Maddie at 3 months & Jayden at 20 months

I got to spend some time with my niece and nephew. They are growing up fast. I have fun playing the papparazzi but must admit since going digital I am way behind on printing any pictures. I made my first scrapbook for Jaydens first few days and weeks and he is almost two. I better get started on Maddies... I had a share a few pics. Jayden and I played in the pillows and played hide and seek. Later I gave him his bath and made it a bubble bath. He had so much fun exploring the bubbles and even was brave enough to put his face under the bubbles -- so that he could come up with a face full of bubbles. I can't believe how verbal he is getting. Here are a few mored pics -- click here

Yard sale finds...

I love a bargain and I love artwork ... problem is, I can't afford to buy many pieces. But I found the answers -- yard sales in nice neighborhoods of Greenville. Janelle and I set off at 7am on my day off. There were bargains to be found and we were out to get them. We hit paydirt around 9am. We both noticed this set of oil paintings and agreed to get them and decide after we got home who would get them. After running it by Josie and find two other small pieces we agreed I got these two and Janelle got two more for her kitchen. I love the big one. Its the kind of picture I want to plan my living room around. The sail boats in the background and the blue ocean that you can fall into. -My perfect get away... just imagine the wind in my face whipping at my hair, the rippling of the sails, and the slicing noise of the boat in the water. The instant freedom from distractions. Ahh I love this beautiful world and can't wait to explore it more.

Here are some pics from a two weeks ago. I can't believe how difficult it is to get a toddler and an infant in one pictures.

This weekend I spent a night out with the girls then went up to Hendersonville for Saturday to get some work done.

Ownership now also includes manhandling large half broken limbs out of tall trees onto the roof top. Followed by rolling it (since its too heavy and bulky to pick up)off the roof. Then one must remove it from sight and since I don't own a chainsaw (half from fear of injury to my own limbs -- after fixing many limbs from the same self induced injuries and half because then its one more piece of equipment for me to try to maintain) ((and I mean try as I seem to fail more than to suceed at the maintaining part)) -can you put an aside inside another aside? Continuing on... I then had to drag said limb 20 feet into the woods. An easier task on superficial statement... problem is.. the limbs catch on all the underbrush which required tramping through briary underbrush in shorts to lift pieces free to drag it further into the woods. Some times my noisy smoke smelled apartment is easier (even when you observe cops breaking up females fighting in the parking lot from time to time).

I got a chance to hang out with the Foskey family. They are growing up so quickly... It was fun hanging out with everyone and playing on a trampoline.

Then I went salsa dancing late Saturday after eating a fresh strawberry pie (made from melt on your tongue strawberries from my garden) with the Wilder family.
Only to make it home 4 hours before having to make it up for church to dance. And worship was amazing on Sunday. God is doing some amazing things. Can't wait to know what he was working on freeing up... I realized the last chapter in my life was on Identity. I believe this next stage of my life is going to include vision and purpose....
Gotta run -- salsa calls

Birthday party with the dance team from RWOC

Pammy's birthday brought the team together for dinner at Cesear's Resturant. We had a nice time chatting and laughing and sharing time together and blessing Pammie with some gifts. Here are pictures

A collage from the weekend

 

Fun with cameras

I still laugh at this one... I turned the viewfinder to the front of the camera with Jayden... He could see himself while I recorded. It was his first experience seeing himself. He was so confused/amused he would run in circles away from the camera....




this weekend was full and fun...

In the last week I have been crazy busy and neglected uploading some pictures. I went to Virginia and had birthday parties for Sammy and for Lanicia.









Then, this week I spent several nights at church - some great insights .... I may share more later...






I had a great time hanging out and catching up with friends.


And enjoyed watching kids be kids....















this weekend I enjoyed catching up with Janelle and Josie and helping out with Jayden and Madelyn. So here are a few pics...



Jayden is such a fun subject to take pictures of...















He loves the swing... so much is hard to convince him to get out of the swing

























And he is a great big brother





















And then they got a great box to play in. I cut a hole for a door and two for windows that open and close.


He had a ball, and decided to start using the larger window as an exit and entrance site.

Downtown

I spent this afternoon enjoying downtown Greenville. I thought I would share a few pictures of the beauty of the day and the architecture around the city.

my day in the sun/ time with family

Ive been tagged....

I've been tagged by my friend Crystal. Crystal & I know each other from a Virginia. She's been the queen of blogging despite the fact that she is the mother to five of the smartest and most beautiful kids. So I will try to pass on this game as I find it fun to find friends who are in common who are blogging..

The rules are as follows...
1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Seven Random Facts about Karla:
1. I've lived in three different states in the last three years -- VA, NC now SC
2. My top 3 favorite activities begin with the letter "s" (although two are expensive and I don't get to do them very often) Can you guess what they are from reading my blog?
3. My middle name came from being named after my grandmother.
4. I love looking at colors in nature -- like sunsets, rainbows or light dancing on water.
5. I want to sell my log cabin in the mountains of NC
6. My current favorite verse is Psalm 139:1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me...
7. I now work with kids who have orthopedic problems.



