Our New Home...

After Jessica's Thanksgiving post, I realized that we had not posted any pictures of our new home. As she mentioned, we feel as if this is the home that was meant for us at this time. Once we knew that we were coming to Greeneville, she did a wonderful job searching for a home that would be a fit for each of us. We needed lots of room for the kids, plenty of yard for them to play and grow in, as well as room for homeschooling and, of course, for my Man-Cave (lol). Greeneville is not a very big town, and there were not a large number of large homes for sale. Jessica spent a couple of weekends looking over homes, particularly in one marathon Saturday with our wonderful realtor (who may not have realized what he was getting himself into), and then brought my father and I along the next weekend to finalize the choice. There was no doubt this one was it once we had seen the others. A few hours later, after some extensive conversations between the two realtors, the home was ours.


At this point, we seem to have settled in nicely. Of course, any home has to be decorated for the holidays, and Jessica had a plan in mind for how she wanted our new house to appear for its 1st Christmas with the Lewis household. She has a wonderful sense of style and country grace, and she visualized things beautifully. It has a simple yet elegant look... I love how it turned out!


Just so everyone is aware, we have two large porches (symmetric on each side of the home) that are very inviting for company (hint hint- we'd love to have any of you up for a visit!) Jessica will be adding country style rocking chairs and a couple porch swings in the spring. If you come there will be lemonade and some cookies.

And, just for the Garretts and Spruills this Holiday season, I left out pictures of my Volunteer items from my Man Cave. Of course, not that anyone would want to brag about being a UT fan right about now...

Reasons for Giving Thanks

This time a year allows us to reflect upon all the things for which we should be grateful. There are so many things great and small to be thankful for that the list is endless. We, here in our household, are often not as thankful as we should be or even thankful often enough for all the blessings God has bestowed upon us. The last few years have really reminded me to be thankful for the good times and the bad (even the bad times can often times be a blessing in disguise), for the blessings I've had, and for the blessings to come.


Here's our top 10 Reasons for Giving Thanks this year.

1. Our children: Riley will be one month old on Thanksgiving Day. We are so blessed and thankful for our little surprise. She is sleeping and growing well, and loves to be cuddled. Jax will 15 months old on the 30th. He is a ball of fire that keeps us on our toes. He will be able to keep us young and die of a heart attack at the same time. Calen is zooming towards his 6th birthday. He is growing up more and more everyday. We can't believe how big our first baby is.

2. Homeschooling: What a blessing it has been for our family. We love almost everything about this time together. We are thankful for the good times and the bad (there is probably more to be learned during the bad times anyway...) At the end of this week we will have completed 1/3 of our school year. Calen would be thankful if he no longer had to do copywork or handwriting. These subjects are the majority of those bad times that really are a blessing in disguise. He'll thank me later... maybe.

3. Family: It has been nice to be back home in TN closer to family. I like not having to schedule extended periods to come visit. I enjoy being able to have our families over for their birthdays and cook them dinner and their favorite desserts.

4. Friends: How fortunate we are to have so many wonderful people in our lives! There are many that we don't communicate with as much as we would like, but we are still thankful for their part in our lives. God has blessed us by putting each one of you in our lives when and where we truly needed you, and for that we are thankful.

5. New Home: I truly believe this is the house we were meant to buy at this time. It had almost everything on my wish list. It has a large yard for the kids to play, bedrooms large enough for most of the kids' things, a finished basement that was completed with a homeschool area (THE selling point), a kitchen that has lots of cabinets, pantries, and counter space, and welcoming porches were you can seat, swing, sip tea or lemonade, nibble cookies and chat the day away if you have the time.

6. New Job: Danny's job is going very well so far. He's enjoying being free from the vigors and restrictions of residency and fellowship, and he's enjoying establishing his own practice style. His Sports Medicine clinic are expanding nicely, particularly for a location that has never had Sports Medicine before, and he's picking up new patients rapidly in his Family Medicine clinics (there's 11 new patients on the schedule for tomorrow so far). He's working with Tusculum College, and is beginning to get involved with teaching residents and medical students again. He's very thankful to be at a hospital where he feels a vital part of the system, and to be in a practice where it's not only all right to talk about God and Faith- it's expected to be part of his practice.

