Home = Family

*Please excuse my rambling*

Home...
This word has so many meanings to many people. When I think of home I think of family! Growing up my family was and still is very close. We were very unusual. If Kelly and I did not have plans on the weekends we would just go out with my parents. I was the type of person in high school that I would much rather just stay at home and hang out then go out places. My friends always wanted to just go hang out at my house. I guess this is why I love being at home so much!
When I moved away to go to college everyone thought I would be home within the first semester! I probably would have if my sister had not been getting married and I literally had to be home EVERY weekend for a semester. The second semester I surprised EVERYONE by only coming home about 4 times!
Then I did decided to move home to one change my major and two be closer to the ones I loved! I missed my mom and dad and really missed my time with my sister. (and of course Patrick was at home.)
After Patrick and I got engaged we started talking about where we would want to live. I of course had always thought that we would live near our families but he had other plans. He wanted to get away and see how it was to live away from family and start a new life. So I finally gave in and we decided to move!
I was very hesitate at first because Caroline was just 9 months old and I LOVED spending time with her. I remember the first week I cried almost everyday because I missed being able to see her everyday! Every month things got alittle better and we eventually started meeting people and decided to buy "our home".
I am so glad we did decide to move away because we learned how to rely on each other and especially rely on God to get us through many things. We went from knowing TONS of people and being able to have plans almost weekend with someone to only knowing us and learning how to have fun with just the two of us!

Now that we have Mary Alice I honestly do not feel that our "home" is the right "home" for us anymore. It is so hard for me to be here knowing that Mary Alice is missing out spending time with her grandparents. There is nothing I treasure more than the time I got to spend with my Mimi, Grandma, and Poppa. I also wish that Mary Alice could spend more time with her cousins. Some of the most precious memories I have of my childhood are when I got to spend the night at my Mimi's with my cousins. We would have SO much fun and I cherish those times. I want Mary Alice to have the opportunity to experience these moments as well. Caroline and Eli love her so much and I know she LOVES to play with them!

Don't get me wrong we have great friends down here and I love where I work. Mary Alice has the BEST babysitter in the world but every time we go back "home", it is so hard for me to come back.

So I am asking for your prayer and help!!! We cannot move back unless we have jobs and right now it is hard for Patrick to find a job. He is a landscaper so if anyone knows any businesses hiring PLEASE let us know! Also if you could please pray for God to show us His will for our lives right now! Even though we want to move back we want to make sure this is what God wants for our lives.

So I guess in my mind home means being with family and I don't think you can ever fully take me away from my family! I guess my Grandma was right when she said "This family is ODD." I do have an odd family but we are very close and loving family.

Cabbage Patch Doll

A couple weeks ago we headed to visit our family! Patrick's dad is the manager at one of the family stores so we went to visit him for lunch. He was walking MAG around the store and Patrick and I turned around and this is what she looked liked! This is a wig that they put on the manikins. She let us keep it on for a long time and I think she looked liked a Cabbage Patch Doll!
*Thanks to Kelli for pointing out the Cabbage Patch Doll. That is really what I meant from the beginning! Sorry for the crazy confusion*

10 months

Mary Alice turned 10 months old on the 9th! We have finally survived the stomach virus so I have time to post now!
Here are some highlights:
She LOVES music! Every time she hears music she dances.
She cruises all the furniture.
She loves to "walk" her toys around to get where she needs to go.
She survived the stomach virus!
She is getting her two top teeth.
She loves to feed herself.
She is attached to her mommy! She is a true Mommy's girl.
She loves Lexy.

Prayer Request

Please pray for us today!
Tuesday night Mary Alice woke up around midnight throwing up and threw up for about an hour. I stayed home with her on Wednesday and she seemed much better!
Patrick and I both woke up early Thursday morning throwing up. We called John and Alice and they hurried down here to get Mary Alice and kept her for us yesterday. We were very thankful that they came down here and got here before she woke up. Mary Alice then spent the night with my parents. My mom called me this morning to let me know that Mary Alice is still not eating and not feeling well.
Patrick and I are doing better but still feel bad every once in a while!

Please Please Please say an extra prayer for us today!
Thanks!