Growing Old

So I had a moment at Denny's today...A moment that hit me like a ton of bricks and then wouldn't go away. Aaron, Keagan, and I decided to head to Denny's for their famous $2.99 Grand Slam breakfast. Can't go wrong with that price! We were just about done with breakfast and Aaron was off taking Keagan to the bathroom when I noticed this little old woman. She was sitting at a table by herself but all the servers seemed to know her. She must be a regular. I was daydreaming a little and actually amusing myself on how I really don't mind growing old. I started wondering what I am going to be like. Am I going to be a sweet little old lady that all the servers come talk to....With that thought I started thinking of my family. My grandparents...Nana, one of my grandmas. She is certainly not a sweet welcoming old lady on the outside but she sure is full of love in her own way on the inside. I was wondering if I was going to turn out like her. And then I started thinking of my mom and how she never got the chance to grow old. How she never got the chance to be that little old lady. What would she have been like? It was like a whirlwind of overwhelming thoughts and then I realized that I was crying. I was actually sitting at the table in Denny's with tears running down my face. I look up and here come Aaron and Keagan. Aaron looks at me totally puzzled because only 5 mins. ago I was sitting at the table laughing and now I'm crying. I wiped my tears away and acted as if nothing ever happened. I changed the subject as soon as they got to the table. But something did happen....And its sad. I just hope I get that chance to grow old. I don't dread it! I welcome it. I can't wait to be a grandparent. To have Keagan come over with his wife and kids.... I can't wait.

Pay it Foward

I just got off the phone with my sister in law and I am in complete awe over a conversation that we had. My brother and his family are downsizing and have decided to sell their current home and to move back into one of their smaller rental homes they own. Because they are downsizing in the size of their home they also have to downsize in everything that they are taking to this house. Instead of selling all of their items (which are pretty nice things that the normal person would be very tempted to purchase) or instead of giving everything to Goodwill for Goodwill just to turn around and sell-They are going to have a yard sale. But not just a yard sale. Everything is FREE! When the shopper comes up and ask how much something is, they are going to tell them to just take it and to give it a good home. For some folks, the normal yard sellers, this will just be jackpot....but for others-who are honestly going to yard sales because maybe they've lost their job or have had another family crisis and wonder how they are going to put spring/summer clothes on their child or whatever their case may be....This could be an act from God that they will never forget.

Complex conversations with a two year old

This morning Keagan woke up wet. His first words out of his mouth when I said, "Good Morning, Keagan." were "Mommy, I peed in my bed." I started looking and it appeared that he hadn't peed but that the cup of milk that I got for him in the middle of the night had actually leaked and his sheets and pants were wet. So I said, "Baby you didn't pee in the bed. That's milk." Such simple minds I guess don't comprehend somethings because he looked at me like I had two heads and said, "Mommy, I not pee in my milk!!"
And of course as with most days, my morning starts off with a smile.

Help me please pick out Keagan's new bedding...

Okay guys, I need help! If you're reading this please give me your opinion...I know some of you said you can't figure out how to leave a comment on here, so leave it on my facebook or myspace if you will....I'm so torn. I want to get my son new bedding for his birthday along with some other things but this is the hardest decision....If you know Keagan then you know he is the typical boy. He loves sports, dinosaurs, cars, trucks, EVERYTHING that has to do with being a boy. He can name all the different types of trucks, dump trucks, tractors, etc....Each different kind of ball...He's a boy!

Anyways, I ran across these and it seems like they have a perfect fit for ALL his interest. Which one would you get!?? His room is currently blue but that doesn't mean we can't change it. I'm always up for change.

Power of Prayer

Gaylord Focker's Prayer from Meet the Parents:

Oh... Dear God. Thank you. You are such a good God."
"You are thoughtful. Kind. Gentle. And... accomodating. God. And we thank you, oh.... sweet, sweet, Lord... of hosts. For the... ah... smorgasbord you have so aptly laid at our table this day. And each day. By day. Day by day, by day."
"Oh... Dear Lord. Three things we pray to thee. To see thee more clearly. To hear thee more dearly. To... follow thee... more nearly. Day, by day, by day."
"Amen."

Mommy's Prayer from the Schrock House Tonight:

Oh...Dear God. Give me the patience I need to deal with my two year olds temper tantrums over everything because he is overly tired from getting up at 4am this morning.

