Since I'm awesome at thank-you notes...

It is 11:49pm on this Thanksgiving Eve and I'm waiting on Drew to come to bed. He's such a great husband - he's in the kitchen washing the crock pot for me since I need it first thing tomorrow morning. Anyways, tonight I was explaining to Cash that tomorrow is Thanksgiving - a day where we tell God "thank you" for everything He's given us. So, to practice what I preach I've created the following list. A list of mini thank-you notes, if you will...

Thanks, God, for...

• Loving me, finding me, saving me, healing me, putting up with me...this list goes on and on.
• my husband. He is more than I ever could've imagined praying for. I'm so glad You know me better than I know myself! 
• my beautiful baby boy. So many times I'm reminded how lucky I am to have a healthy child. I'm working on remembering that when he's extra whiney or refusing his naps.
• my family. They truly are my best friends and I wish we got to spend more time together.
• making me a woman. I know this may sound weird, but I love that I have a tender heart and sensitive soul because it helps even out things in my marriage; I love that I got to experience the joys (and annoyances) of pregnancy - even though I gave up my size 5's in exchange - and would do again in an instant,  I love looking at decorating and fashion magazines and envisioning my dream house and trying to imitate an "LA look" on an Indy budget, and I love that there's something different about "mommy" when Cash is upset. 
• Target! I know their return policy is annoying, but maybe You could talk to the head honcho about easing up on that a bit? 
• our jobs! I know sometimes I complain (only to You) about giving up time with Cash, but I know this job is perfect for our family right now and such a blessing. 
• disposable diapers! Holy NIGHT...there have been so many times I've silently thanked you over this one. Lordy, does our kid stink sometimes!!!
• toothpaste. 
• CHOC-O-LATE!!!!!! 

There are so many things I could and want and NEED to thank God for, but this is just a beginner list. Its getting late and I have to get up early to get food cookin, but I hope this list has, if anything, inspired you to send a shout-out to God for all the blessings He's given you...

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Monsters, Inc.

Tonight we realized our camera actually records videos too, so from now on you will be able to witness Cash in action!

Inspired by his cousin, Gibson and Uncle Eric, Cash has been working on his growl.

Also, you'll need to pause the playlist at the bottom of this screen to hear the video. Enjoy!

"Snowglobes are MAGICAL" - Ashley Henry, christmas '07

Megan just created the cutest snowglobe ever. And just in time since a snowglobe is on mom's list this year. Merry Christmas, Mom! 

Break out the Bing

I'm not sure if you're all aware but I love christmas. Love it. In fact, I actually teared up in the christmas section at TJMaxx last Sunday because I just absolutely love this time of year. (I might add that mom had just wound up a snowglobe and it was playing 'O Come All Ye Faithful' and lets be honest - music has a way of pulling at your heart strings.) Its just magical to me. Everything about it: the music, the decorations, the scents, the warm feeling you get when everyone's together laughing and enjoying being a family. And yes, I'm completely aware that I sound like a hallmark card. Anyways, you get the point.

I've started listening to christmas music and came across this little dandy - 'Joseph's Lullaby' by MercyMe. You'll find it on the playlist at the bottom of this screen. Absolutely beautiful. I urge to take a listen and really listen to the lyrics.

Its a song written from Joseph's point of view as he's rocking baby Jesus to sleep. Isn't it amazing to think of how Mary & Joseph felt as parents...it couldn't have been that different from our own joy we felt when we became parents. They were human, afterall. I think sometimes we forget that and automatically assign supernatural characteristics to them since they were the parents of the Most High.

As you listen, I pray that you are blessed with tremendous joy at the gift of our Saviour.



maybe I should work for hallmark.

S-A-TUR-DAY NIGHT!

I just spent the last 45 minutes creating and attempting to attach a playlist to this thing so you, my avid readers, could enjoy some music on your frequent visits. ;) Obviously, since there is no music playing, that didn't work. I'll try again when I'm not so tired.

Why am I putzing around on the computer on a Saturday night, you ask? Well, sit back and relax as I fill you in...

