{Sandestin, FL}

We just got home from a four day mini-vacation to the Sandestin, FL beaches. It was beautiful! Instead of renting a duplex we tried staying in a high rise condo. The view was breath taking. Every morning after breakfast we would go on a 3 mile walk down the beach and get back to the condo to change into our bathing suits to go out and enjoy the sunshine. Henry LOVED it! Before I even had my morning coffee he was pointing and asking to "please" go down to the beach. Once or twice he ran over to his bag of shovels and pails hoping this would prompt us to go to the beach a little faster. Digging big holes in the sand was his thing and then once the hole was dug he would slide down the sand to the bottom of the pit. He was so content! The water was pretty cold and that did not appeal to him at all. Even when Jared would go waist deep in the water and leave Henry on shore, Henry would use sign language telling J to please come out of the water. We saw dolphins jumping out of the water on Thursday afternoon- that is always fun to see. It was such a wonderful week and much needed after our tough week. I look forward to the rest of our adventures this summer!

 

The Roughest Week...

This week has been brutal at the Dockendorf's. Henry had/still has an intestinal virus (most likely Rotavirus). He began showing symptoms on Saturday morning and it has continued through today. I think we are on the up swing and his little body is still mending but the worst is past us now. Praise the Lord!

We are going to Destin, FL next Tuesday with Jared's parents and let me tell ya.... I need a vacation! If I have had a tough week I am sure you can only imagine the kind of week my poor sweet baby has had. Watching him hurt makes my heart so heavy. In my devotional I read something very profound that I have found comfort in: When we are going through battles we should pray = "Thank you Jesus for this opportunity to trust you." I have had to pray this many times this week because I feel so helpless doing the best I can to make Henry comfortable but realistically I have to lift him up in prayer.

Sorry no pictures this week as you can understand why.... I will take lots of pictures next week at the beach!

Goodnight!

My Struggle Today.

Well today's post is going to be short and sweet... Henry and I have not begun our day well today. And so I have really been struggling with getting easily angered. But I read something from someone's instagram post this morning and she said, "isnt it so comforting to know that we have a Heavenly Father that is so gracious with our shortcomings." Wow, isnt that the truth! So many times I know that the Lord could have become easily angered with my disobedience, and yet He is so quick to forgive. My prayer today is that God would help me with my daily struggles as a mother and give me the heart to be slow to anger and quick to forgive.

A busy February....

 

Well after a very busy February we are back to our regular routine... however that isnt for too long because Nana and Papa are coming to visit and then let the vacations roll. We have a jam packed summer all planned and I couldnt be more excited. Beach. Atlanta. DisneyWorld. More beach.

 

So last week it was so rainy and cold so we had to play indoors. And for one of those days I was scrambling to find an activity for Henry to do. Let him create his own pizza! I know it was a shot in the dark and I dont think he quite understood the concept but he did great. He had to "taste" the cheese a lot to make sure it was alright. And I really tried to help him understand that it needed to cook in the oven first and then we can enjoy it.... and to get that across I had to give him some munchies to nibble until the pizza was done cooking. We have been meeting friends at the playground on as many nice days as possible. Oh, and he has discovered the word, "no" which was cute at first and now I just dont quite find it as cute. "Henry, would you like to read Corduroy?" "No" "Henry would you like some milk?" "No" And now he just says "no" even when he does want something....

A really sweet thing he does now is, sing songs (in his little babble language)-- but it melts my heart everytime. He loves to pray and hold hands. His favorite book these last few weeks is Ferdinand the Bull. And last week one of the ladies in the preschool bible school told me in passing on my way out the door that "Henry is the leader in my class..." I dont know what that meant, but let me tell ya, I was beaming and so excited to rush home and tell Jared. And like a proud daddy he was just as excited to get that news. One of his big accomplishments that we are working on is potty training. He is doing so well. I have put a diaper on him to go out (to church, the playground, etc...) and he is dry when we get home and has waited to use the potty chair! I am thrilled! But I am not pushing him because a couple months ago we tried that potty training boot camp ("Your child will be potty trained in a week") and that just had both of us ending our days in tears... so I think that whole thing is garbage (at least for us it was). I have just encouraged the usage of the potty chair and giving him rewards as he does it and that is working for us. =)

 

I have started my garden seedlings for tomatoes about 10 days ago and the little sprouts have started popping up all over! The bluebirds are busy working on their nest. And my birdfeeder is full of little birds just pigging out on the seed. So I know that Spring is just around the corner! And I cant wait to get started planting and playing outdoors! Its gonna be great!