Amen.

Potty Training 101

I have to say that potty training was one of the worst transitions that I had to adjust Keagan to but when it sunk in...It really sunk in! I am so proud of him! He went from one day going number 1. in the potty, to then going number 2. in the potty. He then started waking us up at night when he needed to go and then waking up in the morning with a totally dry pull-up! And newest transition is the fact that he no longer wants his little potty seat on the toilet. Tonight he has started using the "big" potty in our bedroom because I think it makes him feel like a big boy. That's great! I hate that potty seat being on our guest/Keagan's bathroom toilet! This is great news!
We did have one accident tonight when he forgot to tuck himself into the potty before peeing. All of a sudden I heard Aaron yelling, "Oh my god!" and I go running in the bathroom and I swear we had a stream of pee hitting the wall at my eye level. I thought it was hilarious though. At that point all you can do is laugh or else you'll cry over the mess that you now have to clean up.

Opposites Attract

This blog is inspired because of a conversation I had with a friend. Her and I are opposite in so many way yet we get along so well and it made me start thinking about Aaron and I. The same goes for us. Here are just a few fun facts showing how opposites attract.

1. Aaron: Outgoing extrovert
Jessica: Shy introvert

2. Aaron: Visual learner
Jessica: Audio learner

3. Aaron: Doesn't seem to find time to worry about a thing
Jessica: Not only can I find time but I make time to worry

4. Aaron: laid back. Its really hard to strike up an argument with him
Jessica: Fiery temper. I'm ready to strike at the drop of a hat. (I'm making myself out to be really bad aren't I?? lol)

5. Aaron: Meat and taters kind of guy
Jessica: Veggies and dessert

6. Aaron: Magazine reader
Jessica: Book reader

7. Aaron: Cable TV
Jessica: Internet

8. Aaron: Physical worker
Jessica: Mental worker

9. Aaron: Could careless about a mess. Honestly sometimes I think he goes out of his way to make a mess.
Jessica: Neat Freak! Clutter stresses me. Everything in this house has a home-its just between the two boys it doesn't always make it there. That would be a full time job.

10. Aaron: Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, HBO, Speed
Jessica: Local News, CNN, HGTV, Food Network

Frustrating February

This month has not been the best month here at the Schrock house. We did celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary but other than that its been one thing after the next. Here it is the 22nd already and I'd say I've been sick for about 70% of that time. I had what I believe to have been the flu. That seemed to take forever to get over. As I was recovering from that Keagan comes down with strep throat. Last week finally was a good week but it was exhausting because after being sick for so long there are so many things you have to catch up on plus getting back in the swing of things at work-I'd come home and be ready for bed by 7:30. As a matter of fact, this Friday night I was in bed by 7:30!!! Yes, on a Friday! The latest occurrence was last night. I don't know what happened. My mother in law was down visiting us and we went to the Mexican restaurant for dinner that we always go to. Some may accuse me of having too many margaritas but I'll go ahead and nip that in the bud and point out that I was drinking water the whole time! After dinner we head home and all of a sudden I start getting a horrible head ache. I laid on the couch, took a cat nap, woke back up at about 9pm and felt sick to my stomach. I just assumed it was nothing and made my way into bed around 10. Well that was not the end of my night. At about 3am I was up sick and stayed up sick for quite some time! I won't be able to look at another Mexican dish for awhile-and I hate that because I love Mexican. Still today I fell weak, tired, and almost still sick to my stomach.
I did however force myself this afternoon to get into that bathroom of ours and finish pulling up the wallpaper!! Thank goodness that is about 95% done. The only part we have left is behind the toilet and we'll wait to pull that up when we have more time since we'll have to remove the potty seat. So our next steps are to plaster over parts of the dry wall that we hurt during the wallpaper removal, then finally prime and paint! I am so excited! We also went and bought our floors today hoping that would give us a little more motivation to get our butts in gear. I took a picture this afternoon of the "Before" bathroom and can't wait to post it when I finally have an "After" bathroom picture!

