Jesus Loves Me

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted. Every time I start to post, I literally don't know where to begin. Since I posted, we have had company. My brother Gerald came to visit us for a week or so at the end of March. We had so much fun, and Hampton LOVED having Gerald here to play with him! Last week, Clint's mom, dad, and grandmother came to visit for a long weekend. Janell (Hampton's Nana) ended up staying for the rest of the week to help us do some purging in the house. It was lots of fun having her here, though we worked very hard each day. Hampton was such a good boy as he entertained himself most of the day. But each day, he and Nana did something special together, even if it was only for a few minutes.

Most of you know that we have been in limbo waiting on information regarding a job transfer for Clint. In fact, the last post was all about this. Well, ever since then, we've been not-so-patiently waiting for SOMETHING! We finally received word today that he has been invited to interview in Peoria, Illinois. Wow! Illinois? It's about the same distance from Montgomery as Miami is but obviously in the opposite direction. He will be going for a working interview, so he will be working in the office as if he has the position before it is actually offered (if it is offered to him). We are certainly praying for the Lord's will in this. I am simply grateful that Clint has a job right now! Any move to any location will be a little scary. All change can be scary. But as my previous entry title states, "I do not know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future!"

Here are a few pictures from the last few weeks (months), and I also am trying to post a very cute video of Hampton singing "Jesus Loves Me." What great truth in such a simple song. Jesus loves me. Yes He does! And for that I'll be eternally grateful.

Adrienne

"I don't know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future!"

Posts on this blog usually center around Hampton, but this one will be a little more personal. I just need to share a few things that have been on my heart and mind lately. Within the last week or so, Clint had his annual review at work. We knew this would be a very critical meeting for his career, and it has proved to be just that. Critical. But first, a little background...

Before we moved to South Florida, we were told we would be here for 18-24 months and would be relocated again. Shortly after moving here, Clint's management team began discussing the possibility of his attaining a permanent position here. Of course, we desire to be closer to our families, but this sounded attractive because we were settling in here, making friends, etc. And the possibility of finding a city closer to family was a slim one. So we have been setting our hopes on staying in South Florida.

But God now has other plans.

Clint was not offered a position in his current office at his review. He was sorely disappointed in this, though we knew in the beginning that it was the original plan. I am disappointed too. I have made some of the most incredible friends here that I could ever imagine. They have become our family. I never realized how difficult it must be for military families or others who relocate on a regular basis. Until now. I guess after the first move, it gets easier. Or so I've been told.

But even though I'm disappointed that we will not stay here, there is a part of me that is SO excited! I have learned through my move here (the story of which would need it's own blog!) that God doesn't shake things up in your life unless He has something bigger and better for you. God doesn't make mistakes. His timing is always perfect. He is always looking out for our best interest. He loves us and cares about every single little itty-bitty detail of our lives. He is in control, and if He can keep this magnificent universe in motion, He can certainly see me through the next few months.

So, I can't wait to see what He has planned next!! He met (and exceeded) every need we had in our move here, and He will do it again!

There we are. I have no clue WHERE we will be moving, or WHEN we will be moving. Please pray with us and for us. He will be traveling to another office in the country (location also unknown) soon, and he will be interviewing for position(s) that are open. Please keep us in your prayers in the following ways: 1) favorable location in the country - close to family and friends, 2) wisdom for the decision-makers in Clint's relocation, and 3) peace and wisdom on our part as we go through the scary part of transition.

Someone told me recently that it's times like this that I can one day look back on and tell our kids how awesome our God was in bringing us through!! That's what I look forward to. And I promise not to wait years to tell my kids. I will begin right away telling everyone I know how my Jehovah Jireh has DONE IT AGAIN!

"I Wanna Be in Pictures!"

We took this video at dinner tonight. Hampton was being so silly! He wasn't wearing a shirt because he wanted to "take shower." We talked him into waiting until after dinner (since he asked while I was cooking!), but he refused to put his shirt back on. I decided that battle wasn't worth fighting, so...

Anyway, here's a video of a not-so-typical (well, probably typical) dinner at the Usher House.

Christmas 2009 and beyond...

It's been brought to my attention that I needed to update the blog, so I guess I'd better snap to it! HAHA! I'm sorry I haven't kept current on it. I'll try to do better.

We haven't had too many interesting things going on since Christmas around the Usher house. That is by design!! We had a nice, quiet holiday this year. Hampton enjoyed Christmas, though he didn't really understand what all was going on. We Skyped (video called) Mom and Dad while we opened presents, so they could see Hampton's excitement.

A few days after Christmas, my dad and brother (Hampton's PawPaw and Unka Jerl) came to visit. We had so much fun, but we forgot to take pictures!! We were so upset with ourselves everytime we'd forget our camera. Time just flew by too quickly. We enjoyed visiting the International Game Fishing Museum. We saw an alligator, fed Cheerios to some of the fish (not sure if this was "legal" or not!), and saw a few iguanas. We found lots of iguanas around town while they were here. We also went to the park, drove around downtown Fort Lauderdale and the A-1-A, and just played a lot here at the house.

