The Days Are Long, But The Years Are Short....

This quote to me is so important in this phase of our lives. Everyday it is the same monotonous tasks of meals, playing, baths, etc.... The days seem to drag. But today I looked around and realized this is Millie's childhood. These are her memories. This is the mommy she will remember. These days seem so long, but when I look back the years seemed to evaporate. So we built a paper pirate ship, we sang and danced and I soaked up every minute.

Cozy Nights

Saturday it was 104... yesterday and today the highs were in the 60s. Welcome to Kentucky! I am loving it though, I adore a quilt, beefstew, movie watching, snuggling with my baby girl kinda night. I have had the privilidge of having 2 in a row! The last couple of days we have been drinking sugar milk (packet of sweetner, warm milk and dash of vanilla) every morning. Millie has requested it in a mug so she can call it coffee. It is so cute! She has even taken to using a travel coffee mug instead of a sippy for all her drinks. We have been watching tons of movies, and reading tons of books. I have enjoyed every single one. We learned a new game (Dora checkers), and made crafts like crazy. Tomorrow is more of the same!~ Yay!~

Here are a few photos from a recent trip to Louisville we took with my in laws... we had a blast!

God Is Moving....

For the last 7 years we have attended Hillvue Heights Church in Bowling Green. We have been satisfied with the service and when Mil was a baby we found it adequate. Unfortunately when you are discussing a relationship with the Lord adequate isn't a desirable adjective. Now that Mil is getting older I have found that I am seeking a place more like the church I grew up in. Somewhere people stand up and give testimonies. Somewhere people raise their hands and their voices. Somewhere you feel God moving. Around the same time I was feeling this lacking Wayne mentioned that he would like to find a different church atmosphere. Funny how God puts it on both your hearts. So a couple of weeks ago we sent Millie to Belmont VBS. It is a church just up the road, significantly larger than the church I grew up in, but much smaller than Hillvue. She loved it. The following Sunday we attended church. The major differences being, my parents still attend Hillvue, Millie stayed with us during service (instead of going to Children's Church), and I felt God move. I reserved judgement and oddly enough Wayne and I never discussed our experience. Then we went back this past Sunday. I wasn't sure if I would feel the same about it now that we had been a couple of times, but happily I felt the spirit. When we left the parking lot Wayne turned to me and said, "yep this is it". I am feeling very relieved. I hope that we are able to watch Millie flourish in God and that we notice our family becoming closer to what God wants us to be. Please pray for us and our journey.

Almost there....

Foyer Closet Before

Mid Decluttering

After

So this summer I have a goal to declutter our home as much as possible. I had several areas of major distress. The major problems were: the foyer closet, the pantry, Millie's room, laundry room, Millie's closet, my closet and my desk/craft area. Well..... I only have one area left. My desk/craft area I hope to finish this week. I am so proud! I feel lighter! We have given to Goodwill at least 9 garbage bags full (39 gal bags). We have given clothes, shoes, household items, and toys (oh the toys). Things are looking and feeling so much better. It really is true that it is so much easier to keep your home looking nice when there is a place for everything. Millie has really benefited from this. It is amazing to me how much more she plays in her room now that we have given away half the toys. I think she was overwhelmed. Now she is imagining. I hope I can keep up the momentum. Wish me luck!

Blue Moon Of Kentucky.....

A couple of months ago Millie woke up around midnight. She was upset because of a dream and said she was thirsty and hungry. So I brought her in the family room with Wayne and I. I gave her a snack and turned on America's Funniest Home Videos. She was so excited to be up late. The next day she asked if she could stay up that night. I replied, "no Sweetie, that only happens once in a blue moon". I didn't think anything of the saying and went on with our conversation. A few days later she asked if the moon was going to be blue that night because she wanted to stay up. Wayne and I thought that was so cute. So every couple of weeks we run in her room after we have put her to bed and yell, "it's a blue moon!!!". She gets so excited! We let her have a snack and turn on some show she likes. It is precious to watch her face light up. I think it is one of the memories she will hold dear. I know it is one of my favorites. We haven't done it in a while so tonight we did, and it hasn't lost it's magic. We watched The Next Foodnetwork Star. After the show she went straight to sleep. I hope she has dreams of blue moons.