Cooper Gundy

We had an interesting speaker at a meeting of mine at work today. He seems like he has had a very successful life. Something that stuck out most to me was that he was a linebacker for the Georgia Bulldogs back in the late 70's. Of course for any of you that know me and my Georgia Bulldog obsession that was a great treat! But he also quoted a line spoken from Minnie Pearl that rang in my head over and over. I found myself writing it down right in the middle of his speech. "Laughter is the Lords hand on the troubled world" I thought that was a very appropriate quote for the troubled times that we're going through right now. Every morning, every night, I turn on the news and hear another bad market report. I hear another number on the unemployment rate and how it's gone up. I hear another statement from another state saying they are out of money and can't even give their residence their tax refund....But it reminded me and I hope the rest of the crowd listening to him that there is always room for laughter. Laughter is a necessity. It helps remind us that there is a small light at the end of a very, very dark tunnel.

Random Thoughts I'm having tonight....

The onions aren't cooked enough in my hamburger steak. And my hamburger is done...Gosh, what have I done wrong now. I love to cook and try new things all the time. I just wish I were good at it.

Man, curtains can really make a room! I bought new curtains for Keagan's room tonight. They look so good! Who knew something so small could make such a big difference.

Watching a cow give birth on TV is not my ideal type of show to be watching. I wish Aaron liked the news.

Keagan watched me use a hammer today to put his curtains up and now he is going around the house hammering with the hammer from his own tool box everything he can find. His little mind really is like a sponge.

I have lost my ring on the floor for the 50th time tonight. I really need to stop playing and twirling it around my finger before I really lose it one day!

Now Keagan is taking a wrench to our dogs tail...Oh boy, what a sight.

What am I going to wear tomorrow? I really should have bought that shirt at Kohls today...Wish I wasn't always so worried about money! I also really wanted that bathing suit at Target. Maybe one day soon I'll let myself go buy it.

Why does my rice boil over EVERYTIME I cook it. I really need to get a rice maker!

"Don't hit the dog." "Mommy my movie is ober." "Oh damn, Bildo's at the door." "Mommy I need to potty." "Hey babe, can you get me a drink while you're up."

Milliken & Company

Everywhere you look, you will find Milliken products in nearly every aspect of life. In fact, you will touch Milliken products more than 50 times in an average day.

There is a Milliken Research Plant located in Spartanburg right off of I-26. When building this plant Mr. Milliken had plans. He wanted a large grassy area where families could come to get away from the hustle and bustle of their everyday lives. He built ponds on the property so you can go and feed the ducks. There are acres and acres of beautiful trees, rocks, and waterfalls.

We had never been to Milliken to experience it before. We drive past it about everyday and on pretty days you always see cars pulled over and kids running around, couples on dates walking around, ducks and seagulls hunting down their next piece of bread. Well today we decided to go check this place out and we were not disappointed!!! The place is awesome! Who knew there was such a sanctuary of nature right off the interstate! Keagan got to feed the ducks (and seagulls), he climbed all over rocks, played around the waterfalls, climbed trees, ran and ran and ran.... It was perfect!! We're actually thinking about going back there around Easter and having a BIG Easter Egg Hunt! Posted are some of the pictures that were taken while we were there today.

Valentine's Day only in the South....

So our Valentine's Day has been pretty laid back. I've been sick, Keagan is sick...Aaron just isn't a romantic so you can imagine that I didn't wake up to much. So tonight we decide to have a Valentine's Day cook out. And I'm really getting excited for this. It's been a while since I've had a good steak! Aaron comes back from the store with some "okay" steaks. And I decided to make the most of it. Well while the steaks are on the grill the wind picks up and we're not paying attention and it catches a flame which totally char-grills our steaks. YUK! I like mine almost mooing at me so I decided, What the heck....It's Valentine's Day. I'm going to buy more steaks and this time I'm going to get some GOOD ones! And I did!!! But while I was at the store I got a little sidetracked and picked up some chocolate covered strawberries for us to eat for dessert and I picked up some rose petals to sprinkle in our bedroom....Only in the south when you get up to the register to pay will the cashier say, "Now whats this them rose pedals used for...Ain't they dead if they've already fallen off the flower..."
Oh lord! Just get me out of there!
Anyways, I come home, sprinkle the pedals in our room (which Aaron found to be too sweet when he saw them), cooked the awesome, awesome second batch of steaks and now we're getting ready to move on to the chocolate covered strawberries. Nothing has been perfect but overall it's been a good, entertaining day.