The plan was to meet up at Blake & Niecka's around 8:30. We then would head over to her brother's house to enjoy some pizza and girl time as the men watched the UFC fight. Sounds like a killer Saturday night, right? I thought so too. However, the son had other plans for his still-too-young-to-be-staying-in-on-the-weekends mom. 

Actually, its not entirely his fault. Being the cautious mother I like to think I am, I thought it would be smart to make sure Cash got his flu shot at his 6 month check-up. Still a wise decision, however we now have a somewhat fussy, congested, coughing, gunky-eyed little man. Since no illness or injury seems to phase this kid (remember, this is the child that was unknowingly starved for the first 3 months of his little life) he endured an afternoon at Memaw & Papaw's playing with his cousins in from Ft Wayne, and a rather lengthy trip to Target and back. All in the lovely wind and cold that is Indiana in November. 

Feeling guilty about dragging him along all day when he clearly isn't totally healthy, I felt like it'd be unfair to take him to another house to hang out and be sick all evening - for Cash mostly, but also for everyone else in the general area. And we come to the point of this blog...I didn't go. I really wanted to. REALLY wanted to...but alas, the mother's heart won out in this one. And isn't it truly strange how in an instant your heart - the heart of a wife, daughter, sister, friend - gets traded in for this humongous, crazy, always-worrying heart that melts when you hear laughter from your baby for the first time or see him smile when you get him up from his nap (that wasn't nearly long enough)? The heart that stops beating for a split-second when you realize he's slept through his 4am feeding for the first time; The heart that could stare at picture after picture of the same little person for hours and think each one is adorable in it's own way....

I'm sitting in front of my computer - at 11pm on a Saturday night, mind you - with tears in my eyes thinking of all the ways Andrew Cash Hollingsworth has changed the way I think, feel, PRAY, and love. And all those changes took place at 12:07pm on May 11, 2008 when I saw his purple scrunched up face for the very first time. Actually...I take that back. Some of the changes came about when I saw that 2nd line on the pregnancy test back in late August of 2007. But I'm forever different. Everyone told me life would never be the same, and they were right. But what I didn't realize was how wonderfully different it would be...

I thoroughly enjoyed my evening in with Cash.  I will cherish every minute of just me and him because they are numbered. There will come a day when he's the one going out on Saturday nights. But thank God those days are far, far away...

Just a fly-by

Cash had his 6 month appointment this afternoon. He is 17lbs. 13oz. and 27 inches long. That puts him in the 50th percentile for weight, 75th for height. He still has a bit of an ear infection in his right ear, but other than that he's a perfectly healthy boy! He demonstrated that by completely destroying the paper mat they had on the exam table...seriously, boys and girls are different from the start. And he's ALL boy! 

My time is up for now, I'm attaching a few recent pictures....

taking advantage of the semi color-coordination

6 months old today

best buddies

What the world needs now...

Obviously tonight was a big night. They say it's "historic". I'm not sure what they're referring to...the fact that we've elected, well...not me personally, the first african-muslim-american president, or because our country is headed in a direction even further away from "one nation under God". Don't get me wrong, I'm aware that our country hasn't been living in a way that would be pleasing to God. I was just hoping we wouldn't go any further. 

I've come to the sad conclusion that I've done all I can to prevent him from taking office, all that's left now is to stand and pray.  That reality hit me hard when I went in to Cash's room to tell him good-night. He was already asleep, thanks to Drew so I just leaned over his crib, placed a hand on his little chest and whispered a prayer. I do this every night, but tonight the magnitude of my prayers over him hit me. I'm responsible for him....physically and spiritually. I actually teared up while I was praying for him because I'm afraid of what "President Obama" means for our country, but most of all - what it means for my kids. Cash is going to grow up in a completely different kind of world than Drew and I knew as kids. At first glance, this terrifies me. But then there's peace. Because MY God is the same...yesterday, today, and forever. And the truths we will teach Cash will never change.  Our biggest prayer for him is that he will be a man RUNNING after the heart of God; steadfast and sure of his faith, backing down for NO ONE. That's the cry of my own heart, to fight the good fight...sometimes literally.

Satan's tactics aren't new....they may be packaged differently, but there's nothing he's gonna pull that God hasn't seen before. "Greater is He who is in me, than he who is in the world."