365 days ago...

...We welcomed our sweet Jacob into our family. And I thought my life was busy with one little one! Life has never been better....

Joyful

Active

Cuddly

Obstinate

Bold

Tall

Young

Laughter

Eater

Radiant

Sleeper!

Loveable

One!

Crawler

Unconditional

Miniature (David)!

Kickin' off the Summer

We have enjoyed many,many days at the pool near our house! Jacob is still getting used to the idea of the big, cold bathtub, and Hannah has had a little trouble returning to her fearless 2 year old mind, but we're working on it!

Jacob snuggling with Mommy

Back on dry land with his friends, Ducky the Quacker and Blue Horn the Rhino. I have to add that he's definately got his daddy's build

Hannah does her part on the way to the pool each day

And then when she gets tired and trips on her too big pool shoes, Mommy puts on the floatie and does the work for her while she crumbles in my arms

Last weekend we took a trip to Rome (Georgia, that is) for a Braves game and a day at Berry College. Our neighbors went with us and we had so much fun that we are headed back there again this weekend! Hannah got really "brave" and went on her own accord to meet the mascots. I was really proud of her! She's definately beginning to conquer her fears.

Hannah's new best friend - Gabrielle. She lives across the street and can do everything Hannah can't do - like READ! Hannah adores this girl!

Hannah and Gabrielle were really hot at the game so while I waited in line for $3.25 Vitamin Water, they found a cool spot on the pavement.

I used to run down this hill with my boyfriend when I was in college. Now our daughter does it! When we got married in this amazing chapel, we never imagined this enchanting child would be ours! Thank you God for the unexpected blessings.

The three girls strike a pose.

NJ with the Cercones

Jacob and his buddy Luke. Luke is only a few months older than Jake

And here's the whole crew just 11 months ago! My how things have changed!!!!

These next few pics are hilarious ~ the two kids were focusing so hard that they each had their mouths wide open in every picture I took!

This is part of the Crayola Factory in PA - it's the canal museum. They got their own boats to practice moving through the canals.

Hannah and Daddy on the train

Jacob had the wonderful opportunity to be introduced to lots of boy toys this weekend. He's always been surrounded by girl stuff! So here is Samurai Slocum in all of his glory - this turned out to be one of his favorites!

Jacob being Jacob

Hannah learned how to cut and glue

Writing on the wall at the Crayola Factory - something I'm not sure should be encouraged....

Hannah and Nathan dancing in the reflective light room

Water colors!

Nathan and Hannah had a great time digging for dino bones in the yard

I told Rene that I liked her blue shirt so she took me shopping at Kohl's and I found one!

Hannah gives her best friend Nathan a sweet hug

Nathan eats his PBJ with pride!

Hannah at the Crayola Factory. It says "Great Job Hannah!" because she succeeded in peeing on the public potty just moments before!!!

Who invented the automatic flush potty?!....

...I'd like to make him take my daughter to the bathroom and kneal in front of her as she shivers and shakes and screams in PURE TERROR that the toilet is going to eat her!!!!! All of a sudden going to the restroom in any place other than home is a HUGE ordeal! And she was just getting to the point where I could just stand by and wait for her to be done instead of helping with every little detail. What happened?! She NEVER used to be fearful of the potty! Now she would rather pee on herself several times in one day instead of going to the public potty.

I know her fear is REAL, to her. She is truly frightened. I'm also seeing some new fears in other areas too - the wind, loud noises, etc. I thought fears started earlier...does anyone know? And does anyone have any ideas how to rationalize with her?!?!? It's just terrible to hear how emotional she gets about it. I'm sure people think I am forcing her and hurting her! She's just terribly scared!

Check out this quote: "I think toilets are intimidating enough without them attacking you." It's from the article http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/12/nyregion/12flush.html I'm glad to know I'm not alone!!!

A Weekend Away in the Mountains

David crossing one of the bridges in the remote Nantahala Forest

This is called Laurel Creek Falls

David looks at Mooney Falls

Our little visitor that came pretty close to David's hand. He was walking along the bridge, looking the other direction, his hand on the railing. Suddenly he looked over and just about fell into the water as he noticed the snake! We can't tell if it is a copperhead or a brown water snake. Anyone know?!
Black Rock State Park near Clayton, GA

One of the mountains in Hiawassee

The view from our room at the bed and breakfast

This is our porch at the bed and breakfast

One of the scenice views of the Blue Ridge Mountains off HWY 64 in NC

Celebrating 8 amazing years of marriage for us, and 30 wonderful years of life for David

My Day

Since the name of this blog is "A Day in the Life of a Slocum" I thought maybe I should post something about what my day was like. I'm not sure I could do it everyday, but occasionally is good enough. You might get bored...

