Randomness

So I've been neglectful as of late and really for no reason. We've been in a whirlwind but for the life of me, I don't really know what we've been doing. Just life, I guess. Esther Grace is in that phase where you can't let her out of your sight for a second and when it gets quiet you should be scared. Very scared. Which probably explains why I haven't been able to sit down at the computer and post. I usually do it during naptime, before they get up, or after they go to bed but that's when I've been doing all my motherly duties. Let's face it- we need clean underwear.

Anyways- Jonah's birthday was great! :) He's so big now....four, you know....and he doesn't let me forget it for one second. His party is this Saturday and I plan on taking pictures and posting about it before he turns five. I also had my very first parent-teacher conference this week as a parent. They're much more stress free on that side of things!

I heard this new song on the radio yesterday and LOVED it. I'm pretty sure it was the introduction by the boys' choir that did me in. Yep. Definitely. I can't find it on the free playlist website where I get my songs so I just embedded the cheesiest video I've probably ever seen. Ignore the visual and focus on the audio please. I think I loved it so much because I studied Isaiah 55 this week and it was rambling in my brain while driving.  Don't forget to pause my player at the bottom of the page!

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. " Isaiah 55:1-2 

What have you been listening to lately? Any favorites? I think we can all agree that while "Our God is Greater" is an incredible song, I'm getting a bit tired of overplaying it. Let's take a break and share in your favorites too. I'll search and try to add them to my list. :)

A Little PR

We have friends, David and Stephanie Cannon, who are extrememly gifted when it comes to any type of media product. They've officially become our family photographers, they did my sister's wedding (I promise I'll post about that soon!), and do everything media related for our church. Not to mention they're our children's godparents so if Bear and I die anytime soon, you get to visit them on holidays to see the kids. :) Here's the link to their photography business: http://www.speedbumplove.com/

Recently, David has expanded his repetoire to include video and has just started producing some videos for some fly shops in North Georgia. He can do any type of business if you're interested in updating your marketing.

Customs & Lee Greenwood

Well, Tantie is married off and we're back from Mexico! I will definitely fill you in later on all the exciting details but for now, I'm just going to try and get some laundry done and our bags unpacked. I will let you in on a little secret though.

Whenever I travel abroad, which is not as often as I prefer, I inevitably end up in customs upon arriving back in the U.S. This happens to be one of my most favorite things about traveling. One might think I would cherish the memories of visiting exotic cultures or seeing some of history's greatest treasures.....no. The very best part of traveling is standing in the lines of smelly, exhausted, irritable passengers approaching customs.

First of all, visitors to the U.S. are herded to the right while residents continue on until they reach a string of counters manned by agents sitting in their little booths. Already I feel like I'm beating the system. Once settled into a shorter line by the booth of my choice, I get my passport out and ready to hand over to the smiling face behind the desk. They always ask me about my travels which gives me a small opportunity to briefly live in my fantasy world where I'm a recurrent jet-setter just back from my lastest excursion. Little do I realize, the lack of stamps in my little blue book give away my secret. The agent scans the computer screen, probably checking to make sure I'm not an international fugitive since I do have such an air of mystery, and here it comes......

He picks up his little round stamp......

Smacks it right on my page......

Looks up at me squarely in the eye.....

And as "Proud To Be An American" begins to faintly echo in my mind, he says.....

"Welcome home, Mrs. Keeling."

To Every Thing There Is A Season...

Okay, before continuing with this post I want to state for the record that I will NOT be posting as often as I have in the past, say, 24 hours. For one thing, my dad has requested his laptop and Internet card back (something about work...like that's important) so there goes my access. That and my husband is about to revoke my blogging privileges. But this post had to happen because the primaries are next Tuesday. With that said, I don't want to use this blog as my personal soapbox but cupid's arrow has struck!

Let me back up. Bear is undeniably the love of my life. He fulfills every wish I had in the idea of a husband and father and I couldn't be happier. Prior to our meeting, however, there was one who held my heart like none other. It all began on November 7, 2000. I was a college freshman and a newbie to all things political. I did take Political Science my junior year in high school but that semester was mainly spent writing notes in French (to avoid anyone reading them, of course) to Elizabeth, my best friend, about the latest news in the halls. So I was enthralled. Sucked into the war of good vs. evil played out in every late night talk show and media website. If I could've staged a sit-in in Milledgeville, I would've. It's just that there are no liberals in middle Georgia so it would've held no political significance whatsoever.

Enter George W. Bush.

Yes, I realize that I just lost a bunch of you. But you have to understand at the young age of 19, the silver hair, that sheepish grin, his southern accent, and those smoldering eyes were more than I could stand.





That and his wife has GREAT hair.









Yes, I am fully aware that I just set a bunch of ya'll up for a perfect opportunity to completely ridicule me but I don't care. I'm proud of my unrequited love affair. Granted this is all pre-9/11. The terrorists took a toll on dear Georgie and he never quite recovered.

Just shy of one year later, in October 2001, imagine my delight when I began dating William Wayne Keeling. I got my own "W"! After serious heart-to-hearts, a few tears, and some heated debates, Bear allowed to "grandfather in" my love to our marriage. (No pun intended.) Well, it's been a good run but Dubya has moved on and so must I.

Tonight at church, Jody Hice spoke. He is Georgia's 7th District Congressional Candidate.




As soon as he began wrapping up his session, I leaned in close to Bear and whispered, "I think I just got a new boyfriend" which was promptly followed by a spousal eye-roll. I added, "I think this is blog-worthy" hence the aforementioned revoking of privileges. While my relationship with G-Dub was purely based on physical attraction, Jody and I share strictly an intellectual bond. (His wife of 27 years may be reading this.) He means business and I love it! How should I put this? He wasn't confrontational or judgemental, as the stereotype for Republicans tends to be. But he also refuses to back down from Truth and is not afraid to tackle it in the public arena like others are. I really, really liked him. His arguments were so well-thought out and based on what our founding fathers intended for this country as well as Scripture. This is definitely admitting my ignorance but I have no idea what boundaries define Georgia's 7th Congressional district. All I'm sayin' is if Hice is on your ballet come next Tuesday, check that box! Seriously, I believe that he will defend Jesus Christ and the Bible in Washington and we need more of that. Check out his website: http://www.jodyhice.com/

Charles Stanley, Andy's dad, challenged his congregation on July 4 to pray for the next 20 weeks for our nation. (The video's on YouTube...."Turning the Tide"-check it out. It's great. And definitely more entertaining than summer programming. Although, "So You Think You Can Dance" is awesome....) Tonight, Jody Hice specified that challenge. He asked for people to pray at 7:14 a.m. and p.m. for our nation to return to its Christian heritage. Why 7:14?

2 Chronicles 7:14

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Please join me in interceding before the Throne to plead our Lord to bless this nation once more.

Now. I will leave you until next week....unless I can wrestle the laptop away from Dad sooner! ;)