Quote of the Week

Yes, it's time for the that very interesting, exciting, edge of your seat "Quote of the Week"

"Love is the sacrifice of self"

I really like this definition of love because it's so simple straightforward and SOOOO true.

I think about this quote often:

• like when I hear new moms-to-be talk about what is happening to their bodies, I think yes, that's love, giving up your body, they have no idea what's about to happen to their hearts.
• like when I hear Chris say "yes" to Joshua to go throw the baseball, even though he just got home from work and I know he's tired, I think, yes that's love, giving up your time.
• like when I see Jessica or Joshua give into what the other is asking, I smile and think, yes that's love and they don't even realize it.
• like when I watched both sets of my grandparents take care of their ill spouses with patience and tenderness, I think yes that's love
• like when I read about what Jesus did for us or see a picture of the cross, I think yes, that's love, amazing love, the sacrifice of self.

Oh no!!

8 comments!! That's a record for me my friends. I have been basking in the glow of 8 comments for several days now (Ok secretly rechecking, chanting "9, 9 c'mon 9, do have a 9er") However, I will chose to be satisfied with 8. (maybe)

Now I have bloggers block. I don't have anything to blog about at the moment. I keep waiting for that moment where I think, "yes, I could write a blog about such and such" but another day has ended and I got nothing interesting to share with my 8 (maybe 9 right?) readers.

SOOOOOOOOOOO here's what I want. Tell me what you want me to write about...

Hmmmmm that could be interesting... Especially if no one responds. Ha, now that would be a clear answer wouldn't it.

I will check back in an "undetermined" amount of time to see if I have any comments.

NEEDY!!!

OK! OK! OK!!! So after "quote of the week" seems to have bombed (read: 0 comments) I have to admit my pain and issues to you!! Ready? Are you sure?

Hello my name is LeRay Havard and I am a "commentaholic"

Sad but true. Everyday for many years, more often than I feel I should admit to, I check my email. I get a good little rush from the envelope icon that pops up to tell me I have an email coming in. I even try to guess who it might be before it pops up, just for funsies. Imagine my sadness when the "junk email" goes bold and I know it's no one.

Even when I was subbing at the school and I would get an email, this loud "ding" sound would play and I could be in the middle of a lesson and feel a cold sweat coming on because, I... just... need.... to... go.... check....

Ok so this sick obsession has now carried over to my blog. If I had known what this blog would have exposed about me I don't know if I would have started it. You see, now I check my email and then feel this overwhelming urge to click "internet" "favorites" "my blog" to see if anyone has left me a comment. SO just picture pathetic little me clicking away and see "0 comments" for the umpteenth time that day, and then I just kinda get a small little pouty face and then try to pretend I don't care. That's the rub: I do care!! I hate being needy, ask anyone in my family, they will tell you.

Why can't I just be happy and content writing my thoughts and leaving it at that? Why must I have the feedback? Now when I go to other peoples blog, if I actually know them, I will try to leave more comments, since I know how painful it can be (ha ha). Unless of course they are they type that write a blog and have 25 comments in one day. To that I say "NO FAIR!!" If I don't know the person, I am scared to leave a comment, thinking they might think I am a "blog stalker", I just don't know the etiquette there, do you introduce yourself, do you try to explain how you found their blog, etc.

Ok so if you want you can feed my addiction and post a comment (just a simple Hi will work), or if you wish for me to continue down the hard road of recovery then remain silent.

Oh the blogging issues...who would have thought

Quote of the Week

I like quotes! Do you like quotes? I keep a running list of quotes in the notes page at the back of my Bible. I know a good quote when I hear one because they usually make me stop, and go "hmmmmm". SO I think I am gonna start a "quote of the week" on my blog. Some will be funny some will be serious, but hopefully you will enjoy them and feel free to add to them.

drumroll please....

"Can anyone tell me what's wrong with our family?"
Actually I found this one funny and noteworthy because it was said by Jessica while the four of us were dining at Chili's and acting a little goofy. If she feels this way at 7, imagine her thoughts at 16?

"We are too busy for His glory"
I have been listening to Beth Moore's Bible Studies online and she said this and it struck a cord with me. God is doing amazing things around me all the time and I often miss it because I am too busy. "Be still and know"

Ok well I know that was two quotes, but you will live.

On a completely different side note: I am sitting here this morning and my house looks different to me, what is it? OH, yes that's it, the SUN is coming through the windows, I forgot what my house looks like with the sun shine coming in. Please: rain, rain go away, come again another day.

