Emma's first trip to the Zoo

Troy and I both happened to be off the weekend of President's Day. We had a fantastic weekend, kicked off by a romantic and delicious dinner at the Charthouse for Valentine's Day Friday evening. The rest of the weekend we spent as a family shopping, playing outside and on Monday we took Emma to the Zoo. We weren't sure how she would take to the zoo, but she LOVED it, and now we're confident we're taking her to Disney this year!!! Emma spotted and pointed out the animals before I even saw them. She didn't miss one single water puddle, pond, fountain, tank or lake. I didn't even know she could say "wader", but she did each time we came across it. She also got to pet some disgusting little things, played on the playground (which by the way has the fastest slide in all the world), and at the end of our visit we all rode the train. I know going to the zoo seems simple enough, but it's these outings that make me feel like we're living life...getting away from the house, chores, work and routine...and enjoying the priceless excitement and smiles from our daughter when we're spending time together as a family.

Cake Baking

Emma and I baked a cake for Troy on Valentine's Day. I had so much fun baking with Emma. It was her first time and she was all about it...

She even helped me stir

she licked the utensils

and all was good, until...

it was time to clean up and not lick the spoons anymore :)

Here's the finished cake...and yes, Daddy loved it!

pay it forward?

The neatest thing happened to us Monday during lunch. Troy and I both happened to be off for the holiday so we took Emma to the zoo. We spent most of the morning there and left right about lunch time. Emma fell asleep in the car almost immediately and stayed asleep in my arms when we arrived at Panera for lunch. As Troy ordered I found a table and sat down while holding my sleeping baby. Troy brought the pager to the table and went to get our drinks while I took a phone call. As I was talking on the phone waiting for Troy to come back with our drinks the buzzer went off indicating our food was ready. A nice lady across the way from our table came to me and asked if she would like for her to get our order. I told her thank you and declined, relaying that my husband was already up at the food counter. As I carried on with my phone conversation I thought to myself that it was a nice, yet rare, gesture for a stranger to offer help a mother holding her sleeping child. When Troy came back with our order I shared with him how the lady had offered to get our order. About 10 minutes later the same lady came back to our table and asked Troy if he was in the service. He replied "yes ma'am, I am in the army reserves." She thanked him for his service to our country and handed him a gift card saying "Next time you have lunch here, it's on me." We obviously said thank you right away, but her gesture was the subject of our conversation for some time after she left.

We're still not sure what compelled this nice lady to purchase a gift card for Troy, but all week we've held on her to her kindness. Wouldn't the world be such a nicer place to live if we all did one nice gesture each day; with no strings attached. We haven't used the gift card, and most likely won't. We've been discussing how we can pass it on to touch someone's life real soon.

quiet my heart

I know it's been 1064 days since I've blogged...I have a few in draft but am in desperate need of a tutorial on how to center photos in between text before posting them (please help!).

In the meantime, I've fallen in love with a song by Brooke Barrettsmith and wanted to share with my readers that it's noteworthy of checking out for yourselves. I posted the lyrics below.


Quiet My Heart" Lyrics
[edit]
by Brooke Barrettsmith from the album Brooke Barrettsmith

My mind wanders away
Dreaming of where I could be on another day
I'm always so far ahead
I seem to miss the one that I'm in
And I regret the time I lost
Slow me down before it's gone

Right here in the moment I'm given
I'll treasure the breath that I breathe in
And I'll rest in You
You quiet my heart
Somehow every second that's passing
Is filled so much meaning
As I wait here with You
Quiet my heart

I get stuck in betweenYesterday and all that tomorrow brings
When all that You want from me Is that I come and sit at your feet
And know that You are God
And with You no time is lost

Don't let me run away
Show me why I should stay
Open my eyes to take in Your beauty

Keep me here in this place
Take me in Your embrace
There's no place I'd rather be than right now