7. Freedom: We are so blessed to live in a country in which we are free to do pretty much as we please. The benefits are vast, but the cost is pricey. We are able to come and go as we please, get an education, attend the church of our choosing (or not), and speak our thoughts and opinions. It is often taken for granted without much thought of our we obtained it and how we keep it. Please pray and keep our troops in mind this holiday season, and thank a soldier and their families if you can.

Xerox is doing something awesome for our soliders. Follow this link, pick out a card, Xerox will print it and send it to a solider in Iraq. http://www.letssaythanks.com/

8. Eight and 9 are a combination of thanksgivings and blessings. On November 12th, Calen accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. In recent months, his questions and discussions about God and Jesus had become more detailed. He began to worry and fret about things that most children do not think about such as dying and the Rapture. Although he has always been a thinker and a worrier, it seemed more intense. We thought the Lord could be working on his young heart. He had also been asking how you got saved, when you knew to get saved, and so on. That night we were talking about something spiritual although the specific topic escapes me. We were in the car waiting on Danny. When Danny got in I told him that Calen had said he "couldn't wait to get saved." Calen then said with a cracking voice that he wanted to get saved but didn't know how. We told him would be talk and pray when we got home. He chose the couch for this special moment. We couldn't wait for that Sunday when we as a family joined the church, and Calen stood in front by himself to tell everyone that he had accepted Jesus into his life. He also couldn't wait to be Bapitized.

9. Calen (and Mom) are Bapitized. On the morning of November 23rd, Calen and I were Bapitized together. Although I have been a Christian for 15-16 years, I have not been Bapitized. For months I had been telling Danny that I needed to get Bapitized before Calen (I had a feeling he was getting close). In fact, on November 5th I had talked with a friend about it and said that we would be joining the church after the New Year and I had to get Bapitized before Calen. The next Wednesday Calen was saved and wanted to be Bapitized immediately. It is humbling to be reminded that God's plans for our lives are better than the ones we had. That leds me to the most important thing to be thankful for this (and every) season.




















10. Our Heavenly Father. I am thankful for His grace, love, strength and mercy. I love that He tells us that with Him all things are possible, apart from Him we can do nothing, and that if we let Him he will lighten our burdens and set us free. I am thankful for His gift of salvation. It is truly a gift, and it can not be bought or earned. All we have to do is accept it and be thankful.

Hope you all have a day of being Happy Giving Thanks!
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessaonians 5:18

I Hate Picture Day

Well, we've survived the week. Danny went back to work on Monday, and Calen and I began our second quarter of school. All has went well until today... picture day. This afternoon we had the kids' Christmas pictures taken. Well, actually, we attempted to have pictures taken. We settled on ones that would work. It took almost two hours including settling on the pictures we wanted.

I'm not sure what happens on picture day, but it is a day of stress and chaos. No matter how diligent I am, schedules are off as well as the kids behavior. It doesn't matter when I schedule to have pictures taken- one or more will be tired, cranky, hungry, thirsty, silly, sick, wet, dirty... (the list goes on and on). This session brought even more challenges because it required the cooperation of three children.

Calen is still in his cheese phase, but even if he starts out with his beautiful natural smile, it is strained by the time Jax is somewhat in the pictures. Jax, oh my, that child is all over the place. He can not sit or stand still for one second. His beautiful natural smile is seen walking directly towards the camera, climbing the chairs, trying to open the present props, or throwing the ornaments. Hey, they look like balls. As for the presents, after a birthday under his belt he knows what to do to that pretty little bow.

On top of Jax's antics was the lovely carpet burn to his forehead and gash to his eyelid. I tried to explain the the traditional Christmas colors are red and green not black and blue. He has had one accident after another since I booked the appointment earlier in the week. Thankfully his busted lip had healed, and he hadn't lost any teeth. Riley is not quite three weeks old, but she was not in the Christmas spirit during most of the picture taking. We did capture one picture of her dosing in the beginning and another with her eyes open. She looked absolutely beautiful after the session was done and we were picking out pictures to purchase.

So picture day is over for another few months. I hate picture day. Maybe the Christmas pictures in 2011 will go well. Calen will almost nine, Jax will be four, and Riley will be three. Unless... but I'm not going to go there right now. I hope to one day enjoy picture day again.