Sweet Girl Of Summer

Millie in her vacation bible school shirt...

Swimming in her pool....

and dancing in Mommy's heels!

Fun on the Fourth!!

The Cardwell's have a very busy weekend ahead! We start this wonderful independence day with Thunder Over Big Reedy! It is an annual fireworks show/ BBQ at the home of my Uncle and Aunt. Tomorrow we are going to another BBQ and Monday we will end the festivities at my parents house. We will have yet another BBQ and go to the bridge to watch the fireworks show put on by our town. So busy but so much fun.

Our day so far has been wonderful... we woke up at 10! We had pancakes, swam in the pool, did pedicures (red and blue of course), had a pizza lunch and we just woke up from a nap. The only problem I have right now is Millie asking me if we can go to the fireworks yet! Love my Family!!

Just A Little Note

Well hello there! It has been quite a long spell since my last post. We have been very busy healing around our house. Of course there is the ever present hip surgery, but also a little sprinkling of stomach virus and various minor injuries/ bites. We seem to all be on the mend, fingers crossed. We have also been very busy with family gatherings. 2 Family reunions on the same day and this weekend we have 3 4th of July cookouts! Lots of fun but a little tiring. Millie is so excited about the 4th. Today she had to buy a flag at the dollar store "to wave when the fireworks boom"! She also had to buy a red, white and blue necklace because it will be beautiful! I have been calling her my little firework for the past few days and she is eating it up! I can't wait to see her little face light up when the show begins. She makes everything magical. Every year I think, "well she has seen this before so it won't be a big deal", but every year there is a new element of surprise. I love my baby girl!

Birthday Flowers

(the flowers by our driveway)

A long time ago I remember my mom telling me that the wild flowers that popped out the first week in June are my "birthday flower". She always called them tigerlillies. Now my husband points out every year that they are not in fact actual tigerlillies, but every year he gives in after some threats. Anyway, these flowers go unnoticed by most, or they casually glance at them and think "oh pretty". But the first week in June when these flowers come bursting out it is quite special to me. For one thing my Nana and my Mom would always pick me huge bouquets of them on my birthday and make a big deal about how many they could fit in the glass vases. My grandmother passed on many years ago, but every year when I see the tigerlillies its like she is wishing me a happy birthday. When she died the tradition of bringing me big bunches was continued by my mother, mother in law and my Papaw. This is my first year without my Papaw. But the flowers are still there.

When Wayne and I picked a sight for our house to be built it was autumn, we began building in March. That June as construction was well underway, I was shocked to find that our new driveway was flanked on both sides by huge patches of wild tigerlillies. It was a sign to me that we belonged here.

This year Millie is appreciating the flowers for the first time. She is noticing their bright orange color, their huge blooms, their ability to show up in the most bizarre and overgrown spots and that they go to "sleep" at night and wake in the morning. Through her eyes I am appreciating their beauty again. Not a moment too soon. Tomorrow is my 30th birthday. It is a day that I have both dreaded and longed for. But no matter what the emotion of the moment, one thing can bring me peace. My beautiful "birthday flowers".

Touching Base

Hello! So it has been a week and..... we have a new hip. Last Wednesday Wayne had surgery to replace his degenerating left hip with a new prosthetic. It was a very long day full of bumps, but after 4 days in the hospital he was released. Today is one week since surgery and I am shocked at how much progress he has made. I used to be an orthopedic nurse, I remember hip surgery. I was scared because of how much I remembered, but Wayne is so different. He is moving independently with the assistance of a walker. He is standing and walking for long periods of time. (And he even chased after a defiant Millie last night. I couldn't help but stand back and chuckle...) There are still some fears, I think he will always find something to worry about, but for the most part we are clearing every hurtle. I am proud of his determination. I am trying to watch his example so I can have the same mindset about caring for both he and Millie. He is working under the no excuses mantra so I am adopting the same one. It is getting easier everyday. I still request your prayers. Please pray for me to have a better attitude and to stop feeling whiny. I am trying not to show how whiny I feel but it is coming through anyway. I hope to look back at this post in a couple of months and realize how far we have come.

