Washington DC (a non-Madeline post)

Rose garden looking towards Oval Office doors
Robert, Liz and us outside North Lawn of White House
The Dub-ya taking off in Marine One on the south lawn

Lance made us walk all the way to the Federal Reserve so we could take this picture
Us and the Big Guy-I mean, who doesn't love ol' Ab?
Us standing outside the entrance of West Wing (pres was out for the day recovering from Jenna's reception the night before-otherwise there would be a marine standing at the door).

So Lance and I headed up to DC to see our friends Robert and Liz (finally) two weekends ago! Robert works for The OMB and Liz for Sen. Sessions (AL), so we had the in on some stuff. We had a great time seeing all their favorite things. Madeline stayed with her Gigi and had a blast. Then I started VBS at church the next morning so I haven't had time to post about our trip. Below is a list of the things we did (more of a list for us than you all):

Senate Ice Cream Party
National Archives
Had dinner with my friend Katie from high school
Watch Presidential departure from White House lawn
Supreme Court tour
Lunch in Senate Dining Room
Capital tour
Walked the mall at night (hit all the memorials)
Breakfast at Eastern Market
East Wing of White House tour
Arlington National Cemetery tour
Visited Old Towne Alexandria
Brunch in Georgetown
National Cathedral
Foreign embassies
West Wing Tour

Thanks Robert and Liz for hosting us!

All About The Lancer

I'm no Ashley Mac or Deb L. but they were pretty delicious no matter how they looked!

M still isn't that interested in eating sweets. She mostly just played in the icing-as you can see!
Same tree we took Mother's day pics in front of at church


So lots going on and not a lot of time to tell you all the details as I'm sure you all are dying to know what we have been up to every minute of the day since my last post. We had a great Father's Day. Lance, of course, is the best daddy and I am so thankful for him. He is so helpful and attentive to both of us. I feel terrible though because M has been going through a rough spot with him. She's kind of been rejecting him a lot. But its only when I'm around. When they are alone she clings to him. I'm hoping this ends soon. It makes me (and him) so sad.

I got a job, but its just a "little job." I'm the new missions secretary at our church. 5 or so hours a week from home. No big deal. Just something to direct my time a little better since "one child is just a hobby" as my friend Jamie says.

We put our place on the market this week. We are trying to do it by owner right now since we aren't in a rush to move. I'm shamelessly going to plug it, and ask that if you know of anyone in B'ham looking for a 2 bed/2 bath condo in Hoover let us know. We are on the website www.forsale-byowner.com right now.

The other thing we finally did was get a will drawn up. I felt so morbid and fearful trying to decide who would raise my kids "in the unlikely event" that something should happen to us both, and all the financial stuff that goes along with that. We are leaving M twice this summer (1st time starting tomorrow) while we take trips and I've been very anxious about it in light of all the will stuff. If you think about it, please pray for me. I truly know that our children belong to the Lord and that he is good no matter what should happen to them or to us, and that if we aren't here that they will not fall away from the faith if they belong to the Father. My sinful self thinks that somehow I could control this if I could keep my family with me at all times. I have control issues-thorn in my flesh that has yet to be removed after all these years. Though I am hoping to see how "his power is made perfect in my weakness." All that to say, I hope that will is the biggest waste of money we ever spend!

And finally, Madeline was sick all last week for the first real time. She's had colds and a couple of fevers but this was a fever for almost 3 days ranging between 100-104. Doctor thought it was a UTI, but thankfully we're pretty sure it was Roseola. My first real trip to the doctor with an unknown illness. Pretty good for almost 17 months!

5 Year Anniversary

I can hardly believe it, but Saturday, June 7th is our 5th anniversary. Don't run to the pantry for those crackers yet, I promise not to be too cheesy (as I have the lowest tolerance for it myself). I had a conversation with a friend this year who has been married more than 25 years, and I think she put it best when she said that it didn't matter where she was in the world, no matter how goofy, broken, or out of place she felt, she knew she had a place she belonged, and that was with her husband. Being married to Lance has given me a sense of belonging that I didn't know I wanted nor knew I was missing until I was married to him. My covenant of marriage has shown me just how deep Christ's covenant with me is and how much I belong to Him. This is just one of the mysteries of marriage the Lord has revealed to me in our first 5 years. I really could not imagine having a better husband and I'm still "Stuck on You" Lance.

p.s.-I do not like the above picture, but its the only decent one I have on our computer as our pictures were not digitally done (so sad, one of the regrets I have about our wedding-pay more for the best photographer! You won't regret it!)

Randoms

She thinks the microphone is a telephone
Some light reading
Daddy has been MIA on here for a little while
"Oh, sorry Mom. Did you want to take a picture of me in my cute bubble dress without me picking my nose?"
"Wait just a second I've got to tell you something!"
Madeline has discovered a new hiding place. She will go into this space between her dresser and bed and then pull the door of the dresser open to make it. She was talking to her Mimi the other day and took the phone in here.

Not much is new around here. We have spend the last three weekends getting our condo in shape to put on the market. Hopefully it will sell in a reasonable amount of time. I will miss our pool though. We went down at 5 tonight when Lance got home to swim which was the best time (to go and together). Madeline has started to speak a little in two word sentences-"I did it" and "bye bye ____" are it at the moment (as least as far as I can make out).