Braves at Turner Stadium

Over the 4th weekend we took a trip to Atlanta with Josh & Lindsey, Kevin & Pam, and Daniel & Heather to see the Braves play the Astros. The game a little disappointing, they lost and Chipper had a not so good night, but the atmosphere was 2nd to none.
Sunday we did a little exploring in downtown Atlanta and visited the "New World of Coke," much better than the first one if I do say so myself. If you ever get a chance to go make sure to go to the 4-D theater. The seats move and wind blows and you get poked and everything. It was really neat. Not to mention that coke tasting...over 64 different coke products from around the world. I tried a few, but I think I'll just stick to my Sprite Zero and Fresca. Steve, tried a few more than I did, but I think he's satisfied with just plain Coke. Daniel on the other hand tried all 64.

Forever and a Day

So it's really been what seems like forever and a day since I've updated. As usual life has been incredibly busy for us, but I know you all have the same story. Lot's to update on, I'm going to do it one at a time so bear with me for the next couple of days as I get it all together.
We don't have children but do have nephews and a niece. For you mom's out there who know what happens when you give little kids pasta I'm sure you are secretly laughing inside because you know what is to come. Shane stopped by with the kids a few weeks ago and they decided they wanted to stay and eat with me and Steve when they saw the pasta spoon in my hand. Of course we thought we were up for the challenge, but two weeks later I was still finding little red pasta fingerprints throughout the house. How they do it, I don't know, but these little creatures leave their mark everywhere. I'm posting some pictures of their visit. Although we love and cherish these wonderful children, and just in case any of you were wondering we are not planning on having children anytime soon.

The Honeymooners

So, now that life is a little more settled I'll give a quick report on the honey moon. I know I'm leaving out the wedding, but we don't really have any pictures yet, so I'll post them when I have some. All you really need to know about the wedding is that it was the most beautiful wedding that ever was :), and no I am not partial at all!

Anyway back to the subject, we went on a cruise that stopped in Cozumel and Calica. It was absolutely gorgeous there, the water indescribable. It really made you think about how much GOD pays attention to every little detail, but that's another sermon.

Neither of us had ever been on a cruise before so it was definitely an experience that we will never forget. There is something to be said for fine dining and a 24-hour soft serve ice cream machine! We saw lots of very, very, very interesting people (to say the least), but perhaps the most memorable part of our honeymoon cruise was the bed...now don't go and tune out thinking I'm going to share about you know being married and all, not even gonna touch that one, but I would like to share what I hope you will find as humorous as we eventually did. When we stepped into our cabin on the ship we were astounded to see that we would be sharing a twin bed! Yes, there was another one, but it was hanging from the wall. I didn't take much convincing that it was going to be ok, I mean what else are you going to do? Steve however, took a little more convincing! Anyway, that's all I've got for now.

STRENGTH

I know it's been a while since I've made a post, but I'm back now and hopefully all will soon be back to normal, if that can really happen. I intended on sleeping a little later today, but I can't sleep and I just feel the need to pay a special tribute to someone who has been way more important to me than I ever realized. Last week, Thursday May15th my dear grandmother died. As I think about my memories of her I smile, and one word comes to mind. STRENGTH, you see my grandmother was the strongest person I knew, and I hope that in being near her for much of my life that maybe she gave me a small piece of her strength...for with just a small piece I know that I can conquer many things.

Melinda Nancy Bailey Prevost

September 19, 1925

May 15, 2008

These are just a few ways that this wonderful lady showed her strength:

