A Decade in Review! January 6, 2010

10 years! WOW!!!! I have only lived through 2 complete decades – the 90’s and the 2000’s/00’s – seriously how do you write that???. (I was only around for 6.5 years of the 80’s) I got the idea from my good friend Cary to do a decade in review…

2000

Michael and I spent New Years Eve at Bellevue for the lighting of the 3 crosses (these would later become very significant to us!). We had only been dating a little over a month. That following August we began our Senior Year of high school.

2001

We graduated from High School and that fall began our college careers at the University of Memphis. I majored in Elementary Education and he majored in Accounting.

2002

We start our Sophomore years and join the University of Memphis Marching Band. We just couldn’t let go of our inner band nerd (We only marched that one semester though!)

2003

A lot of our friends start getting married and we start talking a little more seriously about marriage. Michael starts feeling (or should I say responding to what God had been saying for  a long time) called to ministry.

2004

In February, Michael proposes under the crosses at Bellevue (see I told you they would become significant). We finish up our Junior year and finally become College Seniors. Wedding Planning is taking a lot of our time and energy. In December we move all of our things (notice I said things and not us. We didn’t shack up before the wedding, I promise! ) into our first apartment at Mid-America Seminary Student Housing.

2005

We get married on January 8th. I start student teaching and then graduate in May. Michael starts Seminary in August, even though he still had one more Bachelor’s class to go. He is working 30 hours a week, going to the University of Memphis and starting his Masters. I start my first teaching job at a small (very chaotic and disfunctional) private school. I just remember being very busy and stressed. We visit Brandon and Ashley at Southern Seminary in October and fall in LOVE with Louisville – God starts stirring our hearts.He graduates from UofM that December.

2006

In February we make the decision to transfer to Southern Seminary in the fall. We move to Louisville in July, both jobless and ready for a new journey. I start teaching at Southside Elementary as a 3rd/4th grade teacher. Michael begins his classes. We get Baxter, our sweet black lab, in September.

2007

I continue teaching, Mike continues his school work and starts working as a student ministry intern at Highview Baptist Church. (Notice I have now changed from Michael to Mike. During our time at Highview his name slowly started transitioning to Mike. We still don’t know how this happened) Over Thanksgiving we find out that Mike’s credits from Mid-America have transfered and he will be able to graduate in the Spring, a semester earlier than we had planned – we start feeling a little overwhelmed.

2008

On March 4th we find out that I am pregnant!!! Mike starts interviewing for jobs and then graduates in May. We move to another apartment in Louisville while we wait on a job. Mike gets a job at Central Baptist Church and in September we move to College Station, Texas. Cameron Michael Shaeffer is born on October 30th.

2009

We celebrate our one year anniversary of being in Texas. We are getting accustomed to life with a baby and life in full-time ministry. We also move again – this time finally out of an apartment.

So, there you have it, our decade in review. Looking back, I can’t believe so much happened – it’s crazy.

All week I have been praying that 2010 will be a year that God is overly evident in our lives. I have been praying that after many years have passed and I am reflecting, I will remember 2010 as the year that is covered with God’s presence, miracles, and influence. That it is a year that He does something BIG in our lives. I do realize that by praying this I am really opening myself up to face things that seem insurmountable. While I don’t want to wish difficulty or adversity into my life, I do desire for God to do something HUGE. If that is what we must face to experience it I say, bring it on 2010!!!

I’m So Glad That I Get to Write This… December 11, 2009

Well, 5 weeks into the journey I am finally able to blog about my adventure. It’s no secret that I am out of shape and overweight. I have blogged about it before. When we were in Memphis for Cameron’s birthday I finally decided that enough was enough and that I had to do something!

