Georgia on My Mind

So, as promised, here's a little video of where we live. I took the pictures in late afternoon, and because we live in the woods (Jeff hates spiders and bugs) the lighting is bad. Anyway, this house was built a year before I was born. Any guesses on the age? It's like a cabin in the woods...so here it is. The house where I lived in high school. Pictures of the inside, once all my pictures are up, to come later. Enjoy!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Let Me Go Home

I've put together a little video of our goodbyes as well as our journey...it is by no means exhaustive. I did not leave anyone out on purpose..just had to go with the pictures I had....

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

We're HERE

I was planning to load some pictures and video, but I can't seem to locate the cables right now....

Praise be to the Lord we are here and mostly settled. Last Sunday and Monday were beasts…for Jeff, driving a big Penske truck (and I’m talking big) with a car attached to the back was most stressful. For me, riding in a diesel engine Penske truck was loud and uncomfortable, but we survived. With just a few delays.

We were just inside Lancaster (about 45 min from Dallas) all prepared to fill up our first tank of diesel fuel. We THOUGHT we had to go to truck stops. We pull in behind those monster trucks (probably about 10 lanes) and I spot an open one.

“Quick. Jeff. Over there.” We should have known better.

An HOUR later, we’re sitting in the same spot. Fire is spewing from Jeff’s ears and my lips are parched. Unwilling to test my poor husband further, I simply sat and prayed this would soon be over and asked God to keep me from thirsting to death. All the while, Gideon was sound asleep, oblivious to the world around.

Apparently, in truck stops, there are pumps on both sides of the car. Since our fuel entrance was on the right side of the truck, we had problems…since the main pump was on the left. After about 3 or 4 times of traipsing inside the incredibly busy truck stop, to ask questions, an extraordinarily frustrated Jeff gave up. No one was willing to aid this poor, first-time-diesel-driving-hunk. So, he climbed in the truck, slammed the door, and took off for who knows where.

“That’s it. We’re going back to Fort Worth. We’re not going to Georgia. I can’t get any stupid gas. All I want is to fill up this stupid tank.”

All I could think of was, “Oh, heck no. I’m not unloading this truck and unpacking boxes until we arrive at our FINAL destination.”

But, what I said was, “Jeff, you’re allowing Satan to step foot in this situation. You need to calm down and try somewhere else. And this time, why don’t you ask one of the truck drivers next to you how to make it work? Apparently, they know what they’re doing.”

So, I prayed for the Lord to allow a helpful driver to assist this ready-to-quit-stressed-out-man-o-mine. And guess what? He did. We found another, less busy stop, and pulled in. We were right beside an older gentleman, who not only showed Jeff how to use the (what we now know is) a satellite system, and then, when Jeff returned from paying, the man hopped over on our side and made sure Jeff got it working. PRAISE GOD. I could finally get a drink and we could be on our way.

About 2 hours later, I was starving. We pulled into this nowhere, Texas, gas station with a Dairy Queen attached. I had forgotten just how LONG Dairy Queen takes to make their food. 30 minutes later, we got back in the truck and took off…by then, a storm was brewing and I was anxious to get away. This time, Jeff did not allow the situation to rob him of his joy – he actually laughed about how long it took. I was very proud of him. Such growth in a matter of two hours! J

Anyway, around 12:30 a.m., we had only made it as far as Jackson, Mississippi. We decided to grab a few hours sleep, and make the rest of the trip on the morrow. We didn’t feel like unpacking Gideon’s pack-n-play, so Gideon and I slept in one bed, and Jeff in the other. Jeff had a good night’s sleep. I, on the other hand, was smacked, kicked, and grabbed all night long. 5:00 a.m. did not come quick enough. I didn’t realize was an active sleeper this little boy was.

Bleary eyed we made the rest of the trip in an irritable state, and simply just anxious to be out of that truck. A fussy and bored baby was no help. I must have sung him 20 songs trying to distract him, and fed him every hour or so…it was much better when he was sleeping.

We finally pulled into our new home, only to find my parents hard at work raking leaves (well, mom was actually sleeping on the front porch)…30 minutes later, my brother and his father-in-law showed up and commenced to unload our truck. My brother’s father-in-law, bless him, even set up our bed and put Gideon’s crib together.

So we’re here. Thanks for the prayers. More to come…

P.S. Yesterday, on Father’s Day, Jeff got a little present from Gideon. Upon occasion, he nips Gideon’s bottom (with his diaper on) because it makes Gideon laugh. This time, Jeff didn’t look before he nipped. Guess who’d dropped a fresh squishy one? Ha. Ha. I had a great laugh at that, though I didn’t see it happen. I only heard Jeff yelping and squealing later….

Gideon has a babysitter!

Yesterday, Gideon spent several hours with his first babysitter. Sweet Katie from church called us and asked us if we needed her to watch Gideon while we packed. Since we’ve been packing for several weeks, we were actually caught up for the time being. So, Jeff had me ask her if she’d come watch Gideon while we went and saw Pirates of the Caribbean 3. It was our first date since our anniversary back in December. I didn't realize what we'd been missing.

We went to a matinee and, as the movie was almost 3 hours long, I kept praying, “Lord, please help Gideon be good for Katie.” We enjoyed ourselves, but I couldn't stop thinking about my little man at home away from us! And Jeff never once thought about him.

We got home and sure enough, Gideon had been having a great time with Katie. He didn’t even seem to notice we weren’t around. All my worry for nothing. He played, went for a walk, napped, and snacked himself happy. Here’s a picture of Gideon with his first babysitter!

Fun in the Sun

Yesterday Jeff, Gideon, and I drove down to Austin to visit Jeff's cousin, Fernie, back from Iraq for a few weeks and his uncle, Bobby, in from California. Fernie has a boat and we all piled in and traversed the lake. Jeff attempted to wake board. Poor fella, after about 10 tries, purple skin, and bruised ribs (not sure how that happened), he gave up.

Gideon had the time of his life lounging against his great Aunt Lorena and napping. What a life. I just enjoyed being out on the water. Here are some pictures of our excursion and a video of Jeff.

Jeff Wakeboarding

Gideon and Uncle Bobby bond

Jeff and Fernie are up to their old tricks with Uncle Bobby,

taping a water bottle to his head as he sleeps.

Uncle Richard looking like a million bucks.

Uncle Richard and Richie take time out
to snack on Chips-A-Hoy

Jeff relaxing on the boat, as if it were his own.

Jeff preparing to hit the water...and attempt to wakeboard.

14 attempts later, he gave up.

Uncle Bobby showing Jeff how it's done. Can you believe

he's almost 52?

Aunt Lorena, Audrea, and Gideon safely ensconced under the awning.

Fernie navigates his way across the water like a watercross professional.

Fernie instructs Jeff for his second "wave" of attempts.

Happy little Gideon loved the water.

Gideon lounges on Aunt Lorena.

Multiply this moment by about 3 hours and you have Gideon's afternoon.

Not in the sun, but funny. Gideon woke up like this at Grandma Marta's house.
What a little lounger.