Needing Prayers

The Cardwells could use lots of prayers tomorrow. Wayne is going through a procedure in the morning to replace his hip. We will be inpatient for 3 days. Please remember us and pray for his quick recovery and that his pain isn't too bad.

Thanks

Millie's post

For this post I sat down with the subject of most of my posts... Mil and told her I would write what ever she had to say... here we go....

paint..... I want paint..... but I can't paint.... so I guess you should write momma.... what do you gotta say momma.... I wanna type ....jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjhbvvvbbbbbbbbbhhhhhhhhhhhyhhhhhhhjhhhhhuuuuuuhjuujjjjjjuuuuuuuuuu .... I can write more... ok Holly.... give the puter to me momma.... kkkkkkkkkkkkuuuuuiiiiuuiiiiiii I want you to write Dear Holly... I write Dear Holly all the time... Dear Holly I love you.... nope I'm done... I have nothin to say missy.... I said nothin stop typin... I have no more words!

First Day of Water Play This Year

We have had a week of high temps and clear skies! What a perfect day for water play! Millie was drooling to get in her little pool today, so I broke out the sunblock (for her) and fold out chair. She had a blast (and I got burnt)....

Mother's Day Reflections

Today is the day after Mother's Day, and I had a lovely one. Unfortunately Wayne had to work this year, but when I opened my car door to head to church he had left me roses and a card on my seat. It was very precious to be thought of, especially knowing that usually he is running like a chicken with his head cut off in the morning. Millie made me two cards, one a Mother's Day card and one a thank you card. We went to church and out to eat with my parents. My mom and dad got me a beautiful "mom" necklace. Millie and I then headed to Walmart to pick up a few odds and ends. Crowded! When we got home Millie gave me a wonderful gift, we both took a 2 hour nap. When we woke up I picked up the house and made supper. Wayne came home and we watched one of our favorite shows (Amazing Race). While we were getting Mil ready for bed she asked me to sleep with her because it was Mother's Day, how do you say no to that... you don't. Wonderful Day!
As I was laying in bed last night I began to think of all the "mother" influences I have in my life. I am very blessed. I not only have a spectacular mom, who worries about buying me gifts and making me a corsage on mother's day, but I had a wonderful grandmother. Nana was a huge part of my childhood and into my young adult life. I often shed tears because something happens and one of my reactions is to call her. She has been gone 4 yrs last month and I still remember what her voice sounds like, usually when I try to remember, the words I can hear most clearly are "baby Nana loves you". I think that says it all.
I also have been given women who while not blood related have been mothers to me. The top of the list is my wonderful mother in law. I know usually they don't make the top of the list, but most mother in laws are not Debbie. She has always been nonjudgmental, noncritical. She has been there always. She watches my child and considers it a favor to her, she makes the most beautiful gifts with her own two hands and gives them freely to us( I know these items take hours). I most love about her that she is a great example for Millie of what it is to be strong, smart and a hard worker. She is more comfortable in the dirt playing with Mil than at a fancy party. She reminds me of all the parts I loved best about my Nana. I am grateful Millie has that. I am grateful I have that.
But most of all I have to thank God for my own mother. Raising me was probably not the easiest thing in the world. If you know me you know there was never a more true statement. But my Mom was there. She stayed home with me and my brother until we went to school and then she started working at the school. She never missed big events and she never belittled my feelings. She knew when something was important and she lobbied for me. She always believed me and she took action when I needed her. I remember so many times when my Mom went to bat for me, even when I was too young to understand why. Everyone knows my mom is the most kindhearted person, but when it comes to her kids she is a momma grizzly. I love that about her and I appreciate that more now that I have a little girl. She never made fun, she would listen for hours as I gave her every little detail about school. She seemed grateful to hear. She devoted her whole life to me and my brother. I don't think I ever really comprehended how much of a choice being a good parent is. I just assumed everyone had a mom that cooked and cleaned after them, took them shopping, and catered to their every whim. When I became a mother I realized how much of a calculated choice it is to be a loving mother. You don't wake up everyday and get excited about cooking, cleaning, planning and going to Story Hour. But because you love your child you do it, no matter what a pain. But some parents don't make that choice, they choose themselves over their child. I am grateful my mother chose us. Now a days we have grown to that more comfortable best friend place, the place where we joke and laugh and sometimes I get too much information :) But I hope that one day Millie looks back and feels about me the way I feel about my mom. I hope that one day I look back and see that I succeeded in being half the mom she is.