First, I have to give a little background information. I have several close friends and acquaintances who are runners. My friend in Louisville, April, is AMAZING! She has run several marathons and is passionate about running. When she talks about it she makes it seem fun. i have other friends from Memphis, who often write about their adventures in running. (Angie, Laurin, and Lee) And most importantly, my best friend Anne’s sister-in-law, Joanna Lemmon, started running for the first time in September of 08′. Now, just a little over a year later she is more than 75 pounds lighter and just completed her first half marathon. I have always listened (read) to these women talk about their running and there was a part of me that was so jealous that I didn’t do it. I knew that it was a matter of willpower, but I really thought it was unattainable. As I watched Joanna’s journey from a distance, I realized that I could do it too. I would look at her pictures on facebook and think, “Man! I wish that was me!”  I finally said to myself, “Why can’t it be you?!?!?”

So…on November 9th I began the “Couch to 5K” running program. It was tough at first, but each time it got easier. Whenever I was really tired and having to push myself extra hard to finish my run I would pretend that it was the last leg of my first half-marathon. This may seem silly, but it really worked for me. I didn’t want to tell a lot of people that I was doing this. I wanted to feel like I was really going to stick with it first. I decided that if I was actually able to make it over half-way through the program and run for 20 minutes/2 miles without stopping, that then I would write about it and share my journey with people. Well, TODAY WAS THE DAY!!!! I did it! I ran 2 miles today. I prayed the whole time and know that it is only by the Lord’s strength that it was so easy for me. I honestly think I could have pushed it another 10 minutes. Aside from the fact that my shins were on fire the ENTIRE time ( I seriously need some good running shoes), it was enjoyable. I completely understand that runner’s mentality now. There’s a high that I can’t put into words that comes from pushing yourself to complete a running goal.

I plan to run my first 5K at the end of January. After that…it’s onto training for the 10K!

P.S. Let me add that if it wasn’t for my incredibly wonderful husband who encourages me and watches Cameron so I can run without the added weight of the stroller, I don’t think I would have made it this far!

Happy Running!

Cameron turns ONE! November 29, 2009

So, it took me a long time to get to this post. I was going to write about Cameron’s birthday as soon as we got back home from Memphis. Well, that was 3 weeks ago. Oh well, better late than never.

We had a great time visiting with family for an entire week. The 10 hour drive went really well. Driving at night is the way to go. Cameron slept the whole way. It also felt like the drive went a lot quicker. While we were in Memphis we worked in my mother-in-laws woodshop, went to my nephew’s baseball games, took Cameron trick-or-treating for the first time, went to the zoo with our parents, took Cameron to the park, spent time with family, and of course hit some good restaurants. However, the big event was Cameron’s birthday. My friend, Annie, made his cakes and they turned out AMAZING. Unfortunately, the little guy got sick on his actual birthday and didn’t get as into it as we had hoped, but he was better within 2 days. Here are a few pictures of all of the happenings.

Our little lion!

The Big Cake

Cameron's little cake

His banner in use!

Eating his cake.

Playing outside at Mamaw's.

At the zoo.

playing at the park

First time on a slide

I don’t know why these pictures came out so small, maybe I’ll try and fix it later. Anyway – I finally posted about his birthday (even though it has been a month). Hopefully I’ll write about the holidays before May!

A Traveling We Will Go… October 28, 2009

We are leaving tonight to go home to Memphis. I am so excited. We haven’t been home since May. Why are we going, you ask? We are going to celebrate CAMERON’S FIRST BIRTHDAY!!!!!! I think I am more excited about his birthday then I have ever been about any of my own. Last night Mike surprised Cameron with his very first birthday present just from Daddy. Mike went out and bought it by himself with money he had gotten for his birthday (it was on the 15th). He got him his very first Tonka truck. It makes noises and even moves by itself when you push a button. Cameron had no trouble figuring out what to do with wrapping paper, the second he saw the present on the floor he started tearing into it. He wasn’t too sure about the truck moving, it kind of scared him. But by this morning he was loving it and played with it for quite a while.

We are going to attempt to make the 10 hour drive overnight. We thought and thought about it and decided that may be easiest for Cameron to be able to just sleep the whole way. We’re not looking forward to the actual process however. Your priorities sure do change once you have kids huh?