Seven friends tagged...
1. Lindsay
2. Kristin
3. Gil & Nel Marie
4. David
5. Janelle
6. Marissa
7. Kim and Laura

 
 
 
 


A few pics from the salsa congresito in greenville, sc.... More details after I get some sleep 35 hours without sleep is catching up with me. Sometimes life goes a hundred hours a minute, and I don't want to miss a second.... good friends, buying groceries, seeing family, SALSA dancing, dancing in church, more salsa dancing and then laundry and a peek at the pics... gotta run....

Spring and new things abound...

Spring is here. Traditionally I go and take pictures to prove it... but the proof exist in the blooms that fall off the pear trees, the tulips in bloom, the daffodils, the birds chirping, and the beautiful 60-70 degree days here. I am slowly adjusting to life in Greenville. (I know, "rough life" you say from all my northern friends yearning for the warmth-- except I am very aware of the possible skin melting heat I may face this summer)

I love this time of year. And I love being where God has planted me. And looking forward to the anticipation of what is about to blossom open in my life. I pray that I follow his plans. And can't wait to see what He has in store for me.

The new job is mentally exhausting grasping all the new syndromes children can be born with and learning all the logistics to the specialized pediatric orthopedic care they provide. But luckily the staff is great and encouraging and helpful at educating. I am learning and enjoying it.

And how are other things?...
-- trying new things like the worship/dance team at church
-- trying to switch from late nights to early mornings-- 5:30-6:00 am to be exact
-- still looking for a great Christian man and learning to not let my expectations/standards slip -that God knows I'm worth it and now I realize it too :)
-- trying to learn to salsa dance smoother
--enjoying being an aunt to Jayden and now Madeline -- as of note we gave Jayden and easier version of my name to say and now he proudly says "hi" and "byebye" to "Lala" (missing my other three nephews - Justin, Josh & Walker)
-- enjoying chatting with new friends and hoping to start having energy to hang out more in the next few weeks
-- itching to go scuba diving -- anyone interested in a trip let me know...

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST....still loving life to the fullest, living every moment, treasuring every new memory, giving all I have, sharing my love,taking moments to look up and enjoy those beautiful sunrises, falling down and getting back up to dance again..

My new neice is here....

Madelyn Jane Wilder
entered the world March 14, 2008
at 8:40am
at 7lb.4oz and
19.5 inches long.
Mother and daughter doing well...
more pics to come....

okay click here for more pics

Okay for those that read my blog for lighthearted stories or pictures you may want to skip this.

For the others... my thought today was of truth.

Truth shines light/knowledge/awareness in our life.
Why is it that we fear the truth?
how often do we fear to hear the truth?
how often do we fear to speak the truth?
how often do we run from the truth?

How often do I chose to continue to run in the darkness away from the light?
How many times, and for how long will I stumble, wound, and scar my life in running from the truth?
What is it about the light that we fear?

Is it the glow that will expose my true self?
What is it, that I fear, in unveiling myself?
Is it the glow that reveals my motives and heart?
Is it the knowledge that I've allowed things I want to change to remain unchanged from neglect, fear or lack of discipline.

Is it the glow that reveals the others I have chosen to have in my life?
Is it fear of recognizing their true nature and being disappointed...
Is it fear of being rejected if I know their true intent?
Is it the awareness of things being less than what I want -that people disappoint me or intentionally hurt me?

Is it fear of acknowledging that the circumstances I am living in do not meet my expectations?
Is it the fear of scarred and unhealed areas that we have fought to hide?
Is it fear of the full knowledge of my life, because, then I need to acknowledge weakness/sins I have continued in or areas that I left unhealed.


Why is it that I fear knowing what needs to be changed in my life.
Especially when God has given my power to change things in my life.
Why is that I fear awareness of the fact that people in my life have disappointed me or intentionally hurt me.
Especially when I know that I like those in my life are not perfect and have done the same to others. But that God has blessed us with Jesus' blood that covers mine and their shortcomings. And that He loves us enough to want us to have authority to demand and require respect and to set boundaries with others.
Why is it that I fear a knowledge of sins I have continued in or areas that I have left unhealed.
Especially because God does not expect me to be completely sinless or un-scarred, but He provides the love and anointing oil to heal me and his blood that covers my sin.

Today I hope that I have learned from the truth He revealed and pray that He will bring it to completion in my life, to bring Him glory, and helps me see the treasures He gives us and to be blessed with the fact that God blesses us with time. Time is a but an illusion/perception that wee see our lives through...

An interesting quote I hear this week
Time has a mysterious kindness. It always gives back to us what we have lost, through wisdom and memories.


Scriptures tell us about truth. And that God shines his light in our hearts to help us understand Him and how He is working in our lives...
II Corinthians 4:6-10, 17
6For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"[a]made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed....

16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

babysitting with Jayden

So I've enjoyed my first week at work. I've had tons of reading to keep up with things and have even more to do. Mid week Dr Davids recommended a book that's been very helpful with the physical exams. I have so much to learn.... But I am excited to do it. I have to sit through hospital training and miss out on clinic on Monday and Tuesday. I am still praying for my old bosses to sign off on my reference letters and get them to the board. Their secretary said I should get them on Monday or Tuesday -- please pray that they finish this. I've been bugging them for about a month to get that in...