Today

Today was a good day. I've been sick. And I thought I was going to be finally getting my week started on Wednesday but then I kept my 101.2 fever! Horrible! I was beginning to wonder if I was going to be able to get over whatever I had by myself or if I was finally going to have to break down and go to the doctor. This morning I woke up still feeling under the weather but at least my temp was down to 99.2....So off to work I go. I felt pretty bad all morning until I decided to head to KFC and get some mashed potatoes for lunch....And BAM! It was like a miracle drug. ;) I was all of a sudden feeling so much better! I guess that's what my body was in the need of. Just some good food. I hadn't felt like eating in almost a week and I guess I was just truly out of energy.
Once I started feeling better I got so much work done. I was like Speedy Gonzalez going from one project to another! I actually saw my desk start clearing a little...It felt so good! When it was time to come home the weather was beautiful! I got a call letting me know that we'll have a babysitter for Valentine's Day so Aaron and I can go out ALONE. I finally cooked this week. I had fun getting Keagan's Valentine's Day cards and cookie's ready for his friends tomorrow. It's just been great! I'm so glad to be feeling like myself again! Now I'm off to eat dinner. ;)

Wednesday is the new Monday

I have felt so bad this week!!! It's like the illness that WILL NOT go away! It has now made me use almost 3 full days of my PTO time at work!
I think I'm finally starting to feel better though. I plan on making Wednesday of this week my new Monday and to finally get this week off to a start.

Stepping out of my comfort zone

Well today was the meeting to finalize volunteering at church. I was so excited leading up to it and then today, maybe because I haven't felt well or maybe because my shyness was getting in the way like always, I no longer wanted to do it. I tried to find every excuse I could to not go and Aaron just wasn't listening. After 5 years he knows me. I always dread something up until time to go and then I get there and have a blast....So well, we went! And he was right. I survived and enjoyed myself. They fed us a great lunch!!! I felt like it was Thanksgiving all over again. We had roast beef, green beans, broccoli casserole, mashed potatoes, salad, rolls, sweet tea, and about 8 different desserts to choose from. YUM-O!
Afterwards we met with our different groups to go over what was involved with volunteering. I signed up for several but I'm only one person so I ultimately went with being a greeter. I'm excited but nervous to get started and Aaron is too. He starts next week as a parking attendant and I'm still waiting on my schedule.
I also am excited because I think this will finally get us started in meeting other people our age here in Greenville. They are having a cookout for all of the volunteers in March and although I know I'm going to be totally nervous going....It's going to give us a great chance to get out there and make some friends. Overall I think this is going to be a great experience.

The Parable of the Lost Son

Church was really good today!!! Do I say that every Sunday? Because I feel like I do! :) For good reason!
We are starting another series called "Decoding Our DNA" and this week we learned about the characteristics of God. We learned that he loves you unconditionally. The sermon was taken from Luke 15. The Parable of the Lost Son. It's about a son. The younger of two boys goes to his Father and ask for his share of the estate. So the dad did just that and divided his property between them. The son gathers his belongings and sets off. Not long after he's gone he "squanders his wealth in wild living" and notices that he no longer has anything. He hires himself out to work with pigs and slop living worse than his Father's own servants did. He decides to go home and to tell his father of his wrong doing and to tell him he has sinned and is no longer worthy to be called his son. His father had been awaiting his return. When he saw him from afar he took of running towards his son showering him in hugs and kisses. As his son began to apologize his father quickly cuts him off and calls for a celebration of his return saying, "For this son of mine was dead and is alive again he was lost and is now found."

I took that message to heart in several ways. It took me back to my childhood and teenage years and all the heartache I put my parents through. And even though at times they had to show me "tough love" when I was ready to come crawling back they welcomed me with open arms and no resentment. It opened my eyes to how I want to be when parenting. It probably took everything that father had to give his son half his wealth and to watch him lose everything he had. And at times I'm probably as a parent going to have to step back and let "life" teach my son a lesson or two and know that I need to just be waiting in the wings to give my son a big hug and kiss when he comes back with a heavy heart. And most of all it taught me God's unconditional love he has for each one of us. He does not look at your past and judge you when you come crawling back on your knees. He welcomes you with love and a showering of celebration.

This was a quote I took today from one of our songs that I really liked, "His grace reaches lower than your worst mistake & his love will run further than you can run."

