What's Next???

I know, I know...I never update my blog anymore! It just seems like there is so much other stuff going on. BUT, I do want to try to start it back up again...probably not on a daily basis, but maybe a weekly basis. Surely there's one fun/good/interesting thing to write about each week.

However, I do wonder what I should do about this particular blog address and name. While I'm still Liam's Aunt Lulu in Oxford, I am also an aunt to another little guy now, Ryder! For my few readers out there, what do you think...

Is it time to start over fresh with a new look, a new blog name, and a new post?? Any thoughts on what my new blog name should be???

Well, stay tuned for more...and a renewed commitment to blogging. For now, here's a few pictures of the new guy in my life (and updated ones of "Liam, the Big Boy")! By the way, Liam refers to himself as "Liam, the Big Boy" sometimes but told PopPop the other day, "Most people call me Liam." He calls Ryder, "Baby Ryder", and in case you are wondering his thoughts on the new addition to the family, he thinks "Baby Ryder is so cute."

Aunt Lulu meeting Ryder when he was 4 1/2 days old!
(I was at a conference in California when he was born, so there was a little delay in our meeting.)


Both of my boys just before I had to go back to Oxford.
Ryder is 2 weeks old in this picture.



Ryder's first trip to Oxford (and first time out of TN) at 9 weeks (?)
Aunt Lulu and Ryder snuggling on the couch...while Liam and PopPop eat "sherbit"
(and mommy takes pictures).

Finally, here's little Ryder Man hanging out in his pack'n play!

OH MY GOODNESS - CUTE LITTLE BOYS!!!

Relay for Life - Coming up in April

You may or may not remember but 2007 was a tough year for my "family" in Oxford with the death of my good friend and brother in Christ, Brian Dahl. (See post below for stories about Brian.) Brian is the son of my "adopted" parents here, Eric and Melanie Dahl. Brian was a great friend, an avid cyclist, a loving person, and an awesome man of God. He was also quite funny and very clever. I got to spend a year with Brian before his life was taken in an accidental death in August. Before he died, Brian was a cancer survivor.

Several of us in the Rebels for Christ campus ministry have decided to get a team together to walk in the Oxford Relay for Life to raise money in memory of our friend and brother in Christ. We have set a goal to raise $1,000 and would love to have your prayers and support as we pursue this goal.

IF, and only if, you are in a position or feel called to financially support us, we would greatly appreciate any donations. The easiest way to contribute is to go to the following link www.events.cancer.org/rfloxfordms and click either on contribute to a team or contribute to a participant. The name of our team is Rebels for Christ Ladies.

If you choose not to participate, please pray for our team and for the Dahl family between now and April 18th-19th as we honor Brian in our community.

Thank you so much for your consideration and for richly blessing my life!

Oh to be loved....

So, in case you didn't know... I am absolutely in love with my 1 year and 11 month old nephew. I've loved the kids I babysat for growing up but nothing could really prepare me for this love I have for Liam! That boy has stolen my heart for sure!

Anyway, this week I experienced something with Liam that I have been waiting to happen. He called me. On Monday, Liam asked his daddy to call Aunt Lulu, so Scott dialed the phone, my phone rang, I answered it...thinking it would by my sister on the phone, but instead of Carol's voice coming from the other end, it was Liam. "Hi" in a very excited sounding voice...he then continued to tell me what he had done that day. "I throwed a football...I throwed a football...we built a fire...we built a fire...built a fire." He was so excited! I asked him if he could sing me a song and be belted out his "ABCs". The people in the back yard burger line with me at the time were staring as I was happily joining in with the sweet song. I didn't care... Then as quickly as the conversation started, it ended. "Love you, Lulu. Bye Bye." Click...

YAY!!! I've been so jealous of all of those around me with kids, grandkids, nieces, and nephews who were old enough to talk to on the phone. I've been trying to talk to Liam on the phone since summer, but it never lasted long. Finally, he called his Aunt Lulu. What a joy! I know this doesn't seem like much, but it means days between visits with Liam can now have a little part of Liam in them. He can call me when he wants to chat and eventually will call me when exciting things happen in his little day. He's getting so big!

Today, Liam went to visit Grammy and PopPop for Valentine's Day. Grammy wasn't there when he got there so Liam hung out with PopPop for a little while. When they got a call from Grammy to let them know she was on her way, PopPop asked, "Hey Liam, guess who's coming?" Liam's response was simple...."Lulu!" (Apparently this is the same response any time he is asked to guess who's coming.)

Oh, I'm so glad I'm making a trip to Nashville tomorrow! Oh, to be loved by that little boy! What a joy!!!

It's been way too long....

It's been way too long since I've blogged. Although I don' t really have a lot to say tonight, I felt I should enter the blogging world for a minute just to let anyone who reads this know that all is well. I'm thankful that it's 2008...and that a difficult year has past. I'm thankful that my last semester of classes has begun! I'll be taking comps in August and then it'll be dissertation time. I am thankful for wonderful friends, amazing family, and people who love me. I'm so glad to have the opportunity to be in graduate school, but I'm thankful it won't last forever.

I'm looking forward to a busy AND good 2008...a year of many changes and milestones. I feel like God is doing some wonderful things in my life and I'm excited to see how it's all going to play out! Hopefully I'll write soon with exciting and wonderful stories to tell. But until then, I'm sorry it's been way too long.