Just My Opinion

I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only Love can do that." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
I can't think of a more appropriate quote for how feel about the topic dominating the news today. But I would like to say thank you to the military who risks their lives everyday. May God Bless you and your families.

Just A Swingin' and The Royal Wedding

Well the Cardwell family was very busy this weekend... On Saturday we celebrated the Royal Wedding. Millie and I wore veils and had a tea party, complete with pink lemonade and gramcrakers, while watching the wedding. We had a lovely time and I think that Princess Kate has become a common name around our house.

While we were watching the wedding Wayne was supposed to be disc golfing. But instead he shows up with lumber... he decided he wasn't going to "waste" his Saturday disc golfing when his little girl wants a swing. And he set to work..... He is the best Dad. And he did an amazing job!

He plans on adding a second swing when we get more money. He even bought hooks to put on the ends of the top pole so I can add hanging baskets with flowers. I love my sweet little family.

Freshcut Grass and Grilling Steak

I am grateful for the beautiful sunshine today! I am grateful for the smell of freshcut grass and grilled steak. I am most grateful for the sight of my precious hubby and amazing baby girl playing in the yard when I pulled up this afternoon.

Easter

Dear God,
Thank you so much for your love. I can't imagine watching my precious child suffer and die to save someone else. I hurt for your pain of witnessing such horrible acts. I admire your Son for his devotion to us. I love him so dearly for saving my soul and giving my precious baby the same opportunity. I pray you help me share your word with her and help her understand how much you have done for us. Thank you for rolling away the stone and for giving us such a wonderful celebration.
Holly

Easter Week

My precious baby went to visit the Easter Bunny this past week and had her first egg hunt of the season. I am so grateful everyday for the love of this amazing child that God has gifted to me. She is sassy and sometimes more than I can handle, but mostly she has the biggest heart and best sense of humor of anyone I know.

30

I will turn 30 in less than 2 months. This number both gives me anxiety and a strange sense of relief. The anxiety everyone understands, but the relief most people have trouble figuring out. You see I have always had what everyone calls an "old soul". My wardrobe staple is a cardigan, I read and scrapbook for fun, I prefer comfortable shoes and almost never wear "cute" shoes, I like to sit in a rocker and just listen, I am usually (almost always) in the house and in my pjs by 7pm. Not exactly the wild life for a gal in her 20s and I have always been this way. So now I get to say, I don't want to watch that stupid movie, and I don't have too because I am 30. I don't want to listen to your music at an ear splitting volume, because I don't have too I'm 30! I can wear my cardigan and loafers because I am 30!! No I AM NOT HIP OR FASHIONABLE I'M 30!!!!! I know most of my readers are above 30.... and most of you are probably wearing cute shoes and didn't get in last night til midnight... but so what you are not my definition of 30. My bestie is turning the big 3-0 in four months and I swear she is holding on to her 20s by the skin of her teeth. It's kind of funny to watch her plan our wild adventures to celebrate our birthdays, the illegal acts she has listed for us to do.... but then just as I break out in a cold sweat I remember.... I DON'T HAVE TOO I'M 30!!

Waiting for the Storms

Today was such a wonderful day.... 70 and sunny... Perfect!! But tomorrow they are calling for horrible storms. I am already not a huge fan of storms/ wind, but add to that Millie is terrified of thunder and Wayne will be at work and it is enough to give me a stomachache. I am grateful that we live in a basement home, but I sure wish we could continue with the perfect days....