Riverbanks Zoo

Today we had a good day! Keagan and I have both been sick all week and even though we woke up not feeling 100% we decided to treat ourselves out to something fun. It was a beautiful day with the temp. right at 70 so we decided to drive to Columbia and visit the Riverbanks Zoo. We did everything there that they had to offer. We fed the giraffes, rode the choo choo train, took a ride on a pony, rode the carousel, ate ice cream, walked around and look at all the animals not only once but twice!! The only thing we did skip on was feeding the birds nectar. I had a not so pleasant experience last time and had one pee on me. :/ haha

All the animals seemed to be in great moods and of course it put us in one too. Heading back home I don't think more than 10 words were said to each other in our hour drive. Keagan was taking a very well needing nap and Aaron and I were soaking in some good memories.

Just what the Doctor ordered

Well I woke up today, actually in the middle of the night, feeling horrible!!! I dread when it's time to swollow anything because of the pain. Hopefully this is just a fluke and I'll feel better by tomorrow....I have to-I'm going shopping after work!!!

Today I've treated myself to just what the Dr. ordered. (Me being the Doctor)

Sleep: Finally I was able to get some sleep and slept til noon today!

Fluids: I went and bought myself some vitamin water. Not the best ever but it'll do

Food: Chicken noodle soup! I swear that soup has some miracle drug in it. I bought 5 cans. Hopefully it'll work for me.

Meds: I refuse to go to the Doctor becaue I have horrible insurance so unless this just doesn't get better then I'll be drinking Theraflu tonight.

Hopefully with this combination I'll be good to go to finish my week off and to start my weekend.

Happy 3rd Wedding Anniversary!!

Well today hasn't been what one would dream on their wedding anniversary but hey, that's okay. I woke up at 5am as always, went to work, came home, made sloppy joes and onion rings and here I sit online....
This morning on the other hand was a slight hoot. Well lets rewind to yesterday. If you know me well then you know that I balance my checkbook to the penny. I noticed yesterday a random charge that I knew nothing about. Aaron is always so good about telling me what he's bought so even that struck me as being strange. We had just the day before agreed to not get each other anything for our anniversary so I knew that couldn't be it either. Well I go to Amy, our electronic services dept. to tell her I think I have a charge that is fraudulent....and after further talking to her we come to the conclusion that Aaron has indeed bought me an anniversary gift. So I scurry off to a store during my lunch. I'm so excited. He thinks he's going to surprise me....Well I've got him!!
I actually go as far as to wake up in the middle of the night and place his gift in the first place I know he goes every morning. Come morning I wake up and start searching for my gift. Not in the living room, kitchen, I go out to my car....Darn, where could it be???
He finally wakes up and comes out of the bedroom and I could tell he was a little annoyed. He thanks me for the gift but then says, "I thought we agreed we're not getting gifts this year." I go on to tell him that I busted him and saw the charge on our account and the whole time he's looking at me like I have two heads. To make a long story short, he reminds me that I had borrowed his debit card the day before...."Remember", he says!!! I had actually made that unknown charge and YES, now I do remember....Duh! So our morning got off to a rocky start...Kinda humorous! And all he had to say to me was, "Maybe the girls at your office are right. Your roots really are blonde...."

God has handed YOU the football! Are you ready to play??

Church was great today! They were ready for the Superbowl just as planned! The whole auditorium was decorated with pictures of both teams. The congregation was all decked out in their red or yellow depending on the team they rooted for. And the sermon was great!
It started out with the band playing the very famous Hank Williams Jr. song, "Are you ready for some football?" Then Hud, our Pastor, got down to business. He explained life being like a football game. There is the pregame, halftime, and post game. We are currently all at half time. In so many words its time to go back to the locker room and see what all we've accomplished the first part of the game. And to decide how we're going to live our life out for the remainder of the game. And then their is the post game. That is when it is time to party!! I really liked this verse out of Luke. "I tell you there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who changes his heart and life, than over ninety-nine good people who don't need to change." Luke 15:7 If you are the winner in the game of life then you have a reason to party because you will be spending the rest of your life with the crown that will last forever!!

Also on a side note and to follow up on a few other blogs I've written about. Today was the due date for the Baby Bottle Boomerang. Aaron and I saved our change for the last three weeks and were very happy to know that we were putting $21 in our baby bottle.

Also today was the volunteer fair. Aaron has now signed up to help be a parking attendant and I got a little carried away and signed up for the Information Center, a Greeter, and the Common Grounds Cafe.... I think at some point I may be a little busy. :)