Green Eyed Monsters

Well, jealousy has descended upon the Lewis household with Riley at the center of it. However, it is not over mom's or dad's attention, but between Calen and Jax affections for their sister. Riley's love and attention has become a mini battle ground between her two brothers.

If Jax is holding Riley, then Calen will snatch her away all the while Jax is screaming at the top of his lungs. If Calen is hugging and kissing on Riley then Jax is screaming and trying to nudge his head in there so he too can love on his sister. There is screaming, and pushing, and nudging, and pulling, and smacking. Their eyes light up at the sight of little Riley, but darken when one is too close for the other's comfort.

Mom says that my sister and I were like this with our little brother. She has the pictures to prove it. One shows me holding Justin while Amanda sits beside us red-faced and screaming. We don't yet have pictures since I'm usually trying to make sure Riley is not injured or disturbed during these disputes. With Danny and I both around, it doesn't tend to happen as often or be as loud and physical than if it were just me. If there are two of us then we can generally distract either Calen or Jax.

We are so blessed that they adore their baby sister. I'm sure the "newness" of it all will eventually wear off. Until then, we'll just grin and bear it. Love can sure be brutal sometimes.

Where the Wild Things Are

How time flies! We welcomed Riley into the world a week ago today. It is so hard to believe that seven days have passed already. She is doing so well and even sleeping pretty good, although 3:30 AM is her social hour.

Riley and I came home from the hospital last Wednesday. Mom brought the boys over for a few hours to see their sister. I can not begin to tell you how much they love her. So far we've not seen one ounce of jealousy from either one. Calen was here just a few minutes until he climbed on the couch begging to hold her. While he was holding her, he gave us his blessing for another sibling. He had done the same with Jax, but I wasn't sure he would be this enthusiastic with two little ones. I was wrong. Jax was equally enthusiastic about his baby sister. He also wanted to hold her and keep running to whoever had her saying, "Sissy" "Sissy" over and over. Calen was a little sad to have to leave when it was time.

On Friday, Mom again brought the boys over for a few hours to visit so we could see them in their Halloween costumes. We went out for lunch, and while there Calen had to go to the bathroom. Before we headed to the restroom I asked Calen to pick up Jax's sippy cup because I couldn't bend over too well. On the way Calen made the comment that "You never know how many children God will give you." I told him that yes, that was true. As he went into the bathroom stall he was still talking about babies. I asked what if God gave him 10 more babies. "That's fine," he said. "What about 20 more?" I asked. "That'll be okay too, " he replied. Then I said, "What if God gave you so many brothers and sisters that you could only have one present at Christmas?" From the bathroom stall there was a brief pause, then a solemn, "Well, I don't know about that." Just thought I'd give him a different perspective...

Saturday, Mom brought the boys home- no visits this time! I had to go change Riley's diaper, and Danny was preparing Jax for a nap when Calen came into the room. "Do you have to be an adult to get married?" he asked. "Yes. Why?" Danny and I replied at the same time as we glanced sideways at each other. With Calen you never know exactly where the conversation is headed. "I can't wait to grow and get married." he said. Danny and I again looked at each other a little shocked. "I hope I grow up soon because I can't wait to get married. I hope I find a pregnant one quick!" he said. At this Danny and I both pretty much lost it. Maybe its time we start to discuss with some more detail how these babies are made.

Calen is also a sensitive soul. He kept my sister up on Tuesday night worrying about breastfeeding, getting enough to eat, if Riley will get to go to Heaven, and all sorts of other ponderings. He has also come to tears several times over the thoughts of Riley turning one, Riley growing up, Riley not being so cute once she gets bigger, Riley getting married, Riley having a baby. The things he thinks about astonishing. He worries over things most five year olds could care less about.

Overall, the adjustments home have gone well for Calen and Jax. Jax has a bilateral ear infection so he's a little whiny, but overall in good spirits. Saturday night was a little rough for him to go to sleep. Then the time changed, and he was up earlier than normal. Sundays are also rough for him because he is such a creature of habit. Yesterday and last night and tonight went much smoother. Calen adjusts fairly quickly at this point in his life. Danny and I feel so blessed that they are so in love with their little sister. I kind of feel sorry for the guys who will come calling in the future between her Daddy and two big brothers.