So here are some pictures from Christmas and snapshots I've taken since...enjoy!!

Hampton fell asleep in the chair drinking milk (just too cute!)

Some of our Christmas decorations

Our stockings...(from L to R) Lexie, Clint, Adrienne, Hampton. Veggie Tales on the TV!


Hampton in front of the tree on Christmas morning

Hampton got Play-doh for Christmas, and he loves it!

Adrienne's "Mickey Mouse in doh"

Is this a "Clint Usher" look-a-like or what?!!

Hampton being silly

Brushing teeth after bathtime

Christmas Questions

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? definitely hot chocolate. I hate egg nog!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? I'm not sure...this is our first year to do Santa with Hampton, and I'm not sure he'll even understand yet.

3. Colored or white lights on tree/house? I prefer white for our tree, but I like colored on Hampton's tree.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No, but I would if I knew where to get it and how to hang it.

5. When do you put your decorations up? Whenever I MAKE myself do it. I love it when it's all done, but I do not enjoy doing it.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Not sure...?

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? When my parents tricked me about a gift I wanted SO badly. They found a similarly-shaped box and wrapped it up. I was so disappointed when I opened it because I just KNEW I was getting what I had asked for! Of course, they gave it to me, but I had to sweat a little.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I really don't remember truly believing in Santa, but I do remember seeing my dad sneak past my room holding my new basketball.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? not usually.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? I have enough Victorian ornaments to decorate a full tree, but lately, I have been decorating using ornaments from Clint's and my childhood. Hampton has a tree with his own ornaments too.

11. Snow? Love it or dread it? I like it, but we don't see it often. When we lived in Alabama, we'd get enough to stick about every 4-5 years. Of course, we get NO snow in South Florida. We're lucky if it drops below 60 in winter.

12. Can you ice skate? Uh, no. I can wobble around holding the rail, making a fool of myself.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Oh yeah...It was a softball glove. The most awesome one ever.

14. What is the most important thing about the holidays for you? Spending time with my family and seeing everyone healthy and happy. Hampton's joy will be cool to see.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Divinity. But I also discovered Panettone last year. That stuff is AMAZING!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Opening gifts together Christmas morning.

17. What tops your tree? A big gold ribbon that cascades down the tree.

18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? Both. I honestly LOVE to give more. But I love it when people care enough to give me something to let me know I was thought of (even tiny cheap things).

19. Candy Canes, yuck or yum? YUM.

20. Favorite Christmas show? It's a Wonderful Life

21. Saddest Christmas song? Christmas Shoes (by far!). That song makes me cry almost every time I hear it.

22. What is your favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night, and I Want a Hippopatamus for Christmas. :)

October 2009-Hampton's TWO!

It's been MUCH too long since I've updated, so I had to do 2 posts...check the one labeled "September 2009" for more!

October was a busy month for the Usher House! The best way to post the pictures is probably a list, so here goes...

1. We started the month by driving to north Florida to visit Mamaw and the rest of the Ushers. It was a very long drive - 11 hours!! When we came home, we split it into 2 days. Hampton had lots of fun playing with his cousins and grandparents, and he even got to meet BJ the Pig which belongs to Clint's brother Wes!




















2. A few days later, Hampton's MawMaw & PawPaw flew in for a visit for Hampton's 2nd birthday. They bought him a tricycle for his birthday, and he LOVES it! I bought him some elbow & knee pads and a helmet, so he had fun wearing those. He played in his tent with MawMaw & PawPaw too.
















3. We had a birthday play-date for Hampton at the park with his friends from church. It rained SO hard that day, but the kids all had a BLAST! So it was a success after all. We love our new church family!
















4. A few days later, the Usher family drove down to celebrate Hampton's birthday, and we had MORE cake and ice cream! Hampton enjoyed daily wagon rides and walks with Nana and Pop. He even saw a huge grasshopper one day. He still asks to see it every day by saying "hopper again" Of course, the "hopper," as he calls it, hopped away a long time ago.
















5. Finally, Hampton went Trick-or-Treating on Halloween as a Safari Guide. He wasn't going to wear his hat at first (which made his costume), but we told him he could get candy if he wore his hat. That did it! He put it on right away! We had a great time at our friends' the Nunez's that night. Hampton's buddy Eli is the one dressed like Thomas the Train.

September 2009

SO sorry it's been so long since I've posted! And so many BIG things have happened since I posted last, so I will have a couple of posts for you to read. These are a few misc. pictures before we get to the big events - the alligator in the lake; Hampton "tasting" a butternut squash, and a very beautiful sunset! We are SO glad fall is here! The weather is finally getting a little cooler here in South Florida, though it's still HOT!

















In September, we visited the Miami Metro Zoo in September with our friends Ms. Shannon, Katelynn, and Kristen Tucker. Hampton loved the aquarium and seeing all the animals! But we picked one of the hottest days to go. Shew! It was hot...