So, tonight as I was leaning over (time and time again) to pick up randomly strewn baby toys I noticed something stuck between my little toe and the one next to it. I bent down to check it out, thinking it was a piece of lint, when I realized it was food. Now, why there was food in my feet, or even what exactly it was, I have no idea. I also do not know how long it was actually there! I was so distracted by my children and their needs that I didn't even notice a piece of (what appeared to be) soggy bread stuck between my toes.

For the second time in the last two days, I woke up to my daughter standing in the bathroom stark naked with a pool of pee at her feet. What possesses a person to pee on the floor instead of the potty is beyond me. She claims that she couldn't get on the potty (yesterday) and that she couldn't get her panties down (today). So, I encouraged her to use her stool that stays next to the potty as an appropriate method for reaching the potty. I think that will solve the first problem. As for the second, perhaps I should make her sleep pantyless?! Really, who can't pull their panties down?!

Finally, for some reason my baked manicotti turned into soggy, slimy, wet manicotti. I have no idea what went wrong. It worked last week.

Summer Fun

One day we found a local day use area that is right on Lake Alatoona. It inlcudes a beach, a playground and a great shaded picnic area. We had so much fun! This is Hannah's friend Jake McClure.

One the way to the playground! Check out Jacob's new toy - they don't sell those at just any old baby store!

Hannah has become quite the little "poser" when it comes to picture taking. She's always saying, "Mom, get me here! Take my picture!"

Cute, huh? She could have a future in this...!

Well, this one is a little sketchy....but she's still cute.

Yeah, he looks like Daddy

I feel like this most days

Again, the poser

Watching Dora, I'm sure

Lexi and her best friend

This is for those of you who are nieve enough to think that she is always so cute (and for those of you who know better!!!!)

I'm sure this will be in her wedding montage at her rehearsal dinner. I don't know where she gets this from.....

That "change of course" I mentioned...

Some of you know already, but I thought I needed to post something official. Well, it's not actually "official" just yet because David still has to be accepted, but here's the plan: we hope to be attending Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY starting mid-August. David will work part time and study full time. That is the exact opposite of our orginal plans. We thought we would STAY here, work FULL time and study PART time at the EXTENSION here through New Orleans. But God had other plans. They really came right out of the blue! Actually, if we're honest we would say that we both felt some kind of change coming on, we just had no idea it would be this.

Our plan has always been to pursue God's call on our life of full time missions with the IMB. We got married and went to medical and nursing school with that plan in mind. When we moved here last summer, we still had that plan in mind, only we thought it was a 3-5year plan, giving us time to complete the required seminary hours and pay off our school debt. As we looked into the seminary extension program more, we discovered that it was not David's "cup of tea". He's not much of an independent learner and really desired a traditional classroom setting with all the support and community that came along with it. He was also ready for a change in his work environment. One day as we were discussing the options, he asked me if I thought maybe we should just go to seminary full time and get it done as quickly as we could. I said sure! I thus, it began....!

We prayed and talked about it and researched it for hours and hours. We finally decided to take a trip up there and let that give us some guidance. Well we came home more sure than ever. We are so shocked and surprised, but have very little doubt, that this is what God is calling us to do. It doesn't make the least bit of sense, but we're doing it anyways! God doesn't always make sense to us, does He?!

So, we do ask for your prayers. As you can imagine, the response we get when we say we are moving and need to sell our house is "In this market?! That's impossible!!" (Now, we know that NOTHING is impossible with God, right?! I think He just wants to show His glory and do this in the only way that He can. I am confident that He has something up His sleeve....) So pray with us on that. Pray that God will be glorified in every step of this path. I don't know how He is going to provide - will He sell the house? Rent it out? or just provide the finances needed to hold onto it until it's time? We don't know. All we know is that "A man plans his COURSE but the LORD directs his STEPS" - we'll just leave the details to Him.

Also pray for our families - this was a bit of a shock to some. It's one step closer to us leaving the country for a LONG time and that is a bit hard to swallow.

We also need a home and a job in Louisville. Again, details but still worth interceding for.

Thank God for us for our good friends, and future seminary buddies, Lorann and Jason Cook. They live in Louisville and attend Southern and are soon to be out very best friends as we jump into the same boat that they took just about a year ago. Pray that God will BLESS them and PROVIDE for them and GROW them and SHOW them His faithfulness and majesty!

Now for some updates on the kiddos - Jacob is weaning himself and really preferring the cup or bottle to me. It's a little sad and a little relieving too. I love that time with him but I guess I have to let go sometime. I can't even think about the fact that this could be my last baby to nurse....We certainly aren't ready for any more right now, but who knows what God will do in the future, right?!

Hannah is still my best little friend. I love my quiet times with her. We sit and talk in her bed for a long time each day. It's a special time for us as I ask her about her favorite times during the day and explain deep spiritual truths! We always pray together and laugh and kiss and tickle. She's really growing up and I really hate the fact that her favorite song is "Cinderella".....!