But tonight I spent some time with Jayden and gave Janelle & Josie a chance to go out to eat to dinner together. Probably one of their last dates before baby girl Wilder arrives in 2 weeks. Jayden and I had a blast together. I can't believe how talkative he is getting. He went to saying up and Mama and Dada to a huge vocabulary. He is growing up so fast. Check him out and they are doing a great job teaching him to clean up after himself...

the journey begins in South Carolina...

They say a pictures worth a thousand words.... So here are a few pics of my temporary housing for the next few months.



A nice convenient apartment for the next few months, while I wait with faith for my house in Hendersonville to sell. Tim & Lindsay and Sammy came to visit and help with the move. I can't believe how big Sammy has gotten. Janelle, Josie and Jayden also came over to help out. I have two bedrooms -- with one being my guest bedroom, office/ storage area. I really am excited to be back in civilization - closer to church, social activities and even the little things -- like grocery stores with a variety of choices and brands. Tomorrow I start my new job and after work I am going to start with my first practice with the worship/dance team at church. What a great way to start my journey in Greenville... and I got a chance to go to Flava invasion 3-- a salsa convention in Atlanta that consists of classes and social dancing this weekend. I shared a room with Tia and had fun chatting and hanging out and getting to know her. I learned a little more about mambo style of salsa dancing while there :) Still not good at it, but I'm intrigued with the styling that can be done with all the turns in mambo vs LA style salsa dancing, which makes me want to learn more... I also had a chance to stop in and visit and have some good bonding time in with Becca while she did my hair. I really have been blessed to have a warm, safe place to stay, a new job, time and resources to go have fun, new friends and old ones.

MOVING...

Moving ... again.... this time to South Carolina.... can't wait to start/finish. So I used a company --2 men and a truck -- great workers, polite, hardworking guys who did a record breaking move for me. They took about 2 hours to load and an hour to drive and another 1.5 hours to unload the truck at the apartment. Those guys can carry a lot of boxes. Considering I have my fair share of medical books in those boxes... I could only carry one file box at a time... these guys were carrying 3 or 4 behind them on their backs... I was impressed.
I have never rented in an apartment complex. I always did duplexes apartments in the past, so this should be interesting...
First thing I noticed... My kitchen cabinets space is limited especially without a pantry.
2nd thing -- there is no microwave -- I need to get mine from the house tomorrow.
3rd thing -- the indoor pool is very warm-- great for relaxing stressed muscles (great benifit to apartment complex)
4th (but should have been first) I have great friends/family who made setting up here a breeze. -- Josie and Tim had the washer and dryer up and running in no time. Beds in place and framed even faster and table assembled despite the fact that two toddlers where attempting to crawl into the table repeatedly during that project. -- Thanks friends and family (especially Janelle & Josie who brought drinks and ordered pizza and all around helped despite fighting illness in their house for a week. And Tim & Lindsay & Sammy who drove 6 hours to help out) I love the additional help of family and friends -- especially when assembling things like a heavy table or things like chosing the layout of kitchen cabinets.
5th -- I am so excited to have such a larger selection in grocery stores... being in a larger city-- that made me smile while getting a few basics last night.
6th --now I don't have to get up so earlier to go to church... of course since sammy's nap time didn't smoothly correlate with first service --we put off going until 2nd service. :)
The list could go on... I am just so blessed to finally be where God wants me and to have all the advantages of a small city. Thank you God!!!

Moving....

So here is my current storage room of boxes ready to be moved next weekend....
Oh the joys of moving.... are there any? Yes -- and the excitement of a new place, closer to friends and loved ones, new friends, closer to church and closer to social settings is what motivates me to pack once again. These last few years have been strange. Moving as often as some change car leases. -- Well let me tell you moving is one way to spring clean a place. It has been very good to purge some final things that I've held onto.

I spent Thursday getting a trailer and filling it and taking it to the dump and returning the trailer. And let me tell you -- for someone who is spatially challenged -- backing up a trailer is a large challenge. And worth more laughter and frustrated "ughs" followed by long arduous sighs and more laughter. And it feels great to get organized and get rid of clutter. (And to conquer the task of moving a trailer) I've also spent time giving things away to family and friends and making a run to goodwill.

And of course, time for salsa, to de-stress and stay motivated. I've been blessed with time to salsa for several nights. And loving learning more - even when I don't get it ... just trying over and over again is fun. Especially with partners willing to forgive or try it again. And being with friends who enjoy something in common is a great thing. And I love meeting new people.

One more week and I will be in Greenville (if things work out with the apartment complex-- pray for that if you would -they left a message wanting more time to replace some carpet. I can't wait :) And God blessed me with getting off an hour early tonight and as exhausted as I was I must admit I skipped out to get home and relax. Well I'm off to bed. I'll post pictures of my room of boxes where I am storing everything for the week. Here are a few pics before packing

Hope you are all feeling as blessed by God's joyful hands in your life protecting and providing for your needs.