Not only does he have his party this weekend, but he will also be going trick-or-treating for the first time. He is going as a lion. Then we’re going to carry the lion theme over to his birthday party on Sunday. My good friend Annie is making his cakes. They are going to be the cutest little lions.

So there, you have it. That’s what we’re excited about in the Shaeffer house! I can’t wait to get back and posts pictures of all that we do!

(Oh, and just for any potential robbers out there, we do have a house-sitter who will be staying with our beast of a dog!  )

What a Week! October 13, 2009

This past week has brought so many changes that it is overwhelming. At the beginning of last week Mike and I went to Houston for the Metro Associates Conference (It’s a conference for Associate Youth Pastors). My parents came and stayed with Cameron, and since I was going to be away from him, I used that opportunity to finish weaning him completely. Then after we got home we had to go ahead and buy Cameron his “big boy” car seat. His poor feet were getting squished in the back of the seat, so we knew it was time. We also wanted to have him in his forward facing  seat when we go home to Memphis for his birthday, it will just make the trip easier. So Friday, we bought that and let him try it out. lastly, we bought Cameron his first pair of tennis shoes. He didn’t have any shoes that fit and he had gotten to where now that he likes to walk so much he wants us to put him down when we are out. We had to go to the actual shoe department and figure out what size he wears. He wears a 4!!!! I couldn’t believe it!

So on Monday, as I was cleaning the house, I packed his Boppy, his bottles, and his baby car seat all in his closet. The entire time I was just overwhelmed that we have already made it to this point. In just a little over 2 short weeks I will have a one year old! Somebody pinch me because I just don’t believe it!

Here are some pictures of my “big boy”.

In his "big boy" car seat.

Sitting on the couch like a big guy.

"Forget that sippy cup stuff Mom, I'm ready for this!"

Birthday Project September 28, 2009

I am LOVING my sewing machine. When I first got it, I was only planning on using it to quilt. In fact, it didn’t even occur to me that I could do other things, nor did I really have the desire. Well, the very first thing I made was an apron, with the help of my mother-in-law. So that got me thinking about other things that I could do. When my sister came in town I made her some curtains and then when my mother-in-law was in town again, we made that really cool bench for Cameron. (Look at my facebook page for pictures of the bench.) I realized that I hadn’t gotten brave enough to try new things on my own. I kept waiting for my mother-in-law to help me.

Well, a few months ago I saw a picture on my friend Lindsay’s blog of a really cute birthday banner that she got for her little girl. She had ordered it from Pottery Barn Kids. I told her how cute it was and she told me that it cost around $35, but unfortunately they didn’t make them anymore. The more I looked at it, the more confident I became that I could make it myself. About a week ago I finally went and bought all of the supplies (for only $17) and I’m pretty pleased with the results!

Here's the original from Pottery Barn Kids. (You can get your kids name embroidered underneath "birthday")

Here is my replica!

I am in the process if stitching around the letters and the cake. Once I am finished with that I will add the rick rack and maybe a few decorations on the cake.  One thing I also did differently was double the canvas and each year on Cameron’s birthday I am going to have him put his hand print on the back. Eventually (many years down the road) I will take the canvases apart and make a keepsake quilt using the piece with all of his hand prints from over the years. We’ll see if I’m still blogging then for all of you to see it!

The Beginning of the End September 21, 2009

Today is the beginning of a new phase – the weaning phase. In one week I will have an 11 month old. I can’t believe we are this close to his first birthday. We are going to go home to Memphis for Cameron’s birthday so that all of our family can celebrate together. I really wanted him to be weaned by the time we made the trip, so I talked to Cameron’s doctor about it and he was really supportive. I did some research and found that the best way to wean is to do it slowly, that way it is less painful for both of us (emotionally and physically). So today we will drop Cameron’s lunch-time nursing. I can’t believe that we are already to this point. I keep thinking back to when Cameron was first born and I was in tears just praying that I would be able to make it 3 months, now we’re about to hit the year mark and we’re ending his phase of being completely dependent on me. WOW!!!! I am somewhat excited about the added freedom I will have once he is completely weaned, however there is something sobering about the fact that Cameron won’t need me. There is something special (and sometimes exhausting) about being the only person that can provide for your child. So, I’m going to cherish this last month of infancy that I have with my sweet baby boy as we prepare to enter the world of toddler-hood!

