Oh, How the Years Have Flown By!

Felicia, Me, Amanda, Miss Jeanie, Candice, and Melinda pose for a quick shot!


The first weekend in August was a lot of fun to me. A group called the "Choraleers" from my church that I went to in high school decided to have a get together with all the people who had been a part of this musical choir. I have to laugh that I would even have a choir that would let me be a part, as my musical expertise seem to flee me when I quite the cello in fifth grade.

Anyway, there were several from the time I was a part of the group there. It was a great time to catch up and just see how well we have handled kids, husbands, time. In some ways I felt like I was looking a people I had just seen, however it really had been like 5 years since our high school reunion and 15 since we actually attended high school. I love how I still feel like I look oh so much younger than I really am. Is that a sign that I have approached adulthood?

We hung out at a park on Friday night during an extreme heat advisory period for the Dallas area in the hottest part of the day. We also got to see pictures from several of the years of the group, and just chit chat. The music minister who led the group for most of the exsistance of this group was one of our honorees and he led us in some great worship. One of the past youth leaders made a powerful point when he mentioned a passage in Ecclesiastes. It reminds us to not dwell on what we have already exprienced as the "good times", but to look at how it has made us who we are today.

I think most of us have some regrets about how things happen in earlier times in our lives, however what I am learning is by looking at how I didn't do things right I miss out on the things that were good. I am so thankful for the godly heritage that I grew up in and that paved the way for the relationship that I have now with the Lord. It goes so beyond anything that I expereince at a church service or through some reglious appearing activity. It is truly my heart's cry to know who God is more and to understand that incomprehesible love he has for me. The rest is just gravy.

Who knew that attending a choir practice on Sunday nights in Grand Prairie, Texas would lead me all the way across the world to Belarus and Estonia, or even better yet allow me to be a part of such a special group of children (now teenagers and preteens)that cone to Abilene every summer from Belarus. Who knew I would have a need to speak fluent Russian in West Texas. The answer is God knew!

Enough of my ramblings. I loved going to this reunion and never could have imagined the way I would be blessed by simply attending this event. Thank you could not even cover the way I feel for those great individuals who put it together!

Introducing . . . Jackson Barrett Fogle

We had our official sonogram by the perinatologist(I think that is his title) to make sure that all is looking good and to find out what sex our little one is. It is definitely a boy and we are thrilled, especially Jacob and Sydney. I love to tell the kids the new name so we can start making him a part of the family before we ever get to see him. So my sweet husband humors me by getting a name picked out quick (in his opinon we still have many more months to decide.

Jackson has always been a favorite of mine . . . maybe my love of Steel Magnolias, but I can never be sure . . . and I love having passing on a part of my family. I joked with my dad about his name not being something I would jump at the chance to attatch to my child, besides how many other Elmer Foys can there be? He is truly not duplicatable. So, why not the true family part of the family name. My maiden name is now forever attatched to a Fogle. It has been funny that I have been the one to come up with the boys' names so quickly and Patrick has been so particular on both of the girls' names. Very interesting! What is fun is when we decide together that what name we like!

I am letting you get a look at the face I am sure to love once he is born. Right now he still looks a little like an alien to me. Does that sound right coming from a mother? We are entering the phase where he is starting to try and claim some space in my ever growing body. The fun begins!

P.S. Sorry Mom that there has not been a Susan Gayle . . . maybe your grandchildren will treat you better than your daughter! At least one looks like you!

Check out my newest addition to the family!

Okay, so it is not really a member. I got a new camera for my birthday! My new camera, Canon Xti, that I got off of ebay is so great! Thanks to all my supportive family for contributing to my cause. It was nice to pool all my birthday money together . . . and sell my old camera . . . to get it! I also got this realy cool thing called a camera armor to protect it from my natural lack of grace! Enjoy the many pictures to come from me! Due to unknown computer error, my cheesey picture will be uploaded shortly!:)

It's a . . . . BOY?!?!?!?

We went to our local Pregnancy Resource Center (PRA) and one of my friends who works there and who helped me determine this same issue with my first child looked at all the important measurements. Then she used that cool sonogram machine to find out the question we have all been waiting for. The sex of #4! So while she told us not to let go of any recipts, she feels pretty sure based on the picture you can see that it looks like we are going to have a boy. Sydney and Jacob are so excited!

I think I figured something out . . . .

I try to stay current in my blogging just like my family books. So you can see that since I haven't yet put up Memorial Day pics, I haven't posted in over a month. My new goal is just to post more frequently and maybe one day you can see all those cool pics from our family and our family trip.

But to post something that has no purpose but to prove I am not crazy to my husband is my favorite commerical. I know I really don't care about the product, but have told several people about this commercial and they look like I am crazy. So have some fun watching this commercial that cracks me up everytime I see it! Look under "Tide To Go" and the click "Interview".

Watch soon for our lastest news to be posted after I do the dishes! :)

http://www.tide.com/en_US/funspot/funspot_tv.jsp

I am hitting my 2nd trimester stride!

This has been a long time coming. My precious puppy had her first dance recital and performed like a true champ, even in the middle of naptime! Patrick and I had so much fun cheering her on. Her smile just melts my heart!







What can you do with a gal who then transitions into this: She litterally walks into the living room fixed up this way. We ask her what happened and she says she has a bleed on her lip. When pressed further, I found out she has been using my razor on her face! Oh, the memories!

To finish the first part of this two part blog post, I have some really great friends. I have not been feeling myself for sometime, okay shortly after morning sickeness kicked in. I got a great surprise from some gals who have just been great friends even though I have been lacking. God sure does remind you of all you have and I feel like I have it all. Thank you Lord for friendships who reach all parts of you!

Tomorrow I will post Jacob and Savannah. Ken you are coming! :)

Cliff Hanger . . . my current inspiration!

Okay, does this show what happens in my house way too often? If you are not familiar with Cliffhanger, then you have never seen Between the Lions. Every episode he is hanging on a cliff and always almost gets rescued but is left saying, "Must Hang On . . ."

Each day I wake up I am not sure how I will feel. We had to leave a dinner early from a neighbors because of my nausea. Today, was better but I noticed I have stopped breathing out of my nose for some reason to avoid what smell, I am not sure. But, the good news is only a few more days and Lord willing this will be all over and the excitement of feeling the baby will erase all of these tough first days.

Tomorrow is such a big day here in Abilene. Nine beautiful children(almost all preteen or older, but I still call them children) will arrive with one chaperone to forever steal our hearts away again this summer from Belarus. I can't believe it has been almost a whole year since we last saw them. How excited am I to see what God will do this summer!

More pictures to come, however I can't find my card reader so pics of Sydney with a bandaid on her top lip will have to wait! May you be blessed!