A Beautiful Spring Day

Today was such a beautiful spring day. We had a blast playing outside most of the morning, and then playing at Nonna and Papaws in the afternoon. We came home and watched the UK game with Mammy. They of course had a heartbreaking loss, but it was so funny listening to little Millie cheer and yell at the refs. Oh well, maybe next year.....

Hello Netherlands!!!

Ok so I just found a nifty little thing on the dashboard of my blog called stats.... I don't know whether to be freaked or intrigued.... Who is the person in the Netherlands viewing my blog so much... or Japan.... It is kinda really neat, and a little weird... Either way leave me a comment... I would love to hear from you and your point of view on the blog...

For Debbie

A few of our recent pics...

My Husband The Minister

Well it all started like this...... Wayne has a couple of good friends who were getting married. It was the second marriage for both and they were looking to go nontraditional.... to say the least. They decided to get married in the hospital, in jeans, and with my husband as the official. Yes you heard me right.... Wayne is an ordained minister. He was mailed a certificate and everything. Apparently anybody with a credit card can be ordained. So after the paperwork was complete you would think it would get simple from there, but I told you they were going nontraditional. The vows were the ones from The Princess Bride, you know, Wuv Twu Wuv.... followed by the exchanging of the rings and some real vows, you know, repeat after me, and all that jazz. All in all it was a really fun, low key wedding. However, I don't think Wayne is going to volunteer for anymore weddings, but it was definitely something he enjoyed once.

not the Bible, Gray's Anatomy....

One of my favorite shots, lights around an IV pole

Millie enjoying a cookie...

My Sweet Girl

My sweet girl. She is so precious to me. One day I hope she realizes how much she has changed my life for the better. One day I hope she knows the impact she has had on the whole family. I hope she knows how much her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins love her. She is so lucky, but truthfully we are the lucky ones that get to spend this time with her. Watching her grow is the greatest gift I ever received.

My Baby Is 3

Ok so I am a bad blogger, we both know it, so lets move past it.....


This weekend was my baby girls birthday.... she is 3 :*(


I am very grateful that she is happy, healthy and growing normally, but still does it have to be so fast???


Everyday I am amazed by her and my love for her. So on that note we lost our minds a little bit and gave her a 3 day birthday. It started on Saturday with a princess party with all her family and friends. It continued the following day with a trip to Fazoli's (Bazolis), Toys R Us and then to the movies to see Gnomeo and Juliet. We had a late night that night, we were out til 10:30. That is the latest Mil has ever been out. Then the next day (her real birthday) we went back to Fazoli's (her favorite place to eat), Chuck E Cheese for games and then back to Toys R Us. That evening we invited the grandparents over for cake and ice cream. Once everyone left we asked Millie what she wanted to do with her remaining birthday hours, first she said "go back to Toys R Us", once she was told that was not going to happen she asked to play a princess game and watch Harry Potter. She said now that she was 3 she was big enough to watch Harry Potter, Daddy's favorite movie. She made it through half before we turned it off for her to go to bed.


She normally goes to Story Hour on Tuesdays but today when I woke her up she refused, she said, "today I just need to rest at home". She slept til 9:30 went back to bed at 1:30 for nap and then was back in bed tonight by 9:30. She also stopped playing today turned around and said, "I need a bath to lax a little bit". Around 45 minutes later I had to drag her out of the tub. I think she rested up enough today so we may venture to the store tomorrow. We shall see if she is up to it ;)

Little Lady Winter

Snow.... hmmmm..... a few years ago we had none.... then Millie came. In 2008 on the day of her birth (March 7th) we recieved 6" of snow. The following year we had a major ice storm. Last year we got a fair amount of snow and this year.... well you see the pattern. I think maybe Millie is a direct descendent of Jack Frost. Happy Winter!

Papaw Carl

My grandfather went to be with Jesus and my Nana this morning.