I’ll end with this sweet picture of my soon to be toddler.

Latest Sewing Project August 31, 2009

We are all moved in at our new duplex and we LOVE it. For the past nearly 5 years we have lived in apartments and always on the second floor. This is such a welcome change. I’ll put pictures up of everything in a few days. Today, however, I am going to share my latest sewing project. Cameron’s new room is big enough that we are able to have our full size bed in there. We are very happy about this because now we have a bed for when our families come to visit. I really wanted bedding for the bed that coordinated with Cameron’s crib bedding and all of the decorations I already had. I looked several places and had decided that I would just have to make a quilt for that bed. Well, when my mom was in town, she and I went shopping and found the perfect bedding. We got a simple blue comforter, tan bed skirt, and green sheets. It matches really well. I wanted some throw pillows to match, but couldn’t find any. I decided to use the diaper stacker that came with his bedding that I NEVER used and turn it into a pillow. I’m very happy with the results.

The Before

Front of the pillow.

Back of the pillow

View from the side

The final look!

SLOW DOWN!!!! July 26, 2009

One thing I have heard A LOT since I first found out Cameron existed is, “Just enjoy it, it goes by so fast”. I have heard this so much it is almost annoying, however I have taken it to heart. I have tried to just enjoy each day and the changes that occur since Cameron was born. Even the little things that drive me crazy or make me exhausted, I just think, “Someday when he is grown, thinks I’m completely embarrassing, and has that lovely teenage attitude I am going to look back on this time and cherish it.”

On Thursday Cameron will be 9 months old. Now I realize he isn’t packing up and going off to college anytime soon. And he’s not even reached that wonderful 1 year milestone, but he is just starting to seem so “big”. He has been trying to walk for about a month now. It started at the beginning of June when he took 2 steps on his own. We thought it was more of a fall in which he happened to move his feet so we got excited, but didn’t really embrace it as him “walking”. Afterall, he wasn’t even 8 months yet, it was WAY too early. Then we noticed that he was still trying to take little steps on purpose, he just couldn’t get the hang of it. Well last week I was sitting in the middle of the living room floor and Cameron had pulled himself up by my feet and the next thing I knew he was walking all the way up toward my arms. He took about 6 steps. I got so excited that I started cheering and screaming for him, he was so proud of himself. On Wednesday I kept practicing with him and praising him. When Mike came home for his “pit-stop” on Thursday night Cameron showed off for Daddy by walking back and forth between us (about 6-8 steps) several times. He is by no means walking as a main mode of transportation yet, but he is capable of taking quite a few consecutive steps on a regular basis. I didn’t expect him to do this so soon.

Now I realize every parent is extremely proud of their child and thinks that what he/she does is the most incredible thing, but I have been impressed with how quickly Cameron catches on to things. It seems that once we show him something a few times or if he just starts to get the hang of something, within one day he has it mastered. It is slightly overwhelming.

Another sobering moment occured today when I cleamed out Cameron’s closet and drawers. I was tired of going through everything trying to find something that fit him. I still had a lot of 3-6 month things in his drawers and even 0-3 month clothes hanging in his closet. It seemed like he had SO MANY clothes, yet I have been struggling to find him something to wear. So today I went through everything and packed away everything he has grown out of. I filled an entire 16 gallon Rubbermade. As I was packing them away I kept think “Oh I love this shirt!”, “He looked so cute in this!”, “I should have gotten a picture in this outfit!”, “I can’t belive he was actually this small!”. Thinking all of these things made me wonder, what is it going to be like when he is 19 and I can look back and think about his days playing little league, his first day of school, the day he got saved, his first experience liking a girl, and so much more. It made me excited for the future and all that God has in store for him. But most of all is reminded me to keep cherishing each moment because it is going by quickly.