A New Body and Into God's Glory

 

 

 

 

Monday, Feb 4, 2013 my sweet 97 year old grandmother, Mother Kay, went home to be with Jesus. Even though I am celebrating with her, my heart is still heavy with sadness and missing her warm soft touch and smile. This past week, I was privileged to see so many of the lives that Mother Kay blessed with her life. She truly is such a beautiful role model for not only every woman in our family but to all women. Never have I met such a dedicated, hardworking, loving, blessed and virtuous woman. I enjoyed listening to all the touching memories that our family shared about Mother Kay this past week. As I remember Mother Kay in this blog post I would like to list the memories of how special she is and what I miss about her.


My dearest Mother Kay-

I miss you already. You have given me so many wonderful memories that I reflect back on so often.

Mother Kay I miss seeing you at the back porch waving hello to us as we drive up to visit.
I miss the way you would hold my hand in the car on our drive to your house when you picked us up from the airport. I miss seeing you sitting in your chair opening your mail or watching TBN in the afternoons. I will miss you kneeling with CeLes and me at the bedside as we said our night prayers, and listening as you would name each and every child out loud. I wish I could taste those hand rolled biscuits and homemade gravy you would make for us every morning during our visit. Mother Kay I miss listening to your footsteps going down the hall to the den and the way the light would "clink" when you pulled the string to turn it on in the "gold room" closet. I miss tasting that coconut cake you would have made for us at every visit. It makes me laugh to think about how you would tell CeLes and me "not to be ugly" to one another when we would start to fuss. It was so special to listen to you sit and tell me stories from your childhood and describe what Daddy Kay was like when he was alive.

I miss those Saturday mornings and how you would wake up early to go to the "beauty shop" to get your hair done- and how beautiful you looked and felt when you came home that morning. As the years went on and it was beginning to become more difficult for you to fix your hair and apply makeup.... I miss helping you. You were always so beautiful and never missed a day of wearing makeup, jewelry or fixing your hair. Thank you for being such a woman of virtue, Godliness, and a perfect example of the Proverbs 31 woman. I miss you terribly but know that our absence from one another is only for a short time until we can hug once again. Mother Kay I can only hope to be even a small fraction of the woman you are. I am so thankful that you have been a part of Henry's life and that you were able to hug and kiss him.

Mother Kay you are forever in my heart and I will always love and think about you.

Henry (2 months) meeting MK for the first time

MK age 16 and Daddy Kay

This is how I have always remembered MK looking when I was a child with her beautiful white hair and dressed to the "T"

A New Year.

Christmas was wonderful! Henry got so many nice things this year, thanks to all our family! We had a quiet New Year's Eve/Day. Just stayed in and Jared and I just watched the ball drop in NY. Henry and I just got back from a quick turn around trip up to celebrate Mother Kay's 97th birthday. She looked as beautiful as ever.

We have gone to the zoo and played at the playground with my friend Leanne and her twin girls (Jenna & Lauren). The weather has been off and on rain showers with the occasional tornado watch (ugh!). Today it was very sunny so we took advantage and went to the playground for a couple of hours.

Henry is growing so big and strong every day, he is getting too smart for Jared and I. I dont know where all of his energy comes from; so there have been many a days when I also had to take a nap while he is napping. He is so much fun, loves to dance along to music. I go to a weekly bible study on Wednesday and there is a preschool bible school where he listens to a bible story and sings to music. He really loves that! I am pretty eager for the springtime and warmer weather so I can get this kid outdoors to run and play.

Christmas Eve opening up his new pajamas

Putting on Daddy's shoes.

Christmas Eve - before we went to church. Ha!

Figured out the light switches.

Eating his snack at the playground

This Christmas Season.

Reflecting back on the past couple of months....

Thanksgiving was great. CeLes flew out to spend a few days with us, we cooked Thanksgiving dinner and it was delicious! Our turkey looked picture perfect! I was so proud of it. Henry enjoyed lots of turkey and dressing, but not the mashed potatoes (surprisingly).

Jared and I have been doing well, he did recover from a cold around Thanksgiving - other than that nothing has really happened. Jared is now leading our small group at church, and writing curriculum for the SOS school at work. He is no longer teaching the Captains that come to the school.

This Christmas we are planning on spending it here at home. There is a possibility that we will travel up to see my family in northern AL. It is hard to believe that this is going to be our last Christmas here in AL. If you would have asked me 3 years ago if I thought this time would ever come I would have said it seemed unfathomable. But here we are 3 Christmases later and I cant believe how quickly it has approached. I wonder what the next Christmas has in store for us...

Well enough of this typing and now what you all really look at my blog for... the pictures!

Our "living Christmas tree" - we plan on planting it after the holidays.

playing with Play-Doh for the first time

Thanksgiving turkey- sorry it is so blurry

Thanksgiving Day walk- CeLes is "wearing" Henry

All full of turkey!