• Strength of Character: My grandmother believed that living your life right and doing things the right way was the only way of life. She never tried or did cheat anyone or anything.
• Strength in Giving: My grandmother showed no bias and would give to anyone. She was fortunate enough to be in a position to give and she did not take that responsibility lightly. It didn't matter whether the person was black or white, poor or rich, beautiful or not so beautiful, she just gave. Such a hard thing for most of us to do.
• Strength of Faith: For as long as I can remember I see that large print Bible with her writings in it sitting next to her chair at her house. She was a faithful servant of our LORD and SAVIOR and I know that right now she's in Heaven planting her garden.
• Strength in Love: My grandmother seemed to have tapped in to that unconditional love thing. She could love without reason, with reason, and for no reason. You see even if she had been wronged, and I'm sure in her life she had been many times she still had the capacity to love.
• Strength of Mind: While the family might giggle at this one, you see my grandmother could come up with some crazy stuff from time to time, she has always been of strong mind. She was a very intelligent woman, a school teacher for close to 40 years of her life.
• Strength of Body: As I have began etching my grandmother's memory into my mind, I can still see her walking out of the garden with her hoe in her straw hat. She was what some would have called a "tough old bird." She never stopped, she always kept going whether it was the garden, or taking care of her siblings, or dealing with her rental property, she was just strong.

I could probably go on for days about the Strength that my grandmother possessed in one body. In my sadness, I mourn her loss, knowing that I won't see her at family get-togethers, doing the things that she loved to do, but as a Christian I celebrate knowing that she has reached her final destination and someday mine. I love you Maw Maw, I'll see you someday!

New Additions

Welcome to the world Aaron Christopher Sansing! I am proud to announce the birth of my new little nephew. It took him a while to decide to come in to this world, but he is hear and just beautiful! Big sister Allie is loving him and wants to help out as much as possible. Baby Aaron aka "Huck" maybe as Haven says should be renamed "Hunk" seeing as how he weighed 9lbs and 8oz. Huck was 20.5 inches long. We can't wait for him to make his first visit to Columbus. Congrats Lara and Chris and Allie.

The Final Countdown

So we have officially entered into the final countdown stage. As of yesterday we had 30 days until the wedding. We are both so excited and can't wait to start our lives together. However, this is an absolutely CRAZY time! There is so much to be done and not enough time to do it. My mother says, "Lea Ann you need to rest..." And I wonder, WHEN? Anyway GOD is good, and HE is showing me how wonderful my life really is.
The blessings of friendship is so sweet. We (Alyssa, Haven, Cathryn, and I) hosted a shower for our friend Sarah this past weekend. It was work yes, but I don't think my heart has felt such rest and joy in the midst of chaos in a long time. The comfort in laughter and good friends is probably one of life's most wonderful remedies. I know that my spirits were so uplifted. Another breath of fresh air came when my dear friend Megan came during her spring break. She is now headed back to Florida where she thinks she belongs ;). I don't know what she was thinking when she up and went away.
To top it all off we also had our church shower this weekend and I still stand amazed as I write thank you note after thank you note at how blessed we truly are. We have been blessed with so much more than we need, I stand in awe. That's all I can say. I hope and pray that GOD is giving you those little or big reminders that show all of the glorious things HE has given you.
I'm posting some pictures from the weekends festivities, and want to take time to name one more blessing since I seem to be counting them 1 by 1....Our mothers. I see more and more everyday how much our mothers (and fathers too) do and sacrifice for us. Every time I turn around they are doing something else for us, not them, for us. It really just makes me want to cry. We don't ask, they just do. The love that they have for us doesn't seem possible, but praise be to my FATHER because I wouldn't have it any other way. Want to leave you with just a little advice that my mom shared with us girls one day. We asked her how we could repay her for all that she does and she said, "Do it for your children." I hope that I will be like that...for what it's worth!

Sadie and Softball

Our little Sadie is growing up so quick! Actually she's just getting fat. The switch to dry food has, um well, made her real healthy! The pictures show how much she has grown, the first is one about a week after we got her, the second is last week. She's definitely going to be a big girl. She's enjoying the nice weather and being outside, she's a sweet dog, but still hasn't mastered the fetch command. She does like the treats though.
We spent Saturday at the ball park, it's that time again. The boys are off to a pretty good start, by the end of the season they'll be winning them all!
Thanks for all the prayers for my grandmother, she's out of the hospital now and doing better. We're all learning to deal with the fact that she will never be the same old Maw Maw that we've always known, but are thankful that she's sleeping and eating better. We now know that along with the diabetes and kidney problems that she has congestive heart failure. They say she it will only worsen with time, but that we could still have many months and maybe years with her. She came back to Columbus for a visit this weekend. We had 10 people sleeping at our house....quite interesting to say the least!