I’ll end this post with a few pictures that show my growing boy!

Few days old

3 months old - Baby Dedication

6 Months

9 Months

 

Texas Heat July 24, 2009

Anyone that knows me well knows that I HATE HEAT!!!!! I am just one of those people that LOVES cold weather. My favorite seasons are Fall and Winter (which I have learned do not exist here in Texas).  When Michael graduated I prayed that we would be sent to a “cold state”, God obviously had different plans! I have been complaining to my mom about the heat ever since we moved here so today she sent me this e-mail. (***disclaimer – the original e-mail had some bad language in it so  I went through and edited it!)

Dear Diary,

Just moved to Texas ! Now this is a state that knows how to live!! Beautiful sunny days and warm balmy evenings. It is beautiful. I’ve finally found my home. I love it here.

June 14th:

Really heating up. Got to 100 today. Not a problem. Live in an air-conditioned home, drive an air-conditioned car. What a pleasure to see the sun everyday like this. I’m turning into a sun worshipper.

June 30th:

Had the backyard landscaped with western plants today. Lots of cactus and rocks. What a breeze to maintain. No more mowing the lawn for me.  Another scorcher today, but I love it here.

July 10th:

The temperature hasn’t been below 100 all week. How do people get used to this kind of heat?  At least, it’s kind of windy though. But getting used to the heat is taking longer than I expected.

July 15th:

Fell asleep by the community pool. (Got 3rd degree burns over 60% of my body). Missed 3 days of work. What a dumb thing to do.  I learned my lesson though. Got to respect the ol’ sun in a climate like this.

July 20th:

I missed Lomita (my cat) sneaking into the car when I left this morning. By the time I got to the hot car at noon, Lomita  had died and swollen up to the size of a shopping bag, then popped like a water balloon. The car now smells like Baked Cat. I learned my lesson though. No more pets in this heat. Good ol’ Mr. Sun strikes again.

July 25th:

The wind sucks. It feels like a giant blow dryer!! And it’s hot as hades. The home air-conditioner is on the fritz and the AC repairman charged $200 just to drive by and tell me he needed to order parts.

July 30th:

Been sleeping outside on the patio for 3 nights now, $225,000 house and I can’t even go inside. Lomita is the lucky one. why did I ever come here?

Aug. 4th:

It’s 115 degrees. Finally got the air-conditioner fixed today. It cost $500 and gets the temperature down to 85. I hate this stupid state.

Aug. 8th:

If another idiot cracks, ‘Hot enough for you today?’ I’m going to strangle him. Stupid heat. By the time I get to work, the radiator is boiling over, my clothes are soaking wet, and I smell like baked cat!!

Aug. 9th:

Tried to run some errands after work. Wore shorts, and when sat on the seats in the car, I thought my butt was on fire. My skin melted to the seat. I lost 2 layers of flesh and all the hair on the back of my legs and butt . . . Now my car smells like burnt hair, fried butt, and baked cat.

Aug 10th:

The weather report might as well be a recording. Hot and sunny. Hot and sunny. Hot and sunny. It’s been too hot to do anything
for 2 months and the weatherman says it might really warm up next week. Doesn’t it ever rain in this state? Water rationing will be next, so my $1700 worth of cactus will just dry up and blow over. Even the cactus can’t live in this heat.

Aug. 14th:

Welcome to HADES! Temperature got to 115 today. Cactus are dead.
Forgot to crack the window and blew the windshield out of the car. The installer came to fix it and guess what he asked me??? “Hot enough for you today?” My sister had to spend $1,500 to bail me out of jail. Freaking Texas . What kind of a sick demented idiot would want to live here??

Will write later to let you know how the trial goes.

All I can say is COME ON WINTER!!!!!!!!!!!