13 Years

Today is our 13th anniversary!!! 13 may be considered unlucky to some, but to be honest with you, with each passing year I am more and more convinced that I am the luckiest girl in the world. I think I have been in love with Chris Havard since I was 11 years old and saw him in Mrs. Carnes 6th grade English class. We had to write in our journal about some topic that she put on the board and I still remember that when she asked who would like to read their journal to the class, Chris volunteered to read. This caught my attention because I would have rather had a severe case of the flu than to do anything in front of other people. Just the mere asking for volunteers sent me into a cold sweat and attempt to shrink as small as possible or deep into prayer asking for the gift to become invisible. So yep, that's when I first noticed the skinny little blond boy. I have been infatuated ever since. His first memory of me was in gym class, I think it was the short purple polyester gym shorts that caught his eye!! HA!!! Anyway, 6th grade started a sweet little journey down a road full of blessings, adventures, a deep friendship and a "knowing" that I am extremely grateful for.

If you have any knowledge of Chris then I think you are probably aware of how completely spoiled rotten I am by him. I am not sure why, but the fella is the sweetest thing to me. I don't deserve it, I am moody as all get out and often selfish. Yet he continues to love me unconditionally, speaks nothing but kindness to me, always helps me in any way possible and always always puts me and our children before himself.

In many ways he is still the cute 6th grade boy I knew, he still doesn't mind speaking in public, he is still as funny as ever, laughter is never absent from us, he even still seems to like me in my gym shorts, but with each passing year, he just gets more and more amazing to me. I am blessed to have somehow managed to snag him and keep him for 13 years, here's to many many more...

Anniversary Getaway

Chris and I just returned home yesterday from a fun trip to Newport, Rhode Island. We dropped off the kids EARLY Wednesday morning at my sister's house and headed to the airport. We flew into Boston, rented a car and drove over to Newport. Before I begin the usual "here's what we did" part, can I just take a moment to say, I REALLY don't like to fly. I don't like the waiting, the lines, the searches, the other people that just bug in too many ways to mention. (though I could, but you wouldn't think I am very nice person, if I went on that rant!!) I don't like the take offs at all, Chris laughs at me, but I get nervous. I really really think it would just be a really yucky way to die. Chris tried to lovingly point out, "It would be really quick and over with fast." I just didn't take comfort in that since he pointed it out DURING take off!!

Ok, so we make it to Newport and we find our very nice B&B get settled in and then head to the movies. Kinda funny we went all that way to do something we could have done right by our house, but that's the beauty of it, we can do whatever we want. We saw Oceans 13 and then headed into the harbor area downtown and had a late dinner. Thursday morning we went sailing on this beautiful boat, relaxed on the front porch of our place and then did the "Cliff Walk". The cliff walk is about 3.5 miles of walking trail, some paved some rocky, that runs along the coastline. You have the Atlantic Ocean on one side and some beautiful mansions on the other. Friday we toured one of the Mansions called The Breakers, built by the Vanderbilt family. I told Chris if I had been alive back then I would have worked really hard to marry into that family!! Another mansion was hosting a flower show. This felt like a true Kennedy, Cape Cod, New England experience. We had lunch outside on this amazing lawn over looking the Atlantic with a tall ship moored just in the distance. Ladies in fancy hats were enjoying the festivities while a 5 piece band played. That night we had a nice dinner at the oldest tavern in America. Saturday we got up, checked out and went "trot trot to Boston" (sorry) walked around little bit and then went to the airport (taking a "scenic" route due to a map problem which some might claim was user error, but I say they need to hire a better cartographer @*&^%!!). We got home late, but were greeted with hugs and kisses from Joshua and Jessica.

Monday is our actually anniversary so check back on a post about that tomorrow.

Here are some pics from the trip:

It's The Thought that Counts

HMMMM! I am really starting to think it isn't the thought that counts, at least in some areas of life. I learned last night that a friend is moving away very soon and I started to have some regrets, which of course set me to thinking. How many times do I "think" about getting together with friends, but never seem to get around to it? How many times do I "think" I need to call someone, yet the sun goes down on another day and I haven't done it. How many times do I "think" I should email that sweet friend in another state, yet I waste my time writing blogs or reading the paper online. It really is kinda pathetic to think that I have more and more tools available to me to connect with friends, yet I still manage to procrastinate or get busy etc. I am missing out on something when I choose to remain self-centered or "too busy" Last night when I learned that my friend is moving I realized, I grew complacent in the idea that I could see her when I wanted instead of actually following through on it. My loss.

It's the "tyranny of the urgent" getting caught up in what must get accomplished right now instead of trying to also remember to do that which is important.

What's the solution? I am not sure, but I think I will call a friend and see if she wants to meet for lunch to chat about it...