot. I love that it's just as important to him as it is me. I also know that before he goes to sleep, he generally has to be lying on his right side, so I don't take it personally when he turns his back to me. I just know that's how he is comfortable. He doesn't mind that I put my cold feet all over him to warm them up either. It doesn't bother him that I'm a toucher. I have to be touching him to fall asleep. Usually it's my feet on his legs, but he's ok with that. I have no idea how I'll fall asleep this weekend when I'm in Michigan and he's here in Illinois.

He is a hard-worker. He works two jobs to support our family because we both agree that I should be home with our kids. While I have offered to get an evening job so he doesn't have to, he wants to be the provider. I think it makes him feel really good, and I'm happy that he feels good about it.

He prays with me every single night before we go to sleep. Even when he is so exhausted he's falling asleep on the couch, he'll still pray with me. I love that he wraps me in his arms and talks to God, bringing our family to Him, our friends, and our life.

He just makes me beam with pride. Sure, he does some dumb things sometimes-who doesn't? He's human. Sometimes he leaves his socks in the middle of the living room floor. I never said he was perfect, but I always say he is perfect for me.

Way Back Whensday WEDDINGS!

It's that time again! Time for Way Back Whensday! Raechel started this fun blog carnival, and I just had to participate! It is too much fun to see all the "Way back" pictures! If you choose to participate, go to her site and link to it!

Nick and I got married on September 10, 2005. It was an incredibly hot day...90 degrees! It was sunny and beautiful though!

With Gregg Chenoweth, my old youth pastor, who officiated.

Just a really cool picture

With our wedding party minus the two flower girls and the ringbearer

Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Cunningham

At Perry Farm

Our hands...if you couldn't tell

Exiting the church

With our families. This is only a small indication of how much bigger my family is. Think of the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. My family would be the Greek family (except we're Polish).

Our "champagne." I don't think the church would appreciate it if we brought in the REAL stuff!

My dad giving me away

Communion. I think we're the only people who have actually used the altar rather than the kneeler.

Out at Perry Farm

Way Back Whensday

I'm finally getting one of these posted on Wednesday instead of Thursday! Yay!

Raechel started this fun blog carnival, and I just had to participate! It is too much fun to see all the "Way back" pictures!

Todays theme-Hair Worth Remembering

I think this was from my 8th birthday. I'm in the yellow shirt. Seriously, what was my mom thinking? Oh, the 80's

I got my first perm in 3rd grade. POOF!

I think this was how I had my hair cut for MOST of high school. Occasionally it'd get longer-but then I would go and cut it all off. My hair hasn't been that short in years.

My Spiritual Gifts

Last night I prayed. I prayed with everything in me while I stood in the kids' room swaying back and forth, trying to get Elijah to sleep at a decent time. Nick and I had both tried, and failed, to get him to lie down in his bed and fall asleep that way. He just cried and carried on. Finally I picked him up and swayed back and forth, singing. Then I just started praying. I know one of my spiritual gifts is intercession. It has come up very high in every single spiritual gifts tests I have taken, and I have taken several different ones because I didn't believe it myself. When I discovered this was one of my gifts, I put it to use. At the time I was a college student living in the dorms during summer break. My job that summer was hanging out with Britney and Blake everyday. I got paid to spend time with two of my favorite people-my "adopted" brother and sister. I should say by adopted, I mean their family took me in and loved me like I was a part of their family. Anyway, that is all beside the point. I say that was my job to say that my life wasn't nearly as hectic as it is now so I guess I had more time to pray, and I saw my prayers answered. Maybe not like people I was praying for always wanted, but they were answered. I saw this gift as something God was using.

As the last few years have gone by, I have sort of set that gift aside. I don't pray nearly as much or as fervently as I did then. I'm not proud of it. Not in the least. I'm sharing this because I know I appreciate the honesty of the people who's blogs I read, therefore I am as honest as I can be (though sometimes I do leave more personal things out when necessary).

This gift has been on my heart so much lately. I feel like God is really pushing me to "blow the dust off" this gift and really start to use what He has given me. Last night I started. I prayed so fervently that I almost forgot I had a 21 pound toddler in my arms until my left arm started to fall asleep. One of my prayers was for Elijah and it was two-fold. I prayed that the next time I laid him in his bed, it would be a smooth transition, and that he would sleep soundly through the night. While it may seem like a tiny little prayer, this little boy, who will be 18 months next Monday, rarely sleeps all night long. When he does, he generally wakes up pretty stinking early. I was a little nervous when I decided to put him down at 7:30 thinking surely he'd be up at 6am. Elijah not only had a smooth, easy transition from being cradled in his mommy's arms to his little Diego bed, but he also slept from 7:45 till 7:30 this morning. I truly believe it was not a coincidence, but God answering my prayers. It was just the beginning. I know that my prayers may not always be answered in the way I'd like them to be, but if I come to God, he will do His will.

My plan, starting last night, is to use that gift, as well as my other top ones, and really let God work through the gifts he's given to me. I'm excited to see what God has in store as I learn to use these gifts he's given to me. I look forward to being drawn closer to God.

Here are my top five:
Faith
Intercession
Music
Administration
Leadership
Busy day today-Mom's group, Wyatt this afternoon, gymnastics, and band.

Little House on the Prairie

I started reading the first book in the Little House on the Prairie series to Kylee this morning. I have several goals in mind. One is that she will develop a love for reading. I loved reading. I still do, but I find it takes me a lot longer to get through a book unless I skip all other things like dishes and meals and giving baths. Another goal is that she will develop a love for the characters. Laura Ingalls Wilder was a great author and I loved reading all of her books. Third, I'm hoping it will build imagination. I can remember my sister and I playing when we were little and pretending to be the characters. It was so much fun. Kylee actually sat and listened intently for the first several pages. When she seemed to get bored, I stopped and let her move on to something else. Next on my list (though a few years away) is the Anne of Green Gables series! LOVE IT!

I need ideas for good boy books too. I know those two series could be used, but what little boy wants to read about girls? I didn't have brothers. What works for little boys?

Here are my two precious little ones. They look so sweet don't they?

Elijah refused to sleep in his bed at naptime the other day. He would only sleep on the couch. The minute I laid him on his bed, he'd scream and carry on.

Very deceiving hair. It looks so thick and full. Really, it's quite thin, but sleeping in a room with a humidifier works wonders!